AN: So my one-shots don't stay one-shots, I'm sorry. Here's chapter two.
Something was wrong with his wife.
For the past three nights, he'd woken up with Kirsten standing by the window staring at the poolhouse.
She swore it was nothing but he knew his wife. Something was eating at her. Something that was bigger than Caleb's case which meant it was pretty damn big.
"When are you going to tell me what's on your mind?" Sandy asked quietly. She jumped from her spot by the window.
"I'm just not sleeping well…" She replied, returning to bed. He watched her settle back against the pillow, turning her back to him.
"Honey…"
"It's nothing. I promise…" She whispered.
He ran his hand down her arm and took her hand. "You can tell me anything, Kirsten…"
She turned to him suddenly and he saw that she had tears on her cheeks. "I can't…I…I don't know what to do…"
Sandy was surprised as she wrapped her arms around him and clung to him, burying her face in his chest. "I saw someone at the mall the other day when I was shopping…" She whispered, holding him.
He waited but she didn't continue. He started to rub her back soothingly.
"I just see him and he's so happy…he's finally happy…he's so smart, so relaxed, he's got such a bright future ahead of him…and I remember him from this summer, he was so tired, so stressed out and silent…"
"Kirsten, did you see Dawn?" Sandy realized that she was talking about Ryan.
"No, Sandy…" She pulled away and looked at him. "I saw Teresa. A very pregnant Teresa."
He stared at her.
"She lied to him, for his own good, she told him that she lost the baby so he could come home…she begged me not to tell him, but…but Ryan…he'd never forgive me, if that baby is his, if there's even a chance…he wouldn't want Eddie raising that child…"
"Eddie?"
"She's back with Eddie. He walked right up and told me to tell Ryan thanks for taking care of Teresa. He doesn't know that the baby could be Ryan's…"
Sandy was trying to process his wife's confession but he couldn't. Teresa lied to Ryan and went back to Eddie. Abusive, angry Eddie over hard-working, dependable Ryan. So Ryan could have a better life.
"Sandy? Sandy, say something…"
"Have you said anything to him?"
"No, I…I don't know if I should. She begged me, she swears he's better off…"
"Tomorrow, we'll go talk to her. We'll…we'll take care of everything…"
"Sandy…what do you…"
"We'll figure everything out before we go to him. We owe him that," Sandy whispered, pulling her close.
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"She's going to let you come to her next O.B. appointment?" Sandy's voice carried from the living room as Lindsay, Ryan and Seth walked in.
"She said that she'd cleared it with Eddie…" Kirsten answered.
Lindsay saw Ryan's face twist in realization a few moments before Seth turned to him. "What is it?" She asked.
"Dude, they can't mean…" Seth started.
Kirsten stepped in and paled. "Kids…Ryan…"
"What were you talking about?" Ryan asked.
"What…what did you hear?" She replied after a moment.
"Something about OB appointments and Eddie, Teresa's ex…" Seth answered.
Lindsay put her hand on Ryan's arm and felt his tension and emotion.
"Ryan…" Sandy called, stepping in.
"Oh god…it's true? She lied to me…she's still pregnant…" Ryan whispered, reading Sandy's face.
"Dad," Seth murmured, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Seth, we need to talk to Ryan…" Kirsten said.
"You knew? You didn't tell me?" Ryan asked, his face drawn with hurt. He paced in a tense circle until Lindsay took his hand and stopped him.
"Let us explain," Sandy began.
"No," He shook his head.
"Come on," Lindsay whispered, leading him toward the door.
"You shouldn't have done this," Seth said, following them out.
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Lindsay wrapped Ryan's fingers around the cold bottle and he finally accepted it with a slight nod. He was sitting on the carpet of her room with his head leaning against her bed. She wished there was something she could do for him but right now it seemed that he needed quiet. He was painfully quiet.
Seth was pacing in front of him.
"Seth, stop it. It's not helping," Lindsay said.
"He hasn't said a word in over an hour, I'll stop when he talks," Seth said quickly.
"Stop, Seth. Please," Ryan said quietly. Lindsay ran a hand through his hair. She wasn't sure of all the details of Ryan's summer but she knew enough to know that he was devastated by the Cohen's lie. He'd confided in her only recently about the pain he felt from finding out the Teresa had lost the child. She couldn't imagine how much he was hurting.
"Dude, thank god…" Seth's phone buzzed and he glanced at the display. Seth had been frantic with concern for Ryan and his parents had been calling almost every five minutes.
"What? Your parents again?" She asked, sensing something different about Seth's reaction.
"The 909," Seth answered, holding the phone out to Ryan.
Ryan flipped it open. "Hello?"
Seth pulled Lindsay into the hallway but he left the door open. If Lindsay had any doubt about how upset Ryan was, all she had to do was look at Seth.
"So, it's true…you lied…for my own good? Lies don't help anyone, Teresa…"
There was a long pause and when Ryan spoke again, his voice was laced with emotion. "I'd do anything for you, how could you do this? Don't say you love me, not after this…"
Lindsay started to go to him, unable to stand the agony in his voice but Seth stopped her.
"I want to know. I deserve to know. I won't let Eddie…I have a right to know. You owe me that."
Ryan stepped out and handed Seth his phone.
"You okay?" Seth asked.
"No." Ryan embraced Lindsay and sighed, looking at Seth. "Would you have told me?"
"What?" Seth asked.
"If you knew…"
"How can you ask me that? I might not have agreed with you for leaving, but I know how important that kid was to you," Seth replied.
"Thanks," Ryan said, nodding. "I…your parents are the first people I've trusted in a really long time…how could they lie about something like this?"
"Maybe you should talk to them," Lindsay said.
"I…I can't. I need to think…I need some quiet…" Ryan said.
"Stay here," Lindsay said immediately. "I'll tell my mom…"
"I think I need to be alone. For a while."
"You have no car, no money," Seth said. He shook his head. "I don't think you should be alone."
"Seth," Ryan whispered his name and Seth finally met his gaze with a solemn expression.
"I don't think you should be alone," Seth repeated. Lindsay watched the power struggle with interest.
"I need to be alone, Seth. I'll be okay…I'm not going to do anything stupid," Ryan said.
Seth finally nodded, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a twenty. "Here, in case you need it. Call me every two hours, okay?"
"I will. Thanks." Ryan kissed Lindsay gently and turned and left in a rush.
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"Ryan? What…what are you doing here?"
Ryan glanced over and recognized Jimmy Cooper. "Mr. Cooper…"
"You're drinking. I didn't know you drank," Jimmy said. The glass of dark liquor was sitting untouched in front of Ryan.
"I don't," Ryan shrugged.
"Does Sandy or Kirsten know you're here?" Jimmy asked, glancing around the darkened bar.
Ryan didn't reply, simply glaring at Jimmy.
"Yeah, I guess that is a stupid question. What's going on?" Jimmy asked. "Is everything okay?"
"I'll get out of your way," Ryan said, his gaze flickering over Jimmy's shoulder.
Jimmy turned around and saw Julie waving at him from across the room. Her face fell when she recognized Ryan.
"It's not what you think," Jimmy said, flushing.
"It's none of my business. And I'm an old hand at keeping Julie's secrets," Ryan muttered, tossing a bill on the table and leaving in a rush.
"What did he say, Jimmy?"
"I'm going to call his folks…"
Julie's eyes were locked on the swinging door. "Maybe you should just let it go. So he doesn't say anything…"
Jimmy shook his head at her. "If it were Marissa…you'd want Sandy or Kirsten to call us."
Julie pursed her lips. "Okay. Don't mention me…just tell them you saw him."
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Sandy knew that he had betrayed Ryan. Ryan had heard too many lies, too many false promises in his life and he trusted them. And they betrayed him.
He should have told him. He should have trusted Ryan enough to know that he could handle it. He shouldn't have lied.
They'd talked to Teresa, agreed that Ryan didn't need to know until they knew the baby's paternity.
It was a bad idea. Seeing Ryan's face today when he heard them talking, that was…it'd looked like he'd physically hit the boy. Ryan was distraught.
And now he was gone. Sure, Seth was with him, Lindsay was with him, but he should be here, letting Sandy explain it to him, letting Kirsten explain it to him.
Kirsten had retreated into the bedroom, still insisting on calling Seth's phone every few minutes despite the fact that Seth hadn't answered. Whatever made her stop crying was enough.
Sandy was waiting in the kitchen. He'd want to spot Ryan in case he snuck across the patio without coming inside. He had to talk to him. If he had to hold him down to get him to listen, he would. He would not lose Ryan again. Not like this.
His phone vibrated in his pocket and he put it to his ear immediately. "Hello?"
"Hey."
"Ryan…thank god…where are you?"
"I…I don't want to tell you that…I need some time…to myself. I…I hope you can understand that." Ryan's voice was dead and dull. He was distant.
"I want to talk to you. We have to talk, Ryan…"
"I know. And we will…I…I'm just really tired. I don't think you'd want me to come back there tonight…I…you kind of messed me up, Sandy…"
"I…I'm sorry."
"Me, too. I'll be home tomorrow…"
"Where are you staying?"
"I'm okay, Sandy. I'll send Seth home."
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Lindsay and Seth were sitting on the front porch when Ryan walked around the corner, his shoulders slumped and his gaze locked on the ground.
"Hey…" She whispered, meeting him on the sidewalk and wrapping her arms around him.
"Hey…"
"Better?" She asked.
"A little. Can I…can I crash here tonight? I don't really want to go home," Ryan murmured.
"I already talked to my mom. She won't tell them as long as you go home tomorrow. You have to face them…" Lindsay said.
"I know…" Ryan nodded.
"You all right, man?" Seth asked, approaching.
"I'll be all right. Will you come pick me up tomorrow? I promised your dad I'd send you home," Ryan admitted.
"Yeah, of course. Call me first thing, okay?" Seth said. He slapped hands with Ryan, giving him a loose hug. He turned to Lindsay. "Call me…if you guys need anything or you decide to run away to Mexico or anything, I totally want in…"
"Thanks, Seth. We'll call you…" Lindsay promised, putting an arm around Ryan's waist and leading him inside.
"You're sure your mom doesn't…"
"She trusts me," Lindsay said. "But you have to relax, okay? I'm not going to make you talk to me…unless you think it'll help."
"I…" He started as she closed the door to her bedroom. "I don't know how I'm supposed to feel. Everyone has been lying to me…"
"I know the feeling," Lindsay said, sympathetically.
"I…I never thought the Cohens would do something like this…Lie to me like this…I…"
"You need to relax. Where'd you go?" She asked. She sat down beside him on the bed and pulled him across her lap.
"I walked. I went into this…bar but I didn't drink anything. I mean, it wouldn't make anything any clearer…and…nothing's helping me figure out what I'm supposed to do now…who I'm supposed to trust…" Ryan whispered.
"Trust me…okay? Trust me…" She said, stretching out with him and holding him tightly. When he started to cry, she rocked him gently until his short breaths settled into sleep.
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Seth rolled over and absently answered his beckoning phone. "Hello?"
"Seth. It's Lindsay. I'm going to drive Ryan home, okay?"
"Is he all right?" Seth asked, the previous night's events coming back to him suddenly.
"He had a long night. But he's okay. He's calmer today. He's ready to talk to your folks. Are they home?"
"I'm still in bed. They were both gone to bed last night when I got home…" Seth scrambled to the door and down the stairs, peeking out the front window. "Both cars here. Tell him it's a full house."
"Thanks, Seth. We'll be there shortly. "
Seth closed his phone and turned, jumping as his mother surprised him.
"Was that Ryan?"
"He's on his way home," Seth replied.
"How…how is he?"
"He'll be fine as soon as you explain to him why you lied," Seth responded.
"We…we made a mistake…"
"Mom…I want Ryan here as much as you and Dad do…but he was really upset about the baby. Like, I know he didn't talk about it and he didn't show it…but I saw him walk to the beach every night for the first two weeks he was home, I know how much it hurt him…he couldn't even go back to get his things from her place…" Seth said.
"It was a mistake."
"How long have you known?"
"A few days. Almost a week. Sandy didn't even know until a couple of days ago…"
"I heard him talking to Teresa…he's just…he's really upset, Mom. I hope you and Dad can fix this," Seth said.