Thank you again to everyone for reading and reviewing the story! I was really unsure about the last chapter, but it seemed everyone liked it. So now I'm just unsure about this one… hope it doesn't disappoint!
Ch. 7
"Look, I don't care what you have to do, I don't want to see a freaking camera within five feet of her. I'm serious! I will fucking beat someone's ass Millie. I don't know… call the National Guard, call the mayor – he sent flowers. Whatever Millie, I'll hire security if I have to. I want freaking private security ninjas, Millie, make it happen." Julian ended the call with Millie and breathed a weary sigh. Julian and Millie had been coordinating and organizing Brooke's release from the hospital the next day for hours. She has definitely earned that raise. Julian closed his eyes as he thought back to the circumstances of Brooke promising Millie a raise and he shook his head, it seems like a life time ago.
Julian wanted to shield Brooke as much as possible from the media circus that had accumulated outside of her hospital. Ironically, the paparazzi frenzy was the cause of her accident and because of that "legitimate" news outlets were pouncing on the story and had crammed the sidewalks surrounding the hospital. Brooke and her injuries were everyone's favorite topic at least until the next story, and Julian couldn't wait for someone else to bear the brunt of the tabloid's scrutiny.
Walking back into Brooke's room, Julian felt his tensions slowly fade as he smiled at Brooke and Haley snuggled together in Brooke's bed. Peyton and Lucas had returned to Tree Hill a couple of days after Brooke regained consciousness. Peyton shouldn't have been flying this late into her pregnancy in the first place and they wanted to make sure they were back home to avoid having Baby Sawyer in New York or in the air. Nathan reluctantly returned home to look after Jamie the day after Peyton and Lucas departed. Haley had remained, determined to see her friend safely deposited back in her apartment or better yet at home with her in Tree Hill. Julian knew that Haley had been trying to convince Brooke to return to North Carolina with her friends, her family, so that they could look after her.
Brooke had deflected everyone's attempts to convince her to relocate back to Tree Hill, but he could see the uncertainty in her eyes. Who didn't notice the longing wistfulness on her face as she gazed at Peyton's pregnant belly? He had overheard many conversations over the past week between the high school friends where Brooke expressed regret over missing so many milestones and events in Jamie's life, and now she was repeating the same absentee-godmother routine with Sawyer.
Honestly, Julian didn't know what was holding her back. Maybe it is me? But Julian quickly shook those hopeful thoughts from his mind. It was too early, too soon for Brooke to factor him into her plans and he began to feel bitter towards the timing of the accident. As if there would ever be a good time for your girlfriend to get ran over by a truck dumb ass! Julian was thankful for the Tree Hill Posse's attentive 24/7 presence for Brooke, but he also resented the hell out of it. He hadn't spent more than a couple of minutes alone with Brooke since she regained consciousness, and that had only been to handle necessary details. They hadn't talked or discussed anything regarding them since before the accident and Julian doubted he should even think of her as his girlfriend at this point.
Reclining back in the world's most uncomfortable chair that insanely doubled as a pull out twin size bed, Julian tried to close his eyes while the two women napped. He had barely slept in the week since Brooke's accident and his exhaustion was glaringly obvious. Even Brooke's doctor had prescribed him some sleeping pills to help him rest, but they couldn't override his psychological scars of her accident. He tried to sleep when Brooke slept, but every time he closed his eyes he would see her bloody and broken in his arms. He would be drifting towards sleep, but he could hear the haunting and nauseating sound of Brooke's body hitting the truck then hitting the ground.
Each time, every night he repeated the same pattern. Pop a couple of pills, lie down, toss, turn, and get up. Julian spent his nights by Brooke's bedside simply looking at her, careful not to disturb the restless sleep she managed to get. Tonight was no exception to his routine. Julian sat near Brooke's side of the bed and he gently ran his finger along the bandage along her hair line. The plastic surgeon had assured her there would be no lasting indication of her accident, and Julian ruefully smiled remembering how Brooke had joked he could go ahead and tighten her up for a face lift. Julian knew the uncertainty of his situation with Brooke and his guilt over Brooke's accident was what kept him from sleeping. There's no pill for guilt.
"Hey, baby. Why are you awake?" Brooke's raspy voice sleepily drifted up to him. She reached up to his hand and looked into his bloodshot eyes and waited. In true Brooke Davis fashion, she was more concerned for Julian than her own recovery. She knew that her physical injuries would heal long before Julian's mental wounds, and it scared her that she wouldn't be able to help him. She knew he hadn't been sleeping and that the doctor had given him some sleeping pills, but she also knew they weren't helping. She was hopeful that once they were back at her apartment, he would be able to relax and finally be able to sleep. She loved Haley for staying, but she needed to be alone with Julian and she was happy to go home tomorrow.
Julian leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep." He pulled away from her intending to return to the horrible sleeper chair, but Brooke gripped his hand and shook her head. She puckered her lips and looked at him with flirtatious eyes. Julian's lips barely lifted in a grin, and Brooke hated that it had been so long since she saw him really smile. She crossed her eyes in addition to her puckered lips and started making kissing sounds. There it is! Brooke triumphantly cheered as she saw Julian grin, but he remained distant and didn't close in for the kiss.
Immediately shifting gears, Brooke poked her lower lip out in an exaggerated pout and gave Julian the formidable puppy-dog eyes. "What does a girl have to do to get a kiss around here? I mean I already got ran over by a truck, what more do I have to do?" Brooke whispered as she held Julian's hand slightly swaying it near her chest. Julian's smile widened as he chuckled and brought his face closer to Brooke. "Shhhh… you don't want to wake Haley." He whispered on Brooke's lips. "You forget Haley and I were roommates. She's use to hearing me do a lot more than kiss." Brooke teased as she kissed Julian with an intensity that surprised him.
He was the first to break from the kiss before it got too heated. "Brooke that's not fair. You can't kiss me like that when you're lying next to another woman." He attempted to joke, but his voice was more shaken than he would've liked. Brooke smiled in victory and teased, "What's the matter? You want Haley to join in?" She laughed as she pulled his hand to her breast and tried to pull his lips back to hers.
"You guys do realize I am awake, don't you? And Julian – not in a million years. And Brooke – eeewww! I so knew you weren't just giving each other massages!" Haley lifted her head from the bed and glared at them. She pulled her pillow up and over her head "Go to bed! You guys can totally do it tomorrow."
Brooke and Julian looked at each other and laughed sheepishly caught by the very grumpy Haley. "She's never been a morning person" Brooke grinned as she kissed Julian softly and squeezed his hand before letting it go. "Go to sleep baby. You need your rest, don't forget we can totally do it tomorrow." Brooke yawned despite her attempts of being seductive and Julian thought she had never been more adorable and alluring. She winked at Julian as he laid back on the chair and closed his eyes. Only this time when he closed his eyes, he didn't see Brooke lying on the street he saw her lying in her bed waiting for him. And for the first time in a week, Julian Baker slept.
Brooke nervously gripped Haley's hand as the two women silently rode the elevator down to the lobby of the hospital. Julian and Millie were already waiting for them, ready to whisk her outside to her car. She was still amazed at the media attention she was receiving. Normally she was one that flew somewhat under the radar, but her attachment to the dashing movie producer and recent accident was the top news story each night. Millie had brought Brooke her laptop earlier in the week to catch up on some emails, but Brooke couldn't resist her morbid curiosity and easily found video and photos of her accident. Brooke watched one grainy cell phone video posted on youtube repeatedly. It was from a slight distance and showed the ominous approach of the truck and then her body suddenly flying through the air. Even more addictive than seeing the moment of impact between her body and the truck was the perfect depiction of Julian's reaction. This particular video was in a perfect position to capture Julian charging through the crowd and then collapsing next to her. The video almost seemed to zoom in as the person ran closer to get a better look, she was able to see the despair and fear on Julian's face as he held her body against hers. It all seemed so surreal to watch and she wished that it was just a movie, but it was real and it was her.
Julian and Millie had arranged a covered tarp and additional security to prevent photographers from getting to close to Brooke. Millie watched Julian apprehensively, unsure of his reaction to the journalists, photographers, and fans trying to get a picture of the recuperating Brooke Davis. She hoped for Julian's sake that no one dared to cross the barricades because she believed that would be the last flicker to ignite his increasingly short fuse.
"Well, that went better than expected!" Brooke exclaimed cheerfully as the limo sped away from the hospital. Julian, Millie, and Haley looked at Brooke with incredulous expressions and loudly guffawed at her interpretation of the ten minute ordeal to reach five feet. Julian had remained remarkable in control of his emotions and tempers as several correspondents nudged their way dangerously close to the car and Brooke. Millie cautiously warned to hold off on the optimism, "Brooke will still have to get you inside."
The scene outside Brooke's apartment was eerily similar to the day of Brooke's accident. Paparazzi were crawling the sidewalks waiting for her arrival like cockroaches. Julian's jaw tightened and she could hear the grinding of his teeth as he looked at the photographers and cameras. Brooke reached out to him and bravely smiled "Let it go. I won't let them hurt me again."
Julian knew Brooke was trying to be strong for him, but he could see the fear in her eyes. Hell, he could see the fear in all of their eyes. Haley's brows were furrowed and her knuckles were white from gripping Brooke's hand so hard. Millie was anxiously twirling her hair and biting her lip so hard he was surprised she wasn't bleeding. And he knew whatever they were feeling was reflected back in his eyes. He closed his eyes to erase his own fear and hoped that when he opened them again he would only show strength. He knew that Brooke could protect herself, but he wanted to be the one to protect her, to save her.
The security detail outside created an opening for Brooke to enter her building. There was no way to provide a barrier to the photographers, so the ones who chose to wait at her home would be the ones rewarded with the first pictures of Brooke. The doorman quickly approached the door with a wheelchair for Brooke and she winced at the sight. She knew she would be in a wheelchair for a few weeks before she could attempt using crutches and she hated the dependency it created, the weakness it showed and her eyes involuntarily began to water. Julian rubbed her left knee and told her in a low tone, "I'm right here. We are all right here for you. You can do this. You're Brooke freaking Davis, don't give the bastards the satisfaction of seeing you cry."
Taking a deep, shaky breath, Brooke nodded in agreement with Julian and smiled, "I may enjoy getting pushed around and waited on all the time. You better watch… I could get use to it." The driver suddenly opened the door and the four were overwhelmed with the deafening shouting and sounds from the paparazzi. Julian and the driver helped to gingerly place Brooke into the wheelchair while Millie and Haley removed items from the car. Despite the stoic faces of her companions, Brooke smiled and gave a little wave to the photographers before Julian had her quickly inside the building and in the elevator.
Brooke gave a low whistle upon entering her apartment, "So this is what it would looks like when I die." Haley gasped and slapped Brooke's shoulder, but Brooke broadly gestured, "Don't slap me, I'm injured! Seriously, look at this place Tutor Mom! It looks like a floral convention in here." Millie breezed in behind them, "Oh, this is nothing Brooke. I sent most of them to COB headquarters."
Brooke gave a half laugh in appreciation and looked over at Julian with a twinkle in her eye, "You know I think I could really use a little nap in my own bed. Get me there movie boy?" Julian smiled and obligingly pushed Brooke's wheelchair towards her bedroom. Haley gave Millie a knowing smile while Millie smiled back vaguely, unaware of what Haley was inferring from Brooke's comment. Rolling her eyes at Millie's innocence, Haley mouthed the word "sex" and then spelled "S-E-X" when Millie had shrugged in confusion. Realization finally registered on Millie's face and she blushed brightly, "Oh, Oh, Oh! Oh my G-d!"
"That's what Brooke'll say!" Haley laughed as Millie gathered her things and ran to the door.