Dan returned to his hotel room and packed his things. He felt like he was in a fog. He'd just left his son for dead on school grounds. He ran his fingers through his thick brunette hair trying to think what to do next. If he knew Nathan like he thought he did, he had no worries about Nathan pointing the finger at him. It wasn't the first time he'd lost control with his son but it had been a while. He was sure Nathan would lie for him and not rat out his old man just like in times past.
He decided to call his son's cell phone. Partly to make sure he was okay and partly to give himself an alibi just in case. The phone rang a few times before a woman's voice answered.
"I'm sorry," Dan spoke calmly, "I must have dialed the wrong number. I'm trying to reach my son."
Dan listened while the woman explained she was a detective and that his son was the victim of what appeared to be a mugging. Dan threw in a few requisite "oh my god's" and demanded to know where his son was. He allowed the female detective to calm him down and tell him where they'd taken his son. Dan clicked off the phone, pleased with his own performance and the fact that from what he'd been able to gather from his conversation, Nathan was conscious but hadn't identified him as his attacker. Loosening his tie and disheveling his appearance, Dan made a dramatic entrance to the hotel lobby and excitedly asked for directions to the hospital babbling about his son being hurt.
The concierge called a taxi for him, thinking it best that he didn't drive under the circumstances. He instructed Dan to call back when he was ready to come back to the hotel and they'd arrange for car service to pick him up as well. Dan offered a tired yet grateful look of thanks and was led out of the hotel by a staff member and into a car.
When he got there he poured on the distraught father routine. Haley, Brooke and another girl were there and overheard him mention he was Nathan's father. They immediately went and introduced themselves.
"We found him Mr. Scott," Haley said.
"What happened? Did my son say anything to you?"
The other girl who introduced herself as Brooke spoke hurriedly. "We were coming back from a party after the game and he was just lying there near the entrance of the campus. It was awful."
"There have been attacks at other campuses," the third girl spoke. She introduced herself as Peyton. "This was probably a mugging."
"Thank you ladies. I appreciate all the help you've given my son but right now, I really need to see him."
The girls nodded in understanding and asked that Dan let them know how Nathan was doing. Dan promised and disappeared between the double doors that led to the emergency room.
Lucas didn't know which one of them was more devastated by the cruel hand fate dealt them, he or his mother. All he knew was that by the time he was ready to leave, both were emotionally drained. His mom had recounted how Dan Scott had used and dumped her the moment he found out she was pregnant, preferring a future in college hoops and the promise of turning pro over fatherhood and family. Then a few months later he knocked up a cheerleader from a wealthy family and married into money. She explained that Nathan was younger than Lucas by a few months and though Dan remained in Tree Hill with his family, he shipped Nathan off to the finest schools. Just a fluke of fate had both boys meet.
Karen didn't blame her son for falling for the boy. In fact, she was positive had Nathan been the jerk Dan was, the two wouldn't have gotten along. Lucas recounted their first encounter and how things changed after he'd gotten sick. It hurt Karen to see her son so much in love and to have that love shattered by Dan's callousness.
"I need to see him. I need to tell him before Dan does."
Karen wasn't so sure that was a good idea but under the circumstances and with Dan's threats she didn't voice her opinion. Lucas had almost been out the door when he got the frantic call from Haley. Karen watched the blood drain from her boy's face as he slumped against the door and crumbled to the floor. She grabbed the phone thinking it was Dan with more of his threats only to hear Haley sounding almost hysterical. It was she, Brooke and another cheerleader named Peyton that discovered the beaten semi-conscious Nathan lying on campus grounds. They called security and he was rushed by ambulance to the hospital.
Karen gathered her son in her arms and helped him up.
"I have to go to him," was all Lucas uttered.
Karen grabbed her purse and room key and helped Lucas out and to her car. It was the same hospital Lucas had been in months earlier. Karen knew the way. They made their way to the emergency room where they met with Haley and the other girls.
"How is he?" Lucas asked, voice trembling.
"He's conscious but the doctors have given him something for the pain. The cops questioned him and it appears someone was trying to rob him. He must have fought back. That's why they beat him so bad."
"I want to see him," Lucas demanded.
"There only letting family in right now."
"Excuse me," Lucas said walking to the security guard that blocked the entrance, "I'm Lucas Scott, my brother Nathan is back there. I'd like to see him."
Haley smiled, remembering how Nathan had lied to see Lucas. She patted her friend on the back and assured him that Nathan would be alright. Lucas realized Haley thought he was lying and that made him feel worse. He'd never lied to Haley about anything before and now he had to pretend that the words he'd spoken in truth were just a lie to see his lover. He knew now wasn't the time to agonize over that. He entered the double doors and inquired at the nurse's station where Nathan Scott was.
The first person Lucas saw was Dan, holding Nathan's hand while talking to a slender redheaded woman. Dan caught sight of him and his eyes went cold momentarily but then he waved him over.
"This is my son's roommate Lucas. Perhaps he can shed some light on what happened tonight."
"Hi, I'm Detective Grafton. Do you know where your friend went tonight after the game?"
"No, I left before the game was over," Lucas said, casting his eyes on his brother.
"Where did you go?"
"My mother and I went back to her hotel room."
Lucas felt tears threatening to spill down his cheeks. Nathan's face and lips were swollen, his nose bandaged. There were bruises on every visible part of his body.
"How is he?" Lucas asked softly, directing his question more to the detective than Dan.
"He has a few broken ribs, his left hand is fractured and he has a concussion," Dan answered. "Fortunately the break isn't too severe and he should be back on the court in no time."
"The court?" Detective Grafton asked.
"Basketball. My son plays basketball. He scored twenty-four points in tonight's game," Dan said with pride.
"Did he half any altercations with members of the opposing team?"
"My god, you don't think one of his opponents did this?" "We'll follow up on all leads, but most likely this was a mugging. I'll be in touch when your son's able to answer questions."
While Dan was distracted by the detective and handing her his card to stay in touch, Lucas sat next to Nathan holding his hand. At that moment he didn't care what their relationship was to one another. He leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips.
"Lucas," the brunette moaned groggily before drifting out of consciousness again.
"What are you doing back here?" Dan spoke in angry hushed tones. "I want you away from my son. You have no right to be here,"Dan barked the minute the cop was out of earshot.
"He has every right to be here. After all, he is his brother."
Lucas was relieved to see his mom standing there, backing him up.
"Isn't that why you came here this weekend; to tell Lucas the truth?"
"You wouldn't be so smug," Dan answered, trying to keep his voice down, "If you knew what they were up to."
"Lucas told me and you know what, this is not their fault. It's yours and mine for not putting our children first."
"Don't tell me," Dan laughed incredulously, "that you have no problem with our son's sleeping together. They're brothers for Pete's sake."
"And had you been a man and owned up to your responsibility, they would have known that and none of this wouldn't have happened."
"Is there a problem Sir?" A young woman asked, hearing the raised voices. Dan figured she was probably just an intern but complained to her anyway.
"This young man shouldn't be back here."
Security was summoned to handle the dispute. The guard from the front desk came to the back to restore order.
"I allowed him back here sir, because he said he was the boy's brother."
"I am," Lucas said firmly.
"Excuse me," Karen said sweetly, "These two boys are half-brothers. This man is their father."
"And who are you?" The guard asked.
"I'm his mother," she said pointing to Lucas. "He is family and has every right to see his brother."
"If he's family he does, but if there is going to be any more disturbances back here, no one will be allowed to visit. Is that clear?" The guard glared at each of them.
"I would like some time alone with my son."
The beefy guard motioned to Lucas to step out and Dan nodded his appreciation to the man and gave Lucas a small smirk of victory.
It was after order was restored and Karen and Lucas were escorted back to the waiting area, that Dan realized Nathan was awake.
"Son," Dan began, hoping to quiet him before the truth came out.
"Is it true?" Nathan asked, his voice faint. "Is that why you did this to me?"
"Son, you're confused. You've been through a traumatic experience," he said, trying to hush his son.
"You knew. That's why you flipped on me. You knew he was my brother the whole time." Nathan was becoming agitated, so Dan drew the curtain and sat on the corner of the bed.
"Nathan, what are you talking about? You were mugged. Your friends found you and called an ambulance for you," Dan insisted. He glared at his son. "I think it would be best for all concerned it you put this unpleasantness behind you. What with Lucas' heart condition and all, the scandal of a star basketball player in an elicit affair with his half brother might just kill him."
Dan kept his voice low and menacing and it didn't take Nathan long to get his meaning.
"Mugged?" Nathan said, reading the seriousness of the threat in his father's eyes.
"Mugged. You put up quite a struggle. So much so that they got away empty handed. Is that clear?"
Nathan swallowed hard. He was no good to Lucas while he was laid up in the hospital. He had to go along for now.
"You told him? That's why he left the game." Nathan accused.
"He set you up son. He knew who you were and deliberately sought you out. He and his mother have concocted this sick plot to get back at me. You hurry up and get better and think about you're basketball career. Tomorrow the police will take your statement. You tell them anything other than a mugging and what I do to Lucas will be ten times worse than what I did to you."