The next day, the Cohens took Ryan to the doctor who told them that the pain was normal but that he should continue to take it as easy as he could. They allowed Seth to stay out of school, partially because of his whining but mostly so he could monitor Ryan. Ryan seemed more comfortable with Seth hovering over him than with Kirsten or Sandy.

Around lunchtime, Seth, Hailey and Ryan were in the kitchen with Rosa. Rosa was scolding Ryan for attempting to help her cook with his damaged arm. When the phone rang, she nudged him toward it to distract him.

"Hello?" Ryan answered.

"Collect call for Ryan Atwood. Will you accept the charges?"

"Sure." There was a short pause.

"Ryan?"

"Yeah. What's up?" Ryan recognized his brother's voice.

"I need to talk to you."

"What?"

"Um…Tony's thugs paid me a visit yesterday…"

"You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, just a few bruises, no biggie."

"So what's going on?" Ryan could sense that something was bothering his brother. He turned away from Seth and Hailey's curious glances.

"They wanted information."

"What kind?"

"They said they'd kill me if I didn't tell them where you were."

Ryan didn't respond. Seth and Hailey watched all the color drain out of his face.

"Man, I'm sorry, but they meant it, they would've killed me…I had to tell them…"

"Ryan?" Seth said his name quietly but it was enough to snap him out of his trance.

"Ryan? I'm really sorry, man…"

"Whatever…" Ryan hung up the phone.

"What is it? Is everything okay?" Hailey asked immediately.

"Where's your dad?" Ryan replied, looking at Seth.

"He's at the office, or in court, do you want me to call him?"

Ryan hesitated. "No, it's okay. Look, I'm not hungry, I'm going to lie down…"

"Wait, dude, who was on the phone? You look positively sprung…"

"I'm going to lie down."

Ryan walked out of the kitchen to the poolhouse. He sat down on the bed. Trey would have told them everything. Tony would come for him. It was only a matter of time.

-----------------------/--------------------------/--------------------------------/------

Caleb had sobered up by nightfall. He'd thought a lot about what that kid had said to him. He had to admit, his respect for the little bastard was increasing day to day. He was on his way to his daughter's house, sober this time. His first visit hadn't gone like he planned and after a night and half a day, he knew he had to try again. He was going to talk to Seth and Kirsten. Hell, he'd talk to Sandy if that would fix this.

He was convinced now that he had been wrong about Ryan. The kid had proved his loyalty to his family and Caleb had to make it right. He had to get the kid's trust in order to get his daughter's back.

---------------------------------/------------------------/-------------------------/------

Ryan stood up and closed his books. He slowly went to the door and started the short walk toward the main house. He sensed something but before he could react, he felt the gun pressed against his back. The feeling of a gun barrel stuck in your ribs is a feeling you can't forget.

"Don't make a scene. Tony wants to see you. Start walking." The man growled.

Ryan didn't protest. He let the man lead him around the edge of the house to the street where the black SUV was parked.

Two more men stepped out but the gun in Ryan's back kept him from bolting. He's tense with fear but his blue eyes were cold. He knew what was coming.

Tony rolled the window down as the two men approached. He gave them a nod.

They took turns holding Ryan's arms and beating him. They held him up when he couldn't stand. He didn't cry out. He didn't want Seth or Hailey to hear him. He prayed that they would stay inside.

Ryan was barely conscious when they finally released him with a crunch to the sidewalk. He was in too much pain to register his surroundings anymore.

"Hey, punk…this is the end…you made me get person…"

Ryan didn't open his eyes, he'd already seen the gun. Tony stood over him and fired.

Ryan couldn't feel anything except pain. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't see but he knew that he was dead. He was dead this time.

Seth heard the gunshots and froze. Ryan. Where was Ryan?

"Did you hear that?" Hailey ran into the kitchen.

"Yeah. Where's Ryan?" Seth asked as the squealing of tired broke through their conversation.

"Oh god…you don't think…" Hailey started.

Seth was already running toward the door. Caleb's car was pulling in the driveway but Seth watched it stop at the street.

Seth continued to run as Caleb stepped out. Seth saw Ryan first. Blood was trickling into the street from Ryan's broken body.

"Oh god…" Seth pulled out of his grandfather's grasp and rushed to Ryan's side.

Ryan's eyes were closed but he was holding his arms around his stomach. There was so much blood that Seth couldn't see where he was hurt.

"Ryan?"

"Hey…Seth…" Ryan murmured weakly, his eyes partially rolled back.

Caleb stopped Hailey. "Don't look. Go call 911. Go."

Hailey ran back into the house while Caleb joined Seth.

"Man…I'm really sorry…" Ryan managed before starting to cough uncontrollably. He pulled away from Seth and curled up tightly.

"Ryan…were you shot?" Caleb asked.

Ryan was coughing blood and couldn't answer.

"Just hang on, son…help's on the way," Caleb said, horrified as the blood started to create a larger pool around the boy. He couldn't help but think that Ryan looked really young right now. He was only a kid.

"Where, Ryan? Where did he shoot you?" Seth asked, trying to pull Ryan's hands away to see the damage.

"Seth…I don't want you here…I don't want you to see me die…"

"You're not going to die, Ryan…" Seth said urgently. "Look at me! You're not going to die!"

"It's too late…it's too much…I'm sorry…" Ryan coughed.

"Just hang on…" Caleb urged as the ambulance pulled up.

"I'm not leaving you…" Seth said, clasping Ryan's bloody hand.

Ryan blinked and struggled to reopen his eyes.

"Just hang on, man, the ambulance is here…" Seth said.

Ryan shuddered in pain. He thought if the paramedics picked him up, all his blood would rush out.

"Ryan? Ryan, keep talking to me," Seth called out in panic.

"I'm so sorry…" Ryan whispered.