A/N: Sorry this has taken about 2 weeks. Life and stuff LOL. Hope you like it :)

Disclaimer: I don't own these people.

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Chapter 7: The Truth According to Veronica

Veronica made it to the hospital about nine that morning. After a brief doctor's exam (and another pleading in vain by him to just tell people the truth), Taylor was released at a little after ten. The first thing she did, despite her mother's "gentle" urges not to, and her own knotted stomach, was to go see Ryan. He was her savior after all. It was only polite to see him before she left.

Honestly, it just felt too complicated. Going to be too uncomfortable to see him. The last time she'd seen him, he was oozing blood. She shook those images from her head as she made her way on toward his room. She was doing it for the sake of her secret, she told herself. He would definitely think something was up if she was released and at least didn't come to say bye, and him being suspicious was most assuredly not what she wanted.

She walked with her arms crossed over her light pink cotton jacket which complimented her pants (her mom brought them for her), head down, down the hallway, trying not to look at too many people, fearing someone would recognize her and she'd be unable to return it. Then there would be lying or, her worst fear, understanding of her condition and that would be it. Her goose would be cooked. As she walked she glanced up despite herself and saw a boy with dark, curly hair walking toward her in the opposite direction. He paused when he saw her and threw up his hand in greeting. She smiled back, but didn't stop. It wasn't like she knew the man from Adam and hoped that it would be good enough for him. Without looking back, she could still feel him eyeballing her, and then she felt relief as the eyes tore from her and he walked away.

Veronica waited outside Ryan's room, as per her daughter's request, as Taylor visited him. The visit was just as uncomfortable as Taylor thought it would be at first. Ryan explained about his dad, Frank, Julie, and Kaitlin coming to see him while he was there. She was so used to it by now that she didn't even stop long to ponder who the heck those people where. She just kept smiling. Kept nodding. Inwardly wondering how both Frank and this Sandy fellow both were related to Ryan. Gay couple perhaps? Didn't really matter anyway.

She knew he was her boyfriend. Anyone could see that with his obvious body language. For her part, she was sure she didn't seem to be the girlfriend. She stood not too close, but not too far away from his bed, arms continually crossed as if to protect herself or hold herself in… maybe keep herself from falling even more apart. Taylor didn't know. She didn't dwell on it. Ryan looked much better than he had before. He even had some color to his cheeks, and he was smiling the cutest half smile at her. She found herself smiling back.

He was her boyfriend. The more she talked to him, the more she felt this was a boy she could have potentially had a thing for. No question. But it wasn't fair to him or her right now to feel anything. She had no past after all and that meant no future until she found what she had lost.

He was her boyfriend… boyfriend. That word kept rolling over and over in her head. Boyfriend… boyfriend. What did that mean exactly? She had no idea what stage their relationship had been on. Where they just getting to know each other? Seriously dating? Bed buddies? ---

Bed buddies!?! "Oh Dear Lord" Taylor quickly thought to herself, causing her to almost hyperventilate. She caught herself, she hoped, before he noticed anything, but..... What if he had seen her naked? What if she wasn't good in bed? Or worse… what if she was some kind of slut? She didn't like the thought of some stranger, even one as Heavenly handsome as Ryan Atwood, seeing her naked, exposed that way, without anything to hide her imperfections. She did take a second to wonder where the poor body image neurosis came from, but didn't think on it long. She had to get out... now. All of the 'what-if's were causing her head to ache again. She ended up cutting the visit incredible short, maybe five minutes tops. She lied and told him that she had some more release papers to sign. Then she hurriedly kissed him on the cheek (all girlfriends did that at whatever stage, right?) and left the room using everything she had to control herself and not to run. Veronica burst to standing when she saw Taylor leaving so abruptly and followed along behind her, trying to talk to her, but Taylor wouldn't answer her. She just kept walking.

On the way, she passed the exact same dark haired boy at before. This time he was carrying a Styrofoam cup in each hand. She allowed herself only a seconds glance before she cemented her head down and hurried passed him. By the time she reached the outside of the hospital, she was almost in a panic. Her first day out of her prison of a room and now that she was, she only longed to be back inside, where it was safe. Just to wait it out until her memories came back... because they were. Now, all she really wanted, though, was peace and solitude of her room at home-- wherever that was.

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Seth came into Ryan's room with two cups of semi-hot coffee and the same confused expression as he found on Ryan. "Hey." he said.

"Hey." Ryan replied, taking the cup offered to him. "You didn't, by chance, see Taylor on your way in did you?"

Seth took a sip and sat in the chair that had been his home away from home. "Yeah actually. Twice in the hall. Didn't talk either time. Just kinda walked by with her head down, maybe a little smile. But, dude, it was like she had no idea who I was, or maybe the bump on her head brought out old bitchy Taylor back. Maybe it made her all snooty again. Her mom was with her."

"Well, Veronica can make anyone bitchy."

Seth couldn't really argue with that. He'd often wondered, no that's a lie, maybe once or twice for maybe thirty second intervals, he wondered what Veronica had done to that girl to make her so... Taylorish. "Did you have a bad morning with Taylor?"

"No. Just -- weird."

"Taylor Townsend. Weird? Now that's a novel concept."

Ryan tilted his head in agreement. It's not like he could deny Taylor's 'quirkiness'. "But she seems weirder than normal, that's all."

"Maybe it was the quake, man. It was pretty traumatic."

"Maybe, I don't know." Ryan stewed it over while drinking another sip of his coffee. "I'll tell you this though. I don't like being stuck in here while she's home all alone with her mom."

"Talk about being thrown into the snake pit."

"Yeah…" Ryan's brows furrowed. "And why didn't she speak to you in the hall? She knows you... she had a thing for you."

Seth shrugged. "No big. I'm used to being ignored."

"Seth--"

"Ryan-- man, I don't know. Ok. '. But I do know that she's fine. You will be fine just as long as you listen to me and big Edna, then you'll be out. After that, you two can go back to whatever weird ass relationship you had before. Just chill."

Ryan stared at his brother, trying hard to think of some way to counter that. He wanted to say, "But I have to see her, Seth." but it didn't work last night and he'd bet all he had that it wouldn't work now. Before he could say anything else, Seth's cell rang. He only talked for a few seconds and when Seth hung up, he was a different shade of pale.

"What is it?" Ryan asked, genuinely concerned.

"Um... that was my Dad. He said him and Mom were coming her to tell us something. He had his low, serious, scary voice."

"Is it the baby?"

"He didn't say, but man, Ryan, this can't be good. He sounded kinda freaked."

"He on his way now?"

"Yeah." Seth answered, sitting his drink down on the table next to him. No longer feeling the need or desire for more caffeine.

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Veronica stepped in front of Taylor, helping her lean against the wall and partially holding her up. "Taylor, are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah. Fine." Good Lord, she didn't know if she called her Mom, Mother, or Stupid Bitch. GAH! She banged her head back against the wall of the building.

"Taylor, stop it." Veronica reprimanded, wondering if she was going to have to slap her to calm her down. "What is wrong?" it was a rhetorical question. She already knew what was wrong. Taylor had amnesia and Taylor was going to snap, unless she got some help... and luckily 'Mama' was ready to step in.

"Nothing. Nothing. Can we just go?"

"Yeah, sure." She helped Taylor walk to the car and decided this was her first opportunity to plant a seed in her wiped mind. "Taylor, I couldn't help but overhear some of your conversation with Ryan."

"Really?"

"Yeah, look I didn't mean too. You know I wouldn't, but still. It sounded... uncomfortable."

"It was." Taylor confided.

"Well, no wonder it was that way, Sweetie. I mean, you two did break up."

Taylor stopped, causing Veronica to as well. Her arm was draped around Veronica's, almost like a drunk being carried out of a bar. "We broke up?"

"Well, yes Taylor. Don't you remember? There was a huge blow out. You said you hated him and never wanted to see him again." Veronica knew if she questioned if she remembered that she's win every time. There was no way Taylor would admit to not remembering.

"Of course I remember." Taylor scoffed. "But he's been so nice--"

"Guilt." her mom answered quickly. "He feels guilty for you being hurt and that's it. It will pass."

The fact that they had broken up definitely put a damper on her mood. She started walking again, this time without her mother's assistance, and followed her to the car. So Ryan wasn't really her boyfriend after all? The one memory she had of him 'before', the kiss, was before the big break-up? Could they really go from that to no longer seeing each other?

Veronica saw her daughter's reaction as a good sign.

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About fifteen minutes after the call, the door opened and in walked Sandy and Kirsten. They still had on the clothes they had left in the night before. Both had forced smiles on their faces, and both boys could see how red Kirsten's eyes had been, presumably from crying.

"Mom?" Seth asked, fearing the worst.

"Is it the baby?" Ryan said what they were both thinking.

"Oh, no. No. Boys. Your sister is fine. I'm so sorry to make you worry about her." Kirsten walked closer to them, wringing her hands as she answered.

"Then what?" asked Seth.

Kirsten looked back at Sandy who finally spoke up. "Boys, let me just say, it could have definitely been worse. And we know that. We could have lost all three of you, four," he corrected looking into Kirsten's eyes," in the fire and that's not something we ever want to think about."

"But--- come on Dad."

"The house didn't survive the earthquake. I mean the outside of the old girl is fine, at least the front side. The other... a disaster. It's lucky we weren't home."

"It will take a while to rebuild." Kirsten added with no doubt in her words that they would rebuild. "But until then, Julie said we could stay with them at Dr. Roberts' house."

"Well that should be interesting." Seth laughed sarcastically.

"Whatever you guys need." Ryan added, shooting Seth an evil eye. The irony of it all didn't escape him though. He was moving into Taylor's old house just as she was moving back into her mother's... things were definitely getting weirder and weirder. And then there was the house. He allowed himself to reflect on the house. It had been his first real 'home'. He would miss his pool house, all of his memories. The first time he met Seth (what a day that was). The first Sandy Cohen lecture which made him really felt like part of the family. All the parties. Theresa, Lindsay. Marissa. Trey. Some memories he wished he could forget. The good and the bad, it was all connected with that house... and now it was gone.

But he knew Kirsten was right. It was just a house after all. Everyone he loved was relatively healthy. He'd moved before, and he's probably move again. And they would rebuild. But the thought of living with Julie Cooper sent shivers down his spine. He hadn't been in too close contact with her since the whole Volchok thing and, honestly, he didn't have very good memories of that place. It was where Marissa had stayed before she died, and it was where he'd almost lost Taylor.

But none of that mattered because it was whatever Kirsten and his family needed. He wasn't about to pull a Seth and have it all be about him.

"Ryan? You ok?" Kirsten asked when she noticed Ryan was zoned out.

"Yeah," he smiled at her, hoping it met his eyes. "Fine. Just thinking."

"I've done a lot of that lately." Kirsten patted him on the leg and then turned to her chair bound son. "Come on Seth. Since we can't get in the house, we need to go shopping for some clothes for you and Ryan."

"Shopping?"

"Up." she demanded.

Seth looked to his father for help, but Sandy simply added, "I'll stay here with Ryan." to which Seth groaned and got up from his seat.

"You don't have to stay with me, Sandy. I don't need a babysitter."

Sandy laughed. "Oh, Ryan... I could always get Edna."

Ryan thought a second. "OK, have a good trip you two." He waved good-bye to them, knowing he was yet again defeated by the dreaded Edna card.

Seth turned back to his brother devilishly, the old Seth coming out. "Don't worry bro. I've got your back. My blood is now in your veins, and that, my friend, means I know what you like."

"Oh dear Lo--"

"Now, hear me out before you go calling upon divine intervention. Our cool new psychic connection is telling me....." he closed his eyes and listened for a hum which of course wasn't there. "Yes. I shall pick you out something awesome."

"Uh."

"Oh no, this is two syllable worthy, my friend. I'm feeling inspired. I'm going to give you... Old Atwood chic. Yeah... yeah. I see it. I shall pick out about a dozen white wife beaters and one button up black shirt… or was it the other way around?"

Ryan really didn't have anything to say to him. He just glared. Knowing that it really didn't matter what he said... Seth would just keep on talking. It was kinda comforting, in a crazy, annoying way. Seth would always be Seth. "… and a wrist cuff!"

"Seth lets go." Kirsten turned her son toward the door, but of course, that didn't shut him up. "Or, hey, remember the choker? You rocked that bad boy."

"Bye guys." Kirsten smiled an apologetic smile to her other son and waved. "Control him, please." Ryan waved back. "I'll do my best." she answered before she pushed Seth through the door and shut it behind her.

When they were alone, Sandy pulled up a chair next to his bed. Ryan noticed how tired Sandy looked. He still had on the same black slacks and blue button-up he had on before. Ryan wished there was something he could do for the man who had always done more than enough for him. "So, kid. How ya feeling?"

"Ready to get out of here." Ryan answered, lying back in his bed, careful not to lie that one certain way that killed his back.

"Yeah, well, maybe tomorrow, as long as you're good."

"I'll be good." Ryan smiled back.

Sandy waited a beat, not knowing exactly how to start this part of the conversation. "So, has Taylor been to see you?"

"Yeah, she came in before she left."

"And?"

"What?"

"How did she seem to you?" Sandy cocked his eyebrows.

"Why?" Ryan didn't like where this was going. Sure he had his own suspicions, but they were just that, suspicions, unless someone else had them too... then they were scary suspicions bordering on truth.

"Well--" Sandy spent the rest of the time telling Ryan about his visit with Taylor and some of the suspicions he had about her. Ryan added his own as well. At the end of the talk, they had agreed on one thing. Something definitely wasn't right with Taylor.

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I promise Ryan will get out of the hospital... eventually ;)