A/N: Thank you again to everybody who is reading this. Special thanks to those of you who take the time to leave me some feedback. It is very much appreciated. Love you all!!!

Hope everybody likes this chapter. Please let me know.

Not sure if anyone noticed, but I changed my summary. Just thought it fit better with the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.

Lucas carefully sat up against the pillows his mother had fluffed up for him. Between her and Haley doting on him, he hadn't had any cause to get up – except, of course, to relieve himself and only because they couldn't do that for him. And he refused to use a bedpan no matter how much it hurt or his mother insisted. He was grateful for her and Haley though. Their constant fussing was sometimes annoying, but mostly he was thankful, because it killed to move despite the heavy painkillers prescribed to him. The doctor had put him on bed rest for a full week because of his cracked ribs. Although they wouldn't be fully healed by then, the pain will have lessened, unless he were to laugh or sneeze, the doctor said. Lucas certainly hoped so. Apparently they didn't bandage cracked ribs anymore, or at least, this doctor hadn't. His arm, he was told to keep elevated, and despite the fact that it was supposedly the more severe injury, it didn't hurt nearly as bad as his ribs. At least he could avoid using it as much as possible, but it seemed there was no avoiding using your ribs.

He adjusted his position, wincing as a sharp pain shot through him. Anger coursed through him next. Damn Nathan for doing this. He should have turned him in when the police questioned him. He'd even momentarily considered it. Until the police had informed him of the possible penalties.

Flashback

"I understand you didn't recognize the person who did this," one of the police officers said.

"That's right," Lucas replied. "But, out of curiosity, what would happen to this guy if he were caught?"

"Well, he'd be charged with assault & battery."

"Then what? Would he go to jail?"

"It really depends. Not every case is the same. Most likely he'd be put in a cell pending a bail hearing. Then if someone posted his bail, he'd be free to go until his set court date, if not he'd have to wait it out in the cell. As I said though, a lot of factors are involved in determining the outcome."

"So, once he goes to court, what happens? I mean, would he get just a fine, or would he get jail time?"

"Again that depends. The judge looks at everything…the suspect's age, record, severity of the crime. If he's got a good lawyer, that would help him."

"But what could happen?"

"Penalties could include jail time, probation, fines, restitution, community service, counseling. I really can't give you a simple answer. It really does depend on all the circumstances. Not to worry though. He will be punished."

"If you catch him," Luke stated.

The policeman smiled. "Yeah, which is why we need your help, ok? Can you describe what he looked like, what he was wearing…"

"Uh, yeah. Kind of short, blonde…fat," he added. "Old faded jeans, dirty t-shirt."

The officer wrote in his note pad everything Lucas was telling him.

End Of Flashback

Despite Lucas's back and forth feelings of loyalty vs. revenge, as soon as the possible penalties were laid out, Lucas had once again been adamant on keeping quiet. He didn't want his brother doing time and having this incident on his permanent record. It could ruin all his prospects for the future. He still felt that way, but damn this stupid sense of protection he felt toward him. Obviously it wasn't mutual so why should he care what happened to Nathan? He shouldn't. But he did. He was still his little brother despite everything.

Karen and Haley both suspected that he'd left out some major details from his statement and had confronted him about it, but he'd stuck to his story. What would it help to get Nathan in trouble anyway? He'd still be lying here, barely able to move. Reporting Nathan wouldn't change that, or the fact that he couldn't play basketball, or even bowl for that matter, for the next while. For that Lucas had been tempted to tell the truth. Not because it would change his situation, but at least Nathan would have to pay for what he'd done.

But what did it matter anyway? Dan would have likely gotten all the charges dropped within minutes. He had money and power. He would have used both to try to beat the charge on Nathan. Anything for his beloved younger son, Lucas thought sourly.

Lucas imagined how happy Nathan was going to be when he learned Luke couldn't play for a while. He'd never wanted Lucas on the team to begin with – had done what he could to get rid of him. Now he'd get his way. Now – just when Lucas had begun to display his ability on the court. Just when he'd started proving what he could do, that he had the talent and deserved the chance to play, that he belonged on the varsity team, even if he didn't fit into their world off the court. Why now? Why not before when he'd been playing horribly and would have welcomed an excuse to quit that didn't paint him in a coward's light? Luke knew the answer. All of this happened simply because Nathan was mad that he and Peyton had talked. Apparently that was a terrible crime deserving of a beating in Nathan land.

Lucas recalled Haley telling him of a rumor she'd heard from the previous month, about Nathan beating on some guy who'd asked Peyton to a movie. Lucas had defended Nathan that day, telling Haley that the guy shouldn't have asked her out since she was taken. Haley had insisted he didn't deserve to be beaten for that, and Lucas had just shrugged it off, not giving it another thought. But Haley was right. If his beating had been as brutal as this one, the guy definitely hadn't deserved it.

Lucas had to wonder again about his brother's violent tendencies. He clearly had a temper and acted on it – he didn't even attempt to control it. To Luke that meant one of two things; he didn't consider his behavior wrong, or he did but didn't care. Neither option was good and left Lucas wondering again about Peyton's bruise. He realized it was none of his business, but it worried him that Nathan was hurting her, just as it worried him that Dan was hurting Nathan. As much as he tried to shake those disturbing thoughts, they stayed with him. He knew they would until he discovered the truth, one way or the other, and yet he acknowledged that he might never know.

"Hey, you're up," Haley said cheerfully, entering his room with his schoolwork for the day, just as she'd done Monday and Tuesday.

"Sort of," he said. "I'm tired of lying down."

"Well, it's only a week, right? Next week you can go back to light activities. You'll be back at school."

"Yeah, only a week," he scoffed. "Easy for you to say when you're not the one bed-ridden."

"Just trying to look on the bright side, Luke."

"Oh sorry. I didn't realize there was a bright side to this. But if you say there is, then I guess there must be."

Haley sighed. "Luke, I know this sucks, but please don't take it out on me."

"Who else can I take it out on? You're the only one here 24-7," he said dully.

"Ok," she replied with a nod, turning to leave before she got angry enough to argue back. That was the last thing he needed right now.

The minute she turned away, Lucas realized his mistake and called her back, quickly offering a genuine apology. "I didn't mean to bite your head off. I guess I'm just feeling sorry for myself right now. But that's no excuse. I appreciate all you're doing for me, I really do. Truce?"

She came fully into the room with a nod of her head. "You have every right to be angry about this, Luke. It shouldn't have happened."

Lucas nodded, grateful for her understanding and easy forgiveness. She knew his anger wasn't directed at her.

"I don't know where you get this 24-7 bit though," she said with a chuckle. "I have gone to school the past three days."

"I know, I know," Lucas acknowledged. "But my mom, she's been waiting on me hand and foot. She hasn't even opened the café this week so she can stay home to take care of me. And as much as I love her for it, she can't afford that. Plus she's driving me crazy, coming in every five minutes to see if I need anything."

"She loves you, Luke," Haley reasoned.

"I know. And she's my mom. That's why I can't say anything to her. So you get the brunt of my frustration when you get here," he admitted with a smile.

"Oh, is that the best friend privilege?"

"Yes, that's exactly what it is."

"Ok, well, I'm honored…I guess."

She saw him try to shift position and wince in pain. She ran over to him, helping him straighten up.

"I hate this," he grumbled miserably. "I can't get comfortable."

Haley shook her head. "I'm sorry this happened to you, Luke."

"Don't apologize, Hales. It's not your fault," he said reassuringly.

"No, I know," she said. "I just don't understand how someone can be this cruel. I mean, the guy didn't even know you, right? So what could he have had against you to want to hurt you so bad?"

Lucas looked away from her, not wanting to meet her eyes as he lied to her. "Yeah, I don't know."

"Luke," she said desperately. She just knew he wasn't being honest. "You know who it was, don't you?" she pressed when he remained silent.

Lucas shook his head, but he knew it was useless. Haley, like his mother, could see right through him.

"You have to turn him in, Luke. Whoever it is." She had a feeling of the person's identity – the one guy that despite his intense animosity toward Lucas, that Lucas still had an unexplainable sense of loyalty to.

Luke stared hard at Haley, knowing she'd already guessed the truth. Still he refused to admit it out loud. "I told you I didn't know the guy, Hales."

Haley's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Ok," she said, giving up. There was no sense pushing him. He would only get upset and he clearly wasn't going to tell her anything. But his silence, when she knew without a doubt that he was hiding something, only confirmed Haley's suspicion of the responsible person. There were few people her best friend would do this for and only one that would have done this to him. Nathan should consider himself lucky that his brother was so protective of him. He certainly didn't deserve him to be. "So, about your English assignment…"

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

Peyton stretched out on her bed, engrossed in the magazine she was reading, her foot laid out flat as Nathan applied polish to her toenails.

"You've got some ugly toes, girl," Nathan commented.

"No I don't," Peyton answered half-heartedly.

"Yeah, you do. They're like, practically fingers."

"Well, then just focus on the middle one," she replied in a dull tone, her eyes never leaving the magazine.

"Aw, come on. I was just joking. I love your toes."

"Uh huh," she said blandly.

"I do," Nathan insisted, placing a soft kiss to the top of her foot.

This caught her attention. She pulled her foot away hastily. "Eww, Nathan! Don't kiss my feet! That's gross!"

Nathan laughed heartily, setting the nail polish down and hopping up on the bed. "There's no part of your body that's gross. Every inch of it is hot," he added, coming toward her mouth.

Peyton pushed his face away playfully. "Oh no you don't. You're not getting anywhere near my lips now."

"Babe, you just had a shower. Your feet are clean," he reasoned teasingly.

"I don't care," she said, waving her hand in a dismissive gesture. "Go brush your teeth or something, then we'll talk."

"I don't wanna talk," he replied suggestively. "And what's brushing my teeth gonna do? I didn't bite you."

She set her magazine on her lap in mock exasperation.

"Sorry, keep reading," he said. But he quickly got bored when she did. "You know, I could make you kiss me if I really wanted to," he joked.

Once again she put her magazine down. He obviously had no intention of letting her get through it. "But you're not going to," she said with a smile. "Because you're a smart boyfriend and you know what's good for you."

"Yeah, you," he said charmingly.

Peyton let out a giggle. "That was really cheesy."

Nathan grinned at her. "Ok, I was going for cute, but whatever."

"You know what's cute?" she said, running her fingers up and down his arm.

"Besides me?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, besides you."

"Ok, I'll take the bait. What?"

"When you go downstairs to scoop me mint chocolate ice cream while I lay back and finish reading my article," she said with puppy dog eyes.

"That's not cute, that's whipped," he contradicted, even as he stood up from the bed. "Lucky for you, I am."

She gave him her brightest smile. "Thank you, baby."

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

Thursday afternoon, Coach Whitey Durham looked up from his desk upon hearing a knock at his office door.

"You wanted to see me, Coach?"

"Yeah, come on in, Nathan," Whitey said. "Close the door."

Nathan did as he was told, dreading the lecture to come. He just knew it was going to be about his grades again.

"Sit down, son," the older man instructed, indicating an empty chair on the other side of his desk.

Again Nathan did as directed by the old coach, sitting down and waiting in tense silence for the guy to begin his speech.

"I heard some very disturbing news today," Whitey started with, referring to his earlier conversation with Keith. "It seems one of your teammates had a little run in with a bully a couple of days ago. Beat him so bad that he'll be out of the game for the next few months." Whitey studied Nathan's expression carefully, praying for a sign that he was wrong. To his disappointment, none came. "You know anything about that?" he asked him.

Nathan immediately tensed at the question. He hadn't expected it, although he knew he should have. Lucas had been absent for both Monday's and Wednesday's practice, so naturally the coach would have looked into that. He swallowed hard before answering. "No," he replied while shaking his head.

"You're sure now?" Whitey asked, remembering Nathan's smug comment about Lucas being late for practice on Monday.

"I'm sure, Coach," Nathan said firmly.

"Aren't you even going to ask me which teammate it was?" Whitey implored, testing him.

"Uh, yeah," Nathan answered hesitantly, under the distinct impression that his coach was on to him. Shifting restlessly in his seat, he went ahead and asked anyway. "Who…who was it?"

Whitey sighed deeply, disappointment washing over him. Having coached for over twenty years, he was wise to the subtle deceptions of his pupils. Nathan didn't have to confess anything. The boy's body language spoke volumes; his face had guilt written all over it.

But he was wrong about one thing – he'd thought he'd been making progress with him over the past few years, but clearly he hadn't been. The boy was simply consumed with hatred and rage. There had been a slight improvement in his behavior, on the court at least; the only place Whitey had any sort of control over him. Sure his attitude had resurfaced once Lucas had joined the team, but even with that Whitey had noticed a significant improvement in Nathan's treatment of Lucas in the past few practices and games, as compared to how he'd treated him at the very start. It was nowhere near perfect but at least it had been a step in the right direction. But upon hearing this latest news, it was clear to Whitey that his impact on Nathan applied to the basketball court and the basketball court alone.

That being the case, the coach had come to a difficult and painful decision that day. If he were to be the only adult to assert an ounce of much needed discipline in the boy, then he would do so the only way available to him. He hated to do it, for truth be told, he was quite fond of him, but someone had to teach Nathan some of these life lessons. Dan Scott surely wouldn't do it – hell he'd probably pat his son on the back for taking the aggressive route, and Deb Scott, well, who knew where she was these days? Certainly not at home raising her son properly.

"You're gonna play it that way, are you, son?" Whitey asked despondently.

Nathan averted his eyes, the older man's penetrating, disapproving gaze boring right through him, making him feel something he rarely ever felt. Shame. Not for what he'd done to Lucas, but for letting his coach down. Yeah, Whitey yelled a lot during games and practices, and often cursed him out over his attitude, but the way he was looking at him now made Nathan want to crawl into a deep hole and stay there until the old man forgot he was upset with him.

"Nathan," Whitey began again. "I was hoping you'd be man enough to own up to this, but it seems I put too much hope into you."

"Coach, I didn't…"

Whitey halted his words with a stop motion. "Don't insult my intelligence with a denial. Now Lucas, for whatever reason, has decided against reporting you. In fact, he won't even admit to anyone who battered him. You ought to be thanking him for that," the coach said. "But don't think, for a minute, that your actions are going to go unpunished," he added.

Nathan looked up in wonder, silently questioning what he meant.

"As of today, you are officially suspended from all basketball practices and games," Whitey informed him firmly.

"What?" Nathan asked in surprise. "You can't do that!" His dad would kill him if he got kicked off the team.

"I'm the coach. Explain to me why I can't."

"Because," Nathan answered. "It's a school team. You can't punish me for something that happened off school grounds, and not even during school hours," he argued reasonably. "Plus you can't prove it was me. If I fight this, I'll win."

Whitey nodded in agreement. "True on all counts. But it's funny, now you know where and when it happened, when earlier you said you knew nothing about it," he pointed out. "As for the reason for the suspension, between you and me, we'll know the truth, but we'll just call it academic probation on record." He gave Nathan a smug smile. "I warned you about your grades months ago and you've failed to pick them up, therefore leaving me no choice."

"What? You just said last week that I had two weeks to bring them up."

"You have no proof of that," Whitey said, throwing Nathan's words back at him.

Nathan stared at his coach in shock. "That's not fair. You're going back on your word."

"Yes, and I admit I hate to do it, but, unfortunately, sometimes to get through to someone, you have to sink down to their level."

Exhaling sharply, Nathan was silent a few seconds, knowing Whitey held all the cards and there was nothing he could do about it. "Well…how long will I be off for"? he wanted to know.

"No specific date, but Lucas's first day back will be your first day back too. I think that's more than fair and actually less than half the punishment you deserve."

"Coach…" Nathan began pleadingly.

"Best start wishing your brother a speedy recovery," Whitey stated with finality as Nathan glared at him with disbelief.

This couldn't be happening.