A/N Thanks so much for the reviews! They really help me with the writing (in fact, bringing Theresa into the story was a reviewer's idea, which I thought was really good…) On with the story…

Chapter Ten

"Hey Ryan… it's me… I know I should have called a few days ago, but I couldn't… Anyway, I hope you're doing okay… I know that this time of year is always hard on you… I'm going to be out in Newport with work for two or three days soon… I don't know the exact date yet, but maybe we can get together then… Call me if you want… You know my number… Bye." Theresa's voice was shaky, but comfortingly familiar; Ryan had already listened to the message three times. He hadn't seen her in a while… ever since Thanksgiving.

It had been two days since the disastrous and slightly perverted therapy experience, but already, Sandy had found another shrink for Ryan to 'try to work with.' Sandy had finally caught onto the idea that Ryan wasn't happy about therapy, but he had refused to back down from his belief that talking to a stranger would help Ryan. Ryan had a session lined up with Dr. Maria Wright for three o'clock that day. He had to leave in ten minutes, but Ryan decided that a short conversation with Theresa could be squeezed into that time period. She had been right; he did know her number by heart and he always had.

The phone rang three times before Carmen Ramirez, Theresa's mother, answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi, is Theresa home?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"Ryan."

"Oh, Ryan it's good to hear from you hijo. We've all missed you. I'll get Theresa." Ryan could hear Carmen's muffled voice yelling for Theresa to pick up the phone and a few seconds later, she did.

"Ryan, is that really you?" Were the first words out of her mouth.

"Yeah, it's me. I got your message." There was an awkward pause; there never used to be awkward pauses.

"How are you doing?" Theresa asked after a long moment.

"I'm coping. How are you?" He didn't go into detail.

"I'm the way I was last year and the year before; I'll be okay, but it takes a while." She responded. There was another long pause before Theresa started speaking again.

"What are you not telling me Ryan?" She knew him too well.

"Sandy is making me go to therapy. I was handling it the Chino way, but apparently you can't do that in Newport; I had a temporary melt down and let him read my old journal." Ryan explained reluctantly.

"Oh Ryan… Didn't you explain to him that you don't do therapy?"

"I tried, but he thinks that therapy would be best."

"I'm going to be in Newport this weekend; are you busy?" Theresa changed the subject rapidly.

"No, I always have time for you Theresa."

"I know you do Ryan." She smiled sadly.

"I've got to go; therapy session…" Ryan explained; he could hear Sandy calling him from the main house.

"Okay Ryan; I'll see you this weekend then."

"Bye Theresa." Ryan hung up the phone feeling slightly better. Walking into the house, he met Sandy in the kitchen and together, they climbed into the Range Rover, and drove off to the next 'test session.'

A/N I know that this is really, reallyshort, but I wanted to get the Theresa intro out of the way before I had Ryan meet with a second therapist. (plus, this is my 3rd post today…) R/R please!