Disclaimer:  The characters don't belong to me, but to the WB's One Tree Hill.  If you haven't guessed already, the story is coming to some sort of closure.  (Not this chapter though!)  Thanks for all the great reviews.  It really kept me writing.

            "Good morning, sleepyhead," Keith said the next morning, as Lucas strolled into the kitchen.

            "Keith, it's six a.m.  How can you call me a sleepyhead?"  Lucas reached for the cereal and poured a bowl.  He grabbed a few of the flakes and popped them in his mouth.

            "Because your eyes are droopy, your hair is tousled and you look like you just rolled out of bed."

            "And because of that, you call me sleepy?  I look like this every morning."

            Keith laughed.  He reached out to muss Lucas's hair, but Luke ducked.

            "I'll pick you up after practice," Keith told him.

            "Why?"

            "Did you forget your doctor's appointment?"

            "Oh jeez.  Yes I forgot."

            "That's why I'm doing the parenting.  Your appointment is at four thirty.  We can't be late."

            "Can't I just skip it?" begged Lucas.  "I'm feeling fine.  I'm obviously better."

            "No you cannot skip it.  When your mother comes back, you've got to be a picture of health, so she can kill you when she sees that tattoo."

***

            "Lucas," called Jaglieski, at practice, "over here.  I'm open."

            Lucas held the ball in his hands.  Two members of the white team were double-teaming him.  He had to give up the ball.  Jaglieski was the better shot, but Nathan could still score.  He hesitated for a split second but threw the ball to Jake.  Nathan glared at him for a moment, but then gave Lucas a thumb's up sign.  Nathan had to break his father's scoring record, but the team had to still win.  They hadn't yet worked out how to accomplish both goals. 

            The ball came back to Lucas, but again, the white team ganged up on him and he didn't have a clear shot.  This time, he aimed for Nathan.  Nathan caught the ball, dribbled, stopped and threw the ball.  Swish.  Lucas felt Nathan's elation as the ball went into the basket.  They slapped hands, as they moved into position.  Neither noticed Keith sitting in the bleachers, watching the two boys work together.

            When Whitey blew the whistle, Lucas went to the side and toweled off.

            "Ten minutes," called Whitey.  "Then I want to see everyone back on the court."

            Brooke came up to Lucas.  "Can we take a break in the locker room?"

            "Sure."

            They walked off together, hand in hand.  Lucas still didn't see his uncle sitting in the bleachers.  He didn't notice Keith standing, about to call for his nephew's attention.  When Keith noticed Lucas squeezing Brooke's hand, he silently followed the teenagers.

            In the locker room, Lucas had Brooke pinned against his locker.  They were kissing intently, tongues reaching down each other's throats.  Brooke's hands reached under Lucas's jersey, stroking his sweaty torso.  He reached under her cheerleading sweater and caressed her clammy skin.

            "Did you mean what you said yesterday?" she asked breathlessly.

            Lucas nodded.  "I did."

            For a moment, it looked like Brooke wanted to say something else, but instead she kissed Lucas again.  They didn't hear Coach Durham's whistle, calling the team back to practice.  Lucas was too intent on touching Brooke's downy skin. 

            "Lucas," barked Keith.

            Lucas jumped back from Brooke and guiltily turned to the sound of the voice.  He could feel his heart hammering against his chest. 

            "Uncle Keith."

            Brooke ducked out from under Lucas.  "I'll catch you later," she said.

            "No," said Keith.  "You will not."

            Brooke opened her mouth, about to say something, but noticed the steam coming out from Keith's head and decided against it.  For a change, she was glad for her parent's indifference.  She didn't want to be Lucas right now.  If she were, she would be very afraid, because pure fury was painted on his uncle's face.  She slunk out of the locker room, heading off some of the players who were coming in.

            "Get dressed," ordered Keith.  "We're going to be late."

            "Keith –"

            "Not a word, Lucas.  Get dressed and we'll talk about it in the car."

            Lucas went into the shower, meeting up with his other teammates. "Whitey was ready to blow a gasket when you didn't come back in.  Then he noticed Keith was gone and thought he took you home early," said Nathan.  "So where were you?"

            "In the locker room with Brooke."  Lucas turned his face up to the stream of water.  "Keith walked in."

            Nathan turned his lips into an o.

            "I have to meet him in the car. I better get going."  He rinsed off the last of the soap, took his towel off the wall, and went back to his locker.  Quickly, he pulled on his street clothes, tied his sneakers and reached into his locker for his backpack.  But he couldn't bring himself to walk out and meet Keith. 

            "Get in the car," commanded Keith, when Lucas finally met him outside.

            Lucas leaned his head against the window.  He didn't dare change the radio station, like he usually did when he and Keith rode together.  He wanted to say something to defend himself, but didn't know what to say.  He closed his eyes and waited for the tongue lashing to begin.  But it didn't.  Keith drove in stony silence until they reached the hospital, where Lucas was due to take another blood culture and have a check-up.

            "Mr. Scott," the doctor said, "you're back and the picture of health."

            "Hi Dr. Jones, how're you doing?"

            "Well.  And you?" the doctor asked.  "Any nausea?  Headaches?"

            "I've been fine.  And I finished the antibiotics you prescribed.  All ten days.  Thanks to my uncle," Lucas said, smiling up at Keith.  Keith didn't smile back.  He stood in the background, his arms folded across his chest.

            "Well," said the doctor, "It sounds promising.  Let's have you checked out and then we can send you on your way."

            "What about the HIV test.  You're going to take it today, right?"

            The doctor glanced down at the chart and shook his head.  "You took the first HIV test when you were in here four weeks ago.  There has to be six months between the tests.  You can go to your regular doctor or come back here to our clinic for the retest."

            Lucas sighed and stretched out his arm, submitting it for a blood test.  Five more months before he could be with Brooke.  That is if he ever saw her again

Forty minutes later, Lucas was dressed again and back in Keith's truck.  The silence was oppressive.

            "Keith, man, please say something."

            "You lied to me."

            "I know.  I'm sorry."

            "Are you?  Are you really sorry or are you sorry that you were caught?"

            Lucas didn't say anything.

            "I suspect you're sorry you were caught.  So, how many lies did you tell me?  Was Nathan covering for you all those times?"

            "Yes."

            "Deb will be thrilled to hear that."

            "Don't get Nathan in trouble.  He was just trying to help me out."

"I won't.  Nathan will tell Deb himself."

Lucas shook his head angrily.  Keith was great at getting his nephews to confess their sins to their parents.  He recalled the time Keith forced him to tell Karen about taking Peyton's car away from the scene of a hit and run.  "I'm crazy about Brooke. I think I love her.  I couldn't stay away from her."

"You're the one who put me in an impossible position.  You've been out of control since your mom left."

"You'd think I became some sort of drug addict this past month, instead of just a boyfriend."

Keith gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. 

"What are you going to do?" Lucas asked in a barely audible voice.

 "I don't know Luke.  I don't know."

He turned into the driveway and parked the car.   "Get into the house and go straight to your room."

Lucas alighted from the truck, slamming the door shut.  He dragged his feet into the house, wanting to delay what he knew would be a long confinement.  When he opened the front door, a scent of garlic wafted through the air.  He stopped in the doorway, mouth agape.

"Mom?"

Keith was three steps behind him, and practically collided into Lucas's stalled figure.  "I thought I told you –" Keith stared into the house.  "Karen?"

"It's me," Karen said.  "Don't I get a hug?"

Lucas stepped into the house and into his mother's outstretched arms.  Keith followed his nephew and wrapped his arms around Karen.  "I thought we decided you were going to stay in Italy." Keith whispered.

"What?" shouted Lucas.  "You knew she was coming home?  You discussed this?"

"Lucas," Karen admonished.  "Don't sound so angry.  Come on," she ordered.  "Let's go inside."

When they were in the living room, Lucas whirled around.  "You called Mom and asked her to come home?"

"It wasn't like that Lucas.  Keith called me because he was concerned about you.  I thought I was going to stay, but I couldn't.  Not when you needed me."

But Lucas barely heard his mother.  "You call me a liar," he yelled.  "You called Mom way before you knew I was still dating Brooke.  You are so two-faced."

"Lucas!" his mom shouted.

"Let me explain, Luke," Keith said evenly.

"Go to hell!"

"Lucas Scott!  Apologize right now.  How dare you talk to Keith like that?"

"You're a friggin' liar.  You're sitting there guilting me in the car, when all along you knew that you were the first one to break the deal.  'I won't call your mother,'" he mimicked, "'if you don't see Brooke.'"

"What's going on here?" Karen asked, confused by her son's outburst and Keith's helplessness.  "What have I walked into?"

"You explain," Lucas demanded.  "I'm getting out of here."

"No you are not, Lucas.  You are staying right here," commanded Karen.  "Both of you," she said, "sit."  She pointed to the couch.  "Now."

 A pale Keith sat down on the couch and crossed his legs.  He waited for Lucas to join him, but his young nephew didn't.  Instead, Lucas looked at his mother and Keith, shaking his head and stormed out of the house.