Disclaimer: I own nothing OTH related:(
Author's note: Hey everyone. This story will be coming to an end soon. Only a few more chapters to go:) Hope you like this one.
Chapter XII: Long way to happy.
A few days later after Peyton had overdosed, Brooke was at her bedside for the zillionth time. She had barely left her side, only to get something to eat and make fast decisions for Clothes over bro's. She even slept at the hospital. She was going to be there once Peyton awakened and Larry was very grateful. This day Brooke had brought Peyton tulips, her favorite flower. They were tall and elegant. Much like Peyton, or how she used to be before drugs took over her life.
"Hey Brooke, you're back already? You really should get to work or go home and relax. I can call you if anything changes." Larry said walking into the room holding a cup of coffee. He looked tired and worn-out.
"I really can't relax if I'm away from her, I have this feeling everytime I leave that something bad is gonna happen and I just can't seem to shake it. Plus I really want to be here when she wakes up you know?"
"Yeah." Larry smiled. Brooke really was the best friend Peyton had ever had and he knew that.
Brooke smiled back and then jumped at the feel of a vibration on her thigh, that was her cellphone ringing. She picked it up and was pleased to see Haley's name flash on the screen instead of someone from work hassling her. "Hi Hales what's up?"
"Hey Brooke. Are you free for lunch? If you are willing to leave the hospital for five minutes that is."
"I can tear myself away for lunch but only because it's you." Brooke said smiling.
"Great. I'll meet you at Il mare at noon. Bye." Haley said and then she was off the line before Brooke could get a word in.
Brooke looked at her phone and mumbled something about Il mare. Then she turned to Peyton and took her hand.
"I'm going to get me some more coffee." Larry said as he walked out the door.
"Okay.." Brooke said in a bearly audible voice. She took a seat next to Peyton's bed and looked at her. She looked better than before, much healthier than she had looked in a long time. "I miss you P.Sawyer. I have missed you so much these past few months and years we've been apart. I wish you would come back.." Brooke said before her voice broke. "…just please come back." She said and then buried her head in the covers next to Peyton's weak body. There she let her tears silently flow. Tears of guilt, of regret, of anger, of pain and of heartache. She wept for Peyton , for Lucas and for herself. They had all hurt each other so much and for a moment Brooke asked God to take the pain away from all of them, if only for a moment.
"Hi wow you look great." Brooke said to Haley as they hugged. They were at Il Mare, the infamous restaurant where Brooke and Lucas had had their last fight.
"You too. A bit tired but still good." Haley said and then they took their seats.
They both ordered the chicken salad and as they dug in to it Haley asked Brooke about Peyton's condition.
"She looks so much better, you need to come see her and just be amazed at how much better she looks." Brooke said beaming.
"Yeah I'll have to come see her soon."
"So how is my godson?"
"He's good, Nathan took him to a basketball game the other night, I forget the names of the teams but anyway he had a great time!"
"Okay hon..any chance that one of those teams might have been the Knicks?" Brooke said.
"Yes! That's it! Thanks Brooke."
Brooke laughed at Haley's clueless moment. "Sure no problem."
"So any idea on how long you guys are going to be staying in New York?" Brooke asked.
Haley dug her fork into some chicken as she listened to Brooke. "Um no not really, I just feel like there is so much going on here with you and Lucas and Peyton that we can't go. Not now."
Brooke nodded. "That's good. Lord knows I need your support but what about Tree Hill High? Aren't they going crazy without their basketball coach and their most awesome teacher?"
"Neh I think they're coping just fine. Mrs. Simms is back from maternity leave so they are fully staffed and Nathan says that his assistant coach can handle things right now with the team, the state championships are miles away so…I guess they're fine without us for now."
"That's great…for me!" Brooke grinned.
Haley laughed and then proceeded to tell Brooke about the Knicks game that Nathan took Jamie to.
Lucas was sitting on a coworker's desk going over campaign ideas for a thrilling autobiography that Random House was going to publish. These days the only enjoyment he had in his life was his work and he took pride in it.
"Lucas Eugene Scott!" He heard yelling from behind him. He turned to see his mother standing with arms crossed. She looked mad.
"Heyyy mom." He spoke nervously as he got up from the desk. He put the papers down before taking a few steps towards her with his arms spread out ready to hug her. Instead he got a smack on the head.
"Ow! Why'd you do that for?!" He said holding his head in pain.
"Because you're an ass!" Karen yelled at he son. "I love you but you're an ass." She said more calmly.
"Okay can we please go into my office?" Lucas said motioning in the direction of his office.
Lucas closed the door to his office and turned to meet his mother's icy glare.
"So mom what's going on?"
"I can't believe you broke Brooke's heart AGAIN!!!" Karen almost had smoke coming out of her ears.
Lucas scolded himself in his mind for not realizing what this was about.
"I know mom, I'm an idiot. But I'm gonna get her back.."
"How?! I'm thinking you are just about out of chances with that girl!"
"Mom please just calm down. Where's Lily?"
"She's with Nathan and Jamie. I didn't want her to see this." Karen sighed as she sat down in a leather chair.
"Look mom I just got into some trouble that's all. Once it's over I'm gonna win her back okay?"
"No that is not okay! What kind of trouble? And who is Julianne?"
"Mom please don't get worked up again." Lucas said as he paced the room. "I can't tell you what's going on with me or anything about Julianne. I just need you to know that I had to push Brooke away for a reason. It's not because I don't love her anymore, cause I do. In fact, before all this happened…I was going to ask her to marry me."
Karen's face lit up: "Really?"
Lucas walked over to his desk and opened up the top drawer. He pulled out a little purple box and opened it. The ring inside had a huge diamond on it and Karen gasped at the sight of it.
"It's beautiful…You must have really gotten into some bad trouble to push her away. I mean if this is how you felt about her…" Karen was interrupted by Lucas' groans.
"That's exactly why I pushed her away, because I love her. I needed to protect her."
Karen stood up and reached out over the desk to grab her son's hand. "I see. Well if there's anything I can do to help…"
Lucas nodded: "Just don't tell anyone about this."
"You got it. Love you my boy." Karen said and then walked out of his office.
Lucas slumped down into his chair and looked at the ring. One of these days he was going to slip that ring on to Brooke Davis' finger and keep it there for the rest of their lives.
That afternoon Brooke was back in Peyton's hospital room. She was reading to her from 'The Notebook'. Brooke sighed as she read through the pages: "If only a love like that were real huh Peyton?" She looked up to see Peyton's unresponsive face. A moment later there was a small knock on the door, Nathan and Haley walked in.
"Hi Brooke. Hi Peyton. How's she doing?" Nathan asked .
"She's doing much better." Brooke smiled.
"Good." Nathan walked over to Peyton's bedside and took her hand.
"Hey Peyt. I know how much you hated it when I called you that. It's funny how it seems like a lifetime ago but…we miss you so please wake up soon okay?"
Haley and Brooke looked at each other, both of them had tears filling up their eyes. They all sat down and talked for about an hour before Haley realized that they had to pick up Jamie from the hospital daycare. When they had left Brooke looked at Peyton.
"Well P.Sawyer I hope you had a good time reminiscing like we did." Brooke smiled at her friend. Her smiles were all fake these days as Brooke knew that with each passing day the chances of Peyton waking up healthy were getting slimmer. She had to put on a brave face and act like it didn't bother her but deep down she was worried sick about her old best friend.
"I have to go now, visiting hours are almost over. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning." Brooke said with the most upbeat voice she could manage.
She walked to the door and stopped: "I love you Peyton. In spite of all that's happened you are still the best friend I've ever had." She spoke those words without turning around. It was too hard for her to face Peyton and say that. Then she walked down the corridor of the hospital and broke down in tears. The pressure of keeping a happy face on was getting too much to handle. Brooke reached for her cellphone only to find it wasn't in her pocket. "Damn I must've left it in Peyton's room." She mumbled as she hurried back to the room. When she entered the room Peyton's eyes were open. Brooke gasped in shock and tried to cover her mouth with her hands but it was too late, the gasp was out there.
Peyton raised her hand a little and managed to point to a glass of water on the table next to her.
Still in shock, Brooke didn't move a muscle for a moment. She just stood there staring at Peyton. "I'm sorry, you want some water?" She finally managed to blurt out.
"Yes." Peyton said, her voice was strained.
Brooke took the glass and helped Peyton take a sip. She managed to swallow a couple of gulps of water.
"I'm going to tell the doctor that you're awake." Brooke said to Peyton with a small smile.
As Brooke turned to leave Peyton grabbed her arm tightly. "Ow what the hell!" Brooke said facing Peyton. Peyton pulled her in closer and said: "Lucas made up Julianne".
Brooke's eyes widened at this statement: "What?"
Peyton tried to speak again but instead she started coughing intensively.
"I'm gonna get the doctor now." Brooke said as she turned to leave.
