Family Drama
Author's Note: Can you tell I had nothing to do? Love the reviews, keep 'em coming!
Disclaimer: Own nothing.
Chapter Two
Within fifteen minutes, Ryan had changed and Kirsten had signed the necessary papers.
"You ready to go?" asked Kirsten when she had entered Ryan's hospital room after signing what must have been a thousand papers. Stretching her right hand, she attempted to get rid of the kinks that had formed. Ryan was sat on his bed in his burgundy and white soccer uniform swinging his legs like a little kid. His gown was folded neatly on top of the made bed in true Ryan fashion.
"Got bored," he explained when he saw Kirsten eyeing his bed. Shrugging his shoulders, he hopped off the bed and led the way out of the little white room.
"We need to stop quickly at the pharmacy to pick up your inhaler, then we will be going straight home," said Kirsten after they had turned onto the main road. Ryan merely nodded his head and leaned against the window with a heavy sigh. "There is still a slight whistle to your breathing," commented Kirsten.
"Yeah, that will be there for another little while. I can't believe this all came back, and at the worst time too," complained Ryan. Looking out the window, he watched the scenery pass by as they made their way into the heart of Newport.
"Is there anything else you need now that we are here?" asked Kirsten. They had just picked up Ryan's prescription and were about to head out when Kirsten had remembered she needed some more aspirin and shampoo.
"No," answered Ryan as he slunked out the door. He still couldn't believe that he had had an asthma attack during the first soccer game of the season. For sure Coach Roberts was going to kick him off the team. Man, he really screwed this up. Opening the door to the Range Rover, he climbed aboard as he waited for Kirsten to finish making her purchases.
A half hour later, Ryan and Kirsten were finally pulling into the driveway.
Turning her head, Kirsten saw that Ryan was fast asleep against the window. Smiling softly at how young he looked, she reached across the short distance and patted him lightly on the shoulder. He awoke with a slight gasp and subtle jolt.
"Sorry," apologized Kirsten, "we're here," she said pointing to the front door. Just as this sentence came out of her mouth, a slightly rumpled Sandy and overly energetic Seth appeared in the doorway. Sandy smiled while Seth bounded excitedly down the steps to the passenger side of the Range Rover. Pulling open the door, he took in a breath of air.
"Man, that was the best goal ever! I told you that wave for going to spark some kind of magic. It sucked that you had to go down after though, you were on a roll. I mean, you had already gotten one goal, and then you flew down the field in one large swoop and scored another one! That was just amazing!" finished Seth excitedly out of breath.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," snarked Ryan. Placing his feet on the ground, he was startled to suddenly be standing face to face with a concerned Sandy.
"Are you alright, though?" asked Sandy. "I wanted to stay with you, but Kirsten suggested me and Seth go get some food. I guess I was pacing or something, but I was just so worried."
"You wonder where I get it from," stated Seth which quickly earned him a slap upside the head from Kirsten. "Hey!" he protested, "I could call the hotline again," which only earned him another slap upside the head but this time from Sandy. Looking at Ryan indignantly, he huffed and turned to go back to the house when he received no support from his best friend and brother.
Over the next few days, Ryan endured little trouble with his renewed asthma except for one day when he and Seth were fooling around by the pool.
Playing around, they had forgotten about the past week of Kirsten hovering constantly checking to make sure Ryan was breathing properly. This increasingly annoying habit soon became justified as Ryan suffered another attack. She immediately picked up on his change in breathing habits and pulled him to the side.
Sitting him down, she told Seth to retrieve the inhaler that was supposed to be in the poolhouse, but was mysteriouly missing. Telling Ryan to take deep breaths, she waited in almost panic while Seth retrieved the inhaler kept in the downstairs bathroom. Ryan had sat with his eyes closed concentrating on nothing else but his breathing just like the doctor had told him to do.
After what seemed like hours, the plastic mouth piece of the inhaler was in his mouth and he was told to breathe in. Sucking in the chemicals, he held his breath as he waited for them to take hold. Opening his eyes after thirty seconds, he was relieved to find he could breathe much easier.
"Thanks," whispered Ryan. Kirsten brushed his hair out of his face, and stood up to put the inhaler in the poolhouse.
"No problem, sweetie," she responded.
Looking to his left, Ryan saw Seth sitting with his shoulders hunched and he was looking at him with soulful puppy dog eyes.
"Sorry man," said Seth.
"Why are you sorry?" asked Ryan apalled that Seth would think this was his fault. "I overdid it Seth, I got lost and forgot about my asthma. If anyone is to blame, it would be me."
"I don't care what you say, I still feel guilty."
"Whatever man, how about some playstation? I'll race you there!" said Ryan as he took off for the house leaving a shocked Seth behind.
"Cool," whispered Seth as he too took off for the living room.
"You have a game today, Ryan?" asked Sandy when he walked into the kitchen to see the young Atwood already sitting at the counter drinking his coffee.
"Yep," answered Ryan without taking his eyes off the Sports section of the newspaper.
"Do you have neough medication?" asked Kirsten as she walked in followed by Seth. Coach Roberts had been a bit hesitant about letting Ryan continue playing, but with a doctor's note and instructions, he immediately wavered and was glad to have his best player still on the team. Whatever reservations that remained were well hidden as the coach pushed Ryan just as hard as the rest of the team.
"Yep," answered Ryan again.
"Has your asthma been acting up the lately?" continued Kirsten while she prepared her morning caffeine fix.
"Not really," responded Ryan automatically. He was used to these questions now sincce they took place before every practice and practically every day before he went to school. He loved that the Cohen's cared so much, but these questions were getting kind of monotone.
"That's good," said Kirsten. Tonight was his first game after his asthma attack, so she was really worried that he would have a repeat episode.
"You guys ready to hit the road?" asked Sandy. He had been taking the boys to school every morning while Kirsten picked them up on her way home. They didn't want Ryan to over-excert himself, so riding his bike back and forth from school was quickly out of the question, no matter how much he protested.
"Yeah," responded Ryan lifting his bag from its position beside his chair.
"I suppose," sulked Seth. He had tried desperately hard to get out of school today because he had a major history test that he had not even attempted to study.
Kissing Kirsten on the cheek, Sandy followed the boys' path out to the BMW to start another day.
6:00pm quickly rolled around and everyone were in the same position they were in only last week when the first game of the season took place. The two teams were either stretching or kicking balls at the goal keeper while those in the stands were either conversing with their neighbours or watching the players on the field.
Kirsten glanced around at all of the Harbour players and finally located him amongst the people stretching.
When the whistle was blown, all the players got into a circle with their respective teammates and received a little pep talk. After the talk was over, everyone dispersed to their seperate positions.
Ryan however, stayed behind with the coach and took a puff of his inhaler to ensure his airways stayed clear. He then ran out onto the field mindful of everyone staring at him.
And with another whistle, they were off. The ball was passed in new game plans. The players strategically placed themselves over the field to gain more ground with the ball in the hopes of gaining some goals and eventually winning the game.
Ryan was running around the field noticeably taking it easy. That is until the ball came into his position. Taking off down the field, he piveted and turned away from the other teams' players until he was in front of the goal. Taking his foot back, he let her rip and watched the ball as it sailed gloriously through the air. With a satisfying swoosh and an easy breath, Ryan took all of the congradulations for his fantastic goal in stride.
Looking up into the stands, Ryan was pleased to see everyone in the stands participating in a giant wave. Amongst them were Sandy, Kirsten, and Seth yelling excitingly. Maybe his asthma didn't ruin his soccer season. Maybe everything was going to be alright.