Last Chances
Peyton waits impatiently as she sits by her daughter's bedside, in a very white hospital room. She tries to smile at Ellie reassuring, which is hard since she needs to be reassured herself. She looks so much like him, Peyton thinks as she gazes at her daughter. Even though Ellie's ringlets and nose are definitely hers, the colour of her eyes, the heart-shaped face and the naturally raspberry-pink lips are Lucas'. When Dr. Connor, a chubby bald man, walks in, Peyton breathes in deeply, preparing herself for possible bad news. And by the look on his face, she can tell that's the case. Shit.
"It's negative, isn't it?"
He slowly takes of his glasses and looks at her with a cross of judgement and pity.
"I'm sorry…Ms Sawyer…maybe we can discuss this outside?"
She hesitates.
"Ellie, sweetie…" she briefly strokes her daughter's blonde curls "I will be back in a second."
"OK, mommy…"
She stands up and joins Dr Connors outside Ellie's room.
"Ms Smith isn't a matching kidney donor. I'm sorry."
Gazing at her feet, she suppresses her tears.
"Ms Sawyer…" the doctor continues "…I'm not one to interfere in another's personal life but there's a little girl involved."
She feels Dr Connor's eyes burning a hole.
"I strongly recommend you to inform the father," he firmly states. Peyton looks up in his eyes doubtful. "If we don't find a matching donor, she could die." The doctor raises his voice. "Do you understand me?!?"
"YES!" she bursts out emotionally. "Yes…"
He puts a comforting hand on her shoulder and then walks away with a quick nod.
Peyton takes a deep breath and blinks her tears away. I need to be strong, she thinks. For Ellie.
"Look, mommy" her little girl shouts as she sees Peyton. She points her little finger towards the TV set. "Homer is seeing weird things!"
"Really?" I gently go to sit down next to her 3-year old. "Why?"
"Because he ate too much chilli peppers…" she seriously answers the question.
"Is that so?" Peyton places herself in her little world were everything is fresh and exciting. Ellie enthusiastically nods. Her baby blue eyes attached to the screen, she says:
"I don't like chilli peppers…"
Peyton laughs and strokes her hair. As she sees her mini-me concentrating on the yellow men and laughing at them, she suddenly can't help but cry.
"Oh, baby…" Peyton holds her tightly. "I love you so, so much…."
Ellie turns her head and wipes her tears with her little thumb.
"You don't have to cry, mommy…I love you too…"
Peyton holds her for a while until she falls asleep in her arms. Then she slowly removes herself from Ellie and walks up to the nearest telephone.
"Charlotte speaking." A friendly voice greets her.
"Hi, Char…I need a favour..."
"You can ask me anything."
Peyton briefly smiles. Charlotte is the sweetest, most giving person you'll ever meet and Peyton's best friend ever since she moved to Boston.
"I need you to watch Ellie for a while…"
"Off course. Peyton…If you don't mind me asking…Why?"
"The test was negative. I need to go to Tree Hill."
A silence.
"Charlotte, are you still there?" Peyton breaks the silence.
"It's the right thing to do." She simply states. "It's your little girl."
"I know…" Peyton heaves a sigh.
"Don't worry…you're strong, you can do it…"
"Thanks…for everything…"
"No problem, you know I'd do anything for that girl. Peyton…I gotta run now…I'll see you tonight?"
"Yeah, see you then…"
"Bye."
She hangs up and walks back to Ellie. After about two hours of sleep, Ellie opens her baby blue eyes. Peyton bows over and tucks some ringlets behind her ears.
"Hi…did you sleep well?" She asks loving.
The little girl nods.
"I had a dream."
"You did? What about?"
"About a big bear…and he was trying to scratch me…"
"I would never let that happen, sweetie…"
She then says softly:
"Listen, baby...Mommy has to go somewhere…"
"Why?" She asks pouting.
"I'm going away for you…to make you better."
Peyton stares into her eyes and tries to convince her.
"For long?" The girl makes puppy eyes at Peyton.
"No, not for long." Peyton briefly shakes her head. "And while I'm away, Aunt Charlotte is going to take care of you…that's fun, huh?"
"Yeah…" she answers a bit sad. "But I'll miss you, mommy…"
Peyton embrace her and rocks her daughter softly back and forward.
"I'll miss you too, baby…but I'll call every day."
"Pinky swear?" Ellie looks up at her.
They intertwine pinkies and Peyton confirms, breaking inside:
"Pinky swear."
She places her head gently above Ellie's. It'll be hard facing her demons of the past but knowing going back to Tree Hill might save her daughter's life, makes it a whole lot easier.