Haley carefully used her key to open the front door to the house. All was quiet but she knew she wasn't alone. She knew within the mansion, Nathan, Dan, Deb, Peyton, Lucas and Brooke were all home. Still reeling from the shock and humiliation 24 hours before, she had managed to avoid everyone since then. She had locked herself in her hotel room after her run in with Nathan and his friend. She had then proceeded to have a virtually sleepless night that had contributed to her missing the flight back to Boston the next day. Counting her blessings of not having to face anyone, especially Nathan, Haley had gladly flown back to Massachusetts alone on another commercial plane. She had summoned the family chauffer to drive her back to the Cape. Now it was a waiting game, waiting until she saw Nathan's face again, wondering just how they both would react.

She wouldn't have to wait long. She ran into him , their bodies practically colliding within five minutes of her being inside the house. She hadn't even seen him exiting the kitchen and he hadn't seen her as well. But their eyes met and for a moment it was like time stopped. Haley couldn't stop thinking about that moment at the hotel. She remembered everything, especially how she felt and how he had reacted.

"Hey," he said, looking uncomfortable as he played with his hands.

"Hello," Haley spoke coolly as she brushed right past him.

He looked like he had something on his mind, like he had something to say but Haley was anything but interested. Instead, she made her way to the west wing of the house, the hall that housed the bedrooms of Nathan's family members. Shuffling her weight nervously, Haley knocked softly on one door in particular. Seconds later it opened.

"There you are," grinned Brooke. "What happened? I was expecting you hours ago when Nathan and Peyton got back."

"Yeah, um, I missed my plane."

Brooke raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Long night, eh? Let me guess, it has something to do with what we've been talking about."

"Sort of."

"Oh goody!"

"Brooke, babe, I…oh hey, Haley. What's up?" Lucas appeared around the corner.

"Um, hey, Lucas."

"Everything alright? You didn't come back with everyone else…"

"Yeah, I overslept. It's no big deal. Can I um, Brooke, can I speak with you? Uh, in private, if you guys don't mind. I was just headed to my room to unpack…"

"Sure. Right behind you," she giddily kissed her husband. "Just a little girl talk. Try not to miss me too much, Broody."

The girls walked down the hall, through the house to the guest room, where Haley kept her eyes focused straight ahead even as they passed Nathan along the way. When they were safe in the bedroom, Haley closed the door.

"Brooke, we have to talk."

"Do we?" the dimpled brunette took a seat on the neatly made bed. "Let's see. You look all flustered, you missed your plane, Nathan comes home this morning with a really dumb look on his face, and I noticed some really weird tension between you two in the hallway. What gives?"

"You are not going to believe this one."

"Try me. Uh oh…wait a minute! You two, you two crazy kids did it!"

"Brooke!"

"I can totally tell! You and Nathan so had sex last night!"

"Nathan did but me? Not so much."

Brooke frowned, confused.

"Back up and slow down. You're losing me here, Nurse Haley. What happened?"

Haley sat down and took a deep breath as she prepared to recount the events.

"I was in my hotel room after the game and I started thinking about what we talked about, you know, Nathan and me."

"Okay."

"You weren't there and I needed someone to talk to so I went to see Peyton."

"First mistake," Brooke rolled her eyes. "Bad idea."

"Actually it wasn't, at least not that part of it. I just wanted to talk to her about why she's so against the idea of Nathan and I together. I mean, I was beginning to think she was jealous or something."

"You got that too?"

Haley looked surprised.

"Did you think so, Brooke?"

"What did she say?"

"Nothing much, basically to just be smart about it. But she denied any feelings or anything going on with Nathan."

"I know. I didn't think she was jealous in the sense that she wants Nathan for herself. It's just, well, you see her. What kind of life does she have that doesn't revolve around business for this family? And it's been that way for a long time. I feel kind of sorry for her, I mean, it has to get lonely sometimes. I have Lucas and she sees that. Not that it's a prize or anything, but at least Deb does have Dan. Peyton sees that too. She doesn't have anyone. So if you and Nathan hook up…get what I'm saying?"

"Yeah. We talked about it. Peyton still doesn't approve but I told her I wanted to tell Nathan and she basically told me to go for it."

"Really?" Brooke asked, surprised. "Did you?"

"I sure did," Haley nodded. "Or at least I tried."

"What do you mean?"

"I went to his room right then and there while I still had the guts. I wanted to tell him everything, to see how he felt, maybe hoping he'd feel the same way."

"And? What? He wasn't there??"

"Oh he was there alright. And he wasn't alone. I told him to come have a drink with me so we could talk about us and he told me that was fine but maybe later because he was busy. Let's just say a few seconds later, I saw exactly how busy he was and who he was busy with."

"Shut. Up," Brooke's jaw fell to the floor.

"There was this blonde chick with barely anything on and the most ginormous breasts I have ever seen, I swear to God they looked like two over inflated balloons just waiting to be popped. And her voice…it was so annoying and high pitched and she was rubbing all over him. It was gross."

"What did he say?"

"Looked right at me and mumbled, 'Told you I was busy'."

"No way!"

"Way!"

"What a jerk! Oh my God, Nathan is such a guy! They're always thinking with the wrong head. He's such a moron!"

"Tell me about it."

"So what now?"

"What do you mean what now? I had successfully avoided him until I got back to the house today."

"But how long will that last? Not to be the bearer of bad news or anything but you do kind of work for the guy. You have to see him sometime, right?"

"I guess," Haley pouted. "I cannot believe this happened! Peyton was right all along. I should never have let it get this far. See the next time I listen to you."

"Me?"

"Uh, yeah. Mixing business with pleasure, then you have the bad break up and all that awkward tension when you have to work with the other person."

"What awkward tension?" Brooke laughed. "Technically, you two never even went out."

"True but he sort of knows how I feel, felt, and I embarrassed myself in front of him and his little Playboy prostitute. And it's all thanks to you and your encouragement."

"Okay. Deep breath here, Tiger. I know this seems bad…"

"Seems?"

"Okay, you got me. So it is bad. But I do have a theory…"

"I am done with listening to your advice, I already told you."

"Nathan really likes you, you know."

"Yeah? He has a hell of a way of showing it."

"He's just scared."

"That's an excuse, Brooke and you know it."

"It's not. You only say that because you don't know everything. Just take a look at his parents and his career and his life and all that pressure. It hasn't been easy for him. People assume he has this great life but sometimes it's not so easy being Nathan Scott. And he's had a hard time with relationships in the past. I can't really get into all that but actually connecting with someone and developing feelings, real feelings…well, that's the scariest thing in the world for someone like him."

Haley softened a bit but it still didn't excuse what had happened.

"I'm just so…I don't know. Bothered by the whole situation, I guess."

"Excuse me for playing Devil's Advocate for a minute but when you really look at it, Nathan didn't do anything wrong."

"Brooke…"

"You two aren't together and you had never even talked about it before. So you have the flirty vibe going on and he's crushing on you but how was he supposed to know you felt the same way? I'm glad you had the guts to go talk to him and I wish it had worked out differently but in all fairness, you did kind of show up unannounced at his door. He is a guy and guys, besides being complete idiots sometimes, well, they do get horny. He's only human."

Haley blew out a breath.

"You're right, I guess…but it still bothers me. A lot."

Brooke's lips curled into a teasing smile.

"That's because you're jealous."

"Jealous? Of that hussy? Sure, whatever."

"Because that hussy had her paws all over your man."

"He is not my man, Brooke."

"But he could be."

"Not that I will listen, but what are you suggesting?"

"Go talk to him. I know you don't want to hear it but you should seriously give it a shot. He's home now, and as far as I know there are no prostitute slash hussies with huge silicone tits running around the house. Give it a shot. Nate needs to know and he won't unless you tell him. And as stupid as boys can be sometimes, he has to know something is up by the way you've been acting."

"Fine. So he really didn't do anything wrong by being with someone else. I can admit that but look how he handled it. You should have heard him, you should have seen the look in his eyes. He was so cold. It's like it wasn't even the Nathan I've been getting to know. 'Told you I was busy'. Then he had the nerve to shrug. What kind of crap is that?"

"He was wrong and he knows it, Haley. I can't and I won't speak for Nathan but I'm sure he's sorry."

"Well, he's just gonna have to come find me and tell me that."

It wasn't the answer Brooke was looking for but she supposed it was fair enough. Their conversation was cut short by the ringing of Haley's cell phone. She glanced down nervously at it.

"You need to take that?" Brooke asked.

"Actually…"

"Say no more. Broody and I were on our way out anyway. But just promise me you'll think about what I said, Haley."

Haley nodded and waited for Brooke to leave, answering only when she was sure it was safe.

"Yeah?"

"James, it's Alston."

"What's up?"

"You tell me. I've been listening and I don't have a good feeling about this."

"It's fine," she exhaled. "I, I'll think of something. Don't worry. The case is gonna be okay."

"Is it? Are you going to be okay? Because my investigation will only go so far if my lead investigator doesn't have it together."

"I'm okay, I promise."

"Are you falling for him?" he asked, point blank.

"What? No. No, of course not. I'm only doing what you guys told me to do. I'm acting. This is strictly business."

"It doesn't sound like it. It sounds like you have a thing for this guy and he genuinely hurt your feelings. Either that or your acting skills are top notch."

"Well, I can assure you it's not like that."

"Look, it's just you and me now, strictly off the record. If there is a problem and you want to go another route…"

Haley had had enough on her mind. Nathan had had her so frazzled, for a moment she had almost forgotten about the case.

"I appreciate it, sir but I can handle it. Everything is under control."

Picking at her bed covers, she could only pray for that much.