Karen stared down at her son's still sleeping form and felt hot tears track down her cheeks, she chewed on her bottom lip in a futile attempt to hold back the steadily flowing tears but it was no use, they just kept on coming. She couldn't believe this was happening, she couldn't handle this. They had been through enough and now this? He was just a kid, he shouldn't have to deal with an illness like this. It just wasn't fair. She edged nearer the bed her legs feeling like jelly as she eased herself into the chair that was set beside the bed. She traced her eyes over his face, he was slightly pale but he looked peaceful. She let a strangled sob escape her before she broke down, taking Luke's hand in hers she began to shake, trembling with each sob that wracked her chest.
"Oh Luke…why did you do this? Why didn't you tell me?" She asked squeezing her son's hand gently as he slept, the machines around him beating steadily and his chest rising and falling steadily. She closed her eyes trying to fight the oncoming tears and she sighed shakily when she felt Luke's hand shift in hers. Her eyes snapped open and she sat up looking down at him her heart racing with anticipation.
"Lucas? Luke honey can you hear me? Squeeze my hand again if you can hear me." She said softly, leaning over him as his head shifted slightly. She felt his hand grasp hers weakly and relief washed over her as a smile creepy across her face, the blackened mascara filled tears still falling. She watched as Lucas' eyes fluttered slowly open before falling closed again lethargically. He let out a small groan before forcing his eyes open again and looking around rapidly, trying to focus in on the voice calling his name. His crystal blue eyes settled on his mother's face and a smile spread across her face.
"Oh Luke sweetie…" She said her voice cracking as she kissed his forehead. She watched as Luke's expression changed and tears filled his eyes,
"Mom I'm so sorry." He whispered weakly his voice breaking as his vision blurred, he was exhausted. Every limb felt like lead and just blinking was an effort. He wished he had just told his mom in the first place. Then maybe he wouldn't be here right now…he felt her stroking his hair softly and shushing him.
"It's okay honey…it's okay. As long as you're okay, we can always talk about this later." She said softly trying to comfort him as he settled back blinking quickly.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you…I, I knew we couldn't afford the pills and Dan offered to pay…I didn't want you to worry about me or treat me differently. Then after I moved out from Dan's he stopped paying for my medication and I couldn't afford it…I was going to tell you then but then you go into that whole mayor thing and I didn't want to stop you from doing what you wanted…I'm sorry mom." He said his vision blurred by tears that he struggled to hold back. He could feel himself trembling as his mother began to cry.
"Oh Luke honey…It's okay, it doesn't matter now. All that matters is that you're okay. I thought I was gonna lose you when you fell I…I was so scared. Money doesn't matter, we will get you through this. I'm here for you." She said squeezing his hands and wiping a solitary tear that had fallen and was resting on his cheek. He smiled slightly. He felt better knowing his mom wasn't furious with him but he still felt terrible, he could barely remember what actually happened. All he remembered was dribbling up the court…then everything was a blank.
"What happened?" He asked in a small voice as Karen sighed and swallowed getting up and sitting on the edge of her son's bed.
"You collapsed at the game sweetie. Half the team are in the waiting room. Brooke, Peyton, Haley and Nathan are waiting outside I think." She said. Lucas started slightly, swallowing hard.
"Nathan?" He said disbelievingly. Karen smiled slightly
"I know you two haven't exactly been seeing eye to eye lately but he's still your brother and he's worried about you, everybody is." She said softly as Lucas sighed.
"Brooke's out there too?" He said slightly bitterly. Karen nodded and Lucas closed his eyes.
"Anyway If I don't let Haley come and see you now I think she might wear a hole in the floor outside the door. " She said with a smile. Lucas smiled and nodded.
"Thanks Mom." He said as she stood up. She turned around and smiled giving him a hug.
"I love you Luke but if you ever do something like this again…you'll be grounded until you're 40."
Luke smiled as his mom left the room shutting the door, giving him a few seconds to himself before Haley shot into the room and practically threw herself at Lucas, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly, knocking the wind out of him in the process
"Uh hey Hales." He said weakly as she pulled away her brown eyes shining with tears.
"Oh Luke, don't ever do that to me again. I was so scared. Are you okay?" She asked looking at him as he leant back against his pillows.
"I'm sorry Hales, I feel okay I guess…just exhausted." He said stifling a yawn, Haley smiled sadly before promptly bursting into tears causing Lucas to start slightly, sitting up and looking at Haley in bewilderment.
"Haley what's wrong? Haley?" He asked tilting her face up to his as she wiped her eyes hurriedly her hands shaking. She flushed slightly.
"I'm just being stupid…" She said embarrassedly, as Lucas took her hand and looked into her watering brown eyes.
"Hey…what is it?" He asked softly as she sniffed and swallowed hard drawing her gaze back up to meet his.
"It's just…I thought I was gonna lose you. And I kept thinking about how I let you down so much by leaving and how much time I had wasted. You're my best friend Luke and I thought I was going to lose you and I was so scared. I was so scared Luke…" She said her voice cracking as she buried herself in Lucas' arms. Luke wrapped his arms around her, feeling her trembling in his grip he swallowed hard realising how much he had hurt everyone around him by keeping this a secret.
"It's okay Haley, I'm here…I'm not going anywhere. I'm sorry, now my mom knows maybe I'll be able to keep up with the medication…doesn't look like I'll be playing basketball anymore though does it?" He said sadly. Haley rested her head on his shoulder.
"Hey I'm sure you can work something out. I know how much you love basketball but you are more important. If I don't have you who else will I throw milk balloons at or play crazy golf on the roof with?" She said with a smile. Lucas smiled sadly.
"Thanks Hales, for being there for me. Thanks for not telling my mom, it was something I had to do myself you know?" He said looking up at her, she nodded and swallowed hard.
"Yeah I know Luke. I'm just glad you're okay, did Karen tell you anything about the Doctor?" She asked frowning.
"No, she said he'd be coming in soon though." He said miserably.
There was a long silence filled by the steady beating of Luke's monitor as he felt his eyelids growing heavier.
"Brooke's outside." Haley said quietly causing Luke to open his eyes, swallowing hard and looking down at his hands.
"What am I supposed to say to her Hales? I just don't know what to feel…I love her but how can things be okay after what she did? Every time someone even mentions her name I just see her with Chris. " He said sadly. Haley sighed.
"She does love you Luke, I know she does. People make mistakes, I've made too many this year and you forgave me. She forgave you and Peyton." She said knowingly as Lucas sighed growing more and more tired.
"You're right but…it's hard." He said inbetween a yawn as his eyelids slid closed.
"I know Luke, I'll let you sleep okay…I'm glad you're okay." She whispered but Lucas' breathing had deepened and he was already asleep by the time she left the room.
A/n I hoped you liked it, if you did tell me, if you didn;t tell me. REVIEW pretty please
Next Time: Nathan and Lucas talk and Brooke apologises to Lucas whilst Luke must decide whether or not to have surgery