Hey guys. I know there are a bunch of people waiting for this chapter, if only from the huge response to the first one (thank you so much!). And I can't apologize enough for not updating sooner Thanks for being so patient guys. And I promise, it won't ever take me this long to update again
In my defense, my internet did decide to be completely STUPID. So in the future if it DOES take me a while to update, it's not because I'm not writing, it's because my internet decided to have a mind of it's own.
Thanks, and please review and let me know what you think!!
3 NickyJ2
Carrie watched as Nathan drove off. Shaking her head, she walked back into her hotel room and shut the door. She patted Jamie on the head and sat down next to him, focusing her attention on the movie he was watching. 5 minutes later, she groaned at a sudden knock at the door. She got up to answer it and opened the door with a smirk. "Back already…"
The question died on her lips as whoever it was shoved her up against the wall. 'Jamie run,' she screamed. Or tried to. She was able to get out "Jamie…" before the stranger's grip on her throat tightened.
"Nanny Carrie?" Jamie asked, backing into the corner. The attacker turned around and his eyes widened in fear. "Jamie, don't be afraid. I'm here to help you." The man spoke softly, but Jamie just shook his head and closed his eyes.
Dan turned back to Carrie, his eyes hard. "What did you do to my grandson?" She struggled against his hand, and he forced himself to loosen his grip. "I didn't do anything." She gasped out finally. With a grimace, he dropped her on the floor and turned to Jamie.
"What did she do to you son?" He asked with a quiet intensity. Jamie raised his head and opened his eyes. "Nothing, honest. She even kept that man outside earlier." Eyes narrowing, he turned to Carrie, only to catch her looking at Jamie with a look of panic on her face. Standing up, he started towards her.
"Who did you meet with?" She backed up, her eyes searching frantically for a way out. "No one," she stammered quickly, eyes widening as she felt her back hit the wall behind her.
He scoffed. "I don't know why I'm surprised. You're not smart enough to carry this plan out on your own." He smirked. "Come on. I'll be nicer if you tell me…"
Straightening up suddenly, she smiled and shook her head slowly 'no'. Dan's smirk faded. She had information he wanted, and she knew it. "Come on Jamie" he said, waiting while the younger boy took his hand. With a final sneer in Carrie's direction, he headed towards the door.
"No!" Carrie cried suddenly, latching onto Dan's arm. Grunting in disgust, he jerked his arm free and she flew towards the far wall. Leading Jamie out into the car, he buckled him into the back seat and walked back inside.
He looked down at Carrie, who was still crumpled against the far wall. "If you ever come near that boy again, people will spend the rest of their lives, wondering where you disappeared to. Do I make myself clear?" His voice was quiet, and there was no doubt that he meant every word he said.
When she nodded, he walked back inside and drove off with Jamie. He didn't go far however, stopping at the office. Walking inside, he flashed the head clerk a disarming smile. "My name is Dan Scott. Would it be possible for me to look at your security tapes?"
………………………
Nathan closed the refrigerator door and grabbed the plate that he had been fixing. Walking back into the living room, he sat the plate down in front of Haley and then sat next to her on the sofa. "I fixed you a sandwich." He said, putting his arm around her.
She gave him a small smile, but pushed the plate away, shaking her head at his frown. "I'm not hungry." She stated softly, leaning against his shoulder and closing her eyes.
Nathan frowned. "Haley, you have to eat." She shook her head, eyes still closed. "I'm not hungry." She insisted. He was about to reply, when Lucas stuck his head in from the kitchen.
"The cops are here Hales. They wanna ask you some questions." She got up slowly and walked into the kitchen, both Lucas and Nathan watching her go. One with sympathy and the other with grim determination.
Lucas walked over to the couch, sat down and leaned his head back. "I'm worried about her man." He said, closing his eyes. "Mmhm." Nathan replied absentmindedly, staring off into space. Lucas opened his eyes and sat back up.
"You know I'm here for you if you need anything. Although," Lucas said, clapping him on the back, "I gotta say you're taking the whole situation really well."
Nathan raised his head and looked in Lucas' direction. "What did you say?" He said quietly, eyes narrowing just the tiniest bit. Lucas raised his hands and leaned back slightly. "Nothing bad, just saying that you don't exactly look like the most worried father in the world."
"Of course I'm worried." Nathan snapped. "I just think that since Haley's here and she's so upset, I should do my best to support her right now, since I can't do anything for Jamie!" Lucas' eyes widened, and he scooted backwards on the couch.
"Nate, I get that! I know you're just trying to protect Haley, and I didn't say it was a bad thing. I was about to say that I thought it was a really good idea!" Nathan was about to reply, but stopped himself. "Sorry Luke. Guess I'm a little more stressed out than I thought I was." Luke rose and patted him awkwardly on the back.
"That's okay, I understand. Call me if you need me." He looked around the room and headed reluctantly into the kitchen. "Brooke, I'm heading over to let Mom know what happened. You want a ride?"
The brunette looked up from where she was standing with Haley and two police officers. "No thanks Luke. But," she said with a nod towards the blonde who was sitting at the table with her head on her arms. "You could definitely give Peyton one."
She looked up at the sound of her name, shaking her head when she saw what was being addressed. "Brooke, I'm fine. I'll just wait for you here." She shook her head firmly when she saw Brooke about to protest.
Brooke frowned. "Peyton, could I talk to you for a minute?" she asked, nodding towards the back door. Peyton sighed and followed her outside.
Brooke put her hands on her hips and turned on her friend. "P Sawyer, you are going home. AH!" she said, holding up her hand to keep Peyton from commenting. "You are tired. This day was incredibly hard for you, between the wedding and Jamie going missing. You need a ride home, and I honestly couldn't care if it was the Grim Reaper offering. Your going to go home and go to sleep and rest. Now talk."
Peyton shook her head. "Brooke, I am not getting in a car with Lucas, especially after today. It would just be awkward. And you know I hate awkward…"
Brooke threw her hands up. "Peyton, it's like a 10 minute drive! Yes, it would be awkward, but you two need to talk anyway."
"I'm not talking to him. He made his decision, and it wasn't me, and now we're both going to have to live with it." She said, crossing her arms.
Brooke rolled her eyes. "Yes, Peyton, he made a decision. I've also noticed that him and his blushing bride aren't exactly 'happily married.' Have you noticed that??"
"God Brooke, I'm not going to seduce him!!" Peyton practically screeched, horrified. Brooke laughed, and quickly shushed her.
"I'm not saying you seduce him Peyton!" she said, still laughing quietly. "I'm just saying it would do you two good to talk. You were friends a long time ago, and I know you two have a ton of history now, but that doesn't mean that you two can't at least sort this thing out."
Peyton shrugged her shoulders in defeat. "Fine. I will let him drive me home. But I am not promising we will talk, and I will be the only person in the house when you come home."
Brooke frowned and faked disappointment. "Awww." Peyton laughed and smacked her friend on the arm before going into the house and walking towards Lucas with a grimace. "Can I have a ride home?" she asked. He nodded and they left.
Nathan watched as they left, and breathed a sigh of relief. He had to remember to fake worry a lot more. Lucas had almost called him on it tonight. With a quiet groan, he got up and walked into the kitchen.
Brooke was ushering the cops out the door, giving them her version of the events and telling them what exactly SHE thought they should be doing. Haley was leaning up against the counter, exhausted. Walking up to her, Nathan slipped his arms around her waist.
Feeling his arms around her waist, she sighed in contentment and leaned back into him. "How you feeling." She smiled, content, when his hot breath fanned over her ear.
"Completely drained." She responded quietly, her eyes closing. "I just want to go to bed and forget all about this. But I won't until Jamie's safe." Nathan watched frowning, as her face turned down into a sad grimace.
"He'll be fine." He whispered. "Trust me."
"I hope so." She responded quietly, her voice trailing off at the end. Holding her up, Nathan helped her back into the living room. He was just about to put her down on the couch when there was a commotion in the front hall. He watched in shock as small feet were heard, and around the corner came James Lucas Scott.
"Mama, mama!" Haley shot up off the coach. Running to her son, she picked him up and hugged him hard. "Jamie, honey, I'm so happy your safe." She whispered through the tears of joy running silently down her face. She kissed him on his forehead and both cheeks, smiling when he started squirming in her arms.
"Baby, where were you, what happened?" Haley sat him down and knelt down next to him, looking him in the eyes. "Nothing mama," he shrugged easily. "Grandpa Dan saved me."
Haley looked as the tall man rounded the corner. "Haley." He said, nodding in her direction. "Nathan." He smiled as he was met with a glare from his son.
"Dan." Turning to her husband, Haley patted his arm. "Nathan, go call Lucas and tell him we found Jamie. He left to take Peyton home." Nathan headed for the phone, his eyes not leaving Dan's until he turned the corner and was out of sight.
"Hello?" Lucas picked up the phone and listened for a minute. "Well, that's great Nate! Let me drop her off and I'll head back." Lucas hung up and grimaced as the awkward silence settled back into the car again.
"That was Nathan. Jamie's back." Lucas turned to look at the curly blonde sitting next ot him. She refused to meet his gaze, opting to look out the window instead.
"Great." She crossed her arms over her chest. Lucas felt his hands tighten inadvertently on the steering wheel. Stopping in front of her house, she reached for the door handle, shocked when the locks clicked into place.
Eyes burning, she spun around. "Lucas Scott, let me out of this car."
"Nope." He said. "We need to talk, Peyton."
"We have nothing to talk about." She hissed. "That's not true and you know it." Lucas said, shaking his head. "Our past isn't going to go away Peyton. It's always gonna be there, and as long as we don't address it, those feelings are gonna be there to."
Peyton threw her hands in the air. "What feelings? There aren't feelings anymore! There's just what used to be and nothing else. Now, I know you lost Lindsey today, but that doesn't change the fact that you chose her in the first place! And that hurt Lucas, and damn it, but I'm not gonna sit here and pretend that nothing happened!"
Lucas sat back, stunned by the force of her anger. Leaning over him, she pushed the unlock button and got hastily out of the car. "Thanks for the ride." She threw over her shoulder. He waited until the front door was closed before driving off. She was kidding herself if she thought that it was ending here.
Haley walked slowly over to the chair where Dan Scott was sitting. When he saw her coming he got up and started to say something, but she waved him off.
"Look. I'm not saying that you're gonna be welcomed back into our family with open arms. But you did give me my son back, and for that I'm grateful." She stuck out her hand and he shook it. Pulling back, she looked questioningly at the small white paper he had deposited in her hand. Reading it, she looked up, her eyes hard again.
"Get out." She said threw clenched teeth. She watched her hands tightening to keep from slapping his face as he walked out the door with a smug smile. Turning, she headed upstairs to the bedroom, shutting the door with a bang.
She grabbed the phone and dialed his cellphone number. "Hello?"
"I don't care if you did give me back my son. You stay away from me and my family. We are perfectly happy, and there is no way in hell that you're going to mess that up."
"Oh, I'm not the one trying to. You'd be smart to listen to me."
She responded with a shrill laugh. "Listen to you? Dan I can't stand to be around you much less listen to you. I don't give a shit what the hell you have. Just leave us along."
Hanging up the phone she dropped her face into her trembling hands. She opened the small white note and read it again.
You don't know your husband as well as you think you do. Call me. I have something you need to see.