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Chapter 12: "Back into the Fray"

Luke went for breakfast and to have a talk with Wally downstairs while Laura paced their room upstairs. She had considered waking Lucky and Elizabeth, but really didn't want to disturb or embarrass them. Instead she waited in her room, contemplating all that had happened that morning. She was so wrapped in her thoughts, in fact, that she almost didn't hear when there was a knock on her door.

"Come in," she said, shaking herself alert.

Lucky's head popped through the open door. When he appeared fully, she noticed his clothes had been somewhat haphazardly adorned and his feet were bare. She guessed also, by the crumpled look of his hair, that he had just woken.

"Where's Dad?" he asked, noticing his father's absence.

"Talking to Wally," Laura answered him. "And getting breakfast, I think."

"Good," Lucky said. "I'm starving." He coughed a few times and rumpled his hair. Laura knew then for sure he had just woken, recognizing a trait and habit he had displayed since childhood. "Listen," he started again, "can I use your shower? Elizabeth's in ours, and you know, they're not very big, so..."

Laura watched his face closely for sign of a blush, but there was none. Yes, her son was a man now, all traces of innocence gone, outgrown or stolen. She nodded her reply, not trusting her voice.

"Thanks," he said, and he disappeared behind the bathroom door. By the time he emerged again, Luke was back. He was leading Elizabeth into the room.

"Have some grub," he said, dropping a greasy looking sack on the table. "It's not five star, but its food." He took the other bag and threw it at Lucky. "New clothes," he explained. Lucky took the bag and disappeared back into the bathroom. He reappeared moments later, grateful to be wearing clean clothes. He had been wearing the same digs since jumping off Helena's yacht. He stuffed the old clothes into the bag and buried them in the trash.

"Plan time," Luke said once Lucky had sat down with them. "Any ideas?"

"Well," Lucky started, "there's no need to us to track Helena down. She'll find us, no problem."

Luke nodded his agreement. "Where is the question, though," he said. "I'm sure she's already been home to look for you. Should we draw her further out?"

"I'm not so sure she's been back to Port Charles," Lucky said. "At least not personally. If Stefan or Nikolas caught wind she was snooping around they'd get majorly suspicious. They'd know something was up, and Helena can't afford to fight the whole of Spoon Island right now."

Laura cleared her throat and started to speak in that calm tone that meant she knew Luke was not going to like what she had to say. "I think we need to bring them in. Nikolas especially." Luke was up and ready to protest as soon as he heard the younger Cassidine's name, but Laura silenced him with a look. "Nikolas is Lucky's brother," she reminded him gently. "He needs to know that Lucky's alive, for one thing, and he would do anything in his power to help. And Stefan would help for Nikolas's sake. And for my sake."

"And out of pure hatred for Helena," Lucky inserted, not letting Luke eek out one Count Vlad remark. "I think Mom's right. Nikolas and Stefan will be able to fight Helena in ways we can't. We need them." He was silent for a moment, but he finally finished, "I miss my brother, Dad. I want to see him."

Luke grumbled and scratched his stubbly face, but managed to bite back all his snide comments. As much as he hated to admit it, his son did have a relationship with Nikolas. They were brothers, and no amount of heckling and hatred for Stefan on his part was going to change that. And after nearly a year of the vast emptiness Lucky's disappearance had left in his heart, he wasn't about to go and start anything with him now. Not after he had finally gotten him back.

"Okay, so the vampire coven is in on the plan," Luke said, "whatever is it."

Before they left Wally's, Lucky pulled Elizabeth aside. He seemed unsure of what to say, or how to start. Finally he just took hold of Elizabeth's hand and said, "I think I know what you're going to say, but you understand that I have to ask. What we are getting into, what we're about to start, is going to be very dangerous. You're familiar now with what Helena is capable of, but I've got to tell you, kidnapping me was tame." Elizabeth flinched, only slightly, but let him continue. "I have to ask you once to let me take you somewhere safe, somewhere out of the line of fire."

Elizabeth smiled and answered, "Not a chance. You're going to be hard-pressed to get rid of me ever again."

"That's what I thought you'd say," Lucky told her.

"But," Elizabeth ducked her head, not wanting to be overheard. "Can I call Gram and let her know where I am and what's going on?"

Lucky was sorry to have to tell her no, but that's what he did. "It's too much of a risk," he explained. "I'm not saying she's a danger, Elizabeth. If Helena was going to nab someone, to get at, Texas is a little inconvenient. But there's no reason to go out of the way and make her a target."

Elizabeth nodded, understanding. "I know you're right," she said. "I don't like it, but I know you're right."

Luke's head popped around the corner. "Ready to roll?" he asked.

"I think so," Lucky answered.