LATE NIGHT FIGHT

AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER

Just a little something I thought up when re-watching "I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness" and I just had to write it. Companion piece to "Secret Pain". Some slight language.

Lucas grappled with the guy who had pretended to be Peyton's brother.

"Peyton, run!" he shouted. Peyton could only stare in shock as they fought. How could this be happening to her? Why had she let him in so easily? Why hadn't she listened to Lucas when he had first gotten suspicious? Lucas cried out as the taser connected with his skin.

"Lucas!" Peyton shouted.

"You think you can take her away from me? You're nothing," the boy told him, as he straddled the other blond. Lucas grunted, trying to struggle, but he was easily pinned and the other boy leaned in so that he was near his ear. "I'm going to show you why you'll never be good enough for her," he chuckled. Lucas' eyes went wide as the other boy unzipped his jeans and did the same with Lucas'.

"No," he said, increasing his fight. The pseudo-Derek used the taser again. Lucas tensed as the other boy pressed against him. No, no, no, no, no, no! his mind screamed. His hands started to roam.

"LUCAS!" Peyton screamed. She lunged at the boy and started hitting him. He turned around and knocked her to the floor. With a gasp, Peyton rose to her feet and began to run. The boy released Lucas and went after her.

"There's only room for one boy in your life," he told her. Peyton gasped as he closed in.

"I don't think so," Lucas stated. He punched him as an African-American boy came up beside him.

"Who the hell are you?"

"I'm her brother, bitch. Who the hell are you?" The question was accompanied by another punch. With that, Lucas and the newcomer pushed him out of the window. Peyton came up to Lucas.

"You okay?" he asked her. She nodded.

"Yeah. How 'bout you? That had to bring up some bad memories," she commented.

"I can live with those," he assured her. She looked at the other boy.

"Who are you?"

"I guess I'm your brother." They went outside, just as the police came up. They went to show them the body, but there was no one there. Peyton clutched Lucas, who embraced her protectively. Derek Sommers---the real Derek---narrowed his eyes. Some freak had tried to hurt his sister. If they ever found him, he was gonna lay a smack down on him. Peyton couldn't help but shiver. That psycho was still out there somewhere. And he could come back. Lucas' eyes clouded. When fake-Derek had been on top of him, it had felt like he was back with Nicki. If it hadn't been for Peyton…he tightened his embrace. He had almost failed her. He couldn't let that happen. He knew that if that maniac ever came back, failure would not be an option.

THE END