A/N: Hey guys! Here's an update for you! I am having serious writer's block right now. I have some ideas for later chapters, but we haven't reached that point yet. Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated! Hopefully we can get some more reviews. I am also in the works of starting another story, but still continuing this one as well. I haven't decided how long this story will be yet but probably pretty long! Thanks for the constant love and support!

Chapter 13: Puppet Master

Haley couldn't believe this was happening. It seemed that every time she was by herself and away from Nathan, something bas always happened. Haley was thankful that she was marrying him because that meant he would always have to be by her side. But right now, she feared for her life and Nathan was too drunk to come rescue her. Besides, she didn't even know where they stood after that fight in the kitchen over absolutely nothing. She couldn't even remember why they were fighting in the first place, but she knew that Nathan was being really mean. He didn't mean it, he was drunk but his words still stung the same as if he were sober.

But right now, she was stuck. She didn't know what to do or who was breaking into her car but she was not about to find out. The hand reached in and began unlocking the door and Haley unlocked hers and quickly tried to jump out – only be to stopped by the same guy who had kidnapped her at the lake. If he was here, then who was breaking into her window?

She looked up to see the perpetrator staring back at her with that devilish smirk she knew so well - Dan Scott. Nathan had inherited that smile from his father and that was one thing Haley couldn't change. Besides, she loved that grin on Nathan but on Dan, it was terrifying.

"Hello Haley." He smirked, nodding at her perpetrator who gently released her. She had to think of a way to escape. Her mother had made her go to all these defense classes but here she was in an actual situation and didn't know how to act.

"Mr. Scott." Haley breathed, trying not to show him that he intimidated her because that's exactly what he wanted.

"I just wanted to have a friendly word with my daughter-in-law."

"Okay. . .but was it necessary to break into my car?"

"Don't worry, I'll have my repair man fix it tomorrow. Listen, we need to talk about my boy Nathan." Haley didn't know whether to relax or tense up. Anytime Dan spoke about his wonderful son, it usually followed with some snide asshole remark.

"What about him?"

"Listen Haley, he has a lot riding on him at Duke. He doesn't need a distraction like you in his life. You are just another girl to him that he pities. Do me a favor, and call off the wedding." Haley was shocked. She couldn't believe she was hearing this right now. She had heard horror stories about Dan, but didn't think that he would be this cold and cruel. Did he understand his son at all? Did he know that his sons hated him? That his precious Nathan didn't even consider Dan a father to him?

"I'm sorry Mr. Scott but I'm not going to do that. Nathan loves me, and we're getting married."

"HA. I feel sorry for you Miss James, I really do. You see, my son learns his emotions from me so he is very good at hiding them and lying about them to people's faces. I like to think of it as a good poker face. He may act like he loves you but really you're just another girl to check off his list. That ring? That ring means nothing. Once basketball season starts, he'll forget about you completely. Kind of like what happened with Karen and I in high school and then Deb and I in college. It's a Scott family cycle."

Haley wanted to cry. His cruel words struck her. She wanted to believe that he was lying and was just trying to scare her off, but after the fight that her and Nathan had that night, she was second guessing everything that she thought she knew and felt. They were supposed to start planning the wedding this summer while enjoying time with their friends, but maybe Dan was right. Maybe this was all an act to keep Haley hanging on until Nathan found something, or someone better.

"I can't do this right now."

"Don't say I didn't warn you Haley. Anyways, do as I say or you'll be very sorry. It would be sad to see something happen to such a smart, ordinary girl like you. I'll have your window fixed tomorrow. Do not mention a word of our conversation to Nathan. If you do, well then you'll just make my job a little harder Miss James. Do we have an understanding?" Haley nodded, as she choked back the tears. "Good. Now, enjoy your night Miss James." Dan and Felix walked away laughing. Haley suspected that they were laughing at her, but she didn't care. She just got back into her car, with the broken window, and sat there and cried.

- One Tree Hill -

Nathan woke to the horrible stench of alcohol, only to realize it was him that smelled of it. His body was sticky and his breath stunk and he was lying alone in his bed. The sheets were thrown all over the place and the beach house was trashed. He had blacked out pretty early, so the last thing that he remembered was fighting with Haley. He looked around the bedroom, hoping that she stayed but he didn't see any mark of her; there was no clothing strewn about or her hairbrush lying on the bedside table like it always did. His head was pounded, and the sunlight hurt his eyes. He felt like he was going blind, and it felt like someone was taking a hammer to his head and hitting it over and over. Fuck, how much did I drink last night? He thought to himself as he rubbed his temples in a circular motion, hoping to release some of the pressure. He had to get out of bed, he had to figure out what drunken asshole move he did that drove Haley away.

He slowly rose out of bed, and headed over to the bathroom where he splashed some cold water on his face. He popped some Advil and prayed that it would make him feel less like death and more like a real person. He needed to stop drinking so much. He didn't even know how Lucas was doing, or where Haley was. It was like in those few hours of him drinking, he seemed to loose control of those around him. He needed to see her. He needed to make sure that they were okay. So, he brushed his teeth and got ready and reluctantly got into his car, ready to pull out of the driveway to go make Haley breakfast and apologize profusely for his drunken antics. He stopped when he saw the sight of her car, still sitting in the driveway with a broken window. What the fuck, he thought as he jogged over to the car, hoping that the small distance wouldn't make his stomach completely give up, vomiting everywhere. Once he got to the car, he noticed a very small figure laying down in the backseat with a blanket wrapped tightly around her. He noticed that that figure was Haley, and she had slept in her car. What he couldn't figure out was why the passenger side window was shattered, and why she had stayed in her car when she had a warm bed waiting for her, with him lying in it. He slightly smiled at the sight of her sleeping there, so peacefully. She looked so innocent and fragile; he almost didn't want to wake her. He figured she was probably exhausted, and maybe a little cold.

"Hales?" Nathan spoke softly, as he sat in the front seat and turned around and said her name. She stirred a little, obviously hearing him but not fully being awake yet. "Hales" He said, louder this time and she rolled over and slowly opened her eyes. He smiled at her sweetly, but she immediately turned over when she saw that it was his face. It was obvious in that moment of her sleeper state that she didn't want to see him. Good thing that Nathan was stubborn because he wasn't going to go anywhere until she talked to him; and she knew that.

"Go away Nathan." Haley said, her words having ice to them.

"Not until you talk to me Hales. Why are you sleeping in your car? More importantly, why is your window broken?" Nathan had so many questions that needed answers.

"Why do you care? You didn't care about me last night so what makes you suddenly care about me now?" Nathan's heart stung at the words she was spewing back. He knew she was right. He had been a drunken asshole to her and had pushed her away, just like he did with every other good thing in his life. Nathan felt like he was constantly setting himself up for failure no matter what he tried to do, or say.

"Hales, look, I'm sorry. I was stupid last night and drunk. I didn't mean any of that. Of course I care about you, you're my world."

"Yeah, until we go to Duke and you get bored with me and the girls swoon all over you. Then, what? Then you're going to call off the wedding and move on to someone more interesting than me. That's how it always goes. Nathan Scott gets bored so he moves onto something, or someone, better." Haley spat, still not turning over to look at Nathan. She knew her words probably hurt him, especially after their conversation about his parents. But, at that moment she didn't care. She was letting Dan Scott get the best of her, like he wanted, but she didn't have the energy anymore to hope that he was wrong.

"Haley, where is this coming from?! I'm not that guy anymore and I haven't been for months! I love YOU and only YOU! I wouldn't let anyone come in the way of us. You're the one I want to spend my life with, not some stupid college girl who throws herself at me."

"How am I supposed to believe you? Last night you said to me, "be happy because you got what you wanted". What the hell is that suppose to me? It seems like you don't want this. Maybe this was too soon. Maybe we shouldn't even get married."

"Hales! Stop that! I know my feelings for you and they're strong. I was drunk last night and I said some stupid shit that I can't take back and I'm sorry for whatever I said. I want this just as much as you Hales. I have been dreaming about marrying you since we were kids. Ask Lucas or Mouth! I have notebooks that say "Haley Scott" on the back cover in small writing so I wouldn't get made fun of. Did we move fast? Maybe, but why does that matter when I know I want to spend my life with you?"

"I want to believe you Nathan, I really do but I can't."

"Why!? What happened? Don't tell me this is just because of my drunken stumbling because you and I both know it's more than that. I may have needed a tutor in high school but I'm not dumb." Nathan couldn't believe this was happening. He felt like he was on the verge of losing Haley and he couldn't have that. She meant to much to him. He loved her too much to let her walk away because of something someone did or said.

"I can't tell you. They told me they would hurt me if I did."

"WHO? Who put their hands on you!? Is it the same person who broke your window? I'll kill them." Nathan grabbed Haley's shoulder and spun her around, forcing her to face him. He awkwardly climbed out of the front seat and rested on the console between the two seats, hunched over, uncomfortable as hell but closer to Haley.

"Yes." She couldn't look at him; she was so ashamed and scared. Dan had gotten into her head last night and she was scared of what he would do. It made it even worse that he was with her kidnapper because it meant that Dan had something to do with the entire stunt. She wanted to tell Nathan, she truly did, but she knew he had a temper when it came to his father and she wasn't sure how he would react. His blue eyes were piercing into her soul with his eyebrows furrowed. His blood was already boiling, there was no doubt about that but Haley didn't want to risk anything that could lead to someone getting hurt.

"Haley, who was it." Nathan's voice was flat.

"I want to tell you, but I can't Nathan."

"Haley, I am not leaving this car or this spot until you tell me."

"It was Dan. Dan came and threatened me and told me to call off the wedding or he was going to make my life hell. He said I was a distraction to you and your dreams and that I was just something for you to have for right now." Haley began to choke up. "The guy who kidnapped me at the lake was standing there with him. He said if I told you then he would do something even worse to me than before." Tears began to roll down Haley's cheeks. "I slept here because I was too upset to drive to see Lucas. I know you said to not let Dan get into my head but he did. I'm not the girl for you Nathan. I'm not popular, or pretty. I don't party, and I suck at sports." Haley stopped. If she kept going, she was going to start sobbing. She was already mad at herself for telling Nathan in the first place.

Nathan grabbed her in a hug to try and soothe her cries. It broke his heart to see her this upset and it infuriated him that she would fall for Dan's words. But then again, his father was a master manipulator. He had learned that firsthand growing up. It was no secret that his dad was a puppet master – the entirety of Tree Hill knew that. But, Dan was not going to mess with Haley. Haley was the one good and pure thing that Nathan had in his life and he was not going to let his bastard of a father take that away from him.

"Hales, listen to me." Nathan said as he held Haley's cheeks, her tear stained eyes looking into his searching for some type of hope or promise. "You are more than I could ever have dreamed of. If anyone doesn't deserve you, it's me. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and you have made me believe that there is good in this world. Do not listen to my ass of a father. He is trying to get into your mind to get you to do what he wants. He's a manipulator. Nothing is going to take me away from you Haley James. We will get through this Hales. Dan is not going to touch you under my watch. No one messed with my girl. And we are going to get married in the fall like you have dreamed of, and when that day comes, it'll be the very best day of my life." He kissed her forehead and held her close. Those were the words that she needed to hear. She knew it was stupid to believe Dan, but Haley was already insecure as it was when it came to Nathan. She was nothing like all the other girls he had dated and been with, but that's why he loved her.

- One Tree Hill -

Lucas continued to be unresponsive. Brooke was so mad at herself for allowing Lucas to even play the game in the first place. But he made her promise that she wouldn't hinder him from following his dreams just because of a heart condition. That had gotten them nowhere. Here they were, in a hospital again. The worst part was Brooke hated hospitals, but she continued to find herself here over and over.

She just wanted Lucas to wake up. She wanted to see him smile and call her his "pretty girl." She sighed. She wanted to kill Nathan for being so stupid and not stopping the game when he saw Lucas struggling.

"How you doing hunny?" Karen asked as she entered the room. Brooke had not left Lucas's side, and continued to hold his hand. Karen knew she had to let Brooke have this moment with Lucas. She knew the pain that Brooke was feeling. She had been in her position years ago right before Keith passed away after being shot.

"I want to say okay, but that's a lie."