Watch Over Me
Chapter Thirteen
"So I guess Spinelli and Dillon and me were getting a little too much for you to handle? Look what we did, we ended up pushing you to Logan." Milo said, face downcast.
"No, no...you didn't "push" me to Logan. Nobody pushes me to do anything, remember? I'm a Spencer." she laughed. "And yes, you three are pretty annoying sometimes. But I love each of you. You have been the best friends I ever could have had."
"But you still chose Logan Hayes, of all people?"
"First of all, I'm not with Logan. I don't even really want to be with Logan. I mean, I...I...could be with him, but I don't want what goes along with it. We wouldn't ever work out." Lulu replied, trying to convince herself, "We just have too many differences. We'd fight constantly. It might be a good fling for a while, but me and Logan? No...it just..."
"Lulu, even Spinelli has started to face the fact that he's lost you to Logan. If that isn't proof that you two could be something, then I don't know what is." Milo said."Listen, I want you to be happy. If it means Spinelli, fine. If it means Dillon, fine. If it means me, well...that's definitely fine! But if it means Logan...I'll allow it, but that doesn't mean I have to like him, does it?"
Lulu smothered a giggle. "Just don't hurt him, will you?"
Milo gave a dramatic sigh. "I'll try."
Lulu reached over and squeezed his hand."Thanks, Milo. Thanks for being such a good friend...and thanks for being able to let me go."
He looked down at his hands. "I'm only doing it for you, you know. And if Logan ever, ever does anything--"
"You'll be the first person I let know." Lulu promised. "But really, I'm being honest here. Logan and I may never get together. We're both too stubborn to begin with. And even if we could get past that...it's just so complicated, Milo. I don't know what I want anymore. Sometimes I wish there was no such thing as love or growing up. I wish I could still be ten years old sometimes! " she laughed. "You know, one of my favorite stories when I was a kid was Peter Pan. I use to want to go to Neverland so badly. The adventure thrilled me. Now, I still sometimes wish I could go to Neverland--only so I could stay a kid forever! It's really frightening, this whole having to be independent, and make your own decisions, knowing they could ruin or make your life, by yourself."
Milo chuckled.
"But really, this is exciting too. I don't know what's going to happen with my life, and that scares me, but I'm looking forward to it at the same time. With or without Logan Hayes." she emphasized the last words.
"Speaking of the devil," Milo joked, glancing down at his watch,"Where is he? Wasn't he supposed to meet us here?"
"That's what Sonny said. It has been a while, hasn't it? Maybe Sonny forgot to tell him."
"Want to walk back to the coffee shop? He could still be there, or we might meet him on the way." Milo suggested.
"Eh, might as well. I could use the fresh air," Lulu answered.
Lulu smiled gratefully at Milo as he held the door open for her. She really was glad he was her friend.
Logan closed his eyes. He was pretty sure that the men were gone now. Had he been left for dead? Or was he dead? he wondered drowsily. Surely, this much pain didn't exist in the afterlife. No, he decided. He was still alive. He tried to move, but gave up immediately when a sharp pain soared through his body. He moaned, and sank back. Maybe somebody would come and find him, he thought. Once Lulu and Milo got tired of waiting, Sonny would find out he was missing and send someone to look for him. Or somebody might just be wandering along the alley, and decide to be his good Samaritan. Or, with his luck, those guys could come back and finish the job. And if that happened...
Just like me, to survive Iraq, only to be killed here in the streets of Port Charles, New York, he thought wryly. Logan suddenly thought of Lulu. What would happen to her if he was killed? Would they go after her as well? Were they just trying to eliminate him so they'd have easy access to her? They were after her next, he knew. If only he could get up, warn her, or at least let somebody know.
Wincing in agony, he slowly moved his hand to his pocket. His hand was shaking as he lifted his phone out. He dropped it once, as he brought his arm up, and his shoulder ached. Somehow he managed to pick it up again. Then he groaned. Apparently it had been smashed pretty well during the fight. There was no way he was going to be able to contact anyone with it. Now was the time to start praying--hard. Maybe God wouldn't hold his past against him if he was praying that Lulu would be okay. Never mind himself--he had no hope God would hear him for that. Just so long as Lulu was safe--that someone put two and two together and made sure she was protected. And maybe with a little luck, he would get out of here, too.
He closed his eyes again, when a wave of dizziness came over him. He must have been hit really hard. If they didn't come back for him, which he had no doubt that they would--if these were Jerry Jacks' people, they wouldn't be satisfied until he was dead--he'd be recovering for a long time for this one, he mused. He wasn't sure where all the pain was coming from--but it did seem to be coming from all over. Something told him he wasn't going to want to look in the mirror for a while--it hurt everywhere, and it probably didn't look too good either.
Logan heard footsteps. He tried to open his eyes, but he just couldn't. He didn't want to see them--they were going to kill him this time. He had looked into the eyes of a killer before--in Iraq and with the mob, and he didn't want it to be the last thing he saw before he died.
"Logan?!" He heard a familiar voice. It sounded worried, and it sounded like...like Lulu. She can't be here! he thought wildly. They might get her, too! Even having her be the last thing he saw before he died wouldn't be worth the risk of having her around when Jerry's guys returned.
"L...L...Lu.." his voice trailed off. He was feeling more and more weak with each second that passed. He forced himself to open his eyes, however, and saw her, albeit blurry, leaning over him.
"Logan, you're hurt!" she cried. Her face was full of worry. She took both sides of his face in her hands. He winced at her touch.
Lulu brought her hands up--they were covered in blood. She didn't know what happened to Logan, but she could only guess it had something to do with Jerry Jacks. She surveyed Logan quickly. His shoulder was bleeding heavily--she was surprised he'd even managed to stay conscious with the blood loss he must have experienced. There were several gashes on his face and head--he'd been hit by something more than a fist, she guessed.
"Who did this?" she demanded, her eyes fiery. Logan shook his head--barely.
"We have to get him to the hospital!" Lulu said to Milo. "He's in bad shape!"
Logan tried to sit up at that in protest, but fell back into Lulu's arms. She held no to him tightly so he wouldn't fall. He leaned his head against her shoulder. "No," he breathed. "No hospital. Nobdoy...can...find...out...it...was..Je-Je--Jerry."
"Don't talk." Lulu commanded. "Milo, give me your shirt."
Milo obediently took of his jacket and shirt, giving her the shirt. She ripped it into shreds. "This might hurt, Logan," she said softly, not looking at his eyes. She hated to see him in pain. He nodded and gritted his teeth as she wrapped up his shoulder as best as she could.
When she was finished, she looked at Milo. "We have to get him back to Kelly's." She took Logan's good arm. "You think you can stand up?"
Somehow they both managed to get him to his feet. He leaned against Lulu. "I can't do it." he moaned.
"You have to, Logan! You can't just give up! Once you get to you room we'll fix you all up. Come one, Logan! I need you!" she looked like she was going to cry. "I--"
The look on her face was enough for Logan. "Okay," he let out his breath. He was going to have to do this now. He couldn't leave Lulu like this.
He stumbled a few steps forward, and Milo and Lulu caught him. "Hold on to us," she whispered. "You can do it, Logan. It's not that far. You're going to make it."
The irony, he thought. Here she is, taking care of me, when I'm supposed to be doing the same thing to her. I've failed.
Lulu must have heard his thoughts, because she looked up at his face. Her eyes were sober, and she watched him carefully. She squeezed his hand, and held on to him tightly. Logan hoped she wouldn't ever let go--not just because he was sure he'd collapse right there, but because he needed her touch to keep him going.