Summary: "Please Luke. I know you don't like me very much but please, I need to hear it just once. Even if it's not true"

My Good Son

He leaned up against the red bricked building and watched the man drink his second bottle of scotch. It was rather amusing to him to see the great Dan Scott reduced to the same affliction that he had once badgered his uncle Keith about but then again nothing concerning this man should surprise him any more. He had known his birth father for about three years now and he was becoming more and more aware that the man had no concept of the word shame or guilt. He was a self righteous jerk who didn't give a damn about anyone but himself. He believed himself to be superior to all around him. He was above the common mistakes of the lesser beings, Dan was perfect, or at least he was.

Part of him felt horrible for taking pleasure in watching the man's slow decent from being rich, powerful and respected to what he had considered his deceased brother to be…a drunken, pathetic loser. This thought caused a smile to form on the boy's face. He looked up to the sky and while shaking his head and pointing upwards he said "See Uncle Keith daddy dearest is just as human as the rest of us, imagine that"

His decided to walk a littler closer to where the man was sitting to get a better look. Still out of Dan's line of vision he watched from the side of the tree as the man turned the bottle up to his lips and took another long gulp of booze. His appearance was almost like any other day except his clothing was slightly shuffled and out of place.

"Hum, probably had a meeting with the town advisors to show them how much of an alcoholic he wasn't. Ha, if only they stayed around a little while longer they would have seen the real Dan Scott" he thought.

Suddenly the man stood from the park bench that he was previously occupying and began walking towards the busy intersection that lay on the other side of the park. He was staggering, unable to gather his wits about him but as unnerving as this was there was something in his eyes that bothered his first born son even more.

Although the man was obviously drunk out of his mind his eyes held a look of fierce determination. He was looking straight ahead into the traffic just a few feet away from him. It was almost as if he had seen a ghost or something on the other side. The cars that were speeding in either direction didn't seem to faze him or worse, he didn't look as if he even notices them.

He was standing just at the edge of the grass, just one step away from the sidewalk and now Lucas found himself afraid for the man's safety even if the voice inside his head told him to let the bastard step off the edge and into the traffic. He was a horrible monster who deserved to die and had caused him, his mom, his uncle and brother so much pain that letting him kill himself would be a fitting ending to man's life. Something dramatic and over the top, the exact same way Dan had lived his life.

But he couldn't do it. He was not someone who would take pleasure in someone's death, not even Dan's.

It felt like an out of body experience as Lucas found himself running towards the man as he stepped onto the curb and continued on towards the street. He immediately picked up the pace as he saw his father step off the curb and into on coming traffic. A car, where a woman was talking on her cell phone and concentrating on something in the passenger seat was quickly approaching which Dan standing directing in her path.

He was panting heavily as he practically jumped over the sidewalk, tackling the man to the ground and pulling him back to the curb as the woman speed by without evening knowing that she had almost killed someone. The boy sat there with his father's full weight on his legs as the man looked around, shaking his head clearly unaware of what had just happened.

Without a word he got to his feet and pulled the man up by his shirt. Dan faltered slightly as he continued to shake his head rapidly before focusing on the boy in front of him.

"Lucas?" he said, slurring his son's name as he continued to look around confused.

"Dan?" a woman called out behind the two as the younger boy looked up to see Shari, Tim's step mom. "My goodness honey are you alright?" she said looking the man up and down without a doubt getting her newest round of gossip ready for whatever meeting she was going to attend with the other bored housewives of Tree Hill.

"Everything's fine Mrs. Smith. He just had a little too much to drink" replied Lucas as his father seemed to be at a lost for words.

He looked down at the ground uncomfortably with the woman's eyes fixated on him. She smiled that nasty, judgmental little grin of hers before responding "Well then if you've got it from here I guess I'll be on my way then. Good bye Dan. Lucas" she said giving him one last disapproving glance before walking away.

God what a bitch, Luke thought before turning back to Dan.

"Come on" he said while silently cursing himself for rescuing Dan again. "I'll take you home"

He expected Dan to protest and call him names but instead the man simply complied with his son's command and followed him to the car.

The ride to the beach house was a silent one with his father wavering in and out of consciousness and mumbling incoherently in his drunken stupor. The sound of the ocean made him think about his uncle Keith and the few short days they were able to spend together at their beach house in Charlotte. He smiled slightly at the memory knowing that his uncle loved him more than the man beside him ever could. He missed Keith, more then he let on and the fact that he was now stuck with Dan, someone who could care less about him made him want to cry. But he didn't. He was blessed to have had Keith in his life and he would cling to his memory everyday, happy that his uncle had been the main male role model in his life and not Dan. Other wise he would be a hell of a lot more screwed up then he was now.

When they arrived at the beach house Lucas pulled the keys from the ignition and sighed heavily before heading over to the other side of the car and helping his father to his feet. Closing the door behind him Lucas allowed the man to lean on him as they made their way up the stairs and onto the deck.

Once they were at the front door he placed the man up against the house just long enough to grab the spare key from under the welcome mat. Unlocking the door he returned the key to its pervious place before guiding the man inside and resting him on the couch. He then closed the door before once again pulling the man to his feet as they proceeded on to the master bedroom. There he eased back the covers and sat him down on the bed before removing his jacket and shoes. After removing the tie from around his neck Lucas helped the man take off his shirt where underneath lay a white cotton tee.

Deciding that he was comfortable enough the younger man helped his father lay down as he placed the sheets over his body. Lucas was all set to leave when a hand reached up and firmly took hold of his arm.

He looked over into the reddened eyes of his father and held his breath, unsure of what insults were about to be thrown his way. What happened next shocked him.

"You know" the elder gentleman began with heavy breathing and a low voice. "You're a good boy son"

Lucas was stunned to silence by his father's words. Dan had never said anything like that to him before. Not even during the short time he had lived with him.

He must think I'm Nathan he thought to himself as he sat down on the bed at his father's side. He said nothing in response to the man's words but instead decided to listen to what he had to say. It would hurt like hell seeing as how Dan thought he was Nathan but once the man was through speaking his peace he would be able to leave with a clear conscious, knowing that he had done the right thing.

"Your brother would never have done this for me. He would have let me die today but you didn't. No matter how bad I treat you, you always rush in to save me, even when you know you're risking your own life. Like with the dealership fire"

Tears came to Lucas eyes as he realized that his father knew exactly who he was talking to.

"I don't deserve a son like you" the man said with tears streaming down his face.

Lucas didn't know what to say. He couldn't even more. All he could do was listen to his father's heart felt admission. It was just a shame that the man had to be drunk in order to say how he truly felt about him.

"You're a better man then I'll ever be Luke. That's why I don't feel sorry for leaving you and your Mom"

Lucas knew she should be angry with his father for saying this, but somehow he wasn't.

"I knew if I stuck around I would ruin you. That I would ruin her" he said with his eyes becoming heavier.

Lucas saw this and decided that it was time for him to leave.

"I umm" he tried to speak around the lump in his throat. "I have to go know Dan. I'll give Nathan a call so he can come stay with you for a while"

The blond male stood up but his father didn't release his hold on him. "No, please don't"

His father's words brought his actions to a halt for the second time. "Listen I…" he tried to speak again before being cut off by the older male.

"I want you to stay with me. Please. I don't want Nate, I want you" he questioned with his eyes closed.

"Why?" Lucas heard his own voice respond.

"Because you're my good boy and I know that you'll take good care of me" Dan replied in a whisper as he began to fall asleep.

Lucas didn't know what to say. So he chose to say nothing at all as he sat back down at his father's side.

Quiet once again took over the halls of the beach house except for the rough waves smashing against the sand outside. Lucas sat there, listening to the angry sea as he tried to digest what his father had just said to him but nothing would prepare him for what would come next.

"Lucas" the low voice called out to him.

"Yes"

"I'm going to sleep now"

"Okay"

"But before I do can you say one thing for me"

Luke swallowed hard before speaking "Sure. What is it?"

"Can you say I love you Dad. Just this one time"

Lucas felt his heart jump into his throat as he stared down at the man, shocked by his request.

"I don't know if I can" he had to be honest.

"Please Luke. I know you don't like me very much but please. I need to hear it just once. Even if it's not true"

The younger boy felt his lip quiver as the history between he and his father flashed before his eyes. He remembered wanting to say this to Dan so badly growing up but was it too late now? Would he be able to say the one thing that his father was dying to hear as much he was dying to say?

"I…" he spoke softly, just enough for the man to hear him. "I love…you Dad"

The tears he had been holding back finally released themselves and were now sliding down his face as he turned and looked down at the man who wore a smile.

"Good because I love you to son. No matter what I will always love my good son"

And then there was silence once again.