Author's note: I'm sorry if how the storyline in the previous chapter turned out disappointed a lot of people, and I am grateful that you are honest with me:) However, that was simply how I always intended it to be, and I try my best to stick to the story I've had planned in my head from the start, without doing what everyone else says I should do… And the story I have planned just wasn't ready for Peyton to come home yet, sorry! As for people being worried about Peyton just getting "rescued" now, instead of escaping by herself, I want you to know that I really don't plan on having Peyton getting recued without any part in it herself. So Peyton is definitely going to have something to say in her own rescue, even if some other characters might get included in that too.. I mean, Peyton deserves to get some payback to psycho Derek after all he's put her through, don't you think? So I'm gonna try my best to make her play a part in the escape too, and to show how strong she can be when it comes to it. Her strength is what I love most about her, after all. But if you're not happy with the path I'm taking, you are welcome to leave ;)

Okay, on to the story! I just had to get that off my heart.

"How much longer are they gonna make us wait?"

A stubborn brunette was pacing back and forth, feeling annoyed and worried. The tall, blonde guy next to her was leaning against the wall, restlessly tapping his feet at the shiny, white floor. "I don't know, Brooke…" he said, staring distantly into the air. He wished she would stop the pacing.

Lucas and Brooke were at the police station, located in the waiting room and impatiently waiting for answers to exactly what the police were doing to recover their missing friend.

"I mean, this is important! How can they just make us wait here? This is Peyton we're talking about!" Brooke was growing angrier by the second, and Lucas was starting to lose his patience as well.

Earlier they'd been hanging out and discussing what they would do to Derek once they found him, even though it was mostly plans they'd never actually go through with, but in the end they had winded up feeling so helpless and restless that they decided to go to the police and see if they could do anything.

A door finally opened, and a police officer walked over to the waiting two. "Mr. Scott, Ms. Davis, if you would come with me, please." He tried to smile politely, but was cut off by an angry Brooke.

"About time!" she said, walking past him, and dragging Lucas along. When Brooke was in such a stubborn state, there was nothing anyone could do to stop the tough girl from having things her way. The police officer hurried after them into his office, and closed the door.

"So how can I help you?" he said, looking slightly nervous and uncomfortable, which Lucas found a little strange.

"We'd like to know exactly how far you've come in the search for Peyton," Brooke said in a determined manner, and sat down.

"Peyton?" the officer said, still with his nervous expression, but he tried to smile politely.

"Yes, Peyton. Peyton Sawyer. The girl who was kidnapped four weeks ago!" Brooke continued, getting more annoyed.

"Right…" the officer answered, and his nervous smile became stiffer. Lucas' eyes narrowed, as he tried to figure out what was up with the man in front of him.

"Peyton Sawyer-" the police officer started. "The investigation of Ms. Sawyer has been temporarily put aside, as we have other pressing issues to take care of at the moment, and also as there have been no new evidence for us to investigate so far," he almost muttered, like he was hoping they wouldn't hear him.

"WHAT?" Lucas said, finally speaking. He stood up from his chair, and it clattered to the ground. Brooke sat there, frozen. Her face had turned white. Now it made sense why the officer had acted so nervously. "How can you do that?!" Lucas shouted.

"I am very sorry to tell you this, but you might have to face the fact that your friend… it is very unlikely that she is still alive. Most victims of kidnapping doesn't make it past the first 48 hours. Considering the fact that this is a stalker case, you must know that victims of stalkers are usually left for dead once they're done with them…"

Brooke started shaking her head wildly in disbelief, out of words. Lucas felt his blood run cold. How could they say this? They were the police, they were supposed to help!

"Of course we still have investigators looking, and we're not giving up, but you might have to face the fact that Ms. Sawyer could no longer be alive. So for now, our main focus has to be put on other life threatening situations. I am very sorry."

"You have to be fucking kidding me. You cannot be serious right now! You're supposed to help! You're supposed to figure this out! How can you give up already?!" Lucas stuttered angrily. He didn't even know what to say.

"As I said, we have not given up. But there isn't much new evidence for us to investigate at the moment either. We are still determined to catch this guy, and hopefully your friend will be safe and good. But we have to prepare you for the worst."

"By saying that Peyton is probably dead, makes it sound a lot like you have given up," Brooke suddenly said with a terribly cool and trembling voice. Lucas clutched his hands into fists, and every instinct inside told him to punch the man in front of him, but he controlled his temper.

"And what have you told Peyton's dad?" Lucas asked, still enraged.

"We've made contact and let him know the situation of the investigation."

Lucas shook his head. How could the people who were supposed to help them, betray them so fiercely? Larry must be crushed.

"This is unbelievable! Fucking outrageous! What if Peyton is still alive, and screaming for help at this very moment, huh? Who's gonna help her if you won't?!" Lucas said, going into the officer's face.

"You need to calm down, Mr. Scott. If you have anything else to tell us that might help the investigation, than please do. But if not, I'm going to have to ask you to leave, as I have important work to do. Again, I'm very sorry."

He honestly did look apologetic, but Lucas didn't care. He only knew if he stayed in there a second longer, he couldn't control his temper anymore and would start swinging at the officer. Lucas stormed out without another word, and Brooke hurried after. She abruptly stopped by the door and gave the officer a venomous look, before saying: "You will hear from my layer!" Then she stormed out aswell.

Lucas had already gone so far that Brooke couldn't catch up with him. He needed to be alone. He was running, running for his dear life, trying to control all the conflicting feelings that were going crazy inside him. They had stopped looking for her. They had stopped looking for her. What was he gonna do?

Although the officer had just said what he had feared the most for weeks now, that didn't mean it was true. He had to tell himself that. Peyton wasn't dead. It couldn't be true, they could be wrong. They had to be.

After a while, Lucas started getting short of breath, and slowed down. His breathing was fast and getting out of control. It felt like he was having some kind of panic attack. He bowed down and tried to catch his breath. He felt sick. What things the creep could be doing right now, and no one were there to stop him! Lucas started coughing and gagging, before he lost it completely and vomited.

It took several minutes before he got himself together. It was only when he got to his feet again, that he realized he was on the dock. He sighed and looked around. There wasn't a soul there, only him. He slowly started walking down the dock, and looked out at the soothing waves of the water. He remembered their previous summer vacation, when he and Peyton had spent almost every day together all summer. Who knew how many times they had walked down this dock together, talking about nothing and everything. They had both been so messed up at the time. Him, with his whole catastrophic love confession to Brooke, and saving Dan from getting burned to death, and Peyton with her shocking new mother-revelation. They were both so lonely, and they had found their way back to each other again, after being distanced for so long. He had almost forgotten why he had liked Peyton in the first place, until they started spending time together again. They could talk about everything in a way that he couldn't with anyone else. She understood him so well. They talked about life and death… love, trust, music… whatever subjects they could think of. Lucas stared down the dock. It was starting to get dark. It was kind of calming to him.

Two lonely souls were walking down the dock together, their voices breaking through the otherwise silent night.

"Dude, you need to hear this song I heard yesterday! It's called "To Build a Home" by The Cinematic Orchestra. It's been on my head all day, it's seriously amazing!" Peyton always got energic like this when she was talking about some song she had heard. Lucas smiled.

"Well, show me then!"

Peyton took out her iPod and put one earplug in his ear, while she put the other in her own with a big smile. They walked in silence and listened. Lucas didn't tell her, but his skin was soon covered in goosebumps as he listened.

"This is a place where I don't feel alone.

This is a place where I feel at home."

Peyton looked at Lucas and smiled, and it was beautiful. Her green eyes were sparkling so brightly. He smiled back at her, but they didn't say anything. There were certain moments Lucas and Peyton didn't need to utter a single word, but they both understood exactly what was being thought, and this was one of those moments. They had a mutual understanding.

"I climbed the tree to see the world.

When the gusts came around to blow me down.

I held on as tightly as you held onto me."

Lucas was lost in the music, lost in the piano play, lost in the beautiful voice, and he wanted to stay on that dock forever. He wanted the moment to last forever. He had never felt more at home than in this moment. And when he looked at Peyton, he knew that she was thinking the exact same thing. But the song ended, and their worlds came back to reality again.

"Wow, just… wow," was all Lucas could say.

"Yeah, I know right?" Peyton looked at him.

It was silent for a moment, before she finally started the conversation again. "So, have you thought about what you're gonna do about Brooke when she gets back?" And the issues of their lives became the subject once again, as they continued walking quietly down the dark dock.

But after that night, they probably had that one song on replay for a whole week in Peyton's room, before she finally introduced some new song for them to get lost in.

Lucas closed his eyes and took in the smell of sea water. Where are you Peyton?

He hoped that he would somehow sense her, somehow hear her from far away. But there was no sound. Only the waves splashing in on the dock.

Lucas took out his iPod from his pocket and turned on the same song that he and Peyton had listened to so many nights ago.

"Cause, I built a home

for you

for me.

Until it disappeared

from me

from you."

Lucas felt a lump in this throat. It felt like a stab in the heart, but at the same time it was soothing and comforting. The song gave him some form of hope. He knew that wherever Peyton was, she was strong. That's what he admired about her. She wouldn't give up hope, and neither would he. Lucas inhaled the cold night air, and turned around to quietly walk home. He was going to see her again, he knew it.

"And now, it's time to leave and turn to dust."