Disclaimer: One Tree Hill is owned and copyrighted by Warner Bros. Television and Tollin Robbins Productions. No copyright infringement is intended.
Warning: Nathan/Lucas incestuous relationship.
A/N: This story continues to be a collaborative effort between myself and Ryan E. Feedback is always welcomed. Contact me at lilliluthor@hotmail.com.
Nathan received a call while he was in the hospital cafeteria getting coffee. Dan was making a surprise visit to the school and wanted to meet with him for dinner. Nathan sighed. His father's timing was impeccable as always. Not wanting another lecture on the importance of family and his college career, Nathan hesitated. He wanted to tell his dad that a friend he'd just met was sick and in the hospital but knowing his dad, he'd probably be angry at him for befriending someone in poor health and want to delve into the person's background to make sure the person hadn't contaminated his son. To avoid all that, Nathan simply agreed to meet with his dad. That meant he'd have to go back to the dorm, straighten it up, shower and change before his father got there.
After hanging up from his dad, Nathan explained the situation as best as he could to Haley.
"Look, just tell Lucas I'll be here tomorrow and if they release him, I'll pick him up. Are you gonna be okay here?"
Haley smiled. She could see how frustrated Nathan was about having to go. She thought it must really suck to have to hide your feelings for someone just because of other people's ignorance.
"Not a problem," she said. "I'll wait here for Lucas' mom and probably help her get situated in a hotel. You go make nice with your dad and I'll stop by your room later to update you on how he's doing."
"Thanks Haley, I appreciate it."
He leaned over and gave the girl an unexpected peck on the cheek before rushing out the door. The dinner with his father seemed long and Dan was obviously annoyed by his son's lack of focus.
"What's her name?" Dan asked cryptically.
"What?" Nathan shook his head, not following the conversation.
"What's the name of the girl who has you so distracted already?" Dan smirked.
Nathan wondered how is dad would take it, knowing the girl who had him distracted was really a guy.
Karen arrived after being dropped off by Dan. She was actually relieved he didn't join her at the hospital. Even though Dan wanted nothing to do with their son, it wouldn't be above him to drop hints at the boy's hospital bed as to who he really was. That's just how twisted the man was. In hindsight, Karen couldn't believe she had ever fallen for a jerk like Dan Scott.
Her son was awake and Haley was by his side. Lucas actually looked well and happy for a boy who nearly died. The smile faded slightly when both teens realized she was there. Karen assumed she'd interrupted the lovebirds reunion after such a terrible ordeal. She decided to spend an hour or so with her son and leave the two alone while she grabbed something from the vending machines.
"Mrs. Roe," Haley, said, leaving Lucas' side and throwing her arms around his mom.
"Hi sweetie, how's our patient doing?" Karen returned the hug before going over to her son.
"What happened Luke? You weren't playing basketball again?" She smoothed his forehead with the palm of her hand.
"No mom. I walked up five flights of stairs without taking my medication. It was dumb," he added, when he saw his mom about to scold him. "but don't worry, Haley has reprimanded me already. I think she was channeling you."
Karen couldn't help but laugh. Her son was in good spirits and that was all that mattered to her.
"I want to talk to the doctor attending to him," Karen said.
Haley spotted the man as he rushed by the curtained area. Karen disappeared after him and Lucas and Haley resumed the conversation that had been interrupted.
"So where were we?" Haley smiled wickedly.
"The kiss," Lucas blushed.
"He actually kissed you in front of the staff here?"
"Yeah," Lucas smiled blissfully. "He was so...unNathanllike, he was adorable. And he questioned everything the nurses did. He was so protective."
"Why Lucas Roe," Haley began in her best southern belle accent, " I do believe your gushing."
Lucas sighed. "Is it possible to fall in love with someone you barely know?"
"You tell me," she smiled. "Anyway, he asked me to tell you that he'll be back tomorrow. His dad showed up unexpectedly and he'll pick you up if they release you tomorrow."
Lucas leaned his head back against the bed, tucking on arm behind it.
"Haley?"
"Yes Luke?"
"I think I'm going to like it here."
It was two days later before Lucas was released. Haley, at Lucas' request kept Karen occupied while Nathan visited. He was afraid the boy might lose control like he did in the emergency room. He still wasn't ready to come out to his mom. Nathan brought candy and flowers and stayed with him during the early afternoon. Lucas learned a lot about the teen and the troubled relationship he had with his father. From the sound of it, Lucas coming out to his mom would be mild stuff compared to what might happen if Nathan told his dad.
It turned out that Nathan's father, Dan Scott, was a powerful man with connections that reached everywhere, including their college. Nathan confided over the two days that he had lost interest in basketball since high school, but his father was reliving his glory days through him. Nathan was a song writer. He posted his songs on the Internet and in his spare time created music videos.
Lucas told Nathan that Haley was into music as well. The two decided that when he was well enough, they'd all go to one of those talent nights at one of the local clubs and try their music out on a live audience.
"I can't wait for you to get out of here," Nathan said, before leaning down to kiss the blond. "I want to make love to you the right way."
"So you made love to me the wrong way before?" Lucas teased.
"You know what I mean. I want to be sober. I want soft music in the background and flowers filling the room with the sweet scent of Jasmine and a warm cozy fire going."
"I think our dorm room is a little small for that," Lucas smiled, amazed at how the boy he once thought was a neanderthal could turn out to be such a romantic.
"Keep that up Luke and I'll withhold sexual favors from you."
"God, you sound like a wife."
Nathan swatted the man on his arm before leaning in. "I'm a horny wife that misses her man terribly."
"Uh...the pronoun thing is a little creepy dude."
"Is this creepy?" Nathan whispered, pressing his mouth against Lucas' and running his tongue across his lips until they parted.
He slipped a hand beneath the sheets and under the hospital gown. Lucas groaned and shifted his legs open slightly. If it wasn't for all the tubes and paraphernalia attached to his arm, he would have returned the favor. The sound of voices approaching separated the men.
"Mom, Haley," Lucas greeted. "Mom, this is Nathan, Nathan my mom."
"Pleased to meet you," he said shaking her hand. "Look, I gotta go meet my dad for an early dinner. I'll catch up with you later." Nathan made a speedy exit.
"Mom? What is it?" Lucas asked, watching his mother stare at the door.
Haley leaned down and kissed Lucas, adjusting his sheets to hide the slight tent in them.
"I don't know.," his mom answered, "but that boy looks familiar."
Dan visited Nathan's dorm his second day in town. Naturally he had questions about his son's roommate. What sort of fellow he was, where his people came from, that sort of thing. Nathan remained vague. He knew his dad was a snob and frowned upon rubbing elbows with the wrong crowd. For that reason, Nathan lied about Lucas, claiming he hadn't met his roommate yet because he hadn't arrived at the school. Dan's next stop on his second day was a visit with Dean Whitey Durham.
Dean Durham worked his way through the ranks at Fullerton. His humble beginnings as a professor of English Literature to his current position of Dean were not without hardship and mistakes along the way. Dan knew all about the Dean's sordid past and if it wasn't for his influence and power, the elder man might not have even maintained his tenure in the school. Durham always suspected the incident Dan held over his head was carefully plotted and carried out by the man who now sat across from his desk. He knew Dan would make a formidable adversary and opted to maintain their friendship.
"What can I do for you Dan?" The dean asked warily, hoping his plastered on smile didn't falter.
"It's what I can do for you," Dan answered smugly. "You've got a bad seed at Fullerton just waiting to tear down the reputation of this fine school." Dan leaned forward in the expensive leather arm chair. "And as you know Whitey, reputation is everything around here."
Dan watched the older man squirm in his chair, pleased that his meaning was understood.
"What do you want Dan?"
"Lucas Roe. He's a student here. He doesn't deserve to be. Find a reason to get him out."
"What has this Lucas Roe done to you?" Dean Durham knew reasoning with the man would make no difference, but expelling a student without cause might raise more then a few eyebrows.
"I think your real question should be what will I do to you if my request isn't granted?" Dan studied his manicured nails while the beleaguered dean called for Lucas Roe's file.
Nathan was glad his dad was catching up with Dean Durham. He also knew that catching up was a euphemism for strong arming the man into letting one his cronies' offspring into the school. God knows it was such tactics that landed him the scholarship to this school in the first place.
His senior year had been less then stellar. An ill-fated romance with a boy from school had ended tragically. No one knew about the relationship and it nearly destroyed Nathan, pretending nothing happened. He never talked about it or the aftermath of clinics and tests and the final word that he was not infected. His game and his school work suffered. So did his already strained relationship with his father. Nathan knew whatever his dad had on Dean Durham must be a doozy for it to have gotten him a scholarship and a spot as a starting player.
Whatever his dad was up to, It gave him the chance to go visit Lucas. He was disappointed to learn that his mom was taking him back to the hotel where she was staying for the duration of the week until school started. Once again, Haley proved to be an ally and arranged to get a hotel key and keep Karen out for a full afternoon of pampering. Nathan grilled Haley for a list of Lucas' favorites in everything from snack foods to authors. After securing several items, he swung back by the dorm to grab the blond's laptop. Haley sent him a text message when she and Karen were on their way out.
Within half an hour, Nathan was pulling up to the hotel parking lot. He quickly gathered all the treats he'd purchased for Lucas and headed up to the room. His heart was racing. He'd never been more excited or nervous in his whole life. Lucas' room was just two doors in from the elevator. Nathan juggled the bags and the laptop while he struggled to open the door with his key. As he entered, he gently closed the door behind him in case his roommate was still asleep. He peeked around from the short corridor but was instantly distracted by the sound of running water.
'He's in the shower,' Nathan realized.
He entered the room fully and arranged the laptop on the desk across from the bed. He set the basket he'd created on the bed and stripped out of his clothes. He slipped into the bathroom and pulled back the curtain. Lucas let out a startled shriek and Nathan panicked realizing at that moment how foolish it was to try to surprise a man with a heart condition.
"Honey, I'm so sorry. I just wanted to..." he stepped in and grabbed the blond pulling him into his arms, showering him with kisses. "Are you okay. I'm so sorry."
The truth was Lucas' heart was racing but not just from the shock of not being alone in the bathroom. Feeling his body crushed against Nathan's and the strong hands rubbing his bare back was making his heart do back flips. Nathan was still apologizing and caressing him.
"Pretty stupid, to surprise a guy with a bad heart."
Luke looked up into the brunette's eyes. "It definitely wasn't one of your brightest ideas," he smiled.
Nathan relaxed just a little. "You're probably not even ready for sex yet." It was more a question than a statement.
"That doesn't mean the trip has to be a total waste," Lucas smiled, pushing Nathan back against wall. He slid down the taller man's body and took his length into his hand.
"Are you sure about this?" Nathan heard himself asking. That's when he knew he was in love. Had it been anyone else, he would have gone for it without thinking twice.
Lucas looked up, the look of concern he saw in the brown eyes staring back at him made him shiver. A few nights ago, the same man practically mauled him. Now he could see worry in his eyes. Lucas pulled himself up and stood face to face with his roommate.
"I'm fine. I got careless and didn't take my medicine." He place a hand on the side of Nathan's face, caressing it. "Maybe we can't have a session like the other night but I can still show you how glad I am you came back to the room and found me that day."
"Lucas," Nathan murmured, leaning into the palm that caressed his cheek, "you don't owe me anything. I nearly killed you."
"Stop that. It wasn't your fault."
"If I hadn't been so scared about what happened between us..." Nathan lowered his head, his body was trembling.
"Nathan," Lucas began, lifting the man's chin so he could see his eyes, "Everything that happened, brought us together. But I don't want you here out of guilt or pity. You don't owe me anything either," the blond said sternly.
"I'm not here out of pity. I came back to the room that day to apologize and tell you ..."
Lucas smiled. He couldn't believe how emotional Nathan was becoming. He'd had the boy figured out all wrong. Standing there in the shower with the cooling water running down his back, with Nathan on the verge of tears, he knew that he had found what he'd been looking for.
"I love you too," Lucas answered.
The two kissed again, deeply and passionately. Nathan's hands caressed Lucas' back, roaming up and down until the settled on the small of his back. The two men could feel their hardened flesh pressed together, trapped between their bellies Lucas pressed forward rotating his hips slightly. Nathan groaned into his mouth. When the kiss was finally broken, Lucas looked into the smoldering eyes of his roommate and for a moment wondered if his heart would stand the strain of being on the receiving end of that look.
"I believe you were about to show me how grateful you are," Nathan said.
"I thought I didn't owe you anything," Lucas replied, letting his hand slip between them.
"Well," Nathan grunted, " I did...ah...save your life."
He was about to add something else but his ability to form coherent sentences went out the window when Lucas slid back down his body and took his length into his mouth.