"Last night, I had a crazy dream."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Quinn turned back from her spot in the chair when the door opened. A smile crossed her face when she saw Clay, and her eyes softened when she saw the forced smile on his face. She glanced at the bed, where Jamie slept, completely still, and set his hand back by his side. She stood up, walking over to Clay. He motioned with his head.
"Riley's down the hall. She wants to sit with him for a minute."
Quinn nodded, and Clay let out a sigh.
"And we need to talk about something."
She met his eyes, slowly nodding. Clay left, coming back a few minutes later with Riley. Quinn kissed the top of her head, waiting for Riley to settle in the seat beside Jamie's bed before she followed Clay out the door. He led her into a conference room, shutting the door behind him. He ran a hand over his face, then turned to her. She had her arms crossed over her chest.
"This is something bad, isn't it?"
Clay let out a sigh as he nodded.
"Q, we uh … We got the footage from the security cameras at the Rivercourt."
Quinn nodded slowly, then lifted her eyes to Clay.
"So you saw it? You know what happened?"
Clay nodded. Quinn blinked as she looked at him.
"Clay, what happened?"
He took in a breath, walking over to her, gently taking hold of her arms.
"Jamie was sitting in the bleachers, and uh … Jude drove up. Jamie met him on the court, and Jude …"
He looked down, letting out a long sigh before he lifted his eyes to Quinn's again, speaking softly.
"Jude punched him in the face."
Quinn went still, and Clay kept going.
"They fought, for a while, just … beating the shit out of each other, and Jamie fell, and hit his head on the concrete. Jude collapsed like a minute later, and that's when Sawyer and Logan drove up."
Quinn nodded slowly, turning her head just a bit, looking away from Clay, blue eyes fixed on a corner of the room. Clay brought his hand up to her face, but she didn't move.
"Q? Babe, do you understand what I'm saying to you?"
Quinn nodded again, just as slowly, before bringing her eyes back up to Clay's.
"Jude almost killed Jamie."
"What? No. No, Q, he—they fought."
"And Jude started it."
Clay glanced away, closing his eyes. Quinn stepped out of his grasp.
"Jamie is here because of Jude."
"Quinn—"
"Call Skills. He's not getting away with this."
Quinn walked out of the room, letting the door slam behind her. Clay closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh, pushing both hands through his hair before he laced his fingers together behind his head, just standing there.
"A wish was granted just for me…"
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Brooke sat beside Jude on the bed, one hand loosely holding his. Davis and Owen stood at the foot of the bed, and Davis couldn't make eye contact with anyone in the room, despite Owen's arm around his shoulders. Brooke and Jude couldn't take their eyes from Owen, and Brooke finally shook her head.
"No, there … There has to be some mistake."
Owen sighed.
"I wish there was, but the footage—"
"No. No, I want to see it."
"Okay. I've got the DVD in the car."
"Go get it. Bring it up here right now."
Owen nodded, stepping out of the room. Davis lifted his head, to see Brooke stand up, pushing her hands through her hair as she turned away from her sons. Jude was lying motionless on the bed, his head leaning back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling. Brooke turned back around, shaking her head.
"We are not going to panic."
Davis closed his eyes, waiting a moment before opening them again. It was quiet after that, until Owen came back in, the DVD in one hand and Brooke's laptop in his other. He helped set it up on the bed, and Davis walked around, standing back as Brooke and Jude watched the footage. When they watched Jude punch Jamie for the first time, they both sucked in a breath. As the video came to an end, Brooke put her face in her hands. Jude leaned his head back again, staring at the ceiling once more. Davis sat in the chair, lacing his fingers together in front of his mouth while Owen ejected the DVD and packed the laptop back up. Brooke looked up, tears staining her cheeks.
"What do we do?"
Owen sighed, rubbing his hand across his chin.
"Honestly?"
Brooke looked to him, and Davis lifted his eyes. Owen let out a sigh.
"If I were you, I'd call my lawyer."
"…It could be for anything."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Clay had caught up with Quinn halfway down the hall, leading her back to the conference room. She was pacing while he stood with a hip against the table in the middle of the room. Quinn shook her head, coming to a stop and turning to face him.
"You watched it?"
Clay nodded. A smile crossed her face, one devoid of any ounce of happiness, and she shook her head.
"Then why are you just standing there?"
"It's not that simple."
"Make it simple."
He just looked at her, and she blew out her breath as she resumed her pacing. After a few minutes, she turned back to face him.
"It's basic assault, right?"
"Quinn."
"Not to mention the fact that Jamie is fighting for his life right now. Did you forget that? How he hasn't woken up yet?"
"No, I haven't forgotten it. It's the only damn thing I can think about."
Clay stepped away from the table, walking over to stand in front of one of the frosted windows. He shook his head.
"We don't know the whole story."
"What's to know?! Jude hit Jamie, and now Jamie has a massive concussion."
"Quinn, it is not that cut-and-dry and you know it, so stop making it out to be."
She set her jaw, nodding at him.
"So you just want to let him walk?"
Clay let out an incredulous laugh.
"Christ, Quinn! We're not talking about some hardened criminal here! This is Jude. We've watched him grow up. He's the love of Lydia's life, you know?"
Quinn covered her mouth with her hands for just a moment, before clasping them together as she turned to face him.
"And he's almost killed her brother."
She held her hands out.
"Seems pretty cut-and-dry, doesn't it?"
Clay hung his head, letting out a breath.
"It's not that—"
"If Jamie doesn't wake up, it will be Jude's fault. I can't just stand here and let that be okay."
Clay nodded slowly, speaking before he brought his eyes up to his wife's.
"So you want to press charges against the seventeen-year-old?"
Quinn turned around as she lifted her hands to her hair, lifting it, then letting it fall. She turned back, staring Clay right in the eye.
"Yes. Yes, I do."
"I didn't ask for money, or a mansion in Malibu."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Davis sat in the chair beside Jude's bed. Brooke and Owen had walked out earlier, making Davis promise to keep the door shut, not letting anyone but medical personnel inside. Jude hadn't moved from his position of staring at the ceiling. Davis' mind was racing, and he lifted his head when he heard the soft words from his twin.
"Jamie could die."
Davis didn't know how to answer that, so he didn't say a word. He watched as Jude swallowed, before he spoke again.
"Jamie may never wake up, and it … it will be because of me."
"Jude—"
Jude slowly shook his head, and Davis watched as a tear slowly slid out of the corner of his brother's eye.
"How could she ever forgive me for that?"
Davis didn't need to ask who Jude was talking about. Lydia. It was always Lydia. He swallowed as Jude continued to speak.
"She doesn't have anyone, and I might have taken away the one person she … How could I have—"
Jude choked on the sob, shaking his head. Davis stood up, walking over and taking Jude's hand. Jude squeezed his eyes shut, but the tears still flowed down his face. After a moment, Davis spoke, his voice laced with tears.
"He's not going to … He'll be fine. He's going to wake up and we'll laugh about all this."
Jude shook his head.
"He could die, Davis. And that's all—it's all my—"
He started gasping, and Davis let out a breath before he stood up from the bed.
"Take it easy."
Jude continued to gasp, frantic eyes going to his brother.
"Slow. Slow down. Breathe in and out, Jude. Jude, breathe out."
Jude shook his head, and Davis glanced up at the monitor as it began to alarm.
"Damn it, Jude, breathe out. You're okay."
Jude began to cough, reaching a hand up to his chest, frantically shaking his head. The door opened as a nurse hurried in, walking to the opposite side of the bed from Davis. She lowered the bed a bit, reaching to grab the oxygen mask on the wall, looping it over Jude's head.
"Take in a deep breath for me, Mr. Baker."
Jude shook his head as he coughed and gagged, as the monitors beside the bed continued to ring out. Davis gripped Jude's hand.
"Breathe, Jude. Come on."
He just kept coughing, and the nurse pressed a button. A minute later, another nurse and a doctor hurried into the room. Medical terminology that Davis didn't understand was tossed around, and one of the nurses left the room, only to come back with a syringe. The doctor stepped beside Davis, taking Jude's hand from him.
"Mr. Baker, we're going to give you something to calm you down. Try and relax for me."
Jude gagged again, and the doctor pushed the medicine through the IV in Jude's hand. A few seconds later, Davis watched as Jude's eyes grew heavy, as he finally took in a breath and let it back out. His eyes drifted shut and the monitor finally went silent. Davis looked to the doctor, who let out a sigh.
"He'll be all right. The medicine should keep him out for a while now. Try not to let him get riled up like that again."
Davis nodded as the doctor and the nurses left the room. He sank into the chair, pushing his hands through his hair. Brooke and Owen walked in and found him like that, Jude fast asleep, but nowhere near peacefully. Brooke touched Jude's hand, then knelt in front of Davis.
"Hey."
He gave a quiet sob, and Brooke let out a sigh.
"Baby…"
Davis lifted his head, his face red and soaked with tears.
"He couldn't breathe. He was just laying there, gasping for breath, looking at me, and I couldn't do anything. I couldn't help him, Mom, and I just … It's too much."
Brooke leaned forward, taking Davis in her arms. She maneuvered him around to where she was sitting on the chair with him, holding his head to her shoulder, letting him cry as she stroked his hair. Owen pushed his hands through his hair, still just as thick as it used to be, but more salt than pepper now. He shook his head, walking over and laying a hand on Brooke's shoulder, closing his eyes when she turned her head and pressed her lips to his knuckle.
"I simply wished for one more day with you."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Jamie woke up on the couch in the living room, the couch he knew Clay and Quinn had gotten rid of shortly after Haley died. They'd had to, after they'd found Jamie frantically trying to move it, before he had a full-out panic attack so bad that he'd passed out. He'd woken up in his room, with Quinn standing over him, smiling gently, telling him they'd get new things tomorrow. He shook his head, sitting up, absently fixing the pillows so that Keith would be happy. He turned forward, jumping slightly when he saw the tiny, pixie-like girl sitting on the footrest in front of him.
"Hey, Cassie."
She tilted her mouth to the side, something Haley did all the time, reaching up to push strands of her white-blonde hair out of her face.
"Are you feeling better?"
Jamie nodded, closing his eyes as the pounding in his head became more pronounced. He let out a breath, then lifted his head, putting a smile on his face.
"I'm good. How are you?"
She smiled.
"I'm good. I can write a C. C is for Cassie."
"Is it now?"
She nodded.
"Just like J is for Jamie, L is for Lydia, K is for Keith, M is for Mommy and D is for Daddy."
Jamie smiled.
"You sure are smart."
"Thanks."
She swung her little legs off the edge of the footrest and Jamie let out a laugh. Cassie lifted her head to look at him.
"Mommy said dinner was almost ready, so you need to get your lazy bones up."
Jamie let out a laugh, then nodded. He stood to his feet.
"Hey! Don't forget me!"
He glanced down, at the little arms outstretched, reaching up for him. He swallowed, then bent to pick her up, feeling as if he was carrying a loaf of bread instead of his little sister. She laid her head on his shoulder as he carried her into the kitchen, and he stopped suddenly when he saw Haley at the stove. She glanced back, like she knew they'd be there, and smiled.
"There they are. Good job, sister."
Cassie smiled, pointing to the chair at the bar. Jamie walked over, setting her in it, and Cassie took the cup Lydia handed her as Lydia came into the kitchen, pressing a kiss to the top of white-blonde hair.
"So Sawyer's miserable."
Haley let out a laugh.
"Oh, I just bet she is. As hot as it is outside? Ugh, I remember those days."
"What days?"
Haley and Lydia exchanged a glance, before Haley gave a pointed look to the little girl who was focused on the small bowl of grapes in front of her. Lydia cleared her throat.
"The B-A-B-Y."
Jamie stood still for a minute, before his mouth dropped open. Haley put a finger to her lips, then pointed to Cassie. Cassie leaned backwards, glancing up at him.
"I don't know how to spell yet. But if Keith's here, he'll tell me what they're spelling so I can know, too."
Lydia rolled her eyes.
"Secrets don't do well in this house."
"Hey, munchkin."
Cassie looked over to Haley, who tossed her head to he left.
"Go tell your brother and your dad ten minutes until dinner."
Cassie nodded, holding her arms out to Jamie. He lifted her from the chair, setting her on the floor, watching as she ran off on her tiptoes, two white-blonde braids bouncing behind her. He turned to Lydia, holding out his hands. Lydia looked to Haley, who just laughed as she turned around.
"See? I told you, he's got amnesia."
Haley waved a hand behind her and Lydia let out a sigh.
"Sawyer's pregnant. Due really soon, actually."
"What?"
Lydia nodded, reaching into the fridge for a bottle of water.
"Yep. She's giving the baby up, though."
"And why anyone would give a baby to Rachel Gatina, I'll never know. Sorry. Rachel Gatina Scott."
Lydia rolled her eyes, and Jamie blinked. Lydia shrugged her shoulders.
"Rachel wants a baby. Why wouldn't Grandpa Dan want to raise his own … what, great-grandchild? How weird."
Jamie shook his head.
"Grandpa is alive?"
Haley and Lydia both let out a laugh.
"Yeah, James. Grandpa got a new heart a few years back and he's never been better."
"Well, that's debatable. But if there's one thing I know, it's that Dan adores you kids. And he'd do the same to Sawyer and Ellie, if Lucas would let him."
Jamie shook his head.
"But everything with Uncle Keith—"
He stopped when Haley put a hand on his chest.
"We don't talk about that. Ever."
Jamie swallowed, nodding his head. Lydia narrowed her eyes, then shrugged her shoulders, drinking her water. Jamie looked to Haley, speaking under his breath.
"She doesn't know, does she?"
Haley gave an almost-imperceptible shake of her head.
"Does Sawyer?"
Haley nodded.
"But she's never forgiven Lucas for marrying Brooke. Perfect way to get back at him is to give the man he hates her baby, knowing full well that Rachel and Dan will let her see the baby anytime she wants."
"She lives with them now, Mom. Did I tell you that?"
Haley turned to Lydia, mouth open.
"You're kidding me."
Lydia shook her head.
"Moved into the big house yesterday."
Haley shook her head, turning back to the stove, shutting it off.
"'Oh, what a tangled web we weave.'"
"Shakespeare, Hales?"
Haley turned to Nathan, giving him a dazzling smile.
"I'll tell you later."
Nathan was holding Cassie, and made her giggle when he nuzzled her neck. He set her in a chair, pushing it up to the table. Lydia stepped over to Jamie, shaking her head.
"I swear, the child's feet never touch the ground."
She took a seat beside Cassie, and Keith walked into the room.
"I washed my hands."
Haley smiled, gesturing to his seat. He walked over and sat down, draping his napkin in his lap. Jamie swallowed as he walked over, taking the seat beside Keith. Nathan sat at one end of the table, Haley at the other, and Jamie barely tasted the food, barely able to see through the haze of tears in his eyes. It was something he'd dreamed of, something he always wanted, more than anything. Something so simple, something so many people take for granted, some little, insignificant thing, but something he'd longed for ever since he lost the two people that mattered the most to him.
A family dinner.
"First thing I'd do is pray for time to crawl."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Quinn sat beside Jamie's bed, keeping his hand in hers. Logan and Clay stood in a corner of the room, speaking quietly. Riley sat in the chair beside Quinn, head on her mother's shoulder, while Quinn gently stroked her hair. Clay glanced at the bed, then turned back to his son. Logan shook his head.
"Dad, this … This was an accident. It had to be. Jude was just pissed off. He didn't set out to do this."
"I know, son. I know."
"Doesn't Mom know it, too?"
Clay let out a sigh as he glanced over his shoulder at his wife.
"Deep down, yes. I think she does. She's just upset right now and hurting."
"Dad, she wants to press charges. And if, God forbid, Jamie doesn't wake up, Jude will go to jail."
Clay nodded, pushing a hand over his face.
"I know. That's why I'm trying to talk her out of it, but she won't listen."
Logan sighed, rubbing a hand against his chin, absently thinking he needed to shave. He shook his head. He went to open his mouth, and a knock sounded at the door. Everyone but Quinn turned around, as Officer Skills Taylor stepped into the room, holding his hat in his hands. Clay shut his eyes, turning to put a hand against the wall. Logan shook his head.
"No. No, Mom."
Quinn looked up at him, flicking her eyes over to Clay, then shook her head, putting her focus back on Jamie. Clay turned forward, giving Quinn a pointed look before he walked out of the room. Skills stepped aside to let him go, and Logan motioned for Skills to follow Clay before he walked behind them, pulling the door shut behind him. Logan jogged into the conference room, pulling the door shut behind him. Clay turned to Skills, who held his hands up.
"Before you start… Quinn called. Someone had to come, and I made damn sure it was me."
Clay rubbed a hand over his eyes as he let out a sigh. Skills echoed him before speaking again.
"I get it. This was an accident. But Clay … She's serious about this."
"I know. Damn it."
He laced his hands together behind his head as he walked around, and Logan shook his head.
"What happens now?"
Skills sighed.
"Now? Now we need J. Luke to wake up and make this nightmare go away."
"I'd unplug the telephone, keep the TV off… Say a million I Love Yous."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Jamie helped Lydia wash the dishes, putting the plates away without even wondering where everything should go. She walked up to her room, leaving Jamie alone. He walked through the living room, just standing in the middle of it before walking over and looking at the pictures on the wall. He saw himself graduating from high school, college, but noticed that any pictures of him doing any kind of sport were missing. He saw Lydia as a little girl, teeth missing in a wide smile, arms around a curly-haired blonde that Jamie knew was Sawyer. This picture he knew, because he'd taken it years ago. He smiled at the picture of Brooke and Lucas and their blended family, one twin missing from the picture and a forced half-smile on Sawyer's face.
He continued into the dining room, to the shelves that were now filled with different items, mementos of a life Jamie didn't know. He gingerly dragged his fingers across the top of Haley's piano, swallowing down the lump in his throat. He had to get her to sing. He felt closed-in all of a sudden, and turned to go outside, pushing through the back doors and stopping short at the edge of the pool.
"Fuck."
He squeezed his eyes shut, walking away, over to the grass, and let out a harsh breath. He took in a breath, eyes opening, glancing up. He walked back inside, hurrying—quietly—up the stairs, opening Lydia's bedroom door and stepping inside, pulling it shut behind him.
"Lyd?"
He walked through her room, shaking his head at the soft blue walls, heart aching at the loss of the Pepto-Bismol pink he'd always known. He stepped out onto the balcony, glancing to his side, just in time to see Lydia blow out a stream of smoke.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Lydia looked up at him from her spot on a chaise lounge, pulling the joint from her lips and holding it out to him.
"Want some?"
"What? No!"
She let out a laugh, taking another hit, holding it in before lazily blowing it out again.
"I didn't think so."
Jamie shook his head, blinking at the bottles around Lydia's feet.
"Are you—are you drunk?"
She looked over to him, blinking her pretty, albeit bloodshot, navy blue eyes.
"It's Tuesday, James."
"So?"
"So … This is what we do on Tuesdays. I have a bang-up time out here, while you sit inside and pretend everything is fine. You and Nate and Haley do a great job of that."
Jamie shook his head again, blinking hard.
"Lydia, what is wrong with you?"
She sat up a little straighter, shaking her head.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? It doesn't seem like nothing from where I'm standing."
"Then maybe you should come sit by me."
She smiled at him, giving him a wink, stretching out on the chaise lounge. Jamie walked over, sitting on the edge of the other one, directly on her left. She put out the joint, blowing out one last long stream of smoke.
"Since you seem to have misplaced your memories, I'll enlighten you. Ever since Mom had that little episode with Cassie, we just kind of turn a blind eye to each other."
"What little episode?"
Lydia held up her hands for the finger quotes.
"Postpartum depression."
She let her hands drop back to her lap.
"Or so they say. She wouldn't have anything to do with Cassie. She'd cry and cry, and Mom would just sit there. Someone had to step up and act like a mother, and it sure as hell wasn't going to be her. In a house full of guys, I didn't have a choice but to step up."
"Jesus, Lyd. You were, what… Twelve?"
She nodded, reaching off to her right, pulling a beer out of an ice chest Jamie hadn't seen. She handed it to him, and he took it, his heart growing heavy in his chest. She pulled out one for herself, topping the top off with an expert flick of her wrist. Jamie twisted his own top off, closing his eyes when Lydia clinked her bottle with his. She took a long drink, then let out a sigh.
"We had one pretty epic blowup, before Dad decided she needed help that 'we just couldn't give her.' His words, not mine. So he took her somewhere, and I cared for their newborn, and then Mom came back like everything was fine. But Cassie wouldn't have anything to do with her."
A smile crossed Lydia's face then.
"She only wanted me. Still does, if you want the truth. If she's sad or sick or something, it's me she comes to."
She took another drink, then sat up straighter.
"You want to know something that Mom doesn't know?"
Jamie nodded, and a smile crossed Lydia's face.
"I know all the juicy details about Sawyer. I tell Mom a little bit, because she's just like everyone else in this craphole town. Real damn nosy."
Jamie blinked, and Lydia went on.
"So, around nine months ago, Sawyer went to this party. I went with her, and Davis and Jude. Jude had come here for the summer, and he hadn't been here … Since Lucas and Brooke got married, I guess."
Lydia looked over to Jamie, smiling.
"He's so fine. I know he and Davis are twins or whatever, but Jude's got this … I don't know. California air about him, I guess. Anyway, we stayed at this party for a long time, and Sawyer finally came and found me and said she'd found Jude in a bedroom, and he was passed out. We got him out, and came home. Well, like two months later, Sawyer came and got me. Said she'd actually roofied Jude at the party."
"What?"
Lydia nodded as she took another drink.
"And she took him upstairs and … You know."
Jamie's mouth fell open, and she nodded again.
"And guess what. She was pregnant. Apparently, it was all part of this big, elaborate plan she had."
"Sawyer?"
Lydia nodded.
"She's a vindictive little bitch, Jamie."
Jamie sat with his mouth open, and Lydia giggled.
"Anyway, Brooke and Lucas flip their shit when they find out. And when Sawyer tells them that Jude's her baby daddy… Well. Jude insists on moving back, because he's a good guy, and Sawyer lets Brooke get her hopes up about having a new little baby to spoil and stuff. Then she drops the bombshell that she's not keeping it. Not only is she not keeping it, she's giving it to Rachel, who Brooke hates, and who is married to Grandpa Dan, who Uncle Luke despises. They fought her on it for months, but it's Sawyer's kid, you know? And Jude knows better than to try to lay any claim to the kid."
She shook her head, and Jamie breathed out.
"I can't believe Sawyer would do something like that."
"Well, she hates Lucas for getting with Brooke. I mean, they waited like three years after Peyton died. It wasn't like Luke jumped in Brooke's bed as soon as Peyton was cold."
"Jesus, Lyd."
Jamie set his beer aside, standing up.
"You going to drink that?"
Jamie glanced at the beer, shaking his head. Lydia leaned over and took hold of it, turning it up as she relaxed back again.
"Anyway, back to Sawyer. Apparently, she planned all this. Getting knocked up by Jude and everything."
"Why?"
Lydia smiled.
"The scandal."
Jamie shook his head, and Lydia took another sip.
"Lucas is married to Brooke. His daughter is now pregnant by her son."
"Holy shit."
"Exactly. But Brooke blew her top about letting that news get out. Sawyer finally just gave in, so only a few chosen people know that it's Jude's baby."
Jamie shook his head, and Lydia let out a laugh. He turned to look at her.
"What?"
"Your face. You're just so heartbroken. What, did you think everything here was sunshine and roses?"
She lifted the beer to him.
"Guess again, Jimmy-Jam."
She finished off that beer, then rolled it over with her other empties. She glanced at her watch and smiled.
"Hey, James? I'm uh… expecting company any minute now. You mind locking the door when you go through?"
"Company? Who?"
"Jude."
Jamie narrowed his eyes.
"What? Why would he be coming over this late?"
Lydia laid a hand over her face as she laughed silently.
"James, why would a boy be coming over to your sister's bedroom at eleven-o-clock at night? Use your imagination."
"Lydia!"
She shrugged her shoulders.
"What?"
"He's having a baby with Sawyer!"
"So? They're not together. It's not like he's cheating on her with me. We're just two friends who like to fuck. That's all."
"Good God, don't say that. Christ."
Lydia rolled her eyes.
"Jeez. Sorry you forgot your sister wasn't such an angel after all."
Jamie shook his head, walking back into Lydia's room just as Jude hopped over the edge of her balcony. Jamie held his hands on her door as he listed to them talk.
"Hey, you."
"Hey."
"Did you have all the fun without me?"
"No, I saved something special just for you."
He saw Jude nearly sitting in Lydia's lap, then watched Lydia lean around the chair, coming back up with something Jamie couldn't make out in the darkness in her hands. Jude tossed his head back and let out a quiet laugh, letting his hands come up on either side of her.
"Oh, hell yes."
He bent to lock his lips to hers, and Jamie pulled the doors shut. He walked out of the room, pulling the door shut. He hung his head and sighed, pushing the door open again and turning the lock before shutting it again and walking down the stairs. He pushed a hand through his hair, coming to a stop in the kitchen when he saw his parents at the table. Haley smiled at him, tapping the table in front of the empty chair in front of her.
"Hey, honey. Come sit."
"It's what I'd do…"
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Brooke stepped into the room, completely silent except for the steady beep of the machines. As long as the beeps sounded, as long as they were steady, it meant there was still a chance. Jamie was still there, still with them, and he could open his eyes any minute now.
Brooke wanted to believe that. Desperately, she wanted.
She sat in the chair beside the bed, glancing over and seeing Quinn's sleeping form on the cot near the window. Riley was curled up under her arm, and Brooke let out a sigh. She pushed her hands through her hair before she leaned up, taking one of Jamie's hands in both of hers.
"Hey, Jamie. It's me. Can you hear me?"
"For one more day with you…"
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Jamie shook his head, blinking his eyes as he stepped over to the table. Haley gave him a warm smile, and Nathan handed him a cup of coffee as he sat down. Nathan laid his arm across the back of Haley's chair, and she just smiled at Jamie. After a few quiet moments, Haley reached across the table, gently patting Jamie's hand.
"Honey, we know."
"Know what?"
Haley exchanged a glance with her husband, and Nathan gave a soft smile.
"This isn't real, son."
"One more day…"
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Brooke pushed her hand through her hair, bringing Jamie's hand up to her lips, gently kissing it, looking at his hand as she spoke softly.
"Jamie, I don't ask much of you. I love you so much, and I am so proud of you. You make it so easy to love you. You always have. But buddy … I need you to do something for me now."
"One more time..."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Jamie shook his head, and Haley gave his hand a squeeze.
"I—I don't … I don't know what you're talking about."
Haley smiled again, that soft, closed-mouth, demure smile she had.
"Yes, you do. You said it yourself earlier."
"Mom—"
"This isn't right, Jamie. This isn't your life."
He shook his head, blinking rapidly. Haley glanced at Nathan, who sighed as Jamie spoke.
"No, this … This is—"
"A dream, son. And it's time for you to wake up."
"One more sunset …"
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Brooke reached over, running her hand through the dark hair on Jamie's head. Nathan's hair, now present on his only son.
"Wake up for me, Jamie. Come back to us. We need you here."
"Maybe I'd be satisfied."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
"No. No, this is … No."
Haley began gently rubbing his arm, soothing him just a bit. Jamie lifted tear-filled eyes to hers.
"I don't want to go."
She smiled at him.
"I know."
"I don't want to go back where you guys aren't."
Haley and Nathan exchanged a look, and Nathan reached a hand out to touch Jamie's arm alongside his wife.
"This isn't your life, Jamie. You aren't supposed to be here. You're supposed to be there."
"With your family."
Jamie let out a laugh as he squeezed his eyes shut.
"You are my family. You two."
"And Lydia."
Jamie went still, bringing his eyes to Haley's. She had tears in her dark eyes.
"She needs you, Jamie. She needs you to go back."
"But then again..."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Brooke brushed her hand over her eyes, sitting up again.
"You've been asleep for five days, Jamie. You have to wake up for me. We need you here."
She let her shaking hand move back to his hair again.
"Clay and Quinn need you. Riley needs you. Logan needs you. I need you. But more than anyone else, Jamie Scott, Lydia needs you. She needs her brother, so you need to open your eyes and come back to us."
"I know what it would do."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Jamie shook his head.
"What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to just go back? I don't want to. You're here. You're alive here, and that—"
"Isn't real, honey."
Jamie sucked in a breath, fighting back a sob. Haley stood up, walking around the table to take Jamie in her arms. He put his head on her shoulder, letting out a broken breath as she gently rubbed his back.
"I'm so sorry for the life you've had to live. What you've gone through."
"Mom, I need you. I need you both, and—"
"And that's never going to stop. I'm so sorry about that."
Haley pulled back, just enough to look her son in the eye.
"But you have someone who feels exactly the same way."
Jamie closed his eyes.
"Lydia."
Haley nodded.
"She needs you, James. If nothing else, you need to go back for her."
"Leave me wishing still ..."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
"I know that things are bad right now."
Brooke continued to gently stroke Jamie's hair as she whispered to him.
"But they're going to get better. They've already started to get better. Lydia is better now, Jamie. And we need you to wake up so we can tell you. So she can tell you."
Brooke glanced over at the monitors, at the unchanging, steady beep.
"Come on, buddy. Please."
"For one more day with you."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Jamie held Haley for the longest time, breathing her in, savoring the feeling of having his mother close to him again. She stepped out of his arms, cupping his face in her hands and giving him that smile before she stepped away. Nathan stepped up, wrapping his arms around Jamie, holding his son as he sobbed. When the worst of the tears had subsided, Nathan cleared his throat.
"You're a good man, Jamie Scott. And I am so proud of you."
"Dad."
"Don't you ever give up, okay, son? We're right there with you."
Jamie nodded, holding tight to Nathan one last time. Nathan stepped back, walking over and putting his arms around his wife, who leaned into him. They gave Jamie warm smiles, smiles he remembered from so long ago, and he fought, through the tears steadily falling down his face, to give them a smile back.
"One more day…"
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Brooke sighed, kissing Jamie's hand once more.
"I'm here, Jamie. Open your eyes for me."
"One more time..."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
"How do I do it?"
Haley cleared her throat.
"Close your eyes."
Jamie shook his head.
"I don't want to."
"I know, baby. But you have to."
Jamie stared at his parents, letting out a shaky breath.
"One more sunset…"
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Brooke glanced up, at the monitor that beeped out of order.
"Jamie?"
"Maybe I'd be satisfied."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
"I love you."
Haley snuggled closer to Nathan, who gave Jamie a nod and a smile.
"We love you too, son."
"But then again…"
One More Day,Diamond Rio
"Jamie."
Brooke looked from the monitor to the bed, back up to the monitor.
"Jamie, open your eyes."
"I know what it would do."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Jamie stared at Haley, who gave him a nod.
"Go, honey. Close your eyes, then open them back there."
He shook his head, and Nathan gave him a nod.
"It's time, son. Go."
"Leave me wishing still..."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Brooke squeezed Jamie's hand.
"Come on, Jamie. Come on, honey. Open your eyes for me."
"For one more day with you."
One More Day, Diamond Rio
Jamie gave a nod as he gasped in a breath. He looked back to his parents, for what he knew would be the final time.
"I love you."
They smiled back at him, and Jamie closed his eyes, whispering three words.
"Always and forever."
And with Brooke holding tight to his hand, the monitors steadily beeping just a little bit faster, Jamie opened his eyes.
As one single tear slipped down his cheek.