Chapter 10

Nathan walked into his brother's hotel room and threw the bottle that sat on the table against the wall.

" What the h…" Lucas said as he turned around. "How the h*** did you get in here?"

"Lindsay. She told me where you were. Called the front desk and had me added to your suite. So here I am big brother."

"Sh**. Why are you here Nate?"

"Because my big brother's acting like Dan."

"I'M BROKEN NATHAN! WHY DOES NO ONE UNDERSTAND THAT?"

"YOUR'RE BROKEN LUCAS? THIS MORNING I WAS IN FLORIDA HOLDING YOUR WIFE AS SHE BROKE DOWN ABOUT LOSING HER SON AND HER HUSBAND. SO DON'T YOU TELL ME HOW BROKEN YOUR ARE I DON'T GIVE A CRAP ABOUT YOU."

"She may have lost a son. But she didn't have to watch him get shot in front of her."

"She's had to watch you for the past two years and what about your 8 year old sister she had to watch the shooting too. She has nightmares every night and she has barely gone one night without sleeping with your mom and Andy but you don't know that do you? Or what about your daughter or did you forget about her? You know what she said to Mattie on the plane to Florida? She said she asked Santa to send her daddy back happy. She said she was ok that you were going to be gone for Christmas because she wanted you to come back happy. So shut up Lucas it's not always about YOU!"

"Nathan I know it's not always about me! I've tried to be there for Ellie and for Lily. I was there for Brooke as Chase was dying and I was there when he died. I held Hayley after her miscarriage six months ago and again as she cried about Jamie but I can't do it anymore Nathan. I can't take the pain any longer!"

"What about Peyton?"

"WHAT THE HE** DO YOU WANT FROM ME?"

"I want you go home and take care of your wife and daughter."

"Nathan I can't."

"Luke."

"Nathan, I'm not coming back. I'm done. I sent Peyton divorce papers today they will be there when she gets back home. I can't do it anymore."

"LUCAS."

"No Nathan just leave me alone. I'm done. I'm done trying to find the man I use to be. He died the day Dylan did and he isn't coming back. I'm done pretending to all of you that I'm fine. So go home Nathan to your wife and kids and pray it stays that way."

Nathan turned to leave and then turned to Lucas and spoke.

"I watch every day as my Son battles for his life. Some days he is so sick and weak he can't even get out of bed. I watch as he goes through the most inhuman treatments. So I know Lucas what it's like to see your son in pain and fighting for his life. You hope that he'll live but Luke my family is too important not to fight for. Even if Jamie were to die I would go on, for him, for Mattie and for Hayley. I had thought that you would too. Peyton and Ellie need you Lucas and Dylan deserves better than to be remember by a drunken father. He adored you Luke, don't throw away your life, your marriage and your relationship with your daughter. Go on for Dylan. Livebecause he didn't get a chance to."

Nathan hung his head.

"I love you Big Brother. We all love you. You've always saved Peyton and you're always helping us. Please Luke let Peyton save you. Please let us help you. We need you. She needs you. Please Lucas Please."

With that he turned and left. Lucas collapsed to the ground his thoughts on that day. The day that turned him into a broken man.

Flashback

"Daddy its Christmas."

"Yes little man it is."

"We're going to have presents tomorrow aren't we."

"We are baby boy. Now let's go into the bank so we can get home and eat grandma's cooking."

"Yeah mommy's a good cook huh Luke."

"Yes she is little sister." The three entered the bank all smiles. Luke made small talk with the young girl behind the counter. He turned to leave just as a gun man walked in waving a gun everywhere."

"Daddy, Daddy that guy has a toy the bank!"

"Yes Son he does. Now stay behind Daddy. You too Lil." Luke placed both kids behind him and prayed with all his might that they would make it out.

"EVERYONE ON YOUR KNEES NOW. I HAVE A GUN AND I WILL USE IT."

After that statement he shot the gun into the air. Lucas knelt hold a crying Dylan and Lily next to him. He watched in agony as of the gunmen turned and shot a woman. The next moment he heard another shot and felt a hot liquid soak into his shirt. He looked down at his son and a pool of blood. He then lay unconscious next to his son as a crying 6 year old Lily held her brother sacred beyond words.

The next thing Lucas knew he was looking into Peyton's eyes.

"Lucas." Peyton collapsed next to him in tears. He held her tightly mixing his tears with hers.

"Peyton I'm sorry. Where's Dylan.."

"Honey its ok."

"Where's my son?"

"He didn't make it Luke." She broke down into tears and the two held each other.

"But Luke we're going to be ok. We're going to get past this. I promise." He looked up into her green eyes full of fight and didn't believe her at all he felt hopeless his son was dead. How could he go on his son was gone.

End of Flashback

As he sat there on the floor Luke remembered Peyton's eyes and then the eyes he saw just days before. The same eyes his young son had. He cried because he missed his young son's eyes and he cried because Peyton's eyes no longer held fight but were full of defeat. Defeat he had placed there.

He was a total failure as a father for letting his son die. As a brother for sister having to see it all happen and as a husband because he had taken away Peyton's hope. He grabbed another bottle and started drinking it was the only thing that buried the pain. Lucas Scott was the picture of a broken man and it didn't look like anyone could save him now.