Thank you so much for your feedback. It just makes me so happy that you like this story. The lyrics in the story are "Sweet Surrender" by Sarah McLachlan. I know, a break from Radiohead, surprise, surprise. I just used Radiohead lyrics because Life in a Glass House, the title of that episode where it all started from his a Radiohead song.

Chapter 4 "Sweet Surrender"

it doesn't mean much

it doesn't mean anything at all

the life I've left behind me

is a cold room

I've crossed the last line

from where I can't return

where every step I took in faith

betrayed me

and led me from my home

"I'm not lying to you Brooke," Nathan said to her. "You can't even look at me and say that Nathan. Who did this to you?" she asked again sternly. She was surprised at how confrontational she was being, but this was it. The band-aids were being ripped off and the wounds may finally get their chance to heal.

and sweet

sweet surrender

is all that I have to give

Brooke's POV

I don't know why I was making Nathan tell me. I just didn't want him to have to lie to one more person about it. I could see it in his eyes, the fear, the shame, the loneliness. I couldn't take it. I couldn't be one more person to look the other way while it happens again, and again, and again. It's too bitter of a life to lead. I just wish I had the courage to help myself.

you take me in

no questions asked

you strip away the ugliness

that surrounds me

are you an angel

am I already that gone

I only hope

that I won't disappoint you

when I'm down here

on my knees

"Nathan, who did this to you?"

Nathan's POV

Brooke wouldn't stop asking. And I didn't want her to stop. She wasn't like the people who asked because they were just curious, she didn't see past it, or try to avoid it. I wanted to tell her…

and sweet

sweet

sweet surrender

is all that I have to give

"Nathan, please, tell me who did this to you."

"Brooke, I can't…I can't."

"Yes, sweetheart, you can. Nathan, you need to tell me. I need to know."

"Brooke, I already told you no one…I fell. Tim and I were playing ball and I fell."

"When, Nathan? When I left Tim ran off, the only people at your house were those with do not disturbed signs on your guest room doors. It's 6:00am, I know Tim's in love with you but even he wouldn't want to go for an early morning ball game."

"Brooke, I…"

"You, what?"

"I want to tell you…"

"Then tell me…." She took a deep breath. "Here, why don't I show you…" Brooke dropped her head, and started to unbutton her shirt, her fingers quivered over the buttons on her blouse, her palms suddenly became clammy. She unbuttoned all the way until the end of the bra and showed him the scar just over her right cup; one of the many blue and black swirls that were bludgeoned on to her body. She took his fingers and placed them on her skin, she shivered. "This is me being easy…this is as far as I've been, excluding the one time with the body makeup. You should be so lucky." His fingers traced her scar. It was tender, and raw. She flinched at the pain, but knew it was right. He needed to know he was safe before he could open up anymore. She already caught him while he tried to play her with the "I fell act."

sweet

sweet

sweet surrender

is all that I have to give

and I don't understand

by the touch of your hand

I would be the one to fall

"Brooke," he said, "Who?"

"You first," she said. Her tears rolling down her cheeks again, and they burned.

"My mom," he said, "Last night. Um, she got home after a business trip about an hour after you left and I was cleaning up one of the guest rooms, she walked in, was pissed that I had a party. Even though, my dad was the one that threw it. She's always pissed at everything. She found out Lucas was at the party, and you know how she feels about him. Then, she smiled, like she was Carol Brady, and I don't even know how long after that she hit me. All I can remember his I stumbled back a little, I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, she was still there smiling like nothing had happened at all," he said trying not to cry. Brooke took a deep breath. She buttoned her blouse. He couldn't help it and let the tears flow. She pulled his head to her shoulder and let him cry.

"It's okay," she said, "I'm here now."

I miss the little things

oh I miss everything

it doesn't mean much

it doesn't mean anything at all

the life I left behind me

is a cold room