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.

"This ain't over, no not here, not while I still need you around."- Matchbox Twenty

Kirsten had a bad feeling when she picked up her cell phone at 11: 17 that night. She hadn't received a call past nine since they had retrieved Summer, and her stomach twisted when she recognized Ryan's number on the screen.

"Hello?"

"Kirsten?" She gripped the phone. She could tell by Ryan's voice that something was wrong.

"I'm sitting down. Tell me everything right now."

Ryan took a deep breath. "Seth and Summer were at the house. Oliver came in, and threatened to shoot Summer."

Kirsten knew without further explanation that Oliver had hit Seth instead. "Oh God. How bad is it?"

"Pretty bad." Ryan said.

"Ryan." Kirsten said in a commanding voice. "Tell me exactly what you know."

Ryan hesitated, not wanting to say anything, but he had spent enough with the Cohens to know you don't ignore Kirsten when she uses that voice.

"They can only do emergency surgery right now. The rest of the necessary operations can't be done until he's stable." Ryan hesitated, but decided to tell her. "And the doctor told Summer there is a chance he may not make it through tonight."

Kirsten took in this information, struck with shock and almost paralyzing fear. But as she digested the last piece of information, she felt rage and surprisingly, strength.

"They told Summer that?"

"Yea. She's hysterical. Can't stop sobbing, or even really move."

Kristen had heard enough. As much pain as she was in, thinking of her son struggling for life, her heart went out to Summer. She needed Seth, maybe more the Kirsten herself did. "We're on our way Ryan."

Marissa was seriously worried. She had her arms tightly around Summer, who hadn't stopped crying for the last hour.

Marissa knew all the emotions that Summer was feeling. Pain. Guilt. Fear. She squeezed Summer's hand and whispered. "I'm sorry."

Summer looked up at her. "It's not your fault, Coop." She said through her tears. Marissa forced a smile.

"I'm still so sorry."

Summer sat up. They weren't even in chairs anymore. Just sprawled on the hospital floor. She pulled her knees to her chest. "I can't lose him Coop." She said. "I just can't."

Ryan appeared in front of them. He looked back and forth between the girls and then shrugged, and plopped himself down on the floor.

"They brought Oliver in." Ryan stated. He looked at Summer. "He survived."

"Damn." She said softly in venomous voice Marissa had never heard her use before.

"He stopped taking his meds." Ryan continued. "Somehow, he stopped taking them and they made him crazy."

Summer stood up. "I don't want to know." She said, walking away.

Kirsten wasn't sure what to expect when they reached the Newport hospital. She didn't even know where to find Seth. Sandy directed her to the trauma center, and they found, not a doctor, but Ryan and Marissa standing outside of a door.

Sandy and Kirsten made their way behind them to observe the scene in side. On the other side of the partially transparent curtain, was Summer. She was sitting at the side of Seth's bed, clutching his hand.

Kirsten's eyes welled with tears, more at the sight of this lost little girl than anything else.

"Cohen." Summer said, soft enough that they had to strain to hear. "It's me. I know how hard this is, but you have to hang on. You gotta pull through for me, ok baby? I need you."

She stopped and used her other hand to wipe her eyes. "This can't be over Cohen. We've got big plans, and I can't do any of it without you, and I really need you with me. I love you, ok?" Her voice broke off, and left Sandy, Kirsten, Marissa and Ryan with only the sound of her crying.

Kirsten turned on her heel and left the room, wiping her own eyes. Sandy followed her. Marissa just stood there struck by what she had just witnessed. This was a girl, who a little over a year ago didn't care about anything.

Now she was feeling, loving, hurting. Marissa stared through the curtain, finally feeling like she had it all figured out. Wordlessly, she slipped her hand through Ryan's.

Ryan squeezed Marissa's hand, without looking at her. He sighed deeply. This is what he wanted, and thank God he had her, but it killed him. It was always the beginning. Or the beginning of an end.

Kirsten stood in a deserted hallway in the hospital, facing Sandy and wiping her eyes.

"You can cry." Sandy told her gently.

"No, I can't." Kirsten responded strongly. "Sandy, if the worst should happen. I have you. And Jimmy, and Hailey and Dad, and Ryan, and Julie. But in that room is a girl who is watching her heart fade away." She took a breath. "It took me awhile to get used to Summer, but like it or not, our son may be the only thing she really loves in this world. So we need to put on strong faces."

Sandy looked at his wife, shocked by her strength. She smiled grimly. "Because he's not going to make it without her."