Author's Note: MsCrazy- Thanks for your continued reviews. I love reading your comments and I appreciate the kind compliments. To answer your question, I do include some life experiences of my own in my stories. Of course, I haven't been through HALF of the angst of Naley here but I've had some pretty interesting experiences that I do like to throw in my fics...

The sun was beginning to peek out from behind the clouds on the brisk December day. The master bedroom of the Scott house was quiet as was the rest of the house. It finally belonged to its owners again as family members and friends had retreated back to their own residences. In bed, Megan lay on her back, hand on her belly as she stared absently out the window. Just inches away was her husband.

"You want some breakfast?" he managed to ask.

"No", she shook her head.

That's what their conversations had been reduced to. They weren't talking anymore, they weren't making love anymore. The two could barely look at one another. Nathan had been trying, or as much as he could under the duress of his father's orders but there was little reciprocation on his wife's end. The two may as well have been strangers.

The days were long and the nights even longer. Megan worked from home in the study and Nathan watched television or shot hoops when the mood hit him. It was weird not having basketball in his life and despite Dan's best efforts, the suspension still hadn't been lifted. The surplus of time left him alone with his thoughts and that was stifling almost. Sighing, he sat up.

"I've got to go do some stuff", he told her.

"Okay."

She left it at that and there was nothing more left for him to do than shower and dress. When he returned fully clothed to the bedroom, she was gone, obviously choosing to start her day still in nightclothes in the study. Grabbing the keys to the new Chevy Tahoe bought to replace the mangled Escalade, he wordlessly walked downstairs and got in his car. He cranked the engine and began to drive.

The hospital was unusually quiet as well. The staff went about the normal business, helping patients. No one seemed to notice the tall young man wearing the jeans and hooded sweatshirt with the cap pulled low over his face. Head down, hands in pockets, he wandered around finally finding the room he was looking for.

In the background, a radio hummed quietly. Flowers and balloons were everywhere as another young man lay awake but silent in the bed. Nathan approached him carefully. Then their eyes met.

"What are you doing here?"

Nathan sighed.

He only wished he knew.

"I…I don't know, man."

"You shouldn't have come."

"I just wanted to see you."

The bruised man laughed bitterly.

"Why? To ease your guilty conscience or to prove to the media that you rich boys have a heart after all."

What could Nathan say? He more than deserved the attitude.

"Look, I do feel bad. This is all my fault…"

"Damn right it's your fault!"

"But this isn't about the press or the public. It's about you and me…and what I did. I'm sorry, man. You might not believe that but it's the truth. And I'd give anything to trade places with you right now because you don't deserve what you're going through. I fucked up and I know I'm the last person you want to see but I had to do the right thing and be man enough to come see you face to face and apologize. And I know you're not looking for charity but if there is anything my family can do, anything I can do…just name it."

There it was. He'd said it. He'd spoken from his heart. Turning on his heels, he left to give Michael Sanchez his privacy.

"Wait…"

Nathan turned back around.

"Yeah?"

Michael sighed.

"Have a seat."

Nathan was surprised by the offer but he accepted it. He pulled a chair up next to the bed.

"Look, Mr. Sanchez…"

"Call me Mike."

"Okay…Mike, you have to know how sorry I am. I know I should have come here sooner but…I just didn't. I couldn't. The reporters are out of control and I wanted to give you some time with your family."

"Yeah…my wife told me your wife called."

"Yeah."

"And uh, we saw your little interview."

Nathan rolled his eyes.

"That was kind of bullshit but my dad kind of insisted on it. It's complicated."

Michael chuckled.

"I know how you feel. My old man is kind of a hard ass, too. He's always in my business with the wife and kids."

"Me too. Well, I don't have kids yet but my wife is pregnant."

"I know. I saw."

Nathan nodded as it went back to awkwardness.

"So…um, how are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a car", he joked.

"Dude…"

"I'm just joking."

"I don't know how you keep your sense of humor during all this, Mike."

Michael tried to shrug.

"What else do I have, man? I've got to get through it somehow. It's hard."

"Are the surgeries done with?"

"For now."

"They talking about letting you out of here soon?"

"Not soon enough. Hell, I've seen enough of this place."

"Maybe you'll be out in time for Christmas. You know, you could spend it with your wife and kids."

Michael looked away.

"I don't think so. I'll probably be in this joint for another month or so at least."

Nathan felt bad.

"Sorry…"

"I just wish they would hurry up and let me out so I can get back to work?"

"Work?" Nathan asked. "Dude, look at you. You don't need to be working."

"I have to. I've got a family to feed. My wife, Clara, already had to take a second job to help ends meet. I hate that", he sighed. "I hate seeing her have to work so hard. It sucks. You work your fingers to the bone and for what? Just so you can stay afloat, keep the bills paid. I want more, man. I want something nice for my family. I want my kids to wake up on Christmas morning and have a nice tree with plenty of presents underneath it. For once I want to be able to buy them nice toys. I'm tired of being a goddamned bum."

"You're not a bum, dude."

"Feels that way", Michael shifted uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry", Nathan repeated.

He didn't know what else to say.

"Yeah…those are the breaks, I guess."

"I guess."

Michael took a deep breath.

"Why did you really come here? I mean, seriously."

"I had to", Nathan answered. "I needed to. Everything is so messed up in my life right now and most of it's my fault. I've done a lot of bad things. I've hurt a lot of people. I made a real mess out of my life. The thing is, I'm hurting too. And it took a long time to quit being so pissed off and recognize that. It sucks. I really feel bad for you but maybe in a selfish way, I had to come here so you could forgive me. Because maybe that's the first step in trying to fix all this."

Michael seemed to almost understand. The man before him was sincere and honest and…mortal. Nothing like the cocky, arrogant, above the law superstar he had seen on TV and read about in the papers.

"Look, man I have to admit, I was pretty pissed off at you."

"Join the club."

"No, I mean it. Being stuck here has given me a lot of time to think. I blamed you for everything. I was pretty angry. I know it was an accident and it wasn't like you meant to hit me but I felt like you didn't even care."

"I do."

He nodded.

"I know you do. I guess it wasn't easy you coming here today. It took a lot of guts."

"That's the least I can do, Mike."

"Well, I appreciate it."

"Why? All I can do is say I'm sorry."

"True but you really mean it…and sometimes, well, sometimes that's enough."