Chapter 26

A/N: Hey guys! Not only did I not like that last chapter so much myself (due to my writer's block and this feeling that everything I wrote after that sucked) but I love this one. It's a lot shorter than usual but it seemed like the perfect place to leave off. (Especially since I wrote two chapters in one week!) I just couldn't stop myself from writing more. I hope you all like it too! Let me know, leave a review! I was amazed by the response to the last chapter, thanks so much! As usual, enjoy!

PS. I tried very hard to keep track of how long Haley's been pregnant, and how long since the date of the rape etc. for accuracy. But I lost track. So I'm really sorry if how long Haley's been pregnant has changed or skipped drastically but just go with me. I'm really sorry about that but I promise it will all still make sense.

Oh and to clear up any confusion, the doctor told Haley the paternity but she wasn't completely paying attention because she was having a bit of an epiphany. So we don't know if Haley heard or not but the doctor did say it.

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Haley's eyes were welling up with tears from the realization of her mistake, "I'm sorry, I have to leave."

Before Dr. Sain could stop and ask why, Haley was running out of the building.

Haley didn't know where Brooke was, but she definitely wasn't with Nathan, which was where Haley had to be. She dialed for a taxi. "Hi. I would like a taxi to come pick me up please."

She looked at the office building address and repeated it back into her cell phone. Haley hung up the phone and anxiously waited until the cab came.

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Nathan tossed the ball to another teammate so he could focus on Lucas, "What's wrong with Haley? Is she okay? What do you mean a mistake?"

Lucas hung up his phone, "We need to talk."

Before Nathan could ask more, Whitey approached them both. "This is called basketball practice. Not, time to chit chat on our cell phones ladies."

Brooke walked through the gym doors, looking grim.

Lucas looked from her to Whitey, "Coach, we have a bit of an emergency."

Nathan yelled, "An emergency! Would you just tell me what's happening?!"

Whitey's deep voice boomed over them, "I don't have time for this crap! I've dealt with it for too long. Now both of you can either pick up a ball or get the hell out of here and expect some serious consequences."

Lucas and Nathan looked at each other. Nathan didn't have to think twice. Never again would he choose basketball over Haley. Without waiting for Lucas to follow, Nathan walked away from Whitey and into the locker room.

Lucas looked apologetically at Whitey and then ran after Nathan. Nathan was pacing in the locker room when Lucas entered.

"Is Haley okay? What's going on?" Nathan attacked him.

Lucas sighed, "Don't get angry at me. I did everything I could."

Nathan couldn't take it anymore, "Luke. Just tell me if she's okay first."

Lucas nodded, "She's okay." His cell phone rang from his pocket. He picked it up as Nathan groaned with annoyance.

"Brooke?"

Brooke sounded out of breath, "I'm here at the school."

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Haley arrived at the school. She ran down a flight of stairs and straight into Brooke on the landing. Brooke's phone skidded, hitting the opposite wall.

"Haley? What are you-" Brooke started when she heard Lucas shouting into the phone.

Brooke quickly picked it up again, "Lucas. I'm sorry, I just- come meet me. I'm on the landing in the stairwell by the gym."

Haley waited for Brooke to shut her phone, "Is Nathan with him?" She turned to see whose footsteps she heard only to see Nathan and Lucas running towards them.

"Haley!" Nathan said in relief as he pulled her into a hug. "Are you okay?"

Haley was confused, "Um, yeah, I'm fine."

Lucas and Brooke were watching Haley in silence, trying to decipher how far into her appointment she had gotten.

Nathan interrupted them, "What was going on Luke?"

Haley squinted in confusion, "What do you mean? What did you tell him Lucas?"

Lucas shook his head apologetically, "I knew you would regret it Haley. I was about to tell him,"

Nathan interrupted, stepping away from Haley, "Tell me what? What are you all keeping from me?"

Haley pulled on Nathan's shirt so he would face her, "Nathan. I had convinced myself I didn't want you there. That, I couldn't take it.."

Nathan squinted his eyes in confusion, "What are you talking about Hales?"

Haley bit her lip as her eyes watered up. She stroked his face gently, "The paternity test Nathan. I…I couldn't see your hope be crushed like that…"

Nathan pulled away in disbelief, "You…went without me? You lied to me?!"

Haley was crying, "I'm so sorry Nathan. But I,"

Nathan turned to Lucas, "You lied to me?! I've finally felt like your brother these past months. I trusted you man!" Nathan yelled into Lucas' face.

Lucas looked at Haley with hurt written all over his face, "I tried to tell you, but Brooke and Haley.."

Brooke interjected, "No, no no. This is not fair. I was helping out Haley. What was I supposed to do?"

Lucas yelled at her, "Not let her make such a big mistake! I know Haley, she's going to regret what she did."

Nathan looked at Brooke, shocked, "I've trusted you more than ever since you proved that I could the night Haley was raped. I've trusted you to take care of her, and do what's right. You saw what I was like that night…" Nathan's voice was breaking, "how could you do this to me Brooke?"

Brooke shook her head, "I'm sorry Nathan. But I couldn't let Haley down."

Haley hated watching everyone she loved fighting and hurting each other, "Guys, please don't fight. The only one anyone should be mad at is me."

Nathan could barely look at Haley without starting to cry too, "Hales." He shook his head, "You of all people knew how important this was to me. How important this baby is to me. I'm your husband, how could you shut me out like that? I'm beyond being mad at you Haley. I'm incredibly hurt by what you did today. I didn't deserve this."

Haley clasped her hand to her mouth to keep from sobbing. Nathan brushed by her shoulder as he ran down the stairs. Haley called after him, "Nathan, I realized I made a mistake."

Nathan stopped at the bottom of the set of stairs, "But you still made it. Just leave me alone for a little while. I can't deal with you right now." He started to walk away.

Haley desperately scrambled to chase after him. Next thing she knew she was tripping over her feet. Haley reached out for the railing but it was too late. She toppled down the stairs landing with a sickening smacking sound.

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Nathan sprinted to Haley's side. She wasn't moving. "Oh God. Haley." Lucas and Brooke ran down the stairs and were soon right next to Nathan. Nathan stroked Haley's head while starting to sob.

Lucas couldn't believe this was happening. He frantically buried his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed 911.

Brooke felt helpless. She could only watch. "Don't move her Nate. In case….she broke her neck….or something like that…" Brooke could barely get the sentence out.

Nathan shook his head as tears ran across his hot cheeks. "No." He muttered under his breath. Nathan repeated this, getting louder and louder, slamming his fists into the wall.

Whitey came running in. He surveyed the damage, looking dismal. "Lucas, did you call an ambulance?" Lucas could only nod in response.

Whitey looked at Nathan who still ramming his fists into the stone wall, "Nathan." He tugged at Nathan's arms, "Nathan."

Nathan slammed his fist one more time before leaning on the wall and just breaking down. "I did this to her."

Whitey frowned, "Don't be stupid."

Nathan looked up at Whitey, his face completely red and tear stricken, "You don't understand Coach. She was chasing after me." He pointed to himself angrily.

Lucas had his head in his hands, pacing. He hadn't even looked at Haley since she fell.

Brooke was sitting next to Haley murmuring words of comfort when she heard a groan. Haley flinched. Before Brooke could say anything, Nathan was crouched by Haley's other side.

"Hales?" He asked barely above a whisper. He could hear the ambulance sirens outside the school.

Haley moaned, blinking her eyes slowly, "Nathan…"

Nathan whispered back, "I'm right here Haley."

Haley's eyes closed again. Nathan squeezed her hand, "You got to stay with me baby."

Haley's eyes fluttered to consciousness again, but she couldn't seem to keep them open. "Nathan."

She finally managed to look him in the eyes. Her own were filled with tears. EMTS crowded around her.

Nathan held her hand as they lifted her onto a stretcher. "I'm still here Haley. I got you. Hold on to me baby."

One EMT commented, "She's going in and out of consciousness."

Nathan gulped, "She's pregnant. She's about 4 months."

Haley's eyes were still opening and closing. They started to wheel her down the halls, "She can't seem to stay conscious for more than a minute."

"Nathan…I…can't lose this baby." Haley managed to say barely audibly.

Nathan rubbed her arm, "I know," he whispered.

Haley smiled faintly as more tears escaped down her cheek. She whispered, "It's our baby Nathan." With that Haley lost consciousness once more.