(Dan was driving the rental car and he rolled his eyes as his wife continued talking on the cell phone.)

Karen: Cassidy is there anyway you can get those two rooms done in the next few days?...Great! You are a life saver!...No just what I told you. I will take care of the rest on my own...I appreciate this so much...You can pick up the keys to the house at Keith's garage...Thanks Cassidy...Call our cell phone if you have anymore questions...Bye. (She turned off her phone and looked at her husband who was shaking his head.)

Ka: What?

Dan: Do I need to get a second job to pay for all the money that you just spent?

Ka: (Smiling.) Funny.

Dan: Only you could manage to order a complete swing set and have it installed in 24 hours.

Karen: I just want them to feel at home honey. (She started to dial the phone again.)

Dan: Now who are you calling?

Ka: Our children.

Dan: After the great send off the boys gave us this morning before we left?

Karen: That is exactly why I want to talk to them. I want to try and get them to understand this a little better before we walk in with two new kids. (She was going to say something else but the other line picked up.) Nathan?

Nathan: Yeah?

Karen: Hi. It's mom.

N: Hey. (He sat on the kitchen chair and put his feet on the table smiling a little knowing that if his mom saw him she would smack him in the back of the head.)

Ka: Kaylee and Chris home?

N: Nope.

Ka: Keith?

N: He called a little while ago and said that he was bringing home pizza.

Ka: How was school?

N: (Sarcasstic.) Great! (There was already definite tension on the phone and only his mom could manage to find the one subject that could make his bad day even worse.)

Ka: Did you go to your tutoring session?

N: Yeah. I don't think I am going to go anymore.

Ka: Oh really? Why?

N: (The truth was that his new tutor hated him becasue in his opinion she jumped to the conclusion that he was a stuck up jerk before getting to know him. He decided not to share that with his mom though because throughout the day he had thought about it and actually considered that Haley might have a point.) She wants me at school at 7:00.

Ka: Yeah?

N: AM!

Ka: You'll live Nathan.

N: If I have to do this then can I at least get a different tutor?

Ka: Just because you have to be there early?

N: Isn't that enough? There are like 15 other tutors that I can pick from...

Ka: (Interrupting.) But Nathan I really had to pull some strings to get Haley. She is suppose to be the best.

N: I am sure that there is SOMEONE else...

Ka: You are a junior and it's time to get serious about your grades. Besides, you have managed to get up at the crack of dawn for years during basketball season. I think that you can do this for a semester.

N: (Whinning.) But mooom...

Ka: (Rubbing her forhead.) Fine Nathan, I gave you another option. We can go that route.

N: Being grounded is not exactly what I consider a good option.

Ka: And failing grades is not what I consider a good report card.

(The line grew silent. Karen was regretting calling at this point. She wanted to try to smooth things over with her sons after a rough 24 hours but instead she seemed to be making things worse. Nathan was obviously still angry after finding out about Lucas and she definitely could not blame him but she also wanted the best for his future and she wasn't budging on the tutoring issue.)

Ka: Nathan give it try for a week and then we will talk about it again. Okay?

N: Whatever.

Ka: Do you have any plans for tonight?

N: Haven't thought about it. (He knew that Karen was trying to change the subject because she knew that he was mad about the tutoring but being the teenager that he was he was not going to let her off the hook that easy.) Probably going to bed early since I have to be up so freakin' early.

Ka: (Nathan liked to get his way and usually managed it but when it did not work out in his favor the world better watch out. Karen was as patient as she could be but even she had her limits.) Nathan I do have one other option for you.

N: What?

Ka: You could always go to tutoring with Haley AND be grounded.

(Dan had been listening to Karen's side of the conversation and could only imagine what Nathan's attitude must be like on the other end for Karen to actually being laying down the law with her step-son like she was. He held out his hand)

Dan: Do you need me to talk to him?

(Karen shook her head no. This was the first time that she had been left in charge of Nate's discipline and if she let Dan step in she would lose all credibility with her son. Plus the relationship with Dan and Nathan was already on thin ice after the big blow up they had the night before. If Dan got on the phone she knew things would definitely get out of hand and then she would have to deal with a husband in a bad mood and Keith would have to deal with Nathan with even more of an attitude.)

N: (He heard his dad in the background and was hoping that Karen would not give him the phone. He knew that his concert would be over for sure.) I'll try the tutoring. (He was trying to get off the phone fast.) Did you call for anything else?

Ka: (Karen heard Nate's attitude change a little for the better and she had to smile. She knew immediately that he must have heard Dan. Karen wished that she could have just a little of the control that Dan seemed to have over the kids. She could argue with them about cleaning their rooms for hours and Dan would walk in and tell them to do it and they wouldn't say a word and have it done immediately.) Yeah actually. I need you to do me a big favor.

N: What?

Ka: Can you move all the stuff out of the little office upstairs and the spare room down stairs?

N: Why?

Ka: Cassidy is coming to get the rooms ready for the boys.

N: (Forgetting about keeping his anger in check.) I've been asking for that downstairs room for a year!

Ka: So it would make it easier for you to sneak in and out. There is no way that we can trust ...

N: (That was all that he could take. He was not holding back any more and he was practically screaming into the phone and Karen had to hold it away from her ear.) TRUST? You don't trust me but you'll take some strange kid and bring him in this house and trust him completely?

Ka: Nathan please...

N: How can you be so sure he even wants to come with you guys? If I was him I would tell you guys to go to hell.

(Karen was going to say something but then stopped when she heard the dial tone. Dan could easily hear that his son was yelling but he just did not know what he was saying. What he did know was whatever he was saying or was obviously upsetting his wife so much that tears were streaming down her cheeks. He was about to grab the phone out of her hand when she closed it.)

D: (He was so angry his voice shook as he spoke.) Did he just hang up on you? (All Karen could do was shake her head. Dan took the phone from her and started to dial his son back.) He better be thanking God that I am in another state right now. I knew I should not have given those damn concert tickets back. (He miss dialed.) SHIT! (He hung up and started again.)

Karen: Dan don't call him now he was just angry...

Dan: (Still dialing.) When I am finished with him he will actually have something to be angry about.

Karen: (Yelling.) DAN HANG UP THE PHONE!

Dan: (He was a little startled when Karen yelled and he hung up the phone. He wanted to reach through the phone and strangle his son but that would have to wait until he calmed down his wife. The tears continued to fall from Karen's eyes.) What did Nathan say that has you this upset?

Karen: (She took a deep breath and told him what Nathan said.) Do you remember Nathan's first homerun?

Dan: (Looking at her very confused and wondered if the stress of the situation was finally taking it's toll.) Yeah? He was ten and the youngest on his team.

Ka: I had to hold you back from running on the field to greet him at home plate. I don't know who was prouder, you or Nathan. That ball is still sitting on the mantle in the living room. Do you know that I have saved every single piece of artwork the kids have ever brought home?

D: (Starting to understand where this was going.) I am aware hon. My office closet is full of all the boxes.

Ka: We will never have those memories with Lucas.

Da: Kare you can't keep doing this forever. Yes we missed those things but for some reason we are getting a second chance with him and instead of living in the past we have to think of the future. We will have memories with him Karen. That is something that we never thought that we would have and we have to try to focus on that. You can't keep beating yourself up about what we missed because that is not going to do anyone any good.

Karen: (She looked over at her husband and she was now crying again. Karen dug a kleenex from her purse and dried her tears.) Promise me something.

Dan; Humm?

Karen: If he refuses to go with us that we find him a good place to live.

(Dan looked back at the road. He never even thought about his first born just flat out refusing to go with them. He had only thought about how bringing two kids into the house would effect everyone. He never doubted that Lucas would be angry but never once considered that he would brush him and Karen aside. Now he was actually wondering why the kid wouldn't do that. It would be totally understandable for Luke to feel that is what they did to him 17 years ago. He felt Karen reach for his hand and he held it. Dan really wanted his son in his life and he never realized how badly until right then when he thought there might be a possibility that Lucas would reject them. Dan wiped away his own tears.)

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(Luke was tying up the last of the trash bags and threw it on the pile with the rest. It had taken him an hour just to clean up the the area around the run-down playground. That Brad kid had been an ass the night before but the brief satisfaction that Lucas got from pushing him was definitely not worth the punishment the counselor had given him. Lucas scanned the grounds and located his little brother next to the basketball court. He could not believe that the kid was still mad at him. Luke grabbed his basketball and headed over to him to see if he could convince him to at least say a few words to him. The concrete was cracked on the court and there was very little paint left showing even the free throw line. Luke shot the ball through the rusted, netless rim and it sailed through making a clanking sound at it hit the metal. Luke grabbed the ball and then stopped in his tracks.)

L: (To himself.) SHIT! Jessie! (He totally forgot about her with everything that had taken place the last couple of days. She had left the ball in his locker at school as his birthday gift with a card attached saying that she would stop at his house later that night. The night of the fire. He was sure that by that point she had heard about his parents and assumed that she knew that he was okay but she had to be wondering what became of him. Him and Jessie had been best frineds for years. She had a little sister that was Matt's age so they did a lot together. She lived with her mom who was really cool and would let them have sleep overs at her house a few times a month. The only rule was that they had to sleep in the living room and the little kids had to be present to make sure that the teenagers did not get any ideas. Lucas and Jessie would always roll their eyes and say that they were not a couple but her mom somehow knew better. She was right too. Luke and Jessie were very close and even though they said that they were not "going out" with each other they had been together a few times. Luke joked that he had a"friend with benefits" and it usually caused him to get elbowed in the gut. Truth was that he cared a lot for Jessie and she was the one thing that kept him sane. Jessie was the only person that truely knew the hell that Lucas lived in at home because she was there to witness it one day. They were 11.)

Flashback

Jessie: Okay last problem Lucas.

Lucas: (Stretching out on his bed.) Good. I hate math.

Jessie: The how is that you always manage to get A's on all the tests?

(Luke did not have a chance to answer and Jessie saw how his face turned from a look of happiness to total fear as the front door slammed to the house.)

L: Oh God...

Dad: (Yelling.) LUCAS WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?

Jessie: (Quietly.) Is that your dad?

L: (Shaking his head and jumping off the bed.) Yeah. You have to get in the closet.

J: What? Why? No!

L: If he finds you in here he will freak. (Opening the door to the little storage area.) Please Jessie get in and don't come out no matter what. (She saw the color drain from his face and he looked panicked which was scaring her. She got in as the screaming got closer. Luke managed to get the door shut to the closet just as the door to his room was thrown open with so much force that it dented the dresser that was setting behind it. His red-faced father entered the small room.)

Dad: (Still yelling.) DID YOU FUCKING HEAR ME CALLING YOU?

L: (Luke took a step back.) Dad what is wrong?

D: (He made his way to his son that was now standing in the middle of the room.) You should know damn well what is wrong with me.

L: But dad I didn't do anything... (Before he could finish the sentence the man had raised his arm and back-handed the young boy standing in front of him. The force was so strong that it caused Lucas to loose his balance. He hit the little table behind him and fell to the floor. The door to the closet did not get latched and it was open a little. Jessie could clearly hear what was going on and there was no mistaking that her best friend got hit. She had to cover her mouth to keep any noise from escaping when she saw Luke sitting on the floor holding the right side of his face and looking up at the towering figure above him. The thing that she found strange about the whole thing was that Lucas was not even crying.) But dad what did I do?

Dad: (Screaming again.) GET UP! (Luke obediently did what he was told stumbling a little as he did. Luke's dad was not in Jessie's line of vision but Lucas was clear. He was now backing up and his voice shook a little. The tears were starting now and whatever the man was doing was clearly upsetting Lucas.)

L: Dad, please don't...(Again his sentence was interrupted with a stinging slap to the other side of his face. This time Jessie flinched and closed her eyes but when she opened them again Lucas was still standing in the same spot. She wanted to go out and stop his father from hurting her friend again but she remembered that Luke told her not to come out no. What was she suppose to do anyway once she got out there? Luke was now holding the other side of his face and looking at the floor. He knew that this was far from over and just hoped that his friend would stay where she was. Luke watched as his dad fumbled with the buckle on his belt.)

D: What did I tell you about playing basketball? (Luke swallowed hard now realizing what had his dad on his latest rempage. He saw his dad raise his hand again and Luke closed his eyes expecting to feel more pain but nothing came.) ANSWER ME! WHAT DID I TELL YOU?

L: (Luke answered just loud enough for Jessie to hear it.) You said I couldn't. (Luke opened his eyes and saw his dad ripping the leather belt out of the loops of his jeans.)

Dad: So if I told you that then why did I get a call at work today from your coach asking me if I could work at one of your ball games then? (Luke did not have anything to say. He was busted big time. He knew his dad had told him that he could not play and that he would be dead if he got caught but to him he had to take the chance. Luke thought that he got away with it. He forged his dad's signature and even got his physical from the doctor without him finding out.) Did you disobey me?

L: But dad I am the best player on the team.

D: Not anymore you aren't. Your coach is aware that you are done. Did you disobey me?

L: Yes.

Dad: YES WHAT?

L: Yes sir. (Luke was watching his dad's hand as he doubled the belt. Still Jessie could not make out what Luke's dad was doing but she heard her friend make a sound that almost resembled a whimper. What more could he do to him then he already had?) Dad please don't.

D: Turn around.

L: (Lucas was trying not to cry.) Please...

D: TURN AROUND AND GRAB YOUR ANKLES!

L: (Lucas jumped at how loud his father had yelled. From experience he knew that it would only get worse if he did not do what he was told. He turned around and glanced at the closet door noticing that it was open a little before he bent over. He did not have much time to think before his dad landed the first 3 licks across his butt. Lucas held position until his dad missed his target and the leather caught Luke's thighs just under his basketball shorts causing him to scream out and fall to his knees. (Jessie just starred in shock at what was taking place. She still could not see Luke's dad but she had Luke in full view and she saw the belt hit him everytime. She did not know how much more she could take.) OOOWWW!

D: GET UP! GET YOUR ASS UP!

L: I can't.

D: (He brought the belt down again as Lucas was laying on the floor. This time he caught the bare skin on his back just above the waistband of his shorts where his shirt had ridden up a little. This time Lucas let out a blood curdling scream.) YOU BETTER GET UP OR THERE WILL BE MORE OF THOSE! (Lucas was sobbing but he got himself up and got back into position allowing his father to continue the beating. The only thing that Lucas had to be thankful for was that he at least hit his target each time. Lucas did his best not to fall over again just wanting the nightmare to end. Jessie had tears streaming down her face and her hands were covering her ears trying to block out the pain-filled cried of her friend everytime that belt came into contact with his backside. Jessie lost count sometime after 15 and the only thing that she could focus on was the begging and pleading that Lucas was doing when he asked his father to stop. Finally the cracking of the belt stopped and Jessie opened her eyes seeing the belt hit the floor. She heard Lucas crying.) Get up and turn around. (He did and Lucas left Jessie's line of vision. Luke's father had him by the shirt and was holding him just inches from his face. Lucas could smell the alcohol on his breath.) You will obey me Lucas or what I just gave you will feel like nothing compared to what you will get. Don't let me catch you with a basketball in your hands again. (Luke's dad released him and left slamming the door behind him. Jessie waited a few minutes hoping that Lucas would give her the okay to come out. Finally she got worried when she did not hear anything and she worked up the courage to get out of the closet. She found Lucas propped up against his door hugging his knees to his chest. He was hiding his face but she could see his shoulders shaking and she heard him quietly crying. She sat next to him and reached out and touched his arm and he jumped.)

J: Lucas it's me. (He started crying louder.) Lucas are you okay? (He did not say anything.) Please Lucas look at me. (Luke finally moved to lift his head and Jessie gasped and started to cry.) Lucas you are bleeding. (She touched the corner of his lip where his dad had hit him the first time. He gently pushed her hand away.)

L: I'm okay Jessie. (He tried to get himself under control because he saw how scared his friend was. He was use to his dad like this but he could understand how terrified she must be. He touched the cut with his tongue and tasted the blood. Even though he could not see it he knew that it was not that serious. At least he would be able to go to school the next day without fear of a teacher asking what happened. His dad usually tried to stay away from hitting Luke's face. There were a few times that Luke had to stay home from school to let a cut heal up but for the most part the marks were easily hidden from view.)

J: You are not okay. Come on let's go talk to my mom . (She started to pull him up but he shook her off.)

L: No Jessie you can't tell anyone!

J: But my mom will know what to do. We can call the cops or something and they can throw your dad in jail.

L: Great, and then what?

J: I don't know but you can't stay here. He is really going to hurt you Lucas.

L: But if I tell anyone they are going to take me away. I had it coming anyway. I should have listened to him.

J: (Jessie was now crying harder then Lucas.) I don't listen to my mom all the time either Lucas but she has never done anything like this to me.

L: (Sarcasstic.) Well lucky you! (He saw the hurt look on her face.) I'm sorry. You are my best friend and if they take me away from here I may never see you again. That would be worse then anything that my dad could ever do to me. Promise me that you will not say anything to anyone.

J: Luke...

L: (Crying.) Please Jessie!

J: (Hugging him and seeing how desperate he was.) Okay.

Present day

(Luke shot the ball again but he had been a little shook by the memory and missed the rim completely. Jessie had never told anyone about that day. She kept her promise to him. She never witnessed another beating that Lucas recieved but she grew to learn the signs. Jessie tried to be the best friend she knew how to be. Most of the time he never wanted to talk about it and she was his shoulder that he could cry on. On the rare occassion that he needed to vent she quietly listened to him talk. In many ways she was the only thing that kept Lucas going.)

(Luke saw Matt playing in a mud puddle that was left from a late winter snowfall. He kept poking sticks in until they wer edeep enough to stand on end. Luke cautiously approached him and sat down next to him.)

L: Where did Kyle go?

Matt: Inside. Someone needed to talk to him about starting school tomorrow.

L: Do you want some help? (Matt just kept playing and did not answer his brother.) Come on you have to talk to me.

M: I don't hafta.

L: It would be nice if you did.

M: (Never looking up.) You let them take me last night.

L: Matt I'm sorry...

M: I tried to hang onto you but you pulled my hands off of you.

L: (He took a deep breath and sometimes wished the kid was not so smart.) I had to.

M: (He still never looked up.) You promised me that if I never told anyone about daddy that no one would take me away from you.

L: I know Matt.

M: You lied to me. I never told anyone Lucas and they took me.

L: It was different last night Matt. It was just for bedtime.

M: But I was scared that I would never see you again. (Luke saw a tear fall from the little boy's cheek and land in the water causing a ripple.)

L: Matt do you trust me? (Luke got nothing.) Matty? (Luke grabbed his hand to get his attention and the five year-old never looked up but he got very still.) You trust me don't you? (He shook his head yes.) I will never let anyone take you from me forever. But until I figure out what is going to happen I just need you to keep trusting me and try to do what the counselors are asking. Okay? (Matt reluctantly shook his head again. Luke let his hand go and his brother went back to work on his creation.) Whatta ya makin?

M: A tee pee.

L: Can I help?

M: Do you know how to make one? (Matt wiped the tears from his eyes and for the first time made eye contact with Lucas.)

L: I think I can figure it out. (He picked up some mud and spread it over the sticks.) How's that?

M: More mudd.

L: You mean like this? (He picked up a handful and wiped it on the little boy's face. Luke watched the shocked look on the five year-old change to a big grin. Matty picked up some mud and threw it right at his brother and hit him in the face. Luke smiled and wiped the mud away from his eyes.) No more basketball for you kid. With an arm like that it's baseball all the way. (Matt started to giggle and for a second Luke forgot all about his problems and just took in his contagious laugh until he was hit in the chest with another mud ball.)

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(Michael could not help smiling at the scene of the two brothers out his office window. He shook his head and wondered if Luke would want a job at the shelter when he got out of high school. He dealt with Matt better then most of his counselors with degrees dealt with the kids there. In fact he seemed to do better with the little boy then most parents would. Michael had been at that shelter for years and he had seen more kids come in and out then he even wanted to think about. Once in a while there would be a one that he could not help feeling something special for and Lucas was one of them . Usually he could talk to a kid and within a short conversation he could tell how they were going to do being in the "system". Lucas he knew would make it. There was just a will to survive that most kids just did not have. He wondered what his story was. He had a feeling that there was more to him then what the file showed in front of him. He lost his parents just two days earlier and he never even mentioned them. The closest he had seen the kid to tears was when he was told that he had to stay in his room for fighting and that he would have limited contact with his brother. He opened the records that were sent over from the school. There was something about Lucas that he could not place his finger on and he felt like he was missing something. The only thing that stuck out as he scanned the papers was that his grades steadily dropped starting about four years ago. Michael sat back in his chair and looked back out at the kids on the playground and could not help but feel that Lucas and Matt were just not a normal set of kids that just lost their parents. Michael said a silent prayer to himself that when Luke's birth parents showed up that everything went okay but he had to admit to himself that he was a little worried. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. He turned to find a group of people standing at his doorway.)

Stacey (social worker): Michael, this is Karen and Dan Scott. They are here to see their son.

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(Lucas had found a towel by the door and had cleaned him and his brother up enough to go into the building without making too much of a mess after their mud fight outside.)

Matt: (Holding onto his brother's hand as they made their way back to the main floor.) Do you think that we will be in trouble?

L: (Smiling.) No Matt. It's just a little dirt. Nothing that a quick shower won't take care of. (He stopped and then bent down to get on Matt's eye level.) You remember that I can't go in the bathroom with you right?

M: Yeah.

L: So while you are in getting cleaned up I am going to try to call Jessie.

M: I want to go with you. I want to talk to Sara.

L: Next time, I promise. I just don't know how long they will let me talk and I want to make sure that she knows where we are. Okay?

M: I guess. Do you think that we will ever see them again?

L: (Wishing that he knew for sure.) Yeah. They are our best friends. Maybe after dinner tonight you can write Sara a letter.

M: (Smiling.) I will draw her a picture of Spiderman too. She loves him.

L: (Standing back up and starting their walk through the halls again. The building was a lot louder then earlier because all of the older kids were back from school. Lucas tried to push that out of his mind because he knew that meant he had to go back to his room to finish off the rest of his punishment and that Matt could not be with him. He just about ran into a counselor as they went around a corner.)

Counselor: (He could not help but smile at the two mud covered kids in front of him.) What in the world happened to you two?

M: (Pointing to his brother.) He started it.

L: I can't believe that you are going to blame this all on me.

M: You did start it Lucas.

L: Fine. (Looking back at the counselor.) Can you help him take a shower?

Counselor: Sure. (Holding his hand out to the dark-haired child.)

M: (Taking the man's hand and looking back at Lucas as he left with him.) Do I hafta wash may hair again? I just did it last night.

L: YES! Come to Michael's office when you are done. I will be in there.

M: Okay.

(Luke turned in the opposite direction and headed for his destination. The door was open so he walked in.)

L: Hey Michael can I use the phone? (Luke stopped as soon as he realized that there was an office full of people. He turned a little red and started to back out.) Sorry I didn't know...

Karen: (Interrupting the teen.) Oh my God. Lucas!