"Scott residence. Yeah this is him. Yes sir ... Uh yes sir. I could be there today if you want. Absolutely. I'm ... I'm looking forward to it too. thank you." Nathan said on the phone, Claudia and the kids were sitting at the table eating breakfast. She tried but she couldn't hear what was being said on the other line. Nathan turned to his family grinning. 

"Everything okay?" Claudia asked concerned, Nathan was still flashing his boyish grin, the same boyish grin that Claudia fell for on their first tutoring session. 

"That was the general manager for the fort Wayne d-league team." Nathan smirked, Claudia was catching on. But her children knew it was amazing news. 

"The d-league?" Claudia asked confused and both of her kids looked at her.

"Basketball mama!" They exclaimed excitably in unison as they kneeled on the dining room chairs. 

"It's just a developmental league team but the G.M. wants to meet with me today. That was the NBA calling." Nathan explained and Claudia grinned like the cheshire cat. The twins ran to their dad. 

"I told you! you're gonna play in the NBA!" Jamie shouted loudly as Nathan lifted up both of his kids, Claudia hugged him tightly. She couldn't believe it! Her husbands dream was happening. 

"My god baby!" Claudia grinned.

"Daddy I'm so proud of you!" Grace smirked as she pointed at her dad. Nathan laughed as he looked at his family who were just over the moon and more. 

___

"Mom the phone's for you." Jamie said as he ran into the kitchen and handed Claudia the phone. 

"Yes hello? Yes that's my son. Yeah he's very cute. who I ... I'm ... I'm sorry. Can you repeat that? ... Hospice? Yes. I understand. thank you." Claudia said as Deb took Jamie out of the room. She ended the phone call and turned to face Deb, her face was pale white with shock. 

"Claudia? you okay?" Deb asked concerned and Claudia sighed a little. 

"Nathan was right all along. Dan really has gone off to die." Claudia replied bluntly, she didn't see the point in walking around the outsides when she could tell the truth. 

"What do you mean?" Deb asked, she wasn't understanding. 

"I just got a phone call from his hospice nurse. She thinks it's only a matter of hours now. I'm so sorry Deb." Claudia explained sympathetically. 

"Oh please. It's just. It doesn't sound like Dan." Deb replied back truthfully, Claudia was weirded out by Deb's behaviour. She thought she would have had even the slightest compassion for Dan and his death.

"What do you mean?" Claudia asked confused as she watched Deb search for something in the cupboard. 

"Well I would have expected a little more grandstanding. That's all." Deb answered honestly, she wasn't buying it. She had known Deb the longest.

"Well she says he's asking for Jamie and Grace. Thinks I should bring them by." Claudia replied and Deb turned to face her. 

"Do you think Jamie and Grace should see him like that?" Deb asked concerned, on the one hand Claudia didn't want them to see their grandpa dying or even on the brink of death but on the other hand they never got to do that with Quentin and that was hard on her kids. 

"I don't know. After everything they have been through with Quentin and now seeing Dan's gravestone I promised them they could see their grandfather." Claudia answered. 

"So what are you gonna do?" Deb asked intrigued, Claudia leaned on the counter. Honestly, she hadn't got a scooby doo.

"I don't know. Oh I wish Nathan were here." Claudia sighed to herself, she had no idea what she was going to do. But she knew whatever happened, somebody was going to be hurt if not everybody.

___

"Hey it's Nate. leave it." Nathan's voicemail said and Claudia sighed. She needed to speak to Nathan about the whole Dan situation. 

"Nathan. Hi I'm really sorry to bug you up there but it's about Dan. I need to talk to you. I got a phone call from his hospice nurse this morning and it's not good. You should call me. I love you. bye." Claudia explained on the phone before she ended the call, Jamie and Gracie were behind her. They had heard the whole thing. 

"What's a hospice? Is something wrong with grandpa? You said he was okay." Jamie asked as both him and Grace wedged themselves in between Claudia's leg. She placed a hand on each of their shoulders. 

"I did. I know I did. It turns out grandpa's really sick." Claudia explained, she didn't know how to tell them. They had both been through so much and this was just the icing on the crap cake. 

"But he's gonna get better right?" Grace asked optimistically and Claudia looked at the innocence in their eyes, the same innocence she saw when Nathan and her had told them what happened to Quentin. 

"Sometimes people get so sick that they can't get better." Claudia answered, she hugged her children tightly. 

"Is he gonna die like Quentin?" Grace asked worried, Dan was just beginning to be apart of their lives. 

"Yeah. Yeah I'm afraid so princess." Claudia sighed disappointed. 

"I didn't get to say goodbye to Quentin. Do I get to say goodbye to grandpa?" Jamie asked and Claudia had to give them an answer. She nodded her head. She knew that Nathan was going to be annoyed but it had to be done.

"Yes. Yes let's do that." Claudia answered as she patted them both on the shoulder, they stood up and walked out of the room. They were going to see Dan before he died, it was going to be hard but they had to do it. 

___

Claudia was driving up the path, to this cottage in the middle of the woods. It was like something out of a horror movie. She parked the car and turned to face her kids. 

"Okay buddies. I need you to stay in the car. I'll be right back. I just want to make sure we're in the right place." Claudia explained as she unbuckled her seatbelt. 

"I want to come with you." Jamie stated. 

"So do I." Grace smiled and Claudia couldn't let them go inside, just incase something was wrong. 

"Just stay in the car. Keep the doors locked. I'll be right back. I promise." Claudia replied back as she opened up the car door. 

"Okay." Her children agreed in unison. Claudia got out of the car and locked the car.

"Alright, it will be fine. You will see Dan, bring the kids in and leave." Claudia whispered to herself encouragingly. She was scared of death and anything linked to death. She walked into the house, she could see nobody. 

"Dan? Dan?" Claudia called out in a whispering tone, then she saw him. Strapped to the bed and bruised. "Oh god Dan. Dan it's Claudia! Wake up!" Claudia hissed scared as she tried to take off his straps. 

"Claudia? Help." Dan croaked as Claudia was trying to set him free. She was so confused to what was going on, but she knew she had to get them all out of there. 

"I have Jamie and Grace with me." Claudia explained terrified and Dan knew that was a bad idea, considering who was keeping him captive. 

"Get Jamie and Gracie." Dan groaned and Claudia took a step back confused. 

"Dan what is going on? What happened to you?" Claudia asked frantically and confused. Carrie came up behind her and smacked her on the head. Claudia was knocked out as she fell to the floor. 

"Hello Mrs. Scott." Carrie smiled tauntingly as she looked down at Claudia's body. She was just praying that Claudia was dead, then she could have the perfect family. Carrie had dyed her hair black, like Claudia's, and grew it out longer. 

___

"Mama. Where are you mama?" Jamie asked Grace as he looked out of the window. That was before Nanny Carrie was banging on the window excitably.  "... Aah!" Jamie screamed frightened as Grace hid behind Jamie. 

"Hi Jamie! It's me Nanny Carrie. Open up." Carrie grinned as she smacked on the car door. Grace was crying a little and Jamie was acting like the strong big brother. 

"No! mama says you're a bad person!" Jamie shouted sternly and Carrie shook her head, she refused to believe the 'lies' that Jamie was supposedly saying. 

"Oh that's not true. I love you remember? Now open the door buddy." Carrie smiled, she needed to see Jamie. He was her son surrogate. 

"No! I want my mama!" Jamie shouted sternly, again. He know knew that Carrie was just as bad as their mom said she was. 

"I am your mama now! Now unlock that door this instant!" Carrie ordered sternly, she was desperate to get to Jamie. Grace reminded her too much of Claudia, the women who was standing in her way from getting the perfect family. Carrie didn't need Grace, she was useless to her. Carrie needed Jamie and Nathan. 

"No!" Jamie exclaimed as he protected Grace. Carrie stamped her foot on the ground before she walked off. "Grace, open the door. We have to run." Jamie hissed and they ran out of the car door. 

"Looks like somebody needs to learn some manners." Carrie hissed to herself as she picked up the axe and walked back to the car. She busted the window only to see the Scott twins running through the crop fields. "Jamie! Gracie!" She shouted after them as they ran away from Carrie. She followed after them. 

___

"Claudia. Claudia you have to get up. Claudia. Wake up. Claudia. You have to wake up." Dan stated as he tried to wake up Claudia, Claudia slowly woke up. Then she realised what was going on and she was fuming. 

"I hate that bitch!" Claudia growled before she stood up and stumbled a little. Then she started to run, she had to find her kids. More than anything.

___

"Jamie! Gracie! I'm sorry I got mad sweetie! Just tell me where you are jimmy-jam and Gracie-May. I won't be mad anymore. I promise. I've got something special for you." Carrie called out as she chased the kids through the crop fields. The kids finally reached their mom.

"It's mama." Claudia whispered as she hugged her kids, it felt so good to know that they were safe and well. She had to phone Nathan, so she got out her phone and dialled his number. It was his voicemail. "I'm really sorry to bug you up there Nathan. I just I really need to talk with you. It's not good. you should call me okay? I love you. bye." Claudia said to the phone, then she hugged her kids tighter. "It's gonna be okay. I promise. We just have to get you out of here okay? Okay." Claudia explained encouragingly. She knew it was going to be okay because Carrie had to be one crazy women to try and break up the Scott family. Claudia's phone ran really loudly. She knew Carrie heard it. "Run!" She shouted at her children and the three of them ran. They kept on running, it was all they could do to survive. 

"Jamie! Jamie!" Carrie called out and she got closer to the Scott family. 

"Run Jamie! Gracie! Run! run!" Claudia cried out as she continued to run, Carrie chased after them. They were so close to the car and Carrie was catching up, that was until Deb smacked her over the head with a bottle. 

"Guess there's more than one crazy nanny in this town. Bitch." Deb hissed as she looked down at Carrie's body, before she turned to the Scott family. Claudia was in shock to what was happening. "Are you okay?" Deb asked as Claudia got the kids into the car, safe.  "How's Jamie and Gracie?" Deb asked and Claudia ran her fingers through her hair. 

"They're ... They're scared to death. They are gonna be okay." Claudia answered in shock. "How are you?" Claudia asked changing the subject. 

"This was a 1995 Dom Perignon! I was saving it for the day I was rid of Dan Scott for good. A girl can dream right?" Deb asked jokingly and Claudia laughed. It was nice of Deb, making them laughed in a dull situation. Claudia hugged her tightly. 

"You saved us. How did you know? How did you know that we were here?" Claudia asked confused, it wasn't like their location was obvious.

"I knew something was up when I saw the address. Dan always hated the woods." Deb answered just as Carrie stood up and ran at the moms with a axe. Claudia and Deb jumped as Dan shot Carrie point blank in the chest. 

"God I hate the woods." Dan stated bluntly as Claudia covered her mouth in shock, she was going to faint any minute. She was just so shocked.

___

Dan was still in his hospital gown and he was still at the house in the woods. He was waiting for the police to arrive. 

"You think you can kill me? You can't kill me. I'm still here." Carrie laughed tauntingly, she was still in pain from the bullet that was lodged in her chest. 

"I already called the police. They're on their way." Dan explained as he looked towards Carrie. 

"So? What are they gonna do? I'll get out and I'll come back." Carrie taunted again, she needed Jamie. It was just so unreal. 

"Do you remember what I told you I'd do if you ever came near my family again?" Dan asked as he walked closer to Carrie. "I told you I'd kill you." Dan stated bluntly, he killed his own brother so killing Carrie would be nothing to him.

 "But you didn't. I'm not dead." Carrie grinned, she had blood all over her face and teeth. She did look like a monster out of a horror movie. Quite fitting. 

"Sure you are." Dan smirked before he shot Carrie in the head, she was dead, gone, she couldn't harm the Scott's again. All because of Dan. He stopped the weed by taking out the root- her life. It wouldn't faze him, he has done worse.

+++

Hey everyone! Hope you liked this chapter as much as I did writing it. I have a little bit of news, I am going to be doing a Q & A, the questions will be secret so I will not be telling who your names are unless I get your permission. Just message me any questions about any of the books and I will answer them after one chapter for all of you curious readers. So you either comment down below your question or message me your question and I will answer them all.

Hope you guys will continue voting and commenting. They are much appreciated. Love you all,

Mrs N O'Brien xx