Author's Note: Sorry to those of you who read this morning but thanks for bringing it to my attention. For some reason the wrong document was uploaded I apologize about that and that you had to wait the rest of the day before I could formally fix it.
Lucas figured Haley hadn't gone far. He walked to the waiting room at the end of the hall. He couldn't believe his eyes. "You should know he thought I was you," he heard Becca say. "When I hugged him he called my by your name."
"He asked you to leave," Lucas said trying not to sound too angry.
"Your right," Becca said, "I'm sorry." She turned quickly and left.
"The nerve," Peyton said.
"Whatever she's gone now," Haley said now seeming a lot calmer.
"What she said was true though," Lucas said, "he thought she was you. He couldn't see his eyes were adjusting." Haley didn't say anything she just turned and looked out the window. "Come on Hales, he wants to see you. He thought he was waking up to you."
"But he didn't, he woke up to her. Do you remember her," Haley snapped, "the same her he neglected to tell me about?"
"Then go scold him for that," Lucas said, "but at least go in there."
Haley stormed back to the room. She had every intention of entering angry and calling Nathan out for not mentioning Becca. When she got to the room though, Nathan's eyes were closed and she thought he was unconscious again. She approached him, "Nathan?"
At the sound of Haley's voice Nathan's eyes shot opened. "Hey," he whispered.
"Hi," she whispered amidst tears. She wrapped her arms around him.
"Ouch," he winced and touched his ribs. Haley pulled back, "I don't think so," he said and pulled her back toward him and she settled onto the bed. She continued to cry and he kissed her on the forehead, "it's ok, I'm ok," he said, "and the doctor said he's ok too," he said questioningly talking about Keith.
"Yeah, Tim was a match," Haley said.
"You're mad at me huh," he asked, "for not mentioning Becca. I'm sorry. I didn't think it was important. We were working on us and it didn't occur to me that it would bother you that my best friend is a girl. I didn't think she'd show up here. Obviously not, I didn't think any of this would happen."
"It doesn't matter now. All that matters is that you're ok, Keith's ok. You are just friends right, always were just friends," Haley asked.
"Of course, it's only you," he answered, "you and me always and forever." She sighed, relaxed a little and rested her head on his shoulder.
Lucas came back into the room, "you guys ok now," he asked.
"Yeah, we're good," Nathan answered and Haley smiled.
"Good. Peyton left, she had stuff to do. She said she'd be back later probably," Lucas said. "I called your mom too and told her you were awake."
Haley got up and checked on Keith. He was waking up from a nap so she picked him up and brought him over to Nathan. "Hey buddy," Nathan said as Haley handed Keith to him. Keith wrapped his arms around Nathan's neck and Nathan hugged him back. Then he sat at Nathan's side playing with a car.
"The police were here when you first came in. They wanted to question you. They'll probably be here later," Lucas said.
"Great it figures," Nathan said. Just then Deb entered the room, "mom."
"Oh Nathan, thank god your alright," she said as she came over and leaned over Keith and hugged Nathan. "How are you little man," she asked Keith as she ruffled his hair.
Haley walked over and joined them smiling. Deb put her arm around Haley.
"Your boys are going to be ok," Haley said to Deb.
"Our boys, their more yours than mine," Deb said and Haley laughed.
Nathan grabbed Haley's hand, "was that laughter?"
"Well maybe it's about time she's happy," Lucas said from his chair.
There was a harsh knock at the door that startled them all and a police officer entered the room. "May I have a word Mr. Scott?"
"Alright honey, I'm gonna go," Deb said kissing his cheek and then kissing Keith on top of his head. "As long as I know you boys are alright I'm fine."
Nathan smiled, "we'll be ok," he said and Deb left.
The officer looked at Lucas and Haley. "This is my son's room too," she said as she picked Keith up from Nathan's side and brought him to his crib. "I'm not leaving," she said.
Lucas looked nervously from Haley to the officer. The officer conceded, "very well." Then he looked at Lucas who looked very apprehensive. He didn't want to leave Haley alone in the room to hear Nathan recall his story. The officer read Lucas' face, "you can stay too, but not a word from either of you. Not one word," he repeated.
"Fine," Haley and Luca said in unison.
The officer pulled a chair next to Nathan. "Mr. Scott I'd like to ask you a few questions about your disappearance."
"Ok," Nathan said and the officer took out a notepad.
"You disappeared the night before your son's surgery correct," the officer asked.
"Yes sir," Nathan answered and the officer wrote on the notepad.
"Can you tell me exactly what happened?"
"Uh, well I had just learned I could donate my kidney to save my son. It would mean the end of my career, which naturally upset me a little so I stepped out for air. I had every intention of returning. I went to the docks and someone must have hit me from behind because I felt a sharp pain and that was the last thing I remember before waking up tied to a chair in a warehouse."
"Were there people there," the officer asked.
"Yeah there were a couple of men," Nathan answered.
"Did you recognize them?"
"Only one," he said then hesitated, "this guy Bear."
Haley looked at Lucas and he returned her look of concern but neither spoke only continued watching over Keith and listening to Nathan and the officer. The officer seemed to be thinking, "Blake 'Bear' Hartley," he finally asked.
"I don't know," Nathan answered, "I've only ever known him as Bear."
"Could you pick him out of a line-up?"
"Yeah definitely."
"And the others, could you pick them out of a line-up too?"
"Yeah probably," Nathan answered.
"Ok well then I just have a few more questions," the officer said, "could you tell me why Bear would want to kidnap you? Keep in mind if this is the man I think he is I know what he does so be honest."
Nathan sighed and his eyes locked on Haley's. He looked defeated and she looked nervous. "A few years ago my wife and I were in some financial trouble," Nathan paused, "this guy had been around town and knew about my situation and kept offering to help. I refused for a while but things kept getting worse for us and I had exhausted other means of help so I took Daunte up on his offer."
"Daunte Billings?"
"Yes."
"Didn't he die in a hit and run that involed your wife," the officer asked.
"Yes," Nathan answered with shame in his voice.
"I thought that was a tragic accident," the officer said.
"You thought wrong," Nathan said, "Daunte wanted revenge because when I couldn't pay him back he asked me to shave some points in the Ravens semi-final game. I did but it wasn't enough for him. He asked me to throw the state championship game. I couldn't go through with it though and Daunte came after me but Haley pushed me out of the way." Nathan began to tear up and Haley wanted to go to him but she held her position.
"How does Bear come in," the officer asked knowing darn well how but he needed Nathan to say it.
"Well he was Daunte's right hand man," Nathan explained. "From what I gathered while he had me, he still blamed me for Daunte's death and he wanted to collect on the debt still. I guess Daunte's boss wanted his money still after all this time."
"That makes sense. Bear, Blake Hartley is wanted for numerous gambling, money laundering, and assault and battery charges nationwide. So last question to finish the account of events," the officer paused, "how did you end up here?"
"I don't really remember. I mean it's patchy. Somehow I wasn't tied up but I tackled someone and was knocked out again and then I remember I ran a lot. All I can really clearly remember is thinking about my family," he paused.
Haley was crying now and made a move toward Nathan. Lucas grabbed her arm and whispered, "let him finish it's almost over."
"I don't know how I got here but the last thing I remember seeing before this morning was my wife's face," at that Haley flew across the room into Nathan's arms. She was sobbing.
"Thank you," the officer said and shook Nathan's hand, "we'll be in touch."
"Thanks," Nathan said and the officer left. "Shh," he said stroking Haley's hair. Lucas nodded at Nathan and left the room. "See I came back for you."
"I … I… can't believe you went through all that," Haley said. "I could have lost you."
"But you didn't. You won't," he said, "I'll always come back."
"I love you," Haley said.
Nathan tilted her chin and kissed her, "I love you too."