AN: Thanks for the reviews girls! All my steady reviewers that submit one every chapter. That means so much to me! Sorry this took a long time but I have been feeling tired and lazy latelty. But I hope this is good and people are still interested. I tried to make it long. This chapter focuses on the BH frienship because I haven't included it yet and I love it so much. Also has a little JP. I swear with my next chapter you will find out about how Nathan and Lucas are doing. But it's a process. And as always more reviews will get me to write quicker! And sorry if there are spelling and grammer mistakes. I am exhausted right now but want to get this chapter out. Forgive me please and don't be too critical. LOL.

Chapter 18: A Bond That Can't Be Broken

Brooke's POV

As soon as they wheeled Lucas into the Emergency Room he was taken away. I tried to follow but was stopped by a nurse.

"We need you to fill out this paperwork. It's very important."

"It's important? My boyfriend just had a heart attack or who knows what and you're handing me papers? That is the last thing I would consider important right now."

"Please calm down Miss. We just need to get his personal info and insurance card."

"Oh now I see." I snatched the clip board from her.

"As soon as you fill out these papers the quicker we can help your friend and you can find out what is going on."

"And the quicker you get your money right? I get it."

The nurse just pointed over to some chairs and walked away. What a bitch! I knew it wasn't really her fault, but how can people be so heartless? How can they take someone away and not let you know what's going on? And they don't answer your questions. The bastards! I have to do something otherwise I am gonna freak out. I look down at the forms.

Name: Lucas Eugene Scott

D.O.B.: March 3, 1988

Address: 3562 Burnette Rd.

Tree Hill, North Carolina 38671

Phone: 906-214-6182

SS#?

Blood Type?

Allergies?

Medications?

Existing Conditions: HCM, Ruptured Shoulder

Family History:

Well, his father's a jackass who abandoned his mother and him before he was even born. He went on to marry another woman and have a son that he actually acknowledged. His uncle helped raise him and was engaged to marry his mother, but recently died. Is this what they are looking for? Because if they actually want a medical background than I have no idea. This makes me realize how much about Lucas I don't know. I know the superficial stuff but not what really matters. This is life or death and I can't help him. He might die because of me. If Karen or Haley were with him instead of me she could help save his life. If I hadn't ran away like a little baby he wouldn't have been on that court so long by himself. Before I could blame myself anymore Karen burst through the sliding glass doors.

"Brooke!" She grabbed me and wrapped me in her arms. "Where is he? Is he okay? Who is his doctor? What have they said?"

"I don't know anything. As soon as we came in they pushed him through those doors and I haven't heard a thing since. They won't answer my questions because I am not family and they said nothing can be done till these papers get filled out. I'm so sorry." I started to sob. "I don't know any of the answers. I'm such a bad girlfriend. No I'm such a bad person and it's my fault if he dies. If I knew more they could help him sooner."

"Shh. Honey don't be ridiculous. You have no blame in this whatsoever. You did all you could. Let me have those." She reached for the papers. As she filled them out I paced back and forth down the hallway. My heart was racing and I was out of breath. Soon Karen got up and walked to the reception desk. I followed her.

"Here. They're done. I demand to know something about my son now."

"I'll let the doctor know."

The nurse walked through the doors and a few minutes later returned with an older man in blue scrubs. I assumed it was the doctor. "Mrs. Scott?"

"Um no my name is Roe but I'm Lucas's mother."

He nodded. "Come with me please."

Karen grabbed my hand and pulled me along behind her. "I'm sorry. Are you family?"

She looked over at me and squeezed my hand. "This is my daughter." I noticed a look on her face that told me she didn't want to do this alone. She was just as scared as me. Actually, even more.

"She can come in once your son is stable but right now I need to talk to you in private."

"Okay." She turned to me and looked me straight in the eye while rubbing her hand down my arm. "Brooke I'll be right back. Remember we've been through this before and everything turned out okay. And the same will happen now. I nodded and she followed the doctor through those magical doors where people disappear. I knew I wouldn't see her again for a long while. Karen is so brave. I don't know how she is handling this. If it was me I'd crack. I mean look at me. I'm already torn apart at the seems. This isn't even my son and I'm a wreck. He's only the love of my life and these people treat me like a stupid little girl that doesn't deserve to be in the know. I just want to be included. That's all I have ever wanted. I don't want to be alone. I need my best friends right now. I need Peyton and Haley. With all the commotion I had only called Karen. I picked up the phone and dialed Peyton. It rang a couple times and then went to voicemail. Where is she?

"Peyton it's me. Something happened to Lucas and we're at the hospital. Call me as soon as you get this. Or just come. I need you here. I'm scared and I just…need you."

Next I dialed Haley. It rang once before I saw the doors slide open and in ran Haley. How did she know to come and how did she get here so quickly? Then I noticed Nathan being wheeled in behind her followed by Deb. Nathan was ghostly white with his hands wrapped in blood soaked towels. He looked in a state of shock. Had he heard the news about Lucas and done something to himself? As soon as we spotted each other we ran into each others arms.

"Brooke!"

"Haley!"

We started to talk over each other and asking all the same questions. "What happened? How is he? Is he gonna be okay? "Where is he?"

We both stopped talking and realized we weren't going to get anywhere at this rate. We needed to calm down. Haley gave me a soft smile and I just pulled her in for another long hug.

"I'm gonna go check Nathan in. Are you gonna be alright?"

"I will now that you're here." She rubbed my shoulder and was off to the front desk. The same she devil nurse gave Haley the same run around about the paperwork.

"He's bleeding to death here. We don't have time for this. Just type his name in the computer. It should be under frequent customers."

The nurse behind the desk did as she was told and upon finding Nathan's information paged an orderly to take Nathan into a room.

"It's about time." Haley started to follow Nathan before those electric doors closed in her face."

"I need to go with him."

"Miss I'm afraid that isn't possible at the moment. His mother went in and I'm sure she'll come get you when it's time."

"But I'm his wife."

The nurse looked skeptical. "I'm sure. Please take a seat."

This seemed all too familiar. We were in for a long night of "I don't know what to tell you" and "We're doing all we can." Sadly those weren't enough and I could see both of us losing it. Haley took a seat next to me and I grabbed her hand. Where was Peyton?

Peyton's POV

This was the true definition of bliss. They talk about afterglow and with Jake I fully understood what that meant. You feel as though you can fly and there is nothing that can bring you down. I haven't felt this in months. Jake was the only boy to light me up inside and I didn't want this feeling to ever end. And we were gonna do everything in our power to make sure it doesn't.

"Wow."

"You can say that again."

"Wow." I ran my fingers across Jake's chest and twirled around his chest hairs. It was something I was so fond of. "I should kiss Lucas more often."

"Excuse me?"

"Well if this is what I get afterward it would be worth it."

"How about we just skip that step and go straight to this part."

"Works for me."

"I would hope so."

"You know we do kinda have him to thank for this."

"How do you figure?"

"Well every time I need you, Lucas finds some way to bring you back to me. Last year when I did drugs a couple times he called you."

"Yes that's true, but this time it was your dad."

"Not exactly." Jake looked confused. "When I was in the hospital Lucas told me he was the one who told my dad to call you. He said that he could see I felt guilty about the kiss and was worried about what it meant. My dad came to him and asked for him to take care of me. And he did. He told him to call you. That you were the one that I needed. And he was right."

"I guess I owe more to Lucas than I thought. I owe him everything."

"Plus it was that kiss that made me realize that there was nothing between us anymore and there was never gonna be. It might have caused a lot of drama but it lead to an amazing ending."

"I can't argue with that." He pulled me down into the nook between his arm and chest and I kissed it lightly."

"This is perfect. It's just you and me."

"That's just how it was always meant to be."

"I feel so at peace just lying in your arms. It's like everything in the world is perfect and there are no troubles. I wish it could always be this way."

"It can be. We just have to stay in this bed forever."

"That's my plan. I am never letting you out."

"Sounds like a smart plan. Let's continue to put it into action."

"There's nothing wrong with a little action." He wiggled his eyebrows in that sexy way that drives me wild. I just couldn't resist. Second round starts right now.

Haley's POV

As I sat there with Brooke waiting for news, any news at all, on Lucas or Nathan, I was torn. I didn't know who I should be more concerned for. I mean I know Lucas is in more serious condition, one that could mean his life, but there is nothing I can do. Worrying is not going to help him. He will pull through. I remember the last time I sat here afraid to see Lucas. Now all I want to do is go through those doors and make sure my boys are all right.

Why was Nathan taking so long? All he needed was stitches right? Why had it been over an hour? Why hadn't the nurse let me go back? And why hadn't Deb been out? At this point I am so frustrated. They shouldn't even let Deb in. He is emancipated and I am his wife. I should come first. Wow. Did I really just think that? That is so selfish and wrong. I look over at Brooke who is lying across three chairs with her head resting in her hands. I can hear muffled cries and see her body shivering. This made me feel even worse. How can I only be thinking about how this is affecting me? I reached out and placed my hand on her back rubbing in small circles. I wanted her to know I am here for her.

She lifted her head to look at me. This was the worst I had ever seen her. All her make up had been washed off by her tears. The only remains were the mascara marks under he extremely puffy and bloodshot eyes. And yet while she was at her worst, I had never seen her look so beautiful. It was in those truly honest moments that I thought Brooke Davis was so captivating. Even now I am jealous of her.

I knew it was hard for Brooke to show people her vulnerable side. The only ones she ever really let in were Peyton and Lucas. But somehow she managed to show it to me. We had become so much closer over the last year. I could never have imagined then the bond that we know share. It's one that won't be broken. I hope she knows how much I value her friendship and our time together as roommates. It was more than that. She gave me a place to live and a shoulder to cry on. And now it was my turn to do the same. No matter what personal drama was going on, Nathan is alive, besides his few cuts and scars, he'll be okay. The same was not known about Lucas. Brooke was like the little sister I never had and I was gonna watch out for her.

"Hey, come here." I patted my lap and Brooke crawled over the seats and placed her head there. I unconsciously started to braid her hair. I felt Brooke relax under my touch and sigh. It made me smile to know that I could do anything to make her feel better. "It's gonna work out Brooke. These Scott men are strong. They survived many battles with death already. They've been through two car accidents, drug overdoses, and worst of all having Dan as their father. If they can overcome that, then they will get through this."

"But they're not superheroes Haley. We've already seen they're not bulletproof. Look at Keith. You can only survive so much until it takes you out."

"Brooke doesn't think that way. Lucas needs you to be positive. I need you to be positive."

"I'm sorry Hales. I can't help it. What if he doesn't make it? What will I do?"

"You don't have to think about that now."

"No but really. What would I do? I was nothing before him. I'm afraid I'll be nothing after."

"There is not gonna be an after for a very long time. Lucas thinks the world revolves around him far too much to leave it." That made her smile just a little bit.

"True."

I reached out and put my hands on each side of her face. "And besides you are the furthest thing from nothing. You are too special to ever be nothing. You are one of my best friends and I love you. We all do. Especially Lucas. You are what will pull him out of this. I know you'll be what pulls me through. And you have to know how much Peyton needs you. I mean that girl does everything to prove her loyalty to you because she can't imagine a world without Brooke Davis as her best friend. She can't bear to lose you from her life. I know I can't.

She placed her hands on top of mine and smiled brighter. "I can't believe we were ever not friends. It seems so long ago that we hated each other.

"I never hated you."

"Really? Because I remember very vividly you saying you wanted to throw me under a bus."

"Okay well maybe I did a little. But that was because I didn't know you. I didn't know the amazing person you are inside."

"And you were jealous of my amazing beauty and popularity." I could tell by the tone in her voice that she was joking.

"I was." Brooke sat up and looked surprised. "What?"

"That shocks you? Brooke you are one of the most popular girls in school."

"Yeah but I didn't think you cared about that stuff."

"Well, no matter how much I trashed talked, I envied what you and Peyton had. Not just the popularity, but all of it. I never had a close girlfriend to walk down the halls with arm and arm. I never had guys fawn over me. Or even just look my way."

"You had Lucas."

"It was different because Lucas was just a friend. He couldn't care less if I was a member of the female race. I might have had breasts but I was his buddy. And yes at times he can be just as sensitive as a girl, but I was still missing something."

"And to think I was jealous of you too."

"Of me?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Brooke Davis was jealous of me?

"Come on Haley. You had what ever girl dreams of. At least what I always dreamed of. A guy that actually loves and respects you for who you are. Not just looks at you like a sex object."

"I guess I never looked at it that way."

"It's funny how we both thought we had nothing and the other had everything."

"I would have never imagined."

"Truthfully Haley, once I got to know Lucas, I was so jealous of you. You were all he talked about. Well except basketball of course. You had a big part of his heart. A part I was never gonna get. You still hold that part. I wished that I could be you. I wished I could drop everything. Drop the cheerleading, popularity, and random nobody guys for just one day of hanging out with Lucas."

"Wow really?"

She nodded. "And you know what? I did. Not everything but I gave up a lot to be with Lucas. But none of that mattered. It wasn't important. Because for the first time I found someone that made me feel special. Like I mattered. And it felt so nice. I never had a guy treat me that way. He saw deep inside of me and found a different person. One that I didn't even know was there. And without him I'm afraid she'll disappear completely."

"She won't."

"I don't want to go back to the way I was."

"Don't worry." I grabbed her hand. "I won't let you. And if I know you as well as I think I do, you won't let yourself. You've changed Brooke. And it's all your doing. No guy helped you. He might have been your initial reason but you did it all on your own."

"Thanks Haley. Thanks for being here. I mean I know you are here because of Lucas and Nathan, but it means the world to me to have you waiting by my side. I'm grateful to have you in my life everyday."

"Brooke it's exactly the same for me. And I want you to know I am always here for you. Even if it has nothing to do with Nathan or Lucas. No matter what you need, I'll be right here.

Brooke reached over and hugged me again. This time it was so tight I couldn't really breathe. But that was okay. She needed my breath right now. She had always been the breath of fresh air and the least I could do was return the favor.

"Ditto girl. You're my spirit sister."

"I couldn't have said it better myself. But there is one thing I am curious about that I want to ask you Brooke."

"What's that?"

"If you didn't hate me than why did you treat me like I didn't exist?"

"Simple. You can't be jealous of someone that doesn't exist."

"Now there's the Brooke we all know and love. Back to her usual self."

Just then the double doors opened revealing the doctor from before. This was the man controlling our futures and the futures of the boys we loved. He spotted us and walked over with a very sad look on his face. This was not good. I knew Brooke and my moment of peace was too nice to last.

"Are you two with the Scott brothers?"

We both stood up and nodded.

"I'm sorry girls. I've got some bad news. There have been some complications."

Here it comes again. The worst feeling in the world.

TBC