Hey Guys

So how was your night last night? Mine was as uneventful as usual, except for the fact that I wrote last night's chapter. I'm still surprised at the response, and the fact that this is the 38th chapter. This is by far the longest story I have written ever. We have a new reader to welcome tonight Bluetiga.

MARIALAFFERTY: Sorry for the shortness of the chapter I like to split the drama. So enjoy tonight's.

Mags0607: I know it's sad but they've been through worse, and they got through that together, so don't worry I am not under any circumstances breaking any one apart.

Bluetiga: I'm so glad you are enjoying this and I hope you stick around for the long haul and welcome to our little family.

jeytonlover: I'm going to make it as an easy transition for him as possible but he has Brooke with him so she won't let him fall.

LuvAngel448: All I can say is he will be fine in the long run.

DanaJaycee: Don't be sad, he'll be fine I have never killed a character that I was actually writing, off in a story and I don't plan to start now.

PaulineJ: He will be fine.

Love,

Emily

(Mark Schwann and the WB own the characters depicted in this story I don't own anything… I wish I could say I owned the show but I don't)

Brooke couldn't take the silence anymore and she couldn't stand to see Lucas brooding the way he was. She knew he was scared and she wanted more than anything to not have him go through this. But since they got back together senior year and she found out about the HCM she felt it was her job to make sure he knew that she was there no matter what.

"Hey Broody?"

"Yeah, Cheery?"

"You remember what we talked about earlier right?" Asked Brooke as she started walking over to the bed that Lucas was sitting on.

"What about if he told me I couldn't play?"

"Yeah, you meant what you said right you would stop if they told you to?" Said Brooke.

"Of course I meant it. Brooke come here. I love you and I am going to do anything in my power to make sure that our dream comes true. It might take a little while but eventually we'll get there." Said Lucas as he hugged Brooke close to him.

"You have to promise me if we get that news today that you won't try to push me away, you'll tell me what you are feeling."

"I promise you." Said Lucas.

Just after Brooke and Lucas had their talk and a few tears were shed the doctor walked into the room and saw a scared young couple looking at him. This just got harder for him but he knew it had to be done.

"Hey you feeling any better?" Asked Dr. Montgomery.

"I don't know you tell me, but I can see from the look on your face something isn't right." Said Lucas already knowing that his days of basketball were numbered.

"So I have your results and I just want to tell you that you are responding to the medication unfortunately, I can't sign off on you continuing to play competitively any more. I feel it will put your health in jeopardy and that is not a risk I'm willing to take on you." Said Dr. Montgomery being as straightforward as possible.

"I had a feeling something was wrong." Said Lucas.

"I'm sorry man this is not what I wanted to tell you today, but I don't see another way to keep you healthy and that is what my job is."

"Hey, I knew that some day someone was going to tell me and I talked it over with Brooke and we decided that if you thought that it was best if I didn't play then I wouldn't, but I do have a question can I do a few pick up games here and there?"

"Yeah, I just don't want you to play under the stress of college ball, a game every once and a while with your buddies is fine. Just take it easy, don't over exert yourself and when you feel tired rest." Said Dr. Montgomery.

"Thank you Doctor." Said Lucas.

"Hey you're welcome, I want to see you in 6 weeks to check you out again and make sure the flu didn't do any damage. So see Marcie on your way out and schedule it, and I will see you then. It was nice meeting you Brooke."

"You too."

Dr. Montgomery left the room and Brooke looked at Lucas and saw calm in his eyes, she didn't see the pain and fear that she saw the night he told her about the HCM.

"You ready to go home?" Asked Brooke half expecting him to tell her to leave him alone.

"I'll go anywhere as long as you are with me, Cheery. But first I have to go see the coach and tell him that I won't be coming back." Said Lucas.

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"Of course, what did expect me to tell you to go home by yourself?" Said Lucas as he put his shirt on.

"No, well I figured you'd withdraw from me a little we'd fight about it and then have amazing make-up sex." Said Brooke as Lucas just laughed.

"Well you know we could have the amazing sex." Said Lucas joking with her.

"Not until you are done with the antibiotics." Said Brooke.

"Cheery that won't be for like two weeks."

"Oh, you act like that's forever. We've gone longer than that before." Said Brooke.

"Okay." Said Lucas knowing it was a lost cause arguing with her.

"So I think before you tell the coach you should call your mom and Keith and tell them what is going on, and then call Nate."

"I will on our way there, let me just make this appointment first and then I will call." Said Lucas as he grabbed Brooke's hand and then kissed her.

"Okay." Said Brooke as she and Lucas walked out the door of the room and went over to the reception desk.

"Can I help you?" Asked the receptionist.

"Yeah, Dr. Montgomery wanted me to make a follow-up appointment in 6 weeks." Said Lucas.

"Okay, I have one open on February 13th at 2pm." Said the woman.

"I'll take it." Said Lucas.

"Okay here is the appointment card, have a good day." Said the receptionist.

"Thanks you too." Said Lucas as he and Brooke left the office.

Lucas pulled out his cell phone and dialed the café's number having a pretty good idea that Karen would be there.

"Karen's Café, Deb speaking."

"Hi, Deb it's Luke, how are you?"

"I'm doing good, how are you and Brooke doing?"

"We're both doing good, I'd hate to be short but is my mom there?"

"Lucas, it's okay. And yes she's right here hold on." Said Deb.

"Hi, sweetie, what's going on?"

"I had the appointment with the cardiologist and I told you I would call afterwards." Said Lucas dreading having to tell his mother this.

"So how did it go?" Asked sensing something in Lucas' voice.

"Not good, I'm afraid I have to leave the basketball team, the doctor doesn't want me to play at all aside from pick up games at the River Court." Said Lucas trying to break the news as painlessly as possible.

"Oh, honey I'm so sorry. Are you still responding well to the meds?" Asked Karen as she held Deb's hand for support.

"Yeah, he just doesn't want me to put that kind of stress on my heart and won't sign the releases anymore." Said Lucas.

"Okay, does Brooke know about it?"

"She knows she was with me at the office, but Mom I have a favor to ask you." Said Lucas.

"Anything, honey."

"Can you tell everyone there and I'll tell Nate, Hales, Jake, and Peyton." Said Lucas.

"Of course, you don't have to worry about anything honey you just take care of your self and let Brooke take care you." Said Karen.

"I will Mom, I'll see you in a couple weeks for Parents' weekend, but when you come up I don't want to make a huge deal about it. Can you ask Keith, Larry, and Deb not to. It's just this is a decision I knew I would have to make sooner or later and I just want to live my life with Brooke." Said Lucas.

"Of course. I promise we won't make a big deal about it." Said Karen.

"So how are you doing, besides the huge bomb I just dropped?" Asked Lucas.

"I'm doing fine Lucas, the café and TRIC are doing great and I miss you guys so much already, but I can't wait to see you in a couple weeks." Said Karen amazed at how her son with everything that is going on with him, he still is concerned about her.

"I can't wait to see you either Mom." Said Lucas.

"Okay well you go home and go to bed and I will talk to you soon." Said Karen.

"Actually I have to go and see the coach and tell him about everything so he can find another person." Said Lucas.

"Okay, well be safe and tell Brooke that we love her and can't wait to see her."

"I will love you and I'll talk to you soon, bye Mom." Said Lucas.

"Bye Luke." Said Karen as she hung up the phone and looked at Deb with tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong are Lucas and Brooke alright?" Asked Deb.

"Um, Lucas has to stop playing basketball." Said Karen a little shaken.

"What do you mean?"

"He went to the cardiologist today and he told him that he couldn't play anymore, aside from at River Court."

"Oh my god. How's he handling it?"

"He seems fine, he said he just wants to live his life with Brooke and for us all not to make a fuss over it when we go up to see them in February."

"It's so unfair, he worked so hard to get there and now he can't do it." Said Deb.

"I know, but Lucas also said for me to tell everyone here and he would tell the other kids so if you talk to Nathan and Haley can you not say anything about this I think Luke just wants to tell him his own way."

"Absolutely, why don't you go see Keith? I can take care of everything think here."

"Are you sure?"

"Karen, go. You need to go be with Keith for a little while." Said Deb.

"Thank you Deb, I know I shouldn't be I'm just worried about how Lucas is handling all this, I mean basketball is such a huge part of his life, it always has been and now it's gone." Said Karen.

"He'll be fine like you said he just wants to live his life with Brooke and for us not to make a fuss about it." Said Deb.

"I'm going to go tell Keith." Said Karen. "And thank you Deb for everything."

"I think the best thing that ever happened to us are our sons and we're family Karen and family is the most important thing." Said Deb.

"Yes it is. And that is the best and only thing Dan ever gave us is the boys." Said Karen.

Karen left the café and made her way to the garage to tell Keith Lucas' news. When she got there Keith was in his office and when he say the state his fiancé was in he knew something was wrong.