Hi guys! I was planning for this to be my last chapter, but since several people asked me to write Lucas' conversation with Victoria in, I included it in this chapter, so I will be having one more chapter after this. I hope that their phone-call will be what you guys thought it would be! ;-) Anyway- enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the OTH characters.
Chapter 29
"Are you all set to go, babe?", Lucas came up to Brooke and put his hand on her back as he effortlessly lifted her two bags of belongings onto his shoulder. She looked at him and nodded, causing Lucas to smile at her widely.
"What?", Brooke questioned Lucas' adoring gaze.
"You look cute", Lucas explained the reason for his wide grin, admiring the way Brooke looked wearing simple jeans and a white tank top instead of the hospital gown and pants he had grown used to seeing her with.
"You don't look too bad yourself...", Brooke replied in her raspy voice, leaning into Lucas' side and capturing his lips in hers for a gentle kiss. Over that past day she had gotten a grip over herself, yet Lucas could still see the sadness in her eyes, and could have killed her mother for causing his pretty girl all that pain. As he thought back to the conversation he had with Victoria, he couldn't help but tighten his hold on Brooke protectively, feeling rage flow through his veins all over again.
-Flashback-
Lucas quickly walked out of the room with Brooke's phone clenched tightly in his hand. He was working very hard on keeping his voice down while he was still in Brooke's hearing range, but as soon as he closed the door firmly behind him and caught a glimpse of his broken girlfriend through the window, he was ready to tell Victoria exactly what he thought about her. Lifting up the phone to his ear, he heard Victoria's obnoxious voice speaking.
"Stop wasting my time with your whining, Brooke!", Victoria scolded, thinking that it was still her daughter on the other side of the line, "Unless you have something important to tell me- this conversation is over!", Victoria declared, causing Lucas' blood to boil for the way this woman was treating Brooke. No girl deserved to be treated this way by her mother, especially not his pretty girl.
"Actually- this conversation is far from over!", Lucas spoke back harshly. He then realized that this was Brooke's mother, who he was supposed to treat with respect, especially if he wanted her to listen to his request, so he sighed and softened his tone. "This is Lucas- Brooke's boyfriend", Lucas introduced himself, taking advantage of Victoria's silence, which was derived from her surprise to hear a different person on the other side of the line.
"What do you want?", Victoria coldly cut into Lucas' speech, causing him to roll his eyes with annoyance, yet force himself to keep a civil tone.
"It is in Brooke's best interest to stay in Tree Hill. My mother and I would be very happy to have her move in with us", Lucas told Victoria.
"My daughter will not impose on others!", Victoria continued stubbornly refusing, "I will not have John and my reputation ruined because of Brooke's childlike behavior!", she declared, and Lucas was thankful that he wasn't in the same room as Victoria, for he was so infuriated by her words, he was sure he would have slapped her, if he would have been facing her.
"She will need to return to a hospital for weekly check-ups. Will you be able to take her all the time?", Lucas angrily challenged, already knowing the true response to his question, yet trying to prove his point to Victoria.
"We have a private driver", Victoria icily stated, causing Lucas to be as mad as hell.
"Will you be around for constant supervision of Brooke at least for the next three weeks?", Lucas didn't give up, certain that Victoria and John wouldn't follow Dr. Goldstein's guidelines for Brooke's release and attempting to convince Victoria to change her mind yet again.
"This is ridiculous!", Victoria exclaimed in outrage, "I will not allow Brooke to behave like a needy, spoiled brat!", she said, and Lucas simply couldn't believe his ears.
"You actually think she's asking for this?!", Lucas could no longer hold back and raised his voice, "These are strict orders from her doctor!", he informed Victoria in fury, but was quick to quiet down, as he was determined to get through to her. "Listen, Mrs. Davis- you and your husband are busy people, and my mother and I might have more time to watch over Brooke until she gets better. I would be very grateful if you could let Brooke stay in Tree Hill, because she is completely crushed about having to leave", it took every ounce of Lucas' mental strength not to holler at the arrogant, self-centered woman he was talking to, but he managed to do so for Brooke's sake.
"No Davis will behave like a pathetic parasite!", Victoria told Lucas, appalled.
"You should start to care about your daughter's well-being and not about your damn name!", Lucas angrily said to Victoria, "Brooke has been through so much in the past few weeks that the last thing she needs is to go to a place where she doesn't know anyone and won't feel safe. Mrs. Davis- I love your daughter with all my heart- she's beautiful- inside and out, kind, brave and has the most golden heart in the world. She deserves to be happy, and you and I both know that she will end up being miserable in California. I know that even though you don't show it, you love Brooke too, so please think about her happiness and let her stay in Tree Hill with me", Lucas ended his speech and was met with silence from the other side of the line. Had he not heard Victoria's air-intakes through the receiver, he would have thought that she hung up on him, but he understood that she was thinking about what he had said, and hoped that the fact he had laid his heart out would be enough. After a few more moments of silence, Victoria finally sighed heavily and spoke.
"Whatever...", Victoria carelessly replied. Any other day, Lucas would have been angered by her lack of care for Brooke, but at that moment, he was far too glad and relieved for that.
"Thank you, Mrs. Davis", Lucas expressed his gratitude, his voice filled with emotion. Feeling like he had finally gotten through to this ice queen, Lucas spoke again, "Mrs. Davis, Brooke will be getting released from the hospital in a few days after spending weeks hospitalized. Is there anything you would like me to tell her?", he asked hopefully as he looked at his sobbing girlfriend through her room's window, knowing that even a single caring word from Victoria could mend her broken heart.
"Tell her that she can use my credit card if she needs anything", Victoria coldly ended the conversation, dismissing any hope that Lucas might have had that Victoria would show any kindness or sympathy towards Brooke. Paying her off was the only thing Victoria was capable of as a mother. As he closed Brooke's phone, Lucas shook his head in anger and disbelief and entered Brooke's room with only one thing on his mind- to hold Brooke in his arms and never let her go in order to show her how special and wonderful she was, how much he loved her...
-End of Flashback-
As Lucas finished replaying that dreadful conversation in his head, he realized that Brooke was slightly shifting in his arms with discomfort. He immediately loosened up his hold on Brooke and looked at her apologetically.
"I'm sorry, babe. Did I hurt you?", he asked her with concern, the tension in his face easing up when Brooke grinned at him in response.
"You did a good job of letting me feel those muscles...", Brooke joked and stroked Lucas' chest affectionately, telling him that she was alright. When he only half smiled back at her, still bothered by his conversation with Victoria, Brooke cupped his cheek and tilted his face so he would look her in the eye, "What's going on, broody?", Brooke's cheery voice was replaced with a serious one as she searched his eyes for an answer. Lucas simply took her hand off his cheek, brought it to his lips and kissed it, making sure to be gentle with his grip this time.
"I just never want you to doubt that I love you, Brooke, because I do- more than anything in the world", Lucas shared his heartfelt words with Brooke while looking deeply into her eyes, wanting to ensure that she understood how sincere he was. After witnessing the way Victoria treated her, Lucas swore to himself that he would make sure that Brooke would know that she was loved, and would never feel lonely, neglected or unwanted again.
"God, you are such a brooder!", Brooke laughed, relieved that Lucas' seriousness wasn't caused by anything bad, "But I love it about you, boyfriend", she said, allowing her own sentimental tone color her words and show Lucas her genuine appreciation for the amazing love he showed her. She wrapped her arms around Lucas' neck and leaned up to kiss his lips, "I love you too, Luke", Brooke told Lucas in-between kisses and when she finally broke up the long kiss, she smiled at Lucas lovingly, her fingers gently caressing his neck.
"A brooder, huh?", Lucas kinked his eyebrow at Brooke playfully after he finally caught his breath. He began tickling the exposed skin between Brooke's top and pants, causing Brooke to squeal and then begin to giggle.
"You know you are!", Brooke laughed even louder but didn't back off as Lucas continued tickling her, careful not to touch the still-sensitive areas in her stomach, where she had been hurt.
"You're calling me a brooder?", Lucas continued playing their game, infected by Brooke's contagious laughter and beginning to chuckle as well.
"Yeah!", Brooke replied as she squirmed, laughing so hard she was almost getting dizzy. As Lucas' fingers continued wiggling against her skin, Brooke finally gave up, realizing he wasn't backing off, "O.K., O.K... You win!", Brooke gave in, caughing and laughing from their exerting game, "You're not a brooder", Brooke put her hands up, admitting her defeat.
"Thank you!", Lucas smirked, satisfied with his victory, yet Brooke mischievously grinned at him, causing him to realize she wasn't quite done yet.
"You're a cheerleader! Happy?", Brooke playfully declared and then burst out laughing at her silly word game and at the thought of Lucas performing a cheerleading routine.
"I think I'll go with brooder after all...", Lucas admitted in defeat, realizing that Brooke definitely won their little playful game. He looked at Brooke, who was still giggling, and couldn't help but smile adoringly, "God... I just love your beautiful smile...", he lovingly told Brooke, staring at her with admiration.
"I love you too, cheerleader!", Brooke couldn't stop laughing at her joke and even though it was at his expense, Lucas didn't care, because he was just so glad to see her laughing and simply being happy.
"Come here, silly", Lucas chuckled and opened his arms up invitingly, almost instantly closing them around the girl that rushed to hug him.
"I can't believe that this is it...", Brooke whispered into Lucas' skin after a long, calm silence.
"Then you'd better!", Brooke and Lucas broke apart and turned around to face the source of the voice that had just spoken.
"Dr. Goldstein!", Brooke gladly and affectionately greeted the man that was responsible for her ability to stand on her own two feet before him that day and that cared for her so much during her entire progress towards recovery.
"As much as I will miss you- it's time for you to go back to your life, Brooke", Dr. Goldstein kindly smiled at Brooke and then handed her a small stack of paper, "These are your release forms. You are all set to go", he told Brooke, smiling at the almost-healthy girl that stood before him and thinking about the remarkable progress she made from the heartbreaking condition in which she was handed to him all the way to becoming the lovely, perky girl that was grinning at him.
"I will see you in a week for a check-up. Remember to take it easy this week and get as much rest as you can", Dr. Goldstein gave Brooke instructions once again, knowing her bubbly nature and wanting to stress that she still needed to let her body regain some strength. As Brooke obediently nodded, Dr. Goldstein turned to Lucas, "I don't want Brooke to be alone this week. Please supervise her and make sure she doesn't wear herself out", he guided Lucas.
"You know I will", Lucas ensured Dr. Goldstein, who smiled at him calmly, completely trusting the boy to look after the patient he was about to let back into the world.
"Alright then- I hope you'll feel even better next week, and if you need anything or suddenly don't feel well, call me immediately", Dr. Goldstein took out a business card and handed it to Brooke.
"Thank you for saving my life and taking such good care of me, Dr. Goldstein! I will never be able to thank you enough...", Brooke walked up to Dr. Goldstein and gave him a warm hug, surprising him and causing him to chuckle for a moment before he returned the gesture.
"You're welcome, Brooke. It was my pleasure", he honestly told Brooke and then broke apart from her, smiling at her caringly, mirroring Brooke's actions.
"Thank you for fixing my girl, Dr. Goldstein", it was Lucas' turn to express his gratitude and give Dr. Goldstein a man to man hug.
"It's quite alright, Lucas... You had a lot to do with it yourself...", Dr. Goldstein kindly said as he drew away from Lucas and put his hand on the boy's shoulder, showing him how much he admired the way he had handled the entire ordeal. The two smiled at each other for a moment, and then Lucas walked back to Brooke and took her hand in his.
"Alright then... So I will see you next week", Dr. Goldstein turned to Brooke for concluding words. After she nodded at him, he looked back to Lucas again, "And Lucas- would you like to wheel Brooke out or should I call a medical assistant to do that?", he questioned Lucas sincerely.
"You're kidding, right?", Brooke asked Dr. Goldstein in an unpleased voice. The hopeful look she had in her eyes as she believed that Dr. Goldstein might be joking vanished as he shook his head, ascertaining her that he was completely serious. "No way, Dr. Goldstein! I am not doing it!", she exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, Brooke, but that's the hospital's policy...", Dr. Goldstein shrugged, powerless to change the hospital's strict rules.
"Come on, Dr. Goldstein, I'm completely capable of walking out of here with my own two feet!", Brooke stubbornly insisted. She found the idea of being taken out in a wheelchair ridiculous and humiliating.
"That might be true, but the regulations state that a patient who had been hospitalized must not walk out of the facility by foot, but be taken out by a supervisor...", Dr. Goldstein recited, causing Lucas' eyes to brighten as he spotted Keith advancing towards them and an idea popped into his head.
"I think that can be arranaged...", Lucas said with a mischevous smirk, causing both Brooke and Dr. Goldstein to stare at him questioningly.
"Hey Keith!", Lucas called out to his uncle, who finally opened Brooke's door, "Can you take these for me?", Lucas strectched his hands and soon handed Brooke's bags over to a puzzled Keith.
"Sure...", Keith replied with confusion, "Why...", he began asking, but soon understood the reason Lucas needed to free his hands, as Lucas lifted a surprised Brooke onto his back, causing her to giggle and then lean her head on Lucas' shoulder happily.
"There!", Lucas looked at Dr. Goldstein with a satisfied grin, "What do you say?", he playfully challenged the doctor, who couldn't help but chuckle at the adorable couple before him.
"I guess that teh wheelchair won't be needed this time...", Dr. Goldstein ruled, causing Brooke to happily squeal and clap her hands, and then kiss the side of Lucas' neck in relief and joy.
"Yay! Thank you, boyfriend!", she cheerfully said, causing Lucas to smile, glad that he was able to make his girl happy.
"Sure, babe...", he laughed and then winked at Dr. Goldstein thankfully, "Bye doctor!", he said as Brooke waved to him.
"Bye!", Dr. Goldstein replied, watching the patient he had grown so fond of finally leaving the medical institute and going back to the big world that awaited her.
"This is it, baby...", Lucas excitedly said to Brooke as he carried her towards the hospital's exit, thinking about the way he helped lift her up from being a shattered, shaken up doll, broken into pieces and into being the perky, lively girl whose smile could light up a room. At that moment, with Brooke pressed securely to his back, Lucas made a solemn promise to always stand by Brooke's side and help pick her up if she would ever hit a low point again. Lucas smiled as they reached the parking lot and a nice breeze caressed his cheeks as warm sunbeams tickled his eyelashes. He knew that this exact moment was the beginning of a fresh start, a new life, a beautiful love that only started to blossom...
AN: Alright, so I had a pretty bad week which consisted of spending time in the emergency room due to pain in my stomach (which still hasn't gotten that much better...) and of being notified that I didn't get accepted to a writing program I applied to. So I hope that this didn't affect my writing, because right now I don't feel very confident about it for obvious reasons... I could really use your reviews, as they always cheer me up! ;-)
