A/N: Well, it seems writer's block is not an issue with this story. I might accomplish my goal of completing by Christmas Eve haha. So chapter seven is ready for you. There are some answers, plenty of comfort, and dare I use this word some humor involved? Well it depends on your point of view I guess. I will give this warning, despite the fact that I wrote it fast, my emotions ran the gamut. I'll tell you a bit more about why in the bottom. As usual, I own nothing besides my OCs not to be confused with the O.C. whose characters and recognizable situations are not mine. They belong to Josh Schwartz and FOX. Transcript for the italicized dialogue comes from episode 4x15, the Night Moves and the transcript is courtesy of the website Forever Dreaming. There are several other references sprinkled throughout this chapter actually. See if you can spot them.
Chapter Seven: Parental Instincts
Seth's POV
The thing about a moment like this is that it's scary as hell. I still feel the words from the ambulance ringing in my ears. She has preeclampsia. I still see the machines being connected, despite the process having been long done, so long done. They induced about an hour ago, and now it's breathing, it's breathing through the pushing, and she's squeezing my hand so hard I think it might break. I think she might break.
" I see the head. One more big push Summer, ready?" The doctor looks up, and Summer looks so exhausted. I know it doesn't work that way, but I wish we could call for a time out.
She nods, her eyes glassy from the medicine and the fatigue but she grits her teeth and pushes. I hear the squeal. I'm not sure if it's from the little one or from us, but the sound is a welcome one.
"Congratulations, you have a son." The pediatric doctor on call, the first one that we met, I think his name is David grins up at me. I catch a glimpse amongst the whirlwind of personnel that's surrounding the baby, our son. All I see is a tuft of dark hair and the smallest little person bundled in towels and still soaked before they place him in a rolling crib, and roll him out throwing letters around that make me feel dyslexic. C and N and I and U, I know that's not right. And oxygen and respiration, level 4, I still can't seem to piece it together, not yet.
"He's going to be okay right? Our son, he's going to be okay?" Summer is shouting.
No one answers. No one answers, not even David. "Seth!"
I don't know what to say. I can't even find the time to be amused by that fact.
"Ma'am, ma'am." A nurse is hovering by the bedside as they now focus their attention on Summer. "You need to calm down, you need to rest. We're going to help you both, but you need to relax. Can you do that?"
"Summer…" I squeeze her hand. "I'll make sure he's okay, I promise. Please, just let the doctors help you. Please." I sigh it's a little more than a shudder. And it's only when I let go that I realize Summer was shaking, is still shaking. She's barely keeping herself awake as weak as she is from her blood pressure, which is still not right despite the medication if the nurses and doctor's wrestling with the cuff is any indication. That's when I can finally, finally identify this. I'm terrified.
Somehow, I somehow find myself in the lobby. How I got here, I don't know but as soon as I see my parents who are on their feet, I let out a sound that's not identifiable.
"Seth, oh Sweetheart." Mom places her hands on each one of my shoulders and I collapse against her.
"T..the baby...they took him to NICU. They're examining Summer. I... I…" I can barely get the words out. The joy that should come with this moment, well it's not here. All I feel is a rock in my gut.
"Seth! S...Sethy…" I hear Sophie, but I can't bring myself to move even as her voice grows quiet. She looks to Mom then to Dad. "Mom, what's going on? Daddy?"
"Seth, hey man," Ryan places a hand on my shoulder giving a small nod towards our parents. "Say, Soph, what do you say we head down to the cafeteria? You can help me and Taylor get everyone's orders." He doesn't wait for an answer, but slips his hand in hers.
Sophie nods. "Will Sam be there too?"
I don't hear an answer, and I know that means something else is wrong, but my mind isn't there. I don't see Ryan's reaction. I hear the footsteps retreat, and I hear Taylor say something indistinct. I move along with my mom's guidance to the seat in between her and Dad. Mom runs her hand through my hair in the way she used to when I was Sophie's age, and I don't even muster an eyeroll.
Summer and I are parents. We're parents, and it might not even last one day.
Ryan's POV
How could things have gone so completely sideways? I'd almost gotten comfortable. I mean, it's been years since things have gone really and truly wrong, but now.. well, we're due for it. We've got to be. There's no Earthquake this time, but there might as well be.
"Ryan…" I feel Sophie lean into me. "It's gonna be okay right, Seth and Summer and the baby?"
I don't know what to say. How do I even try to make her feel better when my mind is in so many different directions?
"It's almost Chrismukkah, we still haven't gotten our wishes yet." Taylor says. "And I think Santa's listening, don't you?"
We move up to the counter. "Five coffees, cream and sugar and a hot chocolate." I look down at Sophie. "With extra marshmallows."
Sophie nods, tongue brushing her teeth as her eyes land across the hall, the gift shop. "Do you think they have paper for Santa letters? Maybe if we all write one, Summer and the baby will get better."
"I think that's a pretty good idea right Ryan?" I feel Taylor nudge me. "Ryan?"
"What?" I blink as I see Sophie glaring up at me.
"You'll write a Santa letter too right Ryan?"
"Oh, yeah totally." I nod and force a smile. I feel Taylor's eyes on me even as she hands Sophie fifteen dollars, and she lets out a squeal running across to the gift shop.
"This is going to work. I just know it!"
"Ten minutes, We're timing." Taylor takes my phone and holds it up so Sophie can see. I see her give a thumbs up, before Taylor drags me to a table.
We sit at a table within view of the gift shop's window. "Fifteen bucks, a bit much don't you think? Kirsten's going to kill you. With Summer's influence…"
"I thought you were supposed to be the cool brother." Taylor teases. " And they always inflate prices in those places. It's a little known fact." Taylor waves her hand dismissively. "But you're deflecting Ryan Atwood. So talk."
" It changes every week, she's ten." I grab my coffee and take a sip. "Besides, what's there to talk about?"
Taylor glares crossing her arms. "You went to talk to Sam, and he disappears. What happened Ryan?"
"He was... getting claustrophobic… I guess, hospital hallways or something. I don't know."
Taylor blinks and grabs my hand. "You know, skirting around doesn't suit you. That whole brooding routine may have worked before, but frankly it doesn't anymore. Don't shut me out."
I don't know if it's because there's so much more going on and this is one less thing to have on my chest, I don't know if it's the caffeine that loosens my lips, I don't know if it's just Taylor being here, but I end up explaining everything, my request to Sandy, the panic attack, Sandy telling me about Clara Davis, the seeming progress, and finally Sam and I's conversation in the hospital hallway.
"I think...no I know I screwed up. I...keep making these mistakes. They feel like mistakes. This is exactly what I was worried about, Sandy told me… he asked me, and I just felt like it was right y'know? I gave him the go ahead. But, I'm not sure I did the right thing."
"True…" Taylor nods. "But it doesn't seem like you asked either." Taylor gives a slight grin. "You got huffy with me too remember?"
I wince. "That was…" I trail off.
"Was it?" Taylor stands up. "Maybe there's something you don't know. We can't all be people readers."
I nod.
" Good. You know I'm right. So just go with it." She grins.
"Ha-ha." I scoff, but I can't help thinking that maybe she is.
Sandy's POV
We're sitting with Seth in the lobby when we hear someone else's voice.
"Seth, Sandy, Kirsten!" Neil Roberts comes running over, breathless. "Sorry I'm late traffic, traffic was…" He gives up the sentence. "How is she? How's my daughter?"
"She's…" Seth sighs. "She's stable. They're monitoring her. It..it was preeclampsia. The baby...the baby's in NICU. I...I haven't talked to the doctor yet, but they're working on him. I...I was going to be on my way there now, I...we…" Seth places his head in his hands. His whole body shakes.
"Him…? We...we have a grandson?" Neil sits next to me, looking to me then to Kirsten.
It's then I realize that I haven't even fully processed the news. Our priority, both Kirsten and I, we've been worried about Seth and Summer. I then realize my son isn't truly enjoying this either. How can we when it's a hair's breadth moment?
"How did you get through it Dad?" Seth's voice or rather the softness in his voice, startles me out of this revelation. "During the Earthquake?"
Kirsten and I look at each other. She grabs Seth's hand, I place my hand on top of theirs as my mind goes back to that day.
"Dr. Harris, are those my wife's tests?"
"Oh, no, Mr. Cohen, it's going to be a while before we get the results."
" Oh, of course, it's just a little bit too soon for that. I know you have your hands full."
"Yes, we have a pretty full house right now."
"Well, as soon as you know anything, you know, good or bad... if you could please let me know."
"I will, of course."
"Let me know first, just so I can prepare my wife."
"Of course."
"Thank you. I mean, it's kind of crazy in that we have two other boys that are just going off to college, so we were expecting to have an empty nest, you know, when then, all of a sudden, this unplanned, miraculous event and, well, uh, the fact of the matter is, I can't imagine anything worse than an empty nest so, uh... Anything you can do for that, uh, for that little baby, please, do it."
"Ah…" I sigh shaking my head. "The truth?"
Seth looks at me, exhaustion, fear, stress all mingled together in a jittery mess as I continue. "I couldn't even tell you Son.. It was one of the most terrifying moments, but your Mom, Sophie… the thought of anything happening. All of us being separated in that time, well it's an instinct I guess. I guess I needed to make sure we all got to see a way forward."
Seth nods. "I...I don't know if I can be that strong."
"We do." Kirsten says.
"Can you come with me to talk to the doctor?" Seth looks at me then Kirsten. "Please?"
I look at Kirsten. We both nod.
"Mr. Cohen…" I see a doctor as Seth rises to his feet, Kirsten still keeping a hand in his. "And family?" The doctor smiles reassuringly. " I'm Dr. Hall. I just want to give you all an update. Summer is fine She's sleeping off the medication. We want to keep her here a few days for observation, to get her levels back to normal, get her acclimated to the medication that she'll have to take. It's standard procedure."
"Our son? What about the baby?" Seth asks.
"He's in surgery. There was...a brain bleed. Sometimes...sometimes that's a complication with preeclampsia. Dr. Williams, our pediatrician, should have an update for you in about ten minutes."
"Oh my god…" Kirsten puts a hand to her mouth. "Sandy…"
I blink. This...this wasn't supposed to happen.
Seth nods. I can see his legs buckle. Kirsten holds him upright. And me? I'm only just holding it together.
Sam's POV
I don't know why I don't just leave, go outside something so I don't have to deal with the Cohens anymore. God knows I don't want to. I really don't. Ryan, Mr. Cohen, they dug into things. They shouldn't have done that. And I don't want to have to get caught up anymore. I was fooling myself. It's the holiday, that stupid made up holiday. Chrismukkah. It's a false security blanket.
Somehow, I find myself in the gift shop, the dinky hospital gift shop with cheap notebooks and get well bears holding balloons and dressed in hospital gowns and robes, pens with Berkeley Medical Center printed on the side. Like anyone would want to commemorate their time here with a souvenir. Hey, you survived people poklng you with pointy tools, have a pen and a teddy.
Even the gift shop smells like hand sanitizer and latex. Disgusting.
I move toward the displays with the notebooks and pens. I grab one of each as I go to the display with the goofy looking bears. Even though I'm trying to avoid them, I still feel like I should get something for Summer and the baby. They are laid up. And I technically can't bail until we leave the hospital. I'm pissed, but I don't think there's a bus stop that I can get to on foot. Might as well shop.
I notice a blonde ponytail out of the corner of my eye, near the Christmas stationary. Sophie Rose, maybe I can avoid her. I duck my head.
"Sam! Sam!" She sees me. Great. "Why didn't you wait for us?"
I don't answer and keep browsing, making it a point to really show that I'm looking at the bears.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Sophie follows grabbing my arm and swirling me around. "Don't be a jerk."
The gift shop is small, I'm grateful that there are only a few people here, but the people that are here are staring. A ten year old screaming at a teenager really draws attention.
"Can you shut up?" I whisper. "You're being a baby."
"No I'm not." Sophie says, in a slightly softer but no less harsh tone. "You are."
"I'm not the one screaming so everyone knows."
"You are being a baby. You left without telling anyone. Only babies wander like that."
"It's not wandering, I'm avoiding." I continue walking trying to find something, anything to look at that would deter Sophie from staying with me, but she's still following.
"Well, you're not doing a very good job. You suggested the gift shop bozo. You should've at least found a janitor's closet or something."
I can't help it. I laugh. "A janitor's closet? That's kind of elementary school don't you think?"
" I'm in elementary school." Sophie shrugs. "I'd say Portland, but you don't got a boat."
"What exactly does that mean?" I shake my head.
"If you want to run off, you should ask my brothers for advice next time. They're better at it than you. Seth left the state, Ryan left to Chino. The stories always come up during Chrismukkah. I'm sure they'd help you." Sophie smirks.
I roll my eyes. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm running from your family."
"I get that." Sophie stops suddenly. "But why? What happened? Don't you like us?" Sophie grabs a bear with a blue robe squeezing it against her chest.
"Ryan couldn't mind his own business." I snap. I don't know what makes me snap at Sophie. I don't know why I mention Ryan directly. Sophie's right about one thing. I do like her family, at least I did. I don't like what Ryan did, but do I really hate them? I have no clue.
"He usually doesn't." Sophie says. "Mommy says it's because he's trying to help like she and Daddy helped him, Summer says he's got something to prove. But Daddy says it's just the kind of person he is."
"Uh-huh, what do you think?"
"Me?" Sophie grins. "I think all three. But most of all I think he likes people. He doesn't talk too much, but I can tell he likes people, because he always listens to me. Seth likes people too, but he likes talking too much, but Ryan always listens first." She taps me on the shoulder cupping her hand like she wants to whisper. I lean down. "But you gotta talk otherwise he doesn't know what to do and he puts his whole foot in his mouth. So will you? Please?"
I smile at Sophie's assessment. She certainly was colorful. "Fine, you've got a deal." I'll see if Sophie's right. That's all, and if she isn't then I'll figure out something. That's all this is is a test. Secretly, I really do hope he passes. It beats having to go home or back to that shelter. But I'm not holding my breath. These things never work out like they're supposed to.
Kirsten's POV
Since we've been sitting here, I've been feeling a pounding in my head that's been getting worse. It isn't until I follow Sandy and Seth down the hallway to the neonatal intensive care unit, until it's eerily quiet on all three of our parts, that I really have time for a self-assessment.
I only give it a moment, a moment until I snap back into Mom mode, but that moment is all I need. This isn't just a stress headache. I'm entirely too cloudy as I don't realize I've passed the sign until I have and I slow down blinking and trying to clear my head.
"Kirsten," Sandy notices the fact that I've slowed. "Are you okay Honey?"
"Mom?" Seth looks at me, and I feel like I'm failing. He's already so stressed, and now I'm becoming ill, because clearly that's what this is. I was bound to catch it. Having taken care of him and Sophie.
"I'm fine." I see my husband's expression. My answer is coming out through a layer of sinus pressure and stuffiness. "We need to find out what's happening."
"Kirsten," Sandy sighs. "I'll go with Seth. "You should get back to the lobby and take it easy."
I shake my head. "I said I'm f..f..CHOO!" I quickly cover my mouth.
"Well I see where Soph gets it from." Seth smiles slightly.
"I'm glad this is entertaining." I smirk.
"You going to be alright?" Sandy looks at Seth as he steps closer to me. Our son nods.
"Sandy...g...go with him." I try to protest, but it's not effective when you can't breathe.
"Mom, you are not giving your grandson the flu." Seth says. "Let Dad help you. I'll keep you guys posted."
"Fine, but he needs a name. At least give us that."
"Summer and I have already talked about it." Seth smiles. "Actually we've been talking about it since we found out."
"And…?"
"Neil, Neil Ryan Cohen."
"Sounds like a fighter." Sandy places a hand on his shoulder. "We can't wait to meet him."
A/N: * Hands out tissues and cocoa with extra marshmallows to all of you* So as far as this chapter goes, a bit of a factoid. What happens to Summer, and to baby Neil is loosely based on experience. Baby Neil's experience is...well...it's based on mine, and so this character is extremely close to my heart. Writing Seth's perspective and this idea for the paraquel while it's difficult, well it's a bit of a tribute to my parents during a time, the holidays, when I'm feeling a bit reflective.
Congratulations to Linneagb, who correctly guessed my reasoning behind the paraquel's title, Crowning of the Champion King. This is purely etymological with a small dash of of serendipity. I had the name Neil (minus Ryan) picked out before this story was even a blip back in my AU planning stage. If you read my other WIP, the Boy Behind Bars, you know that in that story, Seth and Summer have an eleven year old daughter named Skylar Marissa. When I was trying to decide whether Seth and Summer had a son or a daughter, I agonized over names for quite a while. The one conclusion I did reach was that if I ever wrote a story where Seth and Summer had kids, I would follow the O.C. tradition started by Sophie Rose Cohen, and pick names with some significance to both of them. So Marissa became Skylar's middle name after Summer's best friend. That same logic is how I reached the decision that a son in a canon world would be named after Summer's father, and Seth's best friend. Names with significance to both of them.
Now comes the serendipity. When I come up with titles, or even character names. I always take a look at etymology. I'm an English major, it's a habit and a quirk. When I looked at the behind the name for Neil, I found that it meant Champion, so I filed it away. And then I remembered thanks to another wonderful story on this site by Mare43 entitled the Little King (Read it, you'll love it.), that Ryan actually means Little King. Champion King had a nice ring to it, and that is how the title came about. I'll start working on it soon.
Well this was a long note. I hope I didn't bore you. 13 days till Christmas Eve guys which means 13 (14 if I'm generous to myself) days to finish. Please let me know your thoughts. It's encouragement, and it makes me happy to see your thoughts!
Next up: Seth talks to the pediatrician, and some Dad Daughter comfort with Summer and Dr. Roberts as elsewhere Sam and Ryan finally talk.
