As I wake I find Chap sitting next to me, holding my hand with Whip just visible through the window, obviously talking to the police. "No.." The word leaves my mouth before I realise that it'll scare Chap.
"I'm not letting them come in if you're not ready Brooke."
"No, no I'm going to do it.. I just.. It sounds wrong.."
"Do you want me to go outside while you talk? It's okay lovely, if it's easier for you."
"Please.. I don't want you to hear it all.."
"Do you want Whip or anyone else here?"
"I don't know.."
"Yeah I'll get Whip to come in and I'll talk to them for a bit then you can talk if you feel up to it. Take care, I'll be right outside." I nod as he steps outside. Whip comes in soon after.
"They're actually quite nice people." he states
"Somehow I don't think that's going to be my problem." He smiles at my sarcasm.
"Okay, well there's a female so you might feel a bit better. I can stay or go or whatever you want. You know I won't judge anything you say.."
"I'd prefer you to be here.. just in case.. It'd probably help Chap to know I was safe too.."
"Alright then, where do you want me?" I gesture to the chair by the bed. "I think they're coming in now.." He looks to me cautiously as I paste a smile over my ashen face. "They understand it's hard Brooke.." I nod as the woman walks in.
"Good morning Brooke. I'm PC White. If possible we'd like to record what you say here, it means it will only be us in here but we can still use it as evidence." I nod and she smiles. "Okay so can we start with how you and Luke met?"
"We were in the same class at secondary school. I was twelve."
"Can you give a brief description of why you are prosecuting him?" I look to Whip who nods.
"Umm.. He did.. stuff.. Yeah.. No. I can't do this.." She looks towards Whip.
"Brooke, we're not going to judge you. We need to make sure this can't happen again, don't we? You're going to help make sure of that and to make Jake feel better. I'm right here, no one is going to hurt you, Chap's outside you know he won't let anyone near you."
"Okay... Right.. So.. We were young.. It probably won't stand up anymore.. He just used to kinda get a bit close.. I can't..." Whip reaches out his hand and I take it, squeezing hard to ground me. "He'd try to touch me.. Do everything he could to scare me.. He used to say things too."
"Alright Brooke, I can see this is really hard but you're doing well. We've seen all the messages too. Now I just need you to explain what happened yesterday."
"He killed Jake.." I state as Whip moves in front of me.
"Brooke, breathe. He's not dead. Jake's okay. You need to relax lovely." He turns to the woman as the world starts to darken, "Come back later and get Chris to come in here, now." Soon he moves away as Chap sits next to me on the bed and pulls me closer.
"Shh, you're okay Brooke we're right here. No one is going to hurt you. He's gone. They have the evidence."
"Jake.."
"He's not here." Chap sounds confused.
"Brooke believes Jake's dead." Whip states.
"Ohh.. No, you saw him earlier, he's fine Brooke. We can call him if you like?" I nod slowly as he dials. 'Hey, is everything alright?' He sounds okay, but I can't be sure he's not hurt, even if he isn't dead.
'Yeah, we're good." Chap starts, "Brooke just wanted to make sure you were okay. She's just spoken to the police.'
'Oh, yeah I'm good. Do you want me to come up there?' Chap looks to me but I shake my head.
'Nah mate, you're good. Rest well.' He hangs up. "Okay so you know he's not dead now right?" I nod slowly. "So are you going to sleep, because no one believes you're ready to leave yet."
"I want to finish talking to them. I want him to go down now, not later."
"Brooke," Whip steps in, "That's not a good idea. You were terrified earlier and it's exhausted you. They have enough from what Jake's told them for now."
"I just want to go home.." Chap holds me closer and strokes my hair, attempting to pacify me.
"We'll be home before you know it."
"I'm gonna get off guys, let Gina know how you are. Take care." Whip says as he leaves hurriedly.
"Text him to see if he's okay." Chap nods.
"He'll be fine Brooke. Are you ready to sleep?" I shake my head. "Okay then, are you ready to sing?" I laugh slightly as he reaches for his phone. "Do we get to sing this properly now?" He asks as he puts 'I see the light' on. I reach over and pause it.
"You already sang this to me.." He smiles.
"Yeah, yeah I did. It doesn't work too well without my partner though does it?" He smiles but quickly turns away as tears glisten in his eyes.
"Chap... I'm sorry.." He shakes his head.
"I just.. I really thought I'd lost you this time.. Before, I cared, yeah, but I barely knew you, but now you're the closest person I have.. You almost left me.." He holds me closer still. "I just need you to be safe."
"I am safe. As safe as I can be at least. Chap I don't want to upset you like this but you know I'm going to spend time in hospital, stuff like this happens, it's my normal. I'm going to give you another chance to get out now, I won't judge you.." I trail off, knowing I won't cope without him.
"Generally when someone tells you they can't lose you, you don't try to leave them." He smiles halfheartedly. "I understand Brooke, but this wasn't just your illness stuff. This was because someone hurt you." He stops. "Okay, it's time to sing now. I bet you'll be asleep before the end." He laughs as he presses play again, His eyes don't leave mine as he sings. Almost as soon as I sing the last note, my eyes close and I drift off to sleep, knowing he will always be here to protect me.
