Disclaimer: I own nothing, but a few overly Dramatic story lines.
They stood there pretending to be just friends when all the while everyone in the room could plainly see they were only existing for each other
-Emma Blake
Six Scott's—one of which was unconscious with a white bandage wrapped tightly around his head.
One Davis, formally Davis-Baker—until widowed.
One Sawyer, previously Sawyer-Scott.
One Landry.
And one Doctor, who felt as though the small room was closing in behind him as he stood in the midst of the large group. Although, it was beginning to feel more like a pack of wild animals that had cornered their prey.
And a lot of extra tension roaming around the room, the news of Jamie and Madison's break up spread like wildfire, although they chose to keep a few details to themselves—like the small bit of information about the two losing their virginity's moments beforehand. That wasn't the only thing that word spread about—the awkward encounter between Lucas and Brooke had quickly made its way around as well.
But, no one dared talk about either—at least not in front of, around, or near the four that were involved. But, everyone had their own opinions about each.
"It's been twenty-four hours," Lucas said, looking at the Doctor across the room from him. "It's been more than twenty-four hours, and you have told us nothing. Yesterday, you said we would know something after twenty-four hours and here we are—twenty-four hours later and we know absolutely, positively nothing".
"I said the first twenty-four hours were critical, which they were Mr. Scott," Doctor Lafferty said, looking around the room in an attempt to make eye contact with the freshest eyes he saw, but unfortunately saw no one around him wore a happy welcoming expression. Instead, if eyes could shoot daggers this is where he would die. "He is making improvements, he isn't where we would like him to be but he is getting there".
"What does that mean"? Nathan asked as he sat back in the chair he was occupying, crossing his arms as he looked at the Doctor.
"Well, that means we didn't expect it to take sixteen hours post-op to get him off of oxygen—we estimated a maximum of five" Doctor Lafferty informed them. "But, in an attempt to focus on the positive he is now off of it—he is breathing on his own which is a very good sign. So, he is progressing, just at a much slower rate than we would like".
"What does that mean in a span of long term"? Haley asked, as she stood behind her husband—resting her hands on his shoulders, lightly massaging them, not that she noticed. It was either out of habit or just a way to keep her hands busy, her husband didn't seem to care either way.
"That means that twenty-seven hours ago I was closing your uncle's skull after spending over six hours inside of his brain with a scalpel," Doctor Lafferty said, trying not to come off to irritated by the group—but found that he was unsuccessful. "Speaking in a long term period, as of right now I am afraid I don't have any answers for that".
Jamie scoffed. "It sounds to me like you don't have any damn answers about anything," he said leaning against the wall with his arms folded. "Where did you get your degree at anyways, the university of dumbass"?
Ever since Jamie had walked in with his parents hours ago, Madison had fought so hard not to look at him. For the most part, she had been victorious, but the sound of his voice sent a shiver down her spine as she sat next to Lily holding her hand tightly.
"James Lucas Scott" Haley erupted at her son from across the room.
"Well, it's true Ma," Jamie said gesturing his hand at the doctor.
As the mother/son duo argued, Madison struggled not to look at her boy—ex-boyfriend. Instead, she squeezed Lily's hand just a little harder—as she had done many times since they had arrived but this time it was for selfish reasons. It wasn't to comfort her friend, it was a reflex from her own personal pain. When Madison looked up she saw Jamie's reflection in the television that hung high up on the wall.
She found that pill was much harder to swallow than hearing his voice.
He wasn't looking at her, in fact—he seemed completely unbothered by the fact that she was even in the room. Which hurt even worse.
But, Madison quickly diverted her eyes away from the dark television screen before she lost it—and she couldn't lose it. Not here. Not now. This wasn't about her, or him, or them—she was here for Lily. And Keith.
That was all that she could let matter right now.
"Is he progressing in any other form besides being taken off of oxygen"? Brooke asked.
And suddenly Lucas was in the same boat as the teenaged girl that sat next to his little sister, except he could physically see Brooke. However, his high school sweetheart wasn't one to shy away from eye contact—but it would be nice if she did for once.
Each time Lucas caught her eyes he saw nothing more than her grimacing at him, and her lip quivering—though not in fear. They both knew it was her fighting the urge to lash out at him right there in Keith's hospital room, surrounded by everyone. And she would—if he looked at her just one more time.
It would also be the last thing he ever saw.
"Yes," Doctor Lafferty answered as he opened the large clipboard in his hand. "These are Keith's brain scans—this one was taken twenty-four hours before his surgery and this is the one we took just an hour ago—twenty-four hours after his surgery," he said as he held them up for everyone to see.
Peyton found herself right in the middle of the room, caught between the longing looks her ex-husband...soon to be ex-husband, was giving her best friend. But, they weren't being well received, which she also found herself caught in the crossfire receiving.
But, she promised herself that she wasn't getting in it, Haley did not make that same promise—despite the lectures she had endured from both her husband and Peyton.
"What's those blue lines"? Peyton asked before the doctor had the chance to finish his sentence.
Everyone in the room looked at the large black and white scans Doctor Lafferty has in his hand, except for Haley. She looked at Lucas, her best friend, who even though he was looking at the What Keith's Doctor was showing them couldn't help himself from looking out of the corner of his eye at Brooke.
If Haley could pick a time in her life having a superpower would come in handy, this would be it.
"That's his brain activity—as you can see he is showing more activity today than he was before the surgery".
"So, he is going to wake up"? Lily asked—hopeful.
"Unfortunately, I can't make that promise—".
"What can you promise"? Madison interjected him. "I mean you're his doctor—you must know something".
Madison had assumed that Jamie had been nonchalant about her attendance in the meeting with the doctor, but if she had looked at him after she spoke—she would found that she was badly mistaken.
But, despite the fact that Jamie has been the one to end the relationship he felt tears swell up in his eyes as he starred a hold through the back of Madison's head. That was until his former girlfriend shifted from one leg to the other, and he realized that he hadn't taken his eyes off of her for several passing seconds. He looked back up at the doctor scared that she would eventually look up and catch him.
Even though she didn't see him looking—everyone else did.
"I understand that you everyone here is scared and confused and I sympathize with you—truly," Doctor Lafferty said, looking around the room. "What you are going through is just unimaginable, and confusing—at that. But, this is brain surgery, each brain is different so the healing process for each patient is different. Right now, we continue to monitor him closely and carefully, if you're religious you pray—if not channel your good vibes. It's not just the surgery alone that's prolonging the recovery time, but he has spent the past seventeen years in a coma, the healing time would have been different if he had the surgery directly after he fell into a coma, but he laid in a coma for seventeen years. He is making improvements and the whole neurologist team is hopeful, you should remain hopeful as well. I have a few other patients I need to check on but for now, I have answered all of your questions that I can".
Doctor Lafferty slowly turned to walk away, praying he wouldn't get shot in the back—and was surprised when he made it out the door alive. He quickly found his way down the hall—as he came upon Deb.
"How did it—"? She began.
"Ask the wolves," he said pointing to the room, before storming off before anyone could catch up to him. "Your family is like a pack of damn savages".
Deb watched as he disappeared around a corner and she shrugged. "Sounds about right".
"Marvin" Millicent yelled from the living room as she stood peering through the curtains. "Is it done, yet? She just got off the bus"!
"Almo—Ouch. Damn it" Millie heard her husband bellow from the upstairs.
"You should have let me put the bed together," Milly said loudly as she leaned around the staircase.
"Just stall for another minute—Ouch, Damn it".
"Make that five"?
"Yeah" Mouth groaned.
The front door opened and Lucy walked through, clutching the straps around each of her shoulders that belonged to her brightly colored backpack.
Millie rushed over the red-headed teenager with a giant smile on her face "how was school"? She asked, as she removed the heavy bag on her new stepdaughters back, that contained one too many books.
"It was great," Lucy told her. "I just have one more test and I will officially be a sophomore—or in the sophomore classes, instead of spending all day in the tutoring center".
"You seem to know everything anyway," Millie said, shrugging.
"Just because I wasn't going to school doesn't mean I stopped studying," Lucy told Millie, as she sat in the floor next to her little brother. "How was your day, Jimmie"? She asked picking him up.
"I think he misses you when you're at school—the sitter said he walks around saying Lu-Lu all day," Millie said.
"I miss him," Lucy said, before looking at her brother. "I miss you, all day! None of the boys at school are as cute as you".
"I'm sure your dad will be happy to hear that".
Millicent became motionless as she realized it was the first time she had referred to Marvin as Lucy's father. He was, the resembles alone was uncanny but if that wasn't enough the DNA test tipped the scales in their favor.
However, everyone had spent the past week tiptoeing around one another, Lucy included.
It was an honest slip of the mouth, but Millicent couldn't help but notice the genuine and ecstatic smile that beamed across Lucy's face. It was a slow process, to start to feel like a family but that definitely gave them a giant push forward.
"Have you seen any boys that you like"? Millie ask as she sat in the floor with her son and stepdaughter. "Or girls, whichever you prefer".
Lucy giggled. "I'm straight," she said. "But, either way no—I have never even dated before. I wouldn't know where to start".
Millie looked at her, and she debated on the question in her head for a brief second but decided to take a chance. "Does that mean—you're a virgin"?
Lucy nodded. "Yes," she told her. "I want to wait until marriage, sex is a big deal to me and from the stories, I have heard of my mom—my biological mother, I just don't ever want to live up to her reputation".
"There is nothing wrong with waiting until marriage," Millie said. "In fact, I bet most parents of teenagers wish their kids would feel that way".
Lucy smiled. "I have a question—I can't exactly talk to Marvin about," she told Millie.
"You can always talk to me, even if you feel like it's uncomfortable," Millie said. "I'm the queen of uncomfortable conversations".
Lucy laughed. "It's not that it's uncomfortable—just uncomfortable to talk about with him, or any man. But, it's almost time for—Aunt flow and—".
"Say no more," Millie said touching her hand. "We will go to the market first thing in the morning".
"You're awesome"!
"I couldn't agree more" Mouth said as he walked down the stairs, oblivious to the conversation that had taken place. "Are you ready"?
"Ready for what"? Lucy asked.
"We have a surprise for you," Millie said as she took Jimmie and placed him in his playpen. "Mommy will be right back, baby," she told him.
Marvin gestured towards the staircase, and even though she didn't know what she was being led to Lucy headed up the stairs. On the last step, she felt a pair of small hands cover her eyes.
"It's a surprise—remember"? Millie said, and Lucy could hear the excitement in her eyes.
"I feel like this isn't safe," Lucy said, smiling. "Don't let me smack into a wall".
"I won't let her" Mouth told Lily, as he watched Millie struggle to lead her down the hallway.
"Just another few steps," Millie said, rolling her eyes at her husband. "And here we are," Millie told Lucy as she uncovered her eyes "vo—".
"Oh, my god" Lucy said as she looked around.
"I never get to say voilà" Millie pouted.
Mouth laughed as he wrapped his arm around his wives waist. "You needed your own room—you don't get much privacy sleeping on the couch".
Lucy covered her mouth, as she felt her lip tremble. She looked around at the fully decorated bedroom—the bed, the dresser, the nightstand, the desk with a computer—she even had her own television in the room that hung up on the wall.
"This—this is mine"? Lucy asked as she felt a tear stroll down her cheek.
"Yes," Mouth told Lucy. "I decorated it myself".
Millie rolled her eyes. "She wouldn't believe that for a second, Brooke helped a little".
"Brooke helped a lot" Mouth corrected his wife. "She has your clothing sizes so she went out and bought you some clothes, too".
Lucy slowly opened the double doors to the closer and felt the air catch in her lungs. She slowly ran her fingers from one item of clothing to the other inside her full closet—her closet.
"Brooke is more accustomed to fashion than either one of us," Mouth said. "Or decorating—or anything, really".
"Hey"! Millie said looking at her husband. "I am stylish".
Lucy looked around as the couple playfully bickered in the corner until she saw a picture sitting on the nightstand that she couldn't help but pick up. "This is me and my mom," Lucy said, her voice cracking.
"Yeah, that was actually Marvin's idea," Millie said walking over. "The picture you had was withering away so before it got completely destroyed we blew it up and put it next to where you sleep".
Lucy sat on the bed, clutching the picture of the woman that had adopted her all those years ago.
"Between your dad and Brooke—we have something else for you," Millie said as she walked over to the desk, pulling a box out from beneath it before finding her way over to the bed and sitting down next to Lucy. "Here you are".
Lucy sat the picture slowly to the side before placing the box in her lap, and slowly opening it. A frame sat at the top, and she picked it up—observing the picture inside. She recognized her father though he was much younger, she wasn't familiar with the redhead next to him.
"That is a picture of me and your biological mother" Mouth said as he rolled the chair over from the desk and sat in it in front of his wife and daughter. "That's Rachel".
"This—this is my mom"? She asked, looking up at him.
"Yes, it was Millie's idea to put this box together," he told her. "It has pictures of your mom, lots of them—including some of her modeling days—".
"She was a model"?
"She was, she might still be" Mouth said, shrugging. "I haven't heard from her in years, it has all the pictures of her we could get together for you. Brooke added a few of our wedding" he said, gesturing towards him and Millie. "And—".
Mouth trailed off as Lucy began to search through the box until she found the picture from their wedding. She smiled, looking at it before she opened the picture frame and replaced the picture of her biological parents with the picture of the couple in front of her.
Lucy then sat the two pictures, the one of her mom and the one of Mouth and Millie, on her nightstand. "There, perfect," she said. "I don't really want anything else in this box".
"Are you sure"? Mouth asked her.
"I'm sure Rachel had a good reason for giving me up from the stories I have heard of her, she doesn't sound like she would be a good mom at all," Lucy said. "But, you? You would have been a good dad, and even if you wouldn't have you had the right to make that decision. She didn't give it to you, I might want to know about her one day—but today is not that day".
"I will put this up then," Mouth told her as Lucy handed him the box.
"I'm going to go check on Jimmie," Millie said, before leaving the two alone.
"For what it's worth you would have made a wonderful dad," Lucy told Mouth. "You are".
Mouth looked down as he attempted not to choke up in front of the teenager.
"Thank you," he said rubbing the back of his head. "Lucy, we want you to be comfortable here—this is your home now, you can invite friends over to stay the night and if you need money just ask—".
"I actually thought about getting a job, someone said Baker Man was hiring and so is the café in town".
"You have spent your entire life working" Mouth said. "I think now it's time for you to be a teenager, a normal teenager. I'm your dad, I will give you money if you need it. Anything that you need, just ask".
Lucy bit down on her bottom lip before she looked up at him. "Okay," she said finally caving in. "There is something I want—it's not money or anything".
"What is it"? He asked.
"I was thinking of trying out for the cheerleading team but—well, I was talking to this girl at school she is on the cheerleading squad and she invited me to this party tonight," Lucy said. "I don't know what your rules are on that but I would really like to go. I have never got to be around kids my own age, or have fun, and I could ride with your friend's son—Andre".
"That's not Skills son, that's a long story but—" Mouth said looking at his daughter. "You can go".
"Really"? Lucy nearly squealed before wrapping her arms tightly around Mouths neck. "You rock," she said leaning away. "I'm going to get ready".
Mouth laughed as his daughter flew over to her closet and started looking through her many new clothes, as her dad stood up and walked out of the room.
"Did you hear that"? Mouth asked Millie who was in the hallway with Jimmie on her hip. "I rock".
"I heard," Millie said, nodding her head as she followed her husband into their bedroom. "I also heard that you didn't give her a curfew".
"Oh, Millie—she is going to be with Andre, I'm sure he has a decent curfew".
"And what if he doesn't"? She asked, shutting the door. "Marvin, I know this is new but you didn't ask her where she is going or who she is going to be with or what time she will be home—".
"I bought her a cell phone, I can call her if I need to".
"And what if the music is too loud for her to hear the phone ringing"?
"Millie, she has been on her own since she was twelve—she deserves a night out".
"She also deserves parents, who set rules and boundaries. You're her father, not her friend" Millie told him. "You're right, she deserves a night out, and to have fun but she deserves to be a kid, too. She has never had that, and the next few years of her life is going to shape and mold her into the adult she is supposed to be—depending on how you raise her. So, do you want her to end up like you, or Rachel"?
"It's one party—you're telling me when you were in high school you never went to one party"? Mouth asked. "I was the school nerd, and even I went to parties".
"It's not about the party—you know what? She is your daughter do what you think is best".
"Fine. I will".
"Fine".
Peyton stood back with Nathan, Haley, Lily—and Deb as she made a bed up on the couch in Keith's hospital room, as the two former couple's race to see who could leave the room the fastest. Brooke made it a point to walk out the door first making it clear she was not hanging around to speak to Lucas, or even look at him if she had her way. Jamie was right on his god mother's heels as he walked out the door, avoiding all eye contact with Madison—who walked out slowly with Lucas.
"You know," Peyton said pointing once she knew they were out of hearing range "this may actually become interesting".
Lily scoffed. "You think"? She asked sarcastically.
"Should we hang back for a few minutes"? Nathan asked. "Let them fan out of the hospital or—".
"One is our son, remember"? Haley asked. "And Mia will be here with the kids any moment. We have to meet her in the lobby".
"She is already here" Peyton informed Haley. "She text me a few minutes ago—I would have said something but I was on Nathan's side".
Haley shook her head, as the three made their way towards the lobby, where they didn't see Mia or any of their kids—but the four Nathan and Peyton wanted to avoid.
"Don't even think about it" Brooke snapped, holding her finger up as she passed Lucas—who looked as though he wanted to say something to her. "I have nothing to say to you".
"Madison, what do you want to talk about"? Jamie nearly yelled as he spun around on his foot to face the girl he spent most of his life with. "There is nothing more I have to say to you—and most of all I don't want to listen to it. I'm done talking".
Nathan, Haley, and Peyton looked back and forth between Lucas and Brooke, and Madison and Jamie.
"You should go talk to him," Haley said, elbowing her husband in reference to her son.
"Hales" Nathan moaned. "I'm his dad—he isn't going to talk to me".
"You won't know until you try," Peyton said, shrugging.
"I didn't even want to deal with the teenaged drama when it was our teenaged drama—".
"Nathan" Peyton and Haley both said, folding their arms looking at him.
"I'm sorry but I don't remember Peyton being part of our wedding vows," Nathan said, looking at Haley.
"Which ones"? Peyton asked, smiling. "Don't look at me like that—it's a viable question. Your twos first year of marriage wasn't exactly one for the books"?
"This coming from the former Mrs. Scott" Nathan said. "Fine, I will go talk to him".
Peyton and Haley smiled at each other, for a brief second before they heard an all to familiar noise that vaguely resembled a stampede—if there ever was on in the hospital.
"Momma".
Sawyer, Lydia, Davis, and Jude came running down the hallway with Mia following closely behind.
"Can Lydia and the twins stay the night"? Sawyer asked immediately as she approached her mom.
"Well, hi to you, too," Peyton said as she looked at her daughter.
"Right," Sawyer said, shaking her head smiling. "Hi, mom. Can Lydia and the twins stay the night"?
"You'll have to ask your dad," Peyton told her pointing at Lucas as he came walking over. "You're staying with him tonight, so you have to ask him".
"Can they"? Sawyer asked, smiling as she turned to look at her dad.
Lucas looked awkwardly at Brooke and shrugged. "You have to ask their parents but it's fine with me".
Brooke scoffed. "Of course you are going to put that on me," she said, low so that only he and the adults heard.
"Mom can we"? Davis asked, jumping up and down.
"You wouldn't rather go home with me and Madison"? Brooke asked, in her most persuasive voice—though it wasn't persuasive enough.
"No, we want to go to Luke's he is a guy like us," Jude said pointing his thumb into his chest.
"Please" Davis begged his mother.
"Okay, it's fine with me," Brooke said, though she wasn't fine it with it.
"You can go, too Lydy," Haley told her daughter.
"Alright," Davis said as he jumped up and down.
"Let's go Uncle Luke" Lydia demanded. "We are going to give you a makeover".
"Yeah, daddy" Sawyer said. "You're drooping around your eyes".
"Oh, goody," Lucas said sarcastically.
"I will drop Lydia's things off in a little while—" Haley began.
"And I will send the boys things with her" Brooke said, coldly without looking over at Lucas.
"It's Friday night and I'm spending my night with four kids," Lucas said. "I'm living the dream—come on".
Lucas left with Jude tugging on one arm, and Lydia tugging on other his daughter and Davis led the way towards his vehicle. In the midst, they passed Nathan who had just found his son.
"Bye daddy," Lydia said as she passed her dad. "I'm staying all night with Sawyer".
"Your mom said it was okay"? Nathan asked.
"Yes," Lucas groaned.
"Alright," Nathan said, chuckling waving to his daughter. "I love you".
Lydia disappeared out the door with her uncle, cousin, and the twins, leaving Nathan standing in the doorway with his teenager.
The two stood in silence for a few minutes, perhaps longer, until Madison passed with Brooke as they left—tear stains on her face.
Nathan watched as his son watched as she left, he knew he wasn't good at this. He was the wrong person to have any kind of heart to heart about relationships, teenaged relationships at that.
"How—how are you"? Nathan asked his son, awkwardly. "How are you handling this"?
"Fine" Jamie said shortly at his father.
"I mean you have been with her since you were a kid—".
"Can I go out tonight"? Jamie asked, changing the topic mid-conversation.
Nathan looked at his son, who showed zero emotion and it was clear when it came to Madison he wasn't going to.
"Where"? Nathan asked.
"There is a party, I would like to go".
"Whose"?
"Mikey," Jamie told him.
"I don't know, Jamie".
"C' mon dad. I'm not grounded, I'm single—I'm going with Chuck and Andre, just going out with my friends" he told Nathan. "I'm not sneaking out and not telling you, I'm asking".
"Fine" Nathan said, knowing he was going to regret this. "Be home by ten".
"It's the weekend, c' mon dad. The party doesn't start until dark anyways" Jamie pleaded.
"Fine, ten-thirty".
"Three".
Nathan laughed. "Nice try you're not staying out that late, midnight".
"Two".
"Twelve thirty".
"One thirty".
"One".
"Deal," Jamie said, smiling.
"Oh—no. Wait—".
"I will be home by one" Jamie said as he rushes towards the door before his father had a chance to say anything. "Love ya," he said as he walked out the door.
Nathan put his hands on his hips. "How the hell did he do that"?
"How did who do what"? Haley asked as she walked up behind her husband wrapping her arms around his waist.
Nathan wrapped his arm around Haley as Peyton joined them. "No one—Jamie is going out".
"Where"?
"A party".
"A What"? Haley asked jerking away from her husband. "You let him go to a party"?
"I didn't think I had a reason to say no".
"It's a party," Haley said throwing her hands up. "With drinking and dancing—".
"Haley, he is sixteen if you had said no he would have just snuck out," Peyton told her friend.
"It will be fine," Nathan said wrapping his arms around his wife. "Plus, we will have the house to ourself tonight".
Nathan pressed his lips against the side of Haley's neck, and she giggled—lightly, for a second.
"And cue my vomit" Peyton said shaking her head.
"Aren't you going out with Jake tonight"? Haley asked laughing, looking at her.
Peyton headed towards the door and shot over shoulder "not if I don't get home in time to shave my legs" as she left.
"A shower sounds nice," Haley said, smiling at her husband. "Want to"?
"Don't have to ask me twice".
A/N OK, so don't hate me. I know that I promised you find out what happened to keys in this chapter but you will next chapter, but let's face it I'm not going to bring him back and go through all this and that and killed him. That was probably a spoiler but anyways.
But, the next chapter is called ships in the night, As in our favorite chips. It is going to be set up and little different than my normal chapters. Instead of jumping from one storyline to another I'm going to set up the next chapter kind of like that episode you and me and the bottle makes three.
It's all going to take place over the course of one night, but it's going to focus soley on one ship & then The next.
So, Naley, Brucas, Jeyton, Jaddie, Mouth/Millie (not sure if they had a ship Name or not) & even some Lauren/Skills instead of jumping from one to the other it will be strictly about them. It is not the chapter that I have actually already sat down and written that kind of resembles the storm episode,.
I hope i explained that okay.
Just leave in the review section May be who you want to see first to her do you want to see last. Just give me an nudge up the line up. lol.
I know this chapter was much shorter than normal but it was really just a filler before The next chapter. Those who are team Brucas...don't give up! But, I set a slow burn, and he just got out of a marriage with her best friend she isn't exactly too happy with him right now.
Oh, and in the next chapter you may be really angry with me because Brooke might just blow her top little.
Until next time!
Thanks again for the reviews and following my story, it means the world.