Chapter 9 –"Why Can't We Be Friends?"
Several days later
Lucky kissed the top of Elizabeth's head as they walked in the park with Cameron. He glanced behind him, hoping he hadn't seen what he thought he had. As the two familiar figures registered in his brain again, he stifled the curse that immediately sprang to mind.
She felt him stall and momentarily tighten his grip on her shoulder. Just as quickly she felt himself relax. Elizabeth wondered what exactly had caused it. Had someone been looking at Cameron too long? Did he spot someone?
The past few days had worked both of their already overextend nerves to the breaking point. She couldn't prove it but she was almost positive that Lucky had not slept for more than a few hours here and there since that night. Not that she was doing much better. She had fallen back into her old pattern of staying up until she was too exhausted to stay awake any longer. It was the only way she knew of to keep the nightmares at bay. She was well aware that Lucky was still awake when she finally fell asleep and he had been awake before her every morning as well.
But the moment had passed. And Elizabeth would push for an explanation for his sudden shift in alertness but she doubted she would get one. At least not a completely honest one. He had certainly noticed something. Or someone. The question was what. Or Whom?
She raised her hand to his face and when she caught sight of his weary eyes, she almost cried again. He looked closer to a breaking point than she had ever seen him. Elizabeth debated the merits of telling him to go and get some sleep. But she knew Lucky. He was determined to keep her and Cam safe and nothing short of direct divine mandate from God himself would convince him to relax anytime soon.
Lucky hoped that she hadn't noticed his brief tensing but he feared she had already. He knew she was already suspicious about his lack of sleep. He didn't want to lie to her but he couldn't be sure of how she would react to what he just saw. Hell he wasn't even sure how he was reacting. At least not until he had a chance to talk it over with….
"Lucky! Liz! Hi!" Ky's voice cut through his thoughts.
He muffled a groan. Lucky knew Ky was new in town and didn't no many people but she was really starting to work his last remaining nerve. Sure she had great taste in music, but other than that she was really starting to annoy him.
She was loud, took an obnoxious pride in being different, blunt to the point of rudeness and just always around. Ok so he could admit she was hilarious in a sick and twisted sort of way and smart. And yes Cameron seemed to enjoy her company as much as Elizabeth did. And the fact that when she was around Elizabeth didn't seem nearly as worried and preoccupied as when she wasn't was a point in her favor. But it seemed to him that she was just always there. No matter where they were, there was Ky. It was starting to creep him out a little.
The object of his current loathing jogged up to them with Otis in tow. "It's a park Spencer. And she's obviously walking her dog. Quit being your father's son and be nice!" he lectured himself.
"Hi Ky!" Elizabeth smiled as the other woman bent down to say hello to Cameron. She elbowed Lucky to greet her new friend.
"Yeah. Hi Ky." He managed unenthusiastically.
"Hey." Ky paused to brush the hair out of her eyes. "Excellent day for the park." She started to rub Otis's head. "I thought Otis and I could get out and meet some new people. Oh FYI… all those stories about how you meet cute single guys when you are walking a dog are totally false. I've only met ones that are taken."
As Elizabeth laughed, Lucky tried not to roll his eyes. How had he forgotten Ky's insatiable boy craziness? Not a conversation went by without her mentioning meeting guys or wanting to meet guys or only meeting taken guys. Was it too much to ask for one conversation that did not somehow always lead back to her needing to meet a guy?
Just as he was about to send a prayer up to someone, anyone to save him from yet another conversation about where the best places to meet guys where in Port Charles, a subject he really did not want to hear Elizabeth offer opinions on again, he spied salvation. Not only would this distract Ky, it was a way to get the answers he needed. Lucky waved with more enthusiasm than he had felt in the last few days. "STEVEN!"
As he neared, Steven did not miss the barely disguised "Come save me" plea Lucky was sending with his eyes. Steven noticed the auburn beauty standing near his nephew and his sister. Taking into account Lucky's almost manic need for him to come over, the number of negative references he had heard Lucky make in the past few days, and the equal number of positive references his sister had made Steven could only make one conclusion. This had to be Ky.
"Hey!" Steven knelt down to tickle Cameron's chin and grinned when his nephew giggled delightedly. He glanced up. "Hi! Don't think we've met." He offered up his hand. "Steven Webber."
She smiled as she took his hand. "Ky Thompson." Otis barked to make his presence known. "And this is Otis."
As Steven and Ky flirted and Elizabeth looked amusedly on, Lucky carefully hit the on button on his pager. The beep sounded loudly, causing the trio next to him to look at him. He looked at his pager and let out a sigh. Inwardly he prayed he could pull this off. "It's the station."
Elizabeth smiled sadly. "You gotta go."
He nodded and kissed her forehead. "I'll see you at home." He shot a look at Steven, trying to send him the message "Make sure they get home." Steven's eyes turned serious as he nodded his agreement.
The Graystone
"Damn it! Let me in!"
Sonny and Jason glanced at each other. They had been expecting this for the past few days. Actually they were beginning to wonder if this particular confrontation would ever happen.
"Max." Sonny called out. "Send him in."
Lucky burst through the double doors. "What the hell are Francis and Johnny doing following my family?"
Sonny smiled. "How you doing Lucky? Can I offer you a drink?" he asked pointing the direction of the bar.
"Don't avoid the question Sonny. What the hell are they doing there?"
Sonny poured himself a drink as Lucky continued on. "What? Did you think I wouldn't notice them?"
Jason answered from his position on the sofa. "No. Actually we knew you would spot them. That's why we sent Johnny and Francis."
"What the hell does that mean?"
Sonny calmly turned towards the young man he once considered family. "It means when you spotted them you would realize they weren't after Cameron."
Glancing between both men, Lucky realized they knew. "Who told you…" as the words formed he figured it out. Where the information had to have come from. Who had run from that strategy session with what he now realized was a really lame excuse. "Reese."
Jason nodded confirmation. "Listen Lucky…" he began.
"Look I can protect my family."
"No one is saying you can't." Sonny interrupted. "You're a Spencer. You could probably find these guys no problem." He moved closer to Lucky. "Just think of Johnny and Francis as an insurance policy. They will be able to protect them while you are out looking. And once they are caught, I call them off. No problem."
Lucky nodded. He could see the merits of having Johnny and Francis there. It would be easier to follow up on any leads he and Steven could generate. And at least he knew Johnny and Francis. He knew how good they were. Knew how dedicated they were to their jobs. No one would get a chance to touch Cameron while they were there. "Fine. But once those bastards are rotting behind bars…"
"There gone. I swear." Sonny held his hands up in mock surrender.
As Lucky turned to leave, Sonny called out. "Oh Lucky. Just so you know, any information we hear, we'll pass it on to you."
Lucky nodded. "Thanks" he said tersely. With that he turn and left the house, determined to find his family.
