Disclaimer: I do not own OTH or any of it characters places or such. I am simply borrowing them.
AN/ Here is the next chapter. Sorry for the extended absence from the story. It has been really crazy lately. Hope you all like it. Thanks for all the reviews and all of the encouragement.
As always suggestions are welcome!
"I am going to go back in there with Nathan" Haley said as she stood from her seat.
"Okay. Come tell me if you hear any new information" Karen said as she smiled
"I will" Haley said as she walked out of the waiting room and back down the hallway to Nathan's room.
"Nice Brooke" Jake said as she walked up behind Simon and Brooke waiting for the elevator on the first floor
"Thanks Jake" Brooke said as she turned around smiling.
"Good to see you again, Simon" Jake said offering his right hand to Simon
"You too, Jake. Wish they were on better circumstances"
"Don't we all" Brooke said as the elevator opened and the three entered
"So, now the whole world knows. Lucas Scott is officially off the market," Peyton said
Lucas smiled as she turned to look at Peyton "Now, I am going to be hassled with questions about me and Brooke instead of why I am still single. I can deal happily with those questions though"
Peyton smiled, "I am glad that you two finally worked everything out. It is good to see you both happy again. Sorry that you didn't get to go on your date though"
"I am too, but it is okay."
"Is she still leaving tomorrow?"
"I am not sure to be honest with you. I haven't had a chance to ask her"
"Ask who what?" Brooke said as she, Simon and Jake walked in
"Ask you if you are still leaving tomorrow" Lucas said as he pulled Brooke into a hug, "Good job Cheery"
"Thanks" Brooke said as she hugged Lucas back, "And to answer your question, yea, I am still leaving tomorrow. I have to go back. I don't want to especially with Nathan here, but I have too"
"I think everyone is going to have to go back." Karen said
"Haley is not going to want to leave" Peyton added
"She will be worrying all the time if she does" Jake said
"I know" Karen said
Haley opened the door to Nathan's room and walked in. She slowly closed the door to where it was almost shut and then walked towards Nathan's bed. His eyes were open and they smiled as he caught sight of Haley.
"Hey you. Are you feeling okay?" Haley asked as she smiled at Nathan
Nathan blinked once at Haley
"I will take that as a yes. The doctor said they will be removing the breathing tube in a little while and see how you do."
Nathan blinked again
"I know you are ready for that. It must be killing you to not be able to talk"
Nathan blinked again this time many times
Haley laughed, "I know. It is so difficult"
Nathan smiled with his eyes towards Haley, his Haley. The woman that he loved more than he ever thought he could love anyone. He never thought that he would be able to love again after Bevin and Michael died, but he was finding out that he could. That he had never stopped loving the woman standing beside him.
There was a soft knock on the door as the moment was interrupted and the doctor walked in with one of the nurse.
"Hey Nathan" The doctor said as he came around to Nathan's right side, "What do you say we trying letting you breath on your own. Think you can do it"
Nathan blinked happily
"Yea, that is what I thought" the doctor said
"Do you want me to leave?" Haley asked softly hoping that she wouldn't have too.
"No, you can stay. It would probably be good for Nathan to have someone here with him"
Haley smiled as Nathan looked towards her, "I am right here, Nate" Haley said grabbing Nathan's left hand.
"Alright, you ready Nathan?"
Nathan blinked
"Okay. On three I want you to blow out." The doctor said as he begin dismantling the breathing tube, "one...two…three, blow" The tube came out of Nathan's mouth as he began coughing frantically. "Just breathe normal, Nathan"
Nathan stopped coughing and leaned back on the bed, his breathing becoming normal.
"How does that feel?" The doctor asked
"Better" came the raspy reply from Nathan
"Good. Let's get you some water" the doctor said as the nurse put a cup of water with a straw up to Nathan's mouth and he took a couple of sips. "Good?"
Nathan nodded his head
"Okay. We are going to leave you hooked up to this heart monitor for a little while longer and then we will take that off too. There is something I need to ask you though. Nathan, can you move your legs for me?" The doctor asked. Nathan already knowing what was being said about his legs was prepared. He had been trying to lift his legs when no one was around. He had been successful. Nathan turned his head to face Haley as he lifted his left leg off the bed and then the right all the while watching Haley reaction. He saw pure joy.
"Nathan, that is awesome" the doctor said causing Nathan to look towards him. "Can you feel this?" The doctor asked as he touched Nathan's right foot. Nathan nodded, "Good, can you push on my hand for me?" Nathan pushed on the doctor's hand with his left foot and then with his right.
"That is great, Nathan. As soon as we get you off this heart monitor, we will transfer you to a general ward and get you on your way to getting out of here"
"Thank you" Nathan replied with his still raspy voice.
"You are quite welcome. You are a miracle around this place, Nathan. We are glad to have you back with us and I have high hopes for your full recovery"
"I have too much to live for to die" Nathan said as he turned to face Haley and smiled, a real genuine smile this time. Haley's heart melted as she smiled back tears of joy coming to her eyes.
"Oh, that I know for sure. I will be back in a little while to get you off the heart monitor" the doctor said as he smiled
"Thanks, doc" Nathan said still looking at Haley
"You are welcome," the doctor said as he and the nurse turned to leave the room
"Dr. Jenkins?" Haley asked
"Yes?"
"Will you please go tell our family in the waiting room? I know they are anxious to know of any news"
"I will be happy too," Dr. Jenkins said as they left the room
Haley turned back to Nathan and smiled, "Better?"
"I love you, Hales" Nathan said in reply, "I love you very much"
Haley felt tears rolling down her face as she leaned over and kissed Nathan softly, "I love you too Nate"
"Hey guys" Mouth said as he, Theresa and Skills walked in to the waiting room.
"Hey" Lucas replied
"How is Nathan?" Theresa asked as she sat down next to Karen
"He is awake" Karen replied smiling
"That is awesome, mom" Theresa said as she leaned over and hugged Karen.
"Have they taken the breathing tube out yet?" Mouth asked as he sat down on the other side of Karen
"Not yet, but hopefully soon"
"Ms. Scott?" Dr. Jenkins asked as he walked into the room
"Yes, doctor" Karen said as she looked up towards him
"I have some good news. We took Nathan off of the ventilator. He is breathing on his own normally and he is talking. He is also moving his legs" the doctor watched as relief came over the mother's face and she burst into tears. "I have high hopes that your son will make a full recovery"
"Thank you, Thank you" Karen said as she stood and walked to hug the doctor
Beside her, Lucas wiped at the tears of Joy running down his face as everyone else did the same thing. Nathan would walk again.
"I know there is someone in there with him now, but I am sure he would be glad to see you" the doctor said as Karen released her hug
"His girlfriend, Haley." Karen replied
"I would have thought she was his wife," the doctor said so that only Karen could hear
"Hopefully someday she will be" Karen said softly back
"Thanks again, doc" Lucas said as he stood and shook the doctor's hand.
"Don't thank me, thank yourselves. You did more than I ever could. Medicine didn't bring that young man back to this world, you did" Dr. Jenkins said before leaving the room
"I am going to go see him," Karen said as she walked towards the waiting room door.
"Okay" Lucas replied as he sat back down in his seat
"This has been one crazy day," Brooke said as she put her arm around Lucas
"You can say that again" Peyton replied from across the room where she sat with Jake's arms around her.
"Do you want me to go get your mom? I know she wants to see you talking" Haley asked
"In a minute"
Haley smiled, "You really had us scared there, Nate"
"I know. I am sorry"
"Nothing to be sorry about. You were protecting your family"
"Where is Andy?" Nathan asked hoping that the man was behind bars where he belonged
"He is dead. Apparently the gun went off twice during the struggle," Haley said as she watched Nathan's face for any kind of reaction. The only reaction she saw was relief
"He won't be able to hurt us again""No, he won't"
A soft knock was heard on the door as it slowly opened revealing Karen. Nathan looked towards the door and smiled, "Hey mom"
Karen smiled before rushing to Nathan's bed and leaning down to hug him. "Oh, Nate. I am so glad you are okay.
"Me too, mom" Nathan said smiling.
"I am going to go back out to the waiting room with everyone else and give you two some time together" Haley said as she bent down and kissed Nathan's cheek.
"Haley, can you please ask Lucas to come here?" Nathan said
"Sure" Haley said before she turned and walked out the door.
"Mom, there is something that I need to tell you."
"Okay"
"When I was in the coma, I saw someone. Someone who told me a lot of things" Nathan said
"Who did you see?"
"Dad" Nathan said watching in his mother's reaction