Chapter 6

Brooke was laying on the couch, with Elijah asleep in his swing beside her, Taylor and Jenna both sprawled out on top of her. She hadn't been able to work up the energy to get them all in the right bed for nap time. She had the television on, but wasn't really watching it. It had been three weeks since she'd kicked Lucas out, and the pain seemed to only be growing. She started coughing, trying to control it as to not wake up her kids. The stress of a divorce hadn't done much for the cold she'd been fighting since the night she found Lucas with her. Haley had attended as many of the meeting with the lawyers as possible. Brooke couldn't stand to be around Lucas, he made her feel physically nauseous.

Brooke crawled out from under her girls and tip toed into her bedroom, unable to control her coughing any more. She coughed until she couldn't anymore, then sneezed twice. She pulled herself into the bathroom for more medicine, finding that she had run out. She picked up the phone and slowly dialed the number to Haley's cell.

"Hello?"

"Hey Hales, it's Brooke," she said, her voice coming out even raspier than usual from her recent coughing fit.

"Hey Brooke, what's up?"

"Can you please grab some cold medicine when you pick up the kids from school? I'll pay you back."

"Yeah, of course, are you not over that cold yet? Do you want me to watch the kids this afternoon so you can go to the doctor?"

"No, I'm fine. It's just a cold, the medicine will be fine."

"Okay, I'll see you in a couple of hours, love you Brooke. Take care of yourself."

"Love you too."

Brooke hung up the phone and sunk into the pile of pillows on her bed. She had made a conscious decision to buy Wal-Mart bedding so she could afford all the pillows her heart desired. She let herself close her heavy eyes hoping to relieve the throbbing pain in her head.

"Mommy?"

Brooke mustered up her strength, and lifted her body up on her elbows.

"Mommy, my arm hurt," Jenna said, clasping her cast to her chest.

"Okay," Brooke said coughing, "Let's go to the kitchen and get some medicine."

"Carry me?" Jenna said in her most pitiful voice.

"Yeah," Brooke agreed, scooping her up in her arms. She adjusted Jenna onto her hip, trying to steady herself as she dragged her body down the hallway.

"Whoa," She said, placing her hand against the wall, the room spinning.

"Mommy?" Jenna asked, peering into her mother's eyes.

"Mommy's fine," Brooke said, as she tried to regain her balance. She took another step, the room spinning faster now, then leaned her body against the wall collapsing into an unconscious state.

"Brooke?" Haley called, walking into the chaotic house. Taylor was playing with Elijah, trying to calm him down. Jenna was standing in the middle of the kitchen floor, crying, trying to reach the Motrin on the counter.

"Taylor, where's Mommy?" Leighton asked coming in behind her aunt.

"Taking a nap."

"Oh my gosh, Leighton, go to the kitchen and call an ambulance," Haley said running down the hallway to the place where Brooke had collapsed. Leighton ran to the phone, knocking Jenna over in the process, causing the little girl's tears to multiply. Elijah, sensing the tension, started bawling also. Aniston was standing in the middle of the house, looking around the house, confused and scared.

"An ambulance is coming," Leighton said, taking Elijah out of the swing.

"Okay, thank you Leighton," Haley said, "Aniston, can you go tell Miriam and Aaden that they can get out of the car and come inside?"

Aniston nodded and turned to go tell his cousins. Haley grabbed a pillow off of the couch and tried to prop Brooke up a little bit. She wet a washcloth, and placed it against Brooke's warm forehead.

"Haley?" Brooke murmured, her eyes fluttering open.

"Brookie, girl, what happened?"

"I don't know. I was carrying Jenna to the kitchen to get some Motrin, and then I just blacked out," Brooke said, trying to sit up.

"Don't try to get up, Brooke, an ambulance is coming."

"Haley, that's dumb," Brooke said coughing, "I'm seriously fine," she said, the room beginning to spin again.

"The ambyoulance is here," Miriam said, walking into the hallway. Haley smiled at her daughter's pronunciation. Miriam had never been able to say drawer or ambulance.

"Haley, I'm fine. I'm not going," Brooke reiterated.

"Brooke, you collapsed with your two year old in your arms. You're not fine."

Brooke nodded, and Haley helped her sister-in-law to her feet.

"What can I do for you, Ma'am?" the paramedic asked, following Aniston into the house.

"My sister in law Brooke passed out while holding her daughter earlier, I don't know when, her daughter is fine, but I think Brooke's been unconscious for a while. She's had a really bad cold, and she has a high fever," Haley said in one breath.

"All right Brooke. We're gonna take you to the hospital and see what's up."

Brooke nodded weakly, leaning against the paramedic's strong body, walking out to the ambulance.

"You coming?" He asked, glancing back at Haley.

"I can't. I have my two kids, and my five nieces and nephews. I'll drop them off at their grandma's and meet you there."

"That would be best," the paramedic said, as they placed Brooke on the stretcher.

"Family of Brooke Scott?" the doctor called out. Haley and Lucas stood up.

"Brooke has a severe case of pneumonia. She has a fever of 104, which was causing her to overheat and experience dizzy spells and fainting. It probably didn't help that she hadn't eaten all day. We have her on medication to help reduce her fever, medicication to help her breathe, and antibiotics. Due to the severity of her fever, we have her on an IV to keep her hydrated, and to feed her."

"Oh my god," Haley said, leaning into Lucas, "Can we see her?"

"One at a time," the doctor said, walking away.

"You go," Lucas said blankly.

"Lucas, she's your wife."

"You don't think I know that Haley? I know that she's my wife. And I know that she's really sick. But she hates me! Okay? She doesn't want to see me, and I don't know what to do," Lucas said, raising his voice, tears streaming down his face.

Haley nodded, and wiped a tear off her face, and walked into the hospital room.

"Hey Brooke," she said, pulling a chair up beside the bed where her best friend was laying.

"Hey Hales," Brooke said, erupting into a coughing fit.

"You're fine, huh?" Haley said, handing her a glass of water.

"Shut up Haley," Brooke said hoarsely, sipping the water.

"Lucas is here."

"Why? Shouldn't he be having sex with another woman?"

"He really misses you."

"I miss him too, but I don't want to see him."

"Okay," Haley agreed, "Leighton, Aniston, Taylor, and Jenna made you stuff," she said, pulling a thick stack of papers out of her purse.

"Aww," Brooke said, looking through the papers, "When can I see them?"

"I guess anytime. But only one at a time."

"Maybe tomorrow," Brooke said, leaning her head back.

"I'll let you get some rest," Haley said, as Brooke's eyes began to close, "Love you Brookie."

"You too Tutor-mom. Tell the kids I love and miss them," Brooke murmured as Haley began to leave the room.

"Will do."

AN- Hey guys. Sorry for the wait. I'm not a doctor and I know that all the hospital stuff is most likely incorrect, but I did what I could. Thank you for the reviews, I would love to hear what you think about this chapter as well. Thanks for reading.