I do not own One tree Hill so... Please don't sue me. And if you're reading this could you please leave me a review... I'm starting to get a little discouraged. Thanks. Hope you llike it!

General POV

As Mercedes headed to the airport Nathan was thinking about everything that she had told him. He couldn't believe she would give up basketball to make him happy. Brooke had explained everything to Lucas and Peyton as they were driving to the airport. When they arrived Brook looked around and spotted Mercedes. She ran over to her and hugged her for a minute and let go.

"Any news?" Brooke asked tearing up

"No, she hasn't called me back yet. Here's your ticket. The plane leaves in twenty minutes." Mercedes said handing Brooke her ticket.

Lucas let go of Peytons hand and walked over to Mercedes. Peyton walked to Brooke and they stood there watching. Lucas held Mercedes while she sobbed on his shoulder. Peyton and Brooke began tearing up just watching Mercedes cry. They hated to see her so upset.

"Mercedes you're shaking." Lucas said as he held her.

She just continued to cry and pulled herself deeper into his arms.

"We'll go find her something to calm her down." Peyton said walking towards a coffee shop taking Brooke with her.

"Come here." Lucas led Mercedes to a chair and sat her down as he hugged her.

"Lucas..." She finally said looking up at him. "I'm so scared Luke. What if he leaves me? I don't know what I would do if that happened."

"Don't think that way, just believe he'll be ok."

"But what if he's not Lucas?"

"You don't know that, just keep him in your heart. You have to believe he's gonna be ok."

She shook her head and he held her tight.

"I think I'm gonna stay there Lucas."

"Where? LA?"

"Yeah, things just aren't working out here."

"Mercedes promise me that you'll come back."

"I don't know Luke."

"What about the team? What about your friends?"

"The team will be much better without me here."

"The team or Nathan?"

"Both. And you guys were fine before I got here."

"Yeah, we were fine before you got here but we're better with you here. Promise me you'll come back."

She looked him in the eyes and she could tell he was sincere with what he was telling her.

"Ok ,I promise." She said and he took her back into his arms.

Peyton ordered the drinks and paid for them, as they were being handed to her Brookes cell rang.

"It's Nathan." Brooke said looking at Peyton, she answered.

"Hello?"

"Brooke where are you guys? I went to your house and your not there. I really need to talk to Mercedes Brooke, where is she?"

She could tell she had been crying, his voice was raspy and he was talking to her in a whisper.

"We're at the airport, we're going to LA."

"What? Why?"

"Her brother was hurt and we have to go see him."

"Oh, how is she doing?"

"Not good. She fell apart, this is to much for her Nathan."

"Yeah, I think I was a part of it."

"You think! You really hurt her Nathan."

"You think I don't know this Brooke! I know what I did was wrong, I made a mistake. I tried to be mad at her for reasons that don't exist, but all I've done is cause her pain. I wish I could go back to the that night when I was holding her in my arms and everything was ok."

"You should have thought about that sooner. I gotta go, the plane is leaving soon. Goodbye Nathan."

"Brooke...I know you're upset because of what I did, but I'll still be here for her and for you."

She paused for a moment. She really wanted to be mad at Nathan for what he had done to Mercedes but, they had gotten really close since she had come back and she felt for him. She knew that he was trying his best to cope with this new rush of feelings, but he just didn't know what to do or how to react.

"Bye Nathan."

"Bye Brooke. Please take care of her." He said hanging up.

She put her cell back in her purse and walked over to Lucas and Mercedes. Peyton was already there and had already given Mercedes her cup of tea.

"Flight 623 to Los Angles is now boarding at gate 22, and will be leaving momentarily."

They all got up and walked to the gate. When the got there Brooke and Peyton were saying goodbye. Lucas was still holding Mercedes and she pulled away from him while he grabbed her hands. She looked up at him.

"This is it." She said to him and he gripped her hands tighter.

"No, this isn't it. You'll be back."

He hugged her again and she felt his warmth seep through her.

"Thank you Lucas. I don't know what I would do without you."

"I'll be here for you, even if you're in LA. I'll always be here for you. I'm just a phone call away, Ok?"

She pulled away and shook her head. She turned to Peyton and Brooke walked over to Lucas, he hugged her.

"Call me when you get there, ok?" He said letting her go. She shook her head. "Please take care of her Brooke."

"I will."

Brooke walked over to Mercedes and they walked to the flight attendant, handed her their tickets and boarded the plane.

Lucas POV

Peyton and I got in the car and headed to the café. On the way there I heard Peyton sniffle and I turned to her.

"Peyton?"

"Yeah?" She answered wiping her eyes and turning to look at me.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm just really worried about her Lucas."

"I know, so am I. But I told Brooke to call me when they got there."

"Ok, good."

The rest of the car ride was quiet and we headed to the café. When we arrived we headed in and my mom could tell that Peyton had been crying and that I was upset.

"What's wrong?" She asked as we came in.

"Everything." I answered sitting down and pulling Peyton into my lap.

I explained everything that had happened to Mercedes that day, the team, Nathan, her brother, everything. My mom , Keith, and Haley just listened.

"All of this happened today?" My mom asked as she pulled out two coffee cups.

"Yep, I just wish there was something I could do to help her through this. You know?"

"You just have to be there for her Lucas, but shes a tough girl. I don't think I could handle all that in one day."

"She fell apart at the airport, I don't think she was able to either." I looked at my mom and she gave me the worried eyes. "We should go. We've got school in the morning."

"That's a good idea."

"Haley you want a ride home?"

"Sure." She said picking up her coat and saying goodbye to Keith and my mom.

"By mom, later Keith." I said as I opened the door and left.

As we got in the car Peyton turned to look at me.

"Can you take me to Brookes'? My car is there."

"Sure."

We got in the car and headed to Brookes'. When we got there Peyton and I got out and headed to her car.

"You want me to follow you home?" I asked as I opened her car door.

"No, it's ok. You still have to take Haley home and it's late."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Ok." I kissed her and she got in her car.

"Call me when you hear something from Brooke, Ok?"

"I will."

I closed the door and she left. I walked back to my own car where Haley had alread moved into the passengers seat. I got in and started the car.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" She asked

"I don't know what to say anymore. I miss her though."

"You notice that we don't even know this girl but we treat her like we've known her forever."

"Do you not like her Haley?"

"No, it's not that. I do like her, but I'm just saying... we don't really know that much about her. We don't even know why she's here."

"Does it really matter why she's here! The point is she's here! What's your problem Haley!"

"I don't have a problem. Why are you being like this Lucas?"

I turned to look at her and she looked like she was about to cry.

"I'm sorry Haley. It's just... it's been a long, hard day. It's just starting to get to me. I shouldn't take it out on you though, I'm sorry."

"It's ok. I don't know what you're going throgh but if you need to talk I'm here, ok?"

"Thanks Hales."

She shook her head and got out of the car. I waited until she got inside before leaving. When I got home my mom was waiting.

"Hey mom."

"Hey sweetie. How are you feeling?"

"Alright. Just waiting for Brooke to call."

"Oh... Brooke went with her?"

"Yeah, she didn't want Mercedes to go alone, and she was really worried about her brother. I should go to bed, I have school in the morning. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Lucas."

I headed into my room and lay on my bed just thinking.

Mercedes POV

We finally arrived in LA at about 2 in the morning, and headed to the hospital. When we got there I found Ciara talking to the doctor, and I ran over to them.

"How is he doing?" I asked tears rolling down my cheeks

The doctor turned to look at me. I knew what he had to say wasn't good.

"Mercedes... we were able to remove the bullet , but... he lost a lot of blood and I'm not sure if he's going to make it through the night, it'll be a miracle if he does. I'm sorry Mercedes, I tried my best."

I couldn't take it anymore and I fell to my knees sobbing. Brooke kneeled down with me and began to cry. The doctor stood there watching, I looked up at him and got up.

"I need to see him." I said in between sobs.

"Of course, please follow me."

He led me to a room and opened the door. I went inside to find my brother lying there helpless. I walked over to the chair and sat down. I took his hand and the doctor left the room closing the door behind him. I took a few breaths and began talking to him.

"Hey Q, it's me your baby sister." I began crying again. "I need you to get better Q. You can't leave me, I need you here. What am I supposed to do without you? Huh? You're my life Q. I f it wasn't for you I wouldn't be alive right now. You can't leave me now, you've helped me through everything. I need you to be here with me when I get married, when I have babies. I want my children to have their uncle Q. So you can teach them how to play B-Ball, like you taught me, remember? Who's gonna comfort me when I'm down? Huh? Who am I gonna turn to for advice? You can't leave me now, I won't let you. You have to hold on Q please, please hold on."

I gripped his hand tighter and my head fell to the bed and I began to sob. A few minutes passed and then I heard the worst sound I've ever heard in my life.

"BEEEEEEEEEP"

My head shot up and the doctor rushed in along with a couple nurses.

"You can't be in here." One of the nurses said to me as she pushed me out of the room.

She pushed me out and closed the door before I could fight my way in again. I just stood there in shock for a moment before it finally hit me, my brother was dying. I looked around and my vision was blurry, and that's the last thing I remember.