Brooke's gaze lingered on the tears that had leaked from her friend's greens eyes and settled on her blotchy cheeks. She hadn't seen her in such an ugly state since the night of their prom. The brunette's normal courageous facade faltered for a second as the atrocity of that night flooded her senses. She could almost feel the muggy air of the basement, the ropes snaked around her skinny wrists. She snapped her eyes closed, shaking her head lightly; she'd not allowed Ian Banks to dominate her or Peyton's life and she wasn't about to let him take control of her the second a crisis hit- she had to be strong for Peyton, she had to help her through this. Peyton's dark blonde locks hung drably, the bright lights of the hospital only highlighting her pale complexion. The little girl sleeping upon her lap was her own source of comfort right now, her trembling fingers fiddling restlessly with the child's curls as she went over the last hour. Everything had happened so fast, the ambulance had arrived in minutes and it was only when Lucas was being escorted outside that she remembered her daughter fast asleep and tucked up in her bed. It was at that point that she'd broken down and allowed a paramedic to assist her in going to get a sleeping Isabel. After the initial shock of being woken up and taken into an ambulance, the four year old had settled on her mother's lap and drifted back into a peaceful slumber once at the hospital.

'Mumma?'

Peyton snapped out of her daze, her eyes locking with the set of diamond blues staring up at her. 'Baby'

'Where am I?' Isabel quiried sleepily, rubbing the ear of her worn bunny over her sleep filled eyes.

Peyton resisted the urge to start crying. 'We'll be home soon'

'I'm cold'

A tired Peyton awkwardly lent forward, still supporting her little girl with one arm, using the other to slip her black hoody off and wrap it over Isabel's blue polka dot nighty. 'Better?' With a thumb in her mouth, the child nodded. 'Close your eyes baby' Peyton forced a smile for her, cradling her closer and rocking gently.

'Peyton' Her name came out as a breathy rasp, making Brooke very much aware of the flight of stairs she'd just raced up. Peyton's lids flickered up and she sucked in a breath, determinedly not allowing a sob to leave her lips. 'What, what's happening?'

'I don't know' Peyton whispered, her eyes dropping back to Isabel, relieved to find her asleep again. Brooke sat beside her. 'I think. I think he was having a heart attack'

Brooke instinctively reached out, scraping a blonde lock behind her best friend's ear.

'I-I-I've b-been away from him f-for two years a-and n-now we're fi-finally reu-united-' Her shaking hand flew to her mouth, stifling a persistent sob. 'I-I can't loose him'

'You're not going to'

'Don't do that'

Brooke's eyes widened, surprised by Peyton's sudden change in tone. 'What?'

'Don't tell me everything's going to be fine Brooke, just don't.'

'Peyton-'

'Two dead mum's, an absente father and a husband away at war for two years kind of wares on your optimism'

'Mrs Scott?' Peyton's dialated pupils swiveled from Brooke to the Doctor standing before them. She hatily stood, clumsily shifting Isabel into Brooke's unprepared arms.

'Yes?' She answered hesitantly, crossing her arms over her chest, preparing herself for the worst.

'You can see Lucas now.'

'He's ok?'

'When you bought your husband in earlier he was suffering from a panic attack'

Peyton's stomach churned. 'N-not a heart attack?'

'The symptoms can be similar, but no, it wasn't a heart attack. A panic attack is when your body experiences a sudden rush of intense psychological and physical symptoms. As you witnessed tonight, it can still be very frightening and intense, but it hasn't caused your husband any physical harm. He's going to be just fine'

'But-but why did it happen?'

'Well it's hard to say, it is not clear what causes such attacks. In many people, symptoms develop in association with major life changes and major lifestyle stressors.'

Peyton swallowed. 'He came back from war a month ago'

'I see' The doctor nodded. 'That certainly could be a trigger.' He looked down at Lucas' medical records. 'From what Lucas has described to me this isn't the first time he's had an attack' Peyton's eyes glazed over at this, she hated that he hadn't felt he could confide in her. 'I'm going to prescribe him with some anti-anxiety medication. If these episodes persist I'd suggest he sees a specialist that can discuss other methods that can help him to cope'.

Peyton nodded a little dazedly. 'So he's going to be ok though?'

'He's very healthy' The doctor reassured.

'Can, can I see him now?'

'A nurse is just doing a blood test to be on the safe side, she'll call you in when she's done and then he's free to go, ok?'

'Ok' Peyton forced a small thankful smile. 'Thank you'

The doctor nodded in response, before hurrying off to see to other patients.

'He's going to be ok'

Brooke smiled uneasily, not quite certain of that. 'Yeah, that's great P.Sawyer, see I told you'

The blonde sunk back into her chair, a little more relaxed. She leaned over Brooke to her sleeping daughter, brushing her curls away from her face. 'She's like him'

'What?' Brooke mumbled, watching her best friend.

'Izzy, she's like him'

'She's like you too. In fact she's like a replica' Brooke smiled, looking down at her god daughter.

'No' Peyton shook her head absentmindedly. 'She's just like him'

'Peyton' Brooke whispered, loosely threading her fingers over Peyton's hand. 'Sweetie' She cooed gently. 'You- earlier, what happened when you were on the phone to me?'

Peyton's emeralds jolted up, 'What do you mean?'

'Lucas was yelling'

'No' Peyton argued defensively. 'We were just talking, he was talking, I didn't mean to hang up, it was an accident' She rambled.

'Peyton' Brooke sighed agitatedly. 'I'm your best friend. Please don't lie to me'

'I'm not'

'Lucas came round earlier, he scared me-he-he smashed a mug of coffee Peyton, it-it nearly hit me an-and it really burnt his wrist-'

'It was an accident, he said it was an accident'

'No- I-I think he needs help'

'He's not a psycho- it was an accident'

'I'm only trying to look out for you- you yourself were telling me this afternoon that he wasn't the same Lucas- you were right'

Peyton opened her mouth to respond but a nurse appearing gained her attention. 'Mrs Scott?'

'Yes?'

'You can come in now'

Peyton smiled. 'Thank you' She stood quickly. 'Brooke would you mind taking Izzy back to yours?'

Brooke nodded. 'Of course'

'Thanks' She pressed a kiss to Isabel's head 'I love you' She whispered, taking a deep breath. 'Thanks Brooke' She quickly kissed her best friend's cheek before following the nurse.

'Doctor Fern?' Brooke hesitantly asked, hoisting a limp Isabel up on her hip.

'Yes?'

'I-I'm a friend of Mrs Scott- you were just talking to her?'

'Oh yes' He nodded, showing some recollection as he looked over a clip board a nurse had just handed him.

'Well, I-I think Lucas needs more serious help'

He raised his brow, giving her his full attention. 'And why's that Miss...?'

'Davis'

'Miss Davis?'

'He's acting so uncharacteristically- he's so angry. I'm worried for Peyton-'

'We can't interfere with domestic affairs Miss Davis, if there's a problem Mrs Scott will need to seek help by contacting the police, there she'll be able to testify against her husband and an inquiry can be made but-'

'You don't understand- that's not what I'm saying at all. It's just he's changed, he's not usually like this- he's become so possessive lately'

'Doctor Fern you're needed in room 108' A nurse informed him.

'I'm sorry Miss Davis but as you can see I'm very busy, this is an emergency room, I can only help in sorting out what's needed to prevent his panic attacks, maybe you should talk to a counsellor-' He suggested and in a second he was gone. Brooke shook her head in disbelief. She'd never been much of a fan of doctors, they killed not saved. That had been her opinion since a little girl. She could remember visiting her grandparents for the last time here and the frail image of Peyton's mother often obscured her mind. She didn't know how her best friend was handling being here. 'Come on Izzy, lets get you snuggled up in bed' She cooed. Maybe she was over reacting. Maybe things would get easier. She knew how her best friend worked though and right now she knew Peyton was terrified, terrified that Brooke was right. And as expected she'd acted accordingly, defending him every way so she wouldn't have to face the possibility of Brooke's words being true. All the brunette could do is hope that she'd come to her senses sooner rather than later.