As Lucas went in to see the doctor, Ms. Marshall thought. She thought about everything she'd done. She was too sad to cry, too broken down to sob. All she could do was stare ahead at the clock on the wall in the waiting room and think. With nothing to think about but her actions, she grew tired of thinking very quickly. 

    Her eyes, though not wet with tears, were wrought still with great pain. Before Lucas had gotten injured, she had pondered if she had only had a child because her parents wanted her too, but in that moment, as the other boy slammed into her son, she knew that was wrong. She did have motherly instincts. As her son was injured by a predator, she longed to protect him, stand in the way of the attacker, and attack herself. 

     Jennifer Marshall was an elegant woman... until she wasn't. She hadn't behaved with grace over the past few days. Vincent, next to her in the waiting room, was a grand reminder of that. She couldn't imagine herself sitting on the bleachers hair a stingy mess watching a soccer game, but she'd done it. Ms. Marshall was changed, brought to a primal level by the changes to the world she couldn't prevent. 

     There's was an ache in her chest, and she clutched at it briefly, though she knew it wasn't physical. It was the kind of hole, emptiness, that only a mother could feel. It was a gripping sorrow that tore through her soul like lava spilling her insides with barren hardened stone. It was the pain a mother feels when her child calls out for a mother before herself. The pain of watching Lucas suffer while calling out for somebody else. The pain of being unable to do anything, and being unwanted regardless. 

     She looked to Vincent next to her. Perhaps that was part of the reason she hated the Chances. At first it had been prejudice, plain and simple, but as Lucas grew to prefer Molly Chance over her she began to resent their relationship. She'd never known what kind of relationship she'd wanted with her son until she saw Molly have it. 

     Lucas was in love with Vincent. She'd always known it to be true. Her and Molly both, though Molly had some doubts as to whether or not it would fade over time. When Jennifer had reached out to Molly, she'd though she'd find an ally. She thought she could find a place where they could agree, and Ms. Chance would want Lucas around Vincent less, but she didn't. In fact, though she thought the whole thing could be pleasant and reveled at Lucas becoming fully part of their family. Jennifer had never seen it like that. she'd never thought to look into marriage like that, and she'd certainly never considered the moral quandary would arise with her son.

     Vincent's arms were crossed over his chest. He was shaken up, but no worse for wear. Having to sit next to Ms. Marshall after everything that had happened was a force of will, but he forced himself to do so. Walking out of the room and seeing Vincent next to his mom, at least symbolically united, was important for Lucas, Vincent decided. 

     Marty had driven along behind them and sat in the waiting room awkwardly. He wasn't really sure if he was still supposed to be there, or if he should be gone by the time Lucas got out. To be safe, he'd left a seat between Vincent and him, a buffer just in case Lucas was feeling jealous or angered by the day's events. It was hard seeing his best friend like that, even harder being away from him. He supposed it was for the best that Lucas and Vincent were together, when Lucas got upset like that Marty had no idea how to shake him out of it. 

    "You can sit next to me." Vincent smiled weakly, shaking Marty from his thoughts. "I don't bite."

     "Oh... right... I just.." Marty stood up quickly and moved. "I didn't know how you'd feel about that."

     "mhm." Vincent sounded in agreement. "It's been a very long day."

     "Yes."

     "I'm sorry if it seemed like I was taking away your best friend."

    "Oh.. no really, it's alright.. I know you weren't trying to-" Marty jumbled through his words sheepishly before taking a deep breath. "I- thank you. I should just say thank you. I'm sorry I tried to take away yours."

    "Thank you." Vincent stated with a peaceful tranquility. "I get it... being upset, I mean.. I suppose I was just upset when I thought Lucas had someone else."

     "Thank you." Marty ran a hand through his black hair wistfully. "That actually makes me feel a lot better." 

     Marty nodded to himself quietly and they fell into a more comfortable silence. Ms. Marshall eyed the two boys suspiciously. She wasn't sure exactly what they were talking about but from context clues she gathered Marty had also harbored feeling for Lucas. She looked the boy up and down. His dirty shoes to his flannel shirt and heartbreaker smile caused her to grimace. The her sights turned to Vincent next to him, hands covered by the sleeves of a cream sweater he was hugging closer to himself. The little redheaded boy who'd cared for Lucas since they were children was definitely more what a mother like her wanted for her son.

    "I'm gonna run and grab some coffee. Anybody want some?"

    "No thank you." Vincent smiled. 

      Marty stood up, brushed his thighs and made his way down the hallway towards the cafe. Ms. Marshall watched him intently from behind as he moved. 

     "If Lucas hadn't liked you he'd be with that boy, wouldn't he?" She asked. 

     "Maybe.." Vincent's brows furrowed in confusion. "Maybe not... but it'd still be a boy."

     "I... I figured. He's very attached to you, isn't he?"

      "Yes, Ma'am." Vincent nodded. "I believe he is."

      "Then I should probably get to know you better... shouldn't I?"

      "I'd like that."

      "You're tired today." Jennifer patted Vincent's shoulder. "But we'll... I'll put in the effort to get to know you."

     "Thank you, Ms. Marshall."

     "Jen."

     "Jen." Vincent repeated, it sounding weird to his ears as it left his mouth. For so long she'd been the monster who came along with Lucas and terrified Vincent, but here she was a broken little woman. "I love Lucas."

     "I'm glad... you always have?"

     "I think so." Vincent shrugged. "I think I just didn't always realize it."

      "Sometimes I don't think he knows how much I do... please.. once this is over, remind him. I don't think he'll want to talk to me for a while."

     "He will." Vincent reached out and took her hand in his own. "But I will. I only had a mother growing up... I know how much it means. I'll never let him forget."

     "Thank you." Tears streamed down Jen's face. "Do you think he'll want to see me when he comes out?"

     "Of course," Vincent exclaimed, and heavier tears fell from her face. He drew her into his arm and hugged her tightly, letting her tears soak through his sweater. "Of course he will."

     "Thank you." She repeated. 

     Ms. Chance lifted her head from Vincent's shirt and wiped her nose, lifting her chin. Crying in a public place was certainly not proper. She pushed her stray hairs behind her ears and shook the sadness from her eyes. "I'm sorry." She said stiffly, patting at Vincent's sweater. "You shouldn't have had to see that... I'm embarrassed." 

     She eyed the other people in the waiting room, but being at a hospital meant most of them felt the exact same way as her.

      "I know I threw that game pretty bad, but you don't need to cry about it." Lucas' voice shattered the silence, and Vincent and Jennifer both stood up to greet him. He was balanced on crutches and had a thick cast over his leg. 

      "Lucas!" Vincent exclaimed, shaking his own tears from his face. Tears he hadn't realized he'd cried. "Are you okay? How's you leg?"

     "It's fine." Lucas shrugged. "I've got to take it easy, but next season I'll be ready to play full force."

     "Thank God." Jennifer clutched her neck. "I'm so sorry Lucas... I didn't, I never meant to-"

     "It's alright mom." Lucas shook his head. "We can.. we should talk about this in private."

    "Of course." Jennifer looked down at her hands. 

     "I got Lucas coffee, I figured he might want it when he got-" Marty began emerging from around the hallway. When he saw Lucas had gotten out of the room his face paled in fear. The million times he'd gone over their reunion in his head, it hadn't been Lucas accidentally seeing him where he wasn't meant to be. 

      Lucas eyed Marty for a moment, then looked to Vincent who smiled encouragingly. Lucas nodded a greeting to Marty, then reached out and offered his hand, "I'd love some coffee, thank you."

     "I.. yes, here you go." Marty handed him the cup. "I meant to give it to Vincent to give to you, you weren't supposed to see me. I'm sorry you had to."

     "I'm glad to see you." Lucas smiled endearingly. "You drove Vincent to the game?"

     "Yes." Marty smiled a lopsided smirk. "I knew you'd need him."

     "Thank you, then." Lucas turned to Vincent with weak smile of his own. "I'll see you."

     "I'd like that." Marty beamed. 

     "Let's go home. I'm exhausted, and I want to sleep in my own bed." Lucas turned to Vincent with a weak smile.

     "I've got the keys. I'll drive you." Jennifer nodded, futilely wiping her face again. 

     "I'm just so relieved you're alright... does it hurt terribly?" Vincent asked, fretting over Lucas' leg. 

     "Like a bitch." Lucas chuckled. "But I'll get through it. Come on."