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: Second part of my posting for today. Please bear with me, I do as best as I can.
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She didn't recall what had woken her about only three of four hours later.
It hadn't been the sounds Ryan had made in his obvious restless sleep. He'd turned several times on the sofa, entangling himself more in his blanket. The short glimpse she caught of his face before he'd curled up again, the tormented yet sad expression on it had made her wince in compassion. But a few minutes later he'd let out a shaky breath and relaxed visibly, murmuring some words she couldn't understand.
She smiled, feeling relief that the nightmare appeared to have left him.
She'd sneaked to the bathroom to hang up the damp towel she'd forgotten to take off her head before she'd fallen asleep and to wash her face and brush her teeth to get rid of the foul taste that came along with the still throbbing stomach ache and the sickness. Then she mindlessly brushed her hair and twisted it up to a big curly ball in her neck and quickly slipped into her baggies and a hoodie, grabbed her boots to put them on outside and silently headed for the door. Maybe a bit of fresh air would make her feel better, more than sleep anyway. At the door she hesitated and took a few careful steps towards the couch.
God, he looked so peaceful. She wished his deep blue eyes would match this expression when he was awake. But awake usually meant alert. His eyes would never show this peacefulness.
Cat studied Ryan's face, smiled when he made a grimace in his sleep and then went still again. And she realized she liked what she saw. The soft and at the same time strong features that produced an interesting contrast, the quite manly nose, combined with those delicate lips, the messed up bleached-blonde hair against the slightly darker skin that appeared to feel like velvet despite the stubbles covering his lower cheeks, the characteristic chin..
She pulled back, suddenly afraid her staring would wake him. Besides, there was nothing more to be seen, she told herself, since he was covered with the blanket up to that chin. Except for one hand that clung to his cushion. It looked strong, and she could tell it was.. but maybe it could also be tender, unlike many other strong hands..
Cat carefully closed the door behind her and, blinking against the morning sun, quickly put on her boots. For a couple of minutes she simply stood still, amazed by the beauty of this place she hadn't really perceived the night before. Wow, that swimming-pool even had a separated whirlpool!
She walked around it and enjoyed the view over the valley and farther away across the ocean. Inhaling deeply the balmy air she crossed her arms behind her neck and closed her eyes to let the sun warm her face.
She jumped a little when suddenly an unknown male voice exclaimed a cheerful "Good morning!"
Cat whirled around and saw a man with wet black hair and strikingly blue eyes put a yellow surfboard onto a wooden scaffolding, probably to wax it later. "I thought everybody was still asleep." He walked over to her, stretching out his hand to shake hers. "I'm Sandy Cohen. We didn't have the chance to meet last night." She took his hand, surprised by the warm, friendly tone of his voice that also told her that he had a lot of good humor. This voice and the little wrinkles around the corners of his eyes and his full lips.
"Cassandra Boleyn, pleasure", she replied strangely timid despite the immediate liking she felt toward him. They spent a moment in silence, looking across the landscape beyond the pool before Cat decided that due to politeness she should probably try a conversation and motioned to the surfboard. "So, you.. uhm.. enjoyed your morning surf?" "Oh, yes! Definitely!" he nodded, a wide grin on his face. "It's the best time. I was pretty happy Ryan decided to keep me company over the past few weeks. But today.. hm. Guess, everybody had a rough night. He's still asleep?" "Yes. Your wife, too?" "Yeah, think so. Uhm.. you already met her." A statement, not a question, so Cat nodded again. "Yes, I have. She's.. she was very kind. I'm sorry I cause you and your family trouble. I.. I won't stay long, I promise. I'm already very grateful for the help you all offered to me, for letting me stay and everything. She's.. wonderful." "Yes. She is.." The expression on his face showed how deeply he loved her. "And don't worry about causing trouble, you're not. You're Ryan's friend, and we learnt to trust him. Even in.. like.. "unusual" situations. So!", he clapped his hands. "How do you feel about breakfast? Coffee?" She thought about it for a moment, then slowly shook her head. "Not right now, thank you." "Uhm.. but you're feelin' better today, aren't you?" "Yes", she said, at his inquisitive look adding: "I'm getting there. Maybe later? I mean breakfast? You know", she motioned to the valley, the ocean, "you don't just have an amazing family, this is also an amazing view." "Yes!", he laughed, "I'm a lucky man. So maybe later. I'll grab a shower and then I'll be in the kitchen. It's just that door over there. Come in when you feel like it, okay?" He turned around to leave, almost missing her silent "Thank you."
The lacking ability to be stealth was a typical male Cohen-trait, along with the biting sarcasm and the cheerful chatter. Sandy tiptoed to the bathroom but Kirsten heard him despite his efforts.
"Sandy?", she mumbled and lazily turned around. "Shh..", he soothed, "take another nap, it's still early." "Been surfing?" followed by a yawn. "Yes, I'm gonna get a shower and make breakfast. Take your time, okay?" "Uhum..", she closed her eyes again.
When he emerged from the bathroom about 15 minutes later she'd fallen asleep again. Sighing he smiled at her sight and felt like crawling between the sheets with her again. He blew her a kiss and went back to the kitchen to get the coffee machine running.
Cat had followed Sandy with her eyes and briefly wondered what Ryan's foster-brother would be like. A mixture of the composed, delicate blonde lady and her cheerful, yet undeniably astute husband. He had to be good-looking considering the genes his parents had to offer and considering Alex' taste, but she was also sure that a mix of such different predispositions could be either breathtakingly speacial - or incredibly awkward. Or both.
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Papermonster: OK, so this was kinda short, but I had to subdivide "the morning after" at some point. Partly because the next chapter involves Cat and Sandy sharing their respective past. Maybe I'll repost the partitions as one chapter one day when I've figured everything out. Anyway: At least read if you don't feel like reviewing this, okay?