Seth was watching Ryan sleep. Ryan had been upset when he woke up and saw Sandy but he'd fallen back asleep almost instantly.
He looked uncomfortable. His leg was in an air cast and his bruised chest was wrapped tightly.
"Seth. Can I talk to you?" Sandy called.
Seth walked into the small kitchen. Summer took over watching Ryan.
"Tell me everything you know," Sandy said. His eyes were clear.
"Dad, what?"
"Your father's back," Hailey said.
"I feel like I'm waking up from a bad dream into a nightmare," Ryan muttered. "So. Ryan lives here with Teresa but he's still been in Newport every day and working a full time job…"
"Dad…" Seth started.
"And you're grounded. Forever."
"He's definitely sounding more like the Sandy I remember," Jimmy smiled.
"We have to bring Ryan home where we can take care of him," Sandy said.
"He won't come, Sandy. Kirsten…she said some things to him…" Hailey started.
"I don't care," Sandy replied. "I'm his legal guardian…"
"Not anymore," Seth said quietly.
"What?"
"He's emancipated."
"How the hell…"
"Your friend, Rachel. Ryan needed to be considered an adult in order to handle your affairs and his own," Hailey explained.
"But his probation," Sandy protested.
"Rachel took care of it," Jimmy said quietly.
Sandy shook his head. "It doesn't matter. He should be home."
Summer's voice interrupted his words. "Ryan?"
"What time is it?" Ryan murmured.
Seth and Sandy stepped into the room. Ryan was sitting up, stiffly.
"Early."
Ryan rubbed his eyes.
"How're you feeling?" Seth asked.
"Like hell."
"You should take something, it's been hours since you took your med," Summer said, handing him two prescription bottles.
"I have to call Eva. And Arturo. Can you hand me the phone?" Ryan mumbled.
"Hailey called Teresa's mom last night," Summer said. "Take your meds."
Ryan sighed. He studied the bottles before opening them and swallowing several pills.
"Ryan…" Sandy started.
"You should go home," Ryan said, meeting Sandy's gaze steadily.
"I'm not leaving you to handle this. You're coming back to Newport."
Ryan seemed to realize that Sandy had snapped out of his depression. He shook his head. "I have to be here."
"You should be at home," Sandy insisted.
"He should be in the hospital," Summer muttered.
"I am home." Ryan reached for his crutches and slowly got to his feet. "I need a shower."
"Ryan, I promised to get you checked out at the hospital today," Seth said.
"I remember. I'm not arguing. I'm just taking a shower." He slowly limped out of the room.
"At least you listened to him," Summer said to Sandy. "It's good to have you back." She gave him a gentle hug.
"Thank you," Sandy smiled, grateful for her slight comfort.
"I'm going to spy on Chino, make sure he hasn't fallen over," Summer said.
"I'll come with," Hailey offered from the doorway.
Ryan had stopped cold in the bedroom.
"Chino?"
"I'm okay, Summer." He had his eyes closed as he stood supported by his crutches.
"We can help get you unwrapped, kid," Hailey offered quietly.
He sighed, consenting. They were at his side immediately, helping him into the bathroom. He sat down on the closed toilet and started to unbutton his shirt. Before he could take it off, Hailey and Summer took over.
"I'm not an invalid," Ryan muttered.
"Have you looked in a mirror?" Hailey asked.
Summer gently unwrapped his bruised chest. He put his hand against his bare chest and took a shaky breath when she stopped.
"You okay?" Hailey asked, concerned.
"This really hurts…" He said, closing his eyes and breathing shallowly.
"Ryan, hey, are you all right?" Summer kneeled beside him.
"I have known her my whole life…I've spent more time with her than anyone else in my life…and now she's gone…" A single tear escaped his eyes.
"Oh, honey…" Summer wanted to embrace him but he shuddered at her touch.
"Shower…I need to shower," He said immediately, starting to get up.
"Chino, just sit," Summer urged. He sat down. She slowly unfastened the brace on his leg.
"Maybe he'd like a sponge bath," Hailey smiled.
"Jimmy'd kill me. So would Seth," Ryan replied. "So get out."
"Where are your clothes?" Hailey asked.
"The bureau," He muttered.
"Chino. Let me?" Summer leaned over and opened her arms. He finally allowed her to hug him. He shook in her gentle embrace. "You're going to get through this…"
"Do you…do you think she knew?"
"What?" Summer asked, confused.
"That I loved her…" He whispered.
"I'm sure she knew, she'll always know, Ryan…" Summer said, releasing him so she could look in his face. "She loved you so much…"
"But that never seems to matter…" He said sadly.
"Here's some clothes, Ryan. We'll be right out here if you need us." Hailey pulled Summer to her feet and closed the door as Summer burst into tears.
Seth, Sandy and Jimmy were sitting in the living room.
"The kid's place is nice," Jimmy said.
"Did you know, Jimmy, about Ryan dropping out of school?" Seth asked.
"He told me," Jimmy admitted. "He paid your tuition and went to a meeting with Dr. Kim to explain things. I offered to pay his tuition, but…"
"He's not going to Harbor?"
"Kirsten really messed his head up, Sandy. He hasn't used any of your money and he hasn't accepted anything from Hailey or me. He couldn't budget in Harbor for himself. He said he'd get his GED," Jimmy explained.
"All these decisions, changes, were made without me…" Sandy muttered.
"Tell me about it. I came home to catatonic parents," Seth replied.
"I'm sorry, Seth…your grandmother died and…"
"I know, Dad. I'm really sorry about Nana and I'm sorry for not being here…"
"Apologies all around," Hailey smiled, walking in.
"How is he?" Sandy asked.
"Stubborn as hell. But he let Summer hug him, so that's at least a crack in the armor."
"Ryan's all armor. He better not crack," Seth replied.
"I'm going to call Kirsten." Sandy felt in his pockets. "Do I have a cell phone?"
Seth tossed his Dad a phone. "Don't use all my minutes."
"Hello?" Kirsten answered.
"Kirsten, it's me."
"Hey. You okay?"
"I feel like I've been sleepwalking through the past few weeks and everything is fucked…" Sandy replied.
"I'm sorry…"
"What did you say to Ryan? Why don't I remember you talking to him?"
"I…I said that if it weren't for him, Seth would have stayed. That he ruined my family…"
"Why would you say those things, Kirsten? You love him…"
"I needed someone to blame and he was here…he was quiet, it was like he didn't even care that Seth was gone and I just couldn't take it…" She whispered.
"What else, Kirsten?"
"I told him that he wasn't welcome here…"
"But now that you have Seth back, you're forgiving him?" Sandy snapped, angry. "God, Kirsten, we gave the kid a family and then you just took it away…"
"I'm sorry…I know I was wrong and if I could just talk to him then I'd make it right again, I promise…how is he?" Kirsten asked.
"He's upset but he's staying strong…"
"Is he coming home?"
"He won't hear of it. But I don't know how he's going to be able to stay here with all the…with all of Teresa's things. He's getting a shower and then we're going to take him back to the hospital to get checked out."
"The hospital? He's hurt?" Kirsten didn't know he was hurt.
"He's really banged up, he wouldn't stay last night so Seth brought him back here."
"I'm coming, Sandy…"
"Please. Don't. Not yet. Let me talk to him."
She sighed. "Okay, honey. And you're okay?"
"Yeah. I think I am. I…I'm sorry I wasn't there for you…"
"Me, too. But we're stronger together. So come home as soon as you can."
"I will."
Ryan stepped out of the bathroom with wet hair. He'd pulled on the sweatpants that Hailey had laid out for him but he was shirtless and held the bandages for his ribs in his hand. Summer immediately went to his side and helped him to sit down on the bed. The phone rang and he looked at it on the nightstand.
"Ryan…"
"I don't want to hear the answering machine," He said suddenly and grabbed the phone. "Hello?"
"Ryan. It's Eva…"
"Hey…"
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay. How are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm getting by," She said. "I just wanted to talk to you about the arrangements…"
"Arrangements?" Ryan asked.
"Yes. We're having a small service in a few days for Teresa. We won't be burying the baby separately, we think it's best if we don't bring it up at all. We think it would bring up too many questions."
"We?"
"Eddie has been a godsend, Ryan, he's been helping me find the right way to pay respect to Teresa…"
Ryan couldn't listen anymore. He silently pushed the off button.
"Ryan? Ryan, who was that?" Summer asked. Ryan didn't move. He stared at the phone in his hand. He looked at her blankly.
"Ryan. Who was on the phone?"
It rang again in his hand. He didn't react immediately but when it rang the second time, he pulled his arm back and hurled the phone against the wall, breaking it. The phone continued to ring in the other room.
Summer waited a long moment before sitting down beside him. Hailey and Seth stepped into the room, alerted by the noise.
"It's like it never even happened…" Ryan murmured. He covered his face. He started to cry silently. Hailey crawled across the bed on her knees and pulled him into a hug. She rocked him gently.
"What happened?" Seth asked.
"Someone called," Summer replied. "And he broke the phone."
"Ryan? Ryan, what's wrong, honey? Who was on the phone…" Hailey asked as she tried not to hurt him but continued to hold him.
Sandy stepped in, the kitchen phone to his ear. He covered the mouthpiece. "Guys, give him a little space…" He stepped back into the kitchen.
Summer shook her head when Seth glanced at her. Seth sat down beside Ryan.
Sandy's voice carried into the bedroom. "You need to take a long look at yourself, Mrs. Torres. Teresa decided to have this baby because of her religious beliefs, she wanted this child and you punished her for it. You're going to let the man that abused her stand beside you at her funeral. You know this isn't what Teresa would want…"
Ryan pulled away from Hailey and limped back into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
"Fuck," Summer muttered, getting up and going into the kitchen. "Sandy, stop."
Sandy had put the phone down. Jimmy was watching him, pale.
"He heard you, Sandy…" Summer whispered.
"I'm sorry. I just can't believe that she would do this…" Sandy muttered.
"What is it, Sandy?" Jimmy asked.
"Teresa's mother has decided not to mention that Teresa was pregnant. There won't be a ceremony for the child. Eddie's been helping her make the arrangements," Sandy stated quietly.
"Damn…"
"Is he okay?" Jimmy asked Summer.
Ryan walked out, dressed and leaning heavily on his crutches. Hailey and Seth were immediately behind him. "Is my entourage ready to take me to the hospital?"
"Ryan…"
"I'm not talking about that. But you shouldn't have talked to Eva like that. She just lost her daughter," Ryan said quietly. He met Sandy's gaze. "She didn't know about Eddie hurting her. You shouldn't have told her. It wasn't her business. Teresa is dead now, none of that stuff matters anymore. Now let's go."
Sandy was stricken. He shook off Ryan's words and followed him to the door. Seth was beside him and patted him on the back.
"It's okay. He's just upset," Seth said quietly.
"But…but he was right."
Ryan wouldn't let anyone stay in the room for his examination. Hailey and Jimmy left to check on Kirsten. Summer, Seth and Sandy were waiting in the waiting room for him to emerge.
Finally, the doctor entered. "Ryan said he'd like me to tell you what's going on."
"Is he okay?" Seth asked immediately, standing up.
"He shouldn't be out of bed, honestly. His ribs are going to be very painful for the next few weeks and he doesn't need to consider going back to work for at least a month…"
"He won't be working," Sandy stated.
"He needs to stay off his leg to allow it to heal. He seems alert so the concussion isn't a worry anymore, but the more he moves around, the harder it's going to be for his ribs and collarbone to heal correctly. He doesn't seem like the stay-in-bed type of kid but it's what he needs," The doctor said. "Are you his father?" He asked Sandy.
"I…I was his guardian," Sandy said, clearly still not comfortable with the fact that Ryan had been cut free. He knew that Ryan could handle the responsibility, but he hated the fact that he'd been weak enough for the kid to have to do that.
"He refuses to stay. We want to get an orthopedic consult, but he refuses to stay," The doctor admitted.
"Can we talk to him? See if we can change his mind?" Seth asked.
"I'll show you where he is," The doctor nodded.
Summer and Seth flanked Sandy and they followed the man down the hall.
Ryan was sitting on the edge of the bed, buttoning his shirt.
"Dude, why can't you just wait a little while?" Seth asked, sitting down beside him on the bed.
"I need a ride," Ryan replied.
"Where are you going? The doctor says you need to rest…" Summer protested.
"I have some things to take care of," Ryan replied.
Sandy walked over and stood in front of Ryan. Slowly, Ryan met his gaze. "You can't run away from this, you know."
"I'm not running…"
"Then why can't you wait for the orthopedist?" Sandy asked seriously. "Don't you want to get back to your full strength?"
"I'll be fine…"
"Your ribs are broken, Ryan. Not bruised, not cracked, but broken. Your collarbone…" Sandy continued.
"I know, Sandy. I'm well aware."
"You shouldn't let this accident affect the rest of your life, you could have a permanent limp, it could affect the way you breathe, you could have constant pain," Sandy added.
"Sandy, stop," Ryan sighed. He covered his face.
"Please, Ryan. Come back with us. You can rest and we'll take care of everything…do you trust me?"
"I don't know, do you trust me?" Ryan snapped immediately. "Because it's pretty fucking obvious that you don't…"
"Ryan, stop it," Summer whispered.
Ryan lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry…"
"Ryan, I do trust you," Sandy said gently, putting his hands on Ryan's shoulders. "The last few weeks, you have done more for me than I could ever repay. Can't you let me help you, now? I'm an adult, but I still needed help. And now you need help."
Ryan sighed heavily.
"What do you have to do today, kid?" Sandy asked.
"I need my phone. It was in the car. It has all the phone numbers I need. I have to call my boss, Teresa's doctors, Rachel…"
"We'll get your phone. I'll make some calls to the police station to see where they took Teresa's car. We'll take care of all of that for you," Sandy replied.
"I can do it…"
"We know you can. But we can do it just as well," Seth said.
Ryan hesitated but finally gave a slight nod.
"Will you stay and talk to the ortho doctor?" Summer asked.
He nodded again.
"We'll stay, Dad," Seth said. "Here's my phone…"
"And my keys," Summer added, handing Sandy her keys.
Sandy squeezed Ryan's shoulder and saw him wince in pain. "Sorry, kid. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Thanks."
The orthopedic consult didn't happen for several hours but Ryan slept for most of the wait. Sandy returned a few minutes after the doctor had left.
"Okay, kid. That wasn't too bad, was it?" Sandy asked. He'd talked to the doctor before coming in.
"Nah. You find my phone?"
Sandy pulled the phone out of his pocket and handed it to him.
"Thanks," Ryan muttered.
"Are you going to let us make the calls?" Seth asked.
Ryan handed the phone to him with a sigh.
"Are you ready to get out of here?" Sandy asked.
"Yeah. I want to go home…"
"And lie on your couch where you'll be in pain?" Sandy replied.
"I'm not coming with you…"
"Please, man, please…" Seth said urgently.
"I can't…"
"Yes, you can. You brought Seth back to us. It's time for you to come home, too," Sandy said.
"I can't."
"Yes. You can. Please," Seth urged. "It'll be fine and you won't have to be in the apartment all alone…"
"Seth, man, I just…I can't," Ryan said, looking to his friend.
"Kirsten…" Sandy started.
"Stop it," Ryan whispered. "Everybody just stop it. I need some time, all right? Damn…"
"Okay, Ryan. Let's get you out of here, okay? Back to your apartment," Summer said gently, glaring at the two Cohen men.
"Ryan, we just want to help you," Seth said.
"I know, but I've just got…too much on my mind right now to deal with…"
"To deal with Kirsten," Sandy said. "I promise that I won't let her near you…"
"Sandy, stop, he doesn't want to go…" Summer said. "Just drop it for now."
"Okay. I'm sorry, Ryan…" Sandy said.
Ryan just shook his head and stood up with his crutches. He led the way out of the hospital.
"Sandy? God, it's good to hear your voice," Rachel said when she answered her phone.
"Yeah, I've been a little out of it…"
"I've heard. But that's quite the kid you've got. Ryan's handled everything…"
"He's a great kid. You got him emancipated, Rachel?"
"Yeah. It was tough, but you've got a lot of friends that were worried about you and…Ryan convinced me that it was the right thing. How are you?"
"Better. Ryan's not so good, though. There was a car accident…"
"Is he okay? Is Teresa okay?"
"Teresa didn't make it…"
"Oh no…poor kid…she was a wonderful girl and the baby…oh, is there anything I can do?" Rachel asked.
"He's hanging in there, barely. He's handling things much better than I have been these last few weeks…"
"Is he at home? I can be there in an hour," Rachel offered. She'd been working with Ryan for weeks and had often shared dinner in his apartment with him and Teresa.
"We're in Chino…"
"That's what I meant…"
"You don't have to come out here, Ryan said that he was supposed to meet with you today."
"He was. We were going to discuss Julie's case…"
"What? Julie Cooper?"
"It's a long story, Sandy. If you're back, then…then Ryan shouldn't have to deal with this stuff anymore, right?"
"Right. But I have to admit…these past few weeks are a blur and I don't…"
"I'll get you caught up. And I'll come to you…"
"You know where he lives?"
"Ryan and I are friends, Sandy. Teresa and I were friends, too…are you sure there's nothing else I can do to help?"
"I'll see you when you get here, Rachel. Thanks."
Ryan was standing unsteadily in the bedroom when Seth came to check on him.
"What's up man?"
"Can you do me a favor?"
"Sure, man…"
"Can you change the sheets?" Ryan asked quietly.
"Where are the fresh ones?" Seth replied after a pause. Ryan nodded to a closet. He found some clean sheets and immediately pulled the ones off the bed and started to remake it.
"They smell like Teresa…" Ryan murmured when Seth was finished. He sat down on the bed and sighed. "So do these…"
"Ryan…"
"Everything smells like Teresa…" Ryan closed his eyes as he lay down on the bed.
"Are you sure that you want to be here, man?"
"Yeah…this is home…" Ryan muttered.
"Ryan…"
But Ryan was crying. He turned his face away from Seth and cried silently, his shoulders shaking.
There was a soft knock on the door and Summer opened it. She didn't recognize the blonde woman in the hallway.
"Can I help you?" Summer asked.
"Is Ryan here?" The woman responded.
"Who are you?" Summer replied, defensive.
"Dawn," Sandy said, stepping in. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard about Teresa. I wanted to check on my kid," Dawn Atwood responded. "What the hell is he doing back here? I thought you and your wife were going to take care of him…"
"Lady, you're one to talk," Summer snapped.
"I just want to see him," Dawn glared at the shorter girl.
"I'll have to ask him…" Sandy replied.
"Come on, I know more about him and Teresa than you ever will," Dawn replied. "They've been in and out of love since the kid was six. Where is he?"
Sandy led the woman across the small apartment to Ryan's bedroom. Dawn didn't wait for him to knock, she just pushed past him and entered the room.
"Baby?" She called. "Oh, baby, I'm so sorry…"
Seth was startled when Ryan sat up and immediately allowed his mother to wrap her arms around him. He was still crying and let her comfort him.
Seth met his father at the door. "What is she doing here?" He whispered.
"It's okay, baby…it's okay, don't cry…you know what your dad used to say about crying, right? Don't waste your emotion on tears, you might need it for kicking someone's ass, right?" Dawn murmured, rocking her son. Ryan mumbled something unintelligible. "Oh, baby, it's going to be all right…she knew you cared about her…"
"Let's give them a minute…" Sandy sighed.
Dawn let Ryan cry for several minutes before pulling away and taking his face in her hands. "Come on, kid. You have to be strong…I know it hurts, but you're strong…aren't you strong?"
He nodded, wiping his face.
"That's my boy. You're going to be fine."
"What are you doing here?"
"Eva called me and said that you were pretty banged up…"
"You're back in Chino?" Ryan asked, composing himself.
"For a while. I didn't know you were here…you came back for Teresa? You knocked her up?"
Ryan flinched at her words.
"I'm sorry, honey…"
"It's just been so long since I saw you, I forgot…"
"You forgot what, honey?"
"Why are you being so nice? What do you want?" Ryan asked.
Her face softened. "I don't want anything. My little boy's all grown up and I wanted to check on you…"
"I'm fine," He snapped.
"Don't be like this, honey…" She wrapped her arms around him again, but he was stiff. He wouldn't cry again. Not for her.
Sandy opened the door, expecting Rachel. He was surprised to find Jimmy, Hailey and Kirsten.
"Honey…" He started, embracing her. "What are you doing here?"
"Trying to fix this. Where is he?" She asked.
"We couldn't talk her out of it," Jimmy sighed.
"He's in the bedroom. Dawn's with him," Sandy replied.
"Dawn?" She gasped.
"Who's Dawn?" Hailey questioned, confused.
"Ryan's mother. His real mother," Sandy replied.
"I couldn't wait any longer. This is my fault," Kirsten took a steadying breath.
"This is no one's fault…well, maybe Seth's," Hailey smiled sadly.
"Is he okay alone with his mother?" Kirsten asked.
"I don't know. She just showed up," Sandy sighed. "Let's all just sit down and relax."
Before they got comfortable, there was a crash from the bedroom. Seth and Summer were by the door before the adults got there.
"Seth…can you…" Ryan whispered, waving his hand at his mother. Seth nodded and took Dawn's arm, pulling her to a standing position.
"What did you do to him?" Seth hissed. "Did you hurt him?"
"No, I'd never hurt him, I just asked…" Dawn stammered.
"Get out. Get the hell out of here," Seth snapped. "You shouldn't have come, now go."
Dawn was red-faced but she turned to leave.
"Wait," Ryan whispered. "Mom…"
Dawn hesitated, glancing around at the gathered people. She finally said, "I'm sorry that I upset you, baby, and I'll go."
"Thank you. For coming. And for going," Ryan muttered. He turned away from the worried stares and stretched out on the bed.
Dawn didn't speak to anyone as she left the apartment. Kirsten couldn't sit on the couch anymore so she got up and went to where everyone was gathered.
"Ryan, what just happened?" Summer sat down beside him on the bed.
"My mom's a bitch," He muttered. "Can you guys just leave me alone?"
Kirsten stepped in.
"Mom? What are you doing here?" Seth gasped when he saw her.
"I came for Ryan," She said.
"Please, Summer…" Ryan murmured, opening his eyes and looking to her, helplessly. "I can't do this now…"
Summer silently pulled at the covers and tucked him into bed. "He needs to rest. Kirsten, you can talk to him later…"
"But…" She protested.
"We know you need to talk to him. But he needs to rest more," Seth echoed.
"Come on, honey," Sandy urged his wife back from the room.
Hailey sat down beside Ryan on the bed. "Can I sit with you?"
He nodded. "Okay…"
"Okay." She sat down in the chair beside the bed as Summer closed the door to the bedroom.
Rachel was sitting with Kirsten and Sandy at Ryan's kitchen table. Jimmy had taken Seth and Summer with him to change clothes and pick up some takeout for when they returned.
"So, Dad said he'd do whatever Sandy suggested?" Kirsten asked, startled.
"Seth spoke with him. Caleb doesn't know that you guys have been…less than healthy, lately. He agreed to give Julie the annulment and drop the charges," Rachel explained.
"Does he think we just forgot about him in jail?" Kirsten asked, pale. Sandy was holding her hand.
"Ryan had sent word to him that you were both consumed with the search for Seth and the death of Sandy's mom. He would call Caleb every couple of days to let him know how the search was going. Your dad's fine, Kirsten."
"How'd you explain yourself?" Sandy asked.
"I told him that you had a lot on your plate and you asked me to handle it due to the conflict of interest. He accepted it. He's not stupid, I think he knew something was wrong, but he accepted it," Rachel replied.
"Thank you, Rachel. For helping us like this," Kirsten said honestly.
"No problem. I'll call in the favor later," She smiled. "How's Ryan doing?"
"He's resting. Hailey's sitting with him," Sandy replied.
"She's good with him. Summer, Hailey and Teresa actually managed to get him to say, like five sentences in a row one night. Tired him out so much, he fell asleep," She grinned.
"You seem to know him very well," Kirsten remarked.
"He's the king of multitasking. He finally had things settled with Teresa. I mean, they got their loan from the bank, he'd just been considered permanent at his job and she got a promotion to manager yesterday so she had health insurance…this is just awful."
"You were friends with Teresa, too?"
"Yes. We were friends. You have a very nice family, guys. I'm glad Seth came home to you…"
"How can we get Ryan to come home, Rachel?" Sandy asked.
Rachel sighed. She glanced at Kirsten who immediately lowered her gaze guiltily. "He has made a life of his own, guys. He has a job, a place…"
"He's not planning on going back to school, did you know that?" Sandy asked. Kirsten was startled.
"We've discussed it. He tried to appeal to Dr. Kim to let him set up a payment plan of some kind…"
"We pay for his school," Kirsten replied.
"You told him that he couldn't freeload off you anymore," Rachel said evenly. "He won't take your money. I don't blame him…"
"Rachel…" Sandy started.
"He isn't the type to take help. Have you guys ever thought about how hard it was for him to let you take him in? You probably thought it was easy for him to accept your handouts, but it wasn't. Did he ever ask you for money for lunch? Or to take out Marissa? No. He wouldn't ask, he had a saving's account…and I know you're sorry, Kirsten, but he's not going to forget what you said to him right away," Rachel replied.
"I know. But we want him home," Kirsten whispered.
"You'll have to talk to him. I'm his lawyer now, but I can't force him to do anything. He's a legal adult," She replied.
Kirsten and Sandy both sighed.
"Can I check on him?" Rachel asked. "I won't wake him if he's sleeping…"
"Go ahead," Sandy replied.
Rachel went to the door and knocked softly. Hailey opened the door. "He's sleeping…"
Rachel stepped inside and kneeled beside the bed. Ryan's eyes were closed but his face was twisted as if he were in pain. "He shouldn't lie face down if his ribs are broken…"
"I didn't even think about that…" Hailey realized.
Rachel brushed some hair out of his face and he stirred slightly.
"Teresa, it's too early…" He murmured, drowsy.
"Honey, it's Rachel…you should lie on your back, okay?"
"What?" Ryan opened his eyes, disoriented for a moment. "Rachel?"
"Hey, kid. Lie on your back for me, all right?"
He obeyed as his eyes cleared.
"Better?" She smiled.
"Yeah…thanks…"
"How're you feeling?"
"Tired…" He said, rubbing his eyes.
"I guess so. I'm so sorry, Ryan…" She said.
"Me, too…what are you doing here?" He sat up with a yawn.
"Sandy called me. I came as soon as I heard, kid." She sat down beside him on the bed.
"Thanks. But you didn't have to…"
"I know. But I needed to. Are you going to talk to Kirsten?" She asked quietly.
"Yeah, yeah, but my mom showed up and she…I just couldn't take any more tense conversations," Ryan admitted. "Is she still here?"
"Are you sure you're ready for that?" Hailey asked.
"She's not going to go away until I talk to her. And she should be home resting, with Sandy," Ryan sighed.
"I'll get her for you, Ryan," Rachel said.
Kirsten stepped into the room nervously. "Ryan?"
"Hey. How're you feeling?"
"I'm fine. You don't look so good," Kirsten said, sitting down beside him on the bed.
"Yeah, but it's better than I feel," Ryan sighed. He met her eyes steadily. "So. You're over it?"
"I'm sorry…"
"It doesn't matter, Kirsten. It doesn't matter what you said, you were sick. Are you over it?"
"Yes, Ryan, I am…" She had tears in her eyes.
He sighed and lowered his gaze. "I'm glad."
"You're…"
"I really missed you," He murmured. She embraced him impulsively and he cried out in pain as she squeezed his damaged ribs.
"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" She gasped, releasing him with tears running down her cheeks.
"It's okay…" He replied. He put his hand on her face. "Why don't you take Sandy home? Neither of you are up for this…"
"We've been wallowing in self-pity for far too long," She replied, taking his hand and squeezing it reassuringly. "We're here for you."
"Thanks. I'm going to lie down again…"
"We want you to come home, Ryan. Take your place back…"
"Can you ask Hailey to bring my pills?" Ryan asked, ignoring her words as he stretched out on the bed again.
"Of course."
"I can't come back yet, Kirsten. I had…I had to make a decision and I made it. My life is here."
Kirsten shook her head but she didn't want too push him. Not today. She got up to find her sister.