Author's Notes:

This chapter goes out to AgnesSophia and Misty-Kid, who asked for Ryan/Sandy interaction and whose reviews never fail to make me smile. I hope this lives up to your expectations.

Sandy knew that the news was bad the moment he saw Kirsten. Her face was drawn and tired, and her eyes were red, as if she'd been crying. The anxious churning in his stomach intensified.

Seth's eyes widened in shock at his mother's listless appearance. "Mom, Ryan's okay, isn't he?"

"Of course he is," Kirsten tried to assure him. "His doctor assured me that he's out of danger."

Seth brightened. "That's great! How soon does he get out of here?"

Kirsten bit her lip and cast a nervous glance at Sandy. "I'm afraid it's a little complicated, Seth."

"Why is it complicated?" Seth persisted. "Ryan was in an accident, but he's going to be okay and he'll come home."

"What's wrong with Ryan?" Sandy questioned gently. "Did he break something?"

Kirsten sighed. "Maybe you and Seth should sit down for this."

"Mom, what is it?" Seth insisted. "Whatever it is, it can't be that bad."

"Well, the doctors aren't one hundred percent sure, because they haven't been able to talk to Ryan yet," Kirsten began. "But they're pretty certain that Ryan's injuries are the result of a suicide attempt."

Seth shook his head vehemently. "No way. Ryan wouldn't do that. I know he wouldn't."

Sandy could see his wife struggling to maintain her composure for Seth's sake. "Maybe he didn't," she tried to assure Seth. "But even if it turns out to be true, there's a lot that can be done for Ryan, and he's going to need us to be there for him."

"Can we see him?" Sandy asked.

"He can only have one visitor at a time, and only for five minutes, but yes," Kirsten answered. "He sleeps most of the time, but I think he might have opened his eyes for a moment the last time I saw him."

"Okay," Sandy nodded. "So who do I need to talk to in order to see him?"

Ryan slept fitfully, with brief returns to consciousness followed by immediate dropoffs back into slumber. He felt disoriented and vaguely aware that something was wrong. There was something he didn't want to remember, something he had done that had gone wrong. It was starting to come back to him now. The throbbing in his wrists. The bright red splatters of blood, and the darkness that had swallowed him.

Except now the darkness had given him up. He had failed.

Ryan opened his eyes and immediately squinted against the harsh glare of the fluorescent lights. He tried to shift positions but found that his arms and legs wouldn't obey. He tugged his arms, only to meet with an stab of pain in his wrists.

He was in the hospital, Ryan deduced. That much seemed certain. He was in the hospital and something was holding down his arms and unless he was mistaken, he was in a world of trouble.

Someone else was in the room. Ryan turned his head, and got a sick feeling in his stomach when he saw that it was Sandy. The older man looked pale and tired, and Ryan knew that it was his fault. He didn't want to face the only real father he'd ever had after disappointing him like this.

Ryan tried to turn away and pretend to be asleep, but he was a split second too late as Sandy's eyes met his. "Hi," Sandy whispered. "How are you feeling?"

"How do you think I feel?" Ryan snapped. He wasn't really mad at Sandy, but he was furious with himself and seeing as he was tied to the bed and couldn't do anything else, Sandy was the only target he had.

"I can talk to someone about getting those restraints off," Sandy offered, trying not to panic at Ryan's angry reaction. Of course the kid was angry. He's depressed and restrained and he feels completely trapped.

"That would be nice," Ryan relented. "I'm sorry."

Sandy shook his head. "You don't need to apologize."

He couldn't handle this. Not Sandy, or any of the Cohens. Not when he felt this low. "Sandy, don't take this the wrong way, but I'd rather be alone right now." He regretted his words when he saw the hurt in Sandy's eyes, but he couldn't bring himself to take them back.

"All right," Sandy agreed quietly, rising from his chair. "But I'm not going away, Ryan, and neither are Kirsten or Seth. We're going to be right here with you every step of the way."

Ryan shook his head. "You don't have to do this."

"Yes, we do," Sandy insisted. "Families stick together. End of discussion." He started for the door, then turned around. "Get some rest, Ryan. I'll see you tomorrow."

Ryan could tell there would be no flexibility on the issue. It might have been his imagination, but he felt a little better.