Anna pressed her head on the window. She hadn't drinker all that
much, but she still felt the buzz. Her eyes began to droop, but she still
could see the intersection approaching fast. The light was green, but they
were pretty far away. The car began to move side to side a bit. Anna looked
at the speedometer. It was at about 94 mph. No one else noticed, for they
had had too much alcohol. The light was now yellow, and Marissa wasn't
slowing down. Anna held her breath and waited for what would happen next.
Marissa hadn't turned on her lights. The car started through the
intersection, but they didn't make it. A car came from the right, slamming
their car into another coming from the left. The car swerved viciously and
they tilted to one side. Anna saw Marissa's head crash into the windshield,
and then Anna's own head slammed into the widow. She took one last look
around before she fell into unconsciousness.
Ryan was the only one awake. He had no way of getting out. Blood and glass was everywhere. The world had silences, and all Ryan could hear was his heartbeat. But that was faint, off in the distance. All the windows had either broken or were about to, and he was pinned to his seat. His seatbelt clip was under Anna. He tried not to look at his friends, but there was nowhere else to look. Marissa was draped over the steering wheel, Anna had smashed her head through the window. He couldn't see Summer. And he couldn't look at Seth.
Suddenly, sharp pains shot through him. His body had only numbed th pain for a short time. Now he couldn't move indefinitely. His whole body was in pain. But luckily, he saw lights. And it wasn't the White Light. The ambulance had arrived. He could hear the sirens. Ryan was dizzy. Just because he was awake, that didn't mean he wasn't in pain. The lights were blinding. He couldn't move his arms to cover his eyes. A paramedic opened the door and saw Ryan was still conscious.
"Are you okay?" the paramedic asked.
"Not really." He croaked. His voice was soft, barely audible. The paramedics took Seth out of the car. And soon, paramedics were at every door. Once Anna was taken out of the car, Ryan was able to unbuckle his seatbelt. He eased himself out, but when he tried to stand, his legs couldn't hold him. His whole body was still in shock. He fell back into the car and caught the door frame so he could stay up. A paramedic helped him to the stretcher.
"Get on." The paramedic ordered.
"No."
"Look, we don't know how serious your injuries are. And you're bleeding, now get on." Ryan was too exhausted to object. The paramedics helped him on the stretcher. They began to put him in the ambulance. Ryan could see Marissa. There was blood on her face and it was coming from a spot on her forehead. Ryan was put in the ambulance, and they shut the doors, and began their trip to Newport Beach General.
Kirsten was worried. It was two in the morning, and Ryan and Seth hadn't come home. Anna hadn't even come by to pick up her car. Kirsten was pacing around in the kitchen when Sandy came in.
"Still up?" He asked as he yawned, rubbing his eyes.
"Yes. Ryan and Seth haven't come home."
"School's starting soon, they need to unwind. They're fine."
"They never stay out this late."
"Trust them. They'll be home soon." At that moment, the phone rang. Kirsten jumped and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Is this the Cohen residence?" The woman on the other side of the line said.
"Yes. How can I help you?"
"I'm calling from Newport Beach General. This in regards of your son, Seth Cohen and your adopted son, Ryan Atwood."
"What's wrong?"
"They've been in an accident." The words sliced through the air.
"Are they okay?"
"I don't know at the time."
"We'll be right there. Thank you."
"Goodbye." Kirsten hung up. She stared at Sandy in disbelief. Tears were already welling up behind her eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"That was the hospital. Ryan and Seth were in an accident." Kirsten watched Sandy as all the color drained from his face. He said nothing, but grabbed his car keys and headed to the garage. Kirsten followed him, wiping her eyes as she went. "Anna must have been in the car with them too."
"I don't really care about her right now. I'm more worried about Seth and Ryan."
"Well, I am too. But that doesn't mean I don't care about her." Sandy opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it. The rest of the ride to the hospital, both said nothing. Sandy was focused on the road, and Kirsten stared out the window. Her two sons were in the hospital. More tears stained her face as they pulled into the hospital.
Kirsten jumped out of the car as soon as Sandy put on the emergency brake. She slammed the door shut and ran into the hospital. Sandy trailed behind her, not letting everything sit in. Kirsten ran to the nurses' station.
"Seth Cohen, Ryan Atwood, where are they?"
"I'll check." The nurse turned to the computer and looked up the names. "Are you related to them?"
"Yes, yes. We're the parents." Kirsten answered.
"Of both?"
"Yes, of course."
"Sorry, procedure. Okay, Ryan's in 118, and I can't seem to find a room for Seth."
"Why? Why can't you find one?"
"He might still be getting checked over. Don't worry."
"Right. Thank you." Kirsten turned to Sandy. "118." she looked into Sandy's eyes and saw the same fear that was in hers. She then rushed down a hall in search of room 118.
After asking two nurses where 118 was, Kirsten and Sandy finally found it. Ryan lay on a bed in there, and a doctor was also there. Ryan was awake, looking more pissed than he ever was.
"Ryan." Kirsten screamed. She ran to him and pulled him into a hug. He stiffened.
"Please. Don't." Ryan finally said. Kirsten stopped hugging him. Ryan began to rub his chest.
"Why?" The doctor approached.
"Let me explain." The doctor started. "I'm Doctor Macklavoy."
"Kirsten Cohen." She shook hands with the doctor.
"I'm Sandy Cohen." Sandy then shook hands with the doctor.
"You're his legal guardians, correct?"
"Yes."
"Well, Ryan is pretty unscathed. He does have a bruised rib, so that would be why."
"Oh gosh. I'm so sorry Ryan." Kirsten apologized.
"It's fine." He forgave.
"Anyways, since he doesn't have very serious injuries, he can go home."
"That's great. Doctor, do you know anything about my other son, Seth Cohen?"
"No, sorry I don't. I'm not his doctor. I'll leave you alone. I'll be back in a bit." The doctor left.
"All right, who was driving? You or Seth?" Kirsten interrogated.
"Neither." Ryan answered.
"Huh?"
"We weren't the only ones in the car."
"Who else was?" Sandy took over the questioning.
"Marissa, Summer and Anna."
"Then who was driving?"
"Marissa."
"Was she drunk?"
"I had seen her drinking."
"How did she get in the accident?"
"What are you, the police?"
"I just want to know."
"Well, I just got out of it and I really don't feel like reliving it now."
"Sorry." The doctor reentered.
"I have the papers for you, Mr. Cohen." Dr. Macklavoy handed some papers to Sandy.
"Oh, I have a question." Ryan interjected.
"What is it?"
"How are the others? Ya know, Marissa, Summer, Anna?"
"You're my first patient for the night. I don't know about anyone else. The other doctors will probably know." Sandy finished signing the papers.
"You're free." He said to Ryan.
"Thanks." Ryan said back.
"Can you check for my other son, Seth?" Kirsten asked.
"Of course. I'll go do that." The doctor exited again. Kirsten fell into a chair and let her tears fall. She was happy, yet scared. Happy that Ryan was okay, scared that she didn't know how Seth was. Sandy put his hand on her shoulder. The doctor reentered before she could shed any more tears. "Seth was just put into a room."
"So he's not dead?" Kirsten asked through tears.
"No, he's not dead. He's right down this hall, in 125."
"Thank you so much."
"Anytime."
"So I can go?" Ryan asked.
"Yes." Kirsten, Sandy, and Ryan left. Kirsten was calming down now. They found room 125, where Seth was lying peacefully on a bed. Kirsten at first thought he was dead, but when she saw him breathe, all those thoughts left her mind. She sat down by her son, and another doctor came in.
"Ah, you must be the Cohens. I'm Doctor Boorem."
"I'm Sandy Cohen." He shook hands with the doctor.
"How is he?" Kirsten asked.
"Well, he did break his arm in three places, so he'll have that cast for a while. And he did get twelve stitches on his head..."
"Oh God."
"He'll be fine. He also has a cracked rib. And I'd like to keep him overnight, just in case."
"Just in case of what?"
"Precautionary. Don't worry." She reassured Kirsten.
"Doctor, do you know how any of the others are?" Ryan attempted.
"Well, I'm Marissa's doctor and she also had to get stitches. I believe Summer, is that her name?"
"Yes."
"She also had some stitches. I don't know what else happened to her."
"What about Anna Stern?"
"She is in ICU."
"Why is she in ICU?"
"Well, I shouldn't be telling you this, but she does have severe head trauma. It's pretty much up in the air whether she'll survive or not. Even if she does, she'll have long term mental disabilities."
"Oh my God." Ryan was speechless. The doctor's beeper went off.
"Oh, I have to go. I'll leave you alone with Seth.' The doctor left an Kirsten thought about Anna. ICU. Anna might not make it. Kirsten knew Seth was close to Anna. How would he react now that Kirsten knew he was okay?
"Should we go home?" Sandy asked after a slightly unbearable, awkward silence.
"I'll stay here. You take Ryan home." Kirsten offered.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Okay then." Sandy kissed Kirsten on the cheek. "Take care of him." he motioned to Seth.
"I will."
"Bye."
"Bye Kirsten." Ryan said.
"Bye." And with that, Ryan and Sandy left Kirsten to some new found tears.
"I'm sorry Sandy." Ryan finally said after a third of the drive in silence.
"Why?"
"Because of what happened."
"You weren't the one driving."
"I know, but I should have stopped Marissa." Sandy glanced over at Ryan. There was a look of guilt upon his face, and that was the only emotion on his face. He showed no fear just hours after an accident that landed one of his friends in ICU.
"You can't always be responsible one. Marissa is not your responsibility. Just you."
"But I still didn't stop anyone from going into that car."
"Ryan, it's not your fault."
"It fells like it is." Sandy wanted to say something, but he couldn't think of the right words. He had no idea what Ryan felt. He wished he could help Ryan, but for once, he had nothing to day. No words of wisdom. He just prayed everyone would get through this.
Ryan was the only one awake. He had no way of getting out. Blood and glass was everywhere. The world had silences, and all Ryan could hear was his heartbeat. But that was faint, off in the distance. All the windows had either broken or were about to, and he was pinned to his seat. His seatbelt clip was under Anna. He tried not to look at his friends, but there was nowhere else to look. Marissa was draped over the steering wheel, Anna had smashed her head through the window. He couldn't see Summer. And he couldn't look at Seth.
Suddenly, sharp pains shot through him. His body had only numbed th pain for a short time. Now he couldn't move indefinitely. His whole body was in pain. But luckily, he saw lights. And it wasn't the White Light. The ambulance had arrived. He could hear the sirens. Ryan was dizzy. Just because he was awake, that didn't mean he wasn't in pain. The lights were blinding. He couldn't move his arms to cover his eyes. A paramedic opened the door and saw Ryan was still conscious.
"Are you okay?" the paramedic asked.
"Not really." He croaked. His voice was soft, barely audible. The paramedics took Seth out of the car. And soon, paramedics were at every door. Once Anna was taken out of the car, Ryan was able to unbuckle his seatbelt. He eased himself out, but when he tried to stand, his legs couldn't hold him. His whole body was still in shock. He fell back into the car and caught the door frame so he could stay up. A paramedic helped him to the stretcher.
"Get on." The paramedic ordered.
"No."
"Look, we don't know how serious your injuries are. And you're bleeding, now get on." Ryan was too exhausted to object. The paramedics helped him on the stretcher. They began to put him in the ambulance. Ryan could see Marissa. There was blood on her face and it was coming from a spot on her forehead. Ryan was put in the ambulance, and they shut the doors, and began their trip to Newport Beach General.
Kirsten was worried. It was two in the morning, and Ryan and Seth hadn't come home. Anna hadn't even come by to pick up her car. Kirsten was pacing around in the kitchen when Sandy came in.
"Still up?" He asked as he yawned, rubbing his eyes.
"Yes. Ryan and Seth haven't come home."
"School's starting soon, they need to unwind. They're fine."
"They never stay out this late."
"Trust them. They'll be home soon." At that moment, the phone rang. Kirsten jumped and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Is this the Cohen residence?" The woman on the other side of the line said.
"Yes. How can I help you?"
"I'm calling from Newport Beach General. This in regards of your son, Seth Cohen and your adopted son, Ryan Atwood."
"What's wrong?"
"They've been in an accident." The words sliced through the air.
"Are they okay?"
"I don't know at the time."
"We'll be right there. Thank you."
"Goodbye." Kirsten hung up. She stared at Sandy in disbelief. Tears were already welling up behind her eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"That was the hospital. Ryan and Seth were in an accident." Kirsten watched Sandy as all the color drained from his face. He said nothing, but grabbed his car keys and headed to the garage. Kirsten followed him, wiping her eyes as she went. "Anna must have been in the car with them too."
"I don't really care about her right now. I'm more worried about Seth and Ryan."
"Well, I am too. But that doesn't mean I don't care about her." Sandy opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it. The rest of the ride to the hospital, both said nothing. Sandy was focused on the road, and Kirsten stared out the window. Her two sons were in the hospital. More tears stained her face as they pulled into the hospital.
Kirsten jumped out of the car as soon as Sandy put on the emergency brake. She slammed the door shut and ran into the hospital. Sandy trailed behind her, not letting everything sit in. Kirsten ran to the nurses' station.
"Seth Cohen, Ryan Atwood, where are they?"
"I'll check." The nurse turned to the computer and looked up the names. "Are you related to them?"
"Yes, yes. We're the parents." Kirsten answered.
"Of both?"
"Yes, of course."
"Sorry, procedure. Okay, Ryan's in 118, and I can't seem to find a room for Seth."
"Why? Why can't you find one?"
"He might still be getting checked over. Don't worry."
"Right. Thank you." Kirsten turned to Sandy. "118." she looked into Sandy's eyes and saw the same fear that was in hers. She then rushed down a hall in search of room 118.
After asking two nurses where 118 was, Kirsten and Sandy finally found it. Ryan lay on a bed in there, and a doctor was also there. Ryan was awake, looking more pissed than he ever was.
"Ryan." Kirsten screamed. She ran to him and pulled him into a hug. He stiffened.
"Please. Don't." Ryan finally said. Kirsten stopped hugging him. Ryan began to rub his chest.
"Why?" The doctor approached.
"Let me explain." The doctor started. "I'm Doctor Macklavoy."
"Kirsten Cohen." She shook hands with the doctor.
"I'm Sandy Cohen." Sandy then shook hands with the doctor.
"You're his legal guardians, correct?"
"Yes."
"Well, Ryan is pretty unscathed. He does have a bruised rib, so that would be why."
"Oh gosh. I'm so sorry Ryan." Kirsten apologized.
"It's fine." He forgave.
"Anyways, since he doesn't have very serious injuries, he can go home."
"That's great. Doctor, do you know anything about my other son, Seth Cohen?"
"No, sorry I don't. I'm not his doctor. I'll leave you alone. I'll be back in a bit." The doctor left.
"All right, who was driving? You or Seth?" Kirsten interrogated.
"Neither." Ryan answered.
"Huh?"
"We weren't the only ones in the car."
"Who else was?" Sandy took over the questioning.
"Marissa, Summer and Anna."
"Then who was driving?"
"Marissa."
"Was she drunk?"
"I had seen her drinking."
"How did she get in the accident?"
"What are you, the police?"
"I just want to know."
"Well, I just got out of it and I really don't feel like reliving it now."
"Sorry." The doctor reentered.
"I have the papers for you, Mr. Cohen." Dr. Macklavoy handed some papers to Sandy.
"Oh, I have a question." Ryan interjected.
"What is it?"
"How are the others? Ya know, Marissa, Summer, Anna?"
"You're my first patient for the night. I don't know about anyone else. The other doctors will probably know." Sandy finished signing the papers.
"You're free." He said to Ryan.
"Thanks." Ryan said back.
"Can you check for my other son, Seth?" Kirsten asked.
"Of course. I'll go do that." The doctor exited again. Kirsten fell into a chair and let her tears fall. She was happy, yet scared. Happy that Ryan was okay, scared that she didn't know how Seth was. Sandy put his hand on her shoulder. The doctor reentered before she could shed any more tears. "Seth was just put into a room."
"So he's not dead?" Kirsten asked through tears.
"No, he's not dead. He's right down this hall, in 125."
"Thank you so much."
"Anytime."
"So I can go?" Ryan asked.
"Yes." Kirsten, Sandy, and Ryan left. Kirsten was calming down now. They found room 125, where Seth was lying peacefully on a bed. Kirsten at first thought he was dead, but when she saw him breathe, all those thoughts left her mind. She sat down by her son, and another doctor came in.
"Ah, you must be the Cohens. I'm Doctor Boorem."
"I'm Sandy Cohen." He shook hands with the doctor.
"How is he?" Kirsten asked.
"Well, he did break his arm in three places, so he'll have that cast for a while. And he did get twelve stitches on his head..."
"Oh God."
"He'll be fine. He also has a cracked rib. And I'd like to keep him overnight, just in case."
"Just in case of what?"
"Precautionary. Don't worry." She reassured Kirsten.
"Doctor, do you know how any of the others are?" Ryan attempted.
"Well, I'm Marissa's doctor and she also had to get stitches. I believe Summer, is that her name?"
"Yes."
"She also had some stitches. I don't know what else happened to her."
"What about Anna Stern?"
"She is in ICU."
"Why is she in ICU?"
"Well, I shouldn't be telling you this, but she does have severe head trauma. It's pretty much up in the air whether she'll survive or not. Even if she does, she'll have long term mental disabilities."
"Oh my God." Ryan was speechless. The doctor's beeper went off.
"Oh, I have to go. I'll leave you alone with Seth.' The doctor left an Kirsten thought about Anna. ICU. Anna might not make it. Kirsten knew Seth was close to Anna. How would he react now that Kirsten knew he was okay?
"Should we go home?" Sandy asked after a slightly unbearable, awkward silence.
"I'll stay here. You take Ryan home." Kirsten offered.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Okay then." Sandy kissed Kirsten on the cheek. "Take care of him." he motioned to Seth.
"I will."
"Bye."
"Bye Kirsten." Ryan said.
"Bye." And with that, Ryan and Sandy left Kirsten to some new found tears.
"I'm sorry Sandy." Ryan finally said after a third of the drive in silence.
"Why?"
"Because of what happened."
"You weren't the one driving."
"I know, but I should have stopped Marissa." Sandy glanced over at Ryan. There was a look of guilt upon his face, and that was the only emotion on his face. He showed no fear just hours after an accident that landed one of his friends in ICU.
"You can't always be responsible one. Marissa is not your responsibility. Just you."
"But I still didn't stop anyone from going into that car."
"Ryan, it's not your fault."
"It fells like it is." Sandy wanted to say something, but he couldn't think of the right words. He had no idea what Ryan felt. He wished he could help Ryan, but for once, he had nothing to day. No words of wisdom. He just prayed everyone would get through this.