More than anyone

Lucas and Haley are married, set in the future. Nathan and Haley were never together, but are really good friends.

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.

Chapter one

Haley looked on with tears in her eyes. There was her Luke, lying in that hospital bed, not moving.

He will wake up. He has to, she prayed.

Luke was in a coma, and it was unknown when he would wake up but the doctors believed that it would be soon.

But how soon is soon?" Haley wondered.

Nathan had several cuts and bruises but otherwise he was fine. Everyone was taking turns coming in to see Lucas and talking to him, and of course Haley was with him as much as she was able.

Emma, the nurse came in to check on Lucas.

"Haley, you must be exhausted, are you sure you don't want to go home?" she asked kindly.

"I can't leave him" she replied, holding onto Lucas' hand as if letting go might mean losing him forever.

"I promise you if he wakes up we'll call you straight away. You need to take care of yourself."

Haley sighed. "I suppose I could go for a little while, his other friends and family will want to see him anyway."

Haley rubbed her eyes, and stood up. She really was exhausted, but eating and sleeping weren't a priority right now; Lucas was.

As she left Lucas' room, she met Nathan and Peyton entering the hospital. Peyton hugged her best friend and as soon as she let go, Nathan did the same.

"How are you?" Peyton asked.

"Bearing up. I'm heading home now."

"Good, you could do with the rest."

"Why don't I drive you home?" Nathan offered.

"But you only just got here"

"Luke will still have Peyton for company until I get back and I'll be happy to take you."

"Thank you," Haley said gratefully.

"Come on" Nathan led Haley to his car and dropped her home.

A few days later, Nathan entered Lucas' room to find Haley talking to him.

"I can come back later" he offered.

"Oh no, it'll be nice to talk to someone who talks back."

Nathan laughed. "Good to see your sense of humour is returning."

Haley smiled, but Nathan noticed it wasn't a true smile, and he saw the pain in Haley's eyes. He recognised it as the same fear in all their eyes. Fear that Lucas wouldn't be all right, that he wouldn't wake up, but no one would admit it, because no one wanted to admit that it was a possibility.

Haley rested her elbows on the bed and held her head in her hands.

Nathan put his hand on her back, and knelt next to her.

"Go home, rest, and take care of yourself. Luke'll kick my ass if he wakes up and finds out I haven't been taking care of you."

Haley laughed and hugged Nathan. They stayed like that for a couple of minutes, both knowing they were comforting the other, until Haley pulled back.

"Can I tell you something?"

"Sure"

"I'm pregnant." Haley smiled a real smile for the first time in days.

"Oh my god, that's brilliant!" Nathan hugged her again, and grinned.

"I had to tell someone, but don't tell anyone else. I'm hoping Luke will be the next one to know."

"Sure thing."

"I'm gonna go home now, I'll see you later."

"See ya!"

Come on Luke. Now Haley needs you more than ever. We all need you. Wake up man.