AN: Thanks for the great reviews. I own nothing related to OTH.
Chapter 11
The Sheriff comes to the hospital to take Lucas and Brooke's statements personally. Not really standard procedure. Tall, iron gray hair and a large beer gut, he's a clever man, with ole' boy charm concealing an uncompromising approach to his job. As it happens, he was one of Keith's closest friends. Along with his car, his college fund and some odds and ends, Lucas inherited a piece of this friendship as well. What this meant was a friendly greeting when they met, an occasional NBA game party at the Sheriff's home, and a couple of poker nights a year, where Lucas loses a few bucks to assorted Tree Hill luminaries. Lucas is all right at figuring odds, and very good at reading people, but crappy at bluffing and at keeping his game off his face.
The Sheriff found Lucas while he was still getting his sixteen stitches. He approaches the bed with his hat on his hand. "Good evening, Coach Scott."
Both men smile. The Sheriff never called him that, but both men know it's the way to go if the visit is official. "Sheriff." Lucas flinches at something the doctor does. "Hell of a night."
"Yes it was." A sympathetic look. "Your brother and your sister-in-law are outside waiting. They asked me to inform you."
Lucas nods. "I assume Brooke is still being examined."
"That's right. They're doing images. I was hoping you'd pace me through tonight's events."
"Of course." Lucas tells the story in detail. The Sheriff takes notes and nods silently when appropriate.
Finally the Sheriff nods and smiles. "I'll have your statement typed for you to sign tomorrow. Just come by the station anytime." He pauses for a second, and then continues. "You've done a fine service to your community. That Xavier character has a long history of petty crime and violence, and tonight's events should put him away for a long time, thanks to you." He closes his notebook, takes in a deep breath and expels it slowly. "Now speaking in your uncle's name: you were damn reckless." Lucas stares at the floor and says nothing. The Sheriff smiles and slaps him gently at the shoulder. "But seeing what that piece of shit did to Miss Davis, your uncle wouldn't have done anything different." He snickers. "Except probably getting himself knifed for his trouble."
Lucas grimaces, reliving his loss for a moment. "Uncle Keith really liked Brooke."
"He would be damn proud of you, Lucas."
"Thanks."
The Sheriff seems to hesitate. "One more thing..."
"What?"
"News of the attack is out there. You know, local news monitoring police frequencies. Given Miss Davis celebrity status..."
Lucas nods. "Understood. Media storm on the way." A pause. "My name?"
"That hasn't been mentioned. Yet. It will become public with the indictment."
"How long?"
"A week. Maybe a little more. Not a whole lot on the DA's plate right now, and she'll want to milk the exposure."
Lucas flinches. "Ouch."
"You've been warned, son."
"Thanks."
A little later, Lucas walks out to the waiting area and meets Haley and Nathan there. They hug, relief showing clearly in both their faces. For the second time, Lucas tells the story, glossing a little over the scariest parts.
Nathan's voice is thick with worry. "What's taking them so long?"
Lucas answers in a dead tone. "The guy punched her in the face. She's probably hit her head on the ground. She's gonna be fine, little brother. They just want to make sure.""
"Fuck." Nathan shakes his head, imagining the scene Lucas walked in on. I'd have killed the guy."
Haley caresses Nathan's arm, calming him down. Her husband is a hothead, and she likes him like that. "I know, dear."
Lucas figures Nathan would have probably ended up with a knife in the gut. "I can guarantee he didn't enjoy meeting me."
Nathan gives Lucas a bloodthirsty smile. "You sure you broke his jaw?"
"I heard the crunch."
"Good. Well done."
Haley looks a little green around the edges and sighs. "Boys." She picks up imaginary lint from her sweater. "You'll be back coaching next week, right?"
"Yup. Two games of regular season left."
"Quentin is in top form, Luke."
"I know. Skillz has been keeping me posted."
"Where do we stand, guys?"
"We win the next four games and we go to Chapel Hill for the finals."
"And do we have a chance?"
Both boys look doubtful. "It's a one man team, Hales."
Nathan gives his wife a one-arm hug. "Damn good man, though."
"I just wish he can get a scholarship, that's all."
Lucas answers. "I'm pretty sure Quentin will play college ball, if we don't screw it up too bad."
"Now, if he will get the Blue Devils..."
"Or the Tar Heels..."
"Duke is the better school."
Nathan smiles and Lucas scowls. "You'd have to take your boy's side, wouldn't you?"
"It's just the truth. Besides, you're both my boys."
Now Nathan scowls. "Hey!"
"What? Blondie stole my heart long before you ever showed up on the scene." Haley grabs Lucas by the waist.
Lucas gently pushes her away. "Ouch! Seventeen stitches, you know? And stop flirting!" He points a finger at her. "You're a wife and mother, wench."
She shows Lucas her tongue. "Such a manly stud. And you can't fault a girl for trying..."
They all laugh. Their three-way relationship is as comfortable as a favorite sock. The heavy mood of the evening lifts up a bit.
Taylor walks into the waiting area, a storm of concern following her. Her eyes fixed straight into Lucas. She doesn't even acknowledge her sister and brother-in-law. "Lucas Scott!"
"Tay."
"What the hell happened? People were talking about an attack..."
Lucas pulls Taylor aside and describes the attack for the third time. Since Taylor is his martial arts teacher, he goes into a lot more detail than in the previous two times. Taylor listens carefully. Aside from the objective description, she wants to know what was going through Lucas' head. "So, your first impulse was just rushing in."
"Yup. I was very angry. Scared, but mostly angry. I just wanted to punch his lights out for what he had done."
"But you didn't. Why?"
"I'm not sure. A concern for Brooke's safety, maybe. I've always tended to keep a cool head in tense situations."
"Like the dealership fire and the school shooting."
"Right." She nods.
"What was the visibility?"
"There was enough light from the street to see clearly."
"How tall was the guy?"
"Five seven or eight. Skinny too."
"So, you had the reach."
"And then some. He was also clumsy. You know, flat, stiff base, tense shoulders. He was really nervous."
"Of course. He was confronted with a big guy, who was unafraid and seemed to know what he was doing. You were blocking his way out."
"Yes."
"So he offered an out. Let him pass, and he would just go."
"That's right."
Her eyes flash with irritation. "Why the fuck you didn't take it? You think a few months of lessons are enough for you to deal with an unknown dude with a knife?"
Lucas cringes, "No! Of course not."
"Then. What. Were. You. Thinking?"
Lucas stares at the ground for a bit. "That I'd better risk it than have a dangerous hidden enemy with unknown intentions on the loose."
"What if it was just a random robbery?"
"It looked a lot more like random assault and rape."
Taylor relaxes a bit. "You've been there before."
"Peyton. Prom."
Taylor shakes her head and clucks. "Maybe you did right."
"I swear, if it looked like he knew what he was doing with that knife, I would have let him pass."
"All right, Squirt. Show me exactly what happened."
While Lucas is physically repeating the takedown, step-by-step in quarter-speed, Brooke is being wheeled into the waiting area by an orderly. The side of her face is bruised, and her eyes are vacant. A doctor calls out. "Who is here for Miss Davis?"
Lucas and Taylor stop what they were doing. The four of them step up. Haley speaks. "We're friends. She doesn't have family in Tree Hill."
"As you can see, she's suffered extensive bruising to the left side of her face. Also, there's some bruising to her right arm and back. She also has a minor concussion. We gave her painkillers and a mild sedative. She can go home, as long as she stays under observation and avoids stress for the next couple of days."
Lucas asks. "Did the Sheriff talk to her?"
"No. She's is no condition to be interrogated. I told the Sheriff to wait until tomorrow."
Lucas continues to speak. "Thank you, doctor."
After the doctor leaves, Haley asks. "Where should she go, Lucas?"
"I'll bring her to my place."
She frowns. "Your place? Why?"
"There's going to be a media encampment at her home, and you guys have Jamie."
Haley exchanges a glance with Nathan and nods. "All right. Shall we go?"
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=
The pain. In her face, and in her head. She opens her eyes, and nausea compounds the fun. "Fuck!" She passes her hand through her hair. There's a small bump on the back of her head. The previous night comes back slowly. The masked guy... Lucas! She gets up, nearly falls. Panties and a team T-shirt. Lucas' home, Taylor's bedroom. Hug the toilet. Thin bile, and then dry heaves. She gets up, washes her face and mouth, looks herself in the mirror. Face black and blue on one side. She pads back to the bedroom. A tall glass of orange juice, two white pills and a note. "Went for a run. Stay in bed. T. Doctor's orders. L." She takes the pills, gulping down the orange juice and lies down, hoping the world will stop spinning soon.
She wakes up again with voices from outside. She gets up. The nausea is gone, and the pain is down to something tolerable. She follows the voices to the bathroom, where Lucas is recently showered and shirtless, and Taylor is taking care of his cut. Brooke feels numb. "So, he did hurt you."
Lucas dismisses it with a gesture. "It's just a scratch."
"That looks like a lot of stitches."
Taylor finishes covering the injury and slaps Lucas arm. "Seventeen. But it was just a scratch, considering..."
"Considering what?"
"How bad it could have been."
Brooke approaches Lucas, goes on tiptoes and gives him a peck in the cheek. "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"Thanks to you too, Taylor."
She shrugs. "It's nothing." She smiles. "I ended up sharing Lucas' bed, so I can't complain."
Brooke raises one eyebrow. "Really..."
"You kept trying to grab me, and mumbling his name..." Brooke blushes a bit. "You're very cute, but not really my type."
Brooke shudders. "Thank goodness."
Lucas interrupts their talk. "You should go back to bed."
"What about some food and mindless TV on your couch instead, Doctor Scott?"
"That will work too."
Later on, the Sheriff comes and has a long conversation with Brooke. By that time, the paparazzi had started to congregate outside Lucas' home. Brooke stayed inside, Taylor and Lucas answered the door. It's past dinner time when a couple of well-dressed people show up at the door, and demand to speak to Brooke. The man, a handsome forty-something in a fancy suit and the woman a page-cut blonde with a two-piece light green business ensemble with a white silk shirt underneath. The guy is a PR mouthpiece for BD Holdings and the woman is local law talent hired for the occasion. Lucas and Taylor go for a walk, while Brooke and the newcomers talk.
"Miss Davis, I'm sorry, but we have to get ahead of this situation."
"What do you mean?"
"Things were already precarious with you gone from Headquarters. The stockholders were threatening to sue for lack of due diligence. This quarter is showing a loss, and now all the bad publicity from this attack..."
As far as Brooke knew, the company was doing fine. "What do you mean a loss?"
"They estimate fifteen million for the fiscal quarter."
"Damn! What the hell happened?"
"I don't know, Miss Davis. I'm just a mouthpiece. You have to come to New York."
Brooke looks at her watch. "Now?"
"The jet is fueled and waiting."
When Lucas and Taylor come back, the mess outside is gone, and the blonde lawyer is waiting for them at the door.
"Mr. Scott."
"Yes?"
"On behalf of the Miss Davis' Company, I'd like to request you make no comment, and give no interview related to the incident last night."
Lucas nods gravelly. "That's fine. I'll keep quiet."
The lawyer smiles coldly. She hands him two envelopes. One has her firm's engraving, and the other is a plain letter envelope with his name written in Brooke's looping handwriting. He opens Brooke's envelope first.
"Dear Lucas, I have to go to New York to deal with some problems with the company. Thanks again, for everything (the word is underlined three times). I'm sorry I didn't stay to say goodbye. Be safe, I'll be in touch. Love, Brooke."
The other envelope has a ten thousand dollar check. Lucas shows both the note and the check to Taylor. "Fuck."
"Right." A pause. "This is not good."
She squeezes his shoulder. "I'm here for you, Squirt."
"I know. Thanks."
The check would stay in Lucas refrigerator for a long time.
A few days later Lucas goes back to coaching and Taylor leaves. Another letter comes.
"Dear Lucas, I'm very sorry, but I have to cancel our date. The situation with my company is a complete mess, and I have to focus on that. I've been working fourteen hour days, and it's still not enough. There's no end in sight. I can't handle anything else for now, and possibly ever. Good luck and stay safe. All my love, Brooke."
Lucas turns inwards, quiet and serious. Only his fists, raw from too much sandbag punching show the strain. The book is released and, despite good reviews, doesn't do well. The team, on the other hand is on fire, led by Quentin in his best form. They win their last games and go to playoffs. With three more victories, they head to Chapel Hill. Their second shot at State, five years later. They lose, to a much better team, but Quentin scores forty-two points and is offered a full-ride at Duke.
A week later, Taylor rides back into town, all smiles and road dust, for their goddaughter baptism. Afterwards, they stop by Nathan and Haley and say goodbye to Jamie. They leave Tree Hill together the following morning.
