Chapter 3 Part 2

Nathan rushed into the hospital carrying his crying son on his hip. Jay, who was obviously upset from being awaken from the fast car ride to the emergency room, started to scream louder when his father approached the nurse's desk and started yelling at her, asking where his wife was.

That of course got him nowhere.

"Sir, calm down please. I can give you her information but-"she started but was interrupted when the doctor that Haley was assigned to came towards the three. "Mrs. Scott that just came in, this is her husband," the nurse introduced.

The doctor then approached Nathan and gave him a look once over, before glancing at his clipboard that held her information.

"Where's my wife? What's wrong with her?" Nathan asked confused on what to do. He wanted to scream, but tried his best to stay calm. Actually, he was just trying to keep his temper under control only for Jay's sake. He'd received the call saying that Haley was in the hospital by one of his friends that were visiting someone when they'd seen Haley wheeled in. The hospital hadn't even called him, and he wanted to know why. This was complete bullshit if you asked him!

Clearing his throat, the doctor stared intently at Nathan over his square, dark rimmed glasses, and spoke sternly, "Mr. Scott, I want to make it clear that we haven't ruled out domestic abuse." That was the last straw.

"Man you think I hit her? FUCK YOU! Where the hell is my wife?" he asked angrily. His temper, sadly only had his son hysterical in his arms.

The doctor tried to reason with him. "Mr. Scott, bad behavior won't get you anywhere-But before he could continue, Nathan barked out.

"NO! You're telling me, right in front of my face, that I hit my wife! Why? Did someone hurt her?"

At that question, both the nurse and doctor grew quiet, suddenly realizing his honesty in being unaware of what happened with his wife.

Nathan felt the tears welling up in his eyes as he lifted Jason to his chest and tried to calm the baby down, as well as himself. "Just please, let me see my wife. She went out to pick up food for dinner, and was gone for about twenty minutes when my friend called and said he saw Haley being brought in… Just tell me she's okay," he asked as his voice started to falter in ultimate worry and depression. His eyes followed the nurse as she walked back into the room the doctor had just come from.

"Mr. Scott," he started, satisfied when he gained Nathan's attention. "You wife came in pretty banged up. She's got some bruised ribs, a cut or two on her face and a bit of swelling on her left cheek. It looks as if she was almost raped-"

"Raped?" he interrupted.

"Almost. Mr. Scott, her pants, underclothes and shirt were still on, and everything was intact when she was found by police." He stopped speaking when the nurse came back in front of the two men and cut-off their conversation.

"She's awake Doctor. I checked her vitals and they all seem normal. She's just very upset of what happened and is asking for her husband."

The doctor nodded his thanks to the nurse and turned to Nathan, who now held the sleeping boy in his arms. "You can go in with her now. I'll be in shortly to discuss the care she'll need for the next week or so. Also, she shouldn't hold the baby, no matter how much she would like to. There's damage to her ribs, and she won't be able to tolerate any weight on them for a while."

Nathan struggled to grasp everything the doctor had been telling him, and wished he could just rewind the night. The thought of someone hurting his family definitely had him upset, but someone physically harming his wife brought a different kind of anger that Nathan kept buried deep down. It was the kind of anger that he'd discovered while he was in theater years ago. After watching someone on his team turn their back on fellow soldiers allowing the enemy the upper hand, Nathan was overcome with anger he didn't think possible. He'd never wanted to hurt someone or kill someone more until this very moment. His wife was his everything. Without Haley, there'd be nothing else.

Bracing himself, Nathan slowly went to Haley and allowed his worried eyes to lock with his wife's hysterically tearful eyes. "Hales, baby, stay in bed. Don't move," he said, noticing that she was trying to stand up. His own voice cracked when he finally reached her and was able to carefully bring her trembling body into his arms. It was then that he realized his own body trembling along with hers. The loud sobs coming from Haley's body were the only noise that existed in the small room as the two continued to hold each other.

Slowly pulling back, he kept a firm, large hand on Jason's back making sure not to disturb him from his sleep. With his free hand, Nathan moved the messy, blondish locks from her forehead and kissed the side of her head.

"I'm so sorry, Haley. I should have never let you go out so late, especially alone….."

I looked up at Nathan, and could not pay attention to what he was saying; the only thing that went through my mind was how much I loved him. I thought that I would die and never see my husband or son ever again, and just the mere thought almost killed me. I took a closer look and noticed my precious little boy asleep in his father's arms. I couldn't stop myself from reaching out and touching him. He was perfect. God, I love my little boy. The pain taking over my body couldn't be compared to the need to just touch him. There were the little things about him that made me love, and crave him so much; the smell of his skin, the smoothness of his cheeks, the light snoring he gave off when he slept, and the most lovable part of him was the chubby feet that he inherited from my late father. Nathan knew exactly what I wanted and when he brought Jay closer, I was able to rest my face against his dark head of hair and inhale his baby scent. Sadly, tears came faster down my cheeks as I did so and he woke up and looked at me all concerned.

"Take me home Nathan," she pleaded with trembling lips.

Nathan looked at his wife, and could see the fear in her eyes; but behind that, he still saw her strength.

Just two hours later, Nathan carried his once again sleeping child, up on his left shoulder, while his right arm kept a firm grip around Haley's waist. He was very grateful that they'd gotten a first floor apartment.

Once the door was unlocked, Nathan directed Haley to stay on the couch, while he put Jason in his crib, praying that he would sleep through the night. His son was spoiled and usually ended up in their bed at least twice a week. Making sure he had the baby monitor placed in his own bedroom, he walked back out to find Haley dozing off on their couch. Nathan easily lifted her into his arms and brought her to lay on their queen sized bed. She hadn't had anything to change into, so while she didn't feel entirely comfortable wearing the gown, she was able to go right to bed without changing.

After waking her long enough to take the pain medications the hospital had prescribed her, Nathan slowly crept out of their bedroom and softly closed the door behind him before heading towards the closet that held the families washer and dryer. His wife and son were used to the machine being on while they slept and since he knew the noise wouldn't wake them, he turned the machine on the longest setting. There were no clothes in the washer and its only purpose that night served to help drown out the noise Nathan was sure to make.

Nathan grabbed the card that he'd stuffed in his pocket and dialed the number to the officer from his cell phone. He tried to stop his knee from shaking as he sat on the sofa, but nothing he did could calm him down. He was seeing red; pure hatred, and fury at the man responsible for attacking his wife. After getting Officer Moran's voicemail twice in a row Nathan's fist balled up so tight, his cell left his hands red marks and imprints all over.

"Fuck!" he groaned into his hands before dialing another number.

"Hello" groaned the voice on the other end of the line. "Nate? What the hell, you know what time it is man?" Lucas struggled to get out, still half asleep.

"Luke, I need your help, you need to come over here now. Don't start asking all your fucking questions just come over here" he hung up before his older brother could respond and although he knew he should feel guilty for speaking to him that way, once again the anger clouded any other emotion he was feeling.

Nathan walked back into his room to check on Haley and watched her silently from the door. He immediately read the state his wife was in just with one look. On a normal night, it only took Haley about fifteen minutes to roll off of his chest once she fell asleep, and turn on her side of the bed while stealing all of the covers from him. Looking at her now still cuddled on his pillow in a ball and slightly trembling made Nathan's blood boil and his heart ache and race at the same time. His wife was scared and shaking in bed and that bastard was still out there freely walking.

Hearing his front door unlock, Nathan walked out of the room, closed the door and walked towards Lucas who'd clearly rushed over in alarm.

"Nate, what's going on? Is Jay okay? Is it Haley?" he asked calmly seeing the state that Nathan was in. His eyes were red as if he'd been crying, and he was shaking.

Pacing back and forth Nathan wasn't sure what to say to Lucas. He hadn't said the words out loud and to be honest he didn't trust a damn word the doctor or nurse had told him.

"Umm, Haley… she uh, she went to pick up dinner and she left out so fast you know how she is just too damn fast with her talking and I couldn't even get a word in before she was out the door. She stopped by a atm to get money out and some fucker attacked her!" he didn't noticed how much his voice was raised, and Lucas glanced behind him to see if the bedroom doors were closed.

"She was attacked? What does that mean? Like beat up? Like rape.."

"I don't fucking know!" he interrupted Lucas not wanting to hear that word ever again. "All I know is that fucking doctor tells me she was attacked and I walk into the room and see her practically naked in a hospital bed wearing a gown. A damn gown Luke! Why would she be wearing that if nothing happened! And now the cop that was there won't answering his damn phone!" Before he could stop himself, his cell phone flew against the wall at the same time a loud cry came from his sons' room.

"Nathan, you have to calm down, have you talked to Haley? While you were there? On the way home? Did you ask her?" Lucas asked trying to make sense of his brother's serious accusations. He watched as Nathan went over to the cabinet and grabbed one of Jay's bottles before filling it half way with faucet water.

Jay's cries only got louder and before Nathan could respond to Lucas, they both turned at the sound of Haley standing in the doorway to their bedroom. "Nathan" her voice was broken and Nathan was afraid to turn around and face what he knew would break his heart completely. "Nathan, please I need you" Haley's voice once again broke at the end and Nathan wasted no time making his way in front of her and squeezing her body into his. Her sobbing mixed with Jay's cries that were still loud and clear made the tears in Nathan's eyes spill over, no longer able to hold them in.

"Is he okay?" Haley asked worried about her baby boy. The meds hadn't completely took affect and Haley tried not to think of the pressure Nathan was putting on her ribs because she felt so safe being in his arms.

When Nathan didn't respond, Lucas moved quickly into the dark nursery and lifted the hysterical boy into his arms. Coming out of the room, Jay immediately saw his parents and reached out towards them, "dadad…. A-E" you could clearly hear his request for his parents, but Lucas knew now wasn't the time. "Nate, I'm gonna take him home with me, don't worry about him, just take care of Hales. I'll call you tomorrow" Nathan never moved from him embrace, but Lucas saw him give a small nod. Grabbing Jay's diaper bag from the hall closet, and his blanket from his crib, Lucas left the apartment.

Nathan felt Haley's fingernails in his back when she pulled him closer to her and her sobs grew louder now that their son was gone. She was showing him how scared and broken she truly felt. He walked them both back into the room and climbed on the bed pulling her with him.

"There's so much going on in my head right now Hales and you went through this horribly thing .." Nathan spoke quietly to his wife, almost in a whisper as if they were in a room full of people. Placing his hands on each side of her face, careful of the bandage that covered her new cut, he leveled it with his own looking into her tear filled eyes. " just tell me Hales, tell me what he did to you? Did he.. did he rape you?"

Her mouth fell open in shock not understanding why he would ask her that question. "what? wh..wh.. Didn't the doctor say…" he interrupted her.

"I can't Haley. I can't listen to what a doctor, what anyone tells me when it comes to you. I need to hear this from you. I saw you in the hospital gown and it just didn't make sense to me why. No matter what happened, nothing you say will change anything with us. Nothing could ever stop me from loving you so much it burns, from wanting to be with you every single second of every single day. Nothing Haley. I'll always want to be with you and no one else so don't be afraid of telling me anything, no matter what happened out there, you're safe now with me" he had brought his lips to her ear and continued to whisper out more determined words of love and prayed to God that she believed him.

"Baby…I swear to you, he didn't rape me. I swear to you and promise you with everything I am Nathan, he did not rape me" the sound of her voice breaking didn't take away from the determination in her eyes.

She had to let her husband know that he was wrong and more importantly that she was his. Only his. Nathan always told her one of his favorite things about her was that she was untouched before they married. As much as she treasured that about herself, Nathan worshiped her for it. He took pride in knowing that no man had ever touched his wife like he had. No man knew the silkiness of her skin, the curves of her back or the weight of her breast in their hands. No marks were left on her neck from extensive make out sessions, or kisses laid on her chest from previous boyfriends, just his. His kisses. His touch. His seed. Even only his eyes had been able to claim her naked body. She would always and forever be only his.

Nodding his head, tears refilled Nathan's eyes as he leaned in to softly kiss Haley's trembling lips. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there to save you. He hurt you Haley and I should have been the one out there tonight, not you. Can you tell me what happened, I need to know."

Haley knew there was no way to get out of explaining to him what happened, and she didn't want to keep that secret from her husband knowing he would conjure up his own version until he knew the truth. She sat up on her knees and moved as close in between his spread out legs as she could so that they were face to face. Sitting back on her feet, she took both of his hands in hers and squeezed them before she began.

"I didn't even see him coming. I was just grabbing some cash and before I knew it he was dragging me behind the bank and.. and he hit me so hard and I tried to fight him, but it was like I couldn't stop him… he um.. he held me down and kissed… he kissed me hard on the mouth," Haley had moved Nathan's hands to the sides of her face needing to feel his gentle touch on her skin while reliving the nightmare of the night. " I could.. I could feel his hands move down and he started…. he started… he umm…. I was so scared then Nathan."

"He started what baby" he quietly tried to get the rest out of her while rubbing his thumbs across her cheeks.

Taking a deep breath, she looked down at her lap for a second and when she looked up she let the tears fall rapidly down her cheeks while she spoke loudly now "he started undoing my pants and .. and he tried to put his hands…. but I fought him Nathan, I swear I fought him so hard and I kicked and I just kicked him as hard as I could until I knew I really hurt him and he rolled off and that's what I called 911…. I swear I would have done everything to not let him touch me… he was just so strong, I'm sorry Nathan I almost let that…"

"What? No! Haley this is not your fault! Do you hear me?" he moved up on his knees as well so that their chest were touching and he was slightly hovering over her with his arms cradling her face while he bent his forehead to hers. "this is in no way any of your fault. That guy is a sick bastard that wanted to hurt you in the worst way possible. He wanted to kill a part of you and hurt you more than physically… I'm so sorry baby.. I. I know you'll need time.. so just.. I won't pressure you or anything Hales, just whatever you need I'll do it no matter what." He kissed her forehead and held her close to him.

"I don't.. I don't need time Nathan…you're right he did try to take that away from me.. and away from you. But the fact that only you, my husband, are the only person to ever touch me like that, to ever make love to my body.. he couldn't change that and take that away from us. It's only you and will only be you Nathan, always.. always and forever, just you." Even with the tears gliding down her cheeks, Haley felt a small smile grace her lips when Nathan embraced her once more.

She was more than grateful that nothing else had happened to her and that besides being shaken up and a little bruised, she was perfectly fine. She didn't know how she would have been able to deal with being raped. She thanked God for keeping her safe and not allowing that type of pain for her family.

"I um, I tried to call Officer Moran who was at the hospital, but he never answered. I want them to find this sick bastard and put him away, I just can't deal with him still being out there Hales. I'm gonna do whatever I have to do to make sure you never see him again."

Pushing him down on his back, Haley laid down next to Nathan with her head resting on his chest. She placed her arms around him and gestured for him to do the same. She was grateful for the pressure on her ribs instead of the pain now that her medication kicked in, and although she felt completely safe in her husbands' warm arms tears still spilled from her eyes. "I love you so much.. just hold me Nathan… just hold me."

And he did.

Thoughts? Questions? Be sure to review and let me know what you think! Thanks so much for reading! - Jen