As usual the hospital room was filled with visitors and the normal crowd of well wishers. Pyeyton, Jake and Mary happily chatted and watched television while Lucas enjoyed shooting hoops with Jenny, Aidan and Mikayla from his bed with the Nerf ball and basket mounted on the door. It had been a present from the Knicks franchise. The mood was light and spirits were good as Nathan, Haley and Karen sat off to themselves in the corner, exchanging nervous glances every few minutes. Finally the moment they had been waiting for and dreading all at the same time came. The doctor entered the room and Peyton, Jake and Mary took the children to the cafeteria for a snack.

"What's up, Doc?" Lucas asked with a smile. "Want to play a little one on one?"

Haley cringed and looked down at the floor, not wanting anyone, especially Lucas, to see the tears brimming in her soft brown eyes.

"Maybe another time. Actually, Mr. Scott, we need to have a serious talk about your condition."

"Okay", Lucas shrugged.

"Are you comfortable with your mother, brother and sister in law present?"

"Sure. Anything you say to me, you can say in front of them. What's going on?"

The doctor went to shut the door behind him but the motion was stopped by a size 6 pointed toe, brown, genuine leather Steve Madden boot.

"Mrs. Scott…", the doctor said.

"Sorry I'm late", Brooke nodded.

Karen looked at her with a smile that seemed to say "thank you for doing the right thing" while Haley's tear filled eyes seemed to somewhat agree. Only Nathan was shooting her the death stare, his anger fueled by the fact she had even had to debate as to whether or not to show up.

"Mr. Scott, you have improved vastly since your admittance to this hospital and next Monday, which is four days away, I am prepared to sign your discharge form."

"Well that's the best news I've heard in a long time", Lucas grinned. "No offense, Doc but I've seen enough of this place."

"And as much as we've enjoyed having you, Mr. Scott, we don't want to see you back. We want you to keep healthy. Now your body has been through quite an ordeal and while you may be physically feeling better, there is a long, long road ahead to recovery. You are 26 years old and unfortunately this condition is something you will have to contend with for the rest of your life. I want to make sure that that is a long and relatively normal life."

"Okay."

"Recurring symptoms such as tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and physical pain can be treated with medication. I will prescribe a pill to be consumed orally twice a day, mid afternoon and before bed."

"Sounds good."

"You will need to see a cardiologist on a monthly basis so we can keep track of your progress and as soon as you're released, you can begin work with a physical therapist."

"So what are we talking about? Weights? Treadmill? What?"

"More like stretching and short walks…"

"Stretching and short walks?" Lucas laughed. "Come on, man. My grandmother does more than that. Look, I know what Dan went through when this happened to him and I understand what you're trying to do with me. I know I have to take it easy for a while. I also know that as much as it sucks, basketball is probably gonna be out for the rest of the season. I'm not looking forward to warming the bench for the next few months but I can handle it. Regardless I want to come back stronger than ever next year."

The loved ones could stare at the wall, the ceiling, the floor and even each other, just anywhere except the hopefulness etched on Lucas' face.

"Mr. Scott, I'm afraid you don't understand. The best and basically only treatment for you now is a radical lifestyle change. I'm sorry but that means no more basketball…ever."

Luke's blue eyes widened. The force of the doctor's words were the equivalent of physical force.

"You're joking, right? Right?"

His eyes looked over to each person in the room.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Scott."

"You're sorry? Dude, you come in here and basically snatch my life away then tell me that you're sorry? No. No way. Fuck that and fuck you too! I'll sit out this season but next year I'm coming back."

"Mr. Scott, that isn't possible. Resuming your career is detrimental to your health. In a nutshell, it could kill you. I am trying to prevent another heart attack because next time son you might not be so lucky. If you'd like a second opinion, then that is your right but any and every physician you consult is just going to tell you the same thing. No doctor could ethically or legally give consent of medical clearance for you to return to the NBA."

Lucas looked absolutely stunned. He couldn't believe it. So much had already been ripped from him, partly due to his own doings and partly because of Dan. And now the one thing that was left, the one constant that had always been there, had callously been taken as well.

"I'm sorry, honey", Karen said, rubbing his knee.

"Yeah…everybody is sorry. Me too", he said bitterly.

"Luke, this is not the end of the world", Haley offered.

"Maybe not yours", he muttered under his breath.

"Luke…"

"Look, I appreciate everybody being here and trying to be nice but, um, I kind of want to be alone right now"

"Lucas…"

"Guys!" he said rather impatiently.

He was on the verge of seriously blowing a gasket. Advice, pity and a bunch of apologies were the last thing he needed. Nothing would make it better. Nothing would bring back his career. Nothing would restore the wonderful life he used to have.

"Okay, honey, we'll go", Karen said. "Give you your privacy and all. We'll be back soon and if you need anything, just call."

He nodded not making eye contact with anybody.

"One more thing, Mr. Scott", the doctor added. "I don't want to agitate you any further but there is something else that should be discussed concerning your post release care. In addition to therapy and meds and regular doctor's visits, it's best that you have someone with you round the clock, at least for the first few months. If you need assistance with making that decision, our staff here would be more than happy to help."

"That won't be necessary", Karen spoke up again. "I'll come up for a few months and help out with whatever you need."

"Mom, what about the café?"

"It's fine. I'll just shut it down for a while and…"

Lucas angrily banged his fist against the bed. Now he was some pitiful invalid who needed an on call babysitter. Although he financially provided Karen with anything she wanted and needed, the café had always been her dream. Even when her son became a multi millionaire, she had kept the small establishment going, refusing to close. Now she was willing to give all that up for him.

"Mom, dammitt, no!"

"Lucas, you're being ridiculous. It's not a big deal. You are my son."

"I am your 26 year old son. Mom, all my life you have sacrificed and put your life on hold for me. Not anymore. It's not right."

"Luke, you're being silly. You need me, you need someone. Why won't you let me help?"

"You could always hire a private nurse", Haley suggested.

"Oh yeah because hired help worked out so well for all of us the last time", Lucas laughed sarcastically. "We ended up with the psycho sitter from hell. What's next, Hales? Maybe this time I can press my luck and end up with Delores Claiborne. Screw that. No more strangers in my house."

Sighing, Nathan removed a folded piece of paper from his wallet and handed it over to his brother.

"Check that out, man. That is the contact information for one of the best physical therapists in the country. His office specializes in cases just like yours."

Lucas briefly scanned the paper.

"Bro, this guy is in Malibu."

"I know", Nathan said. "Look, I did some research and Haley and I talked it over and we want you to come out to California and live with us while you rehab."

Now he had been reduced to the pity and mercy of his well meaning brother and sister in law. Independent and proud to the end, Lucas would have rather had his bulls surgically removed rather than have to depend on Nathan and Haley like a helpless infant or elderly person.

"Hell no. Nate , I appreciate what you're trying to do but…"

"But what?" Haley interrupted. "No buts. Lucas Scott, you're being stubborn and as I recall your stubbornness and unwillingness to listen to anybody is what landed your butt in this hospital bed in the first place. Now everyone in this room loves you and wants to see you get better. You've already given us quite the scare and nobody wants to lose you. This place Nathan found has an ideal outpatient treatment program. It might not be able to bring back basketball but there are more important things than the NBA and your life happens to be on the top of that list. You might be ready to give up on yourself but we aren't ready to give up on you. Now stop brooding and snap out of this funk and start thinking realistically. Come to California, concentrate on getting and staying healthy, relax, and since you need someone around for the first few months, you can stay with Nathan and me. We'll take good care of you and Luke you know I would make you so comfortable. Besides, it'll give us the chance to spend more time together. I've missed you, buddy."

"I don't know", he sighed. "Thanks for the concern but this has all been a little much to swallow in a few minutes. That treatment center sounds okay or whatever but it is all the way in Malibu. I'm sure there are good doctors and specialists and places right here on the East Coast. Look, just…let me think about it, okay?"

He was visibly upset and frustrated and there was no sense in arguing with or pushing him.

"I'll go."

Everyone stopped and looked at where the small and barely audible voice had come from. To their surprise and hers as well, it was Brooke. She had spoken before she even realized what she was saying.

"What?"

"I said…I said I'll go with Lucas, I mean. If this place in California is the best, then that's where you need to be receiving your care. And if you feel bad about imposing on Nathan and Haley and the only thing stopping you from going is having a person living with you, then I'll go."

"No", Lucas shook his head. "Brooke, you don't have to."

"I know…but I want to."

"No you don't. You just feel bad. You feel obligated. That's not fair to you. You have your life and plenty of things going on and…"

"Luke, I left Sascha Naj and the only thing left to fill my days now is being a full time mother. You are still my friend and it wouldn't be a major inconvenience to help you out for a couple of months. Besides, having Harmony around might speed up your recovery."

He sighed as he was between a rock and a hard place. Taking up the offer of his estranged wife was the last thing he wanted to but what other options did he really have.

"What do you say, man?" Nathan asked.

"Fine", Lucas answered after a minute or two. "Whatever. It's not like I really have a choice in the matter anyway."

"You're welcome", Brooke rolled her eyes.

Though they had resided as "friends" for well over a year something told the both of them this new co existence would bring even more trouble. She looked over at Nathan who seemed both surprised and satisfied that she was doing the "right" and unselfish thing. It wasn't the best situation but it would have to make do.

"Then that's settled", the doctor said. "Mr. and Mrs. Scott, I will have the staff make arrangements for follow up medical care in California."

"Whatever you have to do, man", Lucas said, staring out the window.

"Mr. Scott, I know this is hard on you but believe me it's for the best. Son, you're looking at a long road back and that road is called the rest of your life."