Disclaimer: Don't own one tree hill.

Authors notes: Damn it feels good to be back. I know it's been a long time and I am sorry. A lot has been going on and I haven't felt like writing in a long time.

I will be honest, I didn't watch much of the first half of the season, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. I wish there was more Naley this season. I thought with Lucas and Peyton being gone, Nathan, Haley and Brooke would get more camera time but I guess I was wrong. Although I have to say, I am so glad Chad is off the show. For some reason, I predict a season 8 ( since they have 3 episodes left and they are building up a huge story line ), I hope that the writers do a lot more writing for those three.

As for my other stories, I am trying to rework a chosen path because I don't like the way it's written. I didn't put the time I wanted into it and lack the details I know I should have added. I am also having a hard time with I pray, someone very close to be is battling breast cancer and that story keeps striking a nerve with me but I am trying and will post something from it soon.

Thanks for your paitence and I hope to write on the regular again.

Chapter 13

Twenty minutes later she was sitting in Spencers, a diver bar just on the outskirts of Tree Hill. It wasn't the classiest establishment she'd ever been into but it was not the absolute worst either. She'd worked in a few that made this place look like a New York night club back in her early college days.

They sat in a back booth, trying to escape the thick ciggerette smoke that hung heavy in the air." I'm sorry. " He quickly apologized. " I heard this place was far nicer than it is. We can go if you'd like. "

" It's fine. " She assured him, picking up her glass and taking a small sip of her whiskey and water. She noticed he was staring at her with a look of doubt on his handsome features. " Really it is. "

" I was going to suggest a rousing game of truth, " He told her, playing with the label on his beer bottle. " But it seems you're incapable of telling it. "

" Fine, " She rolled her eyes, " This place is horrible. It is positively the worst date I have ever been on in my life. I might just have to say no the next time you ask me out. "

" At least you're being honest now, " He grinned before taking a long swig and his beer. " But who said I would be asking you out again? "

" Womens intuition. " She smiled and he nodded because he knew she was right. Even more, She knew she was right. " How about that game? "

" Okay. I'll start. " He blew out a breath of air as he thought about his question. " Favourite movie? "

She looked up as the door to the bar opened. She didn't recognize the man who came in but when he glanced in her direction she felt a little odd. He was big, tall and heavyset with a thick beard. He was dressed like just about everyone else in the bar but something was totally off with this guys, especially when he glanced in her direction. " Um, E.T. " She answered. " You? "

" No ask backs. " He told her shrugging his shoulders when she gave him a weird look. " it's against the rules. " He explained furthers.

" What is your favourite scary movie? " She emphasised the word scary, making the question her own.

" Nice. " He grinned with obvious admiration of her sneaky tatics. " Pretty much the classics. All the Friday the thirteenth's, halloweens and the nightmare on elm street. And all the senseless violence that goes with them. "

" Gross, " She couldn't help but look up again, searching out the grizzly bear of a man from a few seconds before. Something in her subconcious told her to watch him closely. " I hate those movies. Too much nudity and vulgarity. "

" The evils of premarital sex, " He grinned. " You get busy and a big bad monster comes and takes you out. Ready for the next question? " She nodded. " Favourite book? "

" Hasn't been written yet, " She replied smoothly. " But right now I love Les Miserables. "

" Hasn't been written? " He questioned, his eye brows raising in confusion and she laughed a little.

" It's in the process, " She explained, taking a drink from her nearly empty glass. " Lucas is a writer and he is writing an almost autobiographically tale of two bothers, " She trailed off, not needing to fill in the blanks.

Dave nodded. " I see. Your turn. "

" How did you know you wanted to be a football coach? " She asked, deciding it was time to move past basic questions and really get too know him.

" I didn't, " He answered slowly, trying to figure out the best way too explain himself. " I wanted to be a player but something happened and no NFL team really wanted to touch me. "

She couldn't help but feel uneasy at his cautiousness. " What do you mean? "

She watched as he closed his eyes, clearly uncomfortable with the question but something told her not to drop it. Whatever it was, it was major and she really needed to know. " I was accused of something, it wasn't true and the charges were dropped but it was still pretty bad and the none of the team wanted to bring the scandal into their organization. " He paused, looking into her eyes, hoping that his explaination was enough to satisfy her curiosity. It wasn't. " I was accused of rape. "

Her mouth fell open, She didn't know what to say.

~MTAM~

" Calm the fuck down, " Daunte snapped, standing in Nathans living room, watching the poor boy pace a whole in his carpet.

" My wife is out with a fucking rapist and you're telling me to calm down? " Nathan laughed humorlessly. " That's rich. "

" I've got eyes on her, " Daunte reminded him. " Nothing is going to happen to her. I've got a couple guys who are trying to dig more into Daves past, apparently Rachel wasn't the first girl he's ever forced himself on but I don't have all the details just yet. "

" Well, what do you have? " Nathan snapped, instantly regretting it. Daunte was doing his a ig favor and Nathan had no right to snapp at him. On the other hand, Haley was out on a date with a sick bastard and there was nothing he could really do or say about it.

" He was a quarterback at the university of Ohio, " Daunte began. " He was being scouted by some of the top NFL teams, Indiana, Dallas, Miami and that is just to name a few, "

" So what happened? " Nathan tried to hide his impatience but it was difficult.

" A girl accused him of rape, " Daunte replied, " Like I said before Nathan, I really don't have all the details yet but the chargers were dropped but even still the NFL didn't draft him. "

Nathan shook his head to himself. " How many times has this bastard gotten away with it? "

~MTAM~

" Can I ask you a question? " Jamie looked up at his uncle as Lucas tucked him into bed.

Lucas smiled at the little boy that he'd practically raised from birth. " Sure Buddy, you know you can ask me anything. "

" And do you promise to tell the truth? " Jamie prodded, causing Lucas to look at him with suspicion.

" I've never lied to you before , why would I start now? " Lucas wasn't sure whether or not he could verbally make that promise.

Jamie thought about it for a minute. " Do you think Nathan is a bad guy? " He really needed to know.

" No. " Lucas answered quickly, rubbing the stubble on his chin as he attempt to construct an answer for his nephew. " Nathan just makes mistakes. Big mistakes. "

" Why did he have to leave? " Jamie questioned, he'd heard his moms answer and he'd heard Nathans answer but he still didn't get it.

" He didn't have to leave, he chose too. " It was complicated. Something he'd never wanted to tell Jamie. Something he knew all too wll through personal experience. " Did you know Nathan and I are half brothers? " Jamie nodded and Lucas continued. " We share a father but have two different mothers. Our father didn't raise me but he raised Nathan. " He paused, allowing Jamie to absorb some of what he was saying. " Our dad left my mom, much like the way Nathan left your mom. Only Nathan didn't know about you. "

It was hard trying to explain. It was hard having to reopen some wounds he wish would just heal already but wouldn't. " Nathan was pressured by Dan into being a basketball prodigy. According to Dan, the only way Nathan would achieve his dream of playing for Duke was if he attended another school, who were well known for their basketball program. You're mom couldn't go to that school. "

" So, Grandpa Dan made my dad leave my mom? " Jamie asked, understanding a little more.

" Yes. " Lucas answered. " Nathan had a choice though and he made the wrong one. He should have listened to his heart and not his father. " He dropped a kiss on his nephews forehead before standing up. " Did I clear some stuff up for you? "

Jamie nodded. " Can I ask one more thing? " Lucas smiled and Jamie continued. " Do you think my mom and dad will ever get back together? "

Lucas shook his head. " I don't think so, buddy. I think your dad came back just a little too late. "

~MTAM~

She pulled her car into her driveway and turned off the igntion. She was tired and wanted nothing more than to go inside and draw a nice hot bath and let the tension of the day just slip away but at the same time, she had no desire to go inside the empty house. Her son was staying the night at his Uncles and the house would be too quiet for her taste. She was startled when her car door opened on its own.

" Nathan! " She gasped in surprise. " You scared the shit out of me. " Then it dawned on her. " What are you doing standing outside my house for? "

" I just went out for a walk, " It was the truth, his walks always seemed to lead him in her direction. " I was walking this way when I saw your car pull up and I wanted to make sure you were okay. "

Unbuckling her seatbelt, She got out of the car. " Why wouldn't I be okay? "

He didn't know what to say, or rather how to say it. " Dave isn't the guy you think he is, Haley. " He hesitated. " He's a bad dude and you need to becareful around him. "

" Are you talking about the rape? " She asked and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. " Yes, Nathan, I know about the rape charges. I also know that he didn't do it. The girl lied. "

" That's his story. " He pointed out, hearing the hiss come from her tightly closed lips, he knew he struck a nerve. " How do you know what really happened? Were you there? "

" Nathan, stop. " She pleaded. " You don't know what you're talking about. "

" I don't want you seeing him again, Haley, I mean it. " He ordered, his voice tense.

" You will not tell me what to do, Nathan Scott, I will see who I want when I want. " She fired back.

" I'm not fucking playing around, Hales, I don't want this son of a bitch around. You don't know him as well as you think you do, " His voice boomed and he began walking behind her as she stormed up the walkway to her front door.

" And you don't know him at all, " She snapped back, enraged with his nerve to tell her who she could and couldn't see. " You know what, Nathan, " She spun towards him so fast almost didn't have time to stop before he crashed into her. " Fuck you. How dare you come back into my life after six years and try to have any say in it. And fuck this arrangement , you self centered asshole, you want a fight? You got one. "

" You won't win, Hales. " He smirked,knowing he shouldn't push her but unable to stop himself. " You're dating a rapist and you don't think I won't bring that to my lawyer? What judge would let you keep your child while you're in a serious relationship with a fucking sex offender? "

He was right and she knew it. " I'm not going to say it again, stop seeing Dave. "

" Fuck off, Nate. " She quickly opened her front door and stepped inside before slamming the door in his face.

She leaned against the closed door, trying to force herself to come down from her anger. He had no right to come back after six years and dictate her life. This was still her life. And Jamie was her son and she would never put him in jeapordy.

Nathan was right about one thing, Daves past could be used against her and it was best for her to stop seeing him for the time being.

She jumped when she heard the knock at the door and got ready for round two. She yanked the door open. " I said to fuck off, Natha, " She trailed off. " Dan? "

She grimaced as he gave her his trademarked smirk. " Hello Haley. "

Please read and review.