Hey...
Just wanted to say thanks for all of the reviews...
This chapter is kind of short, but its to set up for the next one...So please read it and tell me what you think. Thanks.
If Something Should Happen
CHAPTER 8
"There's always some aftermath,
good and bad, makes-me-happy or makes-me-unhappy,
for anything we choose to do"
-Richard Bach
It was all a blur. She couldn't hear him, not with the intense sound of her own blood rushing through her ears. She nodded idly, her eyes focused in his general direction, her mind distant.
She could see him stand, his hand gently squeezing her shoulder reassuringly before leaving her. But it wasn't encouraging, not with the grim glance he lingered on her seconds before he turned away.
"Brooke."
Her gaze slowly turned, her brown eyes meeting blue ones. He smiled at her, but it wasn't comforting. It was empty, a forced one he showed to the world. Her eyes pierced through it, through him, silently cursing his silent lies. She blinked rapidly, her vision becoming slightly less blurry.
"Brooke."
His hand rested gently on hers, his warmth touching her skin. "Yeah." Her voice was foreign. It wasn't hers. It was laced with fear, an emotion she rarely felt, but lately was the only one.
He stood, his long arm extending outward towards her. He dropped it to his side, as she stood, unassisted. It was just like her, to not depend on someone. She never did. She entered the dreary room before him; the sound of monitors faintly beeping surrounded her.
A sudden pang of resentment washed over him. It wasn't right, he knew that, but he couldn't help but feel it. His brother had lied. He promised them, swore to them, that he would awaken. But he didn't. His body lay motionless in the bed before him, his eyes shut.
The beep of the monitor was brief. His heart was weak, barely functioning on its own. It sickened Nathan. How could Lucas being talking one moment, and on the verge of death the next?
And now, he had to choose; his brother's fate lay solely in his hands. It's what the doctor was attempting to explain to them. It wasn't fair, that the responsibility of choosing the life or death of his own brother was put into his hands.
But it was. Nathan would have to choose. Would he keep his brother alive, hooked up to machines and medicines in hopes that a heart donor would present itself? Or would he let his brother pass peacefully?
Haley stood beside him, her hand wrapped tightly around his. Her head rested on his shoulder, holding her up. A silence fell between the three, none daring to speak. They knew if they did, the helplessness they were bottling up inside themselves would explode, and no was willing to face reality.
Nathan slowly sank down the wall, his hand dropping form his wife's. "I can't do it." He mumbled to himself. His long arms wrapped around his knees, his face burying itself into his arms.
"You have to Nathan." Brooke whispered as she joined him on the floor. His head slowly raised, his eyes glossy. It didn't stop her though, from seeing through them, seeing the emptiness inside of him.
"How, huh?" His voice broke slightly. His eyes fell on his motionless brother, the ache in his heart intensifying. "How am I supposed to decide that? I can't!" He stood abruptly to his feet, his arms raking over his head.
"I don't know."
"It's not fair!" He growled bitterly. He gripped the side of the bed, his knuckles loosing their already pale color. His breath was becoming increasingly ragged but he never broke his eyes from Lucas. "What…what would you guys do? I mean, you know him better than I do. What would he want?"
He slowly turned, his eyes shifting between Haley and Brooke. The two women that knew Lucas Scott better than he knew himself. "Lucas is strong. He would want to fight." Brooke stated confidently.
Both sets of eyes shifted toward Haley, waiting for her response. The brunette shifted nervously under their waiting stares. She finally blew out a breath, her hair moving under the gust.
"Hales?"
She quickly adverted her eyes from them, choosing to place her glance upon her best friend. "Let him go." It came out in a whisper. She had to force herself to say it, knowing the deeper meaning behind them. She had just told them to let him die, and as much as it hurt her to say it or think it, she thought it was the right thing to do.
She convinced herself that it wasn't right for him to be hooked up to an assortment of different machines and tubes. It wasn't right that a countless amount of medicines were being pumped into his frail body, most of which she didn't know what for, or could even pronounce.
Both women were broke from their thoughts as Nathan slammed his fist against the wall. He had been hoping for a clear choice, that both women would agree on a decision; he found himself back to where he was before, and still had no idea as which option to choose.
"Go." He mumbled, his back turned to them.
"Nathan." He could feel Haley's hand rest upon his shoulder. He braced himself on the bed, his legs wobbling beneath him.
"Don't. Please, just go."
"Nathan, that's not fair." Brooke protested, a fresh batch of tears stinging at her brown eyes.
He suddenly turned, his arm ripping Haley's from his shoulder. Both women jumped at his sudden burst. "Fair?" He scoffed, a newfound flame burning in his eyes. Within seconds his tall frame was hovering over her small one, his chest heaving up and down violently.
Broke stepped backward, her back hitting the wall behind her. He was oblivious to her obvious frazzled state and the quite whimpers she emitted. He towered menacingly over her, his jaw locked and his eyes piercing through her.
"Nathan, please." Haley tried her best to stay calm.
"Fair? You want to talk to me about fair?" His voice was eerily calm. His arms rested on either side of her head, blocking her from any chance of escaping his wrath. She knew it was coming, she knew it the second the words escaped her lips.
"I'm sorry."
His large hand gripped her face, his fingers leaving clamping her cheek, forcing her face upward, her eyes meeting his. "Don't you dare stand here and talk about what's fair…"
"Nathan!" Haley shrieked as he tightened his grip on the now shaking woman. "Stop it!" Her small hands gripped his arms in an attempt to pull him away but he simply shrugged her off.
"My brother is lying in a hospital bed dying…" He hissed harshly, his face mere inches away from hers. "…You're telling me that's fair? Huh? What, you have nothing to say now?"
"Uncle Nate!" Ryan's small hands were formed into tiny fists that were now pounding into his uncle's leg. Nathan's eyes finally met the terrified ones of Brooke and then his nephew.
With one swift motion he released her. She sunk down to the floor, her face buried in her hands. Haley was quick at her side, pushing Nathan out of the way in the process. He stumbled backwards, his motions repaying in his head, the regret becoming evident in his features.
Haley pulled Brooke up, her arms supporting the weight of the sobbing woman. She quickly ushered her out of the room, her eyes cutting through her husband viciously. His knees gave out from under him, his body collapsing against the wall.
Ryan inched forward warily, "Nathan?" His voice was barely above a whisper as he scooted closer to his Uncle. He jumped backward as Nathan lifted his head.
"I…I didn't mean it." The broken man whispered to himself, his eyes staring at the blank wall in front of him. His entire body shook as he continuously repeated the words. He met the worried gave of his nephew, the guilt intensifying inside him as he did.
Slowly he opened his arms toward the boy who immediately ran into them, his small arms wrapping around Nathan's neck. He held the boy tightly to his body, his body gradually slowing its shaking.
The door creaked open causing Nathan to jump quickly to his feet, the young boy now asleep on his shoulder. He was hoping it was Brooke or Haley, frowning when it was Lucas' doctor. He still hadn't chosen, but he would have to now.
"Mr. Scott." The older doctor greeted grimly. Nathan slowly turned, his eyes focusing on his brother. He bit his lip nervously, nodding his head. "Have you made the decision?"
He turned back to the doctor, a small, rueful smile slowly appearing. "Yeah." He nodded. He knew what he had to do; what he thought his brother would want.
