2/26 10:30 a.m.
"Brooke, sweetie, wake up." Faith said as she shook Brooke gently
"What?" Brooke asked as she opened her eyes
"We're at the hospital." Faith said softly
Brooke sat up quickly. "Already? Oh God. I'm not ready to go in there yet."
"Do you want to go get some food first?" Jeremy asked
"What time is it?" Brooke asked as she put her hair in a ponytail
"About 10:30." Jeremy answered
"You drive fast." Brooke said, thinking it was much later
"It was for a good reason."
Brooke sighed. "I think I should just go on in." She turned to Faith. "You don't have to, but would you come in with me?"
"Anything you need." Faith gave Brooke's arm a comforting squeeze
"I think I'll just wait out here." Jeremy said
"I'm sure Karen or Haley will let you guys stay at their place so that you can rest up before your trip home. Just give me a few minutes to talk to them." Brooke said to Jeremy
"That's fine. No hurry." Jeremy reassured Brooke
"Ok. Come on Faith." Brooke said as she got out of the car
As Brooke walked up to the hospital doors, she suddenly stopped.
"I don't think that I can do this." Brooke whispered
Faith placed her hand in Brooke's. "It's ok. I'm here with you. You arent alone, ok."
Brooke turned to Faith and smiled. "Thanks Faith. This means a lot to me."
"No problem." Faith smiled back and dropped Brooke's hand
Brooke immediately grabbed Faith's hand. "Please. Don't let go."
Faith nodded as the two girls made their way inside.
"I got some coffee for us all." Haley said as she handed Lucas, Karen, and Nathan some steaming cups
"Thanks Haley." Karen smiled. "You ok?"
"No." Haley smiled sadly
"We should be able to find out something soon. Your parents should be here late tonight. They were trying to get out of Florida to get here as soon as they could." Nathan said as Haley sat back down
"Have we gotten a hold of Larry yet?" Lucas asked Karen
"Not yet. Is there any way for you to find Sydney's parents?" Karen sighed
"I don't know. If I could get her cell phone, I could see if their number is in there. Last time I asked, they wouldn't let me have it."
"Did you explain why you needed it?" Haley asked
"I tried. I'll go try again." Lucas stood up and turned to walk from the waiting room to the desk. He stopped a few steps into his quest. "Brooke." He said with a relieved sigh
Karen, Nathan, and Haley all looked to where Lucas was looking. They all felt a mix of relief and sympathy as they watched Brooke walk in.
Hand in hand with Faith, Brooke made her way over to the four people in the waiting room. Dropping Faith's hand when she reached them, she fell into Lucas' arms.
"Oh Luke." Brooke cried into Lucas' shoulder
Lucas stroked Brooke's hair as she cried, and offered Faith a small smile over Brooke's head
"Have you heard anything yet?" Brooke asked as she pulled away
"Not yet." Lucas shook his head
"Brooke." Haley said as she appeared next to Lucas
"Haley." Brooke enveloped Haley in a hug, and both women began to cry
Lucas walked over to Faith."I'm glad you came with Brooke."
Faith smiled. "I'm not staying. I just came to drop her off." Faith yawned
"Did you drive all night?"
"Jeremy drove us. He owed me a favor." Faith laughed
"I'm glad you stayed with her." Lucas gave Faith a hug. "I'll see if my mom will let you guys stay at our place today so you can sleep before you have to drive back."
"Thanks Lucas."
12:00 p.m.
Brooke, Lucas, Haley, and Nathan were all sitting in silence in the waiting room. Karen had gone with Jeremy and Faith back to the house that way she could rest, and so Faith and Jeremy could lay down before their drive back to New York.
"This is bull shit." Brooke said suddenly, startling the other three. "I cant believe they wont tell us anything."
"I'm sure they would let us know if they got any worse." Nathan said
"Worse from what? A few cuts and bruises? A fucking coma? We don't know how bad they are." Brooke let out a frustrated sigh, and stood up. "This is ridiculous. I'm going to find something out."
"Wait for me." Haley said and stood also. "I'm tired of their stupid 'laws'. I'm Taylor's fucking sister. They're going to tell me."
Brooke nodded as she linked her arm in Haley's and the two determined women walked towards the desk.
"Can I help you." The lady at the desk asked without even looking up
"I don't know…can you?" Brooke said rudely
The lady looked up to glare at Brooke.
"Brooke." Haley said warningly
"Sorry." Brooke mumbled
"Can I help you." The lady said again, giving Brooke a nasty look
"We were just wondering if we could talk to one of the doctors." Haley explained
"Regarding?" The lady asked as she started typing on the computer
"Look…" Brooke searched for a name tag. "Olga." Brooke made a face. Olga? She shook her head and continued. "I have three friends who were brought in and I want to know how they are."
"I'm sorry dear, but I'm not authorized to tell you that information." Olga said unsympathetically
"Then get someone who can." Brooke said through clenched teeth
"Brooke, you aren't helping." Haley hissed. "Ma'am, please. My sister was one of the ones brought in. My parents are on their way from Florida, and they should be here later tonight. The two other girl's parents have yet to be reached. My husband, one of the girl's boyfriends, and myself have been waiting here since they were first brought in. Brooke here drove all night from New York. Please could you tell us something. They wouldn't even tell us how bad they are, except for they were all in critical condition." Haley said, trying to hold back her tears
"You said you were family?" Olga said, finally looking up at Brooke and Haley with interest
"Yes." Haley nodded
"We can disclose your sister's condition to you, but I cant tell you about the other two."
"I don't think you understand, Olga; the woman I love is one of those three. And the other girl's parents don't even know. It could be days until those families get here." Brooke said
Olga sighed. "I'm sorry, dear, but I cant tell you anything. Just keep trying to reach the families."
Brooke growled in frustration as she sulked away.
"About my sister?" Haley asked
"Let me get someone to talk to you." Olga said sweetly
Brooke walked back into the waiting room, and sat heavily into the chair next to Lucas.
"Where's Haley?" Nathan asked
"Finding out about Taylor." Brooke sighed
"They're telling her now? Like 10 hours after we've been sitting here?" Nathan asked angrily
"Yeah. Because she's family."
"They wouldn't tell her when she asked earlier. Damn hospital."
"I agree." Brooke nodded
"What about Sydney and Peyton?" Lucas asked
Brooke shook her head, and Lucas' face fell.
"I have an idea." Nathan said suddenly
Haley walked back into the waiting room a few minutes later, and blank expression on her face. Nathan ran to her as soon as she saw her, and helped her back to her chair. Brooke went over to her to hold her hand.
"She's still unconscious." Haley whispered
"Oh sweetie." Brooke brushed back a piece of Haley's hair from Haley's face
"She, umm…broke her leg, and she had some internal bleeding. They said she was all cut up and stuff." Haley whispered
"That's all? That's good Haley. They stopped the bleeding right?" Nathan asked
Haley nodded. "That would be great if that's all that was wrong." Haley started crying. "She fractured her skull, and they are worried about all that stuff that comes with that. They said she flew through the windshield."
"How bad is it?" Brooke asked softly, also crying
"Bad." Haley said through her sobs
Nathan held Haley as she cried, and Brooke walked over to Lucas and sat back down. She tried to hold herself together as long as she could, but she failed and also began to sob. Lucas held her as she cried.
"The wreck sounds bad Lucas. And if we haven't heard from them, they're probably all unconscious." Brooke whispered to Lucas
"Lets not assume Brooke. Let's just try to get a hold of their parents so that we can find out for sure." Lucas said
Brooke nodded and sat up. She took a few deep breaths, and wiped away her tears. She looked towards the hospital doors to see a familiar figure hurrying inside.
"Dan?" Brooke asked, confused
Dan rushed over to the teens. "Have you head anything?"
"Just about Taylor." Nathan told his father
"How is she?" Dan asked softly. Nathan shook his head. "What about the other two? Any news?"
"Nothing." Lucas said
"Unbelievable. You kids sit tight. I'm going to get some answers." Dan said as he stormed to the front desk
"Olga is going to hate us all." Brooke said
"Olga?" Lucas asked
Brooke, Lucas, Nathan, and Haley all laughed a little, glad from some break from the seriousness that surrounded them.
A/N- You guys were all so awesome with your reviews, and I found a little extra time, so I figured that I would give you an update quicker than I said I would. I hope you guys liked: )