A.N Wow thanks to you guys I have actually cracked the 400 review mark. I never thought I would see the day when one of my stories got to that stage so I owe all of you a huge thankyou. I'm posting another chapter today (as you know because you're reading it) but at the moment things are pretty messed up in my life so I'm not totally sure when I will be posting the next one. I promise to make it as soon as possible. This chapter is dedicated to Jess who is not only the author of one of the best stories on this site (A Woman's Worth) but also offered me some excellent advice today. Thanks Jess I really appreciate it. I hope you all enjoy the chapter and I would love to see at least as many reviews again as I got for the last one. Flashback in Italics.

Chapter Thirty-five

Nathan groaned as the alarm clock beside him began its incessant beeping. Cracking an eye open he grimaced as he realised that the sun was barely up. For a moment he had to stop to wonder what on earth had possessed him to want to get up this early on a Saturday morning. As he rolled onto his back the events of the past couple of days came flooding back and he sat up abruptly throwing the covers off and scrambling to get out of bed. Opening his closet he grabbed the first set of clothes he could lay his hands on and dressed quickly, grabbing his keys from the nightstand he hurried out the door not stopping for anything.

As he drove he dwelt on everything that had happened. When the phone call had come through in the middle of the night three nights ago he initially had been disbelieving of the man claiming to be a police officer. Surely there could be no way that it really was Lucas and Brooke in that car but as he listened to the officers description of the car and its passengers a cold lump of dread had formed in the pit of his stomach and he had hung up the phone not wanting to hear anymore of what the officer had to say. Much like he had this morning he had quickly grabbed some clothes and rushed out the door in the direction of the hospital.

That drive through the almost deserted streets of Tree Hill in the middle of the night had seemed like one of the longest of his life. But when he finally did arrive at the hospital he could not garner the strength to get out of the car and walk through the doors, terrified of the news that awaited him. Finally forcing himself out of the car he had begun to walk towards the doors before breaking into a run. Bursting through the entrance to the emergency room he had taken no notice of the other occupants of the room and had immediately made his way to the desk.

"I need to speak to someone about Lucas Scott and Brooke Davis-Scott now." He told the woman sitting behind the desk wasting no time on unnecessary niceties.

She looked at the computer screen in front of her "I'm afraid you are going to have to wait. They are both in surgery right now."

Nathan slammed a fist down onto the desk "That's not good enough I need to know what's going on." As the nurse continued to look at him blankly his shoulders slumped and he dashed a hand across his eyes trying to hide the evidence of the tears that were forming. His voice cracked as he spoke again "Please he's my brother, I have to know if they're going to be ok."

A hand came to rest gently on his shoulder and turning he was confronted with the tear stained face of his mother. Deb looked at him sadly "Nathan why don't you come and sit down with me while we wait for the doctors to finish with them. I'm sure they'll come tell us what we need to know as soon as they can."

Nathan sent one last pleading look in the nurse's direction and when it was once again met blankly he turned and followed his mother to the hard plastic chairs that formed the waiting area. Looking around he could see other families of sick and injured people all dealing with their own personal demons. One lady was kneeling praying quietly in the corner, some sobbed quietly; a couple slept while others sat staring ahead blankly, clearly terrified of what was happening to their loved one. As he watched a doctor approached one of the men and spoke quietly to him. The sound of the voice had broken the man's reverie and he looked at the doctor before him in what almost amounted to confusion for a moment before slowly realising once again where he was. As the words registered Nathan saw the man who had only moments before been a picture of strength sink to the floor, huge wracking sobs overtaking his body.

He stood up abruptly. He couldn't handle this waiting and watching. Hoping for and at the same time dreading the arrival of the doctor that would give the prognosis on his brother and sister-in-law's lives and of their baby. Looking down at where his mother sat tears running silently down her face he spoke. "Mom I've got to go get some air. I'll be back ok. If the doctor's come I'll be right outside." Deb nodded silently and Nathan walked away.

Pushing through the doors he breathed deeply and almost mechanically began pacing back and forth in front of the doors. Every so often he would look up in search of a doctor that did not come. He had no idea how long he had been out there when finally he was interrupted by the arrival of a doctor. The woman introduced herself but Nathan barely heard her. Then the news that he had been waiting for.

"Mr Scott your brother is going to be fine. He has several broken bones and a concussion but I see no reason why he shouldn't make a full recovery."

Nathan heaved a sigh of relief "What about his wife? What about Brooke?" he asked.

Nathan was snapped out of his reverie by the sound of Ambulance sirens screaming into the hospital grounds and for a moment he wondered how he had gotten there. He had somehow completed the drive on auto pilot and now found himself in the parking lot at the front of the hospital. Getting out of the car he strode purposefully towards the doors. Getting into the lift he headed up to the fourth floor waiting impatiently as more people piled in beside him. Finally after stopping at every floor he arrived at the fourth and walked briskly towards Lucas' room. Just before he reached it he was stopped by a nurse's voice.

"Mr Scott, your brother is with the doctors right now and they're probably going to be a while. Perhaps you could go get a coffee while you wait."

Nathan sighed with frustration he wanted to see Lucas and reassure himself that he was still ok. For the first two and a half days he had not left the hospital and had only ventured away from Lucas when he had gone to check up on Brooke and his nephew. A small smile crossed his face as he thought of the baby. There was no doubt that he was a Scott. Nathan had known it instantly looking at him. That's what he would do while he was waiting for the doctor's to finish with Lucas he would go and check in on his nephew. His smile grew at the thought. His Nephew. He was an uncle. Still smiling he left the fourth floor and headed to the nursery. When he had been there yesterday the doctors had been hopeful that the baby would be ready to leave hospital today and although the idea of caring for a newborn completely daunted him he knew there was no-one else he would trust with the job. Besides he was sure his mother would help him if he needed it. Smiling wryly to himself he corrected himself it would be more of a case of when he needed help rather than if. But still the idea of caring for the baby excited him. At least that way he would feel as if he was doing something constructive for Brooke and Lucas.

He walked to the nurses' desk and smiled warmly at the young nurse sitting behind the desk. The woman blushed at the sight of the attractive man standing in front of her smiling at her.

"Can I help you?" she asked nervously.

"I certainly hope so." Nathan replied. "I'm here to see my nephew."

"Oh ok what's the baby's name?" she asked looking at the list in front of her.

"Well he hasn't actually been named yet but his parents are Lucas Scott and Brooke Davis-Scott."

A small frown crossed the young woman's face as she consulted her list. "Baby Scott was released this morning," she said.

The smile fell from Nathan's face as he stared at her in shock. "What are you talking about? There must be some kind of mistake."

"No," she replied more confidently having double checked the information in front of her. "No mistake, he's gone."

The shock on Nathan's face was replaced by rage at the thought of the baby being with strangers while his parents were both fighting for their lives. Pulling out his cell phone he turned it on immediately.

"Sir there's no cell phones allowed in the hospital."

Nathan ignored her as he punched in the numbers that would put him through to directory inquiries. "I need the number for social services," he said abruptly when the automated voice answered.

"Excuse me Sir," the nurse tried to interrupt but Nathan simply glared at her before turning away and stalking up the hall where her irritating voice would not intrude on his conversation. As he waited impatiently to be connected to the social services offices he paced back and forth. Finally hearing someone answer he spoke harshly to the receptionist. "I need to speak to whoever is in charge there."

"I'm sorry Sir you will need to make an appointment if you need to speak to one of our officers."

"Fuck that," Nathan said menacingly "Just let me talk to someone now. I want to know what the hell has happened to my nephew."

"Oh you're a family member," the woman said "well perhaps if you give me the name of the child I can put you through to the person in charge of that particular case."

"He hasn't been named yet, he's only three days old for Christ's sake."

"Sir if you want me to help you, you are going to need to calm down. Now if you can give me the necessary information I'll do my best to help you."

"Sorry," Nathan said sharply "This is just a really stressful situation. His parents are in the hospital and at the moment I'm his only next of kin in town. His parents' names are Lucas Scott and Brooke Davis-Scott and he was collected from Tree Hill Memorial this morning."

Nathan could hear the tapping of keys on a keyboard at the other end of the phone. "I'm sorry Sir I have no record of that child."

"Are you serious?" Nathan asked "then where the hell is he?"

"I'm afraid I have no idea," the woman responded "none of our officers have been to the hospital this morning. Perhaps you should check with other members of your family."

"Thank you," Nathan said momentarily deflated "I will." Hanging up the phone he stormed back to the desk. "Do you want to tell me where the hell my nephew is and just who has got him?"

The nurse was clearly flustered in the face of his anger and shuffled the papers in front of her not wanting to meet his eyes. "Um," she said "I believe it was your wife," she told him.

"My what?" Nathan thundered slamming a fist down onto the desk before planting both hands on the desk and glowering menacingly at the woman.

"Your wife," she repeated uncertainly "A Mrs Haley Scott."

Nathan felt as if he had been punched in the gut. Haley was back in Tree Hill and what was worse she had his nephew. What the hell is she playing at? Why was she telling people that she was his wife? The answer to that question however was fairly simple she had obviously known that was the only way that she would be allowed to take the baby. He could have her arrested for kidnapping. She had no right to take the baby away from here. He pulled out his phone and his fingers hovered over the numbers that would dial the police. He was so tempted to call them and have them find her and deal with her but deep down he knew that would be an overreaction. She was Brooke's best friend and one of the baby's future godparents. Brooke would probably never forgive him if he had Haley arrested. No he would deal with this himself. He would find her and he would get his nephew back and then if he had his way she would leave town again and go back to wherever the hell she had been for the last four months. Turning purposefully he strode down the hall. Haley would not be difficult to find and once he did well she had better have a damn good excuse for what she had done.

Spoilers:- Haley and Cory spend some quality time together. Nathan searches for Haley. A confrontation.