Disclaimer: I own nothing. Also I'm not completely sure why this is necessary. No one would believe I did own The O.C.

Okay Kirsten went to rehab but her dad is still alive. So it's basically the same except Caleb is alive and Jimmy didn't leave and go to Hawaii.

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I would rather live and love where death is king than have eternal life where love is not.

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Let me be your hero

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She sat at the table in their bedroom. She sipped her coffee while she thought. This was the last school year with her boys. They weren't even able to spend last summer with them. They had both left. This summer she had been in rehab. It seemed like just yesterday Seth had been asking why six times two was twelve and not eight. She missed that. She wished she could have had that with Ryan. Now they had girlfriends and didn't want to hang around the house with their parents. She couldn't blame them but still. She heard the water from the shower stop. She knew Sandy would be coming in and asking her what was wrong. Good she wanted someone to talk to. She was right. Sandy came into their room with board shorts and a t-shirt on. She smiled at his laziness. He should be getting ready for work. He walked over to her.

"Morning, beautiful." He said as he kissed her on her cheek. Sensing something is wrong, he sits beside her. "What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"Yeah right." He smiled. Then becoming more serious, "You can tell me."

"It's just…" She paused and looked into her husband's eyes.

"Yeah…" He said persuading her to talk.

"It's just it's the last year with the boys and… I don't know… I just… I'm really going to miss them."

"Oh honey." Sandy said and came closer to her, wrapping his arms around her. "It'll be okay."

"You can say that. You've actually got to spend time with them and be there for them. Me? I was in rehab. The other times they either haven't been here or I've been to busy." She said with a slight squeak to her voice. She was on the verge of tears.

"Baby." Sandy comforted. "I'll fix it."

"How?" Kirsten questioned, however having no doubt that he would.

"I have my ways." Sandy answered. "It'll be okay." He leaned down to look in her eyes. "I promise." He left a kiss on her lips. "C'mon. Let's get some breakfast."

OoOoO

"Bye honey. I love you, too." Sandy yelled from the kitchen. Hearing the front door shut, he turned to Seth and Ryan.

"Uh-oh." Seth started.

"What?" Ryan mumbled with cereal in his mouth.

"Dad's gonna ask us to do something."

"How would you know that?" Ryan manages to ask without cereal spilling out of his mouth.

"He waited to hear the door shut." Seth stated. "He's gonna ask us to do something that he doesn't want Mom to know about."

"Maybe he was just making sure she made it out of the door safely." Ryan retorted.

"Yeah. No." Seth replied, smugly. "What is it, Dad?"

"I know it's a Friday…" Sandy began. Seth groaned. "…BUT I want you two to come to dinner with your mother and me. Out for like a family dinner sort of thing."

"Dad. Come on. A family dinner?" Seth questioned. "Do you know how dorky that's going to look on my rep?"

Ryan laughed. "What rep?" Seth swatted at him.

"Guys. Your mom is starting to think about your graduation and the two of you leaving for college."

"Yes. Out of Newport. On to bigger and better things." Seth proclaimed.

"Exactly, Seth. You're going to be leaving her. She feels like she never spends time with you two. You're away with your girlfriends and she's busy with work. So tonight we are going to go out for dinner and have nice conversation. Maybe a few jokes and be a unified family."

"Why do we have to do this tonight? It's Friday." Seth whined.

"Seth." Sandy warned.

"I'm up for it." Ryan suddenly said.

"What? Man. Now I've got no one on my side." Seth cried.

"Well, me and my family rarely had dinner together at the table inside our own home much less go to a restaurant together." Ryan stated.

"Great. Everyone is pulling the 'pity string' today." Seth groaned. "Fine. I'll go but Summer won't be too happy."

OoOoO

"What's this?" Kirsten asked as she walked into her house and saw the three men in their suits.

"We're taking you out to dinner." Sandy stated.

"Really?" She asked, her eyes twinkling.

"Yes, Mother. Go prepare yourself for a fun-filled evening with the three greatest men in the world." Seth stated.

Kirsten smiled. "Thank you, guys." She started toward the stairs giving Seth and Ryan a hug around the neck and a kiss on the cheek. She started up the stairs.

"Ha-ha. We got hugs and kisses and Dad didn't get nothing." Seth smirked.

"He gets his later." Kirsten yelled down the stairs. Seth groaned out loud while Ryan grimaced slightly. Sandy just smiled and laughed.

OoOoO

Dinner went great. The boys were the entertainment. Seth kept everyone laughing with his jokes. While Ryan gave some A+ glares. Everyone was having a great time. Ryan even made a few jokes. The food wasn't too bad either. This is exactly what Kirsten wanted. She wanted more of this. She excused herself and went to the bathroom. Sandy waited until she left to talk to the boys.

"Uh-oh." Seth said.

"What?" Ryan asked.

"Dad did it, again." Seth answered. "He waited for Mom to leave. We have to do something again."

"This is a little less work, Seth." Sandy stated.

Seth sighed. "Thank goodness."

"We're going to go for a walk on the beach. Don't worry you don't have to stay right with me and your mom. Actually here's some money you two can go to the pier and get some ice cream of something. Just leave me and your mother to ourselves. I've got something for her."

"Oh jeez, Dad. Not on the beach. Keep it in your trousers, scout." Seth groaned. Ryan glared at him.

"Okay son I promise. Not on the beach." Sandy said. "But I can't promise anything about what might happen tonight in our room."

"Daaaaad!" Seth groaned. Ryan just shook his head.

"Go start the car." Sandy chuckled as he threw the keys to Seth. As the boys left, Kirsten returned.

"Ready to go?" Sandy inquired as he held his arm out and wrapped it around her waist once she came close enough.

"I guess." Kirsten replied, not wanting the night to end.

Sandy read her mind. "Don't worry. The night's still young." He whispered into her ear. Kirsten's eyes lit up again. "I was thinking we could all go down to the beach."

---

Would you dance
If I asked you to dance?
Would you run
And never look back?
Would you cry
If you saw me crying?
And would you save my soul, tonight?

Sandy and Kirsten left their shoes in the car. The sand was soft beneath their feet and the beach was relatively deserted. Only a few people speckled the sands. The boys were already walking towards the pier. Kirsten leaned her head against Sandy's shoulder. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. As they walked slowly down the beach, a few clouds over the ocean could be heard rumbling with thunder.

"Thank you." She whispered. "I love you."

"I love you, too." He said.

Suddenly, a voice piped up from behind a shack. "Sandy Cohen." Sandy turned and saw only a shadow. Growing up in the Bronx caused Sandy to get a little paranoid. Shadows never meant anything good in the Bronx, especially if you were with a lady.

Would you tremble
If I touched your lips?
Would you laugh?
Oh please tell me this.
Now would you die
For the one you loved?
Hold me in your arms, tonight.

'But this isn't the Bronx. It's Newport.' Sandy reminded himself. 'That voice. It's familiar. I can't place it though. It's not Jimmy. Someone from the DA's office maybe?'

"Yes?" he questioned.

"Remember me?" the voice asked.

"Not particularly. You sound familiar, though." Sandy answered as he got closer to the shadow, leaving Kirsten behind him waiting.

"I should. You're the crappy lawyer who defended me. Extremely badly, I might add. I was innocent but you just couldn't seem to prove it. You were too busy protecting Rebecca Bloom." The voice told Sandy. Rebecca. Gosh. Why did she always come back to bite him in the butt?

"Were you involved in the lab accident? I can't really remember you by the sound of your voice. Plus you're in the shadow." Sandy stated.

"Yeah I was involved. So involved that it hurt. And now… I'm gonna hurt you." The shadow fumbled with his hands. Sandy had no time to react before… whoosh he had a gun pointed to his face. Kirsten gasped and threw her hands over her mouth. Sandy started to back up. The gun followed him. He put his hands up. The body behind the voice came into the moonlight. He had scars all over his face. Then it hit Sandy. Greg Bennett.

"Greg Bennett." Sandy repeated aloud.

"Yeah. You got it. Greg Bennett, the jury finds you guilty. We sentence you to 20 years in jail without possibility of parole. Yeah that was me. Thanks to my attorney, Sanford Cohen. As if this scaring on my face wasn't bad enough."

"Can't you just bury the hatchet?" Sandy pleaded. "I tried as hard as I could. It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't been there and the evidence that you were is on your face." He regretted saying that as soon as it came out of his mouth.

"I tried to let it go. But when I got out no one would hire me. And I can't pay for reconstructive surgeries without money can I now? But you'll pay."

click

I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.

Kirsten screeched and began to cry silently.

"C'mon Greg. You'll go to jail or worse if you shoot me. I can pay for surgery. C'mon think about this." Sandy cried.

"Oh I've had 20 years to think about it. You dying is the most satisfying thing I can think of. You've had the good life. You traded in Bloom for this goddess." Greg said motioning to Kirsten. He walked over and grabbed her. Tears were still in her eyes. "Have you had fun with him over these years?" Greg asked.

"Please don't…" Kirsten started. Greg stopped her by putting his lips to hers and forcing his tongue into her mouth. Anger rose in Sandy, giving Greg what he wanted. Kirsten was repulsed but slightly complied so as to not anger Greg further. He broke away from her and then shoved the barrel into her mouth. Tears began to form now in Sandy's eyes, as he whimpered for his lack of being able to help her. There wasn't much he could do. She meant the world to him; he couldn't risk her life. The tears fell.

"I bet you've had fun with her. Tell me Sandy, how is she?" Greg said as he tried to talk with his hands but the gun was still in Kirsten's mouth. Sandy looked down toward the sand at the extremely personal question.

Then he thought about it. They would never be able to make love again. He wouldn't be there to hold her afterwards. He wouldn't get to see her smile again. Would she be able to smile again? He didn't think that he could if the tables were turned. Tears ran down his face again as more thoughts of "Never again…" ran through his head.

The same things had been running through Kirsten's mind as soon as Greg had pulled that gun. She would never laugh at his banter again. He would never tell her she was amazing after they made love. Or any other time. She would never separate him and her dad from a fight. She wouldn't have anyone to be jealous about her anymore. She would have no one to be jealous about. This was too soon, too soon for either of them. They cried as they stared into each others eyes, reading the other's mind. Their eyes held each others' as their bodies wanted so desperately to hold the other. To wake up from this nightmare.

Would you swear
That you'll always be mine?
Or would you lie?
would you run and hide?
Am I in too deep?
Have I lost my mind?
I don't care...
You're here tonight.

"I never had this. I always wanted to get married. But YOU took that away from me!" The gun was forcing Kirsten mouth to bleed. She winced in pair as the tears streamed down her face.

"Leave her alone." Sandy said weakly. "You came here for me."

"For once you're right." Greg stated. With that, he threw Kirsten to the sand. She yelped slightly when she hit. Sandy moved toward her.

"Watch it, Sandy!" Greg yelled, re-pointing the gun toward Sandy. Kirsten mouthed, "DON'T" to Sandy to make him stop. She stood up from the sand. She looked back and forth from Sandy to Greg. She was in between them, though not in the way.

"Any last words, Sandy?" Greg asked. Kirsten whimpered again. Sandy looked over at her. Tears in his eyes. Better him than her but he didn't want her to be without him in this cruel world. Even in death, he didn't want to be without her.

I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.

"Kirsten, baby. I love you more than anything. You've given me everything I've ever wanted." Sandy said through tears. "I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too, baby." She said. Tears ran down her face like they were racing. "So much." She whispered.

"See… this is what I wanted! I wanted LOVE. I wanted a wife. But no! You had to take it away from me! Do you know how hard dating becomes when you've been in prison? When your face looks like this?" He was beginning to ramble. He noticed this and set his mind on the right track. "Now you're just annoying me. It's time to do what I came here for." Greg yelled. "Goodbye, Sandy."

He was still staring into Kirsten's eyes. Tears were pouring out of both sets of eyes. Understanding what was about to happen.

"Noo!" Kirsten screamed. She couldn't do it anymore. She couldn't just stand there watching. The goodbyes had been too much for her. She couldn't be away from him for any longer. She jumped towards him and that's when she felt it. Pain worse than before. That was just emotional this… this was physical. The only bullets she had ever felt before were verbal. These were extremely real. Pain roared throughout her entire body. Her eyes met Sandy's. His were looking at her with pain and shock. He could only watch as his wife took his bullets. He looked into her eyes and saw the physical pain going through her body. But he couldn't see any regret in them. She staggered toward Sandy and went into his arms, as her legs quickly lost their strength. They both fell to the sand. He cradled her in his lap. She looked up at him, her eyes glazing over and becoming sleepy. They heard a crash of glass.

Oh, I just want to hold you.
I just want to hold you.
Am I in too deep?
Have I lost my mind?
Well I don't care...
You're here tonight.

"Mom?" Seth squeaked. The sight of his parents like that scared him. He backed away until he hit the shack and then he slid down and pulled his legs to him and whimpered. He rocked himself and squeezed his eyes tightly shut. He told himself everything was going to be fine.

"Sandy?" Ryan whimpered.

"Call 911, Ryan." Sandy told him.

As the pain racked her body, Kirsten clenched her jaw tightly and groaned. "Tell Seth I love him and was always so proud. Tell him to keep drawing. He's so good at it." She whispered to Sandy, unaware of her son's location. Sandy was shaking his head at her.

"This isn't it. It can't be." He told her.

"Tell Ryan…"

"I'm here," Ryan piped up.

"Ryan," Kirsten smiled. "I love you. I'm so proud of you. Keep your fists to yourself." She smiled. "Keep an eye on Seth. Thank you for being such a good friend… brother to him." She paused to emphasize her gratitude. "And take care of Sandy." She finished.

Ryan and Sandy made eye contact. Tears running down both the tough men's face. Ryan was searching in Sandy for something to tell him it was going to be okay but all he got was confusion and doubt. Ryan couldn't handle it. Since they had first met, Sandy had always been in control. Ryan couldn't imagine a world where Sandy wasn't in control or attempting to be. The way Sandy had just looked scared Ryan. It was almost hopeless and definitely scared. Terrified. Ryan went to try to comfort Seth. It was Kirsten's wish after all.

I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
I can be your hero.
I can kiss away the pain.
And I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
You can take my breath away.

"Sandy…" She began. Her voice barely a whisper.

"Yes, baby?" Sandy asked, desperation evident in both his voice and his eyes.

"I love you."

"I love you too." Sandy whimpered. Tears fell from his face to hers. He quickly brushed them away.

"I'm going to miss you." She said.

"Don't talk like that. You're going to make it. You have to. You're going to be fine." Sandy reassured her.

"Sandy…"

"No. You have to be there for their graduation. And grandkids. And me. How can I grow older without you here?"

"Take care of our boys."

"Not without you"

"Sandy…" She tried but just coughed. It was blood.

"Baby..." He whimpered and cried even harder.

"I love you." She said. She grabbed his face and pulled his face closer to hers. He kissed her lips. "I love you." She whispered.

"I love you." He whispered with emphasis.

A small, sleepy, playful smile spread across her face. She whispered. "I love you more." Sandy was about to respond when Kirsten's eyes became glossy and her eyelids flickered shut beyond her control. She fell limp in his arms, however remained clinging to him. At the feeling, Sandy's eyes got wide and his breathing became erratic.

"Baby? No. Come back. Talk to me some more. C'mon baby. Don't do this." He was shaking her lightly. He then wrapped his arms around her and rocked her. "Don't leave me." He yelled. The silence persisted and Sandy put his head down and whispered into her ear. "Don't leave me. Don't leave me. Don't leave me. Please." With no response, he just sat there, crying and rocking his wife.

I can be your hero.