Roman pulled behind Randy in Seth's driveway and bolted into the house. He could hear screaming coming from upstairs so that's where he went. Going into the room where the noise was coming from he found a man, he assumed to be Seth's father, hovering over him. He charged the room and pulled the man off of Seth. Knocking him out with one punch seconds after. Looking towards the door he saw Randy there with a horrified look on his face. "Randy call 911!" Randy ran off then he looked to Dean. Telling him to watch the man before he attended to Seth who was now unconscious. He cleaned him up as best as he could before the paramedics came and took over. Seth was taken to the hospital while Nash was taken into custody once he came too.
Two hours later the three of them were sitting in the waiting room when they were joined by Randy's parents.
Dean could always read Roman like a book so he knew that something was bothering him. "Hey you okay?"
"Fine." Replied Roman. "I'm just worried about him that's all."
"Are we going to talk about what we both know what's going on?" Dean asked and Roman frowned so he continued. "Anyone can see that you're falling for this kid Ro."
Roman shook his head. "I'm not, I just care about his well-being okay."
"Cut the crap you can't lie to me because I can see right through it."
"You don't know what you're talking about so just drop it!" Roman yelled causing the others to look at him. Getting up he walked down the hall, away from the others. About ten more minutes passed as Roman stood alone in the hallway, not budging when Dean approached him.
Dean sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Look I'm sorry about before-"
"Don't be, you were right." Roman says not looking up. "I fell for him the day I saw him. I know...I know he's a student, I'm a teacher, it's inappropriate...I just...God I don't know what to do."
"Looks it's late, we all know that Seth is okay and visiting hours are almost over. His sick father is locked away so let's just go home, get some rest and start fresh tomorrow."
"I was just coming to tell you guys that." Randy says joining the two. "He's still out of it anyway so we're leaving too." He turned to Roman and smiled. "Thanks Mr. Regins for everything."
Roman smiled. "Don't thank me, keep me filled in on how he's doing okay."
"I will." Replied Randy.
...
When Roman got home He started to head to his room but Dean's voice stopped him. "I'm just going to clean up."
"Are we going to talk about this?" Dean says stopping at the couch.
"Honestly I don't feel like talking right now." Roman says. "I'll just talk to you later." He went to his room but was unable to rid his mind of Seth. Sitting on his bed he ran his hands through his hair before laying down, still shaken about the whole thing.
...
A few days pass and Roman was like a zombie the entire time. He had called in sick Friday, Monday and Tuesday. It was now early Wednesday morning and he laid awake in his bed staring up at the ceiling. He couldn't stop thinking about Seth but felt it would be inappropriate to seek him out too see how he's doing. Suddenly the door opened and the light flickered on. "Dean go away."
"Come on man you've been locked in here for days." Dean says. "The school's been calling you since Friday man this isn't good. You need to get out of the house and back to work."
"I don't have to do anything." Roman growled.
"Why don't you go see how he's doing?" Dean says. "Don't you think he'll need you now more then ever. Look that kid Randy came over asking about you. He wanted me to tell you that Seth was released from the hospital and is staying with them. There was something else but he wanted to tell you in private." Roman remained silent, he sighed before turning to leave the room.
Roman laid there until almost seven before he got up and got dressed for work. When he got there He quickly made his way inside and too his office. When he got there Randy was sitting outside. "Randy?"
Randy jumped up when he heard Roman's voice. "Mr. Regins where the hell have you been?"
Roman was taken aback at Randy's voice. "I had to deal with a personal matter, is everything okay?"
"No, I need to talk to you."
Randy says.
Roman nodded before unlocking his door and stepped into his office. "Okay what's going on?"
"I seriously might kill someone." Randy yelled. "Ever since Friday people have been talking shit about Seth and what happened. To make matters worse Seth hasn't spoken since he was released. He hasn't left the room and I'm worried. He's opened up to you and I was wondering if you could try and talk to him. We're all afraid that he might harm himself, please."
Roman sighed. "Okay, I'll stop by after school."
Randy nodded. "Thank you." Just then the bell rang.
"You better get to class." Roman says.
Dean grabbed his bag and headed out.
Roman sat back down buried his face in his hands. Moments later Kelly knocked on his door. "Hi what can I do for you?"
Kelly came in and closed the door. "I'm sure you've heard about the situation with Seth. I've stopped by a couple of times to see how he's doing but I can't get him to talk. I was wondering if you could try."
"Yeah I'm going by this afternoon." Roman says. She didn't know that he had already known, no one did.
...
After school ended Roman found himself sitting in his car in front of the Orton household. He had been playing over what he would say all day but now that he was here it was all lost. Getting out he made way to th front and knocked on the door. Moments later a woman appeared. "Hi I know we kinda met at the hospital but I never introduced myself. My name is Roman and I'm the counselor at your sons school. I've also been working with Seth one on one."
"Yes." Carol says. "Randy told me everything and I wanted to thank you for taking time out of your day to come. He's in the dining room at the table. We've been trying to get him to eat something but haven't had any luck and I already told him that you were coming over to talk."
"Well I'll do anything I can to help." After talking Randy's mom Roman went to the kitchen and found Seth sitting at the kitchen table with his head down. An untouched plate of food in front of him. Talking a deep breath he walked over to him. "Hey Seth."
Seth sat up and smiled slightly. "Hi Mr. Regins."
"Is it okay if we talk for a while?" Asked Roman and Seth nodded. He sat across from Seth and placed his hands on the table. "So, how you are feeling."
Seth looked down. "A little tired and still a bit shaken up but I feel okay. I don't remember much about that night but you were there. Why?"
Roman frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean how did you even know that I was in trouble?"
"Randy came too me and told me that you were in trouble." Roman says.
"And you came to help." Seth looked down. "I don't understand why you would risk your life for me."
"Like I told you before, you have people who care about you and I'm one of them." Roman says.
"Thank you."
Roman smiled. "You're welcome."
The two of them talked until late and when Roman got home he noticed that Dean wasn't there. Dropping onto the couch he ran his hands over his face. This kid was seriously stuck in his mind and it was driving him insane.
...
When Randy got home he immediately went up to the guest bedroom where Seth was laying on the bed. "Hey?"
"Hi." Seth says sitting up.
"Is it okay if I sit with you for a while." Seth nods so he sits on the end of the bed. He smiles when he sees a half eaten plate of food on the bedside dresser. "I'm sorry, I feel like all of this was my fault."
"Don't apologize, you just did what I was too afraid to do." Seth pulls his knees to his chest. "If it weren't for you and Mr. Regins I would still be in that house." He looked down. "Speaking of Mr. Regins did you tell him to come and talk to me?"
"Well you wouldn't talk to us and you seem to have some sort of connection with him, I just thought he could help."
Seth smiled. "He did."
Randy nodded and got up. "Well I'll let you be." He started to leave but Seth called his name.
Sety got up and pulled Randy into a hug. "Thanks, for never giving up on me."
Randy hugged him back. "You my best friend, I'll never give up on you."
...
A/N Coming up Seth's first day back at school doesn't go planned as he tries to put the past behind him and Randy comes across something that leaves him at a loss for words.