Title: Waking confusion

Author: Joy

Email: Julianna@ziplip.com

Rating: PG-13

A/N: Forgive me. I have had a string of migraines and am not sure how well edited this chapter is.

13.

Lucas looked curiously at Haley's prone body. "Haley...Hales...can you hear me?" She squeezed his hand. "Try to open your eyes okay?" Her hand squeezed his again as her eyes fluttered but refused to open. "Come on baby, wake up," he whispered and kissed her again.

This time Haley did open her eyes slowly, blinking randomly. "I'll get the doctor," Lucas offered so Jessica could be alone with her daughter only to have Haley refuse to let go of his hand. Lucas looked and Jessica for a moment and Mrs. James headed for the door.

Haley moved her jaw a bit and tried to move but grimaced. "Don't move...don't move..." Lucas said standing over Haley brushing her hair back from her face with such love that her eyes began to tear. "What's wrong baby?" he whispered. The tears began to run down her cheeks toward her ears. Lucas stopped their paths with a kiss and a well-placed finger. "The doctor's will be here soon but I want you to think about this...you need to decide if you want to file assault charges. You were right. You did see Nathan...he did do this." Now Haley was crying. "I'm sorry...its too soon...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

Jessica and a nurse stepped into the room. "What happened?"

Lucas looked pained, "I'm not sure. She started crying and...then like an idiot I mentioned the whole filing charges. That's when the tears really started to flow."

The nurse looked Haley over while Jessica and Lucas continued to talk. "You should refrain from talking about what happened until we find out what Haley remembers."

Haley pushed the nurse aside and gasped, "Help me," in a very rough voice from lack of use.

The nurse handed her some water as the doctor came in with Haley's father. "Well...well...Sleeping Beauty has awoken. Let's have a look at..."

"Can I hug my daughter before you start poking at her again?" Bob asked.

"That is fine. I'll be back in a few minutes" the doctor nodded.

Bob sat down next to his daughter and touched her face. "Hey baby. You had us worried sick. Lucas has been at your side for almost two days now...and he's beginning to smell," he joked turning to Luke. Lucas chuckled a bit but was concerned that Haley still looked incredibly confused. Bob turned back to his daughter; "This is a far better Scott to date than that Nathan kid, so thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Haley stared at Lucas with fear. "Haley, what's wrong?" he said soothingly.

She looked down and turned to both her parents, "Can Luke and I talk for a minute?" her voice still raspy from lack of use.

"Okay honey...we'll take a walk," Jessica suggested pulling Bob away knowing there was a problem of some sort. Haley was far more likely to tell Lucas than either of them.

Lucas sat down on the side of the bed where her father had sat. He held her hand in his while the other he used to push her hair behind her ear. "What's going on Hales? You look so scared."

"I am," she whispered. "I don't understand what my father was saying at all...I don't understand the look in your eyes toward me."

Lucas was shocked, hurt...and scared. "Haley what is the last thing you remember?"

Haley closed her eyes and sat quietly. She opened her eyes with a start, "What is the date?"

"How about you answer that first?"

Haley shook her head in confusion, "I don't know...I think we just started school...but that seems wrong."

Lucas wanted to cry but drew himself up and stroked Haley's hand. Despite her lack of memory she still held fast to him. "It's January, Haley. School just started back from break today." Haley began to cry. "It's okay...It's just the bump to the head you took. I'm sure you'll get your memory back real soon," he said hugging her lightly before kissing her forehead.

Haley's face came up a little and Lucas went to kiss her lips before he caught himself. The look of surprise in Haley's still opened eyes brought Lucas back to himself. "I'm sorry. I...I'm sorry," he muttered pitifully letting go of her entirely.

"We really are dating? This isn't just wishful thinking on my father's part?" she said still a bit stunned.

"Yeah...but I won't...we won't...We can just be best friends again... if you want," he said the last with a hard swallowed looking down.

"Lucas," she called.

He looked up with an incredibly forced smile, "Yeah."

Haley took his hand drawing his attention to their interlocking digits, "I will remember."

Lucas looked up to see the sincerity in her eyes and gave a small relieved sigh. "Yeah...you will."

The doctor knocked at the door, "Ready for me now." Haley nodded. "First off I am Dr. Myer. I'm a neurologist...Let's start with something simple. How does your head feel?"

"It hurts."

"Show me where," the doctor instructed.

Haley put her hand to her temple and felt a butterfly bandage. "Why am I cut?" she asked Lucas with fear.

Dr. Myer looked at her for a moment and then turned to Lucas, "She doesn't remember what happened but she knows you know?"

Lucas shrugged, "When she first woke up I wanted her to know that the police would be asking her questions...but I didn't tell her any specifics because I thought she would remember."

Dr. Meyer turned back to Haley, "What's today's date?"

"I don't know," Haley responded. "Look, from what I've talked to Lucas about I know that my memory is shot at the moment. I also know I'm a few months off in thinking since to me it should be September."

"We are going to have to run some tests okay?" the doctor said calmly. "This sort of amnesia goes away fairly quickly in most cases but not always...so don't be discouraged if things don't fall into place immediately."

"Will someone at least tell me what happened to me?" Haley snapped.

Dr. Myer's shook his head, "Not until the police talk to you."

"But I don't remember anything," she yelled out of frustration.

A sudden flood of brief memories filtered in her brain and then out again.

"Haley...what happened?" the doctor asked.

Haley found herself with Lucas holding her hand on one side and the doctor on the other. She was lying back down. "I'm not sure."

"What did you see?" Lucas asked quietly.

"A bunch of little things," she paused and concentrated on one particular memory, "but the thing that strikes me as odd was memory of being at a school basketball game. I don't go to the basketball games," Haley murmured.

Both Haley and the doctor looked to Luke for an explanation. "You do actually...now that I'm on the team."

Haley smiled her funny little smile that was full of love and pride, "That takes guts Luke. I'm proud of you."

Lucas was blown away, "Thanks..."

She nodded, "So when can I get the interrogation over with?"

The doctor chimed in, "Your father called the detective when we found out you were awake. I believe he was coming over."

"Skills' uncle...nice guy," Lucas commented.

"Something new to look forward to," Haley remarked and interlaced her fingers with Luke's again before shutting her eyes. He leaned in and kissed her forehead.

Luke sat back causing Haley to pout. "What's with the lip?" he questioned.

"I don't get a real kiss?" she asked with her eyes still shut.

He chuckled and looked at the doctor, "Not in front of the grown up."

Dr. Myer laughed, "And on that note I will go outside and occupy your parents for a couple minutes to allow you some..." he cleared his throat, "time."

Lucas watched the doctor leave the room before quickly turning to Haley and kissing her lips. Haley opened her eyes and smiled. "Girl could get used to this."

Luke smiled back, "You better."

Tbc...

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