Caleb was with Ryan when he woke up.

"Morning."

"Hey, Mr. Nichol."

"How are you feeling today?"

"I'm okay." He still hurt but the pain was duller today.

"I talked to Stevie."

"How'd it go?"

"He's on his way here."

Ryan sighed.

"Are you still up for this?"

"I don't have a choice. I'll be okay."

"After this is over, you can get a good rest. Maybe I'll take you and Seth to Vegas."

"We'll see," Ryan muttered indifferently. "How long do I have?"

"A few hours."

Ryan nodded. The phone rang and Caleb handed it to Ryan. "Hello?"

"Hey. Don't hang up on me."

"Okay, Seth."

"Dad says something's going down today."

"Maybe."

"Are you scared?"

"A little."

"You'll be fine. Put on your game face and remember what you're doing this for…"

"A pep talk, Seth?"

"Of course. I'm your partner and since I can't be there, I want you to know that I'm still your partner. I've got your back."

"Thanks, man."

"And you call me as soon as it's over, okay?" Seth urged.

"Sure thing."

"Okay. Good luck. Jesus and Moses…"

"Jesus and Moses," Ryan repeated with a slight smile.

Caleb hung up the phone for him. "Why don't you get some rest while I go meet with the feds?"

"You don't have to tell me twice."

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Ryan sensed someone with him. He opened his eyes but didn't recognize the man standing over him.

"Who the fuck are you?"

The man smiled. "You definitely got Dawn's mouth."

"Who the fuck are you and what do you know about my mother?" Ryan snapped. He knew it was Stevie but the feds had coached him. He was supposed to play dumb. He couldn't let his fear show.

"My name's Stevie. I knew your parents a long time ago."

"What do you want?"

Steve's features favored Ryan. Ryan knew the man was his father. He was well-built and blond but shorter than Sandy or Caleb. Steve was looking him up and down.

"Tony did a real number on you."

"I'm calling the nurse…" Ryan said.

"Wait, don't," Steve said. Ryan glanced down and realized that the call button had been cut from the wall.

"What's going on?" Ryan asked. He had to play dumb but his fear wasn't an act. Stevie had a cold stare locked on Ryan.

"I came to take you home."

"What are you talking about?" Ryan's fear was turning to panic. He wasn't supposed to meet with Stevie alone; Caleb was supposed to be with him.

"I'm from L.A. I'm your real father."

"My real father? No…David…"

"Dave wasn't your father. I'm sorry for the way he treated you…"

"Man, I don't know what you're talking about…"

"You're my son. I sent you away so my enemies wouldn't find you."

"Your enemies?"

"I'm a very rich man…"

Caleb stepped in. "Stevie. It's good to see you…" He shook his hand.

"Mr. Nichol, you know this man?" Ryan had never been so happy to see Caleb. He blinked his acknowledgement.

Caleb's face was stony but his eyes showed Ryan that he was worried.

"He looks like me, huh?" Stevie asked.

"He looks like your father."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ryan demanded.

"You should hold your tongue while the grown ups are talking," Caleb said to Ryan. He put the mask over Ryan's face.

Stevie laughed at Caleb's order. Ryan let Caleb take control.

"Just relax," Caleb added, pulling Stevie away from the bed. "Let's talk over here." He ushered Stevie to a seat a few feet from the bed.

"I don't need a test, Cal, he's mine," Stevie said seriously.

"You have to get a test. Ryan's a juvenile delinquent…"

"Dawn and Dave treated him like shit…"

"You don't even know him. Sure, you might have known his parents but you don't know him," Caleb said. "You just met him. You should be sure."

"Did you call the doctor I asked you about?" Stevie asked.

"You're early. He'll be here shortly," Caleb stated. "You really think this kid is yours?"

"Look at him," Stevie said, motioning toward Ryan.

"I'm still a little confused. You slept with Ryan's mother and she got pregnant…" Caleb started.

"I sent her away…" Stevie began.

"You're lying," Ryan said. He knew he shouldn't interfere but he couldn't stop himself.

"He's a feisty little bastard," Stevie said, not acknowledging Ryan.

Caleb silenced Ryan with a slight wave of his hand. "Go on, Stevie."

"She was married to Dave so I paid them off. I paid her to raise my son and she…"

"Don't talk about my mother."

"Okay, kid, okay," Stevie said, glaring at him.

"Ryan, let the man talk," Caleb ordered. Ryan fell silent.

"Dawn and David moved to Fresno," Steve started again. "I'd call to check on them, but I left them alone. I trusted them. Then Dave got sent to jail and I lost track of the kid. A few days ago, Dave called me up and told me that Tony had shot the kid. My kid."

Caleb cast a furtive glance to gauge Ryan's reaction but he had closed his eyes.

"I was so pissed…but I took care of him."

"Stevie," Caleb started.

"I killed him myself. The bastard deserved it…" Stevie said.

"Stevie…you killed him?"

"Hell yeah. He hurt my kid…and I took care of Dave, too…"

Caleb lowered his voice. "You mean…"

Stevie stood up and went to Ryan's side. Ryan stared at him with cold eyes. "Dave hurt you so I had him taken out of your life."

"He's in jail," Ryan said quietly.

"He's under ground, now," Stevie smiled. "He'll never hurt you again."

"You killed my father…" Ryan whispered. He'd known but hearing the man say the words had chilled him.

"I did it for you…" Stevie touched Ryan's arm and Ryan flinched, pulling away despite the pain.

There was a slight knock on the door and the doctor that Caleb and the FBI had arranged entered.

"Dr. Dixon. Stevie, this is Dr. Dixon," Caleb introduced.

The doctor shook Stevie's hand. "I heard you guys needed a paternity test."

"He is not my father," Ryan murmured.

"I'll find out. I just need a little blood."

"Good luck finding a vein," Ryan said. His arms were bruised from IV's and the blood draws. Dr. Dixon smiled patiently.

"I'll start with Mr. Sexton." The doctor led Stevie to a chair across the room.

Caleb looked at Ryan when Stevie was occupied by the doctor. He was worried about him and his face flashed with his concern.

Ryan was clearly agitated but acknowledged Caleb with a slight nod. When Caleb glanced down he saw Ryan's fingers forming a weak 'ok' sign. Caleb patted his arm.

"Thank you, Mr. Sexton." The doctor replaced Caleb at Ryan's side. He effortless found a vein on Ryan's arm and filled a vial with his blood. "All done."

"Stevie, let's take a walk," Caleb said as Stevie approached the bed.

"How long's this going to take, doc?" Steve asked, shaking his head at Caleb.

"A couple of hours. I'm going to do them myself."

"Thanks, Dr. Dixon." Steve turned to Caleb. "I'd like to talk to the kid."

"I have nothing to say to you," Ryan said. He didn't want to be alone with Stevie again.

"Well, I have plenty to say to you," Stevie replied. He turned back to Caleb. "Can you give me a few minutes?"

Caleb glanced at Ryan who wouldn't meet his gaze. "Sure. I'll get a cup of coffee."

"Thanks, Cal," Steve nodded.

As soon as Caleb stepped out, the room phone rang.

"Don't tell anyone I'm here," Steve said immediately.

Ryan glared at him and picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey, kid. It's Sandy."

"Hey, Sandy."

"I'm right next door with Mr. Duncan and Mr. Logan. We're watching you, okay?"

"Yeah?"

"You okay?"

"I feel okay."

"Ryan, I'm right here, okay? If you get scared…"

"A little late on that," Ryan muttered.

Stevie was watching him intensely.

"Listen, Sandy, I'm sort of tired, can I call you later?"

"Ryan…"

"Thanks. I'll see you later." He hung up.

"That your lawyer?" Stevie asked.

"It's none of your business," Ryan muttered.

"I figured you'd be a little bit more respectful. I mean, I did you a favor…"

"A favor?"

"I killed Dave for you."

"I'm supposed to be grateful? He was my father…"

"I'm your father…"

"David Atwood raised me. He will always be my father," Ryan whispered.

"I'm your father. You're my heir. I'm going to teach you everything, kid, you're going to be my protégée…you'll be the best…"

"The best what? All I know about you is that you're a killer. Why would I want anything to do with you?"

"Because it's your birthright…"

"Fuck you," Ryan snapped.

Stevie reacted immediately, striking Ryan across the face.

"Way to make your case," Ryan muttered.

"Nobody talks to me like that."

"I don't care what the test says, I won't go anywhere with you…fuck my birthright…"

"Kid, I could give you everything; you could have anything you want, you'd have power and…"

"I don't want it. You're some fucking stranger that just told me that you had my father killed…you don't even know me…" Ryan said.

"I'd like to get to know you…"

"Fuck you," Ryan replied.

Caleb chose that moment to return. He was startled to see Steve's anger. "Everything okay?"

"Let's take that walk, Caleb."

"Sure. Ryan's doctor is on his way to check on him," Caleb said, holding open the door so Stevie could step out.

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Stevie and Caleb had only been gone a matter of minutes when Ryan's doctor and Sandy stepped it.

"Ryan, are you okay?" Sandy was at his side immediately. He turned Ryan's face to examine where Stevie had hit him.

Ryan was shaking with emotion when he accepted Sandy's hand. "You were right…this was a bad idea."

"As soon as this is over, we're taking you home…"

"What?" Ryan's head was spinning already.

The doctor nodded. "The Cohens have hired a nurse to help you with the transition."

"I just want this to be over…" Ryan whispered.

The doctor gave Sandy a concerned look before giving Ryan an injection. Ryan didn't relax.

"Ryan, that man…" Sandy began.

"Just wait, Sandy. I can't talk about it…not yet, he's coming back and…I can't talk about it until it's over…" Ryan whispered.

"I'm right next door, Ryan."

"I know, thanks…"

Sandy turned Ryan's face to look at him. "You just stay strong for a little longer and before you know it, you'll be home with your family…"

"Okay," Ryan nodded, composing himself. "Just…don't go too far, okay?"

"I won't…"

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Caleb and Stevie returned an hour and a half later. Ryan had fallen into a restless sleep.

The feds had enough evidence to arrest Stevie but they are waiting so they can feed Stevie the paternity test results to ensure Ryan's safety.

Caleb was relieved to find Ryan sleeping. He'd been chilled by Stevie's confessions during their walk to the coffee shop. It had all been recorded and he knew that the agents were at a second's notice, but he was frightened of what Stevie had become. He didn't want him alone with Ryan.

"What are you going to do if Ryan turns out not to be yours?" Caleb asked as they sat down a few feet from Ryan.

Steve glanced over at the bed where Ryan was sleeping. "I'm going to find that fucking bitch, Dawn and kill her for lying to me."

"Stevie…"

"It's not the kid's fault. He's got a smart mouth but he earned it with a history like his."

"How do you know that Dawn and Dave were bad parents?" Caleb asked.

"I read his files. They beat the hell out of him, he has a children services file a few inches thick. They weren't parents to him."

Caleb nodded. He had never bothered to ask Kirsten or Sandy about Ryan's previous home life.

"You said your daughter takes care of him now. Is she good to him?"

"She's a good mother."

"You think he's a good kid?" Stevie asked.

"I don't know." Caleb didn't want to lie anymore. "He's my grandson's best friend. My daughter loves him like her own."

"Well, if he's mine, I'll take him off your hands."

"What if he doesn't want to go?" Caleb asked.

"Like he's in any shape to argue?" Stevie snorted.

Doctor Dixon walked in with a manila folder. "Gentlemen, we have the results."

"Yeah?" Stevie smiled and stood up.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Sexton. This boy is not your biological child," The doctor stated, giving him the file.

Stevie sighed. Ryan was staring at him with cold eyes.

"It was good to see you again, Cal," Stevie said. He turned to Ryan. "Take care, kid."

Stevie left and Caleb was immediately at Ryan's side. "Are you okay, Ryan?"

Ryan nodded solemnly. "They're going to get him, right?"

"They're following him now," Caleb started. Sandy stepped in.

"It's almost over, Ryan," He said.

"Ryan, I'm sorry you had to hear all that…" Caleb started.

"I think that I'm going to sleep a while," Ryan muttered.

"We'll be right here, Ryan. Just rest." Sandy gave Caleb a worried look.