Sorry that it's took forver to update, hope you enjoy the new chapter. Thanks for the reviews.
Sandy arrived home to an empty house, a few weeks ago this wouldn't have been unusual but over the past few days the boys had barely stepped out of the front door. Assuming the boys were with their respective female partners Sandy thought it was good, a sign that things could go back to normal or as normal as circumstance would allow.Sandy took a soda from he fridge, there was beer in there if Kirsten couldn't drink then he wouldn't. He could live without it quite easily. He felt better tonight about everything, seeing Kirsten, kissing her, holding her was more than he had hoped for yesterday. The knowledge that she still loved him made everything appear better.
Before he sat down he noticed the flashing light on the answer machine, pressing play he opened his drink and headed for a chair.
"Hey Sandy. Its Mike. I, uh, I just wanted to you a heads up, Ryan is going to be taken in for questioning tomorrow morning I think. Apparently they aren't happy with the statements they have. I'll speak to you soon."
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Seth and Ryan had been in when Mike rang, they just couldn't be bothered answering the phone since they were in the middle of watching TV. Making any effort had become hard in the last few days, Seth was quieter and Ryan had virtually become a mute only speaking when forced or when Sandy was around in an effort to at least appear to be somewhat normal. Ryan had barely heard the message end before he got up and left the room, heading straight to the poolhouse. It took him ten minutes to sort his stuff out before he went back to the living room to see Seth.
"Hey man, look don't worry about the phone call my dad will sort it out as soon as he comes in. Actually we can call him and tell him now if you want? What's with your stuff?"
"I can't ask your dad to sort anymore of my problems out. He's done enough and with everything he's dealing with right now he doesn't need me adding more stuff for him to sort."
"You think my dad would rather you left than let him help you? You think that by running away you won't be adding to his already long list of things to fix? Dude, do you not know Sandy Cohen anymore?!"
"Seth at this very minute your dad is visiting your mom in rehab. Since Kirsten went in and Trey got shot he's aged like five years in days. He misses your mom so much already you can see the pain in his face. He has to cope with us, your mom, the Newport Group all on his own and you want me to add this, this phone call which basically says the police are trying to find evidence that Ryan Atwood shot his brother, to his list?"
"Mmmm okay fair enough I see your point however my dad is going to freak when he comes home to find us gone." Ryan's eyes widened when he heard the word us. "That's right Ryan you want to leave then I'm going with you there's no way you are leaving me here on my own. I'm coming with you at least that way you won't be on your own and maybe I could be of some help." Ryan gave him a look. "Well I did say maybe. Look you wait here while I go get some stuff."
As Seth walked past he took Ryan's bag out of his hand.
"I just want to make sure you don't try and leave without me. While I'm getting my stuff you should get some snacks and think up what our master plan is going to be!"
Ryan smiled shaking his head as Seth left the room knowing whatever plan he came up with was probably not going to be enough to keep him or them for that matter out of trouble.
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It was over ten minutes since he had left and Kirsten was lying on the bed contemplating getting up but severely lacking the willpower to do it. She had been upset saying goodbye to her husband for the second time, she felt better than she had the first time but that didn't make him leaving any easier. It was ridiculous really because if she didn't see him tomorrow he would call her and then come and see her the day after but when you've spent so long living with Sandy, being near him, a few hours here and there just isn't enough.
Eventually she got up and decided to ring Sandy she just wanted to say goodnight, thank him for coming which sounded ridiculous in her head but she knew that he would know she just wanted to speak to him. He should have gotten back about ten minutes ago at least since there shouldn't have been much traffic and if she was lucky the boys might just be in too so she could speak to all of her men.
No such luck, the phone was engaged so it was likely at least one of them was home but she would have to wait a little while longer to speak to them.
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Sandy listened to the message again before deleting it; he didn't want Ryan to hear it he would sooner tell him himself. Before he could even put the television on the phone rang bringing him out of his thoughts.
"Hello"
"Hey dad. How's things? Was mom okay? I mean you know as okay as she can be."
"I know I've seen her better but she knows it's for the best and she's trying so hard. She wants you to know that she misses and loves both of her boys. How are you guys? Is Ryan with you?"
"We miss her too. About Ryan I don't know if you've heard it yet but there's a message on the phone for you from one of your cop buddies." Sandy cut in.
"Yeah I've heard it I didn't think anyone else had. Did Ryan hear it?"
"Erm yeah dad that's kinda why I'm calling. Don't freak out or anything but when he heard the message he decided that he needed a little beak away from Newport."
"By break I hope you mean a night out somewhere."
"Well not exactly."
"Seth explain now." Sandy's voice was starting to rise, Seth could tell there was only one way this conversation was going and it wasn't good.
"You see father I can't exactly divulge that information at the moment. Ryan doesn't know I'm calling you I just didn't want you to worry. We're both fine and I'm going to try and convince him to come home ASAP"
"Seth what is going on? Where are you? Do you know how much trouble you are in? And I don't mean with the police!"
"Dad I hear Ryan got to go. I'll keep in touch." With that he was gone and Sandy was shock. He didn't have much time to come to terms with the news before the phone rang again.
"Seth you best have a good explanation this time."
"Sandy it's me. What's Seth done?"
"Hey honey, sorry I thought you were going to be Seth. I, uh, just got off the phone with him you should see the state of the kitchen after the boys had made dinner for Marissa and Summer. Shocking,"
"Well I'm sure Ryan will tidy it up." She didn't sound like she believed what he was saying, he couldn't blame her but he couldn't tell her what was going on because that would mean telling her everything. Plus he didn't really know what Seth and Ryan were doing anyway.
"So is everything okay?" He had only said bye to her two hours ago if that and as wonderful as it was to hear her voice it was extremely hard to have to lie to her.
"Yeah, yes, everything is fine. I just, I guess I just wanted to speak to you and maybe the boys but obviously they are out. Night time is the hardest time in this place; I just needed to hear your voice. Say goodnight like normal although it obviously isn't really like normal." Sandy felt awful she was feeling so lonely and all he could think about was the boys, the police and the trouble they could be in. He didn't want to but he felt he had to try and get her off the phone the longer he spoke to her the more likely it was that she would be able to tell something was wrong and he was lying to her.
"Honey, you know you can call whenever you want I don't want you to feel like you're alone. Nights are the hardest time for us, you aren't here for dinner and when I go to bed the room feels empty. The bed it feels so big and it's not nearly warm enough without you. Honey, there's someone at the door is it okay if I call you back?" Of course there was no-one at the door it was just the only thing he could think of to get off the phone, compose himself and decide what to do.
"Yeah sure, Sandy are you sure everything is okay?"
"I'm positive, sweetheart. I love you. I'll call you later." He hung up before she could respond; the guilt was nearly consuming him. However he would feel even worse if their sons got in trouble and Kirsten would hate him more for letting that happen than telling her a few white lies. At least that was what he was telling himself.