Episode Two:

Previously on The O.C.

Kaitlin discovered she was spreading more than gossip around campus.

Sophie bonded with her mother by revealing a secret crush.

Julie forgot her priorities and forced Frank to make a harsh decision.

Taylor met a new client in serious need of her straight-talking therapy.

Ryan found himself in a moral dilemma while trying to build his career.

Seth believed his marital and professional lives had both met a dead end.

Summer realised she was needed by Seth more than the African wildlife and returned home… with some unexpected news.

And Sandy failed to balance being a teacher with being a friend to his students.

* * *

At first Sandy had no idea how to respond to the shocking revelation his student had made, but finally he forced himself to speak.

"Dale, take a deep breath and tell me what happened."

"Sandy, I woke up hours ago, hours! I thought she would come to shortly after me… but she didn't, Sandy, she didn't! And now, now she's still lying there… I think she's dead."

"You shouldn't assume the worst just yet… where is she?"

"She's in my dorm room, we kinda hooked up last night. But now she's still motionless on my bed."

"What did you do Dale? Why are you blaming yourself for this?"

"Last night I persuaded her to experiment with me, it's college Sandy, everyone does it."

"Trust me, I'm fully aware of that! So, are you saying you both took drugs?"

"Yes, we never expected this to happen."

"I know that but the police need to be informed."

"No! Don't! What about client-confidentiality?"

"I'm your teacher, not you lawyer, Dale."

"Please, just help me out, you know that I'm not a bad guy."

"Why do I feel like I've been here before?!"

"Well come on in, Oliver," Taylor says warmly to her new client. "Make yourself comfortable." Her hospitality is met with a huge grin, she shuts the door behind them. Taylor asks him to explain why he thinks he needs therapy.

"It's never enough, I always want more. I need more… because I expect more."

"More from who?"

"From the girls I love, I need for them to love me back. Is that too much to ask?"

"Of course not!" Taylor remembers the days when she would long to hear those three little words as well and sympathises with her client. "You know, I was once a lot like you."

"Impossible! Someone as smart and stunning as you… I don't believe it!" Taylor lets out a laugh and begins to explain how she managed to move on. Before long they are deep in discussion and relating to one another. They hear a knock on the door, Taylor's secretary informs her that she has gone over the time and the next client is waiting. Taylor flusters her papers and drops her writing pad, which Oliver retrieves for her. Oliver glances at the front page and sees the word "delusional". He looks forlornly at Taylor before rushing off.

"No! Wait!" Taylor screams. "Oh crap."

Seth and Summer cuddle each other on the couch and make baby plans together. Seth asks if she has been to see a doctor yet, she hasn't but tells him there's a surgeon she wishes to visit first, her father in Seattle. They plan to go the following day and tell Seth's parents when they return. While Summer books the flights online, Seth receives a call from work.

They are less than happy with his last review in which he criticised America's favourite actress. Seth is told to come in to the office tomorrow for a meeting.

"Am I being fired?" Seth asks abruptly.

"Just come in tomorrow, we need to talk in person."

"I have plans, so I guess I quit!"

"Seth, listen to me-"

"No! You listen to me, you know what I like about RomComs… nothing!" And with that Seth hangs up the phone. "I always wanted to do that!" he says to himself.

"I'm sorry but I just don't feel comfortable doing that."

"We're doing you a favour, Mr. Atwood. We could have chosen any other firm but we thought you would be the most appreciative of this… arrangement."

"I am… it's just…"

"What?"

"When can I start, Mr. Green."

"Call me Bob."

Ryan and Bob Green shake hands but if Ryan is honest he would rather have nothing to do with this untrustworthy businessman. Unfortunately his business ethics are clouded by his personal dreams. Ryan arrives home thoroughly disappointed in himself. Taylor greets him but he is in no mood to talk.

"Ryan, you're home! How did it go?"

"I got it", he replies blankly.

"I'm not one bit surprised!" she says smiling proudly. "Come sit, I had a very strange client today!"

"Isn't that like confidential or something?" Ryan says flatly.

"Oh, I don't care about that", Taylor says, laughing to herself.

"Goodnight Taylor." Ryan turns and goes to bed.

"Ryan?" Taylor is left in silence and totally confused by Ryan's demeanour. She decides it would be better to leave him brood alone and goes back to her office to catch up on some work for the following day. Not long after sitting down to work Taylor hears the door creak, she stands up and makes her way across the room.

"Hello?" she calls out. "Is someone there?"

Out from the shadows a dark figure appears. "Oliver! You scared me!"

"I was passing by and saw the light on."

"Ok, I'm glad you decided to come in because I was worried you wouldn't return after what happened earlier today." Taylor explains that he had read someone else's evaluation and presents him with his one. "I probably shouldn't be doing this but what the hell!" Oliver reads her notes, which say he is a very sweet and endearing person who just needs some guidance. Oliver is thrilled and they arrange sessions for the upcoming month.

Julie arrived home from Frank's house and was standing outside her front door with Jody waiting for her assistant, James, to park the car and then open the door for them.

"Hurry up James!" Julie yells at her assistant and he rushes up the steps to her fumbling the keys in his hands "Now I want you to go straight to bed Jody, it's very late." Julie and Jody step inside and Jody runs up the large marble staircase to his bedroom. Julie remains in the hallway looking at the vast empty space before her and tears fill her eyes.

"Eh, Mrs. Cooper?" Julie had forgotten James was still standing at the glass doors. "Would you like anything else?" Julie senses fear in his voice and feels guilty for how she has been treating him.

"No, that will be all." Julie answers and he turns to leave. "Wait. James, I really appreciate all you do for me and I just want to thank you for everything."

"That's no problem, are you sure I can't help you with anything?"

"How about a drink?" James laughs and steps inside.

Sandy and Dale make their way to Dale's dorm room in a sombre silence, a silence neither of them is willing to break. They arrive at his door and Dale looks cautiously up and down the hallway, assured no one else is present he unlocks the door and they walk inside. "Over here" Dale whispers softly and Sandy follows. Before him Sandy sees nothing but an empty bed.

"Nice prank, Dale" Sandy says angrily and storms out of the room, annoyed this delayed him from getting home to Kirsten and Sophie. Dale remained stood in the same spot with a shocked expression.

Kaitlin calls in to the on campus health clinic to talk about her embarrassing situation. Luckily for her it's easily cured, however it's unlikely that her reputation will be as easy to clean up. It seems the entire student population knows about the outbreak and more importantly where it originated! She can't leave her dorm room without getting insults thrown at her, even her room-mate has been giving her dirty looks. Kaitlin is also distressed by the fact that she hasn't spoken to her mother in over a month, Julie is always too busy to talk and never returns her calls. Kaitlin could really use her mother's help right now but knows not to even bother calling. Kaitlin turns to the one person she knows will always be there for her, Brad. She realises then just how much she has taken him for granted.

Kaitlin packs up all her belongings with the sad realisation that her life at college has prematurely come to an end. She rushes through campus hoping to go unnoticed while on her way to Brad's room. She knocks on the door and takes a deep breath, she can't believe what she is about to do. Brad answers and his face lights up when he sees Kaitlin standing before him. She drops her bag and gives him a well over-due hug.

"Come away with me Brad!"

"What? Kaitlin, are you feeling okay?" Brad cannot comprehend what is happening.

"I don't think I've ever felt better. Let's go now, get your things and come with me!"

"Where, Kaitlin? What about college?"

"Anywhere, I don't care! Mexico, New York, Europe, the Moon, wherever, I just want you with me, forget college, forget everything!"

"You know what, I am in need of a holiday!"

Kirsten, Sandy and Sophie are gathered around the kitchen table enjoying breakfast. Sandy is expressing his shock at last nights events and Sophie asks what happened.

"Oh, don't you worry about it sweetie, Daddy just needs to learn the difference between students and friends."

"Hey, I'm a student, can't we be friends?!" Sophie enquires innocently.

"Yeah, Professor Cohen, that seems a bit harsh!" says Kirsten, siding with Sophie.

"I guess I can make an exception!" Sandy replies before kissing Sophie on the forehead and grabbing his briefcase. "But now I must be off" and with a final kiss for Kirsten he leaves for work. Kirsten gets Sophie ready for school and the drops her off. After returning home she is alone in the empty house, not knowing quite what to do with herself. She goes to her art studio in the backyard but just stares at all the completed pieces that fill up the room. Perhaps she is finally ready to unveil her work to the public.

Julie wakes up to find James in the bed next to her. She has no recollection of what happened the night before and is angry with herself for yet again screwing up. She kicks James and he wakes up with a start. "Get me my phone and get out. You're fired." Julie grabs the phone from his hand and goes into Jody's room to wake him up.

"Are we late for school again mom?" he asks.

"No, you're not going to school today, put some clothes and anything else you need into that bag and get dressed. Quickly." Julie dials and places the phone to her ear. "You said I could call if I was ever in need of your help."

"I sure did, and bang - you're calling the Bullit for help! Whatever you need, it'd be my pleasure, sweetheart!"

Ryan woke up the next morning to find Taylor had never joined him in bed the night before. He goes downstairs but she's nowhere to be seen. Ryan blames himself for being so rude to her and hopes he can earn her forgiveness. He tries calling her but she doesn't pick up. Looking at the clock he realises he needs to get to work and rushes out the door without giving her absence a second thought.

Sophie arrives home from school but no one greets her and she knows instinctively where to go. As usual she finds her mother in her art studio, not painting but writing. Sophie asks what she is doing and learns of her mother's plans to sell off all her pieces so she can seek new inspiration. Sophie thinks it's a great idea and offers her 10 dollars for the set!

"Well I'd like to see you do better!" Kirsten jokes.

"Look at this mom" Sophie takes out a painting from her schoolbag.

"Wow, I'm very impressed! Maybe you will grow up to be an famous artist!"

"Is that what you wanted to be?"

"It's what I wanted, but it's not what I did. Unfortunately I did what was expected of me."

"And what's expected of me, mom?"

"I expect you to follow your dreams, whatever they may be and whoever they involve. Which reminds me, what did Jody think of your masterpiece?"

"He wasn't in school today."

"Oh. I wonder why not, I'll give Julie a call and see if they would both like to come over later."

It had been a while since Kirsten had spoken to Julie and she was becoming more and more concerned. Once again there was no answer when she called her house.

"That's great news! I was wondering how long more you would keep me waiting to finally become a granddad!" Neil was expectedly enthusiastic at the news that his only daughter Summer had fallen pregnant. "Congratulations to both of you, there's no getting rid of you now Seth", joked Neil, but this was just met with awkward laughter.

"Right well now I guess we can go get that check-up you're well over-due." Seth said to Summer.

"What? You still haven't seen a doctor, I'll take you there now, I don't want my hopes to be raised for nothing!" Neil led the way and persuaded his colleague to give them a quick check-up despite being fully booked.

"Well, everything seems to be fine, your baby appears to be healthy. So would you like to know the sex?"

"Erm… I guess, is that what you want Seth?" Summer turns to Seth unsure what to do.

"Yeah, surprises are overrated!" says Seth and Summer chuckles and turns back to the doctor.

"Well then I can tell you that you are expecting a beautiful baby girl!"

"Wow, she's going to be the most fashionable, environmentally aware baby ever!" says Summer.

"Our own Lil Baby Vixen, I can't wait." Seth says before kissing Summer.

Sandy had just finished a lecture and the students were making their way out of the lecture room when two policemen made their way down the aisles towards him. They ask if he had spent the night before tutoring a student named Dale. Sandy tells him he was with him for a short while but he wasn't tutoring him.

"Well, that's not what he's been telling us."

"What exactly is this about?" Sandy asks impatiently as he is utterly confused.

"A girl claims to have been drugged in a bar last night by your student, Dale. She says he took her back to his room and forced himself on her, she was unconscious but managed to escape when she woke up late last night. However, Dale claims he spent the whole evening with you."

* * *

Sorry it's so so long, I just can't stop writing once I start. Hopefully you enjoyed it, all feedback is appreciated, please comment!