DISCLAIMER: I don't own The OC or its characters.

Author's note: Thank you to all those who reviewed! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Please let me know what you think!

Sandy walked in to Kirsten's room the next day with apprehension. He knew that if she was feeling any better at all from the accident she would start feeling much worse when she found out the consequences of it today. The second he walked into the room, he knew Kirsten had already found out. Through all of her bandages, Sandy could still see the anger in her face and the tension in her body. Her arms crossed and she was shaking her head to herself in aggravation, mumbling something to herself, not even noticing Sandy walking in.

"Hey honey…" Sandy began softly.

"You don't have to beat around the bush, I KNOW! I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NOW! DON'T REMIND ME!" Kirsten snapped at him angrily.

Ignoring her, Sandy chimed in, "Everything's going to be fine. I'm going to talk to some of the guys I know at the P.D. office. Explain to them what happened. The stress you've been under. That it was just that, an accident. Don't worry, honey."

"Sandy, NO! I don't want you doing any of that. I can handle this myself. Just stay out of it."

"Honey I'm just trying to help you. Make things easier for you."

"Well maybe I don't want your help. Maybe I could've used your help a long time ago but we're beyond that point, aren't we?" Kirsten snottily said back.

"What do you mean, Kirsten?" Sandy asked hopelessly, wondering if Kirsten was referring to the fact that she may have needed Sandy by her side more during these past few months and since he wasn't, it caused her to drink, or because he should have been more considerate of her feelings when he was helping Rebecca, or for a different reason altogether.

"Nothing, just forget it," Kirsten said as she closed her eyes, feeling the tears fill them, hoping Sandy wouldn't notice. She wished that she could turn over so Sandy wouldn't see her face at all, but she couldn't with her broken arm and ribs.

Sandy decided to not say anything else because he could see that this fight was getting no where but into another round of the two of them saying hurtful things to one another that they didn't mean to say and would regret later. In the back of his head, Sandy hoped that after the trial was over and after Kirsten got her life back together, they would go to marriage counseling. Sandy couldn't understand how they could still fight after the accident. It should've been a wake up call, but somehow this fight had crept its way in. Sandy was tired of fighting, thus he opted to say nothing else right now.

The rest of the day went by with very little conversation between Sandy and Kirsten. Kirsten pretended to sleep most of the day not wanting to speak to Sandy, or anyone else for that matter. She had a lot to think about. Once she got out of the hospital, she had a lot on her table. She needed to prepare for court and figure out what to do about work since she didn't want anyone knowing what happened. Sandy just sat there thinking about what was to come. It was as if this was the calm before the storm.

Things changed for the worst when Seth and Ryan came to the hospital after dinner.

After saying hello and talking about Kirsten's progress, Seth asked Sandy to come outside of the room to talk. Seth said with concern in his voice, "There was a rumor going around at school that mom got charged with DWI. Is that true?"

Sandy was speechless. How could he lie to his son about something so serious, but at the same time how could he tell him that it was true?

Seth realized from Sandy's expression that it was true. Not thinking, Seth ran into his mother's room yelling, "How could you mom? How could you drink and drive after always telling Ryan and I to NEVER drink and drive? You should be ashamed of yourself!"

Kirsten was taken back, in total shock of what she just heard. She immediately looked at Sandy, saying, "HOW COULD YOU TELL HIM THAT?"

"I didn't, he found out himself," Sandy replied coolly, as if he was saying, "See for yourself Kirsten, you DO have an alcohol problem and it is hurting our family."

"Is this true?" Ryan asked with disgust in his voice.

Tears started forming in Kirsten's eyes. She hated to see her kids looking at her as if she was the worst parent in the world.

"I don't think we need any more proof than that Ryan. She has no answer. Come on, let's get out of here."

Sandy interjected, saying, "Boys, hold on a second. You can't just walk away like this. Your mother didn't mean to do what she did. She has a lot to deal with right now. She needs you."

"Yeah, well, I needed her too. She hasn't been there for me or Ryan these past few weeks. I had the biggest comic pitch of my life and what was she doing on the night of the pitch? She was drinking. Thanks a lot Mom, now I'm not only a dork by the kids at school, but I'm known as the alcoholic's son," Seth said with sadness and frustration in his voice. He then again told Ryan that they were leaving.

Ryan held back for a minute and went over to Kirsten, saying, "Please use this accident as a reminder that you need help. Please don't go back to your drinking habits. They'll only get worse. You see how Seth is reacting already. I've seen my mother act like you're acting now. I'm disappointed, but I know you can stop drinking if you commit yourself to stop. I also know that there is a difference between you and my mother. She abandoned my family. I know you would never do that, so don't do anything to make us think you would. Please get some help before it's too late and like my mother, you really do abandon us. I don't want this family that I love to fall apart." With that, Ryan followed behind Seth.

Sandy followed behind them to make sure they were okay.

Back in her room, Kirsten cried hysterically. Her life was falling apart. Everything she had ever dreamed of having-a perfect husband, kids, a family-was falling apart because of her drinking. She hated feeling so guilty. For the first time since the accident, Kirsten craved alcohol. The guilt was too much for her to take and she knew that alcohol would at least temporarily erase her guilt and pain and all her other problems. She buzzed the nurse to confirm that she was still being released the next day. She couldn't wait to get home to get some booze.

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