Wow, who knew that I would get so many reviews? I love every single one of you, you guys brightened my day. So, I guess I'll continue this story, since that seems to be what everyone wants; once again, if I don't get everything right, sorry, I'm trying. So, keep those reviews coming and enjoy.

Chapter Two

Damn Cold Night

Ryan wasn't allowed to ride to the hospital in the ambulance with Marissa because he wasn't family, so he was forced to pace around the penthouse that had become a large crime scene with Seth and the girls and wait for Sandy and Kristen to arrive. Summer was standing by the window, shaking slightly, and gazing out at the city view, trying to collect herself and process the events; Seth and Ana were sitting on a loveseat towards the back of the living room, watching the coroner collect what was left of Oliver. The chief of police that had only arrived on the scene five minutes ago was being interviewed by one of the many news crews that had showed up to pick a story out of the teenage carnage. To the four teenagers still involved, the scene was too surreal to be true.

As Seth watched the coroner zip Oliver into a black, plastic body bag, he couldn't help but notice all the gore that had been left behind on the carpet. He wondered if the stains would over come out. He had never expected to see a body in his life, let alone one of a person he had once knew and he was surprised that he had managed to keep it so well together. Perhaps he'd need therapy for seeing Oliver blow off the back of his head; he was, so far, one of the only kids in New Port that wasn't in therapy.

Ana sat beside him, holding his hand tightly, the least shaken up of all of them; she hadn't been there when Oliver had killed himself, thankfully missing the cause and effect of a bullet shattering the back of someone's skull. But she had seen the corpse and didn't have to imagine too hard what it would have looked like only moments before she had arrived. Ana had also seen Seth holding Summer against his chest, cradling her in a way he never had done with her and though she knew it was only a comforting gesture, it was difficult for her to tell her jealousy to take a hike. Now, however, was definitely not the time to call Seth on it.

Ryan continued to pace, his mind swarming with thoughts of Marissa, wondering if she was all right (he prayed she was), if they had given her anything for the pain (of that he was certain) and when he could see her again. For his last question, he had no answer to. As he watched the coroner wheel what had once been Oliver out of the room, Ryan walked over to where Seth and Ana were sitting and sat down beside his friend, who looked over at him.

"She's going to be okay." Seth assured him, no doubt seeing the look of worry on Ryan's face. "Stop worrying." He knew that would be impossible, but he said it anyway.

Ryan nodded slightly, knowing that what Seth had said was true, but that didn't keep him from worrying. He wouldn't stop until he was by her bedside, holding her hand and seeing for himself that Marissa was on her way to being the girl she had been before Oliver. "I know." He muttered. "I just wish your parents would get here so we could go to the hospital."

Seth had called Sandy and Kristen Cohen after being questioned by the police and his mother had sounded like she was close to having a break down after hearing what had happened. His father had promised to be at the hotel as soon as possible; the call had ended ten minutes ago, and that was ample time to arrive as far as Ryan was concerned. He was close to leaving the suite and walking toward the hospital. Ana had suggested taking their car but the chief of police had refused to let them leave unless they were in the care of an adult, pronouncing them all unfit to drive unless they suffered an aftereffect of witnessing the accident.

Ryan was about to stand up again to resume pacing when Kristen and Sandy pushed past the policemen standing by the door and rushed into the room. Kristen instantly went to her son and ward and wrapped her arms tightly around both of them, surprising Ryan and nearly strangling Seth. "Thank God none of you were hurt." She said, releasing them and turning to Ana, hugging her tightly as well. The typical worried mother reaction.

Sandy convinced his wife to let go of a child that wasn't hers, though he looked close to hugging the teenagers as well. "I'm glad none of you were hurt but what were you thinking, rushing off to face an armed man?" He questioned, his gaze settling on Ryan. He wasn't really too upset with any of them, but he needed to get through the scolding before he could comfort like his wife.

"We didn't know he was armed." Seth answered, looking from his father to Ryan, finally settling on his mother, who smiled slightly at him.

"Marissa needed help." Ryan said, looking at Sandy. "I couldn't sit around waiting for you to come home, I'm sorry." Sandy nodded, apology accepted.

Kristen slipped her arm around her husband's shoulders and said, "I think we should all go home now." She looked at Sandy for confirmation, and he nodded once more.

"Do you think you could drop me off at the hospital to see Marissa?" Ryan questioned, already having made up his mind that he was going to see her, he just decided it would be best to ask for permission first.

"Of course." Kristen looked surprised that she hadn't thought of that herself. She turned to face her son and his girlfriend. "We'll all go."

By this time, Summer had retreated from her spot by the window and had joined the Cohen family, Ryan and Ana, standing off to one side. "Can you just take me home, Mr. Cohen?" She questioned, which was a surprise to all of them. Marissa was her best friend, after all, she should be as eager as Ryan to make sure she was all right.

"Of course Summer." Sandy assured the dark-headed girl, who made no response, simply staring motionless. Leaving Kristen with the teenagers, he went over to the police chief to finalize their plans for departure.

Now that Sandy and Kristen were actually at the hotel, Ryan found it even more difficult to wait to leave; he didn't understand what was taking so long with the chief of police, or why they couldn't just leave right that very second. Plus, taking Summer home was an added detour before actually getting to see Marissa. However, he managed to keep all these feelings silent and try to convince himself not to stand up and start pacing the room again.

After what seemed like ages, Sandy finally stepped away from the chief and beckoned his family and assorted teenagers toward the door. They filed out of the hotel room and into the elevator, Summer bringing up the rear, and silently rode down to the lobby. Ryan felt like he was even more impatient during this ride, though a lot less worried and tense; Marissa was in the hands of doctors now, yet that knowledge did nothing to ease his impatient worry.

In the parking lot, Ana decided to take Summer home and then meet the Cohen's at the hospital; she looked more pissed off then disappointed when Seth didn't offer to ride with her but didn't raise a fuss despite her anger. Summer lifted her hand lightly in a parting gesture before climbing into the backseat of Ana's SUV, which was just fine with the driver; she was in mood to talk to the girl anyway, let alone sit next to her. Sandy shot his son a glance that Seth missed entirely as Ana and Summer drove away.

"Seth, why didn't you go with Ana?" He questioned, using the same tone that he had used earlier in the kitchen. Seth glanced at his father.

"I'd rather ride with you guys." He offered by way of explanation. He knew, however, that Ana would surely want to get into a discussion about their relationship, something he was not in the mood for at the moment.

Sandy opened his mouth to further scold his son but Ryan intervened. "Can we talk about this later and get to the hospital now?" He questioned, looking from Sandy to Kristen, whom he assumed would be his likely ally in the current situation.

Kristen ushered her son and husband toward the car before climbing into the passenger side, in front of Ryan. "I hope the milk doesn't go bad." She mulled as Sandy backed their car out of its parking space and headed toward the hospital.

* * *

Ana watched Summer through the rearview mirror, her anger toward the girl somewhat dissipating as he studied her. She didn't really know Summer all that well, but she had never seen the girl so quiet. Summer was staring straight ahead, as though focusing on something really important outside the windshield, but there was nothing but the bumpers of other cars and the highway.

"Summer, are you all right?" Ana questioned, finally breaking the silence that had engulfed the SUV.

At first, the dark-haired girl didn't respond. Then, she finally looked up, glancing over at the blonde girl that was now her ex-boyfriend's girlfriend. "Yeah, I'm fine. How 'bout you?" It was sort of a strange answer, but Ana didn't think anything of it. Summer was a strange girl.

* * *

"So," Sandy looked in the rearview mirror as he began to speak, "explain to me exactly what happened."

Kristen nodded in agreement. "The chief of police didn't exactly fill us in on the details when he told us to come down to the hotel. I was imagining all the horrible things."

"It was pretty horrible." Seth remarked, though he wasn't quite sure if that was the answer that she wanted to hear. "But Ryan handled the whole situation." Ryan glanced over at him, surprised. "A real hero."

Ryan shook his head. "That's not true." He muttered, but all he could think about was Marissa. "Marissa still got shot, so it didn't go according to plan."

Kristen turned around to face her house ward who was slowly beginning to feel like another son. "Ryan, judging by the way things turned out, I think you handled the situation as best as you could." She smiled lovingly at him.

Ryan nodded slightly, but remained silent.

* * *

The Lakeview Hospital was buzzing with people, most of whom were gathered in the waiting room, looking worried and impatient, waiting for hear about their loved ones. Standing in the hallway, amidst the nurses, noise and clutter were Marissa's parents, Julie and Jimmy Cooper, as well as Marissa's ex-boyfriend Luke. Julie was dabbing at her red, swollen eyes with a crumpled tissue, every so often breaking into a fresh round of sobs; Jimmy was pacing just as nervously as Ryan had been only moments earlier.

When she noticed the new arrivals, Julie tossed her tissue aside and rushed toward Kristen, throwing her arms around her shoulders, an action that completely shocked the other girl, especially after her ex-coworker's harsh words earlier that day. "Kristen, I'm so worried about my baby girl." She sobbed, pressing her face into Kristen's shoulder.

Raising an eyebrow and shooting a confused look at her husband, Kristen patted Julie's shoulder. "It's all right, Julie." She said, still patting the woman's shoulder lightly.

Ryan watched the scene, deciding by Julie's actions that they had yet to hear any word on how Marissa was doing. "Um, Mrs. Cooper...how's Marissa?" He ventured, deciding not to assume anything or beat around the bush.

Julie looked up and stepped away from Kristen as suddenly as she had taken comfort in her. "She's in surgery right now, Ryan." She said, her eyes welling with tears again. "We haven't heard anything."

Ryan sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, heading toward the waiting room and taking a seat in one of the battered, blue plastic chairs. After a moment, Seth came and sat down beside him, clapping his friend on the back. "Marissa will be fine, you'll see." He promised with great conviction. "She's a tough girl, she's gotta be, to put up with you." He smiled crookedly.

For a moment, Ryan simply stared at his friend before smiling slightly. Seth did have a point.

* * *

Ana showed up shortly, taking a seat beside Seth, but remaining silent about her concerns about something going on between him and Summer. Judging by the sullen expressions on Ryan, Julie and Jimmy's faces, now still wasn't the time.

Sandy and Kristen had gone home to put away the groceries and throw out the bad milk, leaving Seth and Ryan to loiter in the hospital waiting room, anticipating news about Marissa's condition. They had managed to scramble together enough change for Ana to go to the vending machine and get everyone a soda but Ryan left his unopened while he waited word on Marissa.

It had long since grown dark outside by the time one of the doctors emerged from whatever ER room he had been operating in and gathered around Marissa's family and vigilant friends. "Your daughter made it through surgery and is currently in ICU; she's awake, but a bit groggy, if you'd like to go in and see her." The doctor looked at Ryan. "Though, for the time being, only family can enter the ICU."

Ryan looked shocked and crestfallen at his words, forgetting for the moment his joy at hearing that his girlfriend was all right after all. He had waited so nervously to see her, only to be told that he couldn't visit her at all; wordlessly, he returned to the waiting room and dropped back into his seat.

Julie and Jimmy shared a look before following the doctor down the hallway toward the room where their oldest daughter was recovering from a bullet wound. The surreal-ness of the day had yet to dissipate.

* * *

Ryan was watching the sliding doors open and close over and over, admitting and releasing people and patients. Seth and Ana had taken to playing with an assortment of children's toys to amuse themselves while Julie and Jimmy Cooper were visiting their daughter. They had long since given up trying to talk to and console Ryan and were setting him stew in his own anger and worry.

After fifteen minutes had passed, Julie and Jimmy emerged, this time without the doctor and headed toward the teenagers. "Ryan, Marissa's going to be all right." Julie assured to boy, who looked up at the woman. "She's been asking for you." She winked and gestured toward the hallway, giving him the silent okay to visit his girlfriend.

Ryan didn't need any further prodding, standing up and slipping down the hallway as though he was worried that Marissa's parents would change their minds or that he might be caught by one of the doctors. Neither happened, however, and he was soon out of sight and no doubt in his girlfriend's hospital room, exchanging tear-filled greetings.

Julie looked much better now then she had before going in to see her daughter, which both Ana and Seth took as a good sign. After all of the things that had gone wrong today and in the past couple of days, everything was changing direction and much for the better. "Kids, Jimmy and I are going down to the cafeteria to see if there's anything edible down there, do either of you want anything?" She questioned, looking at Seth and Ana, who had abandoned the kids' toys.

Ana shook her head. "I think we're all right, Mrs. Cooper." She assured the woman, knowing that now was her chance to talk to Seth, alone, about what had been bothering her.

Jimmy and Julie, the once been Coopers, headed toward the elevator which would take them to the third floor, where the cafeteria was located, leaving Seth and Ana alone for the first time since she had arrived at his house that morning. At first, Ana wasn't sure how to approach the touchy subject, but then she decided that beating around the bush wasn't it.

"Seth, I need to talk to you, it's about Summer." She turned to face her dark-headed boyfriend, who looked at her with a comical look of confusion and interest. "There's something going on between you two, and I want to know what." She hoped that she was making a big deal out of nothing.

For a moment, Seth continued to stare at his girlfriend, more confused then interested. "Ana, there's nothing going on between the two of us. She's my ex-girlfriend." He reminded her.

"Then I suggest you stop acting like she's your current one." Ana just about yelled, reminding herself to keep her voice down since they were, after all, in a hospital. "All day you've been paying more attention to her then to me, flirting with her and everything you're supposed to do with your real girlfriend."

Seth held up his hands defensively. "Ana, calm down. I have no idea where you come up with this stuff, it's-" He began, but his girlfriend leapt to her feet and stopped him from continuing.

"Every time you look at her, every time she looks at you, the way you talk and laugh with her, that's where I come up with this stuff." Ana was no longer bothering to keep her voice down. "If you want her so damn much, go right the hell ahead and be with her." With those final words, she rushed out of the waiting room and through the sliding doors, keeping her face down so that Seth wouldn't see tears that were brimming in her eyes, threatening to spill onto her cheeks at any moment.

Seth watched the place where Ana had disappeared for a long time, too stunned to react and process what he just happened. By the time Ryan returned from visiting the recovering Marissa, he had finally managed to realize that Ana had broken up with him and that hurt him more then he had realized. Everything she had said to him was true, but he hadn't realized it until just that very moment and he knew that he had realized it too late and he was far too deep to make amends.

Ryan sat down beside his housemate and best friend, in higher spirits then he had been fifteen minutes before. "Marissa's going to be all right." He told his friend, smiling. "And she sends her best." He turned to look at Seth, noticing for the first time that he wasn't as sarcastic and comical as he generally was. "You okay?"

Seth looked over at Ryan. "Ana broke up with me." He told his friend slowly, as though he couldn't quite believe it himself. "And I doubt she's going to ever want to speak to me again."

"What about Summer?" Ryan questioned, though he wasn't quite sure it was the right thing to say at the moment.

The other boy shrugged. "She might not even want me back." He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "It's going to be a damn cold couple of nights."