HI EVERYONE! I am so sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter out. Reviews have been lacking which in turn has made my motivation begin to lack, and I am so sorry for that! I am in the midst of working on two other stories besides this one so that's why it's been so hard for me to crack down and get this one out there. But, here it is and hopefully It was worth the wait!
Chapter 26: Things Left Unsaid
"You look more and more like Deb every day. Sometimes I question if Karen and Deb switched you guys because you look nothing like your mothers." Dan laughed, knowing he was hitting a nerve with Lucas but continuing to do it anyways.
"Shut up. You have no right to talk about my mother like that. You're the one who abandoned us Dan."
"Oh right, if that's what you want to call it. Your mom was great though."
"SHUT UP! You were never a real father to me anyways. Keith was my father and you took that away."
"You're right I did. I did take your precious "father" away from you but at the end of the day Lucas, I'm still your father whether you like it or not. You are a project of my own sperm and well son, that's never going to change." Lucas resisted the urge to punch Dan right in the face but he decided he would save that for his grand exit. He knew what he had to do here, and in order for it to work he had to make sure Dan was in one piece and could talk.
"Don't you dare ever say that you're my father because you're not no matter what biology may say. You took the only father I ever knew from me. YOU walked out before I was even born so you are NOT a father to me in any way Dan." Lucas was infuriated. He couldn't stand to even look this man in the eye. Dan was nothing but worthless. He meant nothing to Lucas and Lucas thought that Dan deserved nothing but the worst.
"What do you want Lucas? Why are you even here?"
"Because I know what you did Dan. I know that you killed Chris and I am going to make sure that everyone else knows about it."
"Ha. Good luck with that son." Dan was about to shut the door, when Lucas put his hand and stopped it.
"So why did you do it Dan, huh? Was MURDERING your own brother not enough satisfaction for you? What the hell did Chris every do to you?"
"Lucas, you should leave."
"Why Dan? Afraid your dirty little secret might get out? Afraid that your BASTARD of a son might make sure that you get thrown into that jail for taking an innocent person's life? Huh, Dan?"
"Lucas. I'm not going to tell you again, you need to leave. You're just getting in the way."
"In the way of what?! Let me guess, your life is so miserable that you have some master plan involving FELIX.." Dan gasped at that. "Yeah, we ran into him the other night. You're plotting to ruin everyone's lives and it's sad Dan. It's really sad. You are nothing but a pathetic, washed up basketball player that's trying to live through his son's life when BOTH of them want nothing to do with you."
"Look Lucas, I know I was a horrible father to you and I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry for taking Keith from you too, and I know you'll never forgive me but know that I am sorry."
"HA. That's bullshit Dan and we both know it. You aren't sorry. If you were sorry you wouldn't have pulled that trigger. All you think about is yourself and no one else. You don't give a shit about anyone else but yourself no matter what you try to make us believe." Lucas couldn't hold it back anymore. Dan needed to hear the truth, and Lucas was going to give it to him.
"Lucas…" Lucas stopped Dan before he could finish. He didn't want to hear another word out of Dan's mouth and frankly, he didn't care what Dan had to say.
"No DAN. You DON'T get to say anything else. I hope I never see you again and I promise you that you will be sent to jail for murdering Chris. His family didn't deserve to lose him just like we didn't deserve to lose Keith. There are some things you CANNOT apologize for. Keith was your BROTHER! How would you feel if I took a gun and murdered Nathan?" Dan winced. "Exactly. Rot in hell Dan." And with that, Lucas walked away not turning back. He felt accomplished. He had finally told Dan off and he had gotten the evidence that he needed to show that Dan did kill Chris. Dan never denied it once, but avoided the subject and that was all the clarification that Lucas needed.
When Lucas got home he was grateful to lay down in his bed. He checked on Keith who was fast asleep in Brooke's arms in the rocking chair. They both looked so peaceful, and he felt so lucky to have them both in his life.
- Friends First then Love -
"Nathan?" Haley whispered, shaking Nathan awake.
"What's up baby? Is everything okay?" Nathan groggily answered, not wanting to be woken up.
"I'm scared."
"Scared of what? Did you have a nightmare?"
"Scared of being a mom. What if I'm not good at it? What if I mess it up?"
"Hales, baby, you are going to be an amazing mom. You already take care of everyone around you and I know you'll love this baby more than anything. And yeah, you might mess up here and there but that's what being a parent is all about. Trial and error and I'll be right there with you. I'm scared too Hales, but I know that I can do anything with you by my side." Nathan smiled, leaning on one arm and smiling up at Haley. She seemed to be comforted by his words, which in turn, comforted him. Sure, he was scared as hell too but he knew that they would get through it together. They always did.
"God, I love you Nathan." Haley whispered, kissing Nathan and lying back down.
"I love you too Hales, always and forever."
- Friends First then Love -
Haley decided that two days was enough time for her to cool off from fighting with Brooke and that it was time to put it to an end. She hated fighting with her best friend and she figured she would give her the benefit of the doubt and hear her side of the story.
She had planned to go over there and not tell Brooke she was coming, but she decided that wasn't the best idea since she wasn't quite sure how Brooke even felt towards her right now and didn't want to add fuel to the fire.
Brooke was surprised to hear from Haley, and relieved in a way too. She of course agreed immediately to meet with Haley and so that baby Keith could get some time with his godmother.
As Haley began walking up the steps at Lucas's house, she ran into Lucas who was rushing out of the house in a hurry.
"Going somewhere so soon Luke? I just got here." Haley joked, but the smile faded when Lucas gave her a serious look.
"No time for jokes Hales. I'm going to the police station."
"What? Why? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I'm turning Dan in for Chris's murder. I got the evidence I needed and it's time that justice be served." Haley didn't know what to say so she nodded and immediately pulled Lucas into a hug.
"Thank you." Haley whispered, as she pulled away from Lucas's embrace.
"Don't thank me Hales, just doing the right thing. If anyone, thank Nathan. He's the one whose been planning this all out and trying to bust Dan since you told him you thought he was the culprit. You two have something special, don't let that go."
"I won't. And I will make sure to thank him, I had no idea."
"Good. But I really have to go Hales. We can catch up later!" And with that, he was off. Haley couldn't believe what Nathan and Lucas had done for not just her but for Chris and his family as well.
"Hi Tutorgirl, I thought I heard your voice." Brooke shyly said as she approached the open front door while rocking Keith in her arms.
"Hi Brooke. Yeah sorry, Lucas and I got caught up talking about something."
"Do you want to hold him? He's asleep but I'm sure he would love to be held by his Aunt Haley."
"I would love to, thank you." Haley took Keith from Brooke's arms and her heart melted. He was so precious and so tiny. She could see that he had Luke's eye shape and mouth with Brooke's nose and hair color. He was the perfect mix of the two of them.
- Friends First then Love -
Lucas met Nathan at the police station and they both walked inside, their hearts pounding. They had gone back to the crime scene and very carefully examined what they could see and were able to find a couple of small pieces of evidence, along with Lucas's story of when he encountered Dan but they both worried that that wasn't enough. Just as they were about to approach the front desk, they stopped short when they saw the recognizable figure standing 10 feet in front of them.
"No fucking way." Nathan muttered, as he looked at Lucas who just stood there in shock.
"Wow." Was all that Lucas could say in response.
"Am I seeing things or is that who I think it is?" Nathan mumbled.
"No little brother, I think that's who you think it is."
- Friends First then Love -
After holding Keith for a while, he began to get fussy and Brooke took him back and placed him in his crib, playing a soft lullaby in the background so that he could nap. She led Haley into the kitchen where they both sat down in silence.
"He's beautiful Brooke. He's the perfect mix of you two."
"Thanks. Yeah, he's something special. I never thought I could love someone as much as I love him. But hey, you'll get to have one of your own in no time."
"Yeah, scary isn't it?"
"Yeah, but it's worth it." Haley nodded and again the two of them sat in an awkward silence before Brooke decided to break the ice.
"Look Haley, I'm really sorry about what I said earlier. I am really happy for you and Nate and I know you two will make great parents. This is going to sound dumb but I acted that way because I was jealous. I was jealous because for once I had something that you didn't and the glory was all mine for the minute, which is disgustingly selfish and I'm ashamed to even admit this. I just have always envied you Haley, and I let that ugly jealousy get the best of me and in the way of congratulating my best friend who deserves a baby with the man she loves more than anyone. So, I'm sorry Haley and I am truly happy for you guys. I know you love him and he loves you and that's the only ground you need to stand on."
"Thank you Brooke. I'm sorry I acted so negatively too, but please don't be jealous of me. I mean you're Brooke freakin' Davis. I envy you if anything!"
"I'm not that great of a person. I mean who gets jealous and doesn't congratulate their best friend when she announces she's pregnant? Me."
"Whatever, it happened. You didn't mean it and it's stupid to fight over. Your friendship means too much to me Brooke Davis to let something as petty as this get in the way of it. You're my best friend and I love you."
"Hales, you're my best friend too. I never really had friends until you came along and I am so grateful that you were placed into my life. You have taught me so much and I am so happy to call you my best friend." The girls hugged and it seemed like everything was going to be okay for once.
That is, until Haley felt a pain in her stomach. She decided to ignore it because she figured it was just cramps which seemed normal to happen. Or maybe it was hunger pains. She hadn't really eaten much today, so that had to be it, right?
- Friends First then Love -
"Is he doing what I think he is?" Lucas asked, as Nathan and him continued to stand there staring at the figure in front of them.
"I don't know man but let's not just stand here and stare, let's go find out!" So they went and approached him, keeping a distance where he wouldn't see them but they could still hear what was going on.
"Hi sir, can I help you?" The man at the desk asked him as he stared back at him. He took a deep breath. He couldn't believe he was doing this but it was the only way that he could show his sons that he really did care about them and he was sorry for being such a jerk to them their entire lives. He deserved to be here anyways. This is where people like him ended up, and he just had to accept that. He gave Felix money and told him to run. He was too young to have to be thrown into all of this legal shit. It was better that he took the fall instead of Felix, since Felix really only assisted in the attacks and not the murders. He couldn't believe that he had been caught on to, but Lucas was right; he was getting what he deserved.
"I would like to turn myself in for the murders of Keith Scott and Chris Keller."
Nathan and Lucas's jaws both dropped. Dan had done it, he had actually turned himself in.
"No fucking way."
Dan looked back at both of his boys as the cop led them away. He stared at them and nodded, knowing that this may be the last time that he may ever see either of his sons again.
"Wow, I didn't think he actually had it in him." Lucas mumbled, as he stared back at Dan making sure that he knew how much he hated him. This was justice being served.