What Could Have Been

Lucas and Cassie burst through the emergency room doors of Matheson County Hospital and headed straight for the doors marked Authorized Personnel Only. They were on a tear looking for anyone who could tell them any sort of information on their brother.

"Excuse me, you can't go back there." They heard someone from behind them yell.

They both turned to see a Doctor, one who must have been straight out of grad school standing there looking at them.

"Were looking for Nathan Scott." Lucas said out of breath.

"Are you family?" The Doctor asked.

"Yes he's our brother, I'm Lucas and this is my sister Cassie Scott." He said putting a comforting arm around his sister who looked to be on the verge on bursting into tears.

"Lucas Scott? Your the one I talked to on the phone. I'm Dr. Peters, I have been looking after your brother. I'm very sorry for the bad news."

"Bad news? Did something happen to him?" Cassie asked finally speaking up.

"No I just meant the news you received over the phone. Your brother is stable for the time being. We had to do surgery to stop the internal bleeding and he will need some physio therapy for his leg, he broke it in three places in the crash." Dr. Peters explained.

"Crash?" Lucas asked.

"Yes did you not know?"

Cassie and Lucas both shook their heads.

"Well he was in a crash involving a race car, he was just taking it for a ride around the tracks and somehow hit a wall and the car burst into flames. Your very lucky that your Uncle Cooper was there to help." Dr. Peters said.

Cassie and Lucas glanced at one another but decided to let it go.

"I hate to be the bearer of anymore bad news but I need to ask. Is there any way your brother could have been meaning to hit that wall?"

"What do you mean? Like he attempted suicide?" Lucas asked. "No way."

Cassie thought about it for a few moments and the more she thought about it the worse she felt. He had been exhibiting some of the signs after everything that had gone on with Haley and his Dad. "Lucas it is a possibility. Think about it. He's been really withdrawn and depressed since Haley left and dealing with Dan has got to be getting to him. What if he did mean to hit that wall?"

"It's a definite possibility. After a thorough investigation it seems your brother headed straight for the wall, he didn't brake or try to turn away. The police have someone looking at the car to determine whether or not it was a mechanical problem but it does seem like Nathan could have been aiming for that wall in which case he needs help." Dr. Peters said. "I think it would be more help then either of you or your parents and friends could give him. Just think about it will you?"

"Can we see him?" Lucas asked.

Dr. Peters looked at the two knowing visiting hours were over but seeing the looks on these kids faces, she decided to bend the rules just this once.

"Alright you may see him, visiting hours are over but seeing as how you drove all this way, you can go in. He is still unconscious and probably will remain that way for the night." Dr. Peters gave them a small smile before pointing them in the direction of Nathan's hospital room.

They entered and sat down by his bed. Nathan had wires poking everywhere, his leg was in a cast propped up at the end of his bed and he had a bandage on his forehead. Besides that he was peaceful.

"God, this is the most peaceful I've ever seen him." Cassie said.

Lucas nodded in agreement. "You almost have to wonder what he's thinking about though. I remember when I was unconscious I dreamt about what it would have been like if Keith had been our Dad instead of Dan."

Cassie nodded. "I've had dreams like that to, but now I realize that if that had been the case we wouldn't have Nathan for a brother and after these last few months, I wouldn't change that for anything."

Meanwhile deep in Nathan's psyche he, much like Lucas was thinking about what it would have been like to have a different life, one where Dan had chosen Karen over Deb and his Mom was the owner of the cafe. How different things would be...

"Ok so you'll let me know when we can expect to close on the deal?" Karen asked as she walked into the kitchen of the home she shared with her husband Dan. She was wearing a black pant suit and her hair was left down. "Thank you."

"Morning Wife." Dan greeted her. "Acquiring yet another cafe? What is that your 6th one this year?"

"4th, were just trying to get as many cafe's in North Carolina into this franchise as possible before we take it nation wide." Karen explained as her children entered the room.

Lucas was wearing an expensive track suit, most likely coming back from his morning run and also had head phones in his ear drowning out any sort of noise. Cassie came in wearing a short skirt and a shirt that showed off a little too much stomach. Her long hair was back in a ponytail and she was wearing a ton of make-up as well.

"Good morning Lucas...Cassie, what are you wearing?" Karen asked as her eyes went wide. Sure her daughter had always had her own sense of style but this was out of control.

"Nothing that half the other girls in my grade aren't wearing. You know what Brooke says, if you got it flaunt it." Cassie said causing Dan to nearly spit out his coffee.

"Cassandra Marie Scott, you are going upstairs to change this second. No daughter of mine will be caught dead going out looking like that." Dan said taking charge.

"Come on Daddy, be cool for once." Cassie said giving him her best puppy dog eyes.

"Upstairs now." Dan said. "Put on a sweater and cover up the legs, now march."

Cassie rolled her eyes before turning and running up the stairs. Lucas just smirked.

"And you think this is funny Lucas?" Karen asked her son.

"Whatever Ma, maybe if you were around more you'd notice that your daughter has been acting like a slut for a while now. It's nothing new, believe me." He turned and walked out the door.

"Dan when and how did you let our kids get so out of control?" Karen asked angrily.

"When you were gone on all those business trips and they are not out of control, they are just acting out to get your attention." Dan said.

"Oh so your blaming me for this?" Karen said about to say something else when Cassie walked back into the room wearing tight jeans and a brown sweater.

"Better?" She asked.

"A little." Dan replied. "Get your bag, your going to be late."

"I'll drive you." Karen said giving her daughter a look that said not to argue.

"Fine." Cassie said. "But drop me off two blocks away."

"She got this attitude from you." Karen said to Dan who just smirked.

A few minutes later they pulled up in front of Tree Hill High.

"Mom, I told you two blocks away." Cassie said trying to hide her face.

"Stop it and we are staying right here." Karen said. "Are you going to tell me what's gotten into you?"

"Are you going to tell me who's gotten into you?" Cassie joked earning herself a death stare from her mother.

"That's it, that is way to snotty a thing even for you to say. You are grounded for a month." Karen said.

Cassie smirked. "Whatever, it's not like you'll be around to make sure I stay put."

"Cassie what has happened to us? We used to be able to talk about things, we used to be close." Karen said sadly and for a minute she could almost see a glimpse of the little girl Cassie used to be but that went away fast.

"Used to being the key word. It's what happens when you basically abandon your kids for months on end and leave us with the devil himself." Cassie sighed glad to get that off her chest. "Tell Uncle Keith I said hi." With that she got out of the car and headed towards her friends leaving Karen looking visibly upset by her daughter's outburst.

Cassie looked behind her and saw that her Mom's car was gone. She pulled off the sweater revealing the same shirt she had been wearing that morning.

"Hey Cass." Brooke said walking up to her friend. "Cute shirt, may have to borrow it."

"Sure whatever." Cassie said.

"What's wrong with you?" Brooke asked.

"My Mom is what's wrong with me, she thinks she can run my life even though she is hardly ever around. Whatever, she doesn't know anything about me."

"Where's that brother of yours? Were supposed to be meeting so we can skip the first class with Peyton." Brooke said completely ignoring what Cassie had just said. It was times like these that Cassie wished she had a real friend to talk to.

"I don't know, playing basketball probably. Dad's been riding him yet again about his playing." Cassie rolled her eyes.

"Well then what do you say me, you and Peyton go get our nails done?" Brooke asked.

"I say hell yeah, I could use a distraction." Cassie said. "Where's Peyton?"

"Who knows. Did Lucas mention anything to you about them getting into another fight?" Brooke asked.

Cassie shook her head. "Not that I would have listened anyways."

Just then something caught Brooke's attention. "Well, well if it isn't your illegitimate other brother." Brooke smiled. "Looking fine."

Cassie rolled her eyes. She barely even noticed Nathan but for some reason he had caught Brooke's eye. "Whatever Brooke, just go easy on him. Don't sleep with him on the first date."

Brooke smirked and smiled even more when Nathan caught her looking at him. "Hi." She nudged her head towards him. He smiled back, caught sight of his sister and looked away shaking his head.

"What's with that?" Brooke asked.

Cassie shrugged. "I'm getting out of here, are you coming or what?"

"I'll catch up with you in awhile Cass." Brooke said as she turned and walked over to their other friends.

Cassie rolled her eyes. Brooke was the flightiest person she knew but deep down she did have a good heart. Cassie turned and walked away colliding with someone coming from the other direction. She was knocked to the ground, books sprawled everywhere. "Watch where your going."

"I'm sorry, but your the one who ran into me." The girl said as she looked up and noticed who she had actually ran into. "God, I'm really sorry."

"It's ok, just watch out next time." Cassie said as she got a good look at the girl in front of her. "Your Bailey right? You hang out with him."

"It's Haley and if by him you mean your brother Nathan, then yes." Haley said with a snobby tone.

"Sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out like that." Cassie apologized.

"It's ok. So where's the rest of your worker bees?" Haley asked. Cassie gave her a look that said she had no idea what she was talking about. "You know your like the Queen Bee, everyone does whatever you ask."

"Oh that, their around somewhere, not that I really care." Cassie said.

"Why? You have like a million friends and people who aren't your friend want to be. What could you possibly complain about?" Haley asked as they started walking together.

"Yeah I have friends but not really any real ones. Peyton and Brooke are as close as they come but those two have been friends since kindergarten and they have their own thing. I don't really have anyone I can tell my secrets to." Cassie said sadly.

Haley almost felt bad for Cassie. Sure they had known eachother forever but Cassie had always been the popular, rich one and Haley was the nerdy one. They had never really talked. She was seeing a totally different side to her now.

"Wow, I never thought of it that way. What about your brother, Lucas?" Haley asked she had seen the two grow up and they used to be close.

"What about him? He doesn't care what I do, he's always off with his jock friends and of course Peyton." Cassie said. "We don't talk."

"That's too bad. I guess I'm lucky to have Nathan in that sense. We get along really well." Haley said. "I tell him everything."

"Well then your lucky." Cassie said. "I've always kind of wondered about him. In some ways I think he got off lucky having Dan out of his life and all."

"Is it really that bad at your house?" Haley asked.

Cassie nodded. "My Mom's never around when you need her and when she is she's trying to control everything. My Dad doesn't give a damn what we do, hell I'm pretty sure he barely notices I'm there. He notices Lucas only because of basketball."

"I'm sorry." Haley said."You know I've got a free period coming up and Nathan's got one too. He usually works at his Mom's diner. If you wanted to come drop by with me, maybe we could talk some more?" Haley asked.

"I don't know. Are you sure that's a good idea?" Cassie asked. "I mean I'm pretty sure his Mom hates my family's guts and who could blame her."

Haley nodded. "It'll be fine, Deb's not one to hold a grudge."

"Ok if you say so." Cassie agreed.

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Alright so that's part one of this chapter. Things will get interesting for sure. I just loved this episode and decided I would incorporate it into this story somehow.

xoxoxo Mia xoxoxo