Right Before Your Eyes (Random Updates)

Chapter 44

"Alright Guys, let's get this over with," Brooke sighs as everyone gets comfortable in the living room.

Gabe had wrapped a super soft fuzzy blanket over her shoulders and she was currently rubbing it against her cheek while Max laid across her lap and she ran her fingers through his fur.

"We don't have to have a family discussion right now if you aren't ready," Axel says as he watches her carefully. "We can wait if you want to speak to Aunt Lily first. She said she can come here and talk to you at any time you need her. Or we can take you to her private office if you want. She said she can clear an opening for you to have therapy with her at any time whatsoever. Whatever works for you, Doll."

"Thank you," Brooke smiles gently. "I will speak to her," she nods. "I know it would be for the best. But right now we need to get some things off our chests." She took a deep breath and looked down at Max, "I wasn't trying to hurt myself, I swear I wasn't. But while I was...there," she waved her hand as she tried to figure out the right word but just settled with what popped into her head, "I was okay with what was happening." She flinched at the men's gasps of her admission and hurt looks. "I didn't want to leave you, it didn't have anything to do with you." She sighs as she tries to blink back tears. "I didn't want to keep bringing you pain and drama and stress and at the time it felt like if I stayed there I wouldn't hurt you anymore. I admit I still sometimes feel that way, it seems like I bring nothing but drama and stress. I know that's not true but it feels like it and I promise to talk to Aunt Lily about it. I know it's expected to have depression and probably ptsd from everything and I know it's not my fault but I am sorry for what has happened. I am sorry for all the triggers or late nights of barely any sleep from upcoming nightmares and whatever else the future may hold that makes this journey of healing hard. Im also sorry for how I acted the past few days–"

"No," North growled as he walked over and cupped her chin with his fingers. "You will NOT apologize for being my, being OUR little girl Brooke Marie Reed." He dropped to his knees yet he still was taller than her. His eyes bore down on hers. "We have talked about this, we LOVE that side of you just as much as we LOVE this side of you. There is NOTHING and I mean abso-fucking-lutely NOTHING wrong with you, Baby Girl. There is NOTHING for you to be ashamed about. You know how much I love to fucking take care of you and how Lucien loves to be childish and carefree and when you are little that allows us to fill those needs in us. It's the same with the others. You are the only one that can tame Blackbourne's beasty side–"

"Owen," she glares.

North chuckles, "my bad, your Owen's beasty side, but you know only you can get away with calling him that. You're that special–"

"Sean–" she tries to interrupt.

"You and Doc," North nods, "the point being you are special and there is nothing wrong with you so there is no need to apologize for you being you. You are perfect for us. No apologizing."

Brooke holds his gaze before she lets out a heavy sigh yet he sees hope ignite in her eyes as she breathes out, "okay Northy."

"Good girl," he smiles before kissing her forehead. "We'll remind you as much as you need."

"Okay," she nods as he sits down fully on the floor by her feet. "Um, are you going to see Aunt Lily too?"

"Yes Darling," Owen nodded, "We will all speak with Aunt Lily to help us handle everything we saw when we rescued you and to make sure we are capable of helping you heal from all the trauma and past trauma as well. Aunt Lily has also said if we do not feel comfortable talking to her she has a list of other therapists we can reach out to that are Academy members. We are doing this as a family."

She looked around the room and saw everyone nodding in agreement. "Okay," she mumbled as she continued to stroke Max's fur. She cleared her throat. "I promise I didn't mean to, I just wanted some of the pain out, it was too much and I didn't want you to be...," she cleared her throat, "nope, Northy said no, um anyway I don't remember much, I don't want to. But you know Joey, I mean Joseph, was my stepfather and he found me because of Barbara and Angelica."

"Right," Corey nodded, "I'm still trying to piece together the pieces on how he was able to get out of prison and how those two bitches are tied to that piece of shit."

"Oh you didn't know?" Brooke asked confused as she looked up at him in disbelief.

"Know what, Darling?" Owen asked as Silas came over and picked her up. Silas carefully carried her over to Raven and sat her on his lap before pointing at North then over to Raven. North glared but ultimately got up and sat next to Raven then put Brooke's legs over North's legs before he sat down in front of both men on the floor. Max snorted before jumping up and laying back down on Brooke's legs, resting his head on her lap so she could continue petting him.

"Brooke," Axel said soothingly, encouraging her to continue.

"Um," she said as she felt Raven wrap one arm around her and the other squeezed Corey's thigh as Corey sat on the edge of the couch arm next to the Russian. "Well you know Dollar Tree Barbie and Temu Elivra are sisters and their father is Dean Rogers, right?"

The group nodded. "Yeah and Dean Rogers is the one who paid for the guy that tried to kidnap you at the gas station. But I haven't figured out how he could turn a blind eye on what they did and how they have anything to do with that piece of shit stepfather of yours."

"Because Dean Rogers has the same..." Brooke trailed off as she tried to think of the correct word, "craving and pleasure as Joseph. He just doesn't use drugs and violence since he has money. They used to talk and compare when they would visit one another."

"What do you mean they would visit each other?" Sean asked. "Has Dean Rogers touched you too?"

Brooke looked up at him with slight confusion, "What? No, they are related, they are cousins."