AN/ Thanks so much for the reviews and seeing as I was asked so nicely about the whereabouts of this update here it is. Enjoy :P

Part 5

"So after everyone had looked around for a minute or two it was clear that Nate had already left. It was kind of funny really. Then they decided to move on to the Prom Queen and guess what? Yep, they named you Prom Queen." Peyton said in a quiet voice as she smiled, brushing her fingers through Brooke's hair.

Wishing her friend would just open her eyes and talk back to her, Peyton sighed knowing that it would not be happening anytime soon. So with a smile she continued to recount the events of that night.

"Brooke Davis; Prom Queen. Has a nice ring to it don't you think? Well you should be proud to know everyone's decided to move the Prom to the Prom Queen and King Nathan is here too."

Peyton looked at the face of her friend and held back a cry as tears continued to roll down her face. She couldn't pretend that nothing was wrong anymore and talk like Brooke wasn't lying unconscious in front of her.

That Brooke hadn't almost died tonight.

Just as Peyton opened her mouth to continue speaking she heard the door behind her open.

"I'm sorry. But you have to leave now. You can come back at visiting tomorrow." Said the nurse.

Peyton looked down at Brooke sadly. It was time to leave.

Even though she knew Brooke wouldn't wake for some time it had felt good just to sit beside her, to watch her, to hold her hand.

To know she was there.

Peyton stood easing her hand out from underneath Brookes then placing a kiss to her forehead walked out.

See you tomorrow Brooke.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Nathan sat with Haley's head in his lap as she rested curled up on the bench, one hand laying protectively over the swelling at her middle.

His child, their child, was due to make its appearance in a few short weeks. He could only pray that he would be everything his wife and son would need him to be.

He looked around the eerily silent room. Lucas had left shortly before to take his mother home meaning they were the only ones left to wait.

Sighing he returned his gaze to his wife, he knew she would be an amazing mother. She had already taken on a sort of mother role with their friends, which was taken good naturedly by everyone. Tutor-mom as Brooke would call her. He could only hope his own skills as a father would come as smoothly.

Nathan was interrupted from his musings by Peyton walking into the room.

She looked as fragile to his eyes now as he had ever seen her. He watched as she took in their presence before turning her eyes to the ground and hugging herself. His top hung loosely on her shoulders and although his sweats were about the right length they were a few sizes to big.

She looked like a little kid playing dress up with their parents' clothes.

Gently he shook Haley by the shoulder, getting a moan of protest before she opened her eyes and stood as quickly as her frame would allow.

"Peyton?" She questioned before both she and Nathan crossed the space to their friend.

"Um, they said to come back tomorrow." Peyton stammered out as she kept her head down.

Haley closed the gap and held Peyton tightly feeling her tense slightly before returning the hug.

"She'll be fine Peyton." Haley reassured as she moved away enough to look her in the eyes.

Peyton looked sceptical but nodded.

Brooke will be fine.

Peyton didn't know if that was really true or if it was just wishful thinking. Brooke may recover physically from her ordeal but emotionally? Peyton wasn't so sure.

She knew Brooke could hide a lot behind her smile and she expected that would be exactly how Brooke would try to cope with things. It was just that Peyton knew it wouldn't be able to work for very long, especially with their friends, and it would never work with her.

"Listen, do you want to come to our place? I know Lucas wanted yo-"

"Thanks Nathan, I'd like that." Peyton began before he finished. Going home with Lucas would create more problems for her right now than she felt able to deal with.

"Great. Now that that's settled lets go." Haley said wrapping an arm around Peyton's waist and leading her towards the exit with Nathan beside them.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Are you sure the couch is okay? I mean we could take the bed and kick Nate out here, he wouldn't mind." Haley asks as she helps Peyton fix up the couch with sheets and a pillow.

Peyton hand spoken very little on the ride home, Haley had been so worried about Peyton that she had yet to ask for any details about Brooke's condition or what had actually happened to her.

All she knew was from Peyton's frantic call to Nathan earlier that night saying that Brooke had been attacked and was in trouble.

That she was in the hospital and needed them there.

Peyton looked so broken and haunted that Haley was afraid to hurt her friend with her questions, there was time enough for that in the morning.

"It's fine." Peyton replied with a shake of her head as she threw a duvet onto the couch. She had already changed and felt exhausted wanting nothing more than to find some peace in sleep. Reality at this moment sucked.

She sat down and glanced up at Haley only to find her looking back with anguished concern. It made her want to confide in her friend, to tell someone else everything that had happened the previous evening.

From Brooke turning up at her house, what she had said, to how she found her curled up and bleeding on the floor of her bedroom.

Peyton startled slightly as she felt Haley wipe away tears she hadn't known were falling. Suddenly it was too much and she threw herself into her friends' arms and broke down.

"Oh Peyton." Haley whispered as she rocked her slowly, trying to bring some comfort to the blonde as her own tears began to fall.

Nathan having just gotten off the phone to Lucas where he explained that Peyton would be staying with them tonight stood just inside the room. He knew there was nothing he could do to help but he remained watching for a moment before retreating to his bedroom.

Haley would let him know if he was needed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Haley looked down at Peyton she had cried herself to sleep still clinging to her.

Haley rested her head against the back of the couch and exhaled, she had no idea what to do, but it was late, or really, really early depending on how you regarded 3am.

"Nathan?" She called quietly hoping not to wake Peyton up.

Nathan appeared almost immediately have been pacing the hallway needing to help but not knowing how. He moved closer to them and waited looking at Haley.

"Can you lift her?" She asked keeping her voice down.

Nathan leaned over and as gently as he could, so as not to disturb their sleeping friend, lifted Peyton into his arms. Peyton shifted a little but remain asleep much to his relief.

"Guess we can all crash in the bedroom, I don't think she should be alone tonight." Haley explained as she managed to stand and follow her husband.

She watched as he laid Peyton down on their bed and somehow managed to get her under the cover without waking her.

"Come on, you get the middle." She said giving Nathan a slap to his shoulder before climbing in herself.

Nathan spent a moment adjusting his position before turning to Hales.

"Luke wasn't very happy, took a while to get him not to show up here tonight. He said he'd bring breakfast in the morning." He confided in a whisper.

"Hmm. I don't think him coming over would have been the smartest thing to do, she's got enough to deal with as it is." She replied just as quietly hearing a grunt of agreement that made her smile.

"Glad you talked him out of it." She continued.

"Well morning is going to be tough as it is there's no need to start it this early." He said as he wrapped an arm around his wife.

Haley closed her eyes and felt the exhaustion of everything that had happened begin to draw her into a deep sleep. She could only hope Peyton would be able to remain asleep for a few hours before life intruded again.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Haley felt a pain in her side as she woke up. After a moment she realized she would have to get up and take a trip to the bathroom to alleviate her child's movements.

Why exactly does he have to kick at my bladder every night lately? What does he think it is a football? Haley thought with a grumble as she eased herself out of the bed and closer to her relief.

Having washed up Haley began to get back into bed, until she noticed only Nathan remained sleeping. Peyton must have gotten up at some point before her and left the room.

Quietly Haley moved out of the bedroom and began to look for her missing bed mate. It wasn't until she reached the living room that she heard the sobbing. Looking over at the couch she saw that Peyton was curled up with her knees at her chin and her arms over her head, obviously trying to make as little noise as possible.

Walking over Haley knelt in front of Peyton and placed her hands on her friend's thighs causing her to look at her with swollen red eyes.

"Oh Peyton. Talk to me, please?" Haley begged at the look of misery in the blonde's eyes.

Peyton's face crumpled and she leaned forward to rest her head on Haley's shoulder. She felt Haley begin to stroke her back which helped to calm her slightly. She stayed like that for a minute knowing everything would change when she next spoke.

"He raped her Hales."