Peyton and Karen spent the next four days at Lucas' bedside. Peyton would not leave his bedside even for a moment. Nathan had to force her to take a bathroom break. On the morning of the fifth day Peyton was awoken by the sin streaming in the window. She rubbed Lucas' hand to let him know she was still there. His hand moved to hers. She couldn't believe it at first. She took hold of his hand squeezing it gently. He squeezed back. A couple of seconds later his eyelids began to flutter. He began to gag because of the tube in his throat. Peyton freaked out and pressed the emergency bell more than a couple of times. Within seconds a doctor came racing in obviously relieved to see that Lucas was awake. The doctor quickly extubated him and left him with his family and friends. Karen had been woken up by all th commotion, she was ecstatic to see her boy awake.
"Hey" Peyton leaned in and kissed Lucas softly on the forhead.
"Hey" he croaked back
"I missed you" Peyton's voice cracked
"I missed you too" Lucas whispered
"I'm gonna go call Haley and leave you and your mom to catch up" Peyton got up and left in search of a payphone She felt like screaming at the top of her voice 'HE'S GONNA BE OKAY' but she restrained herself
When Haley heard Peyton's voice on the phone she broke down in tears expecting the worst. When she heard the cheerful tone she felt relief wash over her. Peyton returned to Lucas to find him sitting up but looking uncomfortable.
"Are you okay?" Peyton asked, concerned
"Better now you're here!" Lucas smiled. "I'm just a bit sore, you know how it is when you have your insides shredded"
Peyton smiled, looking into his eyes.
Karen got up "I'm gonna go leave you two to it" She got no response, Peyton and Lucas were lost in each other's eyes. Peyton walked over to Lucas and kissed him deeply. Karen knew where she wasn't wanted. She promptly exited!
Peyton and Lucas' kiss grew deeper until Lucas pulled away wincing in pain.
"Oh baby I'm so sorry, are you okay?"
"Yeah, it was worth it " Lucas said breathing out deeply to help him through the pain "I'm fine" he insisted seeing the look on Peyton's face
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah I'm sure" Lucas paused for a moment "I love you Peyton"
"I love you, Luke... the thought of losing you...I don't even want to think about it" Peyton began to cry
"It's okay, I'm here now and I'm going to be fine" Lucas reassured her.
"I know but this made me realise how much I really need you. I love you. Ican feel it in my soul Luke. I've never felt this way before about anyone and when I think of oyu hurting I get a pang right here" Peyton finished pointing to her heart.
"I love you so much" Lucas said, running his fingers through her curly blond hair.
Peyton lent in and kissed him softly on the lips. The kiss again grew deeper. Lucas eventually had to pull away for air
Peyton" he started "I feel the same, that's why I came back to Tree Hill. I couldn't let what we have go"
"I'm glad you came back" Peyton said honestly
"Well who could live without me!" Lucas joked
"Shut up, ya jackass!" Peyton retorted before she got serious again "No seriously Luke, you have no idea how I felt when I got that phonecall from Haley saying oyu had been in an accident, I thought I'd never get to speak you again...to tell you how much I love you"
"Sorry, you know how I feel about you, you know I love youso much that when I'm away from you it hurts" Lucas lent in and they began kissing again.
Lucas spent the next few days in hospital recovering. On the day he was discharged Peyton came with Karen to pick him up
"I missed you" Lucas leaned in and kissed Peyton
"Oh get a room" Karen mocked
"Okay sure Mom, I'm sure thats exactly what you want us to do, get a room" Lucas was too quick witted for his own good at times
"Eww" was the sound that came from Peyton's mouth, "Luke we've talked about this, think before you speak not the other way around!" Lucas hung his head in mock shame.
Lucas returned home to find the house the way he left it, his bags still lying in the hallway. It was over two and a half weeks since the accident. It didn't feel like it but he hadn't been home in over two weeks. He grabbed Peyton's hand and led her into his room. He gestured for her to sit while he flicked through his CD collection. After about 5 minutes of rummaging he found what he was looking for.
"Here it is, this is the song that made me go to your house that night. It helped me open my heart to you"
"So what is it, have I heard it before, play it "
"It's the first track on Damien Rice's album 'O'. It's called Delicate."
"Never heard of it" Peyton confessed a bit ashamed. After all she was supposed to be the music buff. Lucas pressed play and lay down on the bed where Peyton was sitting. She lay beside him.
They lay together and listened to the song that brought them together again.
We might kiss when we are alone When nobody's watching I might take you home We might make out when nobody's there It's not that we're scared It's just that it's delicate
So why do you fill my sorrow With the words you've borrowed From the only place you've known And why do you sing Hallelujah If it means nothing to you Why do you sing with me at all?
We might live like never before When there's nothing to give Well how can we ask for more We might make love in some sacred place The look on your face is delicate
So why do you fill my sorrow With the words you've borrowed From the only place you've known And why do you sing Hallelujah If it means nothing to you Why do you sing with me at all?
So why do you fill my sorrow With the words you've borrowed From the only place you've known And why do you sing Hallelujah If it means nothing to you Why do you sing with me at all?
THE END