The Lord Giveth, The Lord Taketh Away
Disclaimer: This fic takes place directly after the season 5 finale.TOTAL core 5
Synopsis: As Lucas take his journey to Las Vegas for a much needed break; the calm Tree Hill he calls home will become completely distraught as Nathan and Haley discover a sickening secret.
Does it matter who stands next to you when all your dreams come true, or when they come crashing down?
Like it? Love It? Just Review It!
Preview
" I have two tickets to Vegas; do you want to get married tonight?"
"Lucas"
"I just figured that's what you wanted to hear me say, right?"
Chapter 1- TALK
Haley and Nathan lay cuddled on the couch watching a late movie. Jamie is strung out between them, asleep, on their laps. It's been a couple hours since Haley recorded her track at the studio and it's close to 1 AM. Haley's cell goes off, interrupting the comfortable silence between the family.
"Don't you think it's a little too late for Luke to be texting you? Can't he wait until the morning to recite lifetime worth poems or deliver his plan to discover Davy Jones' locker with you?" Nathan asked.
"Hahha, jealous much husband?" Haley smiled. "I bet he's just letting me know he's ok. You know, how I have been worried about him lately and p.s., it's big foot,"
"Yea, I know, Hales. I'm just wondering what sorry excuse he's making up to brood."
Haley wondered the same thing as she tried to text Luke back. The message was interrupted when her phone started to ring.
"Hey, I was just about to text you, what's…."
"Hey, I'm at the airport. I have two tickets to Vegas; do you want to get married tonight?"
"Yea, why not, I was wondering when I would get my third Scott wedding," Haley giggled.
Nathan now broke his gaze from his slumbering son, to pay more attention to his wife. He immediately stiffened against Haley, becoming uncomfortable with the pair's conversation. Haley squeezed his wrist, noticing his discomfort, bringing his gaze to her's. She smiled and reassuringly rolled her eyes at the situation.
"Luke, what's going on? You're at the airport?"
"Yes Hales, I have two tickets to Vegas and-"
"Yea and you want to get married, I heard you the first time."
Nathan was now staring at her, intently. Haley grabbed his hand and brought it to her heart and then her lips, whispering "I love you"
"Ok Luke, could you please explain before I willingly allow my husband to kick you're a-s-s!"
Nate mind was brought back to Jamie, who was still asleep on their laps.
"I'm going to take him up Hales, kay?" Nathan nodded to her, and swooped up their son. Haley whispered that she wouldn't be long.
" Luke..?"
"I was going to call her Hales,"
--
Peyton was listening to Haley's new demo when her cell vibrated against her pocket.
"Hello?"
"Peyton, it's me, I'm glad you picked up."
A smile quickly crept to Peyton's face.
"Mia?… Why didn't you call me on your cell? What's up?"
"It broke before my show. I'm calling from the hotel. I just needed to talk to you."
"Ok…….." Peyton waited for a few moments. "Mia?"
"…. yea huh?."
"What is it?"
"There's this guy asking about you. I know I already told you, but I think you should talk to him."
"Well, he isn't there with you is he?" When Peyton didn't get a response, she warily continued. "I'm just not that sure. Can't he call or something?"
Peyton's mind drifted to when Ellie first contacted her. What did this guy want with me? How did he know me?
"No he's pretty adamant about calling. Peyton why don't you come to Savannah?"
"Why do I have to see him in person?"
"So you don't run, I guess. Or maybe it's so he doesn't,"
Peyton was familiar with this. "people always leave, right"
"But I need to be here. Haley recorded a demo and we need to make her album. The track is really sweet."
"Nice change of subject, Peyt. You know I think it's wicked awesome that Haley's is recording again, but we both know that she doesn't need you. Look, come out to Savannah for the summer and tour with me. You have nothing to lose. Peyton please!"
"Fine. Mia stop begging. I'll leave in an hour or two."
--
"Who? Lucas, who were you going to call?
"You know who Hales. I was afraid and I didn't know what to say. Or how to say it."
" So you were to use your infamous pickup line…" Haley asked sarcastically, yet absentmindedly wanted to know why her friend sounded so defeated.
"I don't know. It just seemed like the thing to say…..to her now"
"Wait Luke…hold on. Who were you going to call?"
"You know that, they are just words, right. Words that I don't want to know. Words that I don't even want to own. Hales, why is everyone so hung up over words, just letters phrased together?"
"Lucas, you said them, You wrote them. If they didn't ream anything, your heart wouldn't have created them. Luke, you know that."
"So what Hales, I wrote them. It doesn't matter anymore. It doesn't mean that they hold what everyone thinks."
--
Lindsay shifted herself onto the back seat of the cab. She had a long day and wanted nothing more than to crawl into her bed and sleep her aches away. Reality, her reality, resurfaced as her phone began to ring, bringing her out of her thoughts.
"Hello"
"Hey, it's me." The familiar voice calmed Lindsay. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm tired. Exhausted really. This is….just really draining me."
"Linds it will get better. But in the meantime, hold in there."
"I know, things just suck right now."
"Well things are going to suck for a bit, but you'll make it…..Wait did you tell him? How did it go?"
"Well. Surprisingly, it went extremely…"
"You didn't tell him, did you?"
"Nope, not really…but maybe it's for the best. You know, him not knowing"
Lindsay profoundly took a moment to ponder what she has just said.
"That's total bull crap and you know it. He needs to know the truth."
"I know, I know, it was just…..less real this way."
--
"Lucas." Haley was now feeling like she had been though this conversation before and then before that. It just seemed to never go anywhere. "Only you can know what they mean. Stop running away. Look in your heart and find the answers they hold."
There was a pause between the two friends. It appeared like Luke was finally soaking in what she said. Haley still didn't get the answer she was waiting for.
"Luke, you still there?"
"Yes. Sorry. I was just thinking,"
"So who were you going to propose to next?" Haley couldn't help but become giddy in her skepticism.
"Haha, just because I don't see you, doesn't mean that I don't know you have that sarcastic smirk plastered on your face. And for the record, I just figured that's what you wanted to hear."
"Lucas Eugene Scott, I want you to be happy, but most importantly I want you to be honest with yourself. And you and I both know you aren't ready to be married."
"I know. I know"
"So how did it go anyways?"
Lucas wondered how Haley knew, but then again, it was Haley.
"I apologized. It was hard though. She looked so hurt…..She just keeps holding on though."
"Well, Peyton's hurting Luke, she will be for a while."
"I know, I know she will, but so will I."
Haley was growing exhausted from the conversation that seemed to come up so much recently. She grew tired, like Luke, of the constant circles it entangled.
" I just, I think I need to get away for sometime. I know what you're going to say, I shouldn't run, but Hales……"
"No Luke, you should go. You're not running, unless you stay. You need to clear your head. Are you going to call her? Haley asked as she turned the tv off downstairs, along with the lights and headed up to bed. Lucas smiled to himself; Haley really had his heart figured out.
" I was thinking about it but I wasn't sure."
"You should, she could use the release Luke, after all that's happened,"
"Okay I will. I love you buddy. Thanks"
"Goodnight Luke. Tell her that I love her and that I'm here for her. I'll see you soon, buddy."
--
Brooke paced in the living room. She stared endlessly into a vacant atmosphere. It had been over 6 hours since she last saw Angie. All she wanted was to will the phone to ring. And then it did.
"Hello", Brooke shakily answered.
"Hey B. Davis."
Brooke's face went full from nervous emotion to absolutely nothing in seconds.
"Brooke…?"
"Yea, hey Peyton. What's up? I'm expecting a phone call.
"Oh. I just wanted to know if you wanted something from the store."
"You're at the store? Peyton it's late, you could have done that tomorrow."
"Well actually, I can't. I'm going to Savannah with Mia, on tour. And it's my turn to by groceries."
"Wait you're leaving..?" Surprisingly Brooke found herself apathetic to the situation.
"Yea, there's no real reason to stay. Besides I would get in the way of your rainbow tribe, or possibly lose sleep." Peyton laughed.
It may not have been intentional, but Peyton's remark stung.
"Ok. I'll see you when you get back."
"Hey, I'm getting ice cream .It's your favorite, Rocky Road!"- Peyton hung up.
WTF, Brooke thought. Didn't she mean cookie dough?
--
Haley hung up the phone with her best friend and walked into her bedroom. Nathan was lying down, asleep. Haley noticed how peaceful Nathan appeared and decided not to wake him. Quickly she got undressed into a tank and flannel pajamas.
"I can't believe you're wearing Christmas flannels, now, in June," Nathan smirked.
"Oh babe, sorry. Did I wake you?" Haley asked as she climbed in bed.
"No I waited for you," Nathan could already see Haley getting worked up. "No. You didn't take too long. I just couldn't sleep without you. So how's my brother or the future Chris Keller?" Haley laughed and playfully smacked Nate's arm.
"Oh that was low, even for you. Luke's a work in progress." Haley already saw the scowl forming from Nathan. "I think he's going away for a bit, to calm his mind,"
Nathan pulled his wife closer to him.
"Good for him. I love you Hales."
"I love you too, Chris..um Lucas……I mean Nathan," Haley giggled. "Hah, I'm sorry, but you're so easy,"
"Oh, ok. That's the how it is. Ok."
"Husband, just remember its my serious ass lying next to you, ok. Goodnight babe!"
--
Brooke laid down on the couch, now dressed in jeans and a hoodie. She was still waiting on the phone call to let her know that Angie was safe. The silence was again interrupted but this time, it calmed Brooke.
Beauty queen of only 18
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her
She always belonged to someone else
I drove for miles and miles
And wound up at your door
I've had you so many times
but somehowI want more
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
Brooke couldn't help but smile as she reached for her phone.
"Hey Luke,"
"Hey, how are you?"
"I miss her, and they haven't called yet. Part of me is worried but I know she's safe…"
"Hey, pretty girl….she's ok.." A few seconds past. " Hey Brooke, are you doing anything this weekend?"
"No, just waiting, you?"
"I'm going away to clear my head for a little."
"That's great Luke, everything's been crazy lately." Brooke eternalized the loneliness that just washed over her.
"Well, I wanted to know if would come with me. Maybe we could clear our heads together,"
"Oh, I don't Lucas""Come on, we can wait together. Our flight leaves in an hour. Let me save you from this."
flashback"
"I wish that it was me. I know that's horrible. I know that's selfish but I watched you rescue Peyton and you told me you rescued Dan. And that sometimes I just wish you could rescue me."
"From what?"
"From all of it."
end flashback
"Brooke? Brooke…?"
"Me.. Yea. Ok…..ok. Yes I'm coming."
20 minutes later Brooke sat down next to Luke. They both looked extremely run down but there was conformability with them.
"Hey pretty girl," Brooke laid her head on her shoulder.
"Broody, where are we going anyway?"
"Vegas"