AN: This story has taken a strange turn that I didn't originally intend. Hope it's readable.
"Thanks, Daddy," Hailey said, getting into her father's car outside the clinic.
"I'm just glad you're letting me help. Are you doing better?" He asked.
"I'm having a bad day," She whispered. Ryan's distress earlier had upset her and Caleb, sensing his daughter's need, had offered to drive her to the rehab center.
"The boy's not doing well?" Caleb asked. He had been at the hospital almost daily but hadn't physically been near Ryan, only offering support to his family from outside the room.
"The doctors say it was just muscle spasms, but…but he was in so much pain… and I know it's not completely my fault but…"
"He was too young to be trying to handle something like that…but I don't know why that mobster would come back for him…"
"He knew Ryan. From Chino. His brother was mixed up with him," Hailey said quietly. "He…he told me he'd take care of it, Daddy…"
"I just wish you could have come to me, Hailey," Caleb sighed. "But I see now that I've made a lot of mistakes."
"Me, too."
"At least now, Tony's taken care of," Caleb replied.
"Why'd you say it like that? 'Taken care of'?"
"Police say it was a professional hit. Someone eliminated him."
"Really?" Hailey was surprised.
Caleb nodded. "Too back it couldn't have been before the kid got hurt."
Sandy was getting his board off the Rover when the black Mercedes pulled up. Two men in suits got out.
"Can I help you?"
"We're looking for Sandy Cohen."
"And you found him. You are?"
"Federal agents Jack Duncan and my partner, Paul Logan," One of the men flashed a badge.
"What's this all about?"
"It's concerning your foster son, Ryan Atwood."
Sandy was immediately suspicious.
"There are some questions we were hoping you could answer," Duncan replied.
"You're not his biological father," Logan began.
"No, but I consider him to be my son…"
"Can we step inside?"
"What's this all about?" Sandy demanded, defensive.
"We believe David Atwood ordered the death of Big Tony. But the more urgent questions deal with the fact that David Atwood is not your foster son's biological father any more than you are," Logan said quietly. "We are not here to hurt or arrest Ryan. We think he may need protection."
"From who?" Sandy whispered.
"People who might find out who he really is."
"Come inside," Sandy nodded.
"Okay. To sum up," Sandy started slowly. "Ryan is the biological son of some mob boss from L.A."
"David Atwood was Stevie Sexton's right hand man many years ago. He was second in command. Dawn had an affair with Stevie and got pregnant with Ryan. He didn't want to take the risk of his enemies killing his son, his only son, so he sent Dave and Dawn away. Dave was pretty pissed, but Stevie gave him a load of cash and told him to raise Ryan as his own. They moved to Fresno and left Sexton's circle of friends completely," Duncan said quietly.
"When David found out about Ryan's shooting, he called up Stevie for the first time in years. Stevie ordered the hit on Tony," Logan continued.
Sandy was silent.
"The thing is, now Stevie knows where Ryan is. He knows that Dawn and Dave don't have Ryan anymore. There's a possibility Stevie might come for him."
"You can't be serious, Ryan doesn't know about any of this and you think…" Sandy stammered.
"We're planning on arresting Sexton eventually but even then, Ryan could be in danger from anyone who finds out who he is…"
"If you found out about this then other people will, too…" Sandy muttered.
"Mr. Cohen…"
"I have to talk to Ryan about this."
"We'd like to question him first…"
"Absolutely not," Sandy snapped.
"Mr. Cohen…"
"Do not come near him until I speak with him about this…"
"We need to know what he knows…"
"He's still recovering from his injuries, he's too hurt to have to deal with your questions," Sandy replied.
"Mr. Cohen," Duncan said, leaning forward. "Ryan's life is in danger."
"I am very aware of that. And I will do everything in my power to protect him. Unlike you, I have his best interests at heart and not some investigation. I have to be the one to talk to him. He doesn't trust the police and I can guarantee that he's not going to talk to you if he doesn't know what's going on," Sandy stated.
Logan nodded.
"He doesn't know that David isn't his real father, I mean…he's never mentioned it," Sandy sighed. "Ryan's home life was hard."
"We've seen his files," Logan acknowledged. "And if Sexton found out how Dave and Dawn treated him…he'd kill them. See, Sexton gave them a substantial amount of money when he sent them away…"
"Ryan's family was living in poverty, how is that possible?"
"Dawn and Dave gambled it away before Ryan was two years old," Duncan replied. "They'd didn't deal well with their new status in Fresno."
"They went from the top of the food chain to the bottom. They probably blamed the kid…" Logan said.
"Dad, are you home?" Seth's voice broke into their conversation.
"My son is home. Can you excuse me?"
Duncan held out a business card. "Talk to Ryan. We'll be expecting your call."
Logan shook Sandy's hand. "We've placed some plainclothes officers at the hospital. Just as a precaution."
"Thank you," Sandy nodded. Seth was watching curiously from the doorway as Sandy ushered them out of the house.
"What's with the suits?"
"Nothing to worry about…"
"Then why do you look so worried?"
"I need to get to the hospital." Sandy stated.
"Honey? What's wrong?" Kirsten knew something was wrong as soon as Sandy entered the room.
Sandy embraced her.
"Sandy?"
"I'll explain everything later. But I have to talk to Ryan."
"He's resting…"
Sandy glanced over and saw Ryan's peaceful form. "It's important."
"Sandy, what's this all about?" Kirsten asked.
"I need to talk to him alone. I promise I'll explain everything."
"Sandy…"
"Please, Kirsten…go home, get some rest."
She shook her head. "Not until you tell me…"
"What's going on?" Ryan mumbled from the bed.
"Hey, how're you feeling, kid?" Sandy smiled at him, approaching the bed.
"Okay. You look serious, though. Am I okay?" He asked, shifting in the bed.
"You're doing fine, Ryan," Kirsten smiled.
"Kirsten's going to go home," Sandy started.
"Good. She's been here too long. She needs a break," Ryan replied.
"Ryan, I'll be back in an hour or so…get some rest, okay?" She kissed his forehead.
"I don't have much choice," He smiled sadly. "But I will if you will."
"Sandy," Kirsten turned to her husband.
"Go home, Kirsten. I'll call you if anything changes." He kissed her and she reluctantly left.
"Am I in some kind of trouble? 'Cause you look really serious."
"I need to talk to you. And it is pretty serious," Sandy replied.
"Okay, go ahead," Ryan said, pushing himself up in the bed slightly.
Sandy pulled his chair up close beside the bed. He hated having to throw this at Ryan in his weakened state. He sighed.
"What? Come on, Sandy, just tell me…"
"Ryan, I need you to be totally honest with me. It's really important."
Ryan nodded. His blue eyes were alert and dark with worry.
"Is David your real father?"
"What?" Ryan asked after a beat. "I mean, yes, as far as I know…what the hell is this about?"
"Relax, Ryan. Are you sure?"
"God, Sandy…I mean, Mom and Dad were never faithful but I think he'd have said something, he'd have kicked her ass if she tried having another man's kid," Ryan said seriously.
Sandy winced.
"She had at least 2 abortions, Sandy, because the kid's weren't his. She got her tubes tied when I was ten. The thought that David isn't my real father, it never crossed my mind," Ryan added. His words were getting more clipped as he answered without knowing why he was being questioned.
"Ryan…did your parents ever talk about their life before you were born?"
Ryan looked at Sandy with cold eyes. "No. They didn't. Once Dad got sent up, we didn't even talk about him anymore."
"Did you ever hear them talk about a man named Steve Sexton?"
"Who?"
"Steve Sexton…"
Ryan's blue eyes flashed with confusion. "I don't…"
"I need you to think…"
"I don't know, Sandy," Ryan whispered.
"Ryan…"
"I'm not lying, I don't remember…" Ryan turned his face away for a moment and Sandy saw his hands clutching the sheets.
"Are you all right?"
"It'll pass…"
"I'll get the doctor…" Sandy said.
"It'll pass, Sandy, go one with your interrogation," Ryan said.
"Ryan…"
"I don't remember anyone named Steve Sexton…I knew a lot of Steve's…" Ryan whispered quietly. "My mom dated a couple of Steve's after Dad…there was some guy, Uncle Stevie, that would call before Dad left, there was Steve at the pawn shop, Steve with the unemployment agency…"
"Ryan. Uncle Stevie?"
"He wasn't a real uncle…he was an old friend of Dad's, a cousin or something…" Ryan muttered.
"Did you ever talk to him? Hear your parents talk about him?"
Ryan didn't answer, he had his eyes closed and was breathing shallowly.
"It's okay, Ryan…let me get the nurse…" Sandy regretted grilling him so hard.
"He called about once a month to talk to me. Never Trey and never Mom. He'd talk to Dad and then to me. when Dad went to jail, we moved. He never called again and we didn't talk about it."
"The FBI came to see me today," Sandy said quietly.
Ryan looked at him and Sandy could see he was in pain.
"They say Steve Sexton is your real father."
"The FBI. What…" Ryan started.
A nurse entered, interrupting him. "Everything okay?"
"He's in pain, nurse…" Sandy said. She walked over and gave him an injection.
"Better?" She smiled.
"Thanks," He nodded.
The nurse faced Sandy. "Don't upset him."
"I'm okay, thank you, Betty," Ryan said. She left.
"Ryan…" Sandy started.
"So this Sexton guy, he's my father. So what? Why do the feds give a shit about that?"
"Steve Sexton is the head of a major ring of organized crime in LA. He sent you away to protect you."
"Why?"
"You're his heir, Ryan. His only son…"
"You're kidding, right?" Ryan whispered.
"No, Ryan, I wish I were…"
"Damn…"
"Ryan…"
"Just give me a minute," Ryan murmured.
"Ryan…"
"Stop."
Sandy was finally silent. Ryan closed his eyes.
"Dad always did hate me," He muttered. "He never said why, but he hated me. Hated mom. Loved Trey, though. Mom hated Trey…"
"Ryan…"
"Are you in danger?"
"Me?" Sandy asked in surprise.
"You. Your family. Am I putting you in danger?"
"No, Ryan…"
"I want to talk to the feds."
"No. Ryan, absolutely not."
"I won't put you in danger, you have to let me talk to them," Ryan insisted.
"Not until you're better…"
"Sandy," Ryan said seriously. "You have to let me talk to them. This is my life…"
"Your life is with us…"
"Not if I'm putting you in danger…Call them…have you told Kirsten?"
"Not yet."
"Don't. If you won't call the feds, call my mother, let me ask her straight up…"
"No, Ryan!" Sandy replied.
"If this is as serious as you're acting like it is, we need to do something. Now. I don't want to put you in danger…"
"Ryan, we'll handle this, okay? Together. No running off to settle things yourself, not anymore…"
"Call the feds, Sandy. You can't just sit on this…not if this guy is dangerous…" Ryan said.
Sandy sighed. "We'll talk about it more later…"
"Dammit, Sandy…"
"I won't let them upset you…"
"I'm pretty fucking upset already. I need to talk to them and find out exactly what the hell is going on. I want proof, I want to know…"
"Ryan, calm down…"
"I won't calm down, you come in here and tell me this and then tell me that you don't want me to do anything about it? I'm fucking bedridden, Sandy…" He lowered his voice and took a steadying breath. "I have to talk to them. You know I do."
"I know…" Sandy sighed. "But not until you're better…"
"Now. Call them. Please, Sandy, before Seth or Kirsten come back…" Ryan searched his guardian's face. "Please."
Sandy nodded. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number from the business card.
