Lucas didn't bother to struggle against it, when Nathan grabbed his upper arm and forcefully pulled him out of the car at the River Court.

Nathan knew that this was the best place to have a slightly calmer Lucas, because at this point, his eyes were blood red in fury. Looking at Lucas right now would have any girl or guy alike shitting their pants, but Nathan was unfazed.

"What the fuck was that?" He demanded angrily. Lucas would've killed that guy had Nathan not gotten their on time. Was his half brother fucking crazy?

Lucas looked away glaring, his hands still clenched in tight fists, his knuckles white.

Nathan could help but feel angrier and he shoved his brother slightly, "I'm talking to you. You couldn't shut the fuck up for a second back there, what happened now?" Nathan asked, getting in his face.

Lucas shoved him away, "Not now Nathan," He growled.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Nathan asked incredulously, "For the past few months, you've slowly gotten more and more screwed up, to a point where now you're a fucking maniac," Nathan yelled, "What the fuck happened to you, like I seriously worry about your mental state. Wasn't I suppose to be the crazy brother, and you the calm, collected, sensible one? You make me look like an angel!"

Lucas ignored him, leaning against the hood of the car, still picturing how close the car was to Brooke, and he couldn't help but feel angrier.

Nathan snapped his fingers in front of him, "Yo, I'm talking to you, what the fuck's gotten into you, you're friggin psychotic," Nathan exploded in frustration. Lucas scowled at him, and Nathan finally sighed, "Ok listen, man, I get it, I know why you were pissed, I would've been too. But you should've handed them to the police or something Lucas, why did you have to almost kill the guy?"

Lucas pushed away from the car, "Is that what you would've done had it been Haley almost getting run over?" Lucas challenged with a raised brow.

Nathan pursed his lips, "Okay, I get it… but what are you trying to say? Comparing Brooke to Haley, I love Haley… does that mean you love Brooke?" Nathan asked knowingly.

Lucas shook his head, unable to meet Nathan's eyes.

Nathan laughed un-humorously, "Denial,"

Lucas nodded, slowly lowering to the ground, and sitting in the middle of the court, his legs spread in front of him and his arms behind him so each palm was planted flat against the ground and was supporting him, Nathan wasn't sure he was gonna say anything after a few silent minutes.

"Brooke," Lucas finally whispered.

Nathan sighed, taking a seat beside his brother on the ground, "Oh man, Lucas," He groaned in sympathy.

"I know," Lucas shrugged.

"It's weird, I always knew man. Even Haley doubted it, along with all you guys, but I always knew."

Lucas cracked a sad smile, "Why didn't you give me a heads up?" He asked lamely.

Nathan snorted, "HA, are you serious. You were so messed up back then, deluding yourself into going for Peyton again. Brooke broke up with you and you went running to her best friend. You wanna know why?"

"Million dollar question,"

"Because you thought you had lost Brooke's love. And you were insecure, and you went running in the direction you knew you could get love. You knew Peyton loved you, and you made your always-there-weird-lingering-crush on her into something it wasn't. You actually thought you loved her? Peyton is your safety net. You knew that Brooke would always have or create drama in her life, and instead of fighting for her, you took the easy way out," Nathan explained with a shrug.

"It wasn't exactly like that. She pushed me to Peyton, she closed off and told me she didn't want to be with me anymore, ever," Lucas insisted, looking at him in frustration.

"And you believed her? I'm not even with her much and I know her better?" Nathan questioned, "Because I know that Brooke Davis, behind all her bullshit cover, only wanted to be loved by you. She wanted you all to herself, or should I say, she wanted your heart all to herself. But everyone knew your and Peyton's creepy thing, and Brooke didn't want to deal with that. And her way to find out was to push you away, and see if you would still come back. And good job, you confirmed her worst fears, and didn't."

Lucas buried his face in his hands groaning, "I fucked up so bad, Nate, I fucked up so fucking bad," He admitted vulnerably, for the first time to anyone but Brooke, "And now, now she's pregnant with that bastard Max, and basically living with him,"

Nathan didn't respond. What could he say? Lucas was right, he had pushed Brooke too far, and Nathan wasn't sure if she would ever come back.

"I know man, but that doesn't mean that you go around killing people right. Like I know those guys were fucked up and deserved to get their asses whipped, but you almost literally killed him. And you were so angry; you probably would've killed anyone that tried to get in the way as well,"

There was another long pause before Lucas finally said something, without removing the hands from his face, "Nathan, in that second when I saw that car drive into the lot, knowing it was heading for Brooke, in that second Nate, I don't know what happened to me. My chest hurt so bad, it was like I was slowly suffocating. The thought of that car touching Brooke made me want to do anything to take her place… I would have rather that the car had hit me then come anywhere close to her, and I've never felt that before. And I didn't know I had felt that now, until that second, when I knew I could lose her. And Nathan, I don't know what I would do if I woke up one day and Brooke Davis was not there, if I never saw those dimples again… if I never got to take her in my arms ever again… and if I never got to tell her I still loved her."

When Lucas finally let his hands fall from his face, Nathan was shocked to find that there were actually tears pooling around his eyes; and one by one, they slid off his cheek and to the cement between his legs.

Nathan shook his head helplessly, his arm draping Lucas's shoulders in comfort.

"How do you feel Brooke?" Max asked when they arrived at her apartment.

Brooke didn't respond, wrapping her arms around herself, unable to keep from shaking slightly.

Max got up to lead Brooke to the couch, "Brooke, c'mon, you have to relax. This stress and tension isn't good for our baby,"

Brooke sighed, as Max put an arm around her, but at that moment she didn't really realize anything happening around her, all she could think of was Lucas. He saved her. Brooke had been so shaken up over his fury violence later, that she never really got to go back and think of the initial act. He had saved her life… and her baby's life. If he hadn't of pulled her away in time, there was no way she and her baby would've survived that. Lucas Scott had saved her life.

"I wish I could've talked to Lucas later," She whispered out loud.

Max froze beside her, his arm around her stiffening, "What? No way, he was psychotic; I wouldn't want you and our baby anywhere around him," He instructed.

Brooke finally pulled away from Max, getting up and away from him, "How could you say that?" She demanded incredulously, "He saved my life; I don't think you should worry about me or my baby getting hurt around him,"

Max shook his head, "I don't trust that guy. He had some serious anger issues Brooke and you need to be in a safe environment, and being around people the likes of him can't be good,"

Brooke furrowed her brows in disbelief, "Who the hell are you to tell me who I should or shouldn't be around?" Brooke demanded angrily. Who was he to be talking about Lucas like he was some lunatic that would go around killing people?

"I'm just saying, it would be smart to stay away from him, he's kind of unstable," Max urged.

"Lucas is nothing like that, he's never ever done anything like this before, and the only reason he did it today was because they almost ran me over, and then what that bastard said about me,"

"It wasn't worse then what Lucas said about you a few months ago," Max countered evenly.

Brooke's mouth opened in shock, "That was because of you!" Brooke screamed, "He was hurt that I had moved on with you, and finding out about the pregnancy took him overboard,"

"You're defending him?" Max asked horrified, "The guy degraded you and made you the subject of ridicule in front of the whole school and you're defending him? Is that what he told you, huh Brooke? I didn't know you two ever talked, so when did he find the time to tell you how he was feeling,"

"I don't know who you think you are in my life, because you're nothing. Just because I've been friendly toward you recently, doesn't give you the right to think you own me, so back off Max!" Brooke demanded.

Max sighed in defeat, "Ok Brooke, sorry, please relax," He begged, standing up to face her, "I didn't mean to get you worked up. I just really care about you two, and don't want either of you to get hurt. And seeing Lucas burst out like that frightened you, and I don't want anything to hurt you two,"

Brooke took a deep breath, "I'm sorry for snapping. I just need to be alone right now Max." She finally said, exhausted, "I think I'm going to go take a nap."

Before Max could say more, she dragged herself to her room, taking a seat on her bed. Oh god Lucas. Brooke hated seeing Lucas the way he was today, there was something so wrong. They way he reacted, was so un-Lucas like. She knew he cared, he had shown that much today, but… it wasn't that simple.

Brooke could see that Lucas loved her, and she knew Max could see it as well, and that's why he was so against her talking to Lucas. But things weren't as simple as they use to be, the last time she had forgiven him and gone back to him was so simple compared to now. Which was funny, because at that time, she thought her situation was the hardest thing ever. But now, now things were ten times as complicated. He had once again hurt her, gone to Peyton and into a relationship with her; she had been raped and was now pregnant. Nothing was going for them; it was like everything was against them as a couple.

They could never be together.

Brooke shivered, and found herself dialling a familiar number, "I need to see you right now,"

Ten minutes later she heard her doorbell ring, and opened the door and led her guest to her room. They sat across each other on her bed, and after telling them the whole story, Brooke reached out for their hand, "Rachel, I don't know what to do anymore," She admitted in a whisper.

Rachel shook her head sympathetically, and wrapped her arms around her, "Oh babe, I know. Oh my god, I can't believe so much has happened… you could've been killed today!" Rachel exclaimed, her hug tightening on Brooke, "My best friend could've been killed." She whispered to herself, "Thank god Lucas made scrap out of him, or I would've had to hunt him down myself,"

Ever since Brooke had moved in here, Rachel had never come over. And Brooke had never entered her house either, both for different reasons. Many times they had met at a restaurant, or at school, but one thing Rachel couldn't stand more then anything was to be anywhere near Max. And the fact that Max was over here all the time made her feel nauseous, and at first she had caused uproar. Demanding that Brooke could not live there, could not talk to Max, and couldn't let him anywhere near her. But after talking to Karen, she had managed to, if not convince, hold Rachel back. Yet she still refused to come anywhere near the bastard.

But today, today Rachel couldn't hold back. She had to come over.

"You should've seen him Rach, it was so scary," Brooke whispered, "He was so mad, his eyes were red and it was like he couldn't see anyone else,"

Rachel frowned as she saw Brooke wrap her arms around herself and shiver slightly, Him diverting that anger to Max is what I wanna see. Rachel hated this; she had to see her best friend rely on the one person she should hate and avoid at all costs, when she had a guy that loved her and would do anything for her, given he was a little confused and messed up, but Lucas, in her eyes, always loved Brooke. Ever since that day at the river court…

Rachel smirked as she tossed the basketball toward Lucas, "Alright, you say Brooke's the 'one'; your soulmate." She began sarcastically, as she grabbed his shirt from his hand, "Well, if that's the case,… call upon destiny or… providence… or whatever forces that are gonna bring you two together-…"

Lucas looked away laughing, before extending his arms and easily making the shot.

Rachel raised a brow, "Blindfolded," She finished smugly, as she rolled the shirt and wrapped it neatly around his eyes.ridiculous!"

Lucas laughed, "This is

"Come on! It's your destiny… You can't miss. OK, can you see me?"

"No."

Rachel did a little embarrassing dance in front of him, but he didn't move nor crack a grin, "OK, I trust you. Now follow my voice," She explained, situating near the basket, "Brooke's the 'one', make the shot."

Lucas took his time, before he bounced the ball once, aimed, his arms extending in the air and swiftly, the ball rolling off his fingers and he took the shot.

The ball went through the net perfectly.

Lucas paused, before slowly removing the shirt before his eyes, "Wh-what happened?"

"It went in."

That night, she had been so shocked at the words Lucas had spoken about Brooke, and the love he claimed. She had tried so hard to seduce him, she had stood in front of him shirtless and he had just laughed and handed her shirt back to her.

And to be honest, not only had it pissed her off, but she had been so jealous. She was at that point in her life where her relationships consisted of nothing but sex. And then there was Brooke, who was so like her, but there she had one of the hottest guys in town so blindly in love with her and turning down shirtless girls for even the nonexclusive relationship Brooke had put him in.

She had wanted a Lucas; someone who wouldn't even glance at a girl, who was throwing herself at him, someone who was making blindfolded shots for her, someone who would call her the one.

So even though she had hated Lucas throughout the bastard moves he pulled on Brooke, hated his guts, she still never doubted that he loved her. Even in his raw anger and resentment, she knew that behind all that was his odd love for Brooke.

Of course, she knew he was messed up for going to Peyton, and she would never forgive him for that.

But, he was definitely the lesser of two evils, and being with or even relying on Max, wasn't an option, according to Rachel.

Brooke pulled out of Rachel's stiff arms, "Rachel, I don't know what to do," She whispered honestly, "I know Lucas has feelings for me, but I don't think I can forgive him… I don't think I can trust him. Right now, more then anything I need a rock, some one I could rely on no matter what, and Lucas has failed me so many times, and then won me over with his weird way with words and actions before, yet look where we still ended up. And I do care for him, but, I mean this baby, and Max, he's been the rock I needed, and I know this is messed up, and I know I should hate him, but he's the one whose been what I needed these few months, and I don't know if I could let go of that," Brooke took a deep breath, "I don't know what to do,"

Rachel sighed, brushing the hair out of Brooke's torn face, "That's what I'm here for, but I don't think you wanna know what I think,"

Brooke looked away, "I know."

"Brooke, you act like what Max did was forgivable," Rachel accused.

Brooke sighed, "It wasn't,"

"Then what the hell are you doing living with the friggin guy,"

"I'm not living with him,"

"He makes you dinner, he helps wash the dishes, he drags you outta bed and takes you to school. You two are inseparable, and that's fucked up. All that should be inseparable from Max is a jail cell… or Lucas's fist," Rachel snapped, but regretted it instantly when she saw Brooke wince.

"Listen Brooke, I love you and hate seeing you with him. I'm scared because I think you rely on him greatly and you're slowly becoming so overly dependent on him that you wouldn't be able to stay away from him now, even if you wanted," Rachel said mournfully.

"Rach, that's bullshit, I am not dependent on him," Brooke stated, but it didn't sound at all convincible, and Brooke opened her mouth to try again but nothing would come out, no words would form in her defence.

Rachel put a comforting hand on Brooke's shaking knee, "Babe, I want to help you, and I can. You need to tell Lucas about the rape, and get the fuck away from Max,"

Brooke looked at her in disbelief, "What the hell?"

"Brooke, Max raped you,"

Brooke turned her head from Rachel, refusing to make eye contact.

"Brooke…"

"Stop it Rachel," Brooke snapped.

"Oh my god," Rachel whispered, shaking her head, "I knew it,"

"What?" Brooke snapped, suddenly getting angry.

"You're pretending!" Rachel accused in shock.

Rachel-…"

"You're pretending like he didn't rape you!" Rachel stated, ignoring Brooke, "You're living with him so comfy and dandy because you're blocking out the fucking fact that he raped you,"

Brooke got up, "Shut up Rachel, that's not what I'm doing!" She insisted, not really knowing why she was getting so upset. Why were Rachel's words pissing her off so bad?

"Brooke-…"

"I want you to leave,"

"What?" Rachel asked incredulously.

Brooke opened her room door, "Rachel, leave,"

Rachel shook her head in disbelief, was Brooke really kicking her out? Is Brooke really that in denial that she won't even listen to her? What the hell?

"Brooke, what-…"

"I don't want to talk to you right now, leave!" Brooke half yelled.

Rachel was about to argue, but when she saw Brooke clutch the little bump on her stomach it brought her back to the reality of the situation. Brooke was pregnant, and Rachel was causing stress, which wasn't good for the baby or Brooke. So before things could escalate any further, Rachel got up, and with one last look at Brooke turned and left the room.

Brooke watched her go, wanting so bad to call her back, to run after her, to stop her… but she didn't.

She watched Rachel cross her apartment, and was about to turn away until she saw Max enter the apartment. Suddenly, Rachel's back stiffened.

"Uh, hey Rachel," Max began awkwardly.

Rachel couldn't stand it, the sight of him made her skin crawl, and instantly images of the raped, crying, beaten and bruised Brooke came to mind, the way she had found her naked in her living room that morning, and before she could think twice, she had pulled back her arm, and with all the force she could manage, brought her fist roughly at Max's face.

"AH!" Max fell back clutching his eye and Rachel flexed her stinging fist, a smile mixed of disgust and satisfaction on her face as she stepped over the shocked Max, and glancing back at the sad Brooke one last time, she pulled together all the saliva she could manage and spat it on Max before she turned and left.

A/n Sorry for the long delay in updating. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please read and review!