The Risk

Thanks for reading and the replies.

God made woman beautiful and foolish; beautiful, that man might love her; and foolish, that she might love him.Anonymous

Chapter 4

"I was just going to cut off the light." She murmured.

"I'm alright, Beautiful. It's just a brace, some padding."

Haley, presently immobile, held on to the nightstand for strength. Letting out a held breath, she regained her faculties and wiped her nose with a Kleenex, tears continued to lightly peppered her face. "If you weren't already half dead. I would kill you myself, Nathan Scott!" She rubbed her thumb across his jaw line. His skin was so clammy. "You have some nerve, trying to hide something like this from me. Let me guess, this is the latest fashion, like a girdle!" She said, poking hard at the wide white bandage that closed on his side with Velcro. He curled up, writhing with pain at just her touch. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't." She was crying loudly now.

"Shh… shhh. Don't cry, Hales. It was just a cramp. It passed. See." He reassured, trying to stretch his long frame back across the bed, but folding his body back up in a matter of seconds.

"Stop lying! Damn!" She released the clasp on the bandage and let it fall open. Examining the two healing scars about five inches apart, Haley felt faint. "You've been shot? You had surgery? Didn't you?"

Silently, Nathan licked his dry lips, his eyes never leaving her heartbroken face.

"Answer me!" She was so angry at him, but terrified too. He was so pale no, so weak.

"Yes. I was shot." He choked, his throat drier than the Sahara.

"When? How?"

"I got caught in a little crossfire in Juba. I guess someone forgot to tell the bullets I was just there to take some pictures." He tried to joke. "Haley-"

"How long ago?" She didn't get a phone call, a letter, nothing!

"Doesn't matter." It was hard to try and dismiss the situation or argue when it feels like the Pittsburg Steelers were trampling your belly.

"Why wasn't it on the news or the papers? It should have been on the front page!"

"I called in a couple of favors and asked my press friends to keep it on the down low. It's not that bad. I'm almost better, Beautiful."

"That's a load of crap!" She fussed, pressing her small palm to his cheek and underneath his chin. "You're burning up and you're weak as wet toilet paper."

"It's just a little fever from the infection. I just took my antibiotics, just give it time to work." He groaned, laying spread eagle. The sheet and the comforter inched further down, below his knees now. "I'm so hot. Water …. Please, Haley." He whimpered, kicking his feet from underneath the bedding.

"Pull the cover back up. You have a fever." She coaxed tenderly as she pulled the linen over his body. Quickly, she returned from getting him a glass of water in the private bathroom. She had to hold his head and the cup as he took short hungry gulps, finishing it in four swallows. Since he arrived that afternoon he had been hurting and not made a peep. If she had not come in to cut off the light, he would have left the next morning as if nothing were wrong. What a crazy jackass move!

"I'm calling an ambulance." She grabbed the cordless of the nightstand.

"Don't." He said, tugging at the telephone with amazing power. "It took my pain pills and antibiotics. I'll be fine by sunrise. I just need a little rest. I just overdid it today. I've only been out of the hospital a couple of days."

She gripped the phone tightly. She was ready to knock some sense into him. "They let you out in this condition? Nathan you need to go back and infection is serious."

"No……so tired of the hospital." His hand covered hers. "No more doctors. All I need is sleep. No ambulance …..hair swear.

iWhen Haley was busted by Lucas and Nathan sneaking at 4 am drunk after a holiday party during Winter break her Senior year, she asked them to pinky swear they wouldn't tell. The manly men, refused to do the girlie vow. Lucas decided each of the threesome had great hair, so instead they sealed the pact an any other following with a pull of each others hair and the Hair Swear became history./i

In his current state, Haley felt Nathan had no right to expect her to keep promises. "Sweetheart," She dab his face, neck and shoulders with the cool damp wash cloth she had also brought from the bathroom along with a thermometer. "You're so hot. We've got to bring your fever down."

"In hospital too long… won't go."

"Let me just take your temperature." She pleaded and slipped the digital device under his tongue. It sounded in a matter of seconds and she removed in time for him to ramble deliriously.

"Hate hospitals ….. Love, Haley….No more doctors." He persisted, although his voice had grown shallow. "Fine, no hospital." She gave in and finally wrestled the phone free and placed it back on the mount.

Haley was scared out of her mind, but if he wanted her care, she would not deny him. She was honored.

Slowly, she got him to take in some fluids little by little and frequently she sponged him down with the cool cloth.

"Hot ….. Real hot," He mumbled.

"I know, my love," She pampered, laying the fresh cloth to his forehead and chiseled cheeks.

The sweet gentle sound of her voiced continued to keep him company although he wasn't coherent. His restless body kept his tossing and turning all night and mid Saturday afternoon. When his dehydrated body reached 103 degrees, she urged him over and over again to fight his infection and fever. She reminded him he was stronger than this, that he had to get better. She refused to loose him too. It was after 4pm when his fever finally broke and he rested peacefully.

Even though Haley's body shook from fatigue and her eyes were bloodshot, she took a clean braces from Nathan's backpack and replaced the sweaty drench one that was still wrapped around his middle. She worked at a fast pace, not reacting to the slightly healed bullet wounds. Her task was quickly finish without no noticeable disturbance to the patient. Afterwards, she sat in the armchair, covering herself with the throw.

She closed her eyes, but sleep still didn't come easy. The two long scar from the stitched flashed in her mind like a neon sign. They ran across his midsection, from his navel to his gall bladder. It was a permanent reminder of how close he had come to dying. Briskly, she wiped at her eyes until she cried herself to sleep.

Neither woke during the night. He woke first the next morning. His groans breaking her from her slumber. Her muscles were stiff from the chair and she was cranky, but she rushed to his side, climbing into bed with him.

"Is it another fever?" She bent over him, checking his temperature on his face with the back of her hand.

"Haley." Heavy bags lay under his eyes, but they showed great clarity. " I didn't mean-"

"Hush, Sweetheart …. It's okay," she whispered to his cheek

Turning on his side, he lay his head in her lap, his arm draped across her legs and returned to a much needed rest. Haley tried to slip away, but his body moved in closer and his other arm moved behind his head and around her waist since she was in a sitting position. Too worn out to fight, she leaned back against the head board. They both slept the morning away.

Haley woke and took a long bath. She changed into a long-sleeved tee and sweats.

"Good morning," she sang as she carried in a lunch tray with a mug of warm chicken broth and a grilled cheese sandwich.

She helped him sit up, stuffing three pillows behind him for the utmost comfort.

"Thanks." He mumbled as he grimaced, still in a lot of agony. Gratefully, he took his medication from her and swallowed it down before filling his body with the food.

His legs were wobbly as she guided him into the bathroom and removed the brace/bandage so he could clean up. He scurried her out, insisting he could do it by himself. She paced the floor, her stomach a ball of nerves as he washed his hair, showered, and brushed his teeth. He could fall or bump into something. She didn't calm down until he was crawling under the covers of the bed, clean sheets and all.

In no time, the chills started. She could cover him with comforter after comforter, blanket after blanket, throw after throw, and turn the thermostat up to its highest setting, but he couldn't stop shaking or droning on about he was "sooo cold …..I'm freezing." as his teeth chattered.

Haley was at her wits end and ready to call 911. She could only think of one other thing to do. She rid herself of everything but her matching cotton panties and bra and got into bed with him. Facing him, she wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and her legs around his thighs, bringing her body almost flush with his, hoping he would absorb the her body heat.

"Haley." He questioned blearily.

"I'm right here, Sweetheart." She kissed his nose. His head rested against her breast and minutes later, the shivering stopped. They remained in the intimate position as the day flowed into night.

Nathan woke to an unknown object heating his side. Blinking several times before opening his blue orbs, he realized the smoothness against his thighs was Haley's firm butt. Spooned against him while she slept. His long arm was angled under the swell of her left breast, leading downward his fingers trailed her bare tummy, inching down to the elastic of her bikini underwear where he recalled she house a mound of gold curls between her satin legs.

For the first time since his bodies complete break down, Friday night, Nathan was lucid and his senses aware. His response to Haley's closeness was intimately physical, he was erect and throbbing. He understood and felt within every fiber of his being, how tender and tasty she was despite the limpness of his limbs and the steady ache in his gut.

Again, he was feverish, but the cause was different and the diagnosis, incurable. He wanted this woman …… wanted to dive into her tight deep center. Alas, he forced himself to lay stiff, filling up on her feminine scent. He undergarments were made of fine spun cotton, but had no comparison to her the feel of her peaches n crème skin. He didn't have to touch her to remember what she felt like. It was etching in his heart, mind, and soul for eternity. Haley James was supple and welcoming all over. He licked his lips, wishing he could quench his thirst for this beauty.

How many times had he fantasized about her being back in his bed? Could he even count that high? However, he never thought it might be too ill and weak to do anything more than cuddle. Life was a bitch!

Unmoving, Nathan didn't want to disrupt their proximity. He closed his eyes and for a brief time he soaked up the precious moment.

"Brrnnnggg!"

The telephone on the nightstand rang, breaking the quiet. Haley turned over, snuggling against him, her tiny hand splayed against the hard ridges of his chest. To add more torture, her shapely thigh slithered between his suddenly ultra receptive hairy calves. His chest was pounding and his erection pulsing so vigorously he was about to give into that brick wall of self control he prided himself on maintaining.

"Brrnnnggg!"

She sighed, but did not wake. Sick of the noise, he answered the phone.

"James residence."

The thick timber of his voice near her earlobe brought Haley from her delicious dream.

"Who called?" Haley yawned as Nathan set down the phone.

"I think she said her name was Brooke, your secretary. She was wondering why you hadn't come to work yet? I told her you were sleeping in. That's okay?" He asked as naturally, as they had woke a every morning together.

Haley blushed, shyly. Fully awake, she couldn't believe she let him find her half naked. She was suppose to wake before him and put her pajamas back on. Keeping the cover shoulder high, she reached over to the arm chair and grabbed her fluffy robe. Underneath the sheets, she slipped her body into it, trying to play it cool the entire time.

"How are you? No more chills or fever?" She asked as she ran her hand through his close cut dark mane before stopping briefly to check his temperature on his forehead.

"Drained, but alert. …. ok Thanks. You to really good care of me, Beautiful." He knew she had been his remedy. "I can't believe I was in and out that long. It's Monday."

"Tell me about it." Her eyes were full of relief and love. "You scared me." She admitted sitting on the side of the bed, she absently straightened the sheets. She was waiting for him to ask why she was there, with him, practically naked. Yet, her concern for his well being trumped her embarrassment. "I was so afraid and you would let me call an ambulance or a doctor."

"Haley, I shouldn't have come in the first place. You were never suppose to see me like this," he growled rudely.

"Don't tell me that!" She bit, exploding. She shot up, nostrils flaring, but trying not to let his crushing words stick with her.

She would study his words later, when she was by herself and he was gone again. Currently, he was much better, the fever and chills had disappeared. That was the important thing.

"Haley-" He caught the tips of her fingers before she could leave.

"Not now, Nathan. We'll speak about your pigheadedness another time. Right now, I'm late for work."

"Just let me explain. I never-"

"Stop while you're ahead! You made yourself abundantly clear, and I'm not up to discussing it this morning. I think we need a little time apart, to clear our heads. Will you be hear when I get back this afternoon?"

Nathan's eyes were like gas flames as he hurriedly spoke up. "I'll be here. I owe you that much." He didn't add that, she had seen him at his lowest or the fact his ass was too hurt to go any damn where. There was no point of trying to rush out of Tree Hill now. The truth, he needed her more than ever.

"We're family. You don't own me, shit!" She turned her back to him so he couldn't her weep. But his fingers climbed up her hand, gently stroking her dainty wrist.

She knew she should leave it alone, but the words were practically jumping off her tongue. "How could you let me found out like that? How could you hide your injury from me? You were shot, Nathan! Twice I might add! From the looks of things, you should probably be dead!"

"See! That's exactly why I didn't say anything," He sweep the tears away from her cheeks with his thumb. "I didn't want to upset you. I scared you. I'm not worth the heartache." She had suffered plenty. He didn't want to bring her more pain.

"That's for me to decide!"

"Haley, please. Don't be mad."

"How long were you in the hospital?"

"Why does-"

"Tell me, Nathan!"

"A month, alright! Are you happy now?"

"You were there all that time and I didn't even know you were sick. Didn't you tell your secretary to call me?" She glowered at him.

"You had been through enough. I want you to be happy."

"That's your excuse? Well it sucks like and Electrolux! You had no right to keep this from me. If I would have done the same thing ,you would have a fit!"

"Yeah, but you're different." he trailed off wishing he had bit his tongue when her eyes started to bulge and her hands when to her hips. He had been shielding her for so long, it was second nature. Besides, he knew the real reason she wasn't notified. He could only handle her in small intervals. Any long periods and the hunger he had for her that bubbled just below the surface would spill out and create havoc.

"I want a better explanation, Nathan Scott. We adopted each other a long time ago. Has something changed I didn't know about?"

"Even as a teenager you were bossy," he said edgily. "Stop looking at me like I betrayed you. I was protecting you!" Perhaps it was him he was really protecting.

"Don't raise your voice at me! I'm the one that has the right to be pissed, not you!"

He dropped his head timidly. Haley was scary when you ticked her off, but very hot too, Nathan thought.

"I had a right to know." She communication with a calmer demeanor and no more crying.

"I know that." He vowed lowly. "The facilities in Africa weren't more than a clinic. There was a lot of damage. I lost a lot of blood. I had to be flown to United States if I had a chance at all. It seems there was some doubt I would survive. I was put in a medically induce coma for the first week. It was weeks before I was in my right mind. I was finally healing when the infection set in. I couldn't watch you go through another loss, Beautiful."

"You're full aware that I'm a woman, Nathan Scott. I see how you look at me." She dared, making him blush. "What happened was a long time ago. We can't take it back. I accepted it as an unfortunate part of our history. I thought we've moved on."

They glared at each other. Nathan clinging to his need to keep her from any type of sorrow or sadness, and Haley completely bothered by his coddling ways. Not to mention, numbness from the sobering truth of what he risked just to do his job on a daily basis.

Finally, Haley gave in. "I'm going to get dressed." Her body rigid with ire as she left him staring after her…..

Pamela