-1
It all happened so fast.
One minute they were all standing in the McDonalds parking lot and the next minute, Lucas and Chase were on the ground, Chase gasping for air as Lucas squeezed his throat with his strong hands. Nathan shook his head as he tried to comprehend what had occurred in the last thirty minutes. He looked over to his right and watched the ambulance speed off, carrying the unconscious and bloody body of Chase. Nathan felt his stomach heave as the image of blood that soaked the ground only a few feet away flashed in his mind again. He looked to his left and saw a witness talking to Deputy Skillz Taylor, giving his version of the events that occurred. Nathan closed his eyes again and he rubbed his aching shoulder. It didn't feel broken, but it certainly felt bruised or perhaps even dislocated.
It all happened so fast. Like a whirlwind. Like a dream.
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Lucas lunged at Chase, his eyes ablaze with something resembling unadulterated hatred. The two men fell to the ground with Chase landing flat on his back, his head slamming on the cement sidewalk.
"What the hell?" Nathan yelled as he jumped forward to try to pull Lucas off Chase.
Lucas squeezed his fingers around Chase's throat, his hands like an iron vise on his windpipe. Chase frantically grasped Lucas's wrists as he attempted to free his neck from Lucas's crushing grasp, all the while gasping for air. Chase's eyes were wide and full of pure fear as he looked up into Lucas's face. Lucas's eyes were narrow slits and were red with rage.
"You bastard!" Lucas growled through clenched teeth. "I'm going to kill you for what you did to her."
Nathan grabbed onto Lucas's right arm and tried to wrench it away from Chase.
"Lucas, what the hell. You're going to kill him" Nathan pleaded and grasped Lucas's other arm, pulling on it. Lucas's arm flew back, knocking Nathan off balance and he landed on his butt, sliding across the sidewalk and into a mailbox. The corner slammed into his back and he grunted in pain as he got up and charged back over to the fight.
Lucas wrenched his arm away from Nathan and glared up at his brother. His eyes were smoldering and Nathan stepped back in fear momentarily. Chase gasped for air beneath Lucas and managed to swing his fist upward, as Lucas was distracted, and slam Lucas in his nose. Lucas's body jerked backwards and blood gushed from his nose as he shook his head, momentarily stunned. Nathan grabbed Lucas before he was able to lunge back at Chase. Then pulled him to his feet, and attempted to restrain him.
"Let me go!" Lucas demanded as Chase stood up.
"Lucas, are you crazy? What's gotten into you?"
Lucas stopped struggling and looked at Chase, who still had fear in his eyes. Nathan loosened his grip on Lucas and handed him a handkerchief to wipe his bloody nose. As soon as he was free, Lucas lunged toward Chase again, his fist slamming into Chase's face. Chase fell backward again and Lucas jumped on top of him and began to pummel him, hitting him anywhere he could. Tears of anger and pain blurred his eyes as he beat his former friend senseless. Nathan attempted to pull Lucas off Chase again, but Lucas just shook him away. Nathan grabbed Lucas around the neck and tried to restrain him that way but Lucas jerked forward and Nathan ended up flipping over his back and landing on the sidewalk in front of them. A searing pain shot through Nathan's shoulder as he landed with a thump.
"My God, somebody call the cops!" someone pleaded out to anyone in the small crowd that had formed a circle around them. A man whipped out his cell phone and dialed 911.
Lucas grabbed Chase by the neck again and slammed his head forcefully against the cement and Chase went limp; his eyes fluttering closed. Lucas looked down at Chase's motionless body and he suddenly realized what he had done. For a moment it was as if he stepped out of his own body and was watching the scene before him. Blood seeped from beneath Chase's head coloring the ground crimson and Lucas slumped backward, burying his face in his hands.
My God, what had he done?
Suddenly Lucas was jerked up off the ground and came face to face with his friend and new Tree Hill Deputy Skillz Taylor.. Skillz looked at him, shocked, then down at Chase, then back at Lucas again. Lucas held his gaze, his eyes cold and hard. Skillz shuddered at what he saw and then he reached for his radio requesting an ambulance.
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Nathan shook his head, trying to get the images to go away as Skillz approached him, a stern professional look masking the turmoil certainly beneath it.
"Nathan, you should have the EMT take a look at that shoulder."
"It's fine. Just bruised I think."
"Still you should have someone look at it." Skillz paused for a moment. "So, Nathan, do you know what this was about?
Nathan turned and looked behind him. Next to the second ambulance stood Lucas, his shoulders slumped. The EMT had cleaned his face of the blood, but it was obvious that his nose was broken, the faint signs of bruising was starting to appear beneath his eyes. The EMT was tending to his bloody hand that had gotten scraped during the fight. Lucas had a vacant, almost hollow look on his face. He showed no emotion when Skillz arrived and took him into custody and that frightened Nathan more than anything else he witnessed. Nathan turned slowly back to Skillz and sighed heavily he wanted to help Lucas but he was afraid of betraying Lucas and Brooke's trust if he told the truth.
"I have no idea. One second we were greeting Chase and the next Lucas was pummeling him."
"Did Chase say something to Lucas to make him angry. This is not like my him at all."
"I know Skillz. It was the most shocking thing. I have never seen Lucas that enraged. It was like he was one of those people who have super human strength, you know when they're in danger or someone else is in danger and they're trying to help them. It was like he was unstoppable for a minute. I really thought he was going to kill him Skillz."
Skillz nodded thoughtfully as he looked over at Lucas. .
"I've got to go." Skillz said as he hurriedly retreated in that direction.
Nathan watched as Skillz put Lucas into the back seat of his squad car and got in and drove away. Nathan looked back at the bloody cement on the sidewalk and he closed his eyes. He then did the only thing he knew he could he picked up the phone and called Jake.
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Brooke walked into the police station with a determination Peyton had never before seen. She hadn't told Brooke the whole story because she didn't even know what went down herself. Peyton hurried to catch up with Brooke as she approached the front desk, immediately addressing the police officer sitting behind it.
"I'm Brooke Davis-Scott. I'm here to see my husband Lucas."
The man looked at her for a long moment before he spoke. "Ahhh, Well, Mrs. Scott, I'm afraid that won't be possible."
"What do you mean that won't be possible?" Brooke asked incredulously. Her head was beginning to throb and her patience was wearing very thin and the prick behind the counter was not helping.
"He's in the process of being booked. You'll have to wait until that's finished." He dismissed her rather abruptly and Brooke leaned forward, slapping her hands of the front of his desk.
"Look, Officer Monroe, is it?" Brooke said through clenched teeth as she read his badge. "My husband is in this building being booked you say for something I don't know what it is and I want to see him. You can't deny me access to him."
"Brooke," Peyton warned in a low voice and she put her hand on Brooke's arm as she silently prayed Brooke wouldn't do something to get herself thrown in jail.
"Actually I can Mrs. Scott." Officer Monroe stated matter-of-factly, his tone annoyed. "Now why don't you have a seat and I'll let you know when your husband is booked."
"What is he being booked for?" She asked in a slow deliberate voice.
"Well there's a list of things. Aggravated assault and battery with the intent to do grievous bodily harm and if that young man dies, they'll probably add murder to it."
Brooke gasped and covered her mouth with her hand as she stumbled backward. Peyton helped to steady her.
"I want to see my husband now Officer!" Brooke replied angrily after regaining her balance.
"I told you already Mrs. Scott…."
"I don't care what you told me. I want to see him right now. Let me speak to Deputy Skillz Taylor"
"Look, I am not going to tell you again. Sit down and I will let you know when you can see the prisoner."
"Do not call him that!" She growled as Skillz came through the door.
"What's going on here?"
"Skillz!" Brooke gasped as she rushed toward him.
"What happened? You have to let me see him? Is he all right?" Brooke's words tripped over one another as she grabbed onto Skillz's arm frantically.
"Brooke, calm down. He's fine, I guess." The troubled look in Skillz's face clutched at Brooke's heart like a giant fist.
"What do you mean you guess? Tell me Skillz!" Brooke demanded as she tightened her grasp on his shirt. She was shaking and Skillz put his arms around her.
"Brooke, he almost killed Chase today." Brooke's eyes slammed shut. "Chase was just admitted into Tree Hill Memorial and he's in critical condition. If he doesn't make it…?" Skillz couldn't complete his sentence, the thought just too horrible to imagine.
Brooke buried her face in Skillz's chest as she began to sob. Officer Monroe watched quietly, unaffected.
Peyton's shoulder's slumped as Jake, Karen, Nathan, Mouth, Rachel and Haley came rushing through the door.
"Thank god you're here. What's happening?" Rachel asked as she reached Peyton, her eyes stealing a glance at Brooke as Skillz led Brooke through the double doors leading back to the inner sanctuary of the Tree Hill Police station.
Jake pulled Peyton into his arms and she wrapped her arms around him.
"Lucas is being booked for assault and battery. What happened Jake? What in God's name happened?"
Skillz let Brooke back to his desk and handed her a tissue as she sat down.
"Please Skillz, I have to see him."
"Brooke, I can't. He's being booked. It shouldn't take much longer."
Brooke grimaced and grabbed her stomach when a sharp pain radiated through it.
"Are you all right Brooke? You don't look very good. Do want some water or something?"
She shook her head. "No, Skillz. Thank you though. I just want to see my husband."
Skillz reached out and squeezed her shoulder gently. "It shouldn't be much longer Brooke. I have to run to the hospital to see how Chase is doing"
Brooke smiled sadly. "Thanks Skillz."
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Lucas sat on a cot in the corner of the cold gray cell. His head was tilted back against the cement wall and his eyes were closed, his breathing even and slow. He wrung his fingers together the way he had seen Brooke do a million times when she was nervous or agitated. He turned his wedding band around his finger and he felt the tears that he'd been holding back all day start to burn his eyelids. All he wanted at that moment was to feel Brooke's comforting arms around him, to hear her soothing voice in his ear telling him that everything would be all right. The only thing was Lucas didn't feel like anything would be all right again. Where was she? Someone had to have called her and told her what happened. He had hoped to see her at the arraignment but at the same time he was afraid to see her, afraid of what he would see in her eyes. Would she understand or would she be livid at him for not keeping his promise to not go after Chase.
Lucas shook his head and sat forward. He never promised her he wouldn't go after Chase. He told her once before he wouldn't make her a promise there was no way he could keep. He had intended to try though for her sake. Not coming in contact with Chase had made it easier. But the second Lucas saw him; all the rage that he had successfully buried surged to the surface. Lucas looked down at his hands. They were shaking and his right one was bandaged in white gauze, small specs of blood could be seen beneath. Lucas closed his eyes again. His face was still throbbing. He had asked the guard for an aspirin when they returned from the arraignment but he never brought it. It had been over a half hour and now the throbbing had turned into a dull ache, an ache that Lucas felt would never go away.
When Lucas had caught sight of himself in the glass doors of the courthouse he had been horrified at what he saw and not just physically. There was a hollow look in his eyes that was unmistakable; a look that revealed how truly far down he had sunk. When he saw Chase that afternoon all he had wanted to do was kill him. The thought of what Chase had done to Brooke, the way she looked when she told him about the attack and the horrible bruises on her body from Chase's strong fingers caused Lucas to start trembling with anger. He had effectively blocked the whole thing out of his mind after all this time. Not seeing or hearing of Chase had helped him to not think about it on a daily basis the way he had originally done. The longer it had been, the less he thought of it. The happier he and Brooke were the less he thought about it. It all came back to Brooke. Everything always did. She was his life and the thought of her hurt or in danger made him physically ill. The thought that he failed to protect her made him want to empty the contents of his stomach right here and now. That was another thing that Lucas had effectively blocked out. His guilt. That's what so much of this actually came back to; the guilt he felt at not protecting her.
The shaking of his body continued the more he thought about it and the fury he felt coursing through his body frightened him. He breathed deeply trying to calm himself. Fury had been the only emotion that surged through him as he had lunged at his former friend several hours earlier. How had he ever gotten to that point? The point where you're so enraged that you actually believed you could kill. How does a person go from being a non-violent person to one who could kill with his bare hands without so much as a second thought?
Lucas heard the distinct jingle of keys unlocking the cell bars and then the squeak of the cell door opening. He opened his eyes and came face to face with Skillz.
Skillz walked over to him silently and handed Lucas a glass of water and two huge pills.
"I thought you might need these." Skillz said softly as Lucas gratefully took the offering.
"Thanks Skillz. I guess that lovely guard of yours forgot about me." Lucas tossed the pills into his mouth and gulped down the water. He stood up and walked over to the tiny window covered with bars and looked out at the parking lot.
"Lucas," Skillz started, not sure what to say.
"Look Skillz, if you're going to tell me what a horrible person I am and ask me how I could possibly do what I did, do me a favor and save your breath. I'm just not in the mood for it right now"
"That's not what I was going to say Luke. I know why you did it and to be very frank with you I probably would've done the same thing."
Lucas looked at Skillz and shook his head.
"I don't think you have any idea why I almost killed him this afternoon Skillz, but thanks for the sympathy." Lucas spat angrily.
Skillz looked at Lucas, his gaze never wavering. "Brooke told me everything."
Lucas looked at Skillz and knew that he did indeed know and mouth fell open in surprise. Brooke had been the one to insist that no one ever know.
"I'm so very sorry."
It sounded lame and contrite but it was all he could say. Lucas looked away ashamed.
"Yeah, me too Skillz. Good old Lucas, he can't even protect his wife from her ex-boyfriend."
"That's not what I meant." Skillz walked over and put his hand on Lucas's shoulder. Lucas shrugged his hand away.
"Lucas, why didn't you come to me? I could have done something."
Lucas spun around to face him.
"Don't you get it Skillz? She didn't want anyone to know. She begged me not to go to you. She begged me to just let it go." Lucas's anger dissipated slightly as his shoulder slumped. "And I can't deny her anything. You know that Skillz. I'll do anything she asks of me, even if it kills me."
Skillz stepped forward and pulled his friend into his arms. Lucas stood stiffly in his embrace for a moment before he finally relaxed and wrapped his arms around Skillz, thankful for his arms, someone's arms. Thankful for the comfort he so desperately needed at that moment.
"I screwed up really badly Skillz and I think I've just ruined my life." Lucas sighed audibly; glad there was someone there he could finally talk to. "I'm going to rot in prison for a long time to come and there's nothing I can do to change that fact. I should have known better than to get too comfortable and happy with Brooke. Now look at what we have to look forward to, monthly conjugal visits if we're lucky. But she may hold out for that, don't ya think Skillz?" Lucas scoffed.
He pulled away from Skillz and turned back to the window, desperately trying to hide the fear and pain in his voice but failing miserably.
"Why don't you ask her yourself? She's waiting to see you."
Lucas turned quickly, his eyes hopeful for a moment.
"She's here?" he asked, a hitch in his voice.
"Yes, Luke. She's been here the whole time".
Lucas's eyes widened in surprise and the first true smile since everything happened graced his face.
"That's my girl." Lucas said softly just barely loud enough for Skillz to hear.
"How pissed at me is she?" Lucas asked over the lump in his throat.
Skillz smiled sadly.
"Well, you'll just have to see for yourself. Let me go get her. You should be out of here soon, the paperwork is just being finished now."
"Wait a minute? How am I getting out of here… isn't my bail is too expensive?
"You should probably talk to Brooke about that." Skillz responded as he began to back out of the cell.
"Skillz," Lucas growled. "What happened?"
"It's Sunday Luke…the bank is closed…Brooke put up the necklace that her grandmother gave her …. It was appraised at thirty five hundred and the rest of us put up the rest." Skillz admitted.
"Damn it Skillz...how could you let her put up her grandmother's necklace?…Brooke loves that necklace…her grandmother was the only person in Brooke's family that Brooke ever felt truly loved her"
"Lucas it's just being used as collateral for the bail bondsman. And it's not like I could stop her. You should know better than anyone when she sets her mind on something, nothing will change it." Lucas nodded silently acknowledging the validity of his statement. "As long as you don't get your bail revoked or skip town, nothing is at risk. You know Lucas, I hope you know how truly lucky you are. Brooke loves you very much."
Lucas nodded his head again. He knew and he was so infinitely grateful.
"I know Skillz. I can't believe I've done this to her."
"Well let me go get her. She threatened to kill me if I took too long in here" Skillz winced as he realized his choice of words and he turned to walk out of the cell but Lucas's voice stopped him.
"Skillz," Lucas paused for a moment before he gained the courage to ask his question. "How is Chase?"
Skillz turned and faced Lucas, his face grim. "He's in critical condition. That's really all I know right now."
Lucas nodded as he turned back to the window silently.
Lucas heard the door to the cell open again and he knew it was her. He could feel her and he recognized her soft breathing. It was a sound he spent many nights listening to and memorizing and a feeling of calm suddenly descended upon him. He wanted to turn and open his arms, dying for her run into them. He needed her at that moment like he had never needed anyone in his life and he felt his eyes begin to water as he fought to keep him emotions in control. He had to. For her sake.
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Brooke stepped into the cold dark cell. She ran a hand over her still cramping stomach and sighed. This was not a good time to tell Lucas she was pregnant again. The sun outside was setting and it cast a deep orange hue over the room through the small window. Lucas was standing at the window, his back to her and Brooke felt her breath quicken as she fought to keep the tears of relief at finally seeing him at bay. He was in one piece. Skillz had warned her that his nose was broken and his eyes were bruising as a result, but he had yet to turn to her. She didn't care how he looked as long as he was there with her, safe and sound.
Brooke stepped closer to him. She knew he knew she was there. She could tell by the way he stood. His stance was tentative; almost as if he feared her reaction and Brooke's eyes fell to the floor for a moment before she looked up at him again.
"Luke." She said his name softly, the soft smooth sound of her voice traveled over his aching soul, soothing it, and he turned instantly, needing her in his arms. Brooke gasped at the sight of his battered face. Her hand flew to cover her mouth as her hot tears slipped from her eyes.
Lucas felt his heart crack as he opened his arms and held them out to her. Brooke rushed forward and into his arms, burying her face in his chest as she sobbed. Lucas wrapped her protectively in his embrace and buried his face in her hair careful not to disturb his nose. Brooke clung to him as he murmured softly against her hair.
"I'm so sorry Brooke. I'm so sorry."
They stood there holding one another for a long time; long after the sun had set outside the window. Brooke's sobs slowly became whimpers and finally subsided and she pulled away from him, sniffling, her wet swollen eyes looking up at him. Lucas lifted his hands to her face and wiped the last remnants of her tears from her cheeks. Brooke covered his hands with her own and Lucas bent his face to hers. His lips brushed hers tentatively and Brooke's arms slid around his neck and pulled him closer for a deeper kiss. Fresh pain exploded and radiated throughout his entire face and Lucas sucked in his breath, breaking the kiss.
"Oh, sweetheart, I'm sorry." Brooke responded as she stepped back from him. Lucas pulled her back into his embrace not willing to let her go just yet.
"It's okay Pretty Girl. We just have to be careful."
Brooke reached up and with gentle fingers and touched his nose softly, then lightly traced the bruises under each eye. Fresh tears began to well in her eyes. Lucas cupped her face in his hands and pulled her lips to his. "Shhh, it's okay baby. I'm okay." Lucas kissed her softly again and she let him lead the kiss ever mindful of his nose.
Finally Lucas pulled away and rested his forehead against hers, his eyes closed.
"I love you Lucas," Brooke whispered as she looked up at him, her soft eyes full of love.
"I love you too, Pretty Girl. So much." He whispered hoarsely, her scent, her taste, and the feel of her surrounding him like a warm blanket.
"Good," She whispered again as she shoved him in the chest hard. "Now what the hell were you thinking?" She asked as Lucas stumbled backwards, his eyes popping open.
"Brooke?" He gaped as he rubbed his chest lightly.
"Lucas, why did you do this? You promised me you'd let it go. You promised me you wouldn't go after him." She spat at him angrily.
"Brooke, I never promised you that. I never did!" he shot back at her just as angrily, still stunned from her outburst.
"Why couldn't you just let it be?" Brooke spoke more to herself than him as she began pacing the small cell. "Chase is ruining everything good between us."
Lucas watched her wring her hands together as she spoke and his heart clenched at her words. Her diamond twinkled in the dim lighting from the ceiling and his heart sank even further in his chest as he thought of what she had done for him. She was right. Damn it, why was she always right?
"Brooke, I'm sorry. I tried. I really did. I had no intention of ever going after him because you asked me not to. But when I saw him today I just snapped. It was the most frightening moment of my life Pretty Girl."
Brooke stopped pacing and turned to face him just as he slumped onto the small cot in the corner.
"I've never been a violent man, Brooke. Sure, I've lost my temper before and thrown my fists without thinking, but I've never deliberately tried to kill someone and today I did." He admitted quietly, ashamedly. "It scared me so much Brooke and now I don't know what to do. Chase may die and if he does, I'll go to prison for a long time and I don't know how to even contemplate that"
Brooke walked over and sat next to him, taking his hand hers. "Lucas, don't say that!" She commanded softly. "I don't want to hear you say that. Chase is going to be fine and we are going to get past this."
"How Brooke?" He asked as he pulled his hand away from hers. "How are we going to get past this? Even if he does live, I'm still going to be tried on battery charges. I highly doubt I'll get probation Pretty Girl. Not after all my skirmishes in my youth. I'll still end up going to prison."
"Lucas, your juvenile record is sealed and they can't use that against you." She grabbed his face in her hands, ever mindful of his nose and turned his face to hers. "And you have to believe we will get through this. We have to"
"What did I ever do to deserve you?" He whispered as he kissed her temple softly. "I am so sorry Brooke". Brooke laid her head on Lucas's chest, his strong heartbeat beneath her ear calming her fears by the second.
"Lucas that doesn't matter. None of that matters. All that matters is that we'll get through this together."
"I'm scared Pretty Girl. I'm really scared." Lucas admitted softly.
"Me too Luke. Me too." Brooke admitted just as quietly.
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Brooke walked out of the holding room at the police station. The pain she had felt earlier had worsened. The pain had now radiated down through her stomach and to her pelvis. She walked down the hall and saw all of her friends waiting for news on Lucas. Brooke started to walk over to her friends and that was the last thing she remembered before the intense pain radiated over her and she collapsed onto the floor.
"Oh my god" Peyton and Rachel said in unison running over to Brooke.
"I'll call an ambulance" Karen said pulling out her cell phone.
Brooke groggily opened her eyes and fresh tears spilled out. The paramedics were working on her taking her vital signs and trying to stabilize her so that they could transfer her to the hospital.
"Her BP is 90/60 heart rate is…72 bpm…" one paramedic said to the other.
"Does anyone know what happened?" the other paramedic asked Brooke's group of friends.
"She was walking out of the back room and she just collapsed" Mouth explained to him.
"Does she have any allergies that any of you know about or any medical problems?" the paramedic asked again.
Peyton turned in Jake's arms and looked over at the paramedic "She's pregnant"
I know what some of you are thinking….Skillz a cop? But I think that it kind of suits him in a way. I personally could see Skillz being a police officer. Anyway I hope that you liked this chapter and reviews are ALWAYS appreciated. By the way I was catching up with all of the shenanigans on "One Tree Hill" last night and I caught the preview for the new season….I realize that all the Peyton/Lucas stuff is going to go down this season…but I don't think Mark will let us down….I hope not anyway. I think personally Brucas has a way bigger fan base than Leyton. I have faith that Mark will give us what we want in the end. I'm just saying he BEST not put Brooke and Lucas together and have him cheat on her again…or run back to his "supposed" soul mate Peyton. I won't be a happy camper. If that happens Mark will be receiving a strongly worded letter from me. I realize I've ranted but I'm sure some of you feel the same way.