A.N Ok guys for the second time tonight I am going to attemp topost this chapter. If you've received two authors alerts for it I'm sorry. For some reason it onlyposted like half the chapter so I had to remove it and try again. Anyway I really wasn't planning to update tonight but opportunity arose. Only a couple of you will know what this means but the Internet Nazi is out and I'm free to use it. Anyway I hope you all enjoy the surprises I have in store for you with this chapter and remember to leave lots of reviews because they definitely inspire me to update sooner.

Chapter Thirty-three

"Who the hell is this?" he responded.

"That really doesn't matter," Josh answered "the sole purpose of this call is simply to let you know that you're going to be a father. What you choose to do with that information is entirely your own concern."

"Well then why don't you start by telling me something I don't already know?"

"What?" Josh spluttered in confusion.

"Well considering that my wife has less than two weeks until her due date there would have to be something drastically wrong for me not to be aware of that."

"Your wife?" Josh asked incredulously.

"Yeah my wife," came the response with more than a hint of sarcasm. "You know the woman I'm married to."

"Um of course," Josh said "well congratulations." He could hardly believe his own ears as the news sunk in. Here he had thought that he was doing Haley a favour and now he finds out that Haley was better off without Nathan. He debated whether to call her and tell her about this latest development but almost immediately dismissed the idea. From the way Haley had spoken that night she had no intention of getting into contact with Nathan again sothere was no point causing her even more pain. She had enough to deal with, without this. He looked sadly at the receiver in his hand before gently placing it back on the cradle. Unfortunately he didn't realise that the number he had called was not Mr N. Scott as he had intended but rather the number directly above it a Mr L. Scott. Perhaps if he had known things would have turned out differently but then again perhaps not.

"Hang on a minute who is this?" He asked but the question was met with only dial tone.

Looking quizzically at the phone he turned at the sound of Brooke's voice. "Honey who was that?"

"I wish I knew," Lucas answered. "I wish I knew."

But Brooke wasn't settling for that. "What the hell is that supposed to mean Broody?"

He shrugged noncommittally. "Uh uh you are going to have to do better than that," she said crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at him.

"Brooke if I knew what to tell you than I would but it was just a really strange conversation. This guy rang up and started telling me that I was going to be a father. Now obviously I knew that but he seemed really shocked that it wasn't coming as a surprise to me."

Brooke's glare grew. "Broody you better be telling me everything, because if I find out that you are keeping secrets from me there is going to be hell to pay."

"Brooke calm down of course I'm not keeping secrets from you. What the hell sort of secret do you think I would be keeping?"

"All I know," she continued to rant "is that the only baby you better be expecting is this one right here." She said patting her stomach protectively.

"As if you even need to ask," Lucas scoffed at the mere suggestion that he might be cheating on her.

"Then what were they talking about?" Brooke asked her tone softening slightly with confusion.

"Like I've been trying to tell you I have no idea. Maybe it was just some kid playing a prank." But his tone indicated that he didn't really believe that.

"Did they actually ask for you by name?" she asked.

"No," Lucas replied thoughtfully "actually they didn't. That was the strange thing they just asked for Mr Scott."

Brooke's face lit up as an idea hit. "You don't think?" she said excitedly.

"I don't think what?" he asked puzzled.

"Maybe this is the answer to the mystery," she continued her excitement visibly increasing.

"Which mystery?" Lucas asked cautiously.

"Why he left her." Brooke answered clapping her hands with glee.

Lucas still looked confused and Brooke looked at him in abject disappointment. "Come on Broody get with the program. All this time we've been trying to figure out why he left and maybe this is the answer."

"Brooke for goodness sake will you stop speaking in riddles. Just tell me what it is you're trying to tell me already."

Brooke looked at him the way one might view an ignorant child. "Alright Broody don't blow a gasket. I'll break it down for you."

Lucas ignored her sarcastic attitude and sat quietly waiting for her to explain herself.

"Deb never gave us a reason why Dan never returned from his business trip. Isn't it feasible that he was cheating on her and got this other woman pregnant? That's why he hasn't come back he's too scared to face her. You know what a pansy ass he can be when it comes to facing up to his actions and I reckon if there is one person he would not want to take on then it would have to be Deb. Have you seen that woman when she's in a temper? Man" she said with a tone of wonder "she is a force to be reckoned with."

Lucas looked shocked for a moment. "Do you really think so?" he asked in astonishment. She could almost see the cogs of his mind turning over as he absorbed the information and speculated on the likelihood.

"Well it would explain a hell of a lot don't you think."

"Deb never did give us any sort of explanation for why Dan left. All she said was that he was gone. So what do you think Broody, mystery solved?"

"It's certainly possible," he conceded, "It does sound like the kind of thing Dan would do but I don't know something just doesn't quite ring true about it."

"But it's the only logical explanation," Brooke said forcefully not wanting to examine the possibility that she may be wrong.

"Ok, ok," he said holding up his hands "Well if that's what you think then I guess you may be right."

Brooke was momentarily satisfied by his agreement with her and moved onto other subjects. "So did I tell you Peyton called today? She and Jake are tossing up the possibility of moving back to North Carolina."

Lucas looked up interested. "Really, why?"

"Well she said that Jake's current contract is coming to an end and they've been talking about it and they want the kids to be able to know their extended family. At the moment with them living in California they only get to town like once a year. Last year they didn't end up coming at all. Jake's parents had to go visit them. But I guess now that they've got Madison as well as Jenny it's become more of an issue."

"So when are they thinking of moving?" Lucas asked.

They continued their mundane conversation but when they went to bed that night Brooke lay awake for a long time pondering the mysterious phone call. However despite all her musings she never once considered the possibility that it was Haley who was the one pregnant.

She lay tossing and turning for a while not only struggling to get comfortable with her large pregnant belly but unable to stop thinking about the situation. Finally she sat up poking Lucas in his side with her finger impatiently.

"Wake up Broody," she said loudly.

"What now?" he asked irritably.

"Don't you dare give me attitude," Brooke said angrily, "now get up we're going out."

"Out?" he asked incredulously "out where?"

"You and I are going to go pay a visit to Deb and find out what the hell is going on."

Lucas looked at the bedside table and groaned. "Brooke you have got to be kidding it's almost midnight. Can't this wait until morning?"

"If it could wait do you think I'd be asking you to get up now? Come on Lucas," she wheedled "I'm never going to get to sleep if I'm laying here worrying about it and you know how important it is for me to get my rest now. Think about our poor baby."

Lucas could feel himself softening towards her until he turned and saw her smile through the darkness. "Uh uh Brooke you are not going to blackmail me into this."

"Fine," she huffed "then I guess I'll just go on my own." She stood up from the bed with some difficulty and began looking through her cupboards searching for something to wear.

Lucas groaned again before throwing back the covers "Alright fine," he said "I'll drive you but you're the one who has to explain to Deb what the hell we're doing turning up on her doorstep in the middle of the night."

She rushed over to him as fast as her heavily pregnant body would allow her to throwing her arms around him. "Thanks Broody, I love you."

"Yeah I love you too;" he said gruffly "now lets get dressed the sooner we go to Deb's the sooner we can come back here and get some sleep. I do have to work in the morning you know."

"I know and I promise I'll make it quick."

The two hurriedly dressed before heading to the front door. Pausing Lucas looked at the rain beating down against the pavement "you had better be really grateful for this." He said.

She nodded her head furiously in agreement. "Oh I will be Broody I promise. I'll be sure to show you just how grateful just as soon as we get back."

"That sounds promising," he said with a grin holding the door open for her.

Lucas put his seatbelt on as he got into the car and turned to Brooke waiting expectantly for her to do the same. When she remained unbelted he looked at her curiously. "Why aren't you putting your seatbelt on Honey?"

"You try wearing one of those things with a beach ball strapped to your stomach and tell me how it is. Then you might be able to talk. Besides we're not going far and there's practically no traffic on the road at this time of night."

Lucas threw his hands up in defeat "Ok if you're sure."

Pulling out onto the road he drove off slowly at first gradually picking up speed as his eyes adjusted to the poor visibility. They were almost halfway there when Brooke suddenly clutched at her stomach groaning. Lucas looked at her alarmed "Brooke, what's wrong? Brooke tell me what's wrong for goodness sake."

Breathing deeply she smiled reassuringly "I'm fine Broody it's just one of those damn Braxton Hicks things I've been having them all day."

"Are you sure you're ok?" he asked concerned.

"Yeah of course… Oh my God Lucas look out," she screamed looking up and seeing the car swerving into their lane.

Lucas' reactions although quick were not quick enough and despite his evasive actions the car he was driving clipped the bumper of the other one and careened off the road crashing into a power pole.

The other car sped away leaving behind a mess of twisted metal; the pole had snapped in half and was lying on the road live wires sparking all around.

There was no movement from either occupant of the car. Somewhere off in the distance sirens screamed as people from the neighbouring houses began to converge out onto the pavement looking in horror at the spectacle before them.

Spoilers- News of the accident brings Haley back to Tree Hill. 'Its a boy'.