"What's wrong?  Ryan asked her.  The doctors had placed him in a private room since he was stable. 

"What?  Nothing…" Kirsten didn't want him to worry.

"Something's got you shaken," Ryan said.

"Don't worry, I'm fine…"

"Tell me…Kirsten?"

She didn't reply.  Ryan reached over and took her hand. 

"It's okay.  Tell me."

"Oh, Ryan…" She didn't want to upset him. 

"Please?  It's about me…you need to tell someone…"

"Your mother came by, Ryan…"

He was clearly surprised.  "Dawn?"

"She said…that Tony had called her…"

"Was she okay?  Did he hurt her?" Ryan's eyes flashed with panic.

"No, honey, she was fine…she'd talked to Trey…she said…" Kirsten took a deep breath.  "She said that we didn't have to worry about Tony anymore."

Ryan's face flashed with realization.  "She called Dad…"

"Ryan…what would your father have done?"

"Dad…he's not a good man, Kirsten…he could…he could get Tony, he's got friends…" Ryan murmured.

"I shouldn't have told you…"

"No…I'm just sorry…that you had to hear that…"

"Your parents, Ryan, they don't make you who you are…"

"I know…but if it's true…then…then I owe him…" He whispered.

"No, Ryan, you don't owe him anything, you didn't ask him to do anything…"

"But…"

"No buts.  This isn't your fault.  You have had the best intentions, Ryan, for everything.  Everything's going to be okay."

"I believe you.  Are you going to tell Sandy?"

"We don't have secrets."

"Good." Ryan was exhausted. 

"Sleep, honey."

"Do you think your father was right?  Now that you know what kind of man my father is?"

"I love you like you were my own son.  You are a good kid.  You have one of the best hearts and the fact that you've overcome so much only makes me more proud to know you."

He gave her a sad smile as his eyes drifted closed.

-----

"He does look better.  He's got some color back…" Sandy said.

"He needs a good 20 minutes in the tanning bed…"

"Hailey, stop," Kirsten smiled.

"It's pretty cool having my own bodyguard.  Luke's taking this way too seriously," Seth entered.

"Cohen's accident prone, that's all," Luke laughed.

Ryan slowly opened his eyes.  Luke was passing out coffee to the Cohens and Hailey.  Seth caught his gaze but Ryan shook his head slightly and closed his eyes again.  He wasn't ready for all of them.  He needed to rest.  He was tired.

"Everything okay?" Hailey nudged Seth.

"Yeah, yeah, it's good." Seth walked past her to the bed.  He pulled a chair up close.

"Ryan?"

Ryan opened his eyes and regarded Seth. 

"You all right?"

"I'm tired.  There's just too much going on right now in here…"

"But…"

"I'm okay…" Ryan said, patting Seth's hand.  "Just tired." He closed his eyes again.

------

He woke up to the sound of crying. 

"Hailey?" Ryan squeezed her hand. 

"Ryan…" She wiped at her cheeks.  "Hey…how are you feeling?"

"Depends on why you're crying…"

"This whole mess…I'm just so glad you're okay…"

"How are you?"

"I'm still clean…Seth and that big kid, Luke, they walked me down the other night.  Told me that I had to stay clean so that all of this would be worth something…"

"Smart kids," Ryan smiled.

"You know Tony's dead, right?"

He didn't react.  "What happened?"

"Found him shot.  Said it was drug related," Hailey whispered.

"That sucks.  But I can't say that I'll miss him."

"So it's over."

"I guess so…" Ryan replied.

"You guess so?"

"Hailey…it's never really over.  They'll always be bad, scary people…"

"They'll never hurt you again, Ryan, Kirsten and Sandy, they'll protect you…"

Ryan sighed.  There was a sharp pain in his side.  He didn't want to alarm Hailey, but it hurt.  He lost his breath.

"What's wrong?"

"Is Kirsten still here?" The pain spread through his body in waves.

"I'll get her…" Hailey got up immediately.

Ryan's body was seized with pain and he couldn't catch his breath.  He could hear the machines attached to him going off but he hurt too much to react.

"Ryan…Ryan, what is it?  Hailey, get the doctor…Ryan…" Kirsten was with him suddenly, holding his hands still as he involuntarily tried to get at his bandages.

"It hurts…can't breathe…" He gasped.

"Okay, honey, just relax, the doctor's coming…" She urged gently.

He tried to calm down but the pain was worse than he'd ever experienced.  He twisted in pain, inconsolable. As the doctor rushed in with several nurses.

"You have to do something," Kirsten said to the doctor.

"Where's the pain, Ryan?"

"Everywhere…please…"

"Relax, Ryan…" Kirsten urged.

The pain medication finally took effect and Ryan's muscles stopped spasming.  He felt the mask go over his face and he tried to catch his breath.

"What happened?  What's wrong?" Kirsten was demanding.

"Ryan?  Is that better?" The doctor asked.

Ryan blinked his assent.  His blue eyes were glazed and relieved.

"We'll run some more tests, but it was probably just muscle spasms.  He hasn't moved much in the last couple of days and the tests today probably stretched his limits.  We should have increased his pain medication but…"

Ryan reached out and grabbed Kirsten's wrist.  Her face was drawn with panic but she paused at his touch. 

"Better…it's okay…" He whispered.

"Ryan…" Kirsten's face fell with relief and tears finally fell from her eyes down her cheeks.

Ryan looked past her to Hailey.  "Go get Sandy for her…" Ryan blinked and he felt his exhaustion take over. 

"Ryan?  Are you sure you're okay?" Kirsten asked.

"Sure…I'm good…don't cry…" Ryan whispered. 

Sandy entered and pulled Kirsten away, embracing her.  Hailey embraced them both.

"Try and relax, Ryan.  We're taking care of you," A nurse smiled at him.  He closed his eyes. 

----