Watch Over Me

Chapter One

Max, still keeping a firm hold on Cooper, grabbed Logan by the arm and shook him. "I don't know what your problem is, but you cannot keep doing this. You are never going to work for our organization, so get it out of your head, kid! This isn't some child's game, where you follow us around for a chance to prove yourself, or listen at the door hoping you'll hear something." He pushed them down the hall. "Now you both are going to go with me, and I don't want to hear a word out of you, do you hear? You are going to come calmly and without a fight, or you'll regret it."

Cooper nodded, but Logan said nothing. Max seemed to take that as a yes, though, because he ushered the boys out of Kelly's, staying close to them. Logan took the opportunity to glare at Cooper. "Why?" he mouthed to his friend. Coop merely shook his head. "I think you're about to find out." he whispered back.

"How many times do I have to tell you before you get it through your thick skull? I don't have a conscience!"

Lulu Spencer stopped at the door when she heard Tracy speak, and glanced around the room curiously. Tracy was alone, with her finger pointed at the empty armchair.

"If anything, I was being smart by keeping it from Jason's non-existing chil--"

Lulu cleared her throat, and Tracy whirled around, throwing her hands up in the air. "My regards to Alan," Lulu laughed.

"He returns them," Tracy answered cooly.

Lulu grinned and walked over to the side table, pouring herself a glass of water. It felt nice to have nothing to do today. She'd been so busy with everything--from Elizabeth and Jason to Spinelli, Dillon, and Milo keeping her at her wit's end. Today was just going to be a day about herself-- maybe drop by Wyndamere and see Spencer, catch up on some reading, take a walk in the park--anything to get away from the drama surrounding life.

"Miss Lulu?" Alice interrupted her thoughts. "Mr. Milo is here to see you."

Lulu sighed. There goes that, she thought. Milo was a great friend, and she enjoyed his company, but she really wanted some time alone right now. However, she plastered on a smile as Milo was ushered into the room.

"Well, hello, what brings you here?"

Milo blushed and grinned. "Actually, ummm...could I talk to you outside for a minute?"

Lulu nodded. "Sure."

The two were out of earshot of the house before Milo began to speak, more seriously. "Mr. C. wants to see you, Lulu--immediately."

Lulu frowned. "What for?" she questioned, her mind playing back, trying to figure out if she'd run across some Port Charles gangster recently, or heard gunfire, or seen anything that might cause Sonny to want to see her.

Milo looked uncomfortable, and shifted his feet. "I think he better tell you, Lulu."

Sonny looked up from his desk where he was fiddling with a pen when Max opened the door and shoved Cooper and Logan inside. Sonny stood up.

"Mr. C.," Max begin, glowering at the boys, "I brought Mr. Barrett in, just as you asked. He claims to know nothing about" he glanced at Logan "that...uh...person we were talking about being in town."

Sonny walked over to Cooper, and stared at him, long and hard. It was almost comical, Logan thought. Cooper stood several inches taller than Sonny, and yet Sonny was trying to be intimidating. As far as Logan could see, it just wasn't working. He snickered, which brought Sonny's attention to him.

"And Mr. Hayes here?" he jerked his head to Logan, who immediately controlled himself.

"Mr. Hayes," Max continued tightly, "was found listening in on my conversation with Mr. Barrett."

"Is that true?" Sonny said, voice growing louder.

Logan nodded. "So Coop's working for you, now, eh? Never would have guessed it. I guess congratulations are in order, buddy." he clapped Cooper on the back, but Sonny yanked him away and pushed him to the other side of the room.

"This isn't funny! When people like you get in my way, and learn things they aren't supposed to, it does not fare well for them!"

Logan's eyes stopped dancing, and he looked at Sonny seriously.

"I served two tours of duty in Iraq. I was one of the best soldiers in my unit; and I'm offering myself to you. You'd be stupid," he continued pointedly, "To not have me work for--" he stopped when the door swung open.

"Mr. C.?" Milo poked his head in. "She's here."

Sonny looked up at him. "Who?"

"Sir, you asked me to bring Lulu Spencer to you."

Logan's head shot up. Lulu? Here? Sonny didn't really mean it when he asked Lulu to keep him out of trouble, did he? He didn't bring her here to bail him out or however they did things around here, did he?

"Send her in," Sonny directed.

Max cleared his throat and jerked his head towards Logan and Cooper. Sonny stared at them for a moment, then said slowly, "Better let them stay, Max. Mr. Barrett is already involved in this, and Mr. Hayes here just got himself involved, whether we like it or not."

Within a few seconds, Lulu, looking very nervous, walked in. "Sonny, I didn't--" she stopped when she saw Cooper and Logan. Cooper didn't meet her eyes--Logan thought he looked as if he knew very well why Lulu Spencer was here. Logan, however, caught her eyes questioningly.

She narrowed her own. "Did he do something?" she asked Sonny disdainfully, nodding her head towards Logan.

"Actually, yes," answered Sonny. Logan winced at his voice--this couldn't be good. "But," Sonny continued, "That's not why you are here. Sit down, Lulu."

Lulu looked at Sonny, Cooper, and finally Logan confusedly, but then sat carefully down, smoothing her denim skirt over her knees and folding her hands demurely on top of them. "Well?" she asked.

Sonny stared up at the ceiling before he spoke. "Mr. Craig is still in town," he said finally.

Lulu didn't move, but all the color drained out of face, and Sonny continued. "Mr. Craig is just his alias, however. His real name is Jerry Jacks."

It took a minute for that to register with Lulu. "You-you mean as in Jax's brother, Jerry?" she stammered.

"Right. Now Jerry has already used Robin Scorpio, Patrick Drake, your brother Nikolas, Emily, Sam, Spinelli, and several others since coming back. Right now he has some serious leverage over Emily. You were a hostage as well, and it might not be too long before he comes after--"

"No!" Lulu cried, her eyes scanning the room wildly. "You shot him! He should be dead! He can't be back in town; there's no reason for him to be here! He's not supposed to still be here!" She shook her head several times. "Sonny, he...he..." her voice trailed off.

Logan watched her, fascinated. She was clearly bothered by this man--he could see her hands trembling. Where had he heard the name Mr. Craig before? Mr. Craig...Mr. Craig...then it struck him. Mr. Craig was the man that blew up the Metro Court. With Lulu in it.

"Lulu," Sonny said firmly. "Look at me. I told you you were under my protection. I am going to do everything I can to keep Jerry away from you and the other hostages, okay?"

Lulu nodded mutely.

Sonny looked at Logan, then Lulu, and back at Logan again. "Kid," he finally spoke to Logan, who jerked his head away from Lulu and waited expectantly for him to continue. "You really want to work for me?"

Logan grinned. It was an odd time to bring that up, but hey, who was complaining? So Sonny wanted him to help him take out Craig...or Jerry...or whatever his name was. "Yes, sir." he said eagerly.

"Fine." He nodded at Lulu. "Then you are hired. From now on out, it's your job to protect Lulu Spencer and keep Jerry Jacks as far away from her as possible."