DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything OC related.
AN: Hopefully this won't turn into an epic. Cross your fingers.
Kirsten answered the phone on the second ring. "Hello?"
"Kirsten? It's Ryan."
"Hello, Ryan. How are you?"
"I'm okay, thanks. Any word on Seth?"
"No, not yet."
"Well, I had today off and I wondered if I could…"
"Things are still pretty hectic around here right now, Ryan…" She started.
"Okay, Mrs. Cohen."
She paused. He'd called every two days since he'd been gone. He'd offered to visit and every time she'd said no. She couldn't face him yet. If he got too close to her she'd break down and she knew that she wouldn't be able to let him go again.
"I'm going to let you go. Tell Mr. Cohen that I called…"
He hung up before she could apologize.
Maybe she should have explained it to him. She'd have another chance.
Ryan limped back into the bedroom he shared with Teresa. His right eye was swollen shut again and his breathing was hitched from his bruised ribs. His knee had been busted for days.
Teresa got up and helped him to the bed. "What'd they say?"
"Not a good time…"
"Oh, baby, I'm so sorry…" She said immediately. She knew how much he loved the Cohens and she just couldn't understand why they'd keep him away. They hadn't even come to see their new apartment. She realized that they were caught up in their search for Seth, but Ryan didn't deserve this treatment. He lost Seth, too.
"It's okay." He sighed. She took his bruised hand and squeezed it. "I think we should go, Teresa."
She leaned against him. He was trying so hard and things just kept getting harder. "Are you sure?" She ran her hand through his hair.
He nodded.
Eddie had been stalking them for weeks. Ryan had managed to keep him from Teresa but he couldn't do it much longer. He was beaten. He'd lost his job yesterday because his injuries were too severe for him to be able to work. Teresa couldn't get him to go to the hospital and she hated to keep nagging him about something they couldn't afford anyway.
Last week, Javier had offered Ryan a job. Javier was Teresa's cousin and he'd stayed with them while he was in town. The job was at a hotel so they'd have a place to stay. Teresa could clean rooms and Ryan could work maintenance.
They didn't want to go. But the restraining order against Eddie wasn't keeping him away. He'd keep coming and Ryan would fight until it killed him.
Teresa turned him so she could look in his eyes. He was so sad, he was so tired but he loved her. She knew he did. He never had to say it but she knew. "Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes, Teresa. There's nothing for us here anymore. I can't go on like this…I'm not strong enough…" He whispered.
She'd do anything for him. He'd already proved that he'd do anything for her.
"I'll call Javier tomorrow."
"I have my last meeting with my PO on Thursday, so we'll plan for Friday?"
"Are you going to tell Sandy?"
He looked away. "If he comes to the meeting, I'll tell him. If not…"
"He's your lawyer, doesn't he have to come to the last meeting with your probation officer?"
"He's got a lot on his mind," Ryan whispered. He put his arms around Teresa.
Sandy answered the phone absently. "Sandy Cohen."
"Sandy? It's Frank Evans."
"Frank, how are you?" Sandy asked. He recognized Ryan's probation officer's voice.
"I'm okay…"
"Did Ryan get into trouble?" Sandy knew the kid had a lot on his plate but he didn't think Ryan would jeopardize Teresa and the baby by getting arrested. He'd thought better of the kid.
"No. Well, I hope not."
"Did he violate his probation?"
"He served his time, Mr. Cohen. He's done."
Sandy sat down. He'd forgotten. Ryan must've gone to the meeting alone, that's what the cryptic voicemail had meant on his machine yesterday. He'd left a message when they didn't answer the phone saying maybe I'll see you tomorrow.
"Sandy? Is he still living with you?"
"Well…"
"He's a good kid. I hated to see him so beat up…"
"He was hurt?"
"God, Sandy, he could barely walk. So, he's not living with you?"
"No…"
"You sent him back to his mom?"
"No, his girlfriend and her mother are in Chino and he's been staying there…"
"Oh. Well, Sandy, I just wanted to check on him. I was a little worried."
"Thanks for calling."
Sandy immediately tried to call the number they had for Ryan. Disconnected.
He tried Teresa's mother's number. Not in service.
He tried Teresa's cell phone. It rang. It rang again. There was a click.
Thanks for calling. Ryan and I aren't available. Please leave a message.
Sandy hung up. He had to find him.
"Teresa, I swear, I'm fine…"
"What did the doctor say?"
"That I'm fine…"
"Liar. Please, Ryan…"
"I need to stop putting weight on my knee. I've got two cracked ribs. That's it…" Ryan sighed, sitting down beside her on the bench outside the Urgent Care Clinic.
"Are you sure you're up for this?"
He nodded. "You'll finally get to teach me Spanish. We need a new start."
"And you don't want to say goodbye to the Cohens?"
"They've got enough on their mind. Let's go finish packing."
Summer sighed. Marissa was drunk again. She'd only managed a few slurred conversations with her lately. Cohen was still gone. Her Dad was officially broke. She'd just been told that she couldn't go to Harbor next fall because it of the cost. The repo man had taken the cars and was coming for the house. They were going to have to move into an apartment. She would be sleeping on the couch.
Her phone rang and she jumped. Few people called her these days. She didn't feel like talking anyway. She recognized Ryan and Teresa's number.
"Hey, what's up?" She could talk to Chino. He'd become a good friend to her. He called every few days to check on her and she was grateful for his support.
"Summer."
"You sound rough…"
"Yeah…"
"Eddie's still hassling you?"
"Yeah. We're leaving, Summer. He…he really messed me up and I don't know how much longer I'd be able to keep him away."
"Where, Ryan?"
"Out of state…"
"Ryan…"
"You'll be fine, Summer. You're a strong girl. And Seth will come back."
"I know…but Ryan…can I come with you?" She whispered.
"Summer, but…"
"My Dad's really broke." She'd confessed her father's problems to him a couple of weeks ago. "There's nothing for me here and…I just don't know what I'm supposed to do…I won't get in your way and I can help with the baby, I can get a job…"
"Summer, I don't…"
"Ask Teresa. Please."
Seth showed up on Saturday. He found his parents in the kitchen, sitting in silence.
"Hey. I'm back…"
Kirsten didn't get up. She just started to cry.
"God, Seth…" Sandy whispered, hugging him.
"I'm so sorry, guys, I just needed some time to get my head together…I really need to talk to Ryan…" Seth started.
Kirsten sobbed harder, shaking her head.
"Ryan's gone. He left town with Teresa," Sandy said quietly.
"Yeah, I know, he's in Chino," Seth replied, confused.
"He didn't call you?"
"We hadn't seen him…you were gone and I couldn't see him and…" Kirsten sobbed. "He left us too…"
