Title: Miranda Rights

Author: Joy

Email: Julianna@ziplip.com

Rating: PG-13

A/N: ***WARNING*** Nathan centered chapter. YOU CANNOT SKIP IT.

15.

            The Tree Hill Police station was busy as Nathan sat with his mom in Detective Williams office. Nathan had made his statement, signed the papers, and was now waiting to have Detective Williams return, potentially with a prosecuting attorney.

            A professional looking woman in a purple suit came to the Scotts. "Hello, my name is Samantha Brach. I'm an Assistant DA here. Detective Williams wanted me to meet you in person instead of on paper…courtesy to your family." Nathan nodded staring at his hands. She appeared concerned about Nathan's manner. "Are you okay?"

            He laughed, "Not really. I hurt my ex-girlfriend that I don't want to be broken up with and because of her injury she doesn't even remember dating me. I'm really not okay." She eyed him a minute. "Sorry. It's been a really long day."

            Ms. Brach looked Deb over, "Is there a reason your husband is not here?"

            "My husband and I are separated. Nathan asked that we handle this and not involve Dan for as long as possible."

            "This is as long as possible… Legally both parents are allowed to have council present in the matter of a minor…" Both Scotts appeared concerned, so she decided to speak to them on the level. "Look I've read your statement and Detective Williams says neither of the injured parties are planning on pressing assault charges so the vandalism charge is pretty much a probation offense. Since you've already made your statement, there really isn't much your father can do…Detective Williams made it really clear that you want to have punishment for your involvement. It is your choice whether to use your father's lawyer or not."

            Deb looked at her son, "I've already called someone at the firm to help get the paper work filed. She understands what you want so we should be okay…but they were going to notify your dad."

            Nathan sighed out, "I wish he would just leave us alone."

            It was about that time that an enraged Dan Scott came barreling into the police station. Ms. Brach saw the commotion and the verbal berating Detective Williams and the other officers were taking from Mr. Scott. "Good heavens…What does that man think he is doing?" she asked aghast at the elder Scott's behavior.

Nathan chuckled, "Imagine that day in and day out about basketball."

            The ADA looked at Nathan, "That's your father?" The teen nodded. "He acts like this a lot?"

            Nathan grinned sardonically, "I will never be good enough to satisfy him. He can't play, so I have to." Ms. Brach sat on the edge of the desk and decided to have a very hands-on approach with this case.

            Dan made it over to the office where Deb and Nathan sat with the ADA. "What the hell is this Deb? You punish our son because you're mad at me?" he screamed.

            "Lower your voice," she snipped. Nathan stared at the floor.

            "Son, we could have avoided all of this if you had come to me," Dan implored.

            Nathan looked up for a moment, "This was my choice DAN and I didn't want you to be part of it."

            Dan stared at his son and then turned hatefully on Deb, "You have poisoned our son against me…Oh the lawyers are going to have a field day with this. Mark my words Deb you are going to regret the day you ever started this."

            Ms Brach stepped in, "Mr. Scott you need to calm down. Your son chose to own up to his part of a crime. That is a noble thing…you should be proud of him."

            "Proud…of him…for throwing away his future…over some girl. You have got to be kidding me," Dan spat at the ADA.

            "Mr. Scott, two teens were sent to the hospital and one of them has lost her short term memory over this. Your son did the right thing. Because of his honesty he will only be faced with vandalism charges rather than assault charges as well."

            Dan grit his teeth, "If he had come to me he wouldn't be facing any charges at all."

            The ADA stared back at the stubborn man, "That is where you are wrong…You may have influence over incidents of car accidents Mr. Scott…but your Judge friend that you were relying on to take care to the matter refused the case stating a conflict of interest. Apparently he's not so keen on continuing to clean up your son's messes…And isn't it interesting that on his own Nathan was oh so willing to take responsibility for his actions but for prior acts of poor judgment with your involvement he was not."

            "You have no proof that he is responsible for anything…and it's not wise to start spouting off about prior situations you know nothing about," Dan snapped.

That was more than Nathan could take. He got to his feet and stared hard in his father's eyes. "But I know about them DAD!"

Dan glared at his son before Nathan spoke again. "…And at least I accept responsibility for my choices and am doing right by that girl…but you wouldn't know anything about that. You just ran away and pretended like nothing happened…like you weren't responsible. Well I'm not you and I don't want to be," Nathan spouted completely off topic.

He continued, "I kept trying to figure out why I hated Lucas and the answer was you taught me to. You want nothing more than to erase him from history so you aren't constantly reminded of what a prick you really are. If Lucas would go away then life would be perfect. Well, I'm glad he's alive just so I can see what a son of yours looks like without the scars of growing up under your influence. Guess what dad? I don't hate Lucas. I hate you…It's funny… you have two teenage sons that both hate you…one because you abandoned him and one because you were around. Now that is irony."

Dan Scott was speechless for a moment but then came back with, "I want the best for you and this is how you treat me."

            "You want the best for you…and always have," Nathan challenged.

He stared his father down with a set jaw, "Mom and I don't need you here…and I don't need your help with this. I made my statement and am now talking to the ADA about the next step…so back off. It's handled."

            "You will regret this."

            Nathan stared at him like he was insane, "I already regret what happened. This…me making my statement…is the only thing I can do to help make it right. I'm not going to regret that."

            "When colleges turn you down for a record then what?" Dan gripped.

            Ms. Brach piped up, "He's a minor so his record will be sealed. Colleges aren't privy to that information unless Nathan discloses it."

            "Stay out of this lady," Dan snapped getting right in her face.

            Samantha Brach caught sight of Detective Williams observing the situation near by. "Mr. Scott, your presence is the one in question at the moment, not mine. Your son and wife wish you to leave so I would suggest you do so. You have already made quite a scene and I would hate to think what would happen if the officers in the vicinity believed you were threatening myself, your son, or wife."

            Dan's anger boiled. He reacted instantly grabbing Ms. Brach by the throat. Detective Williams was there in a second removing Dan's hand. His arm was twisted behind his back and cuffs were snapped on before he had time to think. "You have the right to remain silent…" the detective began much to Dan's shock, "Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have…"

            "What am I being arrested for?" Dan interrupted.

            Detective Williams snickered as other officers glared at Mr. Scott, "You just assaulted the ADA in front of half the squad room. Assaulting an officer of the court is never wise…Lets go…"

            "You have the right to an attorney," the detective continued to Mirandize Dan as he walked away.

            "I'm…I'm so sorry," Deb began.

            Samantha put a hand up, "You don't have to apologize for him. He is a big boy that makes his own choices and is now suffering from them." Ms. Brach sighed, "I suggest you use an attorney not in the same firm as your husband." She handed over a card from her portfolio. "This is the number for a lawyer in Chapel Hill that is really good with family situations…especially amongst the wealthy."

            "Thank you," Deb took the card solemnly.

            Samantha looked the woman over a bit, "It is in your son and your best interest to get a protective order against him. As the situations with your own family issues escalate it is likely he will turn on you the way he did me. I will be happy to go before a judge and give my account of what I have seen…and I will be pressing charges for your sake… It will make custody discussions easier for you."

            Nathan looked hard at the woman, "Why are you helping us?"

            She smiled, "So you don't become him."

Tbc…

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