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Ryan was enjoying Calleigh's company, but he knew it would come to an end soon. His father was due to arrive later in the day and he was feeling very nervous. He had talked briefly on the phone with his father, but this was the only interaction he had with the man so far.
Calleigh had been unable to tell him much about his father since she had never met him. She had also been truthful to him and said he never talked about his father much, but the few times he had mentioned the man she had the feeling they didn't get along. He really appreciated Calleigh's honesty, but part of the truth was that she didn't really know that much about him in general. He came to realize this with other people he worked with. Everyone he talked to was unable to provide him with specific details about his life. The last few days he had to wonder what kind of person he really was. He didn't feel like the kind of person people described, but for some reason he had chosen to remain closed off to most people. He had a few theories about this; maybe he didn't trust the people he worked with or maybe there was nothing to tell. He also had thought that maybe he was not proud of who he was or that he felt he was better than everyone else and didn't feel like they were worthy. He had a feeling that none of this was true and that he was just a shy person who had not gotten to know anyone yet.
Not knowing anything about himself was really starting to bother him. He was hoping to have some memories return, but there was nothing. Calleigh had tried her best to make him feel better, but it wasn't working.
He was told by the doctors that it might take time but he was getting impatient. Worst case scenario was that he would never regain his memories and that he would have to start all over again. He wondered if he would still be allowed to work at the crime lab or would he have to find a new job. He had discussed this possibility with Calleigh and she suggested he tag along on some of her cases to see if this would jog his memory. He had liked this idea since he was sure he remembered how to do his job, he just couldn't remember the people from his job.
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Calleigh walked into the living room to find Ryan sitting on the couch looking at the picture album for the 5th time. She had hoped it would have helped, but she was beginning to wonder if it was actually hurting him. She remembered the first time he looked at it he studied the photos and tried to make sense of the people who were in them. By the fourth time he had only looked at it for a few minutes before throwing it to the floor where it sat until now. "Hey Ryan, I see you're looking at the photos again. You just need to give yourself some time and I'm sure that things will start to look better".
"I just keep looking at these photos and hope something will trigger inside my head. There has got to be something familiar in the pictures that I can remember. I look at the pictures that I'm in and it's like looking at someone else". Ryan never took his eyes off the album while talking to Calleigh.
Calleigh came over and sat down next to Ryan "I think it's time to do something else" she reached over and gently removed the album from Ryan's hands. She was grateful that he didn't resist. "Hey, maybe we should clean up this place before your father get's here".
Ryan looked around the room before responding "Why, it looks clean enough".
Calleigh had not anticipated this change in Ryan. Ever since he had gotten home he had no interest in cleaning up after himself. She thought it was his injuries that had prevented him from the task at first, but after she suggested it a few times and was shot down she had to wonder. "You use to like to clean; I just thought you would want to tidy up the place".
Ryan turned and smiled at Calleigh in the eye's "I know you and others have told me this, but I just can't believe that I would have spent so much time cleaning. I look around and think it looks just fine so it's hard for me to believe I was like this. "Let's get out of here and have some fun. I know you're going back to your place tonight so let's live it up while we can".
Calleigh was not expecting this but thought it would be fun. If there was one thing she learned in the last few days it was that she enjoyed Ryan's company. She had always enjoyed it before the accident, but he was so different now and just so easy to talk to. "Ok, that sounds good. What do you want to do?"
"I thought we could have a picnic in the park. The weather is just perfect for a little food and some fun in the sun". Ryan stood up and using his good arm helped Calleigh up. "Come on, it'll be fun".
Calleigh liked the idea. She went into the kitchen and helped Ryan make some food and get everything ready. This seemed like a nice way to end her stay here. She was actually going to miss helping Ryan out.
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As Ryan and Calleigh were walking back to his condo after their afternoon picnic, they saw an unfamiliar car sitting out front. As they got closer they saw that there were 2 people sitting in the car. "Well, it looks like I have some company, but I don't recognize the car, do you?"
"No, but it looks like a rental car". Calleigh had noted the license plates and the decal in the back window of the car.
By the time they had reached the driver side door it swung open and an older gentleman got out. From where Calleigh was standing she thought the man looked like an older version of Ryan.
Ryan's father had been waiting in the car for the past 15 minutes and when he saw Ryan walking up toward the car he got out to greet him. As soon as he stood up he saw the lack of recognition in Ryan's eyes. "Ryan, there you are, I didn't know when you were getting back so I thought I would wait out front of your place until you got back".
Ryan looked at the man "Hi, do I know you?"
There was an obvious look of hurt in Ryan's father's eyes "Ryan, I'm your father". He went over and gave him a big hug.
Ryan reluctantly hugged the man back before letting go. He was embarrassed and didn't know how to hide the look on his face. As he looked at the man he finally did see a resemblance to the person who was on his photo album, but this man was much older than the person in the pictures. "Father, I'm sorry I didn't recognize you. I thought we were supposed to pick you up from the airport". Ryan looked over at Calleigh for confirmation.
"I'm sorry Ryan, we were able to get an earlier flight and once we got here I thought it would be easier to just rent a car".
As Ryan heard the explanation he looked into the car and saw a woman looking back at him. Ryan's father noticed this and went over to the other side of the car to offer assistance to the woman as she got out. They both walked back over to Ryan and Calleigh "Ryan, this is your step mother Elana".
"Nice to meet you Elana". Ryan shook her hand and then remembered Calleigh was still there "Oh, I'm sorry, this is Calleigh Duquesne, she has been the one staying with me".
Ryan's father stepped over to Calleigh and offered his hand "Hello, I'm Brian Wolfe".
Calleigh took his hand before replying "Hello, it's nice to put a face to your voice Mr. Wolfe". She had talked to him a few times on the phone while she was staying with Ryan. She had looked in Elana's direction and took her offered hand as well.
There were a few moments of awkward silence before Calleigh suggested they go inside. Ryan led the way as his father and step mother fell in stride behind him. Calleigh took up the rear and closed the door behind them.
As soon as everyone was inside Calleigh took the picnic left over's from Ryan and looked at his family "Are you thirsty, would you like something from the kitchen?"
Elana looked in Calleigh's direction "Yes, I would love something to drink; this heat is starting to get to me".
Brian had also said he would love a glass of water so Calleigh left the family alone in the room to get to know one another while she got the drinks. She hoped Ryan would be ok out there.
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Ryan didn't really know what to do once everyone had come inside. He had been looking forward to meeting his family, but now that they were here he didn't' know what to say to them. He had rehearsed what he was going to ask, but that was all but forgotten. "Well, I supposed we should sit and wait for Calleigh". Ryan motioned his parents to the couch as he took the recliner.
As soon as Brian Wolfe took his seat he looked his son over. He thought he looked better than what he had originally been told, but then again the accident had occurred a while ago and Ryan has had time to recover. He could however tell that Ryan's injuries were still bothering him since he sat in his chair very carefully and then there was his arm in a cast and the faded bruises on his face and head. But all in all he looked good. He had not seen his son in awhile and was grateful he was given another chance to see him.
Brian finally broke the silence that was hovering in the room "So Ryan, you're looking good, are you feeling better?"
"I'm good; Calleigh's done a good job taking care of me". Even though he was talking to his father, there was nothing familiar about him. He didn't even feel like he could call him father. He really wished Calleigh would stay while they were here.
"I'm glad to hear that". As Brian said that he saw the photo album sitting out "Oh, I see you have been looking at some pictures, may I see which ones they are?"
"Sure", Ryan picked up the album and passed it to his father. He looked in the direction of the kitchen and was wondering what was keeping Calleigh. He could really use her right about now.
Brian opened the album and shared them with Elana "Oh, I remember some of these pictures. You were such a cute little boy, wasn't he" he was addressing his wife when he asked this.
"Oh, I quite agree, who is the other little boy in the photo?" As Elana asked this her eyes grew very large as she realized what she was asking. Why did she ask this, she knew who this was, it was Brian's other son who had died.
Brian stiffened at the question. He knew he would have to explain Ryan's brother and mother to him eventually but he didn't think now was the right time. "I think we could probably look at the pictures another time". He closed the album and set it down on the table hoping this ended the inquiry.
Ryan had been wondering the same thing as Elana so he didn't like that his father didn't answer the question. "Yeah, I was wondering who he was also. He kind of looks like me, but older. I thought he might be a cousin or something". He looked at his father waiting for his response.
Brian really wanted to change the subject but seeing his son waiting there for an answer was too much. "That's your brother Jason?"
"I have a brother, how come no one told me". Ryan wanted to say more but was interrupted by the sound of Calleigh. She walked into the room carrying a tray with 4 glasses of water and lemonade.
Calleigh had seen the whole thing and knew that Ryan's father was looking uncomfortable. She knew that Ryan's older brother was dead, but could tell that his father didn't want to talk about it just yet. She thought her intrusion would be welcomed and give Ryan's father a chance to change the subject.
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Author's note: More to come soon. I know this story is moving slowly, but it should pick up soon.
Let me know if you are still enjoying it. Thanks to all that have left me with a review for the past chapters.
