They flew for another hour or so, Brooklyn having passed out from the drugs in his system that continued to give him fever dreams. Coldstone did his best to ensure Brooklyn wouldn't fall out of his arms, anxious to get him home to heal.
The couple managed to pass the East River, and had by now gone over the Brooklyn Bridge, seeing the sights of the city from afar.
Coldfire studied Brooklyn's body too while flying, seeing how over bloated his belly was, and his face battered up, a sad frown on it spelling submission. She felt angry at her brother for doing this to such a young one.
"The clan had better accept Brooklyn back," Coldstone then said, recalling at how avoiding some of the others had been since that day. Coldfire put a hand on Brooklyn's arm, the young fledgling teen squirming lightly, moaning.
"I know they will, my Love." She said gently. "He really needs a lot of love and care now."
Soon, the couple could see the lights of the Eyrie Building in the distance at last in some relief for they only had about two hours left for sunrise. They sped up as much as possible but not to hurt Brooklyn either. He was still letting loose small whines from his trauma, Coldfire eager to see him safe among his family.
Elisa and Goliath had both been waiting, telling the others to remain inside for now since they decided to halt patrols until Brooklyn was home again. She suddenly looked up when hearing the sound of a jetpack.
"I believe that is Coldstone with Brooklyn," the detective said in worry, pointing upward at the sight of the gargoyle cyborgs coming their way.
Goliath's veins flooded over with worry for his Second, hoping he wasn't too badly injured, but his eyes would soon see what he wouldn't be able to unsee for a while.
Coldstone at last landed, still holding Brooklyn, giving a firm look to Goliath. "We're back, Brother. Your Second is home." He said, Elisa breathing a sigh of relief but saw how awful the young male looked. His body size wasn't the same as before; a tad rounder and looking pretty clammy.
"What has happened to him?" Goliath asked in concern.
"Our brother likely beat him up. He looks like he had his confidence whipped out of him." Coldfire declared sadly.
"He also looks like he's gained some weight while he was with him." Elisa noticed.
"We'll focus on that later. Let's get him to the infirmary." Goliath declared. He took Brooklyn out of Coldstone's arms and hurriedly took him to the medical ward. "Elisa, go call the doctor." He ordered.
"Will do." Elisa replied and hurried out the door.
Elisa called Dr. Sato and told him that Brooklyn had been found and he needed to come right away, that Brooklyn was injured. He said he would come.
Goliath passed by the others on the way to the infirmary. The others were shocked at what their red clan mate looked like upon his return.
"Brooklyn?" Angela gasped.
"What happened to him?" Broadway asked curiously but in concern too.
"We don't know right now. He's just unconscious." Goliath replied to them. "Right now, we must wait on the doctor to get here. I'm taking him in now."
Lex noticed that Brooklyn was fatter in the belly, but his face was badly bruised. They didn't have a clue as to what happened until Brooklyn told them what happened to him.
They hoped that Brooklyn would be able to tell them what happened when he woke up.
…
Dr. Sato soon arrived along with Elisa at the infirmary. The rest of the clan was left waiting in the waiting area. They walked through the doors to go see the patient. Coldfire also came with them because they might likely need a female gargoyle in there to comfort Brooklyn too.
When they got into the exam room, Goliath was already in there sitting with Brooklyn on the exam table.
"So, what seems to be the problem?" Sato asked upon entering.
"Brooklyn is unconscious. We don't know why." Goliath replied.
"It's possible he could be drugged, or just passed out from pain that he's in, if he was beaten a lot." Sato explained.
Brooklyn's face was bruised from being hit earlier.
"He also looks a little overweight. He didn't used to be that big in the belly." Elisa noticed.
Sato noticed Brook's belly too. He first listened to his heart and lungs to make sure he was okay. They sounded fine if a little slower. Then he felt Brook's stomach. There was indeed a roundness to the red gargoyle's belly, but from what?
Dr. Sato decided to take a blood sample to see if there was anything in the red Second's body that was causing the unconsciousness or anything else. "I'm going to take a little blood sample to see if there's anything concerning in his body that may be causing his fatness and unconsciousness."
Little did they know that Brooklyn was starting to come out of the drugs now. He moaned at first.
"I think he's waking up." Elisa declared.
"I must hurry to get his blood sample." Sato said. "Elisa, get his bicep tied up so I can find a vein."
Elisa tied an elastic strip around Brook's right bicep. Goliath was watching and he would be ready to step in if necessary.
The tight tying of his bicep got Brook to focus more. "Ugh! What's going on?" he asked in shock.
"It's alright, Brooklyn. You're home. We just need a little blood from you." Elisa told him. "Just lay back and stay calm."
"Blood?" Brook mumbled.
"Yes. I'll be quick about it." Sato replied. He had the needle ready.
Brooklyn could barely make out the shapes above him, but he was also able to make out the needle. Seeing some red eyes too also made him remember Coldsteel.
"NO! NO! DON'T DO THIS, PLEASE!" Brooklyn yelled out of fear, suddenly remembering everything.
Goliath and Coldfire had to step in and hold him down. "It's alright, Brooklyn, the doctor just wants to help you."
Brooklyn tried struggling and gasping at what was going to be done to him. "No! Don't take my soul!" He cried out in despair.
"We're not going to take your soul, little one." Coldfire tried to soothe him.
"Brooklyn, please, calm down. We're just trying to help you." Elisa said gently.
Goliath held Brook's arms down. Coldfire had his legs held down. Elisa had tried to hold his middle down.
In his blurry vision, Brooklyn just couldn't see who was with him but he felt his struggles were in vain. He soon gave up for a moment, breathing hard in a panic.
"That's good, Brooklyn. Just relax. The doctor is just taking a small blood sample." Elisa said gently.
Sato was able to move in with the needle. He felt for the vein and he found it, quickly poking Brook's arm and getting the blood he needed. Brook winced at the poke. Sato was able to withdraw the needle quickly.
He had his sample. Elisa applied a pressure bandage after that to keep it from bleeding.
"Please… don't hurt me… anymore…" Brooklyn pleaded.
"We're not going to hurt you, Brooklyn. You're safe here at home." Goliath spoke gently.
"We're just holding you down so you don't hurt yourself or us." Elisa explained.
"No more… feeding me… bad food… please…" Brooklyn thought he was going to be fed again too. That was what he was used to being tied down for.
"What bad food?" Goliath asked him.
"Don't… feel… good… Bad food…" Brooklyn mumbled.
"What foods were you given, Brooklyn? Can you tell us?" Elisa asked him gently.
"Hmm… junk foods." Brook managed to get out. "Want… water…"
"We'll let you have some water once you're more awake. You're not awake for it right now." Elisa said.
Dr. Sato quickly was trying to examine Brook's blood sample under the microscope in the room. He saw some disturbing sights.
"He's been drugged, guys." Sato spoke up moments later. "I'll have to examine more of his blood from this sample to find out what foods he's had. He might be able to tell you more what they gave him when he comes out of that sedation. He's still in a sedation mode right now. He probably doesn't see you perfectly right now to know that you're his friends." Sato explained.
"What should we do?" Coldfire asked.
"Keep him calm. Keep him from harming you or himself. Keep him on the bed." Sato instructed.
"We'll do our best." Goliath replied.
Elisa let go of Brooklyn and left the room to go talk to the others. She wanted to let them know what was going on. When she came out of the doors, the clan stood up.
"How is the lad?" Hudson asked in concern.
"He's awake now, but clearly traumatized. From what we've been able to make out from his saying, Coldsteel was also using food in a bad way to fatten him up. Why, we don't know. He still hasn't told us that part, but he did say something about taking his soul too." Elisa explained.
That shocked and scared the clan silent for a moment before they resumed speaking.
"That no good dirty dealing maniac! He can't do that to Brooklyn!" Broadway snarled. He couldn't believe that Coldsteel had used food to punish his brother. Food was supposed to be a good thing, not a bad thing.
"Coldsteel inhabited Brooklyn's body once, Elisa. He might have been wanting to take it over again, but he said he wanted the robot body back when we last dealt with him." Lex explained to Elisa.
"He must have changed his mind." Elisa guessed.
"What foods was he using to hurt Brooklyn with?" Angela asked.
"We don't know. Sato is going to look at the blood sample more and unless Brooklyn comes out of his sedation more, we don't know. But he said junk foods." Elisa replied.
"He should be fine by tomorrow night. Perhaps taking Brooklyn to his room will help him calm down." Lex advised.
"Yeah, it might help." Elisa agreed. "I have to get back to them now."
When she got back in, she saw that Goliath was holding Brooklyn down again for wanting to get up. "Let me go!" Brooklyn cried out.
"Brooklyn, calm down. You need to keep resting." Goliath was nearly shouting instructions because his Second was scared and not wanting to cooperate.
"Brooklyn, it's alright. We're here to help you. Please calm down." Elisa ran over to help.
"Perhaps let me up by his head." Coldfire insisted.
"Alright, Sister. See what you can do for him." Goliath said and he quickly traded her places.
"It's alright, Brooklyn. You need to remain calm." Coldfire soothed him. She then placed one of her hands on his face to calm him.
It got the red male's attention. It got him to hold still for a moment.
Coldfire stroked his face gently as she could with her metal hands. "Lay still. Your body is exhausted. We'll be bringing you to your room so you can feel better little one."
Brooklyn trembled, hearing her voice that he still remembered more than the other, giving a small shaky whimper as he nodded. Anything to get out of this torture room. Brooklyn felt his body settle after Coldfire continued to talk to him calmly.
Goliath next gave Brooklyn enough encouragement to try sitting up, feeling his Second's body shaking badly, knowing they had at least an hour to get Brooklyn safely to his room before he turned to stone. The red gargoyle managed to be able to rest his feet on the floor, breathing raggedly.
"That's it, Brook. You're doing great," Elisa praised him, stroking his arm like how she would a little child. Brooklyn's eyes remained wide eyed and staring at nobody and nothing, allowing these strange people to help him, at least he hoped this was what it was.
Soon Goliath next was able to scoop up Brooklyn into his strong arms since Brooklyn at the moment couldn't walk great by himself yet, hating to see all those bruises on his face. Brooklyn gave a whine, struggling for a time in Goliath's hold. "Don't… take it… don't…" He begged, his eyes popped.
"I'm not Coldsteel, Brooklyn. You'll soon be in your room. Just hold on," Goliath soothed, Coldfire stroking his hair gently to calm him down. Brooklyn next felt his eyes flutter and breathing slowing down but kept whimpering as Goliath took him out of the infirmary.
The rest of the clan saw Goliath come out with their fallen member, looking worried and concerned, Elisa shooing them back so they wouldn't crowd Brooklyn who stirred in fear from seeing more weird figures around him, the drug making his belly queasy and sick. He wanted water so bad. Broadway saw how bloated Brooklyn's stomach was, which unsettled the blue gargoyle greatly, eager to help his brother get back to his proper weight and kick Coldsteel to kingdom come for using food as a torture method.
"W-Wa…water…" sobbed Brooklyn, his throat sore. Goliath hugged him gently. "Soon, Brooklyn. You need your stone sleep first. We'll give you water when the drugs are gone."
Brooklyn looked up at him in despair while they walked down the hall which thankfully wasn't too far away from Brooklyn's room. Elisa opened the door to it, showing Brooklyn's bed which normally he wouldn't sleep in but this time it was needed desperately.
Goliath sighed in relief since Brooklyn was getting fussy again, repeating the word water. What would he give some water to Brooklyn but the poor fledgling was too out of it to probably be able to drink it properly.
He laid Brooklyn onto his bed, stroking his forehead. "Keep breathing softly. Sunrise is nearly here."
Brooklyn's tears flowed, breathing raggedly, the drugs causing his head to feel dizzy again more, still unsure where he was and if he really is rescued. Coldfire stood next to his bed, starting to hum a lullaby she knew well from her hatchling days that always calmed her down. It caused the young one to squirm, until hearing the beautiful female voice speak, his ears perked at the sound of the song.
"M-Mom…?" Brooklyn asked drowsily, still delerious. Coldfire smiled sadly, taking Brooklyn's hand. "I'm not one of your rookery mothers, Brooklyn. But, I could be while you heal. Is that alright?" She glanced over at the window and saw a tint of pink on the horizon.
Goliath appreciated that gesture, nodding to her while Brooklyn whimpered, gripping Coldfire's hand, happy to have one of his 'mothers' near him. Elisa then told Goliath to go out with the others to turn to stone. The lavender gargoyle didn't wish to but Coldfire assured him things would be fine, continuing to hum to Brooklyn who had fallen into a sleepy silence, passing out.
Nodding a little Goliath reluctantly left, Elisa and Coldfire remaining. "Sleep well little hatchilng," Coldfire murmured, right as Brooklyn gave a small sigh, the sun changing his skin, giving him the rest he needed desperately and would hopefully clear his drugs out of his body, Elisa wondering what would come the next night, dreading it slightly.