Haley awoke the next morning sprawled across Nathan's bare chest. He was leaving today. And she didn't think she could handle saying goodbye one more time. Then the alarm went off.

"No," she cried out. Nathan sighed.

"Haley I have to, but believe me, I don't want to." He kissed her forehead. "I'm going to take a shower, want to join me," he asked mysteriously and she ran after him into the bathroom. Little did they know it was one of their few happy moments left.

Lucas came to pick them up and take them to the airport once again. 'Things are going to be much harder this time,' Nathan thought to himself as they reached the parking lot. They wouldn't let Haley go through all the security checks so they had to say goodbye sooner than she imagined. She was already sobbing. All Nathan could do was hold her and comfort her.

"It'll be okay Hales. Just a month and a half left to go and then I'll be home for good."

"It's too long, I can't wait that long," she continued crying.

"It'll go by before you know it," Nathan tried to stay strong even though his own tears threatened to fall any minute. "I'll call you everyday, okay?" She simply nodded but didn't want to let go. He reached down to kiss her passionately. Finally, they broke apart and murmured "I love you's." And then it was time for Nathan to go. With one last kiss, he walked away, not daring to look back because he knew he would cry watching his beautiful wife break down.

Lucas dropped Haley off at the apartment. "You going to be okay Hales?"

"Yeah I'll be fine," she hugged him. "Thanks Luke, see ya." She headed up to the apartment as Lucas drove away. Haley never expected to see who she saw when she opened the door.

"Hello Haley." She gasped.

"Chris," she managed to choke out.

"Thought you could run away from the tour, well I've got news for you doll, you can't hide. Why did you run, huh? Couldn't handle the spark between us?"

"Spark, what spark? There is no thing between us Chris."

"I think there is, you just don't want to admit it." He walked closer to Haley and started to reach for her.

"Get away from me," she yelled and slapped him across the face. He punched her back probably twice as hard and she fell to the ground in pain. He gave her another kick which was answered by more screams. He then began to unbutton her shirt. "Chris, stop it," she yelled and slapped him once more. Again he just kicked her back and moved on to her pants. Haley was beginning to lose consciousness as the fall to the ground was a hard one. "Stop," she said not as forcefully.

"Hey Hales. I was on my way home when I realized I left my sweatshirt—" Lucas yelled as he walked into the apartment. When he realized the scene before him, he snapped. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Get out Lucas, this is what couples do." Lucas grabbed Chris and pinned him to the wall, punching him square in the jaw. "You better hope to God she's alright," he yelled as Chris sank to the floor. He then ran over to Haley who was now unconscious. "Hales, wake up! Come on Haley it's Lucas wake up for me," he started to tear up. "Haley please, wake up!" When he realized she wasn't, he dialed 911.

The ride to the hospital seemed like forever to Lucas. He had gone with Haley in the ambulance. Luckily, Lucas had knocked Chris out and he was also being taken care of. Finally, they arrived at the hospital and Haley was rushed in on a stretcher. Lucas was told to wait in the waiting room. Instead he ran up to Dan's room, praying that Deb was there.

"Deb, deb," Lucas panted when he got there.

"Lucas what is it?"

"Call Nathan," Lucas said tears threatening to fall. "It's-it's Haley."

It was back to practice in Florida. Nathan and the guys were all just shooting around waiting for further instruction. Then Milt West walked in. 'Whoa,' Nathan thought. 'Wonder what's going on, if Milt's here something big must be happening.'

"Nathan Scott can I see you," Milt called him over. Nathan looked up in surprise as if to say, "who, me?" Milt understood and nodded.

"What's going on Mr. West?"

"Please call me Milt. I'm afraid I have some news. Your mother called this morning…"

"Is it Dan? Finally the bastard dies."

"No Nathan, it's not Dan. It's Haley."

"Haley!" He screamed. "What's going on?"

"Apparently she was attacked and knocked unconscious. Your mom said that Lucas walked in just in time because it looked like he was going to force himself on her." Nathan wasn't sure whether to cry or scream.

"Who did this to her," he said in a low voice.

"Um a Chris Keller, I believe." Nathan broke down. Haley, his Haley was attacked by that monster. He should have been there to protect her.

"I have to go back to her."

"I understand. However everyone here is hoping you come back for the big game on the last day. If things are better by then, please consider rejoining us. The coaches all agree that you have a lot of potential. But that's not important right now, go be with your wife. She'll be in our prayers."

"Thank you," Nathan whispered and walked out of the gym, possibly for the last time.

Back at the hospital, Lucas was calling everyone while waiting to hear something about Haley. However, he could not get ahold of her parents.

"Lucas," Karen came running in. "Have you heard anything?" He shook his head no. "Alright, well I'm going to try, maybe I can find out something." She headed for the front desk. Then Peyton came in.

"Lucas," she cried. "I can't do this anymore." He reached out to hug her. "Why is everyone getting hurt? First Brooke, now Haley…" She began crying harder.

"Brooke? What do you mean Brooke?" Peyton then realized what she had said. And she couldn't take it back, so she went into the whole story. After she was finished, Lucas walked away.

"Where are you going?"

"Far away from here." He couldn't take it anymore as he headed outside. He cried and cried, wishing there was something he could do. He felt a hand on his back, it was Karen. She hugged her broken son.

"It'll be okay Lucas," she said as she rubbed his back. "Come on, the nurse said someone would be out soon to give us information." They went back to the waiting room. Finally, the doctor came out. "Who is here for Haley James Scott?" Everyone got up. "She's going to be ok." Everyone let out a huge sigh of relief. "She has some broken ribs and a concussion. She also suffered from internal bleeding in the intestines, we believe she was kicked around that area. But she is stable now, however things could change at any moment. We need for her to wake up to determine if full recovery is possible."

"Thank you doctor," Karen was the only person able to speak. "When can we see her?"

"You can go in now, preferably one at a time. She's in room 227." Karen nodded. She turned to Lucas and Peyton. 'Lucas and Peyton,' she thought to herself. 'This just isn't right, they're the only ones left.' Clearing her heads of those thoughts she said, "Who wants to go in first?"

"Lucas you go," Peyton offered. "You found her luckily so you should go first."

"Thanks," he said and headed for Haley's room. When he got up there, it almost became too much. Tubes and wires hooked up everywhere, and she was clearly bruised. He pulled up a chair next to the bed and held her hand. "Hey Hales, it's Luke. I can't believe that bastard did this to you, but he's in custody and being taken care of. Now all we need is for you to wake up. Come on Hales, I need you. You're my best friend," he started to cry. "You've always been there for me. Nathan needs you too. You made a commitment to him, you can't leave him yet. So please wake up." Lucas couldn't take it anymore so he leaned down and kissed her cheek and walked out.

Meanwhile, while Lucas was visiting Haley. Peyton paid a visit to Dan.

"Hello Mr. Scott."

"Hello, Peyton is it? How are you?"

"Just fine," she slammed the door behind her.

"Is everything okay?"

"No it's not. First of all, I cannot believe the things you have done to Lucas."

"I know and I'm sorry—"

"Let me finish," she snapped. "And on top of all that you've done, he is now dealing with his best friend lying in a coma and the girl he loves is being beaten by her parents. So if you really are sorry, you'll be willing to help Lucas. And you would be helping me and Haley out as well."

Dan sighed, "I really do want to change Peyton."

"Then you'll help me, great!"

After Lucas left the hospital room, Karen came in next. She also sat near the bed and took Haley's hand. "Haley sweetie, it's Karen, your almost mom. You've been so great to me and Lucas over the last 9 or so years, you've been like a daughter and a sister. And to have almost lost my son and now possibly lose my daughter in the same year can't happen." Karen was sobbing by now. "Please Haley, wake up for us. We all need you here, but most importantly, Nathan needs you here."

"You're right, I do," Karen surprisingly looked up, wiping her face.

"Nathan."

"How is she," Nathan himself was on the verge of tears.

"I assume the doctors told you the medical parts of it?" He nodded. "All we can do is hope that she wakes up. Haley's a strong girl and she knows how much we all need her here. She isn't going to leave us yet." Karen hugged Nathan. "Talk to her, you'll feel better." And with that, she left the married couple alone.

"Hey Hales," Nathan leaned down and kissed her. A tear falling from his eye onto her cheek, which he gently wiped off. "I'm home. And I need you to wake up. You're the most important thing in my life, not basketball. That's why I asked you to marry me. So we can grow old together, watch our kids grow up, watch our grandkids grow up. I need you here to do all that with me. Please Haley…"

Dan was standing outside the door of Haley's room as he heard Nathan talk to her. As evil and manipulating as he was, he didn't want his own sons to be hurting, unless it was him that got to cause it. He knew what he had to do. He went back down the hall to his room and picked up the phone.

"Robert? It's Dan Scott."

The next week was a blur of visitors and sympathy cards. Haley still wasn't awake. Deb walked into Haley's room to find her son asleep on the bed next to his wife. "Nathan, sweetie, why don't you go home and get a shower and some real sleep?"

"I can't leave her alone."

"Go on Nate. I'll stay here until you get back."

"Mom, I really should stay just--"

"Go, Nathan. Please." He decided it would be nice to sleep in his own bed, even if Haley wasn't there with him so he left. Now it was Deb's turn to talk to Haley.

"Hey Haley, it's Deb. I know we've had our share of hard times but I need you here. Without you around, Nathan is just a mess and do you know what it's like do deal with him when he gets like that?" She chuckled. "But you need to wake up because so many people here love you. Nathan and Lucas the most, and Karen, Peyton, Brooke, all of your friends. You're so strong Haley, we need you here." She got up and headed for the door quickly passing the brunette who had entered the room. She then realized who it was and did a double take.

"Brooke? What are you doing here?"

"It's a long story, but you might want to ask your husband. How is Haley?" Deb went on to tell her the things the doctor said and how anything could change with her condition.

"I think she needs her friends right now Brooke, go talk to her." With a quick nod, Deb left and headed down for Dan's room. "Dan?"

"Yes dear?"

"Do you want to explain why Brooke is in Haley's room right now and she said to ask you why?"

Dan sighed. "I don't want my sons to be hurting anymore." He conveniently left out the part about unless it was him doing the hurting. "I can't do anything about Haley, but with Brooke I can. Peyton came to see me and pretty much talked at me. Telling me how Brooke's parents were treating her and that if I had a heart, I would do something about it. So I called Brooke's father, you remember Robert don't you?" Deb nodded. "All I did was make a deal with him," Dan shrugged.

"And what was that deal, Dan?"

"He lets Brooke come back, or he would be unemployed again. His boss is a friend of mine. And you know that all the Davis's care about is money." Deb nodded her head in agreement.

"Honestly, I'm not sure if I believe this is sincere or not. How do I know you're not plotting something else? Don't mess with them anymore Dan," she warned him before she left.

"Good to see you too, wife. Yes, I'm feeling fine," Dan cockily grinned as she walked out the door.

Back in Haley's room, Brooke was torn. "Haley, you saved me from my awful parents. And you're not even awake for me to thank you! Who else will I call Tutorgirl? Come on Haley, wake up so we can make fun of the awful pants Deb was wearing. And if you don't wake up, then I'm going to have to take care of pod Nathan and broody Lucas. You don't want to have to make me do that do you!" Brooke sat in silence for what seemed like hours. But what was only minutes later, Haley's eyes opened. "Tutorgirl!"

"Tigger," she replied hoarsely.

"Hold on Hales, I'll go get the nurse." She ran down to the nurse's desk and then headed for the lobby. She spotted Karen first. "Karen," she yelled.

"Brooke! What are you doing here?"

"Not important, although I may need a place to sleep later. Haley is awake. I'm sure she would love to see you."

"Oh sweetie, thank you. Let me just go get Lucas." She motioned over to a sleeping Lucas in a nearby chair.

"Actually, can I do it?" Karen nodded and then walked away. Brooke headed over to Lucas and kissed him. "Hey broody."

"Brooke? Wh-what are you doing here?"

"Haley's awake. Where's Nathan?"

"She is! Oh my God, that's great," he leapt out of the chair. "He's home, but I'll call him later. I gotta see Haley." He ran off to her room. When he got up there, his mom was already talking to her. He started to cry when he saw her. "Hey buddy, I missed you."

"Thanks Luke," she whispered in his ear as she hugged him. "So why is Brooke here?"

Brooke then left the hospital and drove to Peyton's house. She hadn't spoken to her best friend in so long and couldn't take it anymore.

"Brooke!" Peyton screamed when she opened the door. The girls hugged and cried. "I missed you so much and I was so worried about you, thinking about you all alone out there in California with your parents and—"

"Shh," Brooke quieted a rambling Peyton. "I'm here now. For good. So let's talk about you missy blonde girl. How are things with psycho stalker bitch? And for once I'm not talking about Nikki."

"I haven't seen her since I ran out. My dad must have left for another job. People always leave right? I thought maybe once, just this once he would stay until I came home so he could talk to me when I was in a more rational mood."

"You, rational? Doesn't happen to often P. Sawyer," the girls laughed. "Anyways, enough about us, Haley is awake. Let's go, we better pick up Nathan at their apartment. He doesn't know yet."

"Do we really want to be in the same room with him when he finds out he's the last to know his wife is awake?" Brooke shrugged. "Guess someone's gotta tell him."

They picked Nathan up and headed to the hospital. He sprinted all the way up to her room. "Haley," he yelled when he reached the room. A huge smile appeared across her face.

"Nathan, you came back," she said before they kissed. Finally, 2 months since everyone left, everyone was back. This was the way it was supposed to be. All 6 teens in Tree Hill. Life couldn't get better. Okay so maybe she was lying in a hospital bed with her crazy father-in-law just a few rooms down, but for now things were perfect.

So this chapter kind of jumped all over the place and seemed kind of random to me. I was just getting sick of it and was like "Ok I need to get everyone back in Tree Hill and maybe add some drama in there." And I rushed. I was just getting frustrated because this chapter was going nowhere. Sigh. So hope you liked it. Now I don't have to deal with long distance phone calls anymore. Everyone is back, and summer is coming to end, and the drama will continue! Please review!