Runaways: The Journey Home

Chapter 27

Brooklyn at first couldn't open his eyes and felt stuck in a dream, more like a nightmare. He dreamt his family were being held by Anthony.

"Brooklyn!"

"Help us, Bro!"

"No, save yerself, Laddie!" Hudson's voice echoed. Brooklyn was mortified at what to do, scared that this could be a possibility in the future where his family was threatened in order for Anthony to gain him back. He shook his head. It couldn't be real, but he just had to save them!

Anthony smirked. "Poor little pet. How will your family be saved, hm? Perhaps if you surrender, I will let them go..." This irked Brooklyn but he couldn't bear the sight of them there or turn himself in. Crying, Brooklyn turned to run away. His family cried for him but suddenly, Brook began to feel hot and dizzy, falling to the ground, writhing about.

"No! No..." he moaned, when returning to the waking world....

The red male just barely opened his eyes, but it was a challenge. "Wh-m' I?" He slurred, thinking he was in a hospital bed back at home, but sadly it wasn't. He was still in Wisconsin but for some reason had woken up with a bad case of a fever. He began to sniffle, wiping his hot head.

"G-'liath... a-anyone... sick..." Brooklyn choked, unable to move. Why was he sick now when he wasn't yesterday?

Barry had gotten ready for the day and was now going to check on their special guest. It felt weird for him to house a gargoyle of all things, but he seemed nice and did save their lives. He knocked on the door. "Brooklyn? Are you up yet?" he asked, but he couldn't hear anything. Frowning, Barry opened the door.

He could see Brooklyn still laying in his bed, but he didn't look too great; shivering and having kicked off his blanket since feeling hot though he was really cold. Barry came closer.

Brooklyn heard footsteps approach, tilting his head weakly over to see a shadow of a human man near. His heart thumped wildly, eyes dilating in fear. The beaked gargoyle gave a little cry, taking his pillow and covering his head. "Ah! Get away!" he whimpered faintly; voice weak from his new sickness.

Barry held out his hand, eyes lit up with sympathy. Brooklyn was obviously hallucinating from his fever that he seemed to have and seeing someone he didn't like.

"Easy, it's still me, Barry. You'll be alright, you're just a little sick," Barry said gently, a hand on his shoulder. He could feel heat on the gargoyle's skin and his muscles tensing from his touch.

"No... just... go away... p-please don't hurt me..." Brook begged helplessly, holding the pillow tight. Barry shook his head, knowing that this was out of his league for comforting their guest. He needed his wife's help, who was busy making lunch since Brooklyn had woken mid-afternoon. He rubbed Brooklyn's arm. "Hang in there, I'll be back I promise," Barry said, turning to quickly go and get Thalia.

Barry went to the kitchen to get his wife. She was pouring salt on the ham she was cooking when her husband spoke up. "Thalia."

She turned to him. "Yes? Is Brooklyn up yet?" she asked.

"He's got a fever, Honey. He doesn't look well. I came to ask for your help. He's afraid of me." Barry explained. "It might be better if you try to talk to him."

"I wonder how he could have gotten it. Very well. I'll help with him." Thalia said. She made sure the food wasn't going to overcook itself before she took her apron off and went to the guest room to see to her guest.

Brooklyn was still shivering in his bed. His mind was only seeing the evil humans that he had dealt with before. Then, another vison came into his line of sight. "Don't... hurt me..." he cried out.