Author's Note from HJS-NS-23: Hey everyone we were blown away by all the reviews! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. I just want to clear it up that Haley was not raped. Luckily Hank came out before Mark was able to. This chapter has another flashback so enjoy it. Have fun reading and don't forget to review!

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Driving to the apartment Jake just kept looking at Haley to make sure she was all right. He knew right now she needed silence so he would talk to her when they got to his apartment and got settled. Pulling into the apartment he put the car in park and got out. Noticing Haley hadn't moved he went around to the passenger side and opened her door. Startled Haley looked up and saw Jake waiting for her expectedly. Getting out he held out his hand to Haley knowing just how fragile she was and how much she needed him.

They got to his apartment where he thanked and paid the elderly woman who lived down the hall from him. After the lady left Haley went and grabbed Jenny from Jakes arms. She really needed some comfort and holding Jenny gave that to her usually.

Walking into Jenny's room Haley sat in the rocking chair she had bought Jenny when she was first born and rocked with her. She softly sang it was just a dream to Jenny lulling the little girl in her arms fast asleep. By the time she finished the song Jenny was already sleeping and Jake was standing in the doorway his arms folded as he listened to Hales singing and rocking his daughter. He didn't know what he would do without Haley.

Taking the little girl out of Haley's arm he put her in her Disney princess bed and covered her with a blanket kissing her forehead than going back to Haley and dragging her out of the room so they could talk. He went into the kitchen and made hot chocolate knowing that it always makes her feel better while she went and sat on the couch.

"Here baby girl," Jake said handing her the steaming mug of hot chocolate. Looking up at him she finally lets the tears she had been holding in all night explode. If she couldn't break down in front of her best friend than she didn't know who she could. Taking the mug out of her hands and setting it on the end table he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight murmuring "Everything will be okay Hales, I'll stand by you always."

Looking up again she started sobbing harder

"What's wrong Baby girl?" he asked stating the obvious.

"They're going to think I'm a freak. I mean I just snapped for nothing. What are they going to think of me?" She blundered. "What about Nathan as if he didn't think I had enough issues." She bawled even more.

"Baby girl if he thinks you're a freak and have issues then he's not worth it. None of them are worth it if they think that. You're a wonderful person with a bad past Haley that you couldn't help. Everything that happened before, none of it was your fault. None of it. I promise you that Haley. Your the greatest person I know and I hate seeing you like this" Jake said his voice getting softer at the end and she cried even harder. "Maybe its time you told them what happened. Didn't you see their faces of worry when Nathan brought you to me?"

"I don't know if I can. I don't want them to feel sorry for me. I don't want to see on their faces what I saw on yours that night." She sobbed.

"I'm behind you 100 percents of the way baby girl" He replied, rubbing soothing circles on her back

"I forced my mom to secrecy that she wouldn't tell my dad. I can't tell everyone now. I won't. I refuse to tell them anything" Haley said her stubbornness showing through. "I just want to forget this night. I'm too tired of fighting. I just want to sleep" she begged Jake.

"Okay Hales but eventually you will have to tell them and you know it." He said helping her to his room and hands her a pair of sweat pants and a Duke basketball shirt to change into while he turns around and waits. He didn't want her to sleep in the costume. "I especially don't want that glitter in my bed" he shuttered to himself.

"Okay you can turn around now." Haley said sliding into Jakes bed while he goes on the other side and holds her rubbing her back and just repeating that he will always be there for her. Haley just sobbed and after a while finally cried herself to sleep.

After finally hearing her breathing even out all the guilt and helplessness he felt on that night came back to Jake and he quickly left the room going outside the apartment and sitting against his door.

FLASHBACK

Walking to the front of the hospital Jake got out his cell phone to call and see where Haley and her mom were at. He already called Lydia about 30 minutes ago asking where Haley was. Lydia thought that her tutoring lesson lasted a bit longer than expected; Haley never finished a tutoring lesson on time.

Jake was in front of the nursery again, looking at his beautiful baby sleeping. He didn't think it would take this long. He smiled. "I'm so happy you're here now Jenny Haley Jagielski. Your godmother is going to love you," said Jake imagining Haley's reaction when she would finally take Jenny into her arms.

But Jake wasn't feeling right. He had some kind of feeling deep inside like something wasn't right. He shook his head and decided to go outside to phone Haley again.

Right when he got to the doors he saw Lydia rushing in and towards him.

"Where is she? Is she okay?" Lydia begged him the fear and worry showing on her face.

"Where's who? Haley? I thought she was with you" Jake said, fear and worry entering his voice.

"No I got a call from some guy named Hank who said something about Haley being attacked and she was going to be brought to the hospital."

"What?!" Jake screamed.

Walking briskly to the desk Lydia quickly questioned the nurse where Haley James was.

"She was just brought in" The nurse replied looking down at the computer. "Please have a seat and someone will be with you shortly" she motioned to the waiting room.

After what felt like an eternity to Lydia and Jake a doctor came out to discuss Haley's condition.

"Family of Haley James" the doctor asked looking up from his clipboard.

Jake and Lydia jumped up like they had springs on their butts and ran to the doctor.

"Is she okay?" They asked at the same time.

"At the moment...she's just a little battered and bruised. Emotionally? Not so much. We had to give her 23 stitches on her leg from a wound that I was able to get out of her was from a knife. She will have a permanent reminder with a scar I'm afraid.

"A knife? What happened to my daughter" Lydia asked frantically.

"Like I said all we know is that she was attacked. She is not saying anything and when we asked her if she wanted to talk to the police she hastily told us no."

"She'll talk to me. I need to see her," Jake said speaking up. "What room is she in?"

"She is in room 230 but please don't upset her and see if you can tell her what happened and report it to the police." The doctor said before walking away.

They started walking to her room. They had an idea of what they were expecting. They never knew though that they were completely wrong.

When Jake saw Haley hurt and bruised he felt his heart breaking. "How can someone hurt Haley? His baby girl!!" He swore on that day to stay with her and to protect her 'til death.

END FLASHBACK

"How can a day be both the best and the worst of your life?" Jake asked out loud drying tears from his face.

" I don't know you tell me," Peyton said who was walking towards him, Nathan trailing behind her

"I really wish I could Peyt I really wish I could" He sighed, not even bothering to say anything about them sneaking up on him.

"We just came to check on Haley," added Nate.

"She's sleeping in my bed" Jake said as an invitation for Nathan to go and check on her by himself.

Walking away from the couple Nathan walked into Jakes' room which thankfully was easy for him to find since he accidentally opened the wrong door and went in there the night of their pizza party thinking it was the bathroom. Seeing her tossing and turning around in the bed and seeing her so fragile he had a big urge to protect her so he went and laid beside her. Taking her into his arms, she calmed immediately and nuzzled her head into his chest. He fell asleep just laying there and holding her. He hoped that his body could heal her like hers was healing his heart.

"So what happened to Haley? Also what do you mean something being the best and worst day of your life?" Peyton asked genuinely curious.

"I can't tell you Peyt that's something that Haley has to tell you when she wants to" Jake said tears sliding down his cheeks.

"Shhh come here," Peyton said engulfing Jake in a hug and just holding him for a while. Later they went inside and slept on the couch with Jake holding her close to him.

----------------------------------------THE NEXT MORNING-----------------------------------

Haley started to moan because she was finally waking up. Nathan had been awake for about a half an hour already, but he couldn't let himself leave her side. Feeling her body against his made him feel so good that he didn't want to part.

Haley brushed her head against his chest. Her eyes were still closed but she could guess who was holding her. She could recognize Nathan's smell and the way she had butterflies flying around in her stomach. She finally opened her eyes and saw that Nathan was still sleeping.

"It was the best night of my life" Haley thought. "I've never felt that safe" she added as if she knew unconsciously all night long that Nathan was laying beside her.

However, She opened her eyes wide thinking about Jake. "Where could he be?" She asked herself. She fell asleep with Jake to wake up with Nathan! She fought hard trying to pry herself from Nathan's arms.

Nathan understood that Haley wanted to leave his side so he tightened his embrace still pretending to sleep. He didn't want them to be separated yet because he didn't know when he would get the chance to sleep with Haley again. "Probably never..." He sadly admitted to himself.

Haley was even closer to Nathan's body now and she didn't want to wake him up. She was too close she thought to herself keeping her eyes on his mouth. She could feel his hot breath coming down her face and his heartbeat, which was beating a little fast she thought. She felt a rush of passion flow through her veins and she had to use all of her inner strength not to kiss him right now, on the spot.

Nathan could feel Haley's muscles contracting against his body. "She doesn't like to be too close to me." He thought sadly. He decided to let her go and pretended to turn around.

She didn't know why but she felt sad when he turned around. Shaking her head she got out of the bed and tip toed to the living room. She didn't know what time it was and didn't want to wake Jenny. Looking at the couch in the living room pulled out into a bed all she saw was a mass of blonde girls that she knew had to be Peyton's. Walking into the kitchen she saw Jake standing at the stove making eggs.

"Morning sleepy head" Jake said turning around when he heard her walk into the kitchen.

"Hi, Jakey" Haley said walking up to him and giving him a hug. "I have a question for you" she added when they pulled away.

"I most likely have a answer" Jake chuckled.

"Haha very funny!" she said rolling her eyes. "Why is it that when I fell asleep I was in your arms and when I woke up I was in Nate's?" She asked genuinely curious.

"Well... That's pretty simple," said Jake trying to think fast. He didn't want Haley to feel more uncomfortable than she probably did already. "Once you fell asleep I went in the kitchen to wash the mugs and Peyton came because... Well you know she can't get enough of my mouth," he joked trying to humor Haley. "And Nathan just wanted to check on you. I think we probably made out too much and Nathan just fell asleep waiting for us to be done. " Jake lied his eyes on the pan since he could never lie straight to Haley's face.

"Oh..." Said Haley surprised and somewhat hurt. "So he doesn't really care about me he was just sick of seeing them make out…" she thought to herself.

"Hey Hales "Said Peyton walking in the kitchen her hair all over the place. "Hey Jake." She added taking the cup of coffee he was holding out to her.

"Helloooo hot mama!" Said Jake with a cheeky smile.

"Oh stop it!" Said Peyton drinking her coffee. "Don't do that before my coffee."

"Yes please!!" Said Haley pretending to be sick." I don't want to imagine stuff," she added making a face.

At this moment Nathan made his entrance his hair and clothes both rumpled which Haley found very sexy and caught herself biting her lip. "No! Quit thinking that, he only sees you as a friend." Haley thought shaking her head oblivious to everyone watching her shaking her head.

"Um Hales you okay?" Nathan asked a smirk on his face.

"Huh yea I'm fine why wouldn't I be" Haley said defensively.

"Ok baby girl lets get you some breakfast so you're not so moody" Jake said handing her a plate of food and laughing at the look of outrage on Haley's face before her cheeks flushed with color.

"Oh shut up!" Haley said going and sitting down at the table where the others quickly join her.

While they were all eating they talked about how their classes were going. Halfway through the meal Jenny walked out of her room and climbed into Haley's lap and snuggled with her.