Chapter 10

"You seem like someone that she'd like," Claire says looking over at Lucas as they sit at Haley's bedside. "I'm sorry for even considering that you were different than you really are."
"It's alright. I've been accused of at least a couple things I didn't do before."
"Oh, so she wouldn't have happened to tell you who her son's father is would she?"
"I thought you two were close," Lucas says studying Claire's reaction as he says it.
"Apparently you thought she might have mentioned it to me. To tell you the truth I don't think she trusts me that much. In fact I seem to do more bad than good most of the time."
"Why, what did you do?"
"I was talking with one of her friends online the one time when I was watching Jason, and I sent the person her pictures." Looking at him, she wonders what he'll think about it. "Let's just say she wasn't too happy about that."
"Let me guess, I was in one of those pictures."
"Yeah you were."
"Great," he says looking around the room and out towards the hallway. "Who did you send them to?"
"Some guy named Nathan."
Digesting the information Lucas isn't that sure about what to think. If Nathan had that picture he could of shown it to anyone by now. Feeling Claire watching him he brings his focus back to her. Getting up from the chair he's sitting in Lucas turns to head for the door.
"Look, I have to go. Just tell Haley I was here, alright?"
"Yeah," she says pondering why he had to take off in such a hurry as he leaves the room.

"Where's Karen?"
"She's not here," Whitey says looking up at Nathan. She won't be here for awhile either."
"Oh, do you know where she is?"
"She's out checking up on your ex wife."
"Umm," Nathan says glancing around the café. "Why is she doing that?"
"There was an earthquake out there, but perhaps you didn't hear about that."
"Yeah, I didn't hear about that."

Making his way to the end of the hallway, Lucas pauses before he reaches the adjoining main hallway. Peeking around the corner, he spots his mom talking to one of the nurses at the desk. Deciding to sneak by while she's distracted, he heads straight to the elevator. Slipping into the elevator, he stands to the side of the doors so that no one can see him.
"After all of these years," Karen says getting onto the elevator just as the doors are about to close. "You still thought you could sneak past me and I wouldn't notice."
"I suppose I did."
"You always did didn't you?"
"Yeah," Lucas says as she pushes a button for one of the other floors. "So I'm guessing you're here because of Haley."
"I'm here because of the three of you."
"So you know?"
"Yes," she says looking over at him caringly. "Nathan showed me the picture."

"How's the little guy doing?"
"He's doing fine," Claire says as Brendan walks over to her. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure… what?"
"How much do you know about Kidd?"
"Not much other than he makes me look bad around the shop," Brendan says leaning up against the wall. Why what did he do now?"
"He left in a hurry when I was talking with him just earlier, and I think it was because of the subject of conversation at hand."
"In that case I don't know that much about him, but I do have a feeling about him."
"Oh," she says glancing over at Haley and then refocusing her attention on Brendan. "Like what?"
"I think they knew each other."
"Really what would make you think that?"
"You remember that day you and Phil left me at the house with her alone," he says kneeling down next to Claire. "I kissed her that day, and it was good until she felt the grease on my pants. She acted strange about it and normally I wouldn't think too much about it, but he was in more of a hurry to get to the house after the earthquake to find them than most people would have been."

"So only you and Nathan know right?"
"That I know of," Karen says looking understanding about his concern. "He gave me the picture to keep."
"I guess that's a plus."
"Well if I have anything to say about it justice will be served soon enough."
"I appreciate the support," Lucas says looking unsure of how he should handle the situation. He still couldn't believe that they were having this talk. Truthfully he had thought it'd never happen, and that he would never have spoken to or seen his mother again. Here they were though, talking to each other, and Lucas was just relieved that his mom knew that he was alive after all.
"How about you stay?"
"I would love to, but you know that under the circumstances it's not the best idea."
"I understand that," she says putting her arms around him and pulling him close to her. "I know how you are though and that you would normally do it."
"What would make you say that?"
"You're history with running into dangerous situations."
"That was different though," he whispers into her ear. "What about Dan?"
"He's not anywhere near here."
"How do you know?"
"Trust me," Karen says as they get up. "He's busy with mayoral duties. Not to mention that if he does anything to you this time he's going to regret it."
"In that case I will stay."