Sorry it has taken so long for me to post the next chapter. As they say life happens...and life has happened to me... been battling some health issues... have not been able to write...but I am happy to say that I have been able to get back to this story... here is the next chapter... chapter 7 is almost finished and should be up by weeks end...thank you for all of your thoughtful reviews...keep them coming... hope you continue to enjoy the story.
Chapter 6 – The Luck of the Draw
The Port Charles Police Department (PCPD) on the eve of a full moon closely resembles a cross between strippers in a Jello wrestling match with a fraternity keg party. Strewn about the PCPD squad room were scantily clad women trying their best to convince Port Charles finest that this was all a big mistake and they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. All the while, college boys, who thought beer pong with grain alcohol was a kick ass idea were emptying the contents of their stomachs on the floor of the communal holding cell. The look and smell of the PCPD when the moon is at its peak gives new meaning to the phrase, fact is stranger than fiction.
Lucky Spencer loved working during a full moon. The complete lunacy and utter pandemonium of Port Charles, New York when the moon was at its highest and brightest helped to scratch his Spencer itch for adventure. Gone were the days of running off with his dad, Luke to parts of the globe unknown in search of the perfect scam of unsuspecting marks…. relieving them of their money or hard earned possessions. Lucky was now tethered to Port Charles not because he wanted to but because he there was no other choice. Cam and Jake were everything to him and as such they came first…..before his job….before any personal relationships….before any Spencer need that he had to fulfill. Lucky knew that despite everything that had gone wrong in his marriage with Elizabeth, his boys were the one thing he was determined to do right in this life. Doing that meant that Lucky would have to give up his wanderlust for the next 18 years. Although Lucky would not trade his childhood for anything, he knew that raising his boys on the run or littered with petty crimes would never provide the kind of life that he wanted for them.
Some would say that Lucky settled; defying his intrinsic need for adventure, but he never felt that way. His decision was easy. Lucky watched as Lulu's childhood was sacrificed in order to pay for the sins of their parents. It was not enough that Lulu was gravely ill as a child, but she had to endure the living loss of their mother, Laura to mental illness and the voluntary absence of their father. No child should have to forgo the innocence and security of a loving family. Lulu did not have the wondrous childhood memories of the infamous Luke and Laura. Lulu never got to experience the thrill of the adventure or being on the run with their parents as did Lucky.
Lulu's fragmented childhood was punctuated by one disappointment and loss after another. In the absence of their parents, their grandmother, Lesley and stepmother, Tracy did their best to help anchor Lulu and give her a semblance of home and family. But, Lulu struggled more than any child should have….yet, she managed somehow…..becoming this strong, independent, and fiercely loyal young woman. Her petite stature and fiery amber eyes belie her steely strength. Lucky loved to spy glimpses of Lulu….watching her read a story to his boys, going toe to toe with their dad, or keeping all her brothers including Nikolas and Ethan in line. She is a force to be reckoned with….but that came at a high price for Lulu. She does not trust easily….and when she has dipped her toe in the love pool, the men in her life hurt and disappointed her. Lucky often wondered if Lulu felt like he let her down too. Having to watch his sister struggle to love and trust, Lucky made a promise to himself that he would never let his children have to sacrifice their childhood in order for him or Elizabeth to live….and he vowed to be there for Lulu….always. So when Lucky's partner and Lulu's husband, Dante asked him to take his evening shift tonight, he did not hesitate and said yes… sparing him the details. Ever since Lucky walked in on Lulu and Dante emerging from the shower half naked, Dante and Lucky agreed that details were on a need to know basis.
Lucky ignored the vibration on his hip. The craziness of the evening shift had kept him buried in paperwork: processing arrest warrants, questioning two suspects about the waterfront fencing ring and examining crime scene photographs of a murder/suicide. If that was not enough, Mac wanted him to brief him on the art theft at the mayor's house. Lucky was trying to find the case file on Dante's desk which looked like a bomb exploded on it. The telephone on Dante's desk startled Lucky as he was flipping through the piles of case files. Without thinking, Lucky answered the phone, "Detective Spencer." Lucky could hear the hitch of a voice on the other end of the line then, "Lucky?"
"Yes, it is. Who am I speaking to?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I must have dialed the wrong number…..this is Olivia Webber. I was trying to reach Dante. I think he told me he was working the evening shift. But he is not answering his cell phone and I needed to ask him a quick question."
"I wish I could help you but he is not here. I took his shift tonight. I think he has plans with my sister. Do you want me to leave him a message?" Lucky continued to sift through the case files his annoyance rising when he once again felt the vibration of his phone.
"No that's okay. Dante called me earlier. He said he needed my help putting together a surprise for Lulu….but it can wait….besides it sounds crazy there."
"You have no idea Olivia. The full moon does it every time. If he should call in, I'll let him know you are looking for him."
"Thanks Lucky."
"No problem….bye Olivia."
Lucky hung up the phone at the precise moment he found Mayor Floyd's case file. Muttering to himself that Dante needed to understand the importance of filing, Lucky grasped his cell phone to see who was bothering him….but in the distance, Lucky could hear Mac shouting…."Spencer in my office now!" Lucky placed his phone back in its holder. Whoever was trying to reach him would just have to wait.
After leaving Mac's office, Lucky went in search for a cup of coffee. Mac gave him his marching orders…..solve Mayor Floyd's art theft yesterday. Walking into the squad room, Lucky saw Ronnie Dimestico trying to break up a fight between two perps in the holding cell. Leaving any thought about coffee behind, Lucky raced over and grabbed one of the men before he was able to clock Ronnie. Ronnie looked over and Lucky….winked….and said, "Don't you just love the moon?" Lucky smiled and nodded and took the prisoner downstairs to the holding cell in homicide.
Climbing the stairs two at a time, Lucky felt the vibration on his hip again...but he was not going to be distracted until he finally got a cup of coffee. If he was ever going to get through this night, coffee was number one on the to-do list. Opening the door to the squad room, Lucky made a beeline for the coffee pot. Just as he grasped the handle of the coffee pot, Ronnie clapped him on the back and said, "I am surprised to see you still here. I thought you'd be at the hospital. Actually, I'm heading over there if you want to ride along."
Confused, Lucky turned around and said, "Why would I be at the hospital?"
Ronnie immediately closed his eyes, shook his head and covered his mouth. "Oh man, I thought you knew."
"Knew….knew what?"
"Dante and Lulu were mowed down by a van just outside of Kelly's. I was called into process the scene. The guys we just pulled apart were the driver and the…..." Ronnie had not even finished his sentence when Lucky turned and ran out of the squad room.
Lucky parked his unmarked police car in the emergency room parking lot. As he exited the vehicle, Lucky felt the familiar vibration on his hip. Grasping the cell phone firmly, he answered, "Detective Spencer."
"Lucky? It's Elizabeth. I've been trying to reach you for hours."
"I'm sorry Elizabeth. Ronnie just told me. I am just outside the ambulance bay. How are they? Oh my god…..the baby?" Lucky gasped as his eyes closed and his hand raked through his spiky hair. Lucky stopped momentarily….his feet firmly planted into the asphalt….looking around wildly….to focus on some recognizable point…..was he dreaming? Or was this really happening?
Elizabeth could hear the fear in his voice. Although they were no longer a couple, Elizabeth knew exactly what Lucky was thinking. She knew he was trying to figure out where everyone was…..how to get them here…..but Elizabeth also knew that Lucky was fiercely protective of Lulu…..and she knew he was scared. Scared because he did not want to be too late…..and scared because he would not be able to comprehend a world without Lulu in it. Although they were siblings, Elizabeth knew that Lucky's relationship with Lulu was more paternal. Lucky felt responsible for keeping Lulu safe. He always liked to say that life was the luck of the draw. But, Elizabeth knew that Lucky would feel responsible for what happened…..even though the accident was not his fault.
"Lucky meet me in the ER. I am with Lulu…..she needs you…..it's bad…"
His thoughts immediately went to Lulu….then to finding his parents, Tracy, Nikolas and Ethan. Thankfully Siobhan was at home with the boys. The adrenaline began pumping through his veins; moving his feet as if it were a race to the finish…to find Lulu. Lucky sprinted across the parking lot to the emergency room doors with a new determination that whatever Lulu was facing, he was going to be with her every precious moment.