The Mourning After
Part II Chapter XV
Thank you all for the reviews! One Tree Hill is finally back tomorrow, yay! As excited as I am, I'm also very nervous because I haven't been too thrilled about the direction of the show after the whole Renee scandal thing blew over. The forced drama between Brooke and Julian is frustrating. Seriously, why would he still be hanging around Alex after she tried to kill herself. I'm most worried about is Naley taking t he back seat. Regardless of my feelings towards the new characters, I hope Naley aren't pushed aside to prop up these new far less interesting characters. It really should be the other way around.
But anyways, this is another big chapter. I hope you enjoy this and please review!!
. . . . . .
"Whoa." Clayton said breathlessly as he started to lift up the small garment.
"What're you doing?"
Busted, he thought to himself as he turned around with the object in hand, looking like a 5 year old boy who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"I.. I was looking for socks."
"Right!" She glared at him as she snatched the lacy garment from his hand and promptly put in back in the drawer and shut it close. "Your socks are in the other dresser." She informed him, turning around and blocking his access to the dresser.
Clay had an amused smile while Rachel looked on in annoyance.
"Well?" Clay prodded.
"Well, what? Shouldn't you be packing?"
"Oh no, first you have to explain that little outfit I found."
"…"
"I'd love to see it on." He wiggled his eyes. She promptly smacked him in the stomach.
"Well, you'll never get a chance. It's for my other boyfriend."
"Haha, oh come on, you know I was just joking … sort of."
Thinking on her feet. "It was supposed to be surprised."
"Well, I'm definitely surprised." Clay stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Hmm.." Rachel moaned lightly as Clay pinned her against the dresser and raked his lips over hers. "Wear it for me." He whispered into her ear.
Trying to get through the fog in her mind, she managed to find the strength to push him off of her.
"I'd love to babe, but if we get started now, there'll be no way you can catch your train." Rachel pointed out.
Clay sighed and unwillingly took a step back, knowing she was right.
"Fine." He pouted and went to the other dresser to grab his socks and then stepped inside the bathroom to get his toiletries. Rachel also had her luggage out and she reached inside and grabbed the same lacy outfit she just put away and stuffed it into her bag.
"You all packed?" Clay asked as he gathered the rest of his things.
"Almost."
"Well, I'm off. Good luck on your on your trip." Clay gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
"You too."
After Clay left, Rachel picked up her ringing phone.
"Hey, it's me, you set to go?"
Rachel sighed. "Yes.. yes I am."
. . . . .
:: KNOCK KNOCK::
Haley got up from the bed and headed to the door, she looked through the peep hole to make sure who it was and then quickly opened the door.
Nathan rushed inside, quickly closing the door behind him and crashing his lips onto Haley's. He held her close to him and she brought her arms around his neck to kiss him deeper. They kissed long and hard before breaking apart to finally catch their breaths. He locked his forehead against hers and looked at her with worried eyes. The feel of his beard and mustache still tingled her soft skin.
It had been two long days since Lucas found out and she confronted Dan. Lucas stayed true to his word and never mentioned Haley's pregnancy, but that didn't mean that Deb and Karen hadn't notice Lucas' cold demeanor towards Haley. She was silent of course as she tried to think of what to do but Dan's plan was wearing her down.
"Look, I'll just come out and say it." Haley took a deep breath and ran her sweaty palms against jeans. "I know."
"Know what?" Dan sat up.
"Nathan." Haley stated.
"Umm, what about.." Dan began to speak coolly but Haley cut him off.
"I know he's alive." She said in as clam of a voice as she can muster.
Haley watched as Dan's face dropped and the pencil he was holding in his hands snapped in half. He was about to refute her claims when she added.
"And you need to get him home because I'm pregnant with his child."
Dan sat there with shocked. It wasn't everyday that one can do that to Dan Scott but he'd been silent for a minute now and Haley didn't know how to take that.
"Mr. Scott." She started to speak softly.
"How long?"
"Huh?"
"How long has it been since you got knocked up?" Dan asked in calm cold voice.
Haley was a bit taken back, she didn't think he could be so crude, considering this was his grandchild after all.
"A couple of weeks."
"When you went to New York the first time?"
Haley nodded. Dan sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, his mind going in over drive, trying to figure out what to do.
"And you've been seeing him since?"
"Yes." She said softly. "But.. but Nathan doesn't know about the pregnancy.. but.. but Lucas does."
"Wait, what?"
Haley took a deep breath and told him all about what happened that morning and her fight with Lucas as well as how she found out Nathan was alive. Dan couldn't believe it, in a city of millions, they still managed to find each other.
"You need to keep your mouth shut about this." Dan stated.
"Don't worry, I wasn't planning on telling."
"If I know Lucas, he won't either. It buys us some time but not much."
"Mr. Scott, when can Nathan go home?"
"I wish I knew."
Haley sighed, "You have to bring him home, he can't miss this." Haley rubbed her belly.
"Don't you think I know that!" He snapped. He shook his head. "Look, I'm sorry. I've been trying to figure out what to do for over two years now."
"Well figure something out, cuz this baby is coming out and I'd like to have his or her father there this time!" She snapped too.
"I can't talk to you about an ongoing investigation."
"Fine, but you need to do something, I'm going to start showing and I think your wife and Karen will take notice."
"You.. you have to lie."
"Lie?"
"I can hire someone from the bureau.."
"Hire someone?"
"Nathan's cover can't be blown."
"So I'm supposed to pretend that I'm having another man's baby?!"
"In a word, yes."
"But.."
"There's no quick fix to this Haley. I worked far too hard to protect Nathan's cover and his family."
"There are no buts Haley. We've trying to bring Nathan back, I can't go into details but we're just not there yet. Nathan knew the risks, he knew that this could take years."
"Years.."
"Look, Haley, I've been working hard to bring him back and with you pregnant, it doesn't change things. I'm still going to try to bring Nathan home as soon as possible."
"How?"
"I wish I can tell you but you already know more than you should. I'm sorry Haley but for now you have to keep quiet and pray Lucas doesn't say anything."
"But what if Lucas does?"
"Then you have to lie. No matter what, Nathan's cover can't be blown." Dan stated firmly.
. . . .
"Hales, what's wrong?" Nathan asked. He'd gotten a desperate call from Haley to come see her. He immediately took off and caught a train down to Richmond and then rented a car and drove over an hour to get to this lonely motel just off interstate I-95. He was by the North Carolina border and a short two hour drive back to his beloved Tree Hill.
Haley led him to the bed and took a seat. "I'm so sorry Nathan."
"What do you have to be sorry for?" Now he was really worried as her eyes began to water.
"I shouldn't have came to see you. I shouldn't have found out you were alive."
"Haley, it's okay. I know it sucks but I'm happy you found me. I was so lost without you and now that you know, you've given me something to look forward to. God I know its been a little over a week but I've missed you so much." He leaned down and kissed her softly.
Haley pulled back. "No, Nathan. We can't."
"Can't what?"
"Meet up anymore."
"What? Why?" Nathan started to panic. "I can come down here, the ride wasn't too bad. I know it must be hard getting away from everyone."
"No.. Nathan. It's not that. Well, yes of course it is, but there's something else. There's something I need to tell you."
"Haley, you're scaring me. Is it James? Is he okay?" Nathan started to panic.
"No, Jamie's fine." Haley quickly reassured him. There was no going back now. She had to tell him, he deserved it. "I'm, I'm pregnant again Nathan."
Nathan's jaw dropped and he sat there stunned.
. . . . . .
Lucas opened the door with Jamie in his arms. They'd spent the morning together at the park and Jamie loved running around in the play pen. He went inside the living room and saw his mom and Deb chatting.
"Grandma!" Jamie wiggled out of Lucas' arms and ran to Deb.
"How many times have I told you Jamie, I am far too young to be a grandmother." Deb mused.
"Nanny Deb!"
"There you go. Now why don't you go to your room and play. I'll be up in a little bit to get you some food."
Jamie nodded and ran up to his room to play.
"Hey mom, Deb." Lucas took a seat across from them.
Deb and Karen looked at each other and then back to Lucas.
"Lucas, where's Haley?" Karen asked.
"I don't know." He shrugged. He could care less. He couldn't believe that she was pregnant with another man's baby. The concept was so alien to him, his mind was still trying to grasp onto it.
"Honey, what's been going on with you and Haley?"
"Yeah, Luke." Deb added. "We know you guys have had falling outs in the past but this seems different. We don't even know where Haley is."
Lucas shook his head, he had a pretty good idea where she was but he kept his mouth shut. Like he told Haley, it was her responsibility to tell Nathan's parents that she was knocked up.
"I don't either." Lucas added.
. . . . .
"You're.. you're pregnant?" Nathan finally spoke, his voice shakey.
"Yes." She sniffled, her tears ready to spill. "I'm.. we're pregnant." She grabbed his hand and intertwined it with his.
"NO!" He immediately pulled back and stood up. "You can't be.. not.. not with everything that's going on."
"Nathan I know."
"You said you were fine. You were on birth control! You had your period!"
"I know but I wasn't on it when we first saw each other again and I did have my period but I still conceived. I'm so sorry Nathan."
"I can't believe this." Nathan was ready to pull out his hairs. What the hell was he supposed to do now?
"I wanted to tell you the last time I saw you.. but I .. I didn't have it in me."
"But.. but you're okay right?" He knelt down in front of her.
"Yes, me and the baby are fine."
Nathan sighed and rested his head on her lap. She ran her hand through his dark hair and tried to sooth him. She could only imagine what he was going through right now.
"Is this real?"
"As real as it gets." Haley said softly as she placed his hand over her still flat belly.
Tears began to well up in his eyes. "Am I going to miss out on this one's life too?" He asked.
"I hope not." Her voice cracked.
"I.. I have to go home. I can't be apart from you guys. Not now, not after this!" He looked up at her with tears in his eyes. Her heart broke for him all over again.
"I love you Nathan Scott!" She held his face in her palms, "but you and I both know you can't come home."
"Fuck it! I don't care anymore. I need to be home!" Nathan got up.
"I know you do but you're cover will be blown and then what?"
"…."
"I know it's a fucked up situation.. it's been a fucked up situation but we have to make the best of it and you can't go home and ruin everything."
"But.."
"No but's Nathan. You're father was right, you can't come home yet."
"My father?"
"I told him Nathan. After I found out, I.. I had to."
"I need to see my dad!"
"Nathan, don't! He doesn't even know I'm here. He told me not to tell you."
"What, how could he?"
"Nathan, he had his reasons, you know that. But I couldn't go through with it but he's right, you can't come home and risk everything with me and Jamie and now that I'm pregnant, I can be a bigger target now."
"But shit Hales, you're going to start showing, then what?!"
"I lie."
"Lie?"
"I am going to start showing and I can't hide it anymore after that. But at the same time, I can't let your cover be blown. I'm going to say it's someone else's."
"What?"
"Your father agreed to find someone to pose as the father."
"That's insane!" Nathan immediately threw back.
"It is and believe me, I felt the same way. As much as I hate this, Dan ha a point."
"So now everyone will think you've moved on and building a life with some douche!" Nathan could barely breathe, he was so mad, frustrated and felt completely powerless.
"And to everyone, I will truly be dead." Nathan declared, a tear running down his face.
. . . . . .
Dan sat at his desk, exhausted beyond all measure. Ever since Haley dropped the bomb on him, he hadn't been able to sleep. His mind was in over drive trying to figure something out. He was on the phone with the bureau and his contacts trying his best to accelerate his plans.
He picked up his phone and started to dial.
"Hey, it's me, you set to go?" He asked.
"Yes.. yes I am." The voice said over the phone.
"Then this is it." Dan sighed. "Good luck Miss Gatina."
To Be Continued . . .