Author note: Thank you to everyone whose reviewed the story. I really appreciate all the nice things you all have to say. And to those who haven't but are sticking with and enjoying the story, thank you as well.

Chapter 9

Nathan POV

"Thank god," Nathan whispered as he held Haley close. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I think so," Haley whispered back, smiling a little.

When he woke to see her missing he knew Haley would somehow find trouble. He knew where she'd go but it was too late. His phone had rang and it'd been her crying. All the thoughts of yelling at her vanished after hearing her voice and the only thing he wanted was to get to her as soon as possible.

They didn't expect to find themselves in the suburbs. Haley had given them an address and stressed that she couldn't meet them back at the hotel after what had happened.

Details were a little foggy from the shouts of everyone asking how she was and Haley talking through tears but he knew that Jack had been attacked.

So here they were, outside the city and in front of an older looking house with Haley meeting them at the door.

"I thought running away was idiotic," Lucas smiled, still concerned for his friend.

Haley smiled sheepishly, giving her friend a hug. "I guess I take after you in that department."

"Yeah well let's hope we stay together a little while longer," Peyton added. "You okay?"

Haley nodded, gesturing for the others to follow. "Come on inside guys, there's some people I want you to meet."

Nathan eyed the place.

It reminded him of Karen's home in a sense. Wasn't overly big, but something about it felt homely. Maybe it was the well-kept garden, or the big oak tree out front with a swing, but it was totally different then his old home.

"What it this place Haley?" Brooke asked. The others followed their friend as they made there way inside. Almost immediately, a couple kids ran past them yelling and shouting happily. "And what's with the kids?"

Nathan had the same look as Brooke as he turned towards his wife. She just smiled encouragingly and led them deeper into the home.

The found the bartender Jerry leaning against the wall of what seemed to be the living room with two other people.

An older pair, probably late 40's Nathan guessed, sat smiling in their direction as they walked in.

"Ah these must be your friends," The woman said happily. She quickly made her way over to them to greet them. "My names Jennifer, Haley's told us all about you. Please come in, sit down."

"Thank you." Was the general answer everyone gave. They were all a little apprehensive of everything.

"You're scaring em Jen," The unnamed man said. Where as the wife had a very open and friendly demeanor with her bright smile and warm face, the man seemed a little annoyed Nathan noticed.

"I'm an old lady Edward," She argued back at him. "What harm could I possibly do to them?"

"You'll find a way," He joked back, a smile finally cracking the man's face.

"I'm super confused," Brooke whispered to Peyton.

"Don't be dear," Jennifer said, hearing her. Brooke blushed scarlet but the woman smiled before the others could laugh at her expense. "My husband Ed and I run an orphanage you see. Jack was raised here since he was 11 years old."

An orphanage. Nathan thought. But what about…

"We found him living in his car," Nathan said, confused as to why someone would choose that over living here. He got that a guy needed privacy, but it beat living on 4 wheels.

"He's been living on his own for a little over a year now," Ed explained. "We tried everything, but the boys got a thick skull."

"We've noticed," Nathan mumbled.

"Play nice," Haley whispered to him.

Jennifer smiled at the two. "Anyways, that's not why we wanted to meet you all. Haley told us why you're all in New York. You're Jack's family."

It wasn't a question, more of a statement really, but it left Nathan and Lucas in an awkward position nonetheless.

"We know as much as you do Mr. and Mrs…" Lucas trailed off.

"Jennifer and Ed are fine," Jennifer answered with a smile.

Lucas nodded. "Is…is he alright? We heard what happened."

A serious look passed between the couple and Jerry the bartender that left the others a little uncomfortable.

"That's the other reason we called you over," Ed said looking directly at the brothers. "I need a favor from you two…"

Brooke POV

Brooke found herself walking around the orphanage as everyone tried to come to grips with what had just happened. She didn't have a real say in anything, but she knew that whatever happened next, it'd change all their lives forever.

She tried to think of anything else, as the stress of everything was almost too much for her. For once she thought, it'd be so much easier to be one of the kids running around the house. Then she thought about how all these boys and girls were parentless and she got depressed again.

She could relate to these kids in a way. Her parents may have been there when she woke up and went to sleep, but to say she had a real relationship with them would be the furthest thing from the truth.

No her parents were her family by choice, but she'd come to realize that family wasn't given, it was earned. Maybe she was at fault, maybe not, she just knew that she wouldn't wish that life on any of these kids running around.

Being 17, you shouldn't question whether or not your parents loved you. It was unconditional, or at least supposed to be.

Man this trip sucks. Brooke thought bitterly.

She rounded to corner of the upstairs, trying to find the bathroom when she heard a cough nearby. Turning around, she half expected to see a kid following her around, but saw she was alone.

"Hello," She called out.

No response.

Another cough alerted her of the source when she spotted a door ajar. She hated that she enjoyed snooping, and even knowing this time was the worst possible time to do it, she found herself pushing the door open.

She didn't expect to see Jack ever again after that night in the diner, but she sure didn't expect to see Jack in bed with a massive ice pack on his head.

He hadn't noticed her as she looked at him carefully.

The lights were dim but she could make out the tired look he had on his face, a look of defeat. It was face she'd never seen Lucas or Nathan make and it gave her the strangest feeling.

She felt bad for him.

She would have continued looking if it wasn't for the small jab on her pack scaring the life out of her.

"Oh my god," She half yelled. She turned to see Haley laughing. "What the hell? Are you trying to kill me?"

"I'm sorry, but I did try calling you before," Haley explained with a smile. She looked further into the room to see Jack looking at them. "Hey, how's the head?"

"Not bad," Jack answered truthfully. "The screaming doesn't really help."

Brooke turned around devastated. She'd been caught peeking, and now she'd been totally embarrassed yet again. It was becoming a routine and she didn't like it one bit.

"The kids," Jack continued, seeing Brooke's face. "Brings back memories but ones that aren't exactly good at the moment. The yelling one of them"

Brooke sighed in relief.

"They've been asking about you," Haley said, sitting in the seat next to his bed. "Wondering when Jackie's gonna be okay."

Jack laughed quietly, scrunching his face in pain. "Not the best nickname."

"I like it," Haley joked. She smiled one more time before her face grew serious. "I actually wanted to thank you, for stepping in with that guy."

"It's fine," Jack said seriously. He didn't want to have this conversation, not now at least. He reached for his glass near his bedside but noticed it missing.

Haley smiled. "You want some water?"

"Return a favor?"

"I'll be back then," Haley got up and moved towards the door but was stopped by Brooke. "What's up?"

"I'll go get it," She offered, trying to find the right way to leave. She didn't want to just walk out, that'd look stupid.

Haley smirked at her friend. "Na I got it. You stay here, try not to get caught looking again though okay? He's in a bed and you're alone, so try and keep in pg-13? There are kids running around."

"Never gonna happen," Brooke whispered as the other girl walked off laughing, leaving her in this awkward situation. "Damn it."

Brooke turned around expecting Jack to be resting but found his eyes on her. There faces didn't look the same, far from it, but it was crazy how similar Jack's eyes were to Lucas and Nathan's.

"So," Jack started, looking at the girl. "Are you my cousin or something?"

Nearly choking, Brooke laughed. "No no, defiantly not, that would be weird."

"Why's that?"

"Um," Brooke trailed off. "I…I dated Lucas a while back."

She watched as his face never changed, just processing what she told him. It was strange, he'd didn't push, not even gesture for more, but she found herself continuing to talk.

"It must be weird for you," She said softly, stepping closer into the room.

"What's that? The fact that I have two brothers or the part where I'm supposed to accept it," Jack answered truthfully. He turned his head away and faced the window. "I guess life's full of surprises huh?"

"Well if it makes you feel any better Lucas and Nathan are just as freaked out about this as you are," Brooke admitted. Nobody had actually said those specific words, but she knew the boys well enough that deep down they hadn't the slightest idea what they were doing.

"I think right now it's easier pretending that they have all the answers then admit that there scared too," Brooke continued.

"You think I'm scared?"

Brooke raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you?"

"Terrified," Jack said without hesitation.

A soft knock broke the look the two shared as they turned towards the sound. Ed stood in the doorway smiling towards them. "Can I come in?"

"Of course," Brooke quickly walked away a few steps meeting Ed at the door. She felt like she'd been caught stealing or something. "I'll leave you guys to it."

"Much appreciated sweetheart." He smiled warmly at Brooke. "I think Jenny's made you kids something to eat, best hurry before those two boys finish it all."

"Wait!" Jack called out. "I don't know your name."

Brooke turned back towards Jack slowly. "I'm Brooke."

She didn't give him a chance to answer, as she quickly stepped out the door and back into the hallway. The door behind her closed and she found herself letting go of a deep breath. She hated what had just happened. Last thing Brooke wanted was a heart to heart talk, let alone with a total stranger, yet it's what she found herself doing.

Thankfully Ed had stepped in or else who knew what would have happened. Stupid conversation nearly turned into a therapy session.

"There you are," Brooke spotted Haley coming towards her. "Jennifer made us lunch. You hungry?"

"Starving," Brooke admitted.

"He tire you out huh?" Haley smirked, seeing the angry features cross her friends faintly blushed face.

"HALEY!"

Jack POV

Jack watched as the man he grew up admiring took a seat next to him. He remembered every single detail about the man. From his flannel shirts to the bushy mustache, Jack idolized everything Ed was.

It made his teen life so easy and simple, and standing here, watching the man he loved like a father stare at him, it made his current situation so damn hard.

"Cute girls," Ed smiled, trying to get a laugh from Jack. "Must have seen two or three of the boys trying to peak a look."

"I don't blame em," Jack smiled lightly, remembering what it was like to be 12. It was only 5 years ago but it felt like a lifetime.

"How's the head?" Ed asked, trying his best to examine it. "You puking?"

"No concussion."

The old smiled at the answer. "You get a PhD while you were gone?"

The question came out casually but they both knew the meaning to it. A whole year had passed since they'd last seen each other. Every day in that year they both wanted to just pick up the phone and call each other. Every damn day, but they couldn't.

It was easier for Jack not to face them after so long, and sitting here, looking up into those familiar eyes, he knew what he built the last year, everything he kept at bay, was falling apart.

"You need to leave Jack," Ed whispered, saying the words he never wanted to speak.

"I know."

He'd known for a long time.

He'd been beaten in New York. His life had been good for a while, but then everything started to fall apart. It could have gone different, but he made every single bad choice there was and it's led him here.

His life threatened.

Maybe soon the people he loved too.

So much uncertainty was now in his head, but one thing was clear. If he stayed in New York, he'd end up in that cemetery soon.

"I missed you," Ed admitted, seeing the boy he raised like a son, defeated before him.

"How?" Jack whispered, not able to think straight anymore. "How can you even look at me? After everything?"

"You've spent your life expecting someone to punish you for your mistakes, and that day may come," Ed answered truthfully. "But I can't sit by and watch someone I love blame themselves for something that wasn't there fault. I can't do it Jack. You've suffered for long enough."

Jack smiled sadly, telling his foster father words he'd never spoken to anybody.

"She's the first thing I think of when I wake up, and the last thing when I fall asleep." Jack spoke softly, tears falling. "For so long I fought trying to mask the pain. Taking punch after punch, beating after beating, just hoping to forget it all. To make it feel better. But I know everything I do just makes it worse. She's watching me throw my life away and I can't stop."

Jack felt a hand clasp his tightly. They didn't say anything; enough had been spoke between them. But Jack knew that after everything bad that had happened, he was on the right path now.

The past year had been the darkest for him, but he knew the man in front of him wouldn't have anymore of it. He was raised by him to be a fighter, to be tough, to never back down from life when it's got too hard.

He'd failed him for too long.

"I missed you too," Jack said after a brief silence. Ed and Jen had saved his life, and now after so long, he had to say goodbye once more. "What should I do?"

"First things first, Jen and I are putting a deposit in for an apartment in Tree Hill."

Jack brain's had a hard time processing what Ed had just said. "Tree Hill…Where the hell is…..wait do you mean? No way."

"Yes way," Ed cut him off. He stood up and circled the room. "You're going to go to Tree Hill and meet the family you never had."

"I had you guys," Jack shot back.

"And ya left," Ed fired back. He saw the grimace pass Jack's face. "Sorry. But come on, see some sense here. Those people down there, they're good people."

"You've known them for an hour," Jack laughed. "There strangers to us Ed. We don't know them."

"And we're strangers to them. But they took a chance coming here to meet you. They're taking a chance bringing you home, and they're taking a chance letting you in their lives. While the hell can't you do the same?"

"Cause I don't know how!"

He couldn't imagine how he could live a life where he had two brothers, and a father, and a family. For so long it was just him. Then he found a home in New York and even that had taken time to process.

But he wasn't 11 anymore. He made his own choices and he looked out for himself. He just couldn't see a life where people actually gave a shit about him outside of here.

"It's going to be hard," Ed admitted. "I ain't going to lie. It's gonna be the hardest thing you ever did. But I promise you in the end, it'll be worth it. You've had this life for so long Jack. You've seen what happens to kids who don't get a family. Life just gave you yours. Shouldn't you take a chance on that?"