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.the song lyrics are Howie Day's, from his album 'Stop All the World Now'.
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:Ten:
"Were you watching me?"
"I thought I heard some one come in."
"They didn't."
"How would you know? Been outside long?"
Lucas shoved the hair from his forehead.
"No."
"Well, you're soaking wet."
"It's raining pretty hard."
Dan finished his open perusal, eyes boring into the kid's.
"Just got up and went outside?"
He saw Lucas hesitate; merest blip in the nonchalant act. There would be a record of the call on Dan's phone bill.
"What would I be doing?"
"Beside saturating that rug? I haven't the slightest idea."
"Oh." Lucas shifted, glancing downward. He headed for the bathroom, not giving Dan a chance to probe further.
The elder Scott followed the damp footprints onto the second floor. Luke was already running the shower, hard. Neatly avoiding questions. Dan tested the handle, but it was locked. He knew Lucas was just standing there, waiting.
For Dan to give up and go to sleep.
X
A growing puddle spread on the linoleum, with Luke in it's center. He thoughtfully peeled out of sodden clothes, stuffing them into the hamper.
Did his father know about the conversation with Keith?
Lucas stared into the mirror, mouth twisted wryly.
If you could call it that.
Keith was stone cold drunk.
"Luke, you shouldn't be out so late."
Other than remonstrations of what was going to happen if he didn't get home, that was all Lucas could get out of him.
The water was steaming, individual fingers kneading his skin.
He would have to be more careful. Much, much more. Dan had to have been spying. At what point, Lucas hadn't the faintest idea.
There was a message on the shower wall. It looked like it was scratched with a razor; he brushed at the moisture.
"Nathan was here."
Original. Luke laughed out loud, shattering the silence. Let Dan try to puzzle that one out.
A shower radio hung on the towel rack. He fumbled with the dial, turning the volume down to minimum.
"He turned and he didn't wait
He walked right through the gate
So glad to be alone
And he knows who to call
I'll always be there for you
Call me anytime
I don't mean to offend
A voice on the other end
Is a stranger to me
You and a promise.
You and a promise...
And they say to themselves And they say to themselves How can I ever let this happen You and a promise You and a promise..."
X
If anything, the hot water would have relaxed the kid. Maybe made him tired. Dan punched the fat white pillow, wondering for perhaps the thousandth time if he shouldn't call Deb.
This was all just a little bit strange. Lying awake in a house with Lucas; just the two of them.
Wishing he knew why his son had called Keith. There had been an urgency to the conversation that made him suspicious. And Luke, well, Luke should be completely worn out. He must have waited up to make that call. So it meant something. He couldn't help thinking that the side he saw, the expressions, everything about his son were mere ghosts of what had been. Or maybe what could have been. All the dark looks, sarcastic smiles. Harboring something deeper with in. Maybe Lucas was too afraid to let even himself see it.
Maybe Dan should have shaken the truth out of him.
He jerked the sheets up, under his chin. There was no point in waisting another minute's sleep over this.
It would all be there tomorrow.
X
"I don't want you leaving the house today."
Luke had struggled into his clothes, tidying the bed and rummaging through his suitcase. Replacing a few possessions in the bare drawers.
Sunlight glinted through the sparkling leaves outside his window, promising to be a beautiful day.
The blond nearly dropped the armful of books he was shelving.
"Why?" Edgy.
"I said so. Take it easy unless you want to make a trip to the hospital."
"I'm just going to shoot a few baskets."
That sentence tempted Dan. He'd like nothing more than to take on this son, especially now, irate from lack of sleep.
"I don't think so."
"Are you going to be here all day?"
"No. Why?"
"Well, you can't keep me from practicing, so don't worry about it. I'm not your responsibility." The blond dusted his hands against his jeans.
"The only reason I brought you here was to retrieve your medicine, which you so brightly left behind. And to let you rest up before we head back to Keith's."
"I said I'm fine. So why am I still here?"
"Even if you aren't smart enough to take a doctor's advice, I am."
"Student."
"A member of the medical profession."
"Besides, I just passed out. No big deal, right?"
"It was more than a fainting spell, Lucas."
"You said yourself, I wasn't eating. I'm fine."
Dan pressed a hand to the blond's chest, effectively blocking Lucas' exit.
"Hold on. There's more to this."
"What?"
"You have a heart condition."
The blue eyes stared back, mocking.
"It's true, Lucas. It's called HCM, and it isn't temporary. It's genetic."
"How do you know?"
"Because you got it from me."
Silence lengthened, broken only by the steady ticking of the wall clock.
"So." Deep breath. "Does Nate have this?"
"No."
Luke bit his lip.
"Keith?"
"No."
"So, it's just you and I."
His father didn't respond.
"Ends up the only thing you ever gave me was a disease."
Lucas started through the doorway, this time shoving Dan's hand aside. He took the steps, three at a time.
Moments later, the dark haired Scott heard a basketball thudding steadily against asphalt.
X
"Who's the ball?"
A bird darted past, cheeping shrilly. The spring time sounds were fading to summer; raspy cicada, cricket, piping tree frog.
Lucas' hands stung. He tossed the basket ball viciously in Dan's general direction.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I think I just did." Dan threw it back, harder.
Luke caught it, against his stomach. Held on, pinning his companion with an icy stare.
"Go on. Accuse me of something else. I just did it to protect you."
"From what? Killing myself?"
"It's not like that. Besides, why didn't your daddy tell you?"
Lucas didn't blink. "That's what I'm asking you."
"So, now I'm Dad."
"Technically you may have created me, but you have to earn it."
"I think I have."
"Ya. Using me as some kind of barter, dropping hints that my mom was crazy, and trying to get me off my medicine. That was your intent, wasn't it?"
"You made the assumption those pills were mental." Dan couldn't suppress a small smile.
"Oh, you're a piece of work."
Luke threw the ball into the lawn, starting toward the road. His father watched the orange sphere bounce off a tree before starting after him.
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
"You can leave tomorrow."
"I don't think you understand. But don't worry, I'll send a Christmas Card."
"Lucas, the condition isn't fatal."
"I don't care what it is."
"You'd better start. Keith can't afford to keep you alive anymore."
"Oh, I'll take care of myself."
"Really. Just because I noticed how well supplied you were in other areas. That shirt, for instance."
"What's wrong with it?" Luke stopped abruptly, swinging to face his dad.
"You deserve better."
"And you're going to give it to me?"
"I'm trying."
"Were you watching me last night?"
"What do you think?"
"I don't believe a thing you've ever told me."
"I can't help that. I can only be there for you."
"What do you want from me?"
"A chance at being your dad."
"Now I know you're lying."
"Wait." Dan's fingers grasped the blond's sleeve. "You're right...there's something I haven't told you. Maybe, if you give me a chance, I can explain why-so many things are the way they are."
"For real."
"Promise. Over breakfast."
Luke hesitated. The hunger in his eyes was undeniable. He wanted those answers so badly. And even though he knew he shouldn't, he agreed. Let himself fall into place behind Dan-his father-
Toward the kitchen. More importantly, toward the pieces of his life that had forever eluded him.
Wrapped up in thoughts about each other, neither noticed the strange vehicle in the drive.