SHOUT OUTS/ANSWERS

AmandaTron: I hear that. Well, keep reading and find out. Yeah, this Dan's different than the one we've become accustomed to. I figured it fit them. Well, then, read on.

Diane: Thanks. Well, anything for Broody and Cheery.

Lizz10ve: Thanks. Glad you think so. Well, I figured it was about time.

Long Live BRUCAS: Thank you for catching that for me. Julian's absence is explained in this chapter. I figured he'd be the best choice. Yep. We'll see. Yeah, seriously. Keep on reading. We'll see. Keep reading.

DISCLAIMER

I am so sorry the updates are taking so long. I'm in school, and midterm week's about to start, plus I've been feeling blocked with the story. Title inspired by the Imani Coppola song. One Tree Hill belongs to Mark Schwahn and the CW. I only own the plot. Again, the POV switches.

They were still in that position when the nurse poked her head in.

"Excuse me. Your five minutes is up," she reminded gently.

"Of course, nurse. I apologize," Dan responded.

"It's quite all right," she told him.

"Hey, uh, has a Julian Norris been by?" Lucas wondered and then went on to describe his appearance.

"No, I'm sorry. He hasn't been in," the nurse answered.

"That's not like him," Lucas worried.

"That's the young man you've been staying with, right?" Dan checked. His son nodded. "Where's he staying?" he questioned.

"The Tree Hill Hotel out on the edge of town," Lucas replied.

"I'll go see if I can find him," Dan offered.

"Would you?" Dan felt a tightening in his chest at the way Lucas' face lit up. That look should've been for him. He knows the guy. He feels safe with him, the man reminded himself.

"Of course. I'll let you know when I find him."

"Thank you." Dan walked out of the room.

"Dad, what is it?" Nathan queried, seeing the troubled look.

"I think we have a problem," Dan announced, and then headed for the exit, the rest of the group right behind him. Meanwhile, Julian was at the town court house, arguing with a social worker.

"Look, I don't understand why you're keeping me here. A friend of mine was just hit by a car," he said angrily.

"There are some concerns about your current living arrangements," the woman told him.

"And that's keeping me from going to the hospital to see Lucas?" Julian asked in disbelief. Is this lady nuts? We can sort this out later, he thought to himself.

"Sir, I don't think you understand the gravity of our situation here. You're merely staying in a hotel. A judge would put the boy in a group home so fast it'd make your head spin," the social worker said.

"I won't let anybody take him," Julian snapped.

"That is why I would suggest you find a more permanent residence," the woman stated.

"So you're saying he can't stay with me if I'm staying a hotel? What a bunch of---" Julian cut himself off. She's a lady, she's a lady, she's a lady, he reminded himself. At the same time, the mysterious man was at a gas station, getting his tank filled. When he was done, he paid at the desk and then went on his way. He looked at the pictures of Lucas again and smirked.

"Boy, do I got plans for you, kid," he proclaimed. On the way to their respective cars, Dan explained about Julian.

"So, where do we start looking?" Peyton questioned.

"Nathan, Deb, Jake, his parents, and I will check the Tree Hill Hotel. The rest of you spread out through the town. Between all of us, we should fin him," Dan responded.

"You got it," Keith agreed. They all got into their cars and drove off. When they got to the hotel, Dan went right up to the desk.

"Excuse me; I'm looking for a man named Julian Norris. A young man about fifteen with chestnut blonde hair and blue eyes may have recently joined him," the man stated.

"Oh, yeah. He went off with old broad about half an hour ago. They were talkin' 'bout goin' to the town court house," the desk clerk stated.

"Thank you," Dan said, and then headed off.

"Lovely man," Deb sarcastically commented.

"Nathan, don't you ever refer to a girl or woman like that," Dan quickly told his son as he quickly dialed his brother's number on his cell phone.

"Will never happen, Dad," Nathan promised. Keith picked up and Dan hurriedly told him what they had learned. With that, everyone headed for the court house. At the building, Julian blew out a breath and ran his fingers through his hair. He didn't know what to do. He had just upped and left after Lucas' call. He hadn't made a plan or anything. At least the social worker wasn't trying to take Lucas away from him; she just wanted him to try to find a more permanent residence. So, what do I do? I mean, I'm not gonna abandon Luke, but can I just give up my life like that? he wondered to himself. Suddenly, the man became aware of vehicles approaching. Confused, he and the social worker stepped outside as he saw two cars park in the lot and a group of people step out of the vehicles.

"Excuse me. Are you Julian Norris?" a man questioned.

"Yes," Julian responded warily.

"Lucas has been wanting to see you. He's worried," the man told him.

"Yeah, I meant to stop by, but I got held up," Julian told them.

"The man is staying in a hotel, and yet he's been housing a teen. His living situation didn't give out the best impression," the woman responded.

"Let me get this straight: he finds out his friend's hit by a car and that's the time you decide to haul him in to harp on his living arrangements?" Nathan asked in disbelief. Haley reproachfully elbowed him in the side.

"Okay, I suppose my timing was a bit off," the woman allowed. Nathan didn't say anything, but stared at her with a raised eyebrow. One of the men turned to Julian.

"Hello, we haven't met, but I'm Dan Scott," he introduced himself, holding out hand.

"Nice to meet you," Julian said, shaking his hand.

"Listen, why don't you stay with us? That way you don't have to keeping paying for a hotel room," Dan suggested. Deb looked at her husband in surprise. Wish he had asked me first, but I suppose it makes sense, she thought to herself.

"Um, well---" Julian hesitated.

"Danny's right. I mean, why waste money when you could stay somewhere for free?" Deb stated.

"Well, if you're sure," Julian said.

"We're sure," Dan insisted.

"Yeah. That'd be great," Julian grinned. With that, they all got back in their cars, and left.

"Okay. Now to call a DA and see if we can't get the boy's trial up and running," the social worker mumbled to herself as she headed back into her office. She had some friends in the district attorney's office who she was certain would schedule a trial for as soon as possible. When she got into her office, she sat at her desk, picked up the phone, and began dialing a number. Meanwhile, the man that Jack Mallone had hired had just reached the Tree Hill city limits. He smirked.

"Lucas, my boy, you're gonna get it."