"Hey," Seth came into Ryan's room and whispered. "You awake?"

"Of course I'm awake…" Ryan grunted, Luke had only left about five minutes ago.

"I'm here to help you pack…"

"Cool," Ryan said, too tired and worn out to really care.

"Look, I'm sorry… I realize I should have been… I dunno, a better brother or something."

"It's okay man,"

"Summer and Luke are going home with you. We did the math, that way you can have the whole backseat to yourself. And I called Mom and Dad, told them you'd be home soon. They just about jumped into the car and started driving to meet you halfway." Seth smiled slightly. "Anyway, I'm sorry… So, do you need help?"

"Yeah," Ryan admitted he did, his clothes weren't exactly strewn about the room, but he hadn't had a chance to really put anything in order after he had come off the mountain that day with the broken leg. How long ago had that been? It seemed almost instantaneous and at the same time like a long slow- progression of never ending pain and disappointment.

"Alright…" Seth started pulling the clothes back into the duffle bag, not bothering with any sort of organization. His mom would be unpacking it all anyway, and she could take care of it. He just didn't want Ryan ending up with Marissa's bra in his stuff or something like that. That would lead to questions, both of Ryan and himself. The Seth paused, "Did Oliver really push you?"

"Huh?"

"Luke said you said that Oliver pushed you,"

"He said, she said…" Ryan mused to himself, he had just taken another dose, double dose, of painkillers and was feeling a little woozy, and he wasn't sure if he knee was attached to his thigh anymore, but that was okay with him.

"Well?" Seth asked.

"Well what?"

"Did he what?"

"Push you,"

"Who did?"

"Oliver,"

"I hate that guy,"

"Yeah, me too. He sucks, but did he push you?"

"Yeah, on the mountain… He pushed me over…" Ryan said, "And in the living room. Man, I hate that guy. I'm going to kick his ass."

"No, you're not going to kick his ass," But it was too late- the pain- free Ryan was already up on his crutches and hobbling out of the room. Seth tried to stop him, but Ryan just sort of pushed past him, and Seth was afraid to put up much resistance and risk hurting Ryan.

"Oliver, c'mere! We're gonna fight, you an' me!"

"You've got to be kidding me," Summer rolled her eyes at Ryan, who was clearly in no condition to be fighting anyone. "Aren't you going to stop him?" She asked Seth.

"Hey, those crutches are lethal, man!"

Oliver got to his feet, smiling, "You want to fight?"

"No, he does not want to fight." Seth stepped in front of him, Oliver looked slightly maniacal and like he really was willing to fight. Well of course he was- an angry kitten could probably have taken down Ryan. "And everyone here knows that if Ryan were in any condition to actually kick your ass, you'd be running screaming in the opposite direction."

"What's going on?" Luke came out of his room, looking slightly calmer, but his shackles were instantly raised when he saw Oliver and Ryan glaring at one another.

"They're going to fight! Stop them Luke!" Marissa cried pathetically.

"Well maybe if you don't keep throwing yourself between them, this wouldn't be happening!" Luke growled at her. "Oliver, get out of here, alright? When you get back, we'll be gone, okay?"

"Are you kicking me out of my house?"

"No, but I'm telling you if you lay a hand on Ryan, I'll kick your ass."

"Yeah! Me too!" Seth stepped up, feeling brave and confidant that this would not be coming to blows.

"Don't you dare Luke!" Marissa shrieked.

"Then tell your 'friend' here to stay the hell away from Ryan!" He bellowed.

"Maybe we should take a walk or something…" Marissa suggested.

"Oh Marissa, I've been meaning to tell you. We're over." Ryan had been overwhelmed for a moment by the commotion, but then he remembered what he'd been meaning to tell Marissa.

"What?"

"I'm dumping you- well, really you've pretty much dumped me, but I'm just making it official. So go on, have fun with this jerk. And don't come crying to me when you realize what an asshole he really is. Because he's faking, trust me."

"Ryan, why don't you go wait in the car…" Luke suggested, "Seth will finish packing." Oliver clearly wasn't leaving. "Summer, hurry up with the packing."

"Whatever," Now that he had said his piece, Ryan felt deflated, and he was exhausted. So he followed Luke limply out to the car and climbed into the back. Luke started the engine to heat up the truck's cab. Seth had followed them out with some pillows he had in the Cohen car and helped Ryan get settled comfortably.

"We'll be home tomorrow, hang in there, okay?" Seth said.

"Yeah, thanks." Seth wished there was more he could say, but he wasn't sure what, so he climbed down and watched Luke toss suitcases into the back. "Thanks… For everything…" He said.

"No problem, see you back in the OC."