a.n.: Hey guys...sorry it took so long for this chapter too. I got busy babysitting and then school started yesterday and i'm a senior now, so there's a lot of HW piled on somedays LOL. but thankfully, i found time to get the chapter finsished. I think you will enjoy this,even though there are 2 major cliffhangers.

Chapter Nine: How to Tell the Ones You Love

"You've been driving for hours. Where the hell are you taking us?" Brooke finally speaks to Dan in the front seat with another strange man who's driving the van.

She is sitting next to Haley against one of the walls of the van. Cooper is sitting across from them against the opposite wall of the van. Several boxes and bags surround them, but the contents of the boxes and bags are unbeknownst to them and all three of them could really care less.

Dan slides open the curtain separating the front seat from the back and he answers Brooke, "I'll tell you that when we get there, sweetheart."

"Don't call me sweetheart. And who the hell is driving this hostage trap?"

"Oh, I'm sorry." Dan replies grinning. "I haven't properly introduced you guys yet, have I? This is Doctor Marcus Dager…and doctor, these are my lovely daughter-in-laws Brooke and Haley and my adorable grandson Cooper."

Marcus glares at Dan, but doesn't say anything. He continues driving along the path Dan instructed him to follow.

"You're a bastard." Cooper says glaring at Dan.

"Cooper!" Haley says warningly, not wanting him to come even close to hurting her son again.

"What? He is."

"Shut up!" Haley orders.

Dan smirks again and says, "Maybe you guys need more time to yourselves to cool off."

"What we need is to go home." Brooke says angrily.

"Try and get some sleep too." Dan continues, ignoring her statement. "We've still got a long drive ahead of us."

Nathan enters his living room and plops down in a leather chair across from the couch where his mother and stepfather are sitting together.

"Is she asleep?" Deb asks, looking at her son.

"Yeah, finally." Nathan replies, covering his face with his hands. He's exhausted but he knows he won't be able to sleep tonight…not without Haley. He pulls his hands away and continues, "She didn't want to fall asleep, though. She didn't want me to put her down or leave her alone. She's never been that freaked out before."

"Poor kid." Rob says. "I hope she's not too traumatized from what she probably saw."

"Yeah, me too. But watching someone take away the people you love…that's something even a three year old can't get out of her mind, especially Chloe. You guys know how attached to Haley she is."

"Maybe you should take her to see someone." Deb suggests. "Like a child psychologist."

Nathan nods and says, "Yeah, I will. I'm going to talk to her pediatrician to see who she recommends, but not until after we figure out how we're going to find Dan."

"Leave that to me and the detectives, Nate. You just take care of the kids."

"No, I mean, I am going to take care of my kids, but I'm also going to help find Dan. The stakes are much higher in this twisted game of his."

All three of them stare at one another in silence. After a minute, Nathan speaks again to his mother.

"How were James and Katie about getting to bed for you?"

"Well, Katie cried for you and Haley at first, but she was out when I came to check on her five minutes later. Jamie didn't want to go to bed though. He wanted to wait up for you. He was worried, but he fell asleep listening to his music."

"I think I'll go check on them." Nathan says as he stands up.

He steps into the hallway, but turns around when his mother calls his name.

"What are you going to tell them tomorrow?"

"I don't know." Nathan sighs. " That's going to be hard, but I know I have to tell them something. The thing is…I don't know how to tell them. How do you tell the ones you love something like this?"

He turns away and continues toward the stairs.

Karen, Keith and Kelsey are waiting for him at the kitchen table when he enters the house through the back door with a somber look. They're quiet, waiting for him to tell them what he knows.

"It was them." Lucas says. "Brooke and Haley and Cooper…they're the hostages."

Karen stands up and hugs her son.

"I'm so sorry, honey." She says.

Keith stands up and asks, "Do they know who took them?"

"Yeah…" He pauses. "Dan."

"What?" All three say in unison.

"Your reaction is the same as mine."

"But how is that possible?" Keith wonders. "He's—"

"Dead? Apparently he's not as dead as we thought and hoped. He left a note for Nathan and me, telling us he's back and that he's going to succeed this time."

"Succeed with what?" Karen asks, still stunned by this revelation.

"Revenge, I think. But I don't know what for. I do know he came looking for Haley and Brooke though. I could tell from the letter. He said their lives are in his control."

Keith shakes his head and says, "I'm sorry, Luke."

"Yeah…me too. God, if he hurts them…"

Karen touches her son's shoulder and he changes the subject, pushing back the tears.

"Are the girls asleep?"

"Yes." Karen replies. "They're in your old room."

Lucas begins walking toward the bedroom, but Karen stops him.

"Honey, why don't you just let them sleep here tonight. You can stay too and get some rest."

"Thanks, Mom. But I really just want to be home tonight and with my girls."

Karen nods and Kelsey speaks, "Well, maybe you could use some help with them, Luke. If you want, I can come home with you and help out with my nieces."

"Look, I can handle my kids by myself." Lucas defends. "I've done it before."

"We know you can." Kelsey says. "But you've got Brooke to worry about now and so will the girls once you tell them. I'm offering to help you and you should always take anything and everything you can get for free. C'Mon Luke, I'm your sister…let me help."

Lucas nods, smiles and says, "Okay. Thanks, sis."

Nathan leaves his daughters' bedroom and closes the door after tucking in both Katie and Chloe and making sure that Chloe was still sleeping okay. He walks across the hall and opens the door to his youngest son's bedroom. The lamp on his nightstand is still on and James is asleep on his pillow with headphones around his blond head and a comic book next to him.

Nathan walks over to the bed and removes the headphones, setting them on the nightstand, along with the comic book. He pulls the covers up over his son and turns off the lamp. He turns and walks away from the bed, but stops at the door when he hears his son's voice.

"Where's mom?"

Nathan turns and looks at James, who has rolled over in the bed to face his father.

"It's late buddy. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Dad…" James says before his father tries to leave again. "I'm ten now. I'm a lot more grown up than you adults think I am."

"I know you are."

"Something happened, didn't it?"

Nathan makes his way across the room again and sits down on the bed and says, "Yeah, Jamie…something happened."

"That guy at the bank…he took mom and Coop and aunt Brooke, didn't he?"

"How'd you hear about that?"

"Everyone was watching the news at the café earlier. I saw it too when I was walking back from the bathroom. Who is it, Dad? Who took them?"

Nathan stares at his son, contemplating what his answer should be. This is the hard part…he realizes. What is he supposed to tell him? That the person who took his mother, brother and aunt is the same person who kidnapped him five years ago, the person who he believes to be dead, the person who still haunts his dreams?

"We don't know yet." He answers finally. "But we will. We're going to find them."

James nods, though still unsure if his father is telling him the whole truth. Nathan stands up and says, "You should get some sleep, okay?"

"Okay." James agrees as Nathan walks back toward the door. "Hey, Dad?"

Nathan turns again and his son stares him in the eye all the way from the bed.

"You would tell me if you knew who it was, right?"

Nathan hesitates. The hard part again…

"Yeah, son…I would tell you."

James smiles a small smile and says goodnight before Nathan closes the door.

I'm just protecting him…he tells himself on his way back downstairs. It's better that he not know. He still has nightmares over what Dan did to him the last time. I can't let Dan be the reason for more nightmares.

"You still worried about Chloe?" Brooke asks Haley as they still sit in the back of the van. It's darker now and Cooper has fallen asleep across from them, though he tried to stay awake so Brooke and Haley would not be left alone with Dan.

Haley nods and her head brushes up and down on Brooke's shoulder as she leans against her with her legs and swollen feet straight out in front of her and her hands on her stomach, slowly rubbing it.

"She was so scared, Brooke." She says. "I could hear her screaming for me. I've never heard her scream like that before."

"I know. But she'll be okay, honey." Brooke says assuring leaning her head against her friend's head. "I'm sure Nathan found her and is taking care of her and your other kids.

"God, Nathan…I had just talked to him. And I left my cell phone in the car. I feel so mad at myself for not bringing it with me. I take it every where with me, but for some stupid reason I didn't this time."

"No…don't be so hard on yourself. I feel guilty too. I left mine at home. I was so angry with Lucas that I totally forgot to grab it. He's probably called it a million and one times by now. I miss him so much right now. I just wish I'd made up with him before I left. I wish I'd told him I love him and I wish I hadn't left him as angry as he probably still thinks I am."

"He knows you love him, Brooke. And he loves you—ow!" Haley springs forward, holding her stomach tighter.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Brooke asks worriedly as Haley breathes in and out deeply.

"Nothing…just another contraction…a stronger one." Haley says through her deep breaths.

"Another contraction? How many have you had?"

"Quite a few actually— ow!" She takes Brooke's hand.

Brooke rests her free hand on Haley's shoulder and asks, "Well, how long? Since when, I mean?"

"Oh…since about the time Dan pulled a knife on my son."

Lucas pushes open the door connecting the garage to the house through the laundry room off the kitchen and he steps inside with Megyn asleep on his shoulder. He tosses his keys on the counter as Jessilin walks sleepily into the kitchen, followed by Kelsey with Ashlyn.

"Daddy…where's mommy?" Jessilin asks, rubbing her eyes.

Lucas glances at his sister, trying to think of what he should say. He can't tell her yet, not now. He looks back at her and says, "She's still out, sweetie. But you need to get to bed. It's way past your bedtime. Go on upstairs and put your pajamas on and I'll come tuck you in after we put your sisters to bed."

"Okay." Jess yawns as she walks away.

Lucas and Kelsey follow her upstairs, each with a twin in their arms. Lucas undresses and dresses Megyn in purple pajamas and tucks her into her toddler bed, while Kelsey does the same for Ashlyn.

"I'm going to go tuck Jess in." He says to his sister as he walks to the door. I'll meet you downstairs."

Jess is already is her bed when Lucas enters her room. Her eyes are closed as he approaches her bed. He kneels down and pulls the covers up over her red nightgown. He stares at her beautifully round face, it's every feature the same as Brooke's. It's like staring at smaller Brooke. He pushes back behind her ear, some of her dark hair and he leans down to kiss her head.

"I love you, Jessilin." He says when he comes up. "And your mom does too."

He watches only a moment longer, seeing Brooke in her still, and he stands up, turns on her nightlight and closes the door only to a crack, just the way she prefers it, on his way out. Kelsey is waiting for him at the counter in the kitchen when he comes back downstairs.

"Hey." She says as Lucas leans against the other side of the counter. "Are you hungry? I could make you something."

"No thanks. I couldn't eat even if I felt hungry. But you can help yourself to anything."

"I'm not hungry either. I just wanted to do something for you."

"You've already done something by offering to help me with the girls."

Kelsey smiles and asks. "Well, can I at least get you a cold soda?"

"Sure." Lucas smiles as Kelsey opens the refrigerator. She passes a Coke to her brother and pulls out a Diet Coke for herself before closing the door.

"Hey look…you've got a message." Kelsey says, walking past the wall counter where the phone sits.

"Oh man, it might've been from Brooke!" Lucas responds, quickly moving toward the counter/

He pushes the play button and both he and Kelsey listen to the answering machine.

"You have one new message…Friday, 4:02 p.m…"

"Hello, this is doctor Patterson calling for Brooke Scott. Brooke, I just wanted to call and let you know that I've gotten your test results back and you were right about why you've been so tired and stressed lately. You are pregnant. Congratulations/ Give me a call when you get this so we can schedule you for an appointment soon."

"Whoa…" Kelsey says as the machine beeps again, signaling the end of the messages. "Brooke's pregnant again. Did you know?"

Lucas shakes his head as he sits down slowly at the table.

"She didn't…say anything to me." He says as Kelsey sits down in the chair across from him. "I didn't even know she went to the doctor."

"So…what now?"

Lucas wonders the same thing as he stares at his sister with a worried look. He's been just worried about Brooke before, but now he is scared. Not just for Brooke, Haley, Cooper and his unborn nephew, but now for his unborn child as well.

There is so much he fears now. Where has Dan taken them? What does he want with them? What will he do to them? And will I be able to find them and save them from that monster? What will happen if I can't?

Kelsey moves closer to her brother and hugs him in her arms as he finally gives up and lets himself breakdown.

a.n2: I know, I'm totally mean for leaving this chapter like that. i don't know when the next update will be ready...I've still got to write it all and i do get a lot of HW. if it's gonna be awhile, I'll post an authors note. Now please go review! I love hearing your reactions, escpecially after a chapter like this.