Brooke looked like she had just been slapped, "What the fuck did you just say?" She questioned angrily.

Lucas avoided her gaze, as a lone tear slipped painfully from his eyes, "I'm so sorry Brooke-…"

"Shut the fuck up Lucas," Brooke interrupted angrily, "I knew you had a problem with my pregnancy, and I know you wish you were the father and you resent me for having a baby with someone else, but I never knew you would be so fucking cruel!" She screamed.

Lucas's eyes widened; she thought he was making it up? He saw her attempt to get out of bed so he quickly leaned forward to hold her, but she pushed him away roughly, "Stay the fuck away from me!" She screamed, tears springing to her eyes, "How dare you!"

That's when Nathan, Peyton and Karen came running into the room, "Brooke!" the three of them screamed in shock, as they saw her pulling out her IV.

"Brooke what are you doing?" Karen asked, rushing to her side, "You need to stay in bed!" She insisted as she motioned for Lucas to move away judging from how angry the girl in the bed looked.

Lucas looked away sadly, lifting himself out of his wheel chair as Nathan lead him a few feet away to stand against the opposite wall. His wide eyes never leaving her form; he had expected her to react in so many ways, but not this way. To think he lied out of spite. He would never…

Brooke broke down crying, "No, you don't know what he just said to me!" Brooke cried, you don't know… he- he just said my baby died, how dare he? How could he be so cruel?" She questioned, her eyes never leaving Lucas.

As soon as those words left her lips, Karen's hold weakened as Brooke pulled away from her. Karen's eyes widened, before slowly filling with pain; this was the moment, the moment Brooke's world would come crashing down around her. This was the moment that would make or break everything. This moment would be a huge turning point in their life, and Karen wasn't sure they'd ever recover. She watched the two in front of her; her son standing against the opposite wall, his eyes filled with so much pain that Karen wanted to rush over and cradle him in her arms like he was still an infant, and Brooke standing a few feet away. Her chest heaving up and down angrily, as she stared at him; her eyes filled with so much rage, pain… and betrayal.

This moment could mean everything.

She watched Brooke get off the bed, but Peyton quickly blocked her, "Brooke, you need to get in bed, please, everything is fine, please just rest, this isn't good for you!" She pleaded desperately.

But Brooke didn't acknowledge her at all, simply pushing away from her, "Take that back!" She whispered venomously, nearing Lucas.

Lucas just watched her sadly, as she grabbed him by his shirt, "Lucas, take it back!" She yelled.

"Brooke, he was lying, please just get back in bed-…" Nathan began desperately, but Brooke ignored him too, her eyes still on Lucas.

She shook him desperately; Brooke knew, she knew that Lucas would never lie to her about this. She needed to hear it from him. She wanted for him to take it back; she desperately needed him to take it back. The pain she felt was almost unbearable; it was like someone was carving her insides out slowly and painfully. But she could see the pain in his eyes too, and it made her angrier.

"Lucas, you can't be that cruel, you need to take it back!" She cried; her teary eyes never leaving his as Nathan and Peyton tried to convince her to get back in bed.

Why couldn't he understand? Why didn't he get it, he needed to take it back! She wouldn't be able to live if he didn't, she wouldn't be able to wake up day after day living with this truth. If he loved her, he would take it back! Please, just take it back!

"He was lying, Brooke, he was just upset!" Nathan attempted weakly, trying his hardest to calm her down, but she wasn't listening to him. No matter what he said, Brooke wasn't going to budge until she heard it from Lucas; her teary eyes never leaving his.

Lucas watched her weak form pull at his shirt, and it broke his heart; there was no way he could take it back now. She could read his eyes like a book, even if he said it, she'd know he was lying. She got the answer to her question in his eyes, but it just wasn't the answer she could accept. And this was Brooke's desperate attempt to deny the truth. And it broke Lucas's heart more then he could explain to see the plea and desperation in her eyes and do nothing to protect her from this pain.

He felt like he was in that water with her again, but this time he couldn't unlock the car door… this time he couldn't save her.

And it tore him apart inside. He felt like he was trying to push and pull at the handle with all his might, but it was impossible.

He felt like he could see her drowning, but he couldn't help her to safety.

he couldn't save her.

"I'm so sorry," He whispered brokenly.

"No," She insisted angrily, "Stop it, Lucas!"

"I'm… so sorry, Brooke, I tried-… I really did," He repeated, her hands pressed into his chest, pushing him away; causing him to stumble a step back and lean against the wall, his eyes unchanged.

"Lucas please; please, t-take it back!" She begged, clutching onto his shirt again, and their eyes remained locked for a few more moments, tuning out the pleading from Nathan and Peyton behind them; Karen still sat where Brooke had left her, her eyes open in pain, knowing what's to come still.

Brooke knew from his eyes that he wasn't lying to her. She loved Lucas, and knew him well enough to know he would never lie to her about something like this. Her eyes remained on his, pleading with him to change his answer, pleading for her child.

But his eyes didn't change…

And it finally hit her.

She had lost her child… she had lost her baby.

It was over.

It was all over.

"No," Brooke whispered, her fists still holding his shirt, but her eyes widened, and Lucas could see her heart shatter through her eyes, as she slowly began to slide down to her knees, but her hands never released his shirt… her fist never opened, so as she kneeled, the buttons of his plaid shirt began ripping off, one by one as she slowly fell to her knees.

"Brooke!" Peyton screamed, before turning to call for a doctor quickly.

"NO!" Brooke wailed; the most heartbreaking sound that any of them had ever heard, as it rang down the hospital hallway, causing Max to appear in the door way as well as countless nurses, Brooke's hands fell from Lucas's ripped shirt, clutching her flat stomach, "My baby!" she cried in anguish.

Lucas's mouth opened as a painful sob escaped his lips; before he knelt down in front of her, just in time to see her eyes roll into the back of her head and her kneeled body begin to fall backwards. He rushed forward to wrap his arms around her, before she could land on the ground and one hand positioned itself below her knees while the other behind her back; and the weak Lucas took a deep breath before slowly lifting her off the ground.

Nathan rushed forward, "Lucas, let me-…" He began, knowing how weak Lucas still was, but Lucas ignored him, his eyes still on Brooke as he slowly stepped forward weakly, his eyes squeezing shut with the effort, before slowly managing to place her on the bed.

The doctor rushed forward, as nurses worked on getting the wires back on her, "I need this room cleared, now!" He insisted.

A grief stricken Karan was lead out of the room by a crying Peyton, as Nathan put a hesitant hand on Lucas's shoulder.

"I'm not leaving her," Lucas insisted.

"You have to Lucas,"

Lucas shrugged Nathan's hand off, "I'm not leaving her," He declared.

"We need everyone out of this room, now!" The doctor informed strictly.

"Lucas, you need to do this for Brooke," Nathan said sternly, his hand back on Lucas's shoulder, and Lucas took one painful look at Brooke, before sighing as Nathan lead him out of the room.

"Nathan," Lucas whispered, his mouth open, his eyes wide and filled with tears.

"I know," Nathan responded soothingly, a hand wrapping around his shoulder, "But you need to be strong for her; she needs you the most right now,"

Lucas finally broke down, falling to his knees brokenly, "I don't know what to do," he whispered, tears falling from his eyes as he stared at the ground beneath him, "Brooke," He cried painfully.

Nathan couldn't help but feel a tight knot form in his throat again as he kneeled down to his brother; he hated seeing Lucas like this. He thought he had seen Lucas vulnerable in these past few months, but this was horrible. There was so much pain and heartache on his face that it was almost hard to see. He could see the depths of pain that Lucas was going through for Brooke just through those eyes. He could see the helplessness and anguish, and it broke his heart for his brother.

All Nathan could do was put a hand on his shoulder and mumble consoling things that were meaningless at the end of the day because Nathan knew it didn't help at all, and just saying the words he knew it sounded like bullshit. But he was helpless as well.

"Imagine how she'll react when she finds out you and your mom were the ones to kill our child," Max muttered from a bench a few feet down. He was sitting there, his elbows on his knees as his hand held his forehead, "Just think of the pain that would cause her,"

Lucas's tear filled eyes hardened as he looked up at Max, "Shut the fuck up," He growled, "You don't have the fucking right to even talk about her, you fucking bastard,"

Max stood up, "I'm fucking sick of you pretending like you're the one hurt most by this. Pretending like Brooke losing her child fucking devastates you. Don't you fucking dare insult my child like that! You weren't the father, you didn't lose your child; so cut the fucking bullshit. You don't know what I'm going through, so don't tell me what or who I can or cannot talk about,"

Lucas stood up too, "I never said I was the father of this child. But I love Brooke, and I can feel her pain, and I'm devastated for her loss, but you, you lost the right to talk about her the day you agreed to sign her death contract,"

Max laughed bitterly, "Of course you would've chosen Brooke in a heartbeat because the baby you let go meant nothing to you, that was my baby, and you guys were selfish enough to make me sacrifice my flesh and blood so you could keep Brooke,"

"Shut the fuck up, Max," Nathan stepped in, "You made it clear that you didn't want Brooke to be the one to survive, well she did, and she unfortunately lost her baby. We all feel pain for her, and we're all sad. But since that did happen, why are you still here? You clearly didn't care about Brooke, so now you can fucking leave,"

"Excuse me," All three stopped when the doctor walked out of Brooke's room, "Brooke Davis is awake, and she's asking for you,"

Nathan patted Lucas's back comfortingly, as Lucas took a huge gulp; he had to be there for her, she needed him more then anything right now. He had to be strong for her; he had to be her support. He had to tell her that he'd always be there for her, no matter what, and he'd stand by her through this all. He'd help her heal.

Lucas took a step forward, when the doctor interrupted, "Not you, she's asking for that man over there, the father of the lost child, Max,"

Lucas stopped cold in his tracks and it felt like the wind had been sucked out of him, "What?"

Lucas held his breath, as he watched Max walk past him, his shoulder slightly brushing against him, and he felt his heart ache as Max entered the room and shut the door behind him.

Max hesitantly sat down beside her, she was staring up at the ceiling, her eyes dry and her face emotionless, "Brooke," He whispered slowly.

She didn't turn to look at him, and when he took her hand, she squeezed it lightly, "I need you to take me home," She whispered hoarsely.

Max's jaw almost fell; she didn't remember? Relief washed through him slowly, and he silently thanked god for this opportunity… his chance to mourn his child with her. No one in the world could understand his pain better then her; and he needed her now, and wanted to be there for her as well.

"Okay," He whispered slowly; maybe things would work out. Maybe they'd heal together, and she would finally realize how much he loved her. Maybe they could be happily ever after.

I'm sorry baby, I'm sorry you couldn't be with us; he thought, his lower lip trembling as he thought of his unborn child, his other hand resting on top of their joined hands.

"You just need to fill out my discharge papers, and we can go,"

Max nodded slowly, "Brooke, are you okay?" He whispered, before taking a deep breath, his eyes never leaving her face, "… how did this happen to you?"

She just blinked, her emotions unchanging, "All I remember is holding Haley's baby boy in my arms, I remember looking down at his beautiful face and being excited for my baby, I remember thinking how much this baby would mean to me, how I would love him or her with my whole self…" She whispered unemotionally, "…And then I remember waking up here a few hours ago and Lucas telling me-…" She gulped her muscles twitching slightly, "…telling me it was over,"

Max almost sighed in relief, as he held her hand more confidently, "I know baby, I know how your feeling right now," He insisted affectionately, "We're going to get through this together, I promise,"

Lucas sat there, his eyes still open in shock; why…

Nathan watched Lucas with a sigh; he knew how much this hurt Lucas, he saw the anguish in his eyes the second Max had walked past him and even from the way Lucas had stood glued to his spot even moments after Max had closed the door behind. It had been a little over an hour since Max had gone in, and Lucas hadn't muttered a word. Nathan had tried a few times to talk to him, to convince him to take a walk, to do anything but sit there like that.

But of course, he got no response.

It didn't make any sense. Why would Brooke call for Max? Lucas almost died for her, he saved her life, twice. He slowed down his own recovery to be by her side at all times. How could Brooke call Max in? Max- who was ready to sign her death contract! He had never seen Lucas so messed up, or anyone as messed up, as he had been seeing Lucas for these last few months. Earlier, Nathan knew that Lucas had called that on himself, by going to Peyton and hurting Brooke, but now, this wasn't Lucas getting what he deserved anymore. This had gone too far.

Nathan tried another approach, but just saying it, he knew it was useless and he wouldn't get any reply, but he tried anyways, "Lucas, maybe we should go home, you need some rest-…"

But before he could finish his lame attempt, the door beside them finally opened, and Nathan looked up startled to find Max step out, followed by a weak looking Brooke. Her head was still bandaged, and there were various cuts and bruises all over the exposed skin of her face, neck and arms.

Max side eyed them when Lucas finally looked up, his eyes going straight to Brooke. But she ignored his eyes, her own straight ahead, looking into nothing.

They slowly began to walk past the two brothers, when Lucas finally spoke, his voice painfully hoarse, "Brooke," He whispered.

Brooke stopped in her tracks for a few seconds, and Max turned to watch what she would do as well, but after a few quick moments of silence, she simply just continued to walk away.

Nathan caught the renewed anguish spill over Lucas's face, and it only caused anger to build inside Nathan; his brother almost died for her, he's been around her around the clock, he's done so much, been hurt so bad… he will not let her leave like that. No way will she walk away like that, Lucas will get to have his piece, he will get to say what he wanted, and if not, Nathan will tell her how much Lucas has done for her, and what kind of scum she was leaving with. He'd tell her about Max's decision!

They walked into the elevator, and Nathan got up to follow when he felt his phone vibrate in the pocket of his sweatpants. He looked down momentarily distracted, but by the time he looked up again, the elevator doors slid closed.

Damn it!

Max held the door open as Brooke slowly lowered herself into the car, before closing it gently after her. He walked around the door, watching her through the window hesitantly, before sitting in beside her.

He turned to smile at her reassuringly, but face was turned to her side window, and from what he could see, her face with still emotionless. Nathan sighed, as he started the car.

The two drove in silence; Max was glad he had cleaned up the mess at home, he didn't want to risk her seeing the clatter and remembering their fight… and everything that happened prior to her accident.

This was the best time. Brooke was vulnerable, and they were both hurting. This would bring them even closer and then ever, mourning their loss together. He was sure that he would be able to convince Brooke to be with him now. He was the only person that would be able to understand her pain fully, the only person she would want around her.

Max glanced at her again, but her position hadn't changed, and he sighed, looking ahead again. This was going to be a long way to recovery; and for them as a couple.

They neared the bridge and Max bit his bottom lip; he needed to do something so that this scene didn't trigger anything…

"Oh Brooke, uhm, do you know how long you've been unconscious," He asked gently, trying to get her into conversation.

They drove onto the bridge and he eyed the railing she had broken through, that section was still being reconstructed, and the whole right lane was closed due to it. He glanced at her again, checking for a reaction, "Brooke?" He asked again.

She finally turned to him, her eyes still emotionless, "Stop the car,"

"What?" He questioned confused.

"Stop the car,"

Max slowed down, "Why?"

With a gentle nod of her head, Brooke motioned ahead.

Max's eyes slowly followed lead, and he felt his heart stop; because walking across the bridge were; Lucas, Nathan, Rachel, Haley, Peyton and Karen; all stopping to block his path.

He turned to her, his eyes wide, "Brooke," He whispered, betrayed.

"Stop. The. Car." She said, emotionlessly.

There was no way around it, and Max found himself slowing the car, before finally coming to a stop. As soon as it stopped, Brooke got out, and had already walked halfway towards the others by the time Max finally followed.

"What's going on here?" He demanded.

Brooke's eyes met Lucas's pained ones, and she turned to Rachel, "What's he doing here, Rach," She asked, "I told you to call the police,"

"Is it true," Lucas demanded, his voice coming out almost frightened, as if her answer could make or break him.

Brooke's eyes widened, "Rach, what did you tell him?" She demanded; but Brooke knew, she knew by the look in his eyes… that he knew. And her heart sank further, "You swore!" She accused, and Rachel simply stared back.

"I know," Rachel answered, "And I hated having to keep this in, but I kept my promise, I didn't tell him anything, but I convinced someone else to,"

Brooke's eyes looked past Rachel's shoulder to find Karen looking back at her, and Brooke shut her eyes tightly for a second with a sigh.

"Brooke," He growled, his eyes piercing into her, "Is it true,"

"What's going on here?" Max demanded hesitantly, "Can you clear the way!"

Brooke's eyes never left Lucas's, and she found her terrified words to her dead child coming back to her; I'm so sorry baby, I'm so sorry for doing this to you! I'm so sorry you have to go through this, I'll keep you safe, I promise I'll keep you safe, no one's gonna hurt you, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…

"Brooke… did he rape you?" Lucas asked, his voice gentle, but his eyes clouded over with utmost anguish and anger.

Brooke took a deep breath; Brooke sobbed silently as he kissed his way down her neck, and tore off her blouse violently. Brooke whimpered when she felt his hands go down to her skirt. He pulled it off effortlessly, his hands roaming her body with viciousness of an animal; before finally looking him square in the eye;

"Yes," She finally breathed out, feeling a weird sense of closure inside her, that did nothing for the fire, but she knew it was time. It was time for Lucas to know the truth. It was time to finally accept it, "Max raped me after that party that you two got into a fight, and not only did he force me to have sex with him, he beat me Luke, he hurt me so bad, and-…" Brooke paused momentarily, not blinking an eye, "… and he caused my accident," She whispered.

Lucas's mouth fell open, his heart clenching in a way he had never felt it before; so it was true.

Nathan looked down at his text with a frown, "It's Rachel… she wants us to meet her at the bridge,"

Lucas didn't flinch, still in shock; Brooke just walked away from him… she just left with Max?

"…It's important… about Brooke," Nathan added slowly, causing Lucas to look up immediately.

"Did she say what? What's this about?"

"That's all; she wants us to come now, and come through the dirt path shortcut, we need to get there ASAP!"

By then, Lucas was already walking down the hall, "Lets go!"

When they had gotten there, Karen was already there, and Peyton and Haley had just parked too.

"Haley, Peyton?" Nathan asked.

"Rachel texted us…" Peyton explained as the four made their way towards Rachel's parked car, where Karen stood beside her, her eyes teary.

"What's going on here?" Lucas demanded.

Rachel looked at the group, "You need to know the truth about Brooke, Lucas; you deserve to know,"

"What truth?"

Rachel sighed, "I can't tell you, that's the problem; she swore me to secrecy. And I would've kept it that way, even though it ate at me everyday, but after finding out what you did for Brooke…" She whispered, "You really love her, and you need to know this, because… because she loves you too,"

Lucas felt his heart clench, "What's going on Rachel?" He pleaded.

"You need to ask your mom,"

Lucas turned to Karen with a frown, "Mom,"

Karen let out a little sob, wrapping her arms around herself, "I didn't know, I thought he had changed… she had convinced me not to… she had promised he had changed. I didn't know he had caused the accident,"

"Who caused the accident?!" Lucas interrupted, his heart beating faster.

Karen looked up at her son, trembling slightly, "Max," She finally whispered.

"WHAT?!" Peyton demanded, "Max caused the accident? How do you know? Why would he… why-…"

"She called me when she woke up after you told her about her baby, she wanted me to call the police, and she wanted him to get arrested on the bridge he caused her baby to die, she wanted it to be done here for a type of justice for her child, but I think you need to know the full story before he goes to jail Lucas, because she'll never tell you after,"

Lucas frowned, "Mom, tell me, what's the full story?!"

"Karen please, you need to tell him, they'll be here any minute,"

Karen slowly looked up to face him again, "Lucas…" She began, taking a deep breath, "Brooke was pregnant with Max's baby, because… because h-he… he raped her,"

Lucas felt his heart stop, "No,"

"I'm so sorry; I wanted to tell you-…"

"No mom, that can't be… he couldn't… it doesn't make sense… mom that's not true," He whispered, something cracking inside him.

He didn't even hear Peyton, Nathan and Haley's responses, as he suddenly felt numb;

Brooke couldn't have been raped!

That can't be true…

Max backed away when he found Lucas look away from Brooke finally and straight at him, his eyes a deadly red. He had never seen him like that, he hadn't seen anyone's eye's like that before.

Lucas stepped away from Brooke slowly, his eyes filling with tears as he stepped towards Max; he hurt her.

From the look alone, Max knew that Lucas knew, "Lucas, stop-…" He started, stepping back towards his car, but before he could get far, he felt Lucas's fist grab at his collar, and before he knew it, one of his fists had been pulled back and come at his face with so much force that blood squirted almost instantly from Max's mouth, as he fell back.

There was so much force in that one punch that oddly, Max felt like he had been hit by a speeding truck. Max knew right away from the soaring pain, that he had broken his jaw, Max yelled out in pain, his hand clutching his jaw.

But he didn't have enough time to regain his senses, because before he knew it, Lucas was standing over him, one fist pulling his face up by his collar, "You hit her?" He growled venomously, before his other fist came crashing against his left eye, with just as great of force as the first time, and Max felt his vision go white momentarily, as he cried out in pain.

Brooke heard his cries; and it brought satisfaction to her heart; she wanted him to cry as much as he had caused her to, she wanted him to pay for all her pain, she wanted him to hurt at least even half as much as she was hurting, every time Lucas punched him, it caused something to slowly claw at the tightly formed ball of anguish inside her.

Remembering her cries as he had beat her,

Her cries as he had viciously raped her,

As he had chased her in his car

She watched as Lucas pounded his fist into Max's face over and over again, with so much force every single time that the sound pierced their ears and his knuckles were bleeding horribly; she tuned out the few that stopped, people getting out of their cars and crowding around them; but no one was courageous, or stupid, enough to try to stop Lucas.

Lucas had tears running down his face, his eyes dark red, attacking Max like a crazy animal.

Max had managed to push Lucas off him with all his might, laying a punch square against Lucas's left temple, and though it caused a cut, oozing out blood beside his eye, Lucas didn't flinch. He looked like an enraged animal, and nothing could keep him down, and while Max took this opportunity to run towards his car, Lucas wasn't letting that happen.

Because just as Max was hurriedly stumbling to his car, Lucas was too fast; he grabbed Max by a fistful of hair, pulling him backwards painfully.

"Stop!" Max cried in pain, "Please stop,"

Lucas felt his anger flare even more, as he imagined his Brooke pleading with Max like that, before he shoved Max's face in the hood of his car forcefully, causing an awful crunching sound to emerge and many crowded around to cry out in shock, before Lucas brought Max's head back up to display a horridly bloody face.

Nathan, who had been watching this whole time, finally stepped forward; this was getting too far. As much as he wanted to kill Max himself for what he did to Brooke… he knew Max wasn't worth Lucas spending his whole life in jail.

"Lucas!" Nathan yelled, as Lucas shoved his face into the driver window this time, causing his head to break through the window, a painful yell inciting from Max.

He saw people on their cells, and he knew they were calling the police, "Lucas stop!" Peyton yelled, realizing the same thing, "Lucas, please stop!" She pleaded, heading towards him, pulling at Lucas's arms uselessly, he ignored her completely, his eyes on Max only.

He looked like a complete madman;

"Please Luke, just leave me alone," she begged, turning away from him.

"Brooke-..." he started, grabbing her elbow to stop her.

Brooke flinched painfully, pulling her arm away from him.

"You beat her?" He roared, as he pulled Max's face out through the window frame, shoving his weak form a few feet away from him, causing Max to go crashing to the ground.

Lucas stood up, and tried to reach out for her, but she stepped back again, hugging herself tightly, "Lucas,"

One fist grabbed his collar again, bringing his face half way up, only to be knocked back down by the other fist, causing a weak 'oof' to release Max's lips, now looking like a lifeless rag doll almost.

"Lucas, stop it, let him go," Nathan yelled as he tried to grab Lucas in a bear hold; but Lucas was way too angry, there was no way to hold him down, because just as he got him in a hold, Lucas had pulled away roughly.

Karen watched from her spot beside Rachel, her eyes emotionless. She knew this was the end, the end to so many things. She knew there was no way anyone could stop Lucas now, Karen knew it was over.

And when they heard the distant police sirens, Karen closed her eyes slowly, taking in a deep painful breath.

As soon as their skin made contact, Brooke flinched. She backed away from him, looking small and alone.

"Who the fuck are you to touch her, who the fuck do you think you are you fucking bastard!" Lucas yelled, kicking him in the side when Max weakly tried to sit up, knocking him back down.

"Lucas!" Haley yelled, "Stop please!" She begged, her arms wrapped around Brooke, "You need to stop now!"

Lucas had grabbed Max by the hair and dragged him to the brick sides of the bridge, when he finally looked up to the sobbing Haley and Peyton, and finally heard Nathan's words, but his eyes left theirs and automatically went to Brooke's.

Their eyes locked; and his eyes questioned hers.

Brooke trembled;

He leaned down to her, kissing her neck again. When she tried to move away, he sighed in annoyance, as he punched her in the eye, making her vision go blurry, and a scream escape her lips.

He grabbed her arms, pulling her against his hard chest roughly, "You think I'm going to leave without getting my times worth," he whispered, before he forcefully covered her mouth.

She looked up at Max bravely, "Yeah Max, I love L-…" But before she could finish she felt his fist connect with the side of her face with so much force that she fell backwards clutching her face, and a scream of agony left her lips.

He grabbed her arm roughly, and pulled her up to crush her against his chest, "You and the baby belong to me." He stated with his eyes fury red.

This time when Brooke looked in her mirror, she could tell that his car was too close to hers, and soon she felt a bump against her car causing her car to startle forward, Brooke opened her window, "STOP IT!" She yelled desperately, but this time when she turned her face back towards the road, she saw an unaware kid bouncing his basketball in direct path of her car, "SHIT!" She yelled, before turning her wheel suddenly in the opposite direction, straight at the side railing of the bridge…

He finally looked up to meet her gaze, and she found his eyes blood red and almost teary, "Brooke…" he began, taking a deep breath, his other hand joining the one that was holding Brooke's, "You lost your baby," He whispered painfully.

"You lost your baby," He whispered painfully.

She pulled away from Haley, a strangled sob leaving her lips, falling to her knees in agony, "KILL HIM! KILL THE BASTARD, LUKE!" She screamed in a strangled voice, unable to breath.

Haley and Peyton looked at Brooke in horror, their eyes widened.

"STOP!" A police officer instructed, as police cars surrounded them within seconds, a few men running out, as one pointed his gun threateningly towards Lucas, "Leave him!"

Nathan quickly made for Lucas, "No, LUCAS-…"

But before he could grab him, Lucas looked at Max's barely conscious state one last time, before brutally crushing it into the brick railing; as Lucas threw back his head with one last roar of agony, causing Karen to squeeze her eyes shut in heart ache, before Lucas's fist opened and Max dropped to the ground unconsciously;

Merely seconds before Lucas was tackled to the ground by countless officers.

Breathe you out
Breathe you in


You keep coming back to tell me
you're the one who could have been

A sobbing Haley and Peyton watched as Lucas's bloody hands were handcuffed, much to Nathan's panicked protest, and an ambulance was rushed onto the scene for the lifeless Max. The cops went from person to person to take down witness reports.

And my eyes see it all so clear
it was long ago and far away but it never disappears

But Lucas didn't say anything anymore. His face was wet with his tears, but his eyes were now dry… his face emotionless.

Almost like Brooke's.

I try to put it in the past
Hold on to myself and don't look back

Just as Brooke had instructed, Rachel had tracked down Brooke's shocked dad and filled him into Brooke recent year. He had taken an emergency flight down to Tree Hill, to his daughter. His car stopped on the bridge, making his way through the huge crowd, watching as Lucas was put into the police car before spotting his daughter. Who sat kneeled on the ground, her eyes dead and emotionless.

I don't wanna dream about
all the things that never were

He rushed to her, his own eyes tearing at the sight of her. She wasn't the Brooke he remembered, her face looked so worn out and weak that it scared him. Her head was bandaged, cuts and bruises all over her body… and worst of all, those eyes. He almost shuddered looking into them.

Maybe I can live without
when I'm out from under

He helped his fragile daughter into the passenger side of his car, before heading towards Karen, who stood by Rachel's car still, her heart break evident in her eyes as she watched her son in the police car.

I don't wanna feel the pain
what good would it do me now


I'll get it all figured out
When I'm out from under

Little did he know; this brought Brooke and Lucas directly in each others view, less then 10 feet from each other; their eyes connecting.

So let me go


Just let me fly away

Brooke felt a faint tug at her heart; she knew she loved him, but it just didn't matter anymore.

Let me feel the space between us growing deeper


And much darker every day

Lucas watched her; the love of his life. They had gone through so much together, they had grown up and changed so much from when they first met in grade 9. She had promised that 'those who are meant to be always find their way in the end' but it wasn't true, because here they were now…

Watch me now and I'll be someone new
My heart will be unbroken
It will open up for everyone but you


Even when I cross the line


It's like a lie I've told a thousand times

She was too broken now, she was way too far gone, and there was nothing left for her now. She could faintly feel the spot her heart use to be, now there no more emotions left in her. She had been hurt way too much; she had been broken down way too far…

I don't wanna dream about
all the things that never were


Maybe I can live without
when I'm out from under


I don't wanna feel the pain
what good would it do me now


I'll get it all figured out
When I'm out from under

He had been broken down too. He had seen his best friend, his step brother, his mom and his ex girlfriend in so much pain just now… but it didn't affect him. All that mattered was that his pretty girl had been hurt, hurt beyond repair, and he needed to avenge her, he needed to avenge every single tear that left her eye. He knew that she would never be the same… and he wouldn't either.

And part of me still believes
When you say you're gonna stick around


And part of me still believes
we can find a way to work it out


But I know that we tried everything we could try
so let's just say goodbye


…. Forever

She knew what was going to happen now. Her dad would take her away to wherever he had come from, wherever he had shifted too. And she knew that she would probably never see Tree Hill again… and she would never see Lucas again.

I don't wanna dream about
all the things that never were


Maybe I can live without
when I'm out from under

She had lost everything… everything.


I don't wanna feel the pain
what good would it do me now


I'll get it all figured out
When I'm out from under

He was going to jail for a very long time, possibly forever; but that didn't bother him. He wouldn't change a thing of what he did to Max. He knew he was leaving all his loved ones in pain… but it didn't matter. Maybe it was true; maybe he had really gone crazy. He felt like he was crazy.

Because this was his life; but he felt like he wasn't there anymore. Like how one might describe an out of body experience…

I don't wanna dream about
all the things that never were

He just wasn't there anymore, and he hadn't been there for awhile now.


Maybe I can live without
when I'm out from under

Brooke closed her eyes tightly, numbness washing through her.


I don't wanna feel the pain

Lucas followed lead, his eyelids falling closed.


What good would it do me now?

Brooke's dad got in the car finally, pulling on his seatbelt as he looked at his daughter sympathetically, but her eyes remained closed. Before he looked up to find Lucas's eyes closed as well, as a cop got in the car as well, starting the car. The two cars were parked in the opposite directions from each other; one facing the direction of the police station, while the other was facing the direction of the airport.

Both leading out of Tree Hill...


I'll get it all figured out

I love you Lucas.


When I'm out from under

I love you Brooke.


When I'm Out From Under …

The two cars drove away in the opposite direction; leaving the rest behind.

Haley broke down in Nathan's arms; Peyton fell to the ground in misery; Rachel stood there with tears trickling down her cheeks in heartache as she watched the car depart… and there was Karen.

Karen watched them drive her son away, and watched the back of Brooke's car; her heart breaking painfully.

These two were supposed to be together, they loved each other more then she had ever seen anyone love each other before.

It wasn't fair that their love was filled with so much pain, anger, sorrow… and heartbreak.

Not all stories have a happy ending; sometimes you can put your all into something;

Sometimes you can love someone so much;

with all your heart,

Sometimes you can love someone almost to the point of insanity,

But it just doesn't matter;

When everything's against you…


A/N A GREAT big thanks to everyone that stood by me with this story, its been a while since it's been started and I thank every reviewer and reader greatly from the bottom of my heart who stuck with me. It hurts me that this story has come to its end so heartbreakingly… but sometimes things don't always end with an happily ever after.

This is reality.

I`m sorry if this is going to upset people or make them angry that Brucas did not end up together; and its true, they were separated this whole story, never were they actually 'together', but this was nonetheless a Brucas story because it was about their love, and their obstacles and their want and need to be together.

I may even some day come back with a sequel, because life always goes on and maybe we'll see how theirs goes on… and if it'll ever lead them back to each other?

Who knows, anything's possible, and I did invest a lot of my time into this story… maybe things will continue for these two in another story?

But I had a lot of fun writing this, and I myself sometimes go back and read earlier chapters. This was a very intense and aghast filled story, and sometimes I surprise myself with how intense some chapters get. I found this chapter, and its ending very intense and I hope you can put aside your unhappiness with their unhappiness and actually enjoy the reality of the stories end.

Maybe I'll connect back with some of you in the future through another story,

But for now,

Take care!

Bye.