Title: Trouble in Portland
Summary: What if Ryan had a harder time dealing with the loss of the baby in episode 2.01 The Distance?
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to The O.C. No profit is taken from this story.
Chapter 4
"OK, boys, now I definitely have to call the police."
Carson was really getting worried about Ryan. It was 9 O'clock in the morning and he still wasn't back.
Luke still wanted to protect Ryan. "Wait a minute, Dad. Don't you have that guy that you met last month who works for the police department?"
"You mean Jack?"
"Yeah, him. Can't you call him and ask him to look into it, unofficially?"
"Um... I guess I could..."
Seth agreed. "Yeah, if you could... Please?"
Carson sighed. "All right, I'll give that a try, but if he can't find Ryan pretty quickly, I'm going to have to go the official route."
The boys nodded reluctantly.
Carson regarded both boys for a moment. "Aren't you both due at work, like... now?"
Seth and Luke looked at each other. Luke answered his father. "Yeah, but..."
"Go to work, both of you." When they both looked like they were about to protest, he added. "You both agree that Ryan is probably all right. I don't know how long this will take. I'll call and let you know when he gets back or when I find him. Go."
They reluctantly agreed and headed off to work. Once they were gone, Carson sighed with relief that he didn't have to deal with them hovering over him while he looked for Ryan. First Carson called into his secretary at his new Lexus dealership that he had opened a couple of months ago here in Portland and told her that he had a family situation and he'd be in when he could. Then he went to his little black book and found Jack's number and dialed it.
"Portland Police Department. Jack Carter speaking."
"Hi, Jack? It's Carson. I don't know if you remember me..."
"Carson? Of course..."
"Um... I hate to do this, but I need a favor."
Jack laughed. "What can I do for you?"
"A friend of my son's is visiting from California, and he took off last night and hasn't been back..."
"Ah, and you'd like me to see if he's been picked up by the department."
"If you could, that would be great."
"Sure, I'll just check the computer. What's his name?"
"Ryan Atwood. A-T-W-O-O-D. He's sixteen."
"Just a second."
Carson waited on the line impatiently. It took longer than a second...
"Carson?"
"Jack? Anything?"
"Good news, I think."
"You found him?"
"He was picked up by officers in precinct 4 last night -- that's in one of the worse sections of the city -- anyway, he was drunk, so they took him to the precinct to sleep it off. He's not under arrest, but they'd need a parent or guardian to release him to."
"Would they release him to me? His guardians are at home in California."
"Sure, if you're willing to take responsibility for him."
"I am. Do you have the number over there?"
"Sure." Jack gave him the number and Carson wrote it down.
"Thanks so much, Jack. How can I repay you?"
"How about that second date?"
After trying to reach Carson Ward on the phone with no success, Officer Simpson decided to check in on Ryan. She grabbed a bottle of OJ from the fridge on the way.
When she opened the cell door, Ryan was lying on the bunk. He looked completely relaxed and maybe even half asleep. He turned his head to look at her when she opened the door.
"Hey."
"Hi, brought you some orange juice. How are you feeling?"
Ryan sat up half way on the bunk and reached out to take the bottle from her. "Better, although the aspirin didn't help much."
"Want something to eat?" She had to smile when his only answer was a groan. "Didn't think so, but you should make sure you drink enough fluids so you don't get dehydrated."
Ryan nodded.
Marge watched Ryan while he drank his OJ. She couldn't help but think that this kid was a little unusual. The first time she came in, he was sitting on the bunk as far away from the door as possible, all tensed up, which was pretty normal for a kid in his situation. This time, though, he was acting like he was in his own bedroom at home, with the caveat that he was locked in, of course. He was way too relaxed for a sixteen year old who just spent the night in a holding cell. And he wasn't even complaining about having to be locked in when he wasn't even really under arrest, which was standard operating procedure.
Some of his attitude, Marge was sure, could be explained by his personality, or the fact that he was hung over and all he wanted to do anyway this morning was lie in bed. But her years of experience as a police officer dealing with juveniles told her that there was another reason. He had done this before, probably more than once. She had, of course, run his name through the computer, but that only covered Oregon. They didn't have access to juvenile records from other states without a subpoena, and since Ryan was from California...
Marge idly wondered if she asked Ryan about it, if he would tell her. He struck her as basically a good and honest kid, and she thought that maybe he would. Which is why she wouldn't ask. If she knew he was for example on probation in another state, and did something in this state that would violate that probation, she was duty bound to notify that other state, and she didn't want to do that to Ryan. In the short time that she'd known him, she liked him already.
"Officer Simpson?"
Marge realized that Ryan was talking to her. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Any news?"
"No, I haven't been able to get in touch with Mr. Ward yet, his line at home is busy. But I'll keep trying."
"Thanks." He handed her the empty OJ bottle. "And thanks for this."
Marge nodded by way of a you're welcome.
"Um... are you going to call the Cohens?"
"Your guardians? Yes, I am, but I haven't yet."
Marge had to smile when that answer elicited another groan. "Oh, come on, it can't be that bad. They'll just be glad that you're all right."
Ryan shrugged.
Marge gave him a smile and turned to leave.
"Um..."
Marge turned around. "Yes?"
"This is probably none of my business, but... do you have kids?"
Marge chuckled at that. She got asked that by 'her kids' all the time. Someone told her once that she gave off motherly vibes that the kids picked up on.
"Yes, I have two sons. They're in college now."
Ryan gave her a little smile and a nod. Marge nodded back before heading out the door.
To be continued.