Sandy arrives home after dark. Kirsten flips the outside light on for him, stepping into the driveway.
"Goddamn you, Sandy…why didn't you wait? Why couldn't you get him out of it?" Kirsten asks, upset.
Sandy hugs her. "Please don't make me feel any worse. You didn't have to leave him there…" Sandy whispers, walking away before she can protest. He goes into the house and calls for Seth.
Seth and Summer emerge from the den.
"Where the hell have you been?" Seth asks, seriously. "Where's Ryan?"
"Ryan made me promise not to tell you until after we were sure. I'm sorry…"
"What are you talking about?" Seth replies, too worried to react to Summer's hand grasping his arm.
"The shooter from the school that Ryan took down, his parents are suing the school…anyway, Ryan's on probation and fighting at school is a violation…"
"Where is Ryan?" Seth repeats, his eyes cold.
"Juvenile Hall…"Sandy answers. He turns away from the teenagers, guilt-ridden because he couldn't bring Ryan home. "The charges are going to be dropped but until then…he has to be there…"
"That's why he was acting so weird…that's why he pulled himself together…God…Mr. Cohen, how was he when you left him?"
"I don't know. He accepted it. He made me promise not to tell you. I'll get him out."
Seth is not angry with his father, he walks over to him and embraces him quickly. "Thanks, Dad. Ryan knows you'll get him out."
*****
Sandy slams the door to the house the next night. Kirsten looks up in alarm. "Sandy?"
"Where's Seth?"
"At Summer's. What happened?"
"Nothing…Dammit, nothing…Ryan's case is sitting on some judge's desk somewhere and he…he wouldn't see me when I went for visitation…"
Kirsten gasps. "What?"
"I don't know what's happening to him in there, Kirsten but shouldn't he want to see me for an update on his case?"
"You told him three days, maybe he doesn't want to get his hopes up," Kirsten suggests, upset.
"This isn't fair…dammit…I just feel like we're going to lose him…even if he comes back, I think we might have lost him…"
"Mom, Dad…" Seth walks in abruptly followed by Summer. "We've got news."
Summer holds out a thick manila envelope to Sandy. "Check it out."
Sandy opens the envelope and starts examining the paperwork inside. He glances up, startled. "How'd you get this?"
"I finally got in touch with my parents and my dad called in some favors. He knows the D.A. or something," Summer replies.
"Sandy?" Kirsten calls, still confused.
"This is documentation that the school is dropping all charges. It's what's supposed to happen in 2 days," Sandy explains.
"So can we go get him?" Kirsten asks before Seth can speak.
"Tomorrow. I'll have to take all this to court and cut through the red tape but I should have him out sometime tomorrow." Sandy smiles at Sandy, relieved. "Thank you."
"Hey, Ryan's a friend. He shouldn't be there."
*****
Sandy goes to court the next day while Kirsten takes Summer and Seth to the place where Ryan is being held. Ryan refuses to see them but Kirsten convinces a guard to check again and he agrees to see Seth.
"Oh my god," Seth says as Ryan walks out in his juvie-issued jumpsuit. His face is bruised and a blood-spotted bandage is showing above the collar of his jumpsuit reaching his neck.
"I don't want to talk about it. I don't want you to talk about it," Ryan says evenly, sitting down.
"Shit, Ryan, Dad's in court now and you're getting out today…" Seth starts.
"Stop. Don't give me false hope, Seth. I'm not having a good week." Ryan's eyes are dull
"I'm serious, Ryan. Are you okay?" Seth lowers his voice. He's aware that Ryan is overly tense and keeps furtively casting glances at the other kids in the visitation room.
"I'll live. No harm done. You're mad at me, I assume?" Ryan asks suddenly, changing the subject.
"Hell yeah. But if I had known I would have kidnapped you to Mexico or something…I would've gotten Doctor Adams' needle of obedience juice or something," Seth replies, trying to joke.
Ryan sighs. He raises his handcuffed hands to his face and Seth sees that his hands are bruised darkly.
"Why didn't they take the handcuffs off?" Seth asks, quietly.
"'Cause they think I'll beat the fuck out of somebody," Ryan replies honestly. He lowers his eyes. "I hope your Dad can really get me out soon. Or I'm going to get into more trouble."
"Dammit, Ry, why didn't you run?"
"Luke offered. I don't want to run anymore. I'm going to take my punishment this time…"
"What are you being punished for, Ryan? This is bullshit!" Seth remarks.
Ryan warns him to quiet with his eyes. "It's cool, Seth."
The two friends are silent.
"That kid's in here," Ryan says quietly.
"What kid?"
"That kid that shot Marissa."
Seth gasps. "I thought he was being charged as an adult…"
"His parents must be rich or something. He's like, two cells down," Ryan sighs.
"Ryan, don't do anything stupid, okay?" Seth urges. "We've almost got you out."
"I'm trying. But, Seth…if he says one more thing about Marissa…I can't promise anything, you hear me?" Ryan whispers, serious.
"Yes, you can. I wouldn't ask, Ryan, if I wasn't really serious. Don't touch that kid. It could get you in a lot of trouble. Promise me that you won't touch that kid, Ryan," Seth urges.
Ryan hesitates. "I'm trying, Seth. I made it through two nights, didn't I?"
"Ryan, I know how much it is to ask, but please…you can hold it together a few more hours until Dad gets all your paperwork filed, okay?" Seth adds.
Ryan closes his eyes and puts his swollen hands over his face. "You have entirely too much faith in my self-control."
"You know what you have to do, Ryan, so just focus. Like ice, you told me once. Don't let him get to you…" Seth urges.
"He's already got to me…" Ryan admits, his eyes flashing painfully. "But I needed to hear that. Thanks, Seth. For coming."
"You're getting out of here, okay? I promise you. Just hang on, okay?"
"Okay." Ryan nods slowly.
"Atwood," The guard barks.
"My Dad's on top of it, Ryan. Soon."
Ryan nods again, standing and going to the guard. He vanishes into the windowless compound.
Seth steps out and Kirsten and Summer both rush to his side. Seth's brown eyes are unreadable.
"God, what is it?"
"Nothing. He's fine. Depressed and that's why he doesn't want to see anybody. Looked tired, like he hasn't slept in days," Seth mutters.
"You're lying," Summer accuses.
"I need to talk to Dad," Seth states. "We have to get him out of there."
*****
Sandy finally gets all the proper paperwork filled out by noon and goes to the juvenile hall to get Ryan released. He waits in the office for over an hour before finding out that the long wait is because they cannot locate Ryan. It's apparently recreation time and the guards are being held up due to a small riot. Sandy demands that Ryan be found and released. It's two hours later when a man in a suit arrives to explain things to Sandy.
"Where is Ryan?"
"He's in the infirmary. He'll be joining us momentarily…" The man hesitates.
"Why is he in the infirmary?" Sandy demands.
"There was an incident in the common room. While the guards were trying to locate Mr. Atwood, a fight broke out and they had to intervene. A boy was killed if they helps you understand the seriousness. Several other minor altercations broke out following the death and Mr. Atwood wasn't discovered until after things had settled down.
"Discovered? What does that mean?" Sandy gasps. "Is he alright?"
"He was beaten. He was unconscious when we found him but he's awake now. He has a slight concussion, a lot of bruising but we don't see any sign or broken bones or damage that would warrant a hospital."
"I want him now…" Sandy replies, adamant.
"Hey." Ryan's voice is hoarse from the hallway.
"Damn, Ryan, are you okay?" Sandy starts toward him.
"Depends. Are we leaving?" Ryan replies, stepping back against the wall into shadow.
"Yes, we are." Sandy turns to the man in the suit. "Expect a call from our lawyer…"
"Risk management will contact you, Mr. Cohen," The man nods.
Sandy doesn't see Ryan's face until they get outside in the daylight. He was too rushed to get him out of there that he had simply gripped Ryan's arm and pulled him to the entrance.
"Hey. Hold up," Ryan mutters.
"What?" Sandy asks, looking at him. One of Ryan's eyes is swollen shut and the other eye is red with blood in the white of it. His face is bruised and he is barely recognizable. The arm Sandy is holding is bandaged tightly.
"Well, do you have keys for these?" Ryan asks, raising his cuffed hands. He pulls away from Sandy and faces the guard that has been following them closely. The guard unlocks the cuffs and Ryan turns back to Sandy.
"Sorry," Sandy says, flushed. "Let's go."
Sandy holds the door to his car open and Ryan gets inside. Sandy starts the car and starts home. "Ryan, what happened in there?"
"I don't want to talk about it…" Ryan mutters. He leans back in the seat and Sandy sees the bandage on his chest.
"I'm sorry but you're going to have to talk about it. They said someone died…" Sandy starts.
"And he fucking deserved it…I just wish I could've seen it…" Ryan states coldly.
"Ryan!" Sandy gasps.
"You haven't talked to Seth, have you?" Ryan asks, suddenly.
"I haven't had time, I was trying to get you out," Sandy replies.
Ryan laughs humorlessly, covering his face with his hand. "Shit…thank you for getting me out of there…I wish you could have gotten there, like, three hours earlier…"
"Who did that to you?"
"Let's call it a team effort," Ryan replies.
"I need you to talk to me, Ryan. Please…"
"I didn't kill that kid, Mr. Cohen," Ryan states suddenly. "I should have killed him. He deserved it. Painfully. But I held up my hands and let him take his shots at me. I let him do it. I'm stronger than him. I'm strong." His eyes are distant when he lowers his hand.
"Ryan…"
"I just…I couldn't believe he was there…and I can't repeat the things he said to me…so I just…"
"Who?" Sandy asks, confused and concerned .
"Allan Yearby," Ryan mutters.
Sandy stops the car in the middle of a deserted street a few blocks from their house. He turns to Ryan. "Allan Yearby was in juvie with you. The boy that's suing the school…the boy that killed…"
"I didn't touch him, Mr. Cohen," Ryan whispers. "Now can we please go home?"
Sandy starts to drive away.
"Wait…" Ryan says suddenly, swinging open the door of the car and stumbling out. He is violently sick. Sandy pulls the car completely off the street and gets out as Ryan is recovering.
"Ryan, are you okay?" Sandy asks, glancing at him. Ryan nods, turns away and spits blood.
"I'm cool now. Sorry about that," Ryan says.
"Blood. Are you vomiting blood?"
Ryan shrugs. "I don't know. It's normal after a beating like this." He gets back in the car. "Trust me."
Sandy is chilled. He takes Ryan home. They pull into the driveway and Sandy turns to Ryan.
"I'm okay. I just need to sleep for a few days," Ryan says, not opening his eyes but sensing Sandy's gaze.
"Okay. There are some things we need to discuss when you're better…" Sandy says.
"Talk. I need something to focus on," Ryan replies, opening his good eye.
"We're taking you out of school for a while. We're hiring a tutor to fulfill the requirements and we have an agreement that you can reenroll at any time without losing a grade…"
"I don't care, I'll do whatever you want me to do," Ryan replies, tiredly.
"Okay…"
"Jail. I need to know if I'm going to jail…"
"No. Everything's back to square one. You're still on probation but you aren't going to earn any extra time and this whole thing…is gone. Nonexistent…"
Ryan glances at him. "So…what the fuck was I doing in there?"
"Allan Yearby's lawsuit…some kind of publicity ploy to shift blame from their son onto you which failed miserably…you've got worldwide support…"
"No jail…I guess that's enough…" Ryan nods. His face is emotionless beneath the bruising.
"You're home now. You need to get some rest but there's a bunch of people in the house that are waiting to see you," Sandy nods. Ryan glances out the window. Seth is standing in the open door, worried.
"Cool." Ryan opens the door and steps out.
"Ryan?" Seth calls. Summer bursts through the door, rushing to Ryan and assaulting him in a hug that slams him against the car.
"Easy there," Ryan smiles, returning her desperate hug.
Summer gasps as she sees his condition. "God…I'm so sorry, are you okay? What happened to you…" She gushes.
"I'm okay. I'm cool. I'll be beautiful again in a couple of days," Ryan says. He looks up to Seth. He releases Summer and gives Seth a brotherly hug.
"Everything cool?" Seth whispers.
"I'll tell you later," Ryan mutters.
Kirsten is next, pulling Ryan into a hug. "I'm sorry…"
"It's okay, I'm home now…" Ryan replies.
"Let's go inside. Ryan needs to get some rest," Kirsten says, giving Sandy a horrified expression at Ryan's condition.
"I think I need to go lie down," Ryan admits. "I need a shower and to lie down…"
"Come on," Summer says, gently taking his arm and leading him through the house to the pool house. Seth follows them inside.
"What did you do?" Seth asks as Summer leads Ryan to the couch and lets him sit down.
"Nothing, Seth," Ryan replies.
"Really?"
"God…" Ryan clenches his swollen hands in frustration. "Fucking kid came after me today and I just let him fuck me up, Seth…all I wanted to do was snap his fucking neck…"
"Ryan! What are you talking about?" Summer gasps. She quiets after a glare from Seth.
"Damn, man…"
"So I was out cold when the other kids fucked him up. They killed him and…dammit, Seth…" Ryan shakes his head. "I'm not sorry that he's dead…"
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Summer demands.
"Allan Yearby," Seth replies. Ryan stands up and leaves the room. They hear the shower turn on.
"You are not serious. Tell me you're not serious…" Summer asks, pale.
Ryan lets the shower heat up, filling the bathroom with steam so he doesn't have to look at himself in the mirror. He hurts but not from the cuts and the bruises. Marissa's still gone and he hurts. He pulls the bandage off his sliced arm, ignoring the still oozing blood. He slowly unwraps the bandages that are holding his cracked ribs in place. The gash on his chest is next, the end barely stopping at his jugular. He steps into the hot shower and leans his head against the wall. The water in the drain is red like Marissa.
"Did you hear that?" Seth asks Summer several minutes later.
"It sounded like…somebody falling over in the shower…" Summer realizes. "He has been in there a while…"
"Should we go in there?" Seth hesitates as they stand outside the door.
"Haven't you ever been to a frat party?" Summer asks sarcastically. "Somebody always passes out in the bathroom." She knocks loudly. "Ryan? Ryan, answer me if you're okay!" There is no response.
"Ryan, kick the door if you're okay!" Summer yells.
"What now?" Seth asks, after a long pause. She goes to the towel closet and grabs a beach towel.
"I'm going in," Summer announces.
"Summer, he's going to kick your ass if you go in there," Seth warns her.
"It's simple, Cohen, I'm going to turn my head, toss the curtain back and cover with the towel. It's Drunk 101, shit, I know I've passed out at Holly's, like, every other weekend so I know…" Summer says calmly. She swings open the steamy bathroom and steps inside. She sees Ryan's limp hand on the edge of the tub. She closes her eyes and covers him with the towel. On any other day she would have peeked, but she knows Marissa would be disappointed in her.
"Clear," She calls to Seth, turning the water in the shower off.
*****