Disclaimer: The characters belong to fox.

I didn't get a chance to proof this chapter, so you might find a couple of errors in it. Enjoy!

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I can feel someone's presence in the room before I even open my eyes, and I wince in pain as I try to turn on my side away from them, not wanting to see anyone at the moment.

"Oh no you don't, you're just going to hurt yourself more if you lay on your side."

I feel Kirsten's hand on my arm as she forces me back onto my back, and I slowly open my eyes as she grabs my hand and looks down at me, a relieved look on her face.

"How are you feeling honey? You've been out for quite a while now, I was wondering if you ever planned on waking up."

I reach my hand up to take the oxygen mask off my face, but she grabs my wrist and stops me. Her hands are cold around my wrist, and she quickly apologizes before bringing my hand back down to my lap and letting go of it.

"You've had a few visitors while you were asleep. Summer and Anna came by with Seth, but Sandy and I thought it would be best that you recover a little more before we allow there to be any wild parties with girls and alcohol in here."

She offers a small smile after her attempt with humor, and I weakly return the smile as I try to focus my mind away from the sharp pain that's starting at my side and surging through the rest of my body. I feel like they removed my lung as my breathing comes out in short, labored gasps.

"I know it's tough to breathe, but the doctor said it should get a little better as your lung starts healing, and the bruising in your ribs go down.

"What… happened?"

It's close to impossible to talk without having to close my eyes and fight back the tears, and Kirsten's grip on my hand tightens as she sets on the edge of the bed and kisses my forehead.

"The guard walked in just in time to see the guy sitting over you with a knife. He doesn't know what happened before that, but he knows that you were lying unconscious it a pool of blood, and that the kid was never supposed to be put in there with you. Apparently someone already informed the guard of that information before hand, he just didn't feel the need to follow it. Sandy's talking to the judge right now about it, so all you need to do is lay here and relax so you can recover."

I feel myself getting light headed just from trying to process all her words, and she stares at me until I nod my head in understanding.

Kirsten and I turn our heads just as the doctor walks in the room, and a small smile spreads across her face when she sees me awake. I weakly raise my hand a little, trying to wave at her as she says good morning, and she lets a low laugh escape her lips as I drop my heavy hand back into my lap where Kirsten had placed it before.

"You look so sweet when you're sleeping, but every once in a while we like to see those baby blues looking back at us. You shouldn't try to hide them so much. Now if you don't mind, we need to check those stitches and see how you're side's doing."

I don't even attempt to process her words as she talks quickly and walks over to the bed, helping m sit up as she pulls the hospital gown off my arms and stops just above my waist.

As I'm about to look down at the damage that's been done to me, Kirsten gently grabs my chin and turns my head towards her, squeezing my hand at the same time.

I let out a strangled cry as the doctor pulls off the bandages, and I squeeze my eyes closed, trying to focus on the sound of Kirsten's soothing voice as she tells me that everything's going to be okay.

I wince in pain every time the doctor lightly touches the area to clean it, and Kirsten tries to stop me as I push her hand away from my chin and look at my side. The doctor jumps slightly as I slap her and away from my side, and I wish more than anything that I could just be dead right now instead of having to endure this physical and emotional pain.

"Ryan you need to calm down so I can clean it. I'm sure the last thing you want right now is to get an infection and have to stay in here longer than you have to."

She tries to inch her way back towards me, but I move away from her, causing Kirsten to stand up off the edge of the bed. Before either women can stop me, I pull the oxygen mask off and try to get up, fighting my way for the bathroom as the try to stop me.

The doctor pushes the emergency call button as she holds my arm, and I feel the hot tears burning down my cheeks as Kirsten holds my other arm and tries to keep me from getting up.

"Let me go… I wanna go."

My words come out strangled and kind of ruff, but they go unheard as an older man walks into the room with a needle in his hand. A jolt of fear goes throughout my body, and I unconsciously push Kirsten away from me, causing her to stumble back a few feet in shock.

The doctor loosens her grip on my arm in shock, and I take my chance to run past them man and run into the bathroom, almost collapsing on the floor as I lock the door.

"Ryan, open the door please. No one's trying to hurt you, we're just trying to help you get better."

I can barely hear Kirsten's voice over the sound of my breathing, and it feels like my lungs are on fire as I grip my side and listen to my breath come out in short loud gasps.

I sit on the cold tile with my knees pulled to my chest as the voices on the other side of the door plead with me to come out, and I wish they would all jut go away and leave me alone.

I look around the bathroom for some sort of escape, and I use the counter to pull myself up as I pull my hospital gown back up and walk over to where the shower is, turning the hot water on all the way and stepping into the tub.

I jump slightly as the cold water hits my body, but as it slowly becomes warm, I rest my back against the wall and slide down so my knees are painfully close to my chest.

The spray of the water seems to work as it drowns out the voices outside, but I feel panic and fear rising in me as I look down at the pink tinted water that's swirling down the drain.