Disclaimer: I don't own the O.C. or its characters. They belong to Josh Schwartz and Fox. If I did own the show, oh the things I would have done differently. Anyway, this fic is purely for my entertainment, and hopefully yours.
Summary: Tragedy strikes and Taylor Townsend finds herself unable to deal with it. Will those closest to her be able to help or is it a lost cause? Townwood and Sethummer.
AN: I hope you guys like this. I don't really know where I'm going with it, the idea hit me during my Psych class and wouldn't leave me alone until I started it. If you see mistakes point them out, because I know I probably missed a bunch.
Taylor stared straight ahead, her face void of emotion. She'd never expected this to happen. Never thought she'd see the day. It was just too much. From the phone call to sitting here, Taylor Townsend was nearing a catastrophe five breakdown. For once in her life she wasn't an open book, full of life and love for others. Instead she was closed off, fighting with herself.
She felt Ryan's hand take hold of her own from where he sat beside her. Normally, this simple gesture would make her heart flutter and bring a smile to her face. But that wasn't the case today. Instead she remained still, staring forward at the picture of her mother.
She was gone. Veronica Townsend was gone. Taylor could remember the phone call. Remember the tears she'd cried onto Ryan's shoulder that night. And then she remembered...nothing. All that was left was a gigantic hole where memories should be. Memories of the good times her and her mother had shared. The memories she'd had like that had already been used up the night she'd cried.
Taylor had gone from a crazy, energetic, insightful woman to an empty shell in a matter of hours.
Seth sat behind Ryan and Taylor with Summer. Why was it that the people you thought were going to be around forever just to torture you, were the first to go? And, it always seemed to be sudden deaths that took them. Maybe that was why it had such an impact on the family and friends. Maybe that's why his mother had fallen further down a darkened path. Maybe that was why Taylor had closed herself off from everyone. Maybe it was her way of dealing with it all.
According to Ryan she'd been in the same state the past four days, and had barley eaten or moved from bed. Seth could tell his brother was scared for his girlfriend. Just like he could tell his brother was verging on his Kid Chino persona. Seth knew Taylor would make it through this un-scaved. She always seemed to, and she had great friends. Sure, they'd all hated her in high school, but she'd wormed her way into all their hearts- though Seth liked to pretend she didn't. That was why Taylor was going to get through this. She had people who cared about her and wouldn't let her slip further into this depression she seemed to be in.
Sandy glanced around the room. The service had been...insightful. The people who had gotten up to speak were few but had many things to say about Veronica, all of which were shockingly good. He was surprised though, that Taylor hadn't gone up to speak. Okay, maybe he wasn't that surprised. Ryan had told him over the phone Taylor hadn't been taking it well at all.
Now that Sandy thought about it, he hadn't heard Taylor utter a word all day which, for Taylor, was drastically out of character for. After the earthquake she was all chatter. After falling off the roof, waiting for Ryan to regain consciousness she'd talked. Every situation he'd seen Taylor in, she'd talked her way through.
His eyes drifted across the room to where Taylor stood, a drink in hand, merely nodding at the condolences sent her way. For a moment, while he watched, he flashed back to when Caleb had passed. He flashed back to Kirsten's behaviour- namely her downward spiral.
Ryan was worried. No, he was beyond worried. Seeing Taylor like this, terrified him. He found himself remembering his mother, Marissa, and even Kirsten. Taylor's broken, fragile state terrified him. He didn't want to lose her. He couldn't lose her. She was his rock. She was the light at the end of the tunnel. Taylor had become his world. He'd never forget when he'd walked into the apartment they shared and found her on the kitchen floor in a heap, her shoulder's heaving, and skin pale. Ryan didn't know how long she'd been that way, but it'd lasted for hours after he'd found her. He'd pulled her into his arms as she sobbed. It had taken awhile to figure out what had happened. Veronica Townsend had died and seemed to take with her the last bit of strength her daughter had.
Taylor had cried herself to sleep in his arms that night. When the morning rays had come through the window Taylor was different. No tears. No smile. No light in her eyes. His Taylor was gone, and he felt like there was nothing he could do. One thing he knew though was that he couldn't give up on her. She helped him with Marissa and so many other things. He could help her through this. He had to.
Summer stood with Seth, talking quietly, her gaze moving towards her best friend. She, like everyone else, was worried about Taylor. She seemed so lost and broken. Sure she'd just lost her mother, but the two never really had the greatest of connections, which was why Summer didn't expect to see Taylor like this. Out of all of them Taylor always seemed to be the strongest (not physically, of course, that was Ryan). She was always the level-headed one in situations. She was always ready for everything, and anything. Taylor may lose her smile, but the light in her eye and constant chatter never left.
But this Taylor that stood before her went against everything she thought possible. This Taylor was a complete one-eighty from the Taylor she'd become good friends with. Summer was afraid this would catapult Taylor down the same path Marissa had gone. She couldn't let it happen. She couldn't lose another friend. They'd all have to work together to bring the Taylor they all knew and loved back.
Kirsten moved through the slowly dwindling crowed towards Taylor and Ryan. Her son hadn't left his girlfriend's side all day, at least that's the way it seemed to Kirsten. Maybe it was because of the hold Taylor had on him. She looked like if he left her side she'd be completely gone. And Kirsten, like everyone else who knew the girl, was worried. Veronica's sudden death seemed to be taking its toll on Taylor, and Kirsten understood that feeling. When her father died, she only blamed herself and let herself further indulge in her drinking problem. She didn't want Taylor to go down the same path.
And she wasn't going to let Ryan have to try to 'save' Taylor from that path alone. Kirsten was going to do her best to help, just like she knew the rest of the family was going to. She just didn't know if it was going to be a long or short process. Kirsten hoped it would be short, seeing Taylor veering away from her usual crazy antics was heart breaking.
When Kirsten finally got to Ryan and Taylor she quietly said, "Taylor." Taylor looked up at her with empty, lifeless eyes. She didn't wait for a response, mainly because she knew she wouldn't be getting one. Instead of saying anything else she pulled the girl into a hug and looked at her son. Ryan looked back at her, his worry and fear clear in his eyes, as Taylor broke down in Kirsten's arms. Kirsten rubbed the girls back; something told her that piecing Taylor back together was going to be a long process.