Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long since the last update. I went to visit family for the 4th of July which is where I am still. I only had half the update written so I had to finish it before posting and I've been busy visiting with people. But alas I have finished an update so here it is… hopefully the next one won't be so far off.

"Hey," Rachel said shaking a sleeping Lucas. She was trying to be quiet so she wouldn't wake Haley or Keith.

"Huh," Lucas rolled over and almost fell off his cot. "Whoa, Rachel hey."

"Shhh, I don't want to wake everyone. I didn't want to wake you either but I brought you a good breakfast, Haley too I just figure she needs the sleep more than you. I asked your mom last night if I could bring you some real food for breakfast," Rachel.

"You spoke with my mom last night," Lucas asked.

"Yeah, I was at the river court with Mouth, Fergie, Skills, and Junk and we decided to go to the café like the night we found out Keith was sick. Your mom and Peyton were the only people there. We all helped her close and then hung out for a while."

"Wow, look at you hanging out with my friends and my mom," Lucas said. "Wow."

"I know," Rachel said smiling.

"Nathan," Haley mumbled, "Nathan."

"Hales," Lucas said as he got up and went to her. "Hales wake up," Lucas said shaking her.

She gasped for air as she sat up and hugged Lucas, "what happened?"

"You were calling for Nathan," Lucas answered.

"Is he awake," she said looking past Lucas.

"No," he said, "sorry."

"Hi Rachel," Haley said. "It's kind of early isn't it?"

"Yeah, sorry I hope I'm not intruding," Rachel said. "I thought maybe you'd want some real food for breakfast." She pulled the Karen's café bag over. "I brought pancakes, scrambled eggs, home fries, and bacon."

"Awesome, I'm starved," Haley said.

Lucas looked at Rachel she looked surprised. Lucas smiled and they all pulled up chairs.

"So how's Nathan doing," Rachel asked as they ate.

"He's still unconscious. I think they're gonna run more tests today," Haley answered.

"Haley I'm sorry," Rachel said.

"Well at least we know where he is now," Haley said. "Keith's doing well, though. The doctor said they're giving him sedatives the next couple days so he'll sleep a lot and heal better. The surgery went well though and they just have to keep an eye on him and make sure the anti-rejection medication is working."

"That sounds good," Rachel said.

Just then Brooke burst through the door. "Hey," she said all out of breath, "sorry to interrupt but I was getting coffee and the paper. Look at this." She held up the front page of the paper. There was a picture of Nathan in his Duke uniform and the headline read, "Local Duke Basketball Star Kidnapped!"

Haley grabbed the paper and read. When she finished she spoke, "so they believe he was kidnapped. They have some quotes from dock workers who reported suspicious activity at a warehouse. One quote, anonymous of course, says they saw a bruised and bloody Nathan run from one warehouse to another and later saw the cops take two men from the first warehouse. The police said they don't comment on ongoing investigations." Haley picked up the phone, "excuse me," she said to Lucas, Brooke, and Rachel as she dialed. She looked at Lucas, "there are tons of messages at home from papers and tabloids asking for comments." She hung up and dialed another number, "hey it's me. Can you try and control this, keep it low key? No comments let them know my family has been through a lot and are still recovering. We'd respect some privacy and we'll issue a statement when we're ready," she paused. "Ok thanks. I'll be in touch." She hung up and looked at Lucas.

"Publicist," he asked.

Haley nodded, "yeah I'm worried. This crap isn't anyone's business. Why can't they just leave it alone?"

"I'm sorry Haley I just thought you should know," Brooke said.

"I'm glad you showed me maybe my publicist can control it," Haley said.

"Alright well Tim's sleeping and I should get back before he wakes if he knows I was here he might kill me," Brooke said and waved as she walked out.

Peyton walked into Tim's room. He and Brooke were talking. "Hey," she said, "how are you feeling today?"

"Really good actually," Tim said, "hopefully they'll let me out of here soon."

"Been down to see Keith and Nathan yet," she asked.

"No not yet," Brooke answered, "Tim's been bugging me since he woke up but I wanted to wait for you because I said we could go down together."

"So then let's go," Tim said.

They got to the floor and approached the room. Lucas and Rachel were outside talking and the door was closed.

"Hey what's going on," Brooke asked as they walked up.

"They just brought Nathan back from his second round of testing," Lucas answered.

"Is he still unconscious," Tim asked.

"Yeah," Lucas answered.

"Should we be worried," Tim asked as the door opened.

"Guess we'll find out soon," Lucas said then looked at the doctor.

"Haley asked me to tell you she wants some alone time," the doctor said.

"Ok," Lucas said nodding, "is everything ok?" The doctor looked at the others. "It's ok doc their friends, family Haley would tell them.

"The CAT scan still looks good we just need to be patient and wait for him to wake up. His other vitals look good so I think it might be soon," the doctor said.

Haley climbed into Nathan's bed and whispered in his ear, "wake up baby." She stroked his hair, "open your eyes and tell me who did this. I know you didn't leave us I know you were kidnapped so wake up Nathan so we can help the cops end it once and for all."

There was no response. Haley got up and went into the hallway. "Wow, hey guys," Haley said surprised to see everyone.

"Hey girlie," Brooke said, "how are you?"

Before Haley could answer a short blonde burst into sight and called Lucas' name. Everyone turned to look.

"Lucas cocked his head sideways with a confused look, "Becca?"

She ran up and hugged him, "as soon as I saw the paper this morning when I got home I drove straight here."

"Yeah sorry I called and left a message but I knew you weren't around," Lucas answered.

Haley looked at Lucas who wasn't paying attention then she looked at everyone else. They all looked just as confused as she did. Brooke mouthed to Haley, "who's she?" Haley shrugged. Lucas led this Becca into the room and everyone else followed. Tim stayed by the door while Haley, Peyton, and Brooke huddled by Keith in his crib and Lucas and Becca were on the other side of the room by Nathan.

All three girls watched Becca and Lucas. He said something to her and she nodded as she sat. She grabbed Nathan's hand and began talking to him. Lucas headed toward the girls. Brooke and Peyton looked at Haley who looked dumbfounded. When Lucas was close enough Peyton pounced first, "who is she," she asked in a furious whisper.

Lucas looked at Haley, "she's just a friend."

"Well she sure does look a little friendly doesn't she," Brooke said raising an eyebrow.

"She's the cheer captain at Duke. She's a senior so she's a year a head of him. When he first got there, well you know him; all the girls wanted him and for some reason she bailed him out. I think at first she wanted him and figured she'd stick around until he wanted her back. He told me once though that there was something different about her and he could tell her why he wasn't interested in dating and she understood. She even pretended to date him to keep other girls away. But they are just friends though," Lucas said reassuringly.

"How come I've never heard of her before," Haley asked.

"I can't speak for Nathan but I figured he would have mentioned her," he said.

"Well he didn't," she said.

"I dunno maybe it's 'cuz they're just friends," he said starting to get frustrated. "Look I left her a message when Nathan turned up because I'm sure she'd want to know. I'm sure he probably left her a message about Keith. She probably would have come sooner but she was in Europe for the summer. Maybe that's why Nathan didn't mention it. Seriously though Hales they're like you and me, at least that's the impression I got the few times I've met her."

Haley didn't know what to say or think so she just continued to watch Becca with Nathan. Peyton and Brooke glared at Lucas who took off toward Tim for saving.

"Hey," Tim said.

"Did you know about her," Lucas asked.

"Yeah I never met her but I knew he had a close friend that was a girl." He looked at the girls then back to Lucas, "she didn't know though and of course you're the bad guy because you didn't say anything even though Nathan should have. And when Brooke realizes I knew I'm dead, great."

"Why do girls get jealous and why do we help feed the fire," Lucas asked.

"I don't know you're asking the wrong guy. Do you remember my return to Tree Hill," Tim asked.

Lucas laughed, "oh yeah. Sorry about that again."

Tim laughed too, "I should check on Keith," he said ending the conversation and wheeling over to the crib.