Chapter 38- A Mystery Couple

All the little kids had to go to the high school side with Diane (which almost made her want to quit her new job) because Willow wanted to stay with Josslyn. By the time Danny sought help from the police-fire station, the army, and Lucas, Danny didn't bother returning to school. He headed straight to the woods. A mob of people were crowded around. Willow had an arm around Josslyn as she cried. Michael was white in the face as he, Drew, Dante, pulled on the ropes.

Danny walked over and stood by Alexis, Lucas, and Jason.

"How's it going?" Danny asked.

"Well, she's conscious, so that's a good sign, I guess," Alexis said. "Sounds like she's broken something though."

"Jax went down to get her," Jason said.

"Carly, everything's going to be okay," Bobbie called down to her. "We're getting you out."

"Pull… pull…" Michael muttered as he gripped the ropes tightly.

Before they knew it, Carly's head popped out of the hole. Dirty, sweaty, drooling, and breathing rapidly, Carly was pulled onto the ground. Bobbie knelt over and embraced her as Lucas started tending to her leg.

"Jax, we're sending the ropes back down!" Dante shouted as he dropped the ropes.

Josslyn stopped crying and looked down at Carly.

"Miraculously, I don't think your leg is broken," Lucas said. "But it looks like something bit you!"

Danny looked over and saw two bright red dots on Carly's calf.

"Yes, something bit me!" Carly cried. "It was a snake!"

Lucas' eyes grew wide. "Okay, we need to get you to the clinic right away!"

Jax's head slowly appeared next and they pulled him to the ground.

Willow knelt down beside him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good." Jax smiled at her.

Lucas took Carly's arm and lifted her to her feet, and Michael wrapped her other arm around his shoulder.

Josslyn slowly walked over to Carly and hugged her, but it was the fasted hug Danny had ever seen. Then she turned to Jax. "I want to go home now."

GHGHGH

When Danny sneaked out at 3:00am, he peeked inside Scout's room and was surprised to find her fast asleep. He made his way down to the docks with his flashlight and waited. And waited. And waited.

His heart sped up as the sun started to rise. What if something went wrong with the escape plan? His parents would be waking soon, and Scout was probably already awake!
He darted back to his house as fast as he could, careful not to be seen by the castle guards.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he walked inside to a dark house. He tiptoed to his room and plopped down on his bed.

Maybe Gel was just putting the plan on hold, or maybe the couple chickened out… or what if they were running behind? Then they'd show up without him there!

He heard shuffling in the hallway, so made his way to the kitchen. Willow set the tea kettle on the stove.

Would it be suspicious if he asked her to go for a walk with him? She was too smart though. She'd figure it out. Maybe if he went on his own… no, still too suspicious.

Without Willow seeing him, he turned and went to Scout's room. He rubbed his eyes and took a second look. This was the first time Scout slept through the night in her own room. He almost hated to wake her.

"Scout…" He gently shook her. "Wake up, Scout!"

Scout slowly opened her eyes. "Danny? Am I dreaming again?"

"No. No, this time you're not," Danny said. "But it's time to wake up."

Scout closed her eyes again. "But I'm sleepy…"

He shook her again. "You know what helps wake you up?"

"What?"

"Fresh air. I think what you need is a good walk."

She squinted her eyes.

"Come on, we'll let Willow know," Danny said, pulling her to a sitting position. "You get dressed. I'll tell Willow."

Scout frowned but climbed out of bed.

Danny headed back out to the kitchen. "Good morning!"

"Good morning." Willow sat at the table sipping on her tea.

"Hey, listen," Danny said. "Mom and Dad aren't up yet. Scout wants to go for a walk, so I thought I'd take her."

She smiled. "Actually, a walk sounds good. Can I join you?"

Danny swallowed hard. "Well… I thought you could stay behind to tell Mom and Dad. They might worry if they wake up to find all of us gone."

"Can't we just leave a note?"

"But you could stay back and get breakfast ready," Danny suggested. "Might help Mom and Dad out since the wedding is at 11."

Willow frowned. "Okay, I get it."

Danny sighed. "Okay the truth is, Scout and I are planning something for your birthday next month."

Her face lit right up, and she blushed a little. "You are? I didn't realize you knew when it was…"

"Yeah, November 8th… Mom used to take us to visit your grave on your birthday."

Willow's eyes welled with tears. "She did?"

"Yeah. All except the year she was in Pentonville."

She smiled.

"Turns out it wasn't your grave after all though," Danny said.

"But Sam didn't know that."

"You know she'll probably make your birthday a huge deal this year, right?"

"I never really thought of it," Willow said.

"It's the first birthday she'll actually get to spend with you, instead of crying over a stone."

"She did that every year?" Willow asked.

"More than that," Danny said. "That was just set day she'd take me, and later Scout. And I'd often catch her crying into that pink blanket she gave you."

Willow lowered her gaze.

"Good morning!" Sam said as she and Drew walked upstairs.

Danny groaned. He wanted to leave before they woke up.

"Morning," Drew said.

Willow rose from the table and walked over to Sam. She smiled at her, then hugged her.

"Oh…" Sam wrapped her arms around her. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," Willow said. "I'm just glad I'm here."

Sam smiled. "Well, I'm glad you're here too."

"Danny?" Scout walked out rubbing her eyes. "Is it time to go?"

"Go where?" Drew asked.

"Uh, Scout and I are going for a walk," Danny said, prodding Scout to the door. "We're planning a surprise for Willow's birthday."

"Okay, that's nice…" Drew raised an eyebrow. "Just don't be gone too long, we need to get ready for the wedding."

Danny grabbed his and Scout's jackets. "We won't!"

"We're planning a birthday surprise for Willow?" Scout asked as they walked.

Danny sighed. He didn't want to keep lying, but at least he told Willow some truths that made her feel good too. "I think we should. It would make her really happy."

"What kind of surprise?"

"I don't know," Danny said as they walked towards the castle. "Do you have any ideas?"

"We can make her a birthday breakfast. Pancakes with chocolate and whipped cream."

"That's a good idea. And she likes tea too."

"Why are we going down here?" Scout stopped at the stairs with her eyes wide. "That's the way to V-Town…"

Danny frowned. "It's okay. We're not going to V-Town. I just thought it would be nice to look at the water."

Scout shook her head and started crying. "I don't want to go back. I don't want to go back!"

"Oh, Scout, I'm sorry." He hugged her. "This was a mistake. Do you want to go back home?"

"I won't go back!" She stomped her foot on the ground. "I won't! I don't want my V-Vitamins! I don't want my bathroom anymore!" She ran over to a tree and dropped in front of it, burying her face in her knees.

Danny ran his hand through his hair, then followed her and knelt beside her. "I'm sorry, Scout. I really am. Why don't we talk more about Willow's birthday?"

"You said we won't go back. You said we're safe here with Mommy and Daddy!"

"We are safe here and we're not going back, I promise," Danny said. "Do you want to go back to Mommy?"

"She's too far away…" Scout whimpered.

"No, she's not," Danny said. "We can walk back really fast. I can even carry you if you want."

"The Almighty V will find us and flush us."

Danny rubbed her back. "No, he won't. I'll protect you."

"He'll be really mad… he'll take us away."

"Come on, I'll take you to Mommy," Danny repeated.

"Excuse us?" a man's voice called out.

Danny whipped around. A man with a round face and grey hair stood at the top of the stairs with a tall thin woman, with dark grey hair tied back.

"You wouldn't be Danny by any chance, would you?" the man asked.

"Uhhh…" Danny muttered.

Scout looked up a little.

"A girl name Angelica sent us here," the woman said. "We've been locked up for years. She said many citizens of Port Charles escaped here. We were hoping to find our children. They are all grown up now."

"Are you able to help us at all?" the man asked.

Danny cleared his throat. "Maybe… who are your kids?"

"Steven, Sarah, and Elizabeth Webber," the man said. "My name is Jeff, and this is my wife Carolyn."

GHGHGH

A/N: Okay that ending was for you, Chrissyfan! I hope I do it justice 😉 I don't think Jeff would know about Hayden, so that's why he didn't mention her.