It took me seven tries to upload this. Beacause my computer hates me. Enjoy!


"Are you okay?" Deb asked.

Lucas didn't respond, he just stood there and stared at Nathan, both looking equally shocked. Lucas turned around and left without a word.

Deb seemed to break out her shock once she heard the front door slam.

"Nathan Scott, what the HELL did I just walk in on?"

"I don't know what happened, I just…"

"You decided to get drunk because your marriage to Haley is over? Your brother decides to help you, and I walk in on you shoving him to the ground!" Deb yelled.

"Please don't yell." Nathan said, rubbing his head.

"Fine. I won't. Take some aspirin and go to bed. We can talk about this when I bring your father home tomorrow."

"I have to go after him." Nathan said, heading out of the kitchen.

"You don't have to do anything right now. In fact, I think he'll be a little better off without you right now."

"But…"

"Just go upstairs."

Nathan hesitated.

"Now." Deb said firmly.


Haley had been crying for a while now, not knowing what to do. She decided that she needed some air, and found herself walking down the street towards the Rivercourt.

She was surprised to find her best friend already sitting on the concrete, looking very lost and confused, and a little scared.

"Luke are you okay? Is it Dan?" She said, sitting next to him.

"No."

"Your mom?"

"No."

"Lucas talk to me."

"Nathan hit me."

"What?"

"Well, he shoved me actually. He has good strength for someone who was drinking." Lucas said matter of factly.

"What happened?"

"He was getting drunk over you, I guess. I tried to get him sobered up before Deb came home, and I guess I pushed too hard."

"By trying to help him?"

"Maybe I should've given him some space, I mean I imagine it just happened right?"

Haley nodded.

"So I push him too hard, and he gets mad. Understandably."

"Lucas, don't do this. He had no right to purposely hurt you. You were just trying to help him."

"I don't know why this is so weird for me, I mean we've fought many times. Both verbal and physical fights. It's nothing new really."

"It hurt more because this time you were in a really good place and you didn't do anything to deserve it."

"I've never done anything to him to deserve getting in a fistfight. Except make some crack about Chris once." Lucas said sadly.

"Lucas…"

"This is such crap. I want to yell at him, and yet I feel sorry for him too."

"I'm sorry." Haley said.

"I'm sorry too." Lucas said, putting his arm around her.

"I guess you're kind of stuck in the middle, huh?"

"Guess so."

"Don't hate him, Luke."

"You either."

"I better get going." Haley said, standing up.

"Me too, Deb might get worried."

"That sounds so strange."

"I know. It's weird to think its Deb and Dan who are expecting me now, and not my mom."

"Yeah."

"I miss her."

"I know you do." Haley said, hugging him.

"Living there has been pretty good though."

"I bet."

"I just can't call it home yet."

"It will get better."

"Thanks Hales."

"Anytime."

Lucas walked off towards Dan's house, feeling very conflicted still. His arm was still a little sore from where he landed, but he knew he was fine.

He walked wordlessly past Deb and up to his room and went to sleep.

Nathan woke up the next morning feeling doubly awful. Not only was he a total jackass, but he had a hangover.

He glanced at the clock. 7:30. It was early, Lucas wouldn't be up.

He quietly opened his brother's bedroom door, where Lucas was sleeping on his side.

Nathan sat down next to him and gently called out his name.

Lucas woke up instantly, but didn't turn over because he knew it wasn't Deb waking him up.

"Hey.." Nathan said, touching his shoulder.

Lucas visibly flinched and turned away slightly.

Nathan sighed.

"I was a complete mess last night. I never, ever should have taken it out on you, and I am so sorry."

Silence.

"Luke, please talk to me. I'm so sorry."

"Okay" Lucas said quietly.

"I know it might take awhile to get over this, I decided to be all high and mighty and shove you around. I was an idiot."

"Yeah."

"I'll let you go back to sleep. I'm sorry." He said one more time, putting his chin on Lucas' shoulder and looking down at him, even though Lucas hadn't made eye contact yet.

He got up and left the room, closing the door quietly. He leaned against it, rubbing his head.

On the other side of the door, Lucas sighed and rubbed his arm where a bruise had appeared.


Angst!

Thanks for much for reading.

Please review, you all are so great :)