As Chap leaves, Reidy pulls a chair next to me. "Hey Brooke. How are you feeling?" He looks sympathetically at me.
"I can't work it out.. How did Chap get here if he died?"
"He didn't ever die Brooke. Do you remember what happened?"
"There was a fight. He was hit then I thought he died.."
"No. He was hit and then he fell. He was stabbed too but he was breathing all the time. He just had a few seizures and had to recover from a head injury. That's all."
"Are you sure?" He nods.
"You've barely left his side Brooke, he's okay. I promise you that nothing more happened and he's not going anywhere. We were with him almost as soon as it happened. He's okay, he never died." I nod slowly.
"Thank you. I guess I was just scared."
"How are you doing though?"
"Good. I wish my leg would heal faster though. Can we get Chap and go to where it happened..?" I see him glance up to Whip as if wanting help.
"Are you sure you're ready for that?" I nod, smiling.
"I'll have to do it eventually and we need to make sure he's okay too."
"Okay well, we can ask Hop to stay in the Tower. Whip and I can come down with you both, make sure everything is okay." I nod slowly.
"Thank you for this.. I'm sorry.. I just feel like I'll upset Chap."
"No need. He cares a lot about you Brooke, more than you probably understand." I don't relish the implication that I don't care about him but I know they mean well. Chap comes back after a few minutes, smiling.
"I'm back to work tomorrow Brooke!" He hugs me carefully, "You okay now?"
"Yeah I'm good, we're going to head down the beach a bit."
"Are you sure that's going to be okay?"
"We already discussed it. It'll be good for both of us." I answer definitively.
"Sounds good then." Whip comes down the steps and helps me to my feet. I'm losing energy but I know I need to do this for Chap. He walks ahead with Reidy as Whip watches me constantly.
"I'm okay."
"I know. I just like watching you walk on the crutches, it's interesting to see how good you are at it." He grins as we follow the guys further down the beach. I know he's concerned about me but he refuses to speak about it. As we make our way down the beach, the memories of that day start to come back and I feel the tears falling for what I could have lost. "You don't have to do this.." Whip looks at me, pulling me to a halt. "Brooke. Look at him. He's still here." He pulls me into him. I nod slowly. Chap turns and smiles.
"It's all okay.." He mutters as he comes back and hugs me tightly.
"I'm just tired.."
"Should we get back then?" I know I won't make it back anyway so he might as well enjoy himself.
"I'll rest, you talk to your friends."
"Brooke. I can talk to them anytime. Let's go."
"I know you really want to just surf so why don't you?"
"Would you actually let me do that?" He grins excitedly, looking to Whip. "No. I can surf another day." I laugh slightly.
"Go Chap. Whip'll come with you, I'll sit in the tower with whoever ends up there. Just catch a couple then come back. You need to keep up your energy." He hugs me closer then runs up to the car with Whip, getting their wetsuits.
"Come on up to the Tower then Brooke, we'll get you settled in." Reidy smiles as he helps me up to the Tower. My head swims as I try to walk straight, knowing Reidy doesn't really know me and is likely to panic. He seems to know I'm struggling anyway as he makes me go up the stairs first and forces me onto the medical bed. "How are you doing now?" I smile as my head clears. Dragging myself to my feet, I sit on a chair at the top of the Tower. "How do you actually feel about him surfing?" Reidy asks as he picks up the binoculars. Hoppo casts a concerned glance at me.
"I want him to try before he comes back here properly. At least now he has Whip and everyone's on the beach."
"That's understandable.. Oh, do you need anything then? Water or food or something?" I shake my head, smiling at his worry. He hands me another set of binoculars and I watch as Chap and Whip head out. I can see Hoppo watching too, obviously gauging what he's capable of. Whip sits out back as he catches a small wave. He seems to struggle to stand before falling. I gasp and watch closer, maybe this wasn't a good idea.
"Brooke. This is what surfing is like, you don't always catch the best waves and you don't always stand the whole way. He's doing well." I refuse to answer, what good would it do anyway, as I keep my eyes fixed on Chap. They take turns, each getting three waves before they paddle in. I watch as Whip takes Chap's board. What can that mean? Is he ill? I get the answer almost immediately as the radio crackles. 'Tell Brooke we're okay. Just gonna sit for a bit.' Whip's voice calls. I immediately try to stand, my ankle slipping.
"Brooke.. Stay still. He's gonna be okay." He looks down, obviously seeing my ankle. "Ah. You need an ambo?" I smile halfheartedly remembering when I first met Chap.
"Ice?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. The door slams and Deano appears.
"Sorry. Oh, hey. Everything okay?"
"Dean can you help with Brooke? Reidy, go down and pick Chap up on the Rhino." Both of the guys move immediately at Hoppo's words.
"Hey Brooke. Do you want to sit up on a chair?" Deano smiles as he hands me the ice. It scares me that I can't see Chap. He practically lifts me up to the seat, the pain excruciating as I knock my foot. His arm stays around me as I breathe deeply. "Can I help?" I move his hand so it's underneath my foot.
"Follow me, left and up basically." I know the muscles probably aren't relaxed enough but I have to try not to scare them.
"I don't want to hurt you Brooke.." I nod slowly.
"Doesn't hurt." He laughs slightly. "Yeah.. Just hug.." I lift my foot so its over my knee as he comes behind me. I bury my head into him and breathe deeply, trying to forget Chap as I slide my foot back with a little help from Deano.
"Okay, you're okay now yeah?" I pull away and smile as he keeps his arm around me.
"Is Chap okay?"
"Yeah he's just coming up now. Don't worry, he's okay." I can't believe him, he's only heard exactly what I have so how would he know any more than I do? His arms fall away as I hear a chair being pulled up behind me.
"Hey Brooke." Chap smiles, turning me to face him. I search his face, finding a lot of exhaustion but also joy. "Okay?" I smile as he pulls me back to him. "We're good, now. Sleep Brooke. Whip can get us home. I love you." He strokes my hair as I let the clouds take over and fall into a world of dreams.
