AN: Wow. It's really been a while on this one. Here's the ending, hope it doesn't disappoint. (Can you believe I actually finished one? Me either...) Sorry about the formatting...I can't figure out how to fix it, but it's readable I hope...Enjoy!
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"How's Ryan?" Sandy asks the next morning as he brings Kirsten a cup of coffee.
"Still sleeping. Do you think we did the right thing?" Kirsten asks as he sits down beside her.
"What?" Sandy asks, startled.
"Sedating him," Kirsten replies. "Do you think he's going to be angry?"
"Honey, I think when we explain what happened, that he'll understand. Don' t you think he's a lot more…mature, now? When we went and convinced him to come home…it seems like he was really trying to give us the benefit of the doubt…he knows that he needs our help. I think he'll understand, Kirsten," Sandy says as he puts his arm around her.
"Shouldn't he be waking up soon?" Kirsten asks with a sigh as she relaxes against him.
"Dr. Levin gave him the last injection around midnight, so I'd think so. He's going to stop by before his clinic opens today," Sandy replies.
"It's really good of him to take such a personal interest in Ryan," Kirsten says.
"He's known him for years. He told me on the phone before we found him that he never forgot Ryan, even when he didn't see him in the hospital. He said that Ryan was one of the patients he wished he could have done more for." Sandy sighs. "Remember how Ryan wouldn't let you go into the ER with him? Well, Dr. Levin said that he never met his parents. He knew that Ryan was being abused but he knew that if he pursued it that it would keep Ryan from going to the hospital at all. He blames himself for not turning him over to social services when he had the chance…he knows how intelligent Ryan is, though…"
"At least he cares. At least he hasn't given up on the kid, yet," Kirsten says.
"We can't take back our mistakes. But we can fix them the best we can. Ryan's home now."
Ryan opens his eyes slowly. He's tired. It takes him a moment to adjust to the light and he doesn't recognize where he is at first. He sits up slowly. He's not sick. He's sober. He's starving.
"Hey, man. Welcome back," Seth says from across the room.
"Hey." Ryan realizes that he's in the poolhouse.
"Do you…do you know where you are?"
"The poolhouse…" Ryan replies quietly. Seth walks over to his bedside. Ryan winces, seeing his bruised face. "What happened to you?"
"I'll tell you all about it later," Seth says, relief on his face.
Ryan gets up immediately and goes to the bathroom. He has a pounding headache. He hesitates, knowing that Seth will probably want to talk to him, but decides to shower first. He feels like he's been asleep for days. When he steps out and gets dressed, he glances at his watch. He has been asleep for days.
"Seth…" Ryan is saying as he walks out into the poolhouse. "What day is it?"
"That's our fault," Dr. Levin answers. Ryan is surprised to see Sandy, Kirsten, Seth and the doctor sitting on the couch in the poolhouse.
"Hey, guys," Ryan remarks.
"How do you feel?" Sandy asks immediately.
Ryan glances around the room, suspicious. "I don't know…"
"It's not a trick question…"
"I didn't think asking what day it is was a trick question either," Ryan replies. He slowly walks across the room and sits down on the bed.
"We sedated you, Ryan. You got to be a little more than we could handle," Sandy says slowly.
"Oh...I…oh…" Ryan says, surprised.
"You didn't recognize anyone and you fought…" Seth adds.
"And we didn't think you should wake up in a hospital, we wanted you here," Kirsten continues.
"Oh. Wow."
"Ryan…" Sandy starts, still worried that he will be angry.
"Thanks," He says suddenly.
"What?" Sandy recoils.
"Thank you. I feel better. I…I feel better. It's okay…"
"Really? You're not mad?" Seth asks.
Ryan sighs. "I came back…I relinquished control of my life, of my health…and I trust your family's decisions…"
"That means a lot, Ryan," Sandy admits.
"And you feel better?" Kirsten asks.
He nods solemnly. "Yeah. But you guys are all staring at me…"
"Sorry," Seth laughs.
"Can I check you out a little, Ryan?" Dr. Levin asks.
"Housecalls, Dr. Levin? I'm surprised," Ryan mutters.
"I'll bring him inside," He tells the Cohens.
The doctor checks Ryan's blood pressure and breathing. He pauses.
"Clean slate?" Ryan asks.
"Getting there," Dr. Levin smiles.
"So what's next?"
"You have to eat. I know that you probably have no appetite and it might be hard, but small portions are fine, Ryan, as long as you eat, like, several times a day…"
"I'll try…"
"You can't drink."
"I know."
"At all, Ryan. You say it so easily but…"
Ryan lowers his gaze. "I crave it, Dr. Levin. I crave it with all that I am, I always have, ever since the first time I tasted it…I know it's not easy…" He meets the doctor's gaze again. "Its something I have to learn to cope with."
Dr. Levin nods. "You don't have to do it alone."
Ryan snorts. "A.A.?"
"You could try it."
"What do the Cohens want me to do?"
"Whatever is best for you, Ryan," Dr. Levin says, confused by Ryan's docile attitude.
Ryan nods. "I'll think about it."
"That's all I can ask."
"What else?" Ryan sighs.
"How do you feel?"
"I'm okay…" Ryan answers, pausing at the doctor's disapproving look.
"Headache? Nausea? Pain?"
Ryan smiles. "All of the above?"
"You have to be honest with me. And the Cohens. We can't help you if you don't tell us what hurts…"
"Okay." He pauses. "My head is killing me, my stomach's cramping because it's so empty and I'm sore for being in the same position for so long."
"Thank you. I can take the edge off, Ryan, if you'd like…" Dr. Levin offers.
"You even sound like a drug dealer," Ryan jokes.
"Ryan…"
"I'm joking, prescribe away, doctor," Ryan smiles.
Ryan joins the Cohens in the kitchen. They stop talking as soon as he enters.
"Hey, kid," Sandy grins, genuinely happy to have him back.
"Hey. Can I make a request? At least try to play it off when you're talking about me," Ryan smiles shyly.
"Sorry. We're just really glad that you're better," Kirsten smiles.
"Did I do that?" Ryan motions to Seth's face.
"Yeah, but I had it coming."
"How so?" Ryan asks immediately.
"I got in your way," Seth grins.
"Ryan, you didn't know where you were, it was an accident," Kirsten says quietly.
"Well, I'm sorry anyway. You know…you know that I'd never hurt you, right?" Ryan asks his friend.
"Not on purpose. I'll forgive you, if you promise not to do it again," Seth replies.
Ryan nods. "I promise."
"And if you promise not to run away again. Mr. Wood," Seth teases. Ryan gives him a nervous smile.
"We want you to feel safe here. You belong here. If you hear something you don't understand or you have any questions or worries, we need you to come to us. We get upset, just like you, and we don't always express ourselves the way that we should," Sandy says slowly.
"I know…I'm really sorry…"
"So are we. But you're home now. You're home with us and we're going to take care of you. If you'll let us," Kirsten says. She walks over and makes him look her in the eyes.
"Okay," He whispers.
"Really?"
He nods. She embraces him.