Chapter Eight
Author's Note:
Incredibly sorry for the long wait. I had an unbelievably large work load at school. This is my first weekend without homework (yay!) Well, this is it, the last chapter,hope you like it.
Disclaimer:
Still own nothing to do with The OC.
Chapter Eight
Ryan sat quietly in the backseat while Seth chattered away excitedly in the seat next to him. Sandy and Kirsten remained quiet while Seth's stories of Summer filled the silence and time on the way to the dreaded doctor.
Once they arrived at the doctors' office, Ryan was quickly ushered into a private room. While being pushed along, he glanced back at the full waiting room in confusion.
"Sometimes it's a good thing to have Caleb Nichol as your father," whispered Kirsten upon seeing Ryans' questioning look. Ryan nodded silently in understanding.
After what seemed like an eternity of walking, the three Cohen's and solitary Atwood finally stepped into the Doctor's office.
After waiting for nearly five minutes, Dr. Black finally made his appearance much to the chagrin of Ryan. He seemed to be a jovial fellow with his bald head shining in the flourescent lighting and his round wire-rimmed glasses perched precariously close to the tip of his nose.
Taking a blue pen out of his white lab coat, he picked up a clipboard and focused his attention on Ryan who was quick to lower his eyes from the scrutiny.
"You're Ryan, yes?" asked Dr. Black as he stepped toward the steel table on the far side of the room. Ryan quickly nodded his head in affirmation. Looking questioningly at the Cohen's when he failed to receive even a semblance of eye contact from his new patient, he patted the steel table. "Hop on up here would you please?"
Ryan walked hesistantly forward and awkwardly jumped onto the metal slab.
"What happened to your face, Ryan?" asked Dr. Black as he inspected the cuts and bruises that marred his face.
"Got into a fight," answered Ryan simply.
"With who?" continued Dr. Black. Ryan merely shrugged his shoulders in response while ducking his head so the wounds would no longer be visible. Out of the corner of his eye, Ryan saw Kirsten look uncomfortably down at her hands. "You are here for a physical, yes?" he asked looking to Sandy and back at Ryan.
"Yes," answered Sandy when Ryan did not answer.
"I see. Okay, we will start with some x-rays and bloodwork as per your request?" asked Mr.Black in the direction of Sandy and Kirsten. Both adult Cohen's shook their heads in affirmation. "Right then. Someone will be by shortly to take some blood, to take a look at that nasty cut and bring you down to x-rays. Any questions?" When no questions were forthcoming, Dr. Black left the room in a flurry of movement to attend to other patients.
"Why am I being sent to x-rays?" asked Ryan once the doctor had left," I didn't break anything. I understand the bloodwork, but why x-rays?"
"The x-rays are apart of the physical, Ryan," answered Kirsten. Ryan looked around the office nervously. For once everyone, even Seth, was quiet as they awaited the arrival of the nurse that would be looking at Ryan.
After the doctor had come and gone again to prep the x-ray machine, which actually meant he was bumping someone, Ryan and the Cohen's sat in a stunned silence. The nurse had already taken Ryan's blood, an experience Ryan would never want to have again.
Ryan wasn't particularly afraid of needles, but they still gave him the heeby jeebies. Despite all of this, he found it impossible to look elsewhere while the needle was being inserted and the blood drawn. He had sat mesmerized by the red liquid that was being pumped out of his vein into the clear plastic tube.
Unconsciously, Ryan rubbed the spot where the needle had penetrated his skin.
"Feel okay?" asked Sandy from his spot in the chair beside the metal table. Ryan looked down at the spot where his hand was stopped mid-rub.
"Yeah," he whispered slightly embarassed. The silence was again took over the room. Nervously, Ryan began to pick at the bandage covering the needle hole.
"Ryan, leave it alone," said Kirsten breaking the heavy silence. Her tone was sharper than she had realized as she watched Ryan recoil at her words and immediately stopped picking.
"Sorry," he mumbled almost incoherently. Kirsten sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"Don't be sorry," said Kirsten softly, "I didn't mean for what I said to come out so harshly. I should be the one saying sorry." Ryan looked slightly shocked at Kirstens' words and managed to keep the now numerous questions to himself.
Fifteen minutes later, the same nurse who had drawn Ryan's blood entered the room to take him for his x-rays. Ryan looked hesitantly at the Cohen clan but proceeded after the nurse without a word.
After another half an hour, Ryan shyly re-entered the room with Dr. Black at his heels.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, if I could please speak to you in my office?" said Dr. Black as he waved Sandy and Kirsten out of the room and down the hall to his expensively furnished office down the hall.
The Cohen's entered the sparsely yet extravagently decorated room two steps behind the doctor. It contained an ornate wooden desk. A leather executive chair behind the desk with two leather chairs in front of the desk. The desk was bare except for three photo frames, each with a smiling child behind the glass. Book shelves lined one wall while the opposite wall had an x-ray lighting machine and two expensive paintings.
Placed on the x-ray lighting machine were Ryan's x-rays. Dr. Black immediately brought the Cohen's to this point.
"I understand you are simply caring for Ryan at this point in time? He is not your biological son?" asked Dr. Black. He studied the x-rays while awaiting a response.
"That is correct," answered Sandy.
"And what exactly do you know about him?" continued Dr. Black.
"All we know is that he is a nine year old boy no longer wanted by his family," answered Sandy briskly. "Why? what do his x-rays show?"
"So you know nothing at all about his life before he came into your home?" urged Dr. Black before he continued.
"Nothing really," answered Sandy. He looked over at Kirsten who had remained quiet throughout all of the questioning. He as disturbed to find barely concealed tears in her eyes. "Now can you tell us what these x-rays say?" Sandy pulled Kirsten in close.
"Well," began Dr. Black once again looking at the x-rays. Raising his hand he began to point out the numerous breaks in Ryan's past. "He has broken his nose at least once, he has also broken his right collarbone, two fingers on his right hand, his left wrist and his left leg. Now he could just be a rambonxious boy, but from the way these bones were broken and since he is living out of his biological home, I would assume he has lived in an abusive home. Please, take a seat."
Sandy led Kirsten to the two leather chairs in front of the desk.
"Now that we have the past out of the way, I would like to discuss the present and future," said Dr. Black.
"Yes, of course," agreed Sandy taking Kirsten's hand.
"It is pretty obvious Ryan has not led a healthy childhood thus far. He is slightly malnourished which would account for his size," Dr. Black held up a hand to halt Sandy's questions, "I will give you a list of vitamins he can take that can correct that problem. Now, that cut on his face was pretty deep, so it may leave a scar. I would suggest rubbing this cream on it at least twice a day for a week to minimize scarring," he handed a white tube to Sandy who immediately gave it to Kirsten for her to put in her purse. "Any questions before we head back to the boys?"
"No, not really," answered Sandy looking to Kirsten who also shook her head no.
"Well, then, I say we head back so you can leave. Just make sure Ryan takes these pills once thwice a day for two weeks. It is suggested they be taken with food," Dr. Black handed a fairly long list of vitamins to Sandy. "Now come on, before idle hands become busy."
When they returned to the examination room, they found Ryan sitting in a chair opposite the door looking decidedly bored Seth in the corner of the room fidling with a fake skeleton. Sandy and Dr. Black shared an amused glance.
"C'mon boys," said Kirsten, "time to go home."
On the way home, Sandy stopped in at the local pharmacy to pick up the vitamins Ryan needed. When Sandy returned, he was met with two sets of curious eyes.
"What did you get in there, dad?" asked Seth. Sandy looked in the rearview mirror at the two boys.
"Just some vitamins that Ryan needs to take," he answered noticing how Ryan shrunk into the leather seat slightly.
"Why do you need vitamins?" Seth asked Ryan who only shrugged in response. Seth shrugged and resumed his chatter about something everyone had forgot about.
When they pulled into the driveway two hours after they had originally left, Kirsten shared a meaningful glance with Sandy.
"Boys, why don't you go watch some TV?" suggested Sandy.
"Why don't you just say you and mom want to talk privately? Geez," muttered Seth as he pulled Ryan into the house and up into his room.
"He's your son," said Kirsten through her laughter.
"That boy cannot go back to his mother," stated Kirsten when both her and Sandy were safely enclosed in their intricately designed master bedroom.
"He can't go into foster care," stated Sandy similarly as he began to pace at the foot of their king-sized bed. "Where is he gonna go? I mean, his mother is out of the question, he'll run away again if we even mention foster care and you..."
"Want him to stay," cut in Kirsten from he seat by the window.
"Want him to say?" repeated back Sandy startled. " When did you change your mind?"
"I just got to know him is all. He needs to grow up in a loving and supportive environment. We can provide all of that and more. After all, we did want to have another child eventually," replied Kirsten resolutely. Suddenly, she was enveloped in a giant bear hug. "Sandy?" asked Kirsten slightly ruffled.
"I love you, you know that?" said Sandy into her shoulder. Just as the hug began, it ended leaving Kirsten disoriented. "Man, I have so much to do. I have to call Children's Services, and and..."
"Tell the boys?" suggested Kirsten lightly.
"I love it when you finish my sentences this way. But I think I should call Children's services first so we don't get his hopes up and take them away." Sandy picked up the phone that was on the nightstand and dialed Children's Services out of memory.
One hour later, Sandy walked into the sweet smelling kitchen with a goofy grin on his face. By the counter, Kirsten was dishing out the Chinese food while Seth an Ryan set the table.
Kirsten paused in her dishing and went to the cupboard above the fridge. Both Seth and Ryan looked on curiously as she removed at least five bottles of pills. Going to Ryan's spot, she placed one pill from every bottle on the placemat. Sandy came up behind her and put the Champagne on the table.
"What's that for?" asked Seth.
"It's to celebrate the adoption of Ryan into our family," stated Sandy proudly. Ryan looked on in shock until a huge grin appeared on his face.
"I don't have to go back to my mom?" he asked hopefully.
"Nope, you're staying here with us," said Kirsten.
"Wicked!" shouted Seth giving Ryan a high five.
Kirsten went back to dishing out the food while Sandy got milk for Seth and Ryan. From the table, they could hear their two boys commenting on the pills.
"Dude, look at the size of this one!" exclaimed Seth excitedly holding a rather large pill in his hand. Sandy and Kirsten laughed at the constipated look on Ryan's face at the thought of having to swallow such a monster of a pill.
'Yep' thought Sandy to himself, 'this just might work out.'