A/N: Do not miss the last sentence, it's very important to the story, and if you miss the last sentence you won't get the jist of the last few paragraphs… Thanks to all who reviewed.

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"I'm sure you're quite eager to know what my plans are," Dan told Lucas. They were in a run-down hotel room in New York City. Apparently, Dan was friends with the manager, who would tell Dan if there were any cops.

Truth be told, Lucas was nervous about Dan's plans, but he didn't want to find them out. He was sure they involved him getting killed or beaten up. So he just shrugged. Or at least tried too; his hands were still loosely tied together. Dan didn't trust him. This was probably good, because Lucas was itching to escape, and Dan had already warned him should he try that his mother, Karen, would get murdered.

"Well, I've been talking to my friend Bill. He runs a car company in Akron. He's willing to take me on as a lead manager. So you'll be going to school in Akron schools. You will be my new son, like Nathan." Dan rolled his eyes. "Don't think this means you'll be getting any special favors. You're just Nathan's replacement. I know you'll never be as good as him. But you will play basketball."

Great, Lucas thought with a groan. This was so not how he pictured his junior year going down.

--

Nathan read through the journal, amazed at how observant Lucas had been. Even when he hadn't been paying attention to things, Lucas had. That was clear.

Lucas had documented nearly every time he'd gotten proof of Nathan's abuse. There were only one or two times Nathan had gone to school showing bruises Lucas hadn't written down.

One entry stuck him in particular:

Today Nathan came to school pissed. So upset. So furious. (And a few other things, as well.) I've never seen him so furious. (I know, I know--I need new words). He came up to me, shoved me into a locker and yelled, "Why were you ever born?" Wouldn't have been so bad if the whole school hadn't looked our way...

I'm not mad at him though. I mean, the kid came to school with bruises in three different places, and his so-called friend Tim didn't even ask him what they were from. I don't know if Tim knows or not, but it's not like I can ask. I said "hi" and he almost threw me in a trashcan. Good thing the principle walks by the halls regularly.

When we were in the locker room today getting changed for gym (I don't understand why we just can't wear our gym clothes to school) I saw another bruise that was fairly well hidden. Nathan didn't comment when I asked him about it, he simply glared, told Tim he was thinking about beating up me up later, and left.

I've got to do something—but what? Everyone seems to be ignoring this, even Coach Whitney. I have a lot of respect for the guy, but how can he shun the fact that Nathan's obviously being abused by his own father?

Okay, I lie. It could be Deb. But she seems to be more the person who would let it happen, not the actually hit him, if you get my point.

Basketball practice went fairly well today, all things considered. I think I hit maybe six shots... out of 20. Jamie said to just keep trying. He's a good guy. He treats Mom with respect. And with all offense to her former lover Dan, that's something he could never do. And Keith… I just don't trust Keith as much as I do Jamie.

Well, I've got to go. Haley promised to help me with my algebra class. It's kicking my ass.

Lucas

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Nathan sighed as he placed the journal down. He'd read most of it and it made him sick to his stomach. He didn't even remember half of what he'd been through—and Lucas knew almost everything. How had he been so stupid?

"Hey, kiddo," Jamie said, coming over. He saw that Nathan had eaten almost everything, and was relieved—he didn't really feel like dealing with anorexia on top of everything else. "Ready to go?"

"Go?"

"Yeah, remember? We're going to get you a cell phone," Jamie replied with more confidence than he felt.

"That's okay—I don't need one," Nathan replied, hesitant to why Jamie was being so nice. What did he want in return for the cell phone? Nathan wondered.

"Yeah, with Dan being out, you do. Come on, kiddo, let's go. I've got a meeting in an hour with someone who's going to help with Luke's disappearance, so we gotta get going. You can hang onto mine until we get there."

"Okay," Nathan replied. The cell phone at least made him feel a little safer; Jamie wouldn't dare hit him when he could call the cops. He swallowed and forced himself to remember that Jamie didn't hit Lucas. "I guess we can go now," he replied softly.

--

The trip to the store didn't take long. Jamie bought Nathan the exact same track phone as Lucas, stating that it was best the boy keep it only for emergencies. Nathan shrugged at that; he'd never had a cell phone before and the only reason he thought one would help now was in case Jamie started hitting him.

He followed Jamie out of the store, feeling a little safer as the man led out of the store.

--

"Nathan!" a sudden cry rung out, and Nathan spun around, terrified. Jamie had said he was going to get the car. Seemingly knowing that Nathan didn't trust him, Jamie tried to help him all he could. "Nathan, my man! How are you?"

"Keith?" Nathan asked, suddenly terrifed. He hated Keith. Swallowing hard, he replied, shaking "Keith?"

"Yeah, buddy! They let me out of jail early," Keith squealed, obviously drunk. "How are you?" He grabbed Nathan's arm and Nathan pulled back, worried. This couldn't be happening again. He was not going home with Keith again. Wasn't Keith supposed to be serving a prison sentance for drugs? Wouldn't they let Lucas' family know if Keith had broken out?

Suddenly, Keith grabbed at Nathan again, breaking Nathan out of his thoughts "Let me go!" Nathan's scream rang out across the parking lot as his fingers made their way twoards the cell phone in his pocket, which Jamie had let him have because his wasn't set up yet. "Please don't hit me!"

"Me, hit you?" Keith replied, actually chuckling. He dropped his beer bottle and grabbed Nathan again. "Nah. Come on! We're going to go visit Dan. He said he had some -- you know, stuff -- to give me, and wanted me to pick you up on the way!"

"No!" Nathan fought back, stepping on one of Keith's toes, then another. "No! Somebody help!" He would not go with Dan again. Not while he didn't have too.

A man hurried towards the scene, his bag from the store slung over his shoulder. Nathan didn't recognize him. "What's going on here?" he asked, seeing Keith's obviously drunk state and Nathan's look of panic. "You boys okay?" he asked, looking directly at Nathan. Nathan shook his head, and the man glanced at Keith.

"My boy ran away a week ago, and he ain't listening," Keith informed him, somehow managing not to slurr his words."Now if you'll just be on your way…"

The man walked off, although Nathan thought he saw the man calling somebody, glancing again at Nathan and Keith. His heart sunk. Was the man really that dumb? Or was he calling the police? Nathan hoped it was the latter, and prayed the man would ignore Keith's "advice".

"Come on," Keith hissed, sensing that the man was calling the cops. Nathan refused to comply, grabbing onto the nearby pillar and pulling hard.

"Let go," Keith hissed, again, yanking Nathan away from the pillar, which had suddenly become Nathan's lifeline. He dragged Nathan towards the car, but not before Nathan saw Jamie's Ford truck pull around the corner.

Nathan's heart sunk. So Jamie was in on it with Keith and Dan. That's why he'd been so glad to take Nathan in, being so patient with Nathan, and insisting Nathan didn't have to buy anything. That's why he'd been so glad to help. He must have left so that Keith could kidnap Nathan, too, and that's what the whole ruse with the "buying the cell phone" thing was for. Jamie had set him up!

All of Nathan's thoughts were shattered when Jamie leapt out of the truck, yelling, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH MY SON?"