For kaila5707 who needs to update her story!

If you haven't read it already go find it - Promises Undone - which is great but like I said, needs updating ;)

Part 53

Brooke stared at her hand, or more specifically the small cut she'd gotten a few hours ago. She'd taken that band-aid off just to look at the thin red line that had caused so much drama, it was a bit of a let down really, it was an inch long if that and didn't even hurt anymore.

But it wasn't really the injury that was at issue anymore, it was the unknown danger of what lay beneath her skin, millimetres from the surface. Her blood held a potentially deadly infectious disease. Well, when you put it like that... Brooke snorted and rolled her eyes at herself.

"Talking to yourself again?" Peyton asked as she walked over to Brooke from the kitchen and held out a glass of water and her hand, which contained Brooke's medication.

"No." Brooke replied indignantly before sighing at the amused look Peyton was giving her.

Peyton chuckled softly and watched Brooke take the pills and swallow them down with a sip of water before handing the glass back to her. "Good girl."

Brooke shot her a look but the blonde just wandered back into the kitchen muttering something about not wanting her to have another accident.

"Just for that Blondie, I get to pick the next film." Brooke called over her shoulder as she got up gingerly and replaced the last DVD they'd just sat through while they ate their dinner. Just as Brooke eased back down and picked up the remote to play the movie, Peyton jumped over the back of the couch and into place beside her, reaching over to claim the bowl of popcorn sitting on the table before slouching back into position, plopping a handful into her mouth.

"What?" Peyton asked as she caught Brooke shaking her head out of the corner of her eye. "You want some?" She offered a handful out to Brooke.

Brooke shook her head and cuddled into the blonde as the film began.

"So, what torture are you putting me through this time?" Peyton asked as her free hand curled around Brooke's shoulder and they settled in to watch another film. "Please tell me it's not "Confessions of a Shopaholic", anything but that, please!" Peyton moaned seeing the case sat on the floor next to the TV.

Brooke laughed. "Tempting...but no, I've spared you that for now...and that's a good movie!" She said slapping at the blonde's leg.

"Of course it is." Peyton replied in an overly agreeing tone before adding a quiet, "For the brain dead."

That earned her another smack, this time to the stomach.

"I can always get up and switch them." Brooke threatened only to feel Peyton tighten her hold.

"Or maybe I'll shut up and we can watch this instead, I'm sure it's great. Whatever it is."

Brooke grinned and tucked her feet up onto the couch. "Oh, you'll like it." She said.

Peyton looked down at the brunette waiting for more information but Brooke just relaxed against her and faced the screen. In all honesty Peyton didn't really care what they did or what they watched, she just wanted Brooke to feel better about herself.

It hadn't escaped her attention that amount of times Brooke had looked at her hand since Haley and Nathan had left the apartment. She'd been tempted to mention it but thought Brooke had more than enough of being told everything would be okay. They were just words after all, and most everyone had already said them to Brooke in the last few days, they lost more meaning every time they were said to her.

Peyton had never been very good at expressing herself with words anyway, that was one of the reasons her drawings had so much impact, she used them to speak for her. It was the way she'd coped for years, some people wrote everything out in a diary, Peyton however, picked up a pencil and drew it out.

But she didn't really think a picture would be enough to show Brooke that she never had to be afraid of her reacting badly to her. Peyton wasn't going to turn her away, be frightened of touching her or anything else that would happen if other people found out what Nathan and Haley had.

Peyton clenched her jaw at the idea of anyone making Brooke feel worse than she already did. She wouldn't let anyone get away with doing that to her best friend. They could think what they liked, but in front of Brooke they had better keep their opinions to themselves.

Or they'd deal with her.

She wondered briefly if Nate and Haley would tell anyone. She hoped they didn't but then again she wouldn't really blame them if they did.

She sighed. No, a picture couldn't really portray all of that, no matter how talented she was. She would just have to puzzle away at the problem until she could figure out a way to tell Brooke how she felt.

"You okay?" Brooke asked feeling Peyton's chest move.

"Hm?" Peyton looked down but Brooke was still watching the screen. "Oh, yeah, just..." She didn't know how to explain so ended up shrugging instead.

Brooke swivelled around until her head was resting in Peyton's lap, forcing the blonde to move the bowl of popcorn. She smiled as the blonde's hand automatically brushed through her hair. "Tired?"

Peyton shook her head staring down at her with a small grin.

"You sure?" Brooke asked. She wasn't worried exactly, but Peyton had been awful quiet since Haley and Nathan had left.

"Why?" Peyton grinned. "You want to take me to bed?" She asked wiggling her eyebrows down at Brooke.

Brooke burst out laughing. That hadn't been what she meant. "Ow, don't make me laugh like that." She pouted, shifting in place as she inadvertently pulled at her side stitches and closed her eyes as she willed the pain away.

Peyton looked down at her not sure what to do to help. She waited until Brooke stopped moving. "Sorry." And she was, she hated seeing Brooke hurting, especially when there was nothing she could do to help.

"Thank god these all come out tomorrow." Brooke said with a sigh.

"Hmm." Peyton brushed her hand through Brooke's hair, watching eyes remain closed. "Come on, bed time." They'd both paid no attention to the film anyway.

Brooke didn't really want to move from her position, she was perfectly content just to lie there, but after some prodding from the blonde she let out a dramatic sigh and shifted, with Peyton's help, onto her feet.

"You go on in and I'll clear up in here." Peyton said getting a grunt in return as Brooke hobbled off down the hallway. She smiled at her friends retreating back and set about shutting off all the electricals and making sure the apartment was locked up. That had never been much concern to her before, now she even rechecked the windows just to make sure.

She tried not to think about who was out there, beyond her door somewhere, but she hated him. Hated him for what he'd done to Brooke and that he was still on the loose, yet to be held accountable for his crimes.

Peyton sighed as she dumped the left over food in the bin and put the used dishes in the sink to soak overnight. She rested both hands on the counter top, her head dropping forward as she tried to rein the resentment and anger that she struggled with when ever Ian Banks entered her thoughts. She whimpered and she fought back tears as it almost became too much.

It took her name being called softly from the bedroom for her to quickly try and regain her composure.

She blew out a breath and felt her face for any evidence of stray tears, hoping she was presentable enough that Brooke wouldn't notice her near meltdown, she smiled weakly and entered the bedroom.

"Thought you got lost for a second there." Brooke joked from the bed.

"What can I say, we make a mess awful quick." Peyton joked back as she went over to a drawer and pulled out an old t-shirt she often slept in. She could feel Brooke's eyes on her as she undressed and for once it didn't make her rush. It felt nice knowing Brooke wanted to look at her, was looking at her, that way. Finally she slipped on the tee and moved across the room to slide in beside the brunette.

"You sure you're okay?" Brooke asked quietly, lying on her side watching as the blonde settled into place on her back, then immediately cuddled up against her resting her head on the blonde's shoulder.

Peyton sighed and closed her eyes as Brooke took up her usual spot. "Tough day, glad it's finally over."

Brooke couldn't help but snort.

"That's right," Peyton continued, a smile crossing her face as her mood lifted. "You were there."

Brooke would have rolled her eyes but there didn't seem much point. "I was, and you're right, it did suck."

It really did. Peyton found Brooke's forehead with her lips. As bad as she thought the day had been she hadn't seen it through Brooke's eyes. "I'd tell you tomorrow'll be better but..."

"But it probably won't be."

"Probably not." Peyton agreed.

"Well," Brooke said after some silence. "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling much better!" She said her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Peyton chuckled.

"Sorry was I meant to be doing that?" She said, her hand drifting along Brooke's arm.

"Yes." Brooke informed her. "You're supposed to make everything better. You're falling down on the job Blondie." She told her adding a soft jab of her finger against Peyton's chest.

"Is that right?" Peyton gently eased Brooke on top of her and held her there, their faces close together as they smiled at each other, both a little unsure of what they were doing. "And how do you suppose I should go about correcting that?"

"Well, now that I've finally got you where I want you I'm sure I can think of something." Brooke said teasingly.

Ordinarily that comment would have had Peyton flipping them over to get the upper hand, but strangely Peyton was happy to wait and see what Brooke would come up with. Although, that wasn't to say her hands lay idle Brooke's body was just there, she could help but try to offer her own suggestions as to what they could be doing. And she hoped she was subtle enough that Brooke wouldn't feel she was pushing, she wasn't, Peyton would have been more than happy just to hold Brooke as they slept.

Brooke wasn't stupid, she felt the touches along her sides and back, and she was grateful they never strayed further. Her reaction to Haley's attempted hug earlier still played on her mind, she was a tactile person most of the time and she didn't want to suddenly start pulling away from Peyton.

"Is this okay?" Peyton asked quietly, her hands stilling as a furrow formed on Brooke's brow and she waited patiently on a response.

"Yes." Brooke replied but she knew the frown was still evident. And Peyton's hands didn't move from their position. "I just...I'm not sure." She stuttered.

Peyton brought a hand up and cupped Brooke's face, she didn't like watching her struggle with what they were doing. "You know I'd never do anything to hurt you Brooke."

Brooke nodded, blinking to hold back tears as her eyes stung. She did know that, what she didn't know was how she'd react to Peyton right now, and that was what was scaring her.

"I do know that." She told the blonde.

"That's good." Peyton said offering a smile.

"But I just...I don't want to be the one hurting you." She confessed.

Peyton's eyebrows drew together. "Why would-"

Brooke turned her head away as she spoke. "What if I pull away? What if I can't..." Her jaw clenched on the rest of the words, afraid to give her fears a voice.

"Hey," Peyton took hold of Brooke's chin and guided her face back around. "Please tell me you don't think I'm pushing you into doing anything." Brooke quickly shook her head. "Good, because I'm happy just getting to hold you. We don't have to take this any further than that, okay?"

Brooke's eyes dulled a little. "You don't want to?"

"I never said that." Peyton quickly corrected her. "I said there's no rush."

"But you want to?" Brooke asked just to be sure, her eyes narrowing at the blonde.

Peyton grinned and nodded her head. "Well duh!" She said breaking into a giggle.

That brought the smile back to Brooke's face, even though it came with a flush of embarrassment. Talking about this wasn't something she was completely comfortable with but she did realise that this way there wouldn't be any misunderstandings.

"I'm not sure if I'm ready for much more." She said hoping Peyton wouldn't be too disappointed in her.

"Like I said no rush." Peyton repeated to her.

Brooke blew out a breath, frustrated with herself. "Glad that's all cleared up and less awkward for both of us." She said with a roll of her eyes before dropping her head onto Peyton's shoulder.

Peyton sniggered and held her closer. "Poor baby." She said only to feel teeth nip at her.

"I could kiss you and see if that makes it any better." Peyton said with a smile.

Brooke lifted her head and gave her a dubious look. "A kiss?"

Peyton nodded, trying not to look too eager with the idea. "Just a kiss. I hear they always make things better."

She said it like it was nothing leaving Brooke to shake her head. "We could...try that."

Peyton unconsciously licked her lips as Brooke inched closer to her.

"If you want to I mean." Brooke continued in a whisper, her lips brushing softly against Peyton's as she spoke.

Peyton swallowed afraid to even nod given her position. She waited, her eyes closing as her body tensed in anticipation, her fingers itched to pull Brooke ever closer.

Brooke pulled back for a moment looking down at the blonde for a second before giving in and letting what was going to happen, just happen.

A kiss was never just a kiss.

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AN/

So I'm back! I almost had this ready to post before I left but it originally had Peyton burst into tears in the bedroom as things got too much for her, that's still kind of sitting there under the surface but I caught Mondays ep (which I deeply regret) and felt Brooke suffers enough from everyone else so I re-wrote. Fluff rules. Hope you liked it.

Thanks for reading!