Brooke stirred and flinched before opening her eyes. It took a while to adjust to the scene before her and figure out where she was. Then the all too familiar tubes and that distinct smell let her know she was still in the hospital. Yawning, she sat up and looked around. She must have fallen asleep in Nathan's room. Wiping her eyes and quietly scooting the chair back, she got up to leave.

"Have a nice nap?"

Brooke jumped.

Sure enough the scratchy voice belonged to Nathan Lee. Brooke couldn't believe it. He was awake.

"Nathan? Oh…oh my God!"

He managed a small smile.

"Hey, Brooke."

"Hey yourself. Oh my God. What are you…how long have you been awake?"

He tried to shrug.

"About an hour, I guess."

"And why didn't you wake me?"

"You looked like you were having a nice nap and I didn't want to bother you."

She breathed a sigh of relief.

"You gave us a hell of a scare."

"So I didn't win?" he quipped.

"No, but you're alive and I'll take that over a win any day."

"Those are the breaks, I guess", he mused sadly.

She could see the agony of defeat lingering in his blue eyes.

"I'm sorry, Nate. Better luck next time."

"Yeah", he sighed. "Next time. Hey, Brooke, look, I'm sorry if I, if well, I disappointed you on this one."

"Disappointed me?" her eyes grew wide. "Are you kidding? You never disappoint me. I had fun and it was a great experience that ended kind of crazy but the important thing is you're gonna be okay. I learned so much and in the process, I made a new friend. What's better than that?"

He knew she was sincere.

"Thanks, Brooke?"

"What for? I should be thanking you."

"For everything."

She nodded.

"I think I should tell everyone the good news."

Nathan said nothing as she walked into the hall and seconds later a nurse appeared. They checked him out and when all was determined well, the others, anxious, excited, tearful and thrilled, filed into his room.

"Boy, it's about time you opened those eyes and dragged your lazy ass out of bed", Cooper teased as they bumped fists. "You alright?"

Nathan winced.

"A little sore but I can handle it."

"Good. That was a hell of a race, man. And a hell of an effort. You almost had that guy."

"Almost doesn't count."

"No but Jeff sure was impressed and so was everyone else. You'll blow them out of the water next time, kid."

"Yeah…um, sorry about the car, Coop."

Cooper shrugged.

"Comes with the territory. Don't sweat it. I've already got the guys building you a bigger, better car."

Lucas walked over.

"Sure you're okay, little bro?"

"I'll make it", Nathan replied.

He shoved his hands in his pockets. He did love Nathan and he had meant every word he had said when he had poured his heart out to his unconscious brother. But somehow the words flowed easier when the other person's eyes were closed.

"Good. I'm glad you're okay."

"Admit it", Nathan teased. "You were scared shitless. You were worried about your baby bro."

"I wouldn't go that far", Lucas answered coyly.

"Yeah right."

"But I'm glad you didn't kick the bucket or anything", he winked. "After all, whose ass would I get to kick in basketball."

The brothers knocked fists as well and then it was Haley, who had shyly stayed in the background, who came forward.

"Hi", she said softly.

"Hey", he smiled.

"Nathan, I was so worried. So scared. I am so glad you're going to be fine."

"I will be. Besides, I did promise you lots of action and excitement. The race was getting a little boring so I decided to spice it up. Nothing grabs the fans' attention like slamming into a wall at 160 mph."

Tears stung her eyes.

"That's not funny."

"I know. Sorry. Bad joke. But I know you were upset, I know all of you guys were. And I appreciate you all sticking around. I'm fine now. Everything's okay."

"We're glad."

"You guys didn't call…"

"No", Lucas said. "We didn't want to worry Deb. The doctors said you wake up soon enough."

Nathan breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"Thanks. She doesn't need all this on her now. Good call, man."

"Alright", Brooke clapped her hands. "Now that we've established that the Mr. Nascar here, is going to make it, I say we give him time to eat and spend with his girl. So everybody out and Nate we'll be right outside in the lobby and we'll catch you later."

They all said their good byes and Nathan was left alone with Daytona who stood by the door, tears streaming down her face.

"Hey", he smiled. "You gonna come over here and give me a hug or did the wreck screw my good looks up that bad?"

"I, I'm afraid to touch you", she sniffed.

He extended his hand and slowly she walked to the bed, taking it and sobbing once he gently pulled her on top of him and held her.

"It's okay…"

"I'm so sorry this happened to you, Nathan. I was so scared. I didn't know if you were going to be okay. I never meant for any of this to happen."

"It's not your fault."

"We just need to make changes. Next time we'll…"

Nathan bit his lip.

"Daytona, I don't know if there's gonna be a next time."

She looked up at him shocked.

"You're done? You're giving it all up?"

"I, I don't know. I'm thinking about it."

Daytona cleared her throat.

"If it's something you heart is no longer in or you're taking a break, then that's understandable. But you can't run away just because you're afraid. Accidents happen in our business. Baby…"

"No, it's not that. I'm not scared, Daytona. It's me. It's about my life and knowing what I want or in this case I don't want."

"So you're quitting?"

"For now? Yeah. I don't want to do it anymore. In the future, who knows, but for now I need an extended break."

Daytona stroked his face.

"Wow. Babe, I don't know what to say. This has always been such a huge part of your life. What do you do now?"

"I don't know. I have lots to figure out."

She nodded her head.

"Okay. Okay, if this is what you want to do, then I totally support you. You should be happy. We'll take it one day at a time and I'm gonna be there every step of the way for you, Nathan. And you know what? Maybe I'll take some time off, too. Yeah! That would be great! We could be together and figure out the future and…"

"I'm not staying, Daytona."

He just blurted it out. The idea was to break the news gently but the words sort of tumbled out of his mouth.

"What?"

"I said…I, I'm not staying in South Carolina."

She sat up.

"What are you going to do? Go back to Tree Hill?"

"Yes", he said softly.

Daytona appeared stunned.

"Why?"

"It's where I need to be. It's what I'm tired of running from. Hell, I was no better than Luke, going everywhere trying to solve my problems and search for something more."

"Are you happy there?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I am."

"Fine. I, um, I think I need some air…"

"Daytona. Wait. Please don't leave."

"No. Nathan…"

"Will you just talk to me? Look, I'm sorry if this hurts you."

"Hurts me? Damn right it hurts me! I love you. I am your girlfriend. And we're supposed to be together and have a normal happy relationship, preferably in the same state, Nathan! When you left before, I understood. Deb needed you. You didn't have a choice. But now you do. And if you don't want the whole racing thing anymore, that's fine. Turn your back on that but if you go back to North Carolina, then you're turning your back on me as well."

"That's not true."

"Yes it is."

"No, it isn't. We could…"

"We could what? E-mail each other? Write letters? Talk on the phone? Squeeze in a visit once a month when our busy schedules permit it? That's what we've been doing Nathan and it's hard. Not only is it hard, it isn't fair."

"Daytona…"

"Nathan!"

"Jesus, what do you want from me? What do you want me to do?"

She looked right at him.

"I want you to be happy."

"I am. I want to be happy, too. And I want that with you. Why can't we just…"

She shook her head.

"It's two different worlds, Nate and I'm sorry but you don't get to have them both."

"This sucks", he pounded his fist on the bed.

"Tell me about it."

"I feel like you're making me choose."

"I'm not giving you an ultimatum but Nathan whatever you do will determine what happens with us."

He took a deep breath.

"I love you. I meant that. You have to know that. And I like being with you and these last few months have been incredible. It was real for me, Daytona. You have to know that."

She nodded.

"I do."

"I don't want to lose you but if I stay on here, then I'm just gonna lose me. I want to go home, Daytona."

She swallowed hard.

"Home is where your heart is."

"Daytona…"

"It's okay."

"No, it's not okay. Not if it hurts you. Not like this. I don't want to be the guy that makes you cry."

"We just weren't meant to be, Nate, at least not for now", she offered bravely.

"I feel like a real dick."

"Don't do this to yourself."

"How could I not? I made promises to you and you gave your heart to me. We even made love. You gave me your virginity, Daytona. And now I walk away?"

More of her tears came.

"All that is true. God, I've loved you since we were little kids. I always will. And I used to pray that one day you would love me in return. Well, I got that. Even if it only lasted for a little while, it was beautiful and magical and better than anything I ever imagined. You're at a crossroads in your life Nathan and you have to do what you have to do. Who am I to hold you back? And it would be selfish of me to try. So as much as it hurts, I have to let you go. And if what we have is true, then we'll find our way back to one another again. And…and if it's not, then I have no regrets loving you or being with you."

Nathan felt the lump forming in his throat. She was such a wonderful person. And that only made it harder.

"I am so sorry."

She put a finger to his lips.

"Don't be. Spread your wings, Nate. The hard part is letting go…the even harder part is the long wait not knowing if you made the right decision, wondering whether or not your heart's desire will return."

"I love you, Daytona", he said truthfully. "I just need you to know that. Promise me you'll always remember."

She wiped her tears and let him hold her.

"Always."

Nathan could feel her heart pounding against his chest. He hated the fact that she was hurting. He wished it would have gone any other way. But he was doing what he had to do. He had no other choice. The previous few hours had been ones of clarity, an epiphany if you will. The accident had changed everything. He had remembered the adrenaline pushed fear as he lost control of the car and slammed into the wall. It took him to a far off place. He could hear the others screaming his name, desperately trying to help him but he couldn't open his eyes. And as doctors and nurses stood over his limp body frantically trying to revive him, he had watched it all like it was some movie. And in a comfortable deep sleep, the peacefulness was only interrupted by the expressions revealed as the visitors filed in. He'd heard Cooper and Lucas and Daytona and Brooke. And more importantly, he'd heard Haley. And that had changed everything.