Hey all, thanks for the reviews. Its much appreciated. I just finished this chapter and I'm basically done with the next so it should be up soon.
"Hello." A tired man in his late thirties answered the telephone.
"Hey Carl, Its Dan Scott."
"Dan, what is it you're wanting this time?" Carl asked annoyed, already knowing Dan's answer.
"Have you called Nathan, yet? I know I wouldn't be the first person on his list to find out, but I'm sure that I would hear it through grapevine about finding Haley's body."
"Dan, are you getting how wrong this all is?" Carl asked exasperated. He did not want to make the phone call to Nathan. This was just plain wrong. He's known it all along but lately his conscience has been working overtime. But, he was blackmailed by Dan Scott and now Dan has power over him. A sick power…just like the power he has over Nathan's life. Maybe if he tried to reason with him… "How about we just tell them we found them…and that they're alive. Then Nathan can be happy, and he won't even have to know you are responsible for Haley's disappearance. It'll be your second chance. Come on don't you feel the least bit guilty over what you have done to your son's life? Or to Haley and your granddaughter's for that matter?"
"No, I don't. And no, I'm not going to let you take the easy way out. Now that we've started this, we're going to finish this."
"Dan, these are people's lives. Ally and Haley cannot live in that house forever. It's beyond inhumane. Nathan cannot live in that apartment waiting for Haley to come home when you have her trapped in a house in Maine. You know Nathan calls weekly asking for any news. It kills me inside to know that instead of saying 'No, Nathan, I'm sorry. You know what the person who supposedly abducted them said. They are probably in the ocean' I could tell him what he has been wishing for and be like 'They're alive and healthy and living in a house in Maine. Only your dad made it so they have no form of communication with the outside world.'"
"If you did, I'd get you sent to the Looney bin. And not too mention what would happen to sweet little Annie…" Dan said in a tantalizing evil tone.
"NO! Never fucking touch Annie. Dan, what is up with your insane need to control people. You aren't God, you don't have that supernatural power. But yet you in some ways you do have a power. And it's creepy and villainous."
"Carl, Nathan now is in the NBA and has achieved so much more than he ever would have with being so tied down with his slutty wife and brat of a daughter. All I wanted was for him to achieve greatness and he has. And Haley and Ally live in a nice home; have a life long doctor and dental care. Hell, they live better than most of Africa. They should appreciate what they have. I very easily could have actually had them killed. And if they want to complain or if you decide to spill anything. Then well, they'll be killed and also you can expect Annie to be having the same fate. But I have to go; I have a charity function to go to."
Carl laughs, "Charity, why do you even bother? Not like you care."
"You're probably right, but I do need to keep up the image. I'm Dan Scott after all. And Carl, call Nathan by tonight and tell them you're very sorry but you found Haley's body. If you don't… well then you can imagine what'll happen. Good day Carl." Dan hung up the phone. He let out an evil laugh. "I'm not God? I'm more powerful than him." He said to the darkness of the room.
Carl sat bewildered. Why him? Why? He though about how he should never have trusted Dan Scott or agreed to this in the first place. But he had to. He was forced to. If not his little girl would have been hurt by that man. Carl couldn't imagine something happening to her…that's why it killed him to know what he was about to do to Nathan.
"I know, I'm so excited P. Sawyer-Jagieslki to see you!" Brooke exclaimed to her best friend via her cell phone as she tried to French braid Kate's hair. "Lucas is on his way to pick you up at the airport."
"Thanks B. Davis-Scott. You know we could have gotten a cab. Lucas didn't have to come pick us up.
"Come on. Lucas was delighted to do it after I volunteered him to."
"I'm sure…" Peyton laughed. "I just hope Jenny won't throw up in your guys car…She's been sick all morning."
"Morning sickness, eh? Maybe she's pregnant." Brooke said stifling a laugh
"Brooke! She is 9! And she wont be having sex til she's 30….at least." She lets out a disgusted sigh. "What is wrong with you. Remind me never to have you around my daughter." Peyton said letting out a laugh
"Mommy, who's pregnant?" Kate looked up at her mom confusingly
"No one, honey. Mommy was joking."
"And not being funny," Peyton added on the other end up the phone.
"You know you love me Peyt." Brooke teased as she tried to get a not out of Kate's hair.
"Owwww" Kate cried out
"Hold still." She said to Kate.
"What? " Peyton asked confused.
"Oh, sorry, I was meaning for Kate to hold still. I'm trying to French braid her hair. But she's being all antsy."
"No, I'm not." Kate said stubbornly. "Why do I have to look nice anyways?"
"Because Peyton, Jake and Jenny are coming to visit and we are going to out to dinner tonight."
"Ugh, I don't want to get all dressed up." Kate complained
"Wow, Davis-Scott are you sure Kate's your daughter? I mean she doesn't even like to get all dressed up. She must have been switched at birth or something."
"O Shush, Peyton. Kate was not switched at birth."
"What? I was switched at birth? What does that mean? Uncle Nateee?" Kate cried out as Nathan entered Lucas and Brooke's dining room. She jumped off her mothers lap and ran and jumped into her uncle's arm. "What does that mean?"
"Brooke, what are you and Peyton talking about." Nathan jumped into the conversation slightly amused by his niece's antics.
"Nothing. No one was switched at birth." Brooke replied trying to calm her daughter. "Come back here sweetie. I need to finish your hair."
"Nooo. Uncle Nate, don't let her make me! I like my hair in a ponytail, not francebraided!"
"Honey its French braided, and come on. Don't you want to look nice for seeing Jake and Jenny and Peyton?" Brooke tried again.
"I've seen them before. It's no big thing. I'll see them again." Kate said.
"Kate, you know…you really shouldn't take for granted seeing them like that. Anything could happen." Nathan said quietly to his niece. He knew she was young and doesn't really know much about the world around her. But to hear her talking so nonchalantly about not seeing someone again didn't leave a good feeling in his stomach. Nathan would give anything to see Haley again.
Brooke noticed Nathan's subtle change of demeanor and knew exactly where he was coming from. "Yeah, Nathan's right, honey."
The little girl looked up at Nathan and saw the sadness from his features. It was ironic how a young child could pick up such things off an adult. "Are you talking about Aunt Haley and Ally?"
"Kate…"Brooke spoke low to her daughter. She didn't know how to go about talking about Haley and Ally to Nathan. She didn't want to open any wounds. Haley had disappeared so long ago but it still felt like trudging open waters "You shouldn't have…"
"No, Brooke. It's fine." Nathan replied quickly back to Brooke. He knew Brooke didn't know how to approach talking about Haley with him. Most people didn't. Some people were too fake, too emotional, too rehearsed. It was hard to talk about Haley. He wasn't going to lie. Sometimes it killed him inside. But Kate was different for some reason. Maybe it was the normal uncle, niece bond or just how much Kate reminded him of how Ally would be. Nathan didn't mind talking about Haley and the baby with Kate. Haley would have adored Kate and he knows that the feeling would have been mutual. "Yeah Kate, I was. You need to appreciate every second you have with somebody. I would do anything to have some more time with Haley and to see Ally." Nathan added as he gave a slight smile to his niece.
"Will you tell me another story about Haley? I love the one with you and her on a date with card thingys that mommy set up for you! Pleease. I love that one."
"Kate, if Nathan doesn't want to.." Brooke said carefully.
Nathan let out a small laugh. "Brooke, it's fine. We are allowed to talk about Haley. She deserves to be talked about. And Kate, if your mom would allow me to take you for the moment and break from your braiding then I would love to tell you about the date your mom set up for me and Haley."
Brooke smiled. "Of course, Peyton and fam wont be here for another 45 minutes. But after he's done, come back and I'll put your hair up in a nice ponytail."
Kate smiled widely and ran to her mother and gave her a big hug. "Thanks, Mommy! Love you!" She then ran back into her uncle's arm. "Come on! Let's go in the living room. It's more comfy there!"
"Wow, so Nathan seems better?" Peyton asked.
"Wow, sorry forgot I was the phone, Pey." Brooke said unsure of how to make of the situation. "So you heard all that?"
"Yeah, I didn't even know that Nathan talked about Haley, let alone tell stories about stuff like your serial date you made for him and Haley."
"I didn't know either. I always thought it was too hard for him to talk about her, but I guess Kate and him always did have a special connection. He must feel alright talking with her about them."
"Yeah, he probably reminds her of Ally." Peyton said quietly.
"Yeah…" Brooke said as her voice broke a little. "God, Peyton. I wanted to meet that little girl…Haley and I were pregnant together…we were going to be moms together." Brooke said as she wiped her face with her hands. "God, I just miss Haley so damn much." She said brokenly.
"I know, I know. The other day I saw this person…God, she looked so much like Haley." She paused. "And for one second, I actually thought it was her. God Brook, I was so happy. I went to the person and even called out Haley. I got closer I noticed that I had been wrong. It wasn't Haley. And suddenly everything was wrong again. God, Haley was always the best in tragedies…She would know what to do..God I need her. This nightmare needs to be over...for Nathan, for all of us." She sniffled as she quickly tried get her emotions in check. The last thing she needed was to break down in front of Jenny and Jake and an airport full of strangers. "Oh umm, Luke's here. I'll see you in a few, Brooke."
"Oh, ok. Tell Lucas, I said hi...and that I love him."
"Ok, I will. Oh and Brooke."
"Yeah, Pey?"
"We just need to keep faith. I know this is hard, but everything's going to be alright."
"You know, people keep saying that…and yet why does nothing change?" Brooke asked brokenly.
"I guess that's why it's called faith. Bye Brooke"
"Bye." Brooke slowly closed her phone. She wiped away the few remaining tears. Why did life have to be so cruel? She wondered as she put her cell phone in her pants pocket.