A/N: some swearing 

Chapter five: Never Gone.

"Dan Scott, you are under arrest for the poison of a weapon and also abuse." One of the Police officers said, Karen gasped and hugged Haley. Dan Scott was finally getting what he deserved.

As they walked Dan outside, one of the shooters came out.

"DAN SCOTT! THIS FOR YOUR SONS BITCHING!" He yelled, Getting his gun in place and shooting – three times-, Hitting Dan right in the stomach.

The police let Dan hit the ground and yelled for an ambulance. The police got the teen, hooked him up to a leash, and cuffed him and after brought him to the car.

A second later, the next shooter came out. The Police got him, although many bullets were fired. Each bullet, hitting a police car.

Brooke came running outside; she needed to talk to the police. Did the find the shooters? Were the Boys okay? What about Keith?

"Dan Scott, death Time 10: 15." One of the ambulance men, told. The other one nodded and went to go tell the media.

Brooke ran back to the gym, breathless.

"DAN SCOTT'S DEAD!" she yelled, all heads turned. Brooke took a breath for a moment.

"He was shot, he's dead." Mouth's dropped. Who would be the mayor? Who killed him?

"They got… the shooters." She added. Everyone smiled.

"Dan's dead." Haley said to herself, Karen looked down. Karen might have hated him. But, she would have never wished him to die.

"Dan's dead?" Deb Scott entered the room, eyeing Haley.

"Yeah Deb, he is." Karen said answering the question. Deb looked down.

"I would have never hoped for him to die." Haley said, giving Deb a small hug. To her surprise, she welcomed it.

"He was keeping a gun in our house, he shot the pool guy." Deb added. Brooke went over, and heard the whole thing, she gasped.

"Deb, did you know Dan had a third boy?" Brooke asked. Deb nodded. Brooke gave her a re-assuring smile.

Inside the school, Peyton was stuck in the library with Jake.

"How's the leg?" He asked, Peyton gave him a painful smile.

"Do you love Brooke?" She asked him, his head popped up.

"Yeah, I do. For once, I feel like, I don't know. There's this quote, I found it up on her wall. It said: you always go back to the people who were there for you in the beginning. Me and Brooke we've been friends since we were five. She's always been there, you know? Since the beginning. I guess, that's the way it is." Peyton smiled.

"Jake, it's bleeding hard." She told him, showing the blond off her hand.

Jake nodded and took his shirt off (A/N: HOT RIGHT! I KNOW!) And rapped it around her leg. The two gazed into her eyes.

They heard footsteps, and Jake got up and took a book with him. Worried it was someone, he opened the door, to see Brooke talking to Nathan.

"Brooke!" He yelled. Brooke let go of the hug, and gave Nathan a smile.

"Hales, she's outside. Go with her." Nathan held his arm, the place he was cut, was the blade of the bullet.

"I'm going to go find her, bye Brooke." Brooke smiled, and waved over to him, and walked over to Jake.

"Hello sexy." She smiled, giving him a slight kiss on the lips.

"Peyton's inside, she bleeding bad." Brooke looked over, and waved to her best friend. Peyton smiled slightly back.

"She's in a lot of pain Brooke." He informed her.

"Well, the doctors are making their rounds. I can't do anything."

"Why are you here then?"

"Because. DAN'S DEAD! Okay, Dan's dead. Haley found out what happened to Lucas and she was a mess, and wanted me to go tell Nathan."

"Two things: Dan's dead? What about Lucas?"

"Yeah, I saw him get shot okay… I stayed by the window of the school and watched everything, and didn't come running out until they pronounced him dead and then I ran back It's was horrible Jake! I've never seen so much in my life."

Jake, took his right arm and put it behind him. He had been shot, but there wasn't much pain, just a lot of blood.

"Brooke… Its okay." He told her trying to comfort her.

"No its not! The last time I saw so much Blood… was when my dad was shot. And then, then… when you were in the hospital. Remember when we were ten?" Jake nodded.

"I remember." Both he and Peyton said.

"Jake... I'm so scared. They got the shooters, but if I can't trust my own school… What… who can I trust?" Brooke asked.

"Brooke, you can trust me and Peyton!" He told her.

"But, Jake I almost lost you once. And Peyton, I've lost you twice. Once over a boy, and once for real."

Jake pulled Brooke into a hug, and together they walked over to Peyton. Jake still hiding his hand. Brooke finally noticed.

"What happened to your hand?" She asked him.

"I was shot." Brooke looked at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because, hunny…. You just Dan Scott die! You were scared hopeless."

"Jake… why did you lie about it? Dan OR no Dan? Why?

"Because, I didn't want you to get… I wasn't ready to tell you…. You were all worried about Lucas. And Dan dying. I mean. Dan's gone, I don't know if it's a good or bad thing."

"What happened to Lucas?" Peyton demanded.

"Him, Mouth and Keith were shot." Brooke answered.

The three worlds stopped after that. Tears fell, and hugs became therapy.

Hours later, Brooke, Haley, Karen, and Deb waited in a hospital, once again, hoping for word, on their loved ones.

"Scott, Roe, Jagelski, Smith, Sawyer, and Mouth family and friends." Finally the doctor came out.

"Nathan Scott is going to need a cast, as the cuts were deep. He should be fine." Haley sat down and smiled. Deb also sat down, but wasn't smiling.

"Lucas Scott, He was severely injured. He has a broken leg and horrible cut up his right arm." Karen felt tears fall down her eyes, not her Lucas.
"Jake Jagelski has a broken arm. His torn ligaments also got worse. So, we gave him crutches." Brooke smiled.

"Peyton Sawyer also injured her leg, sprained."

"Mouth Marvin, had cuts all over… we rapped up his arm, were he was shot."

"Lastly, Tim Smith has cuts a bruises and Keith Scott has a broken wrist. You may see them there in rooms 334- 341." The doctor left. Everyone looked at each other. Karen was the first one to leave, and then everyone fallowed except Brooke. Who sat down, and stayed behind.

"You coming Brooke?" Deb asked, Brooke shook her head, no. She was going to stay behind.

"God, why did this have to happen? I mean, wasn't everything messed up enough before? But, then again this is Tree Hill. You know, I should have gone to school. Left Jenny with Amanda, the babysitter. Like, I did now. I should have come to school. Things would have been better, then maybe… maybe I would be in here and Jake wouldn't…."

"I wouldn't want that Brooke." Jake appeared. Limping with his crutches near by where Brooke was sitting. He hopped over to the next chair beside Brooke.

"Jake… did anything happen with you and Peyton?" She asked quietly.

"Brooke... Don't start."

"I know, she was in pain but Brooke… if I did she in so much… dying practically."

"So, you did kiss her?"

"Brooke… you weren't there…"

"I know that! Okay and I wish I was…"

"Brooke, you didn't want to be there."

"Why not?"

"Because, Brooke I could have lost you, and the babies."

"There not yours Jake! Why would you care?" She asked, wiping tears.

"Brooke, I love you. I know its been what 10 days? But, I've loved you all my life. You're my best friend.. you're the first person who came to see me when I was in a coma."

"How do you know?"

"My mom told me, she.. she recorded the whole thing."

"Oh my…"

"And to answer your question Brooke Davis… Yes I love you."

They kissed, and broke apart smiling.

"But, you never answered the question. Did, you kiss Peyton?"

"No Brooke, My lips only have eyes for yours."