2014

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hands in his pockets, Lucas took a walk down by the lake. The lights from the party going on inside the sprawling mansion on the hill lit the way. It was the very last place he was wanted or even where he wanted to be but he had to show up. Partly out of boredom, partly out of curiosity, something had drawn him there. Plus there was something he had to say.

Life was funny. So many times it never turned out according to plans. All Lucas, the old Luke, ever wanted was to live in a big house, be happily married with lots of children to Brooke Davis and play basketball in the NBA. The dream had come so close. He'd almost had it and then everything had slipped away. It had been a gradual process but it had taken everything to be gone for Lucas to realize just what his life had come to and how it was all his fault.

So he had disappeared. He'd found a cabin in River City, a town not too far from Tree Hill. And he had laid low in a rented cabin, living off the Scott trust fund with zero contact from his estranged brother, sister in law, friends and wife. Then one day a letter had come from Brooke. There was no mention of a reconciliation, only that she intended to make their legal separation far more permanent. She had filed for a divorce, a surprise move that left Lucas devastated. He knew he hadn't been the greatest husband over the years and his last move had been the ultimate slap in the face but it still left him in a saddened state of ultimate disbelief…it really was over and she really wasn't coming back.

Then came an announcement over the Internet, the one about Nathan and Haley and a party being hosted at their new home right outside the city limits of Indianapolis. In a trade that left the younger Scott brother, 17 million dollars a year richer for the next five years, Nathan would be the newest member of the Pacers squad. Lucas sighed as he crept outside. He knew he couldn't risk being seen. And peering into the window, he was suddenly struck with the irony that was supposed to be his life. Nathan was living his dream. Handsome and smiling, the star had one arm wrapped around his beautiful, smiling wife and the other around their sweet, adorable kid. Beside them, posing for the same picture, were Jake and Peyton. They looked different, almost happy even, as if the marriage was finally getting past all the problems that had nearly ended it. And off in a corner, mingling with some guests was the stylishly dressed Brooke Davis. Looking gorgeous as ever, she had been quite the social butterfly, working the party except for the tense moments that pitted her in the same breathing zone as Peyton Jagielski. Too classy to cause a public scene, an uncomfortable Brooke had simply put on a happy face and ignored the blonde best friend who had hurt her so.

They were all there but one thing was missing…Lucas. Only when it was six, were they a complete unit. But he had been ostracized, somehow banished from the kingdom and it hurt him beyond belief. Lurking outside, he waited as one of the hired help exited briefly outside to retrieve something.

"Excuse me."

"Yes, sir?" the young waiter smiled, obviously oblivious to whom he was speaking with.

"Could you make sure Mr. Scott gets this?"

"Certainly", he took the envelope from Lucas' hand.

With bated breath, Lucas walked a few feet away from the 11,000 square foot, multi million dollar mansion. He lit a cigarette as he waited nervously. Ten minutes later, he heard the footsteps approaching him in the wet grass.

"You made it", he didn't even bother turning around.

Nathan sighed.

"I can't believe you're here. What do you want, man?"

"I needed to see you."

"Yeah? Well, Haley and not to mention Jake, Peyton and Brooke can't see you. The shit would hit the fan."

"I know. That's why I didn't come in."

"Why are you here, Luke?"

Lucas walked a few feet over to the rental car, jingling his keys.

"Let's take a little drive."

Nathan thought for a minute, his eyes gazing back at the house and the party in full swing behind him.

"Whatever it is, make it quick", he reluctantly climbed in the passenger side.

Lucas pulled out of the driveway and away from the massive private property.

"I guess congratulations are in order", Lucas said after a few minutes of driving in silence.

"What?"

"Your deal with the Indiana Pacers…"

"Oh yeah. That. It's pretty cool. I'm excited."

"What about Hales?"

Nathan shrugged.

"She likes it, I guess. I mean, she picked out the new house and I think she had fun decorating it. She designed this big ass playroom for Landon."

"How is my little nephew? I haven't seen him in ages."

"Little Man is good."

Lucas nodded.

"I saw, from the window, I mean."

"What the hell?" Nathan frowned. "I knew you were at rock bottom, man but going around peeping through windows? That's low, even for you."

"I wanted to see what was going on. Like you said, it's not like I could come in. Hell, it's not like I was even invited."

"You know why you weren't. That's on you, Luke."

"I see Jake and Peyton were."

"They're our friends."

"And Brooke?"

"She's still family. Besides, don't even bring that crap up. You know how hard it's been trying to keep her and Pey from tearing each other apart all night?"

"Yeah. I guess that's on me, too."

"No shit. Dude, what is your problem? What were you thinking?"

Lucas sighed as he looked away.

"I guess I wasn't."

"Damn right you weren't."

"Now Brooke hates me. She wants a divorce."

"Can you blame her?"

"Peyton won't talk to me and Jake wants to kill me."

"Are you surprised?"

"What about Haley? Does she still hate me?"

"You know Haley is a forgiving person. She could never stay mad at anyone for too long and thank God for that one or we would have been done a long time ago. I just know she's hurt and really disappointed in you. Says you're not the Luke you used to be."

"Maybe I'm not. But we've all changed, man."

"Look, I don't want to be a dick about this but I really don't have time to talk right now, man. I have to get back to my party. Whatever you want, whatever you have to say, do it now."

"I know. You're a busy man. You're a husband and a father…and a superstar."

"Luke…"

"How does it feel?"

"How does what feel?"

"All of it. You know what I'm talking about."

"You want me to lie? You want me to spare your feelings? What do you want from me, Lucas? Yeah, it feels good."

Lucas nodded.

"I bet it does. You're living my life, dude."

Nathan laughed out loud.

"Are you cracked out? Come on, man."

"You have it all. Just like always. Nathan gets everything, I get nothing."

"Want some cheese with that whine?"

"It's not a joke! Maybe it is to you, but it's not to me. I have nothing. Nothing! Do you understand that? Do you even know what it's like?"

"Look, I'm not a psychiatrist and most of this is your own doing anyway. Either tell me what you want or let me out. I don't have time for this."

"Help me get Brooke back. I need to stop the divorce."

Nathan shook his head.

"Dude, I'm not a magician. You fucked up. Brooke wants out. There is nothing I can do about that. Sorry."

"I'm losing everything", Lucas murmured.

"You should have thought about that."

"I lost my family, my friends, my wife…"

"Look…"

Lucas hung his head in shame.

"The money thing…that's not going too good either. I got into some trouble with gambling and stuff."

"No shit. I heard you lost big."

"Yeah. Um, I'm taking care of that but I need your help."

"You need money from me?"

"I don't like asking but yeah."

"How much?" Nathan sighed.

"A couple hundred grand."

"That's a lot of money."

"Who are we kidding? Not to you."

Nathan rolled his eyes.

"Alright, man but that's it…"

"And I need you to sign this", Lucas motioned to a folder containing some papers.

Nathan opened it and carefully examined the documents.

"So it's come to this, big brother?"

"You don't need it. Hell, a few years ago, you didn't even want it. I don't see what has changed now."

"Lucas…"

"Just shut up and sign on the dotted line."

Nathan had signed once. He had temporarily given up his right to inherit his part of the Scott fortune. It had been years ago when he was just a teenager, right after Dan had died. Now at age 26, was the final opportunity. He still had various entitlements but if he signed one more time, that would be it. His half would automatically transfer to his only brother.

"I can't do that."

"What do you mean? Can't or won't, man?"

"Call it what you want."

Lucas banged his hand against the wheel.

"Why? Why not?"

"I'm not gonna let you piss away what's left of that money, man."

"So now you're in charge? You get to tell me what to do?"

"Someone needs to. Then your sorry, stupid ass wouldn't be in this fix now."

"Nate, quit being a tool and give me the damned money, man!"

"No."

"You're being an asshole."

"And you've been an asshole."

"You don't even need this money", Lucas shook his head.

Nathan looked right over at him and sneered.

"You can never have enough money."

That was it. That was how it was. That was what it had all come down to.

"Screw you, brother!"

"No, screw you, Luke. You've screwed everyone else over and now you've screwed yourself. You did this. Not me or Brooke or anyone else. So you may as well let me out the car."

In a fury, Lucas jerked the wheel. He turned around, heading back in the direction of the house. He would gladly take Nathan back to his party and his perfect little life. And he would suffer, his tail between his legs as he went back to what was left of his.

"I don't have anything, man. So when you go back to your wife and kid and millions, think about that. Think about me with nothing."

"Whatever. Look, if I had a violin I'd play a tune for you now. But I don't so watch these curves in the road. You're driving too fast."

Lucas chuckled.

"Too fast? There's one you don't hear everyday from the great Nathan Scott. Whatever happened to the bad boy? The daredevil?"

Nathan shrugged.

"Don't get stupid. I have a life. I have a wife and a kid and a job and a lot of other things else to look forward to. Sorry you couldn't fix things with Brooke but I'm at the point where things are exactly where they need to be with Hales and me. Yeah, you changed but I wasn't the man I needed to be either. Well, no more. I have a lot of good things in front of me."

"Well, I don't", Lucas spat as he sped up on the narrow, winding road.

"Stop being a dick!" Nathan yelled.

"You have so much to look forward to, little bro? Well, guess what? I don't."

"Slow down, Luke!"

He drove fast in a state of blind fury. It truly wasn't his intention for anything to happen. Why couldn't Nathan just do the right thing and give him the money? He had fucked up and for that he had suffered enough. Why did his former friends insist on continuing to punish him. It wasn't right or fair and that was the only thing on Lucas Scott's mind. He was so mad, so despondent that he couldn't even see straight. Not Nathan beside him in the front seat, not the possible hope for the future…not even the deer that sprinted out in front of them. When he did see her, it was too late.

"Holy shit!" he tried to swerve to avoid the hit.

"Look out!"

But it was too late. Lucas desperately tried to steer clear of the animal that had darted in their path. He missed the deer…but not the ditch. He lost control of the car and it slid down a nearby embankment, flipping once, rolling twice before colliding at full speed with a large tree. The noise on the way down had been terrifying and they hit with a sickening thud. But then there was nothing but eerie silence.

"Shit", Lucas winced as he sat up, his forehead bleeding from several pieces of glass embedded in it.

He looked around. It was so dark he could hardly see. Glancing to his right, there was no Nathan.

"Luke…" he was finally able to croak after a few seconds.

A horrified Lucas leaned over and saw the contorted, crumpled body of his little brother. He looked like a human pretzel.

"Oh my God! Dude! Nate! Nathan, I'm here! I'm gonna go get help! Can you hear me? Are you alright?"

Nathan tried to raise his bleeding head but it quickly fell back.

"I…I can't feel my legs", he whispered before passing out.