I've taken the baton from JZzRrgRl13 and I'm going to run with it. I don't
own the characters so don't sue. The Canadian dollar isn't worth much.
All Canadian spelling rules apply so don't worry about the extra vowels.
Not so Happy New Year!
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.."Happy New Year!!!!!" Marissa planted a sloppy kiss on Ryan. He grinned and kissed her back. Maybe this would be a happy new year after all. Marissa left Ryan's arms and ran to Summer and gave her a big hug.
Seth stumbled over to Ryan and held out his fist.
"Happy new year bro!" Ryan tapped Seth's fist with his own and replied "Yeah, maybe it will be. It has to be an improvement over last year."
"Dude.don't go getting all broody with me, this is a party..a party at Summer's place.a party at Summer's place that I'm invited to.a party at Summer's place that she's glad I'm here, so that is one improvement over last year. Another improvement is that I'm not watching Dick Clark by myself and getting wasted on the Mogan David Dad has stashed away for Grandma Cohen. But the biggest improvement is that you're here with me..I knew if I begged hard enough I'd get a brother for Chrismukkah."
Ryan looked at Seth dubiously. "Don't you ever take a breath?" Ryan's grin returned. "Lucky for me you didn't ask for a puppy.but we really should go. We gotta get home before your parents do so they won't see how wasted you are.give me the keys."
Seth held the keys over his head. "No way dude, you're probably just as wasted as me, so if someone's going to get into trouble it'll be me."
Ryan grabbed the keys before Seth could even focus on Ryan's hand. "I haven't been drinking. Too many memories of a drunk mom and her equally shit-faced boyfriends." For once, Seth had nothing to say.
"I guess you do breathe..you just have to not know what to say" Ryan said, gently cuffing Seth on the side of the head. "We need to grab Marissa, she's staying at her Mom's place tonight and Mrs. Cooper'll have my ass if Marissa is too late."
It was Seth's turn to grin. " I just had one awful vision of what that might entail so I guess the only thing left to say is "Home James!'
After finally setting Marissa in the front seat of the Cohen's Range Rover, Seth and Ryan climbed into the back passenger seat and the driver's seat respectively.
"Okay kiddies, seat belts on.I don't need any reasons for the cops to pull us over so behave!" Ryan leaned over the passenger seat and pulled on Marissa's seat belt making sure it was snug as he did it up. He turned and fastened his own before turning to Seth.
Before Ryan could say anything, Seth smirked and said "Okay Mom, I'm all safe now."
Ryan started the vehicle and slowly pulled out of Summer's driveway. He turned on the radio. The Smashing Pumpkins came on with their song "Age of Innocence". It was Ryan's turn to smirk as he remembered that he hadn't been innocent in a long time. Seth had passed out in the back seat. Ryan was hoping he could dump Seth in his bed before Kirsten and Sandy got home. "Lonely Road of Faith" by Kid Rock came over the airwaves. A year ago Ryan wouldn't have known Kid Rock from Kid'n'Play. Thanks to a crash course in music from Seth and Marissa, he'd expanded his music knowledge to include rock and alternative as well as the classical stuff he'd listened to in the public library day after day instead of going to classes at Chino Hills.
Marissa started singing to the radio in some unknown musical key.
"Up and down that lonely road of faith. I have been there. I'm prepared for the storms and tides that rise. I've realized one thing, how much I love you."
Ryan glanced at Marissa just as a red pick-up truck came barreling through a red light smashing into the Rover on the driver's side. Marissa's screams were muffled by the deployment of the airbags. The force of the collision sent the Rover careening into a blue jeep on the opposite side of the intersection. The driver of the jeep braced himself for impact as his airbag exploded in his face. The sound of crunching metal and smashing glass echoed through the still night. After the initial roar of the crash, the silence was almost deafening. The driver of the jeep extricated himself and took in the scene that awaited him.
The Range Rover was lying upside down . the only sound coming from it was the Onstar System asking if everything was alright because they had received a signal that the airbags had deployed. Before he had a chance to grab his cell phone, he saw two teenage boys staggering out of the pick-up truck. Any concern he had for them vanished as soon as he heard them giggle at the sight of the destruction they caused.
The man grabbed his cell phone and dialed 911. He fought to keep his voice calm as he spoke to the operator. "There's been a car accident in the intersection of Grove and Blair. I'm walking over to the other car now but I can't see inside. It's on its roof. I don't know how many people are inside. Please hurry..Yeah, I think I'm okay.I'll stay on the line."
Sirens could be heard in the distance. The man looked over to the pick up truck and saw that the teenagers had fled. He made his way to the Rover and bent down. He could just barely make out three bodies inside.
"I think there are three people inside.they're not moving..no. no. I don't think the car is going to explode.Yeah, the fire department is here now.yeah, I'll let them check me out..Thanks".
With that the man met up with a police officer and proceeded to tell the officer what he saw happen.
Fire and rescue surrounded the Rover and were quickly assessing the situation. They were able to open the passenger side door. Marissa's face was pale and bruises had started to form around her eyes from the airbag. She turned to look at the fireman. He gently smiled at her.
"Hey sweetie" he said softly, "Can you tell me where it hurts?" Marissa stammered. "Mmm-my arm hurts an-an-and my chest hurts." The firefighter flashes a small light in her eyes and asks Marissa her name.
"Mmmm-Mariss-sss-a Coo-Cooper...Ryan!...S-S-Seth! Wh-where are they?"
The firefighter gently shushed her and told her that they were being taken care of. The firefighter then called for a neck-brace and backboard and told Marissa that they were going to get her out of there.
A female paramedic was looking after Seth. Seth had no visible signs of injury other than a split lip from the impact into the head rest of front seat. He was however, unconscious. After a neck-brace was put on him, he was carefully lifted out and placed on a backboard. The paramedic shined a small pen light in his eyes and spoke to a doctor over the radio.
"HOAG, I have a male victim, approximately 17 years of age, pupils equal and reactive, bp 130 over 90, respiration 35 and shallow, LOC on scene, ready for transport."
Seth and Marissa were loaded up into the ambulance. Sirens blared as the ambulance sped off.
Kirsten and Sandy unlocked the front door of their spacious home. They were surprised that the lights were off and no lights were on in the pool house. A quick check told them that the boys hadn't arrived home yet. Kirsten looked perturbed .
"This time you're playing bad cop and you better ground the two of them until they're 21."
Sandy laughed "you want me to play the enforcer, but you're going to tell me how to do it.."
The phone ringing interrupted that statement. "It's probably the boys now." Sandy picked up the phone. His face fell as the Onstar representative told him that the air bags had deployed on the Rover and that there had been no response from the driver. The representative told Sandy that fire and rescue had been dispatched and that they would keep him posted. Sandy thanked the rep and slowly brought the phone down.
"Sandy.what's wrong..what happened...where's Seth and Ryan.?" Kirsten's panicked voice asked.
Before he had a chance to answer, the phone rang again.
"Sandy Cohen" he said, fighting to keep the panic out of his voice. "How bad is it...? Are they okay.? Where did you take them.? Yes, we'll be right there." At that Sandy hung up the phone and faced Kirsten.
"There's been an accident.the boys are at HOAG."
"How bad is it?" Kirsten asked, her own sense of panic threatening to overtake her.
Sandy looked grim. "They couldn't give me any information over the phone. We have to go ..now.."
The ride to the hospital was silent as Kirsten and Sandy both prayed and bargained with God and prayed some more.
It had been over an hour since Seth and Marissa were taken to the hospital. The firefighters had just finished extricating Ryan from the Range Rover. They quickly placed a neck brace around him, strapped him to a backboard and loaded him onto a gurney.
"HOAG we have a third victim from the MVA at Grove and Blair. Pulse is weak and thready, bp is 80 over 60 and respirations are shallow and laboured. We're doing a scoop and run. Have trauma ready. Over."
The paramedic said a prayer of her own as the young man on the stretcher reminded her of her own son.
Sandy and Kirsten ran from the parking lot to the emergency room asking the nurse for information on Seth's and Ryan's condition. The nurse assured them that the doctor would be out in a few moments and motioned for them to sit in the waiting room. They held on to each other not speaking as they waited for what seemed forever for the doctor to come out. After what seemed to be the longest 30 minutes of their lives, a doctor approached the nurses station and then proceeded towards them. Kirsten and Sandy stood up.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, I'm Dr. Sanchez. I've examined your son and his friend and I'm happy to say that their injuries are not life threatening. "Thank God." the Cohens said simultaneously. "Can we see them?"
"We'll be keeping them overnight for observation. Your son Seth has a mild concussion and some superficial lacerations. His friend Marissa sustained a broken ulna and some facial bruising..Her parents have been notified and should be here shortly."
Dr. Sanchez turned to go when Sandy grabbed his arm.
"What about the other boy who would've been with them..Atwood.Ryan Atwood."
Dr. Sanchez looked puzzled and returned to the nurses desk and returned a few moments later.
"Paramedics are bringing in a third victim from the accident.male.approximately 17 years old. His condition is unknown at this time but he should be here any minute."
Just as Dr. Sanchez finished speaking, the doors from the ambulance bay flew open and the paramedic started speaking. Dr. Sanchez ran with the gurney into the trauma room.
Sandy and Kirsten stood paralyzed with fear. At that moment Julie and Jimmy Cooper ran into the emergency room and over to Kirsten and Sandy.
"Where's Marissa..where's my baby" Julie yelled.
"Julie, please, calm down..Marissa's going to be fine." Kirsten spoke gently to Julie hoping to calm her down.
"Jimmy, the doctor said she broke her arm, but she'll be fine."
Before Jimmy could respond, Julie turned to Sandy and spat.
"This is all Ryan's fault. He's been nothing but trouble since you brought him into this community. It's his fault Marissa almost died in Tijuana and it's his fault she almost died tonight. I will do whatever it takes to get rid of.."
Julie was unable to finish her vitriolic rambling. Dr. Sanchez came out of the trauma room and hurried over to Kirsten and Sandy.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, we've had to rush Ryan up to surgery. As far as we can tell he's bleeding into his abdomen. He also sustained head trauma that they'll take care of upstairs. That's all I can tell you right now, but I'll keep you posted."
With that Dr. Sanchez left to go back into the trauma room, leaving a speechless Sandy and Kirsten.
"Oh no..please God..no.." Kirsten stumbled into Sandy's arms. Sandy's face was uncomprehending of the information Dr. Sanchez gave them.
"Serves that little delinquent right." Julie hissed before Jimmy could silence her. Jimmy spun Julie around.
"How dare you say that.Ryan is seriously hurt.Be glad that Marissa's alright and that we can see her, but don't you dare say that Ryan deserved this."
Jimmy's voice barely hid his rage at his ex-wife's callousness. He grabbed Julie and mumbled an apology to a shocked Sandy and Kirsten.
Kirsten and Sandy stood there is shocked silence, not able to comprehend Julies cruelty. Jimmy had taken Julie to the nurses desk and came back quickly with a slip of paper, wisely making Julie wait at the desk.
"Here's Seth's room number...I'll be thinking of you and keeping Ryan in my prayers. He's a good kid.you know it and I know it."
With that, Jimmy gave Kirsten a quick hug and squeezed Sandy's arm. He was none to gentle when he took Julie by the arm and led her to Marissa's room.
Sandy and Kirsten hugged each other.
"He'll be okay.he's strong and he's a fighter. He'll pull through.he will."
Sandy wasn't sure who he was trying to convince but he held onto that thought. Ryan was as much a part of their family as Seth was. They had two sons. Two sons who needed them.
Sandy and Kirsten made their way to Seth's room. Walking quietly through the door they saw Seth lying with his eyes closed on the bed.
Kirsten took Seth's hand. As she did Seth slowly opened his swollen eyes. Bruises were starting to darken on his face.
"Hey baby.." Kirsten said, gently stroking Seth's hand.
"Mmmom.Dddad..it's.o-okay...I'm o-okay...ex-ex-except that I-I-I see f-f- four of you."
"Sh-sh-sh" intoned Sandy. "You've got a slight concussion but you're going to be fine. It's alright..you're okay.."
"Dad..Wh-where's Ryan.is-is he okay? H-h-how's Marissa.."
Sandy shot Kirsten a glance. Kirsten held Seth's hand a little tighter.
"Baby, Marissa's fine. She broke her arm, but she's okay. Jimmy and Julie are with her now..."
Kirsten didn't say anything else. Seth looked at his mom and then his dad.
"Dad, what aren't you telling me...wh-wh-where's Ryan?!" Seth's voice began to rise in panic.
"Seth.please calm down.you have to stay calm..Ryan is..Ryan is."
"Honey, Ryan is in surgery right now." Kirsten finished for Sandy." The doctor will come and find us as soon as he's out of surgery." Kirsten had slipped into confident business woman mode as she struggled with her own fears. She silently thanked God for Seth being okay and sent up another prayer for Ryan's recovery.
Sandy found his voice again and found strength in Kirsten's calmness.
"Seth, you need to rest. Your Mom and I will be right here with you. As soon as the doctors tell us anything, we'll wake you up.okay.just rest..close your eyes... it'll all be okay.."
Sandy's voice grew softer as Seth's eyes closed. He sat beside Kirsten. Kirsten lay her head on Sandy's shoulder as they sat in silence and waited.
Not so Happy New Year!
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.."Happy New Year!!!!!" Marissa planted a sloppy kiss on Ryan. He grinned and kissed her back. Maybe this would be a happy new year after all. Marissa left Ryan's arms and ran to Summer and gave her a big hug.
Seth stumbled over to Ryan and held out his fist.
"Happy new year bro!" Ryan tapped Seth's fist with his own and replied "Yeah, maybe it will be. It has to be an improvement over last year."
"Dude.don't go getting all broody with me, this is a party..a party at Summer's place.a party at Summer's place that I'm invited to.a party at Summer's place that she's glad I'm here, so that is one improvement over last year. Another improvement is that I'm not watching Dick Clark by myself and getting wasted on the Mogan David Dad has stashed away for Grandma Cohen. But the biggest improvement is that you're here with me..I knew if I begged hard enough I'd get a brother for Chrismukkah."
Ryan looked at Seth dubiously. "Don't you ever take a breath?" Ryan's grin returned. "Lucky for me you didn't ask for a puppy.but we really should go. We gotta get home before your parents do so they won't see how wasted you are.give me the keys."
Seth held the keys over his head. "No way dude, you're probably just as wasted as me, so if someone's going to get into trouble it'll be me."
Ryan grabbed the keys before Seth could even focus on Ryan's hand. "I haven't been drinking. Too many memories of a drunk mom and her equally shit-faced boyfriends." For once, Seth had nothing to say.
"I guess you do breathe..you just have to not know what to say" Ryan said, gently cuffing Seth on the side of the head. "We need to grab Marissa, she's staying at her Mom's place tonight and Mrs. Cooper'll have my ass if Marissa is too late."
It was Seth's turn to grin. " I just had one awful vision of what that might entail so I guess the only thing left to say is "Home James!'
After finally setting Marissa in the front seat of the Cohen's Range Rover, Seth and Ryan climbed into the back passenger seat and the driver's seat respectively.
"Okay kiddies, seat belts on.I don't need any reasons for the cops to pull us over so behave!" Ryan leaned over the passenger seat and pulled on Marissa's seat belt making sure it was snug as he did it up. He turned and fastened his own before turning to Seth.
Before Ryan could say anything, Seth smirked and said "Okay Mom, I'm all safe now."
Ryan started the vehicle and slowly pulled out of Summer's driveway. He turned on the radio. The Smashing Pumpkins came on with their song "Age of Innocence". It was Ryan's turn to smirk as he remembered that he hadn't been innocent in a long time. Seth had passed out in the back seat. Ryan was hoping he could dump Seth in his bed before Kirsten and Sandy got home. "Lonely Road of Faith" by Kid Rock came over the airwaves. A year ago Ryan wouldn't have known Kid Rock from Kid'n'Play. Thanks to a crash course in music from Seth and Marissa, he'd expanded his music knowledge to include rock and alternative as well as the classical stuff he'd listened to in the public library day after day instead of going to classes at Chino Hills.
Marissa started singing to the radio in some unknown musical key.
"Up and down that lonely road of faith. I have been there. I'm prepared for the storms and tides that rise. I've realized one thing, how much I love you."
Ryan glanced at Marissa just as a red pick-up truck came barreling through a red light smashing into the Rover on the driver's side. Marissa's screams were muffled by the deployment of the airbags. The force of the collision sent the Rover careening into a blue jeep on the opposite side of the intersection. The driver of the jeep braced himself for impact as his airbag exploded in his face. The sound of crunching metal and smashing glass echoed through the still night. After the initial roar of the crash, the silence was almost deafening. The driver of the jeep extricated himself and took in the scene that awaited him.
The Range Rover was lying upside down . the only sound coming from it was the Onstar System asking if everything was alright because they had received a signal that the airbags had deployed. Before he had a chance to grab his cell phone, he saw two teenage boys staggering out of the pick-up truck. Any concern he had for them vanished as soon as he heard them giggle at the sight of the destruction they caused.
The man grabbed his cell phone and dialed 911. He fought to keep his voice calm as he spoke to the operator. "There's been a car accident in the intersection of Grove and Blair. I'm walking over to the other car now but I can't see inside. It's on its roof. I don't know how many people are inside. Please hurry..Yeah, I think I'm okay.I'll stay on the line."
Sirens could be heard in the distance. The man looked over to the pick up truck and saw that the teenagers had fled. He made his way to the Rover and bent down. He could just barely make out three bodies inside.
"I think there are three people inside.they're not moving..no. no. I don't think the car is going to explode.Yeah, the fire department is here now.yeah, I'll let them check me out..Thanks".
With that the man met up with a police officer and proceeded to tell the officer what he saw happen.
Fire and rescue surrounded the Rover and were quickly assessing the situation. They were able to open the passenger side door. Marissa's face was pale and bruises had started to form around her eyes from the airbag. She turned to look at the fireman. He gently smiled at her.
"Hey sweetie" he said softly, "Can you tell me where it hurts?" Marissa stammered. "Mmm-my arm hurts an-an-and my chest hurts." The firefighter flashes a small light in her eyes and asks Marissa her name.
"Mmmm-Mariss-sss-a Coo-Cooper...Ryan!...S-S-Seth! Wh-where are they?"
The firefighter gently shushed her and told her that they were being taken care of. The firefighter then called for a neck-brace and backboard and told Marissa that they were going to get her out of there.
A female paramedic was looking after Seth. Seth had no visible signs of injury other than a split lip from the impact into the head rest of front seat. He was however, unconscious. After a neck-brace was put on him, he was carefully lifted out and placed on a backboard. The paramedic shined a small pen light in his eyes and spoke to a doctor over the radio.
"HOAG, I have a male victim, approximately 17 years of age, pupils equal and reactive, bp 130 over 90, respiration 35 and shallow, LOC on scene, ready for transport."
Seth and Marissa were loaded up into the ambulance. Sirens blared as the ambulance sped off.
Kirsten and Sandy unlocked the front door of their spacious home. They were surprised that the lights were off and no lights were on in the pool house. A quick check told them that the boys hadn't arrived home yet. Kirsten looked perturbed .
"This time you're playing bad cop and you better ground the two of them until they're 21."
Sandy laughed "you want me to play the enforcer, but you're going to tell me how to do it.."
The phone ringing interrupted that statement. "It's probably the boys now." Sandy picked up the phone. His face fell as the Onstar representative told him that the air bags had deployed on the Rover and that there had been no response from the driver. The representative told Sandy that fire and rescue had been dispatched and that they would keep him posted. Sandy thanked the rep and slowly brought the phone down.
"Sandy.what's wrong..what happened...where's Seth and Ryan.?" Kirsten's panicked voice asked.
Before he had a chance to answer, the phone rang again.
"Sandy Cohen" he said, fighting to keep the panic out of his voice. "How bad is it...? Are they okay.? Where did you take them.? Yes, we'll be right there." At that Sandy hung up the phone and faced Kirsten.
"There's been an accident.the boys are at HOAG."
"How bad is it?" Kirsten asked, her own sense of panic threatening to overtake her.
Sandy looked grim. "They couldn't give me any information over the phone. We have to go ..now.."
The ride to the hospital was silent as Kirsten and Sandy both prayed and bargained with God and prayed some more.
It had been over an hour since Seth and Marissa were taken to the hospital. The firefighters had just finished extricating Ryan from the Range Rover. They quickly placed a neck brace around him, strapped him to a backboard and loaded him onto a gurney.
"HOAG we have a third victim from the MVA at Grove and Blair. Pulse is weak and thready, bp is 80 over 60 and respirations are shallow and laboured. We're doing a scoop and run. Have trauma ready. Over."
The paramedic said a prayer of her own as the young man on the stretcher reminded her of her own son.
Sandy and Kirsten ran from the parking lot to the emergency room asking the nurse for information on Seth's and Ryan's condition. The nurse assured them that the doctor would be out in a few moments and motioned for them to sit in the waiting room. They held on to each other not speaking as they waited for what seemed forever for the doctor to come out. After what seemed to be the longest 30 minutes of their lives, a doctor approached the nurses station and then proceeded towards them. Kirsten and Sandy stood up.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, I'm Dr. Sanchez. I've examined your son and his friend and I'm happy to say that their injuries are not life threatening. "Thank God." the Cohens said simultaneously. "Can we see them?"
"We'll be keeping them overnight for observation. Your son Seth has a mild concussion and some superficial lacerations. His friend Marissa sustained a broken ulna and some facial bruising..Her parents have been notified and should be here shortly."
Dr. Sanchez turned to go when Sandy grabbed his arm.
"What about the other boy who would've been with them..Atwood.Ryan Atwood."
Dr. Sanchez looked puzzled and returned to the nurses desk and returned a few moments later.
"Paramedics are bringing in a third victim from the accident.male.approximately 17 years old. His condition is unknown at this time but he should be here any minute."
Just as Dr. Sanchez finished speaking, the doors from the ambulance bay flew open and the paramedic started speaking. Dr. Sanchez ran with the gurney into the trauma room.
Sandy and Kirsten stood paralyzed with fear. At that moment Julie and Jimmy Cooper ran into the emergency room and over to Kirsten and Sandy.
"Where's Marissa..where's my baby" Julie yelled.
"Julie, please, calm down..Marissa's going to be fine." Kirsten spoke gently to Julie hoping to calm her down.
"Jimmy, the doctor said she broke her arm, but she'll be fine."
Before Jimmy could respond, Julie turned to Sandy and spat.
"This is all Ryan's fault. He's been nothing but trouble since you brought him into this community. It's his fault Marissa almost died in Tijuana and it's his fault she almost died tonight. I will do whatever it takes to get rid of.."
Julie was unable to finish her vitriolic rambling. Dr. Sanchez came out of the trauma room and hurried over to Kirsten and Sandy.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, we've had to rush Ryan up to surgery. As far as we can tell he's bleeding into his abdomen. He also sustained head trauma that they'll take care of upstairs. That's all I can tell you right now, but I'll keep you posted."
With that Dr. Sanchez left to go back into the trauma room, leaving a speechless Sandy and Kirsten.
"Oh no..please God..no.." Kirsten stumbled into Sandy's arms. Sandy's face was uncomprehending of the information Dr. Sanchez gave them.
"Serves that little delinquent right." Julie hissed before Jimmy could silence her. Jimmy spun Julie around.
"How dare you say that.Ryan is seriously hurt.Be glad that Marissa's alright and that we can see her, but don't you dare say that Ryan deserved this."
Jimmy's voice barely hid his rage at his ex-wife's callousness. He grabbed Julie and mumbled an apology to a shocked Sandy and Kirsten.
Kirsten and Sandy stood there is shocked silence, not able to comprehend Julies cruelty. Jimmy had taken Julie to the nurses desk and came back quickly with a slip of paper, wisely making Julie wait at the desk.
"Here's Seth's room number...I'll be thinking of you and keeping Ryan in my prayers. He's a good kid.you know it and I know it."
With that, Jimmy gave Kirsten a quick hug and squeezed Sandy's arm. He was none to gentle when he took Julie by the arm and led her to Marissa's room.
Sandy and Kirsten hugged each other.
"He'll be okay.he's strong and he's a fighter. He'll pull through.he will."
Sandy wasn't sure who he was trying to convince but he held onto that thought. Ryan was as much a part of their family as Seth was. They had two sons. Two sons who needed them.
Sandy and Kirsten made their way to Seth's room. Walking quietly through the door they saw Seth lying with his eyes closed on the bed.
Kirsten took Seth's hand. As she did Seth slowly opened his swollen eyes. Bruises were starting to darken on his face.
"Hey baby.." Kirsten said, gently stroking Seth's hand.
"Mmmom.Dddad..it's.o-okay...I'm o-okay...ex-ex-except that I-I-I see f-f- four of you."
"Sh-sh-sh" intoned Sandy. "You've got a slight concussion but you're going to be fine. It's alright..you're okay.."
"Dad..Wh-where's Ryan.is-is he okay? H-h-how's Marissa.."
Sandy shot Kirsten a glance. Kirsten held Seth's hand a little tighter.
"Baby, Marissa's fine. She broke her arm, but she's okay. Jimmy and Julie are with her now..."
Kirsten didn't say anything else. Seth looked at his mom and then his dad.
"Dad, what aren't you telling me...wh-wh-where's Ryan?!" Seth's voice began to rise in panic.
"Seth.please calm down.you have to stay calm..Ryan is..Ryan is."
"Honey, Ryan is in surgery right now." Kirsten finished for Sandy." The doctor will come and find us as soon as he's out of surgery." Kirsten had slipped into confident business woman mode as she struggled with her own fears. She silently thanked God for Seth being okay and sent up another prayer for Ryan's recovery.
Sandy found his voice again and found strength in Kirsten's calmness.
"Seth, you need to rest. Your Mom and I will be right here with you. As soon as the doctors tell us anything, we'll wake you up.okay.just rest..close your eyes... it'll all be okay.."
Sandy's voice grew softer as Seth's eyes closed. He sat beside Kirsten. Kirsten lay her head on Sandy's shoulder as they sat in silence and waited.