Disclaimers: I do not own OTH or the characters.
Spoilers: Season 4, episode 17 (Psycho Derek's attack); Season 6, episode 1–4.
Rating: T

Notes: Peyton comes home and finds Brooke a mess. Brooke tries to lie about how she got the bruises, but that shit don't go down too well. This has a few pieces of dialogue from this scene but overall it was changed majorly.

Notes 2: Thank you to those who reviewed and/or favorited/followed. I will hopefully have the rest of this posted fairly quickly.

Content warning: mention/thoughts of Brooke's attack, thoughts back to Psycho Derek's attack.

Enjoy. :)

Peyton unlocks the door and enters immediately calling out for her best friend.

"Brooke! I'm home."

She wonders if the brunette is awake. It is still early after all.

She dumps the duffle on the couch and waits for a response. When she does not get one she heads toward their bedrooms.

She stops herself from calling out again but as she tries the doorknob, wanting to just peek in and see for herself that Brooke is okay, she is surprised to find it locked.

Brooke never locks her bedroom door.

Now the odd tone of voice and weirdness comes back full force from just a few hours ago. Her heart takes refuge in her throat and she knocks, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"Brooke, you in there?"

She holds her breath, waiting, listening, willing her friend to answer.

"Brookie?" Please answer, I know you're in there, she adds in her head. She leans her head on the wooden door. Finally, just as she goes to grab her phone and call Luke to come back, she hears something on the other side of the door.

Her head shoots up. "Brooke?"

"Peyton?"

That same off tone is still there, and Peyton bites her lip, telling herself crying can be done once she figures out if something really is wrong.

"Yeah, it's me."

"You're supposed to be with Lucas."

Peyton's eyes fall closed and her forehead hits the door. "I know. But I came back."

"Why?"

She sighs, "Because I was worried about you."

She hears some form of a muffled huff or scoff and wishes the door would disappear so she could look her in the eyes.

"You shouldn't have come back, Peyton. I told you, I'm fine."

Peyton scoffs this time, her voice fractured with tears she has failed to not let fall. "I will always come for you, Brooke Davis, and not even a fiancé will keep me from doing so."

She waits for a response and when she gets none, she adds, "Please open the door."

What feels like an eternity passes and then she sees the light appear at the bottom of the door. The doorknob turns and is pulled just the slightest but stops when it is about an inch opened.

"Promise you won't freak out."

Peyton's mouth drops open and for a second she works for a response. "What?"

It's not reassuring in the least bit. And now that feeling has officially grown into a pool of dread.

The door opens fully and Brooke takes a step back. Her bedroom light illuminates… everything. Specifically, the bruises marring half of her face.

Peyton stares, eyes wide. It feels like she's been doused in ice-cold water.

"Brooke… what happened?" Her voice is barely above a whispery breath, and the brunette turns away, shrugging, though it is clear the action is immensely painful.

"Oh, you know, Lindsey came over and…"

Peyton listens to her try to explain these god-awful bruises and two black eyes from defending Peyton's honor to Lucas's ex, Lindsey Strauss. When Peyton obviously does not believe it, she switches to falling down the stairs with a load of laundry in her arms.

Peyton can't believe what she is hearing. Honestly. She's heard more believable lies from their five-year-old nephew when he blamed his bunny Chester for the missing pan of freshly baked cookies.

"Brooke Davis, you do not expect me to believe that bullshit."

Brooke's blinks at the heat of the statement. Peyton even looks momentarily surprised at it but she recovers quickly and moves towards Brooke.

And feels her entire heart shatter as the shorter girl flinches away and puts up her hands to stop Peyton from touching her.

"Brooke, why didn't you call me?" Peyton says, trying to get a handle on the emotions swirling around her head.

Brooke shrugs, and again, the very tiny movement looks extremely painful. "I did, but… you said you were getting married…"

Peyton realizes something then. "This is why you so sounded bad on the phone."

Brooke nods.

"Brooke…"

Brooke hates the look in her eyes. She knew that if Peyton saw her she probably wouldn't believe any of the lies she had come up with. And furthermore, she knew if she said anything other than I'm fine or nothing is wrong then Peyton would have come back right away.

Which, apparently, considering she is now standing directly in front of her despite having been across the country just a few short hours ago, did not work.

"Peyton… why did you come back?" She gets a glare from the older girl.

"You cannot be asking that right now?" When Brooke simply looks confused, Peyton rolls her eyes. "I knew as soon as I heard your voice, something was wrong. And when I called back, you… Brooke, I know you, ok. I've known you for almost my entire life. Did you really think you could fool me? I call you and tell you I'm engaged, and you don't immediately want every detail?"

Brooke bristles at that, turning her back. "Well, I'm sorry that I was a little too preoccupied to ask."

"Don't do that." Peyton snaps, not letting her tone affect her the way she knows Brooke had intended. "That isn't what I meant. Brooke, I know you better than I know myself. Something wasn't right… I could tell by your voice, by your responses… By the way you wanted me to hang up and quit asking because you knew the more I did, the harder it would be to lie and try to sound convincing."

Peyton walks closer, rounding to face her.

"I came back because the longer I thought about it, the more concerned I became." She takes in the bruises around her eyes, how her left eye is almost swollen so bad it can barely open, and lets her eyes slowly drag down the length of her body.

Brooke is wearing enough to be covered but Peyton can tell just by the way she holds herself… it's painful. Everything must hurt so bad, and Peyton immediately falls back to That Night.

The one that should have been a happy high school memory and instead is scarred by what happened.

Scarred by what he did.

The last time Brooke was beaten, the last time she was bruised and bloodied, Peyton had similar marks and had been there for every second of it – during and after.

And now, here Brooke is, beaten black and blue, terrified to the point that she locks her bedroom door, and goddamn it.

Peyton wishes this shit wouldn't keep happening to them.

"Peyt?"

Brooke's whisper brings her out of those thoughts and memories she has tried for so many years to bury and forget. She looks up and sees Brooke watching her.

"Brooke, I-" Peyton wants to hold her. To wrap her up or kiss her forehead or wipe the tears now falling – to do something. But she can't. She had seen how badly Brooke flinched earlier.

It broke her heart but she doesn't want to cause her any more pain than she's already in.

So instead, she folds her arms, it's easier to keep them to herself that way, and sighs. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when this happened."

Brooke shrugs. Peyton really wishes she'd quit doing that. It looks far too painful. After a moment too long of silence, Brooke speaks.

"Peyton? Can I… ask a favor?" She isn't looking at her as she says the words, instead staring down at her feet. But Peyton jumps at the chance to do anything to make this even the least bit better.

"Of course."

"Can… Would you…" she stops, seeming frustrated or embarrassed or maybe both. She's survived this long without Peyton… granted it's barely been 12 hours… but P. Sawyer should be with Lucas celebrating. She doesn't want to seem… clingy or needy.

But she could really use the comfort of her best friend right now. Just until the scary thoughts and flashes of what happened and the overwhelming feeling of the person being right around the corner dissipates.

"Brookie… It's ok. Just ask."

She can see how hard Peyton is working to hold herself back. Usually by now, she would already be wrapped in her best friend's arms, safe and sound. So her request shouldn't be so hard to ask.

"Can I have a hug?" Her voice breaks but she is too exhausted to care. When Peyton opens her mouth Brooke rushes on to keep her from possibly rejecting her. "Please?"

Peyton nods, closing her mouth. She had been ready to ask if Brooke was sure. But then her voice did that thing where it makes Peyton suddenly feel all of her pain and all she wants to do is make things better.

"Okay…" she raises her hands but stops just short of touching. And tries to ignore the way Brooke flinches, again. "Where does it hurt?" She asks instead.

"Everywhere?" Brooke returns, almost hesitantly, hoping that won't deter her. Peyton nods taking a deep breath.

"Alright… I can work with that." She nods to herself and tries to seem more sure than she feels. She straightens up and holds her arms out wider. "Come here… gently… and lean against me. We'll work from there, ok?"

Brooke steps forward. They had only been separated by about two steps and she leans forward, her arms wrapped around her stomach, very gently and slowly putting her head on Peyton's chest.

"I'm going to move my hands now, ok? Tell me when it isn't ok anymore."

She feels Peyton adjust to her weight and one hand slowly touches the back of her head while the other goes to right above her hip.

Brooke relaxes for what seems like the first time in an eternity.

"Good?" Peyton whispers when Brooke hadn't said anything. She gets a nod in response.

"Perfect, P. Sawyer." She sighs at the kiss on the top of her head. "Thank you." She soaks in the moment, telling herself it is ok to be a little selfish and want her best friend's attention and comfort.

They stand there for a while. Brooke closes her eyes and lets the smell of Peyton's shampoo, strawberries, ease the swirl of emotions and thoughts in her head. She tries to think of when Peyton first bought that shampoo and how she would always complain about it disappearing twice as fast when Brooke "borrowed" it.

A smile slowly crosses her lips. She didn't think she'd been smiling this soon when it wouldn't be fake or forced but here it is, small and genuine. She relaxes further as Peyton begins to slowly, softly, almost like she is barely moving, sift her hair through her fingertips.

"You doing ok?"

Peyton's voice startles her, and she curses before apologizing. "Shit, sorry." She hadn't meant to scare her. She just wanted to check on her because as much as she doesn't mind standing here for however long Brooke needs, she is still worried.

If shrugging was so painful that it was obvious, how much could standing for a long while hurt?

"I'm sorry, Brooke." Peyton goes to step back so she can check face to face, and hears a sharp intake of breath as Brooke grasps the edges of her shirt to hold her in place.

When Brooke had flinched it had hurt. And it made the pain flare up, and her breathing had hitched, but when she felt Peyton begin to move away, the panic that had slowly ebbed away came back full-on, and she found herself white-knuckling Peyton's T-shirt.

"Don't move."

"Brooke-"

"Please," she grits through her teeth, trying to breathe through the pain. "Just… don't move." She only relaxes when she feels Peyton's hand return to her hip, the other going to her back.

"Okay, we won't move… just breathe for me." She feels Peyton kiss the top of her head again, whispering variants of breathe, it's ok, just breathe…

Once the pain… somewhat slowly fades, though her whole body still throbs, she tries to get comfortable again. Standing is becoming too painful but she doesn't want to say that. Saying that would lead to Peyton stepping away, and a part of her still feels panicky at the very thought.

Earlier, when she had settled for bed, she had been in and out of sleep. Never really falling under enough for it to be considered, well… sleeping. But enough that one position had helped the pain to be dulled.

Then Peyton showed up. She had heard someone enter and call out her name. She hadn't recognized it right away, and that had sent her already hypervigilant body into overdrive and she had been ready to do… something.

She isn't sure what. Considering she can hardly move without her whole body being one huge throbbing, aching sensation.

But then she heard the voice again. She thought she recognized it that time. She had gotten out of bed and tiptoed over to the door. Her brain had almost convinced her that it was her attacker, coming back to finish what they started, that her mind was playing tricks on her and she shouldn't open the door.

And then another whisper, her nickname, and it was solidified. So she called out and got a response. And though she was secretly elated that Peyton was here, a bigger part of her remembered that when she had called her best friend just hours before, Peyton had said she was in LA… 2,000 miles on the other side of the country.

Not here, in Tree Hill, in the house they shared together.

When Peyton had seen her, Brooke could tell right away what she was feeling… even if that feeling was a jumbled-up mess of a million emotions. She had asked why Brooke didn't call and, as much Brooke hated to say it, she had said that she did.

She needed her best friend… Peyton hadn't come home, and she probably still can't explain how worried and frightened that made her. So she did call. And when Peyton answered and then told her the good news…

Brooke suddenly had felt immensely selfish for wanting Peyton to be here with her instead. So she lied; said she was happy and then made an excuse to hang up. Though Peyton had called again not even 30 seconds later.

She hadn't answered. Not the first time or the second. It wasn't until the fourth time that Brooke realized Peyton Sawyer was stubborn and would call a hundred more times.

Brooke had just kept repeating that she was fine and nothing was wrong, even if deep down she wanted to spill… she wanted to say it… I was attacked, and I'm terrified of being alone, please leave your happy moment with your new fiancé, and come home to me instead.

Brooke had then tried for an excuse. She thought mentioning Lindsey would work, then tried the age-old 'I fell down the stairs.' Peyton hadn't taken that too lightly too… though Brooke knows if her P. Sawyer tried the lying shit with her she wouldn't like it either.

Brooke wants to be upset that Peyton obviously cut her time with Lucas short... but the thought of her knowing something was wrong just by hearing her voice, and then jumping on a plane because Brooke wouldn't talk to her over the phone…

It makes her chest ache. (In a good way. Which, considering how much pain she is in right now, that's really saying something.)

She hadn't said it yet, chickening out as the words I was attacked seemed to suffocate her. She had worked up the courage to ask for a hug. It was painful, but it was worth it.

She shifts again, and Peyton notices, just as she had noticed the last four times. It is getting harder to stand still, but Brooke is stubborn. She won't admit to it.

"Brooke…" Peyton's voice is barely a whisper this, no chance of startling her. "I know you're hurting. Why don't we sit or lie down?"

She would really like to do an assessment of Brooke's injuries but considering the smaller girl panicked when she tried to pull away earlier, Peyton decides to go one step at a time.

"I'm fine…"

"Mhmm… I don't believe that."

"Peyton…"

"Brooke… it's okay… We're just going to sit down."

"Sitting hurts."

Peyton's lips twitch at the whiny lilt.

"Okay, well, then how about we lay down, huh?"

Brooke swallows. She goes to protest again, but then moves the wrong way and stiffens, and Peyton makes the decision for them.

"Alright, so we're moving to the bed. We going to yours or mine, B. Davis?" They eventually agree on Peyton's room. Which she is not happy about because it means more moving for Brooke, but she did give her that option, so now she has to suck it up and deal with it.

Once in there, Peyton helps her into bed, cringing and wincing every time Brooke breathes in too sharply or whimpers under her breath.

She finally gets her settled and is about to round the bed to lie down also when she hears her cell phone ringing. She startles at the sound, having forgotten that her phone is in her pocket.

Pulling it out, she sees Luke's name pop up.

"It's Lucas." She glances down at the hurt girl in her bed. "I can ignore it-"

"Don't you dare, Sawyer." Brooke levels her with a glare that is intimidating despite the two black eyes.

Peyton sighs. She knows she can't do it. He is worried too and ignoring the call will only make it worse. She looks between the phone and Brooke.

"Go on, I'll be fine." Brooke sounds not convincing in the least bit. She knows it. Peyton knows it. But Peyton also knows Lucas needs to know.

Peyton sighs and exits the room, leaving Brooke's feeling of safety to go with her.

She isn't sure what she is prepared to say when she answers Lucas's call.

She isn't sure of much at the moment, what to say, what she feels, how to help Brooke…

But the second Lucas's voice comes over the line, asking how Brooke is and if everything is okay, she breaks.

Peyton slides down the half wall where their staircase to the second floor is, and the sound of her muffled sobs sends Lucas's heart rate skyrocketing.

"Peyton? What's wrong? What happened? Is Brooke alright?" Luke rushes out. When he gets nothing, his voice pitches up. All the worst-case scenarios play out in his head as he begs for her to answer him.

"Luke…"

"Peyton, please. Do I need to come over there?" He's already up and with keys in his hands when she gives a sharp No!

"Then, please. Please tell me what's happened."

"She's been hurt, Luke. And it's bad… it- it's really bad. I- I don't know." She breathes in and tries to control the tears, using her jacket to muffle the sounds of her crying so Brooke doesn't hear. "Luke, it's… it's worse. It's so much worse."

"Worse than what?" Luke asks sounding as if he is not doing an ounce better than she is.

"Ian. It's worse than Ian."

Luke falls onto his sofa, almost in slow motion. He doesn't respond. Probably stops breathing too. The name brings back flashes of a night he'd like to forget forever.

A stalker. An attack. Yells and screams. Broken glass. Bruises. Two girls showing up to the high school dance in bloodied prom dresses.

"No." His own voice sounds far away. He squeezes his eyes and shakes his head. It can't be. Not to Brooke. Not again. He prays that Peyton said something completely different.

Realizes he is wrong.

Realizes that someone has hurt his best friend. Someone has hurt the girl whom his fiancée loves more than anyone else on the entire planet.

"Peyton…"

"I don't know what to do, Luke," Peyton confesses all the emotions that she tried to push down and keep from showing in front of Brooke still rushing out. "I don't know how to make this better."

"Peyt…" God, he wishes he could be there. He wishes he could wrap her up and take away the hurt. How were they so happy just a few short hours ago? How did it go from popping the question and Peyton saying yes, to this?

"Are you sure you don't need me to come over?"

She nods even though he can't see her. "I'm sure. I… I'd love for you to." She sighs shakily, trying to catch her breath. "I need for you to… but I think it's best for Brooke, you know? For… for it to be just us right now."

Lucas sighs. "Alright… but you call me? As soon as you need me, ok?" He smiles sadly at Peyton's agreement. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

She sits for a moment longer, trying to settle her emotions before she goes back to her room and plays the comforting best friend role again.

I will try to crosspost most of the fics from Ao3, but between restrictions on content and trolls/scammers, I will be limited. So if you want to read more, such as my Breyton Kinktober Series, please PM me and I'll give you my Ao3 username!

Please review and let me know what you thought. :)