Lucky gave her an expectant look.
"Do you remember anything?"
"No," Lulu said, frustrated, "Lucky, I just walked in the door!"
"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I just want you to remember; I want you to be yourself again."
"Yeah, well, that may never happen! I'm tired; I wanna lie down."
"OK, I'll take you to your room."
Everyone stopped in to see her that day, all asking the same questions about whether she remembered anything. She hated not remembering; she hated having to tell them she didn't remember. Most of all, she hated the pressure of people wanting her to magically remember everything she'd forgotten.
Spinelli had called her to tell her he couldn't come today; he was working on some things for Jason while he was away. She understood, but wished she could see him. He didn't pressure her; he didn't expect anything from her. He accepted her for who she was now and was very patient with her. He had told her while she was in the hospital that whether or not she regained her memory, he would always be her most trusted and loyal friend.
A few days later, Lucky got a call that there had been an explosion at the cannery. He wanted Lulu to come with him because Carly and Michael had been there. Lulu didn't remember either of these people, although she had met Carly and she had told her about Michael, who had been missing for days. She was glad Carly had found him, but only went with Lucky because that was what he expected. Lulu was part of the family, so she had to be where the family was.
Carly had been knocked into the water by the explosion. She'd been unconscious, but the doctors told her she would be fine. But later, after receiving an unwanted visitor, she had lost her baby. Michael had a head injury, but the cut wasn't serious.
Lucky hugged them both, whispering to Carly that he was sorry about the baby. Michael didn't know, so Lucky spoke to him separately, telling him he was glad he was OK and lecturing him sternly about running away.
Michael seemed puzzled by Lulu's behavior, but Lucky explained to him that she'd lost her memory. He seemed to accept the news with no problem, making one comment about how Uncle Jason had lost his memory, and then Jax had come and Michael ran up to him. There was nothing more Lucky and Lulu could do for them, so they went home.
"What?" she asked when they got home. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Why were you so cold to them? You looked at them like you didn't feel anything for them one way or the other."
"I'm sorry. I mean, I'm sympathetic, but I don't know them."
"They're your cousins!"
"But I don't remember them!"
"It's been almost two weeks, Lulu! Are you even trying?"
"Of course I'm trying! I'm trying every minute of every day so I can please everyone. Why would you even ask me that?"
"Dr. Winters told us a shock might bring back your memory; Michael and Carly are family and they were in danger! You're gonna tell me you don't remember anything about either of them? You're gonna tell me the shock of two people you love almost dying didn't spark any memories at all?"
"Lucky, I don't remember anything about anyone!"
"You seem to remember Spinelli."
"I don't; I only know what he and everyone else has told me. I get along with him because he doesn't constantly force me to try to remember! He accepts me for who I am now and doesn't try to turn me into the person I used to be!"
"The person you used to be was my sister and I want her back!"
"You're selfish then!" she screamed, and ran out of the house.
"Lulu, get back here!"
He stood up and tried to chase after her. As he did, he realized she was right. He was being selfish and insensitive. This was harder on Lulu than anyone else; she was the one who couldn't remember. She was the one who had to ask about people she used to know. It wasn't her not remembering that bothered him really, it was the fact that she was feeling closer and more comfortable with Spinelli than she did her own brother.
He had to find her. She didn't remember Port Charles. What if she got lost? What if something worse happened to her than a bump on the head? He would never forgive himself.
Lulu was gone by the time Lucky got out the door; he was surprised at how fast she was. But where could she have gone? She didn't know Port Charles; she wouldn't remember where she was going.
He jumped in his car and headed for the police station. If necessary, he would have his fellow cops bring her in and then he would take her home where she belonged. He was sorry he'd upset her, but that didn't give her the right to run away like a child, especially in her condition.
After running for what seemed like forever, Lulu stopped, suddenly panicking. Where was she? Nothing looked familiar. Well, of course nothing looked familiar; she didn't remember anything.
But she did have Spinelli's phone number; he had shown her how to use her cell phone and had told her it would be wise to keep it with her at all times in case she needed help, and she did. He was the only one she could call who would not grill her or yell at her. He was the only one she could trust completely.
"Fair Lulu?" he asked, answering immediately, recognizing her number.
"Spinelli, thank God! I'm in trouble! I don't know where I am!"
"OK, just relax. What happened? Why are you alone?"
"Lucky and I had a fight and I got upset. He wants me to remember and he's mad at me! Pleas, I'm scared, Spinelli! I ran out of the house and got lost! I know it was really stupid and childish, but I- just got so mad I couldn't think! I don't know-"
"It's OK. Just describe your surroundings and you can tell me the rest of what happened when I pick you up.
She was near the park, but not close enough to see it. He directed her to it and told her to wait there. He would be there in a few minutes.
While she was waiting, someone approached her eagerly.
"Lulu!"
It was a man she hadn't seen since she woke up in the hospital.
"I've been looking all over for you!"
He grabbed her, smiling, and kissed her, but stopped, looking confused, when she looked panicked and didn't respond.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know you."
"What?"
"I don't know you! Let me go!"
"Lulu, what are you talking about? Are you playing games again? Is this another push pull thing?"
He looked angry and she began to feel scared.
"No, I really don't know you; I'm not playing games! Please, let me go!"
"What do you mean, you don't' know me, Lulu! How can you tell me you don't know me and then say you're not playing games with me!"
"Unhand her," Spinelli said.
Johnny, at least she thought it was Johnny, loosened his grip as he looked over with surprise at Spinelli. She pulled loose from his grip and ran to Spinelli, throwing her arms around him.
"It's OK," he said softly, hugging her protectively and facing Johnny. "She was in a car accident almost two weeks ago and has amnesia. Where have you been? I mean, I thought you'd have been to see her."
"You don't know?"
Spinelli shook his head. Johnny looked at Lulu, shaking with fear in Spinelli's arms, and decided not to tell the truth.
"Well, Sonny and I had some business we were discussing and the negotiations were just completed today."
"OK, well, I hope it went well."
He knew Johnny wasn't exactly telling the truth, but he also knew he wouldn't say anything in front of Lulu.
"I'm sorry, Lulu. I didn't know you were hurt. You and I have pushed each other away and pulled each other back before and I thought that's what you were doing. I thought maybe you were mad at me for not showing up for our date or not calling for a while."
"This is Johnny Zacchara," Spinelli explained.
"I would never hurt you," Johnny said gently as Lulu looked at him.
"OK," she said hesitantly.
"Lulu!" Lucky called, sounding both relieved and angry.
He had traced a cell phone call from her to Spinelli and found her in the park. But here she was with Spinelli and Johnny Zacchara. He had to get her out of this situation.
"Why don't I take you to the place you saved my life?" Johnny asked. "Maybe you'll remember something."
"She's not going anywhere with either of you," Lucky said, standing between her and Johnny. He couldn't get between her and Spinelli because she was hugging him. "She's coming home with me where she belongs. Lulu, I'm sorry about before. I just want my sister back, but you're right; I was being selfish."
"I can't do this anymore!" she exploded. "I can't handle everyone trying to force me to remember! I don't wanna go home with you and I don't wanna go with you either!" This last was to Johnny. "I just wanna be with my friend!"
She turned to Spinelli with pleading eyes.
"Please, take me out of here. You're the only one I can trust. You're the only one who doesn't expect anything from me! You're the only one who lets me be myself. Please, let's just go somewhere away from them!"
"Lulu," Lucky began angrily.
"Leave me alone!" she screamed in Lucky's face, then buried her face in Spinelli's shoulder.
She started to cry. She couldn't help it. She felt like everyone except Spinelli was pulling her in different directions and applying pressure at the same time. She felt like she would break if one more person pressured her to remember.
"You have a therapy session in two hours, Lulu."
"I'll see that she gets there," Spinelli promised.
Lucky agreed reluctantly, not wanting to upset Lulu any further, but he hated that this was bringing her closer to Spinelli. He worked for Jason, Lucky's worst enemy. He hated Jason, so he hated Spinelli, and Lulu was turning to him in her time of crisis, just like she had when Logan had cheated on her with Maxie. Lucky stalked off, wishing Spinelli and Jason would both just disappear.
Johnny watched Spinelli and Lulu leave, feeling sad and confused. Lulu didn't remember him; she didn't remember anything. Apparently her family was not being very supportive and Johnny had been locked up in a padded cell, starved and beaten, so he hadn't been able to be around to support her. While he'd been a captive, Lulu had become a prisoner in her own body, similar to her mother's situation, but thankfully not nearly as drastic. He was glad Spinelli had been there for her. He was also a little jealous. But maybe he could make her love him again, whether or not she got her memory back. He would just have to try.
Spinelli took her back to the Penthouse until her session and calmed her down. He had to keep reassuring her that she wasn't betraying everyone by not remembering and relayed Jason's offer for her to move in with them. She agreed, after some convincing, with gratitude. Spinelli had told her Jason understood her situation, having been in a similar one. With Spinelli and Jason, Lulu could think clearly and not feel pressured to be someone she no longer was.
