Nathan woke up early the next morning. He looked around and took in his surroundings, trying to figure out where he was. His eyes came to rest on the sleeping figure next to him. He brushed her hair out of her face and smiled lightly.

Haley opened her eyes slowly and sat up with a yawn. She smiled lightly at Nathan.

"Morning," he said.

"Morning. What time is it?"

"About six. Got any place to be?"

"Well actually I need to be at Karen's in half an hour," she noticed his apprehensive look, "you should come with me, that way your mom will know you're okay and where you were all night."

"Hmm, tempting, but I think I'll pass."

"Nathan, you're going to have to face your parents, whether it's now or later. But I think it would be better all around if you do it before they send out a search party, don't you?"

"Haley, I'm scared. They'll be so disappointed in me. And I don't even want to think about what my dad will do if the doctor convinced him that I was on drugs."

"No, I don't either, but you have to find out. Please just come with me to the diner, your dad won't be there, you'll only have to face your mom." He thought about this for a moment.

"Fine," she smiled and kissed him lightly.

"Thank you," she looked at the clock and jumped up, "ooh, got to get a move on," with that she traipsed out of the room to get ready, leaving Nathan to ponder his possibly deadly decision.

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Lucas woke up later than usual the next morning. He rushed to get dressed and shower before sprinting down the street to the diner. When he got there, Keith and Deb were already there, setting things up for the day.

"So glad you decided to join us Lucas," Keith sarcastically said. He placed a hot cup of coffee in front of Lucas.

"Thanks. Sorry, I overslept."

"Oh, it's no problem, we've been getting along pretty well so far. When you're done would you minds setting the tables?" Deb asked.

"No problem." Just then Nathan and Haley came in. Deb ran around the counter and hugged her son tightly.

"Where were you last night?" she demanded.

"I uh, went to Haley's," she turned to Haley.

"And you didn't call me?"

"I'm sorry, I just didn't think it was the time," Haley said in self- defense.

"Mom, this isn't Haley's fault."

"Oh, I know it isn't. You scared me half to death, Nate. Come on, you know you can't just stay out all night, let alone when you just escaped from the hospital, which we'll get to in a moment."

"I'm sorry I scared you mom. I just couldn't go home and see dad."

"Well I want you to go home now, we'll have this conversation later. And your father isn't there anymore. I asked him to leave," she said, going back behind the counter.

"You did what?"

'I asked him to leave. We'll discuss that later too. Now go," she ordered. Nathan sighed deeply and turned to go, Haley followed him out.

"Well, that could have been worse," she said, trying to be the optimist.

"My mother kicked my father out, how could it get any worse? This is probably my fault too."

"No, Nathan it isn't. This is between your parents, it has nothing to do with you."

"I don't know. Look, I'm just going to go home, you have to work. I'll talk to you later." He leaned down and kissed her lightly, then turned and walked away, leaving her to her work.

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Deb got home around eight that night. She found Nathan sitting in on a bar stool at the island in the kitchen, reading. He looked up when she walked in and closed his book. Setting it down on the table he folded his hands in front of him, waiting for her to say something.

"You want to tell me why you ran from the hospital last night?" Deb asked, sitting next to him.

"It's a long story," just then Dan came in the room.

"Oh, but I think I can start it for you," he said menacingly.

"Dan you shouldn't be here," Deb warned.

"I just came by to get my things, but since this conversation effects me as well, I think I ought to be included in it," he said down across from Nathan.

"The doctor said you were on drugs," Dan said point blank. Nathan looked down and studied his hands for a moment.

"Is that true Nathan?" Deb asked, seemingly horrified.

"Oh, it's true. The doctor found them in his bloodstream," Dan interjected.

"Let Nathan answer for himself." Hesitantly Nathan told them what had happened in the last week. When he was done, both Deb and Dan were seething.

"Why would you do such a stupid thing?" Deb asked once he had finished.

"Who cares why, what matters is that he did, and now he has to pay the consequences."

"Dan-"

"I'm talking to Coach Durham first thing in the morning. Then your mother the school councilor and I will decide what to do with you. Let's hope you don't get kicked out of basketball," Dan but in.

"Dad, they were just steroids, I only took them for a week."

"And you screwed yourself over by taking them at all. Get out of my sight," he ordered. Nathan jumped up and quickly made an exit, running up the staircase to his bedroom.

"Dan, he is not only your son, you can't make these kind of decisions without consulting me first," Deb exclaimed.

"Shut up, Debra, just shut up," Dan said.

"Go get what you wanted and get out, Dan. And don't come back, If you want something else, call and well send them to you," Deb said. Her voice sounded calm and collected, but inside all she wanted to do was murder the man in front of her.

"Fine, I'll see you at Tree Hill High when I make a meeting with the councilor," with that Dan left the room, and Deb to her many thoughts.