Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except for Carson.

Chapter Fifteen

"Jenny"

It was Sunday night and Brooke was over at Peyton's house. They were babysitting Jenny for Jake. He was working late that night.

Peyton and Brooke had been talking about their weekend. It had been very eventful.

Brooke said, "I hope Jake gets home before eleven. I need a ride." Jake had taken Peyton's car to work. Brooke's car had had some mechanical problems and was still in the shop.

Peyton had Jenny laid on a blanket on the floor. "I'm sure he won't be much longer. Its only seven, so chill."

Brooke rolled her eyes. "Fine. Are you hungry? I'm starved."

"Yeah kind of. Go get me some crackers."

Brooke put her hands on her hips. "Are you that helpless? Get them yourself!"

Peyton groaned and stood up. "You want anything?"

"Yeah, a diet coke and some crackers," Brooke grinned. "And since your up, ranch dressing would be great."

"Yes, Princess." Peyton left and Brooke smiled at the baby. She wasn't very active that night. Usually she would grin and kick her legs in the air, but that night she was just laying there. Brooke brushed her hand over the top of her head and was alarmed when she felt how warm Jenny was.

"Peyton?" She called into the kitchen.

"Now what do you want?"

"Come feel Jenny, she's really warm."

Peyton dropped what she was doing and rushed into the den. She felt her forehead. "Oh my God! She's burning up."

"I know."

Peyton gently picked the fussy girl up. "I have to call Jake."

"Do you have a thermometer?"

"Uh yeah in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom."

Brooke ran into the bathroom and retrieved the thermometer. "Does this thing work on a baby?"

"Why not?"

Brooke shook the thermometer before putting in the baby's mouth. It was hard to keep it there because she kept moving. "Shh... Jenny its okay sweetie," Brooke tried soothing her. After a few minutes, Brooke took it out. "God, Peyton, its 102!"

Peyton handed Jenny over to Brooke, who bounced her up and down on her shoulder. She dialed the caf's number. "Karen? Where's Jake? ..... What!.... When will he be back?.... Does he have his cell? Okay thanks." She hung up. "DAMN IT! He went to pick something up in Brownesville. He won't be back for a few hours." Brownesville was an hour away. "Damn Brooke what the hell do I do?"

Brooke tried to stay calm. "Call Nathan. He's the only other person I can think of that has a car."

She shook her head. "Haley said they were going to the beach tonight."

Brooke bit her lip. "I have an idea. Give me the phone." Peyton exchanged the phone for the baby.

Brooke dialed a number. "Lucas?"

Lucas came right over when he heard about Jenny. He drove his mom's car, which was a passenger car. He rushed into the house.

"Hey."

Peyton hugged him. "Thanks for coming."

Lucas walked across the room to where Brooke was holding Jenny. He brushed his hand over the top of the baby's head. "No problem. Ready to go?"

Brooke nodded silently. Ever since they had taken her temperature it seemed to have gone up, and she was fussier as well. "Yeah Peyton get her seat." She put an unwilling Jenny into the seat and they went to the car. "Pey you sitting in the back with her?" Peyton was hesitant. She felt it was her fault Jenny was sick. "Pey its okay. She's going to be fine."

Peyton nodded. "Yeah I'll sit with her."

Brooke sat up front with Lucas as he sped to the hospital. He let them off at the emergency room entrance and went to park the car. They ran to the front desk, exclaiming, "She has a really high fever and she has been cranky!"

The nurse walked around the side of the desk. "Its alright, what's her name and how old is she?"

"Jenny, seven months," Brooke answered. Peyton seemed to be in a state of shock.

"Okay, which one of you is the mother?"

They glanced at each other. Brooke said, "Neither. She belongs to our friend, he is out of town and we were babysitting her."

"Okay, lets take her in the back." She lifted a crying Jenny out of the car seat. "We will have her examined."

Peyton looked at Brooke, who said, "Go with her. I will wait here for Lucas. Let me know what's going on. I am going to keep trying Jake's cell."

Peyton nodded and followed the nurse down the hall into an exam room. Brooke sat down in one of the leather chairs in the waiting room, calling Jake's cell. She left about ten messages.

Lucas walked in and looked around before seeing Brooke. He walked over to her and sat down right next to her.

Brooke explained, "Peyton went with them into an exam room. They are going to run some tests and I guess try to break her fever."

He nodded, following her. "Did you call Jake?"

She held up her cell. "Can't get hold of him." She hesitated. "You can go home if you want."

"No, I'm staying until I know Jenny is alright," Lucas said firmly. They all loved the little girl.

She nodded slowly. "Okay, that's cool. God I am so worried. She was so warm..."

He reached over and squeezed her hand. "Its going to be okay."

"Thanks for coming when you did. No one else was home, and your mom was working."

"Don't worry about it."

He let go of her hand and picked up a Sports Illustrated magazine. Brooke spent her time biting her nails. If anything happened to Jenny she would blame herself.

Author's Note: I know you guys are gonna hate me for making Jenny get sick, so I am sorry. lol. but look forward to A LOT more brucas interaction! by the way, thanks again for all the great reveiws.

-Emilie-