"H-how bad is it?"

"Adrian had a stroke,"  The doctor answered, speaking to Brooke with Lincoln directly beside her, an arm around her waist.  "His vitals are low but stable, he is unresponsive."

"So...he's in a coma?"

"Yes."

"Will h-he..."  Her voice cracked, sobs attempting to tear out but Lincoln finished for her.

"Doctor, what are the chances he will come out of it and recover?"

"I cannot say definitively, but the time is close, Brooke."

"Oh God,"She sobbed, turning to press her face into Lincoln's chest.  His strong arms embraced her.  "I-I need to call Leena and...have her bring Melody."

"I'll do it, baby," Lincoln offered, reluctantly releasing her to make the call.

With a silent nod, Brooke thanked the Doctor and was left alone in the ICU room.  No sound except the light chatter of nurses a, the beeping of the heart monitor machine and the whoosh of the ventilator.  She had been here before, less than a year prior.  Then before that, five years.  It was not her first time losing a loved one in her family, but he was certainly the last.  Both parents gone, Grandma passed away in college, her brother wouldn't return her calls.  That hurt.

"Hey Grandpa," Brooke whispered, tugging the armchair up to the side of the bed.  "In N Out was closed so...no contraband today."  Taking his cold, wrinkled hand in her own, turned it over, admiring the hands that were once so strong.  "There's so much I want to tell you," She sniffled but continued on.  "Lincoln...that man I told you about at Christmas...I finally told him about Melody.  "It was..." Brooke chuckled, wiping her cheeks.  "Difficult, messy but so worth it.  He's wonderful.  Melody adores him and I...Grandpa, I love him so much."

Quiet, slow footsteps hit her ears but didn't breach the door.  Lincoln watched leaning against the doorjamb with a heavy heart as Brooke spoke softly to her grandfather, his skin pale, lips slightly parted beneath the oxygen mask but his eyes remained closed.  The Doctor had explained this peaceful passing was for the best.  Stroke victims often aren't the same, the effects greatly diminishing quality of life

"There's so much I plan on sharing with him.  Things you taught me,"  Forcing a smile, Brooke traced the veins on the back of her grandfather's hand.  "I'll teach Melody our song."

Inhaling a deep breath into her lungs, Brooke started off soft, barely a whisper but Adrian heard and Lincoln heard.  It was also a fraction of the original peppy tempo.

He was a famous trumpet man from out Chicago way
He had a boogie style that no one else could play
He was the top man at his craft
But then his number came up and he was gone with the draft
He's in the army now, a-blowin' reveille
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B

Pausing to wipe her eyes, hand tightening around his limp frail one, Lincoln chose that moment of her song to enter the room.  He placed both hands on her shoulders, kissing the top of her head to remind Brooke she wasn't alone.

"He l-loved this song," She explained, crumbling under the emotion wrecking her from the inside out.  "Bec-cause he was in the Army."

"Don't stop singing," Lincoln begged on a whisper.  She obliged keeping her exaggerated slow tempo stretching out the song.

They made him blow a bugle for his Uncle Sam
It really brought him down because he couldn't jam
The captain seemed to understand
Because the next day the cap' went out and drafted a band
And now the company jumps when he plays reveille
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B

A-toot, a-toot, a-toot-diddelyada-toot
He blows it eight-to-the-bar, in boogie rhythm
He can't blow a note unless the bass and guitar is playin' with 'im
He makes the company jump when he plays reveille
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B

Brooke didn't have a chance to finish the duos beloved song.  On her next inhale, it turned to a sharp gasp when she felt fingers tighten around her own.  Glancing down, she saw her grandfathers fingers curled around her for the first time showing some motion.

"Grandpa?"  She tried, smiling wide in hopes he was waking up.

The elder man's chest swelled, lips parted to accept the oxygen then exhaled with no movement following the light hiss.

"Grandpa?...Grandpa!  No, no, no!"

Strong arms engulfed her as she fell backwards, sobs tearing from her throat and lips.  Lincoln's chest tightened, tears consuming his own eyes in empathy for Brooke's grief.

He was gone.

****

Warm, heavy rain pelted down, pattering steadily onto the awning above the small gathered group.  The pastor read from Psalms, said a few words reading from the book of Revelation about no more pain, or tears or death in heaven.  Quiet sobs tore from Brooke's lips, stifled by her hand but Lincoln's arm around her shoulder and Melody's tiny hand clutching her other brought the semblance of comfort.

One by one, they took red roses from a vase and laid it on the casket as it hovered above the open vault.  Brooke's feet were frozen to the damp grass, fingers clutching the green stem of her Grandpa's favorite flower.  The sweet aroma flooded her nostrils, bringing vivid flashes of memories working in his garden as a girl on the weekends she'd stay at her grandparents house.

"No need to water today, darling," He cooed.

"But Grandpa," A six year old Brooke pouted.  "It's my chore to water!"

"And you do a marvelous job at it.  See the clouds?"  He pointed up at the sky as he squatted down beside Brooke.  "Do you smell it?  A gift is coming for the flowers.  Beautiful, pure,natural rain. It's very special."

Later, sitting on the patio chairs each with a mug of hot chocolate and extra marshmallows, the special dup watched the steady streams of rain inhaling the aroma with each sip of chocolatey goodness.

"Rain is a gift, Brookie," He cooed into her hair.  "God knows when His plants need the blessing and sends it.  He always sends us gifts and blessings right when we need it.  Always remember that, OK?"

"OK, Grandpa."

"Think of me when it rains, will you, darling?"

"I promise, Grandpa."

"I'll always think of you when it rains, Grandpa,"Brooke whispered as she placed her rose down on top of the casket, hand lingering on the dark wood.  "You were such a treasured blessing."

As the last of the guests departed before the lowering of the casket, Brooke accepted condolences, hugs and well wishes with Melody at her side holding tightly to her hand and Lincoln on her other side, shaking hands in full support.

"I think that's everyone, babe," Lincoln offered, rubbing a hand down then up Brooke's arm.  Noticing her bristle even at his touch, he followed her gaze.  A tall, lean man stood with his back to them, hands stuffed in the pockets of her dress pants, head lowered.  "Brooke, who is that?"

Inhaling a deep breath that expanded her chest, lips pressed into a thin line, she didn't answer for several heartbeats.

"It's my brother."

"Your br-"

With a heavy sigh, Brooke stepped away from Lincoln, fingers trailing away from his as she walked toward the man she hadn't seen in years or spoken to in months.

"Todd," She greeted once a few yards away.

Slowly he turned to face the voice, brows downturned, face contorted with sadness, cheeks lined with a few tears.

"Hi Brooke."

"What are you doing here?" She asked, arms crossed over her chest defensively, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Todd sighed, turned towards her and rocked back on his heels.  "I came for Grandpa's funeral.  It was beautiful, Brooke.  You did a great job."

"It wasn't easy doing it all alone," She spat bitterly.

"Brooke, don't start with that!  You know how hard it is for me to fly out here!"

"So difficult you couldn't make it for Moms funeral?"  She shouted, arms thrown up in exasperation.  Tears flowed down her cheeks as she shouted angrily at him.  "I had to bury our Mother alone, Todd!"

"It just wasn't a good time to-"

"Wasn't a good time?"  Brooke scoffed.  "It wasn't a good time for me for Mom to die either, Todd!  I left my dream job, uprooted my entire life and moved Melody back here to take care of her alone!"

"I have my own real family to take care of!  I couldn't move them back here!  Be realistic!"

Blinking her disbelief, Brooke took a step back.  "Your...real family?"  Her voice dropped to a whisper.  "Do you mean your own birthed kids or because you're married?"

"Don't twist my words around, Brooke!  You always do that!"

"You said it!"

"God, Brooke!"  Todd seethed, jaw and teeth clenched.  "There is no talking to you!  Neer has been!  It doesn't help Mom and Dad favored you, but we both know why."

Flinching as fresh tears fell, Brooke swallowed hard.  "How can you still hold that against me? I had no control over it and neither did you!"

"But Mom and Dad did," He whispered.  "I simply wasn't good enough."

"Todd, that's not true!" Brooke sobbed.  "I've always loved you!  You're my brother!"

"No.  I'm not," He whispered then turned to the open vault now that the casket had been lowered.  "Grandpa was the only one who didn't treat me as different.  Goodbye, Gramps.  I'll miss you."

"Todd," She called to his now retreating form.  "Todd, wait!"  Back turned to her, he stomped away, hands back in his pockets.  "Todd, please!  You have a niece you could be a part of her life!"

Finally he stopped but only looked over his shoulder.  "You severed us, Brooke.  You keep me from her.  Only you can fix it."  Then he continued his journey to walk away.

New sobs tore through her body as her brothers form disappeared into the distance.  Todd's cruel words cut agonizingly deep being so painfully similar to words Dorian had said multiple times in the past.  Strong arms wrapped around her, steadying her shaky legs.  Turning into Lincoln's arms, she pressed her cheek against his chest, fingers curled around his shirt.

"I understand now why you don't talk to him often," Lincoln comforted, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.  "It's like he doesn't even consider you two real siblings."

"He doesn't," She sniffled.  "Where's Melody?"

Lincoln leaned back, brows furrowed in confusion.  "She's with Leena and Trenton at the car.  Why doesn't he?"

Stepping back, Brooke entwined their fingers and began walking back to the car.  Warmth and comfort flooded up her arm from their contact.  "Our parents had trouble conceiving at first so they adopted."

"Oh...so he's..."

"Todd is adopted but a few years later, surprise! We're pregnant," Brooke explained.  "He has always felt like he wasn't good enough but I was a surprise!  They were told they couldn't have their own children.  Todd's perspective had always been twisted but he blames me."

"That's hardly fair!"

"I know," She sighed, leaning her temple of his arm as they walked.  "He has always prioritized his own family since they started having kids.  Blood means more to him than anything else.  He didn't fly out here for Mom's funeral.  I buried her a-alone."

Lincoln's arm tightened around her as her voice cracked with emotion. "You are not alone anymore, Brooke."  Cupping her face and tilting it up to him, lips curving into a kind, warm smile.  "Blood does matter, but it's not the only thing."

"Our parents never treated us differently. They loved us like we were both theirs because we were!"

"I know what you need," Lincoln smirked, running his hands down her back. 

"What is that?"

"You've been under so much stress, so my sadness you need a weekend getaway."

Heat flooded Brooke's cheeks.  "I don't know if I can handle that..."

"No, no, no!  God, Brooke not like that!" Lincoln pulled her to him.

"Then what did you mean?"

"My parents wedding anniversary is coming up," He explained.  "There's a family get together in San Diego.  I'd love it if you and Melody came with me."

Brooke leaned back, biting her lower lip as she gazed upward into his emerald gems.  "You...want us, Melody and me to meet your family?  Meet your...parents?"

"Yes,"  He grinned.  "I do."

Glancing down shyly, Brooke chewed her lower lip, the corners fighting their way upward into a smile as she looked upward from under her lashes at him.

"OK."

The video above is the song at its original tempo

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