Uriah was a man of integrity, we now see the integrity of another man. The working out of God's plans depend upon the faithfulness of all sorts of people, not just the prominent ones.
Nathan presumably knew what had happened and the Lord sent him to confront David. He doesn't do this directly, but does it by means of a parable. This isn't because he is afraid of confronting him directly, but to make David realise the awfulness of what he has done.
Nathan tells him a story of a rich man who took from a poor man. David reacts with indignation and gave his judgement on the rich man. Nathan then tells him that "you are the man". The Lord reminds David of all that He had done for him, and that He would have done even more. Instead David despised the word of the Lord.
Then the Lord pronounces judgement. The sword would not leave the house, and calamity would come from his own household. Both of these things happened. He would be publicly humiliated. Our sins have consequences and affect the lives of others.
Instead of reacting with anger, complaining that this is "unfair", David admits his sin. Nathan then says that the son born to Bathsheeba will die. The son became ill, and David pleaded with the Lord.
God did not answer and after a few days the child died. The servants were afraid to tell David, but eventually David got the truth out of them. Now instead of reacting with weeping and fasting, David pulls himself together and gets on with life. This reaction amazes his servants. David says it is because there is nothing to be done to change the situation.
David and Bathsheeba then have another child, Solomon. Joab beseiged Rabbah and David went and captured the city, and people were conscripted into slave labour.
So what are we to make of all this? We see that sin has consequences, and that sin brings judgement. David accepts the reality and the judgement upon his sin.
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