----- - - - - ---- -- ---- -- - --- - - -- -- - - --- - - - - -- ----- --- -- - -- ------ - - - - ---- -- ---- -- - --- - - -- -- - - --- - - - - -- ----- -

"What?  Absolutely not."

Seth, Hailey and Luke were sitting in the living room listening to Sandy and Kirsten argue.  Sandy had brought pizzas home and immediately took his wife into the kitchen. 

"What the hell are you even talking about asking me not to see Ryan?" Kirsten shrieked.

"I knew this was going to get messy," Seth whispered to Hailey.

"And Chino didn't tell you anything about what it was all about?" Luke asked. 

"Just that it was serious.  And the last time something was serious with him, he ended up in the hospital," Seth murmured.

"I just can't believe that all this happened because he was trying to help me," Hailey said. 

"Chino's got that savior complex, if it hadn't been you, it would have been someone else," Luke said quietly. 

"You can't ask me not to see him, Sandy, not without an explanation…"

"He doesn't want to see you," Sandy retorted. 

"Ouch," Hailey winced.  She stood up and went to the doorway so she could eavesdrop more clearly.  Luke and Seth immediately picked up the game controllers and started the PS2 on mute. 

"Sandy…" Kirsten was pale when she turned to her husband.

"That's not what I meant, I mean, of course he wants to see you but…I can't explain it right now…"

"Hell yes, you can.  Why doesn't he want to see me?  Why can my father see him but I can't?  What the hell is going on?"

Sandy put his hands on her shoulders to comfort her but she pulled away. 

"No, Sandy.  He is a child.  He's all alone and I refuse to leave him there…"

"We're trying to protect you.  He's already convinced Seth and the kids to stay away…"

"I am not a kid.  I'm…I'm his mother…or something," Kirsten whispered with tears in her eyes. 

"And he loves you.  But he needs you to do this.  No questions asked."

"I can't do that.  I won't.  What is he trying to protect me from?" Kirsten demanded.

"I…I can't tell you that…"

"If his life is in danger, I want to know.  I have to know.  We'll get him protection, we'll get him bodyguards…" She started.

"Kirsten, just stop.  Everything is under control, okay?"

"They killed his father, Sandy.  They killed him.  So don't ask me to relax," Kirsten snapped.

Hailey gasped and Sandy and Kirsten realized that she was listening.

"Uh, Mom?" Seth was by Hailey's side immediately.  "I think I speak for everyone when I ask, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Seth, your father and I are talking…"

"No, you guys are arguing about why all of a sudden no one's allowed to see Ryan," Seth said immediately.  "Now, when Ryan called acting all cryptic and asked me not to go to the hospital, I accepted it.  But that was before I heard you trying to convince Mom…"

"Something's going on," Hailey echoed.  "Dad said that Tony was taken out by a professional hit and now you're talking about Ryan's father?"

"A hit?  What the hell is going on?" Seth demanded.

"Everyone needs to calm down," Sandy sighed, flushed. 

"No.  You need to tell us what's going on.  Now," Seth replied. 

"He's right.  We're all worried about him and I think we've all learned what happens when we keep secrets from each other," Hailey said quietly. 

"This isn't a discussion that I can have with any of you right now…" Sandy admitted. 

"Tough.  What happened to Ryan's father?" Seth asked.

"Seth…" Kirsten scolded. 

"Dad?" Seth asked.

"He's dead.  He was killed in jail," Sandy muttered.

"Oh god…he didn't say anything to me…" Seth whispered.  "Who killed him?"

Sandy and Kirsten were silent. 

"Was it because of Tony?" Hailey whispered.

"Partially," Kirsten replied.

"Kirsten.  We cannot talk about this.  It's not…"

"Safe?  Because no one is safe right now," Kirsten snapped.

"Please.  Tell us.  Please, Dad," Seth whispered. 

Sandy shook his head and walked out of the kitchen.  The front door slammed behind him. 

Seth left Hailey with his mother and chased after his father.  He found Sandy standing beside his car.

"Dad.  Stop."

"Seth, I just needed some air," Sandy whispered, leaning against the car.

"You're worried about Ryan.  I get it.  You're running away from us because you don't want to put him in danger.  But you can talk to us.  We can handle it…"

"I know you can…"

"Ryan thinks he's protecting us.  But he's new.  We can take care of ourselves, we've been doing it a long time," Seth said, putting his arm around his father.  "And clearly keeping things from Mom is not healthy for you."

"I can't tell you, Seth.  I promised him."

"That sucks, Dad, that you'll have to break a promise to him.  But he'll understand.  Come back inside, you look positively frantic," Seth said. 

"Seth…"

"No.  You're the grown up.  Ryan will understand.  Talk to us.  We're worried about him, too.  A lot.  And I promise that we'll be a lot more cooperative if we know what we're dealing with," Seth said slowly.

Sandy sighed heavily. 

"Please, Dad."

The front door opened and Kirsten stepped out.  "Sandy?"

"I'll be right there," He conceded.  "I need to call Caleb."

"Grandpa?"

"He's at the hospital now with Ryan…" Sandy admitted.

"Whoa," Seth said, holding up his hands.  "Grandpa is alone with Ryan?"

"Let's go inside," Sandy sighed.

----- - - - - ---- -- ---- -- - --- - - -- -- - - --- - - - - -- ----- --- -- - -- ------ - - - - ---- -- ---- -- - --- - - -- -- - - --- - - - - -- ----- -

Ryan was exhausted.  Caleb had stayed by his side while the agents ran through the different scenarios that could happen.  The room had been wired in a matter of hours after Sandy's call to the agents but he couldn't see the different cameras and microphones that were hidden in the room.  Caleb was outside talking to the agents now and Ryan was taking advantage of the silence to regroup.

Things were getting complicated.  Actually, things had been complicated for a while but now things were getting dangerous. 

He couldn't believe that Caleb knew Stevie.  He couldn't believe that Caleb was actually going to help him. 

He wanted to know that his mother was all right.  He wanted to make sure the Cohens were safe.  He couldn't stand being trapped in this hospital room and the longer he stayed here in limbo, the less he'd be able to take care of the people that he cared about. 

Caleb stepped back into the room and closed the door behind him.  He sighed heavily and pulled his chair up to the bedside.

"So.  That was rough," Caleb sighed. 

Ryan nodded.

"You okay?"

He nodded again.

"So, the feds need me to call Stevie.  To get things started…are you absolutely sure that you want to do this?" Caleb asked quietly.

Ryan nodded.  The phone beside the bed rang and Caleb handed it to him.  "Hello?"

"Ryan.  It's Kirsten.  What the hell are you thinking?"

"Hey…"

"Is Dad there with you?"

Ryan handed the phone to Caleb without speaking.  He turned his face away.  He could listen to the agents, he could listen to Caleb, but he couldn't listen to Kirsten.  Not when she was so angry with him.  He was doing what he had to do to keep her family safe. 

"Kiki, you're upsetting the boy…" Caleb said after a moment.  Ryan could still hear her upset voice through the silence.  Caleb sighed after a long pause and lowered the phone.  "She wants to talk to you again."

"I'll call her tomorrow," He said. 

Caleb spoke softly into the phone.  He lowered it again.  "She wants to talk to you now."

"I can't.  Tell her I'm sleeping."

Caleb gave him a weak smile and returned his attention to the phone.  After a pause, he hung up the phone.  "Seems Sandy let the cat out a little early."

"He told everyone?"

"Apparently.  And your house is in some sort of uproar.  Sandy's on his way over here."

"You should go.  Call Stevie."

"Ryan, I want to talk to you before I call him.  I'm going to have to lie to him."

"Lie to him about what?" Ryan asked.  They both ignored the ringing phone beside the bed. 

"Stevie's going to want to know why I didn't tell him up front about you being adopted by Kirsten.  I want to talk to you about how this is all going to go down."

Ryan nodded.

"We really need to get you in some speaking classes."

Ryan gave him the finger and Caleb laughed. 

"What's the deal?"

"I'm going to tell Steve that I had to make some calls.  I'm going to tell him that I never wanted you around and that if you are his son that I want him to take you from here."

"That's not too far from the truth," Ryan muttered.

"Ryan.  I have had my problems with you but I was wrong.  I won't let him take you.  I promise."

Ryan's blue eyes were dark with emotion and disbelief. 

"We're in this together.  I'm the only person that's going to be here with you when this happens and you have to trust me."

"I don't think I'll ever trust you, Mr. Nichol.  But I think that you know how serious this is and how this can affect your family and I'd like to think that you'll do the right thing despite your feelings for me."

"You really know how to hold a grudge, don't you?" Caleb sighed.

The phone was still ringing.  Ryan picked it up.  "Yeah."

"Ryan."

"Hey, Seth."

"Grandpa hung up on Mom.  Not really helping your case much, buddy."

"Sorry.  I'm really tired."

"I guess so.  We sort of, tortured Dad until he told us what's been going on.  How're you doing?"

"I'm okay."

"Bullshit.  You find out that your dad's not your real dad and before you can even deal with it, they kill him.  Your mom has to leave and…"

"Dude.  I cannot talk about this.  Not now, not here."

"But…"

"Drop it.  I need you to drop it," Ryan hissed before hanging up the phone. 

Caleb was startled.

"You do what you have to do," Ryan said.  "I'm too fucking tired to do anything else tonight.  I'll see you tomorrow and you can tell me all about it…"

"Ryan…"

"I'm done." Ryan didn't want to be angry but he was tired of talking and worrying and arguing.  He was exhausted. 

"I'll leave you alone," Caleb said, shaking his hand as he stood up.  "Get some rest."

 ----- - - - - ---- -- ---- -- - --- - - -- -- - - --- - - - - -- ----- --- -- - -- ------ - - - - ---- -- ---- -- - --- - - -- -- - - --- - - - - -- ----- -

Sandy walked into Ryan's room and was surprised to see a nurse sitting with him.

"Is everything okay?"

"Oh, he's fine.  He just had a bad dream and this is the first night he's been here alone overnight so I decided to sit with him.  I hope that's okay…" She flushed.

"Thank you, Betty.  I really appreciate it."

"He's a sweet young man.  Reminds me of my grandson.  I'll leave you alone.  Don't hesitate to buzz me if you need anything," Betty smiled.

Sandy took her vacated seat.  Ryan was sleeping peacefully with the mask over his face.  Sandy was worried about him.  He was getting progressively better, but he was still in a lot of pain.  The school had him on indefinite medical leave.  He was strong but the damage done to his body was going to take a lot of time to heal.  The fact that he was so dependant on oxygen was a concern of the doctors.  He seemed to hyperventilate at the slightest urging.  Sandy remembered how Ryan talked before the accident and how he'd hitch his breathing when he got upset.  The kid was going to have to consciously alter and control his breathing for a while. 

He had too much on his mind.  All he should be concentrating on was getting better but he had dead parents and biological parents and betraying siblings all coming at once.

"Sandy." Ryan's blue eyes focused on him sluggishly. 

"Hey, kid.  Betty just left."

He nodded.  He started to pull the mask off but dropped his arm back at his side. 

"How're you doing?"

Ryan sighed.  He closed his eyes.  "I'm tired."

"I guess so.  I talked to Kirsten back at the house…"

"She called.  Seth, too.  The phone's wired.  I didn't want to get into it with him.  I told him to drop it."

"They're worried about you."

"I'm worried about them."

"Ryan…"

"Sandy, I'm really tired and I'm going to need my strength for the next couple of days.  Can you just…can you just sit with me a while?"

"Of course.  Just rest."  Sandy was relieved when Ryan turned his face away.  He took Ryan's hand and the boy gave him a weak squeeze.  He had promised to protect Ryan.  And he'd keep his promise.

----- - - - - ---- -- ---- -- - --- - - -- -- - - --- - - - - -- ----- --- -- - -- ------ - - - - ---- -- ---- -- - --- - - -- -- - - --- - - - - -- ----- -