Sandy rushed into the ER and started for the main nurse's station when he felt a strong hand on his arm.

"Mr. Cohen?" Luke called.

"Luke. Where is he?" Sandy demanded.

"The doctor's with him, I'll show you…" Luke offered, leading Sandy down the hall.

"Where's Seth?"

"He got kind of shaken up, he's in the bathroom," Luke explained.

"How's Ryan?" Sandy asked.

"The doctor just came out and told us that he's going to be fine. They had to give him some stitches but there wasn't internal bleeding…"

"What the hell happened?" Sandy stopped Luke outside the room.

"We were at the plaza and out of nowhere, this kid jumped him and cut him…" Luke said immediately.

"Did you call the police?"

"No…" Luke started.

"Or an ambulance? Mall security? Luke…" Sandy started to scold him.

"Ryan isn't a big fan of the police, Mr. Cohen. I had to beg him to let me bring him here," Luke said, not losing his cool.

"Excuse me, are you lost?" A nurse stepped out of a nearby room.

"I'm looking for a patient, Ryan Atwood?"

"Are you his father?"

"I'm his legal guardian," Sandy replied.

"Follow me. Mr. Ward, you know where you can wait," The nurse gave Luke a patient smile.

Luke flipped off the nurse once she turned her back on him. He disappeared as Sandy followed the nurse back into the room.

Ryan was sitting on the edge of a hospital bed. A doctor was holding Ryan's arm outstretched from his body. He was shirtless and his side was bandaged heavily and his flesh was pale.

"How'd this happen to your arm, Ryan?" The doctor asked as Sandy approached.

"Sandy…I'm sorry," Ryan ignored the doctor and met Sandy's worried gaze.

"Are you okay, Ryan?" Sandy asked.

Ryan nodded. "It looks worse than it is."

"Your son was very lucky. He lost a substantial amount of blood but we don't think a transfusion is necessary, he just needs to take it easy. He was stabbed several times in his side and required a lot of stitches but luckily the damage is relatively minor. Otherwise, apart from his shoulder, he's in perfect health," The doctor explained.

"He's been favoring that arm for a few days, Doctor. He got into a fight a couple of days ago," Sandy stated.

"It's fine," Ryan sighed. "I'm fine."

"I'm waiting for some x-rays to come back on his shoulder. Can I speak to you outside?" The doctor asked Sandy.

Sandy nodded.

"Lie down, Ryan. We'll be right back," The doctor ordered.

Ryan obeyed, slowly swinging his feet onto the bed with a sigh.

*****

"Ryan?" Sandy's voice was serious. Ryan opened his eyes and was startled to see Sandy standing over him.

"Hey. What's the verdict?" Ryan asked, sitting up immediately and battling his dizziness.

"The doctor's getting a sling for your arm. You have a bone bruise. He's going to explain it to you when he gets back."

Ryan nodded.

"Why don't you lie down, Ryan? It might be a little while."

"I'm okay," Ryan said. He lay down after a disapproving glare from Sandy.

"What happened?" Sandy asked gently.

"This punk jumped me at the mall…" Ryan began.

"Don't start that story if you can't finish it. You didn't call the police. The Plaza is fully equipped with security cameras. And I know that Seth borrowed twenty five hundred dollars from Caleb this morning," Sandy interrupted.

Ryan didn't react.

"What happened? Are you in trouble? Because I ca…" Sandy's serious expression faded into fierce concern.

"I'm not in trouble. I got mugged," Ryan said quietly.

"Ryan…" Sandy started.

"Mr. Cohen? The papers are ready for you at the desk. Ryan? I need to give you some instructions," The doctor said, reentering.

*****

The doctor led Ryan into the waiting area. Sandy was behind him at the nurse's station. Seth and Luke stood up, relieved to see him.

"Hey, man," Seth started.

"Caleb told your dad about the money," Ryan said quickly and quietly.

"You went to your grandpa? Dude, bad idea," Luke frowned.

"Fuck…" Seth whispered.

"So he totally doesn't believe the mugging thing and I'm too fucking drugged to think of a better lie…" Ryan muttered.

"Maybe you should just tell him, I mean, he looks pissed," Luke said.

"We can't do that to Aunt Hailey," Seth said before Ryan could respond.

"Plead the fifth. Until I think of something," Ryan said after a long pause. "Luke, you better get out of here. Thanks for today."

Luke nodded. "Here comes Sandy. I'll call to check on you, okay?" He vanished around the corner.

"Ready?" Sandy put his hand on Ryan's good shoulder and steered him toward the exit.

"I can take Ryan home…" Seth started.

"He's riding with me. We're following you. Go straight home. Kirsten's waiting for us and she's worried sick." Sandy's voice was hard.

"Okay. Sorry, man." Seth gave Ryan an apologetic smile before getting into the Range Rover.

Sandy opened the passenger door to his car and Ryan climbed inside. They were on the highway in minutes.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Sandy asked quietly. He noticed Ryan's slumped posture. "Put your seat belt on."

Ryan winced as he hooked the seatbelt across his body. "Sandy…"

"You can tell me anything, Ryan," Sandy said quietly.

Ryan didn't respond. He had made a promise to Hailey. But Sandy was really worried and Ryan didn't want to lie to Sandy.

"Why did you need my son to give you 2500 dollars? What did you get him involved in?" Sandy asked urgently.

"Nothing, Sandy, I swear, I'd never do anything to Seth," Ryan replied, stricken.

"But you don't deny taking the money from him? Why couldn't you come to me for the money? He's involved, Ryan, because he's lying to me…" Sandy glanced at Ryan and hesitated.

Ryan's eyes were half-closed and he had almost curled up around the seat belt. He looked defeated with his bloodied shirt and sling. His free arm was cradled against his abdomen.

"Ryan?"

"I'm listening, Mr. Cohen."

Sandy reacted to Ryan's use of his formal name by putting on the brakes gently. He regretted it instantly, seeing the pain on Ryan's face from the seat belt's slight pressure.

"I'm sorry, Ryan…"

"I would tell you if I could, Sandy…but I can't…" Ryan said suddenly with his eyes closed.

"Why can't you tell me? What kind of trouble are you in?"

"I'm not in trouble…" Ryan protested.

"You were stabbed, Ryan!" Sandy insisted.

"I can't tell you…" Ryan whispered.

"Ryan…"

"I can't tell you."

Sandy stopped the car. They were only a few blocks from home. He turned to face Ryan.

"I cannot tell you," Ryan repeated.

Sandy studied the battered boy. "Who are you protecting?"

"I am so sorry…" Ryan whispered.

"Talk to me, kid. I promise that I will do whatever I can to help you."

"I know. But I can't tell you." He opened his eyes and looked at Sandy. "Can you just trust me?"

"I can't trust you if I don't know what's going on," Sandy replied. "What is going on?"

Ryan shook his head and closed his eyes again.

Sandy sighed in frustration and steered the stopped car back onto the road.