Not beta-ed so all mistakes are mine.

Disclaimer- Nope I own nothing to do with The OC (I lied, I own a the DVD box set!)

The Accidental Hero

Chapter 1.

Sandy opened his eyes, and processed the sounds that had disturbed him. It was the soft shuffling of someone moving around the house. In his sleepy state his brain settled down to the thought that one of the boys had awoken and was probably making a night raid on the kitchen. Both the boys had veracious appetites and they both snuck into the food cupboards at odd times of the night. It hardly ever woke him anymore. He let his mind drift back to sleep with the thought that whichever one it was, they had better leave the bagels alone. Something pulled him back into consciousness. He didn't quite know what it was; he sat up in bed and listened. Something seemed off, he couldn't put his finger on it. He swung his feet out of the bed and cautiously got up.

Kirsten rolled over and whispered.

"Sandy, what's wrong?"

Sandy put his fingers to his lips and crept to the door.

"It's probably nothing Kirsten, just one of the boys but I'm just going to check it out."

Kirsten sat up. She heard it too.

Sandy opened the door and his heart almost stopped. Seth stood wild eyed, his hair stuck up at all angles but it was the shape behind him that Sandy focused on. Unless Ryan had taken to wearing a ski mask at night then something was very wrong indeed.

"Ahh, this makes things so much easier. If you both care to join us then we can get this party started."

"What the hell do you want? Get out of my house now or I'm calling the police!" Sandy barked.

"Now, now, I suggest that you're a bit more polite to me Sir. I can't stand rudeness and from where I'm standing you ain't holding any of the cards."

"Dad, they've got guns." Seth sounded so small.

" That's right son, we've got guns and my partner can get a little trigger happy when he's kept waiting."

Sandy saw the burnished silver at his son's side. He looked around at Kirsten a panicked expression was plastered on her face. This wasn't supposed to happen. This was a gated community…it was safe.

"Come on lady, get your sweet ass outta that bed."

Kirsten slowly rose from the covers and grabbed her robe.

"No need for that darlin' …give us something pretty to look at." Ski mask gave a snort.

Kirsten shut her eyes briefly wishing that she hadn't worn a silk negligee to bed. She slowly walked over to Sandy.

"Mmm mmm ain't you a sight for sore eyes honey." The man let his eyes linger on Kirsten's breasts.

Sandy never wanted to hurt anyone so much in his life as he did the man who was now leering at his wife. He placed a reassuring hand on Kirsten's arm.

"Let's move it people." Ski mask shoved Seth forwards.

He used the gun as a pointer to usher them down the corridor and into the den. A second man was pulling open drawers and piling objects in the centre of the room. Sandy tried to take in everything he could about these men. Ski mask was tall and thin; his voice gave him away as a young man as did his clothes. He wore his baggy jeans low on his hips and had on a pair of trendy Nike trainers. Long greasy brown hair peeked out the bottom of the black ski mask. Sandy knew these things would be important to the police. He had to stay calm and focused. The second man was stockier, his pants were more utilitarian and he wore scuffed boots. He moved about the room, Sandy noted the pistol tucked in the seat of his pants; he was taking no care in what he damaged. It was strange Sandy thought but just by his movements he could tell who was in charge here and it wasn't ski mask. He'd been in many jails and detention centres in his time as a D.A and learnt how to read people. This man gave off a dangerous, highly-strung vibe that made Sandy nervous.

"You took your time…is that everybody?" Boots barked at Ski mask as he continued to sift through the contents of their home.

Sandy shot Seth a warning look and shook his head a fraction. Chances were that they wouldn't even venture outside. Sandy prayed that Ryan would sleep his way though this nightmare. He certainly wanted him nowhere near this situation. Ryan didn't think like normal people, he didn't seem to have the inbreed self-preservation switch in his brain that most people had and Sandy dreaded to think what a potent mix 'Boots', a gun and Ryan would be.

"Yup, this is it." Ski mask replied.

"Bag them." Boots threw some cable ties at him.

"Sit on the floor with your hands behind your backs and no fuckin' around, remember who's got the gun."

Ski mask pulled roughly at Seth's arms and wrenched the plastic tight; he did the same to Sandy.

Sandy winced as the thin plastic bit into his wrists. He looked at Seth and tried to convey in a look that this would be over soon. Once they got what they wanted they'd be gone. Seth was deathly pale but gave him a weak smile as a reassurance that he was O.K.

Sandy turned to Kirsten as Ski mask tied her wrists. He held his breath as he saw Ski mask run his hand slowly down Kirsten's arm. Sandy had a bad feeling starting in the pit of his gut. Kirsten just stared at him like she was begging him to protect her. He had never felt more useless in his life. Ski mask leered at Kirsten again, Sandy snapped. Calm and focused went out the window.

"Leave her alone." Sandy yelled at Ski mask.

Boots dropped the file he was holding, came over and crouched beside Sandy. He brought his face up close enough for Sandy to smell the faint smell of liquor on his breath and see glimpses of pox marked skin around his mouth.

"I'm thinking your wife has some nice jewellery and stuff in the bedroom. Am I right Buddy? What do you say to my partner here taking Blondie to go and find it? A rich bastard like you must buy lots of gewgaws for his pretty wife huh."

Kirsten whimpered.

"No…leave her alone or I swear I'll…"

"You'll do what exactly?"

Sandy tried to get up as Ski mask grabbed Kirsten arm and roughly pulled her to her feet. Boots hit him hard with the butt of the gun on the side of the head and he sat back down with a thud. He shut his eyes and tried to stay upright.

"Dad!" Seth watched in horror.

"Sandy!" Kirsten cried as she was pulled from the room.

Boots pulled Sandy's head up by the roots of his hair and grinned at him through his mask.

"No fooling with her until she gives up the goodies mind… then show her what it's like with a real man and not a pampered ass hole." He sneered.

"No!"

"Mom."

Sandy went to rise again but Boots waved the gun under his nose.

"Don't worry he'll be real quick, he's not a stud with the ladies no matter what he thinks…now have you got any real cash around here slick?"

Sandy squeezed his eyes shut to block out the mocking look he saw in the man's eyes. He could hear Seth next to him crying. This wasn't happening to his family. It couldn't be.

He heard a scream from the bedroom.Sandy felt the bile rise in his throat.

Kirsten screamed and tried to kick him as she scrabbled backwards on the bed but with her hands hog-tied she had no balance. The man roughly grabbed her ankles and yanked her back down the bed. She kicked out again as he brought his face up close and licked a line down her cheek.

"It hurts less if you don't struggle lady."

Kirsten continued to kick as he pawed at the hem of her negligee; he ran his hand under the fabric bunching it as he went. His weight pinned her down and she could feel him hard against her thigh. She couldn't breathe as he covered her body with his and tried to force her mouth open with his tongue. She gritted her teeth and moved her head from side to side, she bucked her hips in the hope of dislodging him. She could feel his hand snake between them as he fumbled with his fly.

She had never been so scared in her life, she saw no way out of this. He was so much stronger than she was. Tears escaped from her eyes. She lay passively now without her hands she could do nothing. She knew that there was nothing she could do to stop this. She shut her eyes tight as she felt him shift as he straddled her and went about easing his pants down.

She heard a noise in the room and something made her open her eyes… her eyes grew wide as she saw the bat swing, then connect with a sickening thud with the back of his head. He fell sideways.

She let out a sob. Gentle hands pulled her upright and rearranged her clothes.

"There's another one, he's with Sandy and Seth…he's got a gun."

Ryan nodded.

"You got to get out of here Kirsten."

Ryan moved over to her dressing table and picked up her manicure set. He got the nail scissors out.

" I'm not leaving!"

"Kirsten you've got to get help."

He moved behind her and hacked at the plastic until it snapped.

"You go Ryan, they don't know you're here." She whispered.

"Kirsten… Sandy wouldn't forgive me if I didn't get you out of here. You've got to go."

He stood her up and led her to the French windows.

"Ryan…"

They both heard the heavy footfalls coming down the hall.

"Pete, I told you to be quick…" The voice was near.

Ryan shoved Kirsten out of the door.

"Go!" He gasped.

Kirsten hesitated as the door handle turned.

Ryan flew across the room and turned the key in the lock.

Kirsten ran.

Tbc.

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