Author:cheekymice AKA Ms Evil McEvil.
Rating: Um…PG13-R
Beta: Melanie39 Thanks Melly. waves
Disclaimer: I don't own The OC, Ryan or Benjamin McKenzie.
Story: As requested Hero! In peril Ryan! Yeay! All in the title really. Set post finale.Notes: For zbyszko's birthday as promised. Storymom is not allowed to read on account that she's been very, very mean and threatened actual bodily harm to sweet ickle old me.
Heist
Chapter 5
Sandy couldn't process the thoughts running through his head. This couldn't be happening. It couldn't. lj-cut text"get ya drama here!"
The day had started simply as an exercise to get Ryan out of the house and out of the black mood that had settled over him since the accident.
Ryan had been so…erratic the past few weeks. Depression had gradually given way to sullen aloofness and that was not a character trait they were used to in Ryan. When he did talk he'd snap and snipe at everyone and though they'd been patient with him they figured it was time to stop. Sandy had sat with Kirsten in the kitchen and actually planned the day with a view to bringing them all back into focus as a family like it used to be. He'd suggested that today was the day that they finally had to stop walking on eggshells around Ryan. They'd all go to lunch as a family, away from the house, whether he liked it or not. Sandy had felt suddenly good that they would actively be doing something to help Ryan.
What started out as a plan to help restore Ryan had somehow senselessly ended with his death.
Why hadn't he just turned back over in bed this morning and given Ryan more time?
Because Ryan had grieved enough.
Why today of all days did they stop at the bank?
Because they needed to arrange some deposits.
Why?
Sandy felt a bubbling rage towards the man who'd needlessly picked on the one person who'd been picked on all his life. But there was nothing he could do, he had to protect Seth now, he had to. He'd failed Ryan but he wouldn't fail Seth… even though he wanted to get up and rip Saul's heart out from his chest the minute he walked back into the room, to leave a gaping hole where it should be. He wanted Saul to know what it felt like.
It was so unfair…what had Ryan done to deserve…any of it? Sandy refused to believe that there was such a thing as a natural victim. Ryan was not a victim. Sandy wasn't aware of the wetness on his face until the tears fell down on his hand, the hand that was crushing his son's fingers. He loosened his grip and turned to Seth. His breathing was shallow, his face blank as he stared at the floor. Seth slowly brought his face up and looked at him.
"He's not dead…he's not, dad. This is Ryan…he'll have put some Chino move on him or something. He's not dead."
For a brief moment Sandy had hope. Maybe Seth was right. Ryan was a survivor.
Hope ended when the door opened.
Everyone was silent when Saul came back into the room. He went straight to the water cooler and drank a cup in one gulp; slowly he refilled the cup again and turned towards them all.
No one wanted to look at him but they couldn't look away either. How could his hands not be shaking when he'd just killed a kid in cold blood?
He sipped and looked at each of them over the rim of the paper cup, staring into their faces defiantly.
Each and every man turned away, not wanting to share his gaze even for a second.
The sound of the gunshot still seemed to echo in the silent room.
Everyone had an image of the blond boy etched in his mind.
The game of chess had just turned nasty.
No one spoke for about ten minutes and then the quiet security guard opened his mouth. Clancy looked more shocked than anyone over it.
"You're bluffing…you didn't shoot the kid."
"You think?" Saul laughed.
Jeff joined in.
"Yeah, he's right…you're bluffing, that's why you took him out back."
The phone started to ring but Saul ignored it.
He sat down on the floor and rested the gun on his lap. Reaching into his back pocket he pulled out some more bullets. One bounced across the marble of the floor and came to rest near Seth's sneaker. He pulled his foot away. Saul picked the gun back up and opened, then spun the chamber of the gun.
"I'm impressed, actually. Most people would have begged, but not that stubborn little bitch. He just knelt there, quiet as a mouse…then 'bam'…his head fucking exploded. If you don't believe me you're welcome to go see. He made quite a mess." Saul sniggered as he calmly reloaded. "Don't know how much longer we're gonna be here and boy, is he gonna start stinking in this heat. Makes sense not to shit on your own doorstep so to speak."
Saul smiled and put the gun back in his lap.
Jeff and Clancy backed off. Both looked ill.
"You got any shit we can cover that up with?" Saul nodded towards where Ryan had been sitting.
Brian stared numbly at the floor.
"Hey, you! Mister manager…" Saul yelled, causing Brian to jump. "Do something about that."
The phone stopped ringing.
Seth stared at the bullet on the floor. Saul was lying.
Ryan would have fought; there was no way that Ryan would have given up so easily. No way. He would have fought till the end, probably getting a few hefty punches in before…before…
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...Sandy stared vacantly in front of him as Brian poured sand over Ryan's vomit and his last glimmer of hope was extinguished.
Saul's description was so real that Sandy could picture it clearly. Ryan was the sort of kid who would just face his fate with the fortitude and courage that a man twice his age would not be able to find. Ryan always had that fatal resignation about him. That's what made him Ryan and that's what ultimately killed him.
Ryan would not compromise what he thought was right, even if that meant putting himself in danger. Sandy hated that quality, a kid should be selfish, and a kid should never have to think about anything weightier than finding a prom date or an argument with a buddy. A kid shouldn't have to worry about where he was going to live or who his mother was going to bring home next. A kid shouldn't have to duck blows and put up with drug deals going on in his house.
Ryan had never been a kid.
He had not been allowed to become a man.
The phone started to ring and Saul just looked at it.
"Aren't you going to answer that?" Jeff asked, after the fifth ring.
"I'm keeping them waiting. See how they like it."
They all stared at the phone, their only lifeline out of the bank. When it went silent again they all exchanged pained looks. What was Saul playing at?
It started ringing again almost immediately. It was strange how the tone had not changed in anyway but it seemed more urgent somehow.
"Answer it."
Sandy looked up to see that Saul was looking at him as he spoke.
"You! Answer it."
Sandy swallowed and got up. Saul was some sort of a sicko. He got his kicks from this. He must do, to put himself in this situation. It was calculated and so damn wrong. Sandy picked up the phone and spoke.
"Who is this?" The negotiator on the other end of the line asked immediately.
"Sandy Cohen."
"Sandy, is everyone okay? We heard a shot out here."
Sandy turned his back on every one; he didn't want them watching him.
"Sandy?" the man urged.
"Um…no." Sandy almost whispered.
"No to everyone is all right? Or no, there was no shot?" the man questioned.
"No…someone was shot." Sandy choked out.
"Okay Sandy, you're doing great. Can you tell me who was shot?"
"Tell them, Cohen." Sandy heard Saul say behind him, amusement clear in his voice. "Tell them what their delays made me do."
"Sandy…you still there? Can you tell us who was shot?"
Sand shuddered as he took in a lungful of air. He didn't want to say it. Saying it would make it real.
"Tell them, Cohen!" Saul raised his voice.
"My son, he shot my son." Sandy shut his eyes. He could hear people talking the other end of the phone in the background. He heard both Seth and Ryan's names.
"Sandy, was it Seth or Ryan?" The negotiator gently asked.
"Ryan." The name stuck in his throat and came out as a strangled 'Raa' sound."
"How is he, Sandy? Does he need medical assistance?" The voice sounded genuinely concerned.
Sandy scrunched his eyes shut tighter.
"No…he's…he's dead."
"Tell them why, Cohen."
Sandy balled his free hand into a fist.
"He killed my son because you're taking too long."
Sandy gripped the handset. He could hear the cops in the background go silent.
"Put the phone down now." Saul said.
Sandy did as he was told. He was shaking and it took him a second to realize that it was anger he was feeling…anger that he'd been made to do that. He turned to see that Seth was quietly crying, his shoulders heaving and his head bowed. Brian, Jeff, Clancy and Steve were all looking at him with such pity. Sandy sat back down and pulled Seth into a hug.
He didn't want their pity.
He wanted to start this day over again.
He just wanted Ryan back.
Tbc.
Laughs...na na na na