A/N – Hey look! This story lives! I shall work hard to bring you its conclusion in a timely manner! For now, you have this update to read! I would love to hear your thoughts on it, so leave me a little comment. Or a big comment. You know, whatever works.

Chapter 34 - Reaction

"You get more beautiful everyday," Johnny whispered to his sleeping fiancee. "I still can't believe you agreed to marry me. I'm the luckiest man in the world. I had given up on so many things the day I first ran into you. But you changed everything for me. Love at first sight is a little too easy, but it didn't take long for me to be head over heels."

Lulu smiled in her sleep and Johnny tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as he watched her closely.

"From the first time I held you, I was changed," Johnny admitted. "Sometimes I don't think you truly realize your effect on me."

A knock at the door made Lulu stir and Johnny cursed whoever was bothering them. He doubted anything was important enough to justify such an early morning wake up call. Even if he was already awake.

"Make them go away," Lulu murmured, rolling away from him and burying her head in a pillow again.

Johnny pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder before getting out of bed to do as she asked. He pulled some boxers from his dresser and pulled them on before opening the door enough to tell the unwelcome visitor to beat it.

"Sir, we have a situation," James said softly, knowing the wrath he'd face if he woke Lulu.

"Is my house on fire?" Johnny wondered.

"No," James replied in confusion.

"Then I don't care," Johnny smiled, trying to close the door.

"Sir," James said, keeping the door open.

"Do you want to get fired?" Johnny demanded.

"It's about your father," James whispered harshly.

Johnny's face fell and he peered back at Lulu, thankful she was already back to sleep.

"I'll be down in my office in two minutes," Johnny muttered, closing the door gently.

He dressed quietly and pressed another kiss to Lulu's forehead before heading to his office. James was waiting impatiently and Johnny nodded for him to begin as soon as he had his office door closed.

"Shadybrook called," James revealed.

"Is he dead?" Johnny asked hopefully.

"No," James sighed. "He escaped."

"What?" Johnny questioned, praying he had heard wrong.

"They found his room empty this morning," James continued.

"No, no, no," Johnny muttered.

"It gets worse," James added.

"How?" Johnny wondered.

"The police found a dead body in one of our warehouses this morning," James answered. "They were actually here to question you when we got the call about your father. It turns out the man who was killed was an orderly at Shadybrook."

"So my father used him to escape and then took him to my warehouse to kill him," Johnny realized.

"That's the conclusion the police came to as well," James replied.

"He wanted to be sure I knew he was out and what his intentions were," Johnny said, his anger level increasing.

"Sir, stay calm," James tried.

"Don't tell me what to do!" Johnny screamed.

Johnny took a few deep breaths, knowing James was right. He needed a plan and he needed one fast. He needed to stay calm so he could think clearly about the best course of action.

"I want the guards around the house doubled," Johnny muttered after a few minutes. "And everyone who is not here out looking for my father. Form search teams and check all of Port Charles. But don't waste time on airports or bus stations or anything like that. He won't leave town."

James nodded and started to leave, but paused, turning back to Johnny with a question in his eyes.

"Lulu is not allowed to leave this house at all," Johnny affirmed. "I'll be the one to tell her that, though."

"Do you want me in the house or on a search team?" James questioned.

"Here," Johnny answered. "Lulu trusts you, so I want you close in case I have to make any trips."

"Trips?" James countered.

"As soon as my father is located, I want him grabbed and taken to the cabin," Johnny said pointedly. "I'll take care of him from there."

"Yes, sir," James nodded, leaving the room.

Johnny sighed deeply and ran his hands over his face, wondering how he would tell Lulu. As luck clearly wasn't on his side, Lulu entered with a curious look on her face.

"Spencer, it's early, go back to bed," Johnny said, trying to buy himself more time.

"I woke up without you and after last night I was not expecting that," Lulu replied. "Then I heard you yell."

"You heard that?" Johnny asked.

"Yeah," Lulu nodded. "What's wrong?"

"It's, um..." Johnny stuttered. "To start off with, you shouldn't worry. I will never let anything happen to you and I need to know you trust that."

"Of course I do," Lulu muttered, taking Johnny's hands in her own and noticing he was trembling. "Honey, what is it?"

"My father escaped," Johnny revealed.

"He what?" Lulu questioned.

"He had an orderly's help and he got out of Shadybrook," Johnny continued. "He then killed the orderly and is on the loose right now, presumably in Port Charles."

"Okay," Lulu said softly.

"Okay?" Johnny countered. "This is not okay, Lulu."

"No, but it will be," Lulu replied. "The police will catch him."

"Because they have so many times before?" Johnny asked sarcastically.

"Why are you snapping at me?" Lulu wondered. "My father isn't the dangerous criminal on the loose."

"You're right, it's my father," Johnny agreed. "So whoever he harms, it's on me. Which makes it my responsibility to stop him and if I can't, it's my fault."

"That's not what I meant," Lulu sighed. "You're not responsible for him."

"I'm responsible for all of this, Lulu," Johnny muttered. "I should have killed him the other day and all the days before it. I was weak."

"Where is this coming from?" Lulu demanded. "You're not a murderer and it's not your responsibility to get rid of your father. If the cops can't handle him, it's their fault, not yours."

"So would you stop loving me if I killed him?" Johnny asked.

"What?" Lulu countered.

"The only way I know how to stop him from hurting you is to kill him," Johnny shrugged. "Will you love me when he's dead?"

"How many times do I have to tell you I do not want you to kill someone for me?" Lulu questioned.

"So is that a no?" Johnny wondered quietly.

"I don't know," Lulu answered. "I love you so much. But I love you the way you are now and I think killing your father would change you."

"It won't change me," Johnny argued.

"Just the talk of it already has," Lulu noted.

The silence was thick between them for several minutes. The sound of a the doorbell broke the tension and Johnny left the room to see who the visitor was. He wasn't at all surprised to find Nikolas on the other side of the door.

"It's not a good time," Johnny muttered.

"I heard about your father," Nikolas replied, letting himself in.

"Nikolas," Lulu called out, joining them by the door. "What are you doing here?"

"Lucky called me about Anthony's escape," Nikolas explained. "We both agree that you should come stay with me. Both of you."

"We're safe here," Johnny sighed. "But thanks for the offer."

"Johnny," Lulu mumbled, glaring at him.

"Lulu, when you were there before my father had someone getting close enough to leave notes on your pillow," Johnny reminded her.

"The entrance where he was getting in before has been sealed off," Nikolas informed them. "Plus, I've increased security and your guards would be welcome to stay as well. I just think Anthony knows less about my house and how to get around there."

"That makes sense," Lulu agreed.

"Lulu, can I speak to you for a minute?" Johnny asked, walking into the nearest room.

"Sure," Lulu nodded, following him inside.

"I can protect you," Johnny said, closing the door behind her.

"I know you can," Lulu replied.

"Then why do you want to stay with your brother?" Johnny wondered.

"I just think it's a good idea," Lulu answered. "The more people protecting me, the better, right?"

"This is our home, Lulu," Johnny noted. "We're making our life here. I thought you wanted that."

"I do," Lulu assured him. "But home to me is really wherever you are."

"Well, I'm staying here," Johnny shrugged. "So tell Nikolas that you're not going."

"What if I want to live at Wyndamere until your father is caught?" Lulu challenged.

"You mean you want to leave me?" Johnny asked, looking away. "I won't stop you. You should be where you feel safe and if that's not with me right now, I understand."

"Again, that's not what I said," Lulu said, tears coming to her eyes. "I just think it's best if we're at Wyndamere where he can't get to us."

"I already told you I'm not going," Johnny muttered.

"Fine," Lulu cried. "Then I guess I'm going alone."

"James will go with you," Johnny said, turning away from her. "And as many guards as you want. Actually, you can just have them all."

"What about you?" Lulu wondered, wiping her eyes.

"What about me?" Johnny countered, turning to her. "Your life is what matters."

"Your life matters to me!" Lulu yelled.

"Yet you're still leaving," Johnny quipped.

"I'm not leaving you, Johnny," Lulu said pointedly. "I am leaving this house for a brief period of time. And I want you to come with me, but you're refusing."

"You don't think I can keep you safe, but I can," Johnny promised. "You can stay here. We can stay here."

"I don't understand why it's so important to you that we stay here," Lulu said sadly.

"I guess you wouldn't," Johnny muttered, walking past her and leaving the room.