The next night after Brooklyn had woken up, he felt better than he did in days; and hardly any bad dreams from Thailog. Hudson was there to say good morning.

"Good mornin,' Lad. I trust ye feeling better?" He asked with a gentle smile. Brooklyn remembered his defeat of Thailog in his head, and grinned.

"I believe so, Hudson. Feel much better," he stated, stretching, as well. He felt a little achy, but no headaches or nausea bothered him at all.

Hudson then gave him a hug after that. Brooklyn accepted it, tears of happiness coming down.

"We're all proud of ye for being able to face Thailog, Lad. The clan will be happy to see ye." Brooklyn nodded. He knew now that his clan would never abandon him.

Sato then allowed Goliath and the others in to see Brooklyn. Broadway and Lex gave their brother a bit of a reunion hug, happy to have their brother back to normal again. Brook also grinned up at his leader, Goliath, who nodded at him.

"Brooklyn, we've been thinking of giving you a celebration before you go out with us patrolling again. How about it?" Angela suggested. Brook's eyes brightened, though he looked rather awkward.

"Um, you really don't need to fuss over me that much..." he said. Lexington smiled at him.

"It's the least we can do after everything you've been through." He pleaded. After a bit, he nodded. A party did sound nice.

...

After a couple more days of bed rest, Brook was allowed out of bed for good this time. He walked around the castle during the time his clan was getting ready for the party.

But then he spotted Broadway out on the balcony. His face looked a little guilty. Brooklyn knew what this look meant. He sighed, stepping over to him.

"You okay?" he asked Broadway. Broadway turned around. He had still been feeling guilty. Despite Hudson and Goliath saying it wasn't his fault, he just needed to say it again.

"Brooklyn. I know you've heard me say this before, but- but I'm still so sorry about what had happened, allowing you to be taken—!" He said in a sad tone, but Brooklyn then ended up hugging him.

"Stop blaming yourself, Broadway. Hudson and Goliath are right. It was hard for us to know what those humans would do, but I'm home and not dead. It's all fine, and Thailog is now finally gone. I never blamed you at all during my time as a prisoner."

Broadway's heart then began to feel lighter. It made him happy to hear his brother saying he didn't blame him, hugging the red gargoyle back. The brothers remained there for a bit, then broke apart.

"Come on, maybe you can plan on what food the party should have tonight. How about it?" Brooklyn asked after they broke apart. Broadway nodded, the two of them walking back inside.

Broadway went to the kitchen to start preparing food for the party. The clan's closest friends were also coming to help celebrate Brooklyn's recovery.

Hudson also had a surprise for the red Second. He was going to be allowed to go gliding with them all later too. It wasn't patrol, just going out on the town for fun this night. But if trouble was spotted, the clan wouldn't hesitate to take baddies down. It was their purpose.

The Mutates and other clones soon showed up for the party too. Talon and Maggie felt bad that what had happened to Brooklyn had happened, but were glad that he was safe and well again, much like his old self. But there would always be some part of him that was changed, permanently.

Maggie gladly went up to Brooklyn and gave him a welcome back hug. He accepted her hug and hugged back. He knew she would never be his mate, but he still enjoyed being friends.

"How are you doing, Brooklyn? We are so sorry about what happened." Maggie said.

"I'm doing better. I just... wish things had never happened like they did again." Brooklyn looked down sadly.

"Hey, what didn't get you killed just made you stronger, Brooklyn." Talon said.

What the black panther mutate said made sense. Brook let it sink in. "Thanks." he replied.

The Mutates knew that a part of the red gargoyle lived on in Malibu, his clone, but it wasn't like Malibu was a true son of him. But he was in a way. But Brooklyn would never accept Malibu as a son. Not like Goliath had with Thailog, though Thailog was dead and would never be a true member of their clan; even in death.

The food was soon prepared and Broadway, Angela, and Owen all brought it out and put it on the table.

Elisa's parents had also showed up, as had Matt. The Xanatos family was in there too. Brooklyn was pleased that all these people had come here to have a party to show how much they cared about him.

Brooklyn also had an eye on Delilah. She was with his clone. That disappointed him, but he wasn't going to let it get to him. There would be others out there one day, he was certain.

When all the food was put down, it was time to start getting their food. Brooklyn was allowed to go first since it was his official party. He rarely ever went first in eating, but did it a little nervously. He was still wary around humans, but he knew the ones in the room he could trust.

He got some meatballs, spaghetti, some peaches and mixed fruit, fruit punch, veggies, cottage cheese, and some chips. There was chocolate cake and cookies for dessert. This was the thing Brook missed most; sitting down to a meal with his family and eat real home food. The others all got many of the same concoctions.

When everyone was served and sitting down ready to dive in, Goliath stood up and spoke, "Everyone, before we all eat this amazing feast that Broadway has graciously made for us all, I just want to say how thankful I am to have my Second in Command back in our clan with us. He has come a long way from the way we found him in a bad state from what his captors did to him again after a year. But I wish for him to feel from all of us from this party that we all love him and want him to be here with us."

That heart touching speech made tears come to Brooklyn's eyes. This time, they were 'happy' tears. He saw that his leader was looking at him with a very gentle look in his eyes.

Brooklyn sniffled. The rest were watching him. "You have something to say, Lad?" Hudson inquired.

The tears started to fall. "Uh, it took me by surprise. But thanks for saying that, Goliath. It makes me so happy that you feel that way about me. I know I had my doubts many times during both times of my captures with those creeps. But you all helped me find my way out of the darkness of Thailog's and his men's clutches and mind tricks. I love being a part of this clan and how I feel right now, doesn't even begin to describe how I feel." Brooklyn explained.

The others all smiled and knew that he was just so happy that they cared for him this much to look for him and to bring him back to good health.

They all said something that they were grateful for about him and then it was mealtime before it got cold.

.....

After dinner, Goliath and Hudson declared that there was going to be a gliding party going out too, to celebrate this night even more so.

"I don't know if my wings can handle it." Brooklyn said. He had been pleasantly surprised alright.

"We'll stop if you need us to," Angela replied. Her friend gave her a grateful look.

Dr. Sato had a quick exam on his once broken wing and decreed he could go. Strength just needed to be built into it some more for long gliding periods. It would in time.

The clan, Mutates and clones all went out on this victory glide. Elisa came with Goliath in his arms. Brooklyn was beside his leader in the lead. Even Bronx came along, being carried by Broadway. The gar dog was happy that he was being included on whatever this mission was.

Brooklyn was so happy that he was now allowed to finally go gliding again with the clan, but patrols weren't something he was quite ready for yet. He still needed more time on that. Just for tonight, it was all just a pleasure glide on the beautiful city of New York.

....

Four months later, Brooklyn was completely recovered from his ordeal and he was back to patrolling with the clan members. He had gained the weight back with the proper feeding management. He was up to his full strength again and his wing was strong too and could withstand longer gliding trips. He was also back to fighting bad guys on the streets again.

The others were all proud to have the red male back on their team, helping protect this city.

......

In the prison, the men that had been put back into it would be monitored much more strongly so they wouldn't be allowed to escape again to do their dirty bidding. But it wouldn't stop the men from still hating prison and hating the gargoyles from putting them there, especially the red one.