Part 3 – The first

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Finally! I thought I'd never finish! I'm really stressed out by all this re-doing in my home... Anyway, have fun!

Finishing his fourth coffee that night, Seth felt his body tensing. His parents were nowhere to be found, and he couldn't watch Marissa asleep with her head in Summer's lap forever. Of course, seeing Ryan again was out of the question. He didn't want to be alone with him after that catastrophe, also his foster brother was probably fast asleep. Seth wished he could sleep. But it wasn't that easy. Different than his mother, who seemed to be able to close her eyes anywhere, he could only sleep in a bed, or a couch. Occasionally on a chair. Not in a hospital chair though. It was just frustrating. He made a mental note to at least ban Summer and Tijuana from his mind because those were the only things to blame for this mess.

Sandy wondered how all the others could wait without any coffee. He was having his third already while he saw people that just sat there. He shook his head and went to look for Kirsten. He had a pretty good idea where she was. Quietly he entered the hospital room, and even though it was dark inside Sandy saw Kirsten sitting next to the bed watching over a sleeping Ryan. It reminded him of the time when Seth had been in the hospital with a hernia.

"Hey." He whispered approaching her.

"He isn't even my son," Kirsten said tiredly, "but when the nurse walked in telling me to give him some rest, I said no. I can't-," she stopped to close her hurting eyes for a moment," What if he won't remember us, ever?"

"He will, honey, he will." Sandy told her assuringly.

"I don't want to lose him." Kirsten admitted whispering. It was true. This boy who had stolen a car, that Sandy had just brought home, who had burnt done a model home, who had taken Seth to parties and got him drunk, that boy had found the way into her heart. She wasn't as open with her emotions as Sandy and she doubted Ryan even knew she liked him. Kirsten made a mental note to tell him as soon as he remembered her.

The whole thing with Ryan troubled Summer. She wondered who Theresa was. Apparently, she resembled the girl. Knowing there was another version of her running around in Chino somehow amazed her. But she'd been friends with Ryan. Summer couldn't say the same about herself. He was hot, there was no doubt about that. Still, he was weird, too. Always so quiet and Summer liked men who could talk. Like Seth... she shook her head vehemently. No, not like Seth. He rambled, he didn't talk. Who was he anyway? Someone she couldn't stop thinking about, she admitted to herself.

"Hey Sum?" a sleepy Marissa said. Summer looked at her best friend, who was more shaken up than her, "Do you think I should call my parents?"

"No. They think we're in TJ. We've got the Cohens fussing around already, that's enough parents for me."

"True," she was quite a moment but it was clear she wasn't finished yet. But what she wanted to say didn't come easily, "Do you think Ryan will remember everything right... ever?"

"Of course! It's probably just a shock, don't worry. He'll soon be good 'ole Ryan and make Luke dead jealous!" Summer didn't hesitate to answer. Although not knowing what would become of Ryan and if he'd return to his old self, she needed Marissa to believe he would. There were enough things going wrong in her life already.

"If you say so." She was drifting back to sleep. While absently reading the magazine she had bought herself a little earlier, Summer noticed Seth returning. He was holding another cup of coffee. His free hand ran through his very messy hair. His dark eyes seemed exhausted. Summer chew on her lower lip. When did Seth Cohen become sexy... at all?

"Hey Cohen." It came out before she could even think about it. His eyes darted her way. To her own surprise, they seemed almost emotionless.

"What do you want?"His voice was more than unfriendly. Summer was taken aback. She was always cold, reserved around him. Well, usually she simply ignored him. He had never been cold around her though. She had to cover her disappointment and put on a disapproving expression.

"You look like the next con. Don't you think you should at least brush your hair?" Seth's eyes darkened even more. He wasn't sure if he should be surprised that Summer was even more self-centered than himself. One of their friends was in a critical condition and she still found something wrong about him. 'Ryan is just my friend', he reminded himself.

"You look like the next- ah, who cares, Summer. Just go home. I don't know what you're still doing here anyway. Go to Tijuna. Have fun. Don't annoy me." He walked off again, leaving a baffled Summer. What had she done to make Seth so hateful? She despised to admit it, but his comment had hurt her. She wasn't used to people treating her like that so she ran after him.

"I care what happens with Ryan!" she yelled at Seth's back, who turned around. His expression was blank but his eyes had softened.

"Oh really," Seth tried to act really cool, but it came out squeaky yet Summer didn't even feel like laughing, "Really? If you'd care for anyone but yourself none of this would have happened in the first place!"

"What?" Summer whispered. She couldn't believe Seth blamed her for the accident. He was as much to blame as herself, if not more.

"You complain about my driving, you complain about my music, you complain I even exist! If you hadn't interfered my driving, this wouldn't have happened!" This time Summer was glued to the ground by shock when Seth stormed off. 'He is almost right', she thought depressed, 'but just almost', she added in her thoughts.

The next morning, Ryan awoke to a even worse headache than the day before. Blindly, he tried to find the alarm button next to his bed but couldn't.

"Do you need any meds, honey?" the voice again. It was a Cohen voice, Ryan was sure of that. The pain was too severe to care though, so he simply nodded.

Kirsten pushed the button for Ryan and waited anxiously for the nurse to arrive. The boy hadn't opened his eyes yet but it was obvious he was hurting. Hours seemed to pass before the door finally swung open. The nurse from yesterday, Rosanna, walked in, some colorful pills already in her hand.

"Here, Ryan." She stuffed them into his mouth, poured some water after them and waited. A moment later, the boy actually opened his eyes.

"Better?" she asked. He nodded weakly. His gaze wandered over to Kirsten. A feeling of hope crept into her, but Ryan looked away again and asked:

"When will my parents be here finally?"

"We first have to take some tests." Rosanna avoided eye contact. They had decided to simply avoid Ryan's questions aboutthe arrival of his 'family' and first find out if he had severe brain injuries.

"But they are here all the time and they are complete strangers!" Ryan angrily pointed at Kirsten. He had hoped to wake up and find it had all been a bad dream. Either he was still dreaming or it was real after all.

"We'll see what we can do." Rosanna dragged Kirsten out of the room with her. Closing the door, she turned to the confused mother.

"Do you have any idea who that family could be?"

"It's not his family. As far as I know anyway." Kirsten hated to admit it to some stranger but all she knew about Ryan's past was that his father and brother were in jail and that Dawn was an alcoholic. She didn't know if there had been better times ever. Or if this family was a imaginary one.

"We're afraid Ryan's brain might be damaged. Or has he ever had halluzinations?" Rosanna went on.

"No, I don't think so." Not only did Kirsten wonder why the nurse kept asking her questions but also why they didn't just check Ryan's medical background. She was about to ask Rosanna when Sandy showed up. He looked exhausted but there was a sparkle in his eyes that told Kirsten he had news.

"Something has come up." He informed his wife. Kirsten stared at the file Sandy was holding and wondered if it was good or bad.

Being restless and unable to find Marissa, Summer found herself in front of Ryan's room. She had just seen the nurse plus the Cohens rush away the hallway so no one else was in there. All night it had nagged her who Theresa was and why Ryan thought she was that girl. Yesterday she had been just irritated but today she was curious. Also, any help that made Ryan remember who he was could help and Summer was desperate to help so Seth would like her again- as weird as it sounded in her own ears. Summer Roberts liked a geek... She opened the door and Ryan's eyes lit up. A funny feeling washed over her. She could understand why Marissa liked him, even though her friend refused to admit it.

"Hello Ryan."

"Theresa?" this time he asked. Was he remembering? Summer saw the confusion in his eyes. For everyone's sake she'd have to lie.

"It's me." She told him with a fake smile.

"Geez, how did you find me? They say they can't find my parents. Please, call them." There was so much urgence in his voice. Summer didn't know much about Ryan's family, just one thing she knew: it wasn't the family Ryan was longing to see.

"I was with you...you know, in the car. The accident? Don't you remember?" Summer felt ashamed to maintain this lie. She wanted to yell at him that she was Summer, that she liked Seth Cohen, that it was her fault he didn't remember. Yet, she couldn't. Telling him that wouldn't help anyone. Ryan blinked a few times.

"No, I don't. I mean I remember the accident,"he paused a short moment, "but I don't remember you there."

Summer wasn't sure what to say. Lie even more? Say the truth?

"Mhm, you know... that's probably the amnesia. You have amnesia. I was there." She tried to smile but failed. Ryan eyed her suspicously. They were interrupted by Dr.Nibler, who entered. He was surprised to see Summer there.

"Uh, Ryan, we want to take the first test. To find out- you know, to check your brain." For some reason the doctor seemed nervous. Ryan just nodded. He knew he had no chance of complaining anyway. He just hoped everything would return to normal soon because he was losing his patience.

Summer watched how two nurses wheeled Ryan away, Dr.Nibler was saying something she couldn't hear anymore. She hoped the test would clear some things up. She saw Seth, who wanted to go with Ryan, but the elevator doors closed right before his nose. Slowly, Summer approached him. Seth tensed up immediately.

"They're taking the first test." Summer said.

"How do you now?" he spat out. Once again, Summer was taken back by the anger in his voice.

"I was with Ryan." Seth turned to her, he was in disbelief.

"You what?"

"Yes, I want to help, believe it or not! And I care about Ryan. He thinks I am someone he knows... I just wanted to help." Her voice got dangerously tearful so she stopped. Looking up at Seth, she saw his expression had softened. There was definitely hope for all of them.

END, part 3

Alright, what did Sandy find out? Summer and Seth- will they finally act on their feelings? Where the hell is Marissa, will she be there for Ryan in the next part? Really, please review, ok. I know I sound desperate but for a writer it's just important what others think, it makes you keep going sometimes when you just don't want to write anymore or when you've got the biggest writer's block. I can't write if I don't know that people actually want to read this. So please?

Written by Anika