Thanks again for all your reviews I love receiving them :) So, I made this chapter longer which is why there's been a bigger time gap than when I updated the last chapters. I hope you like it and thanks so much for reading.

Chapter 4

Sandy stroked Ryan's arm awkwardly. Seth lay asleep on his lap. He found that he couldn't help but to compare the two. Seth- grandson of the richest man in Newport whilst Ryan- beaten by his mom's boyfriend. It just didn't seem right.

He looked over at Ramona sleeping in a chair next to them. Kirsten was on her way and then Ramona agreed that she'd go home. She wanted to meet Kirsten first.

Sandy was kind of hoping that Ryan would wake up before Ramona left as chances were that Ryan wouldn't remember him and his whole trust for men would be down. Ramona however was adamant to leave as Arturo still wasn't answering the phone. She either wanted to help him if he was in trouble or ground his ass if he had gone out.

The sound of someone clearing their throat made Sandy jump- it was Kirsten! He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hey," She whispered so as not disturb Ramona and Seth. Theresa looked up at her from drawing on the floor. At first she looked worried but soon relaxed as she realised that she must be a friend of Sandy and Seth.

Kirsten's eyes fell to the small boy on the bed. She felt herself immediately falling for him. She looked at the bruising on his face, the plaster on his cheekbone and felt tears prickling her eyes. How could anyone do this to a child?

She slowly walked over to Sandy. She stroked Seth's hair and kissed his forehead but he hardly even stirred. She repeated the procedure on Sandy and he kissed her back.

She then looked at Ryan again and reached out her fingers to stroke his hair. He sighed in his sleep and leaned into the touch.

Kirsten smiled and kept her hand where it was stroking his hair, right now Ryan needed a bit of motherly love.

She kept stroking his hair and after a few minutes of doing this, two bright blue eyes blinked open.

Kirsten jumped back startled "Sandy!" she whispered loudly to her husband. He took one look at Ryan and proceeded to wake Ramona.

Ryan meanwhile could feel pain. Sharp pain jabbing at his cheek bone, his ribs and just about everywhere. He could see a blonde haired woman by his bed. She'd been stroking his hair. It had felt nice. A man was next to her. He had huge eyebrows and floppy brown hair. He looked strangely familiar. Had he done this to him?

Ryan could fell his panic rising. Alarm sounds filled his ears and he couldn't focus on anything else.

Where was his mom? Ramona? Theresa? He whimpered softly he was in agony alone and nobody cared.

He felt someone holding him down and he struggled more ignoring the fiery pain. They were trying to hurt him more. Why wouldn't they leave him alone?

A feeling suddenly enveloped him. It was gentle, calming and most of all non painful! She was stroking his hair again. He froze not wanting to move in case the feeling went.

The alarms were easing off and he slowly opened his eyes. The blonde woman was there stroking his hair. Another woman was next to her. He recognised her- it was Ramona!

Concern was shining in their eyes he could see everything getting clearer.

There were two women also in the room. They were wearing the same dresses as the ones he remembered seeing on two women that he caught with his father. Only those dresses were much shorter barely covering their thighs. The women wearing them had makeup covering their faces and had looked at him in disgust.

These women had expressions mirroring the blonde woman and Ramona. He realized they must be nurses. They looked nice but Ryan had learnt long ago to never trust anyone.

Ryan was very pleased to see that the scary man had gone.

"Better now?" One of the nurses asked and he nodded. They all smiled at him

"Welcome back!" Ramona chirped stroking his hand.

Kirsten continued soothing the boy's hair gently as the nurse's examined him and asked him questions. He seemed to be alright in her presence but Sandy was a different story. Ramona stood next to them whispering encouraging words to Ryan.

Kirsten looked into Ryan's eyes. With Seth she could see a spark in his eyes. His eyes lit up when he saw her or Sandy and they were filled with happiness. In Ryan's eyes she could only see sadness, pain and fear. Things that a child should never have to face.

Finally the nurse backed off from Ryan. "He had a little panic attack… not unusual after what Ryan's been through today. Try to keep him calm. Visiting hours are almost over but one of you may stay the night because of his age. One of us will come in at intervals during the night to check things are alright." Kirsten thanked both the nurses and returned her hand movements.

"Ryan, how are you feeling? Ramona asked.

"Ok, I guess… Who are you? What happened?" He rasped looking at Kirsten.

"This is Kirsten, Ryan. She and her husband- Sandy are here to help you. They're our friends. Sandy's outside with their son and Theresa." At Theresa's name Ryan's head shot up and Kirsten could tell she was someone very close to Ryan.

"Yeah, Theresa's here. She'll be back tomorrow with me but visiting hours are almost over so we have to go. I think Kirsten or Sandy will stay with you though for the night." With that she moved over to his bedside and hugged him "Bye I hope you feel better tomorrow."

Ramona then swiftly marched out of the room. Ryan shifted in his bed and Kirsten looked at him thoughtfully. She could tell that he was in pain but something else was bothering him.

"Are you okay?" She asked

"Please don't leave me alone with him…" Ryan burst out. Kirsten realized that he was talking about Sandy. She was too shocked for words and so she simply settled for a simple "Okay." She hugged him gently but he immediately tensed up so she backed away a little to give him space.

She sat down on a chair near him pondering on what to tell Sandy and Ryan settled down on his bed and it didn't take long for him to fall asleep again. A few minutes later Sandy rushed in. "Ramona's taking Theresa back off to her house. She said we can stay with her for as long as we want. I can give you directions…"

"Umm actually Sandy… Why don't you go to their house and sleep, you've been here all day and I only just got here. I'd like to stay with him."

Sandy looked at her surprised "What? No, I should stay…"

"Right now Sandy, Ryan needs to feel safe. He's just been beaten up by his mom's boyfriend. He doctors say that he can't remember properly what happened. He's confused. He seems to be okay around me… Please… I want to stay with him."

Sandy was shocked. He didn't want to leave but he could see Kirsten wasn't going to be swayed easily and someone needed to take Seth to Ramona's house. He sighed and nodded.

"Say good night to Seth for me ok?" Kirsten requested. Sandy hugged her and stroked Ryan's hand gently "Bye, Ryan." He whispered before leaving the room.

Seth was standing outside waiting. "Where's mommy?" He asked immediately having caught sight of his father.

"She's gonna stay with Ryan tonight." Sandy explained as he urged Seth down the corridor.

"Why?" Seth continued slowing down his pace and turning towards Sandy.

"Because… well Ryan's very sick at the moment and he needs mommy to make him feel better like when you're sick. We can't leave him by himself. As his mom isn't here mommy has to look after him."

"What's wrong with him?" Seth was determined to fully understand the situation.

"Well he was hurt by a mean man and has a broken cheek bone and lots of bruising."

Seth looked at Sandy thoughtfully. "Why did the man hit him?" Sandy looked into Seth's eyes. He was so innocent and Sandy didn't know what to say.

"Well you see Seth in some places there are men that have sort of rage issues. Ryan was someone that he… Well Ryan was just there…"

Seth was silent for a while and Sandy once again looked down at him. He's never seen Seth so quiet before today.

The two went to their car. Ramona and Theresa had caught a cab. Sandy had offered them a lift but Ramona was adamant to leave then and there and Sandy hadn't been ready. Sandy helped Seth get into the back before climbing into the drivers seat.

Something dark caught his attention as he started the engine. It was blood! Ryan's blood! He looked away quickly suddenly glad that Seth was in the back. He took his jacket off and covered the bloody patch quickly. He knew that if Seth saw it he'd freak out.

He started the engine and started on the short drive back to Ramona's house. He didn't notice the man hiding in the shadows by the hospital. The man that was now searching for the boy that had buggered off somewhere. The boy that Kirsten was now sitting with.

Kirsten could feel herself dozing off. It had been a long day. She'd been so worried about Sandy and Seth before. She'd had horrible thoughts about them being abducted by some sick pervert. She wished Sandy had called sooner.

The sound of someone shifting in bed snapped her back to reality. She looked over and saw that Ryan's eyes were looking her way almost fearfully.

"Hey," she whispered stroking his arm. He flinched under her touch and she casually took back her hand. "How are you feeling?" She asked beginning to feel uncomfortable under his gaze.

He pondered an answer for a while and then said in such a quiet voice Kirsten had to lean in to her him. "My cheek hurts…"

She couldn't help but to start stroking his hair again. The tone of his voice tugged at her heart strings.

"I'll get the nurse to give you some pain relief ok?" He nodded and she could see the relief in his eyes.

She pressed the button in a swift movement before coming back to stroke his hair again. The nurse came in soon after and injected a pain killer into Ryan's IV. She told Ryan to try and get back to sleep. Ryan nodded and the nurse left after telling Kirsten that Ryan was doing really well.

After the nurse left, Ryan shut his eyes. Kirsten was all set to follow suit by settling back and trying to get some sleep herself when she heard Ryan moaning and he started shifting in his sleep.

She moved closer to him again and started stroking his hair. Like before he slowly eased off his sounds of discomfort and Kirsten could feel her feelings for the boy getting deeper. Sandy had told her that child services were getting involved in his case. They couldn't let him go back with him mother so she wondered what was going to happen to him.

Suddenly the sound of loud shouts protruded from the hall. Kirsten continued her stroking however, whoever it was causing the racket she couldn't be bothered to deal with. She had to keep Ryan calm. So she was shocked when someone came crashing through into the room. The sound awoke all the children in the room and Kirsten saw Ryan's eyes snap open.

The man coming in was obviously drunk and Kirsten could smell him where she sat. To her surprise Ryan grabbed her hand looking for comfort and he started breathing quickly. He could remember what had happened.

"Ryan, its okay…" She said trying to sooth him and she tried to gain his eye contact. He kept looking behind her and it was clear what was bothering him. She turned around realisation hitting her that this was the man who had hurt Ryan.

AJ looked around hurriedly at all the kids in the room. He knew he'd seen Ryan's name on the chart and it had told him that Ryan was in here. He'd better find Ryan soon because security was already trying to kick him out. He could hear them yelling in the hall. This was quickly spiralling out of control.

All the children had the same expression- scared and some of them tearful. He wanted Ryan. Ryan was brave and strong. He could do whatever he wanted to him and he'd act like it didn't bother him so it was a challenge for AJ.

He looked to the end of the room and saw a blonde woman staring at him speechless and terrified. She was the only parent in the room and she was stroking what looked to be her son's hair. As AJ got nearer he realized the boy was Ryan.

What the hell? How did Ryan know her? He stormed up to the bed and saw all the bruises and lacerations he himself had performed earlier and smiled.

"Hello Ryan," He said in a steady but slightly stirred voice. Even in his drunk state he recognised the fear in Ryan's eyes and he didn't like it one bit. What happened to the kid he'd beaten only hours before?

"What have you done to him?" He snarled at Kirsten. She looked at him confused and terrified.

Security were approaching he could hear them getting closer so he did what he had to do, to be able to get away. He grabbed Ryan's wrist and pulled him up and out of his hospital bed.

Ryan's IV was ripped out of his hand and he squirmed trying to get away from the hands holding him. Ryan could see Kirsten screaming at AJ but he couldn't hear anything.

Pain was shooting at his whole body. His face ached fiercely and he could feel the wet sticky blood trickling down his hand from the missing IV. The sudden movement had flared up his ribs and he gulped in tiny breathes.

He was vaguely aware of security coming into the room. Ryan could feel AJ putting his arm around his neck. Panic washed over him as the arm got tighter. Oh God he was going to die. He accepted the inviting darkness maybe now the pain would stop.

Kirsten stared at the man holding Ryan. She couldn't believe how anyone could do this to a child. She caught sight of Ryan's face. It was clear he was terrified. Tears flowed loosely down her cheeks as she saw Ryan's body go limp.

AJ looked down shocked at Ryan's condition but the alcohol was working its magic and he didn't care. Security men were trying to calm him down. The police were being called and he knew he was screwed. Ryan was his ticket to freedom. He needed Ryan and soon Ryan would come to realize that he needed him back.

He started shuffling out but a waiting security guard took charge of the situation. He grabbed AJ from behind and held him. He knew this was bad for Ryan but he also knew that it would be worse for Ryan if AJ took him away.

Once AJ was in a strong grip, screaming and swearing. A doctor went over to where AJ help Ryan and got ready to get back the unconscious boy and another doctor got behind AJ with a needle. AJ roared and kicked at the people circling him. His movements knocking and hurting the person in his arms.

Sandy looked over at Seth in the back of the car. He'd fallen asleep even thought the ride had only taken ten minutes tops. He got out and opened the back door to carry Seth inside the house.

He was greeted by an open door and Sandy walked over to it knocking nervously.

"Ramona!" He called causing Seth to stir in his sleep.

Sandy entered into the corridor and suddenly he heard footsteps coming towards them. It was Ramona and she looked at them sighing with relief that it was indeed them and not AJ. She still looked flustered though.

"He's been round. He knows where Ryan is… He beat up Arturo…" She looked away with tears in her eyes. Sandy advanced towards her putting an arm around her. "Is he okay?" He asked

"Yeah, just bruising nowhere near as bad as Ryan. We should have brought him with us. Trey hasn't even come back yet." Sandy followed Ramona down into the kitchen where Arturo was sat in a chair holding some frozen sweet corn to his face.

A blonde woman was also there with another bag of frozen vegetables held to her. The two were dotted in bruises. Not as bad as Ryan but Sandy was even more shocked.

"Is Ryan okay?" Arturo immediately asked him as Sandy entered. "I couldn't help but tell him… I'm so sorry." He was almost hysterical and Ramona moved over to him and hugged him gently.

"Okay let's call Kirsten and warn her. I think I should go back to the hospital. Does either of you two think you need to be checked over by a doctor?" They both shook their heads and Sandy went about kissing Seth and handing him to Ramona so he could rest in peace. Ramona agreed to call Kirsten and Sandy left for his car and the hospital.

Kirsten looked down at Ryan. The nurse said that he was doing well despite the incident. He'll be in more pain though but they increased the pain killers to keep him comfortable. He was on oxygen and was still unconscious. Despite the new bruising on Ryan's neck and the stitching in Ryan's hand, Ryan seemed okay.

She held his hand and stroked his hair. She was now doing it without thinking. She'd only known the boy for hours not even days yet she was beginning to think of talking to Sandy about the boy staying with them. He couldn't go back to face that lunatic and his so called mom. This way she could make sure that this never happened to Ryan again as much as she could help it.

She looked down at all Ryan's bruises and felt tears slip from her eyes again. How many times had this happened? She didn't want to know. The doctor had informed her earlier after Ryan's x-ray that he had been through numerous breaks in his bones and all the evidence pointed towards child abuse.

She couldn't even imagine Seth going though that. She would never let him go through that kind of treatment but Ryan's mom did.

Ryan slowly opened his eyes. He could see the blonde woman- Kirsten or Kristine or something like that he remembered Ramona saying her name was. She was swiping away tears that were running down her cheeks as she realised that Ryan was awake. What had happened? Where was AJ?

The doctors had him on strong pain killers, when he lay still he could feel hardly any pain at all now. He was so confused. The woman was holding his hand. Why was she being so nice?

Ryan didn't know why but he felt safe around her. It was something he didn't feel usually around adults. He was still scared for when that that man with big eyebrows returned for he knew he would soon.

Kirsten smiled at him. "AJ?" He whispered hoarsely wanting to know what had happened. He was shocked by his voice but could remember AJ grabbing his neck and put two and two together.

"He was arrested." Kirsten explained unsure of hoe Ryan would react to that. Ryan looked up at her surprised. "You're safe now," She whispered soothingly.

AJ scowled as the policeman led him out of the car and started the walk to the police station. He was too tired to resist thanks to that stupid sedation thing. He'd woken up restrained on a hospital bed with two policemen ready to put him hand cuffs.

"That bitch is gonna pay." He growled.

Meanwhile the little mouse had found some new mice to follow around. The cat's owners had locked it in their house after it had brought in a dead bird. They were sick of it bringing in its prey so now they wouldn't give it the chance to catch anything else. These mice didn't fight the scarred mouse. However even though the cat had been locked away, the mouse wasn't completely safe. It now had new dangers to face.

Tbc…