Note: Yea, so don't cuss me out, I made another cliffhanger but Chapter 7 which is coming to an inbox to you shortly will
start the real drama/angst...Let me know what you think, Thanks EP
Chapter 6
At the Hospital
Haley had arrived twenty minutes prior to her appointment. Maybe inside she imagined by coming early she could stave off the fear that was threatening to choke her. Nathan came up behind her pushing the double stroller. He was currently accepting compliments on how cute the children were while following his wife at a distance.
He cleared his throat; "We can go to the doctor's lobby now. I'm sure that they can at least sign us in if nothing else."
Haley turned back and looked at him with a nod, "We can go. Lucas just text messaged me; he and Brooke just arrived with Karen and Keith. I guess they can look after the twins while we go in right?"
Nathan nodded in agreement and allowed Haley to lead the way to the doctor's office.
"Yea?"
Karen rolled her eyes as was tempted to hang up the phone in his face but something stopped her. Something told her that there was a possibility that Nathan might need her.
"Deb?"
Karen listened as Deb was bowled over with shock at her phone call. "What's wrong Karen? Why are you calling? I thought Keith knew to only use this number in case of emergencies, what's going on is there something wrong with Nathan?"
Karen exhaled deeply and sent up a silent prayer that the decision she was about to take was the right one, "Nathan is going through a pretty rough time right now Deb and I know that after Dan and you broke up you disappeared. I know you make it to all of the important events but this is one time that I think you need to make an appearance back in One Tree Hill."
There was a stony silence at the other end of the line, "What's going on? Has Dan finally died or has hell really warmed over?"
Karen shook her head trying to suppress the laughter that arose with her image, "Dan is neutralized. He has found a new hobby, which is starting a new family; Nathan and him haven't talked in years. Not since Nathan found out what Dan tried to do to Haley."
Deb nodded and exhaled softly, "Then what's going on that's so important that I should return to a place I abandoned years ago?"
Karen felt like screaming. She didn't know what the reason was that Deb had left One Tree Hill in the first place, but she knew the moment that her child needed her she would've returned without incident.
"Look Deb, I can't tell you what to do, I can't tell you how to feel. I can only tell you that your son is going through a lot now and he needs our support. He needs your love. This may be your last chance to be here for him, please don't waste it."
After saying her piece she hung up the phone and walked towards the doctor's office.
Peyton/Jake/Jenny
"I got dibs on Nicole." Jenny eagerly reached for the more docile of the two twins who graced her with a smile, obviously pleased with her choice.
Jenny turned to her father, "I'm going to take her around the hospital and see if I can get any phone numbers."
Jake started to snap when Peyton placed a soothing arm on his shoulder, "She's just kidding, if you're worried about her so much I'll go with her. This kid of yours is not good for my back."
Jake nodded and leaned over and gave her a kiss on the lips, "I love you."
Peyton smiled back at him in shock, "I love you too, where's this coming from?"
Jake shrugged, "I don't know there's just something about seeing the possible mortality in your friends that makes me appreciate what I have with you and Jenny and this little one on the way even more."
Peyton pulled him into a gentle hug, "I love you too and I know what you mean. Don't worry you're stuck with me for the long haul."
Lucas/Brooke
"Absolutely not. Listen, I don't care what they are telling you. That's what I pay you the big bucks for, go out and earn it. No, I'm not coming into the office today, I'll have my cell phone on and my handheld will be charged, send everything via email. It's personal business, okay bye bye."
Lucas smiled at his wife in awe as she masterfully handled the aspects of her business. He held her hand in his and squeezed it to him tightly.
Brooke smiled and said, "So what do I do here?"
Lucas laughed in shock, "I was just sitting here thinking about how great you are at business, but when it comes to this emotional stuff sometimes it seems like you just shut down."
Brooke laughed, "I shut down, how about I'm terrified? What do I say to Nathan? What do I say to Haley? What can't I say that will offend, I just love them so much Lucas. They are a big part of our life and I'm just scared that if I say something that will push them away we won't have our family by our side."
Lucas pulled her gently into a hug, "You don't have to worry about that. You can't scare away family and that's what Nathan and Haley are…family."
Brooke nodded as she looked at a still sleeping Nathaniel in his carrier and said, "What will happen if something happens to Haley Lucas? Do you think Nathan can go on without her?"
Lucas held her to him, "I don't know pretty girl. I don't know. I always swore that love wouldn't rule my life but I've had the opposite happen to me. Love rules me and I just know if something happened to you that I would be inconsolable and the last thing on my mind would be ensuring the wellbeing of my family."
Inside the Doctor's office
Haley sat in the chair paralyzed at the idea of what could possibly come out of the doctor's mouth.
"I'm happy that you decided to include your husband on this visit. You will need all the help that you can get."
Haley flinched back visibly at what the idea of needing help could possibly entail.
The doctor cleared her throat softly, "Haley I've had the oncologists on staff review your test results, and biopsies numerous occasions and they all came to the same conclusion."
Haley nodded bracing herself for the next words out of the doctor's mouth. Nathan cleared his throat and said, "Can you wait one moment on that doctor?"
Haley looked at Nathan in shock, "Wait? Why do you want to wait?"
Nathan took her hand in his and locked eyes with her, "I want you to know that whatever be the words that come out of the doctor's mouth, I'm with you and you have a whole support system outside that's with you."
Haley nodded comforted greatly by his words, "You can proceed doctor, what did the test results show?"
Thanks EP
