CHAPTER 1

"Good Morning Mrs. Scott, how are you feeling this morning? The doctor should be in a little later; he is doing his rounds right now. You gave us quite a scare for a while there. We were worried that your little girl might be left motherless. But the miracle of your recovery just proves that God works his magic everywhere…" As the young, blonde nurse continued with her chatter, a confused and blurry-eyed Brooke looked around the room; to try and make sense of what the nurse was saying or why even was a nurse talking to her or asking her how she was feeling.

So far from what she could see, she was in a hospital room. There were flowers and get well soon cards everywhere. When she looked down, she saw tubes and wires connected to each of her arms. The movement of scanning the room took a toll on her and a piercing pain shot through her head. Gently she reached up and instead of hair or even her scalp, she felt the rough, scratchy texture of gauze bandage.

Just as Brooke turned to ask the nurse what exactly was wrong with her, a bright cheerful sign strung across her window ledge caught her attention, "Congratulations, it's a girl!"

Frowning at the sign and frustrated with the fact that she didn't know what the hell was going on with and around her, Brooke finally asked the nurse, "Excuse me, I am sorry but could you tell me why exactly I am here" and pointing to the sign she continued, " and why is that sign in my room?"

The nurse gave Brooke a patronizing smile and patting her hand she replied, "I am sorry Mrs. Scott, you have been through an ordeal and here I am just piling on all this information on you…"

Before the nurse could continue, Brooke interrupted her and asked, "and why do you keep calling me Mrs. Scott? My name is Brooke Davis and I am way too young to be Mrs. Anyone let alone Scott."

The color drained from the nurse's pretty face and the exceedingly bright smile she had been wearing so far, disappeared. Giving Brooke a nervous look, the nurse quickly excused herself, saying she was going to call the doctor who would probably be able to answer her questions better.

A few minutes after the nurse disappeared, a haggard looking Nathan stepped into the room. Brooke noticed that the younger Scott brother looked tired and way older than what he should but she had to admit that he still looked as hot as always, "Hey there boy toy, and to what do I owe this visit?"

The sound of Brooke's voice shook Nathan out of his trance. He looked up into her bright, smiling face and without another thought he ran up to her and swooped her mouth into a warm, tender kiss.

A completely surprised Brooke gently pushed him away, "Whoa there what was that about? I mean don't get me wrong, both you Scott brothers do know how to kiss, so its not like I mind or anything but I am not so sure tutor girl will feel the same way."

Before Nathan could reply to that, the blonde nurse walked back in but this time she brought a whole posse of people with her, most of them in white lab coats and with very somber expressions.

"Hello there Mrs. Scott," a tall, older gentleman stepped out of the crowd and said in a cheery tone, "I am Dr. Morrow, its good to see you conscious finally. Allison tells me that you are not doing too well this morning, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

In an equally cheery but mocking tone Brooke replied, "Only if you answer a few of mine first and get rid of the nerdy bunch staring at me as if I am a bacteria under their microscope."

Nathan groaned at Brooke's dry sense of humor and was about to reproach her for her tone of voice when the doctor condescendingly replied, "Now Mrs. Scott, you are a medical miracle and "the nerdy bunch" as you called them are students at the university that are lucky enough to have opportunity to study this once in a lifetime case. Pretend like they are not here and let us carry on and figure out what is going on with you."

The doctor's pompous attitude got on Nathan's nerves and one look in Brooke's direction made him realize that she was just as annoyed as him. In a quiet but dangerous tone he said, "Look doc, I am glad Brooke is of such great interest to the medical community but last I remember, it is a patient's choice whether or not they want their case studied by medical students. Its obvious that Brooke doesn't, so please tell your posse to disperse."

Brooke's surprise at Nathan's presence was nothing compared to her surprise at his outburst. She never realized Nathan liked her at all, let alone enough to stand up for her like that. She felt his eyes on her and turning in his direction, she shot him a grateful smile. The doctor conceded and sent out his students. He looked directly at Brooke and said, "Alright Mrs. Scott, lets hear these questions of yours."

"First of all why do you keep calling me Mrs. Scott? My name is Brooke Davis and last I checked I was still single."

Brooke's statement caught both Nathan and the doctor off guard. They exchanged a look before the doctor began, "Mrs. Scott…"

Brooke quickly interrupted the doctor and continued with her questions, "I wasn't done. Why am I in the hospital and why is there a sign on the window congratulating me on a girl?"

By the time Brooke had finished asking her questions, a pale Nathan fell into the chair beside her. Brooke turned to make sure he was okay and the expression she saw on his face had her frowning.

Nathan looked shattered, as if the floor had just fallen from beneath him. Brooke could almost swear she saw tears forming in his eyes, when he finally looked her in the eye. She turned to the doctor and said, "Okay Doc those were my questions. Now its your turn to answer them."

The doctor smiled ruefully at Brooke and said, "Well thank you for the permission to speak Mrs…er…Brooke. In order to be able to answer your questions, I really do need you to answer a few of mine first. What year is it Brooke?"

Brooke looked at the doctor as if he was the one in need of treatment and rolling her eyes she replied, "2006, trust me this is a year I cannot forget considering it is my senior year!"

Both Nathan and the doctor stared so intensely at Brooke that she began to feel slightly uncomfortable, finally turning to Nathan she said, "Umm boy toy, I really appreciate the support and the visit but do you think I could talk to the doctor alone. Seeing his expression I am assuming I might have some deadly disease and if that is the case, I kind of want to hear it by myself first. Oh and Nathan do you, umm think you can ask your tutor girl and P.Sawyer to come by soon. I could really use my best friends right now."

Nathan looked at the doctor, who nodded his consent and then smiling at Brooke he replied, "Sure I'll ask them to stop by and I'll be outside if you need me okay?"

Brooke smiled back and replied, "Aren't you quite the sweetheart. If you keep this up, I might just have to steal you from tutor girl." Nathan nodded and stepped out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Once in the hallway, he got out his cell phone and dialed. A familiar voice picked up, "Hey Nate…How is she?"

"She is awake. Can you guys come over? And can you bring Haley?

"Nathan are you sure that's a good idea with everything that's been going on. I mean Brooke just woke up, maybe we should wait before we all pile up on her, especially Hales."

"Look could you guys just get here please. She wants you here, so please just get here as soon as you can, okay?"

"Alright Nate, we'll leave right away."

Nathan let out a sigh and replied, "Thanks Luke, I hate to admit it but I really need you here bro."

Lucas heard the weariness in his brother's voice and gently asked, "You okay little brother?"

"Yah I just need my family here."

"Hang in there Nate, we are on our way."