Title: Home

Author(s): Sara and Lizzie

Rating: R

Disclaimer: The only thing we own is the psychotic plot that came from reading way to many Mary Higgins Clark books.

"Now only the good die young, and it stops me in my tracks." –Kenny Chesney

She felt nothing. The last few hours seemed so unreal. She just wanted to go home, but she didn't even know where home was right now. Sandy and Kirsten's house wasn't home if Seth wasn't there.

Summer realized her hands were shaking, but she didn't bother trying to stop them. She was completely numb. She felt no sadness, no anger, and no fear. It was almost as if she were the one dying.

Vaguely, as if from a distance, she heard her name being called. "Summer!" Marissa and Ryan appeared before her. "What happened?" Marissa asked breathlessly.

"Oliver." Summer said, as it that explained it all.

Ryan knelt down so he was eye level with Summer. He winced at the dazed, hazy look in her eyes. "Summer. What happened? Exactly what happened?"

"Um, Oliver came, and he wanted Coop. But she wasn't there so he said, he'd just take me, and he had a gun, and it was pointed at me, but then Seth, he shot Seth. And then he hit him. A lot. With the gun, and....." Summer took a breath. "And the doctors say it's life threatening, but he's currently stable."

Ryan let out the breath he'd been holding. "How'd you get him here? Away from Oliver?"

The far off look in Summer's eye deepened. "The gun was on the floor." Was all she said.

Marissa's hand flew to her mouth as she gasped. "Oh God, Summer."

Summer shook her head. "Someone should call Sandy and Kirsten in L.A. They're gonna want to come home. He's going into surgery as soon as he's stable enough."

"Summer.." Marissa started.

But Summer got up abruptly. "I don't want to hear it Coop. Condolences, apologies, I don't want to hear it." She walked away.

Marissa's eyes got big as she watched her go. "I don't know who she is right noe Ryan."

"I'll go talk to her." He said, running after Summer, leaving Marissa undeniably alone.

Summer had walked outside. She was sitting on a bench staring at the sky, looking completely detached and almost lifeless.

Ryan had seen this before. Gun shots, hospitals, it took him back to Chino. Usually when you loved someone as much as Summer loved Seth you couldn't function after something like this.

She was upset; she just didn't know how to deal with it, so she chose not to. Ryan was sure of it.

Ryan sat down on the bench next to her and turned her body to face him. "Summer listen to me." He said firmly. "Listen. You need to snap out of it. Seth needs you, ok? So let's get in there and talk to the doctor."

"I can't do this Ryan. This is all my fault."

"It is not your fault. Summer, everything is going to be fine. I promise you."

"You don't know that."

Ryan put his arm around her shoulders. "I know that only the good die young. And I know you and Seth used Sandy's credit card to stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel last month, and I know exactly why, so he should be pretty safe, right?"

Summer smiled weakly and got up. Together, they walked back up to the ER. Marissa watched them come. Ryan kept glancing over at Summer, who was still going through the motions in a semi-comatose state.

A doctor whisked out of a door and stopped in front of them. "Miss Roberts?"

"That's me." Summer whispered.

"We can't operate just yet. I'm afraid Seth's condition has gotten worse. We're sending him in for emergency operation to repair the immediate damage."

"How much worse?" Summer asked, her voice rising.

The doctor looked down, obviously uncomfortable.

"How much worse?" Summer repeated in an even louder tone.

The doctor hesitated, but finally spoke. "He may not make it through the night."

Those words broke through Summer's shock and anger. And Ryan just got his arms around her before she collapsed, sobbing.