(Honeygrove Emergency Room)

Lucas' voiceover: What is time? Is it solely the measure of our existence upon this earth? Or is it something more?

Peyton sat in the waiting room of Honeygrove Memorial Hospital's emergency room, staring blankly at the clock, her cheeks stained with tears, her body and mind numb.

After arriving at the emergency department, Brooke had been quickly wheeled into one of the trauma rooms, a number of scrub-clad doctors following hurriedly after her.

As Brooke was rushed into the room, Peyton had lost her grip on her friends' hand, watching as it dropped lifelessly over the side of the gurney. Peyton's own hand now rested numbly at her side as she stood outside the trauma room. She watched as the doctors struggled to revive Brooke. As a nurse rhythmically squeezed the Ambubag to provide Brooke with the vital oxygen that she needed.

Suddenly a doctor noticed Peyton watching through the door window and spoke briefly to one of the nurses standing nearby.

The nurse approached the door, pulling the blinds closed so that Peyton could no longer watch. For a moment, Peyton continued to stare at the door, tears streaming down her cheeks as though any minute now, the blinds would re-open.

Just then, the door opened and a nurse stepped outside, providing Peyton with a quick glance at Brooke lying on the gurney.

The nurse closed the door after her, once again obstructing Peyton's view of her friend. Peyton followed the movement of the door as it closed, trying to keep an eye on Brooke for as long as possible and capture a mental image of her. Peyton didn't want to lose sight of Brooke, worrying that it could be the last time she ever sees her.

The nurse gently touched Peyton's arm, bringing her back from her thoughts and causing Peyton to look at her.

As though finally comprehending what was happening Peyton spoke.

"What's going on?" she asked hurriedly as she sobbed. "Is Brooke going to be ok? I mean, she'll be ok won't she? She's not going to die? She can't…. "

Peyton paused for a second to choke back more tears, which were threatening to fall, before continuing.

"She can't die…. I mean it's Brooke" Peyton cried. "Brooke can't die."

The nurse sighed as she took Peyton's hand in hers and slowly led her towards the waiting area in the emergency room. The nurse sat down in one of the empty chairs, beckoning for Peyton to take the seat beside her.

Peyton looked at the nurse pleadingly, desperate for any news of Brooke's condition.

The nurse avoided Peyton's gaze, instead glancing down at the beige tiles beneath her feet.

How much time is enough to fulfil your purpose in life? A day? A week? A month? What about a year?

After Peyton had left with Brooke in the ambulance, the rest of the group had stood silently in their motel room, no one knowing what to say or do.

Finally, Lucas had pulled himself together long enough to direct the others to his car, still parked in its position across the street from the motel.

The five of them were now on their way to meet Peyton at Honeygrove Memorial Hospital, a stony silence lingering between them all.

In the back seat, Haley was sobbing into Nathan's chest as he held her tightly in his arms and stroked her hair comfortingly.

As he drove through the night towards his destination, Lucas couldn't help but fear what he'd face when he arrived at the hospital. As much as he tried to shake the feeling, Lucas couldn't.

Lucas' gut was churning inside him and making him nauseous as he imagined a distraught Peyton waiting for them, of what Peyton's devastation would mean for Brooke.

Lucas swallowed hard as he continued to drive towards the unknown.

Some people are running out of time.

Brooke lay motionless in the trauma room, an ironic calm to the chaos, which was ensuing around her.

"Let's intubate her," the leading doctor called, shaking his head as he injected barbiturates into her arm.

At this command another doctor, ran to the head of the gurney, removing the oxygen mask covering Brooke's mouth and inserting a tube into her throat. Following insertion of the tube, a nurse quickly attached a portable ventilator, which took over Brooke's breathing.

The doctor pulled his stethoscope from where it was hanging around his neck and positioned it in his ears. He quickly placed the bell of the stethoscope over both Brooke's lungs.

"Bilateral breath sounds present, equal throughout both lungs." The doctor noted, placing the stethoscope back around his neck.

"Obs seem stable," the other doctor commented. "Let's get her up to radiology for an MRI stat. We need to see what we're dealing with here."

Whilst for others it appears to be never ending.

After a moment, the nurse glanced back up at Peyton sadly.

"You're friend is very sick," she said calmly. "At the moment, we're doing everything that we possibly can for her, but I need you to wait here for me, ok?"

The nurse paused momentarily, watching Peyton closely before continuing.

"Do you think that you can do that?" The nurse said squeezing Peyton's hand comfortingly. "As soon as they know anything, someone will come and find you."

The nurse looked at Peyton for a moment longer, as the girl continued to stare at her. Finally she released Peyton's hand and stood up from her seat. She threw Peyton a sympathetic glance and placed her hand reassuringly on her shoulder before turning and making her way back to the trauma room.

After she'd gone Peyton continued to stare at where the nurse had moments ago been sitting.

Your time is one of the most precious things that you can give to someone. It's something, which costs you nothing yet for the person you share it with it can seem invaluable.

Peyton couldn't tell you how long she'd been sitting in silence, staring absent-mindedly at the clock on the wall as the seconds slowly ticked by.

Peyton hadn't noticed Lucas and the others enter the emergency room. She hadn't noticed him approach her, worry etched on his face. Peyton didn't noticed Lucas as he stood before her or Haley as she took the seat beside her.

All she noticed was the hands on the clock as they slowly moved.

"Peyton…" Lucas said hesitantly as he reached out to touch her shoulder.

Peyton jumped at his touch, finally noticing him standing before her, Mouth and Skills looking at her worriedly from behind him.

Peyton threw herself into Lucas' arms, crying over his shoulder.

"Peyton?" Lucas questioned as he stroked the back of her head, fear evident in his voice. "What's happening? Is Brooke ok?"

Peyton pulled back from Lucas and looked into his eyes sadly.

"I don't know," she sobbed hugging him tightly again.

Lucas squeezed Peyton tightly, closing his eyes and sighing heavily as he did.

"Shh," he said trying to calm Peyton down. "She'll be ok."

"What if she isn't?" Peyton asked crying. "Lucas, what if she isn't ok?"

Peyton paused for a moment, looking at him again.

"I don't know what I'd do if I lost her." Peyton added quietly.

Lucas glanced between Mouth and Skills before kissing Peyton lightly on the forehead and wiping a tear from her cheek.

"I know." He said taking her hand in his before adding quietly. "I know."

Just then, Peyton noticed a doctor she'd seen treating Brooke approach the front desk and talk with a nurse behind it.

The nurse pointed towards Peyton and the others, causing the doctor to look their way. The doctor nodded to the nurse before making his way over to the six of them, a sombre expression on his face.

He stopped just before the group and looked at Peyton.

"Did you come in with Brooke Davis?" He asked her.

Peyton nodded.

"Yeah," she said quietly running a hand through her hair, as the other remained tightly in Lucas' grasp. "Is she ok?"

The doctor looked around the group for a moment before placing one hand on his side and rubbing the temple of his head soothingly with the other.

"Why don't you follow me?" the doctor said as he turned around and made his way up the corridor.

The group exchanged quick glances before following in his path.