Part 51

"Are you sure you're okay Brooke?" Peyton asked as she helped her friend to the car.

Limping but trying not to grimace every time she put weight on her bad leg Brooke tried to smile through the pain. "I'm fine."

Peyton let out a heavy sigh as the brunette leant against the car to let her open the door.

Brooke watched her friend knowing she was acting pretty bitchy to her, but she didn't think she understood what she was doing enough to be able to explain. Irritated with herself, Brooke almost brushed off Peyton's attempt to help her into the car, luckily she stopped herself from pulling her arm free but couldn't prevent flinching as Peyton took her arm to support her as she ducked into her seat.

"Thanks." Brooke said softly just as Peyton went to close her door for her.

Peyton gave her a smile, as if nothing was wrong. "You're welcome." She said, and closed Brooke's door.

"Ugh." Brooke pouted to herself, but between the confusion and the pain of her leg, she was just thankful Peyton was too good a friend to call her on it.

Peyton slammed her own door closed and started the car.

Brooke finally relaxed as the ache in her thigh eased up now that she was seated. The strained silence was also somewhat comforting she wanted to just not think for a while. Maybe if she was really lucky Peyton would go along with the idea of pizza and a movie. Something mindnumbingly boring...like the Da Vinci Code, or anything with Tom Hanks in it for that matter, if there was a guy that could do boring it was him. Just as long as it wasn't a romance or horror film then she'd be okay with it.

It was only when the car stopped that Brooke realised that the whole ride back from the hospital had been made in complete silence, Peyton hadn't even bothered to turn on a CD or the radio.

Brooke turned her head towards her friend only to be met by very concerned green eyes.

She swallowed nervously.

"Whatever it is that's going on Brooke, I'm right here, you know you can talk to me right?" Peyton asked softly.

"Yeah." Brooke replied. "I know."

Peyton waited but nothing more came. She flashed Brooke her best smiled. "Well then, I guess we should go on up before the rain starts up again. Cause we both know this isn't going to last."

It isn't?

Brooke watched the blonde closely as she got out and came around to her side of the car. Peyton was talking just about the weather right? Just because Brooke couldn't get the idea that her friend would be better off without having to deal with her, didn't mean Peyton was thinking along those exact same lines, right?

Nah.

"Come on, let me do the butch thing and help you up the stairs." Peyton said urging Brooke out of her car. "Just don't expect me to carry you, I don't do heavy lifting."

"Watch it!" Brooke replied as her hand shot out to smack her friend for the implied insult.

Peyton smiled and help up her hands as Brooke got out of the car.

"Okay, you ready?"

Brooke steadied herself as her leg reminded her not to put her weight on it as pain shot the length of her thigh causing her to bite her lip in order not to cry out.

Peyton watched on sympathetically but let Brooke work through it until she was given a nod.

"Okay then," Peyton said as she turned and crouched down showing Brooke her back. "Hop on."

"You have to be kidding."

Peyton chuckled and waited.

"Peyton."

"Jump on Brooke, or you can walk up those stairs without my help." Peyton replied impatiently.

Brooke rolled her eyes and edged forward to rest her hands on the blonde's shoulders. "What would I ever do without you?" She muttered sarcastically under her breath as she gingerly hopped up and Peyton's hands wrapped around knees.

Peyton quickly leant forward so that her back took most of Brooke's weight in an attempt to keep the strain off her friends injured thigh.

The shifted in place for a second. "I'm not hurting you am I?" Peyton asked.

Brooke wasn't sure if it was possible for her leg not to hurt as they tried to get her up to their apartment.

"Just...hurry up before we both fall over." Brooke ground out as she was jostled again as Peyton tried to get a more secure hold.

"Sorry."

"Don't be. Now be a good...mule," She said, a smile breaking out for the first time since they'd left school. "And mush!" She continued, jerking in place as if she was riding a horse.

Peyton rolled her eyes and held back the need to give her passenger a fright by rearing backwards. She knew it'd probably hurt her friend more than give her a laugh so she simply did as instructed and made for the stairs.

Brooke eyed them thoughtfully, thinking, while it was a nice gesture, going up those steps might not be the safest option for both of them. "Are you sure about this?"

Peyton snorted. "Where's the faith?" Peyton was resolute in the idea that she could do this. Even if I have to crawl all they way to the top.

"Okay then." Brooke replied with a touch of doubt.

Peyton chuckled as she attempted the first step and Brooke tightened her hold. But after the first one, and with a heavy use of the banisters, they made it to the top.

"Told you!" Peyton exclaimed happily as she waited for Brooke to ease down from her back.

It was Brooke's turn to laugh. "I don't think so Blondie, the apartment's over there." She said, adding a playful swat to Peyton's backside to get her moving again.

Peyton paused then with a shake of her head made her way to their door as slowly as she could, one small step after the next. "There. Done. Now get off!"

Brooke slide down her friend's back as Peyton used her hands to aid her descent.

Peyton turned around, pleased to see Brooke looking more like herself than she had in the last few hours.

"It's good to hear you laughing again." She said softly.

Brooke sighed as green eyes studied her closely. She nodded and reached over to tug at a blonde lock. "Kinda nice from this side too."

That was more than enough for Peyton right now.

With a grin Peyton stuck her key in the door and as it swung open she gave a little bow and sweep of her arms for Brooke to precede her.

With a sniff and raise of her head Brooke did her best not to hobble as she stepped into their apartment only to come to a grinding halt after the first step. "Huh."

There, sitting looking at her rather nervously was Nathan and Haley.

Peyton had looked up when Brooke had stopped and gave her own nervous chuckle as Brooke's eyes finally landed on her.

Peyton couldn't enter the apartment because Brooke was standing in the doorway which left her with the other option of going the other way. A plus point for that idea being she didn't think Brooke would have a hope in hell of catching her.

With a finally glare Brooke turned her attention to her visitors.

"Well, isn't this a surprise?" She said with a tilt of her head back in Peyton's direction. The blonde responded by clearing her throat.

"I still have a key." Haley interjected.

Brooke smiled at her and moved further inside to let Peyton enter and close the door. "I gathered." She muttered under her breath low enough that only Peyton heard.

"I was hoping we could talk?" Haley continued quickly, not sure if either of her two friends were happy to see her.

Brooke sighed quietly. More talking. With her thoughts and emotions in constant shift she had no idea if talking to Haley right now would do more harm to their friendship than good.

"Haley..." She started in a soft voice.

Haley held her hands out quickly. "Just hear me out Brooke, please, I came to apologise."

Brooke sighed again and ducked her head only to receive a nudge from Peyton.

"What harm could it do?" Peyton whispered to her.

Brooke sent a smile over to Haley who looked instantly relieved and smiled back at her. Hopefully none.

"Great!" Nathan said, speaking up for the first time as he clapped his hands together. "Then I guess we can get out of your hair for a bit, let you guys talk, and Peyton and I can get the rest of her stuff from my truck." He said as he stood up from his seat beside Haley at the breakfast bar.

Brooke turned to Peyton in puzzlement.

The blonde scratched behind her ear as she gave an awkward reply, "I kinda asked Nate to pick up the rest of my things."

"When?" Brooke asked wondering why she hadn't known about it or why Nathan had waited until now to deliver it.

Peyton's eyes widened as Nathan walked over. "The..ugh, other day." She replied evasively.

"That's right." Nathan agreed before Brooke could ask any more questions. "And the quicker we get started the better," He said, his gaze going to the window. "I think we're in for more bad weather."

Brooke rolled her eyes at the pair. It was fine though, she'd just ask more questions later, when Peyton didn't have Nathan around to help her out.

Nathan was about to leave with Peyton when he noticed Brooke limping heavily as she made her way over to his wife. "You okay Brooke?" He asked stepping closer to the brunette.

Brooke looked up at him with an overly sweet look. "Define okay."

"I guess that means no. Hear let me help you out." He said gathering Brooke into his arms as she yelped in surprise and carried her over placing her down in the seat he'd just left. "There."

"Aww," Brooke cooed. "And I thought chivalry was dead." She said kissing his cheek in reward before he stood back up out of reach.

Peyton chuckled as Nathan blushed.

"Yeah, it is," Haley said into the silence as Nathan looked at her wide eyed. "But only when it comes to his wife." She said with some satisfaction as he swallowed loudly.

Peyton, taking pity on him, reached over a grabbed a fistful of the back of his t-shirt and tugged him backwards towards their escape route. "Come on Stud, before they both turn on you."

Haley and Brooke both shared a giggle as they were left alone in the apartment. But that meant there was nothing else to distract them from the conversation they both knew needed to happen.

"I really am sorry for the way I reacted Brooke." Haley began knowing she had to be the one to apologise because she was the one at fault. Brooke and Peyton had only tried to be honest with her about their relationship and instead of being a friend and simply congratulating them on finding happiness with each other, she'd knocked them down for not considering how their news would make Lucas feel.

And that was wrong.

As much as she'd hurt for her childhood friend that didn't change the fact that she could see how much both girls meant to each other.

Brooke shrugged and looked away. She didn't like to admit it but sometimes Haley had a way of making her feel ashamed of herself, she always had. She found herself getting to her feet as she felt Haley's eyes on linger on her. "Want something to drink?" She asked as she opened the fridge.

Haley blinked rapidly as her eyes unexpectedly watered. "Sure." She replied stiffly.

"O.J. okay?"

"Yeah." Haley turned her wedding ring that she kept on a chain around her neck now that her fingers were affected by her pregnancy. She'd known a few words weren't going to magically fix everything between them, but she did hope that today would be the start of things getting better for them. "Thanks." She replied as Brooke set down a glass in front of her.

"How is your leg?" Haley asked as silence fell again.

"Sore." Brooke sighed as Haley looked away from her after that reply. "Look Haley I'm not really sure what you're hoping to achieve by us talking, I know you have a problem with Peyton and I because of your friendship with Lucas. I even understand it."

"You do?" Haley asked clearly shocked.

Brooke shrugged. "He's your best friend, hell, he's your brother-in-law. Of course I understand you want to look out for him."

Haley relaxed a little more as she felt like they may be able to make some progress today.

"But my relationship with Lucas is over Haley." Brooke continued.

Haley frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I'm not looking to be friends with him, I don't care if he hates me when he finds out about Peyton and I."

"At least you're honest." Haley muttered unhappily. But maybe she was just being naive to hope that once everything was out in the open they'd somehow still be able to all remain friends at the end of it. She rubbed at her stomach as the thought that her child might never know Brooke Davis or Peyton Sawyer.

"Haley." Brooke reached over and laid her hand over the other girls as she looked close to tears. "I'm just saying that I'm okay if he hates me." She finished with a shrug.

Haley bit her lip as she stared into her friend's brown eyes. "What if I'm not Brooke?" She asked. "What if I just want all of us to remain friends? Is that really asking too much?"

"Yeah, Haley, maybe it is." Brooke answered back.

Haley's face dropped and she looked down at her drink. "What about our friendship, is that over too?" She asked quietly half afraid of the answer.

"Not if you don't want it to be." Brooke replied. "I'm sorry Haley, but can you honestly tell me a couple of weeks ago you thought we'd all stay in touch after graduation?" She scoffed, thinking back to being punched by Peyton and then getting the cold shoulder treatment from everyone else including Nathan. At that point getting as far away from her so-called friends would have been a relief.

"I guess not." Haley responded with a pout. The weeks leading up to prom had been pretty tough on everyone, but maybe that was one of the reasons she was saddened by the thought that Brooke was so willing to give up on the friendships they'd created over the last few years.

"But I was planning on you being around for this little guy to get to know growing up." Haley said smiling at Brooke as they both eyed her swollen stomach.

"I'm not really at a point where I can think that far ahead at the moment Haley." Brooke replied. "But if you want us to stay friends then I'd love that, of course I would, I'm just sorry if it'll cause you problems with Lucas. But for this little guy, I'd even be willing to come back and visit." She said as her hand reached over again and she felt a strong kick of agreement that made her smile.

"From where?"

Brooke shrugged not looking up as she continued to feel around for more kicks, unwilling to be drawn on her plans for the future. Like she'd just said, she wasn't thinking that far ahead anymore. Right now it was just trying to take one day at a time.

Haley was just about to ask again when the front door swung open and Nathan struggled into the apartment doing his best not to drop the boxes he was carrying.

"Drop that Nate and I'll kick your arse!" Peyton threatened as she entered with her own bundles.

"Yeah, yeah." Nathan mumbled as he placed them down onto the couch before he did let them go accidently. He looked over at his wife and Brooke who at least hadn't killed each other while they'd been gone. "Oh, no, don't get up."

Brooke chuckled and kicked her leg out to remind him of her injury.

Haley however scowled at him until he squirmed and trotted over to give her a kiss.

"Anything I can get you to make you more comfortable? A pillow maybe?" He asked.

Haley reached out to smack him but he managed to avoid her.

"Ha! Come on Stud, or I'll leave you up here with them." Peyton said ready to go back down and get the last of her things.

Haley cocked her head as she noticed one of the things Peyton had been carrying was a guitar case. She looked wide eyed to Peyton. "You play?" She asked as Nathan rubbed at his neck in front of her.

Peyton glanced back at the hard black case before staring at Haley. "No." And then she walked out the door.

Nathan sighed as Haley looked bewildered by Peyton's reaction. He leaned over and kissed her again before starting after the blonde. "Sorry, I was trying to tell you not to ask. Back in a bit."

Haley turned to Brooke who was staring off into space. "Brooke?"

Brooke looked at Haley. "She hasn't played since her mom died." She explained.

"Oh."

Yeah.

"Sorry I never..." Haley trailed off not sure how to go about apologising for never knowing Peyton had once learned to play the guitar. She hadn't really known Brooke or Peyton around the time of Mrs Sawyer's accident. She vaguely remembered Lucas' mom being upset and she thinks the older woman had gone to the funeral, but she wasn't completely sure.

Brooke just shrugged. She was a little shocked at seeing the thing herself, she'd always wondered where it had disappeared to but had just accepted it when she no longer saw it in Peyton's room anymore. "She's actually really good."

"Yeah?" Haley asked tentatively knowing Peyton could return at any moment.

Brooke nodded as she got up and carried her now empty glass over to the sink to rinse it out. "Her mom used to play to us all the time when I stayed over, she had the most amazing voice, you know?" Brooke said as she remembered back. There was something so special about those nights they laid out in the back yard on a blanket with Peyton's mom singing to them. She hadn't even minded when Peyton couldn't play with her because she was having a lesson, she'd just wait around out of the way, listening in the background until they finished, wonder why her own mother never seemed to want to spend time with her the way Peyton's mom did.

And then she was gone, and they'd both felt the pain at the loss.

"What was she like?" Haley asked softly. "I don't really remember if I met her, although I'm sure she'd come to the cafe because Karen had been really upset when she..."

"She was..." Brooke's vision blurred as she tried to think of how to describe the woman that had shown her what a real mother was like. Someone that smiled when they saw you, that was happy just to have you around, even if you did sometimes give her more work to do. She'd never minded. It gave Brooke a sense of family she'd treasure for the rest of her life.

Haley waited patiently for Brooke to continue but she just stood there at the sink with her back to her.

"Brooke?" She asked out of concern. "Are you okay?"

But she just stood there.

"Brooke!"

Brooke jerked in place as Haley raised her voice to snap her out of her memories and dropped the glass in her hand and it dropped onto the floor smashing at her feet. "Damn."

"Brooke be careful, let me give you a hand." Haley said as she eased out of her seat and came around to see glass all over the floor.

Brooke shook her head and ran a hand through her hair and knelt down to start picking up the larger pieces.

"I'll get the dustpan." Haley said turning to reach into the cupboard under the sink only to hear Brooke cry out.

"Shit!" Brooke snapped her hand back and closed it tightly against her chest. She could tell from the pain that she'd almost certainly cut herself but she didn't really want to open her hand and look. It's just not my day.

"Oh Brooke." Haley said in sympathy as her friend stood up. "Here let me have a look." She continued as she reached out to take a hold of Brooke's injured hand.

"Don't touch me!" Brooke shouted as she stepped back onto the glass in a bid to avoid Haley's touch.

Haley flinched and retracted her hand wondering why Brooke was being so hostile, she was only trying to help.

"What's going on?" Peyton asked from the doorway as Nathan towered behind her.

Brooke ignored everyone as she turned back to the sink and placed her clenched fist under the tap, turning the water on. Blood was already dripping off her hand onto the sink. She felt sick at the sight of it.

Haley threw her hands up as Peyton and Nathan closed the door and quickly put the last of the boxes down and came over. "She dropped a glass and I think she cut her hand but she wouldn't let me have a look, why don't you give it a try?" She huffed to Peyton as the blonde swapped places with her and she went to stand next to Nathan who placed his arm over her shoulder as they both waited to see if Brooke was okay.

"Brooke?" Peyton whispered, being careful of the glass still on the floor as she stood behind her girlfriend.

"I'm bleeding."

"Yeah, I can see that." Peyton replied as she put one hand on Brooke's hip to hold her in place and the other reached around Brooke's wrist and turned her hand upward under the steady stream of water. Blood continued flowing from beneath the closed fingers but Peyton couldn't tell if it was a deep bleeding cut of if the running water just made it look worse than it was. "Open your hand up and let's have a look." She instructed softly as she kissed Brooke's temple to try and let her know everything would be okay.

But Brooke shook her head still staring at her hand.

"Brooke." Peyton didn't want to pry the hand open herself but she needed to see how badly Brooke was hurt.

"I'm bleeding, you shouldn't be touching me. No one should." Brooke said fearfully, still refusing to open her hand.

Peyton sighed wishing Haley and Nathan weren't standing somewhere behind her listening.

"Brooke, let me see." Peyton told her sternly.

"But..."

"Let me see." Peyton repeated as blood trickled over both of their hands.

Brooke blinked tears from her eyes and slowly let her hand open, wincing in pain as water hit directly onto the cut.

Peyton stared at the cut, thankful that it didn't seem deep at all. "There, that wasn't so bad was it?" She asked softly as she reached for a clean dish towel. As the cut was rinsed clean by the water.

"Easy for you to say." Brooke muttered as she looked at their hands. The cold water was making her hand feel numb, which was probably a good thing, but the whole incident was making her head spin. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew Haley and Nathan would be expecting some sort of explanation given the way she was reacting but she couldn't even begin to think of how to go about that conversation. She still wasn't comfortable with the idea of Peyton touching her right now, but it wasn't like the blonde was giving her a choice.

Peyton chuckled as she dabbed the area around the cut dry with the cloth. "There you big baby, it's not so bad, no glass so you should be fine with a plaster." She said as the cut stopped bleeding.

"God, who knew you were so squeamish at the sight of blood, Brooke?" Nathan said with a shake of his head glad that all the drama was over with now.

Haley smacked him for being insensitive as she stared at her friends. "You okay now Brooke?"

Brooke stood there, not knowing what to say.

Peyton saved her by answering for her. "She'll be fine Hales." She told her before focusing back on Brooke. "You want to go find that plaster and I'll get this mess cleared away?"

Brooke nodded still upset, but only too eager to get out from under the curious gazes of Nathan and Haley.

"Take your time." Peyton said giving Brooke's arm a squeeze as she left. She watched her go and then turned her attention to the glass on the floor.

Haley watched as Peyton quickly brushed up the pieces of glass and dumped them into the bin.

"What was that all about Peyton? She wouldn't let me go anywhere near her and she didn't sound to happy with the idea of you touching her either. Is she really okay?" Haley asked quietly.

Peyton shrugged.

Nathan frowned suddenly realising something else was going on with Brooke. "Peyton?" He asked sounding just as concerned as his wife.

Peyton struggled over how much to revel and if it was a good idea to say anything.

"She was raped."

Nathan frowned and shifted on his feet. "Yeah, we knew that."

Peyton rolled her eyes at him.

Haley blanched as she connected the rape with Brooke not wanting to be touched as she bled. It was about her blood. Haley's eyes closed as her heart went out to her friend.

"No."

xxxxxxx

AN/

Hey buds, pals, amigos!!

The drama just never ends in this fic does it? It's a wonder any of you are still reading!

Sigh.

So how have you been? Have to admit I've stopped watching the show as well, just isn't the same is it, and if this is the last season I really hope they don't put it all down to HIM leaving the show. Honestly, him I don't miss, it's the lack of Breyton that totally sucks!

Speaking of being cancelled... I'm so pissed they've canned Dollhouse! Okay so there was some pretty big flaws in the format but come on, Eliza Dushku kicking ass week in week out, what's wrong with that?!

Blah, and you know what else is pissing me off right now?

The English media already have the world cup won, and the draw for the groups hadn't even finished. Hope the U.S kick their asses!!

Already have my t-shirt at the ready, know what it says? Anyone BUT England.

What can I say, there's definitely no love lost this end of the boarder.

Anyway enough about me, hope everyone's good and enjoy the holiday when it get's here!!

Edited to add -

Okay now I'm a little concerned, does the blood thing make sense to anyone?

It's not like it's a secret, there's a chance Brooke might have contracted HIV from the rape. She's on meds, but that just reduces the risk as it's still not known if Banks has the disease. If you do think that isn't explained enough so far please let me know and I'll see if I need to do a re-write on some of it.

And just to let you guys know I am aiming to have another part up before the New Year but you'll have to wait and see if it actually happens.

Next time.