Today I was in an updating mood, so here is the third chapter. Enjoy!
Kirsten sat in her car near the school entrance. The last bell had rung, and everyone had begun to run out. She could see Ryan exiting the school alone, looking somewhat dimmer than the rest. Everyone smiled and had this color about them, but Ryan didn't.
"How was school?" she started a conversation after Ryan got in.
"Fine," he dully answered as Kirsten headed out.
She didn't push any farther. She knew Ryan was still dealing with Trey's shooting, Marissa's transfer, and Kirsten's rehab. There was a rift between them. Sure, it was getting smaller, but it'd never be like it was.
Newport Memorial wasn't that far off. Both had been there on two many occasions. Unfortunately, there had always been someone in there. Luke, Marissa, Caleb, Trey. Ryan and Kirsten both themselves. They never seemed to escape it.
Parking spaces were limited, and as Kirsten searched for a spot, Ryan tried to quell his fears. Memories were coming back. His mother, Trey, Marissa. He was ready to bolt.
"Are you nervous?" Kirsten asked her second son as they walked up to the hospital.
"Not really," Ryan lied as they stepped in, and a cold wind hit them. He lingered back as Kirsten found where they had to go. It was on the third floor, and they just barely got into the elevator.
The waiting room was quiet, and only one person sat there. Kirsten again took the lead and then sat next to Ryan. They were about ten minutes early.
Ryan never took his eyes off the clock, and watched as the seconds and minutes went by, bringing him closer to the appointment.
"Ryan Atwood?" he snapped out of it as a nurse stood at the door, waiting for him. Kirsten followed him and the nurse down the hall, which took him off guard. Usually, Dawn would sit in the waiting room, trying to steal as many magazines as she could.
The two were led to a room with an examining table, and two chairs along with the usual things. Ryan refused to sit up on the table then. He sat next to Kirsten.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Thomas," a woman appeared, about mid-thirties in age, with light brown hair pulled back in a rather tight bun. She looked at her clip board. "You must be Ryan," he nodded and she looked at Kirsten. "And you are?"
"Uh, Kirsten Cohen, Ryan's legal guardian," Kirsten replied. It was hard not to say 'mother.'
"Ah, I see that. So, what seems to be the problem today?" Dr. Thomas sat down.
"Well, Ryan has been getting a lot of headaches lately," Kirsten answered.
"How often have you been getting headaches, Ryan?" Dr. Thomas asked.
"About every other day," Ryan reluctantly replied.
"Do you have one now?"
"Yeah," Ryan answered and was then instructed to sit on the examining table. Dr. Thomas preformed the usual: blood pressure, heart beat, checking of eyes, throat, ears.
"Um, right now I'd like Ryan to get a CAT scan done. It's quite routine, I just want to get more information," Dr. Thomas concluded.
Ryan did not like the sound of that. The doctor led him away and he gave Kirsten a quick glance. She saw his fear.
Dr. Thomas was one of the best neurologists at Newport Memorial; the best, depending on who you talked to. She assured Ryan he was in good hands as he laid down. She also had to make sure he wasn't claustrophobic.
Ryan was wary. He had never had any of this done. His mother always got the cheapest diagnosis possible. How much did it cost? Could he let the Cohens pay for it? Ever since Trey had returned, he had a slight uncomfortableness with the Cohens.
Kirsten was there when it was done, and the two waited again in the same room for the results. Ryan couldn't help by get more and more nervous as the minutes went by. Had they found something?
Finally, Dr. Thomas returned, and Ryan straightened his back. He was incredibly nervous now.
"Well, I have the scans and I do see something, but I can't tell right now what it is. It could be a computer malfunction, or something else, but I'd like to schedule Ryan an MRI tomorrow to get some solid information. In the mean time, I would advise not to take any aspirin, only if it's too hard to handle," Dr. Thomas didn't look at them.
"What do you think it is now?" Kirsten asked.
"Uh, I'd like to get more information on it. You can schedule the MRI outside, and I'll see you tomorrow," Dr. Thomas answered. They all stood up, and Ryan and Kirsten began to leave. "Mrs. Cohen?"
Kirsten stopped and came back, as Ryan stood outside the door.
"Is it possible for your husband to also come in?" Dr. Thomas wondered.
"Uh, sure. Why?" Kirsten was confused by the question.
"I'd just like both of you to be here," Dr. Thomas answered and Kirsten left to schedule the MRI with Ryan, who had heard it all, and knew that they had found something.
Sandy had just walked in the house as Kirsten began to unpack the take out. Ryan and Seth sat in the living room. Seth flipped channels as his brother stared blankly ahead.
"Hey," Kirsten greeted her husband as he kissed her on the cheek. "How was work?"
"Oh fine. I got a new client, who wants to sue her brother for Defamation of Character because he had the government investigate her," Sandy answered.
"Yikes. Sounds...dysfunctional," Kirsten commented.
"How did the doctor's go?" Sandy assisted Kirsten in preparing dinner.
"Well, they want Ryan to get an MRI tomorrow," Kirsten didn't want to let off that she was worried.
"Did they find something?" Sandy took a glimpse over at their sons.
"Well, she didn't say, but she wants both of us to be there tomorrow," Kirsten felt like if something happened, they'd lose all the ground they had fought for.
"What time is it at?" Sandy asked.
"Three o'clock," Kirsten was happy with the way things were going. Everyone was happy. They didn't need another problem.
"I don't think I can make it," he had a meeting with a client at 2:50.
"Well, it takes a while for the MRI. Do you think you can make it by four?" Kirsten looked up at her husband.
"Yes, I can do that," he kissed her, and smiled. "Boys! Dinner's ready!"
Seth and Ryan walked in, and they all sat down to dinner. Ryan didn't say anything. He knew they found something. If they hadn't, they would've told him. Of course, it could've been a computer screw-up. But the doctor wanted both Sandy and Kirsten to be there. Why? It had to have been more than a computer malfunction.
Kirsten looked over at Ryan, and thought the same thing.
I hope you enjoyed, and I love reading your comments on what you think is going on...some of you are on the right track. Please read and review.