Sorry for the delay. I've been making plans to move to University in the next week or so. There should be another chapter out soon before I move up there. Stay tuned.

Chapter Thirty Five: The Price I've Had To Pay

Less than three days later, and at Dan's demand, Lucas was discharged from the hospital and allowed home. Although he still wasn't allowed back to school for another week or so; Dan was determined to make sure he used it wisely and rebuilt his strength.

Since the diagnosis, all Dan Scott had talked about was proving Dr. Forrester wrong and getting Lucas back on the court.

Lucas remained tight-lipped through all of his father's plans and simply nodded or tried to change the subject. Karen could do nothing, and her attempts to tell her husband that Lucas needed rest were dismissed with a flick of a hand.

Brooke stood by Lucas, spending more time at the hospital than Dan and Karen combined. Karen had to literally push Brooke out of the door – but the girl managed to get her own back by taking extended lunch breaks, skipping unimportant lessons and regularly bringing by gifts from other people for Lucas.

Sometimes she brought by Nathan and Haley, or Peyton and Jake. Some of the basketball players were snuck in after visiting hours – and Brooke managed to sweet talk a few doctors into letting Lucas out of his room for a while so Lucas could get some proper fresh air.

She listened to Lucas complain about his dad, she encouraged him when he had fears about his future, and kept his spirits up when he began to feel slightly depressed.

Sometimes Lucas would awake in the middle of the night to find her sleeping on the couch. It brought a smile to his face as he realized it was the silver lining through this whole ordeal.

As Lucas helped through the front door of his house by his mother, there was a yelp from Lucas' room.

"Don't come in here!" Brooke called; she poked her head out of the door, "Hey Lucas." She grinned.

"Hey Brooke. What's going on?" he asked.

"Just some 'welcome home' thing. Don't look until I tell you to," she advised as her head went back into the room.

"Do you know anything about this?" he asked Karen as she helped him settle on the couch. Karen just shook her head.

"Okay, I'm ready!" Brooke bounced all the way to the living room to take Lucas and Karen into his room. Brooke led Lucas by the hand and they stood outside his bedroom door.

"Come on, Brooke," he grew impatient, "Before I have another heart attack!" he joked, but was met by glares from both women. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"This," Brooke turned the doorknob slowly, "Is your new room."

As she opened the door and walked inside, Karen and Lucas stared open-mouthed at the display.

Brooke had completely rearranged his bedroom and filled it with potted plants, weird looking pictures and a strange smell was wafting around the room.

"What is that smell?" Lucas asked holding a hand to his nose.

"Incense," Brooke replied, "And I got you scented candles too."

"Why is my bed in a completely different direction?" he questioned.

"According to this feng shui website I found, if your bed faces in this direction, it'll bring you good health."

"Yeah, if I don't suffocate first!" Lucas complained, the fumes getting a little too much for him.

"Lucas…" Karen warned, "Brooke did a very nice thing for you."

Brooke pouted until Lucas gave her a nod and thanked her, pulling her in for a brief hug.

"Thank you," she said brightening up. "Now, I also changed your curtains, added some plants, and rearranged your closet."

"Am I going to be able to find anything here?" Lucas asked as he looked around his barely recognizable room. She'd done everything but redecorate.

"Well, you have a week to get accustomed," she reminded him. "And I'm always here to help out."

"Really?" Karen interrupted, "And what about school?"

"Lucas will need someone home with him to get him stuff!" Brooke argued.

"I have HCM, Brooke; I didn't have any limbs cut off!" Lucas reminded her.

"That's right," a voice said as he arrived to where the others were standing. "Lucas will be fine. I've taken the next week off to make sure of it," Dan gave a wide smile at his family.

Both Lucas and Brooke found it a little disconcerting; his whiter than white teeth beaming at them, and the faint crow's feet around his slightly aged face made it seem a little menacing.

"Dan," Karen ventured forward in a small plea, "I thought we had discussed this-"

"Karen, honey, I know what I'm doing. Lucas and I will only be doing light exercise at first, nothing strenuous. I promise." Dan put his hand to his chest for dramatic effect. "We could even get started now."

"Actually, I'm a little tired," Lucas said. A frown crossed Dan's features and he was about to protest until Karen piped up.

"Of course, Lucas," Karen said ushering her son deeper into his room, "You go ahead and get some rest." She was eager to get Lucas away from Dan; at least until Dan accepted that Lucas had HCM. "I'll bring you a drink in a minute."

As they all left him in his room, Brooke picked up her jacket.

"I'm going to go to Peyton's to pick up a CD," Brooke announced. "I'll be back soon."

"That's fine," Karen said, "Tell Peyton 'hi' from me, okay?"

Brooke nodded and glanced at Dan. Brooke, Karen and Lucas had begun using code words for Haley and Nathan in front of Dan. Brooke would say she was borrowing a CD from Peyton, and Lucas would say he was calling Tim. Karen had begun meeting both Haley and Nathan at Karen's Café – even offering Haley a job.

Bridges were beginning to be built between the three.

Brooke walked out of the door, and Karen began filling a glass of water for Lucas; her husband standing in the kitchen.

"Dan…" she said as she waited for the tumbler to fill up, "Are you sure that this is a good idea? I know I seem to say this a lot, but I think we should listen to his doctors."

"Karen, for the hundredth time, I know what I'm doing."

"Have you considered what Lucas wants? He can still lead a normal life without basketball. I don't want him endanger himself again."

Dan sighed loudly, "Honey, you're being paranoid. Lucas just needs to slow down a bit. We can't let him throw away his future over one incident."

"He could have died," Karen reminded him.

"Doctors are always making stuff up like that. It's their way of scaring us all into being paranoid, fearful idiots. They'd have us walking around in bubble suits if people took them seriously. I know what I'm doing," he reassured.

"If you say so, Dan," Karen wiped the excess water that dripped around the tumbler with a dishcloth, "Just remember; it's Lucas' future. Not yours."

-------------------

Two weeks later, Lucas was still not ready to return to school, and was sure that Dan's work regime wasn't helping.

He was doing light exercise, which was difficult enough for him, and Dan was getting increasingly frustrated with him.

"Come on, Lucas! Pull yourself together. You've only done ten push ups!" Dan yelled at his son, who was sprawled across the floor without an ounce of energy left in him.

"I… I can't," Lucas panted.

"What was that?" Dan asked putting a hand to his ears, "Was that the sound of giving up?"

Lucas couldn't reply.

"Five more."

"Dad…"

"Five more," he demanded. Lucas, covered in his own sweat, could hardly muster enough energy to shake his head. Dan reluctantly stepped away from his ailing son. "Fine. Ten minute break."

At that moment, Brooke and Karen walked in from their shopping trip and looked at the scene in front of them; their mouths falling open.

"What's going on?" Karen asked as she rushed to Lucas' side.

"We were just working out," Dan explained.

"Lucas, honey, are you okay?" Karen asked helping her son up to his feet. "Brooke, take him to his room – I want to talk to Dan."

Brooke nodded and went to help Lucas back to his bedroom, carrying his weight.

As she helped him lie down on his bed, they could hear the rumblings of an argument between his parents. Brooke shut the door so that Lucas didn't have to hear it.

"You okay?" she asked, finding his medication in his top dresser drawer and handing it to him. He took it gratefully.

"I will be," he replied.

"Why can't you just say 'no'?" Brooke asked.

"I can't," he shook his head, "You can't say that to my dad."

"This is killing you, Lucas. I can't stand by anymore and watch it happen. Your mom can't either."

"What can I do, Brooke? My dad doesn't understand."

"Have you tried talking to him?"

"You know my dad, Brooke. It's his way or the-"

"That's not true and you know it," Brooke replied, "He told you not to see Nathan anymore, and you still did. Why should this be any different?"

"It just is," Lucas mumbled. He sighed deeply, "If I tell you something, will you promise you won't make a big deal out of it?"

Brooke shrugged, "Sure."

"I called a couple of the college scouts and told them about my situation."

"I thought your dad wanted to keep it a secret."

"Yeah, well… I called and… I talked to them."

"And?" Brooke prompted.

"The told me that I can't take the scholarship. Or play basketball."

"I'm sorry, Lucas," Brooke apologized.

"It's okay," Lucas said, not seeming down by it, "Because they saw my transcripts and a few of them want me to go anyway. It's not a scholarship, but I told them what I wanted to do, and boom! They think that I'd make a great addition to their literature and poetry classes."

"Lucas, are you kidding me?" Brooke grinned, "This is a huge deal!"

Lucas clamped his hand over her mouth, "Shhh…" he urged, "You can't tell my parents."

"Why not? They'd be thrilled…"

"I know my mom will, but my dad?" Lucas shook his head, "I still need to figure out how to break it to him."

"Lucas, you can't be afraid of telling him. This is too big. This is what you've been waiting for."

"But my Dad-"

"Don't worry about him," Brooke insisted, "Karen and I will back you up."

"Are you sure?" Lucas asked. Brooke nodded. "Fine… fine, I'll tell them."

Brooke hugged Lucas, "This is going to be great!" she reassured.

Although he'd like to have Brooke's optimism, Lucas knew that it would be anything but.

-------------------

At dinner time, Lucas had regained enough strength to face his parents, and with Brooke's support, prepared to tell them his news.

However, it wasn't until they got to the dessert when he finally plucked up the courage to do so.

"I got a call from a couple of the colleges," he began, "about the scholarship."

"Really?" Dan asked, a smile forming on his face, "And?"

"They've withdrawn it," Lucas explained.

"That's outrageous!" Dan hit his fists on the table. "What stupid reason did they have to-"

"I told them about my HCM."

Dan stared at his son and the table hushed.

"What?" Dan narrowed his eyes.

"They said that it was too risky for me to play basketball, and that they couldn't allow me to endanger my health." Lucas explained.

"Why did you tell them?" Dan yelled, "All we needed was a few more weeks to get you back on the court. No-one needed to know."

"Dad, I have a heart disease. I can't play!" Lucas argued, "The practice alone could kill me."

"So you've blown your chance to make it big. Well done, Lucas. Bravo." Dan said dryly, clapping slowly.

"Dan…" Karen warned.

"That's not all," Brooke piped up, prompting Lucas to tell them the rest.

"They did offer me a place, though. All of the colleges I applied to looked over my transcripts and made space for me. I'll be doing literature and poetry – all I need to do is choose my college."

Karen beamed with pride, while Dan's expression soured.

"Lucas, that's-"

"-a sissy subject." Dan cut Karen off.

"Dan!"

"What kind of man studies Shakespeare and Wordsworth? What kind of job can you get with a degree like that?" Dan said. "A poor man's job."

"It's not about money," Brooke said, "It's about what Lucas enjoys and is good at."

"Well, not that it's your business, but Lucas is good and enjoys basketball. He's made to be in the NBA."

"But he can't, Dan, because he has HCM." Karen said for the umpteenth time. She was getting rather tired of trying to convince her husband of Lucas' condition.

"I fully support his decision," Brooke raised her hand for effect.

"Nobody asked you, Brooke," Dan snapped. He looked around the room, "So how many of you feel that Lucas is making a good decision?"

All three hands went up.

"Fine." Dan threw down his napkin and stood up, the chair making a screeching sound as it scraped across the floor. "Let Lucas throw away his life by doing some soft subject – just don't expect me to pay for it."

"What?" all three asked.

"You heard me," Dan smirked, "I am not going to waste my money on him any longer."

"That's unfair!" Brooke protested, defending Lucas.

Dan turned on the brunette, "Don't even get me started on you, Brooke."

"Me?"

"You are a guest in this house, and this past year you've weeded your way into our lives. First you seduced Lucas, and then disrespected our wishes by bringing Nathan to his bedside, and now you've poisoned Lucas' mind into giving up his dreams. You've ruined our family."

"Dan…"

"I haven't done anything!" Brooke argued as she also stood up, "It was Lucas' choice to pursue this after he was told about his disease. I just supported him, which is more than I say for you," she spat.

"How. Dare. You." Dan bellowed. "I want you out."

"What?"

"You heard me. I want you out of this house. Right now. Pack your bags. You leave tonight."

"That is enough!" Karen stood between the two. "Both of you calm down, this is about Lucas and his situation."

"Whose fault is Lucas' situation?" Dan questioned, "Maybe if Brooke hadn't have broken his heart, then he wouldn't have this problem."

"That is such a load o-"

"Okay, stop." Karen interrupted yet again, "This is all wrong. Brooke, you are not going anywhere."

"This is my house!" Dan reminded her.

"And we made a promise, Dan. We're Brooke's legal guardians until she reaches the age of eighteen. I've had enough of you pushing people away every time they do something you don't agree with. I lost one of my sons, and I don't want to lose any more of them."

"I want her out," Dan said.

"No." Karen crossed her arms.

"Fine," Dan relented, "We'll look after her - but the minute she turns eighteen; she's out of here. And that's final."

Karen opened her mouth to protest but Brooke took the reigns, "Fine." She said.

"Brooke, you don't have to do this." Karen said.

"No," Brooke said, "I think I've already outstayed my welcome. I'll move out when I'm eighteen. Not a day longer."

"Brooke…"

"I'll be in my room," Brooke said excusing herself from the table.

"Look what you've done, Dan."

"She deserves it. I've had enough of her."

"This is unfair," Lucas now began defending Brooke.

"You think about who you're speaking to before you open your mouth, son. I have put everything in getting you where you are. I've made sacrifices and this is how you repay me? By throwing it back in my face?"

"You know what, dad? I never liked basketball. Never. Nathan loved it. But after you threw him out for following his heart, you put all this pressure on me to do the thing that you could never do. I'm sick of having to live out your dreams; they're not mine. You're ruining my life."

"No, Lucas, you're ruining your own life by throwing away your talent."

"That's what you think."

"Boys," Karen rubbed the bridge of her nose, "We have to stop this."

"We are stopping this," Dan said, "If he wants to go to college, then he can pay it himself."

"I'll pay for it," Karen decided.

"Excuse me?"

"If you won't pay for Lucas, then I will. He's my son and I'm not going to punish him for following his dreams."

Dan looked between his son and wife with a steely gaze. Feeling that they'd turned against him, he tightened his jaw and stormed out of the house.

"Mom…" Lucas began.

"Go to sleep, Lucas." Karen said as she began clearing the table, "It's been a long day."

"I'll help." Lucas offered reaching for a plate.

"No," Karen said, sounding tired and weary. "Just go to sleep. I can take care of it."

Lucas gave a nod and retreated to his bedroom, finding Brooke standing in the hallway.

"So…" she said, "You told them."

He nodded, "Yeah. I did. Are you okay?"

She flicked her wrist and tried to act casual, "Oh, I'm a survivor. I'll be fine. I'm used to being on my own."

"You don't have to move. We can talk Dan around-"

Brooke shook her head, "No, it's not worth it." She said, "I'm going to go to sleep."

"Good night."

"Good night," she replied as she shut her bedroom door.

Once in her room, Brooke looked around.

The life she had here was definitely worth fighting for.

She just didn't have the strength to fight Dan Scott.

To Be Continued…