At the Hospital - Part I

Hospital in Maine

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Brooke Bishop Kieran Collins

Brooke has been coming in and out of consciousness for the last few hours. Whatever drug, or magic, that they put in her system is slow to come out. As time goes on, and the more IV fluids and blood that are pumped into her, she seems to be waking for longer, more coherent periods of time.
Rory had splinted her wrist, but when she first got to the hospital, they wrapped it in a cast to set the bone.
Lashes flutter open, and she stares up at the ceiling, trying to recall where she is. The lighting is different from that in the cell, and it feels and looks cleaner.
"Kieran…"
For some reason she recalls him being there at some point. Whether that was just wishful thinking or not, she can't remember.

~*~

Kieran has not left Brooke's side, except when the doctors took her places that he wasn't allowed to go. At those moments it was difficult to convince him to not barge in and hover anyway. His Child isn't there to keep him contained, and Kieran really isn't good at taking orders. Surprisingly, it was Bainbridge, who came along to coordinate things at the hospital with The Priory in Maine, who convinced Kieran to let the doctors do their job. More surprisingly, Kieran listened. Not because he felt threatened by the Priory novice, but because the young man showed himself well during the rescue with how he took the lead topside, and also Kieran has a measure of respect for the stones he shows standing up to the agitated vampire.
Kieran is by her side, reaching out to take her hand gently, and stroke his fingers over the back of it the moment he senses Brooke beginning to stir. "I'm here, luv. I'm here."
He lifts her hand as much as he dares, careful of the IV, and then leans the rest of the way to kiss her fingertips. "We got you out of there. You're in the hospital right now. You're safe, luv."

~*~

"I thought…" Brooke seems to relax quite a bit when he touches her. Her entire body shows it. All the tension she was feeling in those moments of waking recedes, and her shoulders relax.
Then they come rushing back.
"Siobhan? Lizzie? Did the girls get out? It's my fault they got Siobhan. She just stopped in for a visit on her way to Boston when they came in…"
Beat.
"Oh my god… Lady… is she alright? They didn't find her did they? She was such a good puppy, Kieran, she hid under the table quietly the entire time…"

~*~

Kieran shifts closer, dragging the chair with him. There's not a whole lot of closer that he can get, and his knees touch the bed when he's finally where he wants to be. "Siobhan and Lizzie were rescued, too. They're going to be fine." Kieran can't tell her what happened or what's wrong with them because he doesn't know. He's been worried about Brooke the whole time. He'll have to flag Brainbridge down sometime and see if the boy knows anything, if only to soothe Brooke's worry.
"It wasn't your fault, luv, none of it was your fault. You can't think like that."
He gives her hand a gentle squeeze then leans in to brush his lips over her forehead. "Lady has a new best friend. Kayla, from the Priory, seems to have become her aunt, though I know she's missing her mum."

~*~

"Okay. Good."
Brooke closes her eyes, and then shifts on the bed. Her entire body aches, and there's a sense that beyond the cast they've done some more tests to her.
"Come up here. There's room," she tells him quietly.
"Did you get them? I mean, the people that did this? Where's Sera?"
Beat.
"Kieran, you're covered in blood! It's not yours I hope." Her brain is telling her that she mentioned that earlier too, and she winces.
"They… she… the doctor… fae." Closing her eyes, she recalls the scene. "Used some magic to shove her hand into my abdomen. It burned. She was looking for something… and she kept calling us hybrids. I think she thought we were the key to something."

~*~

"Yes, we got them." Kieran's voice hardens a little, for just a moment. He's not going to tell her about the fae that got away, not yet. "Gideon has a few he's going to question. A wolf named Cruz seems to be the most wanted dead man by all the local packs and the vampires of the region." Kieran is certain Gideon will be happy to comply. He just wishes he could be there to see it. Or help.
"Sera stayed back with Bryn. She's helping organize things and sort out the others who were kidnapped like you." He gives a faint smile, stroking his thumb over Brooke's hand again. "She's good at it."
He looks down at his shirt and pants. They're ruined, he knows, and he knows he looks a wreck. No one's bothered to argue with him, though the nurses have given him a few chiding Mom looks. "They bought me scrubs. I didn't want to leave to clean up and change in case you woke up while I wasn't here."
Brooke's recollection makes Kieran doubly annoyed that he can't find that fae woman and rip her head out. He holds it in and smoothes his hand through Brooke's hair. "Shh. You can talk to Bryn and your aunt about that later. Don't get yourself worked up. Your body has been through a lot, and you need to let yourself recuperate."
Beat.
"If you give me a couple of minutes, I can get changed and stretch out with you."

~*~

"Good."
The mention of Cruz causes the witch to shudder. "That man… he… I think he was going to try to take the girls somewhere else." Only their escape seemed to stop him from doing it. Which, as far as Brooke is concerned, is a good thing.
"They make a good team."
Beat.
"Scrubs?" Right, they're in a hospital. "Why didn't you just get clothes from home?"
There's a very slow nod, and she rests her head against the pillows. "Okay, Kieran. I'm not going anywhere."

~*~

"He was trying to make off with Siobhan when Bryn captured him." That much Kieran does know. "He's in Gideon's custody now." Which means his life expectancy is very short.
"They do. I've never seen her in action like that before." The way she handled Sibohan's brother, soothed Bainbridge and even managed to settle into something of an agreeable peace with Ria speak volumes about his Child. Kieran hasn't the patience or the caring to deal with most humans that way unless there's something in it for him.
"Too much trouble at the time," Kieran confesses. "Having someone bring things or courier them to Maine. The scrubs will do." If Brooke is going to be here a few days, then Kieran will just have something sent or bought for him.
Kieran smirks and kisses her forehead. "No, you're not."
Giving her hand another squeeze, he promises to be quick and heads into the bathroom to change and wash some of the remaining blood off of his body.

~*~

"Maine? We're in Maine?" Brooke did have a feeling they were no longer in New York, but it just seems weird to her that they'd be in Maine of all places. "When I think of a villainous lair, I don't think of Maine." It almost makes her think about laughing, but her abdomen still hurts quite a bit.
"Send someone to buy you something later, though I think you'll look nice in scrubs. I'd offer to play doctor, but I don't think I'm in the shape for it."

~*~

Kieran does chuckle. "Yes, it's not quite where you expect the big bad men to hide out. Maybe beneath the desert or deep in the mountains."
Beat.
"Tell you what. When we get you home and you're all recovered, I'll let you play doctor and anything else you want."
He only takes a few minutes in the bathroom. He is a vampire after all and capable of moving quickly. He dumps his old clothes in the biohazard bin; he's not going to be taking them home to clean them. Returning to Brooke's side, he slips up on the bed beside her, careful to get on the side opposite of the IV, and gently adjusts her against him. Burying his face in her hair, he sighs. "I was so worried about you. I was terrified that I'd lost you and I feel like I've only just found you."

~*~

It's only when Kieran's arms are around her that Brooke breaks down. The tears won't stop, and although they're silent, they draw a river down her face.
"I told the girls… to try to get away… to get help." While a woman's hand was rifling around in her abdomen.
The witch tries to cast a healing spell on herself, but she feels so completely drained that it almost hurts. Wincing, she reaches up to wipe her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Kieran. I would've fought back but they threatened to shoot and kill Siobhan."

~*~

"Hey, stop that." Kieran tightens his arms around her. The vampire presses a kiss to her temple. "It's not your fault. Nothing that happened was your fault. They broke into your flat and took you away. I never would have expected you to try and trade your life for someone else's." That's just not how Brooke is.
He strokes his hands over her back and gently rocks her as much as he can. "The important thing is that you're fine now. You're safe. Siobhan is safe." Beat. "Most of them are never going to hurt another person again."

~*~

"They did something… we were unable to use magic, but they still could." Brooke does her best to do what he says, but she needs to let it out somehow so that she doesn't break down later.
"I don't want to go home," she says quietly. "Not without a better security system. When I get out of here, can Lady and I come stay with you until I sublet my place? I don't want to be alone."

~*~

"I wasn't talking about your flat," Kieran says simply. "You're not going back there anymore." There is no room for discussion or conversation about it. Kieran never intended to let Brooke return to her flat, not after what happened.
"Kayla has been staying with Lady at your place, but as soon as you're back in the city, we'll have her brought to our place. I know you wanted to make it more Brooke-friendly, but you're going to have to do that once you're moved in, instead of forward planning."
Kieran rubs a hand over her shoulder and down her side. "I'm taking off work for at least a week, maybe two and if I absolutely have to step out for an emergency, I'm sure Sera will be happy to come keep you company."

~*~

"Kieran…" Brooke wants to argue with him about it, but she honestly can't. She doesn't want to be alone at all. She needs to surround herself with friends and family.
"… can you at least forward my number to one of the lines at your place before we get back? Just in case I get work calls, or Bridget calling? My sister has my cell, but she'll probably try me at home first…"
Relaxing, now that it's settled, she takes a deep breath.
"I never thought for a second that you wouldn't find me."

~*~

"Your number, your mail, everything that you need." Once she's sleeping again, and Kieran has no doubt she will be, he'll make a few phone calls to get everything started. She is not going back to her old flat, no matter what.
"I never gave up finding you." Kieran shifts a little and draws her closer against him. "I called Bryn as soon as I realized you were missing, and checked a few of my contacts too. The Priory has good resources."

~*~

"My business cards?" Brooke is just teasing on that one. "My clothes. I need my clothes, and there are boxes and chests hidden in my livingroom. Take Bryn with you for those? He's probably the only one that can see them. I spell them so that only a magic user can detect their presence."
There's a wince as she shifts so she can look over her shoulder.
"I'm glad you realized I was gone. I was worried you'd just get angry at me for standing you up."

~*~

"Those too if needed," Kieran isn't teasing. He wants it to be clear that she's moving into his place and that's her new residence. At least until he finds something that can be theirs. That was Sera's suggestion: move Brooke in temporarily, but find a new place because the penthouse will always be Kieran's penthouse.
"Noted. Hidden magical boxes and chests that I need Bryn to help move and locate."
Kieran presses lips to her cheek. "I was annoyed, then concerned when you didn't answer your phone or text messages. I thought I might have unintentionally pissed you off, but when I got to your place, I knew differently."
Beat.
"We could set up a dog run for Lady on the rooftop terrace, and one inside." It's a strange non-sequitor, but he knows Brooke is attached to the pup and vice-versa.

~*~

"And the garden. I need gardening stuff." Brooke's eyes are filled with tears again, but only because he's being extremely thoughtful. As much as Kieran shows the softer side of him to her, it's not quite like this.
"Lady would love a run up on the terrace, and if you don't mind giving up a room for her to play in while we're not there…"
Beat.
"I'd like a few of my things though. My reading chair at least…"

~*~

Kieran chuckles softly. It's good to hear her plan like this and ask for things she needs. It's good that she isn't going to resist. It doesn't mean that there isn't going to be some difficulty ahead - with the Coven and with her family. In fact, he's surprised that her aunt hasn't tried to hex him or stake him already.
"Why don't we make a list after you're rested up a bit more? I'll give it to Sera and she'll take care of things for you."

~*~

"Yes, Kieran. I'll rest. I likely need it before mum and dad show up." Brooke blinks at that a few times, then rolls as gently as she can to face him.
"It's true, what they kept telling me, isn't it? I'm a hybrid, so my dad isn't my biological father."
For a moment she wonders if Kieran knows, and then she realizes he can likely scent, or at least taste that she's different from other witches.

~*~

"I'm not going anywhere," Kieran promises. "I won't leave you alone." He will need to feed eventually, but Bryn was kind enough to make arrangements for him. Blood bags aren't ideal after what he put his body through, but they'll do and they weren't so difficult to access and make arrangements for access here at the hospital. He might supplement with a nurse or two, but Kieran is capable of discretion.
Kieran sighs against the top of her head, tucking it beneath her chin. "Yes, you are a hybrid. Just like your little mentoree."
Beat.
"Though maybe you should wait to have that conversation until you're more recovered."

~*~

"It won't change anything. My dad is my father, and that's the end of that." Brooke glances over her shoulder toward the door, on the off chance that her parents are entering. When she sees that they aren't, she turns back toward Kieran.
"All that it means is that I have a greater affinity for sorcerer magic than I originally thought, right?"
Beat.
"You should go take care of yourself. What if someone opens the curtains in this room? I'll be alright. I'm sure the nurses won't let anything happen to me."

~*~

"I will."
Beat.
"As soon as you're asleep, luv, or when your family gets here." Kieran really doesn't want to leave her alone. She can put up a brave front, but seh probably won't like being alone either.
"Well, if someone does, they'll be amazed at how quickly an old man moves," Kieran teases.

~*~

"You're younger than I am," Brooke replies with a laugh. "At least in how old you look."
The witch honestly doesn't want to be alone. She wants him to stay with her and not move for as long as she's here. She won't tell him that though. There has been enough in the last few days where she had to show how weak she was. As much as she's submissive, she hates being weak.
"They'll be here soon. They likely had to wait for Bridget to make sure someone would keep an eye on the twins. If not, get Sera to come in and see me. She'll keep me safe."
Beat.
"I should rest a little. I don't want to. I want to go home… but everything is weak, and sore, and I need to get well enough that you can take me home and not have to play nursemaid."

~*~

"The sooner you're rested, the sooner you'll be able to get released and come home." Kieran strokes his hand through her hair. It would be so easy to fix this by giving her blood, but he loves her and he's not going to be stupid. Until they figure out what exactly was done to her, or at least are certain that she's not going to be adversely affected in the future, he can't risk messing around with his blood in her system.
"Go on and close your eyes. I'll be right here until you fall asleep." He'll find the doctor then and see what the woman will tell him about Brooke's status. Barring that, he'll see if he can get Dr. Knight to take a look at Brooke's chart. The sorcerer's daughter just came from the same hell as Brooke, he'll probably be understanding.

~*~

Brooke clutches his hand tightly. "Just don't leave me alone. I don't want to wake up alone right now." She doesn't care who is in the room with her, so long as they're a friendly, known face.
"Sera, or Bryn, or my parents… I don't care. I just don't want to wake up alone."
Closing her eyes, she twists her body back around as gently as she can and rests her back against his stomach. "Thank you… for finding me…" The words are interrupted by a bit of a yawn, and a little stretch of her legs.

~*~

"You have my word. Wild horses won't drag me out of here unless there's someone else to sit with you," Kieran promises. When her family does arrive, he'll give them his cell and tell them that Brooke doesn't want to wake up alone. Hopefully, whatever her feelings on the matter, and what she's figured out or not figured out, Ria won't tip them off about Kieran, if only for Brooke's sake.

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