Long Way From Home, Chapter Thirty One
Title: Long Way From Home
Author: me, un-beta'd
Warnings: Language, Violence
Summary: Ryan's dad shows up unexpectedly and throws the Cohens +1 into turmoil
Cross posted: fanfiction.net
A/N: Finally! An update. It's kinda short and maybe a little rushed but I'm having a hard time getting back into the right mindset of this and "Deception" again after such a long writing absence, but I needed to bite the bullet and tie up the Trey part for now.
*******************************
Chapter Thirty One
Having awakened and come downstairs for a drink of water, a bleary eyed Seth blinks at what he's seeing. Trey, Caleb and Ryan are all on the couch. Laughing. Had he ever heard his grandpa laugh? He looks at the tv screen and sees what they're watching. "Oh, this is one of the best parts!", he exclaims as he plops down next to Trey who is seated on the floor leaning against the front of the couch, which Ryan and Caleb are sitting on. They all look over at Seth briefly and then turn their attention to the screen to watch the desert scene play out. Ryan, Trey and Seth all look at each other and say, "lip balm?" in unison with Chevy Chase.
Caleb chuckles and shakes his head. "What, is this movie required viewing or something?"
"It's a classic, grandpa. Classic", Seth replies as he moves the coffee table out of the way so he and Trey can have some sprawling room.
Caleb inwardly scoffs at these kids' idea of a "classic" but he has to admit, he's enjoying the silly movie. He settles in to watch the rest of the it, with the boys all occasionally saying dialogue along with the characters.
Sandy and Kirsten discover empty rooms when they get up the next morning. They head downstairs in search of their boys and freeze in the entryway, taking in the scene before them. Trey and Seth are asleep on the floor, in front of the tv. Caleb and Ryan are asleep on the sofa. Caleb's head is sagging to his chest. Ryan's head is resting on his shoulder. Sandy rubs his eyes to make sure he's not hallucinating. Kirsten grimaces at the position of her father's head, knowing his neck is going to protest as soon as he wakes up. She steps further into the room and approaches the couch. Seth stirs and gives a groan as he stretches and raises his head, opening two squinty eyes to his mom. He shifts attention to Ryan and Caleb and grins.
"Don't wake them up, yet! Don't wake them up! ", Seth whispers sternly as he pushes himself up and runs upstairs.
A smile forms on Kirsten's face as she looks at Ryan and her father. How things change.
Seth reappears and steps into the room, raises his cell phone and snaps a picture.
The flash causes Caleb's head to jerk up, which causes Ryan to stir. Caleb blinks a couple of times to clear the sleep from his mind. His eyes land on Seth and his mouth settles into a frown. He feels the weight on his shoulder and turns his head to see Ryan still struggling to stay asleep. His frown reforms into a smile. He reaches over and gently taps Ryan's cheek. Ryan groans and mumbles and nestles in closer, much to Seth's amusement. He mumbles something about thanking Jesus and Moses for camera phones. Caleb scowls at him and whispers, "enough, Seth."
Trey is the next to awaken and one eye opens, landing on Sandy standing in the entryway. He sits up and stretches. "Morning", he mumbles. He looks over and smirks at Ryan cuddled up to Caleb. Glancing at Seth he says, "tell me you got a picture of that".
"Hell, yeah", Seth whispers with a laugh.
Kirsten ushers them all out of the room then kneels down in front of the couch, reaching out a hand to touch Ryan's arm.
Ryan flinches and mumbles, "no....don't".
Kirsten gently runs her hand up and down his arm. "Ryan, honey, wake up". He scrunches his eyes and then opens them. A blurry Kirsten slowly comes into focus. He registers his head leaning against something soft and warm and turns his head. His eyes open wide when he realizes it's a shoulder belonging to Caleb and sits up abruptly. He sucks in a breath at the movement.
"You ok, sweetie?", Kirsten asks, worry mixed with amusement at the embarrassed flush in his cheeks.
He clears his throat and nods, then throws a side glance at Caleb and says, "uh, sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"It's all right, Ryan", Caleb says bemused. "What do you say we get some breakfast?", he suggests, saving the boy any more embarrassment.
He and Kirsten help Ryan stand and they join everyone else in the kitchen, where Seth is starting the coffee and Sandy has pulled out the bagels.
"You call this a breakfast, Sanford?", Caleb is heard saying as he turns to open the refrigerator and starts pulling out eggs and bacon, feeling a need to give Trey a proper breakfast before having to return to prison.
Sandy raises an eyebrow, "You're going to cook breakfast?"
"Yeah, grandpa. I don't know if that's such a good idea. Mom had to inherit her bad cooking traits from someone", Seth says with a suspicious eye aimed at him.
"And you just assume she inherited it from me?", Caleb asks. "Why not your grandmother?"
"All grandmas can cook", Seth states simply. "It's like a law of nature or something."
"Your mother may be a grandmother some day", Caleb says as he puts the bacon into a pan on the stove top.
Ryan and Trey are seated at the kitchen table, sharing a look at the banter. The Cohens and the Atwoods are worlds apart.
***********************************
Breakfast cooked, they all dig in and make conversation.
"So", Seth starts between bites. "Did you know that Ryan had a pet shell when he was a wee lad?"
Ryan shoots Seth a glare as Trey snorts.
Sandy, Kirsten and Caleb all stop mid-bite.
Seth nods, "Yes. It's true. Would you care to share your pet shell's name, Ryan, or shall I?"
"Shut up, Seth", Ryan says as he ducks his head and focuses on the plate in front of him.
"Ziggy", Seth says with a mouth full of egg. "His name was Ziggy."
Ryan narrows his eyes and wordlessly sends a warning by menacingly pointing his fork in Seth's direction.
Trey smiles and offers up more. "He went through this phase where he named everything. Even his shoes. One was Ed and the other was.......", he trails off trying to remember the name.
Ryan sighs and says resignedly, "Walter". He shakes his head with an embarrassed smile.
Seth spits out his juice, spraying Caleb across the table. Sandy and Kirsten desperately try to stifle laughs.
Caleb clears his throat as he wipes himself off with a napkin in as dignified a manner as he can. "I seem to recall you having a few eccentricities yourself, Seth", he says, tossing a wink at Ryan. "For instance, there was something about your socks that would send you into fits."
"Whoa, Grandpa, there's no need to.......", Seth instantly sobers and tries to stop where this is going.
Sandy takes up the story, "That's right. You wouldn't wear socks unless they were turned inside out because of how the seam felt on your toes. I recall you giving your mother quite a hard time every time she tried to get you dressed, kicking your feet yelling out that 'it feels funny' until she finally started turning them inside out."
Kirsten laughs gently, "It was so cute".
Seth groans and lays his head on the table.
Sandy frowns, "I don't even remember when your sock fixation stopped. It did stop, didn't it?"
Seth sits up again and hides behind his cup of coffee mumbling, "well, it does feel funny".
********************************************
They manage to keep it light for the remainder of breakfast. Once finished, Ryan excuses himself so he can shower and change so he can ride with Trey when Caleb returns him to Chino. He takes longer than he anticipated, letting the hot water soothe his aching muscles from that long walk yesterday. Dozing off sitting up on the couch didn't help. He tries not to think of the fact that he used Caleb Nichol as a pillow.
Once finished he steps out of his room and meets Seth exiting his bedroom, looking similarly refreshed. They head downstairs and find Caleb sitting out on the patio with Trey, who stepped out to smoke a cigarette.
Caleb silently observes Trey. His thoughts seem a mile away and he can sense a growing tenseness about him. Not surprising, really, considering he's about to go back to jail.
"Hey", Ryan says, breaking the silence.
Trey takes a deep drag off of his cigarette and blows it out as he turns to face Ryan. "Uh, look Ry. I think you should stay here."
"What? Why? I....", Ryan starts.
Trey holds up a hand and says, "Look, I just....I'd rather you stay here, ok? I don't want you to have to see me go back in that place." Though that's not the whole truth. It's him who doesn't want to see Ryan leaving him behind.
Ryan's shaking his head. "I don't care about that, Trey. I want to...."
"I don't care what you want", Trey snaps. He takes a breath. "I don't want you there. Ok? I don't want to have to walk inside there knowing you get to drive off free as a bird. You think it's easy for me? You think it's easy for me knowing you're living it up here in the lap of luxury, while I'm stuck in that place?", he says, unable to keep his thoughts bottled up. Unknowingly echoing their father's words to Ryan that first night in the poolhouse.
The words hit Ryan hard. His mouth opens and he tries to find words. "I....I'm sorry. I...."
Trey sighs and closes his eyes for a moment. "Shit, Ry. That wasn't fair. I shouldn't have said that. It's not your fault. I just....I need you to stay here, ok? I need to do this goodbye shit right here."
Ryan swallows and quietly says, "Ok."
The soft tone causes Trey to flinch, feeling like he just kicked a puppy. He steps up to Ryan and pulls him into a hug. "I'm sorry. You just.....take care of yourself", he says as he releases him and steps back.
Ryan nods and says, "you, too".
Trey looks over to Seth and Caleb who have been nervously watching the exchange from the sideline. He says to Caleb that he's ready to go, then holds out a hand to Seth. "The ball's in your court, now", he says solemnly.
Seth shakes his hand, understanding the meaning. He's passing off the brother baton. Seth shoots a look at Ryan who is looking away. "I've got his back", he says determinedly.
"I know ya do", Trey says with a half smile. He turns back to Ryan and says, "later, LB".
Ryan lifts his hand up and waves and softly says, "later".
Trey and Caleb enter the kitchen and inform Kirsten and Sandy that Caleb will be driving Trey back alone. They say polite goodbyes and see them to the door. Once the car leaves the driveway Kirsten closes the front door and lets out an audible sigh. Sandy pulls her into a hug as she says, "thank God. I'm glad that's over". Sandy holds her for a moment and they turn back to find Ryan standing there, a hurt look on his face. "Ryan, I.....", Kirsten starts.
Ryan shakes his head. "It's ok. I know you guys don't like him", he says plainly. He can't stop himself from asking, "is that how you felt that first weekend I was here? When Sandy took me back to Chino?" She doesn't deny it, and she doesn't have to because he already knows the answer.
"I..I didn't know you", is all she offers.
"You don't know Trey and it's clear that you don't want to. Not really. I know he's not perfect. I know he doesn't think but he's my brother and I just wish you'd try to see him like I do", he says before turning and walking away.
Kirsten and Sandy sigh dejectedly. One step forward and two steps back.