Hats and horns everyone! I finally finished this thing. The mamba line starts to the left.

Josh, I'm your bitch. Ratticus is drawing up the legal documents that will transfer all ownership of the OC to me. Until you get them signed and notarized, they still belong to you….

Epilogue.

A soft knock brought Ryan out of a world inhabited by robotic drones. Putting down the book, he pushed himself off the bed, padded to the door and opened it. Eggplant coloured hair had given way to a strawberry blond.

"It seems I can't leave you for more than a few hours before you get into trouble. I don't know if I should hug you or kick your ass…"

"Hey…" was all Ryan managed to get out before Mandy pulled him into a hug. After she released him, Ryan sat back down on the bed, partially because he knew he still might get his ass kicked. Mandy took the chair opposite him. The dog clambered onto his lap, wanting some attention.

"C'mon…. Let's see…." Mandy pointed to Ryan's hand.

"I'm okay…. Really…."

"Yeah right…. I've heard that one already… Just before you landed in the hospital for a week, so forgive me if I don't believe you…"

Mandy lifted the corner of the bandage, carefully inspecting the row of stitches and examining the bruising before releasing his hand.

"Don't you look at me in that tone of voice. You scared everyone half to death…"

Seeing the flush creeping up his cheeks, Mandy knew Ryan was feeling properly chastised. His backside would be safe for now.

"Have you taken your pills?" She asked, motioning to the bottles on the bedside table.

"Could she be anymore maternal? Shit, she gave Kirsten a run for her money." Ryan wisely kept that thought to himself. Kirsten had been in full blown "mom-mode" as he recovered in the hospital from the septic shock.

"Yeah… uh, no… I don't need them yet. I can take care of myself… I have the "big boy boxers", remember?"

"Touche…" Mandy hesitated before asking her next question. "So… Is everything okay with you and the Cohens…?"

"Yeah…."

"That's it? Yeah…? I need a little more than "yeah". I want full sentences…"

Ryan shifted on the bed. The dog looked up at him and yawned, nudging his hand as it waited impatiently for some more love. He rubbed the dog's head as he tried to come up with an answer.

"It's a little weird. We're uh, I'm uh… trying to talk to them. It's kinda hard. Kirsten's still worried and a little pissed at me… Sandy's feeling guilty and Seth is well, Seth. He talks about everything but what happened…."

"And how do you feel about all of it?" Mandy knew her questions were like picking at a scab but things were still festering inside Ryan. Scab… Festering… Nice freaking analogy . Anymore infection jokes? Good thing you're using your inside voice."

Ryan shrugged. He didn't want to answer the questions he'd been avoiding asking himself.

"You have to let them know what's going on. They can't fix it if you don't tell them."

"Some things can't be fixed. Maybe if I leave it alone, it'll go away…"

Mandy leaned in close.

"And look how well that's worked out. I bet the Cohens are walking on egg shells around you and you're avoiding them. Pretending none of this happened is the perfect solution. I wonder why I didn't think of it? That solves everything and everyone is happy. Maybe we can tackle world peace next…."

Ryan looked down, concentrating on scratching the dog's head.

"You can't hide out here forever. The Cohens are your family… Let them in…" Mandy tapped his chest. "Open this up…Talk to Sandy… You're right, some things can't be fixed. Maybe you have to build something new… Build it together…"

Ryan looked up at her and nodded. His brain was now working overtime trying to assimilate Seth's words, Kirsten's words, Mandy's words…. Wanting to believe in Sandy words… Wanting to trust his own feelings.

Mandy quietly closed the door behind her. She looked up to see Sandy walking towards the pool house.

"I think he's ready to talk to you…"

"Thanks for coming to see Ryan… Kirsten and I are… we're…."

"I know…" She said softly. "He's a special kid…. Take good care of him."

Mandy started to walk away when she stopped and withdrew a small package from her purse.

"I almost forgot… Can you give this to Ryan?"

Sandy took the package from her, its significance lost on him until he heard the unmistakable sound of barking… A dog barking…

"You didn't…"

He looked at the package of baby sized "wife beaters". At that moment Ryan opened the door of the pool house, cradling a small chocolate lab puppy. They watched as Mandy disappeared around the corner of the house.

"Can we, uh, talk…?" Ryan asked softly.

Fade to black….