Season 3 Junior Year

Episode 17:

Peyton

"Shot?" Lucas asked stupidly then looked at Peyton's leg. It was covered in blood and Lucas had to swallow to keep from sobbing and/or throwing up.

"Lucas.. I'm so sorry." Peyton sobbed.

Lucas snapped his head up from her leg to look into her teary eyes.

"What? Peyton, you have nothing to be sorry for." Lucas said firmly, squeezing her hand.

Peyton shook her head furiously, "All this wasted time, Luke. I've wasted so much time in being mad at you."

Lucas sighed, "Peyton, I love you and I'm not mad that you took some time to figure out what I said. I didn't mean it, I swear and I'll do anything to get you back—"

Peyton smiled softly at him and said, "You already got me, Scott."

Lucas gasped, "You.. I.. huh?"

Peyton softly laughed, "Such a blonde, Scott. I love you and I'm never leaving you again."

Lucas grinned like a mad man and hugged Peyton so tight that she thought her ribs were going to touch.

"We gotta get you out of here, Peyt." Lucas whispered and looked up and down the hallway.

Peyton felt her heart clench at her nickname. She hadn't heard it in a while.

"Luke.." Peyton started then was cut off by Lucas.

"Is the baby okay?" Lucas asked worriedly and Peyton could see in his eyes that he was nervous and scared.

"She's fine, Luke." Peyton said with a small grin.

Lucas stared at her wide-eyed, "You mean—"

"We're having a little girl, Luke." Peyton said with tears in her eyes.

Nathan

He could tell something wasn't right. He wasn't on the floor anymore that was for sure. Nathan slowly came to and realized immediately where he was. The hospital. His eyes swept the room in alarm, hoping the doctor didn't tell his parents about his illness before he could. He sighed with relief when he noticed his parents sleeping on nearby chairs.

Nathan bit his lip in anticipation of telling his parents. What was he supposed to say? Hey mom, dad. So, I've been living with cancer for a while now. I'm going to get some breakfast. Pfffft. Like that would work.

"Nathan! Dan, he's awake!"

Shit's about to go down, Nathan thought to himself as his mother hugged him tightly.

"We were so worried, Nathan!" Deb exclaimed.

"Yeah, care to explain what that little episode was all about?" Dan said while rubbing his eye, attempting to wake up.

Deb sent Dan a glare while Nathan tried to come up with a response.

"Uhh.."

Luckily for Nathan the reporter on the news decided now would be the best time to talk.

"Students at Tree Hill High are being held captive due to a shooting that happened a little earlier this morning. Cops are saying that—"

Nathan's jaw dropped and immediately started undoing his IV.

"Haley's in there!" Nathan exclaimed and stood up.

"Woah, woah, woah. Son, you're not going anywhere near that school, you hear me?" Dan exclaimed and called for a nurse to put Nathan's IV back in.

"But it's Haley!" Nathan exclaimed.

"Nate, just calm down, okay? We'll get someone on the phone to see what's going on." Deb said calmly and put a hand on her son's arm.

Nathan just nodded, seriously considering just running away.

Haley

She wasn't exactly sure where she was, but she knew one thing. Her arm hurt like hell. She finally managed to open her eyes and take a look around. What she saw, she most definitely didn't like. In fact, Haley had to summon the courage to not throw up everywhere. She looked both ways before slowly crawling down the hallway. She gets a shooting pain in her left arm.

"The one day I decide to go to school.." Haley mutters softly to herself.

She puts pressure on the wound and decides to stand up. She succeeds but has to lean against the wall with her right shoulder as she continues down the hallway.

"Hales!"

She snapped her head behind her and saw Lucas kneeling next to Peyton.

"Oh thank goodness." Haley muttered and quickly made her way to her friends.

"Haley?" Peyton questioned and sat up a little to see if it was really Haley.

"It's me." Haley whispered, "I think I've been shot in the freakin' arm."

Haley slowly sat down next to the married couple, who, by the looks of things, had resolved their issues pretty quickly.

Lucas quickly moved to look at her arm and nodded, "Definitely shot, Hales."

Haley groaned, "Just what I need."

"If it's any consolation, I've been shot in the freaking leg." Peyton said with a smirk.

"It most definitely doesn't." Haley said, clearly in panic mode, "Are you hurt anywhere else? Is the baby okay?"

Peyton chuckled, "Take a breath, Haley. I'm fine. The baby's fine."

Haley let out a breath, "Good," then quickly added, "Have you guys seen Nathan?"

Lucas and Peyton sent each other panicked looks as Lucas replied, "Shit. No."

Haley muttered something under her breath and reached into her pocket for her cell. She pulled it out successfully with her right hand.

"I can text him and see—" Haley said but unfortunately, her phone died.

"Damn it!" Haley exclaimed, causing Lucas to put a hand over her mouth and shh her.

"In case you haven't noticed, we're kind of in a bad situation right now." Lucas said sarcastically.

Haley tightened her jaw, "And I'm in a lot of pain and I'm sure Peyton is too. Why don't we just slip through the back door?"

"Peyton is sleepy.." Peyton muttered, her eyes falling shut for a brief period.

"Damn it. Don't fall asleep, Peyt. God, Peyton. Don't fall asleep." Lucas whispered-yelled.

Peyton opened her eyes immediately, "Sorry.. I think all the blood loss is getting to me."

"Exactly why we should go before Lucas has to carry both of us out." Haley said and pointed to the door.

Lucas nodded and swiftly picked Peyton up into his arms as he stood.

"Damn it." Peyton muttered, squeezing her eyes shut tightly.

"What? What's wrong?" Lucas panicked.

"Nothing.. my leg hurts like hell." Peyton supplied and put her head on Lucas' chest.

Haley stood up and looked both ways before nodding, "It's safe. Let's get the hell out of her-"

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" someone exclaimed from down the hallway.

"Jimmy?" Haley exclaimed, "Is that you?"

Jimmy moved forward with a gun pointed straight at them, "I'm asking the questions around here."

"Jimmy… Peyton and Haley need a hospital." Lucas said softly.

Jimmy looked away briefly and said sadly, "You all think you're so cool. You think you can run this high school and torture people and not get away with it."

No one knew what to say.

"Please, Jim. I just got her back, I don't want to lose her.. or our baby." Lucas pleaded.

Jimmy's eyes widened, "She's pregnant?"

Lucas nodded, hoping for once that fate would be on his side.

Jimmy sighed, "Go ahead. You too, Haley."

Lucas and Haley quickly walked out, not wanting to take the chance of waiting any second longer than they have to.