"Ryan? Buddy, get up, it's time to go…" Trey kept his voice low so the Cohens couldn't hear him upstairs.
He knew the Cohens meant well, they were clearly worried about Ryan but Trey knew he had to do something.
Ryan wasn't making sense, he seemed utterly broken.
And it was all Trey's fault. If he hadn't dragged Ryan along that night, he wouldn't have left Ryan all alone. Ryan wouldn't have been ditched by his mother and forced to live with strangers.
Ryan wasn't like him. He wasn't like their Ma or their father. They always joked that Ryan was the milkman's kid because of his mannerisms. Quiet and soft-spoken. Intelligent as hell. Gentle. Sure, Ryan had inherited things, too, like the Atwood temper and their mom's talent for cooking but he was of a different breed. Ryan didn't hurt people. Not on purpose. He had a good soul and despite everything, Trey knew that Ryan was going to go places. He was too good a person to end up like him and his family.
But Trey wouldn't leave him again. He'd grown up with Ryan, hell, he'd raised him when their parents flaked on them when they were kids…but as they'd got older, the tables had turned. Ryan was smarter than he was. Ryan had saved his ass countless times. Ryan had taken care of him, too. Trey had to return the favor. He finally had to step up and do the right thing. He had to take care of Ryan.
He'd packed Ryan a bag of clothes but everything else in the room seemed new so he didn't know what else to pack. Now he just had to get Ryan out of here. Somewhere he could get his brother to snap out of this scary depression.
"Come on, Ry, just sit up." He pulled his brother by the shoulders and made him sit upright.
"Trey?"
"Come on man, I mean it, don't make me leave without you," Trey said urgently.
Ryan was like a zombie. He pulled on his sneakers and let Trey drape his gray jacket around his shoulders.
Trey grabbed the bag and put his free arm around Ryan's waist.
"Where are we…" Ryan murmured.
"I'm just going to take you somewhere safe, just trust me…"
They made it as far as the driveway when Ryan stopped cold in his tracks.
"Ryan?" Trey called.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked him, his eyes still dull with confusion.
"I told you, somewhere safe…"
"I don't want to go anywhere."
Trey searched his face. After hours of seeing nothing but grief on Ryan's face he needed to see at least a flicker of lucidity before he was changing his mind.
"I can't leave Sandy and Kirsten."
"They'll be okay…" Trey started.
"I won't," Ryan whispered. He blinked. His eyes seemed to clear and he recognized Trey. A flash of confusion followed immediately and he sucked in a sudden breath of air. "Trey?"
"Yeah, Ryan, I've been here all night…"
Ryan focused on him fully. He saw the bulging duffle bag and the Hummer's key ring in his hand. "What the hell are you doing?"
"You've asked me that, like, twice already and the answer's still the same," Trey said, testing him.
Ryan's face was blank but Trey could tell he was thinking. "I'm safe here."
"Ryan…you're flipping out…"
"I appreciate what you're trying to do, Trey, but…"
Trey waited for Ryan to continue but he didn't. He closed his mouth and shook his head.
"Ryan? Ryan, where are you going?" Kirsten's voice was panicked as she ran into the driveway.
Ryan turned to face her immediately. "Nowhere."
"Trey?" she called, grabbing Ryan's arm protectively.
"I was just…" he started.
"What time is it?" Ryan asked. He blinked.
"Ryan?" Kirsten whispered. Trey watched the woman with his brother. They had a connection. She loved him.
Ryan stared at her a moment, tilting his head. "That's weird." He glanced around him and finally his gaze landed on Trey again.
"Let's all just calm down and come inside. You, too, Trey," Sandy said from the doorway.
-- ------- -- - - -------------- - ---------------- -- -------------------------------- - --- ----
Ryan felt like he was waking up from an extended nightmare. But he still felt like he was slightly sleepwalking.
Kirsten's fingers were wrapped tightly around his arm and she refused to release him as she guided him into the den.
He sat down on the couch and tried to remember what the hell was going on. His brother was here. In Newport. Kirsten was visibly freaked out. And his head hurt.
She snapped her fingers in front of his face suddenly and he was startled, reacting with a jump.
"So. You are back with us now?" she asked as Trey and Sandy stepped in.
"I guess. Where did I go?" he replied.
"You spaced out a little, bro. Are you better now?" Trey asked.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Ryan asked.
Trey smiled. "That's what I'm talking about."
"Trey, why don't you go get a shower. You can borrow some of Ryan's clothes," Sandy said, nodding to the bag his brother was carrying.
"It might have been a bad idea, but at least he's talking now," Trey said, going into Ryan's bedroom.
"Honey…we were so worried…" Kirsten said, putting an arm around him.
The memories of the fire and the robbery and the click filtered back to him slowly. And then the familiar darkness over his mood returned.
"Ryan?" Sandy called.
"Sorry."
"You…you okay?" Sandy asked tentatively.
He glanced at Sandy. Then at Kirsten. "Trey wanted to take me somewhere safe. But…I don't want to be anywhere else right now. All I could think about in that store was getting home, I wanted to be home…and right now, that's you guys…"
"Is there anything we can do for you, Ryan?" Kirsten asked.
"Give me a few minutes to pull myself together. Is there coffee?" Ryan needed to clear his head. There were still clouds in his head. Smoke.
"Come on, kid," Sandy said. Ryan followed him into the kitchen. Kirsten patted him on the back and then left to get dressed.
"When did Trey get here?" Ryan asked. He remembered vague things. Like Summer had been there. His doctor. His shrink.
"Last night. He didn't know about the robbery, he came because your mom told him about Seth. You…you weren't talking to us, but you let him calm you down."
"Yeah?" That was weird. Since when did Trey have to calm him down? "Surprised I didn't punch him…"
"You did that the first time you saw him, remember?" Sandy smirked, passing him a steaming mug.
"True."
"I told Trey that he could stay with you. Was that okay?"
"Why?"
"Because…he got through to you. You wouldn't let anyone comfort you, you wouldn't rest and he…his was the only voice you responded to."
Ryan nodded. "Talk about regression…I'm better now. I just…yesterday was harsh."
"I can't imagine," Sandy replied.
"I didn't know what to do, Sandy," he admitted, needing to tell Sandy suddenly. Sandy would help him sort this out in his brain. "I just…froze."
"No, you didn't. You helped Monica. You pushed the silent alarm. You did everything right and she's alive now because of you. And you're alive. You're healthy and alive and back home safe."
"I thought…I thought that I would feel something…when he was going to shoot me…"
"Ryan," Sandy said, putting his hand on his shoulder. "When something like that happens, I doubt you could even think…"
"I think I just disconnected. I think I was so scared that I just shut down."
"Well, you're turning back on now," Sandy smiled.
Trey stepped in wearing some of Ryan's jeans and wife-beater.
"I see the fashion taste runs in the family. Coffee?" Sandy offered.
Ryan regarded his brother.
"Thanks," Trey nodded, turning to face him. "Sorry about earlier. Well, sorry about everything."
"Thanks for coming, Trey. Sandy says you helped out. I appreciate it," Ryan said.
"Glad I could do something good for once. So…you're not going to punch me this time?" Trey asked.
"Give me time," Ryan replied.
"Rosa's coming in soon to start on breakfast. Will you guys be all right alone while I go get a shower?" Sandy asked.
"Fine. No bloodshed, I promise," Ryan replied. Sandy seemed convinced, leaving.
"They're really nice," Trey said.
"Yeah. They're great," Ryan agreed.
Trey shuffled uncomfortably.
"So. This is big brother to the rescue?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah. I'm here, Ry. If you need me," Trey said quietly.
Ryan studied his face for dishonesty. But Trey was telling the truth. "Thanks."
"So. You feel up to showing me around today?" Trey asked.
"We'll see. You going to stick around?"
"AJ's getting out of jail tonight so I'm not showing my face in Chino for a few days," Trey replied.
Kirsten returned to the kitchen and grabbed a cup of coffee. "Ryan, since you're feeling better…"
"Here it comes. What's on my schedule for today?" he smiled.
"We'd like you to go see your doctor. She was here last night but you weren't really sociable," she replied. "And you still have to file a report with the police about what happened…"
"Can't that wait?" Trey asked.
"It's okay. I think I can do that."
"Sandy'll go with you."
"Do you think I could go visit Monica?" Ryan asked. He remembered that she was okay.
"Sure. If you're up to it. Trey, as long as you aren't planning any more escapes, you're still welcome to stay and visit with Ryan," she said.
"No more escapes. And thank you," Trey nodded.
-- ------- -- - - -------------- - ---------------- -- -------------------------------- - --- ----
"Summer? Thanks again for coming with me," Ryan said as they got onto the elevator.
"Yeah, you definitely owe me. Cutting school so I can accompany you to the hospital isn't exactly how I planned to spend the day," Summer replied.
"You're cutting school?" he asked and she recognized the concern on his face.
"My Dad called Dr. Kim," she admitted. "Harbor's actually pretty flexible if there's enough money involved. I also have to start seeing a shrink. Grief management or some bullshit."
"God, Summer…I've been a little self-absorbed lately but…"
"Its nothing, Chino. Just…after last summer when Cohen ran off, I started dating right away just to get him off my mind and I guess Daddy was expecting me to do that again. But…"
"This is different," Ryan nodded.
"Yeah."
The doors opened on their floor and they stepped off.
"We can talk later," Ryan said.
"Room 803, over there," Summer said, leading the way.
Ryan knocked hesitantly. She knew how nervous he was but she knew he needed to see Monica. He needed to see a silver lining to at least one tragedy.
The door was half-opened and someone called out for them to come in.
She followed Ryan into the private hospital room.
"Ryan!" A man said, standing up.
Ryan smiled and reached out to shake his hand. "Tom…"
Tom pulled him into a friendly hug. "It's so good to see you up and about."
"Sandy said you came by…how are you, Monica?" Ryan asked the woman in the hospital bed.
Monica smiled, leaning forward to embrace him gingerly. "Much better now that I'm seeing you."
"You look a lot better than I expected," Ryan admitted. Summer nudged him but Monica laughed.
"Thanks. The doctors do good work here. I should get to go home in a couple of days," she said.
"She's already trying to talk her way back to work," Tom said.
"You're going back to work at the store?" Summer asked.
"I'm not afraid. It's the first time we've ever been robbed," Monica replied. "Besides. God watched over us, he sent me my own little guardian angel that day," she said, patting Ryan's hand. "How are you doing?"
"I'm okay, actually. Freaked out a little but I'm okay," Ryan said.
"My kids are going to be sorry they missed you," Monica said.
"I just wanted to check on you. I'll visit again," Ryan promised.
"Ooh, Tom, give me that bag," Monica motioned toward the table of snacks and gifts.
Tom passed her a gift bag and she smiled widely at Ryan. "This is for you."
Summer watched Ryan's face break into a pure smile as she handed him a huge lollipop. It was the size of a dinner plate on a wooden stick.
"I don't even know what to say," Ryan laughed.
-- ------- -- - - -------------- - ---------------- -- -------------------------------- - --- ----
Ryan heard the car pull in and went to the door. Trey was snoring on the downstairs couch and Kirsten and Sandy had gone to order dinner.
He opened the door and was startled to see Lindsay. He knew that she had come by when she heard about the robbery but he didn't remember talking to her.
"Hi. I hope…I hope its okay I stopped by…"
"Come in. Trey's sleeping," he said, stepping aside.
"Who's Trey?"
"My brother."
"He's out?"
Ryan nodded. "Let's go out back."
As soon as they stepped onto the deck, Lindsay started in a rush.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry and I know how much of a mistake I've made because I miss you so much…"
Ryan had flashbacks of Marissa for an instant but she continued.
"The more I think about it the more I know I overreacted and I know you're having a rough time and I should be here for you, I want to be here for you…"
"Lindsay…"
"I…I love you," Ryan," she said suddenly.
He was speechless. He hadn't heard from her in over a week.
"I trust you. I'm not afraid of you. We all have baggage and…" she started again.
"Just stop a second."
He needed to think. His feelings for Lindsay hadn't disappeared, he just hadn't allowed himself to think about it. He'd left it where he left it. It had hurt so much to lose her that he knew that he'd depended on her too much and he couldn't afford to be that dependant on anyone.
"Can we try again? For real this time?"
"It wasn't real last time?" he asked.
She faltered slightly. "Yeah. That's why I don't want to lose it. I…I've never felt this way before. You make me all…crazy. You're all I think about, it's like you're the only thing on my mind and I have to fix this, I have to be with you…"
The door opened and Trey stepped out. "Bro, your phone's blowing up in here."
Ryan took the phone from him and put it to his ear. "Yeah?"
"Should we order anything else, like for Summer or…"
"Hang on." He turned to Lindsay. "Are you staying for dinner?"
She stared at him with entirely too much eagerness in her eyes. "Do you want me to?"
Trey gave Ryan a knowing smile and returned inside.
Ryan raised the phone. "Lindsay's here. I haven't talked to Summer but she'll probably stop by, too. It's Valley night."
"Oh. Okay. We'll bring extra. Lindsay?"
"See you soon," he said, hanging up before she launched into an interrogation.
"So…" Lindsay said.
"Stay for dinner. Let's…just hang out a while. No pressure and…" Ryan started, needing to think.
She stepped forward and kissed him quiet, holding his face.
She tasted the same, sweet and hot and her hair smelled like peaches.
"It's my turn to chase you. I'm not giving up," Lindsay said, breathless when she released him. "Now. Introduce me to your brother."
-- ------- -- - - -------------- - ---------------- -- -------------------------------- - --- ----
Trey watched his brother's redhead set the table. She was cute and secretly beautiful. Ry could always pick out the girls that you'd overlook at first glance but turned out to be gorgeous.
"Trey. Stop staring," Ryan muttered under his breath.
"She's a little different from the last one."
"She's Kirsten's sister, too. Be nice," Ryan whispered before going to the girl's side.
That put a new twist on it.
Ryan must really like her because he loved Mrs. Cohen. He had to remember to interrogate his baby brother later about that story.
"So, Trey. Are you going to tell me lots of embarrassing stories about Ryan growing up?" Lindsay asked, clearly trying to make conversation. Or get a reaction out of Ryan, Trey wasn't sure which.
Ryan glared at him.
"We better wait until the Cohens get here so I have a little more backup," Trey laughed.
The phone rang and Ryan stepped out to answer it.
He caught Lindsay watching him.
"He didn't talk about me, did he?" Trey asked, knowing the answer.
"Ryan doesn't talk about anything," she said quietly.
He smiled. "Sounds like Ryan."
"He seems glad to see you. I hope you aren't like your mother," Lindsay said.
He could tell that the girl was being protective. Warning him not to hurt Ryan. He respected that. Somebody needed to be looking out for him. "Nice to meet another fan of Mom's. What can I say? I'm fresh out of jail, nothing's going to truly convince you."
"Ryan trusts you. I trust his judgment. But he's too loyal for his own good sometimes," she added.
"Lindsay. Good to see you, can you help me put out the cartons?" Kirsten came in juggling food while Sandy followed with sodas.
"Everything okay?" Sandy asked him quietly.
"I think so. She's Ryan's girl I take it?"
Sandy raised his eyebrows. "Depends."
Trey gave him a curious look.
"It changes from week to week," Sandy whispered.
Ryan walked in with Summer.
"We got that crab Rangoon you like," Kirsten told her.
"Ooh, I'm glad I called," Summer said, smiling.
Trey followed Sandy to sit down with these people who Ryan had made his family.