Hey guys! Just three chapters to go! I'm kind of dreading it, because it's been such a great ride! You guys have been so supportive and encouraging and I'm so touched that you're enjoying this! I never thought I'd get 20 reviews, let alone over 60! So thanks!

This chapter was pretty tricky to write; it's a slight anti-climax, so I didn't want to make it boring. I really have been a bit stuck with this chapter, so I hope it doesn't disappoint! Here it goes!

Disclaimer: don't own the OC

The moisture of her warm, salty tears was leaking into his skin. She didn't reply, she just kept crying and shaking. He couldn't understand. Why didn't he have the strength to hold her back? Why did he feel so weary? Where was he? And… it was then the excruciation stabbed through his chest. It was like someone scraping a fork through his lungs. When he breathed in, it was as if someone punching him with blades. It felt as if there was a river of blood penetrating in his rib cage. He didn't understand at first. Why do I feel this way? What's happened?

But then the crippling reminiscence of him being hurdled around in his seat, glass smashing everywhere, the steering wheel colliding with his forehead, and then folding into his torso came floating back in his mind. He recalled the last thing he saw before falling into utter darkness. It was the sight Marissa's petrified face, screaming with sheer terror, blood seeping from her head, tears falling from her eyes, her hair glistening with trapped beads of shattered glass. She looked dead through her consciousness. And it was all his fault.

The thoughts swivelled around his head like a spinning top; he was unable to look at a single moment, they were going to fast. Then suddenly, he was pulled out of his fiery reverie when Marissa gripped the material over his chest and an unbelievable surge of pain overwhelmed him.

He wheezed and Marissa quickly pulled away, her face smeared with fallen tears, "Oh! Sorry!" she choked. Marissa smiled with absolute relief, and stroked his cheek with her soft, quivering hand. The touch was soothing to his skin and the pain quickly diminished as he took in her silky stroke.

Both of them had so much to say, so much to reveal. Their feelings, their guilts, their own recollections of the fateful night were all inside, but neither had the strength, nor the nerve to express them. The love at that moment was too strong for painful memories to break it. They both remained silent, gazing passionately into each other's eyes with neutral faces.

The minutes ambled passed, neither of them breaking eye-contact, the same memories flowing in their minds, the same feelings pumping through their hearts. Marissa looked at him; she wanted to say so much, there was so much to talk about, emotions that were bottled inside and yearning to escape. She drew in a silent breath ready to open her mouth, when they were disturbed by the sound of approaching footsteps; soft patters against the plastic floors. The handle of the closed door moved and a figure clad in a white dress stepped in. Marissa suddenly realised what time it was. She was shocked to learn she'd been here for over three hours, for the clock now read 3:48am.

"Miss Cooper! Thank goodness!" the nurse whispered briskly, crumbling the peaceful silence that had loomed for so long. She was a short, elderly woman with carelessly pulled-back blonde hair, and signs of age forming around her eyes and neck. She sighed a breath of relief when she saw Marissa, and portrayed a scowl upon her face. "I was doing my rounds and came into your room and you were gone. Said to myself, I did," the nurse rambled, "I said, I know where she is! Oh, yes, Miss Cooper! Heard all about you and Mr Atwood here. Very courageous story, it is." Ryan and Marissa, exchanged slight smiles at the nurse's affectionate gabble, "So I hurried up here, and here you are! Just as I suspected!" she shook her head, failing to muffle an amused grin.

"Oh, sorry," Marissa said quietly. She knew her time with Ryan had expired, but she was nevertheless dreading the thought of being without him again. They looked at each other, and Ryan gave her a frail smile. He didn't want her to leave, but he couldn't shake off the intensifying drowsiness that was overwhelming his body.

"Come on, love," the nurse beckoned, "Best get a decent snooze in before breakfast, eh?"

Marissa nodded shyly. She leaned forward and kissed him sweetly on the mouth, "I'll be back, 'kay?" It may not have seemed it, but that simple goodbye was the most difficult they'd shared in a while. There was still so much that hadn't been said, that would be left like that for the time being. As Marissa's steps drew farther away from him, the pain in Ryan's chest strengthened.

It's my fault, Marissa sighed, feeling cool tears line her eyes.

Ryan became lost in his spinning thoughts again. It's my fault.

They shared one last stare, and then she was gone.

X

When Ryan woke up again he found that outside the sun was up and shining brightly. All over he felt like lead. Everything was stiff and heavy. He blinked, struggling to take in the brightness of the day, and then looked around the white room of the hospital. The fixed beating of the ventilator was ringing softly at the back of his ears. He lay there, breathing in the cool air that hung; thoughts and memories swirling in his head.

With some difficulty, he managed to strain his eyes to check the time, which read 11:46am. Ryan sighed. He'd never been in hospital before. He remembered being a boy and was always so envious of other kids getting their appendixes out and their broken legs cast and got to go to hospital. It was one of those bizarre ambitions a child always had that no one could really understand. Now, here he was, in hospital at last, and he was dreading every second. It really wasn't much fun resting an internal injury, with the weight of nearly killing your girlfriend on your shoulders.

At that, Ryan heard the soft step of a familiar face approaching his room. The tethers in his heart loosened when Seth opened the door and poked his head through. At the sight of that same impossible bed of black hair and bold eyes, Ryan couldn't help but smile, eased to have someone to talk to.

Seth gingerly walked in. It was the first time he had seen Ryan awake for nearly three days. He was still so relieved that Ryan was still here. His parents hadn't said it out loud, but Seth knew that he had very nearly died. Seth shuddered at the thought of losing the first and only true friend he'd ever had.

He waved tentatively, his mouth forming a flat smile and not quite making eye contact. He didn't speak at first.

"Hey, man," Ryan smiled warmly. He knew what Seth was thinking. For one thing, it was pasted all over his face. But judging by the events of the Summer of 2004, Seth would've gone farther than Portland if… he quickly wiped that thought away from his mind.

"Dude," Seth mumbled quietly, "Glad you're awake," finally he smiled, the utter relief breezing from his eyes.

"Thanks," Ryan croaked. Seth took a seat on the chair.

"So, man, how are you feeling?" Seth asked.

"Ah, pretty crappy at the moment, but I think it's just the anaesthetic I guess."

Seth stifled a slight grin, "And you did kinda had a punctured lung."

Ryan smiled, "Yeah, that too." Seeing Seth reminded him of the Cohen mansion. He missed it and he sighed, "So, how's home?"

"Oh, it's a happening place!" Seth said sarcastically, "Mom and Dad are just…" Seth shook his head sadly, "well… the sooner you come home, the sooner things can go back to normal."

"Define normal," Ryan laughed slightly. Seth chuckled back.

"Captain Oats holding up?"

Seth nodded grinning. Whenever they were in a dark patch, Ryan would always bring up Captain Oats to lighten the mood, "Oh, the same as always, Ryan! Actually Princess Sparkles came over and kept him company last night, so he was happy."

"Oh, is Summer okay?" Ryan asked, the mention of Princess Sparkles reminding him.

Seth shrugged, "She's alright. The… accident," he said nervously, "Freaked her out of course, with, uh, Marissa… and stuff." Seth watched as Ryan's face fell at Marissa's name. He continued, "So, uh, I went to see Marissa this morning as well. She's coming out today," he checked the clock, "Actually about now," Ryan's expression turned ever more saddened. "So, uh, have you two… talked?"

Ryan groaned, "Yeah, well kinda. She came in last night. She was there when I woke up, but we barely said a word to each other. I mean, I was dying to talk to her… but it was too hard."

Seth stared at him, a rare serious look across his face, "Yeah, Marissa said the same thing," he shrugged, "I mean, I know a car accident is a big deal, but I kinda got the vibe that something else happened between you two that night."

Ryan moaned, the memory so painful, "Yeah, something did happen."

Seth eyed him expectantly.

"It was all my fault, Seth. We got into this fight and I was so angry, and she – she was so upset," Ryan cringed at the memory. How could he have been so heartless and selfish? "Then I just, lost focus, and the next thing I know I'm here, and she's here, and… I've just screwed everything up."

Seth laughed slightly. Ryan looked at him, hurt, "Oh, and what's so funny about that?"

Seth shrugged, "It's just funny. Marissa said the exact same thing."

Ryan was caught momentarily speechless. Marissa thought this was her fault? Why would she think that? She wasn't the one her who was driving. She wasn't the one who started the fight. She hadn't done a thing. It was his fault, and no one else's.

At that moment, Sandy and Kirsten walked into the room. Both bore relieved and happy smiles.

"Sweetie!" Kirsten chirruped. She hurried over and kissed Ryan on the cheek. When she rose, he saw tears in her eyes.

"How you doin' kid?" Sandy asked, standing behind his wife and supporting her back.

Ryan replied, "Oh, well been better, but you know." Words couldn't describe his happiness at seeing his family there with him.

The four of them talked for well over an hour when Ryan said ashamed, "Sandy? I'm sorry about the car."

Sandy shook his head for Ryan not to stress, "Ryan, it's okay! It's not important. Cars can be replaced, but adopted sons? Never!"

Ryan couldn't help but smile, but his heart still sank, "So, it's wrecked?"

"Unfortunately, it was unsalvageable. All that could be saved was Seth's cell phone, Marissa's bag, a hair brush, and some other bits and pieces of junk."

All of a sudden, Ryan went completely numb. His breath froze, his heartbeat ceased and his vision went blank. He was deaf to their voices, and was lost in a burning memory which struck at him like a spear.

"…Ryan? … Ryan? You with us?" Seth snapped his fingers across his face, startling him. Ryan looked around at the Cohen's, struggling to find his voice.

"You alright, dude?"

Ryan jumped but quickly laughed pathetically, "Oh… yeah, sorry."

Seth, Sandy and Kirsten went on chattering while Ryan just lay there, lost his own world, and emotionally destroyed at the realisation that he had lost Marissa's ring forever.