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Exile Chapter Three

Kirsten placed a pile of blueberry pancakes in front of Ryan as he sat down at the breakfast table. His heart sank as he looked at them. He raised his eyes at Kirsten appealingly.

"These look really great, but I'm just not that hungry. A cup of coffee's all I need."

"Nonsense. You can't go to court on an empty stomach," Kirsten responded briskly.

Ryan sighed and gave Seth a sideways glance. Seth gave him a mocking look.

"Eat up Ryan, we have to leave soon," announced Seth, laughing at Ryan's discomfort, and then, lowering his voice, added, "You know there's no point arguing with the Kirsten when she's like this."

Ryan glared at him.

"I don't know why you're coming anyway Seth. I don't want you to miss school on my account." Seth scowled and kicked him under the table.

"Dude! Keep your voice down. You know I want to be there to support you." He smiled smugly to himself.

"So this has nothing to do with that History test you have today then?" Ryan queried.

Seth pointed to the pile of pancakes.

Ryan sighed, took a gulp of coffee and began to cut up the pancakes with his fork. Kirsten sat down opposite him with her coffee. There was no chance he was going to be able to get away with not eating. The first mouthful tasted like chewing cardboard, so dry was his mouth. He swallowed it down with another good glug of coffee. He kept darting a look at Kirsten when he thought she wasn't watching. Why was she making all this fuss if all she was going to do was send him away? He thought back again over the last twenty-four hours. Nothing appeared to have changed in the Cohen house. Kirsten and Sandy had skirted round each other as they had been doing for the last few weeks, Seth had been his normal self, if a little more over excited than usual, and they had all treated Ryan in exactly the same way they always did. What he had over heard and what he saw contradicted each other. Ryan was not stupid and he began to allow himself to wonder if he'd jumped to conclusions. He began to hope that he had got it wrong and whatever the Cohens were going to speak to him about, that it was not as bad as what he was imagining.

Kirsten broke into his thoughts, hovering over him, coffee pot in hand.

"More coffee Ryan? You have just enough time for one before we have to leave."

He shook his head and smiled his thanks as he got up from the table.

Sandy strode in, his suit jacket slung over his arm.

"Ready? If we leave now, we won't have to worry about the traffic on the 55."


The Cohens and Ryan sat in silence on a wooden bench outside the courtroom assigned to Ryan's hearing. An Orange County Juvenile Court attendant appeared in the hallway and spoke to Sandy.

"The judge is ready to see you now…."

Sandy nodded and turned to Ryan who sat anxiously beside Seth.

"This is it kid, good luck, although I'm sure you won't need it."

Seth slapped him on the back in a gesture of solidarity and for once kept his thoughts non-vocal. His eyes betrayed him though. Ryan saw nearly as much anxiety in them as he must have in his own.

Kirsten smiled encouragingly and brushed his bangs out of his eyes in a moment of maternal instinct. As he stood patiently in front of her she caught a glimpse of how he must have looked as a little boy, small, vulnerable, innocent.

They followed Sandy into a small room where a woman sat at a large leather topped table facing several smaller wooden ones. Sandy indicated where Kirsten and Seth should sit further back and then took Ryan to one of the front tables. Ryan nodded to his social worker Marlene and sat down between her and Sandy. Steve Adams, his Probation Officer sat across from them. A man sat typing in the corner, recording proceedings. It would be more informal than an adult hearing, Sandy had prepared the family. Dealing with juveniles was always tricky and the courts tried to make these sessions as non-threatening as possible.

The judge shuffled some papers and then looked directly at Ryan, her eyes squinting through her thick-rimmed glasses.

"Mr. Atwood I presume?"

The court attendant indicated that Ryan should stand.

Ryan stood up, brushing his damp hands on his trousers, and nodded.

"Yes your honor," he mumbled. He'd done this once already but it was still kind of overwhelming.

"So I understand you are here for your probation hearing? Do we have the relevant reports?" The judge looked questioningly at Sandy, Marlene and Steve. Marlene stood up quickly and approached the front.

"Marlene Johnson your Honor, Mr. Atwood's social worker. I have here a report from Child Services and some personal references from a family friend and Mr. Atwood's former employer."

She placed several buff colored folders in front of the Judge.

The Judge looked up sharply. "He hasn't been in school?"

Sandy stood up hastily at this point. "Sandy Cohen your Honor, I am Mr. Atwood's lawyer and guardian." The Judge raised her eyebrows briefly. "Yes your honor, he has been in school, this was just a job he took over the summer." The Judge nodded and leafed through the documents. After several minutes, she looked up.

"Mr. Adams, do you have your report?" Steve stood up and handed the Judge his own written report on Ryan, along with the report from Harbor.

Ryan studied her face anxiously as she scanned the document. He had no idea what Dr Kim had written about him. He couldn't blame her if she'd not been glowing. The whole Oliver incident could hardly be forgotten, even if she and the trustees had forgiven him for it. Still, he'd kept his head down since, had excellent grades and a full attendance record, except for the one time he and Seth had skipped to take Theresa to the doctor's.

After an eternity, or so it seemed to the entire Cohen household, the judge shut the files, leaned forward on her elbows and addressed Ryan personally.

"Mr. Atwood, I must say I'm very impressed with what I see in these references. Your school has sent a glowing report and you are obviously very well thought of by both your character referees. You really seem to have turned your life around."

Ryan blushed and bit his lip nervously. Seth glanced at his mother and was surprised to see her eyes shining. He took her hand and squeezed it. That did it for Kirsten and a tear trickled down her cheek. She wiped it away furiously before anyone could see. Seth smiled to himself. For all her tough businesswoman exterior, his mom could be such a softy. And let's face it, if it hadn't been for her, Ryan would probably still be in juvie right about now. Seth looked back to the front as the Judge began to speak again.

"Mr. Adams, I see from your report that you feel Mr. Atwood has fulfilled the conditions of his probation?"

Steve stood up again and cleared his throat.

"Yes your honor. He's had a few ups and downs but he's stuck with it." The Judge nodded, appearing satisfied and turned to Ryan's social worker.

"And Ms Johnson, do you have anything you wish to add to what is in the Child Services report?"

Marlene stood again.

"Your honor, Ryan was placed with Mr. Cohen and his family last year when his mother could no longer take care of him. I just want to say that I've been thrilled to see how Ryan has blossomed in their care and how well he's done, adjusting to a new life and a new school over these past few months. I hope you will agree that Ryan has no further need to be held on probation."

The Judge nodded curtly.

"Thank you Ms Johnson," and then turned once more to Ryan.

"Mr. Atwood, please stand up." Ryan swallowed and stood up, his knees trembling so much they were threatening to buckle under him.

" Congratulations young man. You have fulfilled the terms of your probation and I am therefore able to release you from any further court involvement. I hope never to see you again!"

The Judge sat down briefly and signed some documents and then leant over to whisper to the attendant.

"All rise for The Honorable Judge Wilson."

As the room stood, the Judge stood up and left.

Sandy slapped Ryan hard on the back and then pulled him into a hug.

"See? What did I tell you?" His face was beaming with pride and relief. Seth and Kirsten rushed over to him and soon he was being pulled and grabbed and hugged in three different ways. Marlene tried to catch Sandy's attention.

"I'll be in touch!" she mouthed as Sandy pulled himself out of the Cohen plus Atwood huddle. Sandy had already briefed her about his and Kirsten's plans to adopt Ryan. Sandy nodded and turned back to his family just in time to see a flash of concern suddenly race across Ryan's face. Sandy was perplexed. Ryan should be feeling happy and relieved at this point. He wondered what it was that was still worrying the kid.

Kirsten slipped her arm through Ryan's as they walked down the steps of the Court House.

"I think we should have a celebration!" she announced. Ryan gave her a dubious look. Now that the court appearance was over, his insecurity came rushing back to the fore. He wished they'd just get whatever it was they had to tell him out of the way. He was tired of revolving this conundrum around in his head. He wished to God he'd never gone to look for that book, then he'd be in blissful ignorance and could maybe enjoy this moment as much as the Cohens appeared to be doing. Sandy's voice began to resonate through his thoughts.

"Hey you kids, here's fifty dollars. Go and eat some junk food while I take your mother out for lunch somewhere classy…"

Seth snatched up the fifty dollars before Ryan could object.

"Thanks Dad, although why you would think we wouldn't want classy food is beyond me."

"Pizza is not classy Seth. We'll see you both back here at two thirty O.K.? Enjoy!"

With that, Sandy grabbed his wife's arm firmly and hailed a passing cab.

"Sandy!" Kirsten objected, "I wanted to take the boys out for a nice meal. All of us together."

"Yeah, that would've been nice," Sandy answered distractedly, " but did you catch the look on Ryan's face when Marlene left? That kid is brooding."

"Sandy, Ryan has been brooding for weeks now, ever since Lindsay left. Or hadn't you noticed?" she added cuttingly.

Sandy shook his head impatiently.

"No, it wasn't that. This has something to do with Marlene." Sandy thought for a moment and his face began to clear.

"You know, I think he knows!"

"Knows what?" Kirsten was completely confused.

"About the adoption plans. Or at least he's got wind of something that involves Marlene. Do you think Seth's told him on the quiet?"

Kirsten shook her head vehemently.

"No, if he'd told him we'd know. Seth would be all jumpy and guilty looking."

Sandy agreed. But he knew something was up.

"I think we should talk to him as soon as we get back. I don't want him to sit at home worrying for any longer than he has to. And if he does know about the adoption and that's what is making him upset, then the sooner we deal with it the better."

Kirsten took a deep breath. She was almost afraid now that they'd got to this point. She was afraid because she thought he might say no. And until this point, she hadn't realized how much she'd just assumed he'd say yes.

"This afternoon then, yes?"

"OK."


Seth and Ryan ambled through the center of Orange looking for a pizza outlet.

"So, you relieved man?"

Ryan kicked at a loose stone as they walked, his hands thrust deep into the pockets of his pants.

"I guess…"

"I thought you'd be stoked. No more visits from Steve, no more people checking up on you…"

"Yeah, yeah that'll be good. It's just…well, what happens now?"

Seth frowned.

"Whadda ya mean?"

Ryan looked directly at Seth.

"Well, I don't need your Dad any more…not as my lawyer anyway…your parents have been great but maybe they think, you know, their job is done?" He shrugged his shoulders and looked nervously at Seth, hoping he wouldn't need to spell it out. He didn't. Seth understood what he was saying.

He screwed up his face and turned to his friend earnestly. "Don't you get it yet Ryan? My parents are your parents. They think of you like they think of me. To them, you are their son." Ryan shifted uncomfortably. Maybe he should just ask Seth straight out what they'd been talking about yesterday.

"So if that's the case, why do we need to meet up with Marlene?" Ryan locked onto Seth's eyes and challenged him to answer. The shock on Seth's face confirmed to Ryan that something was indeed afoot.

Seth dropped his gaze. He was now in an awkward position. If he told Ryan about the adoption plan, he'd spoil the moment for his parents. But he couldn't allow Ryan to keep thinking whatever it was that he was thinking. He didn't know what that was but it sure as hell wasn't good. He put out his arm and grasped Ryan's shoulder.

"Look Ryan, my parents do want to talk over something with Marlene, yes, that's true, but dude, it's not something bad ok? Trust me. You'll know soon enough."

Ryan did trust Seth. And he wanted to believe him. He sighed doubtfully and tried to prise something more out of Seth.

"You can't tell me?" he probed.

Seth shook his head.

"Don't ask me to dude. I just can't." Ryan nodded. Seth was incredibly loyal. He'd just have to be satisfied until the Cohens told him what all this was about.


The family were back in Newport by early evening. They were barely through the door before Kirsten was on the phone organizing a catering firm to prepare a last minute dinner for the following evening to celebrate Ryan's success. Despite his protests, she was set on inviting the entire Cooper- Nichol clan, insisting that her father and Julie would be as thrilled as she and Sandy were about his news. Ryan looked at Kirsten as if she had gone mad. Even Sandy had tried to argue, in vain. He had even reminded her of her comment last summer, "nothing good ever happens at our parties". But nothing would sway her. She was quite determined that this would be a family celebration and that therefore the whole family should be there. Seth shook his head in bemusement and cast Ryan a look of commiseration. Sandy threw his arms up in resignation and left her to it.


Caleb rolled back from his desk on his executive styled chair, stretching out his tired limbs lazily. The warm early evening sun, which filtered through the Newport Group Chief's office, always made him sleepy. He sighed as the buzz from his intercom alerted him to the fact that he had a call. He scooted back on his chair to the desk and depressed the button.

"Mr. Nichol, your daughter is on line one…"

"Thank you Lesley." He flicked a switch and put the call on speakerphone.

"Kiki, you must be back from that juvenile delinquent's hearing I presume?"

"He has a name Dad, it's Ryan…" Kirsten responded wearily down the line.

Caleb ignored her comment and pressed on.

"So, what can I do for you Kiki?"

"You know Dad, it would be so nice if you thought to ask how Ryan got on. This was a really big day for him, for all of us…" she added. Caleb smirked as he caught just a touch of begging in his daughter's voice.

"You have no idea what you've got yourself into. His mother's a drunk, his father and brother are in jail. It'll only be a matter of time before he follows suit…"

"Dad, Ryan's been living with us for a year and a half now. Just when do you expect this transformation to take place? If you'd only give him a chance, you'd see he's a good kid."

"In my experience, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree Kirsten. And you'd be wise to remember that, before that kid sucks you in any deeper. I'm just relieved that at least one of my daughters is out of his way."

If Caleb had been able to visualize his eldest daughter at that point, he would have seen something inside her snap, her irritation with her father's inflexibility and lack of compassion finally pushing her over the edge.

"Well, you'll just have to get used to it Dad because we are just about to tell Ryan that we'd like to adopt him, with or without your blessing. And if you want to still be considered my father and Seth's grandfather, then I suggest you find it somewhere in yourself to accept him as part of our family and join us for dinner tomorrow night to celebrate his release from probation. Because if you can't, then you and I are done." Her tone was icy and clipped and the short click, which followed at the other end of the line, indicated that this call was over, at least as far as Kirsten was concerned.

Caleb punched the button to disconnect the line, just as Julie breezed in through the door.

"Cal darling, you look awfully flustered. Have you forgotten to take your medication?" Caleb scowled at his wife as she moved behind his chair and began to massage his shoulders.

"That was Kirsten, inviting us to a celebratory dinner in Ryan's honor." Julie looked at him sharply. If there was one thing she and her husband were united on, it was their dislike for Ryan Atwood.

"Isn't it enough that we put up with that boy, without being forced to attend functions in his honor?" Julie whined.

"Well, if Kirsten has her way, we'll have to put up with him for a lot longer than I'd previously supposed."

Julie stopped massaging and tilted her head round in front of Caleb, her eyes flashing warningly.

"Cal? Is there something you're not telling me?"

Caleb pulled her hands off his shoulders irritably.

"She and that stupid do-gooder son in law of mine have decided they'd like to adopt him!"

Julie moved swiftly round to face her husband.

"And you're going to allow that?"

tbc