The week went slowly by, as Brooklyn was finally well enough again to be able to stand up and walk around. His first steps were like taking baby ones but Sasha helped him.

He felt nervous when sitting up from the couch, holding her hand. "It's ok, you can do it," Sasha encouraged. Breathing gently Brooklyn shaklily stood up, legs wobbly but with his somewhat whole tail he managed to keep balance. Sasha smiled, happy that Brooklyn was able to stand. "Good job, Brooklyn! And I think soon you can eat solid food again!" She stated proudly. Brooklyn gave an embarrassed chuckle but he felt proud of himself for his healing too, mostly thanks to his stone sleep and eating properly again did all of that.

"Thanks, though not used to this much caring treatment before except from Elisa, our first human friend after our thousand year sleep," He said since over the past couple days he told Sasha their past history of where they came from and why he was scared of the men cutting off the rest of him while stone because of the trauma of the past with his clan being smashed. Sasha seemed rather perplexed. "I think it is wrong that you get ignored by many people or hated on. You're obviously not a complete animal. And you're kind."

Brook chuckled nervously. "Thanks. But did you want to show me your house? I've never been in a Russian home before." Sasha nodded. "Of course Brooklyn, it is an honor." She then gave him a tour of the place, unaware that Yuri had been tracking down where Sasha took Brooklyn. He wanted the gargoyle, not her, and was determined to steal him if he had to.

One night Sasha had gone out to do a couple errands for an hour or so, leaving Brooklyn to rest. He didn't want her to leave at first, taking her hand. But she assured Brook that she wouldn't be too long. He was strong enough to take care of himself now, and would be back before he turned to stone. For sometimes Sasha did night errands for herself too.

For Brooklyn here in Russia the time zones were different than in the US so his body had to adjust to the different times of the day and night. But he was kind of glad to be alone for a bit even if he didn't want to again to start. This was a peaceful kind of alone, in a nice little house. Sasha had allowed him to eat solid food again so he had gotten an apple out of the fridge to eat and explore the house some more.

Out of curiosity he eyed an old closet door and decided to open it to see what was inside, unaware of when Sasha told him that the door sometimes shuts on its own and even had a lock. Brooklyn opened it up and began to dig around in the storage, hoping to find a cool souvenir to bring home with him but suddenly; he heard the door close shut. He flinched up, turning around to face a closed closet door.

Oh jalapena! I was so stupid! Brook thought, ears falling in fear, remembering when he got locked in that coffin. Even if he was getting stronger, Brooklyn still wasn't at his peak yet to break down doors. He pressed hard on the door, rattling the doorknob. "Ugh! C'mon! Open!" He gasped, pushing as hard as he could, but it was solid. He panted heavily, backing up slightly, the door and walls beginning to close in.

"S-Sasha? Any-anybody?" Brooklyn asked in fear and despair, wondering when she would return. She had already been gone for 30 minutes and it would be another 30 minutes more for her to come back. His legs trembled violently, having trauma flashbacks from his claustrophobia. He sat down there on the floor, trying to get it together, biting back the urge to cry. He was tough, a fighter, and Brooklyn wouldn't let this break him again like before.

The red male held his legs tight and wrapped his wings around himself, eyes darting around the dark closet room, claws scritching the floor quite a bit, doing his best to keep his wits and not panic but it was hard. It felt suffocating in here too.

Another 10 minutes later and there were still no voices. "Someone? Help?" Brooklyn asked in a timid way, the roof of the closet now starting to sink down to crush him flat. He covered his head now to protect himself, tears coming by again. The gargoyle prayed his new friend will be back quick!

…..

Sasha had driven home, bags of groceries in the back and a special surprise for Brooklyn, too, but was unaware of the trouble he had gotten in. She hauled the bags inside and saw Brooklyn wasn't around.

"Brooklyn? Brooklyn? Where are you?" She called out. In the closet, Brooklyn had faintly heard his friend's voice, standing up and pressing his ear to the door. "Sasha! Help!" He screamed, pounding on the door, wanting her to get him out. Sasha had heard a noise from upstairs that sounded rather frantic and scared. Startled she went up. "Brooklyn!" She yelled, wondering now if her night friend had gotten himself into trouble.

"SASHA!" Brook shrieked aloud from his claustrophobia, scratching weakly at the door, making claw marks. He heard her footsteps come closer. "Where are you?" Her voice echoed from outside. Brooklyn pounded desperately. "IN HERE! I-I got myself locked in!" Sasha had a hand over her mouth, seeing the closet door closed where she was upstairs. "Don't worry, I'll get you out Brooklyn!" She then did the lock on the outside of the door and was able to open the doorway. Brook winced softly from the light of the outside, then saw Sasha's worrying face.

He gave a sob, running into her arms. This isn't him, he was supposed to be a hot headed type, not a weak hatchling scared of closed spaces! But the red gargoyle just stayed put in Sasha's arms for now, shaking terribly from his experience. Sasha smoothed his hair, murmuring comforting words to him gently.

"It's ok, you're ok," She said softly, guiding him back downstairs to recover. He laid back down, eyes staring straight ahead. But he was safe, and looked at Sasha with tears in his eyes. "Was… so closed in…" He whispered, voice shaky all over. Sasha just stayed there for a time until he was more calm then spoke up. "I got you a present for your journey home," She said with a smile. She took out the brown and red shoulder bag for him. It even had a front pocket and he could adjust the strap to fit his size.

Brooklyn gazed at it in some wonder, eyes bright again, somewhat forgetting his fear now. "F-for me?" Sasha nodded. Brooklyn gave a smile. "You didn't… have to." Sasha stroked his cheek, making him flush again. "But I did. You need to carry your food somehow. But I can let you stay for another couple days to prepare yourself." The beaked male nodded. After his scare it would be best. Soon the sun appeared again and he turned to stone.

….

Brooklyn's health continued to improve over the course of his healing and he could finally eat things like chicken legs again which he had missed eating. Sasha's cooking was really first rate. They grew closer together like a new family as well. Brooklyn himself didn't know how he could leave without her but Sasha would help encourage him to be able to travel home.

"You think my family is looking for me Sasha?" Brooklyn asked her that night. Sasha gave him an assuring smile. "I'm sure they are and miss you greatly. But I'll do anything I can to help you home."

He even took her gliding once when his wings were deemed strong enough. Sasha felt thrilled at the fact that she was able to fly without having to be in a plane

But one night, while they were sitting down and talking more with cups of tea, they heard someone knocking hard on the door. It made the two jump. "Who's that?" Brooklyn asked nervously. Sasha didn't know, watching warily until to her surprise the door fell down off it's hinges; revealing an angry man before them that looked horribly familiar.

Brooklyn jumped to his feet, eyes bright and glowing, wings spreaded out while Sasha gave a loud gasp of disbelief and horror. It was Yuri. He drew a gun, a cold and greedy look on his features. "So… you set the devil free huh?" He spat in a cruel tone. Brook growled, a protective hand holding Sasha's arm. "Stay away from us!" He yelled. But Yuri shook his head, giving Brooklyn the evil eye.

"You were supposed to belong to me, beast. Yegor marked me down first. But I suppose, it wouldn't be a total loss from here. If I can't have you, then no one will…" He then directed the gun at Brooklyn's chest. Brooklyn swallowed in fear, feeling frozen at the idea of being shot.

A loud bang came from the gun, and Brooklyn heard his friend scream "NO!" He shut his eyes, bracing for the bullet but it didn't come. He heard a grunt of pain. Opening them, he felt horror struck when seeing that Sasha had jumped in front of him, falling. He was able to catch her in his arms and could see blood coming out of her chest.

Surprisingly she was still breathing but looked weak, gazing up at him with pained eyes. "S-Sasha… why?" Brook asked in a choked voice. Sasha raised a weak hand, petting his beak. "Run…" She whispered faintly, skin showing signs of blood loss. Brooklyn held her to his chest, hearing Yuri's terrible mocking laugh. "Aww, how touching!" He leered. Just hearing that made Brooklyn more angry than he'd ever been.

His eyes glowed a bright white, growling loudly. This man was demented, and he needed to die. "You'll pay!" He roared, setting Sasha down gently and standing up in his full gargoyle fury. Another gunshot came and Brooklyn dodged it, breaking through a window to run outside and lead Yuri away from Sasha. He ran as fast as he could go, the cold snow hard against his feet and hands, hearing gunshots behind him. "GET BACK HERE! I OWN YOU!" Bellowed Yuri from behind. No chance for Brooklyn to do so, spying the woods and changing his direction towards there.

I will avenge you, my Sasha. Yuri's crime won't go unpunished! Brooklyn thought, his tears still stinging in his eyes as he ran fast through the woods, Yuri and his men right behind him. He then spotted a tall tree with a lot of branches and began to climb up it to hide so he could wait for the right moment to attack. Yuri ordered his men to fan out and search for him while he cocked his gun, an evil gleam in his eyes.

Brook hid there among the branches, ears flat on his head and shaking when hearing more gunshots fired at the trees, hoping the shots wouldn't come his way.

"Come out, come out, my pet…" Mocked Yuri in a sing-song voice that sent chills through Brooklyn's belly. "I saw your little broken tail. Maybe when you come home with me, I can take off the rest. I can take care of you better than that little wrench, who shouldn't have outbidded me. Nobody crosses Yuri! Now show your devil face, damnit!" Yuri shrieked, firing another shot that was dangerously close to Brooklyn's tree.

The male jerked a bit from the loud shot noise, scared he wouldn't make it out of this madness alive. But suddenly he spotted one of Yuri's men from afar, and decided to start with him. Teeth bared, eyes glowing, he silently glided out of his tree, jumping the man and silently knocking him out then going back up his tree again. Yuri had heard rustling in the bushes where Brooklyn had taken out the man and shot his gun again.

This guy's crazy! Brooklyn thought to himself, shaking his head, now seeing Yuri right underneath him. This was his chance. Giving a soft snarling voice, he raised his wings, and gave a huge banshee like shriek.

Yuri had heard it and turned around, his eyes alight with maddening rage and pointed his gun when seeing his prize but Brooklyn used his deformed tail and knocked the weapon out of the man's hands, startling him. Brooklyn next punched Yuri, sending him falling to the floor. But Yuri wouldn't be taken down. He staggered up, a maniacal look on his features while Brooklyn stood there on all fours, panting and shaking.

"You think you can do me in? All for silly revenge? I will take you back, or you'll be dead. Now!" Brooklyn before he could react was suddenly kicked in the side by his other henchman, falling winded to the snow. He looked up weakly at Yuri who towered over him, now drawing a knife. "Pathetic thing. You're lower than dirt ya know. You have no place among normal creatures or humans, unless in my collection."

Brooklyn struggled to stand. "I-I'm stronger than you think…" He wheezed, a hand over his side where he was kicked. Yuri flicked his knife, scratching Brooklyn's shoulder who howled. "No! When I take you back I will make you remember your place until you die, gargoyle. But for the moment, I shall start off with a few knife wounds…" He knelt down on top of Brooklyn who struggled with all his might not to be cut further but wound up having his side cut but not too deeply.

He whimpered in agony, Yuri laughing like the devil, readying for another go at him, but then Brooklyn's eyes flashed up in fury, grabbing Yuri's hand with the knife, breaking the man's wrist. That made Yuri give out a blood curdling scream, Brooklyn using his foot to kick hard, knocking him off. He turned to the other man who looked terrified, and hissed, making him run for it.

Brooklyn casted his eyes to Yuri, towering over him now, stepping with his foot hard on the man's chest.

"I will make sure you never harm anyone in such a way ever again!" He vowed threateningly, the man's eyes now raw with terror as Brooklyn began to twist his foot talons hard into Yuri's chest. The man's screams rang in his ears as the talons pressed harder and harder until he felt blood from Yuri's heart touch his foot. Brooklyn saw that the man's head was bent over in death, the light having left his eyes. He took his foot off the chest, staring in disgust at what he had done, the chest mutilated and blood from the heart pouring out and staining the snow with scarlet.

Brooklyn trembled very violently, wiping his foot clean from the blood then kicking the corpse away from him, tears stemming his cheeks at what Goliath would say from him murdering a human in such a brutal way. He stared at his own talons, wiping his eyes when he suddenly remembered Sasha.

Leaving Yuri's body behind Brooklyn took off quickly to make sure his friend was still breathing. He raced as hard as his legs could carry him until he came to the house, climbing back into the window and seeing Sasha's limp form.

Feeling panicked he felt for her pulse. "Sasha? My Sasha? Please speak to me!" He begged in a hoarse voice, cupping her face in his hands. Over the course of being with her Brooklyn had developed small feelings for her. But then, her beautiful eyes flickered open weakly. "Brook…lyn…?" She asked in a soft, tired voice. Brooklyn gave a saddened smile, eyes still flooded with tears. "I'm here, Sasha. I'm here. Yuri is… dead." Sasha weakly touched his beak again, causing him to shut his eyes.

"Try… to get me…to a h-hospital… please…" Sasha whispered, coughing some more. Brooklyn nodded though first he took a blanket and wrapped her up warm inside it to ensure too the blood didn't fall out further. Scooping her up in his arms, he flew off into the night after climbing up to the roof, hoping he wouldn't be too late to save her.

Brooklyn glided as fast as he could to town, tears flying from his eyes in the wind, desperate to save Sasha. At first when getting near the city he couldn't find any hospitals but then he saw Sasha weakly point towards a building. It was a hospital, which was lucky for them. A relieved smile showed on Brooklyn's face as he flew down, finding a gurney near the entrance where he placed her down, hoping someone would find her.

"Y-You're gonna be ok Sasha… we're here. They'll fix you," Brooklyn said in a shaky tone, rubbing Sasha's hand which felt cold, not just from the weather. But Sasha looked worse now, eyes losing what life they had in them. But she managed a tiny smile. "I-I won't be able… to live. You have to go on… alone from here."

That made the red gargoyle pale up, gripping her hand tight but not to hurt her. "Sasha, no. No! Don't die on me! I won't let you! You were the only friend out here for me! I'd be all alone!" He began to cry, deformed tail drooped in sorrow as well as his wings. Sasha gave a little shush noise like a mother to a hatchling, caressing Brooklyn's cheek. Brook looked into her eyes, trembling with grief.

Sasha gave a weak smile. "I'll be with you wherever you are in spirit, Brooklyn. You brought me happiness when I felt alone. You were the best thing to come into my life. And that I will always remember." She coughed again weakly, eyes fluttering. Brooklyn placed a hand on her chest even with the blood. His tears felt warm and some of them fell onto his tongue too. "Please… don't want you to leave…" He begged, body hurting from his crying. Sasha stroked his beak then one more time. "Find your clan, friend. Return… home…"

Her voice faded out, and her hand fell limply at her side, eyes now closed forever, exhaling her last breath. Brooklyn saw her not moving anymore, his heart breaking into pieces. He gave a howl of loss and agony, hugging her body one more time. Sasha was dead.

But then there were noises from in the hospital and Brooklyn knew he couldn't be here, though he wanted to. He gave Sasha one last kiss on her forehead, then backed away, climbing up a wall of a building to the roof to watch. Two doctors came out, gasping and speaking in concerned Russian. This scene reminded Brooklyn of when Broadway brought a wounded Elisa to the hospital. But Elisa wasn't dead when they found her.

Brooklyn watched with grief as they confirmed her passing and wheeled her into the doors, never to see her face again. He gripped the roof tiles in sadness and anger. But behind his closed eyes he saw Sasha's face smiling softly. And he reminded himself that he couldn't stay here anymore. He had to press on. To go home to his clan and family.