Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with the WB or One Tree Hill so please don't sue. All you'd get would be some dvd's and a bunch of misc. posters :-)

Author's Notes: My thank yous to everyone are at the bottom of this chapter. Thanks again everyone who took the time to write a review. I love getting them. Good or bad. Just to let you know I have the next five chapters done (I was on a roll this weekend) but I am only going to be sending them out one at a time. Hopefully the feedback I've recieved will be continued till the end of the story.

Back to You Chapter 17

"Someone to Count on."

By:

D. Sollers

Sean stared down at the letter in front of him and held his breath. He wasn't sure he'd actually be able to go through with it, but once he had sat down in front of the computer the words had come to him. He had just hoped she would understand his reason for quitting his job and leaving the city. Nathan had left him no choice.

/flashback/

"Excuse me. Uhh," Sean trailed off.

"Nathan."

Sean pushed past him, ignoring the look he was getting from the student. He knew the chances were that Nathan had also seen Brooke leave and he wasn't sure what was going to happen.

"Mr. Adams?"

He turned around to face the teenager and waited for Nathan to say something. Nathan stayed quiet for a moment and then began to speak. "What were you doing with Brooke?" Sean could see Nathan's temper rising and he knew he had to pacify him or the whole school would hear Nathan's voice. "I know you weren't doing what I think you were."

Sean was at a loss. He could tell the truth, he knew Nathan was a friend of Brooke's or he could take his chance and lie. He decided to opt for the second one. "It's not what you think."

"Good," Nathan said. "Because it looked like you were in the janitor's closet with one of my best friends." Nathan laughed. "But that can't be because you're a teacher."

Sean went to say something but was silenced by Nathan shoving him against one of the lockers. Nathan held onto the shoulder and stared at him for a minute before saying something. "Whatever the hell is going on with you and Brooke, put an end to it," Nathan said. "Or I'll make you regret it."

Nathan released him and picked up his backpack. "Have a good day," he smirked and walked off.

/end flashback/

Sean had known that being involved with Brooke would be dangerous. They had been together for only a couple of months and already he had been threatened twice. Once by Nathan, and once by Lucas. He knew he had nothing to worry about where Lucas was concerned because more than anything Lucas had wanted her happy. But Nathan, he didn't care. All he cared about was protecting Brooke from anyone and anything.

But Sean had wanted the same thing. That was why he had gone through with resigning as a teacher. That's why he had written the letter to Brooke explaining to her his actions. And that was also the reason why he was leaving Tree Hill. He was going to go back to Charleston and stay with a friend for a while until he could sort things out.

There wasn't any doubt in his mind that he cared for Brooke. But he knew that them being together was wrong. She was a student and not even 18. He promised himself that he would give it a few months and then decide if it was worth that risk. As he packed his bags, he knew he was doing the right thing. He just hoped Brooke would understand.

……

Jules entered Karen's café apprehensively. She could see Karen and Deb sitting at the counter drinking cups of coffee and she knew she needed to speak to them. That she needed their help.

After talking to Lucas, she too had realized what he had been trying to explain to her. After everything was said and done, Keith wasn't the type to hurt his brother. And even though he had confessed, Jules prayed for his innocence to be proven. "Hi Karen. Deb," Jules said as she waved hello to the two women.

The two women looked up at her and smiled slightly. Karen didn't waste any time but reached out and took Jules into a hug. "I'm so sorry," Karen whispered to Jules. Jules nodded in understanding and sat down in between the two friends. "is there anything I can do?" Karen asked.

Jules simply shook her head no and sighed. "Unless you can prove him innocent."

"I wish I could," Karen said. And it had been the truth. More than anything she wanted to believe in his innocence. Not just for herself and for Jules but for Lucas too. He had wanted so badly for his uncle to have the charges dropped that he didn't care how it was accomplished. "Have you talked to him?" Jules shook her head no and looked down at the counter.

"I guess he just doesn't want to see me."

Deb reached out towards Jules hand and patted it gently. "You know that's not true. He's probably just embarrassed and doesn't want you to be dragged into it," she offered. Jules nodded her head.

"I'm sure you're right, it's just I hate this. Not knowing anything." Jules said. "I just wish it was over already and I knew just what was going to happen." The thought of her husband getting sentenced to jail wasn't making her any happier. He was a good man, one who didn't deserve any of this. She herself, could have killed Dan for doing this to all of them.

Deb turned to her. "We'll all get through this. You and Keith, Karen and Lucas, Nathan and I," she held her breathe. "Even Dan." Something about the way she said that made Jules look at Deb funny. Was it possible that Deb knew more than she was letting on? Jules shrugged her shoulders figuring she was probably just imagining things.

"I just love him so much," Jules said.

Karen nodded her head in understanding. "We all do."

……

Brooke knocked on Sean's apartment door and waited for him to answer. After a few minutes of him not answering, she called his phone. He didn't answer. She tapped lightly once again on the door and then turned the doorknob. As she walked inside, she wasn't quite sure she believed what she saw.

"What the hell…"

It was mostly bare, all of his collectables and books were gone. The furniture was still there and she walked towards the kitchen counter and stared down at the envelope. When she saw her name, she opened it slowly. As much as a part of her wanted to know what was going on, the even bigger part of her was worried.

Dear Brooke,

As you read this letter you are probably really confused as to what is going on. I never meant for all of this to happen to you and I hope that you'll eventually understand why I had to leave this way. I knew that if I saw you once more I wouldn't be able to go through with it.
What we did was wrong. No matter how strong my feelings were towards you I never should of let anything happen between us. I was a teacher and you were technically my student. And for that I am truly sorry.

I want you to know that I really did care for you. You were the first person I've connected to since my wife. And I know that if I had stayed in tree hill, I would have continued to fall in love with you.

And you deserve better. I would never have been able to live with myself if you're reputation was ruined because of me. Hopefully, after things have settled down for the both of us maybe they're still be a chance for us. Until then, know that I am thinking of you and missing you.

Yours,

Sean

Brooke placed the letter back in the envelope and held back tears. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to respond, but regardless she was still upset. Once again someone who claimed to care about her, left her and betrayed her trust.

Even as she thought those things, she found herself feeling confused.

Her feelings for Sean had snuck up on her so fast that she didn't have a chance to sort them out. She still wasn't sure what they had been. And then, of course there was Lucas. It bothered her that after everything that had happened between the two of them, everything still came back to him. Whenever she had been with Sean, there was always something that had caused her to doubt her relationship with Sean. But Sean had left before their relationship had gotten a chance. Before she really knew whether she was in love with him or not.

As she left the bare apartment, she couldn't help but feel alone.

……

"Hey there gorgeous."

Alexis turned around and glared at Felix.

"Hey."

Felix grinned and draped his arm around her shoulders. She shook him off and continued walking.

"Hey wait up," Felix said, jogging a bit to catch up with her.

Alexis turned to him and rolled her eyes. "Are you going to learn? I'm not interested." She walked into the café and sat down trying her hardest to avoid a conversation with him. Felix sat down beside her and smiled slightly.

"Okay. I think we've got off to a bad start. I'm Felix," he said as he stuck out his hand. Alexis faced him and rolled her eyes once more. Hesitantly she placed her hand in his.

"Alexis."

Felix ordered a cup of coffee and asked "so are you waiting for someone?" She nodded her head, and when she said nothing he asked who. Alexis smiled and mouthed Lucas to him. Felix tried to hide the fact that he was annoyed from her and pushed on. "what are you two gonna do?"

Anna shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "We were supposed to meet up at the river court and go to the movies. I waited there for a half an hour and then thought maybe I got the places crossed," she explained.

Felix chuckled. He put his hands in the air signaling peace and bit his tongue. He remembered his conversation days ago with Lucas and wondered if he was with Brooke. She watched as he started to stand and then leaned over the counter and grinned.

"Well something's keeping Lucas. So what do ya say to going to the movies with me?" Alexis looked down at her phone and sighed. She wasn't with Lucas and she was free to go to the movies with anyone she wanted. It didn't matter how much she disliked him. She'd get to see a movie and maybe he'd buy her popcorn.

"What the hell," she said with a smirk as she stood and Felix dropped a ten dollar bill on the counter. He put his arm around her shoulders once more and she pushed him away. "Don't get too ahead of your self." And even as she said it, she knew that he already had.

……

Peyton paced Jake's living room floor silently. Jake had just finished telling her about the night before, and she wasn't thrilled. In fact, she was down right scared. Jake stood, leaning against the fireplace watching his girlfriend unsure of what he should do.

"It's okay Peyton," Jake said as he walked towards her and rubbed her shoulders. She shrugged his hand off of her and shook her head. When she turned to face him he could see the tears in her eyes. Peyton looked away, a little embarrassed with herself.

"I don't know what I would do if I lost you again," Peyton whispered. Jake smiled and reached out for her again. He brought her into a hug and held her there in a firm grasp. "You take a piece of me every time you leave. And I'm not sure what I'll have left the next time."

Jake lifted her chin with his thumb and stared into her eyes. He held her gaze before leaning down to kiss her on the lips. "I'm not leaving you," Jake said. "You're where I belong," he continued and then stared across the room at Jenny in her bouncer. "Her too."

Peyton turned towards Jenny and then stared at the ground. She hesitated for a moment and then pulled away from Jake. "What if Nikki is right. What if Jenny grows up to hate you? To hate us?" Peyton asked him.

He wasn't sure what to say to her. Nikki's words had replayed over and over in his mind and he still wasn't sure what to do about them. He knew that Nikki had said them to make him feel guilty and let her have visitation. And he knew that no matter what he would never be able to give her custody of their child. But even though her intentions were wrong, he couldn't help but wonder if her words were right.

Children always wanted their real mothers and fathers together. And he was sure Jenny wouldn't be the exception. He wasn't sure how Jenny would grow to feel about her birth mother, but he did know Peyton. And he knew for certain that she would be a great mother.

"Jenny will never hate you Peyton," Jake said after a few minutes.

Peyton looked back at him and then to Jenny. "Can you promise me that?"

Jake knew she was looking for answers that he wasn't sure he could give. He knew in his heart that Jenny would never be able to hate Peyton, but he still couldn't promise her something he wasn't sure he would be able to keep. He shook his head sadly and then turned back to his daughter.

"Peyton I know you're scared about the future. We all are," Jake said. "But we'll deal with that when it comes. When Jenny is older we will tell her the truth together. And then it will be her decision. But that's tomorrow. As much as I would love to flash forward ten years from now we need to live in the present. And that's here. You, Jenny and me."

She smiled slightly and reached her hand for his. Peyton ran her thumb across the top of his hand and nodded her head. As hard as letting it go was going to be, she knew he was right. After a few minutes she looked up at him and sighed. "What do you really see in the future?" He released himself from her just long enough to scoop Jenny up into his arms and turned to face her.

"You."

……

Lucas had finished practice early and headed home. He wasn't sure his mother would be home and he knew probably that Brooke would be either hanging out with Nathan and Haley or out somewhere with Sean. And as much as that angered him, he was glad he was getting the chance to go out and catch a movie.

As he entered the house he called to see if anyone was home and headed straight for the bathroom. He knew he had to meet Alexis in a half an hour and he still needed a shower after his workout.

Ten minutes later he was out of the shower and dressing when he heard a door slam shut. He pulled his jeans up and zipped them, before putting his shirt on the sink and opening the bathroom door. Lucas made his way towards Brooke's room and tapped on it gently. He made out the faint sounds of her whimpering and he called out to her. "Brooke, hey can I come in?" She said nothing so he tried the doorknob. When he realized it wasn't locked he opened the door the rest of the way and walked towards her.

"Brooke what's wrong?"

Brooke was laying in her bed in a tiny ball. She had her head on the pillow and he could tell she was trying to stop her tears from falling. He leaned down in front of her and wiped away a few loose tears that had fallen.

"What happened?"

Lucas sat down beside her and pulled her towards him. She placed her head in his lap and looked up at him. "He left," she said simply. Lucas held his breath, not sure what he was supposed to say. He ran his hands through her hair and shut his eyes. "What did I do?"

Brooke's words had brought him out of his trance. What had she done? He wasn't sure how to respond to that. She hadn't done anything. "Nothing," Lucas said. "You haven't done anything."

Brooke chuckled dryly. "Then why does everyone leave me?"

"Brooke I…" Lucas began.

Brooke shook her head no. "Lucas don't. Just please, stay with me."

He nodded his head and propped it up against the headboard. Lucas heard his cell phone ring in the other room and he knew it was probably Alexis. He was about to ask Brooke to move for a minute when she moved closer towards him. She buried herself in his arms and shut her eyes. "I just want to be able to count on someone for once."

Lucas bent down and kissed the back of her head. "You can count on me," he whispered.

TBC...

What's next on Back to You?

Chapter 18- "My Greatest Gift"

- Charges are dropped against Keith

- Brooke and Lucas go bowling

- Thanks giving dinner at Haley and Nathan's

- Kelly Clarkson plays at Tric

Love it? Hate it? Please take a minute and write down your reviews for this story. It only takes a minute and it makes me write so much faster. Well, that's a lie. I update regardless but reviews make me veeeeeeeeery happy :-) Like I said before here are my individual thank you's

JoJoGirl: Again, I love your reviews. You always have so much to say and I love hearing it. I wanted to do at least one scene where Felix and Lucas came to the realization that they both have/had strong feelings for Brooke. They will never really get along, but they can AGREE that Brooke is amazing. I think we all can agree with that. Sean does have strong feelings for her and I do believe that if you took Lucas out of the picture (and probably made him younger) that the two of them would work out. But this is an OTH fanfiction and I am a true Brucas fan therefor neither one of them are acceptable to me. To me his actions are justified to me because I am portraying his character to really love her. There's a 7 year age difference but she is 17/18. This isn't as if she was 12 and he was 26...so where as from a moral stand point them being together isn't exactly right...it's kind of acceptable. Kind of. And only because I am writing it the way I am :-) I think Lucas has always been portrayed as a loving person. He loves his mother, he loved Peyton, he loves Keith, he loves Haley and he is in love with Brooke. The depth of his love for his friends and family has always been shown on the show regardless of whether he liked his decisions (ie cheating with peyton). But you are right in season two they really showed his character maturing with his feelings. He loved Brooke enough to stand by and watch her pretend to be happy, and he watched her back constantly to make sure nothing would hurt her. Brooke is hiding behind her feelings for Sean and their relationship so that she doesn't have to face her feelings for Lucas. But what will happen when Sean is taken from her? She'll have to admit to herself and to others that Lucas has had her heart all along. But this wouldn't be Tree Hill without a little twist in that but that's to come. Thanks for such a great review. Hope you enjoy this chapter

Kelz3192: Thanks for the review. Again I really wanted to have Felix showing at least a little bit of maturity even though it'll probably last only a few days.

OthRetard: Thanks. I think I have gotten back into the flow of this story as well :-) I wanted the intimate moments between Sean and Brooke to on some level make her think of Lucas. The cheerful thing, the fact about weird science in the chapter or so back, etc... It all comes down to the fact that she can't get him out of her head- no matter how much she tries to be happy with someone else. And I really, really did want to update. See :-)

L-A-C-18: Awe :-) you're happy when I update and I am beyond happy when I get one of your reviews. I love it when someone really enjoys my story and you seem to always have something nice to say about it. I'm a little weird cause I can put Brooke with almost anyone and still be happy. Cause I love Brooke. (well minus Felix, Tim and Mouth). But Brucas will always be my favorite senerio with Brathan being my second choice. I much prefer Brathan as really good friends perhaps that is why the story is going the way it is. I am glad you are okay with her and Sean even though you want her with Lucas. I've had that opinion about Keith for a while now but I want to just say two things. Keith's done some pretty shitty things but he shows remorse and he knows when he is wrong and openly will admit when he has a problem. That makes him such a better person than Dan. Dan doesn't care who he hurts and even though he loves his family (even Lucas) he always puts himself first. I really do think that he could have gone a different way if things had been different in his past. If he had stayed with Karen I think he could have quite possibly turned out to be like Nathan was after he got with Haley. But his marriage to Deb and the choices he made changed him to become someone almost evil. I did the halloween part for two reasons, the first because I wanted to show the two of them bonding (B&L) but also because I wanted everyone to understand that this story is taken place over the entire senior year. It's not just the second week of school. They're already into the end of October and the story will eventually wrap up around prom time. As far as Nikki and Felix showing up in this chapter I wanted to add a little bit of drama and show the growth of the different storylines. Sean and Brooke both know that they are playing with fire but unfortunatly aren't really thinking about the consequences. Lucas was able to let it go for now because he wants her happy. But Nathan is her friend and is looking out for her best interest I am not too sure he is going to be that considerate towards the situation. You'll see in this chapter what I mean. Here's the next chapter and it's just a day later. Hope you enjoy.

NateandJake: thanks for the review

KaraokeDiva419: Even though this is a Brucas story there will still be a really close friendship between Nathan and Brooke. And if you are interested, I am working on a one shot peice where all the guys (well Lucas, Nathan, Jake, Felix etc...) are thinking about Brooke and realizing that they all in one way or another is attracted to, has a crush and or loves. It'll be out in a couple of days so hopefully you will look for that. And it will have Nathan realizing he is falling for Brooke ;-)

KarahBella: Glad you are enjoying. And Brooke is deffinitly playing with fire- which probably is part of the appeal

DanceDude09: We're getting closer to more Naley interaction but until then you will just have to suffer (lol) with Brucas moments. Nathan is deffinatly not going to be happy when he realizes what is going on between Sean and Brooke. He loves his brother but more importantly he wants to protect Brooke from messing up her future. Hope this chapter you like as well

BrucasNaleyLuvr: It would be cute to see Nathan, Felix and Lucas go up against Sean. Then he really would leave Brooke alone. And Lucas can have her and Felix can want her and Nathan can watch out for her...lol I got a little off the story...but it would have been cute. Well here is the next chapter hope you enjoy

Brucas4Ever: Lucas should always be there for Brooke when she comes home upset. Here's to hoping :-)

CrazyAznChik: I am glad you enjoyed the last chapter. Lucas and Felix getting along was something I really wanted to put into the story. They'll never be the best of friends but hopefully they'll learn to almost respect each other. ALMOST. I hope you'll enjoy your senior year. Have fun!

MelBell1315: thanks for reviewing. Here's the next chapter