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 6

Ryan turned his head towards the door when he heard the key in the lock. He expected it to be Officer Simpson, again. Who else would it be? She was the only one who had been in to talk to him. And he wasn't disappointed. But he was surprised when this time she shut the door behind her.

He sat up halfway and craned his neck to look around her at the door. He asked her, somewhat amused, "Did you just lock yourself in?"

"No, I have the key." Officer Simpson held out her right hand somewhat.

Ryan craned his head around a little more to get a better look at the door. He hadn't noticed before, but there was a small key hole there.

He gave her a mischievous smile. "But it's just you and me. I could like knock you out and take the key and get myself out of here."

Ryan had noticed that she didn't carry a gun or anything.

Officer Simpson smiled back. "Yeah, you could, but you wouldn't do that."

"How do you know?"

"Because I've been doing this for a long time, and I'm a good judge of people and I know you wouldn't."

She turned more serious and stepped forward to sit on the end of the bunk. She patted his foot. "Could you sit up for a minute, Ryan?"

Ryan looked at her, confused. "Sure."

Ryan scooted up on the bunk until he was up at the head of the bed and sat up with his back against the wall there, wondering what the Officer was up to.

"I have good news. I have spoken to Mr. Ward and he is on his way to pick you up. As soon as he signs for you, I can release you into his custody."

Ryan was relieved. "That's great."

"Well, it will still be a little while. He has to drive here from across town, and then we have to do the paperwork..."

Ryan nodded.

"I also spoke to Mr. Cohen."

Ryan looked down and played with his hands. "He's probably pissed at me, huh?"

"Yes, I would say so, but he was also worried about you."

Ryan nodded without looking up.

"I need you to listen to me for a second."

Ryan looked up at Officer Simpson, still not knowing what she was up to, but not liking how this sounded.

"Ryan, you have to stay out of trouble from now on. You've dodged a bullet here, this time. Next time, I couldn't say."

Ryan looked down, again. Yeah, he knew how lucky he was.

"I don't have access to your records from California, but I'm guessing that you've been through this before."

Ryan resisted the urge to confirm her suspicions.

"I suspect that you've had a rough time of it, but you're a smart kid and a good kid and if you stay out of trouble you could really have a bright future."

After a pause, Officer Simpson continued. "Mr. Cohen seems like a good man who really cares about you."

Ryan looked up at her. "Yeah, yeah, he is, he does."

"Well, then take my advice -- as a police officer -- listen to him, OK? Follow his rules, do what he tells you, let him guide you onto the right path. Be the good, smart kid that I know you have in you. Stop doing stupid things like you did last night. You don't want to be locked up again, right?"

Ryan didn't answer. He looked away. Of course she was right.

After a moment, Officer Simpson patted Ryan on the foot again. "OK. Well, you think about it, and I'll come get you when we're ready to release you."

Ryan watched her get up and unlock the door. Before she left, he told her, "Thanks."

She turned back and gave him a little smile and nod, and then she stepped out and closed the door behind her.

Carson was on his way to the police station in the showroom-new Lexus that he was driving that week from his dealership. As he got closer to his destination, he was more and more regretting his choice of vehicle. He had heard what his friend from the police department had said about Ryan getting picked up in one of the worse sections of the city, but he didn't really think about what that would mean. Well, nothing could happen to his car in the police parking lot, right?

When his cell phone rang, Carson used his hands-free headset to answer it. Although he couldn't see the caller ID while he was driving.

"Hello?"

"Carson? It's Sandy."

"Oh, Sandy, I was just about to call you --"

"That's all right, the police called me."

"Yes, that policewoman told me that she had talked to you, um, Officer ..." Carson was so bad with names.

"Simpson?"

"That's the one. I'm on my way to pick up Ryan now."

"Thanks, for taking responsibility for Ryan."

But Carson felt a little bit guilty. "I'm sorry, Sandy, I should have been watching him closer yesterday."

"Oh, Carson, it isn't your fault. They're teenagers. You can't stop them from doing what they want."

"But he was so upset --"

"Upset?"

Oops. "Sorry, I forgot that you didn't know."

"Know what?"

Carson took a deep breath. Ryan's girlfriend losing her baby had unexpectedly brought up sad memories for him about him and Meredith losing their second child. Maybe because it was a girl, and they now had the three boys, and Carson always wanted a little girl.

"Ryan's girlfriend called --"

"Theresa?"

"Yes, Theresa. She called yesterday and told Ryan that she had lost their baby."

"She told him that over the phone? Poor kid."

"There's more. She also told him not to come home."

"Ouch. That's harsh."

"Yeah. He was really upset. I tried to get him to talk to me, but..."

Sandy chuckled. "Yeah, trying to get Ryan to talk is not an easy task."

Carson had to smile, too. "Yeah."

Carson heard Sandy sigh. "Well, I guess maybe that explains a few things. Ryan doesn't usually drink very much."

Carson wasn't sure what to say to that, so he just said, "Hmm."

"Um, Carson, if you could do me another favor..."

"Sure."

"Even though Ryan may have had a reason for doing what he did, I can't let him get away with it, so... well... if he was home, I'd ground him..."

"You want me to ground him for you?"

"I know it is a lot to ask..."

"No problem, Sandy. In fact, I was just thinking that I wished he was mine so that I could ground him."

Sandy laughed. "Carson, I hereby give you the authority to ground the hell out of Ryan."

To be continued.