This takes place in the time frame of the 5th season but nothing of it happened. No Carrie, no Lindsey, Nathan never had his accident and Karen still lives in Tree Hill.

Prologue

It happened on a sunday. He came home that afternoon and before he had even walked through the door, he knew something had changed. Like he could sense it in the air. He paused in the doorway, not sure if he wanted to know, it had been such a beautiful day, the flight from Chicago where he had gone to see his brother had been completely uneventful and he couldn't wait to see his family. And then he heard it. Voices in the living room, cries. And then he saw it. His wife sobing, Karen looking woriedly at her, his mother pacing. And he knew.

When she saw him, she ran into his arms sobbing even harder.

He knew, but he wanted someone to tell him that it wasn't true.

Police officers seemed to be everywhere.

Finally, Haley turned her head up and looked into his eyes.

But he already knew.

"Jamie..."