The Mourning After

Summary: What if the school shooting happened while Nathan and Haley were still separated? Haley and Nathan are married but are still not together, that's basically all you basically need to know, the rest will fill itself in.

Note: I am sorry for not updating any of my previous stories. I didn't want to take a new project on but recent personal tragedies have distracted me and this is what came out . I wanted to write everything in one shot but the more I wrote the longer it got. I will update my other stories soon, more likely by the weekend when I have more free time. Thanks for the patience and enjoy the story. Reviews help me write faster so keep 'em coming !

--

"What're you doing here?" Nathan asked, it sounded too harsh even for him. Haley turned around from the stove, trying to ignore his remark. He had no right to talk to her that way, especially after yesterday's fiasco when someone played the time capsule tape to the whole school.

"Morning to you too, I'm making breakfast." She tried to sound upbeat. Haley has done everything in her power to get her and Nathan back together but for the most part it hasn't worked out. She was hurt when she saw the video tape of Nathan telling the whole world that marrying her was a mistake, but she knew the mistake was Nathan's, that he really didn't mean those words. At least that's what she told herself.

"I know that.. but why are you doing it here?"

"I just wanted to do something for you." She said honestly "Besides." She added. "I'm hoping you'd join me and head over to school together."

"Haley.. I don't think that's a good idea." Nathan said, sounding more calm. There was so many things going on right now with school and basketball, he didn't want to bring up the talk of their marriage again, especially this early in the morning.

"I know I'm not as great of a cook as Karen but how hard is it to make pancakes.." She started to ramble on but Nathan cut her off.

"Haley.. I think you know what I mean."

"And that was what I was afraid of." She responded, putting the bowl down and stopped emptying out the contents to the trash. She was lost with out him and was running out of ideas. The night she returned to Tree Hill, she practically pounced on Nathan but he refused her. She practically begged him to sleep with her. It was a new low for Haley, something she swore she would never stoop to again. But at this moment, she was right back there. She had no right to come to his house and think that a morning breakfast would solve their problems. She set herself up for heart ache and that's exactly what she got. She started to think that it was becoming pointless.

"I'm.. I'm sorry." Haley managed to mumble out, while holding back her tears as she started put back the items she took out. Nathan felt the pain in her words, it upset him to see her hurt but his walls were too high, even for her to climb over.

"Don't worry about it, I'll clean it up." Was all he managed to blurt out.

"No.. no it's ok." She replied quickly. "It's my mess .. I should be the one to fix it up." Haley said with Nathan understanding the double meaning behind her words. She quickly put everything back and grabbed her bag. On her way out, she turned back to Nathan, "I'm sorry I bothered you .. it's just… that tape.. did you really mean it?" She paused for a second and then quickly added, "you know, nevermind … I'm sorry ok, it won't happen again… goodbye." She locked eyes with him, fighting the tears back as she said that and took off. She didn't want to know the answer because what she feared the most was that he meant it. Nathan stood there for a moment, thinking about the weight of her words.

He headed to the bathroom and took a shower and got dressed for school. As he got ready for school, he couldn't stop thinking of Haley, not like he didn't think about her constantly. He saw the pain in her eyes and he wondered if maybe this time he went to far, that he pushed her too far this time and that she might not come back. These thoughts plagued him but as he parked his car, he tried to shake things off and focus on getting through the day. He didn't mean the things he said on the tape, he was mad back then, but he never meant it. He knew he had to go find her and tell her that, she deserved that.

Lost in his thoughts, he almost didn't see the swarms of his fellow students running away from the school. He snapped out of it as sirens roared and one student bumped into him.

"Hey, what the hell is going on?" He asked someone.

"There's a gun.. someone has a gun in the school." The kid said in a panic, as he started to run away. His thoughts immediately turned to Haley. He looked around trying to see if she was in the crowds of students exiting the building. He started heading towards the school, but it was hard going against the traffic of students running away from the building. He saw Lucas standing, looking around. He ran over to him.

"Luke!" Nathan called out.

"Nate, thank God you're okay… Brooke and Peyton just got on the school bus." Lucas said with a shakey voice. Nathan knew something was else was wrong.

"Haley? Where's Haley?"

"I .. I don't know.. I ran into her into her earlier.. and before I knew it, someone fired a gun and everyone was racing out of the building... I can't find her Nate."

Nathan's stomach dropped. "Haley!!!" He started to yell out. He started running towards the building with Lucas following, both of them calling out for Haley. But before they can get back in, the police had already arrived and prevented the two brothers from entering. They were forced onto an awaiting school bus were they were shipped away to the local rec center.

--

Chaos was one word to describe the madness unfolding at the rec center. No one knew anything for sure, stories were rampant, there was one gunmen, they were two. Some didn't even know what was going on until they arrived there. They were picked up at their normal bus stops and wondered why they went to the rec center and not to school. Some people were angry, some people were crying and for 4 friends, they were all very worried.

Brook held Lucas a little tighter. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"And Haley?" Peyton asked. Nathan and Lucas looked at each other and the girls knew.

"We have to get out of here, we have to do something."

"Agreed." Nathan stated and the four of them started to head for the exit but was stopped by a police officer.

"Sorry, no students are being released until a parent picks them up." The officer stated as he motioned them to head back.

"I'm Nathan Scott.. the mayor's ."

"I know who you are son" the officer interrupted "but I'm sorry we can't let you out with an adult."

"Then you must know that I'm emancipated so technically I am an adult." The officer turned to his partner who looked at Nathan and knew the boy was telling the truth. The partner gave a nod and the officer reluctantly agreed to let him go.

Nathan started walking out with the others in tow.

"Sorry, but I'm afraid only Nathan can go." The officer stated. But they knew it was pointless to argue, Karen would be there soon and take care of the rest of them.

"You go on ahead, Nate.. for all we know, Haley could be here somewhere.. we'll go look around here." Lucas said as Nathan made his way out.

Reaching for his cell, he called Haley but again it went straight to voicemail.

--

The school was much further away than Nathan thought. But he was in shape and ran as fast he could back to the school. When he arrived, there was a mob of people and reporters behind police barricades. He fought his way to the front and saw his dad. He called out for him and after a few minutes, he finally got Dan's attention and he was able to slip through.

"Dad.. we can't find Haley.. we think she's still inside."

"Don't worry son, I'm sure she made it out fine. Some students were sent to the elementary school down the road." Dan said, trying to reassure his son, before going back and talking to some more officers. Nathan felt somewhat relieved. He called Lucas, but they still couldn't find Haley. They managed to reach Skills and Bevin, who were sent to the elementary school. They asked them to look for Haley. They called back a couple of minutes later, saying that she wasn't there. As time went on, Nathan got even more worried.

Nathan hung around while the police were in a flurry and his dad was trying to organize things with the police chief. Nathan stood there as he heard that shots were fired in the school. Nathan's heart sank when he heard that and he was powerless to do anything. Suddenly there was a flurry of activity as police stormed inside the building and paramedics following behind them.

Shortly there after, a couple of students came running out. Nathan looked intently to see if anyone of them was Haley. Then Dan took off his headset and placed his hand on Nathan's shoulder. He was going to ask what was going on, but that was when he found out. The doors of the school flung open and the paramedics came out with a stretcher with Haley on it. Nathan jumped at the site and ran as fast as he could. Mouth and Rachel were at her side by the paramedics, both with tears in their eyes.

In that moment, everything felt as if it were going in slow motion. Nathan held on to Haley's hand as the paramedics led her into the ambulance. She had been shot in the upper left shoulder and she was covered in blood. Stating that she was his wife, the paramedics allowed Nathan to accompany them to the hospital. He held on to her hand, urging her to wake up. He held her hand throughout the ride and when they arrived at the hospital. She was rushed into surgery and Nathan had to let her hand go. He stood there looking through the glass of the doors as the nurses and doctors led Haley into surgery.

He looked down at his hands and shirt and realized that he too was covered in blood.. her blood. Lucas, Brooke and Peyton with Karen arrived just moments later. They ran over to Nathan who was just standing there looking down. Nathan turned around and saw the grim faces of his brother and friends. At that point, he couldn't take it as Lucas came over and held onto Nathan as he wept openly.

To Be Continued... feedback appreciated !!!