Hi all – yes, I am alive. This has been the craziest week ever. This chapter isn't particularly long, but it sorta explains the cliffhanger that you all loved so much ;) Keep the reviews coming! And I promise that Chapter 8 will be up by next Wednesday.

Disclaimer: I wish these characters were mine… but they're not. You don't have to rub it in.

Notes: The events in this chapter are very loosely based on spoilers for 11.22 "The Show Must Go On".

Chapter 7 – Help

Sam's heart pounded wildly as she pressed the receiver harder against her ear. It was painful, but she barely noticed. She held the phone in a death grip, palms clammy and her breathing rapid. She felt her throat constrict as she listened to the babysitter's words.

"I turned up to get Alex, but… he wasn't there." Nicole sounded on the verge of hysteria. "I'm so sorry, Miss Taggart. I don't know what to do! I know you're at work and everything, but…"

Sam felt like she was going to faint. "It's okay, Nicole, it's not your fault. Just… just tell me where you are now." She breathed in and out, trying not to panic. She turned and looked over at Luka, who was smiling kindly at his elderly patient.

Everyday, I catch myself looking at you, wondering if I will ever get another chance, another day to be in your arms…

Sensing eyes on him, Luka looked up. Sam was standing at admit, gripping the phone as if her life depended on it. He had cursed fate when Frank had interrupted them, but now he could tell that something was seriously wrong. Sam's brown eyes bored into his, her cheeks flushed with red.

Still gazing at him, she parted her quivering lips and mouthed a single word.

Alex.

Luka felt like he had been punched in the stomach. Turning to his patient, he excused himself with a distracted smile. He hurried over to Sam, who had turned away and resumed her conversation.

If you can't get someone out of your head, maybe they're supposed to be there…

"I'm here with the principal. And the police. At the school." Nicole's voice echoed down the line, her tone laced with fear.

"I'm on my way," Sam told her. She hung up the phone, resisting the urge to collapse against the desk in front of her.

Alex.

A strong hand gripped her elbow and she turned, coming face to face with Luka. He quickly released her, but remained standing by her side.

A simple smile, a tender touch, speaks the true language of love…

"What's happened?" he asked her, his gaze imploring.

Swallowing a lump in her throat that threatened to choke her completely, she replied, "It's Alex. He… he wasn't at the school when Nicole went to pick him up." Luka's eyes flashed.

"I think… I think he's run away," she told him, her heart shattering. "He was so upset… about everything…" She lowered her eyes and noisily cleared her throat. "I have to go find Susan," she said. "See if she'll let me leave. Chuny or Haleh will have to cover my shift."

She turned to go, but Luka stopped her with a quick hand. "She'll have to get Carter to cover my shift, too, because I'm coming with you." Looking down at her, mouth open, ready to protest, he cut her off. "And don't even try to argue with me." His eyes seemed to twinkle slightly, but he shook himself. Placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, he offered, "I'll go find Susan."

He darted off, leaving Sam standing alone. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying so very hard not to dissolve into sobs.

This cannot be happening.

Luka raced off to the supplies cabinet at Penny's direction and found Susan, standing and marking items off on a checklist. A strand of her short blonde hair fell into her eyes and she brushed it impatiently away.

"Susan." She looked up, her eyes smiling but weary.

"Luka. Something wrong?" she inquired, capping her pen.

Luka hurriedly explained the situation. Susan visibly paled and motioned emphatically for him to leave. "Go. Get out. Vamoose."

Luka sighed with relief but asked, "Are you sure? I mean, I don't know how long we'll be gone…" He ran an agitated hand through his dark hair.

"Are you kidding?" Susan exclaimed. "I don't expect you to come back! But Haleh is going to kill me." She shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, well. I'll just be known as "the bitchy boss" for a while." She grinned wickedly. "And Carter's just going to have to get his lazy ass out of bed."

"Thank you so much," he replied gratefully.

Susan's smile faded and her expression turned solemn. "Seriously, Luka. Go. You guys… you're a family, right?"

Luka smiled softly, but the words echoed through his head as he hurried back to admit.

You are the only one who can make me smile this way...