Chapter 29

Brooklynn was out cold for three days straight, Mickie feeding her herbs along with Melina, both of them trying to get her to wake up. Her body had gone through something pretty traumatic, though none of them knew exactly what since Brooklynn was the only one who could see spirits. She was pale white, looking near death, but as the days and nights passed, the color began returning to her face slowly. It was in the middle of the night, on a late Thursday, when Brooklynn's eyes finally opened, feeling like her body had been through a car wreck. Due to the fatigue and trauma, Brooklynn could barely move, but she desperately needed something to drink...and to check on Randy.

"Just lie still." Mickie ordered, sounding like she had been asleep herself, clearing her throat and blinked sleep from her eyes. "Let me get the light..." She carefully turned on the switch, turning it just a little so the lights were very low and dim, knowing anything brighter would overwhelm Brooklynn. "Here, I've got water..." She eased an arm beneath Brooklynn, helping her slowly sit up, using her free arm to prop the pillows against the headboard.

"Thank you." Brooklynn whispered, leaning back as Mickie handed her the cup, sipping it carefully, the cool liquid flowing down her esophagus a welcoming relief. The taste of simple water was exquisite as Brooklynn began downing the whole thing, handing it back over. She could already feel herself becoming rejuvenated, knowing Mickie had probably been working day and night to help her any way she could. "What happened? Is Randy okay? Is Nemesis gone?" She had so many questions, having lost consciousness before the end result.

Mickie knew the onslaught of questions would be coming and had been prepared for them, awake. She took a moment to finish waking up and inhaled. "We don't really know what happened. You were...fighting something that none of us could see. I mean, Taker and I could see this...green, sickly looking aura surrounding you, but...I don't know if Nemesis is gone, either." She admitted apologetically. "I think...I think your parents might be, but I'm not certain. Taker would know more about that." She bit her lower lip hesitantly.

Suddenly, Brooklynn blinked as huge tears slid down her cheeks, closing her eyes as the pain in her heart ignited, feeling like a thousand knives were cutting her to pieces all at once. The image of Mark, hearing his voice, those deep emerald green eyes that held such love for her...Brooklynn couldn't take it as she simply shook her head, curling up in a tight ball, pulling the covers over her. Her entire body trembled, remembering the kiss that ended with her tasting blood, followed by being nearly squeezed to death by Nemesis. He'd tricked her, made her believe Mark had returned, and Brooklynn wasn't sure how much more she could take as the crying turned to heart-wrenching sobs. She just wanted to be left alone, flat out refusing to talk about it with anyone...even Taker. Mickie patted Brooklynn's shoulder sympathetically, awkwardly, knowing if MARK had been here, he would have been the one doing this. Taking care of her and trying to be there for her. Mark was simply Brooklynn's best friend and knew her better than anyone else.

"Look, I'm sure Randy will be fine. His eyes are open, so that's a good thing." She murmured soothingly. "You're up, Brooklynn, he's soon to follow. It'll be all right." She sighed, glancing towards the door. "I'll go let the guys know you're awake." She backed away to give Brooklynn some privacy.

When Brooklynn stopped crying and slowly peeked her head above the comforter, the sun was shining through the blinds. Her head pounded something fierce and her stomach growled at her, knowing she hadn't eaten hardly anything in three or four days. She wasn't quite sure the time length, slowly slipping out of bed, wearing a black nightgown that went to her knees. Peeling it off, she immediately headed for the bathroom, desperately needing a shower, and tried pushing Mark in the back of her mind.

"He's gone and he's not coming back. You have nobody to blame but yourself, you fucking moron." She muttered to herself, turning the sprays on, and stepped inside, letting them instantly assault her.

Bastet had been lurking in the corner of the room, perched on the edge of the chair and now she padded into the bathroom, leaping onto the sink to stare intently at the shower doors. The events with Nemesis flowed from her body and down the drain as Brooklynn simply turned the sprays on as hot as she could stand them. She didn't want to feel Nemesis on her body anymore and took the nearest rag, beginning to scrub her skin until it was red and raw. She couldn't cry anymore because there were no more tears to shed or otherwise she would've. Brooklynn finally sank to her knees as the hot water beat down on her, drawing her knees up to her chest and just closed her eyes.

This was never going to end and Brooklynn felt hopeless, though at least she was at home.

If there was any place she wanted to die, it was here.


"She's awake." Mickie said quietly, glancing at Randy who, unsurprisingly, didn't say anything, just continued staring out the window they had placed him at. "She was...crying."

Taker stood up from his chair.

Mickie held up a hand. "Just give her a-" She sighed, shaking her head when he just brushed by her.


From outside the shower, Bastet's furry little ears suddenly perked, cocking her head and whipped around, growling angrily. Taker had slipped his head through the door, scowling at the cat. He made sure Brooklynn was still hunched on her knees before quickly grabbing Bastet by the scruff and hurling her from the room.

Brooklynn's head snapped up when she felt the shower door open, looking up past the skintight black jeans to a muscled up bare chest until her bloodshot amber eyes locked on acid pools. She really didn't remember what happened, though one thing she remembered clear as day. Moments before her supposed death, she had called out Mark's name.

"I'm not talking about it." She stated in a monotone voice, going back to stare straight ahead, the steam slowly rising around her from how hot the water was. It felt good, cleansing in a way, though Brooklynn couldn't help having flashbacks of what happened in the courtyard.

"I wasn't going to ask." Taker replied blithely, crouching down until they were eye-level and reached out to push a strand of soaking hair off her shoulder, sighing heavily. "What do you think you can keep down?" He asked quietly, knowing if she didn't eat something, she'd probably faint from exhaustion and hunger. Even though she had just woken up after three days of sleep, her body would tire out easily.

"Soup probably with crackers." She whispered, sighing when his hand moved to begin massaging her shoulder, trying to work some of the tension out of it.

Brooklynn was stronger than Taker gave her credit for, though her stomach growled angrily, causing her to sigh heavily. She had to eat and blinked when Taker helped her up from the shower, lifting her out with ease and set her before him. He wrapped a towel around her body, along with his arms, and Brooklynn couldn't help leaning back against him as her eyes closed again. Her body was beaten up; Brooklynn was really surprised she was still here and knew it was because of Randy. She definitely owed that man her life and allowed Taker to guide her out of the bathroom inside the bedroom.

The fact that she hadn't enquired about Randy yet made Taker want to tell her the bad news, inwardly snorting. He guided Brooklynn to the bed, glancing around quickly to make sure the damn cat wasn't anywhere nearby, before walking over to her closet. The woman had more space than even he knew what to do with…almost. Easy to move in, comfortable clothing…this was pretty much all Brooklynn owned; all this money and she was the essence of practicality.

Sick woman.

"Here." He laid the garments down beside her. "I'll have Beth bring something up..."

"Just tell me, Taker." She whispered, her wet hair flowing down her back and shoulders, not even reaching over to grab the garments. "What happened to Randy?" Brooklynn finally looked up at him, preparing herself for whatever Taker had to say.

"He's suffering an altered state of consciousness." He answered bluntly. "A trance would be a better known, perhaps incorrect, term. He's awake if you count both eyes being open, but he's not responding to any of us. He woke up less than a day after...the incident with Nemesis and that was it. He moves, if you move him, he eats, if you put a spoon to his lips, but he doesn't speak or take note of anything around him. He touched you." He added as an afterthought.

"Randy..." She whispered, covering her mouth with her hand and slammed her eyes shut.

It was all because of her that Randy would probably be a vegetable for the rest of his life. Brooklynn stood up from the bed, the towel wrapped securely around her body and slowly walked over to the balcony as the long stretch of land, all the acres she owned, stared back at her. Brooklynn felt wave after wave of guilt crash over her, shoulders slumping in defeat, ready to just give up trying to defeat Nemesis because she was losing everyone she loved.

"Randy will snap out of it." Taker said firmly, not about to have her wallowing in despair, not when she had somehow managed to dispatch the ghosts of her parents. Probably with Randy's help as that had been when everything had gone funny when Randy had touched her. "Maybe he's waiting to hear your voice." He suggested, bitter with himself for even saying it, but the woman was getting to him, making him wish Bastet was around for a good kicking.

"Nemesis disposed of them, Taker. He saw what was happening when Randy touched me and turned them into green mist. Or vapor, I don't really know. The last thing I remember is being blown back and hit something hard..."

Brooklynn sighed heavily, wiping her tears away, already knowing Taker hated it when she cried. She flat out refused to tell him or anyone what lead her to the courtyard. That was something that didn't need to be discussed. She finally turned around, heading back toward the bed.

"I'll get dressed, eat something and then go see him. He saved my life when he touched me and I'll never be able to repay him."

That something had been Randy and then marble; she was lucky she had only slept for three days opposed to three decades. Nodding, Taker stood up and ambled out of the room. He quietly answered the questions thrown at him by Brooklynn's anxious friends before going to stand behind Randy, careful not to touch him, allowing himself a small, fleeting smile. Bastet raised her head from Randy's lap, baring her fangs.

Brooklynn walked in about an hour later, seeing Taker hovering over Randy with his hands clasped behind his back. She wore a simple pair of black pajama pants with a deep green long-sleeved shirt, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Eating really helped her regain strength, though it would be several more days before Brooklynn was feeling 100% again. Slowly walking past Taker to stand in front of Randy, tears filled her eyes at the sight of Bastet. Lifting the cat in her arms as she kissed the top of her head, Brooklynn knelt before her friend. Bastet purred and jumped up on her shoulder, her tail wrapping around Brooklynn's neck while Brooklynn grabbed Randy's hand, feeling how warm it was and stared into his blue eyes.

"Randy, I know you can't hear me... God, how do I do this?" She looked up at Bastet, sighing when the cat nudged her, encouraging her to continue. "You are stronger than this, Randy. I know it and so do you...Why did you do a foolish thing like that and touch me? Why?!" Tears flowed down her cheeks as she brought Randy's hand to her face, closing her eyes and lowered her head. "Please, Randy, please come back to me. I love you; I need you in my life. I lost Mark, but I WON'T lose you. I can't!"

Taker inwardly groaned when she brought Randy's hand to her face, his eyes narrowing in on the flesh of wrist that showed between the soft leather glove and long-sleeved shirt he wore. Randy was very much aware of what was going on around him, he was just a bit...stuck. When he had touched Brooklynn, everything that had been happening to her suddenly had been happening to him; it was like nothing he had ever experienced before. This was becoming normal lately since dealing with Nemesis.

"Lynn?" His voice echoed in her mind, hoping she didn't freak out and break the contact.

Her head snapped up, but never released his hand, lacing their fingers together against her face. "Randy?"

She searched his blue eyes, feeling as though her heart might burst out of her chest, wondering what was happening. Brooklynn could hear him in her mind, he was speaking to her, but he couldn't do it physically. She didn't break eye contact with him as the hope flared within her soul, praying silently she could hear his voice again. When she heard his voice in her mind again, Brooklynn pulled his hand away from her face, hearing his faint scream of protest. She looked down, noticing part of his wrist was sticking out and had made contact with her flesh on flesh, which would usually be dangerous. Something inside of Brooklynn spoke to her as she looked at Bastet and took Randy's hand to remove the glove. Closing her eyes, his bare hand made full contact with her cheek.

"Oh thank god!" Randy's voice flooded her mind, relief tingeing his tone. "Do you have any idea how damn long I've been waiting for someone to do that? Hell no though, they're all afraid to touch me, like usual." A hint of sadness, bitterness crept in. "How many days has it been? How long have you been awake? What happened with Nemesis?"

"Four days, my god I'm so glad you're okay!" Brooklynn sighed with instant relief, a big smile crossing her face, wondering how in the hell Nemesis managed to put Randy in this type of trance. "I woke up late last night and Nemesis wasn't destroyed." She was absolutely thrilled, squeezing his fingers, refusing to break the contact. "Well I'm not them, I'm not afraid of you and I have never been. I'm going to kick your ass though, when you're out of this trance, for what you did, even though I owe you my life..." She kissed his hand. "Thank you, Randy, thank you for what you did. Now, we have to figure out how to get you back."

"Mark would know." Randy thought wistfully, surprised that he actually thought that and knowing the surprise would come across to Brooklynn. The mind wasn't a sacred place when one shared it with someone else. "Maybe Mickie could help?"

"Lynn?" Taker called quietly, wondering what the hell she was doing, though he had an inkling he knew.

"Mark..." Pain flashed across Brooklynn's face as her eyes closed briefly, taking a deep shaky breath, trying not to let the flashbacks enter her mind. It was too late though as her eyes opened, hearing Randy's deep growl resonated in her ears. "Please don't say anything to anyone." She whispered, finally looking up at Taker, though she absolutely refused to break contact. "I can hear Randy. He's speaking to me through my mind. He said...Mark would know what to do to bring him back to us or possibly Mickie. I've never dealt with this kind of spiritual connection before..." Brooklynn sounded almost in awe, looking back into Randy's blank eyes, Bastet having jumped back on his lap.

Randy wasn't too keen with the assault of what had happened coming on since they had been touching. His 'gift', or better called a 'curse', kicking in and showing him just WHAT had led Brooklynn outside. It would be another one of her secrets he would lock away and never mention.

"It's not a spiritual connection, it's his gift that makes the communication possible. I'll get Mickie."