Underground - Extra Scene | Lifesaver

Underground – A Merfolk Secret

~ Extras ~

Extra scene: Lifesaver

This is set on chapter 7, the day after Matt follows Chris’s dream of being hit on board of his yacht, waking up all the Brookses with an intense headache.

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It was the first time that four Brookes met Andrew at the door.

“You were not kidding,” Andrew said as Chris sleepily shut the door behind him. Chris had texted him if he could make them his shake and breathe some life back into them; and here he was, with a backpack full of his green-goodness-in-a-thermos.

“We had a rough night,” Alex explained, sprawling out over the sofa with his legs dangling over the arm. Matt eyed him hopefully from the opposite sofa. In the dining room, Scott’s usually serious and daring eyes were half closed while he slowly chewed down a stack of pancakes.

“You skipped school?” Andrew asked as he put his backpack on the table to get the thermos out. All four of them perked up at the sight.

“Julian’s orders. And my gosh, you did bring it,” Matt breathed, his grey eyes grimmer with dark circles under them. He practically snatched the first thermos and walked down the corridor to his room. “Thanks!” he yelled as an afterthought, and then closed the door.

“What happened?” Andrew asked bewildered, as Alex and Scott both eagerly disappeared with their own shakes a few minutes later. Chris sat down on the closest chair, taking his time to open his bottle.

“I had a nightmare, or a memory, or something…when I was being attacked back in September. Apparently, we all felt the hit on my head, and now we’re all having the same headache. Telepathy can be so much fun, sometimes...”

“Wait, you mean the attack that got you into ORCAS?”

Chris nodded, and then started drinking. He closed his eyes and practically chugged half the contents in seconds.

“Easy there. I can make more if you need it.”

“Sorry. I just woke everyone up at 2:00 a.m. and then I couldn’t let myself fall asleep. I don’t think anybody else got much rest either. Not even Scott, and he’s lucky enough to not be connected to us at all.”

“He’s your brother, he worries,” Andrew said, smiling. “It’s what normal non-telephaths do. Is your dad around?”

“As luck will have it, he’s actually at school. He had a meeting with the principal about…stuff…” Chris trailed off, frowning. “Why? You wanted to talk to him?”

“To you, actually, but he might be happy to hear that the results of both your tests are shining some light on where to go with your therapy.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Never about my patients’ care. Gwen and I have come up with some ideas. I was wondering, though, if your father might let me get a better sense of his tail muscles.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think he might enjoy a massage?”