Haley took a deep breath before she walked, or stumbled into the training area. She was exhausted, sick and still terribly hung over from her night out with Brooke. It was hard to believe it was less than 24 hours later. She had ended up in her room, courtesy of her "boss", Nathan Scott. The next few hours had been pain filled conversations with God where she bargained for the nightmare to end if she promised to never drink again. Apparently God had more pressing issues to deal with and she had spent the hours ahead trying to make the room stop spinning as she threw up over and over again while fighting off a pounding headache.

When she finally found peace, it would last no more than 30 minutes. A concerned and equally sleepy Lucas was knocking on her door, letting her know they had to leave for the airport. She then proceeded to have the worst airplane ride of her life and after a miserable landing, she had checked in the hotel and somehow made it to the team's practice, not before a ten minute telephone scolding from Agent Bailey for her actions the previous night. She'd had little contact with Nathan and that had been a blessing but the inevitable pre game physical would be coming and Haley knew there was no escape. She threw on a pair of jeans and an old tee shirt, pulling her hair up without bothering to run a comb through it. She wore glasses and no make up as she grabbed a stethoscope and waited for him to come in.

The door creaked open and she saw him in his warm up clothes. To her relief, there were no coaches, trainers, or other players. But the real reason for celebration was because there was no Dan. It was something Haley knew she would have to face but she couldn't do it at that moment. Nervously, she played with her hands as he hopped up on the examining table.

"What's up?" he mumbled.

Haley was afraid to look at him. When she did, she saw that he looked almost as bad as she felt. Heavy bags loomed underneath his eyes and his skin was flushed.

"Hi," she squeaked. "Um, you know the drill. I have to get your vitals, check you out, make sure you can play."

"Yeah, whatever."

She nodded, scrambling to get everything together. There was an awkwardness lingering in the air and she knew it was up to her to break the ice.

"Nathan, can I talk to you?"

"What's going on?"

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

"It…it's about last night."

A sly smile crept to his lips.

"You remember last night?"

She closed her eyes.

"I know, I know. It was horrible, wasn't it?"

He shrugged.

"You were pretty blitzed."

"I know. Normally I am so not like that, I can assure you…"

"It's cool."

"No. No, it's not cool. I feel like I should apologize to you for my behavior. It was obnoxious and tactless and stupid and above all, unprofessional. I cannot believe I lost control like that and there is no excuse for it. I am very ashamed of myself and it will never happen again."

"You don't have to say you're sorry. Really. I'm not mad or anything."

"You're not?"

"No. It's not a big deal. You got drunk. Shit happens. It's over now, besides, it was pretty funny."

Haley chewed at her lip.

"Um, what do you mean funny? Like what part?"

"You don't remember?"

She gave him a sheepish look.

"Not everything."

"Apparently you and Brooke had a real good time. What did you have to drink anyway?"

"Southern Comfort. It's the devil, I should have known better."

"Anyway, somehow you made it back to the hotel. I guess you must have woken Lucas up because he woke me up to help. When I came out of my room, Brooke was in his arms and you two were going on and on about who was more awesome."

"Oh God…"

"You were singing that annoying Pussycat Dolls song and doing or at least trying to do cartwheels."

"This is way worse than I thought."

"You didn't sound bad, if that helps."

"No, it doesn't but thanks," she smiled.

"Well, I tried to help you to your room but I couldn't. You had one of those…what the hell do they call it? Wardrobe malfunction things."

Haley's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"What? Oh no! Oh God! Tell me my boobs were not hanging out of my dress!"

Her boobs and something else like a police wire.

"No. It wasn't like that. Your dress, hell I don't know how it happened but somehow it kind of got tucked in your underwear."

Haley put her head in her hands.

"I am mortified!"

"It's cool," he chuckled. "It wasn't that big of a deal. It would have been okay until my dad walked out."

"You mean that part wasn't a dream?"

"Sorry."

"Great. The man already despises me."

"Well puking all over his Hugh Hefner slippers won't be getting you a bouquet of flowers any time soon but it was definitely funny. You should have seen the look on his face, he damn near had a stroke."

"I wish the earth would just open up and swallow me."

"Don't sweat it."

"How could I not? It's embarrassing."

"Who cares? You worry too much."

"So I've been told."

"What can he do, besides bitch? It's not like he can fire you."

"But you can."

"I know."

"Are you?"

"What? For that? For giving me the biggest laugh in like the last year?"

Haley had to laugh too in spite of the situation.

"I will never drink like that again. I'm still feeling it."

"After this, why don't you lie down back here and take a couple of aspirin?"

"I can't. I'm supposed to be out there with you and…"

"It's cool. I don't need you and if something comes up, you'll just be right back here. I don't have to tell you how loud it's gonna get out there."

Haley closed her eyes. Just the thought of thousands of screaming fans gave her the shivers.

"I think I'll take you up on that. Thanks."

She put the blood pressure cuff on his arm and inflated it. His vitals were good until she pulled the thermometer from his mouth.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Oh my God. Your temperature…it's like really high."

"I'm okay."

Haley felt his forehead.

"Jesus, Nathan. You're burning up. Are you feeling okay?"

One good look at him and it was plain to see he wasn't. But he was Nathan Scott and he would never admit that. He'd get on that court and give it his all until he passed out.

"I've been better but it's fine. I'll just pop a couple of Tylenol."

"Your temp was really high. I need to double check it. I'm gonna have to try another route."

Nathan made a horrified face.

"Another route? Look, I don't know what the hell you're thinking but no way are you sticking anything in my ass."

"No. Your ear."

"Whatever," he muttered.

Haley retook his temperature and saw the same reading.

"Dammitt, it's 102.8."

"Is that bad?"

"It's not good. I'm gonna call your doctor…"

"Wait," he grabbed her arm. "Don't do that. I can play, Haley."

"I understand that but 103 is when you're supposed to seek medical attention."

"But it's not 103 yet, right?"

"Right but it's very close, too close. I'm worried."

"Come on."

"Please don't argue with me. I let you get away with it last time…" she halted mid sentence.

"What?"

"That's it. Nathan, take off your pants."

"Huh?"

"I need to see your knee."

He rolled up the loose fitting warm up pants.

"What the hell?"

His knee was red and puffy and warmer to the touch than the rest of his body.

"It's infected. You have an infection just like I warned you. That's why your fever is so high."

"Just let me play and we'll deal with it later."

She shook her head.

"If it goes any higher, it could get dangerous. Infection is nothing to mess around with."

"Then bring it down. I'll drink some orange juice or something."

"It's not gonna be enough."

"How about an ice bath?"

"A what?"

"You know. My mom used to do it to me all the time when I was little."

"That's not a good idea. An ice bath is dangerous. Yeah, it'll bring down your temperature but it could happen too fast, it could throw you into shock, anything could happen."

"Haley, please."

"Nathan, don't do this to me, not again."

"You can't stop me. I'll play tonight no matter what you say."

"Then I'll tell the coach and he'll bench you."

"What?" his steely blue eyes glared up at her.

"I'm sorry. Look I don't want to be the bad guy here but this is serious. You're sick. You need help."

"Haley, this is an important game. I have to go out there and play. I can't really explain it to you but it means more than you'll ever know."

"Nathan…"

"Look, I'll make you a deal. Give me something right now and let me go play. The second it's over, I'll do whatever you want."

His eyes were pleading and she was too exhausted to argue.

"Fine," she gave him Tylenol. "Drink plenty of water so you don't get dehydrated. I'm going out there and I'm going to sit right behind that bench and I swear the first time I see something I don't like, I'm pulling your behind off that floor and telling the coach everything."

"What about your headache?"

"It's okay," she sighed. "This is more important."

He nodded, downing the medication and water before heading back to the locker room to prepare.

"I'll see you out there."

"Don't make me regret this, Nathan."

He started to walk away but stopped just short of still being in her sight. He turned and for the first time gave her a real, sincere smile.

"Thanks," he said. "That's pretty cool of you."

She nodded. So he wasn't the hateful bastard she thought he was after all.

"You're welcome," she replied softly.