Author's Note: Sorry for the lack of updates. Blame it on my recurring writer's block, then of course the site was down for a while. But I am back and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and the one before it. There is lots more to come and I look forward to your thoughts. Thanks Carys and Aly and Ann and Jessica, I love you to death, babe!! Thank you for all the advice and help and gossip! You guys all rock!!!!

Brooke hummed to herself as she made the last adjustment to Felix's proposal. It had been a week since he had started with the company and as promised, things were starting to take off. The man certainly knew his shit and she had no doubt he would take Sascha Naj to new and successful heights but there was something about his sense of humor that was hard to get and even more she couldn't figure out why he was so cocky. But he had his moments and in the past few days she even caught herself being nice to him.

"Brooke, your mother in law is on line one", Chantal buzzed over the phone.

Brooke wrinkled her nose. It was odd to have Karen call her at work.

"Hey Karen, it's me. What's up?"

"Brooke…hi. This isn't Karen. It's me…Deb."

"Oh. Hi."

Now things were definitely getting strange. Although Brooke and Deb had always gotten along, the two women had never been close. Brooke couldn't remember a time in ten years when Deb had bothered to pick up a phone and call her.

"I'm sorry to bother you especially at work dear but I have been trying to reach Lucas all day."

"He's away on the road. It's the final game of the championship tonight but he should be home by morning. I could have him call you. Is everything okay?"

"No. No, it's not. Um, Dan had a heart attack."

Brooke felt her hands slightly tremble. She had never been a huge fan of her dastardly father in law but she had never exactly had a death wish for him either.

"A heart attack? Oh my God! Is he…is he okay? What happened?"

"Um, I found him in the beach house on the floor. I called 911 but they

said I might have called too late."

"It's not your fault, Deb", Brooke tried to reassure her.

"I know but I still feel bad. Things haven't exactly been great with Dan and me. Hell, I think I've filed for divorce three times already. Anyway, despite our problems he is still my husband and I still love him. He…Brooke, he's in a coma right now and it's pretty much touch and go. I called Nathan and he and Haley and the kids are on their way. I just thought you and Lucas might want to come too. Maybe that's a lot to ask but…"

Brooke cringed at the lingering emotion in Deb's voice.

"No it's not. You guys are family. Despite everything, Dan is still Luke's father and Lucas should be there. I will tell him and we'll be in North Carolina sometime tomorrow…both of us."

"Thank you, Brooke. That means a lot", Deb sighed.

"Whatever you need."

For the rest of the workday, through the drive home, and on into the night Brooke couldn't get Dan out of her head. The situation all seemed so unreal. He couldn't die. He was too evil to die, she thought. As she rubbed her belly the thought crossed her mind that her daughter might never meet her grandfather. That could have been a good thing in a round about way but still. Aidan and Tristan had seen Dan and in his own way he loved his grandsons just as he loved their fathers, his sons, in his own Dan Scott way.

The thought of Dan dying even made her a little sad and she shuddered to think how Lucas would react. Would there even be a reaction at all? The father and son relationship had been tense over the years to say the least. Dan had spent the first 15 years ignoring his oldest son and the rest of the time heckling him. They had developed a civil relationship during the college years and in the time after it was often strained. Could Luke's anger even let him feel for the stranger who had spent so many hurting him?

Brooke sighed as she watched the final NBA game of the season. The Knicks were up by 13 with nine seconds on the clock and victory was imminent. Although she was nowhere close to forgiving her forgetting the pain Lucas had caused her, they had worked diligently on their friendship for the past few weeks and seemed to be making progress. And of course she still loved him so it made her heart swell with pride as she saw the joy and excitement on his face as his team secured a championship title Lucas had dreamt of all his life. He looked so happy and it made her sad that with one phone call she would have to be the one to cut short that happiness.

"Luke?" she asked as he picked up his cell phone on the first ring.

"Brooke, did you see?" he asked excitedly.

"Yeah…I saw. Congratulations."

"Thanks. Oh man, this feels so good! You have no idea! I have wanted this my whole life! Never in a million years did I figure it would all come true."

"You worked hard and I'm proud of you and the whole team."

"Thanks Brooke. That means a lot."

"Lucas, um, there is another reason I called. There is something I have to tell you…"

"Are you okay? Is it the baby…"

"No, no, we're fine. Uh, Deb called. It's Dan. He…he had a heart attack."

It took Lucas a while to respond and muster a sound past the lump forming in his throat.

"Is he…"

"He's in a coma but…I don't know. I think you should go to Tree Hill as soon as possible. Nathan and Haley are already there."

"Brooke…I, I don't know. I don't know if I should go. I don't even know how I feel about that."

"Dan is your birth father and even though things haven't always been great with you two, it's okay to be concerned."

"Would it be wrong to hope that he dies?"

Brooke cringed at the coldness of his voice.

"I don't know. I can't tell you how to feel."

"I know. I'm just listening to the voice in my head."

"And what about the one in your heart?" she asked softly.

"Dan's an asshole but no I don't want him to die", Lucas sighed. "Still I just don't know if I should go back to Tree Hill. Why? This guy ditches my mom when she's pregnant, treats Keith and Deb and everybody like absolute shit, he rides Nathan and Haley and when he wasn't ignoring me, he was busy making me feel like he wished I were a stain on his bed sheet. Why should I go to him now in his time of need? Brooke, give me one good reason."

"Because he's your father."

She rubbed her stomach gently. Being with child sometimes shed new light on things.

"You're right", he breathed. "I guess you're right. I should go."

"I…Lucas, I could meet you there…if you'd like…"

"You don't have to, Brooke…"

"I know but it's okay. I want to. I should be there for you and Nate and Hales."

"Thank you", he whispered into the phone. "You have no idea how badly I wanted to hear you say that. Thanks, Brooke. I…I love you."

Brooke sighed as she hung up the phone. She would be there out of obligation if nothing. Lucas was her friend, the father of her child. She hoped he would be okay but she knew she could not be there as his wife.

Brooke walked slowly to the ICU. The hospital smell still made her stomach ill and her flesh crawl. Hospitals always brought back bad memories.

"Brooke!"

"Haley", Brooke said as she ran to embrace her sister in law.

The women hadn't seen each other in ages.

"I'm glad you made it."

"How is Dan?"

"The same. He opened his eyes a couple of times but most of the time he keeps slipping in and out of consciousness."

"And Luke?"

"Hurting but hiding it", Haley nodded. "It's hard on him. But I know he'll be glad that you're here. He really needs you, Brooke."

Brooke nodded uncomfortably and as if on cue, her husband appeared. Haley gave them a minute to be alone.

"Thanks for coming, Brooke."

"It's family. Where else would I be?"

"But you didn't have to. And you did and I appreciate it. I know I've hurt you and Dan has hurt just about everybody so it would be pretty unfair to expect you to be here of all places."

"Well I am here and I always will be. Just because we're getting divorced doesn't mean we can't be there for each other."

Her words hit like a punch in the gut. They had been getting along so well lately. Sometimes it was hard to realize she was still going ahead with divorce proceedings.

"Thanks Brooke", he managed to smile as he extended a hand to lead her into Dan's room.

Brooke took it but jerked forward as she clutched her belly.

"Brooke! What happened? What's wrong? Are you…"

"Oh my God!"

"Brooke…"

"Luke, feel", she grinned, putting his hand on her stomach.

Like tiny little bubbles, she felt their daughter move inside her for the first time. Tears sprang to Luke's eyes as he felt it too.

"Amazing", he whispered over and over again.

"Lucas, do you feel that? Do you feel her?"

"I feel her", he grinned. "Hey little one. I'm your Daddy. Me and your Mommy love you very much and we can't wait to see you."

"Lucas, that's our little girl", Brooke smiled.

"I know. Do you know what today is?"

"Sunday?"

"Yeah but it's Father's Day. And here I am in this hospital hurting and angry and confused and Dan keeps drifting in and out of the coma. I kept thinking this would be a Father's Day to remember. I guess it will be. Feeling the baby move was my first Father's Day present", he smiled.

Brooke took his hand and squeezed it as they entered the room.

"He's awake again", Haley whispered.

It was downright scary to see Big Bad Dan look so vulnerable in that bed. His eyes focused across the room to Brooke's belly. She walked over and sat gently beside him. Taking his hand, she kissed the palm then placed it on her stomach. She knew that Dan had felt his granddaughter kick. It was a beautiful moment, one which everyone around held with bated breath.

"You're gonna be okay, Dan", Brooke whispered. "We're praying for you."