THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE COHEN
By Allegra
(See Part One for disclaimers etc.)
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this so far. I appreciate all your encouragement. After the violence of the last part, I hope this goes some way to open up the comfort part of the fic. Please, please review!
To the person who hated it, I would suggest that you don't read R rated stories under the Angst/Drama section about people left in prison in future (just a thought). However, I'm sorry if you were offended by the content. You can sort the stories by rating in future and avoid any R rated fiction if you choose.
PART TWO : BROKEN
Seth Cohen put away his binoculars hurriedly when he heard his father approaching. Spying on the neighbours was morally wrong anyway but when those neighbours happened to currently include Summer Roberts and Marissa Cooper having a pool party, Seth knew he must be going to Hell.
"Hey, Dad. What's going down?"
Sandy eyed his son, suspiciously. He had learned long ago how to interpret Seth's strange behaviour. The boy gesticulated like he was learning a new kind of semaphore and always spoke to his father like he was one of the gang. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing, what...why would you ask that? I'm just...taking in this cool, balmy night," Seth struggled to convince himself as well as his father. To his horror, Sandy moved to where Seth had been standing and peered over the edge of the balcony, craning his neck in the direction of the joyful voices in the Coopers' backyard. He leaned round to see what his son was shielding rather unskilfully behind his back. It didn't a lawyer's brain to put two and two together. "Aah. You know, this view is just as good, and more legal, done on the beach."
Seth pulled a shameful face. "Yeah."
Sandy held his hand out to receive the offending binoculars. "How are things between you and this April girl?"
"Her name's Summer and I think even mentioning our names in the same sentence is more of a relationship than we've got right now." He sighed and leaned his back heavily against the rail. "I figured I'd go and see Marissa again, try and get her to come and visit Ryan with me."
Sandy nodded, appreciatively. He knew how hard Seth found it to understand why the Cohens couldn't just take the troubled teenager into their own house. It made him feel guilty just thinking about the nights Ryan had already spent in the Orange County juvenile detention centre so far. He tried to put the incident with Kirsten and Seth out of his mind. He didn't like to dwell too long on how hard Ryan must need to defend himself in there. "Yeah, I bet he'd like that."
"Did you see him today?" Seth asked, casually.
"No. I've been trying to track his mother down but...well, she clearly doesn't want to be found."
"But you can't just leave him in there, Dad! I mean, you heard what happened the other day. It's only a matter of time before things start getting ugly. There are only three ways this could turn out - Ryan kills someone, gets killed or learns some real bad habits. He needs rescuing and I can't see one good reason why we can't do it!" Seth felt the hysteria rising in his voice. He knew his parents felt guilty about leaving Ryan, but that was just the reason he kept bugging them. They would come around eventually.
"Seth," Sandy warned, "We've discussed this. It's time you just accepted the decision your mother and I have made. We'll do everything we can to help Ryan."
Seth exhaled sharply, "Yeah, everything except what he really needs."
"Seth..." Sandy began, ready for another onslaught, and reached out a hand for his son's shoulder but Seth shrugged him off, hands raised in surrender.
He backed away from the balcony rail. "Just forget it, okay. I just don't know how you and Mom can sleep at night." He didn't wait for his father's reply and darted back into the house.
Sandy sighed, wearily. Part of him knew Seth was right and wanted to bring Ryan home. On the other hand, he had to respect his wife's wishes. If Kirsten didn't want a relatively unknown teenager in her house for the next few years, Sandy knew he had to go along with it. It was hard enough raising just one son but bringing in a stray from the wrong side of the tracks was too much to handle.
Lost in his reverie, Sandy didn't notice his wife creeping up on him and jumped when her slender, tanned arms reached down around his neck. "Hey, baby. You okay?"
Sandy smiled and ran his hands over her smooth skin. "Yeah."
"Do you think Seth's right?" Kirsten asked, taking her husband by surprise. He hadn't realised she was listening.
Sandy shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "I don't know, I know it's a big deal, bringing up a kid who isn't your own..."
"But?"
"But I can't help but worry about him. I mean, Ryan's tough, but he's still just a kid."
Kirsten nodded, mutely, and thought for a moment. "I've been thinking the same thing."
"You have?" Sandy enquired, perking up.
"I just can't get our visit out of my mind. The way he fought against that other guy. He was holding his own but by the time the guards got on the scene, Ryan was pinned to the floor. I keep worrying about him. Maybe we should get him out." Kirsten's blue eyes surveyed Sandy's, looking for some kind of opinion or affirmation that she had made the right decision.
He turned to her, moving his arms around her waist. "Are you sure? Because we can't keep jerking this kid around."
"I know, I know. That's why I really want to know what you think."
Sandy smiled, "I think we should go get Ryan." He hugged Kirsten close and rested his head lightly on hers, inhaling the lingering scent of coconut shampoo and the salt air. "We'll go first thing in the morning."
"Should we discuss it with Seth first?" Kirsten mused.
"Oh, I think we already know what he thinks. He's going to be thrilled."
"Do you want to break the good news or shall I?" she asked.
Before Sandy had a chance to answer, Seth came bowling out of the patio doors, the phone clutched in his hand. "Mom, Dad! We got to get over to the centre! It's Ryan."
**********
Orange County Juvenile Detention Centre was nestled near a cliff edge where the sea breeze could alternate rudely between respite from the sun and sharp winds which whistled briskly through the prison courtyard and grated windows. Tonight, the wind was bitter and tossed the palm leaves violently against the dark sky.
The Cohens' drive to the facility had been made in anxious silence, unsure of what they would find upon arrival. Sandy's black cruiser pulled up by the car park gates and was waved through by a rotund security guard. The edifice looked grim and forbidding in the darkness - small, barred windows silhouetted against the harsh, yellow strip lighting inside. Barbed wire topped the main recreation area, separating the young inmates from the outside world.
Kirsten looped her arm through Seth's as Sandy stalked ahead to announce their arrival. She felt cold goose bumps marking a path up her spine as they entered the main reception area as she recalled her first visit only days before. Her mind was a tangle of thoughts going round and round - blaming herself for leaving Ryan in this lions' den, fear for what they might discover, anger that nobody had stepped in sooner. This place was full of teenagers who didn't know any better. The security should have been better; someone should have been looking out for the new arrivals. Yet, all the arguments led back to one truth - Kirsten had been the one person standing between Ryan's safety and his entrapment in the juvenile centre.
"I'm Sandy Cohen, Ryan Atwood's lawyer. I heard he'd been admitted to the hospital wing." Sandy had already adopted his best professional front and the security guard waved the small group through the first door, directing them down a long corridor.
Sounds could be heard echoing down the prison corridor as the three made their way hurriedly towards the hospital area. While the public area of the building resembled most community centres with a fairly new lick of white paint, the further they moved away from highly populated areas, the dingier and more unsanitary the corridors appeared. Cracks appeared down the walls, the floors were dirty and water stains gathered in the corners of the ceilings. Sandy could only hope that the hospital itself was better maintained.
He pushed open a pair of swing doors and marched purposefully towards the reception desk barring the way between the next set of locked mesh doors and the medical area itself. "We're here to see Ryan Atwood."
The young woman had clearly been warned of their imminent arrival and had a steely expression which did not inspire co-operation. "I'm sorry. Visiting hours are strictly limited to the hours of 2pm-5pm and this wing is reserved for authorised personnel only. I'm sorry."
Sandy smiled sweetly, betraying his intentions. "Well, I'm not just any visitor. I'm Ryan's lawyer and I'm already compiling a case against this facility for gross negligence so, if you want to keep your job, I suggest you let us through right now."
The woman's face dropped visibly and Seth couldn't help admiring the way his dad had managed to get her in line so quickly. He had rarely seen Sandy in action and the teenager felt momentary pride as the receptionist called through to the doctor and buzzed open the next set of doors.
The Cohens were met on the other side by a middle-aged doctor who looked like he belonged in a posh plastic surgeon's office rather than a state juvenile detention centre. He appeared tired but greeted Sandy and Kirsten cordially enough. "Mr and Mrs Cohen? Dr. Brown." He offered a hand which Sandy shook.
"How's Ryan?" Kirsten asked, fretfully, barely able to contain her worry.
Dr. Brown stood to the side and pointed in the direction of a small office off the corridor. "Come and sit down. We can discuss Ryan's condition."
Seth didn't like the sound of that. One couldn't tell from the doctor's tone what he was thinking or how bad the situation was. He remembered Ryan's face last time he had visited. Seth had not known the teenager long but he could vividly recall the look in Ryan's eyes, prepared for a fight, prepared to be abandoned. He had put up the defences to avoid getting hurt.
The three sat down on the chairs in the cramped office space. Bulging case files filled every shelf and made the walls close in around them. They waited patiently while Dr. Brown perused the thin manila folder in front of him. He took off his glasses and smiled up at the family, clearly trying to allay any fears. "Now then, Ryan. As you know he came into a little trouble with some of the inmates. He suffered quite a beating. Apart from the obvious contusions, he suffered a number of significant injuries."
Kirsten clasped one hand across her mouth, afraid of what was to come. She squeezed Seth's hand tightly with the other hand. Sandy asked, "What kind of injuries exactly?"
"Well, first there are a few breaks to his fingers, ribs and left arm. However, my prime concern is one ruptured kidney as a result of blows to his back which have also resulted in some bruising to the spine. Fortunately, primary X-rays don't reveal any fractures there which is a blessing. Ryan also suffered a fracture to his cheekbone."
"Oh my God," Kirsten breathed, slowly digesting the list of horrors. "Is he going to be okay?"
"It's too early to tell how quickly Ryan will recover but we have no reason to suspect complications."
"Can we see him?" Sandy asked, his voice rough with concern.
Dr. Brown surveyed the troubled faces before him. "He's unconscious at the moment and sedated but you may see him for a moment if you would like. I should warn you about what you will find. I don't think I need to tell you that victims of assault often display wounds which far surpass the true severity of their injuries." Sandy nodded and the doctor continued, "We have intubated him in order to regulate his breathing and there is a noticeable amount of swelling to the face and body."
"Is he in any pain?" Kirsten asked.
"Not while he is unconscious but, when Ryan wakes up, I will be better able to monitor the need for painkillers." The doctor smiled and stood up, leading the Cohens to a couple of private rooms away from the main hospital ward.
Sandy couldn't help noticing that, even though this part of the centre was more hygienic, it was hardly the kind of environment conducive to recovery. He made a mental note to organise Ryan's removal to a private facility as soon as possible.
He opened the door gently and moved towards the curtain surrounding one single bed against the adjacent wall. Ryan looked no more than twelve years old, suddenly diminished in his vulnerable state. The right side of his face was an ugly patchwork of blossoming bruises and the fractured cheekbone was swollen. His lip bore a slowly clotting cut as did the teenager's forehead although the latter was partially concealed by his dark blonde hair.
One arm sported a cast and was elevated away from the body by weights and pulleys to immobilise it. Sandy was grateful that he could see little more than the top part of Ryan's chest where purple marks plotted a path down beneath the neck of the hospital gown. The teenager's left hand had been partially bandaged and Sandy could see that two fingers were tightly splinted but, even after being cleaned up, crusted blood was clearly visible beneath his fingernails.
Monitors beeped incessantly, a constant reminder of the fragility of life. Ryan's heartbeat was fairly steady and strong but the tubes commanding his breathing only served to show how little control the boy had over something as simple as pushing oxygen into his own lungs. Kirsten moved up alongside her husband and clutched at his hand. "My God, Ryan."
Sandy kissed the top of her head lightly. "He'll be okay, sweetheart. He's as tough as nails."
"But it's my fault that he's lying here. If I hadn't kicked up such a fuss about him living with us in the first place, Ryan would be at home with us right now, not fighting for his life in a hospital bed."
Sandy looked at her, wide-eyed. "Honey, you can't blame yourself. None of us could have anticipated this. Besides, you had every right to be hesitant about taking a stranger into our home, our family."
"Both you and Seth wanted Ryan to stay. It was only me and my stubbornness that has left him in this mess." Sandy moved to comfort his wife but she pulled away. "I'm not looking for sympathy, Sandy. I know what I did. I just hope Ryan can forgive me."
Seth remained silent throughout, simply staring at the shell of his friend against the stark white sheets of the bed. It was hard to imagine that this was the same person he had spent so much time with, swum in the pool with and played Playstation with.
Dr. Brown came up beside Sandy and quietly said, "I believe you were called soon after the incident so we've only had time to patch up Ryan's injuries. Now that he is stabilising, we will have to move him to a hospital where surgery can be performed on his kidneys. We've drained some of the blood from his body cavities and put him on dialysis, but Ryan needs surgery soon."
Sandy nodded. "We're taking Ryan into our care so I'd like him to have the best medical attention possible. Private health care."
Brown raised his eyebrows in surprise. "He must be a special kid to deserve such treatment. I suggest you get onto that as soon as possible. Ryan will need surgery within the next twelve hours."
"We should go and do that then," Sandy said to Kirsten.
She shook her head, "No, you two go. I want to stay here...with Ryan." Sandy nodded and beckoned to Seth, leaving Kirsten to watch over the battered boy they had come to care so much about.
**********
END OF PART 2
By Allegra
(See Part One for disclaimers etc.)
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this so far. I appreciate all your encouragement. After the violence of the last part, I hope this goes some way to open up the comfort part of the fic. Please, please review!
To the person who hated it, I would suggest that you don't read R rated stories under the Angst/Drama section about people left in prison in future (just a thought). However, I'm sorry if you were offended by the content. You can sort the stories by rating in future and avoid any R rated fiction if you choose.
PART TWO : BROKEN
Seth Cohen put away his binoculars hurriedly when he heard his father approaching. Spying on the neighbours was morally wrong anyway but when those neighbours happened to currently include Summer Roberts and Marissa Cooper having a pool party, Seth knew he must be going to Hell.
"Hey, Dad. What's going down?"
Sandy eyed his son, suspiciously. He had learned long ago how to interpret Seth's strange behaviour. The boy gesticulated like he was learning a new kind of semaphore and always spoke to his father like he was one of the gang. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing, what...why would you ask that? I'm just...taking in this cool, balmy night," Seth struggled to convince himself as well as his father. To his horror, Sandy moved to where Seth had been standing and peered over the edge of the balcony, craning his neck in the direction of the joyful voices in the Coopers' backyard. He leaned round to see what his son was shielding rather unskilfully behind his back. It didn't a lawyer's brain to put two and two together. "Aah. You know, this view is just as good, and more legal, done on the beach."
Seth pulled a shameful face. "Yeah."
Sandy held his hand out to receive the offending binoculars. "How are things between you and this April girl?"
"Her name's Summer and I think even mentioning our names in the same sentence is more of a relationship than we've got right now." He sighed and leaned his back heavily against the rail. "I figured I'd go and see Marissa again, try and get her to come and visit Ryan with me."
Sandy nodded, appreciatively. He knew how hard Seth found it to understand why the Cohens couldn't just take the troubled teenager into their own house. It made him feel guilty just thinking about the nights Ryan had already spent in the Orange County juvenile detention centre so far. He tried to put the incident with Kirsten and Seth out of his mind. He didn't like to dwell too long on how hard Ryan must need to defend himself in there. "Yeah, I bet he'd like that."
"Did you see him today?" Seth asked, casually.
"No. I've been trying to track his mother down but...well, she clearly doesn't want to be found."
"But you can't just leave him in there, Dad! I mean, you heard what happened the other day. It's only a matter of time before things start getting ugly. There are only three ways this could turn out - Ryan kills someone, gets killed or learns some real bad habits. He needs rescuing and I can't see one good reason why we can't do it!" Seth felt the hysteria rising in his voice. He knew his parents felt guilty about leaving Ryan, but that was just the reason he kept bugging them. They would come around eventually.
"Seth," Sandy warned, "We've discussed this. It's time you just accepted the decision your mother and I have made. We'll do everything we can to help Ryan."
Seth exhaled sharply, "Yeah, everything except what he really needs."
"Seth..." Sandy began, ready for another onslaught, and reached out a hand for his son's shoulder but Seth shrugged him off, hands raised in surrender.
He backed away from the balcony rail. "Just forget it, okay. I just don't know how you and Mom can sleep at night." He didn't wait for his father's reply and darted back into the house.
Sandy sighed, wearily. Part of him knew Seth was right and wanted to bring Ryan home. On the other hand, he had to respect his wife's wishes. If Kirsten didn't want a relatively unknown teenager in her house for the next few years, Sandy knew he had to go along with it. It was hard enough raising just one son but bringing in a stray from the wrong side of the tracks was too much to handle.
Lost in his reverie, Sandy didn't notice his wife creeping up on him and jumped when her slender, tanned arms reached down around his neck. "Hey, baby. You okay?"
Sandy smiled and ran his hands over her smooth skin. "Yeah."
"Do you think Seth's right?" Kirsten asked, taking her husband by surprise. He hadn't realised she was listening.
Sandy shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "I don't know, I know it's a big deal, bringing up a kid who isn't your own..."
"But?"
"But I can't help but worry about him. I mean, Ryan's tough, but he's still just a kid."
Kirsten nodded, mutely, and thought for a moment. "I've been thinking the same thing."
"You have?" Sandy enquired, perking up.
"I just can't get our visit out of my mind. The way he fought against that other guy. He was holding his own but by the time the guards got on the scene, Ryan was pinned to the floor. I keep worrying about him. Maybe we should get him out." Kirsten's blue eyes surveyed Sandy's, looking for some kind of opinion or affirmation that she had made the right decision.
He turned to her, moving his arms around her waist. "Are you sure? Because we can't keep jerking this kid around."
"I know, I know. That's why I really want to know what you think."
Sandy smiled, "I think we should go get Ryan." He hugged Kirsten close and rested his head lightly on hers, inhaling the lingering scent of coconut shampoo and the salt air. "We'll go first thing in the morning."
"Should we discuss it with Seth first?" Kirsten mused.
"Oh, I think we already know what he thinks. He's going to be thrilled."
"Do you want to break the good news or shall I?" she asked.
Before Sandy had a chance to answer, Seth came bowling out of the patio doors, the phone clutched in his hand. "Mom, Dad! We got to get over to the centre! It's Ryan."
**********
Orange County Juvenile Detention Centre was nestled near a cliff edge where the sea breeze could alternate rudely between respite from the sun and sharp winds which whistled briskly through the prison courtyard and grated windows. Tonight, the wind was bitter and tossed the palm leaves violently against the dark sky.
The Cohens' drive to the facility had been made in anxious silence, unsure of what they would find upon arrival. Sandy's black cruiser pulled up by the car park gates and was waved through by a rotund security guard. The edifice looked grim and forbidding in the darkness - small, barred windows silhouetted against the harsh, yellow strip lighting inside. Barbed wire topped the main recreation area, separating the young inmates from the outside world.
Kirsten looped her arm through Seth's as Sandy stalked ahead to announce their arrival. She felt cold goose bumps marking a path up her spine as they entered the main reception area as she recalled her first visit only days before. Her mind was a tangle of thoughts going round and round - blaming herself for leaving Ryan in this lions' den, fear for what they might discover, anger that nobody had stepped in sooner. This place was full of teenagers who didn't know any better. The security should have been better; someone should have been looking out for the new arrivals. Yet, all the arguments led back to one truth - Kirsten had been the one person standing between Ryan's safety and his entrapment in the juvenile centre.
"I'm Sandy Cohen, Ryan Atwood's lawyer. I heard he'd been admitted to the hospital wing." Sandy had already adopted his best professional front and the security guard waved the small group through the first door, directing them down a long corridor.
Sounds could be heard echoing down the prison corridor as the three made their way hurriedly towards the hospital area. While the public area of the building resembled most community centres with a fairly new lick of white paint, the further they moved away from highly populated areas, the dingier and more unsanitary the corridors appeared. Cracks appeared down the walls, the floors were dirty and water stains gathered in the corners of the ceilings. Sandy could only hope that the hospital itself was better maintained.
He pushed open a pair of swing doors and marched purposefully towards the reception desk barring the way between the next set of locked mesh doors and the medical area itself. "We're here to see Ryan Atwood."
The young woman had clearly been warned of their imminent arrival and had a steely expression which did not inspire co-operation. "I'm sorry. Visiting hours are strictly limited to the hours of 2pm-5pm and this wing is reserved for authorised personnel only. I'm sorry."
Sandy smiled sweetly, betraying his intentions. "Well, I'm not just any visitor. I'm Ryan's lawyer and I'm already compiling a case against this facility for gross negligence so, if you want to keep your job, I suggest you let us through right now."
The woman's face dropped visibly and Seth couldn't help admiring the way his dad had managed to get her in line so quickly. He had rarely seen Sandy in action and the teenager felt momentary pride as the receptionist called through to the doctor and buzzed open the next set of doors.
The Cohens were met on the other side by a middle-aged doctor who looked like he belonged in a posh plastic surgeon's office rather than a state juvenile detention centre. He appeared tired but greeted Sandy and Kirsten cordially enough. "Mr and Mrs Cohen? Dr. Brown." He offered a hand which Sandy shook.
"How's Ryan?" Kirsten asked, fretfully, barely able to contain her worry.
Dr. Brown stood to the side and pointed in the direction of a small office off the corridor. "Come and sit down. We can discuss Ryan's condition."
Seth didn't like the sound of that. One couldn't tell from the doctor's tone what he was thinking or how bad the situation was. He remembered Ryan's face last time he had visited. Seth had not known the teenager long but he could vividly recall the look in Ryan's eyes, prepared for a fight, prepared to be abandoned. He had put up the defences to avoid getting hurt.
The three sat down on the chairs in the cramped office space. Bulging case files filled every shelf and made the walls close in around them. They waited patiently while Dr. Brown perused the thin manila folder in front of him. He took off his glasses and smiled up at the family, clearly trying to allay any fears. "Now then, Ryan. As you know he came into a little trouble with some of the inmates. He suffered quite a beating. Apart from the obvious contusions, he suffered a number of significant injuries."
Kirsten clasped one hand across her mouth, afraid of what was to come. She squeezed Seth's hand tightly with the other hand. Sandy asked, "What kind of injuries exactly?"
"Well, first there are a few breaks to his fingers, ribs and left arm. However, my prime concern is one ruptured kidney as a result of blows to his back which have also resulted in some bruising to the spine. Fortunately, primary X-rays don't reveal any fractures there which is a blessing. Ryan also suffered a fracture to his cheekbone."
"Oh my God," Kirsten breathed, slowly digesting the list of horrors. "Is he going to be okay?"
"It's too early to tell how quickly Ryan will recover but we have no reason to suspect complications."
"Can we see him?" Sandy asked, his voice rough with concern.
Dr. Brown surveyed the troubled faces before him. "He's unconscious at the moment and sedated but you may see him for a moment if you would like. I should warn you about what you will find. I don't think I need to tell you that victims of assault often display wounds which far surpass the true severity of their injuries." Sandy nodded and the doctor continued, "We have intubated him in order to regulate his breathing and there is a noticeable amount of swelling to the face and body."
"Is he in any pain?" Kirsten asked.
"Not while he is unconscious but, when Ryan wakes up, I will be better able to monitor the need for painkillers." The doctor smiled and stood up, leading the Cohens to a couple of private rooms away from the main hospital ward.
Sandy couldn't help noticing that, even though this part of the centre was more hygienic, it was hardly the kind of environment conducive to recovery. He made a mental note to organise Ryan's removal to a private facility as soon as possible.
He opened the door gently and moved towards the curtain surrounding one single bed against the adjacent wall. Ryan looked no more than twelve years old, suddenly diminished in his vulnerable state. The right side of his face was an ugly patchwork of blossoming bruises and the fractured cheekbone was swollen. His lip bore a slowly clotting cut as did the teenager's forehead although the latter was partially concealed by his dark blonde hair.
One arm sported a cast and was elevated away from the body by weights and pulleys to immobilise it. Sandy was grateful that he could see little more than the top part of Ryan's chest where purple marks plotted a path down beneath the neck of the hospital gown. The teenager's left hand had been partially bandaged and Sandy could see that two fingers were tightly splinted but, even after being cleaned up, crusted blood was clearly visible beneath his fingernails.
Monitors beeped incessantly, a constant reminder of the fragility of life. Ryan's heartbeat was fairly steady and strong but the tubes commanding his breathing only served to show how little control the boy had over something as simple as pushing oxygen into his own lungs. Kirsten moved up alongside her husband and clutched at his hand. "My God, Ryan."
Sandy kissed the top of her head lightly. "He'll be okay, sweetheart. He's as tough as nails."
"But it's my fault that he's lying here. If I hadn't kicked up such a fuss about him living with us in the first place, Ryan would be at home with us right now, not fighting for his life in a hospital bed."
Sandy looked at her, wide-eyed. "Honey, you can't blame yourself. None of us could have anticipated this. Besides, you had every right to be hesitant about taking a stranger into our home, our family."
"Both you and Seth wanted Ryan to stay. It was only me and my stubbornness that has left him in this mess." Sandy moved to comfort his wife but she pulled away. "I'm not looking for sympathy, Sandy. I know what I did. I just hope Ryan can forgive me."
Seth remained silent throughout, simply staring at the shell of his friend against the stark white sheets of the bed. It was hard to imagine that this was the same person he had spent so much time with, swum in the pool with and played Playstation with.
Dr. Brown came up beside Sandy and quietly said, "I believe you were called soon after the incident so we've only had time to patch up Ryan's injuries. Now that he is stabilising, we will have to move him to a hospital where surgery can be performed on his kidneys. We've drained some of the blood from his body cavities and put him on dialysis, but Ryan needs surgery soon."
Sandy nodded. "We're taking Ryan into our care so I'd like him to have the best medical attention possible. Private health care."
Brown raised his eyebrows in surprise. "He must be a special kid to deserve such treatment. I suggest you get onto that as soon as possible. Ryan will need surgery within the next twelve hours."
"We should go and do that then," Sandy said to Kirsten.
She shook her head, "No, you two go. I want to stay here...with Ryan." Sandy nodded and beckoned to Seth, leaving Kirsten to watch over the battered boy they had come to care so much about.
**********
END OF PART 2