Disclaimer: Unfortunately for me, I do not own any part of the characters which have been so carefully taken from the show and manipulated to perform different actions by my creative mind and simply only take credit for the storylines they will be pursuing not on the television show, but on my page of fiction only. Hence the word, FICTION, it's not real, I don't know them (although I really wish I did because James Lafferty should be illegal for being that fine) and probably never will so don't be offended... With that in mind, let's proceed shall we?

Chapter 2

Nathan Scott was a wreck. No, slash that. Nathan Scott was a disaster. His head these days was seriously being toyed with and he didn't like it one bit. He was used to having control, he'd mastered the art. Nathan had superficial control; this kind of control consisted of control over his teachers to let him slide on that one homework assignment because basketball practice ran too late, or control over the woman at the mall who sold him his phone for a discounted price in an exchange for a wink and a nod. Yes he definitely had always had that kind of control. He had for yourself control; this kind of control led him to being the best basketball player he could be, or drove him to emancipating himself from his parents. Check, definitely had that kind of control. However, he didn't have the one kind of control he seemed to crave at that certain moment and that was, emotional control.

He glanced at six other anxious faces, each filled with a different emotion. His eyes shifted to the blonde-haired rebel, a former love if you will. Her expression was one she had perfected over the years; stony, emotionless on the surface yet tortured beneath. She always had a soft spot for Haley. Seated right next to her, was the bubbly cheerleader who was no longer perky. She hadn't been for the past couple of weeks, which ultimately led him to wonder if there was such thing as optimism. Unlike Peyton, Brooke didn't hide her emotions, judging from her mascara-stained face she released them openly for all to see. Healthy, yet heartbreaking. Next to her sat Karen, Haley's self-proclaimed step-in-mother- who wasn't really a step in at all, but rather the real thing. Like any mother, she too put on a front; tried to act brave in front of the teenagers, but Nathan could see the fear and uncertainty in her eyes. Directly across from him sat his sworn enemy; the man Haley had left to tour the world with, Chris Keller. He gingerly picked at a fingernail, and it was in that moment that Nathan could tell he didn't give a damn. He looked bored, arrogant, and cold-hearted and it was apparent to everyone that he was only there to stir up drama. Than of course came Nathan's former parents, one out of true support, the other out of greedy motivation. Deb wanted to be there for her son, wanted to amend the fences she had broken, whereas Dan was simply there to boost his chances of winning the election by being a "supportive" father.

"Is there a Nathan Scott present?" a man dressed in a white lab coat asked tentatively to the fragile group in front of him. He had seen many cases like the one that had just arrived and had broken many hearts, but still got nervous every time he had to speak with a loved one.

"That's me." Nathan stood up, praying he had the strength to walk, and looked directly at the doctor.

" Can I speak to you for a moment alone Mr. Scott?" he asked, while quickly apologizing to the rest of the group.

"Of course." Nathan followed the doctor over to an empty corridor and waited for some news.

"I'm presuming your wife is Mrs. Haley James Scott correct?" When Nathan nodded his head the doctor continued. "I'm Doctor Deacon and I've been taking care of her. I'd like to notify you of her current condition. You can breathe easy Mr. Scott, your wife is going to make it, however there will be certain limitations. You see, when the car hit Haley, the part of her brain that controls memories was severely ruptured. The impact also put Mrs. Scott into a coma. Her vital signs are good, and besides a few scrapes and bruises as well as a broken arm, she seems to be doing okay. As you know comas can last as long as years to mere hours, it's just a matter of time. Now when she does wake up, which we all pray she will, she won't ever be the same. She will have no recollection of the past but will be able to function properly. She isn't paralyzed and she won't be a vegetable. Your case isn't rare Mr. Scott. Thousands of people everyday are put into the same state and make it out okay. I know it's a lot to take in, but maybe if you took some time with your wife, it'd help her wake up. Studies show, that patients even in a comatose state, can hear you 70 of the time. Try it." with a sympathetic pat and push in her room's direction, the doctor was off to deal with his next patient.

Nathan didn't know what to feel. On the one hand, he wanted to be mad at Haley, he wanted to truly believe that she deserved it. On the other hand, he wanted to so badly to give in to the side of him that was so desperately afraid because he didn't know if he could live without her. This was the kind of control he was talking about.

Walking into that hospital room, any prior negative thoughts were completely expelled from his mind and concern took their place. His Haley, looked so little and tiny in that hospital bed. So bruised and beaten, yet beautiful. So lost and defeated, yet peaceful. It took every fiber in his body to restrain him from breaking down in the doorway. Quietly, afraid of disturbing her, he walked over to the chair that was placed beside her bed. He cleared his throat, and took her by the hand.

"Hey Hales. It's me Nathan. So I know thing haven't been great between us lately, and I know you think it's all your fault. You know what though? Everything is my fault. If it wasn't for my greedy intentions to ruin Lucas's life, I would have never met you. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I did meet you, so glad, but if I never had, we would have never gotten married, than almost divorced, and you wouldn't have wound up in here." he paused a moment to glance around and winced. Haley had always hated hospitals.

" I know how hard you have been trying Haley, I see it everyday. I NEED you to wake up though Haley, so I can start trying. It's my turn to win you back. You've made me into the person I am, and without you, that person will die." Nathan didn't bother to wipe the stray tear from his eye and let it fall onto Haley's hand.

His voice sounded hoarse and was getting softer and softer but he had to finish what needed to be said.

" I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry and I love you." He squeezed her hand. Wait, was that a squeeze back? No it had to be his imagination gone wild, stress will do that to you. Nathan felt another twitch. Okay he definitely wasn't imagining that. He glanced up and saw Haley's eyes flutter open.

At first he saw, happiness, than uncertainty, and lastly fear. She regarded him as a stranger and looked truly frightened. She immediately snatched her hand out of his grasp. Nathan was shocked at the notion, but was even more appalled at the words she choked out next.

"Who are you?"

Stay tuned, Next Time:

Where's Lucas you ask, stick around and you'll find out

Where do Nathan and Haley go from here? Will he have enough patience?

Group reactions to the situation

And a touch of humor! I know it's getting to serious, but fear not, I can be just as funny!

Who hit Haley? And was it on purpose or accident?