Constant Upheaval

Rating: Mature
Characters/Pairings: Lucas/Lindsey, Lucas/Peyton
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from One Tree Hill.
Spoilers: None.
Author's Notes: I know that I'm supposed to be writing Wedding In Vegas, but I got this idea suddenly last night and it wouldn't leave me alone. I have no idea how long it will be since I only intended to make it a one-part musing, but it has become something completely different. Won't be epic (I hope). Was never really a Lindsey fan. Found her character one-dimensional and boring, but I can sympathize with and even applaud her decision to leave Lucas at the altar. She knew he was in love with another woman... even if that jerk never admitted it.

Premise: Post-'In Da Club' but AU. After tragedy strikes, Lindsey Strauss muses on her relationship with Lucas, while Lucas wrestles with his feelings for a former love.

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Chapter One: Invisible

Lindsey Strauss felt invisible. She knew she wasn't, not really, but standing in the crowded hospital room full of people she felt, oddly enough, like she wasn't there at all. And if she were to be honest, she wished with all of her heart that she were somewhere else...anywhere else.

It wasn't more than an hour ago that Lucas received a frantic call from old friend (and beautiful ex-girlfriend) Brooke Davis that her best friend (and equally beautiful ex-love of Lucas' life) was in the hospital. Lucas didn't ask for any details from Brooke; not that he would have been able to understand with the frantic crying, but instead closed his phone promptly, mumbled something about Peyton being hurt and rushed out the door without so much as a word to her. She was left to follow behind as he made a beeline for his ex-girlfriend again.

When they arrived, they found Brooke sitting in the chair next to Peyton's bedside crying, holding the blonde's hand tightly in hers. Nathan and Haley were there as well, Haley holding on to Brooke's shoulders as if trying to steady her while Nathan stood off to the side looking lost and helpless. Skills, Mouth and Millicent arrived just seconds after she and Lucas did. Everyone stood stoically quiet, deathly quiet, save for Brooke sobbing and Lindsey felt guilty. She stared at the sleeping blonde, eyes roving over the bruises on her face and neck, wondering what happened to her but never finding the voice to ask.

Lucas was the first to speak. Never taking his eyes off Peyton, he made his way to Brooke (he let go of barely holding Lindsey's hand the moment they set foot in the room). Haley stepped back from the crying brunette; she touched Lucas' shoulder in support before stepping back to Nathan. Brooke looked to Lucas with the saddest eyes Lindsey ever saw; eyes that no one would expect from a fashion icon like Brooke Davis. She sobbed harder, still tightly clinging to Peyton's hand.

"What happened?" Lucas asked, carefully tucking his emotions behind the veneer of concern. Lindsey noticed how soft his voice was. It was as if he was taking care in not waking Peyton; as if she were only sleeping.

"I don't know," Brooke answered, her raspy whispering voice full of emotional turmoil. "I went to get her after the concert and..." Brooke's face, so full of fear, contorted to one of sheer and utter bewilderment. "...and she was on the floor." She looked at Lucas as if she was seeing him for the first time. "Oh, God, Luke... there was so much blood. So much."

Lucas pulled her to him then, to quiet down the sobs that came unashamedly now. Lucas couldn't help the tears that sprang to his own eyes. Couldn't help but want to reach out and hold Peyton. Hold her and will her to wake up, to come back to him. She couldn't leave him this way... not when he'd just gotten her back.

The air in his lungs burned like acid. His stomach churned violently as his feelings ranged from desperation to rage. He wanted to know who did this to her. Who dared hurt the woman he loved this way. God, he wanted to save her. He wished he could have. He wasn't religious anymore. Not after losing Keith. Not after losing Peyton and his faith in love, but he wanted to pray. Not just to God but to anyone who would listen. Just a word. One word to make this okay.

Please...

The next breath he took didn't hurt nearly as much. Lucas felt that was enough.

Lindsey watched from the sidelines as Lucas, Brooke and all their friends huddled around Peyton's bed. She admired the way they all came together, syncing as one unit to try to will Peyton to get better. She wished she could do the same. Even as much as Peyton threatened her, she didn't want her to die. Didn't want Lucas to lose the one thing he cherished more than life itself... even if it broke her heart in the process.

She wasn't very religious. Not anymore. Not after her father suffered a painful death. Still she prayed. Just one word. One word to anyone who would listen.

Please...

The next moment came and went and Peyton, though barely, was still alive. Lindsey hoped that would be enough.