'Rescued Identity' by Samantha J.
Summary: an AU version of the episode "The Outsider" and how things could have gone differently. Marissa decides to go the party and Ryan gets into an uncomfortable situation. (Spoilers for Episode 5)
A/N: Heh. Cliffhanger. Please review- I hate doing short chapters, but I have decided for this fic that I will put it up as I write it (day by day) when I usually set my chapters. This is more of an update than a chapter, really.
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Ryan removed the hands from his shoulders. He tried to protest, but he couldn't breathe, let alone talk. He wheezed something, seeing Marissa look down, troubled.
"What?"
He pulled at her arm, and she leaned over. "No ambulance."
Worry lines appeared on her forehead. She opened her mouth but he interrupted, saying louder and clearly, "No ambulance, I'm fine." He pushed himself up to a sitting position. Ryan kept his face stony as pain seared up his side, burning in his lungs. Marissa turned blurry.
"Are you sure you should be doing that? I hit you pretty hard." Donnie squatted at his side. The headlights finally turned off as somebody turned the car engine off, and Ryan could see. A couple people had halted, but most, seeing Donnie, hadn't waited around to see what had happened.
Donnie said something. Ryan blinked, trying to figure out what he had said.
"No, I've got him." Marissa said, gesturing to her car. Donnie glanced at it briefly. Ryan was short of breath but he heaved himself to his feet. I'm probably fine, he told himself. I can deal.
"Yeah, I'm fine. See ya around."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
Donne got in his car looking unnerved and they drove away. "Ryan I think we should at least go-"
"I'm fine." He insisted. "Let's go." The passenger door was close; he grabbed it, getting inside. A moment later Marissa had gone around and gotten in the driver's side, sticking the key into the ignition.
"What about Seth?"
"He'll be fine, let's just go." Ryan blurted, struggling with his seat-belt. He felt guilty about leaving Seth, but home seemed like a quiet haven compared to this dark, mind-numbing chaos.
He didn't need to go to the hospital, he wasn't injured. Ryan hated hospitals.
Ryan sneered to himself. Bad smells, weird, blank and cheery people. Pain was usually involved. It was no big deal, really, he had landed there several times when he was younger, resulting from some bad 'falls'. But when you get in a bad fight or got jumped or beaten, then it's best just to go home and ride it out. This was the practically the same thing, right? He'd been worse.
Marissa navigated through the streets of Newport, glancing anxiously over at Ryan. He was silent and glassy eyed, staring out the window. They pulled up in front of the Cohen's house. She stepped out of the car, peering around. Walking around, she opened the door for him as he was unresponsive.
"Nobody's here."
"Kirsten is gone at that 'yogilates' thing with your mom, she shouldn't be back for a couple hours." Ryan said dully, shrugging. "Sandy's probably just out… or he could be working."
She nodded, biting her lip. "My dad's not here either, he doesn't leave the house much anymore. I wonder where he could have…" Not bothering to finish, she took a firm hold on Ryan's arm to pull him to his feet. Arms wrapped around each other, they walked up to the Cohen house.
Inside, Ryan went for the couch, letting out a deep sigh as he sunk deep into the cushions. A moment of hesitation went unnoticed as Marissa looked around the room, finally taking a seat next to him.
-tbc-