Chapter 12
Seth moved his head and winced in pain. He was flat on his back in the Harbor parking lot. "Mommy, do I have to go to play group today?" he asked.
"Seth, it's Dad. Where does it hurt?"
Seth squinted up at Sandy, confused, and put up a hand to ward him off. He gasped when his hand touched Sandy. "Ouch. Damn." He sat up quickly and cradled his wrist. "Ryan?"
Ryan had been hanging behind Sandy and stepped forward. "Hey, man." He had a fat lip, and his cheek was bruised and red.
Seth fared worse. His whole face was swollen, and a deep cut on the left side of his face bled profusely.
A short distance away Mr. Schmidt checked on the injured water polo players and wide-eyed cheerleaders. He shouted, 'I just called the paramedics. Let's calm down." Students were rehashing the fresh story. A couple of the girls pulled out cell phones and gestured excitedly. Chip and Blaine huddled around a bloodied and dazed Brad, as if preparing a game plan.
Seth shook his head again, clearing his mind. "Dad? What are you doing here?"
"I was talking to Ryan on the cell when it started. I called your mom; she's on the way, too."
"So you guys were chatting when I got my ass kicked, while my face was being redesigned by Ralph Lauren's Polo collection?"
Ryan's face drained. He clenched his teeth. He should have protected Seth and not been selfish about his own problem. Maybe then Seth wouldn't be hurt now.
Before either of them could answer, Kirsten could be seen approaching.
Sandy whispered, "Don't get cute in front of your mom, she'll be upset enough. I told Ryan not to get involved."
Seth nodded. "Mum for me Mum."
Kirsten looked over Seth anxiously. She ran a hand through his hair and her eyes welled up with tears.
"Ryan let me get beat up," Seth said conversationally.
Kirsten grimaced. "I wish you guys had told us what was happening at Harbor. Sandy filled me in about today. You did the right thing, Ryan."
Ryan held her gaze but didn't know how to respond. Kirsten had wanted to throw Ryan out of the poolhouse when Seth got into a fight at the beach party – a fight where he barely got injured. Would she think differently when she realized how badly hurt Seth might be, how her baby lay bleeding and broken because Ryan stood by doing nothing?
"I think I might throw up." Seth tilted his head to one side but only moaned. He took a shuddering breath and said, "Wasn't Sophie's Choice also for the pretty, blonde kid? Dad told Ryan to let me get beat up; he chose Ryan over me," Seth said indignantly.
"Cut it out. You were supposed to look out for Ryan. You know he can't get into any fights."
"Am I my brother's keeper?"
"Seth Ezekiel Cohen," Kirsten warned.
Sandy interrupted. "Honey, he's asking about what you guys call the Old Testament. My specialty." Sandy paused for a moment before answering emphatically. "Yes. We all look out for each other. Ryan was the one who needed to be protected just then. If I wasn't worried about your hit to the head, I'd hit you in the head. "
"Those boys will not be a bother anymore." Kirsten glared in their direction.
"Mom, I was just yanking the parental chain. Ryan knows that. Right, Ryan? You would totally step in if I needed help. But I didn't need help, and it felt good. How did you know I would take down Brad? Was it our training sessions that clued you in on my supernatural strength?"
Ryan smirked. "So it felt good when I stood by while you got knocked out and your arm was broken?"
"That was a horizontal eight count from the concrete, not a K.O. Now Brad - he was messed up by yours truly," Seth gloated. "If it hadn't become a two on one … Do you think I'll be the talk of campus? I'll have to play it cool and modest."
"Your dad said not to do anything but I'm sorry. I thought about doing things differently …"
Sandy frowned. "No more crazy talk. We are a family and we take care of each other."
"Yes, a family with a son who can't keep his mouth shut when he should, and a son who can't open his mouth when he should. But a family," Kirsten said.
"Umm," Ryan started hestitantly, "then can I say something now? Chip said he heard from his dad that Mr. Moore is saying Mr. Nichols is not going to go along with the your plans." Ryan shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, unused to confessing his worries. "I did burned down his house, let his only grandson get beat up while watching from the sidelines, and ruined a profitable relationship with a major investor in the new development. When he gets back into town …"
"It doesn't matter if you have Kirsten on your side, kid."
"Ryan, don't worry about my dad. You may never win him over despite making Seth closer to the football player he dearly wants."
"And an accomplished skirt chaser," Seth added.
Kirsten continued. "Sandy gave him a beautiful grandson, agreed to stay in Newport so I could make him even richer than rich, and Dad still can't say Sandy's name." Kirsten took Ryan by the shoulders and shook gently. Her kiss on his cheek became a hug. She pulled back and said, "Some forms of combat are fought inside. I think you've won a few rounds, and we're proud."
Ryan passively accepted the kiss. But inside a great weigh lifted, one he only vaguely knew he had. And it felt good, like he was free of an uncontrolled fury born of hate and hurt. In its place was a still fragile but fierce trust in his new family. He couldn't promise he wouldn't get in another fight, but if he did it would be because of a stupid choice, nothing like the mindless snap he had with Chester.
The sirens were silent now, and two paramedics were walking toward them with Summer on their heels. She had waited for them at the campus entrance to guide them to the right place.
Summer pushed Ryan out of the way for the paramedics, and said officiously, "Adorkably heroic Caucasian, male, 17 years old, involved in an altercation sustaining blunt force trauma to his head and torso. Probable broken arm. He was unconscious for less than a minute."
She knelt by him and looked up at everyone. "What? Candy striper training."
The older, dark haired paramedic raised his eyebrows but made no comment. He took out a pen light and flashed it in Seth's eye. "Track my finger, son. What day is it?"
"Son? Parent after parent keep showing up."
Another siren grew closer until a black and white squad car pulled up. Everyone stood up and stared as two officers got out and was met by Mr. Schmidt.
"Goodbye, Chino," Chip said loud enough to be overheard. "You can thank me for calling them."
Kirsten and Sandy passed a silent, tense look. Then Sandy went to introduce himself to the officers.
Kirsten turned Ryan away from everyone and forced him to look at her. "My husband was right about you. Remember that."
"Hey, dude. We've all got your six." Seth was sitting up in a gurney now. He held out his good hand in a knuckled fist. Ryan knocked it and grinned.
Sandy returned. "We'll have to straighten it out downtown, but I'll be right behind you. I may have to grease a few more wheels in Child Services, and Kirsten may have to twist Caleb's arm to get the old white men's club to go along with but it will be done. Don't worry kid."
He stepped aside to allow the police officer forward. "Ryan Atwood? You are in violation of your parole conditions."
Ryan wasn't listening to the police officers words, but he knew the routine. He put his hands behind his neck, and relaxed to let the police officer pat him down and guide his hands into cuffs.
They walked him to the squad car, past the other students and Mr. Schmidt. Brad was in another gurney. His nose had been broken, and his face was a bloody mess.
"Nobody fucks with us," Chip whispered.
"Who served Brad up with a scrambled face?" Summer asked.
The cheerleaders snickered. Chip and Blaine stepped away from Brad. Brad frowned and looked away.
As the officer was lowering his head into the car, he looked up at Sandy, Kirsten, and Seth and Summer who all smiled reassuringly. His family of too many words needed none when they were in accord. More shit would hit the fan, maybe many nights in an orange jumper. But Ryan knew Sandy and Kirsten would try their damnedest to straighten things out. And that's what mattered – Ryan knew they would try and that he deserved their efforts.
The End