AN: I'm posting the second chapter right away, 'cuz the first one is so short.
"Lucas!" Karen cried, running into his arms. "What's going on?"
"He's got…I don't know, some kind of amnesia."
They looked at the doctor, who approached them with a grave expression. "Not amnesia, Mr. Scott," he said. Then he turned to acknowledge at Karen. "Hello, I'm Dr. Butler. I'm Jamie's pediatric psychiatrist."
"Karen Roe, I'm Jamie's grandmother."
"The term we use is paramnesia," the doctor explained. "Which is a distortion of memory rather than the lack of one."
"OK," Luke exhaled. "Uh, is it permanent? How do we fix it?"
"We don't have those answers, yet. First we'll need to make sure that there's no underlying physical cause. Then we'll begin to treat the psychological condition. Is it possible your son hit his head or had some kind blunt trauma prior to his loss of consciousness?"
"Uh, no. I don't think so. We were on my stepfather's boat, tossing the ball, and the next thing I knew – Jamie had fallen overboard. I had him out of the water within moments."
"How long a fall?"
"Maybe 4 to 6 feet?"
The doctor nodded. "We're going to do an MRI, which will give us a clearer picture than the CAT Scan. And I've called a specialist from Charlotte to consult."
"Whatever it takes," Andy said, walking up the hallway with Lily in his arms.
"When can I take him home?" Luke demanded.
"Huh," Dr. Butler thought a moment. "We'll keep him tonight for observation and schedule the tests for tomorrow morning. The specialist should be here by noon. Depending on the results, perhaps as early as late afternoon? Barring any complications, of course."
Luke nodded, and gripped his mother's hand tightly.
Back inside the hospital room, Jamie looked down on his own body in confusion. It seemed strange to him. Different.
The nurse sitting by his bed gave him a tiny smile.
He leaned his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes. He saw his mom and dad's faces. A bunny. A hoop. Rippling blue water. A girl with light brown hair and big smile. Heard the pounding of balls in his ears. The number 23 over a rainbow of colors, flashing behind his eyes. The whisper of someone calling him 'Dawg'. Laughter, shouts. Loud screams. Wedding music. A tug on his hand. Pancakes. Bacon. Cheers, echoing over and over. SCOTT!!
"Hey little man," Luke called to his son softly.
"Hey," Jamie opened his eyes and looked at his uncle. Their expressions were mirrors of each other – sort of a sad recognition, mixed with love.
"Am I your dad, yet?"
"Naw," Jamie shook his head. "But I love you anyway, Uncle Lucas."
"I love you, too," his voice cracked on the last word and Luke had to pant a couple of short breaths in order not to break down in tears. "Your grandma Karen is here."
"And Lily?"
"You remember them?"
"Sure I do. But I'm not calling her my Aunt. And she can't make me."
"OK," Luke agreed. "You up for a visit?"
"Aunt Karen is cool," Jamie acquiesced. "But I really want my mom and dad."
"Uh, your mom is in Charleston, buddy. Do you want me to call her?"
"Why is she in Charleston? That's far."
"Well, I know everything's a little mixed up right now, but when you were a little baby – you and me moved to Charleston to stay with your Uncle Keith. And your mom kind of followed us there. And we all went to a judge to see who you should live with, because everyone wanted you."
"A judge?"
"Mmm hmmm," Luke perched himself on the edge of his son's bed. "And at first, the judge said we should all share you. So we moved back to Tree Hill and we shared you. But your mom had really liked Charleston, and eventually she moved back there to live. And now you go down to see her in the summer, and she comes up to see you on Christmas."
"That doesn't sound right."
"Well, it's not perfect," Luke allowed, rubbing Jamie's legs. "But sometimes sharing a person is not like sharing a toy or a Happy Meal. There is no exact way to be fair," he felt the emotions well up again and struggled.
"I want to talk to Momma," Jamie pleaded. "I want her to sing to me."
"Sing?"
"I want her to sing the Wemoweh song," he insisted.
"Your mom sings to you?"
"She sings to everyone," Jamie gave him a strange look.
"Uh, what's your mom's name, son?"
"Haley," Jamie said firmly. "Haley James Scott."
"Oh," Lucas covered his mouth and shuddered. "Oh, Jamie."
"He what?"
"He thinks you're his mother."
"Whoa," Haley's voice was soft but Luke could hear her surprise.
"Tell me about it," Luke shook his head, absently rubbing his neck.
"What do the doctors say?"
"Paramnesia. I looked it up – it's basically a sort of really intense déjà vu. They've been throwing around all these terms - dissociative identity disorder, personality disorders, fixed fantasies. Basically, something happened when he fell into the water and when he woke up his mind had rewritten his experiences with a new story that feels completely real to him."
"God," she whispered, horrified.
"It's like imaginary friend syndrome to the 10th power," Luke groaned. Outside, people were walking through the park. Having lunch on the benches. Throwing crumbs to the birds. Like it was some ordinary day. "There's nothing physically wrong they can find so far. The only way to treat it is therapy. One doctor suggested drugs but, I mean, he isn't even 5 years old."
"He must be so confused," she sympathized.
"They can't agree on whether it would be a good thing or a bad thing to see you – but, Hales, he's so desperate about it. I know you don't get back here very often…"
"Oh," she sighed. "Luke, I can try. I mean, I don't have a lot of time or money…"
"No, no, I'll buy your ticket. Even if it's just for a day, Haley."
"OK, let me see what I can arrange here, and talk to my professors. I'll get back to you, OK?"
"Thanks," he breathed, gratefully.
Nathan Scott moved the woman's hips back and forth in rhythm. He couldn't remember her name, but her ass was tiny. He closed his eyes and imagined another ass, one with an actual curve to it, and suddenly he felt it. The pressure building up in him, taking him over the edge.
"Oh, yeah," he grunted in release.
She moaned a little in response, arching her back as he held her body tight against his. As the he began to drift down off the high of it, he pulled back from her and tossed the used condom in the trash.
Then he collapsed onto the bed, tucking his hand behind his head and taking a good look up at her face.
"Tanya," he remembered.
"Yeah?" she gave him a burning look.
"Get me a water, would you?"
She stretched and smiled. "Sure, babe."
On the nightstand, his cell phone vibrated. He checked the number before answering. "Lucas?"
"Hey, man," Luke greeted his brother. "I know it's been a long time."
"Since, uh, Christmas," Nate agreed. "What's up?"
"Something's happened." In broad strokes, Luke explained the accident and Jamie's fantasy.
"Wow, that sucks," Nate commiserated, accepting a bottle of water from Tanya and taking a long swallow. "What do you want me to do about it?"
"Uh, I don't know if you were planning to come to Tree Hill anytime soon…"
"Oh, no," Nathan pulled on his boxers and then his jeans. "Can't do it."
"I know the season's not over…"
"Seriously, I know our chances are slim this year but I can't break away, man."
"What if I brought him there?"
"To Seattle?"
"Well, that is where you live – right?"
"Whew," Nathan exhaled. "Yeah, that might be cool. Let me email you an itinerary. But I don't see the point. I'm not the kid's dad. Isn't it gonna be cruel to him?"
"It will help him face reality. Or, at least, that's my hope."
"All right. I just – I mean, how old is he?"
"About to turn 5."
"So, can he, like, read? I could send him a letter or something."
"I'd rather be there in person."
"Whatever," Nathan shrugged. "I'll send the schedule."
"Thanks, man."
"Yeah," he turned off the phone and finished the bottle. "Gotta book," he told Tanya.
"Will I see you again?"
"Maybe." He pulled on his shirt and tucked his wallet and phone into his pockets. Grabbing up his watch and keys, he gave Tanya a long last look. "You're pretty hot," he complimented her with a quick kiss. "Thanks for the ride."
She watched him leave, a knowing smile plastered on her face.
He grabbed up the little trash can as he left, just to be on the safe side, and tossed it in a dumpster on his way to his car.
Dan was right about one or two things; after a while, you learn not to trust anything in a bra.
Jamie sat in his room and looked at the walls. The wallpaper seemed so familiar. The bedspread was familiar, too. Even Chester hopped about in his habitat, munching happily away on some celery.
But it was wrong. All wrong.
"I'll sleep on the couch, mom," Luke was saying to Aunt Karen. "You take my room."
"Thanks," she sounded tired. "I like the new kitchen by the way."
"I know, you said so at Easter."
"Right," she shuffled down the hallway.
He knew Uncle Lucas was just outside his door. Listening. Jamie sighed, and pulled his pillow close. He missed his Momma and he missed his Dad. He wanted to be home.
He closed his eyes, and the pictures and sounds came at him again. Postcards falling with a slap slap slap sound. "You got skills, young man – I'll give you that!" A fluffy brown blanket. "Say guitar, Jamie. Can you say guitar?" Birthday candles with swaying flames. Thing 1 and Thing 2. "Jenifer, we're not gonna be one of those cheesy couples…!" The flickering green light on the Wii. "I love you, James Lucas Scott. Always, and forever."
He buried his face in the pillow, and cried.
Lucas heard his son sobbing, and had to actively restrain himself from racing in and comforting him. The doctors had told him to allow Jamie some emotional space to process all the changes in his mind. Not to put Jamie in a place where his fantasy was either endorsed by Luke or summarily dismissed, either.
And what was left? Was nothing to say.
He carefully walked over and pulled a blanket and pillow off the sofa. Making a nest for himself on the floor of the hallway, Luke settled down to a bad night's sleep.
"Where is he?"
"Nikki?" Luke followed her as she charged into the house. "It's 6AM, he's asleep!"
"I drove straight through after my shift," she twirled and looked at him. "Is he really all right?"
"He's asleep," Luke repeated. "By the time we got home from the hospital last night it was past 10. We were all strung out."
"Karen's here?" It was more an assumption than a question. Luke nodded. "And he really asked for me?"
"He asked for his mother," Luke sagged onto the couch.
"Me," Nikki pointed out.
"Uh, actually…" he rubbed his hair, delaying the inevitable. "Actually, he thinks Haley is his mother."
"What?!" she screeched, clapping a hand over her mouth. "What did you DO?"
"Me?! Nothing. I TOLD you, Nikki, on the phone. It's called a 'fixed fantasy'. It's a psychiatric condition."
"And you had nothing to do with that busybody becoming his mother fixation? Sure. Like she wasn't playing mommy to my son the first year of his life!"
"Dammit! This wasn't me, Nikki. OK? He fell off the boat…"
"AND WHO THE HELL WAS WATCHING HIM?!" She exploded.
"I was!! All right? It was a stupid accident! He was out of the water in like 10 seconds!"
"I can't believe this! After YOU took me back to court how many fucking times, saying I was neglectful and unsuited!"
"I know, OK? I KNOW." They were both breathing heavy, trying to control the storm of their feelings. "Nikki, we can't do this, you know? We've finally gotten to a point with him and each other where we're not screaming and arguing all the time. He really needs us to be calm."
"Don't tell me what MY son needs," she instructed. "What we've done is gotten to a point where you have mostly what you want and I've gotten too tired and too in debt to keep fighting." She leaned on the back of the couch and looked down. "It's been 4 years of hell, Luke. Because you're so frigging pompous you could never admit that anyone else should have the right to parent Jamie besides you. And because you're stepfather was happy to sick the dogs of war on me every time I blinked."
"That's not true," he said, resignedly.
"Oh, fuck you," she shook her head. "It is. But I swear to God, if you have finally succeeded in brainwashing him against me, Lucas, there will be nothing – and I mean nothing – that I will not do to get him away from you."
"It's a medical condition," he repeated. "You can't just give that to a kid!"
"We'll see," she warned.
Jamie padded down the hallway to the front room, rubbing his heavy eyes. Uncle Lucas was sitting on the sofa, his head in his hands. And some mean looking lady was standing behind him, looking mad.
"Hi," he said.
They both looked over at him and Uncle Lucas rushed to scoop him up into a big hug. "Hey buddy, you sleep OK?"
Jamie shrugged.
"Look who's come to see you," Luke said with fake enthusiasm. "She drove all the way here when she heard you wanted to see her."
Jamie looked at Lucas, his face scrunched in confusion. "Who is she?"
"She's your mom, buddy," he answered heartily. "She would really like a hug. When she heard you were hurt, she came a long way."
"She's not my mother," Jamie refuted, getting nervous inside. "She's NOT."
"I know you don't remember her now, but I promise…"
"NO!" Jamie screamed, repulsed by the woman and the words Luke was saying. He fought to get out of his Uncle's arms and then raced back to the room, slamming the door behind him and then racing into the closet with Chester to be extra safe.
Nikki turned to Luke, her pain and fury snapping in her eyes. "That's custodial interference."
"No…" he held up his hands. "Look, let me go get him. Comfort him. I'll show him pictures…"
"Forget it," she hissed. "I'm calling my lawyer, and the moment the Judge sits on the bench this morning? I am demanding emergency custody."
"Nikki, no. Please. He's got so much to handle already…"
She grabbed up her purse with a last scathing look and slammed out of the house.
"She got here fast," Karen said softly behind him.
"Call Andy, Mom," he pleaded. "We're in trouble."
