Chapter 6: "You were only waiting for this moment to be free"

"Jaggar." Peyton said backing away. "What are you doing here?"

"We had plans last night after you were supposed to watch Jenny. I hope my little bro didn't snake you into watching her longer or something."

"Oh no, I don't mind it. I love Jenny." Peyton said softly

"You don't love anything." Jaggar said stepping towards her. "You only love the pain. You told me this yourself. I know everything about you Peyton."

It was then that she noticed that he held a knife in his hand. He put the cool flat metal edge against her arm, and ran it lightly across. He continued to caress her wrist, showing many cuts of days prior, with the knife.

"Do it." He said, his voice becoming deep and husky.

Peyton looked him dead in the eye. It was as though they were challenging one another without saying a word. Both of their eyes we hard, empty, and desperate.

"Do it." Jaggar repeated this time leaning in whispering in her ear.

Right then Peyton broke. She grabbed the handle of the knife and did one big, very fast, deep cut. It had never gone that deep before. Blood began to pour down her wrist from that single cut. Peyton stood pale in front of Jaggar who just stood and watched the blood slowly drip to the floor.

Jake walked into the kitchen rubbing his eyes.

"Peyton?" He said, he entered the kitchen to find Jaggar and Peyton less that two feet away from each other, a small puddle of blood forming at Peyton's feet. "WHAT THE HELL!" Jake yelled pushing Jaggar away from her and grabbing a dish towel.

"Huh?" Peyton said looking around as Jake attempted to wrap her wrist. "Get off me!" She yelled pushing Jake off her, only causing herself to bleed more in the process. "STOP!" She yelled as Jake fought hard against her. "I'm fine! Get off of me!"

Jaggar came up behind Jake.

"She's fine. Get off of her." Jaggar said walking up to his brother.

"You leave her the hell alone. This is because of you!" Jake yelled shoving his brother.

The two brothers were so busy wrestling on that they did not notice that Peyton had collapsed on the floor until they heard a voice behind them.

"JAKE!" Lucas yelled scooping Peyton up in his arms. "We've got to get her to the hospital!" Jake turned around to see Lucas holding an unconscious Peyton.

"I'll take her." Jake said. "You go grab your car."

"Alright." Lucas said running out and hopping into his car where Jake met him with Peyton.

Later, Lucas, Nathan, Jake, and Brooke waited in the waiting room to hear anything about Peytons condition. Haley was watching Jenny but on her way. The doctor after about an hour came in.

"Is Mr. Sawyer here?" He asked

"He is out on the boat. He will probably not be back for days." Brooke said. "How is she?"

"We are only supposed to release medical information to immediate family." He said apologetically.

Right then Haley entered with Jenny. Jenny was fussy and on the verge of a breakdown in Haleys arms.

"What did you do to her?" Nathan asked

"NOTHING!" Haley said defensively. "Babies are smart, they can sense when something is wrong." Haley said kissing the top of Jenny's head as she handed her to Jake.

"Is that her daughter?" The doctor asked

They all looked around at one another.

"YES!" Brooke quickly said. "That is my niece." She smiled reaching for Jenny.

The doctor raised an eyebrow.

"I am her stepsister!" Brooke said smiling.

"And I am the baby's father!" Jake said quickly.

"Yeah. Peyton is my sister." Lucas lied. They may believe it blonde hair and all.

"And he is my brother!" Nathan said.

"And I'm his wife!" Haley added.

"So don't you see. We're all family!" Brooke said smiling.

It was for the most part true. Brooke and Peyton were like sisters, and Peyton was more of a mother figure to Jenny anyway. The brother Lucas part was kind of random, but it just worked. How they saw it they were each others family.

"You two first." He said pointing to Jake.

"Me?" He said surprised picking up Jenny.

"Follow me." He said.

Jake followed him down the silent sterile halls of the hospital, it was almost two silent. Then they reached Peytons room. Or Jake assumed so at least because they had stopped walking.

"You can go in." He said opening the door.

"Thanks." Jake said as the doctor closed the door behind him.

When Peyton saw him she wasn't sure what to do.

"Hey kid. How goes it?" She said

"Don't try that with me Peyton." Jake said pulling a chair up along side of her bed. "How are you?"

She had bandages wrapped on her arms almost up to her elbows.

"Sixteen stitches in my arms, eight in my legs." She said, she looked over and Jenny and smiled reaching her arms out to her.

"I want her!" Peyton said, arms still out.

Jake smiled as he handed her his daughter. When Jenny was in Peytons arms she immediately settled down. She laid on the bed beside her as the older girl stroked her hair and played with her fingers.

"Don't ever leave her Jake."

"Huh?" He responded

"You may think that it is the best thing to make a good living so you could have the perfect house or the perfect car. All of that doesn't matter in the end. Whats matters is you being with her." 'Like my father wasn't with me', she wanted to add.

"I promise." Jake said smiling.

"Thanks for everything Jake. I feel bad. Since all of this has been going on we haven't hung out much. Friday night,… if I'm out of here, you, me, and Jenny, movie night at my place. Mouth works at the theater and so I'll get him to get us something still playing." She said winking.

"It's a deal. I'm going to go grab a drink. Do you want anything?" He asked

Peyton shook her head no. He reached for Jenny.

"She can stay with me while you go." She offered. "I've missed her, and anyway you'll be right back."

Jake smiled and then left the room. A few minutes later there was a light knock at the door.

"Come in." Peyton said quietly so she wouldn't wake Jenny who had just fallen asleep.

Brooke slowly entered the room closing the door behind her.

"Hey baby." She said smiling kissing her on her forehead.

"What's up." Peyton asked

"Not much. Just worried about my best friend." She said smiling.

Peyton looked away so that Brooke couldn't tell that she was crying. Girls like Peyton didn't cry.

"I'm really sorry Brooke."

"For what?" She asked

"Cutting you out of my life." She said

"Oh please. I cut you out not to long ago if memory serves me correctly FOR A BOY!" She added.

Peyton smiled. Brooke looked down at Jenny.

"Where's Jake?"

"He went to get a drink." Peyton said looking down at the little baby smiling.

"I know that there is a time and a place for everything," Brooke began, "but please don't tell me that you are crushing on Jake."

Peyton blushed brightly through her stress paled features.

"Maybe a little."

"He is a really good guy." Brooke pointed out.

"We'll see." Peyton said smiling down at Jenny again.

"But Peyton, remember, he's got a kid." Brooke said

"I know. That's part of the reason I like him so much. He's doing it all on his own. He's being a man about it. He never pulled a Nikki or Dan Scott and ran off. Or left like my dad for the sake of something better. He is there each and everyday taking care of her, whatever she needs she has it. I admire him."

"Did Sawyer become a softy?" Brooke said wide eyed.

Peyton blushed again. A couple of minutes later Brooke left to give Peyton some rest time.

"Damn soda machines." Jake said when he entered the room. "Ate three of my dollars."

He stopped when there was no response. He looked to see Peyton lying in bed, with Jenny at her side. Jennys head lied on Peytons chest. The two looked so calm… peaceful. It seemed in the moment that life just got a little easier.

ONLY TWO MORE CHAPTERS LEFT. :( Read and Review!

XOXO Jules