I have no idea what happened when I posted it last night but it wouldn't let people open and I apologize for that! And I didn't check my email right away so thanks Samantha for letting me know that it was not working. I hope that didn't scare any of you away! ENJOY :D
"How's he doing today Doc?" Haley asked with tired eyes.
"Well, it seems that his heart muscles are thickening…" he said trying to choose his words carefully.
"HCM…" she said quietly under her breath.
"Yes, how'd you know Ms. James?" The doctor asked wondering how she knew the disease.
"H-his dad had it" she said as if she just solved the puzzle in her mind.
"Well that seems to cohere well since HCM is often passed down in families."
"So what now…?" she asked as she looked at the still unconscious Nathan.
"We wait to see if he wakes, when he does, or I mean if he does then we can go from there." He answered her honestly.
There were no more tears inside of her, even if she wanted to cry she couldn't. All of this came to her as a blur. One minute she was absolutely outraged with Nathan and wanted him out of her sight but this happens and she realizes how she can't leave her eyes off of him for a second.
"Thanks Doc…" she says in a depressed tone.
"Is he your brother?" the doctor questioned.
She shook her head no.
"Cousin?"
"He's my best friend" she said as she held Nathan's hand.
The doctor looked at her knowing what she meant by her words, he couldn't help but smile at the love between the two.
"Well Ms. James, we'll see how he progresses. Be hopeful" he says as he exits the room.
"How are you holding up Hales?" Brooke asks as she enters the room with Lucas.
The sleep deprived girl looks up from her spot on the chair and she can't let any words out.
"I'm living" she lets out simply as she's staring at Nathan.
"He'll get better Haley, don't worry" Lucas said in an optimistic manner.
"I-I just feel like an idiot" she replied.
"Why Tutor Girl?" Brooke asks worriedly.
"This is all my fault, I should've just forgiven him for everything. He got too stressed out with all of our drama and if he doesn't wake up it's all my fault!" she cried at her friends.
"Don't say stuff like that, it's not your fault he has a heart condition Hales!" Lucas rebuked.
"B-but I've made him cry so much, that must've been a burden on his heart…" she said not wanting anything else to be the blame for his current nature.
"No Hales… he was born with the condition, you couldn't change that even if you wanted to" Brooke supported Lucas.
"I'm just so exhausted" she whined as her eyes fluttered.
"Are you getting sleep Hales?"
She shook her head no.
"Get someone else to watch him, get some sleep." Lucas suggested.
"I want to be here when he wakes." She quickly replied.
"He'll still be here whether you get 9 minutes of sleep or 9 hours, get some rest Hales. We'll watch him for tonight."
She seemed reluctant and looked at them assuringly.
"I'm trusting you to watch him…" she said.
"Don't let your eyes off of him. Call me if something happens. The nicest nurse is Jane she always changes his pillows. You're supposed to adjust the pillows on his back so he doesn't get bedsores. Wipe his back to make sure it's not sweaty—"
"We get it Hales!" Brooke exclaimed.
She let out a frustrated sigh.
"Fine, remember to call me!" she demanded as she left the room.
"Mama? Daddy?" Haley searched through her house.
"We're in the kitchen Hales!" Lydia said as she got excited to finally see back from her daughter.
"How's he doing?" Jimmy asked as he wiped his hands on the towel.
"Still the same." She answered sorrowfully.
"We're surprised to see you home, are there nurses watching Nathan?" Lydia questioned.
"Brooke and Luke are watching him right now, they forced me to go get some shut-eye" she gave her parents a faint smirk.
"You really do need it Hales…" Jimmy answers as the despair in the house increases.
"Eat first then you can take a nap" Lydia says as she starts fixing her a plate.
"Alright"
Haley trudged her way up the stairs and her legs felt heavier than usual, how long has she been this exhausted? And why didn't she notice it before? Probably because she was too focused on keeping an eye on Nathan that she completely let go of herself. She looked at her face in the mirror, the dark circles under her eyes were obvious and her skin paler than usual. As she saw how clean her bedroom was she cried at the thought of Nathan. Imagining his clothes scattered on the bed, shoes in disarray on the floor, and his used towels thrown into the hamper near the bathroom door. But it was all tidied up and she wished it wasn't. She somehow managed to get under her blanket and close her eyes. Smelling the faint aroma of Nathan's scent on his pillow. She wanted so badly to run back to the hospital and sleep near his bedside, but she's tried that for the past few weeks and she's gotten a total of about 20 hours over the three weeks. After battling her own thoughts for about 15 minutes she finally falls into a deep slumber that she has not felt in weeks.
"Hales? Haleyyy?"
"Huh? Wuhhh, where am I?" Haley stammered as she looked around the dark empty park.
She looked around cluelessly and was a bit freaked out.
"Hales, do you know where you are baby?" Nathan asked her as she adjusted to the new setting.
"Wait, what Nathan?!" she said shocked to see him alive and kicking.
He just laughed at her confused actions.
"Hey, baby" he says as he walks over to hug her.
She grips onto him not believing what she's feeling. This familiar warmth has not been in her arms for so long and this new, but memorable feeling makes her feel safe.
"This isn't real." She says as her head rests against his chest.
"Ahh, you were always the smart cookie Hales." He chuckled as he looks down at her.
"Is this heaven?" she says as she finally lets go.
"Not exactly." He answers abruptly.
"Why are we here?" she asks him as she goes over to the familiar swings.
He looks at her and smiles.
"We don't have much time, let's go I need to show you something" he adds as he grabs her hand and starts heading towards who-knows-where.
In an instant it's day time and they're inside the hospital alongside his bed.
"Nathan… what's going on?" she asks so incredibly baffled.
"We're here to see how I'm doing" he chuckles.
She gives him a sideways look and he could tell his humor is not benefiting her.
"Hales. I know this is hard to swallow but can you imagine a life without me?" he asks her.
"Nathan! Stop talking like that" she replies angrily.
"I'm sensing that's a no…" he teases.
"I wanna get out of here" she says stressed out.
"Ok, then we shall"
**flash**
They're now inside of the gym of their middle school. As they start to walk to the bleachers 13-year-old Nathan and Lucas start running out.
"Why are you showing me this?"
"Just listen" he smiles.
"So, you and Haley… a thing?" Nathan teases Lucas.
"Shut up" Lucas answers as he pushes him.
"Luke! Haley is perfect, she'd be crazy to date you!" Nathan replied adding salt to the wound.
"You know what Nate, I get it, you like making fun of me but the day Haley dates someone I'm so rubbing it in your face because that guy is going to be me!" Lucas said with confidence.
Haley can't help but smile at Nathan's memory with Lucas. Nathan's staring at Haley smile at the sight of this scene and he knows that his plans are working perfectly. Suddenly the middle school gym transforms into the Tree Hill High gym and it's Nathan and Lucas again but this school year she can tell by their jerseys.
"Hey Luke," Nathan says as he enters the gym from the locker room.
"What?" Lucas replies as he stares away from the basket.
"Remember three years ago when you said you'd rub it in my face when Haley dated someone?"
"Yeah…?" Lucas answered confused.
"WELL HAHA AT YOU! Because that guy is me not you Luke!"
"What?! YOU AND HALEY?! I'm so happy for you Nate!" Lucas said as he hugged Nathan.
"Thanks man"
"But what about you and Peyton?" Lucas asked concerned.
"She's…a mess, we were a mess." Nathan stated.
"Well I'm happy for you two, this was bound to happen." Lucas smiled.
"I guess it was, huh?" Nathan says as they start practicing.
"Natey…" Haley says slowly as she looks at him with tears in her eyes.
"I needed to show you just in case." He said as he scooted over towards her on the bleacher.
"You're going to make it, I know it" she answered as he sobbed.
"I don't know Hales, it's not looking too good for me." He said trying to be rational.
She let out a tired sigh and she held his hands, the moments their skin touch the setting changes and they're now by themselves on the breezy beach.
"I love you" she says to him as she kisses his lips softly.
"I love you too, always and forever" he says as he gives her soft pecks.
"Please come back to me Nathan" she cries as her hold on him tightens.
He looks into her eyes and wants to give her the world.
"I will" then he fades away.
Haley shook out of her lucid dream and checked the clock, it read 12:36 AM. She reached for her phone and dialed Lucas' number.
"Hello?" Lucas answers quietly.
"Are you still with him?" she asks.
"Yeah, the nurse you said was nice let me even though I'm not family." He answered.
"I'm gonna come soon, do you need anything?"
"Food would be great." Lucas chuckled quietly.
"Okay, I'll be there in half an hour"
"Alright, see ya.
She hangs up and lets out a deep breath.
"He's going to be ok" she recites to herself as she quickly gets into different clothes.
"Only things open at this time are fast food places so I got you a burger and fries" Haley says as she hands him the bag of food.
"You're an angel Hales" Lucas says as he starts chowing down beastily.
"I thought you'd be hungry so I got you two burgers and extra fries" she smiled.
"You're in a good mood" he smiled at her as mayonnaise occupied the corner of his full mouth.
"Just rested" she smiles as she sits next to Nathan and plays with his hand.
"I'll sleep here tonight," she added.
"No Hales, I want to be here" Lucas replied.
"I want to, too." She smirked.
"I don't think they'll kick me out, I'm pretty sure all the nurses have a crush on me" Lucas said cockily.
"Ok Romeo, way to float your own boat." She teased as she tried to get comfortable on the chair alongside of his bed.
"You know, I was talking to him and I still feel like he's here, like he can hear us" Lucas said as he took a sip of his Coke.
"I think he can too"
"He's going to come back to us Hales, I just know it" he stated confidently.
"Me too."
It was the next morning and Lucas woke up to an almost silent room. He looked around and yawned loudly. The sight of Haley so devotedly loyal to Nathan amazes him because finding two people that in love is hard to come across. He began to get out of his chair and looked closer at Haley and Nathan. Not believing that what he's seeing is true he goes closer to the two. And to his delight he sees their hands tightly intertwined together, Nathan's grip as tight as Haley's.
"Hales." Lucas gently shakes Haley.
"Hmm" she answers in a mum.
"Open your eyes and look at your hand" he whispers.
"What?" she says as she looks down.
"Oh my god…" she quickly wakens.
"We knew he'd be coming back."
"His hand! His hand! He moved it Luke!" she answered excitedly at the sight of their fingers intertwined.
"Things can only go up from here" Lucas said in an optimistic tone.
Later that day Lucas finally went home and the usual routine of Haley caring for Nathan resumed. She would sing a lot while talking to him and she'd even read him horoscopes for the week. Night time soon approached and the nurse asked Haley if she'd like something to eat from the cafeteria. She gets a bowl of soup as usual and this routine is getting far too comfortable for her.
2:48AM
"It's one of those nights I can't sleep baby…" Haley told the unconscious Nathan.
"I miss hearing your voice. Saying something like "I'll can't sleep with you," or stroking my hair until I fall asleep" she tells as she starts holding his hand again.
"I miss everything about you Natey" she continues.
Suddenly his fingers start moving right before her eyes.
"Nate?" she says as she sits up and looks at him.
"H-H-Hales" he croaks out.
"Nathan?!" she says ecstatically.
"I-I'll can't sleep with y-you" he says in a raspy voice.
"Oh baby!" she says as she plants kisses all over his face.
"I need to get a doctor!" she says frantically.
"W-wait, give them a few minutes. Just say you woke up to me alive" he joked.
"Nathan…" she pouted.
"I need some time with my baby." He says as he tries to sit up.
"don't overwork yourself!" she scolded as she tried to sit him up.
"I'm so happy to have woken to your face" he smiled.
"I wouldn't let it happen any other way"
A/N: Sorry if her dream confused you, I hope you caught on! I had to make Nathan better because him in a coma-like state just breaks my heart… I know I'm lame. Also, I know this chapter kind of lingered and was slow but I hope you still like it! Please review! -Camille