We disclaim. (We also figured it went without saying which was why we didn't put any disclaimer in before now. So why now? Sheer randomness I assure you.)

Chapter Fourteen

"No," Laura whispered as she sat down on the couch in Mac's office. Luke put his hand on her shoulder. "Not Lucky too." Mac had just told Luke and Laura about Lucky and Emily. Outside of Mac's office, Lieutenant Taggert was breaking the news to Monica and Alan.

"Why did this happen?" Luke demanded. "We knew the dangers; YOU knew the dangers!"

"Luke, we were ALL aware of the dangers, including Lucky and Emily. They chose to walk around town without protection."

"So what, this is their fault now?" Laura snapped.

"No, of course not. We are doing everything we can, and I am truly sorry that it happened."

"Do you have ANY idea of where they are?" Laura asked.

"A small one. Two young men saw it happen. They decided we wouldn't get there on time and followed Tom, but unfortunately he realized they were following him."

"They weren't hurt were they?" Laura asked.

"No, thankfully, but it was a close call." Mac paused. "Would you two like some coffee?"

Luke nodded and Mac left. "We just got our Cowboy back, you don't really think he'd leave us again so soon, do you?"

Laura looked at Luke. "Not by choice. Luke. why is this happening? I don't understand why this is happening."

Luke just stared back at his wife. "I don't know, baby," he replied finally. "Things never seem to go easy for us do they?"

********************

"Now you two listen to me, LEAVE IT ALONE!" Allison lectured Jack and Rafe. She and Jamal stood in front of them at the bar at the Recovery Room. "You could have gotten killed!"

"Allison, we had to follow them, the police NEVER would have gotten there on time," Rafe pointed out.

"At least now they have a direction, an idea of where to look," Jack added.

Allison hesitated. "All right, fine, but leave the rest up to the police! This guy is dangerous and I don't want either of you anywhere near him." Allison looked up at Jamal. "Or you."

"Hey, don't look at me, Spunky," Jamal protested. "I had nothing to do with this."

"Allison, we are both all right," Jack said as he stood up from his barstool. "Be thankful."

Allison forced a small smile. "I am."

"All right, well why don't we all just call it a night?" Jamal suggested. "I think we've all had enough excitement for the night."

Everyone agreed. Allison stopped Jamal before he could leave and thanked him for the ride. "It was really nice to be on your bike again," she commented.

"Yeah, it was nice," Jamal agreed. Trying to get his mind off of his ex- girlfriend, Jamal asked Jack and Rafe if they both had a ride home. "The four of us won't exactly fit on my bike," he pointed out.

"Yeah, my bike's just a couple blocks down," Jack replied. He said goodnight and left. Rafe had no way to get home.

"Well, why doesn't Jamal drop me off at the house and then I can come back with my car and get you?" Alison suggested.

"Just out of curiosity why didn't you have your car in the first place?" Rafe inquired.

"Well, I came with Lucy here earlier, and then we went to the hospital to deliver some of my muffins to Colleen. And then I met up with Jamal and we decided to have dinner so Lucy left without me." Rafe accepted that answer; he knew Allison wouldn't lie to him. "I'll see you soon."

Rafe kissed Allison and watched her leave with Jamal. Even though he knew that Jamal and Allison were no longer a couple, that they had both moved on from their relationship, Rafe knew there was still a strong connection between them. The idea of Allison's arms wrapped around Jamal's while they were going high speeds and remembering old times was enough to make him turn green. Was it his senses tingling? Were his instincts trying to tell him something or had he really morphed suddenly into the green-eyed monster?

**********************

Lucky's heart pounded as he gazed at Elizabeth for the first time in years. She was finally in front of him. She was even more beautiful than before. He couldn't believe that she was there.

She was gazing at him in shock, in pure disbelief. Lucky gazed back at her, waiting for her to say something.

"Lucky?" she stammered, "How... how? Am I dreaming?" she took a deep breath as she took a step closer to him.

"It's me, Elizabeth," he breathed her name, "I'm alive. I'm real."

Elizabeth's eyes were wide as she heard him speak, wordlessly, she reached her hands out and her fingers touched his face. They both gasped as they felt each other's touch. Elizabeth's hands started to tremble as she touched him.

"You're... you're really real." Elizabeth gasped, "Your here, in front of me... I'm touching you." Slowly, very slowly she placed her arms around him. "I'm now hugging you."

"Yes... yes you are." Lucky whispered in her ear, "And boy, does it feel wonderful."

"Yes, he is real, Elizabeth," Emily jumped in, revealing herself.

Elizabeth looked up from Lucky, and saw Emily in front of her.

"Emily?" She blinked, stunned to see her as well.

"It's me," Emily reached out to hug a stunned Elizabeth. Elizabeth broke from Emily and looked from her to Lucky in absolute amazement. She turned to see a speechless Nikolas standing at the doorway of the stairs.

"Emily... Lucky?" Nikolas gasped, as he saw his brother standing their, the brother that he thought was dead, "How... how are you here? This can't be possible... your... your..." "I'm not dead," Lucky finished for him, with a smile, "I'm alive. I am real. I am here." he reached over to give his brother a hug, "And I'm really relieved to see that you and Elizabeth are both still ok."

Nikolas broke from the hug, and looked at him, "What happened to you then if you aren't dead? Where have you been?" he stammered, looking completely bewildered. "That's what I'd like to know to," Elizabeth gazed in wonder at Lucky.

Lucky swallowed, as he quickly began to tell his tail, "I was being held captive by Helena Cassadine and Caesar Faison. Awhile ago, I escaped. I have been hiding out with Emily ever since. We were told that you and Elizabeth were being held captive by Tom, and so I had to come out of hiding. In port Charles, Tom kidnapped us as well."

"Helena!" Nikolas suddenly began to look really guilty, "God, Lucky! I should have known. I should have known she was behind the fire... that it was just a set up. God, I should of known."

"I should of followed my instincts and held onto my beliefs that you were alive," Elizabeth added, feeling ashamed that she hadn't, "For the longest time I just knew that you weren't dead. I knew it! Why didn't I listen to myself? Then we would of found you a long time ago and you wouldn't have gone through what you had to go through."

"And he is about to go through so much more," Tom sneered suddenly, causing the group to jump, "All of you are. I let you have your short, sweet reunion. But this is the last of it."