Thanks to everyone once again for their reviews.They giveme the impetus to get on with the next chapter!

Chapter Nine

The freshman student stood at the door talking to the math teacher, Mr. Calder, in a low voice. He nodded his thanks as she left and turned to the class, scanning the heads of his students briefly.

"Ryan!"

Ryan raised his head and removed the pencil from his mouth.

"Sir?"

"Dr Kim would like to see you in her office immediately."

Twenty pairs of eyes watched as he gathered up his belongings. He caught the swift looks of sympathy from Marissa and Summer before sending his pencils crashing to the floor. His hands a bundle of nerves, he struggled to pick them up. Taking pity on him, Mr. Calder approached and dropped down beside him, gathering up the debris at his feet.

"Try not to worry Ryan. I'm sure they're fine…" He patted the boy on the shoulder. Ryan was one of his best students but in the last couple of days he'd been all over the place, distracted, lacking in concentration, fidgety. The whole schools knew by now what had happened to Seth's parents and by quick and easy deduction, this teacher, and this class were under no illusions as to why Dr Kim would want to see Ryan.

With a final glance across at the girls, Ryan tucked his schoolbag under his arm and left the room.


Never had Ryan dreaded entering the inner sanctum of Dr Kim's office more than now. Not even the time when he'd broken in to the school file room and had to sit under the scrutiny of not only Dr Kim but also Kirsten and Sandy matched this. Seeing their disappointed confused faces that day had really shaken him up, reminded him of the fragility of his place in their home. Now he couldn't have wished more that they could have been with him now. Disappointed, upset, angry, he'd have put up with it all if it meant they were here, safe, in one piece.

Ryan walked up to Dr Kim's secretary apprehensively. She was oblivious to his presence, typing urgently on the keyboard of her laptop. Ryan cleared his throat. She glanced up and smiled warmly at him.

"Ryan! Dr Kim's waiting for you. Just knock and go in."


"Ryan? Come in and sit down…" Dr Kim greeted him, waving to an empty chair in front of her desk. Caleb and Marlene, his social worker, sat nearby.

Ryan looked uneasily across the room at Caleb and Marlene. He sat his schoolbag down at the foot of the chair and sat down, his heart thumping heavily in his chest.

"Has…has something happened to….." he began shakily.

Dr Kim glanced at Caleb and then back at Ryan, swiftly grasping the teenager's state of mind. She rushed to reassure him.

"Oh no Ryan, I'm sorry, we've alarmed you unnecessarily. No, Mr. and Mrs. Cohen are fine aren't they Mr. Nichol?" She looked to Caleb for confirmation.

"My daughter and her husband are doing as well as can be expected…" he responded curtly.

Ryan shot a look at Caleb. If they were fine then why the hell were he and Marlene here?

He sat back and chewed the inside of his mouth while he waited for the axe to fall.

"Ryan," Dr Kim started, her voice betraying her unease at what she had to say.

"Ms Johnson and Mr. Nichol are here to discuss the arrangements for your short term future..."

Ryan studied a spot on the floor in front of him.

Marlene leant forward.

"Ryan, I'm afraid I have some bad news with regard to the adoption…"

Ryan sucked at his lower lip without looking up.

"Yeah? What is it?" he asked tersely.

Marlene shifted uncomfortably.

"Your mother and father don't feel able at this moment to sign the forms giving up their parental rights.."

Ryan smirked but kept his head bent low.

Marlene glanced towards Caleb, unsure whether she should continue.

Caleb pulled at his jacket lapels as he sat up in his chair.

"Ryan," he spoke firmly, "do you understand what Ms Johnson is telling you?"

Ryan lifted his head and locked eyes with Caleb.

"My Mom and Dad don't want me to live with the Cohens right?"

He was playing that stupid kids game with Caleb. The one where you try to stare the other person out. He knew exactly what was happening here. Even if Dr Kim and Marlene couldn't see it, he could. He wasn't stupid. Somehow Caleb Nichol had got to his mother and father. It didn't really matter how. And there was nothing he could do about it anyhow.

"Ryan," Marlene made an attempt to continue, "we can still go down the court route, we can petition the court to force your parents to give up their parental rights but…"

Ryan nodded. "I get it," he whispered. "Without Kirsten and Sandy here, there's not much point right?" He glared at his social worker, challenging her to disagree.

Marlene looked upset. She liked this boy. At first he'd been just another statistic who came through her office needing a better life but with little hope of getting one. But against the odds, he'd gotten that better life, and now it looked like it was about to be snatched away from him. She'd known Sandy Cohen a long time, and if anyone could give this kid a better chance in life, then he was the man. Even if things weren't going smoothly now, just as soon as they were able, Sandy and Kirsten Cohen would be back to fight for him, she was sure of that. She just hoped they'd be in time.

"Ryan, as soon as the Cohens are back, we can get started on it, I promise."

Ryan picked at a loose thread on his shirt.

"So what happens now?" he asked.

Dr Kim and Marlene exchanged uncomfortable glances.

"Ryan," Dr Kim began, "Mr. Nichol has explained to us that your current living situation is far from ideal…"

Ryan rolled his eyes. He should have seen this one coming.

Marlene continued.

"Mr. Nichol feels that in the circumstances it may be better for us to find you an alternative placement, just until the Cohens are back in this country."

It was unclear to Dr Kim and Marlene if Ryan was digesting what they were trying to say as his eyes were fixed firmly back on the floor again.

Neither of them had quite been able to understand why Mr. Nichol had been so insistent that Ryan should be moved to another foster family. They had appreciated the fact that Mrs. Cooper Nichol was not keen to have Ryan under the same roof as her daughter, but they had both privately felt that in the circumstances the couple could have let Ryan stay with them temporarily. Marlene had known they would have been subject to various checks, even while looking after Ryan on a temporary basis, but she hadn't anticipated any problems. When she'd initially heard about the Cohens' accident she'd automatically assumed that the Cooper Nichols would care for Ryan, as Seth was being, or would be when he returned from Italy. That they would not be prepared to take on the added responsibility of caring for Ryan had shocked her. She had quizzed Mr. Nichol earlier, tried to explain what this would mean for Ryan, that she would be unlikely to find a placement for him in an affluent neighborhood like Newport Beach and if that were the case, then he wouldn't be able to continue his studies at Harbor. The man had commiserated but been totally inflexible.

Dr Kim once again took charge of the situation.

"Ryan, have you heard what Ms Johnson is saying?" she asked gently.

Caleb let out a loud sigh, exasperated at the length of time this meeting was taking.

Ryan finally looked up.

"Yes, I heard. Mr. Nichol wants me to leave and Ms Johnson will find me somewhere else to live," he answered dully.

"Now don't be like that Ryan," Caleb started, his irritation clear.

"Why are you doing this?" Ryan whispered, under his breath.

Caleb stood up, eager to leave a situation that was becoming more uncomfortable by the second.

"Julie and I feel it would not be appropriate to have you living in such close proximity to Marissa. Let's not forget your antics last summer hmmm?"

Ryan snorted.

"This has nothing to do with Marissa.." he muttered. Caleb ignored him.

"Ryan, I'll arrange for your belongings to be packed and sent over to your new foster family. Good day ladies, Ryan." With that Caleb left.


Dr Kim studied the tense, silent boy in front of her. Clearly there was more to this than Mr. Nichol had seen fit to tell either her or Ryan's social worker. She'd known about his fraught relationship with Marissa obviously and about Julie Cooper's early opinions of the boy. She also knew why he had left the school so abruptly just before summer vacation. But still, she had not been aware of any internal family friction caused by the Cohens' guardianship of Ryan. The principal let out a heavy sigh. Ryan Atwood was one of the Harbor School's success stories. He was a testimony to what a school like hers could do for a student from a difficult background. Of course, she couldn't take any of the credit herself. If it hadn't been for Kirsten Cohen pushing for him and the fact that she came from a hugely influential Newport family, Dr Kim secretly knew that she would have bowed to the pressure from other parents who had wanted to protect their offspring from the likes of the boy from Chino who punched people and burnt down houses.

"Ms Johnson, would you mind if I spoke to Ryan alone for a few minutes?"

"Of course not," Marlene replied, getting up. "Ryan, I'll go through what happens next after Dr Kim has finished speaking with you." Ryan gave her a sideways nod.

Dr Kim stepped out briefly to have a quick word with her secretary and then shut the door gently behind her. Ryan slouched in his seat, defeated.

"Ryan, I had no idea that things between you and Mr. Cohen were so strained. I wish you had told me when we met earlier in the week. Maybe I could have done something."

Ryan was puzzled. What could she have done?

"You know, social workers do listen to what teachers and principals have to say about their students. It might have been possible for you to have stayed with another family, a school friend perhaps…"

Ryan picked at his fingernails.

"I don't have too many friends Dr Kim. Seth, Marissa, Summer, that's pretty much it."

Dr Kim sighed, her frustration evident.

"Well, now Mr. Nichol has formally requested that you be placed elsewhere, there's not much that can be done. And Ms Johnson tells me that she has no placements available in Newport. You know what that means I suppose?"

Ryan shrugged, his face blank. She could see that he'd already shut himself off. She pressed on regardless, hoping that something she said would sink in.

"Ryan, I'll do my best to keep your place here open. Officially I shouldn't do that, there are many students on the waiting list. But you've been doing so well in your classes, and Miss Fisher says you have a great chance at a scholarship. I don't want to see all your hard work wasted. If you can keep up the high standards at your new school, then you should have no trouble slotting back here once the Cohens are back."

Ryan shifted his body into an upright position and folded his arms truculently. Did she actually think that he believed all this stuff? Did she honestly think he was coming back? Caleb had done what he threatened to do and Ryan was in no doubt that he and Julie would continue to do all they could to prevent him from ever returning to Newport.


Marlene Johnson ran her fingers along the armrest of the smart leather couch outside the Dean's office. This place was better furnished than her own apartment she mused. Marlene had given up smoking when she fell pregnant with her first child fifteen years ago and hadn't had a cigarette since. She couldn't say she really missed it but every so often she'd feel that sudden desire, an overwhelming urge to light up and give her body that quick fix of nicotine. Now was one of those moments. The things she had to deal with in her job were never easy but they didn't get much worse than the situation she had to deal with now. Nothing for this poor kid was working out. Just when he'd finally got his life on track (a miracle in itself if statistics were to be believed) then the forces of nature, Caleb Nichol and his own mother had conspired against him. And added to that, she felt guilty as hell. Guilty because she knew she'd been economical with the truth in there, not only with Ryan but also with the Dean and Mr. Nichol. Yes, she'd told Ryan that his parents were not willing to sign the papers. But she'd also led him to believe that as soon as Sandy and Kirsten were back, they could carry on the legal process of forcing his parents to relinquish their rights over him. Unfortunately, after the conversation she had had with Dawn Atwood yesterday, she was not sure they would ever get that far.

Marlene picked up the cup of coffee Dr Kim's secretary had brought her while she waited and thought about the conversation she'd had with Ryan's mother yesterday. She had only met Dawn the one time before, when she had met with the Cohens in her office. Her impression of her then had been of a woman dragged down by the weight of a life as a single parent on a pitifully low income, a woman who had escaped the only way she knew how, through a bottle. She'd seen so many like her, and so many kids whose lives in turn were ruined because of it. She'd been surprised then when she'd appeared at her office unannounced, freshly made up, hair cut and styled, clothes smart and stylish.

"Mrs. Atwood? Come in…"

"I'm sorry I didn't call first…" Dawn looked apologetic and flustered.

"That's OK. I have to be in court in half an hour but I have time to see you now. Here, sit down. Is there a problem with the papers I sent you?"

Dawn looked down absently at the pile of papers she was carrying.

"Um, no…it's just that.."

Marlene couldn't help smiling to herself. There was no doubt that she was Ryan's mother. Notwithstanding the dirty blond hair and the piercing blue eyes, she had just the same problem getting her words out as he did.

"Is there something you want explaining?" Marlene suggested helpfully.

Dawn looked even more flustered.

"No, no I understand everything. It's just… I don't think I can do this.." She looked helplessly at her son's social worker as she handed back the papers.

"I'm not sure I understand…" Marlene stared at the papers confused.

"I can't do this. I can't sign the papers. I can't give Ry up. I won't give him up" she finished.

"But I thought you said last week…"

"I know what I said. But I've changed my mind. And I've spoken to his dad too and he agrees with me." Dawn's demeanor had changed. No longer flustered, her face had hardened into determination. She took a deep breath as she continued.

"And Ms Johnson, I want Ry living back with me. I know he was happy at the Cohens' and I'm real grateful for what they did for him but I heard what happened to them and I don't want anyone else caring for my boy…"

"Mrs. Atwood, Ryan's been in foster care for eighteen months since you abandoned him. You can't just suddenly demand him back. It doesn't work like that. There are checks that would have to be made to ensure you are in a position to care for him. I know he's seventeen and almost an adult, but our guidelines are just as strict for teenagers as they would be for younger children."

Dawn looked rattled for a moment. Clearly she had fully expected to waltz in and reclaim Ryan on the spot.

"Well, what kinds of checks? And how long will they take?" she asked, wilting slightly.

Marlene shrugged.

"We'd need to see where you are living, working, what plans you would make for his schooling, that sort of thing. Mrs. Atwood, if you are serious about this, the checks could be completed in six or seven weeks I guess. But is this what you really want to do? Ryan can be placed temporarily with another family until the Cohens have recovered sufficiently, I assure you he'll be well looked after…"

Dawn cut her off.

"No, I want him home," she snapped. " I'll do whatever it takes. He's my son and I want him back. I was stupid to even think about this adoption business. He has a family. What does he need another one for?"

"But he's been doing so well…" Marlene began, determined to convince this woman of the damage she was about to cause. She halted when she saw the resolute look on Dawn's face.

"I'll start the process today Mrs. Atwood" she finished quietly.

The door clicked open and Dr Kim popped her head around it.

"Ms Johnson, I've finished speaking to Ryan. Would you like to come back in?"

Marlene sighed and got up, her heart heavy. She tried to shake off the feeling that she'd failed this young man at the time he really needed her.

tbc