Find Our Way Back

Chapter 4

It's Your Song

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these OTH characters, as much as I'd like to. And none of these songs are mine.

Author's Note: Thank you SOOOOOOOO much for all of the great reviews! I'll keep the chapters coming.

Standing in the spotlight
On such a perfect night
Knowing that your out there listening

Lucas looked at his brother, surprised, "Nathan. What are you doing here? Don't you have a game tonight?"

"Nice to see you too," Nathan smiled tiredly, "Can I come in? I've been traveling all night."

"Yeah, sure. Have a seat," Lucas motioned to the couch, "Just let me go tell Brooke you're here." He dashed out of the room, 'Shit,' he thought. 'Why is he here? I can't let him see Jimmy.' He found Brooke in Jimmy's room, "Brooke," he hissed. She looked up and he nodded for her to join him in the hall.

Brooke turns to her nephew, "You finish getting dressed for school. I'll be right back." She joined Lucas in the hallway, "What's wrong?"

"We've got a BIG problem."

"What is it?"

"Nathan's here."

"In our house?"

"Yes. He's sitting on our sofa at this very moment."

"Why's he here?"

"I don't know. What I do know is that we have to get Jimmy out of here before Nathan sees him."

"I'll take him to school on my way."

"And I'll call in sick. I have to figure out why he's here."

"What are we going to do about tonight? Jimmy's supposed to stay again."

"I know, I know. I'll call you after we figure out why he's here and we can decide from there."

"Are you going to tell Haley he's here?"

"Not right now," Lucas kissed his wife softly, "I don't want to worry her if it's nothing."

"Just be smart. Remember, he's your brother, and he trusts you."

"I know Brooke."

I remember one time
When I was so afraid
Didn't think I had the courage
To stand up on this stage
Then you reached into my heart
And you found the melody
And if there ever was somebody
Who made me believe in me
It was you
It was you

Lucas sat in the living room chatting with Nathan. He was thankful when he heard the car backing out of the driveway. "So baby brother. Enough small talk. What brings you to town?"

"Can't a guy just want to see his family?"

Lucas bit back the words that were on the tip of his tongue. 'If he only knew.' He chuckled, "Not the same day he has a basketball game. What's the real reason?"

"I told the coach there was a family emergency."

"Which would be?" Lucas asked.

"Finding my wife," Nathan responded matter-of-factly.

"Why now? After five years?"

"Because I love her."

"Did you just figure that one out?"

"You know that's not true. I've loved her since high school. That's never changed."

"Then I ask again. Why now?"

"Lucas, I spent five months trying to convince her not to leave. I laid my heart out there, and she crushed it the day she left. I respect her decision to hide. It IS her life. I also respect your responsibility to your friendship, it existed long before I made her your sister-in-law. And because of all of that, I decided a long time ago that if we were ever to get back together, she'd have to make the first move."

"Then why do you still ask where she is?"

"Because maybe she'd finally let you tell me. That, and your human, you could've slipped up."

"Okay. So if Haley reached out to you, or whatever, why are you here with me, and not her?"

"Because she reached me through her song. But I still don't know exactly where she is. So, I came to the only person I know who does."

"Look Nathan, you're my brother, and I love you, but I can't do that to Haley. I can't just blow her cover because you think she's reaching out to you."

"I know that Lucas. But I have to find her. And I'll do it with or without your help."

Lucas could tell Nathan was serious, "I'll call her tonight. Can you wait 'til then?" She'll be at work now," Lucas didn't want Nathan to surprise Haley. She needed time to prepare herself. He thought about Jimmy, and the fact that he was supposed to stay over again. "I have a business dinner tonight. Then I'll call. Promise."

"Fine. Guess we can hang out today or something."

"Basketball?" Lucas chuckled.

"Only if I can sleep first," Nathan yawned.

"Of course," Lucas led him down the hall, thankful Jimmy's door was closed.

It was your song that made me sing
It was your voice that gave me wings
And it was your light that shined
Guiding my heart to find
This place where I belong
It was your song

Lucas waited until Nathan was snoring to call Haley.

"Hello?"

"Hey Hales."

"Lucas. Thank God. I was just getting ready to call. Is everything okay?"

"What are you talking about Haley?"

"The news just reported that Nathan's not playing tonight. It's not like him to miss a game."

"Actually, that's kinda why I'm calling." Lucas paused, "Nathan's on a mini-vacation of sorts. He's here, in Nashville."

"He's where?" Haley managed to spit out in her surprise.

"He's here. He's actually sleeping in the guest room right now. He showed up a couple hours ago."

"Jimmy?" Haley began to worry.

"No, Nathan didn't even know he was here. Brooke took him to school."

"Well, obviously he can't stay with you tonight," she paused, "Unless Nathan's leaving soon."

"No, he's not leaving before then. I was thinking I'd pick Jimmy up from school, then we'd meet you at Burger King. Jimmy can play while we talk."

"Okay. But why can't we just talk now, or meet earlier?"

"Because I - I don't want Nathan to wake-up and here me. And two, because he's not thinking things through. He can't be left alone."

"So 5:00?"

"Yeah, that should be fine."

Every night I pray
Before the music starts to play
That I'll do my best and I won't let you down
And for all the times I've stood here
This feeling feels brand new
And any time I doubt myself I think of you

Brooke walked in the front door that night, and was greeted with a kiss, "Mmmmm. Nice to see you too." She sniffed the air, "What's that wonderful smell?"

"Nathan's making dinner."

"He knows you're not going to be here, right?"

"Yeah. But he wanted to cook anyway," they walked slowly to the kitchen, "And I was willing to agree to almost anything."

"Bad is it?"

"Something like that. I'm sure you can dig up lots of stuff over dinner." Lucas kissed Brooke again, "I'm off. I'll be home later."

"Good luck."

"Thanks." Lucas walked out the door, "See ya Nate!"

'Cause It was your song that made me sing
It was your voice that gave me wings
And it was your light that shined
Guiding my heart to find
This place where I belong
It was your song

Brooke walked up behind Nathan, "Smells good."

"It's nothing special."

"Smells better than when Lucas cooks."

Nathan laughed at the irony. With Karen owning a café, one would think Lucas could cook.

"There's the laugh I love. So, just you and me for dinner huh?"

"Yep. Seems as if Lucas made plans with Haley," Nathan wondered if his suspicions were correct.

"Yeah," Brooke sighed, "Wait! Damn it. How'd you know?"

"I was pretty sure she was here."

"And I just confirmed it," she mentally kicked herself. "So is that why you're here? Haley?"

"Yeah. I heard her song on the radio. When I found out the company was in Nashville, everything clicked."

"What clicked?"

"Why I couldn't find her. I didn't even think to look in the same city where my brother lived. And it explains why you and Lucas always visit me, never letting me visit you here. There was too big of a chance I'd run into Haley."

"You have to know it's only by accident that we're in the same city. Haley was already living here when Uncle Lou died and left us this place. We didn't know she was here until then."

"It doesn't matter Brooke. It just matters that I'm here now too."

"Why now?" Brooke asked, even though she was pretty sure of the answer.

"I heard her song. And as I listened to it, I felt like she was speaking to me."

"Just one song? How can you risk everything for just one song?"

"Because there were more."

"You got the CD then?" Damn it, she thought again. 'Why can't I keep my mouth shut?'

"I thought the handwriting looked familiar. Why'd you send it?"

"For the exact reasons you're telling me you came. Because it's no mistake that she picked each of those songs Nathan. She selected them for you."

"Why wait so long?"

"Because she was afraid?" I don't honestly know."

"Thank you Brooke," Nathan said as he finished fixing dinner.

Dreams can come true
With God's great angels like you

Meanwhile, Haley watched the door as Jimmy came bounding in, followed closely by his Uncle Lucas.

"Hi Mommy!" Jimmy hugged her tightly.

"Hey kiddo. How was school?"

"Good. We finger painted. Wanna see?"

"How 'bout you show me at home later."

"Okay."

"Now, why don't you go play for a while before we eat."

"Yay!" Jimmy ran off towards the maze of tunnels.

Lucas sat across from Haley, "So, what are you thinking?"

"I'm scared Lucas. What if he hates me?"

"He won't hate you. He loves you. He wouldn't be here if he didn't."

"Yes, but he doesn't know that I have a BIG secret."

"He'll get over it. Besides, he'd be mad at me too, because I knew."

"Did he way why he came?"

"He heard your song. Said he was meant to hear it. That you're speaking to him in it."

"Wow."

"You knew the day would come that he'd stop asking, and just know it was time."

"Yeah, but I figured he'd wait until after the CD was released. One song shouldn't make a difference."

"But it did Hales. You have to stop and remember that he's not the one who left."

"I know that Lucas. I live with my decision everyday."

"He lives with it everyday too. He's spent countless hours searching for you. Never truly giving up."

"I should be glad, right? That he never stopped loving me?"

"That's for you to decide. What I know is that that you should talk to him."

"What about Jimmy?"

"Talk to Nathan first. One more day won't make a difference."

"I'm not ready Lucas."

"Well, you'd better get ready. Nathan's not going to take this slowly. I had to convince him to not do anything today. He's ready to go to the recording company. It won't be pretty if he finds out about Jimmy from someone else."

"I guess I could meet with him tonight, dessert maybe."

"I think he's like that. He misses you Hales."

"I miss him too."

It was your song that made me sing
It was your voice that gave me wings
And it was your light that shined
Guiding my heart to find
This place where I belong

Haley called the house and Brooke answered, "Hello."

"Hey Brooke."

"Haley," Nathan perked up hearing her name.

"Can you drop Nathan at Sweetie Pies in 20 minutes?"

"Um, yeah, sure."

"Thanks," Haley paused, "Oh, Lucas wants to know if you'll go to a movie with him and Jimmy. They'll meet you at the house after you drop off Nathan."

"Yeah, that's cool," Brooke hung up the phone and looked at Nathan. His face reminded her of a kid at Christmas, all wide-eyed and expectant.

"She wants to meet you for coffee and pie."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Lucas must've broken her."

It was your song
It was your song
It's always been your song