A/N Okay guys, firstly I just want to apologise for the huge wait for an update but here are my reasons before you all attack me!

I've been ill recently and spent most of my time in bed feeling miserable, but the plus side is I now have lots of ideas

I am in two shows so I have loads of rehearsals

I have so much coursework and homework that I have had hardly any leisure time at all

Thanks for your advice and tips about the Beta situation, I have a little more confidence now so hopefully this will satisfy your needs! Also I apologise for the inconsistencies but if you read the author's notes I explained that I changed my mind halfway through and decided that Kirsten would still be in rehab. So read and enjoy and tell me what you think! Lots of drama!

Ryan slung his gym bag over his shoulder and leant over the sinks in the bathroom, struggling to draw breath as the pressure in his chest increased. His chest was tight and his head was spinning as he stared down at the sink below him, the taps gushing cold water into the bowl as it swirled and gurgled before being sucked down into the plughole. His hands shook as he gripped the sides of the cool, china sink and desperately tried to draw breath as his heart pounded, aching and searing with each rhythm. He closed his eyes and breathed in slowly, his breath coming in shallow gasps. It will pass…he told himself firmly. He had been fine during most of practise, he had even scored a few goals but it wasn't until towards the end when he started to feel crappy again. His breathing had become more laborious and the pain and tightness in his chest had intensified, when the coach finally called the whistle he was just about ready to pass out.

What the hell was wrong with him? He had never felt this bad before…He opened his eyes and caught sight of his reflection in the mirror and did a double take. He really did look terrible, his face was pale but his cheeks were flushed pink, dark rings encircled his eyes as beads of sweat clung to his forehead. He steadied himself as he straightened up, shaking violently. He could do this, he just needed to get back out to the parking lot and then he could get a ride with Seth who should be coming out of comic book club now. He sighed deeply, the pain in his chest dulling slightly, come on Atwood…pull yourself together. He told himself as he shut off the taps and shuffled shakily out of the bathroom and out towards the parking lot…

Seth walked out into the parking lot whistling happily to himself as he stopped in front of the parking meter, waiting for Ryan. He was really worried for his brother, he could tell there definitely something up with him, something wasn't right…people didn't just pass out for no reason. But as much as he just wanted to run to his Dad and tell him what was going on, he couldn't do that to Ryan. Ryan had had his back since he got here and he had never let him down, Seth had to keep his promise to him. Ryan deserved that, it didn't matter how scared Seth was for him. He couldn't let him down.

He sighed and looked up in the distance he could make out Ryan, shuffling towards him. His bags slung over his shoulders and his head down as he walked slowly towards him. Even from such a distance he could tell Ryan didn't look that great. As he drew slowly closer he could see his face, he looked so exhausted…and so weak. Weak was something that Ryan had never been is Seth's eyes, he had always been the strong dependable one, the tough guy, but seeing Ryan like he was now Seth couldn't help but stare. He looked awful.

"Hey man." Seth managed shakily as Ryan drew up in front of him with a weak smile, he couldn't help but stare.

"Are you okay?" He asked looking Ryan in the eyes, his eyes tired and dull. Ryan nodded.

"Yeah, just tired. Soccer really took it out of me. How was Comic Book club?" He asked rapidly changing the subject, aware of Seth staring at him. He knew he looked awful and he should have known Seth would notice. He didn't need a fuss right now, he just needed to sleep.

Seth frowned slightly, he knew Ryan was changing the subject and he knew that usually meant he should leave the issue alone but…something was definitely wrong.

"Are you sure man because you look like crap." He said honestly.

Ryan sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets, shivering slightly. He knew Seth wouldn't let it go…

"I know and I feel like crap too which is why I want to get home…so you ready?" He snapped angrily. He regretted it after seeing Seth's slightly crestfallen expression. He didn't mean to sound so harsh…

"I um…yeah I'm ready." Seth mumbled quietly.

Ryan sighed loudly and looked down at his feet, his head pounding and spinning as they walked slowly forward.

"Seth I'm sorry…it's just, I got about 20 minutes sleep last night, I have a killer headache and I'm just in a bad mood. I'm sorry…and now I have a date with Marissa to worry about." He added with a small grin, Seth looked up and grinned back.

"Really? Looks like the fantastic four is becoming fantastic again…so give me details." He said. Ryan grinned as they walked out of school together.

Sandy set his briefcase down on the counter and yawned widely, he surveyed the empty take-out containers, the dirty dishes and overflowing rubbish bins and sighed. The house had become a pigsty since Kirsten had left and with Rosa off in Spain with family it was up to him and the boys to do the housework…great job, he thought to himself. He rolled up his shirt sleeves and walked over to the pile of dirty dishes which were piled up a few feet high and teetering dangerously, this was going to take him hours to sort out.

He began to scrape the left over food into the bin and as he was placing the plate in the dishwasher Ryan shuffled into the kitchen scratching the back of his head clutching a text book and yawning. Sandy grinned but it faded slightly when he marked Ryan's appearance, if anything he looked worse than he did this morning, earlier he didn't think that could have been achieved. Ryan caught his eye and forced a tired smile before sitting at the table and looking down at his text book with empty blue eyes. Sandy frowned slightly, something was definitely up. He looked terrible for a start, he was cagey, quiet and closed off…well even more than usual. He hadn't been like this since Trey…but this wasn't about Trey, he could tell. He put the plate down and walked slowly over, Ryan didn't look up from his book but he knew Sandy was there. He tensed slightly, here it came…he was going to ask him if anything was up, if he was okay…tell him that if he needed to talk to him he was there. He'd been through the routine so many times.

He loved the Cohens more than anyone he had ever known and he really respected Sandy but…they just didn't understand that sometimes it's better to keep things to yourself and they didn't understand exactly how much he owed them and why he didn't want to trouble them over nothing. But he couldn't avoid the inevitable, Sandy Cohen was on a mission.

"Hey Ryan, how's school going?" Sandy asked nervously pulling up a chair and lowering himself into it as Ryan slowly lifted his gaze to meet his. Ryan forced back a grimace as the sharp pain in his chest returned.

"Fine, had a test today. It went okay but I couldn't remember the names of all the Generals in my history exam so I made a few up." He said with a grin as Sandy smiled whilst trying to look disapproving.

"Well I suppose it's better than the time Seth told me he couldn't think of a poem for English so he wrote death cab lyrics instead…you feeling any better? You really don't look well." He said scanning over Ryan's pale, tired face with concern. Ryan sighed and straightened up slightly as his chest pain become more pronounced.

"I'm just tired, maybe I'm getting flu or something? I don't think it's anything serious, I just need to go to bed." He said quickly keeping his eyes down on the text book, he hated lying to Sandy. Well he hated lying but this wasn't exactly lying…he was just…bending the truth a little.

Sandy frowned, he knew Ryan was holding out on something…he could tell.

"Okay kid, you better head off to bed then. I'm sure you'll ace whatever test you have tomorrow." He said with a grin as Ryan smiled back.

"Yeah, tell Seth that Summer called for him earlier and that I wont be able to take part in his playstation tournament because I have plans with Marissa." He added as he headed for the door with his text book slotted under his arm. Sandy smiled slightly, at least some things were getting back on track. He watched Ryan walk into the pool house and shut the door and let out a long sigh before turning back to the dishes. In the corner of his eye he spotted his favourite picture…Ryan's first Christmukkah, it felt like a life time ago. He looked at Kirsten's smiling face and swallowed hard, he missed her so much. Everything about her, the way she smiled, her laugh, her cute little nose, the smell of her hair, even the way she burnt the dinner. He just wanted her back here, he needed her back here.

For Ryan school had been pretty uneventful, he hadn't felt too bad and his exams had gone okay. The highlight had been having lunch with Marissa and watching Summer batter Seth with her handbag after he made fun of her shoes. He was actually really looking forward to seeing Marissa tonight, he just wanted it to go well. He wanted to be with her again, he loved everything about her. Even after everything that had happened with Trey after all he had done to her she still stuck by him, she saved his life. He sighed and looked in the mirror, he rolled up his shirt sleeves and pulled at his wifebeater. Why was he so nervous?

He glanced at his watch, he had five minutes to get over to her house…that was just enough time. He sighed deeply and suddenly his breath hitched and caught in his throat. He tried to swallow but he couldn't breathe, the sharp pain in his chest intensified and spread across his chest causing him to double over and grip the counter. He gasped for air but none came as his chest tightened and the pressure increased. His legs buckled causing him to drop to his knees as he desperately felt around for something to help him…the house was empty, Sandy was out and Seth was with Summer. As his vision greyed and grew fuzzy he dropped to his hands and knees the pain becoming so unbearable, his eyes watered as his breath came in tiny gasps…he was in so much pain and there was no one there to help him, his heart seared again as his eyes slowly slid closed and he rolled onto his side…the last thing he saw was his phone ringing on the side before darkness fell upon him and he succumbed to unconsciousness…

Seth sprinted up the driveway and flung open the front door panting heavily, he couldn't believe he had forgotten his mobile. He sighed and walked through the hallway looking around desperately, he needed it now, he was going to be late. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration…where had he left it? He had been in the kitchen…then he had gotten a call from Summer, he took the call, then went…to the pool house to talk to Ryan! His phone was in the poolhouse! He thought triumphantly, grinning to himself as he sprinted through the hall out to the poolhouse. The door was closed and the blinds drawn, the lights were on though…shouldn't Ryan be at Marissa's by now? He sighed and pushed the door open looking around for his phone, he scanned the empty room when his eyes fell on something…or someone. On the floor, for the second time in two days, lay his brother…face down on the carpet his arm outstretched and no signs of life coming from him…his heart leapt into his throat, thoughts of his phone forgotten…

Marissa sat on the couch and leant back with a sigh, she glanced at her watch again…Ryan was late, ten minutes late and he hadn't even called! What if he had chickened out? What if things were just to awkward between them after Trey? What if he didn't want to be with her? All these panicked thoughts rushed through her head as she looked at her watch for the hundredth time, she swallowed and switched on the tv. Of course he was coming, he wouldn't just leave her waiting for him…would he? She looked anxiously towards the door, he was coming. He was just late that's all.

A/N Okay I know that's the second part to end that way but it will be the last, I hope Lol. I also know it was short and not that great but I don't feel that great and I posted to keep you happy! Please review and tell me what you think but be nice and sympathetic as well as give good advice! Thanks for all the amazing reviews and please keep it up!

Rach X

Next Time: Seth panics and calls an ambulance whilst Marissa and Summer wait impatiently for their dates to turn up. We also may find out what exactly is wrong with Ryan.