Brooke folded the corners of the used but dry pamper and pitched it straight up and ahead to the diaper pail. It went in as perfect as one of her husband's famous free throws.

"If that's your free throw, it looks like crap. And uh, I hope it wasn't actual crap in that thing. Dirty diapers are a lethal weapon."

Brooke smiled at her brother in law.

"Careful, bud. You're sounding more and more like dear old Pops everyday."

"Score for you on the insult", he kidded.

"What are you doing here, Nate? I thought everyone was off at the hospital."

It had been over a week since Lucas had woken up and by all accounts he was recovering nicely.

"Yeah they are. Um, I just wanted to talk to you."

"What's up?"

"I heard about the divorce papers and that Luke didn't finish signing them before his heart attack. I guess that means you guys are still married, huh?"

"For now", Brooke shrugged as she continued to dress Harmony.

"I…I don't know what to say. In a way it's totally none of my business and I don't want to be like everybody else up in your face trying to tell you what to do when you're the one that's had to deal with all this…"

"Then don't, Nathan. Please. A little neutrality would be much appreciated here."

"I just want you to know, and I think you already do, that you and Harmony are the best thing that's ever happened to my brother. He's had a rough time with everything too and now this. He's only 26 years old and look at him. I'm just saying, the whole divorce deal is your choice but Lucas is going to need his daughter and me and you and all of us to help him through this ordeal. You and I both know, that it's far from over. This is just the beginning. Just don't…don't abandon him, Brooke. Not now."

"Okay", she said casually.

"Brooke, I'm being serious. I know you still love him and it's because of you getting him to the hospital so fast that he isn't dead. Look, I'm not trying to excuse what he did. He was wrong for cheating and he was wrong with the whole Dan/Felix/Mrs. Patterson or whatever the hell her name was, drama. He should have beleieved you and stuck up for you right away. We all should have. No one can apologize enough to you for everything you've been through. It kind of sucks but everything happens for a reason, I think. We can't always explain it. Peyton and Mary and Gordon figuring out what was going on? Maybe that was supposed to happen so Anna could tell the truth. You showing up at the loft when you did? Maybe that was supposwd to happen because you were supposed to save his life. And now with all this happening…I don't know. Maybe another sign. A sign that it's not over between you two."

"It is over, Nathan. Why doesn't anyone understand that? What's wrong is wrong and what is in the past we can't change. I'm just trying to pave the way to a bearable future…for everyone. I love your brother very much but I can't be with him just because he's sick and he almost died. It isn't fair to me or our child and it's not fair to Lucas. I won't do it."

"That's fine. Like I said, just don't turn your back completely. He loves you and he needs you. You and my niece are his whole world. Everything he is that is great or that he's ever done, well it's because of you. Life gave him a second chance, Brooke…maybe you should too. You should go see him. Let him hold his little girl. I think it would really lift his spirits. Let me take you to him."

Nathan extended his hand and Brooke took it. Together they traveled to the hospital and there were no words to describe the sheer look of happiness as Lucas saw and held his daughter for the first time in weeks.

"Hey Angel. How's my Princess, huh? Daddy missed you…"

Seeing her Daddy's face, the little girl instantly brightened and as always, it warmed Brooke's heart to see them like that. It warmed Nathan too. In many ways he and Lucas were just alike. Both battled inner demons courtesy of the Scott family gene. Both were forever connected by a ruthless, sinister and controlling entity that was supposed to be their father. Both excelled in and loved the game that had been instilled into their minds and drilled into their hearts since birth. Both had married women they loved more than anything. Both were doting fathers as well. Nathan loved his older brother and screw ups and all, he was bound and determined to protect and help him.

Pretty soon the crowd dwindled and it was just Nathan, Brooke and baby Harmony. The fewer amounts of people, the more uncomfortable Brooke felt. Although she had hoped and prayed for his recovery, she found it oddly easier to be around the unconscious man in lieu of having to make conversation with the awake one. The important thing is to keep him calm. Don't upset him, the doctor had warned them all. For Brooke it was all too fine of a line. She paced nervously around the room finally deciding to open the drapes while Nathan held Harmony so Lucas could have lunch.

"Have you ever seen the sky so blue?" he asked, seemingly out of the blue as his gaze fixated on the window. "I really love this city. New York is the best city in the world."

Brooke and Nathan exchanged bewildered glances.

"Yeah man. It's a nice day."

"They're all nice", Lucas said. "Uh, Brooke. When you come back by you could bring over the divorce papers. I never finished signing them."

"We don't have to talk about that right now", she offered.

"No, it's okay. We need to deal with it. Anything could happen so I really think we should take care of this."

"Nothing else is going to happen to you, dumb ass", Nathan prodded from his seat, trying to lighten the mood.

"It already has", Lucas replied wistfully.

"So, um, the doc says you might be getting out of here soon", Nathan said, changing the subject.

"Week or two if all goes well. They're gonna put me on that same cardiovascular rehabilitation stuff they did with Dan. When you're in town, how about a workout little brother?"

"You got it, dude."

"And pretty soon I'll be back to normal on the court kicking your ass again like usual. If you think you're gonna get a championship ring this year, think again, boy. The rematch is on", Lucas teased.

Nathan smiled awkwardly in agreement, his eyes never leaving Brooke's.

"I, um…I think we should go", Brooke spoke up. "It's almost time for your afternoon nap. Uh, have a good rest and we'll be back later."

"Okay", he nodded. "Um, thanks for coming and thanks for bringing the baby. I really needed to see her. I guess I'll see you guys after nap and bath time."

"Yeah and by the way, Gordon said he'd be happy to fill in on the sponge bath thing if your regular nurse isn't up to it", Nathan joked.

"Yeah, I'm sure he did. Believe it or not, almost dying really changed my outlook on life and it's made me appreciate everything. Even Gordon. Even though he calls me Judas, stares at my crotch and is basically all around mean to me. Tell him to drop by later although I'm totally good on the sponge bath thing. Really. His services will not be needed there…ever."

They shared a laugh and hugs good bye. Brooke was silent on the way to the parking lot, even as she loaded a sleeping Harmony into her car seat. The drive was quiet but tense and Brooke could feel Nathan's blue eyes boring a hole inside her.

"What Nathan?" she finally asked in a soft voice.

"You know what."

"Yeah I guess we both do but you may as well just say it."

"I can't believe you didn't tell him yet."

"The doctor said not to upset him. Geez, what am I supposed to do? Telling him that his basketball career is over forever will definitely upset him I think."

"Yeah but he deserves to know the truth. Hell, Brooke. It's not fair. The guy is lying there helpless not even knowing what's going on."

"I was talking to the doctor and he agreed he will tell him…"

"Nice way out, Brooke. Really. You can take the girl out of Tree Hill but you can't take the Tree Hill out of the girl, I guess. So you get to mosey on off in the sunset like a coward while a doctor, a virtual stranger, coldly and matter of factly tells my big brother that his dream, his career, the sport he loves, the one thing he has had in his life since he was old enough to even hold a ball, is gone."

"Nathan…"

"What? Don't 'Nathan' me. This is all on you, Brooke. He is my flesh and blood brother and I love the guy and I will be there for him no matter what. He is Haley's best friend. He's Karen's son. We will all be there for him, no questions asked. But you're still his wife and I'm not just talking about signatures on a stupid piece of paper. You need to be there, Brooke. He is going to need your support more than ever. You owe him that."

"Bullshit! Don't lay that guilt and try to play your games with me, Nathan or should I say Dan because that's who the hell you're starting to sound like."

"Sticks and stones, baby girl. Your tantrum and 'why me' farce isn't gonna work on me. Have you been through a lot? Hell yes. And I'm sorry for that, Brooke. I truly am. But that's life and it sucks and it dealt you a couple of shitty hands. So what? Deal with it. You have to roll with the punches sometimes and I know you're strong enough for that. I won't sit up here and act like Lucas walks on water because I am well aware of the mistakes he has made but you don't need to be throwing stones yourself, Brooke. I'm telling you like it is. You need to pull your head out of your ass, quite being selfish, quit making excuses, quit feeling sorry for yourself because you had to resign from your job and you have stalkarazzi camping out in your bushes. Oh well. You can bitch, pout, cry, whatever, I don't care but you need to be there for Luke. If not as a wife then as a friend and a human being. His whole world is about to be turned upside down in a way you could never imagine or understand. That game is in his blood, in his soul. It is him. And trust me, when it's snatched away, especially by something Dan passed on to him, he's going to be lost. Lost Brooke. Absolutely lost. Don't you see? That's why he couldn't take that test in the first place. Deep down he probably knew what the results were and he just couldn't face it. He could not face having that stripped from him. Besides that little girl sleeping in the backseat, what else does the man have left? Me? I took that test because I wasn't afraid of the answer. It would have sucked but need be, I would have and could have walked away from it all. Because at the end of the day I have Haley and her love and support and that means more to me than money, fame, or putting a damned ball through a hoop. Lucas used to have that with you but now it's gone. You're gone and all he has is the game. So if I sound like Dan, then fuck it but you will be there for him. You owe him that, Brooke."