Thank you Sharkie2008 and Ansy Pansy aka Panz and Midnightair and Leentje and Sarah Atwood and Dogsbody and Drkdawn and Koolkerry25 for your reviews! Yay! Chapter 21 is here! Sharkie2008 is officially the first person to be R&Ring both my fanfics. Much gratitude:) So far, I actually do have somewhat of a plot thoughtout for "Testing him". I got three reviews for it just a few hours after I'd posted it. It may be because this time my summary is part of the fanfic and it is pretty thrilling for all us angstlovers. I love being able to live up to my penname!

Disclaimer: Nothing.

Kirsten looked questioningly at the cellphone and the angry Art. She took it.

"Hello?"

"Kirsten."

"Ryan." He could hear her smiling. She was happy about giving up all her money? No, she was happy that he would be safe. No, she was happy about the drugdealers saying he would be. Only the drugdealers had never said that. It was implied by the fact that Ryan was a hostage. Yes the drugdealers had mentioned an exchange, but they never said he would be alive. Ryan swallowed.

"I..." He couldn't tell her not to bring the money. She already had it. And Tony was listening to every word slipping out of Ryan's lips. Besides, Kirsten would never understand. If Ryan told her that he would be dead soon, she would...do something. Ryan didn't know what. Break down into tears? Definitely. Follow after the drugdealers? Most likely. Kill them? Try to save Ryan? Hmmmm. Doubtful.

"You've been...a great mother. Especially...to a guy...like me."

"What do you mean?"

"I know you...didn't approve...when Sandy brought...me to your...home. But then you...took me in as...your own family...I didn't ever...really trust you guys. It was hard...you know? And I was...am...really screwed up."

"You're as much a Cohen as Seth, Sandy, and I. And we all love you. And miss you. It's time to end all this. Put it behind us. Be a family again." Ryan could feel his own eyes tearing up. He almost never cried. He actually wanted to live through this. He wanted all that Kirsten said.

"Okay. I love you. And Sandy. And Seth. And Marissa. Tony needs to talk to you now." Ryan handed the phone to the driver.

"Hello...Kirsten, right? Let's talk exchanging. Ryan here for the six hundred grand. You said you had it. I want it. You know I have Ryan. You want him. I like when people get what they want. So Art's going to take you to the parking lot our little mishap took place in. He'll remember the way. But I warn you now. Bring no one. No cops. Just you, Art, and my money. Understand?"

"One question," Kirsten's voice was unbelievably firm. She was really learning how to handle herself. "What and who will you be bringing?"

"Me, Ed, Charlie, and Ryan."

"That doesn't seem very fair at all. You've got one more person on your side."

"But you're getting Ryan. That will even it out."

"No, see because there's me and Art, and then the money is part of the exchange. Ryan is part of the exchange. But you have three people, where we have two."

"So?"

"So we would like to bring another person of our choice."

"Lady, you should be a negotiator. You have a point. But why should I let you decide all this? I have a life that you care about, and I can execute him any second. I wouldn't get very demanding if I were you."

"That's true, but what if you turn on us? I don't trust you. You don't trust us. Let us bring one more person."

"Fine. But only because we're wasting time, and I have the upper hand anyway. However, this person may not be a cop or other government worker, and the person may not weigh more than two hundred pounds."

"Ummm, okay. When will we be meeting?"

"Midnight. See you then-"

"Wait! I need your word on something. I need you to swear that you will not bring further harm to Ryan."

"Why should I promise that?"

"Because you're absolutely right. I do care a lot about him. And if you really like people getting what they want, and you're getting what you want, then I get what I want. Ryan alive. Deal?" There was silence in response. "DEAL?"

"Uhh, sure."

"I was looking for yes."

"Yes, yes, we have a deal. See you at midnight."

XXX

"So...who are we recruiting?" Art asked, lighting a cigarette as he and Kirsten walked slowly to his front door.

"I'm not sure. Not Marissa. She's too frail. Not Seth, for the same reason. Besides, his sarcasm would get us all killed."

"We can't bring Paul because he's still got a lot of recovering to do. Kirsten, I hate to say this, but we might have to bring Sandy or my girlfriend. The guys are all troublemakers, and the drugdealers wouldn't take kindly to them since they were involved in the fight. My girlfriend is pretty good with words."

"So is Sandy. He's district attorney, so maybe he could negotiate."

"What's there to negotiate? They get the money, we get Ryan."

"Okay. We need to cover all aspects here. The deal is already in place. So you're right, we don't need a negotiator. The drugdealers could turn violent, so we would need muscle. Weapons, even."

"Negative. We can't be armed."

"Why not? Tony never said that. For all we know, he could come packing bombs! I don't trust him. Maybe it's because he's a drugdealer. Maybe it's because he's got Ryan. All I know is I want a gun on hand."

"I'll see what I can do. Until then, I think Sandy is our best bet. He has another advantage. He is emotionally connected to Ryan. Like me and you. Look at how far we've gotten. All that we've risked. Do you think that a complete stranger who's barely met Ryan would have even kept going?"

"You're right. Sandy's our man."

Okay, I know it's not my longest chapter, but I'm trying to procrastinate a little. I'm not sure how all this will work out.