Happy Thanksgiving everybody! This story's almost done!
The clan awoke the next night, as well as Brooklyn in Hudson's hold. After yawning, Brooklyn at first felt a little confused, but then felt Hudson's hand in his, seeing the castle again and sighed before he suddenly stumbled a little, lightheaded, and dizzy from his fear of nearly being taken away from home again, shaking. He really needed a bed right now. Hudson held Brooklyn in his arms and supported him. The young one's eyes were round and staring at nothing before him.
"Ye need the medic ward, to ensure you haven't sustained any bad injuries," Hudson told the red gargoyle, who just nodded numbly again, sluggishly being guided by Hudson to the infirmary. Brooklyn walked slowly, still staring straight ahead. Hudson didn't ask him any questions until the two were in the infirmary. The scratch on Brooklyn's arm would mend during the day but he would still need looking over from Sato.
Sato greeted them at the door as well as Elisa. She had begun crying and hugged Brooklyn gently. Brook cringed slightly but then gave into her hugs, hugging the one he saw as a mom until Sato had him sit on the bed. He checked Brooklyn's breathing, took some blood to look over and felt his belly.
Brooklyn felt happy that he didn't have to have a cut up stomach or another brand for the doctor to be forced to heal, holding Hudson's hand. All he wanted now was a good long rest from all of this ordeal, tears leaking down his face.
Hudson saw. "What be wrong, Laddie?"
Brooklyn sniffled. "I-I promised to never leave home again but I broke my promise. I'm a horrible gargoyle," he whimpered, laying there on the medic bed, continuing to cry.
Hudson gave the young gargoyle another needed hug. "Ye had been taken against yer will, Brooklyn. Don't hurt yourself with this self-blame." He begged, Brook burying his head into the elder's chest. Sato took off the stethoscope.
"He seems well enough to not have to stay in the infirmary. A couple days in his room should make Brooklyn fit again. He really has gone through so much and he cut it close from being badly injured," the doctor stated, giving Brook a sympathetic look. Brooklyn peered out at the doctor; ears flat, happy about the news of returning to his room.
After they managed to place Brooklyn safely in his bedroom, Brooklyn suddenly thought of one of his friends from his travels: Barry. He wondered how the news of his brother's death would reach Barry. Eventually though, he yawned softly from exhaustion, just wanting to sleep all night now and forget his awful ordeal, laying down on his bed, Hudson putting the blankets around him.
Brook then snuggled into his pillow, Hudson stroking his cheek. At the moment, he felt really fond and protective of the young Second more than before and didn't want to see him in anymore pain again. The red male gazed up tiredly at the elder. "Ye want any food? You seem hungry, lad."
Just the mention of food suddenly made Brook's belly gurgle. He cringed, placing a hand over it. He still couldn't. "N-not yet; not after being nearly sliced," he croaked. Hudson nodded in understanding, taking Brooklyn's hand.
"We'll be nearby if ya need anything. Just rest for now," he soothed, seeing Brooklyn nod, then his eyes closing in much needed sleep.
Hudson and Bronx stayed with Brooklyn the rest of the night. Hudson read a book while Bronx laid by the bed. With his achy old bones, Hudson had to sit in a comfy armchair.
At one point throughout the night, Goliath came into the room to check up on his Second to see how he was doing. "Any changes, Hudson?" he asked.
"No. The lad is sleeping like a baby." Hudson replied.
"I wish I could have met this Anthony to help Brooklyn out of his situation." Goliath said sadly.
"We all do. We all wanted to help the lad out of his predicament, but whatever happened, it's over." Hudson decreed.
"Yeah. Well, I am going to the library. Let me know if anything changes."
"Will do, Lad." Goliath left and Hudson went back to reading until dawn.
Sometime later though Goliath felt the need to visit his Second again. He came into his room, where Brook was currently buried in his blankets, sleeping peacefully. Goliath rubbed the back of his neck, approaching the bed and rubbing the young gargoyle's forehead.
You didn't deserve to be put through all that, Brooklyn. And I'm sorry again for causing this, he thought in sorrow, a frown on his face when imagining Brooklyn being put through such a terrible time with that Anthony, which made him shut his eyes, growling silently. He promised that he would take better care of his Second from this day on.
"Have good dreams, Brooklyn," murmured Goliath when leaving after his biological clock told him that the sun was nearly here. Hudson came into the room and traded places with Goliath and sat on the chair again after feeding Bronx.
…..
Barry and his wife had made it to New York and were going to try to stop Anthony before he did something else. Barry carried a new cell phone with him.
By morning, Barry and Thalia were in their hotel and were about to take off when the cell phone rang. Thalia watched her husband's face carefully as he was getting some news over the phone.
When he hung up, Barry had a stoic look on his face. "Who was that?" Thalia asked.
"It was the police. They told me my brother was dead. And it looked like a very violent death too." Barry explained.
"If he had gotten a hold of Brooklyn and he killed him in self-defense, he deserved it." Thalia exclaimed.
"I know, but he still was my brother too." Barry said. "We need to go to the hospital morgue to identify the body."
"Great." Thalia said sarcastically.
…..
Barry and Thalia went to the morgue to identify the body of his brother who would now need funeral arrangements. Barry said it was his brother. He had been unmasked.
Anthony had reddish blond hair, had dark brown eyes, like evil eyes, and was about 5'9. This was the look of Anthony that Brooklyn had never seen, with the exception of when he had amnesia and didn't remember.
After that, he got what he could of Anthony's belongings from his place here in the city. But it wasn't like he was intending on keeping them. An investigation would be put into what his brother was doing for a living. Barry told the police that he was an animal abuser and hater, all in the cause for Brooklyn, and some revenge for what happened with himself too, in the past of him and his brother not being so nice to each other.
Barry and Thalia planned to go to the Eyrie building tonight.
Thalia called up Xanatos. "David Xanatos here." He picked up.
"Hello? Mr. Xanatos, my name is Thalia Roberts. I am the wife to Barry Roberts. I heard that my brother-in-law is dead. My husband confirmed it. But I am calling to tell you that we know your gargoyle friend, Brooklyn and were coming to help him take him down, but now, we just want to come to make amends. Is that alright?" Thalia asked and explained.
"Yes, Brooklyn told me about you two from his journey home. You can come see him, but he is still a little shaken up about being captured by him again." David declared.
"That's too bad. But does he know how Anthony died?"
"Yes, but it's not something to talk about over the phone. We'll talk when you get here." David said. "Just show your ids to the officer in the lobby downstairs and he should allow you to come right up when you're ready. He'll contact me and I'll let you see Brooklyn when he's ready for company. How's that?"
"Sure. That's fine. We want to see how the poor guy is doing since his second capture." Thalia said. "He was like a son to us when he was with us."
"That's nice to hear."
…..
Later, Barry and Thalia came to the building and were allowed up after showing they were being expected. The officer let them go to the elevators and got in one, going to the top.
In the office, met by Owen Burnett, he showed the couple to David's office.
"So, you two are Barry and Thalia Roberts?" David said.
"Yes, we are." Barry answered. "Where's Brooklyn?"
"He's asleep with the other gargoyles right now. It's not their time to be awake but soon. It's still daylight out." David replied.
"He told us of stone sleep but never witnessed it." Thalia stated.
"It was restored to him." Owen declared.
"That's good. Does he still have a scar on his shoulder?" Thalia asked.
"Yes, he does. He's ashamed to have it, but he's more aware of it being like a badge of honor now, with having survived all that he went through. But it was thanks to you that he doesn't have to look at the brand on his shoulder." David explained.
"Can you tell me how my brother died?" Barry asked.
"That's something you need to talk to Brooklyn about. He was there, not me." David said. "It won't be long before the clan wakes up. An hour or so. Owen can give you both a tour, or something to pass the time." He suggested.
"That would be wonderful, Mr. Xanatos. This place is really picturesque." Thalia smiled.
"This way then, you two." Owen waved his good hand at them to tell them to follow him. They did.
Barry and Thalia were given a tour of the castle grounds and the paradise area below the castle. It was all magnificent. Only someone as rich as this billionaire could afford to have such luxuries in their home.
Soon, the sun went down finally, and roars of awakening gargoyles were heard outside. It surprised the couple.
"That was them, right?" Thalia asked in concern. It had been a bit frightening to hear.
"Yep, that would be the gargoyles." Owen said. "You can stay in this guest room until they are ready to see you."
"Thank you, Mr. Burnett." Barry said.
The doors were shut behind them. It was a different guest room than where the gargoyles were staying.
In Brooklyn's room, he and Hudson woke up too. Glad to be awake and whole again. Brook, Hudson, and Bronx all roared awake and stretched their stiff muscles.
When they came down from the high of waking up, Hudson asked, "How are ye feeling, lad?"
"I feel much better, Hudson." Brooklyn replied. "Thanks for staying with me."
"No problem. Ye feel like seeing the others tonight and having some food?" Hudson asked.
"I'm still shaken but I'll make it. Yeah, I think I can take food tonight." Brook replied.
Brooklyn got out of his nice comfy bed and stretched his leg muscles some more upon standing up. Then they all left his room to go say hi to the others.
The clan wasn't too far from Brooklyn's room when they all stumbled into David and Owen.
"Going somewhere, Xanatos?" Goliath said.
"Yes. I was coming to see you and then Brooklyn. I have some news for you." David began explaining.
"What's that?" Lex asked.
"Everyone, we have some guests right now who would like to meet you all but want to see Brooklyn first." David said.
Brook's face got a worried look. "Who would want to see me?" he asked in a scared tone.
"Surely you are familiar with the names Barry and Thalia Roberts?" Owen declared.
"Yes. Why?"
"They are here to see you, Brooklyn." Owen replied.
"They came to see me. Why?"
"That's what we would like to know. Surely, you know that Anthony Roberts is dead?" David stated.
"Yes. I was there." Brooklyn said.
"How did it happen?" Goliath asked.
"I didn't kill him if that's what you're thinking, even though I wanted to for all that he did to me." Brooklyn explained. "Thailog did it, and he felt betrayed too and he let me go."
The clan and humans were awestruck that Thailog would even go to the lengths of helping one of them. They knew that the black clone would sooner destroy them than help them.
"He said it wasn't my fight with him that night. He would find us another night and deal with the rest of us." Brooklyn said. "As much as I wanted revenge for what Anthony did to me, I was too shaken up at the time anyway."
"It's understandable, Lad. Ye have a good heart." Hudson put a hand on Brooklyn's right shoulder.
"Do you want to see these people, Brooklyn?" Goliath asked.
"Yes. I would like to see some friends again." Brook declared.
"Very well. Show them in." Goliath decreed.
Owen said and he went to go get them.
The clan waited eagerly to meet these friends that their red comrade had spoken of on his journey home.
It wasn't long before the butler came back along with two new humans behind him. Bronx growled a little. "It's alright, boy. Stay calm. Sit down." Hudson said.
The gar dog whined and sat down.
Barry and Thalia were being taken to meet the clan of gargoyles. Their red friend was with them they saw as they approached. There was a wide range of colors among the clan they were seeing, even though there was only seven. Also a range of sizes too. They only noticed one female that was the same color as the giant one of the bunch.
Brooklyn was standing up but a little lower, almost hunched up like he did sometimes. He was a little nervous about seeing his friends again. He hoped they wouldn't think he had killed his brother.
"Hi, Brooklyn." Thalia waved and smiled at him.
"Hi. What brings you two here to New York?" Brook waved and smiled back, a little shy.
"We came to help you overtake my brother's schemes. But I heard that he had been killed. We haven't been told how though." Barry explained.
"Uh…" Brook whimpered.
"It's alright, we won't be mad. If you did out of revenge, he deserved it, Dear." Thalia stated.
"I… didn't do it. A clone of my leader, Goliath here, did it. He betrayed him too and was going to kill him too and Thailog… snapped his neck after a struggle. Thailog let me go. That's how I was able to get away from Anthony." Brooklyn explained.
It wasn't surprising that Thailog would do something like that.
"We're just glad you're safe, Brooklyn." Thalia said.
"Did you ever see what my brother looked like underneath his mask, Brook?" Barry asked.
"No. He and his men always wore masks. If he showed me what he looked like when I had amnesia, I don't remember." Brooklyn stated.
"Well, my brother is at the morgue now. I have to figure out what to do with his body. But here, I have this picture from a long time ago when we were young men in the same house before we parted ways." Barry took out a picture and showed it to the gargoyles.
"We're sorry you and your brother weren't so friendly with each other." Angela spoke up.
"Thanks. Who are you?" Thalia asked.
"Angela."
"Oh yeah. Brooklyn told us about you all."
The clan went around saying all their names to the couple. "It is nice to finally meet all of you." Barry smiled at them. "We are just happy that our young friend here is well and healthy and back with his family. Don't take each other for granted."
"We don't do that. We know that there is nothing more important than family." Goliath declared. "Thanks for your kind words."
Those words instantly made Angela think of what her mother, Demona said to her when they first started talking to each other as official mother and daughter. To be part of a clan was to always be there for one another.
"You're welcome, Goliath." Thalia replied.
Bronx wanted to go up and sniff their guests. The couple cringed a little at the gar dog. "It's alright. He won't hurt you." Brooklyn said.
"He is kinda cute looking for such a big boy." Thalia said.
At that, Bronx wagged his tail and whined in happiness, licking her hand, thus getting the woman to pet his head.
"He's a good boy there." Barry also petted the gar dog. Bronx loved the attention.
"Not long ago, Bronx was on his own little lost adventure in Pennsylvania." Brook said. "But we got him back."
"Hope he was alright while he was there." Thalia stated.
"Yeah, he was but definitely gave us a scare." Lex said.
"It's a relief to always get lost family members back home. A lot of lost pets don't always make it home." Thalia explained. "And there are a few special cases where some animals found their way home from a long distance away from somewhere else, like with Brooklyn's long journey home."
"Yeah." Brook agreed.
"Well, we came to just see how things were going for you, Brooklyn. And we see that you are doing well. But if you ever want to call and talk to us, you're welcome to." Barry said as he handed the red male a card with their phone number on it.
"Are you going to stay in New York, or going home to Wisconsin?" Brook asked.
"We're going home to Wisconsin but wish you luck in your life in the future. We also hope you find a soulmate for yourself." Thalia declared.
"Take care everyone. We need to get going." Barry said. "It was good to see you again, Brooklyn. Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Brooklyn waved goodbye to his friends.
After the older couple was gone, the clan went about their nightly rituals. Brooklyn still wasn't ready for patrol yet, but it got him thinking about his two younger friends, Dave and Bobbi. He really needed to reunite with them to show them that he was back and safe with his clan now. Oh well, he could do that later. For now he was happy just to be with his close family and at home.