Peyton was very shaken up. Psycho Derrick was reportedly still alive, but very badly hurt. Yet more importantly, he was gone. The real Derrick was ok now and Jake had hurt his hand punching Psycho Derrick, but for the most part was ok. He was just trying to have the adrenaline wear off. Jake was doing his best to console Peyton. She was still in the corner, but Jake was with her.
"It's ok Peyton, it's all over now, it's finally all over".
All Peyton could do was cry, but then suddenly in that instant when Jake said that, and when she looked at her brother giving her that "toughen up" look she stopped. She was still shaken up, but she stopped crying.
She slowly stood up. She wiped her nose and eyes, glanced at Derrick, and once again looked into Jake's eyes.
"I'm gonna be ok" she said with a distinct confidence in her voice.
Derrick and Jake both smiled, but Derrick especially. He knew he had made a difference on her life and was so proud of her for getting past this. He immediately went over to hug her and whispered to her that he was so proud of her. Peyton then looked at Jake again. Jake had a half-smirk on his face as she looked to him.
"Thank you so much Jake" she said.
Jake was getting caught up, he couldn't speak, all he could do was nod and signal for a hug.
They embraced and then Peyton said something very appropriate and iroinic…
"Your always saving me".
Jake thought back to when she told him she always said that to Lucas back in Savanna, and smirked at the comment. He was starting to be convinced about her true feelings, but wasn't all the way there just yet.
Derrick looked on with a smile. With Jake being in Tree Hill, he felt a lot better about having to leave. He saw him as an honest, caring, and respectable man. However as he looked on at Jake and Peyton sharing this special moment, he realized that he didn't really want to leave. He had become happy in Tree Hill, and really grown to like Peyton and wanted to continue their special bond. He decided then and there that this wasn't going to be the end for his and Peyton's relationship; it was only going to be the beginning.
Jake and Peyton finally let go of their embrace. They both had smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes.
Derrick then finally decided that it was better now then later to tell Peyton the bad news.
"Uhh Peyton, right before this whole mess I got a call. And this is probably really bad timing, but I have been re-assigned to Korea".
Peyton seemed startled. "Well when do you leave?"
Derrick with a visible upset look on his face said "Tomorrow night… I'm sorry Peyton".
Peyton was very disappointed inside, but within thinking of what Derrick had been teaching her tried not to show it. "It's ok… bro" Peyton said with a smile.
Derrick smiled a big smile when she said that. They then hugged. And one had to think that if Ellie could see this, she would sure be smiling as well.