Hi and thanks for your reviews. I loved them!
I'm so excited for this week. Only three days of school, and then I'm going to visit my brother in Portugal from Thursday on! I finished my finals in Norwegian today, and then I have English on Wednesday. Which practically means only about three hours of school, so that can give me extra time to write.
When it comes to the story, I think most of you noticed how Karen and Dan's personalities are kind of switched. Dan is nice and supporting, while Karen is upfront and slightly controlling. I think it works well for this story, and hopefully you do too. It will change for the better though, I can say that much.
Enjoy the chapter
As the days passed, things didn't really get much better between Nathan and Haley. She really wanted to spend time with him, but figured Karen was right and decided to stay away. But Nathan still tried to talk to her every once in a while. The days went in to weeks, and suddenly almost two months had passed. Christmas was closing in on them, and Haley was working like never before. The holiday season was always busy at the hospital, and the interns tried their best to show what they were made of. They worked their asses of to impress the Chief, and Haley was a very determined young woman.
«Hey Hales, when do you get of today?» Gigi asked her after they had checked out a patient.
«I'm not sure. I think I'll just grab an extra shift. I don't have anything to do right now anyways» Haley shrugged as they sat down. She had been working for almost 12 hours, and not been sleeping very well lately.
«I think you should go home and sleep, Hales. You don't look to good» Gigi said as Haley looked away.
«No, I'm good» Haley brushed of. She didn't want to discuss it with Gigi. She knew she had been working a lot, but she needed something to stop her from thinking about Nathan and the kids. Burying herself in work was the perfect way to do it.
«Whatever you say. But you're looking pale, Hales. I'm going home now. Don't want to get sick before Christmas» Gigi smiled before walking away.
«Haley, can I talk to you?» Haley suddenly hear the familiar voice behind her. She really wanted to say no, but knew there was no point.
«Sure Nate, what's up?» She sighed as she turned around to face him.
«I was just wondering what you were doing for Christmas. I know you want to avoid me, but James and Julie miss you. And I think they would love it of you could spend a few hours with us at Christmas» Nathan said calmly while studying her face. He knew it was a long shot, but he had to try for his kids' sake.
«I don't think that's suck a good idea» Haley quickly said, even though she wanted to scream yes inside of her. She reminded herself of Karen's words, and therefore was able to decline.
«Please, just an hour. They would be so happy» Nathan pleaded.
«I'll stop by if I have time. I'm working all Christmas» Haley smiled shortly before turning her back to him, and walking away. You're doing him a favour, Haley! She reminded herself while sighing loudly and going into the bathroom. Haley felt sick, like she was going to throw up. And before she knew it, she had buried her head in the toilet and let out everything she had eaten in the last days. Even though that wasn't much..
«Hi Nathan» Rachel smiled as she walked up to him.
«Hey» Nathan nodded in response. He was really confused about Haley's behaviour. She seemed like she was distracted in a way, but he decided to shrug it of. For now..
«When do you get of?» Rachel asked him.
«In about three hours, why?» Nathan replied in his most polite way.
«Just wondering if maybe you wanted to grab a bite to eat with me later?» Rachel continued, still smiling sweetly up at him.
«Sure, I'll find you when I'm done» Nathan nodded in agreement. Then his pager went of, and he had to go check on a patient, leaving a very satisfied Rachel behind.
«Dr. James, can you help me over here?» Dr. Jagelski asked her.
«Sure, what do you need?» Haley replied sweetly with an exhausted tone.
«Can you take Mrs. Brown down for a CT. And check her blood pressure while you're at it, will you?» Jake smiled as Haley nodded. She closer her eyes for a second and took a deep breath before walking over to Mrs. Brown. Jake noticed this and looked after her with concern.
«Here are the results for Mrs. Brown's tests» Haley handed the papers over to Jake when she came back.
«Thank you» Jake said as Haley smiled weakly at him. «And James?»
«Yeah?» She replied.
«Are you okay?» Jake asked worriedly.
«Yeah, I'm fine»
«You don't look fine to me. You're really pale. Have you eaten anything in the past hours?» Jake frowned while looking deeply into her eyes. He studied her pupils and saw that they were acting weird.
«I said I'm fine, Dr. Jagelski» Haley brushed of as she started filling out some unnecessary paperwork, just to avoid more questions.
«How long have you been working?» Jake asked again.
«That's none of your business» Haley shot at him before she walked away, heading for the bathroom. She still felt sick, although she didn't know if there were much left to throw up inside of her. She had already thrown up seven times in the last two days.
«So, how are your kids?» Rachel asked Nathan as they finished their orders.
«They are fine. They miss their Mom, but other than that they are great» Nathan smiled weakly. They didn't only miss Brooke, but he didn't really feel like discussing Haley with Rachel. As far as he knew, no one knew about the night he and Haley had shared over two months ago. And he wanted it to stay that way.
«Are you spending Christmas at home?» Rachel continued while taking a sip of her water.
«Yeah, the whole family is coming. And Jake, cause he didn't really have anywhere else to be» Nathan chuckled. «Where are you spending Christmas Eve?»
«Alone. My family lives in California, and I have to work Christmas Day» Rachel sighed sadly.
«No, you can't sit alone on Christmas. Why don't you join us?» Nathan offered. He wanted to be a good friend, because as far as he knew Rachel didn't have that many friends in Tree Hill.
«No, I don't want to intrude» Rachel shrugged nervously.
«Nonsense. Besides, Jake is going to be there, so it wouldn't be weird if you came too» Nathan smiled as their food arrived.
«Okay, thank you» Rachel grinned as she took a bite of her salad. In her mind, spending Christmas at Nathan's was the perfect way to seduce him. All she had to do was make his family fall in love with her, than he would eventionally as well. Perfect..
The next day, Gigi came to work and found Haley behind the information desk. She looked even paler than yesterday, and Gigi figured she hadn't slept much. Haley's eyes were heavy and she was shaking.
«Haley, have you been working all night?» Gigi asked her friend in concern.
«Yeah» Haley shrugged like it was nothing and continued to type patient information on the computer.
«Will you go home, please?» Gigi asked in her nicest tone.
«No» Haley declined stubbornly.
«Haley, I don't care how much you want to impress the Chief. You look like ass, and you need to rest and eat. You even smell bad! Go home!» She demanded as Haley narrowed her eyes at her.
«I'm fine, Gigi. Stop acting like my mother» Gigi frowned angrily. She had had enough of this. From the corner of her eye she spotted Nathan coming towards them.
«Dr. Scott!» Gigi called out for him and caught his attention.
«Gigi, what do you think you're doing?» Haley whispered harshly at her once she heard what she had said.
«What's up?» Nathan sighed as he approached them.
«Will you please tell Haley that she has to go home? She has been working for 30 hours, not slept in over two days. And she hasn't eaten anything either» Gigi let out in one breath.
«Gigi!» Haley exclaimed angrily.
«What?» Nathan yelled at the same time. «Haley, get home»
«What is wrong with you people? I'm fine!» Haley screamed as they both looked at her with concerned eyes.
«No, you're not. You're really pale, and you're shaking!» Gigi said as she grabbed Haley's hand and held it up. It was clear to everyone that she was shaking, and Nathan gave her a warning glare.
«You're not my boss. You can't tell me what to do!» Haley shot at him while pulling her hand back.
«Well, than who is your attending for today?» Nathan asked her coldly.
«Dr. Gatina» Haley replied in the same tone.
«Fine» Nathan said as he walked over to Rachel who was looking at the board of operations. «Can you tell your intern to go home, please?»
«Why?» Rachel frowned at him.
«Because she needs to» Nathan shrugged frustrated.
«Can you work, James?» Rachel asked Haley who looked up at her.
«Yeah, I'm fine» She replied as Rachel nodded.
«If she says she's fine, I believe her» Rachel shrugged as she left them.
«Thank you» Haley yelled after her before giving both Gigi and Nathan a cold look, and walking away to the nearest bathroom.
«She is unbelievable!» Gigi exclaimed as Nathan shook his head in defeat.
«Have you seen Haley today?» Jake asked Nathan worriedly while they were eating lunch.
«Not since this morning. Why?» Nathan replied. Feeling a little jealous that Jake was asking about Haley. His Haley..
«It's probably nothing, but she didn't look too good yesterday. I think she might be sick» Jake shrugged while taking a bit of his sandwich.
«Well, she is very stubborn» Nathan sighed. He looked around the courtyard and spotted Gigi along with the rest of the interns. But no sign of Haley. «Excuse me» He told Jake before standing up and walking over to Gigi.
«Silvary, where is Haley?» Nathan asked worriedly as he approached her.
«She went to the bathroom about ten minutes ago. I guess she's still there» Gigi shrugged before going back to her previous conversation. Nathan decided he would go look for her. He signalized for Jake to join him and explained where they were going. Both men worried for the young woman as they headed for the bathroom.
«Haley?» Nathan called out while tapping at the bathroom door that said 'GIRLS'.
«Haley are you in there?» Jake's voice called out for her as well. But no response.
«Let's go in» Nathan said as they pushed the door open. Neither had expected what waited for them inside..
«Oh my God!» Jake exclaimed as he ran down to the unconscious body on the floor. Nathan quickly followed as he grabbed Haley's face as held it steady.
«Haley!» Ha yelled, but she didn't respond.
«Somebody help!» Jake yelled as a nurse came though the door. Nathan took her up in his strong arms and carried her out as Jake ran ahead and found a bed they could lie her on. Just as they had rolled her into a room, Nathan's beeper went of.
«It's okay, I've got her» Jake assured him as Nathan looked down on Haley's still face. Thankfully, she was breathing so he knew she would be okay. If there was a chance she wouldn't be, he would never leave her side. He had already lost Brooke, he couldn't lose Haley as well.
«Nathan, go. I've got her» Jake said again as Nathan snapped out of his gaze. He nodded and took one last look at Haley's face. He then brought his hand up to stroke it gently and bent down so he could kiss her forehead. Jake observed with a knowing look. He had figured out that there was something between them a long time ago, but this proved it.
«Page me if something happens» Nathan told him as he walked out the door, taking one last look back at the woman who held his heart. Even though she didn't know that she did.
About an hour later, Haley stirred in her sleep. She opened her eyes slowly and felt something warm, holding her hand. She looked up and into the worried eyes of her best friend.
«Oh thank God, I was so worried about you!» Gigi exclaimed as she saw Haley's eyes open.
«I told you I was okay» Haley laughed as she adjusted her position.
«Okay? You call collapsing in the bathroom okay? What are you crazy now?» Gigi let out.
«Relax..»
«Relax! You want me to relax! You have NO idea how scared I was when Nathan told me he found you on the floor. I practically ran in here and I've been here ever since. I even cried! And I never cry!» Gigi started yelling at her. Truth was that she was mad at Haley for being so careless and stubborn.
«I'm sorry» Haley's weak and emotional voice replied after Gigi had finished.
«As long as you're okay» Gigi sighed as she sat back down beside her.
«I am» Haley smiled as they heard tapping on the door. Haley looked up and into a pair of very concerned eyes that belonged to Nathan Scott.
«I'll leave you two alone» Gigi winked at her before standing up and walking past Nathan, closing the door on her way. Nathan took a step forward and looked intensively at her.
«Hi» He finally managed to get out.
«Hi» Haley weakly replied while looking into his eyes with a longing look. She wished she could just stand up and kiss him, but she knew she couldn't.
«How are you?» His emotional voice cracked.
«I'll be fine» Haley reassured him, but she could see it didn't help much.
«I'm so sorry» Nathan suddenly said.
«What for?» Haley frowned questioningly.
«Everything» Nathan sighs as he walked over to her and sat down beside her bed. «Do you remember when Brooke died? Up on the roof?»
«Of course» Haley confirmed.
«I was so scared at that moment. So lost and broken. I had just watched my wife die. That was the worst feeling in the world, Haley. I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy! But when I saw you on the floor, I got that feeling again» Nathan stopped and took a deep breath. «I thought I had lost for good»
«You didn't lose me, Nathan» Haley closed her eyes in pain as she spoke. Not physical pain, but the pain she felt when she had to force herself to stay away from him.
«I'm so sorry for what I did to you, Haley. For what I did to us. I just wish I could go back and change it»
«Me too» Haley agreed silently.
«I want to be with you Haley. I don't want to waste more time than we already have» Nathan said while taking her hand in his. Haley looked up at him in shock. She really hadn't expected that!
«Wow» Haley said in a breath. «I don't know what to say»
«Say you'll take a chance on me» Nathan encouraged her.
«I'm sorry. I can't do that right now» Haley said through teary eyes while taking her hand back.
«Please Haley. I'm so sorry, I just want another chance» Nathan helplessly begged her.
«I can't. I'm doing you a favour» Haley sighed as she closed her eyes and looked away. She couldn't bare to look at him any longer. She wanted him and loved him, but she knew she didn't deserve him.
«What are you talking..» Nathan started, but was cut of by a voice behind them.
«..Haley, can I talk to you?»
«Yeah, sure» Haley nodded as Jake came further into the room.
«I'm sorry Nathan, but you have to leave for this» He sighed as Nathan nodded. He took one last look at Haley, with pain and regret shining in his eyes before standing up and leaving. Jake walked over to the door and closed it before turning to Haley.
«You know, you scared us all» He started.
«I know, I'm sorry» Haley sighed while looking down in disappointment.
«A good doctor doesn't work 30 hours in a row. He knows when enough is enough. Do you realize that your condition could have complicated things with a patient?» Jake continued with a hint of anger in his voice.
«I'm sorry» Haley repeated.
«With that said, I ran some test on you. They tell me you're going to be fine as long as you start to eat and sleep again. But I have a question for you» Jake said while standing in front of her so she looked right into his eyes.
«What?» Haley shrugged.
«How long have you known that you're pregnant?»
Some of you expected that, I know.. I got the pill and protection questions after they slept together, I just didn't want to give it away earlier. Anyway, now it's official.
Please review!