Hours had past. Marissa lay fast asleep, hunched over Ryan's bed and holding his hand limply. Ryan was also dozing peacefully when Seth and Summer crept in. At long last Sandy had permitted Seth to see his best friend, now that Ryan was in recovery.

"Aw, look at them!" Summer said, as she lay her head on Seth's shoulder, "Looks like they worked things out."

"What a relief they didn't break up again! They'd start catching up to us," Seth laughed softly.

"Cohen!" Summer elbowed him in the stomach.

Seth groaned, too loud, and Ryan came to. He looked down at Marissa, still sleeping soundly. He looked up at his friends and smiled. "Hey!" he said quietly.

"How are you feeling?" Summer asked.

"Oh you know… getting there."

Seth and Ryan exchanged sincere glances. Ryan noticed immediately that the usual glow to Seth's manner had diminished. He looked more depressed than Ryan could ever recall.

"So, the house is pretty lonely with only two people living in it," Seth said sadly.

"I know, man," Ryan answered quietly, "I'll be home soon…"

Seth looked down at his feet.

"… So will your Mom."

Seth managed to give a weak grin, "Thanks."

Summer looked around at Seth worriedly and then back at Ryan. "Seth, I'm feeling parched! Be a good boyfriend and buy me a Water!" she ordered in her usual assertive manner.

"Yes, ma'am," Seth obliged, and turned to leave. He turned to Ryan, "Don't die before I get back!"

Ryan smiled, "Yeah, man."

Summer and Ryan looked at each other awkwardly. They had never really many one-on-ones, the two of them. Ryan guessed at once that Summer had something serious to say.

Summer gestured at Marissa, " 'she ok?"

Ryan looked down at her, "Well, she's had better weekends, that's for sure. But we'll be ok."

Summer smiled, "You don't know how relieved I am to hear that from you!"

They exchanged grins. Then Ryan's manner changed, "Seth's not too good though, is he?"

Summer looked away sadly, "No, he's not. He feels responsible for all this. He thought it was for the best for you to know about… you know," her voice quivered at the thought of Marissa and Trey. "He's blaming himself for the shooting. Then of course there's his Mom."

"Yeah, I get it," Ryan nodded, "It's the way I felt when Trey got landed in jail before I came here…" then he paused as a memory of Trey and him together flashed through his mind. Suddenly, instead of hatred, he felt sorrow for his brother.

Summer didn't notice Ryan's sudden behaviour and continued, "I mean, he's trying to be himself, but I can see through it. I mean there's only so much the comic books and Captain Oats can do to help." Summer shook her head and smiled absentmindedly.

"Uh? Yeah, I know," Ryan pulled out of his thoughts, "Well, hopefully I'll be home soon, so I'll be able to help him through."

"I-" Summer was about to add comment when she heard Seth approaching the room. Seth entered the room with Summer's water, "Here, my dearest!"

"Took you long enough, Cohen!" joked Summer, returning to her usual tone again.

At that, Marissa began to rouse. Ryan felt the squeeze of his hand, which she was still holding. She opened her eyes wearily. They were swollen and red, but to Ryan she still looked beautiful. He smiled lovingly at her. "Hey!"

"Coop!" Summer shrieked. Innately the two girls embraced tightly. When Summer pulled away there were tears in her eyes. The two hadn't had a chance to speak since the accident.

The rest of the afternoon the four spent laughing and joking as if nothing had ever happened, but deep down, all of them knew this wasn't going to last…