Disclaimer: The OC and its characters belong to someone with much more
money than me.
Author's note: This story takes place sometime after the Rescue because Sandy has changed jobs. Well I have to say wow and a huge thanks to all the reviews. You guys are so sweet because this story is an all over the place, frantic mess. But I am having fun writing it, so thanks again. A very special thanks to L for her beta skills.
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Thursday Afternoon
Chapter Three
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Kirsten is concentrating on driving. She should have brought Ryan. It was stupid to leave him at home. He was just as worried about Seth as she was. But he didn't argue with her. He did as she asked. Ryan either completely complies or he burns down houses. No in-between with that kid. She wishes now he would have argued, or begged to come. She needs him.
Seth is in the back of the Range Rover lying down, quiet, in misery. The vomiting started on the way to the doctor's office and hasn't stopped since. Doctor Demsky's office got Seth in right away. Kirsten was hoping for a quick prescription and a reassuring pat on the head. Instead, she finds herself driving to HOAG. Demsky was concerned about the high fever and possible dehydration. The doctor had offered to call a private transport to take Seth to the hospital but Seth began to fall apart at the mere thought of an ambulance. He tugged at Kirsten's arm, begging to go home, promising it was only the flu. He just needed to go home and go to sleep. Hospital bad, home good. Kirsten couldn't stand the pleading and agreed to take Seth herself.
The kid is pissed off about going to the hospital but at least he's calmed down.
Kirsten is shaky. Something is wrong. She can feel it. She should have taken Ryan with her. He'd be in the back of the car right now, with Seth, helping him or driving, and allowing Kirsten to parent properly. Kirsten reaches for her cell phone, deciding to give Sandy one more try before calling a cab to pick up Ryan and meet her and Seth at HOAG.
In the back seat, Seth groans and jerks, his belly attempting a revolt. It's an impossible task. There's nothing left of Ryan's sandwich in his stomach.
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Ryan tries to distract himself by watching television. It's getting close to dinnertime and he's hungry. He's feeling guilty, wanting to eat while Seth is somewhere most likely as sick as a dog. He should have second guessed Kirsten and gone with them. But Ryan is still unsure of his place in this family. Kirsten must not have wanted him along. When the chips were down, it was still only she, Seth and Sandy.
Ryan knows he's being ridiculous. Kirsten had been frazzled when she left, in a hurry. She just wanted to get out of the house, get Seth to the doctor's office before they closed. The last thing she needed to think about was Ryan. He was mad at himself for feeling this way, feeling left behind, left out.
But even still, he can't help but think that just because she let you in the house doesn't mean she has to let you in.
Ryan's stomach growls, it wants food. He wants a phone call. Kirsten, Sandy, hell even Seth at this point, it doesn't matter who as long as someone calls. Ryan looks at the clock on the television. Kirsten and Seth left over an hour and a half ago. Everything must be fine. Seth must be fine.
Kirsten promised to call.
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Sandy flips open his cell phone. His hands are trembling. He composes himself before answering, "Hello?"
Kirsten's sounds like she is drowning. Her voice is guarded, low, hurried. "Where have you been?" she demands. "I've been calling your phone for the past two hours. Did you get my messages?"
Sandy sighs, 'No', he thinks to himself, 'Sorry honey, I've been busy meeting Ryan's biological father. He's in my office now, having a nervous breakdown. Shall I ask him to come to the phone?'
Instead he answers her, "Um, no. I'm sorry. I was in a meeting. No cell phones allowed. If it was that important honey, you should have called the main office and had me paged."
Kirsten's impatience is obvious in her tone, "I thought about that Sandy, but I was trying not to panic. You or me."
Sandy is less distracted now by the man sitting on his office floor, crying. Kirsten's phone call is claiming his attention. "Kirsten, what's wrong, what's happening?"
"Seth is sick," she rushes out in one breathe. "I took him to Demsky and now we are on our way to HOAG." She lowers her voice even more and whispers into the phone, "Something feels really wrong Sandy. I'm scared for Seth."
Sandy scratches the side of his head furiously, looks at his office door, then looks back at the phone. Seth and Kirsten need him. Carden needs him. And he, Sandy needs to protect Ryan. He's in an impossible situation. Nonetheless, Sandy makes a quick decision.
"I'm leaving the office right now Kirsten. How far away from HOAG are you?"
He can hear Seth in the background calling Kirsten's name and his wife answering gently, "It's ok Seth, we're almost there. Hang on honey." She returns to the conversation on the phone, "Um, maybe five, ten minutes, this damn afternoon traffic. I should have let Demsky transport him. I let Seth talk me out of it. I'm an idiot."
She sounds like she is about to bawl and Sandy is kicking himself for not checking his phone earlier. Demsky offered to transport Seth? Shit. Maybe something is actually wrong. He tries to reassure his wife, calm her. "No honey, you're not an idiot. Seth is all about the convincing. We both fall victim to it periodically. Just drive safely. I'll meet you at HOAG. I'm sure everything is fine. I love you. Tell Seth I love him too."
Kirsten and he exchange a few more words before she hangs up. Sandy gathers his nerves and heads back to his office. How in the hell is he going to wrap this thing up with Carden and get to HOAG all within the next half hour? Seth is sick, Kirsten is freaking out. Sandy suddenly realizes in all the mayhem he forgot to ask where Ryan was.
He forgot about Ryan.
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To Be Continued
Author's note: This story takes place sometime after the Rescue because Sandy has changed jobs. Well I have to say wow and a huge thanks to all the reviews. You guys are so sweet because this story is an all over the place, frantic mess. But I am having fun writing it, so thanks again. A very special thanks to L for her beta skills.
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Thursday Afternoon
Chapter Three
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Kirsten is concentrating on driving. She should have brought Ryan. It was stupid to leave him at home. He was just as worried about Seth as she was. But he didn't argue with her. He did as she asked. Ryan either completely complies or he burns down houses. No in-between with that kid. She wishes now he would have argued, or begged to come. She needs him.
Seth is in the back of the Range Rover lying down, quiet, in misery. The vomiting started on the way to the doctor's office and hasn't stopped since. Doctor Demsky's office got Seth in right away. Kirsten was hoping for a quick prescription and a reassuring pat on the head. Instead, she finds herself driving to HOAG. Demsky was concerned about the high fever and possible dehydration. The doctor had offered to call a private transport to take Seth to the hospital but Seth began to fall apart at the mere thought of an ambulance. He tugged at Kirsten's arm, begging to go home, promising it was only the flu. He just needed to go home and go to sleep. Hospital bad, home good. Kirsten couldn't stand the pleading and agreed to take Seth herself.
The kid is pissed off about going to the hospital but at least he's calmed down.
Kirsten is shaky. Something is wrong. She can feel it. She should have taken Ryan with her. He'd be in the back of the car right now, with Seth, helping him or driving, and allowing Kirsten to parent properly. Kirsten reaches for her cell phone, deciding to give Sandy one more try before calling a cab to pick up Ryan and meet her and Seth at HOAG.
In the back seat, Seth groans and jerks, his belly attempting a revolt. It's an impossible task. There's nothing left of Ryan's sandwich in his stomach.
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Ryan tries to distract himself by watching television. It's getting close to dinnertime and he's hungry. He's feeling guilty, wanting to eat while Seth is somewhere most likely as sick as a dog. He should have second guessed Kirsten and gone with them. But Ryan is still unsure of his place in this family. Kirsten must not have wanted him along. When the chips were down, it was still only she, Seth and Sandy.
Ryan knows he's being ridiculous. Kirsten had been frazzled when she left, in a hurry. She just wanted to get out of the house, get Seth to the doctor's office before they closed. The last thing she needed to think about was Ryan. He was mad at himself for feeling this way, feeling left behind, left out.
But even still, he can't help but think that just because she let you in the house doesn't mean she has to let you in.
Ryan's stomach growls, it wants food. He wants a phone call. Kirsten, Sandy, hell even Seth at this point, it doesn't matter who as long as someone calls. Ryan looks at the clock on the television. Kirsten and Seth left over an hour and a half ago. Everything must be fine. Seth must be fine.
Kirsten promised to call.
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Sandy flips open his cell phone. His hands are trembling. He composes himself before answering, "Hello?"
Kirsten's sounds like she is drowning. Her voice is guarded, low, hurried. "Where have you been?" she demands. "I've been calling your phone for the past two hours. Did you get my messages?"
Sandy sighs, 'No', he thinks to himself, 'Sorry honey, I've been busy meeting Ryan's biological father. He's in my office now, having a nervous breakdown. Shall I ask him to come to the phone?'
Instead he answers her, "Um, no. I'm sorry. I was in a meeting. No cell phones allowed. If it was that important honey, you should have called the main office and had me paged."
Kirsten's impatience is obvious in her tone, "I thought about that Sandy, but I was trying not to panic. You or me."
Sandy is less distracted now by the man sitting on his office floor, crying. Kirsten's phone call is claiming his attention. "Kirsten, what's wrong, what's happening?"
"Seth is sick," she rushes out in one breathe. "I took him to Demsky and now we are on our way to HOAG." She lowers her voice even more and whispers into the phone, "Something feels really wrong Sandy. I'm scared for Seth."
Sandy scratches the side of his head furiously, looks at his office door, then looks back at the phone. Seth and Kirsten need him. Carden needs him. And he, Sandy needs to protect Ryan. He's in an impossible situation. Nonetheless, Sandy makes a quick decision.
"I'm leaving the office right now Kirsten. How far away from HOAG are you?"
He can hear Seth in the background calling Kirsten's name and his wife answering gently, "It's ok Seth, we're almost there. Hang on honey." She returns to the conversation on the phone, "Um, maybe five, ten minutes, this damn afternoon traffic. I should have let Demsky transport him. I let Seth talk me out of it. I'm an idiot."
She sounds like she is about to bawl and Sandy is kicking himself for not checking his phone earlier. Demsky offered to transport Seth? Shit. Maybe something is actually wrong. He tries to reassure his wife, calm her. "No honey, you're not an idiot. Seth is all about the convincing. We both fall victim to it periodically. Just drive safely. I'll meet you at HOAG. I'm sure everything is fine. I love you. Tell Seth I love him too."
Kirsten and he exchange a few more words before she hangs up. Sandy gathers his nerves and heads back to his office. How in the hell is he going to wrap this thing up with Carden and get to HOAG all within the next half hour? Seth is sick, Kirsten is freaking out. Sandy suddenly realizes in all the mayhem he forgot to ask where Ryan was.
He forgot about Ryan.
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To Be Continued