Author's note: Prompt off AO3. It's the two-weeks in between the end of the cornfield scene with Nanny Carrie and the next episode. I took a bit of creative freedom and explored more of Nathan's thought-process on his wife and son being targeted, and Dan helping. From Nathan's P.O.V.

Nathan stared at his wife as she slept pressed against his chest, his arms acting as manacles of safety. He hated the fact that she had been hurt by Carrie and that Carrie had tried to kidnap his son. Again. The woman was class A certified nuts and he couldn't say he was sorry she was dead. Nathan wasn't a bad guy by any stretch of the imagination but when someone threatened his family, he saw red. Him and Haley had had their own trials and tribulations and to still be standing tall on the other side said a lot about them. He wasn't going to let anyone hurt her or his son. Even if it did mean his dad had to play the hero.

Thinking about that left anxiety swimming his stomach like snakes. He knew that he would forever be indebted to Dan for saving his wife and child but that was a hard pill to swallow when Nathan knew that Dan had killed Keith. It was too much to hope for a better father – Dan had never been easy on him to begin with…but there was a gentle understanding shared between him and Haley that Dan had done something right. It left Nathan feeling out of sorts and he preferred when he didn't have to focus on the truth of the matter.

Just then, Haley's brow furrowed in her sleep and she whimpered slightly. Nathan knew she still had dreams about that day in the cornfield and would do whatever it took to make sure he kept them at arm's length. He rubbed his hand down her spine soothingly, hushing her gently. "It's okay, baby. You're just dreaming. I'm right here and Jamie is asleep next to us." That was the other thing – neither parent felt comfortable enough letting Jamie sleep on his own. Haley quieted down and relaxed in his hold once more, and he was just content to watch her sleep.

XXX

When Haley woke up, Nathan pretended like he had slept too. It was much easier for him to watch over his wife and son while they were sleeping though. It made him feel safer; like he was doing something productive. Haley ran her hand down his chest, kissing him gently. "Morning."

"Morning," he murmured, kissing her once more before pressing his lips to her forehead. "Any bad dreams?"

He knew the answer but wanted to see if Haley would talk to him. When his wife felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, she usually tried to handle it on her on. She sighed quietly. "A few, yeah."

"Tell me about them?" Nathan requested softly, and Haley nodded into his chest, snuggling deeper against him, and making herself more comfortable.

"I dreamt that Carrie was chasing us in the field again," she sighed, speaking in quiet tones so she didn't wake Jamie. "I dreamt that Dan hadn't gotten out of the bedroom in time and she knocked me out. When I came to, Jamie wasn't there anymore."

Nathan tightened his hold on his wife, wishing more than anything he could chase away the bad dreams with his arms alone. "I know it's easier said than done but try to give your mind some peace. Carrie is dead. She's not coming back."

"I know," Haley replied quietly, staring down at their son. "Just the thought of someone hurting Jamie leaves me breathless with fear."

"I know exactly what you mean," Nathan said softly. "The fact that I wasn't there with you guys that day and was at basketball leaves me so mad at myself. I should have been there."

"Nathan," Haley winced, and he knew she was hurting for the blame he placed on his shoulders. "This isn't your fault. None of it."

"I should have been there," he muttered. "I should have been there to help you guys through that instead of in some gym, playing basketball."

"Babe," Haley said soothingly, running a hand down his chest. "Whether you were playing basketball or not is irrelevant. Carrie would have still tried to see her plans come to fruition because that's just who she was. She was a sick woman who had seen heartache in her life and tried to correct it by kidnapping our son."

"How awful is it," Nathan began in a shaky voice, "that I can't bring myself to feel guilty over her losing her son? No, I don't think any parent should go through that but she tried to ease her pain by going about it completely wrong. She tried to take our child from us; she tried to take you from me."

"I know," Haley whispered. "I'm having a hard time coming to terms with everything too."

"Then there's the fact that it was Dan who saved you," he said lowly. "I – I can't bring myself to resent him for that. I know killing his brother was a terrible, inexcusable thing, but he saved you guys. I can't seem to just forget that."

"Are you wanting Jamie to see more of Dan?" Haley asked.

"No," Nathan was quick to disagree with that question. "If anything, I don't feel like Jamie needs to be around Dan because there seems to be so much bloodshed at his hands, but I just…he saved you guys. That just means something to me, even though I hate it."

"You're a good man, Nathan Scott," Haley said quietly, kissing him briefly. Then Jamie woke with a start and Nathan calmed his son down.

"Hey, buddy," he said softly, placing his hand on his back. "Momma and dad are right here. You're okay."

"I had a dream about Nannie Carrie. She hurt momma," Jamie said in a small voice, wrapping himself closer to his mother and Nathan sighed. He knew this recent attack on his family would leave scars even he couldn't see but he'd be damned before he let his son suffer through it alone.

"I promise you," Nathan said firmly. "She can't hurt you again."

Jamie nodded his head, looking back and forth between his parents. "Can I see Grandpa Dan?"

He had all the curiosity and innocence of the child he was and Nathan didn't know how to answer his question. He changed the topic. "Why don't we go get some breakfast for Chester and us and then we'll talk about it later?"

Jamie agreed, hopping out of bed a moment later and running down to his room. Nathan took the moment to savor the fact that his wife was in bed with him, safe and free from nannies who wanted to harm them, and he hugged her tightly. Pressing a kiss to her collarbone and then lips, he pulled back after a moment and looked at her gently. "I'm really glad you're okay."

"Me too," she murmured, brushing her nose against the length of his. Nathan held his wife in his arms for a few moments, just enjoying the quiet that had descended upon their home. He knew he couldn't go back and change the trauma they had been through but he also knew it would make them stronger as a family. That was good enough for him.