Disclaimer:  I don't own anything OC related. 

AN:  This is the follow up to Secondhand Smoke.  Takes place a few months after that one ended. 

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Cohen," Anna said when Kirsten and Sandy walked into the kitchen.

"Anna, it's always nice to see you," Kirsten smiled.

"You guys staying in tonight?" Sandy asked.

"We have tickets to a concert but…Ryan got distracted again," Seth replied.

"Where is he?" Kirsten asked.

"In the poolhouse. Under Summer," Seth sighed.

Anna shoved Seth, scolding him. "It's not like that…" She said.

"They're right there," Sandy said.

Summer was sitting across Ryan's lap in a pool chair on the patio. She was stretched across his body and his chin was resting on her head and their hands were clasped tenderly across her stomach.

"Are you sure you don't want me to kick his ass, baby?" Ryan murmured.

"You can't kick my dad's ass," Summer giggled.

"You don't think I can take him?" Ryan smiled.

"I know you can take him…but he's my Dad…" Summer said.

"I know. But he hurts you…"

"He doesn't hurt me, Ryan, he's never touched me…"

"He upsets you," Ryan rephrased. "He makes you cry." Ryan ran his fingertips across her cheek at the mascara trails. She smiled.

"I don't want to talk about him anymore."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"I don't want to talk…" She murmured and turned her face to kiss him.

"Mmm…" Ryan smiled as he accepted her lips.

"Guys? We're hellaciously late," Anna called from the house.

"Shit…" Ryan lifted Summer to her feet and they straightened their clothes.

"They're upright! Good job, Anna!" Seth teased, walking out with his arm around her waist.

*****

Summer closed the door as Ryan pulled out of her driveway. She leaned heavily against the door as she saw the light from the living room TV illuminating the broken glass in the hallway. Her father had recently been suspended indefinitely from the hospital because of a malpractice lawsuit. He had accidentally killed a patient due to his mistake and the hospital was forced to dismiss him. His wife, Summer's stepmother for the past three years, had immediately filed for divorce and left town.

The only person she had confided in about her father's problems was Ryan.  She trusted him and knew that it wouldn't change his opinion or love for her.  She wasn't ashamed but she was worried. She was getting scared. Her father had never been particularly affectionate toward her, he seemed to appreciate her for her show value. She was a pretty accessory for his parties  but she was never really sure that he loved her.  He was just her father. 

Lately, all he seemed to do was sit on the couch and drink aged scotch from his liquor collection.  Yeah, he had a liquor collection. 

"Summer?  Where have you been?"

She involuntarily flinched at the harshness of his voice.  "Hey, Dad.  I told you we were going to a concert."

"With that 'Ryan' boy?"

She stepped into the room hesitantly.  He was reclined in the lazy boy with a glass of scotch beside him on the table.  "Yeah, Dad.  He's my boyfriend."

"Are you fucking him?"

"That's none of your business," She replied evenly.

"It damned well is my business if my daughter is fucking some reject from the projects…"

Summer's anger flared suddenly.  Mr. Roberts had met Ryan in the past and had complimented her on his politeness and intelligence.  "Ryan's not a reject…"

His hand struck her face suddenly and she lost her voice with a gasp.  "Don't talk to me like that.  I'm your father and you will respect me." He was standing beside her now. 

She was silent, stunned.

"Do you understand me, Summer?" He snapped.

"Yes."

He sat back down and drained his glass.  She waited, frozen in her spot. 

"You've gained weight.  I think you should go on a diet," He muttered.

Summer's face was still stinging and had started to throb.  She didn't tell him that she had lost weight since dating Ryan.  They went to the gym three days a week.  "Okay."

He didn't speak again and she slowly walked out of the room.  She locked her bathroom door and immediately went to the bathroom to wash her face.

Her cheek was red and slightly swollen.  She'd never been hit before by a man, let alone her father.  She didn't know if it would bruise.  Her cell phone buzzed in her pocket.

"Hello?" She answered absently.

"Hey, baby.  Everything okay?" Ryan's voice was soft and she could hear the traffic sounds around him. 

"Yeah…"

"How're you doing?"

She hesitated. 

"Summer?"

"Can you come and get me?"

"What?  Of course, I'll turn around…"

"No…wait…"

"Summer, what's wrong?"

"Nothing…"

"I'm coming back, Summer, it's too late to stop me…"

"I'll meet you at the end of the driveway.  Don't come to the door, okay?"

Ryan paused.  She knew that she'd worried him and that his curiosity and protectiveness was going off the charts.  "Okay, Summer…"

"Thanks…"

"And you'll tell me everything?"

"I'll see you in a few minutes." She started shoving clothes into a bag.  She couldn't abandon her father, she knew he was just going through a phase or something but she also knew that she couldn't sleep in this house tonight.  She needed Ryan.

*****

Ryan was waiting beside the Range Rover for Summer at the end of her driveway.  Something was wrong.  He'd known it when she hadn't invited him inside after their date earlier.  He knew about Mr. Robert's suspension and his escalating verbal abuse but Summer refused to admit that she was frightened or worried.  She had too much pride and strength to admit fear.  They had that in common.

"Ryan?" Her whisper was urgent and he was instantly rigid with worry.

He stepped out of the shadows and went to her side.  He noticed the swelling of her cheek immediately and put his palm tenderly against her cheek. 

"Please, Ryan…" She started to cry and he accepted her in his arms. 

"Did he do this?" Ryan asked once her sobs subsided.

"Will you just take me somewhere?" She whispered.  "Just for tonight?"

He didn't answer but gently guided her to the SUV.  He opened the door and lifted her inside.  He wouldn't let her go back into that house without a damned good reason.  He wouldn't let anyone hurt her.  He pushed his rage aside and focused his attention to her.  He would take care of her. 

*****

Ryan didn't ask anything of Summer on the short drive to the Cohens.  He held her hand tightly and she was silent.  His mind was working overtime.  He wanted to punish Mr. Roberts.  He wanted to make him regret touching Summer.

"Ryan, you're squeezing too tight," Summer said suddenly.

"What?" Ryan asked.  Summer pulled her hand away with a sad smile.

"I'm sorry, Ryan, I never meant for you to get this upset."

"I'm worried about you, I'm not upset…" Ryan replied.

"He didn't hurt me, Ryan…"

"Your face, Summer…you can't tell me that he didn't hit you," Ryan replied immediately. 

"I meant that it's no big deal, you're overreacting…"

"Yeah, maybe.  But why don't you tell me what happened and we'll see," Ryan said quietly, forcing himself to relax for her.

"It doesn't matter…" She muttered.

"It does to me.  What could you have possibly done to make him hit you?" Ryan asked.

"You're such a fucking hypocrite, Ryan."

"What?" Ryan replied after a beat.

"I've seen you naked, I've seen your scars…" Summer snapped.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Ryan replied evenly.

"I know your parents used to hit you…"

"That was different…"

"How?" Summer snapped.  "Because you deserved it?"

"No, Summer…" He parked the Range Rover beside Sandy's car.

"Just leave it alone, Ryan…"

"I can't, Summer…" Ryan whispered, gently turning her face to look at him. 

"Please…I need you to drop it…I came to you because I need to be able to trust you…"

"You can trust me…"

"Then don't make me tell anyone.  And don't make me think about this anymore." She looked into his eyes pleadingly.  "I just need you to hold me…"

"Okay, Summer.  I'm here for whatever you need," Ryan said quietly, hugging her.

*****

Ryan gave Sandy and Kirsten an acknowledging glance as he led Summer to his room.

"Get ready for bed.  I have to tell Sandy and Kirsten something."

"What are you going to tell them?" Summer questioned immediately.

"That you're upset and you need to be with me."

"Will they accept that?"

Ryan took her shoulders in his hands and rubbed her arms reassuringly.  "Don't worry.  I won't say anything.  I'll take care of it."

"Thanks."

Ryan waited until she went into his bathroom before walking downstairs.

"Ryan, is everything okay?" Kirsten asked.

"Summer's upset.  She called me after I dropped her off," Ryan said.

"Is she okay?  What happened?" Sandy asked, concerned.

"She doesn't want to talk about it.  Is it okay if she stays tonight?  She doesn't want to be alone."

"Of course.  But you know the house rules…" Kirsten started quietly.

"No sex.  I got it.  Thanks."

*****

"Mmm.  This is nice.  We haven't done this in a while…" Summer murmured.  She wrapped her arms around his bare chest and kissed his neck and back.

"Too early…" Ryan mumbled, still sleeping.

"It's after seven, baby…"

"Too early…" He repeated.

"Hey, Ryan, have you seen  my…oh, I'm sorry…" Seth was standing at the foot of the bed with a startled expression on his face.

"Morning, Seth," Summer smiled, blushing with embarrassment.

"Hey, Summer…" Seth's face dropped suddenly.  "What happened to your face?  Are you all right?"

"Oh fuck…" Summer put her hand to her face.

Ryan yawned, sitting up sleepily.  He lazily put his arm around Summer and visibly flinched as he noticed Seth's presence.  "Hey, man."

Seth closed the door to Ryan's room for privacy.

"It's bad?" Summer asked, turning to face Ryan.

"Oh, baby…" Ryan sighed, seeing her bruised face.

"What am I going to do?" Summer whispered.

"What happened?  Who hit you?" Seth asked.

"Seth…please don't ask me that…don't look at me…" Summer bolted into the bathroom.

"Ryan, what happened?  Is she okay?" Seth demanded.

"She's really upset, Seth and she doesn't want to talk about it," Ryan whispered.  "Your parents haven't seen her yet but they know that she stayed…"

"Who hit her?" Seth whispered, pulling him toward the door.  "And why haven't you kicked their ass yet?"

"Seth…" Summer stepped out, more composed and wearing a pair of Ryan's sweatpants and one of his wife-beaters.

"Summer, who did this?" Seth asked softly.

"Promise me that you won't say anything…"

Seth shook his head.  "I can't.  But I promise to listen to you and…if Ryan trusts your judgment then…just tell me, Summer…"

Summer gave Ryan a lowered glance and he went to her side.  She nodded at him.

"She got into a fight with her father," Ryan said quietly.

"Your dad hit you?" Seth gasped.

"It was the first time ever and he's under a lot of stress…" Summer began immediately.

"I'm not going to listen to you make excuses for him, Summer," Ryan interrupted.  "I'll go see if I can get some of Kirsten's concealer  for you…"

"You know where her makeup is?" Summer asked.  Ryan didn't look at her and walked out.

"She made him wear it to dinner with the Nana once when he had a bad shiner," Seth remarked.  "But you were making excuses, so please continue."

"Seth, it's no big deal…"

"He hit you, Summer…"

"It was a mistake…"

"You have to tell my parents…"

"No, Seth.  Absolutely not.  I promise you that it will never happen again."

Seth watched her carefully.  "You convinced Ryan of this."

Summer sighed.  "He loves me.  He respects my choices…"

"Yeah, but you're in danger…"

"Seth, I'm not in danger…"

"Dude, have you looked in the mirror?"

"I'm fine."

Ryan returned with a small compact.  "Got it."

Seth sighed.  "It's your decision, Summer.  But I'm here to help you if there's anything I can do."

"Thank you, Seth." She gave him a relieved hug.

"I'm going to get changed.  I'll see you guys downstairs."

"Thanks, man," Ryan said.  He sat down with Summer on the bed. 

"You're mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you.  I'm worried about you.  If I let you go back there and this happens again…" Ryan wouldn't meet her gaze.  He began to smoothe the cool makeup onto her skin.  She closed her eyes.  "I wish I could make this all go away."

"You do make it all go away.  You make everything okay…"

"I want to keep you safe."

"I am safe."

"You can open your eyes.  It's gone."

"Thanks."

"I told the Cohens that I didn't know why you were upset but that you needed to stay.  I don't think they'll pump you for information yet."

"But they'll pump you later?" Summer asked.

Ryan paused and finally broke into a small smile.  "Sorry.  I was getting visions of pumping you later…"

Summer laughed and shoved him for his crudeness.

*****

After school, Ryan brought Summer back to the Cohen house.  She was asleep in his bed and he went downstairs to the kitchen.  Sandy was staring blankly into the refrigerator.

"Hey," Ryan nodded.

"Hey, kid.  I was hoping to talk to you."

"What's up?"

"You tell me.  What happened to Summer's face?"

"What are you talking about?" Ryan replied calmly.

"You can talk to me, Ryan," Sandy said quietly.

"I know.  But it's not my thing."

"Talking?"

"No, I mean, it's Summer's thing.  It's not mine to share," Ryan whispered.

"Did something happen?  Was she attacked?"

Ryan was rigid with tension.  "I can't say."

"I'll talk to her, Ryan…"

"No, Sandy.  She says she's okay.  I have to believe her.  We have to trust that she knows what she's doing," Ryan said slowly.  Sandy could see the emotional turmoil in his deep blue eyes.

"Ryan, if she needs help…"

"She'll come to me if she needs help.  We have to trust her.  If I told you or went behind her back to try and do something…I'd lose her and then…what if she doesn't call me next time?  I mean, I have to trust her…I have to keep her trust…"

Sandy nodded slowly.  "Then I trust you.  But can I trust that you'll come to me if it's something that you can't handle?"

"Yes, Sandy.  If it were up to me…you'd already know.  But thanks."

*****