Chapter 3

"Knock, knock," Deb said as she peaked into Cooper's room, his latest groupie taking the hint and leaving as she entered.

"Ahem," Deb said as she side-stepped the visitor and gave Coop a discerning look.

"Haven't you earned a rest from this?"

"Ha, sis, don't be like that. Candy just…stopped in to check on me. How are the kids?"

"Well, Nathan, Lucas, and Haley are well. Nathan will have to stay a few days for observation because of his aggravated re-injury but, all will be fine. I had to take a break from all the teen angst in the room, when Brooke and Peyton arrived…I don't know what is going on with those two."

"And…Rachel?" he asked pensively, sitting up a little straighter in his bed.

"Umm, the last I heard she wasn't doing too well…touch and go, you know. They haven't been able to reach her parents yet."

"Yeah, I've never seen them in the three weeks we dated so good luck, and I was staying at her place!" he threw his hands up in exasperation, "How could I have been so stupid?"

"Well, you always did have an eye for pretty young girls." Deb stroked his hand a look of disappointment mixed with pity on her face.

"You know she tried to tell me she was pregnant?" this time he took her hand, in case her pity stroke turned into an angry slap.

"What?" she jumped up, "Coop, no."

"Relax, it's not mine…it can't be. The timeline is just…it's just not right. I've had enough scares to know," he gave her a half joking smile.

"Oh, Coop, that poor girl."

-----------------------------

"Brooke, c'mon! What, we can't even be in the same room?" Peyton called after her.

"I'm sorry Nathan. I'll be back when the air clears in here. C'mon Haley, walk with me."

"Umm, I really think I should stay," Haley emphasized her point by holding Nathan's hand.

"It's ok Hales," he squeezed her hand and they exchanged glances.

"Alright. Let's go, Brooke," she said as she followed the already exiting Brooke.

"Alright, Peyton what's up with you two now?" he rolled his eyes in playful exasperation.

Peyton sank into the chair next to him and burst into tears. She dropped her head into his lap and just sobbed. Nathan, not really knowing what else to do, stroked her curly blonde hair awkwardly. Secretly praying Lucas would come and rescue him again.

She cried for what felt like hours and was actually mere minutes.

"Peyton?" he asked with sincerity as she tearfully met his concerned stare.

"Oh, Nathan I don't know what to do there is so much going on!" she sobbed, then sobering for a moment she asks, "…is this weird?"

Nervously he laughed, "Yeah, it kind of it. Should I call Lucas for this?"

"God, no!" she screamed.

"Alright, it's cool. We're friends, I can help. Talk to me." He sat up as straight as he could.

"Nathan, I'm pregnant and my dad is going to be gone for two months on this job, and I've really lost my best friend this time." she broke down again.

Nathan was in absolute shock, "Peyton, you're pregnant? How?"

She looked at him like he had two heads and both were wearing dunce caps, "I-I-I mean, I know how. But, How? When? Is it Lucas'? Is that why Brooke is upset?" he stammered.

"No and no," she sighed cleaning her face with a nearby Kleenex she garnered from the box. "It's Jake's, and he doesn't know yet. No one knows yet," she pointed at him for emphasis.

"I won't say a word," he put both hands up to declare his openness.

"Not even to Haley, not yet," she said relinquishing her defensive stance. "I just don't know what to do, I feel so alone. I've never felt more abandoned, and I wish my moms were here. I could really use both of them."

"Man, Peyton, this is really heavy. Your secret is safe with me though. It's your news to share, not mine, but I'm here for you."

-----------------------------

Outside of the hospital, in a very Shakespearian manner, Dan Scott tired to rub out the blood red stain on his wall, Deb's words still ringing in his ears. His heart beat so fast that he was sure it would burst, but he had to remove "murderer" from his wall.

"Oh, Danny?" the sing-song lift of a child's voice floated through the air behind him. He stopped what he was doing as the now familiar ghost of a young Keith darted past the corner of his eye.

"Argh! Leave me in peace! I didn't know, I didn't know!" Dan fell to his knees flinging the bucket of soapy water across the room as he gripped both sides of his head. He cried into his palms before feeling someone's stare across the back of his slumped neck.

The mayoral assistant stood in the doorway of the beach house den; he stared bewildered at the sight before him. The giant Dan Scott lay in a heap on the floor and soapy water was strewn everywhere but especially on the large bare wall.

"Mr. Mayor? Are you alright? I assume you've already heard the news of the accident off the main bridge."

"Accident?" Dan looked up drunkenly. The assistant labored to help the Mayor to the nearby sofa, puzzled by his confusion and awkward state he explained, "Yes sir, there was an accident after your son's recent nuptials. He and some others were taken to the hospital."

"What! Take me there now!" he snatched the thin man by his collar lifting him to his toes.

"D-Don't you want to change, sir?" he stammered as he struggled to pull himself free from the massive man.

Dan released him, dropping him with a thud to the floor, he seethed, "No."