A/N: I told you I would post this chapter today! I was so excited about it that I couldn't wait any longer! So here is the biggest chapter to the story so far! I hope you all like it. And I hope no one hates me for it! Thanks to Morgan for your help! Please leave a review for me. This was a very hard chapter for me to write. I literally cried while writing the final scene! Thanks!!
Stillbirth. Umbilical cord wrapped around the fetus' neck. Induce labor and deliver the baby. Her baby. Her dead baby. That was all Brooke could comprehend as Brooke spoke.
As Brooke sat with Haley in the exam room, she still wasn't sure if this was real. They had only come in to make sure everything was okay with her baby. Ever since that first kick about ten weeks ago, the baby seemed to never stop. Yet, the last twenty-four hours, Brooke hadn't felt a thing. She didn't think anything of it at first. But Haley, being pregnant herself, could sense something was wrong.
Everyone had just left the lunch table as the bell rang, except for Brooke. She sat at the table, eyes glossed over, one hand wrapped protectively around her belly, the other hand gently pushing, trying to feel the baby. Haley, being the slowest in the group at almost a full term pregnancy, lagged behind everyone. Glancing behind her, she noticed Brooke sitting there. She turned as quickly as she could and headed back to the table, noticing everyone else already on their way to class without a care in the world.
"Brooke? What's wrong?" Haley worriedly asked, taking a seat next to her. Brooke slowly broke out of her trance and looked up at Haley. Haley could clearly see the worry in the brunette's eyes.
"I can't feel it," Brooke whispered, a tear falling from her eye.
"Can't feel what?" Haley questioned, concern stretched across her face. During the months of their pregnancies, Haley had become very close and protective of this girl.
"The baby. Haley, I can't feel it! I've tried everything I could think of! I've tried eating spicy foods that the baby hates, I've tried eating sour foods, I've tried pushing the baby around to get it to move. Nothing works!" she cried helplessly.
"Okay, calm down, I'm sure everything is fine. How long has it been since you felt it kick?" Haley asked, immediately going into panic mode but trying not to show it.
"Um, I don't even know. Night before last?" Brooke mumbled, not sure how long it had been.
"Brooke! Oh God, okay, let's go. We have to get to the doctor!" Haley told her, standing up as fast as she could and pulling Brooke in the direction of the parking lot. Thankfully, Lucas had given Haley a copy of his car key in case of an emergency.
As soon as they got to Brooke's doctor, the nurse had pushed her ahead of all the other patients they had scheduled that day. The doctor immediately rushed in with he head nurse, demanding to try to hear the heartbeat. Brooke lay on the exam table, clutching Haley's hand, hoping for the best. When they told her they couldn't find the heartbeat, the nurse tried to reassure her. But Brooke was mentally trying to prepare herself for the worst. She knew she would have to call Nathan as soon as this was over and tell him.
The doctor had then set up the ultrasound machine to try to see what was going on with the baby. Brooke would never forget that moment.
Brooke was lying on the exam table as the nurse squeezed the cold jelly onto her stomach, preparing for the ultrasound. Haley stood by her head, holding her hand, and praying that everything would turn out okay. Brooke had never been more terrified than she was in that moment. Her future and the future of her child hung in the balance.
The doctor began the ultrasound, searching for any sign of life from the child inside of Brooke. Brooke couldn't bring herself to look at the monitor to the right of her, instead focusing on the doctor's face.
"Oh God," she heard the nurse whisper over the doctor's shoulder.
"What? What happened? Is my baby okay?" Brooke asked frantically, shifting her gaze to the ultrasound monitor. She could easily make out the baby's shape, but still wasn't sure what was wrong.
The doctor hesitated for a moment before turning to Brooke.
"I'm afraid there has been a complication, Brooke. I don't know, I, this is so hard for me to do. I'm so sorry, but the umbilical cord has been wrapped around the fetus' neck," the doctor explained, pointing out the umbilical cord.
"What does that mean? Can you fix it?" she asked in a panic, tears already streaming down her face. Haley stood, clutching Brooke's hand for dear life, not expecting this.
"No, I'm afraid we can't. I'm so sorry, but the baby is gone," Dr. Thomas said, feeling a few tears in her eyes as well. She had become very fond of the brunette.
Dr. Thomas had gone on to explain that the baby was now considered a stillbirth and would have to be delivered. She told Brooke that she had two options. She could either induce labor that day and deliver the baby, or wait for labor to come naturally, which normally happens a week or two after the fetus has died in the womb. They gave Brooke and Haley a moment alone. And that's where they were now.
"Brooke, say something, please," Haley said quietly, not hearing a word from the broken girl in the last fifteen minutes. She had laid on the exam table, curled into a ball, sobbing silently for the loss of her child.
"What do you want me to say?" Brooke asked through her tears.
"Anything! Have you decided what you're going to do? Should I call Nathan now?" Haley asked, hoping to get some kind of answer from her.
"No, I should be the one to tell him. He's in class right now though," Brooke said quietly, deciding to send him a text message to call her immediately. Not even two minutes had passed when her phone rang, the tune of Dierks Bentley's "Come A Little Closer," heard throughout the room. Brooke's eyes teared at again at seeing his name on the screen.
"Nate," she choked out, holding back her sobs.
Baby, where are you? Is everything okay?" he whispered into the phone. Brooke could tell that he had just snuck into the hallway to call her and was trying not to call attention to himself.
"No, everything is not okay. Nate, I'm sorry. I, um, look, the baby is, I mean, I can't, um," Brooke started before Haley took the phone from her hands.
"Nate, it's Haley. Look, I don't know how to say this, but something has happened. I need you to get Peyton, Tim, and Lucas and come to Brooke's doctor's office. We'll explain everything then. Just hurry okay?" Haley tried to explain.
"What? Haley, what's going on? Is Brooke okay? What about the baby?" Nathan's frantic voice asked.
"Nathan, I can't do this over the phone. Just get here okay?" she asked, not waiting for an answer. After she hung up, she went to explain to Dr. Thomas that the father was on the way to help Brooke with her decision.
At THHS:
Nathan hung up the phone frustrated, confused, and worried. He rushed back in the classroom, thankful it was study hall with Whitey as the "teacher." He strode to the desk to explain the situation to Whitey.
"Coach," he muttered, Whitey noticing his panicked expression.
"What's wrong Nathan?" he asked, setting down the newspaper he had been reading.
"I don't know. Brooke and Haley just called. Something's wrong. They won't tell me, but something happened. We have to leave. Now!" Nathan hurriedly explained, motioning to Lucas, Peyton, and Tim to explain the "we."
"Sure, go!" Whitey said, not even bothering to make him get an of campus emergency pass from the attendance office. He knew these kids were the only family they had and if one of them needed something, they all were there.
Nathan rushed to grab his backpack, mumbling, "Let's go. I'll explain in the car," to Peyton, Tim and Lucas.
"Nathan, what is going on?" Peyton demanded, getting into the driver's seat of her Comet and barreling out of the parking lot. Lucas and Tim, both in the backseat, impatiently waited for his response.
"I don't know!" he shouted over the wind," Haley said they would explain when we got there!"
Doctor's Office:
Brooke was still lying on the exam table, looking almost as lifeless as the child inside of her. Haley paced the floor, wondering what was taking so long when she heard Nathan's voice asking for Brooke at the front desk. Casting a quick glance at Brooke, she rushed out the door, getting the group's attention. The whole group entered the exam room against the nurse's wishes, to see Brooke more broken than they ever had. She lifted her head to see Nathan walk towards her slowly. He gently helped her sit up before cradling her in his arms as she started sobbing once again.
"Hales, what happened?" Lucas asked, wrapping her up in a hug.
"Excuse me; I'm Dr. Thomas, Brooke's doctor. Could I have a moment alone with Brooke and Nathan?" they heard as Dr. Thomas walked into the crowded room. Everyone silently agreed, stepping into the hallway.
"Miss James, perhaps you could explain the situation to your friends? You can use my office for privacy," Dr. Thomas suggested. Haley, too torn to respond, simply nodded her head, leading the group to the doctor's private office.
Haley carefully sat down on the couch in the office, Lucas sitting next to her. Peyton and Tim stood just inside the doorway, slightly afraid of the news. Haley leaned into Lucas' side, letting a few tears escape her eyes, trying to decide how to tell them. She knew how upset Peyton and Tim would be. They were supposed to be the godparents.
"Haley, please. What happened?" Peyton whispered, Tim wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Haley took a deep breath and proceeded to tell them the truth. As soon as they realized what Haley was saying, Tim was wrapping Peyton up in his arms to comfort her. Peyton buried her head in his chest, weeping for the child Brooke and Nathan lost.
In the exam room:
After Dr. Thomas explained to Nathan what had happened, tears immediately burst from his eyes. He wrapped himself around Brooke, both sobbing over their lost child, as Dr. Thomas explained their options again.
Brooke abruptly pulled away from Nathan, looking at Dr. Thomas, responding, "Today. I'll deliver it. But I want it done today!"
"Are you sure? Baby, we can wait for it to come naturally," Nathan suggested, trying to calm himself.
"No. I can't do that. I can't carry this baby any longer!" Brooke cried. Dr. Thomas excused herself to set up the induction and delivery with the hospital. She set it up to have an ambulance pick Brooke and Nathan up and transport them to the hospital. Lucas, Haley, Tim, and Peyton followed in Peyton's car, agreeing to pick up Lucas' car later. On the way to the hospital, Lucas called his mother to explain what happened. Tim also decided to call Dan, Surprised when Dan actually sounded concerned for his son and Brooke, promising to meet them there.
When they pulled up to the hospital, Brooke was already being taken into the Labor and Delivery ward. The group met Karen and Dan in the waiting room, shocked at noticing dried tears on Dan's face. Haley tried to explain to the nurses that they were the only family Brooke and Nathan had and should be with them. But the nurse refused to let them into the room while the doctor was administering the Pitocin, the medicine that would start the induction.
They all sat there for three hours, waiting for any news, when a nurse appeared.
"Miss Davis is asking for a Haley and a Karen to come in," she said as the two women followed. Peyton wasn't upset at all by this. She knew Brooke and knew Brooke wouldn't want her closest friend to share this pain with her. She stayed where she was, curled into Tim on the small couch of the waiting room.
When Haley and Karen entered the delivery room, they noticed Brooke curled on her right side, obviously in the middle of a contraction. Nathan was by her side, holding her hand, feeling every pain Brooke felt.
"Oh Brooke!" Karen cried, rushing to her side, wiping the hair out of her eyes.
"Karen, I can't do this!" Brooke wept helplessly. Haley gently pulled Nathan away for a moment as Brooke and Karen talked.
"How far is she dilated?" Haley asked, not bothering to ask how he was. She could see how broken he was.
"Five centimeters. The nurse said the Pitocin is working fast. They said she'll probably be ready to deliver in an hour or two," he explained, trying his hardest to not cry again.
"Have they given her an epidural for the pain?"
"They offered but Brooke refused, "Nathan said quietly, looking at Haley in tears, "She says it's her fault the baby died! She said she deserves to feel this pain!"
Haley had almost broken down at that, but had to stay strong for Brooke. They agreed that she and Karen would stay with Brooke so Nathan could take a break for a little while. The two women held Brooke's hands during her contractions for the next hour as Nathan ventured to the waiting room. He saw Tim and Peyton curled up together, both snoozing. Lucas was sprawled out on the floor, his attention on the news playing on the TV.
"Nathan!" he heard, shocked as he turned to see his father walk towards him from the nurses' station, "Son, I'm so sorry!"
Nathan didn't even have a chance to respond as Dan engulfed him in a hug. Nathan, too overcome with sadness, didn't resist. Instead, he clung to his father and sobbed into his shoulder. His sobs caught the attention of everyone else, waking Tim and Peyton from their slumber. They all stood, taking turns trying to comfort Nathan. Suddenly, they were interrupted by Haley and Karen.
"She's fully dilated. They're getting ready to deliver. She's asking for you Nate," Karen said quietly. Nathan had nothing to say as he turned and ran for Brooke's room.
One Hour Later:
"Brooke, you're doing great Hun! The head is out. I need another big push on your next contraction okay?" Dr. Thomas said, trying to control her obvious sympathy for the couple.
"I can't do it," Brooke choked out, too exhausted to keep going. She leaned her head back onto the hospital bed, looking at Nathan. He looked at her with tears running down his face.
"You can do this baby. I know you can. You just have to be strong!" he told her, wiping her forehead with a towel. She could feel a contraction coming. Brooke leaned forward, her hands underneath her knees, nodding her head and pushing through her tears.
"Okay, Brooke, that was great! The shoulders are almost out! I just need one last push out of you and it's over!" Dr. Thomas said quietly. Brooke braced herself against the pain, pushing with all the strength she had left.
"It's a girl," Dr. Thomas whispered as the baby came out. Nathan, against his better judgment, glanced down at the baby. Shock covered his face as he saw the lifeless newborn.
Normally, this would be a joyous occasion. The mother would finish pushing the baby out with tears of happiness as the baby was placed on her stomach. The father would then be more than happy to cut the umbilical cord as they listened to their child's first cries.
You could have heard a pin drop in the silence of the room. Nathan stayed by Brooke's head, holding her hand as the doctor cut the umbilical cord from around the newborn's neck. The nurse then carried the baby away for a moment.
"Where are you going? Don't I get to see her first?" Brooke sobbed.
"Gina is just going to clean her off first. After she's done, we're going to let you two have a few minutes alone with your daughter before we take her away. The medical examiner's office will most likely be ready to release the body in three to four days. It's up to you what happens from there. You can choose whether or not to have a funeral or a memorial service," Dr. Thomas said, trying to explain the process, "Brooke, Nathan, I really am so sorry. You didn't deserve this. That baby deserved a life with you. Please, if you have a funeral, let me know when. I would like to be there."
"Of course Dr. Thomas," Nathan mumbled, trying to hold himself together for Brooke. The doctor then left the room. The only other person in the room with them was the nurse, Gina, who was carrying the baby to her parents.
"Here you go sweetie," Gina whispered, handing the newborn over to Brooke, "We'll be back in about thirty minutes. Normally, we take them after ten minutes. But I'm going to act like I can't tell time. I'm so sorry."
"Gina!" Brooke called before she was out the door, "Can our friends come in too?"
"No, I'm afraid not. We don't let anyone but the parents be with the baby," she explained with a sad smile. Brooke nodded her head before finally looking at her child for the first time. The baby's eyes were closed and she was wrapped in a soft, pink blanket. They didn't put a hat on her head like normal, and Brooke could see a head full of dark brown hair, just like Nathan's.
"She's gorgeous," Nathan murmured, sliding a finger down her small cheek.
"She really is. She looks like you!" Brooke sadly smiled, a new batch of tears running down her cheeks.
"Molly Erin Scott, I love you!" Nathan said quietly, not bothering to hold his tears.
"Yes, we love you baby. I wish you were really here with us. We would have been the best parents ever. Please know we will always love you," Brooke spoke so quietly that Nathan hardly heard her words.
The two broken parents spent the next twenty minutes in silence with their lost child. Eventually, Gina came back in to take the baby away.
"I love you Molly Erin," Brooke cried, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. Nathan copied her actions before handing the baby over to Gina.
As Gina left the room with a blanket covering Molly Erin's face, Brooke collapsed into Nathan's arms, not knowing what to do with herself.
"Shh, it's okay baby. It's going to be okay," Nathan whispered softly into her ear. His tears were now mixing in with hers as they started the grieving process.