Kinda unnecessary, long Authors Note -

In terms of social service involvement I may have taken some license. They way I've plotted it, the police came to question Ryan about his attack and he convinced them it was just kids. The police may (or more likely may not) follow that up. Therefore they didn't contact social services and presumably the hospital staff took their cue from the cops. Being a poor socio-economic area I'm playing on the fact that those responsible for these procedures (underpaid, overworked, tired etc) aren't always on the ball. That coupled with Ryan's convincing lying means he's slipped through the cracks which I'm sure often happens. Plus… social service involvement doesn't really fit in with the story for now :P Hope that's cool with everyone.

Thanks heeeaps for reviews they're worth so much! (btw anon-possibly the best reviewer ever! Lol)

Dawn Atwood floored it towards the house in the beat up two door.

"Gotta tell you Ry, AJ's not happy bout all this." She said sounding surprisingly calm to Ryan. He couldn't suppress the tremor that ran down his back anyway. He kept silent.

"You know how it is Ryan;" she started again, "hospital makes everything worse. Shoulda just rested up somewhere." She told him nonchalantly.

"I didn't choose to go mom." Ryan replied quietly. "I passed out, that guy took me. I wouldn't have gone…" he trailed off, knowing it was no use. He pushed the things the nurses had said about concussion and possible kidney damage out of his head.

When they pulled up Ryan slowly got out, and walked towards the front door. He noticed his bike was missing ah shit he thought, remembering he'd taken it when he left those few days ago, it was long gone now. His heart sunk – a bike around here was pretty much a necessity.

He pushed the old screen open and stepped in. He saw the top of AJ's head over the couch, he was sitting with his back to Ryan, beer in hand, as always. Ryan braced himself.

AJ had heard them pull up and the screen open. "Well if it isn't our poor little patient." He mocked. "Running off to hospitals now huh?"

Ryan was tense but didn't reply. Apparently, today, this pissed AJ off. He stood up from the couch and whirled around to face Ryan. "You know how much trouble this could've brought us?" he yelled. "And you're just standing there like you're proud of this shit!" He took a step forwards and was inches away from Ryan's face. Ryan didn't budge. "You ever pull shit like this again… well you'll sure need a hospital then. You aint seen nothing punk." He finished in a menacing voice, staring Ryan down. After a second he shoved him and said "Get the hell away from me freak."

Ryan took the cue and moved quickly but stiffly to his room and shut the door. He let out a huge breath and collapsed carefully on his bed. Could've gone worse he thought. Then again AJ did threaten to send him to hospital if he screwed up… Apparently this latest incident was 'nothing' – comforting.

Ryan didn't know why AJ was such a dick. Maybe he was pushed around as a kid Ryan thought with some scorn. Wouldn't that be ironic. More likely Ryan thought he just got off on the power trip. He was a big guy, could take most people. Ryan counted himself an alright fighter but AJ pretty much always got it over him, unless Ryan could run, he was fucked. He might get a hit or two in sometimes but that usually just made it worse in the end.

Ryan's ribs hurt, he was due to take his meds but there was no way he was going back out there anytime soon. Within a few minutes he was out cold on his bed.

When he woke up it was dark outside. His sleep had been restless with movement causing pain but now it was getting too bad to ignore. Ryan pulled himself up and off the bed. At the door he listened and couldn't hear anything. He opened the door a crack and couldn't see anyone out there. Hoping AJ and his mom had passed out he slowly crept out and looked for his mom's bag. Ryan wished they'd given the pills to him, little did the nurses know how useless dawn was at taking care of anything. He found the bottle near the top of her bag and made his way back to his room. He wasn't gonna risk getting a drink – might wake someone. Dry swallowing a couple pills, he lay back down and fell back asleep as they started to kick in.

Sandy had been half expecting, or hoping, for a call from Ryan the day after he'd seen him. He knew his mom was meant to pick him up the following afternoon. He'd kept his mobile on at and with him at all times. He knew the reaction when Ryan got home couldn't be good. For the hundredth time he wondered if he should've told the hospital his suspicions, wondered if he should have pressed the kid to tell him what was happening so he could take him away from it all. Sandy could tell though that Ryan was stubborn, probably had to be. He just knew there was no way the kid would give in easily. He kept telling himself that if child services were involved it would make it worse for Ryan who he was sure wouldn't say anything and would still be headed home with the added danger of having gotten the authorities involved. Sandy hated the situation but there was nothing he could do right now. Please call kid…

Ryan woke up the following day to pounding on his door right before it swung open. In his semi-awake state he figured it had to be AJ, he knew he was too lucky to get away yesterday with no real punishment. He braced himself for the blows.

They didn't come. There was silence for a moment in which Ryan unscrewed his eyes and looked to the door. Trey was standing there mouth slightly agape.

"Dude, you look fucked up." He said, surprised.

Ryan had half propped himself up on one arm and was squinting at Trey.

"You saw me day before yesterday." He mumbled, confused.

"Yeah..." Trey replied "But I was hammered man."

Ryan just looked at him. "They locked me up bro. Apparently I assaulted some nurse. Got a court date in a week, probably get some community service."

Ryan nodded, vaguely remembering the whole thing.

Trey seemed to remember the reason he came in. "Hey you fucked up man." He said closing the door and speaking lower. "I told you what was going down, you were supposed to be there!"

Ryan looked at his brother, disbelieving. "Trey, I was in hospital." He said slowly, seeing if it would register. "AJ beat the fuck out of me man, I passed out somewhere and some do-gooder prick called an ambulance." Before Trey could reply, he continued "I told you I didn't even want to be involved in that shit anyway."

Trey seemed to snap and advanced on Ryan. "And I told you, you didn't have a choice. We're short of people, you're my brother and you're god dam doing this!" he hissed at Ryan towering over the side of his bed.

Ryan was again in a disadvantaged position, he couldn't defend himself, not in this state and Trey was usually stronger than him on the best of days. To avoid more pain and injuries Ryan quickly nodded "Ok, ok, jesus!" he said trying to placate his brother. He would never admit that he was scared shitless when Trey was like this.

Trey glared at him a second longer then spat out "Good. We're regrouping, we had to bail cause of you. It'll happen soon, I'll get you when it's time." With that he stormed out of Ryan's room and the house, Ryan heard the screen slam. He got up slowly and shut his own door again then crawled back on his bed.

Soon thought Ryan. He wondered when that meant. He didn't think he could get out of it again. Not that that was what he was trying to do by ending up in hospital. He was sure there was easier ways of avoiding his brother. He didn't think he could do anything now though. Trey would kill him if he didn't go along this time, that or his mates would. The joys of growing up in Chino he thought to himself. He would never chose to do this, but hey, he didn't just didn't have a choice.

Ryan reached for the card in his pocket again. He shook his head, scoffing at himself; nothing could help him out of this, he was stupid to even imagine otherwise.

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