Chapter Sixteen
"She's Okay"
Brooke and Lucas both jumped when Brooke's cell phone rang. She answered anxiously, "Hello? Jake! Thank God.... We are in the ER... at Tree Hill General.... Jenny was burning up so Lucas came and we brought her in.... We don't know, Peyton's in the back with her now. Where are you?.... Okay. Just hurry," she insisted. "Bye." She sighed with relief. "I am so glad we got hold of him."
"Where is he?"
"Just leaving Brownesville, he should be here by eight thirty."
"What else did he say?"
"Well, he was freaked out of course. He's coming straight here when he gets back."
Ten minutes later, Peyton came down the hall. She looked distraught, her eyes were worn from worry. Brooke and Lucas stood up.
"They ran a few tests, she is hooked up to an IV. God she is so helpless. This is all my fault," Peyton cried, falling in their arms.
"Peyton what did they say?" Lucas urged.
"They think its pneumonia and did the test. They gave her some medicine," she said, wiping her face.
"Pey it isn't your fault. Don't think that," Brooke comforted her. "We reached Jake."
"Where is he?"
"Still in Brownesville. He'll be here in an hour."
She nodded. "Okay, I think I am going to go back in there. You guys go home."
They shook their heads firmly. "No way."
She nodded. "Okay."
They hugged her one last time before she left. They sat back down and went back to their magazines and nail-biting.
Thirty minutes later, Peyton came out with a relieved face. "It's pneumonia. They are giving her medicine and her fever finally broke. They said she is going to be okay."
"Peyton that's great!"
"She's sleeping right now, but I'm going to stay with her. Let me know what Jake gets here."
Forty five minutes later, Jake ran in. Brooke said, "Jake!" He rushed over.
"Where is she?"
Brooke tried calming him down first. "With Peyton. She's okay. Its pneumonia, but her fever broke. She is sleeping. Jake she's fine." Jake hugged her tightly.
"I want to see her."
Brooke led him down the hall and they peered through the window. Peyton was standing over the cubicle, touching Jenny's feet. Jake thanked Brooke and she went back to join Lucas. Jake quietly went in, and Peyton looked up.
"Jake..." He walked over to her, wrapped her in a hug. She was sobbing uncontrollably. "Its my fault. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. Its my fault."
He stroked her hair. "Peyton it isn't your fault. Its alright."
"I'm so glad you're here," she whispered, reducing her tears.
He gave her a tight squeeze, and they turned to the sleeping baby. "Its okay." The nurse walked in and smiled.
"I see you are here. She is doing great on this medicine."
"Can we hold her?"
"Of course. Be careful of the IV though. Your daughter is going to be just fine."
After the nurse left, Jake picked her up and cradled her in his arms. He kissed her forehead, rocking her gently. Peyton stood off to the side, not wanting to intrude.
"Pey, you want to hold her?"
She backed away slightly, as though scared of Jenny. "Um..."
"Peyton you did everything right. Come on." Peyton slowly walked over to him and he put the baby in her arms. A tear drop slid down her face. Jake pulled her into another hug and kissed the top of her head. "Baby she's okay."
"I was so scared..."
"I know." They stayed in each other's arms staring at the sleeping angel in Peyton's arms for a long time.
Outside in the waiting room, Brooke and Lucas had decided to take off. When Brooke went to say good bye to Peyton, she, Jake, and Jenny were having an intimate moment so she let them be. They walked out to Lucas' car and climbed in.
He pulled up in front of her mansion. "Good night."
Brooke hesitated. "Lucas thank you for coming. I mean it, you may have saved her life. Thanks."
"No problem. Night."
She got out of the car and walked to her front door. He waited until she got inside before driving off.
It was ten o'clock at night and Brooke was exhausted from worry. She said good night to her housekeeper and crawled in bed. For the first time in a long time, she and Lucas had been together without fighting. That night she knew she would be dreaming of the man she loved.
Author's Note: I'm so sorry it took so long to update! i will try to update more often. anyways, i hope you enjoyed the brucas interaction. thanks for the great reviews!