You all are the greatest! Just so you know. :-)

Enjoy!

Haley quietly sat down by Nathan's bedside. It seemed he had fallen asleep.

"Do you mind if I just sit with him for a little bit?" Haley asked Deb.

"Of course not. It will be good for him to have you here. We're going to go check on some things." Deb replied.

"We'll be back soon." Dan said.

Haley sighed sadly as she really took in the sight of Nathan's injured face.

"What did you do to yourself?" She whispered.

"Wasn't me." Nathan mumbled sleepily.

"Shh. Go back to sleep."

"No way. I've been waiting to see you for hours."

"I'm here now. They finally let non-family members come in."

"I'm glad you're here Haley. This has been a rough day."

"How are you feeling?"

"Crappy."

"That bad?"

"It's not just the head injury. I hate what Keith did, he completely ruined my parent's day, Lucas's day, my family's day. It was supposed to be perfect."

"I know that it certainly didn't end well, but everything before that was good, right?"

"It really was. One of the best days I can remember having with my family. Especially with my family, version 2.0."

"Well try to hold on to that part longer than you hold on to that black eye."

"You're amazing, you know that?"

"What do you mean?"

"You have this ability to bring me back to the positive side of things. It's one of the things I love most about you."

"I'm just happy for that chance to be in your life."

"Trust me, I'm never letting you go again."

"Good."

"Yeah."

"So what did the doctor say?"

Nathan took a deep breath, trying to once again focus on the brighter side of things.

"I'll be out of commission for some time. No training until he says so."

"Does he have any idea how long it will be?"

"He's evaluating my progress and then making a decision. It's making me really nervous."

"Why? Is he worried something else could be wrong?"

"I don't think so."

"Are you worried something else is wrong?"

"It's not that, it's just that I really want to be at my best for when school starts. Sometimes I can't believe that I'm going to Duke, let alone to play on their basketball team. I wonder what I've done to deserve it."

"Of course you deserve it. You are so talented, Nathan. And so dedicated to your team. You've worked really hard."

"I have trouble believing that sometimes."

"Well I'm here to remind you."

"Thank you. I'll definitely be needing it. Probably a lot in the near future."

"How's the pain? It seemed like Keith really hit you hard."

"Well that and winding up face-first against a wall. But yeah Keith can sure throw a punch. Luke doesn't know what he's missing."

"How's he doing? He's been really antsy and distracted since we got to the hospital."

"It's complicated, this whole thing with him and Keith. And my dad."

"What about your dad?"

"What Keith said to Lucas, about how Dad was never around and how Keith was the only one there for him as a kid. He called Lucas an ungrateful bastard."

"That's awful. Keith knows how much that would hurt him."

"That was his goal, I guess. I just don't know what the hell go into him. But anyway, I think Lucas is in this weird place where logically he knows that all of this isn't coming from our dad but it feels the same way that it did when it was Dad saying those things."

"That's why he has been all but absent this whole time."

"I thought the past was in the past though. You know?"

"We've been friends since we were kids. Trust me, this is not the first time that something about Dan has sent him into a downward spiral."

"What can I do for him?"

"Just be there. I wouldn't try to push anything."

"What about my dad? He's not going to let this lie."

"Try to talk to him and make sure he knows not to push too hard either."

Nathan squeezed his eyes shut.

"Are you okay?"

"I just wish I could fix everything."

"For Luke?"

Nathan hesitated for a moment.

"Yeah. For Luke."

Karen found Lucas standing in the doorway of the unfinished nursery, staring inside.

"How's your brother doing?"

"He's been better but he'll be okay."

"And how are you doing?"

Lucas waited a moment to reply.

"Mom, you know that I'm always here for you right?"

"Of course."

"I just wanted to make sure you knew. No matter what might happen in the future, I will always be here with you if you need me, and if the baby needs me."

"I know Lucas. But you shouldn't worry too much about me. Andy is here too."

"Yeah…"

"What's on your mind?"

"I'm just thinking about what he said."

"Keith?"

"Yeah."

"I don't want to let you down. I never ever want you to feel alone again."

"Honey, Andy isn't your father. At least not how your father used to be."

"That's true."

"Why don't you go to bed?"

"Okay."

"I love you Lucas."

"I love you too, Mom."

"Holy pancakes. What's all this?" Andy asked Karen the next morning.

"I'm making breakfast."

"You usually only cook this much when Nathan is coming over."

"I figured Lucas might want options. Do you know if he is up yet?"

"I just peeked in on him about half an hour ago. He was lying face down on one of the Harry Potter books."

"Oh. Okay."

"What's wrong?"

"He's so upset about what happened. He was making sure I knew that he would always be around for me and the baby, that I wouldn't be abandoned again."

"I assume that's not about me personally."

"No, I don't think so."

"I think I hear him." Andy turned his head towards the doorway.

"Whoa. Is this like a pregnancy craving thing?" Lucas asked.

"I just wanted to make something special."

"This looks amazing. Thanks Mom."

"You're welcome. I'll be right back with some juice." Karen said, leaving the room.

Andy sat down and looked at Lucas.

"How are you doing this morning?"

"I'm okay. I'm going to go see Nathan today."

"Even with your father around?"

"Nathan has always been there for me as much as possible when the situation was reversed. I need to do the same for him, no matter what."

"Your dad called this morning to check on you." Andy said.

"Oh."

"Keith turned himself in for assaulting Nathan."

"You're kidding me."

"It's amazing what the cold light of morning can do to one's conscience."

"Is he in jail?"

"Dan said they're not pressing charges. If he is, he won't be in there too much longer probably."

"Right."

"I'll let you know if I hear anything else." Andy promised.

"Thanks."

"Lucas can I say something to you?"

"Of course."

"I promise that I will always be here. Not just for your mom and the baby, but you too. All three of you are my family and I won't ever turn my back on that."

"Thanks Andy. I really believe that. You've done so much for all of us."

"Keith is in a really bad place right now, but with some help I think we can all move past this."

"I hope so."

Lucas saw Haley in the window of the café and decided to stop in before heading to the hospital. As he approached the counter someone reached out and gently grabbed him by the elbow.

"Can I talk to you?" Deb asked.

"Sure. How's Nate doing?"

"He's fine. He was still asleep when I left."

"Good."

"I'm sure he'd love to see you sometime today."

"Yeah. I am on my way over right now actually. I just saw Haley and thought I would check up on her too."

"Listen, I know that Keith drudged up a lot of hurt feelings from the past…"

"I'm okay. Really."

"You've been avoiding your father ever since it happened."

"I'm just not sure what to say to him."

"I understand."

"I know it's not fair though.

"Can I be honest with you? I apologize in advance because it might be hard to hear."

"Sure."

"Your father and I, we have had so many arguments about you. Sometimes I wanted him to be present in your life, and sometimes I was terrified that if he actually was in your life, he would leave me and Nathan behind. I've always hated what I know about his cruelty towards you and Karen, and I hate that I did so little about it. "

Lucas didn't know what to say, but he nodded silently.

"I know that's a lot to take in. I just wanted to explain my point of view. The one thing that was constant all that time was how glad I was that Keith was there for you."

"Same here."

"I know he hurt you sweetie. Clearly he's hurting too and we didn't realize just how much. That doesn't excuse anything of course, but maybe we can do something about it."

"Yeah that's what Andy said."

"He didn't mean it. You know he loves you."

"What if he did mean it? He was or still is in love with my mom. All these years he's basically been my father. He really hated it when he found out that Dad was in my life."

"I don't think it's wrong or unnatural for you to have wanted your actual father to be a presence in your life. Personally I think you've done your best to balance your relationships with everyone."

"Sometimes I feel like I have to pick sides. Just hearing Keith say those things reminded me of how things used to be. It brought me right back to the bad times."

"I know."

"That's not fair to Dad though."

"No it's not. He has so much to make up for, but he can't apologize forever. He's really trying."

"You're right. I'm not even mad at him, I just reverted back to feeling the way I did before every time I saw him. Up until I really started to get to know all of you, anytime I would see you around town I would just feel this weird combination of panic and anger. And shame. I guess with Nathan I got used to seeing him around, but especially seeing Dad…it was hard. Sometimes he would look right through me if I passed him on the street."

"I can never express how sorry I am that you ever experienced that."

"Hey, you can't apologize forever." Lucas teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"Your dad loves you so much. I hope you know."

"I do. I really do."

"I think you should go see your brother."

"He's already texted me like twenty times today."

"Not surprising. Make sure you talk to your dad too."

"You got it. Hey Deb?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

"Of course."

"Hey little brother. Ready to bust out of here?" Lucas asked, bursting into Nathan's hospital room.

"What?"

"I've been sent to bring you home."

"By who?"

"Your mom. Well really I asked her if I could. It took some convincing, but she finally agreed."

"What about Dad?"

"I don't know where he was."

"So you haven't talked to him."

"No. But I will. It's fine. Actually, your mom and I had a great talk. I know I can't hold a grudge against him. It wasn't my intention to, but I was just unable to separate what Keith was saying from the past."

"Did my mom become a shrink or something?"

"She wouldn't be half bad."

"That's cool. I'm glad she could help."

"Me too."

"The doctor said he wants me to come back in a week before he decides if I can start doing training again."

"That seems fair."

"Keep reminding me of that, would you?"

"I can do that."

"Thanks. Let's go then."

"I'm home!" Nathan called out.

"Hi there! What was the final report from the doctor?" Deb asked.

"We'll reevaluate in one week."

"That's not so bad. I probably won't let you out of the house until then."

"Figures."

"Is that you Nate?" Dan called out.

"Yeah Dad. Luke brought me home."

"Hey." Lucas said tentatively.

"Hey yourself. You doing okay?" Dan asked.

"I'm okay."

"Nathan, let's go get you settled." Deb said, motioning for Nathan to follow her.

Nathan lightly patted his brother on the shoulder before following his mom out of the room.

"Should we talk?" Lucas asked.

"I think so." Dan said.

"Okay. I'm ready."

Raise your hand if you think Nathan will follow doctor's orders!

-crickets-