A new chapter! This has a lot of psycho babble (what do you expect with a master's in counseling psych?) but the information is relevant to the story.

Warning: Mild sex is approaching! Sensitive types probably shouldn't be reading this story!

A Season in Purgatory

Chapter 64

The late afternoon sun peaked behind a pair of clinical blinds as Dan impatiently shifted in the overstuffed chair. Dr. Andrew's office was obviously a bogus attempt to infuse a faux relaxed atmosphere with a certain level of professional credibility. At this point, Dan was grateful that he wasn't laid out on some couch as the good doctor attempted to fix him and his family. The counseling sessions had shifted from the family to the various members of the Scott family. Apparently, the good doctor was supposed to be more helpful by talking to them alone, Dan mused. While he was dying to know what Lucas was telling the doctor, Dan didn't particularly like being under the microscope himself.

Dr. Andrews felt Dan's impatience. This was a dynamic family that would never learn peace and harmony by sitting still or meditating. "I often find there are three levels of re-entering a child's life," he commented, ignoring Dan's impatience. "The father needs to heal and forgive himself, honor and respect the child's mother, and then focus on fixing the relationship with your child."

Dan glanced over at the man in confusion. "I've already fixed things with Karen," he replied, not understanding why the Doctor wasn't focusing on Luke. His oldest son was the driving force behind seeking therapy.

The Doctor rephrased his comment. "The question is, have your healed yourself?" he quietly asked. "Have you forgiven yourself for what you did to your girlfriend and child?" He could see the confusion on Dan's face that the man wasn't exactly in touch with his own emotions.

Dan hesitated again, wondering what the man wanted him to say. "I don't understand how any of this fixes Luke," he replied. Dan was growing antsy. He'd researched psychiatrists in the area and felt he'd found someone that could personally understand Luke's problems. He didn't get why the doctor seemed more focus on him than his son.

The older man looked over at Dan and smiled. "You can't fix your child until you fix yourself. And it's not just Lucas. You need to learn to be a better father to Nathan and the upcoming baby."

Dan grew annoyed at the man's insinuations. "I've taken care of Nate his entire life. I put a roof over his head and food on the table," he began before getting cut off by the Doctor.

"You financially supported Nathan which is a basic necessity that you denied Lucas," he replied. "However, it's not just about money, Dan. It's about nurturing your child and bonding with them over something more than sports. On some levels, Luke is still an abandoned five year old that doesn't have a daddy. It's colored every aspect of his life and you can't wipe that away by suddenly paying for a suit and asking him about his grades."

Dr. Andrews could see that his words were starting to sink in a bit so he continued. "If you want to have a better relationship with all your children, you need to learn to be a better father. You don't get "fixed" kids by taking them to a shrink. You get better kids by getting to know them and fulfilling their emotional and physical needs."

Dan slammed his hand against the arm of the stuffed chair. "I didn't abandon Nathan. And I'm not going to walk out on this baby," he emphatically stated. He'd learned his lessons from Lucas and he was going to be a better father to his new child.

Sighing, the Doctor leaned closer to Dan. "Were you an engaged father with Nathan? Can you recall attending PTA meetings and being involved in any parts of his life outside of sports?" He wanted Dan to understand that a father could be living with a child and not have a clue about who the child was or what he was thinking or feeling. "How does Nate feel about losing his mother?"

The question caught Dan off guard. "He's sad. How do you think he feels?" Dan asked, not understanding where the man was going with this line of questions.

"Do you ever talk about his mother?" Dr. Andrews asked, knowing from his conversation with Nathan that Deb was barely mentioned in the Scott household.

Dan shifted his long legs uneasily as he thought about the question. "We go to her grave together every year on the anniversary of her death," Dan quietly replied. "I think talking about her makes him sad." Dan had hoped that the pain of Deb's death would eventually diminish for Nathan. He'd never considered that it was growing over time.

"How do you think your relationship with Karen affects the memory of his mother?" Dr. Andrews asked, hoping Dan would see the situation from his son's point of view.

Dan tried to recall the few conversations he'd had with Nathan regarding the new baby and Karen. "He seems happy that I'm not alone any more. He said something about not wanting to be a babysitter regarding the baby," Dan replied. There was so much going on that the details were fuzzy.

Dr. Andrew watched as Dan struggled to recall the conversations that Nathan had effortless discussed with him. "Do you think he might feel threatened by Karen? That maybe he views her as a replacement for his mother and competition for your affection and attention?"

The question seemed to stun Dan. "This isn't a competition. He knows that his mom and Karen have nothing to do with each other."

The doctor raised his eyebrows as if to disagree with Dan's assessment of the situation. "Your son seems to think that if you'd done right by Karen that you'd never have slept with his mother and he wouldn't exist today," Dr. Andrews related, knowing that the reemergence of his half brother and Karen were deeply affecting Nathan.

Dan looked at the other man in shock. "He told you that?" The Doctor nodded. "Your son seems to think that once you "fix things" with Lucas, you'll have a complete replacement set and he won't be needed any more."

Dan shook his head in disbelief. Nathan was so very different from his brother that it seemed hard to think he could be replaced. "How do I reassure him that's not true?" Dan asked. It was hard to take in all the information the doctor was throwing at him. He was unsettled by the idea that Nathan had all these feelings that he'd never discussed with Dan.

"Spend time with him. Bring up little things about his mother that he might not know, like things that you did when you were a young couple or little quirks about her personality. Make sure that you talk about her to him so that he feels like he still has a connection to his mother. Involve him in discussions about what's going to happen with you and Karen and the new baby. Don't assume that Nate doesn't care or doesn't want to talk about it just because Lucas doesn't want to talk about it. Show him that you still honor Deb's memory and the role she played in your life. That will help Nate see that you can be with Karen but still value Deb's memory," he suggested, hoping that Dan could start to redefine the relationship with his son. While Nathan was fairly stable, there were a few insecurities in him that the counselor wanted to resolve.

Dan nodded in agreement. "I can do that. But what do I do about Lucas?" he asked, concerned that he was going to lose both sons by trying to reach out to the other.

The Doctor patted Dan on the back. "Patience and time. Provide him with stability and listen to him when he rants. Be firm with the alcohol abuse and let him know there are consequences but give his anger toward you validity by listening calmly and attentively."

The doctor took in Dan's tense shoulders. "Are you taking care of yourself?" he asked, seeing that Dan was surprised by his concern. "I know that you are running between two houses and managing two businesses. Are you eating and sleeping enough?"

Dan rubbed his eyes. "There aren't enough hours in the day. If I'm with Karen, I feel guilty about leaving Nathan alone across town. If I'm at Karen's business, I feel guilty about my own employees. I've really relied on my vice-president to take care of the dealership. I just wish I could consolidate the living situation, so I could help enforce Luke's curfew and spend time with Nathan AND take care of Karen and the baby."

"Have you thought about asking Nathan to move over to Karen's house?" he asked.

Dan shook his head. "Karen's house is much too small. She's only got two bedrooms and we don't think Nate and Lucas can tolerate that. I thought about moving them to my house, but I didn't think it was a good time," he admitted. The scary part was that Dan had no clue how he was going to continue this pace after the baby was born. He needed time that he could spend bonding with the baby and not just herding his sons and employees about.

"It's not going to be an easy road," he offered, knowing that people in Dan's position usually wanted more reassurance than he could realistically offer. "Take it one day at a time and continue working on the things we've discussed."

Dan stood up and thanked the man, shocked that the hour had passed by so quickly. He wasn't a big believer of counseling but at least he'd gotten a lot of practical ideas from the session. He could only hope that the good doctor could help his sons.

Brooke shoved the half eaten carton of Chinese food on her nightstand and indulged in a luxurious stretch. Leaning back against a pile of black silk pillows, Luke took a moment to appreciate how much skin her stretching revealed. His lecherous thoughts turned serious as he noticed how skinny she was. He peered around his girlfriend and noticed that she'd barely touched her food.

"You need to eat more," he softly admonished. Luke could tell the stress of her family was taking a physical toll on Brooke. Her mother and step-father were off on another trip, leaving the two of them alone in the relative safety of her empty bedroom. Any night away from his mother was better than being in his own bedroom.

Brooke laughed at his concerned tone. "You know what they say. You can never be too skinny or too rich." She leaned back against her headboard and laid her head against his chest.

Pondering his words, Lucas gently rubbed her hair. "I can't see that any of it has made you happy."

She had to admit that his words contained a lot of truth. There had been so little joy in her life that it was hard to appreciate good times when they came along. Part of her was always holding back, waiting for something bad to happen. As much as she trusted Luke, part of her feared losing him. There was an enormous power that came with being dependent on another person.

"Well," she finally replied, "I got some great shoes out of it." Shoes that she'd have given up in a second for a loving parent.

He looked at her for a moment before asking the question that had always been on the edge of his thoughts. "What would you do if the money were gone?" he asked. Luke had never had any money so he knew he could survive just about anything. He was used to making do with whatever he could scrounge up.

She frowned at his question, mentally reviewing her weekly expenditures on manicures, waxing and shopping. Her monthly spa bill was probably more than most of her teachers made in a month. "I don't know," she honestly answered, always amazed that he cared what she thought. "I've always thought my value was looking pretty and wearing expensive clothes." What would she do if she had to rely on more than her image to get by?

"I think you'd be fine," he replied, appraising her with his cool blue eyes. "You are a strong woman, Brooke Davis. You may have forgotten that lately, but I think you are a survivor."

Her dimples lit up at his words, remembering a time when she felt like she ruled the world rather than the world ruling her. "If I lost the money, would I lose the miserable parents?"

He reached over and traced one of her dimples. He loved that Brooke could try to find something good in such a dismal life. "I'm glad your miserable parents hooked up because I got you."

She timidly smiled at his kind words. She was not accustomed to people saying nice words to her. "I'm glad you were born, too," she whispered, reaching out to touch his shoulder. She loved his shoulders. His body reminded her of the classical Greek statues she'd seen in European museums.

He pulled her to him, so that her tiny body was straddling his long legs. Lucas nuzzled her against him, his senses inflamed by the satiny feel of her skin and the scent of her perfume.

Encouraged by his sudden ardor, Brooke leaned down and gently kissed him. She parted his lips with her tongue, teasing him as she tempted him. Brooke was frustrated at times with his refusal to have sex with her. Other times, she was grateful that he didn't want to take that step when they were drunk or high. Still, she craved intimacy with him.

Luke groaned as their kisses grew more passionate. He fingers slid under the tiny straps of her tank top as his lips found the soft skin of her neck. His hands slid down her back and over her hips, his palms moving over her soft skin with such urgency that he could feel her body tremble beneath them. He'd wanted this for so long that he couldn't image walking away when his mind knew that he should. They'd been together for over four months now. Luke didn't know what he was waiting for or if it was fear that made him walk away any time they got close to being intimate. He forced himself to stop thinking and moved his lips to trace the gentle curve of her neck.

Brooke's head arched back to give access to the sensitive hollows of her throat. A low moan rose from deep within her as his palms cupped her hips, pressing her against his aroused body. Luke raised his head and paused a moment. Brooke waited for him to withdraw, to make excuses for why he couldn't go on. He dropped a gentle kiss on the end of her nose. "You are on the pill, right?" he hesitantly asked.

Brooke nodded at him. "It's always a priority for me." Unlike Karen, she didn't plan on being a pregnant prom queen. He smiled at her for a second. "Do you have any condoms?" If one type of birth control was good, two was even better. Luke had learned one lesson from the life of Dan Scott: You could never have enough birth control.

Laughing, Brooke pulled away and reached into her nightstand drawer, hesitating when she felt the cold steel of her newly purchased gun. Lucas leaned over, kissing her back and moving toward the drawer before she quickly pulled out several condoms and slammed it shut, nearly slicing a few of his fingers off in the process. "Not even Scott wiggle puppies could break through these," she teased, knowing that Lucas was just looking out for her welfare.

She took a quick glance at the drawer and her illicit weapon, before turning her full attention toward her boyfriend. There was no need to freak Lucas out about her purchase at the pawn shop.

Grabbing the condoms, he pulled her back to the bed and rolled her over, delighting in the happy squeals of the petite girl under him. He reached up and pulled off his shirt, pausing a moment as he felt Brooke's small hands loosening the buttons on his jeans.

She slowly pulled the jeans down his legs, marveling at the body that was revealed.

Sighing, Lucas leaned back on the bed as she kissed her way up his body. She nibbled on his nipple for a moment, but sitting up and taking off her tank top. Luke smiled at the sight of the naked beautiful girl in front of him. Reaching up, he explored her breasts eagerly, drawing his palms over the rose tipped mounds until the nipples hardened beneath them, eliciting a soft moan from Brooke.

She looked down at him for a second, before he rolled her over. "Are you sure about this?" he gently asked, never wanting to do anything that she wasn't comfortable with.

Brooke's heart contracted a bit, as she realized that this boy was so kind and protective. That he cared about her mind and body.

She reached up and gently rubbed his cheek. "I want this, Lucas. I've wanted this for so long." He reached over and kissed her hand, lying on top of her. They had all night to make it right.

Dan patiently waited for the tea to brew before pouring it into a delicate cup. He grabbed a plate of saltines and cheese wedges and walked them over to the couch where Karen lay curled up. She was recovering from a bout of morning sickness and was trying to re-hydrate herself. Her blood pressure was particularly evaluated this week, which was a major concern of the doctors.

"Thanks," she softly said, taking the cup of steaming liquid from Dan's sturdy hands. "I don't know what I'd do without you," she replied. It took a lot for her to depend on him after all these years. But she'd come to look forward to the time she and Dan spent together. She'd rediscovered a long lost friend during the past few months.

Leaning back in one of her worn chairs, Dan smiled at her indulgently. "I'm glad you appreciate me when I bring you food and drink." She laughed at his words for a moment. "I appreciate you do the accounting for my business a LOT more," she admitted. Truth was, Karen didn't know how she'd get along with his help. Besides the morning sickness and affects of her blood pressure, she'd found her balance precariously compromised. Small bruises doted her arms and legs from where she'd run into various objects in the house.

Sighing, Dan realized that the sun was going to come up in a bit, Lucas was no where to be found, and that he needed to go home and get ready for work. He was getting tired of roaming between homes. He looked over at Karen with a sudden inspiration.

"Marry me," he quietly asked, gaining her attention from the breaking dawn coming through the window.

"What?" Karen asked, confused about the sudden switch in topics.

Dan shifted toward where she lay on the couch, picking up more confidence with each passing moment. "Marry me. We'll bring the boys together, live under one roof and bring this baby home to a single house with a single family."

It was so clear to him now. He could take care of everyone if he just had them under a single roof. "Marry me," he emphatically restated.

Karen leaned back against the sofa and took in his words. They were both exhausted. But his words made sense. One family, one house, one life. And it was really something she'd dreamed of most of her life. She was so close to getting what she'd always wanted in her life.

She looked up at him and reached out and grazed his hand. "Yes. I'll marry you."

Boy! And you thought Luke was finally getting a break.

A new chapter! Thanks for the awesome comments for the last chapter. I'm nearing the end of my stockpile of chapters, which means I'm soon going to post as I write. That's just scary given the amount of over time I'm working and my big bad certification test coming up. So, replies help distract me away from studying and making note cards!

Lot's of drama is approaching. To clarify from last chapter, Haley didn't tell Nate that Brooke bought a gun. Haley and Brooke had gone their separate ways when Brooke was approached by the Pawn Shop guy. Haley told Nate that Brooke TRIED to buy a gun, but she doesn't know that Brooke went back later and GOT a gun. Just a minor note on that. And yes, it's important later on.

Have a great day!