Chapter 3

In Haley's hospital room

"Hey Brooke! It's so good to see you," cries Haley.

"Yeah... hi Brooke," repeats Nathan, sitting beside Haley's bed. The room is silent as Haley looks confusedly at Brooke's face. She looked liked she was about to cry.

"Um... I don't even know where to start," admits Brooke. A tear rolls down her cheek. "Brooke, what is it?," asks Haley.

"Uh... Lucas doesn't have HCM... he never did..."

"Uh... that's good isn't it?," questions Haley.

"Yeah... but now he's... he...he... he has leukemia," sobs Brooke.

"What?," both Nathan and Haley cry out loud.

"They don't know how bad it is yet so they're going to do a biopsy," says Brooke. Nathan and Haley look at each other in disbelief and Nathan takes Haley into his arms as she starts to cry.

"But how?," he asks confused. He tries to hold back his own tears.

"The doctors made a mistake or something," explains Brooke.

"I can't believe this. Can we see him?," asks Haley.

Meanwhile... Peyton is back in Lucas's room

"Karen... I'm sorry... but can I have a minute with Lucas?," asks Peyton.

"Sure... I'll go get us something to eat while I'm gone." With that she kisses him on the forehead, squeezes his hand, and walks out.

"Hey Luke." "Hey Peyt." Lucas sighs and looks the other way.

"I'm so sorry. You don't need this Peyt," he says.

"What are you saying?"

"You don't deserve this... you're always losing people... and now you're going to lose me too..."

" Please don't say that. I'm not going to lose you... ever! And don't ever for a second blame yourself... there's nothing you could have done to stop this," she says, rushing to his side.

"I'm so scared," breathes Lucas.

"I know... I know," says Peyton. She rests his head against her chest and rests her chin on his head, stroking his hair. "Everything's going to be alright Luke... don't worry. You're going to be fine."

Lucas lifts his head and looks up at her. "I don't know what I'd do without you Peyton."

"I don't know what you'd do either," she says trying to lighten the mood. They both laugh and Lucas is glad that he could finally do that. It had only been a few minutes ago that he'd heard the news... btu it seemed like forever. And Peyton had done that. God I love her, he thinks. Peyton then climbs into the bed with Lucas and they kiss. During that kiss... even if only for a second... he forgets everything and realizes this is who he wants to be with for the rest of his life... if he even has a life. Payton lays her head on his chest and he finally falls asleep.


In Lucas's hospital room later on

"Hey Peyton," says Brooke quietly.

"Oh hey." Peyton sits up and scoots off the bed. "He just fell asleep," she says.

"I'm so sorry. Neither of you deserve this... at all," whispers Brooke. They hug.

"It's ok... I just don't know what to say around him anymore... I'm so afraid of losing him," sighs Peyton.

"You're not gonna lose him... I promise. You have to believe that this can turn out for the better... otherwise you're just gonna scare him even more."

"I know, I know. I love him so much." Peyton takes his hand.

"Have you told him that?" asks Brooke. "I think he'd really like to hear that right now," she says.

"Thanks Brooke... I'm so glad we're friends again."

"Me too, me too," sighs Brooke. "Oh... is it alright if Nathan and Haley come in?" asks Brooke.

"Yeah sure... I'll wake him up. "

"Lucas... Lucas… wake up Luke." Lucas opens his eyes groggily. "Hey… Nathan and Haley are here to see you," says Peyton. "I'll leave you guys alone for awhile."

"Hey Luke," says Nathan softly. Haley's in a wheelchair because her leg is broken. Nathan wheels her until she's next to his bed. Haley takes Lucas's hand and Nathan stands behind her. "How you holding up buddy?" asks Haley.

"Pretty good considering the news I just got." A small smile spreads across his face. "No…. I'm doing ok though…. Just a little scared," he admits.

"You should be," says Nathan. "But you're gonna make it… you're the strongest person I know. You've been through so much and I've got no doubt that you can face this," he says. "Don't worry… we'll all stick with you through this," says Haley.

"Thanks… that means a lot," he whispers. Haley squeezes his hand.

Just then Peyton and Karen come back into the room followed by the doctor. "Ok Lucas… it's time for the biopsy. I'm going to have to have to ask everybody else to leave. I'm sorry."

Thanks for reading! Feel free to give any suggestions!