Author's Note: I've finished another story of OTH and I hope that you like it. If you want a happy story, you probably shouldn't start reading this one because it's anything but. Btw: I am a fan of Naley and Leyton so what I've done to them isn't what I think should happen to them on the hit CW drama "One Tree Hill". Tell me what you think. I always appreciate your comments :)
Chapter 1
Haley pressed the back of her hand to little Jamie's forehead like her mother had done to her when she was little. "Yep, you're warm bud. Go back to sleep and I'll call the school."
She kissed his cheek and pulled the covers up to his chin. Obediently Jamie closed his eyes and tried to go to back to sleep.
Haley quietly shut the door behind her and trudged off into the kitchen. "How's Jamie?" Nathan asked as Haley slid past him to pour herself a cup of coffee.
"Not good. I think he's running a fever." Haley sighed, digging around the cabinets for some sugar.
"Are you going to stay with him?" Nathan asked, moving around her and grabbing extra sugar packages he had stashed in the drawer and tossing them to her.
"Ya, I need to call the school so they can find a substitute. I also need to call Jaime's school and let them know he's not coming in. Oh shoot! I still have to call the doctor." Haley frowned at the long laundry list that lied ahead.
"You know, Deb could always watch him." Nathan said.
"I actually gave her the day off today. Her and Skills booked a romantic cruise." Haley said with a shiver. "I was gonna pick Jaime up after work and take him home because I don't have any meetings today, but I guess I can just stay home with him."
Nathan glanced at his watch. "Well, I have to go. Lucas and Skillz want to go over some new plays and then there's practice after school."
"Have a good day." Haley smiled, giving him a quick peck on the lips.
"Call me if you need anything." Nathan said, sliding out the back door.
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Peyton clutched her stomach as she slowly emerged from the bathroom. "You okay?" Lucas greeted her, worried by the green tint to her complexion.
"I think the shrimp I had last night was bad." Peyton was about to vomit by even mentioning food, let alone thinking about it.
"That or maybe you got the flu too. I just got off the phone with Haley and Jaime's sick. She's staying home with him." Lucas said.
"No, I've had the flu before. This isn't the flu. I feel…weird. And sick to my stomach." Peyton frowned.
"Do you want me to carry you to bed?" Lucas smiled, stepping towards her.
Peyton held up her hands to protest. "No, no! I don't want you to catch what I have!"
"You just said it wasn't the flu…and food poisoning isn't contagious…" Lucas laughed.
"Well I don't know what it is, and I don't want to risk you getting sick." Peyton said. Her stomach turned again and she flew to the bathroom just in time.
Lucas held her hair back as she heaved everything she had eaten last night and then some into the toilet.
With his free hand, Lucas wet down a towel in the bathroom sink with cold water and placed it on the back of her neck.
"Maybe you should see a doctor." Lucas suggested as Peyton lay back against the bathroom counter. She grabbed some toilet paper and wiped off her mouth before flushing the toilet.
"I don't know if I can make it there." She whispered through cracked lips, intertwining her fingers with Lucas's. "You have to go to work."
"I can skip it-"
"No you aren't. Go to work. I'll be fine." Peyton closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"You aren't going to sleep here, are you?" Lucas asked.
"I don't think I can move without vomiting. So here is where I'll stay." Peyton replied softly.
Lucas let go of Peyton and disappeared. The wet towel on the back of her neck slid off and thunked against the bathroom tile. Peyton was too weak to even consider picking it up.
"Here." Lucas said, kneeling beside her. Peyton opened her eyes and lulled her head towards Lucas. He had a blanket in his hand and a glass of water. He tipped her head back and poured a little water into her mouth. It tasted refreshing.
He threw the blanket over her and bundled her up. "I don't want you to get cold." He kissed her forehead. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
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Lucas threw his coat and bag in the corner and slumped in his seat. He didn't want to come to work and leave Peyton at home puking her guts out. He felt really terrible.
"Knock, knock." Nathan said taking a seat in a chair that was in front of Lucas's desk.
"Hey, I heard about Jamie."
"Hey, I heard about Peyton."
"Is there any way we could skip practice and go home without them knowing?" Lucas wondered aloud.
"Afraid not." Nathan sighed.
The secretary from the main high school office knocked on the door. "The principal sent me down here to tell you Matthew and Brett were fighting in class today so they're banned from three games. Also, Logan is sick with mono and Tyler is now on house arrest."
"Please tell me you're kidding." Lucas said flatly.
"Sorry Coach Scott. I'm afraid not." The secretary frowned, turning around and walking back down the hall.
"I say the team should be doing some serious suicides today to make up for the loss." Nathan suggested.
"I agree." Lucas nodded, digging in his bag for something. "I was working on some new plays last night. You should take a look."
Glancing briefly at the complicated plays and numerous amounts of papers Nathan said, "I have a feeling we're gonna be here awhile."
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Haley had been scrubbing and cleaning all morning. It helped her calm her nerves and worries about Jaime. She had gotten a hold of the doctor earlier that morning and the soonest he could fit him in was tomorrow morning at 9:00.
Until then, she was to keep Jamie's fever down and he was not allowed to leave his bed.
Haley finished pulling all the curtains closed when she decided she should go check on Jamie.
"How are you feeling buddy?" she asked, pressing her hand to his forehead.
"I still don't feel good." Jamie mumbled, grabbing his stomach.
"I'm sorry sweetie. We're going to the doctor first thing tomorrow morning." Haley promised, kissing his forehead.
"When's papa coming home?"
"He'll be home-" Haley was interrupted by the doorbell. "He'll be home as soon as he's done with practice. I'll be right back."
Haley flew to the door hoping, for some weird reason, that it was a doctor or someone who could help Jamie.
She peered through the peephole and gasped quietly. Her trembling fingers chained the door before slowly backing away.
She scrambled for the phone but when she started dialing, the tone was dead.
"It's so easy to cut the phone lines." Carrie said through the door. Haley dropped the phone and reached for her cell phone. "And it's so easy to make sure your cell phone has no signal too."
Haley ran to the backdoor and chained it. "You think chains are gonna stop me?" Carrie cackled through the door.
Haley sprinted to Jamie's room.
"Momma? What's-"
"Shh. Come with me and stay quiet." Haley's shaky voice whispered as she wrapped her son in a blanket and swung him onto her hip.
She took off down the hallway and to the kitchen. She looked around and spotted the kitchen sink.
"Under here." She whispered. "Don't speak or make any noise. I'll come get you when it's safe."
Haley made sure Jamie was successfully hidden before grabbing a 10-inch butcher knife and from the knife rack that she kept on top of the refrigerator, out of reach for her youngest son.
She tiptoed to the front door and peered out the peephole. A startling crash made her jump.
Haley thought twice about running for help, but she couldn't bring herself to leave Jamie.
Taking a deep breath, she went towards Jamie's bedroom where she heard the crash.
"Hello Haley." Carrie smiled, cocking the gun.
Haley froze before the adrenaline clicked in. Before Carrie had a chance to fire, Haley picked up the lamp form her nightstand and yanked the cord out of the wall. With all her might, she threw it at Carrie. It shattered over her head.
Using that as a diversion, Haley sprinted out of the room.
Carrie trailed her into the living room.
Haley hid behind a wall and when Carrie came into close proximity, she plunged the knife into her chest. Carrie's eyes bulged and her finger slipped on the trigger, causing the gun to go off.
Haley ducked even though the bullet hit the ceiling. She watched in triumph as Carrie tumbled backwards with the knife protruding from her chest.
Haley turned to go to the kitchen but froze at the sound of a gun cocking. She slowly turned just as Carrie pulled the trigger.
The bullet pierced through her gut. The pain was so blinding that she stopped breathing for a couple seconds.
Losing consciousness and blood quickly, Haley grabbed a vase and smashed it against Carrie with all her strength she had left. Thankfully, Carrie blacked out so she could get away.
Haley tumbled forward and applied pressure to the bleeding hole in her gut. Her mothering instinct took over, so she picked herself up and wobbled off to the kitchen. She heard Carrie groan as she was coming to, so Haley veered off to hide. After all, she didn't have any more weapons to protect herself.
Not only that, she was losing too much blood and she feared she only had a matter of minutes left to live.
Then a wonderful sound came to her ears while she found a hiding spot.
The doorbell.
