The Mourning After
Part II Chapter XVI
Thanks for the reviews, I hope the wait for this was worth it. Thanks again to kelly for beta'ing.
Enjoy and please review!
. . . .
"Where's Jamie?" Karen asked Deb as her and Lucas chatted in the kitchen. All of them just had lunch and Deb had just put Jamie down for his afternoon nap.
"Out cold." Deb mused as she took a seat.
"Enjoy it now, just wait till he wakes up." Lucas joked as he finished the rest of his sandwich.
Now that Jamie was asleep, Deb turned worriedly to Karen. She hated it when Lucas and Haley fought, it was also not good for Jamie.
"Lucas." Karen prodded. "We know that something is going on between you and Haley."
"Yeah, Luke. I've tried to get in touch with Haley but she isn't picking up her phone."
No surprise, Lucas rolled his eyes.
"Well, don't look at me, I don't know where she is."
"Did you say something to her?" Karen asked.
"I haven't spoken a word to her." Lucas replied
"Why?" Karen asked as Deb looked on eagerly. She and Lucas had grown closer over the years but she didn't want to over step her boundaries, luckily Karen was more than happy to help her out. Haley was like the daughter Karen never had.
"It doesn't matter." Lucas replied carefully. He definitely didn't want to spill the beans about Haley's pregnancy. That was her dirty job not his. "Look, we had a disagreement about something."
"About what?"
"Mom, I love you for caring but please don't ask."
"Luke, we're just worried." Deb chimed in. "Is it about Jamie?"
Lucas laughed. "No, not about Jamie, at least not really."
"Luke, your talking in circles, what's going on with you and Haley?" Karen asked.
"Why don't you ask Haley?" Lucas smirked as he heard her car pull up.
Deb got up from her seat and peered through the window and saw Haley getting out of her car. She stepped inside the kitchen a moment later and found Karen and Deb looking curiously at her, with Lucas avoiding eye contact with her.
"Hey." Haley plastered a smile on her face but it was clear from the two older women that they weren't buying her act.
"Hey Haley."
"Hi Haley."
"Where's Jamie?" Haley asked as she went to the fridge to get a bottle of water.
"Taking his nap, did you eat? I can make you something?" Deb offered.
"No, thanks. I think I'm just going to see Jamie."
"Where'd you go?" Deb asked.
To see your son, Haley thought. "No where." She replied.
"Haley, you're not fooling anyone." Karen got up and blocked Haley's exit.
"Look Haley, we're sorry to but in, but this thing between you and Lucas, you guys need to settle it." Karen spoke.
"There's nothing to settle." Haley answered quickly. "Look, I just want to check up on Jamie."
"Haley, why haven't you taken off your sun glasses."
"…"
Deb went over to Haley and removed her sun glasses for her, showing her tear stricken eyes.
"Oh Haley, are you okay?" Karen asked worriedly.
"I'm fine." Haley muttered, trying to dodge the two women.
"Haley, would you just give it up." Lucas spoke up now.
The two locked eyes at each other, Lucas' resolve was firm. She knew what he was asking of her and there was no point in trying to delay in the inevitable. Whether she did it now, or she waited, Karen and Deb's suspicions would only grow.
Deb looked back between the two, "Can some please tell me what's going on with you two?"
"Yeah." Karen added.
"Not about me, right Hales?" Lucas smirked. Haley sent him a cold glare, she recognized that Scott smirk anywhere.
Haley took a step back and rested her palms against the counter.
"There's no easy way for me to say this." Haley spoke up. "But I'm.. I'm pregnant."
An audible gasped could be heard as both Karen and Deb were stunned silent. Haley turned away, not able to look at her mother in law and the women she considered a second mother.
"B..but how?" Deb finally muttered.
"Do you want me to draw you a picture?" Lucas said sarcastically.
"Lucas Scott!" Karen admonished and then turned back to Haley.
"Haley, what's going on? What do you mean you're pregnant?"
Haley let out a shakey breath. "It means just that Karen, I'm.. I'm pregnant."
"Oh my God, I can't believe this." Deb rubbed her forehead.
"What's going on here?" Dan stepped inside the kitchen. He had some free time and figured stopped by the house to grab lunch. He parked in front of the house and entered through the front.
Dan looked on, Lucas's face was neutral, Karen and Deb looked shocked and Haley had tears in her eyes. It didn't take long to realize what was going on. He'd hope he had more time.
"Haley just announced that she's knocked up." Lucas answered. Dan glared at Lucas for a second. He loved his son and knew his anger and bitterness was out of the fierce love and loyalty he still had for his supposed dead brother.
"Lucas is right." Deb spoke up. "Haley just told us she's pregnant again." She couldn't believe what she was saying.
"I know." Dan replied and everyone turned to him.
"Haley came to see me and told me all about it, isn't that right Haley?" Dan spoke up and walked closer to Haley.
"Umm.. yeah."
"Dan, what's going on?" Deb asked. "Who's the father?"
Dan spoke before anyone can answer. "I don't know who he is but he's coming to Tree Hill next week for the doctor's appointment."
Haley looked at Dan shocked. He was seriously going through this ridiculous plan to have some imposter play the part of the father.
"What?" Karen's mouth dropped. "Who is he?"
"Someone from New York." Dan replied as the gears in Deb's mind turned. No wonder she took off on so many trips.
"Look guys, Haley's had a hard time and coming to me was very difficult for her but I'm sure she's tired and needs her rest. All this stress can't be good for the baby." Dan spoke again and Haley silently cursed and thanked him. She couldn't be in this room for another second.
"I'm going to check up on Jamie." She said quickly and left the room.
All eyes turned to Dan.
"Dan, how can you be okay with this?!" Deb asked.
"Who says, I am but what choice do we have."
"Choice? She's pregnant another man's baby!" Deb replied.
"She's a young woman Deb, did you really expect that she would be single all this time."
"No, of course not but .. but she hasn't seen anyone, let alone went on a date and now she's suddenly pregnant!"
"Deb, stop over reacting."
"Don't tell me how to act!" Deb threw back, tears in her eyes. Dan wanted to comfort her but he knew he couldn't. For Deb, Haley and Jamie meant a piece of Nathan was always with her but losing Haley to some other guy, felt like she lost another part of Nathan. Dan's heart broke for her too but protecting Nathan's cover would always come first.
"I … I can't believe this. She doesn't belong in this house! She can go shack up with her new baby daddy for all I care." Deb threw out.
"Deb, I know your upset but relax, you can't kick Haley out, remember this is her house, second, she's still Jamie's mother."
"Oh my God Jamie." Deb shook her head. "So what, this new guy comes in and is going to be a father to Jamie!" Deb cried out.
Dan held Deb in place. "Don't be silly, Nathan has and always will be that little boy's father and Haley being pregnant doesn't change that." He said truthfully.
. . . . .
"Hey, I'm sorry to wake you."
"Don't worry I wasn't sleeping." Nathan turned to his side and turned on the lamp on his nightstand. "Are you okay, where are you?"
"I'm at our spot." Haley replied.
"You're at the docks?" Nathan replied. "Hales, it's 3 in the morning."
"I'm fine." She quickly replied. "We're fine." She added a second later, a thousand miles away and he was still in protective mode. "It's Tree Hill remember."
"Still, I don't like the idea of you wandering the streets this late." Nathan sat up and rubbed his tired eyes. "What's going on?" He was almost too nervous to ask.
"They know." She said softly.
"…"
"Deb and Karen cornered me with Lucas earlier and .. and I couldn't .. I couldn't hide it anymore."
"Oh Hales." Nathan's heart broke for her.
She sniffled, remembering the look of shock and disappointment on Karen and Deb's face. After she stormed out of the kitchen, she couldn't bare to talk to any of them. She had successfully avoided the rest of them all day. Or were they also avoiding her? She didn't know but she was grateful for it.
"Nathan's its okay. I knew what would happen."
"Did they ask about the father?"
"Your dad came home and stepped in for me." Haley swallowed the lump in her throat. "He already found someone to play the father, Nathan." She said softly. "Your dad says he's coming next week."
Nathan sighed, the idea of some imposter coming into his family's life, taking his role, was making him sick. He'd been pushed over the past few years, pushed harder than he ever thought possible. If there was a breaking point, he was reaching it. Not only did he have to give up his life, his wife, his son, but with another child on the way, he didn't know if he would have it in him to go on anymore. He doubted he could make it back to Tree Hill for the birth. Like with Jamie, he wouldn't be there for the first words, the first crawl, the first walk. He would miss it again and he couldn't, he couldn't do it anymore.
"That's it Hales, I'm coming home." Nathan decided.
"Nathan, no."
"Hales, I know what you're going to say."
"Damn right Nathan, you.. we didn't come this far."
"But things are different Hales.. you're pregnant for godsakes."
"Which makes me a prime target."
"Not if you leave Tree Hill."
"What're you talking about?"
"You and Jamie pack your things and we can go somewhere, anywhere."
"But.."
"Hales, I know okay but I can't.. I can't do this anymore. I'm tired, I can't eat I can't sleep, I need to be with my family.. I can't do this anymore Hales, I need you." His voice cracked.
"I don't.. I don't know what to say." Haley mumbled.
"Say yes! Say you'll run away with me."
"But Jamie, he's getting older, he'll need to start school eventually.."
"Luckily I know the best tutor in the world, Hales.. we can do this.. I've been thinking a lot about this." Nathan pressed the phone closer to his ear. "I've been pretty good at hiding these past few years, we can do it together."
"But Bear."
"Doesn't know I'm alive." He quickly replied. "And you're not on his radar. We can hide out until my Dad gives us the clear, I know it's asking a lot but please Hales, I .. I can't do this anymore.. not without you and James. " He pleaded.
Haley sat there silent for a moment and with a shaky breath, she replied. "No."
"No?"
"Nathan, I can't live without you but at the same time, I can't.. I won't let you give everything up.. not now."
"But that was before we found out you're pregnant." Nathan begged.
"And that's why, we can't just run away. I'll be vulnerable for the next couple of months and then Jamie, he's still a little boy. I know it's hard Nathan and I hate this but Dan has a point, your cover can't be blown."
"…"
"With your father knowing, it can be easier to see each other."
"I've seen you more in these past couple of weeks than I have my dad in these past two years, Hales I don't know how much more I can live like this."
Haley wiped the tears from her eyes. "I know baby, me too."
. . . . . .
A few days had passed and Nathan was restless. Haley had a point he thought, they couldn't go through with just taking off together. But Nathan was tired of everything, the hiding, the lies. It was already bad enough he was missing his out on Haley and Jamie's life but now his unborn child. He couldn't go through that again. Nathan took out two suitcases and placed them on his bed. He didn't know how he was going to do this but he'll figure something out. He'll march straight into Tree Hill and get his wife and son. Nathan had some money stashed away courtesy of the government's witness protection program and he knew Haley must've inherited a small fortune after Nathan "died." That should be able to support them for a while. They would tell Dan of their plans at the last possible moment, forcing him to go along with it and to hopefully keep everyone at home at bay. It wasn't perfect, nothing about this was but it was something.
He started to put some clothes into his suitcase but stopped. Haley's voice kept ringing in his ears and as much as he just wanted to go back home, he knew that she was right, but that didn't mean he was wrong either. Damn if I do, damned if I don't, Nathan hunched over to the floor, leaning against his bed trying to figure something out. He wanted to keep packing, wanted to head back home and see his wife and son but he couldn't. He couldn't be that selfish, it wouldn't be fair for Haley and their children. Out of frustration, he got up and threw the suitcase across the room, hitting the wall violently. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself when all of a sudden he heard a knock.
Who's that? He thought to himself. He never got visitors except Rachel and he knew for a fact that she was out of town. The knock on the door continued and he carefully made his way to the front door and peered through the peep hole. His heart sank and his palms went cold at the person he saw at the other end.
No, he told himself. It can't be him. Nathan took a step back, unsure of what to do. But then the knob on the door started to jiggle and the next thing he knew, he heard some rustling of keys and before he knew it the front door opened before he could do anything.
"What.. what're you doing here?" Nathan took another step back, his hands trembling.
. . . . . .
"Hey Rach."
"Yeah?" Rachel turned around from the vanity.
"You're regular is here."
"Thanks, I'll be right out."
"At $200 a show, you better make it fast."
Rachel narrowed her eyes and offered a half smile before returning to the vanity and touching up her lipstick. She stood up and put on her rob and then rolled up her black stockings which matched her lacy lingerie.
She stepped onto the hallway and made her way into the back entrance at one of the private booths, reserved for very special clients with deep pockets. She stuck her long legs out before leaning in against the entrance way, letting her body sway softly to the music as she slowly started to make her way through the stage. She removed her silk robe and gently threw it to the man in front her.
Reaching for the pole, she wrapped her legs around it and did a 360 twirl. Then crawling on her knees, she carefully made her way over to the man in front of her.
"Like what you see?" Rachel smiled seductively.
"Was looking for you the other night." The man responded.
"You miss me?" She straddled his lap.
He nodded as she gripped his shoulder and then rubbed her hand over his torso, carefully unbuttoning the top buttons of his shirt and letting her hands wander over his hairy chest.
"I love a rugged man." She purred into his ear as she continued to grind into him and giving the hairs on his chest a little tug.
"That's why they call me Bear." He replied back with a shaky voice. "Why don't we get out of here, somewhere private?"
She gave a small laugh and continued to grind against him. "My shift isn't over."
"I'll make it your while." He replied back.
She stopped her ministrations and took a look at him. "I'll meet you out back in five minutes." She answered, sliding off of him and making her way back to the dressing room.
About twenty minutes later, her and Bear reached a private mansion, complete with enclosed gate and Roman columns. Rachel followed her inside to the den. He reached for a bottle of scotch and poured him and Rachel a glass.
"No thanks, I don't drink on the job." She smiled grabbing a bottle of water. She took a sip and licked her lips. She grabbed him by the shirt and pushed him down on the leather couch. She placed her 6 inch high stilettos between his legs, "It's gonna be a grand."
"Here's two." Bear reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash and tossed it over to her. "And wear that." He pointed to the shopping bag on top of the bar. Rachel went to the bar and peeked inside to see a small black leather corset and a small whip.
Rachel stepped into a nearby bathroom, changing into the outfit Bear provided. Before stepping back in, she adjusted her earpiece. "You got that?" She said softly.
"Got it, just hang tight. We'll be there in two minutes, restrain the target. Base station out." A voice called out to her.
She stepped back into the den, whip in handas she playfully smacked it against her palm.
"You've been a bad boy." She smirked.
"A very bad boy." Bear replied.
She took out a pair of handcuffs he provided in the bag and wrapped one end to his wrist, the other on a black railing behind the couch.
"You got that right." She purred into his ear.
A second later, men with guns started crashing in through the windows and through the doors.
. . . . .
The knock on the door continued and he carefully made his way to the front door and peered through the peep hole. His heart sank and his palms went cold at the person he saw at the other end.
No, he told himself. It can't be him. Nathan took a step back, unsure of what to do. But then the knob on the door started to jiggle and the next thing he knew, he heard some rustling of keys and before he knew it the front door opened before he could do anything.
"What.. what're you doing here?" Nathan took another step back, his hands trembling. He must've found out about his plans with Haley, why else would he here.
"It's over, son."
"Wha.. what?"
"It's over Nathan." Dan replied, tears in his eyes. "I'm here to take you home."
To Be Continued . . . .