"Brooke, we're here. I mean, we can go home instead but we're at the beach now.."
"Good morning." I mutter, dragging my eyes open.
"Take your time." I nod as he gets out of the car and helps me to my feet. "Ready?"
"Relax Jake. I'm fine." He nods as we walk towards the Tower. Deano and Reidy are inside, talking to Hoppo. I can already feel my energy sapping as they greet me. My eyes start to cloud as Jake helps me to a chair. I know they're all watching as I struggle to hold my head upright.
"Just rest Brooke. You don't need to do anything." Deano talks softly. Jake hands me some water and helps me to drink.
"I think we'll just get back." he says cautiously. I lift my head as I smile at the guys.
"I'm fine. How are you guys? Anything interesting happening?"
"Brooke.. What do you think Chap would say?" Jake warns but I shake my head again. I want to be here and I know what I am capable of, as much as it upsets me.
"Nothing interesting. Just a whole lot of people to be rescued who should just swim in the flags." Reidy grins.
"See, to normal people, that is interesting." He laughs, "I also wanted to thank you guys for what you did for Chappo. I know I've not really been very appreciative but you did what you could and everything. And I guess it must be hard for you too.."
"Brooke, it's kind of our job and Chap is a friend. We did what we could because we care about him. You did great too. He'll recover soon enough." I nod, my energy falling again.
"Jesse?"
"He's okay too. He's down at Backpacker's, see." He hands me some binoculars and I watch Jess talk to someone he rescued. "I don't know but he might like to see you. Not today obviously, but just some time. He doesn't blame himself anymore though, which is good. How's Chap?"
"Yeah I'll talk to him another time. He's still sleeping most of the time. He had a seizure earlier so he's obviously still not great.. But he's more like himself if he talks. Apparently he's still only really waking up for me. Whip probably knows more, I'm not really too keen on talking to doctors."
"Yeah, that makes sense. I think we're all just trying to give him some space until he's more conscious really." Reidy smiles carefully at me.
"He is actually doing well Brooke. I know it doesn't seem like it but he's doing better than most people with the same kinds of problems." Deano tries to reassure me.
"I know. He's doing 'better than expected'. The biggest problem is if he keeps having seizures, obviously he shouldn't really be in the water with them. Considering he's struggling to even stay awake though, it's unlikely he'll be back for a while." Deano nods.
"We're sorting everything Brooke. You don't need to worry about him working." I smile halfheartedly as I feel my body protest at my sitting for too long.
"It's time to get back, Brooke.. Whip will be waiting." I nod as he tries to help me up. "Take it slow. I'm guessing you won't let me carry you.." I shake my head as my eyes cloud and the pressure builds. I struggle to stay on my feet as Jake tries not to let me fall. He opens the door for me before helping me into the car. "Okay. Just sleep.. You're fine. We're going back to yours. You just rest.." He's so cautious and I feel bad for making him so scared.
"I'm okay.." I turn my head towards him to prove it but he just sighs.
"I'm not arguing whether you're fine, I'm telling you that you need to rest." I nod slowly, knowing there is no argument to be had. "Sleep, I'll wake you when we get back. Whip's meeting us there but you don't need to talk to him or anything if you don't want to." I nod as my head falls to one side and my eyes close.
I feel him carrying me but I don't have the strength to move. As he places me in my bed I pull my eyes open. "Hello." I mutter as I see Whip and Jake standing above me.
"Hey. Are you feeling okay?" Jake asks, cautiously. I nod and try to sit up.
"We can talk without you sitting up, Brooke. Rest for a while." Whip smiles but changes subject quickly. "I've been talking to the doctors and people and they're all pretty amazed with how Chap's doing. Obviously there are the two big things of him not waking much and the seizures but his memory is fine and his speech and thought processes seem unaffected too. Basically the only thing he needs to do is recover from the physical bits of it and he should be back to normal. They're actually surprised by how well he is considering the mechanism of injury and they think the main reason is how quickly people got there to help."
"So when's he coming home?" Whip laughs slightly.
"That's all you want to know? Not how long it'll take or anything?" I shake my head. All I need is Chap to be near me, even if he isn't exactly himself. "Well, they're hopeful it will be pretty soon. As in, the next week or so. He's more alert now than he used to be and he actually woke up the last time I was in there, talking and everything."
"You won't leave us alone though will you?"
"We don't think that it would be safe, given everything going on for both of you." Jake says, diplomatically. "You don't need the responsibility of caring for him and he doesn't need the problems that come if you're too fatigued or whatever. We won't be here all the time, just enough to know you're both doing okay."
"Right..." I don't know how I'll deal with having people come to 'check up' on me all the time. It's been so long since people actually cared I'm scared of what might happen.
"Brooke? You understand that we have to talk about worst case scenario right? But it's more than likely Chap will be himself sooner than we're planning for. We're not going to make you uncomfortable. The only people who'll be coming so far is me, Jake, Deano and Hop. We'll just take it as it comes." I nod but it's obviously not convincing as Whip smiles awkwardly. "Chap might not be here right now but we are and we do care Brooke. I know it's hard and you're not feeling too good but it's going to work out fine."
"Thank you." I mutter as I fight to stop my eyes closing.
"Okay, now you're allowed to sleep. Good night! Shout if you need anything!" Whip leaves happily.
"Right so, you're stuck with him in the morning. I think he'll probably take you to see Chap at some point. And you my be forced into meeting his family but you'll be fine. I'm working but call if you need anything. I can get away if you need me."
"Relax. He is actually responsible, even if he doesn't act it sometimes. And I'm not incapable." I tell him, trying to quell his fear.
"Yeah. Okay. Whip has your CD so make sure you get him singing." I laugh and he grins, "Good, you're smiling now. Take care. I'll be back after work." He leaves quickly as if he understands that I can't keep my eyes open anymore and I drift off in seconds.
