"Ryan?" Seth had heard Ryan, his voice was puny, groggy, un-Seth-like.

"Yeah, Seth, it's me, Ryan." Ryan was practically shaking, he was so overjoyed.

"Where am I?" It was hard for Seth to form words, he hadn't used his mouth in so long. He hadn't seen the world in a month and a half.

"The hospital, Seth." Ryan kept saying Seth's name, he couldn't help it. He was talking to Seth, actually talking to him.

"Where's.....Mom and....Dad?" Seth was so confused, his mind was going a mile a minute. What had happened? Why was he in the hospital? He didn't remember much, everything was blurry. But he did remember the school...

"They're outside. I'll go get them." Ryan ran to the door and peered his head out. "Kirsten! Sandy! It's Seth..." The two looked up, and feared the worst. "He's awake." For a moment, Kirsten thought she was dreaming. These words she had prayed for, not, they were just told to her. She pinched herself, and it hurt. Then she ran.

Her son, eyes open, lie there, looking utterly confused. She screamed his name, and hugged him, so did Sandy. Ryan stood in the background, smiling broadly at his brother. He hadn't smiled this much in so long, it was a good feeling. His brother was alive, fully alive. He was awake, after maybe the worst month and a half of Ryan's life. And he had some crappy months. Too many to think about now.

Seth smiled, he knew he had been sleeping for a while, he didn't know how long. At most a week, tops. Right? His parents and Ryan were acting as though he had been dead. He hadn't died , had he? Oh God, he hoped he hadn't.

"Seth, oh my God, Seth! I can't believe it. You're awake, you're actually awake." Kirsten cried, they didn't want to let go of Seth. They never wanted to, they had almost lost him. But he was alive, awake. He was out.

"Mom, Mom. I can't breathe. " Seth couldn't deal with the immediate hugging.

"I'm sorry. I just can't believe it. You're actually awake. I never thought this day would come. It's just so amazing." Kirsten's dream had come true, everyone's dream had come true. Seth was okay.

"How long have I been out?" Seth asked, but then a doctor came in, halting an answer.

"Welcome back Seth. It's good to see you awake. No, I know this is a happy reunion, but I must ask you all to leave. I need to ask Seth some questions and run some tests on him." The doctor informed them.

"Can we at least stay for the questioning?" Kirsten asked, Sandy hadn't spoken yet. He was too overcome.

"Of course. Now Seth, how old are you?" The doctor asked. What kind of question was that? How old was he? Seth was seventeen, right? Oh shit, had years gone by? Everyone looked the same....

"Seventeen...." Seth answered, skeptical.

"Good." Seth was relieved, he had passed the test. "Now, what is the last thing you can remember?" Seth racked his brain. He hadn't expected this question.

"Um....I was at school...." Seth looked to the doctor for a nod of approval, but got nothing. Damn. "I heard gunshots and I ran out of my classroom...and I went down some stairs...and then tried to get to another staircase, but I didn't make it......."Seth realized something. "I got shot." Every memory, every thought of that day came back to Seth. He felt sick thinking about it. What happened that day, it disturbed him. He never got to think about it. Until now. It was strange saying that he himself got shot.

"That seems to be correct. Now, I'm gonna run some tests, let the world sink in. But the sooner you do that, the sooner you can talk to your family." That was their cue. Though incredibly happy, they did leave. The three sat in seats right outside Seth's room.

"Sandy, he's awake. He's really awake." Kirsten couldn't stop crying. But finally, this time they were tears of joy.

"Yeah. He's awake. I never thought it'd some." Sandy finally said something, he was just calming down. Thought some tears threatened to fall.

Seth was finally awake, life would get better, they would survive. Happiness could some, it already had. The pain wouldn't destroy them, there would be no pain. They would take it easy, give Seth time to adjust, hell, they needed time to adjust. No more sleepless nights, no more silent days. The greatest present was given to them, Seth had woken up.

The doctor entered the hallway, and motioned for Sandy and Kirsten. They go tup and followed, Ryan watched them go.

"Now, we're still running tests, but so far he seems to be in excellent condition. Confused, and very talkative, but in good condition." He assured them. Seth was perfectly okay.

"When can we take him home?" Sandy asked, they were ready to get their life on with.

"That's what I wanted to talk about. Thought he is in very good condition, I would like to keep him here for a few more days. This is purely precautionary, we want to monitor how he is, and make sure he's okay. I hope that's all right with you." The doctor told them.

"That's fine." Kirsten answered. The doctor smiled, and went back to Seth's room. Nothing could upset Kirsten, she was so happy. Her son was back, she had both her boys.

About twenty minutes had passed, they were finally allowed back in to see Seth. Kirsten hugged him again, this time Seth didn't object. He was glad to be with his family, there had moments that horrible day in November Seth thought he would never see them again.

"So, how many days have I been out of it?" Seth had so many questions to ask, he wanted to know everything.

"49 days," Kirsten answered. Seth was floored.

"51," Ryan objected and Kirsten gave him a quizzical look, "if you count the two days he wasn't in a coma." 49, 51 days? Either way, that was long. Seth hadn't expected that much time to transpire. He was expecting seven days, not seven weeks.

"Right." Kirsten was till amazed that she was talking to Seth. It was so perfect.

"Um, next question: what's happened since then?" Seth knew this would be a difficult question to answer, but he wanted to know every detail. Sandy knew he or Kirsten would not be able to answer very well, Ryan could. They would have to leave their boys alone, so Seth could know everything.

"Kirsten, why don't we go get some food for everybody? Something better than the hospital." Everyone looked confused.

"But............Seth............." Kirsten didn't understand, so Sandy took her aside.

"Let them talk. We can't explain everything to him. We'll start crying or something. You more so than me. But it'll be best if Ryan tells him." Sandy explained, and Kirsten nodded dismally. She didn't want to leave Seth, what if she never saw him again? "So, Seth, Ryan, we're gonna go for some food." The two went to Seth and hugged him fiercely, told him that they loved him, and then did almost the same, just not as hard for Ryan. Then Sandy and Kirsten left sadly.

"I think they want us to talk." Seth joked, he seemed himself despite he was getting blown away with every answer.

"Yeah." Ryan agreed, and took a seat next to Seth. It was such a surreal feeling talking to Seth. So many days, Ryan had wished he could talk to Seth, it was such a dream.

"So, tell me. What has been going on around Newport? And is everyone okay?" Seth was so worried about Summer, he prayed she was okay. He'd never forgive himself if she wasn't.

"Everyone's okay...physically." Ryan didn't want to lie to Seth, so he quickly added the last word. Seth gave him a confused look, but Ryan ignored it. "Me, Marissa, and Summer all got out of the school safely, and uh, what else do you want to know?" Ryan suspected that Seth would ask about Summer, so he had to think of a diversion.

"How's Summer?" Seth needed to know, he wouldn't be all right until he knew.

"Um, she was good. I haven't talked to her in a while." Ryan said all this very quickly so that Seth wouldn't know exactly what he said. "I talked to Theresa the day you..." Ryan still hated talking about it. "fell into the coma, and I called her a couple days ago." That was Ryan's plan. Divert Seth's attention away from Summer.

"Yeah, and what happened?" As much as Seth hated talking about Theresa, she was the reason Ryan left, and then Seth. But he had to know.

"She left to Atlanta about a week ago." Ryan hoped the conversation wouldn't go back to Summer. Ryan didn't want to tell Seth.

"Wow. Do you know who's it is?" Seth couldn't stop thinking about Summer, she was the love of his life. He knew she had hated his guts when he sailed away, and that was only for two weeks. They had yet to have a real conversation since the party. The last thing Summer acknowledged he had said something was, "The boat was named after you." That was so long ago, it seemed like centuries. Seth had just spent a month and a half in a coma, how badly did Summer hate him? Maybe she didn't even acknowledge Marissa or Ryan, maybe she hated them all. Maybe she had a new set of friends, a new boyfriend, but that was Summer. She never showed her feelings, and buried them deep inside. But Seth knew the real Summer, the vulnerable one. She had loved him, if it had only been for a tiny bit, but she had chosen him. She had been different, Seth had changed her.

"No idea. I don't think we'll ever know." Ryan knew his diversion was failing, Seth had that deep in thought look, Ryan knew he was thinking about Summer. Seth always used to have that look. Though Seth had only been awake for a couple hours now, it felt to Ryan like he had never left. If only it was that simple. So much was different, Seth knew none of it. Ryan didn't want to tell Seth. He wanted to protect his brother. Protect him from the truth. Especially the truth about Summer. It would break Seth's heart if he knew what happened to Summer. Hell, it kinda broke Ryan's. she hadn't been seen since that day. The day they knew nothing would ever go back to being okay, a lot of hope had been lost.

"So, let's talk about you. What's new in life? And are you and Marissa together?" Seth now asked, slightly afraid of why Ryan didn't mention anyone.

"Well, me and Marissa haven't 'technically' been together since I left for Chino. But we did have moments." Ryan was pleased with his answer. It was good.

"Ah, moments. Such as?" Shit. Most of the "moments" happened at the carnival, which Ryan could not mention.

"Um....after the shooting. When they found me." Ryan hated answering on the spot. He liked to think about this answers and not say something stupid.

"Who?" Seth had been in a coma, he barely understood anything.

"Marissa and Summer." Ryan corrected himself. Saying Summer's name made him think of watching her, lost, stare at her bloody hands. Saying her name would soon be like a curse word, like how Seth's was.

"Oh. Any other 'moments'?" Seth wasn't impressed. He was expecting a spectacular, angst-filled, sappy, romantic story that was Ryan and Marissa's relationship. Seth would have to teach Ryan the art of adjectives, and explaining things.

"Uh. Outside a restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner." Ryan remembered that day so well. The fight, the big question Marissa had wanted to know, Kirsten breaking down.

"A restaurant?" we usually have it at home." Seth remembered the year before.

"You can understand why we didn't." Ryan told him.

"Yeah. So, anything happen at Thanksgiving? Something always happens." Seth wanted to know.

"Hailey and Julie got into a fight," Ryan enticed him.

"Interesting..." Seth wanted to hear this.

"Yeah, we never actually had a Thanksgiving dinner. They got us kicked out." Ryan smiled at the image of Julie shoving Hailey into a wall.

"Very interesting. I wish I was there." Seth really wanted to see that scene.

"Well, if you were there, it wouldn't have happened." Ryan said.

"Well, I know everything would've changed if I was awake, but still....

Seth commented.

"The fight kind of started because of you." Ryan explained.

"Really?" Seth questioned.

"Yeah, Kirsten freaked out and both Hailey and Julie were to her, but they got into a fight on the way." Ryan was enjoying his talk with Seth.

"The usual." They were brothers again.

000000000000000000

"Hello?" Marissa picked up her cell phone the next day. Life was still miserable, none of the Cohens had called and so no one knew about the newly awake Seth.

"Hey," Ryan greeted her in a better than usual mood.

"Hey, Ryan. What's up?" Marissa put on a cheery tone. She didn't want Ryan to know how she felt.

"Listen, it's Seth..." Ryan began, but Marissa feared the rest.

"Oh God, Ryan, I'll be right over. Like, in a couple minutes. Bye." Marissa hung up on Ryan and he looked over at Seth.

"So, is she coming over?" Seth asked, not hearing the conversation.

"Yeah, just not in the correct mood." Ryan said.

"Failed to mention I was awake?" Seth was amused.

"Didn't have time. She hung up on me. She thinks you're dead." Ryan explained.

"Great." Seth was happy, he had a plan.

"What that a sad great or a happy great?" Ryan didn't know.

"A happy great." Ryan was confused. "See, her sadness level will be at an all time high. So what is best for someone who thinks a person is dead?" Seth pulled out his plan, not literally.

"The person to not be dead?" Ryan guessed.

"Exactly! Her happiness level will shoot through the roof! She'll be like a cat on catnip." Seth rambled.

"Catnip is like drugs for a cat." Ryan knew that.

"Legal." Seth pointed out.

"Yeah, legal." Ryan agreed.

"So really, she'll be like a person on drugs. Illegal drugs." Seth thought.

"Seth, I don't think her reaction will be the same as someone drugged up." Ryan told him.

"We could drug her up." Seth commented.

"What?" Ryan was horribly confused by Seth's ramblings.

"I've got a line of morphine going through my bloodstream. We pull this sucker out, shoot her in the arm, she'll be drugged up, and totally ecstatic then." Seth babbled.

"Seth, you're rambling about shooting someone in the arm with morphine." Ryan commented.

"Ryan, I've been in a coma for a month and a half, I don't know what's going on. For all I know, a continent could've been blown up." Seth paused. "Has any continents been blown up?"

"No." Ryan answered.

"Good." Seth and Ryan laughed at their nonsensical conversation.

Marissa drove to the hospital, fearing the worst. Seth was dead, why else would Ryan call? She was scared. Seth couldn't die. Too much had happened, he couldn't die now. It was impossible to happen.

She jumped out of her car when she parked and rushed to the doors and to the elevator. She was jumpy, she needed to see Seth. All the times she had hated him, they didn't matter anymore. Their past was gone, only the present mattered. If Seth died, everyone would soon follow. Summer, then Marissa, Ryan, Kirsten, Sandy and Jimmy, Hailey, Caleb. Julie and Kaitlin would survive, maybe Kaitlin might go because of Marissa, possibly Julie. They would all eventually meet their demise, when and how would be up to them.

The elevator wasn't coming. Marissa was gonna scream. Every second was an hour, she couldn't take it. The elevator stopped on the second floor. But then she saw something awful. An "out of order" sign being put on the elevator.

Marissa wasn't going to wait for the other elevator, it was at the top level, seven levels up. So she headed to the stairs. Seth was on the fifth floor, each floor had two staircases between them. She started up the stairs, for the first two staircases she was perfectly fine. But then exhaustion hit. She was small, she didn't have as much energy. She'd collapse when she got there. But she had to see Seth. If he was dead, it was all her fault. No matter how much someone could say different, Seth had been right. Marissa was the reason Ryan left, then Seth, and why Seth might be dead.

She was halfway through the stairs, she was getting really tired now. But Seth would be dead, she had to get there. Her breathing was heavy, she ignored the pains she felt. She tried jumping two steps at a time, but it hurt too much. Four more staircases to go, Marissa wasn't going to make it. But she thought of Seth, she would never forgive herself if he was dead.

Three more, soon two. She was getting closer, almost done. Fear was overwhelming her, she couldn't think straight. Images of birthdays past, where she had to invite Seth. He never talked, he stare at Summer. Only once had she been forced to go to a Seth Cohen party, it ended up being them two. Marissa had stared into her yard, most of the time, until Seth had come up behind her.

"I'm sorry." He had said.

"For what?" Marissa asked as he sat on the swing next to hers.

"My party's bad." Seth had never been a happy child, he was always alone.

"It's not that bad." Marissa tried to cheer him up. They were eight, Marissa was already super popular.

"Yes, it is. Admit it. No one came." Seth knew he was a lone, Marissa Cooper couldn't change that. They were too different.

"I came." Marissa tried to be nice to him.

"Your mom made you come." Seth had overheard Kirsten.

"So?" Marissa didn't understand why that pertained.

"You didn't come voluntarily." Seth was one of the smartest kids in their second grade class.

"Volun-what now?" Marissa didn't know that word.

"Never mind." The two swing a tiny bit, Marissa had attempted to cheer him up again.

"You have any games?" Marissa looked over, he had one of those stupid party hats on.

"I just got a new game system." Sandy and Kirsten had always boughten him the newest things in technology.

"What kind?" Seth told her, she had been amazed. "Those are brand new! My daddy won't let me get one!"

"Wanna play?" Maybe Seth would have a friend.

"Okay. Just one thing." They got up and she stopped Seth, pulling off his hat. "Don't wear that. It's not cool." She helped him.

"Oh." Seth didn't really care what was cool.

"Come on." The two rushed inside, they were an unlikely pair. The Princess and The Geek. They played all Seth's games, Marissa had never had so much fun. Kirsten and Julie took the cutest pictures of them, both moms go the priceless one with them posing together in front of the camera. Marissa and Seth each got one, she hid hers behind a picture of her and SUmmer. She would occasionally look at it, and then see him in his room. Now that she moved and she was friends with Seth, it was placed on her board of photos. It was one of her favorites. Seth didn't have anyone to hid it from, but it was still behind a book or something. He smiled when he saw it, Marissa had been the first kid to ever talk to him, nicely. Marissa never told anyone about the party, she could be shunned. Seth never had a birthday party after that.

Marissa pushed the door to Seth's floor. She was out of breath. But she still rushed to his room, barely not collapsing.

"Ryan I came as fast as I could. How's.........Seth?" Marissa's eyes opened wide, as she stared at the fully awake Seth.

"Hi." He waved.

"Seth!" She was bewildered, yet amazed. Seth was awake, it had actually happened. She forgot about her exhaustion and ran over to him. Marissa hugged him hard, practically squeezing him to death.

"Um..yeah..." Seth's eyes bugged, blood had stopped flowing. "Please.......let go..........can't....................breath....." Seth choked out, he needed air.

"Sorry." Marissa finally let go, tears in her eyes. "Oh my God." Seth was awake, this was much better than Seth being dead.

"So....what's up?" Seth acted as though nothing had happened.

"You're awake." She whispered, still blown away.

"Yep." Seth smiled at her, she missed that smile.

"When?" She asked, not looking away from Seth.

"Yesterday." Seth answered calmly.

"Why didn't you call me sooner?" Her head shot to Ryan, wanting to know why.

"Didn't want to bombard me." Seth answered for his brother. Marissa looked back over. "If you would've come yesterday, and squeezed me like you just did, also like my mom, I'd be dead. "Seth didn't know how many times over this month and a half that they thought Seth was dead. But he had been. Dead, but alive. When neither said anything, he understood. "Sorry, wrong use of wording."

"No, it's fine." Marissa said.

"Come sit by me. I've been out for a month and a half. I need some info." Seth grinned as they walked over and took seats on either side of him.

"I see you have your plastic horse." Marissa pointed out upon seeing it.

"Captain!" Seth screamed, and grabbed it." I didn't even see you, ol' buddy, ol' pal." He hugged Oats. Marissa gave Ryan a questioning look, and he mouthed "don't ask." She giggled and Seth noticed. "What? I haven't seen him. He was my best friend for the first sixteen years of my life. He was the only one who ever was nice to me." Marissa wanted to mention the party, but stopped herself.

"So what do you want to talk about?" She asked, happier than ever.

"Well, I pretty much know everything." Except Summer.

"Really?" Marissa gave Ryan a look, asking if Seth knew about Summer. Ryan slightly shook his head.

"Except one thing." Seth needed to know.

"What's that?" Both Marissa and Ryan knew. Seth was serious.

"I know Ryan has been changing the subject every time I mention it. You are not hiding it from anymore. Where is Summer?"