The O.C.

She Will Be Loved

By: Mark Hogan

Homecoming

Ryan woke up, his head laying on an empty hospital bed. He sat up slowly, looking throughout the room. He didn't see Summer anywhere. After a moment, Kirsten walked into the room, holding two coffees in her hands. She held one out for Ryan as he stood up and stretched.

He grabbed the coffee, "Where's Summer?"

Kirsten looked at Ryan over the edge of her coffee cup, "Talking to the shrink."

Ryan looked at Kirsten, "Shrink? I thought you would have used the professional term."

Kirsten let a small smile spread across her face, "I don't like them anymore than the next person."

Ryan let a smile creep across his face as he took a sip of his coffee. Kirsten pulled a seat next to Ryan's and sat down, waiting for Ryan to join her. Instead he walked into the bathroom and turned on the facet in the sink. She could hear splashing from the bathroom, and then the water stopped running. He slowly emerged from the room, drying his face with a hand towel. Kirsten watched him as he walked over and sat down with his coffee.

"You know they are going to want to talk to you," she said quietly, looking at her 'son.'

Ryan took a sip, "Yeah, I figured that much."

They sat there for a few moments in silence, sipping their coffee, awaiting for Sandy to return from the house. Kirsten watched her son closely, seeing if anything was bothering him. Ryan sat and waited as patiently as he could for Summer to return from her session. Kirsten could sense that Ryan was worried.

"She's fine, Honey." She said quietly, giving Ryan a warm smile.

Ryan looked back at Kirsten, "Yeah, I know."

"Then why does it look like you're afraid she's going to die in a difficult surgery?" She asked.

Ryan looked at the floor for a moment, "I'm just worried they might lock up someone that doesn't deserve to be. She does have her issues, but their not bad enough for them to lock her up. That would just upset me the most, I guess."

Kirsten smiled, trying to hide it behind her coffee cup. She had no such luck. Ryan noticed the smile and looked at her curiously. As he waited for Kirsten to explain herself, he heard the door being to open. Sandy stepped into the room carrying Ryan's bags that he had brought with him from Chino.

"Hey, Kiddo," Sandy said cheerfully.

Ryan smiled once he saw his lawyer… he guardian, "How did you find those?"

Sandy smiled, "I'm a lawyer aren't I?"

Ryan laughed just a little, but enough that Sandy and Kirsten noticed. They looked at each other before turning back to Ryan, who was finishing off his coffee. Ryan looked up at the two adults, who's faces showed nothing but disbelief and shock.

Ryan smiled, "Yes, I can laugh."

Sandy walked over to his son and gave him a gentle hair ruffle. Ryan didn't even bother to fix it. He just got up and gave Sandy a hug, a father-son hug. A small tear ran down Kirsten's face, as a feeling of family filled Ryan inside. Soon Kirsten had joined them. A family that had been brought back together, completely… almost completely.

After a few moments the door opened again, showing a very pale, very weak Summer Roberts being escorted by a man in a black suit. He helped her into the room, but was quickly knocked away by Ryan as he grabbed her to help. She looked up at him for a moment.

"Ryan…" she said in a dazed voice.

Before Ryan could say anything to Summer the man in the suit spoke up, "Mr. Atwood."

Ryan looked up from Summer after he helped her to the bed, "Yeah?"

"Could I speak with your for a moment or two?" the man asked.

Ryan looked at Summer one more time before he walked out of the room with the man. The last thing he saw of Summer, Sandy or Kirsten was them huddled over Summer. That would be the last thing he saw of his family for a couple of hours.

He walked into the man's office. He watched as the man approached a mini bar behind his desk. He poured himself a drink and sat in his office chair. Ryan stood near the entrance of the office, trying to figure out what the man could want. He didn't have to wait long.

"Mr. Atwood, please have a seat," the man said.

Ryan walked toward the desk, sitting in one of the chairs that was in front of the oak desk. He looked directly into the man's eyes, not even blinking. They sat that way for a few moments before the man began to speak.

"So, Ryan. You live with the Cohen's, correct?"

Ryan nodded, not once blinking.

"You've lived with them for just over a year?"

Ryan looked at the man, showing no emotion, "Yes."

"How do you know Ms. Roberts?"

"A friend."

"Just a friend?"

"My 'brother's' ex-girlfriend."

The man lifted a pen from his desk and wrote something on a pad of paper. "So you were the one to find Ms. Roberts at home last night?"

"Yes"

After a few hours of discussion of Summer's past and present actions the man allowed Ryan to go. He never once told Ryan his name, it never came up in their stare-down. Ryan returned to Summer's room tired, dazed, and with a mild headache. He was greeted by a single nurse who was checking up on Summer.

"Ryan?" the nurse asked curiously.

Ryan looked up, "Yeah? That's me."

The nurse smiled politely, "Mr. Cohen wanted me to tell you that he and Miss. Cohen went out for a few moments and would return shortly."

Ryan looked at the nurse again, "Uh… thanks."

The nurse watched as Ryan ran his hands through his hair, "Would you like some Tylenol or something?"

Ryan smiled, not looking at the nurse, "Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks."

The nurse left the room very quickly. She soon returned with some Tylenol and a glass of water. As Ryan downed the medicine, the nurse finished her checkup and left with a quick goodbye. Ryan noticed his chair hadn't been moved. He walked over and sat down. He rested his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. He was surprised when he felt someone touch his forearm.

"Ryan…" a quiet, raspy voice called out.

Ryan looked up to see Summer's eyes open, "Hey, how are you feeling?"

She didn't answer, "Have you been here the whole time?"

Ryan let a small smile creep over his face, "Except the two hours that I talked to the shrink, yeah."

He saw a smile appear on Summer's frail and pale face, "You don't have to be here."

"I want to be," Ryan said quickly. "You need someone, and unfortunately for you, I'm all there is."

Summer let out a very small giggle as Ryan sat back in his chair. He watched her for a few moments as she began to sit up a bit. "I'm sorry."

Ryan looked at her, face to face, "We'll talk about his later, alright?"

"Alright…" she replied sheepishly.

"Right now you need to sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up. Don't worry," he said quietly, resting his hand on her forehead.

"Your face is red," she said quietly, concern spreading across her face, "Maybe you should talk to a doctor…"

Ryan smiled slightly, "I'm alright. It was just rain. It's nothing big, and besides I don't get sick."

Summer smiled at Ryan's comment, "Alright, Chino. If you say so…"

Before Ryan could say another word, Summer was fast asleep. He sat there for hours, awaiting Sandy and Kirsten's return. It wasn't until seven o'clock that they returned to the hospital. When they walked into the door of the room, both Ryan and Summer were asleep. Ryan was shivering slightly, his face still red, and a fever. Kirsten wanted to wake him, but Sandy said no.

The car ride home was quiet and somber. Ryan was still burning red and now coughing slightly. Summer was resting her head on his shoulder, trying to stay awake. Sandy was driving the Range Rover as Kirsten fidgeted in the passenger seat. She was trying not to say anything to Ryan about how bad he looked, but she couldn't hold herself back anymore.

"Ryan, honey." She said shyly. "Are you sure you're alright. You look a little tired and worn out."

Ryan looked up to meet the gaze of Kirsten, "Just tired, that's all. A good night's sleep will get me going again."

Summer was the next to jump in, "Ryan, she's right. You do seem kind of warm…"

Ryan brushed a hair out of Summer's face, "I'm alright, you're the one I'm worried about right now."

Summer sat up, the best she could anyway, "I'm fine Chino. Don't worry about me. Doctor said I'll need a few days to rest and then I'll be just fine!"

Everyone laughed at Summer's energy and optimism. Ryan felt Summer's head rest on his shoulder again as he stared out the window. He let out a long sigh, followed by a small cough. Kirsten twitched at the sound, wanted so bad to strap him to a bed and shove cold medicine down his throat.

(Summer's POV)

Thank God that Ryan found me when he did. I didn't really want to die. I don't know what I was thinking… that's it I wasn't thinking. I just got so lonely since Cohen left on his trip. That little prick! What was he thinking!?! He couldn't even say goodbye! He's not my problem anymore anyway! If he thinks he's getting another chance he's dead wrong! What a geek…

(Ryan's POV)

I wonder what drove Summer to cut her wrists. She has everything, a good boyfriend… popularity… money galore. I know that Seth left… but what about Marissa? What about Holly? All those other jerks that she was friends with? She has everything… there was no reason to do something this stupid. Girls… I will NEVER understand them… no matter how hard I try.

Sandy, Kirsten, and Ryan helped Summer move into the guest bedroom. Luckily for Summer it wasn't all that close to Seth's bedroom. After a little unpacking she walked downstairs to join everyone for dinner. She was surprised to see Sandy and Kirsten eating at the dining room table, but Ryan was no where to be seen.

"Where's Ryan?" She asked as she sat next to Kirsten.

Kirsten shot up immediately, "I'm so sorry, Sweetheart. I forgot to call you for dinner. It's been so long since we've had to…"

Summer smiled, "It's alright, Miss. Cohen. I was just curious where Ryan is."

Kirsten rushed around, fixing Summer a plate of Chinese food. Before Summer could object there was a plate heaping full of food. Summer began to eat as Sandy and Kristen spoke.

"Ryan's out in the Pool House. He's unpacking… for the final time, we hope anyway. He said he wasn't hungry. I was going to fix him a plate and take some cough medicine out to him. He's getting sick from being outside in that rain. I just wish I could get him to take some."

Summer smiled, "If you don't mind… I'll talk his food out to him. I need to talk to him anyway. I think I need to explain what happened and the story behind it. I don't want him thinking I'm a Looney or something."

Sandy laughed, "Don't worry about that Summer. He doesn't think that at all."

Summer smiled and ate her food. She ate slowly, as to no choke on anything. After she finished she grabbed the plate that Kirsten had fixed Ryan and the medicine and walked out onto the patio. She walked up to the door, seeing a shadow on the floor. She knocked a couple of times, stirring the figure to his feet.

The door slid open, reveling Ryan Atwood in just his black boxers.

Summer stood, shocked at what she saw. She tried to speak, but nothing that she wanted to say came out. She stood there well after Ryan had thrown on his jeans and a wife beater. She walked into the Pool House, setting the food on the desk, the cough medicine to the right of it.

"I take it Kirsten isn't backing down?" he asked quietly.

Summer looked down at the floor, her cheeks blushing, "She's worried about you. So is Sandy."

Ryan looked at Summer for a moment, "You should sit down, you look kind of weak."

Ryan walked up to Summer, surprising her by his strength. He grabbed her forearms, far above the cuts she had made, and helped her to the bed in the middle of the Pool House. She slowly laid down on the bed. Ryan helped her lay down, slowly sitting back up.

"Don't even think about it Chino," she said harshly. "That's just… eww…"

Ryan laughed, "Still the same old Summer."

Summer smiled slightly, her cheeks turning even another shade of red, "Thank you for coming all the way back here… to save me. It means a lot."

Ryan looked at her and sighed, "It's my fault anyway."

Summer looked at him puzzled, "Why is it your fault?"

Ryan got up from the bed, and began to walk around the room, " It wasn't you, I know that for sure. You weren't the reason that Seth left… that was my fault. Had I not gone back to Chino… he would have never left."

Summer spoke softly, "It's not your fault that Seth left anymore that it's my fault for Marissa's drinking problem. Don't blame yourself. It won't help. Look what it did to me…"

Ryan looked at Summer, taking his spot back on the bed, "You just better never do that again."

"I won't," Summer said quietly. "It's just that… since Coop got that new drunk boyfriend and she began drinking again… it's been so lonely here. I've got no one… or had no one."

Ryan looked at her for a moment.

"Now that you're back… I at least have someone," she said quietly.

"I'm not going anywhere," Ryan said boldly.

Summer sat up and rested her hands on top of Ryan's. She looked at him face to face, a smile appearing across her face, "Welcome home… Ryan."

With that she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek before slipping off the bed and disappearing out the door. The last thing she said before he heard the patio doors close was, "Please take the medicine… for Kirsten… for me."

He looked over at the bottle and food. He let himself fall back onto the bed, his mind lost deep in thought. He couldn't understand what was happening, and he didn't want to try and figure it out. He got up slowly, a few small coughs coming out along the way, and began to eat his dinner. He took the medicine and jumped into bed.

As he flipped on his "Journey" CD he thought to himself, "I really am home."

To Be Continued…