The O.C

A Life Half Lived

A/N: Sorry for the sporadic updates recently. Like I explained, I'm barley ever at home. I'm ALWAYS at work. I'm sorry this took so long but here's your next chapter. Happy reading! Genevra xxox

Summary: "I don't look sick. I am sick."

Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I affiliated with The OC. Sigh. I do however own any characters or scenarios you don't recognize. Yay!

Chapter Eleven: Cabin Fever

Summer sighed as she fingered the spine of 'The Valley' DVD case that rested in her frail hands. She picked up the remote and skipped forward a scene in search of her favourite. She watched it and sighed again. Nothing.

She was so bored that even 'The Valley' didn't placate her. She ran her fingers down and across the Belly.

"I wish you would just hurry up and come out, little one," she said, in a singsong voice. "So then Mummy would have someone to play with and dress-up and feed and change."

There was a knock on the doorjamb. Ryan stuck his head around the corner and smiled at her, his eyes wrinkling like they always did when he was genuinely happy.

"Want some company?" he asked, taking a step so he stood directly in the doorjamb.

"Sure," Summer said, flicking the television off. Ryan stepped towards her and hesitated before taking a seat on the edge of the bed. Summer rolled her eyed and stifled a laugh. She patted the bed next to her. "Don't be such a prude. Come sit here."

Ryan settled into position next to her and carefully pried the remote from her fingers. He flicked the television back on and turned to Summer.

"What are we watching?" he asked.

"The Valley," she replied, in monotone. Her eyes were dull and staring straight at the television.

"You don't really want to be watching this, do you?" Ryan asked gently.

"Nope," Summer said. "I'd rather watch paint peel. Will you paint something for me so I can watch it peel?"

"I knew this would happen," Ryan sighed.

"What?" Summer asked vaguely as she began to scratch nail polish off her clumsily painted fingernails.

"That you'd get cabin fever. That you'd get bored," Ryan replied in his obvious voice. "Why do you think I'm here?"

They both knew full well why Ryan was here. Sandy and Kirsten had taken so much time off work to look after their daughter in-law that they'd been threatened with losing their jobs if they didn't return briefly. Seth was using his position of co-owner of the Bait Shop to get a little bit of 'me' time everyday and Marissa and Julie had taken Lexie into L.A. to get a modeling portfolio done at Julie's insistence. Ryan was the only one left that could look after Summer and try to stop her from scratching holes in her arms to alleviate the boredom.

"If you don't want to be here, just go," she snapped back and then smiled. "Hey, that was fun. Can we fight some more?"

"I don't particularly want to fight," he replied. "And I do want to be here. Hey, I could go for a Balboa bar right now. Wanna go to the Pier?"

"Uh, Ryan. I don't know if you've been told but I'm eight months pregnant, I have leukemia and I'm going to be induced in a week," Summer replied. "I don't think I can leave the house."

"You can," Ryan said, standing up. "I talked to your doctor this morning and he said it would be fine if I took you down to the Pier. In fact, I think his exact words were 'I think that that's a splendid idea. I think it will be great for boosting morale in the trenches.'"

Summer smiled. She didn't know why. Maybe it was because of the stuffy way her doctor talked or if it was because Ryan had been so sweet. She looked up at Ryan, the smile still plastered on her face and suddenly, she began to cry.

"Hey," he said, helping her sit up. "It's okay. You're only going outside for half an hour."

"Thank you," she whispered into his shoulder. He stroked her hair and pulled back to look into her eyes. "Thank you for this. For everything. For lending me your wife and for being here for me. Means a lot."

"You'd do the same for me," he said, hoisting her into his arms. He grabbed her handbag off the bureau and a knitted shawl for her and proceeded to carry her down the stairs.

"I wouldn't say that," Summer said. Ryan looked at her in confusion. "I wouldn't do exactly the same for you. I'm not strong enough to carry you down a flight of stairs."

"No, I don't suppose you are," Ryan said, setting her down just outside the front door. She walked gingerly over to the car with Ryan's help and slipped into the seat. Ryan walked around to the other side and hopped into the driver's seat. He turned the car on and drove out of the driveway.

"Wow," Summer breathed. She had the window down and was letting the breeze lift her hair into a veil of dark brown.

"You like that, huh?" Ryan laughed as he switched lanes.

"I never thought I'd feel fresh air on my face again," Summer sighed. "You're the best, Ryan."

"Why, thank you," he smiled.

"Ryan, put me down!" Summer shrieks. She grabs the nearest pillow and begins hitting him with it. he laughs and steps back but does not release her.

"Hey, leave my boyfriend alone," Marissa laughs. She is sprawled across her bed watching as Summer and Ryan play around. Eventually, Ryan places Summer back down on the ground.

"Bet you'll never threaten to snap me in half again," Ryan retorts.

"Bet you're wrong," Summer replies, picking up her handbag. She pokes her tongue out at Ryan and then blows a kiss at her best friend. "Later, Coop, Chino."

"Later," Ryan mocks, going to lie next to Marissa. Marissa laughs and then slaps him lightly. Ryan's hand automatically rests on Marissa's stomach and brushes a stray hair off her face.

"Bye, Summer," Marissa calls out after her best friend. She turns to her boyfriend and smiles. "You two are so entertaining. And you make the weirdest friends."

"I know," Ryan agrees.

"I mean, she is little Miss Bubbly and Smartass 2005 and you're Mr. Broody Bad-Man," Marissa continues. Ryan rolls his eyes.

"When was the last time you saw me brood or Summer bubble?" he asks.

"It's just a figure of speech," Marissa says, affecting the voice and mannerisms of their English teacher. "Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that you're complete opposites and yet, you get along so well."

"I like her," Ryan finally admits. "I guess, we just get each other. I mean, we do share our best friends. We should get along well, right?"

"Right," Marissa agrees. She pulls Ryan towards her and kisses him. "As long as we always get along better."

Summer let Ryan help her walk onto the sand. She sank into gratefully as she attacked her Balboa bar.

"Has the beach always been this beautiful?" Summer asked, licking her ice cream eagerly.

"Yeah, I guess," Ryan laughed. He finished his ice cream and sat down next to Summer who automatically leaned her onto his shoulder. She shivered slightly in the cool breeze that flew past them. "Cold?"

"Just a little," she said, nodding her head. She continued to lick the ice cream. "Thanks for bringing me here. I was going crazy. It's always weird to think that the world goes on around me when I'm stuck inside."

"That's ok," Ryan replied, pulling Summer's shawl around her. She smiled at him. he opened his mouth to talk to her but he closed it quickly. They were silent for a while and Ryan watched Summer's face. She had the tiniest hint of a smile on her pale, make-up less face. Her brown hair was in it's stock messy-bun and even with the strain of the leukemia, she had that subtle glow that all pregnant women seem to have. Ryan sighed as he looked at her. Marissa was right. She really was still beautiful. Despite everything. She was stronger than any of them, although not physically. If Ryan was much with words, he would have told her but he couldn't find the words.

"I know," she said.

"Pardon?" he asked, his eyes wide.

"I was never good with words either," she explained. "I was more of a show-er and you show me you love me and that you think I'm strong enough."

He smiled at her and she smiled back, understanding in their eyes. That's why they always got along, why they meshed. It was good to have someone who didn't have to verbalise everything and they both knew it. Ryan pushed a strand of hair back behind her ear.

"Coop did good," she said with a smile.

"Why thank you. Seth didn't do to badly either."

"Didn't do to badly?" Summer cried, hitting Ryan on the chest. He winced when he heard how weak her normally boisterous voice and was and felt how weak her normally painful slap was. "Cohen got the best."

"Fine. You win," Ryan sighed, eventually. "He got the best."

"Don't let Coop hear you say that," Summer joked.

"Wasn't planning on it," Ryan muttered under his breath. He leant over and kissed her smooth cheek. She turned to him in careless abandon and smiled.

"Are you hitting on me?" she asked, coyly raising an eyebrow.

"I can't help it," he shrugged. "You're just too cute."

"Sorry, I'm a married woman," she laughed lightly.

"Can't blame a man for trying," he said. they sunk into silence again. "You want to go yet?"

"Can we just stay a little longer, please?" she asked, no hint of the whine that had followed her through high school. Ryan nodded at her request and she smiled and lifted her face to the sun.

"Whatever you want."