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missmara13Title: Hear Me
Author: Mara
Prompt: #014 - The Countdown
Rating: R
Warnings: Character death. Somewhat graphic imagery of blood and brains.
Summary: Sandy stopped first, startled, and put his arm out to stop Ryan, trying to push the boy behind him but not in time to stop Ryan from seeing the gun pointing their way.
Notes: Consider this a prequel to my story Learn To Fly, which was written for the 100 Ryan/Brooke stories I'm doing. If you've read Learn To Fly, you know who's gonna die. Takes place in Season 2, near the end of the season, but with the AU that Trey is still in jail, Alex didn't leave Newport after breaking up with Marissa, and (as much as I despise it...) Ryan and Marissa are together.
Oh! And the title is deliberately meant to be sort of ironic, especially if you've already read Learn To Fly... plus, Hear Me by Kelly Clarkson was on my playlist as I started this... lol
Hear Me
10...
Ryan had been surprised when Sandy had offered to take him out to dinner for his birthday, especially since seemingly everyone had forgotten what day it was, but he quickly agreed. They wound up going to the Crab Shack, and Ryan jokingly muttered about how much better the service had been when he worked there. They laughed and talked about Ryan's plans for the summer, with Sandy mentioning a family vacation to Hawaii, Florida, or even Europe and asking where Ryan would like to go.
The topic moved to further in the future, including Sandy promising that next year, Ryan would have a big blow out party to celebrate his 18th, and Ryan swearing that this was fine, it was nice not to have to listen to Seth talking about Summer all through dinner. Sandy asked about how things were going with Marissa, and Ryan had perked up to be talking about his girlfriend and how they seemed to be doing better this time around, more stable and less problems.
9...
Ryan was laughing as he and Sandy got back to the house and headed for the poolhouse so Ryan could show his foster father the English paper he'd gotten back a couple days before with an A+ on it and a note about how he should be a writer, since he seemed to enjoy writing his thoughts down but never seemed to speak his mind in class. Sandy stopped first, startled, and put his arm out to stop Ryan, trying to push the boy behind him but not in time to stop Ryan from seeing the gun pointing their way.
Ryan didn't get a chance to see who it was, but when he heard the other person shouting for Sandy to move and Ryan to show himself or else, he recognized the voice and tried to comply on automatic only to feel Sandy's grip tighten on his arm, holding him in the marginally safer position.
8...
There was more yelling, and finally Ryan managed to get out of Sandy's grip and moved to face Oliver. "What are you doing?" he asked the gun wielding boy.
"You ruined everything!" Oliver yelled. "You... you made her hate me! She won't answer my letters, and it's your fault!"
"What are you doing here, Oliver? You're suppose to be getting help..."
"I don't need help! I need you to have someone taken from you like you took her from me!"
"What are you...?" Ryan began as Sandy lunged forward to get in between them again.
7...
It wasn't the sound of the gunshot that silenced Ryan. It wasn't the jarring impact as he slammed into the ground thanks to Sandy's push.
It was the warm and sticky blood that suddenly covered him and half the wall. It was the hole in the back of Sandy's skull as the man fell to the floor in front of him.
"Now you know what it feels like," Oliver said as he licked his lips and stumbled out, his anger and hatred gone as soon as the shot had rung out.
But Ryan didn't notice Oliver leaving. He didn't hear the footsteps walking away. Didn't hear Seth calling out to him. He didn't respond to Summer's scream as she and Seth walked into the poolhouse and saw Sandy's body.
Ryan was too busy staring into Sandy's face as the man opened and closed his mouth convulsively, like a fish trying to breath on dry land.
6...
He didn't say a word as the paramedics and police arrived, demanding to know what happened, he just stared at Sandy as they tried to stabilize him for transport. When one of the paramedics tried to check him for injuries, Ryan shoved them away and got to his feet to dart out of the poolhouse and around the main house, running as fast and as far as he could.
He didn't remember going to the beach, but that's where he found himself, collapsing into the sand on tired legs as he opened his mouth to try to speak, to scream, to make any sound, but nothing came out. He stared down at himself, at the drying blood and bits of brain that were stuck to his white t-shirt and to his skin, then lurched to his feet again and stumbled into the water, frantically trying to scrub it off.
5...
He didn't know how long passed before anyone found him, but finally someone did.
Alex's hair was pulled back in a hurried ponytail and it looked like she'd just yanked on the first clothes she'd found as she yanked him out of the shallows, shaking him lightly and telling him to stop fighting her, she was trying to help him. He stopped and looked at her, open his and closing his mouth a few times, thens topping as he realized it was what Sandy had done. Instead he yanked away and turned, dropping to his hands and knees as he vomited into the sand.
4...
Alex got him into her jeep and took him to the hospital, where everyone was waiting for word, and Kirsten jumped to embrace him, asking him what happened and getting no response.
Summer's dad took him to an exam room and checked Ryan out himself as a favor to Kirsten, asking again what had happened and getting no response. When he was done checking Ryan for injuries that didn't exist, he had a nurse bring him some soap and water along with a scrub top so he could help Ryan get cleaned up and changed into a shirt that wasn't stained with Sandy's blood and brains. Ryan didn't speak or struggle or react through the whole thing, and when it was over, Neil took Ryan back to Kirsten, who sat with one arm around Seth's shoulders and immediately put the other around him as Neil gently pushed him into the seat beside Kirsten.
3...
They found out at11:58pm.
There was too much damage to too many vital areas of the brain.
Sandy didn't make it.
He died 2 minutes before Ryan's birthday ended.
The police had questions for him, but Ryan wouldn't answer or respond in anyway, just stared past their shoulders with empty eyes until Neil made the police leave and gave Ryan a sedative before tucking him into a bed.
2...
Kirsten wasn't functioning, and Caleb called a service to clean the Poolhouse but when Ryan walked in he could still see the blood and brains all over the wall and he turned away, throwing up what little he'd eaten at the hospital before Neil finally released him.
Seth just stood and watched, then turned away when Ryan looked up at him.
Kirsten hadn't even bothered to check on him, she was too busy cleaning out the liquor cabinet.
Caleb brought out a soft towel to wipe his face, then put an arm around him to lead him into the house and towards one of the guest rooms, being oddly kind and reassuring as he even went so far as to fold back the covers and urge Ryan to lay down and try to sleep.
1...
Kirsten kept drinking, more and more each day, but she also tried to comfort Ryan, coming to sit with him during the day and telling him that it would all be okay, somehow.
Seth wouldn't even look at Ryan, and sometimes when Ryan walked into a room, a look of disgust flashed across Seth's face before vanishing.
Summer tried to comfort him, but Ryan ignored her until she went away.
Alex came to see him and he cried while she sat inside the guestroom door, leaning back against it to keep and closed so no one would interrupt with useless and hollow words of comfort that provided no such thing. Then gave him a sad smile and told him she'd be there when he was ready to talk, and he could just come by and see her sometime, even if he didn't want to talk. She hugged him before she left, promising she'd come visit again soon.
0...
3 months after that night, Seth left. He waited until after the last day of junior year, a junior year Ryan didn't finish and probably never would, then he packed a bag and left, stopping only to tell Ryan that he just couldn't stand to look at him anymore, when he wouldn't even tell the police who had killed Sandy.
Kirsten stopped even pretending to care, and if he walked into a room where she was she'd walk out almost immediately.
He overheard Rose and Caleb talking one afternoon, and found out that the only reason he hadn't been taken away yet was because Caleb had placed some hefty bribes, to keep Ryan there because Caleb knew that was what Kirsten would want if she was sober, and it was the least he could do for Sandy's memory. He was also paying Rosa know to keep her there so that someone would be present every day to check on Ryan and make sure he was eating and try to encourage him to speak.
...
The End
Well... that was depressing... like literally, I'm on the verge of crying for the poor woobie...
Author: Mara
Prompt: #014 - The Countdown
Rating: R
Warnings: Character death. Somewhat graphic imagery of blood and brains.
Summary: Sandy stopped first, startled, and put his arm out to stop Ryan, trying to push the boy behind him but not in time to stop Ryan from seeing the gun pointing their way.
Notes: Consider this a prequel to my story Learn To Fly, which was written for the 100 Ryan/Brooke stories I'm doing. If you've read Learn To Fly, you know who's gonna die. Takes place in Season 2, near the end of the season, but with the AU that Trey is still in jail, Alex didn't leave Newport after breaking up with Marissa, and (as much as I despise it...) Ryan and Marissa are together.
Oh! And the title is deliberately meant to be sort of ironic, especially if you've already read Learn To Fly... plus, Hear Me by Kelly Clarkson was on my playlist as I started this... lol
Hear Me
10...
Ryan had been surprised when Sandy had offered to take him out to dinner for his birthday, especially since seemingly everyone had forgotten what day it was, but he quickly agreed. They wound up going to the Crab Shack, and Ryan jokingly muttered about how much better the service had been when he worked there. They laughed and talked about Ryan's plans for the summer, with Sandy mentioning a family vacation to Hawaii, Florida, or even Europe and asking where Ryan would like to go.
The topic moved to further in the future, including Sandy promising that next year, Ryan would have a big blow out party to celebrate his 18th, and Ryan swearing that this was fine, it was nice not to have to listen to Seth talking about Summer all through dinner. Sandy asked about how things were going with Marissa, and Ryan had perked up to be talking about his girlfriend and how they seemed to be doing better this time around, more stable and less problems.
9...
Ryan was laughing as he and Sandy got back to the house and headed for the poolhouse so Ryan could show his foster father the English paper he'd gotten back a couple days before with an A+ on it and a note about how he should be a writer, since he seemed to enjoy writing his thoughts down but never seemed to speak his mind in class. Sandy stopped first, startled, and put his arm out to stop Ryan, trying to push the boy behind him but not in time to stop Ryan from seeing the gun pointing their way.
Ryan didn't get a chance to see who it was, but when he heard the other person shouting for Sandy to move and Ryan to show himself or else, he recognized the voice and tried to comply on automatic only to feel Sandy's grip tighten on his arm, holding him in the marginally safer position.
8...
There was more yelling, and finally Ryan managed to get out of Sandy's grip and moved to face Oliver. "What are you doing?" he asked the gun wielding boy.
"You ruined everything!" Oliver yelled. "You... you made her hate me! She won't answer my letters, and it's your fault!"
"What are you doing here, Oliver? You're suppose to be getting help..."
"I don't need help! I need you to have someone taken from you like you took her from me!"
"What are you...?" Ryan began as Sandy lunged forward to get in between them again.
7...
It wasn't the sound of the gunshot that silenced Ryan. It wasn't the jarring impact as he slammed into the ground thanks to Sandy's push.
It was the warm and sticky blood that suddenly covered him and half the wall. It was the hole in the back of Sandy's skull as the man fell to the floor in front of him.
"Now you know what it feels like," Oliver said as he licked his lips and stumbled out, his anger and hatred gone as soon as the shot had rung out.
But Ryan didn't notice Oliver leaving. He didn't hear the footsteps walking away. Didn't hear Seth calling out to him. He didn't respond to Summer's scream as she and Seth walked into the poolhouse and saw Sandy's body.
Ryan was too busy staring into Sandy's face as the man opened and closed his mouth convulsively, like a fish trying to breath on dry land.
6...
He didn't say a word as the paramedics and police arrived, demanding to know what happened, he just stared at Sandy as they tried to stabilize him for transport. When one of the paramedics tried to check him for injuries, Ryan shoved them away and got to his feet to dart out of the poolhouse and around the main house, running as fast and as far as he could.
He didn't remember going to the beach, but that's where he found himself, collapsing into the sand on tired legs as he opened his mouth to try to speak, to scream, to make any sound, but nothing came out. He stared down at himself, at the drying blood and bits of brain that were stuck to his white t-shirt and to his skin, then lurched to his feet again and stumbled into the water, frantically trying to scrub it off.
5...
He didn't know how long passed before anyone found him, but finally someone did.
Alex's hair was pulled back in a hurried ponytail and it looked like she'd just yanked on the first clothes she'd found as she yanked him out of the shallows, shaking him lightly and telling him to stop fighting her, she was trying to help him. He stopped and looked at her, open his and closing his mouth a few times, thens topping as he realized it was what Sandy had done. Instead he yanked away and turned, dropping to his hands and knees as he vomited into the sand.
4...
Alex got him into her jeep and took him to the hospital, where everyone was waiting for word, and Kirsten jumped to embrace him, asking him what happened and getting no response.
Summer's dad took him to an exam room and checked Ryan out himself as a favor to Kirsten, asking again what had happened and getting no response. When he was done checking Ryan for injuries that didn't exist, he had a nurse bring him some soap and water along with a scrub top so he could help Ryan get cleaned up and changed into a shirt that wasn't stained with Sandy's blood and brains. Ryan didn't speak or struggle or react through the whole thing, and when it was over, Neil took Ryan back to Kirsten, who sat with one arm around Seth's shoulders and immediately put the other around him as Neil gently pushed him into the seat beside Kirsten.
3...
They found out at11:58pm.
There was too much damage to too many vital areas of the brain.
Sandy didn't make it.
He died 2 minutes before Ryan's birthday ended.
The police had questions for him, but Ryan wouldn't answer or respond in anyway, just stared past their shoulders with empty eyes until Neil made the police leave and gave Ryan a sedative before tucking him into a bed.
2...
Kirsten wasn't functioning, and Caleb called a service to clean the Poolhouse but when Ryan walked in he could still see the blood and brains all over the wall and he turned away, throwing up what little he'd eaten at the hospital before Neil finally released him.
Seth just stood and watched, then turned away when Ryan looked up at him.
Kirsten hadn't even bothered to check on him, she was too busy cleaning out the liquor cabinet.
Caleb brought out a soft towel to wipe his face, then put an arm around him to lead him into the house and towards one of the guest rooms, being oddly kind and reassuring as he even went so far as to fold back the covers and urge Ryan to lay down and try to sleep.
1...
Kirsten kept drinking, more and more each day, but she also tried to comfort Ryan, coming to sit with him during the day and telling him that it would all be okay, somehow.
Seth wouldn't even look at Ryan, and sometimes when Ryan walked into a room, a look of disgust flashed across Seth's face before vanishing.
Summer tried to comfort him, but Ryan ignored her until she went away.
Alex came to see him and he cried while she sat inside the guestroom door, leaning back against it to keep and closed so no one would interrupt with useless and hollow words of comfort that provided no such thing. Then gave him a sad smile and told him she'd be there when he was ready to talk, and he could just come by and see her sometime, even if he didn't want to talk. She hugged him before she left, promising she'd come visit again soon.
0...
3 months after that night, Seth left. He waited until after the last day of junior year, a junior year Ryan didn't finish and probably never would, then he packed a bag and left, stopping only to tell Ryan that he just couldn't stand to look at him anymore, when he wouldn't even tell the police who had killed Sandy.
Kirsten stopped even pretending to care, and if he walked into a room where she was she'd walk out almost immediately.
He overheard Rose and Caleb talking one afternoon, and found out that the only reason he hadn't been taken away yet was because Caleb had placed some hefty bribes, to keep Ryan there because Caleb knew that was what Kirsten would want if she was sober, and it was the least he could do for Sandy's memory. He was also paying Rosa know to keep her there so that someone would be present every day to check on Ryan and make sure he was eating and try to encourage him to speak.
...
The End
Well... that was depressing... like literally, I'm on the verge of crying for the poor woobie...
