Robin looked pale. It was the first thing Patrick noticed when she came stumbling through the front door of their apartment. She looked pale and fragile. Shooting up from his spot on the couch, he closed the space between them and caught her in his arms. Moving his hand under her legs, he lifted her off of her feet and carried her upstairs, sighing in relief when she dropped her cheek to his shoulder.

"You should have told me," Patrick mumbled, "but we're not going to talk about that right now. Right now you're going to bed and I'm taking Morgan to school." At her moaned protest, he kicked open the door to their bedroom and said, "Don't argue. I'm going to drop him off, check on Alexis and Maxie, and then come back and take care of you." Pulling back the covers—she was so light in his arms he didn't need more than one arm to hold her—he lowered her onto the mattress.

Patrick didn't want to admit how hard it was to leave her even though she was already asleep. She had looked haggard upon entering the apartment. Her lips had been turned downward and her eyes had been wide and wary. Sweeping his hand over her shoulder, he bent down to kiss her cheek. "Sleep my sweetheart." He tucked her in and went down the hall to give Morgan a thumbs-up. The two of them headed quietly down the stairs.

"Where's Robin?" Morgan wanted to know after Patrick locked the front door.

"Sleeping. She was at the hospital all night." Patrick explained.

"Is she a doctor? She's always at the hospital." Morgan pointed out.

"I'm pretty sure they have a sign that reads, 'Must be this tall to perform medicine.'" Patrick laughed.

Morgan giggled and then sobered. "But why was she there all night? She didn't kiss me goodnight."

Patrick stopped walking just as the elevator doors slid open. Leading Morgan into it, he took a breath, "Maxie was taken to the hospital yesterday. She was hit by a car."

"Doesn't she know better than to play in the street?"

Patrick wished for innocence. "I guess not." There was no reason to worry Morgan with the full truth.

"Is she okay?"

"She will be."

"Can we go see her and not go to school?"

Patrick narrowed his eyes in jest. "Your mother would have my head. So, no. Maybe after school."

"But I don't want to go to school." Morgan whined, dropping his backpack and kicking it.

"Why not?"

"Billie Sanderson is going to say something mean about Daddy and the teacher's not going to believe me. Again."

Patrick felt his heart break a little. It was cruel for fate to force another little kid to suffer ridicule because of what his father did for a living. "I'll talk to your teacher."

"She won't know who you are. You're a stranger."

"I'm not a stranger." Patrick argued. "Strangers are bad news, but I'm family."

"But you don't like me. You'll probably say bad stuff about me and I'll get in trouble."

Patrick grabbed Morgan's arm when he saw the elevator doors slide open, knowing full well he'd never catch him otherwise. "Who told you I don't like you?"

"You don't." Morgan reiterated. "You never liked my mommy or my daddy."

"I didn't really know either of them. Your mom was a little older than me and she left home when I was really young. And I never thought what your dad did for a living was the right thing. That said, you're my family and I love you." Patrick insisted.

"You just want me to like you so you can stay with Robin." Morgan accused.

"We're still family whether or not I stay with Robin and you know that." Patrick retorted hotly.

"I'm sorry Patrick." Morgan whispered looking up at him.

"For what?"

"For being mean to you."

"No harm done. It comes with the territory." Patrick assured him messing up his hair.

"Patrick!" Morgan struggled against his hold. "You're messing it up."

"You want to mess up mine?" Patrick offered.

"What could I possibly do to it?" Morgan teased.

"Get in the car." Patrick ordered with a chuckle.

"Can I drive?"

"No you cannot drive."

"Why not? My legs are longer than Robin's."

"No they're not."

"Yeah huh."

"Nuh uh."

"On the ride home?"

"Maybe."

The morning sun was clear and crisp. Although it was still cold, it wasn't unbearable conditions. Not a trace of snow or sleet was visible on the horizon, only the deep blue of the winter sky. On any other day, someone driving through Wabash Avenue would smile, looking forward to a beautiful mid-winter day.

But Lucky saw none of it. As he made his way down the street, careful to avoid the children leaving for school and the parents hurrying to work, his mind remained fixed at a point in time he had forced himself not to think about in almost a decade. His night in the hospital had been fitful, but at least there he had Robin nearby to keep his mind focused on the problem at hand. Maxie. Kristina. Now as he neared his own home, there were no distractions. Nothing to keep him from thinking about that night. And Faison.

Growing up, his father had told him stories of Faison and his illegal activities, his obsession with Robin's mom, the rivalry with both the Spencers and Scorpios and the ruthless manner in which he let nothing stand in his way. As it was with most of Luke's stories, Lucky had dismissed some of the more outrageous statements of his evilness as exaggeration to make a better story. Maybe on some level, he hadn't really believed in Faison's existence at all. He was a figment, a convenient creature his father had created to frightening him and Patrick into behaving, Luke's version of "Don't make me turn this car around" as it were. The night he was grabbed from the side of the road while he was walking home from Missy Happy's party freshman year, he realized he had been wrong all those years.

Shaking his head, he pushed the memories to the back of his mind. He didn't think about Faison often, but when he did, it consumed him, blocking out anything and everything else around him. He was helpless to stop the onslaught once the flood started and the memories left him feeling weak. Two things he hated. He had to keep them back. In a few minutes he had to see Cameron off to school and Elizabeth off to work. He wasn't going to expose them to his misery. These weren't their demons to fight.

Forcing one foot in front of the other, he tried to talk himself out of the impending events. Don't do it Spencer. Don't do it. This isn't about you. It's about Kristina. You have moved past this. Focus on Kristina. Focus on Cameron. Focus on Elizabeth. Focus on anything but this. You can fall apart later but not now. Now is not the time.

"Daddy!" Cameron's cheerful voice jolted him as he entered the kitchen. "You home! Lizzie said you would be!"

Elizabeth smiled at him and patted Cameron's head from the chair she occupied next to his son. "Someone was worried you would miss him going to school." She explained as Lucky neared the two of them, kissing the top of her head before bending down to tickle Cameron.

"Miss you going to school? I don't think so pal." He growled as Cameron giggled under the attack. Sitting down after he kissed the top of his son's messy curls, he forced a smile onto his face. If he could last just a few more minutes, he could go upstairs and collapse. If he was living up to his nickname, the exhaustion would keep the nightmares from returning full force.

"Cam? Why don't you get your stuff together for school ok?" Elizabeth motioned with her hand toward the kitchen door. "You don't want to be late."

Nodding Cameron scrambled out of his seat, pushing through the swinging door as he raced toward his small backpack and sneakers sitting by the front door. Waiting to make sure he was safely out of ear shot, Elizabeth turned her attention to Lucky. He had updated her last night and it had taken every persuasion skill he had to keep her from racing to the hospital last night once she found out about Kristina's kidnapping. "Ok, tell me the truth. What's happening?"

Lucky shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing's changed. There are still no leads. At least none Mac is talking about right now. Maxie will be fine physically soon. I gathered from Robin Maxie snuck a call to Georgie last night and now she's on her way back."

"How's Robin doing?"

"She's exhausted, been taking care of everyone else but herself. Typical of her. She left just before I did. I bet Patrick has her in bed and isn't letting her leave the apartment today until she looks more human."

Elizabeth chewed her bottom lip. She should have been there. Robin had asked for her to come damn it. The reasons that sounded so logical and sane last night didn't seem to hold up in the harsh light of day. Her best friend had needed her and Lucky had gone instead. And if she had to make a guess, he hadn't slept anymore than Robin had. She had to do something. "I'm staying home today." She announced suddenly.

"What?" Lucky shook his head in confusion.

"I'm staying home. Robin needs me and it looks like you need me too. I'm staying. I'll call your mom to come get Cameron and I'll tell Old Lady Osencraft I'm sick. I'm pretty sure when you're pregnant they don't question sick days too much." Standing up, she searched the kitchen counter for the cell phone she had laid down earlier.

Lucky followed her, trying to stop her moving hands. "You don't have to do that." He was dangerously close to falling apart. The last thing he needed to do was drag her down with him. He was not going to fall apart in front of her. Not again.

"Yes I do. I should have gone last night." She protested, breaking free from his gentle grip. "I didn't do anything last night, so I have to do something today."

"There was nothing you could have done last night. And it's better me be sleep deprived right now than you." He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair, resting his hands around her stomach. A small kick made its presence felt under his fingers. "See?" he teased. "That's agreement. Majority rules on this one."

She shook her head at his attempt to sidetrack her. Cuteness was not going to work this time. "Maybe. But I'm still staying home today."

"And what? Watch Robin and me sleep? Because I'm pretty sure that is all that is on the agenda for today." She couldn't be here while he slept. If the nightmares were going to come, she couldn't be here. This wasn't the time to tell her about this. She didn't need any stress and he knew her. There was no way she wouldn't take this to heart.

"What's wrong with that idea?" Elizabeth challenged as she turned in his arms. His resistance to her playing hooky was confusing her. Normally she was the one to argue things like work and attending family functions were important. Lucky was generally more than happy to skip and lock them behind the doors of the house, preferably the bedroom doors. Why was he so determined to keep her away now?

"Nothing is wrong. It's just there's nothing anyone can do right now." He held her tightly. Some part of him told him to just let her stay. Her presence would keep him calm. Another wiser part of told that part to shut up. He was hanging on the edge of a freak out and he knew it. Nothing was going to keep it back short of falling into an exhausted sleep. It was best she leave right now.

Elizabeth gave him a quizzical look. On the surface there was nothing wrong with what he was saying, but she couldn't shake this feeling there was something else going on. "Ok I'll offer a compromise here. I'll take Cam to school, but I reserve the right to come straight back here if I feel like it."

It was possible, Lucky reasoned, he could be asleep before they left the street. As long as he was asleep before she decided to come back, he could deal with it. And it was always possible Ms. Osencraft would see her bring Cameron and refuse to let her go home. On some level he knew it was a ridiculous notion but it was still possible. And if he didn't agree to something, she may start to get more suspicious than Lucky suspected she already was. "Deal."

Robin had moved downstairs when sleep had come and gone in a matter of an hour. Patrick wouldn't like her being awake but she figured as long as she wasn't traipsing off to the hospital thereby putting herself and others in harm's way on the road he didn't have much of an argument. The knock at her door proved that she was to endure company. Maybe if she stayed quiet, they would go away. On the other hand, it could be Uncle Mac with news. With a long sigh, she got to her feet and went to the door. "Who is it?"

"Land Shark?" Elizabeth's muffled voice carried through the thick door.

"Elizabeth, come in." Robin yawned opening the door.

"Hey you." Elizabeth said softly taking in her friend's haggard appearance. She drew the smaller girl into her arms. "I'm so sorry Robin."

"Thank you." Robin whispered, holding back the urge to cry. "Do you want coffee?" She asked, stepping out of her friend's embrace.

"I think that is on the list of bad foods. But it looks like you could use a pot. I'll make it." Elizabeth answered moving toward what she believed was the world's largest kitchen.

"You don't have to, but I won't stop you." Robin yawned again, returning to the couch.

"Please. Making you coffee is officially the least I could do for you right now." Elizabeth was grateful that, with all the gleaming, new, state of the art appliances in the polished kitchen, the coffeemaker was still easy to figure out. Making the proper measurements and setting the carafe down, she returned to the couch, taking up position next to Robin. "Did you get any sleep?"

"Almost a whole hour." Robin answered glumly.

"Oh sweets." Elizabeth murmured.

"I don't know why I can't sleep. Something just won't let me. It's like I've forgotten something." Robin told her.

"I'm sure you haven't forgotten anything. From what Lucky told me you were a rock last night."

"How is Lucky? Sleeping I hope."

"He didn't answer when I called and I told him I was coming back. So I think that's a good sign."

"Good. Good. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. But this isn't about me. I'm here for you now. How are you doing?"

"Not so good. Mac finally broke apart last night after a call the kidnapper made to Alexis. Whoever has Kristina is out for blood." Robin explained feeling cold all over.

Elizabeth reached out and put her arms around Robin's shoulders. "The bastard will pay."

"I just want her back." Robin admitted softly.

"I know you do sweetie. I know you do."

"Since I can't sleep and you're obviously playing hooky what should we do? I haven't had a day off in so long I don't even know what to do with myself."

"Well there's all day ice cream binge, watching all the soaps live instead of on SoapNet, or getting every girlie movie we can and forcing Patrick to watch it with us when he gets back from wherever he is."

"Patrick went to check on Alexis and Maxie." Robin explained.

"He's going near Mac willingly? My how times have changed."

"Him hanging out with us is bad since I'm supposed to be in bed. He'll be a real wet blanket about the whole thing. I say we binge and play cards."

"Only if you deal."

"Morgan, please take your seat so we can start our lesson." Miss Leslie instructed.

"Now, as I was saying..." Morgan didn't mean to block out what she was saying; he simply couldn't concentrate. Maxie was in the hospital. Maxie had been hit by a car. Alexis was at the hospital. Alexis was very sick. Kristina hadn't been at lunch for the first time ever.

"Tori, what did you bring for show and tell?" Miss Leslie asked her favorite student. The tiny blonde made her way to the front of the class with her pet turtle in her hand. She explained that his name was Crash after Finding Nemo and…and then Morgan ignored her as well. Why hadn't Robin taken him to school instead of Patrick? And why hadn't Robin come home? Patrick's answers made absolutely no sense. Robin was always home with him.

"Your turtle is kind of fat." Nettie Bellum assessed with an accusatory finger.

"He is not!" Tori screamed in response. "This is his shell!"

"Tori, no yelling. Nettie, apologize." Miss Leslie ordered.

"No!" The girls said in unison.

"Then how about we go to the principal's office and you explain to her why you thought it was okay to misbehave?" Miss Leslie's question sounded more like a threat. She took the turtle from Tori and set his glass container on her desk before leading the girls out by their braids.

To her immense annoyance, the piercing cry of the fire alarm caught her ears and the children hopped up from their desks in excitement. Miss Leslie Gordon tried to corral her class into listening but sometimes it was a losing battle. "Alright everyone, you know what to do during a fire drill. Get in line please." She lined them up from shortest to tallest, maybe because she was a little neurotic, maybe because she wanted something this morning to go as planned. "You don't have to hold hands but you are not to leave my sight. Understand?" Their silence was the only answer she received. "March." She led them into the hallway where other teachers were herding their students in the same fashion.

Morgan fell to the back of the line when something caught his eye, or rather someone. Hurrying to catch up, he noticed his classmates and teacher fade into a hundred others and fought down his panic. He was supposed to stay in line! Oh man, he was in so much trouble. They were all going to the same place, right? As long as he got outside, it should be okay. Tori ran past him in desperate need of her forgotten turtle but she didn't give Morgan a chance to ask her where Miss Leslie was.

Treading forward, Morgan recognized exactly no one. Starting to cry, he finally made it outside. Turning the corner his heart jumped into his throat. "What are you doing here?" He wondered.

"I've come to take you home."

"But I just got here."

"I know, but Robin wants you home."

"But Patrick told me to stay. Robin is asleep. She's really tired."

"That's why she asked me to come and get you so she can rest. Ready?"

"We have to tell Miss Leslie I'm leaving."

"I've already talked to your principal. She'll tell your teacher."

"Promise?"

"Don't you trust me Morgan?"

"Yeah."

"And it's not like I'm a stranger."

"That's right." He remembered Patrick's explanation of which kinds of people fell under strangers and which didn't. "I guess we can go."

"Give me your hand."

"I've missed you Aunt Courtney." Morgan told her.

"I've missed you too little dude." Courtney gathered him into her arms and held him close.

"We're going to my house?" Morgan wanted to be sure.

"Not just yet, but we will soon." Aunt Courtney promised.

"Promise?" Morgan pressed on.

"Get in the car, Morgan." Aunt Courtney demanded.