Wow! What can I say? Thankyou for the great reviews guys! It's really overwhelming, and I really appreciate it so much! Glad you're liking the story, because it's so much fun to write! Hope this next chapter doesn't disappoint! Hopefully it's quite emotional, and sets the scene for my next instalment! Enjoy! Keep up the great feedback

Disclaimer: Still don't own the OC.

Marissa woke the next morning from a dreamless sleep. Summer had gone home hours ago after Jimmy had insisted she get some rest. But still there was nothing to be said about Ryan. Marissa's wounds throbbed, the scratches aching like knives stabbing through her body. The mauve bruises that painted her eyes made her eyelids heavy and her vision hazy. She felt her chest.The stitches that sewed her skin pained at her cold, delicate touch.

No sooner had she awaken, thesaddening sensation was building again in her throat. Despite the soreness of her forehead, Marissa's mind raced, flooding with thoughts and memories and self blame. The tears ran down her face and fell onto the pillow. She wished insanely that she'd taken Ryan's place; that she was fighting for her life. He didn't deserve it. He'd never deserved anything bad that had happened in his life. And she didn't deserve Ryan. She'd never deserved him. It was her fault he had lost his concentration and flipped the car off the road. Her fault he'd gotten angry in the first place. And now Ryan was on the verge of death because of her.

She cried like this for an hour before the familiar gait of her father approaching the room pulled her back into reality. Hastily she attempted to wipe away the burning tears, without inflaming the bruises around her eyes, to no prevail.

"Kiddo?" Jimmy poked his head through the doorway. His demeanour was kind and gentle, and his eyes were full of love for his daughter. He sent her a sorrowful smile. Marissa simply looked at him and did not attempt to reply, or herfeelings would surely explode.

"Oh, sweetie!" he saw her impossible state, and walked over to her. He wrapped her strong arms around her, and squeezed her tenderly. "Come on. Let it out."

At that, Marissa's cries resumed and she sobbed hysterically into his shoulder, the grief and trauma growing only stronger and digging deeper as the tears slid down her face.

"It's okay. It's okay." Her father's voice was calm and soothing.

"W-Where's R-Ryan?" she shook violently under the unrelenting agony.

"He's going to make it," Jimmy replied. He massaged his hand up and down her back, rocking her back and forth, "He had a very rough night, but the doctors think that he'll be alright."

"W-What h-happened to him?"

Jimmy sighed. The truth was he was still coming to terms with the good news himself. He truly thought it was a miracle that Ryan had come out of theatre alive.

"He had a punctured lung and some internal bleeding, and they had to operate. We nearly lost him...," Marissa's body trembled. The news was almost unbearable. His words echoed in her ear, and sent chilling shivers down her spine.

We nearly lost him.

We nearly lost him.

I nearly lost him.

Jimmy continued, "...but he made it."

Finally, the relief of the good news began to sink in and the knots in her veins loosened. She continued to cry, "I w-was so-o scared!" she squeaked, "I th-thought he was dead!" A fresh flow of tears escaped at thatfrightening word.

Jimmy continued cradling her. He didn't say it out loud but under his breath he whispered, "So did I."

Several minutes passed before Marissa felt her strength reviving. Her guilt still lingered, but now just knowing that he hadn't disappeared forever gave her comfort.

"Can I go and see him?" she asked gingerly.

Jimmy considered it, "Maybe later. Right now both of you need to rest."

As much as she hated being still apart from Ryan, Marissa couldn't deny her growing desire to close her eyes. The weight of the tragedy was slowly lifting off her stomach. She was relaxing at last and the tears were beginning to dry just as she fell into a long, deep slumber.

X

Summer walked into the hospital hours later. The Cohens had gone home to sleep, but Seth had left her a text message telling her about Ryan. She had tried to sleep but found herself restless, despite her enduring weariness.

During the night, Marissa had told Summer how responsible she felt about the accident. Summer hated the thought of her friend blaming herself unforgivably, all alone in that industrious hospital wing, and had decided to keep her company.

She walked through the hall to Marissa's room. She quietly opened the door only to find her best friend resting innocently, lost in peaceful slumber.

"Dear Coop," Summer cocked her head to one side as she looked at Marissa. Maybe she should leave her to rest. Suddenly, she had a stab of sadness strike through her body, when she thought of what her friend had just been through.Summer couldn't begin to imagine what she'd be like if this had happened to Seth. Yes, Cohen drove her to the brink of insanity on some days, but it was part of the charm she loved so dearly about him. If she lost him…

Quickly, Summer turned away from the door, trying to shelve her terrible thoughts. She blinked and realised there was wetness in her eyes. She pulled out a tissue and dabbed them before anyone saw. She'd cried too much already. And it wouldn't help Coop. She needed to be strong for both of them.

She turned to leave the hospital, and was at its exit when she had a better idea. She stopped, spun around and approached the front desk. An old women with permed, rich brown hair and kindly blue eyes took off her glasses which hung on a chain.

"Yes, dear?" she smiled warmly.

"Um, yes," she took a moment, wondering whether this was really such a good idea, then she continued, "Uh, Ryan Atwood?"

The old women smiled affectionately, "Girlfriend?" she asked politely as she searched his name on the computer.

"Oh, no, just friend," Summer smiled back.

The old woman chuckled. "Oh, I've heard all about him! He's a fighter that one!"

Summer couldn't help but amuse at the irony of "fighter". She reflected on the times Ryan had either given, or been given a black eye. Now he had fought his way from death. Summer lightly laughed absentmindedly. "Hmm, yes, he is."

"Level Four, room Twenty-six on the left," the woman notified.

"Thankyou," they exchanged final grins before Summer made her way up to his room.

The walk was a long, reflective one for Summer, and gave her strange feelings. They had never been overly close, she and Ryan. But there had nevertheless always been this kind of unspoken bond they shared. She'd just grown so accustomed to him always being there, protecting Seth, loving Marissa, thinking, not talking. She could see it in his eyes everyday how much Marissa meant to him. He truly loved her. He was special. She just couldn't believe that he'd almost lost his life.

She entered the room and there he was, sleeping soundly, the ventilator tracing his heartbeat. Nervously, she walked over and pulled up a chair and sat in front of him.

Hey, Chino!" she said in her typical chirpy manner. She knew a reply wouldn't come, but still she got ascrape of sadness when it didn't.

She went on, trying to maintain her tone, "So! I heard you nearly died last night! That was pretty gutsy of you, but…" a strange sensation was building in her throat, "but, I'm kinda glad you decided to stick around!" She leaned forward as if to whisper to him, "Don't tell Marissa, or she'll think I'm after you! … eww!" she tried to add a soft laugh, but something was holding her back. The more she talked to him, the harder it got.

She breathed away a threatening surge of emotion, "Actually, speaking of Marissa, she's okay. I mean, yep, she's a little shaken up… but let's face it, Ryan! When isn't our Coop a little shaken up, eh?" Now tears were prickling at her eyes. What's wrong with me! She was furiouswith herself for her foolishness, but talking in this tone was becoming impossible. Again, she swallowed away the growing lump that was forming in her throat.

Finally, she realised that she couldn't continue this way. It wasn't helping, in fact it was making her succumb to the situation faster. She gave a laboured sigh, choking back more tears that brimmed her eyes.

"Ryan," she said, seriously now, "I know you and I don't talk much, but I still think you are one of the nicest people I've ever met! You're so…" the emotion was at breaking point, her voice began to waver, "You're so loyal to Marissa. You have no idea how much she loves you! She has since the day she met you. She tells me everyday."

She looked away to finally permit a flow of tears to seep from her eyes. She had to get out of there! She kissed him lightly on the forehead, "Just promise me you won't leave us…" Suddenly she thought of Seth, her beautiful Cohen, and she couldn't help but let out a weak giggle, "…or I will officially have to kill Cohen! You know you're the only one who can keep what sense he has in that little possessed brain of his!"

Summer stood up and went to leave. She stood there at the door, stoking the handle with her fingers. She turned her elegant face and looked at his sleeping body one last time, adding, "He wouldn't survive without you either."

And at that, Summer hurried away down the dimly lit corridor, wiping away her rapidly falling tears as she left.