Ryan was still playing with his breakfast when Sandy came in, although he wasn't exactly surprised to see Sandy. When Kirsten had brought his breakfast in, she hadn't said a lot or asked too many questions. She'd just left with a pat and a smile, leaving the door open behind her. That's how Ryan knew Sandy would be coming soon.

Ryan hoped that if he just handed him the breakfast tray that Sandy would take it and leave. Instead Sandy put the tray down on the floor and sat at the foot of the bed.

"Not hungry?"

"No."

"Want to talk?"

"No."

"Mind if I talk?" Before Ryan could say anything, Sandy held up his hand. "And before you say 'no' again, that really wasn't a question."

"Figured that."

Sandy looked down at his hands before taking a deep breath and looking directly at Ryan.

"Let me ask you this – why did you go up on that ladder?"

"Hang wreath."

"But why?"

"Why what?"

"You're afraid of heights. You knew Seth was less than enthused about decorating the house and was wrapped up in his own agenda. So why did you go up on the ladder?"

Ryan looked at Sandy, clearly confused. "Um… hang wreath."

Sandy sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Okay, we're clearly not getting anywhere. Let me put it this way - if you knew Seth wasn't a willing participate, why did you insist on finishing the entire job?"

"My fault?"

"No. This is not your fault. You know that, and you know we know that, so don't go there."

"Then what you mean?"

"I asked you boys to decorate the house for Kirsten. We agree on that, right?"

Ryan simply nodded so Sandy continued. "But you knew Seth didn't want to. So why didn't you just do your share and leave the rest for Seth?"

"Then not finished when Kirsten got home."

"And…"

"And she be disappointed."

"But not at you."

Ryan opened his mouth as he caught on to where Sandy was going, but Sandy again held up his hand, stopping Ryan from responding. He had a point to make, and he wanted Ryan to hear it.

"So instead of doing just your share, you once again covered for Seth and did more. And had it not been for the accident, Seth would have once again gotten away with doing less than his share."

When Ryan just looked down at the blanket he was picking at, Sandy went on. "I get that you hate seeing Kirsten or me disappointed, so you're willing to do more than your share. But that isn't exactly fair to you, and it certainly doesn't help Seth."

This time all Sandy got was a shrug from Ryan. "You want to help Seth? Don't cover for him. If I ask you boys to do something, do only your share and let Seth do his."

"If he doesn't?"

"Just leave it. Before you joined this family, it was a whole lot easier to know when Seth didn't do what he was asked, because no one did it for him. And despite what you two may think, we both know there are times – a lot of times – when Seth still doesn't do his share, but we can't do anything about it. Not as long as you cover for him. Stop covering for him and come to me."

"Come to you?"

"Yes."

A roll of Ryan's eyes, and Sandy knew that despite everything that had happened, that was still very unlikely. "Fine. Don't come to me. But from now on, just do your share. No more. No less. If something isn't done, I'll know."

"That's it? Now I forgive and forget? He left me… up on that ladder."

It was the tone Ryan used. The way he quickly threw in 'up on that ladder' that confirmed to Sandy exactly how Ryan was feeling. He again patted Ryan's leg.

"He didn't leave you – at least not the way you think. Yes, he walked away from the ladder. He wasn't thinking, that much is obvious. But as mad and upset as you are right now, try to remember to ask yourself this – do you honestly think Seth would do something that would intentionally hurt you? He did something stupid, thoughtless and yes – selfish. Kirsten and I have both used all three of those words when talking about what happened, but it wasn't intentional. Is that enough for you to be able to forgive and forget? That's up to you."

Sandy stopped to watch Ryan, trying to judge his reaction so far. When he saw that Ryan was still looking down at the blanket and only nodding his head ever so slightly, Sandy decided he might as well continue.

"I will say this much – as far as forgetting, I think it's a safe bet that not one of us will ever forget what happened. Forgive? Again, only you can decide that. Kirsten and I cannot and will not tell you that you have to forgive him. But I can tell you this – you two will live under the same roof until you're 18. After that, I know we can't stop you from leaving us. We just hope you don't."

"Left last summer."

"That was different. And you only left this house, not this family. We were still very much a part of your life. This year, you aren't leaving. So if you can't forgive, then you'll need to think of a way to live together."

Ryan finally looked up and stared out the window at the pool house, and Sandy decided that was enough for now.

"Kirsten and I have to go shopping later. Do you think you'll be okay here alone? If you want, we'll move you to the den. We'll keep the shades down so the room is darker. You can try to watch some T.V. or maybe at least listen to it. We'll keep the phone next to you. That way if you need us, we'll only be a phone call away."

Ryan simply nodded again but never looked away from the pool house. Sandy patted his leg again, picked up the breakfast try and left. He hoped Ryan heard at least part of what he said.

Sandy was still very lost in his own thoughts as he left the bedroom and almost collided into Kirsten, subconsciously twisting her wedding rings as she waited for him.

"Well?"

Sandy motioned her to follow him as he headed for the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, she asked again, "Well?"

"We talked. Well, I talked."

"Did he listen?"

"I think so."

"Did you tell him we were leaving him alone so he could think?"

"I told him we needed to go shopping."

"I still don't like the idea of him being here alone. What if something happens?"

"I told him that we'd move him to the den. We'll leave the phone right next to him. We'll make sure he has something to eat and drink. He'll be fine. We need to give him the breathing room he needs to think this through. You know he needs the alone time."

"The brooding time…"

"He's earned the right."

"I know. You're right. But that doesn't mean I have to like it."

"Kirsten, none of us like it, least of all Ryan."

Two hours later, Ryan found himself in the darkened family room, with the house phone, his cell phone, a sandwich and chips, two bottles of water, the TV remote control, a blanket and a pillow.

At least he was alone. It only took a number of promises to Kirsten that he would call if anything happened before they finally left. Now that he was alone and out of their bedroom, Ryan thought briefly of going out to the pool house, but figured if something did actually happen, the Cohens would never leave him alone again.

Ryan closed his eyes and tried to enjoy listening to ESPN. It still bothered his eyes to watch television, but at least he could listen now without making his headache any worse. Unfortunately, the noise didn't help distract Ryan from thinking about what Sandy said.

Fine, maybe he shouldn't have climbed that damn ladder, but how hard was it for Seth to stand there for maybe five minutes total? That was what Ryan was having trouble getting over. They would have been done in five minutes if Seth had just stood there by the ladder and not walked away. The house would have been decorated for Kirsten when she got back - she'd have been happy, Sandy would have been happy, and everything would have been fine.

They would have celebrated Hanukkah at home, Ryan would have finished his physics project on time and correctly, Seth could have continued his 'woo-ing' of Summer, and Ryan would be sleeping in his pool house, with his spleen, a healthy shoulder and leg and the ability to speak properly.

Five minutes – that's all he'd asked of Seth. Just five more minutes. If Seth could give him a reasonable explanation as to why he couldn't help for five more minutes then maybe they could talk about forgiving and forgetting.

Ryan also knew that he would have to somehow explain to the Cohens how and why he still felt the way he did. It was tiring, to say the least, and Ryan suddenly found the noise of the television to be a distraction. He turned it off, hoping in the silence he'd be able to wrap his head around everything

He was starting to doze off, trying to figure out how to put it all into words when he heard the door leading to the garage open. Ryan sat up, expecting to see Kirsten and Sandy home early, and was surprised to see Seth coming into the den.

His first instinct was to be mad, figuring it was some kind of a set up. They'd moved him to the den and then left so Seth could come in, and Ryan would be forced to talk to him. But the look on Seth's face, the way he frantically began looking around the room told Ryan that Seth had no clue he would be in the den alone. Plus, Ryan quickly realized, that despite it all, it really wasn't their style to be that sneaky

Seth finally gave a little wave towards Ryan, but Ryan just stared at him. Then Seth took a step further into the room. "Um, sorry. I didn't know. I thought you were… um. So, where is everyone else?"

"Mall."

"Ah – the post-Hanukkah, pre-Christmas shopping excursion. Well, I think it's safe to assume that based on that whole naughty and nice theory, there will only be presents for one of us under the tree this year."

Ryan just looked away without acknowledging the lame joke.

"Yeah. Um, so. I just need to get some clothes and stuff, and then I'll be out of your way. Sorry. I wouldn't have come in if I knew you were in here. I swear."

"Mmm."

"But um… just one more thing. Would you mind if I did some laundry before I leave? I promise to stay in the laundry room."

"Why?"

"Julie's made it perfectly clear that I may be in her house, but she certainly won't do my laundry. And I don't want to leave it for Mom. I promise, I'll stay there, though."

"No," Ryan struggled to get out. "Why there?"

As much as Seth wanted to understand what Ryan was asking, and spare him from having to struggle even more, he just wasn't sure what exactly Ryan was trying to get at.

"Why there? Okay, if you don't want me to stay in the laundry room, I can always stay upstairs, or I can leave and come back. Whatever you want."

As Ryan began to groan and rub his forehead, Seth began to panic. "I'm sorry, Ryan. I just don't know what you mean. I mean, I know not knowing what you mean is my fault, because if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be having a problem telling me what you mean, and I would understand what you were trying to ask me, so I'm sorry. For not knowing what you mean, and for being the reason that I don't know what you mean."

Ryan just glared at him and then made the effort to clarify, "Why Haunted Mansion?"

"I don't know. I had no place else to go. I couldn't exactly stay at Summer's, and I'm not exactly close friends with anyone else. The Nana lives in New York, and Aunt Hailey lives in Japan. So it was either the Haunted Mansion or the streets, and as mad as Mom and Dad are at me, I don't think they'd make me live on the streets."

"Why run away again?"

"Run away? I… you think I ran away? No. I…no. I didn't mean to make you think I ran away. I swear, Ryan, I just knew that it would be easier for you if I weren't here when you came home. Leave for a while, not run away. I never meant to make it look like I was running away. It's just better for you to be home without me for a while."

"Your house, not mine. Didn't need to leave it cause of me."

"Actually it's not my house either. It technically belongs to the 'rents, and they're both kind enough to force us to live here until the ripe old age of eighteen."

When Ryan didn't answer and only began to lie back down on the couch, Seth took that to mean that Ryan was done talking to him. As he began to walk out of the den, he heard Ryan ask, "Why walk away?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were done talking to me. Was there something you needed? I can…"

"NO!" Ryan growled. "Not now. That day. Why?"

Seth sat in the chair next to Ryan, unable to answer or even look at him at first. He wrung his hands together as he stared at the coffee table, trying to think of something, some kind of answer.

"I don't know," was all Seth could finally come up with. "I've asked myself that question at least a million times a day since that day, and I still don't know."

Neither boy would look up as Seth continued to talk. "I wanted to be done. Hell, I never even wanted to start. You know that. It was wrong. We both know that. But I didn't want to be there. I thought… You had the wreath on the nail. It was hung. You were done. But then you started straightening it. Summer called, and I wanted to tell her about the CD I made. But it was in the garage. I looked up. You were still straightening the wreath. I figured you wouldn't need me for another minute or two. I could quickly get the CD from the garage, and then come back and hold the ladder while you climbed down."

Ryan continued to rub his forehead while Seth continued to wring his hands. Ryan still wouldn't look at Seth, nor would Seth look at Ryan as he continued.

"I was only gone like a minute or two. When I got back from the garage, you were on the ground. I don't even know when you fell or how you fell. You were just there, not moving and all that blood was coming from your head…"

Ryan shuddered and clutched the blanket, and Seth once again knew what he was saying was wrong. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean… I'm sure you don't need me to remind you about what happened. It's just, well, this is the first time you've actually asked me about the accident. I'm not sure what to really say, except to say sorry again and again, which doesn't really help, I know."

Seth paused a minute and watched as Ryan continued to hold onto the blanket and concentrate on the non-existent pattern on the couch, not looking at him or once again acknowledging him. "Okay, I guess I should just go. I'll come back later when Mom and Dad are here."

Ryan still didn't look at Seth, but he did mumble, "Still don't have to leave your own house."

"I told you - it's just as much your home as it is mine, and until you can deal with me here, I won't stay."

"That make everything okay?"

"No. But what can I say? I screwed up bigger than I've ever screwed up in my life. I can't say or do anything to change that. I can continue to tell you that I'm sorry, because I am. Sorrier than I've ever been about anything, but I can't fix it. I can't take it back. I can't do anything. I can't make you forgive me or even not hate me. All I can do is stay out of your way, for however long you want me gone."

"Grand gesture?"

Seth sighed as he turned to leave the den. "Nope. No grand gestures. My best friend once told me that I needed to accept the fact that sometimes you can't fix the things you've screwed up with grand gestures. Sometimes there is no way to be forgiven."

Ryan still stared blankly at the couch as Seth started to head for the door. He was almost out the door when Ryan finally said, "Get me out of parents' room."

"You want me to get you out of Mom and Dad's room?" Seth paused and looked at Ryan who nodded confirmation.

"That's what you really want? Sorry, stupid question, of course you want out of Mom and Dad's bed. Who wouldn't except for, well, them. Okay, I think I can do that, but even with my powers of persuasion, I don't think I'll be able to convince either one of them to let you stay in the pool house for a while."

"That okay. Just – get me out of their room."

Ryan stood up and began to hobble out of the den. Seth quickly got behind him, wanting to help, but not wanting to get in Ryan's way. He followed Ryan back to his parents' bedroom, neither boy saying anything further.

Finally as Ryan turned to shut the bedroom door, he told Seth, "Too tired. Talking real stupid. Need sleep. Get me out of bedroom, then come home." With that, he shut the door, leaving Seth to figure it out.

A little while later, Seth was frantically moving the furniture in the bar and talking rapidly on the phone when Sandy and Kirsten came home. He waved at his obviously amusement parents, but otherwise did not acknowledge them as he rattled off the number to his emergency-only credit card, and then promised whomever he was talking to an extra $50 if he or she was there before dinner.

Even after hanging up the phone, Seth still didn't bother to explain his mysterious conversation to either parent as he pushed a bar stool towards Sandy. "Here, Dad, take this. Put it in the kitchen or the garage, anywhere, just get it out of here."

Sandy only looked at Kirsten, then at the bar stool before looking at Seth again. "Would you like to tell me why I'm getting rid of it, who you were on the phone with, and why whomever it was is getting fifty bucks to be here by dinner?"

Still scanning the room and pushing furniture towards the den, Seth just absent-mindedly said, "Same day mattress delivery people. Mom, we need sheets and blankets and pillows. Full size. I ordered full size."

"Seth, wait. Stop. Mattress delivery people? Full size? Why did you order a full size mattress, and what does that have to do with moving out the bar furniture? And where is Ryan?"

"Well, the rental company doesn't seem to think we need a hospital bed any longer, and given some of the things Dad said to them the other day, they have no desire to rush us over one. So I had to buy a bed, not just a mattress. Oh, and Ryan's asleep in your room for now."

As Seth pushed another bar stool towards the den, Sandy stopped him. "For now? What do you mean for now? Why did you call the rental company, and why did you buy a bed?"

Seth sighed and rubbed his forehead. He finally began to explain so his parents would let him get back to work. "I came in before. You were both gone. Ryan was in the den. Naturally, I thought that was a really bad thing, but we actually talked – kind of. He asked me to get him out of your room. So that's why I tried the rental company first, but Dad, you really didn't make too many friends there. Since they wouldn't help me, I had to buy a bed. And since you guys already told Ryan he could sleep in the bar, that's why I'm moving out the furniture. Now, I don't have much time, can you please help?"

"But then we decided that Ryan should sleep in our room." Kirsten said.

"Yeah, well, you and Dad decided that. Ryan, on the other hand, didn't decide that. He wants out. He knows he can't sleep in the pool house yet, and he seems fine with that. But think about it – your bedroom is where stuff happens. Stuff that no kid wants to think about. Yet that's where you put Ryan. Kinda gross, if you ask me."

"And you think buying him a bed will make it up to him?"

"No, of course not. But he asked me to do something. I need to do this for him. Please?" Seth hated how desperate he sounded, but he knew he had to do this. "Please. I can't make it up to him with just one simple act, but if I can prove to him that I can be there for him - that I won't let him down again - then maybe, just maybe, one day he can trust me again. I really, really need to do this."

Kirsten didn't say anything else as she left the room. Sandy picked up one of the bar stools while Seth picked up another, and they put them in the garage. As they continued to move the other stuff out, Kirsten returned with pillows, sheets, and blankets.

She then went out to the pool house, and came back with more of Ryan's clothes. She placed them on the bar before scanning the room. "He'll need a little more privacy here. I remember seeing those folding room partitionsat Pier One. I think I have time to run down and pick them up. There was also a little table that should work nicely as a nightstand. I'll be back soon."

Seth actually kissed her goodbye before turning to his father. "He said I could come home if I got him out of your room. I'm not sure if he meant it, but well, I really want to prove to him that I can be here for him. So I'm going to go get my stuff. I won't unpack it in case he wants me to leave again, but you know, at least he talked to me."

"It's going to take time. You know that, don't you?"

"Yeah, I know, but if I don't at least start trying, it'll take even longer."

Seth turned around just before he walked out of the door. "Um, Dad? Thanks."

Sandy waited until he was sure Seth was gone before heading towards the bedroom. He knocked quietly, but then he opened the door even though he didn't hear a response, figuring Ryan was still asleep.

Ryan was just coming out of the bathroom and nodded at Sandy. "Figured see you soon."

"Because?"

"Because Seth."

"Ryan, you don't have to do this. This morning, I didn't mean that you had to resolve this all right now."

"I know."

"So?" Sandy didn't wait for Ryan's answer and continued, "I know I shouldn't have to ask this, but this isn't some kind of cruel joke? Seth is running around like crazy trying to get a bed set up for you. You aren't just doing this out of spite, right?"

"Course not."

"Then why?" Again Sandy didn't wait for Ryan's answer, "Don't do this because of me or Kirsten or even Seth. You need to work this out for yourself. I meant what I said about not forcing you to forgive and forget."

"I know."

When it became obvious that Sandy wasn't going to say something more this time, and he was actually expecting Ryan to talk, Ryan sat on the bed and stared at his hands. "He walked away. I fell. He knows. His fault. I asked. He didn't give stupid answers. So, don't know."

"Well, let me ask you this – is it going to be hard for you being in the same house with him?"

"Yes. But hard no matter what. This way everyone happy."

"Really? How so?"

"Seth home. You and Kirsten happy. Seth helped me so he happy, and I…um…"

Ryan stopped, trying to figure out how to put it into words that Sandy would understand.

Sandy only laughed. "And you're out of the 'rents' room, where things go on that no kid wants to think about."

"Um…"

"Don't worry – Seth already explained that to us."

"Yeah, well. He's right."

"Yeah, well, you're stuck in here for a little while longer. There's still furniture to move, the bed to deliver and set up. A lot of commotion, plus there's no way to do it without the lights on. So you're stuck here till then."

"Sorry. Didn't know so much trouble. Just thought…"

"No, don't be sorry. Honestly, I think it's a good idea, as long as it's what you want, and I really do mean for more reasons than just getting out of our room."

"Sandy, it fine. Still mad, can't help it, but will try to move past it. Somehow need to move past."

First Sandy clapped Ryan on his shoulder, but then pulled him into a gentle hug. "We really are very proud of you. I hope you know that."

All Ryan could do was nod slightly, stare down at the floor and then quietly climb back into the bed. "Let me know when can be sprung from here."

"Sure, kid. Everything should be set up by dinnertime. I'll come help you move, and then we can celebrate the last night of Hanukkah."

Dinner that night was still quiet. Much more quiet than any of them liked, except for maybe Ryan. Still, it was obvious that there was less stress. Somehow it didn't feel as tense in the kitchen. Ryan still didn't direct much of what little conversation he attempted towards Seth, but he did seem much happier being set up in the bar room.

Both boys actually participated in the last night of Hanukkah, and although there was still no family game of dreidel, Ryan did allow Seth to help him to bed that night. Another small step for them both.

Give it time, Sandy promised Kirsten that night when they were lying back in their own bed. Over time things would improve for them all. Sandy had faith that both boys learned from this mistake, and this time, Kirsten actually believed him. After all, it couldn't get any worse, now could it?