Anna left after Ryan finally fell asleep. Gaby cradled him across her lap on the bed. He hadn't said much since hanging up with Sandy but Gaby had been grateful for his lucidity before he had fallen asleep.
She woke up to the sound of his voice crying out. "Stop…I'm sorry…please…" Ryan said, desperate in his sleep.
"Wake up, Ryan…Ryan?"
He woke up breathless and Gaby pulled him into a hug.
"You okay?"
"Thanks…"He got up abruptly and went into the bathroom. She went into the main room once the shower came on and ordered breakfast.
"Can you prepare me, Gaby? For what's going on?" Ryan asked, walking in with wet hair.
"Ryan…"
"Just tell me. I mean, I can call home but I'd rather not…"
"Sit down."
"I'm okay now. Tell me. Before I'm out of my head again."
"I don't want to upset you. Not when you're calm…"
"I'm upset regardless," He said quietly. "But the whole reason I'm here is so I can learn how to handle life…and all the shit that comes with it…please, Gaby…"
"Are you hungry?" Gaby changed the subject.
"No." He sat down and lit a cigarette.
"Coffee?"
"No."
"Marissa's dead."
Ryan sighed heavily.
"I'm sorry," She sat down beside him on the couch. "Say something."
"What happened?"
"It was fast…she didn't suffer…an aneurysm."
"Damn."
Gaby was watching him worriedly.
"You know…she's been through so much…just to be able to talk, to be okay and…she just died. Like, what was the past year for? All that pain and suffering…" He muttered.
"Ryan."
"I'm okay, Gaby. It just really sucks."
She was watching him.
"I'm okay. Thanks for telling me."
"Please don't freak out."
He smiled sadly at her. "I swear, I'm okay. I think last night…was just a little too many people and…after talking to Sandy, I felt really guilty for walking away from them. I think I made them worry more."
"Oh, Ryan, they understand…"
"I know…you know that Caleb's coming, right?"
Gaby grinned. "Yeah. Time to face the music."
"It'll be okay, I think. Maybe," Ryan smiled.
"Well, he's coming all this way to get you…maybe he's soft now."
"Bad image."
"Sorry," She laughed.
"Besides, didn't you just walk out on him?" Ryan asked.
"I left a note."
"And what did it say, Gaby?"
"Peace, I'm out…" She whispered. "I just had to go…"
"I know, I'm teasing."
"Ryan…are you sure you're ready to go home?"
"Yes."
"I want to come with you."
"You have a job, Gaby. You have responsibilities," He said, surprised.
"But you…you're the only family I have, kid, and if you need me…"
"I won't let you postpone your life for me, Gaby," He said slowly. "I'm okay. Thanks to you, and all this, I'm okay. I'll be around people that care about me. You know…you've done so much for me these last few days…"
"You'd do the same for me…" She murmured.
"I have something to show you, Gaby." He disappeared for a moment. He returned with his laptop.
"What's this?"
"I wanted to wait, but since I'm leaving soon, I wanted to show you the plans we discussed for your house."
"Wow…it's beautiful…I mean, for a set of plans on a screen…it's actually doable?" Gaby asked, looking at the screen in awe.
"There's a few kinks. Like where you're going to build it."
"I figure if I give you a couple more years, you'll be running the Newport Group and you can give me some beachfront…" She smiled. "It's awesome, Ryan."
"I'm glad I could do something for you."
She embraced him and kissed his forehead. "I should've grabbed you when I had the chance…you're a prince among men…"
"Now who's going soft?" Ryan teased.
"Breakfast," Gaby said as there was a knock on the door.
"Ugh."
"If I have to eat, so do you."
"I'm going to call home a second…"
"Okay. I'll give you a few minutes."
Ryan flipped out his phone and dialed.
"Hello?" Summer answered.
"Hey."
"Ryan."
"You okay?"
"Are you?"
"Yeah."
"Who told you?"
"Gaby."
"Do you know why I haven't gone to see her since I've been back?"
"No, Summer. I mean, I remember Marissa saying some totally mean things about you before the accident, but she said awful things about everyone…."
"I was her best friend for over 10 years, we met in first grade...and the things she said to me after Seth broke up with me…they were too awful for me to forgive. I didn't leave Newport because of Seth. I left because of her."
"Oh, Summer…I'm so sorry…"
"No, don't be. I talked to Jimmy about it last night…it's so awful for him…you and I, we knew how she was, what kind of person she was but he just found out. I mean, he loved her and suddenly he got hit with this realization that makes him question everything and before he comes to terms with it she dies…"
"It sucks, Summer…"
"Yeah."
There's a short pause.
"I'm sorry I didn't call. I upset you and I was being so stupid…we are friends and we will always be friends first…"
"Really?"
"Yeah. You needed me and I wasn't there. I'm sorry. I had a lust blackout…"
"What?" He laughed.
"Yeah, they're akin to rage blackouts. But I'm better now."
"I'm glad."
"Caleb and Luke should be there soon."
"Really? I better go pack."
"You okay?"
"Yeah. I think so. I'm taking it, like, an hour at a time."
"Ryan? Lenora's here. She wants to talk to you before you go," Gaby said quietly.
"I'll see you when you get in," Summer says.
"Bye."
----
Ryan set his bags by the door. Gaby was smoking a cigarette on the couch.
Ryan sat down beside her and she relaxed against him.
"Kirsten called me."
"Really?" He asked.
"She invited me to Newport. Said it might be good if I came back with you."
"I can't ask you to do that, I'm fine. Didn't we talk about this."
"I know, and you didn't ask. I want to come. I've already called my manager. Family emergency."
"You're going to ride on a plane with Caleb across the country?" Ryan raised an eyebrow.
"Ooh. True."
Ryan's phone buzzed. He opened it. "Hello?"
"Hey, man. We're here," Luke said.
"Yeah? I'm ready, we'll leave right now."
"Good. Caleb sucks at playstation."
Ryan laughed.
"You're bringing Gaby, right?"
"Yeah. What's the outlook?"
"Caleb's not mad. He was surprised, but I think…I think he's impressed, man, it's weird."
"So, it's safe?"
"I'm not saying that," Luke laughed. "Just come on, it'll be fine."
"On the way." Ryan closed the phone. "Luke says it's cool. They're expecting you."
"Hmm. Well, it should be interesting at least."
"Are you packed?"
"Always."
"Let's go."
----
Ryan was lost at the airport. Gaby seemed to be in control but now they were outside and he didn't see a plane anywhere.
"Dude! Over here!" Luke called.
Ryan turned and recognized Luke standing beside a small plane.
"There it is. You've never been on a private jet?" Gaby asked him.
"God, no. I can barely get on a plane at all. He's going to have to close all those windows."
"Come on, wait 'til you see the inside," Gaby grinned.
Luke gave him a friendly hug when Ryan made it to the jet.
"Luke, this is Gaby…"
Luke nodded to her. "Nice to meet you."
"Same," Gaby smiled.
Luke stepped aside so Gaby could go first onto the plane.
"She's so fucking hot…" Luke whispered, stopping Ryan.
"Don't even think about it," Ryan smiled.
"Come on, she's not yours, right?"
"No, but she's…it'd just be weird…"
"Like you and Summer?"
"Hey, I have no control over you or her. Do your best, dude, but if you hurt her…I'll kick your ass…"
"From the looks of her, I'm the one going to get hurt," Luke smiled.
"True," Ryan nodded. He walked up the stairs onto the plane.
"There he is. How are you, Ryan?" Caleb gave him a fatherly hug.
"Hey, Caleb," Ryan said.
"Gabrielle seems to have taken good care of you," He added.
"She's a good friend."
"Glad to hear it," Caleb replied. Gaby was already seated on one of the plush couches.
"Thanks for coming, Caleb…"
"I just want to take you home. Where you belong. Sit down and relax. We've got a long ride ahead."
"How are you with flying now, man?" Luke questioned.
Ryan pulled out a prescription bottle. "My shrink gave me some valium." He passed the bottle to Gaby. "She's my dealer." She immediately shook out two and gave them to him.
"I'll let the pilot know we're ready," Caleb announced.
"How's the ride on this thing?" Ryan asked.
"It's a little bumpy but it's cool," Luke answered.
"You freak out on planes? And you flew all this way by yourself?" Gaby asked.
"I just have to stay distracted," Ryan replied. "Playstation?"
"Sure," Luke grinned. "Nice to have you back, man."
"You probably won't think so after we're on this plane a while."
"If you get out of hand, I'll just punch you," Luke smiled.
Ryan grinned at Gaby. "He's not joking."
"Whatever works," She laughed.
"Okay, we're ready. Everyone okay?" Caleb asked, returning.
"So far so good," Gaby answered.
----
Several hours later, Ryan is asleep across Gaby's lap while she sat up discussing the plans for her house with Caleb. Luke was asleep in the back.
"He's very talented," Gaby said quietly.
"I agree. I'll be very upset if you treat him the same way you treated me," Caleb said.
"Me, too. You weren't exactly boyfriend of the year," Gaby sighed. "I had a lot of personal issues back then, Cal."
"We were only for show, Gaby. I needed a decoration on my arm and you needed a bankroll. But I'd like to think I've changed. I put my family first now. And as difficult as it may be to believe, Ryan's a part of that family," Caleb said.
Gaby stroked Ryan's hair tenderly. "He's my family, too."
"He's got a girl in Newport that loves him."
"He loves her, too. We're not together like that," She replied. "I want him to be happy, Caleb, I've never seen him happy."
The plane started to shake and Ryan murmured in his sleep.
"I'm going to check in with the pilot," Caleb said, getting up.
"Its okay, Ryan…" Gaby whispered as Ryan mumbled again.
Caleb returned. "We're coming up on some turbulence. Should we wake the boy?"
"You always call him that?" Gaby smiled.
"Yeah, he always calls me that," Ryan muttered, sitting up.
"It's going to be a little rough," Gaby said.
"Everything's okay, though, right? Like we don't need parachutes or anything?" He joked nervously.
"Nothing to worry about. We just need to put on our seatbelts," Caleb replied.
"I'll go tell Luke, so he doesn't fall out of bed," Ryan said. He went into the back.
"So, what's Luke's story?" Gaby asked.
"He's close with the boy. They apparently were rivals when Ryan first moved to Newport but they became friends. He's very intelligent, despite his appearance."
The plane jerked slightly.
"Damn, man, I was having such a nice dream," Luke's voice started from the back.
"Is that why you tried to punch me?" Ryan asked as they reentered. Ryan sat down beside Gaby.
"Habit, I guess," Luke shrugged. Everyone fastened their seat belts.
"The pilot said we should be through it in about ten minutes," Caleb said.
"Stupid turbulence," Luke muttered.
Caleb laughed.
"Somebody's grumpy," Gaby teased.
"Luke's always grumpy…" Ryan added.
"Fuck you," Luke yawned.
---
"Hey, man. We're home." Luke shook Ryan awake.
Ryan sat up. Gaby was asleep, leaning against his shoulder. He gently shook her.
"God, I'm tired," She yawned.
"Yeah. What's the plan?"
"I have no idea. I just spent about 24 hours on a plane so I'm planning on kissing the ground and finding a bed," Luke replied.
"Sounds like a plan. You been staying at my place?"
"Yeah. My mom's been insisting that she pay the Cohen's rent since I'm basically living there now. I moved a bed in," Luke replied.
"Good, dude. My breakdown at least got you out of your mom's house, right?" Ryan smiled. Luke seemed relieved that Ryan wasn't angry.
"Let's go, kids. Kiki and Sandy are waiting on the street," Caleb said, sticking his head through the opened door.
"Back to reality," Ryan muttered.
"You okay?" Gaby asked.
"Yeah. It should be good to be home. I didn't expect these circumstances but…I'm cool. Let's get out of this flying coffin, okay?" Ryan followed Luke onto the airstrip.
Kirsten embraced Ryan when he appeared on the street.
"It's so good to see you…"
"I missed you guys," He replied honestly.
"And you're okay?"
"I'm okay," Ryan said. He gave Sandy a reserved hug. "You guys remember Gaby."
"Nice to see you again," Sandy greeted her.
"You all must be exhausted," Kirsten began.
"Yeah. Where's Seth?"
"Seth and Summer are helping Jimmy…"
"I should get over there," Ryan said immediately.
"No. Jimmy already said that he wants you to rest first. We figured that your apartment is closer so we'd drop you guys there for tonight and we'll see you first thing," Sandy said.
Ryan was surprised that they trusted him to stay at his apartment.
"What did your doctor say?" Kirsten asked him.
"That I'd be fine as long as I take one thing at a time," Ryan replied. "She's going to make some calls and get me a doctor out here. I gave her that list of docs you sent me."
Kirsten smiled. She took his face in her hands. "You do look better. 100 percent better, kid."
Ryan pulled her aside after a beat. "What happened?"
"She had…"
"Was she awake? Was Jimmy with her?" Ryan asked.
"She was asleep. A nurse found her. She went quietly, Ryan. There was no way they could have predicted it or prevented it. It was just her time to go," Kirsten said.
"I need to see Jimmy…"
"No. You need to rest. He's fine. If I let you go over there, you're both going to get upset and it won't help anyone. We'll take you home and I'll let him know that you're here for him. If he needs you or has a desperate urge to see you, he'll call, okay?"
Ryan was hesitant.
"Ryan. Come on, kid. You need to get some sleep before you face him," Sandy said quietly, approaching.
"Okay. Sleep. But you'll tell him that I'm back, right?"
"Of course, honey. Let's go."
-----