Wonderful Summerland Supporters,

This is my new Summerland fanfic, titled Temptations (at least for now – I might change it later on, but I will let you all know in case that happens). So before you read it, I just wanted to set the mood so I don't have a hundred people asking me what the fuck is going on, because it's surrounded by a lot of drama from the actual TV show. So, make sure you read the following paragraph(s).

Okay, this story takes place right after Bradin overdoses on the drugs and falls down the stairs in front of Ava (and I believe Susannah as well?). He is obviously taken to the hospital, and basically the story picks up from that spot.

A little background information:

Since I do not have the time / don't feel like going through my old Summerland tapes (yes, I taped about 20 of the 24 episodes) and information, during this time –

- Callie is going out with Bradin (they have not yet / will never get to that big fight blowout and she will not fall for Lucas) and they are both still deeply in love and have had sex.

- Since this whole incident started his love for professional surfing (I believe?) I will have him no longer wanting to become a pro surfer. You will know why he overdosed in a few short moments.

- Ava and Johnny are dating in my story (not sure if they were at this point in the series or not).

- Ava's fashion line is only based in CA for right now, but that might change in the future where she'll have to go away on long trips.

- Erica will not be in this fanfic. Sorry Braerica supporters, but it just works better with the story for me. She may be mentioned however.

Note that all the above points are subject to change as this story grows, since I am writing it and then immediately placing it in here. I also want to take this time to apologize for future late updates. I am in school right now, and am only writing this at the moment because of lack of school stuff to work on and I finally got over my writer's block (at least for the moment).

So, with all of that said ... thank you in advance for reading this, and I would really appreciate a few reviews before the coming week is over. I expect at least 5 before the next chapter.

Enjoy!

Chapter One:

"Don't worry, Ms. Gregory. Bradin is expected to make a fast and full recovery. He should be back to his usual self within a week."

"That's what we're afraid of."

"Yes. … This might not come as a surprise, but I will have to put the reason for his hospital stay on the form, which will go onto his permanent record."

"But Dr. Andrews, you know that Bradin had no intention –"

"I am aware, Mr. Durant. But that is hospital rules. That is the reason for his longer stay."

"We understand."

"Can we go in to see him? Is he awake?"

"Yes, he should be awake right now. And if I know patients, he is probably listening in to this conversation as we speak. Isn't that right, Mr. Westerly?"

Bradin tried to open his mouth and say that he had heard everything they said, but upon doing so found his mouth taste like sandpaper and his tongue too heavy to move. He resorted to grunting his response, until the doctor gave him a glass of water.

"Drink plenty of fluids, young man. Sore and dry throat are the consequences of getting your stomach pumped," Dr. Andrews instructed.

After taking a sip, Bradin croaked out, "Yeah."

Dr. Andrews smiled and turned to Ava and Johnny, who had followed him inside Bradin's shared hospital room. "Visiting hours are almost over, so I will leave you alone." He winked back at Bradin, "See you very soon, Mr. Westerly," before walking out of the room.

"That was creepy," Bradin coughed when the doctor shut the door behind him. He felt an itch around his right eye, and upon scratching it winced as he scuffed his stitches. "Shit."

Ava moved forward. "Watch out, Bradin. You got a very bad cut around your right eye; ten stitches."

"Thanks, I didn't know that already," Bradin said sarcastically as he moved up in the hospital bed to rest his head against the headboard.

"Watch it, Bradin. This is not a good time to have an attitude problem," Johnny stepped closer to the boy. "You nearly killed yourself today, and you don't even seem to care about it."

"Johnny, he doesn't even know what happened," Ava tried to interfere. She could see this lecture coming a mile away; Johnny was cursing under his breath at the young man all along the way to the hospital after hearing he was going to be fine.

"I don't care, Ava. He sure knows what the hell got him here. Don't you?"

Bradin was a little startled to have Johnny's menacing face so close to his, so he used the glass of water the doctor had given him as a shield and took another sip.

"Did you even think about what your aunt would do when she found out you were taking … drugs?" Johnny could barely get the word out. "What about your sister? Or Derrick? Thank God they were out of the house when this happened, because I don't think they could lose another branch in the Westerly tree, how 'bout you?"

Bradin quickly drank the rest of the water to bring back as much of his voice as possible before slamming the glass down on the bedside table. "Don't you bring them into this," he sneered at Johnny. "They had nothing to do with this. And if you ever talk about my parents like that again, I will –"

A soft knock was heard at the closed hospital door, causing Bradin to stop mid-sentence and look at the nurse who had come into the room. "Visiting hours are over. I'm sorry, but you have to go now," she said. She opened the door fully and Bradin could see the outline of a cart full of something sitting outside the door.

"We'll see you tomorrow, Bradin," his aunt said, giving him a hug. Johnny had already walked out the door for fear of saying too much in front of the stranger, and Ava.

"Don't bring him back here," Bradin whispered. "Bring Jay, or Susannah, or anyone else."

Ava let him go and gave him a sympathetic smile. "I'll see you later," she repeated.

When Ava walked out of the room, the nurse came over to Bradin's bed and looked through his bedside chart. "It looks like you will be fine for tonight regarding that cut around your eye. Tomorrow morning, during breakfast, I'll give you another pain killer."

Bradin nodded, and then the cart from outside the room was being pushed inside. Figuring it was just another nurse, he lay back down in his bed and closed his eyes. He was mentally tired of the fight he had just had with Johnny. He knew he should apologize tomorrow, and that thought was killing him.

"Hey, Ashley. Aren't you supposed to be in Pediatrics? Where's Rachel?"

Bradin could hear some whispering that sounded like, "She said she couldn't deal with druggies. Apparently, her uncle died from an overdose." Then the speaker became more clear, "I offered to switch with her." Bradin opened his eyes and looked up to see a young girl around his age behind the cart he saw in the hall before. "I hope that's alright."

"Yeah, I'm sure that shouldn't be a problem. Well, let me at least introduce you two. Mr. Bradin Westerly," she gestured to him, "meet your candy striper, Ms. Ashley Danes-" Before she could continue, her beeper went off and she read it. "Shit. I gotta take this. Ashley, you know what to do." Ashley nodded and the nurse walked briskly out the door.

Bradin watched as Ashley walked to the foot of his bed where the nurse put his chart back and looked at it. "Should you really be looking at that," he tried to say. He could not get through the sentence without gagging and coughing, however.

Ashley smirked. "Apparently, I should be. Because, according to this, you're supposed to have water with you at all times and that glass looked empty to me." She walked up to the bedside table. "Do you want more water?" she asked sweetly.

Bradin could not help but crack a smile as he said, "Yes, I would."

Ashley took the glass and went back to her cart, retrieving a pitcher full of water. As she filled it, Bradin asked, "So, what are you supposed to be again?"

"You really should not talk right now. It's important for the fluids to clear your throat and stomach before you can start speaking on a regular basis." Ashley walked back over to Bradin and gave him the glass full of water. "Now, drink and I'll talk." Pulling up a chair next to his bed, she said, "I'm a candy striper. You know, the teenage girls that volunteer at hospitals for school or clubs or just because they want to."

Bradin finished the glass and said, "Oh right. They always have those kinky striper Halloween costumes advertised. They should let you wear those in the hospitals. Maybe that would get the old people's heart rates up."

Ashley smirked and stood up. "I'd better go. It looks like you still need to rest."

"My voice sounds fine," Bradin protested.

"It's still a little shaky. I'll refill your cup real quick."

After Ashley gave him another full cup, she said her goodbyes and was about to push her cart outside the door when Bradin said, "What if I have to go to the bathroom?"

"Get the nurse."