A/N Sorry I've taken so long to update but I have had homework and coursework to deal with as well as rehersals for shows and I've been really stressed but finally a new chapter for you to read and review! I apologise if there is not that much detail but there isa lot of action but in the next chappie I will throw in a few POVs for you? How does that sound? Okay enough of my rambling, read, enjoy and PLEASE review:)

Seth dropped to his knees, his heart hammering and blood rushing through his ears deafening him. He swallowed hard in an effort to kick start his voice as he reached out a shaking hand to his brother who lay prone on the ground, face down and still. He shook him gently as his stomach tightened, fear gripping him.

"Ryan, wake up man." He begged his voice hoarse as he forced back tears, come on this wasn't happening again…He shook him a second time his mind buzzing as Ryan didn't respond. His breath came in shaky gasps as he frantically tried to think of what to do.

Come on man, your brother, your best friend is lying on the floor unconscious…stop being a boob and do something!

In normal circumstances he would have laughed at the word boob but he didn't have the time…he stared down at his brother through blurred vision as salty tears rose. Check his breathing! He thought suddenly feeling a rush of stupidity. With trembling hands he reached out to Ryan and gently turned him over, his head flopped back and Seth felt a bubble of nausea grumble inside his stomach as he watched the fluid motion of his head lolling sideways. He pressed his fingers against his neck and desperately waited to feel the familiar pushing beat of a pulse. The seconds that followed were the longest of Seth's life…

Then the felt it, it was weak and faint but it was there. He still had a chance. He swallowed and breathed deeply trying to quell the rising nausea and to steady his shaking hands. He didn't have time to just be sitting here, he needed to act fast. He patted his brother's shoulder quickly before scrambling to his feet and stumbling slightly as he reached for the phone. He pulled it from the cradle hurriedly and took one quick glance back over to his brother before dialling 911. A woman's voice came on the line

"Emergency services, which service do you require?"

"A..ambulance please." Seth stammered his voice cracking slightly.

"Please state your emergency" The woman responded calmly, why was she so damn calm? This was an emergency! Seth thought

"Um…it's my brother he…he's collapsed and he won't wake up…he…he's breathing but he wont wake up." He babbled his voice wavering as he choked back a sob. He couldn't handle this, he couldn't do emergencies. When Trey had been shot he let Ryan and Summer take charge whilst he and Marissa just stood there…

"Okay could you please state your location." The calm woman said. Seth looked around

"Um..The Poolhouse…" He said stupidly, he could have sworn the calm lady laughed, he rattled off their address and finished the phone call.

He turned back to his brother and dropped to his knees again, he didn't care if it was minty…he took Ryan's hand and squeezed it gently.

"It's okay man, the ambulance is coming…" He said quietly looking uneasily down into Ryan's pale face as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He had to be okay…he had to.

Marissa glared down at the plate in her hand as she scraped the cold macaroni into the trash with a sigh, fighting back tears as she looked at the clock again. Why hadn't he at least called?...Maybe something had happened. She thought. Suddenly worried she picked up the phone again, hoping this time maybe he would answer…

Maybe he was just avoiding her, why had she thought he would actually want to be with her after everything? She had shot his brother! Could things really be okay after that? She sighed heavily…she thought they would be. Maybe she should ring Seth? He might know where he was…

Seth groaned in frustration as he reached his father's voicemail, why wasn't his phone on? He stayed by Ryan's side, talking to him regardless of whether he could hear him or not. He actually thought it was more for his own benefit, if he kept talking he wouldn't break down. He waited for the beep and sighed shakily…he needed his dad, not his voicemail.

"Um hey Dad it's me…um if you're there please pick up…it's Ryan, he…there's something wrong and he wont wake up Dad, I called the ambulance and…I need you dad. Please I'm scared…ring me back when you get this." He finished shakily tears waiting to fall once more. He couldn't do this by himself, he didn't know what to do or say or how to handle anything…he needed his parents. He needed Ryan. He looked up from his brother's pale wan face as he heard sirens in the distance. He needed to wave them to the right house but he didn't want to leave Ryan…He chewed on his bottom lip nervously before breaking his grip on Ryan's hand.

"I'll be right back okay man? I'm bringing help." He said softly giving his hand a squeeze before clambering to his feet unsteadily. He walked towards the door his stomach churning with nausea as he rested a clammy shaking hand on the cool metal door knob. He turned uncertainly back to face Ryan, he hadn't moved nor made any sign of life. He chewed on his bottom lip causing the familiar coppery taste of blood to fill his mouth. He turned and sprinted across the patio past the pool and around the side of the house and out onto the driveway whilst the sound of sirens grew louder. In the poolhouse Seth's phone began to ring whilst Ryan lay still…

Marissa

Seth felt sick as he watched the blonde medic checked Ryan's pulse whilst the tall dark haired one fitted an oxygen mask around his face and then a neck collar. They rattled off medical terms that went over Seth's head

"What's his name son?" The medic asked from his space on the floor, directing the question to Seth who was standing with his back pressed against the wall through fear of getting in the way.

"R..Ryan." He stammered nervously as the paramedic turned his attention back to Ryan.

"Ryan, Ryan can you hear me? My name's Andy and I'm a paramedic. Can you hear me? Talk to me Ryan." He said loudly tapping the side of Ryan's face. Seth frowned, the medic was lucky Ryan was unconscious because he wouldn't be too pleased with someone tapping him and asking him questions incessantly. Seth knew this from first hand experience. Ryan didn't respond and the medic frowned slightly. The blonde medic turned to Seth.

"How did this happen? Has your brother been feeling un-well…complaining of anything? Headaches, breathing difficulties?" She asked calmly as Seth wrung his hands and knotted his fingers as he blinked trying to get the tears to disappear. He had to be strong for Ryan.

"He um…two days ago he passed out, he said he was just tired but…I don't know what's wrong with him! Is he okay?" He asked frantically his voice cracking with suppressed emotion. The paramedic smiled reassuringly.

"He's going to be fine, we need to take him to hospital to find out what's wrong okay? Have you called your parents?" She asked softly as her partner adjusted Ryan's oxygen mask. Seth nodded faintly not taking his eyes from his brother.

"Yeah I left a message." He mumbled

"Okay we're ready to roll." The medic called, the blonde smiled briefly at Seth before rushing over to where Ryan lay on a gurney, an oxygen mask strapped to his face. Seth blinked hard to stop the inevitable tears from falling. The lump in his throat was growing painful as they lifted Ryan gently to the trolley and wheeled him out of the poolhouse. Seth grabbed his phone from the side and jogged to keep up with Ryan and the paramedics.

"Um, can I ride in the ambulance with him? I don't want to leave him alone." Seth said shakily, the truth was he didn't want to be left alone.

"Sure kid, just don't touch anything and let us work okay?" He said with a brief smile before turning his attention back to Ryan. He cut through his shirt and Seth winced slightly, Ryan wasn't going to like that either. He began to attach wires to Ryan's chest and he hooked him to a small machine to the side, it began to beep rhythmically and the familiar green lines rose with each beep signifying Ryan's heart beat. Seth held his breath for a few seconds praying that the machine would keep beeping. Just looking at the spidery green lines rising and falling, he realised how fragile life was. He watched as Andy flashed a small pen light into Ryan's eyes.

"Pupils even, BP is 90 and palpable. Pulse 125 apical and respirations 30." He called to his partner who was already driving down the road. The medical terms went over Seth's head as he watched Ryan carefully, just praying he would wake up and that everything would be fine…he couldn't even think of any inappropriate jokes or mindless chatter to secure himself with.

"EKG shows an irregular heart rhythm." Andy called. Seth sat up straight and swallowed…his heart? Was something wrong with Ryan's heart? He felt like a lead weight had been dropped into the pit of his stomach…his heart?

Summer glanced at her watch again and sighed impatiently. Where the hell was he? He was supposed to be pick her up 20 minutes ago and he hadn't even called to say he was going to be late? His phone was off and no one was answering at the house…What was going on? Sure Cohen may be annoying, neurotic and self-centred but he had never been late before. What if something had happened? She sighed and collapsed onto her bed plucking princess sparkle from her spot on the dresser. She ran her fingers through the soft synthetic hair on her favourite pony and looked at her phone again. Not even a message.

One message

It said across the screen of Sandy's cell. He held the phone to his ear as he walked out to his car, loosening his tie with his free hand. He thought that meeting would never end. He pulled open the car door and collapsed into the driving seat with a sigh before pulling the door close as the mechanical voice gave details about the message. He started the ignition wondering what he would order for dinner seeing as the boys were out tonight when the message began to play. Sandy swallowed hard when his son's panicked shaky voice came on the line…

"Um hey Dad it's me…um if you're there please pick up…it's Ryan, he…there's something wrong and he wont wake up Dad, I called the ambulance and…I need you dad. Please I'm scared…ring me back when you get this."

Sandy almost dropped the phone as he gripped the steering wheel with his free hand, his knuckles turning white. When he swallowed his throat felt like sandpaper. The engine was still humming gently whilst he sat there listening to the message again, Seth's voice haunting him. Ryan…he couldn't wake him up? What was wrong? What was going on? He needed to get to Seth and Ryan and now…He quickly dialled in Seth's number his fingers fumbling over the keys.

He pressed the phone to his ear as he slowly pulled out of the parking lot, he had thought there was something up with Ryan but he hadn't said anything…When he met Seth's voicemail he groaned. Why didn't he have his phone if he wanted him to ring him back? He folded his arms over the steering wheel resting his head on it and sighing deeply waiting for the beep…he needed Kirsten.

"Hey Seth it's Dad, just tell me where you are. Are you at HOAG? I'll meet you there okay? Is he okay? What's going on?...I'll meet you soon, it'll be okay."

He finished shakily before shutting his phone and leaning back in his chair…he needed to get there now, his sons needed him…

Cold.

Ryan was cold, he shivered involuntarily from somewhere in the realms of darkness in which he was floating. He could hear voices, mumblings and whispers from somewhere in the distance. He tried to take a breath but the familiar pressure and the searing pain was back. He felt someone tapping the side of his face and a groan escaped his lips…Someone was calling his name, a familiar voice…Seth? The voice got louder and he felt someone squeezing his hand, he groaned again the pain building in his chest, his heart felt like it was beating at 100mph, it felt like it was fluttering. He felt someone's hand in his and he squeezed it weakly, desperately trying to open his eyes. He could hear someone calling his name again, it felt like he was moving. With all his effort he forced his heavy eyelids open before closing them against the bright lights above him, he opened them a little bit this time, getting used to the bright lighting. His vision was blurry but he could make out an unfamiliar face in front of him, a dark haired man who was saying something that he couldn't hear.

"Seth?" He croaked weakly, suddenly Seth's face replaced the stranger's and he relaxed slightly, his heart still pounding.

"Hey it's me, it's okay man…you fell out, I found you in the pool house…you're in an ambulance." Seth said choking back tears, he had to be strong for Ryan. Ryan swallowed, realising there was a mask or something on his face, he sluggishly reached out to pull it off but his hand was moved by the stranger.

"It's best to leave that on buddy, it'll make your breathing easier. My name is Andy and I'm a paramedic, I know you're not feeling great but I need to ask you a few questions okay?" He asked kindly. Who are you calling buddy, Ryan thought vaguely before nodding gently, causing his head to spin.

"Can you remember what happened?"

Ryan frowned slightly his chest searing again and his head spinning, he felt like shit.

"I…was…getting ready to go out and I…passed out I guess…" Ryan mumbled flushing slightly, he hated this. He hated being strapped down to this bed thing whatever it was, having some stranger staring down at him and asking him questions when all he wanted to do was sleep and going to hospital, possibly his least favourite establishment on the planet…that apart from being in the same room as AJ.

" Okay Ryan, do you know why you passed out? Were you dizzy, any chest pain? Nausea?" He asked. Ryan closed his eyes struggling to take a breath…

"Dizzy…m'chest hurts…" He mumbled his heart pounding again and racing, he could distantly hear a beeping or something.

Seth watched his brother struggle to draw breath whilst he just sat there, not knowing what to say to him…what to do.

"Hey Ryan, can you slow down your breathing…take a deep breath for me…relax okay." Andy said quickly eyeing the monitor in the corner as Ryan gasped for a breath, his face contorted in pain. Ryan glared at him, easy for him to say…no matter how hard he tried to, he couldn't catch his breath…

"What's the ETA? Respiratory distress and palpitations." Andy shouted to the driver.

"We're here now…" She shouted back, pulling into the ambulance bay of HOAG. Ryan felt Seth next to him and he smiled weakly, Seth forced a grin.

"It's gonna be okay man." He whispered assuring himself and hopefully Ryan. The medics ushered Seth aside and quickly unloaded Ryan from the ambulance who appeared to have passed out again. He chased after the trolley as it was wheeled away by medics and doctors all shouting medical terms to eachother. It was a flurry of activity and Seth desperately tried to keep up, a painful lump rising in his throat as his stomach jumped into his throat.

Tachychardic, palpitations, pulse 125 apical. BP 90 over 60, resps low, 20mgs of Morphine…take him to trauma One…ECG and ECHO ready

Seth watched hopelessly as Ryan was rushed away from him, he was left standing alone in the foyer, doctors rushing past and trolleys being wheeled around him…He didn't know what to do, he just hoped Ryan was okay…He needed him.

So...what did you think? not my best but oh well, the next few will be a lot better! The little button is calling you...you know which one I mean...

Thanks for all your reviews!

Rach X

Next Time: Sandy arrives and has to call Kirsten, we find out what is really wrong with Ryan