AN: Ok, so this takes place a few days after Brooke's attack. I've changed some things to fit the purpose of the story so if the timing seems a bit off, that's why.

Summary: After her attack, Brooke feels cold and empty. Her friends all have their own problems to do with and haven't really taken the time to see if she's ok. Enter Rachel. Will they be able to mend their friendship after everything that has happened and, more importantly, will she be able bring the old Brooke back?

Chapter 1

Brooke looked at herself in the mirror and hated what she saw. Not just because of the dark bruises covering her face, but because she had let it happen. She didn't know when she had gotten so careless about things. The girl looking back at her was not the same girl from four years ago. This girl was jaded and cold.

Despite knowing she had let herself go, Brooke didn't care to change. She couldn't feel anything except the numbness that had crept over her after the attack, but, if she was honest with herself, that numbness had starting creeping up before that night.

It had been three days now and the bruises had yet to fade. If anything, they had actually gotten worse. The little make-up she could apply did little to conceal anything so she didn't even bother. Brooke let her eyes travel down from her face across the rest of her body. She had bruises everywhere. They were on her neck, arms, stomach, back, and legs. How Peyton believed she actually fell down the stairs, she didn't know. Maybe she didn't believe that but didn't want to say anything about it. It didn't really matter to Brooke either way.

After one more quick glance, she finished getting ready. Even though she had no plans of leaving the house today, it didn't mean that she was just going to lay around and pout. Once she had finished getting dressed, she walked out of the room and into the kitchen to start making herself something to eat.

Before she could get the bread out to make a sandwich, there was a knock at the door. Startled and not quite sure what to do, Brooke slowly made her way over to the front door.

"Who is it?" She asked after a moments hesitation.

"Rachel," came the response from the other side of the door.

Brooke wasn't expecting that. She was expecting anyone to be waiting outside, anyone but Rachel. What could she want, anyway? She had already stolen the brunette's money.

Deciding that she should let the girl in so that she could get an explanation, Brooke opened the door and stood there staring at her once best friend. She had to admit, though, the redhead did look good. It appeared as though the girl had put on some weight, which was a good thing considering she had looked like she was letting herself go the few days she was in Tree Hill before.

"Come back for more money?" Brooke asked with more than a slight edge to her tone. She had yet to step aside to let the other girl in, either.

"What?" And what happened to you?" the redhead answered with a look of concern on her face. She took a step towards Brooke but quickly stopped her movement when the girl backed away from her.

Brooke turned away from Rachel and walked further into the room to sit on the couch. She glanced back towards the door and gave a look that told the other girl to do the same. Once Rachel was sitting on the couch next to her, Brooke started talking, "They money Peyton paid back. It suddenly goes missing around the same time you do. Funny, huh?"

Rachel wore a hurt expression but quickly looked away, trying to mask the hurt the brunette obviously caused. "Look, Brooke, I don't know anything about that. All I know is what your mom said to me and it made me realize something about myself."

After not receiving a response, Rachel continued, "I honestly don't know what happened to that money, but, Brooke, I'd never steal from you like that."

Brooke just looked at the girl and let her words wash over her. It had been weeks since she had seen her and, to be honest, she had missed her friend. Sure, living with Peyton was fun but Rachel had always been different and she missed that. Seeing her now and how honest she looked, Brooke believed her.

"I don't know what happened to it, then. I just...you know you can always ask if you need something, right?"

Rachel just smiled and nodded, but the smile was quickly gone as she took in the bruises on the brunette's face, again. "You never answered me. What happened to you?"

"I was doing laundry and got tangled up in some clothes. Lets just say that the fall was very long and very painful."

"Brooke, I'm a drug addict. I could lie about anything and I've seen plenty of other people do the same. Now tell me what really happened."

"I told, I fell. Now you tell me what you're doing back in Tree Hill and where you ran off to this time."

Rachel let out a soft chuckle before shaking her head and standing up from the couch. She grabbed Brooke by the hand and led her by the hand back to the bedroom.

"I'll tell you all that some other time. If you're not going to tell me what happened, at least let me cover it up for you."

Brooke let herself be pushed down onto the bed while the redhead went into the bathroom to what she needed. When she returned, she knelt down in front of Brooke and tucked a stray piece of hair back behind her ear. The touch caused Brooke to flinch ever so slightly but just enough to be caught by Rachel. She ignored it, though, and went about her business of applying the make-up much the same way Deb had done just a couple of days before. The only difference was that Rachel was more gentle, if that could even be possible.

After a few minutes of work, Rachel stood back up and smiled down at the other girl. The bruises could still be seen but they weren't as pronounced. It made the redhead feel better because she hated how beat and worn the girl had looked when she opened the door.

She bent over just enough to press her lips to Brooke's forehead. Before standing back up, she lifted the girl's head and asked, "What would you do without me?"