Disclaimer: I do not own even a frame of The O.C…. very sad, yes, I know. I cry about it. Anyways. Don't sue, I have nothing for you, unless you like socks… I have lots of those.

A/N: This is somewhat of an A/U fic, and takes place roughly between the episodes "The Escape" and "The Heights". In other words, the guys haven't started school quite yet, Sandy hasn't started his new job yet, Ryan and Marissa are together, Summer and Seth are… well confusing, and Luke/Ryan are still enemies……Anna won't be mentioned much, I don't think, though I do enjoy her character, I just don't have a spot for her as of yet.

Enjoy, and don't forget to click that little "review" button at the bottom of each chapter, it makes me happy…..

……………………………………

To Pieces

Chapter One

Ryan sat in the semi darkness of the Cohen's backyard, staring at the light ripples thrown around from the pool. It was interesting that the Cohens didn't shut off the lights at night, though no one was using them, however it did serve a purpose to Ryan.

It prevented him from falling in the pool on his midnight walks.

Like this one.

He let out a deep sigh, tugging at the leather cuff around his wrist. Kirsten and Sandy had sat down and had a talk with Seth and himself earlier.

Not a good talk, not in Ryan's opinion, though Sandy seemed pretty happy about the whole thing. Sandy was going to start a new job, "Working for the man" Sandy had said. It paid more, and he'd have more opportunities to help those in need, which Ryan doubted.

Working for a large firm, Sandy would probably be weighed down with pointless lawsuits from rich people complaining about a wrinkle in their life.

At the PD's office, Sandy had been helping. Really helping. Giving hope to those who had none, like Ryan. But now, it seemed, Sandy was turning his back on all that. For money.

"Everyone has their price, Ryan" Trey had told him.

Of course, Trey had, at the time, been referring more to keeping certain activities… quiet, but it still applied here. He could remember that when Trey had told him that, he didn't believe it. Wouldn't believe it. Some people were good at heart, and that's what they went by. Sandy had been one of those people.

He guessed everyone did have their price.

……………………………………..

"Hey man, get up!" Seth cried as he bounced in to the pool house.

He got no response and promptly threw himself on the bed, beside him Ryan rolled over so fast he became entangled in the sheets, ending up on the floor.

Ryan groaned, "What do you want, Seth?" he groaned.

"Time to get up!" he cried, "It's like, nine in the morning and, my dear friend, we only have limited days of Summer holidays left!"

"Ugh" Ryan moaned, laying his head against the floor again.

"Ryan" Seth scolded.

"What?" he snapped from the floor.

"Ooh, grouchy in the morning, aren't we. What, did you stay up all night with Marissa?" he prodded.

"No" Ryan shot back, pulling himself up from the floor.

"What's the dealio then?"

Ryan shot him a glare.

"Hey, I said I was sorry about bouncing you on to the floor"

Another glare.

"Right. So I'm gonna be inside, where you should be, eating" he got up from the bed as Ryan threw himself back in to it.

Seth shook his head and made his way in to the kitchen. Ryan would be in eventually, he hoped.

His mother met him in the kitchen, "Hey, no office today?"

"Someone needs to baby-sit you guys" Kirsten remarked.

Seth scoffed, "baby-sit mother?"

His mother shot him a glare, "Tijuana" she reminded him with a passive glare.

"Right. Baby-sit. I warn you though, as a peace offering, that Ryan's a little grumpy this morning" he held his fingers apart to demonstrate.

"Why?"

"How should I know? I didn't have time to ask before he kicked me out" Seth shrugged, grabbing a handful of dry captain crunch from the box and propelling it to his mouth.

"Seth" Kirsten scolded immediately, "There are clean bowls for a reason!"

"I'm saving you dishes, mother"

She glared.

"Wow, did I miss the memo?"

"What?"

"You know, the one informing everyone but me that today is the day to be grumpy…?"

Kirsten shook her head and got up from her stool.

"See, you cant' baby sit mom, you're tired of me already!"

"I'm going to check on Ryan" she glared at him.

Seth held up his hands in defence, "Don't say I didn't warn you!"

……………………………

Ryan was debating on whether he really felt like getting up or not when there was a knock at the door. He rolled over, lifting his head from the pillow.

Kirsten.

"Hey Ryan… is everything okay?" she asked.

"Fine" he replied shortly.

She frowned, "Seth was right"

Tattletale, Ryan thought. Instead of answering he put his head back on the pillow.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah" Ryan told her, wishing she would leave him alone for awhile. At least until he could put his game face on.

But no. Being the mother that Kirsten was, she set down her coffee on a table and approached his bed, attempting to feel for a temperature.

Ryan rolled away, "I'm fine. Really. I was just up late"

Kirsten seemed taken aback for a minute, "Oh" was all she said.

He stared at her, wondering if she was happy about Sandy's transfer. At least this way he couldn't bring home any more stray kids….

"Well. I'm going to go back inside then" she shot him a smile.

Ryan didn't reply, and didn't move until she had gone. He pulled himself in to a sitting position, looking around.

Why had Sandy even switched jobs. It wasn't as though the family needed the money. Why not help people who needed it, while being supported financially? Maybe Kirsten had something to do with it….

………………………………………..

Sandy walked in to the kitchen just as his wife emerged through the back door.

"Hey honey" he greeted her, "Seth" he said.

"Hey. How come you're home so early, I thought you had papers and that to sign.." Kirsten commented.

"Yea, I did. And now they're done, I just wasn't sure how long it would take."

"Oh"

Seth smiled suddenly, looking up from the counter, "Did he kick you out too?" Seth asked his mother.

She shot him a look.

"Who kicked who out?" Sandy asked, setting his briefcase down on the counter.

"Don't worry about it" Kirsten said at the same time Seth went

"Ryan"

Sandy frowned, "What's wrong with him? Is he sick?" It wasn't like Ryan to be… un – polite.

"He's fine. And he didn't kick me out" Kirsten looked pointedly at Seth.

"He hit you with the stonewall of silence?" Seth suggested.

Kirsten sighed, "Everyone's allowed to have a bad day Seth. I don't want you pestering him all day"

"Maybe I should go talk to him" Sandy suggested.

Seth snorted and Kirsten shrugged.

It was that moment Ryan chose to make his entrance through the patio doors, sporting jeans and a wife-beater, his trademark look.

He shot Seth a small glare as he entered the kitchen, then spoke "Hey" he said.

"Seems fine to me" Sandy commented, surprised when Ryan looked up at him, meeting his eyes, a glare there for himself as well.

"Yeah. Just great" Seth commented sarcastically.

"Seth" Ryan warned.

"No. Really, what's wrong Ryan, you're never like this" Sandy commented, feeling chilled by the look Ryan had given him.

Ryan hesitated for a moment, "Nothing, can't I have a bad day once in awhile?"

"See" Kirsten put in.

Ryan paused at the cupboard, then dropped his hand, turning around. "You know what, I'm not hungry" he said, quickly exiting the kitchen and heading back out to the pool house.

The Cohens shared a look.

"Something's up his ass" Seth commented.

"Seth, don't say 'ass' Kirsten commented passively.

………………………………………

Ryan hadn't been alone in the pool house for two minutes before there was another knock at the door. He glanced up, Sandy. He took a deep breath.

"Hey kid" Sandy greeted, "You want to talk?"

"Not really" Ryan said pointedly.

"Something happen with Marissa?" he pushed.

"Nope" Ryan threw himself back on the bed.

"With Seth? I know he can be a little…. Buggy at times but he means well"

"It's not Seth"

" Are you stressed because of school? Because you'll do just fine"

Ryan didn't even offer a reply, but sighed instead.

"Hey, kid. Come on, you're never like this.."

"How would you know?" Ryan shot back, "You've only known me for six weeks"

Sandy sighed, "Well if you want to talk.."

"Which I don't" Ryan added.

"I'll be inside"

Ryan waited for his retreating figure to disappear in to the house completely before he left the pool-house to grab his bike.

He couldn't be here right now.

……………………………………

Ryan had been riding aimlessly for hours, attempting to burn off some of his pent up energy. The little ball that just seemed to keep growing in him, constricting his chest.

Without realising it he reached out and banged his fist in to the wooden pier, innocent bystanders quickly inched away.

"What's your problem, Chino" a voice questioned from behind.

Not now. He didn't need this now. Ryan turned to reveal a cocky looking Luke standing there.

No more fights he could remember promising.

"You are" Ryan heard himself utter the words, silently cursing himself.

Luke smiled, tilting his chin upwards, "Oh yeah?"

Ryan took a step forward, tilting his head to the side. An unspoken acceptance to the challenge.

What was he doing?

Luke swung his fist first, managing to swing quickly and clip Ryan in the left eye, causing him to stumble backwards in to the pier siding.

He grabbed it, propelling himself forward in to Luke's frame, knocking both boys to the ground. Ryan landed on top.

He felt Luke knee his gut at the same time Ryan's fist connected with Luke's nose, blood began to seep out slowly.

Luke took another swing, hitting Ryan square in the jaw, causing his head to snap back quickly and his vision to blur. But it didn't stop him. No.

If there's one thing Chino taught me, it was how to fight.

He connected twice with Luke's ribs before Luke was able to propel Ryan backwards, using his hands and feet. Ryan stumbled, landing on his ass, but quickly righted himself in to a crouching position.

Luke was getting to his feet.

Again Ryan propelled himself towards his enemy, this time hitting his legs causing Luke to bend forwards and fall on top of Ryan.

Stupid.

Luke didn't miss a chance to drive an elbow directly in to Ryan's side, causing him to gasp with pain, however it really only angered him further.

Using the anger that was constricting his chest, Ryan managed to roll Luke's body off of him and dive to the side.

Back on top.

He smashed his right fist first, feeling Luke's connect with his cheekbone. His left went to Luke's gut, who parried the attack with the same move. Boy boys rolled off eachother, gasping for breath for a moment when a voice interrupted them.

"I'm gonna call the cops"

Luke and Ryan both glanced up at the small shop keeper, suddenly noticing that they had an audience. Immediately they both jumped to their feet, Luke running down the pier and Ryan jumping on his bike.

Peddling. Fast as he could, just to get away.

……………………………..

It was a few hours later that Ryan finally returned to the Cohen household. He noticed all the lights were off, and hoped they were all asleep.

Dumping his bike behind the pool-house he entered it, flicking on a light to reveal Kirsten and Sandy sitting on the day bed.

Examining. Thinking.

"What the hell happened to your face!?" Kirsten demanded, rising to her feet.

Ryan began to edge towards the washroom. He was well aware his face must look like crap.

"You said no more fights!" Sandy yelled.

Ryan flinched. He'd never really heard either of them scream before. Not at him anyways.

"What does it matter?" he snapped back. Almost a defence mechanism.

"It matters because you promised!" Kirsten cried, moving closer to him.

Ryan backed up, away from her, again edging towards the washroom.

"No!" Sandy said firmly, finally rising as well. "Don't you even think about trying to hide from us in that washroom. You will sit down, right now, and explain to me exactly how this happened! And why, in the first place, you decided to leave without letting anyone know… for nearly" he checked his watch, " Fourteen hours"

"I didn't start it, okay!?"

"No, it's not okay!" Sandy told him, stepping past Kirsten.

"So what, you want me to get the shit beaten out of me now? Is that it?"

Sandy paused a moment, "You could have walked away!"

Ryan snorted, the action hurting just about everything on his face. His split lip, his swelling cheekbone, the cut on his forehead.

Damned varsity rings.

"Ryan. Really, what the hell has gotten in to you?"

"You!" Ryan shot back, without meaning too. There was silence for a moment, "You know what? I'm done talking for tonight." He stated firmly, then left the conversation, slamming the bathroom door in his wake.

He hit the thumb lock in to place and turned on the shower, hoping to drown out the number of voices screaming in his head.

He glanced up at the mirror above the sink and saw the bruising on his face. The telltale blood clot at the base of his nose. The raw cut etched in his forehead.

Ryan turned away, the view reminding him too much of what he saw in the mirrors in Chino, and got in the shower still wearing his clothes.

There Ryan sat down letting the spray run down over him, washing away the blood, dirt, sweat and tears.