AN: If you all aren't mad at me, then there's something wrong with you. I have been seriously slacking in the writing department and I apologize. But, in my defense, my computer is a complete whack-job and I am in desperate need of another one. Also, I was detained for the majority of the summer in Europe, believe or not (I couldn't), so hopefully I will be writing more of OTH on vacation overseas. (yay!) Thanks for the patience, I hope this is worth it.

Description: The truth will finally be revealed. They find Haley. Finally.

Finally the Truth: by grace

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The car was silent, except for the heavy breathing that was issuing from both of them. Nathan was staring out the window, and Lucas was staring out his. Nathan hadn't even said anything about Lucas getting his leather seats all wet. Lucas's reeling mind barely registered that this could be considered a small miracle.

"Where would she be?" Lucas finally broke the tense silence.

"Dunno. Should we check Karen's cafe?" Nathan mumbled numbly. Thunder rumbled overhead.

"Whatever we do, we have to do it fast. It's going to get pretty nasty here." Lucas said, worried.

"Well we definitely know that she's in her car...or she has it...wherever she is."

The drove by Karen's cafe, but it was already closed, dark inside and no sign of Haley's car. They next checked her house, but there were no cars in that driveway either. Nathan bit his lip, getting more and more worried. He felt the wind against his car as he pulled along, Lucas leaning out of his seat and looking out the window through the gloom beside him.

They went downtown, but didn't see any cars that looked like Haley's. The wind was getting stronger now, blowing the rain forcefully their way. All of the windows downtown were dark, and gloomy, and there were few people on the street.

Lucas's phone rang again and he answered it on the first ring.

"Haley?"

"No, Mom." Came Karen's frantic voice over the crackling line. "Listen, the weather is getting worse. The weatherman said that there is a severe thunderstorm warning out now, might even be a possibility of a tornado."

Lucas's stomach dropped again.

"Oh God."

"Lucas, listen to me. Find her. Now."

He hung up the phone and told Nathan what his mom had said. It was silent as the severity of the situation hit him.

"This is all your fault." Nathan said suddenly, his anxiousness sending him to point a finger at the nearest source of guilt. "If you hadn't upset Haley, then we wouldn't be looking for her."

"Me!" Lucas looked shocked. "What about you? You said you had a fight too."

"Yeah, well." Nathan didn't want to admit it, but he felt partially responsible. What if Haley was lying in a ditch somewhere, all alone, and hurt? The thought was horrible, but possible.

The silence cut across both of them, heavy and thick.

"So what was your fight about?" Lucas asked tersely a few minutes later, as they searched the sidewalks. His tone was mildly curious. They were heading out of town now, the trees become more frequent, and the sidewalks disappearing into yards of flooded grass.

Nathan's face was grim in the dim light, shinning with a slight sheen of sweat and rain.

"She...told me." Was all he said.

Lucas looked down.

"I'm sorry for not telling you man." Lucas said, a rare honesty in his voice.

Nathan's knuckles turned white as he gripped the wheel.

"It's fine." He said through clenched teeth. At least Lucas was trying to be civil. "Now you guys can be one big happy family without having to worry about me."

Lucas looked at him blankly, trying to decipher these words.

"What? What are you talking about?"

Nathan threw him a cold look. What, did he look like a moron?

"Haley, you, your...baby." He said, his tone icy. His heart gave a jolt at the thought of them together as a happy little family, and he grinded his teeth together.

Lucas stared. Then he chuckled.

"Wow, you are an idiot," He said. Nathan's head whipped over to look at Lucas, a furious look on his face.

"What?" Nathan's tone was cold.

"I don't know if I'm the right one to tell you this, but...the baby is yours, not mine."

Nathan's car almost went off the road at this unexpected news. He looked at Lucas, and then out the window, Lucas, window. He couldn't believe his ears.

"What?!?"

"I said-"

"Shutup, dumass, I know what you said." Said Nathan, although his tone was lighter. His mind reeled and he thought to Haley and her loving smile, her caring demeanor. She was his. All his. That is, if they could find her. And if she would forgive him for being such an ass.

"Hold on, Haley." Nathan whispered, with renewed vigor. His baby, his baby...the words reverberated in his head and he smiled, dizzy with the news.

He was going to be a father. His anger towards Lucas for the secrecy was greatly outweighed by his excitement.

Lucas looked out the window, defeated, knowing that his happiness wouldn't come as easily. Nor his forgiveness.

Suddenly a warning siren sounded somewhere out in the distance, the noise surrounding them and engulfing them. Neither one of the boys suggested that they should take cover somewhere. Both were too determined to find Haley.

It had been a half hour since Lucas had told Nathan about his child, and there was still no sign of Haley. Lucas felt like throwing up. His best friend knew about his lie, his lame attempt to protect her from a life-long relationship with the asshole that tore her apart so much. And now he might not ever see her again to apologize for it.

With a sidelong glance at Nathan, he realized that he really wasn't jealous of him, that his love for Haley was just as deep as a friendship could be, and no more. He loved her, that was for sure. But he knew it was nothing more than friendship.

He saw that Nathan looked worried. Despite his previous assumptions, the way that Nathan was so worried about Haley showed Lucas that he really did care for her. He bit his lip, unsure how to feel about that. He obviously cared about her, but would he be able to take care of her? Be a good father? Lucas wasn't sure. Even now he wasn't positive he could trust a man like Nathan, someone who had caused Haley so much pain in the past.

Like you did, he reminded himself.

He also wasn't sure anymore that the decision of whether or not Nathan would take care of the baby was his to make. The cold truth hit him hard as he looked back out the window. He wasn't going to be the most important man in Haley's life anymore. If he was in it at all, that is.

Lord, Please let her be okay. I promise I will stay out of her business and let her decide if only I can see her one more time, if only she's all right.

Then he saw it. A pair of headlights blaring throughout the rain, lighting up the street ahead of them, flickering slightly. Haley's car had gone off the road, and into a tree. The car had hit the tree on the passenger side, leaving Haley's door blocked by a heavy branch.

"Oh God." Lucas whispered. "Nathan! There she is. Pull over!"

Nathan didn't need telling twice. He pulled the car over and the two jumped out, instantly soaked again. Thunder rumbled overhead and lightning forked the sky, illuminating her car. Lucas and Nathan tossed the large branch aside, panting slightly at the unexpected weight. Nathan tore the door open and almost passed out at the sight of Haley lying there, unconscious, blood all over her.

"Shit." He whispered, the color leaving his face. He felt her hand. It was cold. "Oh God, oh God."

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AN: Gosh, wouldn't that suck if she didn't make it? Hehehe I love cliffhangers. I promise the rest of it is written though, and it will come soon, because I made you wait for this one for so long.

Okay! You know what to do. Review if you want more!

Oh, and if anyone's following my other story, Haley: Lonely Bookworm or Party Princess?, I'm having some problems finding the chapter I wrote, and have to rewrite it. I have no idea when that one will come around...prolly by next week. Again, sorry for the delay, and thanks for all the love and support.