Author's Note: Okay, I started writing this about 5 minutes after watching episode 4x19. What a great episode, eh? I haven't written Fan Fiction in AGES! This episode was just so great it had my imagination working at a mile a minute. Fantastic! Anyway, I hope you guys like this, please tell me if you do. The next chapter is almost done, so the more reviews I get, the quicker this will be updated!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from One Tree Hill and would never claim to.

Chapter 1

Lucas heard the glass panel from the back door shatter from the impact of the bullet as the gun dropped from his hand in shock. He stood rooted to the spot, dazed. The sound of Dan coaxing his mother back to consciousness brought him back to reality. He stood in the same spot for a couple more second looking at his mom lying motionless on the floor.

Finally he processed what was happening. He rushed over to his mother's side, pushing Dan aside roughly, 'Get away from my mother!' Lucas shouted. He started stroking Karen's cheek gently, 'Mom? Mom, wake up - It's Lucas, Mom?' Karen groaned quietly, Lucas reassured her as Dan called 911, 'Mom it's going to be okay, I'm here, it's okay.' Dan stood in the background watching the mother and son.

The ambulance arrived at the house within ten minutes. The ambulance efficiently loaded Karen into the ambulance. Lucas rode with her, Dan followed behind. Once the arrived at the hospital, Lucas barely had time to think before Karen was wheeled into a room he was not allowed to enter. He stood staring at the swinging doors until a nurse guided him to a waiting room and sat him down.

A few hours later Peyton walked into the waiting room to see Lucas sitting on the edge of an uncomfortable looking seat starting at the floor. Peyton had never seen him like this. His face was grey and expressionless, his cheeks wet with tears. She watched him for a few minutes before approaching him. His left leg was shaking and he was aimlessly fidgeting with his hands. Peyton was surprised when he hadn't sensed her presence and looked up after her watching him for a good five minutes. Eventually she approached him, taking a seat beside him.

She placed her hand on his back, 'Lucas?' She said softly.

He jumped suddenly, looking at her through bleary eyes, 'Peyton?'

'Hey everything is going to be okay' She hugged him tightly.

He didn't move to embrace her. He just asked 'Is it?'

His leg still shaking, he resumed staring at the floor.

'It is, I know it is, your mom is a fighter.' Peyton assured him, rubbing his back in an attempt to soothe him.

'You're wrong. Nothing is going to be okay again. You're wrong.' Lucas said quietly, eyes still fixed to the floor, shocking Peyton.

She took a moment to choose her words correctly 'Lucas, you have to be strong for your mom right now and for your future brother or sister. Your mom needs you' Peyton took his hand and squeezed it tightly.

'I can't be strong anymore, Peyton' He replied, 'I just can't.' Lucas stood up, tears streaming down his cheeks. 'Mom has Dan now, she doesn't need me. All I do is mess things up. It's what I've been doing since I was conceived, isn't it?'

Lucas started to leave but Peyton grabbed his arm, swinging him around to look at her. She was about to shout at him for being weak before she saw his eyes, vacant. That last wasn't one of self indulgence, it was a grim realisation.

All Peyton could say was , 'Lucas, you know that's not true.' before he walked out of the hospital. Peyton didn't know whether to follow him or leave him be. She had never seen anyone like this before. She was worried.

Lucas started to sprint once he exited the hospital. He didn't let up until he reached the Rivercourt. Once he was there he collapsed on the cold tarmac. His heart beating hard in his ears. Rain started to fall from the sky as tears streamed down his cheeks. His worst nightmare had come true. He no longer had a family. Or so he thought.

Peyton arrived at the Rivercourt the next morning to find Lucas lying on the tarmac staring up at the sky. He was shivering. His clothes were soaked from the overnight downpour. Peyton called his name. He didn't respond. She tried again to no avail. She approached him. She looked at him but he didn't look at her. His gaze was fixed, on what she did not know. She touched his face, his eyes still didn't waiver. She really didn't know what to do. She had never experienced anything like this before. She stared at him for a few minutes, thinking. His shivering snapped her out of her daze quickly as his teeth began to chatter.

'Lucas?' She called his name again. 'Luke, come on, sit up for me.'

She put her hand under the small of his back and tried to get him to sit up. He gingerly sat up, his gaze still not shifting from straight ahead, still saying nothing, still shivering. Peyton decided to try the next step.

'Okay, good. This is good' She reassured herself. 'Come on Luke, now stand up'

She helped him to his feet and led him over to her car. Still he said nothing. Still his gazed remained fixed. Peyton drove him back to his house, led him into his bedroom, undressed him from his soaking clothes and wrapped him in a blanket. She then went to run him a hot bat. She had to coax him into the bath, knowing it was the quickest way to warm up. While Lucas was in the bath, Peyton made him a sandwich and a cup of hot tea. After ten minutes in the bath, Peyton still couldn't get a word out of Lucas. She dried him off and dressed him in some pyjamas she found. She sat him on the edge of his bed. She went to hand him the sandwich,

'Here you have to eat something' No response, she tried again, 'Please Luke, for me' still nothing.

She tried offering him the tea, still she got no response. She gave up, she helped him into bed and climbed in beside him and put her arms around him. What the hell was she gonna do?