Author's note: This is a prompt from 'TotalMetalhead' on fanfic. A much quicker conversation between Nathan and Haley after the shooting than what the show gave us. Heads up: I won't write prompts in season 2, 5, or 9. I've all but blocked those three seasons from my mind. I accept prompts in the comments and/or on my tumblr. Madasahattersblog
Nathan stared at Haley as she laid in his arms, not really looking at anything in their room. Sleep had been elusive since the night before last; since before the school shooting and he and the love of his life were apart of a group held hostage by a sad and troubled teenager. "I should have seen it coming."
These were the first words Haley James Scott whispered, breaking the quiet in their room, and Nathan's arms automatically locked around her more tightly. He didn't know what she was talking about for sure but he thought he had a hunch.
"Seen what coming, baby?" Nathan asked quietly, keeping her pressed to his chest. There was a very real timeframe that Nathan didn't know if Haley was alive or not. Getting off the bus and finding his school in chaos, students running everywhere, and Nathan had never felt that kind of paralyzing fear. Haley had gotten up early so she could go to the tutoring center and help some fellow students. She had such a good heart and upon finding out she was in the school with a gunman on the loose…Nathan's heart had stopped.
"Jimmy," she whispered, throat catching and a tear dripping onto Nathan's bare chest.
"Haley…," Nathan trailed off because in no way, was his wife – he didn't even finalize the annulment -blaming herself for the actions of Jimmy Edwards.
"No, Nathan," her voice cracked as she sat up out of his hold, him automatically following her so she couldn't get too far away. The one thing he knew right then was that he couldn't let her go. "I knew Jimmy. Was friends with him freshman year. How – how did I just forget about him as the years passed?"
Nathan cupped her cheek, turning her face towards him so she could look at him directly. "Listen to me carefully, Haley James Scott. What Jimmy did is not your fault. You didn't make him buy that gun – you didn't make him shoot it at school."
"He seemed so….scared," she whispered, tears falling from wet eyelashes that kissed her face gently. "Like he hadn't meant to do it – to bring a gun to school. I had no idea, none whatsoever, that he felt so completely isolated and alone." She fell silent here and perhaps that was best because it gave Nathan a chance to swallow the lump in his throat.
"Haley…I love you for caring, but god, when I got to school and found out someone had a gun and you were still inside…my world stopped. You're everything to me."
She nodded, relaxing into his hold as he pulled her closer, and Nathan reveled in the feeling of her skin against his; reveled in the fact that he got to hold her and she hadn't been taken from him. "I was so scared."
"I know," he whispered, kissing the crown of her head.
"I didn't know if I'd ever see you again," she admitted quietly, and his stomach flipped as his arms tightened around her. He never wanted her to feel that way. Even when she was on tour with Chris…he still loved the hell out of her and was proud.
"Shh," he murmured, kissing her lips gently. "You're never going to have to know what it's like living without me. If you're in danger, there's nothing stopping me from moving heaven and hell to getting to you."
"I can't believe you ran into the school when you heard there was an active shooter," Haley sighed, closing her eyes. "What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that my wife needed me and I needed her," he replied. "I don't regret it for a moment. I meant when I said I am not safe without you."
Haley smiled slightly; pain etched across her features. "We need to check on Lucas."
"We will in a bit," Nathan replied. "Right now let me hold you; let me remind myself that you're still in my arms and safe."
"Okay," she whispered, leaning back into his hold.
Nathan held her close to him, reveling in the fact that she was alive and breathing and there, in his arms, away from the danger that had threatened their school like a raging storm. His mind went to Marcus and how the guy was trying to wind up Jimmy…then his mind went to Jimmy. He had never known the other guy – hadn't even seen him until the time capsule got leaked and Nathan wondered what that said about him. Sure, he had been a dick before he met Haley and she changed him for the better, but that didn't mean he didn't wish he had known Jimmy Edwards. Perhaps if things had been different, this would have never happened. Soon enough, he felt tears wetting his skin and knew Haley was crying again, so just held her more tightly. "I'm right here. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. You're safe."
"Its not me I'm crying about," she murmured in a scratchy voice. "I just keep imagining Jimmy shooting you. In front of me. I don't know how I would be expected to continue to move forward."
"I know exactly what you mean because I feared the worst when I heard you were still in school yesterday," Nathan admitted quietly. "I don't want to ever come that close to losing you again."
It was her turn to reassure him. "I'm here. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere either. I'm not ever leaving you again."
He kissed her neck, pulling her close. "Good. I'm going to hold you to that, Haley."
"I want you to," she murmured, smiling in his hold. Then she grew serious once more. "Nathan, how are we supposed to come back from this? How is Lucas supposed to come back from Keith dying?"
"I don't know, baby," he admitted honestly. "But I do know we're stronger together. We can help each other heal while helping Luke, too."
Haley nodded, sighing deeply. "That's good enough for now."
It had to be.
Nathan wouldn't let Haley be in danger again, even from herself while she put blame unrightfully on her shoulders for not seeing the shooting coming. No one saw it coming and he only hoped that Jimmy Edwards was at peace. And that Lucas could be at peace too.
They had all grown up that day in the school, forcing to become adults much sooner than they wanted to. Nathan loved his wife. It was time to do something about that.
Fin.