"Ryan?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm thirsty…"
"Okay…" He sat up immediately but she stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"What?" Ryan's eyes flickered from her face for a second to her bruised wrist.
"I think I need to talk to Sandy…"
"Are you sure you're ready for that?" Ryan asked immediately.
"Yes."
"Okay." She got out of bed and accepted the robe he offered.
He opened the door and led Summer by the hand into the kitchen.
"Shit…" Seth gasped, seeing Summer's damaged face.
"That's how he always says good morning to me, too," Ryan remarked.
"Are you okay?" Seth gave her a gentle hug.
"Yeah. Well, no. But I'm okay for right now."
Seth nodded. "Good. I'm glad you called Ryan."
Ryan was pouring coffee for Summer and himself.
"He's really angry," Summer said as she sat down beside Seth.
"I'm not angry," Ryan said quietly.
"He's okay. He's just grouchy in the morning," Seth responded.
"Are your parents up?"
"They're outside."
Summer accepted the coffee from Ryan. "I should go talk to them."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"I have to do it myself, I don't want you to get upset…"
"I'm not upset," Ryan protested.
She sighed. "Ryan…"
"No. I'll wait here. Go."
-------------/-------------/----------------/---------------/----------------/-----------/-----
Summer found Sandy and Kirsten having breakfast on the patio.
"Summer. How are you feeling?"
"Better, thanks. I guess I'm ready to talk to you…"
"I'll leave you guys alone," Kirsten offered.
"No, please…stay? I mean, I'd appreciate a female perspective. And you both know my dad…or used to, anyway…"
"Okay, sweetie," Kirsten gave her a reassuring smile. "What's been going on?"
"Well, about a month ago…my dad lost his job…he accidentally killed a patient…so he's getting sued and he's banned from practicing medicine until a decision's made..." She took a breath. "And my stepmom left him so he's sort of just screwed. So he's been drinking. All day every day. But he's never touched me before…before 2 days ago."
"There's other kinds of abuse, Summer," Sandy said quietly.
"I know. Ryan says the same thing. Ever since he's been stuck at home, he's been saying…saying things to me. He keeps telling me that I'm fat. And that I'm a waste. The first time he hit me…he called Ryan a 'reject' and I started to defend him and he slapped me. He used to like Ryan, he told me that he was a nice respectful boy when he met him the first few times. It's like he's a different person now…he used to never talk to me, he'd never even acknowledge me but now…he just…"
"Summer, he's sick," Sandy whispered.
"I don't want to go back there. Not until he's back to normal or something…"
"You don't have to go back, Summer, you'll stay here as long as you need," Kirsten said immediately.
"What's going to happen now?" Summer asked timidly.
"I want you to file a police statement. I'll go with you and…" Sandy started.
"Will they arrest him? I don't want him arrested, can't you just talk to him? Get him to just…leave me alone?" Summer asked quickly. "I mean, he's got enough trouble right now…"
"He should have to pay for what he did to you, Summer," Sandy replied.
"I just want it to be over…I'm seventeen, it's only, like, 10 months until I'll be an adult and I have a trust fund so…so…can't you just emancipate me or something?"
"Who has control of your trust fund, Summer?" Sandy asked, clearly unsettled that Summer was so against pressing charges.
"My real mother's lawyer. It's not my Dad's money, she left it to me, when I turn eighteen."
"Okay, Summer. This is what we need to do. I want you to come to the police station. They're going to take some pictures. I'll call your father's lawyer," Sandy sighed. "So he'll have a chance to get his case together."
"What if he runs?" Kirsten asked.
"He won't run," Summer whispered.
"Summer, I know that you might want Ryan to come but…"
"I understand, Sandy. He's pretty protective. And he hates cops," Summer smiled.
------------/--------------/---------------/---------------/---------------/--------------/----
Ryan was pacing. Anna and Seth watched him. His movements were precise and deliberate, his feet taking the same steps each cycle.
"I need to hit something," He muttered.
"I agree you need some stress relief. But I'm not offering," Seth said.
"Sandy, Kirsten and Summer will be home soon, Ryan," Anna said.
"I know. I just…I need to work off this energy…"
"Well…do you run?" Anna questioned.
"Only from the police," He muttered.
"It'll clear your head," Anna urged. "I'll go with you."
"Okay. Seth?"
"No running. I'll hold down the homestead here. Physical exertion is not my thing."
Anna and Ryan change into sweats and go out running. About fifteen minutes after they leave, Kirsten returned with Summer.
"How'd it go?" Seth asked as Summer sat down on the couch beside him.
"It sucked. But it's over."
"Ryan and Anna went out for a run. He's pretty wired. Where's Dad?"
"He…he went to go see my dad. With some cops a while ago."
"He'll be home soon," Kirsten smiled. "I'm going to go order some dinner."
"So, you're sure you're okay?" Seth asked, putting an arm around her.
"Yeah. I've talked about it so much that…that it's not as painful anymore. Well, it's just easier," She admitted.
"I think Mom will be glad to have another girl around. She's always complaining about the testosterone in the air."
"Like you know anything about testosterone," She teased.
The front door closed and Sandy walked past them in a rush. He went to Kirsten's side.
"Oh, honey…" She gasped. Sandy's face was bruised.
"Mr. Roberts has lost his fucking mind. He denies everything, he says Ryan did it, even though Ryan was here with us last night and despite the fact that he has Summer's blood on his clothes," Sandy said in a rush.
"What happened?"
"He took a swing at me. The cops took him in when he took a swing at them…it's like he's snapped, Kirsten…"
"What's going on?" Seth stepped in. Summer followed after a short moment.
"Oh god…he hit you?" Summer gasped.
"Summer, your father…he's not himself…" Sandy said quietly.
"I'm so sorry…" She started.
"It's not your fault…" Kirsten replied immediately.
"He attacked some officers, Summer. They had to take him in."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Cohen…I guess he really is crazy…"
"The cops will get him some help," Seth said, putting a hand on Summer's shoulder reassuringly. She nodded after a beat.
"He won't hurt you anymore," Kirsten added. She embraced Summer impulsively.
"You better put some ice on that before Ryan sees it," Seth told his father.
Sandy gave his son a curious look.
"He's protective of his things," Summer said.