SHOUTOUTS\ANSWERS

BrucasDreamerfan-aka Anna: Here's more. Glad you're enjoyin' the story.

Jason: Well, welcome aboard. Great to see ya. I promise to make it as realistic as possible. Hmm. Me too.

Jody (ch 5, 6): Here's more. Well, you'll just have to read on and see. Hmm. That's an idea. You'll just have to read on and see.

SOphiaVal3ntine: Good point. Yeah, I think I went a little AU in that respect, sorry I didn't clear it up. Totally. Sorry this isn't soon enough.

Nrgirl90: Thanks. I will.

RedMagic: Yes, she does. But I don't think I'm gonna go that far.

AlexCurtis: Thanks.

Mjgchick: Well, it had to be done sooner or later. Me neither. Good point. People often underestimate the power of a good ramble. Sorry this isn't soon enough. Thanks.

Mimifoxlove: Hi. Me too.

Sandy Murray: Glad. Yes. Well, I just gotta think of somethin'.

Nemo123489: Thanks. Sorry this isn't soon enough.

Midnight893: Yep.

DISCLAIMER

One Tree Hill belongs to the CW. I only own the plot. And I know Lucas is really out of character, but I'm trying to keep him in the mindset Nicki put him in.

Haley tried to wrap her mind what Lucas had just told her. Nicki had raped him? Finally, the boy was all cried.

"Hales, what am I gonna do?" Lucas wondered.

"You have to tell your mother," Haley stated.

"No! No I can't!" Lucas exclaimed, jumping up. His mind raced frantically. He didn't want anybody else knowing.

"Luke---" Haley began.

"A---as long as she's focused on me, she won't go after Jake or Jenny," Lucas interrupted with a stammer. Haley would understand that...wouldn't she?

"That's sweet, Luke, really...but Jake wouldn't want you to keep Nicki away from them. Not like this," Haley stated.

"I---I---just can't," Luke whispered.

"You have to. You can't continue like this. You just can't," Haley told him. I have to make her understand. No one will ever look at me the same. They'll think that I'm weak. I don't want that, Lucas thought anxiously. Haley just stared.

"Luke, I know you don't want to tell, but you have to. It's the only way you can get rid of her power," she said. Lucas blew out a breath.

"Okay," he agreed softly. "Let's just do this before I lose my nerve," he continued. Haley grabbed his arm and pulled him into the diner.

"Mrs. Scott, we need to talk," she declared.

"What is it, Haley?" Karen asked.

"Alone, Mom. Just the three of us," Lucas whispered.

"Lucas? Oh, my word. You're completely pale," Karen said in concern. She reached out to touch his shoulder, but he jerked away.

"Lucas?" Karen questioned worriedly.

"Uh---this way," Haley said, leading the two to a secluded corner.

"Haley, what's going on?" Karen asked.

"I'm, uh---I'm in trouble, Mom," Lucas stated.

"What is it? Brooke? Is she pregnant?" Karen questioned.

"No. It's---it's not like that," Lucas answered. Oh, gosh. I---I can't do this. She'll never believe me, he thought.

"Lucas, honey, what is it? You can tell me," his mother encouraged.

"I---I was---uh, I---uh---" Lucas nervously messed up his hair with his fingers. "I'm---I'm sorry for bothering you Mom. This was---this was a big mistake," he stammered. He began to run off, but Haley grabbed his arm.

"Uh, no. Stay," she said.

"Lucas, there's obviously something on your mind, and I'd really appreciate it if you'd just tell me," the woman said sternly, but with compassion.

"I, uh---" the boy inhaled and exhaled deeply. "I was raped, Mom," he confessed. Karen's breath caught. She couldn't breathe. It was like she had been punched in the gut. Her son, her baby, had been raped?

"Lucas, baby, what happened?" she asked.

"It---it---was at Nathan's party. There was this---woman---Nicki---there that I had met at a bar when Brooke and I were on the outs---and---" Lucas broke off with a pained grunt. "I tried to stop her, but---she was too quick and---" he began to cry. "I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to. I swear I didn't. I tried to fight her, but---" Karen took her son in a hug.

"Ssssshhhhh. It's okay. It's gonna be okay, baby. Everything's gonna be okay. Mom's here. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere," she assured him.

"You---you mean you're not mad at me?" Lucas asked.

"For what? For being scared? Not knowing what to do or who to turn to? Lucas, what she did to you was not your fault," Karen said firmly. The boy's throat muscles constricted. She believes me? She doesn't blame me? I'm---I'm not to blame? he thought to himself.

"So, what do we do now?" the boy questioned.

"We call the police, file a report," his mother responded.

"But then everyone in Tree Hill will know! I don't want that happening!" Lucas protested.

"I'm sure we can ask them to be very discreet," Karen soothed. Lucas turned to Haley, who nodded her agreement.

"Okay. Go ahead," he agreed. The trio went to a phone in the back, where Karen picked up the receiver and dialed a number.

"Tree Hill Police Department. How can I help you?" a man asked.

"My name is Karen Scott and I'd like to report a rape," she stated. As Karen gave the details that her son told her, Lucas moved closer to Haley who took him into a half hug. Man, I can't believe this is really happening. She---she's not mad at me, the boy thought to himself. He moved even closer to Haley and she turned her embrace into a full hug. He let out a sigh and put his head next to hers.