"Cohen; I have no idea what to say to her. She's going to want to hear more about Ryan and…" Summer stopped her train of speech, realising that Seth knew fine well what Ryan's condition was, and probably didn't need to be reminded anymore. At least my best friend is conscious…will live.

Summer looked apologetically up into Seth's eyes. He managed a small smile, understanding what she was thinking, and pulled her closer to him.

"She's your best friend Sum…just be yourself and you'll figure out something. You've spent enough time with me to know that incessant babbling can fill the silences."

Summer smiled into Seth's chest. "K, Cohen, I'm going in. You gonna be okay out here?"

"I'll be fine…gives me time to catch up on the latest from In Style magazine…I wonder if this season's colour will compliment my hair" Seth smiled lightly at her, trying to lighten the mood.

Summer gently hit Seth across the chest as she got up. Kissing him on the forehead before she left, Summer took a deep breath and entered Marissa's room.

"Hey Coop, I brought you some stuff from home, y'kno, help you feel a bit more umm…comfortable" Summer, you idiot; the only thing that'll make Marissa comfortable at the moment is Ryan.

"Thanks Sum." Marissa wearily replied, swollen eyes preparing to give out yet more tears.

"Oh, Cooop," Summer wailed as she sat on the corner of Marissa's bed and engulfed her in a hug, careful not to touch any of Marissa's many wounded parts.

"Is there any news on…R…Ry?" Marissa asked, eyes pleading with Summer to be able to tell her good news.

Summer shook her head dejectedly. "He's still in a coma, we've just to wait and see…what happens."

Marissa nodded slowly, allowing more tears to roll silently down her face.

"Its my fault Sum"

"No, nooo, sweetie, you can't think like that. The only person to blame is that goddam assshat. Lucky for him the police have got him, otherwise he'd be facing the rage blackout to end all rage blackouts."

Marissa giggled slightly in spite of the situation.

"But it is my fault Sum…I distracted him when he was driving…and then…and th-en…after the crash, he came back for me."

Summer was about to butt in , but stopped herself, sensing this was something Marissa wanted to get off her chest.

"He was so hurt Sum, but he managed to get out of the car. I was just ready to give up and accept my fate; I'd given up, I couldn't be bothered to fight. But Ryan could…he fought, and he managed to get himself out to safety." Marissa choked.

"And then, he – he came back for me. He couldn't get me out; I couldn't get me out. We just sat, and stared and…and he was crying Sum! I saw it; there was a tear, tears. And I smiled knowing he would be the last thing I would see. But then, he had this, this look, and he rammed himself against the door again…and it came open. He couldn't even walk, Sum, but he threw himself at that door!" Marissa wailed, holding tightly onto her friend, trying to find the composure to finish her story.

"It came open, and he just rolled me straight onto his back and crawled away. And then he covered me from the blast…he saved my life Sum…now he's d—dy—dying because of that…he should have just left me instead of coming back, he would have had a chance then. But now, its like…he's given his…life…for me"

Marissa collapsed into Summer's arms, raking sobs piercing the silence. Summer, too, had tears streaming down her face and a knot in her throat.

"But that's Chino, Coop, he'd do anything for you. You know he wouldn't have it any other way."

Marissa nodded and drew breath "I know he would, I know that now. If only I'd been sure of that earlier. Cause now I might not get the chance to tell him how I feel…how I really felt…that I'm sorry, so sorry."

Summer bit her lip to stop her own sobs from coming out. "Chino's a fighter Coop, hell, he's just proved that to us yet again. I'd bet that…I bet that he could still hear you if you talked to him, even though he is…is in a coma"

Marissa nodded again and drew back from Summer as she wiped her eyes. "Maybe. I…I want to see him. The doctors' said it was too soon to move me, but I want to, I need to see him."

"We'll see what we can do Coop. We'll see what we can do."