A huge thanks to those who reviewed. I'm glad that you guys like the story and Jake showing up was a surprise to me as well. Hey may or may not cause some trouble…but don't worry, I'm not a big Jeyton fan ( I like the friendship, but not the relationship). Anyways, keep on reading.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or OTH.
Title of this chapter is a song by Sarah McLachlan



Chapter 11: Drifting

They had just sat down on a bench in the hospital's courtyard. Peyton and Jake watched Jenny make her way back into the building to buy some sodas.

"She looks so much like you, Jake,"

He jokingly cringed, "That's not a good thing,"

Peyton politely laughed. "So how long have you been in Houston?"

"A few years now. Well, actually San Antonio…my parents moved there after they retired, so we moved too. We're only in town because of Lucas, he's Jenny's favorite player and she was begging me to bring her to the game. So I said why not…plus I've always wondered about you,"

"Yeah? Well I've always wondered about you too. How you and Jenny were and if Nikki ever found you,"

"Thanks to you, Nikki never found us…but we did find Nikki,"

Peyton's eyes widened, surprised that Jake would find the woman who abandoned Jenny when she was born, "What do you mean?"

"Jenny wanted to meet her mother. So about two years ago they finally met,"

"And how did that go?"

"Surprisingly, it went well. Who would have thought, after all these years, Nikki finally grew up and that we'd be sharing custody?"

"Nikki? Are we talking about the same Nikki?"

Jake laughed, "I know, it sounds weird. But she's a different person now and she's still Jenny's mother. So how is Lucas doing anyways?"

"He's gonna be ok,"

"And you?"

"I'm ok too. Lucas is gonna make a full recovery and things will go back to normal," she said it like she was telling herself it was going to happened.

"You don't sound too sure,"

"What do you mean?"

"Look, Peyton, don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds like you were trying to convince yourself. Is everything alright between you guys?" He saw a tear roll down her cheek.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry,"

"No, it's fine," she wiped the tear away quickly. "Everything just happened so fast, you know. I just don't know what to do or how to feel – should I be mad, should I be relieved…"

"I know we're not close, but if you want to talk about it, I'm here," He put his hand on her shoulder, offering her some support.

Peyton took a deep breath and began to explain, "A couple of months ago, Lucas changed. He was moody, he was hardly every home or around for the kids…I just thought it was stress, you know. But last night, I found out that Lucas's HCM worsened and that he had to quit playing basketball. The doctors told him that he needed to have a defibrillator implanted, as a way to prevent heart attacks or something,"

"But he refused and kept playing," Jake filled in.

She nodded her head, "The thing is, I had to learn all of it from the doctor. I just felt so stupid…I mean here I am his wife and I know nothing about my husband," Peyton paused, "I'm just so mad at Lucas – for lying and keeping secrets. And it scares me. I'm scared that we'll never get things back to the way things were. I'm scared that I'll never be able to forgive him,"

Jake put his hand on Peyton's and wiped a tear away. He didn't know what to say to make her feel better, but he offered her advice from his own experience, "Peyton, you'll always find a way to forgive the ones you love,"


After Peyton left his room, Lucas nodded off. Twenty minutes later, he was beginning to awaken again. When his vision came into focus, he saw someone sitting in the chair next to his bed reading the morning's newspaper. Lucas couldn't see who it was, as their face was hiding behind the open newspaper.

"Peyton?" Lucas weakly called out.

"That was some 'heart' stopping show you put on last night," a voice mocked from behind the paper.

Lucas immediately recognized the cocky voice, "What are you doing here?"

Slowly the newspaper lowered, revealing the sarcastic shocked face of Dan Scott, "Now, is that any way to greet your father?"

It had been years since Lucas last seen Dan. After Lucas left Tree Hill to start his pro career, their paths hadn't crossed. When Lucas visited Tree Hill, he never made the effort to go see Dan. Dan was never a part of Lucas's life and Lucas saw no reason to change that.

"I wouldn't know…I never had a father to greet,"

"Touché," Dan laughed.

Before Lucas shot another insult at Dan, Dan raised his hand. "Relax, I'm not here to pick a fight with you. Believe it or not I came by to congratulate you,"

"Congratulate me? Right, so all I had to do was win an NBA Championship to make you consider me as your son,"

"Whoa, who said that I considered you as my son?"

Even though Lucas hated Dan and never thought of him as his father, the words still stung him. He fought back his tears through his icy glare.

"I mean you may have my name and you may act like me…"

"That's where you're wrong. I may have the same last name as you, but I am not you and I never will be you,"

Dan scoffed, "You're right, you'll never be me. Because when my wife betrayed me, I actually had the guts to do something about it,"

"Well, that's another thing we don't have in common. My wife would never betray me,"

"Oh, you mean that curly blonde woman outside finding comfort in the arms of another man?"

"You're lying,"

"I don't lie. I just tell it as I see it," Dan said in his cool and calm demeanor.

Lucas didn't want to hear anymore of Dan's lies. "Get out,"

The door to Lucas's room opened and Dan turned his head around. He saw Peyton making her way towards him. Dan turned back to Lucas and raised his eyebrows,

"Speaking of…" Dan quietly said to Lucas.

"Get away from him,"

"Alright, I can see where I'm not wanted,"

"And yet, you still exist," Peyton said smugly.

"Ouch…still feisty I see. Careful Lucas, these are the ones you have to keep your eyes on," Dan winked at Lucas.

After Dan exited the room, Peyton took a seat on the bed beside Lucas and held his hand. "Hey, sorry I wasn't here to throw him out earlier,"

"Nah, it's ok. You're here now. Where were you?"

A smile crept across her face, "Guess who I bumped into in the hallway?" Peyton said excitedly.

"I don't know. Who?"

"Jake! He brought Jenny to watch the game last night. Had to pay an arm and a leg just for nosebleed seats,"

As Peyton continued to talk about Jake and how much Jenny had grown since they had last seen her, Lucas couldn't help but notice how happy Peyton looked. It was the first time in a long time she looked that way. His thoughts were then tormented by Dan's comments. Was Dan right? Had Peyton found solace with Jake during the times he and Peyton were separated?

It was a stupid question, and Lucas knew it, but he also knew that Peyton had a special connection to Jake. Not just because of Jenny, but Peyton was always comfortable around Jake. And Lucas knew how close they were before Jake left Tree Hill.

"Lucas? Did you hear anything I just said?"

"Hmm…yeah. Jake and Jenny. Are they still here?"

"They're outside the door…are you sure you're ok? You look kinda pale,"

"Peyton, I'm fine," he snapped suddenly

His sudden outburst left her speechless.

"I'm sorry. It's just…Dan, he just really go to me,"

Peyton nodded her head understandingly. She leaned over and kissed Lucas's forehead before running her hand through his hair, "Hey, we're going to get through this, together. I love you, you know,"

Hearing those words brought a smile to his face, "I love you too,"

They both knew that they faced a long and bumpy road to rekindle what they once had. It was going to take a lot of work and patience, but both were equally determined. They were tired of drifting apart and someday, somehow their love was going to bring them back.