Nathan walks down the hallway, quietly gripping the aluminum bat he prayed he wouldn't have to use. He was almost formulating a plan when something stopped him dead in his tracks. Dan. Standing over two bodies…a gun in his hand.

"Dad?" Nathan never made eye contact with his father. His mind was captured by the sight of the two bodies on the floor.

Dan knew he was backed into a corner. He gently laid the handgun on the floor in front of him.

"Nathan. Son, what…god are you okay?"

Nathan replied as if his father had never asked him a question.

"Did you shoot them?" His voice came out scratchy and rough. This can't be happening, he thought.

Damn it, how am I suppose to cover this up? "Nate, son it's not what it looks like."

For the first time since he found his father, Nathan made eye contact. Dan saw something he had never seen in his son's eyes. Fear, pain, exhuastion, and anger.

"Really Dad, because it looks like you shot them."

"No Nate it's not like that. The kid shot himself."

"And Keith, Dad? Did Keith shoot himself too?" Nathan eyes were growing more and more intense.

"Nathan do you really think of me like that? I guess the kid shot him." He was talking to fast for his own good.

"Then why were you holding a gun?"

There was no point in Dan lying. Nathan knew. Everyone would know. The hate in Dan's heart wins the battle against his weak conscience every time. There was no way out of this one.

"Son I…"

This is morning, it's when I spend the most time, thinking about what I've given up…

Haley's ringtone. It made Nathan's heart jump for more than one reason.

"Hales." His voice sounded weak and small.

"Nathan, I know I shouldn't have called but are you okay?" He could hear the fear in her voice. It was too much for him.

"I'm fine. The halls are clear. Haley, there's two bodies in the hall. One is Jimmy and the other…"

"Oh my god…" she said it so quietly Nathan almost didn't hear it.

"Its Keith, Hales." It hurt his heart to see the Uncle he barely knew lying helpless in the hallway.

"Nathan what happened?" The sound of her voice changed. The fear it once harbored now held panic. God. He wanted nothing more right then to hold her and tell her how much he loved her.

"We think Jimmy killed himself. We don't know about Keith." He thought he saw Keith take a struggled breath. Probably false hope.

"Are Luke and Peyton with you?"

"No…its Dan." As Nathan said his father's name they made eye contact. Dan looked pale, scared, and mostly…guilty.

"What is Dan doing there…" Haley's voice faltered as she realized what Nathan was trying to say. "Oh my god, did he shoot Keith?"

Nathan, trying to read his father's expression, is afraid he will find the answer is unfortunately seeks. "I don't know, Hales. But the halls are clear so y'all come on."

As his son hangs up the phone, Dan smirks and cocks his head to the side.

"She's got those reigns pulled tight there, Nate."

Nathan keeps full eye contact with his father. He slowly begins to step towards his father, head held high, never dropping eye contact. He slowly raises his hand; Dan flinches. A satisfied smile slowly creeps upon Nathan's face. He carefully reaches down to retrieve the gun his father possibly just used.

"Probably not the best time to screw with me Dad," Nathan says as he painfully empties the gun of its last remaining bullet. He twirls it in his fingers. One shot, one bullet and it made all the difference.