The next morning everyone sat around the kitchen table enjoying a nice family breakfast. The rest of the Cohens, especially Seth, were enjoying it much more then Ryan, however. Theresa was filling them all in on many Ryan stories, way too many Ryan stories in his opinion.

Seth, who was so thoroughly enjoying himself, pleaded with Theresa,

"You've got to tell us about Ryan as Snoopy. That I would pay good, good money to see!"

Theresa really liked this Seth kid. He was really the kind of brother Ryan needed and deserved.

"Well my mom took pictures," she told him, "I could make copies and send them to you."

The pure excitement in Seth voice,

"Oh, oh, God, please. You would so be my new best friend!"

Ryan, however, was not amused. Not at all. He glared at both Seth and then Theresa,

"And you would lose me as a friend! Come on, Theresa, enough stories, and no pictures!"

Kirsten was also very interested in this glimpse into Ryan's previous world.

"Why not? Ryan, we love hearing about what you did in Chino, and I, for one, would love to see pictures of you when you were younger. I bet you were so cute."

Ryan just hung his head, "God, someone shot me."

Seth was still hooked on Ryan as Snoopy.

"So, is Snoopy the only play Ryan did? Were there others?"

Theresa just laughed.

"Nope. The next year we went on to high school. We all wanted him to try out again, but Ryan went jock on us. Playing soccer in the fall and baseball in the spring."

Sandy, who had been quietly enjoying this entire family moment, finally spoke up,

"I didn't know you also play baseball. You never told us that. Are you going to try out this spring at Harbor? You were really good at soccer."

Ryan just shrugged,

"I hadn't really thought about it."

Theresa continued.

"Well, if you think he's good at soccer, you should see him in baseball. He's outrageous!"

Kirsten smiled at Theresa and then at Ryan,

"Well, we enjoyed your soccer games, and now we can look forward to your baseball games."

Theresa was shocked,

"You guys went to his games?" looking over at Ryan who just shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head.

Sandy was surprised by Theresa's statement,

"Yah, of course. All his home games and some of his away. Why?"

Theresa looked at both Mr. and Mrs. Cohen and then Ryan,

"It's nothing. It's just. Well, in Chino, Ryan didn't have anyone come to his games."

Ryan interrupted her before she could continue, "Theresa.."

Seth, who really hated any reference to the family that treated Ryan so poorly jumped in,

"Well, what can they say? They love having an athlete in the family. one who wasn't unfortunate enough to inherit all of Dad's Jewish genes."

Theresa wasn't exactly sure what Mr. Cohen being Jewish had to do with the fact Seth obviously wasn't athletic, but figured it was some kind of inside joke since no one else seemed bothered by Seth's statement. She was also shocked at how much Ryan actually meant to this family, and that Ryan wasn't able to see it. She also knew she had to make Ryan see the difference. Between this family who loved him unconditionally, and the other one. The one who couldn't care less what he did or what they did to him. So Theresa turned to Ryan and said,

"Speaking of family, have you talked to Trey lately?"

Ryan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He wasn't sure where Theresa was going with this, but he knew he didn't like it.

"Um, no. Not since Thanksgiving."

"Well," Theresa started, "It's just, I know he still calls Arturo, and I was worried that he was still calling you. Trying to hook you back in, especially after what happened at Thanksgiving."

Sandy looked at Ryan,

"What happened at Thanksgiving?"

But Ryan never took his eyes off Theresa,

"It was nothing. Come on Theresa. You've got to be going now."

Kirsten was quickly becoming very concerned about this interaction between Ryan and Theresa, especially since Ryan would not stop glaring at Theresa.

"Ryan! There is no reason to be rude. If something happened at Thanksgiving that we need to know about."

Ryan tried to shrug it off,

"It was nothing, I promise. Theresa just never liked Trey. That's all."

Theresa shot back,

"And you wonder why?"

Ryan wouldn't answer. He couldn't answer. He was getting mad and scared, at the same time. If Theresa told them about Thanksgiving, after everything that happened with Oliver. It wouldn't be good. Not good at all. Luckily, Theresa also decided to drop the whole thing, and also decided it was time to go.

"Well, I think Ryan's right. I better hit the road. I still have a ton of homework to get through before tomorrow. Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, thank you for letting me spend the night. I appreciate it. It was nice meeting you. You, too, Seth, and don't listen to Ryan. I'll send you whatever pictures I can find."

Theresa could tell the Cohens were actually relieved to see her go. She let them know something happened with Trey, and she could tell they were the type of parents who were not going to let it drop. They were going to grill Ryan until he opened up.

Sandy just smiled at her and said,

"It was great to meet you, too. Drive carefully."

Kirsten also smiled,

"Yes, it was really good to meet you. And thank you for the great insight into Ryan's past. Feel free to come by anytime."

Seth just waved. He was still trying to figure out how they went from having a good time to knowing Ryan was probably in trouble, again. He quickly disappeared as Theresa and Ryan walked out towards the door. He'd ease drop from the top of the stairs.

Once outside, Ryan turned to Theresa,

"Well, thanks," he said as cold as he could, "thanks for everything."

But Theresa stood her ground,

"Oh, stop. So what. What would be so bad about them knowing what Trey made you do? You need to open up to them, Ryan, and let them in."

Ryan just raised his voice,

"They would not understand, especially now with everything that just happened. I can't believe you would do that to me."

"So what do you think would happen? Maybe they care enough to get mad, worried, concerned. What's the worse they would do? Ground you? Good, then you'd know they care. They would never hurt you, or beat you or do anything like that. God, Ryan, those people in there love you, and you love them too."

Theresa didn't get a chance to continue. She saw Mr. Cohen coming out before Ryan did.

Sandy had her sunglasses in his hand.

"Good, Theresa, you haven't left yet. Here, you forgot your sunglasses."

He turned to leave, but not before hearing Theresa say to Ryan,

"Your parents are pretty cool, Ryan. Just give them a chance."

Over Ryan's shoulder she said,

"Goodbye, Mr. Cohen, and thank you."

Ryan stood in the driveway and watched Theresa drive away before he joined Sandy on the front steps. He knew since Sandy hadn't disappeared back into the house after he gave Theresa her sunglasses that he was waiting for him, and they would be talking.again.

"So," Sandy said, "Theresa seems really nice. She's a good friend. I hope you two had fun."

Ryan wasn't ready for this. Not another talk. He wanted to think first.

"Yah, she's. She's great. Thanks. She. We. Um. I needed.. thanks." Was all Ryan could stammer out before turning and walking back into the house.

Sandy joined him, and put his arm around Ryan's shoulder,

"Hay, no problem. Anytime. You heard what Theresa said, we're cool!"

Well, at least he's joking, Ryan thought,

"Well, she just doesn't know you like I do.."

Sandy just gave a fake, "ha ha ha" before adding,

"But seriously, Ryan, if there is something you'd like to tell us about Thanksgiving.."

Ryan just shook his head, "Uh, no."

"Ryan," Sandy warned, "If something happened that we need to know about, you really need to tell us."

"Let's just say what you don't know can't hurt me."

Ryan was still really hoping that he could avoid this talk.

"Well, that makes me feel soo much better." Sandy answered.

Ryan tried again to avoid this,

"Look, I've been enough trouble lately. I promise I'll tell you about Thanksgiving some day, just not right now. Ok?"

Well, it's a start, Sandy thought. He asked Ryan,

"Like maybe when, then?"

Ryan smirked and said, "I don't know. Like maybe when I'm 30."

As they got back to the kitchen, Ryan saw that Kirsten was still there, and Seth had disappeared. He tried to make a quick exit to the pool house, but didn't get too far before Kirsten started to talk.

"So, Theresa seemed really nice. You can tell she thinks a lot about you. She must really miss you now that you're not in Chino anymore."

Small talk, Ryan thought. She's also making small talk. Small talk always led to big talks.

He just shrugged,

"Yah. I guess."

Kirsten turned and faced Ryan,

"So.. do you miss being in Chino?"

Ryan was a little taken back. So much for small talk. Kirsten got straight to the point.

He thought about it for a minute before he answered,

"No, actually no, I don't. I thought for a while that I did. That I fit in better in Chino but."

Theresa said let them in, Sandy said let them in. Everyone wanted him to let them in, be his family so he decided to try. Take that huge leap of faith and see what happened..

"Ok, look, when I went to go see Trey at Thanksgiving, I knew he would want something. Money. A favor. Something, because he always wanted something. He did."

Ryan paused before continuing,

"Trey owed these guys like six grand, and they had guys in jail with him who liked to 'remind' him regularly. I had to pick up a stolen car and deliver it to this chop shop in order to pay back the debt. That's how I got the black eye. This one guy punched me, as an interest payment to Trey's debt."

Ryan finished and looked at Sandy. It was pretty obvious, even before Sandy spoke that he was mad.

"Why? Why didn't you call us. Let us help you before getting involved with a stolen car, debts, hoods. Illegal activities that could have gotten you arrested again, or worse, killed. You had my cell phone, Ryan, why didn't you call us?"

Ryan began to panic. He should have known this wasn't a good idea.

"Help me how? What was I supposed to do, call you guys and say, hay, Trey has a six grand drug debt, I know its Thanksgiving, but would you have that amount laying around."

Kirsten spoke first,

"Well, maybe not in those words. But yes, Ryan, that's exactly what we expect from you. We expect you to come to us, no matter what. You have to stop putting yourself in harm's way. Stop trying to solve everyone's problems by yourself."

"But this wasn't your problem. He's my brother. I felt like I had no choice."

It was a weak answer, but the only one Ryan had.

Sandy's voice softened considerably. Ryan could tell he was still mad, but calming down pretty quickly.

"Your problems are our problems, Ryan." Sandy said. "And you always have a choice. We are your choice."

Kirsten continued,

"Is that why you haven't talked to Trey or about Trey since Thanksgiving?"

Ryan nodded,

"After I left the chop shop, I went back to the prison, and I told Trey I was done. That I would never do anything for him ever again. We both decided that it would be better if I put him and his whole world behind me."

Sandy was relieved that Ryan made the decision not to see Trey anymore. At least it spared him from having to tell Ryan that he would not be allowed to visit him alone ever again.

"Well, we're glad that you finally told us what happened. And we're really glad that you've decided to remove yourself from Trey and his dangerous situations. But Ryan, your choices. Such blatant disregard for your safety, your welfare. You didn't even consider what could have happened. It scares me just thinking about it."

Again Ryan just nodded. He looked down at the ground, not wanting to look Sandy or Kirsten in the eyes.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. Again."

Then Ryan looked up, and looked them both in the eyes,

"I'm just not used to having people to trust and depend on, to turn to."

Kirsten smiled at him,

"Well, you do now."

Sandy put his arm around Ryan's shoulder and said,

"Ryan, we will work this out. We promise."

And for once Ryan believed them.

"Ok" was all he could say.

Slowly, he turned and looked out the window. Finally, he spoke, very softly,

"Theresa and I were talking, and I was thinking. If you still want. I'll go"

Oh no, Kirsten thought, not again. He's still worried about getting thrown out.

"Go? Go where?" she demanded.

But Ryan answered,

"I'll go. See someone. Talk. To whoever you want. I want to work this out. I... I want to belong. To this family."

Sandy and Kirsten couldn't believe it. They knew what a big step this was for Ryan to admit it. But they also knew what a bigger step it would be for Ryan to prove it.