A/N: Hey everybody! First off, I can't even begin to say how sorry I am for taking so long to update! I got super busy for awhile and then I tried over and over again to start another chapter but I just kinda lost the rhythm of the story and it took awhile to get inspired again. Thanks for all the great reviews! That's what got y'all this update! If you have any ideas/comments for the story, please feel free to tell me! I'm always up for new plot lines! This chapter basically is just a filler chapter. I know a lot of you are dying to know what really happened to Alex. Well, unfortunately, that will all be in the next chapter so be sure to stay tuned! I promise the next chapter will rock! Thanks so much for reading my story!  -Justine

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Chapter 6

Lucas laid on top of the bed dressed in a grey sweatshirt and a pair of old jeans, now with a hole cut at the bottom of the right leg for his cast to fit through. Brooke emerged from the bathroom carrying his small duffel bag and set it by the door. She'd come early to help him pack up his stuff. He'd been there a little over a week and he was finally getting to go home. He looked around the room and thought about the past week he'd spent there.

Brooke stood in the corner of the room talking quietly on her cell phone now. She caught his eye and smiled, turning to the window, continuing her conversation. He really appreciated how great Brooke had been the past few days. He had known that Haley and Nathan were going to be there for him, they always had been, but Brooke had gone above and beyond everything he'd predicted. Every single day, Brooke had been there. Sometimes they talked, mostly about Alex, sharing memories. He loved that there was someone there for him that missed Alex as much as he did. Some days, when he had been too weak to talk, she still sat and watched TV with him or read magazines while he slept. He loved that she was there. Her always being there turned out to be more of a comfort to him that he ever thought it would be.

"Luke!" Haley squealed as she entered the room, followed closely by Nathan and Uncle Keith, jarring Lucas from his thoughts.

"Hey Hales." He said somewhat softly.

She leaned over the bed and very carefully embraced him. He ran his fingers through her hair and smiled at her.

"You ready for us to break you out of here, big brother?" she asked, teasing.

He smiled and nodded to her as they all sat down, waiting on the doctor to arrive once more. As if right on cue, the doctor entered the room, carrying the all-too-familiar clipboard.

Keith and Nathan stood and shook hands with him and Haley sat on the bed at Lucas's side.

"Hello everyone. I see you're all here to escort Lucas out on the big day." They all smiled and nodded.

"Keith, is it?" the man asked, nodding at Keith.

"Yes, sir. I'm Lucas's uncle." He responded.

"Who will Lucas being staying with for the next few weeks?" the doctor asked.

"He and his sister will being staying with Nathan and his parents. Lucas's mom is out of the country for school and I have a job to get back to about 30 miles outside town." He informed the doctor."

"And you have a statement from Lucas's mother and Nathan's parents?" he asked.

Keith dug the few papers from his pocket and unfolded them gently, handing them to the doctor.

The doctor was silent for a moment or two, looking over the papers again.

"Alright…are Mr. and Mrs. Scott here?" he asked.

"They're outside with the car…do you want me to go get them?" Keith asked.

"No, that's alright. I can give the instructions to you I guess…" he said, handing Keith a stack of papers.

"These are instructions on how to care for certain injuries and a few different prescriptions that Mr. and Mrs. Scott will need to get filled within the next day."

Keith nodded.

"Lucas is still extremely weak and too much exertion could make things worse. One of the prescriptions is for a painkiller that will help him sleep. He will need these because once the painkillers we've given him here start to wear off, he'll start to feel the extent of his injuries and he'll need a lot of sleep to heal…" the doctor looked over the papers once more. "We have him scheduled to be back here in a week and a half to check progress and remove stitches. Until then, call if you need anything. Okay?" the doctor ended.

Everyone nodded and Brooke smiled, knowing Lucas was about to get out of here, meaning they could all get out of here. A nurse brought in a wheelchair and a pair of crutches. Nathan took both from her and handed the crutches to Haley to hold. He and Keith stood on both sides of Lucas and placed their arms gently around his waist, walking him slowly to the wheelchair. Brooke picked up his bag and stood behind him, pushing him out the door.

"Alright Luke. Let's hit it!" Haley cheered him on as they all made their way down the hall.

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Nathan brought another pillow to Lucas to set under his foot and sat down beside Haley on the couch in his room.

"This is your guest room, Nate?" Haley asked, amazed.

He nodded and smiled.

"Yours is connected to Lucas's over there, through that door." He told her.

"Wow…this is like…massive…" she said.

He laughed and put his arm around her.

Brooke sat down beside Lucas's bed and handed him a glass of water and three small pills.

"Thanks, Brooke…" he told her.

He quickly swallowed them, wanting the painkillers to set in soon. His head was killing him and being carried up the stairs by Nathan and his father wasn't exactly what his broken ribs had needed. He closed his eyes for a second and felt Brooke run her fingers through his hair.

Nathan's mom, Deb, peeked her head into the room just then and smiled.

"You okay, Lucas?" she asked.

"Yeah, thank you." He said quietly.

He'd known Deb and her husband Dan for as long as he could remember. When his dad had left them, his mom needed help being a single parent with two tiny kids, so Nathan's parents had always helped Karen out. And again, here they were again, offering to keep them while Karen was in Italy. Usually, Karen was fin e with letting Lucas and Haley stay on their own with Keith checking in now and then but the doctors had explained that Lucas would need almost round the clock care for awhile so Dan and Deb offered to take them in.

"Well, Lucas needs rest. You can stop by for dinner later and see him, Brooke." Deb told them all kindly.

"C'mon, Hales. Let's go watch a movie." Nathan suggested.

Haley nodded and got up from her chair.

"Have a nice nap, Luke. I'll be down the hall if you need me." She told him, embracing him softly before walking towards the door.

"Alright, man. Call me if you need anything." Nathan said, bumping fists with him.

Nathan and Haley walked out and Deb smiled and Brooke and left.

"I'll be back later Luke." She told him quietly.

"Brooke…thank you…for everything." He said sincerely.

She smiled and bent down, kissing him softly on the cheek.

"Anytime, Luke. Bye." She said, leaving the room.

Lucas's head was spinning as he drifted off to sleep again.