Wow again for all the reviews we've recieved. This is Rose by the way. Poor Ashleigh has caught a cold and so she won't be on for a few days. But she was happy to hear about the reviews and all that.

Note: Things are heating up in Tree Hill! Enjoy chapter five!

A Little Reassurance

Brooke stepped into her quiet house; she knew that her "roommates" were probably asleep or watching a movie. She tried to shut the door slowly but it earned her a tiny squeak before it closed completely. Her eyes adjusted to the dark and she wondered why all the lights were off. It was only nine and Peyton didn't go to bed until ten or eleven.

She pushed the thoughts aside and set the white flowers on the counter. She scribbled a quick note and placed it neatly alongside the flowers.

"Brooke?" She turned around completely and sighed. Why was it always him that she ran into? Didn't he have his own house?

"Don't you have your own house?" She asked, speaking her thoughts.

He shrugged. "I'm helping Peyton move."

"She's moving?" That one hit her like a ton of bricks. She was avoiding her but she didn't want her best friend moving out. The thought of being alone unnerved her more than she would have liked.

"Yeah. You sound surprised. I mean we are engaged." She glared at him through the darkness. Was he rubbing it in now?

"Just add more salt to my wounds," she muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing Luke." She checked to make sure the flowers were placed perfectly before she made her way towards her room. As she passed Lucas, he grabbed her arm and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Brooke, I am here for you, even if you don't want me to be." She didn't struggle. She didn't even move; she was too content with being in his arms. It had been a while since she had felt this way and she was reluctant to let go.

She pulled away from him and realized that their faces were a few inches apart. She could feel his warm breathe tickle her face and she could clearly see the emotions that played out in his eyes. He leaned forward and that's when she backed up.

"I-I have to go to bed." She pushed past him and went into her room, locking it. Why did she do that? Because you want him? Isn't it obvious?

She put her hands to her head and breathed. This wasn't going to happen; she had too much to worry about and she wasn't going to add her feelings to the list.

She listened as he went to the kitchen and then back to Peyton's room. She wondered if he had wanted it as badly as she had? No, she was thinking crazy; he wanted Peyton. He gave up wanting her before high school even ended.

She laid her head down on the soft pillow before her eyes closed and all her problems disappeared.

"Brooke? Brooke...I'll be back for you." Brooke woke up quickly, startled and scared. She looked around but no one was in her room. The sun was already up but she didn't know what time it was nor did she care.

She didn't even remember having another nightmare. She had fallen into a deep, uninterrupted sleep last night; it was the best since the robbery. But, if she didn't have any nightmares, where did the voice come from?

Was she hearing things now? No, that wasn't possible. It must have been in her dream, just not the actual robber this time; now it was just his voice.

"Shit," she said as she tried to get up. Her head ached again and her throat had dried up, causing her to sound hoarse.

"Brooke?" She jumped when she heard the knock on her door. "Brooke, are you going to come out today?" Peyton.

Should she say something? Should today be the day she told her? She was moving out anyway, so why not? "I'll be out later." Peyton seemed to accept that because she headed into the kitchen.

Brooke sighed and got up. She wouldn't tell Peyton; not today anyway. She just wasn't ready to see that look again. Maybe she would go to the birthday that Haley invited her too. It couldn't hurt.

Brooke jumped again when she heard her phone go off. Those few words really shook her up. "Hello?"

"Brooke? I didn't think you'd be up."

"Hi Nathan." Her voice squeaked on his name and she cursed herself.

"Are you sick?"

She coughed a bit. "No, just...a sore throat."

"Oh, well, can you watch Jamie today? Haley left and Deb is out somewhere and I have to take care of something important."

"Nathan I-"

He cut her off. "I wouldn't ask if I had any other options."

She sighed. She could cover up some of the bruises. "Sure. I'll be there soon." She hung up and threw her phone across the bed. So, how was she going to explain to Nathan and Jamie that she fell down the stairs?

Why was she always put into these situations was the better question.

"Nathan?" Brooke called when she made it to the Scott residence. "Nathan, where are you?"

"Brooke?" Brooke lifted her head towards the sound and Nathan, just like the others, stopped and gawked at her. "What happened Brooke?"

"I fell."

"Of what? A building?"

She tried to laugh. "The stairs." She looked around for Jamie; so much for her 'not going to see Jamie' plan.

"I'm sorry. It looks painful."

"It's alright," she muttered, placing a hand on one of her bruises. Nathan just watched her until he realized that he had someplace to go.

"I have to go but I'll call you later." She nodded and he took off without telling her where his five year old son was.

"Jamie?"

"In here Brooke." She followed his voice to the kitchen where he was making tiny macaroni necklaces. "I made you one."

She smiled and took a seat next to him. "What happened to you?"

"I got hurt."

"Oh." He reached over and gave her a tight hug. She hugged back, the tears threatening to spill. "Mama says that you should give a hurt person a hug."

"Your mama is very right." He smiled and continued to create his necklaces. "Is this what you did all day?"

"No, I went swimming with uncle Lucas a little earlier," he said without looking up from his creations.

"Uncle Lucas was here today?"

"Yeah but he left a while ago."

"Oh."

"Did you want to see him?"

"No, it's okay." Yeah, did you want to see him? Were her thoughts actually right this time? Did she want to see him? No, he was Peyton's, not hers. God, she needed help!

"Is Peyton and uncle Lucas getting married?"

Brooke sighed sadly. "Yeah."

"Are you gonna get married too?"

"I don't think so," she laughed. "Who wants a bruised bride?"

"I think you would be a pretty bride. Even with all the bruises." She smiled and the tears were near the edge now.

"Thank you Jamie. That's a very nice thing to say."

He turned and smiled. "Well, I love you aunt Brooke." She smiled again, forgetting her pain for a moment. "People who love each have to be nice to each other."

"Well, James Lucas Scott, I love you too," she said. "And I love your macaroni necklaces." He smiled and handed her one.

She was glad that she came over. Jamie was the only one who didn't ask her a million questions at a time; he was content with just being with her.

"Nathan! Jamie! I'm home." Haley shuffled through the door with her bags on her shoulders. "Jamie?"

"Are they here?" Haley turned to look at Lucas and shrugged her shoulder. Now that he asked that, she didn't remember seeing Nathan's car.

"Hello?" That's when she heard the laughter. It was faint but it was coming from the game room. "Jamie?"

"I'll go check," Lucas offered and Haley nodded before setting her bags down. Lucas made his way to the game room and stopped when he saw the sight in front of him. A bruised-up Brooke was playing 'doctor' with his nephew. He was currently placing a band-aid on one of her scratches.

"Brooke?" Brooke's attention went from Jamie to Lucas. "What are you doing here?"

"I-I'm leaving now that you're here." She stood up and they were face to face. Now, with the light shining on her, he could clearly see her bruises. There was a large purple one around her eye with a few tiny ones on her jaw. The one on her left eye was slightly smaller but it was darker.

He could now see the scratches across her chest and the teeth marks that formed a tiny circle on her neck. Teeth marks? From falling down the stairs? He watched her for another second before Jamie decided to break the tension.

"Uncle Lucas!"

"Jamie! Did you have fun with Brooke?"

"Yeah, she was hurt, so I helped her."

He laughed. "That's good." Brooke just stood back and watched as the two interacted. Then Lucas told Jamie to go see his mother and he closed the door after him.

"Lucas, I have to go." He locked the door and Brooke gulped. What was he doing?

"Brooke," he started. "I know you're lying to me."

"Lying about what?" Her throat dried up the instant he said that.

He sighed. "You don't get teeth marks from falling down the stairs. Brooke, were you raped?"

"No," she said honestly. "The so called 'teeth marks' are from the pearls I was wearing earlier. They just left an indent."

He eyed her. "You're lying."

"Lucas, mind your own business."

"But you are my business."

She sighed and walked closer to him. "Lucas, I have never been your business, even when we were together. I have to go."

He grabbed her elbow. "Brooke, I know you're hurting but you don't have to lie."

"I'm not lying," she said before her elbow began to hurt. "You're hurting me." He let go instantly and she rubbed the sore spot. He turned around and walked as close as he could to her before placing a hand on her bruised cheek.

"Brooke, I want to help."

"I don't need help."

"Yes, you do." How could she argue with that? How could she possibly deny him? She had too though; this was all wrong.

"Lucas, I have to go." She unlocked the door and slipped through, saying goodbye to Haley and going to her car.

"So much for my 'don't let anyone see me' plan," she muttered to herself once she got into the car; she had too many plans. She looked at her phone and saw that she had one new text message from Peyton.

She opened the message and read it. Thanks for the roses. I'm glad that you're not mad at me.

Peyton thought she was mad at her? That wasn't the case at all but Peyton didn't know that. She sighed and pulled away from the house. Why did everything have to be so confusing?

You know what button to press. :D

Anyways, how was it? I had to add the Jamie scene because I adore that cute kid. He's just too friggen cute. Ashleigh also wanted him in this one and I can't say no to the sick person. Oh and Lucas know evens more! He's suspicious and having heated moments with Ms. Davis. And Brooke has so much more to handle now: Her feelings for Lucas and all that nonsense. What's going to happen?

I know Nathan didn't seem to care that much but it's for a reason. You'll find out soon enough. :D

Game: It's still the old character game. They will be introduced in either the next chapter or the chapter after the next. We haven't decided since I'm going to wait for Ashleigh to get better before we start writing any new chapters. But the game is still on, so keep guessing.