Chapter Two: Visitors
"Nathan slow down before you kill us!" screamed Lucas as the younger Scott swerved in front of one car to avoid crashing into another. The boy had been driving like a bat out of hell ever since they pulled out of the apartment complex forcing his brother to play driver from the passenger seat.
Lucas was about to shout out another warning when Nathan cut him off "I swear to God Luke I'm so pissed right now. Can you believe how he spoke to Haley?"
"It's Dad Nate. We shouldn't be surprised by anything he does any more" commented Luke as they came to a red light where he breathed a sigh of relive at the temporary suspension in movement.
"This has got to stop man"
"I couldn't agree with you more but we have to be careful in our approach. We don't want to make him any angrier then he already is"
"I know but we can't let him get away with messing with Haley the way that he does Luke or the way he's been trying to control our lives. He's just been really possessive lately. More so then usual even"
"And we both know why Nate. He's been that way ever since the accident"
Lucas looked over at the dark haired boy who became noticeably tense at the mention of the café fire that killed both their mom's.
They had arrived just as the fire was spreading to the back of the café that night. They knew both woman would have been trying to get out through the back exit so they quickly made their way through the back ally in an attempt to try and save them but when reached the back door a huge explosion erupted sending them both crashing to the ground hard. Flames where shooting out the back door when Nathan came too and he was set to try and make his way inside again when he saw his brother trapped under the steel door that had flown off it's hinges. So Nathan had decided to get Luke help first and try to go in to look for the women but when he made his way around the front of the building the firemen where already there. An hour later they received the news that there were no survivors and that Karen and Deb had died of smoke inhalation before being burned. They were at least grateful for that.
Shortly after the burial Nathan and Lucas decided to move in together. Seeing as how they were the only real family each other had left they wanted to be as close as possible to one another and they have been in inseparable ever since.
"I know. It's been really hard for all of us and that's why I don't want to fight with him. Even after all the crap he's done we've both been trying really hard to forgive him and move on from it but he's becoming impossible to deal with. I mean before I could tell him to go screw himself but now…" he stopped sending a look his brother's way "He's all we have left besides each other Luke and I don't know about you but I'm not in the mood lose another parent"
"Me either. Although he never really was my father…"
"Yes he was" sighed a frustrated Nathan as he cut off his sixth car of the day "Remember when you lived with him. He wasn't that bad was he?"
"No"
"Ok then. But he's trying now isn't he?"
Lucas gave his brother a 'you've got to be kidding me' sort of look as the younger boy continued "Alright no matter how twisted his views on parenting are you have to admit he's really stepped up for the both of us. We were a wreck for a while after the fire and he was there for the both of us. And I'm sure you remember the nights we spent at the beach house with all the nightmares and the crying fits, he was right there through all of it Luke. That's got to be worth something to you"
Lucas sighed "Of course it is Nate I'm not saying that he hasn't tried to change or that he didn't feel anything when our Moms died it's just…he's been acting really possessive. It's like he doesn't want anyone else around us besides him. I mean he's even starting to bash Brooke"
"What?"
"Yeah, during out little conversation he said that Brooke was getting to be just as much of a bitch as Haley"
"Wait don't tell me he's still holding a grudge against her for not giving you the message to meet us for lunch three weeks ago"
"Ok then I won't tell you" Lucas said as he and Nathan pulled into the driveway of Dan's house. He had moved back to the main house a few months after the accident.
"Alright" said Nathan as he unbuckled his seatbelt and pulled the keys out of the ignition. "Are you ready to grace the Mayor of Tree Hill with our presence?"
"As ready as I'll ever be" replied Lucas as they stepped out of the car and made their way towards the house.
Once they were standing at the front door Lucas pulled out his key and unlocked it before the two entered. The second they did they could hear yelling coming from their father's office.
"No you listen to me. I gave you this project three weeks ago and told you that I needed it done by today and when I tell you to do something I expect it get done without me having to hold your got damn hand through it Carl. Hey you do whatever it takes to get the job done by three o'clock this afternoon or I will fire your ass. Do you understand me!"
The boys stopped and exchanged looks of dread as they moved to stand in the doorway. The Scott boys watched as their father sat in his leather chair, repeatedly squeezing a rubber stress ball in his hand. He looked pissed but then again it was Dan Scott. When wasn't he ticked off about one thing or another?
"Dad" Nathan called out.
At this the man lifted his head and smiled in his son's direction before motioning for them to enter.
"Whatever just get it done. Bye" the elder man spoke before hanging up on one of his employees. "Hey boys"
"Hi Dad" replied Nathan and Lucas at the same time as they took a seat on either side of the desk.
"I was just thinking about you two"
"Really I thought you were just spreading around some of that Dan Scott charm to the undeserving public" said Lucas causing Nathan to laugh.
"Cute Lucas" the man spoke in a warning tone before continuing his pervious thought "Anyway I was wondering if you two wanted to go away next weekend"
"Oh you mean like a family get together"
"Yeah" the man replied to his oldest son with a smirk "I think it would be good for the three of us"
"Right, now how did I know that Haley wasn't going to be invited?"
"Nathan…"
"Dad"
"Look son that girl is just trying to ruin your life not to mention your relationship with me"
"Because it was just so solid to begin with right?"
"Listen boy" he said replying to his elder son "You don't know anything about my relationship with your brother so this doesn't concern you but while we're on the subject Brooke is not so innocent either. I haven't forgotten…"
"About the lunch yeah Dad you won't let any one else forget about either"
"I'm just trying to help you boys. Look compared to Haley Brooke has been great but she has this hold over you two and I don't understand how you can just let her tell you what to do or what kind of relationship you should have with me. She's a damn control freak not to mention a liar"
"Look who's talking" yelled an angry Nathan "Please no one knows more about manipulation then you Dad. And besides you're the one who's screwed up our relationship with you not her"
"Yeah if anything Haley was the one who convinced us to go to you for comfort when Deb and Mom died. She said that you needed us as much as we needed you and she was right"
"That was just a cover up. She probably thought that you two would worship the ground she walked on even more if she played mother Teresa and it worked, didn't it?"
"Damn it Dad why can't you just give Haley a break?" questioned Lucas.
"Better yet you will give Haley a break and you will call her and apologize for the way you spoke to her or…"
"Or what?"
"Or you'll lose me and Luke"
"You would turn against me for that bitch!" yelled Dan as he stood up, forcing Nathan and Lucas to do the same.
"Stop calling her that! Haley has been good for me. She's stopped me from turning into an ass hole like you and brought me and Lucas closer and no matter how much of a dick you are to her she still wants us to have relationship with you"
Dan snickered cockily at his son's words as he stuck his hands in his pockets nonchalantly "She's really done a number on you boys hasn't she?"
"Ok, did you even listen to a word Nathan just said?"
"Oh I heard him but it doesn't change the fact that she has been keeping you away from me. Does she even tell you when I call? How many times has she forgotten to tell you that I stopped by? And why is there a different excuse every time I ask you boys to go away with me? It's either a lie… she has to go with us or you just don't go at all?"
"Well it may have to do with the fact that you insult her ever time we're together or maybe, just maybe it has to do with the fact that she's my wife and I get tired of you treating her life trash"
"Well maybe that's so because she is trash" replied Dan as Nathan stormed over to him, prepared to do battle.
Luckily Lucas stepped in between the two just in time.
"Listen Dad bottom line is you leave Haley and Brooke alone or you'll live the rest of your life alone. It's your choice"
"Is that the way you want it?"
"No, it's just the way it is"
"Or will be" added Nathan.
"Do you two really think that you can get rid of me that easily? You're MY kids and I will never let you go. Not after everything we've been through together. I love you boys and with your mothers gone I have to do whatever it takes to keep what's left of this family together and I won't let any one come between us. Not Haley, not Brooke, no one. Do you hear me. NO ONE"
Lucas and Nathan looked at each other shocked not only by their father's effortless use of the L word but because of the possessiveness behind the words that followed. They didn't like what they were hearing one bit. A part of them knew how Dan could be but this was something more, something darker. It was almost like he was saying if I can't have you nobody will and nothing good ever came of that.
They now realized that they had just pushed the man too far and it was time to change the direction of the conversation.
"We wouldn't let any one come between us Dad. We just want you to meet us half way, that's all we're asking" Lucas spoke knowing that Nathan had been stunned to silence.
"Well that's what she's trying to do"
"And like I said she won't. Now what was this about us going away next week?" questioned Lucas as he returned to a sitting position prompting the others to do the same.
The second Dan's first born son brought up his earlier topic of conversation the elder man's smiled returned as he informed his sons of his plans "Well I was thinking…"
"He actually said that!" yelled an astonished Peyton as a sleeping Jenny practically jumped out of her lap.
Haley and Brooke laughed.
"Oh sorry girly girl" the blond spoke a little softer before turning her attention back to her friends.
"Yes he did"
Haley said with a heavy sigh.
"That guy is a piece of work"
"I swear if Haley said another word he was going to shoot fire through the receiver and burn tutor wife here to a crisp"
Peyton and Haley just stared at Brooke.
"Oh yeah, poor choice of words. Sorry"
"I'm just glad Nathan and Lucas weren't here to hear that" added Jake as he returned from the kitchen with a glass of ice tea in hand. "How are they doing with that anyway?"
"They're okay. I mean they have bad days and days that are not so bad, but I guess that's to be expected for a while" Haley said with a sad smile.
"Well I can definitely tell you from experience that the pain they're going through will never go away. It'll just become bearable and that's only sometimes" replied Peyton as she leaned into Jakes arms.
"That's okay they have us help them through the rough spots and we all know how great I am in times of crisis" Brooke said giving Peyton a wink.
"So" sighed Haley trying to change the subject "What does the Peyton and family have planned for this lovely Saturday afternoon?"
"Well after we hang with you guys for a while we're going out to lunch, taking Jenny to the park and then Jake's Mom is going to take the munchkin here for the night and we're going to have some grown up time"
Jake smiled before giving Peyton a kiss.
They were so cute.
At that moment the door opened revealing a not too thrilled looking Lucas and Nathan.
"It went that good uh?" questioned Haley as the boys slammed the door shut behind them.
After a short pause Nathan responded "No not really but I have some fantastic news" his voice was dripping with sarcasm "Get ready to pack your bags girls. We're going on a camping trip"
To which Lucas added "Dan Scott style"
