Chapter 5

"He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother"

Nathan walked up the driveway and was surprised to see Lucas shooting hoops. He ducked down behind the bushes and watched Lucas practice his fade away, but what surprised him the most wasn't that Lucas was good, but that his father came out to join him. He watched as Dan stole the ball from Lucas and then challenged him to a game of one on one.

"How about a little game of one on one," Dan suggested. "We'll play to eleven; just a short game. Oh…and you call your own fouls."

Lucas didn't want to play against Dan, but he also didn't want to look like a coward. "Alright…you're on." He checked the ball to Dan.

Dan began to dribble the ball towards the hoop. Lucas stayed right on him. He tried to take the shot, but he had no room. He threw his elbow up; catching Lucas in the nose. Lucas knelt down in pain, wiping away the blood, while Dan easily sank his shot. Lucas rose to his feet and wiped his nose one more time. "No foul; basket counts," he said.

Nathan couldn't believe Dan's cheap shot, but then again his father always played dirty to get what he wanted. Nathan saw Lucas crouch down in pain again. This time he took a shot in the gut. Nathan thought about stopping the game, but decided against it when he saw Lucas steal the ball and sink a shot of his own.

As the game went on Lucas began to catch on to some of Dan's tricks. The game was fast paced with each man getting the upper hand. Eventually Lucas took a ten to nine lead; he was going for the win. He began to dribble the ball and managed to get by Dan. He began to run towards the hoop, and just as he was about to take his shot, Dan grabbed his leg, and tripped him; causing him to fall hard on his knee. He tried to get up, but couldn't. He felt another blow when Dan took another shot. The ball went through the hoop and landed hard on his already injured ribs.

Dan stopped playing when he noticed Lucas still on the ground holding his knee. He stood over his injured son. "Looks like you're too injured to continue," he said. "That means I win by forfeit." Dan started to walk away, but not before kicking dirt in Lucas' face.

Lucas lay on the ground a few minutes longer; until someone reached out a hand to help him up. He was surprised to see Nathan standing over him. "Are you okay?" Nathan asked as he helped Lucas to his feet.

"I'm fine," Lucas whispered.

"Don't let him get to you," Nathan said as Lucas stared at him with a confused look in his eyes. Lucas was shocked that Nathan was being civil to him. "He's gets off on seeing other people in pain. It's sick, but that's just how he is. Don't show him your weaknesses."

"I'll keep that in mind," Lucas replied.

Nathan sat down on the bench that rested across from the basketball hoop, and Lucas sat down next to him. "I'm sorry," Nathan said, "For treating you like a jerk. I never wanted to hate you, but my dad made me. He never wanted us to get along. I want to change that. I'd like us to be brothers." Nathan held out his hand to Lucas.

"I'd like that too," Lucas replied as he slapped hands with Nathan.

"We should probably go in now," Nathan stated. Lucas nodded his head and then followed Nathan into the house.

"Boys, go clean up for dinner," Deb shouted from the kitchen when she heard them enter from the front door.

"See you at dinner," Nathan said as each boy headed to their bedroom.

Lucas stared into the mirror, eyeing his reflection, as he finished washing his face. His eye was a little swollen from one of Dan's cheap shots during the game. He looked down at his wrist and noticed the dry blood on it. It probably started bleeding again during his game with Dan. Instead of wearing long sleeves to cover it up, he put a big band aid on it.

He made his way over to his bed and sat on it. He wasn't dreading dinner as much as he had the previous night now that Nathan was on his side. He felt a lot stronger knowing that Nathan supported him. His life would get easier at home and at school. Maybe now the other members of the basketball team would accept him as part of their team.

He would still have to deal with Dan, and he knew it wouldn't be easy. Dan had made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with him. He noticed the packet of pills sitting on his bed. He stared at them a moment before popping two into his mouth. They would help him deal with Dan.

"You're late," Dan said rudely when Lucas joined the rest of the family at the table.

"I'm sorry," Lucas answered softly.

"It's okay," Deb said with a smile. "I hope you're hungry; I made enough food to feed an army."

"My mom's fettuccine alfredo is to die for," Nathan stated.

"I love fettuccine alfredo," Lucas said.

"I know," Deb replied. "This is your mother's recipe."

Lucas smiled at the mention of his mother, while Dan cringed at the mention of Karen. Unbeknownst to anyone but himself, Dan was still in love with Karen, and her death hurt him just as much as it hurt Lucas. He blamed Lucas for their breakup, and the fact that they were so hostile towards each other. They had broken up after Dan had found out she was pregnant, and all their arguments after the break up were about Lucas. He had resented Lucas ever since.

"So Nathan, how's the team looking?" Dan asked. He wanted to get the conversation away from Karen.

"We're looking good," Nathan responded.

"Let's not talk about basketball at dinner," Deb interrupted. Then she noticed the swelling under Lucas' eye. "What happened to your eye, Lucas?"

Lucas wondered if he should tell Deb the truth. He didn't want to upset Dan. He decided against telling the truth when he saw the threatening look in Dan's eyes. Nathan could see how uncomfortable Lucas was, so he decided to ease the tension. "He got it from playing basketball…isn't that right Dad."

"What are you talking about?" asked Deb.

"Maybe you should ask dad," Nathan suggested.

Deb turned to Dan. "What is he talking about?"

"I have no idea," Dan answered.

"Oh come on, Dad, you know damn well that you caused the swelling on Lucas' eye," Nathan practically shouted. "You hit him with a cheap shot!"

Deb gasped. "Is that true, Dan?"

Dan ignored her, and turned to Nathan. "Since when do you care about Lucas?"

Lucas sank down in his chair as he watched the events unfold. He hated being the center of another Scott family argument. He wondered if they argued like this before he came into their lives.

"Lucas is my brother, and it's time I start treating him like that," Nathan stated.

Dan had heard enough. He slammed his fork into his plate and stormed off. When he was gone Deb said, "I'm glad to hear that."

"Thank you, Nathan," Lucas said.

Nathan shrugged his shoulders. "That's what brother's are for."