"You realize Haley and Brooke are going to kill us," Nathan said at four in the morning that night. The girls had fallen asleep, bundled up together on the floor, hours ago. Nathan and Lucas had sat up on the computer, researching and plotting.
"Yeah, well, I'd rather Brooke be alive to do that," Lucas muttered sarcastically, clicking the mouse and grinning. "Done."
"How are we sure he's in New York? Don't you think he was the one that hit Brooke with his car?"
Lucas shook his head. "I don't think Dan would have done that. I think he would have had someone else do his dirty work for him."
"That does sound like old Dan," Nathan agreed, "but new Dan seems to do his own dirty work. He didn't manipulate Jimmy into shooting at Keith; he did it himself."
Lucas considered this. "That is true. But I really don't think that it was him, I just feel in my gut that we've got to get to New York."
"If that's what you think," Nathan shrugged. He glanced over at their sleeping counterparts. "We'd better be back for Brooke's ultrasound or she'll dump your sorry ass."
Lucas flinched. "Good point. I hadn't thought of that."
Nathan glanced at the screen. "There. That flight. Leaves in five hours. We can be out of here before the girls wake up to save us from their wrath."
'Their wrath will only be worse by the time we get home."
Nathan shook his head in disagreement. "They'll cool down over the course of a few days. Plus, I'd rather deal with a screaming Haley over the phone."
Lucas laughed softly, agreeing. He finished purchasing their tickets before standing. "Okay, little brother, let's get packing."
The two set off into the dark about twenty minutes later, leaving a note behind and locking the door behind them.
"If we're both gone, how do we know they'll be safe?" Nathan asked suddenly from the airport, where they were waiting to board their plane.
Lucas opened his mouth to reply before closing it, obviously realizing his brother was right. He shook himself. "They'll be fine. We'll be distracting Dan."
Nathan nodded uncertainly and stood as their flight was called to board. Taking a deep breath, he hoisted his bag over his shoulder and followed his older brother onto the aircraft.
A year ago, no one would have ever believed that Nathan and Lucas Scott would be hunting down their father to protect Brooke Davis.
Nathan laughed a little to himself at the thought.
Backfire
"Lucas?" Brooke called out into the apartment. She and Haley had woken up to what appeared to be an empty apartment.
"What's this?" Haley asked, bringing a glass of orange juice to her lips as she picked up a slip of paper that was sitting on the counter. She choked suddenly, spraying juice everywhere and causing Brooke to look at her with concern.
"What's up, Hales?"
"Read this," Haley choked, handing Brooke the paper. The brunette took the note from her friend with a crinkled brow, her hazel eyes widening as she read.
Hales and Brooke,
Stay in the apartment and please keep all the doors locked. We're going to New York. We think that Dan is there. We love you both. Stay safe and don't open the door for anyone.
Love,
Lucas and Nathan
P.S. Brooke, there is plenty of food, so don't start yelling about how we've left you to starve.
"What in the hell are they thinking?" Brooke exclaimed, setting it down and putting her head in her hands. "Do they want to get themselves killed or something?"
"I'm sure they'll be fine," Haley soothed uncertainly. "Dan is their dad, I doubt he'd do anything to hurt them." At Brooke's sardonic glance, Haley shook her head. "Who am I kidding? The man tried to murder his own brother."
"I'm going to kill him," Brooke said simply. "I can be a single mom. Karen did a great job at it."
Haley sighed, pulling Brooke into a hug. "They'll both be fine. We just have to believe that and do what they asked."
"I can't believe we're locked in this apartment," Brooke muttered unhappily. "There's nothing to do."
Three hours later, Haley was laying on the couch with an exasperated expression, listening to Brooke whine.
"I'm bored. And I want ice cream. And I all ready ate all of the ice cream."
"Yeah, Brooke, you did," Haley agreed monotonously.
"We're all ready watched all the seasons of the OC," Brooke continued. "Even after Marissa died, which, let's face it, made the show terrible."
"Mhm," Haley murmured, closing her eyes. Brooke heaved a deep sigh.
"Fine, Tutor Mom. Obviously the only thing to do here is nap."
Haley finally cracked a tired smile. "Thank you."
The girls crawled in Brooke and Lucas's bed, and Haley was asleep in minutes. Brooke, however, couldn't seem to turn her mind off, and she got up quietly, slowly sliding open the drawer to Lucas's nightstand. She pawed around, finding mostly typical things; his heart medication, a few papers for school, some pens and odds and ends. Then she found something that caused her eyes to narrow. She pulled it out, studying it closely.
It was a note, written in extremely familiar handwriting.
Luke-
Meet me at the Rivercourt at five tomorrow. We need to talk.
It suddenly occurred to Brooke that, despite the fact that they were in a different state, Lucas and Nathan still had cell phones. She grabbed her cell off of the dresser and typed a quick text message.
Before I flip out, care to explain the Peyton note in your nightstand?
She sat anxiously, staring at her phone, awaiting a response. When no response came after nearly an hour, she took in frustration and glanced at the clock. It was four thirty. Squaring her shoulders, she went to her closet and started to get ready. If Peyton had slipped him that note last night, someone would be there to meet her at the Rivercourt. It just wouldn't be the person she was expecting.
Backfire
Lucas and Nathan stood in Times Square, watching thousands of people blur around them.
"How the hell are we supposed to find him?" Lucas groaned. Nathan grinned, pulling out his phone.
"Easy," he said with a shrug. "I transferred his address book onto my phone. We find the numbers with a New York City area code, and then we match the numbers to locations. We search them, and we find him."
Lucas looked impressed. "Way to go, little bro."
"By three months!" Nathan exclaimed, leading the way into a coffee shop so they could begin their research.
Two hours later, and the boys had narrowed their search down to three locations. One was a small business, a restaurant of some kind. The other two were residences, and the brothers decided that staying together was their best option. Lucas pulled out his phone to glance at the time, realizing he had missed a text message from Brooke hours before.
"Shit," he groaned. "Brooke found a note from Peyton in my nightstand and I didn't see her text until now."
"What are you doing with a note from Peyton?" Nathan demanded.
Lucas sighed. "She slipped it under the door yesterday. I found it when I got Brooke home after the accident and I didn't want to upset her so I just stuffed it in my drawer."
Nathan let out a long whistle. "Well, you're screwed now."
Lucas flipped open his phone, glaring at his brother as he dialed his girlfriend. It went straight to voicemail and Lucas's blue eyes widened.
"Her phone is off."
"She probably shut it off because she's pissed at you," Nathan reasoned before opening his own phone to call his wife. "I'll call Haley and make sure they're safe."
"Nathan Scott!" came the frustrated voice of his wife. "What in the hell do you think you're playing at, running off like that?"
"Hales," Nathan said calmly, trying to keep the grin out of his voice. "Are you with Brooke?"
"No, as a matter of fact, I'm not!" Haley snapped. "I woke up from a nap and she had disappeared but there was some note from Peyton on the bed about the Rivercourt. I'm driving there right now."
"Damn it," Nathan cursed. "Okay, stay on the phone with me. Let me know when you're there."
"I'm just pulling up," Haley said, and he could hear her turn off the car and get out. Lucas was watching him worriedly, so he put the phone on speaker and placed it on the table between them.
"Hey!" Haley shouted. "What the hell is going on here?"
As Haley apparently ran over to the action, the boys could hear crying.
"I don't know!" came Peyton's urgent voice. "One second we were yelling at each other and the next she was on the ground!"
Lucas's blood ran cold as he heard the conversation between the girls. He could make out Brooke's sobs and he slammed his fist on the table.
"Haley, what's going on?" he managed to choke out.
"It's Brooke," Haley said anxiously. "I have to hang up Lucas, I need to call 911. I'll call you when I know what's going on."
There was a click, and the line went dead.