It was under an hour later that four old friends found themselves in County General waiting room…doing just that, waiting. They had arrived during the doctor's rounds and wouldn't be able to go into the room until he was done with the entire floor. Each minute seemed like an hour for the restless group. Nathan and Brooke both completely zoned out…their minds racing with thousand's of what ifs. Lucas and Haley both had their eyes glued to the closed doors, ready to sprint to the elevator as soon as the doctor appeared.

It was fifteen minutes alter that the doctor came though the door and it took Lucas less then a second to get up and go off towards the stairs. He had taken time to think and decide it would be quicker to just dash up the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator to come down, after all she was only on the third floor.

He took the stairs two at a time, occasionally three at a time, anything to get him upstairs faster. He burst through the door and continued briskly down the hall. His pace was slowing with each step as he though more and more about what he would find when he opened the door. His hand came to rest of the door handle, but he didn't push, his hand wouldn't move. Lucas stayed frozen to the spot, his eyes looking at the solid wooden door in front of him. He had rushed to get up there to see her and now he was hesitant, in fact, he was tempted to turn around and go home.

"Lucas" the blonde turned his head to find a warm yet sad smile.

"Hey Diane" he turned back towards the door, still unable to make himself move foreword.

"Just go in…she looked much worse when she first came in…so you're getting the better side of this" When Lucas didn't move Diane walked over to him and pushed the room door open, the only thing for him to do now was walk through.

"Diane" Lucas called out as the red head began to walk away. She turned back to face him and found a worried look on his face. "She's gunna be okay right…"

She wanted so badly to lie to the broken hearted man in front of her, but she knew it was best not to. "That's up to her…there's no guarantee for anything right now." She watched as the blonde nodded and turned back to the open door. He sighed deeply as he prepared himself for the worst.

The blonde stepped through the open door with his eyes closed, he wasn't ready to see her yet, he had no idea what to expect. He forced himself to take another deep breathe before opening his eyes. He turned towards the bed and found a body stretched lifelessly across a bed. There were three large machines going as well as two IV drips.

He walked slowly towards her bed, his hand immediately finding hers as soon as he was close enough. He stretched his good hand up to her face and ran his fingers slowly down her cheek. He could see the multiple scars that were beginning to fade along her face. He sat cautiously on the edge of the bed as he subconsciously gripped her hand tighter.

"Oh god" he didn't need to turn around to know it was Brooke who had entered the room. She rounded the bed and sat across from Lucas, her mind still racing with the same questions from early…all what ifs. Nathan and Haley where in the room seconds later but while Haley moved foreword, Nathan stayed back. Although he had been worried, he had also spent time being mad at Peyton. He was mad because she promised to call and she never did, because she swore she'd be back soon, and she never showed up. He had been mad at her while she was lying helplessly in the hospital.

"Hey you guys…" they all looked to the door to find Diane coming through the door, a chart in her hands.

"What happened...?" Brooke whispered through tears as her eyes shifted from Diane to her best friend.

"The accident was really bad…we're not really sure on what happened…it looked like they were hit on the driver's side, that explains why the driver was killed, but why it had such an impact on her is what we can't figure out."

"Who was driving…she didn't have a car…she took a cab over there" Nathan looked to Diane, waiting for answers. He couldn't bring himself to look at Peyton no matter how hard he tried.

"Umm…I believe his name was Stanley Richardson…he was DOA…it was a tragedy."

"Yeah…it was definitely a tragedy that he didn't wind up in the hospital suffering…its tragic that he didn't deal with months of excruciating pain" Diane looked at Brooke in shook.

"I'm I missing something" it was Haley who was the first to speak a minute later. Her face revealed her genuine confusion…there were only three people who knew why Peyton had returned to Tree Hill.

"Never mind…I'm just being bitter…I needed someone to take this out on." Brooke blurted out quickly, but bother of the other woman knew there was more to it then that.

"Brooke, maybe its best if we just say something…it might help in some way…I mean it's not like he's gunna coming back anymore and that's why nothing was ever said…so…" She turned to face the older Scott, whose hands and eyes remained glued to Peyton.

"Luke…I don't wanna betray her…and I feel like that's what I'd be doing" the brunette had tears burning behind her eyes as she looked between the two blondes.

"Then I'll do it…Stan deserved to die…" Lucas let his gaze fall down to the floor, his eyes filled with rage.

"How could you say something like that Luke" Haley looked at her best friend, completely baffled.

"Because it's true" Lucas shook his head as he briefly looked at the crossed armed brunette, her expression showing her disbelief.

"That's bull Luke and you know it…I can't believe you…he had her and you wanted her….now he's dead and therefore out of you're way"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Lucas stood form his seat and moved quickly towards Haley. He wasn't quite sure where she was headed with her comments.

"You know exactly what I'm getting at Lucas…you were jealous of him…you wanted Peyton from the day she walked back into Tree Hill…I can't say that I wasn't rooting for you two, but I figured it wouldn't be at the expense of Stan's life."

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about Haley" Lucas pointed a finger at her but she stood her ground.

"Really…I don't? Tell me you're not happy he's dead"

"I'm more than happy he's dead" the comment earned a raised brow from Haley.

"Why the hell is someone dying such a good thing Lucas" she was screaming at him now. Everyone in the room was focused on the two best friends, Brooke with tears running swiftly down her cheeks.

"Because that bastard didn't deserve to live and like Brooke said…he should've spent months in the hospital…lying there in pain with no one because that's exactly what he did deserve" his voice was just as loud as hers.

"Will you two tone it down a little" Diane hissed at the two adults in front of her. Security would kick them out if the screaming match continued.

"Why Lucas…I don't get how you could possibly say something like that about anyone" Haley's tone remained the same as she completely ignored the glaring red head beside her.

"Why Haley?" Lucas was showing nothing but anger and hatred as he stared menacingly at the brunette. "Because that sick son of bitch spent 5 years beating the living shit out of her… that's why" Her expression turned from anger to shock as she watched Lucas shove past her and storm out of the room.

"What did he just say" Haley shook her head as she locked eyes with her husband.

"He said that she spent five years as Stan's punching bag in New York, came home and yet still none of knew" Brooke scuffed before tightening her grip around Peyton's limp hand.

"But the three of you knew…why didn't I…Nathan how could you not tell me" she had tears ready to break free mostly for the friend she had that was lying on the bed, but also because she had been kept out of the loop on a major part of one of her friend's lives. For three months they had all neglected to tell her and she couldn't deny that it hurt.

"Because it wasn't my place to tell you that Haley…she told me…she told all of us in confidence Hales. This was big…so big in fact that she didn't wanna tell me. Peyt was still dealing with all of this, she was ashamed so she wanted it to be a secret and I respected that. I wasn't trying to shut you out Haley…I would never do that, but I couldn't betray her like that." Nathan had tears burning behind his eyes as he switched his gaze to the lifeless blonde for the first time. Haley nodded her head; although it still hurt she understood…there was know denying that this was something private and something that only Peyton had the right to reveal.

"Yeah…she tells him what's going on and he lets her run off again…god you're such a great friend" Brooke's voice was bitter and she did nothing to conceal it.

"Brooke please" Nathan shook his head as he looked pleadingly at the brunette. Those were the first words she had spoken to him and they weren't what he was expecting.

"What…I'm supposed to commend you on letting her leave again…wake up Nathan…the car was hit on Stan's side…he's the reason she's laying her not some car accident, him. He found her and he beat the shit out her one last time…that's why she's laying in the hospital right now and you know it. Ask Diane, she'll agree…the injuries she has…are they concurrent with a car accident?" She looked over at Diane who in turn looked sadly at Nathan.

"Not her accident , there wasn't much damage done to her side of the car and that's why none of this made sense…until now." The red head looked down to the floor as she finished speaking.

"So in other words Nate…none of this would've happened if she had stayed in Tree Hill. She wanted to run and you let her…hell you encouraged her…gave her cab fare and all." Brooke refused to hold back, she needed this to be someone's fault and Nathan was the easiest target.

"So this is all my fault then...I just handed her over to him" He was angry with Brooke for her accusations, but he couldn't help but believe them…he had given Stan the perfect opportunity.

"Nathan this isn't you're fault…" Haley laid a hand gently on his shoulder as he turned to face her.

"Don't try to make him feel better Hales" Brooke voice stayed even as her eyes once again began watering.

"It's not his fault Brooke…so stop blaming him."

"What if it is my fault Haley" Nathan let a single tear slide from his eyes as he began to fully believe that the whole situation could have been avoided if he had done things differently. Nathan shook his head before turning and walking out the room, as far as he was concerned he had no right to be in her room.

Haley watched him walk out dejectedly before turning back to Brooke with a dangerous glare in her eyes. "How could you say that to him Brooke…you know how much he cares about her. He's already blaming himself for everything…why make it worse and tell him he's right?"

"It has to be his fault" Brooke stated firmly, receiving a questioning glare from the to her brunette.

"I'll never get how you could say that about him….after everything he's done for her…I'll never get how you could say that to him." .Haley didn't wait for a response, she simply left and went after her over emotional husband.

Brooke stood up, letting Peyton's hand sit gently in hers, the grip loosening as she pulled away. "Because I took you away from him….he wouldn't have come after you…god…you wouldn't have needed to leave here if I hadn't just dragged you out of there. This has to be Nathan's fault….if it's not his…then it's mine…and I know it's not his" Brooke's tears were streaming rapidly from her eyes as she pulled completely away, and apologetic look written in her eyes. The brunette backed away from the bed and out of the room, her eye's not leaving her best friend until she rounded the corner.

Diane looked on in confusion as the last of the group walked out the room. She had spent three months trying to find the people who cared about Peyton. She had succeeded in finding them and even in getting them to the hospital, but somehow all the emotion had pushed them away and now the helpless blonde was once again lying in her room….alone.