That dream visit from Lucas had put everything into perspective for Brooke. She understood now that she needed to live every opportunity in her life. But first she needed to figure out what was making her so afraid and fix it. And that meant she had to let go of that horrible dream and not let it haunt her anymore. But how was she supposed to do that?
Why had that similar dream come back now? What was it about the dream that scared her so much? She already knew she was afraid of ever losing Mouth. But she feared losing anyone she cared about. So what did it mean? There had to be something more specific to it. It had to resemble something. Brooke recalled the events in the dream over and over again the next days and weeks, the more she began to realize what it was she was truly afraid of.
Dan. He was her fear. What he did to Lucas was what had been haunting her all these years. And that dream was haunting her now because she was in love with someone again who loved her back. As she thought about this over and over again, Brooke soon came to realize that Dan and the dream had come to symbolize death and loss…her biggest fears.
And now it was time, as Lucas had told her, to "just let it go." Brooke needed to continue living her life and loving those in her life without fear. She did not want Dan to haunt her anymore. So now it all came down to realizing that Dan and that accident would haunt her no more.
"Thanks for watching the boys for us, Brooke." Haley said as she, Brooke and Nathan carried inside the last of the groceries.
"Yeah, we really appreciate it." Nathan added. "Today was the only day we could get to the store."
"Of course, anytime. They're in the backyard. Oh, and Peyton called and said her dad is taking Emma and Riley for the weekend, so she can come by early tomorrow and help you set up for the shower."
"Okay, thanks." Haley said as she pulled items from a brown paper bag.
"Are you and Lilly staying for dinner, Brooke?" Nathan asked, putting two gallons of milk in the refrigerator.
Brooke glanced at her watch before replying, "Thanks, but I actually have something I need to do. And I sort of need a favor from you."
Nathan and Haley both looked at her curiously and Brooke asked, "Can I leave Lilly here with you guys tonight?"
Her friends glanced at each other and Haley said to Brooke, "Of course. We love having her stay over any time. The boys do too."
"Thanks. I should probably get going now so I don't have to drive so late tonight."
Brooke grabbed her purse and keys from the counter and headed for the backdoor, but Nathan stopped her when he said, "Wait, Brooke, what's going on? Where are you going?"
Brooke smiled and said, "I can't tell you right now because I know you'll try and talk me out of it. And I really need to do this for myself and for Mouth…and for Lucas."
Nathan and Haley still stared at her curiously and Brooke sighed with a smile and continued, "Look, I'll be home in time for the party tomorrow. If you want, I'll call you when I'm done or stop by when I get back and I'll tell you everything. But you have to let me go now so I can get there and back in good time."
They watched as Brooke continued out the backdoor.
"What was that about?" Haley wondered, looking up at Nathan.
"I'm not sure exactly." Nathan said. "But I think it might have something to do with that dream she had…and maybe more, with Dan."
Brooke waited on the visitor's side of the visiting room in the North Carolina Prison. She was waiting for the police to bring Dan through the bars on the other side. While she waited anxiously, Brooke thought back to the last time she had decided to visit Dan. She had come for answers then, and now she was here to tell him she wasn't afraid of how he could hurt her anymore. She was here to see him and talk to him so she could finally let him and the accident go.
Finally, the guard returned with Dan. As he unlocked the gate, Brooke remembered the last time she'd been face to face with Dan. She had tried to find out if he had felt guilty at all for killing Lucas and Dan had shown no remorse. As Dan sat down on the other side of the window, Brooke wondered if the five years he had already spent in prison had changed him at all.
"Well, well, well…" Dan chanted shyly. "Long time no see, Brooke."
"I'd call that a blessing for me." Brooke replied. "Hell, it's a blessing for everyone in Tree Hill, probably for the state too. God knows everyone is much better off and happier without you."
"Right." Dan stated. "Well, if you love not seeing me all the time, then what brings you here now?"
"I have something I need to say to you."
"Oh, what this time princess?" Dan grinned again. "Lucas again? Awe…are you still hung up on him? Face it; he's been dead for five years. It's about time you get over him, don't you think?"
"Shut up!" Brooke said sternly through the black phone. "You're opinion and your thoughts are not what I am here for this time and I don't want to hear anything you have to say. I am here for me, to say what I need to say and then I don't want to hear from or see you again."
"So speak then."
Brooke thought about where to begin and when she figured it out, she spoke again, "What you did to Lucas changed my life forever, as well as the life of my daughter, his mother and everyone else he cared about. I loved him and I planned on spending the rest of my life with him. But then you took that all away because you felt like a cruise through the town after a few too many beers. And now you still act as if what happened, as if Lucas's death is the best thing that could've happened. Five years later and it still doesn't matter to you.
"Oh but let me tell you it matters to me. It took me years after Lucas's death to learn to live without him. And I'm still learning to do that; I'm still getting over that accident. And that's because you and it are still with me, still haunting me. But not after today. Not anymore. Lucas's spirit is still with me and knowing that has helped me realize that I have control of my life, not you and not that accident. I understand now that you cannot and will not hurt me or the people I love anymore. And I say that for me, not for you. I know you don't care about any of this, and it's a shame because you are going to spend the rest of your life a lonely, evil man. And nobody will care about you either. But I needed to do this for me and for Lucas, so that I can move on and so that I can finally let Lucas go so he can move on. I spoke not only for myself today, but for him too. And now I'm done. So goodbye Dan. Enjoy your miserable, lonely life in prison."
Brooke smirked at him this time, though, for once, he did not smile back, not even a grin. She laid the phone back on its cradle, stood up and walked away.
