Open Your Eyes

Chapter 1 – Lost

A/N: LP story based on the song 'Open Your Eyes' by Snow Patrol

All this feels strange and untrue

And I won't miss a minute without you

My bones ache, my skin feels cold

And I'm getting so tired and old

She walked in to see the heartbreaking sight of a distant lover, whether a lover of a friend, or a lover that you wished to hold in your arms again. Lost that's how she would describe it.

Being lost is that teddy which fell down the side of your bed when you were seven and you found when you were fifteen, covered in dust, cold and alone. Lost is when you hope to be found again, even though once you've been found... is there any guarantee that you'll be loved again?

No.

That was it. She had witnessed it time and time again, every case slightly different. Sometimes they were never found again, lost hearts wandering the bright white corridors which she could walk blindfolded. The heartbreak to her was just another minute in her job; there were two different faces that she would see day-in-day-out. The one that was sat before her: hope, longing, desire... sadness or the one that she would much prefer, but was found few and far between: Ecstatic, warmth, trust... happiness.

She walked over to check her patient's status like she had many times before, and left the room, silently shutting the door behind her to allow the man to grieve in peace.

He gripped her hand as tight as possible, although as not to crush her delicate, china white fingers. He managed to lift his head from his shoulders – feeling as if it weighed as much as a bowling ball – to look up to the beautiful face of his fiancé, the hope in his heart was now only a glowing log that was left behind from the roaring fire it had held the previous day.

'Hey baby' the smile on her face beamed through the night, the sparkle of her eyes glinting in the moonlight.

He didn't respond immediately until he caught a glimpse of anxiousness in her eyes. 'I love you' he finally replied with, his heart was beating out of his chest, thrumming in his ears.

'I love you too... are you ok?' he had hoped that his declaration of love would have calmed the worry, but it hadn't managed the desired effect.

'Yeah, I'm fine' he walked slowly towards her, taking her hand in his 'come over here a minute' she nodded, following his request as he led her by their joined hands towards a stone bench just off of the coastal path they were following. It was not unusual that they would take a late night stroll after dinner and a movie to wind down before bed.

Sitting her down on the side of which his bulging pocket was not, so as he could gain immediate access to it when the time was right.

'It's beautiful tonight Lucas' she said with a gentle sigh of satisfaction before resting her head on his shoulder looking out to the view in front of them, allowing the sea breeze to waft through her hair. She lifted her hand to adjust the loose strand that had fallen across her face, but he beat her to it as he gently caressed the silky lock away. He lent down to kiss her on the forehead before finally feeling the urge to reach into his trouser pocket.

She sat up, feeling his movement, permitting his shoulder to move freely watching the tightly defined muscles beneath the close fitting shirt he was wearing. Her gaze was directed to his face as he swivelled round to face her, she could see his face was slightly flushed and felt a hint of confusion cover her although it quickly faded away as she looked down towards his hands which hold a small velvet box.

'Lucas Scott, forever the traditional' she thought to herself before suddenly realising what was about to happen. She felt her heart rapidly quicken its pace, felt her stomach feel as if it flipped over twice, felt her own cheeks redden in the anticipation to hear his following speech.

'Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer' he paused taking in the moment to look into her eyes for any sign of hesitation but only found tears of happiness brimming her eyes as she slowly blinked them away, letting them roll down her soft cheeks. 'I love you with all my heart, and I know that will never change, I want to be with you forever, through every hard moment to come, to hear the cries of our children in the night, to offer to get up and see to them so that their mother can try and get some rest. I want to love and cherish you forever and I promise I will try with everything I have to never let you down.' There was only one thing left to say... 'Will you marry me?'

By now there were streams of tears falling over the sloping curves of her face, her brain taking in what he had just said, knowing that all he had just said was all that she had ever wanted with him and now there was only one thing left to say... 'Yes'

He heard the sudden alarm go off in his head, to stay awake, to stay by her side. He reached over to her bedside table with one hand, the other determined to stay with hers as it had been the whole of the last night, proving to be difficult when attempting to change gears in the car. He quickly lashed his hand back, as if he had just scolded it against a hot surface.

'Stupid! Idiot! Stupid! Idiot!' he screamed to the room as if wanting in to fall down on top of him as any punishment to what he had done. Lifting the jug of cold water he poured some into his other hand, cupped so as to hold as much as possible. He threw the liquid over his face, making his spine shiver violently from the shock of the sudden change in temperature, shaking his head to rid of any excess drips still lingering on his skin.

'Thank you' it was the first word she had said since she had accepted his proposal, he had begun to wonder whether she regretted saying yes.

'For what?' he asked knowing full well what she was thanking him for.

'You know' she said softly glaring into his blue eyes. She knew him to well...

'Sorry, I just want to hear it' he said smugly, half winking at her, whilst still trying to keep his eyes on the road.

'Fine' she replied whilst letting a soft laugh escape her throat, 'thank you future husband, for proposing to me tonight, it was beautiful and amazing and I can't imagine it having gone any better or being more perfect, you my dear Lucas Scott, are wonderful' she had first started off sounding sarcastic but her tone of voice had changed into a flurry of mixed emotions, but he was surprised to hear the most to heartfelt pride. 'I'm unbelievably lucky to have you.'

That same alarm went off again, although not in his head this time. He looked up to see the flashing light signalling an alarm that had woken him from his soft slumber. His slightly slept deprived gaze darted across to the monitor that had been hooked to Peyton ever since she had got out of surgery, only to feel his heart drop into his stomach as he saw the flat line rolling across the screen.

Everything turned into slow motion from then on, the door swung open as half a dozen nurses and doctors flew through the door to rush to Peyton's bedside, flourishing around tubes and needles to prod and poke the one person who meant everything in the world to him. A sudden burst of anger took over him as he tried to push one of the nurses out of the way as she was holding a particularly long needle, he felt protective of the curly blonde lying on the bed in front of him although he knew that these were the exact people who could make her better.

A strong pair of hands gripped to his shoulders, pushing him outside of the doors to wait outside. However much he tried to push the male nurse away, his tired body was no match for him as he felt a much gentler pair of hands turn him around to face their owner. Haley pulled him in to hold him tight, allowing his shattered body to shake with violent tears that flowed out of him as the gateway had been bashed down which he no longer bothered to even try to keep held up. She pulled him over to one of the waiting room seats and sat him down.

A swarm of people surrounded him, much like how the nurses and doctors had with Peyton only moments before. Nathan, Haley and Brooke came to support him, Haley and Brooke took the seats next to him whilst Nathan went off to go and get four cups of coffee.

He didn't want any of this. All he wished at that moment was to be with Peyton and for her to be alright.

Unfortunately for Lucas, he was about to find that not everyone's wishes are granted... the hard way.

Please, please review, they mean so much to me and I think make me update quicker.