Next Chapter !!

Good Reading!!

-Elo.

Disclamer : I don't own One Tree Hill.

Haley opened her eyes slightly. She heard noises, but saw nothing. She could heard the rain colliding with the bodywork of the SUV, the sirens of the ambulances and she heard someone shouted her name. She knew the voice... his voice... Her sight was blurred she saw only the night and this white and bright light. Her head hurt and her breathe was cut. She lost conscious, her head rested motionless against the steering wheel.

The hours spent, Lucas brought a cup of coffee to Brooke who was staring into space wrapping into his jacket, sitting on the couch in the livid corridor. She shook her head but Lucas insisted and she took the cup.
Lydia was leant against the wall, crying. Jimmy moved to her and wrapped his arms around her. She broke down even more turning and resting her head on his shoulder and holding on to him as she went to fall down.
Peyton stayed in the background fixing at the ground. Matthew joined her and put his arm on her shoulders.
Further... He was there, on the cold ground, leant back against the wall, his head lowered. He'd already looked up severals times when doctors passed in front of him hoping it was the one who took care of Haley. Nathan raised his head, his face was red such as his eyes, because of crying.
He looked at Lucas who was comforting Brooke and then at his parents-in-law, he sighed and tried to stand up, he was weak on his knees, he supported himself with the wall. He was trembling. The scene echoed again and again in his mind, he heard the crash, this deafening noise. He needed air. Suddenly a doctor passed in front of him and stopped in the waiting room.
"Haley James Scott's family?"
Lydia and Jimmy immediately reacted and moved to him. Brooke and Lucas stood up, holding each other. Nathan tried to walk there as he could.
"How is our daughter?"
"She's in a coma. She had no serious injuries, just a traumatic shock. That's why she's in a coma."
"What about the baby?" Nathan went to ask but Lydia beated him and asked.
"We've to wait. For the moment, her heartbeats are normal. There is no reason to be worried about. We've to wait her for waking up."
Nathan heard it... a daughter... her heartbeats... He was going to have a daughter. Nathan didn't pay attention to his friends, he turned and walked away slowly. He needed air. He needed to be alone.
His wife was dying... so did his daughter... and... it was his fault.

Nathan left the hospital. He walked away from the building. He felt the dawn coming. There was a light fresh wind. He rested his hands into his pockets, his head lowered. He wandered in the town, thinking of what he had done. Never. He would never forgive himself fi Haley died. He wouldn't be able to get over this knowing it was his fault if Haley had taken the car, runing away from him, from their fight because of him... He arrived where his heart led him. He looked at the horizon, the river and the market street dock. He went down the wooden stairs.

Nathan walked up, Haley was already sitting at the table, with her books out.
"Breakfast of champions. Want some?" He asked.
"You're late."
Nathan sighed. He took off his backpack, sat down and opened up a cracker jack box, taking out a small package.
"Ugh... Please let this be a cheat sheet..."
Nathan took a tacky bracelet out of the package. He looked at Haley. She had a bun and a headband. Her features were sweet.
"It's for you." Haley looked up at him.
"Stop it."
Nathan insisted. "Come on."
She sighed and he put the bracelet on her.
"Don't say I never gave you anything."
They looked at each other in eyes.

Haley wanted to open her eyes, but it was like if something very heavy prevented her doing this. She was unable to open her eyes. She felt she was laid down, she heard the sounds of the machines around her which looked like heartbeats. Nathan... She wanted to call his name. She wanted him to hold her hand. She wanted to rewind and go back to on the market street dock, where everything had begun. She wanted to go back where she belonged.

Nathan walked into his apartment and found a tarful Haley. Haley looked up at him, her eyes wet.
"Haley. What's wrong?" He asked concerned.
"Um... I was just alphabetising our CD's." She took CD's off the table. "And.. um... we don't have any doubles. Not one."
Nathan oticed that she had taken off her wedding ring and put it onto a CD case.
"So what?"
"So... Natalie Merchant after NOZ and Wilco before Wu Tang Clan?"
Nathan shrugged. "So you listened to crummy music. I can live with that."
"We made a msitake."
"Haley..."
She stood up talking and starting to dumping CD's in boxes. "No. I'm. I'm not ready for this. I just, I just really wanna go home to my room.. You know, I'm not a wife. I'm not even a senior!"
"Haley. Haley, listen this is not a mistake." He moved to her.
"How can you be sure because there is nobody that thinks this thing can work."
"I do..." He picked up the ring. "I promise you Haley. I will always be there for you. I will always protect you. Okay?"
Haley noded. "I will always protect you. Always." He put the ring back onto her finger.

Nathan was sitting on the wooden table, staring into space. The sun rose, and refleted on the quiet water. He sighed and closed his eyes, making his ring turn nervously. He had promised. And he had failed. He hadn't protected her. Not enough... He opened his eyes and saw the sun grew bigger in the sky, dizzling. He jumped off the table and ran. He ran as quickly as he could. He knew it wasn't too late. He could still protect her, she just had to wake up.

Nathan arrived at the hospital. He just saw Lydia sleeping in Jimmy's arms on the couch and Brooke with Lucas. Obviously Peyton and Matt weren't there anymore. Nathan didn't want to talk with them. He walked in the corridor. The white and green colored walls... He arrived in front of a door, through the window he could see her, laid down on the bed. He put his shaking hand on the handle and came in taking a deep breathe. He felt the salty taste of the tears in his throat. He sat on the chair next to the bed without stopping to look at her. He took her lifeless hand. He remained silent for awhile, his head lowered, pain on his face... He breathed deeply but each time it hurt.

All this feels strange and untrue
And I won't waste a minute without you
My bones ache, my skin feels cold
And I'm getting so tired and so old

"Hey..."
He had an heavy heart seeing she didn't react.
"Hey Haley... I've so many things to tell you... So many things... I remember the day you had been hit by a car... when we were in High School... like if it was yesterday... I feel the exactly same pain... seeing you lifeless on a bed..." He paused and looked at her. Her eyes were closed, she looked like an angel... He loved watching her when she was sleeping. She was so peaceful.

The anger swells in my guts
And I won't feel these slices and cuts
I want so much to open your eyes
Cos I need you to look into mine

"And I remember each words I told you... I said... Hey baby... you know how you're always telling me you're not going anywhere? Well I need to hold you to that right now, ok? Just... I need you to come back to me. Listen, just... move one of your fingers if you can hear me, ok? Just move one of those beautiful fingers and let me know that you're still here with me."
He paused and let the tears roll down along his face.
"Hales.. I love you... You were right... I thought you were the Haley I've lost... but you weren't.. I was wrong and I acted bad... I don't care you remember our past or you don't... It's not important. What's important, right now. It's you. You have to live. You have to wake up and live... for you... for the baby... for James... You have to open your eyes. Open your eyes, Hales... Open your eyes..."
His words died in his throat. All of a sudden a shrill sound appeared. Nathan looked up at the machine and saw the line on the screen being flat. His heart stopped.
"Hales?"
He stood up and rushed to the door.
"Need help! A doctor right here!"
A doctor arrived running followed by nurses. They placed themselves and took care of Haley.
"No pulse." A nurse said. Nathan leant against the wall.
"Hales!"

Tell me that you'll open your eyes
Get up, get out, get away from these liars
Cos they don't get your soul or your fire
Take my hand, knot your fingers through mine
And we'll walk from this dark room for the last time.