Author's Note: I apologize for the mess up with my chapters. If you access Chapter 1, Chapter 10 will come up and so forth. I thought it was just a virus and that the site would fix it but if it doesn't clear up by tomorrow, I will reformat the chapters...

"You alright, Diva?"

Brooke sighed as she idly tapped her pencil against her desk. It had been weeks since her return from Italy and the angry confrontation with her husband that had led to an unforgettable night of unbridled passion. And after months of slow progress building to civility then to somewhat of a friendship, all of a sudden the relationship had taken several step backs and Brooke found herself back at the beginning trying to survive the tense, awkward and uncomfortable interactions with Lucas.

"I'm fine, Gordon."

"Fine? You don't look fine. Talk to me, Baby Girl."

"Everything's okay, Gordie. Really. Now back to that new female model that did the lingerie ad…what was her name?"

"Nicolette Charles."

"Yeah, that's it. She has a press conference coming out before her new billboard hits Times Square and we're going to need you to work that."

"No problem. Gordon to the rescue and believe me, my services will be needed. That child has the face of an angel and a body like a Greek goddess but unfortunately the personality of a floor lamp and the refinement of Ellie Mae Clampett."

"Yeah, she definitely needs work…"

"Anything else?"

"The numbers from the swimsuit campaign…"

"Brooke, you have a visitor", Chantal announced as she knocked.

"I didn't see anyone on my appointment calendar. Look, Chantal, tell whoever it is they have to wait because Gordon and I really need some time to finish up here."

"Um, it's Lucas."

Brooke cursed under her breath as Lucas entered her office without a formal invitation.

"Brooke, we need to talk", he started.

"Lucas, I am very busy. Can't this wait?"

"No, it can't", he said matter of factly.

She felt her cheeks burn as the prying eyes of Chantal and Gordon were now focused on the estranged couple's tension.

"Fine. Um, can we have a minute, please?"

"You heard her, Chantal", Gordon nodded. "Now scoot."

"That means you too, man", Lucas spoke up.

"Uh-uh! Oh no you didn't…"

"Gordon, please", Brooke interjected. "We'll finish up later."

"Fine", he huffed, leering at Lucas as he closed the door behind him. "She's just gonna tell me all about it later."

"What the hell is with that guy?" Luke muttered when husband and wife were alone.

"No, I think the question is, what the hell is with you? Lucas, what is it now? What couldn't wait until I got home? What made you have to storm in my office going on and on…"

"Brooke, Dan has a heart condition called HCM. It's a mutation that caused his heart muscles to thicken. Eventually it stops the heart from pumping blood."

"Okay. I mean, yeah that's important or whatever but you couldn't wait until later to give me the full diagnosis?"

"It can cause cardiac arrest brought on by stress or excessive physical activity", Lucas continued on, ignoring her.

"Luke, what are you getting at?"

"It's genetic."

"Genetic?" Brooke asked in disbelief. "That…that means, oh my God that you and Nathan could…"

"Me, Nathan, the boys…and our baby."

Brooke felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.

"Lucas…"

"Nathan got tested and he's fine. He and Hales are waiting on Aidan and Tristan's results."

"What…what are the odds?"

"Fifty-fifty. One in two."

Brooke grabbed the arms of her chair for support as she fought to find words despite the huge lump in her throat and the tears stinging her eyes.

"Oh my God! Oh my God, Luke! If Nathan is fine, that means you could…"

"With Nathan being okay, that will reduce the odds for his kids. The boys should be okay."

"Thank God but what about you? What about our baby?"

"They can test her as soon as she's born. Hopefully, she will be okay. If not then, there's medicine and treatments and stuff so she can lead a relatively normal life."

"Oh my God. This…this is not happening."

"I didn't want to upset you Brooke but I owe you the truth. This is my fault and I'm sorry."

The expression on his face was absolutely grief stricken.

"No…it's no one's fault, Luke. I…I don't know what to say. I am frightened for our daughter but I'm frightened for you too."

She could no longer control her sobs as she ran to him and held him with all her might.

"Shhhh. It's okay, Brooke. Please don't cry, okay?"

"I can't help it", she whimpered. "I am terrified! I don't want anything to happen to the baby or to you. Lucas, we've been through so much and I feel like I lost you once already. I don't want to lose you again. I…I just want us to be a family. I don't want anything else to come between us."

Lucas stroked her back as he held his wife and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"It's okay", he whispered. "We'll be okay, Brooke."

"Your results…when do they come back?"

"They won't", Lucas breathed.

"What?"

"I didn't take the test."

"Why not? My God, Luke, what are you waiting for?"

"I'm not going to take it, Brooke. I don't want to know."

Brooke felt her sadness and fear quickly escalate to anger.

"What do you mean, you don't want to know?"

"Basketball is such a huge part of my life. If it came back positive, then I'd have to give all that up."

"What about me? What about your child?"

"Brooke…"

"It's a huge risk, Lucas."

"What about the risk of never feeling alive again?"

"What? As opposed to never being alive again? There is more to life than sports."

"Brooke remember in high school when Keith and me got in the accident?"

"How could I forget?" she responded bitterly. "It was really scary. We thought we might lose you. You were in a coma for three days."

"After that happened I promised myself I would never be afraid again."

"What? Of dying?"

"Dying…and living."

"Lucas…"

"Look, I know you don't understand why I'm doing this but I have to, Brooke. And the only thing I need to know is that my daughter will be okay."

"Yeah your daughter will be fine the day her daddy collapses and croaks on the court before he's thirty", Brooke said sarcastically.

"Brooke, just please try to respect my decision."

"No", Brooke said, grabbing her purse and keys. "Come on because I am personally driving you to the doctor's office right now where you are going to take that test."

"No."

"You are taking that test, Luke!"

"No, I'm not."

"Why not?"

"Lots of reasons. I already told you…"

"What? Basketball? Fuck basketball and fuck you too for being a selfish prick! Damn you, Lucas. It's always about basketball with you. Yeah, I'm glad you have a talent and I'm glad you enjoy it and it provided a pretty great life for us but is it worth dying for? What about the baby and me? You're willing to put a stupid game before your life and not your family?"

"It's not like that."

"Oh shut up! That tragic hero bullshit only works in the movies and you know what they don't show you after the fade out? The hero's angry, psychotic, hormonal, estranged eight months pregnant wife putting her foot up his ass!"

"Brooke, whatever. You can threaten me all you want but I'm sorry. I'm not taking the test."

"Fine! You know what? That's just fine! See if I care! Do you, Luke but then again, you always do, don't you? I'm just gonna go make sure your life insurance policies and pension plan are in order because it looks like I'll be collecting a big, fat check in a few years."

"Brooke…"

"No! For a few seconds when you first told me about this, all my anger and mistrust went right out the door and for a minute we were a family again. And I loved you and the thought of losing you really hurt me. I started to see you as a decent human being again who really cared about me and our little girl but once again you prove me wrong. You're the same selfish, inconsiderate son of a bitch I filed for divorce from."

"Brooke, please."

"No. That's it, Lucas. I'm done. I can't take anymore. Just leave me alone."

"Brooke, talk to me. I…"

"Did you not hear me?" she said a little louder. "I don't care what you do anymore but I'm done! Just like that, Lucas. Now take your sorry ass excuses and get the hell out of my place of business!"

He left without another word as she desperately tried to pull herself together. Fresh tears threatened as the baby gave her abdomen a gentle kick.

"It's just you and me, kid", she sighed as she rubbed her belly.

It killed her but she knew she finally had to face the realization that Lucas was gone forever. It was one thing to lose him to another woman, quite another to lose him to death by his own stupidity and stubbornness. Regardless her heart couldn't take anymore and she had another factor in the ever complicated equation. Lucas was gone and there was nothing she could do. There was no going back.