-1Chapter Two
Logan's grin froze on his face. This could not be happening. He was finally getting to work with Sonny Corinthos, only to play babysitter to Lulu Spencer? Not that there was anything wrong with Lulu, of course. It just was a far cry from really, truly working for Sonny--this wasn't Logan gaining power, or glory, or money. This was Logan being given something to do that would keep him out of trouble, and keep Lulu away from it. Sonny really didn't care about him, or his services. Sonny just wanted him out of the way.
"Sonny," Lulu began, "I don't think--"
Sonny cut her off. "Lulu, I am telling you this--it seems Jerry has been very interested in his hostages now. One way or the other, it wouldn't surprise me if he came after you as well. It's a risk to everyone. Jerry now has what he wants from Emily, but he could always turn around and want some other kind leverage. You are a perfect person--you were a hostage, you are friends with Jason and myself, your brother, sister-in-law, cousin...you know almost all the other hostages. I don't need to worry about you, on top of everything else, so please, just do this, okay?"
Lulu sighed. "Fine."
Logan knew she would have protested further if she had not been so scared. Jerry Jacks must have really terrified her, or she would never go for him being the one to keep her safe.
"You want me to be Lulu's...bodyguard?" he asked.
"You wanted in on this, and you and Lulu seem to enjoy each other's company..." Sonny suggested. Cooper coughed, and Lulu would have sworn Sonny was enjoying this. At least he won in all ways--he got Logan off his back, and yet another person after Jerry. "And I really do need someone on Lulu at all times."
Logan turned a grin on Lulu this time. She rolled her eyes in return.
"So what's he supposed to do?" Lulu questioned. "Follow me around all the time? Won't that draw a little bit of attention?"
Sonny shook his head. "Two young people together all the time? Couldn't be more normal. Just try to stick as much as possible to your everyday life--school, work, fun, whatever. I'll have someone keep an eye on the Quartermaine mansion as well, so you can get rid of him at home if you like."
"Gee, thanks," Lulu muttered.
"Milo," Sonny said, "Would you please take Lulu out and make sure she gets something to drink on us? Have her wait for Logan, he'll be along in a minute. I just have a couple words for him."
As soon as Lulu had left with Milo, Sonny excused Cooper with Max. Just Logan and Sonny were left in the room.
"You know, if you were anybody else who heard something they weren't supposed to," Sonny said, "I probably would have made you disappear. But obviously you and Lulu have something going on--what I'm not sure--so you'd better not slip up again. This is your only chance. You better take it seriously--Lulu happens to be the daughter of a very close friend of mine, not to mention related to my children. Something happens to her, and you're dead. You got it?"
Logan licked his lips. "Listen, this is not what I had in mind at all. But I guess I can live with it for the time being--and I definitely can do it. I was an MP; I'm quick on my feet and I can smell a dangerous situation in a second."
"Hmm, don't get your hopes raised. Just because I trust you to protect Lulu Spencer, doesn't mean I trust you to be my right hand man all of a sudden."
"Here's hoping you change your mind, Mr. Corinthos." Logan smiled.
Logan paused outside the doorway and watched Lulu. She was slightly turned to the window, on one of the big bar stools, and she couldn't see him from here. Milo was talking animatedly across from her, but she didn't seem to care much about what he said. Her head rested in one hand, and with the other hand she was listlessly stirring her coffee with a spoon. Absentmindedly she reached for the sugar, and poured it in. It was then that Logan realized how tired she actually looked. This whole Jerry thing had really taken it's toll on her, he thought. Now it had resurfaced. He knew the feeling. She was just tired of it, and wanted it to go away. He had felt the same way sometimes when he had seen his comrades fall in Iraq.
"Lulu," he said with his smooth southern accent. "How much sugar do you want?"
Lulu blinked and then gazed down at her cup. She hadn't realized that her thoughts had preoccupied her so much that she was still letting the sugar pour out into her coffee. Milo quickly took the cup away from her. "Let me get you another one," he said.
Logan took Milo's vacated seat across from her.
"You look like crap, Spencer." he commented lightly.
"Huh," she grunted. Then she looked up at him. "So I guess I'm going to be seeing a lot of you now."
"Yep," he paused. "I...I read some about what happened at the Metro Court. You were pretty lucky."
Lulu bit her bottom lip. Logan could see her eyes filling with pain. "I thought it was finally over--I didn't think I'd ever see him again."
"Hey," Logan touched her hand. "Look at me. He's not going to hurt you again, Lulu."
"How do you know?" she burst out. "He's hurt or threatened almost everyone I care about--my sister-in-law almost lost her baby, my brother flatlined the other day, and I don't doubt that had anything to do with it, everyone was in the hotel when it blew up. Craig...Jerry...almost killed me, who's to say he isn't going to do it again, Logan? Or worse, what if he goes after my family? I don't want to go through that again--I've already lost my mom, isn't that enough?"
By this time Lulu's eyes were swimming. "I don't want to live in constant fear. I've seen what it's done to people. I'm tired of it, Logan. I just want it over."
Logan didn't answer for a moment. He stared thoughtfully down at the table, finger tracing the marble top. Finally he looked up. "I know," he began slowly, "I've been through that. When I went to Iraq the first time, I swore I wasn't going to be one of those soldiers who came back and were never the same. I believed, and I still do, in the cause I was fighting for. But I was dead wrong about one thing--it did change me. I don't know if it's good or not. Sometimes when I was there I did want it to be over. I didn't want to live like that."
"And now?" Lulu whispered.
"I wish I could tell you that you'll get over it, Lulu. I really do. But there's no magic formula, no 'the way' to forget. It's just something you have to deal with and figure out for yourself," he said sincerely.
The two were silent for a moment. Logan studied Lulu carefully. He didn't know Lulu Spencer that well, but he felt like he understood her. He knew what she was going through right now, and he wouldn't wish it on anybody.
A ringing from Lulu's purse on the table shook him out of his reverie. She quickly unzipped it, and reached inside, fumbling for her cell phone.
"Hello? Carly? Hey...her day off? No, it wouldn't be a problem at all," Lulu glanced quickly at Logan, "I can take them out if you want...of course I can handle them. In fact, maybe I could get Nik to let me take Spencer too; I've been meaning to...okay, well, I'll be there as soon as I can, okay?"
Logan spoke as she turned her phone off. "We going somewhere?" he asked casually.
He was a bit confused by the sudden grin that crossed her face until she spoke. "As a matter of fact, yes. It's your lucky day--you get to help me babysit three children."
