The clan over the next two weeks proceeded to start helping Brooklyn build up his wing muscles again, though Goliath still had him not do any patrols yet.

Over the course of time, Brooklyn felt himself opening up to the others a bit more and feeling somewhat better, but Goliath still scared him, reminding him of Thailog.

Angela had also volunteered to read to Brooklyn whenever Elisa had cop duties. One book he liked from her was Peter Pan, and even asked to watch the film with them one day too.

He wasn't so skinny anymore either, and requested other types of food after burgers and chicken, such as spaghetti and other new foods. Broadway wouldn't say no whenever his brother was hungry, glad he was trusting him and Angela again.

Hudson, and sometimes Lexington, had been the ones to help Brook relearn the basic flying techniques, along with landing safely, and staying in sight of the castle since Brooklyn still feared Thailog coming back to steal him away.

The clan were all happy that Brooklyn was starting to trust them again. But Goliath still wondered when Brooklyn would no longer fear him anymore.

Brooklyn, one night during his nap, had a nightmare, dreaming he was in his cell again with Thailog torturing his belly.

…

Thailog approached Brooklyn with a new shackle that was hot red, smirking evilly. Brooklyn screamed and backed away, demons encircling him with red smoke and hissing evilly.

"A new little discipline chain for you, my young plaything…" he purred. Brook felt tears of fright threatening to drown him.

"N-NO! STOP! PLEASE!" Brooklyn sobbed, feeling him putting on the shackle that felt rather heavy, weighing him down, and burning his flesh. He shook all over, feeling that shackle burning him alive, the demon's claws all around his body, Thailog coming around behind him.

Thailog let loose a small soft purr, stroking Brooklyn's shoulders, making him wince from his touch again.

"Mine… mine…" he said in a soft, deadly tone. Brooklyn sobbed his heart out, trying to escape. But Thailog's grip was strong.

"Oh, no no. No running from your owner now… stay with me, Plaything…" Thailog sneered, a cold grip on his arm.

"Stop! Stop it!" squealed Brooklyn, squirming in his enemy's grip, Thailog laughing in his head relentlessly… his stomach bursting with pain as the heat ate through it…

…

"NOOOO!" Brook screamed, shooting up in bed from his nap. The door opened and it was Angela. His eyes watered in embarrassment and he hid under the sheets. She sat down near him.

"Are you okay? Was it a nightmare?" Angela asked softly. Brook couldn't stop shaking, crying. He also felt his stomach, which felt just fine, making him sigh to himself in small relief.

"You'll feel better if you tell me," she said gently, rubbing his shoulder. Brooklyn still remained hidden, but he then spoke in a soft voice.

"D-dream… H-him…" he whispered fearfully. Angela frowned in pity, giving Brooklyn a gentle hug, which he returned, crying into her arms. He had come out from under his blankets.

"You don't have to give me full details yet, it's fine," she said soothingly. Brooklyn then knew he had to tell someone, so he took a nervous breath.

"T-Thailog had tortured me, Angela. He-he had me endure such tests that broke me. I-I don't think I can describe them in full right now," he said in a small scared voice, clinging to her. She smiled softly.

"Everything will be okay, Brooklyn." Angela assured the best she could, but he kept crying.

"I-I dunno if I'll ever be the same as I was before!" he choked miserably.

"We'll work this out. You also have to try your best to reconnect with Goliath. He really misses being near you, Brooklyn." she said. Brooklyn tensed.

"Every time I see him I see…" he said, unable to finish.

Angela nodded in understanding. "Don't worry, Hudson or any of us will be able to help you talk to Goliath." Brooklyn looked at her, a small smile showing on his face, leftover tears coming.

"Thanks," he responded gratefully to Angela, feeling himself calming down from her reassuring words. After that, she let him rest until it was time for him to see Goliath.

….

Hudson had told Goliath that the best place for him to be to talk to Brooklyn was on the couch in the library, and to make sure his wings weren't out to intimidate him. Goliath nodded, wrapping his wings around his shoulders, and sat down to wait for Brooklyn, who was being led out by Angela, legs shaking a little.

Brook shivered, seeing Goliath out there and hearing Thailog laughing at him, wanting to run back, but Angela hugged him comfortingly, which put him at ease a bit. But he still felt wary and shy around his leader.

Goliath gave his best smile. "Hello, Brooklyn," he greeted as gently as possible. Brooklyn's heart thumped as Goliath coaxed him to sit.

Brooklyn did, shaking still, watching Goliath with utter attention and shyness.

"I won't hurt you. I just want to talk to you," he murmured, reaching out to take Brooklyn's hand, but Brooklyn shifted away nervously, shutting his eyes tight when Thailog's image sneered at him again. Goliath looked at his Second sadly.

"I don't mean to frighten you, Brooklyn. You know I would never do what Thailog did to you. I only want to help you." he said gently. "I wish you would talk to me and learn to trust me again, like you have done with all the others."

Goliath had spoken in his softest voice to him. It made the red gargoyle open his eyes and look at his purple leader. He swallowed.

"I... I can't help it... that I still see him... when I see you. He got me to trust him at one point... then betrayed me..." Brooklyn said in a despondent tone, looking down. "And I still have bad dreams about him... hurting me."

The rest of the clan came into the library too, to hear out what was going on. They wanted to know their hurt comrade's story as much as possible as well, if he would tell it.

"I'm sorry Thailog ever did all the things that he did to you, Brooklyn. You certainly didn't deserve them." Goliath said.

"No, you didn't, lad." Hudson added.

"I wish you would tell us what he did to you so we could fully understand what hurt you so badly." Lex tried to coax him into it.

Bronx came up next to Brooklyn and he laid his chin on his left thigh. Brook smiled and petted his head. It helped put him a little more at ease. He also had Angela next to him. He didn't know if he wanted to tell the whole story yet, but his whole clan was there with him now. Now could be the best time.

"This is difficult for me. I only want to tell this story once." Brooklyn declared. He had his clan's full attention.

He proceeded to tell the others of what he remembered being done to him. Being starved, put in maze tests and being hunted for sport, the first shackle being put on him and how it squeezed his stomach all the time when he was hungry or as punishment, being force fed, the fake trust and betrayal, fake rescue, and all the stomach tests. He even mentioned about his appendix bursting and making him sick. Then came that shackle that had the spikes on it, the one that Dr. Sato and Sarai had removed off his stomach after getting him home.

Hearing Brooklyn's story made the clan really understand what had made him so scared of them all, especially Goliath. And no wonder Brooklyn would hold his belly at times. It had been tortured so much, he didn't want it to happen again. It had also taken him so long to regain his full appetite, and he had had to be on probiotics for a month.

"Brooklyn, we promise, if we ever encounter Thailog again, we will make him pay for what he has done to you." Goliath confirmed. "We won't let him harm you anymore."

"We truly want you back out there with us, you know, fighting crime." Broadway gave him a smile. "So, keep building those wing muscles up."

"I have been. Thanks." Brook replied. "And, I'm sorry for the way I've been acting to you all. I mean with giving you the cold shoulder for so long." he apologized.

"There's no need for you to apologize, Brooklyn. You went through a terrible ordeal. We understand that, and just needed time to recover. I know you're still not over it and need more time yet. But we will be there every minute when you need us to help you." Goliath said gently. "I'm proud of you for coming as far as you have, and having the courage to tell us what happened."

"Thanks, Goliath. Thailog just thought I was in the way of him being able to take your place after you were gone. He wanted to make me feel like I wasn't worthy of your leadership." Brooklyn explained.

"You are far more worthy to be our leader than he'll ever be." Angela proclaimed.

"After all, you were our leader when Goliath was away with Elisa and Bronx." Broadway said.

"You were a great leader, Brooklyn." Hudson stated.

The compliments from his clan were making his spirit rise higher. He smiled. It brought tears to his eyes in happiness. "Thanks, everyone."

"Just continue to get better." Goliath said, laying a hand gently on his hand. Brooklyn tried hard not to shy away, but kept his hand there this time.