AN: This one is a little shorter than most of my updates. I've been working on it as much as I could with real life getting in the way. BUT here it is. I hope you enjoy it. I'll have the next update out by the end of this weekend and I promise you it WILL be longer and answer most of your questions. By my outline, I only have about five chapters left to this story. We'll revisit the L/L/P baby drama next chapter and you'll get your answers to your Brooke questions. Thank you all for every amazing review you send. I totally love them all! They are inspirational and very moving. YOU NH FANFIC READERS ROCK!!!
Chapter 27
We All Die Young.
Wasted my soul, test my life
For my bread
Spend my time lost in space
Am I dead?
Oh let the river flow
Through my callused hands
And take me from my own
The eyes of the damned
It makes my stomach turn
And it tears my flesh from bone
How we turn a dream to stone
And we all die young
Oh, Tell me I know
I lived so afraid
And still we cry alone
With words left unsaid
It makes my stomach turn
And it tears my flesh from bone
How we turn this dream to stone
And we all die young
Yeah, we all die young.
Yeah, we all die young.
Yeah, we all die young.
Yeah, we all die young.
Yeah, we all die.
Young. Young. Young.
Young.
Steel Dragon
Nathan sat in the emergency waiting room. His fear and the uncertain were nearly driving him crazy. The mental pictures he had seen that day were flashing through his mind. He'd been here an hour and still he didn't know anymore than he did when he walked in the door. 'Damn it! What's going on back there' his plagued mind questioned. He raked a hand through his hair as he noticed his brother sitting down next to him.
"Any news" Lucas asked.
"No. What in the hell can be taking so damn long Luke? God I can't stop picturing her on that stretcher in my mind."
"Shots fired! I repeat! Shots fired" the detective said over the radio.
Lucas turned his head slightly to look at his brother and didn't miss the haunted look in his eyes as the tears had already begun to roll down his cheeks.
"Nathan…" Lucas began as his brother began moving to stand toe to toe with the detective.
"Who was shot? I SAID WHO WAS SHOT DAMN IT?"
"Mr. Scott I don't know yet. The SWAT team is making their way in there now. Give me a few seconds ok?"
Nathan released the man's lapels in his jacket with a slight shove. He turned to his brother as the fear was trying to over take him. "Lucas…." he whispered, just before his brother grabbed him and pulled him into his embrace.
"She'll be ok Nathan. They'll both be ok. You have to believe that!" he told his brother as he felt the sobs trying to take over the younger man's body.
The detective got back on the radio after listening into the ear piece. "Dispatch I need two more ambulances. I have four people down here at the scene"
Nathan again moved to the detective with questioning eyes. "I don't know who yet Mr. Scott none of the victims have been identified at this point.
…..
Quentin and Jack both jumped out of their seats and tried to make it over to Haley, both intending to help her up and make sure she was alright.
"You people don't understand ENGLISH! You want the bitch to die?"
Quentin and Jack both jumped towards Haley. They had to get X and that gun away from her. X was on to them though he turned the gun back to the two young boys and the gun went off. Quentin was shot in the upper left part of his chest. As Jack turned to look at his fellow student slowly, falling to the floor, he turned on his brother "X what in the hell did you do man? Q never hurt anyone! You have got to get it together big brother. You're losing your mind." Jack stepped toward his brother and X again fired the gun. Jack was shot in the stomach and fell almost on top of Q.
Haley began to tremble as a murmured "No" repeatedly fell from her lips. X then tightened his arm around her neck as he turned the revolver back towards her temple. "If you don't want to be next bitch I suggest you shut the fuck up."
The SWAT sniper had worked his way to the door towards the back of the room. He could see the suspect and saw that his arm was around the hostage. He quickly noticed that the woman was breathing extremely fast and heavy. It took him only seconds to decide he had to do something quick. He pulled his rifle up and looked through the scope. As he obtained X in the cross hairs, he waited for the opportune moment to take his shot.
Within a couple of minutes X had turned just right so that the sniper was provided a moment in which his shot would not affect the teacher. He had been told she was pregnant and he had to protect her at all costs. The man had no idea who she was but he could see her composure fading fast. With one last blink of the eye, he pulled the trigger…
As the EMT's moved the four injured people from the school to the ambulances the police wouldn't let anyone near them. They had to get them to the hospital and with the amount of by standers they couldn't allow anyone to delay their departure.
Nathan stood there as the fourth stretcher came through the doors. His heart stopped as he saw it was Haley and they were rushing her to the back door of the ambulance. He saw an oxygen mask pressed over her mouth and nose and it was clear that her shirt was spattered in blood. His eyes searched her face looking for any sign that his own were deceiving him but it was all to no avail.
As they lifted the stretcher into the vehicle, the detective turned to Nathan. "Mr. Scott, they're taking her to Tree Hill Memorial. You should go. I have no details on her condition so I can't begin to know how serious it is."
"Calm down little brother, we don't know anything for sure" Lucas said as he rubbed his brother's back trying to console him.
"I can't…" Nathan began as another sob began to take over.
"I know man, I know"
It took another fifteen or twenty minutes to finally get Nathan calmed down. They sat there both staring into space lost in thought. Both of the young men were so engrossed in their thoughts they never heard the Doctor call her name the first time.
"Haley Scott?" he said a little louder.
Nathan was on his feet and in front of the white coated man in a matter of seconds. "I'm her husband. Is my wife ok?" he breathlessly asked.
"Your wife is fine son. She hyperventilated during the incident. They were just taking precautions by bringing her in. After the traumatic ordeal it's not abnormal."
"Was she shot?" Nathan quietly asked. "What about my baby?"
"No sir Mr. Scott, your wife wasn't shot and the baby is fine."
"But, her shirt….. it…it was covered in…" Nathan stammered.
"Yes, I know it was but it wasn't hers."
Nathan finally let go of the breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding. "Can I see her?"
"Sure come right his way."
Nathan began to follow the man behind the nurse's desk but suddenly stopped and turned to face his brother. "Thanks Lucas" Receiving his brother's nod and slight smile, he moved to catch up to the physician.
As he made his way back to the curtain enclosed bed his breath again hitched in his throat. Pulling the fabric back on the opposite side as her doctor his eyes took it all in. There she lay in a hospital gown her head framed upon a stark white cased pillow. Her eyes were closed while there was a peaceful lull to her breathing. Nathan licked his dry lips. As he moved closer he noticed the darkened mascara circles underneath her eyes. He knew her tears and emotions were responsible for them being there. He sucked in another sharp breath as his fingers lightly touched her cheek. "Oh god, Hales, I love you. I love you so much" he whispered trying not to disturb her but unable to hold his words in any longer.
Her eyes fluttered open as a small smile crept upon her face. "I love you too Nathan Scott" she quietly returned.
Nathan felt the dampness on his cheeks. He hadn't even noticed the blur to his vision before his attention was caught by the tears rolling down his face. "I thought you…"
Haley grasped his hand. "I'm fine" she said as she placed her hand over the tiny swell in her stomach. "We're fine" she added in a breathless whisper.
Nathan nodded his head, unable to form words. He leaned forward and held her as though she'd disappear if he let go. As the shudders in his shoulders again began to take hold, Haley felt her eyes fill with tears.
"Nathan, baby, don't… please don't"
"I can't help it Haley. GOD that was the worst form of terror! I relived the whole thing over and over again" he choked out. "Jesus I won't make it without you Hales!"
She continued her attempt to soothe him as he still held her tight. She knew she had to tell him but she had to let this pass first. Her tiny hand was wandering up and down his back, waiting for him to finally accept that she and their baby were here and were ok, consoling him in the only way she could think of. It had been a horrid day and the news she had for him would only multiply that.
When he finally stood up and gazed into her eyes, it only took moments before the desperation in her eyes was evident. "What? Haley what happened?"
Her bottom lip began to quiver. "Nathan…"
"What is it Haley what are they not telling me?"
"It's all my fault" she said as she choked back a sob.
"What's your fault baby?" Nathan asked as his fingers found the loose hair hanging away from her face and placed it behind her ear.
"Nathan, Quentin was shot. He's in surgery."
"WHAT?"
"I went to the Rivercourt this morning. I was hoping to catch you for breakfast. When I got there I found Jack asleep on the bleachers. He'd been beaten. I offered him our breakfast and then took him home. I talked to his brother X. I thought if maybe I told him that he was doing an awesome job with Jack he'd think twice before hitting him again. It only set him off though. He came into the school after me. Now Jack has been shot and he's out of surgery and Quentin... Nathan what if Quentin dies? Jamie will never forgive me!"
"Aw Haley! Baby! It's going to be alright. Quentin will be alright!" Q was by far Nathan's least favorite person several months ago but he'd changed and he'd grown on him. They'd become close and Jamie adored Quentin. Nathan couldn't believe Quentin had been involved in this mess. "Haley? Why did X shoot Quentin? What happened?"
"Quentin was trying to save me, Nathan. He was shot because of me!" She cried.
"No Hales, don't think like that!"
"The sniper shot X, he's dead. Where will that leave Jack, Nathan? HUH? What have I done?"