Chap's POV
Whip receives a single word text from Jake 'Come' and we move in with the police a step ahead of us. As my eyes adjust, I see Brooke lying in the corner and that monster next to her, still talking. The police handcuff him as I run to Brooke. She's passed out, her heart rate is strange and terrifying. I can't lose her now. "Jake's okay mate, how is she?" Whip breaks me from my panic.
"I don't... No, she's not good.. Get an ambo down." He's immediately by my side with a hand on my shoulder.
"Relax, they're on their way. Step back a minute so I can check her?" I nod slowly as I step back. He takes her pulse and looks over her body. "Looks like she's relatively okay, just her heart, no obvious mechanism of injury. Her wrist is out though." 'Just' is not a word I'd use to describe heart problems.
"Yeah.. Can we wake her?"
"I don't think you'll manage that but you can try. I'm gonna go talk to Jake." I nod as I take her hand again. I turn to see Jake, half propped up by a rock, his eyes mostly closed.
"Is he okay?" I ask, cautiously. He's probably worse off than Brooke, his previous injuries could have been compounded and I didn't even think.
"Yeah, don't worry. He's just slipping a bit from the pain but he's okay. We've got two ambulances on the way now so they'll both get where they need to be." One of the policemen comes back.
"Okay, we're going to take him now. We can't keep him in for long without proper statements so as soon as we can get them that would be great. Obviously we understand your priorities right now. Hopefully both will be well soon." He leaves as I watch Whip reposition Jake.
"What's going on?"
"It's okay mate, just looks like he's going into shock. How is she?"
"Everything's pretty much the same. She was exhausted earlier so maybe she just passed out with that. Do you need any help with Jake?"
"Sounds about right. I think he will be fine. His heart rate's improved but he's unconscious now. He doesn't look great to be fair. You know when people just look breakable.." As both of us fall quiet, watching our respective patients carefully, I hear the siren. Within minutes, a crew comes down.
"Who are we taking first?"
"Jake." I state, knowing he's struggling more than Brooke right now. Whip nods his thanks before giving the description.
"We're not entirely sure what happened. He could have been hit with something. He was in a car accident about a week ago and broke ribs, causing a collapsed lung. He was conscious for a while, slipping in and out a bit, but he started to go into shock then passed out about two minutes ago. His breathing seems to be affected."
"Okay, we'll get him into the ambulance then do obs. Are you coming with him?" Whip looks to me but shakes his head.
"I'll follow later I think I'm needed here for a bit." The paramedics nod as they lift Jake off on a stretcher. He's still unconscious. Whip steps back and comes towards us. "I'm here mate. How is she?"
"Still out. I just need her to be okay mate.. I can't believe we let that monster hurt her. I should have fought harder to stop her. We could have done it without her."
"To be fair mate, she wouldn't have let us. She's fiercely independent." As he speaks Brooke gasps. Her arm starts twitching.
"Seizure?" I ask Whip and he nods. We watch as her whole body jerks, her eyes flickering. After about seven minutes, she starts to come out of it and I lift her head to rest against me. Why didn't I make her go first? How could I let her see him alone? "Hey Brooke, you're okay, you're safe. We're right here." She's still unconscious as the tears fall down my face. "I can't lose her..." I whisper.
"She's not going anywhere. Just let the paramedics help her okay?" I nod but don't move as they come in.
"Alright guys what's happened?"
"We're not sure. There was a guy who may have hit her." I wince at Whip's words. "Sorry. She's just had a seizure so possible head injury but no obvious mechanism."
"Okay. Are we alright to move her?" They look to me as I slide her head off my knee but keep hold of her hand. We help to transfer her to the stretcher before taking her up the ramp.
"I'll follow in the car. Don't worry too much Chap." Whip smiles as we load her into the ambo.
"Okay Chris. Do you know all of her medical conditions?"
"It's mainly Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility Type. It causes so many problems though. She was severely fatigued earlier so that's probably playing a part."
"Alright and the wrist is normal for her?"
"Yeah, beyond normal."
"Okay then, do you think you can try to wake her?" I nod and shake her softly, stroking the hair from her forehead and kissing her.
"Hey Brooke, wake up lovely. We're safe now. It's okay." She barely responds, her hand only twitches. "You're still exhausted.." I mutter as her eyes open. She looks calmer than I expected but she doesn't speak. "Are you hurt?" I ask but she doesn't respond.
"Okay Brooke. You can rest dear, don't worry." The paramedic says as he watches us.
"Night darling. We're safe now." I kiss her softly as her eyes close again. It scares me that she's so ill and can't even speak. I don't think she even heard me. Maybe she hit her head and she'll never speak again?
"Chris? We're here now. She's going to be okay." I nod as I follow them into the room. They scan her whole body, finding nothing, before relocating her wrist carefully. Whip arrives just as they leave.
"How is she?"
"Yeah.. She's okay, no breaks or anything. I think she's just exhausted.. She woke up but she couldn't move or speak."
"Alright mate, she's going to be fine. It's probably good for her to rest. I'm going to see how Jake is. The guys need to know. Will you be okay here?" I nod as he leaves.
"Hey Brooke.. I don't like the fact you're asleep so I'm gonna talk to you and hope you can hear me. I love you, I love everything about you. All I ever want is to protect you and it's so hard knowing I can't- I couldn't protect you from him and I can't protect you from EDS. I can't tell anyone how terrified I am of losing you, of anything happening and I love you so much." I pick up my phone, searching for 'I see the light' and start to sing to her. Maybe some part of her will hear and finally realise just how much she means to me. Once I finish, I get a text from Whip saying 'Jake's awake. I'm staying with him. Hope all is okay.' To be honest, I don't think 'all' will ever be okay but we're safe, at least for a few hours. Slowly, my head begins to nod and I fall asleep to the slow melodic sounds of her heart monitors.
