"Brooke." Lucas whispered, brushing her hair away from her face.

Brooke opened her eyes and smiled "Lucas!" she said happily as he leaned down and kissed her "I'm so glad you're here…..how'd you get in?"

"Your aunt must've been out, the front door was opened though." Lucas told her.

She stood up and slipped on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt "So, what are we gonna do?"

"I'll talk to her." Lucas said.

"She's crazy." Brooke warned.

"You've met my family, right?" he asked as he put his arms around Brooke and kissed her again.

"Brooke!" the two heard Aunt Mary scream up the stairs "Brooke! It's almost nine! What do you think you're doing still sleeping! There's chores to be done!"

Brooke sighed and took Lucas' hand as they walked downstairs.

Aunt Mary took one look at Lucas then back to Brooke "Who on earth is that?"

"This is Lucas. Lucas Scott. I'm living with his family. He came up to have you sign the papers so I can get home." Brooke told her.

Aunt Mary shook her head "Nope. I don't think so." She walked away.

Lucas told Brooke to stay in the living room and he followed Aunt Mary "Wait." He said to her "Can I please just talk to you."

Aunt mAry looked at the time "Quickly. I have things to do."

"Have you ever been in love?" he asked.

She sighed "Yes. I was. But my husband passed away."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Lucas said, pausing a moment "But when you were young and in love, you'd do anything to be with the person you love, right?"

Aunt Mary thought for a second "Well yea, of course." She looked again at the time.

Seeing Aunt Mary was very impatient, Lucas quickly got to the point "I'm in love with Brooke. I mean, I haven't told her yet, but I'm truly in love with her and I can't be without her. You need to let her stay with us. I can't leave here without her. I love her."

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Haley drove quickly to the hospital after Deb just hung up the phone. She tried not to cry as she thought about the conversation yesterday.

But me and you…us….it doesn't work. It may have once but it doesn't anymore. I'm sorry Nathan.

She got to the hospital and jumped out of the car, running into the emergency room doors.

"Haley!" Deb said, jumping up, Haley could tell she had been crying. Dan sat next to her, his head in his hands.

"Deb! What happened?" Haley asked, tears welling up in her eyes.

"A car ran a red light." Deb explained "They hit the driver's side."

"Is he gonna be okay?" Haley asked quickly.

"I don't know Haley. I just don't know." Deb said, sitting back down.

"Is Lucas on his way home?" Haley asked.

"He's not answering his phone."

Haley sighed, running her hands through her hair "I'll keep trying to call him." She said, walking out of the building and taking out her cell phone.

After the fifth time calling, she finally left a voicemail "Damn it Luke, pick up your phone. Please." She begged "Please call me as soon as you get this."

Haley sat on the bench and put her head in her hands "Please let him be okay." She prayed "Please."

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Two hours later, Brooke and Lucas were headed to the airport "How'd you do it?" Brooke asked "How'd you talk her into it?"

"I told her I was in love." He answered with a big smile on his face, holding her tight.

"I love you Lucas Scott." Brooke whispered in his ear.

"I love you too." He whispered, kissing her cheek.

Lucas turned on his phone "Sixteen missed calls?"

"From who?" Brooke asked.

"Haley." He said, pressing the button to listen to his voicemail, after listening to it he dialed Haley's number.

"Luke!" Haley yelled into the phone

"Hales, what's wrong?" Lucas asked, concerned.

"Lucas, you need to get home right now. It's Nathan….."

"What happened?"

"There was a car accident. Please just hurry." She said "The doctor just came out. be careful, but be here soon." She said before hanging up.

Lucas took a deep breath and Brooke squeezed his hands "It's okay." She whispered "Don't worry."

Brooke and Lucas finally pulled up to the hospital and ran inside. Haley was sitting in the waiting room and walked over when Brooke and Lucas walked in. she started to cry when Lucas hugged her and when she finally stopped, she told Lucas what the doctor had said.

"He's in a coma now. They don't know when he's gonna wake up. It could be hours, it could be days." She told him, tears running down her face "The longer he stays in a coma, the more brain damage there will be. Your parents are in there now."

"Go ahead." Brooke whispered "I'll stay with her."

Lucas left and Brooke sat down with Haley, holding her tight as both girls cried.

As soon as Deb saw Lucas she started to cry "Oh Lucas!" she said, hugging him.

Lucas walked over to Nathan, who didn't look like Nathan at all. Lucas sat next to the bed and held Nathan's hand.

Deb and Dan stood up and walked out to give Lucas some time with his brother.

Lucas didn't say anything, he just sat there. He didn't cry or become upset, he was still in shock at the fact that his brother, whom he loved, could possibly die.

The doctor promised Deb and Dan that he'd keep a very close eye on Nathan so they could go home and get some rest, but the kids wouldn't leave. Haley and Brooke stayed in the waiting room all night, and Lucas stayed with Nathan. They couldn't bear to leave him alone.

The next morning, Brooke walked into the room with two cups of coffee, but Lucas was sleep, his head resting on the side of Nathan's bed. She sat down in the other chair and waited for Lucas to wake up, but before he did the doctor came in.

"Lucas." She rubbed his back "Lucas wake up."

He woke up and saw the doctor "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep." He said to the doctor "Has there been any change?"

"Are your parents here?" the doctor asked.

"They'll be here…." He started, but Dan and Deb walked in.

"How is he?" Deb asked as soon as she walked in.

"Mr. and Mrs. Scott. You may want to hear this in private." The doctor said.

"No, my son can stay." Deb said.

"And Brooke." Lucas said as Brooke started to leave.

Brooke walked over to Lucas and sat next to him, taking his hand.

"Mr. and Mrs. Scott. Nathan is paralyzed from the waist down. We won't know until he wakes up whether it's going to be temporary or permanent." The doctor said.

"He already was offered a scholarship to Duke!" Dan said.

"It's always been his dream." Deb said in tears.

"I'm so sorry." The doctor said as he left.

Lucas put his head in his hands and Brooke held him tight "Shhh, it's okay." She said, trying not to cry, to be strong for Lucas "It's all gonna be okay."