Lucas turned up the bottle of Jack Daniels and swallowed the last of the liquid like it was water. He tossed away the empty glass container and it shattered loudly against the damp pavement.

"Keep it coming", he gruffly ordered.

Tim looked at a bunch of empty beer and liquor bottles.

"Dude, we're out. What do you expect? Your greedy ass guzzles down whatever I open faster than I can open it."

The two men were sitting in the bed of Lucas' truck parked down by the riverbanks.

"Look underneath the seat."

Sure enough there were a few more bottles of whiskey and vodka concealed in a brown paper bag. Tim reluctantly handed them over.

"Look, man I like to party and get shit faced as much as the next guy but damn. We've been out here all freaking day. Can we do something else?" Tim whined.

"No and what the fuck are you complaining about anyway? What's better, Timmy than getting wasted by the river?"

Tim thought for a minute.

"Getting wasted at the titty bar is my best guess but Luke we've been doing this for two days straight now."

Lucas took another big swig.

"Got anything else better in mind?"

"A hot shower, some TV, jerking off…I don't know. Listen, I'm bored, man. Okay, I know you're hurting over this Brooke thing. I don't blame you. I thought she was cool. I still don't buy that she was all into that Alias/Runaway Bride shit. But damn. Getting plastered is cool but you can't drink yourself to death."

"Why not?"

"Because. There are other fish in the sea. Luke, you've never had a problem getting ass before. Hell, you're almost as good looking as me. One chick breaks your heart, there are a thousand more to mend it back together. There is a life to live out there."

"What life? Life sucks. It kicks you in the ass and it keeps on beating you when you're down."

Tim shook his head.

"You need a shrink, man. Seriously. Either that or some good pussy. Anyway, this whole male bonding crap is getting too weird. I think I'm gonna take off for a while. You'll be cool until I come back?"

"I'm not going anywhere."

Tim got in his car and left while Lucas continued to drink himself into oblivion. He drank and drank until his vision blurred and eventually he passed out. He was out for hours even as cold droplets of rain drizzled onto his body. His eyes finally opened in the dead of night when headlights flashed brightly.

"Lucas", he heard someone call out his name.

"Tim", he yelled. "It's about time, dude. Hope you brought something to drink with you because I'm fresh out."

"Drowning your sorrows away?"

Lucas struggled to sit up and focus. It was not Tim. The voice belonged to a female.

"Mom?"

"Hello, son."

He groaned out loud.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Looking for you."

"How'd you find me?"

"It wasn't difficult. This is the same place you used to come to in high school to get drunk with your friends."

"What makes you think I'm drunk?"

"Besides the fact that you smell like a wino and this place is littered with empty bottles? Let's just say I'm used to Scott men drinking away their problems. After all, I'm married to your father, aren't I?"

Lucas snorted.

"Now I know why the poor bastard drinks. Nothing like a dishonest, low down, cheating bitch of a woman to drive a good man right to the Jim Bean."

Karen put her umbrella away as the rain had decided to let up.

"I take it this is not about me and rather about Brooke?"

"What do you know about Brooke?"

"Enough."

Lucas grinned.

"Then you must be eating this up. Well, congratulations, Mom. It's all true. Brooke screwed me over. She lied. Did you know she has a fiancé?"

"I am very sorry to hear that."

"Yeah, I just bet you are."

"I am. Contrary to your distorted beliefs, I do care about your well being and happiness. Obviously Brooke made you very happy."

"Well, not anymore. That's over."

"Is it?"

"I haven't heard from her so maybe she went back to making Killian happy."

"Lucas…"

"Mom, don't. Okay? I don't want your advice or your opinions."

"I just want to talk."

"Why?"

"Because I'm your mother and I'm very concerned."

"It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

"My concern?"

"No. You actually trying to be a parent."

Karen grimaced.

"That isn't fair."

"You want to talk to me about fair? Having you and Dan Scott for parents wasn't fair. Being fucked up all my life wasn't fair. Treating Nathan and Haley and everybody else I ever cared about like crap wasn't fair. And after all that, finding then losing Brooke sure as hell isn't fair. Life's a bitch, I guess. What can you do?"

"I know you're angry and I know you've been angry most of your life. I can admit that Dan and I haven't been the greatest parents. If we failed you somehow, then I do apologize."

"If?"

"Just listen to me."

"I don't want to listen. I'm done talking to you. Go home, Mom. Who knows…it might be your lucky day and Uncle Keith will be waiting."

"It's sad really. You're bitter and you're angry and your lips are permanently attached to some bottle. I watch you become more and more like your father everyday and it kills me. It might be too late for Dan but there is still time for you."

"Time for what? What the hell are you babbling about?"

"You love Brooke Davis."

"So?"

"Flight for her."

"I did."

"Keep fighting."

"Why?"

"For your happiness and your sanity and most importantly your own peace of mind. And because Brooke loves out, too."

"It was all a lie."

Karen looked right at her son.

"It certainly didn't look like a lie to me. Did it feel like one?"

No. No, it didn't. It felt real and wonderful.

"Why are you so pro Brooke all of a sudden?"

"Sometimes women find themselves in bad situations with men they thought they loved. Because of family or money or pressure, it's almost impossible to get out. But Brooke got out. In the process, she found something meaningful with you. Now you're right because I am not the biggest fan of Brooke, per se, but I can sympathize with what she's been through. Maybe you haven't had the easiest life and some of that may be because of your father and me but our shortcomings can't be your excuses anymore. It's time to grow up and assume some sort of responsibility. Don't give up on her, son. If you do, you'll come to regret it. And trust me, there is nothing worse than living life with a bunch of regret."

Lucas shook his head.

"I don't need your words of wisdom. And I don't need Brooke either. I don't need anyone."

Karen sighed.

"Let me take you home, honey."

"I don't have a home", he sneered. "At least not with you."

"Fine. I'll take you over to Deb's."

"Just leave me alone."

He stood but staggered and Karen put her arms around him to steady his wavering balance. Lucas cruelly pushed her away.

"Let me help you."

"I don't need your help. I don't need to be saved", he said, dropping down to his knees and retching as he vomited all over a nearby patch of grass.

It was a sad but painfully familiar sight to behold. Karen was too late. She couldn't reach him. Fighting back a mother's tears, she reached into her bag for her phone and dialed the number to Deb's Den.

"Hello…Nathan, this is Karen Scott. Can you please come to the banks behind the Fourth Street Bridge? It's your brother and he's in trouble…"

She hung up at least knowing that Nathan would get Lucas to a safe, warm bed. He had always been able to reach her son in a way she never could. Maybe she couldn't get to him but she prayed the words in her speech about Brooke would.