*Thank you for the reviews! I greatly appreciate them :D

Carly sat impatiently at the hospital waiting for Michael's check up. She had been waiting for over half an hour, and still hadn't been called back. Bobbie walked by, and noticing Carly and Michael, headed their way.

Smiling, she bent down to see Michael in his stroller. "Hi, Michael. Look at how big you are getting. I have missed seeing you everyday."

She looked up at Carly, and with a tentative smile, said, "Carly. It's nice to see you. How have you been?"

Just as tentative, Carly said, "Good. Um… exhausted, but good."

Laughing softly, Bobbie told her, "I remember those days. Lucas was a colicky baby, so I barely got any sleep the first year. It gets easier though. Well, sort of. You get used to one age, and then they change on you and you have to figure everything out again."

Carly looked down, her usual annoyance at the ease with which Bobbie talked about her other kids rising again. It hurt that she had given BJ and Lucas the love and attention that Carly had never really received. All of her insecurities rose up within her. She looked down, gripping her hands until the knuckles turned white.

"Thanks for the info. But we are just perfect, aren't we Michael?" Carly said with an edge to her voice.

Bobbie looked at her confused. She wondered if this was just Carly's postpartum talking. Taking a deep breath for patience, she said, "Well, it was good to see both of you." Then, bending down to talk directly to Michael, "And, I agree with your mother. You are just perfect."

At this, Carly relaxed a little. "I'm sorry. It's just…" She drew one shoulder up in a half shrug.

With a sincere smile, Bobbie said, "Exhaustion? The overwhelming job of motherhood? You don't have to apologize; I understand."

"Thanks… Really, I just…" Another shrug, "Thank you."

Bobbie just smiled and placed a hand on Carly's arm. Just then, the nurse called Carly and Michael back. As they walked away, Bobbie continued to watch them with a question in her eyes. For some reason, she felt like there was something more, something she was supposed to know or understand that was just out of reach. Shaking her head, to clear her thoughts, she went back to work.

Leaving the hospital after getting glowing reports from the doctor, Carly stopped by Kelly's to get some lunch, and ran straight into Luke. Luke's face had a determined look as he headed towards her, causing Carly to groan in frustration.

"Caroline. We need to talk."

"We have nothing to talk about, Luke. Can't you just forget that…" She paused, looking around for listening ears, then stepped closer to him and saying in a low voice, "Can't you just forget that I am your niece? Everything is going well, and you will mess it all up."

Luke took a step forward as well, though he didn't bother to lower his voice. "Listen, little girl, like it or not my sister is growing more and more attached to that kid of yours, and consequently, more attached to you. Don't you think she deserves to know she is your mother and Michael's grandmother?"

Carly looked around in fear, then grabbed his arm, pulling him over to the side of the courtyard. The guard for Carly and Michael stepped toward the two to make sure she was okay.

Her voice starting to get slightly hysterical, she said, "So, now she deserves to know? When did this change? Before, you would rather I be dead than actually tell her. And how is that conversation going to go? Hey, Bobbie, so sorry, I lied to you when I told you your daughter had died. Surprise, she is actually the woman who stole your husband. Is that the plan?"

"Now, Caroline…"

"Don't 'now, Caroline' me, you crazy old man. I don't want her to know. I am not telling her, and that is final."

Luke grabbed her arm in a firm grip. She tried to pull it out of his grasp, but he wouldn't budge. "Either you tell her, or I will. Do you hear me?"

With fire in her eyes, she said, "Is that a threat?"

The guard, who had been watching the exchange nervously, stepped close to the pair, saying, "Mr. Spencer, let go of her now." His hand resting on his gun in a silent threat. When Luke hesitated, the guard went on, "Unhand the lady. This is your last warning."

Luke raised his hands in acceptance, "Okay. Skippy. My hands are off her." Then, he turned back to Carly, "Don't think this is over, Caroline. You need to make a decision. And soon."

When, Luke stalked into Kelly's, Carly sat down on a bench in the courtyard, pulling Michael's stroller over to the bench. "I'm sorry, Mr. Man…"

In shock, she realized the baby wasn't in the stroller. A look of panic came over her face. "Michael! Oh my God! Where is my baby?" Her voice became truly hysterical, rising in volume with each word. She began screaming, "Michael?! My baby is missing! Oh, God! Michael?! Michael?! Where are you?! Please someone help me!"

The guard began desperately searching, but the child was nowhere to be found. Luke and the other patrons rushed out to help in the search. Finally, sweating profusely, the guard called Jason. He was sure his negligence in the situation was signing his death warrant. There was no excuse for not protecting the child. With a shaking voice, he told Jason, "Boss, you need to get down to Kelly's. Someone has kidnapped Michael. We can't find him."

The line went dead before he had finished the last word. Walking over to a sobbing Carly, he told her, "Jason is on the way. We will find him. I am so sorry, I should have kept a better eye on him. I promise, we will find him."

Jason rushed out of the warehouse. The men, seeing his distress, followed close behind him. In less than five minutes, they were at Kelly's. The police had also arrived on the scene, and were attempting to question Carly. When she saw Jason, she rushed into his arms.

Sobbing, she said, "He was right there. I didn't leave him alone. But he is just gone! Jason, someone took our baby. You have to find him. Please, Jase, you have to find Michael."

He hid the panic he was feeling the best he could to try to soothe Carly. He needed answers, and she couldn't give them to him in this state. Pulling her into his chest, he said, "We will find him. Calm down. You have to calm down. Take deep breaths. You can't help Michael unless you calm down."

"Jason, how can I calm down? Someone kidnapped my baby." She practically wailed.

"Carly, we need you to answer some questions so we can find him. But we can't do that with you this upset. Please, just take some deep breaths for me." He made his voice as soothing as possible, though it also carried an edge of authority.

Carly took in shuddering breaths, calming a fraction more with each breath. When she had sufficiently steadied, Jason said, "Okay, tell me everything that happened."

The police came over to listen to what she had to say. For once, Taggert wasn't confrontational with Jason. He just stood silently listening. Mac also joined the group to listen to Carly.

"Um…" Her face scrunched up, and tears were rolling down her cheeks. In a quivering voice she said, "I came here to get lunch after Michael's doctor's appointment. I ran into Luke, and we started arguing. I didn't want us yelling right by Michael, so we just stepped over to the side of the courtyard."

Luke stepped up, solemnly he said, "We stayed in the courtyard the whole time."

At the men's nods, Carly continued, "When we got done, I went over to Michael's stroller, and he wasn't there." Her voice started getting hysterical, "I didn't leave him alone, Jason. I was right here! How could someone take him with me right here?!"

Mac asked, "Carly, did you see anyone around before you started arguing with Luke? Could someone have been following you?"

"No. There was no one. But I wasn't paying attention. Jason, I'm sorry, I should have been paying better attention." Her voice was pleading for too many things, for forgiveness, for him to find her baby, for the strength to get through this.

Jason pulled her to him both giving and taking comfort. When the police had stepped away, he nodded to the guard. "Did you see anything?"

"No, boss. Luke was yelling and grabbed Carly's arm, so I went to protect her. I didn't see anyone."

Jason gave a short nod. Then he told him, "Get all our men together. If there is a threat in the business I don't know about, I want that information immediately. Talk to everyone, and I mean everyone, our people or not. You find out if anyone has heard anything. This is our only priority right now. Do you understand?"

"Yes, boss." The guard rushed off to do Jason's bidding, grateful to still be breathing.

Jason took Carly back to the penthouse, his arm wrapped tightly around her the entire time. She vacillated between sobbing and begging, for forgiveness and for him to find Michael. He tried to sooth her as best he could, but since he was feeling the same panic, it was an almost impossible task.

When they got to the penthouse, Carly felt like the walls were closing in on her. "Jase, we should be out looking for him. I can't just sit here."

Pulling her in front of him, he said, "Carly, look at me. I need you to stay here in case someone calls."

"In case someone…?" She looked at him in confusion. Then, it dawned on her. "You mean in case there is a ransom."

Jason gave a short nod. She studied his face, and for the first time she saw his anguish. She walked into his arms, determined to offer him comfort. "Jason. This is not your fault."

A tear fell down his cheek. "If it was someone from the business…" he said in a tortured voice.

Her breath hitched, then she told him, "No. It is not your fault." Her voice was forceful, doing everything she could to make him believe.

They stood holding each other, both internally blaming themselves. Jason rested his head on top of hers, his mind running through all the scenarios. Finally, he pulled back and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"I have to go. I promise I will do everything I can to bring him back home."

"I can go with you. I can help." She begged.

"Carly, I can do more without you with me. I need you to stay here. Promise me." The thought of taking Carly to some of the places he would have to go to find answers made his stomach turn.

She nodded her head hesitantly. "Okay. I promise."

Jason put his hand on the side of her neck, his thumb stroking her cheek. He told her, "When we got married, I gave you my word that I would put our family first. I'm making you that promise again right now. I will not stop until I bring our boy home. Do you believe me?"

She nodded her head, with only slight hesitation. In a teary voice, she said, "I believe you."

He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss, then turned and left. After giving instructions to the guard, he pulled out his phone. "Bobbie, I need you to do me a couple of favors…"