After the interesting night of revelations with Kate, Haley had problems sleeping. In the first year after she left Tree Hill, there were so many nights she lay awake thinking of the conversation with Dan. Those thoughts had subsided over time, but reliving it with Kate brought everything back. It was such odd timing too, because really felt like her and Nathan had made some good first steps at Peyton's party. She woke up Wednesday morning, knowing that she had to put those thoughts out of her mind. This road trip would require her full attention, so she pushed all thoughts of Dan Scott to the back of her mind and headed to the airport.

The Celtics had a gorgeous private plane for away games. Even Haley was shocked. There was a lounge, a TV area with new movies playing, even sleeping quarters with beds. It was a veritable palace in the sky. Their first stop was Vancouver and the trip to get there was nearly seven hours. Haley took her iPod and laptop to pass the time. The flight itself was uneventful and when they landed, while the players went to the hotel to check in, Haley went to the arena to meet with the Grizzlies team doctor to find out where she could work. Mike had explained that most teams were good about sharing space before a game but to check before incase she needed to set up temporary shop in the hotel. The Grizzlies did have space for her so she went back to the hotel to get something to eat and then go to bed. Despite the fact that she had been sitting on a plane for the better part of the day, she found that she was pretty tired.

The next morning she had a meeting with Coach Simmons to discuss any concerns she might have about the players. This was standard routine for the road. She informed him that she felt the starting line up was in good shape. Some of the guys wanted treatments before the game to help them loosen up so she was booked for the morning and part of the afternoon too. She promised to let him know if anything new came up during the day. Tip off was at seven so once she was done with her appointments, she went back to the hotel to change for the game. She ran into Nathan in the elevator.

"Where've you been all day?" he asked.

"At the arena. How about you? I thought for sure you'd come by to let me check out your elbow." She responded.

"It's feeling pretty good today. I may need some time after the game though."

"No problem. I'm in room 1215. Just come by." She offered. "This is me," She said as the doors opened. "I'll see you on the floor."

The game was a nightmare start to finish. The guys played like they had lead in their shoes and got beaten by a huge margin. It was another injury free game, at least when it came to physical ones. She knew from experience that after a loss, most of the guys wanted some alone time. She hung around the arena for an hour just in case and then headed back to the hotel. They were flying to Toronto in the afternoon and would have two days of rest before they played again. Haley was thankful for that. They obviously needed some time to recuperate and regroup.

At twelve thirty there was a knock at her door. She wasn't asleep yet but she was in her pajamas. She looked through the peephole to see Nathan standing on the other side.

"What's up Nate?" she asked as she opened the door. "Problems sleeping?"

"What a gong show tonight was." He started.

"It happens."

"Some of the guys went to a strip club to drown their sorrows but I just..."

Haley knew he needed to talk about it without comment from anyone. "Can I get you a coke?" she offered as she motioned for him to come in.

"That would be great." He sounded relieved. He took a seat in a nearby chair and just started talking. It was mostly about the game and how he could have done better. Haley listened to him talk for nearly an hour without interruption. She knew he needed to get it off his chest so that he could put it out of his mind and she was happy to do that for him. One he had talked himself out, he made his excuses and left.

That night became the start of a pattern. During the two weeks of the trip, Nathan could often be found at Haley's door at strange hours. Sometimes he came for a treatment, sometimes just to talk, and sometimes, he'd just come in, lay down on the bed and turn on the television. Haley felt like they were really becoming friends again. Thinking of Nathan and her as friends brought a smile to her face. When they arrived back in Boston was when things got a little strange. When they were out on the road, Haley believed that the reason Nathan came to her was because there really wasn't anyone else around. Of course Lucas was there, but his approach to the game wasn't the same as Nathan's. Lucas never had a problem putting the game or his part in it in perspective. Maybe it was the years spent with Dan, but Nathan always needed a little time and space to see the whole picture. Because Haley listened without judgement the time he spent talking to her helped him get that perspective sooner. Talking to her also prevented any pessimism or self pity to set in. Haley was nothing if not objective and her spot on the bench gave her a front row seat to his accomplishments as well as short falls on the court. She didn't coddle him, but on the same note, she didn't feed his ego either and so he placed a lot of faith in her occasional remarks. What surprised Haley was that once they were back in Boston, Nathan had taken to coming to her apartment the same way he did on the road. He usually only came on the nights when they lost, or when he was disappointed in his own performance. Kate commented that maybe he should have his own key so that he'd quit buzzing at all hours. Haley just rolled her eyes at Kate.

It seemed that things with Nathan and Haley had reached a comfortable place until two incidents occurred almost simultaneously. Haley and Peyton tried to meet at least once every couple of weeks for lunch to catch up. It was often on a Saturday, as long as it wasn't game day. On one particular Saturday Peyton unwittingly dropped a bombshell on Haley.

"So, how are things with Nathan?" Peyton asked after they had ordered. It was a rare weekend off for Haley and they were celebrating with dinner.

"Good. I think we are really becoming friends again. Kate made a comment the other day about him being over all the time, but it really isn't like that. We just talk...kinda like we used to."

"So what do you think of this whole Christine situation?" Peyton asked.

"What situation?" Haley was confused.

"Nate's girlfriend Christine. Surely you've heard about her? I have this strong feeling that she is just a groupie looking for a meal ticket."

Haley felt like she had been stabbed through the heart. "I guess since I haven't heard about her I don't have an opinion." Haley admitted.

"Oh, Hales. I'm sorry. I just assumed since you and Nate seemed so tight that you had heard about her."

"Well, give me the scoop. What is she like?" Haley asked. Peyton filled her in on what details she had, which wasn't much. Haley didn't know what bothered her more, the fact that Nathan was seeing someone or that he hadn't told her himself.

They steered clear of the subject for the rest of dinner, focusing on stories of Jenny and Jake instead. Peyton could tell the Nathan situation was a sensitive subject and she didn't want to push it. Haley went home that night and had a long bath, a short cry and then went to bed. She got up the next morning to an empty apartment. Kate was at another conference out of town so she was all alone. She could not stop thinking about this Christine woman. Where did they go? How come she hadn't heard about her from Lucas? Was it serious? After an hour of trying to expend her nervous energy by pacing back and forth in her empty apartment, Haley got changed and went for a run in the park. Haley came home to find Nathan waiting for her outside the building.

"Hales, maybe I should have my own key," he teased her as she opened the door.

"You don't live here Nathan. You live with Lucas in a much nicer apartment across town or so I hear. There is no reason for you to have a key." She remarked. It had not escaped her notice that despite the fact that Nathan came to her place a lot, he had never invited her over to his.

"Were you running in the park?" Nathan asked. He had warned her about running alone in the past.

"Yes, and it was broad daylight on a Sunday morning."

"Well, I came by to see if you wanted to go for brunch."

"Actually, I need to go to the arena this afternoon to catch up on some paperwork so I'll have to pass." Haley explained. After hearing about the girlfriend, she really didn't feel like being his sounding board today. Much to her chagrin, her early morning run had not used up the edginess she was feeling.

"Haley. It's Sunday. On your only weekend off in like, what, four months? Take a break. Come for brunch." He prodded.

"I can't. Really. Raincheck?"

"What? Have you got a date?" he asked a little defensively.

"And what if I do?" she shot back.

"Fine." He said stubbornly. "All you had to do was say so. I'll catch you later." And he left. And for the second time in two days, Haley needed a bath and a cry.

Monday morning at five am, Mike called to say that Carmel had gone into labor and that he would be starting his leave immediately. Haley and Mike had worked out earlier that he would take a month off when the baby was born. Although Haley would be excited for him later, at that moment all she could think was her day just got shitty. The Celtics were playing Chicago that night which was a grudge match. The Bulls had beaten the crap out of Boston when they played last in Chicago and the guys were looking to even the score. It meant that Haley needed to get to the arena earlier and that she would be there later. It was going to be a long day.

She pulled into her parking space at five after seven and went straight for the coffee maker. At eight fifteen Lucas walked into her office.

"Hales, I need to talk to you." He said as he took a seat.

"Listen if it's about what happened with me and Nathan yesterday, I really don't have time right now. Carmel went into labor this morning and I am swamped." Haley explained.

"No, it's not that, but it is about Nathan. We were out playing one on one at a playground last night and he took a pretty good tumble on his elbow. He went for a lay up and just...wham, down on his ass." Lucas explained.

"First of all, what the hell were you doing on a playground the day before a big game? Are you retarded? And secondly, what exactly do you want me to do about it now?" Haley raised her voice.

"I don't know what happened between you two yesterday but he came home and was all full of this stupid energy and when he suggested some one on one, I thought it couldn't hurt. At least he'd stop pacing the apartment and give me some peace. I'm just worried that what ever was said between the two of you...well we both know how stubborn he can be."

"Yes we do, but again, what do you want me to do?" Haley asked.

"Go see him. Check out the injury." Lucas stated. "You are the team doctor after all."

Haley looked at the disarray that was her desk and couldn't believe this was happening on today of all days.

"Fine, make sure he's in the weight room around ten thirty. I'll casually stroll by and notice something." Haley offered. "Now get out, I have work to do."

"Thanks Hales."

"Ya ya, go!"

Before she knew it is was ten thirty and the alarm on her palm pilot was going off reminding her it was time to take a walk. Nathan was working one of the machines when she walked into the weight room and she immediately noticed that he had a very visible bruise on his elbow.

"Nathan. Treatment room, now." She bellowed. It definitely got the attention of everyone in the room.

"Hales, I'm busy right now." He snapped.

She strode over to him. She poked him in the elbow and he visibly winced. "What's this?" she asked purposefully.

"Nothing."

"I'm not telling you again." She stood hand on her hips. He stood up to his full height and looked down his nose at her.

"Haley, I said it's nothing. Now leave it alone." He warned.

"You know what Nathan? In this building I am not Haley your buddy or Hales your ex-wife. I am Doctor Scott and after three years around professional athletes I am sure as hell not intimidated by you standing over me. I am your team doctor and when I say I want you in the treatment room, you MOVE!" She was so frustrated with him that she was yelling and poking him in the chest. He stood there with his hands on his hips, not moving a muscle. "Fine, be that way. Hope you brought some preparation H today because the only thing you are going to have is hemorrhoids from sitting on the bench. As of now, you are out of the line up." She said and strode off.

"You can't do that!" He shrieked.

"I can and I will. I have the final say on who's fit to play and who's not so unless you get your ass into that treatment room in five seconds I am putting you on the injured list. You can watch the team play from the cheap seats." Haley replied. He opened his mouth to respond. "I'd think very carefully what your next words are Nathan." She threatened. He glared at her for a moment and then stomped to the treatment room. She glanced around the nearly full room. Everyone looked a little scared. "Anyone have any comments?" She snapped. Silence answered her. "I thought so." She slammed the door on her way out. Every single player in that room was thinking the same two things. "Ex-wife?" and "Man, for a little thing she sure can yell."

A/N Just a quick disclaimer that I stole a line from David Beckham's autobiography (The benching line). It was just too good not to use. Thanks so much for all the words of encouragement. They are greatly appreciated. Hope you liked this one.