OC Fic : Helping Hands (3/3)
Title : Helping Hands
Author : Helen C.
Rating : PG-13
Summary : A series of related drabbles, about Ryan and his families-both of them.
Spoilers : Everything up to The Ties That Bind is fair game.
Disclaimer : The characters and the universe were created and are owned by Josh Schwartz. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warning : May be a tiny little bit angsty.
A/N : Many thanks to the awesome joey51 for beta'ing this!
Part III. Helping Hands
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.
Jane Howard
1. (200 words)
Sandy says, "Anything you need, Ryan, anything at all, you just need to ask, okay?"
Ryan has long since lost count of how many times Sandy and Kirsten, and even Seth, have told him that in the last three years. He has even lost count of how many times they've been true to their word. All he knows is that they keep helping him through one crisis after the other, even though most of the time, Ryan can't bring himself to ask for anything.
In many ways, his life has stayed the same, with his father and Trey still in jail, Dawn still god-knows-where and his own tendency to settle arguments with his fists.
It's just as well, Ryan thinks sometimes. He needs to remember what his life was, what it's still like; he can't start taking for granted what he has now-a home he doesn't dread coming back to, a chance to become something other than a criminal.
And besides, even after the past three years, Ryan is still waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting for the day when the Cohens will tell him, "Nice meeting you, hope you have a nice life. Away from us."
2. (200 words)
Dawn says, "I'm sorry," at the end of Seth and Ryan's graduation ceremony.
She's characteristically drunk.
"I shouldn't have left you here," she says.
Why not, Ryan wonders. He's as happy as he has ever been, he stopped collecting painful bruises, he starts classes at New York University in the fall. Of course, that also means that he won't be there anymore when Dawn needs him.
"Please, come back with me," she says. Three years ago, he would have said yes. Hell, he did say yes.
For a brief moment, Ryan hates her with a frightening intensity. She's pathetic and needy and weak and manipulative, and a sorry excuse for a human being, let alone a mother.
She's drowning, and she's trying to drag him down with her.
Two minutes in her presence, and he's already suffocating.
She reaches out to him and he takes a step back, suddenly feeling drained.
He asks her to leave. Once, twice, and she's still begging.
Third time is a charm. She leaves.
She always leaves.
Ryan watches her go, wondering how many more times they'll have to play this scene, how many more times he can stand playing this scene before going insane.
3. (200 words)
Ryan says, "I need help."
Dawn called five minutes ago, wasted, hysterical, threatening to kill herself if he didn't come to her place immediately.
Once upon a time, a mere three years ago, one of Ryan's priorities was to hide the train wreck that was his family life from the eyes of strangers. Most of his teachers never suspected that Ryan's home life was far from ideal, and even Theresa, his closest friend, never knew exactly how bad things were.
Once upon a time, Ryan would have done everything he could to help Dawn all by himself, so that no one but him would see her in such a state, hoping that it would help her to keep what little was left of her dignity.
But things have changed, the Cohens aren't strangers anymore, and Sandy is right, Ryan is exhausted-so much so that he can't stand the thought of going there on his own, of shouldering that burden alone.
Ryan wants to belong to a family, wants all the worries, the joys and the helping hands that come with it. He doesn't want to be alone anymore.
And after taking one look at him, Sandy says, "I'll drive."
end
Off to do one last backup of my data before trying the new computer... Wish me luck.
Author : Helen C.
Rating : PG-13
Summary : A series of related drabbles, about Ryan and his families-both of them.
Spoilers : Everything up to The Ties That Bind is fair game.
Disclaimer : The characters and the universe were created and are owned by Josh Schwartz. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warning : May be a tiny little bit angsty.
A/N : Many thanks to the awesome joey51 for beta'ing this!
Part III. Helping Hands
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.
Jane Howard
1. (200 words)
Sandy says, "Anything you need, Ryan, anything at all, you just need to ask, okay?"
Ryan has long since lost count of how many times Sandy and Kirsten, and even Seth, have told him that in the last three years. He has even lost count of how many times they've been true to their word. All he knows is that they keep helping him through one crisis after the other, even though most of the time, Ryan can't bring himself to ask for anything.
In many ways, his life has stayed the same, with his father and Trey still in jail, Dawn still god-knows-where and his own tendency to settle arguments with his fists.
It's just as well, Ryan thinks sometimes. He needs to remember what his life was, what it's still like; he can't start taking for granted what he has now-a home he doesn't dread coming back to, a chance to become something other than a criminal.
And besides, even after the past three years, Ryan is still waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting for the day when the Cohens will tell him, "Nice meeting you, hope you have a nice life. Away from us."
2. (200 words)
Dawn says, "I'm sorry," at the end of Seth and Ryan's graduation ceremony.
She's characteristically drunk.
"I shouldn't have left you here," she says.
Why not, Ryan wonders. He's as happy as he has ever been, he stopped collecting painful bruises, he starts classes at New York University in the fall. Of course, that also means that he won't be there anymore when Dawn needs him.
"Please, come back with me," she says. Three years ago, he would have said yes. Hell, he did say yes.
For a brief moment, Ryan hates her with a frightening intensity. She's pathetic and needy and weak and manipulative, and a sorry excuse for a human being, let alone a mother.
She's drowning, and she's trying to drag him down with her.
Two minutes in her presence, and he's already suffocating.
She reaches out to him and he takes a step back, suddenly feeling drained.
He asks her to leave. Once, twice, and she's still begging.
Third time is a charm. She leaves.
She always leaves.
Ryan watches her go, wondering how many more times they'll have to play this scene, how many more times he can stand playing this scene before going insane.
3. (200 words)
Ryan says, "I need help."
Dawn called five minutes ago, wasted, hysterical, threatening to kill herself if he didn't come to her place immediately.
Once upon a time, a mere three years ago, one of Ryan's priorities was to hide the train wreck that was his family life from the eyes of strangers. Most of his teachers never suspected that Ryan's home life was far from ideal, and even Theresa, his closest friend, never knew exactly how bad things were.
Once upon a time, Ryan would have done everything he could to help Dawn all by himself, so that no one but him would see her in such a state, hoping that it would help her to keep what little was left of her dignity.
But things have changed, the Cohens aren't strangers anymore, and Sandy is right, Ryan is exhausted-so much so that he can't stand the thought of going there on his own, of shouldering that burden alone.
Ryan wants to belong to a family, wants all the worries, the joys and the helping hands that come with it. He doesn't want to be alone anymore.
And after taking one look at him, Sandy says, "I'll drive."
end
Off to do one last backup of my data before trying the new computer... Wish me luck.