Disclaimer: One Tree Hill, Nathan, Haley, and the others belong to Mark Schwahn, Warner Bros, The CW, etc..

Note: What's that? Two updates in two days? I'm just as surprised as you are. Probably more. Think of it as a thank you for surpassing 500 reviews. I never expected that when I started writing this. Also, the chapter rating is now M. I hope you enjoy this one!

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Nathan counted as he bent his knee. His physical therapist sat next to him. He monitored everything Nathan did. He made sure that Nathan was moving his knee just so, so that he would rehabilitate it and not re-injure it. Nathan could feel his knee struggling. There was an ache in it as he moved it back and forth. He gripped the sides of the bench he was on, trying to maintain his grip and work through the pain.

"One more rep, then we'll hit the pool," the therapist said.

"Okay," Nathan grunted.

"Don't push it too hard, Nathan. That's a sure way to re-injure yourself. You're doing great; we don't want to jeopardize that."

Nathan nodded his head, but continued counting. He could feel the sweat on his forehead as he made it through the last few movements.

"Let me look at your knee," the therapist said. He moved to stand in front of Nathan. He began feeling the muscles in Nathan's leg. "Does that hurt?"

"It's a little sore," Nathan admitted.

The therapist nodded. "Okay, when you get home today, I want you to elevate it and ice it. We're taking tomorrow off."

"Do we have to?"

"Yes," Haley answered. She'd been silent almost throughout the entire therapy session. She'd been worried that Nathan had been over exerting himself in his mission to get better and to get her back. The last thing she wanted was him doing permanent damage to himself. "Nathan, he knows what he's talking about."

"Listen to her; you've got a smart woman there."

The therapist, Jerry, and Haley had instantly gotten along. Jerry had heard about the couple in the tabloids, but hadn't met Haley before. Before today, Nathan had always come to therapy alone. He had wondered about Nathan's determination. It was so strong and Jerry figured there had to be some motivation behind it. He now realized what it was.

The previous two days, Lucas had dropped Nathan off for his appointment, but Nathan had gone in alone. He had done all of it on his own, and he was fine with that. He loved having Haley and Sam there today. He worried that he might feel weak, struggling with his knee in front of them. They never once looked at him like he was weak, though. They wanted to help him. He had noticed Haley observing everything that Jerry was having him do. She mostly just let them work, but sometimes she would ask a question.

"How long should we ice the knee when we get home?" She held Sam on her lap, her arms wrapped around him.

"Twenty minutes every two hours until bed. That should do it. He's been doing great this week. He's made really quick progress and we don't want to lose any of that."

"No, definitely."

"Don't I get a say in any of this?" Nathan wiped his brow with the back of his hand and took a swig from the bottle of water next to the bench.

"Afraid not," Haley smiled. She couldn't help herself as she watched him work out. He'd been inactive for five weeks, but you'd never know it from how his arms were looking. Haley had always loved seeing the muscles of his arms bulge as he dribbled a basketball and then hung on the net after a dunk. She had trouble keeping her eyes off of them now as he gripped the bench as he worked his knee.

"So, take a few laps in the pool, then get yourself home and rest," Jerry instructed him.

"I have a press conference after this," Nathan informed him. "I haven't really talked to the press since the accident," he explained.

"Take it easy," Jerry encouraged.

"I will."

Nathan had completely forgotten about the press conference until his agent, Clay, had called that morning to remind him. He'd been so wrapped up in his therapy and working on his relationship with Haley that it had completely slipped his mind. He had called Haley right away to tell her she didn't have to take him to therapy, since he had the conference afterwards. She told him that she and Sam would be there anyway. They would drive him to the Staples Center for the press conference and then take him back to his house.

Nathan hadn't been looking forward to the press conference, but Clay had insisted as soon as he found out that Nathan was actually going to therapy. The press was beginning to speculate that he may never return to the game, or even try. Nathan had really only agreed to get Clay off of his back. He felt better at therapy with Haley's support and he knew he'd feel that same support with her at the press conference.

"Nathan gets to go swimming?" Sam was still grounded. What he had done was serious, and Haley wanted to make sure that there was no question of that. She was beginning to let up a little, though. He wasn't on a permanent time-out anymore.

"The water helps rebuild the muscle in my knee," Nathan explained.

"Can I go swimming?"

Haley laughed. "Not today, buddy. You're still grounded. No swimming until you're done being grounded."

Sam frowned. Nathan gave him a sympathetic smile. He'd been grounded plenty of times as a kid, so he could relate to what Sam was going through. But, Nathan understood what Haley was doing and didn't question it. He didn't even want to consider what could have happened to Sam. What he did had been so serious.

"Only half the laps today, Nathan," Jerry said.

"Come here," Haley instructed. But, instead of waiting for Nathan to make his way to her on his crutches, she walked to him. She reached for his tie and straightened it for him. She then gave it a slight tug, pulling him in for a kiss. "Would it be completely inappropriate if I told you to break a leg?"

Nathan couldn't help but chuckle. They were inside the Staples Center. In the next room, a gang of reporters was gathered, waiting to hear from Nathan and the Lakers head coach. "Thanks, Hales. I'm glad you're here."

"I am, too." She was glad for it. She was glad that she could be there to support him in what he was about to do. She knew it wasn't easy for him to tell the public of the uncertainty of his future. What had happened to him was very public. He shouldn't have to face the possibility of losing his dream in front of millions of fans.

"Are you sure I can't talk you into sitting up there with him, Haley?" Clay Evans, as always, had his Blackberry in his hand, his fingers poised and ready to dial when ready. His boyish features never gave away just how good he was at his job.

"No," Nathan answered immediately. "I'm not using Haley for that, Clay."

"I didn't mean it like that," Clay said defensively. "I know. I would never want to use Haley and Sam either. You've made that clear, Nate."

Nathan turned his attention back to Haley. "Thanks for being here for me."

"Always," she replied.

"And forever," he finished.

They rested their foreheads against each other. Things were progressively feeling more normal, but this was the most normal they'd felt so far.

"I miss holding your hand when we go out together," he whispered to her.

"You heard what Jerry said. Take it easy and don't rush it. You'll be off these crutches in no time."

"Nate, it's time," Clay announced.

Haley straightened his tie again, having messed it up when she tugged on it. "You'll do great. Sam and I will be back here cheering you on." She kissed him on the cheek and stepped aside.

"Good luck, Nathan!" Sam held out his fist. Nathan did the same and the two fist bumped.

As soon as Nathan made it to the table, he was blinded by the flashes going off. There were dozens of photographers and reporters in front of him. He took a seat. His coach and the team doctor sat on opposite sides of him.

"Thank you for coming," his coach began. "To begin, we're going to let the doctor explain Nathan's injury. Then we'll begin taking questions."

Nathan was silent as he listened to the doctor. He'd heard it all before. He noticed some of the reporters looking at him, trying to figure out what he was thinking. He ran his hand along his beard and looked off to the side. He saw Haley give him a reassuring smile and Sam wave at him. He smiled and gave them both a nod.

"So, will Nathan be back next season?"

Nathan hadn't noticed that the doctor had stopped talking. His attention was brought back to the press conference when he heard the first question asked.

"I'll take this," he offered. "Um, not next season, no. You heard the doc say, it's still a question if I will be back at all. We're taking it one step at a time."

"So, you're saying that you may never play again?"

Nathan sighed and looked at the crutches to his side. "I have to prepare myself for that possibility. My knee will never be the same."

"But you're training to come back?"

"Right now, I'm training so I can walk without crutches. One step at a time. Literally."

"What are you going to do if you can't play?"

Nathan glanced at Haley and smiled. "I don't know, but I'll figure it out."

"Are you angry?"

Nathan hadn't expected that question. He thought he'd be asked question about the game and his injury, but not how he felt about it. "I was. At first."

"And now?"

"I guess I'm disappointed. I love the game of basketball. It's been great to me and provided me with great opportunities. But it isn't the most important thing in my life.

"You know, all of the coverage and questions so far has been about my knee. That wasn't the most life threatening injury I got in that accident. I'm alive and that's what matters. My brother, who was in the accident with me, is alive and that matters. Whatever happens with the game, if I play or don't play, I'm alive. It could have been a lot worse."

"What about Haley?"

"What about Haley?" Nathan wasn't sure where this question was going.

"Has she been with you throughout your recovery?"

"Every step of the way."

"How does she feel about the beard?"

Nathan recognized that voice and laughed. He saw Rachel standing amidst the throng of sports reporters, looking out of place in her low cut top and skirt. "You'd have to ask her," he replied. "Thank you all for coming and for the support. And to the fans who've sent their well wishes, thank you." Nathan figured that since the questions had turned to his facial hair that it was time to end this. With a polite nod, he stood and left the staging area.

Haley and Sam were there waiting for him, just as they said they would be. He had been looking at them periodically throughout the conference.

They reached Nathan's house with Haley insisting that he immediately head to the den and elevate his knee. A few minutes later she returned, an ice pack in one hand and a bag of takeout they'd brought home with them in the other.

"Can I at least change first?" Nathan was amused by how strict Haley was being. He knew she was looking out for him and that she didn't want him hurting himself again. She had listened intently to everything that Jerry had told them.

Haley looked at him. He'd untucked his shirt and rolled up his sleeves, but he was still in his trousers and tie. He hadn't worn a full suit to the press conference, but he had still tried to look nice.

"That's probably a good idea," she relented. She stopped him when she saw him reach for his crutches. "Nope."

"But I'm going to change."

"No, you're staying put. Sam and I can get you something. We'll be right back."

"Actually," he began, "Luke did some laundry for me yesterday. There's a basket on top of the dryer with some clean stuff. There are some basketball shorts and t-shirts in there. Doesn't matter which ones you get."

"Okay, I'll be right back. Sam, go ahead and start eating your lunch. I'm sure you're hungry."

"Okay." Sam looked in the bag and noticed his food was right on top. Before he could get to it, Nathan reached for it. He began setting Sam's food on the table for him.

"There you go, buddy. It'll be like a picnic."

"Thanks, Nathan!"

"Yeah, thanks," Haley smiled.

When she got back, she helped Nathan get changed. She was about to take his clothes to the laundry room when he stopped her.

"You're not my maid, Hales."

"I'm helping. Stop arguing."

"I'm not gonna win this one, am I?"

"Not a chance."

A while after lunch, Sam had fallen asleep in the chair across from the sofa. Haley had curled up next to Nathan, her feet tucked under her.

"Do you have anywhere you need to be?" He had been tracing patterns on her arm with his fingers.

"Yeah, right here. I took the day off." She closed her eyes. Moments like this made it easier to jump back to where they had been before the accident. Again, she thought of Lucas's question the day before. Why couldn't it be this easy? When he was holding her and letting her be there for him, it was that easy. This moment made her feel like nothing at all had happened between them. She felt like they were still the same couple they had been before the accident. They were the couple who were deeply in love and content to sit with each other and Sam, spending a quiet afternoon at home.

"Thank you," she whispered. Her voice was quiet because she was so relaxed and content, but also because she didn't want to wake Sam from his nap.

"For what?" Nathan didn't think he had done a lot lately for her to thank him for. He was working on getting better and was working on getting her trust back, but that was nothing for her to thank him for. That was something he should have been doing from the start.

"For letting me help you and letting me in."

"I should have been doing that from the beginning."

"What matter is that you're doing it now." Haley brought her hand to rest on his stomach. There was nowhere else she'd rather be. "I'm proud of you. You were great today."

"I didn't do anything," he argued.

"Yes, you did, Nathan. You're facing an uncertain future. You had to do that in front of millions of people."

"Well, when you put it that way," he joked.

"I'm serious, Nathan. That was a huge deal. You did it with a lot of poise and dignity."

No one had ever spoken about Nathan that way. At least not that he knew of. Poise and dignity. Those were new words for him. He'd been complicated on his basketball skills, but not often on who he was as a man. At least not until he met Haley. Lucas had told him before that he was a good man. He had made sure to tell him that he was nothing like Dan. But, hearing the woman he felt he didn't deserve tell him that he had poise and dignity and that she thought he was brave… he didn't have words to explain how that made him feel. Instead, he gripped Haley tighter and kissed her temple.

"I love you," was the only response he thought was enough for what she had sad. "I will spend my entire life trying to make up to you what I did."

Haley looked up at him and put her hand on his face, rubbing her thumb along his cheek. "You don't have to do that, Nathan. You can stop apologizing every single time you say something to me. You're doing it. You're showing me that you're sorry. Believe me, I know you'd never want me or Sam to be hurt. The way you're showing me that you didn't meant to push me away is by being the man you were before the accident. You're being the man who is considerate of me and who looks after Sam without a second thought."

"But that's just normal stuff."

"Exactly, Nathan. You tried pushing me away when all I wanted was for you to be the man I fell in love with. And you are. That's the man I've been spending time with these past few days. That's the man who was brave and wonderful at his press conference today."

"You make me feel like I am that man, Hales."

"You are that man. I keep telling you that. You just need to believe it."

"I know. I think I believe it because you believe it. Or because you make me feel like I am worthy of you."

"Nathan, you know that… you know that I fell in love with you because you were that man. I didn't make you want to be who you are; you already were that."

"I'm not good with words. I can't really explain this. I've just tried so hard to not be my dad and I guess what I'm trying to say is that you're the first one to see that I'm not him. Even if you don't know him."

"I get what you're trying to say, I think." Haley leaned up and kissed him. Their kisses over the past few days had been chaste. They hadn't gotten very far physically. This kiss was different. It wasn't as intense and passionate as the kisses they'd shared before the accident. But Haley was trying to pour all of what she was feeling into that kiss. She was trying to show Nathan that she had seen that man in him and she had fallen in love with him.

She left her hand on his cheek once the kiss ended. She looked into his eyes. She kept her eyes right on his, not looking away. She needed him to know how she felt about him.

Nathan swore he could feel something move within him. Those brown eyes staring him down were saying so much and he swore he could feel it. His insecurities were an uphill battle. It had always been that away. Throughout his relationship with Haley, there had always been doubts that she would someday leave him because he wasn't enough for her. He'd pushed them to the back of his mind, ignoring them until the last possible moment.

That moment came with the accident. He had felt that he wasn't as complete as he had been. He'd felt for sure that Haley would realize that she could do better. Every fear he'd had about being inadequate burst to the surface. Despite all of that, despite the fact that he'd pushed her away, she still wanted him. If she had that faith in him, how could he not believe that he was enough for her? She wasn't the one who had pushed him away. She had fought for him to get better. She didn't care that he couldn't play anymore. She wanted him. It was as clear as day. She wanted him. She loved him. What reason was there to keep feeling insecure?

"You love me," he said. It wasn't a question. It was a fact.

Haley let out a little laugh. "I've been telling you that on a daily basis for months. Yes, I love you."

"I'm sorry."

Haley chewed on her lip. "Now what are you apologizing for?"

"Being stupid and not catching on. I mean, you said it and I know it. I know you love me. I didn't doubt it and I knew you wouldn't lie. I'm just… I can't explain this. It's just what you've been telling me since the accident. You don't care if I play basketball. I could pick up garbage and you'd love me."

Haley laughed again, this time a little louder. She looked over at Sam and saw that he was still sleeping. "If picking up garbage would make you happy, then yeah. Your job doesn't define you. You love basketball and I know you'll miss it if you don't get it back. But it's not the only thing you're great at."

Haley thought for a moment. She was trying to think of exactly how she could say what she wanted to say. "Sam saved me. He gave me hope and that's bigger than I can ever explain. But you gave me back me. That's huge, Nathan. It's not like I was incomplete before you. But this is why you two are both so important to me. You gave me me back. You did that by being you and by loving me, which you're great at." She laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arm tightly around his torso.

"So, that could be my new job. Professional lover of Haley James."

She laughed. "If that's what makes you happy."

"I don't know how that pays, though. I mean, obviously I'm getting a lot in return but it doesn't pay the bills."

"Guess that makes me your sugar momma."

"I'll be your kept man."

"I don't mind that if you're happy and we're together."

Nathan rested his chin on the top of Haley's head. It was something he'd taken to doing when they were sleeping in the same bed together. She had a habit of laying so that her head was on his shoulder instead of sitting up higher. Their height difference was such that even sitting, he could rest his chin on the top of her head.

"I don't think I'm gonna get it back. My game. I think this is it for me."

"I don't think you should write it off so soon, Nathan. You're just starting with therapy."

"Hales, you've heard the doctors. None of them think I'll play again. I'll make a full recovery if I wasn't an athlete. I'm okay with it, I guess. I mean, I love it. I'm not happy about it. I love playing. But if this is it, I still have a lot more in my life."

"I think it's good that you're prepared to lose it. Especially after these last few weeks. But I don't think you should give up yet."

"Hales, I don't want to get my hopes up."

"I'm not saying you should. I'm just saying maybe continue with what you've been doing and then maybe see how you feel about playing. I happen to think you're capable of great things and a great comeback might be one of them."

"A comeback?"

"Whatever you want to call it."

Nathan looked over at Sam. He thought about how much he missed playing with the boy and being able to run around with him. He looked down at the woman in his arms and at her small hand on his stomach. "Okay. But right now, I just want to focus on getting rid of those crutches so I can hold your hand when we're walking and so I can play with Sam again."

"We'll take it one step at a time and I'll be here with you through everything. I miss holding your hand when we're walking, too."

Nathan closed his eyes. He couldn't believe how well things were going with Haley. She'd taken him back because she loved him. He knew without a doubt that she loved him. There was no question of it. Haley James loved Nathan Scott, basketball player or garbage man.

Note: So, Nathan has had an epiphany. I hope you all liked that. :) Thanks again for reading and reviewing!