Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm back with another chapter! Bring on the drama! LOL Not much else to say other than I hope you like it! As always, please read and review!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. One Tree Hill and its characters are property of the WB.
Rating: K+ to T
Finding Our Way Back
Chapter 30 – Hospital Emergency
Lucas sobbed as he held Haley's hand all through the ride to the hospital in the ambulance. She was still unconscious and had not woken up after blacking out at the school. As soon as they reached Tree Hill Memorial Hospital, Haley was whisked away inside on a gurney as Lucas tried to keep up. Unfortunately, one of the nurses stopped him and said that he couldn't go any further, only hospital staff was allowed behind those double doors. So he was left standing there, watching them wheel his fiancé off down the hallway, scared and worried out of his mind. He couldn't lose Haley and the baby, he just couldn't. Not now, when he had just found her and had her back in his life again, not ever.
He collapsed onto a nearby chair as he buried his head in his hands and cried. A few minutes later, he stood and began to pace, feeling as if it had already been hours since Haley had been taken behind those doors. He needed something to do, something to keep him busy from going crazy just sitting there, waiting. He then realized that none of their friends and family knew what had happened so he rushed to the payphones to call everyone. He didn't want to risk going outside the hospital to use his cell phone when the doctor might come out and tell him news of Haley and the baby.
He called the café first to tell Karen, and Kyla too, if she was working there today. "Mom," Lucas asked in a choked up voice as more tears welled in his eyes when the phone was picked up on the other end of the line. "Lucas? Honey, what's wrong," Karen inquired concernedly, worry evident in her voice. "H-Haley had an accident at the school…I-I'm at the hospital now…" "Oh my god! I'll be right there. Is she alright? Is the baby okay," Karen cut in as she went to grab her coat and keys. "I-I don't know. We just got here about thirty minutes ago. The doctors haven't told me anything yet. Mom, is-is Kyla there?" "Yeah, she's right here honey. Do you want to talk to her?" "No, that's alright. Will you please t-tell her to pick up the kids from school and bring them when she comes to the hospital? Make sure she fixes a bag of toys and coloring books and stuff to keep them busy… I-I can't lose her Mom…she's my whole life…" Lucas choked on a sob as he clutched the phone to his ear. "I know honey. You just sit tight okay? I'll be there in a little bit. I'm gonna go with Kyla to pick up the kids because her car is in the shop then we'll come to the hospital, okay," Karen tried to calm her son, but she was worried herself. She hoped Haley and the baby would be alright. "O-Okay," Lucas replied shakily, "Bye Mom." "Bye sweetie," Karen responded then hung up the phone.
"What happened? What's wrong with Haley? Is she and the baby alright," Kyla asked, her eyes wide in fear and panic. "Luke said Haley had an accident at the school. He didn't tell me what happened though. The doctors haven't told him anything yet. They just got there about half an hour ago. Come on, we have to go pick up the kids and go to the hospital. Just let me go tell Deb to handle the café for the rest of the day." Once she did that, the two women drove to the elementary school to get the kids. "Grandma, what are you doing here," Derek asked as he hugged her. "Aunt Kiki, why are you here early," Katie inquired. Kyla looked to Karen in askance if she should tell the kids what was going on. Karen shook her head slightly in response. Kyla crouched down in front of them, "We're going to see Daddy, okay?" Their ears perked as they quickly looked up at her, smiles spreading across their faces, responding excitedly in unison, "Daddy?" "Yeah sweeties, so go get your stuff and we'll go see him, okay," she replied and she ruffled the hair on both their heads.
Two hours. That's how long he'd been waiting and still no news yet. His mother and Kyla had not yet arrived with the kids. He needed a distraction, to keep him from going crazy with worry and panic. If it was taking them this long, something really had to be wrong. He hoped with a desperate passion that Haley hadn't lost the baby. His thoughts turned to Katie and Derek. He supposed Haley hadn't told them about the baby yet. How would they react to the news of another sibling? Should he tell them about the baby? They would undoubtedly ask when they found out their mom was in the hospital. Maybe he shouldn't tell them. Pain washed over his face at a thought. What if Haley lost the baby and he'd told Katie and Derek? He would have gotten their hopes up only to let them come crashing down. He didn't know what to do. He buried his head in his hands and began to cry again.
"Daddy!" Lucas heard half an hour later and looked up to see his kids running towards him with open arms. He quickly slid off his seat and crouched down, engulfing them both in a tight hug, "Hey guys, I missed you so much…" "We missed you too Daddy," both replied at the same time and he smiled, still amazed at how they did that. "Where's Mommy," Derek asked. "Why are we at the hopspital," Katie inquired as she looked up at him. Lucas winced at her question. "Guys…" he started sadly and he could feel the tears welling up behind his eyes again, "Mommy had accident at work and…" Both gasped as their eyes widened in shock. "Mommy got hurt," Katie asked, her chin and lower lip trembling. "I want to see Mommy," Derek replied, tears falling on his cheeks. "I know you want to see Mommy, but you can't right now. She's sleeping. You can see her when she wakes up, alright," he responded and they both nodded. He hugged them again for a few more minutes then looked up when he heard his name called, "Lucas Scott?" The doctor had entered the waiting room and Lucas stood, gulping hard, not sure if he wanted to hear what the doctor had to say by the look on his face. "Ky, could you take the kids out of the room please," he asked softly then stared to the doctor. "I'm Lucas Scott," he replied.
Hours later, Lucas sat by Haley's bedside, his head buried into the stark white sheets as he cried, his left hand holding her right hand gently in his own and his left hand placed gently on her stomach. She still hadn't woken up yet and he wished she would so he could look into her deep, soulful brown orbs and kiss her. He wanted to tell her what the doctor had told him but knew he shouldn't because it would cause her stress and stress wasn't something Haley needed right now. She needed to rest and recuperate. He knew she would be upset when he told her, but right now, he just wanted her to open her beautiful brown eyes and smile at him.
Twenty minutes passed and he still sat there crying. He had taken to gently rubbing her belly, wishing he could feel the movements of their child, and softly running his thumb across the back of her hand. Suddenly he felt a light squeeze to his hand and heard a light moan, "Luke…" He quickly wiped away his tears, standing up as he brushed some of the hair out of her face, "I'm right here honey, I'm right here," he whispered as he laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. Then it all seemed to come back to her in a rush, what had happened. She quickly sat up, placing her hands on her stomach, letting out a cry of pain as she felt the cramp seizing her body. "Sh… you can't sit up yet," he replied as he carefully pushed her upper torso back down onto the bed, "you have to stay lying down." "Luke…" Haley whimpered, her own tears now cascading down her cheeks and running down the side of her face and neck, fear in her eyes as she placed her hand on her stomach, "Is-Is the baby okay? I d-didn't lose the baby, did I?" "Hales…" he began as he took her hand into his and kissed it, not wanting to upset her or stress her out even more. Haley yanked her hand away from him, "NO! Don't you 'Hales' me. Dammit Luke! Tell me right now!" He just looked at her, his eyes and throat still choked with emotion, knowing she would be upset and wouldn't accept the news he had to give her.