Author Note: I do not own any aspect of THE O.C. or it's characters.

The O.C.

Family

By: Mark A Hogan Jr.

Chapter One

The night was young. Ryan sat alone in the pool house as the entire Nicole family gathered for the second time in two days. All but Ryan were present. He remained in the pool house, emotionally destroyed.

He laid on his side as he always did reading one of Seth's comics. He hoped that it would calm his mind. Unfortunately, it was no help.

He finally tossed the comic aside and rolled over on his back. He hadn't talked to anyone since he found out Lindsey could be Caleb's ill-ligament daughter. It was just way to much for him. He wanted to scream so loud that the gods of heaven could hear as clearly as they heard one another. It wouldn't help, the damage was already done.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Yeah," Ryan said just loud enough.

He watched as his "mother" walked into the pool house and closed the door behind her. She walked over to Ryan's bed and sat at the foot of it. He waited for her to speak.

"She's not my half sister," Kirsten said as she looked at the floor.

Ryan looked at Kirsten surprised again, "What?"

"Lindsey's mother had a paternity test done. Mr. Gardener is her true father."

Ryan was relieved. "That's good."

"I'm sorry about all of this," Kirsten said, unable to face her "son."

"What are you sorry for?" Ryan asked curiously.

"For the mess that my family is in. For the family I brought you into." was Kirsten's reply as sorrow overtook her voice.

Ryan sat up for the first time that day. "Don't ever be sorry. If it weren't for you I wouldn't have a family. I'd still be in juvenal hall and a bloody pulp. This isn't your fault."

Kirsten began to sob, "I hate him so much!"

"I know," was all Ryan could say.

Kirsten rested her head on Ryan's shoulder, "I hate him for ruining my family! I hate him for ruining my mother's memory! I just hate him!"

Ryan held the crying Kirsten like a son would his mother as she sobbed. He felt miserable for her and wanted to help anyway he could. He finally came up with a solution.

"Lets go inside," he said quietly. "Tell everyone goodnight and have Sandy help you up to bed."

"Alright," Kirsten said between sniffles.

Ryan helped Kirsten into the house where everyone was sitting. They watched Ryan help her into the new living room where she told everyone goodnight. Well, almost everyone.

"Kiki," Caleb said standing from his chair.

Before he had a chance to finish Ryan spoke up in front of everyone. "Don't even waste your breath. Can't you see that all you ever care about is yourself, and because of that you have crushed your daughter! I can't believe you are so self centered that you would do something like this! You are as pathetic as my father who is rotting in jail because of his self centeredness. Maybe you should too."

With that Ryan motioned for Sandy to help Kirsten and him upstairs. Once Ryan, Sandy, and Kirsten walked to the stairs Ryan stepped back and Kristen turned to look at him. She smiled as a small tear ran down her face.

"You are so wonderful, Ryan," Kirsten said, "Thank you."

Ryan looked at Kirsten, "Get some sleep. We have some big days coming up."

Kirsten smiled and looked at Sandy, "He's grown up."

"I'm proud of you, Ryan." Sandy said with a smile, "I have never heard you speak your mind like that, in defense of anyone before."

Ryan just smiled a little. As Sandy and Kirsten made their way upstairs Ryan walked back through the living room. Everyone was dead silent as Caleb stood in shock from Ryan's little speech. The only person that seemed not to be out of reality was Lindsey. He looked at her before lowering his head and walking out of the house.

Ryan slammed the door to the pool house once he was inside. He slammed it so hard that the glass nearly cracked from the force. He walked over to the bed and laid down on it. He rolled over on his side facing away from the door. He let out a long sigh as he began to stare at the wall.

Ryan heard the pool house door opened slowly. He could hear footsteps echoing throughout the pool house as the person entered and then closed the door behind them. He didn't look up, not wanting to look at or talk to anyone, especially Caleb.

"Ryan?" the young lady's voice called out softly.

He didn't answer.

"Are you alright?" the voice called out again.

By now he could tell it was Lindsey who was trying to talk with him. He tried to hold back his tears as he collected his thoughts. He didn't want Lindsey to see him cry. He felt so bad from yelling at Caleb in front of everyone, especially Lindsey.

"I'm sorry," Ryan said quietly.

Lindsey sat on the bed, looking at Ryan, "What are you sorry for?"

"For my actions in the house," Ryan said, his face still facing the other way.

Lindsey took one of Ryan's hands in her own. She rolled him over, seeing his tear filled eyes for the first time in days. She sat there for a moment before speaking to him, careful of what she said.

"You're sorry for standing up for Kirsten to her horrible father?" Lindsey asked confused. "Why should you be sorry for that?"

Ryan looked away from her, "Not for standing up for her, but my speech to him and anger. I was afraid you would be afraid of me."

Lindsey giggled, "Me afraid of you? Sorry Ryan, but since I've gotten to know you I think of you as a teddy bear."

Ryan looked up at Lindsey. His eyes were no longer full of tears. His baby blue eyes were making Lindsey go wild. She leaned down and kissed him. She wrapped her arms around him as he pulled her toward him.

After a few minutes Ryan pulled away, "I am so glad that you are not Kirsten's half sister."

Lindsey smiled, "You have no idea."

Julie leaned to whisper into Jimmy's ear, "You should take the kids to your boat. They don't need to hear us discussing this."

"Zack has a car," Jimmy said quietly. "Have him take them all to the boat."

Julie turned and walked over to Zack, "You need to take all the kids to Jimmy's boat. I don't want them around here right now."

Zack nodded in response to Julie. He walked away to find Marissa, Summer Seth Ryan and Lindsey. Julie turned back to Jimmy, but he had retreated to the kitchen. Caleb came up behind Julie and tried to wrap his arms around her.

"Don't even," Julie said into his ear.

She walked away, leaving Caleb standing alone in the living room. He stood there and watched his wife walk away from him. Sandy appeared from the stair case and walked over to his client. Caleb didn't even blink.

"I'm not sorry about what Ryan said, Cal," Sandy said quietly.

Caleb looked past Sandy, "I didn't expect you to be."

"I made an appointment to see the judge on Monday," Sandy said.

Caleb finally looked at his son-in-law, "I figured that you would."

"Give it up, Cal," Sandy said. "You've already destroyed everything you had. Just give it up and move one. Maybe someday Kirsten and the rest of your family can forgive you."

Caleb looked at Sandy, "Why is it that you are always right, Sanford?"

"I'm a lawyer," Sandy said, "That's my job."

Caleb looked at his son-in-law again, "I was wrong about you, Sanford. I was wrong. Now if you will excuse me, I must explain myself to everyone."

Sandy watched as Caleb walked away. He couldn't help but think that maybe he finally realized his flaws and would change. It was a lot to expect from the old man, but maybe not too much. But something kept sticking around in the back of his mind.

"What if this isn't as over as we think?"

To Be Continued…