AN: Hey guys. You didn't think I was really gonna kill Lucas did you? He might not be my favorite but I'm not gonna kill the poor guy. At least not yet. evil cackle Anyway I love Brooke, Haley, Nathan, and Karen too much to do that. Plus I'm a die hard BLer so they will have to be together. But yeah I got more reviews with this chapter than ever before so it looks like I made a good decision. If you don't want to see anymore crazy cliffhangers than always review or I resort to drastic measures. LOL.

So thanks to: April, Michelle, Haley Bub, Liz457, lucasscottlover1, kenjigirl1, nemo123489, lifeluver, iftheyonlyknewthetruth, OTH.daddy'sgurl.06, and lilmonkeygirl31 for reviews!

I have the next chapter all done so the more reviews the quicker it will be updated. Sorry this took longer than I planned. I had it written but was too lazy to type it out.

Chapter 17: The Worst Feeling in the World

Brooke POV

I was terrified as the paramedics were lifting Lucas into the ambulance. There was nothing I could do and I was helpless. The worst feeling in the world is seeing someone you love hurting, possibly dying, and all you can do is stand by and watch.

"BP's dropping. 89 over 58. His pulse and heart rate are low. How long has he been passed out Miss?

"I'm not sure. When I got here he on the ground, but then he woke up and I was talking to him. Is he going to be okay?"

"Are you family?"

"I'm his girlfriend."

"I can't say right now. It looks bad but we are doing everything we can to help him." He looked over to the other man. "Let's get him loaded in."

They lifted him onto the stretcher and placed him in the ambulance. I followed behind and was about to get in, when the doors closed in front of me.

"I'm sorry. It's family only."

"No I have to go! Please!"

"I can't let you. It's against the rules."

"Rules were meant to be broken." I pushed past the man and was about to force my way in if necessary when the doors opened revealing the other EMT.

"You wouldn't happen to be Brooke would you?"

"Yes I am."

"The young man is calling for you."

"What? Lucas?" I stepped up into the van and grabbed his hand. He still appeared to be unconscious. I looked over to the man confused.

"He's still non-responsive but he must be slipping in and out as you said. I think he knows you're here. That's a good sign. Keep talking to him and it could really help."

All of a sudden a little pressure was released. I wasn't completely helpless anymore. There was something I could do. And there was no way I was giving up. Lucas and I had been through far too much to let him slip away now. He had to live so I could yell at him for kissing Peyton. He wasn't getting off that easy. I squeezed his hand tighter and ran my other through his hair.

"You're going to be okay baby. Just remember we all need you. I need you."

Again Lucas spoke, "Brooke."

"I'm right here Lucas. I'm right here. I'm never leaving."

As we rode to the hospital I remembered the promise I made to Karen. I told her Lucas was fine and that I was going to bring him home safely. I said she shouldn't worry. How was I going to tell her about this? This is the last thing she needs right now. I dialed my cell preparing myself for the worst call I'll ever have to make. But I'm going to keep my promise and bring him home safe and sound. No matter what Lucas was coming back to us.

Haley's POV

I had never seen Nathan like this before. He was always so strong. The only time I had ever come close was when he came to me after collapsing at the basketball game. He was at his weakest and I was the one to get him through it. And just like then, I was going to do the same now. We were going to get through this together. Again, I pulled him into my arms and placed a light kiss on his temple. He was shivering. I ran and got a blanket and place it over his shoulders. Then I immediately wrapped two towels over his hands. In a fit of panic Deb had ran and gotten him some ice not knowing what to do.

"The blood is soaking through the towels. How can the cuts be so small yet so deep?"

"I don't know. How could of glass from a picture frame caused this?" I looked up at Deb who shared the same look of bewilderment and horror that I had on my face. "I think he's gonna need stitches. We better get him to the hospital." I nodded in agreement and we proceeded to help Nathan up off the floor. But he wouldn't budge. It was as if he was glued to that spot. Just then the phone rang. "It's almost midnight. Who could be calling now? You try to get him ready and I'll answer it." Deb left to get the phone and I went back to getting Nathan up.

"Come on babe. Get up." After a lot of forcing she was finally able to lift him off the floor with him leaning on her shoulders. She sat him on the bed and tried to put his clothes on. The entire time he didn't say and word and wouldn't make eye contact. He just stared off into space. It was as if he was in a trance. He had this glassy look in his eyes and a blank expression on his face. I was mortified. The entire time I had known him I had never seen him this withdrawn and out of it. To think it was only an hour ago that he was taking my clothes off and now I had to help him put his on.

"Nathan?" I waved my hand in front of his face and snapped my fingers. No response. That was when I realized there was a much bigger problem here than cuts on his hands. This was something stitches would not fix.

"Haley!" I turned around to see Deb standing in the door looking even more upset if possible.

"What now?"

"That was Karen. Lucas collapsed at the Rivercourt. He's being brought to the hospital right now."

"Oh my God!"

Right then Nathan spoke. "See? Just like the picture."

"What babe?" I lightly grazed his face.

"The Scott Family. It's broken."

In this moment I didn't know what to say to make him feel better. I'm not even sure he knows I'm here. He was in his own little world. Right now he wasn't making any sense, but in some weird way making all the sense in the world. He was right. This family was a mess and I don't know how I was going to fix it. I hated this. Seeing the person you love hurting and not being able to do anything. It was the worst feeling in the world.

Peyton's POV

After the mall we returned to my house where my dad was no where to be see. For once this actually made me happy. I pulled Jake up the stairs by his shirt making sure not to break lip contact. I was tired of waiting and decided to go for it. It had been long enough. And it didn't seem like Jake had any reservations either. We had gotten to the top of the stairs and he was pulling my shirt over my head. We pushed through the door and fell on top of my bed. I pulled at Jake's shirt and tore it popping off a button.

"Oh no I'm so sorry. That's a Tommy Hilfiger right? It must have been really expensive."

"It doesn't matter." He continued to tare at my clothes and try to unhook my bra. I started to laugh. "Great that makes me feel really good."

"No, no. It's just that's an $80 shirt and you don't care? You just acted like it was from Wal-Mart. I know how you struggle with money."

"You want to see how much I don't care?" He then proceeded to start from the tiny tare and rip the entire sleeve off. "See? I couldn't care less about the shirt. I care about you." That was all I needed to hear. I then remembered my mission. I pulled off his wife beater and kissed his chest all the way down to his stomach. The familiar smell that always hypnotized me made its appearance. I had almost forgotten how good Jake smelled. His combination of cologne and sweat was the best in the world. At the same time we reached for the button on each others jeans and pulled them off. Before we went any further he stopped. He held my head in his hands and looked into my eyes.

"What's wrong? Why'd you stop?"

"I just want this to be perfect. There's no rush. We have our whole lives. Just let me look at you."

Suddenly I felt very uncomfortable. The initial lust was gone and it became something more. I should have expected it because it wasn't just some random guy. It was Jake. It actually meant something. It meant more to me than anything ever had. With Nathan it had always been just about sex. Not with Jake. It scared me to have someone this close that didn't want to just get in my pants. I didn't know what to do and it must have shown in my face because Jake's expression changed too. I turned my head and looked out the window. He then moved it back so I was looking right in his eyes again.

"Now what's wrong with you?"

I could do one of two things. I could tell him that nothing was wrong, pretend nothing was on my mind, and go through the motions, or I could tell him everything I had inside. And since I had promised never to lie to him, I choose the second option.

"I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"You. Us."

"Why? It's not like we haven't done this before."

"No it's not that. That's the easy part. I've had sex."

"Thanks for reminding me." He smiled his sexy grin.

"No I mean this is the first time it's been about more than that. This is the first time I've been in love."

"You know I love you too."

"But it's different for you. You had Nikki."

"I was never in love with Nikki. I only thought I was. She was the first girl I ever cared about. And before I knew it she was pregnant. There was never any time to fall in love. Nikki was my Lucas. It wasn't until I met you that I knew what love truly was. When she left me I thought I wasn't ever gonna be happy again. But you showed me different. I was happier with you than ever. You stuck by my side through everything. You didn't run when things got hard. When Nikki left I thought that was the most painful thing I would ever go through. And again you showed me different. It was having to leave you. That was the worst feeling in the world. I knew I had found what everyone searches for and what you find once in a lifetime, but I had to leave."

"That's what scares me. I don't want to get so attached to you again when you could just up and leave. Every time you do that life gets harder and harder to live. I'm miserable without you. I don't want to be that way."

"I'm not gonna leave you Peyton. Not this time."

"But that's what you said before. What makes this different?"

"I've seen what my life is without you as well. And just like you it was miserable. It's something I can't deal with. I can't promise you that things won't happen or that it will always be easy with us, but I can promise you one thing. I'll be here. If life is going to take us somewhere, then we go together. I always want to be by your side. You've stole my heart and I don't want it back anytime soon."

"What about Nikki and Jenny?"

"That's resolved. It's in the past. I can finally have the family I want. That's if you want it too."

"Oh I want it."

"Then you have nothing to worry about."

"Well I don't know about nothing, but you have one thing right."

"What's that?"

"I have your heart. And I'm locking it up tight."

"Then that should be good enough." Thoughts of insecurity were still swirling around inside my head. "You're not there are you?"

"I wish I could be. I still can't help but think…."

"What?"

"What if I show you all that I am and you don't like what you see?"

"That's not possible Peyton. I've seen and I love."

"But it is possible. Love fades away all the time. People find something better. I've seen it happen. Nathan found Haley and Lucas found Brooke."

"There's only one difference between them and me remember? They didn't love you Peyton and I do. No offense cause they are great guys, but they were idiots who didn't know what they had. No wait scratch that."

I rolled my eyes hurt. "Oh gee thanks a lot."

"What I mean is that I'm glad because that brought you to me. I should thank them everyday for being that way. I can't wait to show you everything. I want to show you the only way it should ever be. We found each other when we had both already given up on finding real love. I think that says something. It shows we are meant to be. I've seen you, all of you, and I couldn't imagine anything better. I never will."

It was definite. I had found myself the perfect man and all of a sudden all my worries melted away. I wasn't scared anymore. That was no way to live my life. I wanted to live my life with Jake. I slowly removed his hands from my face and put them at his side. He had this defeated look on his face as if he had failed. "What are you doing?"

I rolled on top of him and placed my hands at the waist band of his boxers. "I'm finishing what I started."

He let out a breath and smiled. "I guess that would be alright. If you must."

Now it was my turn to look into his eyes and see into his soul. He had always let me see it and for the first time I realized how pure it really was. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"I ask myself the same question everyday about you. I guess we're both two of the lucky ones."

"Hm."

"What?"

"I've never had any luck before."

"Well baby you do now."

I smiled remembering the last time I muttered those words to him. I can't believe he remembered that. "It seems both our lucks have changed."

"No I was always lucky."

"How do you figure?"

"You let me have you. Even if only for just one day. That makes me the luckiest guy on the planet."

"Well Mr. Jagielski, you're about to get a whole lot luckier."

"Well you know what they say; you can never have too much luck."

"Let's test that theory out. I'm ready to go all night if necessary."

"Aye, aye captain. We do what must be done." Then he saluted me. In other circumstances I would have thought any guy who saluted me would be a dork, but it just made him that much cuter. If I had wanted to resist it would have been hard. Thank God I didn't have that problem. I pulled off his underwear and he rolled me over. He was about to go in for the kill when my phone rang.

"Of course."

"It's Brooke. I'll call her later. She probably wants to tell me all about her and Lucas making up. But right now I don't want to hear about getting busy. I want to experience it." I turned the phone off.

TBC