A/N sorry for not updating sooner but everything's upside down in life for me and my family at the moment.

Chapter 7

Ryan had been sat in Seth and summer's house for the past week, ever since he was charged by the police, luckily sandy and Kirsten had posted his bail until his court date.

The worst part was he couldn't see Taylor, as one of his bail conditions he wasn't allowed near her. And it was killing him.

Why was she lying? How could she protect Scott after everything? Ryan just couldn't understand it.

Jamie came bounding into the room and hopped up onto Ryan's lap, summer and Seth had taken Jamie into their custody as taylor had thought this was best considering the circumstances when she had been discharged from hospital.

"see mommy today?" jamie asked looking innocent, hell he is innocent, he's a child in all this,

"soon" Ryan replied, in a way it was good that jamie was so young, because he couldn't understand anything.

Summer had, had enough, she huffed and stood up,

"I'm going over there and I'm not leaving until I find out why she's doing this!"

" summer you can't, just leave it, ok?" ryan shook his head and looked out the window, sinking back into his thoughts.

Before he could do or say anything else summer grabbed her car keys and ran out of the house, she didn't stop until she got to Taylor's, no-one was going to stop her from doing this.

"summer?" taylor was surprised, " what are you doing here? If he finds out you been here-"

"yeah, whatever taylor" summer started cutting her off " if you're so frightened of him then why won't you tell the police what really happened?"

" I'm protecting ryan and my son" taylor stated

" what by getting ryan sent to prison for the next five to ten years, yeah that's protecting him for sure" summer spat back

" I don't expect you to understand summer, but I know that's not going to happen"

"how do you know that taylor? Are you going to the police?" summer started to smile at the thought that this nightmare could all be over.

"no I'm not" taylor said flatly

"what? But you just said-"

" I know summer" taylor said interrupting her " and I also know that everything will be fine" taylor was smiling now " just trust me"

"trust you?" summer snorted " the last time I trusted you all of this happened!"

"listen ok? And you can't say a word, not to anyone, cos if he finds out what I'm doing" taylor said leaning towards summer,

"ok Townsend what the hell are you talking about?" summer was muddled, nothing was making sense.

" I have to make scott believe that I'm going to let ryan go down for all this, I have to make sure that scott is up there, in court giving evidence, when he will get the surprise of his life"

" which is?" summer urged

" I can't tell you yet"

" what come on taylor, we're best friends"

"I know which is why I don't want you involved in this ok?"

" fine!" summer looked miffed but understood taylors request.

" good, now there is something that I do need your help with though" taylor looked nervous and excited, her plan was starting.

" anything taylor, just say the word"

Taylor nodded at summer and walked off back into the house, leaving summer on the doorstep, after a few minutes she came back carrying Jamie's backpack.

" this is what's going to help ryan" summer asked wrinkling her nose.

" no summer," taylor said rolling her eyes " there's something in the bag that I need you to give to sandy, no-one else can see it ok?"

Taylor looked down at the bag and summer understood, scott could be watching them right now, waiting for taylor to slip up. Summer nodded her head and left without another word.

As soon as summer got round the block she pulled out her cell.

" sandy, can you meet me at rest stop five?"

" sure is everything ok? Seth? Ryan? The kids?"

"yes sandy everyone's fine, listen I've got something for you from taylor, he said that only you can see it, and that its going to help ryan, which is why I need you to come meet me"

" give me ten minutes summer, I'm leaving now"

They both hung up and summer started making her way to rest stop five, they had to meet somewhere away from orange county incase scott was watching or following any of Ryan's or taylors friends or family.

Not long after arriving, sandy pulled his car alongside summers. They both got out and summer handed sandy Jamie's backpack, it looked so sinister, exchanging a package in a rest stop car park, but who cares this could help everyone.

After summer had left, sandy opened the bag and found a book with a note attached,

Sandy, you really should read more, try this, love taylor

As he flicked through the pages, a smile spread across his face, this is the one thing that's going to get ryan off the hook.

Ryan couldn't stand it anymore, being cooped up like this, he was going out if his mind, he had to talk to taylor, he had to find out why she was doing this?

" seth, watch jamie" ryan patted his son on the head as he walked past him to the front door.

Seth had parker by his ankle trying to keep him from running around like a crazy person,

"ry-" but ryan had already shut the door and left,

" taylor open up" ryan was trying to peer through the windows at the front door " please taylor"

Taylor opened the door, " ryan you can't be here"

" I don't care, I had to see you, I have to know why?"

" please ryan, he'll be home soon, just go!" taylor pleaded, after all she was doing all this to protect him.

" taylor" ryan would have been on his knees, if that's what it took,

" ryan don't, if he finds you here, he'll call the police and you will have broken your bail conditions please just go" taylor was pushing him away.

" well, well, well, isn't this cosy" scott was leaning against the wall outside taylors house.

" scott please-" taylor ran and put her hands on scotts chest,

Ryan's temper flared and was spiralling out of control, he held his fists at his sides.

" please scott what? Taylor, come on what is it you want?" scott moved her hands away, " the police should be here in…oh about forty seconds now" scott tapped his finger on his watch as he said this, he looked at both ryan and taylor and gave a sly grin.

Right on time the police arrived, as did seth and summer, who were clearly arguing.

" ryan Atwood" an officer started " you have broken you bail conditions under section nine, therefore we are placing you under arrest where you will spend the rest of your time before your court hearing, do you comply?"

Ryan nodded as he was hand cuffed and ducked into a police car.

" don't worry we'll get sandy too meet you there" summer shouted as she smacked the back of Seth's head.

Ryan couldn't believe what he'd done, sandy and kirsten had paid his bail money, and yes of course he had the money to pay them back, but it was the principal that they had helped him and in return he'd messed everything up.

Taylor was helpless as they drove ryan away, she turned to follow scott into the house, and gave summer a small nod in appreciation for her earlier deed.

Sat in a cell, ryan was going out of his mind, he was no further forward, not only was his son without his mother, but now he was also without his father, how could he have been so stupid, Ryan's thoughts were interrupted,

" atwood, you got a visitor, follow me"

Ryan followed the officer, a sense of deja vous went through him as he saw sandy waiting in the visitors room.

" sandy I'm sorr-"

Sandy held up one hand to stop him,

" ryan, me and Kirsten we understand why you did it, we're just surprised it took you so long" sandy chuckled and ryan joined him, they knew him too well.

After a while sandy started telling ryan everything summer had told him, about the package, everything, once he had finished sandy shook his head,

" now the only downside is that you gotta stay in here for the next two weeks, until your court date"

Ryan nodded, sandy left shortly after and ryan was led back to the cell that would be his home for the next two weeks, and where he would meet his new room mate.

" hey I'm kelso" this man held his hand out to ryan, ryan looked him up and down, kelso didn't seem to be much older than ryan,

" ryan" was all he said as he took kelso's out stretched hand.

" so what are you in for?" kelso quizzed

Ryan didn't know why but he opened up to kelso, in a similar way he had done to seth when they'd first met, kelso listened intensely as he took in Ryan's every word.

" wow, that's some bad shit, right there, is what that is" kelso said standing up and stretching his legs after being sat for so long,

" so what are you in for?" ryan felt the need to ask after spilling his life story.

" my girlfriends dad was beating her around, so I took him down a notch or two"

"jeez," ryan started, " is she alright?"

" Quinn? Yer she's fine now, she's pregnant too"

" congrats" ryan said extending his hand again

"thanks" kelso smiled.

They spent the rest of the night talking about everything, where they grew up, brothers, sisters, the full works, they had found an alliance and new friendship in each other.

The day of Ryan's court case had arrived, everybody was nervous, ryan smiled as he recalled kelso's words that morning " you can do this ryan, just stay positive, he'll get what he deserves I promise you"

It wasn't what kelso had said, it was the way he'd said it.

Everyone was in the court room. Taylor was with scott, she couldn't look at ryan or has family, she knew if she did, all this would have been for nothing.

Ryan was quizzed first on the events that took place three weeks ago, and to be honest things weren't looking good, finally scott took the stand.

Scott's lawyer quizzed him on routine questions, and on every answer scott lied through his teeth and threw a smug grin at ryan, who grinned right back.

Once Scott's lawyer had finished it was sandy's turn at interrogation.

" you ever hit anyone scott?" he started

" no sir" scott was still as a statue,

" so you've never hit a woman?"

"no sir, I don't believe in hitting women"

Ryan and summer snorted at the same time.

" so you've never hit taylor?"

" no sir" this guy was good,

" do you read scott?"

"excuse me?" scott started to fidget

" you know books, do you read?" sandy picked up a book off his desk from where ryan was sat,

" sometimes I guess" scott shrugged and looked sweaty,

"I used to read all the time, but I haven't really found a good book in years, until I got this book just over a week ago" sandy stated raising the book again for everyone to see.

"OBJECTION" shouted Scott's lawyer " this has nothing to do with the case you honour"

The judge looked over the top of his glasses, " mr Cohen are you going somewhere with this"

" yes your honour" sandy grinned as the judges hammer struck the stock "over-ruled"

" so I got this book just over a week ago" sandy continued " and you know it was actually recommended, do you mind if I read a couple of bits" sandy addressed the whole court and the judge waved his hand for sandy to continue, he was obviously intrigued like everyone else.

"13th July," started sandy " after I had put jamie to bed, I was met in the hall, he looked so broad and tall, so scary to me, in the last few days his temper has been getting worse and worse. As I made my way to walk past him, he grabbed my hair, pulling me into the kitchen, this was something I'd never seen him do-" scott was shifting uncomfortably in his chair as sandy continued " that night he held a hot iron on my arm, it hurt so much, I could feel my skin blistering instantly, it felt like my skin was peeling off, the only thing he said to me as I laid there in pain was next time put the iron away, this fucking house looks a mess because of you and that kid to this day I still hold the scar."

Sandy looked around as he closed the book, there was horrified faces everywhere.

"told you it was a good book, oh my bad I forgot to tell you the author….. Taylor townsend"

"YOU BITCH,I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS, I'LL KILL YOU" scott was trying to climb over the box stand he was in to get to taylor,

Ryan immediately left his desk and stood protectively in front of taylor, the rest of the family convened around them like a pack of wolves protecting the heart.

"I'll get you, I'll get both of you, you won't know I'm coming taylor, always look over your shoulder, cos I'll be watching-" scott spat as he was led away.

Eventually after the court room had settled down the judge approached sandy and the rest of the family,

" you just won your case mr cohen, all charges are hereby dropped, you're a free man mr atwood" at those six words ryan pulled taylor in for a passionate kiss that was long overdue.

Once throats had been cleared and ryan and taylor separated taylor asked,

" so Scott's definitely going to prison"

"yes maam, with your evidence here, he'll be going a way for quite a while"

Taylor was finally free, she turned to ryan " I'm so sorry ryan, everyone for all of this"

" sandy told me everything" ryan smiled

"I love you ryan"

" I love you too taylor, now lets go see our son" ryan said taking taylors hand to start their new family life.

Scott was charged and taken to his cell, as soon as he entered he was met by his room mate,

" hi I'm kelso" and he punched scott in the face and didn't stop until six officers pulled him off, leaving a bloodied and broken scott on the floor,

"you got what you deserved" kelso spat before being taken away.

A/N so come on tell me what you think? Love it or hate it or maybe just like it? Please read and review, probably another couple of chapters left so please stick with it. I am not in the police nor am I a lawyer so I am sorry if some things aren't said or as they should be. And also sandy, kirsten and sophie are staying in oc while all this is going on, I should of said in story but didn't think at the time, sorry.

I am so sorry to the reviewers that I've had so far for taking so long

On a brighter note I have started writing an all human twilight fic featuring Bella Edward and the gang, if you're a twi hard fan please go read it and please review.