Don't Let Go

A/N: Updates are coming sooner, but don't expect it to last. My classes are starting up again, and writing will become my second priority.

Chapter 7

Nearly two hours had passed since Peyton had been wheeled away into surgery. Lucas had spent most of the time wearing a hole into the linoleum floor as he paced the waiting room. Everyone was there to lend their support, Nathan had joined Haley soon after the surgery began and Karen and Keith had both left work as soon as they had heard. They had all made their attempts to comfort him but nothing seemed to take his edge off, he just wanted to be alone and keep pacing the floor.

Just as he was about to go ask thewoman at the front desk for any new information, he saw a surgical nurse walk through the double doors that led to the operating room. Lucas rushed over to her and threw a million questions her way. She tried to calm him down, and then pulled him away from the rest of the group.

"Mr. Scott, your baby is being taken down the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit, you'll be able to see her as soon as the team there has her stabilized." The nurse informed him as thoroughly as she could.

"How's the baby doing?"

"She's premature, barely 27 weeks old. There is a chance her lungs may not be fully developed, we'll put her on some meds that will encourage development. Because she is so small she won't be able to coordinate sucking and swallowing, which will require a feeding tube being placed in her stomach. I know this is a lot of information to take in right now Mr. Scott, but the nurses in the NICU will explain it all when you go down." Lucas let all the information soak in slowly, he didn't want to miss anything important. All the medical talk made him seem so helpless, and with all the things going on in his head he missed the fact that the nurse had told him he had a daughter.

"Wait, did you say that I had a daughter?"

"Yes, you have a baby girl. Congratulations." The nurse tried to excuse herself, but Lucas stopped her one final time.

"Have you heard anything about my wife, is she still in surgery?"

"I'm sorry, I'm not aware of her condition. You'll have to wait for the doctor."

"Thank you for all your help." Lucas thanked the nurse.

He walked back to the waiting area where his family was anxiously awaiting any news. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel just then, he just learned that he had a sick baby girl who he wasn't allowed to see yet and his wife's condition was still a mystery. But he figured they all deserved to celebrate some good news.

His mom saw the look on his face and wondered what was going on. "Luke what's going on?"

"The nurse just told me that we had a baby girl, she's being taken down to the NICU. They have to get her stabilized and everything still, but I have a daughter." He beamed proudly.

"That's good news Lucas, congratulations." Karen hugged him tight. They all stood together congratulating the new dad.

"We have to stay positive now for Peyton and the baby." Haley urged. Lucas agreed and took the empty seat next to his mom.

The next hour seemed to creep by slower than ever as Lucas awaited word on his baby girl and wife. Coffee was the only thing keeping him from closing his eyes, but he couldn't rest until he knew what was going on. He scanned the waiting room, feeling grateful for the people who were there to support him. Haley was asleep on Nathan's shoulder and he kept occupied by flipping through a sports magazine. Karen was talking quietly with Keith about plans for the café. Lucas was so wrapped up in everyone else that he failed to notice the nurse, who had taken his daughter to the NICU, walk into the waiting area.

She tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. "Mr. Scott I just wanted to let you know that we have your daughter stabilized, and you can go up and see her as soon as you are ready."

Relief was the only thing he felt at the moment, it was a weight lifted off his shoulder to know that she was ok. "What floor is she on?"

"Third floor."

"Thank you very much." He thanked her before she left again.

"Mom, did you hear?" he turned to his mom who was looking back at him.

"I heard, why don't you go and check on the baby. We can wait here for any word on Peyton."

"I'll be on the third floor, any word on her and please send Nathan to get me."

"I will, go see your daughter."

Lucas had barely moved towards the stairs when the doctor walked into the waiting room. The look on the man's face caused Lucas' heart to drop, it wasn't a look that would inspire much hope.

The doctor motioned that he wanted to speak to Lucas in private. "Your wife is out of surgery, but there were a few complications."

"What kind of complications?"

"There was a tear in her uterus that caused heavy bleeding, it took longer than I had anticipated to get it under control. She lost a lot of blood and we had to perform a transfusion. Her body went through a lot of trauma during the operation and to help her recover fully, we put her into what is called a medically-induced coma."

"Wait, you put her in a coma? Why would you do that?" his patient and calm exterior had slowly begun to fade. He was scared now, more than he had been when he had first arrived at the hospital nearly five hours ago.

"Mr. Scott your wife's body needs time to sufficiently heal, this is the only way we can achieve this. She will be monitored around the clock, and if everything looks well in a few days we can bring her out of it."

"A few days, you want to keep my wife in a coma for a few days."

"It's all we can do right now, you can see Peyton as soon as…"

"Yeah I know the drill, I can see her as soon as she's stabilized." Lucas cut off the doctor. He turned his back on the older man and walked back to the chairs and collapsed into the nearest one. He couldn't talk, couldn't let anyone know what was happening. He just wanted to sit there and let his emotions take over.

Karen was by his side, with a comforting arm around his shoulder. "What did the doctor say?"

"There was a complication during the operation, she lost a lot of blood. They gave her a transfusion. Doctor said her body fought hard, and that he had to put her into a coma to help her body heal." Lucas said numbly.

"She's in a coma?"

"For a few days, at least. The doctor has the option of taking her out of it when he feels she's recovered. I can't see her until they get her stabilized in her room" He drew in a deep breath. "I'm scared mom."

"I know Lucas, but now is the time you need to stay strong for Peyton and the baby. They're depending on you to help get them through this. If anyone can stay strong during this time I know it's you."

"I hope so."

"I think instead of sitting here waiting around this depressing room anymore you need to go see your daughter." Karen urged. She had been looking for a way to get him to leave the cramped waiting room for the past few hours, but he had refused to leave.

"But what about Peyton?"

"I promise you, the second we hear anything we will come and get you. You need to go see her Lucas."

"Thank you mom. I'm going to go see her right now." He hugged Karen briefly before walking towards the elevator.

The nurse in the NICU had been waiting for him at the entrance to the ward. She smiled at the young man's nervous appearance. Many new father's had that same look in their eye the first time they see their child, one of fear and hope and excitement. Lucas had that exact feeling coursing through his body.

"Ok Mr. Scott, let's go meet your daughter."

A/N: Don't quote me on the medical terminology. Some of it I looked up online, some of it I got from t.v. shows and I made up the rest. Review!!