"Yo dawg, what'd we miss?" Skills asked.

I gave him a one-armed hug too.

Junk and Fergie hung back.

"Not much. I just informed the rest of them who had taken me."

I cleared my throat. "It was Dan."

"Dang." Skills muttered. "How you doing, Luke?"

I shrugged. "It's good to be back."

Junk nodded. "Yeah, we were all really scared."

"Aw heck. I told myself I wasn't going to do this." Fergie enveloped me in a hug and I realized he was crying.

I awkwardly patted his back. "It's ok, man."

He pulled away, wiping his eyes.

"Sorry y'all had to see that." Skills said.

Everyone laughed, then I gave another yawn.

"We should let you get some sleep." Haley stood up.

"Yeah, we'll be out in the waiting room." Nathan mumbled.

"Guys, come on, all I've *been* doing lately is sleep. I may be tired physically, but mentally I'm wired. come on guys, can you stay for a little while longer?"

Peyton squeezed my arm. "Of course, Luke."

I involuntarily winced. She'd squeezed a bruise.

She rolled up my sleeve and her eyes widened.

Must be a pretty bad bruise.

"Karen, you might want to take a look at this." She whispered.

My mom jumped up from her chair and walked over to me quickly.

She took my arm gently. "Oh my god, Lucas. When did he do this to you?"

"Do what?" I asked, and twisted to see. It was no good, I couldn't see at the angle I was at.

"Hang on." Haley said.

In a second, she walked in front of me and held out her phone.

On it displayed a picture of my arm.

Carved into my flesh was the word, 'Lies.'

I scoffed. "Wow. Just like him right?"

"Luke, this looks pretty bad." Mouth replied.

"There goes my appetite." Junk said.

I laughed.

"Yo dawg, you should get a physical or something." Skills told me.

"That's a good idea." My mom nodded. "That might need stitches anyway."

"All right," I replied, knowing that I had no choice in the matter anyway.

"I'm gonna get something to drink," Mouth mumbled, his eyes on the floor.

"I'll join you." Brooke gave him a smile but it went unnoticed.

"Yeah, ok. Sure." He started for the door and she followed.

"I'm gonna talk to the nurse about getting you something to eat." Fergie said.

"Yeah, you look skinny man." Skills said.

"I do?" I asked.

"Well you always looked skinny." Nathan said. "Just more so now."

I nodded. "Yeah."

"I'm gonna go talk to the nurse." Fergie said and Skills got up and followed him out of the room.

"Hey, um, Karen?" Nathan asked after they left. "Do you care if I talk to Lucas alone for a minute?"

She hesitated.

"You can wait right outside." He told her.

My mom glanced at me.

"I'll be fine." I smiled.

She chewed on her lip.

"Come on, Miss Roe. I'll stay with you." Peyton said.

Junk had already left and Haley was headed toward the door with my mom.

Haley turned around. "Luke. I love you. You know that right?"

I nodded. "Of course I do. Haley, I love you too."

There was a moment's hesitation on her part, then she crossed the room and gave me another hug. "I've really missed you Lucas."

"Hey, I missed you more. I guarantee it." I Replied.

She laughed, pulled away and wiped her eyes. "Ok, I'll be outside with your mom and Peyton."

At the mention of her name, Peyton hopped off the table, gave me another hug and a gentle kiss, then pulled away.

"I love you, Luke."

"I love you too, Peyton." I replied.

She smiled and walked over to Haley.

Mom mom looked me in the eye. "Not to sound cliche, but I love you too."

I laughed. "I know mom."

"I'll be right outside if you need me ok?" She asked.

I nodded. "I know. I love you too."

She squeezed my hand gently and left with Haley and Peyton.

I stretched my arms. "So what's up, Nate?"

"Why did Dan kidnap you?" He asked.

"Because I know the truth about something that's been lied about." I chose my words carefully.

"What lie?" He asked.

I swallowed. "Nathan, I don't think you're gonna like what I'm about to-"

"Just say it, Luke. All right? I'm not playing around. I want to know why he took you." He crossed his arms.

I cleared my throat. "Ok, this is gonna suck and I'm sorry."

I took a deep breath. "Jimmy Edwards didn't kill Ketih. Dan did."

Nathan's mouth dropped open. "No! He wouldn't have. Dan loved Keith. They may not have gotten along but my dad wasn't a murderer."

"He was, Nathan. He shot our Uncle Keith." I said.

"How do you know?" He asked.

"I just do. Look, Jimmy was broken up that he shot Peyton. You even said so your self."

Nathan started pacing back and forth.

"That's why I never believed that he could kill Keith." I said.

Nathan shook his head. "I don't know what you think, but my dad didn't kill Ketih. He wouldn't."

I nodded. "Ok. Then tell me. Why did Dan take me?"

Nathan paused. "I don't know. How am I supposed to believe that he was the one who kidnapped you?"

My mouth fell open. "Nathan. Are you hearing yourself right now?"

"Yeah, I am. Are you hearing *your* self?" He demanded.

I laid back on the bed and covered my face with my hands.

"Unbelievable!" I shouted.

"Lucas, you're my brother. But Dan is my father. Just because you say that he did something, doesn't automatically make it true. I just...I have to talk to him first." He replied.

I sighed.

"You're asking me to believe that my father is capable of murder and kidnapping? How am I supposed to believe that?" He asked.

I jumped up. "You just are, Nate! You're just supposed to. Your wife believes me."

Nathan looked toward the door, fiddled with his ring, then looked back at me.

"Well then my wife is wrongly informed. I could never imagine shooting you, Lucas. How could Dan shoot Keith?"

"See that's just it, Nathan. You're not Dan. You could never imagine because you're nothing like him. I know it's hard to believe but what I'm saying is the truth." I Said.

Nathan sat down in a chair and put his head in his hands. "Oh god, Luke. When did it get so complicated?"

I swallowed. "I don't know Nathan. Look, I need to know. Do you believe me?"

He looked up. "I'm not sure. I don't know if I can."

I sighed and sat down. "All right, Nathan."

There was a small knock at the door.

We both looked at each other.

"Come in." I called.

Haley poked her head in. "Sorry. Nathan, could I borrow you for a second?"

He nodded and stood up.

"I'll just talk to you later, I guess." I replied.

He shot me a glare. "yeah, I guess."

"Sorry, this'll only take a sec." She gave me a smile then shut the door behind them.