"Do you think she told him yet?" Haley asked as she joined her boyfriend behind the bar, bussing cart in hand.

"Just look at the guy. He hasn't exploded yet and so far he hasn't killed anyone. He actually has a smile on his face. Trust me, he doesn't know shit. I think I know my own brother."

Haley sighed.

"That's what I'm afraid of. Damn. Nathan, it's been a week already. Brooke promised."

"What the hell is she waiting for?"

"She's probably embarrassed and afraid."

Nathan slid two Michelob bottles across the bar to a pair of waiting patrons running a tab.

"Maybe so but the excuses are getting old, Hales. It's time. I don't feel sorry for her anymore. She should have told Lucas by now and she better hurry up before I…"

"Before you what?"

Nathan looked right at his girlfriend.

"Luke has a right to know the truth."

"He does…from Brooke. That's totally between them. It's not your place, Nathan."

"Remember when Lucas cheated on you in South Carolina?"

Haley's face burned.

"How could I forget? That was the last straw for us."

"Remember how hurt you were? How pissed? And the worst part was having so many other people know before you did?"

"That's true and yeah I won't be a hypocrite because I am relieved you eventually told me but at the same time, hearing the truth from you was the worst part because I should have heard it from Lucas."

"So what do we do?"

"We don't do anything."

Nathan shook his head.

"Maybe you're right. A part of me says that karma is just coming around paying Lucas a well deserved visit but on the flip side, he is still my brother. And he's really changed for the better since he's been into Brooke. I kind of feel sorry for his ass."

"I feel sorry for them but there's nothing we can do. Oh shoot, I have another table. We'll talk about this later."

Nathan nodded as Haley left and Lucas joined him. The older brother was in an unusually chipper mood.

"Hey, man, is my mom here yet?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah. She relieved my shift about an hour ago. She's back in the office now, she should be out in a minute."

"What are you still hanging around for? Can't get enough of this place?"

Lucas grinned.

"My girl is coming in and we're gonna go catch that free concert in the park tonight. It's a couple of local rock and reggae bands."

"Sounds cool. You and Brooke…how is that going?"

"It gets better everyday, bro."

Nathan sighed. Why had he even asked?

"That's good, man. I'm glad."

"It's cool. Looks this place isn't too busy tonight. If you and Hales can cut out early, you should come over to the park. It'll be a good time."

"Huh? Oh yeah. Maybe. I'll talk to her."

Lucas checked his watch as the double doors opened. Two Tree Hill police officers along with two men in regular clothes entered. One of them looked oddly familiar but Lucas couldn't quite place his face.

"We're looking for Deborah Lee and Lucas Scott", one officer approached the bar.

Deb joined Lucas and Nathan.

"Hi, Charlie", Deb smiled at the one cop she knew. "Who are your friends?"

Charlie hung his head.

"I'm real sorry, Debbie for what I'm about to do but there's been some trouble brewing. I'm afraid you and the boy are gonna have to come up to the station with us."

"Station? I beg your pardon. What is going on?"

"We have a few questions…"

"What kind of questions?" Lucas asked. "What is all this?"

The unidentified officer stepped up with two sets of handcuffs.

"Deborah Helen Lee, Lucas Eugene Scott, you're under arrest…"

"Arrest? Why? What for?"

"Look, fellas, I don't think the cuffs are necessary", Charlie sighed.

The other officer continued on as they cuffed Deb and Lucas.

"You're under arrest for the kidnapping of Brooke Penelope Davis…"

"What?" Deb, Lucas, Nathan, Haley, Christina and Skills all said at the same time.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney…"

"Kidnapping?" Deb repeated. "Brooke? Charlie, this is some kind of horrible mistake…"

"This is no mistake, Ms. Lee", the young, dark haired man with the piercing green eyes said as he straightened his dapper suit. "My fiancée is being held here against her will. You people have been brainwashing her."

Lucas whipped his head around. It was surreal enough being arrested but what the hell did that guy mean by "fiancée"? Was he talking about Brooke?

"Man, you guys have got this all wrong."

"Damn right", Nathan added. "My mother and my brother haven't done anything illegal. Let them go!"

"Nate, you're gonna have to stay out of this one, son", Charlie spoke.

"The hell I will! This is bullshit, man, and you know it!"

"Calm down, sir, or we'll have no problem booking a third person", the arresting officer warned.

Lucas was fuming.

"We're gonna sue the hell out of you! How can you just storm in someone's place of business and start locking up innocent people for no reason?"

"Killian Morris", the young man identified himself as he pulled out a stack of pictures to show Deb and Lucas. "What the hell is this place, Twin Peaks? You people just go around taking advantage of young, wealthy women like my Brooke?"

All jaws dropped to the floor. The photos showed an unsuspecting Lucas and Brooke smiling, shopping, eating, kissing, talking, holding hands…

"What the fuck is this shit?" Lucas muttered.

Along with the two officers and the man who had identified himself as Killian, Lucas finally began to recognize the other individual. He and his salt and pepper beard looked so familiar.

"Whatever the hell you two are trying to pull, the game is over, Scott", Killian informed the group. "And for anyone else in here who may have been accomplices, may I warn you now that aiding and abetting is a crime. You're just as guilty as Scott and Ms. Lee over here and I intend to see that you're all prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

It hit Lucas like a ton of bricks.

"You're the old dude from the sushi bar. What the hell were you doing, following Brooke and me around, taking our pictures?"

"Mr. Stroman here was hired by me to find out what happened to my fiancée, Brooke Davis."

Lucas laughed out loud.

"Your what? Fiancee? Dude, you must be on crack! That's a big load of shit and you know it. You have the wrong woman. Brooke is my girlfriend."

Killian smirked as he showed several photographs of a seemingly happy Brooke and Killian, arms wrapped around each other.

"Girlfriend, eh? Try again, pal. But keep talking. Go on and add rape to the list that already includes abduction, fraud and coercion."

Lucas couldn't believe it. Nathan and Haley just looked at one another and shook their heads.

"Charlie, this isn't right", Deb pleaded. "We don't have anything to do with this. Please. I'm sure if you just call Brooke…"

"Sorry, Debbie", he sighed. "My hands are tied, darling. Just exercise your right to remain silent. Hang tight and Nathan you call a good lawyer. We'll get this whole mess straightened out as soon as possible."

"But…"

"Nathan, what are we going to do?" Haley whispered. "This is crazy. We can't just let them get hauled off to jail."

Nathan didn't know what to do. None of them did. The entire place was enveloped in utter pandemonium and the one person with all the answers was the only one conveniently missing.

"Hales, I don't know…"

The doors opened and just then a flustered Brooke got a firsthand look at the commotion.

"Skills, what is going on?"

Before he could even answer, she saw the policemen, she saw Deb and Lucas in handcuffs, she saw Nathan and Haley absolutely frightened and she saw…she saw the old man with the beard from the Japanese restaurant. And beside the old man, there was Killian. Killian Morris. Their eyes met and time stood still.

"Brooke", he whispered.

"Oh my God. Killian…"

Lucas bit his lip so hard it bled.

"Brooke", he asked the woman thought to be his girlfriend. "You…you know this guy?"

"Luke, I can explain…" she quickly began.

Killian's eyes darkened and narrowed as he folded his arms.

"It's okay, sweetheart. It's over. You're safe now. There's no reason to be afraid anymore."

Haley stepped up.

"Brooke, you have to stop this. You have to tell them all the truth. They think Deb and Lucas kidnapped you."

"What?"

Brooke's head was spinning just like everyone else's.

"Brooke, what is going on?" Deb asked.

"Do something", Haley begged again.

"This isn't right, Brooke", Nathan shook his head.

Killian held out his hand.

"Baby, come to me. Everything is going to be alright."

Tears filled her eyes as Lucas looked right at her. Anger flashed in his as he silently prayed for answers.

"Brooke, what is this?"

All eyes were on her.

"Stop", she fought back tears. "Everybody, please stop. I, I wasn't kidnapped. I left New York of my own free will. Deborah Lee and Lucas Scott didn't do anything wrong or illegal. You have to let them go."

"Brooke, baby, don't protect them", Killian told her.

The door opened again and it was Peyton. She closed her eyes and cursed. She was too late. Not only had the shit hit the fan but it had spattered all over the room.

"Pey", Brooke called out tearfully.

Peyton just shook her head.

"It's over, dude. You can't run away anymore. You have to fix this, Brooke."

Peyton was right. She was more than just right. It was a final moment of truth, Brooke's moment, as she had come to the painful end of a long road.