Title- Aftermath

Author- Monica

Disclaimer- All the wonderful characters and plots belong to the people of FOX. I own nothing! Sadly!

Summary- Post Season Finale

Spoilers- Dearly Beloved

Genre- Drama/angst

Rating- PG-13, not any worse than on the show

Author's Notes- This is my first O.C fanfiction (only my 2nd fanfiction in general) so you may hate it. I would have thought a lot more people would have written about the season finale, but hardly anyone has, so I'm happy to help. I would love hundreds of reviews, even if you hate it! Anything compliments (love 'em), flames, or constructive criticism. Enjoy.

Chapter 1.

" That's Not My Blood..."

This couldn't be happening. Not to her. Not to Marissa Cooper. The Marissa Cooper. She raised her hand to her stinging cheek. God, did it sting. She couldn't stop her hands from shivering. A coldness had settled over her that she couldn't place. Numbness was making it's way slowly up her legs, steadily swallowing her whole. The walls seemed to be closing in on her, but she couldn't move, couldn't breathe. She was barely aware of Ryan's presence next to her.

He wanted to comfort her, needed to comfort her, yet all he could do was scoot beside her. His throat burned incomprehensibly. It felt as if his lungs had been set on fire. He took slow, long breaths; each coming out a little less ragged than the former. Blood was seeping it's way into his mouth and all he could think about was spitting it out. Marissa was shaking uncontrollably beside him, a constant reminder that this wasn't about him anymore. Grab hold of yourself, Ryan!

He weakly pulled himself to a standing position. He could see Seth trying to console a hysterical Summer; who was vomiting up everything she had eaten in the past couple of days. Seth looked up from rubbing Summer's back and his eyes met Ryan's. The consensus was mutual, they needed to get out of here. Ryan knelt down in front Marissa, who was refusing to look at him.

" Marissa," He whispered mainly because it was the loudest his aching throat would allow him to speak. She tried inching away from him, but was already backed up against the wall. Her eyes were glued to a blood stain on Ryan's shirt.

" Ry-Ryan, you're bleeding," her voice was like a small frightened child.

" No, I'm alright, Marissa. I'm fine. That's not my blood-" His voice died in his throat as he realized what he said. Marissa let out a noise that Ryan could only describe as a whimper, and tears were flowing faster down her pale face. " No, Marissa, don't cry. Please don't cry."

Something about the desperation of his words had gotten through to her because her tears halted. " Good, can you stand?" She wanted to slap him. Blood was flowing from his nose and his mouth; bruises already forming a collar around his neck, and he was taking care of her! But all she could do was nod. It felt as if her thoughts and her actions were totally disconnected.

Ryan placed his hands around Marissa's arms and lifted her to her feet. Her whole body automatically stiffened at his touch and the anger all came flooding back. Trey. Marissa. Him, attacking her. He hadn't been there, yet he had an imaginary scene playing in his head since Seth had told him. It all suddenly made sense. Everything that had happened after Miami. How could he have been so stupid? He knew Trey was scum. Worse than scum. He had tried to help him, and now it was Marissa who had gotten hurt.

" Ryan." Marissa placed her shaky hand on Ryan's cheek. Realizing his expression must have changed, he unset his jaw andthrew a protective arm around her.

" You okay, man?" Marissa almost snorted. Did he look ok?

" I'm good. You?"

" No, no I'm fine. We came in after the, uhh, action."

Summer watched the guys with mild fascination. Fine? Trey was dead! He was lying in a puddle of blood. Marissa had-

" Oh God," Summer bent over and hurled again. Seth grabbed her shoulders lightly so she wouldn't fall over. She could feel Ryan and Seth staring at her with concern. " I'm fine," she lied weakly while squatting down to stop the nausea. She was just as bad as they were. " How is Marissa?"

They all waited for Marissa to answer, but she didn't speak. She was staring at nothing in particular. " I think she's in shock more than anything else," Ryan finally admitted.

Summer nodded in understanding before leaning over and emptying whatever was left in her stomach. Seth had devotedly held back her already-disgusting hair. Vomiting was starting to become extremely painful. Her throat felt cut up, and she couldn't tolerate the smell. She'd vomit, smell it, and then feel the need to vomit again. Seth was becoming frightened with how much she was throwing up, but felt completely helpless.

" Ryan, we should..." He gestured to Trey's body, " you know, for Marissa and..." He pointed down to Summer. Ryan looked from Seth, to Trey, to Marissa. He nodded but still seemed hesitant. He looked at Trey and opened his mouth to say something, but shut it when he looked back at Marissa. He had chosen once again Marissa over Trey. The first time he had been ready to kill Trey for Marissa's honor, now he was ready to forget him for Marissa's future.

" I can do it." Seth offered as Ryan lingered between Trey and Marissa. Ryan didn't answer.

The night breeze should have been the first clue that the door was still open. Everything that had happened in this apartment had caused everyone to go numb, so no one noticed it. Not until Jess walked in at least.

" What the..." Jess broke off.

Everyone froze. Jess' eyes darted from Trey's body, to the gun on the floor, and settled upon Marissa.

" What did you do?" Ryan's face warned her about screaming at Marissa again. " You son of a bitch! You killed your own bother!" She charged at Ryan, but before her first swung, he had grabbed onto her wrists.

" Jess, get out of here. I swear..." He left the threat to her imagination. Jess backed off. Ryan had grown up in Chino, and could shoot a death glare as well as Trey did. But with blood dripping from his face, he looked much more dangerous.

Before she left she turned to him, to them all, " Going to jail must run in the Atwood family, huh, Ryan?" Something inside him snapped. He shot forward, but Seth stood in front of him.

" Let it go, man." Seth stared him in the eyes almost as if to say, We're in enough trouble already. Ryan understood. " Just let it go."

Summer fell from her knees into a sitting position. " That bitch will go the police. Marissa will go to jai-" She felt the familiar sensation in the back of her throat.

" No, no she won't." Seth tried but his head was spinning. He couldn't think straight, and for once he couldn't think of anything to say.

" Let's go," Ryan said, going back to Marissa and starting to lead her to the door. Seth helped Summer up, who was now grimacing at the throw up that was all over her clothes and hair.

" We're gonna be fine," Seth reassured, squeezing her shoulder.

" Yeah." Summer agreed, not sounding like she believed it.

Seth pulled out his cellphone and dialed a number still staring at Summer. His dad picked up on the third ring.

" Hello?"

Seth almost hung up, but Summer glared at him.

" Hello?"

" Hi, Dad. It's me."

" Hey, Seth, is everything alright? I was thinking maybe we could rent a couple of movies-"

" Dad, we're in trouble again."

TBC...

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A/N- Ok, I know this was really short but it's just setting up the story. Will continue if there's interest. Also, Jess is assuming Ryan killed Trey but that Marissa is the reason why, just in case anyone was confused at that part. Please review! Hope you liked it.