Title: The Shooting (1/2)
Date Written: 8/30/03
Author: JanetD
Rating: PG (violence)
Summary: This fic anticipates the events of the 5th episode of The O.C. (called The Outsider). It's my interpretation of what may happen based on the previews and the online spoilers.
Author's Notes: 1) According to the spoiler at fox.com, Ryan takes a job at a place called the Crab Shack in an attempt to become more financially independent from the Cohens. There he meets another young man with a rough past named Donnie. Ryan is a little wary of Donnie, but Seth finds him fascinating, and seeks out the other boy's company. 2) I've made up a last name for Donnie for the purposes of the story.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. The characters in this story are borrowed from the TV show "The O.C.". No money is being made from this story. Any resemblance of a character in this story to any real person living or dead is purely coincidental. Likewise, any resemblance between an organization depicted in this story and any such actual organization is purely coincidental.

Ryan and Seth and Donnie Braxton, Ryan's new co-worker from the old hood, were at a party at Holly's beach house. Seth had invited Donnie despite Ryan's cautions that it wasn't a good idea. The party had been going on for about an hour when Donnie and Luke Ward got into an argument. Luke had been being generally obnoxious to the outsider and making fun of Donnie's origins by mimicking the phrase Wass up?

When at last Donnie got up into his face in response, Luke began pushing the other boy toward the door, and commanded, Let's go, you're done.

In the blink of an eye, Donnie had lifted his shirt and pulled out the gun that was stuck in the front of his pants. He pointed the weapon at Luke in a threatening manner.

'Wass up?' he mocked. Wass up now?! Who's the tough guy now?

The other teens in the room suddenly became aware of what was going on and, seeing the gun, froze. Only Ryan was moving. He came toward Donnie slowly, one hand raised in a placating fashion.

Donnie, put the gun away, man. Come on. You don't need it. Put it away...please.

Donnie ignored him, and kept the gun pointed at Luke's chest. Suddenly, Ryan lunged forward, grabbed Donnie's gun-hand, and tried to force it toward the floor. But before he could get the weapon safely pointed down, it went off.

Seth and Summer had been standing just a few feet away from the melee, and now Ryan looked on with horror as he saw Seth down on the floor, a circle of red blossoming on his right side.

he cried. Somebody call 911!

Ryan rushed to his friend and crouched down beside him. Seth looked stunned.

I, I'm shot, Ryan. He shot me.

I know. It's going to be okay. You're going to be okay, Seth. Ryan's words were reassuring, but his face revealed his fear for his friend.

As Ryan was about to reach for Seth's shirt to examine the wound, he heard a disturbance behind him. He turned to see Donnie shoving his way through the crowd, headed for the door. Turning back to Seth, Ryan pulled the shirt out of the way, and saw an ugly hole where the bullet had entered his side. Luckily, it had simply passed through the flesh and come out again about 2 1/2 inches away. Ryan gave a sigh of relief. As bullet wounds go, this one looked pretty minor--a least, he hoped so--but it was bleeding a lot.

Get me some clean towels! he called back to the room at large.

You're going to be okay, Seth. Ryan said, still breathing fast. It doesn't look too bad.

Seth nodded. His face was pale, and there was now a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead. With the first shock of the injury past, he was starting to really feel the pain radiating out from his side.

Summer, who had been standing close by, now leaned in for a look at the injury, and quickly recoiled at the sight of the blood and the ugly wound. She took several steps back from the injured boy.

Mom and Dad are going to freak, Seth suddenly observed.

Ryan frowned.

He looked back down at the damage the bullet had done, hesitated, then pressed his hands to the entry and exit wounds to stem the flow of blood. Seth flinched, and sucked in a breath.

Ryan winced in response. , he said to Seth, then loudly, Where are those towels?

At that moment, Marissa came hurrying up carrying two fresh bath towels. She handed them to Ryan, and then knelt down on Seth's other side. She glanced quickly at Summer who was still standing in the background, a combined look of horror and distaste on her face.

Marissa laid her right hand on Seth's shoulder in a comforting fashion, and clasped his left hand in hers. Through his haze of pain, Seth offered her a look of gratitude.

Ryan had quickly arranged one of the towels over Seth's wound, and was reapplying pressure. Marissa watched as Seth's pale face became even paler. She squeezed his hand warmly, trying to offer him silent encouragement.

Ryan studied his friend's face with worry. Hang on, Seth. Help will be here soon. Then to Marissa, Somebody called 911, right?

Marissa nodded. Rachel called.

Luke had been watching this real-life drama play out in front of him from several feet away. His face showed his unhappiness at the turn of events. Now he came forward.

Is there anything I can do? he asked, shame-faced.

Ryan met his eyes. Thanks, man, but we've got it.

Luke nodded, and stepped back.

Ryan continued to apply pressure to the wound, hoping that the paramedics would be there soon. A couple minutes later there was the sound of sirens, and four policemen came in the door. One officer walked up to check on Seth, while a second, whose badge identified him as Saunders, asked the crowd, Okay, what happened here?

Everyone attempted to speak at once.

Office Saunders held up his hands for quiet, and said, Okay, okay, hold on. Everybody that saw what happened, raise their hands.

The teens glanced at each other, then slowly about six people put their arms in the air.

--Saunders pointed at a blonde girl with her hair in pig tails--You, go with Officer Friedens, and tell him what happened. And you--to a freckled-faced teenaged boy--go with Officer Murphy. The rest of you kids, just stay where you are. Nobody leaves yet. Understand?

Saunders walked over to the little group gathered around Seth. How is he? he asked the first cop.

He got it in the side, but sounds like it's just a flesh wound. He should be okay.

Saunders nodded, and then leaned down to Seth. Hang in there, son. The paramedics will be here any minute.

Seth nodded his thanks.

Straightening, Officer Saunders looked at Marissa and Ryan and asked, Can either of you tell me what happened here?

It was an accident, Ryan said quickly. The gun went off by accident.

Uh-huh. And who was it that had this gun that went off by accident?

Ryan frowned. Donnie Braxton.

Saunders took out his notebook, and began to write. I don't suppose he's still here?

No, no, he took off.

Do you know where he lives?



So, what happened?

Ryan sighed. He and another guy were getting into it. Donnie pulled a gun, and threatened him.

Who was this other guy?

Ryan didn't say anything.

It was me, Luke said. But it was like he said, this whacko pulled a gun on me. Then Chino here--

asked the officer.

Yeah, him, Luke said pointing at Ryan. We call him Chino because that's where he's from.

Saunders gave Ryan an appraising look, then said to Luke, Go on.

Well, this kid Donnie was waving a gun at me, and Chino--I mean, Ryan--tried to get him to put it down. When he didn't, he charged him, and the gun went off.

Saunders looked back at Ryan. Is that how it happened?

Yeah. I was trying to get his gun-hand down, but the gun went off, and--he looked guiltily at Seth--Seth got hit.

Saunders nodded. What's your name? he asked Luke.

Luke Ward.

He looked at Ryan. And you, you're Ryan what?



Saunders scribbled in his notebook, then turned to Seth. Is that the way it happened, son?

Seth's face was contorted in pain, but he took a breath and answered,

And what about you, young lady? the policeman said to Marissa. Did you see what happened? Do you agree with the account given by these two gentlemen?

Marissa nodded. Yes. I saw the whole thing, and it was like they said. That boy Donnie pulled a gun on Luke, and Ryan tried to intervene, and then...the gun went off. She paused. It was horrible.

Saunders asked for her name, and wrote that down, as well. All heads turned as sirens sounded in the distance. In mere moments, the paramedics (one male, one female) had come in the door, medical boxes in their hands. As they approached the injured boy, the woman looked at Ryan and Marissa, and smiled.

she said. We can take it from here.

The two teens stood up and moved to get out of the way. The male paramedic, whose name was Harrington, knelt down on Seth's left, while his partner, Phelps, knelt on his right.

What's your name? Harrington asked Seth.

Ryan answered for his friend. His name's Seth. Seth Cohen.

Harrington nodded. Okay, Seth, my name is Mike and this is Darla, and we're going to take good care of you, okay?

Yeah, thanks, Seth said through gritted teeth. He thought it might just be his imagination, but the pain seemed to be continually getting worse.

The paramedics set to work while their audience looked on. Ryan stood with arms crossed, watching the pair's actions closely. His deep concern for his friend was painted starkly on his face. At one point, Ryan glanced down at his hands and realized they were covered with dried blood--Seth's blood. He shuddered.

Ryan wished fervently that he had never stepped in between Donnie and Luke. He didn't know what would have happened, but he was sure that Seth wouldn't be lying here now with a bullet hole in his side. And he dreaded to think of Sandy and Kirsten's reaction when they heard the news. He knew that Seth was the sun and the moon and the stars to his parents.

A few minutes later, the paramedics had Seth up on the gurney, and were getting ready to transport him to the hospital. Ryan stepped forward.

Can I come with you?

Phelps answered. I'm sorry. That's not allowed.

Ryan thought fast. But he's my brother. Please.

The woman's face softened. Okay. But you'll have to ride up front.

Ryan smiled in gratitude.

The paramedics began to wheel Seth from the house. Ryan exchanged a look with Marissa, and then followed.

End Chapter One (P.S., to the reader who reviewed the first chapter of my previous story , and expressed her wish for me to continue soon, I wanted to point out that I posted the second chapter of that story at the same time I posted Chapter One. That's not an uncommon practice for me.)