Disclaimer: I don't own any O.C.-related - only the characters I may invent during the writing of the story - they're all FOX's property.. thanxx 2U, guys
Autor's note: Sorry for the long wait (again), I'm NOT planning to make this a permanent issue. Maybe I'll post 2 chaps in a row, again? Anyways.. hope you like it..
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Ryan stepped outside and looked around. He took a deep breath and then carefully climbed down the narrow path that lead down to the beach he'd descended only two good weeks ago at a much faster pace, but of course it'd been bright daylight then. He couldn't exactly make out something, it was too dark, but approaching the wooden tower he heard soft, muffled voices. They didn't sound like love-whispers but more like a hot argument, accompanied by angry outcries and a sudden, all too familiar slapping sound.
When Ryan came around the corner of the tower he caught a glimpse of a dark large figure lunging towards a small one, heard the low thud of the big one's fist connecting with the smaller one's mid-section, causing her to double-over and allowing the attacker to finally bring her down, pinning her to the ground with the sheer weight of his huge body.
"Hey! Hey! What do you think you're doin'!" Ryan called out, rushingto them, and tried to pull Doug backwards by his shoulders. It felt like trying to move a solid rock. Instead, the husky guy simply stuck out his large left arm and shoved Ryan away, almost making him stumble. Meanwhile, Ryan's eyes had adjusted to the insufficient light, and alarmed he noticed that Doug began to fumblewith his belt with his left hand while holding the throat of the girl beneath him in a firm grip with his right one. Her fighting already weakened, her legs buried under Doug's body, her left arm clawed in his shoulder. Ryan gathered his strength, leapt forward, grabbed Doug's upper left arm that felt like a tree-trunk, and yanked it up, twisting it behind Doug's back and pulling it towards his neck, adding pressure under his elbow to finally drag him backwards, off the girl.
Doug cried out in pain. "Ouch! Damn! Let the fuck go of me, freak! Fuck! Let go!" "The question is, will you let go of her", Ryan answered in a low voice, at the same time glancing at the girl who fortunately was about to get to her feet, cautiously only using her left arm to stand up. "Why should I let go of her, huh? She's a whore! I wanted to pay 200 dollars for a fuck, okay? And what did she do? Huh? That big-mouthed bitch told me that she'd only take fifty. AND she'd only cater for fifty!" He shook his head angrily, what caused him to cry out again. "Ouch! Lemme go!" He pushed himself backwards, so Ryan lost his grip on him, and found himself suddenly buried under Doug's colossal body that wiped all of his breath out of his lungs. Both of them leapt to their feet simultaneously.
Doug rubbed his mistreated shoulder, looking askance at his opponent. He straightened up and exclaimed with a proud undertone: "Ya know, with the Doug, it's always all or nuttin'. And when I got 200 bucks I want the whole thing! I'm not simply put off with a lousy blow-job!" The girl behind him laughed dryly and quietly said with a raspy voice: "200 bucks.. didn't even come up with the fif.." Before she could even end the sentence, Doug whirled around and backhanded her, sending her flying back to the ground. "Who the hell allowed you to speak up, bitch, huh?" Ryan immediately lunged forward, but as if he'd anticipated the attack, Doug spun back around, seizing the superior length of his arms, and punched him straight in the face, screaming: "That's none o' your business, little man, back off! You're lucky, you're a friend of Luke's! Otherwise, I'd beat the hell outta you, got it!" Ryan shook his head to clear it and get rid of the silvery white dots that danced before his eyes. Running head first into a wall couldn't feel worse. When he suddenly heard a familiar voice, he wondered for a brief moment if it was just the ringing in his ears, but then he recognized it as Luke's. Damn, he'd never been happier to see that example of a californian beach-boy show up.
"Hey guys, what's goin' on 'ere?" he called cheerfully while deliberately slowing his stride when he became aware of the alert expression on Ryan's visibly swelling face. Astonished at the sudden appearance of his former team-mate, Doug turned around, clearly startled. Luke pretended not to notice the tense situation he'd just interrupted. "Finally I found you, Doug-e-Doug! Forgot Trevor's party? Everybody's waitin' for ya. We wanna move on to the beachhouse. You're the only one who's still missing. Now c'mon!" He patted Doug on his heavy arm, purposely turning him slightly away from where Ryan carefully placed himself between Doug and the girl. This time she'd had even more trouble to finally rise to her feet.
Doug freed his arm from Luke's hold and stammered, obviously disconcerted: "Yeah.. ya know, I still got some stuff to take care of.. Ya know, I'm not quite finished here.." "Oh, c'mon", Luke called, "forget that chick! Know what?" he leaned in and whispered: "There's one big SUV full of really, REALLY hot chicks up there who are absolutely mad about joining us for the show. And most important: Who are absolutely willing.. Damn," he clicked his tongue, "you oughta see 'em. I swear, one of them looks exactly like Carmen Electra!" He knew, Doug had a thing for the actress, so he added: "Really. Just like her. And especially in all the right areas.. know what I mean, huh?" he smirked.
Ryan allowed himself a little smile at Luke's unexpected acting talents. He almost had him. And then, Luke brought up the final little shove Doug needed. "But man, additional to that: There's a slightly pissed off Trevor who might have the chance to make out with a girl for the first time without having to pay for it.. Now c'mon, don't salt his game! We need you up there."
Finally pride and a sense of camaraderie took the better of Doug and grumbling he stumped back the path he'd come there.
Luke quickly revolved to Ryan, an apologetic look on his face. "Hey, sorry man. Ya know, Doug can be a great guy.. but his brains are easily overpowered by.. like, instinctive needs.. or booze. Uhm.. how is she?" he motioned to the girl. Ryan shrugged. "We'll see.." he flinched intuitively when Doug hollered at Luke to not further keep their friends waiting. Ryan chortled dryly and murmured: "He didn't even give her the money.." "What? Wait." Luke took out his billfold and held out a fifty dollar note to the girl who stood a few feet behind Ryan, giving the impression that she intended to fully disappear under her base-cap. "Here.. uhm, listen, I'm really sorry if he did something to you. He's usually a really great guy.. he.. I dunno, I didn't see it come. Sorry."
Doug was no longer visible but they heard him call out for Luke again. Luke stretched out his hand with the money – and saw how she slowly but determined shook her head. "No. This ain't you fault. It's a risky business. Besides, you've been kind of a "deus ex machina". ..Well, thanks to you, he's gone", she explained at Luke's unenlightened facial cast. He now offered a smile and tried to peer underneath her cap. "Hey. Take the money, okay? I'm sure you wouldn't do somethin' like that if you didn't need the cash. Moreover, I'll get it back from Doug when he's sobered up", he insisted. "Really, I mean it." He motioned towards Ryan who waited nearby, utterly amazed at the sensibility Luke sometimes revealed what made it comprehensible why Marissa had loved him for so long. "It wasn't even me who "saved" you, I'd never be suicidal enough to jump Doug. The man's like a brick wall. Uhm.. you okay, Ryan?" At the nod of him he added: "You never get tired of the shiners, huh? Anyway, ..if you wanna join the party.." "Nah, don't think so. Don't really feel like partying. Especially not with him. And there's still Seth and Summer.." "Oh, but they're coming, too! But.. okay, I get it. Well, if ya feel like it, later, well.. feel welcome." "Like welcome in the OC, bitch?" Ryan grinned. Luke laughed. "Yeah! Exactly! Now.. gotta jet", he said when there was not only Doug's voice but as well others calling for him.
Luke grabbed the girl's hand, and before she could pull away shoved the note inside it, closing her fingers around it. "Sorry. I really am", he repeated in a serious tone, accepted her short nod, then turned around and sped away.
Shaking her head she put the money in her pocket, then started to stagger further down the beach. She noticed that Ryan slowly followed her. Letting out a breath she said: "Listen, I'm really grateful for your help – even though it was indeed foolish of you to jump a guy of that size. And I'm glad he didn't hurt you seriously. But right now, I don't feel like company, okay?"
Ryan thought a moment about it, but he could tell she shouldn't be alone now, as beat up as she was. "I know", he voiced silently, "but I'd feel better if I could bring you home.. or at least somewhere safe and warm." She sighed, shoulders dropping, but then she turned back around and moved close to him. He was mildly perturbed by the unexpected soft, almost seductive quality of her dark voice when she said: "Excuse me. Sometimes, I forget my manners." She raised her hand to his face, gently running her fingers over his bruised cheek. "I really am thankful. You've no idea.. how much..", she almost purred. He jumped slightly when he suddenly felt her hand slide over his behind and then to the front, between his legs, stroking smoothly over the buttons there.
He choked, snatched her wrist and yanked it away. "No!" he said, at a loss of other words, violently shaking his head.
She sighed again, then whispered, sounding defeated: "What else do you want..?" "Hey, you got me all wrong. I just want what I already told you. To take you home. I know.. how you feel", he stammered, then continued more confident: "And I know that I won't just leave you here."
All of a sudden she withdraw and exclaimed: "What's your problem, for Christ's sake, huh? For it's surely not me! Seriously! Just.. leave! I thank you, okay, but honestly, this is none o' your business." "Now, wait a moment.." Ryan tried, surprised by her abrupt change of temper, and he stepped closer. "Back off!" she yelled and shoved him backwards, wincing when she used her obviously hurt right arm, then she wheeled around and started to run away, but only accomplished a few yards before she stopped dead, standing a little slumped over, both hands pressed against her stomach. He rushed to her right away, stood by her side immediately, not daring to touch her.
"What.." "I'm fine", she gasped – a phrase he knew all too well – and tried to straighten up, repeating the words hardly audible as if to convince herself. When she was finally able to take another step, Ryan could hear her let out the breath she'd been holding – and was just fast enough to catch her as she suddenly collapsed without any warning.
He sunk to his knees, her limp body in his arms, and tried to steady her. "Dammit.. Hey, hey! Come on, open your eyes, okay? Open your eyes, please.." he whispered, softly stroking her cheek – and to his surprise pondering about the fact that he didn't know her name. He quietly rocked her, all the while talking to her, when the sudden ringing of his cellphone made him almost jump out of his skin. "Yeah?" he asked, astonished about his shaking voice, but the person at the other end of the line naturally wasn't paying attention to this. "Hey, Ryan? This is Seth. Where the hell are you? The band's finished, and.. we're waitin' for you to go to the party at Trevor's. Even Luke's already gone.." "Uhm, listen.. I'm not going to the party. Can't you go with Summer?" "Now why? What's wrong?" "Nothing, everything's fine. I just don't feel like party.. and there's something I gotta take care of, okay?" "But.." "Seth, I don't have the time for a discussion right now, okay? I'll explain it to you tomorrow. Promised." "Promised? Well, then.. Are you okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry. Just go and have fun." At that moment, a thought crossed his mind. "Oh, Seth, are you still at the Bait Shop?" "Yeah, just about to leave.." "Could you please pass the phone to Alex?" "Is this something ya gonna explain to me, too?" "Promised, now please.." "Okay, okay, hold on a sec." He could hear Seth cry out to Alex, then there was her voice. "Ryan? What's wrong?" How come, people always supposed something was wrong? "I found her. Your friend." "Yeah, well.." "One of the guys came down pretty hard on her." "Is she okay?" "No. No, she's definitely not okay. She's actually just passed out on me. I really think about taking her to the hospital.." "No!" Alex interrupted him. "No, she wouldn't want that. Not if it's not absolutely necessary.. uhm, do ya think, it is?"
Ryan scrutinized the girl's face. Even unconscious the expression on it seemed tormented. Alex' voice cut through his inspection. "Ryan, are you still on? Listen, if she's not seriously hurt, she wouldn't wanna go there. She.. she ain't got the money. Nor an insurance. I guess you know what that means.." He nodded to himself, then answered: "Yes, I do.. I don't know, how bad she's hurt. Right now, she's out cold, and I try to bring her back. But after that she needs to stay somewhere.." Alex understood the unasked question. "I'm sorry, but it's just not possible. My place is overloaded tonight. There are already about eight people crashin' there. Friends of mine from Catalina who can't take the ride home this night. Sorry, but I'll have to sleep on the floor myself, there's just no space left.." Ryan suddenly felt the girl shift in his arms and saw her eyelids flutter slightly. "Uhm.. okay Alex. Too bad. I.. I'll find a solution, somehow. Please tell Seth, I'll explain everything to him tomorrow, okay? I have to hang up, she comes to." "Alright, I'll tell him. Uhm, and Ryan: Thank you. For helping her, ya know? I would, but right now.." "It's okay, Alex. Really. Bye."
Still rocking her tenderly, Ryan watched cautiously how the girl in his arms at first slowly opened her eyes, then sat up with a start, a bewildered look on her face when she realized what had just happened. She cleared her throat, clearly ashamed, and mumbled: "Oh, uhm.. sorry." As quickly as possible she climbed to her feet and said: "Well.. gotta jet, thank you." Almost too baffled to react Ryan reached for her elbow. "You gotta be kidding!" When she turned to face him he initially braced himself for another offence but instead she appeared more tired than anything else. She sighed and looked down to the sand. "What must I do to finally persuade you that you don't have to help me?" she asked quietly. "Nothing. I know that I don't have to. But I want to. And even if you don't want any further help let me at least offer you a place to get some rest", he stated matter-of-factly.
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Papermonster: Anybody who expected more of "Kid Chino's fists-of-fury"? Well, sorry if I disappointed you, but in my opinion it's always a little far out there when one single guy is able to take on several guys or one who's much bigger than himself like they use to show it on TV. Anyways: Hope you liked it and keep on R+R.
PS: A little note:A "Deus ex machina" can be loosely translated with "God out of the box". It's a construction used in novels and plays when the hero character(s) are trapped in an otherwise unsolvable situation. Then suddenly something unexpected, miraculous or impossiblehappens and saves them. Quite useful when you've run into a dead end with your story :o)
PPS: I've no problem with combo-reviews :o) Especially 'cause I'm posting so slowly (shame on me) that I tend to post some chaps-in-a-row.. like this time, again. (Thanks so much, Beachtree and Leentje)