Chapter Five
Brook
"Hey," I say, smiling through the tears as I slowly approach Dean.
"Let me just check something," the nurse says, messing with his IV. "Okay, you're good." She smiles at him, then says to me, "It may be hard for him to talk after the surgery." She points to her neck.
I nod. "Okay."
She leaves and I step closer to Dean.
"I've been waiting for you to wake up," I say, trying really hard to smile.
"Come here," he whispers, opening his hand. He's too weak to reach his arm out. Just hours ago, he could lift me off the ground with no effort at all, and now he can't even lift his arm.
"I'm right here," I say, taking his hand as I stand by his bed. I'm trying to look at him but I keep looking away. It's so hard to see him like this. I can't believe his own father would do this. If they ever find him, he should be locked away for life.
"I'm sorry," he whispers, his eyes fluttering.
"For what? You don't have to be sorry."
"We were..." He takes a breath. "Tell people."
I rub his hand. "It's okay. We'll tell them later. When you're better."
His eyes move slowly over my face. "I could see you."
"What?" I ask, not sure what he means.
"When everything went black, I saw you."
"You mean when you were sleeping?"
His other hand lifts to the bandage on his throat.
"Dean, what's wrong? Do you need me to get the nurse?"
"No," he whispers, lowering his hand.
Keeping hold of his hand, I move a chair over and sit beside his bed. "How are you feeling?"
It's a dumb question. Given how he looks, I'm sure he feels awful but I didn't know what else to say.
"Better." He softly smiles. "With you."
I smile back. "I'll stay as long as they let me." I lean closer to him and whisper, "I had to tell them I'm your sister to get in here. Just play along if they ask."
"Sister?" he laughs, then cringes, his hand going back to his neck.
"Are you okay?" I ask, getting up.
"Yeah." He lowers his hand. "How long?"
"Have I been here? Hours. I came as soon as I found out."
"How long..." he takes a breath, "have I been here?"
"Since this morning."
