bWalking Wounded/b

iChapter Four/i

Ric Lansing studied the file on his desk unable to take his eyes off the picture that stared up at him. Radiant blue eyes gazed back at him. Shivers ran down his spine and he closed the file, breaking the strange hold he'd been under.

Lois Cerullo Ashton had died tragically and no one had known for more than a week. It seemed impossible that she wouldn't have been missed sooner. He read the report once more even as he knew it wouldn't have changed since the last time he'd flipped through it.

Lois Cerullo Ashton had fallen fifty feet onto the cement sidewalk in front of a seedy strip club named Pleasure. The body had been identified as Jane Doe for more than three days at the city morgue in Hollow Creek, New York before they'd tried dental records. Learning who the woman was had made the officials nervous and they'd sat on the information for a couple of days.

Finally, after a week someone had contacted her next of kin, Ned Quatermaine, or so the reports had said.

Ric sighed, closing his eyes against the ache that rose in his chest. He'd only met Lois a handful of times but she had been one of the most charming people he'd ever encountered.

His office door opened and he met his partner's eyes. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Ric." Dara Jensen responded, pointing at the file on his desk. "Do you need me to take care of anything?"

Ric shook his head quickly. "No. This is -- I'm just going over Ms. Cerullo's death report again. Thought maybe - I don't know."

Dara glanced over her shoulder at him, taking note of the way his face seemed frozen. She's known him long enough to know that was meant to keep her at bay. Having been his partner, in and out of the bedroom, for more than two years has taught many things. Number one being: What Ric didn't want you to know, you wouldn't.

"I saw the article in the morning paper. Did you call your-- Sonny to tell him?"

Ric snorted. "No. I left a message with Jason to let him know. I don't think Sonny would have appreciated hearing it from me."

"He doesn't hate you Ric."

Without glancing up Ric pulled a different file from the large mass that sat on his desk. "He should."

"I think you hate yourself enough for the both of you."

Ric glanced up at her voice and opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the buzzer on his intercom. "What is it Judy?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt sir but you have a phone call. It's Senator Lansing, sir."

Dara watched as Ric's face twisted into a mask of hate for a fraction of a second before he gained control. He took a deep breath pulling on a calm veneer as he took the call. "Good morning, Father. What can I help you with this morning?"

He caught her glance and swiveled in his chair, facing away from her scrutiny.

Dara rubbed her forehead, feeling the same chill she always did whenever Trevor Lansing's presence was near. She hated the bastard. She wasn't sure exactly why. Maybe it was the way he seemed to make Ric act. Or the way he looked at her whenever they were left alone for a moment. More than anything it was the feeling she got that he was anything but an honest good-hearted man.

He looked like evil personified to her.

She heard Ric slam the phone onto it's cradle and turned to see his attention was fully on her now. "My father wants to have dinner with us tonight."

"Well...we have nothing to do if..."

"I told him you couldn't make it." He ignored the pained look she sent him and continued. "I thought you had a meeting in the evening with Gia."

Dara shook her head swallowing the hurt as she always did. "No but that's alright. You should spend time with your family." She glanced at her watch needing to leave before her emotions got the better of her. "I should get going though. I'll see you later at ho-- I'll see you later."

Ric rose from his chair, his hand outstretched. "Dara --"

"I have to go."

The door closed sharply behind her and Ric cursed loudly. He knew how much it hurt her that he shut her out of his life but he was determined to keep Dara as far away from his father as he could. He didn't even know how Trevor had found out about them. Ric's heart had nearly stopped when the old man had suggested he bring Dara.

He stared at the spot where she'd been standing and inhaled. He could still make out her perfume.

His father had destroyed too many things already. Ric would see him dead before he touched another woman he cared for.

Trevor swirled the cold liquid in his glass, the clinking sound of ice filling the room. He smiled coldly as his wife approached him. "Darling. How are you this morning?"

Laura Webber Lansing glanced up blankly at her husband. "Oh. I feel just fine, Trevor. Thank you."

"That's wonderful, dear." Trevor motioned to the nurse that held Laura firmly by the arm. "Why don't you have some breakfast? It's your favorite."

Nodding, Laura sat at his side and began to eat without a word.

"That's a good girl." Trevor smiled at her, winking. He stared at the window suppressing the urge to choke his wife's neck until it snapped. He could taste the need to feel her soft skin under his hands, the sweet release of the pressure on her bones, and that final satisfaction as he heard and felt her death.

He blinked at the reflection in the glass catching Lulu's eyes and pushed aside the hunger she ignited in him. He turned and smiled greedily. "Good morning Lesley Lu."

Lulu held back a shudder ignoring her stepfather as she did every morning and faced her mother. What was left of her mother anyway. Disgust and pity warred within her as she leaned down and kissed Laura's clammy cheek. "Good morning Mom."

Her only greeting was an empty smile and giggle. Lulu sighed, sitting at her mother's side as far from Trevor as she could. She could feel his eyes on her, watching her every move and she cursed under her breath. He was becoming more bold by the day. She knew Michael was right and she'd have to tell someone soon.

"So...what do you girls have planned today?" He asked, sipping from his cup, his gaze never leaving her form.

She glanced up and smirked knowing he'd hate her answer. "Luke is coming home today. I'll be with him after school." She raised an eyebrow, observing the muscle in his cheek tick. He hated her father which was why she dropped his name every chance she got.

If someone had told her, at some point, that Luke's name could save her from some unnamed horror she would have laughed. Now she was more than well aware that he was one of the reasons Trevor hadn't gotten out of hand with her.

She studied her stepfather from underneath her lashes as she pretended to be engrossed in her meal. To look at him, he seemed almost kind. He could be called handsome for an old fogey. He was successful and rich. The polar opposite of her father. But when you looked directly into his eyes the vacant coldness that resided there stopped you dead in your tracks.

He wasn't afraid of most anything. Well except her father...and...

"Oh and I'll be staying at Michael's tonight, Mom. Sonny asked me to watch Cate for him." She kept her eyes on Trevor as she spoke and hid her smile as he choked on his coffee.

"Do you think that a wise idea Lesley Lu?"

She hated when he called her that. "Why wouldn't it be? I've watched Cate more times than I can count and I've always returned back in one piece." She folded her hands at her chin. "Sonny doesn't hurt women and doesn't allow them to be hurt so I'm fairly sure I'll be fine."

She let the statement hang staring daggers at Trevor.

The ringing of a phone somewhere in the house broke the tension and they each returned silently to their breakfast. Moments later, the parlor door opened and in stepped her stepfather's favorite lackey.

"Sir you have a phone call. It's quite urgent."

Trevor nodded, wiping his mouth before discarding his napkin on the table. He slithered past Lulu to her mother kissing Laura's cheek where Lulu had. "I'll see you later sweetheart. Be good."

He glared at Lulu. "You stay out of trouble."

She smiled back at him coldly. "Don't I always Daddy Lansing?"

His eyes stabbed into hers across the room and she felt a moment of panic at the flash of hate she saw in them. Without a response, Trevor slithered from the room shutting the door sharply behind him.

Lulu let out a stuttered gasp forcing her hands to stop their quaking.

"Are you feeling okay, sweetie?"

She brought her gaze up to her mother's vacant eyes and sighing, nodded. "I'm fine Mom."

Satisfied, Laura returned to the task of her breakfast, unaware and uninterested in her daughter's resentful glare.

Lulu shuddered, rubbing her forehead to ease the pain that was beginning to spread. Michael was right. She had tell someone before Trevor made her worst nightmares come true.

Trevor squelched his want to teach Lulu how treat a man like him. All in good time she would learn to do as she was told. He would make sure of that. She would know he owned her.

His muffled footsteps proceeded down the hall coming to a stop in front of a large oak door. He entered his office, making sure to lock the door behind him. He reached for his private line and dialed quickly.

"We may have a problem." was the curt response on the other side.

Trevor worked his hands over his desk slowly, tracing the wood pattern on the tabletop. "What kind of problem?"

"I think she may have gotten that information she needed."

Trevor's hand stilled, his eyes fixing on the picture he kept of Laura and Lulu, his eyes focusing on the latter. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that before Lois died she got what she wanted accomplished. She sent out what she had found out straight to Carly."

Closing his eyes, Trevor fought to keep his rage in control. "Well if that's the case then you know where to find her, correct?"

"No. I don't."

"I don't understand then if you say she received information..."

"She isn't alone. She's never been alone. It doesn't bode well for you, sir."

Waves of anger flowed over and through him, blacking out his vision. Some little whore wasn't' going to be his undoing. He would make sure of that.

"Well then," Trevor glanced at his manicured nails and smiled coldly, "I guess it's time to teach her a lesson. You know what to do." He dropped the receiver into it's cradle and opening his locked drawer pulled the worn picture from it's depth.

Two faces stared up at him, one blonde, one brunette and he felt that impotence he always did bubble in him. There was no way he would let Carly and her little protégé defeat him.

i"Oh come on Lois! You can't just end a story like that!"

Her quiet laughter filled the air and she shook her head, eyes glancing at Carly than back at her audience. "I'm thinking Cari doesn't want me to finish."

Cassie giggled, grinning at Cari's annoyed glare. She and Matthew clapped loudly, cheering Lois on. "Please!"

Carly shook her head curtly. "Don't start Cerullo or I'll spill all."

"Oh. A threat? Well then...Cari has always been a handful.."

"Shut up."

A noise from the hall of the dank roach-infested motel caused them all the freeze, the laughter dying away. They waited in fear as whatever had made it moved past their room. After a few moments, Cari let her hold on her gun loosen, turning to look at Lois. She'd forgotten for a moment where they were and why.

There was no trace of amusement in her friends eyes. It had been replaced by determination and anger.

Cassie glanced between the two woman aware that some unspoken message was passing between them. It was always that way whenever Lois was around. She knew more about Cari than anyone she'd met so far. Matthew fidgeted in her lap and she smiled down at him then looked up as Cari's voice filled the air.

"Fine but I get to tell about AJ and the laundry basket."

Lois grinned widely and flung her hand out, giving Carly the floor.../i

Her still form rested against the chair, head hung low, her face hidden from his view. Coleman sipped his whiskey, watching Cassie. He knew her well enough to know the pain she was in. No matter how much it hurt she would never let it show.

In the three years he'd known her, he'd never seen her cry. God knew she had plenty of reasons to do so. That would be a weakness and Cassie hated showing any.

It cost too much.

But he knew, even if she didn't, that it sometimes cost more to push away feelings. Eventually they found a way to sneak up on you and knock you on your ass.

"Babygirl?"

Cassie shifted slightly, looking up at him through the blanket of hair that fell across her face. "Yeah?"

"Are you...do you need something?" He tapped his glass pointedly, heading to the bar as he did.

Cassie shook her head knowing she needed a clear head to deal with what she had to do. "No. I'm fine."

Rising from her seat she stood at the spot Coleman had left vacant and stared out into the rain. "Seems fitting that it's pouring, doesn't it?"

Coleman smiled slightly, knocking back the last of his drink before joining her at the window. He brought his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a semblance of a hug. "Yeah. It does."

He felt her suppressed sob rather than heard it. Turning to glance at her, he caught the stab of agony that crossed her features and his own heart bled for her. Leaning over, he kissed her temple softly. "She knew we loved her. That's all that matters."

Cassie turning into his side, embracing him tightly. "I wish that was enough."


Dillon's gaze followed his niece as she paced the floor in front of the balcony, stopping occasionally to stare out over the garden. He knew her mother's death was tearing her apart even if she wasn't admitting it.

"Lynn..."

Brooke Lynn glanced over her shoulder at him, her face a mask of indifference. "What?"

"You can't hide forever."

"You're my temporary guardian Dillon, not my shrink."

Ned entered from the balcony and stopped abruptly. He had needed a few hours to himself. He needed to grief for his Lois before he faced their daughter and her hate.

"What is going on here?"

"Oh nothing dearest Daddy. Uncle Dill here wants to share his pain and wisdom with yours truly." She turned to Dillon "Spare me." She brushed past him and out of the door, slamming it behind her.

Ned stared at his brother's back feeling something akin to loathing. "So you finally decided to show your face."

Dillon sighed, ignoring Ned's tone. "I was needed. So I came home."

"Where the hell were you when Grandmother died? When we almost went bankrupt? When Grandfather was sick?"

Dillon headed to the bar pouring a healthy dose of vodka into his glass. He smirked at his brother over the rim before responding. "Oh I was off touring the world for my meaningless job as a director, trying to earn enough money to keep this damn family afloat and let's see, um, raising your daughter."

"Fuck you Dillon."

"What language Edward Lawrence. Is that anyway to treat your little brother?"

"Where you ever going to bother calling and telling me about Lois?"

"Why?"

"What the hell do you mean why? She was MY WIFE!"

"Ex-wife and if you had given a damn about Lois you would have tried to get in touch with her. You didn't. Now she'd dead."

Ned lunged at Dillon, grabbing by the collar. "Keep your mouth shut!"

Tracey stepped into the doorway, and closing the door behind her, grinning at her sons. "Good morning. Isn't it a fabulous day?"

Dillon wrangled out of Ned's grip and headed for the door determined to get as far away from his family as he could. Tracy blocked his path and he forced the urge to shove her away. "What do you want mother?"

"Tell me dear son of mine, are you planning on contacting that little idiot?"

"Jesus, Tracy. Pretend you care...you know what...never mind. That's what happens when I leave for so long. I forget what a cold-hearted bitch you are." He yanked the door open, slamming it into the opposite wall.

He needed to get out of this hellhole as soon as he could. There was one man he needed to see before he could escape. The sooner he visited Sonny and told him what he'd found out, the better.

"Hey babygirl. It's good to hear from you."

Cassie covered her face with her free hand and sighed. "Cari? Are you alone?"

Carly glanced at Matthew and Sonia on the deck before rising to her feet. She headed into her office, closing the door firmly. "What is it, Cassie?"

"It's...Lois."

Carly's hand gripped the phone tightly. "What's wrong with Lois?"

"Mama...I'm so sorry..."

"Cassie...what...?"

"Lois is dead. She was killed a week ago."

Carly closed her eyes against the anguish that piereced her heart. Not her friend...please not Lois. She steadied herself against her desk taking a deep breath. "Do we know what happened?"

"No. There's no details. She fell off the roof of a dance club in some small town outside New York. They're saying it was suicide."

Carly felt twin streaks of tears fall from her eyes. "Oh jesus."

"He knows we're close. It's the only explaination."

The sounds of Matthew and Sonia's laughter floated in through the open balcony doors. "This is my fault."

"No. It's not." Cassie observed the patrons sitting in Kelly's. They seemed so normal, so without worry. No clue that people's lives were falling apart around them.

"It is, babygirl."

"Carly...stop that."

"I have to go, Cassie." She ignored the use of her real name. "You need to come back now."

"No, Carly. You need to come home."

The line went dead and Carly gently set the portable phone on the table. She stared out into the blue sky, feeling the grief wash over her, letting it consume her for just a few moments.

Her sobs raked her body and fell to the floor, pounding her fists against it.

It was all her fault.

Michael stood at the landing, studying his father's tired face. He was lost in thought, staring out the window. Something had happened earlier at breakfast. His dad had opened the morning paper and almost immediately the color had drained from his face.

Michael hadn't pushed. That never worked with his father.

"Dad?"

Sonny jumped slightly at Michael's voice and met his son's eyes. "Hey buddy."

"What's going on Dad?"

Sonny sighed, his emotions warring against each other. He never lied to Michael but...God knew his kids had known enough grief in their lives.

"Come here."

He motioned to him to join him and they headed to the couch, sitting down across from each other, Sonny on the ottoman. "It's about Lois."

Michael knew before he asked. "What happened?"

"She died, Mike."

Numbness pierced through Michael. Kevin called it his defense mechanism. That he reacted that way when his mind felt it couldn't deal with everything that was happening.

"I see. How?"

"That's not important."

Which in Dad code meant her death hadn't been pretty. He thought of Brooke Lynn and felt a moment of grief for her. He could understand what she felt. It was probably worse since she'd had her mother for a lot longer than he had.

Thoughts of Carly angered him and he forced his mind to stay in the conversation.

"I'm sorry Dad. I know she was your friend."

Sonny smiled sadly, his voice catching slightly. "Yeah. She was that."

Max knocked sharply, startling them both. He stuck his head around the door. "Sir, you have a package."

"From?"

Max looked down at the large manila envelope, blinking when he saw the name. "Um, Lois Cerullo sir."

Michael raised shocked eyes to his Dad. "Okay. That's creepy."

Sonny nodded. "Very."

He walked to the door, clutching the package tightly in his hand before dismissed Max. He stared at it for a few minutes not sure why he felt such a terror to have received it.

"Are you going to open it, Dad or you just gonna try to read it through the envelope?"

"Don't be a smart ass, Mike."

"It's in the genes."

Sonny glimpsed at Michael in surprise the meaning of the statement not lost on him. Michael rarely admitted to remembering Carly let alone having anything in common with her.

"Open it Dad."

Sonny pushed aside his questions for later and turned the envelope over, working the flap open. His private line rang out and he answered it in frustration. " What?"

Sonny eyes clouded over with fear, aniexty lacing his words. "Let...okay Leticia...calm down. What's wrong?"

Michael rose from his seat, his heart pounding. Cate was spending the day in the park with Leticia. Something was wrong.

"What do you mean she's missing Leticia?! Where the hell did Cate go?"

iCarly stopped Lois's argument. "I said no."

"Oh that's rich."

"This isn't a joke Lois."

Lois' eyes met Carly's, flashing anger. "You think I find any of this funny."

Carly shook her head. "That's not what I meant."

"Do you have any clue what it's been like to watch Sonny mourn you? To see him so lost I never thought he'd recover? He loved you more than his own life Carly."

"Why do you think I did all this, Lois?" Carly spat out in retort. "Do you think I woke up one morning and decided I would give up a man that I loved more than anything in this world?"

Lois paused, nodding at Carl. "I know this has been torture Carly."

"Do you? You have any clue what it felt like for me to watch my family grieve. To be completely powerless from stopping that pain. Not being to share the happiness of Matthew and the beauty of Cassie with Sonny?"

She stared out the window needing a moment to collect her emotions. "I die a little everyday I'm not with him, Lois."

Two hands covered her shoulders and Carly glimpsed at her friend.


"Then let me help you, Carly. Let me bring Sonny back to you."/i

The gentle breeze of the ocean filtered in the open balcony door reaching the woman who sat on the floor, knees curled up to her forehead.

Carly sobbed quietly, not wanting to disturb Sonia or Matthew. They were all having a bad enough time dealing with the separation from Cassie and Matthew's inability to sleep through the night. She didn't want to add to it.

Lois dying was all her doing. She'd dragged her into this nightmare that she called an existence and now she was dead.

She couldn't do this. How many more people was she supposed to lose before he'd be satisfied? She'd given up the love of her life, her children who she loved so much it hurt, everything she'd ever known and ripped her own heart out in the process. Now she was losing the only few people that made her life worthwhile.

Her eyes fell on the two pictures on her desk. Her family. She wanted her family back and she wanted them all together. She was through running. Damn the consequences. If he wanted a fight, she was more than ready to give him one.

Anger surged through her blood and she wiped her face, remembering Cassie's words.

It was time for Carly to come home.

The pounding in her head seemed to ease while she sat on the edge of the dock. Water always made her feel better. It reminded her of the only place they called home. Or at least the only place they'd been at long enough to call home.

She'd known telling Cari about Lois was going to be hard. It had almost killed her to hear the pain in her voice and not be able to help.

Tears filled her eyes and Cassie flicked her head back, pushing them away. She didn't have time to grief. She needed to be strong and do what she'd come here to do.

Rising up, she wiped her damp hands on her jeans and turned toward the stairs, determined to find her uncle.

She climbed slowly lost in thought. She heard a small child's cry and swerved around, eyes widening as she looked to the docks. She saw some thug holding a little girl by the shoulder, one hand clamped over her mouth. He couldn't see her half-hidden in the shadows so he moved with confidence.

The child struggled against him seeming more angry than afraid. She bit him roughly and he cursed, uncovering her mouth for a moment.

"Let me go!"

Cassie blinked when she recognized the little girl.

Cate.

"You need to be quiet you little brat." He clamped his hand over Cate's mouth again and began to move faster.

Knowing that surprise was her only weapon, Cassie waited until Cate and her kidnapper passed by her and she lunged onto his back, hitting him as hard and as many times as she could over his head, back and shoulders.

He grunted in pain and shock, letting go of Cate. Cassie continued her attack, biting and scratching him wherever she could reach.

"Run Cate! Get the hell out of here."

Cate took off, stopping at the top of the stairs to look back.

Cassie screamed at her. "GO!"

As Cate disappeared out of sight, Cassie felt herself pulled forward and before she realized it she was flipped over the thug's head and onto the floor in front of him, her back hitting the ground with a thud.

Shit. That had hurt.

He sat on her chest, grabbing her head between his hands. "You little bitch. What the fuck do you think you're doing?" He slammed her hair against the ground twice.

Cassie saw blackness, the scarred face in front of her, disappearing and returning a few times. She needed to get him off her. Now. He had to get off.

She felt that panic, her chest constricting, her breath coming in pants.

No. No. No. He had to get off.

Flashes of hands and fear slammed into her like his fists smashed into her face. Her instincts screamed at her.

"Get the fuck off."

He laughed at her words and continued to his assault. "I'm going to make you pay."

i"You little whore. You're going to pay."/i

Cassie sobbed. "No. No! Stop!"

She grabbed at his face, scratching at his eyes hearing the yowl of pain. He pushed on her chest more, cutting off her air. She felt the cold metal of his gun on her forehead and shuddered.

She'd failed Cari and Matty.

She'd failed him.

She'd failed them all.

There was a loud popping sound, like a firecracker above her and the weight she'd felt fell against her. Then it was gone.

There were gentle hands on her face and hair. She opened her eyes trying to focus on the face above.

Sonny looked down at her, his dark eyes worried, his face creased in fear.

"Hey. Hey. You okay? Answer me. Come on, kid. Don't...you let go kid. "

He wiped the girl's brow, motioning to Max to help him. "Listen. We're going to help you, okay? Just don't move, alright? You hear me. Hey, kid? Say something."

Cassie's eyes fluttered closed and she snorted, muttering as she lost consciousness.

"Shit. You really bare/b bossy."