A/N: This is a pretty emotional and intense chapter. It get a bit graphic near the end. Be forewarned. Also odd request I know, but if anyone cries during this chapter, can they let me know at what point? I'm trying to figure how to evoke certain emotions in my writing.

As usual thanks for reading!

"Hi there," Aaron greeted Haley's father by sticking out his hand. Mr. James hesitated while scowling. Aaron retracted it. "My name is Aaron, and this is my classmate Nathan. Haley was really sick and the nurse asked us to bring her home because we have English together." Aaron knew this game. He knew the players and he knew the strategy. He stared at Haley's father feigning innocence.

"Well, I'm glad that Haley has such great friends," Haley's father stated carefully. Aaron interjected before Nathan who didn't know the rules of this game, said anything damaging.

"Well I'm sure Haley has a lot of friends, but unfortunately we just have class together. Nathan and I are on the basketball team, so we don't really have a lot of free time. You probably know how it is," Aaron replied hoping to divert his attention.

"Oh yes I do. Well I really do appreciate you helping my daughter, but I'm sure you boys have a lot to do, so I won't keep you."

"Well, the nurse asked us to make sure that she would be okay. I can stay if you don't mind," Nathan spoke up. The concern and confusion were evident in his eyes.

"Thanks very much, but I can see to it that my daughter is okay. If you'd like I can have her call you when she wakes up," Haley's father said cautiously.

"That would be gr.."

"Actually sir, I don't even think she has our numbers. But you can tell her that we'll see her in class," Aaron said interrupting Nathan.

"Sure thing Aaron," Haley's father seemed assured, and stuck out his hand to shake Aaron's. Aaron shook it vigorously and smiled. He motioned for Nathan to follow. When the two boys had made it down the block, Nathan stopped Aaron.

"What the hell was that?"

"That was me, playing the game," Aaron answered sadly.

"What game? What the hell is going on? Why were you acting like that? We should have stayed with her! We should be there protecting her!"

"Trust me, it was better that we left."

"You like her don't you?" Nathan asked seriously. Aaron looked intently at Nathan.

"Of course I do. I really do."

"Well I love her."

"Go home Nathan. Talk to her tomorrow." Aaron turned the corner and walked down the street. At the next corner he made a right, and then another right until he had completed the loop and was back at his parked car. He got in and waited. The game was far from over. He sat in the car with his hands clenched around the steering wheel. An hour past and then another. Three hours later the passenger door opened. It was Nathan, and he was holding coffee. He thrust a cup at him and climbed in.

"Look, I don't know how to play this game, so you're going to have to teach me." Aaron appreciated Nathan's desire to protect Haley. It was the same desire that consumed him.

"Thanks for the coffee," Aaron replied gratefully taking a long sip. "The game is simple. We wait. We don't do anything stupid. You sit in the car. Think you can handle it?" Nathan nodded, still not fully understanding. They sat. They waited in silence. Dusk was approaching and Aaron was concerned that it would soon be dark and he wouldn't be able to see anything. Then it happened. There were now two shadows behind the window. Aaron took that as his cue. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He stuck out his hand waiting for Nathan's cell phone. Nathan handed it over without asking any questions. Aaron stuck Nathan's cell phone in his pocket. He reached in the back of his car and pulled out a notebook and his English textbook. He scribbled a quick note on a piece of paper from the notebook and tore it off. Call Nathan. I'll answer-Aaron

He flipped open his cell phone and stuck the torn paper in it. His phone was thinner than Nathan's blackberry, and therefore would fit into the English textbook less noticeably. Nathan watched Aaron in silence. Aaron gathered everything together and told Nathan to stay put and stay out of sight. Nathan nodded not able to process all that was happening. Aaron jumped out of his car and jogged up Haley's driveway. He knocked on the door and was greeted by Haley's father.

"Sorry to bother you again, but I just noticed that your daughter left some of her school stuff in my car, and I wasn't sure when I would get another chance to give it to her. Or you could take it and give it to her when she wakes up," Aaron said firmly. Haley's father shrugged.

"Haley!" Haley ran to the door with an unreadable expression on her face. Aaron quickly spoke.

"Hi Haley, I'm Aaron from English. The nurse asked me to bring you home when you fell faint in school." Haley knew the game far too well. She was confused as to how Aaron knew it. She was confused but utterly grateful.

"Oh. Well thanks…"

"Aaron."

"Thank you Aaron." Haley's dad seemed satisfied and left to go to the kitchen. Aaron thrust his books at her.

"Ms. Denton suggested we read the preface of Walden. So you should really get on that." He tried to exaggerate certain words so Haley would get the hint to open up the book.

"Well I'll try to when I get the chance." They both were well aware that Haley's father was listening to them. "Thanks again," Haley smiled sadly. Aaron nodded and went back to his car and drove both him and Nathan down the street and around the corner. They were far enough away that Haley's father wouldn't suspect anything, but close enough in case anything happened. After Aaron turned off the ignition Nathan spoke.

"What happened? Is she okay? What do we do now?" Aaron inhaled deeply.

"We wait some more. I'm not sure how long. It really depends."

"On what?" Nathan asked. Aaron didn't respond. He knew that it depended on Haley's father's mood. It depended on a lot of things. The two sat in silence for another hour. Finally Nathan's cell phone rang. Aaron quickly answered.

"Hello?"

"Aaron? It's Haley," she whispered softly.

"Are you okay?" Aaron asked. There was no answer. "Haley, are you okay?" He asked again. He could see Nathan getting anxious out of the corner of his eye.

"I'm not sure. I don't know what you know. I don't know how to have this conversation Aaron. You know so much, how do you know so much?" He voice quivered.

"Where are you?"

"I'm in my closet."

"How long can you talk?"

"I'm not sure. I'm not…" Haley stifled a sob.

"Hey I'm here. I'm here for you."

"He's watching TV. The game just started."

"So you have a while?"

"I have a while." Haley knew that he would be drinking more when he was watching the game. She shuddered about what was going to happen after the game was over. "It's the Carolina Panthers playing the Cougars."

"Maybe the Panthers will win," Aaron said hopefully.

"Yeah…maybe."

"Haley I only know so much. Is it verbal or physical?" Aaron was referring to the abuse that he was certain Haley was receiving from her father.

"Aaron you can't tell Nathan. You just…he just can't know."

"I won't. I wouldn't."

"It's all of the above." Haley answered shakily.

"Does that mean?"

"Yes," she whispered her voice barely audible. She crouched deeper into the closet.

"Haley we need to pull you out."

"No!" She squeaked softly. "You can't, it won't work. Please don't!" Aaron punched his dashboard. Nathan looked at him intensely wondering what was going on.

"Haley, we need too…"

"Aaron I'll hang up…I mean it. Do not come. It's been nine days since anything's happened. Almost all of my bruises…." Her voice trailed off somewhere into the dark distance.

"…have cleared up by now," Aaron answered for her. Then he continued, "There are things you can do too prevent…" he didn't know how to tell her what he needed to say.

"Aaron he's getting drunk. It's going to be really bad." She broke off for a moment. "I'm scared," she whispered. Aaron looked over at Nathan who was listening intensely.

"Haley if you can…" Aaron couldn't say anything in front of Nathan without breaking his promise to Nathan. He got out of the car and crossed the street. When Nathan was out of earshot he spoke quickly. "You can avoid intercourse. It's not easy, and I don't know…But if you can…you are so smart. Haley use your mind. You can trick him or something."

"I don't think I can…"

"If you don't try then I'm coming in and pulling you out right now! You need to try."

"Aaron. If you come pull me out, it's going to be his word against ours. Do you know who his best friend is? It's Chief O'Neil…as in Chief of Police. My only way out is to graduate. I can make it. I have to make it."

"Haley I can't…"

"Yes you can, and you fucking will. I've survived this long…" Aaron knew that there would be no more on this matter. He got back into the car. Nathan was furious with Aaron and it was evident in his eyes. "You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah." They sat in silence for a few minutes. Nathan finally spoke. He purposefully tried to soften his voice.

"Can I talk to her?"

"Haley Nathan wants to talk to you," Aaron said gently.

"Okay," she replied painfully.

"Haley you don't…"

"No it's okay." Aaron handed the phone to Nathan.

"Hales?" Haley inhaled and exhaled deeply.

"Hey," she said somewhat cheerfully.

"Sweets you need to tell me what's going on. Please. No more secrets. I can help."

"Nathan…"

"Haley…" Haley's mind raced. What was she supposed to say? Every word she uttered brought her one step closer to tears.

"You know what? Aaron is so dramatic. My gosh, he was like super stealth spy guy for no reason. He had this idea in his head, and it was so wrong…" Haley lied.

"Haley, whatever it is you really can tell me. Is it your dad? Is he hurting you? Did he do that…to your wrists?"

"No. He didn't do that to me," she responded truthfully. "I did it to myself."

"But why?"

"Because I am…I was in a lot of pain. I didn't know how to handle all of it." Click. The phone went dead. Nathan turned to Aaron.

"The phone went dead." Aaron looked at Nathan.

"What do you mean? Did she end the conversation?"

"No, yes…I don't know. Hold on I'll call her back…." Nathan quickly hit the speed dial button. Aaron lurched for the phone. He knew that his phone, the phone that Haley was using was not on silent. It would blare some ungodly rock tune because Nathan was not a known number in his phone book. It was too late. "There's no answer." Aaron grabbed the phone from him and quickly ended the call. "What just happened?" Aaron stared at the phone and whispered,

"Call back…call back…just call back."

"Just call her!" Nathan said angrily.

"Nathan, my phone is NOT on silent. We can't call her back." Nathan jumped out of the car cursing loudly.

"Nathan, shut up. There's nothing we can do until she calls back."

"You know what? Fuck you! You and her, you're both so cryptic. If she's in trouble then we need to get help! Why won't you tell me anything? Why do I have to be left in the dark? Whatever it is, I can handle it! I can handle it!"

"Can you handle it?" Nathan turned around and stared walking back to Haley's. Aaron raced after him in pursuit. He grabbed the back of Nathan's jacket.

"Haley?" Her father's voice echoed from the living room. Haley quickly shut the phone and rand downstairs.

"Yes, daddy?"

"Baby, can you get me another beer?" Haley smiled a fake smile.

"Sure thing daddy." She quickly grabbed a beer from the fridge. It was the last beer. She returned and her father pulled her into the couch to sit with him. He popped it open and took a loud disgusting slurp. "Baby doll why don't you sit with me? I haven't seen you in a while." Suddenly they both heard the noise from upstairs. He father shifted.

"What's that?" Haley thought fast.

"Oh daddy, I'm so sorry. I left the radio on. I'll go turn it off real quick." She bounded up the stairs and silenced the phone. Not knowing how to turn off the ringer, she took out the battery. She noticed that her Father's team was losing. This coupled with the alcohol and their absence from each other spelled disaster. She thought hard and fast. Could Aaron be right? Could she change the course of things to come? She thought for a second longer. She decided that she could. She bounded downstairs and flopped into her father's lap. She quickly took the beer from him and smiled. I can do this. It's better than the alternative. I can do this. She kissed him on the cheek and then slurped down the rest of the beer. He smiled in return. He reached under her shirt.

"You always are more fun when you get tipsy. Why don't you go get us some more beers baby girl?" Her father asked, grabbing her ass tightly. Haley jumped up and ran to the kitchen knowing that there were no beers left. She collapsed to the floor and squeezed her face tightly. She did this to control the tears. She did this to control the uncontrollable emotions. She put her hands on the floor and imagined a happy place. She inhaled and exhaled deeply. She pulled at her hair. She inhaled again. She looked for her happy place. She prepared herself mentally. She tugged at her cheeks. She spoke her mantra over again. She touched the floor with her hands again. She looked up at the ceiling. She let herself leave her body. She put on a fake smile and bounced back into the living room. He sat there looking on at the game. The fear, the anxiety was creeping back in. She slapped herself across the face forcing them away. Haley James you are strong enough to fool this bastard. You can protect yourself. You can do this. She hopped back into his lap and pouted.

"Daddy, there's no more beer. I would have purchased some, but you must have forgotten to leave me money when you left…"

"S'okay baby doll," He slurred obviously a bit more than tipsy, but not quite drunk. This was a bad place for him to be in. He was in a happy place. If Haley didn't get him to drink more…

"Daddy, how bout I make you a whiskey sour? You really like those remember?" Her father reached under her shirt again and tried to unclasp her bra. He let out a frustrated grunt. "This isn't a fucking bra. You know I hate those built in things." It was true. Haley knew her father hated shelf bras. He always felt that she wore them so he couldn't get to her. He wasn't incorrect. Haley thought fast.

"Sorry daddy, it's just comfy is all. I didn't realize you'd be home tonight." Her father didn't look satisfied. She had said the wrong thing.

"You should have known I would be home tonight!" Haley apologized quickly. She kissed him deeply but he pushed her away getting angrier by the minute. She needed to act fast. She quickly pulled off her shirt and tank and put his rough hand on her breast.

"See it's okay." She noticed him calm down a bit. He groped roughly, and Haley bit her lip to keep it from trembling. His breath stank of beer and sweat. He put both hands on her breasts and pinched hard. He relished in her pain. She pulled back. He reached around so she couldn't get away. He pulled her back. "Daddy, how about that whiskey sour?"

"Don't need it baby." Haley was fighting a losing battle.

"Well you said that I'm always more fun when I'm drunk, so let's drink together!" She said pretending to be cheerful. Her father relented.

"Fine, just do it quickly." Haley jumped up grateful to be out of his grasp. She ran over to the bar in the corner of the living room. She poured her drink but diluted it a great deal with water. She mixed his drink and made it strong. She silently prayed that the sleeping pills she had crushed into the liquor a few weeks ago would still be affective. She noticed that she was shaking. She put her left hand over her right arm trying to steady herself. She inhaled again. Nothing seemed to calm her. She carefully walked back over to her father.

"Here you go daddy," she said softly. He took it from her and drank deeply.

"You sure do make good drinks baby." Haley smiled without emotion.

"Thanks," she replied taking a small sip for good measure. He reached out his hand motioning for her to come back to his lap. Haley found herself sitting on top of him once again. He reeked of alcohol and perversion. She didn't know how long it would take for the pills to work. She honestly wasn't sure that it would work. He started pawing at her body. He loved it when she needed him. To get his hands away from her breasts she leaned into him deeply and whispered,

"I'm so cold…" Her father immediately wrapped his arms around her and started rubbing her back. She pretended to shiver. His hands on her skin felt like wasps incessantly stinging her. She closed her eyes trying to find that happy place she once knew. She felt him harden between her legs. Her shivers turned to trembles. Before she knew it she was crying softly. She tried to wipe them away but they hit her father's shoulder before she could erase them. He stopped the rubbing motion. He pulled her back and looked into her eyes. She saw the fire igniting. She didn't let him say anything. "I missed you so much," she sobbed. "Please don't leave me for so long next time," She quickly embraced him and hid her face, fearful that he would discover her thinly veiled lie. Haley's father surprised at her comment tightly embraced her.

"It's okay. You can cry baby," he said to her. Haley released her sobs. She cried for the pain that she was enduring by acting nice to this sick pervert. She cried because she longed for this touch to belong to someone else. Someone she loved. Not someone who she had once trusted to be a father and not a molester. She felt him grow beneath her. He was enjoying this. He was getting off on her pain. He moved her hand to his pants and rubbed it over his groin. She sobbed louder but hugged him tighter so he wouldn't get the wrong idea. She was a lifeless puppet. He unzipped himself and worked her hands for himself. He started out fast but eventually slowed down. Haley wasn't sure if he was about to find his release. A minute later she discovered that her hand was barely moving. She pulled back a bit and saw that his eyes were closed. He was falling asleep. It was working! He was slipping in and out of sleep. He slowly rubbed her hand along his penis, but as soon as he came, he completely passed out.

"Daddy?" No response. She hesitated and then repeated herself louder. No response. She quickly jumped off of him and ran to the bathroom. She washed off her hand. She used a lot of soap to clean him from her, but she felt satisfied in this ritual. She looked in the mirror and smiled slightly. She did it. She avoided him. He wasn't inside her and that was more of an accomplishment than she wanted to admit. She survived another day. She was disgusted at what she had to do to avoid him. It had gotten close, but she had done it. She did it.

Aaron had managed to get Nathan back into the car. They had been sitting in a bitter silence for almost an hour and a half, when Nathan's phone started to ring. It didn't ring more than a second before Nathan answered it quickly.

"Haley? Are you okay?" Nathan asked frantically.

"Can you guys meet me outside my house?"

"We'll be there in thirty seconds." Aaron looked over at Nathan surprised. Before Nathan had hung up the phone they were both out of the car and halfway up the street. Haley stood outside in her tank and pants. She wrapped her arms around herself trying to warm her body. Aaron reached Haley first. He searched her eyes not sure what he was looking for. Nathan looked at Haley trying to figure things out. He took a step toward her but she put up her hand.

"You guys are amazing. I don't know what I would do without either of you." She said this to both Nathan and Aaron, but Nathan couldn't help but think she was directing this comment more to Aaron. He tried to push those feelings away. She stood shivering not sure what emotions she was feeling. She looked at Aaron and embraced him deeply. He wrapped his arms around her as well. "I did it. I used my brain," she whispered very softly. He pulled back and looked her in the eyes before embracing her again.

"I knew you could," he replied. She squeezed him before stepping back. Nathan looked very uncomfortable at was obviously a very intimate moment they were sharing. Haley looked at Nathan and kissed him on the cheek. She turned to Aaron and asked him if she could have a moment alone with Nathan. Aaron nodded and headed back to the car. Haley turned her attention back towards Nathan.

"You have been amazing. I know how hard this is for you…the not knowing." Nathan didn't know how to answer. He was furious about being kept in the dark. He felt that she didn't care enough about him to let him in, but a deeper part of him knew that this was larger than him. Haley spoke again. "If I tell you what just happened, you wouldn't be able to love me anymore. You would want to but you wouldn't be able too." Nathan started to speak, but Haley put a finger on his lips. "I heard you that morning. I heard what you said, and I know it's selfish but I'm not ready for you to stop loving me. It feels too amazing to let it go."

"Haley, have a little faith in me. I can handle whatever it is." Haley smiled sadly.

"I know you can handle it Nathan. But I can't. You keep saying that you want to help me and you want to know, but you need to trust that I know best."

"Haley, please," he begged softly. Haley shook her head.

"Please let me be selfish," she asked. Nathan shook his head.

"Haley, I can't sleep at night if I don't know that you're safe. I'm not stupid. I've been piecing this puzzle together. If Aaron can figure it out, that I certainly can." Haley stepped back and her soft expression vanished.

"Listen to me. This goes far beyond anything that either you or Aaron could imagine. He understands a certain part, and I don't like that he is able to read me like that. Mostly because it means he went through the same thing, or someone he knew went through this. But whatever you think you've figure out, it's a lot deeper."

"That's not very reassuring Hales," Nathan replied somberly. Haley ran her hands through her hair.

"This isn't going to work is it?"

"Why can't you just let me in?"

"Because if I do. If I tell you, then you'll try to fix it and you aren't capable."

"You don't know that Haley."

"But I do. I know that I'm a mess and that I need to protect myself. I've done a good job of that so far." Nathan looked at her incredulously.

"Are you serious?" He lifted a strand of her hair. He traced the dark shadowy bags under her eyes. He lifted her wrists to her face. "Don't you see this?" Haley felt her eyes misting. Nathan's voice softened.

"Baby girl, all I want to do is protect you." Haley slapped him across the face and then jumped back in horror. Nathan looked at her surprised. He gently put his hand to his face. Haley's eyes widened in fear.

"Nathan…" They stood in silence. Nathan tried to let her know it was okay. "This will never work Nathan," she mumbled softly.

"Don't say that," Nathan pleaded. "Look, it doesn't even hurt. I promise."

"I can't turn into him," she whispered. Nathan didn't hear her.

"What?"

"We can't be together."

"Don't say that," Nathan repeated, afraid that he would lose his love.

"We can't be together," Haley repeated with a dazed expression covering her face.

"We can too! I love you. I love you!" Haley looked at him sadly.

"Love isn't enough. It's never enough. The not knowing is going make you hate me. You're going to resent me. Part of you already does, doesn't it?"

"No. That is NOT true." Haley stepped towards him looking into his eyes knowingly.

"Yes, I can see it in your eyes. You may love me but you are hurt by me…by my actions." Nathan turned his face away so she couldn't read his expression. He spoke softly, but in the calm night she was able to hear him clearly.

"You are the one good thing in my life."

"Well than you must have a pretty rotten life, if an emotionally unavailable and presumably suicidal girl is the best thing in your life." Nathan's nostrils flared and he replied bitterly.

"Remember my dad? The one dying of cancer? I haven't had a real conversation with him in months. My mother can barely stand to be around either of us, and she's gone half the time trying to save the world through charity, when her family is dying back at home! So yeah, you are the good thing in my life!" Nathan stood there, his soul exposed to the world.

"Nathan, I didn't mean to upset you."

"Stop worrying about trying to upset me! Stop worrying about what I might feel or do! I just want to be there for you!" Haley sighed and she could see a single tear forming slowly in the crevice of Nathan's left eye. She leaned into his face and put her lips to the tear. She rested her head on his face. "I love you." She pulled back not sure what to say. He continued. "I love you when I thought you were Alena. I loved you when people told me not to love you. We are both broken. It doesn't matter who is broken more. All that matters is that I really love you. All I want to do it protect you!" Another tear formed and dripped from his eye. Haley quickly kissed it away.

"Shh. It's okay. Don't do this to me."

"Don't do what?"

"Don't make me fall for you," she cried softly.

"Is that such a bad thing?"

"Yes."

"Why?!"

"Because when I'm around you I want to be myself. I want to tell you everything so much, but I can't and I know that I can't. It hurts too much." Nathan stepped back and frowned.

"I don't want to hurt you Haley."

"I know. And it's not you, really it's not. But I….I….I cannot...." her breathing became shallow. Nathan came to a sudden realization.

"We'll give it a week. One week." Haley inhaled deeply to steady herself.

"What? What one week?"

"We obviously care about each other a lot more than we thought. We owe it to ourselves to stay together. One more week. I'll work on giving you space, and you can work on what you need to work on." Haley pondered the thought.

"One week?" She asked thoughtfully.

"For love," he stated. He opened his arms and Haley crashed into them.

"I've never known someone so persistent. I really thought…"

"It's about faith Hales. I'll help you find it."

"'Kay." She mumbled into his chest.

"God, I love you. I'm so sorry about earlier today. I shouldn't have left you like that. I'll never forgive myself."

"I'm glad you came back. That's really all that matters." He released her and she went to go back to the house. Before stepping onto the porch she turned around and said,

"You did a good job tonight Scott." Nathan raised his brow.

"Hmm?"

"Everything. I mean somehow I find myself thinking we can make this work. You are pretty articulate for a jock." Haley smiled.

"Thanks," Nathan beamed.

"Oh don't be so cocky. It's a whole week. I'm sure I'll find seven hundred other reasons that we won't work." Nathan walked over to Haley and kissed her deeply.

"Well then, I'll have a thousand reasons as to why we should be together."

This was a really difficult chapter for me to write, so any feedback, reactions, etc. would help me a great deal. Thank you so much to everyone who has read and reviewed. I really can't thank you enough :-)