The Search For Something More
Chapter 25 - What Comes After the Blues
Thank you all for the reviews and sticking with me through this story. I hope you all aren't too mad at Haley for saying no. Believe me the wait will be worth it. I'm sorry for not updating sooner but I went out of town and was a little busy. I wish I can say more but I'll let the chapter speak for itself. The next few chapters are definitely going to be interesting and the end is definately in sight, but as far how many chapters is still up in the air. I also wanted to update sooner because we got picked up for our back 9. So happy we're going to get a nice FULL 22 episode season. It looks to be the last one so while I'm sad, I'm eternally grateful for what the show has done to me.
I asked this in a one shot i did recently "Dressing up to Dress down" (check that out if you haven't done so), but I am debating whether or not to go ahead with a Thicker than Blood Sequel. When I wrote the story, I left little "seeds" in the story so if I did do a sequel, I would bring it back but it's been almost two years so I'm not sure anymore. The story definately can stand on it's own though. I bring this up because I feel that I should be honest and say that if the show ends, then I will probably not write any more stories. Maybe the occasional one shot and stuff but a multi chapter story like this, I don't know. It's not for a lack of ideas because I have a bunch but with the show gone, I feel like it wont be the same. With the full season, I know that the show will last until May so I can squeeze probably only one more story. Maybe a short second story but we'll see.
Anyways, enjoy and please review!
Haley instinctively reached over to the other side of the bed but was surprised when she felt no one was there. Fluttering her eyes open, she saw that the other side of the bed was empty and cold. Haley frowned at the sight but as she saw Nathan emerge from the bathroom, her spirits were raised, but only for a moment.
"Morning." Nathan gave a small smile as he packed in his toiletries in his suit case.
"You're leaving already?" Haley questioned. "I thought your flight wasn't until this afternoon?"
"Clay got into town this morning. We have some business to discuss before I head out to Florida and he then he flies to Philly."
"Oh." Haley looked down.
"I'll be back soon."
"But then you're going to Atlanta." Haley didn't mean to sound so mean. It had been a week since Nathan asked her to marry him and there has been nothing but underlying tension between the two of them. He had already come back from a charity gig in New York and now he's heading to Miami to do a photo shoot and to attend a fund raiser. And if that wasn't enough, he told her that he had another gig to attend to in Atlanta next week.
Nathan gave her a curious look as he zipped up his suit case.
"Nathan." Haley sat up and played with her fingers. "Look, I'm sorry. It's just.. I.. I feel like you're trying to avoid me." Haley looked up at him. "You know, especially after…"
"After I asked you to marry me?" Nathan raised his eyebrow.
Haley nodded.
"Well, I'm not going to lie." Nathan sat on the bed next to her. "I jumped at the chance on going to New York this week to get away."
"And this trip?" Haley asked. "Are you trying to get away from me again?"
"Hales.." Nathan caressed her cheeks. "You're seven months pregnant, I don't want to leave you but I've been neglecting things ever since I moved back.. and by the looks of things, I'm going to need all the good press and money I can get."
"What do you mean?"
"Negotiations with Charlotte has stalled. That incident with Brooke didn't look too well for my image despite the press release Clay put out. Plus all the bad press I got when I hurt my back. They're already weary about my health despite my strong finish with Seattle."
"And what about Seattle? I thought they offered you a contract."
"They have but I need to give them an answer soon. Clay is doing his best to stall, trying to extend when I have to go in for camp because that's when the baby will be born but he can't hold out on them forever."
"Nathan, you should just go back to Seattle."
"I thought we talked about it. I don't want to go back there."
"Nathan." Haley took Nathan's hand in hers. "If you're worried about us, we're going to be fine, the baby too. We can join you there."
"Haley, I can't let you just take care of the baby by yourself, plus it'll take weeks.. months before the baby can even fly out to Seattle."
"Nathan, we can make it work." Haley stated. "We can fly first class and it's not like you're strapped for cash, we can get a private jet or something."
"You're willing to move to Seattle but you won't marry me." Nathan bit out, then quickly shut his mouth and sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."
Haley removed her hand from Nathan's. "Yes you did." Haley got up and reached for her robe that was on a nearby chair.
"I knew it, you're still upset about the proposal."
"I'm sorry Hales, but what do you want me to do? Lie to you, of course I'm upset."
"And now you're avoiding me."
"I just told you I'm not avoiding you. In fact, everything I've been doing is trying to get me back to Tree Hill to be with you."
"I told you Nathan, I can go to Seattle."
"Did it ever occur to you that I don't want to go back there? The past five years, all I've been doing is running away from my past.. my home. Now that I'm back I don't want to leave. You're here, Lucas is here. Seattle was never my home Hales, this is home and if I can stay here, then I'm going to do everything I can."
"Nathan, I don't want anything to happen to your career. You worked so hard, even coming back from your injury."
"I appreciate it Hales but it might all be for nothing anyways. If people want to pay me money to film me drinking some sports drink or shooting around then I need to cash in on it now because no one will want me if they find out I have HCM."
"Don't talk like that Nathan." Haley warned. "You don't know the results."
"It's a fifty/fifty chance Hales, I'm just trying to be prepared."
Haley shook her head and wiped her eyes.
"Hey come here." Nathan took her into her arms. This is exactly why he didn't want to tell Haley about the HCM.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a mess but I miss you when you're gone." Haley placed her hand over Nathan's heart. "And the thought.. that this might be damaged.." Haley shook her head and sniffled.
Nathan placed his hand over her's. "Nothing is wrong with my heart Hales because you fixed it.. you made it whole again and HCM or not, nothing's going to change that."
Haley looked up at him and could feel herself turning red. "It's beating so fast." Haley commented as she felt the rhythm of his heart beat.
"Well that's what happens ever time I'm with you."
Haley looked away as she was sure she was blushing red at the moment. It's amazing how Nathan can still make her feel like a giddy sixteen year old who's fallen in love for the first time.
"Look, I'm sorry Hales, with every thing that's happened…"
"Nathan, I'm sorry too. We both have a lot going on."
"Look, tell you what. I have nothing booked after Atlanta and I'll tell Clay that if something comes up that I'll only do something local or some place that's quick flight from Tree Hill, no more over night trips. Besides once you reach full term, I'm definitely not going anywhere."
"Thank you." She tip toed up to kiss him on the cheeks. "And what about your test results?"
"We can hear something any day now but once I find out, you'll find out, okay?"
"Okay." Haley hugged him. "I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too." Nathan hugged her back. "Both of you."
. . . . .
"Where the hell have you been?" Nathan questioned as he looked at his watch.
"Sorry I got held up." Clay took a seat opposite to Nathan.
"What can I get you boys?" Karen came up to them.
"Hey Karen, I don't know if you've met my agent Clay. Clay this is Lucas' mom Karen."
"Oh this is Clay. Nice to meet you." Karen stuck out her hand.
"Likewise." Clay shook her hand.
"Haley was right you are cute."
"Oh thanks." Clay smiled.
"Hey." Nathan warned.
Karen laughed. "I'm just teasing, Nathan."
Nathan gave her a curious look. "I'll just have a coffee."
"Same." Clay replied.
A minute later, Karen returned with their coffees before attending to the other customers at the café.
"So what was the hold up? I thought you got in early this morning?"
"I was driving around town and I went to get this." Clay held up a small plastic bag.
"Comic books? What are you ten?"
Clay gasped. "Nate, this is X-Men issue #17. This baby is a classic."
"Well is it worth much cuz I'm kind need money to support a family especially since I don't have a contract."
"Don't be dramatic Nate, I know how much you have in your bank account. You and Haley won't be ending up on the streets any time soon."
"Whatever man, so what's up with Charlotte."
"Like I told you, it can go either way. They like you but they are worried about your back and the press surrounding you. But the good news is that the charity functions you're attending are making headlines, not top headlines but good press is better than no press and with your back, I already told them that you'll go through a thorough physical with any doctors they choose. I also talked to one of the owners and he was born and bred in North Carolina, helped bring a team to the state so the fact that you're a local boy is helping us but time is not on our side."
"Look Clay, if it comes down to the wire, give the green light to Seattle. I don't want to go but right now that's my only option." Nathan grabbed a manila envelope from his bookbag and handed it to Clay. "I signed it but submit it only at the last possible moment Clay."
"I understand." Clay took it from Nathan.
"And after Atlanta, I don't want to go anywhere far and no over night trips. The baby is getting bigger and I don't like leaving Haley alone too long."
"Understood. I'll send you the list of events coming up and you let me know which ones you can go to." Clay pulled out his blackberry. "There is something else. Something I want to show you."
Clay handed Nathan his phone.
Nathan chuckled. "Clay, I really don't need to see who you hooked up with last night."
"Well, she is hot in that, I'll fuck her and leave her type but dude no. This is her. Rachel."
"Rachel?" Nathan questioned. "Wait, that Rachel? The one that tried to blackmail me?"
"Yeah. On my way to the comic store, I passed by this thrift store and saw her there. I took some shots of her but I think the bitch saw me and she took off before I could do anything."
"Well at least we have a face."
"Yeah, Skills and I tried to figure out who she was but we couldn't get anything on her until now."
"Great, this bitch is local then if you saw her in Tree Hill. See what you and Skills can dig up, I'm going to see if the Police Chief of Tree Hull can help us out. The last thing I need is some phycho bitch trying to take advantage of me."
"I didn't know you had that kind of pull around here."
"Well, it helps if your dad is the mayor." Nathan paused. "And I think it's time to pay daddy a visit."
. . . . . .
"Hi I'd like to see Dan Scott."
"I'm sorry sir but.." Renee looked up from her desk and was startled. "Nathan.." She accidentally blurted out.
Nathan eyed her curiously. "Yes, I'm his son but I guess you know that." Nathan had a weird sense of déjà vu. The last time he was in here, he stormed through the office to see his dad but he had a feeling he'd seen her before. Tree Hill isn't the biggest town so there was always a decent chance that their paths have crossed before.
"I'm sorry but have we met?" Nathan asked.
"No.. not.. formally." Renee tried to put on a smile. "But I'm a big fan. The Sonics is one of my favorite teams."
"Oh, thanks."
"You're dad is in his office." Renee pointed to his office. "You can go on ahead."
"Thanks." Nathan smiled politely and headed towards his dad's office.
Nathan reached the large wooden door and knocked.
"Come in."
Nathan stepped inside.
"Nathan." Dan was surprised. "I wasn't expecting you. How are you? How's the baby?"
"Good on all counts."
"I haven't heard from you and your brother since the camping trip."
"The baby is fine Dad. We got him tested. Lucas and I are still waiting back on our results."
"Look son, I'm sorry about everything."
"Dad, I know and for once, the HCM isn't your fault. At least not entirely, well you know what I mean."
"I heard from Keith. He doesn't have it."
"Yeah Lucas told me."
"How is your brother?"
"Dad, please don't."
"Nathan.. I .."
"Dad, you had 23 years to get to know Luke and if I listened to you back in high school, he would still be a stranger to me."
"Look Nathan, all I can say is sorry.. to both of you."
"Dad, I'm not here to hash out old wounds."
"Fair enough."
"What's up with you? How's your heart?" Nathan asked.
"Degenerating." Dan replied. "I'm on the list for a new heart. If they find a match, I have a chance, if not."
"Look Dad after everything.. despite everything that's happened, I don't want to see you die. I'm going to be a dad soon and I just can't keep carrying this weight around me when it comes to you.. it's just exhausting."
"I know I've been a lousy dad Nathan but I know you're going to be a great one. I hope that one day you might even let me meet him."
"Maybe." Nathan replied vaguely. "But since you care for me and the baby so much, I actually have a favor to ask you."
"Anything."
Nathan reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone and handed it to Dan. "A while back, I had some one try to blackmail me. Rachel, I don't even know if it's her real name."
Dan eyed the picture carefully. "What do you mean blackmail?"
"She some how found out about Haley and the baby and threatened to take it to the press but I beat her to it and announced it myself. Anyways, I tried to get more info on her but nothing came up. My agent saw her this morning and so I'm hoping if you can find something out?"
"I'll see what I can do." Dan handed Nathan back his phone. Nathan pressed a few keys on his phone before putting it back in his pocket.
"I texted you the photos, just let me know."
"Don't worry Nathan, I'll handle this."
Nathan nodded. "Thanks Dad." Nathan cleared his throat. "Look I got to get going."
"Yeah, I understand… umm.. Thanks for coming to me with this, Nathan."
Nathan nodded before heading out.
. . . . .
Lucas dribbled the ball and took a step back to be in three point territory before making the shot. It hit the rim but unfortunately, it didn't make it in. Before Lucas can run over to grab the ball, Nathan came out of nowhere and got it from him.
"Someone's a little rusty."
Lucas shrugged. "Yeah."
Nathan dribbled it a few times and took a few steps towards Lucas. "It's like this." Nathan stood with his back towards the basket, and with out a second look back, Nathan threw the ball behind him.
Lucas squinted at him and cocked his head to the side as the ball went in.
"Shouldn't you be heading out of town?"
"I'm on my way out. I haven't heard from you in a while."
"Still no word about the HCM test."
"Okay but what you been up to?" Nathan asked.
"Been busy."
"You're mad at me. I get it, but I've always been a better player than you despite the fact you beat me that one time." Nathan chuckled but Lucas didn't look amused. "Look, Luke, I don't know why you're so mad here, you're the one who told Haley about the test."
Lucas continued to squint at him.
"Alright so I went to see Mrs. James and then there was Brooke with the ring.. but I needed to talk to Mrs. James and Brooke's a girl and I needed help with jewelry. I was going to talk to you about it."
"Right, I mean I'm only Haley's best friend.. the reason why you went after her in the first place."
"Luke, stop being a girl."
"Stop acting like a jerk."
"It wasn't like I planned on asking her. It just happened."
"Well, look how great that worked out."
"Whatever man. The girl I love refuses to marry me, yet I look like the bad guy."
"Well running away from Haley doesn't make you a good guy either."
"I'm not running away."
"You better not be, my promise still holds true you know, I'll still kick your ass if you hurt her."
"Noted." Nathan chuckled. "I have this trip and another one in Atlanta and that's it, I'm taking it easy to be there for Haley and the baby."
Lucas nodded. He'd been on edge ever since he admitted his HCM to Brooke and his mom. Telling someone else about it, outside of Nathan, made it feel even more real. "Actually, I don't blame you for going away. I've been feeling the same. The waiting and everything that's been going on." Lucas sighed.
"Is this why you're out here by yourself?"
Lucas nodded. "Helps me clear my head."
"Why don't you go with me?" Nathan proposed.
"Right now?"
"Well, it's cutting it close but come with Clay and I to Atlanta next week."
"Atlanta huh?"
"Yeah, charity event and it'd be good to be seen with my brother. I could use some good press, so what you say?"
"And I could use the distraction. I'm game."
"Cool, I'll tell Clay to set it up. Look, there's something else I wanted you to know."
"What?"
"I saw Dan today."
"Dan?"
"This is the girl who tried blackmailing me." Nathan pulled out his phone. "Have you seen her? Clay saw her today and I went to Dan to see if he can do something for me."
"Can't say I have but I can't believe you went to Dan. Are you sure you want him to get involved? Shoot, I wouldn't hold it pass him if Rachel was working for him."
"Dan is a lot of things but I don't think he'll go that low. Besides what would he gain from trying to black mail me?"
"With Dan you never know."
"He's dying Luke and I think he is trying to make amends. There was a time when he wasn't a monster.. a long time ago but maybe with him nearing the end, you know he's trying to make up for it."
"Maybe but I don't trust him."
Nathan nodded. "I don't either but I owe it to him to at least give it a shot. He wants to meet the baby after he's born. Normally, I would've say no but if he's dying, I mean how can I say no to that? Plus he's the mayor, I figure, he has the most connections in this town and the last thing I want is some crazy bitch ready to take advantage of me."
Lucas nodded back. "I've actually been thinking about Dan. This whole waiting game with the HCM is just fucking with my brain."
"Tell me about it." Nathan sighed. "He needs a heart transplant. If he doesn't get one then he's gone."
Lucas looked down. "I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel about that. He may be my biological Dad but he's not my father."
"I don't think there is a right or wrong way to feel."
Lucas nodded.
"Look for what it's worth look, I think you got the better end of the deal."
"For what it's worth I think both of us got a raw deal." Lucas smirked.
"Can't argue there." Nathan grabbed the basketball land took another shot.
. . . . .
"Come on Hales, let's go." Peyton stood in front of Haley and held her hands out for Haley to grab.
"I don't feel like going out." Haley whined.
"Hales.."
"Give me a break Peyton, my feet are swollen and this couch feels so good." Haley leaned back and hugged a throw pillow.
"Fine." Peyton gave up. "But you've been moping around the house all day. It's a beautiful day out."
"Yeah, I'm just not up for it." Haley shrugged.
"So what is it?" Peyton sat down next to Haley.
"I'm assuming you talked to Brooke."
Peyton nodded.
"How are you Hales?"
"If I say I'm fine, will you believe me?"
"Probably not." Peyton gave a warm smile. Peyton was back in town to visit her father and felt bad for missing out last week for Lydia's birthday. Turns out that she missed a lot.
"I don't know what's wrong with me." Haley threw her head back and put her foot up on the coffee table. "I love Nathan and I know he loves me.. and I know he would never do anything to hurt me but.."
"But you still can't say yes?"
Haley nodded.
"There was a time when I believed that too and looked what happened." Haley sighed. "It's like I can picture a life with him you know, I've had that image in my head since I was in high school."
"So what's holding you back?"
"I'm not ready to be a wife." Haley replied. "At least that's what I thought last week."
"And maybe you're ready now?"
Haley shook her head. "I can't bring myself to yes.. at least not now. Does that make me a bad person? Am I just leading Nathan on?"
"Hales, you've been through a lot.. both of you have." Peyton answered. "I think both of you.. especially you, just need some time."
"That's what I thought but Nathan is gone half the time now and I miss him and I can still see the look on his face. I've never seen him so hurt."
"Marrying Nathan because you feel guilty is not a good reason to marry him."
"I know." Haley sighed. "Sometime I wish he just didn't ask me you know, we were doing so great."
"And what about the other times?"
"Then a part of me is happy he asked. It makes me know how serious he is about everything because five years ago he bailed on me just like that."
"Are you still mad at him for leaving you?"
"Maybe I am punishing him. When Nathan came back to town and I gave him hell, and a part of me couldn't but he happy to see him suffer but now I think I'm just hurting the both of us."
"Look Hales, when you're ready, it'll come to you. And from what Brooke told me, it seemed like it was a spur of the moment."
"Yeah, Brooke helped get the ring. I couldn't even bring my self to look at it."
"Where is the ring?"
"It's in my purse." Haley motioned to her purse that was on a nearby chair.
Peyton immediately got up and rummaged through the purse.
"Peyton, what're you doing?"
"You may not be ready to see this ring but I want to see the rock Brooke picked out."
"Peyton!"
"Oh come on Hales, indulge me." Peyton pulled out the small velvet black box. "Besides, I remember how the ring looks, I just want to see how it looks with the bigger diamond. You know drop Jake some hints just in case." Peyton winked and took her seat next to Haley.
"Wait, what're you talking about? Did you help Nathan get the ring too?"
"Hales, I was with you when you picked it out."
Haley gave her a confused look.
"Oh my God, Nathan didn't tell you? Brooke didn't?"
"Tell me what?"
"He's been carrying around with him for five years."
"What're you talking about?"
"He bought the ring in high school, Hales. He just asked Brooke to exchange the rock."
"What?" Haley grabbed the box from Peyton and opened it with a small gasp.
. . . .
Peyton nudged her shoulder against Brooke.
"What?" Brooke asked and then followed her line of sight to Haley.
Slowly, the two girls made their way over to Haley.
"What you looking at?" Brooke asked and Haley jumped in surprise.
"Nothing." Haley quickly replied.
"That ring didn't look like nothing." Peyton quipped.
"Oh Miss." Brooke waved her hand to get the clerk's attention. "We'd like to see this ring."
"Sure." The clerk replied and opened the glass case.
"Guys, what're you doing?"
"Oh come on Hales." Brooke egged on. "Think of it as a glimpse into the future."
"Don't think we didn't see you space out on that ring." Peyton added.
"Why Haley James.. or is it Haley James soon to be Scott?" Brooke teased.
"Guys quit it." Haley blushed.
"Look Hales, you two have been hot and heavy for a year now. Don't act like you haven't thought about it."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Haley put the ring on.
"I'd got for a bigger rock but it does look nice." Brooke commented. "Maybe if you're good Santa will leave it in your stockings this Christmas." Brooke winked.
"I'm just think it looks nice, I mean what girl wouldn't." Haley replied.
"You're not fooling everyone Hales." Peyton added.
"I just called dibs on making the dress." Brooke announced.
"You guys are not bad. Nathan and I aren't getting married. We're still in high school."
"Yeah but aren't you planning on going to the same school?" Peyton asked. "You can honestly tell me you haven't thought about it."
"Yeah tutor-bride?"
"Fine." Haley gave in. "Of course I thought about it. I mean you seen how Nathan is." Haley sighed as she held the ring up. "It would be at the garden next to the church my parents got married. They'd be flowers everywhere and I don't want the traditional wedding song going down the isle, maybe someone singing on a piano."
"Aww." Brooke leaned against Peyton's shoulder.
"Oh yeah, she has it bad." Peyton turned to Brooke.
"It's just a thought." Haley took the ring off. "Who knows if it'll really happen."
"That tattoo on your ass begs to differ." Brooke replied. "You're in it for the long haul Hales, not this whole high school sweethearts break up after graduation."
"Yeah Hales, if there's anything I know for sure about you two after we graduate, you guys will be together." Peyton added.
"I wouldn't object to that." Haley couldn't hold back her smile and blushed.
. . . .
Haley turned to Peyton, a stray tear rolling down her face. "I can't believe he's had this the whole time."
Dan leaned back in his chair and cracked his knuckles. He'd spent the whole afternoon doing paperwork and signing documents. With his HCM, he's trying to get as much done before it gets too much for him and he has to resign. He looked outside the window and notice how dark it was getting. Time really flew by today. He checked his phone and his e-mail and he heard nothing back from the police department. He wondered if they had any leads on the girl that was tried to blackmail his son.
"Renee." Dan hit the intercom. "Do I have any messages?… Renee?"
Dan got up from his desk and walked outside his office and noticed that Renee wasn't there. Maybe she left for the day he thought. He looked at her desk; she usually had a little memo pad where she wrote down any messages. He looked down on it and saw that none of the messages were too important. He could deal with that tomorrow. He put the pad down next to a photo frame that was on her desk. He was about to walk away but stopped and took a closer look at the picture. He noticed Renee and another girl with her, a red head with their arms around each other. Dan gritted his teeth and stared at the photo long and hard before slamming the photo frame back down onto the desk, cracking the glass enclosure.
To Be Continued . . . .