It had been a long day at the Den, which was leading to an even longer night. One of the cooks had called in sick, there had been a discrepancy with the supply order and in addition to the unusual high number of patrons that had resulted in Skills having to break up a bar fight, the real drama was in the back among the workers. Deb rubbed her aching temple as she watched the tension continuing to unfold between two of the waitresses, Christina and Stephanie.

"What's up, Boss Lady?" Skills asked, temporarily leaving his permanent post by the door to retrieve an ice cold bottle of water.

"Nothing much", Deb sighed. "Just keeping my eye on those two."

"Whoa. Looks like the makings of a good old fashioned cat fight. Don't tell me I'm gonna have to break up two brawls in one night."

"Let's keep our fingers crossed", Haley smiled, joining them.

"Deb, I'm going out for my cigarette break", Christina informed the boss, not waiting for a response.

Deb, Skills and Haley exchanged glances.

"She looks pissed."

Christina had been on at the Den for a few years while Stephanie was a newer employee. The girls had been friends once but some petty disagreement had ended all that. Before anyone could say anything, Stephanie made her way over to group.

"Ooooohhhh", she moaned dramatically.

Haley rolled her eyes and took the bait.

"What is it now, Steph?"

"Oh nothing…just Christina."

"What about Christina?"

"You know she's been talking shit about me."

"I haven't heard anything."

"Well, she has. She's such a bitch."

"Wait, I thought you guys were such good friends."

Stephanie scoffed at the memory.

"That was a long time ago."

"It was last week", Skills observed.

"Oh", Stephanie stated flatly. "Whatever. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you guys the truth about her."

"And what truth is that?" Skills asked.

"She's just not a good person."

"You used to think so."

"I changed my mind. Let's just say I learned the hard way. Anyway, I just wanted to warn you guys. And I don't think you should be friends with her anymore."

"Well, she's never done anything to me", Haley said.

"Not yet but she will. Give it time, trust me. And she's a horrible waitress. All the customers hate her. She's rude, too. Deb, it's bad for business. You might want to think about firing her. Or…wait, I have an idea. We could all gang up on her, not talk to her. There's strength in numbers. I bet in less than a week she would leave this place with her tail between her legs."

"Look, Stephanie…" Deb sighed, having heard enough.

"Why would we do that?" Brooke joined the conversation, having overheard it. "Why would anyone do that?"

"Oh", Stephanie gave her fakest sugary sweet innocent smile. "Hey Bree. Didn't see you standing there. I was just telling everyone how horrible Christina is and what we can do to get rid of her. You shouldn't talk to her anymore. Are all you guys in? I already discussed it with Cynthia on her last shift and she agreed with me."

"That's so dumb", Haley muttered. "I am so not in this."

"Me either", Skills sighed. "Women…"

Brooke shook her head.

"That has to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard. How old are you again, Stephanie?"

"29."

"In other words too old to be playing the dumb high school games. And to be honest, didn't I hear you raving about what a wonderful waitress Christina was just two weeks ago? Now all of a sudden she needs to be fired? And wasn't she the one who helped you get this job and trained you for it?"

Stephanie shrugged with a stupid look on her face.

"Yeah but, but you don't know everything. Do you know why she always works so many shifts?"

"Who cares? It's none of our business. And if it's a personal thing and she's your friend and she trusted you enough to confide in you, why would you run and tell us everything as soon as you get mad at her? What does that say about you and the kind of person you are?"

"I'm just saying. Anyway, you're new and you're not from around here and you didn't know. I was just trying to warn you."

"Really? Sounds to me like you're just being catty."

"I…I'm not", Stephanie stammered. "No need to get defensive, Bree. Besides, Cynthia and I are planning this big party next week and I was just gonna ask you to help."

"Please. You've never even talked to me before. If you did, you'd know my name was Brooke and not Bree. You're just trying to recruit me into your evil has been cheerleaders cult. Well, save your breath. I'm not down for it."

Brooke folded her arms defiantly and looked right at Stephanie. Skills and Haley were trying to control their laughter. Huffing, she walked away, head down.

"You told her", Skills said.

"Yeah", Haley added. "Way to go. That was pretty cool of you standing up for Christina. Mean girls can be pretty rough sometimes. How'd you know how to handle it?"

Brooke sighed.

"Unfortunately, I used to be one of them."

"Okay, guys", Deb took a deep breath, her head still pounding. "Back to work. We've got a lot of stuff to do."

The group followed the boss' orders and dispersed. Brooke gathered a few empty glasses from the bar before wiping it down.

"Hey", Christina approached her. "Um, I heard what you said to Steph back there. I don't really know you but that was pretty cool of you. I mean, you don't have to take sides. The whole thing is stupid and petty and I could care less."

"No sweat", Brooke smiled.

They looked over at Stephanie who was eyeing them closely, dying to know the contents of their conversation. Just then a customer put a couple of quarters in the jukebox and an old Carly Simon tune began to play, the chorus describing the scene perfectly.

You had me several years ago

When I was still quite naive

Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair

And that you would never leave

But you gave away the things you loved

And one of them was me

I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee

Clouds in my coffee, and

You're so vain

You probably think this song is about you

You're so vain

I'll bet you think this song is about you

Don't you

Don't you

"How appropriate?" Christina laughed.

"Yeah. Just don't let it get to you."

"Trust me. It doesn't. I'm done."

"Good for you", Brooke said, temporarily reflecting on her own life and experiences. "Sometimes some people just don't know when to let stuff go."

From a few feet away, Deb smiled, still listening. She was proud of Brooke. The girl was a real firecracker. She knew she had seen something special in her a long time ago. All one had to do was look past the fur and expensive jewels and seemingly snobby attitude.

But her smile wouldn't last for long. The door opened and in walked none other than Dan Scott. Deb cursed under her breath. So much for the end of the drama and her headache. It looked like both were just beginning.

"What the hell do you want, Dan?"

"Is everything okay, Boss Lady?" Skills quickly intervened.

"Slow your roll, Mr. T", Dan smirked. "I'm just here to talk."

"It's okay, Skills", Deb said, watching the bouncer leave. "Now what do you want, Dan? Why are you here?"

"We need to talk."

"I have a massive headache and as you can see, I am in my place of business. I don't have time for a social call."

"This is important. It's about Lucas."

"He's not here right now. What about him?"

"I hear he's staying with you."

"You hear correctly then."

"I want you to kick him out."

Deb's eyes widened.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"Dan…"

"Lucas is lost and he's made a few mistakes and I'm afraid you're aiding and abetting his foolishness. As long as you provide him with a place to stay and some misguided sympathy, the boy will never come to his senses and go back to his wife."

"Lucas and Haley are done. That is their decision, not mine or yours. And it's certainly not our place to get involved. I'm not interfering or taking sides, Dan. It's their lives. Let them handle it."

"You are making an awful situation that much more impossible. If he won't go back to Haley, fine. You know I was never a fan of that pairing anyway. But as long as he has you babying him, he'll never come back home to Karen and me."

"Can you blame him? And like I said, it's his decision."

Dan frowned.

"You're not his mother, you know."

Deb looked him right in the eye.

"You're right, Dan. I'm not and I know that. But I am his friend. I care for that boy just like I have cared for my son, our son, all these years, which is more than I can say for you. I love both of them and I let them make their own choices and I support what they do. Nathan turned out pretty damned good. I may not be Luke's mother but if it could have spared him half the pain and troubles and confusion he's dealing with now, then I wish to hell I would have been."

Dan could only bite his lip. Damn, he needed a beer.

"You're making a mistake."

"Get out before I have Skills throw you out."

"Very well", he nodded. "But this isn't over. Not by a long shot."

She was used to his idle threats but he was nothing more than a pathetic whipped puppy excuse of the man he had once been. Deb knew it and everybody knew it. Even Dan.

"I guess he was here about me", Haley sighed, walking up to Deb once her soon to be ex father in law left. "Sorry."

"It's not your fault, honey."

Deb winced once again as a terrible sharp pain raced through her head.

"Deb, are you okay?"

"I…I'm fine", she managed, even though white spots were clouding her already blurry vision.

"Deb, are you sure? Maybe you should sit down. Let me get you a glass of water."

"Okay", she nodded. "That would be nice."

But before Haley could move, they all heard the loud thump as Deb's body crumpled to the floor.

"Oh my God!" Haley screamed. "Someone call an ambulance!"