Chapter seven

"Beside Me"

Lucas POV

Everyone had left the quiet sickening room. It was just me, my thoughts and a helpless angel. I was still near the door, to scared to go any closer to her bed, and terrified to look at her any more. I tried to change my focus off of her but it there was no point in trying. I couldn't move I couldn't breathe. I wanted to do anything I could to take any pain she was feeling at that moment away, but I was powerless. The doctor had assured us that she was not in a coma, but just resting. Resting? How could she be resting? She was hooked up to at least 6 different machines, each one making a different noise. I desperately wanted to get closer to her but my legs would not allow me to, I was stiff and numb. My mind quickly raced to when I was in the hospital. She had stayed by my bedside everyday from when they allowed visitors to come in until the very last second when the nurse was ready to call security to get her out. She put all my needs and wants before hers. So then why couldn't I do the same? Ill tell you why… because im a selfish bastard. I put my wants before hers and I destroyed all the love, faith and trust she had in me. I couldn't look at her without being disgusted in myself, I am not even worthy of being in her presence. But that's not what scared me the most… What scared me the most was if she woke up…? I know that doesn't make sense but that the truth. I am terrified that she'll wake up and tell me to get out! I don't know what ill do if she's upset to see me. Just thinking about it is making my heart ache even more. I need her and I want her, but most of all I need her to need me and want me, and if it takes me until my very last breath I'll stand by her.

Lucas began to take a few short steps, until there was no where else to go but the seat in front of her bed. He slowly slid the chair closer to her bedside and sat down. He stared at the petite frame in front of him. She was had been carrying his child, all alone. She had probably thought that he wouldn't want anything to do with her. He wished she would wake up so he could tell her that she was wrong and that he had stayed up every night wishing she was laying beside him, talking about anything and everything. He hesitated for a moment before he reached out and held the small cold hands. He rubbed them between his own, and then brought her hand towards his mouth and kissed it gently.

"Hey you" he breathed heavily as he began to talk.

"How you been?" he couldn't do this… the pain inside was unbearable.

"Oh god Brooke…wake up…we need you back here most of all I need you back here. I need you to know that I'm never leaving your side again, I can't and I won't."

He took his eyes off her for a split second as he stared at his feet and then continued.

"You know… I thought moving to Charleston was the best idea ever and it would give me the chance to put some distance between the people I hurt so much. But it didn't work, every night I sat in my bed thinking what were you doing at the same moment? And if you were thinking of me?...I know I hurt you and I Know it… God Brooke you don't know how much I would kill just to hear you say that you forgive me."

He had tried so hard to keep it in, but at this point he couldn't he allowed the tears to flow freely and uncontrollably.

"I loved you… and I still do, just please wake up soon…"

He rubbed the tears off his cheeks and rested his head on the side of her bed. He soon drifted off to sleep clutching her hand, and keeping it close to his chest.

It had now been a couple of hours. It was now 8:30 am the morning sunlight blazed through the windows. Lucas could feel the light on his back but he was too tired to move. But then it happened, the hand he clenched so tightly began to wiggle. He quickly sat up just in time to see Brooke begin to flicker her eyes open. She looked around the room, obviously confused of her surroundings.

"What…? Where am I?" she grabbed her head feeling as if her whole world was spinning around her. Her eyes finally settled on the tired but stunned blonde sitting beside her.

"Lucas?" her raspy voice asked. "What are you doing here?"

"You don't remember do you?" he talked softly.

"No…"

"You were hit by a car last night."

"WHAT!" she panicked, Lucas's heart ached as he watched her grab her stomach.

"Im sorry"

was all he was capable of saying. She looked at him confused. He took a deep breath, scared to tell her the next part, he grabbed her hand and continued.

"You…. (Sigh) You lost the baby" He whispered.

She instantly brought her hand to her mouth and shook her head from right to left. She then began to cry, which tore at Lucas's heart. He stood up, and sat on the side of her bed allowing her to cry in to his chest.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he whispered.

"I was so scared, and then I had finally decided that I would call you but then all this happ- wait a minute" she stopped.

"How did you get here…I mean why are you here. You live in Charleston"

Lucas felt his heart get caught in his throat…did she really think that he didn't care at all for her.

"Peyton called me" he began. "She told me what happened and I came as fast as I could."

"Why?"

"Brooke what do you mean Why?" he was now upset. "I Care about you. More then you'll ever no." he knew she didn't believe him so he decided to bring everything out in the open now, he didn't know when the next chance would be that they would be alone so he decided to take advantage of the moment, and considering she was attached to her bed there was no way she could run out and not here what he had to say.

"Ever since I left Tree hill, I've been thinking about you. I can't sleep at night I stay up thinking about all the nights we had together. What happened with me and Peyton was the biggest mistake of my life. I lost one of the most important things in my life…You. I know it's hard for you to forgive me, But you don't know how much I want you to forgive me… How much I need you to forgive me."

He took another deep breath and continued in a softer tone.

"you know… when I got Peyton's phone call last night telling me you were in the hospital, I felt my whole world crashing done, I was so scared to loose you. I rushed here as fast as I could. The doctor came out and told us your condition and I was so relieved that you were going to be okay, they told us that only one person could stay here the night and I couldn't bear the thought of having to go home and not be with you."

The whole time Lucas had had his back toward Brooke, Facing the windows. He spun around when he heard sniffles, to see Brooke crying. But before he could say or do anything the nurse burst into the room.

"OH Ms. Davis you're finally awake! My God you should have seen this place yesterday! Your room was filled with visitors I had to practically beat them all out with a stick to get out of this room. But that one over there" she pointed to Luke. "Was ready to beat me with a stick if I didn't let him stay" she laughed, and so did Luke.

"But unfortunately you're going to have to get out for a bit so I can replace her bandages and check up on all of her cuts."

Lucas didn't object, he knew Brooke wouldn't want him in the room right now.

"Actually" Brooke began. "Can he stay?" she looked at the nurse, she could tell from the corner of her eye that Luke was surprised but thrilled.

The nurse looked between the two teenagers.

"Alright fine… im just warning you it might not be pretty" She moved closer to Brooke, and began to untie her gown, and let it fall to her side.

She then began to untie the large bandages on her left shoulder. The pain was unbearable, as she began to scrunch her eyes from the pain. Lucas quickly rushed to her side and allowed her to grab her hand and squeeze.

"It's okay just breathe" he whispered. Just his voice was able to ease her.

She breathed in and out just as he instructed. Lucas to a glimpse of the gashes on her shoulder, right when he saw them his stomach began to make flip flops. It was large and, and the gashes were deep.

"Are you okay?' he whispered again. "Yah" she whimpered, his hand let loose a bit.

But she quickly grabbed it...

"Just don't let go" she cried, he could see a single tear slide down her cheek, he brought up his free hand and wiped it away and then place his hand on her back rubbing it in a circular motion. After 15 minutes the nurse was done.

"Alright hunny it's all done, the doctor will be in shortly to talk with you." The nurse said as she cleaned up the dirty bandages and left the room.

"How you feeling?" Lucas whispered.

"Alive and breathing… Cant ask for more" She followed his same tone. Before they could finish their conversation the doctor came bursting through the doors.

"AH! Ms. Davis! It's nice to see you up!" Lucas stared at the doctor, He was sure the man had just had 10 Gallons of Coffee.

"Alright" he continued.

"First things first, your test results came in and so far you are on your way to a full recovery, and im sure this young man has informed you about…" he began to hesitate.

"Yah…he did"

"Im very sorry Ms. Davis, I did everything I could do, but we were too late." Lucas watched as the tears welled up in her eyes again, He replaced his hand on her back, just to remind her that he was there.

'However considering the baby had been around 5 ½ months, there was a procedure that we had to do just to make sure that everything was removed from your uterus, And since you were unconscious and we had no immediate family to contact, we did the procedure after the operation. Oh that reminds you who will be taking you home?"

"Umm im not sure, but it wont be a problem I can find a ride home."

"Oh no see we can't allow that, we must be absolutely sure that there will be someone taking care of you, can you get a hold of your parents?"

"Uh no actually there in Europe for 6 months." The doctor stared at Brooke.

"Well unfortunately by law I am not allowed to release you unless I am sure you have recovered or I know you are being taken care of"

"Uh don't worry about it Doctor, she'll be taken care of" Lucas interrupted. Lucas could see the uneasy look in the doctor's eyes.

"She'll stay with me and my mom, until she's fully recovered and if she doesn't want to stay with me ill make sure to stay with her in her home"

"Alright then it's settled, however before your leave you have to sign some consent forms"

"Absolutely"

"Alright then, you will be able to pick her up tomorrow aftern-"

"WHAT! I have to stay here for another night!...Alone!'

"Yes im sorry Ms. Davis but I still want to keep you here just to make sure everything is alright"

"But I hate it here!" she wined. The doctor smiled.

"Alright if your good I can pull a few strings and let your friend here stay with you another night"

"Oh I don't know I don't think that's a good id-"Lucas began but was cut off by Brooke.

"Please..." her voice lowered to a whisper, as she looked up at Luke. He stared at in her eyes and could see she was desperate and upset and he wouldn't leave her in the she needed him most.

He hesitated but continued. "Of course"

"Alright then, well since I might not have any time tomorrow I have to go through a few things with you Mr..?"

"Scott"

"Mr. Scott! Alright well Ms. Davis here is going to be a lot of work. Her bandages must be changed at least twice a day, Ill make sure one of the nurses supplies you with everything you need. Im also putting her on bed rest for 2 weeks, after the accident and the miscarriage her body is going to need lots of rest. I've written a couple of prescriptions, which you will have to pick up from the store. The pharmacist will advise you on when she should take them. Oh and she will have to come and see me every 2 weeks for a month or two just so I can check up on how she is doing. I have put a small cast on her arm for now, I couldn't put anything larger because of the large gashes. (Sigh) Your one lucky woman Ms. Davis, a hit like that could have caused some extreme damage." And with that he turned around and left the room.

"Thanks" she sighed. "you didn't have to agree to stay, or to make up that lie to get me out"

"I wanted to stay, and im not lying" She looked at him confused.

"Im serious Brooke, Im not leaving your side. Im going to Move back to Tree Hill until you've fully recovered"

"Luke, i couldn't ask you to do that"

"Then don't, either way im not leaving you"

"Thanks" she smiled genuinely at him, His heart began to melt at the sight of her dimples. The room began to go silent.

"Alright so look I was thinking" He said in a more up beat tone. Brooke turned her head to look at him.

"Im guessing the food hear sucks" Brooke nodded here head rapidly.

"Alright so I was thinking I go buy you some food…Real food?" Brooke shot up, excited!

"Luke you are a God!" she squealed.

"yah i know" he joked, Brooke just rolled her eyes and smiled.

"So name what you want?"

"hmm…. I want your mom's Breakfast Delight!" Luke just stared at her and laughed.

"What are you laughing at Scott that is literally the best dam food!"

"Alright alright ill be back soon" he said as he got up off his chair and closed the door on his way out.

"Don't be to long" Brooke whispered to the empty room.

Brooke lay in her bed tired. Her mind was crowded with to many thoughts. Lucas was back in Tree Hill now…For her. She couldn't help but let a small smile creep between her lips. Just the thought of him made her heart skip a beat. However her happy thoughts soon demolished from her mind when she remembered what had happened in the last 12 hours. She had lost her baby. She couldn't help but blame herself. If she was just a bit more careful, or if she hadn't fought with Peyton and ran out she wouldn't have lost her little girl. Yup her little girl…she had found out almost a week ago that she was going to have a baby girl. She allowed a small tear to escape from her eyes. Yet she couldn't help but think if this was for the best… she was only 17 how was she supposed to provide for this child? How was she supposed to raise her? How could she teach her right from wrong when she didn't even know right from wrong yet? But she felt selfish even thinking about it. Brooke's thoughts were interrupted by a small petite brunette entering the room.

"Uhh…can I help you?" Brooke asked

"Your up!" the girl smiled.

"Yah I noticed… are you one of the nurses?" The girl laughed.

"No… sorry I forgot you didn't know me my name is Anna!" the girl smiled and stuck out her hand.

"Hi im Brooke." Brooke replied awkwardly.

"Umm…if you don't mind me asking…why are you here?" Brooke tries to be polite.

"Oh I'm here with Luke!"

"Oh are you a friend of his?"

"You could say that …I'm his girlfriend" Brooke looked at this girl shocked.

"Im sorry I thought u said you were his girlfriend"

"I am his girlfriend" Brooke was furious now. How could she have been so stupid to believe everything he had told her? She had thought that they could start over, but right now all she wanted to do was rip off this girls head.

"Ohh wow im so happy for you guys." Brooke lied through her teeth.

"So tell me how long have you guys been together" Brooke chocked out.

"Oh only a day now. But you could say its been leading up to it for awhile now. I had feelings for him and it was obvious he had feelings for me. So he asked me out and that's basically it" Anna could see the jealousy in Brooke's eyes and she loved it.

"You and Luke used to date right?" Anna asked as if she didn't know.

"Yah we did."

"Yah I think he mentioned you a lot..." Brooke smiled… But Anna caught her smile "Oh no wait that was Peyton" Anna corrected herself. Feeling content with the sad reaction she received from Brooke. "I think he mentioned you once…maybe twice at most"

"Yah well that's all in the past" Brooke's voice lowered.

"Wait how'd you get here" Brooke asked.

"Oh on our way home yesterday the car broke down so Haley Nathan and Peyton said they were going to go see Nathan's dad to borrow a car or something. Anyways after much protesting from them I told them i would just walk to the hospital. You know how it is I just really missed Luke"

"Yah I do" Brooke whispered underneath her breath.

"Speaking of Lucas where is he" Anna asked, finally aware that he wasn't anywhere in the room.

"Oh he went to go buy me some food"

"Do they not serve food here?" Anna said a bit rudely

"Have you tasted the crap they feed to the people here?"

"So you sent Lucas to get you food?"

"Nope…he offered" Brooke smiled, knowing she was getting to Anna.

"Okay listen up" Anna got closer, obviously pissed off.

"I've worked really hard for my relationship with Luke. Way to hard for some old ex-girlfriend to get in the way. So if you don't want any more gashes i suggest you step back."

"Listen here you little bitch. You don't even know what the hell your talking bout and if you're so scared of you loosing Luke then you obviously can't keep him satisfied"

"Oh really…wait didn't he cheat on you with your best friend? And you're telling me I can't keep him satisfied?"

"You son of a bi-" But before she could continue her statement Luke came strolling in, not looking up.

"Alright well I got you the Breakfast Delight, a hot coff- Anna what are you doing here!" Luke said abruptly terrified of the scene he had just walked in on.

"Oh baby! There you are! I just came to check on you and Brooke" She kissed his lips. But Lucas did not take his gaze from Brooke. She looked so hurt, and he couldn't believe he was the reason why she was hurt…again.

"Yah I was just having a great conversation with your girlfriend" Lucas shuttered at the way she said girlfriend.

"Anna can you please wait outside" Lucas whispered.

"Baby why?" Lucas wasn't in the mood for this.

"Just go"

She huffed a bit and made her way outside. There was an awkward silence.

"Get out…" she whispered.

"Brooke let me explain"

"I said get out! I can't even believe your still here!"

"Brooke you don't get it! All I want is you!''

"I really though you've change Luke…How do I know that this isn't one of your games! Because it looks to me like you run after what you can't have"

"Brooke it isn't like that! Me and Anna are nothing I only went out with her because I had to move on. I didn't think I would ever see you again! I told you I wasn't going anywhere and im not" Luke was now on his knees leaning again Brookes bed clutching her hands for deal life.

"Promise…"

"I promise" he smiled weakly.

"What about Anna"

"Don't worry… you just eat and ill take care of everything!" he served her her food and made his way outside to talk to Anna.

"There you are!" she squealed.

"Umm listen Anna we need to talk." He placed his hand in his pocket awkwardly.

"yah sure bout what?"

"Anna you've been really great. You didn't have to come down here but you put aside everything to come and help me out"

"Anything for you baby!" she kissed him softly but he pulled away.

"Luke what's wrong?"

"Anna I think you should go home" he whispered.

"What Luke why?"

"Anna this (he pointed between them) was great, but im going to have to end it" It broke his heart to see her like this, a tear rolled down her cheek. Luke wiped it away with his finger.

"I have to move back to Tree Hill" He told her.

"For Brooke?" she bit her bottom lip.

"Yah…and my mom, Haley, Nathan and Peyton…They need me here and I can't leave them" she nodded slightly grabbed her purse off the floor, pulled herself out of Lucas's grasp and made her way to the exit. Lucas sighed as he brushed his hand on his hairless head. He turned around and made his way into Brooke's room. He crept in quietly only to find her gobbling down her food. She looked at him smiled slightly.

"You bought me a triple hot fudge sundae!"

"Shhh keep it down they'll kill me if they find out I brought that stuff in here!" she paid no attention as she continued to devour her food. When she was done she turned her gaze to face him.

"How'd it go?"

"I couldn't really have expected her to smile and say anything you want Luke" he looked down at his feet uncomfortably"

"Im sorry…" she whispered.

"No No don't be it was coming whether we wanted it or not" But before they could continue the door burst open.

'YOU'RE AWAKE!" Haley ran through the doors, and hugged Brooke.

"We were so worried!" she continued.

"Alright Haley move over let the girl breathe!" Nathan cut in as he bent down to give Brooke a hug.

"Thank you" she whispered into his ear. Nathan laughed. Brooke looked to the corner of the room to see Peyton standing off to the side.

"What the hell! Get your skinny ass over here and give me a hug!" Brooke exclaimed. Peyton immediacy ran over and gave her best friend a hug,

"Don't you ever do that to me again!" she yelled at Brooke.

"I thought I was going to loose you!"

"Hun your gunna have to try harder then that to get rid of me!" the whole room smiled at Brooke's humor

"Wait… Where's Ana?" Nathan asked.

"Um well let's just say I doubt you'll see her for awhile." Lucas interrupted.

"Did you guys break up?" Haley asked. Lucas noticed that all three of the new guests turned to him with hopeful eyes. He smiled at them.

"Yah I told her to go home…since im not going back any time soon"

"WHAT!" all three of them turned to look at him.

"Yah just until I recover" Brooke said.

"No..." Brooke looked at him suspiciously.

"Guys…Im moving back to Tree Hill…Permanently"