Keep Hope Alive

Author's Notes: Thank you for your wonderful reviews! I would really hate writing a story that no one reads, so thanks for letting me know you like it! I know there was a little confusion on earlier chapters because it wouldn't load, or at least there was for me, but that is all fixed now. This chapter is a little intense, and I hope you enjoy it. Chapter title credit- Love, Salvation, The Fear of Death by Sixpence None The Richer

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that is One Tree Hill or its characters.

Chapter Seven: Love, Salvation, The Fear of Death

Lucas felt warm moisture on the shoulder of his shirt. He looked down slightly to see tears running from Brooke's face once again. He knew this was a lot for the girl to take in. She was almost shot, and now her roommate and friend was just taken by the shooter.

"Brooke…" He stated softly. "Brooke." He said once again as he slowly lifted her face to him. "It's going to be okay. " He reassured Brooke, along with himself, softly.

Brooke gave a weak nod as she lifted up to see Lucas' loving blue eyes. He soothingly stroked her hair, then lifted her chin to kiss her softly. He was scared for every single person in that school, but he felt it had to be okay.

This couldn't be the last time that he could touch Brooke's silky hair, or see her dimpled smile. It had to be okay…for all of them. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Nathan jumping to his feet.

Nathan watched as Lucas comforted Brooke, Skillz held Bevin in comfort, and from a quick glance across the room it looked as though Rachel and Mouth had just shared a kiss. Seeing everyone else holding someone, he had to get Haley.

Just a few minutes before, he had Haley in his arms. He had faced the discouraged halls and found his beloved wife, and now she was taken away from him once more. He couldn't allow that to happen.

He stood up and walked towards the exit of the room, but was stopped as Lucas stood in front of him.

Nathan shook his head and looked at Lucas seriously. "Get outta my way, man." Nathan demanded, still somewhat calmly.

Lucas gave a nod, but raised a hand to Nathan. "Shh. We have to be careful."

Brooke watched as Lucas and Nathan made their way to the door, and her face gained more terror than it already had. "Lucas!"

"Shh…Brooke. It's okay." He nodded to her as they stepped out the door, and looked in both directions. At the end of the hall, the way that Theresa had been found, they could hear talking.

Lucas started to walk, but Nathan stopped him. "You should stay with them. I'll go to Haley."

-------

Keith slowly stepped into the halls of Tree Hill High, in search of Jimmy and the missing teens. His courage and bravery, that he showed to Dan when expressing to enter the school, was now gone and he stood completely terrified. But he had to find Lucas. Not only for him, but for Karen. Karen needed her boy right now.

He heard footsteps in the hall coming towards him. As he rounded a corner, he saw Jimmy and Haley also doing the same. Jimmy noticed Haley's expression light up, and turned to see the man he once knew.

Jimmy raised the gun, that was previously on Haley, to Keith. A few feet away, lied Theresa.

Keith slowly raised his arms and looked down at the girl. Blood was spilled everywhere, leading from her chest. She had to have been there for quite awhile, and he knew the girl was gone.

"Jim. Please, don't do this." Keith said softly.

"What are you doing here? Do they know? Do they know where I am? They better not come in here!" Jimmy yelled to the man.

"No. Jimmy, it's just me. Only me, no one else. So why don't you just let Haley go."

Jimmy shook his head abruptly, knowing there wasn't a chance. If he let Haley go, his leverage would be gone and he would have nothing.

-------

Karen looked at Peyton and her father worriedly. Keith still hadn't returned and he wasn't back yet. Why wasn't he there, he had promised her he would be right back.

Peyton noticed the worry in Karen's eyes, and let herself of out her father's grip. "It's okay Karen. I'm sure he's fine."

Karen looked to the blonde girl, fearing death for her loved ones, but gained a slight confused look. "Which one?" She asked softly, only seconds away from crying. She needed the both to be in her arms. They were the two most important men in her life, even just the two most important people.

Peyton looked to the woman, realizing what she had said. Karen wasn't only worried for Lucas, but Keith also. "I'm sure they will both be fine. And Brooke, and Haley, and Nathan, they will all be fine."

Peyton turned to her father for reassurance for herself, and he followed with a nod. She softly placed her hand on Karen's arm, then gave her a soft friendly hug.

-------

Nathan watched from around the corner as Jimmy held Haley in front of him, and pointed the gun to the man across from him…Keith.

As Jimmy's complete focus seemed to turn to Keith, Nathan knew this was his chance. He stepped out slowly, hugging the wall behind him.

Jimmy quickly turned to Nathan as he felt Haley tense up. He quickly raised the gun to Nathan. "What the hell is this?" He screamed. "I said nobody leaves the room!" He screamed once more.

Haley's eyes grew in fear as Jimmy looked only mere seconds from shooting Nathan. She felt the love and worry for Nathan and herself, salvation from Keith, and fear from the troubled teen holding a gun firmly in his hands.

"Jimmy! Don't do this!" Keith screamed, in hopes of distracting Jimmy's attention to himself. "Just stop it now! It can get better!"

Jimmy shook his head, as cries formed in his own heart. He knew this wouldn't get better, he knew there was no possible way.

"It can't. She's dead." He said, slowly pointing to Theresa. As his body relaxed and he let go of Haley, she quickly ran to Nathan.

He pulled her to him, and planted a kiss on her forehead. He now had her in his arms again, the feeling he had been longing for so much that day.

Keith shook his head and slowly inched towards Jimmy. "It can get better. Just stop this now, change it."

Jimmy abruptly raised the gun to Keith, putting up the guard he had let down for a minute.

"Stay back! I will shoot! I swear I will shoot." He walked towards Keith a small bit, still holding the gun. He noticed Keith was making a small gesture of shaking his head, as if saying 'no'. He heard a faint whisper of urgency behind him.

He quickly spun around, having Keith on one side of him, and the couple on the other. In a half of a second, Nathan was darting towards him, Haley was clinging onto him tightly to keep him back.

-------

Lucas looked around to the smaller group of terrified kids, but couldn't think of anything besides Nathan and Haley in the hallway with Jimmy. His arms tightened around Brooke. So many thoughts we're forming in his head. Would Nathan and Haley be okay? Was Brooke okay? Had Peyton told his mother and Keith that he went back into the school? We're the three of them okay? Would anyone else recieve a fatal shot from the guy that he had once been such good friends with? Would it really be okay, or was that remain a pointless line that didn't comfort anyone at all?

Only short minutes later, the whole group heard two shots ring out.

-------

Yes, I know I left it there. I originally had it written to show who the death was, but I just couldn't do that. Guess you'll just have to wait and review.