Kirsten didn't know what had happened while she was with Seth, but she knew something had shifted between Sandy and Ryan. She didn't go after Sandy immediately, instead, she got Dr. Tarleton and left him with Ryan to discuss the chemotherapy before going to find her husband.

She found him outside in the smoking area sitting on a bench. He had an unlit cigarette in his mouth. Summer was standing beside him, talking quietly.

"Chino's coping just like everyone else, Mr. Cohen. He's just coping differently. Whereas Cohen usually babbles under stress, Ryan doesn't say anything. I mean, you said he was so quiet, but isn't he always quiet? Doesn't Cohen always speak for him? I mean, he found out he had cancer and has surgery and now chemo in a matter of days, you're lucky he's capable of speaking at all," Summer was saying. She put her hand on Sandy's shoulder. "He's a strong kid, he's always been able to depend on his strength, his body, you know? And now his body's betraying him…you can't let him upset you. He needs you right now…"

Kirsten walked into Summer's line of sight and the girl gave her an embarrassed smile.

"Can I go see Chino?"

"Seth's not here, Summer, Ryan asked him to leave…"

"I know. Cohen called me. I'm here for Ryan…"

"Thank you, Summer. For the pep talk," Sandy said, standing up. Kirsten plucked the cigarette out of his mouth and dropped it, still unlit, in the ashtray.

"The doctor's with him, but you can see him afterwards," Kirsten said. Summer nodded and disappeared.

"She's a smart girl," Kirsten said.

"I don't think I can face him again right now. Not even with Summer's pep talk," Sandy said, his voice shaking.

"Sandy, what happened?"

"I…"

"Dr. Tarleton's setting up the chemo as we speak, we can take him home tomorrow, Sandy…" Kirsten started. "Talk to me…"

"I…I can't. I'm going home. I'm sorry, tell him, I'm sorry…"

"I need you right now, Ryan needs you, please, don't leave us here…" Kirsten took his arm.

"I need some time to think. He upset me, I can't let him see that he upset me…" Sandy muttered.

"Sandy…"

"I'll be back later. I'm sorry…" He kissed her on the cheek and disappeared.

Kirsten sighed and turned to go back to Ryan's room. Dr. Tarleton was standing outside the door with the nurses.

"Kirsten. Ryan's doing very well. I'm not sure what you said to him, but he's…"

"What are you talking about?"

"He's very aware of what's happening to him. He understands much more than I imagined. He doesn't want to wait on the chemotherapy because he'd rather be in the hospital so we can monitor his reaction. How sick he's going to get, you know?" Dr. Tarleton paused.

Kirsten nodded.

"What's wrong?"

"Well, he upset my husband, so I'm a little surprised that you're so pleased with his mood."

"It's not his mood I'm concerned about. He's not going to be happy or upbeat, Kirsten, he has cancer. I admit, he's more subdued than most of my patients, but he's not sobbing uncontrollably, he's not trying to slash his wrists. He's accepting that he's sick and that's the first step. I'm going to set up his chemo and I'll be back in about twenty minutes to get him started." Dr. Tarleton paused. "He's asked that he be alone."

"I'm not leaving him alone…"

"I'm going to be with him throughout his treatment. It should only take an hour or so. You look like you could use some air…"

"I'm not…"

"Kirsten. Ryan's strong. I'll stay with him. Go see your husband. Ryan needs you both right now. He needs you both not to be upset. You're the adults here and he's taking all his cues from you. It's okay," The doctor nodded.

Kirsten was sitting in her car in the parking lot. The doctor had finally convinced her to go home, but she couldn't put her keys in the ignition. She couldn't leave Ryan alone in the hospital. When she'd told him he was leaving for a few minutes, Ryan had nodded, as if he'd expected it. Summer had still been sitting with him.

"Kiki?"

She glanced up and recognized her father standing outside of her window. She opened the door.

"What are you doing down here? Did something…"

"No, no, I'm supposed to be going home…"

"Who's with the boy?"

"Dr. Tarleton is helping with his chemo…"

"Why are you leaving?" Caleb asked.

"He…"

"He might think he's an adult, but he's just a boy. Why are you leaving?" Caleb was clearly confused.

"He…"

"Kiki. Come on." Caleb pulled her out of the car and put his arms around her.

"Oh, Daddy…"

"I know this is hard. I know this is killing you…but you can do this. You have to be strong for the boy…"

"His name is Ryan," Kirsten sniffled into his shoulder.

"I know. And I know that he's important to you. That's why I'm here. He's a tough kid. He…he doesn't deserve this and neither do you. But you're strong and he's tough. So. Why are you leaving?"

"Sandy's upset. Ryan sent Seth home. He wants to do this himself…" Kirsten said quietly.

"He can't do this himself…" Caleb started.

"For once, I agree with the old man." Sandy approached with Seth.

"Sandy…"

"I'm sorry. I got upset…" Sandy confessed, embracing his wife.

"Ryan's going to do everything he can to push us away right now and we can't let him," Seth finished.

"You're one day in and you're already letting him get you upset. It's going to be a long road. Let's go see the boy," Caleb smiled, putting an arm around Seth.

Ryan was sitting in one of the plush chairs beside his hospital bed. Dr. Tarleton had moved his IV stand and was hanging the chemotherapy drugs on the stand. Summer was sitting on his bed. She'd refused to leave despite his arguments.

"Okay, kid. If it burns or gives you any discomfort, let me know, okay?" Dr. Tarleton gave him a smile.

"Okay."

"I'm going to step outside for just a minute and then I'll be back," The doctor said. Ryan nodded.

Summer stood up and walked over to sit beside Ryan.

"You…"

"If you tell me to leave one more time, I will slap the hell out of you," Summer warned.

Ryan sighed.

"Does it hurt?"

"Not really." Ryan was staring at the IV in his hand.

"You sent Seth away. He was only trying to help you…"

"I know. I'm not mad. I didn't send him away because I'm mad…"

"I know. You sent him away because you didn't want him to see how scared you are."

"What are you doing here, Summer?" Ryan asked quietly.

"My grandma died of cancer. She went to chemo twice a week for three months. And she still died. That's why I ran out yesterday. But she was old. She wasn't tough like you. My grandma never sat through chemo alone, she said she'd go crazy if she had to sit there all alone. So even though you don't like me…"

"Who said I didn't like you?"

Summer smiled. "So. You don't hate me…"

"How could I hate you? I just…"

"You want to be alone. Like you'll be less scared if you're alone?"

"I want…I need to come to terms with this myself. Seth…he was really helping me out, he was keeping his parents from freaking out and he was telling them stuff that I couldn't tell them myself and…he ended up getting in trouble for it…"

"He didn't get in trouble…"

"Whatever. I know they're all worried and they're all scared, but so am I and having to face them and see them barely holding it together…I can't do it."

"So…"

"I hate making them worry. Do you know how much treatment like this costs?" Ryan whispered.

"They don't care about the money…"

"If I wasn't a charity case before, I am now…I just…I fucking hate this," Ryan admitted.

Dr. Tarleton stepped back into the room. "How's it going? You feel okay?"

"I'm okay. I was wondering if you'd go over the side effects with me again while we're sitting here," Ryan said, visibly steadying himself.

"Sure. I brought you those pamphlets I was referring to earlier so you'd have something to look over." Dr. Tarleton whispered something to Summer and she nodded, stepping out.

"She your girlfriend?"

"More like sister in law. She's Seth's girlfriend," Ryan said quietly, studying the first pamphlet.

"Ryan, your family is outside."

"What?" Ryan seemed surprised.

"What you're going through is very hard. I can't imagine how hard…I hope you don't mind, but Caleb told me a little about you."

Ryan lowered his gaze immediately.

The doctor smiled. "Caleb's a hard man to get along with. But he cares about his family…"

"I'm not a part of Mr. Nichol's family. He's made that pretty clear," Ryan muttered.

"Oh. Well. He told me that you're adopted…"

"Sandy and Kristen are my legal guardians," Ryan said.

"I have 3 foster kids with me right now. My wife gets lonely while I'm working and our own kids are all out on their own," Dr. Tarleton continued. "So despite how Caleb feels about family, I consider my foster kids to be my kids."

Ryan met his gaze after a beat. "I respect that. I consider the Cohens to be my family, too."

"I've seen that. Why don't you tell me why you don't want them here?"

Ryan hesitated.

"I'm your doctor. But you can still talk to me."

Ryan sighed. "I'm used to taking care of myself. I've never been a part of a family like theirs…but I see them hurting because of me and I want to spare them as much of this as I can."

"I respect that. But it's hurting them more when you push them away."

"I tried to be myself, to be normal, but it didn't help. They got all freaked out. So now I'm…they need time to regroup. So do I."

Dr. Tarleton nodded. "How're you feeling?"

"Still okay, I think," Ryan sighed.

"I'm going to let your family know that you'll be a little while," Dr. Tarleton said, standing up and checking his IV.

"If they're all here, you might as well send them in," Ryan said quietly, returning his attention to the stack of pamphlets.

"Even Caleb?"

"Mr. Nichol would never come here," Ryan replied seriously. He met the doctor's startled gaze. "If he asked you to help me, it was because of Kirsten. I'm grateful to you for your help and I hope that you'll continue to help me despite what you may hear from Mr. Nichol."

Dr. Tarleton opened his mouth to speak but before he could respond, Ryan's eyes rolled back in his head and his body started to relax as his head went limp.

"Ryan?" The doctor reacted immediately, leaning over and grabbing his shoulders.

Ryan blinked and seemed to recover. "What…damn…dizzy…"

"Are you having any trouble breathing?"

"No, just dizziness…and it's getting colder in here…I'm okay…" Ryan straightened up and swallowed thickly.

"I'm going to get you something to drink…and I'm going to send your family in."

"Okay. I think I'm ready to see them…and a drink would probably help, too," Ryan nodded.

"Kirsten? Rita is going to sit with Ryan and monitor him for a few minutes." Dr. Tarleton held out several bottles of ginger ale and apple juice. "They're cold but he needs to stay hydrated and they'll help with his nausea. We're getting him a thicker blanket."

"He said we can go…"

"He's expecting you. He's okay. I think the chemo's a little scarier than he thought and he's ready for you," The doctor smiled. He turned to Caleb as Kirsten, Seth, Sandy and Summer filed out of the waiting room. "I think we should talk."

Kirsten stepped in first and found the nurse rubbing Ryan's back as he heaved into a basin between his knees.

"Okay…better now…" Ryan muttered after he was finished. He was breathing rapidly. Kirsten grabbed a box of Kleenex off the table and sat down in the chair beside Ryan as the nurse took the pail.

"Thanks, Kirsten," Ryan said, accepting a tissue and wiping his face.

"Here. It might help. Wash the taste out," Kirsten opened a bottle of juice and offered it to him.

He swallowed gratefully and relaxed slightly. "Better." He held out the pamphlets and she took them. "It's only going to get worse, so…"

"You're not kicking me out again."

"Good," He gave her a shy smile. "Because I think Rita was hitting on me, and she's older than Dr. Tarleton…" He whispered.

"Oh, Ryan…I'm sure…" She smiled.

Rita returned and Ryan winced, annoyed as she mussed his hair. "Deep breaths, stud."

Ryan glared at Kirsten when he heard her laugh. "Is Seth here?"

"He's outside…he'd like to come in. Sandy and Summer, too."

"If they can handle all the vomit, they're welcome…Seth's not so good with bodily fluids," Ryan's hands drifted to his stomach absently.

"Sick again?"

"I forgot about the stitches, I just have to remember…" Ryan admitted. Rita immediately pulled his hands away and checked his small bandage.

"Looks okay, I think you probably just strained your muscles over the past few days, the doctor said you haven't kept much food down…just take it easy."

Ryan nodded and took a shaky breath. He took a swallow of juice and gave Kirsten a small nod. "I'm okay."

"Okay. I'll get the others…"

"Kirsten?"

"Yes, honey?"

"Can I have that, too?" Ryan motioned to the bottle in her hand. She smiled and offered it to him.

"Thanks."

Kirsten stepped outside.

"How is he?"

"Remarkably calm despite the constant puking," Kirsten smiled.

"Oh…" Seth muttered.

"Cohen, he's cleaned your puke up enough when you've drank too much champagne, come on," Summer pulled him past Kirsten into the room.

"He's okay?" Sandy asked.

"Yeah. He's strong. He trusts us. We have to trust him."

"Okay."