Title: The Shooting (2/2)
Date Written: 8/31/03
Author: JanetD
Rating: PG (mild language)
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: I'm a layman when it comes to medicine, so if I've made any mistakes with the medical aspects of this story, readers with medical expertise will just have to forgive me.
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.

The phone rang in the Cohen residence, and Sandy reached over to pick it up.



Is this Mr. Cohen?



Mr. Cohen, this is Officer Saunders with the Newport Beach PD. I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. Your son Seth has been shot.

What?? Shot? Is he okay? Sandy's heart rate had just doubled.

The paramedics tell me he's going to be fine. He was hit in the side, but it's only a flesh wound. He's on his way to the hospital now.

Sandy struggled to recover from his shock. My, God. What, what happened?

Your son was at a party. Apparently, a dispute arose between two other boys, and one of them had a gun. There was a struggle, the gun went off, and unfortunately your son was in the line of fire.

Two other boys... Sandy's mind immediately went to Ryan--oh, God. What two other boys? he asked urgently.

Let's see...the names were Luke Ward and Donnie Braxton. Braxton had the gun.

Sandy breathed a mental sigh of relief. There would have been another boy there with Seth--Ryan Atwood--where is he? Is he all right?

Your son's brother? Yes, he was there. He was administering first aid when we arrived. He wasn't hurt. He rode along in the ambulance with your son.

Sandy let the remark about Ryan being Seth's brother pass. What hospital did they take Seth to?

Hoag Memorial.

Okay. My wife and I are on our way. Thank you, Officer.

I'm sorry about your son, Mr. Cohen, but you can take consolation in the fact that he's going to be all right. That's something I can't always tell the parents.

Sandy nodded. I understand.

Well, good luck.



Sandy set down the phone, and hurried into the study where Kirsten was working.



Kirsten turned from the desk, saw her husband's face, and immediately knew something was very wrong. She stood up, clasping her hands together.

What is it? she asked, her voice betraying her fear.

It's Seth. He's been shot--he's going to be okay--but he's been shot.

Shot? Seth? How? Who, who would shoot Seth?

Sandy shook his head. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Luke and that boy Ryan works with--Donnie something--got into a fight. Donnie had a gun. It went off, and hit Seth.

My, God. The blood drained from Kirsten's face, and she sat back down. Sandy walked up and put his arm around her shoulder.

He's going to be okay, he said soothingly.

Where was he hit?

In the side--but the cop said it wasn't serious, just a flesh wound.

Tears began to spill down Kirsten's face.

It's going to be okay, honey. Let's just get to the hospital.

Kirsten nodded, and rose from the chair. Sandy held on to her for a few seconds to make sure she was steady on her feet. Then they headed for the car.

----+----

The ER doors swooshed open, and Harrington and Phelps rolled Seth's gurney through the entryway, Ryan following closely behind. As medical personnel came forward to meet them, Harrington said, Seth Cohen, sixteen, GSW to the side. Then he reeled off Seth's blood pressure, pulse and respiration. When he was through, he inclined his head in Ryan's direction, and added, This is his brother.

The gurney was quickly maneuvered into an examination room, and Seth was lifted onto the exam table. Ryan watched as the doctor and nurses began to work over his friend. He was anxious to hear the doctor add his assurances to those of the paramedics that Seth would be fine.

Ryan was hoping that Kirsten and Sandy would arrive soon. The male paramedic had told him that the cops would call, and let them know about Seth. Ryan wasn't looking forward to seeing the looks on the Cohens' faces when they found out that it was his fault that Seth had been shot. But he would be glad to have them there to relieve him of the responsibility he now felt for Seth. It was a heavy burden, and it made him realize how much being a parent must suck at times.

In just a few minutes, the doctor made his pronouncement. Well, Seth, you're going to be fine. It looks like the bullet missed the peritoneal cavity completely. We'll take an X-ray to be sure, but I'm pretty confident of my diagnosis. However, the wound will need to be debrieded. Sometimes fibers from clothing can be left behind in the bullet's path. That can lead to infection. So we'll send you upstairs in a little while so they can clean out the wound and make sure any debris is removed. Okay?

Seth, who was feeling considerably better since the pain medication had gone into his I.V. said,

Any questions?

No--uh, yes, are my parents here yet?

No, but your brother's here. The doctor glanced over at Ryan with a smile. He can keep you company until they arrive.... Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go check on another patient. The technician will be in shortly to take some X-rays. Okay?

Seth nodded.

All right. I'll be back soon.

And with a reassuring pat on Seth's arm, the doctor left the room.

Ryan walked up to the examining table, and looked at Seth appraisingly. he said softly, how you feeling?

Not bad, not bad. Whatever this stuff is they're giving me, it's doing the trick. Then in typical Seth-fashion he quipped, I highly recommend it if you ever get shot yourself.

Ryan grinned.

Seth grinned back. So, that was pretty cool, your telling them I was your brother back there.

Yeah, well, I wanted to come with you, and I figured that was my best shot.

Well, you were right. It worked flawlessly.

Ryan's expression turned serious. I'm sorry, Seth. It's my fault you got hurt. If I had just stayed out of it, this would never have happened.

Yeah, well, who knows what would have happened if you hadn't done what you did? Luke might be laying in the morgue by now. You did your best, Ryan. You sized up the situation and made a decision. That's all anybody could do. Besides, it's kind of nice to see a Cohen taking such decisive action for a change.

Ryan shook his head in gentle amusement. Seth had a knack for making him smile.

Just then, Sandy and Kirsten walked through the door.

Kirsten cried, hurrying forward. Are you okay?

Ryan moved back to allow the two adults more room to get in next to the exam table.

Reaching her son, Kirsten scanned her eyes down his torso, and located the bandages on his right side. She frowned worriedly.

Seth hastened to reassure her. I'm okay, Mom. The doctor says I'll be fine.

Where is the doctor? she asked, looking around.

Ryan answered. He had to go check on a patient. He said he'd be back soon.

Kirsten's attention flickered to Ryan, but almost immediately returned to Seth.

How do you feel? Sandy asked his son.

Seth looked at Ryan, Like I told my brother Ryan here--fine now that they've got this pain killer dripping in my arm. I don't feel a thing.

He grinned at his joke, but his mother looked confused. she asked.

Yeah. Ryan pulled a fast one. He told the paramedics that he was my brother to get them to let him ride in the ambulance. It worked like a charm. Right, bro?

Ryan's arched his eyebrows at him.

So that's what the cop was talking about, Sandy offered. When he called he said something about Ryan being your brother, but I didn't take the time to find out where he'd gotten that impression.

Well, brothers or no brothers, Kirsten said with a sharp note of impatience in her voice, I'd like to know exactly what happened tonight. Why did that boy have a gun? And why did it go off?

It was an accident, Mom, Seth replied. Donnie didn't mean to fire.

So what did happen? Why was this Donnie even there? She looked at Ryan, clearly assuming that he was the one responsible for the other teen's presence at the party.

Seth said quickly, It wasn't Ryan, Mom, it was me. I invited Donnie to come along with us. Ryan tried to tell me it was a bad idea, but I didn't listen.

Sandy said, you boys invited him to the party. How is it that he went from being just another party guest to wielding a gun?

I don't know, Seth said with a small sigh of frustration. He and Luke got into it--I don't even know what about. Just all the sudden Luke was pushing Donnie and saying something about him leaving, and Donnie was pulling this gun out of his pants. I swear, it was surreal. And then Ryan tried to talk Donnie into putting the gun down, but he wouldn't so... Seth looked at Ryan, inviting him to continue the narrative.

Ryan said with a little exhalation of breath, I rushed Donnie, and tried to knock down his gun-hand, but the gun went off, and Seth got hit. Then making eye contact with both Kirsten and Sandy, in turn, he added, I'm so sorry. I should have just stayed out of it.... I'm really sorry.

When neither adult said anything in response, Ryan lowered his eyes to the floor, thinking gloomily that they'd probably want to send him away now. I really blew it, he thought to himself.

Sandy said, at last, we all make mistakes. You shouldn't beat yourself up over this one. Seth's going to be okay. That's the important thing. Then he grinned a little wickedly. Besides, how many kids in Newport Beach have a war wound like this to show off, huh? Seth's popularity is bound to grow by leaps and bounds.

Kirsten said with annoyance. She couldn't find anything funny in the fact that their son had just been shot.

Sorry, honey. Bad joke. Sandy directed an irresistible smile his wife's way, and at last succeeded in winning a small smile in return.

There was a noise at the door, and they turned to see a technician wheeling in a portable X-ray machine. The family moved out of the way. And while Kirsten asked questions, the technician took the X-rays that the doctor had ordered.

It was another twenty minutes, or so, before the doctor came back into the room. The X-rays were in his hand.

Mr. and Mrs. Cohen? I'm Dr. Linden. I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner--I was with another patient--but the delay gave the lab a chance to get these X-rays developed.

He moved purposefully to the X-ray viewer, and flipped it on.

Let's see what we have here... He put the first X-ray on the viewer, and examined it carefully. Kirsten and Sandy came over to see what he was looking at.

he said to them, indicating a section of the X-ray with one index finger, here's the path of the bullet. And this one... He switched the first X-ray for the second, and studied it for several seconds. This one shows that the bullet did not breach the peritoneal cavity. Which is good news, and what I expected to find.

So, what does that mean? Kirsten asked.

It means, Dr. Linden replied, flipping off the viewer, that once the wound has been properly debried, you can take your son home.

Sandy and Kirsten both smiled in relief.

the doctor continued. we'll get the authorization papers for the procedure in here so that you can sign them. And then we'll see about getting Seth upstairs.

And there won't be any permanent damage from the gunshot? Kirsten asked.

No. The wound should heal completely in three or four weeks. Until then he just needs to keep it clean and dry. I'll prescribe some antibiotics to ward off infection, and some pain killers for the short term. Your son should do fine. He smiled in Seth's direction, then looked back to Sandy and Kirsten. Now, if you don't have any more questions, we're a little short-handed around here tonight. The nurse will bring in the papers and also the prescriptions I mentioned and the directions for care of the wound.

He waited a few seconds to make sure the Cohens wouldn't ask anything else, then said to Seth, You take care of yourself, Seth, and make sure you follow those instructions, okay?

Seth said.

All right. Well, good bye. Good luck. And with that, he was out the door.

Sandy said, that's a relief.

Kirsten smiled, and turned to give her husband a hug. Then they both walked back over to the boys.

----+----

It was getting close to midnight when the Cohen family arrived home. Kirsten immediately shepherded Seth upstairs to help him get ready for bed. Sandy and Ryan stood in the entryway and watched silently as mother and son disappeared up the staircase.

Sandy said, that's more excitement than I need in one night.

Ryan's face showed instant regret. I'm sorry, he offered again.

Sandy raised a hand to wave off the apology. Then seeing the dismay still evident in Ryan's expression, he asked reasonably, Did you know Donnie had a gun?



Well, all right, then.



No but's, Ryan. You were faced with a dangerous, volatile situation, and you attempted to defuse it. Now I'm not saying that your choice was the right one, and I sure as heck wouldn't ever want to see you try it again (Seth's not the only one who could have been hurt tonight, you know), but what's done is done. It doesn't do any good to dwell on it. So, let's move on.

Sandy held Ryan's gaze until the teen said, Yeah, okay.

Good. Now, I know we're all beat, so what do you say we just turn in?

Ryan nodded.

I'll see you in the morning, Sandy said.

Right. Good night.

'Night, Ryan. Get some sleep.

Ryan turned and headed for the pool house. Sandy watched until he saw the boy get safely inside the other building. Then with a tired sigh, he headed for the stairs and his own bed.

The End (i.e., of the whole story)