Chapter 4: Always there for you
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"It's going to be okay, mom. It's going to be okay. I am here for you, I promise," Sam whispered softly, and after one last lingering glance, she turned on her heels and walked outside.
"Ready?" Peyton asked smiling slightly once Sam had closed the door behind her.
"Yeah, let's go," Sam said as she grabbed the house keys and followed Peyton outside to her car.
"Hey," Lucas greeted as Peyton walked into the Scott house, "What happened? Is Brooke okay?"
"She's sick, has a stomach bug or something," Peyton said trying to act nonchalant.
"She was okay yesterday when I visited her at her store. Did something happen overnight?"
"She and Julian broke up. She's had a pretty rough night and apparently something she ate didn't settle with her. So when Sam woke up this morning to hear Brooke puking in the bathroom, she freaked out and called me," Peyton explained.
"Hey you would have been freaked out too if she saw her in the state she was," Sam defended herself as she walked inside the house.
"Sam? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Brooke making sure she's okay?" Lucas asked concerned.
"Brooke is sleeping right now Luke. I brought Sam here so she could take a little nap and have something to eat. She has been through enough for one night," Peyton said walking into the kitchen.
"I didn't mean—Wait did you say that Brooke and Julian broke up?" Lucas asked surprised, Peyton's earlier statement coming back to him.
"Yeah, last night," Peyton said sighing, "But you should have probably predicted that, with the movie closing off and everything. The next logical step would be have been him moving back to LA."
"Honestly, I didn't think he would have moved back. And even if he did, I was sure he would ask Brooke to come with him," Lucas said contemplatively.
"Why?" Peyton asked sharply.
"Peyt have you heard the way he talks about her? I was so sure he was in love with her," Lucas muttered.
"Yeah well apparently not," Peyton said angrily.
"How's she doing?" Lucas asked sympathetically after a couple of seconds.
"Horrible. She's completely broken because she was actually in love with that ass," Peyton spat out.
"Are you sure it was the smartest idea to leave her alone? I mean not only is she sick, she's also heartbroken," Lucas said.
"Luke, Brooke needs some time to herself. And anyways, I have left one of your walkie talkie on her night stand. I'll know immediately if something goes wrong," Peyton explained.
"Are you okay Sam?" Lucas asked a couple of seconds later, turning towards the tired teenager in the doorway, "It must have been a tough night on you as well."
"I guess, but it still hasn't sunk in you know. Brooke and Julian's break up, Brooke being violently sick, it's just too much. And I am just too tired to think straight right now," Sam said tiredly.
"You've amazing Sam. Seriously, you were great with Brooke in probably her lowest point. Don't beat yourself about this, because you did all you could to make things better for her," Peyton said encouragingly. She could tell by the conflicted and pained look on Sam's face that she was somehow blaming herself for this.
"It doesn't feel like that though," Sam said softly.
"Honey it's going to be okay," Peyton said quietly as she walked up to Sam and carefully wrapped her arms around her shoulders, "I know it doesn't seem like it right now, but everything will be alright. Brooke is extremely strong. I have faith in my best friend, I know that she will pull through this. Come on, let's get you settled in the guest room. You need to get some sleep."
"Hey Peyton?" Sam asked once she was comfortably snuggled in bed.
"Yeah?" Peyton asked turning around to face the tired teenager.
"Thank you," Sam said softly.
"For what?" Peyton asked surprised.
"For being so good to us. For being Brooke's best friend, and for loving her so much. Not anybody would have come to her aid this morning, and you did. So thank you for that," Sam said sincerely.
"Well the thank you to you as well," Peyton said smiling softly as she sat on the foot of the bed.
"Me? For what?" Sam asked looking surprised.
"For taking care of my best friend for me, for making her happy. For fulfilling her dream and just being an amazing daughter to her. I know you don't feel that way, but you really are an amazing person Sam, and I am not exaggerating when I say that you saved Brooke's life today," Peyton said seriously.
"Now that's just pushing it Peyton," Sam said grinning slightly as he heart swelled up with pride at Peyton's words.
"Whatever Sam, just get some sleep," Peyton said rolling her eyes, a small smile on her face.
"Only if you promise to wake me up as soon as you hear anything from Brooke," Sam bargained.
"I promise," Peyton said quietly, and with that she turned around and walked out of the door, softly closing the door behind her.
--
5 hours later
"Peyton?" Sam called out groggily as she walked out of her room at around 1 in the afternoon.
"In the living room," Peyton called out.
"Hey," Sam greeted as she walked into the living room and plopped down on the sofa next to Peyton.
"Morning, or should I say afternoon," Peyton said teasingly.
"I slept for 5 hours?" Sam asked surprised as she glanced at the clock on the mantle.
"You sure did," Peyton confirmed.
"Why didn't you wake me earlier? And what about Brooke? Is she okay? Did you talk to her?" Sam asked quickly.
"Woah, woah calm down kiddo. I didn't wake you up earlier because there was no need to. Brooke is apparently still sleeping. I have had the walkie talkie next to me for the past 5 hours, so I would know the second she wakes up," Peyton said pointing to the quiet walkie talkie next to her.
"But what if she turned it off?" Sam probed on.
"Sam she doesn't know the walkie talkie is in her room, there's no way in hell she turned it off without making a single noise. Quit worrying kiddo, and tell me what you would like to eat. You must be starving," Peyton said getting up from the sofa.
"I am not too picky today. I'll have whatever you have handy," Sam said following her into the kitchen.
"Well then pancakes it is," Peyton said pulling out the pancake batter from the fridge.
"Aren't pancakes for breakfast?" Sam asked teasingly.
"Hey you said you'd eat anything. And anyways this is your first meal of the day, so technically this is breakfast," Peyton shot back grinning.
"Well who am I to disagree with a hormonal pregnant woman? Guess I'll just have to give in," Sam said with a dramatic sigh.
"Damn girl, you caught on pretty fast to not get on my bad side. You should give some lessons to Lucas. That man still hasn't learned when to give in," Peyton said looking impressed.
"What can I say? I am just a quick learning," Sam said grinning.
"I guess that comes with living with Brooke. But anyways, here we go," Peyton said pushing a plate of freshly prepared pancakes in front of Sam.
"Thank Peyton," Sam said as she staring pouring syrup on her pile of pancakes.
"Don't you think that's a bit too much?" Peyton asked eying the amount of syrup Sam was pouring.
"What? The syrup? No, it's perfectly fine. I like my pancakes loaded with syrup," Sam explained.
"Apparently," Peyton said amused.
"Hey you can laugh all you—"
But before she could finish her sentence, the sound of Brooke's coughing filled the room.
Startled, both Peyton and Sam turned their attention towards the walkie talkie, and sure enough it was the source of the noise.
"Brooke?" Peyton asked pushing the talk button on her walkie talkie.
"Peyton?" Brooke surprised voice echoed throughout the kitchen, "Where are you?"
"I am talking from a walkie talkie Brooke. Yours is on your nightstand," Peyton explained.
"Oh so now you were stalking me?" Brooke asked lightly, and Peyton could hear the small smile in her voice.
"Nah, I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Peyton said sincerely, "How are you? Did you get a good sleep?"
"I feeling much better. Apparently that 5+ hours sleep did good to both my mind and stomach," Brooke said sighing in relief.
"So no morning sickness?" Peyton probed.
"Not yet, but don't jinx it," Brooke replied, "Is Sam there?"
"I am right here," Sam said taking the walkie talkie from Peyton's hands.
"Hey honey, are you okay?" Brooke asked concern seeping through her voice.
"I am fine. I just woke up actually, and now Peyton is treating me to pancakes," Sam relayed.
"Good, I just wanted to make sure you were okay, after this morning and everything," Brooke said awkwardly.
"Don't worry about me Br-Mom. I am fine. Peyton's taking good care of me," Sam said honestly.
"Yeah, don't worry Brooke. You're rebellious teenager is in good hands," Peyton said teasingly.
"Haha very funny P. Sawyer," Brooke said and Peyton could literally see her rolling her eyes.
"Anyways, now that you're awake, Sam and I will be over as soon as we are done with our brunch or whatever this is called. Think you'll be okay for the next ½ an hour or so?" Peyton asked.
"Peyton I am a full grown 23 year old woman. I am pretty sure I can take care of myself," Brooke said seriously.
"After this morning, I have a right to be cautious," Peyton defended herself, "We'll see you in a little while, okay?"
"Take care Mom," Sam added.
"I will, don't worry. And I am turning this thing off now, so don't freak out if I don't answer you." And with a little click Brooke's voice was gone.
"Come on, finish your pancakes and then we'll leave," Peyton said watching the apprehensive expression on Sam's face.
"She won't do anything stupid right?" Sam asked vulnerably.
"She won't. I promise. She would never put her baby in harm's way," Peyton guaranteed.
"Well at least one good thing came out of her pregnancy," Sam muttered.
"I agree," Peyton said thoughtfully.
After that, conversation was minimal as the two quickly finished their pancakes. And 15 minutes later, the two were ready to go.
--
5 minutes later
"Sam do you have the keys?" Peyton asked as she stopped the comet in front of Brooke's house.
"Yeah, yeah I do," Sam said as she all but ran towards the front door.
"Mom?" Sam called out as she threw the front door open and stepped into the threshold of her house.
"Sam?" Brooke asked as she came out of her room wearing a night gown, her hair and appearance much better than it was in the morning.
Without saying a word, Sam just walked towards Brooke and engulfed her into a big hug.
"I am so glad you're okay," she muttered into her hair, relief seeping through her voice.
"I am okay, hun. I am fine," Brooke said softly as she softly ran her hands through Sam's hair trying to assure her that she was indeed okay.
"You look better," Sam said as she stepped back and closely examined her foster mother's face.
"A good sleep tends to do that to you," Brooke said smiling softly, "And where's Peyton? Didn't she drop you off?"
"Something can up in the studio and she had to go there immediately. She got a call on our way here. She said she'll try to resolve the problem and come back here as soon as possible," Sam explained.
"Oh, okay," Brooke said.
"What were you doing before we got here?" Sam asked curiously.
"Trying to clean my room. It looks like a tornado hit that place. In fact, why don't you come and help me. It'll keep both of us distracted," Brooke proposed.
"Sure," Sam said shrugging, unable to think of anything else to do.
"Mom, we are supposed to be honest with each other right?" Sam asked a couple of minutes later while they were fixing the bed.
"I would hope so," Brooke said looking up, surprised at the out-of-the-blue question.
"Well then if I ask you something, would you answer it honestly?" Sam asked.
"Probably," Brooke said, getting more confused by the minute.
"How are you feeling? And don't tell me fine, because I know you're anything but fine. I know that you feel like you have to put up this 'I am okay' façade for me, but I want an honest answer," Sam said pleadingly.
"Sam don't do this. I just got my emotions under control, and I really don't want to fall apart all over again," Brooke insisted.
"Please mom," Sam said earnestly.
"Why do you want to know, Sam?" Brooke asked.
"Because I do. I am trying to figure something out, and that will only happen if you're honest with me. Please, just this once," Sam explained.
"Fine. You really want to know how I feel? Then listen. I feel like crap. My heart feels like its been ripped out of my chest and broken into a million of pieces. My head is throbbing and I can't stop crying. I feel betrayed, used and most of I just feel broken. I can't think straight, my eyes are unfocused, and all I can hear is his words from last night. Those words, those fateful words just keep echoing through my head, and I think I am going crazy. I want to hate him, I want to despise him for what he did to me. But you know what? I can't. I can't. After everything he did to me, I still love him. I keep on thinking that this is some sort of a sick dream that I'll wake up from any second and everything would be okay again, but that's not happening is it?" Brooke said bitterly, tears flowing from her eyes as she plopped down on the bed, her legs no longer able to support her weight, "And apart from all that, I am deathly scared. About my baby, about the future. I am worried about the well being of my baby, because with the way I've been, I am surprised I haven't miscarried yet. I don't want to kill my baby, Sam. I don't want to kill it. I don't want to end up alone."
"You won't kill it, Mom. You'll be okay. We'll be okay. And you will never be alone. I am not going anywhere, you're stuck with me for life," Sam said softly embracing Brooke into comforting hug.
"I can't believe he broke up with me, without so much as a hint or a warning. I thought we were doing fine, and he just breaks up with me. Apparently he didn't love me at all. This, us, was just a game to him," Brooke said bitterly.
"Mom you know that's not true. You and Julian were anything but a game," Sam said honestly.
"Were we Sam? Were we really? Or did I just made us into something we obviously weren't? Because if Julian did feel something for me, he would have at least asked me to move with him to LA, or even propose a long distance relationship. He could have done a million other things rather than breaking up like he did. But he didn't. I guess in the end, I was just a conquest to him," Brooke said brokenly, "And I told him I loved him. I told him I loved him, a minute before he broke up with me. God, I am such an idiot, always falling for the wrong guy."
"During your date last night, did he look uncomfortable, detached, or anything that might have given you a clue that something was wrong?" Sam asked.
"No, not really. He was his usual charming self. He told me that he wanted to make that night special for me. I guess he just wanted to imprint himself in my head for good, and he accomplished that. I don't think I'll ever forget last night. But I guess he was a little quieter than usual, and he did stare at me a lot, but other than that he was normal. And then when stopped by the docks after dinner he told the most wonderful things. He told me I was amazing and that I looked beautiful and that I had changed his world. He also mentioned than I deserved much better than him and I guess that should have been my first clue, but I was too blinded by my emotions to look into double meanings at that time. But now I realize that all his words were lies, he never meant any of those words. He just wanted me to fall for him even harder so that when he finally does break up with me, it breaks me ever more. Well congratulations Julian Baker, because you have accomplished your mission," Brooke said angrily.
"Do you really believe that his words were all lies?" Sam asked softly a couple of seconds later.
"No," Brooke whispered a minute later, "But what other explanation is there Sam? I obviously took his words to mean more than they actually did, and I have been known to be a flawed judge of character."
"I don't think he was lying," Sam said quietly, running all the information Brooke had given her through her head.
"It doesn't matter if he was lying or not, does it? All that matters is that he's gone, and I am left behind like always. Julian and I are done Sam. The game's over," Brooke said sadly turning away from her foster daughter.
"But—"
"Please Sam, no more questions. I have had more than enough for today," Brooke interrupted tiredly.
"Okay," Sam said giving in, "Why don't you lie down while I get you something to eat?"
"I am not hungry. I am going to throw up if I eat anything else," Brooke said shaking her head.
"Well you need to eat something. You need your energy, if not for yourself, then for your baby," Sam said seriously.
"Just get a glass of orange juice and strawberries please. That's all I can take in right now," Brooke said giving in.
"Alright. I'll be right back," Sam said nodding and she walked out of the master bedroom closing the door behind her.
"Peyton?" Sam asked surprised as she walked out to see Peyton walking in through the front door.
"Hey. The door was open so I just let myself in," Peyton explained, "How's Brooke?"
"I kind of just interrogated her about last night, so she's both emotionally and physically exhausted. She's in her room right now, I am getting her orange juice and some strawberries," Sam explained.
"Sam," Peyton groaned, "Why would you interrogate her about last night, when that's the last thing we need to talk to her about?"
"I need to know some things, Peyton. I have a hunch that I want to prove, and I needed answers for that," Sam said simply.
"Really? What's that ingenious hunch of yours?" Peyton asked sarcastically.
"I don't think Julian broke up with Brooke in his free will. Something happened, Peyton. I know Julian loves Brooke. I have seen it in the way he looks at her. Look at that picture," Sam said pointing to picture of Brooke and Julian on the living room table, "Look at the way Julian is looking at Mom. It's one of those cheesy, romantic looks that you only see in movies. He couldn't have broken up with Mom out of malice. I know Julian, and this is completely out of character for him," Sam explained.
"Sam does it really matter why Julian broke up with Brooke?" Peyton asked tiredly.
"Of course it matters. Breaking up with her out of malice or breaking up with her because someone made him are two completely different things," Sam said seriously.
"Sam—"
"Listen, Peyton can you get Brooke a glass of orange juice and some strawberries? They're both in the fridge," Sam asked.
"Um sure, but where are you going?" Peyton asked suspiciously.
"I am going to take a walk to clear my head, I need to get out for a little while," Sam said running towards the bathroom.
"I thought you were going outside," Peyton asked confused when Sam came back with a small bag in her hand.
"I am, I just needed to get something first," Sam said stuffing the bad in her hoodie pocket.
"But—"
"Tell Mom not to worry," Sam said already halfway to the door, "I'll be back soon."
And with that, she was gone.
--
15 minutes later, Sam arrived in front of the Tree Hill Hilton. Taking a deep breath, she walked inside the revolving doors and made her way to the reception desk.
After getting the information she needed, she made her way to the elevator, a determined glint in her eyes.
Once she was on the elevator, she pressed the #18 and patiently waited until she reached her destination.
As she neared the 18th floor, her confidence started to fall, her mind filling up with doubt and uncertainty. Was she doing the right thing?
But she had come far to turn back now, so when the elevator doors opened on the 18th floor, she cleared her mind of all doubts and purposely made her way towards 1803.
Stopping in front of the brightly polished door, she took a second to compose herself, and then curling her right hand into a fist she knocked loudly on the door.
It wasn't long before she heard the sounds of someone moving behind the door, and sure enough a second later the door was pulled open.
"Sam, what are you doing here?" A surprised voice asked from the other side.
And without thinking about it, Sam raised her fisted hand and punched the guy on the other side directly on the face.
"You son of a bitch."
A/N: Wow, it's been so long. I am so, so sorry for the late update. With my other fanfiction and all the school work, this story took the back seat for a little while. But your guys faith in me encouraged me to finish this chapter and post it up! I am truly, truly sorry for keeping you guys waiting for so long!
Thank you, thank you to everyone who reviewed for the last chapter! 80 reviews for 3 chapters…you guys are spoiling me!!! Can we reach a 100 with this chapter?? I hope so!
I promise next chapter will be done much, more faster because it's all completely planned. So if we reach a 100 by tomorrow, you will get the new chapter on Monday (or max. Tuesday…no lies this time)
So with that said, I hope you guys liked the chapter, and keep REVIEWING!
