Quote of the Day:

Jack: Will you marry me?

Kate: Of course I will.

Chapter 37

Healing Hearts

Standing up wasn't the hardest thing to do in the world and still Haley was having trouble holding herself up straight. This had been the longest six hours of her life. That one phone call had sent her whole world spinning uncontrollably. And still she found the strength to be standing here. She didn't know where it was coming from but she was thankful for it. It was the only thing holding her together at the very moment.

Her hand went to her stomach rubbing it softly.

It still amazed her that there was a baby growing inside of her. In fact it was amazing that she and Nathan had made it. This little person that she would carry for nine months was a little bit of both of them. She didn't know why but she found herself wanting a son. A little boy with Nathan's eyes is what she had dreamed about last night. She could picture Nathan teaching their son how to play basketball. She had woken up with a huge smile on her face.

She then started to wonder if Nathan would be happy about this. He had never actually came out and told her that he wanted kids. What if he thought this was some pathetic attempt to trap him into staying with her? Nathan wasn't acting like himself these days so that possibility didn't seem too farfetched. Still a bigger part of her just knew that he was going to be happy. She just somehow felt it.

This was Nathan. The guy that spent countless nights trying to get her to open up and love him. The guy that pushed and pushed until all her walls were down. This is what he wanted and he got it. He was all she could think about day and night. He filled her thoughts 24/7 and now she was the one wondering if he thought about her as much. Lucas had assured her that Nathan was missing her after he first left. But once Lucas started acting all weird she didn't have that reassurance anymore. Thinking that he didn't care was heartbreaking so she didn't let herself think of it.

He still cared, he had too.

Why else would he have done what he did? Lucas had filled her in on everything once she rushed into the hospital just a little over two hours ago. He didn't hold anything back. He made sure to tell her about how Brooke had paid Nikki to stay away and how he couldn't stop thinking about their conversation. He told her how he found out about everything from her past and gave everything to Nathan. Lucas even mentioned Nathan paying someone to find Damien so that they could hurt him. She actually thought it was sweet for a second. That was until she remembered that he was in a hospital bed unconscious.

Nathan didn't need nor did he deserve to be going through this. This wasn't his battle to fight. It was her past and her demons. Nathan shouldn't be the one hurting because of it. Protecting her was one thing but actually getting himself hurt because of her was another. She didn't know whether to be pissed at him or happy for what he had done.

Being in this room wasn't helping her decide.

The monitors in the room were making such loud noises. She knew that it was a good thing but still it didn't make her feel any better. It was then that she noticed that her hands started to shake. Holding them together she closed her eyes. She pictured a peaceful place in her mind. Just like that she was five years old sitting at the dinner table with her family. Her brother had been telling them a story about this giraffe that had escaped the zoo earlier that morning. It wasn't until he was done that Haley realized that he was just trying to scare her. She could picture all of them laughing as she pretended that she knew it was a joke. But they didn't believe her and later that night when she ran into her parent's room they didn't think twice about letting her snuggle in-between the two of them.

"I was wondering when I would see you again," a raspy voice came to her ears and she felt herself tensing up.

She never thought that she would have to hear this voice ever again and still here he was. She kept her eyes closed and silently prayed for more strength. She was going to need it if she was going to do this. She knew she needed something. This guy haunted her ever move.

"Leave us," Haley said softly still not turning around.

"Mrs. Scott," Shane said in a firm voice. "Miss Davis said that if I left you alone she would do things to me…hurtful things." He stood right next to the closed door all the way on the other side of the room.

"Its Mrs. Scott now," Damien said with a smile. "Why little Miss Haley James went and found herself a husband…I'm assuming that was the chump that thought he could beat my ass?"

"I'm fine," Haley said opening her eyes and turning towards Shane. She knew getting him to leave was going to be hard. Brooke had made him promise not to leave her alone and since Haley refused to let Brooke come with her she made sure that Shane knew to stay. "There are two police officers at the door. I'm fine. Just wait for me out there."

"If you need anything –"

"I can handle this," Haley said giving him a reassuring smile before he left the room. She watched the door close and she was sure that she heard Brooke's voice. Her hands were still shaking as she turned to face him and she quickly shoved them in her pockets.

"Alone at last," Damien said with a smile. His face was black and blue and she could tell that Nathan literally hurt him. He was in a hospital bed.

"Shut up," Haley said surprisingly loud.

"Wow," Damien said laughing. "Not afraid of me anymore?"

"No," Haley lied.

"Funny," Damien said looking dead at her. "You still look like that terrified little girl hiding hoping that I won't hit her."

"You don't scare me," Haley said firmly.

He moved slightly in the bed and she took a step back. "You sure about that," his voice taunted her.

"I'm done being that terrified little girl because of you," Haley said looking at him in disgusted. "And it seems that things never really change now do they. The doctors told me that they had to pump your stomach when they brought you in. Still a worthless alcoholic?"

"Yep," Damien said proudly.

"You make me sick," Haley said shaking her head. "And the fact that you're still the same makes me sick. You living your life with alcohol and abuse makes me sick. A small part of me, and a very small part, always hoped that you learn from your mistakes. Somewhere in the back of my mind I thought that maybe you would be a different person. You're still that stupid little boy that likes to hit helpless little children to make yourself feel powerful."

"I guess you got me all figured out," Damien mumbled while looking away from her.

"Hit a nerve," Haley added as she watched the smile leave his face.

His eyes shot back towards her and for a second she wanted to run. She had never feared anything as much as she feared him.

"I might still drink but I haven't…I'm…the abuse thing…it stopped once I started running," Damien said dryly.

"And yet you're still an alcoholic," Haley stated.

"Not that it's any of your damn business but it's the only way I can live with myself," Damien said closing his eyes. "Every time I close my eyes at night I see your face and all the things that I did to you. I'm in hell. It's my punishment. The liquor numbs the pain…fuck I need a drink."

"Funny," Haley mumbled. "Every time I close my eyes I see you…you almost killed me all those years ago and now you almost killed my husband."

"He attacked me," Damien said bringing his eyes over to hers again. "He found me…not the other way around. And when the gun went off I wanted it to hit me, I tried pulling it towards me and he was the one pulling it away. I wanted him to kill me. I wanted to die."

"No," Haley said shaking her head. "You don't get to take the easy way out. You have to live with what you did to me. You don't get to kill yourself."

"I deserve to die though, right?" It was almost as if he was pleading with her. This aged man that she had come to fear her whole life. She didn't understand why but somehow she felt sorry for him. Deep back in her mind she knew something was wrong with him. Maybe he was abused as a child? Maybe it's why he was the way he was. Something had to have turned him into that person that hit her. People like that can't just be born. Things happen, bad things that shape their life.

All those years of fearing him and so many countless nights sleep didn't come because of him. And still she stood before him and she felt sorry for him. The thought alone had her head spinning. She couldn't feel the hatred that she held towards him. Somehow it was gone. How could she feel sorry for him?

"I forgive you," Haley said softly. The words left her mouth before she even had time to think. The look of shock swirled in his black eyes. Then just like that a weight had been lifted off of her chest. A huge weight. She felt so different standing before him. And when he moved she didn't tense up or move back. It only made her smile. She wasn't afraid of him anymore. She felt free.

"Take it back," Damien pleaded.

"I forgive you for all the things you did to me…and I hope I never have to see you again," Haley repeated she turned and started walking for the door. It was then that she heard him crying. She turned around quickly and watched. "Damien." He brought his eyes to hers. "You better hope he's okay or I'll come back and kill you myself." With that she walked out of the room. The two police officers moved slightly so she could pass and she noticed a crying Brooke standing there nervously.

It was then that everything that just happened flashed in her mind. Bringing her hand straight to her mouth she took off to the nearest restroom. Pushing her way inside she locked herself in one of the stalls and threw up. It was minutes later when she heard a soft knock.

"Hales," Brooke said softly. "What happened?"

"I did something I should have done along time ago," Haley stated while standing up. Unlocking the door she smiled as she saw Brooke standing there. Brooke held out a paper towel. Haley took it and dried her mouth before pulling Brooke into a hug. Being in Brooke's arms always made things better. "I love you."

"I love you," Brooke said smiling as they pulled apart. "Nathan still isn't awake yet."

"I think I'll go sit with him," Haley said softly as she started walking. She stopped suddenly when she noticed Shane standing by the sinks. Looking around she could only smile. "You do realize this is the ladies room?"

"Yes Ma'am," Shane said smiling.

"Okay then," Haley said letting out a little laugh before walking out of the room. It had been an hour since she had visited Nathan's room. She was told that when the gun went off it sent Nathan's body flying and his head hit the corner of Damien's coffee table. He just needed to wake up and then everything would be okay again.

She felt Brooke's hand take hers as they walked towards Nathan's room. Lucas was the only Scott that was there. Karen and Keith had taken the first flight out. Opening the door slowly Haley noticed Lucas holding his brother's hand. Once he noticed them he stood up and walked over to them.

"Can I just sit with him," Haley asked as she looked over at his body.

"Sure," Lucas said eyeing Brooke. "Can we please talk?" She hadn't said a word to him all day long. He was starting to get worried. This wasn't like Brooke but then again after what he had did, he was sure that she never wanted to talk to him again.

"Yeah," Haley said looking over at Brooke. "You guys go talk. I'll be here."

Brooke nodded and took off for the door. She walked out quickly and started down the hall. She didn't care if Lucas followed her or not. At this point she was still pissed at him. He lied to her face.

Haley walked slowly across the room and took a seat right next to the bed. She felt a few tears falling from her eyes as she saw the cuts and bruises. This wasn't supposed to happen to him. He didn't deserve this. All he was trying to do was protect her. He didn't deserve to be punished for that.

"Do you remember on our wedding night when you just wanted to hold me?" Haley said to his unconscious body. "Well, baby, I just want to hold you right now. Please wake up…I need you so much." Her head fell to the side of his bed when nothing happened. She let the bed sheets soak up all her tears before she lifted her head again.

"I'm better now…you healed me," Haley said softly.

It was thirty minutes later when his body had started to stir. Haley watched as his eyes opened and he took in his surroundings. It was then that their eyes locked. Even though she was crying she still had a smile on her face.

"You're hurt," Haley whispered while looking at his bruised face.

Nathan smiled as he reached for her hand. Lacing their fingers together his whole body warmed up with her touch. "You should see the other guy." He let out a small laugh but Haley wasn't laughing with him.

"Nathan, what were you thinking?" Haley questioned. He could have gotten himself killed. And now he was hurt. She never wanted this for him. Hell she never wanted to see Damien again but things change. Turns out seeing him again somehow set her free. Maybe now at night when she closed her eyes she wouldn't have to picture his face.

His smile faded as he held her hand tighter. "I wanted to kill him for what he did to you."

"That's the dumbest most sweetest thing," Haley said through tears. She was so grateful that none of them were killed or hurt too badly.

He had been so terrified when the gun had gone off. His whole life with Haley flashed before his eyes. He prayed for more time with her. He wanted time to make things right for them. He needed to make things right for them.

"We have some important decisions to make," Nathan said while locking eyes with hers.

She simply nodded her head. "We do."

The door opened and Keith and Karen Scott rushed into the room. Nathan's hands instantly let go of Haley's and she stood up and backed away so that they could be closer to him. The joyous sods of Karen could be heard loudly inside the single hospital room. It was minutes later when Karen walked to the door and held it open. She looked across the room towards Haley.

"Nathan will call you when he's better," Karen said firmly. Haley knew it was time to go. His family didn't want her there and maybe he didn't either. She nodded her head before looking over at Nathan.

"I'm happy you're okay," Haley said softly before walking to the door. She walked past Karen and it was then that she noticed that Karen had closed the door and followed her out. This can't be good, Haley thought. "I'm sorry this is all my fault."

"I'm not upset with you, Haley," Karen said looking at her. "I wanted you to know that. Nathan, he needs some time. Time to get better and heal from all of this."

"I understand," Haley said as a few tears fell. "I just want you to know that I love your son very much."

"I know," Karen said smiling. "And I want you to know that we consider you family, Haley. That's never changed. I promise Nathan will call you. Just give him time. He loves you very much."

"Thanks," Haley said smiling. It was then that Brooke and Lucas approached both them walking surprisingly a few feet away from the other. Brooke took Haley's hand in hers.

"Let's go home," Brooke said softly before turning and pulling Haley with her. Haley looked back and it was then that she noticed Lucas Scott's heartbroken face.

AN: Please review. I need help. I wrote the next chapter and it's going to be Haley on a talk show and I don't know which one to use. Help me.