Hudson guided Brooklyn back to the castle, who kept a hand on his still bleeding arm. So far, nothing bad truly happened to him just yet. He didn't realize that just now, the poison was already making its way through his system.
Upon returning and meeting up with the clan, Goliath had Brooklyn's arm be treated by Angela, who had wrapped it up well. She had asked if he was feeling alright.
Brooklyn nodded. "Yeah, I think so. Don't see any reason to worry yet. I'm sure a good stone sleep would help it along." He assured her. Angela though couldn't shake away the bad feeling growing within her while they took their positions on the balcony, turning to stone.
….
Brooklyn stretched out the next night on waking, coming down off his perch. He followed his clan in when suddenly, he felt stronger pricks of nausea in him, making Brooklyn gasp a bit, holding his stomach. Lex put a hand on his arm.
"Hey, you alright?" he asked.
Brook didn't reply, just nodded, head feeling rather warm. Goliath stood there to discuss patrol assignments while Brooklyn held a hand on his forehead now, wondering what was going on. He didn't feel bad yesterday, why now?
He did his best to pull it together by taking steady breaths, but it was hard when a stomach spasm suddenly got a hold on him. Brook gave a gasp of pain, holding his stomach even more, which was gurgling. His chest, too, was full of pretty bad pain. Hudson noticed, turning in concern.
"Lad? What's wrong?" He asked gently. Goliath noticed, too. Brooklyn looked rather sick, as already his pain was taking its toll.
He whimpered a little. "Oh! G-guys, I-I need a sec…" he croaked, running to the nearest bathroom, feeling everything he ate last night starting to come out. Broadway and Lex looked at one another. Goliath nodded at Hudson to go after Brooklyn to ensure he was safe.
Brooklyn slammed the bathroom stall open just in time when he finally threw up into the toilet. He couldn't stop for quite a long time, tears coming down from his pain.
What's wrong with me? Brooklyn thought in fear and despair, head and vision swimming as he threw up yet again. The door knocked. It was Hudson.
"Are you alright in there, Lad?" Hudson asked.
"No! Aagh!" Brooklyn replied with a gasp as he then threw up again. Hudson knelt down next to him after coming in.
"What's wrong?" He said. Brooklyn looked back at him with a scared and pale face.
"D-don't feel good, n-need help…" Brooklyn groaned, head feeling rather dizzy, and almost fell over. Hudson grabbed him before hitting the floor. He was shocked at how warm the young one felt.
"Easy, lad. We'll get you help," Hudson said, helping Brooklyn up and steadying him. The elder guided Brooklyn out of the bathroom who held his stomach when it threatened to let loose again. Hudson murmured soothing words to him while Goliath waited.
He approached. "What's wrong with Brooklyn?" Hudson looked at Goliath in worry. "He threw up in there and has a bad fever. Get Xanatos." The elder said. Goliath nodded and left. Hudson led Brooklyn to a chair and sat him down. Brooklyn winced in pain and ended up curling in the chair, a hand on his stomach.
"Don' curl up like that, lad. Just breathe easy. Help is coming," Hudson assured him. Brooklyn gazed at his elder with a scared face, trying to do what he requested.
"What's the matter with me…?" He whispered hoarsely. Hudson looked at him with sadness, but tried to smile to reassure Brooklyn. "Yer just a bit sick. The doctor will find out what's causing it and help ye get better." Brooklyn gazed at Hudson with a bit of relief before gasping again and closing his eyes, breathing horsley through his mouth.
Goliath returned with Xanatos who had Dr. Sato with him. Together they brought Brooklyn into the infirmary and laid him down on the exam table. Sato looked him over with his instruments and took a blood sample to see if anything poisonous leaked in.
Hudson held Brooklyn's hand during all of this who was whimpering. He was terrified of this new sickness. Where did it come from? And will he get better? Sato studied the blood in the next room, eyes wide when seeing all sorts of poison bacteria inside; a poison he didn't know. This wasn't good.
He came back with the results. Goliath stood. "Well? Why is he sick?" Goliath demanded, worry in his face. Sato held up his hand while Brook watched fearfully for the answer, stomach nausea making bad spasms.
"I don't want to say this but… he has poison, and it is taking over his system pretty badly. He can't go on patrols for some time until we find a cure, but I don't know if there is one; for I've never seen this kind of poison before."
Brooklyn's face fell. Could this have something to do with that needle he got stuck with? Goliath and Hudson both looked at one another in fear for their Second's life.
"For now keep him under covers and give him gentle food like broth until we come to a conclusion of where this poison came from," Sato said. Hudson nodded. Brooklyn couldn't stop the tears flowing while they took him to the medic bay.
Once arriving they made sure Brooklyn was comfortable, putting in an iv to keep him hydrated since he couldn't swallow water, and even had him take charcoal for helping fight it until finding a cure. Brooklyn wasn't thrilled.
"Hudson… won't the… the stone sleep help?" He croaked after another pain hit his system. Hudson took his hand.
"We'll just wait and see. But you have to take the charcoal, it will help it along," he said gently. Brooklyn then reluctantly nodded. Sato helped with having Brooklyn drink it out of the syringe while Hudson helped him sit up to drink.
It tasted terrible. Brooklyn was happy after it was gone. Hudson then allowed Brooklyn to wash it out but not swallow the water. His nerves felt so tingly with pain that he couldn't lift himself up anymore. Hudson tucked him in.
Sato said before the sun came that he wanted Brooklyn to rest first before he saw his family. Brooklyn didn't object, his eyes were so sleepy, and tiredness and fever heat flooded his body after all this pain that he didn't feel like talking to anybody. The charcoal helped some but didn't completely get rid of the poison. Sato took out the iv when it was time. Hudson told Goliath to meet and turn to stone with the others while he stayed with Brooklyn.
Brooklyn felt the stone covering him and fell into slumber, hoping the stone sleep would rinse out this terrible poison within him.
Hope others like this chapter, too!