AN: I haven't forgotten about this story, just had a stalemate. Now, I'm rolling again! Enjoy!

Summer drove calmly to her house. Ryan watched her, holding tightly to her hand as she mindlessly sang along to the pop song that she had blaring from her speakers.

"What?" She asked when she saw him looking at her.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Sure. Why?"

"Because. You were just telling me last week how much you hated Jessica Simpson…" Ryan said quietly.

"This isn't Jessica Simpson, it's Ashlee Simpson. There's a difference."

"Uh huh," He smiled.

"She's a brunette and…oh whatever. It's just on. It's distracting."

"It's okay, Summer, you can listen to whatever you want," Ryan said quietly. "But if you want to talk…"

"I know," She sighed. "But I'm so sick of talking and crying…I just want to…I just want all of this to be over."

"Over," Ryan repeated.

"What?"

"Things are never going to be the same, Summer. You know that, right?"

She sighed. "I know. And I know that I'm going to have to make some big decisions and shit…but I'm just taking it a step at a time right now."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Thank you for coming with me, today."

"As if you could keep me away," He said, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it.

She parked her car in the driveway but didn't get out.

"Summer?"

"I…I don't know if this was such a good idea now. I don't know if we should go inside. Maybe we should let the Cohens do it…"

"Summer."

"You're right…" She said immediately.

"I didn't say anything…" Ryan whispered.

"I have to do this. I'm grown up, I'm mature, I can totally handle this…" She continued.

He put his arm around her and pulled her close. "Relax," He whispered, kissing her cheek.

"Okay. Relax. Totally relaxing. Check…"

"I can't keep up with you like this, we need Seth if you're not going to chill out," He said.

"I just…this sucks," She whispered.

"Yeah."

"Let's go inside," She said shakily.

Ryan was accustomed to Summer's manic rants but usually they're related to shoes or clearance sales. She was off-center today. He didn't blame her. He was off-center, too. He stepped out of the car and waited for her to join him. He put his arm around her waist and they walked slowly toward her house.

There was police tape hanging from the door. He felt her shudder and immediately pulled it down and dropped it beside the door.

Summer had her key out and was trying to open the door with a shaking hand. Finally, on her third try, she managed to open the door.

"God, it's freezing in here," She muttered as Ryan followed her inside. He glanced around until he found the thermostat and adjusted it so the air conditioning shut off. He returned to Summer's side and ran his hands down her arms to warm her.

"Thanks…" She murmured.

They both froze by the foot of the stairs where there was still a taped outline from where Mr. Roberts had fallen.

"Let's go up the other stairs, okay?" Ryan whispered, gently urging her to walk down the hallway to the other set of stairs.

"God…he's…he died right there," Summer whispered, letting Ryan lead her up the stairs.

"Don't, okay? Let's do this fast…" Ryan said, stopping at the top of the stairs.

"Yeah." She took his hand. "His room's this way."

They walked slowly down the hall until she stopped outside her father's door.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Just don't let go, okay?"

"I won't."

She opened the door with her free hand and stepped inside.

"His suits are over here," She whispered.

Ryan stayed at her side while she opened the closet.

"I was thinking blue…since everyone's going to be wearing black…" Summer said.

"This one?" Ryan pulled one out.

"Ew, no. Do you really dress yourself?" She teased.

"Kirsten helps me," He replied.

Summer giggled nervously, relaxing slightly. She plucked a suit from the closet. "This one."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Then…" She went to the dresser. "Cufflinks and we'll need something to fix his hair."

Ryan was patient as Summer searched the dresser. Finally, she dropped the things into a small bag while Ryan held the suit behind her. She spun to face him. "Okay. First step over. Let's go."

"Lead on."

She took his hand and they left the bedroom. They walked down the stairs but she stopped cold by the outline.

"Summer?"

"Can we just pause a second?"

"Sure…" Ryan was still as she released his hand and walked over to knee beside the outline.

"He was my Daddy…he came to all my dance recitals…he took care of me when I was sick…" She said suddenly. "He's…he's gone."

"I'm sorry, Summer…" Ryan whispered.

She turned to face him. "You…you know that I love you, right?"

"Yeah…"

"I…I think I need to do this by myself now."

Ryan was stunned. Only a few minutes earlier, she'd been begging him not to leave her. Now she was sending him away.

"Like…"

"Okay. Whatever you need…" He said before she could finish. He'd promised her that he'd do whatever she needed.

"Can I explain later?" She walked to his side but didn't touch him.

"Yeah. Whatever you need, Summer," Ryan repeated.

"Thank you. I'll take you home."

--------

"Seth?" Ryan leaned against Seth's open doorway.

"What's up, man?" Seth was surprised to see him.

"Um…Summer brought me back. She wanted to be alone."

"Oh. You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm just sore. Could you call her in a couple of hours? Like…to make sure she's okay?"

"Yeah, of course…"

"Thanks…"

"Hey, Ryan?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to check on you in a couple of hours, too."

"Thanks. I'm a little spacy still."

"Get some rest."

--------

"Summer called. She's finished at the funeral home and she's running some errands. She swears that she's fine," Kirsten told Sandy that afternoon.

"Ryan's still sleeping. All he told Seth was that she wanted to be alone."

"I'm worried about both of them. Their relationship has always been intense but…"

"They'll be okay. They love each other."

Sandy sighed. "This is just such a complicated situation. Nobody's guilty but everyone feels like it."

"Well, Anna's upstairs with Seth and Ryan's resting. Our kids are safe. Rosa's making dinner…everything's going to be okay," Kirsten said, embracing him tightly.

"I know…I just needed to hear it," Sandy smiled.

Seth and Anna walked in.

"Hi, guys."

"We were going to rent some movies for when Ryan wakes up. Cheerful ones," Anna said.

"That sounds like a good idea. Rosa's making dinner, so don't be too long."

"Okay," Seth agreed.

"I'll go look in on Ryan," Kirsten said.

"I need to make some more phone calls before Summer gets home," Sandy sighed.

Kirsten went upstairs and quietly pushed open Ryan's door.

He was sitting upright in bed but his eyes were glazed and unfocused.

"Ryan?" She stepped inside and sat down beside him on the bed. She waved her hand in front of his face.

"Lie down, Ryan," She said softly, realizing that he was asleep.

He didn't resist as she pushed him gently to lie down.

"Close your eyes."

He obeyed and murmured something she couldn't hear. She stroked his hair, trying to get him to relax.

"No…don't…stop…" He mumbled.

"Honey, wake up…Ryan?"

He whispered something and tried to push her hands away.

"Ryan."

He relaxed abruptly.

"Ryan."

He opened his eyes and searched the room before settling his gaze on Kirsten. "Hey."

"Bad dreams?" She asked, brushing his hair from his face. She was pleased that he didn't flinch. He'd come a long way and he trusted her.

"They're always bad," He whispered. "They had gone away but…the painkillers are like nightmare candy."

"I'm sorry you were hurt."

"I'm just glad Summer wasn't…" His voice faded.

"She's okay. She called," Kirsten said quietly.

"Good."

"What happened?"

"I don't know. One minute she was holding my hand and asking me not to let go and then…she said she needed to do it alone…"

"This is hard for her."

"I know. She needs space."

"You need rest."

"I'm tired of resting," He muttered.

"Well, it's almost time for dinner."

"Can I make a quick call?"

Kirsten examined him with her eyes. He was completely controlled except for a tremor on his bad side. "Can I ask…"

"My shrink. The dreams…they're bad but…my arm hurts, too. I just need some advice," He admitted.

"Sure. I'll be downstairs if he needs to talk to me."

"Thanks."

--------

Summer didn't come in until after the Cohens had eaten dinner. She'd had a lat dinner with her father's lawyer. Because the death was accidental and no formal charges had been filed at the time of his death, she was set to inherit millions from his life insurance policy. The house was hers, plus everything in it. He'd changed the will after her stepmother had filed for divorce.

She'd numbed herself. She was strong. She was independent. She didn't want him carrying her around, she couldn't be weak.

She'd given the approval for her father's body and straightened him up, putting on his cufflinks and tie. She'd combed his hair and covered his face when she sprayed the hair spray to keep it neat. After the funeral home, she'd gone back to the house and cleaned.

She'd pulled up the tape outline and vacuumed and scrubbed the house from top to bottom. She'd barely had time to change and meet the lawyer.

Now, all she wanted to do was see Ryan. She was ready for him to take care of her now.

"Summer. How are you?" Sandy called from the kitchen.

"I'm okay. I have some papers for you to look over. I met with my dad's lawyer."

"You did?" Sandy was surprised.

"I needed to get this over. I should've told you…"

Sandy gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure you did just fine without me. I'll go over them," He accepted the folder.

"Thanks. Is Ryan…"

"He's outside with Seth and Anna."

"Is he upset?"

"I think he's okay. Summer?"

She paused by the door.

"I don't want to be cruel, but you guys need separate rooms tonight, okay?"

"Okay," She nodded.

She found Ryan sitting around the table with Seth and Anna on the patio. Anna was reading aloud from an SAT handbook while Seth painted her toenails.

Ryan was wearing a sling and a thick sweatshirt but his feet were bare. His toenails were painted a bright pink.

"Chino, what did they do to you?" Summer smiled.

"I needed to practice," Seth explained.

"I'm too weak to resist his begging. And he paid me 20 bucks," Ryan said as she kissed him and pulled a chair up close to him.

"You make it okay today?" Ryan asked her.

"Yeah. I missed you."

His face flashed with hurt suddenly, but he glanced away before she could respond. "Next question, Anna?"

"We're getting into the verbal now…" Anna smiled.

"Damn," Ryan said dramatically.

"Ryan sucks at verbal…" Seth laughed.

Summer ran her hand down Ryan's arm but instead of accepting it, he followed its progress with his eyes.

"Ryan…" Summer whispered as Anna read aloud.

"Ryan? Can you come in here for a minute?" Kirsten interrupted.

"Be right back," Ryan said. He stood up slowly and went inside.

"What's that about?" Summer asked.

"You'll have to ask Ryan," Seth said quietly.

"Seth? What…"

"Ryan's in the kitchen with Mom, not me. That's what…that's all I meant."

Summer sighed. "I'm sorry. He's being weird."

"He's got a hole in his shoulder. And he saw a man die. Can you say that you're not a little weird, too?" Seth asked quietly.

"Guess not."

"He was fine at dinner. He even ate," Anna said.

"Really? That's good…Sandy said that we have to stay in separate rooms tonight," Summer admitted.

"You had to know that was coming. Sandy and Kirsten are cool but they're not going to let you guys shack up," Anna smiled.

Ryan returned and sat down again.

"Everything all right?" Summer asked.

"Kirsten says that Seth has a future doing pedicures," He muttered.

"What's up?" She asked.

"Nothing," He shrugged.

"Bullshit," She challenged.

Ryan didn't reply immediately, giving her a confused glance.

"Um…we'll be inside," Seth said.

"No, it's okay. I'm going to bed anyway. I'll see you guys tomorrow," Ryan replied, starting to stand up.

"Ryan, no, don't walk away from me…" Summer urged.

Ryan sighed, standing up completely. "I don't think I can talk to you right now. Why don't you sleep on it and decide exactly what you want from me."

"I want you to stay."

Seth and Anna were silent, watching them.

"Now? You're ready for me, now?" Ryan muttered.

"Ryan…"

"I'm tired. I'll see you first thing in the morning." Ryan walked away.

"What did I do?"

"Well, today you sent him away. Tonight you tell him that you missed him…like he was supposed to stay with you and…and he feels like shit," Seth said quietly.

"I…I just don't know what to do."

--------

Sandy and Kirsten were watching Ryan sleep.

"That medicine can't be good for him…he's sleeping so hard," Sandy said quietly.

"It's a sedative. It shouldn't hurt him. And he asked the doctor for it. The doctor agreed that tits safer than the nightmares," Kirsten replied.

"What's wrong? Why are you watching him?" Summer asked, approaching them in the hallway.

"He's sleeping…" Kirsten said.

"Already? I wanted…" She stammered.

"I think he's still pretty exhausted," Sandy explained.

"Can I wake him? Please?"

Sandy hesitated. "Summer, he took something to help him sleep."

"Oh. Nightmares?" She gasped.

"All day," Kristen whispered.

"I shouldn't have left him…" She replied.

"Summer, it's not your fault. He always has that reaction to painkillers, you know that. Let's leave him to rest," Sandy urged, closing the door.