Disclaimer: Nope I don't own a thing.
AN: Thank you all for the amazing reviews. I appreciate every single one. They help me so much.
Special thanks to my buddy Pamela. If not for her? This chapter wouldn't have made it.
Chapter 2 No Way Back
I'm
stuck
I'm out of luck
And trying to talk my way out of
this
Even fog lifts, but not this
No not this
There's no
way you're coming back
There's no way you're coming back
Babe,
I know you never leave without
Your gun ...
But if you let it
be and just sit down
And lay your head on me
We could
leave
I'll dim the stars
We'll steal away from here
We'll
run so fast and so far
We'll burn up these streets
Our mystery
complete
The moon will die of shame
There's no way you're
coming back
There's no way you're coming back
Babe, I know you
never leave without
Your gun ...
But if you let it be and just
sit down
And lay your head on me
There's no way you're
coming back
There's no way you're coming back
Babe, I know you
never leave without
Your gun ...
But if you let it be and just
sit down
And lay your head on me ...
And just stay with
me
Stay with me
Stay with me
8mm
It had been three weeks since the soap box derby race. Nathan had been making some really great progress in his physical therapy. He could actually stand on his own for more than a second without holding on. The steps were small but the step forward was huge.
He had tried to talk to Haley several times since that night but so far her answers were still always blunt and to the point and close ended. They left no room for conversation of any kind. She'd never been that way with him and at this point, he wasn't sure what to do to turn it around. He had made such a mess of everything, he knew it wouldn't be fixed overnight but he had prayed for some sign or hope that would let him know that it could be fixed, so far though he had none.
She had left that morning with a mumbled good bye, dressed in a burgundy short sleeve shirt and olive green pants that made Nathan stare appreciatively at her beautiful rounded bottom. As his mind flashed images of her he was hard all over again. Thank god that was coming back. He missed that and he missed Haley. 'All of Haley.' Only an idiot would allow them to find themselves where they were, he knew that, hell he'd even accepted that but it didn't erase the fact that he missed her more than he had any right to.
If he thought he had pushed her to far the night of their fight, he realized now that it was an understatement. He'd nearly lost everything. If she would ever look at him the way she used to again he'd never give that up. He longed for it. He craved it and it was something he could get only from her. The cold hard truth was she would barely look at him at all.
……..
As Haley walked into the school gym to talk to Lucas she watched the basketball players. "Hey Coach? Got a sec?"
"Well that depends. Are you going to be one of those teachers that are constantly complaining about my players grades?"
"If your players are failing you bet your ass I will" Haley replied.
"Well fair enough. Grades are the least of this team's worries…"
"I wanted to talk to you about Quentin"
"Is he harassing you again?" Lucas searched Haley's eyes.
"No Luke. Quentin has not been in class all week and I think it's because he got cut from the team"
"You can't save 'em all Hales"
"But Luke…."
"No, listen to me Haley. That guy is a dick. He sexually harassed you. He insinuated having sex with you. Don't expect me to feel sorry for him."
"Lucas, don't ok? I'm a teacher. I have to find a way to get him back to class"
"No Hales, call principle Turner. Don't try to do this yourself. I can't be everywhere to protect you like in college, when Nathan's not around"
Haley looked down at her feet and shook her head. "Lucas please."
"No! Don't Lucas please me. I should have beaten his arrogant ass when he was on the team. Then I wouldn't have to wonder where he is every time I think about it."
Haley sighed. "Lucas I don't need you to protect me"
"Oh Hales, I beg to differ"
Haley moved to walk away and Lucas turned to her. "Hales you know I love you right?"
"Yeah, Luke. I do. I just wish you understood me better sometimes"
"I know. How's Nathan?"
"He's a work in progress. He's doing better in physical therapy."
"Well that's good news."
"Yeah"
…….
"Here's your breakfast" Carrie told Nathan.
He looked down at it and saw eggs, back, and orange slices shaped into a smiley face.
'This bitch has gotta be kidding me' he thought. "What the hell is that?"
"It's a smiley face. I'm an optimist. I do that sometimes"
"Whatever" Nathan got up and went to get the phone. He called a cab to come to pick him up.
"I could have driven you." She said after she heard his conversation.
"Ah no thanks. I can handle it."
"But…"
"I said no thanks"
Nathan went to get his crutches. When the cab arrived, he climbed in. "Central Prison please."
"But thats…"
"I know where it is." Nathan stopped him.
…..
As Haley sat in her classroom during her free period, although she didn't know why they called it that, she was grading papers, she had racked her brain all day. What was she going to do about Quentin? She didn't want to see him throwing his life away like this. The young guy had potential. Haley thought he was just misguided. At least she hoped that was the problem. She just didn't want it to be her fault, though deep down, she knew it was. She had told Lucas about what happened in the classroom her first day of teaching and she shouldn't have. She had been so upset that she just didn't think about how he'd react and at the time she had no idea that Quentin was on the basketball team.
Haley left her classroom in search of Skills. Maybe he would know what she should do. She didn't want to lose a passenger on her first day at sea. That had to be a record.
……
As Nathan sat at the picnic table his thoughts were still consumed with all of his mistakes over the last four months. He had treated the one person in his life that didn't deserve it horribly.
"Hello Nathan"
Nathan looked up into the man's eyes that had given him everything he needed in life to destroy his good fortune. When Dan sat down at the picnic table across from his youngest son he smiled.
"It's good to see you Nathan, been a long time"
"Four years"
"Four years, fifteen weeks, two days. Counting the days is kind of a popular hobby around here. That and ceramics." Dan looked at his son and then over to the crutches. "Tell me about the accident"
"There's nothing to tell. It was a moment of anger. I had a chance to walk away and I didn't to it. The only reason I can't totally regret it, is I punched that guy because of my wife."
"Join the club. My biggest regret is not being able to watch my grandson grow up. Losing my family. Those are things you still have."
"Yeah well I almost lost that too. So tell me Dan are you happy?"
"How is my grandson. He must be getting big by now. You got a picture of him? "
"I didn't come here to talk about Jamie"
"What about Haley? How's your wife?"
"Now you care about my wife? Funny you never did before."
Dan bestowed a regretful gaze on Nathan. Nathan got up and moved to leave. Dan followed him toward the gate.
"I'm trying here Nathan"
"Yeah well don't"
"Don't expect me to apologize for teaching you to play a game that you love and making you the best player in the state Nathan. You've been successful at a game that you chose."
"A game that nearly destroyed my family. Like I told you Dan, I almost lost everything and all because of your fucking brainwashing? I literally turned into you for four months. Hell if I had waited one more day, Haley and Jamie would have been like Karen and Lucas. It's not worth it and my family is all I have now. That's why I'll never let my son play. Basketball has taken enough."
"You're not on those crutches because I handed you a basketball when you were three. And trust me. You not letting your son play is just as bad as you making him play. That's why you came here to blame me for what happened to you"
"Don't you see Nathan? The strength you need to let go of it. To leave your old man behind. That's what I taught you."
"Well lesson learned." Nathan turned and moved away.
Dan whispered quietly. "I love you son"
…..
Haley moved to the door to Skills office and knocked lightly. When she heard him shout for her to come in, she peeped her head in. "Hey Skills. Do you have a sec?"
"Sure Haley James Scott. What are you up to today you sexy thing you"
"I need your help"
"Ok shoot"
"Quentin Fields has stopped coming to English class. He's going to fail this quarter. Tell me how to save this kid Skills. I feel like I've ruined his life."
"Come on Haley. You haven't ruined that guy's life. His personality beat you to that a long time ago."
"Skills?" Haley just looked at him pleadingly.
"Haley, listen to me. There are some you just can't save girl. If you take it as a personal fault, you'll never make it sweetie. You know you won't."
"I know but Skills I didn't exactly plan to lose one my first day teaching either."
"Hales? You've been through enough. Don't do this baby girl"
"Do you have any idea where I might be able to find him?"
"Maybe the Rivercourt?"
"Thanks Skills"
…….
Nathan told the cab driver the next address he needed to stop. He had made phone calls all the way back from Raleigh. His errand list was about as long as the ride at this point.
When the cab made it to the address Nathan gave him, Nathan got out and turned around. "Give me just a few minutes. I'll be right back. Keep the meter running. Nathan handed him the money that he already owed him and the cab driver, restarted the fair.
After several more stops. He finally made his way home. When he got in the house with the packages, Carrie jumped up. "I didn't know you were here. How did you get home?"
"I took a cab, the same way I left. They give the handicapped discount."
"You'd think in this town they'd have a State Championship discount?" As she held up the article to show him what she was reading. "I went to Pontiac. You beat us in the championship. I cried for a week."
'Why in the hell was she even talking to him? Isn't she here to take care of Jamie?'
"Look. I'm not doing this. I'm not that guy anymore. Alright? Trust me I'm nobody's hero! Just leave the shit alone."
"Are you sure about that? Maybe you need to go look in your son's closet."
Nathan moved out of the living room, rolling his eyes and moved up the stairs to Jamie's room. Once he saw the picture that Jamie had drawn of him and his son, he felt tears sting the back of his eyes as he read Jamie's title at the bottom. Me and Daddy, the # 1 team.
Nathan turned around and looked back at Jamie's tiny sleeping body. He moved over to the bed and kissed his son's forehead. Just before he motioned to move he whispered. "I love you buddy"
…….
Haley drove up at the Rivercourt. It was dark so the lights were on but Skills was right. Quentin was shooting around. She got out of the Range Rover and started toward the young high school student.
"You must be lost" Quentin said.
"Ah no actually. I've spent more time on this court than you ever will" Haley deadpanned.
Haley then said what she wanted to say. She had no clue if she was getting through to Quentin but she had to try… Suddenly she heard him say…
"I think you're just hott for me Ms. James Scott" He put his arms around her while Haley was pushing against his chest the entire time, trying to free herself.
"HEY! What in the hell do you think you're doing Fields?" Skills asked.
…….
Later that night Nathan was sitting on the couch. Haley had been home for about an hour and she was upstairs making sure that Jamie got his bath. Nathan thought back to her behavior when she got home. She walked in put her purse down and was more quiet than usual. She walked over to the refrigerator and removed the things she needed to cook dinner. Jamie called her name several times before she heard him.
FLASHBACK
"Momma? What's wrong? What is it?"
Haley snapped out of her daze. "Nothing buddy. I promise. Ok?"
END FLASHBACK
Jamie nodded, satisfied that everything was ok but Nathan knew better. He saw the reassuring smile Haley tried to give Jamie. He also knew that it didn't reach her eyes.
Nathan was removed from his thoughts when he heard the doorbell ring. He moved to get up to answer the door.
"Nathan? Where's Haley?"
"She's upstairs Luke, giving Jamie a bath. Why?"
"I need to see her."
"What in the hell's going on Lucas?"
"Look I just need to see Haley"
Nathan watched his brother and it was obvious he was in a panic. Lucas made his way upstairs to the bathroom at the top of them. Nathan moved behind the staircase so that his brother wouldn't see him but he could hear what Lucas said.
"Hales, oh my god! Are you alright?" He put his arms around her and pulled her into an encompassing embrace.
Haley leaned her head back and searched Lucas' face and knew that he had found out what had happened at the Rivercourt.
"Yeah" she whispered.
"Why did you go there? DO you realize he could have raped you?"
"Lucas I'm fine. Will you keep your voice down?"
"Oh come on Haley. You haven't been fine for months. You're so far from fine that you're not even in the same state. Wait a minute! You didn't tell Nathan?"
"Lucas"
"NO Haley. I kept one secret for you so that your family wouldn't have more than it could handle at the time. There is no way in hell I'm letting you do this. Nathan needs to know. He still needs to know the other thing. I can't believe you aren't going to tell him."
Nathan moved toward the kitchen. What in the hell had happened to his wife? God he had to get to the bottom of this. Somehow he had to get her to talk to him. Lucas had said she could have been raped. Thank god she wasn't but that really wasn't all he needed to make him feel better.