AN: Ok, I'm finally back with an update. I was going to wait until the reviews hit 300 but I finally decided that wasn't going to happen. I've been waiting for weeks. They've dropped off quite a bit in the last three or four chapters. I've had PM's of all kinds but no reviews. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review. I need the motivation when writing.

Also I found out this week that one of my other stories was plaguerized and put up on another site. Writing is not easy to do. I can tell you that from experience. This is my third story and keeping them going from an outline is HARD! Don't steal other people's work. That will end up causing writers not to write and you'll have nothing to read. Two of my most favorite stories by Opheilia were lost from this site when they were stolen after her death. Her account was deleted by her family to keep that from happening. That should have never happened. Now people won't get to read her great works and that's a very sad thing.

On a happier note, OTH is back in two weeks!! I can't wait!! I don't necessarily like the spoilers I've read but I can't wait to see new stuff from the JL's.

Chapter 29

Second Chance

My eyes are open wide
And by the way, I made it
Through the day
I watched the world outside
By the way, I'm leaving out
Today

Well, I just saw Haley's
Comet shooting
Said why you always running
In place?
Even the man in the
Moon disappears
Somewhere in the
Stratosphere

Tell my mother,
Tell my father
I've done the best I can
To make them realize
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying...
Sometimes goodbye
Is a second chance

Please don't cry
One tear for me
I'm not afraid of
What I have to say
This is my one and
Only voice
So listen close, it's
Only for today

Well, I just saw Hailey's
Comet shooting
Said why you always running
In place?
Even the man in the
Moon disappears
Somewhere in the
Stratosphere

Tell my mother,
Tell my father
I've done the best I can
To make them realize
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying...
Sometimes goodbye
Is a second chance

Heres my chance
This is my chance

Tell my mother,
Tell my father
I've done the best I can
To make them realize
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying...
Sometimes goodbye
Is a second chance

Sometimes goodbye
Is a second chance

Shinedown

"He's awake. Quentin is conscious."

Nathan felt Haley's small body sag into his as her knees began to buckle under what he believed was a wave of relief. He quickly realized that it was more than that when he had to support more of her weight. "Haley? Baby? HALEY??"

Haley's body continued to sag against Nathan's strong body. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to him as he sat down in the chair that was behind him. "Hales? Baby? Please…" he said in a strangled voice.

Lucas was walking into the waiting room just in time to see Nathan sit down with Haley pulling her to his lap and her head rolling to Nathan's shoulder in the process. Luke took off running to his brother and sister in law. "Nathan what the hell? What happened?"

Nathan's body was trembling. "Go get somebody Luke" he said, his voice breaking with nearly every word.

Lucas stood up and looked around, trying to spot someone that might be able to help Haley. As he began to walk off, he heard Nathan sigh with relief.

Haley's eyes fluttered open. She quickly tried to focus. She could see Nathan but his face was a little blurry to her.

As Nathan saw her eyes open he sighed with relief. "GOD you scared me" he said as he pulled her head to him to place a kiss on her forehead. The panic he had felt from the moment she started sagging against him finally started to dissipate.

"I'm sorry" she whispered. "I stood up and the room started spinning."

"We're going home Hales. You haven't been able to keep anything down for days. You're not sleeping, eating, and now you're fainting. You've pushed yourself too hard."

"I can't Nathan. Not until I see Quentin. I can't leave" she said.

Nathan knew he'd never win this argument, no matter how scared he was for her and the baby. He'd get her in to see Quentin and then he wouldn't take no for an answer. Haley wouldn't have a moments peace internally until she saw that the guy was ok, so Nathan would let her, but after that? YEAH SHE WAS GOING HOME TO REST!!

At Nathan's nod Haley placed her hand along his cheek. "I love you" she whispered. "I'm really sorry baby"

"Come on let's go see Q and then we're out of here, Hales"

Haley nodded and Lucas came over to help her up. Both brothers anticipated the possibility of her blacking out again and as their eyes met each other both could see the fear the other felt.

The three Scott's walked to room 444. Haley walked into the room while Nathan and Lucas stood in the door way. As she made her way to the far side of the bed she sat down on the edge and Quentin smiled, wrapped his arm around her head and pulled her to his good shoulder. Haley leaned into the young man and as he held her, her sobs were unstoppable.

"I love you Ms. JS."

Haley nodded.

Nathan and Lucas both smiled a genuine smile as they watched the scene unfold. Student and teacher had made so much progress but Quentin and Haley? They'd made so much more.

As Lucas pulled Nathan out of the room, he turned to his brother with questioning eyes. "What happened back there? Why did she pass out?"

"Luke… She's not been dealing with Quentin's heroism well. She blamed herself. She's not been sleeping. She's been unable to keep anything on her stomach for days. AND she's pregnant. I know that's not the answer you want, but it's the truth"

"Has she seen a doctor?"

"Yeah she's seen them walking all over this fucking place Lucas!"

"Smart ass you know what I mean!" Lucas yelled right back.

"Luke, look. She wouldn't leave until she knew Quentin was ok. You know what a determined Haley James Scott is all about. Hell you've known her longer than I have!"

"How in the fuck could you let this happen, Nathan? Haley doesn't need to be in this shape. She's pregnant! AND you guys have already lost one baby! AND WHY? DUE TO STRESS! Yet you let her get so stressed like this again? What the hell is wrong with you? Don't you love her?"

Nathan could feel the fury rush through his veins. "WAIT JUST ONE FUCKING MINUTE LUCAS!! How in the hell can you even ask me that? You know I love her! BUT DAMNIT, she has to have some peace of mind too. That guy risked his life for her. He saved her. Do you even realize that Haley would have been the one shot if he hadn't jumped in front of the bullet? What is wrong with me? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Before Lucas could respond the hospital room door opened and Haley stepped out. She smiled at the Luke and then leaned into Nathan. "I'm tired. Let's go home baby" she said as she laid her head against his firm chest.

"Ok" Nathan whispered and kissed the top of her head. As they began to walk off Nathan turned back to glare at Lucas, making sure his brother knew that the argument was far from over.

Two days later….

The door bell rang and Nathan went to answer it. "Hi Jack"

"Ah hi, Mr. Scott, I had a message to come to see Mrs. Scott. Is she here?"

"Yeah. Come on in." Nathan said and as Jack walked into the house Nathan closed the door. He led Jack into the living room where Haley was sitting on the couch with her feet on the coffee table.

"Hi Mrs. Scott, the counselor at school said you wanted to see me and told me to come by this afternoon. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing much better Jack. What about you? I didn't think you'd be back at school this fast."

"I just went back today to pick up my assignments and talk to my teachers. I won't be able to return for another week."

"Jack, where are you staying?"

"Uh…"

"Jack, Nathan and I would like for you to move in here with us"

Jack's head snapped up and his shock was evident. He turned to look at Nathan and received a nod while Nathan smiled. "It's ok Jack. I think this is a good thing" Nathan said.

"Are you sure? I mean both of you. Are you sure this would be ok?"

"Yeah" they both said in unison as they smiled at each other.

"Yeah I think so too. I always wanted someone to help me watch out for Cammie. Now I have a big brother too!" Jamie said, as he came down the stairs.

Jack turned to look at Jamie and smiled. Then he turned back to Nathan and Haley, "Oh I get it. You guys want a babysitter" he laughed. "OH MY GOD! WAIT! You're pregnant again Mrs. Scott! I don't know if I can handle so many kids"

Haley laughed at Jack's joke. "We don't either Jack but we're going to try!"

As Nathan heard Haley's laughter he couldn't help but smile. Yes they were young but they were making a wonderful life for themselves. Even though they'd never talked about having a large family in the early years of their marriage Nathan always wanted one. He'd never felt the sense of completion he felt about his family as he did in that very moment. Yeah life was good. Nathan's eyes traveled down to Haley's stomach and he smiled.

As Jack saw what Nathan was looking at he shook his head. "EWW that's just gross!"

Nathan laughed. "One day you won't think so. I promise" he said as he leaned in and kissed his wife.

…..

Two weeks later

Nathan was scurrying up the stairs, making every attempt to get as many household chores done as possible before Haley got home from school. She had returned to work this week and from what he had seen, was utterly exhausted.

As he made it to the top of the stairs and just rounded the corner to check for dirty clothes in the kids rooms when he heard noises. Sexual noises! 'What the hell?' As he reached for the door to Jack's room the sound grew louder. Nathan opened the door and was shocked at the vision that met him.

Sam was straddled Jack, bare breasted and her hair was a mess. "Ah… Ah… Mr. Scott!' she said.

"You two need to get dressed and get down stairs NOW!" Nathan yelled.

…..

As he sat there, he wondered what he was going to say to Sam and Jack. He wasn't that much older than either of them and before Haley? Well let's just say he could have easily been caught in a similar situation many times. How do you parent a teenager that's barely seven years younger than you? Well he guessed he was about to find out.

As Sam and Jack made it down the stairs they each took a seat in the living room. Nathan's eyes searched back and forth to both of them and finally he sighed a deep calming sigh. "What do you two think you were doing?"

"Mr. Scott, there's no doubt in my mind you know what we were doing. When I came upstairs one night last week I heard all kinds of noises coming from your bedroom."

Nathan opened his mouth to say something and quickly shut it again. What did you say to that? After careful thought, he finally pieced his words together quickly. "Jack, what you heard was me and my wife, son. Not me and a teenage girl. Not to mention Brooke Davis' foster daughter. Do you have any idea what she is going to do to you when she finds out?"

"But you can't tell Brooke Mr. Scott! Please!" Sam shrieked.

"Oh no Sam, I'm not going to tell Brooke. Both of you are!" Nathan said as he glared at Jack.

Jack sat back in the chair with a humph. He knew there was no way Nathan would let him out of this. He had told Sam it would be risky to meet up here. Why had he let her talk him into that? The Scotts had been great to him. He didn't want to mess that up.

…..

Julian walked back into the kitchen. He had finally heard the shower cut off twenty minutes ago and there was no doubt that Brooke would be coming out soon. When he heard the door knob click he dropped down to one knee.

"Julian, what are you doing?"

"I'm proposing. Brooke Davis will you marry me?"

…….

Nathan was moving around the kitchen cleaning up the dinner dishes while Haley was upstairs giving Cammie a bath. The phone rang and he moved to the end of the counter to answer it. "Hello"

"Nathan?"

"Luke is that you?"

"Nathan, Lindsay's been in an accident. I don't know any details yet but I need you and Haley to try and take care of Peyton. I have to fly out to New York"

"Of course! Is Lindsay alright Luke? Do you know any details?"

"No, I don't. I don't know much of anything other than they've taken her into surgery" Lucas said as his voice broke.

"Alright man, call me if you need anything. Ok?"

….

Jack walked down the hallway towards his next class. His eyes quickly darted around through the student faces in search of Sam. As he looked for her, he soon saw a face he was hoping to never see again. The leader of the gang that X was a member of was standing in front of him.

"Periodox what are you doing here?" Jack said as he looked around the hallway. He didn't want to be associated with this guy. He knew word moved quickly around Tree Hill.

"I came to see exactly what you plan on doing about that bitch getting X killed. You remember X right, Jack? YOUR BROTHER?"

"Who are you talking about Periodox?"

"The Scott woman! I want X's death avenged, do you understand that Jack?"

"No you've got it wrong. She didn't get X killed. X got himself killed man"

"Oh no little boy. It was her fault. If she'd kept her big nose out of your family's business this would have never happened. Now I know you're living there. I want her ruined. Do you understand me Jack? I want her and her family ruined. I don't want her dead quickly because that will end the suffering I plan to see her go through too soon."

Jack sighed heavily as the man tapped his cheek, smiled and then raised his eyebrows. "I'll be in touch man"

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