Down a Rabbit Hole We Go, Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I do not own the OC or any of its characters.
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Sandy exited the small room and returned to the waiting area beside the main desk in booking to find Caleb sitting on a metal bench with his arms crossed over his chest. His father in law stood and began to approach as Sandy turned toward Joe Whatley. "Any news, Joe?" Sandy asked.
"Yeah, the kid's brother backed his story. He said the kid didn't have any idea the car was stolen. So, he's free to go as soon as we can find his mom. You have any luck with him?" Joe inquired.
"No. He says he doesn't know where we can find his mom and honestly, he didn't sound like he really wants us to find her." Sandy answered.
"Well, I guess I'll call social services and see if they can find the kid a bed for the night." Whatley sighed, having seen this scenario many times.
"What if a family friend agreed to take him for the night?" Caleb interjected catching Sandy and Joe Whatley's attention. "I mean, he could come home with me until we can find his mother."
Sandy suddenly wondered who this man was that had replaced his cold -hearted father-in-law.
"And who exactly are you?" Joe Whatley quizzed.
"I'm Caleb Nichol," Caleb said as if it were obvious. When Joe still looked clueless, he added, "of the Newport Group."
"Hmmm…. even if you wanted to take him," Joe responded, "we'd still have to get social services involved, unless you had his mom's permission."
Caleb scowled and turned to Sandy. "Sandford, what can you do about that?"
"Nothing Cal," Sandy answered. "Besides, I'm not sure Ryan would even agree to go with you at this point."
"Why would you think that Sandford?" Caleb huffed.
"Let's see," Sandy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe because he told me in no uncertain terms to get out and to tell Mr. Nichol that he didn't want any more of his charity."
At that, Caleb deflated, dropping his eyes to the linoleum floor in front of him. After a moment, he looked by up at his son-in-law. "I need to see him, Sandy," he said quietly, looking between Sandy and Officer Whatley. "Just let me talk to him." He added to Whatley.
"Well, we don't usually let anyone back that's not family or counsel," Joe replied, "but I guess since there are no charges, it would be ok. Maybe he'll tell you how we can find his mom and we can keep him out of the system."
"I'll take you back," Sandy offered.
As they entered the interrogation room, Sandy noticed that Ryan was in the same position as when he'd first seen him, with his elbows propped on the table and his face in his hands. The boy glanced up but stiffened and looked down again when he saw Caleb.
"Ryan," Caleb said gently. When he got no response, he rounded the table, pulled another chair up next to the boy, and sat. "Ryan," he called again, putting a hand on the kid's shoulder. "Talk to me. Are you ok?"
Ryan looked up briefly at Caleb before burying his face in his hands again and shrugging Cal's hand off his shoulder.
In that brief moment, Caleb noticed the bruising around Ryan's eye and the cut on his forehead. "What happened to you?" Caleb groused, taking the boy's head in his hands and inspected his face. "Did the police do this to you?"
"No," Ryan grumbled, pushing Caleb's hands away as he stood up, distancing himself from Caleb and wrapping his arms around his body.
Caleb stood as well, and Sandy watched as Caleb took a step forward and Ryan took another step back. "Was it Trey?" Caleb questioned.
"No, it wasn't Trey!" Ryan spat.
"Who?" Caleb demanded. "Was it that neanderthal boyfriend of your mother's?"
Ryan's silence and avoidance of eye contact with Caleb was enough of an answer.
"I'll kill him!" Caleb hissed.
Sandy was surprised to hear the venom in Caleb's words.
"Let me see," Cal insisted, reaching out once again, only to have the kid move out of reach.
"Don't touch me!" Ryan snapped.
Caleb looked like he'd been slapped. "Ryan, why are you acting like this? I just want to make sure you're ok."
"Like you care." Ryan responded bitterly.
"I do care. You know I care, Ryan." Caleb insisted.
Ryan gave a humorless laugh. "You care just like my mom cares. It's all words. Nothing ever changes."
Caleb didn't like the direction this conversation was going and decided to take a different approach. "Look, you're not being charged with anything. Let's just get you out of here and we'll sort everything out. Do you know where your mom might be?"
Caleb's question only served to agitate Ryan more and he moved around the end of the table closer to Sandy who was watching the exchange with rapt attention. "I won't go back there!" The kid's voice was cold.
"Ryan," Caleb cajoled. "we'll sort it all out, I promise." Caleb realized it was the wrong thing to say the minute the words left his mouth.
Ryan glared at Caleb, pacing back and forth in the small space between Caleb, the table, and Sandy. A bitter smile formed on his face. "You've promised before, Cal. You don't keep your promises. Just like my Mom. I'll just stay here. You can leave and forget that I even exist."
"You can't stay here, kid." Sandy interjected. "You're not being charged with anything, so if we can't find your mom or another family member, they'll have to call social services."
"I'll confess," the boy suddenly said. "I'll tell them I knew about the car all along," Ryan glared at Caleb as he added, "I'd rather stay in Juvie than go back to that house…back to my FAMILY."
Caleb looked exasperated and Sandy couldn't help but think there was more going here than he was privy too.
"That won't work, kid. Your brother backed your story. The police know that you didn't steal that car." Sandy explained. "They have no reason to hold you."
"Well then maybe I'll give them a reason," Ryan replied to Sandy, but he was in a stare down with Caleb Nichol.
"Don't be ridiculous, Ryan!" Caleb said. He saw the gleam in the boy's eye. "Just calm down."
Sandy was looking at Caleb and didn't realize the kid had moved closer too him until Ryan sucker punched him, catching him right on his left cheek bone with a hard right and sending him toppling over the chair he was standing beside. He instinctively covered his head and shouted for the guards as the boy attacked, although the additional punches weren't nearly as hard as the first one. He could hear Caleb shouting in the background and then total chaos as Joe Whatley and another guard burst in.
"Ryan! Stop that right now!" Caleb shouted, moving to pull the boy off Sandy, only to receive an elbow to the lip. A guard he didn't recognize pulled Caleb back and shoved him away as Joe Whatley moved toward Ryan and Sandy.
Joe Whatley had no clue what had happened, but the last thing he expected to see was Sandy Cohen being attacked. He grabbed the Atwood kid in a bearhug and heaved trying to get him off Sandy. Joe Whatley was 6'2" and had at least 80 pounds on the kid and in all the excitement he didn't realize his own strength. He essentially pulled the kid up and slammed him face first on the floor ending up on top of him.
Ryan let out a strangled cry as he hit the hard floor with the officer on his back.
When Caleb heard it, he tried to push past the other officer, only to be shoved away again. Incensed, he shouted at Joe Whatley, "STOP! GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY SON!"