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. This is the second to the last chapter. I have already written the last chapter and I am getting ready to start the sequel now. I will post the last chapter of this story in a few days and hopefully have the first chapter of the sequel up soon after that. Make sure you look for it. Thanks to everyone for your reviews on this story. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Don't forget to leave some reviews!
As Nathan woke up the next morning and opened his eyes, he looked down to see a pair of brown eyes looking back at him, "Good Morning"
"Good morning, sleepy head" Haley replied
"How long have you been awake?"
"Only a few minutes. I was just laying here watching you sleep. You looked so peaceful"
"I was peaceful. It feels good having you in my arms, right here beside me" Nathan said as he pulled Haley closer with his arm
"It feels good having your arms around me. I am going to miss that"
"I know. I am hoping it won't be too long before we are back like this again. I will probably know whether or not this gunshot has ended my NBA career in the next couple of months or so. After that, we can decide what we want to do about closing the distance between us. If I can, I will get traded to a team closer to you. If I can't play again, then I will move out there to Montana with you."
"Or I could move to Orlando" Haley replied
"I don't want you to have to leave Montana. I know how much those kids mean to you. You love them"
"Yes, I do, but I love you more. I don't want to be apart from you any more than I have to be. I do not like the fact that you are going to be going through rehab by yourself. I know it is going to be hard and painful and I hate the fact that I am not going to be there to help you."
"I will be fine, Hales. It is probably for the best anyway. I have a feeling I am going to be a grouch during rehab. I will be able to look forward to the times I can talk to you and that is going to make me push harder. You are going to make me push harder to get better even though you are thousands of miles away. I want to be able to pick you up in a hug, take a walk with you down the beach, and chase you in the sand, all of those things. That is going to make me push harder. You are going to be helping me, even if you are not there."
Haley was silent for a minute before responding, " I am only a phone call away when you need a little encouragement"
Nathan smiled, "I know. You know your kids are never going to believe that you are dating the Nathan Scott"
"I am not telling them. They believe me when I say that I grew up with the two of you, but they don't believe that we have been best friends since diapers"
"They will if we show up there" Nathan responded
"Yea, maybe" Haley said
"I will talk with Lucas. Maybe we can fly out for a few days sometime soon and make them believe" Nathan said as he laughed
"Okay" Haley responded laughing also, "What time is it?"
Nathan turned his head to his bedside table and looked at the clock, "9:49"
"I guess we better get moving. I have to be at the airport by noon" Haley said not moving from her spot
"I don't want to move though," Nathan said pulling Haley closer again
"We have too though," Haley said still not moving.
Before Nathan could respond, there was a knock at the door. The door slowly opened as Karen peeked her head around it.
"I thought I heard voices"
"Good morning Mom" Nathan replied
"I was making sure you two were awake."
"Yea, we are awake. Just don't feel like moving" Haley replied
Karen smiled, "I figured so. I am making breakfast. Do either of you want anything special?"
"What are you making?" Nathan asked
"Meredith wanted bacon and eggs" Karen replied
"That sounds good to me," Haley said as she began to move from her spot
"Do you need Lucas to help you get to the chair?" Karen asked Nathan
"In a minute. Is he up yet?"
"Yea, he is on the phone with Brooke" Karen replied
"Ok" Nathan replied as Karen walked back out the door and closed it.
"Time to face the real world" Haley said as she stood from the bed and walked towards her suitcases
Nathan just laughed, "Yea, I guess"
After a few minutes, both Nathan and Haley were dressed and Nathan was sitting on the side of the bed with his feet touching the floor. Haley walked over to the door and opened it; she peeked down the hallway and called Lucas. Lucas started down the hallway from the living room with his phone still attached to his ear.
"Brooke, talk to Hales for a minute. I need to help Nathan" Lucas said as he handed the phone to Haley still in the doorway
"Hey B. Davis" Haley said
"Hey tutor girl."
"How was your flight?"
"Pretty good. There was a little girl sitting next to me that was just too cute for words. She kept asking me all kinds of questions. It was a good distraction."
"That sounds nice. How are things in San Diego?"
"Warmer" Brooke replied as she laughed, "And I am still on East Coast time, which would be why I am awake so early"
"I bet"
"What time is your flight?"
"1:05. I have a direct flight back to Montana. I think Lucas's flight leaves about the same time or soon after"
"Yea, he told me he had a 1:15 flight. What time is Nathan leaving?"
"I am not sure. I know he said early evening. John and Scott are going to be heading back with him"
"That is what Lucas said. He can't believe that Nathan is going back to Orlando so soon."
"Yea, but Nathan wants to get his rehab going. He doesn't want to wait anymore"
"I guess it is for the best"
"Yea, I hope so. Well, I am going to give you back to Lucas. I will call you when I get back tonight or tomorrow."
"Okay, have a safe flight. See ya soon"
"Okay, Bye B. Davis"
"Bye H. James" Brooke said. Haley laughed as she gave the phone back to Lucas and walked over to Nathan.
"Ready for breakfast?"
"Yea" Nathan replied as Haley began pushing his wheelchair out of the bedroom, down the hall and into the kitchen. Lucas walked behind them again with his phone attached to his ear.
"Nate!" Meredith said as she got down from the table and ran to her older brother.
"Hey Munchkin" Nathan said as he pulled Meredith onto his lap and hugged her
"Mommy says that you are leaving today," Meredith said as the two pulled apart
"Yea, me and Lucas"
"But you are still hurt"
"I know, but I am going to go back to Orlando so that I can get better. So that when I come home again, I might be walking"
"Oh, okay" Meredith said, "I don't like it when I don't get to see you"
"I know, but I will talk to you on the phone all the time. Maybe you and Mom can come see me soon too"
"Can we mommy?" Meredith asked turning to her mom at the sink
"We will see" Karen replied smiling towards her daughter, "Why don't you go back to the table. Your eggs are just about ready"
"Okay" Meredith said as she hoped off her brother's lap and want back to her place at the table.
"Breakfast is just about ready," Karen said to the rest of group
"Okay" Haley replied as she pushed Nathan's chair to an open spot next to Meredith and sat down in the empty chair on the other side of him. Karen walked to the table and started distributing the scrambled eggs as she looked towards her oldest son, "Lucas"
"Okay" Lucas replied before telling Brooke that he would call her back. He sat his phone on the counter and walked over and sat down next to Haley.
"Eat up guys" Karen said as she too sat down
"A home cooked breakfast, we are not going to see one of these for a while" Haley supplied
"That is for sure. No one cooks like mom" Nathan added
"I guess you kids will just have to hurry back home then" Karen said as she smiled.
An hour later, breakfast was finished and the kitchen cleaned. The adults sat in the living room watching an old sitcom waiting for the time that they would have to leave for the airport. The front door opened as Jake and Peyton walked in.
"Good morning" Peyton said
"Morning" Nathan replied
"Mom and dad said they were going to stop by for a few minutes. They wanted to say good bye to you guys before you left," Peyton said as she and Jake sat down on the floor by the couch.
"Okay" Lucas replied
"So, I heard about the adventure last night to get Nathan out of the clubhouse" Jake said
"Yea, that was an adventure. It was much easier getting him down than it was getting him up there though" Lucas replied
"I was so glad when I reached the chair though. It was a little scary hanging in the air in complete darkness" Nathan added
"It was worth it though" Haley said, "We had fun up there"
"Yea, it was fun" Peyton agreed
The front door opened once more as Larry and Anna Sawyer walked in, "Good morning" Anna's voice rang out
"Hey Aunt Anna" Lucas said
"I brought you guys something for the trip home" Anna said as she gave Lucas, Nathan and Haley each a package
"What is in it?" Nathan asked
"Guess"
"I know" Lucas said as he lifted the package to his nose, "homemade cookies. Peanut butter and chocolate chip"
Anna smiled, "Yep. I figured you guys might need them"
"Thank you Aunt Anna" Nathan said as Anna bent down to give him a hug
"You are welcome, Nathan" Anna replied back
"You guys ready for your flights?" Larry asked
"No" Haley answered
The group laughed
"You will be back home before you know it" Larry said
"Yea" Haley added, "Speaking of flights, I guess I had better go get ready to leave for the airport"
"Yea, me too" Lucas added as he stood from the couch
"Well, we just wanted to come by and say bye" Anna said as she stepped forward and hugged Haley, "Be careful in those mountains"
"I will, Aunt Anna" Haley said as she laughed a little, "You be careful here"
"Oh, we will. Come home soon"
"I will" Haley said as she pulled away from the hug and was immediately engulfed in another hug
"Stay safe" Larry said
"I will Uncle Larry. Hold the fort down here"
"We will" Larry said as they pulled away from their hug
"Come home every once and a while" Anna said as she hugged Lucas
"I will try. You guys should come to a game sometime"
"We might do that, " Larry said as he shook hands with Lucas
"Please do. It would be great to have family in the stands"
"We will let you know" Anna said as she hugged him once more
"Bye Haley" Jake said as he pulled her into a hug
"It is not good bye, Jake. It is see you later. We have a wedding to plan" Haley replied as she hugged him back
"As soon as we set a date, you will all be the first to know" Jake replied
"I know. Take care of her"
"I will" Jake replied as he went to go talk with Lucas
"I still can't believe you are leaving too," Anna said as she walked over to Nathan with Larry right behind her
"I have to get back and get my rehab going. I have a lot of work ahead of me" Nathan replied
"I know" Anna said as she bent down to hug Nathan, "Just be careful"
"I will" Nathan replied as he hugged her back
"Call if you need something" Larry said as he and Nathan shook hands, "I know we are here, but you know me. I got connections everywhere"
Nathan laughed, "I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing"
"It is a good thing," Larry said as he smiled
"I will be down in a couple of weeks for one of your games, man," Jake said to Lucas
"Okay, let me know which one and I will see if I can get you floor seats" Lucas replied
"I will. Take care man" Jake said as he pulled Lucas into a man hug
"I will too. You take care of your family" Lucas replied as Jake smiled
"I promise"
"I really really hate good byes," Peyton said as she walked over to Haley
"Hey this is not goodbye. It is a see you later. We will be back together soon," Haley said as she pulled Peyton into a hug as tears began to roll down their faces. "No matter how far apart we are, I am always here for you, Peyt. I will always be. You can always call me if you need to"
"I know. Same goes for you. I know it is not going to be easy leaving Nathan and being apart from him"
"No, it won't, but we will be together soon. I know that" Haley said as the two pulled apart. The both laughed at one another before quickly hugging once more.
"I love you tutor girl" Peyton said
"I love you too, P. Sawyer" Haley replied
"Nate, I am glad that you came home," Jake said as he stood next to Nathan
"Yea, me too. It has been a rough week, but it was worth it" Nathan said as he looked towards Haley who was hugging Peyton
"Yea, it was. Call me if you need a motivational kick in the butt" Jake said as he laughed, "I know you are going to hate rehab"
"Yea, but it will be worth it to walk again"
"Yes, it will" Jake said as he pulled Nathan into a man hug, "It will all be worth it to see you walk again"
"Thanks Jake. Take care"
"You too" Jake responded before he walked over to Peyton, "I am going to head outside. Take your time and come out when you are ready"
"Okay" Peyton replied
"Guys, Be careful going home. We will see you guys soon" Jake replied as he walked towards the front door with Anna and Larry following
"Call us if you need anything" Larry added
"Love you guys" Anna said
"Thanks, Love you too" Nathan responded as he waved.
As the front door shut, Peyton walked over to Lucas. Her tears started to flow down her face again as Lucas pulled her into a hug
"This sucks" Peyton said as Lucas rubbed her back
"It's okay Peyt. We will be home soon. We have a niece or nephew to spoil"
"Yea, and a wedding to attend" Peyton responded as she pulled back from Lucas. "I miss you guys already"
"We miss you too. If you need me, call, okay?"
"Okay, I will" Peyton said as she gave Lucas another quick hug and than turned to walk towards Nathan
"I am going to go finish getting my stuff together. Peyton, remember what I said" Haley said as she began down the hallway.
"I am going to go do the same. Love ya Peyt" Lucas said
"I can't believe you guys are leaving again. You just got here" Peyton said as she turned to Nathan
"We will be back soon though. Before you know it"
"I know. I just miss you guys so much"
"Trust me, we miss you too. We are actually jealous of you. You get to be home with your parents, Theresa and Skills and our mom and we are scattered all over the country"
"I know. I wish you guys were still here too, but it is part of life"
"It sure is. Just because we are not here in Tree Hill doesn't mean that we are not here with you. We have so many memories together and we travel with each other through those memories. We will always be the original four musketeers"
"Yea, you are right. No more getting shot, okay?"
"Okay, I won't. I promise"
"Good, because I can't take losing my best friend."
"I am not going anywhere, well except back to Florida" Nathan said as Peyton laughed
"Come home soon" Peyton said as she leaned down to hug Nathan
"I will. I promise we will be home soon. All of us" Nathan replied as he hugged Peyton back
"love ya, super star" Peyton said as she walked towards the front door
"love ya too, Pey" Nathan said as Peyton opened the door and walked out
Thirty minutes later, Nathan, Lucas, Karen, Haley and Meredith were on their way to the airport. The ride was silent. The only noise to be heard was Meredith as she occasionally hummed. As they pulled into the airport parking lot, a tear rolled down Haley's face. She was really leaving. She was really leaving Nathan and her home. Leaving this time was so much harder than before.