For weeks Lucas had looked forward to rehab. He knew it would be tough but he was ready and willing. After all, it was his last chance. The only hope for the fullest recovery possible. More than anything, he wanted out of that chair and out of that bed. He longed to be a man again, a whole person. Dan Scott had shelled out the cash for the private services of one of the best physical therapists in the state. So when the day finally arrived, Lucas was at the physical therapy center, hoping for the best and preparing to do whatever it took. He expected discomfort, awkwardness, maybe even a little pain but he was in no way prepared for the amount of difficulty that would ensue. He hadn't anticipated that the rehabilitation process would be so hard. The main focus was learning to walk again. How the hell was he supposed to teach himself to walk again if he couldn't feel his goddamned legs?

"Good morning, Lucas, good morning, Ms. Rowe", Dr. Laura Gellar, the physical therapist smiled. "How are we feeling today?"

"Like I don't have any legs", Lucas shrugged.

"Luke!" Karen whispered tersely, as she swatted his arm. "Dr. Gellar, I'm sorry. He's gets an attitude sometime…"

"It's okay. No need to apologize. So are we ready to get started?"

"Yeah. Let's just get this over with", he grumbled. "What's on the agenda for today?"

Dr. Gellar retrieved a large, blown up beach ball.

"Know what this is, Lucas?"

"Yeah…so what are we gonna do with it?"

"We are going to practice throwing it back and forth to each other at different ranges, different positions…"

"That's it?" Lucas scoffed. "That's today's session? Tossing a stupid ball?"

"Yes."

Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Great. What a nice waste of the old man's money."

Karen shook her head. She had tried to sympathize with her son and his struggle to adapt to his new reality but it had been hard for her as well. She hated seeing him that way. And in her own frustrations, she hated his new Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde type personality.

"So, are you saying you don't want to do this?" Dr. Gellar inquired.

"No, I'm just saying it's stupid and it's a total waste of time."

"Luke!" Karen interjected again.

"It's okay", Dr. Gellar nodded. "Lucas, just give it a shot. Trust me. I've been doing this for a few years. Now I know you may think it's stupid but it's not. Hey. You ever seen The Karate Kid?"

"Who hasn't?"

"Okay. Remember when Mr. Myagi was training Daniel for the big competition and Daniel was expecting right away to learn all the karate moves? But what happened the first couple of days? He ended up painting a fence, and waxing cars, and sanding the floors. Now Daniel was pretty pissed. Thought it was a waste of time and that Mr. Myagi was just using him to do chores around the house. But we all learned later, that in doing those chores, those simple tasks were fundamental for what he needed to win later on."

"I'm not sanding these floors", Lucas half smiled.

Dr. Gellar winked and tossed him the ball. They played catch for the better part of an hour. It was simple enough at first but Lucas found it more difficult when he had to throw at a longer range or when it required him to raise his arms high for a catch. He was winded and after a while, his motor skills seemed to simply give out.

"Damn!" he yelled, frustrated beyond all belief that he wasn't capable of a one hour game of catch.

His lower half was gone and sometimes he felt like his arms were just as useless.

"It's okay, Lucas", Dr. Gellar said, as she jotted down a few notes. "We'll take break and…"

"No. I'm done for the day. This is dumb and I don't want to do it anymore."

As far as he was concerned, the issue was not up for further discussion. He wheeled himself into a corner and sat there sulking. Dr. Gellar, recognizing his physical limitations, agreed to continue the session at another time and Karen and Lucas returned home. There he went right into his old room, slamming the door as he sat quietly in the dark.

Karen felt like she was losing him, like she couldn't reach him. In her own desperation, she picked up the phone and called the last person on earth she wanted to. But she had no choice. Dan Scott, the high school sweetheart she had loved so many years ago. The same man that callously dumped her when she was pregnant with their love child and moved on to the greener pastures of college where just months later, he fell in love with and impregnated a fellow freshman. The only difference was, that time Dan didn't run away. He had married Deb. And that had made for a complicated and awkward web ever since.

"You have to come over here", she simply stated before hanging up.

She hated needing him and depending on him but over the last few years, he had begun to make an effort. Deb and Karen had even struck up a friendship. Dan, in his own fashion, had grown closer to Lucas and since the accident had come through more than ever. It was his money that paid the medical bills and provided the private care and purchased the handicap accessible mini van Karen would need temporarily. As much as it killed her to admit it, despicable Dan had been a lifesaver.

"Lucas", Karen softly called out hours later. "Honey, can you come out here, please?"

Grumbling, he wheeled himself out to the common area and was shocked to see not only his mother but Dan, Deb, Nathan and Haley.

"Well, well, well. How cute. If it isn't the Scott family", Lucas shook his head.

"Son, we're all your family and we all care about you", Dan said.

"Whatever."

"Lucas, I know it might not be my place, but like your father said, I do care about you, honey", Deb added. "We all do. I know you're having a hard time with all this. What can we do to help or make things easier…"

"Nothing", Lucas sighed.

"Luke…"

Lucas stared at the people surrounding him. The mother he loved more than anything. The father he once resented but who had made a surprising and remarkable turn around. The step mother who always tried to be a kind and loving friend. The brother and sister in law who were his best friends in the world. They all did care about him and he knew that. He appreciated it too. Besides, none of them were to blame for his condition and since the accident, they had all been there just trying to help and make him more comfortable. It had been hard and Lucas knew it would continue to be. He was miserable and sinking into a deep depression. His chats with Brooke were becoming less and less frequent and although that bothered him in a way, Lucas knew he had more pressing issues to deal with.

"Look, I know why you guys are all here and I appreciate it. Really. I know I don't always act like it and maybe I haven't been the easiest person to be around lately, but I'm trying. I'm really trying. I know the doctors say I have a shot at being able to walk again but now I'm not sure."

"You can't give up, bro", Nathan said.

"I know and I won't. Never, Nate. But at the same time, I have to start accepting reality and what the present holds for me now. It doesn't look like I'll be getting out of this chair anytime soon but…life's got to go on, you know? I've been on the Internet and stuff and I found out that Wake has handicap accessible dorms and a bunch of other facilities."

"What are you saying, Luke?" Haley asked.

"I'm saying that I'm tired of hiding. I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself and I'm tired of being ashamed. I've made an important decision. Mom, Dan, Deb, Nate, Hales…I want to leave Tree Hill and go back to Wake Forest to finish out the semester."

"No", Karen adamantly shook her head. "No, Lucas. Not yet. It's too soon."

"Mom, no it's not. I'm not a little baby and I can't stay here with you forever. I have a life and there are things I need to do that I can't do here."

"Who's going to help you? And what about your care and…"

"Mom…"

"The boy can help himself, Karen", Dan spoke up. "He's not totally helpless and you babying him with everything is not going to speed up his recovery any faster. So son, if you want to go back to school, then go. I think it's a good idea and I have no doubt that you can handle it. As far as rehab, Dr. Gellar is the best in her field and she travels all over the state to see patients. I'm sure it will be no problem to arrange the continuation of your therapy with her at Wake."

"Dan…"

"He's not a child, Karen. His mind is made up."

With tears in her eyes, she looked at her only son.

"Mom, it's okay. I'll be okay."

Karen nodded. She knew he would be but it didn't make it hurt any less and it certainly wouldn't ease her worrying. She was a mother after all and mothers worried about everything. Still she knew she would have to let him go and letting go was the hardest part.

"Lucas, I know you're searching for things and there things you need to do, to accomplish. From the minute you were born I loved you with all my heart and all I've ever wanted was for you to be happy and safe and protected. The accident was a scary thing for me because I almost lost you. And thank God you're alive but it still hurts me to see you struggling and hurting the way you are now. Part of me still thinks that I can protect you from all that and from the world. But I guess I can't, can I? Honey, you have to do what's best for you. You have a strong mind and a good heart and I know you'll be okay. All the people here in this room love you very, very much. In your life you're going to go to some great places, and you're going to do some wonderful things. But no matter where you go, or who you become, this place will always be with you. There is only one Tree Hill. And it's your home. I love you, my boy."

With tears spilling down her cheeks, she kissed his forehead and clipped his wings, waiting with bated breath as her baby prepared to fly away.