Disclaimer: The OC is owned by people who make much more money than I do.
Author's note: I am hoping to make-up for my delayed updates by posting two chapters at a time. That works for you guys...right? (Crouching in corner.) Note to Z: nope, but I can see how you might think it. So, how do I keep thanking everyone for the amazing reviews without sounding redundant? I can't because the first word that jumps into my head is thanks, which I keep using over and over. But please know that appreciate the reviews so much.
Chapter 14 is long, 15 short. Thanks for reading! (Hi Liz, nice beta.) (Hi person I e-mail my story to and bug for feedback. Thank you.)
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Thursday Afternoon
Chapter Fourteen
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Seth's body is floating. Not spinning this time, just floating. Seth is used to the difference by now. Spinning is bad; it means dizzy, falling. Floating is good; it means drugs, flying. Pharmaceutical, completely legal drugs, mind you. So this is guilt-free floating. He's not contributing to the dictatorship of any third world drug lords.
Floating is not as scary as spinning, so Seth takes a gamble and raises one eyelid.
No nausea. Floating is way better than spinning.
He's lying on his side, sort of; so one eye is sufficient enough for him to take in his surroundings. Things are clearing up a little. He remembers this room. He's in the hospital. The other times when he woke up, it took a little while to recall where he was.
Ok, so the first few times it took some effort to recall who he was.
The open eye zeroes in on someone hunched over in a chair next to his bed, head down.
Ryan.
Seth's throat is so dry he's not even sure he can pull off a simple hello. But seeing as how he's floating he manages to say, "That, my friend, is the last sandwich I allow you to make me."
Ryan's head snaps to attention and he sits up, looks over at Seth, and smiles. "I'll get you something to drink."
Seth groans and rolls over on his back. He puts his hand to his head. The headache is much better, but his throat is really burning. Where is that Nurse Kelly and her scrumptious ice chips?
Ryan returns with a cup, which Seth accepts gratefully. He grimaces as he swallows, lays his head back on the pillow and whispers his thanks to Ryan. Seth croaks out, "Ryan, man, tell me we did not miss the party."
"We missed the party."
Seth closes his eyes. "I told you not to tell me."
Ryan chuckles, "Well, it's probably still going on. We could put beer in your IV."
"Ow! Ouch. Your humor at my expense, Ryan Atwood, sucks."
Ryan sits back down, scrutinizes Seth. "Seriously, are you okay man?"
Seth considers the question. "I don't know. It's been a weird day. Like one of those Scooby-Doo montages where everybody is chasing each other through the different doors and groovy music is playing and Shaggy stops, makes a sandwich, takes one bite, and puts the rest of the sandwich in the bad guy's hands, and then keep running. You know what I mean? One of those days."
Ryan has no idea what he means. "I don't know why I even bother to ask, you weren't okay to begin with."
"Well," Seth closes his eyes, "It's been a weird day even by my standards."
He clears his throat, winces. "So, are the parental units outside?"
Ryan nods. "Yeah."
"How are they doing?"
Ryan shifts in his seat. "Uh, they're kind of crazy, you know, it's been a hard afternoon for them."
Seth motions for another drink of water and Ryan immediately gets one. Seth takes several sips and then hands the cup back. As his friend settles back into his chair, Seth notices for the first time that Ryan looks positively sullen. Sure he has smiled but his body is slumping, there's a heaviness to Ryan's presence.
"Are you ok?" Seth asks.
Ryan laughs slightly, "I'm not the one hooked up to an IV."
"I could score you one, seriously man, I have a whole new respect for intravenous fluids. I know, they take a bad rap in the media, but I'm telling you what..." Seth stops talking. Ryan is looking out into space.
"Ryan. Ryan? I'm fine man. The doctor told me it's mono. That's like, two weeks vacation on the couch, nothing but sleeping, and eating and whining. I was made for the mono. I'm all about the mono. In fact, I think I've actually been living the mono lifestyle for a couple of years. The mono and I ...we're like peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies, Courtney Love and impulsivity. I'm telling you Ryan, the mono and I are going to get along just fine."
Ryan releases a sad grin, looks down at the floor, and asks doubtfully, "You're all about the mono?"
Seth nods with confidence. "Yes. Yes I am. By day three you'll be envious of me and the mono's relationship. Dragging your sorry ass to school everyday. By day four, you'll be wishing for the mono."
Ryan shakes his head, "I don't think so."
Seth can barely keep his eyes open but he doesn't want to go to sleep until Ryan's mood is lifted. "I'm fine Ryan, really, it's ok. The whole fever thing..." Seth whirls his hands around, "I'm just an overachiever. It's a curse. Seriously, I'll be home tomorrow."
Seth yawns, his eyes slide shut. "Ryan, talk to me brother, I sense unrelated mono morose."
Ryan sits back in his chair. Seth is fighting the good fight but he won't be able to stay awake much longer.
"Is it Marissa?" Seth asks, his voice fading.
"No, don't worry about it Seth, it's just my family. Something came up. Something really screwy is going down right now."
Seth manages to peel open one eye, raise an eyebrow and throw a disbelieving look at Ryan.
"Ok," Ryan concedes, "Screwed up even by my standards."
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Sandy returns from his phone calls. Kirsten is sipping a horrible cup of coffee procured from the eight-hour old pot located at the nurses' station.
Sandy sits down next to his wife, informs Kirsten that his mother is threatening to fly out from the Bronx and her father has already fueled up the jet. He tried to ease both grandparents' fears, but Seth being involved always ups the ante. Sandy closes his eyes and leans back in his chair. He can make as many phone calls as he wants but nothing is distracting the lawyer from Ryan. He can't stop worrying about him.
"Kirsten, did Ryan say anything to you, while you two were outside? Does he hate me?" Sandy questions his wife. "Do you hate me?" He pauses, and then adds, "He hates me. He wouldn't even look at me."
Kirsten rubs her forehead. "Sandy, I'm so tired right now, I don't have enough energy to hate anyone or anything."
Sandy is silent.
Kirsten leans her head on his shoulder. Sandy immediately reaches for her hair, engulfs her head, holds her close.
"Nobody hates you Sandy. I don't know if it's even possible to hate you."
Sandy kisses the top of his wife's head, rests his cheek against her hair. "You should have seen his face in the parking lot Kirsten. I never thought I'd be responsible for Ryan looking like that."
"You didn't create the situation Sandy. Give Ryan some time, he'll come to the same conclusion."
Sandy wants to believe her. He looks down the hallway. Ryan has been with Seth for almost an hour. "You know, he's not going to come out of that room tonight. He's going to hole up in there."
"God," Kirsten answers flatly, "Who would blame him?"
Something about her delivery strikes Sandy as funny and suddenly he's laughing so hard he has to release Kirsten. He stands up, still laughing, holding his side, and leaning over.
"Holy shit." He declares. "What kind of day has this day been?"
Kirsten sits up straight in her chair, alert. Sandy's laughter is bordering on hysterics.
"I mean," he continues, "I'm not even sure what the hell happened today. I woke up, I surfed, I ate a bagel, I went to work. I left the house with two kids safely sleeping. What the hell even happened today?" Sandy holds his arms out in a question. Just as quickly as the laughing started, it stops. Sandy looks helplessly at his wife, his eyes slightly watery.
"Seth is all right Sandy, and Ryan doesn't hate you," Kirsten assures him. Reaching out, she takes a hold of her husband's hand. He sits down again next to her, looks the opposite direction at the barren hospital wall, and tries to trick himself into believing her words.
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Seth is struggling to stay awake. He's rambled on as much as his throat will allow him.
The fever is continuing to make him loopy and he's having trouble concentrating. He emits a humongous yawn that tears painfully at his throat and asks Ryan, "Hey, come on, Ryan, talk to me. What's going on?"
Ryan looks up at Seth with an open mouth, almost says something, fills his cheeks with air, and blows out a sigh.
Seth yawns again, looks expectantly at Ryan with heavy eyes.
"Go to sleep Seth," Ryan tells him. "We'll talk when you wake up. I promise."
Seth turns to his side. "You're gonna stick around?"
Ryan shrugs, "I already missed the party. What the hell."
Seth grins and snuggles into his blanket.
Ryan reaches for the bag he packed to retrieve his iPod. Before he can adjust the earphones, Seth is asleep.
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Kirsten stands up, throws her coffee cup away. The caffeine has energized her, temporarily pushing exhaustion over to the side. Sandy has been quiet since his small outburst. He seems lost in his own thoughts. Glancing at her watch, Kirsten realizes that Ryan has been with Seth for over an hour. She's been patient. Now it's her turn to see Seth. Ryan can stay in the room, but Kirsten needs to spend some time with her sick son. She suspects that a little time with the healthy one wouldn't hurt either.
"Well, wish me luck," she tells her husband. "I'm going in."
"I've been thinking," Sandy says, "The hospital probably has a counselor on call. Maybe we should handle this situation professionally."
Kirsten raises her eyebrows at him and replies, "I think you need some sleep."
Sandy nods in resignation, "Yeah, you're right. That wouldn't go over so well." He combs his fingers through his hair. "I dropped the ball on that one though," he confesses. "I should have hooked Ryan up with a counselor the minute I heard his mother screaming at him outside of Juvie. I could have. I've done it in the past with kids. But something about Ryan stopped me. I think maybe I was concerned forcing therapy on Ryan might have made things worse."
Kirsten is still standing, her visit with Seth temporarily halted. As long as Sandy is being brutally honest, she might as well join in on the act. "He doesn't have normal reactions Sandy. Tonight...it's just...he's just so..." she searches for a word, "I don't know...cold, removed. I've never seen a kid calculate their emotions like Ryan does. It seems unnatural. The few things he's confided about his childhood, I have trouble even listening to. I see some progress with him socially, but emotionally...I'm not sure we've helped him at all." She looks at Sandy, waits for him to comment.
"When this is over, and Seth is home, we'll sit Ryan down and talk about the possibility of his seeing someone."
"And until then?" Kirsten asks.
Sandy shrugs, "We wing it."
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Ed Carden manages to drive back to the hotel and lets himself into his room. It's two hours later in Illinois, almost too late to call anyone. But Carol isn't anyone; she's his older sister, and his best friend.
On the fifth ring Carol answers.
"Ed, what the hell? It's late. You may have woken up the kids."
Ed apologizes and Carol immediately senses that all is not well with her brother. "What's going on Ed, are you still in California?"
Carden replies yes and then asks, "Carol, how would you feel about me staying a few more days."
Carol doesn't need to think about it. "Tuesday is Brad's birthday Ed."
"I know," he sighs.
"And I thought you told me your leave was up Sunday. Can you even arrange additional days off?"
Ed rubs his forehead with his free hand, "I don't know Carol, I could try."
"Did you find her Ed? Did you find Dawn? Is that why you want to stay?" Carol is the only one other than Sandy Cohen who knows about Dawn, who understands why he had to come to California in the first place.
"Yes I found Dawn. But she's not the reason I want to stay. I can't get into that right now. I'll tell you more when I get home. I just need you to keep the boys for a few more days."
He can hear Carol taking deep breaths. He knows what that means. His sister is getting angry.
"Nope, sorry baby brother. I'm not keeping them past Sunday. Maybe you can call mom and dad and ask them to take care of the kids for you. Dad can explain to Brad why his father can't be here on his ninth birthday, the first one he's had without his mother. You need to come back Ed. You need to be back Sunday, on time, with a goddamn fake smile plastered on your face. I don't know what's going on in California, but get the hell on a plane and back here. I know these past few months have been a living hell, but you and Sara sacrificed too damn much to make a family for these boys. I won't be a part of your neglecting them. Get on the plane Ed, come home, come home and start living your life again, if nothing else, for your boys."
Carden doesn't answer her.
"I'm only saying these things because I love you Ed. And I loved Sara and the good lord knows I would do anything for Josh and Brad."
Ed swallows back his frustration, attempts to keep his voice calm and steady. "You're right Carol. I shouldn't have even asked. I wasn't thinking straight."
"Are you at your hotel Ed? You sound exhausted. Get some sleep. We all miss you."
"I will," he promises. "I'm going to bed right now. I'm sorry I called so late."
"I love you Ed," she tells him, her voice much softer.
"I love you too sis, kiss the boys for me."
He wearily turns off the lights in his hotel room and stares into the dark, beginning the wait for Sandy Cohen's promised morning phone call.
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Kelly enters Seth's hospital room and smiles to herself. The boy's brother is sitting next to him, arranging some teenage paraphernalia on the small table located next to the bed.
"Hi," she waves quietly, "Still here huh? I see Seth has passed out again." When Ryan doesn't offer a reply, Kelly points to the items he is removing from the bag and says, "Your brother is probably going to change rooms in the morning."
Ryan stops unpacking.
"Listen," Kelly continues, "Seth's going up for a CAT-scan in a few minutes. If you want to grab something to eat or drink, I'll find you when he's done."
Ryan shakes his head no, "That's ok. I'll wait here. Thanks"
A male orderly with a clipboard and a gurney knocks and then comes into the room.
Ryan stands up as Kelly and the orderly rearrange things on Seth's bed, transferring the IV bag from the bed hook to the gurney. Seth doesn't stir as Kelly removes several items from his body. The transactions completed, Kelly gently wakes up Seth and uses a soothing voice to encourage him to slide onto the gurney. Seth is still half asleep, exhausted and unsteady. Ryan intervenes, helps to more or less lift Seth onto the new bed.
Seth shivers and announces to no one in particular, "I'm cold." The orderly reaches for the blanket on Seth's hospital bed but Ryan beats him to it, places the blanket on Seth, and pats the boy's shoulder.
"Thanks Ryan," Seth mutters, then adds, "You're always there for me man."
Ryan steps awkwardly out of the way as the orderly shifts the gurney, preparing to leave the room.
"You're staying all night, right Ryan?" Seth asks sleepily. "Is that ok?"
"Yeah," Ryan answers, "Sure, absolutely."
"Good," Seth responds, pulls his blanket up, "Tell mom and dad to go home, get some sleep."
As Seth is wheeled out, Ryan picks up his chair and retreats into a corner of the room.
With everyone gone, the hospital room is dead silent, leaving Ryan alone with his thoughts.
He wonders how many alarms would go off if he lit up a cigarette.
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An unfamiliar nurse finds the Cohens standing in the waiting room, tells them that Seth will be gone for a while with the CAT-Scan.
"Are there visiting hours here?" Kirsten asks. "Do we have to leave? This is all new to us."
"Well, Seth is a minor." The nurse answers, "You and your husband can stay."
Sandy and Kirsten look at each other. What about Ryan?
The nurse notices the glances the couple is exchanging. "Your other son is eighteen. Right?" Her voice is leading; she is shaking her head up and down in an exaggerated nod.
Sandy catches on quick. This woman is a lifesaver. "Yes!" he agrees. "Ryan is most definitely eighteen." Kirsten throws him a side-glance. He squeezes her hand.
"Ok," the nurse smiles, "That settles it. You can all stay. But Doctor Hughes ordered a light sedative for Seth when he comes back from the CAT- Scan. One or two of you might want to go home, he's probably going to sleep through the night."
Sandy avoids the suggestion, thanks the woman for all her help. When she returns to the nurses' station, Sandy says to Kirsten, "Seth's gone. Do you think Ryan's coming out of that room?"
Kirsten sighs lethargically but issues a solid, "No."
"Well," Sandy shrugs, "I guess I'm going to him then."
"You can't do that Sandy," Kirsten protests, "I promised Ryan that I'd keep everyone away."
"Everyone as in ......me?" Sandy asks.
"Yes," she agrees, "and Ed Carden."
"So I'm in the same category as Ed Carden now."
Kirsten drops her shoulders. Why can't anything be simple today?
"Sandy...Are you or are you not the same person who said one hour ago, and I quote, 'We need to give Ryan some space'?"
He stares at her.
"Space. As in, you're not going in that room Sandy."
"Nothing is going to get resolved unless we talk about it Kirsten," Sandy answers. "I'm going in that room. I don't give a damn if he ignores me or hits me, but like hell I'll sit out here having him wonder if I even care enough to find him and at least attempt to talk things out."
"And you think that the isolation ward at HOAG is the ideal place to have a discussion of this magnitude." Kirsten asks incredulously.
"Well it's a hell of a lot better than the parking lot," Sandy quips. "Let me tell you, I tried that, it didn't work out so well. I wouldn't recommend it. Do you want me to have security escort him to the Range Rover? He and I can take the long way home, I'm sure we'll have the situation resolved by the time we hit the driveway."
"Now you're being ridiculous," Kirsten answers perturbed.
"No," Sandy says shaking his head, "Now I'm being a parent. Why don't you stay here and catch him when he comes barreling out in about..." Sandy checks his watch and shrugs, "I don't know, a minute, minute and a half."
Kirsten folds her arms around her chest and watches Sandy trudge off towards Seth's room.
Nothing is going to be simple today.
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To be continued....right now, click on chapter 15.