OZ Ficlet: Day Six

[cmk418]

Title: Day Six
Character: Ryan O'Reily
Rating: R for language (and implied nudity)
Word Count: 450
Setting: Season One
Summary: By day six in the hole, Ryan starts to go a little bit crazy.
A/N: Written for sandrine whose birthday is today, and for the Halloween Grab Bag at oz_wishing_well. And if you're reading this, please consider contributing something to the Grab Bag - icons, vids, drabbles, an epic B/K love poem, etc. - it's a way to keep our OZ community alive and well.



It’s the sixth day in the hole when things get a little bit fucked up.

At least, Ryan thinks it’s the sixth day.

It’s so cold in here. And the light never changes.

Sometimes he can hear noises, the advance and retreat of a C.O.’s shoes as he makes his way past the cell, the creaks of the pipes and a low humming sound coming from God-only-knows-what, gates slamming at odd intervals, the squeaky wheel on the meal cart as it’s pushed through, and a clatter of a tray on the floor as it’s dropped through the slot in the door.

It’s the sixth day that he starts to let his guard down.

And that’s when he hears it.

You’re gonna die in here, O’Reily.

“Fuck you, Ortolani.” Ryan curls up on himself, assuring himself that he’s alone in here.

He’s always been alone.

You’re gonna die alone too, you Mick bastard.

“You’re dead, motherfucker.” Ryan knows his mind is playing tricks on him. He has to make it stop. It’s quiet for a while, the familiar inside and outside sounds come and go, playing their soundtrack of ambient noise, until the voice in his head is just his own.

He’s on the cusp of sleep when he hears it again.

As long as you draw breath, O’Reily, I’m gonna be around.

The next days are no better. Ortolani plagues him in odd intervals. And worse, he’s starting to see the fucking prick.

They say that once you start seeing the dead, you’re halfway there yourself.

Ryan shakes his head as if to clear it. He’s gotta get out of here soon. This place is turning him crazy. How many days has it been? Fifteen? Twenty-two? Fucking ghost is making him lose track.

All those alliances you built for yourself, they’re gone. Those people have moved on and are working against you. Nino’s going to kill you.

“Haven’t you figured it out yet? Nino needs me.”

You keep telling yourself that. They’re gonna cut your dick off like they did Johnny Post. Watch you bleed out.

“What happened to me dying in here? You’ve been haunting me for weeks, Ortolani, and you haven’t done anything but talk. You sure as shit ain't gonna break me now.”

Somebody’s going to. One of these days. And I’m going to be right there when they do.

The door swings open and Ryan's clothes are thrown at him. Ryan hurries to put them on, anxious to get back to EmCity.

That night, he stares up at the top bunk, listening to his roommate’s snoring. The moment before he drifts into sleep, he hears the whispered voice –

You’re never going to lose me, O’Reily. Never.

Comments

[sandrine]

*flails* Thank you! ♥ I'm still utterly in love with the way you write Ryan; your character voice is spot-on.

[cmk418]

You are completely responsible for me writing this pairing. I don't think I'd ever have seen it otherwise.

Glad you enjoyed it!

[ozsaur.livejournal.com]

:::shivers::: The last line... :::shivers again:::

[cmk418]

I like the idea of Dino as Ryan's anti-guardian angel.

Thanks for reading!

[roguemarch.livejournal.com]

aaaaaaaaaaauuuuu! Is it chilly out here? 'cause i'm shivering as if someone had just walked over my grave.

Too powerful!

[cmk418]

Thank you! I had fun with it.

[blessgrateful.livejournal.com]

Wow, this was is nice fic! It's always realistic to see Ryan being plagued by his past demons, although it is the form of Dino. I often wondered during the series, if he felt anything for his actions. A lot of Oz deaths was due to him. However he is probably considered a sociopath, so I'm not sure if his actions affected him to a high degree. Can't be too sure now since he was on the road to redemption at the end of the series.

I imagine Ryan probably wakes up with Dino sitting on the toilet, smoking, staring at him. Dino turns his head and Ryan see charred flesh one side of his face, freaking out.

[cmk418]

I imagine Ryan probably wakes up with Dino sitting on the toilet, smoking, staring at him. Dino turns his head and Ryan see charred flesh one side of his face, freaking out.
Oh, that is some terrifying imagery.

I'm sure Ryan felt his actions in Dino's case were justifiable - retaliation for being shot. I felt a little ripped off by the season 6 redemption. I think that Ryan was more Machiavellian than anything else, so getting him to a point where he wasn't manipulative anymore felt very out of character to me. And honestly, I hated Ryan O'Reily in Season One the first time I saw it. Midway through that season on DVD, I happened to catch a S4 episode on cable and my thought was "damn, that bastard is still alive" and then I saw S2 and fell madly in love with him.

[blessgrateful.livejournal.com]

Yes, Ryan had to make a move on Dino. You're right about the O'Reily redemption angle. Maybe he was having a momentarily lapse in judgment, because I thought he forgave his father way too quickly. However, his road to redemption did come in the form of his brother's death - but eh, who knows what Fontana was going with that. I enjoy scheming Ryan, because just like you said, his moves help him to survive in Oz, outlasting most of the brawny, half-wits. if he goes the straight and narrow, especially in Em City, he'll be back to his old ways. Season 1..he was infuriating. Season 2, especially when he had the longer hair..=)