Thanks for all the fantastic reviews.  I love to read what people think and how they react to the characters and situations I've written.  Many of you have commented that they don't need Roger to sign over his rights, that a judge could do it.  Yes, that is true.  So read on to see what happens…  So read on.  Enjoy.  Review.  And oh yeah, usual disclaimers apply.

Ryan tossed and turned in bed as Roger's words replayed in his dreams.

"No. I won't do it.  You're my kid, Ryan.  I'm not signing any paper that will deny it or give up that right."

Roger's face loomed over Ryan.  His upper lip contorted into odd shapes as he jeered at his son.

"No. I won't do it.  You're my kid, Ryan."

The words replayed over and over again, like a broken record.  "Y-y-our m- my k-kid."

Ryan shook himself awake, desperate to escape his dream.  He sat up in bed and wiped sweat off his forehead, pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs.  He hadn't been prepared for the jailhouse visit.  He had put up a suit of armor to ready him for his father's rejection, but didn't know what to do with his insistence that they were family.

            They weren't family, Ryan thought as he rested his chin on top of his knees. 

His mind drifted back to that afternoon.  Roger cockily leaned back in his seat and sneered at Ryan.  "I'm not signing any papers."

            "Please do it, Dad."

            Roger leaned forward, putting his head close to Ryan's hanging chin.  "What do I get out of it?"

            Ryan looked up and straight into Roger's eyes.  He could feel his leg trembling under the table.  "If you really gave a damn about me, you wouldn't need to get anything out of it."

            "You see," said Roger, banging the table, "That's why I can't sign those papers.  I've still got so much to teach you.  There's always something in it for you.  Take your do-good lawyer.  If he adopts you, at the very least, you'll be a tax deduction."

            Through gritted teeth Sandy finally spoke up.  "My wife and I don't need the tax deduction, Mr. Atwood.  We don't need you to sign those papers, either.  It won't take much for us to go to court and get a judge to terminate your parental rights.  Our lawyer advised us to approach you first, since you probably had Ryan's best interest at heart.  But she was wrong.  You don't have a heart."

            Sandy abruptly stood and started stuffing the papers into his briefcase.  He then thought better of it, and left a copy of the legal document on the table, hoping Roger might change his mind and make this easier for them.  Ryan wordlessly followed Sandy briefly glancing over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of his father.

            "I'm sorry, Ryan," Sandy said in the car.  "I shouldn't have lost my cool like tha-"

            Ryan cut him off.  "How much did you pay him to do that?"

            "Excuse me?"  Sandy clutched the wheel, his knuckles turning white.

            "My father doesn't give a damn about me.  He never gave a damn about family.  So nothing in there rang true.  What did you do?  Approach him ahead of time and ask him to refuse the adoption so that I would feel like he wasn't rejecting me?"

            Sandy averted his gaze from the road to gape at Ryan.  "Where did that come from?" he asked incredulously. 

            "I wouldn't put it past you."

            "I'm not that creative."  There was an edge to his voice that Sandy instantly regretted.

            Ryan closed his eyes.  He didn't know what to think about what happened in there.  Could Sandy be telling the truth?  He had never lied to Ryan before.  Did that mean Roger actually had some paternal feelings for Ryan or was he just trying to stick it him the only way he could?

            "It's up to you, Ryan, but Rachel can file a petition with the court asking them to terminate his rights.  It won't be any trouble and then we can proceed with the adoption."

            "I want Roger to change his mind on his own.  For once in his life, I want him to do something for me."

            Ryan's head jerked up as he heard shuffling footsteps by his door.  His bedside clock read three a.m.. 

            "Can't sleep?" Sandy asked, standing in the doorway.

            Ryan shrugged. 

            "About this afternoon."  Sandy stepped into the room and approached the bed. 

            "Forget it.  I'm sorry.  What I said – it wasn't fair.  I know it's not true."

            "I wish I were so cunning."

            "You're a lawyer Sandy."

            "But when it comes to my family, I don't think like one."  Sandy looked down at the floor.  With his big toe, he traced shapes into the carpet.  "I spoke to Rachel this afternoon.  She suggested we wait a few days, but then she'll go down to meet with Roger and see if she can persuade him to sign the papers."

            Sandy hadn't thought of bribing Roger to refuse signing the necessary forms, but he had thought of bribing him to get him to sign it.  He had hinted at it to Rachel, who had picked up on it right away.

            "Don't jeopardize this, Sandy," she had advised.  "Play it by the rules.  You don't want it to come back and bite you in the ass."

            He knew she was right, but Sandy so much wanted to make it right for Ryan.  The boy was so fragile.  He gazed at him, sitting on the bed curled into a ball, certain that Ryan had another nightmare.  From the looks of it, it hadn't been as intense as some of the earlier ones, but it made him realize how fragile his son was.  It barely took a shove to send him back to those hellish nights.

            He patted Ryan's knee and said, "try and go back to sleep.  We'll figure this out together.  Okay?"

            Monday morning Marissa came to drive them to school.  Ryan was silent the entire ride and left Seth to fill in the conversation.  Every so often, Marissa asked her boyfriend if everything was all right, but she only got a murmur in response.  Seth prattled endlessly about Summer, the dance that was coming up in school and other inane topics.  But he was loyal to his brother.  If Ryan didn't want to talk, he wasn't going to give him up.  Even if Marissa did keep shooting him imploring looks.

            When they arrived in school, Ryan absently pecked Marissa on the cheek and headed off to class.  He forgot to say bye to Seth and didn't notice Luke trying to catch his attention.  It was during second period that Ryan decided what to do.  They were waiting for their teacher, who was missing in action.  Seth sat beside him in the only class they shared, trying to catch his brother's attention, but giving up when he saw how lost in thought Ryan was.

            "Ry,"Seth said, trying one more time.  "Mom and Dad are going to take care of it.  Don't let it get to you like this."

            But Ryan didn't seem to hear.  He slammed his notebook shut and looked at Seth.  "I'm out of here."  He started to stand, but Seth grabbed his arm.

            "Where are you going?"

            "I'm going to see my father.  I'm going to see if he'll sign the papers."

            "Dad said Rachel was going there tomorrow."

            "I need to go there myself."

            "What about school?"

            "It'll be here tomorrow."

            "And what do I tell the parents?"

            "I'll be home in plenty of time for dinner.  Just tell them I'm out with Marissa or Luke.  They don't need to know about this unless I come home with the signed papers.  Come on Seth, let go."

            "How are you going to get there?"

            "I'll ask Luke if I can borrow his car. Come on, Seth."

            "Do they have visiting hours.  You're a minor, will you be able to get in?"

            "I'll work it out.  Okay?"

            Seth hesitated, but he let go of Ryan's arm.  But as Ryan started to leave, he called out.  "Wait.  Take my cell phone.  Just in case."

            Ryan took the phone from Seth and said, "Thanks man.  I appreciate it."

            "Anything for my brother."

            Ryan found Luke and told him he needed his car and while he didn't give his friend any details, the imploring look in Ryan's eyes must have convinced him.  Luke didn't waver before handing Ryan his keys. 

            Second period hadn't even ended in Harbor and Ryan was on his way to the prison.  The roads were clear, but Ryan was careful not to exceed the speed limit by too much.  A speeding ticket would only ensure that Sandy and Kirsten found out that he was ditching school.

            Ryan smiled.  Last year, he would have never thought twice about skipping school.  Sometimes it amazed him how much things had changed.  How much he had changed.  He pushed slightly on the accelerator and merged into the next lane. 

            He made it to the jail in a little over an hour and was facing his father at the same time Seth and his friends were probably sitting down to lunch. 

            "I want you to sign the papers," Ryan told his father.

            Without an audience, Roger Atwood didn't feel the need to perform.  "Why?" he asked his youngest son.

            "Because the Cohens are good to me.  They love me. I love them.  I want to be part of their family."

            "What's wrong with the family you have?"

            Ryan threw his head back and laughed.  "You've got to be kidding?  Mom's dead.  You're in jail until who knows when and Trey, he's locked up too."

            "I'm up for parole in six months.  When I get out, maybe…"

            Ryan shook his head, not believing what he was hearing  "No.  No. No.  I've never exaggerated and never lied to anyone.  Mom was the one who did most of the hitting and most of the drinking.  But you never stopped it.  You never even tried to stop it.  And it's not like you didn't get drunk or ugly either."

            "I'm not the same.  Prison has changed me.  A man has a lot of time to think in here."

            "When I was little you didn't pay much attention to me or Trey."

            Roger traced the letters etched into the table.  "I want a second chance."

            "So do I.  And the Cohens can give it to me.  They have given it to me.  Sandy didn't have to take me in, but when I had no one to turn to after Mom tossed me out, he took me in.  And even after I burned down one of Kirsten's model homes, they assumed all legal responsibility for me.  They're the first people ever who didn't turn their backs on me.  No matter what I do or how I screw up, they're still there for me.

            "Sandy comes to my Soccer games.  Kirsten took care of me when I had the flu and even held my head over a toilet when I threw up.  You and Mom never did things like that."

            "So I was a lousy father," Roger's raised his voice an octave.  "Mom was a lousy mother.  But I want another chance."

            "Even if you get out, it doesn't mean I'd come to live with you."

            "I spoke to a lawyer.  I could get custody."

            "Why?"  Ryan slammed his palms onto the table. 

            "I want to be a better father."

            "So signed the damn papers.  That's how you can be a good father."

            Roger shook his head.

            Ryan sat and stared.  "If you sign the papers and do this for me we can still save our relationship.  I'd come visit. Sandy and Kirsten will let me.  We can write.  And when you get out we'll spend weekends together.  But let me have my family."

            A guard approached Ryan and Roger.  "Times up."

            "One more minute," pleaded Ryan.

            "I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave."

            Ryan stood up, not wanting to cause trouble.  "The Cohens's lawyer will be in touch with you.  Please reconsider."

            Roger looked down at the table as his son walked away, giving no indication that he would acquiesce to Ryan's request.

            Ryan didn't go straight home.  He drove around for an hour before heading home; trying to digest what his father had just told him.  What frightened Ryan was that his father was sincere.  For some sick, twisted reason Roger Atwood wanted to try and recreate the family he had left when he was sent to prison. 

            When he saw a gas station, Ryan pulled in.  He filled Luke's car to replenish the gas he'd used and then went inside to buy a pack of cigarettes.  He really needed a smoke to steady his nerves.  He was driving aimlessly, when Seth's cell phone rang.

            "Hey, Ryan.  It's me."

            "Hi Seth."

            "Listen man, Mom and Dad are home and they're livid.  The school called and told them you skipped."

            "Shit," Ryan said, slamming the steering wheel.

            "They keep asking me where you went."

            "I'll be home soon."

            "So you went already?"

            "Yeah."

            "And?"

            "It's a long story.  We'll talk when I'm home."

            "What should I tell the parents?  They know I know something."

            "Nothing.  It'll come better from me.  I'm about an hour away."

            "Okay," sighed Seth.  "Ciao."

            "Yeah.  Bye.  And thanks Seth."

            As he approached Newport, Ryan dialed Luke's number.  "Hey, man.  Thanks for the car.  It was a lifesaver."

            "No problem, Ryan. Glad to help out.  You look like you really needed it."

            "I did.  Thanks.  Listen, Seth just called and said that Sandy and Kirsten are waiting for me.  They found out I ditched… would you mind if I took it home?  Maybe Seth could drop it off or…"

            "Don't worry, Ryan.  I'll get a ride from someone to your place and pick it up.  Just go home.  Hope you're not in too much shit."

            "Me too."