Nathan definitely couldn't sleep after that, and the only place he could think to go to was the hospital.
"Nathan what are you doing here?" Dan asked.
"I can't visit my dad?" Nathan said lightly.
"I was just surprised because your mom in coming in a few hours to pick me up."
"Oh that's right." He said absently.
"Is something bothering you?"
"Why do you think something is bothering me?"
"You just don't seem like yourself. And aside from school I don't think you've ever willingly woken up before 11 at least. A bad habit that is probably going to rub off on your brother."
"Already has."
"Great." Dan said sarcastically.
"Listen, don't get mad, but I am actually kind of grounded right now…" Nathan said.
"What did you do?"
"Well, Haley and I broke up."
"And…"
"I decided to drown my sorrows, using your liquor stash."
"Nathan, when are you going to grow up and be more responsible? So your mother caught you drinking and grounded you. I say good for her."
"Actually Lucas found me and tried to help me sober up. However I was not in the mood to be helped, so I kind of shoved him to the ground and that's when mom walked in."
Dan couldn't believe how he was feeling. He was angry on Lucas's behalf and this was very new to him.
"How long are you grounded?" He asked simply.
"Indefinitely."
"How is Lucas?"
"He's a little hurt physically, probably more emotionally, and he isn't really speaking to me a lot."
"Understandable."
"I apologized to him. I feel horrible."
"You should. Its good that you apologized though. You two will be able to work this out eventually."
"I guess. I should be getting home, I need to talk to Lucas again."
"No you don't. Give him some space."
"You think if I just let him be, he'll want to talk about it eventually?"
"Absolutely."
"I don't want him to hate me anymore."
"I doubt he hates you."
"He wouldn't even look at me this morning and flinched the first time I touched him."
"The wounds are still fresh so to speak."
"I guess. I should get home anyway, I probably have to do a lot of chores."
"I'll see you this afternoon."
"Okay" Nathan said, getting up. He couldn't believe that he and Dan had a normal conversation.
"Thanks Dad." He said.
"Don't make any plans for quite awhile." Dan said.
Lucas decided to run around the block to help him think. His cell phone began to vibrate in his pocket, and when he answered it he heard Karen's voice on the other line.
"Hey Lucas, I tried to call you at the house but then I realized you must have…"
"Yeah I am living with Dan, Deb and Nathan. At least for now."
"How is it?"
"Its…fine." Lucas said. He didn't want to tell his mom about Nathan, or how he still felt out of place there.
"How is Dan?"
"Good, good. He's being released from the hospital today."
"That's good to hear."
"Yeah…"
"Well…I better go. Say hi to Deb for me."
"Will do." Lucas said, and flipped his phone shut.
He immediately went upstairs to take a shower before Dan came home.
By the time he came back downstairs Deb was already gone, and Nathan was sitting at the kitchen table.
Lucas wasn't sure how to act, so he was about to leave when Nathan looked up from the magazine he was reading.
"My mom called, they're on their way home."
"Okay."
"Where were you?" Nathan asked, attempting at least somewhat pleasant conversation.
"Running. Needed to think."
"Oh…so…" Nathan prompted.
"So now I'm here." Lucas said simply, taking a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. He saw Dan and Deb walking up to the front door.
"They're home." Nathan said.
"Hey boys!" Dan said, pretending that he hadn't just seen Nathan just a few hours before. He wasn't sure if Deb knew that Nathan had visited him.
"Hey, welcome home." Nathan said, and gave Dan an awkward hug.
"Looks like we're all finally living together." Dan said to Lucas.
"Seems to be." He replied. He was surprised when Dan hugged him too.
After making small talk, avoiding the major problem between his sons, Dan decided to go upstairs and rest a bit before dinner.
Deb smiled at Lucas and Nathan, and headed into the kitchen.
Before Nathan could say another word, Lucas pulled a paperback out of his back pocket and went upstairs.
He was just passing Deb and Dan's room when Dan called him in.
"Lucas. Can we talk for a minute?"
"Okay." He said, sitting down.
"What are you reading?"
"Catcher in the Rye."
"Nice. For school?"
"Nah. Just because."
"That's good. Look, Nathan told me what happened."
Lucas looked down.
"Are you alright?"
"Just a little sore."
"And you and Nathan?"
"He told me he was sorry."
"He is. He came to visit me earlier."
"Oh."
"Now I'm definitely angry about this, but I don't want you to feel uncomfortable or unsafe in this house. This is your home too."
"Thanks. I think its just hard to adjust."
"Because of your mom?"
"Yeah, and it's just all so new to me. She called me earlier."
"How did that go?"
"She seemed surprised that I was here. Even though she told me to come here."
"Really."
"Yeah. And it was just so awkward, it was like we were different people. She didn't even say anything about coming home, and what if she doesn't want to? What if she hates me and would just rather be there with Andy?"
"Lucas, your mom loves you more than anything in the world. We have our differences, but I don't want you to doubt that, ever."
"Yeah…I guess. Thank you."
"Anytime. I promise that you and I will have a better relationship now."
"That's what I've always wanted…in the back of my mind…even when I said I hated you." Lucas admitted.
"You have no idea how happy that makes me."
"Even if my mom comes back, I still have to choose between you two, don't I?"
"Not necessarily. I'm sure if you really wanted it, your mom and I could work out a joint custody arrangement, especially since she encouraged you to come here in the first place."
"I never thought of it that way."
"Things are going to be different. Anything's possible now."
"I guess so. So…I should let you rest. Thanks for the talk."
"You're welcome."
Lucas walked out of the room and almost collided with Nathan while turning a corner in the hallway.
"Hey." Nathan said.
"Hey.."
"Um, we forgot to tell my mom that Grandpa called and now they freaked out and are going to be coming here in a few days."
"I completely forgot."
"Me too. But yeah, I though I'd let you know."
"Okay" Lucas said, and walked away.
Nathan sighed.
At least they were talking.
Thanks for the reviews! As always, you guys rock :)
So...yes another angsty-ish chapter, but things will get better soon, I promise!
I'd love to hear any thoughts or ideas!