A/N: I know you all hate me, but I love all of you! I LOVED your responses to the last two chapters…you guys are awesome! (FYI, chapter 19 was a fake, chapter 20 REALLY DID occur. Sorry for the confusion amidst my fun!)

Do Our Part

Nathan sat in the cool breeze for what seemed forever. In reality, he had only been alone in the courtyard for less than an hour. In an effort to detach himself, he began to think of all the times he and Haley had together, before and during the tumor. Over and over again they were told how lucky they were to have one another, how much people wanted what they had. Acquaintances from school and elsewhere always gushed about how their connection was to die for. Nathan found the irony unsettling.

His soul was Haley's; if she didn't have it, no one would.

A few more minutes led Nathan's mind to someone who might need her more than he did: their child. He had almost forgotten that Haley might be in labor. Is the baby okay?

Nathan got up and raced back into the hospital to the nurse's station, nearly knocking over several people in his journey.

"Is there any news on Haley Scott?"

The nurse looked up through her bifocals. "And you are?"

Nathan tried to remain patient and answered as calmly as he could muster. "Her husband, Nathan Scott."

Already used to the look the nurse was giving him he remained steadfast in his determination. Seeing that he was indeed telling the truth, the nurse searched for her name in the database and turned back to Nathan.

Smiling apologetically, the nurse relayed what she knew, which wasn't all that much at the moment. "She's still in exploratory surgery. The doctor should be out in about a half hour to let you know what's going on."

Frustrated but deciding not to misdirect his anger again, Nathan nodded, not trusting his words, and walked back toward the group. He pivoted once he remembered the original person he was here for. He wanted to return to his family with some news.

"Excuse me again ma'am, do you know about Lucas Scott?"

The nurse put her papers down again and typed the name in the database, "I'm assuming he's your brother?"

Nathan answered, "Yes," as he leaned against the counter. "My wife and my brother, both lives are in danger on the same day." The nurse stopped typing and looked up. "At least they're in the same place, right?" Nathan continued, attempting to find something to hold on to.

The nurse, wary of his state, gave a warm smile and placed a gentle hand on top of his. "His doctor should be out at any moment, he's scrubbing out." After a brief pause, the nurse offered, "You just have to believe that they'll be okay. Waiting gives you the chance to reflect and believe. If everything was instant there'd be no hope."

Nathan took in the nurses words and put them away for later reflection. He nodded and smiled back the best he could and made his way to the group. In this case, some news was better than none.

Karen exited Lucas' room. She tried not to cry. She didn't succeed, but at least she didn't break down. She closed the door and looked in through the window, calming her nerves before she went to get Brooke to see him. He would always be her little boy, and seeing him, lying there for the third time in his life was beginning to be too much for her. She let a small sob escape her lips but quickly regained her composure. All that was left was hope; she was very good at holding on to it.

She walked down the corridor and listened as her heels on the linoleum were the only audible indications of life. She passed by each room quickly, eager to be out of a place that seemed to welcome death.

Brooke got up as she spotted Karen advancing. Karen simply nodded as Brooke looked at her friends and gave her courage through their stares. She weakly smiled and made her way to her boyfriend's room. She could do this. She had to.

What did I expect? He had a freak'n heart condition. We knew what could happen.

Brooke scolded herself on her way to Lucas. Her inner rant was assuaged as the other rooms along the corridor caught her attention.

A few of the rooms had occupants other than the patients. What surprised Brooke the most was that most of them didn't. She knew it was only a moment in a whole day as she passed by their rooms, but she couldn't shake the sympathetic notion that a lot of the patients in the ICU would die alone. That isn't going to happen to Lucas. In fact, he's not going to die at all.

Brooke smoothed out her outfit and opened the door. The hardest thing she ever had to do was also the simplest: put one foot in front of the other. She eventually made it to the chair beside his bed and sat down, immediately taking his hand in hers. Right now she didn't need to say anything. Lucas had told her the two times he was in the hospital before that he felt her. She simply kissed his hand and laid her head beside him, giving him her energy to hold on to.

She was going to make him wake up. He would have no choice.

Brooke always got what she wanted.

Nathan arrived and took a seat as he wearily smiled in between Karen and Peyton. Karen squeezed his hand as he surveyed the space. Brooke wasn't occupying any of it.

Noticing the sudden alarm that spread over Nathan, Peyton squeezed his other hand and smiled assuredly. "It's okay Nate, Lucas is out. Brooke is in there with him."

Nathan sighed and leaned back. Almost robotically he replied. "That's, good. That's good. Is he awake?"

Peyton's smile grew somber. "No, not yet. He needs a heart. Fast."

Nathan nodded in understanding. They all knew what was going to happen now.

It was just a matter of how fast it would all take place.

Brooke had left Lucas to get some coffee. In the meantime, the others went in to let him know they were there. He probably wouldn't know until he woke up, but it was the support that mattered.

Finally gulping down her third cup, the others came back to the waiting room.

"Why aren't you guys with him? Oh my, what if he wakes up all alone?"

"Brooke," Peyton responded, "the nurses are checking him over. We were kicked out."

This seemed to relax a wired Brooke. "Promise?"

Jake chuckled. "Promise."

Nathan was the last one to leave Lucas' room. As he joined the rest of the group, he noticed a doctor coming their way as he took of his cap. Nathan jogged to meet him.

"Are you guys the family of Haley Scott?"

Everyone nodded with Nathan's verbal affirmation, "Yes."

Brooke slid her hand in Nathan's.

The doctor looked at Nathan. "And you're her husband?"

Nathan nodded as the doctor continued to address him.

"I'm Doctor Lawrence. I operated on your wife. We were able to delay the labor, but not stop it."

Nathan found his voice, "What about the tumor?"

The doctor hesitated for a moment. "It's not good. It's pressing against her spine which will make delivery very tricky, not to mention how much pain she'll be in when she's conscious."

Nathan felt his face wet but didn't recall crying. "So," Nathan asked weakly, "What do we do from here?"

Lawrence sighed empathetically and shifted her weight. "Well, she's in labor now, but her body is in shock. We're going to have to wake her up, but we figured you'd want to be with her during the delivery."

Nathan nodded excitedly, momentarily forgetting the peril both could face. "Yes, of course."

Dr. Lawrence offered a smile. "Right this way."

Brooke gave Nathan a reassuring squeeze as he said good-bye to the rest of the group. They promised to keep him updated on Lucas and to check in with him and Haley in an hour or so. He quickly followed the doctor to the delivery wing.

Lucas woke up to a very bright world.

"Am I dead?" Lucas wondered aloud.

Someone chuckled. "Oh my gosh, you're awake! You're awake!"

That someone with that much energy, even in a crisis, had to be Brooke.

"So…I guess I'm not dead."

"No, you're very much alive. You're alive Broody!"

"And so are you Cheery," he added, taking in her neatly disheveled appearance.

Brooke finally calmed down long enough to give Lucas a kiss. "You scared me there for a moment."

Lucas tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry. I hate for you to have to go through that."

Brooke smiled, "As long as you're okay now, that's all that matters."

Lucas motioned for some water while Brooke handed it to him and helped bring it to his mouth. He took a few sips before signaling that he was finished.

"So, what's new?" Lucas wanted to keep things light for as long as he could. He wasn't a fool; he knew he needed a new heart. Things were serious.

Brooke hesitated. She didn't want to be the one to tell him about Haley. If she didn't though, who would?

"Umm, something else happened Luke."

"What," Lucas chuckled, "Did you spill Sprite or water all over yourself?"

When Brooke didn't laugh or looked amused, Lucas began to worry. "Cheery? What's up."

Brooke began to tear up. She knew she had to get it out before she was a mess again. Lucas didn't need a mess when he was lying in a hospital bed.

"It's not my water."

Lucas looked at her, questioningly.

"It's Haley's. Her water broke."

Lucas was confused. "Isn't that a good thing?"

Brooke sniffled. "It would be, if she was conscious."

Lucas suddenly began to realize the seriousness of the situation. "What happened?"

"The tumor is pressed against her spine. The delivery is going to be…tricky."

Brooke stopped and continued to look at the bed. She couldn't look at him while relaying the events. If she had snuck a peek, she would find tears cascading down her boyfriend's face.

"Basically the tumor decided to act up, causing her to pass out. She doesn't even know her water broke."

Brooke finished and finally mustered the courage to look at Lucas. He was in trance.

"Lucas?"

Lucas delayed response. "Is she going to make it through the delivery?"

Brooke willed herself to keep looking at him. "I don't know. They'll do what they can, Luke. We have to believe she and the baby will be fine."

Luke nodded absentmindedly as he wiped the tears that escaped unattended. "Yeah," Lucas agreed aloof, "She has to be."

Nathan didn't know if he could take anymore. His brother was in the ICU waiting for a heart. His wife and unborn child were in danger. Losing three people in one day, or either of them, was not an option he chose to entertain.

He approached her bed cautiously. She had yet to be awakened. Even with all the monitors and wires everywhere, she still looked like a goddess. He motioned to the doctors to wake her up as he kissed her forehead and held her hand.

Seconds later she began to stir. "Brooke, could we please just get some food?" she mumbled.

The room chuckled while Nathan smiled and stroked his wife's hair. "Hales?"

Haley opened her eyes completely and waited for them to adjust. When they did, they landed on the pair of eyes she could pick out any where. "Nate?"

"I'm here babe."

Haley looked up, confused. "Did I eat yet, 'cuz I'm still hungry."

Nathan chuckled and gripped her hand, kissing her cheek. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"Why wouldn't I be okay?" Haley attempted to get up. "What's going on? Why are you crying?" she asked as she palmed his face.

Before she got her answer, a pain shot up through her back and to the back of her head. "OW!" she yelled as she grabbed her head. The pain sent her back down with a thud. She was in so much pain that she couldn't see straight.

"Hales?"

"Nate..what's, why…"

The doctors and nurses began to swarm as the monitors went crazy. Orders were given and followed.

"Hales, I love you okay? I'm not leaving you." Nathan was crying now, allowing her to grip his hand in pain.

"I," Haley attempted to speak through the blinding pain. "I love you too."

Dr. Lawrence watched the exchange and was sorrowfully relieved when it was over. They didn't have much time.

"Okay, let's move people." Lawrence ordered. "We don't have much time."

Courtneylovejason: Glad I got you going as I evily snicker. I'm so happy to know that I can actually write those scenes somewhat well! Pleased to know you liked the real one as well.

Bellasmomma: Yeah, the real chapter was better for the characters!

Tutorgal23: Thanks hun!

Daymiracle: Sorry you had to wait until today for the update! Glad to know you stopped mid-heart attack with ch. 19!

Krizue, Kelsey: Sorry for the confusion! Ch. 19 not's real.

Naley: Hopefully things will start to turn around for the characters…absolutely love your reviews!

Vampiregurl: Thanks for the continuous reviews! Let's hope this kid makes it!

Scott-bruthr-luvr3-23: Luvin all ur reviews! Always!

HJS-NS-23: Yes, love ur ramblings! They make my day. And yes, mean people suck!

Ell6ange: Glad you're keeping the hope…share some with Nathan!