I wake slowly, my body aching as if it were hit with a truck. Chap smiles as he watches me. "Hey. We're doing fine. Jake is napping." He watches as I try to stretch my muscles. "Can I help?"
"My neck is spasming." He nods as he lays my head back down, slowly massaging it. "Did you calm Jake down?"
"Yeah Whip did. It's okay Brooke. We can keep both of you safe. You're not actually that difficult to care for." He grins at me.
"Neither are you. Looking after you is such a gift." He laughs as Jake appears in the doorway cautiously.
"Whip's asleep."
"Come in then. We don't want to wake sleeping beauty." I say as Chap stands and goes out.
"Are you actually okay?"
"You know I am Jake. This is my normal. I know you don't have much choice but if it is too much, we can try to work out something else."
"It's not too much. I like it here. I just don't really remember doing much of this before."
"You don't need to do anything. I'm pretty self-sufficient, no matter what the guys say. We just get to have as much fun as possible right?"
"Of course. Starting with Thor?"
"That'll be a great start. And then I can fangirl at you and you won't understand at all. It's so much fun trying to convert people."
"I don't think you need to convert me; I love Thor."
"There's love and then there's fangirl love love."
"Let's go then!" He grins as he hands me my crutches, seeming happier. Chap and Whip talk for a few minutes, obviously about us, before joining us. I curl up with my head on Jake's shoulder while Chap takes the chair and Whip throws himself across the floor. I press play, starting from the beginning again. "Why's he in the sky?" Chap asks innocently as we all shush him loudly.
"He's a God from Asgard."
"Righttt... What's the hammer?"
"You'll see. Now shush." I tell him. He dutifully sits back. I feel my head getting heavier as I close my eyes, falling asleep again.
I wake with a start. "Hey, you're okay. The guys decided it's safe to leave us for a bit. They're out shopping so expect lots of random food, chocolate and beer." Jake smiles at me as I sit up, slipping my wrist back properly. "Okay?" I nod as I look to the now silent TV.
"WHat were you doing?"
"Watching you. Nah I was just going through my phone, look." He shows me articles about him and a lot of well wishes.
"Do they have stuff on Luke?" He shakes his head but looks guilty. "Show me?"
"It's not much Brooke, usually just talking about me and 'a girl'. There was a meeting at Bondi and they've told everyone they can't talk about you, it's okay." I shake my head as he sighs. "It's nothing but I don't want you to see the pictures of him. Hold on, I'll read it in a second but it's very sensationalist. Okay. Well the headline is silly 'Bondi lifeguard and girl held hostage and tortured'. That isn't even what happened. It goes on like that."
"Do you remember what happened?" I ask cautiously.
"Of course I do Brooke, but it's not so bad."
"Okay so it's not so bad but it's causing you nightmares. Jake, you have to trust me, I'm the only person in the world who knows what he's like."
"I don't want you to worry if I tell you what happened before you got there."
"I won't. It's over now and you're safe." He nods.
"Okay so I was going to a cafe to get the order I think, I can't really remember. He obviously knew me from somewhere. No I was wearing my uniform, that must be why. He came and said he was scared, he'd lost a kid. I told him my name, said I'd help but he took the radio. Then he said he'd last seen her on the beach by the cave. I told him I'd run and tell the tower so they could search more but he said there was some trouble and she wouldn't speak to anyone other than him so it would be too dangerous. We went down and then I went in just to check, kids like that sort of place, but he followed me and then grabbed me from behind. He asked how I could actually buy that story and said he'd get to you now. I said he'd never hurt anyone when we're around. He laughed and said he knew we were close. I told him we weren't, I knew you in passing but it wouldn't make you come. He disagreed and started texting you. I tried to get out while he was distracted but he grabbed me and threw me against the side. Obviously I played dead, I thought that would be best, but he came and kicked me a few times then gave up and waited for you. You know it after that. It wasn't that bad you see. The worst bit is that he hurt you."
"He's actually so predictable though. He's easy to play if you try to. But he can't get to us anymore, he's locked up and they'll send him back to England. He won't stay here."
"I know, but when you're asleep it all seems so real doesn't it?"
"Of course it does, but Chap and I are here now. You can see us and we can all look after each other."
"I don't need looking after."
"No and neither do I." He looks at me pointedly. "Everyone needs looking after Jake, stop being stubborn and let people in." He smiles as Chap and Whip try to come in quietly but manage to make more noise than ever. "I have no idea how they save lives when they're this clumsy all the time." Jake laughs as they appear in the doorway.
"We have food. Lots and lots of food."
"We can see that. Now you have to put it all away."
"I'll help." Jake says but I lay back against him.
"Nope you make a better cushion." He laughs as I look at the three of them. We may be dysfunctional and an unusual collection of people but these guys are the closest thing I have to family and they make me happy, even in times when it feels like I'll never be happy again.
