Disclaimer: OTH and its characters do not belong to me. Neither do the songs quoted in this chapter. They are both old school British pop offerings! 'You Needed Me' by Boyzone, and 'Wooden Boat' by Take That.
Please take the time to let me know what you think. This story will contain multiple flashbacks which will be in italics! Xx
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This Wasn't Supposed to Happen
Chapter Four – You Needed Me
Brooke woke with a start, a searing pain in her neck from sleeping awkwardly on the floor. Where was she? She thought, until reality set in. Glancing up she saw Haley, wide awake and staring at Nathan, the soft noise of the machines breathing for him, echoing throughout the room.
"Hey" Brooke choked her first words of the day out.
Haley turned and looked at her, Brooke immediately took a deep breath, shocked by the Haley she saw before her. Mascara stained cheeks, bloodshot eyes, Haley was exhausted and drawn. "Hey" she mouthed back, before shrugging her shoulders. "No change" she spoke."
"Have you slept?" Brooke asked of her friend, already aware of the answer.
"A bit, I think" Haley lied. She didn't know why she lied, maybe an attempt to convince herself.
There was a soft tapping at the door, both girls glanced, as the handle began to turn.
"Hi" A beautiful blonde lady spoke.
"Deb" Haley welcomed her. "How are you?"
Deb smiled, but didn't answer, Haley didn't mind. She knew how he felt, because she felt the same way. Like her world was crashing in.
"Can I?" Deb motioned towards a chair.
"Of course" Haley replied. "There's been no change"
Deb took a seat and Nathan's hand.
"Hey" Brooke interrupted. "Hales, why don't we leave Deb here with Nathan?"
Haley shot a look at Brooke, as though hearing his name was a bullet straight though her heart.
Brooke saw the look, but chose to ignore it. "C'mon" she continued." We could go, take a shower, and change your clothes. Maybe take a nap?"
Haley looked nervously at her lap, then at Brooke.
"I don't want to leave him" she answered, so much pain in her tone.
"I'll be here with him" Deb spoke up. "Sweetie you look terrible, you're no good to him like this."
Haley looked at Brooke. Her friend smiled at her, with so much love and so much thought.
Haley's eyes welled up. "I can't go to the…" she choked, and composed herself before continuing. "I can't go to the apartment."
"Ok" Brooke soothed. "Karen's then. Luke and Peyton are there, with Tyler."
Haley nodded. "Can I just have a minute?"
"Sure" Deb said, "I'll go get coffee. Show me where, will you Brooke?"
The two women left the room, leaving Haley and Nathan alone.
You needed me
I cried a fear, you wiped it dry
I was confused, you cleared my mind
I sold my soul
You bought it back for me
And held me up and gave me dignity
Somehow you needed me
"Baby, it's me. Can you hear me?" Nathan lay motionless. "Ok" Haley sniffed, trying her best not to collapse in tears. "Ok, I'm going to assume you can, so here goes. I'm going to go. Not for long, I promise. But I need to take a shower" a smile began to appear at the edge of Haley's mouth. "You'd hate the state of me if you could see me now. I'll be back. I could never leave you." Tears took over. "Nathan" Haley leant her forehead against Nathan's. "Baby don't leave me"
You gave me strength
To stand alone again
To face the world out
On my own again
You put me high up on a pedestal
So high that I could almost
See eternity
You needed me, you needed me
Haley placed her hands on Nathan's cheeks, leaning her lips down to meet with his. "Don't leave me" she repeated.
Haley stood looking at herself in her full-length mirror, turning from side to side, inspecting her tiny yet perfect baby bump.
Nathan walked in and whistled. "You. Look. Beautiful."
Haley shrugged off Nathan's comment. "I'm fat." She spat back at him.
"Beautiful" he replied, antagonizing yet soothing her.
"Nathan I'm fat. And I'm only going to get fatter." Tears were beginning to form in Haley's eyes.
Nathan laughed.
"How is this funny, Nathan Scott?" Haley's voice was raised "There I was bang in the middle of planning my beautiful wedding and then this" she pointed at her belly. "Then this happened"
"Your wedding?" Nathan quizzed. "I don't remember proposing"
Haley blushed with embarrassment. "Do you never think we'll get married?" she asked, scared, petrified of the answer she was about to receive.
Nathan looked directly into Haley's eyes. "Haley James. I will marry you. I will." He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I love you"
Haley smiled and closed her eyes. Could life get any better?
Breaking the silence, Haley spoke up. "I'm still fat, and totally not sexy."
Nathan laughed again. "Haley James-will-one-day-be-Scott? I disagree."
Haley giggled. "Oh yeah?" she inched closer to him, wrapping his arms around his neck.
"Oh yeah" he teased, pulling her to him, and kissing her passionately.
And I can't believe it's true
I needed you and you were there
And I'll never leave
Why should I leave, I'd be a fool
´Cause I've finally found someone
Who really cares - you needed me
You held my hand when it was cold
When I was lost
You took me home
You gave me hope
When I was at the end
And turned my lies back into truth again
You even called me friend
Falling back to reality, Haley found herself sitting beside of the love of her life.
"Hey" Deb spoke, rubbing her back.
"Oh, I'm sorry Deb; I didn't hear you come back"
"Brooke's waiting in the car" Deb softly spoke. "It's ok" Deb soothed, sensing Haley's fear of leaving.
"Ok" Haley spat nervously, inching her way towards the door. There she stood, lingering as she watched her man, the shell of Nathan. "Look after him" she wept and she finally mustered all her strength and left the room, finally about to face the outside world.
You gave me strength
To stand alone again to face the world
Out on my own again
You put me high up on a pedestal
So high that I could almost see eternity
You needed me, you needed me
You needed me, you needed me
Oh yes, you needed me
You needed me
Brooke held Haley's hand tightly as they walked into Karen's home. Peyton and Lucas sat at the table, and turned immediately when they saw Haley's frail figure enter the room.
"Haley" Lucas shot up from his seat, his own face telling of the pain he felt. "How are you?" he questioned.
Haley smiled a false smile. Unable to answer, she took a seat next to Peyton.
"How is Nathan?" Peyton asked.
Brooke stepped up, knowing her friend was unable to respond. "No change" she mouthed softly.
Peyton wrapped an arm around Haley's waist. "We love you" she spoke.
Haley turned, tears threatening again. "I know" she spoke. "And he knows too"
The four friends sat in silence as they fought their fear and their thoughts.
Haley rose to her feet. "I'm going to take a shower, so I can get back."
"Ok" Brooke spoke. "I'll be ready when you are."
Haley smiled before leaving the room, graciously nodding at Brooke. Walking her way to the bathroom she stopped at the entrance to Luke's old bedroom, the room in total darkness and the door ajar. Leaning her head against the door she placed her hand against it, listening intently. Then she heard it. It was so loud to her, the regular and soft breathing of her baby boy.
"Tyler" she whispered, closing her eyes, as a single tear etched its way down her face. Still unable to look at him, Haley slid down the wall and sat with her son in the darkness.
"I'm here" she whispered. "Mummy's here." Haley couldn't look at him, couldn't hold him, but in that moment she knew what to do. And so she began. She began to sing.
Little boy me went fishing in a wooden boat
Sitting there for hours in the cold
Patience is a virtue till we die
Then a ripple in the water caught my eye
Haley's words choked as she sang, but she continued, thinking hard on Tyler and Nathan.
Sometimes we don't know what we're waiting for
That's the time to be the first one on the dance floor
We go from green to blue to gold to black
Breathe deep, who knows how long this will last
Deb sat with Nathan, inching her eyes over her own baby boy. "Nathan, baby." She spoke. "I'm just going for some air" The pain in the air was too much for her. "I'll be right back." Leaning forward she kissed his cheek.
Only was last week I learned to drive
Stole my Mother's keys and drove all night
Christine never showed its 4am
Started up Mum's car drove home again
The word's Haley sang rang throughout the house, as Brooke, Peyton and Lucas sat in the kitchen. The girls were in tears, while Lucas held his inside.
Sometimes we don't know what we're waiting for
That's the time to be the first one on the dance floor
We go from green to blue to gold to black
Breathe deep, who knows how long this will last
"Push Haley! C'mon baby! One last time, I promise" Nathan looked deep into his girl's eyes. "Come on baby" he spoke. "I know you're strong enough"
Haley looked deep into Nathan's eyes and saw her future, he was it. In that moment of pain, that moment of joy, Haley saw how wonderful her life was.
Screaming, Haley pushed for the very last time, before her baby's cries began.
Falling back onto the bed, Nathan kissed Haley, with so much love. "He's here" he cried, excitement blatant on every inch of his face.
Their family was complete.
One year ago I kissed my bride
Now I wait to hear my baby's cry
Woman showed me all that she knew then
To cut himself down man's born again
Thoughts began to stream through Nathan's mind, scenes, pictures, photographs. First Haley, then Tyler, Lucas, Deb, Dan, Brooke, Peyton.
Then again Haley, the girl he longed to be his bride, and Tyler, his perfect baby boy.
Sometimes we don't know what we're waiting for
That's the time to be the first one on the dance floor
We go from green to blue to gold to black
Breathe deep, who knows how long this will last
Haley's song came to its conclusion, her face scarred again with tears, she leant against the white wall of Karen's house, her son breathing sweetly in the background.
A last image flashed through Nathan's mind. His little family, there before him, then nothing.
"NURSE!" Deb's piercing scream ran through the hospital corridor. "Help" she yelled, begging for someone to hear her. Nathan's breathing had slowed, the colour disappearing from his face.
Christine died and now I'm here alone
What I wouldn't give to be on that wooden boat
A prolonged beep filled the grey hospital room. No Haley, no Brooke, no Tyler just Nathan and Deb, nurses and Doctors came running.
Flatline.