Seth watched in sick fascination and horror as Ryan's limp body was carried from the wreckage and put on a trolley, paramedics rushing around him. His once blue shirt was a dark shade of crimson and his leg was definitely not right. He felt sick as he watched Ryan's arm flop lifelessly from across his chest and hang limply from the trolley. He felt a hot wave of nausea wash over him and he quickly handed Ellie to a passing medic mumbling something incomprehensible before bending over and vomiting onto the roadside. He gasped and spat as his throat burned, his stomach churning and his hands shaking as small beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He quickly took Ellie back and rushed over to Ryan's limp body that was being lifted into the ambulance. A paramedic quickly turned to him.
"Can you back off please sir, we need space and you should get your kid checked out…if you try that man over." The paramedic started but Seth cut him off.
"She's not mine, she's my niece…his daughter. I'm his brother." He said nodding towards Ryan who was now sporting an oxygen mask and quickly being hooked to a monitor as medics rushed around him. The paramedic frowned slightly.
"Please, just tell me if he is okay…I need to know. Please." He pleaded desperately tears welling again in his eyes as he resisted the nausea that was creeping up on him again. The medic sighed, he couldn't help but feel sorry for this guy. His brother was in a mess and he looked like he was about to pass out with worry.
"I can't really say anything right now, it's too soon but I tell you what…I'll bend the rules a little and you can ride in the ambulance up to the hospital as long as you keep her on your lap." He said nodding towards Ellie who had toned her cries down to sniffles and was obviously exhausted…Seth smiled despite the situation, grateful.
"Thanks." He said weakly before clambering into the ambulance. He placed Ellie gently on his knees as he stared down at Ryan's still, blood spattered form. His face was pale and slack, the bruises and scrapes stood out vividly against his complexion. If it wasn't for the slow laboured, rise and fall of his chest Seth would have thought he was dead. He blinked back burning tears and sighed deeply bringing his gaze away from Ryan. He couldn't believe this was happening, thanks to Emma Ryan was fighting for his life…he didn't deserve it. He it was a cliché but it was true, bad things do always happen to good people. And Ryan was a good person, he couldn't lose him. He was his brother and he loved him, he needed him around, Marissa needed him, she loved him and Ellie needed him the most, She couldn't lose her father. He watched as the medic on the other side attached things to Ryan, looked at machines, injected him with various things whilst Ryan lay there, totally oblivious to everything going on around him. Seth couldn't process the evening's events, his head was still throbbing and every time he closed his eyes he could see Ryan lying lifelessly in the wreckage, Ellie screaming and Emma's dead, lifeless body slumped over the steering wheel…her glazed eyes staring at him. He could hear the steady beep of the machines and the paramedics muttering incomprehensible medical terms to each other.
Tachychardic, BP is low…90/60. Sats and resps low, guarding on the lower left quad, abdomen distended. pulse 125 apical and respirations 32
He rocked Ellie gently as she sniffled and reached out for Ryan, calling for her dad and tugging on his bloodstained shirt sleeve. Seth felt a tear slide down his cold cheeks and he wiped it away before soothing Ellie and looking down at his brother.
"It's gonna be okay man." He whispered reassuring himself more than an unconscious Ryan
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Summer frowned as she stepped through the open front door and looked around, if she couldn't hear Seth then he probably wasn't here but…where was he? Ryan wasn't home either and Seth was supposed to be looking after Ellie. She sighed and closed the door behind her.
"Seth?...Ryan?" She called out but received only the creaks of an empty house in reply. She pulled of her jacket and flung it over the back of a chair and hung her keys on the peg on the wall. She rested her hand on her stomach, the baby was pressing against her bladder again. She headed off to the bathroom when the phone began to ring. She turned back, she better answer it…maybe it was Seth and he would explain why he wasn't here. She yawned widely before picking up the telephone.
"Hello." She said tiredly, she could hear bustling and other voices on the line before a sigh…
"Sum? It's Seth I…" He began, but he trailed off his voice breaking as he forced back the tears. When Summer heard his voice she immediately began to worry an dread filled her as she gripped the phone a little tighter.
"Seth? What's wrong? Where are you?" She asked quickly. She could hear heavy breathing and sniffing…
"I…I'm at the hospital. It…it's Ryan, there was an accident and…it's bad and…Emma…Emma's dead and I don't know what's going on with Ryan but I need you and…" He trailed off as tears leaked faster from his eyes, rolling down his cheeks and resting on his chin.
"Okay Seth calm down, I'll be there in a few minutes okay. Where's Ellie?" She asked trying to keep herself calm and wondering what the hell Emma had to do with this.
"She's with the doctor but…but she's ok. Can, can you call Marissa?" He asked quietly. Summer swallowed, this was serious. She regained her voice and blinked quickly pushing back tears.
"Sure, just stay calm okay. I'm sure Ryan will be fine, I'll call Marissa and let her know then meet you there okay?" She said waiting for a reply, Seth mumbled a thanks.
"Please hurry up Summer…I'll see you soon and…be careful." He added before hanging up.
Summer put the phone down with shaking hands before leaning back against the wall and closing her eyes, trying to blink back the salty tears that were burning in the backs of her eyes. She breathed in deeply through her nose as she steadied her shaking hands and tried to calm herself down…she couldn't be like this when she called Marissa…She wiped her eyes, smudging her mascara down her cheeks leaving black tracks down her face. She sighed shakily before glancing at her watch…she should be landing now. This wasn't fair, things were finally going fine for the both of them, they were both happy and now something like this happened. She didn't know exactly what had happened but she knew it involved Emma…She quickly dialled Marissa's mobile, her hands shaking as she gripped the phone and waited blinking back the rapidly falling tears. She had gotten so close to Ryan, closer than she ever thought she would have…thinking about when she first met him in Newport. She had been such a b!tch back then, but he had been there for her and he was a great guy…he didn't deserve this. As the phone began to ring the tears fell faster and then the ringing stopped and Marissa picked up…
"Hi, sorry I can't come to the phone right now but if you leave a message after the tone I should get back to you! (laughing) Ryan how do you turn this off!" There was more laughing on the line before the tone sounded, Summer felt a sob escape her throat as she began to tremble…
"Coop it's me, Summer I…It's Ryan, I'm so sorry but…there's been an accident and…and you need to come back, he's in hospital…Call me when you get this…" She said her voice hitching and breaking with emotion as she ended the call before sliding down against the wall, wrapping her arms tightly around her torso and breaking down into desperate sobs, her chest heaving as tears cascaded from her hazel eyes. She drew her knees up to her chest and hugged them closer to herself, resting her head on top of her arms and breathing out shakily…trying to steady herself. She needed to pull herself together, she had to be strong for Seth and Marissa and for Ryan.
Seth paced across the waiting room carpet anxiously, chewing on his thumb nail as the seconds ticked slowly by. He had heard nothing since Ryan had been bought in but he had never been more scared in his life…on the way here Ryan's heart had stopped twice…he had flatlined twice…he had died twice. As soon as he got here he had been shoved aside whilst Ryan was rushed off somewhere else in the hospital and forced to sign papers and wait in here, and he hadn't heart anything about his brother since. Through the silence of the room all he kept hearing was the high pitched continuous beep…the sound that had made his heart leap into his throat. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Ryan lying still, covered in blood, not moving nor making a sound, he saw Emma's limp lifeless body, he saw Ellie screaming, he saw the wrecked twisted car…he saw the green flat line across the monitor screen. He stopped pacing abruptly as the door opened, looking up hopefully his heart hammering but only to see another distraught relative shuffle into the room, waiting to hear about their loved one. He watched the couple sit down in the corner of the room and hold each other, arm in arm and he sighed scrubbing a hand over his face…he needed Summer…he needed his mom or his dad. Then he realised…he hadn't called them! He frowned shoving his hands in his pockets. They needed to know…He sighed again heavily before walking quickly out of the room and over to the nearest payphone.
He dug deep into his jeans pocket and pulled out a quarter, running a hand through his tangled hair in frustration, his face was pale and his eyes surrounded by dark circles, he was exhausted. He yawned widely as he pushed the coin smoothly into the slot and dialled in his parents number, the number he had dialled only a few hours ago to tell his parents about his engagement to Summer. He smiled as he thought of Summer, they had been engaged for a few hours, they were supposed to be having sex right now not waiting in a hospital to hear whether his brother was supposed to live or not, he would have to put his relationship on hold for the moment…As the phone began to ring he closed his eyes, the images flashing through his head again whilst tears burned in his eyes. The ringing stopped with a click and Seth swallowed hard.
"The Cohen residence." Sandy said brightly, keeping one eye on Kirsten who was kissing his neck softly. Seth paused trying to find his voice, at first it came out as a croak but as he steadied himself he began to talk, trying to keep his voice even as he shakily gripped the receiver.
"Um Dad it's…it's Seth I…"He started his voice wavering as his stomach churned, how was he going to tell them.
"Seth! How're you doing? Shouldn't you be busy with Summer right now?" He said with a slight laugh waiting for a disgusted comment from Seth but when none came..he knew something was wrong.
"Seth?" He asked as the silence continued. Seth swallowed again a painful lump in his throat as he looked down at the floor.
"Dad I…It's Ryan, there…there's been an accident and…I need you Dad, it's bad…I…I don't know what to do and…you need to get here…" He stammered his voice thick with suppressed emotion. Sandy went stiff in his wife's arms causing her to step back, watching her husband's expression change rapidly as the colour drained from his face. She watched him a frown on her face, suddenly concerned.
"What? Is…is he okay?" He asked knowing it was a stupid question, if Ryan was okay Seth wouldn't have called him. His head was spinning and his stomach felt like lead as he heard his son sniff and clear his throat…
"No…he's not Dad, they haven't told me anything but it…he's not okay." He said as the tears started again, he didn't think he had any left…
Sandy turned to his wife, his eyes desperate and lost. He couldn't take this in, his son could be dying hundreds of miles away…he couldn't lose him.
"Okay Seth, we'll leave now, it's going to be okay. He'll be okay, just hang in there. We'll be there as soon as possible. Call us when you hear anything." He said trying to stay calm as Kirsten looked to him for answers, her heart beating faster as each second passed…this conversation didn't sound good. Sandy hung up before turning to his wife, his blue eyes sparkling with tears, his face pale and tired.
"What is it?" She asked shakily, dreading the reply. Sandy looked down before meeting his wife's concerned gaze.
"That was Seth…Ryan's been in an accident, it's serious. He said we need to get there." He said quietly as Kirsten stared at him in disbelief, this couldn't be happening…everything had been fine a few hours ago and now…now her son was in hospital. She felt tears well in her eyes and she hugged Sandy tightly, throwing her arms around him as tears fell softly down her cheeks, her frail frame shaking as he snaked his arms around her, tears welling in his eyes too. They couldn't lose a child…
Marissa stared up at the flight board exasperatedly, her flight had been delayed for three hours! She sighed and leant back in the lounge armchair folding her arms and pulling her phone from her pocket. She wished she didn't have to go, she wanted to stay here with Ryan and Ellie, he needed her to be there for him. Especially with Emma calling all the time. Sometimes she hated her job. She flicked her phone open and glanced at the screen, spotting that she had two messages. One from Ryan's cell and one from home. She smiled and listened to the first one that had been left earlier, must have been on his way back from dropping her off. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear she opened the message.
"Hey It's Me, just wanted to say I hope you have a great time in France. I'll miss you and you better buy me something. Love you loads and Ellie says hi. Bye."
She felt a smile creep across her face, he was so sweet. She loved him so much, it just made it even harder for her to leave…even though it was only for a few days, it would feel like a lifetime. She opened the second message, it had only been left a few minutes ago. Expecting it to be Ryan again she was surprised when Summer's voice echoed in her ears…then concerned when she heard her tone.
"Coop it's me, Summer I…It's Ryan, I'm so sorry but…there's been an accident and…and you need to come back, he's in hospital…Call me when you get this…"
She almost dropped the phone as her heart began to beat faster, her stomach churning and her mind buzzing…an accident, he was in hospital. Ryan was in hospital. She felt warm salty tears creep into her eyes as she ran through all the different scenarios…she had to get to him now. Oh god, she couldn't believe this was happening, a few hours ago she had been kissing him goodbye and now he was in hospital. He had to be okay, he had to…she couldn't function without him. Scrambling shakily to her feet, she picked up her bags and hurried out of the lounge, tears streaming down her face, not caring that she was smudging her makeup as she stumbled from the room fighting back sobs as she pulled open her phone…she had to get to him.
Marissa jumped into the first cab that pulled up, she threw her bags into the seat next to her and pulled the door shut behind her, tears still flowing fast she ran a hand through her hair and sniffed.
"The hospital please." She managed to stammer. The cab driver nodded
"Yes ma'am." He said glancing at her in the rear view mirror and taking a double take…he had Marissa Cooper in his cab. He smiled slightly before pulling out.
Marissa watched the buildings whip past and she felt tears dripping slowly from her eyes and into her lap. She rested her head against the cool glass as small flakes of snow danced and twirled on the bouncing winds. Just a few hours ago she was in his arms kissing him and telling him how much she loved him and now she didn't even know if he was alive or not. She fought back another sob and closed her eyes trying to block out the ever faster flowing tears. Images of him ran through her head, him standing in the driveway smoking when they first met, their first kiss on the ferris wheel, New Years Eve, Watching him drive away from Newport in Theresa's car, kissing him on the beach, laying in his arms, their first I love you, the prom, him proposing, kissing him in the rain, watching him sleep, saying goodbye to him at the airport. She replayed every kiss, every hug, everytime she lay in his arms, every fight, every tear shed over him, every "I love you". She couldn't lose him, she wasn't whole without him, she loved him more than anyone in the whole world and she couldn't live a day knowing she would never see him again. He had to be okay.
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The automatic doors slid smoothly open as Summer ran through them tears blinding her as she looked desperately around for Seth. She walked quickly towards the reception desk her hands shaking as she lay them on the counter, the receptionist looked up with a smile.
"Hello how can I help you?" She said brightly. Summer swallowed and sniffed trying to suppress a sob.
"I uh, I'm looking for my um…my Brother –in-law he was bought in earlier. His name is Ryan Atwood." She said her voice shaking, she ran a trembling hand through her dark brown hair, pushing it away from her face and wiping her eyes on the backs of her hand. The receptionist typed into her computer and shuffled through some forms.
"Oh yes, He's being treated right now so if you would like to go to the relatives room down the hall a doctor will see you soon."
Summer nodded causing more tears to fall and muttered a hurried thanks before walking down the hall, people jostling past her, doctors handing each other charts, people waiting for a doctor, children crying…She found a room around the corner labelled Relatives room and she opened it gingerly. She peered inside, in the corner was a small family on the other side she saw him. Slumped in a chair, his head in his hands. She walked slowly over to him and he looked up meeting her eyes, they were dull and tired but when he saw her he smiled weakly and got slowly to his feet.
"Oh Seth." She whispered her voice breaking as he threw his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder as she buried her head in his chest beginning to sob openly. He swallowed hard letting tears burn in his eyes and flow freely down his cheeks before settling on Summer's shoulder as she sobbed in his arms. He swallowed hard, a painful lump settling in his throat as the tears flowed faster and faster. They stood there wrapped in each other's arms for a few more seconds until Summer drew away sniffing and wiping her eyes on the back of her hand. She looked up at Seth who wasn't meeting her gaze, her hands shaking she reached out and tilted his face back to face hers, forcing his teary eyes back to hers.
"What happened?" She whispered her voice quavering as she looked straight into his eyes, reflected back in them was hurt, anger, loss, despair all at the same time as she scanned across his face…wiping a tear that had settled on his cheek with her thumb. He sighed shakily his hands trembling as he rubbed her back gently…There was a long silence before he had enough confidence in his own voice to speak.
"E…Emma, she…she showed up and, she must have let herself in and…I was by myself upstairs I..I was going to check on Ellie and then she must have knocked me out or something because…next thing I know I found myself on the floor and…" he stopped as the tears continued, he sniffed and cleared his throat before soldiering on.
"I heard shouting and, I went downstairs and Ellie was screaming…Ellie was saying something to Ryan and she as leaving…then she kicked Ryan…in…" He nodded and Summer realised what he was talking about and signalled for him to continue, hiding her clenched fists in her pockets as Emma's name was bought up again. She rubbed Seth's arm gently trying to keep him going.
"She…she took Ellie and she…she left, Me and Ryan, we followed her down the road and…he called her and got her to pull over. He said he was going to talk to her, he got out the car and…I stayed in there…if I'd have gone with him Sum none of this would have happened…" He said desperately his voice breaking as he dissolved into desperate tears. Sobs wracked his whole body as he collapsed into a chair, Summer quickly sat next to him and gathered him into her arms, pulling him close to her as he sobbed like a small child. She cradled him gently, soothing him and whispering in his ear as tears burned in her own eyes. This wasn't fair, why was this happening? Ryan didn't deserve this…
She let Seth cry in her arms for a minute or so until he was reduced to silence. He gently pulled away from her, wiping his blood shot eyes and looking embarrassed.
"Sorry." He mumbled hoarsely, Summer smiled weakly and brushed a loose curl away from his forehead.
"Don't apologise. You have nothing to apologise for." She said trying to sound as firm as possible which was difficult when she was fighting the urge to break down into sobs. She couldn't imagine how Seth must be feeling right now, sure Ryan was one of her best friends in the world but he was Seth's brother…They sat in silence for a few seconds, just wrapped in each other's arms before Seth spoke again.
"He was in the car with her and I was behind, I could hear them arguing and then the engine started and the car pulled away. I didn't know what else to do so I tried to follow them but Emma, she was…she was driving all over the place and I lost them…There was loads of traffic and all I remember thinking was that I had to find Ryan and Ellie…I took a shortcut and then I saw Emma's car it…it was a wreck. It was under a truck and…I got out the car and I ran over and there was petrol everywhere, Ellie was crying and Ryan…he was awake. He knew the car wouldn't hold, he knew it…he asked me to get Ellie out, There wasn't time to get them both out Sum…He made me promise to get her out so…so I left him in there by himself. I could see Emma and…she…she was dead and I just remember feeling glad, and I know that makes me a terrible person but it was like…I thought she deserved it." He trailed off into silence and Summer rubbed his hand gently.
"That doesn't make you a bad person Seth, it makes you a brother…and a friend, and an uncle, not a bad person."
"I got Ellie out, she had a cut on her head but she seemed fine, I went round the other side of the car to talk to Ryan and…his eyes were closed and…he was so pale Sum…What if he doesn't make it? What will I do? He's my brother and my best friend and…what about Ellie? I love him Sum and I can't lose him…he was the first friend I ever had…" He said tears starting in his eyes once more. Summer couldn't handle this, tears cascaded down her cheeks as she hugged Seth fiercely, pulling him so tightly towards herself.
"You can't talk like that Seth. Ryan's a fighter, he'll make it through this okay?" She said looking Seth determinedly in the eyes as tears streamed from both pairs as they looked at eachother. Seth nodded weakly dropping his gaze.
"I called Marissa…well I left a message…she didn't call back yet. Have you called your parents?" She asked quietly. Seth nodded again and she squeezed his hand.
"It'll be okay."
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"So as long as it doesn't get infected there should be no further complications. She was very lucky." The doctor said with a smile as he handed Summer a quiet and sleepy Ellie.
"Thank you so much Dr." She said warmly as he led her out of the cubicle. Seth had stayed in the waiting room in case they heard anything. The doctor left with a smile and a wave and Summer looked down at Ellie with a sad sigh. Did she even have a clue what was happening to her Dad? If he didn't make it, she would remember him right? She knew she shouldn't be thinking like this but just looking at her she was reminded so much of Ryan. Cradling a now sleeping Ellie in her arms she walked back towards the waiting room. She didn't know what they were going to do, they didn't want to leave Ellie with someone else right now and what if Ryan wanted to see her? But they had nothing with them to look after her with, it was all at the house. She sighed, maybe when she knew what was going on with Ryan she could go and get some stuff…
Marissa swallowed hard and closed her eyes willing back the rising nausea and the sobs that wanted to escape her throat. She watched as more buildings whipped quickly past, she had tried calling Summer back but her phone was off…you couldn't have your phones on in hospitals. She sighed, why was this happening? Everything was finally going right for a change and something like this had to come along and ruin it, it wasn't fair. She looked into the rear view mirror and met her tear-filled eyes and pale, drawn face before the cabby met her gaze.
"You're Marissa Cooper...you're probably the most famous person I've had in my cab, the only person that comes close is that guy from that phone advert…so are you really going out with that architect?" He asked keeping one eye on the road.
Marissa sighed desperately, her heart aching at the mention of Ryan. She blinked causing tears to spill rapidly from her sapphire eyes. The cabby frowned slightly.
"Did I say the wrong thing?" He asked quickly noticing the state she was. She shook her head and a sob escaped her throat loudly before she broke down into silent tears. The driver switched lanes looking back in confusion at the crying woman in the back of his cab, what had he done?
"It's not you…I just need to get to the hospital please." She managed through her tears. The cabby swallowed and nodded feeling guilty.
"Sorry ma'am I should have known you'd gotten bad news. I'll get you there as fast as possible." He said stepping on the accelerator feeling worse than ever. Something bad had obviously happened and now he had made it worse…great he'd probably get sued now. He pulled off a turning and came into the road where the hospital was. He pulled into the entrance and turned back to talk to the girl but she had already shot out the door, pulling her bags after her. She chucked a handful of notes at the driver.
"Thank you." She threw over her shoulder before breaking into a run towards the entrance. She needed to know exactly what had happened and if he was okay…She dropped her bags by a bench not caring what happened to them and ran through the doors into the main floor. She looked around desperately, tears blurring her vision as she looked around for any sign of a familiar face…she stumbled up to the reception desk, brushing the hair away from her face as she wiped her eyes quickly.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for my boyfriend…Ryan Atwood." She managed her voice quavering. The receptionist looked up and did a double take before typing into her computer.
"He's being treated right now, so if you'd like to wait in the relatives room a doctor will see you shortly. But if you'd like somewhere more private I'm sure that could be arranged." She said with a smile. Marissa frowned.
"What?"
"You are Marissa Cooper right? I'm a fan of yours, I think your so beautiful…so are you dating that architect then? I must say I preferred Jake, he was so cute." She babbled on. Marissa ran a hand through her hair.
"Jake was a cheating, lying pig and yes…I am dating that architect and his name is Ryan Atwood and that is who I am here to see, I don't need a private room I will wait in the normal place like everyone else okay?" She snapped tears forming in her eyes once more, the receptionist flushed red and regained her composure.
"Second door on the left…" She mumbled
Marissa didn't have time to apologise, she took off pushing past a small crowd of boy scouts when she ran straight into someone. She stumbled her heart hammering and blood rushing in her ears as she trembled from head to foot, she straightened up.
"Watch it." She heard a familiar voice say, she looked up and came face to face with Summer.
"Summer!" She cried throwing her arms around her friend and hugging her tightly, knocking her back slightly. Summer stumbled but when she realised it was Marissa she wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged her back glad she was finally here. She could feel Marissa crying softly and she soothed her gently. She felt like she was having to comfort everyone when all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry but she knew she had to be here for Seth and Marissa right now…Marissa slowly pulled away, aware that her makeup was halfway down her face but she didn't care.
"How is he?" She whispered her voice thick witch emotion and tears. Summer took her hand.
"I don't know, we haven't heard anything yet…" She said sadly, Marissa felt a fresh wave of salty tears assaulting her eyes as she let out a strangled sob.
"What happened Sum?" She asked desperately…Summer opened her mouth to speak when she was interrupted by a tall dark haired doctor who cleared his throat.
"Are you here for Ryan Atwood?"
A/n I know another cliffy but I have a problem, I can't stop using them! Maybe it's to get more reviews hehehe, so you know what to do press the button that is calling you...press me press me
Next Time: The doctor explains Ryan's condition and Marissa, Seth and Summer go to see him before surgery and The Cohen's arrive in New York