Over the next several days Sami and Kate continued to search everyday in a concerted effort. They didn't talk to each other about guilt because each person blamed themselves. Kate thought she should have told Lucas in private what she knew, and Sami thought she should not have asked him to leave. So instead of talking each woman kept her focus on finding Lucas. Sami searched everywhere locally, and Kate started calling in favors around Europe and the world for some sign of Lucas. Neither one of them had much luck.

Early in the morning as Sami and Kate searched in vain, Nicole received word from the local hospital that Lucas was awake. Her first reaction was annoyance that he lived, but then she pulled herself together and went to make a deal with her husband.

The nurse outside Lucas' room stopped Nicole from entering and told her, "He's asked for his wife for over an hour now. It will help him recover that you're here, but we have to keep his blood pressure down until his wounds heal."

Nicole asked her, "How is he?"

The nurse smiled like she was happy to share the good news before saying, "Cracked ribs, broken arm, and some surgical scars that stopped internal bleeding. He was very lucky we found him in time. Normally people in that serious of an accident don't survive. He's still heavily medicated right from the last surgery, but he should make a full recovery. Your husband has tremendous willpower."

Nicole nodded hiding the fact that she was a little disappointed. The nurse assumed she was nervous and gave her a pat on the hand before leaving. Once the nurse left her alone she walked inside saying, "Hello dear."

In his very drugged state Lucas saw Sami. He tried to smile at her and tell her everything, but he really couldn't. All he could do was repeat, "Sami."

Nicole looked at the man in the bed and said, "Don't insult me like that again."

He never heard a word she said and all. All his drug induced mind saw was Sami. He smiled that she was here before turning to rest more comfortably.

Nicole watched him go to sleep on her. For a minute she thought about pulling the plug, but with her luck lately he'd live. The machines were monitoring him, not supplying him with oxygen or anything. So instead she sat there and worked out her plan. She needed money in order to avoid jail and she was going to get his. She just needed him onboard with this because without a doubt Kate would be monitoring his bank accounts like she monitored his filings with the court. And Lucas was her ticket to reclaiming her life just as he was the person that ruined everything. Eric Brady loved her and she was going to win him back from the boring princess.

Meanwhile back at Chez Salem, Greta woke up and wanted to stretch but her arm wouldn't budge. She looked up and saw that her arm was handcuffed to the headboard. She turned and shook Eric until he woke up so she could ask, "Did you tie me up?"

He turned towards her in his almost sleep state and smiled before answering, "I told you that you're not getting out of bed without me."

She sternly told him, "I can't help it that I get up early."

He rolled almost on top of her before he said, "Well if you promise to be good, then I won't have to chain you to my bed everyday."

She wanted to be mad, but his smile was getting to her. She couldn't stop herself from smiling back when she tried to say, "I'm a grown woman."

He replied, "I wouldn't want you any other way." He then kissed her.

She kissed him back for a while. Relenting was definitely more pleasurable. Her free arm wrapped around his neck, pulling him up slightly to kiss him more fully.

He pulled backwards slowly and said, "You do know this was the first morning you ever woke me up."

She smiled and said, "Well if you want me to wake you up again, then you better prove yourself. I'm very energetic in the morning."

He was about to oblige her when doubt stopped him. She saw the change that overtook him and asked, "What's wrong?"

He tried to block out his doubt so he kissed her. She again met him more than halfway, but she pulled her head up a little to say, "Tell me what's bothering you."

He traced her face and studied her in silence. She was the most beautiful woman he ever could imagine, even now as she looked concerned. When he realized that she wasn't going to let him kiss her again until he spoke, he relented and said, "I was just hoping that no matter what we find out today, you'll stay right here."

She beamed up at him before she replied, "Well I was planning on helping your sister today since I speak French. Then I thought maybe I'd try cooking something for dinner."

He smiled at her lightheartedness, but said, "I'm serious. Nicole's child could be mine, but I don't want to lose you over this."

She told him, "Well I'll answer your question if you release me. My arm is falling asleep."

He rolled off of her and back to his side so he could open the end table's drawer. He turned back to her and unlocked her.

She nursed her arm for a moment and sat up to wrap both arms around his waist to say, "Now where were we?"

He positioned them both better so he could hold her and lean down to kiss her. Right before he did though she murmured, "The tests won't matter as long as you love me."

He answered in a whisper right before claiming his kiss, "Then your mine forever." She kissed him back with all the intensity that she felt.

In a different part of town Kate and Sami met each other at a café. Neither woman looked their best. Sami sat down across from her usual enemy and asked her, "Have you heard anything?"

Kate sighed before answering, "Unfortunately no. Have you?"

Sami answered sharply, "Would I be sitting here with you?"

Kate sipped her coffee before saying, "If you and Lucas were honest with me and invited me to the wedding this all could have been avoided."

Sami snipped right back, "Well Kate if you told Lucas or I the second you knew anything, Lucas wouldn't have taken off."

Kate said her prayer aloud, "Hopefully he'll find a nice normal girl to spend his life with."

Sami stood up and said, "This was a mistake."

Kate was going to let her go, but called out, "If he calls you let me know."

Sami stopped walking and retook her seat before answering, "Between the pair of us, we should be able to surface some clue."

Kate sighed and said, "Agreed. It's just not like him not to let someone know where he is."

Sami told Kate, "Will said the same thing."

Kate asked surprised, "You told him?"

Sami shook her head no and said, "I just asked if his father checked in with him lately."

Back at Chez Salem Austin knocked on Carrie's bedroom door. Carrie called out, "Come in Sami."

Austin hesitated but let himself in with coffee. He didn't see her right away. Carrie came out of the bathroom in a towel. Without even looking up she said, "I forgot my underwear. Give me 5 minutes and I'll join you..." She waved her underwear in the air, but stopped suddenly as she saw Austin standing there. She tried to hide what she just announced she was holding before saying, "Austin."

He knew without a doubt that he should have turned around or looked away. But she was wearing his old ring around her glistening wet neck. He kept hoping that her towel was going to drop at any moment so he could see just a bit more of his ex wife, and so he stayed quiet. Now that she talked to him though he slowly said, "I wanted to talk to you. I brought coffee."

Carrie stood there and explained, "Well I was going to help Sami and Kate, keep the peace if need be."

Austin told her, "I have an idea where Lucas might be, and I wanted your help."

She asked him, "My help?"

He looked her up and down before saying, "Well you're a woman."

She felt like blushing. The last time he ever looked at her like that was a long time ago, but it felt nice to still see some desire left. She still pulled the towel closer when he said that before saying, "Obviously. But so are your mom and Sami."

Austin said, "I don't want to involve them in case we don't find Lucas."

Carrie asked, "Where do you think they are?"

Austin replied, "A woman matching Nicole's description was spotted in a country town a couple hours away."

Carrie thought about his answer before saying the obvious, "You think he's with her?"

Austin answered truthfully, "I don't know, but she checked out the same night he disappeared. It seems strange to me."

Carrie told him, "I'll get dressed in the bathroom. Don't go anywhere."

He watched her walk into the bathroom and close the door. His eyes remained on the door suddenly wishing he had superman's power. Carrie was one of the few women he ever knew that looked her best without any makeup. He kept remembering little moments of their life together, like a shared bubble bath or a midnight dance on the rooftop. He still hated rooftops without her. A few minutes later she emerged from the bathroom and told him, "I'm ready."

He put his arm on her waist to escort her out when he muttered, "I'm ready too."

Carrie suddenly thought he meant something else entirely, but she brushed it aside. She couldn't stop herself from commenting, "You're still the gentleman holding the door for me."

He smiled at her and said, "I like doing little things for you Carrie."

She stopped walking as she said, "That's one of the things I love-d about you."

Meanwhile back at the hospital the nurses updated Nicole on Lucas' condition. Once the drugs wore off, he'd be aware of his surrounding and who she was.