Nobody's Fault But Mine

Chapter 2 – The Little Things Give You Away

Lucas sat at his desk early the next morning. After Peyton's rapid departure he had been too wired to sleep and had decided to go to the station to get ahead on some work. That was the way Lucas had always worked, when he couldn't find answers in his own life he would drown himself in some puzzling murder case or such like. There was nothing quite as satisfying as catching another bad guy to help ease the pain and confusion.

That was perhaps Lucas's biggest problem. He knew he ran away from things when they got to tough. He'd bury himself in the hunt for some killer, thief or rapist. It made him feel better in the short term and it helped him move quickly up the career ladder. It made him feel better knowing another bad person would be put behind bars.

But it wasn't without sacrifice. Lucas was the guy now who was going to be divorced before he was thirty. His social life suffered. He knew no one apart from his brother and his wife in the big city. But that was the path that Lucas had chosen.

Sipping at the cup of black tar that no sane person should call coffee Lucas thumbed through pages of case notes. The printed letters made absolutely no sense to him as his mind refused to focus on anything other than the events of last night.

Those piercing green eyes haunted him. Lucas couldn't help but wonder why a girl he'd known for only a few hours he left such a lasting impression. He knew nothing about her but still she had managed to get under his skin. Quite an achievement as Lucas did not let many people in. Lucas loved his family, or what was left of it. He had loved his wife, but had never truly given himself to her. But Peyton, Lucas truly believed he could have let her in, there was something there that he instantly recognised.

Closing his tired blue eyes Lucas relived the events of last night once again. He watched her change from the confident sexy girl on the dance floor, to the tender and loving girl he had taken home, to the scared and scarred girl who had ran from him. No of it made sense to him.

Lucas reached again for the one salvageable piece of evidence Peyton had left behind. In her haste to get away she had left a gold bracelet with a heart shaped pendant. He had noticed it immediately the night before. As a detective he had been trained to analyse a crime scene quickly for every small detail. He had done exactly that with Peyton. In her stunning designer dress, shoes and huge sparkling diamond earrings it was only the small bracelet that hadn't truly fitted into her elegant and sophisticated image.

"To my heart, Always " was engraved on the well-worn bracelet.

Lucas pondered over who had given Peyton the bracelet. Was it someone that she had loved? Was she with them now? Whatever the answer he guessed that she would probably want the sentimental item back in her possession.

A knock at the door drew Lucas out of his reverie. He looked up to see the dark brown eyes of his baby brother Nathan.

Nathan sighed, "figures I'd find you here. I went by the apartment first but knew being the caped crusader you are, you'd be here before everybody else."

Lucas grinned sheepishly, "unfortunately you know me all too well Nate."

"So where were you last night?" Nathan sank into the padded chair in front of Lucas's desk. "Haley and I tried calling you when you didn't show. We got kinda worried."

"Yeah, I'm sorry Nate. Um I kinda hooked up with someone last night."

Nathan shook his head in disbelief, "ok my big bro actually had some fun in the big city."

"I wish."

"That bad?"

Lucas shook his head, "not bad. Just confusing. She was just special." Lucas paused then added, "I guess I'm just not cut out for one night stands or something."

"Yeah me neither. Well since Haley anyways." Back when Lucas and Nathan had been growing up Nathan had been popular, the star of the High School basket ball team and had definitely had his share of girlfriends.

"So anyways," Nathan changed the subject. "Haley wants to invite you over for dinner on Friday night. And you have to promise to show up. No excuses of last minute cases or hot girls in clubs," he teased. "And you can't be late."

Lucas smiled, "I'll do my best."

"Great," Nathan rubbed the back of his neck, Lucas knew this was a sign of his brother's discomfort as he said also, "Oh and you should know that Haley invited Brooke too."

"Oh right. And it's a good idea for us to be in the same room together why?"

"I think Haley just wanted both Jamie's god parents to be there to celebrate his birthday. I mean you too loved each other once man, surely you can put aside your differences for a few hours right."

"For Jamie yes I will," Lucas answered dutifully. Though given that Brooke was putting him through a rather painful divorce he doubted that they could keep the peace throughout the course of an evening.

Nathan smiled, "thanks bro. Anyways why don't you let me buy you a proper cup of coffee?"

Lucas glanced back at his cup of black like tar, "yeah." He got up and grabbed his jacket.

-- --

Peyton ran a hand through her hair as she stared at her laptop in frustration. She hated doing inventory at the best of times but right now was finding it even harder to concentrate on the task. Her head pounding from lack of sleep of course didn't help.

"Wow you look like hell," Callie said as she stood in the doorway her hands on her hips.

"And you're late," Peyton bit back not even looking up from the screen.

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. I was out with Mickie last night. And I didn't get much sleep last night if you catch my drift. Kind of like you I'm guessing."

Peyton looked up now, "Callie just get to work please. You've got an extra half an hour to make up."

Callie turned on her heel. "Okay, okay. Just because you're cranky doesn't mean you have to take it out on the rest of us."

Taking a deep breath and a swig of strong black coffee Peyton tried to get back to the task at hand. She could hear Callie chatting idly in the other room.

A knock at her office door brought Peyton face to face with her cop friend from the night before. A lump formed quickly in her throat. Silently they both stared at each other. Neither of them really knew what to say.

When the uncomfortable situation got too much for her Peyton said "What are you stalking me now?"

"No. My brother said you worked here. He's Nathan Scott one of the club's VIPs. He told me I'd probably find you here. I didn't realise you owned this place."

"Yeah I own it". Peyton bit her lower lip, he hadn't really answered as to why he had come to see her. "Look um why are you here? You didn't come all the way down here to congratulate me for owning this place did you?"

He shook his head, a slight smile playing at his lips. "Actually I came down here to return this." He moved over to her desk depositing her bracelet in front of her. "You left it behind at my apartment. I thought you might miss it so I wanted to get it back to you."

Peyton couldn't help but smile. This guy was certainly charming; in ways he didn't even know. His shyness and awkwardness at the situation touched her. "Thank you." She fastened in back onto her wrist. "The clasp isn't so good anymore and I'm always losing it."

"You're welcome." His gorgeous blue eyes held her green ones. He opened his mouth to say something else but obviously though better of it.

"Well thank you," she said again. Peyton looked back to her computer.

"Well I should go. "

Peyton nodded slightly, "yeah."

"Peyton, if you ever need anything, call me," his voice was earnest as he handed over his card to her. She took it.

"Okay," she said simply. She watched as Detective Lucas Scott left the room. She smiled to herself allowing herself to imagine what life would be like if she had meet Lucas Scott when she had first come to New York. To feel loved and protected like she did the night before for those few chaste moments. Peyton sighed to herself as she went back to her inventory.