Disclaimer: I do not own OTH or any of it characters places or such. I am simply borrowing them
AN/ Here is the next update! Thank to everyone for all of your reviews. I really appreciate them!
As always suggestions are welcome!
That night everyone was back at their own homes. It had been fun to be together that past weekend, but it was also nice to be home. The Scott house was back in order. There was no evidence of a crime investigation in Meredith's bedroom and all of her toys were still in place. When it was time for her to go to bed, she had asked Lucas and Nathan to tuck her in. She gave her mom a hug and kisses and then skipped off to her room for a bedtime story.
"Good night, Munchkin" Nathan said as he closed the book after reading and then kissed her cheek. He moved from his spot on the bed so that Lucas could also kiss Meredith.
"Night Shrimp. We will see you tomorrow," Lucas said as he kissed her forehead.
"Night Nate! Night Luke! I love you"
"Love you too"
"Go to sleep little one" Lucas said as he turned off the light and closed the door halfway.
Lucas and Nathan reentered the hallway and headed to where Karen was. Nathan looked at all the pictures that lined the walls as they walked. He stopped when he came upona picture taken their freshman year of high school all of them. Nathan focused in on himself; Lucas stood to his left side while Haley stood to his right, their arms around each other smiling. Life was simple then. He knew what he wanted; he wasn't so sure now if he would ever be able to have it.
"She asleep?" Karen asked when her sons entered the living room
"She is getting there. I just hope she can sleep through the night especially in that room" Nathan said
"If not, she knows where we all are. She will find someone to sleep with"
"I forgot to tell you mom. I got a call from Sam today," Lucas said as he sat down on the couch beside his mom. Nathan sat in the older lazyboy chair
"What did she say?"
"They are going to come up on Thursday"
"Just her and Chris?" Karen asked as Nathan turned the channel on the TV
"Yea, Georgia doesn't want to come"
"That's too bad. How long are they here for?"
"Just till Saturday"
"They can stay here if one ofyou is willing to give up your room" Karen said looking between her two sons.
"I will. It is not a problem," Lucas said as the news cast caught his attention. They listened as the young blonde womanwent on to her next story.
"Now an update on a story we first told you about last Tuesday night. A local native Keith Scott was killed at the corner of Main and Baxter when his Chevy pickup truck was broadsided. The truck that Scott was driving flipped several times before finally coming to a stop 200 yards away." Pictures of the accident came up on the scene followed by a family photo taken of the Scott family a year ago. "A new development in that story tonight, the driver of the SUV that claimed Mr. Scott's life was formally charged today in the city's courthouse. The driver shown here is Dan Scott, brother of the deceased. Mr. Scott confessed to Sergeant Josh Reynolds Friday evening at the Scott residence after holding two of the deceased's children at gunpoint. Dan Scott has also been charged with trespassing, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with Friday night's incident. We are told that no one was hurt. Now…."
Nathan hit the off button and sat staring at the TV, as did Lucas. Karen was the first to speak
"I am sorry that you two had to see that"
"That is what the truck looks like?" Lucas asked
"Yes" Karen answered looking at the faces of her sons. Nathan showed no emotion he just sat in the chair and continued to stare. Lucas on the other hand had tears forming in his eyes. She watched as his head turned towards where Nathan was sitting. She knew it wasn't looking at his brother, but at the newer lazy boy chair beside him. That had been Keith's chair, a chair that he would never sit in again.
"Where is the truck now?" Nathan finally asked without moving
"At the police station"
"What is going to happen to the shop?" Lucas asked after another moment of silence
"Skills is running it. He has been working there for years anyway and he knows how to run it smoothly. Jake is going to help out when he can. It will be fine. I know that your dad would not want us to close it down."
"Mom, are you sure that you are going to be okay here?" Nathan said
"Now, you two listen to me. I am a strong woman and I can manage."
"Yea, we know that. However, you are going to be running two businesses and raising a daughter all by yourself." Lucas replied
"I will be fine. I know that you both are going to feel guilty leaving, but I am telling you to go. If I need you, I will call you. Your dad would not have wanted either of you to give up basketball."
"Okay" Lucas said knowing not to fight with his mom when she had her mind set on something.
"Now, I am going to go to bed. I have a long day tomorrow. Can one of you get your sister off to school?" Karen asked
"Yea, just wake me up before you leave in the morning" Nathan said
"Good night boys" Karen said getting up from the couch
"Good night mom" echoed behind her as she left the room. When Karen's door closed, Nathan stood to his feet.
"I will be back in a little while"
"Okay" Lucas said solemnly as the back door closed, turning his head back the empty chair
"The house is really quiet," Anna said as She, Larry, Jake and Peyton sat in the living room waiting for their show to come back from a commercial
"Yea, it is kind of weird" Peyton said, "I am waiting for someone to come around the corner or for noise to being coming from the kitchen"
"A little piece and quiet is good also," Larry said as the sitcom they were watching came back on and then the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it" Jake said getting off of the couch beside Peyton
Jake opened the front door to find Nathan standing there, "Nate. Everything okay?"
"Yea, can I talk to you?"
"Yea, let me grab a jacket" Jake said as he walked back down the foyer to the coat closet.
"Jake, who is it?" Peyton called out
"Nathan. We will be on the front porch," Jake said before walking out the door and closing it.
"What's up man?" Jake asked
"I am sorry to interrupt your evening."
"Don't worry about it. We are just watching an old sitcom"
"Jake, mom said that dad's truck was towed to the police station"
"Yea, I towed it there"
"I want to see it"
Jake stared at Nathan before speaking, "Are you sure?"
"Yea, I want to see the truck"
"Nathan, it is not a pretty sight. I had a hard time looking at it to get it on and off of the truck"
"I know it is not pretty. We just saw the newscast where they showed it. I want to see it up close though"
"Okay. Let me get my keys and tell Peyton I am leaving" Jake said before reentering the house and closing the door.
"Everything okay?" Anna asked when Jake entered the living room
"Not really. Nathan wants to see the truck"
"What!" Peyton asked turning her body to face her fiancée. "Why?"
"They apparently saw the newscast and he wants to see it personally"
"I am going with you" Peyton said standing to her feet
"Peyt..."
"No, Jake. I am going with you."
"Okay" Jake said as he saw the look on Peyton's face. One that told him to just let her go. Peyton walked to the coat closet and grabbed her jacket
"We'll be back mom," Peyton said as she walked past the entrance to the living room heading towards the front door meeting Jake
"Be careful," Anna said as the front door was opened
"Peyton?" Nathan asked when he saw Peyton with her jacket on
"I am going too," Peyton said as Jake closed the door behind them
Nathan knew better than to argue as the three of them walked down the front steps towards Jake's truck and drove towards the police station
Brooke was sitting in her old room looking through photo albums from high school. Some of the pictures made her laugh, some of them made her cry, but all of them were special in their own way. She came upon thepictures taken at graduation. They were mostly of her and Lucas. They looked so happy and she smiled as she thought about those days. She had finally gotten another chance to have those happy days again and she vowed to herself not to let it slip away this time. Brooke was brought out of her thoughts when her phone rang. She picked it up without looking at the caller id
"Hello?"
"Brooke?"
"Hey Broody. What's up?"
"Can you meet me at the river court? I need someone to talk to," Lucas said
"Sure. I will be there in 15 minutes" Brooke said a sad expression entered her face
"Thank you. Bye"
"Bye" Brooke said as she closed her phone staring at it. She didn't know what was wrong, but she figured it probably wasn't good as she stood and threw on her tennis shoes.
Haley was lying on her bed watching an old cartoon emotional drained from the day. After talking with Brooke for another hour in the tree house,Brooke and Haley had gone to TRIC where Peyton worked. Peyton was equally surprised by the revelation between her two friends when she was told. They haddinner at Karen's Café conversation turning tothe situation with Haley and Nathan.Peyton giving the same advice as Brooke, talk to Nathan. Haley was putting off talking to Nathan. She still had no idea whatshe wanted to say to himor where she wanted to take things.Haley was beginning to drift to sleep when her cell phone rang. She sat up and picked it up off the night table. The caller id said it was Nathan. Not wanting to talk, Haley hit the ignore button and sat the phone back down. She laid her head back down and started watching the old cartoon again. Her phone beeped a minute latersignaling that she had a voice mail. Haley didn't move. She just continued to watch the old cartoon before drifting into a deep sleep.
Jake pulled the Silverado in to a parking space outside the station as Nathan hung up his phone. "We have to go through the building. The truck is in the very back of the lot"
The three stepped out of the truck and walked towards the side door of the police station. Jake used his badge to open the door and they entered the long hallway.
"Jagleski, What are you doing back here?" One of the other officers asked. Nathan recognized him as Tim Smith. They had gone to high school with him.
"Nathan wants to see the truck," Jake said indicating to Nathan who was standing behind him
"Nathan, good to see you. Sorry about your loss" Tim said as he extended his hand to shake Nathan's
"Thanks Tim"
"Well, I got to get out there. I will see you later, Jake. Good to see you again Nathan"
"Yea you too" Nathan said as they continued down the hallway towards the other door. Jake opened the door and revealed the lot that held the impounded cars. He walked down the steps, off to the right side and towards the back where he had placed the truck.
"Oh god…" Peyton said
When Brooke got to the river court, Lucas was sitting at the picnic table waiting. His face was expressionless.
"Hey" Brooke said softly
"Hey Brooke" Lucas said as he got off the table and pulled her into his arms. Brooke put her arms around him returning the hug.
"What's wrong?" Brooke asked when Lucas finally released the hug.
"We saw the news tonight. They were talking about the accident and they showed a picture of dad's truck. Brooke, it is awful."
"Yea, I know. I saw that newscast also."
"I can't stop thinking about how horrible it was for him. I mean he gets broadsided and then all of the sudden his truck is flipping. He must have been thrown around like a ragdoll."
Brooke was silent. She didn't know what to say.
"And I feel guilty for leaving mom now. She is going to be raising a daughter and running two businesses all by herself. I know she is going to wear herself out. I can't bear the thought of losing her too"
"Lucas, your mom is a strong woman. You and I both know that she will not take on more than she can handle. She is going to be okay."
"That is what she says. I keep thinking though that it is going to be too much for her."
"Your mom is not afraid to ask for help if she needs it. She has a lot of people here to help her with both businesses."
"I know."
"I wish there was something I could say that would make you feel better or less guilty. All I can say is, I know your mom and I know your dad. They want you to fulfill your dreams."
"I know." Lucas said. They stood there silent for a few minutes looking into the night sky. " Thanks for coming, Brooke, having you here make me feel better." Lucas said as he took Brooke's hand and led her to sit back down on the picnic table.
"I will always be here for you Lucas" Brooke said as she placed her head on his shoulder
"I know Cherry. I know" Lucas said as he placed his left arm around her. The couple sat on that old picnic table watching the night sky for the next several hours. Neither of them said a word. They didn't have too.
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