Fighting Reflections

Despite the protests from every single person in her life, Haley leaned against the cool plastic chair that would soon turn warm and an unbelievably hard extension of her rear. Tuning out the fully audible roar of the crowd she tilted her head down and closed her eyes. She couldn't tell if it was the tumor or the baby; either way she could fall asleep any where, any time, in any position.

The sudden roar and shrieks from fans awoke her from her light nap. The volume and concentration of the voices seemed different: they were getting louder and louder around her. A couple of seconds later revealed the cause for the effect.

"You do realize that people pay hundreds for these seats and you're sitting here taking a nap?"

Haley smiled and nodded, ready to retort the accusation. "And you realize that it's half-time, I'm three hundred months pregnant, and I got these seats for free."

Nathan chuckled. "Oh, so you're a groupie, only interested in the player and not the game?"

Haley laughed, "Something like that."

She enjoyed that he treated her like she wasn't sick. The banter they exchanged never changed. Sure, he was on eggshells at first, but being normal was the best they could do to handle the situation.

"Could you get out of my seat? I paid for that it."

Nathan and Haley both looked up at Lucas with Brooke in tow. He was holding nachos, ice cream, drinks, and candy.

"Again, you guys did not pay for these seats. As far as I'm concerned, I own them."

"Little cocky are we, Hot Shot Rookie?" Brooke chimed.

Haley giggled as Nathan got up. "He seems to think that we are his groupies and aren't really interested in the game."

"Uh, huh." Lucas grinned.

"It's true. I bet you can't even tell me the score Hales."

Haley thought for a moment and Nathan took her pregnant pause as a sign of defeat. Just when he was about to revel in his triumph she spoke up.

"Actually, the score is 53-47, you guys are winning. Early in the first quarter Williams shot three consecutive balls outside the key which gave the team the lead and you scored a total of ten points in the whole first half. You suck at the free-shots though."

The three were stunned. Haley was beaming and dug into the nachos.

Brooke was the first to recover. "You can close your mouth now Scott."

Haley giggled. "Which one are you talking about?"

Brooke looked between the two brothers as she took her seat on the other side of Haley. "Both I guess."

"Babe, that was… I would so do you if you weren't pregnant."

Brooke spit out some of the soda she recently sipped while Lucas hit reality and covered his ears.

"That was so inappropriate." Lucas shook his head in playful disgust as Nathan got up and returned Lucas' seat.

"Dude, sister or not, that was hot." Nathan crossed over Lucas and kissed Haley. The crowd, or at least the women in it, went crazy.

Nathan grinned and joined his team as there was two minutes left before the third quarter began.

Lucas dispersed the rest of the food knowing that Haley would probably eat most of it.

"Hales, when the heck did you get so attentive concerning basketball? We played for our whole lives and you never once showed interest. I mean, granted, you still called it a free-shot instead of a free-throw, but that can be forgiven."

Haley happily ate her ice cream and explained. "Truthfully?"

Lucas nodded.

"The score was on the monitor and so were his stats. I just happened to be paying close attention during that last quarter where Williams got six points. As for his free-shots, I mean, throws; he's always sucked at that."

Lucas laughed while Brooke took a bite of Haley's ice cream. "Way to be supportive Tutor Mom."

The ride home was animated. The Knicks had won, 83-70. Lucas and Nathan were talking excitedly in the front while Brooke and Haley desperately tried to decipher their jargon.

Brooke whispered to Haley who was leaning on her shoulder. "You know, you would think we would pick up on more than half of the conversation, considering we were cheerleaders once."

Haley yawned and sat up. "I know. Maybe some things we just don't want to catch on to."

Haley fumbled through her purse and popped some pills.

Brooke looked on silently and bit her lip. Haley noticed how uncomfortable Brooke was and decided to defuse the situation.

"It's okay. You can ask."

Brooke paused for a moment. "You sure you're okay? I mean, you could tell me if you weren't; even though if you did I'm not sure what I could do. But, I would do anything that you needed, if you asked that is. I just want you to know I'm here. And all that stuff."

Haley smiled and squeezed her friend's hand. "I know you're here. And yes, I'm doing okay. I could be a lot better."

Haley paused and saw the hungry look on Brooke's face. She perceived that sharing eased her worries; it was worse not to know.

"I have an appointment tomorrow. You can come with me if you want. I'll tell Nathan to hang out with Luke. It'll be just you and me."

"Won't Nathan be upset?"

"A little, but he'll understand. Plus, I'm sure he's about as crazy as hospitals as I am. So, what do you say?"

The corner of Brooke's mouth turned up. "Sure, I'll be there."

As it turned out, Lucas had an appointment that he forgot about the next day. The couples switched partners and decided to meet after for lunch. It was a beautiful day; the kind that reminded you of how great life is and the possibilities it held. Lucas and Haley, and even their significant others took hold of this notion. Haley had a stronger grip: she was believing for two.

"Dr. Macy."

Macy shook Haley's hand. "Mrs. Scott." He looked over at Brooke. "I see we've switched support today?"

Haley nodded while Brooke extended her hand timidly, very 'un-Tigger' like. "I'm Brooke, her girlfriend. I mean her girl that's a friend." She blushed slightly. "But you already knew that, considering you know she's married to a man. That man would be Nathan Scott."

She looked between the two other amused occupants in the room. "Okay, I'm going to sit and be supportive now."

Haley and Dr. Macy laughed as they got on with the routine. Down to a science, they finished the normal check up in five minutes while Brooke found the design of the room fascinating and nauseating at the same time.

Macy returned the stethoscope to his neck and pulled out some X-rays and labs. He illuminated the films and turned down the lights.

"Setting the mood Macy?"

Macy chuckled. "And they call me the playboy." Brooke observed the interaction between the two. It was playful banter: Haley's forte. She figured in this situation it sort of displace her from reality.

Macy's face turned somber when he pulled up a stool and began to explain the results.

"Well Haley, it's been four months and we're not where we would like to be."

Haley shuffled a bit. "The medicine isn't working?"

"It is, but it's still not chemo."

Brooke wanted to get to the point, for both her and Haley's sakes. "So, what are you saying Doctor, in layman's terms."

Haley looked over at Brooke with a smirk as Macy stopped fiddling with his pen and looked at the women and he pointed to the films. "This is the size of your tumor in March." He moved his pen to the right. "This is the size of it now."

Haley looked while Brooke stated what they both saw. "It hasn't really changed."

Macy sadly looked between both girls. "No," he said, turning the lights back on, "But it hasn't grown either. The medicine worked." He paused slightly before he continued. "Chemo is the next option we need to discuss."

"No."

"Haley, we talked about this."

Haley fumbled with her hands. "Yes, we did. And I said not until the baby is born."

Brooke felt her face becoming wet and willed herself to be strong for her friend. She spoke meekly, "So, what happens now."

Macy cleared his throat. "We wait."

"And I die." Haley's vision became cloudy through unshed tears.

"What can we do?" Brooke filled in.

Dr. Macy stood up and turned the X-ray light off. "The headaches will get worse."

Brooke interrupted, "Worse than they already are? They're blinding."

Macy gulped and continued. He was used to this, he was a doctor. The thing was, one could never really get used to it.

"Make her as comfortable as possible. She'll get weaker and will most likely be bed-ridden. We'll up the meds as much as we can," he noticed Haley's eyes get bigger even though she looked far away, "without hurting the baby."

Brooke nodded.

"But, there's still no guarantee that she'll have enough energy to deliver the baby. There will probably be a C-section."

Brooke began to sob while Haley refused to cry. Dr. Macy stood up and handed Haley a piece of paper. "I'll leave you two alone. Here's the prescription."

He walked toward the door. "Haley?"

She gave a weak smile, "Daniel?"

"I wish there was-"

Haley warmly waved him off. "I know."

Brooke walked slowly to the courtyard of the hospital. She was drained and didn't have any more tears left to cry. Her eyes were red and puffy, she was thirsty, and she had a headache.

At least it's not as bad as Haley's.

She walked with more than half of her usual flare gone and scanned the patrons for two familiar faces. She heard them before she saw them.

"How long is your contract for again?"

"I have two more years after this season. I can't believe the season's over. It went by so fast. Now I can be here when the baby's born."

Nathan took a sip of his coffee as he leaned back. Lucas had already put his cup down and leaned forward, spotting Brooke a few steps away.

"Brooke?"

Her appearance was taken in by both brothers. What was more visible to Nathan was that Haley wasn't with her.

"Where's Haley?" Nathan was now on the edge of his seat. Lucas ushered Brooke to sit down.

"She's um, she wanted me to ah."

Panic spread through Nathan and for that moment Brooke wasn't a close friend. Brooke was the woman who was withholding information. "Did she collapse? Where is she? Brooke?!"

Brooke took a breath and inhaled an air of composure. "She said she needed some time to think by herself. She wants to tell you herself."

Nathan stood up. "Where is she?"

"She said you'd know."

Nathan searched his mind for a moment and threw a five on the table. "We'll see you guys tomorrow. Luke, I'll call you tonight."

As the pair stared at his retreating form Brooke motioned for him to take Nathan's seat. "How bad is it?"

Brooke looked into the blue space she could get lost in for the rest of her life. "It's bad."

Haley sat down and made herself comfortable. It was the first time she'd been relaxed in a long time. She wasn't sure before, and that's what was bothering her. But now, she knew. It would have made most people scared, angry, or cry, but she was more relieved than anything. Now she knew what she had to do, but before she did, she just wanted to enjoy the calm before the storm. She sat on the hill where she gave herself to another a few years ago and felt what she did on that same day: love. She smiled and willed the tears that threatened to fall to keep at bay. She stood up, dusted herself off, and began to walk away. As she turned a flower caught her eye; her favorite flower to be exact. It was purple and unlike many flowers most would peg as the most beautiful. Despite her allergy to the bloom, she picked one up and brought it to her nose. She always wondered why girls did that, but here she was, taking in everything she could. The slight tingle she felt getting stronger in her nose and throat reminded her of the fatal attraction she had with this flower, among other things. She took one last look around and whispered to no one in particular.

"I'll be back soon, I promise."

Fifteen minutes later Nathan found Haley watching the sunset on the bench they had their first tutoring session at. She looked beautiful; her hair was at the mercy of the wind, her protruding belly and the protective hand she placed over it reminded him of her strength. Something about the way she held shoulders and the peace that relaxed her features scared him. It wasn't the strength to keep living that he was witnessing; it was the strength to let go.

Nathan slowly advanced toward his wife, afraid that any sudden movement would extract the moment too soon. Once he reached the battered and dull bench he positioned himself behind her so that she leaned between his legs. She leaned forward, anticipating his arrival, and leaned back into his chest.

The cession he observed disturbed him to no end. On any other day he would have told her that it wasn't okay to give up. He would do that tomorrow. Today, he needed to be whatever she needed him to be. Right now she just needed him to be there with her.

His arms were the only thing keeping her from falling.

HJS-NS-23: I think I foresee labor pretty soon. :D

Soundinmymouth3: I love the gang too! Had to make everyone in there.

Bellasmomma: Thanks! I always appreciate any review. Hope the updates meet your time expectations!

Ell6ange: Don't worry, she's just having a moment!

OTHbabe23: Thanks a bunch!

Scott-bruthr-luvr3-23: Tumor and baby 'removal' to come!

Daymiracle: I like how you think! Your predictions are not off.

Naley: lol. Yeah, I figure Taboo was a safer bet, especially with 'older' adults present!

Courtneylovejason: Yup, what the heck is up the writer's crack? Both Liz and Sam need to stop whining. Sam has so much potential but is CLINGY! Don't even get me started on Jason!

Dukeforever: Thanks! I hope that was enough basketball for you, even though it probably wasn't! Sorry! I know football terms way better!