The Mourning After
Chapter 19
Thank you all for your patience and your kind reviews. I only reviewed it once for errors, so I apologize if I missed something. Enjoy and please review !
--
"Haley.. stop." Lucas stated.
"Stop what?" Haley said as she continued to pace back and forth.
"That.. stop doing that.. you're making me nervous." Lucas shot back.
"Yes, dear.. why don't you sit down.. you know the stress isn't good for the baby." Deb said.
"It's just that the doctor's been in there for a really long time." Haley shot back.
"Relax Hales." Lucas said, grabbing onto Haley. "Breathe .. okay .. Nathan will be okay… the doctors are just checking up on him."
Haley took a deep breath and tried to relax, just then the doctor walked in and Haley immediately turned her attention to him.
"He's fine … tired but fine.. we need to set his leg in before any permanent damage is done.. we want to make sure we have Duke's starting player ready next fall." He gave a comforting smile and Haley nodded.
"Can.. can I see him?"
"Of course you can."
Haley walked down the hall, eager to see her husband, but it seemed someone else beat her to it.
"Haley." Dan said with a warm smile, he turned back to Nathan and gently squeezed his hand. "I'll leave you two alone." He said as he made his way out and closed the door behind him.
Haley walked over to Nathan and sat by his bed and gave him a big warm hug and a kiss on the lips. Nathan wiped a tear that fell from her face.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Nathan asked concerned.
"Would you look at me? I'm a mess. .you're the one injured and here I am crying like a little girl."
"Hey.. don't say that.. I know it's been hard."
"I'm so sorry Nathan."
"You have nothing to be sorry about."
"Yes… it was Daunte that hit you Nathan.. this is all my fault." This time more tears were shed.
"Hey.. no don't you dare blame yourself .. I spoke to my dad .. he was desperate .. the cops were closing in on him and since my dad's the mayor.. he tried to take it out on us.. but he's gone .. he died when he crashed his car.. he can't hurt us anymore." He said as he pulled her in closer to him, but she could only sob harder.
"I thought I was going to loose you."
Nathan gave a chuckle to lighten up the mood. "I'm sorry babe.. but you're stuck with me."
"Always?"
He smiled. "And Forever." He leaned in and kissed her again. She hugged him tight and kiss his cheek.
"I think the only thing we need now is rain." She joked and Nathan laughed.
"Hey look, I want you to know something.. if anything happens to me .. if you ever .. if you ever loose me.. I want you to know how happy you made me and how wonderful my life was with you, and I will always be with you."
"Don't talk like that.. Nothing's going to happen to you… I won't let it!" Haley grew defensive.
"I know… I know you're right .. but if it does.. I want you to be okay Haley.. and know that you made me happy .."
This time tears were coming down her face again. Nathan hated to see her so upset and thinking about her words earlier, he knew exactly how to make her feel better, although he would probably would get in a lot of trouble. He reached for the nightstand next to him and pulled out a matchbook that happened to be there. Taking a piece of paper, he lit it on fire.
"Nathan.. wha.. what're you doing?"
Then he blew it out, the smoke reaching the smoke detector and suddenly the sprinklers started to go off in his room.
"Ahh!" Haley shrieked.
"You wanted rain!" Nathan smiled. She looked at his wondrous blue eyes and the childish smirk across his face.
"Ahh.. it is not possible to be this much in love." She laughed as their lips crashed together.
--
Nathan laid on a new dry bed, with Haley sitting next to him with a blanket over her wet clothes. They looked like little kids who were just sent to the principal's office. There in front of him there were Dan, the fire marshall, and the Chief of Staff, Dr. Stanpole, who was also one of Nathan's doctor. They all had their arms crossed, looking at the young couple.
"So what do you say gentlemen?" Dan asked the two men to his left.
"Considering the night your family just had Mr. Mayor… I can let it slide." The firemarshall turned to Dr. Stanpole.
"Luckily, the sprinkler system is confined to each room and the whole sprinkler system didn't go off... just pay for the equipment damaged and we can forget about it." Dr. Stanpole sighed.
"Thank you." Dan nodded as the two men left. "Your lucky you already have a scholarship to pay for college." Dan growled as he left. As soon as the two of them were alone, they immediately started to laugh.
"That's not funny." Peyton stated as Brooke and Lucas followed her inside the room.
"I agree with Peyton.. when we heard the alarms go off.. you nearly gave everyone a heart attack!" Brooke added. "Come on Haley… as part of my god-motherly duties .. we need to get you showered, rested and into some dry clothes."
"God mother?" Nathan turned to Haley.
"Yes.. Brooke is going to be the god mother to our child..." Haley glared at him and Nathan smiled.
"Take care of her Brooke.. I'm counting on you." Nathan turned to Brooke.
"I won't let you down." Brooke responded.
"Wait.. I'm not going anywhere." Haley protested.
"Hales.. you know what the doctor said and Brooke's right .. you need to change clothes… please .. for the baby." Nathan pleased.
"Fine." Haley got up and gave a kiss to Nathan and then left with Brooke and Peyton, leaving the two brothers by themselves.
"Sprinkler system huh?" Lucas shook his head, knowing full well Haley and Nathan's little thing about the rain. Nathan gritted his teeth nervously.
"Nice on lil bro!" Lucas smiled as he extended his fist. They fist punched and Nathan smirked.
--
Brooke was in Nathan and Haley's bedroom as she picked out some clothes for Haley to wear. Despite their protests, Haley insisted to stay in the hospital and would only leave if Nathan was with her. Haley got out of the shower and put her bathrobe on and stepped outside.
"Thanks Brooke." Haley said picking up the clothes and going back to the bathroom to change.
"You're welcome tutormom." Brooke called out. "I can't believe you and Nathan are having a baby."
"I know .. I didn't think it would happen so soon."
"So soon? I meant that I can't believe that you and Nathan don't already have a kid." Brooke joked as Haley stepped outside the bathroom. Haley fully remembered how Brooke thought that the two of them got married because Haley got pregnant.
"What?" Brooke tried to look all innocent.
"Don't you what me.. remember I'm hormonal .. so the cops won't blame me for killing you." She teased.
Brooke laughed. "But seriously.. you and Nathan are going to be great parents.. and now I can start a new line for baby girls.. this is going to be so exciting."
"Relax there.. we won't know the sex for a couple of months.
"Well, it's a girl."
"You might want to talk to Nathan about that .. he's convinced it's a boy."
"Figures." Brooke rolled her eyes. "But what do you think of this.. if it's a girl.. Brooke.. if it's a boy.. Brook."
"What? That's the same name!"
"No .. a girl has it with an 'e' at the end.. if it's a boy.. the 'e' will get dropped."
Haley shook her head. "I think for a girl, I'm really liking Peyton."
"Oh now you're just being hurtful." Brooke pouted and Haley laughed.
"Speaking of which.. where is she?"
"Passed out on the coach.. ready to go?"
"Just let me finish drying my hair." Haley took the towel and started to dry her hair off. "Look so I heard what happened with Dan and Lucas.. are they going to be okay?"
"Yeah." Brooke stated simply.
"Brooke.. what's wrong?"
"What? Nothing's wrong."
"Brooke.."
"What.. Nathan got hit by a car.. you fainted .. it's been a long night."
"That's not what I'm talking about you and you know it."
"Fine.. but just don't make a big deal out of it okay.. I'm pretty sure I'm just blowing this whole thing out of proportion."
"What?"
"Lucas.. he's just been.. so.. so distant.. and I kept telling myself that it's okay.. he's going through a hard time right now but he really shut me out .. he even flinched when I tried to touch him… I know I sound selfish and I have no right to be.."
"Brooke.. it's okay.. and you're right .. it's been rough on us all .. Lucas loves you .. never forget that."
"Thanks Hales.. here you are knocked up your senior year and you're helping me out."
"Hey!" Haley shot back and Brooke giggled.
"I know it's a little soon to ask.. but what are you guys going to do .. with school next fall?"
"We can add that to the list of things we should've talked about before getting married.. hehe.. but we'll be fine.. I think I'm going to take the first semester off and then go to Duke in the spring… and Deb and Dan have actually been really supportive.. which is a little weird but refreshing."
Brooke smiled. "Yeah they seemed to turn a new leaf.. well Deb has always been okay… but Dan.."
"Yeah exactly.."
"Well .. don't forget you also have me Peyton and Lucas.. and I must say.. you sure know how to put on a wedding."
"Wedding .. crap I completely forgot." Haley started to panic.
"Hehe.. easy there tutor bride.. I don't think Nathan will be tearing up the dance floor this weekend but I'm pretty sure you guys will still be able to do your first dance."
"Thanks Brooke.. I don't think I couldn't have done any of this with out you."
"And what am I?" Peyton glared at the door way
"Come here Peyton!" Haley said giving Peyton a hug. "You did help bring my stuff here hehehe." Haley joked and Peyton rolled her eyes.
--
"You are supposed to be resting … and so should you." Haley glared at both her best friend and husband.
"I think that's my cue to leave." Lucas said standing up. "Don't keep him up too long." Lucas smirked and gave Haley a hug. "I think I'm going to go home too and freshen up.. I'll see you later." Lucas turned to Nathan.
Haley took her seat next to Nathan and turned to him. "I think I got it."
"Got what?"
"Our son's name."
"God, I should just leave you and Brooke together.. she's convinced it's a girl."
"Well, she's wrong and in 8 months, she'll see." He said proudly. "But on the off hand chance it is a girl.. I have a name that suits both."
"What?"
"Jamie."
"Jamie?"
"Yes.. James Scott… and you can also call him Jamie .. and Jamie works for a girl too.. you like it? I named it after you of course." Nathan smiled and Haley couldn't help but nod.
"It's perfect."
"And since it is a boy.. what do you think of …"
Haley giggled. "I love it!" She said giving him a big hug and kiss. "My family will love it too."
"Have you spoken to them yet?"
"No… I'll call in the morning.. Hey it's Haley.. we won the championship game, Nathan got hit by a car, I'm pregnant.. see you at the wedding." Haley laughed.
A sinking feeling suddenly came over Nathan. "The wedding…" He mumbled. "I forgot about that."
Haley shook her head and held Nathan tighter. "Me too."
--
Lucas left the room and caught up with Brooke and Peyton.
"I'm going to go home and freshen up and then coming back."
"Want company?" Brooke offered.
"No.. I'm good.. you can stay.. I'll be right back." Lucas said giving Brooke a kiss on the forehead.
Lucas took off with Karen and they made it back to his house. He took his time taking a nice long shower, trying to let the events of the past few hours wash over him. This night was a roller coaster ride and he hoped the ride would end soon. He changed quickly but collapsed on his bed and drifted off to sleep for a few hours.
He woke up suddenly and looked at the clock. He yawned and stepped outside, where it was still dark, but the faintest of light could be seen from the horizon. He didn't want to sleep, wanting to sleep in the hospital and be there when Nathan had to go back to surgery for his leg and after that, maybe they could go back to being normal, if there was ever such a thing in Tree Hill.
He got to the hospital and the sun was starting to peak it's way through. Walking up to the entrance, he felt calm cool and collective. He was still tired but relaxed. Haley was fine, the baby was fine and Nathan was fine. He didn't know how he ended up here, his best friend married to the half brother who loathed him and now they were having a baby. He was going to be an uncle and best man to Nathan. And now he was even on good terms with his estranged father. Lucas shook his head at how funny life can be.
As he walked into the hospital and closer to Nathan's room, he suddenly felt his heart rate rise and his palms go cold. He could distinctly make out the sound of Haley crying and as he turned the corner, he saw her grief stricken, Deb holding her tightly, with her own tears. Dan looked away, his hand against the wall, his hand covering his eyes. Lucas breathing got ragged as he made his way closer. There Dr. Stanpole stood in front of him and he looked at the doctor with a serious look.
"Wh.. what's going?" Lucas managed to say.
Dr. Stanpole took a deep breath. "I'm sorry son.. kids your age should never experience these sort of things." The doctor shook his head. Lucas looked back at Haley, who was so distraught that a nurse was being called over to help calm her. He looked back at the doctor.
"Wh.. what're you talking about?"
"It was a simple procedure.. but.. somehow.. some of the morrow from the bone escaped while we were setting his leg and it got into his blood stream.. and .. and stopped his heart."
Lucas could barely hold it together.
Dr. Stanpole looked at the young man straight in the eye. "You're brother.. Nathan.. he's.. he's dead."
And just like that the world faded around him. The bright sunlight shining through the glass windows were gone and he felt his stomach tighten and his heart pulsating rapidly. This couldn't be. This wasn't happening. This was not supposed to happen, last night was supposed to be the greatest night their lives.. the morning after would've still been filled with wild celebrations. However, it was not meant to be for the morning after brought only that, mourning.
The End
Don't kill me (raises a white flag) ! A Separate Peace is my favorite book ever and I'm sure many of you caught the reference. I know this ending was probably not what you wanted but you will want to read the epilogue ! I ask you stick around for that, BELIEVE ME .. it'll be worth your while. PLEASE PLEASE Review !