My Security

My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying.

Ed Furgol


Chapter Eleven

Haley was a mess, rocking and praying on the porch of the cabin. Mr. Durham tried to soothe her and persuade her in the house. It was cold and windy, the temperature had dropped considerable since that started their wait for Nathan. She refused his order, so her brought a few heavy blankets and cover her. Sitting beside the sweet girl he took her in his arms like a father.

"What can I do to make you feel better, Sweet Girl?"

"Wait for Nathan with me. I need him." She squeezed the chubby old man, finding a little solace in his embrace.

After the entire search party met up with the Luke and found out where he supposedly found Nathan's jacket. The Sawyer twins, and Brooke were on the long walk back to the warm house with the rest of the kids and women.

Lucas hummed merrily, but Peyton and even Brooke were silent on the trail back. They didn't understand why Luke would even be in that part of the woods. He was designated an area southeast of that, much closer to the house.

Meanwhile, Larry had called in the police, fearing foul play in Nathan's disappearance.

Nearing the Sawyer's back lawn, their radios went off.

I found the kid! I found the Kid!" Mr. Jacob of three houses down shouted. "My God, somebody call 911! Hurry!"

At 3:00 am, Mr. Durham and Haley had given up on Nathan coming to the beach house. The girl had an extremely bad sense that something had happened to Nathan.

Entering the living room of the Sawyer home, she looked around for her new guardian.

"Brrrnnng! Brrrnng!" Karen's cell phone sounded making Haley and the rest of the room jump. Karen rushed to the phone, surrounded by Haley and Whitey.

"Larry. It's about time!... Please tell me you found my Godchild?" She wondered with desperation.

"Yes, Honey. Peyton and I are in the ambulance with Nathan now. Luke and Brooke are following in the car."

"Ambulance!" Karen held her heart. Haley shifted closer, very afraid.

"Calm down, Kare Bear. He's going to be fine. He passed out and the cold made his body temperature drop really low. The paramedic go it back up. He's awake...groggy, but responsive. He keeps asking for Haley.

"Haley's here with me. Well meet you at the hospital." She waved Haley to the door and covered the receiver with her hand. "Thanks so much for your help, Mr. Durham. We'll take it from here. I'll give you a call as soon as we know anything."

"Give that boy a hug for me." He insisted, squeezing Haley. "I'll come round tomorrow and see him."

"Thank you." Haley whispered before kissing his cheek and following Ms. Sawyer to the car.

"Is she okay?" Larry worried about the adorable girl.

"I'll say this, she's strong." Karen held Haley's hand as she sped down the street. "She knows Nate's going to be fine."

"I can't believe we let this happen on our watch. We promised Dan and Natalie we would protect Nathan!" He told in frustration.

He took a deep breath and shook off his pain, realizing his daughter could sense his fear.

"Anyway, Nathan sprained his arm too. I had to plead with him to let the EMT wrap it. He kept insisting Haley would do it. I guess she's done it before. God, Karen. All they had was each other." He said emotionally, noticing the girl in the ambulance were now crying.

His voice broke as he looked down on the tire young man holding his daughter's hand. He dozed off for a second looking so innocent and weak. He thanked God his godson was stronger than he look.

"Well, not anymore. We're going to change all that. We're pulling onto the interstate. I'll see you soon. Love you." She finish without a breath.

"I love you too." He hung up.

Sometime later, Nathan slowly came from the bathroom in his hospital room. It was obvious he was fighting back extreme pain. He was donning a pair of pajama pants Larry had got from the gift shop and a fitted white undershirt. The doctor had offered him a pain killer, sure he was already in agony from his bruised back, but he refused. He wanted to be alert when Haley got there. She was all the medicine he needed.

Shortly after being informed of discovering Nathan, Karen and Haley arrived in his room. An accident on the freeway had delayed them.

Lucas had been sent to get coffee, but everyone curiously watched the dainty teen scurry into the room and on the bed with Nathan.

The Scott boy winced a little as she settled herself close to him. She focused on her good looking boyfriend, completely void of anyone else around her. Sympathy and concern was already spreading over her face. First she gave him a loving kiss, then thoroughly examined the arm wrap as if she were supervising the doctor that did it. Her droopy brown eyes, meeting adoring blue ones.

"Did you do that because of me? I told you I would explain, Nate." She frowned.

He covered her pouting lips with his finger. His voice was low and comforting.

"Shh...shhh.. I just got lost in the woods, It started to look like ... I kept remembering... you know." She confirmed her knowledge with a nod.

"You can't keep doing this to yourself or me, Nate. I worry about you. We're a team." She kissed him softly. She brushed his finger along her jaw line, trying to calm his nerves. He was such a restless soul.

Everyone else just watched in awe. They fit together perfectly. It was like watching a beautiful ballet.

"I won't run off again. I promise. I didn't mean to scare you." Nathan made an oath.

He kissed her right hand and brushed her caramel hair from her eyes.

"Sit back and get some rest, Sweetheart." Haley supported, laying beside him.

"Good, because my back is killing me and I don't like this thing on my arm. The ice pack is cold!" He whined and yawned.

"I know how to warm you up." Haley joked, batting her eyes sexily. "I like the blue bandage. It works with those beautiful blue eyes of yours. We should have done that the last time. At least our wrapping looked better." She whispered and he agreed.

The Sawyer's eyed each other.

Nathan ran his finger over the sutures at her hairline, recalling her fall.

She poke out her lip and pointed at them. "These stitches suck! I bet they leave a scare. Yours never left a scar...The goofball put in hot pink thread! Do I look like an eight year old?"

"Not in my book!" He waggled his eyebrows and she turned a deep shade of crimson. Her eyes were starting to get glassy.

"It hurt when he did them, Nate."

They spoke of wounds as if they were everyday occurrences. It was sad to hear them speak so causally of sprained limbs, cuts and abrasions. It's something no one should get use to.

"But you needed them, Hales. Wouldn't want that great brain of yours leaking out." He teased and she snuggled up against him, getting comfortable and sleepy when Luke returned.

"Lucas rescued me, Hales!" He gave Luke and grateful grin. "Thanks, man. I really appreciate it. You could have just left me there." He held out his to shake the other boys.

"Wow, Luke. I guess you care about Nathan after all. That's means so much to me." She hugged her best friend. "Thank youuu!"

Releasing her, he gave her a faint grin, feeling his families eyes boring a hole in his skin.

Peyton sneered, loving to watch her devilish brother squirm.

"Nathan,...I thought Mr. Jacobs found you?" She instigated.

"He came and revived me. But that was after Luke found me. ... I remember going in and out. I saw his shoes. I couldn't move or speak for some reason, but I could see those personalized Jordan's with Sawyer 3 on the back. I like them. He bent down and took my sweater to show you guys. Dude, you saved my life."

"Don't mention it." The deceitful jerk mumbled.

Larry and Karen both gave him a "just wait until later!" glare.

Nate carefully rested her head on Haley's chest and his healthy arm encircled her waist. She kissed his nose and held him as close as she could, remembering how frightened she was earlier. They were back to their own private little conversation.

"I was so worried about you, Nathan. I thought someone had take you away from me for good this time. I was so scared."

He trying to reassure her with his caring cerulean eyes, placing his cold hand over her soft cheek.

"I'll behave. I love you, Hales." He reached up to let hers lips linger over hers once again, eliciting squeals from Peyton and Brooke.

"Ditto." Haley giggled." Oh. I have a surprise for you...Look in my pocket. I brought you something."

He slowly reached over and did as she requested, tickling the tiny lass in the process. In her fluffy pink coat, he found his mother's crucifix.

"I was wondering where it was. You know me well." He winked, clutching the jewelry in his palm. "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure." His girlfriend responded.

She pulled the blanket up from the bottom of the bed, covering them as if they were in her room at the estate.

They lay there in each others arms, falling asleep almost instantly.

Karen shuffled everyone else out of the room and cut the light. He would be released in a few hours. They knew it would be long before social services found out about Nate's episode. They weren't sure what the next day, let alone hour held for troubled duo...

Before Nathan and Haley awoke, Karen and Larry were gone.

The press was swarming the outside of the hospital. The story of the Scott ward's abused life had met the national media was all over television, newspapers and magazines. The Billionaire Beater as Ms. Scott had been deemed was getting her ass kicked in the county lock up while awaiting a hearing.

That afternoon, Nathan had gotten dressed and prepared to leave the hospital, expecting to go back to the Scott home.

Karen and Larry were about to sit down and discuss their current living conditions when their social worker showed up. The Sawyer's went out in the hall to converse with her. Eventually, a red eyed Karen returned to the anxious pair.

"What's wrong?" Haley asked as her stomach turned in knots.

Nathan gripped her hand and watch Karen sniff. Something was seriously wrong.

"I'm sorry but you can't go home with us, Nathan."

As if someone were going to come in the door and drag him away, Haley moved closer to him.

"Because I ran off? I swear I wont do it again, Ms. Karen." He vowed seriously.

"Oh Nathan! More than anything I want to take you home with me, but I can't."

He couldn't hide it this time. He didn't want to. Nathan was crying hard, scared and confused.

Haley sat quietly taking in all the information. She was just as mortified. Nathan not living with her? How would she survive? .

"Am I too much trouble? Can you not handle us both?" The boy searched for answers.

"Then, I'll go." Haley proposed willing to sacrifice anything to make Nathan happy.

"No! Don't Hales." Nathan insisted as Karen joined them on the bed.

"Listen, Hales you're not going anywhere!" She stated convincingly." Nathan. Honey, don't ever think that we don't want you. We love you."

"I love you too. Why can't I stay?" He heaved, exasperated by total upheaval of his life in the last few days.

"It's Luke, Sweetie. We don't think you need to be around him." She was weeping now. "I can't believe I have to say this about my own son. ... It's just not safe, Nate."

The couple was more lost than ever.

"But he saved, Nathan's life. I think they can be friends now." Haley supposed.

Karen dried her eyes "That's what I have to tell you. It's hard for me to say."

"You can tell us." Nathan rubbed his godmother's arm. Obviously, this was something very painful for her to say.

"He didn't take your jacket to save you, Nathan." Karen replied softly, embarrassed by her son's actions. You could see the anger in her eyes as she thought about how tragic the results could have been.

"Then what was he doing with it?" Nathan ponder. His girlfriend turning green at the possible implications racing through her vexed head.

"He took it on the other side of the forest and let us think you were over there." Haley's worst scenario was played out by Ms. Sawyer. "He didn't want us to find you. I'm so sorry, Honey."

Haley was livid. She didn't understand how Lucas, her friend, the boy she use kiss in the sand box, could be so cold hearted.

Nathan was freaking out, he knew Luke disliked him, but to the extent that he would leave him for dead was extreme. He couldn't imagine doing that to his worst enemy, not even his vile aunt. He pitied Luke, finding it pathetic to have such hatred in your soul. If he thought that was the way to Haley's heart, he had misjudged the situation.

"So what does this mean? I will be staying somewhere else?" He gathered.

"Me too. I don't want to be anywhere near that jerk!" Haley spit.

"He wouldn't hurt you, Haley. We want you to stay, please." Karen hoped she'd consider it. "Nathan will be staying with another prominent Tree Hill family. They have a very good history as a short term foster family. We're members of the same country club. They are very nice people."

"I want to be with Haley!" The tall teen pulled the girl to him. "I have to be with Haley!" He exclaimed in a panic.

Karen got up, backing away. She never wanted to cause them anymore agony, but she had.

Haley tried to reach over his good arm over and pull him closer, but he got up and ran to the bathroom, crying. Karen was about to follow, but Haley stopped her.

"Don't, Ms. Karen. He needs time to think. He'll be okay."

"And what about you? How are you handling the news?" She asked of the shivering female.

"I hate it! I never want to be away from Nate. I love him so much. ...This is the reason why we never went to the authorities. We don't want to be apart." She threw her hands up in defeat. "This is going to be the worst than the times he ran away, because I will know where he is. I'll want to go there and be with him, but I can't."

"You can visit each other. The only difference is you will be sleeping different places." Ms. Sawyer ascertained.

Haley turned away and stared at the wall. She was doing her best to be strong. You could tell something was really weighing on her.

"What is it, Sweetie?" Karen came closer, sitting by her.

After a pregnant pause, she turned to the only mother figure she had since she lost her own.

"For the last three years, no matter if we were getting along or not, Nathan and I became family. We protect each other and share everything. ...We sleep together?" She confided and Karen's eyes lit up in surprise.

"You mean...You guys are? I didn't think." She breathed unprepared for the situation.

"No! We never did that!" Haley clarified. "We're not ready! Not yet." She blushed and Ms. Sawyer let out a sigh of relief. These kids had enough to handle without placing a sexual relationship in the mix right now.

"Nate has these awful nightmares about his parents death. They're bad, very bad. He wakes up screaming and in a cold sweat. ... Sometimes he wakes up and it's like he's still in the dream hiding in corners, under his bed or in his closet. He either comes to my bed or I go get him. I just let him snuggle up with me until he falls back asleep. He doesn't have the dreams when I'm there."

"That poor boy. Now I get it, but there's nothing we can do right now." She patted the sullen miss on the shoulder. "I'm sorry."

" I'm not going to let him down. There's something I can do." Haley said without a doubt.

" I hope you not thinking of running away. That won't solve anything, young lady." Karen dreaded.

"No, Ma'am... Look, I don't want you to say anything. Nate and I had already agreed to this before you so graciously took us in." She told. "I'm going to file for emancipation. I'll only be staying with you guys until I can move into the beach house. Nathan had his grandparents lawyer put it in both our names last week. I just have to pay the utilities and upkeep. ... This way, Nathan can be supervised by whomever, but spend most of his time with me. No one will be able to hurt him or take him from me again."

Karen wanted to go more into depth with Haley about her idea to live on her own when out of blue, Nathan returned and joined them. He pouted and frown, his lips making a tight line, miserable with his situation. He had run away without Haley several times, but each time he planned on her joining him as soon as he got a job and settled into a place. He just happened to get caught by his aunt's investigators before he could ever accomplish his goal. He considered them to be a team. Now he was going to be shuffled off to a new place, with people he didn't know and was sure he couldn't trust. When would she ever get a break? He thought.

In walked a blond girl around Haley's age. She was taller and leaner than her, but very pretty donning the kindest brown eyes. Karen got up and greeted her as Larry joined them.

"Taylor. It's great to see you." She hugged happily.

"How's everything?" Larry smiled.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer. Everything is great at our house. My dad will be returning from New York tomorrow. My mom is out in the hall filling out some paper work. This must be Haley?" She turned to the standoffish girl, remembering her face from the morning news.

She held out his hand and Haley shook it, still not understanding why Taylor was there. Yet, she felt comfortable around her. She seemed familiar, but she couldn't place her.

"Haley. This is Taylor." Larry introduced staring at Haley as if there was more to it. "Taylor meet, Haley."

"Nice to meet you." Taylor beamed.

"Same here." Haley muttered.

Next Taylor walked over to Nathan, who was trying to figure out how he could ditch his new living situation and slip in with Haley every night.

Haley observed the new chick examine her boyfriend. Taylor appeared to like what she saw, a sexy grin forming on her face as she confidently sat beside Nathan's bed.

"You must be Nate. Mmmm! Aren't you the hottest thing on the planet?" She blatantly flirted.

He was distracted by her, blushing slightly.

Karen and Larry almost laughed aloud as Haley's brow furrow and she chewed fiercely on her bottom lip. They swore they heard her growl.

"Uh. ..Thanks. Taylor? Right?" When they shook hands, she let her fingers linger.

Nathan smiled and you could see the magic of it in Taylor's eyes.

Haley was ready to fight. This bimbo was a little too friendly with her guy!

"Who are you? What do you want?" Haley interrogated.

Nathan naively looked wide eyed at the newcomer, his interest piqued.

"Oh, man. I guess Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer didn't have time to tell. My mother is out in the hall filling out her release papers. I'm Taylor James. Nathan will be staying with me and my parents, Jimmy and Jules James.

Nathan and Haley's made eye contact as their telepathic connection kicked in. So this was Taylor! The curious couple had read everything they could about her family. Hales never expected to ever met them and Nathan never dreamed he would be living with the man that has no idea Haley is his daughter...

Pamela