Chapter Twenty-Nine: Reconnecting

Author's note: So this is me playing shamelessly for reviews. Give me enough and I'll post twice again tomorrow, I promise.

Peyton couldn't help but let out a groan of frustration as she exited Haley's room under the façade of going for coffee. What right did they have to be so mad? They'd seen her the day before yesterday, at Mouth's funeral. That counted, didn't it?

As attractive as the ideas ditching or calling Davis on her phone seemed, she knew she couldn't. Haley was in the hospital, even if it was completely unnecessary. Peyton felt like she had no allies. Haley was pissed off at everyone, Brooke was damn good at holding a grudge, and Lucas was too much in love with Brooke to think of anyone else.

"Peyton?" came a voice. She snapped her head up as Jake came running, a bouquet of daisies in his hand.

"Is she okay?" he asked anxiously.

"Yeah. Nathan not so much, but Haley's perfect," she said.

"Are you okay? You look kind of shaken," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. She jumped away immediately.

Jake led her to a grouping of chairs and they sat.

"They hate me," she said pitifully. He smiled and put an arm around her shoulders.

"They don't. They miss you," he said consolingly.

"Liar," she said, tucking her head into his shoulder.

"Hey, it's what I'm here for," he said.

"You know, I can think of a few other reasons," she said, sitting up straight again.

Jake smiled as she leaned forward to kiss him. Finally, it was happening. Here, under the fluorescent lights, in the midst of weird smells, he was getting everything he'd ever wanted. He put a hand on her waist and tried to get close with the armrests in the way.

"So now it's official. Hospital chairs: the most uncomfortable place to make out," joked Peyton.

"Are we actually going to do this?" he asked.

"I don't know. It might be weird…" she said reluctantly. Leaning forward, he kissed her again.

"It definitely doesn't feel weird," he said.

"I know. I just feel like it should," she said.

"That makes absolutely no sense," said Jake.

"Yeah, yeah. I should go in there, talk to Haley. Why're they so pissed, anyway? Is it because they think I slept with you and broke your heart?" pondered Peyton. Jake laughed at this.

"Pey, I didn't even tell them about that. It's because they think you're sleeping with Davis," he said.

"Dude, are you serious? That's insane. I'll see you in there, okay?" she said, leaning in to kiss him again before departing.

Jake happily watched her go. He was quite certain that now that Davis was out of the way, everything was going to be fine, for the first time since he'd met her.

As he stood to go, he was suddenly knocked forward several feet by someone running toward him.

"God, sorry, I'm such a…" Jake turned to look at his attacker, and saw a blonde girl apologizing nervously. She smiled when she saw him. "…Klutz. Hi. Hi. I'm Ryan."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Jake," he said. She smiled again. After they had shaken hands she took a step back, and she purposefully gave him a view of her long, slim, toned legs. He smiled.

"Sorry about that. You know, you look familiar," she said.

"I've lived here my entire life. Where're you from?" he asked kindly, itching to go off and find Peyton again.

"New York. I'm just visiting my… oh my God, my brother. Nathan. Shit, where is he?" she asked, suddenly distracted.

"Damnit, you're the youngest Scott? He's in surgery. Haley's fine," he said. He comfortingly took her hands when she began to wring them anxiously.

"But he's going to be okay, right?" she demanded. Jake had only the chance to shrug before he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Ryan?"

"Luke, I'm so glad to see you. Have they told you anything?" she asked, as she went to hug her brother. Lucas glared suspiciously at Jake as she did so. Jake tried to hold in a laugh.

"Not yet. I'm sure he'll be fine," said Lucas consolingly, awkwardly rubbing her back. After that, they fell silent. Jake observed this with interest, remembering Haley talking of how close Ryan and Nathan were.

"So, Ryan, want to go see Haley?" he suggested, breaking the awkward silence.

"Like you wouldn't believe," she said under her breath, following him down the hallway.

Peyton had reached Haley's room significantly before him. By the time he, Ryan and Lucas arrived back, the two blonde's were on the bed, talking animatedly. He smiled as he watched his best friend reconnect with her best friend. Things were slipping back into place, even with all the Scotts around.

Ryan squealed in slight alarm and flew to the bed.

"Are you alright? Where are you hurt?" she demanded anxiously.

"I'm fine, little girl. It's good to see you," said Haley, looking equally concerned. Jake remembered guiltily that although Haley was fine, and Peyton was maybe his girlfriend, Nathan was very possibly dying in the same hospital.

"I'm so glad my idiot brother didn't get you hurt," she said comfortingly. Jake couldn't help but eye the three blondes sitting together on the bed. The young Scott was a bit too perky and a bit too young, but…

"He wouldn't. And I'm sure he'll be fine. I just wish they'd let me up," she said in annoyance.

"Why? What's on your schedule?" asked Peyton suspiciously.

"Go and… wait outside Nathan's room?" she said to herself.

"There'll be plenty of time for that later," said Lucas, arriving back in the room. "Nathan'll be in surgery for a couple hours, and in recovery for a while after that."

Ryan and Haley frowned simultaneously. Brooke flew to the bed and she and Peyton did their best to comfort the girls, so heartbroken for two entirely different reasons.