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Caleb was sitting in his office trying to catch up on his work along with Kirsten's.  She had finally agreed to take a leave of absence to deal with Ryan's hospitalization.  His phone rang and he answered it absently. 

"Caleb Nichol."

"Cal.  It's Steve Sexton."

Caleb froze.  He hadn't talked to Steve Sexton in years.  When he was younger, he was close friends with Steve's father, Saul.  Saul was a good man, he was on the wrong side of the law but he was a good man.  Steve, or Stevie, as he was called now, was not a good man.  Saul had died too young due to the stress that boy had caused him.  Caleb had tried to keep an eye on Stevie, but his own family and business had taken his attention from the budding mob boss.  Stevie had ruined Saul's legitimate businesses and was a full-blown mobster the last time Caleb checked on him. 

"Stevie.  What do I owe this pleasure?" Caleb had to be polite.  He owed it to Saul. 

"How've you been?"

"Good, good."

"That's good.  I hate to have to call you, Cal, but I was hoping you could help me."

"You need my help?  Are you in trouble?" Caleb immediately thought of the police. 

"No, no, nothing too serious.  You're still in Newport, right?"

"Yes…"

"It's kind of a long story."

"I'm listening."

"About sixteen years ago, I had a short affair with the wife of one of my friends.  She got pregnant…"

"You have a child, Stevie?" Caleb asked, trying to hide his surprise. 

"Well, that's where it gets complicated.  I sent her away, I sent her and her husband away with the baby so he wouldn't be in danger.  I was in touch for a while, I'd talk to the kid once a month but he never knew who I was.  Dave got arrested and I lost touch…"

"Stevie, what kind of help do you need?" Caleb asked, confused as to what the man wanted.

"The kid…he's in Newport.  He's staying with this lawyer, Sandford Cohen.  Do you know him?"

Caleb was silent.  This explained why Kirsten and Sandy were all of a sudden afraid to leave Ryan alone at the hospital.  It explained the dark sedans hovering around Sandy's house.  It explained a lot. 

"Caleb?"

"Go on, Steve."

"Well, the kid's mother, I finally got in touch with her and now she says that the kid's not mine.  She gave me this paternity test and it looks legit but…"

"You don't believe her?"

"No.  I mean, all these years, I've believed that I had a kid out there.  My heir, you know?  And I find out that she treated him like shit, the kid's been fucking mistreated all this time and if he's mine…then I intend to come get him.  I have to know for sure."

"A paternity test is pretty definite, Steve."

"I know…but I have to be sure.  I've taken care of Dave…"

"You took care of him?  What does that mean?"

"I had him killed.  Even if he is the kid's father, he doesn't deserve to live…I got the kid's files, his medical history and this kid has…he's had a harsh life.  I never intended it to be like this, I just wanted him to be safe, to be raised right and then when he was ready, I could teach him the business…"

"Like Saul taught you the business?  Because, Stevie, you know I disagree with what you've done with Saul's business…"

"I know, but this is our second chance.  I fucked up a lot of things, but this kid…he could fix it."

"Have you seen him?"

"No.  I haven't left LA.  I don't really trust any of my men to talk to him, I want to be the one to tell him everything.  But I have to make sure it's true."

"What if he's not your kid?"

"Then I'm not going to mess with him.  But his bitch of a mother skipped town after she gave me the test results and I…I just don't trust her word anymore.  I need to know for sure," Steve said with a sigh.  "So do you know this guy, this lawyer?"

Caleb didn't respond immediately.  He knew that if he lied, it would all come out eventually.  Steve would eventually realize that Sandy was married to Kirsten.  He'd know that Ryan was a part of Caleb's family.  But if he told the truth, Steve would most likely expect Caleb to let him talk to Ryan.  He'd known Stevie a lot longer than he'd known Ryan. 

Almost a week earlier, Caleb would have done anything to get Ryan out of his family's life.  He would've put him in jail, sent him to a group home, anything to keep him away from his grandson and his daughters.  But now…he knew that Ryan was a genuinely good kid.  He'd saved Hailey's life.  He'd taken bullets for Hailey's mistakes.  He didn't belong with Steve.  He belonged with Kirsten and Sandy.  And Seth.  He was a part of the family now. 

"Cal?"

"Let me make some calls, Steve.  I'll let you know what I find out."

"Thanks, Cal, I really appreciate it.  I mean, I know you don't agree with a lot of my decisions, but this…this is like, family stuff.  I want my son by my side.  I've wasted too many years, I need him to be my son."

"I'll get back to you.  Is there a number?" Caleb scribbled down Steve's numbers and hung up the phone. 

He couldn't panic Kirsten.  Sandy wouldn't listen to him, he was too protective of the boy.  Caleb had to talk to Ryan.  He just hoped the kid was as strong as everyone kept telling him. 

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Hailey was sitting with Ryan when he woke up.  He slowly opened his eyes and adjusted to the pain that accompanied consciousness these days.  He met her gaze with a tired smile. 

"Hey, kid.  How're you feeling?"

"Like shit.  But okay.  What about you?"

"No talking about me.  I am here to officially not stress you out while Kirsten and Sandy are resting," Hailey said. 

"Talking about you distracts me from thinking about how much this sucks," Ryan replied. 

"No deal," Hailey insisted.  "I am totally and completely fine.  You are the one that's got everyone worried these days."

"Where's Seth?"

"Seth is currently at school.  Against his will, I might add.  He's pretty pissed off that you've been sleeping during his visits."

"It seems like forever since I saw him," Ryan agreed, relaxing slightly. 

"Are you all right?  Don't let the pain get so bad before you say something…"

"I'm okay right now, thanks," Ryan replied. 

"Kirsten should be back in an hour or so if you want to sleep until…"

"Its okay, Hailey.  I'll be fine.  I mean, I can't stay in this bed forever…I just have to get this pain under control…" Ryan muttered.

"It'll get better."

"I know.  I mean, I hope so," Ryan smiled sadly.  There was a knock on the door.

"Are you expecting anyone?" Hailey asked.  Ryan glared at her.  "Yeah, right.  I'll see who it is."

Caleb stepped inside before she could get to the door. 

"Dad…hey, what are you doing here?" Hailey gave her father a hug and then glanced back at Ryan to gauge his reaction. 

Ryan didn't seem surprised to see him.  He nodded a greeting to the man.

"Hailey.  I came to talk to Ryan."

"About what?" Hailey glanced between them.

"We're cool now, Hailey.  Aren't we?" Ryan asked, looking pointedly at Caleb. 

"I hope so.  I need to talk to you."

Ryan seemed to sense the seriousness immediately.  He nodded.

"Okay, so talk away," Hailey shrugged. 

"I need to talk to him alone.  Can you give us a few minutes, Hailey?"

Hailey turned to Ryan for permission.

"Its okay, Hailey."

"Don't get upset.  If you do, Kirsten will kick both our asses.  And use the oxygen if you do get upset…" Hailey continued.

"Okay, Hailey.  Thanks," Ryan gave her an amused smile.  She sighed.  She poked her father in the arm as she walked by him.

"Don't get him upset," She ordered before exiting.

"How are you?"

"Better, thanks.  What's with this?" Ryan asked immediately.

"I need to talk to you about something.  I don't want to upset your parents just yet, I wanted to talk to you first," Caleb said, pulling a chair close to Ryan's bedside. 

"About what?"

Caleb's eyes searched Ryan's face.  He needed to know what Ryan knew but he didn't want to tell him things that he didn't know.  It wasn't his place.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Caleb recognized Saul in the boy's face.  He didn't know why he hadn't seen it before.  The kid looked just like Saul had looked as a teenager. 

"Mr. Nichol?"

"I'm sorry, Ryan.  I got a phone call this afternoon from someone.  The son of an old friend.  Someone I haven't spoken to in years.  And he was asking about you."

"About me?  Why?"

"He knows I live in Newport.  He wanted me to investigate something for him.  He says you're his son," Caleb stated flatly.

Ryan seemed to deflate.  "Are you serious?"

"His name is…"

"Steve Sexton, yeah, I know.  How the hell do you know him?"

"I knew his father.  Before Stevie took the business and ran it into the ground, Saul was a good man.  He was a good friend of mine.  Stevie is not a good man, nor is he my friend.  He said that your mother gave him a paternity test and skipped town…"

"Yeah.  The feds have been here."

"Really?"

Ryan nodded.

"Stevie doesn't believe your mother's story.  He doesn't believe the results."

Ryan sighed heavily.  "I should've known it was too easy."

"He wants me to find out about you."

"Have you told Sandy?  Kirsten?"

"No.  They're worried sick about you as it is.  I thought I should bring it to you first."

Ryan met Caleb's gaze evenly.  "What are you planning?"

"I'm not planning anything," Caleb replied.  "You and I have had our differences.  But you belong to my family now.  Not Stevie's.  You're too good for a family like that.  My girls would never get over it.  So I'm bringing this to you because you deserve to know."

"What are you going to tell Stevie?"

"That's a quandary isn't it?" Caleb sighed.  "I have no idea."

Ryan smiled.  "You have no idea?"

"Nope.  Not at all."

"My mom had the right idea.  He won't believe anything except DNA evidence.  He's going to have to see me for himself."

"Ryan…"

"Hear me out," Ryan said shakily.  "The feds are going to shake him down eventually.  It's only a matter of time.  Maybe we can speed the progress along.  Kill two birds."

"What are you suggesting?" Caleb asked, surprised.

"Tell him you found me.  That I'm here.  The feds can wire up the room, make sure that I'm safe and that they can hear everything.  You'll bring him here, bring a doctor that the feds clear, a doctor that will pass Stevie's inspection…"

"There's no way Sandy and Kirsten will agree to this," Caleb said quietly.

"This is my life that's at stake.  He killed my father, Caleb.  He's going to kill my mother, too, if he can find her…I'll never be safe if I don't do something…" Ryan admitted. 

Caleb nodded.  "Go on.  What's your plan?"

"I say we go with a paternity test.  They'll take some blood, Stevie can talk to me face to face…maybe I can get him to admit to something…"

"You don't even know him.  He'll never admit anything to you, he won't want you to know what kind of man he really is…"

"You know him, don't you?  Will he admit anything to you?"

Caleb was silent.  Ryan watched him. 

"You care about him.  You have loyalty to his father?"

Caleb nodded silently, startled that Ryan could read so much from his silent expression. 

"I won't let the Cohens get hurt.  I'll do whatever I have to do to keep them safe."

"You're right.  Maybe we can do this.  We'll let the feds help us set up the phony paternity test…"

"I think it should be real.  I'd like to know the truth.  We'll give him the falsified results but I think we need to do it…for peace of mind," Ryan said quietly. 

"Good idea," Caleb agreed.  "You're taking this awfully well."

"Don't believe it.  This is just…surreal.  I'm trying to listen to Hailey and not get upset.  I'm stuck in this fucking bed, I can't even get up and I find out all this shit…" He admitted, looking away for a long moment, seemingly startling himself by confiding so much to Caleb. 

"You're a strong boy.  You're going to be fine.  I hate that all this is happening now, but there's never a good time to find out that your parents are lying to you.  Your mother…"

Ryan didn't respond, he silently reached up and pulled the oxygen mask down and put it over his face. 

"I'm sorry, should I call the nurse?"

Ryan waved his hand, halting Caleb.  "Are you really going to do this?  Are you serious about helping me?"

"Yes.  I will help you in any way that I can," Caleb replied honestly. 

"Then you better let Sandy know.  He can get you in touch with the feds…"

"Are you sure that you want me to float this notion by Sandy?"

"Don't float it by Sandy, float if by the feds.  He's not going to agree to any of this…"

"He's right.  It's a dangerous idea.  But I agree with you.  There's no simple way out of this.  And it's time that Stevie started paying for his mistakes," Caleb nodded. 

Ryan took several deep breaths from the oxygen. 

"I'll get the nurse for you."

"Thanks."

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