Heehee, thanks for the reviews everyone. Okay so this is the before last chapter! -sniffs- lol jk. This chapter and the next one are extremely long. So enjoy and please read and review!

Jess!

xox

Chapter 11

"BROOKE?!" Lucas yelled, as he ran and ran trying to find her but couldn't. He paused and sat on a nearby bench. He knew he had to stop running if he didn't he would soon end up in a hospital bed, and nobody would want that. He looked up quickly still trying to regain his breathing. He couldn't see her. When he was about to lose all hopes of finding her, he saw something. It was a basketball court. It seemed so much like the Rivercourt. Lucas got up and walked slowly towards it. There he found someone crying on a bench. It was only when he arrived closer did he recognized who it was. He hugged that person, but they pushed him away.

"Lucas…It's okay. You don't love me I understand. Those letters were just fake…" She cried harder. "Just go." She said and turned herself so that her back was facing him.

"Brooke I do love you----"He started.

"Then what was all of that about?" She asked as she got up. Her sadness was turning into anger.

"Brooke before I tell you I love you, I need to tell you something." He said, he expected her to say something. When she realized he was, she spoke.

"I'm listening." She said as her tears subsided a bit.

"You remember when Dan got a heart attack." She nodded. "Well he has this genetic heart condition------"

"Which you got tested for and don't have it." She filled in the blanks. Lucas just looked at his hands.

"Brooke? I have HCM. I haven't told anyone because then I would lose basketball. Back then basketball was my life, but now you are and if it means giving up basketball, so I can live and have a life with you then I will. "He said, as tears formed.

"That's the sweetest thing someone has ever said to me but rewind. Your mom even saw your negative paper. Did they make a mistake in the test?"

Lucas smiled a bit and shook his head." I used Keith's paper."

Brooke nodded and stayed silent for a while. "Was that why you were staying with Dan?" Lucas nodded. "But how did he find out?"

"His doctor told him." Brooke nodded again and sat next to him.

"So who has paid for you medication since you left?" She asked and waited for an answer.

"Nobody." Lucas whispered hoping she didn't hear.

"Lucas…"She paused. "You need to take those medications. I'm sorry if this is a stupid question but could…could you die?"

"Yes I could and it's not a stupid question." He paused and saw Brooke was crying some more. "Brooke I can't afford those pills so I have to stop basketball or else if I do basketball and don't take my pills then there are big chances that I would die." He said and rubbed Brooke's back.

"If you take your pills can you play basketball?" She looks at him straight in the eyes.

"I can, but I would be lacking because the pills make me weak." He answered.

"Oh ok. Come on." She grabbed his arm and pulled him up.

"Where we going?" He said and chuckled.

"Well, we're going in my car and going to the drugstore to buy your medication." She says as if it is obvious.

"I don't have any money?!"

"I do."

"Brooke I can't ask you-------"

She kisses him to silence him. "You're not asking." She says as they pulled apart.

Two weeks later Lucas came back to Tree Hill, but not by himself. He was able to convince Brooke's parents to let her come back. They were now both on the airplane.

"You'll be alright." Brooke said to Lucas who was looking out the window, like she was able to read him and know what he was thinking about.

"I know, I'm just scared that after I tell everyone I have HCM that they won't talk to me or love me anymore." Lucas says as he turned to Brooke. He knew it was bad to say that that but he couldn't help but say it and worry about what was to come.

"Love isn't something they can erase. If they truly love you, they'll support you. She took his hand and squeezed it and laid her head on his shoulder.

"Like you?" He said as a smile played on his lips.

"Like me." She says and grinning and he bends down and kisses her. "Mmmm…Want to go for a bathroom break?" She asks him and raises her eyebrow.

Lucas looks around a bit. "Let's go." He says still holding onto Brooke's hand. They both get up and get in the bathroom without anyone seeing them. They lock the door…

Most of the plane ride was spent in the bathroom, but had to get out since other people needed to go. When they arrived back in Tree Hill they got in a cab, since his mom came to get his car after he left for California. Lucas hadn't told anyone he was coming back and neither did Brooke. They entered his house after paying the cab and grabbing their things and surprisingly nobody was home.

"Um…Ok I thought someone would be here but I guess not." He said frowning, he looked back to Brooke who had a smile and was looking around in the familiar house.

"We could go unpack?" He suggested.

"Urgh…fine, but you're helping with mine." She whined, but it really meant he was going to do all of her unpacking. They both grabbed their stuff and headed towards his room.

"Ok deal." He chuckled and started unpacking…

Half-an-hour later they were almost done and heard a door open. They both looked up and glanced towards each other. Brooke put her things down and went over to him, where he embraced her and kissed her on the head. They both headed towards the kitchen, holding hands. They heard voices and knew it was his mom, Haley and Peyton. When they arrived they all were laughing at something, until they saw them and their faces were completely froze from shock.

"Hi everyone!" Brooke said trying to break the awkward silence. It worked and Karen went running to Karen, while Peyton went to hug Brooke.

"My Boy." Karen sighed, relieved he was back.

"B. Davis, I missed you." Peyton said as she embraced her.

"I missed you too." Brooke whispered back, glad she was back with her friends. Peyton pulled away and looked towards Haley who was just standing their awkwardly.

"Tutorgirl!" Brooke shrieked and Haley instantly smiled. They hugged and Haley went over to Lucas, while Karen hugged Brooke

"Hey buddy." Haley said greeting Lucas.

"Hey you." He said and they also hugged.

"Brooke, so glad to see you." Karen said.

"You too." Soon after, everyone sat down on the table.

"Should I be worried?" Lucas says, which makes everyone pull confused faces. "Come on, I'm sitting here at a table with only girls." He says which makes everyone laugh.

Once the laughter died, Karen turned to Brooke. "So…how did you get to convince your parents to let you come here?" She asked curiously.

"Ask him." Brooke said pointing to Lucas. "I think he got that from you Karen." Everyone laughed and they kept on talking about their summers.

About two hours later, they all said goodbye to Karen and went outside.

"Well, I'm going to go home." Haley said trying to hide her disappointment, with a smile. The only problem was that everyone could see threw her.

"Do you want us to come?" Lucas asked. "Anyways I have to tell you guys something." Everyone eyed him and he gave Brooke a small smile.

"Let's go everyone." Brooke said trying to get everyone attention, so they could go back to her apartment. Soon after everyone agreed but were still curious about what he wanted to tell them. The car ride was pretty silent. Haley and Peyton were in front, while Brooke and Lucas were in back.

"You're going to tell them?" Brooke whispered to Lucas, making sure they couldn't here. Anyways Peyton's radio was too loud.

"Yea. They need to know." He said and kissed Brooke. Haley having perfect timing turned around then.

"Do you-Ewww! Get a room." Haley said in disgusts. Brooke and Lucas pulled away and blushed furiously while Peyton simply laughed.

"Trust me, this is nothing." Peyton said to Haley.

"What? When?" Brooke asked wondering when they had been caught.

"Well a week after Tric, I came over to Lucas' house to get a CD he borrowed. I knocked, but he didn't answer, so I though I would just go get it and leave a note. So I open the door and I see them making out and they are both shirtless, well Brooke had her bra." Peyton explains and laughs at Haley's strange face. Brooke and Lucas blush again embarrassed. They sit in silence some more.

"So…Haley, when is Natey boy coming back from High Flyers?" Brooke asked. She couldn't bare silence, unless she was making out with Lucas.

"In two weeks. I really miss him." Haley whines.

"I'm sure." And everyone can't help but burst into laughter, except for well Haley.

They all arrive at Haley's and Nathan's apartment. Haley unlocks her door and everyone follows her. Haley freezes at her spot seeing two people on her couch.

"Nathan!" Haley shrieks and he let's go of his controller. He gets up and embraces Haley as she comes running in his arms.

"Jake?" Peyton ask in disbelief as she seems him getting up too and smiling at everyone. Lucas and Brooke looked as the couples reunite. They smiled at each other. Everyone was so caught in their worlds that they didn't even realize Brooke was here (at least Jake and Nathan didn't realize). Lucas coughs and finally everyone pulls apart.

"Sorry." Peyton apologizes and wipes off her tears. Tears of happiness.

"Brooke, I see you're back." Nathan says and he gives her a quick hug.

"I see you're back too." Brooke says with a laugh.

"Ok, you are going to have to fill me in here." Jakes interrupts. Everyone laughs and Peyton explains everything to him. A few minutes later he nods his head in understandment. "Oh...Welcome Back." Jakes says and everyone laughs once again.

"You too." She pauses. "Did you get Jenny back?" Brooke asks curiously as they all sit down in the living room.

"Yeah." He said with a smile. "Full custody everything. She's over at my parent's now."

"That's good." Haley says and everyone congrats him. Haley turns to Nathan. "Ok, Nathan not that I'm complaining or anything but why are you here two weeks early?" She asked confused.

"Well, some idiot decided it was fun to put the gym on fire. There was too much damage to be arrange before two weeks, so they let us go." He explained, going to get some beer out of the fridge and offering some to the guys.

About an hour later everyone is talked out and is either almost asleep or leaning on someone. Then Haley jerks her head up.

"Oh I almost forgot. Lucas what did you want to tell us." Everyone sits up straight and looks at him. Brooke gives him a smile and he sits up and leans a bit towards everyone.

"There is something I've been keeping from everyone. I'm not glad that kept that but I needed to accept it before…I could tell anybody else." He pauses and everyone is looking worried and scared, except for Brooke who squeezes his leg, encouraging him to go on and telling him that she is there for him. "As you know Nathan and I got tested for Dan's heart condition. He's got negative. I got negative too… at least that's what I told you. I lied to everyone about that. I got positive for HCM. I'm sorry." He said and he had promised himself he wouldn't cry in front of his friends but he could feel the tears welling up in his eyes. He brushed them and looked around as everyone stayed silent. Everyone was expecting Brooke to burst into tears or scream or something but she didn't.

"Brooke? You're not mad or anything?" Peyton asked surprised by her best friend's reaction.

"Oh, he told me when we were in California." Brooke said quietly. Everyone is silent not knowing what to say when Haley rushes out the room. Nathan is about to go, but Lucas signals him to sit down and Lucas goes to talk to her, while Brooke answers any questions.

"Hales…"Lucas says softly as he gets on his knees and approaches Haley who is crying and hugging her legs. He tried to embrace her in a hug but she pushes him away.

"Go…away." She says in between her tears. She continues to push him but he doesn't move. She continues for a while, until she fives up and lets him hug her. He rubs her back and she sobs uncontrollably in his chest.

"Is he going to quit the team?" Nathan asks Brooke.

"I think so. The pills have side affects, which causes him to be weak and sluggish. Anyways I don't think Whitey would allow it." She tells him. He shakes his head is disbelief.

"I wonder what Dan is going to say when he hears this." Nathan does a light chuckle.

"He already has." Brooke says and looks down at her hands.

"WHAT?!" Nathan eyes grow slightly big, not believing what he's hearing.

"Why else would you think he was living with Dan? Dan was paying for his medication." Brooke explains and Nathan looks down trying to take in all of the information.

"But he was staying with him because of Jules…" Nathan says.

"He was staying there for both reasons." Brooke states. Nathan nods and all the others stay silent.

"Lucas…are you going to die?" Haley asks worried, after calming down a bit.

"No," he says with a laugh. "Brooke was very generous and is buying my pill, since mom can't afford them." He says seriously.

"Brooke's a keeper, Lucas. Remember that." Haley says and smiles a bit.

"I will." He smiles too.

"Why didn't you tell us?" She asks after a short silence.

"Basketball was and still will be a big part of me. I was afraid to lose it, but not anymore. I also didn't tell anyone because I didn't want anyone to think less of me." He explains.

"What changed your mind?" Haley says softly.

"Brooke." He says almost instantly. "You guys, mom, Keith…."He says to complete. He pauses a bit. "I realized that I lose more playing than not playing. If I continue without my pills and die, I will still lose basketball, but also Brooke, you, Nathan, Mom, Keith, Peyton, Jake, Mouth, Skillz and everybody and everything else which matters to me. If I don't play anymore than I only lose basketball and nothing else."

Haley nods. "You already lost Brooke once and you don't want to lose her again." She says understanding. Lucas nods.

"I love her so much Haley." He sighs. "Could you help me with something?" He says turning to Haley.