CHAPTER 10: Memories…

It took another week for Brooke to finally get the chance to see Lucas on her own. Nathan, Haley, Peyton and Jake were all at school, though they had visited during their lunch period, and Karen and Andy were working at the café together to keep busy. Brooke had skipped school that day to just spend the day with Lucas.

The doctor had told her that morning that Lucas could wake at any time. His condition was improving every day, and at this point, it was whenever he wanted to wake up. Brooke sat by his side faithfully, holding his hand, and humming an old song that she'd fallen in love with when she saw the Phantom of the Opera: "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again". Even though the song was really about the young woman missing her father, the single line that made up the title seemed to be the only one that described how she was feeling. She never stopped praying for him to wake up…to come back to her. They'd never gotten the chance for things to really be worked out between them, and she wanted to so badly it hurt.

Brooke's mind traveled back to the day of the accident, a little over two weeks ago. Her day had gone from good to terrible first when she watched Lucas collapse on the basketball court. A part of her was angry with him for not telling her the truth about his heart condition, but here was another part that understood what he had been thinking. He had been afraid that he would be treated different, which would be the truth once people found out. He would no longer be able to play basketball, the thing he loved to do the most.

"Wishing you were somehow here again," she sang softly, reaching forward to gently stroke some of Lucas' hair back. She sighed. "Broody, I need you here with me…please come back. I miss you so much."

Numbly, she began to pick at the cast on her wrist, which was set to come off in one more week. She wondered every night why she only ended up with a broken arm and some bruises, when Lucas had ended up with a head injury, internal bleeding, and major cuts and scrapes from being thrown from the car. Why did he have to be in a coma for two weeks so far? What had he ever done so wrong that he was given this much trouble in his life? Lucas was one of the most compassionate, caring people he had ever met…he didn't deserve any of this. Tears filled Brooke's eyes, and she brought Lucas' hand to her cheek to get some comfort out of the warmth radiating from his skin.

A shadow darkened the wall in front of her, telling her that someone was in the doorway. When she turned, she was that it was Tyler. "You just don't give up, do you? Get the hell out."

Tyler chuckled. "For one, this is my patient. For two, we're not done yet. It's only a matter of time before you fall for me. Mark my words."

"Consider them marked," Brooke snapped. "Now get the hell out of here before I call security. You're not caring for Lucas anymore."

"Ah, but see, I am. He's my final patient before I can graduate from med school…he's my long-term patient. They won't transfer me if I tell them that I need to stay on this assignment."

Brooke was fuming as Tyler walked out. He was such a self-righteous, arrogant jerk…there had to be some way to get rid of him. She'd have to talk to Peyton, and figure out what to do.

Brooke was jerked from her thoughts when she felt a tiny twitch against her hand. Looking down in shock, she saw Lucas' eyes fluttering open. She watched in awe as he blinked against the bright lights, and tried to adjust to what was around him. Slowly, he turned his head to look at the person holding his hand. "B-Brooke? What…happened?" he questioned in a gravelly, barely inaudible voice. Brooke let Lucas' hand go, turned around, and grabbed the glass of water next to his bed. He gratefully allowed her to pour some of the cool liquid into his mouth, though a look of pain crossed his handsome features when he swallowed.

"You don't remember the accident?" she inquired in a soothing voice. On the outside she looked very calm and compassionate, but on the inside she was ecstatic that Lucas finally came back to her. She hadn't realized how much she missed his gorgeous blue eyes until his gaze locked on hers. A small pang of dread filled her when he shook his head slowly.

"How…how long ago?"

Brooke stroked the back of his hand comfortingly. "A little over two weeks."

"Brooke, what are you…doing here?" Lucas asked, confusion written all over his tired face. Brooke's expression matched his.

"What do you mean, Luke? Where else would I be?"

"D-does…Felix know you're here? And why aren't you in California?"