"Brooke? Can you wake up for us? We need to get you warmer." Deano breaks through the darkness and I nod, my eyes still closed. "Okay, we have to do this slowly, right? We can't shock her body." I prise my eyes open and see Jake nodding slowly.
"I'm okay." My words slur, only serving to prove the opposite of what I say. "No scared."
"Brooke.. You're literally purple. What were you even thinking? I didn't know where you were. I know I should have followed you straight away but I thought you were just going for a walk then coming back. You were laid down so I didn't even see you when I looked. You must have been out there for hours.."
"It's okay." He shakes his head and stands, walking to the kitchen.
"What do you normally do like this then?" Deano asks, obviously realising this isn't the first time.
"Warm bath. Tea. Biscuit." The words eventually fall from my mouth. "Chap?"
"Whip and Hop are with him, it's all okay."
"Jake?"
"I'm here Brooke."
"Sorry."
"There's no need. You want a bath now?" I nod, "Are you sure it's safe?" I smile at him.
"I've without long." I stumble over the words. He smiles.
"I know, but we're here now. We can look after you. I'll run it shallow so you don't drown or anything. Just rest for a bit." I nod as he leaves and Deano hands me a drink.
"We're all worried Brooke.. We were worried before and now we've found you on the edge of the cliff.. Chappo's going to recover but you need to try to help us look after you both. For him?" I nod slowly.
"Can I see him?"
"If you're safe and if you promise to talk to us, I don't see why not. You know he's not waking up though right?"
"He did. 3 times."
"Only for you then. He's not woken up when anyone else is there. I don't think he will anytime soon though, he still needs to rest." I nod as Jake returns.
"It's ready, just don't lock the door. Shout if you need us. I mean, I know it's weird but if you're safe it doesn't matter.."
"Okay."
"Do you want me to just carry you? It might give you more energy." Deano asks awkwardly. I nod as he lifts me carefully. He places me on my feet in the bathroom as Jake hands me the crutches. "Okay?" I nod and they shut the door quietly.
I undress before sitting in the bath chair and lowering it. It scares me how exhausted I become as I try to cover my body with water, warming it carefully. I lift the chair again and cover myself in a towel before pulling on pyjamas awkwardly while lying on the floor. "Deano?" I ask as my eyes cloud.
"You need us?" he asks but opens the door as he doesn't receive a response. "You're okay. We'll get you back to bed now." He lifts me carefully again and places me in the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Chap?"
"Rest first, Brooke. You can't see him like this." Jake stands in the doorway, watching.
"Can." I try to pull myself up but Deano pushes me back.
"Hold on. We're seeing him soon Brooke. Just lay there and try to sleep for a bit. I promise I'll wake you when we're going to leave. It'll be about an hour. Just rest while we get ready." Deano always knows how to help and what I need. I nod slowly as my head falls and I feel them laying me further down.
Jake sits by my bedside, talking softly as I fade in and out of consciousness. "Why are you still here Brooke?" His voice is malicious, disfigured, twisted beyond all recognition. "You're ruining all of us. We don't get a break anymore. Why don't you just leave?" He pushes me to my feet and I walk outside. "Good riddance." I hear before the door closes behind me.
As I step outside, Deano stands by the Tower and I go to ask him if Jake is okay. Upon reaching him, I realise this is a bad idea as his eyes express his anger. "Are you going for a swim Brooke? I think that would be a good idea." My legs propel me to the ocean and I discard my crutches as I swim out, fully clothed. I've missed this, swimming and freedom with no one around. And then I realise why I haven't swam in a while as my hips slide and the right dislocates completely. Chap paddles out to me on a board but stays out of reach. "Please.." I beg as the muscles spasm. "Why would I pick you up Brooke? You hurt me."
Suddenly a loud voice breaks through. "Brooke! Wake up! You need to wake up! Please wake up! You're okay, just open your eyes." My body falls through the water as Chap laughs before I pull myself awake, spluttering.
Jake holds me tight in his arms as Deano sits by the bed. "It's your hip Brooke. Is that why you're crying?" Jake asks cautiously. I shake my head slowly. The pain is easier to deal with than knowing that my friends hated me.
"You hate me.."
"Brooke," Deano's voice is calmer, practised as he speaks softly. "Let's get your hip sorted first.. It looks bad.." I shake my head as I move the ice they already placed on it. Slowly, I massage it back, relaxing the muscles and relocating the joint. It takes 10 minutes but the guys both understand that they need to leave me to do it myself. I lean back against Jake as it slips back in to place.
"Chap?" I ask as he sighs.
"You need to rest. We can see him tomorrow." I shake my head and move forwards in the bed. "Okay. We're going. Talk about your dream first though. Why would we hate you?"
"You said you did. It's okay. I know it isn't true now. And Chap wouldn't save me because he blames me for what happened.. I need to see him and explain."
"That's never going to happen, I'm sure Chap doesn't blame you. We can see him but you need to come back here to sleep. You won't get any rest if you're with him." Jake says but I know I can sway them, at least as long as I don't pass out on them. "We called earlier and we can go about now. Whip is there at the moment." I nod.
"Let's go then." I grin as Deano helps me to my feet with the crutches. As much as I want to see Chap, I'm also scared of what he'll be like, he's still on danger and it terrifies me.
