After the anniversary party, Brooke had tried several times without success to reach Haley by phone. It was definitely odd especially after nine messages were left unreturned. Brooke knew there was no way Haley could be mad at her but something obviously was wrong. The timing gods apparently were on her side as there was rare free time in her work schedule the week Lucas was scheduled to play the Lakers in Los Angeles. The media hype was enormous…Scott brother against Scott brother, both teams undefeated. It was being hailed the match of the century. With the excitement of the game and the chance to find out what was really eating Haley, Brooke had never looked more forward to a road trip.

The week before the big venture to California, the Knicks had played the 76ers at home in the Garden. Work was piling up but remembering the pact to make more time with Luke, Brooke had thrown caution to the wind, and treated Chantal and her son to courtside seats at their first live NBA game. It had been a fun night and Lucas had dominated as usual. Afterwards, Brooke had made the drive back to Connecticut. She desperately needed to relax and the beauty of a fenced in home in the country was being able to skinny dip in her private pool whenever she felt like it.

"Wow if I had known this is what I had to look forward to after game nights, we would have bought a house a long time ago", Lucas joked.

"Hey Broody, why don't you come join me? Water's warm…"

It was first instinct to be sensible and say no but after four years of being married to Brooke, he already knew better. Matching her grin, he shed his clothing and dove in. He swam towards her, groaning as she wrapped her legs around him in the warm water.

"You sir played one hell of a game tonight."

"Glad you noticed, Wife. Just promise when you give me my reward later that you won't zap up all my energy. I'm gonna need some strength to kick my little brother's ass next week when we play the Lakers."

"You'll be fine, Broody. Besides, I've already placed my bet."

"Yeah? So who do you think is going to win?"

"My money…is on a Scott brother."

"A Scott brother?" he laughed as he dunked her.

"Well no matter which team wins, and I know the Knicks will, we're going to have a fabulous time in L.A. I can't wait to see Hales and my adorable little nephew."

"Uh make that nephews…"

"Come again?"

"That was the great news I had to tell you before you began to seduce me as soon as I walked through the door, which I totally don't mind by the way. Anyway, Nate called me after the game. Another little boy…seven pounds, four ounces and he had all his fingers and toes. Tristan Michael Scott. Haley and baby are doing great and they're going to announce it to the press tomorrow."

"Wow", Brooke said softly.

"You okay, honey?"

"Yeah…I'm fine. I'm happy for Nathan and Haley, it's just that…well, she didn't even bother to call and tell me."

"Babe in her defense she was in labor for nine hours. Nathan called me."

"Yeah but she was in labor with Aidan for twelve hours and she called me literally fifteen minutes after he was born. Something's not right, Luke."

"Brooke…"

"I mean it. I told you how she acted at the party and she hasn't returned any of my calls. Now she was willing to let me learn about my nephew's birth in the latest edition of US Magazine. What the hell, Luke?"

"It's probably nothing", Lucas sighed with a bit of discomfort. "If I were you I wouldn't make a big deal about it."

"Yeah…I guess you were right."

Still, Brooke had a feeling and it wasn't one she was quite willing to shake.

Brooke took a nervous breath before walking into the Scott nursery. The flight had arrived late and there was only an hour or so left before she had to be at the arena. Alone and beautifully dressed for the evening, she knocked on the door then entered. There was Haley looking beautiful in a white nightgown as she sat in a rocking chair. Next to her was the bassinet that held her newborn baby boy.

"Brooke?" she asked, surprise.

"Hey", Brooke said, putting on her best face. "I came to see the newest Scott."

"Well…I'm glad", Haley said as she hugged her sister in law.

"Here. The present is for little Tristan and the flowers are for you, Mom."

"Thank you."

Brooke peered into the bassinet at the sleeping infant. He looked so beautiful and peaceful…and innocent.

"You are so very tiny, little one", Brooke cooed as she gently stroked the baby's back.

It was like a special delivery right out of Heaven. Tristan was perfect, Brooke thought as she inhaled that "new baby" smell.

"So? How was labor?"

"Rough", Haley managed to grin as she flipped her auburn hair. "Long…but Nathan was right there and once I actually started pushing he came right out."

"How are you?"

"A little tired but okay…"

"Well after the game I was hoping we could have dinner…the four of us. Of course somebody's husband is going to be on cloud nine but I figured what the heck?"

"I…I don't know about dinner, Brooke."

"Okay. Well maybe tomorrow then."

"We'll see", Haley said, looking away.

"Hales, hold on a minute" Brooke sighed as she looked directly into her friend's eyes. "Can you please tell me what the hell is going on? Are you pissed off at me for something?"

"No Brooke of course not."

"Well what then? Why are you avoiding me? I thought we were friends…sisters."

"We are. Look I am not avoiding you, Brooke", she protested.

"Is this about the new baby? Because you think I was jealous because Lucas and I haven't gotten pregnant yet? Haley, Luke and I are dealing with that and I'm really trying not to obsess over it so much. But regardless of my situation, I love you and Nathan and Aidan and little Tristan. You guys are family and I'm happy for you. Hales, I want you to be able to share your joy with me, not hide it."

"No Brooke, I wasn't thinking that."

"What is it then?" Brooke asked as her eyes brimmed with tears. "Please tell me something because you're really starting to hurt my feelings, you know."

Haley's own eyes began to fill with tears.

"Brooke, you are a very dear friend of mine and I love you like a sister. You know that I would never do or say anything to purposely hurt you, right?"

"Of course I know that, Hales."

"And you know a lot of people gossip and a lot of hearsay goes on and sometimes you just can't pay attention to all the rumors."

"Yeah but so? What are you getting at?"

"Brooke, I have something very important to tell you that I should have told you a long time ago when it happened. I didn't because I was scared and I don't want to hurt you but now I know if the situation was reversed, I'd want you to be honest with me."

"This doesn't sound too good, Hales. You're making me nervous so just tell me whatever it is."

Haley took the deepest breath of her life.

"Brooke…Brooke, Lucas cheated on you."

Brooke had braced herself to hear the worst. Someone close to her had died. Sketchy accountants had squandered all her money away. Instead Haley had said that Lucas had cheated on her. Brooke was almost relieved. Surely Haley was mistaken. Lucas would never ever in a million years have an affair. Not her Lucas.

"Hales, is that what you had to tell me? Gosh, for a second there you actually had me worried, kiddo. " Brooke laughed. "We both know that would never happen."

"Sweetie, I am so sorry to be the one who has to tell you this. I…I never would have believed it myself if I didn't see it with my own eyes."

"What?"

"It was on the road when the Knicks played the Kings. Nathan, Aidan and I drove up to Sacramento to watch the game. We went to a bar afterwards and some blonde went up to Lucas and I guess she was asking for an autograph or whatever. I saw him sign something so it didn't look like a big deal at first. Anyway, they talked for a while, a very long time actually, but I wasn't paying too much attention until I saw her touching him. Stroking his face and putting her fingers through his hair all seductively. I kept watching and finally they walked out of the bar holding hands. I was upset and I kept asking Nate, 'Oh God, what is going on with Luke and that woman?' And Nathan kind of brushed it off and was like, 'Don't worry about it, you know Lucas would never cheat on Brooke.' So we ended up going back to the hotel and we went to sleep and the next morning I saw that same girl leave his room. It was early…around seven. Now I wasn't in there with them so I can't say for sure that they slept together but I don't think she was in there all that time having tea and cookies. Look, I didn't want to upset you but if it was Nathan, even if he didn't have sex with the girl, I would kill him just for being alone in his room all night with some fan."

Haley's words felt like a punch to the gut. Brooke knew they were true. All of a sudden she couldn't breathe or think clearly. The four walls were closing in on her All Brooke could do was sink into the chair behind her.

"Haley, are...are you sure?"

"Yes, and I am so sorry and I didn't want to be the one to tell you but it was eating at my conscious. I felt so bad about it and when we were at your anniversary party…well, the reason we left is because hearing Luke's speech after knowing what he did… well, it made me sick to my stomach."

Like a zombie in some bad horror flick, Brooke stood up and stumbled her way to the front door.

"Brooke, I am so sorry. Please wait. Are you gonna be okay?"

Brooke couldn't answer. All she could do was find her way out of the house and onto the driveway where a limousine was waiting for her.

"Is everything okay, Mrs. Scott?"

"Please. Just get me out of here."

"Yes ma'am. We should be arriving at the Staples Center shortly."

"No. There's been a change in plans. Driver, take me back to the hotel."

The drive to the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel was a short one but it felt like an eternity for the passenger. Brooke felt like a robot, an unemotional cyborg with no control over her thoughts, feelings or actions. As she was pulled up to VIP entrance, she got out and thanked and tipped the chauffer as usual. She even politely greeted the strangers in the lobby who smiled and spoke to her.

"The penthouse suite, Mrs. Scott?"

She nodded at the elevator man and even tipped him generously as she arrived at her room. She opened the door and looked around. Luke's belongings were everywhere. Just hours ago they had arrived, giggly, happy and madly in love. They'd discussed plans for a vacation while sitting on the sofa and enjoyed a quickie on the bed. It felt like a hundred lifetimes ago.

Brooke felt a pounding in her head so profound that it made her dizzy. She collapsed on the bed. She lay slumped there for hours before the door finally opened.

"What's up, gorgeous?" Lucas said as he hopped on the bed and kissed his wife's cheek. "I was worried sick about you. Missed you at the game. Is everything okay?"

Brooke looked at him with dead, emotion void, stone cold eyes.

"Brooke, what's the matter, baby? What's wrong?"

"I am going to ask you one time and one time only, Lucas. What happened in Sacramento?"

"What?" he asked with a confused look.

"Don't play dumb with me. Look in my face and tell me yes or no."

His eyes said it all and he knew he had been busted. There was no way out. Just like Garth Brooks sang about, thunder and lightning flashed in Brooke's eyes. There was no point in denying it. He knew that she knew.

"Yes", he finally whispered.

Brooke sprang to my feet with a newfound energy as she began tossing any and everything into her suitcase.

"Brooke, we need to talk. Let me explain..."

Brooke put her finger to his lips before gathering her luggage and heading out the door. She practically ran out of the hotel, past the waiting limo over to an idle cab parked nearby.

"Destination, Miss?"

"LAX", she said, finding it hard to produce breath that could even say three little letters.

Brooke arrived at the airport and caught the next flight back to New York. She needed to get away…from California, from Haley, from everything…most especially her husband.