A/N:Sorry sorry it has been forever since I updated. For some reason I have been getting a bit of a writers block with this story!.Anyway, this is an extra long chapter to make up for it! Please read and review-Lydia
Chapter 12-Casualty
Haley's phone rang just as she got into Lucas' SUV.
"Hello?" Haley said as Lucas hopped into the driver seat.
"Haley its Nathan"
"Nathan" she said surprise evident in her tone.
Lucas looked at Haley as soon as he knew who the caller was. His brother had turned into a whiny little boy since Haley had left 2 months ago, and he and especially Brooke were getting fed up with him.
"Look, is Lucas there?" Nathan asked nervously
"Yes, we are just heading back to the house" Haley said, twirling her hair up and down
"You might want to head to the hospital" Nathan replied
"Hospital? What's going on Nate?"
"It's Brooke; she went into labour about half an hour ago"
"Oh my god" Haley said, her face turning deathly white
"Hurry Hales" Nathan said before hanging up.
"Luke we have to turn around" Haley said calmly
"Why" he said, shifting in his seat
"It's Brooke, she's in labour"
"Are you kidding me?" Lucas said, his face changing to a bright shade of red
"No Lucas, now turn the damn car around" Haley said firmly. She didn't know how much time they would have, and Haley knew that Lucas would never forgive himself if he missed the birth of his child.
Lucas turned the car around in quite a dangerous motion. Haley felt glad that she had her seat belt on as the cars in both lanes tooted at Lucas' silver hybrid.
"Geez Lucas, are you trying to kill us?"
"I'm not going to miss the birth, Haley. Brooke would kill me" He said, eyes focused on the road.
"I'm sure we will get there in plenty of time, Luke. Nathan said that she only went into labour not long ago" Haley said trying to calm him down. Haley could see Lucas' knuckles turn white, as he was clutching the steering wheel so hard.
"She told me to go. I should have stayed" he said
"Calm down. Now just put some gas into it, and get us there ASAP"
As Lucas accelerated, and sped towards the direction of the hospital, Haley had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach that she couldn't shake. The same feeling that she had when she walked up the path to Nathan's apartment 5 years ago, the same feeling she had when walking into the Scott mansion 2 months ago. She wasn't going to share this feeling with Lucas; he was a nervous wreck as it is. She glanced over briefly at him. When they were kids, she always knew what to say, but he had become a stranger. So they sat in silence.
"Is he coming Nate?" Brooke yelped
"Yeah he and Haley are on their way" Nathan said as he sat down beside her bed.
"Oh thank god" she said as she panted through another contraction.
"Did he say anything else?" Brooke asked as soon as she relaxed
"No, actually I talked to Haley" he said in a nonchalant manner
"Ok…well I guess one good thing has come out of my pain"
"What's that?"
"You talked to Haley" Brooke said, a small smile adorning her worn out face
"Yeah"
"Okkkayyy….give me your hand, Nate" Brooke said, every inch of her body convulsing in pain
"Why??" he said alarmingly
"Because Luke isn't here, so I guess you will have to do, I need someone to help me through the contractions" she cried
"I'll be back" Nathan said as he quickly walked out of the room
"Nathan!!" Brooke screamed
Nathan ran out of Brooke's room, sickened slightly. He couldn't take this. It wasn't that hospital freaked him out, or even Brooke giving birth, it's that feeling that he shouldn't be in there with her. That was Luke's job, or Haley's. He didn't know what to do.
Sure Brooke was a great friend, and sister in law, but he didn't feel right being in there. His fingers trembled as he fished her phone from his pocket.
The phone ringed a number of times before the person on the other end finally picked up.
"Hey, it's me. Could you come to the hospital please? Brooke needs you" After a few moments, he closed the phone and walked back into Brooke's room.
"Lucas, I know I said to speed it up, but I think this is slightly ridiculous" she said as her surroundings were passing at alarming speed.
"I can't miss it, I can't" he muttered
"You're not going to miss it, Luke"
"How do you know that??"
"Because if this baby waited over a week more then it should have to make an appearance, it will wait for its Daddy to be there"
"Thanks Haley"
"No problem, buddy"
She squeezed his arm reassuringly.
"Thanks for being here. Brooke appreciates it. So do I"
"Luke—WATCH OUT!!" A red hum bug had drifted into their lane, and was fast approaching. Haley screamed as she covered her face with her hands, and Lucas pressed the brakes so hard that the car did a 360 degree spin, and crashed into the car that had swerved into their lane.
Haley patted her body to make sure everything was still attached. She sighed in relief as her hand grazed over her necklace.
"Nathan…" she muttered before lapsing into black.
"Nathan, where's Lucas?" Brooke said as he squeezed his hand through another contraction
"I—don't—know" he said gasping in pain
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, you're just squeezing a bit too tight, it hurt like hell"
Brooke gave him a look, which was all too familiar. The look that meant she was about to kill him. He had to get out of him fast, but Lucas would never forgive him.
"Brooke, are you ok?" Peyton said, walking into the room and took a seat opposite Nathan.
"Oh thank god" Nathan said moving quickly vacating the seat next to the bed. He sprinted from the room before Brooke could say another word.
Nathan was walking down the corridor towards the cafeteria when his phone rang.
He looked at the ID which flashed "Unknown Number"
"Hello?" He said quietly, he knew that his cell phone should be turned off, but didn't care, as long as Lucas got here in time.
"Is this Nathan Scott"
"Speaking"
"My name is Dr Murphy; I work at Mt Sinai Hospital. Would you be able to come to the hospital right away?" he asked in a deep baritone
"Well actually I am already here"
"So you already know about your brother and ex wife being in a car accident?"
"No, what the hell happened?" Nathan screeched, others around him looking at him in distain.
"I think you need to report to the nurses' station in the ED department and ask for me"
"Thank you doctor"
Nathan sprinted towards the lift, his heart pumping a million miles an hour.
"Come on, come on" he muttered to himself. After what felt like an eternity, he decided to use the stairs. He silently thanked Whitey for making him to do stair drills during high school.
He travelled the four floors with ease, until he reached the ground floor. He flew through the door into the ED.
"Where's Dr Murphy?"
"And you are?" The nurse said, her pony tail bobing up and down
"Nathan Scott"
"Come this way"
Nathan followed the nurse through a series of halls before stopping short.
"Hey!" he exclaimed running right into her.
"Please wait here, Dr Murphy, he will be out shortly"
"Ok,ok" he said as he started pacing up and down the hall. Every so often he looked at the clock, but only minutes had passed since the nurse left.
The clinical white door opened, and a middle aged man stepped out.
"Mr Scott?"
"Yes?"
"I'm Dr Murphy; I am the attending on call" he said, shaking Nathan's hand briefly
"Where are they?"
"Would you like to take a seat, Mr Scott?" the gentleman asked, motioning to the plastic chairs in the hallway.
"Nathan, call me Nathan"
"Fine, Nathan. Your brother, Lucas, sustained minor injures when the car collided with the other vehicle. He has a minor concussion and a broken arm" the doctor said, reading off the chart
"Oh thank god. And Haley?"
Nathan saw the doctor's demeanour falter for a moment before continuing.
"According to the ambulance report, your brother and ex wife were driving along 5th avenue when a car coming in the opposite direction drifted into their lane. Although your brother tried to stop the car in time, it collided with the other car on the passengers' side"
"What are you trying to say?"
The doctor sighed. Despite having over 10 years as an ED doctor, this part never got easier. This man clearly loved the woman who was lying in the room adjacent. The look in his eyes was so familiar to the healer. The look of hope, and desperation all wrapped up in one look. So many people had that in the past, and this was no exception.
"Ms James has sustained extensive injuries. When she presented in the ED, she had a collapsed lung, both legs were broken in numerous places, massive internal bleeding, and lacerations to the kidney and spleen"
"Oh god"
"Unfortunately, Ms James went into cardiac twice, once in transit and again in surgery"
"Surgery?" he repeated weakly
"She had extensive internal injuries Nathan. We had to remove Ms James' spleen, also remedy the massive internal bleeding. She lost a lot of blood"
"Is she ok now?" Nathan asked, his voice trembling slightly
"I'm afraid we had to induce her into a medical coma, due to her injuries"
"Will she come out of it?"
"Im not sure, if she does, it would be a miracle"
"Can I see her?"
"Yes..but be warned, Ms James' facial features have been damaged by the impact."
"Where's Lucas?"
"He has been taken up to the ward"
"He has to know his wife is in room 403 on the maternity ward"
"I will let him know"
"Ok…" Nathan said as he walked towards Haley's room.
As his hand grasped the door handle, he turned towards the doctor once more.
"Dr Murphy, how did you know Haley was my ex- wife? We got divorced over 10 years ago"
"She listed you as next of kin"
"Thank you"
Nathan walked into Haley's room, unsure and completely certain at the same time. Nathan tiptoed into the hospital room. He stopped at the foot of Haley's bed, and whacked himself in the head. "She's unconscious you idiot, she's not going to hear you"
He had never seen Haley look so vulnerable. Both legs were elevated, purple-yellow bruises covering her face. The doctor obviously hadn't prepared Nathan enough for what he was about to face.
Its not like Nathan loved Haley because of her looks, but it certainly helped. Now he could hardly recognise her. He sank into the chair beside her bed, not fully comprehending the severity of the situation. It was the same youthful ignorance that made him believe she hadn't gone the first time, or that Dan almost killed his uncle. "Everything is going to be ok" Nathan repeated to himself. "It has to be."
"Mrs Scott?"
"Yes?" Brooke said, looking up at the older gentleman.
"I'm Dr Murphy" he said, approaching her bedside.
"Oh hi I think there was a mix up my doctor is Dr Freeman" she replied
"Oh no I'm not an OBYN, Mrs Scott"
"I don't get it" she said, looking at the doctor inquisitively.
"Mrs Scott your husband has been in a car accident"
"What, no no no no" she said, tears slipping quickly down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry I am the one to tell you this, but you brother in law was insistent on staying with his ex wife" Dr Murphy explained.
"Are you kidding me?? This is some sort of joke right?? Nathan is setting this up so I can pass the time" she said, trying to convince herself
"I'm afraid not, your husband will be fine, the head nurse on his floor will give him the message of where you are" he said gently
"Thank you doctor" she whispered
"It will be ok, Brooke" Peyton said, squeezing her hand in reassurance, but she felt scared. Peyton had lost so much while sitting in hospitals. She didn't want Brooke to go through that, but she had to postive. If not for her own sake, then for Brooke's.
"Yeah"
"Excuse me ladies, I have to get back" The doctor said gently.
"Ok" Brooke said, tears still rolling down her face in rapid succession.
"I'm sure he will be ok, Brooke"
Just then a woman in her late 30's walked into the room. Her red hair tied up into a bun, and adorning salmon coloured scrubs.
"Brooke, how are you feeling?" she said, examining the foetal monitor
"Not good" she said hiccuping
The doctor fiddled with the monitor, and quickly examined Brooke
"Well looks like your baby will make an appearance shortly. Has your husband arrived yet?"
"No-I" Brooke started to shake, tears falling rapidly down her already flushed face, as she tried to fight through another contaction
"Her husband with in a car accident." Peyton stated quietly
"I'm not doing this without him" Brooke cried
Peyton looked at Brooke as she continued to sob. She had seen the concerned look on the doctors' face. The famous Davis stubborn streak was setting in, and there was no stopping Brooke once she had made up her mind.
"Ok well Brooke, we can wait until you are in d-cells, but then we are going to get you straight into the delivery room, ok?" Dr Freeman explained and left the room once again.
"k" she mumbled
"Broooke…" Peyton said, rubbing Brooke's back to soothe her.
"What"
"Luke is going to be ok"
"Yeah I know"
Peyton watched Brooke intently.
She could see Brooke was upset, but she knew nothing she could say or do would comfort her until she saw Luke for herself. Brooke reached out and grabbed Peyton's hand and squeezed it tightly.
Nathan had been sitting by Haley's bed for what seemed like days, yet it was only hours. He sat there in silence, unable to look away in fear he would miss something.
"You know, it helps to talk to her"
"Excuse me?"
A blonde haired lady with her hair tightly pulled back into a braids and wearing powder blue scrubs smiled slightly back.
"Studies have shown that talking to comatose patients help the healing process"
"What should I say?" Nathan asked uncertainly
"Anything, memories you have together, that sort of thing"
"When will she wake up?"
"When she is ready" the nurse said, scribbling down some notes in Haley's chart.
"Thanks" before looking back at Haley once more.
"Hales, I don't really know what to say, you were the one was could deal with the crises, handle the bills that sort of thing. The practical stuff. Do you remember the conversation we had on the football field? You were always prepared…."
"Hey hot stuff" she said climbing on the bleachers.
"Hey, baby" Nathan said, his eyes falling on the ring placed on her left ring finger.
"What are you doing out here, football isn't exactly your thing" she said, sitting next to him.
"I just come out here to think sometimes"
"Ahh my hubbie the ponderer, I like it" she giggled.
Haley pecked Nathan softly on the lips. He felt so energised like there was a lifeline holding him connected to her. He had never felt like this before, not with Peyton or any other the brainless tarts at their high school. When she kissed him, he felt alive, that he could do anything, be anyone.
"Not that I don't enjoy your company, but aren't you supposed to be at the café today?"
"I'm on my way there. I just wanted to give you this" she said handing him a black envelope.
"What is it?"
"It's a death folder" she stated plainly
"A what?"
"A folder that holds all the important stuff, insurance number, PIN codes, a letter I wrote"
"Oh ok…am I supposed to do one?" he asked uncertainly.
"Not if you don't want to, plus we both know that you wouldn't know your cell number if it wasn't programmed into your phone"
"I'd be offended if it wasn't true"
"It's settled then. So if something happens to me, you can open it" Haley said
"Well I won't need to, because we are going to live a long happy life together, and I won't let anything happen to you" he said, pulling her in close.
"You promise?"
"Promise"
"Always?"
"And forever"
Nathan got up abruptly and quickly left the room, only looking back briefly at the ailing Haley.