Authors note: I own nothing. This chapter picks up about a week from the end of the last chapter. I hope you enjoy...read and review. I appreciate all of the reviews and messages on this story, I really like this story alot. I loved the interaction of Brulian these last few episodes of the show, the wedding, Valentines Day, etc, so I don't want to take away from them, but Brucas will always be my favorite. I love Naley too, but Brucas is where my heart will always be...read and review...I am not sure where this story will go...
Brooke Davis didn't start out as friends with Sylvia Baker-Norris. She didn't much care for the overbearing, brash woman at all. Over time, however, they had become closer. The wedding Sylvia had helped put together, the kind words she spoke to Brooke after Julian's death. Brooke had grown closer to Sylvia than she had ever thought possible. The relationship they shared was similar to the relationship Brooke had formed with Karen Roe so many years ago.
"He is getting so big," Sylvia said as she laid Davis down in the toddler bed she had set up in the guestroom of her Los Angeles home.
"He is," Brooke said as she leaned down and kissed his cheek, "I can't believe he is three already."
"Why didn't Lucas come with you this time," Sylvia asked as they left the sleeping boy and returned to the living room.
"He's got a life," Brooke said, "he has Sawyer and his family, I can't ask him to put my son, or me, above that."
"Do you really think that's what it has been with the two of you," Sylvia asked.
"I don't know," Brooke sighed as she stared out into the afternoon sky over the city.
"Honey, I loved my son, and I know that you did, Brooke," Sylvia said, "but, he is gone. And, Julian would want you to be happy, honey, he would want you to have a good life."
"I'm trying," Brooke said wiping her eyes, "I miss him. I look at Davis and I see Julian's smile, and it is hard."
"I know, sweetie, I do. I know it's not a reason, but I think that's why Paul doesn't visit often, and it's hard for me to be there. I mean that place, Julian loved it so much, he loved you," Sylvia said wiping her eyes, "and he loved that little boy. But, I know my son, and I know that Julian would want you to be happy, he would want you to move on."
"I can't, I'm not ready," Brooke whispered. She stood there with tears streaming her face. She had visited L.A. at least six times in the last year and a half with Davis, visiting Sylvia and a couple visits with Paul, and each time before Lucas had accompanied them, he even brought Sawyer once and they journeyed to Anaheim. That was a good day, seeing the excitement on Sawyer's face and Davis reacting to Mickey and Minnie. This time she didn't ask him to, he didn't offer this time either. She wasn't sure why it bothered her so much that he hadn't asked to come along. It was just a few days ago that they were celebrating the three year olds birthday when Peyton brought up a possible relationship with Lucas that had Brooke uncomfortable.
"I think you are Brooke, and honey, it's ok, Julian would want you to be happy, he would want Davis to be happy," Sylvia said as Brooke's cell phone started ringing. She looked at the caller id, it was Haley, she rejected the call because she didn't feel much like talking. "Brooke, shouldn't you take that," Sylvia asked as Brooke's phone started ringing again.
"Yeah," she said looking at the caller id, Nathan this time. "Hey Nathan," she said wiping her eyes.
"Brooke," she heard panic in his voice.
"Nate what's wrong," she asked knowing something wasn't right.
"Hey, it's," he was stammering, he sounded like he had been crying.
"Nathan," she said worried, "what is it, is something wrong," she demanded.
"It's Luke, Brooke."
"Nathan," she said tears streaming her face again, "what happened? Is he ok?"
"It's not good," Nathan sighed, "there was an accident on the Molina Bridge, there was a car that saw his car, we don't know how long he'd been down there."
"Oh my god," she said, her hands trembling, "Nathan, he's going to be ok, right, tell me he is ok."
"I don't know, they're getting ready to try and take him to surgery, they need him stabilized more. Brooke, they are doing everything they can, but it's bad," Nathan said, she could tell he was crying, "Karen is on her way back from Charlotte, and Peyton and Jake are on their way with Sawyer."
"I'll get a flight, Nathan, I will call the airport," she said as Sylvia wrapped her arms around her, "I can't do this," she cried, "I can't lose him Nathan."
"I know, Brooke, I know," he said trying to wipe his eyes.
"I didn't," she said as Sylvia took the phone from her, she was too distraught to talk and Sylvia knew that. Brooke walked to the guest room where her son was sleeping, she immediately started putting their things in the suitcases. She didn't even notice Sylvia walk in.
"There is a flight in forty minutes," Sylvia said helping her pack the suitcases, "I've got three tickets booked, the car will be here in a couple minutes, Brooke," she said wrapping her arms around her former daughter in law, "honey, it's going to be ok. I am going with you, we'll get the bags later, Brooke, we just need to get stuff for Davis."
"Sylvia," Brooke said sitting on the edge of the bed, "what am I going to do? I can't lose him too, I can't."
"Look at me," Sylvia said, "we are going to get on that plane and get you back to Tree Hill, and you, Brooke, are going to be just fine, and Lucas too, you and Davis are going to be happy and loved. Ok," Sylvia said wiping her eyes.
"Thank you," Brooke said trying to compose herself, "thank you."
"You are welcome," Sylvia said as she hugged Brooke.
"Hey," Haley said as she sat beside her husband, "your mom called, she said Grace was sleeping."
"That's good," he said glancing over at his twelve year old son who refused to leave.
"He's strong, Nathan, just like you," she said glancing at Jamie, who was sitting with Lily and Sawyer.
"He's scared, Luke means so much to him," Nathan said.
"It's ok to be scared, Nathan," she said leaning against him, "Luke is going to be ok, he has to."
"What time is it," he asked looking around the waiting room that was now occupied by all of his loved ones. Karen sat wrapped in Andy's arms, Peyton sat with Jake and Jenny, Mouth and Millicent sat with Skills. The most heartbreaking scene, though, was his own son trying to comfort Lily and Sawyer. It made Nathan so proud to see the strength that his son possessed.
"It's after ten," Haley said looking at her watch.
"Brooke should be here soon," he said as he put an arm around Haley.
"He's going to be ok," Haley said wiping her eyes.
"I know," Nathan said, "I'm not ready to lose my brother."
"Me either," Haley said as she noticed the surgeon walking towards Karen.
"He is in recovery, we've gotten the internal bleeding stopped, the pressure on his brain from the swelling isn't going down as much as we would've hoped, so there is medication we are administering for that," the doctor spoke to Karen, "his heart has suffered, it could be effects of his HCM, we really aren't sure at this point. As far as neurological effects, right now we are at a point where we have to see when or if he wakes up."
"What do you mean if," Karen asked as Andy held her, tears streaming her face.
"Well, as I said your son was under water for an unknown length of time, that along with the heart problems, we just don't know what the neurological effects are. The neurologist is coming in shortly, they should be able to provide more information, and Mr. Scott's cardiologist has been notified and will be in first thing in the morning. The nurse will be out shortly to let you know when you can see him."
"Thank you," Andy said as the doctor walked away. Karen nearly collapsed, Andy held her close to him as he led her to a couch in the waiting room. Nathan sat with Haley, as Jamie tried to occupy his younger cousin.
"Nathan," Brooke called as she walked in the waiting room.
"Hey," he said immediately walking to her, embracing her.
"Is he ok," she asked with tears streaming her face.
"Karen is in there, Haley too," he said, "he hasn't regained consciousness yet, so they still don't know anything yet."
"I can't lose him, Nate," she said as Peyton walked towards them.
"Hey," Peyton said wrapping her arms around the brunette.
"How's Sawyer," Brooke asked.
"Jamie is keeping her occupied," Peyton said as they glanced at the two sitting together in a recliner, "what about you."
"I am ok," she said wiping her eyes, "Sylvia has Davis at my house, she came back with me."
"Brooke," Haley said as she walked through the double doors.
"Hey," Brooke said immediately wrapping her arms around her best friend, "is he ok?"
"Karen is in there," Haley said, "they allow two people in there," she said looking at Nathan.
"Go," Nathan said as he put his arm around his wife, "Brooke, go, he'd want you in there."
"Nathan," she whispered with tears falling harder now, he kissed her cheek.
"It's room three twenty three," Haley said as she wiped her eyes.
"Go," Nathan said, "Brooke, it's what Lucas would want."
"Thank you," Brooke said as she hugged them, "thank you." She made her way down the hall towards the room. She was scared, her hands were shaking as she reached for the door.
"Brooke," Karen nearly whispered as she stood from the chair beside the bed, she immediately wrapped the younger brunette in a hug.
"Karen," Brooke said, she glanced at him lying there, tubes and monitors, her heart nearly broke. She was thankful Karen was holding her, because at that moment she thought she was going to fall apart. Seeing Lucas, the strength that held her together in the bad times, laying there looking so helpless was killing her.
"Sit," Karen said leading her to the chair, Brooke sat there, she reached for his hand, "he would want you here." Karen kissed the top of Brooke's head before exiting the room. Brooke sat there holding his hand.
"I love you Luke," she said as she kissed his hand, "I love you so much, and I cannot lose you ok? I cannot lose you too, Lucas Scott. You have to be ok because there are too many people in this world who love you and need you," she said as she wiped her eyes, "I love you Luke, so you have to wake up, you have to be ok, Luke, you have to. I need you," she said as she rested her head on the edge of the bed.
"Good morning," Nathan said as he walked in the hospital room where Brooke was still sitting beside his brother's bed.
"Hey," she said as she wiped her eyes, "what time is it?"
"After five," he said, he handed her a cup of coffee, "you should go home and get some rest, Brooke, and you've been in here all night."
"I can't," she said wiping her eyes, "I'm afraid to leave, Nathan, I'm afraid that he won't…"
"Hey," he said wrapping his arms around her, "Brooke, Lucas is going to be ok, he is. I know it, so you need to take a little time and go see your son, get yourself a meal, and then come back. I'll call you Brooke if there is any change."
"I love him," she said looking up at Nathan.
"I know," he smiled at her, "and I know he loves you Brooke."
"Thank you," she said as she stood up, she hugged Nathan then reached down and kissed Lucas' cheek, "I love you Lucas Scott."
"I will call you if there is any change, promise," Nathan said as he sat in the chair that Brooke had occupied.
"Thank you," she smiled as she walked out the door. She walked through the double doors that she had entered over six hours ago. She leaned against the wall, tears were falling, she felt like she couldn't catch her breath, she slid to the floor and rested her head in her hands.
"Brooke."
"Hi," she said softly looking up towards the familiar voice, she wiped her eyes.
"Hey," Karen said as she sat down beside the younger brunette, she placed her hand over Brooke's, "he's going to be ok, I believe that."
"I love him."
"I know," Karen said as Brooke rested her head on her shoulder, "and so does he."