He walked quietly into the room. He could hear the two of girls crying from the moment he opened the door. His footsteps caused Haley to look up, and she hesitantly met his glistening eyes.
"I'm gunna go" her voice was hoarse as she turned back to the distraught girl in the bed. She hated to lave her, but Peyton and Lucas needed to talk. She gave Peyton a warm hug before walking towards Lucas and doing the same. "I'm sorry" she whispered into his ear. She knew that wasn't what he wanted to hear…but she wasn't just apologizing for the current situation. She was apologizing for the conversation they had earlier, because she never meant to speak this into existence…and she had wanted Lucas to come to grips with everything, but she never wanted it shoved down his throat.
"I know you two aren't exactly friends or anything…but please call Brooke" his tone was shallow, and she stiffened a bit at his request. She and Brooke were a far cry from being friends…but Haley knew that Brooke had every right to be there…Brooke had more right that she did. As much as Haley disliked the girl, she couldn't deny that Brooke had been with Peyton every step of the way…her grudge against the rest of Tree Hill came from the need she felt to protect her best friend. And that's when the thought hit her…and it hit hard…she disliked Brooke because of a high school grudge…she never liked her to begin with and then when she lied to Lucas, it just added fuel to the fire. But Brooke had changed…sure she proved to still be a bitch, but she had matured. Brooke had every right to despise her…after all, she had been a major part of putting Peyton in the hospital for over a week, sure being sick played a part, but stress was what made it act up, stress Haley had wanted to cause back then. So yes…Brooke didn't need to bend, they had given her a reason to not trust them…but Haley didn't have a reason to be angry with Brooke…not a single one. Peyton needed them both, and she was busy holding onto stupid high school hatred instead of mending fences with Brooke. If she didn't do it soon then the two of them were going to be dancing around each other the entire time Peyton was in the hospital, and the last thing the girl needed was the added stress of her two best friends fighting over who got to see her, a battle Haley knew she would lose every time. So as she pulled away from Lucas, she nodded her head and pulled her phone out of her bag. She gave one last wave to Peyton before dialing Brooke's number and leaving the room. The brunette sighed deeply and prepared herself for the argument that was bound to ensue.
Lucas watched Haley leave. He hated to do that to her, to put his best friend in that position, but Brooke needed to be told what was going on, and his number one concern right now was the girl lying in the hospital bed. He approached her slowly, watching as she struggled to keep her eyes open. "Hey" he buried his hands in his pockets as he spoke.
"Hey" fresh tears sprung to her eyes. She didn't know what she was supposed to say. She knew Dr. Collins had told him about the pregnancy, about the risks involved. What she didn't know was Lucas's reaction to this whole thing and a mumbled 'hey' wasn't telling her anything. His eyes were on the floor and she watched him closely, just waiting for him to say something. Five minutes passed before she dropped her head and let the tears fall. "Lucas…say something…please"
"What do you want me to say Peyton…I'm sorry…'cause I am…I really am…but I'm pretty sure you don't wanna hear that. That leaves me with nothing…I can't tell you what to do…" They locked eyes for the first time, both of them trying to fight of tears, only Lucas succeeding.
"Don't do that" she ran her fingers through her hair. "Don't put this all on me…it's not fair Luke"
"It's your body…I'm not gunna stand here and tell you what and what not to do." He stretched his arm toward her and slipped his hand into hers. He half expected her to push him away, but instead she gripped his hand tightly.
"I'm not asking you to make the decision…I'm just asking you to make it with me…it may be my body…but it's your child." She watched as the first tear inched down his cheek.
"Okay…" he closed his eyes and sighed deeply, trying to organize his thoughts. "If you keep the baby…"
"I could die…and the baby could as well. Their not sure if my body can handle the stress…my can barely provide for itself, let alone for someone else."
"So what do you wanna do?" he sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Lucas…please stop doing that…don't force me to do this on my own…to make a choice by myself. I don't care if it's my body…this effects you too and I won't be the one to make a decision like this."
"You want me to choose…I choose you…Peyton I choose you over a two week old fetus. You were getting better Peyton…your counts were going up…Dr. Collins just told me that…the treatments were working Peyton. I don't wanna just throw that away. If we go through with the pregnancy…it's possible that both of you could survive or that only one of you will…but it's also possible that I could lose you both and I don't wanna risk that. So if you're waiting for me to make a decision for you…than there it is." He didn't bother trying to stop the tears anymore…there was no use.
"I get that Lucas…I do…but…" she sighed and hung her head. "I don't know if I can get an abortion. I've never supported them…" He used his finger to lift her chin, leaning in and letting his lips graze over hers lightly.
"The circumstances are different Peyt. I support you 110 percent in whatever you decide, but I don't wanna lose you. If you give up the baby…you could always get pregnant again when you're better. But if you keep the baby and you…if you keep the baby and you die…you don't get another chance at anything…that's it."
"And I could give up the baby and die anyway. The first treatment worked…it worked for over a year…then it just stopped. The same thing could happen…I'm being tested for Leukemia…how…"
"Wait what" he cut her off as he let go of her hand and stood up. "You're being test for what?"
"Dr. Collins didn't tell you that" she watched him shake his head before burring it in his hands.
"How could you get Leukemia…I…" he let out a shaky breath as he ran his hands roughly over his face.
"It can happen…it's not that common, but what I have is a blood disorder and it can escalate into something worse…like Leukemia. Dr. Collins said all the soreness and extreme exhaustion may be symptoms." He looked up and through his tears he could see her struggling to keep her eyes open. There had been cases of people getting better during pregnancy…Dr. Collins had explained all that to him beforehand, but as he watched her fight to stay awake, watched as the machine next to her bed showed her heart rate steadily decreasing…he knew Peyton wouldn't survive the pregnancy…Leukemia or not, if she didn't get the abortion she and the baby would both die.
"Peyton…I know you don't wanna hear it but…" he moved closer to her, only to find her sleeping. She was exhausted, he had seen it when he first walked in…the crying and the talking had only worn her out further. He leaned down and placed his lips gently on her forehead. "…I'm sorry…for everything. I just wish I could take it away…that I could make it better for you" He kissed her forehead again, letting his lips linger a few seconds longer before he stood back up.
"Lucas…" he turned to the door to see Haley sticking her head through, her eyes still red and puffy from her previous tears. "I can't get in touch with Brooke…I tired a few times, but she won't answer her house phone, or her cell."
"Thanks for trying Hales…" he ran a hand through his hair, a deep sigh escaping his lips.
"Hey Luke…" he locked eyes with the brunette again, the tears silently falling down her cheeks again as he took a few steps towards her. "I'm sorry…I know it doesn't help or anything but…"
"I know…thanks buddy" he wrapped his arms tightly around her small frame. "I'm gunna let her sleep while I try to reach Brooke." He pulled back and watched Haley agree with a nod. As Haley walked further into the room and resumed her place in the bedside chair, Lucas let himself out of the room. He dialed Brooke's cell number and listened to it ring before going to voicemail. He wrinkled his brow when the same happened a second and third time. Brooke always answered her phone when he called, he always let her know what was going on with Peyton, so she kept the phone on her at all times.
"Hey Luke…" he looked to the side to find Nathan approaching him. "Haley told me what's going on…everything okay…or" the younger Scott wasn't sure how to phrase his question…of course things weren't alright.
"She's sleeping now…I guess we're just waiting for the test results." He shrugged and inhaled deeply. "Hey Nate…I'm gunna stop by Brooke's since no one can reach her…call me if Peyton wakes up"
"I will" Lucas nodded quickly before walking towards the elevator. It didn't sit right with him that she wasn't picking up. Brooke had pretty much devoted her time to taking care of Peyton, chauffeuring her back and forth to doctor's appointments, doing everything she could to make sure her best friend was okay, to make sure she was comfortable. Brooke had told him to keep an eye on Peyton before she left that afternoon…she had been worried…said that Peyton looked a little worse than usual…paler…more tired. If she had been so worried earlier…than why wouldn't she answer her phone?
