Author's Note: Oops. I just wanted to apologize for having my anonymous reviews disabled! I had no idea! So, if anyone has been just dying to review, you should be able to now! Lol. Oh, and as always: thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far. It's really been helpful, as well as encouraging. So again, thank you! -findy0urself

#3.

Walking hand in hand, Brooke and Lucas followed the long, brightly-lit corridor to meet up with their friends and family. Once they got there, Brooke wished she could turn right around. This is so depressing, so sad, she thought as she looked around the room. The white walls, the uncomfortable chairs, that smell, the sterile environment.

The waiting room was filled with complete strangers, but they had one thing in common. They were all awaiting news on their loved ones and she knew exactly how that felt. She knew how it felt to wonder what was going on behind those hospital doors. She knew what it was like to be scared out of your mind. She knew how one accident could impact so many people. This single room was evidence of that. She just knew.

Brooke observed the people around her. Everyone seemed to be filled with fear and curiosity. A nagging curiosity that needs to be filled. Sometimes knowing was better than not knowing. Sometimes, it wasn't.

"Okay, so I've said it before and I'll say it again. This place seriously needs a makeover!" Brooke stated, matter-of-factly.

"Brooke!" Haley said, fully appreciating the fact that her good friend was trailing behind Lucas.

She didn't realize that she had interrupted such an important conversation a few moments ago. She was in a mind set of complete shock and utter disbelief. One minute, Haley was a new bride about to embark on her honeymoon, and a matter of mere seconds changed that. In reality, becoming a window at 17 wasn't out of the question. The thought scared her to death.

"Hey, Tutor Girl. How are you?" Brooke questioned sincerely as she hugged her.

"As good as can be expected," Haley looked down at her hands as she spoke, "But I'm…I'm so worried I'm going to loose him…" A lone tear fell down her cheek. From the looks of it, crying was about all she had been doing.

"No, no. You won't! I'm sure he's going to be just fine!" Brooke answered quickly, making promises that she knew she couldn't keep. At this point, she would've told Haley that pigs fly if it would help her feel better. She had been in her position, and she'd never wish that kind of worry on anyone.

"Yeah, Hales," Lucas spoke reassuringly as he stepped toward her, "I'm sure Nathan will be alright. He's tough. He's a Scott, you know!" He smiled lightly as he pulled her close.

"I hope you're right," was all Haley had time to say before she saw Nathan's doctor approaching them from a distance. "There he is. Oh my God. Lucas, I seriously can't breathe." Haley's nerves took a toll on her as her lover's fate hung in the balances. She leaned up against her best friend for support. He responded instinctively by putting a caring arm around her shoulders.

To Haley, those few seconds before the doctor spoke seemed like an eternity. It was almost as if he was walking in slow motion. To her, everything suddenly came to a screeching halt. Until she knew how her husband was, time stood still.

"Mrs. Scott?" The attractive, middle-aged doctor asked. Haley held her breath. She couldn't tell if the doctor's expression was one of sympathy or just exhaustion. She forced a rather awkward nod.

Trying to build a wall of moral support, everyone seemed to crowd around Haley as she awaited the news. Brooke scanned the small crowd of tightly knit individuals and was both relieved and surprised that Peyton was no where to be found. Hell, even Dan was there. Maybe he has a heart after all, Brooke thought as she looked at him. He appeared to be listening intently to the doctor. Suddenly, they locked eyes and Dan winked at her. Ewe, what a pervert! Brooke thought as she shot him a look of disgust. Never mind. He has no heart. The only thing that has a pulse in his body is his manliness. Or lack there of. Ewe.

"Nathan is resting comfortably. We were able to clear his lungs and are trying to prevent any more fluid accumulation. He's currently on a high dose of antibiotics to prevent infection in his lungs from the river water he inhaled. The surgery to repair his torn knee cartilage seems to be very successful, but he'll need extensive rehabilitation." Haley only nodded. She was just relieved that he was alive.

"Can I see him?" she asked eagerly.

"Of course," he said, smiling.

"I'm coming, too." Deb stated firmly.

"Me too!" Dan chimed in.

"Okay, right this way." The doctor turned his back and started to walk away.

"Hey, Dr. Dreamy!" Brooke yelled, somewhat inappropriately, after the doctor.

Oddly enough, he turned around quickly. "Yes?" He asked, smirking.

"What about our friends Rachel Gattina or Cooper Lee? They were involved in the accident, too. How are they?" She wasn't sure if she wanted to know the answer, but she had never been one to hold her tongue. Call it force of habit.

"I'm sorry. I'm not their attending physician and I honestly don't know what their current status is. I'm sure their doctor will be out to talk with you as soon as they know anything more." And with that, he was gone. Haley, Dan and Deb followed close behind.

"Well, that's just freakin' wonderful. Thanks for the help." Brooke grumbled, "Jackass." She mumbled under her breath as she sat down in a less-than-comfortable chair.

"Whoa! Someone is cranky." Lucas laughed, sitting down next to her. He placed his hand on her thigh, and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"I'm sorry. Hormones." Brooke spat, matter-of-factly.

"Since when? I've known you for over a year now, and for the most part, you've been nothing but cheery. I think you're the only person I've ever met who's actually a morning person!"

"Don't start." Brooke stated, her brow furrowed.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry!" He raised his hands, as if to surrender, laughing the whole time. This was too much. He never thought he'd see the day where Brooke was broody. It was the cutest thing he had ever seen.

Both of them sat in silence for a few moments, but Brooke could never stay quiet for long. "Do you think they're going to be okay? Rachel and Copper, I mean?" She knew he couldn't possibly answer her question, but she asked anyway. Someone had to break the silence. It was killing her! Besides, if anyone could make this situation better, it was Lucas. Now if only he could make their situation better.

"Brooke," he said positioning his body so he was facing her, "Honestly? I don't know." He answered truthfully. He couldn't help but notice that no matter what he did to get her to look him in the eyes, she wouldn't. Yes, she was looking at him, but she wasn't seeing him. He knew the difference.

"Hey, what is it?" He asked calmly.

"Nothing." Was all she said. For whatever reason, she couldn't stop looking down at her feet. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't look him in the eye. There was too much there. Too much left unsaid. Too many feelings still lingering and very much alive.

"It's obviously not nothing. Brooke. Look at me." No response. "C'mon," he said as he put his fingers beneath her chin and forced her to look him in the eyes. Loosing themselves for a moment, their eyes lingered in each other's gaze. Slowly, her eyes softened. "That's more like it." He said, smiling tenderly. Reaching up to move a stray hair away from her eyes, he revealed a relatively large bump on her forehead.

"Ouch!" Brooke yelled in pain as he touched it.

"What the hell happened to your forehead! Are you alright?" Lucas asked attempting to get a better look.

"Oh, it's nothing. It's stupid actually. I accidentally hit my head on the sink this morning…" Her voice trailed off as she realized how odd this whole story must've sounded to him.

Lucas burst into a fit of laughter. "You're kidding, right? Did the toaster try to bite you, too?"

"Shut up!" Realizing he was still getting a kick out of this whole thing, she continued, "It's not that funny!"

"Oh…but it is…" Lucas needed this. A good, hearty laugh. It was one of the main reasons he loved Brooke so much. He always knew he could count on her to make him smile; to make him laugh. And that's what she did, no matter what else was going on in their lives. Even if she was the victim of another senseless sink-inflicted crime in the process.

"Wow, your concern is just overwhelming." She stated sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "I'm going to sit over here…away from you." Brooke found a new chair a few feet away and sat down with her back to him. It might've been childish, but she didn't care. If he wanted to play this game, so could she.

"Aww. Are you mad at me now?" Lucas asked, finally catching his breath. He was enjoying every minute of this. Lately, with all the drama in their lives, they had both forgotten how to just have fun.

"Yes." She wasn't going to let this go. "And actually, I think I might have amnesia. Who are you, again?" Brooke looked at him blankly, playing along. She stood there holding her head and grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh man, that hurts," Lucas pointed to his heart, "right here." They both laughed.

"Maybe my boyfriend, Dr. Dreamy, could take a look at that…" Brooke joked, as she walked back over to him. She placed her hand on top of his.

"You think so?" Lucas asked, looking down into her deep brown eyes. Their game had suddenly taken a turn towards serious.

"Mmm-hmm…" was all Brooke could manage. His eyes were sparkling back at her with such life. Such love. She was stuck in his trace. No matter how hard she tried to be mad at him, he knew how to get inside of her and reach her soul. He knew her.

"Or maybe you could take a look. I've never really liked doctors…" Lucas stated, never looking away from her eyes. He gently removed his hand from his chest and placed hers back on his rapidly beating heart. "Do you feel that?" Of course she could. It really was racing. He didn't know it, but hers was, too.

"Yes." She answered quietly. Brooke was consciously aware that her guard was dropping. At that very moment, she would've robbed a bank if he asked her nicely. She was still extremely hurt, but she was stuck in the moment. Her worries and fears had momentarily slipped away. Nobody else existed. It was just them, looking into each other's souls.

"My heart is yours, Brooke. It beats for you." He paused for a moment and attempted to gauge her reaction. Trying to read Brooke's feelings wasn't rocket science. She wore her heart on her sleeve. But he wanted to make sure that she still wanted him, the way that he wanted her. He had to make sure that it was still there. Love. Desire. Passion. If those things weren't present anymore, if his betrayal had caused that to vanish, he would give up right then and there. But, if there was even a glisten of hope left in her eyes, he would keep trying. He would keep fighting. Forever, if that's what it took.

"Luke…" As she began to speak, her eyes filled with tears.

"Don't cry, Pretty Girl." Wiping a tear from her cheek, he cupped her face in his hands. Intently searching her face for any recollection of their love, he finally realized how much his past actions had hurt her. He had been looking at her all morning, but until that extended moment when he was looking for the truth, he didn't see her. But now he did, and the truth scared him.

Instead of bombarding Brooke with questions of what really went on last night, he let her face do all the talking. He was no longer oblivious to her blood-shot eyes, or the fact that her make-up was less than perfect. The dark circles under her eyes effortlessly told him the tale of the agonizing, sleepless night that she had endured the night before. He no longer fooled himself into believing that she was crying over Nathan, Rachel, or Cooper. She was crying because of him. Because of what he had done. Because of how he had betrayed her. Again.

Thinking back on what had happened with Peyton, he suddenly felt his stomach tighten. His careless actions had brought such pain onto someone he loved so dearly. He couldn't believe how thoughtless he had been. He made himself sick. She didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve any of this, and he didn't deserve her.

But as fate would have it, those same tear-filled eyes that seemed to be loosing faith by the minute, still held that love for him. He saw it. He wasn't imagining this. It was undeniable. Buried beneath all the emotional wreckage were still small, detectable glimpses of hope. She hadn't given up on him. He hadn't lost her yet. Not completely.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." He didn't know what else to say. Nothing else seemed sufficient. What could he possibly say to make this better? Nothing. He had to make this better. He had to show her that she could trust him, trust them, again. He was willing to do anything.

Looking up into his pleading eyes, Brooke saw something in Lucas that she had never seen before. Desperation. She had never seen him look so vulnerable, so scared, so alone, or so in love. It was like looking into a mirror. He's just as afraid of loosing me, as I am of loosing him. And suddenly, as if someone flipped a switch, she felt at peace. She wasn't cured, not even close. She still wanted answers. She wanted to know why he did this to her again. She wanted him to know just how badly this had hurt her. But, coming to that realization had given Brooke the strength and courage to fight for this love. For this man. She finally felt like it wasn't a loosing battle.

"I—" Brooke began, but was interrupted by a stranger behind them.

"Excuse me. I'm Dr. Bentze. I'm the attending physician for Cooper Lee and Rachel Gattina. I was told that you were waiting to hear how they were doing?"

"Uh, yes, we were." Lucas answered, reluctantly looking away from the woman he loved. He couldn't believe how bad this guy's timing was. That's twice today. Can't a guy get a break?

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I have bad news."