Goodness. I meant to finish this ages ago, I swear. School, homework, work, and driver ed have just been taking up all of my free time. The good news? I eventually just decided to split this chapter in half which means I just have to fill in some of the story for the second half and will (hopefully) post that soon.

This has some major Brucas-ness because my poor heart was broken by the past two episodes and the preview for this coming week.

Lucas swallowed hard and just stared at Keith.

Nathan instinctively put his hand on his brother's shoulder for support, while wishing that Keith decided to make his appearance to Lucas any other time but now.

"Long time no see." Lucas said finally.

"Danny, can I take Lucas out for coffee or something? I can bring him home, I promise."

Dan looked to Lucas, who nodded silently.

"I don't know." Dan said slowly.

"Come on, Dan. Please." Keith sighed.

"Luke has had a long night and-"

"Just let me go." Lucas said hollowly.

"Fine. Not too long. We'll see you at home." Dan said, leading Nathan away.

"So…" Keith said slowly.

"I believe you mentioned coffee?"

"Yeah, I did."

"Okay."

"Listen…"

"I know you've been here awhile."

"Dan told you."

"Yeah, he did. I thought it was pretty shitty of you to just leave here for months on end, but it was nothing compared to coming back here, crashing my mom's wedding and then continuing to ignore me."

"Lucas…"

"Did you get my emails and phone calls?"

"I did."

"Nothing I said grabbed you?"

"Of course I was worried."

"Bull. You would've come back or responded, at the very least."

"That's not fair."

"You know what's not fair? Having your uncle, your father figure, tell you that there's nothing worth staying for in the town you live in."

"I know…"

"Then you come back to my mom's wedding and don't even talk to me?"

"Because I was angry! I was understandably angry. I was nervous as hell to even come here. Everything has changed so much and I am just sitting here trying to figure out what the hell I've come back to. Your mom is married, you're sick and Dan is suddenly someone I have to go through to get to you."

"Well the world didn't stop spinning just because you weren't around."

"I'm sorry I didn't come back before. I'm sorry I didn't respond."

"I know…"

"I missed you and your mom so much. I was in such a dark place that I didn't want you to see me like that."

"We would've helped you. You know that."

"I couldn't face it. At least not your mom after all that had happened between us."

"Do you still love her?"

"I will always love her in one way or another. But she is married to Andy and I am happy for her."

"Really?"

"Really."

"You know, with all the bad things that have happened this year…I am still really happy."

"Well I'm glad you found an ideal situation." Keith said, slightly angry that this wasn't going to be as easy as he thought.

"It's not ideal, I just have been doing my best to deal with everything."

"I asked Danny for permission to take you out tonight. I never ever thought I would do that."

"Things have changed."

"They have. So you and Danny…"

"What about us?" Lucas asked.

"You're getting along? You him, Nathan, you're all okay now?"

"Pretty much."

"What changed? Was it because I left and you needed someone to be there?"

"No…we just talked after he was in the hospital. I realized that life was too short to dwell on the past."

"But you gave him a second chance. That's huge. What if it doesn't work out?"

"I'm not waiting for it to fall apart. I'm just taking the opportunity to get to know my father and make up for lost time with Nate. It's true that you leaving probably made way for some of these changes, but it's not the only reason."

"I just can't imagine him being a father, Luke."

"He has." Lucas said tightly.

"I guess." Keith said dismissively.

"You know who was there for me when I started having symptoms of HCM? When I had a heart attack? When I had any other personal problems? It wasn't you this time, Keith. You don't get to judge whether or not he is a good father anymore. You haven't seen it."

"I'm not trying to get you all worked up."

"I'm fine." Lucas muttered.

"I'm sorry. It's going to take some getting used to."

"I guess."

"I'm back now, Lucas. I came back because I love you and your mom and I don't want to miss anymore of your life."

"You're back. For good?"

"For good."

"Good." Lucas admitted.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"You don't seem too happy." Keith said.

"I'm trying to get used to it. Like you are."

"I'm sorry I sprung this on you."

"Look I'm really tired…"

"I promise to call you soon. Okay?"

Lucas nodded silently and got out the car

"How are you feeling?" Nathan asked as Lucas walked into his room.

"Confused."

"Sounds about right."

"Yeah. What are you watching?"

"Comedy Central."

"Great." Lucas said, sitting down on the floor.

Nathan moved down and put his arm around his brother.

"Did it help to talk to him?"

"I guess."

"It probably could've waited until another night."

"I'm fine."

"I know, but you understand why people would get worried."

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I just don't want to seem like I'm so weak and sick that I need to constantly be taken care of."

"Nobody thinks that."

"Dad apparently does."

"Just give him a break. He was worried, he still is learning how to be a real dad."

"I know."

Dan knocked on the door a few minutes later and poked his head in the door.

"What masterpiece are you two watching?"

"Old School."

"Nice. So listen, now I really need to know more about this kid."

"Mark?"

"Yeah. You're not getting around this you two. You two both could've been seriously hurt and Luke ended up going to the doctor."

"I didn't need to." Lucas said mostly to himself.

"Say it all you want but you couldn't breathe for awhile and whether or not you think so, it requires medical attention."

"Can we talk about this tomorrow?" Lucas asked, shrugging out of Nathan's grasp.

"Lucas." Dan sighed.

Nathan reached out to his brother who moved away. He sighed, confused as to why his brother was suddenly acting like this.

"Not now." Nathan said quietly to Dan, but looking at Lucas.

"Fine." Dan said, closing the door.

"I'm so sick of this."

"I don't want to make a huge deal out of this, but what's with the hiding and the way you were talking to Dad?"

"I don't know." Lucas said, standing up and leaving the room.

"Come on, talk to me."

"I'm going to sleep. I have to go to Brooke's tomorrow to explain everything."

"I already filled her in."

"Thanks. I'm still going to sleep."

"I think you should talk to me first."

"Well I think you should just let me go to sleep."

"Luke, come on."

"Nathan just drop it." Lucas snapped, heading into the bathroom and picking up his bottle of medication.

"I just want to help you. If Mark tries something I don't want you to have to go to the hospital again."

Lucas didn't respond. He shut his eyes for a moment and then hurled the bottle of pills against the wall as hard as he could.

Nathan just stared at Lucas as he heard the pills hitting the floor.

"I am not sick." Lucas said quietly, staring at the floor.

"I didn't say you were." Nathan said shakily.

"You did before. You're still thinking it."

"Luke…"

"Just leave me alone."

Nathan nodded quietly and went to his own room.

Lucas turned around, ignoring the mess on the floor and studied his reflection. He looked tired. Like he hadn't slept in a week, and his eyes were tinged with red, like he was trying to stop himself from crying. Or screaming. He wasn't sure which.

The next morning Lucas walked into Nathan's room with some Pop-Tarts in his hands and sat on his bed.

"Nate?"

No response.

"Natie." Lucas said in a singsong voice. He took a bite of the Pop-Tart as he waited for a response.

"Are you getting some kind of food all over my bed?" Nathan mumbled eventually.

"Yes."

"Did you bring me some?"

"Here." Lucas said, holding one out.

"Thanks." Nathan said, feeling around for it.

"Nate…I'm sorry." Lucas said, placing himself on Nathan's level waiting for him to open his eyes.

"What got into you last night?" Nathan said, finally opening his eyes and sitting up.

"I don't know…I'm really sorry."

"Look…it's okay. Really. I get it. I think. Just don't get mad at me anymore because I'm worried about you."

"I don't know it just drives me crazy when you get all…concerned and stuff." Lucas finished lamely.

"Yes love can be annoying." Nathan said, rolling his eyes.

"I don't want to be like this anymore. I just want to go back to the way things were."

"When?"

"When I was still able to play basketball…when I didn't know what it was like to be completely drained…to feel like I was dying…"

"Yeah." Nathan said quietly.

"I didn't mean to bum you out. I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I'm actually heading to Brooke's for the day."

"Uh huh."

"Yeah." Lucas said, sitting up.

"Hey…I love you okay? I just want you to be safe."

"I honestly don't know why I get like that. Just…I don't know, just don't smother me okay?"

"You got it. Now let me get back to sleep."

"Oh whatever, I've stayed up with you tons of times."

"Yeah but you yelled at me so go away."

"Fine." Lucas laughed

Lucas pulled into the parking lot still feeling like a jackass. He could tell Nathan was still hurt from how he had acted last night.

He got out of the car and jumped as he heard another car beep its horn on the street. Damn. He was feeling the same way Nathan did after getting beat up. Nervous. Scared.

After sprinting up the stairs to Brooke's apartment, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Brooke opened the door to find Lucas leaning against her doorway, a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

"Brooke I am so sorry-"

"I heard everything. It's okay. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It was just a bad circumstance. Bad timing."

"Are you sure?"

"Seriously, I don't know why my dad insisted on taking me to the doctor."

"Really?"

"Yeah. It was ridiculous. But I wanted to make it up to you so we are having dinner tonight. I promise."

"Okay. These are beautiful." Brooke said, taking the flowers.

"I'm just so sorry that we got messed up again last night. I just want to be with you and things seem to get in the way so much. I'm going to make it up to you. I promise. I really do."

"Let's just stay here tonight." Brooke said suddenly.

"Okay...are you sure? I know staying at home isn't exactly your ideal way of spending the day."

"Yeah, it'll be great and I can know you're safe."

"You sound like Nathan. He was going on and on about how I was sick and stuff and it was driving me crazy. I just got the wind knocked out of me and had some chest pains, it wasn't like another heart attack."

"He was just worried."

"My dad was the worrier. He's the one who insisted we go to the freaking doctor even though after like two minutes I felt fine."

"Oh well that's nice though."

"I guess."

"Come in, let me take care of you."

"I'm fine though."

"Shut up and let me take care of you." Brooke said.

"Yes ma'am." Lucas said

"Nathan do you know what is going on with Lucas?" Dan asked.

"He just doesn't like people worrying about him. It embarrasses him when he is short of breath, or when he blacked out at the basketball court."

"Did he tell you that?"

"Not exactly, but it's not exactly hard to tell."

"I guess not. I just want to be there for him."

"He told me this morning he didn't want to be 'smothered' so I'm not sure how well he's going to take it."

"Will you please just let me call the police about this?"

"You know that would make Lucas furious."

"I can deal with that."

"Can you really? Everything is a little precarious right now concerning Lucas."

"You think I should just sit back and watch you two be miserable?"

"We're not miserable. We're going to be fine."

"I don't know how I feel about taking parenting advice from my seventeen year old."

"It's better than nothing. You still could use some."

"Ouch. But probably fair."

"You're doing better. I promise."

"That means a lot, Nate."

Brooke snuggled up to Lucas on the couch and wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm so happy you're okay."

"Thanks…I am fine though."

"Promise me you won't leave?"

"I promise. I'm here until after dinner tonight."

"Good."

"You wanna know something?"

"Yeah."

"I was nervous as hell coming up here."

"Because you thought I was mad?"

"That too."

"What else?"

"I got out of my car, and I jumped at almost every noise in the street."

Brooke's eyes widened with realization.

"Oh. Oh Lucas I had no idea."

"Me either until I got out of my car. I got out and then I just ran up here as fast as I could, I got so freaked out."

"It's normal."

"I know…"

"Here, let me get you something to drink."

"Okay. Anything is fine."

"I'll be right back."

Later, Brooke sat on the couch with a pillow on her lap as Lucas was sprawled across the couch, his head resting in her lap.

She sat there stroking his hair absently as he drifted in and out of sleep.

"What's this?" He mumbled.

"Project Runway marathon. You've been out for like two hours."

"Really?"

"Yeah, didn't get much sleep last night?"

"Not really. I was a total jackass to my dad and Nate."

"What happened?"

"I just got tired of being fussed over and I just wanted to sleep…so I was kind of rude to my dad and I completely lost it with Nathan. So of course then I didn't get any sleep."

"Lucas why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know…I just feel like an idiot."

"Did you work things out with them?"

"Um, well I talked to Nate but he was kind of asleep and will probably realize how much of an idiot I am in a few hours…but not my dad though."

"Oh, you should."

"I know…"

The doorbell rang, causing Lucas to jump a little.

"Relax its just the food I ordered."

"Oh…right."

"Here," She said, handing him some food, "so are you and Nathan still getting along then?"

"He said he forgave me but I could tell that he was still upset. I seem to be using him as a punching bag lately when I'm upset, but I don't know how to stop."

"He understands. I know he does."

"And it's not like he doesn't have enough going on."

"Such as?"

"Trying to work things out with Haley?"

"You mean, like dating her? Getting back together?"

"I don't know. Hell, he doesn't even know."

"What is he going to do?"

"He asked her to coffee or something so they could talk."

"I wonder how that will go."

"I'm hoping really well. That he can work some stuff out in his life and move on from there."

"Me too."

"I just want him to be happy."

"He will be."

"Yeah."

"You're so sweet, you know that?" Brooke said, pulling Lucas close and kissing him softly.

"Thanks." Lucas said, pulling her to him and hugging her tightly.

"Everything's going to be okay. I promise."

"I don't know what I would do without you. I love you so much."

"I love you too."

"Luke?" Nathan knocked on Lucas' door later that night.

"Yeah?"

"I need a favor." Nathan said, coming in.

"Sure, anything."

"I need you to talk to Haley about me to see what she feels about..us."

"I'm having a middle school flashback here. Why don't you just call her up like you planned?"

"I asked her to hang out so we could talk but I don't know how to bring it up again."

"I don't think me talking her and then reporting back to you behind her back is the best way to go, Nate. I'm sorry. I really wanna help you."

"I don't know what to do though."

"Call her. She's not going to say no."

"What if she…"

"She won't."

"You don't even know what I was gonna say."

"Whatever it was, she won't."

"Are you sure?"

"You need this."

"Okay."

"Good luck."

"Thanks." Nathan said, picking up his cell phone and dialing Haley's number.

"Hello?" Haley answered.

Nathan quickly hit the 'End' button and dropped the phone.

Lucas reached over and picked up the phone, placing it in is brother's hands.

"You both need this. You can do this."

"Okay." Nathan said, dialing again.

"Hello?" Haley answered again.

"Hey it's Nathan. I just wanted to make a definite plan so we could talk..."

I know that's probably not worth the wait, but I hope you like it anyways. If you need me, I'll be lying facedown somewhere muttering incoherently about how much free time I used to have.

Or I might be finishing up the next chapter. You never know ;-)

I definitely promise more Naley-ness the next chapter. Their little meeting will be...fun to say the least.