If You Want Something Badly...

The next two days were hard. Nathan and Lucas would barely speak, and then only if absolutely necessary. Karen seemed to be having a little more luck with Nathan, but that wasn't saying much. Dan was ecstatic when the day of the hearing came.

The judge was right. There was one more lawyer. "Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Jonathan Goddard, your honor. I'm representing the State of North Carolina in this matter."

"Good, tell me you're ready to take this mess off my hands."

"Yes your honor. We've received all the materials and are ready to take over under the laws of North Carolina."

"Good. Never been so glad to see the backside of a case in my life. Now, I understand we also have Ms. Roe with us. Good to meet you my dear. You are continuing to assert your guardianship rights under Ms. Carver's will, I assume?"

Karen stood. "Yes your honor. I know it seems odd, for me to petition for custody for a child I have no biological or other claim to, but I'm raising his brother, and I, well, I got this letter. From Debra. She had written it to me in case something happened to her, and Mrs. Lopez sent it to me. She makes it very clear that she wants me to do this. I can't deny her that."

"Do you have the letter with you?"

"I have it right here, your honor," Ms. Johnson said, as she passed it to the bailiff for conveyance to the judge.

"Excellent. Mr. Scott, I assume you received a similar letter, but I don't see a copy of it. What did yours say?"

"Pretty much the same your honor. That Karen and I should provide Nathan with a home and a family," Dan confirmed, reluctantly. He still couldn't understand why she was insisting on participating in this, when this boy was nothing to her, but two days of arguing about it whenever the boys weren't around hadn't made her see reason. His lawyer had told him to let it go for now and deal with it in the permanent hearing.

"See that the court in North Carolina receives a copy, will you? Well, given the very clear intentions of Ms. Carver's will, supported by both her lawyer and her own words, I see no reason not to uphold my earlier ruling even given the circumstances."

Lucas, who had been sitting in the back of the room, muttered something, making the judge notice him for the first time. "You, young man, who are you? What are you doing in my courtroom?"

Lucas started, and stood. "Sorry sir. I'm Lucas Scott."

"Ah, the bouncing boy."

"Excuse me?" Lucas said, confused.

"Apparently you bounce between your parents' homes."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry. I thought it was some kind of basketball reference."

"No, no. But you had something to say earlier. Why don't you" he gestured to the crowded courtroom "share it with the rest of the class."

"Ah, no, it was nothing important."

"Please, it was important enough for you to interrupt the guy with the black robes and gavel, so spit it out."

Lucas paused. "It was just, when you said 'given the circumstances'. I assume you mean my parents' divorce and the fact that they can't stand each other, and all I could think was that my family puts the fun in dysfunctional." Dan glared at Lucas, while Karen gulped and Nathan sank even lower in his seat.

The judge stared at Lucas a moment. "Indeed... Well, young man, thank you for your comments. Mr. Goddard. You heard young Mr. Scott. Parents can't stand each other."

"Yes your honor."

"The fun in dysfunctional, eh."

"Yes your honor. If I may, I took the opportunity to briefly review the divorce proceedings in Scott vs. Scott. There does seem to be a fair amount of acrimony. Especially with regard to what is appropriate for their son."

"And now I'm giving them another one to fight over, is what you're saying. Well, that's my prerogative. I have to consider the wishes of Debra Carver as expressed in her will until wiser heads decide otherwise. It will have to be up to the good people of North Carolina to slice this Gordian knot in the best interests of Nathan Carver. See you don't end up splitting the baby at the same time."

"Yes, your honor."

"Well, just so you know what you're up against. Ms. Roe."

Karen jumped up. "Yes sir?"

"I assume your lawyer has explained the earlier ruling to you?"

"Yes sir. We are jointly responsible for Nathan, but he'll live full time with Dan."

"Indeed. And Mr. Scott."

"Yes sir?"

"I assume you've made arrangements to receive Nathan into your home."

Dan cleared his throat. "You see sir, given the suddenness of this, I'm still looking for a larger place. My apartment only has two bedrooms, one for me and one for Lucas. But my secretary, who is looking for me, has seen a few she thinks are possibilities. As soon as I can move Nathan will have his own room, but for now, the only alternative I can see is the sofa bed."

"Or," the judge said, leaning back in his chair, "Nathan can stay in Lucas' room until you move. I'm sure Ms. Roe won't object to a temporary interruption in this custody volley you have set up."

"No objections, your honor," interjected Karen's lawyer, over a snort from Lucas. "Or, as an alternative, Nathan and Dan can stay at Ms. Roe's house while they are looking for a place."

"See? We even have options. However, Ms. Johnson, I think I'll put my foot down to reuniting the Scott family under one roof. I'm sure Lucas won't mind giving up his bedroom for a few weeks to his brother." A second, louder snort told everyone exactly what Lucas thought of the idea, but he didn't express himself in words and the judge, despite obviously noticing, chose not to comment. "So be it. Sole temporary physical custody is awarded to Daniel Scott at his current residence in Tree Hill, North Carolina, with temporary legal custody jointly awarded Daniel Scott and Karen Roe Scott. Social Services in Union County will monitor the situation?"

"Yes your honor," confirmed the NC attorney. "The social worker, a Mrs. Patsy Lawlor, has already made a home visit to Karen Roe. She'll meet with Mr. Scott and Nathan as early as is convenient. Also, using the legal authority given in the earlier emergency ruling, Ms. Roe has enrolled Nathan in the local high school."

"Fantastic. So, it sounds like all the ducks are in a row. Have you made flight arrangements yet?"

"Yes sir," Dan's attorney said. "On the 18th. Two days."

"I know when the 18th is," the judge growled. "But thank you for the math help. So, the earlier ruling is upheld and as of the 18th of this month, this matter is officially transferred to the jurisdiction of Union County, North Carolina, where permanent custody will be adjudicated under the laws and procedures of North Carolina. Ruth Plumber remains as Nathan Carver's guardian ad litem, which I assume is not a problem for the State of North Carolina?" Mr. Goddard indicated his agreement. "Mr. Olson," the judge said, turning to his clerk, "make sure Mr. Goddard leaves here today with a copy of this transcript to go with the rest of the stack we've sent them already. Now, everyone out but young Mr. Carver and Mrs. Plumber." There was a general chaos as everyone moved out, leaving only Nathan and the steely-eyed former principal.

"Off the record please." The stenographer removed her hands from the keyboard. "Ruth, you know I'm not happy."

"I know, George."

"Are you okay with what I'm going to ask you to do for young Nathan here?"

"Absolutely. I've been thinking about it for a while. Already got most everything wrapped up at this end."

"Excellent. I'll miss you Ruth."

"You too George."

Nathan finally felt the need to interject. "Could someone please explain what is going on? What is Mrs. Plumber going to do for me?"

The judge moved out from behind the bench and sat next to Nathan. "Son, I don't know if today is your lucky day or not, but if it is, it won't be because of that pack of fools, at least not anytime soon. If I had any other option, I'd send you pretty much anywhere over home with that family. Situation sounds toxic. But, you did get one lucky break, which I strongly recommend you take advantage of. Mrs. Plumber here is the best CASA volunteer I've ever had the privilege to work with. I've watched her reduce grown men to tears and turn their lives around, really doing right by their kids for the first time in their lives. She's a pit bull for her clients. And you, my boy, are going to be the last one. She's staying with you for good."

Nathan looked at Mrs. Plumber, who nodded. "I don't get it. I thought I had to go live with Dan."

"Yes, Nathan, but remember when I said I had a house in Gaston County? You wouldn't know this but that's a barely an hour from Tree Hill. I'm going to move there permanently, not just for the hearings. I don't trust Dan. Karen seems okay but she's in a very weak position with regards to permanent custody. And that boy of theirs... He's got big problems. You need someone who is there just for you. Not just in court, but everywhere else too. Like your mom was. You'll make friends eventually. Your family will get over their issues and be what you need. But until then, you need at least one person who's on your side and noone else's. I'd like to be that person, if you'll let me." She took his hand, and gave it a little squeeze. Nathan stared at her hand. Her fingers. Old, wrinkled, spotty. So not like his mother's. But, yet, the same. The same energy underneath, the same knowledge that she wouldn't judge him.

"Okay," he whispered.

Mrs. Plumber moved in and gave him a quick hug that got longer when Nathan found he couldn't let go. He squeezed his eyes shut, stopping the tears. He wasn't going to cry, not going to cry, not going to... "It's okay, you know," she whispered in his ear. Damn. Now he was crying. He felt the judge move off and return, knowing without looking that he had brought a box of tissues.

"Look, for right now, I only want one thing from you, okay? Listen, because this is important."

Nathan grabbed a tissue and got himself under control. "What?"

"You told me you were willing to take a chance. You need to do that. It's on you to make that effort. Dan, well, his heart is in the right place, but no matter what he knows from raising Lucas, that won't be the same as raising you. Open yourself and your heart up to him. Don't punish him for not being there until now. Just let him know what you need now that he is here. Your mother believed he was a good person. Give him that much, at least. Karen and Lucas will come with time, but for now, open up to your father. Get to know him. Let him get to know you. Will you do that?"

Nathan nodded, miserably shredding his tissue.

"Good. I knew your mother raised you right. I'm going to go outside and grab Mr. Goddard before he leaves. George, could you point him to the washroom? I'll tell your family to wait for you outside."

In the bathroom, Nathan washed his face. Staring in the mirror, he wondered. Could he do this? Make the effort, take the chance, find his place in this instant family of strangers? Family... when he was a kid, he had pestered his mom for a little brother or sister. No, she'd always laughed. You're enough of a handful by yourself. She'd never said they couldn't afford it, although he'd figured that out on his own later. Her salary at the bank had been just enough to cover two, with very little extra left over. Now he had a lot more money and a brother, but it was nothing like he'd expected. And he had the thing he always wanted most... a father. A real father, who couldn't abandon him. He shook himself. He could make this work. He would make it work. He had to. He wanted this family.