A.N: Okay I know you're all RWAR DIE BITCH DIE over the whole letting Haley die for a few seconds mumble mumble, but do not fear for all your questions will be answered in this chapter, Well okay not questions more like threatening abuse but yeah...read and I hope you all love me again! Reviews are better than threesomes with attractive people!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything apart from my own delusional creations. So ner!

Chapter 9:

If vengeance is sweet, she's hit the honey pot

You are so dead it isn't even funny. They won't even find what's left of you...they won't even care...I'm doing a favour for the whole town, Brookes thoughts raced through her head as she kept goading herself into what she planned to do. She revved Peyton's engine as Dan's car slipped out onto the main road. Then as he turned off to the right Brooke stepped lightly on the accelerator and followed him, keeping her lights low.

She kept behind him a fair distance as they reached the motorway, always staying two or three cars behind his. But Brooke never let him out of her sight. If she was going to do this it would be tonight; before she gave herself time to think rationally. The only rational thought Brooke had at that defining moment was the one repeating over and over in her head like a damaged recorder: Haley shouldn't be dead.

It's what motivated Brooke, what stopped her breaking down into heart wrenching tears, what made her forget who was left for her at the hospital, cold and still. Brooke shivered slightly and turned up the radio. An acoustic heavy ballad reached her ears and Brooke relaxed into the adrenaline pumping music. Gonna kill me a Scott, yes siree bob! Brooke thought maliciously, pushing the accelerator further and speeding up just enough so she could see the back of Dan's corporate business car.

-x-

Dan drummed his fingers idly on the steering wheel as he watched the sky gradually darken above, winter making itself ever more present. Dan smiled slightly, the cold bitter weather resembling the outcome of the day. All in a days work...

A high pitch ringing filled broke him from his twisted observation and reached into his pocket to pull out his cell phone. He peered at the caller ID and discovered it was Nathan, sighing; Dan pressed a button and put the receiver to his ear. "Nathan, what's up?"

A muffled and panicky voice replied, yelling hysterically down the phone and not pausing for breath until Dan interrupted. "Nathan. Nathan calm down, speak slowly"

The same panicky voice but slower and clearer.

"Yes...yes I know"

A brief pause followed by a hasty question.

"There was an accident...an...explosion"

The voice begins to become inaudible as Nathan yells and curses.

"It was a mix up, it was meant for Brooke...but unfortunately Haley was the one who triggered it"

A single word uttered.

"I'm a liar? You think I wanted her to die, I told you it was for Brooke! No, no don't put the blame on me because you're love sick. To be honest I think it was an act of fate; you can get on with your life now. Forget you ever met her"

A longer pause followed by a shaky intake of breath.

"Okay...it's alright son I understand. I'll see you at home. Bye", Dan clicked the phone shut and slid it back into his pocket. He smiled and shook his head, "Kids today are so gullible these days" he sighed. Then as if remembering something he pulled his cell phone back out and dialled a number.

Eventually someone answered, "It's me. Have fun putting up fireworks today did you? Well I hope you savoured the moment because I want you out of town by midnight"

"Why? Do you know who was harmed in that explosion; apart from the target I set you...Oh you don't! Funny that...should it tell you? Lucas"

"Yes, Lucas Scott. Uh know you're starting to understand why I sound so angry. Don't apologise! I don't need you're grovelling; lucky for you I sorted it all out at the hospital before it got serious. And by serious I mean I'd have to find you, kill you and hide the evidence", Dan snarled down the phone like a venomous snake.

"So get your crap and get your worthless ass out of Tree hill. Payment? Consider me not setting you alight and tearing you limb from limb your payment", Dan snapped the phone shut again and gave a snort of disbelief as he turned the car on the intersection.

"Payment, some people are so low it amazes even me"

Dan braked at a red light and sighed as the sky deepened to murky blue.

-x-

Brooke watched Dan stop at the light and tried to stay behind him but to her horror she realised the only way she could take left her at the front near the lights.

Right next to Dan.

Brooke hesitated for a moment but a sharp honk from behind her made her jump and she was forced to move. Slowly, Peyton's convertible edged towards the white line painted across the concrete road. As Brooke levelled with Dan's car she gulped against the hard knot in her throat and turned her head casually to the left. When she saw his content expression it every bit of sadness ebbed from her body, only to be replaced by a rage she'd never felt before. Her blood literally boiled in her veins and her nails dug into the steering wheel until her hands began to shake.

It must have been the feeling of being watched that made Dan turn to the car on his right. It took him a while to recognize the car and a few seconds to see Brooke glaring at him through the driver's window. Brooke smiled victoriously in her head as she saw the genuine look of surprise on his face.

Yeah Danny boy, the bitch is back and she's come to kick seven shades of shit out of you.

"You're killing the tension here" Brooke said softly. She watched in bemusement as Dan leaned over his passenger seat and pressed something that began to automatically wind the window down. He wants to have a chat? Here of all places...this should be good, Brooke thought bitterly as she too winded down the driver's window, never dropping her furious glare as Dan stared thoughtfully back.

"Fancy seeing you here Brooke and on such a nice night" Dan said in such a formal tone that a stranger wouldn't have guessed he'd just purposely blown up Brooke's girlfriend. While Dan smiled arrogantly away at her, Brooke's jaw tensed and her heart thumped viciously in her chest like a jackhammer. She remained quiet apart from the faint scratching sound of her polished nails slicing deep into the skin of the steering wheel. Her silence continued, "I take it she's dead then?"

He said those six harsh words with such simple indifference that Brooke's pain betrayed her and her expression contorted briefly into one of utter most grief. But it was only for a second, and then Brooke's resolve returned along with her ever growing hatred for the man sitting a mere six feet away. "You sick bastard" she breathed as her body urged her to get out and choke the life out of his soulless shell. "Are you that heartless? Do you not feel the slightest bit of remorse for the incredible girl y-"

"Oh give it a rest Davis" Dan interrupted impatiently. "I did it. She's dead. The end. And there's nothing you can do to change that fact, little girl," Dan's words cut away at Brooke again and again, if she'd been bleeding she would have drowned.

"I...hate...you, so much" Brooke almost whimpered, glaring at him with pure animosity through her bleary red eyes. Dan just laughed sardonically and waved her words away with a lazy sweep of his arm.

"Join the club sweetheart. To be honest I think you should be grateful for what I did." Brooke's expression turned to stone. You what!

"I've given you the perfect opportunity to go back to your old life. Be the queen of high school again, get wasted, get laid do whatever girls like you do. Haley was a phase, an experiment and if you ask me I just ended one of the biggest mistakes of your sad little life."

The light changed to amber and Dan began winding up the window, "See ya around" he muttered and with a screech of his tyres he sped off; leaving Brooke in unbearable anguish. She burst into tears as he disappeared into the dark distance, his words digging into her like rusty nails. He had successfully highlighted every worry, fear and doubt she'd ever had about being with Haley. Was it a passing phase or was it love? Could she throw away her title in school for one girl? Would she be able to kiss good bye to the penis forever?

Brooke slumped onto the steering wheel as her body convulsed with each long and painful sob. The light had turned green and was reflecting off Peyton's car bonnet and illuminating the interior of the car. Brooke gazed at it transfixed as her surroundings had turned an eerie shade of green. Brooke's eyes wandered away from it and caught sight of something small and rectangular sitting in the side of the door. She tentatively picked it up what appeared to be a piece of paper. Flipping it over revealed it was a photo, a photo of her and Haley with their arms around one another. Brooke was pulling a goofy face with her tongue out and Haley was staring up at the sky as, gawking like an idiot who'd seen a pretty bird in the sky above.

Despite her grief and setting Brooke laughed. A real sincere laugh. Peyton must have kept this to remind herself of us. She's right in the middle of this whole disaster now...but I owe her so much, Brooke thought fondly. She tilted her head slightly as she regarded the old photo, ignoring the aggressive honks coming from behind her.

God I remember that day, Brooke thought back, wiping her tears away as a tiny smile graced her lips. Impatient drivers had begun to steer around Brooke and flashed angry gestures as they drove past. Peyton didn't even tell us to act stupid; we just did...because we always messed around when we were together. Brooke swallowed hard. I love being a goof with her.

Don't you mean loved. It's past tense now.

And then it hit her like a ton of bricks. The part of her life centred around Haley was gone. All of it. Not just the love, but the friendship, the girl she relied on to say the smart thing and make her do the right decision in a crisis. She'd have to wake up every morning in an empty apartment, devoid of the bubbly brunette she cared for so much. Brooke's hand shook as she placed the photo gently on the dashboard, before it shot to the gear stick and shoved it into drive. Brooke's tears replaced by a blinding, white rage that consumed all her senses urged her to do one thing: Kill him.

She was so angry it made her head ache and she seemed to be seeing red but that could have been the traffic light. As her thought slammed down on the accelerator the satisfying sound of rubber shrieking against hard tar greeted her ears and Peyton's convertible fired down the road at amazing speed.

If I lose her, he loses everything.

-x-

Brooke swerved precariously between vehicles, avoiding them only by inches and startling numerous fellow drivers who veered out of her path. She was driving like a woman possessed...by a ghost that was blind and was total shit at the whole driving thing.

Brooke...sweetie pie...do you think you could maybe slow down the tiniest bit?

Brooke didn't reply and began to push 80 miles per hour as other cars whizzed by and the scattered trees in the distance became blurs.

BROOKE I WANT TO LIVE! LIVE!

Brooke's eyes narrowed as Dan's car finally came into view and her foot pushed the accelerator flat to the floor as she rocketed towards him. She was a foot from the rear of his car when he turned slightly to the right before she could react. The convertible smashed into the left taillight and sent Brooke spinning around as the car spun out of control. Dan's corporate Mercedes skidded and squealed on the road as the impact sent it reeling off to the side of the motorway.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH SAVE ME GOD, PLEASE SAVE MEEEE!

It finally came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the road and Brooke leant her head on top of her hands that rested on the steering wheel. As the stars dancing around her head began to disappear, Brooke looked up groggily to see the result of the crash. One of the headlights had stopped glowing and the area around it was rippled from the crunch of metal on metal. Peyton's gonna kill me. Luckily that was the extent of the damage. Brooke also realised she had faired well when she glanced over to where the wreckage of Dan's car lay, crumpled at the edge of the busy motorway. He hadn't got off so lightly much to Brooke's glee.

The bonnet of the car stuck out hazardously into the right lane of the motorway but was in good shape. It was the back end of the car that had been crushed into an abstract form of twisted metal. Smoke leaked steadily from the engine and an air bag filled the driver's seat, blocking her view of the older Scott. Suddenly the bag rifled as if being pushed away and to Brooke's dread Dan Scott appeared from behind it. He shoved it down and when it came back up he tore it furiously from the wheel.

Brooke's eyes glanced around her watching as curious passer-bys slowed down to witness what looked like a terrible accident. But none of them stopped. Letting her hands drop to her side she went to unfasten her seatbelt but felt a sharp pain in her left side. She let out a pained groan and glanced again in Dan's direction. She visibly saw him crick his neck and then thrust the car door open. Even from where she sat she could see him staring at her in the darkness, his eyes glinting dangerously.

Then as he was about to get out a loud fog horn pierced the peaceful night air and a mammoth juggernaut slammed full on into his unseen car with him still inside. Brooke jumped in fright and regretted it when the pain in her side flared again. But she didn't care. Because watching that Mercedes roll and crash down the sloping bank off the road was one of the happiest moments of her life. Her eyes followed its descent until it stopped without warning, more battered and twisted then before.

But it wasn't enough. Brooke revved the engine and drove cautiously over to the other side of the road. From here she could see the wreck in greater detail and was certain in her mind that it would have killed him. But the nagging feeling that it wasn't enough to kill him kept biting at the back of her head. It needs to explode. Brooke resolved. "Explode, explode, explode, ex- YES!" Brooke burst out with unrequited malice as the demolished car erupted into a fiery ball of red, orange and black. She watched mesmerised as it rose slightly off the ground from the force of the explosion, and then fell ungracefully back to earth. Whining and screaming as metal grinded together and glass shattered outwards, flames occupying the burnt windows frames.

"There's no way your alive now bitch", Brooke muttered as she slowly stepped from Peyton's car, being carefully to mind her hurting side. She watched the blaze for a brief while, enjoying the thought that maybe the impact of the truck had only knocked Dan out and he was now roasting alive. As her adrenaline began to wear off Brooke was reminded of why she was even there and the great ache of sadness she had felt before began to creep back.

Her face grimaced against the tears that wanted to flow for the hundredth time that night at the thought of Haley. Brooke saw a piece of wreckage from the car by her side and in a moment of pure grief she picked it up and tossed it at the burning carcass of the Mercedes. "Now you know what you put Haley through you worthless piece of shit," Brooke yelled through fresh tears as the piece of metal sailed into the incinerated car door. "I hope you rot in hell" she struggled out before giving a loud sniff and wiping at her face.

Brooke decided to get back in the car as she didn't want to be found at the scene of this grisly disaster. Reluctantly sliding back down onto the driver's seat with a wistful sigh, Brooke closed the door. Her dark brown tresses fell elegantly down her face, her expression forlorn as she started the engine and drove hastily from the scene.

-x-

She had been driving for almost an hour with no destination in sight yet Brooke couldn't stop. She didn't want to go back to the hospital, didn't want to go back to the truth. So she drove on and ignored the nagging voice at the back of her mind that told her to stop and face reality. But there was the other voice in her head that gave her hope. What if she didn't die...what if she made it Brooke?

You know you brain has a point.

"You know what else my brain says?"

No, what?

"It says SHUT THE HELL UP"

Okay dokey then...

Brooke swerved the car dangerously and sent a startled motorcyclist veering into a tree. She ignored the bright flash reflected in her rear view mirror and the shrill screams that echoed through the open window.

Yeah...that guy's on fire...and he just ran screaming into the road and started a pile up.

"Well you didn't shut up. So I blame you" Brooke said with an air of hopeless defeat.

She turned the wheel sharply, deciding to take the route that took her furthest from town.

Look, I know you're not in the best of moods right now but running - or should I say driving like a mole on a strong hallucinogen drug - away from you problems isn't gonna make this any easier.

He's right you know.

"Shut up brain I own you don't start ganging up on me!" Brooke said testily. Fine! Be that way...still trueee. In response Brooke directed the car towards a deep ditch that ran along side the road and sped up. "Do you want to die brain cus it can be arranged right here, right now!"

OKAY, WE'LL STOP YOU CRAZY ASS SUICIDAL BITCH!

I guess getting your head mushed against the windscreen wouldn't do me much good so...

"Thank you" Brooke murmured, grateful for the peace and quiet. As she manoeuvred back onto the potholed highway she gave deep sigh. "I just need time...to myself. I can't handle going back there, not yet." She watched the telephone poles along the path whiz by listened to the shrubbery bristling in the cold night wind. "It's too hard."

Hmm, well I guess there's no harm in that...but seriously, you never waited to see if she made it or not. You could be suffering for nothing and I hate to see that.

"Aww really?"

What? Oh right I was just reading what it says in this book...squeeze her shoulder supportively and smile "Dummies-guide-to-helping-the-emotionally-wrecked-drama-queen-who-loves-the-nerdy-best-friend".Brilliant stuff.

Brooke opened the car door and kicked the writer out.

Ow! Oh! Ah! Shi-! Oh! Not the speed bumps! Fu-!

Brooke closed the door and let silence envelope her as she continued to drive down the deserted road. After several minutes she finally found an outcrop at the side of the road that looked secluded enough for her to stop at.

As the engine cut off Brooke leaned on the wheel and took in the scenery. The starry sky and pale-faced moon bathed the valley beyond her in dim light. Brooke exhaled deeply and rubbed at her temple. She was trying desperately to get her head around the events of the last two weeks. It suddenly occurred to her how insane they had been in contrast to the easy simplicity of her usual life.

But oh so worth it, Brooke sighed as she traced back to the sparse few moments with Haley. They seemed too few even compared to the masses of time she spent with her when they became friends.

The shrill buzz of Brooke's phone on the dashboard made Brooke glance over to it as it vibrated urgently on the smooth surface. It hadn't been the first time it had rung that night. She knew it was Peyton, obviously worried for her best friend's safety and emotional state. That girl never gives up, Brooke thought solemnly; not needing another voice advising her to come back to the museum of death. She didn't answer it.

Her eyes travelled over to the photo of herself and Haley that lay innocently beside her phone. It starred back at her silently as if waiting for her to do something. She looked away quickly because all of a sudden it failed to bring a smile to her lips. It just seemed a cruel reminder, mocking Brooke of what she once had.

The soft chirping of the crickets outside mixed with the gentle sound of the night breeze filtered into the car. It soothed Brooke's thumping temples and aching heart. But as she sat there she heard something else, a sort of muffled talking...from within the car. She began to wig out and worried that she was actually going insane. A flicker of light caught her eye and she realised the car stereo was still on. Brooke let out a held breath and turned the volume up to steady her nerves in this desolate environment.

AHA! HELLO BROOKE!

This did not steady Brooke's nerves. Brooke cursed loudly after her head had collided with the roof of the car and glowered up at it. When will they invent the polystyrene car roof for the jumpy girl! Brooke pouted as she rubbed her throbbing head and stared down at the radio as if it were an unpredictable bomb. "...Hello?" she asked timidly as she searched around the car for someone hiding with a microphone.

DO NOT BE AFRAID, BROOKE...I...AM PEYTON'S STEREO

Brooke looked over from behind her seat which had been exploring for signs of an illusive prankster sitting in the back. When she found no one she let the "stereo's" words register. Did I just hear that right?

"You're the, er...car stereo?

YES. YES I AM.

Brooke made a what-the-fuck face then her shoulders slumped, "Oh god I'm cracking up!" she cried as she beat he head against the steering wheel and set off the horn several times.

NO BROOKE YOU'RE NOT INSANE. I HAVE COME TO SET YOU ON THE PATH OF UMM...STRAIGHTANESS...NESS. YOU MUST GO BACK TO THE HOSPITAL, BACK TO HALEY. BACK...BACKKK...WOOOOOOOO...

Brooke stopped bashing the sense out of herself and sat up slowly. She gave the stereo a profoundly cynical look. "You're the writer aren't you?" she stated rather than asked.

NO...NO MY NAME IS...JIM

Brooke switched the stereo off as she let out a sigh of aggravation. She rested on the open window and laid her head on top of her arms, getting lost in the endless black that stretched to the horizon. Her head swam with wistful memories and painful reminders, so she stared harder into the black. To escape everything and everyone. I'm not going back and that's final.

-x-

Ten minutes later and Brooke was overtaking the traffic as she raced towards the hospital. The small chance that Haley was alive proved to alluring for her. "I'm sorry baby I'm coming", Brooke whispered aloud as she reached ninety mph. The frequent interruptions of Peyton's calls also formed the catalyst that collapsed Brooke's "strong" resolve. She wouldn't have rung me that often unless it was good news...I'm sure she wouldn't. Wouldn't she? Why am I asking you, you don't know!

"Oh crap it's her again!" yelled a panicked motorist who swerved to avoid Brooke and fell off a steep hill.

That's like the third person you horrifically killed today. You do realise you're now worse than Dan?

"Hey shut up I'm going back aren't I?"

sighs I really hope the nerd is worth it. Hey! No don't throw me out aga- Craaaap on a sttttttttickkkkk gets run over by multiple cars

When Brooke arrived at the hospital she hurried through the main entrance and looked for signs to lead her to Haley's room. As her heart rate began to slow so did her nerve. She paused abruptly bang in the middle of the patients waiting area, looking apprehensive and frightened. A slack jawed mental patient looked her way and pointed excitedly at her. "POTATOE!"

Brooke suddenly feeling frightened for a whole other reason decided to go find more helpful people e.g. people who were not bleeding from the head. She forced her feet to forward, ignoring her doubts and clinging on to her last flicker of hope. It was like walking through fast-drying cement but she eventually made it to the front help desk. A small Asian nurse looked up from her computer to observe an uncharacteristically dishevelled and nerve wrecked Brooke Davis.

"Can I help you miss?" she asked in an assertive yet concerned manor. Brooke, who had been in her own little dream world, bit her lip in thought as if she were deciding if the nurse could help or not. "Miss?"

"Huh? Oh sorry, yeah I was wondering if you knew where Haley James is...er...located?" Brooke asked carefully, not wanting to know her condition. The nurse smiled politely and began going through a long list of registered patients displayed on the computer screen.

"May I ask what your relationship with Miss James is?"

"I'm her..." Girlfriend? Lover? Mistress? Mistress! What the hell... "I'm her close friend. Her very, very close friend", Brooke replied nodding her head as if agreeing with herself. The nurse chuckled and went back to list.

"Well very, very close friend of Haley James, she's just down that hallway to the right and then you follow it on till you get to ward B, okay?" she informed. Brooke thanked her and began to leave. "You are aware of her condition?"

Brooke tensed visibly.

"I...uh, want to find out for myself. If that's okay with you?" she said softly, finding it hard to keep eye contact. The nurse nodded in understanding and Brooke made her way down the white walled corridor to ward B.

The surges of thoughts demanding attention of Brooke's overwhelmed brain were bringing back her headache. But the clearest one bothered her the most, it was the deciding factor between how the rest of her life would fold out. When I'm back in that room will I see those beautiful hazel eyes look my way again, or will I be greeted by a sheet over a motionless girl.

Brooke closed her eyes and took a deep terrified breath. She let them open slowly and realised she was in the corridor that she had been in only an hour or two before. The exact row of seat aligned the wall opposite the doorway where Haley had been taken. Her stomach did a huge uncomfortable back flip in recognition. Brooke was feet from knowing the truth and it made her feel sick. She took several hesitant steps towards the doorway and paused beside it, leaning heavily against the wall.

She took another long ragged breath, closed her eyes and in one move entered the room. She opened her eyes. The bed was empty. Not even a sheet over a body like her worst fears had plagued her with, just nothing. For some reason the site of the neatly covered mattress was worse than seeing Haley's corpse. Brooke wavered on her feet and stepped backwards, away from the room till she was against the wall. She let herself slide haplessly down it until she reached the cold tile floor. Her supposedly unbreakable heart was torn to bloody ribbons.

Brooke eyes stared at the empty bed from where she sat with her arms wrapped around her knees like a lost little girl. Tears glazed her luscious, brown eyes and her lips hung slightly apart; speechless and frowning. The pain she felt was excruciating. Like a chiselled knife stabbing at her again and again, until she was numb. She didn't know why the pain was coming from her left shoulder, closest to the heart perhaps? Wait...this is physical pain...who the fuck is poking me!

Brooke got up and rounded on her assailant who turned out to be nothing more than a young male intern, he was shorter than Brooke. He also appeared much taken aback with the glowering look Brooke was throwing his way. "Would you care to share the reason to why the hell you were POKING ME FOR!" she bellowed in his face as he turned a sickly pale colour.

The intern began to stammer wildly and fumble with his clipboard of notes while Brooke watched on intently. He obviously wouldn't hold well under torture, she thought as the idea of doing just that to him came to mind if he didn't have an extremely good reason for pissing her off on the worst day of her life. He pointed briefly at the room and then scratched at the back of his neck, completely unprepared for what to say. Don't tell me this pipsqueak is the one to tell me the bad news...i swear if he says "I'm so sorry" I'll kill him. I'll kick him so hard in the balls they'll come out his mouth.

"Are you, uh, uh...Brooke Davis?" he stuttered hopefully. Brooke gave an almost undetectable nod. The intern gave a relieved smile and Brooke hoped for his testicles sake he wasn't relieved because he'd found the dead girl's girlfriend. "The err, girl, in that room" he pointed it out again as if she were blind, "she was moved"

"I kind of got that you jerk but I'm not about to go wonder into the morgue" Brooke hissed furiously. The intern leaned away from the on edge girl and gave her a confused look.

"But she's not in the hospital morgue, she's in ward B: room 8" he replied in fear of his life. Brooke went from mad to realisation in three seconds. She looked back at the room and then back at the intern.

"You mean...she's in a room, like a room where you keep the living people?" Brooke enquired softly.

"Well that's the general idea of hospital wards..." he said, hoping not to have sounded sarcastic. He then yelled in shock when she lunged forward and hugged him.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I could kiss you...but I won't" Brooke cried and the intern smiled sheepishly. "So this isn't ward B?"

"No. It's okay, lots of people get lost in this place even me and I've worked here 5 months!"

"Ha, okay but-"

"I mean you'd think they'd make it easier to get around-"

"Yeah, but whe-"

"-but nooooo. Doesn't help that every damn room looks the same either!"

"Okay! But-"

"And then there's the elevators, I mean come on-"

Brooke grabbed the intern by the scruff of his scrubs and pulled him right up to her face, looking him dead in the eye. "Take. Me. To. Ward B. NOW!

-x-

Brooke had never felt so overwhelmed with blissful joy till the moment her eyes greeted her with the sleeping beauty before her now. She looked so peaceful and precious, contradicting the small, scattered scars on her arms and face. There was one noticeably large cut on one of her arms that had been bandaged. Brooke got choked up when she saw the faint red line beneath the wraps of dressing. She stepped fully into the room to make her presence known and regarded Haley like an anxious angel at the edge of her bed.

With out warning someone rushed from the other side of the room and latched themselves to Brooke in a death hug. "Brooke where the hell did you go! We were so worried you'd done something stupid" Peyton gushed as she hugged Brooke tightly and she let out a sound to inform her of her lack of oxygen. Peyton apologised and let go, standing in front of her strangely scruffy looking friend. "Did something happen when you left? With Dan?"

Brooke looked at Peyton seriously for a moment and hoped her eyes wouldn't reveal the events of that night. "Nothing" she said calmly, "Nothing happened" Brooke repeated firmly as Peyton eyed her suspiciously. She seemed to gather it had been a long, hard day for Brooke so she dropped it.

"Well I'm just thankful you're alright I've had enough unwanted revelations this night to last me a life time." Peyton said feebly. Brooke could tell she was near tears and she didn't blame her. "I...I just...didn't know what to think Brooke. Lucas dying, then Haley flat lining and you running off...I felt so alone. Then when she came back I was so excited and I rang you but I got no reply. I kept trying and I got nothing every time! I thought you'd got in an accident or were in some dark alley crying and hurtin-"

Brooke told Peyton to calm down and took her into a gentle embrace as she rubbed her back reassuringly. "...or worse" Peyton whispered. Brooke sighed and realised how thoughtless she had been leaving Peyton behind to deal with what had happened by herself. It was selfish of her to leave Haley because she couldn't stay and bare it, if it had been her in Haley's shoes she knew she would have stayed to the very end whatever the outcome. As she reminisced over this a flicker of movement caught her eye.

Peering over at the bed centred in the middle of the room, Brooke could have sworn she saw Haley's hand twitch. She decided it was her imagination and continued consoling a fragile Peyton. If she doesn't wake up soon I'm gonna start shaking her! I need that smile back in my life, I need those-...I swear she just moved...she did! Brooke watched with growing anticipation as the adorable brunette began to stir in her comfy arrangement. Slowly, as if on cue, Haley's stunning hazel eyes opened. She examined the hospital bed she was lying upon and then took in the rest of her surroundings uneasily. Her eyes fell upon Brooke and Brooke's heart melted when she saw the confusion and fear within them. "TIgger?" she called faintly.

"Oof!" Peyton grunted as Brooke pushed her casually aside and went willingly to the aid of her girlfriend. She kneeled down next to the bed so that she could be at the same height as Haley. Reaching out a hand that shook slightly, Brooke wrapped it loosely around Haley's and rested her chin on the blanket.

"Hey sleepy head," Brooke said breathlessly, "Happy to have you back with us" Her voice quavered and Haley noticed it even in her drowsy state. Brooke rubbed her thumb over the back of Haley's hand and stared into her eyes with the utmost adoration. Haley let out a small groan as she moved to see Brooke better.

"What happened Brooke?" she asked, her mind a fog of confusion and jumbled memories.

"You don't remember?" Brooke replied as she found it hard to believe anyone could forget being that close to an exploding car. Haley looked up at the ceiling and chewed her lip in quiet thought. God I love it when she does that...Brooke thought dreamily as she watched her from the position where her chin rested.

"Well...I remember me and Lucas...we were talking...about...about you" Haley said as she furrowed her brow in concentration.

"Really?" this was news to Brooke but it wasn't that big a deal so she tried Haley again, "Anything else honey?"

Haley closed her eyes a second and sighed peacefully as the drugs coursing through her system made her feel groggy and half awake. "Then...there was a guy...guy doing stuff. Hmm...Oh! With your car, there was guy near your car" she almost slurred. Brooke's forehead scrunched up in confusion. Haley would have remembered if Dan was there, she wouldn't just call him "guy"...so he must have used someone else to do it...

"Was Dan the one by the car?" Peyton asked from where she had picked herself up from the floor. She'd asked exactly what Brooke had been thinking. Peyton suddenly realised her slip up as soon as she had let it leave her lips. Haley lifted her heavy eyelids and gave Peyton a bizarre look. It would have cute if the circumstances for it weren't so serious.

"Why would Dan be trying to steal Brookey's car?" Haley asked bemused even in her hospitalised state. "Crazy Peyton" she giggled in a child like manor as she snuggled back into her plump pillow. Brooke exchanged a warning look with Peyton and the blonde mouthed a sincere "sorry" to her. Brooke turned to Haley hoping she hadn't noticed the petrified expression on her face. But it was safe to say Haley was high on her morphine as she hummed merrily away, oblivious to the world around her. She squeezed Brooke's hand now and then just to reassure herself she was close by her side.

"Oh and so this guy, he was all like I'm gonna steal this car...and...and me and Luke were like...no! No, bad guy! You can't steal it, you baddddd..." Haley drivelled on animatedly. She let out another giggle. "Boy did he run...good thing he did. I woulda kicked his scrawny thief ass" she said with a smug smile. Peyton laughed at how much Haley was enjoying retelling the events at school, and sat herself in a chair next to Brooke.

Brooke smiled sadly from where she knelt by the bed. It was pretty clear that guy hadn't been a thief. If only poor Haley had realised that, Brooke thought solemnly, it's my fault she's here...I should have told about Dan, damn right I should have. Brooke's melancholy expression was missed by Haley as she appeared to be concentrating on what happened in the parking lot. "Then...Luke...he left. I told him to tell you-"she pointed offhandedly at Brooke with the hand Brooke was holding. "-that your car had almost been burglarised! I know you love that car..." Haley explained, smiling at Brooke like a frivolous idiot.

"Not half as much as I love you" Brooke gushed, causing Haley to let out a soft crooning sound and squeezed Brooke's hand a little tighter.

"Wuv vu too" Haley sighed with that same giddy smile. There was a moment where they got lost in one another's eyes but it was cut short by Peyton's intended cough. "Well anyway..." Haley continued, grudgingly dragging her eyes away from the other brunette and let them wonder uninterestedly over the ceiling tiles. "I was by myself...I checked your bug for damage and stuff...then...then..." her brow furrowed as the thought alluded her. But it began to sink in and Haley's eyes widened comically. "Luke came running back, shouting something...i thought he was worried the thief would come back...but then, I closed the door."

Haley cocked her head at a strange angle to look at Brooke. "Then I just heard BOOM-"Haley lifted her free arm and dropped it thickly onto the blanket to emphasize her point. "-and then I woke up here." She summarised with a little shrug. "And saw you!" Haley giggled lifting her nearest hand and poking Brooke in the nose. Brooke forced a smile.

"Boom..."she echoed quietly feeling sick to her stomach. She'd seen that "boom" with her own two eyes and it was one of the most haunting images imprinted inside her head. Peyton sighed amusedly beside her.

"Well at least the medication she's on is letting her see the lighter side of all of this" she said with a tight smile. Brooke was surprised at how content her friend seemed considering everything that had happened and one of her closest friends had died. Brooke turned to the blonde and gave her a worried look.

"So where did they put Lu-"

"LUCAS!" Haley called out excitedly from her bed. Brooke spun back to Haley, fearing she'd suffered some serious head trauma. But as she followed Haley's happy gaze towards the door what she saw made her gasp loudly. Standing with a cup off coffee in one hand and a snack bar in the other was the one and only Lucas Scott. Alive. What...the...crap...of all that is crap!

"Lucas! You're dead!" Brooke blurted out as she stood up to take a closer lock, making sure he wasn't sure mirage created by inhaling whatever the hospital was giving Haley.

"Uhh, thanks?" Lucas replied with a raised eyebrow. He smiled as Brooke stared at him like his head was a pumpkin. Peyton looked from the startled Brooke to the coffee wielding Lucas and it clicked. "Oh yeah, sorry I forgot to tell you. Lucas came back to life without any burns, scratches or bruises and it's a complete and utter mystery how he went from severely burned to being good as new." She babbled matter-of-factly. Brooke took in this burst of information and pulled a confused face. She opened her mouth to speak as she glanced at Lucas again, hesitated then gave Peyton a look that clearly said, what twilight zone did I just walk into?

"So you didn't think this little surprise would have been worth telling me when I walked through the door!" Brooke asked Peyton in disbelief.

"Well I was just so happy to see you...and you weren't dead!" Peyton exclaimed defensively.

Brooke glanced back at Lucas who looked like a fluffy bunny caught between two vicious wolfs. "But wouldn't a Jesus-like miracle of self healing be first in your mind w-"Brooke stopped. She was slowly putting the puzzle pieces together in her head. Lucas is all burnt and dead one second...then Dan's lurking around and suddenly he's fine and dandy, drinking coffee and squinty those damn squinty eyes. Well go figure Dan can arrange for a seventeen year old girl to be blown up but has a soft spot for his son. Breaks ya heart.

"Shhhhh," Haley whispered, "Guysssss no yelling. It's a hospital...there's sick people" she said all wide eyed and serious. Brooke made a sound with her tongue against her cheek and smiled down sweetly at Haley.

"Honey lay back down you'll hurt yourself" she told her softly as she went to her side again.

"No more yelling?"

"No more. Scouts honour" Brooke held up her hand to give the scouts sign and Haley chuckled as she slipped back down onto the bed.

"Like, what is the hold up people? Is there a queue to see my own damn sister!" came the irritated voice of one very pissy Taylor James. She began to sing loudly the chant to "why are we waiting".

"Okay, okay I'm moving" Lucas said with a laugh as he walked fully into the room and took a seat opposite Brooke and Peyton. "Hey Hales, hanging in there?" Lucas asked her gently. Taylor huffed her way into the room with her own cup of coffee and slumped down in the biggest, comfiest chair in the entire room.

"I'm hanging innnnn, like...a hanger!" Haley replied enthusiastically giving Lucas a one-handed thumbs up. Peyton and Brooke laughed but Taylor gave a loud snort.

"I think my sister has actually lost the plot", she sighed in amusement, "And my parents thought I'd be the first one in the mental asylum. It's always the quiet ones." Brooke frowned in her direction but her message didn't get through, "Oh Brooke! You came back, nice to know you're always at Haley's side when she's in peril". Brooke tensed at this comment as the sinking guilt she had been feeling grew. Taylor suddenly smiled and rolled her eyes, "I'm messing with you Doofus! Jeez, no one has a sense of humour when people's lives are put in mortal jeopardy. Pity, "she sighed again. The day had obviously worn her out and it was visible on her face. "Oh Brooke, about earlier? With the whole "if she dies I'll never forgive you blah blah blah"...yeah...dunno what I was saying. Taylor went a lil cuckoo for a while!"

Brooke relaxed and smiled thinly, "its cool Tay. You're her big sister after all" Brooke trailed off and looked back down at Haley who had apparently fallen back to asleep and was snoring lightly. She looked like a restless angel on a bed of artificial white. "I would blame me too if I was you. It was my fault"

-x-

The four of them, Lucas, Peyton, Brooke and Taylor spent the good part of three quarters of an hour talking amongst themselves. Peyton raged about how Dan Scott got away with almost double murder and hated the fact he'd get away with it. Brooke remained especially quiet as she spoke of him. The blonde also wondered who was going to pay for the damages caused by the explosion and asked Brooke if she had a good insurance deal on her car. Everyone but her found that hilarious.

Lucas tried to remember what happened to him that miraculously cured him but was as puzzled as the doctors that found him sitting upright in his bed, asking why he was in hospital. But he seemed more interested in knowing if school would be cancelled due to fears of a "terrorist attack" on the school. Brooke gladly slapped him upside the head for his thoughtless remark, reminding him who was in that "attack". Taylor babbled on about how she'd been chat up by an amazingly hot customer at her bar, only to be called by the hospital because her sister had been involved in serious incident at school. She admitted she was prepared for an embarrassing book related accident at school or something similarly stupid. A car explosion did not go down well with her. Taylor recalled shaking the nurse who had told her this very violently, demanding answers.

Brooke hardly spoke a word. She just listened and laughed with the others, occasionally looking over at the unconscious brunette beside her. Brooke was holding her hand tightly and smiled every time Haley murmured out in her sleep. As the clock grew close to eight thirty, the door opened and in walked the same intern that had been poking Brooke earlier. He was looking down at his clipboard which she presumed had Haley's chart on it since he was examining it so thoroughly.

"So how is Miss James feeling now?" he asked politely. Everyone in the room looked at him as if he were the most retardant retard they'd ever seen. Brooke glanced towards a sleeping Haley and looked back at the expectant intern with a bemused expression.

"Well, you see she's kind of the quiet type" Brooke joked coolly, making the others snicker into their hands. The intern laughed too but his embarrassment was visible as his cheeks began to burn.

"So, uh...is she responding well to her treatment?" he tried bravely.

"Well what ever you're giving her, she's defiantly tripping off it" Taylor joined in to the new fun game called "humiliate-the-poorly-trained-medical-student". "Got any left to share around?" Again the room filled with childish snickers. They were they naughty children and the intern was the substitute teacher out of his depth.

"Well, uh no, I'm not really allowed to give-"

"You're not very good at this job are you?" Brooke asked forwardly. The intern looked like he was about to argue his defence but he only spluttered and stumbled over his words, finally giving in and gave a short nod. "So tell me how would you feel after being right next to an exploding vehicle, Carl is it?" Brooke asked as she read his name tag.

Again he stuttered over his words, "Well, I don't know, I've never- I mean I don't, this is-...visiting hours were over half an hour ago!" he finished triumphantly, as if finding away to better himself. They all just looked at him as if to say "So?". He gulped loudly and pulled his clipboard to his chest. "Please?"

Peyton sighed loudly and got out of her chair to stretch, "I guess time is getting on and I doubt school will be cancelled tomorrow so I should be heading off home" she said through a yawn. "Lucas wanna ride?"

As Lucas got up to leave too something in Brooke's head twigged. She discreetly took Peyton to one side as the others headed for Haley's room door. "Uh Pey...about your car"

"What" Peyton asked stonily, not liking where this conversation was going one bit.

"Well when I took it for a spin earlier...I may or may not have slightly scratched one of the headlights" Brooke explained carefully under the wrathful gaze of the blonde. "It's no biggie really" Brooke confirmed. When did I get this good at lying to people's faces?

"Well okay, you are forgiven for scratching my baby." Peyton said sarcastically and smiled. "So you coming with?"

Brooke shook her head, "Na I'm gonna stay with Haley." Peyton nodded in understanding and gave her friend one last warm hug before leaving. "Drive safe!" Brooke added, almost cringing at how she knew the blonde would react when she saw the big ass dent in her convertible.

She waved goodbye to Taylor and Lucas as they disappeared out of sight. And then it was just her and Haley...and Carl. He looked up from his papers to see she was still there. "Visiting hours are over" he repeated as if Brooke were deaf. Brooke smirked and stepped closer to Carl, causing him to pale slightly.

"I'm staying. Haley is my girlfriend, she's been through a lot and I'm going to be here for her all night. Whether you like it or not" Brooke spoke firmly, staring the intern dead in the eye. He shuffled on his feet and gulped again.

"But you can't! It's against regulations, ill lose my job-" he began but was cut off as Brooke picked him up by the scruff of his scrubs for the second time that night and slammed him against the wall.

"I'm sure you can make an exception for sweet little me" Brooke simpered, flashing her trademark smile rather ironically. Carl appeared too terrified to reply.

So Brooke tightened her grip on his scrubs.

"Okay! But if someone finds you in here you'll be chucked out!" he warned weakly. Brooke cocked her head to the side as she lowered him to the floor.

"Well you'll have to make sure no one comes in here then. Won't you Carl" she said with a devilish smirk.

She may have only been distraught for a few hours but god did it feel good to be herself again.

-x-

Haley groaned as she began to come to. The first thing she noticed was that she was in an extremely comfortable bed. The second thing that came to her attention was that her whole body ached something fierce; she stretched and let out a cry of pain when she felt a dull twinge in her arm. She looked down at her bandaged arm but couldn't make out the extent of her injury due to how dark it was in the room. Haley listened intently to the eerie darkness that surrounded her. She only heard the distant echo down empty hallways beyond the door that stood firmly shut across from Haley's bed. The lonely silence and unfamiliar room was making Haley panic.

Haley looked back down at her bandaged arm and slowly, cautiously she raised her other hand and let it hover hesitantly over it. Curiosity taking the better of her Haley lowered her hand and touched the wound lightly. Sheer agony replaced her panicked state as a blinding flash of pain shot through her arm and spread through her body. Haley cried out in a low whimper and quickly retracted her hand. "Baby, don't touch it", came a soft voice right beside her. Haley started and spun her head to see who it was; regretting her action the instant her body cried out in protest.

She felt delicate fingers entwine with hers and after just a moment she knew it was Brooke. "Brookie... I don't feel so hot" Haley pouted through the darkness. She could just make out Brooke's face and the ecstatic grin laced upon it. "Well I'm so glad that makes you happy" Haley grumbled sarcastically. Brooke gave a short laugh and looked at the grouchy girl seriously.

"I'm smiling cus you're awake Hales. You were out for a good couple of hours" Brooke countered as Haley laid down carefully." I'm guessing the drugs have worn off now?"

Haley tried to look moody but failed as Brooke's adoring gaze finally brought a smile to her face. "Ya think?" Haley remarked with her eyes half closed and a lopsided grin on her face. There was a moment of silence while the two brunettes basked in the peaceful silence that hung heavily in the room. Haley's eyes started to adjust to the gloom and she could make out the tired lines etched over Brooke's face. "You stayed with me all night didn't you" Haley said, obviously touched. Brooke shuffled slightly in her seat and she couldn't bring herself to look Haley in the eye.

Haley mistaking Brooke's behaviour for sheepishness squeezed her hand affectionately. "Aww, I've so got the best girlfriend in the world" she gushed. This took Brooke over the edge. She broke down into tears and brought her hand up to her face as she sobbed. "I meant the galaxy! The universe! You're the best of the best! Don't cry!" Haley blurted out as she feared she'd said something to upset her. Brooke wiped at her eyes and despite herself she laughed at how adorable Haley could be.

"It's not that" Brooke snivelled, trying to force herself to look up. Eventually she managed what felt like an impossible feat and stared deeply into Haley's eyes. "Hales, I have to tell you something...it's to do with what happened today and if I don't tell you I'll never forgive myself" Brooke managed. She took in a deep slow breath.

The following contains dialogue that must be read very, very quickly. Mm thank you.

"Dan sent me a letter and told me to meet him and when I did he threatened to kill me if I didn't leave you so Nathan could have you again but I told him I'd never leave you and he could shove his threats up his ass-"Brooke stopped when she ran out of oxygen and inhaled deeply, "-but he's not normal Haley, he's a frigging monster-demon-asshole and blew up a cat and there was blood everywhere! Then he said he'd give me till Wednesday of this week to end it with you or I'd be dead meat so I just waited and waited and then today came and he was at the school and I panicked-"another long intake of breath,"-but then you went off and Dan came up to me with another letter and he was all like "I think this works out best for all of us" or some crap and I read the letter and it said "If I can't have her no one can" and I knew it meant you-" Brooke stopped to breath.

"But when I got to you...it was too late" Brooke said sadly, her eyes rimmed with tears. "I didn't mean for it to happen Haley, I know I should have told you I just wanted to keep you safe...I was just too scared to lose you this soon" Brooke was openly crying now, her tears falling softly onto Haley's bedspread. "I'm sorry this happened to you. It's my fault" Brooke finished, her head down.

The room was silent for what felt like hours to Brooke as neither of them said a word. Then a soft hand moved through the locks of hair that had fallen over Brooke's face and caressed her cheek. Haley tilted Brooke's chin so that she was facing her. She brushed away the strands of hair in front of the brunette's chocolate brown eyes and looked intently into them. Haley didn't know what to say but she moved her thumb over Brooke's cheek tenderly to show she wasn't angry or even upset. Brooke bit her lip as she waited for some kind of reply, watching Haley's mind race from behind her eyes. "Brooke...get on the bed."

The cheerleader did a double take. I tell her I was responsible for her near-death experience and she want's me to get it on with her! Wow she must be the forgiving type, she thought in amazement. Since Brooke hadn't budged from her seat Haley tried again, "Please Brooke? I won't bite", she joked hoping to lighten the mood. Brooke, still completely confused and slightly nervous, obeyed the girl and sat down next to Haley as she scooted over to accompany her. Brooke shifted awkwardly in her spot as she turned to face the girl next to her.

Haley looked at her thoughtfully for a second then said, "Tigger, I'm not mad at you." Those words took a load off Brooke's shoulders as she let out a held breath and slid her body onto the bed so that she was lying beside Haley. "And even though what you just said sounded like the inner workings of a mental patient" Haley continued with a cheeky smile, "I believe you and I know you were only trying to do the right thing" She entangled her good arm with Brooke's and traced her thumb over her girlfriend's hand. "Although I know that must be hard for you because you do have the intellect of a cheerleader". Brooke smiled back in response.

Wait a second!

She poked Haley hard in the shoulder as her bubbling laughter filled the room. "Hey! Injured here!" Haley pouted, only half serious. "I'm just saying only a total moron like you wouldn't realise that actually telling me what was going would have been a lot better than trying to handle everything by yourself. I mean I'm a very, smart if you hadn't noticed-" Brooke rolled her eyes at the big fat smirk plastered on her face, "-and I could have found a way of getting us out of it. I mean Dan may be a...uh..."monster-demon-asshole" like you so elegantly put but I bet you anything he was rely on you to keep this all hidden from me because you try to do the protective girlfriend act. But hey, the thought behind it was very sweet"

"Still no reason to imply I'm stupid" Brooke huffed as she sunk her head into a pillow. "And that "thought" almost got you blown into small Haley-shaped pieces."

"Well at least I would have gone out in style. I can see my headstone now: Haley James, Rest in pieces

Brooke scoffed at Haley's unending ability to joke about something so serious. "I still suck as a girlfriend" she huffed sulkily. Haley gave her a sideways glance.

"You don't suck Brooke, you rock."

"Nope. I f their was a reward for the suckiest girlfriend I'd win it"

"Well if you have to suck Honey just make sure your sucking with me" Haley sighed with an impish grin. Brooke pulled a face but was still shaking with silent giggles.

"What the hell does that even mean!"

"You have a vivid imagination Tigger. Use it" Haley flirted voraciously. Brooke edged closer to her with a cocked eye brow and wide grin of her own.

"Oh I have a vivid imagination do I? My, my, what could I possibly do to poor little Haley that involves the need for sucking?" she teased as the other girl collapsed into silent giggles and bit her lip as Brooke leaned ever nearer. Her lips were inches from hers and she closed the gap with a kiss she'd been craving for hours. Sucking on her bottom lip as she pulled back, Brooke moved down a little and in the most comical voice she could muster said, "Well Hello there Mr Neck and how are you? You want me to do what to you?"

The girls indulged in their favourite hobby together: Acting like Goofs. And even though their lives had grown a lot closer since the photo of them in Peyton's car, they could still feel perfectly natural being themselves with one another. Yes, now there was kissing and hugging and many other various new "activities" that Haley and Brooke could enjoy in each others company, but one simple factor in their relationship hadn't changed:

They were still the best of friends.

And no one, not even monster-demon-asshole Dan could prevent that.

God, someone pass the sick bag.

-x-

End of Chapter 9

A.N: Well there you go. Happy now you blood thirsty vultures!...I mean...I hope you enjoyed it,heh

Anyway I have some news for you guys and it goes like this: Chapter 10 will be the last chapter in this fanfic.

But before you start sending hate mail again I have decided to make the last chapter go out with a bang. It will be the hottest, steamiest and unimaginably sexiest chapter of Baley..erm..sex! Too put it simply. You thought I avoided the good stuff cus I couldn't write it? Oh how wrong you were... ;P

I need reviews to keep me alive! So donate a big one now:D