AN: Thank you all for sticking to this story, I am so glad y'all are enjoying it. I am love writing it. I am falling in love with this story all over again. I remember why I wanted to write it. I just got done watching a few episodes of One Tree Hill and I am so excited to see it to the end. I really hate what they did to our fave couple: Brucas. Thank you again for all the lovely reviews. So without further ado...Enjoy!
"Hales, I'm going out. I'll be back in a couple hours or so." I yell out to my wife. "Hales?" I ask waiting for an answer. What is she doing? "Haley?" I yell out once again, when I still don't get an answer I walk down the hall into our living room. Empty, where the hell is she? As I near the couch I see a note.
Nathan, I stepped out for a little while.
I'll be at Luke's, don't worry about me.
I'm fine, just need time to myself.
Love, Haley
I crumple up the piece of paper into a ball and was about to walk straight out the door but thought better of it and smoothed it out, found a pen and scribbled a few lines myself.
Hales- gone out.
Be back later.
Nate.
I toss it on the breakfast bar and stroll out of the apartment. She needs time to herself? What does that mean? I am not stifling her am I? Hell no. If anything I hardly get time to myself. So I drive to the one person who I know will understand.
As I make my way to room 347 I see Rita sitting at her station. "Hey Rita, how was your weekend?" I ask with a smile.
"Oh Nathan you're so sweet, my weekend was great actually, got to see my babies. My son had his 1st child, a boy." She replied with a beaming smile.
"Well Congratulations grandma" I beam back at her. "I'm just going to say hey to the cheeriest person on this floor." I say with a chuckle.
"Oh I'm sorry Nathan, she's in physical therapy, it's Wednesday. But you know you're always welcome to join her, she's probably waiting for you." She says as she gets back to doing whatever it was she was doing.
"Right, thanks Rita. I'll see you later." I say as I make my way towards the elevator to the 5th floor. As I'm waiting my mind strays to my wife.
"Hales, why won't you just talk to me?" I ask determined this time to get an answer. She's been avoiding me like the plague.
"I don't know what you're talking about; I'm talking to you now, aren't I?" She asks sarcastically all the while shoving school supplies into her bag.
"Are you going somewhere?" I ask her taking a step towards her. I don't dare reach out to her, no not yet.
"I was thinking of going to the library. I have a lot to study for, besides I have a whole speech to come up with, since I found out I was going to be valedictorian this year I need a lot of time to prepare this speech and I can't do it here, with you looming over me like a hawk all day, especially if all you want to do is get into an argument." She says pointing her finger at me and getting back to the task at hand.
"I'm sorry Hales; I am just worried about you. I wasn't there for you the time you fell; I am going to be there for you if anything else ever happens." I say with a shrug of my shoulders, my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching for her.
"Like the times you were there for me when it came to Peyton? You weren't there for me then. Besides that I told you how many times that I forgive you for that day." She said looking right through me. I don't know what to say, what do I say about the Peyton situation? She needed a friend as well. If Brooke were awake she'd definitely agree with me. She would've been to visit her as well.
"I'll be back. Don't wait up, please." She says walking by and pausing for a second to give me a kiss on my cheek then walking out the door.
It's been that way at my apartment for a while now, come to think of it, ever since Brooke was in the hospital. And I have no clue on how to fix it, maybe Brooke can help me. I haven't mentioned it yet, but I think I am finally ready to. At the elevator ding I make my way into the room housing the beautiful brunette.
I pause at the door way for a bit to admire her. She really has come a long way. She went from being the spoiled rich bitchy cheerleader; to the girl everyone has come to lean on, even myself. She is a genuine friend. Yes, she is my friend. One of my best friends actually. In some ways a closer friend than even Luke, Peyton, and at times even Haley. Don't get me wrong Haley is my best friend, but there are some things I can't talk about with her, some things she doesn't understand that Brooke does because Brooke and I are a lot alike. Hales won't even talk to me right now anyway. So Brooke is the best friend that I have right now.
Brooke and I used to be very close, we grew up together, sandbox times and all, until a certain curly headed blonde came into the picture, then it was the three of us for a little while, then just the two of them and I was alone with Dim. But we still kept in contact, still went to each other when either parent was giving us so much hell we couldn't deal. We ended up growing apart for a while, but found each other again, she was a little upset I got with Peyton although I never knew the real reason why, she just brushed me off.
I decided to make my presence known. "Hey you. You're doing a good job; pretty soon you'll be trying out for the track team, again." I say the latter on a laugh.
She shoots me a glare and looks back at her trainer "Ha-ha! Very funny, so funny that I forgot to laugh" she giggles. She's trying to walk, with the support of two bars. Her trainer is in front of her. He eventually moves behind her so I can take over the front, the support or encouragement area.
"You really are doing a good job Brooke, seriously though don't try out for the track team, I don't think I could take another one of those." I chuckle as she whacks me on my arm.
"You got it there Nate?" Rob asks from behind Brooke.
"Yeah man, I can take it from here. I'll let you know if she's any trouble." I reply back, earning another whack on my arm.
"Alright, Brooke I'll be right over there" he points in the direction of the arm weights and another patient who's alone, "just in case this hooligan gets out of line." He says on a chuckle as Brooke sticks her tongue out at me.
"Ouch, why you guys gotta gang up on me yo?" I tease and fake frown, this time earning a giggle from the brunette.
"You had it coming Nate." Rob laughs and walks away.
"He's a cool guy" I say gesturing to Rob's retreating back. "I wonder how Chase feels about Rob being your trainer." I say as I waggle my eyebrows. "Huh?" I ask and earn the third whack of the day. That's it I draw the line at three. I pick her up and fake body slam her on the mat.
All the while Rob is laughing at us. No one does anything because they know how we are with each other. I mean they've witnessed it for the past couple weeks or so. 4 times a week, because Brooke is determined to get out of this hospital and they don't want to release said girl until she can walk out of here.
I think that's just an excuse to keep the lively cheerleader here though. Like I told Rita, she's the happiest person on this floor; it must get depressing at times. "Nate, get off me...hahahaha" She says while whacking at my chest. "No don't...hahaha...stop...hahaha...please!" She laughs while begging me to stop tickling her.
"Alright fine, just stop whacking me please, I don't think I can take the shame." I say helping her up. And we're back to training. "How many steps did you take on your own today?" I ask her.
"Just 6" she says looking down towards her shoes. I know that look, like you want to give up. Like you can't take it anymore and you'd rather just call it quits. But I won't let her, I never do. That's why I am here, to keep her spirits up.
"Right on, that's 1 more than the other day. You're doing great Brooke. A few more of these and you'll be outta here." I tell her giving her a bright hopeful smile. "Come on say it. Hey, look at me, say it." I grip her chin to look at me and encourage her to say the words I've been making her say.
She smiles and says "My name is Brooke Davis and I will overcome this time in my life. I will not let him win. My name is Brooke Davis and I will overcome this time in my life. I will not let him win!" She repeats with more force. "My name is Brooke Davis and I will overcome this time in my life. I will not let him win!" She repeats all the while not noticing that I let her hands go and she's been walking by herself.
She makes it to the end of the mat and collapses into my arms. "Brooke that was awesome!" I shout and whoop picking her up and twirling her around. I am so proud of this girl. "Do you know how many steps you just took?" I ask her with a huge smile on my face.
"Actually I don't, I didn't even realize I was walking on my own. I can't believe I did it on my own, Oh my god I did it, Nate!" She is bouncing up and down now on the balls of her feet. "I couldn't have done it without you" she says with teary eyes and before I know it she is launching herself into my arms. I hold her close and whisper words of encouragement. "I'm so proud of you Brooke" I tell her stroking her hair.
"Good job Brooke" Rob says walking up towards us. "I knew you could do it, besides you've got a good coach!" He says patting me on the shoulder.
"I know right?" I say with a lopsided grin. "What can I say, I'm the best." I say shrugging my shoulders and dodging one of Brooke's whacks. "Ha! I'm way too fast for you!" I tease the laughing brunette. "It was 19 steps Brooke. You went from 'just 6' to 19!" I whoop again and punch the air.
"Okay calm down Natie" she says using my childhood nickname. Ugh and she knows how much I hate that name. But I forgive her as always. She's the only one who has ever gotten away with calling me that, not even Peyton was allowed to call me that.
"Alright, I'm calm BURRKE..." I tease right back at her. Ha-ha, let's see if she gets over that!
"Ha-ha, I don't know if you're teasing me or yourself never could come up with an answer to that one." She laughs at me as I lead her towards the waiting wheel chair. We never could get an answer to that, because I used to call her that when I started to talk all the way till the age of 6. Yes, I didn't know how to say Brooke until I was 6. But it was a nickname between us anyway by that time and it stuck, I never use it, the only time I do use it is when we're together.
20 minutes go by of us teasing and laughing with each other all the while getting her settled back in bed before it turns serious. "Brooke I've been meaning to ask you something." I tell her, leaning forward in my seat. At her look I go on "Have you spoken to Haley, you know about us?" I ask her looking down at my enclosed hands on my lap then back up at her.
She suddenly gets a sad look to her face. Oh no that can't be good, I think to myself. "No I haven't Nate, well I tried asking her but we were interrupted by Mouth. I know she's hurting though." She says grabbing a hold of my hand. "Hey, it's your turn, look at me. You and Haley are going to be fine. I promise. I am going to make sure that nothing comes between you two, not even the two of you." She says with a sparkle in her eye.
"Thanks Brooke, I just know she's upset with me, although I don't know what about." I say running my hands through my hair. I stand up and pace the room thinking about my closed off wife. "I have an idea of why she's upset. I am counting on your honesty to see if I was wrong or not." I say looking at her, at her nod of approval I tell her about the incident with Peyton at her house and the argument we had about it later outside the hospital. I also tell her about all the problems at home. It took about an hour and a half but I got it all, I think.
"Okay, I think Haley is feeling very vulnerable right now, I think you need to give her some space Nate. If she wants to go shopping for the baby then let her go, offer to go with her, if she declines then just offer to drop her off. Things like that, don't just say no. That's why she is always out at the 'library' because like you said, she's feeling stifled. She needs some space. Everyone needs space Nate. I know you're concerned about her and how much you love her, but she needs space. That's all I can say about that." She says sitting up in her bed, she pats a spot on her bed silently asking me to sit.
I oblige of course. "Now about the Peyton part, I know how it feels to be on the opposite end of the Peyton stick. It's not nice. She knows about your history with Peyton, she probably just feels insecure. I mean she's pregnant, her hormones are already raging like crazy, add a P. Sawyer to the mix and you got yourself a landmine. But I do agree with you and I am glad you went to see our trouble making blonde." She says with a wink and a giggle. "She shouldn't have been alone. I know you've been coming to see me, as well as every single one of our friends. But who's been to see her as well? I am glad she had you there for her Nate, she needed someone. Thanks for that." She says as she pats my hand.
"Just tell Haley that she has nothing to worry about and that you love her. That's all she wants to hear, that's all any girl ever wants to hear, is how much her significant other loves her." She says with a shy smile to her face. I lean over and hug her close. I know what she's talking about, she doesn't have to say it and she won't. She will always love him, she may be with someone else right now, whose face I want to bust open, but her heart is with a certain brother of mine who's on another floor with a certain curly headed blonde.
"You'll get it back Brooke" at her confused look I explain "the love. You'll get it back. And the next time you do, it'll be intense and everything you wished for. I promise." I say to her laying my forehead against hers. "Maybe not right now, but it will come. Just be ready to grab it and hold tight. He loves you too. He just doesn't realize it yet." I assure her as I stand up to leave. But once I look at her face I sit back down and pull her into my arms again and squeeze. I hold onto her as tight as I can as she lets all the tears she's been holding in go. After all what are friends for, right? And that's what she is and always has been to me. A friend.
AN: Thank you all again for reading and reviewing. I hope you like this chapter as much as I liked writing it. I just love the potential for a Brathan friendship, even a relationship ;) and now that I am writing a story I am definitely going to add their friendship in here. Now onto my personal Thank You's!
CaseyJr: Thank you for the review. I agree that chapter was sort of intense. I am glad you liked it. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
dianehermans: Thank you again for reading and reviewing. I am glad you liked the chapter. I love Baley as well. I am pretty sure it will be Haley's POV next. She needs some Brooke time. They are by far my favorite friendship on the show.
Tanya2byour21: Where have you been girl? Haha, I'm just playing. It's great to see you on here again, you were my favorite reviewer I know he is, but I needed a villain, poor Chase was the first that popped into my mind. I did end up really liking him in Season 8-9. I loved the Keller/Chase duo. But I couldn't stand him as a love interest for our feisty Brooke Davis. I am glad to hear you liked these chapters. I have been having a lot of fun writing them. I know, I had to leave that chapter with Brucas, seemed fitting. Thanks for the review.
Its-OK-to-love: I love getting that alert on my phone and seeing your review, they are always so long and detailed. Shows how much you really like my story and it makes me happy. So thank you for that. Yes, I could not stand how they played Brooke that way. It was awful, no credit for doing anything, let alone be there. Peyton wasn't the only one attacked by that psycho. I was so tired of Peyton getting all the good storylines and how they treated Brooke that I had to write something of my own. I am happy to see that you get why I am not forcing their relationship. I feel bad for Brooke always getting the poop end of the stick. So when she gets Lucas it will be all of him and for good! She won't ever have to feel insecure when it comes to Leyton ever! I know Baley is and always will be my favorite! I hate that they brought "Quinn" onto the show and just pushed their friendship aside. To be honest I never really liked Quinn not even now. She feels like a crappier version of Peyton, forced. They hardly had any Bramie moments either and they were always together, she's his god mother for crying out loud! I feel like you are tapping into my brain. You have some ideas that I was thinking of. I hope you enjoyed this Brathan chapter. I dedicate it to you Their friendship will be outed just not yet. I like that he can go to Brooke without everyone like..OMG! It's a special friendship and I love it. Besides it is just after the sex tape, wouldn't want Haley being insecure about that also. ;)