Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill, or any of these characters!
Author's Note: Thanks SOOO much for the great reviews! As I said last week, I know I don't have any of the war facts right. I'm just trying to write a romance drama here. Please don't be mad, because I know they aren't all right. Anyways, please read and review! Thanks so much!
Part Three
The next day, Brooke, Peyton, and Haley was all seated on the couch at Haley's house. This was the day they would find out about the war.
It was a commercial, so the girls were talking. Brooke said, "You know, even if the war ends, that doesn't mean our guys are coming home any time soon."
Peyton sighed. "I know, and it totally sucks."
Haley said worriedly, "What if it doesn't end? I mean, what if they don't come back for years?"
Brooke assured her, "That won't happen. They give them two week break like once a year. So its not like we'll never see them."
The CNN anchorman appeared on screen, and Peyton shushed them. "Shut up!"
Tom Brokaw was saying, "It's official. The war in the Middle East is over. The treaty was signed one hour ago."
The girls jumped up and down, screaming and crying with happiness. "Oh my God!" They all squealed.
They quieted down to listen for more information. The anchor continued, "All drafted soldiers will be returning home as soon as possible. It could be a month, it could be three."
Peyton looked at Brooke and Haley. "We have to call the Army National Guard. They will know when they will return."
Brooke was already dialing it on her phone, with shaky fingers. She was so excited that Lucas would be coming home soon. She wasn't complete unless she was with him. After a moment, she closed her phone, disappointed. "Its busy. I bet, like, everyone is calling."
Haley said firmly, "Lets go up there."
Brooke shrugged. "Okay."
Peyton nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I can't wait until tomorrow's paper."
Brooke grabbed her keys. "We'll take my car. Come on, lets go."
Half an hour later, they arrived at the crowded complex. There were tons of people milling around.
Brooke did a "Brooke Davis" parking job and they all hopped out. Well, Haley 'hopped' as best she could, being seven months pregnant with twins.
The three young women rushed inside. Inside, it was completely chaotic. Officials were trying to control everyone.
Brooke spotted an officer off to the side, and walked up to him in her Abercrombie jeans and American Eagle tank. "Excuse me, can you answer some questions?"
He nodded. "Yes, maam."
She laughed. "Oh, God, don't call me maam. I'm twenty four. Anyways, is it true that the drafted guys from Tree Hill will be returning from Iraq?"
He nodded stiffly. "Yes, maam."
"Do you know when?" She asked wishfully.
"One month, maam."
She nearly melted. "A month? That's all? Oh my God, thank you so much!" Full of emotion, she reached out and hugged him. She then realized what she did. "God, I'm sorry. That's not like, proper or whatever."
The soldier smiled. "Don't worry about it."
Brooke flashed him a winning smile and hurried back over to Peyton and Haley. "One month," she announced. Tears filled her eyes. "I can't believe they are really coming back."
Peyton smiled. "A month? For real? Yes!"
Haley complained light heartedly, "I don't know if I can hold these girls in until then."
Peyton grinned. "I'm sure you can manage."
"Yeah, Tutor Girl," Brooke chimed in. "You can do anything!"
Three weeks later, Peyton was at home with Jenny. Jenny was in the den watching television and Peyton was in the kitchen paying bills. She had just found out she was having a baby boy, and she was very excited. She had also had a sonogram done.
Peyton was humming a song to herself while writing a check when the phone rang. Jenny ran in. "I got it, I got it, I got it," she yelled.
Peyton, one step ahead of her, grabbed it first. "Not so fast," she winked. Jenny put on a pouty face, crossed her arms, and went back into the other room. Peyton shook her head. That kid was so dramatic. She said into the phone, "Hello?"
"Is a Mrs. Jygelski there?"
"Yes, this is she."
"This is Officer Jones from the National Guard. Do you mind coming down as soon as you can?"
Peyton's heart skipped a beat. "Uh, sure. Can I ask why?"
"Just get here soon, please," the officer said kindly but firmly.
Peyton hung up the phone with shaky hands. The National Guard didn't call you down there for any reason. There was only one reason. And that reason scared the hell out of Peyton.
"JENNY!" She yelled, very anxious.
"What!"
"Come on, we are going to Brooke's."
Jenny walked in and demanded, "Why?"
"Because. Just get your coat," Peyton pleaded.
Jenny could tell something was wrong and retrieved her coat for her mom. Peyton ushered her out to the car and in about two minutes they arrived at Brooke and Luke's apartment. Peyton rang the doorbell and Brooke answered it in a sexy lingerie outfit.
Peyton raised her eyebrows. "Uh, hi."
Brooke was flustered. "Sorry, Pey. I went shopping today and I'm trying stuff on." Brooke noticed Jenny. "Hey, Jen. What's going on?"
She shrugged. "Dunno. Mom's upset."
Brooke looked at Peyton curiously. "Peyton, what's up?"
Peyton looked down at her daughter. "Peyton, why don't you go into the kitchen for a second?" Jenny did as she was told. As soon as she was gone, Peyton told her best friend, "Officer Jones from the National Guard called and said it was urgent and I should go there asap."
Brooke's eyes grew wide. "Oh my God."
Peyton nodded tearfully. "Brooke, can you watch Jenny for me?"
"Yeah, of course. Go, and be careful. And don't worry. I'm sure things are fine," she tried unsuccessfully in assuring Peyton.
"BYE JENNY, I LOVE YOU!" She shouted.
"LOVE YOU!" Jenny yelled back.
Peyton smiled gratefully at Brooke. "Be back soon," she promised.
Fifteen minutes later, Peyton pulled up to the building she was at not even a month ago. She rushed inside.
"Can I help you?" The secretary asked sweetly.
"Yes, I was called down here by an Officer...Jones."
"Yes, you can go right on in," she said, pointing towards an office.
"Thanks."
Peyton walked up and knocked on the door. "Come in."
She walked inside and found three people in there. The man behind the desk said nicely, "Mrs. Jygelski, please, have a seat. Thank you for coming."
Peyton sat gingerly on the edge. "What's going on?"
"I'm Officer Jones," the man introduced himself. "And this is Officer Adams, and this is Marie Cinclaire." Peyton stared at him. He cleared his throat. "Peyton, something happened to your husband."
Peyton had prepared for the worst, and she balled her hands into fists and tried to be strong.
"He's missing."
Peyton was confused. "What do you mean, missing?"
"Fort Hill soldiers were in Iraq heading towards a base, and he went missing. Our guess is that he was kidnapped."
Peyton couldn't digest this information. "Do you know where he is?"
The officers exchanged glances. "Maam, we believe he was killed."
Peyton jumped up. "No!" She shouted hysterically. "He isn't dead!"
"He's been missing for three weeks now."
She shook her head, tears streaming out of her eyes. "No, he can't be gone," she whispered. She put her hand on her stomach, barely able to contain herself. She had always feared this would happen. Jake would be killed in the war, and she would be all alone.
The officer said gently, "We are here for you, whatever you need."
She looked up. "So that's it? You tell me my husband was kidnapped, and I go home and keep on living?"
"Marie will help you and your daughter."
Peyton finally noticed the woman off to the side. "So she's like a therapist?"
"She helps families who have suffered losses."
Peyton stood up. "I don't need your sympathy. Can I go?" She wanted out of there. She wanted to go to her car, have a good cry, and then go pick her daughter up and just hold her in her arms.
"We wanted to tell you before we tell the press. Tomorrow, it will probably be in the news and you may be getting calls. Just expect this."
Peyton nodded, wiping her eyes. "Is there anything I need to sign before I leave?"
Officer Jones shook his head. "No, maam."
Peyton said, "Thank you." She turned and left, hurrying to her car. As soon as she was in it, she lost it. She started at cry and couldn't stop. Jake was gone. Jake was dead. She couldn't believe it. He was so close. He was supposed to come home next week.
She sobbed on her steering wheel for a good twenty minutes before it started to get dark. She started the car, and got on the highway.
A song came on the radio, and it was, "Come Home Soon," by SheDaisy.
Peyton let a sob slip out, and pulled off onto the shoulder. She let the tears fall again, and she just couldn't get a hold of herself. Nothing was ever going to be the same. Never.
Thirty minutes later, she arrived at Brooke's. She tried to look presentable, but gave up. It was useless.
She knocked on the door and Brooke opened it. Brooke didn't even have to ask about what happened. She could see it in Peyton's eyes.
She held her arms out and Peyton fell into them, sobbing on her shoulder. "Brooke, he's gone," she cried. "He's gone..."
"Shh," Brooke tried soothing her, as tears of her own started to fall. She led her into the apartment and they sat on the couch, Peyton still crying on Brooke's shoulder. "Pey, its gonna be okay."
Peyton shook her head. "Jake's gone," she sobbed. "Its never going to be okay."
"Tell me what happened."
Peyton pulled away and said, "A few weeks ago he went missing, and they think he was kidnapped. And...and...and," she choked on her words, barely able to talk. "They think he's ...dead..." she finished, started to cry again.
Brooke, too, started to cry. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. Come here."
Peyton let her friend hold her for awhile when she asked, "Where's Jenny?"
"In my room, watching Bring It On."
"Brooke..." Peyton didn't like Jenny watching that movie.
"What?" It was Brooke's favorite movie.
Peyton sniffed, wiping her eyes with a Kleenex. "I don't know how I'm going to tell her," she murmured. How do you tell a six year old their daddy died?
Brooke didn't know what to say. Her heart broke for Peyton and Jenny. And for Jake. She couldn't believe they thought he was dead. "Pey, maybe he's not dead," she suggested. "They have no proof."
"That's what I thought. And they can't declare him dead until he's been gone for at least eight weeks."
"See? Maybe he's out there, trying to get home."
Peyton shrugged. "I don't know. And I have no idea how to tell Jenny."
"Tell me what?" Jenny asked. She had finished the movie.
Peyton said, "Jen, come here for a second, sweetie."
Brooke quietly got up and left the room, leaving the two alone.
Jenny sat in Peyton's lap. "Mom, what's wrong?"
"Honey, I just talked to some people and they told me something."
"What?"
Peyton wasn't sure how to say it, so she decided she should just say it. "Baby, they said Daddy is gone."
"What do you mean?"
"He went missing a few weeks ago. Somebody kidnapped him."
"When will they find him?" Jenny was only six, and this very hard for a six year old to grasp.
Peyton hated to say, "They said they probably won't," she said, gently.
Jenny stood up. "Yes they will! They have to!"
"Jenny, come here," Peyton said desperately.
Jenny shook her head. "No, they don't know anything! Daddy isn't gone! He's still out there!" She wanted to yell again but collapsed in a heap of tears. Peyton pulled her into her lap, rocking her back and forth.
"Baby, its okay to cry."
"I want Daddy," Jenny cried.
"I want him too," Peyton whispered into her ear.
Jenny looked at her. "Do you believe Daddy is dead?"
Peyton shook her head. "No, baby. I think he is still out there somewhere."
Jenny nodded. "Me too."
