Nathan returned just in time for the doctor to inform them that Clay needed a kidney donation. Nathan volunteered without even thinking, but right after he spoke, his eyes met Haley's with panic. The doctor also noted that losing a kidney would end his basketball career. They had enough money for him to retire or change careers. They were comfortable enough. More than anything, she admired Nathan for his sacrifice to save someone he cared about. It was just a reminder of how much she loved him and the kind of man he was, the man she had married and vowed to spend the rest of her life with. Although she certainly couldn't have anticipated how she would react this morning, she felt terrible to think he was so fearful that he couldn't even do something kind for Clay without feeling like he was crossing a boundary. So, with soft eyes, she pulled him aside and thumbed at his cheek.

"I-I have to try to save him, Hales," he begged, voice breaking. "I don't care if it means the end of my career. I can't lose him. Jamie can't lose him."

Haley hushed him, pulling him into her arms. "It's okay. I… I might not understand everything, but it's okay. You love him. I-I know that doesn't change the fact that you love me, too. I… I believe what you said." She looked up at him. "I don't- God, Nathan, I'm just grateful you're alive and here with me. Nothing else matters."

"Are you sure you're okay with me giving up my career?"

"Nathan, you're doing it to save Clay's life," Haley whispered. "He's part of our family. Regardless of what happened between you two, I know you will never forgive yourself if you don't try to see if you're a match. I don't want Clay to die. If you can save him, Nathan, then nothing else matters."

Nathan shook his head. "It does matter. You're still going to have these feelings once this is over, and I don't want you to think you have to stand by what you're saying. It's alright to be angry at me."

"The affair upset me, and, yes, we still need to talk about that. But, I could never be angry with you for being yourself." She sniffled. "I love you, Nathan. That will never change."

He hugged her tighter. "Thank you," he mumbled. "I'm so sorry for hurting you. I… I know it's going to take you a long time to get over it, and I don't blame you. But… thank you for understanding."

Haley looked up, cupping Nathan's cheeks, tears brightening her eyes. "You're welcome."

"Mister Scott?" a voice called, and he turned to face the doctor. He had a look of apology on his face. "Your test results are back: I'm afraid you're not a valid match for Clay Evans."

She watched his shoulder slump in defeat. "So… so who's going to give him the kidney?"

"We have a car accident victim who may be a viable match. We're just reviewing his files. We'll let you know as soon as possible if it's a success."

"Thank you," Haley responded, since Nathan appeared to be at a loss for words.

As the doctor walked off, Nathan burst into tears, and she held him to her body, praying with all of her might that everything would be okay. She needed to be here for Nathan right now. It wasn't that her feelings didn't matter or that any of what they'd discussed would go away. But she was his wife, and he needed her. She would give him strength. She would help him stand on his feet. She would comfort him because that was what he did for her. When her mother died and everything fell apart, he had been there. He supported her when she had been too miserable to care for their family. So now it was her turn. They were equals. They were partners. And they could get through anything.

"He's strong, Nathan," she assured. "He's going to wake up, and you're going to be able to tell him you love him for real."

He kissed the top of her head then, leaning into her.

"I hope you're right," he whispered, voice tight.

Her ears perked up at a familiar voice: Jamie. Julian must not have been able to hold him off. And, even though she preferred he wasn't here when they still didn't know whether Clay would make it, at the same time, she wanted to hold him tight and never let go. Nathan seemed to want the same because he pulled away, wiping his tears with the heel of his hand. They went back to Quinn's room, where Jamie was sitting on the bed and brightening the room just with his presence alone. When he noticed his parents come back in, he was very relieved. She and Nathan hugged him, answering his string of questions and assuring him as best they could. She squeezed Nathan's hand the whole time. They were a united front.

When the doctor returned, after what felt like aeons, to tell them that Clay would be okay, the relief between her, Nathan, Jamie, and Quinn was palpable. He was going to make it. He'd need physical therapy and bed rest, but he was alive, and he was okay. They helped Quinn into a wheelchair so the four of them could wait for Clay to wake up in his room. Quinn found her place beside Clay, on his uninjured side. The three of them sat and waited while Jamie told them a story about how terrible Julian (who had gone home with Brooke) was at arcade games. It was always incredible how resilient he was. Kids generally were, but she knew Jamie was special — her bias as his mother notwithstanding. His ability to come back from whatever hardships their family faced always put things into perspective.

They stayed for as long as the hospital let them before going home. She and Nathan were too tired to try talking about things, but she told him she loved him again and made it very clear that this was just a bump in the road for them and nothing more. It took him a minute to be receptive to it, and he offered to sleep on the couch about five times, but when she explained that she wanted her husband by her side, he got into bed with her. When she looked at the clock radio, it was hard to believe that all of this had happened within twenty-four hours. At the start of the day, she had been shocked, hurt and overwhelmed by emotions, but now she was filled with gratitude for the people she cared about.

And Haley carried that gratitude in her heart all the way back to the hospital the next day when she caught a moment alone with Clay. He seemed nervous around her, so she offered him a comforting smile.

"I, uh, I know about the affair, Clay." He looked panicked and tried to speak, but she continued, keeping her voice level. "And it's okay. I also know what you told Quinn, and that's okay, too. Obviously, it's something Nathan and I will have to work through, but… I forgive you, and I forgive him."

He blinked at her a few times, nonplussed by her words.

"You know you don't have to say this because I got shot," Clay said with a nervous laugh. "I slept with your husband. You can be mad at me."

"How could I be mad at you when you do so much for him?"

His expression softened.

"You're a part of our family, Clay," Haley went on. "You always have our best interests at heart. You protect Nathan with everything you have. Even with this, he came to you, admitted something about himself, and you admitted it back, and you gave him a safe place. I… I can understand why you both felt the need to keep that secret, and I respect your privacy. But I want you to know that I love him and accept him for who he is, and I love you and accept you for who you are, too. I just want the people I care about to be healthy and happy. Especially after you and Quinn nearly died. Nothing else matters."

Clay didn't say anything but slowly nodded, taking in what she was saying. His eyes then crinkled slightly, and he responded with a softness she'd never heard from him. "I would go to the ends of the earth for your husband. And for you. And for Jamie. And for your sister. You're my family. You mean everything to me. The affair was…" He sighed. "A mistake. I should never have betrayed you like that, and I never should have let Nathan, either."

"He made that choice on his own-"

"I know. But I didn't stop him. I didn't stop him because…" He wouldn't look at her. "At that moment, it was everything I'd been thinking about since I first met and became close with Nathan. I never wanted to let that get in the way of our friendship like I let it get in the way of my marriage to Sara."

"You are who you are, Clay. We're always growing and evolving as people. We learn things about ourselves sometimes at unexpected times. But hiding them is never the answer."

He laughed through his nose. "Well, depending on the industry you're in. It's a shame that sport can be one of the most homophobic spaces of all when it's my passion."

She frowned a little.

"But maybe one day, when Jamie's grown up, the world will be a better place. I… I have to believe that. I have to believe that one day, humanity will be compassionate enough to let people love who they love without judgement."

Haley noticed his eyes get misty when he said that. Her heart ached for him. He was such a kind soul, and it pained Haley to think about how much more he wanted to show that but couldn't.

"For the record, though." He smiled a little. "If you're worried about Nathan… don't be. He loves you with all of his heart. That year and a half on the road together, if I had a dollar for every time he said your name, I'd have enough money to retire ten times. He might have learned something new about himself, but he'll never let that take precedence over your marriage. You and him have a kind of love that most people can only dream of."
She blushed a little at the almost reverent way he spoke about her and Nathan. But it did make her feel a little better, too. To hear it from someone else, especially the someone else that Nathan had cheated on her with, meant a lot. Especially because Clay really, truly meant it. He wasn't just saying it to defend himself or pity her.

"Thank you for everything you do for us, Clay," Haley whispered, meeting his eyes. "I am so lucky to have you in my life. All of us are. And I want you to know that nothing can ever change that. We love you."

"I love you, too."