"Last night it came as a picture
With a good reason, a warning sign
This place is void of all passion
If you can imagine it's easy if you try
Believe me I failed this effort
I wrote a reminder this wasn't a vision
This time where are you Houston
Is somebody out there will somebody listen…"
--Blink 182
"Daddy!" Summer jumped off the gurney and dove into her father's arms, ignoring the nurses and doctors that were trying to tend to her.
"Summer, are you all right? Are you burned?" He held the oxygen mask over her face and led her back to the hospital bed. His face was drawn with concern.
"I'm fine, I got out, but Cohen, they won't tell me what's happening, they won't tell me anything, I can't even find Chino and I have to know…" she said, her words hoarse and urgent.
"Okay, honey, you have to calm down, I'm sure if you're calmer and more relaxed that they'll stop worrying about you and tell you what's going on, just relax…" he urged, nodding to the doctor as he helped her back onto the bed.
"Daddy…it was so scary…"
"What were you doing over there?" he asked, smoothing her hair.
"I snuck out…his parents' didn't even know I was there…if Chino hadn't come, I would…" she collapsed into tears again. She started to struggle for breath and her father tried to calm her.
"Shh, baby…just breathe, you're safe…" he urged.
"Please, will you make sure Cohen's okay?"
"Cohen…"
"Find Chino, he'll know…"
"Summer, baby, who's 'Chino'?" he asked.
"Ryan, he's Seth's brother, his foster brother…"
"Will you relax and let them help you if I find out?"
"Yes, I'll be still, I promise, if you just find out that they're okay," Summer promised, glaring at the nurse that was standing nearby with a stethoscope.
"I'll be right back, just relax, okay?" he urged, squeezing her hand and hurrying out of the room.
The ER was a flurry of activity on a good night and tonight wasn't a good night. Dr. Roberts stopped one of the interns in the hall. "I'm looking for the Cohens…"
"Are you family?"
"Their son is my daughter's boyfriend, she won't cooperate until I tell her something…" Dr. Roberts explained, flashing his ID at the man.
"Oh, I can take you to the parents, the boys are being worked on," the man said, flushing slightly.
"Are they all right?"
The intern lowered his voice. "Both of them inhaled a lot of smoke. Your daughter is lucky to be alive, the boys…we don't know yet." He glanced around. "I'll take you to Mr. Cohen…"
Dr. Roberts followed the man to a curtained area where Sandy Cohen was seated on a gurney with an oxygen mask over his face.
"Neil, how's Summer?" Sandy asked immediately.
"They say she's going to be okay. She's upset, they won't tell her about Seth…"
"I know how she feels, they won't tell us anything either, and Kirsten, they had to sedate her because she wants to see them…" Sandy said hoarsely.
"Did you know she was there?" Neil asked.
Sandy shook his head. "I didn't even know they were back together, Neil. Seth's not supposed to have overnight guests…especially female guests…I'm so sorry…"
Neil nodded. "She could have been killed tonight…but it's not your fault. She said that Ryan got her out?"
"The kid went back in after getting me and Kirsten out…he saved us all…and now I don't even know if he's all right…" Sandy said.
"I'll find out what I can, Sandy. Is there anyone I can call?"
"Kirsten's father is on the way…thanks, Neil. I'll come see Summer as soon as they clear me, see if I can calm her down," Sandy offered.
"Thanks. I'll be back if I find out anything, okay?"
Sandy nodded his appreciation.
Dr. Roberts walked back into the hallway and spotted the same intern and waved him over. "Where're the boys?"
"Sir, I can't…"
"You can't tell them anything, and I understand, but I'm a member of the staff here and I'm asking you to take me to these patients. You won't get in trouble…"
The man glanced around nervously but finally sighed, leading him towards the trauma areas.
"This is Seth's room," the man said. Dr. Roberts stepped inside. He heard the familiar sound of the flat line as the doctors struggled with the crash cart. He waited until he heard the beeping regain a normal rhythm before stepping out again.
"He's been unconscious since they brought him in, he's not getting oxygen…" the intern said. He pointed across the hall. "His brother's not much better, but he's conscious. He's been putting up quite a fight since we told him that Seth's not doing so well…"
"You told him?" Neil gasped, startled.
"He broke away from the orderlies and saw them working on him…they've got him restrained now…" the man explained.
"Can I see him? See if I can calm him down?"
The intern hesitated but finally shrugged. "You're the boss…good luck…"
Neil walked into the room. He'd only seen the Cohen's foster son at Newport gatherings and never spoken to him in person. He didn't know why he thought he could calm him down, but from Summer's stories about Marissa and Seth, he knew that the boy was loyal and known for ignoring his own safety for others.
"Ryan, you have to stop fighting us…you're not making this any easier…" the nurse was saying. The doctors were monitoring his breathing from nearby, studying x-rays and monitors.
"Can I?" Neil stepped over into Ryan's line of sight. His blue eyes were dark with panic and his entire body was tensed against the restraints holding him to the bed. He was wheezing and gasping for breath despite the oxygen. "Ryan…I'm Summer's father, the doctors are with your family…" he started.
"Are they okay? Kirsten and Sandy? Is Seth okay?" Ryan asked in a rush.
"The doctors are with them…if you cooperate, you'll get to see them sooner, okay? If you keep fighting the doctors, they'll keep you here longer and you won't know anything…are you listening?"
Ryan nodded and seemed to relax his muscles. The nurse gave Neil a grateful look and deftly inserted an IV into his arm and taped it down.
"Don't worry about anyone, Ryan, the doctors are taking care of your family, but you have to stop fighting the doctors so you can see them, okay?"
"Okay…Summer's okay?"
"She's fine. She wanted me to check on you…"
"And Seth? You checked on Seth?" Ryan asked immediately.
"The doctors are with him, Ryan, okay? That's all I know. We're not lying to you, we just don't know anything yet…are you going to let them help you?"
"Yeah…I'm sorry…" Ryan apologized to the nurse, closing his eyes and taking a labored breath of the oxygen.
"That's a good boy…thank you, Dr. Roberts," the nurse said.
"Someone will be back to check on you, okay? Don't fight them…if you have questions, ask them, but they're only trying to help you, okay?"
"I'll try…" Ryan rasped, not opening his eyes as he continued to struggle for breath. The nurse gave Neil a nod and reached over, brushing the boy's hair aside to try and comfort him.
Neil left him, needing to be close to his daughter.
------ - - ----------- - -- ----------- - ----------- --------- - -- ------------ - ---------------- -- ----------------
He couldn't help it. He couldn't be here, strapped down to a bed when Seth could be dying, he shouldn't be here, if Seth was dying, he couldn't be here…his brain wouldn't shut down long enough for him to even process staying still.
Every breath he took hurt his throat and the oxygen still tasted like smoke. It hurt to breathe but he'd never been so grateful for the pain.
Mr. Roberts had shown up hours ago, before they'd sedated him, before he'd woken up in a different room with his heartbeat up on a monitor beside him. Taunting him. Taunting him because he was alive and he didn't know about Seth. He'd tear that machine off its wheels if he wasn't strapped down to this damned bed.
It wasn't fucking fair. All they'd been through already, Seth had just gotten Summer back, Kirsten had just forgiven her father and accepted Lindsay as a sister and his girlfriend. Sandy had taken his first case as a free agent. It wasn't fucking fair for it to all go down in flames.
The Atwood Luck had finally infected the Cohens.
He shook off the thought. For once, this wasn't his fault…except he should have gone for Seth first. Seth's room was on the second floor and everyone knew that smoke would rise, he should've gone there first.
He had to get out of here…he knew if he kept trying that he could get his wrists out of these restraints…
"Ryan?" The door opened and he recognized Summer from across the room. "Oh, god…what are they doing to you?" She shuffled over to him wearing blue hospital scrubs and immediately started unstrapping him.
"Summer, what happened? Where's Seth, where're Sandy and Kirsten?" He asked immediately, not recognizing his hoarse whisper as his voice.
"They're…oh god, you haven't seen them, have you…they're upstairs in the waiting room…Cohen's in ICU…" Summer whispered as he sat up.
And Ryan knew. He'd failed. Seth was in ICU. Intensive Care. Seth needed intensive care. He didn't care if he was untied anymore. There was nothing he could do. Seth was in intensive care.
"Chino?" Summer whispered when he lay down again. "Ryan…"
"He's not going to make it, is he?" he asked, searching Summer's face.
"He…he's got some serious lung damage, Ryan…I don't know why he's so much worse off than I am…but he hasn't woken up at all…" Summer said and he noticed her red-rimmed eyes. She looked like he felt. Devastated.
"Why aren't you with him?" he asked finally.
"I…they won't let me see him. And you shouldn't be alone…he'd be right here with you if he could be…and I can't sit up there with Kirsten and Sandy without you…I need to be close to him…and that's you right now…god, I'm not making sense…" she muttered, turning away.
"No, Summer…I'm glad you're here…"
Before he could react, she wound her arms around him and held him tightly. The only thing he could do was reciprocate.
"I wish you could tell me that everything would be okay…that Seth would be okay…but I won't put that on you…" she whispered.
He wished he could tell her, too. But he'd have to believe it first.
"Mr. Atwood? What are you doing? Young lady, he's not supposed to have any visitors, we haven't even let his guardians see him yet, what are you doing here?" The nurse's voice was harsh from the doorway.
"You've got him tied down like he's some kind of animal, that's cruel and unusual punishment," Summer snapped immediately. Ryan didn't know Summer as well as Seth did, but her bouts of anger were notorious and he recognized the look in her eyes. She was about to blow.
"He has some serious health issues right now, we're not doing this to be cruel, we have to monitor him closely…"
"Not telling his parents where he is when they already have one son in ICU is even crueler. If he needs help, help him, don't fucking tie him down and make him more stressed out and angry than he already is. I'm not leaving until you let someone come and sit with him," Summer retorted.
The nurse was flushed and turned immediately, hurrying out of the room.
"Summer. Are you all right?" Ryan asked, reaching out and putting an arm around her shoulder.
"I…I don't think so…" she whispered after a long pause.
"I know how you feel…" he replied, squeezing her shoulder.
"You're bandaged…did you get burned?" Summer motioned to the bandages on his arms and neck.
He hadn't even noticed. "I don't think so…" He lifted one of the bandages slightly on his arm. "Stitches…I must've cut myself…honestly, I don't know how I got you guys out…I brought Sandy and Kirsten out through the window…"
"I couldn't see anything, I was under the blanket with you…" Summer replied.
"I couldn't see much myself through the smoke…" Ryan admitted.
"The Cohens…they're worried about you, too but the doctors haven't let them see you…" Summer said.
"Sit down, Summer…you have to be tired, too…want some oxygen?"
She settled onto the bed beside him, lowering one of the rails. "No, thanks, Chino. I think you need as much as you can get."
The door opened again and the nurse walked in with Kirsten and Caleb.
"Ryan…thank god, honey, are you all right?" She was by his side immediately, embracing him.
"Fine, what about you? What about Sandy?" he asked, reluctantly releasing her. He was so glad to see her, to see that she was okay.
"We're fine, Ryan, you got us out in time…Sandy's upstairs with Seth, they're letting him sit with him…" Kirsten said.
"Don't take off that oxygen until the doctor clears you," the nurse said before leaving them again.
"Summer says that Seth…"
Kirsten opened her mouth to respond but closed it, glancing at Caleb.
"Don't worry about that right now. They're doing everything they can," he answered.
Ryan met Summer's gaze. She knew, too. They knew what this meant…
------ - - ----------- - -- ----------- - ----------- --------- - -- ------------ - ---------------- -- ----------------
Lindsay opened up the door in her pajamas, she hadn't even taken the time to put on slippers or a robe because whoever was banging on the door didn't seem in the mood to wait.
"Marissa?" she asked, squinting through her sleep at the figure on her porch.
"Lindsay…"
"God, it's like, four am…" Lindsay realized.
"I know, I'm sorry, but my mom just told me and I don't want to go over by myself and Summer's in the hospital, too so…" Marissa said in a rush, tears streaming down her face.
"Wait, slow down, you said 'hospital'?" Lindsay asked.
"Yeah, the Cohens, their house, it burned down, they're all at the hospital and my mom just told me…you didn't know?"
"No, god, are they okay?"
"Mom says that Kirsten and Sandy are all right…she didn't know about Ryan or Seth or Summer…she said that Ryan saw the fire first and went in to get them out…he's so fucking stupid sometimes, he puts himself in danger so much…" Marissa sniffled, wiping her face.
"Come in, give me five minutes and I'll come with you," Lindsay said immediately, pushing all jealousy aside for the moment.
Marissa followed her up the stairs to her room. "The Cohens, they're so great, and I know you don't know them very well, but they've really been there for me, through everything and even though Ryan and me, we're not together anymore, they've still always been there for me…this whole thing just sucks…"
Lindsay started changing into jeans and a sweatshirt. She didn't have time to worry about Marissa standing behind her, she had to get to Ryan, she had to make sure he was okay, that Kirsten was okay…
"Lindsay? What's going on?" her mom asked from the hallway.
"It's the Cohens, Marissa came to get me, there was a fire at their house, they're all in the hospital…" Lindsay replied, stepping into her tennis shoes without socks.
"Oh no, is there anything I can do?" her mom asked Marissa.
"I don't know, my mom's handling the press right now and I don't know if they'll even let us see them, but I can't just sit at home and not be there," Marissa replied.
"Do you want me to drive you?" She offered.
"Um…" Marissa looked to Lindsay.
"Caleb's there, Mom. Can I call you when we know something?" Lindsay said.
"Sure. Call me as soon as you know or if there's anything they need. Okay?"
"I promise, Mom," Lindsay said, grabbing Marissa's arm with one hand as they rushed out of the house.
"I didn't know your phone number, I should've called first," Marissa said as she pulled off the curb.
"Marissa, its fine, thank you for even thinking of me…"
"Ryan really cares about you, and you're Kirsten's sister so you should really be there…" Marissa replied.
"Yeah...so, do you know what happened?"
"My mom didn't know anything. She's such a bitch…but she seems really upset," Marissa admitted. "The whole house is just gone…"
God…Lindsay couldn't even fathom it. How could that big-ass mansion just be gone? Smoldering? God…and Ryan had gone into the fire…she shook off her fear. No matter how scared and worried she was, they were more scared. She needed to be there.
"I think Ryan's doing better than Seth…but if something happens to either of them…I don't know how they'll go on…they're nothing alike, but I don't think Ryan could live without Seth…and Seth's already proven that he'll leave if Ryan's not here…" Marissa whispered.
She was right. Lindsay knew it. She'd been annoyed and aggravated by Seth so many times, but Ryan never seemed to mind. Ryan loved Seth like a brother. He didn't mind Seth's mindless babbling or self-centered monologues, he accepted him as he was. He'd be distraught if anything happened to Seth.
"We're almost there," Marissa said. Lindsay glanced down and saw that Marissa was holding her hand tightly. She was so scared that she hadn't even realized.
------ - - ----------- - -- ----------- - ----------- --------- - -- ------------ - ---------------- -- ----------------
"Mr. Cohen? I'm very sorry…the damage to his lungs was irreparable…we've done all that we can…"
Sandy didn't register the man's words. He knew…he knew that Seth couldn't be dead. He'd seen his son last night, he'd thrown cheese at him when he said something crude about Julie Cooper, he'd scolded him about using too many minutes on his cell phone, he still had to ground him for having Summer stay overnight…he couldn't be dead.
"Do you want to see him? Before we take him downstairs?"
Sandy didn't even look up. Kirsten was visiting with Ryan and they'd only kicked him out of ICU a few minutes earlier. He'd been alive when he saw him last. Now they wanted him to look at him dead?
"Sir?"
"I need to talk to my wife…" he whispered.
"Sandy?" Kirsten's voice startled him and he glanced up. She was standing in the doorway with Caleb. "What's going on? How's Seth?"
"He's…" Sandy couldn't say it. It wasn't true. He looked away. He couldn't face her. As much as he needed her, he couldn't tell her that her son was dead.
Kirsten let out a wail and Caleb immediately reached out to catch her before she collapsed. "Sandy…no…"
He wanted to go to her. Tell her that it wasn't true. Tell her that it was all a big mistake…but he couldn't move.
His son was dead.
Seth was dead.
He felt Kirsten's arms around him. She was shaking him, crying and sobbing. She needed him to be strong, she needed him to be her rock.
But his son was dead. Their son was dead…