Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.

A/N: Hey all. Sorry for the somewhat longer wait on the update. I was out of town, but I'm back now. Obviously. LOL. Thanks to all of you who keep reading and reviewing, and also to the new ones who have come around in the last while. I appreciate all your comments so I hope you keep them coming.

Off topic, I can't believe Kris beat out Matt, Allison, Danny and most especially Adam. I'm so disappointed. I wish Canadians could vote too so I wouldn't have to just sit there and watch it happen. But I'm sure Adam will go far anyway. Ok, rant over. Thanks for indulging me. Hope you enjoy this chapter. There was more to it, but I had to move some to the next chapter because it was wayyyyyyyy too long.

"Hi Jimmy," Mouth's father greeted when he answered the door Friday evening.

"Hi. How's he doing?" Jimmy asked.

"Still pretty shaken up," the older man told him.

"Understandable," Jimmy replied. "Can I talk to him?"

"He's not really speaking to anyone," Mrs. McFadden said. "But you could try," she added hopefully.

Jimmy nodded and made his way to Mouth's bedroom.

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"He was right outside waiting for me when I got home," Mouth told Jimmy of the Wednesday evening after his tutoring session with Nathan. He didn't think he'd be able to talk about it so soon – it had been difficult enough to give his statement to the police, but Jimmy was his best friend and after revealing that he already knew, he found the words spilling out of him. "Hiding behind all the brush at the side of the house."

Jimmy nodded, having already been informed by Mouth's parents, of the basic details of that night. "Any idea who it was?"

Mouth shook his head. He had a good guess, even though he didn't want to believe it, which is why he didn't mention it. "He put a bag over my head. Held a knife to my throat," he said shakily, his hand instinctively going to his neck. Since that night, he hadn't been able to step foot outdoors and other than the police and his parents, he hadn't spoken to anyone. His parents had told him that Jimmy and a few other friends from the Rivercourt, including Lucas, had called or stopped by to question his rare absence from school, but Mouth hadn't felt up to visitors, so apart from Jimmy, they'd just told them he was sick with the flu. It wasn't exactly a lie. He didn't have the flu, but he definitely felt sick to his stomach. It was one thing to deal with bullies at school, but a whole other matter when they came right to your home. Your safe haven.

The two friends sat in silence for a few minutes before Mouth spoke up, revealing the one thing he'd left out of his police report. "The tape's gone."

"What?" Jimmy asked wide-eyed.

"That's what he came for," Mouth said with a heavy sigh. And it was true. It was all he'd wanted and once it was in his hands, the guy had bolted without inflicting any physical harm to Mouth whatsoever. "I had to give it to him."

"Oh shit," Jimmy responded, feeling instantly guilty. If it weren't for him, the tape's existence would still be unknown to all but himself, Mouth and Lucas.

"It's not your fault," Mouth said knowingly. "You only let it slip to protect me in the first place."

"Yeah, a lot of good that did," Jimmy grumbled, standing up and starting to pace around the room. "I should have kept my big mouth shut. I should have known he'd come after it. Damn it, I knew we should have turned it into the police when we had the chance. No matter what Luke said."

Mouth looked down to the floor without replying and Jimmy had a good sense as to why. He came back over and sat down on the bed.

"Look, I know you thought you and Nathan were like, great pals all of a sudden, but now do you see what he's really like?" Jimmy asked. "You know he did this, Mouth," he added when his friend made no comment. "Or he got someone else to." Putting a comforting hand on Mouth's shoulder, he continued. "Either way, he's not your friend."

Mouth slowly nodded, because even though he wanted to believe otherwise, it was time to face reality. And reality was, no one but Nathan would benefit from stealing that tape.

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"Just wait here in case it isn't actually ready, kay?" Peyton requested of Rachel, who'd picked her up to come get her car Saturday afternoon.

"Sure," Rachel agreed. "Hey, you want to go clubbin' tonight? Have a girls night?"

"I'm hanging out with Haley today," Peyton told her.

"Well, she's a girl, isn't she? Bring her along." Ever since Haley had comforted her in the hospital, Rachel had seen fit to give the girl a chance. And as it turned out, she wasn't so bad. "I'll have her fake id ready."

Peyton shook her head. "It's not really her scene."

"Oh, come on. It'll be fun. The girl needs to loosen up." True she'd taken a liking to her, but she really did need to learn how to have fun.

"You know what? I'll ask her and see what she says," Peyton told her. A night out with the girls sounded like just what she needed.

"Cool. But let me know early enough."

"I will. Be right back," Peyton said, heading inside the garage.

"Hi," Peyton called out. "Lucas said my car would be ready today?" she said once Keith looked up from the vehicle he was currently working on.

Wiping his greasy hands on a rag, he offered her a smile and her keys. "Yep, good as new," he stated.

"Thanks," she said appreciatively. "How much do I owe you?" she asked, praying it wouldn't be overly much.

"Ahh, just fifty-five dollars, for the parts."

Her eyebrow rose. "And the labor?"

"You're a friend of my nephew's so no charge."

"Really? Do you work free for all his friends?"

"Well, no," Keith said with a chuckle. "But Lucas did most of the work on his own time. So if anything goes wrong, you can blame him."

"Oh," she said, laughing herself. "Well…thanks," she sputtered, unsure of what to say.

"No problem."

"You even cleaned it out?" she asked when he walked out to the parking lot with her where her car was now parked. It had been a mess when she'd brought it in. Now there was no garbage to be found and it had even been vacuumed and steam cleaned.

"Again, all Lucas," he said. "I really didn't have much to do with it."

"Ok. Umm, do you happen to know what he did with my sketchbook? It was right on the seat."

"Couldn't tell you, sorry."

"Oh, that's ok. I'll just ask Luke when I see him. Thanks again."

He nodded and went back inside.

Peyton gave Rachel the thumbs up to indicate her car was, indeed, ready, so the redhead drove off.

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Meanwhile Nathan drove down an unfamiliar street, taking in the house numbers as he did so.

Before leaving the house he'd grabbed one of Peyton's anniversary cards – the one that said massage – the only one so far to have almost completely flattened back into shape, with the full intent of cashing in on it. But she hadn't been home when he'd gone over. Instead he'd found Haley James on Peyton's computer, trying to score concert tickets on ebay. Or something of the sort. He wasn't really paying attention. He'd just wanted to know where Peyton was. Apparently her car was fixed and she and Rachel had gone to pick it up. So he'd told Haley to let Peyton know he'd be back later, hoping the girl got the point that when he did return, he wanted to be alone with the blonde. She was supposedly a brainiac so she should have gotten the message.

But he hadn't wanted to go home on his first day of freedom in a month, so he and the guys had made plans to go shoot some pool at a nearby local pub.

However, he had a good half hour to kill since many of his friends had pretty much just dragged themselves out of bed and needed time to wake up before heading out the door. Nathan, who'd long ago gotten used to early morning drills with his father, had been awake for hours. Unlike most of his peers, he rarely slept late – except, of course, after a night before bash. Then he could sleep all day.

So because he had time to waste, he decided to do what he'd planned to do at some point this weekend anyway. Find out what was up with Mouth, and at the same time warn him that his dad was furious and hell bent on getting answers for his absence first thing Monday morning.

This is why he found himself on a previously untraveled street. He'd located the address in the phone book – guessing that the Marvin McFadden listed was Mouth's father. At least he hoped so. How awkward would it be going to some stranger's house and asking for Mouth? He chuckled at the thought. He still couldn't get over some of the nicknames these guys had. Mouth – tolerable, Skills – actually kinda cool, but seriously, who calls their friend Junk? And more than that, who would allow their friends to call them that? He just shook his head and let the thought fade away. What did it matter anyway?

He found the house about a half-mile down the road and pulled into the drive. It wasn't a grand house, by any means, but neither was it some tiny shack – although by comparison to both the Scott mansion and the beach house, it would appear to be. Recognizing Mouth's bicycle at the side of the house, he knew he had the right place so he made his way to the front door and knocked.

The middle-aged man who answered, who Nathan correctly assumed to be Mouth's dad, looked at him quizzically. "Can I help you?" he asked, not quite friendly, yet not unfriendly either.

"Uh, yeah. I was looking for Mouth," Nathan replied, not sure he should be using the nickname when Mouth had already indicated on Monday that he no longer held that privilege after the hallway incident.

"He's not taking visitors," the man said, not recognizing the handsome kid in front of him, yet knowing he wasn't among his son's circle of friends. "Can I pass a message along?"

"Well, he didn't show up for tutoring the last two days," Nathan began, "and my dad's kinda pissed about it."

"You must be Nathan," the man said, to which Nathan simply nodded. Mouth was quite close to his parents so they'd heard all about this 'King of the school' their son was tutoring – how nervous Mouth had been in the beginning, how he'd learned that Nathan wasn't as bad a guy as he'd thought, and even their altercation at school when Nathan had received a bad grade and blamed Mouth for steering him wrong, to his subsequent apology for said reaction. He'd told them everything. Or so they thought. They found out differently when Lucas pulled up in his truck and hurried over to them.

"What do you want?" Lucas asked spitefully, glaring at Nathan. Mouth had just this morning explained his real reason for his absence from school so Nathan's presence was less than welcome.

Nathan resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I came to check on Mouth."

"Why? To see if he's still trembling with fear?"

"What?" Nathan asked, confused.

"Look you got what you wanted. You're safe. So leave Mouth alone."

"What are you going on about?"

"Yeah, play dumb. It suits you."

"I'm not playing," Nathan replied before realizing what he'd just said. "I mean, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Save it," Lucas barked. "I'm not buying the innocent act. But be forewarned, you'd better destroy that tape because if I ever find it, I'll be turning it in. Now get the hell off this property before I call the cops."

"And tell them what?" Nathan snarled back. "That I knocked on the door? Yeah, I'll bet I get life for that one," he mocked.

"Young man," Mouth's father cut in. "I think you'd best be on your way." He didn't know half of what was going on but he'd known Lucas since he was a little boy, and while he was always a broody one, he seldom got this upset and aggressive.

"Fine, whatever," Nathan replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Tell Mouth that my dad…sorry, our dad, is out for blood," Nathan told Lucas, his tone purposely antagonistic. "Just thought he should know," he added before walking away.

It wasn't until he was on the road again that Lucas's words sunk in. 'You got what you wanted. You're safe.' 'You better destroy that tape…'

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"I told you guys to leave him alone," he seethed when he reached the pub and found Tim and Damien already there waiting.

"Whoa, who pissed in your cheerios this morning?" Tim asked.

"It's 2 p.m., moron," Nathan barked.

"Chill, man," Damien said. "What's your problem?"

"My problem is you guys. I said I could handle it. I told you me and Mouth had a deal. And you fucking agreed to back off!"

"Nate, what the hell? We did back off, just like you said," Tim defended.

"Don't bullshit me! Somebody got the tape off Mouth."

"Well, it wasn't us," Damien claimed. "We wouldn't do that to you, dude. Although if someone did, it would likely be to ensure you didn't get the raw end of the deal."

"But I specifically said…"

"I know, I know," Damien interrupted, annoyed that Nathan, true to form, automatically expected his orders to be followed. "But, like I said, you're barking up the wrong tree."

Nathan glared at them both doubtfully, but they stuck with their story.

"I can't believe you think your boys would go back on their word," Tim said, almost pouting.

That's when the guilt sank in and Nathan began to regret his hasty judgment. When the rest of their crew showed up, he questioned them, but this time it didn't come out as a hostile accusation, but rather a simple question. They all denied having any part in it, leaving Nathan utterly confused. If they hadn't stolen the tape, then who had?

"Are you sure it's even true?" Damien asked. "I mean Mouth could have just said that to gain the upper hand. Or so you wouldn't hassle him about it."

"It didn't come from Mouth," Nathan answered. "I heard it from Lucas."

"All the more reason to assume it's a load of crap. That guy'll do anything to piss you off."

"Yeah, maybe you're right," Nathan agreed before they all went and ordered drinks.

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"Well?" Peyton asked hopefully when she returned home.

"No luck," Haley said with disappointment. "Someone outbid me at the very last second."

"Jackasses," Peyton fumed. "Sorry, I just hate when that happens."

"Me too," Haley laughed.

"Ok, so I have a question for you. What do you want to do tonight?"

"I don't know," Haley replied. "I was thinking of heading home soon and getting to work on my Bio project."

Peyton narrowed her eyes. She and Haley had already made plans to hang out tonight.

Reading her expression, Haley set out to answer the silent question. "Nathan stopped by."

That must mean he's done with the whole lockdown deal, Peyton thought. "Did he say what he wanted?" she asked.

"No, just that he'd be back later. And he made it clear he didn't want me around when he got here."

As though it had a mind of its own, Peyton's stomach fluttered at the thought of spending time alone with Nathan again. But it didn't stop her head from disliking the way he spoke to her friend. "I swear he's the rudest guy on the planet sometimes," she grumbled. "You know, you don't have to go just because he said so."

"Oh yeah, I know," Haley acknowledged. "But he didn't exactly say I had to leave. He just indicated, in a not so subtle way, that he wanted me to."

Peyton chuckled. "Yeah, subtlety's not his strong point."

"Oh really? I couldn't tell," Haley joked.

"I'll talk to him," Peyton said.

"Don't worry about it. It's fine."

"No, Haley, it really isn't. You know, sometimes he does it on purpose, but other times I don't think he even realizes how he comes off to people and just says whatever comes to mind."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"What's going on with you two?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, for a while you didn't want anything to do with him. You wouldn't even talk to him. But all week, ever since Brooke had that allergy scare, you've been, I don't know…more open to him I guess is what I'm trying to say."

Peyton nodded, not really surprised by the question. "You noticed."

"It's hard to miss."

"So I've been told," Peyton replied. "Rachel thinks I'm playing him. Just because I kissed him she says I'm playing hot and cold."

"Ok, hold up! You kissed him?"

"Well technically he kissed me, and I just…kissed back."

"When?"

"Last weekend. After the whole Brooke/hospital thing."

"And you're just telling me now?"

"I didn't mean for it to happen. It just did," Peyton told her. "It's a curse," she added.

"A curse?"

"Yeah. The closer he comes, the weaker I get curse," she explained.

"Ok, that's a new one," Haley said, chuckling. "So, are you? Playing him?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Smiling, Haley replied. "It doesn't mean anything. It's just a question."

"Ok, correct me if I'm wrong, but did I not just explain the whole weakness thing?"

"Yes, which does explain the kiss, but not your sudden change of attitude toward him."

Peyton sighed deeply, searching herself for the answer. "Honestly, I think it's because of the whole ordeal with Brooke. It reminded me how easy it is to lose someone. I mean, I was pissed at her and avoided her, and if anything worse would have happened to her, I would have never forgiven myself."

"Peyton, you can't think that way," Haley chastised gently. "What happened to Brooke wasn't your fault."

"I know," Peyton said earnestly. "I guess what I'm saying is, I let Nathan back in because you just never know what's going to happen. I can't cut him out completely. He means too much to me."

"Are you considering taking him back?"

Peyton sighed and took several moments to reply, but finally she shook her head. "Not with the way things were, no. My heart couldn't take it."

"So then, how are you going to get over him if he's still in your life?"

"I'm not," Peyton said softly. She wouldn't have anyway. She knew that. "I'll just have to learn to live with it."

Haley smiled sympathetically, knowing in her own heart how difficult that would be for Peyton. But the girl obviously wasn't ready to let the boy go and Haley had to wonder if she ever would be. She wouldn't press the issue though. Peyton would do whatever she wanted. "So, why did you ask about tonight?" she asked, skillfully changing the subject. "Did you have something in mind?"

"Oh, no," the blonde answered. A night out dancing had sounded good earlier, but that was before she'd learned Nathan would be coming over. But she didn't mention that, because she really didn't want to feel that way. She just did. "Nothing specific."

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Damien folded his hands behind his head and leaned back, a smug expression on his face as he watched the last of the five copies he'd had made of the Rivercourt beating. He'd cut out of the pub early specifically to do just this. Perfect, he thought. They'd all copied beautifully. Now all he had to do was deliver them. Anonymously, of course.

He chuckled to himself at how easy it had been to get that tape. That wimpy ass tutor had shaken like a leaf and handed it right over.

And Nathan! That dumbass would probably never suspect that he, not the tutor or Lucas, had double-crossed him, especially since Mouth had no marks on him whatsoever to indicate an assault – something Damien had been very careful about. Hell, Nathan had been stupid enough to attack a guy everyone knows he hates, undisguised, and get the whole thing caught on tape, so no way he was smart enough to figure this out. And this was the kid the other kids idolized? What a fucking joke! Even Tim had had enough sense to mask his face when he'd assaulted Lucas.

Setting one copy aside to forever bask in his brilliant victory over the over confident Nathan, he took out the five legal sized envelopes he'd purchased the day before and he stuffed the four remaining copies of the tape inside. In the fifth envelope, he placed the original.

The first envelope he'd inscribed: To: Dan Scott: 'such great sons you sired. I'm sure you're very proud.' That ought to be a blow to the high and mighty Dan Scott.

The second read: To: Whitey Durham: 'Is this really the kind of leader you want representing THH?' This should make the old man rethink putting Nathan back on the team.

Third: To: Peyton Sawyer: 'No question, you can do better.' It wasn't hard to see she was on the verge of taking Nathan back. Again. Maybe this would change her mind.

Forth: To: Karen Roe: 'Don't let him off 'scott' free like everybody else does.' Surely she would do something. It was her pathetic son being beaten after all.

But just in case, he marked the fifth envelope, which contained the original. 'Why is this guy still on the streets?'

Satisfied with his handiwork, he gathered them all in his hands and headed out the door to make his deliveries. When he returned an hour later, he was smiling, not only because he'd just set everything in motion, but also because he'd done so without a hitch. Now he just had to wait for it all to go down. Or more specifically, for Nathan to go down.

Finally.