NOTE: I do not own any of these characters… you can thank FOX. If you have any questions or comment you can e-mail me at liverbrain22@hotmail.com or post a review.

(P.s. thanks for the reviews!)

Chapter Five

Lie awake, wondering,
If things could have been much different.
Second chance, what's become
of a friendship if you can call this one?

The pharmacist – Hot Rod Circuit

"Why, what happened?" Ryan questioned Seth who was in a state of shock.

"This has never happened to me before." Seth said.

"What? What hasn't happened to you before?"

"I've never been dumped before."

"I thought you said you were going to dump Anna?" Ryan questioned.

"I did, well I was. I brought her over here after school, right. And I had her in my room and I was trying to tell her that it was over…and well it didn't exactly work out that way. She then went on and on about…oh god I don't even remember, I was shocked. She dumped me! I was supposed to dump her! I hate this…"

"Wait, wait, wait…shouldn't you be happy? I mean, now you have Summer, right?"

"Yeah, of course I do. It's just that, why didn't Anna like me? I'm intelligent, we like all the same things, I make her laugh…how could she dump me?"

Ryan laughed. "Look Seth, it doesn't really matter now, does it? You have Summer and you should be happy. Think of it this way. If you dumped Anna, you would feel bad for her right now. But that didn't happen. Anna dumped you and now she feels bad. It all works out. You're happy." Seth gave Ryan a little shrug. "You're not happy?"

Seth didn't answer right away. As much as he likes Summer, he also likes Anna. He couldn't get over the fact that he had been dumped by someone that he was supposed to be dumped. "Yes Ryan…I'm happy…I mean, she still said she wanted to be friends, that's good." Seth said, walking away to the kitchen.

"Yeah, as long as you're okay with it." Ryan said, trailing Seth into the kitchen.

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Sandy walked into his house at ten o'clock at night. It had been another long day for him at the office and at the lighthouse. He walked into the den and saw Seth passed out on the couch watching t.v. and Kirsten was at the kitchen table reviewing her model home projects.

Sandy went up to Kirsten and gave her a kiss. "Hey."

"Hey, dinner's in the fridge, if you're still hungry." Kirsten said, looking up from her notes.

"I already ate. Where's Ryan?" Sandy asked, looking at the pool house. The lights were off, which meant Ryan wasn't home.

"He's out with Luke, he said he would be home before eleven. Is that okay?" Kirsten asked Sandy, who wasn't too pleased to hear what she had just said.

"No—He shouldn't have the privilege of going out, not right now. The other day he told me that he could take care of himself, Kirsten. But I'm not too sure I believed him. As much as I want to trust Ryan right now, I just can't. I think he's up to something—" Kirsten cut him off.

"Now Sandy, you can't believe that. He's just a kid, and he needs us to trust him right now." Kirsten said, standing up for Ryan. "If you want to be able to have a conversation with him, you have to trust him."

"I know Kirsten, but you shouldn't of let him go out tonight. He doesn't want us to worry about him, but it's kind of hard not to, with his past."

"Don't you think we should put the past behind? You of all people, Sandy! How can you say that about him? I thought you were on his side?" Kirsten was disappointed.

"I am on his side, Kirsten. I just don't like the fact that you let him go out, that's all." Sandy hesitated, "You know what he told me the other night? He said that if he were still living in Chino, he would have had his ass kicked for what he has done these past few weeks. That's what worries me, Kirsten. He thinks he can handle himself, but he can't. And, I know I should trust him…. But I can't. You can't ask that of me."

Kirsten starred at her husband. She couldn't believe that Sandy, of all people, wasn't going to trust Ryan. She, herself, wasn't sure if she should trust him, but she knew that he was a smart kid. She trusts that whatever Ryan is going through right now, he will do the right thing.

"I'm going to bed. Don't stay up too late." Kirsten said, walking pass Sandy. She knew that he would stay up until Ryan got home safely.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"So, what do you want to do?" Luke asked Ryan. They were both in Luke's truck. They were in front of Oliver's hotel. They didn't know if Marissa was there or not, but that would be a chance they have to take.

"I'll go and you stay here." Ryan opened the door and got out of the truck.

"Wait! I'm coming, Ryan! I can't just let you go in there by yourself. I'll wait near by…just incase, okay?" Luke said.

"Okay." Ryan said as they made their way to the hotel. Ryan shoved the tape recorder in his pocket and walked over to the elevator. They made their way up to the top floor and walked down the hallway.

Ryan took the tape recorder out as soon as he reached Oliver's door and pressed record. "Okay, stay over there." Ryan said, pointing down the hallway where it turned a corner.

"If you need me, just yell." Luke said, walking away.

Ryan knocked on Oliver's door. Nothing. He knocked harder this time, reminding him of the times the cops would come over to his house and pound on his door.

"Okay, okay! I'm coming!" Oliver yelled out from the penthouse. He opened the door and was shocked to find Ryan standing there. "What are you doing here?" Oliver asked, he was a bit nervous by the surprise visit. "If you're here to find Marissa, she's not here. I drove her home a half hour ago." Oliver had a smirk on his face and staggered over towards Ryan.

"No, I'm not here for Marissa. I just want to talk…sort things out." Ryan said. He was getting a little nervous himself, and could tell Oliver was on something.

"Well, there's nothing to talk about, Ryan." Oliver said, crossing his arms and leaning his body against the doorframe. "I believe we've already tried to talk about things. Face it Ryan, you and I…we're not like eachother. Don't bother trying to be friends with me…just so you can get close to Marissa. It's over…she told me herself."

Ryan was tensed. "I'm not here to 'win' Marissa over. I'm not like you—"

"Oh really…"

"Yeah…really"

Oliver was getting edgy with Ryan. He didn't like this surprise visit at all. "Look, it's late and I'm sure you don't want to be late going home to your little project."

"Project?" Ryan questioned. "What the hell does that mean?"

"C'mon Ryan, as if you think no one can see what you're doing to the Cohen's." Ryan was infuriated with Oliver. "It's obvious, man. If you think that you can—" With a blow of his fist, Ryan sent Oliver onto the floor on his penthouse.

Oliver immediately got back right up and wiped the blood from his nose. Ryan thought that he was done, but he was wrong. Oliver took a swing at Ryan, who caught his eye with his ring. Luke rushed down the hallway of the hotel and swung his fist into Oliver's stomach. Oliver went down and groaned, holding his stomach with his two hands.

"You okay?" Luke asked Ryan. Ryan was standing at the door, holding his eye.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Ryan said, ignoring the pain the ring had caused.

Oliver started to stand up and stagger around the apartment, searching for something. Luke went in on him again and punched him back to the ground and kicked him multiple times in the stomach, making sure he wasn't going to move again.

Ryan stood there and starred and Luke.

"Sorry—did you get want you wanted?" Luke asked.

"Not really…I mean kind of. He didn't really confess. I have some evidence, but not enough." Ryan looked to the ground, where Oliver just was. He was gone. "Shit, where did he go?"

"Shit!" Luke shouted.

Ryan searched the living room but couldn't find him, then went into the bedroom.

Luke searched around the penthouse but couldn't find Oliver anywhere. All of a sudden he heard two gun shots. "Ryan!" Luke shouted out from the kitchen. There was another loud gunshot that rang throughout the apartment. Luke walked into the bedroom and found Ryan leaned against the wall, holding his arm. "You okay? Where's Oliver?"

Ryan took his hand away from his arm, and with his bloody hand he pointed over to the bed. Luke made his way over to the bed and found Oliver on the other side of the bed, dead. There were pills scattered all over the floor in the bedroom. Luke gagged at the site of Oliver's dead body and turned away, holding his stomach and making sure he wouldn't vomit.

Luke rushed over to Ryan's side. "I'm okay, Luke. Just go get some help, I'll be fine." Ryan said

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sandy sat on the loveseat in the den, starring at the television. It was eleven-thirty already, and Ryan was still not home. He was beginning to get worried. He had the urge to wake up Kirsten, but he didn't want to fight with her again. He also didn't want to get into a fight with Ryan, but he knew that as soon as he walked into the house, he would. He turned off the television and went into the kitchen to get something to eat, when the phone rang.

Sandy picked it up. "Hello? Yes…uh huh…Is he okay? Okay, I'll be right there." Sandy slammed the phone on the receiver and ran upstairs to his bedroom to wake Kirsten up.

"Kirsten!" Sandy shook her sleeping body. "Wake up!"

"What!" Kirsten awakened from her sleep. "What's wrong?" She saw the look on her husband's face, fear.

"It's Ryan, he's at the hospital." Sandy blurted out, taking off his pajamas and changing into his clothes.

"What? What happened?" Kirsten threw her legs over the bed and started to get dressed, herself.

"They didn't say much over the phone. C'mon." Sandy rushed out of the room and ran down the stairs.

"Wait, what about Seth?" Kirsten asked, but it was too late, Sandy was already waiting for her in the car. Kirsten decided not to wake Seth, and left. She promised herself that she would call him as soon as she knows something.

The drive on the way to the hospital was quiet. Kirsten was caught up in her own guilt trip. She blamed herself for whatever happened to Ryan. If Ryan hadn't of gone out tonight, she wouldn't be up at midnight driving to the hospital to see him. She didn't want to make matters worse for Ryan.

When they got to the hospital Sandy and Kirsten rushed into the ER and found Luke sitting down, leaning against a wall with his head between his legs.

Kirsten put her hand on Luke's shoulder. "Luke?"

Luke looked up from the ground and looked at Sandy and Kirsten. He didn't know what to tell them. He didn't know anything about Ryan's condition yet.

"Where's Ryan?" Sandy questioned.

"He's…he got shot. I'm not sure how bad, though. He seemed fine." Luke trailed off, trying to reassure not only himself, but also the Cohen's.

Sandy left to go talk to the receptionist. "Yes, Atwood…Ryan Atwood."

"A doctor will be out shortly. All you can do right now is take a seat." The receptionist said, pointing over to the waiting room where Kirsten and Luke were already in.

Sandy went and took a seat next to Kirsten. Luke was still leaned against the wall with his head between his legs. "How can this happen?" Sandy questioned, rubbing his eyes. He was tired from being awake since six in the morning. "Luke? What happened?" Sandy walked over to Luke and knelt down beside him.

Luke looked up; he was almost in tears. "Oliver…we went to see Oliver and—"

"Oliver did this!" Sandy was infuriated.

"He shot him, twice. But he's okay, he was talking to me in the ambulance." Luke said, reassuring Sandy.

"Where's Oliver?" Kirsten asked.

"Dead."

Both Sandy and Kirsten looked at Luke in shock.

"Ryan…he didn't—"

Luke cut Sandy off. "No! Ryan didn't do anything! Oliver killed himself…" Luke looked to the ground. "It all happened too fast."

A doctor came into the waiting room, and Sandy bounced out of his seat. "How's Ryan?" Sandy asked.

"Please take a seat, I'm Doctor Shorans." Sandy took a seat, as did the doctor. "Ryan came in with two gunshot wounds. One to the right arm, he's in surgery right now, there appears to be some nerve damage. And the other wound was to the left shoulder. The bullet just nicked it. He should be out of surgery within the hour."

"Oh god," Kirsten gasped. "This is all my fault…I shouldn't of let him go out tonight."

"Don't say that Kirsten, this is nobody's fault." Sandy said, taking a hold of her hand.

"I'll be back later with the result of the surgery." Dr. Shorans left.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Seth woke up to his alarm clock. It was seven o'clock in the morning and another school day. He rolled off his bed and left to the bathroom to take a quick shower. When he got out of the shower he went downstairs.

Where the heck is everyone? Seth wondered, as he walked outside to the poolhouse. "Ryan?" Seth called out, opening the door. "Ryan?" He called out again. He then walked back into the house. "Mom…Dad?" He yelled out. "Sweet, I made my family disappear."

Seth walked over the kitchen cupboards and rummaged through the contents. Then he found it, his mom's stash of chocolates. "Nothing like a little chocolate for the morning." Seth said, talking to himself. He ate the chocolate with a cup of coffee. He sat there for a long time, before deciding to go up to his parent's bedroom.

"Mom? Dad?" He yelled out, walking into his parent's bedroom. "Okay, guys! You got me…" Seth walked back to the kitchen and picked up the phone and dialed his dad's cell phone number.

"Hello?" Sandy answered.

"Um, where are you dad? There's, like, no one home…"

"Oh…crap, we forgot to call you! Ryan's at the hospital." Sandy said

"What? Why is he in the hospital, dad?" Seth asked

"He's okay, Seth." Sandy didn't want to upset his son over the phone. "Just come down to the hospital, I'll call the school and tell them you won't be there."

"Okay, I'll be right there." Seth said, hanging up the phone.

Seth grabbed his jacket and car keys and raced over to the hospital. He knew that Ryan and Luke were going over to Oliver's last night to talk to him. He was supposed to go too, but decided he didn't want to. Seth didn't know what to think. How could Ryan be hurt? What about Luke and Oliver?

Seth walked into the hospital and spotted Luke reading a car magazine. "Luke, where's my parents?" Seth asked.

"They are with Ryan right now." Luke said, looking up from this magazine.

"What happened to you guys last night?" Seth asked.

"Shit, Cohen…" Luke put his magazine down. "Oliver's dead, he shot himself and he shot Ryan too."

"What! Shit, how is he?"

"Well, he had to go into surgery at one in the morning and he got out at like two-thirty. The doctor said the surgery went well, considering all the odds and shit. Shit, this is all my fault." Luke rubbed his arm, where he had been shot over a month ago. "He got shot in the arm, Seth. But he wasn't as lucky as I was…there's nerve damage."

"Where is he? I want to see him."

"Room 27." Luke said, pointing down the hallway. "You're parents are talking to the doctor right now.

Seth ran down the hallway in the hospital and spotted his parents talking to a doctor. "Mom, dad…can I see Ryan?" He asked, interrupting the conversation.

"Seth, I'm so sorry for forgetting to call you!" Kirsten said.

"It's okay mom, how's Ryan. Can I see him?"

"He's sleeping, but you can go in." Kirsten said, opening the door to Ryan's room. Seth walked in and saw Ryan lying there on the bed with his eyes open.

"Ryan?" Seth said, walking up to the bed.

"Hey…"

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+Okay, I hope you guys enjoyed this Chapter…I had no clue what I was going to write about…. It all just came out! I'll have chapter six up by Monday sometime.

+Thanks for the reviews! (If you're bored, check out some of my song lyrics I wrote.)