Summary: After the Oliver incident. Child services finds out about Ryan's trouble at school and takes him away. Sandy and Kirsten do everything they can to get him back with an unlikely source to help them.

Disclaimer: See earlier chapters.

AN: Sorry for not updating sooner, but I had a little trouble writing this chapter. Hopefully it came out pretty good for all of you guys. Please R&R!

Chapter 15: Trying To Talk

Seth was pacing the emergency waiting room when he saw his mom, dad, and grandfather rush in. They reached him and demanded to know what happened.

"He was fine this morning." Seth told them. "Luke said he was fine in first period. He was just run-down at lunch, but he was determined to finish out the day. I was taking him to the nurse's office when he collapsed."

"Where is he now?" Kirsten asked him.

"Dr. Jackson is with him. I had him paged as soon as we got here."

"Good. At least he's familiar with Dr. Jackson."

"How long have they been back there?" Sandy asked.

"Awhile." Seth sighed. "Ryan hadn't regained consciousness by the time we arrived here."

"Seth, why don't we get your parents some coffee from the cafeteria?" Caleb suggested to his grandson, and they both started down the hall.

It didn't seem like they had been sitting that long before the heard a familiar voice.

"Sandy, Kirsten," they looked back and saw Dr. Jackson coming down the hall towards them. "Ryan is going to be fine."

"So what happened?" Sandy asked.

"Ryan was severely dehydrated when he was brought in." Dr. Jackson started. "But we have it all under control right now."

"Is he awake?" Kirsten asked.

"He was awake for a little bit so I could ask him some questions, but he fell back asleep."

"So what are you doing for him now?"

"We have him hooked up to an IV to try to get some fluids into him." Dr. Jackson looked at them. "I'm a little concerned with his diet right now."

"What do you mean?"

"He told me that you've been monitoring his eating habits, but are you aware that he's been throwing up each night the last couple of days?"

"No. We didn't know."

"I heard him a couple times." Seth confessed as he came back with their coffees as Caleb followed after him, causing his parents to look at him sternly. "But he swore to me that it was nothing."

"Ryan also told me he's felt really tired the last couple of days, been experiencing some bad migraines."

"So what do you suggest?" Sandy asked him.

"I want him to stay here until the IV bag is empty, then you can take him home. I'd suggest letting him stay home from school at least for tomorrow."

"He's not going to like that. He looks forward to school now."

"But if it helps him get better-" Kirsten told him. "What can we do once we get him home?"

"Really push the fluids. I'd suggest getting some Gatorade or something like that. And for whatever reason, something is curbing his appetite right now. Really push him to eat. Get junk food if you have to."

"So can we see him now?" Sandy asked.

"Of course, but just you two since he's still sleeping." He started to lead them down the hall. "Like I said, he's sleeping right now. But once he wakes up and the IV bag is empty, you can take him home."

"Thank you." They walked into the private room where Ryan was.

He was still in his street clothes, and he was fast asleep as an IV dripped some fluids into his left hand. Kirsten sat beside him on one side of the bed as she took his hand and brushed some unruly bangs out of his eyes.

"So I think it's more than possible that his appetite is a psychological effect from what happened to him." Sandy told her as he sat on his other side.

"I know." She said softly. "I don't think we should confront him about this just yet. Not until he's a little stronger."

"Kirsten-"

"Sandy, do you really think he's going to come right out and say, 'Oh thank god you know. Now let's talk about it.'?"

"No." he sighed. "I say we give him a few hours, and then talk to him. After we get him home and get him to eat something."

"You're right." She glanced at Sandy. "But I don't think you should be present. I think I should talk to him about this alone."

"Why?"

"Thinking back on everything, I realize that Ryan's been very wary of you and my father since he got out of that place. You're both people of authority in his life. It was a person of authority that-"

"I get it. And you're probably right. I won't be in the room, but I will be standing outside the door."

"As long as you don't try to come in while I talk to him."

"Agreed." Sandy told her as Ryan stirred a little, but remained asleep.

"How is he?" there was a knock at the door and Seth slowly came in.

"He's fine. A little dehydrated, but he'll be fine."

"He's actually sleeping right now." Kirsten told him. "Where's your grandfather?"

"He went back to the office. He said he'll come by later. I'm going to call Luke and Summer; I should probably call Taylor, too."

"Tell them that Ryan needs his rest tonight."

"Got it." Seth told them as he shut the door behind him.

"You know as much as I want to, we can't stay mad at your father." Sandy said. "He was only doing what he thought was right, and he was doing it for Ryan. We've wanted him to act like a real grandfather to him. I know his motives were-"

"I know, Sandy." Kirsten interrupted him. "I'll talk to him later tonight."


Ryan slowly fought through the cloud that surrounded him as he heard hushed whispers all around him. He slowly opened his eyes and blinked rapidly at the bright light. He looked around and saw both Sandy and Kirsten on the other side of the room talking on their cell phones. Sandy noticed he was awake first and quickly hung up his phone and approached him.

"How are you feeling, kid?"

"Tired." He admitted softly.

"You're almost out of here. The bag is almost empty." Sandy pointed to the bag that was hanging on the IV stand near his bed.

"Ryan," Kirsten hung up her phone as well and joined Sandy at his bedside.

"I'm sorry I didn't call you guys when I started feeling tired today."

"We were a little upset, but it's fine." Kirsten assured him. "We'll get you out of here soon and you can choose whatever you want for supper tonight."

"No. I don't-"

"Ryan, you need to eat. What would you like tonight?"

"I don't know." He mumbled.

"How about some pizza?" Sandy suggested.

"Sure. Whatever." He shrugged.

"And you will eat it tonight. We'll be watching you to make sure."

"Fine." He sighed and turned his head away from them.

A half hour later, Ryan was able to go home. Sandy slowly pushed Ryan down the hall in the wheelchair, much to Ryan's protest. But both Kirsten and Dr. Jackson said there was no way he was getting out of the hospital unless he left in one. So Ryan reluctantly let Sandy push him towards the exit as Seth went to pull the car up to the sliding doors and Kirsten left in her car to go get some things at the store for Ryan.

"Thank goodness you can come home, man." Seth opened the back door of the BMW. "Think you'll be up for some Playstation action?"

"Not tonight, Seth. Ryan needs his rest." Sandy told them as Ryan got into the back seat and Sandy went around to the driver's side and pulled away.

"He'll be doing that the next couple days." Seth told him. "Can't he just have tonight?"

"He needs his rest, son."

"Why do I have to stay home from school tomorrow anyway?" Ryan mumbled as they pulled up to the plaza where the pizza shop was.

"Seth, run in and get the pizzas. They should be ready by now." Sandy told him and he quickly got out of the car and rushed inside. "We want you to stay home from school tomorrow so you can catch up on your rest."

"I get plenty of rest."

"Apparently you don't since you collapsed in school today from lack of sleep and dehydration."

"School helps me take my mind off things for a few hours."

"What kind of things?"

"Nice try." Ryan laid his back on the seat and closed his eyes as the front passenger door opened and Seth got in with their supper.

When they arrived home, Kirsten and Rosa met them in the kitchen. Ryan bypassed them both and walked around the counter to help Seth with the pizzas. He got out the plates and glasses from the cupboard and took them to the table as Seth opened the pizza boxes.

"Seriously?" Seth looked back at them. "Chicken and pineapple?"

"Ryan likes it." Sandy told him. "Quit complaining."

"So what's wrong with Ryan?" Kirsten asked Sandy as Rosa cleaned up before she left for the night.

"He wants to go to school tomorrow."

"Really? Seth would welcome a day off from school."

"He said it helps him take his mind off things."

"Oh."

"Are we eating or not?" Seth called back to them.

"Since you made such a big deal about this all afternoon." Ryan grumbled.

"We're coming." Kirsten grabbed a bottle of Gatorade from the refrigerator and placed it before Ryan's plate. "You need some fluid intake. I don't want to have to take you back to the hospital after you just got released."

"Whatever," Ryan opened the bottle and took a big gulp.

"Could you either stop with the surly attitude or tell us why you're acting like this?" Sandy looked across the table at him.

"Why are you making me stay home from school yet again?"

"You need to get some rest." Kirsten told him. "You obviously haven't been getting much sleep since I've caught you on more than one occasion sleeping on the den couch in the morning."

"Missing a day at this school is like missing a month. I'm just barely caught up as it is."

"That's the problem?" Sandy asked. "Seth can collect your work for you. It's not a problem at all."

"You don't get it." Ryan mumbled as he picked at his pizza.

"Get what?"

"Nothing. Never mind." Ryan started to eat what was on his plate.

"Ryan-"

"You wanted me to eat, right?" Ryan gave them all a look as he silently ate his pizza.


After a very intense dinner, Kirsten went to make a call from her bedroom while Ryan brooded in his room. Seth was in Ryan's room trying to talk to him while Sandy was calling Dr. Freedman for an emergency session tomorrow afternoon.

"Dad," Kirsten spoke into the phone once he had picked up on the other end. "I just wanted to tell you that we're not mad at you."

"Kiki, I really was doing what I thought was right."

"I know. But it was the wrong step to take if you wanted to help Ryan."

"You haven't talked to him yet, have you?"

"I'm working up to it."

"He's going to clam up very tightly, I imagine."

"I know. Sandy's scheduling an appointment with Dr. Freedman."

"Just don't expect too much out of him. And if you guys need me-"

"Thanks, dad." Kirsten hung up the phone and started out of the bedroom as Sandy was coming out of his office. "If I don't do it now, I'll never do it."

"Right behind you." Sandy followed her up the stairs as Seth came out of Ryan's bedroom. "How is he?"

"Good luck." Seth mumbled as he started downstairs.

"Here I go." Kirsten glanced back at Sandy before placing her hand on the door knob. "Wish me luck."

"I'll be out here the whole time." He told her. "If you need backup-"

She nodded as he gave her a reassuring look and slowly walked into Ryan's bedroom. He was lying back on the bed as he had his History book open on his lap as he read what was before him.

"I thought we told you that you had to rest." She told him.

"I am resting." He mumbled. "This is me resting."

"Could you put that away for a minute? We need to talk about something."

"Ok." He put his text book on his bedside table and slowly sat up as she brought his desk chair over to the bed and sat down on it. "What's wrong?"

"Sandy came to my office today. He received some things that are vital to the adoption process." She started cautiously.

"You found my mom?"

"There's an address where she may possibly be. But he received your full medical file, including the doctor invoice from the night you left that facility."

A look passed over Ryan's face all of a sudden and he moved to sit on the edge of one side of the bed so his back was facing Kirsten.

"Ryan-" Kirsten started.

"Y-You-You guys know." He said softly.

"Yes, we know."

"And?"

"And what?" Kirsten got up to sit by him on the bed. "It doesn't change anything. It doesn't change how we feel about you."

"How can you say that?" he glanced at her. "Everything has changed now. At least before I could pretend that it was just a bad dream. Now that you guys know-"

"Nothing will change how we feel about you."

"But it'll change how you act around me." Ryan moved away from Kirsten so his back was against the headboard and brought his knees up to his chest. "I'm not talking about it."


Sandy stood outside Ryan's door trying to listen to what was going on in the room behind him. He suddenly heard Ryan's voice getting louder as he heard Kirsten's soft voice pleading with him.

"Dad?" Seth was coming up the stairs as he heard the very loud conversation going on behind Ryan's closed door. "Is that true?"

"Come on." Sandy led Seth down the hall to Seth's room and they both sat down on one side of the bed. "So what did you hear?"

"That Ryan was-I can't say it out loud." Seth shook his head. "Who did it?"

"We're not sure." Sandy sighed. "But this isn't the first time that this has happened to him."

"What do you mean?"

"There was an incident when he was younger. We're not sure how old he was when it happened, but it did happen."

"Is he going to be ok?" Seth looked at him.

"Hopefully. With the right approach." Sandy put an arm around him. "Seth, I don't want you to tell anyone about this ok? Not even Summer."

"I promise I won't say anything." He told him as Kirsten came into the room.

"What happened?" Sandy asked her.

"At first, he was very quiet. He said he wasn't going to talk about it. I kept telling him that he could come to us about it if he wanted to, then he started yelling that none of us understood anything. Then he yelled for me to get out and clammed up. So I just left."

"I called and scheduled an appointment for him with Dr. Freedman tomorrow afternoon." Sandy told her.

"So what do we do now?" Seth looked at them.

"We'll just let him be for tonight." Sandy told them. "And try again tomorrow."

"I guess you're right." Kirsten sighed as she followed Sandy out of the room and Seth sat heavily on his bed and sighed.

AN: So what'd you all think? I promise that I will go a little more in-depth with the Cohen's trying to help Ryan deal with this. Please R&R!