Disclaimer: Josh Schwartz and Co. own the O.C. I'm only borrowing them for the duration of this story.

Author's notes:

I've had the idea for this story in my head for about six months now, but made some modifications due to storylines in late S2. This story deals with some sensitive topics including accusations of rape, and may not be for those easily offended by such subjects. Also, I know little about the law and arrest procedures. Cianconnell was nice enough to help me out by answering my legal questions. Any errors and mistakes are solely mine.

Rating:

Probably a hard PG-13 due to mature subject matter and some adult language.

Timeline:

Early Season One, set a week or so after The Girlfriend.

Summary:

A Cohens plus one story. Ryan gets into deep trouble when he is accused of a violent crime shortly after he arrives in Newport.

A Place To Call Home

By Dulcey

There were times when Ryan felt like he was finally starting to fit into his new home. When he and Seth were battling each other in the ninja game, or when the Cohens were bantering with him and with each other over bagels in the morning, Ryan could pretend that he had always been here, had always been a part of this family. True, Sandy and Kirsten were quite different from his parents, and Seth and Trey didn't have a lot in common, but over the weeks that he'd been here, he had started to feel less like a guest in their home and more like…not part of the family, exactly, but that he might belong there. Like he was really the nephew from Seattle or Boston after all.

Outside the Cohen residence, however, was a different story. Most people in Newport looked at him like he was the same hardened criminal Sandy had thoughtlessly brought home to endanger the community. Ryan had spent most of tonight laying low, hoping that if he kept out of sight, he wouldn't have to put up with the stares and whispers that seemed to accompany him wherever he went. Honestly, he thought, he'd like Newport a lot better if they didn't have these damn charity events every single week. It would be nice to have a Saturday night off from feeling like he was on display.

At least tonight didn't seem too bad. Ryan had ducked out of the ballroom an hour ago and was now sitting on the front steps, studying the night sky and wishing he had a cigarette. Seth had disappeared to find Summer as soon as they'd arrived, and Sandy and Kirsten had been swallowed by a group of Newpsies. Before last week, he might have tried to find Marissa and hang out with her, but ever since she'd walked in on him with Gabrielle at Mr. Nichol's birthday party, she had refused to speak to him, or even look at him. Ryan had caught a glimpse of her earlier this evening, wrapped up in a hot and heavy embrace with Luke.

"It's too late," she'd told him last week as he'd watched Luke drop her off at home. Apparently she was right--Ryan had heard that Marissa and Luke were back together, more serious than ever. He wondered if she'd had feelings for him at all, or if he'd simply been a way for her to make Luke jealous.

Anyhow, it didn't matter now. Marissa had made her choice, and he'd lost whatever chance he had with her. Ryan sighed, thinking longingly of the half-empty pack of cigarettes he'd hidden in his sock drawer. What he wouldn't give to have one of them right now.

"Now, what have we here?" Ryan turned his head to see Marissa's friend Holly walking toward him, her lips curved up in a seductive smile. "Why are you hiding? You don't like parties?"

"It's not really my scene," he answered, trying not to stare at how low her green dress was cut in the front, and how nice her cleavage looked. He hadn't gotten laid in over three months, not since Theresa started going with Eddie.

"Watching Marissa and Luke suck face isn't my idea of a good time either," Holly agreed, plopping herself down on the step next to Ryan. "Luke's cute and all, but he shaves his chest."

Ryan smiled in spite of himself. "So I've heard."

"Really," Holly continued, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder in a way that looked both casual and incredibly sexy, "Marissa's missing out. You're better looking than Luke." Her eyes ran over him hungrily. "I bet you're better in bed too."

Ryan's eyes met Holly's. She still had that flirtatious smile on her lips, and her hand was resting lightly on his shoulder. "Uh, Holly, I don't know…"

She laughed. "Oh, I'm not like Marissa! I don't want to be your girlfriend or anything! I'm just suggesting that we sneak out for an hour or so. I brought my car, and my parents will be stuck here until at least eleven, so we'll have my house to ourselves." Her hand had moved, with her nails lightly ruffling the hair at the back of his neck. "It's just sex. No strings."

This felt more familiar to Ryan. He'd never had an actual relationship before, but he'd had a number of brief encounters and one-night stands. It wasn't something he was necessarily proud of, but it was comfortable.

He was vaguely aware that Holly was Marissa's friend, or had been. He wasn't sure if they were anymore, since the incident at Cotillion. But Marissa had obviously made her choice. Besides, Holly was hot, and he hadn't gotten laid in months. And considering that his pants suddenly felt too small, his body had already made the decision for him.

Holly smiled triumphantly as she grabbed his hand and tugged him to his feet. "Come on. Let's go."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Holly was true to her word, and after a very intense hour, she dropped Ryan off at the civic center, where the night's charity event was just beginning to wind down. She watched him go with a twinge of regret--he'd been as good as she'd thought, and it was rather a shame that she wouldn't get to have another go at him. He had served his purpose, though, and it was time to move on.

She only wished she could see the expression on Marissa Cooper's face when she heard the news. That stupid bitch, parading around Newport in her new clothes and new car when everyone knew that her father had robbed half of Orange County and Holly's father as well. It was time Marissa found out what betrayal felt like.

Holly could hardly wait.

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Sandy was relieved when the evening finally began to come to an end. He was well used to Newport charity events, having been to at least two a month for the past ten years, but that didn't mean that he liked them. He would have been much happier staying at home, ordering pizza and watching TV and maybe having a go at Seth's ninja game. But Kirsten had been appointed chairperson for this particular shindig, and being a supportive husband, he had put on his coat and tie and went with his wife without a word of complaint.

He hadn't seen much of the boys this evening--he had caught a couple of glimpses of Seth trailing around after that girl he was so crazy about, Summer something, but he hadn't seen Ryan since they'd arrived. The kid was probably laying low, especially considering that Marissa Cooper had apparently reconciled with her boyfriend Luke. Sandy had gotten the sense that there had been something between Ryan and Marissa, and if there had been, Ryan was bound to be disappointed. Sandy couldn't blame him for wanting to hide out until the night was over.

But then he saw Ryan over by the front doors, and seized his chance to escape from a particularly dull conversation with a pair of Newpsies. "Kirsten, hon, I'm going to go round up the boys, all right?"

His wife gave him a not-so-pleased look, and Sandy knew she wasn't happy with him for abandoning her with these pretentious snobs, but she nodded her consent and Sandy realized for about the millionth time just how much he loved his wife. "Tell them we're about ready to leave."

It was music to Sandy's ears.

Ryan had disappeared sometime in the ninety seconds he'd been talking to Kirsten, but Sandy quickly relocated the teen. Ryan was leaning against the wall over by where the coat closet, and he noticeably startled when Sandy clapped him on the shoulder. Sandy made a mental note not to surprise the boy in the future.

"You ready to get out of here?" Sandy asked, forcing his voice to remain casual and cheerful. Ryan's clothes were disheveled, and Sandy wondered if he hadn't had an altercation with Luke or one of his friends. He bit back the question: he didn't want to falsely accuse Ryan of something he hadn't done. "Are you okay?"

Ryan nodded, but didn't meet Sandy's eyes. Somehow he didn't think the older man would approve of his sneaking away with Holly, even though he'd never been given any rules in regards to girls. Dawn Atwood hadn't cared if Ryan stayed out all night or had sex with girls, but he had a feeling that Sandy and Kirsten Cohen weren't quite so tolerant. "I'm fine," he answered, and forced a smile. "Ready to leave."

"A man after my own heart," Sandy answered lightly. "As soon as we find Seth, we'll be free to go."

"Isn't that him over there?" Ryan pointed across the room, where Seth was carrying two cups of punch and trailing after Summer Roberts, who appeared to be engrossed in a conversation with a friend of hers.

Sandy smiled. "Why don't you go get him while I find Kirsten?" he suggested. "I'd go, but I don't want to salt his game."

Ryan gave a little laugh, and this time his smile was genuine.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The Cohens were two blocks away from home when Kirsten noticed the flashing blue and red lights coming from her driveway. Instinctively she grabbed onto her husband's arm. "Sandy, what is that?"

Ryan's stomach gave an unpleasant lurch as he saw the black and white police car sitting in the Cohen's driveway. He hadn't done anything wrong, but seeing cops always made him feel as if he were about to be in serious trouble. He'd had several encounters with the police in his sixteen years, the most memorable being this summer when he and Trey had stolen the car, and none of them were what he would describe as pleasant.

But he hadn't done anything wrong, he couldn't possibly be in trouble. But if the police weren't here for him, then that meant there was bad news for the Cohens. The thought didn't make him feel any better.

Sandy pulled the Rover into the driveway next to the cop car and rolled down his window. "Can I help you?"

The cop sitting on the passenger's side, a stout, balding man flashed an ID badge. "We're with the Newport Beach Police Department, and we're looking for Ryan Atwood."

Ryan's stomach dropped to his knees as he felt Seth poke him in the side. "Dude, what's going on? You didn't beat up Luke tonight, did you?" he hissed in Ryan's ear.

Sandy turned around and fixed his gaze on Ryan. "Don't say anything, Ryan," he instructed firmly. "You too, Seth." He turned back to Baldy. "I'm Ryan Atwood's attorney. What's this all about?"

"We'd just like to ask Ryan a few questions," Baldy tried to assure Sandy. "We're investigating an incident that happened tonight, a complaint that was made by a girl who said she was with Mr. Atwood tonight."

"What do you mean, a complaint was made?" Sandy demanded. "What incident are you talking about?"

Baldy gave a great sigh. "All right," he said, lowering his voice to just above a whisper. "A girl called 911 an hour ago, very distraught. She's claiming that she met Mr. Atwood at a charity event tonight, and that they had sexual intercourse."

He paused for a moment. "She's saying that Ryan raped her."