fic : Better Days
title
Better Days
fandom
The OC
summary
A presumed dead Ryan returns home after a few months
timeline
AU (season 1)
beta
If it counts, MS Word 03
disclaimer
Sadly "The OC" isn't mine, but belongs to others (Josh Schwarz, FOX, ...)
previous
0 : The Worst Day
1 : Realization
19th March 2005
That couldn’t be right, could it? He read it again. He blinked hard and looked at the stone in front of him once more, but it still carried the same inscription.
Ryan (Atwood) Cohen
19th March 1988 - 13th May 2004
Beloved Son and Brother
He simply couldn’t comprehend what he was seeing. All he wanted to do was to visit the grave of his mother, who had died not long before his accident. But while he was looking for her grave he caught sight of the one next to hers. But why was it there. It didn’t agree with what he thought had happened. But maybe that was exactly the problem. He didn’t know anything of what had happened for sure, everything was based on assumptions he had made over the past couple of months since he awoke from the coma in November 2003. Ever since then he had believed that they simply hadn’t wanted him anymore; that he was long forgotten. But if that was really the case, why would there be that grave with his name on it?
“Hi, were you a friend of Ryan?” he heard someone asking him.
He had been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t heard the person approaching. Looking up he was a bit surprised to find Luke standing next to him, who apparently hadn’t recognized him yet. But that was to be expected since Ryan had changed his appearance before he traveled to Newport. He didn’t want to risk that the Cohens or someone else who knew him would recognize him. So in addition to the shorter hair cut he wore since the coma he had also dyed his hair dark brown, and made sure to always wear sunglasses in public.
“Sort of” he replied and after a moment of hesitation added “Did you know him well?”
“As well as he let me.” Catching the puzzled look on Ryan’s face he continued “We didn’t come along at first, even so we eventually became friends. But he was always so guarded around everybody. He never let anybody in, not even the Cohens, his adoptive family. And then from one day to the next he was dead, killed in a fucking car crash.”
Ryan was stunned. He shall have died in car crash? How could that be? How could the fucker, who robbed him and injured him so badly to cause a six month coma, be mistaken for him? There hadn’t been the slightest resemblance between the two of them.
“I’ve only heard of his death recently. Do you mind telling me what exactly happened?”
“It was really sad. His mom hadn’t died long before, and then, a few days after the Cohens had finally adopted him, he crashed into a gas tanker on his way back from LA. The tanker caught fire and since the crash happened in a tunnel, the fire inferno lasted for hours. His burned body was found in the remains of the car when the wrecks were recovered.” Luke explained sadly.
“And his family?”
“I don’t know about his biological family, but the Cohens didn’t take his death well. I live in Portland, so I don’t know any details, besides that Seth, his brother was so heartbroken that he couldn’t stand living in Newport anymore. He’s staying with me and my dad since begin of summer break, but I wish he’d go back to his parents. It was really hard for them when Seth took off so shortly after they lost Ryan.”
It was that moment that Ryan realized how much suffering him giving into his insecurities had caused. They hadn’t abandoned him. According to Luke’s explanation they had simply had no reason to look for him. They thought he was dead. If he’d only had the guts to face them after he’d finally remembered them. He could’ve saved them and also himself from eight months of futile suffering.
He made a decision, took of his sunglasses and looked directly at Luke before he said “Luke”.
“Where do you know my name from? Have we met before?” Luke asked surprised.
“Luke, look at me. Do you recognize me?” was all Ryan replied.
Luke studied the boy in front of him for a long time, before he answered “You look similar to Ryan. But you can’t be it. That’s not possible, he’s dead. We are standing next to his grave.”
“Back then in LA, I got jumped on my way to the car. According to the doctors my injuries were so severe, that they didn’t even believe that I would survive the night, but I did. I was in a coma for four weeks. It took another two months to get most of my memories back. By then I’d convinced myself that the Cohens didn’t want me anymore, so I let them believe that I still couldn’t remember anything.” Ryan tried to explain.
“It’s good to have you back.” an apparently convinced Luke said whilst he pulled Ryan into a manly hug.
It was the first time in his life that Ryan gave in his emotions and hugged Luke back. He wasn’t quite sure what, but something had changed the moment that Luke told him what really happened; that there still was a family, his family waiting for him. And that he’d nearly lost that all due to his damned insecurities.
Ryan not only accepting his hug, but also hugging him back surprised Luke. So when they separated after a few moments Luke commented “I’ve never thought I’d live to see you showing emotions, Ryan.”
After a few more moments of silence Luke asked “So Ryan, how do you want to go on from here?”
Since Ryan didn’t respond Luke nudged him in the side and repeated his question “Ryan, I asked what you want to do now.”
“Sorry, I’m not used to being called Ryan anymore. Due to my memory loss I got the name Benjamin Lucas Davis back at the hospital. So try Ben if Ryan doesn’t work and I think it’s time to reclaim my mom and dad.” Ryan explained.
Luke, not quite following, asked “Dude, you know that we are standing next to your mom’s grave?”
“I meant mom and dad as in Kirsten and Sandy, not Dawn and Frank.”
“Did you just say that? Are you sure you aren’t suffering from brain damage?” Luke joked.
“Yeah, I did.” Ryan replied smiling and started walking towards the parking lot with Luke trailing slightly behind.
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