Chapter 20
Thank you all for the reviews and again, my apologies for not updating sooner. I went on vacation and in the middle of moving .However, I was able to wrap up Stillness, thank God, so now it leaves me with this story and The Mourning After to wrap up. I also managed to knock out "Make it Last" and if you check out that story, you'll get a sneak preview of the sequel to "Thicker than Blood."
I also would like to share some thoughts of the season so far. I can't wait for tomorrow, even though I have no clue where I can watch it because I currently have no television. I like Brulian, they came out, it was a little unexpected and a nice change but by the end of season 6, they moved a little too fast and now it seems that they are shoving them down our throats. If it was Naley, they could pull it off but Mark needs to tone down the Brulian, we got the message, thank you. As a guest character, I don't mind Quinn but as a regular cast member, I have very little interest in her. She's a new character and I feel like she's a new character not. First of all, we've never heard or seen any of Haley's siblings since season 2. We get a brief mention of Quinn in season 6 and that's it, To me, it seems like they were sisters raised by different households. Although I do like Clayton, he's funny charming and I get the whole deep down he's a sensitive nice guy. With Nathan acting so serious, are they making Nathan the new Lucas and Clay the new Nate? The end of his first scene with Nate made me cringe a little, with the whole jeans comment by Nathan, but to be fair that was just as much of James's fault as it is Robert's lol. Their next scene at the commercial shoot was much better, got the banter and I felt the friendship. With time, I think Clayton will get more comfortable with the other characters. Like I said, is Nathan acting like Luke now? I like how grown up Nathan is now but I need to see a little bad boy here and there, and no im not talking about him cheating on haley! I think that storyline will work so long as Nathan never did anything with that skank. Poor Haley, to go through that. Anyways, we'll see tom.
This chapter sort of took a life of it's own as I started writing and I hope you enjoy. Once again I'd love to hear your comments.
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"Get your hands off me!" Brooke yelled as an officer stepped in and held her back.
"Miss you need to calm down." The officer stated, this girl sure had some spunk.
"Let go of me, it's because of this bitch that my friend is in here in the first place!"
Dan saw the commotion and stepped in.
"Wait!" He ordered the officer. To most people, Dan Scott was still a town hero and upstanding and beloved law abiding citizen of Tree Hill. It also helped that most people got their cars through him. It wasn't a secret to anyone that Dan received special treatment. "What're you talking about Miss Davis?"
"This ho-bag right here. She put up some video of Nathan during prom to make it look like he was taking drugs or something, it's because of her he got so worked up and had a heart attack!" She spit out. Rachel leaned in against the wall, feeling smaller than ever. The fear was definite in her eyes.
"Let her go." Dan ordered as he glared at Rachel.
"Yeah, let her go." Lucas came running up to see what the commotion was all about.
"Thank you!" Brooke rolled her eyes as the officer let her go. "Oh great, the skank is gone!" Brooke yelled. While everyone was distracted with Lucas, Rachel took a chance and snuck away.
"Don't worry about her." Lucas gave Brooke a hug. "Dan what the hell are you doing with Daunte?" Lucas turned to Dan.
"We're bringing him in for questioning." The officer stated.
"But why?" Lucas was confused.
"Lucas, can you please tell them I'm innocent of whatever crime they're trying to pin on me!!" Daunte yelled from across the room.
Lucas turned to Dan, "Seriously, what's your problem?"
"He was the one that was giving Nathan his medication. He's liable in all this." Dan stated, although he was far interested in the red head the just bailed.
"Brooke was right, the only person to blame here is Rachel, but I doubt you can arrest her since technically she did nothing illegal." Lucas shook his head, she should be arrested, but what could she be charged with. "Daunte is Nathan's pharmacist, he was only doing what the doctor prescribed." Lucas pleaded with the officer.
"Don't worry, I'll get to that Doctor, take him away guys."
"NO!" Lucas said frustrated, "What the hell did he do wrong?"
"He's not cooperating, we're just trying to get him some answers, as his father I have the right."
"No you don't. Nathan is 18, he didn't need to give parental consent!"
"He obviously did something wrong, I would've seen charges for medication on my insurance, which Nathan is still covered. That's already insurance fraud."
"That's cuz he paid cash!" Lucas shook his head.
The officer looked back and forth between Dan and Lucas. "I'm sorry Mr. Scott, we were going to bring him in for questioning as a favor to you but like the kid says, your son is a legal adult. Technically, Daunte has done nothing wrong."
"Technically." Dan rolled his eyes.
"Let him go." The officer called out to his partner, "We're done here."
"Are there any more secrets you'd like to share!" Dan growled at Lucas. "My son is in a coma and I swear if he doesn't get out of it, you're going to join him." Dan stormed off.
Lucas glared at his estranged father as Dan walked away. He would've been more pissed but he was exhausted and although Dan was being his usual jack ass self, Lucas could see the fear behind Dan's eyes. Nathan was still his son and he couldn't blame Dan too much on wanting to blame someone for this whole messed up situation. It still didn't give him any right to start accusing people.
"Lucas, thanks for your help." Daunte approached him. "When you guys said your father was an ass, you weren't kidding."
"Yeah." Lucas sighed and looked down. "I'm .. I'm sorry for that."
"You have nothing to be sorry for.. and look don't go blaming yourself, this isn't your fault."
"Yeah?" Lucas looked up at him. "How come I feel like it is?"
"Your brother's going to be okay, believe that. Look, I heard what happened, I just wanted you to know that I'm here if you need me." Daunte gave him a small smile and squeezed his shoulder. Daunte said his goodbyes and Lucas took a seat nearby, feeling more defeated than ever.
"Luke, it's okay, everything is going to be okay." Brooke held onto him as he rested his head on her shoulder.
"I hope so.. God, I'm a mess.. Haley must.. wait." Lucas stood right back up. "Haley?" He looked around. "She was right with me, where'd she go?"
. . . . .
Rachel hightailed out of there. She knew it was a bad idea to come. She raced to the parking lot and pulled out her car keys. She pressed the alarm to unlock her black Buick. She was about to open the door when she looked at the window and saw someone behind her.
"You have some nerve coming here." Haley said in as calm of a voice as she could.
"I.. I was just leaving." Rachel mumbled as she opened the door. Haley stepped forward and slammed the door shut. Rachel was taken aback and took a step backwards while Haley positioned herself between Rachel and her car. No way, she was going to let her off this easy.
"And I'm just getting started." Haley clenched her fist.
"Haley look, relax." Rachel threw her hands up.
"Relax?" Haley mocked. "You want me to relax while my boyfriend is in a coma fighting for his life."
Rachel swallowed the lump in her throat. "I.. I didn't know." Rachel said softly.
"He had a heart attack, cut circulation to his brain. He had a pre-existing condition, but high stress was a factor, I wonder why that was."
"Hey!" Rachel answered back. "Look, I may have talked to him before his umm.. accident.. but it wasn't me he was stressed about .. it was YOU! So why don't you get your facts straight before you start accusing people."
Haley's jaw literally dropped. She knew she was tired but she knew her hearing was still fine. She couldn't believe the nerve of her.
"ME?! Oh no Honey.." Haley pointed her finger at Rachel.
"Don't point your finger at me.. I know all about your other boyfriend. Yeah, I may have been the one to tell Nathan but you were the one lying to him and seeing some other guy behind his back!"
Without a second thought, Haley punched her right in the eye, sending Rachel stumbling to the ground.
"Why you.." Rachel mumbled as she got back up, clutching her face.
"Now your other eye matches from the other black eye I gave you." Haley smirked as she put her hand on her hips.
"Yeah I can thank your fat knuckles for that." Rachel got up. "Just cuz your big ass feels guilty…. Owww!!" Haley slapped Rachel as hard as she could before she could finish her sentence.
"Listen, you idiot!" Haley's eyes were on fire. "Not like I need to explain anything to you, but I was not cheating on Nathan."
"Tell that to that Chris guy." Rachel smirked but was met with another slap from Haley. "Why you!!" Rachel lunged at Haley, but Haley took a step to the side pushed Rachel hard against the car door. Haley then flipped Rachel around and held her arm against Rachel's neck.
"I don't know how you found out about Chris, but Chris is a friend who's in a band. We used to play together in Raleigh and now he wants me to tour with him in Europe, you moron." Haley pressed her arm harder against Rachel's neck. "The only reason why I didn't tell Nathan was because I wasn't sure if I was going to go."
"You sing?!" Rachel snorted but Haley pushed harder causing Rachel to struggle breathing.
"And I can dance too, all over your grave if you keep this shit up." Haley finally let her go and took a step back, while Rachel gasped for air. "I never cheated on Nathan nor was I ever leaving him." Haley said in a more side voice. "And because of your stupid malicious actions, he thinks I am and because of YOU he had his heart attack."
Rachel stood there, leaning against her car while still grasping for air while she took in Haley's words. Then, Rachel reached into her pockets and grabbed her keys but Haley snatched it from her
"You better hope he wakes up or you'll burn in hell a lot faster than you think." Haley said with conviction as she threw Rachel's keys across the parking lot. Rachel watched in horror as the keys slipped down a drainage.
"And on top of everything else, you ruined prom for our whole class because you couldn't get over the fact that Nathan was not nor was he ever interested in you… and just so we can set the record straight, the only reason Nathan agreed to go to prom with you in the first place was because I told him too, thnk about that on your long walk home." Haley glared one more time before walking away.
Haley walked back towards the hospital, trying to calm herself down. She looked up ahead and saw someone who she didn't want to talk to.
"So I'm assuming your Nathan's flavor of the week?" Dan asked.
Haley rolled her eyes. "I'm his girlfriend, Mr. Scott."
It was Dan's turn to roll his eyes. "For now."
Haley bit her tongue. She was still worked up from seeing Rachel. "If you would excuse me." Haley said trying to by pass him.
"You know, at least Peyton was never this rude."
Haley's jaw dropped. She couldn't believe the nerve of him.
"Who was that?" Dan cut to the point.
"Who?"
"The girl you were slapping around, Rachel?"
"Yeah, what about her?"
"Brooke and Lucas were saying it was her fault for Nathan's condition, what were they talking about?"
"…"
"You can tell me now or tell me later, either way I will find out. As Nathan's so called girlfriend, I thought you'd at least give me that right since I am his father."
"Look, she found out something about me, she thought I was cheating on Nathan, which wasn't true but she told Nathan and he got upset and well you know the truth."
"So you were cheating on my son?"
"NO! Did you not hear me? She told Nathan I was, of course I wasn't cheating on him, I know you may not believe me but I love your son, Mr. Scott."
Dan nodded as he looked back onto Rachel, who already started her long walk home.
"You can go now." Dan gritted through his teeth as his hand reached into his pocket and started to play with his car keys.
Haley didn't waste anytime as she made her way back inside. Before entering, she looked back and still saw Dan standing there, staring out.
. . . . .
Daunte left the hospital but instead of going to his car, he decided to take a walk first and clear his head. He walked along the road and came to a stop at a small bridge right outside the hospital entrance. He put his hand on the railings as he was lost in his thoughts. He couldn't be too mad at Dan. Daunte knew he did nothing illegal. Since Nathan was of age, he didn't need to inform his parents and since Nathan paid cash, he didn't need to report it to the insurance company either. Still, he felt guilty because he helped pay for the medication and Nathan paid him back. He thought he was doing the boy a favor, but he was wrong.
. . . .
"Lucas!"
Lucas turned around and saw Deb rushing to him.
"I just spoke with the doctors, I can't believe this." Deb said with tears in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry Deb. It's.. it's all my fault. I should've said something."
"Let me guess, you talked to Dan. Don't feel guilty, no one blames you, I hope you know that, well besides Dan." She had spoken to Dan on the phone when she was in the airport and she just met with Nathan's doctors.
Lucas sighed. "Well, what if I blame myself?" Lucas gave her a small smile, thankful their meeting was better than he had with Dan. He was at least glad that Dan was off somewhere and not bothering him.
"Come on, let me take you to see him." Luke offered his hand.
. . . . .
Deb turned around when she heard the door open.
"Sorry." A young woman came out blurting. "I didn't think anyone was here."
Deb was sitting by Nathan's bedside, clutching onto his hand.
"Haley, is that you?"
"Yeah, hi Mrs. Scott."
"Deb." Deb corrected her. Every time she was in the café, she always told Haley to call her Deb.
"Right." Haley smiled and turned back around. "I'll leave you.."
"Wait!" Deb called out as she stood up and followed Haley out the door.
"It's you, huh?"
"Me?" Haley asked.
"I wanted to make it home before Nathan went to prom but my flight was delayed. I spoke to him before left, he was so excited. He told me about this amazing girl he was taking. He wouldn't give me a name but I'd never heard him sound so excited and worked up over a girl before.. and judging by the way you're still dressed in your gown, I take it you're the girl?"
Haley gave a small smile and nodded.
"Well Lucas also told me." Deb smiled and gave a small wink. Haley gave a polite smile back.
Haley could see the tear streaks on Deb's face. She felt her guilt kept creeping up. No matter how much she blamed Rachel for everything, it was still her fault for not telling Nathan about Chris sooner.
"You and Nathan." Deb shook her head. "I didn't see that one coming."
"You and I both." Haley sighed.
"I thought he wasn't seeing anyone."
Haley sighed. "We had a complicated relationship." Haley put it mildly.
"Aren't all high school couples like that?" Deb joked.
Haley nodded. "Look Deb, I'm so sorry for everything."
"Haley, Lucas told me what happened. This was not your fault, or Lucas' you guys need to stop blaming yourselves."
"But how could you not?"
"Because I'm his mother and I didn't even know.. I guess we can form a club." Deb joked.
"Thanks." Haley felt slightly better, slightly. Nathan was still in a coma and they still didn't know when or if he would wake up.
"You know, I keep trying to replay it all in my head, to see if there were any signs, I should've known."
"No one knew, except Lucas." Haley replied. That came out harsher than she meant. She didn't blame him, honestly she didn't but looking back, it seemed that everyone played a role in Nathan's heart attack.
"I spoke with Lucas, I know he should've told someone but he was just respecting Nathan's wishes. I mean he only found out recently and basketball means so much to Nathan. Is put myself in Lucas' place and I'd probably would've done the same thing. I mean the season was over so he wasn't practicing or playing plus Nathan was taking his meds."
Haley only nodded in agreement.
"You know, if I wasn't so worried for him, I'd kill Nathan myself for keeping something like this and guilting his brother into lying with him." Deb tried to joke but her voice cracked.
"I .. I just want him to wake up." Haley softly.
"Me too, me too." Deb sighed.
. . . . .
Rachel crossed her arms and walked across the hospital parking lot and onto Melina Drive. She could've called a cab but she was so worked up, she needed sometime to breath. She stepped onto the small bridge that led out from the hospital and saw a tall dark man leaning against the railing.
The man heard her footsteps and turned to face her. Rachel immediately recognized him as the guy from the video, the one who gave Nathan drugs and the guy Dan Scott was trying to arrest. They locked eyes for a second, but Rachel pressed on, walking even faster.
"Wait." Daunte stepped in front of her to block her path.
"Excuse me." She muttered.
"You're the girl from inside, the one that brunette girl accused of causing Nathan's heart attack."
"From what I hear, he had a pre-existing condition, that's what caused his heart attack." Rachel stated. "Look, it's late.. or early." Rachel waved her hand dismissively. It was getting later in the morning and it wouldn't be too long before dawn. "I have to get home."
"It's still dark out, a young girl like yourself shouldn't be walking alone."
"I think I can manage."
"I can give you a ride?"
"Umm.. no thanks, I'd prefer to walk."
"Are you sure beca.." Daunte stopped midsentence when he heard the roar of an engine behind him then headlights shining on them. The car was driving erratically and fast approaching.
"LOOK OUT!!!" Rachel yelled as the headlights blinded them and the car came barreling in their direction.
To be continued. . . .