What's she Worth to You?

A Mother's Love

J A Y

I shoot a look over to Naya, who has moved over to the chair to sit with Brooke. She hasn't said much since Noah and Erin left, but it's apparent that she isn't exactly ecstatic about the situation. Naya has said a few things to her since she went over there, yet she's only met her words with a silent nod, if even that. 

"You know," she starts in a whisper and Brooke hazily shifts her eyes toward her again, its almost as if she's completely checked out and everything we say is simply background noise. 
"I'm not letting you go into this alone, baby." To this, she looks back to the floor and nods her head. Naya huffs out a sad sigh, I'm sure it pains her to see Brooke this scared just as it does me. She lifts her arm and puts it around her, running a gentle hand through her hair, which has grown a considerable length since we found her down in that basement. Hell, she has grown a lot since we found her. 
"We love you, Brooke," she says softly, calling her by her real name which gets her attention very quickly. She looks up to her, turning her head this time to meet her eyes. She looks down at her, moving her hand from her shoulder to the back of her neck, gently holding her head.
"We wouldn't be doing this if we didn't think you'd be safe, sweet girl." I watch as tears well up in Brooke's eyes, yet she simply nods her head just once and tries her best to hold herself together. Naya shakes her head and runs another careful hand through her long, dark hair.
"Don't cry baby," she whispers before leaning in and kissing her tenderly on the forehead. Brooke takes this opportunity to grab onto Naya's neck and bury her face in her shirt. Naya looks up and makes quiet eye contact with me before nodding me over slowly. She brings her hand to cradle the back of her head and rocks her back and forth subtly to try to help her calm down.

I walk over to the chair quietly and sit down next to her, laying a hand on her back, to which she jumps just slightly, yet realizes it's just me and relaxes. I don't want to say anything just yet, I'd hate to overwhelm her. Plus, Naya has always been the better speaker, even when her English wasn't the greatest. One word from her could soothe almost anyone or anything it seemed, it's been that way ever since I came to know her.

I take a moment to acknowledge just how violently she's shaking and my heart breaks a little for her. I watch as her body bounces as she silently cries into Naya's shirt before a loud sob falls from her mouth and she truly loses it. Naya tightens her grip and looks up at me, sending me a concerned look and I send one right back. I had no clue she would be this upset.

"I'm scared," she stammers and Naya tucks a piece of hair behind her ear which causes her to shiver.

"I know, Brooke," I whisper and she sniffs, opening her eyes as another wave of tears fall, despite how desperately she tries to control them. Naya reaches a hand to her cheek and wipes her tears away slowly, trying not to scare her by moving too quickly. She leans her head down and whispers 'It's okay' before placing a kiss on the side of her head just above her ear. This just causes her crying to intensify and Naya sends me a look to which I send one right back. There must be something else going on.

"I'm sorry," she says apologetically yet Brooke simply lets out an uneasy breath, lifting her head and wiping her eyes with the back if her hand.

"No," she says shakily.
"You didn't do anything wrong," she sniffs and looks back to her. She doesn't say anything for a moment, just stares up at her before taking her hand.
"Thank you," she says in a husky whisper and Naya's head falls to the side slightly.

"What for?" She asks.

"For caring about me so much," she says quietly and Naya's lips turn upwards into a small smile.
"You feel so safe, Naya," she whispers and Naya's face falls, yet not sadly. She lifts a hand to Brooke's face and cups her cheek gently before her small hand grabs at her wrist. She shifts her weight and allows her head to fall into Naya's hand.
"I don't remember a whole lot about what happened to me down there," she starts and we both slightly react in a surprised manner. She hardly ever talks about what she remembers, so her blatant vulnerability comes as quite the shock.
"But what I do know seems like it was hell." We both nod in response and she sighs.
"And it's been a real drag to remember everything little by little," she looks up at her.
"But you have been such a steady hand throughout all of this," her already small voice begins to break and Naya's face falls into a sad expression as more silent tears begin to glide down her face.
"I'm sorry, give me a second," she whispers as she hangs her head for just a moment. I gently rub her back and she sends me a thankful nod as she meets her gaze again. She clears her throat and wipes her tears away one last time before sending Naya half of a smile followed by a small shrug.
"You are the closest thing me and Noah have had..." Her words fall silent and she bites down on her bottom lip as more tears spill from her eyes.