Waking up

2 weeks passed

Brooks went to Claire and Tory's room's everyday. He would sit in silence with Claire for an hour or two, sometimes bringing fresh fruit for her. He was currently sitting next to her hospital bed and cutting an apple while watching Tv. He pulled over the rolling tray and put the apple slices on a plate before pushing it in front of Claire, after he was finished, he stood up and left.

Claire hadn't spoken to him since he brought her to the hospital. It didn't bother Brooks at all, he knew himself he was bad news. He was about to leave when Claire looked over and said "How is she?" Brooks stopped and said "Still in a coma." before leaving.

Claire looked at his tired and haggard appearance and sighed before grabbing an apple slice and eating it.

Brooks had already done several jobs and had got enough money to pay for both hospital fees. He wrote a check for 500 thousand and gave it to Doctor Klein a few days ago. Despite that he was still working for the man, didn't bother him really. He made an agreement and he had to fill in his end of the deal.

Brooks walked to the ICU and found Tory's room. He stopped away from it to see a few people in front of the door, they were Lily, Miguel, and the Larussos.. All of them.

Brooks pulled up his hood and walked past them going into the room. A nurse said "Sir, you're no-" Brooks shot her an ice cold glare and she backed off a few steps. Brooks pushed the door open and Lily said "Brooks?" Brooks ignored her and went into the room silently.

The rest looked over and Miguel saw Brooks take off the hood before sitting down next to Tory's bed. He hesitated a moment before pulling out his phone and calling Johnny. Daniel looked at Brooks before saying "Are you sure we can't go inside?"

The nurse nodded apologetically and looked at Brooks before saying "He is the only one allowed in." Amanda was skeptical and asked "Is there a reason for this?" The nurse cleared her throat and said "From what I know, that boy is paying for all the medical fees and is the primary contact for this girl and her mother."

Amanda was stunned and said "He's paying for all her fees?!" The nurse nodded and added "Her mother is also here... Room 385 on the third floor. He's paying for her as well." Lily was startled and said "He doesn't have that much money."

The nurse said "He already paid off the charges." before shaking her head and walking away, leaving the rest dumbfounded. Miguel looked at Brooks and sat on the chair across the hall from the window, waiting for Brooks to come out.

A while later

Brooks was sitting in a chair and talking to Tory as he held her hand, the only time he had an other expression on his face was when he was in this room. Brooks rubbed Tory's hand and said "All the fees are paid for, but I'm still working. After all, it's been two weeks and you probably can't go back to that apartment.. Don't worry about Peter, he's safe. I left him with Miguel's family, I would have taken him with me but I just couldn't. It's too dangerous to be with me."

Brooks sighed before smiling sadly "I was thinking about getting you a house in Encino. I know you don't like rich people but you won't have any worries because I'll pay for everything. All you have to do is go to school and relax, by the time you wake up and recover everything will be fixed..." he looked at her face and teared up slightly.

He looked down and tears dripped to the floor as he added "When you're good to go, I'll already be gone. Everything that happened was my fault, I should've never gotten involved with you or the Dojo. Don't worry, you won't see me ever again after you recover.."

He kissed her hand and said "I love you. This is for the best, I'm not worth it." A nurse opened the door and said "It's time to go." Brooks nodded and got up before turning around to leave, failing to see the finger twitch as he let go of Tory's hand.

Brooks walked out the door and saw a bunch of people sitting in chairs. He ignored them and walked by going to leave, Miguel said "Brooks!" Brooks stopped and said "What." his tone was cold and unfriendly, as if he was talking to a stranger, Miguel was shocked and said "Where have you been? Sensei has been looking for you everywhere."

Brooks said "Working." he looking at Lily before turning around and leaving. Lily said "Sensei, is coming here." Brooks said "Good for him." as he left. Miguel sighed and sat back down, Lily looked at Brooks' back and mumbled "Where are you getting all this money..."

Hawk was sitting to the side, eating an apple as he said "Probably doing something illegal." the rest looked at him and he shrugged adding "What? How else is he supposed to get the money?" The rest shook their heads and stayed silent, Lily looked into the room before her eyes widened and she rushed in.

Brooks was currently walking around outside with a guitar case on his back and his hood up. He entered an old apartment building and climbed to the roof before setting up on a corner and looking through the scope. He saw his target, a middle aged man with a scar over his right eyebrow and a single yellow streak in his hair.

The man was walking around in a house, pacing in front of a table. Brooks had the crosshair trained on the man when he heard a voice behind him "This is where you've been? I have to say, I'm surprised, Kid."

Brooks took out a pistol with a silencer and rolled to his back, aiming at the man a few feet from him saying "Who?" Kreese walked out from the darkness, smoking a cigar as he said "Calm down, kid. It's just me."

Brooks kept the pistol out as he said coldly "How did you find me?" Kreese waved and said "Well, special ops and recon in 'Nam has it's perks.." Brooks pushed the hammer back before putting the pistol back in his holster on his thigh. He rolled back and looked through the scope again saying "What do you want? I'm working."

Kreese pulled out binoculars and looked into the house before saying "Well, obviously you have to come back to Cobra Kai. We need our star pupil back." Brooks was silent before aiming and watching the man sit down in a chair and lift a glass to his lips. Brooks pulled the trigger before packing up and leaving saying "I'm done with Karate. If you haven't noticed, I'm not really in the greatest of situations right now."

Kreese whistled and said "I wouldn't expect anything less from the 'Reaper', 100% completion rate. Very admirable." Brooks stopped and looked at Kreese saying "Who are you?" Kreese put the binoculars away and said "A friend." Brooks was silent and Kreese added "Who doesn't have rough times? I happen to know your boss, personally. An old war buddy of mine, he owes me a favor. Think about what I said."

Kreese patted Brooks' shoulders and walked away. Brooks watched him go in silence before leaving the roof as well.

The next morning

Brooks woke up in a shitty apartment. It was the cheapest one he could find. He showered and got dressed before hiding the guitar case in the closet behind a secret compartment. He locked the door as he left and drove to the hospital. His Stingray was repainted and was just pitch black now.

He parked in the hospital parking lot after stopping at the market and buying fresh oranges. He walked into the hospital and went to Claire's room, he stepped inside and sat down in his chair before peeling the oranges and leaving them on a plate before pushing the tray in front of Claire.

Claire grabbed the orange slices as she said "You still smell like gunpowder." Brooks said nothing and continued peeling oranges, Claire turned to look at him and saw his tired and haggard appearance. She finally sighed and said "Why torture yourself like this?"

Brooks stopped for a moment before continuing "I don't know what you're saying." Claire laughed and shook her head saying "You can fool everyone else, but not me. Answer me." Brooks continued peeling as he answered "It's not torture, even if it was, I deserve it."

Claire gave him a hard look and said "Throwing your life away.. Is it worth it?" Brooks said almost immediately "Of course. Every single part of it." Claire shook her head and said "I hope you know what you're doing." Brooks stopped talking and sat silent for the rest of the time.

After an hour

Brooks got up to leave, Claire looked at him and said nothing as he left the room.

Brooks stood outside the door before walking to Tory's room, once again seeing a crowd of people. He pushed past them and entered the room.

He sat down in the chair and looked at the Bonsai next to the bed on a table. He threw the Bonsai in the garbage before replacing it with Sansevieria Trifasciata flowers. It was basically a 3' feet high stem and covered in small, honeysuckle-like greenish, cream-white flowers, surrounded by long flat leaves.

He grabbed a spray bottle and watered the flower before putting it down and sitting back in the chair. He held Tory's hand and smiled slightly as he said "Hey, I'm back. A lot of people are coming to see you know. I don't really know if it's a good thing but it shows that you have friends. Most of them are Cobra Kai, well what's left of them anyway."

Brooks caressed her hand and looked down as he kept talking "I saw Kreese last night. He wanted me to go back to Cobra Kai. I don't know what happened to Cobra Kai or anything for that matter, I did see a news report about the school and a carwash to raise money for you."

Brooks scratched his neck and said with a smile "I already took care of everything, you don't need to worry. Plus the ones doing the carwash is Miyagi-Do..." he chuckled and added "Good thing I got the money. I'm leaving early today to go buy a house for you, when you wake up. Your mom is doing great and she's slowly recovering, she's actually on the third floor upstairs."

He paused for a moment before continuing "I don't think she likes me very much anymore, but it's a okay. I'll be out of your life soon..." he caressed her hand as he looked down and sighed with a smile "I know it sounds like I'm running away but I really don't know what to do anymore. I had to get involved with bad people and I don't want to drag you into this. You've suffered enough because of me."

Brooks started tearing up again and looked up at her face before freezing. He saw Tory looking at him with tears in her eyes. Brooks let go of her hand and stood up, knocking the chair behind him before looking away with an extremely guilty expression.

Tory lifted her arm and said weakly "Killer, come here." her tone was full of love and affection, despite being in a coma, she could hear everything that was said outside. Brooks didn't move and Tory said "Please."

Brooks shed tears and said "I can't. All of this is because of me, I-" Tory cut him off and said angrily "Come here, now." Brooks hesitated before walking over, Tory lifted her hand and caressed his cheek as she said with a smile "It's not your fault.. I did it because I wanted to."

Brooks touched her hand and said through tears "Why? I'm not worth it! Look at you, now." Tory smiled and said "I'd rather be in this bed than watch you in a coma." Brooks just cried and said nothing, Tory continued "If I had the choice to re-do everything I would still do the same thing. To me, you're worth everything."

Brooks shook his head and Tory added "I know everything, you're the reason I woke up. Hearing your voice everyday made me happy.." he paused before pleading "Please don't go." Brooks bit his lips and said "But I'm bad news.. I shouldn't be in your life, I fucked everything up. If it wasn't for me, you'd still b-"

Tory cut him off and finished "Be mad at everything. Scraping by, barely having enough money to survive. I'd still be unhappy, probably in a worse position than I am now. Fighting for every inch in my life, by myself." she gave Brooks a hard look as she added "You became my rock. The best thing in my life, I'd rather be crippled then never see you again."

Brooks was speechless, what was he supposed to say? Tory smiled warmly and said "I love you, nothing is going to change that. Come here." Brooks leaned forward and Tory kissed him before smiling "Can you stay with this porker?" Brooks' tears flowed from his eyes and he held both her hands as he nodded softly.

Tory's face brightened up and she smiled happily saying "Great! Sit down, tell me how you managed to get the scratch to pay for me and my mom." she glared at him and said "I want the truth."

Brooks froze and said "I don't think you do.." Tory squeezed his hand and said "Drugs? Fighting? What is it?" Brooks scratched his neck and looked around before saying while looking down "Killing." Tory froze and looked at Brooks, she held out her hand and touched her face as she said sadly "Killer... Why?"

Brooks said "It was the only way to get enough money fast enough. I only had two weeks to get the money or they were going to kick you and your mom out. This is why I said I don't think I should be in your life. I'm not a good person.." Tory clamped his mouth shut and said "Don't talk like that."

Brooks looked up and saw Tory crying and had what seemed to be pity in her eyes as she added "Killer, I'm sorry. It's my fault you had to do this.." Brooks was shocked and said quickly "No it's not. It's my fault. Don't blame yourself, Porky. Please."

Tory sighed and stroked his cheek saying "Can you stop?" Brooks looked sad and shook his head, Tory said "Why not?" Brooks hesitated and Tory added "The truth." Brooks looked at her and said "I left once before, the price for coming back was my life."

Tory got angry and chided "You gave your life away for me?! Are you an idiot!?" Brooks said quickly "I had no choice! It was the only way!" Tory said "You might as well have let me get kicked out of the hospital!" Brooks said seriously "Never. If I could trade places with you I would, even if I had to die for you to be better I wouldn't hesitate."

Tory was stunned speechless and Brooks added emotionally as he took her hands "Tory, I never got the chance to say it before but I love you. I really do. You don't understand how much it hurt seeing you do that for me and end up in here. When you hit the railing, I... I.."

He wiped his eyes and continued "Everything lost color. I couldn't feel anything anymore, I was lost. The only time I was even slightly happy was sitting here in this room talking to you!" he let go of her hands and went into his bag before pulling out a big snake plushie and putting it on the bed saying "I don't know if you hate me for what I am or what I did, but I don't regret anything."

He looked into her eyes and smiled slightly "I'll go now. I'm sorry." Tory grabbed his wrist and said "Don't leave me..." before she started crying, talking through sobs "I don't hate you, I could never hate you."

Brooks pulled the chair over and sat down next to her bed, holding her hand and kissing it as he smiled slightly and joked "I don't think your mom will agree." Tory wiped her eyes and laughed saying "She'll come around." Brooks smiled slightly and caressed her hand with his thumb softly, sitting in silence with her.