Damien West was angry . Hot waves of heat rolling off him continuously, and Haley was worried about what he was going to do to her. She sat in the front seat, still as a statue as he took turns too sharply. Soon enough, they were on the river court, which was devoid of any of her friends. Damien jerked the car to a stop and got out of his side. With sharp, jerky movements, he got to her side and yanked the door open. "Get out of the car, Haley." His tone was nothing more than a visceral hiss.

Haley was terrified. She sat in her seat, too scared to move, and Damien yanked her out by her hair. Screaming, he threw her down to the ground, kicking her in the ribs. She felt a couple of them snap and screamed out in pain. "Shut up!" Damien's fist snapped to her jaw, and Haley cried out.

Someone.

Anyone.

Help me.

Another fist collided against her nose, and she screamed as it shattered. Damien might really kill her and there was no one to help her.

Please.

Somebody.

Help me.

Just then, she heard an almighty roar as someone else launched themselves onto Damien. She looked up in pain and fear, spotting Nathan Scott throwing fists against Damien's face. "Never. Touch. Her. Again!" Nathan screamed in fury, kicking Damien. Damien landed a punch or two of his own, but he was no match for Nathan, who was mad as hell. He shoved him backward, making his head bounce off the blacktop. "If I even see you look at her, I will kill you!"

Haley breathed deeply through the pain, watching as Nathan kicked Damien's ass. Then Damien spat out a mouthful of blood, laughing as he squinted at Nathan through a swollen eye. "I hope the crazy slut is worth it." Then he stood up, shoved Nathan away from him, and walked away.

Haley was shaking on the ground, body curled inward, and she felt a hand being placed on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"Hey," Nathan murmured gently, slowly getting to his knees in front of her. She watched him warily; afraid he'd yell at her too. Nathan cupped her cheek gently. "You're safe now."

Haley breathed deeply, wincing at the pain in her ribs. "Thanks."

"We got to get you to the hospital," Nathan said.

"No!" Haley panicked. "My parents can't know."

"They're going to see the bruises, Hales," Nathan muttered apologetically, but Haley smiled smally.

"Make-up works wonders," she whispered.

Nathan looked like his heart was being broken. He looked wrecked and she gasped softly, not knowing she could do that to another person. "Hales...no, hon, don't do that."

Haley just shrugged her shoulder, not saying anything, and Nathan sighed. He picked her up, mindful of her ribs, and he walked with her to his car that she had yet to notice. Setting her down in the back seat gently, he hurried to the driver's side. Then they were off.

XXX

Nathan acquiesced her wishes and didn't take her to the hospital. He brought her to an apartment complex, and she remembered what he had told her about being emancipated. He picked her up from the back seat, carrying her to an apartment that he unlocked. He was gentle with his ministrations, carrying her to the couch in his living room, and settling her down. "Let me get the first-aid kit really quick." He walked away for a few moments, coming back quickly, and getting down his knees. "Okay, this is going to hurt but it has to be done."

He opened the bottle of peroxide and poured some onto a cotton ball, swabbing it against her cuts the next moment. She inhaled shakily, forcing herself to not cry as she breathed through the pain. "It doesn't hurt too much."

Nathan looked at her knowingly, eyes soft on her, and he licked his lips. "It's okay to cry."

"I haven't cried in so long," Haley whispered. "I'm not even sure I know how to."

"That's okay, too," he whispered. "We will get you back to who you once were."

Haley nodded as he finished cleaning her face. Then he pressed his fingertips to the hem of her shirt. "Can I look at your ribs?"

She licked her lips, nodding hesitantly a moment later. "Go ahead."

He lifted her shirt to just where it rested below her breast. He didn't even look in that general direction as his fingers massaged against her skin, which was a motely of discolored bruises. "These are bruised and even broken, possibly. I've got a wrap you can wear, but you'll have to be careful if you don't want your parents to find out."

Haley sighed, quirking her lips upward the next moment. "I've got years of practice."

Nathan looked at her, studying her face, and he sighed softly. "None of this is right, Haley. You don't deserve this."

"Why do you care, Nathan?" Haley asked quietly.

"Because you're worthy of being cared about," he said sotly.

That caused her heart to flutter in its chest cavity, and she looked down. "Thank you."

He tipped her chin up. "Promise me you won't go back to him?"

"I won't," she promised softly, feeling like this at least was a promise she could keep. She had no intention of seeing Damien ever again. Nathan hummed, satisfied.

"I can tell Brooke that you'll start practice next week."

Haley thought about her best friend. Both. Lucas and Brooke were crazy about each other, but they were even more crazy about their friendship to Haley. Maybe it was time to tell them the truth. "I think I'll tell them."

"Lucas too?" Nathan asked quietly.

Haley sighed but nodded. "Yes, I've been trying to protect everyone for a long time. Maybe it's time I protect myself."

"Will you let me help with that?" Nathan asked.

Haley smiled up at him, feeling the last of the stress melt away. She didn't know where she was going to go from here, but she knew it had to be better than what she was leaving behind. And that was good enough for her.