Getting There

Chapter 1

"Hey, I know we not the couple we used to be; we're going to get there . . . I know it." said Nathan, his face full of concern and honesty.

Haley could feel relief washing over her as she studied the seriousness in her husband's face. For the first time in the months since his accident she felt like she was really staring at the man she had married; she felt hopeful.

As the relief that her husband and partner was returning to her came over her, she could feel herself beginning to tremble. The strong walls she had built around herself over these past months, to protect both her and Jamie had been shaken at times, but as she felt the love in Nathan's words and saw it in his eyes, she could feel the walls begin to crumble away.

She stepped towards him, as he leaned forward on his crutches. In the months following Nathan's accident, her attraction to him had never waned, but she had suppressed it, initially focusing on his physical troubles, and then later dealing with the emotional turmoil. As she looked at his deep blue eyes, she could feel another slightly foreign feeling returning to her: desire.

They rested their foreheads against each other for a moment. Nathan needed the moment to gather his courage. His new shave and haircut helped to make him feel more like the person that Haley wanted, but he was still wary of his body. Could she want him after seeing him in such a dark place? He knew how big Haley's heart was and how committed she had been to him and to their family, but maybe she just didn't feel attracted him physically any longer.

As Haley rested her forehead against her husband's, she took a second to gather herself. She thought to herself about a night a couple months ago. . . .

She came into the living room and saw Nathan sleeping on the couch. She looked at him and the bottles that surrounded him. She was overwhelmed with fear and desperation. Only a few nights prior they had had a fight about Nathan's drinking and his role or lack thereof in this family. And here he was again sleeping off another bender. She sunk down onto the ottoman and just watched him, a few silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

"What are you angry about now, Haley?" muttered Nathan without opening his eyes.

Haley's body stiffened. She had thought he was passed out. "How did you know I was here?" she said softly, "You didn't even open your eyes."

"Do you think I need to open my eyes to know you are there? he said, opening his eyes. Nathan struggled into a sitting position. Haley started forward, to help her husband, hating to see him struggle. But the scathing look he shot her stopped her in her tracks. She wasn't used to seeing such resentment and negativity directed at her. She slid back onto the ottoman.

"I am not completely helpless. I can sit up without you, Haley," Nathan shot.

"I know you can. God, Nathan, we used to be a couple that helped each other, that supported each other when times got hard. And now that times are really tough, and you need help, you are going to try to do it alone?"

"Maybe I just don't want any patronizing from you."

"Patronizing Nathan? I am your wife. I promised to be here, in sickness and in health. And I want to help you. Any way I can." Haley shot back. "

Haley stood and walked over to the couch sitting down next to Nathan. "I am here for you, however you need me. Let me in."

She took his hand gently in hers. As she touched his hand, and felt the slightly calloused skin of his fingers brush against her smaller hand, she could still feel the electricity between them. She loved Nathan's hands. They were so strong and big. His hands could palm a basketball, or give their son a high five. His talented hands could also touch her body in ways that made her shake in pleasure. She looked at his eyes, cautiously, hoping to see the same. As their eyes met, she thought she saw a glimmer, but if it was there, it quickly faded away.

Nathan pulled his hand back from her. He felt the tingle when she held his hand in her two small soft hands. He loved Haley's hands. They were so much smaller and softer, but deceptively strong and talented. He loved watching her hands, as she played the piano, comforted their son, or touched his body. He knew she was offering him comfort, but how could she want him after all this? He couldn't deal with thinking that his wife, with whom he had experienced such amazing pleasure, might only look at him as injured.

"Fine Nathan, do it alone. But remember, I am here." Haley said, her heart aching. Maybe she was there. But was he?

As she shook herself from the memory of that night, her last stilted attempt at physical closeness with her husband, she felt him tilt his head slightly. He leaned in cautiously, and brought his lips to hers. As soon as their lips touched, any caution or apprehension floated away. Haley raised her hand to his face, her thumb tracing a line from his cheek to the corner of his mouth, as her other hand wrapped around his neck and grabbed the fabric of his shirt. She reveled at the feel of his shoulder muscles through his shirt. She could smell his cologne as she stepped further into the embrace.

Nathan raised his hand to cup Haley's cheek, letting it linger along her jaw line.

They broke apart, panting, despite the brevity of the kiss. This time, when their foreheads touched, their eyes remained open.

"Nathan…." stammered Haley. "I love you so much."

Nathan felt his heart swell. "I love you too baby."

Haley leaned in again and kissed Nathan enjoying the feel of his lips against hers. She sucked on his top lip and then his bottom lip, running her tongue along the seam. She moaned into his mouth as he opened his lips and tangled his tongue with hers. She opened her mouth wider. She couldn't get enough of him. His lips and his tongue were just as amazing as she remembered. She released the fabric she was gripping and instead bore her fingers into his firm shoulder. Her other hand snaked into his hair and her nails scraped against his scalp.

Nathan groaned gently feeling her fingers in his hair, scratching his head. It was as though his scalp had a direct line to his cock, which was slowly stiffening. Nathan let his hand drop from Haley's jaw to her smooth neck, smirking as shivered under his fingers.

Haley stepped further into their embrace, pulling herself closer to Nathan. As she pulled on him, he stumbled slightly into her. His hand dropped from her neck to steady himself on his crutches.

She looked at him, concerned, "I'm so sorry; I am such a klutz," she whispered.

Nathan looked mortified. "I guess my body just isn't ready for this yet, Hales," he tried to joke, but it fell flat. The last thing he needed was to remind her of his physical issues, and here he was stumbling around and interrupting the first real kiss that they had had in months.

Haley was not about to let her husband wiggle out of this. She needed him, now. She could feel the desire pooling in his stomach and her knees were rubbery. Haley ran her hands up his arms, over his shoulders, and cupped his cheeks forcing him to look directly at her.

"Nathan, I know your body. Your body is ready for this. We just need to be creative." she smirked as her eyes gleamed naughtily.

"Hales. . . I don't know," Nathan stammered. "I-I-I. . ."

"What, baby?" she said softly.

Nathan shifted his eyes downward, "I don't want to let you down." he whispered.

Haley sucked in her breath so suddenly, his eyes shot back up. "Nathan Scott, you have never, not one time, let me down. We have had bumps in the road. Hell some felt like mountains, but you never let me down. Like I said before, when we fall short, it doesn't matter, because we are in this together, for the long haul. I love you." Haley pressed her lips against Nathan's, her tongue seeking entry into his mouth. Nathan opened his lips slowly, allowing her tongue to caress his gently. Haley broke the kiss, and Nathan's eyes flew open at the abrupt way in which she pulled away, "And furthermore," Haley continued, her voice dropping seductively, "you have certainly never let me down physically."

Nathan looked into her brown eyes filled with desire and crushed his mouth to hers. Months of celibacy and suppressed passion were poured into his kisses. His tongue and lips moved against hers. He gently nipped her lips with his teeth, and then soothed them with his tongue. Haley couldn't stop the mewling sounds that escaped her lips as her husband's lips moved across hers.

"Nathan. . ." she said panting, "I need you."

Upon hearing that, Nathan reached for Haley again, releasing his hold on one of his crutches. His arm snaked around her tiny waist, and he pulled her towards him. His hands itched to touch her neck and back, and slide down to her sexy ass, but he couldn't touch all the delicious parts of his wife, and still hold himself up.

Nathan pulled back, "I want to touch you, Hales," he breathed into her neck, inhaling the smell of Haley: lotion and shampoo and perfume. Haley moaned softly, "Touch me."

"I can't," Nathan said. Her brown eyes flew open, sadly. "No, no, baby, no!" he said, with a smirk, "I can't touch you the way I want to and hold myself up. We just have to, how did you put it? Get creative?" He grinned his trademark Nathan Scott grin, and leaned in to kiss her lips softly.

Haley giggled into the kiss. "Couch? Carrie took Jamie to the zoo for the afternoon, so the house is deserted. . ." Haley trailed off and glanced at the couch, as her fingers dug into Nathan's shoulder with anticipation.

"No," said Nathan firmly, "I want to make love you in our bed." Haley felt tears prick her eyes and she inhaled deeply. "That sounds so good to me. Let's go. . ." She snaked her arm around Nathan, and said, "Here, babe, lean into me."

A deep chuckle escaped Nathan's lips. He looked down at his petite wife and smiled. This was just another reason why he loved her. She would take on any task, regardless of how daunting or seemingly impossible. "Haley, I am twice your size. And I am getting pretty good on these things," gesturing to the crutches. "Why don't you head up there and make sure Jamie didn't leave anything on the steps or in the hallway, and I will be right up."

Haley pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, and started to walk away, her hips rolling seductively. She paused and glanced over her shoulder, "For the record, Scott, I am pretty strong. . ."

Nathan grinned, "I know you are baby; I just want you to save your strength for the bedroom."

Haley grinned and dashed out of the room.