Thanks for all the wonderful reviews.  I was so iffy about the last chapter… and the positive words helped.  Enjoy the next update.

Usual Disclaimers apply.

            Lucas wasn't sure how Nathan tolerated sitting in this office twice a week.  The walls were dark paneled wood, decorated with a few framed classic movie posters.  The shag carpeting was a putrid green, dating the room back to the early seventies, before Lucas was a glimmer in his mother's eye.  The room was depressing and he wondered how Dr. Respler was supposed to help people with their problems, if merely the room's appearance was enough to send anyone into a deep depression.

            "So what do you expect to get out of this, Lucas?" asked the therapist.

            Lucas studied his fingernails, before picking up his gaze to look Dr. Respler square in the eyes.  "I expect to stay on the basketball team and to be able to date the girl I like."

            The doctor nodded.  He leaned back in his plush leather chair, and crossed his legs.  Like a girl, noticed Lucas.  He didn't cross his legs like a typical guy.  "So, you were forced to come here."

            "I didn't put up much of a fight, but yes, I felt forced."

            "That doesn't mean you can't get anything out of it.  You can make the best out of a bad situation."

            "I guess."

            "So what's the catalyst that brought you here?"

            "My uncle Keith."  And while Lucas's mind drifted back to the week before when Karen had forced him and Keith to eat dinner and talk things over, Lucas told the doctor about his relationship with Keith.

***

            When Lucas came home from Nathan's house, the scent of a home-cooked dinner wafted through the air.  He could tell his mother had prepared his favorite Lasagna recipe.  There was freshly baked bread to go with it and a vegetable soup to start the meal.

            "I prepared a plate for myself, but I have to go back to the café and take care of some things.  Why don't the two of you enjoy one more dinner alone?"  With that, Karen grabbed her coat and purse and skirted out of the house.

            "I think we were set up," said Keith.

            Lucas nodded, trying to suppress a smile.

            "Well, we haven't had a meal like this in a long time.  Better not let it get cold."  Keith pulled out a chair and sat down, motioning for Lucas to take the seat across from him.  While Lucas sat down, Keith broke off a chunk of bread from the small loaf and passed it to Lucas.

            "I didn't realize how much I missed your mom," said Keith, savoring the freshly baked bread.

            "You mean her cooking?  I won't tell her what I heard."

            Keith's lips widened to a smile.  He picked up his soupspoon and started eating.  "Come on Lucas, dig in."

            "I'm not that hungry."

            "Not even for your mom's cooking?"

            Lucas shrugged.  "I promised her we'd talk and clear things up."

            "And that has your stomach in knots?  We're in real trouble if our relationship deteriorated to that."

            Lucas looked down at his plate and played with his place setting.  "I guess I'm sorry."

            "You guess?"

            "I'm still mad."

            "You can be mad.  But you have to understand that I was looking out for you.  I called your mom, because I knew you needed her.  That night, when you came home and," Keith hesitated a moment, but continued.  "When you came home and cried about Dan, I realized that I had been doing wrong to keep this from Karen.  You're her life, Lucas.  She wants to be there for you."

            "I know.  But she's been there for me all my life.  I stole some of her best years.  All she was asking for was six weeks.  Six weeks so that she could follow her dream."

            "And who prevented her from keeping her dream?  I couldn't keep her in the dark about everything that was going on.  It's one think to hide that you got a tattoo for a little while.  They don't come off, so she was going to find out one way or another.  And we caught the blood poisoning in time, so that little white lie was also excusable.  But if you kept going the way you were, she was going to come back to a son she didn't recognize.  As it is, she's having a hard time comprehending who you've become these past few weeks."

             "I haven't changed that much."

            "You just don't see it."

            "Whatever."  Lucas took the first spoonful of his soup while Keith was busy wiping the bowl clean with a chunk of bread.

            "Explain it to me, Luke.  Are you mad because I punished you?  Because I told you to stay away from the girl you liked or because I called your mom?"

            Lucas put down his spoon.  "Fine.  I deserved to be grounded.  But you once told me you wouldn't try and tell me what to do.  That you weren't my father.  Yet this whole month that's exactly what you did."

            Keith wore a pained look on his face as if he had been kicked in the groin.  "While your mother was gone I was in loco parentis.  I had to make those sorts of decisions.  I'm not saying I didn't make any mistakes, but no parent is perfect."

            Seeing the look on his uncle's face made Lucas cringe.  "I'm sorry.  I did it again.  You're the only dad I've known and I keep throwing it in your face that you're not my real father."  Lucas stood up and threw his napkin down on the table.  "I'm sorry.  I'm sorry that I'm such a jerk."  He walked off, leaving his uncle alone.

            Keith stood abruptly, pushing his chair back so hard it toppled over.  "You are not a jerk!" 

He walked briskly, catching up with Lucas in the living room.  Lucas didn't turn around, but kept on walking.  Keith reached out and grabbed Lucas's arm, swinging his nephew around to face him.  Keith took Lucas's face in both his hands and held it close to his face.

"We're family Lucas.  Father-son.  Uncle-nephew.  It doesn't make a difference, because we're family.  And as family, when we make mistakes, we forgive each other and go on.  Do you understand me?  We can forgive each other and move on.  Do you hear?"

Lucas slowly nodded his head, squeezing back the tears that were welling up in the corner of his eyes.

"Good.  Now sit down and eat your dinner.  Your mother will be highly insulted if you don't eat her lasagna.  And I know it's your favorite."

***

            "Lucas.  Are you with me?" asked Dr. Respler.  The older man peered into Lucas's face.  "Where were you?"

            "I was just thinking about Keith."

            Dr. Respler nodded.  "It was a good session, Lucas.  I'll see you next week at the same time?"

            "Sure."  Lucas stood, waved, and left the room, glad to be out of there.  His mother was waiting for him when he came out of the office.  

"How'd it go?" she asked.

            He shrugged.  "Okay, I guess.  It was a start."

            "Good.  You're being a real trooper."

            When Lucas got home, he tried to call Brooke again.  After four rings, the answering machine picked up.  She was avoiding his calls and she was avoiding him at school too.  In class, she chose the seat farthest from the one he took.  When he tried to catch up to her in the hall, she ducked the other way or surrounded herself with a bunch of her cheerleading friends.  It seemed as if every time he tried to get Brooke to talk for a moment, she went the other way.

            "Brooke, it's me Lucas.  I'm not trying to stalk you or anything, but we should talk about the other day.  I thought we were okay, but how come you won't talk to me?  Please, please call me back.  Try me at home or on my cell."

            "Mom," shouted Lucas grabbing his keys, wallet and phone.  "I'm heading over to Nathan's."  Maybe Nathan would have an idea what was up with Brooke.  He hated to admit it, but his little brother had more experience with girls.

            Karen came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.  "That's not a good idea, Lucas.  Deb told me Dan was coming over for dinner."

            "Oh." 

            "Haley's closing the café tonight."

            Lucas smiled.  "Thanks mom."  Haley always had a good ear.  She had been his ear most of his childhood. 

            He sprinted to the café.  Haley was putting up the chairs when he walked in.  "Can I help you with that?"

            "Lucas.  You're just in time."

            He took a chair and put it on top of the table.  "Yeah, it's good to see you.  What's up?"

            Haley shrugged.  "The chairs."

            "Very funny James.  Come on, it's been a while since we really talked."

            "Help me fill the sugar and salt shakers."

            "Sure."  He went behind the counter and took out a five-pound bag of sugar and handed Haley the canister of salt.  He opened up the first shaker and carefully poured in the sugar.  "I miss our talks."

            "So do I," she said.  "What's on your mind?"

            Lucas shrugged.  "Brooke won't talk to me.  We…. got…." Lucas didn't know how to word it.  "Pretty serious the other night and since then she won't talk to me."

            "Oh."  She gave him a meaningful look, and Lucas knew she understood him without having him having to spell it out.  "Maybe you need to give her some space."

            "I don't want her to regret it.  I don't blame her if she does, but…"

            "You know, Lucas, it wasn't her first time."

            "I know.  I'm aware of her history.  But this was different.  I don't know for sure, but I -- we meant something to each other.  I told her I think I love her."

            "Maybe that's the problem Lucas.  Maybe she was intimidated by your feelings."  Haley shrugged.  "I can't read her mind.  But give her some time to come around.  I'm sure she will."

            Lucas frowned, nodding his head.  He knew Haley was right.  He just didn't understand what had happened.  He also didn't want to stay away and have Brooke think he wasn't interested, because he was.

            "So Nathan is having dinner with his dad," Lucas said, changing the subject.

            Haley sighed, putting the filled shakers on a tray.  "Yes.  He really didn't want to go, but Deb made him.  She's making dinner at their house.  I don't think she had a choice.  Dan was in here the other day screaming about his rights and if Deb didn't start respecting them he would take her to court and file for full custody.  I think she was warding him off."

            Lucas grimaced.  Dan was insisting on his rights to visit with Nathan, yet he wouldn't even acknowledge his first-born son.  The irony was overwhelming.  He tried to hide the hurt on his face, but Haley knew her best friend too well.  She went up to him, and patted Lucas on the back.

            "I'm sorry."

            "Dan's the only one who has to be sorry.  Besides, I have Keith.  I couldn't ask for anyone better."

            They started to distribute the sugar, salt, and pepper when someone started rapping at the doors.   Haley looked up and a smile spread on her face.  "Hey, it's Nathan."  She ran to the door and opened it.  She didn't give him a chance to walk in, but immediately threw her arms around his shoulders.

            She didn't notice Nathan wince, but Lucas did.  And the minute she took her hands off of him, Lucas spotted the red welt on Nathan's cheek and a hint of purple around Nathan's eyes.

            "How'd that happen, Nathan?" 

            Haley gasped and threw her hands over her mouth.  "Oh my gosh, Nathan.  Who did this to you?"

            "The guys from Pinkerton found you?" Lucas asked.  He remembered the three immense basketball players who had harassed them when Whitey had thrown them off the bus.  They had been dumb, but they had been scary looking.  That experience had afforded Nathan and Lucas the first chance to try and work together and was probably the first time they had bonded.  But the guys from Pinkerton had been looking for revenge ever since.

            Nathan shook his head.  "It was Dan."