Thanks to everyone who wrote a reply. I wasn't sure if anyone would read this or if I would continue it, but every review gives me that little push I need to write. So Thanks again. For those who are curious this will indeed be an OTH based story. I might still do the crossover but at a later date in a different way. So without further ado, Chapter Two. (Hey that rhymed)

Sidenote: The next couple chapters will be a continuation of flashbacks to explain why Brooke feels so ill…

Brooke hated hospitals. It seemed like something bad always came from being in a hospital. She knew it was usually the other way around: something bad happens and then you have to go to the hospital, but she couldn't help but feel little comfort as she headed in the direction of Tree Hill General Hospital.

After bawling her eyes out for ten minutes straight, she managed to compose herself long enough to turn the car around and leave her escape route behind. She had stared at the LEAVING TREE HILL sign in her rearview mirror, watching it get smaller and smaller, until it blinked out of existence. Now that she was out of her emotional coma, she couldn't help but feel the past few days events come rushing back at her.

Peyton: You want to talk to me, please? Fine… so this is how it ends? A ten year friendship that survived two dead moms, three absentee parents, shop lifting, jail time…. and we can't survive one boy?
Brooke: Not one boy Peyton, my boy.
Peyton: And he still is your boy, I told you that. Do you love him?
Brooke: You are something else, how dare you be so selfish to ask me that about my boyfriend?
Peyton: How dare I? Ok you know what Brooke, I did not want it this way ok… I tried tears, I tried apologizing to you, I cried and you know what you did… you slapped me, and you blew me off.
Brooke: You are going to be lucky if the next time I don't use my fist.
Peyton: I can't believe you are supposed to be the Maid of Honor. And by the way, none of those words were "Yes Peyton I love him."

Lucas: Look Brooke, I need you to listen to me, ok, I understand that you didn't know about the kiss, and I'm sorry for springing it on you, but I meant what I said. It didn't mean anything.
Brooke: A kiss always means something.
Lucas: Ok, well, maybe you're right. But it wasn't a romantic moment. And you would know that if..
Brooke: ..if what I was there! As you so sweetly pointed out, at the party, the party that I threw for you, I wasn't there, was I?
Lucas: Is it impossible, for you to forgive me? I forgave you..
Brooke: For what?
Lucas: For sleeping with Chris Keller.
Brooke: (Pause) And you know what Lucas, I loved you for that. You had such grace in that moment that I fell in love with you all over again. I can't believe that you would use it now as a bargaining chip.
Lucas: No, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not. I just…I need you to trust me, and believe me when I tell you that my heart is with you. A part of me feels like ever since we got back together, you've just been waiting, waiting to push me away.
Brooke: Oh..great, you kiss Peyton, again, and I'm pushing you away! God! Why did I make everybody identical purses as wedding gifts!
Lucas: I love you Brooke, I don't know how else to say it.
Brooke: How about how you show it? I am not pushing you away Lucas, I am holding on for dear life! But I need you to need me back!

Brooke shook her head free of the memories. In the span of days, she managed to befriend Rachel, find out her former best friend was in love with her boyfriend… again, slap ex-best friend in the face, find out her boyfriend and stated ex best friend had kissed… again, watched Rachel get wasted and announce to the world her affair with Cooper and drive off drunk, and find out that Nathan is in the hospital instead of on his honeymoon. How did everything get so messed up? How did she get so messed up?

Another memory began to invade her mind, this one from a lot longer. It was of Anna, Peyton's mother; though one could say that she was also Brooke's mother since Brooke had spent so much time over at their house, especially around the holidays when her parents were conveniently gone.

Anna had always smelled of vanilla and apples. She made the best chocolate chip cookies in the world and loved her daughter and surrogate daughter very much. Even when she was in the hospital, the last time, she read to Peyton and Brooke every night until she didn't have the strength to do it anymore. Even then, Brooke would just take the lead and continue the story, usually making it up as she went along and butchering it. But it made Peyton and Anna laugh so she happily did it. She remembered watching Anna hold a sleeping Peyton and ask Brooke to take care of her daughter. And Brooke had. She had kept that silent promise to Anna and been there for Peyton, when she cried for four months straight after her mom's death, when she fought off her drug addiction, when she almost thought her father had died. She had been there through everything. But she just couldn't do it anymore.

When she looked at Peyton she no longer saw the inconsolable little girl who clung onto to her mother's dead body as the doctor's announced she was gone. She doesn't see the frightened adolescent who hides behind a mask of apathy only to crawl into bed with Brooke and break down on her mother's death anniversary. She doesn't see the girl who convinced her dad to take them to New York on Brooke's 13th Birthday when Brooke's parents had forgotten and hadn't even sent a card. She saw the webcam. Her best friend lying directly to her face. Her best friend defiantly telling her she said didn't miss her boyfriend. Her best friend giving up on them without even blinking because it wasn't easy enough for her.

She wiped a tear from her eye and realized that she had managed to get to the hospital somehow. She took a deep breath to compose herself and got out of the car, running as fast as her heels could take her to find everyone. She had to put all the drama aside and just be there for Haley. Haley who had been her rock the past couple months. Who had sat with her when she thought she lost Luke and convinced her to give him her letters. Who sat through chick flicks with Brooke when she was feeling down about her parents. Who believed in Brooke and her clothing line and even asked Brooke to make her wedding gown. But it wasn't just Haley, but Lucas too.

She couldn't forget Lucas if she tried and she knew they weren't on the best terms, but it was his brother in the hospital fighting for his life. She could put the drama aside and just be there for him when he needed her. Maybe this time he would actually let her in.

She tried to keep these thoughts in her mind on the elevator ride up. Yes, she would be there for Lucas.

The doors opened and she was poised to run, when she saw the one scene that not only broke her already tattered heart but made her realize what she had to do.

Lucas was hugging Peyton.