So I'll start with apologizing. I didn't want to wait so long, but I started another story called Finding My Way Back Home if anyone's interested lol and I've been concentrating on that for a while, but I'm back and I want to thank everyone who reviewed sincerely it means a lot. My new goal is to get 230 reviews by the time I have written 30 chapters. I have 220 now but I think it could happen ahah anyway thank you so much! Enjoy.

"I don't care I think we've been through enough tonight." I said and put my back to his chest and he wrapped his arms around me protectively. I didn't know what was going to happen and I was scared to death about everything. I was incredibly sore and my mind was still pretty numb the shock hadn't fully wore off. I just hoped whenever it did Nathan was still here for me like he promised. Somewhere deep inside I knew he would be.

After a few minutes the nurse came back in and smiled when she saw me and Nathan on the bed.

"Technically we're not supposed to let you guys do that, but after all you've been through and based on how adorbale you look I'm not going to say anything." She said sweetly and I managed a small smile of appreciation.

"Thank you." I said in a hoarse voice. I guess when you scream and cry for a while you start to lose your voice.

"I talked to the same policemen you two talked to right when you came in. I told them everything you told me and when we get the DNA sample back it'll prove that he did it even though we already know he did and he'll be put in jail immediately after he wakes up." She said looking down writing something on my chart. I felt Nathan tense.

"He's not dead?" He asked.

"No Mr. Scott you did severly hurt him, but you showed up in time he has 6 broken ribs, a fractured skull, a broken nose and jaw and broken cheek bones." She finished and my eyes widened. Nathan literally broke his face.

"Wow Nate you might as well have killed him." I whispered.

"I made sure they put him in a room away from where you'll be Miss Davis you shouldn't have to be anywhere near him." She said looking at me sympathatically.

"Thank you again." I said softly. Nathan was still tense behind me and I was worried he was going to try to shut down like before.

"Umm is there anyway this could get put on me?" He asked quietly. I could tell he was afraid to know the answer I was to.

"As soon as the sample comes back that'll be all the proof we need that it was Rick. Are you worried you'll be on the DNA sample?" She asked.

"She and I have slept together and I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea I just walked into her room and saw it." He finished trailing off darkly. This was killing him.

"Mr. Scott I wouldn't worry about it we have both of your stories and since it happened so recently all of the evidence should be right there. I think you'll be fine." She said smiling in reassurance at us. She sensed we were scared. I was more than scared.

"What about assault?" I heard him ask softly. I don't know what I'd do if he had to leave me to go to jail for punishing someone who's been slowly killing me since I was 9.

"I don't know much about the leagal system you should talk to one of the officers, but you stopped it you defended her I think you could be protected under that. You shouldn't take my word for that though I'd definitely talk to one of the cops. I could send one in if you'd like." She offered.

"Yeah I'd like to talk to one thanks." He said in a voice that sounded so far away. He didn't sound like my Nathan. This was killing me why'd Rick have to come back and ruin everything?

"Is that okay?" He asked when she walked out.

"That's fine it'll make me feel better if I know you won't get into trouble." I said honestly.

"Me too. Is there something I can do for you B?" He asked concerned. At this point not much at all could help me.

"I'm fine." I lied. At the moment I was as fine as I could be as long as he was here.

"I can't tell you how sorry I am for everything." He said as he kissed me on the forehead. My lips curled up feeling him.

"It's okay I thought it was over when he got transferred but now I know it really is over and I just feel empty and broken." I whispered staring off into space. I felt Nathan tighten his arms around me.

"Brooke.-" He started, but the door opened and a cop walked in.

"Hi did you have some questions?" He asked Nathan.

"I was wondering about what's going to happen once he wakes up with the leagal aspect of this." Nathan said.

"Well once the sample comes back and it has his seamen on it he'll be put into police custody when he's capable after recovery then we'll process the case and put him in prison for a very long time. This isn't the first time he's done it so that makes him a multiple sex offender and rapist. We want him to go away and not get out." The officer said and I felt a little bit better knowing Rick would be far away and I'd never have to see him again.

"Good. What about me do I get into trouble for hurting him as badly as I did?" He asked cautiously.

"You walked in and reacted like anyone would. You stopped it from going any further and we call that defense of others since you defended your girlfriend. Although once you got him off of her you should've stopped, but you didn't and that's what we call excessive force." The cop explained.

"What does that mean?" I asked needing to know if he was going to get into any trouble.

"If Rick presses assault charges then yes you could go to jail, but I don't think he'll be waking up any time soon and his face will be wrapped in a bandage for awhile. I personally would have wanted to punish him for doing what he did to, and the excessive force may become an issue and it may not. I wouldn't worry too much about it if this did ever go to court any jury would sympathize knowing how much you care about her and if you pleaded your case under the defense of others I could almost guarantee they wouldn't vote guilty." He said and I worried. Rick would press charges on Nathan, but any jury should be on Nathan's side I really hoped it never had to go to court. I just want this to all be over.

"Thank you officer." Nathan said politely. It seemed we had the cops on our side and now I just wanted that sample to come back so we knew Rick would be put away.

"Do you have any other questions?" He asked us I shook my head saying no.

"No that was it." Nathan said.

"Okay I hope everything turns out alright for you miss I'm awfully sorry this happened to you." He said with sincerity.

"Thanks." I mumbled as he walked out and the nurse walked back in.

"We have your room all set up for you." She said and brought in a wheelchair for me. Nathan and I got off the bed and he helped me into the chair and walked beside me while the nurse pushed me into a private room.

"This looks familiar." Nathan tried to joke as he helped me up. Yeah this hospital had had all of us now as patients it seemed.

"Miss Davis your emergency contact sheet listed your parents, but when we called they didn't answer is there someone else we can call?" She asked.

"Call me Brooke." I said first smiling a little at her. The formal stuff was weird.

"Will you call Peyton Sawyer?" I asked I really needed her here with me.

"Sure is she an adult because we need someone who's capable of signing the release papers when you get discharged." She explained.

"No she's my best friend, but you could call Karen Roe she's Lucas's mom and I used to live with her." I said forgetting this woman didn't know who Lucas was.

"Okay I'll make sure to contact both of them for you I'll be right back." She said keeping a smile on her face and walking out. I stood up on shaky legs and almost fell Nathan caught me.

"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly. I nodded.

"Yeah my legs are shaking." I said taking a deep breath.

"I'm sorry you need to lay down." He said and lead me to the bed and laid me down.

"Aren't you going to lay with me?" I asked when he pulled up a chair. He flashed a small smile

"Of course." He said and got in bed with me cradling me to his chest gently. My legs were still shaking.

"Brooke you're still shaking." Nathan said rubbing his hands up and down my arms.

"I think the shock is wearing off." I whispered feeling completely damaged. He tilted my chin to look up at him. He stared into my eyes piercing through me, reading me, fixing me.

"It's going to be okay." He said determined. I knew he wasn't even sure he could promise me that, but when he said it I believed him.

"I know." I said quietly looking at him. He stroked my cheek gently and my heart raced a little bit faster.

"We're in this together B." Nathan promised. I felt myself smile a little. He cupped my cheek and placed his lips on mine very softly. I felt safe again.

Suddenly the door burst open

"Oh my god Brooke!" Peyton cried when she came in with a very destraut looking Lucas.

"Peyton!" I sobbed when she rushed to the bed and threw her arms around me.

"I'm not hurting you am I?" She asked concerned and started to pull away and I held onto her tighter keeping her here.

"No." I cried into her hair holding onto her for dear life.

"I'm so sorry Brooke I can't believe this happened again." Peyton sobbed clutching onto me. We sat here like this for minutes just holding each other and crying.

"It was so scary Peyt." I said into her mess of curly hair.

"I'm sorry." She cried again as we tried to catch our breath. We pulled away wiping our tears not noticng the boys were doing the same as they watched us break down.

"Brooke I don't." Lucas started but didn't know what to say.

"Come here Luke." I said and he came over to me and wrapped his arms gently around me.

"Is he here?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah they put him in a room away from here and they said they were going to take him into custody after the DNA sample came back and they had proof." I said as Lucas released me.

"Good that pedophile deserves to burn in hell." Lucas said angrily.

"I'm pretty sure he will." Nathan said. I leaned back into him and he wrapped a protective arm around me.

"How did this happen again the doctors and cops said he came to the apartment." Peyton said.

"He did my parents sent him there." I said completely emotionless. I have never hated someone more than I hate Rick, but my parents were a close second.

"Why did they do that?" Lucas asked.

"When my parents moved they forgot some business stuff and I took it with me when I moved into Lucas's house then to the apartment and they called saying they sent an associate to come and get because they needed it and of all people they sent Rick and he didn't waste any time at all to pick up where he left off." I said as another single tear fell down my cheek.

"I don't know what to say Brooke. What can I do?" Peyton asked.

"I'm good right now P. Sawyer thanks." I whispered and squeezed her hand that was shaking slightly.

"Brooke we're not going to leave you until you can leave and come back home." Lucas said sitting in the chair that Nathan had pulled up earlier.

"Thanks Broody." I said gratefully.

"No problem." He said softly.

"Did they call your mom?" I asked.

"They did she's on her way she had to drop Lilly off with Deb and Jamie." Lucas said quietly knowing the tension was only going to build once she got there. Peyton still holding onto Brooke's hand settled herself on Lucas's lap and he put his arms around her waist being as there was only one chair in the room.

"Where's Haley if she's not with Jamie or your mom?" Nathan wondered out loud.

"I don't know, but my mom was really worried when the hospital called her Peyton had just gotten off the phone with the nurse when my mom called me." He said.

"There needs to be an adult who can sign off on all the papers." I said.

"She'll be here any minute." Lucas said.

I took another deep breath trying to relax. I was so exhausted and Nathan could tell.

"Do you want to go to sleep?" He asked.

"I don't know if I can." I said honestly. I was afraid of what I'd dream about if I did fall asleep.

"I'll be here the whole time I promise not to let anything happen to you." He said seriously and I knew never again was Nathan going to let anything hurt me. My heart started to swell thinking about that.

"We can wait for Karen outside." Peyton offered after a minute. She didn't want to leave Brooke's side but if she needed to sleep then she should have quiet.

"I don't want you to leave Peyton." I said holding onto her hand.

"I'm not going anywhere then." She said trying to smile and not break down and cry again.

The 4 of us stayed in that room for the next few minutes talking or staying in a comfortable silence. We had been through so much together it was ridiculous, but having the most important people in the world to me there made the ache in my heart heal a little bit and at the time I couldn't have asked for anything else.

Sorry it's not as long I wanted to get some good frienship scenes with Brucas and Breyton in there as well as the amazing Brathan. Please review I love them!!

xoxo Marissa