Another few days passed after Thalia and Barry's visit to see Brooklyn. The red male continued his recovery, which had been going well now that Anthony was dead. The other gargoyles, minus Hudson and Bronx were out on patrol, leaving the three to remain behind since Brooklyn wasn't ready for patrol still.
Brooklyn was gazing out at the city on the parapets that evening, thinking about all the pain he had gone through, making some tears fall down his face. Hudson had come out at that moment, seeing the young Second having another moment.
The brown gargoyle frowned, a hand on Brooklyn's shoulder, who had tensed up but saw only Hudson there. He glanced away from the elder. "Why the tears, Laddie? Anthony is gone, ye should be happy." Hudson questioned in concern.
Brook sniffled, wiping the tears away. "It- I was only thinking; why must people like Anthony hate us? We do our best to be nice to everybody, but they still want to make our lives miserable," he choked, hugging himself.
Hudson sighed, shaking his head. He offered Brooklyn into his arms and wings, Brooklyn accepting it. "I see why yer upset lad, but the only way out of dark moments as these is to think about the good, honorable, and truthful people on this earth, like Elisa, and yer friends you've met. That's the best we can do to live this life."
Brook nodded, but then rubbed the scar where his brand had been. Even though his abuse was done, he still had stone sleep daymares about his time among the horrible humans. He wanted them to go away. "B-but Hudson, I just want my daymares to end. Each day of sleep, I keep dreading entering the dream world where my memory of Anthony returns to hurt me."
Hudson just smiles gently. "Just like old wounds, Brooklyn, the pain sometimes doesn't always go away. You just need to keep fighting back against the bad dreams until they surrender. That's my remedy."
Brook eventually then sat down, legs up. "I hope I won't get ignored again like before. It really hurt me too, Hudson. I feel like the only time they paid attention to me was to either yell at me or when I'm hurt," he said shakily. Hudson inside felt sorry for Brooklyn, rubbing his shoulder. "Don't think that way. We won't ever take ye fer granted, lad. We're all fond of ya." Bronx then came, woofing and licking Brooklyn's cheek, making him chuckle a bit.
"Thank you, Hudson. J-just glad I'm not on my own anymore. But, whenever the time comes, any chance I can see Dave and Bobbi again? I want them to know I'm ok. I feel strong enough to do it," he pleaded.
Hudson wasn't sure about it, a little smile on his face. "It'll be great fer ya to see your little friends again but it may need one more week," he stated. Brooklyn looked a little disappointed but nodded. It would be best.
Suddenly, there was a rush of wings, and Brooklyn, to his surprise saw his two brothers minus Goliath and Angela. Lex had something in his hands and a smile on his face.
"Guys? Where's Goliath and Angela?" Brooklyn asked nervously, stepping back a bit.
Broadway shrugged. "The two are off finishing patrol because Angela said the three of us should hang out again after you've been gone for so long. Lex brought a new game for us to play. It's a multiplayer game."
Brooklyn felt shocked but pleased. He couldn't remember the three of them just sitting down to a video game since Angela came. Tears showed in his eyes again as the brothers hugged.
"Thank you, I-I-" Brook couldn't finish but kept on embracing his brother's hold on him. Lexington smiled again, happy to see his brother happy as the three went inside to play the new game.
….
Once Brooklyn felt even more recovered after his final week, Goliath claimed his Second felt well enough to try and find the two street kids again.
Goliath and Brooklyn flew to Elisa's apartment to get the scoop on their address. Brook was feeling fine enough to be out of the castle for right now but not wanting to be away too long. Being away from home for too long had that effect on him.
Elisa was cooking some steaks when there was a knock on her window. She turned to see her love and his Second opening up the window. "Goliath, Brooklyn, this is a surprise. What brings you by tonight?" she asked in surprise.
"Hi Elisa." Goliath said, smiling.
"Hey, Elisa, I was wanting to find out where my two friends, Dave and Bobbi live. I think it's time I reunited with them to show them I'm alright." Brook explained.
"Sure, I'm sure the kids would like that. They said to keep in touch with them if there were any reports concerning you. I know I've been really busy of late to tell them. But yeah, given it's not too late, I could give their house a call." Elisa declared.
"Do their parents know that they were protected by a gargoyle on the streets?" Brook asked.
"Yes, they know now. They are grateful that you kept the kids from being hurt that night so long ago. Dave was injured that night. Just a scratch on the head, but it could have been worse." Elisa explained. "The parents were worried about you guys, but the kids were insistent that you all were protectors like the police."
Right after that talk, Elisa went to her phone and dialed the number. Brooklyn and Goliath waited patiently while she did the talking. Her face seemed to be brightening up the more she talked.
When Elisa hung up, she had a smile on her face. "Good news, Brooklyn, you can see the kids tomorrow night in their backyard about eight thirty. Is that alright?" she asked him.
Brooklyn instantly smiled back. "That'd be awesome!" He raised his voice excitedly.
"Ok, ok, calm down!" Elisa giggled at his reply. This was the most excited the red male had been in a while.
"Thanks for your help, Elisa." Goliath stated. "Well, we'll go now."
"Wait, here the address." Elisa said as she handed her love a piece of paper.
They would head there tomorrow night.
On the way back to the castle, Brooklyn spoke up, "I don't mind you coming with me to see them tomorrow, Goliath, but could you let me see them on my own?"
"Of course, if that is what you want." Goliath replied.
"It is. It's something I need to do for myself." Brook stated.
At home, Brooklyn went to his room to try to think about what he was going to say to his friends tomorrow night. He was nervous about it. He hoped they didn't think any less of him. After all, being shot with a tranquilizer dart, he couldn't fight the effects for long all that time ago. But he had saved their lives. That had to count for something. And Dave and Bobbi had been reunited with their parents safely.
…..
The next evening, it was well after dark by 8:30.
Brooklyn had wanted to get going so bad that he wasn't even willing to eat breakfast he was so nervous. Goliath knew the feeling at times. But he wasn't letting his Second go out alone now.
Brooklyn wanted to be on time for the meeting. The gargoyles didn't always watch the time by clock, they just felt it in their internal clocks. Usually, they didn't care much about the time other than when dawn was coming. Then there was the occasional worry of wanting to watch a show on tv.
When the time drew nearer to take off, Goliath and Brooklyn left the castle to go to the address they were told it was. As they glided over the high buildings of New York, they soon headed into the suburban areas of Brooklyn itself. Seemed almost ironic.
From the air, the two lead gargoyles were looking at addresses and wanting to make sure they found the right one. Soon, they did, and they flew to the backyard and made sure they wouldn't be spotted and landed in near some bushes. They stayed in hiding. They folded their wings over their shoulders and took to waiting.
Elisa had talked to Dave last night on the phone. She was sure the kids would be out there on time for their meeting.
Goliath and Brook could see movement inside the house, and what looked like the kids. And right at 8:30, the back door opened. Brooklyn's heart skipped a beat. He had butterflies in his stomach.
"Hello? Brooklyn? Are you out here?" Dave called out in a quiet-like voice.
"I'll stay here. Go on." Goliath encouraged him. He stepped back.
"Thanks." Brook replied and then stepped forward. "Yes, Dave, I'm here."
The kids were in shock. Then Bobbi ran up to him and gave him an instant hug with tears in her eyes. "Oh Brooklyn! We thought you were gone forever!" She sobbed.
Brooklyn hugged her in return. "I thought so too, Bobbi. I missed you guys too."
Dave came up and helped untangle Bobbi from the gargoyle's chest. "Where were you taken? How did you get away?" he asked.
"I was sold to a guy named Anthony Roberts and he took me to Montana. Out there, he abused me. He beat me, did tests on me, he took away my stone sleep, he even made me lose my memory for a time. It wasn't easy getting away. Getting away also came with a price that was being shot and wounded." Brooklyn explained.
"That's awful." Bobbi said.
"Yeah. But I also came across some kids who helped me get better. I had a long journey in front of me. I also came across Anthony's brother in Wisconsin. They took care of me too. Then I later took care of a wounded wolf when I was on an island over one of the Great Lakes. Of course, we were good friends, but I couldn't bring her with me. And then I got sick when I made it back to New York finally. It was a long and lonely journey through the states." Brooklyn explained some more.
"Then I had to get well again before now. And I had to face Anthony one final time. An evil clone of my leader, Goliath took care of him. It's been one wild ride to get to this point. I never forgot you two, but I had to get better before I was ready to see you again. I'm glad you were reunited with your parents. It wasn't right to be on the streets. It was too dangerous. But what happened to Kenny?" He asked.
"Kenny went to jail I'm afraid." Dave replied.
"He betrayed you, Brooklyn." Bobbi stated. "He was the one that turned us in to Radar and his goons."
Figures Kenny would. He seemed like a doubter. Brooklyn thought.
"Well, anyway. What have you guys been doing since you got home?" He then asked the kids.
"Going back to school. We've also been working on our relationship with our parents, and they have been more understanding with us. We try to stay out of trouble." Dave replied.
"Good to hear. The same goes with my clan. They've been more attentive to me while I was healing." Brook said.
"Do you have your stone sleep back?" Bobbi asked.
"Yes. It was restored to me. I've had it all my life and it gives me the strength I need to recover from injuries and drugs." Brook stated.
"Well, an idea popped into my head last night. If you guys aren't too busy when you aren't in school, maybe you could even help other runaway kids." Brooklyn suggested. "Or former ones like yourselves."
Dave and Bobbi looked at each other. "It does sound like a good idea." Dave said. "But we have to see how things go first since we are in school right now. Maybe one day. And we should see what our parents say too."
"That's good." Brook declared.
Then, a voice from the house came, "Dave, Bobbi, time to come in, kids." It was the kids' father.
"Well, it was nice to see you again, Brooklyn, and hope to see you again real soon. Glad you're well." Bobbi said as she gave him one last hug before going in.
"We missed you and definitely want to hang out again soon. And we'll give the suggestion a thought." Dave stated. "Good night. See you later."
"Bye, guys." Brooklyn waved as he stepped back into the bushes.
"That was a very thoughtful suggestion of you, Brooklyn. I'm proud of you." Goliath put a hand on Brook's shoulder. "I'm also proud of how far you have come in your hard times."
"Thanks, Goliath." Brook replied.
"Do you think you'll be ready for patrol soon?"
"I think I'm ready now." Brook said.
"I'm happy to hear that Brooklyn. Let's go then." Goliath smiled.
The two of them climbed a tree to get back to the air and it was Brooklyn's first patrol since he got back. He was so happy to be reclaiming his rights to the night sky again after so long.