AN: This is the start of my new story. I hope you all like it. However there is something I want to let you in on so people aren't confused. In this story the coupling will be Leyton, Naley, and Brulian. Keith is alive and married to Karen they have a daughter Lilly who is 4 ½ soon to be 5. Dan is around and is the mayor he and Keith made amends. After Nathan left Dan changed and became a good guy. The school shooting still happened but Keith wasn't involved. Lucas still saved Peyton and Haley had still been in the tutor center that day. Nathan's family now gets along Nathan's abrupt leaving changed and hurt all of them and brought them all together. They all missed Nathan and wished for his return someday especially for Haley.

I own nothing. Everything in this story belongs to the creator of One Tree Hill and the CW

Summary: Nathan let Haley go and left in the middle of the night leaving nothing but a note telling her she was too good for him and that she could do better. He had made her a promise one he couldn't keep at least not anymore. He has HCM not Lucas. What's worse is he didn't even tell his family. He just disappeared without a word. What will happen when he is forced back home because of his job. Will he stop lying to his wife and come clean or will it be to late will she have moved on?

Nathan woke up to the sound of his alarm clock loudly buzzing in his ear. Angrily he reached over and slammed his fist down on top of it cursing as he did so because he broke it and would have to replace it again. He made a mental note to himself to get one with a radio maybe that would keep him from breaking it. He hated waking up because in his dreams he was still with her. Haley, his wife that he left in the middle night, she was going after her dream of becoming a singer. After a trip with his brother he found out that he had a genetic heart defect Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy also know as HCM.

He knew that if he lost his dream she wouldn't go after hers and that was something he didn't want so he just up and left without word. She was falling in love with another man at the time anyway. Chris Keller had taken Haley under his wing and she was falling for him or at least that is what he was telling himself. He sent annulment papers to her once and got them back but where she was suppose to sign she just wrote "I still love you." He then sent divorce papers he got those back shredded in an envelope with a letter from Haley. He never tried again he figured it was a waste of time and money. He never did write Haley back but he still had the letter she sent.

He cut ties with everyone he knew and started a new life in Los Angeles. He was on the local Police force where he lived now he was part of an undercover team that busted drug dealers. He had made a big break through in the case last night with an arrest however a few had gotten away. This morning he was due in for a meeting to go over everything in the case.

He got up slowly stretching and grunting as he yawned and started walking to his dresser. He reached for a bottle of pills opened them and took two. Opening the dresser he pulled out a clean pair of boxers closing the dresser drawer and then walking to his closet where he pulled out a pair of jeans and a clean white shirt with a belt and boots.

He laid them out on the bed and went to the bathroom to shower. Turning on the water and flipping the shower on so it could warm up. He then walked to the kitchen to flip on the coffee so it would be ready when he finished getting ready and to feed his dog Duke. Duke was a German Sheppard that had been given to him by a little girl down the street. She claimed that he seemed sad and lonely and that a dog would help keep him company while he was alone. He walked back to the bathroom and stripped off his boxers stepping into the shower. He quickly showered and stepped out wrapping a towel around his waist.

He walked to the sink and whipped the mirror with his hand. He then reached into the cabinet for his shaving cream and razor where he proceeded to shave. Once he finished he put them back where we got them from and retreated to the bedroom to get dressed. Fully dressed he walked to the kitchen to retrieve a cup of coffee; he poured himself a cup and added a little cream and sugar. He turned around and turned the television he had in the kitchen onto sports center to catch the highlights from last night's games. Once he noticed his team lost he cursed and turned to the news.

He freaked out as he seen that he was in a news story. He had helped bust a drug ring and the news of it broke this morning. This was a big deal the story wasn't suppose to be publicized yet because not everyone had been caught and with the shot of him in the open with his badge around his neck not only blew his cover but also put him in extreme danger.

He quickly put the cup of coffee in the sink and ran to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Once brushed he ran into his room quickly putting on his shoes, grabbing his phone and running out the door with his keys in hand. He was half way to his car when he realized he forgot his wallet so he turned to run back in. That was a mistake because a few other dealers that had gotten away where now getting out of the car.

Once inside he quickly ran back to his room and grabbed his wallet and then decided to grab his other gun. He quickly added the holster to his belt and placed his 9mm in the holster checking to make sure it was loaded first. He then grabbed a leather jacket from the closet to cover it and then ran out the door locking it behind him.

Just as he got to his car about to get in he saw the reflection of a slow moving car in the window. As he turned gun fire began to ring out with the car picking up speed. Drive by shootings happen so often that the had a special name for them called the LA special however he knew it was connected to the busts from last night. Before he had a chance to react he felt a searing hot pain in his left shoulder, he knew he was hit so he didn't look he simply pulled out his gun firing 3 shots before falling to his knees in blinding pain. He heard the squeal of tires and then a sudden crash. He reached into his pocket with his right hand and grabbed his phone to call it in.

After a few rings the dispatcher picked up. "This is Nate Scott. I need back up and an ambulance to 2320 West Cove Drive. Officer down, repeat officer down." The dispatcher responded quickly and alerted all units' help was now on the way. Nathan hung up once he heard confirmation he was having a hard time focusing the pain was becoming unbearable he sat up and braced himself against his tire. He heard the sound of sirens in the distance as he looked around the car that had shot at him was crashed a little ways down the road into a tree and from where he was sitting he couldn't tell if anyone was still in the car or not. His eyes where getting heavy so he closed them and in that moment he wished he could be in her arms safe in Tree Hill after that all went dark.

Haley woke up at ten that morning she reached across the sheets to find it empty as always and she hated this. She didn't understand what made him run off. She had no idea where he was. The divorce papers where marked to have been sent from a P.O. Box in Slick Lizard, Alabama however when her and Lucas went to look for him no one had seen him and after a week of looking her and Lucas returned to Tree Hill.

After Nathan left she gave up on the music thing. She did go on tour with Keller but let the tour after 3 weeks. When he left it was as if he had taken her talent with him. She still loved him and always would and she was secretly awaiting his return. Brooke and Peyton both said they would kill him if he ever returned. They always thought he had run off with some other girl. Lucas just wanted his brother home. He missed Nathan and was getting married soon and would give anything to have him at the wedding. Peyton would protest the idea but in the end he was Lucas's brother and family and Peyton wouldn't take out her anger against Nathan on Lucas. If Lucas wanted his brother at the wedding then she wouldn't stop him.

Not wanting to waste time Haley got up. School was around the corner and it would be her second year of teaching at the high school. She was the English teacher and a good one her students loved her classes. She needed to get back in a routine again. This summer had been crazy. Brooke, Peyton and her had taken a trip to Los Angeles where Peyton's favorite band The Cure had played. She swore that she had seen Nathan and in fact tried to chase after him while at the concert she ended up tripping and by the time she got back up he was out of sight. Peyton and Brooke had told her she was going crazy and seeing things. They stayed the night and did a road trip back to Tree Hill. The trip had been a gift from Lucas. He was rich he had gotten a huge payday with his book deal. His book "Unkindness of Ravens" was a number one seller but he was currently working on his second book he also worked at the high school. He was a history teacher and also the head basketball coach.

Haley came into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee Brooke must have made the coffee. She and Brooke lived together and Brooke had left for her store to open it. She was also rich and had her own clothing company "Clothes over Bro's" Haley then walked into the living room and switched on the television. It was on the news she then grabbed her laptop that was sitting on the coffee table she began checking her email half listening to the news. She heard a breaking news story about an officer who had been injured while leaving for work the morning before. Something about drugs… she didn't care at the moment it was news out of LA and she didn't live there.

Sick of hearing the depressing news she quickly grabbed the remote and changed the channel without looking at the screen which held a picture of her injured husband. Instead she changed it to the food network which was a bad idea because it made her hungry. She then switched of the television and went to shower and go see Brooke maybe she could get her away from the store for a late breakfast.

At the store Brooke was currently fitting Peyton to her wedding dress. Peyton and Lucas's wedding was a little over two months away and there was still tons of work left to do on the dress. Yes Brooke had dated Lucas and they had broken up because of Peyton confessing her love for Lucas to Brooke but after months of fighting and then saving each other from Peyton's crazy stalker all was water under the bridge.

They too had the news on Peyton was watching as Brooke was measuring and sizing the dress to fit what Brooke called her "skinny leggy ass". As news of the story from LA broke it caught Peyton's attention and as Nathan's face flashed across the screen Peyton gasped in return causing Brooke to apologize because she thought she had stuck her with a needle.

"Don't bleed on this dress P. Sawyer soon to be Scott. it will look really bad on this dress." Brooke finished as she started to laugh.

"No Brooke look!" Peyton cried out as she reached down grabbing her friends head and moving it so she could she the television.

"Oh my god. Is that Nathan? He's a cop?" Brooke asked standing up.

"Yes I guess he got shot working a case. We have to tell Haley and I have to call Lucas!" Peyton said turning around to go get her phone but not before Brooke stopped her.

"No don't, they don't need to know. He made his choice and he didn't even say goodbye he just left and well was just gone. Let's keep it that way besides Haley is finally becoming herself again infact I think I almost got her in agreement to go out with this guy I know would be perfect for her. If we tell her about him now it's just going to send her into another tail spin. Remember how she was after he left and then again after she swore she seen him in LA. She was a mess and I don't want to see her that way again so just please Peyton lets keep this between you and me." Brooke finished giving Peyton a hopeful look.

"You're right." Peyton said releasing a breath she had been holding. "I guess we could keep it between us. I don't like seeing Haley like that anymore then you do." she finished with a smile. They then turned off the television and returned to fitting Peyton to her wedding dress.

An hour later Millicent, Peyton, and Brooke where talking in the back about what they had seen on television. They had made a pact to keep Haley away from the television or at least the news. Customers had been few and far between. Suddenly the door jiggled in the front signaling a customer had entered the store. The three got up and went to greet the customer.

"Hey Hale's!" they all said in unison as she came into the store. Haley laughed "Good afternoon to you too." She said still laughing and smiling at her best friends. "I was wondering if you all would like to join me for lunch." She asked with a hopeful smile.

"I will." Peyton said as she went to stand next to Haley turning to look back at Brooke and Millie.

"I don't want to leave Millie here by herself." Brooke said looking sad that she couldn't go. She was hungry she skipped breakfast this morning.

"Oh Brooke you can go." Millie said "Marvin is actually going to be bringing me lunch today so you can go ahead and go with Peyton and Haley.

"Oh okay." Brooke said running to get her purse.

A minute later Brooke was back with her purse in hand okay ladies lets go Millie thank you so much and I will be back in an hour. With that the three ladies where off to have lunch at Karen's Café.

The three ladies walked into the Café. They where quickly greeted by both Karen and Deb. "Pick a table ladies lunch is on the house today." Deb said aloud to them causing all three girls to burst out in laughter.

"Wow Deb, what's the occasion," Haley asked all three girls just choosing to sit at the bar off to the side connected with the front counters. Peyton and Brooke cursed to themselves hoping that Deb hadn't seen the news.

"It's a great day and I am just happy to see you three." Deb said to her beloved daughter-in-law. Sure she didn't like the fact that her son and Haley had married at such a young age. After Nathan left they became close in fact Deb hated the way Nathan had left. Brooke and Peyton let out relieved sighs.

Karen handed them all menus. Without looking Haley ordered her usual Mac 'n' cheese. Brooke went for soup and salad and Peyton went for a grilled cheese. Karen wrote them down and went to give them to the cook. She returned giving them all drink already knowing what they wanted. She walked over and placed three diet cokes on the counter causing all three ladies to laugh.

"Thank you Karen." Brooke said.

All five ladies settled into casual conversation telling jokes and having a good time.

The beeping of a heart monitor slowly pulled Nathan out of the darkness. He slowly opened his eyes and was thankful that the light where dimmed.

"Hey welcome back to the land of the living Nate." Said Nathan's partner Clay Evans, who was sitting in a chair next to Nathan's bed.

"Ugh what the hell?" Nathan said

"You got lucky Nate." Clay said "The bullet went right through your shoulder. It lodged in the siding of your garage. It was a hallow point and damn lucky it wasn't 8 inches south of where it hit. You wouldn't be here Nate." Clay said lowering his head.

"I don't feel lucky." Nathan said as he sat up. His left arm was in a sling to help support his shoulder. "Can we get out of here now?" Nathan asked standing up. "Yeah I already filled your pain meds. They said you may need surgery to repair your shoulder but it would have to be at a later date due to all the swelling and damage plus there would be a higher risk for infection. I brought you a shirt from the office." Clay finished throwing an LAPD T-shirt on the bed.

"Clay little help" Nathan said trying to already put the shirt on with one arm and having trouble. Clay was laughing as the doctor walked into the room.

"Mr. Scott glad to see you are awake. You are free to go whenever you like. Let me help you get this shirt on so it's more comfortable." The doctor finished starting to un-due the sling so they could get the shirt on him.

A few minutes later he was fully dressed and walking with clay to the squad car. He cursed as he looked down and noticed blood on his jeans they where his favorite pair. They quickly got in the car and where on the way to the department. Clay was talking about his new wife Sarah. Nathan didn't mean too but he zoned out on Clay hearing him talk about Sarah only made him think of Haley.

In no time they made it to the department walking in he was greeted with a standing ovation. He blushed as he walked to his desk and sat down. Turning to his computer and quickly logging in. He checked his email and had a message from the captain to come to his office as soon as he got in. standing up he made his way to his captain's office.

Lightly knocking on the door as he entered Captain Andy Hargrove stepped forward and shook his hand. "Thank you for coming Nate please take a seat." As he sat down he grunted a little. His shoulder was starting to hurt.

"Nate with everything that is going on here right now I have made a few calls. I feel that it is in the best interest to relocate you as soon as possible. You are being sent to a force in Tree Hill, North Carolina. I pulled some strings to get you in but I figured it would be nice for you I know you have family there." He finished putting his hands together waiting for Nathan's reaction.

Honestly Nathan was speechless he wasn't expecting this. He was expecting having to ride a desk for the next couple weeks. "Wow sir… I mean couldn't I just take a desk job here?" Nathan asked with a hopeful smile.

"Sorry Nate it's just too dangerous for you here right now. The ring that you busted was huge and what happen to you today could happen again but have a worse outcome. That's why I am ordering you to North Carolina effective immediately." "you are an asset to this department I am sure you will be in Tree Hill as well. You have the rest of the day to get your affairs in order an officer will be with you and as of tomorrow morning you will be on a plane to North Carolina. Before you leave please hand over your badge and department issued gun, I wish you the best luck Nate."

Nathan knew better then to argue further it was over. He pulled his wallet out of his pocket and took the badge out of it tossing it on the desk. "Sir my gun is in my locker." Nathan said. "Please turn it into the gun cage before you leave." The captain said getting up and opening the door for Nathan to exit.

With that Nathan left his office and went to his locker and grabbed his gun. He turned it in as he was told. Then went to his desk he took the only thing that mattered to him and that was the picture of him and Haley at the beach on the day they got married. He then turned around and left to pack for Tree Hill with Clay following behind.

AN: Please Review and tell me what you think if you type "sneak peak please" in a review i will PM you a clip of the next chapter as soon i have one :-) . Sorry for any errors. If any of you know of a good Beta Reader that is active and has a fast turn around please let me know. The next Chapter post may take a while i am back to work for the week now with my Birthday also taking place on Sunday. I promise to post as soon as i can Thank You.