Ryan was quiet on the ride home. Luckily, so were Sandy and Kirsten. Everyone was drained from the day's events, and just looking forward to being home.

As they walked into the kitchen, a very anxious Seth met them, "About time!! What happened? Dude, tell me, are you still a Pirate?"

Ryan couldn't help but smile. Only Seth would put it in that way. "Yah. Suspended for a week and then another two weeks of detention."

Seth was shocked; "I can't believe they would still suspend you after everything that happened with Oliver."

Ryan just shrugged, "Well, I still broke into the file room. I still took his file, and I still attacked him in the student center. I'd say I was pretty lucky to get away with only a weeks suspension."

Seth, realizing Ryan was resolved with what had happened just added, "Still. I don't know. Somehow it still doesn't seem to be fair."

Again, Ryan just shrugged. He wanted to put this all behind him, but knew that there was still more talking to do, as usual. "It's really ok, Seth. Its not like it's the first time I've been suspended..."

That was about as far as he was able to get before Kirsten spoke up. "But it will be your last time." When Ryan turned to her, she continued, "Ryan, We mean it. This will be your last time."

Before Ryan could answer, Sandy decided it was time to drive that point home, "And just so you understand that we mean it when we say this is to be the last time, as long as you are suspended, you are still grounded. No going out, no phone, no car, no play station. No extras. Whatever chores we need or want you to do, you will do. Also, we don't want you to think that you have this upcoming week off, so instead of staying home alone during the day, you will come with one of us to work, everyday, all week. Do you understand?"

First Ryan nodded, and then he said, "Yes. I got it. I promise."

Sandy looked at Kirsten and then at Seth and then back to Ryan, "Ok, then enough said. Why don't you go change. You can make dinner tonight."

Ryan quickly left, thankful that was over with, and wasn't nearly as bad as he thought it would be. Seth looked at Sandy, who nodded to him to follow after Ryan. He hoped that they would get a chance to talk, and he wanted a chance to talk to Kirsten alone. After Seth left, Sandy turned to Kirsten, "Well, that went much better then I thought it would. Ryan seems better then I thought he would be, all things considering."

Kirsten agreed, "Yes, but has he said anything yet about therapy?"

As Sandy shook his head, he said, "No, not yet. I thought maybe I'd give him a little time to wrap his head around all of this before I bring it up again. Let him serve out his suspension, and once he gets back into Harbor, we'll discuss it again."

"So you are going to bring it up again? I mean he seems better already, and he will be spending an awful lot of time with both of us this week. It'll definitely help him.." Kirsten still wanted to believe that they could help Ryan. They could be the ones to make him understand.

But Sandy knew better. "It'll help. But it's not enough. Kirsten, he needs help. He needs to be able to put his past behind him and accept this as his new life and us as his family. He needs to learn to trust us. Until he does, he will continue to see us as his lawyer and his lawyer's family. He also needs to get a handle on his temper. He still has a lot of pent up anger, and he needs to learn how to control it."

Kirsten just slighted nodded, "I know you're right. I just don't want him to think we've given up on him. That we can't handle him, and that we think any less of him."

Sandy felt the same way, but told Kirsten, "He won't. I think when its all said and done, it'll make us all a stronger, better family."

Seth followed Ryan out to the pool house, hoping for a chance to talk to him, but still pretty worried about what Ryan might have to say. He and Ryan hadn't had much time to talk since everything happened at Oliver's that night, so he still wasn't sure exactly what Ryan thought of him, or the fact Seth failed him so miserably. "Well, I guess this is almost done. I mean the parentals don't seem quite so pissed now. The week should go by pretty quick, right? Then it'll be Valentine's Day. Maybe you and Marissa could work things out by then. I mean, it's a real romantic time. Perfect for making up, right?"

Ryan thought about it for a minute as he pulled on his tee shirt. "Yah, I guess, except I don't know if we'll make up. I mean, I don't know if I want to make up. I mean, I still love her and all, or at least I think I love her. But she - she's probably more then I can handle at this time. How can I just forget everything that happened. Everything I did, said, and she choose Oliver time and time again. How can I just forget that?"

Seth looked down at his feet, and then back up at Ryan, "Are you talking about just Marissa, or does that include all of us? Will you ever get over being mad at me, too?"

Ryan quickly replied, "I'm not mad."

Seth was actually surprised by the quickness of Ryan's answer, and knew it probably wasn't true.

"Well, you should be. I didn't have your back at all, man and I'm sorry. I know I didn't see what you saw, but I still should have listened. I should have believed you. I was so wrapped up with Anna and Summer, that I couldn't see that you needed me, and I'm sorry."

Ryan just signed. "Look, Seth. We can't change what happened. Its over. It's done with. Now let's just forget it."

"I can't just forget it and neither can you, Ryan. I promise you this, though, next time you tell me someone is "off", I promise, I'll listen." Seth had hoped this would be enough, or at least a start towards rebuilding his friendship with Ryan.

But Ryan just joked. "Next time? God, how many people like Oliver are there in Newport? I thought this was supposed to be some kind of swank, upscale, exclusive community.?"

Seth, for once, wasn't in the mood to joke, so he wasn't amused. "Funny. Very funny. I'm just saying that from now on I will try to be a better friend."

"Hum. A better friend? But according to your letter to the Disciplinary Committee, I thought you were my brother." Ryan continued to joke. He felt better. He knew what Seth was trying to say. He just said it better in his letter. Seeing that Seth still wasn't ready to let himself off the hook, Ryan continued, " Seriously, Seth. It's cool. I'm fine. I'd rather stop talking about this already. Let's just try to forget it, and put it all behind us. I'm all talked out at this point."

Seth finally lightened up on himself, seeing that Ryan actually meant what he was saying. So he decided to change the subject to one he was curious about. Curious to see what Ryan thought. "But, um, bro? I'd hate to tell you this, but I doubt seriously that you're done talking about this."

Suddenly, Ryan was no longer in a joking mood. "I'm not seeing a therapist" he hissed.

Seth just shrugged and said, "I don't think you'll have a choice."

Ryan hissed again, "Wanna bet."

Seth started, "Ryan." Seth wanted to tell Ryan that he thought it was a good idea, but seeing the quick change in Ryan's mood made him realize it wasn't a good idea to tell him. Not right now.

Ryan just started out the door. "Not doing this, Seth. Look, I got a dinner to cook. But thanks. For your letter. It was. Great."