AN: Ok, fans. I'm sorry to do this to you but I'm going on vacation today and I'm going to be gone for seven days. You're going to be without an update while I'm gone and probably a few days after I get back because I'll have to write the next chapter… But I will fire away when I get back! Enjoy this chapter! And await a chapter upon my return! Thanks for all the review they keep me going!
Chapter 38
Brooke walks into the room where Peyton has fallen back to sleep. She goes over and takes Peyton's hand. Peyton opens her eyes.
"Oh thank God, baby" Brooke says
Peyton looks at her confused "Who are you?"
"Peyton" she says with a tear in her eye "I'm Brooke"
"I'm guessing I'm Peyton?" Peyton asks confused
"You don't know who I am?"
Peyton shakes her head no slowly.
"And you don't know who you are?"
"I don't even know where I am" Peyton answers honestly
"I'll be right back" Brooke says rushing out of the room. She walks over to the nurses' station. "She doesn't know who she is!"
"I'm sorry" The nurse replies
"Peyton. She doesn't know who she is or who I am or where she is"
"That's not uncommon. She has serve brain damage. I'll page the doctor thou to come down and check on her"
"Thank you" Brooke says walking back into the room. Peyton is sitting there staring at the door. She looks at Brooke scared and confused. "The doctor will be in to see you"
Peyton just shakes her head yes. "So you're Brooke and I'm Peyton" Peyton says again
"Yes"
"Do I know you?"
"We've been best friends since we were eight years old"
Peyton sighs "Oh" she says "I'm in a lot of pain"
"Ok" Brooke says walking out to the nurses' station again "She's in a lot of pain. Can she have something?"
"Yes, we're going to get her on a drip as soon as the doctor comes back"
"Can you give her something now?"
"I'll page the doctor again and let you know"
"Ok" Brooke replies walking back into Peyton's room. She doesn't know what to say or what to do. She knows that people who can't remember things need time but she just wanted Peyton to remember everything so she just wanted to start telling her everything. Peyton looks at her and Brooke smiles at her softly.
"How did I end up in the hospital?"
"You were in a car accident" Brooke answers
Peyton was going to say something and the door opens. The doctor walks in. "So what's going on, Peyton?"
Peyton shrugs her shoulders "I don't know" she answers honestly "I guess I'm Peyton and that's my best friend Brooke"
"You remember Brooke?"
"No, she just told me that we've been friends since we were 8 years old"
"Do you remember anything about your life?"
"No" Peyton says
"I'll order an MRI and we'll see what the pressure on your brain looks like. It's not uncommon to have temporary memory loss. The best thing is to just give you some time and see what she remembers"
"What if she doesn't?"
"We'll cross that bridge if we get there" The doctor says
Peyton looks at the doctor and then at Brooke. She looks scared and confused. Brooke stands up.
"May I speak with you in the hallway?" Brooke asks the doctor
"Of course" the doctor says "Peyton, I'll be back to check on you later"
"Thank you" Peyton says nodding as the doctor walks out of the room.
Brooke turns to look at him "What about her children?"
"What about them?"
"Should I tell her about them?"
"You can tell her things you don't think will upset her. You shouldn't tell her that her daughter was kidnapped and her husband died but you can tell her about her children. You want her to remember as much as she can on her own."
"And if she doesn't?"
"Like I said before let's just take it one day at a time. She has serve brain trauma and she just woke up. Be thankful she's awake"
"But if she doesn't remember who I am…"
"I'm sorry" the doctor sighs "That's all we can do is give her time and wait"
Brooke nods in understanding as the doctor walks away. She then wipes the tears that started to fall before entering Peyton's room again. Peyton was looking at the handmade cards on her bedside table and the pictures of Sawyer and Luke. She looks at Brooke who is standing in the doorway.
"All these cards say mommy" Peyton sighs "And these children?" she asks
Brooke sighs "They're your children" she answers "The little girl is Sawyer and the boy is Luke"
Peyton looks at the pictures and runs her fingers over the children's faces. "They're beautiful children" she answers "I can't believe I can't remember them"
"It's ok. The doctor says you probably just need some time. You were in a really bad car accident and you have a traumatic brain injury. Hopefully with time things will come back to you"
Peyton notices that Brooke is still standing in the doorway "Are you going to come back into the room?"
"I didn't know if you'd want me too. I mean I'm a stranger to you now"
Peyton looks at her "I'm a stranger to myself" she sighs "I have to trust someone and since you were here I'm going to trust that I know you"
"You do. We've very close"
Peyton shakes her head "Ok" she answers "Can you tell me what happen?"
"Well" Brooke sighs "You were in a hurry to get somewhere and you ran a red light"
"I ran a red light? Did I hurt anyone?"
"Just yourself"
"What's wrong with me?"
"A lot. Let's just take it slow and let the doctor explain your injuries to you"
Peyton nods her head. She was about to say something when the door flies open.
"Mama!" Sawyer yells "I made mommy…" she stops in her tracks when she sees Peyton sitting up "MOMMY!" The little girl screams "You're awake!" she says running over to the bed and then looking at Brooke "Mama, can I get on the bed with her?"
Brooke looks at Peyton "Would it be alright if Sawyer climbed up there with you?"
"Of course" Peyton says with tears in eyes
"How do you feel mommy?" Sawyer asks
"I'm in a lot of pain" Peyton says
"The doctor should make you better now that you're awake"
"I hope he does" Peyton answers and looks up at a guy carrying a baby through the door
"I'm sorry for just letting Sawyer run in here" He says "The nurse stopped me to fill me in"
"Oh good" Brooke says
"Uncle Nate!" Sawyer says excitedly "Look, mommy's awake!"
"I see that" Nathan says not sure how to handle the fact that the nurse just told him that Peyton doesn't remember anything. He walks over and kissing Peyton on the forehead "I'm glad you're awake" he says smiling at her
She looks at him with a blank stare in her eyes. That kills Nathan and he sits down in the chair on the other side of the bed.
"Mommy, I know I'm not supposed to touch you because you're in a lot of pain but can I give you a hug?"
"Oh honey" Brooke says "I don't think that's a good idea. Mommy just woke up a little while ago and they don't have her pain under control"
Sawyer looks at Brooke and gives her the saddest look ever "But mama I haven't given mommy a hug in a really long time and I just want to hug her"
Peyton looks at the little girl "I think it would be ok if you gave me a hug" she says smiling at Sawyer
Sawyer gets a huge smile on her face and crawls very careful up to Peyton and wraps her little arms around her neck. Peyton reaches up and hugs Sawyer back. Sawyer then kisses Peyton very carefully. There is a pull at Peyton's heart. She felt something special about this little girl. She knew she was her mother even though she couldn't remember her. She kisses Sawyer on the forehead.
"Mommy" Sawyer says moving back "Do you know I've been in school for over a month now?"
"You have?" Peyton asks trying not to lead on that she couldn't remember this sweet little child
"Mommy" she says again "You've been in here a month! The doctor told mama and Uncle Nathan that you might sleep forever"
"They did?" Peyton asks "Well if I slept forever then I wouldn't get to see you again"
"I know!" the little girl answers with a sad look filling her face "That's why I'm so glad you woke up!"
"Me too" Peyton answers pulling the little girl into her for another hug
Sawyer smiles "Kindergarten is so much fun, mommy. I have snack, recess, art, music, writing, lunch and all kinds of fun centers. Mrs. Johnson says I'm a wonderful artist and I told her I draw like my mommy does"
"I can see by all these cards you are a very talented artist! I'm so glad you've been leaving me pictures so I had them to look at when I woke up"
"I can make you more! In fact, when I get home I'll draw you a whole bunch and bring them on Sunday when I come. We're not coming tomorrow. Uncle Nathan is taking us to a water park!"
"He is?" Peyton asks looking at the man she now knows is 'Uncle Nathan'
"Is that alright?" Nathan asks not sure how Peyton would feel about some stranger taking her children
Peyton looks at Brooke and then back at Nathan "Yes, I think that's ok"
"If you want me to stay here with you, mommy, I can. I don't really need to go to the water park"
"No, little girls shouldn't sit in boring hospitals they should go to water parks so I want you to go with your Uncle Nathan and have fun."
"Jamie's going to" Sawyer states "He wanted to come see you today but he had team dinner and after we leave here we're going to watch him play basketball"
"That sounds fun"
"It's going to be a lot of fun"
"Do you want to hold Luke before we leave?" Nathan asks
Peyton looks at the little baby boy in this man's hands "I would love too but I'm not sure I can yet. Can you bring him over so I can give him a kiss?"
"Of course" Nathan says standing up and walking over to the bed holding the little boy down to Peyton. Peyton leans up a little and kisses Luke on the forehead.
"Hi baby boy" She says "It's good to see you. As soon as mommy feels better she's going to hold you all the time, I promise and I'm sorry I've been gone so long"
Nathan smiles at her "It's going to be a little bit but we're all going to help you get back to your old self"
Peyton sighs "I hope so"
Nathan kisses her forehead "It's going to be ok, Peyt. I'm sure you're thinking who is this crazy man but I've known you almost as long as Brooke and we're going to help you. I promise"
Peyton just nods her head.
"Come on, Sawyer. We need to get to Jamie's game"
"Ok" Sawyer says slowly climbing up to her mom's ear "I love you, mommy and I'm glad you're awake. I've missed you"
Peyton hugs the little girl and kisses her before Brooke lifts her down and hugs and kisses her before she leaves. Nathan and the kids walk out the door and Peyton gives Brooke a very angry look.
"What's wrong?" Brooke asks
"Why is my daughter calling you mama? Were you trying to take them from me while I was in a coma?"
Brooke laughs a little
"Don't laugh at me!" Peyton hisses "Answer me"
"I'm not sure if I should tell you or not. I'm supposed to let you try to remember things on your own"
"Well I'm going to have you kicked out for stealing my children if you don't answer me right now!"
Brooke walks over and sits on the edge of Peyton's bed "There's so much you need to be told and need to remember and none of it's going to make sense if you don't remember but we're in a relationship"
Peyton looks at her "What do you mean?"
"You're my…"
"Wife?" Peyton asks
"No, you're not my wife"
"So we've been together long enough to have a child in kindergarten?"
"Sawyer and Luke are your kids"
"So I was with someone else before you?"
"Yes" Brooke sighs
"Ok so what happen with her and do we share the kids?"
"Lucas" Brooke says
"The baby?" Peyton asks "Why don't we share Sawyer and why doesn't she have the kids right now?"
"You were married to a man named Lucas and you had Sawyer and Lucas with him and Nathan is Lucas' brother"
"Oh, I bet Lucas is pissed I turned gay on him"
Brooke laughs a little bit "I'm not sure how he feels about you being gay"
"You don't like him?"
"He was one of my best friends"
"And now he's not because you stole his wife? And why did I leave him?"
"You didn't leave him"
"So he left me?"
"Sort of" Brooke sighs "I don't want to upset you, Peyt"
"I'm so confused" Peyton states sighing "I was married, now I'm not, and I'm gay?"
Brooke laughs a little "When you say it like that it sounds funny"
"So what happened to the guy I was married too?"
Brooke sighs "I really don't know if I should tell you this or let you remember it"
"I think I'll be ok"
"Peyt" she sighs "Lucas had a bad heart. He had something called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM. He had a heart attack…"
Peyton's face drops "My husband is dead?"
"Peyt" Brooke sighs "I don't want to upset you. I think you should just try to remember things on your own, honey"
"So, I have two kids, a dead husband, and a girlfriend" Peyton says "And by looking at Luke this has all happened in the last 5 or 6 months?"
"Pretty much"
Peyton was going to say something when the nurse walks in with a pain pump.
"I brought relief" the nurse says "This will be a continuous drip of pain meds and then you can hit the button and it will disperse an extra dose every 15 minutes"
"Oh great" Peyton says "I'm in a lot of pain"
"I'm sure you are" the nurse sighs "I'm going to take you for your MRI and then I'll hook this up when we get back"
"Ok" Peyton sighs looking at Brooke "Are you going to stay or do you need to get home?"
The nurse started laughing "Brooke has practically been glued to your side. Your friend Nathan had to drag her out of here over his shoulder. I'm sure now that you're awake she really won't leave"
Brooke looks at Peyton "what do you want me to do?" she asks praying Peyton wants her to stay
"Stay"
"Then I'll stay" Brooke answers
"I'll be back" She says as the nurse unhooks her bed and wheels her out of the room.
Brooke sits down and starts crying. Haley walks in and wraps her arms around Brooke. Brooke looks up at her.
"This is all your fucking fault!" She hisses
Haley looks at her in shock "What are you talking about?"
"If you wouldn't have brought that crazy man back into our lives none of this would have happened! Peyton doesn't remember any of us! She doesn't even remember her children and it's because you couldn't accept us! You wouldn't be ok with us and you needed to get back at us! Well are you fucking happy now? I'm sure Lucas wouldn't be so happy now! The mother of his children doesn't even know who the hell they are!"
"Brooke" Haley says looking at her in shock
"Get out!" Brooke snaps "Get the fuck out and don't come back here! You've caused enough damage!"
Tears well up in Haley's eyes "Brooke"
"No, I'm serious! Leave!"
Haley stands up and walks out of the room both women crying.
Tears are streaming down Brooke's face as she stands up and walks over taking the picture of the kids. "I'm so sorry, kiddos" she whispers. Their lives were once again turned upside down. But Peyton did a really good job not showing Sawyer she didn't know who she was. The door opens and the nurse pushes Peyton back in.
Peyton notices that Brooke's crying "Hey what's wrong?" she asks as the nurse puts her bed back against the wall and plugs everything back in. She then hooks the pain pump up and gets it started.
"Once that kicks in you're going to be super tired and you shouldn't fight the sleep"
"Ok, thank you" Peyton answers and the nurse walks out of the room. She looks at Brooke again "What's wrong?"
"Nothing" Brooke answers trying not to have to tell Peyton anything else "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure" Peyton says "I probably won't be able to answer you though"
"Did you remember Sawyer?"
"No" Peyton answers honestly "But when she hugged me I felt like she was mine. It was a feeling I had but I don't remember any of you. I'm sorry"
"No, that's ok" Brooke answers "I just couldn't believe how good you were with her. She has not clue that you don't remember her"
"I didn't want to scare her. She was so excited to see me and that I was awake. I just tried to go with what she was saying so that she wouldn't be scared. She's little and it sounds like she's been through a lot"
"She has" Brooke sighs "More than you could ever imagine"
"I'd ask you what that means but I can tell you don't really want to tell me stuff so I'm not even going to ask"
"How's your leg and face feeling?"
"Funny"
"They're going to have to break your leg again to fix it. I'm not sure what they're going to do about your face"
"Does it look really bad?"
No, baby, you're beautiful. Once the swelling went down it wasn't too bad. Your cheekbones were broken so it's a little sunken in but they plastic surgeon said that can be fixed no problem"
"I hurt everywhere and that trip through the MRI machine was hell and I have a really bad headache"
"Then you should rest"
"Are you going to stay with me?"
"I'll stay unless you ask me to leave" Brooke answers
"I'm really sorry I don't remember you, Brooke"
"It's ok" Brooke replies walking over and taking Peyton's hand "It's ok"
Peyton smiles at Brooke as her eye roll back and she drifts off to sleep again. Brooke pulls the chair close and sits there. She wasn't sure what was worse: Peyton being in a coma or Peyton being awake and not remembering her? She also wondered if they'd have a relationship if Peyton never remembered… Would she fall in love with Brooke again or was what they had gone forever?