A/N: So, I'm getting back into this story as a Summer project as I mentioned before, and the next chapter is finally ready. As usual, it has not changed in my time away: I do not own the O.C. nor any characters or locales recognizable. Only my original characters whom are listed in the cast list chapter. Belongs to creators including Josh Schwartz and FOX. I am simply showing fan appreciation for the O.C.

Trigger Warning: Depiction of self harm, specifically cutting at the end of this chapter, a small summary will be present at the end author's note if you'd rather not read it. I tried to gloss over but it is still there. BBB.O.C. notes where the scene begins.

Chapter Eight: Just a Peace of Mind

Ryan was beginning to regret his decision, forty minutes into the drive. He'd determined that it had taken twenty minutes to get from the development to the detention center, another fifteen to get from the detention center to his apartment approximately forty-five minutes (an hour with rush hour traffic to make the trip from to Newport to Chino, and another forty-five to an hour for the return trip in order to go to this coffee shop. In Seth's case (he'd taken a bus, Ryan assumed), it would probably take an hour plus forty-five. Sandy and Seth Cohen had been driving for, god it had to be at least three hours going on four or five today alone, and Ryan couldn't determine why they would waste their time, much less the gas money, after the initial goose chase that had ended with Daniel in the back of a squad car.

"The funny thing is," Sandy suddenly spoke. "When Seth was growing up, we didn't let him start drinking coffee until he was seventeen. The excuse he gave us: the stress of college admissions. With Sophie, she had her first cup when she was thirteen."

Ryan blinked, perplexed by the random peek into the man's life, but figuring he should say something. "What was her excuse?"

"First breakup. The boy was, well I didn't know much about him. Sophie's too smart for her own good and doesn't bring them around. But the point is, she comes over Monday morning and starts filling a mug. We saw the fact that she'd been crying, Kirsten gives me a look and our rule about coffee went out the window."

Ryan gave a small grin. "Sons and daughters are different huh?"

"Probably more than biology." Sandy said.

Ryan shrugged almost ready to reply but bit his tongue instead, the slight pain jerking him upright as they pulled into a parking lot. Hearing the anecdote, well it filled him with a feeling he couldn't quite identify along with one he knew right off the bat as he thought of his son. Guilt.

"Well this is it." Sandy gave an amused smile. "The world stage for Newport's overly caffeinated."

Ryan took in the building with a raised eyebrow. The sign was neon, and it glowed a bright green. Who puts a neon sign on a coffee shop? He shook his head and followed Sandy inside. "Nice...place…" He said.

The inside of the shop was a yuppie dream. Dark brown paneling on the counter accentuated the neutral toned walls, one of which was a menu wall behind the counter where twenty something baristas and some that appeared older than twenty something made elaborate orders, some that looked more sugar than coffee to Ryan's untrained eye.

"It's an...acquired drink experience." Sandy winced at the sound of the frothing machinery.

I take it he hasn't acquired it. Ryan thought. "They do make coffee right?" He asked as he noticed a barista walk out from behind the counter with a whipped cream dolloped chocolatey beverage.

"And hot chocolate." Sandy replied. His eyes were searching, and Ryan followed his gaze as it locked onto a blonde woman who stood as their eyes met.

That must be Kirsten. Ryan put it together pretty quickly as he followed Sandy over to the table, lingering a few feet away, and trying not to listen to the conversation. He couldn't quite get a read on her, only to figure out that she hadn't noticed him yet. He attributed that to the fact that Sandy had immediately began speaking to her, asking about his granddaughter and daughter. He could tell something immediately about the couple as he watched them. Despite the fact that they were speaking to each other, Ryan gathered that they didn't really need to be. He could see tiny signals passing between them in the way they looked at each other as they spoke. It was something his own parents never had, those moments when he remembered them being together as brief as it had been.

He thought again of the story Sandy had told him. "Kirsten gives me a look and our rule about coffee goes out the window." It was something he and Theresa never had either. Maybe they had it once. He doesn't remember much beyond running to her house when his mother's boyfriends would be angry and talking about anything but home, beyond bullshitting with Arturo and Theresa bumming a cigarette, her making herself a part of their entertainment. How soon, they began making their own entertainment. The pregnancy test, Arturo stretching himself in order to support his mother and sister despite Ryan's offer to supplement, and how freaked out he had been when he got Ryan's attention at CVS, the bag of peanut butter cups forgotten in favor of a gun Ryan never wanted to be holding. But Arturo was his girlfriend's brother, his best friend. He'd been too freaked out that Arturo would do something stupid like feed himself the gun to even come up with words, words that could have stopped everything from going so horribly wrong.

But the Cohens didn't need words it seemed. And Ryan wished desperately in that moment that he could borrow some, because what would he even say to Daniel tomorrow?

"Ryan," An eerily level yet increasingly rising in panic voice snapped him out of his reverie. He blinked to see Sandy looking at him. "We lose you for a second there Kid?"

"Uh...sorry." Ryan rubbed the back of his neck. "Long day…" He then held out a hand in the direction of whom he assumed was Kirsten. "Ryan Atwood."

The woman smiled. It was a nervous smile, faltering ever so slightly. Ryan wasn't sure how much she knew about him, but he was suddenly self-conscious. Her grip was loose. He wondered if she was self-conscious too, or was it a mom thing? After all, both her husband and her son were assisting him, a near stranger that they had met in a juvenile detention center years before. They'd invited him into their home. He knew if the roles were reversed, if Daniel introduced him to a stranger, he'd probably be uncomfortable too. "It's nice to meet you Ryan. I'm Kirsten."

"You too Mrs. Cohen…" He looked sideways to Sandy.

Again, Kirsten and Sandy shared a look before Kirsten spoke. "You can call me Kirsten."

"Okay...sure M...Kirsten." He took a seat to the left of Sandy, allowing the man to sit across from his wife.

He glanced down at the menus that are already on the table, and felt like a child called to the principal's office, or maybe public defender's office would be more appropriate.

"Seth talked to the girls." Kirsten began. She directed her comment between them, Ryan noticed. Her gaze is not exactly resting on Sandy, not exactly studying him, but somewhere in the middle curiously appraising the dynamic. "They're okay with it." She then turned her attention quickly to Ryan, not missing a beat. "Did Sandy tell you about the offer?"

"Staying with you guys...uh… yeah, he did." Ryan glances at her, a question on the tip of his tongue. He quickly swallows it back.

"Ryan, is there something you want to ask?" There's a shift, subtle, but there nonetheless as Kirsten looked at him.

It took all of the self-control Ryan could muster not to flinch back from that look. It's not that it was particularly sharp, just probing curious. He wasn't used to the attention or to that switch in tone. He finally compiled an answer. "Your family is okay with that, seriously? Besides Seth I mean?"

"Everyone's fine with it." Kirsten said.

"You have a daughter as well right?" Ryan looked between Sandy and Kirsten. "Sophie? Sandy told me a little bit."

Sandy and Kirsten both smiled as Sandy spoke. "If you thought my story was strange, you should hear some of the things Kirsten can tell."

"Sandy…" Kirsten shook her head.

"Oh, um...it's okay, you don't have to tell me anything." Ryan said. He was feeling as though he wanted to jump out of the chair. He'd say the wrong thing or not say enough and then he'd screw things up, not only for himself and Daniel but possibly Sandy as well.

Kirsten noticed that Ryan seemed uncomfortable. She wanted to help, but she wasn't sure what to say. "I'm sure you've heard a lot about Sophie from Sandy." She replied.

"Um...yeah, she started drinking coffee when she was thirteen?" He thought of Daniel, too close to the teen years to be comfortable, and wondered if he'd be dealing with the same.

"Probably not a good idea in hindsight." Kirsten said. "She tried to steal wine earlier today."

Sandy choked. "Our Sophie Rose? Did the body snatchers switch her with Kaitlin Cooper?"

Well, that escalated quickly. Ryan tried to keep his expression neutral as he scrambled for a reply.

"In front of me, so I'd say that's a no." Kirsten raised her eyebrows. "I don't remember Kaitlin being that foolish."

"She sounds interesting." Interesting, he really was at a loss for words. Interesting was not the way you described someone's kid. Maybe Daniel had been right when he said he should get out more.

"That's certainly one word for it." Surprisingly, Kirsten Cohen grins a bit. "So Sandy tells me you have a son as well?"

"Uh...yeah," Ryan shifted a bit in his seat. "Daniel, he's twelve."

"That can be a difficult age." Kirsten said.

"You're telling me." Ryan winced. He wasn't sure what had gone wrong, well he could guess, but what he wasn't understanding is why it was so difficult to get through to him. Sure, he hadn't had the best role model in that regard, but he'd always said he would do better than his father. So why did it feel like he was swimming without a life jacket? "Does it get any easier?"

Sandy and Kirsten exchanged a look. "Well," Sandy chuckled a bit. "You weren't in the car a few hours ago. It was like someone swapped our car with the Delorean."

Kirsten shook her head at her husband's reply. "It's a two way street. You learn as much as you teach. At least I know I have." Kirsten stood. "Would you like something to drink? Our treat."

"Um...sure." Ryan said.

Kirsten, Sandy and Ryan went up to the counter to order. Sandy ordered two coffees with cream and sugar for himself and Kirsten, and Ryan ordered a coffee with extra cream but no sugar.

As Ryan stirred his coffee around waiting for it to cool enough to drink, he couldn't help but wonder how things had gotten so messed up.

"Hi Mr. and Mrs. Cohen." Ryan was jolted out of his thoughts by what sounded like a young girl. He turned to see a girl who didn't look much older than Daniel at their table, sitting right next to him. A boy was next to her, his eyes downcast. "Are we interrupting?" She bit her lip. "Sorry. Dad's getting a big order from the bakery. He told us to stay out of trouble."

Sandy chuckled. "Well, speaking of learning… looks like you'll be meeting some of our friends now. Ryan, this is April Ward and her brother Tanner."

Ryan smiled. "Nice to meet you April and Tanner. I'm Ryan."

"It's nice to meet you." April said. She held out a hand which Ryan took and shook. For the first time since they came to the table, the boy looked up holding out a hand as well.

"Tanner says, it's nice to meet you too." April says. "He doesn't talk much."

"That's okay," Ryan replied. "I'm not much one for talking either."

The boy smiled shyly.

"Dad and Ms. Townsend are meeting up today to plan the Cotillion with Aunt Kaitlin, and he got put on snack duty. But Dad asked Aunt Kaitlin to ask you to ask Aunt Summer to help decorate tomorrow." April explained to Kirsten. "Everyone's getting asked. Jill's already thrown a hissy, because she can't be a Deb, cause she's not old enough. A Deb's gotta be sixteen."

Ryan tried to hold back a grin. He wasn't sure this girl had even taken a breath.

"April honey, slow down." Kirsten laughed. "Of course we'll help."

"Sorry."

"A Cotillion?" Ryan raised an eyebrow. This definitely wasn't Chino.

"Yeah," Sandy said. "This year, it's Sophie's turn."

"I've still got four more years." April said. "So does Jill. At least I get to know what not to do. But I don't know if Jill will be that smart. She never is."

"I guess that's good." Ryan nodded.

"April, Tanner!" Ryan saw the boy flinch standing up and yanking his sister by the wrist. Ryan looked up to see a man around his age, running a hand nervously through his hair as he held a bag with the coffee shop's logo on it. "There you are."

"Sorry...sorry Dad." The boy, Tanner, spoke for the first time slowly and softly and Ryan could hear how he tripped over his words."April...April wanted...she wanted to...talk to the Cohens. So you...you didn't have to...have to ask later."

"Thanks for that guys." The man said. "But next time, tell me okay? Don't just run off."

The kids nodded.

"Well, thanks for watching them." The man looked to Sandy and Kirsten. "Sorry for the interruption."

"It's fine Luke. Don't worry." Kirsten said. "We were just introducing Ryan to Newport."

"Ryan huh?" The man, Luke's, eyes landed on Ryan. "New to town?" He gave a smile that reminded Ryan of a car salesman. Ryan wouldn't be surprised if he actually was.

"Uh...just spending a few weeks." Ryan decided to go vague. After all, he wasn't entirely sure how things would work out. "Ryan Atwood." He held out a hand.

"Luke Ward." Luke grasped Ryan's hand. "Well, I guess we'll be seeing you guys around." He said. "Enjoy your time in Newport Ryan."

"Thanks." Ryan said.

Once the Wards left, Ryan turned back to the Cohens. "So, you guys have a Cotillion around here, what is that like a dance or something?"

"It's one of the most pretentious events of the year." Sandy said.

Kirsten clicked her tongue. "Sandy, it's a town tradition. It's a presentation of all of the young ladies." She kind of frowned. "Oh god, that is pretentious. The Cooper definition aside, it is a nice evening."

"I'll take your word for it." Ryan said. He could sense the sarcasm in both of their responses, and could tell there was something more there, but he was too distracted to bug them for details.

"Hey," Ryan felt Sandy's hand grasp his. "It's gonna be alright."

Ryan didn't offer a reply. After all, there was no way for Sandy Cohen to know anything would be alright.

Sandy and Ryan ended up following Kirsten back up to the Cohens' home after coffee. Apparently, Sandy wanted to introduce Ryan to the rest of the family. "You should know who you're gonna be seeing day to day before you decide." Sandy had laughed, but Ryan couldn't find it funny. Did they even know who they'd be seeing?

The driveway was long. Ryan estimated that there was more driveway than house. He wasn't sure that he could justify a reason for that in his mind except maybe they often had a lot of company. There was already a car in the driveway, not including Sandy's and Kirsten's. He guessed it was Seth's. Speaking of, he was already waiting for them outside. Had Kirsten or Sandy called ahead? Or were his parents just that obvious in their patterns?

"Hello Ryan Atwood." Seth greeted. "So you've decided to venture and see the Cohens in their natural habitat?"

"Why not?" Ryan shrugged.

"Well, I'll give you the grand tour." Seth glanced back at his parents noticing that they had begun to converse quietly. Ryan followed his gaze. "Come on amigo." Ryan felt a hand on his shoulder and flinched a bit. But he followed Seth inside.

"So this is the kitchen where all of the meals are. Just a tip, don't ask my mom to cook anything. We're mostly a takeout family. We keep all those tiny restaurants on the pier you probably passed in business single handedly."

Ryan raised his eyebrows.

"It's not an exaggeration. Well...it might be." Seth said. "But the point still stands, my mom and kitchens do not mix." He opened a drawer. "Takeout menus are here: meat free and dairy free options too in case you lean that way, and any kind of ethnic cooking you desire. Of course we all have our days to choose: today is Sky's. It'll probably be Thai or Italian if you're okay with that. If not, we can pick you up something else."

"Um… whatever is cool." Ryan said. "Don't worry." He wasn't sure he'd be able to eat anything without throwing up anyway. Until now, he hadn't even known a dinner invitation was on the table.

"Alright not picky, noted." Seth said. He closed the drawer of menus. "If I am correct, which I probably am, the girls should be through here playing video games. Our living room."

Ryan followed Seth into the living room, and sure enough saw two girls playing a Playstation. It looked as though they were playing some kind of game where they were racing hamsters in hamster balls.

"Come on Sky, you're cheating."

"No, you're just not good at this."

Seth cleared his throat.

"Oh, hi Dad!" The younger girl tossed her control down and stood. Her eyes drifted from Seth to Ryan. "Hi, I'm Skylar Cohen." She held out a hand for Ryan to shake. He did so.

"Ryan Atwood."

The older girl looked up for the first time since they'd walked into the room. Ryan couldn't quite read her expression.

"Sophie, come say hi." Seth called. " Ryan , my sister Sophie."

She stood and walked over not offering so much as a pinky. "Hi."

"Hi." He replied trying an offering of his own as he held out a hand. "I'm Ryan."

The girl simply studied his outstretched hand. "I know. Seth just told me."

Ryan dropped his hand. "Anyway, it's nice to meet you."

"Maybe."

Ryan wasn't quite sure what to make of this girl.

"Soph, come on." Seth sighed.

"It's alright," Ryan interrupted. "She's got a point."

"She does?" Seth raised an eyebrow.

"Well she doesn't know me, so she doesn't know if it's nice to meet me yet, so she might have a point." Ryan said.

"Whatever you say." Seth was perplexed. He shook his head.

Sophie for her part, looked confused, obviously not expecting that reaction. "So, you're the one that's going to be staying with us?"

"Maybe." Ryan said as the girl scoffed.

"Come on, there's more." Seth said. He led Ryan out the screen door. "The pool, and this…" He led Ryan back to where a guest house stood erected. "Is the poolhouse slash guesthouse. This is where you and Daniel will be staying, gives you some privacy if you guys want it or more likely you'll need it." He knocked.

A woman with dark hair and eyes opened the door. "Hey Cohen. I finished getting things set up. Kirsten asked me to." She then turned to Ryan. "You must be Ryan. I'm Summer."

"Nice to meet you." Ryan said.

"You too."

"So what do you think?" Seth asked. "Not scared off?"

"No." Ryan shook his head. " It's great. Thank you...for this. I appreciate you guys helping out."

"Don't worry about it." Seth said. "We're glad to. Mom and Dad too.

"We look forward to meeting Daniel tomorrow." Summer said. "You can come back in. We were going to watch a movie with Sky and Sophie before dinner."

Ryan shook his head. "Thanks anyway, but I think I'll stay here. I'm kind of tired." That was an understatement. Today had been... a mixed bag.

"Alright," Seth looked at Ryan, concerned. "Catch ya later man." Despite his concern, he left. Better not to push it.

*BBB.O.C*

Daniel hadn't stopped tossing and turning for the past, well he wasn't sure how long it had been. Telling time was impossible in here. Maybe it was because for the first time, it was quiet...well almost. There was a small sound, barely audible, and the frame of the cots shook.

"Wrecker…" Daniel whispered. "You awake?" He sat up and bent down toward the direction of the bottom cot. Wrecker was still, at least he appeared so. His back was to Daniel. "Si'..."

And then Daniel saw something hit the floor. Drip. It was rust colored. Holy shit, it was red!

"Silas!" Daniel's voice grew louder. He dropped down. "Dude, this isn't funny.

"Agh...Agh...lea...me alone!" Now that Daniel was down at ground level, he could see Silas shaking, barely contained, his words barely perceptible. And next to the wall that the cot was pushed against, a rust colored spatter and a sharp shard of plastic in Silas's grasp. Fresh slash marks on his wrist.

Daniel's eyes went wide. He backed away, ran to the bars. "We need...we need a medic...a doctor!" Daniel called. "Someone help!"

Daniel wasn't sure how long he sat in the corner waiting before he decided to take action. He grabbed his blanket, or what counted as a blanket in this cell pressing down and trying to stop the bleeding. "You're alright Silas. You're alright." It was useless. The gray rags turned pink.

"P...Pip….P...Pip." Silas' teeth were chattering. He gripped Daniel in a weak grasp.

Daniel couldn't even focus. His vision was blurring. It wasn't until he tasted salt that he realized he was crying. "God damn it Si, Wha...what did you do?"

And then the sound of metal clanging as the cell doors were opened. Daniel was dragged away pressed against the wall, searched. He dropped the now pink blankets and the floodgates opened as forcefully as the doors, as Silas was lifted and taken to the infirmary, but the blood still stained the cell.

A/N: So recap: Ryan met Kirsten, along with the Ward twins: April and Tanner and he also met Luke. He learned about the Cotillion, and he also got a tour of Sandy and Kirsten's house from Seth and met Sophie, Skylar and Summer. (To clarify, for the purposes of this story, Seth Summer and their daughter Skylar live with Sandy and Kirsten. They used to live in the pool house for privacy but eventually just decided to move into the main house and convert the guest rooms into a master as well as a bedroom for Skylar. ) Then back at Chino correctional, Daniel was having trouble sleeping and woke up to find that Silas had hurt himself slitting his wrists. He attempted to stop the bleeding, but as of now Silas' fate is uncertain.

So the next chapter will have Sandy and Ryan going to pick up Daniel as he is released, and Sandy notes many things about the two Atwoods during the time when they prepare to move into the poolhouse.

Factoid: This chapter title comes from the song Paint the Silence by the South from season 1 of the O.C. specifically the lyric "Abandon feeling for just a peace of mind." I thought this described the transition that happens in this chapter well, so I borrowed it.

Anyway let me know your thoughts.