Disclaimer: Nope, don't own One Tree Hill

Authors notes: I was quite pleased with the reaction I got out of last chapter. This chapter isn't as long because I edited a lot out of it.

Rating: M for violence, language and strong sexual contents.

Chapter ten:

Pain. It's all Rachel felt when her back slammed into the concrete wall. She opened her mouth the protest but his tight grip around her throat kept her from breathing, let alone talking. In an attempt to create a little bit of space between herself and her attacker, she placed and open palm on his chin and pushed, but she was already feeling weak from the amount of alcohol she'd consumed and the lack of oxygen she was taking in.

" Stupid bitch! " Dave muttered, as her eyes began to grow heavy. " Didn't think I knew who you were, did you? "

Releasing her throat, he smiled grimly as she gasped for air. Eying her up and down, he smirked at how she was dressed. The skirt she was wearing was far too short and it was obvious she wasn't wearing panties and her white shirt was low cut, showing off her black bra. She'd come out to get fucked and that's exactly what she was going to get.

Without warning, he slapped her. She could feel the blood trickle down her mouth and the hurt as it resonated throughout her entire head. She had a taser in her purse but it had gotten thrown down the alleyway. His hand returned to her throat, as his free hand began working his belt buckle.

" You're going to send a message to Nathan for me, bitch. " He told her, before slamming into her.

Lucas stood in the shadows, just watching as Nathan ran through countless drills. It really was like poetry in motion, Nathan had a talent. He waited until Nathan stood center court, his hands on his knees catching his breath before making his presence known.

" You still want to fight? " Lucas asked, letting out an amused chuckle as Nathan spun around in surprise. The smile dropping as Nathan tensed up.

" Yeah. I hate you, you know that? " Nathan glared at him, not making any effort into conceal the contempt he felt.

" I know. " Lucas told him, stopping as the brothers stood face to face. " Jamie reminds me a lot of you. "

" He's not liking me too much right now. " Saying it hurt him.

" For so long it's just been him and Haley, it's going to take him time to get used to there being a you. " Lucas told him. " She's a really good mom, Nate. She's giving up a lot for that little boy, he's her whole life. "

" I can see that for myself. " Nathan nodded in agreement, Haley was an amazing mom. He'd never doubted that.

" I heard you interrupted her date with Dave. " Lucas grinned and Nathan shook his head with a small smile.

" Yeah, I kind of acted like a jackass. Classic Nathan Scott bullshit. " Nathan admitted, knowing he should feel slightly guilty but he didn't. " Have you met that joker? "

Shaking his head, Lucas said. " She thinks I'll scare him away. "

" How's the knee? " Nathan asked, looking down at Lucas' right knee.

" Strong. " Lucas replied simply, without bitterness.

" Can I ask you something? " Nathan asked, closing his eyes in debate on whether he should or shouldn't be asking Lucas these things.

" I can't promise I'll answer. " Lucas replied, following Nathan as he sat down on the court.

" How has Haley been? " Nathan asked, not going with the question he wanted to ask but figured he could build up too it.

" Good. I know thats probably not what you wanted to hear but it's the truth. It was rough for awhile, she'd thought about getting an abortion at first but it went against everything she believed in. She decided to keep the baby as opposed to giving him up for adoption. Brooke moved into the apartment with her, which was great because Brookes father paid most the bills. When high school ended and college began, me and Peyton got an apartment with Haley and Jamie so we could help her out. " Lucas told him, honestly.

" Why didn't you tell me? I mean, you saw me those times and you never said a fucking word. " He needed to know, was he really that bad of a person that nobody wanted him involved with his sons life.

" When Haley found out she was pregnant, she was dead set against telling you. She felt that if she decided to have the abortion that you'd try and force her into keeping the baby and if she decided to keep the baby, you'd push her into an abortion. Once she made up her mind though, she decided to tell you but the only way she could do that was through letters, letters which you sent back without even bothering to read. Eventually she got a phone call from some lawyer saying that if she continued to harass you, that a restraining order would be issued, so she gave up. " Nathan looked up at his brother, surprise evident on his face. " After that, she figured out that she and the baby were better off without you knowing. "

" but why didn't you tell me? " Nathan questioned again, feeling his eyes begin to sting.

" She asked me not too and like I told you that night all those years ago, I was choosing Haley over you. She's my best friend Nate and I will do anything I have to to protect her. Even if that means fighting you. " Lucas' voice was low but intense as he spoke those words to his little brother.

" You'll loose. " Nathan warned him, his voice hoarse.

" So you say. " Lucas smirked.

Haley stood at the kitchen sink, washing what was left of the dinner dishes as her cell phone buzzed on the counter next to her. Picking it up, she smiled as she saw whose name was displayed on the front screen.

" Hi, Dave. " She grinned, she couldn't help it, he made her feel giddy.

" Hey beautiful. How's the house? " He asked, his tone soft and caring.

" Great, although I think we're going to have to repaint Jamie's bedroom. " She told him, shouldering the phone and picking up a dish towel to dry off her hands. " How was your night? "

" Oh it was good. Stayed home and played on my PS3. " He replied easily. " It could have been better, I could have been spending my time with you. Do you want to get together tomorrow night for dinner. "

" I want to but I can't. " She responded regretfully. " Jamie and I are having dinner with Nathan. "

He was silent on his end of the line and for a moment, Haley actually thought he had hung up on her.

" Are you sure that's a good idea? " Dave questioned, his light tone replaced with a tense one.

" Jamie wants to get to know Nathan but doesn't want to spend any alone time with him just yet. " Haley explained, slightly taken aback by his mood change. " Did you maybe want to get together afterwards? "

" No that's alright. You just go and enjoy ' family ' night and I'll call you some other time. " He snapped and quickly hung up the phone.

Haley stood there staring at the cell phone in her hand, in slight shock. Never had she expected Dave to react that way and was a little hurt hat he had. Hadn't he been the one encouraging her to let Jamie and Nathan hammer things out so their wouldn't be any regrets on any of their parts.

It was two thirty when Nathan heard the front door open and Rachel come stumbling in. She'd been right when she'd warned him not to wait up but he hadn't been able to sleep since his confrontation with Lucas. He had so many thoughts running through his head and he couldn't wait to talk to Rachel. He could count on her to give him her honest opinion, holding nothing back.

Pulling the covers off of him, he climbed out of bed and pulled on his basketball shorts. As an after thought, he pulled a t-shirt out of his drawer and put it on as well, if Rachel was drunk and horny she would have no problem coming on to him and he hated having to reject her. Opening his bedroom door, he came face to face with a bloody and battered Rachel.

" What the hell? " His voice was broken and his heart was pounding so hard in his chest he was surprised it hadn't jumped out yet.

Her left eye was blackened and her lips were swollen. Her nose had obviously bled at one point with the amount a dried blood that was covering it. Her shirt was ripped and barely covered anything. Whoever had gotten a hold of her had certainly intended for her to feel every ounce of pain they inflicted.

" We need to get you to the hospital, Rach. " He told her, scooping her up into his arms but she fought against him.

" No. " She whispered, pleadingly. " I just need to take a shower. "

" Rachel, you really need... " But he was cut off by his friends broken sobs.

" Nathan, I can't... I just need to take a shower. " She told him again and despite his better judgment, he carried her into her bedroom.

Without words, he quickly helped her strip down and helped her shower, never once realizing how uncomfortable the situation should have been. She was his best friend and he would do anything for her, including killing the creep who had done this too her.

Once she was cleaned and wrapped up in an over sized towel, he went into the kitchen and pulled the ice pack out of the freezer and the first aide kit that they stored in the pantry. He could feel his body shaking with rage but held his self together for her sake, him being calm was the only way she was going to feel comfortable enough to talk to him.

" Rach, I need you too tell me what happened. " He'd told her, as he knelt down in front of her to inspect some of her wounds. " Who did this? "

She looked at him for a moment and for once he couldn't read her emotions.

" I need to go back to Durham. " She told him, her voice breaking. " Once I tell you, I can't stay here. "

He nodded but he wasn't sure if Durham was the place to go. It wasn't far enough away from here.

" Why don't you go to Seattle, you can set everything I need up there. " He suggested but she shook her head.

" He'll look for me there. "

" Who? "

" Dave. "

please read and review.