Chapter 29

"A Hero Lies in You"

It was just after midnight and Dan and Deb were awaken by the sound of the ringing phone. Nathan was asleep in his bedroom, and they knew that something was wrong. The phone only rang this late when there was trouble. Dan answered the phone after the third ring and Deb lazily wiped the sleep out of her eyes as she watched her husband talk on the phone. "What happened?" she asked nervously when Dan hung up the phone.

"That was Donna Ellis…they just rushed Lucas to the emergency room."

"Is he okay?"

Both Dan and Deb looked up to see Nathan standing in the doorway, and he had fear written all over his face. "I don't know what happened, but we better hurry up and get there," Dan stated as he got out of bed.

"Maybe you should wait here, Nathan," Deb suggested. "We'll call you when we find out something."

Nathan shook his head. "I'm not staying home. I have to make sure my brother's okay."

"We're wasting time," Dan said when he finished getting dressed. "Let's go."

Nathan and Deb hurried to get dressed while Dan rushed out to the car. A few moments later they sped out of the driveway.

Dan drove well over the speed limit the whole ride to the hospital, and as soon as they got there he ran up to the ER nurses station. "Where's my son?" he demanded.

"You need to calm down, sir," the nurse stated.

"Not until I know that my son is okay."

"Who's your son?" the nurse asked.

"Lucas Scott…he was just brought in."

"What happened to him?"

Dan was beginning to get angry. "I don't know what happened! I got a phone call telling me to come here because my son was brought in!"

Donna was walking down the hallway when she heard yelling. As she approached the nurse's station she saw Dan Scott demanding information about Lucas. Nathan was the first one to notice her, and he quickly ran up to her. "What happened to my brother?" he asked.

She was soon joined by Dan and Deb. "Is he okay?" Deb asked.

"His injuries didn't look too serious," Donna responded.

"What happened?" Dan asked.

"Your son got into a fight with his roommate," Donna answered. "I'm not quite sure what he and Benjamin were fighting about."

"Benjamin?" Dan asked.

Donna nodded her head. "Benjamin Neary."

Nathan's eyes widened when he heard that name. "That's Benny."

"Do you know him?" Donna asked.

"He's the boy that Lucas was buying the pills from," Dan responded.

"Whose here for Lucas Scott?" a doctor asked as he approached the nurses station.

"He's my son," Dan replied. "Is he okay?"

"Your son has two broken ribs and a concussion. He also has some bruising, but nothing too serious. I'd like to keep him overnight for observations."

"Can we see him?" Nathan asked.

"He's asleep right now, but you're welcome to keep him company."

"Thank you, Doctor," Dan responded. He glared at Donna before following the doctor towards Lucas' room.

Lucas was asleep when his family entered the room. He almost looked peaceful expect for the swollen eye and split lip. Deb approached him and placed a kiss on his forehead. Lucas was like her second son, and she loved him just as much. Lucas began to stir and then slowly opened his eyes. He groggily scanned the room. Deb gently stroked his head. "Go back to sleep, honey; we'll be here when you wake up," she whispered.

Dan had arranged for Nathan, Deb and himself to spend the night there. Dan had left Lucas once, and he refused to do it again. He wanted to protect Lucas, and show him that he loved him.

Lucas was released from the hospital bright and early the next morning. He was prepared to go home with Dan and Deb, but was stopped when Janet and Donna showed up. "What do you think you're doing, Mr. Scott?" Donna asked.

"I'm taking my son home," Dan responded as he put his hand on Lucas' shoulder.

Donna shook her head. "We've already established that he's not safe in your custody."

Dan pointed at Lucas' face. "And he's safe in your custody?"

Donna and Janet both looked at each other. They weren't sure how to respond to that remark. Dan was right and they both knew it. "Its court ordered," Janet finally responded.

"He's not leaving with you," Dan drawled. "You can throw me in jail, but I will not let my son go back to that home."

"We figured you might say that," Donna stated. She motioned for two cops to come over. "You have one more chance, Mr. Scott," she said as the two cops stood next to her.

Dan looked at the cops for a few moments and then extended his hands to them. "I guess you'll be taking me in," he said.

"You have the right to remain silent," one of the cops said as he placed the handcuffs on Dan. "Anything you say or do can and will be used against you in a court of law."

The cops were about to take Dan away when Haley appeared at the end of the hallway. "Wait!" she screamed. Then she ran up to the group. "I have a better solution…Lucas can stay with my family."

Donna shook her head. "Not without your parents' consent."

"We would love for Lucas to stay with us," Robin James said as she and her husband Robert stood behind Haley.

"If that's okay with you," Robert added as he looked at Janet and Donna.

"We need some time to consider it," Janet stated.

"Please," Robin begged, "Lucas and Haley grew up together; they've been best friends for as long as they've known each other. Lucas is like a second son to us."

"Alright, we'll allow you to have temporary custody," Janet stated. "However, the boy is not to have any contact with the Scotts."

"You can't keep him apart from his brother," Deb complained. "Please allow Lucas and Nathan to have contact with each other."

Donna and Janet discussed the request with each other for a few moments before giving their answer. "We'll allow Lucas and Nathan to have contact with ach other, but they may not see each other at the Scott residence," Donna stated.

"That's fine…as long as I can see my brother," Nathan said as he and Lucas bumped fists.

"Lucas, is this okay with you?" Donna asked.

"I would rather go home, but since I can't, Haley's house is the next best thing," Lucas announced as he smiled at Haley.

Haley threw her arms around her friend. "I was hoping you'd say that."

Dan turned to Robert and shook hands with him. "Thank you so much," he said.

"Lucas is a great kid; we're happy to help him," Robert replied.

Robin looked at Lucas and Haley and smiled. "Let's go home," she said. Then she turned to Nathan. "You're welcome to come too."

Dan and Deb watched as Lucas and Nathan followed Haley and her parents out. They knew that Lucas would be in good hands, and it was only a matter of time before he would be home with them.

This chapter is titled after the song "Hero," by Mariah Carey.