Thanks for reading and reviewing as always, hope you enjoy )
Nathan wasn't expecting to Lucas to be there, so he didn't have anything to say.
"Nate?" Lucas asked after a moment.
"I…uh…just wanted to know how it went with Brooke." Nathan lied.
"Oh…it was fine. We saw Elizabethtown."
"What's that, a chick flick?"
"Oh yeah." Lucas laughed.
"Nice. Well, uh…"
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, I guess I'm just tired and stressed out."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. I'm fine. Don't worry about it."
"What time is your rehab session tomorrow?"
"I think 4:00. You're coming again?"
"If you want me to."
"I do."
"Good."
"Good."
"Okay, so…I'll see you in the morning?"
"Yeah. Night." Nathan mumbled.
"Are you sure you're okay? You seem distracted."
"No. Fine."
"Okay. Well I'm going to say goodnight to Dad and Deb. Sweet dreams little brother."
"You too."
Lucas went downstairs.
Once Nathan heard Lucas' footsteps on the stairs, he looked back at the medicine cabinet. He hesitated for a moment, but opened the door and took out the bottle of painkillers.
Quickly he made he way back to his room and popped a pill before going to sleep.
Lucas woke up the next morning and decided to go for a walk to the café and then to the music store.
Deb was at the counter, making the first batch of coffee for the day.
"Hey Deb."
"Lucas, you're up early."
"Yeah, for some reason I couldn't really sleep in."
"Your brother seems to have the opposite problems lately."
"He's just bored. I feel for him, having to stay home."
"He keeps busy during the day though. He's working hard with the tutor, and his grades have never been better."
"That's great."
"I think his brother tutoring him might have helped too." Deb said, smiling.
"Nah." Lucas said, trying to hide his smile.
"Don't be so modest." Deb said.
"Morning Deb…Lucas." Karen said, walking into the café.
"Hi mom."
"What are you doing here?"
"On my way to the music store."
"Meeting Brooke?" Deb asked.
"You know, that is a great idea." Lucas said, taking out his cell phone.
"I'll see you later." He said, walking outside to call Brooke.
"Lucas, it's 9:00 on a Saturday." Brooke grumbled.
"Nice to see you live up to your nickname, Cheery."
"What's up?"
"I was wondering if you'd want to meet me at the music store and then we could spend the day together."
"The whole day?" Brooke said, sounding interested.
"Well…until four."
"What's at four?"
"I'm going to Nathan's rehab with him again."
"Oh. Okay, I can meet you there in twenty minutes."
"Great. Actually…meet me at the café, I can get something to eat while I wait. Unless you want to have something together?"
"Don't worry, I can just wait until the fabulous lunch I know you'll be taking me too."
Lucas laughed.
"Alright. See you soon."
"Bye Broody." Brooke said, hanging up.
Lucas walked back into the café.
"Okay, feed me." He said to Karen, sitting back down and drumming his fingers on the counter.
"What'll it be?" Karen asked.
"Surprise me. And some coffee."
"Coming right up."
Lucas finished eating and was chatting with his mom and Deb as they worked.
Brooke walked into the café and up behind Lucas. She smiled and put her arms around him and kissed his cheek.
"Ready for a Brooke Davis day?"
"Always." Lucas laughed. He stood up and took her hand.
"Bye." He called out to Deb and Karen as Brooke dragged him outside.
Nathan woke up at 10:00, feeling a lot better. He had a lot more pills now, and he didn't have to make them last anymore.
He opened his bedside table drawer and took another.
Then he took a shower and went downstairs.
"Morning son." Dan said, packing up his briefcase.
"Hey dad. Going to work?"
"Yep. Today is the first official day back."
"That's good."
"Maybe I can look into getting you and Lucas new cars. His car is beyond saving, and I'm sure you'd rather have a better car than the junky one you and Keith fixed up."
"Lucas had it running pretty well before the accident. He said all he needed to do was the exterior and the music system."
"He's damn good with cars."
"Yeah. So I'll pass, but thanks."
"That's very mature of you."
"Thanks." Nathan said.
"I've got to run. See you tonight."
"Wait, what about rehab?"
"Lucas can drive your car." Dan pointed out.
"That's a good point. Okay see you tonight."
"Bye." Dan said, and left.
"Okay Nate, you're doing a lot better." Kelly said.
"Yeah." Lucas agreed.
"Okay, well I think that's enough for today. Good job today." Kelly said, before heading back to her office.
"Feeling better?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah. In fact, I kind of want to do a few more."
"Should I go find Kelly?"
"Nah, you're good enough."
"Thanks." Lucas laughed.
Nathan used his free hand to support himself and slowly made his way across the room. He did it a few more times until the familiar pang in his knee began to return. He winced when he got back to where Lucas was standing.
"You okay?"
"Okay, I pushed a little too hard." Nathan said, gritting his teeth.
"Okay, okay. We're off then."
Lucas gripped Nathan's elbow and helped him to the car.
"I'll get on doing the exterior of this baby this week." Lucas said once they were in the car.
"Great." Nathan said quietly.
"You okay?"
"Yes." Nathan said firmly.
"You did great today."
"Thanks."
Lucas rubbed Nathan's shoulder before pulling out of the parking lot.
Nathan got out the car, limped his way up to his bedroom, and took another pill. Then he went downstairs and sat on the couch next to Lucas.
"You're moving around a lot better."
"Yeah, I'm getting to that point again like last year, when I can probably stop sitting around all the time."
"Going back to school Monday?"
"I hope so."
"Cool."
"Okay boys, it's that time of year." Deb said, walking in and dropping her keys on the coffee table.
Lucas looked at Nathan, who shrugged.
"Huh?" Nathan asked.
"Basketball Appreciation Party."
"Oh." Both boys said, nodding.
"Yes. So we need to get the house ready, plan everything and make sure you both have suits to wear."
"Okay." Lucas said.
"Be glad you're only here every other week." Nathan said as soon as Deb was out of earshot.
"Why is Deb a big party planner?"
"No. Dad is."
Lucas laughed.
"Hopefully it won't suck this year." Nathan said, lying back on the couch.
"Yeah." Lucas agreed.
"Lucas your mom is on the phone!" Deb called.
"Oh…okay." Lucas said, getting up and taking the phone from Deb.
"Hi honey." Karen said, sounding excited.
"Hey what's up?"
"I was just wondering when you plan on being home this week?"
"Uh..."
"Friday night or Saturday morning?"
"Probably Saturday. I haven't been to a game in awhile."
"Oh okay."
"What's going on?"
"I'll tell you Saturday."
"Alright. Bye mom." Lucas said, hanging up.
"What was that about?" Deb asked.
"Beats me." Lucas said.
Alrighty now, Nathan's building up that tolerance to the painkillers. Yikes.
I'm going to probably have a time jump or two in the next chapter.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!