Okay this story has not gone where I wanted it too and maybe I'll rewrite
it but here is an update for now and I think one more chapter should do it.
Sandy set down his cell phone to wake Kirsten. Seth had just called to inform them that Ryan had woken up. Not once but twice.
Seth had not mentioned what Ryan knew and from the way Seth avoided the question when Sandy asked, he knew Ryan knew everything.
Kirsten jumped at the first touch as if ready and waiting. She immediately called Seth back and jumped into the shower.
Sandy made his way to his closet to change when his phone rang again. Glancing at the caller I.D he knew this couldn't be a good call.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Twenty minutes after Seth got off the phone with his mother, both of his parents entered Ryan's room. He was happy to see his dad there.
"What did he say when he woke?" Kirsten asked stroking Ryan's hair back.
Seth glanced at Sandy. "Um, I'm not sure I wasn't here when he woke up the first time. But he is pretty coherent, just tired and achy. Said his head hurt the worse."
Kirsten was about to ask why Seth hadn't been there when she saw the look pass between the two men.
Sandy sighed. "I'm sorry, I should have came and gotten you when Seth called, it wasn't until he yelled at me that I realized I was being an idiot."
Kirsten looked shocked at this revelation, as was Seth.
"Seth yelled at you?" She asked amused.
"Yeah and he did a good job too." Sandy said smiling at Seth who blushed and look down, happy at not being grounded for that stunt.
"So has anyone else been in to see Ryan? Dr. Foor? Dr. Elly?" Kirsten asked still smoothing Ryan's hair.
"Yeah Dr. Foor came in while Ryan was awake, they gave him some pain medicine. Also Detective Haines dropped by." While Seth answered his mother he reached into Ryan's nightstand and drew out a business card that was identical to one Sandy had. The same card given by the same man.
Sandy fingered the card.
"So-so he knows?" Sandy asked gesturing to Ryan.
Seth just nodded.
"How much?" Sandy needed to know.
Seth decided to go honest. "Well he stopped saying you killed his mom, know it's just that you hit her. Haines pretty much gave his side of the story. It's not pretty Dad."
Sandy sighed. He passed the card back to Seth who dropped it back in the drawer.
"I received a call before I got here. They're pushing for a trial. They're pushing for next week."
"A trial on what?" Seth was confused.
"The death of Dawn Atwood."
"They can't have a trial! They don't even have the autopsy report back! They don't even know if it was murder!" Kirsten all but shrieked.
"Yes, but they do have a body, with a weapon and a suspect with a motive."
"Uh, what about self-defense?" Seth asked.
"Dawn wasn't coming after me." Sandy replied quietly.
"But still, she was trying to kill Ryan! That's gotta count for something!" Now Seth was getting loud.
Sandy sighed again.
"This is going to get ugly. Ryan already blames me and when he gets well enough to get out of here they are not going to let him come home if I'm there and on trial for killing his mother."
"What are you saying?" Kirsten asked worried.
"I'm saying either I move out or Ryan will be sent to a home. And we all know how much he enjoys those." Sandy added after a beat.
"No! This was all an accident. We'll tell Ryan what happened. The autopsy report will show that you did nothing to add to her death. Our family is not breaking up over this!" Kirsten was close to tears.
Sandy moved closer and wrapped his arms around her.
"Even if it is proven that it was an accident I couldn't take Ryan blaming me. And now I shouldn't even be here. If the authorities knew they would say I was trying to sway Ryan and I could be in more trouble. Our family will not break up, but I am not letting Ryan get shipped off to a home while I am on trial. It will just be temporary. Everything will sort itself out." Sandy soothed almost whispering to her.
"Where will you go?" Kirsten whimpered.
Sandy smiled. "Jimmy offered me a place. Marissa is staying with Summer for awhile, while her parents are out of town. I was offered the couch."
"How do you have all this planned?" Kirsten asked surprised.
"I did it all while you were in the shower." He laughed. Glancing over to Seth he let go of Kirsten and made his way to the other side of Ryan's bed.
Seth in shock had seated himself in the chair he had been previously sitting in. He was staring dumbly at the wall behind Kirsten.
"Seth, you okay?" Sandy asked squatting down.
Slowly Seth lowered his eyes to meet his dad's.
"Whatever's best." He whispered.
Sandy nodded, giving him a pat on the shoulder before he stood and went back to Kirsten. Giving her a quick peck on the cheek, he turned to Ryan and clapped him on his uninjured leg.
"See ya." He whispered then left.
Kirsten and Seth stared in shock at the empty doorway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . The next few days were tough on everyone. Ryan was awake more but at times still confused, fatigued and very much in pain. Because of his stomach and leg he was restricted to a wheelchair which he did not like. He never asked about Sandy and only knew of him moving out from Detective Haines stopping by to interview him again and saying how good it was that Sandy had moved out, otherwise they would find somewhere else for Ryan to live. Ryan knew the Detective thought it was better that Ryan live somewhere else then with Sandy, but even though Ryan hated Sandy he still knew living with him was better then anywhere else they could put him.
It wasn't until the day before Dawn's funeral that the autopsy report came in. Ryan learned of the cause of his mother's death when an official looking man entered his hospital room and gave him his mother's death certificate. Glancing at it his eyes strayed to Cause of Death. Right there underneath it told and Ryan felt his world crash under him.
Cause of Death: Overdose: Heroin/alcohol.
His mother had caused her own death. Ryan didn't know if he should feel relief or disappointment. His mother killed herself and right before she went out in all her glory she tried to take her son with her. Now that he had this information he needed to know more.
Grabbing Haines's number he hesitantly dialed in. Upon reaching the Detective Ryan asked the question he needed answered now.
Haines understood and read off the autopsy report given to him.
Across shoulder slight bruise made by blunt object.
What does that mean? Ryan asked.
It means that if your mother hadn't been under the influence and close to overdosing, that blow wouldn't have phased her. You might not be here if she had been in perfect health, she would have finished the job. The blow made by Sandy in no way contributed to her death. All charges were being dropped and an apology was being issued. The officer even apologized before he got off the phone.
Ryan sat in his bed pondering what this meant. For some reason he was still mad at Sandy, he had hit his mom! But then another part of his brain rationalized that if he hadn't tried to stop her Ryan would certainly be dead. Then again his mom was still dead. Would Sandy move back in? Would everything return too normal?
Seth had mentioned they moved Ryan's stuff into the house. As of now he occupied the downstairs guestroom but as soon as he got his cast off they were upgrading him to the room between Kirsten's and Seth's. Did he deserve that? He got the hell beaten out of him and they decide to give him a room in the house?
Well, at least his mother went out with a bang, Ryan mused. His face was returning to normal color and the swelling was decreasing so he looked almost human again. He could see the outline of the purse across his cheek. His arm only had 2 more days in the sling and once he had full use of it again he could get crutches instead of using the wheelchair. His stomach was healing nicely as the doctors told him. He would have pains now and then and he was still missing an organ, but the doctors assured him he could live without it. His ribs were mending nicely, breathing didn't hurt nearly as bad. The knee was painful and he was looking at a few months of physical therapy but a therapist pledged with a lot of hard work it would be back to normal in no time. Last but not least Ryan wiggled his broken toes, they too were almost healed. Well, mom you did a bang up job. I love you too he added in his head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following morning Ryan dressed in a dark blue suit that Kirsten had bought. The pants looked ridiculous being so huge to allow for his cast but he looked presentable. Seth wheeled him out of the hospital and to the car.
It was a quiet ride to the cemetery. No one not even Seth choose to break the silence. Ryan rode in back by himself. Kirsten and Seth sat up front occasionally glancing back at the quiet boy. Ryan still hadn't seen or heard from Sandy and he wasn't to keen on doing either in the near future. He still needed someone to blame and Sandy was an easy target.
The three of them were the only ones present at Dawn's graveside. The minister soon joined them followed by Sandy. Casting one look over to him, Ryan quickly dropped his eyes and didn't raise them until it was over.
Sandy said a Jewish prayer before departing with Kirsten right behind him.
"Hey, I'm gonna go over there, just let me know when you want to go." Seth said leaning down to catch Ryan's eye.
Ryan nodded gratefully they all understood that he needed to be alone.
Ryan stared hatefully at the coffin.
"How could you do this? You screwed everything up again. You beat me and Sandy gets blamed. You take away the only trust I had. From the only family I had. You had to screw up your life but did you have to screw mine up too? I was finally going somewhere; I was going to be somebody. Now I'll probably go back on the streets. Why couldn't you just leave everything alone? What am I going to do now? Tell me! What am I going to do now?" Ryan said almost shouting.
He leaned back in his wheelchair when he felt the wind shift and heard voices. Glancing behind him he could make out Sandy and Kirsten sitting on a bench not far away. The wind was now carrying their voices.
".never been that scared. He's like my son and I couldn't protect him. She could have killed him. I don't know what's worse, not protecting Ryan well enough from Dawn or having Ryan mad at me for hitting her while trying to save him. I feel like he's my own son, if it were Seth I think I would be feeling the same way. I miss him. I miss you. I miss Seth. As long as Ryan is uncomfortable around me I'll stay away. I want him to feel safe. I never wanted this to happen." Sandy stopped talking as his head fell onto Kirsten's shoulder heavy with grief.
Kirsten was crying silently for the pain her husband and adoptive son were in. There was nothing she could do about it.
Ryan glanced up at the bright blue sky. "Thank you." He whispered.
Waving Seth over, the two started towards the car.
"Hey, I need to ask you a favor." Ryan started.
Sandy set down his cell phone to wake Kirsten. Seth had just called to inform them that Ryan had woken up. Not once but twice.
Seth had not mentioned what Ryan knew and from the way Seth avoided the question when Sandy asked, he knew Ryan knew everything.
Kirsten jumped at the first touch as if ready and waiting. She immediately called Seth back and jumped into the shower.
Sandy made his way to his closet to change when his phone rang again. Glancing at the caller I.D he knew this couldn't be a good call.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Twenty minutes after Seth got off the phone with his mother, both of his parents entered Ryan's room. He was happy to see his dad there.
"What did he say when he woke?" Kirsten asked stroking Ryan's hair back.
Seth glanced at Sandy. "Um, I'm not sure I wasn't here when he woke up the first time. But he is pretty coherent, just tired and achy. Said his head hurt the worse."
Kirsten was about to ask why Seth hadn't been there when she saw the look pass between the two men.
Sandy sighed. "I'm sorry, I should have came and gotten you when Seth called, it wasn't until he yelled at me that I realized I was being an idiot."
Kirsten looked shocked at this revelation, as was Seth.
"Seth yelled at you?" She asked amused.
"Yeah and he did a good job too." Sandy said smiling at Seth who blushed and look down, happy at not being grounded for that stunt.
"So has anyone else been in to see Ryan? Dr. Foor? Dr. Elly?" Kirsten asked still smoothing Ryan's hair.
"Yeah Dr. Foor came in while Ryan was awake, they gave him some pain medicine. Also Detective Haines dropped by." While Seth answered his mother he reached into Ryan's nightstand and drew out a business card that was identical to one Sandy had. The same card given by the same man.
Sandy fingered the card.
"So-so he knows?" Sandy asked gesturing to Ryan.
Seth just nodded.
"How much?" Sandy needed to know.
Seth decided to go honest. "Well he stopped saying you killed his mom, know it's just that you hit her. Haines pretty much gave his side of the story. It's not pretty Dad."
Sandy sighed. He passed the card back to Seth who dropped it back in the drawer.
"I received a call before I got here. They're pushing for a trial. They're pushing for next week."
"A trial on what?" Seth was confused.
"The death of Dawn Atwood."
"They can't have a trial! They don't even have the autopsy report back! They don't even know if it was murder!" Kirsten all but shrieked.
"Yes, but they do have a body, with a weapon and a suspect with a motive."
"Uh, what about self-defense?" Seth asked.
"Dawn wasn't coming after me." Sandy replied quietly.
"But still, she was trying to kill Ryan! That's gotta count for something!" Now Seth was getting loud.
Sandy sighed again.
"This is going to get ugly. Ryan already blames me and when he gets well enough to get out of here they are not going to let him come home if I'm there and on trial for killing his mother."
"What are you saying?" Kirsten asked worried.
"I'm saying either I move out or Ryan will be sent to a home. And we all know how much he enjoys those." Sandy added after a beat.
"No! This was all an accident. We'll tell Ryan what happened. The autopsy report will show that you did nothing to add to her death. Our family is not breaking up over this!" Kirsten was close to tears.
Sandy moved closer and wrapped his arms around her.
"Even if it is proven that it was an accident I couldn't take Ryan blaming me. And now I shouldn't even be here. If the authorities knew they would say I was trying to sway Ryan and I could be in more trouble. Our family will not break up, but I am not letting Ryan get shipped off to a home while I am on trial. It will just be temporary. Everything will sort itself out." Sandy soothed almost whispering to her.
"Where will you go?" Kirsten whimpered.
Sandy smiled. "Jimmy offered me a place. Marissa is staying with Summer for awhile, while her parents are out of town. I was offered the couch."
"How do you have all this planned?" Kirsten asked surprised.
"I did it all while you were in the shower." He laughed. Glancing over to Seth he let go of Kirsten and made his way to the other side of Ryan's bed.
Seth in shock had seated himself in the chair he had been previously sitting in. He was staring dumbly at the wall behind Kirsten.
"Seth, you okay?" Sandy asked squatting down.
Slowly Seth lowered his eyes to meet his dad's.
"Whatever's best." He whispered.
Sandy nodded, giving him a pat on the shoulder before he stood and went back to Kirsten. Giving her a quick peck on the cheek, he turned to Ryan and clapped him on his uninjured leg.
"See ya." He whispered then left.
Kirsten and Seth stared in shock at the empty doorway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . The next few days were tough on everyone. Ryan was awake more but at times still confused, fatigued and very much in pain. Because of his stomach and leg he was restricted to a wheelchair which he did not like. He never asked about Sandy and only knew of him moving out from Detective Haines stopping by to interview him again and saying how good it was that Sandy had moved out, otherwise they would find somewhere else for Ryan to live. Ryan knew the Detective thought it was better that Ryan live somewhere else then with Sandy, but even though Ryan hated Sandy he still knew living with him was better then anywhere else they could put him.
It wasn't until the day before Dawn's funeral that the autopsy report came in. Ryan learned of the cause of his mother's death when an official looking man entered his hospital room and gave him his mother's death certificate. Glancing at it his eyes strayed to Cause of Death. Right there underneath it told and Ryan felt his world crash under him.
Cause of Death: Overdose: Heroin/alcohol.
His mother had caused her own death. Ryan didn't know if he should feel relief or disappointment. His mother killed herself and right before she went out in all her glory she tried to take her son with her. Now that he had this information he needed to know more.
Grabbing Haines's number he hesitantly dialed in. Upon reaching the Detective Ryan asked the question he needed answered now.
Haines understood and read off the autopsy report given to him.
Across shoulder slight bruise made by blunt object.
What does that mean? Ryan asked.
It means that if your mother hadn't been under the influence and close to overdosing, that blow wouldn't have phased her. You might not be here if she had been in perfect health, she would have finished the job. The blow made by Sandy in no way contributed to her death. All charges were being dropped and an apology was being issued. The officer even apologized before he got off the phone.
Ryan sat in his bed pondering what this meant. For some reason he was still mad at Sandy, he had hit his mom! But then another part of his brain rationalized that if he hadn't tried to stop her Ryan would certainly be dead. Then again his mom was still dead. Would Sandy move back in? Would everything return too normal?
Seth had mentioned they moved Ryan's stuff into the house. As of now he occupied the downstairs guestroom but as soon as he got his cast off they were upgrading him to the room between Kirsten's and Seth's. Did he deserve that? He got the hell beaten out of him and they decide to give him a room in the house?
Well, at least his mother went out with a bang, Ryan mused. His face was returning to normal color and the swelling was decreasing so he looked almost human again. He could see the outline of the purse across his cheek. His arm only had 2 more days in the sling and once he had full use of it again he could get crutches instead of using the wheelchair. His stomach was healing nicely as the doctors told him. He would have pains now and then and he was still missing an organ, but the doctors assured him he could live without it. His ribs were mending nicely, breathing didn't hurt nearly as bad. The knee was painful and he was looking at a few months of physical therapy but a therapist pledged with a lot of hard work it would be back to normal in no time. Last but not least Ryan wiggled his broken toes, they too were almost healed. Well, mom you did a bang up job. I love you too he added in his head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following morning Ryan dressed in a dark blue suit that Kirsten had bought. The pants looked ridiculous being so huge to allow for his cast but he looked presentable. Seth wheeled him out of the hospital and to the car.
It was a quiet ride to the cemetery. No one not even Seth choose to break the silence. Ryan rode in back by himself. Kirsten and Seth sat up front occasionally glancing back at the quiet boy. Ryan still hadn't seen or heard from Sandy and he wasn't to keen on doing either in the near future. He still needed someone to blame and Sandy was an easy target.
The three of them were the only ones present at Dawn's graveside. The minister soon joined them followed by Sandy. Casting one look over to him, Ryan quickly dropped his eyes and didn't raise them until it was over.
Sandy said a Jewish prayer before departing with Kirsten right behind him.
"Hey, I'm gonna go over there, just let me know when you want to go." Seth said leaning down to catch Ryan's eye.
Ryan nodded gratefully they all understood that he needed to be alone.
Ryan stared hatefully at the coffin.
"How could you do this? You screwed everything up again. You beat me and Sandy gets blamed. You take away the only trust I had. From the only family I had. You had to screw up your life but did you have to screw mine up too? I was finally going somewhere; I was going to be somebody. Now I'll probably go back on the streets. Why couldn't you just leave everything alone? What am I going to do now? Tell me! What am I going to do now?" Ryan said almost shouting.
He leaned back in his wheelchair when he felt the wind shift and heard voices. Glancing behind him he could make out Sandy and Kirsten sitting on a bench not far away. The wind was now carrying their voices.
".never been that scared. He's like my son and I couldn't protect him. She could have killed him. I don't know what's worse, not protecting Ryan well enough from Dawn or having Ryan mad at me for hitting her while trying to save him. I feel like he's my own son, if it were Seth I think I would be feeling the same way. I miss him. I miss you. I miss Seth. As long as Ryan is uncomfortable around me I'll stay away. I want him to feel safe. I never wanted this to happen." Sandy stopped talking as his head fell onto Kirsten's shoulder heavy with grief.
Kirsten was crying silently for the pain her husband and adoptive son were in. There was nothing she could do about it.
Ryan glanced up at the bright blue sky. "Thank you." He whispered.
Waving Seth over, the two started towards the car.
"Hey, I need to ask you a favor." Ryan started.
