Pieces

Then I'll see your face, I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name, I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole

Brooke was driving to school. It was going to be another awful day. They all were since the day she found out that the boy she fell in love with and her best friend has been sneaking around behind her back. And last night… It was even worse. She felt terrible for lying to Lucas, even if she wasn't showing it. She didn't even know why she did it, but no matter what Lucas has done to her, he didn't deserve this, after his own life story. Brooke felt so guilty. But she wouldn't show it. She would never show him or Peyton anything other than anger and hate. But the truth was, she missed them both like crazy. Because Peyton, she was the only family Brooke has ever had. And Lucas… Without even realizing it, Brooke fell head over heels in love with him. She didn't expect it, because she has never been serious about anyone before him. But somehow, Lucas Scott found a way to get into her heart. Just to break it in million peaces. This day was going to suck.

Brooke was now walking towards her locker when someone she really didn't wanted to talk to called her name.

"Brooke, wait, please!"

"Didn't I tell you not to talk to me?"

"Yeah, you told me, but I don't want to. Brooke, please! We have to get over it! If I could, I would take it back. I'm so sorry."

"But you, can't, Peyton, so just stay away from me."

She turned around to keep walking when she saw him. It was Lucas' friend from the Rivercourt. He had a cold look on his face and he was holding a gun, turned into their direction. For a second, Brooke froze, terrified, but then she shouted:

"Peyton, run!"

Obviously, her scream made him freak out. He pulled the trigger and the bullet broke the glass separating him from Brooke and Peyton. Then, everybody started running and screaming. Jimmy Edwards looked shocked, terrified of what he has just done. Everyone ran for their life. Peyton was caught by the crowed and before she knew it, she was outside of the school. She looked around her and didn't see Brooke. She started shouting her name, but there was no respond and she couldn't see her anywhere. Tears started running down her face. Then, she heard Lucas calling her name.

"Peyton, what happened? I just came and everyone is running."

"Someone had a gun and shot! I was with Brooke, she was right next to me and now I can't find her."

"Wait, she was shot?"

"I don't know. She was right next to me and now I can't find her. Luke, what if…"
"No, Peyton, stop it! It's gonna be ok, I promise."

Then he started running towards the school.

"Lucas! Stop! Come back!"

Peyton and others were shouting, but he didn't turn back, he continued running and went into the school. He heard something behind him and he turned around and saw Nathan.

"What are you doing?"
"Haley is in the tutor center, I have to find her."
Lucas was going crazy. Someone had a gun and both Brooke and Haley were in the school, perhaps…No, they had to be fine.

"Look, go find her, I'll find Brooke and we all just get out of here."

They looked at each other for a second, then both remaining silent, went get some bats. When they got them, they went to the hallway and they saw the broken glass and some blood.

"I'm going to the tutor center."

"I'll try to find Brooke."

They nodded and looked at each other.

"Nathan…"

"yeah, you too, man."

Then Nathan started walking towards the tutor center and Lucas followed the blood traces. They leaded him to the library. It was not safe there, the doors didn't lock. He slowly entered and walked around silently. He didn't see anyone at first, but when he found himself next to a shelf, he saw Brooke sitting behind it.

"Lucas!"

He left the bat on the ground and reached her.

"It's ok, it's me."

"He just stood there and shot. I lost Peyton…"

"She's fine. Was that blood outside from you?"

"Yeah, my leg is bleeding. I don't know if it's from the glasses, but I think it's shot."

Lucas looked at her leg. It was bleeding a lot. He took of his shirt and tied it around the wound.

"Ok, that has to stop the bleeding."

He tried to stand, but she caught his arm and said, sobbing: "
"Please, Lucas, I can't walk, don't leave me here."

Her eyes were begging. She looked so scared and vulnerable and he just wanted to get her out of there, to make sure she is ok. But it was not safe just to walk out there, especially when she was shot.

"I won't leave you. I'm just gonna block the entrance. Then, I'm coming back.

She looked down, crying.

"Brooke, look at me!"
She turned her head to look in his eyes.

"I won't leave you. I promise."

She just nodded and Lucas went to the door and blocked it. He was afraid. He was afraid about Haley, about himself, about Nathan, about Brooke. She looked so… fragile. He had to save her.

He went back there and sat next to her. She was pale and even his strongly tied shirt didn't stop the bleeding.

"The gun guy, he was your friend from the Rivercourt. Jimmy I think was it."

What? Jimmy Edwards brought a gun to school and shot Brooke? Lucas couldn't believe it. But he couldn't think about it now. He had to concentrate to Brooke.

"It's a bullet, isn't it?"

Brooke knew it. Somehow, she was sure. This pain couldn't be caused by glass.

"Yeah. But you're gonna be alright. I'm here."

She looked at him. But how was he? Everyone ran away…

"Why aren't you outside, they called code red."
"I was outside of the school when I saw everyone running. Peyton told me about the shooting and said she lost you and I just ran here. I wanted to make sure you are ok."

What? He went back into a school with a shooter in it just because she might have been there?
"Are you insane? He's probably still here and you just came here?"

"I just couldn't stay there, knowing that you might be here, perhaps injured."

Lucas couldn't describe how he felt when Peyton told him Brooke was missing. It terrified him more than he expected, more than he could imagine.

"I know it's selfish, but I'm glad you're here. At least I won't die alone."

No, she shouldn't talk like this. She was going to be fine, she had to. That's all Lucas could think about.

"You are not gonna die, Cheery. Nothing's gonna happen to you. I promise."

She smiled a little.

"I loved it when you called me Cheery."

"It suits you. And I loved it when I called you Cheery."

Brooke looked at Lucas. She didn't think he would keep his promise.

"It's cold. I'm tired, Lucas, I'm so damn tired."

Lucas was freaking out. The thought that he might loose her was unbearable. Lucas couldn't believe how much he cared about her, he hasn't realized it until now. He put his arm around her.
"You have to stay awake. Please, Brooke, hold on. Tell me… Tell me about a good day."

The first one that came to her mind was…

"You remember the day when we had this fight, that I was jealous of Peyton?"

Lucas nodded. He really didn't expect she would tell him about something that happened after he came to her life, because all he did was hurt her.

"The same night, I waited for you on the stairs of your house. I was so afraid. I thought you were slipping away and that thought was killing me, because I felt so much for you. And I was afraid I was not good enough for you. And when you told me that you love the fact that I am who I am and that it doesn't bother you how different we are, I finally opened up to you about my feelings. And then, when you told me that you gave rat's ass about me, I felt so happy and for the first time in my life, I felt I was worth it, because you saw something in me that made you care. And after that, when we made out in your car, it was amazing. And it was because we didn't have sex. We just kissed and held each other. It was beautiful."

Lucas remembered that night too. And after all, it was a great memory for him too.

"I'm sorry."

They both said it in the same time.

"I'm sorry I lied to you. I had no right to do it. I was just hurt and… When you called me a slut… you may not used that word directly, but you meant that. In that moment, you hurt me so bad. Because even if you cheated on me, I still hoped that you saw more in me than a stupid slutty cheerleader. But I shouldn't have lied."

She was crying. She was becoming weaker and weaker every second. Brooke realized that she was probably going to die. There was no point in hiding anymore.

Lucas wasn't pissed at Brooke about it. Not now, because she was bleeding, but he stopped being angry at her when he saw the pain in her eyes the previous night.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm the one who should apologize. I should have never done it."

"Being with me?"
"Cheating on you."

They looked at each other's eyes. Lucas eyes were filling with tears too, now, seeing Brooke like this.

"I won't ever forgive myself what I did to you. Brooke, you are wrong if you think you're not good enough for me. You're too good for me. I didn't deserve you. And never think you're not worth it. You're beautiful, smart, caring, kind-hearted and amazing. "

Brooke was looking at the beautiful blue eyes of the boy she loved so much. She didn't care if he was saying all of this just because she was bleeding and probably dying. She just was happy he was there and he told her all that. She had so many things to tell him

"I forgive you."

Lucas looked at her. He couldn't believe it. How could she bring herself to do this? Brooke Davis was so much more than everyone thought. More than he thought.

"I can't do this anymore. I'm so tired, Lucas."

Her eyes were closing. He felt her head falling on his shoulder.

"No, Brooke! Please, hold on."

But she couldn't. She was tired of fighting. She just wanted to close her eyes.

"Please, don't leave me! Come on, open your eyes."

The pleading in his voice made her do it. She opened her hazel eyes and looked in his blue ones. She had to say it. She couldn't leave without doing it. She kissed him softly and there was only one thing she needed to do before she left.

"I love you."

She whispered those words and then fainted.

"NO!"

Lucas shouted. He didn't care if Jimmy would hear him. He had to get her out of there. He unblocked the entrance and picked Brooke in his arms. He walked down the hallway and now he realized how perfectly she fitted in his arms, how soft as her skin, how good her hair smelled of her favorite strawberry shampoo. He had to save her. He then saw him. Jimmy was standing there, with a gun in his hand. In this moment, Lucas hated him. But he had to make him let them go.

"Jim, she's dying."

He looked terrified, but Lucas didn't care.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want this."

"Just let me take her out."

Lucas started walking to the door and Jimmy didn't stop him. In a minute, he was out of the building. A police officer took Brooke from his arms. Lucas knew he had to let him do this, but he just didn't want to leave her. He watched as the ambulance took Brooke to the hospital while they were questioning him. Someone told them that Jimmy shot himself. Lucas was shocked and now felt guilty for not being able to stop that. But most of all, he wanted to see how Brooke was. After the police let him go and he saw his mom and Keith, he went to the hospital. He was afraid of what they were going to tell him. But he had to know. He went to the reception to learn what happened with her.

"Excuse me, I'm here for Brooke Davis, the victim of the school shooting."

"Are you family?"

"No. I'm a friend. I was with her in that school."

The woman doubted if she should tell him anything, he saw it. The seconds while he was waiting for her decision were the longest in his life.

"She lost a lot of blood and she was almost dead when she arrived here. She went through surgery. We almost lost her, but she made it. She will need rehab for her leg and will probably be in shock for a while, but otherwise she's ok. She is still incautious. It's up to her when she will weak up. You saved her. If you haven't tied your shirt around the wound, she would have died from blood loss before she came here."

Suddenly, Lucas felt relief and simple joy. She was ok.

"Can I go see her?"

She made a look, but Lucas had to convince her.

"Please, ma'am. I need to see her."

After a second, she said:

"She's in room 42. But up to 20 minutes."

"Thank you."

He walked into Brooke's room. She was sleeping and looked so peaceful. Like an angel. Lucas sat right next to her and took her hand in his.

"Hey. You scared the hell out of me. Please don't do this ever again."

He looked at her face. Even after this horrible day, she looked so beautiful.

"I know I don't deserve this, but please, wake up soon. We all miss you. We need you, Brooke."

He kissed her hand and put his forehead on it.

"Hey."

Her voice was weak and quiet, but was still raspy and beautiful. He looked at her and saw her hazel eyes looking at him. He couldn't help but smile.

"Hey, Pretty Girl."

He kissed her forehead and whispered.

"Don't scare me like this ever again."

Brooke smiled. Even after all that happened, in that exact moment, she felt happy.

"You saved me."

"I promised you I will."
"Thank you."

Lucas looked at her and smiled. She smiled and caressed his cheek. Lucas kissed her hand again and they looked then in each other's eyes.

"What happened after I fainted? Is everyone else ok?"

"Everyone is in shock, but they are all ok."

"Thank God. And Jimmy, what happened with him?"

Lucas sighed. Even thou he hated what Jimmy did, he was still his friend and it was hard, especially knowing that he was one of the people who were responsible for that.

"After you fainted, I took you out of the library. When I was trying to get out of the school, I saw Jimmy. I convinced him to let us go. After I went out, I guess he couldn't take what he has done and… he shot himself."

He looked down when he said that. It was hard. He felt Brooke's hand on his face again.

"I'm sorry, Luke."

Feeling her support, he felt better.

"What matters now, is that you are ok."
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. I could never thank you enough."

"Don't even mention it. The world would suck so much without you."

Brooke looked at him again. She knew she had no right to ask, but she just needed to know.

"Luke, why you went into the school?"

Lucas looked at Brooke's eyes. He now knew the answer.

"I wasn't ready to lose you, Pretty girl."

Brooke looked at him and whispered.

"I wasn't ready to be lost."

They smiled at each other. Brooke felt sleepy again. It was hard for her to keep her eyes open. Lucas noticed and said:

"You need to rest. I'll come back here in the morning."

He was just about to leave, when he heard her voice.

"Luke, will you stay with me a little longer? Just until I fall asleep. Please."

He looked at her and he then realized he would do anything for her. So, he laid next to her in the bed and held her in his arms. And suddenly, they both felt safe and in peace.

Author's note: I don't know if I should continue this or if I should leave it one-shot. You tell me! Don't forget to review!