Chapter 2:

Brooke ran into an extremely large bathroom and entered the big handicapped bathroom stall at the end of the room. She had to get as far away as she could. She didn't want anyone to see her lose it like this, she was Brooke Davis for Christ's sakes, and she did not break down in crowded airports. She just didn't, oh but she did. She walked over to the corner and started sobbing uncontrollably to herself. Head in her hands she slid to the floor, "Why did I have to say that? Why couldn't I just keep on being a friend to him?" Brooke was crying so hard she didn't sense Millicent come into the stall and start hugging her.

"It is okay Brookie," Millicent tried to soothe her. She stroked her chocolate locks and said, "You are the most open and honest person I know and it just isn't in your nature to hide your feelings."

"I know," Brooke sobbed. "But I had been doing so well for so long, and I know how bad it hurt me when Peyton went after him and I would never wish that pain on her by being with him. And more importantly I know he would never be with me because he's still in love with her or Lindsey or who knows...But now I just made it so much worse and so much more complicated."

"I'm sure it's not as bad as you think," Millicent encouraged.

"Oh really," Brooke snapped. "I'm sorry did you just tell the guy you have been in love with since 11th grade how bad he hurt you and basically reveal your feelings to him...feelings you were not even sure you had or have...and to top it off cry like a little girl in front of him?" Her tone came out harsher than she had expected, so much so it even caught her off guard.

Millicent started to back away from Brooke's harsh tone. She looked into her eyes, she could see the strong, independent woman she had known as her boss on the exterior, but her eyes revealed someone totally different. Someone who just wanted someone to want them back.

"Millie," Brooke pleaded. "I'm sorry I snapped, I am just so out of it right now. I feel like I am watching a movie where someone's life crashes and burns, but only it is my reality. I cannot even get a hold on what I am feeling, much less what I am doing."

"It's alright Brooke." Millicent stepped back closer. "I know that had to be pretty humiliating, but if anyone can recover from it you can. You're Brooke Davis." She sent her friend a genuine smile, one she hoped would give her the confidence boost she so desperately needed at the moment.

Brooke smiled back, not her full on dimpled smile, but a smile none the less. She could always count on Millie to boost her spirits, if only momentarily.

"I'm sorry sirs but we are going to have to ask you to vacate the airport." An older airport security guard said in a authoritative tone as he motioned for Mouth and Lucas to head out the doors where the other guards were set up checking people and their bags as they left.




"But I need to get my girlfriend," Mouth begged the officer.

"I don't know if I should let you," he replied. "We are under orders to get the premises cleared as soon as possible."

"Please officer, we rode together and without me she would be stuck right outside the doors. Plus I don't want to leave her without as much as an explanation," Mouth argued. His tone was totally non-confrontational, but he still hoped he was making his point with the security guard.

"Fine sir, but make it quick." The officer warned. Lucas followed Mouth in the direction of the bathrooms to go and retrieve Millicent.

"I wonder what is going on?" Mouth asked, "I hope it is nothing serious. I mean, having us leave, that can't be good."

"You would think not, but I have no idea. At least they are letting us leave. I feel like I have been here forever and I really want to take a shower." Lucas said, walking beside Mouth.

"Yeah man, you do kinda stink." Mouth teased, sending a chuckle in Lucas's direction.

"Thanks Mouth." Lucas said giving his friend a playful punch in the arm.

Millicent was walking out of the bathroom about the same time Mouth and Lucas walked up. And she headed towards them.

"Hey, how is Brooke?" Mouth asked, walking up to his girlfriend and grabbing her hand.

"Yeah, how is she?" Lucas added, feeling awful. He wasn't sure what had upset Brooke but it was pretty sure it had something to do with him.

"She's fine. She's Brooke Davis." Millicent said. "She is the most resilient person I know," she added looking directly into Lucas's eyes. And now he officially knew her unhappiness had everything to do with him. He instantly averted his eyes to the ground to avoid Millicent's stern glare.

"Well can you tell her we need to leave?" Mouth asked, he wasn't trying to be insensitive but the whole 'leave the airport ASAP' had him worried. "I don't know what is going on but they are making everyone evacuate, and the guard only let me come get you because I said I was going to be quick."

"Yeah, I'll get her." Millicent said hurriedly, sensing the hint of worry in Mouth's voice.

Just as she turned to leave, the stillness of the moment was shattered. An explosion occurred sending debris falling everywhere. A blast rang out, over the noise Lucas yelled, "Brooke!" but all that could be seen was a cloud of dust...




Lucas and Mouth had practically dove on Millie and they were all huddled next to a huge column which had luckily remained upright, seemingly unscathed. The air was still dusty and the light bulbs in the area had busted so the airport was only lit by sunlight coming in through the tinted windows. And this light was hitting the dust that was floating through the air creating a short of wall that was very hard to see through.

After what felt like an eternity, Mouth snapped to and spoke, "Is everyone alright?" he asked, pulling himself up with the help of a nearby chair.

Millicent was next to come out of the dazed state. "Yeah, I am." She said feeling a little dizzy. As she put a hand up to her throbbing head.

"Brooke!" Lucas screamed again, "Oh my god, Brooke!" Someone was clearly not registering what had just happened. He scrambled to his feet and started trying to see through the smoke filled air.

"Calm down, man. Don't over exert yourself." Mouth told his friend who was turning his head from side to side as if Brooke was going to just appear through the dust cloud.

"Mouth, you don't understand. She is all alone and I'm the one who drove her to it. If she isn't okay, I will never forgive myself." Lucas said sounding desperate and rubbing his temples. He had seen Lucas this scared only once, when his mom was in the hospital, lying in a coma.

"I'm sure she's fine," Mouth said, "I mean she has to be...its Brooke." He was starting to get worried now, but he had to be strong, right?

"I know she is, Marvin," Millie added, rubbing Mouth's leg "She's fine...she's fine." Her tone was shaky at best; not at all as confident as it had been moments before. Millie seemed not only to be trying to convince the boys but herself as well.

"I'm going to find her." Lucas announced as he stood up again. He owed it to her, he couldn't leave her, alone.

The once open and bright hallway area was now dark and totally trashed. There were papers and clothes scattered all about, as if multiple suitcases had exploded. The lights were busted out and part of the division wall opposite Lucas was destroyed. Ceiling beams had fallen as had ceiling tiles. It was a total disaster area.

"We'll go with you." Mouth suggested. "We need to stick together." He didn't like the idea of Lucas wandering around alone anymore than he liked thinking Brooke was out there alone.




"Yeah, okay." Lucas said, disinterestedly. He wasn't really listening to Mouth, the only thing on his mind was finding Brooke and making sure she was alright.

Millicent went to stand up but couldn't, "I think something is wrong with my leg--owww!" She said through clenched teeth as she slowly sat back down. "I don't think I can stand on it."

"Millicent, are you okay?" Mouth asked, instantly crouched down by her side. He was trying his best to see her leg, but they weren't in a very well lit area.

"Mouth, you stay with her. I'll find Brooke." Lucas suggested.

The dust was actually starting to settle so the light was helping his vision now, not hindering it.

"You sure man?" He replied. He wanted Brooke to be alright, but he also wanted the same for Millie, and he definitely did not want to leave Millicent alone.

"Yeah," Lucas reassured his friend. "I won't be back without her." He continued as he made his way through the rubble. He spotted the bathroom Millicent had exited from moments ago and he headed in that direction.


The women's restroom was basically unrecognizable when Lucas finally made it to the door. He slowly pushed it open; half scared of what he might find.

The area was dark and desolate. It definitely fit the bill for a set of a low-budget horror flick."Brooke!" He yelled.

--No Response

He ran over broken glass from a mirror and bent metal yelling her name. Finally at the far end of the restroom where a stall was bent down, he saw a few strands of that gorgeous chestnut hair peeking out from beneath what resembled a twisted metal cave.

"Brooke!" He called as he lowered himself down and peered under the hunk of metal.

There she was looking exactly like Sleeping Beauty waiting for her prince. And he was determined to be the one who saved her. Lucas tried to move the metal remainder of a bathroom stall door, but it would not budge. He knew he shouldn't move Brooke but he couldn't leave her alone so he crawled under the stall with her.

"Brooke, Brooke, can you hear me?" Lucas said almost in tears. His voice was no louder than a whisper. He grabbed her hand, "If you can hear me, just open your eyes please. Please, please--I can't lose you." He choked out. Lucas laid down next to Brooke and the tears began to fall. He 

knew they were coming, but he was trying to be strong. He needed to be, for her. He checked her pulse and she was still alive. She was still breathing, but it was weak.

"It's going to be okay, I won't leave you." Lucas whispered in her ear.

Just then Brooke's eyes began to flutter open like an antique baby doll. "Lucas?" She asked, she seemed a little disoriented.

He rolled up and hovered above her. "Yeah, it's me pretty girl." He said stroking her face.

She moaned and tried to lift her head, but it fell back down, "What happened?" she asked, her voice was weary and more raspy than normal.

"I'm not exactly sure." Lucas said, "But I'm here now and you are going to be okay. Do you feel alright?" He asked still stroking her hair.

"I'm a little woozy." she said, starting to seem more coherent.

"Well just rest," Lucas suggested, "I'll stay awake and wait for help."

"Alright," she agreed, she was too weak to do anything else. "Lucas, can you hold me?" Brooke asked him, even covered with dust her eyes still sparkled at him.

"Of course," Lucas smiled as he moved over closer to her, enveloping her tiny frame in his strong arms.

Even though Brooke had no idea what was going on or what would happen next she was beginning to feel happy because for the first time in a long time she felt safe and whole. Maybe it was the incidents of the day piling up, but as she nestled in closer to Lucas and breathed him in, she decided she never wanted to move from that spot.


Hope everyone enjoyed that chapter...sorry no Naley, but they are coming up in the next one...This story moves kinda slow so please bear with it! Thanks for reading and thank you all for your wonderful reviews!! They made my day...let me know what you think of this chapter!!