Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.

Author's Note: I am going to try something new in this chapter. I hope you all like it. This starts out two years into the future with lots of flashbacks, similar to the season premiere. For all those who haven't seen it yet, I am not giving any spoilers away. Don't worry.

Overdose of Pain, Onslaught of Reality

Chapter 34

(Lucas's voice over in italics. Flashbacks are in bold)

One moment, your life could be going extremely well. The next, it could all come crashing down on you without any warning.

Lucas flipped through the photo album of the past two years, trying to get a good start for the next chapter for the novel he was secretly writing. He had written the first fourteen years and eleven months quite easily. Describing his mom had been hard, especially the accident that took her life and what had happened the first five months afterwards. But it felt good to get it out all the same.

The first page of photos in the album entitled Nathan's Fifteenth caught Lucas's eye. He remembered that really awful night, and with those memories, came the words he had been trying to find. He picked up his pen and notebook paper lying on the floor of his and Nathan's apartment and began to write.

The way life changes is miraculous. One moment a person could be having the time of his life at the party his friends had thrown him.

Nathan couldn't believe the party everyone had thrown for him, and it was all a surprise too. It was huge! The entire school seemed to be there in the chilly January air, dancing to the beat of the rap music blaring out of the speakers. The lights that were lit above read: Happy Birthday, Nate! He was loving every minute of it.

Nathan couldn't see Lucas anywhere on the river court. He had seemingly disappeared the moment Brooke showed up with someone strange guy Nathan had never met before. Music blasted as he made his way over to Haley, who was standing next to Peyton, both girls acting as DJ's for the party.

"Have you seen Lucas anywhere?" he yelled over the music. Haley shook her head, while Peyton nodded.

"He said he had to go back to my house for a little while. He mentioned something about grabbing a few more packages of sodas and waters, since we're almost out!" she yelled back. Glancing at her watch, she added, "That was four hours ago!"

The huge, raging party that was going on in Nathan's honor had started at eight o'clock sharp. It was now getting close to one o'clock in the morning and the party was just beginning to slow down. A little.

"I'll be back! Don't do anything important while I'm gone!" he yelled, kissing Haley. Lowering his voice and moving so he was talking right into her ear, he added, "Thanks for the party. I'm having an amazing time."

Haley smiled at him and kissed him back. "You're welcome," she said as they broke apart.

The next, he could be at the police station, turning in his own father on account of child abuse.

Nathan couldn't believe what had happened in the short half hour since he had left his birthday party. He had found Dan and Lucas going at it again in the beach house; one was drunk, while the other was fighting to get the knife out of the other's hand.

Now the three of them were standing in the middle of the police station, glaring at each other. Lucas was glaring at Dan, who was glaring back at him through bloodshot, drunken eyes.

"This is all your fault, wench," he snarled. Nathan quickly intervened as his father took a step forward towards Lucas.

"Leave him alone," he warned. Lucas sighed behind him, before sinking into one of the hard plastic chairs in the waiting room of the police station. His bruises hurt like hell, especially the newly inflicted ones. He had merely gone back to the beach house to grab the rest of his things, not expecting Dan to be awake at twelve-thirty at night. He had been sorely mistaken though, and it had ended up in a huge fight. Thankfully, before Lucas could get seriously injured, or Dan could end up doing something he seriously regretted, Nathan intervened by calling the cops. Now, they were waiting for Detective Ryan Hicks to come and speak to them.

"Scott family!" a tall, impressive, dark haired man called from the entrance to a glass enclosed room.

"You up for this?" Nathan asked quietly as Lucas managed to stand up. Dan had already moved forward, grumbling about something under his breath.

"I have to be," Lucas said simply, catching Nathan's shoulder as the room swam. "Anyways, how else are you going to prove Dan's a dick?"

"Good point," Nathan said, moving slowly so Lucas could manage the walk. The latest fight had resulted in Lucas re-injuring his head and ribs, but nothing extremely serious.

"I should probably call Peyton," Lucas muttered as they crossed the police station's main floor to the office. "She's probably flipping out by now."

"I called her earlier, when I said I was going to the bathroom," Nathan admitted. "She's really worried about you."

"What did you tell her?" Lucas asked gruffly, wincing as he breathed in too deeply.

"That Dan was drunk and we were on our way to the police station," Nathan answered. "There wasn't much else I needed to tell her. She promised to take care of the party."

"God, I love her," Lucas said, putting his free hand around his ribcage. The two brothers paused right outside the door.

"You ready for this?" Nathan whispered, rephrasing his first question.

"Nope, not at all. Let's do this," Lucas whispered back, putting on a brave face and walking into the office unaided.

One moment you think you have someone pegged and know exactly what he is going to do.

"Dan Scott, do you deny these charges made by your two sons, Lucas Eugene Scott and Nathan Royal Scott?" Detective Hicks asked, sitting across from the three of Scotts at his giant desk.

Dan stood up and took three steps towards Lucas. Nathan, who was standing on the other side of the room, moved to go in between them.

The next, he's unexpectedly trying to beat your brains out in front of the police.

"I deny every word that comes out of this filthy liar's mouth," Dan said evenly, before curling his hand into a fist and punching Lucas in the jaw.

Detective Hicks gasped, before hitting a number on his phone while Nathan stepped in between Lucas and Dan once again.

"Dad! Leave him alone! He hasn't done anything to you!" he yelled, disbelief at his father's actions coloring his tone. It still surprised him that Dan would do this, even after all the things he had seen already. It just wasn't the father he knew.

"Mr. Scott, you're going to need to come with us," a burly looking police officer said, taking Dan's raised fists and forcing them behind his back. Clasping them in irons, the police officer began to lead the older Scott out of the room, listing his rights as he did so.

"Nathan, close the door please, son. I would like to talk to you and Lucas alone," Detective Hicks said, motioning towards the open door. People in the waiting room were staring into it, shell-shocked by what they had just seen. They had never expected respected car salesman Dan Scott to ever punch someone else, his own son illegitimate or otherwise, especially.

"Lucas," Detective Hicks said, addressing the extremely injured teen. Lucas looked up, rubbing his now bruised jaw. The swelling had already set in, making Lucas's face look like a pizza.

"Yes sir?" he asked, his words sounding off because of the swelling. It was hard for him to talk.

"How long has this abusing been going on?"

"Ever since I returned home from rehab two months ago," Lucas admitted. Nathan gasped in shock. He hadn't known it had been going on that long. His brother certainly did a great job of hiding things. "There was a two week span were he stopped, because I went to Virginia to visit my grandparents with my uncle, but other than that, at least once a day."

Detective Hicks sighed, taking off his reading glasses and rubbing his eyes.

"We have enough evidence alone to lock your father up for a very long time," he said. "He's been drinking over the limit quite often as his blood tests show, by the looks of it starving you, and also abusing you. We could lock him up somewhere between ten to fifteen years."

One moment a guy could have a home, somewhat of a family, and food on the table at least twice a day.

"What would happen to me?" Lucas asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Nathan's got Deb."

"Is there anyone related to you that you could live with? Like your mother perhaps?" Detective Hicks asked. Lucas inhaled sharply, wincing again.

"His mother died in a car accident several months ago," Nathan answered for him. Lucas shot his brother a grateful look.

"I'm sorry," Detective Hicks said, looking down at his sheet. "I overlooked that. Well, this says your Uncle Keith is in town and willing to be your legal guardian if anything should ever happen to you."

The next, he could be living on his own.

"No offense, sir, but I would prefer living on my own. Keith can hardly look after himself," Lucas said, playing with his hands nervously.

"All right. I will get a lawyer to draw up the emancipation forms for you and you can start finding a job. For now, though, I'd suggest you stay with a friend," Detective Hicks said, looking meaningfully at Nathan.

"Lucas! You home?" Nathan yelled from the front door. Lucas jumped, shutting the old photo albums and storing them back on the shelf.

"Yeah! In here!" Lucas called back, getting off of the floor. He quickly stored his loose papers behind the photo albums and shoved the pen in his pocket.

Nathan came into the room, carrying a couple of bags.

"Good. The front door was open and I kind of freaked out," he admitted. "There's more bags in the car."

"Okay," Lucas said, moving past Nathan to go out the door. "Why did you flip out? I've left the door open a million times before when we've gone out."

"Umm… You haven't seen a newspaper today, have you?" Nathan said, coming back into the living room, newspaper under his arm.

Lucas shook his head. "I've been at the hospital until about twenty minutes ago. Why?"

"Here," Nathan said, tossing the newspaper to him. Lucas looked at the front headline. His blood went cold and heart began to race. Dan Scott: Released From Jail.

One moment, your life could be going extremely well. The next, it could all come crashing down on you without any warning.

If you are totally confused, PM me or leave a review saying so. Otherwise, review, review!!