A/N: Hello all, I know it's been a minute but here's the next chapter. I will warn you in advance though it's kinda angsty and kinda sad... I will tell you though about half of the next chapter is written so the next update should only be a few days.
miralinda- Thanks and I'll definitely let you know when & if I move my stories somewhere else. As for the update, glad you enjoyed the chapter. And you're right, there is definitely some guilt coming up.
Tanya- Hey, thanks for reviewing! Yeah Jamie falling off the horse was inspired by "Gone With The Wind", it's the movie Peyton was watching when she fell asleep, Tara's theme was playing from the tv when she rushed out. I love that movie. As for Jamie's condition, that's all inn this next chapter.
Callison- Thanks for the review. Nathan will definitely feel guilty so there will be a certain impact on Brathan coming up. Thanks for your words on the theft too, I really appreciate the support.
Luv2Live- Yes things are getting a little crazy, this story is definitely filled with drama. LOL Thanks for the review.
GHJaSam4Ever- Thank you! Jamie's condition is in this chapter, and yeah poor Nathan is really stuck in the middle at this point. I'm glad you love the Brathan in this story so much, I think they had alot of potential on the show.
Marissa Davis- Thank you so much, I'm really glad you're enjoying it. And yes, the drama just keeps unfolding.
zoeabbie97- Hi, thanks for the review. Yeah i still keep trying to work on the last chapter for "Eyes Wide Shut" for my readers but it's been pretty hard to be motivated with it. I'm going to stick to trying to update the current ones in hopes there won't be any more issues. I will try to carry on writing so you can carry on reading. :)
Jillian- A little demanding huh? LOL Thanks for reading & reviewing.
boothimyours- Hey stranger! Glad to see you're catching up... I'm glad you enjoyed the flashback scenes of Brooke, Lucas, & Nikki surrounding Brucas' baby loss. And I'm glad you'r excited about Haley's pregnancy, there will be quite a bit more of her & Jake in the coming chapters. And yes Peyton was feeling bad after drinking too much at that party but you're right, she will be feeling a whole lot worse when she finds out about Brathan & it's coming pretty soon. I'm glad you're enjoying the hotness of Brathan too, I love writing them. As for the story theft, I appreciate you reporting it too. It helps to have so many people supporting me. Thanks for all the reviews!
Now, on to the next chapter...
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Let's Just Kiss And Say Goodbye
I've got ties, and so do you.
I just think this is the thing to do.
It's gonna hurt me, I can't lie;
Maybe you'll meet, you'll meet another guy.
Understand me, won't you try, try, try, try, try, try, try.
Let's just kiss and say goodbye…
Nathan and Brooke rushed to the elevator, Nathan practically slamming the button for the floor they needed before he leaned back against the wall. The silence that was normally so comfortable between them seemed to be filled with tension, the guilt radiating from both of them palpable. When the door opened they both took off towards the desk, seeing Lucas standing nearby with his head in his hands.
"Luke," Nathan let out a shuddering breath at his brother's demeanor. "Did something else happen? Where's Jamie?"
"Jamie?" Lucas looked at his brother confused. "What… Jamie's here?"
"Yeah," Nathan replied slowly. "You didn't know," he said more to himself before he looked at his brother once again. "Why are you…"
"Keith," Brooke interrupted the brunette brother as she looked into the eyes of the blonde.
"He took a turn, a bad one." Lucas blew out a breath, running a hand over his head. "What's this about Jamie? Is he okay?"
"I don't know," Nathan said. "There was an accident, another car accident…"
"No," Lucas shook his head, unable to take much more.
"Nathan," Bevin rushed towards them. "I'm so glad you're here. They just brought Jamie out of his surgery."
"He's okay?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah I think he's gonna be fine," she offered him a smile. "Come on, let's go." She reached for his hand, "Your family needs you."
Nathan nodded before turning back to his brother. "You'll keep me updated about Keith?"
"Yeah," Lucas nodded, "just tell Jamie his Uncle Lucas is glad he's alright and I'll come see him later."
"Thanks," he said before his eyes met Brooke's. "I'll…"
"Go," the brunette nodded at him before watching him walk away, her eyes going back to her ex-husband as soon as his brother and sister were out of sight. "Lucas, what happened?"
"It's bad Brooke," he looked at her with red-rimmed eyes. "He had another heart attack and he's-he in a coma. Mom's in with the doctors talking about options but…" he trailed off with a shake of his head. "I just don't know what to do anymore. I don't know what to do."
"Oh Luke," she immediately wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. "We'll get through this; we're all going to get through this."
"I'm so glad you're here," Lucas replied as he tightened his hold around her.
"I will always be here when you need me," she said comfortingly as she rubbed his back, "always."
Peyton sat by her son's bedside, one hand holding firmly on to the hand not covered in a cast as the other stroked through his hair gently. He was still asleep because of the anesthesia but other than that it looked like he was going to be okay. Still she couldn't stop herself from being worried, unable to let the little boy out of her sight out of fear he'd disappear. She heard the door open behind her but still her eyes remained trained on her son until she heard her name.
"Peyton," Nathan said softly as he stood just barely inside the room, waiting for her red rimmed eyes to meet his. "Is he…"
"He's okay," she nodded with watery eyes before jolting up and rushing towards him. "I kept calling you..."
"I'm so sorry," he said as he wrapped his arm around his wife, feeling her weight practically become boneless as she rested against him. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here Peyt." He placed a soft kiss in her hair.
"You're here now," she said as she let out a strangled sob. "I was just so scared it was happening again Nate, I'm so sorry." She shook her head against him. "I fell asleep and…"
"Hey," he pulled back to look at her, "Peyton this is not your fault. I should have been here to help you and instead I was…" he trailed off, seemingly choking on the guilt that filled him as he looked over at his son in a hospital bed. "You're sure he's okay?"
"Yeah," Peyton nodded as she stepped out of his arms and walked back towards her son's hospital bed, watching as Nathan came beside his son and kissed him on top of the head.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't here when you need my buddy but I'm here now," he ran a hand over his son's head. "I promise I won't let you down again. You're going to be okay." He turned back to his wife for conformation.
"He will be," the blonde nodded, her blonde curls looking unruly and disheveled from the previous night's events. "His spleen ruptured but I guess it was minor for what it could have been. They did laparoscopic surgery, I think that's what they called it, and sutures to repair it so at least he didn't have to have it removed. And then there's the broken arm but all in all he's okay. He's strong. he's okay," her last words were more to herself than him.
Nathan reached over to take her hand seeign how broken she looked, squeezing it in comfort. "I'm sorry you had to go through this alone."
"I had your parents, Bevin, Lindsay, and even Julian but it wasn't the same," she squeezed his hand gently before she turned green eyes to meet his blue. "All I could think about was Lizzie and no one else understands that the way you do."
"Come here," he said as he saw the tears in her eyes, pulling her into his arms again. "I'm here now Peyton and I'm not going anywhere."
"Promise?" she said as her arms tightened around him.
Nathan rested his head on top of hers, his eyes going to his son as he tried no to let the guilt consume him. "I promise."
Karen sat silently as Dr. Copeland continued to explain her husband's devastating prognosis, fighting the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes. For so long they'd been dealing with this problem but she never thought it would actually come to this, to a discussion about taking the man who meant everything to her off of life support; to a decision about letting her husband go.
"His hospital records indicate there was a DNR requested the last time he was here," Dr. Copeland paused. "At this point, I think it's best we honor those wishes."
"So there's nothing," she swallowed the lump in her throat before reaching up to brush away the stray tear that spilled down her cheek, "nothing you can do?"
"I'm sorry," the young doctor said sadly. "I'll give you some time to discuss it with you family."
"I don't need time," Karen shook her head as she stood up. "I'm not killing my husband."
Dr. Copeland sighed, "Mrs. Scott he's…"
"No," she shook her head again. "My husband is still alive and he'll come back to me. I know he will," Karen felt the tears spill from her eyes as she rushed out the door and back to her husband's hospital room where she found her son. "Lucas," she said brokenly as his eyes met hers.
"Ma what happened?" Lucas asked as he stood up, wrapping his arms around her in an embrace.
Karen was silent for a few moments, allowing her son's strength to permeate through her before she pulled back to look at him. "Where's Lily?"
"Brooke took her to go get some food?" he answered. "What did the doctor say?"
She offered him a watery smile before making her way to her husband's bed side. "You know he was the first person to ever really believe in me," she said softly as she reached over to take his hand. "I was a pregnant teen just out of high school and my parents," she shook her head, "my parents were so disappointed in me." She chocked back the lump in her throat, "They wanted me to give you up."
Lucas nodded silently despite the fact her back was to him, knowing she needed to say this uninterrupted.
"Dan went off to college and I was completely on my own and alone and pregnant," Karen sighed heavily as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I was sleeping on my friend's couch and trying to take care of myself for you and when things got too much I'd go on these walks and I'd passed this dilapidated building and somehow I knew I could make something of it, a café." She held Keith's hand up, pressing a soft kiss against the back of his palm. "No one believed I could do it, except Keith. He invested in it, he invested in me and even though it took me a while to open my eyes to it, he loved me. He loved me in a way no one else ever had, believed in me in a way no one had." Karen gently laid his hand back down. "And now," her voice went up an octave as she turned to face her son, "these doctors want me to give up on my husband."
"What?" Lucas paled at her words.
"They want to take Keith off of life support," Karen replied before letting out a strangled sob. "I can't do it Lucas, I can't…"
"Oh Ma," Lucas said before pulling her into another hug. "It's going to be okay; we'll get through this somehow."
Brooke and Lily made their way down the hall slowly. Brooke had talked Lily into eating something to keep her appetite up but it mostly resulting in the young woman pushing the food around the plate before they finally stood up and decided to go for a walk.
"Thanks for being here," Lily said as they turned the corner. "I know Lucas is glad you are."
"I'm not just here for him you know," Brooke replied with a tilt of her head, "I'm here for you too."
"I know," the young girl nodded. "I thought that would change at first after you and Lucas spilt up but you've always been here for my family, still tied to us; you're still a part of it."
"I like to think so," Brooke smiled before they feel into companionable silence for a few moments as they continued their stroll.
"What if my dad doesn't come back from this?" Lily looked over at her with watery eyes. "He's been sick for so long and before this last heart attack he needed another heart…" she trailed off as she wiped the stray tears from her cheeks. "He's my dad."
"I know sweetheart," Brooke said as she wrapped an arm around her, pulling her former sister in law against her side in comfort. "I don't know what's going to happen, I can't promise you he'll be okay but I can promise you that I will be here to help you get through whatever happens."
"Thanks," Lily managed to force a smile before they made their way passed a waiting room filled with familiar voices.
"Lily," Bevin said from inside, rushing towards them and hugging her cousin. "Hey Brooke," she said as she pulled back. "Is there any more news on Uncle Keith? I was in such a hurry about Jamie I didn't get the whole story and Nathan said he really didn't know."
Brooke looked at Lily who gave an encouraging nod before her eyes went back to the blonde in front of them. "Keith's had some heart problems for a little while and he had another heart attack yesterday. It's not good."
"It's not good," Dan said as he moved out of the waiting room into the hallway after hearing her. "What does that mean?" His eyes finally took in his niece's disheveled appearance before they sought the older brunette's. "Brooke…"
Deb stepped up beside her husband and slipped a hand within his, offering the quiet strength she anticipated he would need.
"My dad," Lily let out a small sob as she stared down at the floor before looking up at her uncle, "he's dying."
Dan paled, staggering backwards at the impact of her words. "Not my brother," he shook his head as all the animosity between he and his brother suddenly became trivial in the grand scheme of thing. "Not Keith."
Nathan sat in the chair near his son's bed, his mind going a mile a minute with all the possibilities of what could have gone wrong. The doctors had been in to check on Jamie he thanked God silently for the news but it still didn't seem to make his worry dissipate; and it certainly didn't stop the heaviness he felt in his body from guilt. Being in the hospital again and seeing his son lying so motionless in a hospital bed only seemed to fill him with memories of the last time he saw his daughter alive.
Nathan sat on the left side of his daughter while Peyton sat on the right, each one taking a hand within their own. The three of them sat in silence for a few minutes, both parents looking at the dwindling numbers on the machine.
"It's okay Mommy and Daddy," Liz suddenly spoke. "I'm not scared. You two were the best parents ever..."
"You were the best little girl," Peyton brought her daughter's hand to her lips. "People tell you about this overwhelming, unconditional love you feel when you have a child but you never understand how deep it goes, the way it feels until the first time that precious life is in your arms, staring up at you like you hold all the answer of the world. The minute, the very first second I saw you, I loved you more deeply than I ever knew you could love someone. You were the best thing that could have ever happened to me and your dad. I love you so much Elizabeth Rebecca Sawyer Scott... my sweet, sweet baby girl."
"You can have another baby girl," she said. "You deserve that..."
"I already have my baby girl," Nathan said as he leaned over and kissed her on the head. "Your mother was right, you are the best thing that happened to us squirt. You will always be daddy's little girl. I love you so much."
"So tired," she struggled to speak now, her breathing labored. "I need... to rest."
Peyton laid on the edge of the bed, wrapping her arm around her daughter's head. "It's okay sweetheart, you can rest now."
"Daddy," she breathed out heavily. "Will you," she let out a few breaths before she continued, "sing me a lullaby, like before?"
Nathan reached over to stroke her hair, struggling to keep his tears at bay as he began to sing. "Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me. Starlight and dewdrops are awaiting for thee," he breathed in as the rims of his eyes began to fill with water. "Sounds of the rude world, heard in the day. Led by the moonlight have all passed away." He froze as he heard her intake a deep breath before a silence seemed to wash over them and the monitor began it's steady long beep.
He shook his head of the devastating memory, swallowing back the hint of tears that were threatening to fall from his eyes before the sound of a soft moan grabbed his attention. Nathan hurriedly got up, leaning over his son & brushing a hand through his hair.
"Mama?" Jamie said groggily before his eyes slowly opened, his eyes taking a moment to adjust to the light in the room before focusing on the man hovering over him. "Dad?"
"Yeah buddy it's me," Nathan said with a smile before kissing him on his forehead. "I'm so glad you're okay. You scared us pretty bad Jimmy Jam."
"What," Jamie moved a little in the bed before his eyes darted around the room. "Where am I? What happened?"
"You had an accident," Nathan explained as he pulled the chair closer and sat down. "You and your friend were out riding bikes…"
"There was a car," Jamie supplied for him before yawning. "I wasn't supposed to leave the yard." He looked up at his dad, "Am I grounded?"
"I think you've been punished enough," Nathan paused briefly, "but you need to promise you're never going to do anything like this again."
"I promise," Jamie nodded.
"Are you in any pain?" Nathan asked.
The little boy shook his head. "Where's Mama?"
"Right here baby," Peyton said from the doorway. "I just went to tell everyone you were going to be alright," she moved towards his bed and leaned over to hug him as gently as she could. "I'm so glad you're okay Jamie. I love you so much, you know that right?"
"I love you too Mom," Jamie said with a smile. "I'm glad you and dad are here."
Peyton reached over to grab her husband's hand before feeling Jamie place one of his hands on top of their joined ones. "We're not going anywhere baby."
Lily sat near the window, staring out the window at the rain as it pounded outside on the smooth concrete and slide down the glass pane in smooth rivulets. The sky was now a mix of dark colors: umber, brown and swirls of a deep orange and in that moment Lily felt like she was connected to nature, as if it was sharing in her grief of what she knew was to come.
"Hey," Lucas spoke softly as he came to stand behind his sister, placing a gently hand on her shoulder. "Are you ready to go in now?"
"And say what Lucas?" he eyes still stared out the window at the falling rain. "How are we supposed to convince mom that we should let dad go? I don't want to let him go either."
"Neither do I," he ran a hand over his buzzed hair. "It's just the doctors said he signed a…"
"I don't care what the doctor said," she interrupted as she finally whipped around. "They don't know him, they don't know my dad!" Tears began to stream down her face, "why is this happening?"
"I don't know," he gathered his little sister in his arms.
"I'm sorry," Lily said as she snuggled into his chest. "I didn't mean to yell at you but I don't know how to do this."
"Neither do I," he pulled back from her, wiping her tears. "I could do it alone; call Brooke back to sit with you."
"No," she shook her head. "We should, we should do this together. We owe it to dad to honor his wishes."
Lucas nodded as his red rimmed eyes meet his sister's before taking her hand as they made their way back to the hospital room. They entered quietly, both halting once they were inside at the sound of their mother's voice.
"I know you can hear me," Karen said as she sat next to him, holding one of his hands between her own. "You, Keith Alan Scott are the love of my life and I am so honored to have been able to have been your wife," she paused briefly, the tears evident in her voice. "We were supposed to grown old together. How am I supposed to do this without you?" Karen crawled in to bed with him, cradling her husband's head as she placed her face against his and cried for a few moments. "Keith…"
"Mom?" Lily finally spoke through her mother's sobs.
Karen opened her eyes to look at her children before nodding her head. "It's time babies, we have to let," her voice cracked, "we have to say goodbye."
Brooke paused outside of the door that would lead her to the roof. She was just heading out of the hospital to take a shower and then bring Lucas and his family some of the comforts of home when she received a text from the other Scott brother requesting her presence on the roof. She'd run into Deb again before leaving wanting updates on Keith so she knew Jamie was okay, still there was a nervousness bubbling up inside of her. Taking a deep breath she finally reached for the cool metal of the handle and pushed open the door, stepping outside into the crisp, cool air.
"Hey," Nathan said, turning around as soon as he heard the door close behind her with a thud. "Thanks for meeting me up here."
She nodded before stepping towards him. "I saw your mom; she said Jamie's going to be okay."
"Yeah," he let out a relieved breath. "He's a strong kid. I know that but when I heard it just took me back…"
"To Lizzie," Brooke filled for him and watching as he nodded in agreement.
"My mom told me about Uncle Keith," he blew out a breath before running a hand through his raven locks. "I know Dan is Lucas' dad too but Keith has been in every way that counts."
"Yeah he has been," she agreed. "I'm glad we were able to put all the lawsuit stuff aside so I could be there for him."
"He really needs you now, doesn't he," Nathan said thoughtfully before his eyes meet hers. "Today feels almost surreal, everything that's happened with Uncle Keith and Jamie…" he trailed off as he looked out at the sky, his daughter once again consuming his thoughts.
"It has been," she nodded, "I know you're probably still thinking about it, Lizzie's accident."
His eyes met hers for a few beats. "You know me so well," he reached to run his hand over her hair. "Sometimes I don't have to say anything and I know you already know what I'm thinking."
"I do," she said as her eyes began to water, the crackling of the thunder seeming to coincide with her heart breaking. "You and Jamie, you're so close and he's lost so much. He needs you."
"He does," Nathan nodded, feeling his own heart break.
"And he needs his family," a stray tear rolled down her cheek. "Jamie needs you and Peyton, and they both need you."
He let out a deep sigh. "Brooke…"
"This is over," she paused as their eyes clung in a painful stare, "isn't it?"
The silence seemed to stretch between them as lightening filled the sky and the soft raindrops began to fall harder.
"I meant everything, every word I've ever said to you," Nathan finally broke the silence. "I need you to know that."
Brooke reached for his hand. "I do know, but this..." she shook her head, "we should have known that this day would come."
"Should we have?" Nathan said sadly as he felt his own eyes sting with tears, "Guess we can't have everything, huh Davis?" His right hand reached up to cup her face.
She found herself leaning into his palm, eyes closing against the sting of tears. "I guess not." Her hand reached up to trace the contours of his lips.
Nathan puckered his lips, kissing her hand gently several times before placing it against his face. "This is killing me right now."
"I know," she nodded, "me too." A stray tear managed to make it's way down her cheek, mixing with the moisture of the rain. "I'm going to miss you Nathan Royal Scott."
"I'm going to miss you Brooke Penelope Davis," he replied before leaning down to brush his lips softly over hers and then pulling he into his arms. "I just want to hold you just like this." He rested his forehead against hers, his blue orbs staring into her hazel green in a mixture of emotions though sorrow was the most prevalent and reflected in hers as well. "I wish I could hold you like this forever, shut the rest of the world out like we wanted."
Her head nodded against his. "I love you," her voice was raspier than normal and choked with emotion, "a part of me will always love you."
"I will always love you," Nathan said before his lips meet hers in another kiss, this one deeper much deeper than the last.
Brooke responded immediately, her mouth moving against his and opening to allow his tongue entrance. Nathan devoured her mouth thoroughly, taking his time to explore and memorize the entire cavern of her mouth as the rain fell down on them. He gripped her face in his hands as she clutched his shirt, tongues dueling as they both poured all of their emotions into the last kiss they thought they'd ever have. Neither was sure how long they stood there kissing in the rain but finally they pulled back breathless, their chests heaving.
"I should-I should go," Brooke finally spoke, fighting the tears threatening to fall. "Goodbye Nathan."
He cradled her face in his hands for a few moments before she finally stepped away from him, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes before she made her way towards the door as the sky thundered above them. "Goodbye Brooke," he said as he fought his own tears, watching her stiffen for a moment before she walked out through the door and seemingly out of his life.