Hey guys, sorry this took so long but I've been having a bad few weeks. I'm back though. Hope you enjoy this chapter! Thanks for the great reviews!

The Wrong Kind of Wrong

"Hey." Brooke walked into the house with a smile.

"Hey Brooke." Haley stood up and sighed nervously. "Look, I know I've been hogging the bedroom lately, but do you think it'll be okay if Nathan stays the night again?"

Brooke smiled pertly, propping her hands on her hips. "You're right, you have been hogging the bedroom lately. But, I've come up with the perfect solution."

"What?" Haley looked a little nervous.

"I'm moving in with Peyton. I talked to Larry this morning and he gave me the okay." She smiled happily. "And now you and Nathan can have this love shack back." One of her brows raised in teasing skepticism. "Now I don't have to hear you moaning all night. I didn't know you were a screamer." She laughed when Haley punched her playfully.

"Brooke, are you sure about this?" Haley felt bad. She hadn't meant to kick her out.

"Of course I'm sure. Besides, this has always been like, you and Nathan's place anyway. I was just decoratively renovating it for a while." She grinned knowingly. "Besides, I get to live with Fantasy Hot Dad, Larry Sawyer down the hall from me." Her eyes rolled in dreamy satisfaction.

Haley laughed in surprise. "Oh wow, you're something, Brooke. Crushing on Peyton's dad."

Brooke's mouth fell open. "He is so hot," she pointed to Haley, "and you know it." She accused.

"Ew." She laughed and hugged her. "I'm so going to miss living with you, though. You're the one who showed me the scrunchie system and how sophisticatedly act like a slut." Haley laughed when Brooke swatted her playfully.

"Yeah, and you bored me so much that I actually started studying." Brooke said, a little confused herself. "Maybe it is good that I'm getting away from you."

Haley shot her a playful glare. "Whatever." Her smile softened and she stuck her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. "Thanks Brooke. If you ever want to come moving back in though, you're always welcome."

"Why, so I can hear you and Nate consummating all night? I think not." She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I'm really just happy that you're happy, Haley."

"I'm happy." Haley confirmed with a nod. "Thanks."

"No problem." Brooke patted Haley's shoulder. "I have…something to do, so…I'll see you later?"

"Yeah. Sure." Haley hugged her one last time. "Tell Lucas I said hi." She said knowingly.

"I will." She winked. "See ya, Rock Star."

"Bye." Haley waved with a sigh.

His hand ran the length of her arm as he stirred from sleep. He loved Brooke for letting him move in again. He liked being this close to her. He could protect her, watch over her. Be with her all the time to assure that nothing bad would happen. At least he hoped he could.

He shifted closer to her, wrapping his arm around her stomach and pulled her to him. She sighed contentedly and he smiled softly. It'd been almost a week since the whole incident and he had began to wonder if she'd ever be the same. She smiled, laughed, but underneath the beautiful gestures, it seemed there was a darkness that he couldn't chase away.

He knew it had something to do with the fact that Chris Keller was still out there. He, Lucas or the police could find him. It was as if he had vanished, and it seemed that that had thrown Haley off track. Underneath it all, she was afraid. She just hated that it might show.

He kissed the back of her neck and sighed, watching her sleep. He hated watching her hurt. It put a strain on his heart. He would serve her justice, he would.

Soon.

Closing his eyes, he willed himself back to sleep.

"Hey." Peyton stood in the doorway of the tutor center. She had been watching her for a while, wondering how to word what she wanted to say.

Haley turned to her, a small smile on her face. "Hey." She shifted uncomfortably. She couldn't remember the last time she and Peyton had said friendly words to each other, prior to the night of the incident.

Hesitantly, Peyton walked in. "So, how ya been?" She smiled slowly.

"Uh," Haley nodded her head, "better."

Peyton took a seat next to the girl, clearing her throat softly. She folded her hands together on the table and looked down at them. "Look, I'm…really sorry about the way I was acting."

"Peyton…" Haley started to object.

"No, Haley. Look." She sighed. "I was a total bitch. I was just," she shrugged softly, "I was just so angry because everyone's always leaving people and it just…it hurt." Tears formed in her eyes but she blinked them back. "I saw the way that Nathan was hurting and it just reminded me so much of how I was hurting when Jake left and…I think I got a little bit jealous when you came back."

Haley frowned emotionally. "Peyton, I'm sorry. To you, to Nathan, to everyone. I know I messed up. I know." She enunciated, "I just want to fix it. I'm here to stay now and…I just…I want people to know that." She half smiled at the girl. "Alright?"

"Good." Peyton nodded wordlessly, smiling through tears at Haley. "Welcome home, tutor girl." She teased, leaning in for a hug.

Haley smiled, returning the gesture with a deep sigh in the blonde's locks. "Thanks."

Pulling away, Peyton grinned. "Can we hang out now? I miss hanging out with you."

"Of course, Peyton." She patted her arm. "As soon as I like, catch up on the three million assignments that I've missed for like, the last week."

"I'll meet you at your house later, yeah?" When Haley nodded, she stood up and smiled. "Okay, see you later."

"Later." Haley waved.

Peyton walked out, moving to the side to let some other kid in. The boy was short and pimply, and he pushed his glasses up when he approached her. "Haley James Scott?"

Haley turned around to face him. "Yeah?" She didn't recognize him.

He handed her a folded piece of paper. "Some guy outside asked me to give this to you."

She took it apprehensively with a confused smile. "Oh. Okay. Thanks." She frowned as she watched him walk out before looking at the paper. Curiously, she unfolded it and her blood ran cold and her face paled as she read it.

"Okay, so what does that mean?" Nathan fumed at the officer. "There's only like, two hundred people in Tree Hill and you can't find one?" He exaggerated heatedly.

"He may not be residing in Tree Hill." Officer Clint replied gingerly, but the answer didn't seem to calm Nathan any. "We're sorry. We are trying." The officer said more sternly.

"Not hard enough." Nathan gritted, wiping at his tired face.

"She could leave town." The officer suggested. "But if he's keeping tabs on her, he might follow."

"I don't want to leave." Haley frowned at the prospect.

"It's not such a bad idea, Hales." Lucas reluctantly agreed, sitting on the arm of the couch in Nathan and Haley's apartment.

"It is when I don't want to leave." She stood up and shook her head, raking her hand through her hair. "Okay, Chris can't be as stupid to try something again. Maybe he's just trying to scare me."

Reflexively, Nathan shook his head. His arms crossed over his broad chest. "No. That's taking too much of a chance."

Her eyes narrowed at him. "So are you trying to say you think I should leave, too?"

"For a while, Haley." He pleaded. "I'll even come with you."

"No." She laughed in disbelief. "I've already missed too much school, I can't miss anymore because of Chris Keller. Again." Pushing her hair behind her ear, she shook her head, her features straightening out. "I'm not afraid of him anymore, Nathan."

Nathan stared pointedly at her. "Haley," he sighed.

"No, I won't go." Her jaw tightened.

"Why should she run?" Peyton piped up quietly. "I mean, that's what he wants her to do."

"But she needs to be safe, Peyton." Lucas told her, his eyes narrowed in a skeptical gesture. "Something could happen to her."

"We know what's going on now, though." She looked to him, a shy expression flushing her face. "We know that he's after her, I mean, we're all here." Looking to Haley, Peyton smiled softly. "We're not going anywhere."

As Haley smiled gratefully at Peyton, Nathan shook his head. "Chris has nothing left to lose. His life from here on out is over, basically. He would probably do anything now."

Smiling crookedly at Nathan, Brooke shook her head. "But we're all right here, Nate. I mean, I wouldn't want to run from anyone. That would be admitting that I was scared and admitting that I let them get the best of me and I have to adjust my life to keep away from that person." She shrugged unsurely, glancing at Haley in understanding. "Haley's missed enough of school as it is and these are the years we'll want to remember. Do you really want her to look back on this and remember running away from someone? Do you want her to remember being afraid?"

Nathan let out a deep breath and looked to Haley, sorrow filling his eyes. "I…"

Peyton knew he was caving, so with a little encouraging smile, she pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "Or do you want her to remember you, being there for her every step of the way? Her friends, her familyjust being there?" She finished for Brooke softly.

Haley turned to Nathan and grabbed his hands, a confident smile on her lips. Looking up at him with such innocent eyes, she shook her head. "I love how much you love me, Nathan. It's really sweet and it always keeps me…going." They smiled at each other; the rest of the people occupying the room began to fade. "But I need to stay here. Maybe if I was alone I would leave at the first chance I got but I have school and my friends, Karen, Deb…" Frowning meaningfully, she stepped closer to him, his hands held in hers between their bodies. "Nathan, I have you." Shrugging uncertainly, she smiled wildly. "I dunno, you just, you make my fears disappear and you make me feel like everything's going to be okay and I know it sounds so clichéd and cheesy but, I never thought a person could feel like this until I found you."

Sighing halfheartedly, Nathan pulled her into a hug. "You'll always have me, Hales." He whispered into her hair. "I promise."

Sucking in a breath of sharp air, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you, Nathan." She said happily.

"I love you." He answered back, his eyes met Lucas' unsurely.

Grudgingly, Lucas looked away, a determined narrow set in his eyes.

"I have to get a hold of my uncle Coop." Nathan was telling Lucas on his way out of practice. "He knows a few people who could probably track Chris down. I meant to try to call him last night but my heads just been everywhere."

"I wish we could talk to Dan." Lucas suggested subtly.

"He wouldn't help." Nathan dismissed the idea tightly. "He hates me with Haley more than you know. Besides, he's an ass. You of all people should know that."

"I know that, Nate. But we're running out of options here, man." Lucas stopped walking and pivoted to face his brother. "I really want to find this guy. I hate it that Haley's going through this."

"You think I don't?" Nathan shot, a little defensively. He looked down at his feet. "If it wasn't for me…"

Ducking his head, Lucas put a hand on Nathan's shoulder. "Hey man. Don't blame yourself. This is not your fault."

"Yeah, well if I had never called him then…" Nathan sighed and dropped his head.

"Then what? He would've picked another time to come back and do this?" Lucas proclaimed. "He's a sick bastard, Nate. Neither you or I could've prevented this from happening."

Nathan glanced at him before shaking his head. "I dunno, Luke. I'm just really…" He shrugged his shoulders uncomfortably and fumbled with his gym bag strap across his shoulder. "I think I'm scared, Luke. I don't know."

His fierce features softened. "Huh? Why?" He said softly.

"Because I don't know what's going to happen. As long as Chris is out there, Haley's in danger. What if I get caught in traffic or stuck at practice and he chooses that time to hurt her. I can't let him hurt her, Luke. And I can't take her everywhere with me like I want to." Obviously stressing, he dropped his face in his hands. "Why Hales, huh? Why her?"

Lucas held his arms out, surrendering to the fact that he had no answer. "I don't know, man." He whispered, watching Nathan pitifully. "But I'm gonna help you. No matter what." He patted his brother's back and urged him to walk forward again. "Come on, let's go."

Nathan nodded quietly.

"Husband." Haley answered pertly as she put her cell phone to her ear.

"Hey. Where are you?" He questioned casually.

Haley rolled her eyes humorously. "The same place I've been all night Nathan and if you call me and ask me that one more time I am like, so faking sleep tonight."

He laughed breathily, hearing a hint of the old Haley. "You know me Hales, I'm just worried about you."

"You mean paranoid? Or no, fanatical? Obssessive?" Grinning, she motioned to Karen that she was going to go out for a moment.

"No. In love is more like it." He smirked through the phone, picking with something random on the coffee table. He nodded halfheartedly. "And maybe a little obsessed, but that's it."

Haley giggled. "Yeah, well, obsessed Nathan is a little creepy. He calls like every five minutes." She informed as if he hadn't known about it in mock seriousness.

"I'll have to talk to him about that." He joked back. "But in the mean time, talk to me."

"I hope you're more pleasant." She murmured, stepping outside into the brisk night air.

"I am. At least that's what horny Haley always says." He said lowly.

She erupted in embarrassed laughter, covering her mouth to smother the noise. "You better hope you're alone right now and nobody heard that comment or I'll kill you."

"Of course I'm alone. Waiting for you to come home." He sighed tiredly. "I miss you."

"Already?" She smiled, taking a seat on the front step. "Well, that's kinda crazy because I miss you too."

"Then I'll come get you." He concluded in what he felt was reason. "Be ready in five."

In mild shock, she laughed. "Nathan, I promised Karen I'd help her finish painting and there's no way you could make it here in five minutes unless you're like…totally breaking a few laws or something." She rambled steadily, a slow smile spreading across her face afterwards.

"I'd break a few laws for you." He said nonchalantly with a shrug.

"Trust me, I know." She said in a whisper before sighing. "And I really hate to do this but the sooner I get done, the sooner I come home."

"I know, I know. You have to go." He said after a while. "Do you want me to pick you up?"

"Nah, Luke is taking me home."

He snorted in laughter. "Hales, you're killing me here."

"And you're holding me up!" She half joked, standing to her feet. "Now just make sure you're wearing something sexy when I get home." She nearly purred with a smile. "Love you, husband."

"I love you more." He smiled before hanging up the phone.

Haley sighed heavily, her humor fading with the black night. She was working at being normal again, but there was always something there that stopped her. She'd be fine, she convinced herself. Fine.

She turned on her heel and met Karen's gaze at the door. "Karen, hey. Sorry about that."

Karen smiled. "Oh, it's no big deal. Really." She stared for a while, like she had something to say. "You know, I'm really happy you have your friends and Nathan, Haley."

Haley nodded in agreement. "So am I." She gave her a nervous grin. "Why do I sense that there's a but coming on?"

Sighing, Karen crossed her arms over her chest and stepped outside. "Because you've known me all of your life."

Haley pointed to her quickly. "That's a really good answer." Her eyes squinted at the notion.

Smiling, Karen grabbed her hand. "But…you don't have to pretend like you're fine. This isn't something that's easily forgotten. Especially with him sending you notes now."

Haley shook her head and put a hand to her forehead. "I'm fine, Karen. Really."

"No one could be fine about this, Haley." Karen pushed. "Open up."

Sighing, Haley walked towards the door, facing away from her. "I am scared." She finally admitted in a quiet, childlike voice. "Really scared." She swirled around to face her. "But I don't want to go running away. And I think if Nathan knows that I'm actually this scared, he'll want me to go." Tears clouded her eyes and she laughed in spite of herself, swiping away the wetness and looking down at the ground. "I just…I don't want to take Nathan away from everything. And I don't want to leave everything either."

Karen stepped towards Haley. "Do you know what I think?" When Haley looked up at her, she smiled proudly. "I think that Nathan would want you to do what makes you happy. I think he'd be right there by your side, no matter what you chose."

Haley stared hopefully. "You do?"

Karen nodded. "Lucas and Nathan are a lot alike; just don't tell them I said so." She laughed softly. "When they love, they love hard. They never give up." Her face sobered in seriousness. "They'd do anything to protect the ones that they love. To make them feel safe. You are the only one Nathan's ever been in love with, and his parents weren't exactly a good example so he's loving you the only way he knows how. Straight from the heart."

Haley smiled sadly, knowing just how true that was. "I just don't want to seem like some helpless damsel in distress that always needs him to come to my rescue or like babysit me or something." She shook her head. "I always promised myself I wouldn't be one of the girls."

"But he wants to be your protection, Haley. The one who does rescue you." Smiling at the younger girl, Karen tilted her head to the side. "Not only because you need it, but because he wants to. And there's nothing wrong with letting him protect you."

Haley sighed finally. "I guess you're right. I just hate feeling so…needy."

"But the truth of it all Haley is that you are. You are needy for him and your friends right now. Who wouldn't be? It's not really a bad thing." She pulled the girl into a hug. "It's not bad at all. Just make sure you're a little needier so we know what's going on with you." She half joked to the girl. When Haley laughed, she squeezed her tightly. "I love you. You're like a daughter to me."

"Thanks, really." Haley reluctantly pulled back and smiled. "Now let's go finish painting so I can go home and be a little needier with Nathan." Grinning wildly, she raced in the house.

Karen's face shifted into one of utter shock. "Oh, Haley! I hope that did not mean what I think it meant." She rushed in after her.

Haley crawled into bed next to Nathan, pushing her shower-wet hair out of her face as she sighed at him. "Are you sleeping?" She whispered.

"Not really." He sighed too and shifted to face her. "What's up?"

She stared at him for a moment. "I'm just…I'm happy to have you, Nathan. You don't know how much you help me."

He smiled sleepily. "Same here, Hales."

She scooted closer to him and grinned. "You know, I don't think I've thanked you properly for how good you've been to me."

"Really." He grinned, sliding his hand up her hip. "What kind of thanks did you have in mind?"

"One that'll make you really, really happy." She moved slowly to find his lips and kissed him passionately, her hand sifting through his locks. He moaned deeply and she smiled against his mouth, slowly pulling away. "You're amazing, Nathan." She whispered.

"Not more amazing than you." He whispered back, moving his lips to her neck.

Her head fell back in a daze and she smiled, draping her leg over his. "You do that so good." She gently told him.

"So well." He corrected humorously, looking up to smile at her. "I do that so well."

Her mouth fell open in playful shock. "Shut up." She whacked him. "I'm tutor girl. Not you."

"I learned from you." He defended weakly. "You taught me-" His words stopped short when they heard something in the living room.

Haley jumped up gasping, moving her hand over her mouth. "Nathan, oh my-!" She looked to him fearfully. "What was that?!"

"I don't know." He said hopping up. "Stay there."

"Stay here?!" She hopped up with him. "Nathan, I can't stay here." She grabbed onto his arm.

"Haley…" He grabbed a golf club from the golfing equipment next to the closet. "Look, stay by the door, alright?"

She nodded wordlessly, biting her nails. She followed him in fear. "Be careful." She whispered before he opened the door.

He walked out, holding the club, hoping it was Chris. He'd have fun beating his skull in. At a prepared pace, he clicked the light on and swung the club.

"Ow!" Cooper yelled, clutching his elbow.

Nathan's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, Coop. Hey. Sorry about that, I…" He shook his head, wordlessly.

"Luke called me and said you needed some help." He explained, his eyes darting to the golf club in his nephew's hand and to his hurting arm. "If I knew you needed me for assistance in improperly using golf clubs, I would've brought equipment."

Nathan dropped the makeshift weapon. "If Luke told you what I needed help for, how come you broke into here like this? Didn't you know this would scare the crap out of Hales?"

"It's one A.M., man. I can't knock on the door this late." He said as if it made all the sense in the world.

Nathan shook his head at the irrationality. "And breaking in is so much better." He mumbled walking to the kitchen. "It freaked the hell out of Haley, man."

"I'm sorry about that." Cooper spoke sincerely.

"Nathan?!" Haley called worriedly.

"Come on." Nathan motioned for her to come. He looked at Cooper. "Don't tell her-" He tried to whisper, but she made it out in a hurry.

"Who is he?" She asked, standing next to Nathan where he draped his arm around her shoulders.

"My uncle Cooper. Cooper, my wife, Haley." He introduced briefly.

"Hey." Cooper stuck his hand out. "Sorry about scaring you."

"It's alright." She looked at him skeptically as she shook his hand. "Do you normally break into people's house at one o'clock in the morning?"

"Only when it's too late to knock." Nathan answered sarcastically for him.

Cooper laughed and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "So, any grub?"

Nathan laughed and motioned to the kitchen. "Help yourself."

"Yeah, there's food…" She trailed off and took a deep breath, running a hand over her hair. "You scared the hell out of me." She informed Cooper with a relieved laugh, lapping her hand over her chest. "I don't mean to be rude, but I'm going to bed. Nice meeting you." She nodded to Cooper. "Night, Nathan." She leaned up to kiss him.

"I'll be there in a second." He kissed her again and held her hand as long as he could until she slipped too far away. He watched her go in the room and close the door before sighing and looking at Cooper. "Look, don't mention to Haley what I need you for."

"What? You mean about tracking down this Keller guy?" Nathan nodded. "The same Keller guy she left you for, right?"

Nathan narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms over his bare chest. "It wasn't like that, alright."

"Sure." He held his hands up and walked past Nathan to the kitchen. "What makes you think I can track him down anyway?"

"Because you know people." Nathan turned to face him. "And maybe you can do a better job than the police are. And then I can get to him, personally."

Cooper looked up at Nathan briefly while he pulled out pieces of bread from the bag. "Look, Nate. I'll help you. You know that. Just, don't get yourself into anything."

"What do you mean?"

"If your love for this girl can make you crash a race car, just think of what you'll do to him for actually hurting her." Cooper suggested, shaking his head.

"Just leave that part up to me, alright?" Nathan told him calmly.

"Alright. Whatever you say." Cooper resigned easily. "I'll call some of my boys tomorrow and see what they can do."

"Thanks." Nathan sighed and looked around. "There's blankets in the hall closet right here. You can crash on the couch I guess." He stared a while longer. "Thanks Coop."

"No problem, Nate." Cooper smiled at him. "Go in there and make that bed useful now."

"Shut up." Nathan said laughingly, walking back to the bedroom.

The door opened and Dan laughed in disbelief. "Wow. Isn't this a pleasant surprise?" His smirk was tight. "Here to get more charity?"

Lucas narrowed his eyes and looked away. "Look, I need your help." He looked back up at his fath- Dan, inhaling a shaky breath. "Really, Nathan needs it."

Dan's face straightened a little. "What's wrong with Nathan?"

The concern that etched Dan's face stabbed Lucas directly in his heart. "He's scared. Of losing Haley again. And if he does, it'll tear him apart. Probably worse this time."

"And what exactly can I do about that?" Dan wondered snobbishly.

"That's why I'm here." Hardening his features, Lucas straightened his stance. "I'm gonna tell you."

Tell me what you think!