Disclaimer- I do not own OTH; if I did, Leyton would have died in season two. Long live Brucas! Lol.
A/N- Thanks once again for the awesome replies. Smiles Anyways, this story is coming to an end. I know, sad. I have to say, this story was one of the most enjoyable fics I loved to write. I'm so happy many of you have loved it as much as I. Next chapter will be the end to, Provoked; however, I might take awhile to post it. I plan so much in it.
Warning- T- rating; language, and etc. Enjoy this 6ish web page chapter.
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Shutting the door behind her, Haley slowly walked closer to Nathan.
With every step, the stare became penetrating; she stopped a foot away from him.
"Hey," Nathan tiredly responded.
Unable to speak by her sudden shock, Haley felt hey eyes begin to water.
"Oh, Nathan," Haley wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him dearly. "I thought you were going to die."
Half smiling, Nathan ran his hand through her hair; so many thoughts were racing inside his head.
He was in a hospital, thus the police had him monitored.
How was he going to escape?
What about Haley?
He could not risk going to jail?
He needed a plan fast, or soon he would be sentenced to jail until his case was on trail; he knew he would be put on death row. No doubt about it.
"Haley," Nathan spoke after awhile in each others arm, "What happened?"
Haley released herself from Nathan's embrace and stared at his blue eyes. "Brooke's in a coma; the police think you killed her. Skillz is in jail, and basically everyone's waiting for you to wake up; you're all over the news. They want to place you in jail as soon as possible."
"You haven't talked to the police?" Nathan asked.
"No, I couldn't. But you're innocent about, Brooke. It was Skillz that shot her."
Nathan sighed, truly puzzled on how to act next.
"Nathan, I am so sorry," Haley began as she placed one of her hands on his cheek, "I didn't mean to run. All I wanted was for you to escape, not be placed in jail. I wanted you to start anew. I never meant for them to shoot at you. I am so-"
"It's ok, Haley. The only thing that matters to me is that you're safe," Nathan answered with a kind smile. Haley tried to smile, but she was soon distracted by Nathan's sudden bittersweet kiss.
"What are we going to do?" Haley asked moments later after she rests her head on his shoulder.
"Do you have your cell phone with you?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah, who are you going to call?" Haley asked handing her cell to him from her pocket.
"I need you to listen very closely to me, ok?" Nathan began staring at Haley confused stare to shortly nod. "I need you to leave this room and while I still fool anyone that comes in here that I'm still in a come. As you leave I need you to bring me some sort of disguise in secrecy. Once you return, we need to fool everyone with the disguise until we leave the hospital grounds."
"Ok," Haley said agreeing with the plan and beginning to stand up, until Nathan grabbed her arm.
"I need an answer, Haley," Nathan said cautiously which made Haley slightly nervous, "Are you willing to leave everything, and everyone, for me? Because once we do this, there is no turning back."
Haley stared deeply into Nathan's stare. She knew her answer. "Yes."
"I'm glad," Nathan smiled, "Now, be very careful not to inform anyone about me."
"Ok, I'll see you in a little bit." Haley answered and cautiously left his room and walked away from the hospital without anyone spotting her.
--
When Haley arrived back to the hospital, her luck was not as great as the first; Jake was on the floor pacing outside's Nathan's room.
Crap, Haley thought decreasing her pace.
"Jake," Haley said walking to him. "I thought you went home."
"No, I wanted to know how you're doing," Jake asked in a warm smile.
"Well, I'm ok. I'm waiting for Brooke to wake up and-"
"Nathan?" Jake asked.
"Yeah, him too, I was just about-"
"Haley James?" a brunette man asked from behind them. Haley turned around confused to who he was.
"I'm an undercover cop, Owen. I need to talk to you in private," Owen answered shaking Haley's hand.
"I'm not sure I'm ready to talk yet," Haley answered anxious.
"It's urgent if we do," Owen said sternly.
"Fine," Haley reluctantly answered.
"Very well, follow me inside his room to speak. Please excuse us," Owen said to Jake.
"Haley, I'm just going to head home. Call me for anything. I'm here, ok?" Jake said. Haley half smiled and said her goodbyes to him while she and Owen walked into Nathan's room. Hopefully, Nathan acted quickly like he was still in a coma.
"Are you sure there's no other place we can-"
"Owen, Hales, you're finally here," Nathan said to them.
"You're not an undercover cop?" Haley asked Owen.
"No, he's someone I called for help," Nathan answered for him.
Before Haley could ask more, she noticed Owen play with the monitor machine. He manipulated the wires, to make it still seem that Nathan was in a coma, alive. Shortly, Nathan took off his IV's and walked toward Haley to see what disguise she brought him.
"Haley, you're kidding right?" Nathan asked as he stared at the clothing inside the large bag.
"It's the perfect disguise, no one would know it was you," Haley answered.
"But Hales, I mean, come on," Nathan said disgusted.
"Nate, just change already," Haley demanded annoyed by his whines.
"What's the disguise-"he began to laugh hysterically. Haley had brought Nathan an old lady disguise. A lengthy floral dress with a pair of loafers, a curly grey wig with a pair of large sunglasses, and to top it all, a scarf to wrap around his head.
Even Haley had to laugh when Nathan was completely disguised. He appeared like a grandmother… a very tall grandmother.
"Stop laughing," Nathan said.
"I'm sorry, it's just. You look adorable," Haley commented.
"Yeah, man. Adorable," Owen teased.
"Haha," Nathan mocked.
"Ok, sorry. Now Owen, now that you're here, I need you to help. You and Nathan walk out of the room first, help him by the arm, like you're his son and whatnot. I will follow not far behind. It should work," Haley said. Owen walked to Nathan and linked arms with him, as Nathan bended down like an old lady.
"Come on you old hag," Owen kept teasing while Nathan rolled his eyes. After they left the room, Haley waited a minute to leave; she prayed she would not run into anyone.
--
Standing halfway between the entrance of the room and outside it, Peyton knocked on the door lightly. Lucas snapped his head back and greeted her and Chris with a sad smile.
"How is she?" Peyton asked staring at Brooke's motionless body, while Chris held tighter to her hand.
"The same," Lucas answered sighing and then shaking his head exhausted. "Chris you're back."
"Yeah, I heard Peyton's message and took the next plane here. I'm sorry about everything, Luke. I had no idea he was back," Chris replied. Lucas looked up at his close friend.
"Neither did I. Haley kept him a secret from all of us," Lucas answered.
"Speaking of, where is she?" Peyton asked.
"With him," Lucas replied bitterly.
"I should go see her," Peyton said turning around.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Chris asked.
"No, stay with him," Peyton replied in a whisper. After Chris nodded Peyton shot one last glance at Brooke and grasp the door knob, until she herd Lucas yell Brooke's name.
"Brooke!" Lucas exclaimed, jumping from his chair to be closer to his wife.
Brooke frantically began to turn side to side her head and mumbled strange words.
"I'll go get a doctor," Chris said walking to the door.
"Wait!" Lucas yelled and held onto one of her hands…Brooke opened her eyes.
"Brooke," Lucas called her name softly, feeling his eyes water.
"Where am I?" Brooke asked staring at her crowd and the rest of her surroundings.
"You're in the hospital, babe. How are you-"
"How's Haley? And Nathan?" Brooke coughed feeling immediate pain in her torso.
Lucas felt his blood boil on the mention of Nathan's name.
"Haley's fine, while Nathan is in a coma like you were," Lucas answered.
"Coma?" Brooke repeated it confused.
"You been in a coma for a week or so, Brooke," Peyton answered.
"A week!? Is that man Skillz at least in jail? Oh my gosh, my side hurts so much," Brooke screeched in pain, biting her bottom lip.
"I'll go get the doctor," Chris said racing outside the door.
"Who Skillz?" Peyton asked soon after.
"Nathan's-"
"The man who shot me with his gun. He tried to kill all of us," Brooke answered while Lucas's face fell in shock.
"No, Nathan was the one that shot you," Lucas said. Brooke turned to him, shaking her head.
"No, that's completely wrong. Nathan was the one that tried to save Haley and me. Skillz was the one that blew up Nathan's house too. Damn it! Where's that doctor," Brooke stared to the ceiling.
Lucas walked a couple steps back; his whole conclusion was false. Skillz was the one that tried to kill Brooke, not Nathan.
"Mrs. Roe, I'm glad you're finally awake," the doctor responded walking inside the room.
"I'll be right back, babe," Lucas said and walked out of the room with Chris walking behind him.
"Where are you heading to?" Chris asked from behind, but Lucas didn't answer.
"Lucas!" Chris yelled, walking into the same room Lucas did and finding an empty body on the bed. He stared at Lucas confused further.
"He's not here," Lucas blurted out.
"Who's not here?" Chris asked beginning to become further confused.
"Nathan!" Lucas yelled as he ran his hands through his hair. Where the hell was Nathan?
"I thought he," Chris began but paused, thinking the situation. Nathan was in a coma, but he was not in his bed, "He escaped."
Lucas began to pace the room. What had he done?!
"I thought Nathan tried to kill Brooke, but it was Skillz all along," Lucas said to himself.
"Isn't Skillz in jail?" Chris asked his frantic friend.
Lucas stopped pacing, and stared at Chris like a terrified little boy.
"I released him from jail."
Chris eyes widen in shock; however, before he could yell at Lucas, a letter caught his eyes. He walked to it, and read the front of the letter.
To my beloved friends
"It's in Haley's handwriting," Chris said staring at it.
Letter. Empty bed. No Haley.
"She went off with him," Chris blurted to Lucas.
"What?" Lucas asked and snatched the letter from Chris, and read it. "We need to tell the others."
Both Lucas and Chris walked as fast as they could to Brooke's room.
"Haley has run away with, Nathan," Lucas informs once he is in the room. Brooke drops her fork, and stares at her husband stunned.
"And that's not the worse part," Chris said while Lucas snapped his head at him to shut up.
"What's the worst part?" Peyton asked, rising from her chair beside Brooke.
Chris glanced to Lucas, would he tell them or him?
Lucas turned slowly to the women. "I helped Skillz escape from jail."
"Lucas Eugene Roe! How could you!?" Brooke shouted to her husband.
"I knew once Nathan awoke, he would escape. So, I thought that if I helped Skillz escape, he would track Nathan and kill him," Lucas confessed.
"That's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard you say! Do you have any idea what you have done? You turned into, them," Brooke said in angry. "Crooked cops working for with the bad people you swore you'd lock away. How could you, Luke?"
"It seemed like a good idea at the time! It was all to save you and, Hales!" Lucas defended himself, but he knew he was wrong.
"Haley left behind this letter," Chris said waving it. Peyton walked to him and snatched the letter away, and began opening it.
"Dear friends, by this time you begin to read this, I'm sure you all know I've run away with, Nathan. Please don't be mad. I know it was childish, but understand our circumstance. Nathan is a wanted man, and all we want is to be together where no one would know us. Where we could express our love in public; I love him and he loves me," Peyton paused glancing at her friends.
"I pray to God you wake up soon, Brooke. Know that I love you like a sister. Same with you Peyton; I love you and I wish you and Chris the best of luck with your art and the gallery. I love you both, Peyton and Chris. Lastly, Lucas; I know you feel anger towards me, and it's ok. I know I will be happy with, Nathan. I hope you can find it in your heart one day to forgive me. I love you like a brother.
"I'm so sorry again to everyone. I wish I could have said goodbye in person but it would have been too painful. I pray we'll see each other again, if not in another lifetime. Please forgive me. I will always love all of you, Haley James. P.S. Please don't search for me."
"Get me the fuck out of the bed," Brooke exclaimed taking her IV's off her wrist.
"Brooke, what are you doing? You just took a dose of morphine," Peyton said.
"Getting the fuck out of this hospital; Haley needs us. I'm not just going to lay here and let my best friend get killed by a psycho on the loose," Brooke said grabbing her clothes from the suitcase Lucas had brought her previously.
"Do you remember what that did to you last time?" Lucas asked his wife.
"I don't give a damn. Skillz is after Nathan and Haley! We need to stop him. Either you help me or not," Brooke said placing her tank on then a t-shirt over it.
"How would we find them?" Chris asked.
"Lucas, you're the cop. Inform your squad and the police station. Inform the border about Haley and Nathan," Brooke said placing now her shoes on.
"Yeah," Lucas answered dumbfounded. It always shocked him when Brooke knew more about his job than him. Shortly, he grabbed his radio and called the police station to inform that Skillz had escape, and to start a new search party for him. Nathan and Haley could not have gotten far…at least he hoped.
--
You know what to do.