AN: I have to give credit for this chapter to my friend Pam. Angst between Nathan and Haley is not my strong suit. I just love the couple so much. This particular chapter was the one I was worried about the most. I can write them through pain, undying love, and comfort, but when it comes to them being mad with each other I hate it..

Pam thanks for all of your encouragement to help me get this done. You ROCK so loud buddy.

Chapter 5 You Can't Always Get What You Want

I saw her today at a reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she would meet her connection
At her feet was her footloose man

No, you can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
And if you try sometime you find
You get what you need

I saw her today at the reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she was gonna meet her connection
At her feet was, footloose man

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well you might find
You get what you need

Oh yea-ay (hey-hey-hey, oooh)

And I went down to the demonstration
To get my fair share of abuse
Singin', 'We're gonna vent our frustration
If we don't, we're gonna blow a 50-amp fuse'
Sing it to me, now

(You can't always get what you want)
(You can't always get what you want)
(You can't always get what you want)
But if you try sometimes, well you just might find
You get what you need
Ooh baby, yeah, ooh

I went down to the Chelsea drugstore
To get your prescription filled
I was standin' in line with Mr. Jimmy
A-man, did he look pretty ill

We decided that we would have a soda
My favorite flavor, cherry red
I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy
Yeah, and he said one word to me, and that was 'dead'
I said to him

(You can't always get what you want) well no!
(You can't always get what you want) tell ya baby
(You can't always get what you want) no
But if you try sometimes, you just might find, mmm!
Mmm! you get what you need
Ooh yes! Woo!

(Instrumental & choir) Ooow-ooh!

You get what you need
Yeah!
Ooow, babe!
Ooh, yeah

I saw her today at the reception
In her glass was a bleeding man
She was practiced at the art of deception
Well, I could tell by her blood-stained hands
Say it!

(You can't always get what you want) yeah!
(You can't always get a-what you want) ooo-yeah, baby!
(You can't always get a-what you want)
But if you try sometime, you just might find
You just might find
You get what you need

Ooh, yeah!
Ooh, baby!
Woo!

Ah, you can't always get a-what you want
No, no baby

You can't always get a-what you want
Tellin' you right now

You can't always get what you want, mmm!
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find, that ya
Get what you need
Oooh, yeah!

I'm tellin' the truth, babe

Ooow-ooh!
Ooow-ooh!
Ooow-ooh!........

Rolling Stones

Haley walked into the house after parking the Range Rover in the garage. She made her way to the kitchen, and saw Carrie standing there with a glass of tea reading the paper. As soon as the girl realized Haley was behind her, she turned.

"Haley, hi"

"Hi"

"I didn't hear you come in"

"Yeah I know. Ah listen, Carrie…"

"Haley there's something that I need to tell you"

"Ok, what is it?"

"I am going to have to give you my two weeks notice"

"Ok. Why?"

"Haley, Nathan's developed a little crush on me and to be honest I just can't do that to you. I think its best that I just leave"

"Crush? Nathan Scott does not get crushes. What are you talking about Carrie?"

"He's been flirting with me when you weren't here, insinuating that he wanted things to happen between us, and this morning he tried to kiss me"

Haley felt as if the breath had been knocked out of her. Nathan had said that it was her doing these things. 'Was he lying to her?'

"I don't believe you" Haley said.

"Haley I know you don't want to believe me. If I were in your shoes I wouldn't want to either but I have no reason to lie to you. It's upset me so bad; I just don't think I can continue to work here. You deserve so much better than this."

"Carrie, Nathan told me that it was you flirting and that you were coming on to him with lude comments and insinuations"

"Haley, I told Nathan I was going to tell you yesterday. I told him he wasn't my type and he wasn't being fair to you and I didn't want a man like that in my life. "

Haley sat down hard in the chair at the table. She couldn't breathe. She literally couldn't get enough air.

"Are you ok?' Carrie asked.

Haley just looked up into the girls face, praying that she saw some indication that she was lying. Unfortunately, she couldn't find any. Suddenly an overwhelming sense of calm began to take her over. 'Wait a minute. This was Nathan. He'd never cheated on her or wanted anyone else in over five years. Why would he start now when things were so good between them?

"No Carrie I'm not. I'm not sure what you are trying to pull but let me tell you something, my husband is an ass hole at times and yes maybe a little self centered at others but he's loyal if he's nothing else. He loves me and you or no one else will ever change that"

"Haley I'm sorry. I know this is a shock for you, but I had no idea what you were coming in here to say today. I've tried to deal with this on my own and I've been thinking it would go away but it just hasn't. I draw the line on what happened today. He tried to kiss me Haley. I can't work in that type of environment. I love you and Jamie. I can't do that to either of you. That's why I gave you my notice."

"Thank you Carrie for trying to work out a notice but I don't think we'll need it. If you are that uncomfortable then you should just go. There's a game tonight, it would be a good time for you to pack your things so that Jamie doesn't have to watch that. Just leave the keys on the counter. I'll leave your check there before I go."

"Ok. Haley can I come back later and say good bye to Jamie? Tomorrow maybe?"

"Where is he now?"

"He left to go to the ballgame with Nathan"

"Ok Carrie. You can come back tomorrow afternoon and say goodbye."

Haley went upstairs to their room. When she got there and closed the door, she lies down on the bed, swiping at the tears that escaped her tightly closed eyes. She didn't believe Carrie. Nathan had been working so hard to put them back together. He had been more open and honest with her than he ever had. They were planning to have another baby. He wanted another baby. They wanted another baby.

……

Nathan sat on the bench in the locker room. Lucas had taken Jamie back with him to his office. He could tell his brother needed some time alone the minute he saw him. He was so furious; the anger felt like it would consume him. As he thought of the earlier events the blood boiled in his veins.

FLASHBACK

Nathan was in the kitchen; he had just finished dressing for the game and was going to get something to drink while he waited for Jamie.

"Your tie's crooked hotshot" Carrie told him.

Nathan reached to try to straighten the tie but Carrie reached up and took it before he could get his hands on it. Nathan sighed heavily and looked away from her. Suddenly, he felt her hands on his shoulders and he saw that she was rising up on her tip toes. He grabbed both of her wrists and completely pushed her away.

"Nice try bitch. You're fired! I want you to get your stuff and get out of this house before I get back. You're not going to keep disrespecting my wife or my marriage like this. You don't take hints and you don't believe in words. Now you have to go. Don't be here when I get the fuck back Carrie! Do you understand me? I will have the cops to remove your ass from my property if you're here! Don't try me!"

Nathan stormed upstairs and found Jamie, telling him that it was time to go. They didn't want to be late.

END FLASHBACK

He knew that he and Haley had agreed she would talk to Carrie today but what she had tried to pull was just more than Nathan could let go one minute longer. Talking trash was one thing, trying to back it up was totally another. He had never cheated on Haley and he sure as hell didn't intend to start. He'd never given her any reason not to trust him.

'Thank God' he had been honest with Haley. He wished he had told her from the very beginning. She hadn't been quite as hurt as Nathan expected her to be. That's what had held him off as long as he had. They were just getting things put back together. They had overcome most of the four months after the accident and they were even trying for another baby. Nathan didn't want anything to jeopardize that. He was getting his life back. Lucas had asked him to help him with the team. He had been coaching some of the shooting guards and small forwards. It hadn't been his ideal dream but it was satisfying. It gave him back the game in a small way. He was happy. During those four months after the accident, he had been afraid he'd never be happy again until the night he and Haley had the fight. Then he realized that she was all he needed to make him happy. The game was just an added bonus.

……

After the game Nathan and Lucas were walking along the court together, discussing how eerie it felt since Dan's jersey had been taken down when Lucas turned to his brother.

"What's wrong?"

Nathan turned to make sure that Jamie wasn't in hearing distance and sighed. "I fired Carrie today."

"What? Nathan, what about someone to watch Jamie?"

"I'll just schedule my rehab appointments around school hours Luke. That crazy bitch tried to kiss me today. She's got to go. I told you about the non-stop flirting. She went too far today. Haley was going to talk to her and just tell her we didn't need her anymore since I was up and around but damn it I won't let that bitch ruin my marriage or treat Haley like that"

"So you did finally tell her."

"Yeah after Tric last night"

"How did she take it?"

"Just like you think she would take it. I could see her insecurities coming out Lucas and I feel terrible about that man. My wife is the most gorgeous woman in the world to me and I love her. I don't want anyone else. If she could only see what I see every time I look at her"

Lucas clapped his brother on the shoulder. "You did the right thing man. She's your wife. She deserved to know. Speaking of where is she?"

"I don't know I've been looking for her all night. I haven't told her about Carrie yet. I had to leave to come here before she got home."

………

"Mommy? Raven's win!"

"Haley? That's strange, I thought Mommy would have beaten us home by now" Nathan smiled as he looked down at his son.

Suddenly his cell phone rang.

"Nathan, hi. You've got Jamie right?"

"Yeah baby. What happened? Where were you?"

"I got locked in the library the whole game with Lindsay and Peyton"

"WHAT?"

"Yeah I'll fill you in on all of the gory details when I get home. I'm on my way ok?"

"Ok. I'm going to put Jamie to bed and then I'm going to take a quick shower."

"Oh, and Haley?" he paused. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Nathan smiled as he closed the cell phone. He gripped it tightly and felt a peace he hadn't been able to find all day. He didn't see the woman standing back behind the stairs smiling as she listened to his conversation.

…….

Nathan stood under the hot spray as it washed the weariness from his muscles. It had been a horrible day and he just let the warm massaging water push as much of that as it could away.

Suddenly he felt her hands encircle his waist and he took a deep breath. "I missed you tonight"

"I missed you too"

"Carrie, what in the fuck are you doing? Are you crazy? You have to get the hell out of here."

As Nathan pushed Carrie to get out of the shower and was getting out behind her, his worst nightmare came true. Haley opened the doors to their ensuite bathroom and when Nathan saw the look on her face he couldn't breathe.

"Haley? Oh my god. This is not what you think. She…"

"Nathan stop... Let me tell her" Carrie said. "Nathan loves me and I love him back"

Haley's eyes searched her husbands. Nathan's face was contorted in fury.

"You crazy bitch! You know that's not true. I've been pushing you away and avoiding you for weeks. Hell, I fired you this afternoon. Tell her the fucking truth Carrie or so help me god…"

"That is the truth Nathan. She's seen us. We don't have to pretend anymore."

Haley rushed to Carrie and grabbed her around the neck shoving her out of the door. "I want you to get the hell out of my house right now!"

"Hales?" Nathan said barely above a whisper.

"You get out too"

"Haley I… Look I" Nathan just stopped as Haley walked out of the room and left him standing there still holding the towel at his waist.

Nathan moved into their room and put on his clothes. He needed to go talk to his wife face to face. 'What had changed since this morning?' He knew how it probably looked when she came in. He was yelling at Carrie though to be sure Haley heard that. He knew that right now Haley didn't want to hear anything he had to say but he had to try. He didn't want to leave. His life was here. His life was with her and Jamie.

As he made his way downstairs he heard her sobs coming from the bathroom at the end of the hall. He moved to the door to go in. 'God he wanted to hold her and tell her he loved her Locked! Damnit' "Hales? Baby please let me in. Please Haley! I can't leave you like this"

As Haley listened to Nathan pleading with her through the door she couldn't stop the shaking. She knew that he was hurting too but she just couldn't deal with that now. What was she going to do? How would they ever get past this? What if Nathan was telling the truth? He had called Carrie a liar and told her she was crazy. The look on Nathan's face told Haley he was serious and that he was truly livid. The only question was, was he livid because she lied or because she told?

Finally gaining the strength to talk Haley told Nathan through the door. "Nathan I can't do this tonight. Please, I need some time"

As Nathan heard the broken plea his heart broke. Maybe if he waited and tried to talk to her tomorrow morning after she had a chance to process it all she would listen to him. He'd never been able to lie to Haley. His eyes gave him away every time. The only problem was Haley couldn't see him while she was in the bathroom a few minutes ago. She only saw Carrie. She only heard Carrie. "Call me if you need anything Hales. I love you. I'll be back tomorrow so we can talk ok?"

Haley never answered him but he heard the sobs begin again.

…..

Nathan drove over to the Rivercourt. That was usually the best place for him to go to think. At first he didn't get out of the SUV. He sat there for several hours going back over what had happened, trying to figure out how they would be able to move forward. Finally frustrated beyond the limit, he hit the steering wheel and then moved his head to it as the sobs racked his body, whispering "God I can't lose her. Please help me! Oh God please help us!"

After a vicious cycle of anger revolving with sorrow and grief, Nathan made his way over to Lucas' house. He walked up to the kitchen door and tapped on it. When Lucas opened it and saw him he sighed.

"Nathan? What's wrong? Man you are alright?"

"Not really. Haley kicked me out. I need a place to stay"

"WHAT? I thought that you talked to Haley. What happened?"

"Lucas I'm still asking myself that man."

"Come on in. Let's get some coffee. You look like ass man"

"You should smell me"

After Nathan told Lucas about everything that happened, his brother sat there in total shock.

"She jumped in the shower with you? Haley must be devastated Nathan"

"I know how it probably looked but she was so upset she wouldn't even listen to me Lucas. Haley can always tell if I'm telling her the truth. She wouldn't even look at me and that scares me to death. It's like she didn't even want to know"

"Nathan Haley's been through hell these last six months man. Maybe she put up her walls because she couldn't take anymore pain. You know how Haley is. She'll probably be determined as hell for awhile to act like everything is just peachy and she can handle it and then she'll get to the point that she'll totally break."

"Luke I don't know what to do. I can't lose her man. I can't lose my family"

"I know"

"Tell me then Luke. How do I fix this?"

"I tell you what. Let's eat some breakfast and then you can take a shower while I go talk to your wife man"

Nathan studied Lucas' face for just a minute and then nodded. "Thanks Luke"

…………

Lucas walked up to the door at Nathan and Haley's and rang the bell. Jamie came to answer the door much to Lucas' surprise. "Hey J-Luke! Where's your Mom buddy?" He asked as he picked the small child up.

"She's in the bathroom, Uncle Lucas. She's crying and she won't come out."

Lucas frowned and hugged his nephew. As he sat him down he moved to the bathroom door and turned the knob. As the door opened, he saw Haley lying on the cold floor sobbing and totally broken. The sight broke his heart as he rushed to her side. "Hales?"

"Why Lucas? Why? How could he do this to me?"

Lucas held her against his chest and let her cry. When she had calmed down a little and Lucas could feel the sobs slowing down, he finally found his voice. "Haley I don't think this was Nathan's doing. I believe he was telling you the truth. He told me weeks ago that he couldn't stand Carrie and that she was nothing but trouble." As his hand rubbed up and down her back trying to console her, he felt her breaking again.

"God what have I done?" she said. "He told me the truth and I told him to leave" she whispered.

"Hales you gotta talk to him. He's so in love with you Haley. He's broken and he thinks you believe he cheated on you. He's having a hard time dealing with that this morning."

"Where is he?"

"My house. Look, I'm going to get him to come over here later. That will give you a chance to decide what you want to say and what you can live with. Then together you guys can decide how to go forward ok?"

Haley nodded

"Just remember Hales. He loves you. I know he does"

….

Lucas had been gone just a couple of hours when Haley heard the doorbell ring. She answered the door and Carrie was standing there with a partial smile on her face.

"I just came to get my things"

"All of your stuff is in the garage. Boxes are marked WHORE"

"Haley…."

As the girl talked Haley tuned her out. She had no desire to hear what she had to say. Unfortunately her mind registered every single word. When Carrie was finished Haley blankly looked at her. "Give me the keys." When Carrie handed then to Haley she backed away. "Stay the hell away from my family. Do you understand me?" Haley slammed the door shut in the girls face. As she leaned up against the door, she placed her hand over her mouth in an attempt to stop the sounds of the sobs that were now overcoming her body. Her heart was breaking another time as the girl left

……….

Later that night the door bell rang. Haley stepped aside so that Nathan could come in.

"Haley I know what you must have thought last night but I swear to you there is nothing going on between me and Carrie. She's crazy, Haley, please tell me you saw that. I don't love her hell I don't even like her"

"Nathan, she said it's been you the whole time. She gave me her notice yesterday before I could even talk to her about the flirting. Are you in love with her? Is she replacing me?"

"WHAT? Of course not! I'm in love with you. I always have been and I always will be. No one can replace you to me, Haley. Nobody!"

"Then why didn't you tell me you kissed her yesterday"

"What? I didn't' kiss her. She tried to kiss me and I grabbed her wrists and pushed her away. I wasn't about to let that happen Haley. I know I've put you through a lot and I promised you that we were going to get back to where we were."

"Didn't you hear her getting in the shower Nathan?"

"I did but Haley I swear to god I thought it was you. We had just talked on the phone. I knew you were on your way home. Do you think I would risk that?"

"I don't know. Would you?"

"Of course not. I want our life back. I want us"

"She came back today to get her things"

Nathan sighed. He didn't want that crazy bitch around his family. "What? When?"

"After lunch"

"Did she give you the keys?"

"Yeah."

"So she's finally gone?"

"Yes but she said so many awful things today, Nathan. She said you wanted her in that shower and that if I hadn't come in when I did I would have seen you get her" Haley's eyes filled with tears as she looked up at him. "Did you want her? Were you tempted?

Nathan looked into his wife's eyes saying slightly above a whisper. "No. I told you I want you"

Suddenly they heard Jamie's little foot steps. "Daddy's home!"

"Hey buddy. Listen Mommy and I need to talk right now. Why don't you go outside and shoot around. Try to make five free throws in a row and I'll be out in a second ok?"

"Ok"

Jamie moved out of the patio doors to play with his basketball and hoop. As Haley stood and watched she heard Nathan whisper. "I need to come home. I miss you guys so much it's killing me. I can't sleep. I can't think. I've been a wreck all day, I need to be here with you and Jamie and what about our plans Haley? You could be pregnant again. I don't want you here alone and something happens like last time"

"

"Nathan, I don't know

"Haley, please! We can't be like this! We can't be part like this."

"Nathan we've been like this so much it's getting to be second nature. The only difference this time is we aren't living in the same house. In the last twenty four hours you told me Carrie was flirting with you and you didn't like her and then I come home and find you both getting out of the shower after she tells me it was all you? I don't know what to believe! I don't know what to do"

"I need to be with you."

"And I need time; time to process all of this and time to figure everything out." Suddenly Haley stopped what she was saying. She didn't see Jamie. As her eyes scanned the patio around the pool, the panic began to rise in her throat. "Where is he?"

Nathan turned and looked and saw his little arms flaying in the pool. "Jamie!"

"Jamie?"

Nathan ran to the patio doors and jumped over the wall that held the shrubbery, Haley close behind him screaming their little boy's name. Nathan jumped in and broke the water back with his arms so it wouldn't slow him down. Once he reached the little boy, he grabbed him up and pulled him to his chest. He moved Jamie back toward Haley who was on the side of the pool.

"He's breathing right?"

"I don't know… I don't know" Nathan handed Jamie up to Haley as Jamie sputtered, coughing up water" As he watched his wife, willing his son to breathe, he stared in horrified silence until he saw Haley pull Jamie to her and leaned her forehead against his.

"I'm so sorry Haley. I'm so sorry!"

"No you stay away from us" She said as she barely looked at him. "Leave Nathan"

"No Haley, please! Don't do this! You can't do this"

Please review…. They are really making my mind soar and my desire to write skyrocket.