Peyton stirred slightly, shifting in her sleep as she let out a low groan and slowly opened her eyes expecting to be met by harsh daylight but found only the glowing embers of a rising sun. She yawned widely, blinking quickly to erase the sleepy fog from her eyes as she looked down at her watch. 5:30 AM?
She sighed and lay back on the couch, she knew she wouldn't get to sleep now. It was a problem she had; once she was awake she couldn't get back to sleep. As she lay back against the couch cushions she suddenly realised…Lucas had been sleeping on the couch with her. They had been watching a film and they had both fallen asleep. Frowning she sat up and looked around the semi-dark living room. Maybe he had just gone to his bed, his bed was a lot more comfortable than the couch that's for sure.
Stifling another large yawn she sat up and stretched her arms above her head before getting to her feet and walking across to the kitchen. She began pouring herself a glass of water; as she took a sip she enjoyed the smooth sensation of the cool liquid sliding down her throat and as they often did, her thoughts drifted to Lucas. She couldn't help but think how worn down he had been today, well more so than usual. She was worried about him, first he had dealt with telling everyone on the team which basically meant by Monday the whole school would know. He had so much to deal with…
She set her glass down and walked back across the lounge, tiptoeing silently, not wanting to wake up the whole house. As she crept down the hall to Lucas' bedroom she smiled to herself, even in the circumstances she was so happy to be with him, he just made her happy and that was all she needed. She loved him, she really did…
As she pushed the door open she smiled, her eyes settling on his prone form lying on the bed. He was still in his clothes and not even under the covers, he really must have been beat she thought absently.
She walked over and sat down on the bed, next to where he was lying. She gently stroked the side of his face and his forehead, enjoying the feeling of his soft skin against hers. As she gently touched his forehead she frowned…Still frowning, she flattened her hand so it was pressed lightly against his forehead before drawing it away, he was so warm! As she looked into his face she felt a chill in her stomach, her gaze travelled over the sweat lacing his face…her ears marking his shallow ragged breathing.
It suddenly felt like her heart had stopped and she couldn't breathe…fear gripping her she swallowed hard.
"Luke? Luke?...Lucas"" She cried getting louder with each call of his name, but she received no response each time. The icy feeling in her stomach seemed to be spreading as she looked down at him…This wasn't happening, he was just asleep. He was just asleep, she told herself. He'd wake up and be fine and she'd feel stupid for worrying, she told herself frantically.
Reaching out with trembling hands she shook him gently, his limp body simply lolling with her gentle movement, his eyes not even flickering.
"Lucas?" She cried her voice breaking slightly…he was breathing, at least he was breathing she thought as she marked the laboured rising and falling of his chest and listened to his ragged, shallow breaths. When he didn't respond she felt tears burning in her eyes, how could this be happening? He was supposed to be okay…
"It's okay Luke, I'm just going to get your mom…I'm coming back." She said trying to stay calm. As she ran from the room she stumbled across the hallway, willing herself to stay calm. Everything would be okay…
As she burst through the door to Karen's bedroom she watched as Karen sat bolt-upright, woken and startled by her sudden entrance. Rubbing her eyes and switching on the lamp she squinted up at Peyton, confused.
"Peyton? What the…" She began but seeing the terrified, panicked look on the girls face she froze, the realisation setting in.
"Oh God." She whispered as Keith stirred next to her. Peyton swallowed, stumbling over her words as she tried to explain.
"It's Lucas…" She cried and that was all she needed to hear before jumping out of bed. Keith sat up rubbing his eyes as Karen pulled on her robe and hurried from the room leaving Peyton and a confused Keith to follow.
The three of them hurried across the small hallway and into Lucas' bedroom where he was still sprawled out on the bed in the same position. Peyton stood back biting her bottom lip nervously as Karen rushed forward and immediately felt her sons forehead.
"He has a fever." She said worriedly as she shook him gently, again there was no response.
"Luke, Lucas honey wake up." She said urgently…She turned back to Keith her face full of worry and concern.
Keith edged closer and leant over, his brows knitted in worry as he shook Lucas.
"Lucas!" He said loudly, shaking him a little harder but this time there was a slight movement, his mouth twitching slightly. Karen noticed and leant forward.
"Luke honey it's mom…please wake up for me sweetie." She said a little louder, he groaned slightly and Karen swallowed…
"Mom?" He mumbled blearily, opening his eyes for second before closing them again…the harsh lights causing his head to throb. He swallowed hard, his throat dry and aching. He was so tired…the throbbing in his head was agony, his limbs felt like lead and he was sure he was about to throw up.
"Luke honey, you've got a fever…we need to take you to the hospital okay?" She said softly. Peyton watched, biting on her bottom lip as her mind raced. What was wrong with him? He'd never been this bad before.
He didn't even seem to register her comments as he closed his eyes again giving into the tide of tiredness that was dragging him under.
Karen felt tears brimming in her eyes and she pushed them back, she couldn't cry. She had to stay focused for Lucas' sake, something was wrong.
"Keith, help me get him up." She said her voice trembling…
Eventually Karen and Keith with a joint effort managed to get Lucas into the car, half unconscious he sat next to Peyton, leaning against the window barely able to keep his eyes open as he drifted in between consciousness a blanket hanging loosely around his shoulders. As they drove quickly down the dark streets she finally allowed the tears to slip silently down her cheeks.
She looked across at him, she could hear his ragged breathing as he coughed slightly. She just needed him to be okay, she didn't understand what was wrong…
XxxX
Once they had reached the hospital and explained the situation Lucas had been taken away and his doctor had been called…now it was just the waiting game. The three of them sitting there in silence, Keith and Karen wrapped in each other's arms and Peyton sitting opposite them.
She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself, she felt so alone. She just wanted Lucas; she wanted to feel his arms around her, for him to tell her everything would be okay. She glanced up at the clock for the hundredth time and chewed on her bottom lip.
What had only been 20 minutes had felt like a lifetime. She rested her head against the wall and closed her eyes, images of him lying there haunting her. Sometimes she forgot just how vulnerable he was, how easily he could be taken away from her.
She wished she hadn't wasted so much time with him, she had known she still had feelings for him for months but she hadn't acted on them because she was too scared. She looked across at Karen who was crying silently and she felt for her. She knew how much she loved her son and how much she did for him, she had looked after him the whole way through this and she could see how scared she was.
They were all just praying he would be okay and this was just a set-back, that it wasn't serious.
After a while the door opened and everyone looked up hopefully, but sighed inwardly when it was Nathan and Haley. They rushed in, Haley's eyes already sparkling with tears as she pulled Peyton into a hug. Peyton felt tears starting again in her eyes as Haley rubbed her back softly.
"Have you heard anything?" She asked as she pulled away, Peyton swallowed and shook her head.
Haley went to go and talk to Karen and Nathan walked up to Peyton and put an arm around her shoulder in a comforting half-hug.
"It'll be okay Peyt, I'm sure he'll be fine. You know how stubborn Luke is, he wont let this beat him." He said softly causing Peyton to smile weakly.
"Thanks Nate." She whispered.
Eventually everything had settled down and the five of them were waiting in an uncomfortable silence, still waiting for someone to tell them what was going on. Everytime the door would open everyone would look up hopefully only to be disappointed when another group of relatives came in and sat down.
As the clock ticked by the ritual continued, everyone tense with worry. Finally, after about 45 minutes the door opened and Lucas' doctor stepped in, everyone looking up expectantly. He looked around the room clutching his clipboard and peering over his glasses.
"Lucas Scott's family?" He said causing Karen, Keith, Peyton, Haley and Nathan all to get up relieved.
"If you'd like to follow me?" He said with a kind smile before heading out the door, everyone trailing after him.
They walked along the busy corridors before filing into a large office where he shut the door and stood behind the desk, slightly surprised by the number of people in front of him.
"Is he okay? What's happening?" Karen immediately asked, the worry evident in her voice. The doctor shuffled his papers and frowned, peering around at them all.
"Okay, well it seems that Lucas has developed an infection. Now this could be due to a simple common cold but the chemotherapy has weakened his immune system considerably, now what this means is not only is he more susceptible to viruses and infections but they affect him a lot more, some can even be life threatening." He said causing Peyton to swallow hard…
"But luckily this infection isn't but it is very dangerous, Lucas has a very high fever which is our main concern at the moment, he is also very exhausted and the infection also causes normal symptoms from a common cold. He will need antibiotics and a lot of rest, he also should be very careful about who he sees, keep him away from anyone with a cold etc.."
Karen nodded, sniffing slightly as Keith squeezed her hand.
"We will have to keep him in for a couple of days to monitor him and to make sure we get this fever down." He said shuffling some papers on his desk…Peyton felt like the world had been lifted from her shoulders, he was going to be okay.
Haley slipped her hand into Nathan's and gave it a gentle squeeze, causing him to shoot her a brief smile.
"Can we go and see him?" Keith asked causing everyone to look up.
"I don't see why not, you'll have to go in two at a time and I know this may sound stupid but if any of you have a cold or feel like you're getting one, don't risk it. Lucas is being moved up to the oncology ward on the third floor so he'll be in a room up there." He said. Karen nodded and promptly stood up, shaking hands with the doctor and Keith followed suit.
"Thank you doctor."
"I'll be on my rounds later and I'll come and check up on him." He said with a smile as they all left the room.
XxxX
Peyton sighed as she sat by his bedside, listening to the sounds of his steady breathing underneath the oxygen mask that was placed on his face. Her hand was entwined in his and she was stroking the back of his with her thumb, hoping he would just wake up so she could see his blue eyes and hear his voice.
He looked even worse than before now he was against the white hospital sheets, he looked so tired and worn down.
She just wanted this all to disappear, for everything to be okay for him, for them. She closed her eyes and let out a long sigh, finally letting the tears roll down her cheeks. She couldn't be strong anymore.
As the warm tears tracked down her face she felt the slight movement of his hand in hers and she looked up, her breath hitching in her throat. She watched as he frowned, his head moving to the side slowly as he groaned.
"Luke? Lucas, can you hear me?" She said leaning over him as he mumbled, his eyelids fluttering. She squeezed his hand gently…His eyelids fluttered again before opening, revealing a pair of tired, glazed blue eyes.
He frowned, closing his eyes and moaning weakly. He lifted a hand and gently tried to pull the oxygen mask from his face but Peyton took his hand.
"Hey, leave that sweetie…it's okay. I'm here, I'm gonna get someone okay?" She said softly, signally towards the door but he shook his head, regretting it as it pounded in pain. He felt so sluggish, sleepy and tired…it was so hot in here as well.
"Don't…don't leave." He said, his hoarse voice muffled by the oxygen mask. She swallowed, a lump rising in his throat as she turned back and sat down.
"I'm not going to leave you Luke." She whispered, stroking the side of his face softly.
"Stay." He whispered…he was scared, he felt so terrible and so weak and he couldn't remember what had happened…he just knew he needed her here with him.
Meanwhile.
Dan continued walking down the corridor, not really listening to what the chief medicine guy was telling him about the new ward, he really thought being the mayor would be more interested, with the power and everything but it turned out most of it was actually working.
As they walked along the oncology ward he saw a crowd of people sitting down, obviously waiting for a doctor or a loved one. He looked away, the thought of being around sick people kind of made him feel weird…he knew cancer wasn't catching but still…he hated hospitals. He wished he had never signed up for this hospital ward project.
As the drew closer he stopped walking, his breath catching in his throat…it couldn't be, it wasn't…He stopped, staring his heart hammering in his ears as the doctor turned back, frowning, obviously confused.
"Mr Scott what is it?" He asked. Dan didn't even register the comment, he was aware of the people staring at him now as his mouth went dry…
"Karen?" He said incredulously as the brunette looked up, her expression changing to open-mouthed shock…her eyes still red from crying.
What was she doing here?
A/N Cliffy, sorry. Please review