The Family Business

Chapter Seven

Brooklyn awoke. She found herself on a white mattress in a white room. She heard beeping noises. She realized that she was in a hospital room by herself. Her side was covered in white bandage tape and her hands were covered in blood.

A nurse walked in and found the patient awake. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh Praise Jesus! You're alive!" She ran over to Brooklyn.

"What do you mean?" she spoke softly. Her mouth still tasted like blood. She could've gagged, but held it back.

"A nice man and your brothers brought you in. A man had shot you in between the ribs and you lost a lot of blood before they got you here. Your heart had stopped a couple of times but slowly it came back to normal." She smiled sweetly. "We patched you up, but we didn't think you were strong enough to make it. You're one tough cookie."

Brooklyn smiled drowsily. The only person who had ever called her that was her dad. The small thought of her father brought joy to her heart. But then she realized that Gabriel probably told her brothers everything. Probably everything except for their little 'rendezvous'. She would need to explain that it wasn't her choice. But she did wonder who the man was who helped bring her here. "You- said there was a man with my brothers." her voice was barely audible.

"Yes. there was indeed." she answered. "Apparently you had very little time left. Their car wasn't working so they carried you until this man found them and brought you here."

"What's his name?"

"He goes by Tom. Thomas Aiden Parker, I believe. He's seems like a very sweet young man. If you will excuse me, I must go tell the doctor that you're awake." She was filled with excitement. Brooklyn nodded.

A few minutes later, the doctor came in. "How are you feeling young lady?"

"Um, good... I guess?" she managed a little laughter. "For just getting shot and almost dying."

"Yes." he agreed happily. He seemed proud of saving one of his patients life from a near-catastrophic death. "Well, you should be discharged by this time tomorrow. I will go get your family."

A few minutes later Dean and Sam came racing into the room. Eyes filled with concern. Dean was first. He looked at her, amazed beyond belief. He bent over and scooped her up in a hug. Sam was next. He bent over and kissed her on the forehead and hugged her. "We were worried. We almost lost you."

"Like I said" Dean said matter-of-factly, "She's one of the toughest people I know."

She smiled in gratitude. "I should be discharged tomorrow." she told them weakly.

"Yeah, we know." Sam replied. All he could do was smile. He got his sister back from a near-death experience.

"Well, we had some help getting you here. We would've fixed you up ourselves, but you were already too far gone."
"Yeah, I heard." she responded. "I wish I could've been able to say thanks but I guess he had already left early." They smiled.

"Not exactly." He walked in with a bouquet of flowers. They were a different assortment of tulips.

She looked up. Tom was standing there. "Oh. Thank you!" she tried to say with as much enthusiasm as she could. "Are those-- tulips? They're my favorite color too!"

"Yep. I had a little help." he glanced at her brothers. She acknowledged that fact.

"Thank you." she said again.

Tom was a lean, built man. He wore a tight-fitting white T-shirt and some sweatpants. She couldn't deny the sweet smile and impending eyes. She stared at him for a good minute, surprised at how nice he looked. Even if it was just a T-shirt and sweatpants.

Dean elbowed Sam realizing that rare expression on his sister's face. His face twisted into a contorted grin. Sam figured it out and gave a silent 'leave-her-alone' look at Dean. Though he did smile. He hadn't seen that much wonder in her eyes before. That brought happiness to his heart.

She tore her awkward gaze from that man and found her brother's face grinning huge. She cleared her throat. Her cheeks turned red. Tom thought nothing of it. He spoke first.

He looked down at his outfit. "Oh." he laughed. "I was on my way home from the gym when I ran into your brothers."

"O-oh." she butted in. "Don't worry about it. I don't really care." She examined her clothes. After all, she was in a blood-stained tank top and black joggers. "I don't look all that great myself." she giggled.

"Nah." he disagreed. "You look nice." But then he realized that that statement may have been a bit awkward. He scratched the back of his neck, thinking of something to say that would make it less awkward. "Well, you know. Not being dead or anything."

Dean was already jumping like a five-year old. Excited that the beginning of something was happening at that very moment. Sam grabbed his arm to calm him down. But Dean was still beaming on the inside.

She laughed. Then she decided to take the next move. "Can--Can I give you a hug?"

"Sure!" he answered almost immediately. He walked over to her and bent over. They embraced. All Sam and Dean could see was her light fingers and muscular arms wrap around Tom's back. He got back up. "Thanks."

"Any time." he looked over at her brothers. "Well, I need to be heading out. I'm already late to rehearsal."

"Rehearsal for what?" Brooklyn asked.

"Oh, I'm an actor."

They shot confused glances around the room. "Well, we don't really get the chance to watch TV a lot."

"That's ok." he answered back.

"Well, will I see you around?" she pushed even further.

"Yeah! Friday night? Movie?" he offered.

"Great." she responded immediately.

He nodded then left the room.