"Code blue! We are losing him," a nurse called out, her voice urgent.

"Charge the paddles to 200," the lead doctor ordered.

"Charging," the nurse responded, her hands moving swiftly to prepare the defibrillator.

"Clear!" The doctor placed the paddles on Lucas's chest, and his body jolted with the electric shock. For a brief moment, his heart started, only to flatline again.

"Charge the paddles to 300. Clear!" The doctor repeated, and Lucas's body convulsed once more. This time, his heart rate climbed steadily to 60 beats per minute.

"He's stable," the doctor confirmed, relief evident in his voice. "Let's proceed with the surgery."

In another room, Keith was being patched up, his mind solely on Lucas despite his own injuries.

"How long will this take?" he asked impatiently.

"We're just about done here," the doctor attending to him replied.

"I don't mean me," Keith clarified, a mixture of frustration and concern in his voice. "I'm talking about my nephew, Lucas. How long will he be in surgery?"

"It depends on how serious his injuries are," the doctor explained calmly.

Keith, unable to sit still any longer, grabbed his phone and dialed a number.

————

Meanwhile, across town, Troy and Haley lay cuddled in her bed, a rare moment of peace amidst the chaos of their lives.

"I'm starting to think I'm the reason you and Lucas are fighting," Troy admitted, a hint of self-doubt in his voice. "He's never really liked me."

Haley sighed, running her fingers through his hair. "Lucas has no room to talk. If he's mad about us, then that's his problem. He's got his own issues to deal with."

Troy looked at her curiously. "What do you mean by that?"

Before Haley could answer, her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and quickly picked up. "Keith, hey," she answered, her tone shifting to concern. She listened intently as Keith explained the situation.

"He's going to make it, right? Okay, thanks," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Troy sat up, worry etched on his face. "What is it? What's happened?"

"Lucas," Haley replied, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "He's in surgery. There was an accident."

Troy immediately got up. "Come on, I'll take you to the hospital."

Haley shook her head, standing up and grabbing her jacket. "No, I'll go. It's fine." She leaned down and kissed Troy's forehead, her lips lingering for a moment. "Thank you."

————

Peyton stared at her phone, waiting for Jordan's response after confessing that she had kissed Lucas. The silence on the other end of the line felt deafening.

"Jordan? You still there?" she asked, her voice shaky.

Jordan remained silent for a moment, the weight of her words sinking in. "Listen, Peyton, I gotta go," he finally said, his tone flat.

"But—" Peyton started, but before she could say more, Jordan hung up. The only thought racing through his mind was whether Brooke knew about this. If she didn't, this could turn into one messy situation.

Jordan descended the stairs, where his parents were waiting with worried expressions.

"Jordan, there's been an accident," his father said. "Your friend Lucas is in the hospital."

————

Back in Peyton's room, she was startled by Brooke's sudden appearance.

"Peyton, are you okay? You've been acting really weird lately," Brooke said, her concern evident. "Hey, you know you can tell me anything, right? What is it?"

Peyton looked at her best friend, guilt gnawing at her. She opened her mouth to speak, but her phone rang, interrupting her. She quickly answered, recognizing Haley's number.

"Hello? Haley, what's wrong?" Peyton asked, her face paling as she listened. "Oh my God," she whispered, grabbing her bag.

Brooke's worry intensified. "Peyton, what happened? What's going on?"

Peyton turned to her, eyes wide with shock. "It's Lucas. There's been an accident. You need to go to him."

As Brooke left, Peyton stared at her phone, feeling a wave of dread wash over her. Jordan was one of her closest friends, and now he knew. Worse, he might tell Brooke.

————

Haley sat on her bed, lost in thought. The door creaked open, and Peyton stepped inside.

"Hey," Peyton greeted softly.

"Hey," Haley replied, barely glancing up.

Peyton moved closer, concern etched on her face. "I thought you'd be at the hospital. Where's Troy?"

"He went home," Haley said, her voice subdued. "Why aren't you there?"

"I dropped Brooke off. It's just kind of weird, you know? She's still with Lucas," Peyton explained, her unease palpable.

Haley nodded, understanding. "She doesn't know about you guys yet?"

Peyton shook her head. "We were going to tell her tonight. Don't you want to see him?"

"Yeah, I do. I just can't," Haley admitted, her voice trembling.

"Why not?" Peyton pressed gently.

"If you don't mind, I'd really like to be alone right now," Haley said, her eyes pleading.

Peyton sighed. "Yeah. Yeah, okay. But I'm sure his mom would really like to see you."

Haley looked away. "Peyton, I'll go when I'm ready."

Peyton nodded, understanding the unspoken pain. "Sure," she said quietly, leaving Haley's room.

————

Karen stood at the reception desk, clutching a stack of insurance forms.

"They took my son out of recovery. The nurse had me fill out these insurance forms," she explained to the receptionist.

"What's your son's name?" the receptionist asked.

"Lucas Scott," Karen replied.

A police officer nearby overheard and approached. "Scott, from the car accident?"

Karen nodded. "Yeah."

"I need to get a statement from that driver, Keith Scott. He's a lucky guy," the officer said.

Karen's brow furrowed in confusion. "Yeah, a couple of stitches."

The officer shook his head. "Well, that's not exactly what I meant. See, your husband's blood alcohol level was just shy of the legal limit. Another hundredth of a point, he'd be in big trouble right now."

Karen's face fell as the implications sank in.

Later, Keith sat by Lucas's bed, guilt weighing heavily on him. Karen entered quietly, leaning down to kiss Lucas's forehead.

"I'll never forgive myself if he's not okay," Keith said, his voice breaking.

"Were you drinking tonight?" Karen asked, her tone sharp.

"Karen..." Keith started, but she cut him off.

"Were you?" she demanded.

"I wasn't drunk," Keith protested.

"That's not what I asked you. Were you drinking before you drove Lucas?" Karen insisted, her eyes blazing.

Keith hesitated before admitting, "Yes, but..."

Karen's expression turned cold. "I trusted you. I want you to leave."

Saddened, Keith grabbed his jacket and left the room in silence.

————

Haley stood behind the counter, mechanically counting inventory. The doorbell chimed as Troy walked in, his eyes immediately finding her.

"Haley, what are you doing?" Troy asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Inventory," Haley replied flatly, not looking up.

Troy frowned. "Haley, your best friend is lying in a hospital. Why can't you just go see him?"

"Because he wouldn't want to see me," Haley shot back, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Troy was taken aback. "What are you talking about? You guys are best friends."

"Not last night we weren't," Haley said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Remember that argument I was telling you about? It's like you never listen."

Troy sighed, frustration bubbling up. "Yes, I know about the argument, but I feel like you're leaving out a lot of context."

Haley's eyes flashed. "Peyton, him, and Brooke. The last thing I said to him was 'I don't like the person you're becoming' and 'The next time we see each other, don't talk to me.'"

Troy's eyes widened as he realized what she meant. "Peyton, Lucas, and Brooke... what does that mean?"

Haley gave him a sharp look. "What do you think?" she snapped.

Troy finally put the pieces together. "Oh."

The weight of the situation settled over him. "Cheating?" he murmured, almost to himself.

Haley's facade cracked, revealing her fear. "Troy, what if I can't take it back? What if he doesn't forgive me?"

Troy stepped closer, his voice softening. "He will, but you just need to see him. I'll tell you what. Whenever you decide that you're ready, I'll go to the hospital with you. We can go whenever you're ready."

Haley leaned into him, finding comfort in his presence. "Thanks," she whispered.

Troy wrapped an arm around her, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "I'll see you later," he said, his voice gentle as he placed a tender kiss on her lips.

————

Jordan, J-Rock, Troy, and Isaac sat in the waiting room, each lost in their thoughts. The tension was palpable. J-Rock, unable to sit still, leaned forward and peeked into the hallway.

Issac glanced at him, puzzled. "What are you doing?"

J-Rock shrugged. "Trying to look inside."

Jordan rolled his eyes. "It's a hospital, they're cool with visitors."

J-Rock shook his head, his expression serious. "You don't know that. I've heard some weird stories about doctors, man."

Jordan laughed. "You're crazy, J-Rock."

Just then, Karen emerged from the corridor. The boys stood up as she approached, offering their condolences and hoping Lucas would wake up soon.

Karen turned to Troy with a gentle smile. "You're a good friend to visit. I've been expecting Haley to come on by."

Troy sighed. "She and Lucas got into an argument, and she's really beating herself up over it."

Karen's expression softened with concern. "Really? About what?"

Troy hesitated before explaining. "Mostly about me. Lucas has never really liked that I'm dating Haley. Doesn't trust me. I guess I can't really blame him because Nathan's my friend."

Karen nodded thoughtfully. "If you're anything like your parents, you'll be just fine. I can see you care about Haley a lot."

Troy smiled. "I do, and I care about Lucas too. I just hope they can work things out."

Karen placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "They will. Just give them time."

Peyton entered the room, her steps tentative. She approached Lucas' bed and took his hand gently.

"Hey, it's me. Can you hear me?" she whispered, squeezing his hand lightly. "Squeeze my hand if you can hear me, okay? Never mind. Um, I just came by to tell you that I'm probably not going to be around very much. With Brooke here, it's just kind of weird. But I'm with you, Lucas, you know that. And I'll wait forever if I have to."

As she spoke, Karen walked in. Peyton turned, startled. "Oh, I'm sorry. Nobody was here."

Karen gave her a reassuring smile. "You don't have to go. He's allowed visitors."

Peyton nodded, introducing herself. "Okay. I'm Peyton."

Karen nodded warmly. "I know. Lucas has talked about you." She set down a basket of food Deb had sent. "It's nice that people want to do something, but the last thing I can think about right now is food."

Peyton smiled sadly. "You'll be glad you have it in a couple of days. I swear the cook at this hospital gets a bonus for making people sick."

Karen chuckled softly. "Sounds like you've spent some time here."

Peyton's expression turned somber. "Yeah, when my mom died."

Karen's face fell. "I'm sorry."

Peyton shook her head. "No, it's okay."

Karen hesitated, then asked, "How'd she die?"

Peyton took a deep breath. "A car accident."

At that moment, Brooke walked in, her arms laden with bags. "Hey, stranger. Check it out, I dropped so much cash at the gift shop I think they're going to name it after me. And I got something for you too, Karen. Nothing makes me feel better when I'm blue than chocolate, and I figured we could be in a better place if we dipped into a sugar coma so..." She trailed off, noticing Peyton's and Karen's expressions. "I'm sorry I'm such an idiot I didn't..."

Troy, who had followed Brooke in, placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "Brooke, you're rambling. Calm down."

Karen smiled, her eyes kind. "It's okay, Brooke. Thank you."

Brooke walked over to Lucas and gently kissed his cheek. "Hey baby. How you doing?" she whispered, her voice full of tender affection.

Peyton shifted uncomfortably. "Listen, I got to go."

Brooke looked up and smiled. "Okay. I've got him now, but see you later?"

Peyton nodded. "Sure."

Brooke turned back to Lucas. "Okay."

Peyton turned to Karen, offering a small smile. "It was really nice to meet you."

Karen returned the smile warmly. "You too."

Troy, watching Brooke tenderly speak to an unconscious Lucas, felt a wave of conflict. He wanted to tell Brooke about what Haley had told him, about Peyton and Lucas, but he knew it wasn't his place. Or maybe it was. He couldn't decide. The point was, if Peyton and Lucas were together, Peyton needed to come clean.

As Troy walked out, he nearly collided with Kat and Nathan in the hallway.

Kat hugged Brooke tightly, her concern evident. "Hey, sis."

Brooke embraced her sister back, her voice wavering slightly. "Hey, Kat."

Nathan followed them into the room, his face a mask of worry. Troy paused for a moment, watching the scene. He felt the weight of the secrets he carried, unsure of what to do next.

————

Troy and Haley sat at a corner table in Karen's Café, a subdued atmosphere around them as they both picked at their food. The tension between them was palpable, stemming from their earlier conversation about Lucas and the hospital.

Troy sighed, breaking the silence. "Haley, I really think you should go see Lucas. He's your best friend. You can't let this argument keep you away."

Haley looked down at her plate, swirling her fork through the remnants of her meal. "I know, Troy. But it's just... I don't know if I can face him right now."

Troy's frustration crept into his voice. "You're being stubborn, Haley. Lucas needs you. And you need to make things right between you two."

Haley's eyes flashed with irritation. "Stubborn? Really, Troy? You're one to talk. You know how I feel about this. It's not just about the argument. It's about everything."

Troy leaned forward, his voice softer now. "I know you're hurting, Haley. But shutting Lucas out isn't going to fix anything. He's your friend, and you love him. You need to be there for him."

Haley's shoulders slumped, a mix of guilt and frustration washing over her. "I... I just... I don't know what to do anymore."

Troy reached across the table, taking her hand gently. "Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push you like that. I just... I want what's best for you, for both of you."

Haley squeezed his hand, feeling the weight of her emotions. "I know. And I'm sorry too. You're right. I need to go."

Troy nodded, relieved. "Okay. Let's go then. I'll take you to the hospital."

————

Haley, Troy, and Peyton walked into the hospital room quietly. The rhythmic beeping of the machines was the only sound, and Karen was asleep in the chair next to Lucas's bed, her hand resting on his.

Haley froze at the sight of her best friend lying there, so still and fragile. "I can't," she whispered, turning abruptly and walking into the hall.

Troy followed her quickly. "Haley, wait. It's alright."

Haley shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "No, it's not. He's lying in there and there's nothing that I can do about it."

Peyton caught up to them and placed a comforting hand on Haley's shoulder. "Well, you could be there for him. Just go talk to him, you'll feel better."

Haley's voice was filled with guilt. "I don't deserve to feel better. I mean giving him an apology is not worth anything if he's not awake to hear it. You know if I go in there, I'm just going to start crying, and that's the last thing Karen needs."

Peyton looked at her friend with understanding. "Why don't you let her be the judge of that?"

Haley's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I can't," she said softly, before walking away down the hall.

Troy watched her go, his heart heavy. He turned to Peyton, frustration evident in his eyes. "This is all such a mess."

Peyton nodded, her own feelings conflicted. "Yeah, it is. But we have to be here for Lucas. He needs us."

Troy's expression hardened slightly as he looked at Peyton. "And what about you, Peyton? Are you here for him because you care, or because you're trying to make up for what you did?"

Peyton's eyes widened, taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

Troy's voice was low, almost a growl. "I know about you and Lucas. Haley told me. You cheated with him, didn't you?"

Peyton's face flushed with shame. "Troy, it's not that simple. It just... happened."

Troy shook his head, disappointment clear in his expression. "Things like that don't just happen, Peyton. You made a choice."

Peyton felt the sting of his words but didn't argue. She knew he was right. "I know. And I'm sorry. But right now, all I care about is Lucas getting better."

Troy sighed, his anger giving way to the shared pain they both felt. "Look, Peyton, I don't have time to deal with this right now. Haley needs me. But you need to figure out what you really want."

Peyton nodded, watching as Troy turned and walked away to catch up with Haley. She felt the weight of her actions pressing down on her but knew that at this moment, Lucas was all that mattered. She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and walked back into the room where Karen sat, holding her son's hand, the love and worry etched deeply on her face.

———

At Scott Body Shop, the sounds of metal clinking and machinery humming filled the air. Jayden was working on a car with Mikayla, the two of them exchanging banter and focusing on their task. Keith, looking visibly worn and exhausted, stood nearby, leaning against the workbench with a vacant expression.

Jayden glanced up and saw his mother, Deb, approaching. He wiped his hands on a rag and gave her a quick hug. "Hi Mom."

"Hi," Deb replied, offering a small smile before turning her attention to Keith. "Hey," she greeted him softly.

Keith barely lifted his head. "Hey."

"I just wanted to see how you were doing. I left a couple of messages about Lucas," Deb said gently, her concern evident.

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks," Keith mumbled. "Is there any change?"

Deb shook her head. "No. Have you talked to Karen today?"

Keith sighed deeply. "She doesn't want me at the hospital. I can't say I blame her."

"Well, she's just in shock right now, Keith. Once Lucas gets better, things will go back to normal," Deb tried to reassure him.

"I'm not so sure about that, Deb," Keith said, his voice heavy with guilt. "Karen isn't speaking to me, Lucas is unconscious, and I'm to blame. That's a tough one to bounce back from."

Deb placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just give it some time."

Keith let out a bitter laugh. "It's funny, you know. I wasted all those years being too afraid to tell Karen how I felt. And then she kissed me at the airport, and suddenly everything I hoped for seemed possible. All I had to do was wait six weeks. Just six weeks. Yesterday should have been the best day of my life. Now it's all gone."

Deb's eyes softened with sympathy. "It's not all gone, Keith. Lucas is strong, and Karen will come around. You just have to hold on."

Deb then turned to her son. "How are you doing? You didn't come home last night."

Jayden shrugged. "Stayed with Mikayla."

Deb raised an eyebrow. "You didn't—"

Jayden quickly interrupted, "No Mom! Nothing like that."

Deb smirked, teasingly. "Just curious."

Jayden rolled his eyes but smiled back. "How about you? You and Dad getting a divorce?"

Deb sighed, the weight of the question pressing on her. "I don't know, it's a thought. Are you okay with that?"

Jayden hesitated before answering honestly, "Honestly, I kind of am. Does that make me sick?"

Deb shook her head, her expression understanding. "No, your brother said the same thing."

Jayden looked at her, his eyes reflecting his own inner turmoil. "It's just... it's been so hard, you know? All the fighting, the tension. Sometimes I think it would be better if you two just... let it go."

Deb nodded, pulling him into a hug. "I know, sweetie. We'll get through this, one way or another. We just have to stick together."

————

At the River Court, Mouth, Junk, Fergy, and Skills sat on the benches, their usual lively chatter subdued by the weight of Lucas' situation. The familiar squeak of sneakers on asphalt was absent, replaced by an uneasy silence. Jordan approached, his steps heavy with concern.

"Better to think of Lucas here than in the hospital, right?" Jordan said, attempting a smile.

Skills looked up. "You seen him?"

"Yeah, no change," Jordan replied, his voice tight.

Junk sighed deeply. "This sucks."

Jordan nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Maybe there's some way we can express everything we want to say to him."

Mouth's eyes lit up with an idea. "There is, actually." He pulled out his video camera and started recording. "Hey Luke, it's Mouth. I just want to say, we're pulling for you."

Skills took the camera next, grinning despite the situation. "Right, 'cause you the dawg. Yep, you my dawg. Hey, don't think I'm about to spot you any points when you bring your little scrawny ass back out on this court, man. Ain't gonna happen."

Fergy chimed in, his voice full of determination. "Yeah, spleen or no spleen, when you bust out, it's on."

Mouth took the camera back, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And although the ethics of broadcasting prohibit me from gambling, I can say unofficially, my money's on Scott."

Junk chuckled, nudging Mouth. "What money? You borrowed $10 from me last week. Hey Luke, Mouth can keep his cash if you come back soon, alright?"

Mouth turned the camera toward Jordan. "Jordan, any thoughts?"

Jordan took a deep breath, stepping closer to the camera. "Lucas, we need you back, man. Not just for the games or the jokes, but because you're our brother. You've always been the heart of this place, and it's not the same without you. We're all here, waiting for you to come back and light up the court again."

Skills nodded, adding, "Yeah, man. We ain't done with our battles yet. You still owe me a rematch."

Fergy put an arm around Junk. "And remember, you still gotta teach Junk here how to shoot properly."

Junk laughed, shaking his head. "Hey, I'm improving!"

————

Haley sat alone, the cool evening breeze ruffling her hair. She stared out at the city, lost in thought. Troy quietly approached, his footsteps soft against the rooftop surface.

"Deb said I might find you up here."

Haley turned slightly, a small smile forming. "Hey."

Troy looked around, taking in the makeshift space. "This place is cool."

"Yeah, it is," Haley said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "Lucas and I built this, back when it was the two of us against the world. Sorry I ran out of the hospital."

Troy moved closer, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know it's hard. What were you going to say to him?"

Haley sighed, her gaze dropping. "What?"

Troy sat down beside her. "In the hospital, what would you have said to him?"

Haley took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just want to tell him that I love him and I'm sorry."

Troy nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. "I think you're a great friend. Even if you and Lucas hit a rough patch."

"Even if I don't approve of the things he's doing?" Haley asked, her voice wavering.

Troy nodded firmly. "Even then. You're his best friend, and you care about him. It's right to be worried and mad at him for making mistakes like that. And this whole Peyton and Brooke thing, I lost some respect for her, but it's none of my business. She needs to figure out what she wants."

He paused, looking deeply into Haley's eyes. "You know, Haley, one of the things I admire most about you is your bravery. It takes a lot of courage to stand by someone when they're making mistakes. It's easy to be a friend when everything's perfect, but it's much harder when things get messy. You don't just walk away; you stay and you fight for the people you love. That's incredible."

Haley felt a lump in her throat, tears welling up in her eyes. "Thanks, Troy. That means a lot."

Troy smiled warmly, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. "You're welcome. And remember, I'm always here for you. No matter what."

Haley leaned into him, finding comfort in his presence. "Thanks for being here."

"Always," Troy replied, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close.

————

Peyton's Room

Brooke paced around Peyton's room, her eyes filled with concern. "That hospital seriously needs a makeover. You know it's not a wonder to me that everyone who's there is sick."

Peyton, sitting on her bed, glanced up. "How's Lucas?"

Brooke sighed deeply. "He's the same. Kind of scares me."

Peyton's expression softened. "Why?"

"I know what the doctors said, but I'm just worried he's not going to wake up," Brooke admitted, her voice trembling.

Peyton reached out, placing a comforting hand on her friend's arm. "Brooke, don't think that."

Brooke took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I know. It's just the thought of losing him now. Anyway, um, I was going to go and grab a bite to eat and then go back over there. You want to go with me?"

Peyton shook her head slightly. "You know I can't right now. Maybe later?"

Brooke frowned, her concern deepening. "You've been saying that for two days. Look, I know it's hard for you."

"You do?" Peyton asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Brooke nodded. "I know your mom died in that hospital. Lucas needs his friends right now, and even if it's hard to be around him in that place, he's worth the trouble."

Peyton nodded slowly, her resolve strengthening. "Yeah, he is. I'll try to come by tomorrow."

Brooke smiled, relief washing over her. "You're the best. I'll see ya." She hugged Peyton tightly before leaving.

Peyton stared at the wall, her eyes locking on a picture of her and Lucas. The caption read, "I wanted this for so long." Guilt gnawed at her, but she knew she had to find the strength to be there for him.

River Court

The River Court was a flurry of activity. People were drawing on the court with chalk, leaving messages of hope and love for Lucas. Haley and Troy pulled up, Haley's eyes widening at the sight.

"What is this?" Haley asked, her voice filled with awe.

Peyton, standing nearby, turned to her. "It started last night. People wanted to do something for Lucas."

Haley spotted Tim among the crowd. "Is that Tim? He's always been such an ass to Lucas."

Troy shrugged. "Maybe it's his way of saying he's sorry."

Haley began to walk around, reading the messages. The atmosphere was a mix of sorrow and solidarity.

Jake approached them, a small smile on his face. "Hey, you gotta love watching people make sense out of the way they feel for Lucas."

Peyton nodded. "Yeah, who knew Tim could spell, right?"

Jake chuckled. "Yeah, right. So, how are you doing?"

Peyton sighed. "Hanging in, I guess."

Jake gave her a supportive nod. "Hey, look, I know we don't really run together, but if you need someone to talk to, I'm around."

"Thanks, Jake," Peyton replied, appreciating his kindness. Jake nodded again and walked onto the court, joining the others.

Jordan watched as Peyton and Jake talked, a slight bit of jealousy formed inside of him, but then he remembered what Peyton told him about Lucas, and walked over to where Kat and Reagan were standing.

————

Karen sat across from Amy, her eyes tired. "Thank you for making time to see me."

Amy smiled sympathetically. "No problem. Sorry you had to wait. Okay, here's your receipt."

Karen frowned, confused. "Um, I'm sorry, I'm a little tired. I don't understand."

Amy checked the file. "The bill's been taken care of. If you accrue any other expenses, we'll charge the credit card on file."

Karen's confusion deepened. "What credit card? Who paid this bill?"

Amy glanced at the screen. "Let me just check. Your husband. Keith Scott."

————

Brooke sat alone by Lucas's bed, her eyes fixed on his still form. Karen walked in, her face etched with worry.

"Are you okay?" Brooke asked, her voice soft.

Karen shook her head. "Ever since I landed, nothing has been the way I expected it to be."

Brooke bit her lip. "Including your son's new girlfriend, right?"

Karen sighed. "That's not true. I don't really know you, Brooke."

Brooke took a deep breath. "Look, I know I talk a lot when I'm nervous. Actually, I'm pretty gabby all the time. But my stupid quotient kind of goes sky-high when I'm flipped out, and meeting my boyfriend's mother in the hospital with all this going on is pretty much off the stress charts for me. But I'm here for you if you need anything."

Karen's expression softened. "Thank you."

Brooke nodded, her voice trembling. "And, just so you know, the only thing I really want to see is Lucas laugh again. You know, hear him sing off-key and watch him roll his eyes at me when I steal French fries off his plate. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm crazy about your son. And I hope that's enough for you."

Karen's eyes filled with tears. "Actually, that's more than enough."

Just then, Deb knocked and walked in, carrying a bag of food. "I figured if I kept bringing food, you're bound to eat sometime."

Brooke's eyes lit up. "Oh my God, I'm starving. But that's probably not for me. Example of that stupid quotient thing. Okay, I think I'm just going to go."

Karen stopped her. "No, no, why don't you stay? We could have dinner together. I mean, if you're interested."

Brooke smiled. "I'd like that."

Karen nodded. "Good."

Brooke stood up. "I'll go get drinks."

Karen watched her leave, then turned to Deb. "That looks great."

Deb smiled. "Oh yeah, a start-up company gave us 100 for free as a test run. I know it's the last thing on your mind, but business is fine."

Karen shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's a strange world when the least important thing is doing well, and the most important thing is just hanging on."

Deb nodded, her expression serious. "Yeah. Is there anything else I can do?"

Karen hesitated. "Yeah, could you thank Dan for me? I haven't had a chance, things have been so crazy, but as soon as I can leave the hospital, I'll stop by the house."

Deb's expression turned somber. "Dan isn't living at the house anymore."

Karen's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

Deb sighed. "We're getting a divorce."

Karen looked at her, a mix of emotions playing on her face. "This may sound crazy, but I'm sorry."

Deb nodded, her eyes glistening. "Thanks. See ya." She turned and left, leaving Karen alone with her thoughts.

————

Karen sat slumped in a chair, her head resting uncomfortably against the backrest, exhaustion etched into her face. The rhythmic beeping of the machines surrounding Lucas's bed was the only sound in the dim room. Nathan walked in quietly, his steps hesitant. He glanced at Karen before taking a seat next to Lucas.

"Hey man," Nathan began, his voice barely above a whisper. "I kind of need to talk to you. So I'm here because everything's screwed up. I know you don't trust me, but everyone's hurting right now too. We need you to open your eyes, man."

Nathan leaned in closer, placing his hands on the bed. "This accident might not turn out so bad, you know? You get to take a break from the game. The pressure and people's expectations. I wish I had that chance. This might be hard to believe, but maybe you're the lucky one. You can get out."

As if in response, Lucas's fingers twitched, lifting onto Nathan's hands. Nathan's heart skipped a beat as Lucas's eyes fluttered open.

"Hey," Nathan said, his voice filled with a mix of relief and disbelief.

Lucas's voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. "Water." Nathan quickly grabbed a cup and helped Lucas drink, his movements careful and gentle.

"What are you doing here?" Lucas asked, his voice stronger after the sip of water.

Nathan looked over at Karen, still asleep in the chair. "It's a long story. Let me get your mom." He walked over and gently shook Karen awake.

"Nathan?" Karen murmured, rubbing her eyes.

"I think Lucas wants to talk to you," Nathan said, a hint of a smile on his face.

Karen rushed to Lucas's bedside, her eyes wide with hope. "Lucas? Wake up, sweetie, come on. Talk to me."

Lucas smiled weakly. "Don't take my sunshine away," he sang softly.

Tears welled up in Karen's eyes. "You heard that."

"I'm glad you're back, Mom," Lucas said, his voice filled with emotion.

Karen leaned in, kissing his forehead. "Me too. Now I can kill you for that tattoo."

————

Troy was on the phone with Nathan, his face lighting up with every word. "That's great, Nate. I'll talk to Haley. I'm pulling into the café right now. Thanks."

He ended the call, shutting off his car and walking into the cozy interior of Karen's Café. The familiar smell of coffee and baked goods filled the air. Haley was behind the counter, looking more tired than usual.

"Troy, I love what you've been doing for me, but I am not in the mood right now, okay?" Haley said, her voice edged with frustration.

Troy's face softened. "Lucas is awake. I got a call from Nathan. He wants to see you."

Haley's eyes widened, a mix of shock and relief washing over her. "Why?"

Troy took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Look, I know it's not my place to try and get in between your friendship, but I know if one of my friends was in that hospital bed, I'd be there every chance I could get. I know I was probably a big reason why you two even had that argument in the first place, I know he doesn't trust me, but I guess in a way I'm trying to show him I'm not a bad guy. I like you, Haley, a whole lot. If I gotta prove that to your best friend. Then I want to do that."

Haley looked at him, her emotions swirling. "You really think he wants to see me?"

Troy nodded. "Yeah. I think he needs to see you. You're his best friend, Haley. He needs you."

He reached out, taking her hand gently. "Let me take you to the hospital."

Haley hesitated for a moment before nodding, a small smile forming on her lips. "Okay."

————

The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the familiar asphalt of the River Court. Peyton stood at the center, chalk in hand, sketching a large heart on the ground. Inside the heart, she carefully drew the number 3, a symbol that held so much meaning for everyone gathered there.

Meanwhile, Karen pushed open the door to Dan's dealership, the bell chiming softly above her. Dan looked up from his office, concern etched on his face. He knew Karen had every right to be upset, and as she walked towards him, he held out the consent forms he had just been handed.

"He handed me the consent forms. He needed surgery. You have a right to be upset but..." Dan's words trailed off as Karen wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.

"Thank you," Karen whispered, her voice choked with emotion. Dan nodded silently, returning her embrace, understanding the weight of the situation they were all facing.

————

Inside the hospital room, Brooke sat quietly by Lucas's bedside, her gaze fixed on his face. Haley entered the room with Troy, and Brooke turned to them, a small smile playing on her lips. She moved towards the door, standing next to Nathan and Kat, giving Haley and Lucas a moment together.

Haley approached Lucas's bed, her heart pounding with a mixture of relief and apprehension. Lucas turned his head towards her, his eyes lighting up with recognition and a hint of fatigue.

"Hey, buddy," Lucas greeted softly. "I missed you."

Haley nodded, her eyes brimming with tears as she sat down beside him. She didn't say anything at first, simply laying her head on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing. The room was filled with a palpable sense of relief and hope, as if Lucas's awakening had lifted a heavy weight from everyone's shoulders.

After a moment, Haley lifted her head, meeting Lucas's gaze with a watery smile. "I'm so glad you're awake," she managed to say, her voice trembling slightly.

Lucas reached out, gently wiping away a tear from her cheek. "Me too," he replied softly.

Haley chuckled softly, her hand finding his and squeezing it gently. "You scared us, you know that?"

Lucas's expression softened, his gaze filled with gratitude and something deeper. "I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to."

"It's okay," Haley replied, shaking her head slightly. "We're just glad you're back."

A/N: GIFs will be very scarce because I cannot be bothered to keep resizing ones I want to use.