Title: Closed Door br
Author: Aradiabr
Rating: PGbr
Pairing: Nathan/Haleybr
Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill. I'm not really sure who does but I know it's not me. br
Summary: Tonight he needed comfort and soft lies that everything was alright. Reality would come soon enough.… Haley POVp
~!~!~!~
I took a breath and turned from the closed door. His eyes were like windows into his confused and exhausted soul. My fingers ached to smooth away the tension in his jaw. He continued to stare at me, trying to figure me out, trying to ready himself for the next blow. He was so sure I was going to hurt him or worse turn him away. I smiled at him, trying to reassure him that I had no plans on ever hurting him and if it was at all in my control I would never allow anyone else to hurt him either. In that moment I knew I would do whatever it took to keep that wounded look from his face. I walked slowly over and stood in front of him looking down. p
"Everything's going to be okay." I whispered. He didn't say anything. He didn't have too. He'd bared his soul and anything else he could say would have been trivalent. I brought a hand up to his cheek and he turned into it; closing his eyes. I could feel the exhaustion inside of him. He was trembling and his skin was sweaty. He could barely close his eyes. His face was ash gray and he was shivering in his thin cotton shirt. He smelled like a gym and a hospital; full of disinfectant and the boy's locker room. He needed a shower, but he needed to sleep more. There were so many things I should have done; called his parents being at the top of the list. They must have been worried sick. But instead I grabbed the ends of his shirt and lifted it over his head. Then I kneeled down and removed his shoes. p
I looked into his face and wanted desperately to erase everything that was in it. I wanted him to smile and laugh like he did during our mornings at the pier. I wanted him to be the funny, sweet Nathan I knew or even the cocky asshole Nathan everyone else knew. I hated seeing the beaten down version sitting in front of me. I had a feeling that it was going to be a long time before my Nathan came back. The Nathan that was here now had a lot of things to work through and I needed to be there for him. Somehow the other Scott boy had worked himself into my heart.
p
I stood and pulled the comforter down so he could crawl underneath. He moved achingly slow and I could tell it took all of his energy just to get into bed. When he was there I pulled the covers over him and kissed his forehead. He didn't even look at me. He was caught up in his own misery and there wasn't room for anything else. It was okay; there was time for him to confess all. Tonight he needed comfort and soft lies that everything was alright. Reality would come soon enough. p
I turned off the light, wriggled out of my jeans and into a pair of shorts, and then got into bed next to him. When the mattress shifted with my weight he turned and moved as close to me as he could. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him even closer. I ignored his damp back and the smell of gym socks. My hands massaged his muscles and when I felt tears drip down from his face to my own I tilted my head and kissed them away from his cheeks. I comforted him until he fell asleep and then again when he woke from nightmares. I was there each time he called out. I vowed that I wouldn't give up on him. Tomorrow when the sun was bright and it was no longer time for comforting white lies he would have to be strong but I would help him. I wouldn't let him drown. I would be his anchor. p