How To Save A Life

Trees and cars passed by in a blur as the night wore on. Eventually Peyton fell asleep her head resting peacefully upon Lucas' shoulder. He sighed wrapping his arm around her pressing a kiss to the top of her head. The two hours drive seemed to fly by and soon they were heading up the drive through a thick lane of trees. Finally a small little cabin appeared through the brush.

Lucas parked around back, nudging Peyton slightly and whispered her name. She awoke in an almost violent jolt seemingly disoriented. She rubbed her eyes while Lucas helped her out of the car. Stumbling as she tried taking her first few steps, Lucas caught her, taking her hand and guiding her inside.

Relieved the lights worked, Lucas flipped on the hallway light leading Peyton down to the last bedroom and turning that switch. "Come on, lets get you to bed." he whispered drawing back the sheets and comforter and helping her into bed.

"I'll run into town in the morning and pick up food and such. I'll be back before you wake up." he said pulling the covers over her and pressing a kiss to her forehead. As he turned to leave he heard her voice.

"Thank you Lucas." she whispered weakly turning over and falling to sleep. Lucas smiled making his way back to the front room; he triple checked every exit making sure it was locked as well as every window. Finally, he collapsed on the sofa drifting into a light slumber. There would be no time for dreams tonight just a faint feeling of alertness. By morning the true struggle would start and that would be a challenge all on its own.

--

Peyton awoke in the morning sweating, though her body felt completely cold. It took nearly the entity of her will power to pull herself out of bed and walk to the kitchen where she found Lucas standing over the counter making eggs.

"Hey Peyton." he called from over his shoulder scraping the contents of the pan on to a plate. As he turned around he very nearly dropped the plate. He sized up Peyton, she looked gaunt and pale as a ghost. Had it really only been one night? Things had almost taken on a dream like feel to him. Nothing felt real to him anymore.

She padded quietly over to the chair where Lucas had set down a plate in front of. She sat down softly her eyes never leaving Lucas. There were so many unanswered questions she wanted to ask, but she could not bring herself to open her mouth. He motioned her to eat while he sipped at his orange juice.

"I bought food to last us at least two weeks. I hope we don't have to stay here that long but I wanted to be safe." he said in a feeble attempt to make light conversation. She nodded pointedly, but one look to her face and Lucas knew she was hurting. Peyton did not touch her eggs, merely pushed them about her plate.

Lucas helped her back to bed then went back to the front room. He heard the couch groan beneath him as he sat drawing his phone from his pocket and dialing his mother's number. She picked up on the second ring, the worried tone in her voice unmistakable.

"Lucas? Lucas? Oh thank god, where are you?"

Lucas sighed, "I can't tell you where I am mom in case someone comes after you."

"You listen to me young man. Tell me where you are right now!"

"Mom, calm down. Please relax. I can't tell for the sake of your safety. I'm doing this to protect you. Please just listen to me." he pleaded. "Peyton and I are safe, we'll be home soon. Every thing is going to be okay." he brave falsetto wavering in his voice.

He heard his mother begin to cry on the other line. Her heart was breaking she could not lose Lucas too. It would be too much for her.

"Please stay safe. I love you Lucas."

"I will, I love you too mom." he whispered and shut his phone. Suddenly a wave of emotion enveloped him. Tears began to fall from his eyes as he thought of his mother. What had he gotten himself into?

The second night was worse than the first. Lucas had tried to fall asleep on the couch. The only thing he heard though were the low moans of agony from the back bedroom. The sound was like running fingernails down a chalkboard. He could not just sit by while she suffered. Grabbing a pillow and walked quietly to the bedroom. It saddened him to see her tremble beneath the sheets. He lay beside the bed staring at the ceiling.

"Just breathe Peyton." he murmured, "just breathe."

By morning she was sitting up awake, disoriented but awake. Lucas sat up, eyes widened in surprise. "Good morning." he said hoarsely.

She paid no attention to his words. "Do you have a tv?" she asked flicking her eyes to him.

Face falling, he nodded rising to his feet and rummaging around the house for a small tv to hook up. Finally, he hooked up the small tv from a closet and situated it at the end of her bed. He shut her door partially behind him and he went to sit upon the couch to collect his thoughts.

Peyton rejected most things he offered her, coffee, chocolate and toast. Eventually he gave up all together, picking idly at the toast Peyton had refused to eat. He checked his phone, seeing at least twenty missed calls from Brooke and Haley. He called back Haley and Brooke reassuring that he and Peyton were safe. He refused to give them details assuring them they would be home soon. Despite there pleas he did not say anymore and hung up the phone. Falling back into the couch he sighed in frustration. The lies, the running, Lucas could not deal with it any longer. Peyton was hurting and suffering. His mother was worried sick, he could almost picture her up at night curled with one of things. Haley and Brooke probably thought he and Peyton were on some sexcapade with each other. He could not tell them anything; it only put them in danger. Peyton needed to get better, she needed to heal. This was only for the best. Peyton needed him, and he had promised her he would be here for her. He only wished so many people were not in danger for the recklessness that they had left behind.

--

Days passed slowly, Peyton kept mostly cooped up in the bedroom. Nights were the worst. She sweated and kicked and rolled over in pain. She pleaded for death to take her and to see her mom. She was in misery and there was nothing Lucas could do to comfort her. Lucas sat on the couch most nights staring at the wall and just listening. He had no answers on even where to begin. Most of his nights were spent like this, completely hopeless.

She rarely spoke to him, and if she did it was only to ask for something. Lucas had come to accept this fact, she was battling the internal war and she was relying on him to take of her needs while she fought. He helped her out of her pajamas so she could shower. They had all but moved passed that awkwardness at the contact they were sharing. There were no boundaries anymore. He changed the awful smelling sheets with fresh ones.

He watched her silhouette pad slowly back to the room. He followed her taking her hand and helping her into bed.

"Thank you." she whispered falling into the pillows. A smile tugged at his lips as he pressed his lips to her forehead.

He found himself on the couch once more, listening to the faint sounds of the tv. It was hard to make out the words, he figured she was watching a movie. Closing his eyes, he felt the fatigue hit him and he drifted into a light sleep.

"Lucas." her voice sounded like a dream to him. "Lucas." her voice came again. He awoke with a start figuring it was just a dream. Then Peyton's voice rang again. He appeared between the doorframe standing awkwardly before her. "Come lay with me, I need you here with me tonight."

He nodded, not thinking twice. Crawling beneath the comforter he wrapped his arms around her, immediately feeling her curve into his body. She slept through the night, not a moan or a toss or turn. The night was completely still it never felt better.

--

Lucas awoke the next morning to find Peyton up and out of bed. Where she found the strength he had no idea. She had disappeared from the room causing Lucas to jump up and search for her. It did not take long. The entire house was upturned, cabinets drawn open, clothes from their bags thrown about the rooms. He found her in the bathroom frantically going through the cabinets.

"Peyton." he said sternly kneeling beside her.

"Lucas shut up and leave me alone." she said never looking to him just continuing to rifle through the many toiletries. Lucas stood up leaning against the door frame. She pushed passed him and went to pack her bag. Lucas followed her, snatching the bag from her grip.

"You're not leaving." he said again sternly tossing it to the side.

"Yes I am." she replied without so much as a quaver in her voice. He stood firmly between the doorframe as she tried to push passed him. "Let me go Lucas!" she screamed as she punched him in the stomach.

"No." Lucas replied his eyes never leaving her.

Her attempts to escape were in vain as she slapped and punched at him. He caught her wrists in his hands, his fingers wrapping around her fragile wrists. "No Peyton. You are so much better than this. If you go back you'll end up dead then all of this was pointless. I love you Peyton, I'm not letting you go back. Peyton listen to me you can do this. I believe in you."

Peyton collapsed into his arms sobbing. Lucas stroked her hair and helped her back into bed where she continued to cry. He lay with her until she fell asleep. He held her close in reassurance that he was not going to leave her in her darkest hour.