Apparently, Haley James Scott's roles as best friend and sister in law were traded for mother when Lucas needed one. He was use to the title after Kate had died and somedays, he needed it. But today was not one of those days. He had grown independent and needed no one. He had to be there for his little girl, so he had to be strong and sufficient.

Haley and Lucas drove through the highway without saying a word. Both their eyes were transfixed forward. Their faces were unemotional, but their minds were spinning in a thousand different directions. Haley had one arm on the wheel and the other's nails furiously being bitten by her mouth.

Lucas noticed it .She had the habit of doing that when something was on her mind and she didn't know how to say it. He thought of asking what was going through her mind, but had a feeling that every emotion would fill that car. He wasn't quite ready to hear it, let alone confess anything.

Lucas let his thoughts roll through the appointment. His doctor was not pleased with how everything was from he moment he walked, limped in the office. Haley almost made him sit in a wheel chair, but when he suggested using his crutches she relented. Dr. Basil was not thrilled after six years he still used his crutches and or injection. She expected the pain to be more of nuisance then an actual problem. The way he broke his leg would guarantee a life of annoying issues, but this go untreated became something she was not expecting.

"So this latest bit of information makes me more insistent on doing the surgery." The female doctor spoke as she took off her glasses and wiped them down with her forest green sweater.

Lucas watched her dust off her glasses and inwardly cringe when she brought up the surgery. He knew she probably would, but was not looking forward to the erupting volcano exploding next to him.

"Surgery? What do you mean surgery?" the volcano began erupting.

Dr. Basil put back on her glasses and fixed her eyes on Haley. She could tell the girl cared about her brother in law and just wanted him better, like everyone else in his life. She couldn't understand why he had denied the surgery time and time again.

"A year following the accident at one of his post op appointments, I suggested to Lucas that he should have another surgery and aggressive physical therapy to fix everything…"

"And what did he say?" Haley interrupted with her eyes beginning to burn through her best friend.

Dr. Basil looked at Lucas who appeared to find some fascination with the blue carpet below him. She recognized the look all too often. In her line of work, many of her patients were either really nervous or guilty about any need medical attention to their needs. Lucas was no different. She bet felt guilty because he had denied the surgery quite a few times and now Haley was finding out. The girl seemed hell bent in finding out what was going on and fixing it even though it was his body and he had his reasons. Dr. Basil considered making it an easier situation by diffusing the anger and accusing nature in the room by making the problem seem a lot less. But at the same time, she had pushed this surgery for six years and met up against opposition every time. Maybe all of this coming out would propel him.

"He said that he did not want the surgery or physical therapy."

"And why did he say that?" Haley fired more at him then her.

Lucas shrugged and continued staring down at the ground, "The surgery is supposed to be pretty massive and might need another one to go along side it. It might fix things, but there is a greater chance that not only will it not work but that I would have to re learn how to walk again."

"You have a brother and a sister in law who would do anything to help you get back to normal. Why wouldn't you lean on them for that?" Haley inquired.

"I can think of one reason."

"And what would that be?"

"Her name is Ava Joy. She already lost one parent. I can't stand the thought of her losing another one or watching him learn how to walk again." Lucas alleged for the first time out loud in six years.

The room went horribly silent with that confession. Sure that wasn't the full hundred percent of why he refused the surgery, but that was eighty percent of it. Dr. Basil interrupted the awkward silence by explaining to Haley and Lucas again what her plan for the surgery would be like. She also ordered Lucas to get some x-rays of his leg before they went home.

By the time they were done, Lucas was so exhausted physically and emotionally. The pain obviously wore him out, but also the injection was known to wear him out for the next few days. When he got off the x-ray table, he felt like a zombie getting out of the hospital gown and into his clothes. He wobbled slowly back to Haley who had a wheelchair waiting for him.

Generally, the blonde would refuse but he was so bone tired he took it without a word. Now they were on the thirty minute ride home with the thoughts of the appointment swarming both of their heads.

"You know," Haley began slowly. "I made the appointment suddenly because I know you would find someone to run away if you had time."

Lucas who had closed his eyes and rested his head on the head rest, nodded.

Haley choked back tears that had been threatening to come for the last few days as she spoke. "Lucas, I am not mad at you."

He just chuckled at that statement. If she hadn't been mad the last few days, he wondered what mad did look like.

Haley pulled the car over in an abandon parking lot, shoved the car in park, and turned the face her best friend and brother in law. Lucas's eyes opened as he looked around to see where they were at.

"Luke, I'm serious. Am I a little angry at you? Yeah, I had no idea this was such a big issue you were dealing with still. I am more mad at the situation. Again, I am sorry for what happened six years ago. Nathan and I want to do anything to make life easier for Ava Joy and you. Letting us know things like this are things we want to help with. Won't you let us?"