Don't Let Go
Chapter 12
After Peyton had opened her eyes for the first time in two days Lucas not only felt like a giant weight had been lifted from his shoulders, but also that he could leave the hospital to take a shower without feeling guilty for leaving her.
While Lucas was gone for an hour, Nathan and Haley were more than happy to get to spend time with Peyton.
Haley had even come with a sort of survival guide for the rest of the week Peyton would be spending in the hospital. She had packed a bag with magazines, a sketchbook and a stack of CD's. Peyton had gratefully accepted the bag and thanked her always-thoughtful friend.
"So how are you feeling?" Nathan asked setting a small vase of flowers he had picked out himself on the bedside able.
"I didn't think I could be this tired after sleeping for two days straight." Peyton said, sitting up in bed and adjusting her unflattering hospital gown.
"Has the doctor said when you can see Emily?" Haley asked knowing Peyton was anxious to see her daughter.
"He says as soon as I can sit in the wheelchair comfortably, but it's going to be a few days before I can go down there. Lucas is supposed to bring the digital camera and take pictures when he goes down to see her later. I just wish it didn't have to be like this."
"I know Peyt, but it's just going to take time. Besides Lucas won't let any on us see her until you do." Haley smirked.
"Are you serious?" A smile crossed her lips as she pictured her husband forbidding his family from seeing his new baby until her mom could.
"Oh yeah, he won't even let Karen see her yet." Nathan chimed in. "Pictures only, his rules."
Peyton groaned at his stubbornness. "How bad was he while I was out?"
"Put it this way Peyton, I had to force him to leave for twenty minutes just to go home and take a shower. He refused to leave you or Emily. He wouldn't eat and he probably only slept about four hours the entire time. The guy was a nervous wreck." Nathan admitted, Haley shot him a dirty look from across Peyton's bed
"What it's true?" Nathan said quietly under his breath while looking at his shoes. His pager going off suddenly startled him. "It's work." Nathan said after checking the device. "I have to get back to the dealership.
He stood from his chair and leaned over to kiss Peyton on the forehead. "I'm glad you're awake Peyt, you gave us all a scare."
"Thanks for being here Nathan."
Nathan kissed Haley quickly, telling her he'd see her at home later, before leaving the room.
"He wouldn't leave the hospital?" Peyton groaned, flashing back to what Nathan had said about her husband.
"That's my boyfriend, running his mouth off. It wasn't that bad Peyton." Haley tried to convince her.
Peyton just looked at her friend.
"Alright so Nathan was telling the truth. Luke was a nervous wreck the entire time. I've never seen him so scared in my life. But he was just as nervous as anyone else would be in that situation. Plus he had all of us here for him, he was in good hands Peyton."
"Thanks for looking after him Haley."
"Well I've been doing it since we were eight years old." Both girls shared a laugh and failed to hear the light knock on the hospital door. They both heard the next knock and looked to see who was at the door. Both women were surprised to see none other than Brooke Davis standing in the doorway.
"Brooke." The shock in Peyton's voice was evident as she broke the sudden silence of the room.
"I heard you were in the hospital, I just wanted to see how you were doing." Brooke said. She was still standing awkwardly by the door.
Haley stood quickly from her chair. "I'm going to get some coffee, I'll be back later." She leaned over and whispered into Peyton's ear whether she was going to be ok with Brooke and Peyton smiled back her answer.
"Nice seeing you again Brooke." Haley said before slipping out of the door.
"Do you want to sit?" Peyton pointed to an empty chair near her bed.
"Sure." Brooke walked into the room and produced a vase of flowers from behind her back and set them next to the one's Nathan had given her earlier. "I remember when we were kids you used to love Stargazer Lilies."
"Thank you Brooke. How did you know I was here?"
"I went by your house yesterday and found Karen checking your mail. When I asked her where you were she told me you were in the hospital, coming out of a coma nonetheless. She promised to call me when you were awake. And now I'm here. So what happened."
"I started having early labor pain and Haley brought me here to get everything checked out and I went into surgery to deliver the baby and ended up coming out in a coma." Peyton shrugged her shoulders at the craziness.
"Is the baby alright?" Brooke asked with genuine concern.
"She's ok. We had a little girl her name is Emily. I haven't gotten a chance to see her yet, she's downstairs in an incubator."
"I'm sure she'll be alright." Brooke added gently.
Peyton looked at the woman who used to know everything about her and realized she was now almost a stranger. They had grown up together and eventually grown apart together. Brooke wasn't here just to check up on her, Peyton could see that she needed something else.
"Brooke why are you here?"
Peyton's bluntness surprised Brooke who stared back at her with wide eyes. "What do you mean?"
"The last time I saw you we had a very unpleasant run-in at the mall and we both said some nasty things and I thought that would be the last time I ever saw you. So I'm just curious as to why you are here now, and please don't think I'm giving you the cold shoulder and I don't want you here. I'm just trying to satisfy my curiosity."
Brooke took a deep breath and stared hard at Peyton. "The last time I ran into you I was in a really bad place. And then I see you and your happy and your pregnant and you're with Lucas, and it just made me realize how unsatisfied I was with my life. I'm 28 years old and I work behind a makeup counter at a department store. I saw you that day and just snapped. I reverted back to my high school self and became this jealous, angry person."
"Are you still angry at me for what happened in high school?" Peyton questioned gently. She didn't want to make any accusations.
"No I'm not. I look at you and see what you have in your life now; a baby, a husband, a house with a front yard and I know I'm not cut out for that life. I don't think I ever want to be a soccer mom and part of a carpool; it's just not me. Not to say that any of that is a bad thing, but could you picture me driving a minivan?" Peyton smiled and shook her head. "I'm not angry with you or Lucas, and I don't think I have been for a long time."
"I just want you to know that I regret hurting you, I really do. You were my best friend and before Lucas came along you were my whole life. But I don't regret what happened between Lucas and I while you were together. I love Lucas and I know this is the way it was supposed to be. That probably sounds selfish Brooke and I don't want it to but I can't imagine my life without him."
Brooke nodded. "I understand Peyton. You two were meant for each other and who was I to stand in the way of the great love story of Peyton Sawyer and Lucas Scott" Brooke laughed and nudged Peyton in the shoulder.
"I wish we were smarter back then, to not let what happen ruin our friendship. I really missed you that last year of high school."
"I did too. But maybe we can start over and put the past all the way behind us" Brooke looked over at Peyton with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"I'd like that Brooke." Peyton nodded. "And I want you to meet Emily when she's better."
The two women fell into an easy conversation reminiscing about their past and the troubles they had gotten into as young girls. The time passed quickly and Brooke eventually lost track of time.
She looked quickly at her watch and took note of the time. "I have to get going, my boss will freak if I'm late again." She stood from the chair and smoothed the wrinkles from her skirt.
"You could come back later tonight, we could talk some more. Lucas usually stays with Emily a few hours before visiting hours end." Peyton suggested it not knowing if Brooke was ready to jump in feet first with their newly recovered friendship.
"I should be off work early enough tonight, I'd like to come back." Brooke walked towards the door and turned once more before leaving. "I'll see you tonight Peyton."
After Brooke had left, Peyton slunk down into her hospital bed and pulled the blanket up around her tighter. She drifted slowly back to sleep knowing Lucas would be back soon to sit with her while she slept.