ReeseHolden & Reddevil6394 have been awarded CHAPTER FOURTEEN!
Juzzy88, cayt326, Annie's OTH love, jamyj30, aracely6
SocietyGirl- Well formatted review. I liked the set up. It's okay to disagree =] but thanks for the review just the same!
Jordan Taylor- Who likes to write short story reviews of her own.
Chapter Fourteen: Anchor's Away
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"Luke, I'm at the hospital." Peyton whispered into her cell phone.
"What!?" He yelled back, standing and running for his car keys.
"Sh, baby don't freak out. I'm here with Ryden. She had a moderate to serve seizure at work today, so I called an ambulance and they transported her here. Brooke took Elizabeth to her house, so you can go and pick her up if you like."
He ran a hand through his sandy blonde hair. "But you're okay?"
She leaned up against a wall in the waiting room. "I don't know, I guess. I'm freaked out as hell."
"Can Brooke handle El for a while?" Luke asked.
Peyton shrugged. "Probably, why?"
"I'll come there. Hang out with you until things get figured out." He suggested and left through the back door of their house.
"If you want, sure, I'd really appreciate that, but ask Brooke first."
"Will do, love you, bye" She closed her phone quickly, dancing her hands around in her sweatshirt pocket while she waited for some sort of news.
Close to ten minutes later a buff, brown haired doctor walked towards her and she half smiled as the doctor reached out to shake her hand.
"Good afternoon, I'm Doctor Tallure."
"Peyton Scott"
He released her cold hand and readjusted his clipboard to look down at it. "I'm Ryden Holloway's regular physician. I've been following her illnesses from the start and I'm assuming as her boss you've been briefed on at least the basics." Peyton nodded. "Well Ryden was diagnosed with Leukemia about a month back. We can't start radiation treatment until it reaches second stage, so right now we're just ridding it through, but her white blood cell count is way down, which resulted in a moderate generalized seizure."
"I didn't know she had Leukemia." Peyton shook her head. "She didn't tell me, and it wasn't in her folder."
Dr. Tallure shrugged. "Kid's like Ryden like to keep those things to them self. Think of it this way, her medical bills get paid by a man who gave her life, but lives halfway around the world. The only people she's ever had to let in are the ones who get paid to spend time with her, like the women at the shelter, and those who pay her, like you. It's a messed up world, but I'm just doing my job."
Peyton sighed. "Hasn't she already had some sort of cancer?"
"When she was younger she was diagnosed with Nueroblastoma Lymphoma. This is a form of cancer in which masses are produced. Ryden had a solid tumor embedded in her brain, but luckily we were able to remove it and treat her for the cancer. Sometimes cancer reemerges in new forms so, it's sad to say, that we weren't all that surprised when she was diagnosed with leukemia."
"Wow" Peyton feel back against the wall. "I wish she would have told me. I wouldn't have let her work so many hours a week like she'd wanted-"
"-I've known Ryden for years. Nothing will stop her from doing what she loves. She's strong."
"Strong enough to fight of cancer for a second time?" The blonde woman asked.
Dr. Tallure half smiled. "We'll see, we're doing all we can for now. She's been hooked up to an IV to help with her dehydration, but for today and until she reached stage two, there's nothing we can do but wait."
"Wait for what exactly? What happens in stage two that makes Leukemia treatable? Aren't you supposed to be ecstatic that you detected it so early and have time to attack the cancer before it spreads?"
"Well," He began to answer for her. "With any other person in the world, it would be, but Ryden has already been given the radiation treatment for stage one blood cancer a few years back. Her other doctors and I believe that putting her through that again would only weaken her defensives and ultimately kill her. So by waiting till stage two we can hit her with a different form of radiation treatment that can kill off the cancer cells before we go through the process of finding her a bone marrow transplant, if we need one."
"Bone marrow transplant?"
"It's common in leukemia, stage two, that the patient will need a bone marrow transplant. Now may I ask you a question?" The doctor asked, folding the clipboard back under his arm. "Why do you care? Isn't she just your employer? I've never met someone so interested in Ryden before and truth be told, she's a lost cause. She doesn't care about anything or anyone."
"And you want to know why?" Peyton asked but didn't wait for a response. "Because no one ever gave to shits about her, but I do, because she's a gifted kid and you're wrong, she does care. She cares about music and art, and while her emotions and negativity seem to get the best of her, her inspiration will get her somewhere in life. So, please, just keep your comments to yourself, do your job, and save her ass." She started to walk further into the waiting room, but a hand reached out to grab her shoulder.
"Mrs. Scott," She turned back to Dr. Tallure. "Third room on your left." He pointed towards the doors leading into the ER. He removed his hand and retreated to the nurses' station, dropping Ryden's folder on the desk.
Should I go? Peyton questioned, doing a full three sixty. Is it even my place to be here? She slumped back against the wall, inching closer to the doors. If I don't who will?
"You should go" A voice called out. Her eyes met Lucas and she half smiled. "Good thing we live so close right? I caught the last part of your conversation." He approached her, his hands out stretched as he took her into his arms.
"Luke, she has no one in this whole mess of a situation and I'm her boss. I hired her. This is just too screwed up for me."
"So fire her." He shrugged, and she quickly pulled away from his hold. "Leave her alone, she's not your responsibility"
"How could you say that?"
He laughed. "Relax Peyton I was only joking." He brushed a hand through her curls. "You want to know why you're so screwed up right now?" She nodded against his touch. "Because you care Peyt. You're a loving, genuine, kind hearted woman, and you realize that this girl has no one, and you feel for her. While it may be weird because you're her boss, there's nothing you can really do now except go to her. What does it matter if you can't help her like a doctor would? Be her friend, support her, and tell her you're there for her whenever she needs you."
"I love you"
"Love you too" She pulled away from his hold, smiling, because he always knew what to say.
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Small light's and space heaters lined the soft beach sand.
It was October 31st and Tree Hill was celebrating Brooke Davis' marriage to Julian Baker. They had tied the knot exactly twenty four minutes ago and the party was moving from the confines of a beautiful church, to the reception on the beach a mile away from the river court. Julian and Brooke rode together in a decked out limo, while the other guests were forced to find their own transportation or drive there themselves.
Peyton and Lucas took the comet with Elle, in her party dress, strapped in the back seat.
"Are you still crying?" Lucas teased his hand tight on the steering wheel.
Taking a tissue out of the glove compartment, Peyton dried her eyes hastily, mentally thanking whoever had done her make up for using waterproof. "We're all married. Our whole group, gone, paired off. It's so sad Lucas. I don't even know the next wedding I'll get to attend."
"Probably that one's" He nodded his head towards the back seat and Peyton's mouth dropped open.
"Gah!" She moaned. "Don't say that" She out stretched a hand into the back and placed it on Elle's tiny foot. "Twelve more days and she'll be six months old."
"Soon she'll be pulling herself up on furniture and standing. You saw her try to stand up in your lap the other day." Lucas continued.
"Not funny, when she starts to walk, that'll mean we've lost our baby." Peyton pouted crossing her arms.
He shrugged. "We can always make more" She turned in her seat and slapped his arm with force. "Ouch"
"I'm glad you finally agree."
He massaged his arm with the hand not placed on the steering wheel. "Me too" He turned away from the deserted road for a second to drink in his wife's beauty.
"You look gorgeous." He placed his large hand on her knee as he turned back to the road. "Seeing you walk down this isle today with all those other girls, was the prettiest I've ever seen you. Well, second prettiest."
"Second?" She questioned.
"Watching you walk down the aisle, pregnant, at our wedding, was the prettiest I've ever seen you."
She blushed. "Aw Luke, you're sweet"
"I'm just trying to get under your dress and into your leggings, but don't tell Elle." Peyton laughed and leaned over to kiss the corner of his mouth.
"You don't have to try, or even ask" She cooed, tracing his arm with a polished finger.
"Wow Ex. Sawyer, you're giving me a pretty long leash there. Careful, I might take advantage of you."
"I'm hoping you will" She rebutted. "So I can have me another baby"
"Now!?" He questioned all of a sudden getting very hot and claustrophobic. "You don't want to wait?"
"Maybe we can start trying after Elle learns to walk, or talk; whichever one comes second."
He nodded, still staring out at the road. "Okay, I think we can manage that. Still gives us another three months or so."
Peyton looked into the back seat at her daughter who was wide awake and playing with her white dress shoes. "You hear that kid? Don't get used to being an only child, there's going to be a new Scott in town."
"Yup, no more "daddy's favorite baby" comments." Luke continued.
"Luke!" Peyton screeched. "That's terrible, don't tell her that. Of course she's still daddy's favorite baby and momma's favorite girl. We're not shipping her off. She's still our baby."
He teasingly pulled her pony tail. "You take things too seriously woman."
"Woman?" She raised her eye brows.
"Who I love, so much, if I haven't said that enough lately." She turned back forward in her seat, and held Luke's hand in both of hers.
Upon arriving at the reception, many were already there, dancing, eating appetizers, and chatting amongst others. Mr. and Mrs. Baker had yet to show their faces, and everyone knew it would be a while before they did. Peyton and Lucas parked their car and walked to the beach, Elle cradled on her father's hip, his extra arm snaked around his wife's waist. They found Skills with Mouth and Millicent sitting at a table near the water and decided to join them.
"Hey guys" Peyton said with a smile as she sat next to Millie.
"Peyton, you look beautiful!" The brunette exclaimed, touching the fabric of her Emerald green dress. "Brooke sure does make wonderfully suiting dresses."
"I know we both pulled this off nicely, huh?" She fingered Millie's matching bride's maid dress.
"Where's Fergie and Junk?" Luke asked, sitting next to his wife. Elle sat quietly in his lap, playing with the dark buttons on his tux.
"No idea dog" Skills replied, taking a sip of whatever alcoholic beverage was in his glass. "They'll be here soon. They offered to drive Jamie over, seeing as Momma Senior Scott was bitchin and moan' bout being six months pregnant and all that shit"
"Poor Nathan" Luke sighed and felt Peyton smack his arm.
"Hey, watch yourself." She lowered her eyes at him and pulled Elle off his chest. Elle, disappointed at first for having been pulled away from her father, looked up into her mother's face as a bright childish smile shown over hers.
"Ouch" Luke said hurt.
"What?" Peyton questioned, bouncing the baby lightly on her thighs.
"She so likes you better." Luke placed his hand on the back of Elle's head and trailed it along her back.
"So not" Suddenly Elizabeth was picked up into the air, soaring over Peyton's head. She turned around to see her favorite blonde teen fawning over her baby who was sitting contently in Sam's arms. "So Ryden, how was Sam's driving? A+?"
Ryden laughed her raspy laugh and lightly touched Elle's soft smiling cheek. "You could say that. Just be glad we got here at all"
"Hey, I did fine and you know it. Talk badly about my driving skills and I won't take you to the mall."
"Touche"
"Has the happy couple arrived yet?" Sam asked, swinging Elle lightly around, supporting the Child's back.
"What do you think?" Luke replied and crossed his arms. "Give me my kid back. She was doing fine over here until you ladies started passing her around like a volleyball." Sam set Elle down in Luke's lap and sat down next to Millie where they began a polite conversation.
Ryden awkward pulled on the bottom of her dress, making it sit right. "I uh, can I-uh, sit next to you?" She asked Peyton, pointing towards the empty chair.
"Of course kid; sit on down" Ryden took her seat, and positioned her knees towards Peyton, rocking uncomfortably.
"Thanks for inviting me Peyton. I had a lot of fun at the wedding and it's been great getting to hang out with Sam."
"No problem." She pushed the girls shoulder lightly. "I'm glad you're having fun."
"But are you sure you're not doing this because, you know?" She asked painfully.
Peyton shook her head. "No way man, Brooke would have told me to invite you anyway, and I would have. So enjoy yourself and just let me know what time you have to be back. Don't worry, I'll drive you myself."
"Thanks, I appreciate it." She crossed her legs awkwardly and looked down at the plain black dress she had forced herself into this afternoon.
"Don't fidget, you look fine" Peyton instructed. Ryden blushed and shied away from her view. "Come get something to drink with me?" She asked and the teen nodded, standing next to her. Before leaving for the refreshment tables, Peyton placed a hand on Lucas shoulder and winked playfully. After they had left, he nuzzled his nose into Elle's short and soft hair, holding her closely to him. Ugh! He was so in love with his kid.
A disastrous cry broke out. It was late, or early.
Lucas peaked towards the clock on the nightstand and read the time to himself. 256am. He sighed and kicked off the covers. He wasn't surprised that Peyton stayed sleeping through their daughter's screams. He hated to even think it, but it was just like her. He moved, slowly, out into the hallway, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He opened up the door to the nursery and adjusted the dim switch. He lit the room just enough to be able to see and walked toward the crib. Elle sat up, balling her eyes out, her green blanket bunched up in her chubby arms. Seeing the face of her father, she reached out to him, her cries increasing in volume. He lifted her up under the arms, an action he was still getting used to, and held her against his chest.
He sat down in the rocking chair and began to move slowly. His actions did not settle her, but instead became more restless. He pulled Elle back to look into her small face. Her nose was leaking like a facet and her completion was rather pale.
"Oh no" He whispered, kissing the top of her head. "Someone has her first cold" Luke stood up, carefully supporting his sick child, and reentered the master bedroom. The loud cries, having traveled from one room to another, woke Peyton. She pulled his pillow on top of her head to drown out her daughter's screams. She felt the weight shift in the bed, Lucas now sitting at her side. "Hey Peyt" He whispered and nudged her arms gently. "Babe, I need your help."
She pushed the pillow off her head and peered up at him, her eyes squinted. "Wha?" He raised his eye brows at her, and she groggily, sat up. He handed over Elizabeth to his wife and she cradled the baby soothingly on her lap. "Hi baby" She ran her fingers along her daughter's cheeks and forehead. "She's warm"
"Her nose is running too. I think she might have a mild cold." Elle's body relaxed against Peyton's. "Maybe only a twenty four hour thing."
"Should we take her temperature?" Peyton asked, listening to the baby's cries as they subsided.
"Ya, you know what? I'll take care of this; you can go back to bed." She looked at him with confusion. "Go back to bed, we'll be fine." He plucked Elle off her lap and held her against his chest. "Sorry I woke you up" Luke leaned over to kiss her forehead and then left the room. Once he was back in the nursery, he allowed Elle to lounge on his lap while he read through one of the many baby books they'd collected.
…Protecting your baby from the common cold is inevitable. In most cases, the cold can be treated right at home, though sometimes there are underlying risks that need to be looked into. Start by taking your child temperature. If over 100, seek medical attention. Then the treatment begins. Unclog baby's nasal passageway if necessary. Paper towels or washcloths damp with cool water can reduce the fever, if needed…
He continued to read on, picking up on information worth having. After he was done, he left the book open on the arm of the chair and carried Elle to the bathroom. He took out the infant thermometer, yet to be used, from the medicine cabinet and stripped Elle of her shirt, placing the thermometer under her arm pit. He waited 20 seconds, like recommended and brought the reading up to his face.
"99.3 kid" He placed the thermometer on the counter and kissed Elle's head. "You've definitely got something, but daddy will keep an eye on you and make sure everything's okay." He pulled her shirt back on over her head carefully and took her out into the kitchen where he set her up in her highchair. The high chair was new to the kitchen and new to Elle, but tonight, she didn't mind. She stared off lazily into space, wishing her tiny body better. Luke pulled out a washcloth from the drawer and rinsed it in cool water. Then he heated her up a bottle of milk, knowing she wouldn't drink it, but it wouldn't hurt to try and keep her hydrated. He lifted the items off the counter and carried Elle back into the nursery where he sat down in the rocker and let Elle's rest against his chest with the washcloth resting slightly on her head.
"You, my beautiful baby, are the best thing ever created." He stuck the nipple of the bottle into her mouth and surprisingly, she took it. "I never thought I'd be one of those sappy dad's who cries when his kid goes off to preschool, but holding you here, right now, makes me think I want to. " He was silent as she continued to eat. "All you can do is receive love. You are so innocent and beautiful and, just like your mother that the whole world just falls on their knees for you. Hearing that I was going to be a dad was the scariest and best thing that ever happened to me." Peyton smiled from the hallway where she eavesdropped. "You're mother and I weren't even married when we found out about you and to learn that I could lose my fiancé, took a toll on me. To know that it was your life or your mothers" He shook his head. "I'm so happy you're here with us now, even sick."
"Stop it!" Peyton whined from the hall, entering the room quickly. "You're going to make me cry." She sat carefully on his knees. "What's the diagnosis, Doc?"
"99.3" He whispered, his eyes meeting his wife's.
"Ouch" She reached out to hold her baby's tiny hand.
"Why aren't you asleep? I said I'd stay up."
She shrugged. "I also recall you saying "we're in this together, in sickness and in health"."
"That was our wedding vows and had nothing to do with our relationship as parents."
"Even so." She dragged her lips to his knuckles on the hand grasping the baby bottle. "We're in this together. I love my daughter and I love you"
"I love my daughter too" He smirked
And she hit his arm lightly, crossing hers over her chest.
"Brooke Baker" Lucas said in awe. "I'm happy for you!" Julian and she had just arrived at the reception, hand in hand, smiling madly. She'd walked right over to Luke's table to pull Elle out of his arms.
"Why thank you Lucas" She kissed the baby's cheek. "Where's Peyton?" Brooke asked, bouncing Elle lightly. Luke pointed towards the refreshment table and she turned on her heels. Julian sat down, gleaming, next to Luke and braced himself for the years ahead.
"Brooke!" Peyton squealed when she saw her best friend walking towards her, child in arms. She wrapped her arms around Brooke, carefully avoiding the train on her dress. "That it" She cried happily. "We're done, we're all signed off. You me and Haley. I'm so happy for you!"
"Funny" Brooke rasped out. "I got a very similar comment from your husband."
"My baby's daddy" Peyton cooed.
"Yes, ma'am. Hopefully I'll have one of those soon…" Brooke blushed and whispered under her breath. "A baby daddy"
Chapter Fifteen has wonderful excitement. You can expect some Elle growth, some Peyton sadness. Joy, sadness and all the emotions in-between. Wanna hint, PM me. I'll give you a hint. Maybe a quote or two.. let's see who picks up on it??
SO WHAT DID YOU THINK OF CHAPTER 14 Y'ALL? WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART?