A couple minutes into the drive Ryan told Sandy in an urgent voice that he needed to make another call quickly. Sandy asked him what for but Ryan wouldn't say but it sounded earnest. Sandy told him to make sure he was ready to take his call back in five minutes.

Ryan told Sandy yes he'd be ready to take his call and hung up then dialed 911. He told them the approximate location of the house with the stab wound victim; down the street from a scrap metal yard he guessed three streets over from Burchester. He hung up before they got his details. Several minutes later he heard sirens and hoped they found the house alright.

Sandy thought Ryan mustn't take drugs usually or else he wouldn't be reacting this way; calling for help and sounding so anxious. He was glad Ryan wasn't involved in that stuff normally but was all the more worried about how Ryan might handle this. Which led him to wonder why he'd take something in the first place, he didn't seem like the type. Sandy knew one couldn't judge on appearances and circumstances could get the better of anyone but it would surprise Sandy if Ryan had done this by himself. The thought then struck him – what if someone had forced him into this. The thought made Sandy so angry, he had to check himself and take a little pressure off the gas so as not to be a danger on the road. Why couldn't this kid catch a break? Sandy thought. He's just out of hospital for christ's sake.

When he called back Ryan thankfully picked up. Sandy talked mostly; asking him what else he saw around him, how he was feeling, what he'd been doing that night. Often he was met with silence if Ryan didn't seem to want to answer a question. Usually he got a couple word answers; sometimes they would be rushed out and other times slow, like Ryan was struggling to put an answer together. This only caused Sandy to worry more but he was glad he'd kept Ryan on the phone. Then about 20 minutes into the drive Ryan had stopped responding. Sandy tried asking simple, non invasive questions but there was still nothing, even when he yelled for him.

Sandy had put Burchester Street in his GPS and was already speeding along the roads but he couldn't let his worry force him into outright dangerous driving. He was still over half an hour out though…

Ryan had retreated back down the path between the back of houses a short way after his 911 call and had sat down watching for cars. His hands continued their shaking and he couldn't seem to keep his eyes focused anywhere. If he'd been aware, he would've noticed his rapid breathing despite the lack of movement. He tried to focus on listening to Sandy and making occasional comments but it was more difficult than it should've been. Ryan was scared but he tried not to let it show in his voice. Sitting down made him feel less unstable but his head was still swarming. He leaned it back against the fence he was sitting in front of and closed his eyes. The world seemed to drift away and he was left with strange feelings of floating and displacement. He thought vaguely about the meds from the hospital and if they'd make all this worse. He had the chance note he was glad he only took paracetamol before coming out tonight and that was his last thought as he slumped over and was lost to heavy darkness.

As Ryan came to again he was first only aware of his mind. His thoughts were sluggish which was almost a welcome change from the scattered jumble of earlier. He cursed Trey for this whole thing. He summoned the strength within him to sit up and open his eyes but when he tried, his body didn't respond. Panicking, Ryan tried again with more urgency. Feeling as if he were throwing himself into the task, he battled in the confusing haze of drugs to command his own body. His breathing didn't even seem to be responding, just the same, now steady, rhythm - in and out. Realizing he wasn't getting anywhere, Ryan tried to calm down. After a few moments he focused intently on the muscles in his hand and willed them to move. Excluding all else from his head, Ryan managed to slowly make a fist. After that it seemed easier, like he'd remembered how to move. He pulled himself upright and groggily noticed the phone, still lit up on the ground next to him. He reached to pick it up and – Ah! His ribs were hurting again- what the? He guessed maybe whatever he'd swallowed might be starting to wear off, it must've been masking the pain of his injuries somewhat. Great Ryan thought as another stab ripped through his chest, running earlier probably wasn't a good idea.

Ryan felt more sluggish now than before, still nowhere near with it but if he had to guess, he'd say he felt a tiny bit better.

He moved the phone to his ear to hear a stream of "Ryan…Ryan…Ryan are you there…Ryan?"

He wondered how long he'd been out of it. "Yea?" He answered hoarsely.

"Oh thank god!" Came Sandy's relieved response. "What happened kid?"

Ryan took a moment to gather the words then "Think I kinda drifted off." He mumbled

"You passed out?" Sandy asked directly.

"Um…"

"How do you feel now?" Sandy probed. He was fully ready to call an ambulance when he got there, so he could make sure Ryan didn't leave.

"Better, I think." Came Ryan's quiet reply. His tension had eased when he'd seen the phone and heard Sandy and realized he was still coming. He was still uncertain about involving this guy but even now he felt unable to really move and didn't know where he was, all in all he was still pissing himself. It felt good in a strange way he couldn't describe to have an adult coming who seemed to care. Maybe he'll make stuff right Ryan thought absently before pushing those weak, stupid thoughts away. He was coming and that was that.

"Well I'm only 5 minutes out, hang in there ok?"

"Yea"

They spent the next couple minutes exchanging brief words until Sandy pulled into the street.

"OK I'm on Burchester Street" he said.

Ryan glanced out at the patch of road he could see from his position. He pulled himself up carefully, using the fence for support, aware of his injured ribs. His head pounded as he adjusted to the change in elevation and he had to screw his eyes shut for a minute before he felt he could open them and move. As he made his way unsteadily to the footpath, an expensive, black SUV drove past.

"I think you just passed me." Ryan said into the phone he still held at his ear. He lent heavily against the fence fronting onto the street, not really trusting his legs to support him on their own.

Sandy turned around and pulled up on Ryan's side of the road, having seen him. Hanging up the phone, he jumped out the car and hurried over to where Ryan stood, looking unfussed.

Sandy noticed that Ryan was trying to look casual and like nothing was really wrong. Nice try he thought, remembering Ryan's spooked voice from when he first called. Ryan looked down at his shoes as Sandy approached.

"Hey kid" Sandy spoke softly as he reached a hand out and placed it on Ryan's shoulder. He felt Ryan flinch slightly and watched as he lifted his head to look up at Sandy.

Sandy noticed with relief that his eyes were alert and focused. He didn't get to assess them for long though as Ryan lowered his head again. He lowered his hand after a second, not before noticing a slight tremor in the kid's body.

"S'ry" He heard Ryan utter quietly. He was shocked and was thinking of what to say in response when Ryan continued. "For dragging you out here… didn't know what to do. Feel alright now." Ryan spoke in short, mumbled, sentences. God his head hurt. Now that this guy was here, Ryan didn't know what he would do. Would he be pissed? Would he try and drag him to the hospital? Or the cops? He should probably try to get away – what could this Sandy guy do anyway? Was stupid to call him he chastised himself, though he knew he would've done it again in the same situation and he was aware that he somehow felt slightly better with him here – weird, he'd never felt like that with anyone he could remember. He couldn't bring himself to care that much about the threat this guy might be; he felt too crappy and out of it but he knew he should try.

"Ryan, it's no problem, I'm glad you called, I was worried about you." Sandy said in the same quiet voice.

Ryan was silent for a long moment. "Thanks" he said in an awkward voice. "But really I'm ok now, I should probably be going." Ryan made to move away from Sandy but wasn't careful enough and stumbled, almost falling but for his grab at the fence to steady himself. He winced at the pull on his ribs. A second later Sandy's hand was under his arm, helping him keep on his feet.

Sandy was really worried about Ryan's condition and was not about to let him leave – no way. He had to walk a fine line here to not drive the kid away, (though he doubted Ryan could get very far at the moment) as it would make it much harder to deal with him.

"Ryan" Sandy said in a stronger voice, stopping the young man's attempt to move away. "I'm not letting you go in the state you're in. Why don't you hop in the car and we'll talk for a minute huh?"

Ryan didn't think he could walk away if he tried. His head felt like something was trying to drill its way out in all directions and he could barely think. So he gave a tiny nod and let Sandy help him the few steps to the car. He let out an involuntary hiss of pain when he slipped again and dropped - Sandy's arms held him up but it wrenched his ribs.

"What hurts?" Sandy asked

"Nothin" Came Ryan's clipped reply.

Sandy thought of his list of hospital injuries and asked "Ribs?"

Ryan looked up at him for a second, surprised and confused but Sandy saw in his eyes that he'd got it right. He tried to be careful of his side when he helped Ryan into the car.

He got in the other side and they sat in silence for a few seconds.

"How are you really feeling Ryan?" Sandy asked seriously.

"Better, honestly." Ryan gritted out trying desperately to convince Sandy.

Sandy sighed. "Ryan if you're not completely honest with me I'm going to take you to the hospital anyway. I won't be responsible for any harm coming to you that I could've prevented."

Ryan seemed to cave in and he bought his hands to his head. Trying to stop the pounding, he lowered his head and leaned forward, letting out a short groan. He was so sick of this. Living like this, always getting in shit and having to cover it up; he didn't think he could do it anymore.

"My head hurts." He said in a shaking voice, muffled from his position.

Sandy watched the kid cave and curl up in the seat, heard his pained confession. Without thinking he put a steadying hand on his back, again Ryan flinched but Sandy kept his hand there rubbing up and down, Ryan didn't protest.

"What else?" He asked gently

Ryan sniffed "My ribs and… I feel out of it, everything's so… messed up." He finished miserably.

"Ook" Sandy drew out the word softly "It's gonna be ok." He said soothingly. He was pleased Ryan was finally being honest with him, now he knew what he was dealing with.

"Ryan… can you tell me what happened tonight?" He broached.

Ryan groaned again, more out of frustration this time and Sandy smiled slightly. Ryan was too exhausted to fight though and told Sandy briefly about Trey's 'job' and how he couldn't get out of it, that he didn't know what it really was until he saw the drugs, how he wanted to leave but Trey punched him and wouldn't let him then forced a pill down his throat, then they'd left and he'd got away.

Sandy gritted his teeth as Ryan sketchily outlined the night's events. He felt a mix of profound sympathy for this boy and at the same time boiling anger towards Trey and his goons for doing this to him.

As unemotional as Ryan tried to be through the short recount, he couldn't stop his voice trembling. He didn't know if it was the drug or shock or what. He still had his head bent down in his hands at the end of it all and Sandy's hand on his back. He'd never felt that before and the comfort it offered almost made him break so he tried his best to ignore it, though he'd never shrug it off.

"Ryan" Sandy started a minute after Ryan had stopped speaking "Thank you for being honest with me tonight." He paused, trying to work out how best to say this next part "I know you don't want to but I need to take you to the hospital, just to get you checked out."

At this Ryan's head shot up, his eyes wide. He felt like he'd been slapped. Not to mention the throbbing increase which made him cringe.

Sandy quickly continued. "I'll act as your guardian ok, there'll be no questions asked but getting another knock to the head with your concussion may have put you in danger. The drug seems to be wearing off but we can't be too careful." Sandy had been worried about the amount of pain Ryan was obviously in from his head and could not do anything before he got him checked out.

Ryan let the words sink in, staring into space, eyes still wide and shocked. It was hard to concentrate through the haze and pain in his head. He needed Sandy's help and if there'd be no questions… what other choice did he have? Then he remembered AJ's threat: "You ever pull shit like this again… well you'll sure need a hospital then. You aint seen nothing punk." The words rung in his head.

"Please, don't" he whispered to the car floor.

Sandy's heart tightened in sadness "I gotta kid, try not to worry everything will be fine, I promise."

With that he turned the car on and pulled out from the curb.