Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own The O.C. It all belongs to Josh Schwartz and FOX.
A/N: Thanks a bunch for the awesome reviews on chapter seven. They're what keep me going. :0)
Seth stared blankly at the bowl of cereal in front of him. He watched as his corn flakes slowly turned into a disgusting brown mush, which was utterly unappealing. Seth glanced at Ryan, who was sitting across the table from him, oblivious to the soggy mess his breakfast was evolving into.
"Ryan," Seth said, hoping to snap his brother out of his reverie.
Ryan didn't answer, or even acknowledge the fact that he had heard him, so Seth continued.
"Ryan. Earth to Ryan, come in Ryan…"
His head snapped up in a sudden jolt, and his eyes focused on Seth.
"Sorry man, were you saying something?"
"Yeah, um if we don't leave soon we're going to be late for the appointment," Seth pointed out.
"You're right. Let's go," Ryan replied. He picked up his bowl and began walking towards the sink.
"Uh, dude…where are you going?" Seth asked, in confusion.
"I'm putting my bowl away," he answered.
"Rosa will take care of that. Come on," Seth insisted, jiggling his father's car keys in the air.
Normally Ryan would have argued that they were capable of cleaning up after themselves, however he was too anxious to put up a fight. He placed his dish on the kitchen counter and followed Seth out the door.
- - - - - -
An hour later they pulled up in front of the only hospital in Chino. As they entered the building, Ryan's heart was pounding. The nervous look on Seth's face wasn't helping him, either.
"So what floor are we supposed to go to?" Seth asked.
Ryan thought a moment before answering. "I believe she told me, seven. The Genetics Lab."
They made their way over to the nearest elevator, and stepped inside. As the doors closed, Ryan wished that he could jump out. He watched intently as the numbers on the elevator changed, gulping when they arrived on the seventh floor.
"Are you ready?" Seth said, gently.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Ryan muttered. His legs felt like gelatin, wobbly and unstable with each stride.
They made their way through what seemed to be a never ending hallway and stopped as they reached the waiting room. Theresa was already seated in a chair, waiting for them. Matthew lay in her arms, playing with a rattle. By chance she looked up and noticed the boys standing across the room from her. Theresa waved timidly, offering them a sad smile.
"Hey Theresa, long time no see, 'huh?" Seth greeted, as they approached her.
"Hi Seth, what are you doing here?" Theresa replied, her tone less than friendly.
Seth scrunched up his face, slightly annoyed by her question. "Oh, I'm here for moral support."
Both Theresa and Seth glanced at Ryan, waiting for him to say something. His eyes were glued on Matthew, and he seemed to be transfixed. Seth nudged him nonchalantly, hoping to catch his attention. Ryan slowly turned his head and met Seth's gaze.
"So this is the little tyke?" Seth asked, stating the obvious.
"Yeah, this is Matt," Ryan finally spoke up.
Seth bent down to the baby's eye-level and smiled at him. "Well, hello there Matthew, you don't look too happy to be here so early in the morning."
Matthew opened his mouth and let out a giggle, which satisfied Seth.
"I guess he likes me?" Seth said.
Theresa nodded her head. "That seems to be the case. Would you like to hold him?"
"Me?" Seth exclaimed. "No, I don't think that's such a good idea. I mean, I might drop the poor kid."
"Seth, I'm sure you can handle it," Ryan voiced his opinion.
"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence bro, but I'm not so sure," Seth replied.
"It might be easier if you sat down, seeing as you don't have much experience with babies," Theresa advised, gesturing to the seat next to her.
Seth sat down, and Theresa handed Matthew to him. He held the baby carefully in his arms, and stared at the little boy in awe.
"See, you're fine," Ryan said, reassuringly.
Suddenly a nurse approached the group. "Excuse me, ma'am," the woman said to Theresa. "The doctor will see you now. Please follow me."
Ryan and Theresa stood, and she took Matthew back into her arms.
"Do you want me to stay here?" Seth asked Ryan, clearly uncertain as to what he was supposed to do.
"Yeah, it shouldn't take too long. I'll be back soon," Ryan promised.
They followed the nurse into a nearby cubicle. The walls were bare and the room contained only two chairs.
"You may have a seat," The nurse directed them, as she read over their paperwork.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're here today for a paternity test?"
"Yes we are," Theresa confirmed.
"In order to perform a paternity test correctly, I need a small sample of DNA from both the parents and the child. Would you prefer a buccal swab or having your blood drawn?"
"The first option sounds much less painful…especially for the baby. Ryan is that okay with you?" Theresa asked.
"No, that's fine with me. Whatever's best for Matthew," he replied quietly.
Theresa shot him a small, grateful smile. The nurse began to gather the supplies she needed, and once she was ready, she stared at her patients expectantly. "Who wants to go first?"
When no one spoke up, she decided to take another route of action.
"How about we start with the little one? Mom, can you please hold the baby as still as possible?" the nurse ordered. She took a long throat swab out of her lab coat pocket, and placed it in Matthew's mouth. After running it along his cheek several times, she took the specimen and placed it in an air tight container.
She repeated the same process with Ryan and Theresa.
"All right, the results should be in, in seven to fourteen days. Although normally it doesn't take more than a week, and I'll call you when they're ready," the nurse announced.
"Well, thank you," Theresa paused to read the name tag on the woman's scrubs. "Betty," she finished.
"You're quite welcome dear. And might I add what a wonderful little boy you have, he behaved so nicely."
"Thanks," she gushed, standing up.
"You have a nice day now," Betty called after them as they left the room.
- - - - -
The rest of the week dragged by slowly for Ryan, when he received a phone call from Theresa, letting him know that the test results were finally in and that he was to meet her at the hospital at three o'clock that afternoon.
He debated whether or not he should tell Sandy—before or after he found out. After consulting with Seth, he decided that he would wait until things were set in stone before breaking the news to him. In fact, if Matthew turned out to be Eddie's, he wouldn't have to tell Sandy anything at all.
As Seth and Ryan entered the dreaded waiting room for the second time that week, it felt like déjà vu. Theresa was sitting in the same spot as last time, Matthew squirming around in her lap. The boys were about to take their seats when Theresa's name was called.
Seth stared at Ryan in concern. For some reason, he felt like this was the last time he was going to see his brother. As if, the moment he walked into the examination room, Ryan would never come out. It was an unnerving feeling, and Seth felt compelled to envelope Ryan in a hug. He gave him a manly hug and a reassuring pat on the back.
"It'll be fine man. Don't worry, okay?" Seth said, not truly believing his own words.
Ryan attempted to speak, however no words came out of his mouth. His throat was so incredibly dry. Ryan took in a deep breath of air, and then tried to say something. "T-thanks man, it means a lot to me that you came."
"Of course I did. What are brothers for?" Seth replied, a lump forming in his throat.
"Ryan, come on. The nurse is waiting," Theresa complained, impatiently.
Ryan scowled at her, as he followed the nurse back into the familiar room. They took their seats and waited for Betty to reveal the results.
"I'm sure you both are very excited to know who the real parents are, of this little cutie pie," Betty grinned, oblivious to the extreme tension between her two patients.
"Yes, we are," Theresa insisted.
"Well, then I better not beat around the bush," she stopped speaking for a moment, as she rummaged around her pockets, and pulled out her reading glasses. After properly adjusting them to her face, she resumed talking. "Ahem. Mr. Atwood, it seems that you are indeed Matthew's father."
Ryan's face turned pale, and he was sure that he was going to be sick. His stomach churned and his head pounded. "Um, I'm sorry; I must not have heard you correctly. You said that I'm the baby's father?"
She nodded her head in confirmation. "Yes, sir you are. And Theresa…well, you're obviously the mother."
"Oh my God," Ryan muttered, sweat perspiring down his face. "Excuse me; I need a drink of water." Ryan rushed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Hmm, the news must have come as a shock to him?" Betty assumed.
"He'll be fine," Theresa insisted. "Did you hear that Matthew? You have a daddy!"
A/N: For some reason, that took every ounce of strength that I have to write that chapter. It just drained me, because I absolutely hate writing about Theresa! She just rubs me the wrong way, and she always ruins everything. Trust me; she won't be in the story for much longer. I'm so sorry that there weren't any Ryan/Marissa scenes in this chapter, but next chapter will be focused solely on them…I swear! Stick with me RM fans; things will get better…eventually! Please leave me a review…I live for them. Thanks!