Chapter Four

Lucas pretty much avoided everyone for the next day. He couldn't go to his apartment because he knew someone would be there to check up on him. He occupied himself by visiting Brooke, attending class, and spending time in the library. He stayed the night in Brooke's room, until he got kicked out by a nurse he had never seen before. Luckily, he knew the rest of the night shift, who helped to sneak him back in.

He woke up the next morning really stiff. His chair was still by her bed, and he had laid his head down by her stomach, and wouldn't let go of her hand for anything. He sat up, slowly realizing that it was Saturday morning. That meant he really only had three full days to do something.

He knew there was only one person that could help him, and that was really the only person he wanted to talk to. She could always help to rationalize the craziest of situations.

"Hey Brooke, I'm gonna go for a walk, and take care of some things. I love you, and I'll be back soon. I promise." He kissed her forehead and left the room. He walked to a park nearby, and sat on a parkbench. He pulled out his cell phone, and dialed the number.

"HEWWO!!!!!"

Lucas laughed at the girl on the end of the line.

"Hello, Keira. Can I please speak to Mom?"

"Wucas!! Is you!"

"Yes, Keira, it's me. How are you doing baby girl?"

"I is not a baby. Wucas, hows Bwooooookie?"

"Good Keira. Can I speak to Mommy now please?"

He really loved that little girl. At first when his Mom had told him she was pregnant, he was a little worried. He always been an only child, and he knew that this baby would be so much younger than him. But now, with Keira in his life, he wouldn't take it back for anything. Keith was gone, but she really brought back his spirit. His mom had done a good job of picking out her name in rememberance of Keith. Lucas knew that he would have been so proud of her too, just as he was of Lucas. She was so smart for being a few months shy of two years old.

"Lucas?" Kared said as she picked up the phone.

"Geez Mom, she's talking so much!"

"Haha, that's nothing compared to what I put up with everyday. Who would have ever thought I'd have two Scott children?" she chuckled. "How are you Lucas? It's been days since we've talked."

"Yeah, sorry Mom. It's been really busy with midterms and such."

"Well, that's good school is still a huge focus for you. How is your new job going?"

Lucas had just received an internship at a local newspaper. It definitely wasn't the New York Times, but being only a sophomore beating out juniors and seniors, he knew that was a good sign. He had called the paper and told them he'd be out for a few days taking care of a loved one in the family.

"It's going great Mom." He lied. "Mom, how does Keira know about Brooke?"

"Well, Lucas she found some pictures of you two and asked who she was. I told her all about her, and now she's convinced Brooke's a princess."

"If I only I could be a damsel-in-distress-Prince-Charming kind of guy. I might be able to actually save her."

"Lucas, you cannot do this to yourself. We both know she's going to be ok."

"Mom, if it were me, would you pull the plug?"

"Of course not Lucas. Not if I had faith in you, the same faith I have for Brooke right now."

"Even if it were costing you money? Like Keira's college fund type of money."

"No Lucas, I could never put a sum on your life."

"Yeah, well Brooke's parents did Mom! They're pulling the plug Tuesday at one!"

"Lucas, I'm sorry son. You have to calm down though. Listen to me - do you have faith in Brooke?"

"Of course Mom, but they just gave her a time limit to wake up."

"The only thing you can have is faith Lucas. Believe in her."

"Ok, Mom. I need ideas on how to convince them not to do it though. I don't know what to do."

"Don't worry Lucas, I'll take care of that."

"What do you mean Mom? What are you going to do?"

"Don't worry Lucas. Have a little faith. Now I gotta go, Keira's smearing macaroni onto the wall! Love you, Lucas."

"Love you too, Mom."

"WUV YOU WUCAS!" he could hear Keira in the background. He smiled, and hung up the phone. Just have a little faith.

- - - - -

Haley loved sleeping in on Saturday mornings. She had no school, and usually Nathan had a short practice. They really hadn't even begun the season yet, so he was around more at this time of the year. She hated however, being woken up early on Saturday mornings. She could hear her cell phone on the night stand. She looked at the caller ID : LUCAS

"Lucas Eugene Scott. Do you know what time it is?"

"It's 12:30 Haley."

"Oh, right. What's up?"

"Hey, get everyone together, and have them meet me at that place we always go to.. that cafe near campus. Let's say around 4:00 ?"

"Sure, Lucas."

"Thanks Hales." She hung up the phone.

'I'm like Cinderella' she thought. 'Haley do this. Haley do that.' She then realize everything that had happened and felt incredibly guilty. Luke really needed her right now. She started to call the gang and tell them the plans.

Nathan walked in the door.

"Hey Nathan, guess what I got for you?"

"What's that Hales?"

"Chubby Hubby for my hubby bubby!" she said pulling a pint of Ben n Jerry's out of the freezer.

"God, we really are a cheezy couple." Nathan sighed.

- - - - -

As usual, Lucas was incredibly early to the cafe. He had gone back into the hospital to spend time with Brooke, gone by the newspaper agency to tell them that, while things were improving, he still needed a few more days. He told them how much he appreciated the internship, and promised he wouldn't let them down. He was really surprised at nice they were about it. With nothing left to do to kill some more time, he went straight to the cafe.

Mouth was the next one to show up. Followed by Nathan and Haley, then Peyton.

"I'm hoping this is what you mean by the 'gang'" Haley said to Lucas.

"This works, Hales."

"Ok, man, so what's up?" Nathan asked.

"Ok. We need to do something, make a plan or whatever. But we've got to stop them. I have faith in her guys, and if you all care for me, you'll help me out." He looked at Peyton. " I already thought about having a vigil. Getting as many people there, and the whole shebang. Candles, flyers, everything."

"I could make a movie. Have clips and stills and pictures of Brooke. We could set up a projector." Mouth added.

"Thanks, Mouth. That would be amazing. But I need more here guys. I need like... huge. I need to show them how much we care."

"Ok, so this may be stupid. But Nathan could go around. Get signatures from everyone who knows Brooke. I mean I bet you it would be one long list, and it would show them it isn't just us five who care about her." Haley chimed in.

"Hales, how are we going to get people from Tree Hill, or everyone we graduated with that's dispersed all over the country." Nathan asked.

"Duh!" she responded "Electronic signatures via email!"

"Guys, this is all really great. Thanks for your help. I already put an article in the paper. I stopped by this morning. It talks about Brooke, her life and her situation. I told all readers to send their thoughts to the hospital where her parents could read them."

"Luke, you're really going big with this." Haley said

"I need big Hales. I need larger than life big. I have to stop them from pulling that plug."

"I could draw up posters. Something really great advertising the vigil."

They all looked up, not really sure if they heard that right.

"Thank you, Peyton. That would be just... perfect." Lucas pulled her in for a half hug. Everyone else continued to stare at her.

"What? Brooke's helped me in more times than I can even count. Hell, she even made posters of her topless to advertise my cancer benefit. I owe her big time."

"So when are we going to do this.. vigil?" Mouth asked.

"Can we stop calling it a vigil? It's so weird sounding. In total Brooke style, this thing needs to be a party!" Nathan said.

"I agree Nate. Ok, so how about Sunday night through Monday morning? That way it's close to the day but gives them time to think. We can have people show up at sundown." Lucas explained.

"I think it sounds great. But I think we should all get to work. It's already Saturday evening, and we have a little more than twenty four hours. There's a lot of work to be done! Let's good to it."

"No problem, tutorwife." Peyton joked.

They finished up whatever coffees they had order or meals they were eating and individually went their own ways to prepare for the next days events. Lucas felt relieved that all of his friends were willing to help so quickly. Even Peyton surprised him, but then again she was Brooke's best friend for ten years. She did seem really different tonight though, and it made him curious as to what was up. He decided he would catch up to her, and then go to the hospital to see Brooke.

- - - - -

He finally caught up to her sitting at a bench at the park. She had out her sketch pad, and he could see she was hard at work. He walked up and sat down next to her.

"I just wanted to say thanks for helping - it really means a lot to me."

"No problem, Luke. She means something to me too, ya know." she said smiling.

"I know you just haven't really showed it lately. But I'm glad you changed your mind about things. By the way, why are you so smiley? You've been acting so different all day."

"Jake's coming into town tomorrow Luke. I just called him again after we left the cafe. He said he'd be glad to help in any way. Maybe even he and Haley could play a duet." she said as she stood up.

"Peyt! That's awesome. I'm so happy for you." He stood up too, and opened his arms to give her a hug, which she graciously accepted. "So this means that me and you ar-"

She stopped him with a kiss.

"Peyton what's wrong with you?" He said as he pulled away. "I thought you said Jak-"

And she kissed him again, this time for a bit longer.

"Peyton, ok I thought you were here to help me not piss me off." He started to walk away when he heard her laugh. "What's so funny?"

"Two years, Luke! Two years! I just kissed you twice and felt nothing. Nope. Nada. Zip." She continued to laugh while he looked at completely confused. "Don't you get it Luke? I don't have anything more than a sisterly love for you. Oh wait.. ew. That would mean I just kissed my brother. Ew ew ew! But anyways. I just wasted two years of my life thinking I love you." She was really laughing at this point. "But in reality, when I just kissed you, I saw Jake in the back of my mind. Oh God Luke, do you think it's too late?"

"Uh... no." He still weirded out by what had just happened.

"Lucas, relax. This is a good thing. Ya know? No more weirded love triangles! C'mon now, go save your girl!"

She patted Lucas on the back as she headed towards her apartment. She didn't know why none of them lived in the dorms, they had all moved into apartments after their freshmen year. Maybe it was because she couldn't handle Nathan always sneaking into her and Haley's dorm, and Lucas hated waking up to find Haley in bed with Nathan. Poor Mouth was still left in the dorms. He did live in the suite's though, and had a complete room to himself. Peyton admitted it was a pretty rad place.

Lucas was left standing there, dumbfounded. Had what just happened really happened?

- - - - -

An hour or so later, Lucas walked into the waiting room that was down the hall from Brooke's room.

"Lucas!" he heard someone call from behind him. He turned around to see Brooke's parents walking towards him.

"Lucas, I know you're hurt about losing Brooke, but you have got to stop!" her mother hissed

"Uh,stop what?"

"Don't tell me that you didn't know your mother was going to call us."

Lucas smiled. God, he loved his mother.

"Um, no actually I didn't know."

"Well, I don't know what to say. Do you really think we put a price on Brooke's life, Lucas? It's time for her to go."

"No, actually it's not."

"Stop it! You can't do this. Not you or your mother saying horrible things to make us feel like bad parents."

"Well, aren't you?" he said quietly.

Brooke's mother slapped him. "Do you know what your mother said to me? She said I was an excuse for a mother. She said that she had even been more of a mother to Brooke in high school." Lucas smiled again, knowing how true that statement really was. "She even told me that she would adopt Brooke, if it would stop us from being so selfish!"

'Two points for Mom' Lucas thought.

"Whatever Mrs. Davis. I didn't know she was going to do that, but I agree with every word. You were never parents to Brooke." He turned and headed towards Brooke's room.

"This doesn't change anything Lucas. It's her time, and we know she wants us to do this." she hissed back.

Lucas stopped and glared at her, but turned again and headed to her room. God he really needed something big.