Disclaimer: The O.C. isn't mine.
A/N: A huge thank you to 60schic for the beta. It's been tweaked since she last saw it. Mistakes mine.
Part 2
Someone was shaking her.
"Summer? Summer sweetie, wake up."
"Uhhh…" Summer opened her eyes and flinched at the florescent lighting. She turned to face the person waking her, but was greeted with pain shooting up her neck. "Ow."
"Morning," Kirsten smiled sympathetically at her. "I'd ask how you slept, but…"
"Yeah. What's going on? Why'd you wake me up? Is Ryan okay?" Summer asked quickly.
"Everything's fine. No change," Kirsten explained. "It's seven o'clock though. I wasn't sure if you were planning on going to school."
"Oh. I hadn't even thought about it. I… do you think the Cooper's have called Harbor and told them?"
"I'm sure it's been taken care of. But Marissa's friends will want to talk, it might be good to go, try to-"
"Mom," Seth groaned from Summer's lap. "Have you met those kids? All they'll care about is if they'll get a day off school."
"Cohen." Summer swatted him in irritation before turning back to Kirsten. "I don't think I can be there today. I can't deal with all the gossip and the staring and the... I just can't."
"Okay," Kirsten nodded. "I should probably call Dr. Kim and explain that the three of you will be out today."
"Speaking of calls Mom?" Seth mumbled sleepily as he sat up, "I need to call into work."
Summer scooted away from Seth. "I need to let Zach know what's going on."
"Why?" Seth wondered with a sneer.
"Can we please not do this right now?" Summer requested. "My best friend's dead. Your best friend hasn't woken up yet. Can we just… not?"
"Yeah. Of course."
"Is there anything I can do before I call Zach? Do you guys need more coffee?"
"I think we're alright sweetie," Kirsten assured her, "thank you."
"Sure." Seth extended his hand to Summer and she pulled herself up before following Seth out of the room.
Seth pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and searched through its memory. He took a shaky breath. Summer placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
With her free hand Summer retrieved her own phone from her purse. Six missed calls. All from Zach. Summer winced. For a whole horrible night she and Seth had sought comfort in each other and she had totally missed Zach's calls. All Zach had wanted to do was take care of her and all Summer had wanted was for Seth to take care of her. She sucked.
Still waiting for Alex to pick up, Seth felt Summer's hand grow heavy on his shoulder. He turned his head to make sure she was okay. She was staring at her phone, stricken. Feeling his glance, Summer looked up and smiled wanly.
Her cell phone, chronically on silent mode, vibrated in her hand.
"Zach. Hey."
"I've been trying to reach you all morning. I have some news. About Marissa."
"I know. I've actually been at the hospital all night."
"So it isn't true?" Zach asked hopefully. "She's… okay?"
"Oh. No, it… it is true. Coop's dead," Summer told her boyfriend gently, fingers digging into Seth's shoulder for support.
Seth placed his free hand over Summer's and squeezed. Alex still wasn't answering her cell phone.
"He's my friend," Summer explained over the phone, "I need to be here for him."
"You mean for Cohen."
"For both of them, they're my friends. I need to be around friends right now."
"But not your boyfriend."
"Zach. It's not like that. Really," Summer insisted. "I want you here. With me."
It still hurt Seth, Summer wanting someone else. Seth removed his hand from Summer's and quickly dialed his boss' home number.
"What the fuck? It's early," Alex grumbled sleepily.
"Hey. It's me. Uh, Seth. Seth Cohen."
"Seth hi," Alex's tone softened.
"I, uh, need to let you know that I can't come in today. Or, for awhile actually."
"Is everything okay?"
"Not really, no. Ryan was in a car accident. Another friend was," Seth lowered his voice out of consideration for Summer, "killed. Everything's kind of a mess."
"Oh my God. What can I do? Do you want me to come to- where are you?" Alex asked with uncharacteristic sympathy.
"The hospital, and, no. It's okay. Summer and I pretty much have everything under control."
"Summer?"
"Her best friend just died. She feels like she needs to be here, doing something for somebody," Seth explained not really sure why he was telling Alex any of it.
"I'll come by later, okay?" She offered in a tone that made it clear she wasn't offering.
"Um, okay," Seth nodded and realized Alex couldn't see him, "I'll see you later."
"Yes. You will." Alex hung up.
"You are so whipped," Summer stated as Seth turned to face her.
"And how's Zach?"
Summer sighed. "Remember when life used to be simple?"
Seth looked at her, confused. "Uh no. I don't actually. When was that?"
Summer rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. Less complicated. Not life and death and love and hate and all this… God."
"Sum…"
"What?" Summer snapped.
"You want to get some breakfast?"
Summer eyed him suspiciously.
"Yeah. Sure."
Pale and unshaven, Jimmy Cooper stumbled over to Seth and Summer in the hospital cafeteria just as Summer mustered up the nerve to take a second bite of her unripe-hospital-fruit salad.
"Summer! There you are!" Jimmy slurred as though he was drunk. "I've been looking for you everywhere!"
"I stayed with the Cohen's. Ryan's hurt pretty badly," Summer stated coolly.
"Oh. Okay. I wanted to ask you, can you baby-sit Caitlin for me?"
"My best friend just died!" Summer exclaimed. "Besides, Caitlin's twelve."
"Also I thought she was in boarding school," Seth added.
"She's coming home. For Marissa. Can you baby-sit her Seth?" Jimmy persisted.
"My brother's in the hospital! And Caitlin's still twelve," Seth pointed out.
"Jimmy!" Julie rushed into the cafeteria and over to Seth and Summer's table. "Sorry, he's a little... upset. Are you okay?"
Summer stood and hugged Julie tightly. "Are you?"
"Oh, sweetie," Julie squeezed Summer back. "We'll survive."
Summer released Julie, and Julie turned to Seth.
"How's Ryan?"
"Unconscious. We're still waiting."
"I am so, so sorry," Julie apologized, for what Seth wasn't certain. Maybe for having raised an alcoholic daughter who hurt everyone she touched. "Your grandfather will be by later today to check on everyone. I'd go up now, but I think I'd better take care of Jimmy, and then I have to pick Caitlin up from the airport."
"Yeah. I'll tell Mom you were concerned," Seth offered.
"I am. Thank you." Julie steered Jimmy out of the cafeteria.
Summer sat down and shuddered.
"You okay?" Seth asked, reaching across the table to take her hand.
Summer shook her head.
"Summer, talk to me," Seth requested. "Tell me what you're thinking."
"Julie Cooper's the closest thing I've ever had to a mother. Marissa and Caitlin are like my sisters," Summer looked up at Seth, her eyes full of tears. "My sister is dead."
Seth stood, walked around the table, and slid in next to Summer. He wrapped his arms around her. "I know baby. It sucks. It sucks so bad."
"I…"
"Let's go back upstairs," Seth suggested. "Maybe get some more sleep. Besides, I need to catch my mom before she goes to the office and give her Julie's message."
"Yeah. Okay. Lead the way."
