A/N Yet again, thanks to darkin520 for taking time to be my brilliant beta :)

Chapter 21

Despite countless investigations into all aspects of Lawrence Wolenczak's visit to the UEOSchool, nothing had been discovered. There had been people working twenty-four hours a day for three days with zero results.

"Does this mean he is going to make his presence known during the weekend on Bridger Island?" asked Michael when he and Nathan were going through some data for the tenth time.

Nathan stopped what he was doing and looked ahead of him, rather than at him.

Michael knew what that meant; after years of reading Nathan's body language, he knew.

Nathan then shifted his position slightly, hunched his shoulders, and drew his hand through his hair.

'Oh God,' thought Michael, 'this is going to be bad.'

"I am sure of it; the only thing is, I don't know what he is going to do."

"Should we go? If there is a chance of him hurting Cara, the girls, or Lucas, even a remote one, can we let them be exposed?"

"If we don't go, that will upset a great many people, including Cara, the girls, and Lucas. It will also mean that Wolenczak has won; he has power over us."

"You are right, but what are we going to do about security?"

"Believe me, we shall have security. Wolenczak would have to be a magician to get anywhere near the island."

That made Michael feel better. Even after all these years, even after having a family and living in England, it was good to know that his big brother was in charge.

"Hey," Michael turned as he was leaving Nathan's cabin, "could you imagine Kristin's reaction if we had cancelled? She has gone all out for this party. I've never seen so much preparation; looks as though this is a dry run for the wedding."

"I know," groaned Nathan, "Another reason I didn't want to cancel is that Kristin would have killed me!"

At the hospital Cara and Lucas had two more sessions of aqua therapy and were now off the antibiotics. Cara was just taking a mild sedative at night to help her sleep. Lucas wasn't on any medication. They were eating healthily and both looked well on the way to recovery. Their scars and bruising were also fading. It was just their burn marks and brands that were still the stark reminders of the physical abuse they had been subjected to at the hands of Wolenczak and Curtis.

Following the conversation with Kristin, they also had a couple of sessions with the Psychologist, Dr Palmer, who was a personal friend of Kristin's and whom the two of them found to be very good. He listened and had the ability to make them feel secure with him. He also posed no threat to Cara.

Dr Chris Palmer had been keeping Kristin informed of the general outcome of the sessions, and he felt that the way forward was to have a joint session. Chris had been visiting them in the hospital, and so, as he wandered into the lounge, they both looked up from their books and gave him a smile.

"Who's first today?" asked Lucas.

"Something different today; I would like two for the price of one, both of you together. I think it would help."

Lucas looked at Cara, and she nodded.

"That's fine."

Chris Palmer settled down in one of the easy chairs, and Lucas and Cara stayed on the sofa. Kristin had told the rest of the medical staff that when Dr Palmer was with Lucas and Cara, they should not be disturbed.

Chris began, "I want to thank you both for sharing your experiences when you were captured. I know it was not easy to tell me, but you have been amazing, and I do think that the sessions have started to help you."

Lucas had been quiet during the first session, but had begun to tell Chris how he had felt being with his father again. The next session had continued well, and Chris was able to ask questions to try and establish how he could help Lucas. Cara had cried through both sessions, but through her tears, she had managed to tell Chris some of her time with Wolenczak and Curtis.

Chris continued, "I wanted to have a joint session because I have found that during your sessions with me, there is a recurring theme. You both feel a great deal of guilt over what has happened." He turned to Cara, "Cara, do you know why Lucas would feel guilty about your experience?"

Cara sat still for a little while and then nodded.

"I know Lucas feels guilty about more than one thing; the first is that Lawrence Wolenczak is his father, and Lucas feels guilty that I was involved in the capture and all the beatings and abuse. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be there." She stopped and started to feel her stomach knotting.

"Are you alright, Cara; do you want to carry on?" asked Chris. She nodded.

"I also think that he feels guilty about …" She faltered as though she was trying to find the right way to say the next part of the sentence; she didn't want to say it, but knew that if she did, and Chris knew, he might be able to help Lucas. She continued, but her voice was very quiet, and both Lucas and Chris had to strain to hear, "…about having to have sex with me."

She looked at Lucas; she felt so sorry for him. She had just taken it as part of the nightmare she had been living in when she was with Wolenczak and, in a way, de-personalised what happened with Lucas; in order for her mind to cope.

"Are you alright, Lucas?"

Lucas nodded, just slightly, relieved in a way that Cara had told him. He had felt so much better when he told Kristin, and now that Chris knew, a little part of him relaxed.

"Do you think that she understands your guilt?"

"Yes."

"Do you know why Cara feels guilty?"

Lucas didn't have to think; he knew, "She feels guilty because she thinks she is relying on me too much, and she thinks she is holding me back from recovering from our ordeal."

Chris Palmer looked at the two people sitting in front of him.

"I think you are both very perceptive, and know each other very well."

"We spent a great deal of time with each other during those eight weeks," remarked Cara, "We had been abused by Wolenczak and Curtis and then left on our own. We had been hurt physically and mentally. Sitting together in the basement in the aftermath, all we had was each other, and consequently, we learned a great deal about ourselves."

"I know that the way forward for you both would be to realise that the guilt you feel is just a manifestation of how much you care for each other, and instead of feeling guilty, you should feel comforted by the fact that you each have endured so much for the other." He looked at both of them and then added, "The bond you share is extraordinary, a bond of companionship united under the harshest of conditions. You both underwent a roller coaster of emotion but the bond you share enabled you to survive for each other."

Chris Palmer's observation and his aspiration for their healing gave them a great deal to think about. He left, saying that he would see them the next day, before they would leave for Bridger Island.

"Did that help you?" asked Cara as she watched Chris leave.

"A little; it's a start, and each time we talk about what happened, I feel as though a little bit of me is healing."

"It's the same with me. It's also comforting to know someone else knows about what we went through and how we feel. At the moment, I still feel I can't share it with Michael."

Not long after, Kristin walked in with a parcel. She was beaming.

"Lucas, I think it's a good idea if you go and do some manly bonding with Jim, as I have been shopping for Cara, and she has a lot of new clothes to try on. You can't beat a little bit of retail therapy to make you feel better!"

"Message understood!" Lucas jumped up and gave a mock salute to Kristin.

"I can tell you are definitely feeling better," she commented, "because you are starting to push all the right buttons to make me want to tell you off!"

Lucas grinned, and Kristin was so grateful to see it. "Have a great time," he said giving Cara a hug, and he wandered off to find Jim. However, the fact that a UEO security guard followed him and made sure he went into Jim's room still showed how serious their situation was still deemed to be.

Cara and Kristin had a wonderful time trying on clothes. Cara was still much thinner than she used to be, and Kristin had a great eye for fashion and what would be suitable. Cara had great fun and loved how Kristin had brought clothes that could mix and match, so the number of combinations seemed endless.

"Michael won't be able to resist you!" joked Kristin.

At this off-the-cuff comment, Cara became very quiet and sat down.

"Cara, what is it? Are you alright?"

"It's just that I hadn't thought of that. You know, where I would be sleeping on Bridger Island?"

"Cara, Michael won't expect anything; you know that," reassured Kristin.

Cara knew that very well, but she still looked worried. "I haven't even considered anyone sleeping near me, except for Lucas." They were both quiet, and then, Cara looked at Kristin.

"You know, we had such a good session with Chris Palmer, I think that I should try, to let Michael become closer again. Just to be in the same bed would be progress."

"Well, we'll see," replied Kristin, "and I think you are being really positive; well done!"

Later on that day, Michael brought Freya and Kit. They were both really looking forward to being with the family on Bridger Island as well as the crew members that had become their extended family. Cara showed the girls her clothes while Michael went off to find Lucas and Jim, who had spent the afternoon watching a selection of films about fast cars, martial arts, and scantily-clad women. Kristin had gone in and given them her disapproving look, but again, she was secretly pleased that the old Lucas was slowly returning; even though the semi-naked women were Jim's choice.

The last day before the party was spent having a further individual session with Chris Palmer and packing. Nathan had bought some new clothes for Lucas with the advice of Wolfman, Lucas's friend from the Internex. Nick knew Lucas's dress code very well and was able to give Nathan styles and even which brands of clothes to buy.

Nathan came over with Ben to discuss security for their journey, and both Lucas and Cara listened attentively to the arrangements. Cara was very impressed, and even Lucas thought that his father would have real difficulty in contacting them during their journey or on Bridger Island. It had been decided that Michael and the girls would travel with Dagwood and Ben, and they would travel separately from Cara and Lucas, who would be travelling with Nathan and Kristin. Jim would be travelling with Jonathan, Katie, and Piccolo.

Leaving the hospital was quite frightening for Cara, so she held onto Lucas and Nathan. At one point, she thought that she was going to have a panic attack, but Kristin was able to show her some deep breathing exercises, and her fear began to subside. In a flash they were out of the hospital and into the waiting UEO cars.

"There, that wasn't too bad, was it?"

"No," admitted Cara.

Without thinking, Nathan put his arm around Cara. Her reaction was instantaneous, and he was shocked how she pulled away from him and moved to Kristin.

"I'm so sorry, Nathan, I wasn't expecting you to do that," she whispered apologetically.

"That's alright, Cara, I should have thought…"

"Yes, you should have," chided Kristin.

"It's alright, Kristin, Nathan was only being protective." Cara moved towards Nathan, "Now, I know it's you; I'm OK." She smiled at him and took his arm and put it around her shoulders. Lucas moved to the other side of Nathan, who also put his other arm around Lucas's shoulders. The four of them sat in companionable silence on the drive to the helipad where they were going to get their lift to the island.

Cara felt like a celebrity with all the security as she made her way onto the helicopter. Within minutes, they were rising and being deafened by the huge whirling blades, slicing through the air as they were taking them toward the island. Although none of them shared their thoughts outloud, they all had mixed feelings as they crossed the coastline and travelled over the azure sea: anticipation, excitement that all the family would be together, relief at having a safe journey, but most of all apprehension of what was to come.