The only problem with taking any time off from work, Ric decided was the returning to work. Even though other doctors had taken care of his patients, there were phone calls to be returned, appointments to schedule, notes to read, cases to review, and follow-up visits to be made. Sighing, he ran his hand haphazardly through his hair as once again he stared down at the almost insurmountable amount of paper. He was never going to leave town again.

He knew why he had left. It was the right thing to do, the only thing to do. He would have never forgiven himself if his father had taken a turn for the worse and he hadn't been there. The real mystery was why he had stayed as long as he had. Ric hadn't gone down to Tucson naïve. He knew his presence would be an irritant to his father. Had he stayed on to merely irritate the Colonel into getting well? Charlotte would have pouted and held it over his head for the rest of their lives, but she would have understood deep down if he had come back earlier. So the mystery remained, why he had stayed?

It wasn't like he didn't have a life waiting for him when he came back. He hadn't been lying all the times he had told everyone how much he had grown to love Port Charles. Once a person got used to eccentricities of the town, once they fully crawled under a person's skin, they never really left. He had found himself comparing authentic Mexican chili to Kelly's. The Nurses' Ball. The Christmas party. The almost indecipherable family trees. It was all part of the strange package that made it impossible to ever really leave the town. And of course there was the best reason of all to come back: Maxie.

Maxie slipped into the office silently and cleared her throat. "Are you having naughty thoughts about me Dr. Lansing?" She was buzzing with activity. She had taken Leann's advice and called off from work. Mike had been surprised and, for a few seconds she had worried he would demand she come in, but he didn't. He thought she had been working like a maniac for weeks and suspected Ric was back in town and the reason for her sudden absence at work. While he was partially he hadn't been the only reason. She was still in shock. Several times she had contemplated calling the number back and seeing if Leann really answered, almost certain that the entire conversation had been an illusion. But what if her number came up on the phone as she suspected? Then she could blow her one and only chance. It was the opportunity's arrival that made Maxie seek Ric out. He would understand and share in her excitement because it was all he knew how important it was to her.

Looking up, Ric smiled slowly at her. Leaning back in his desk chair, he moved his hand behind his head. "I am now." He declared taking in her appearance with long, appreciative glances.

"Are you busy?" There was no doubt in her mind that he must have come back to ridiculous amount of work.

"I'll make time for you any day."

Maxie beamed at him and then closed the door behind her. "I've got the greatest news."

"Lucy finally made a decision and stuck with it?"

"I said news, not a Ripley's Believe It Or Not episode." Maxie countered moving around the desk leisurely.

"Well do share." He reached up and grabbed at her hand.

"I was leaving the house to go to work when Feona Blotski's assistant, Leann, called to schedule a meeting with me." She waited a moment for the news to sink in and then continued, "Feona Blotski of Vogue."

The name sounded vaguely familiar. At some point he had probably heard it whispered in reverent terms between his sister and ex-wife. But it was probably not the wisest time to mention Kate. It didn't take a rabid interest in fashion to see Maxie clearly felt this was a huge opportunity. "I told you someone would finally recognize your talent."

"I just can't believe it." Maxie slid into his lap and leaned back when his arms wrapped around her. "Leann said to bring new sketches for the meeting next week." She was very aware of her own obsession and had a feeling she would not be sleeping from now until then. These new sketches had to be perfect. She was at once excited and intimidated. What if Feona didn't like them? What if the meeting was a fluke and she was thrown back like a rejected skirt from last season?

Smiling at her obvious excitement, Ric leaned up and kissed her lips. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Maxie turned in his arms so that she could study his face. "I know you've always told me I had talent, but I never thought anyone else would think so."

He lifted one eyebrow and smiled. "The great Maxie Jones had doubts?" he teased gently.

"Shut up." Maxie softly punched his left arm.

"I only told you the truth Maxie. No more. No less."

"You can understand why I couldn't take your word for it. You're not exactly a fashion mogul and nowhere near being impartial where I'm concerned." Maxie pointed out.

"But I was right. That's all that matters."

"Smug bastard." Maxie shook her head and kissed him. Her hands slid over his shoulders, her fingers kneading at his scalp.

"I don't hear any arguments."

"What can I say? I'm feeling compliant." Maxie stated boldly.

His hands tightened their grip on her waist. "I think this calls for a celebration don't you?" he whispered into her ear.

"Sure you aren't busy?" Maxie undid the first three buttons on his blue-grey shirt.

"Not any more." He slipped his hands under her pink top and captured her lips.

Last night hadn't been enough, she decided. If anything, she wanted him even more right now. She wound her arms around his shoulders and pulled him closer so she could yank the white coat off of him. It was the first time she had seen him wear it, but right now it was just another obstacle to overcome. They took turns undressing each other until she was wearing only her knee-length black skirt and he was shirtless. She ground her hips against his helplessly. "Do you have anything?" She whispered, her cheeks flushed.

"Wallet." He managed as he nibbled at the skin on her neck.

She felt around in his pockets, but came up with nothing. "Where's your wallet?" She asked hoarsely.

"Top desk drawer."

Maxie climbed to her feet, ignoring Ric's wordless protests, and reached behind her until she found what she was looking for. Leaning against the desk, she crooked her finger at him. His eyes never left hers as she unfastened his pants and slipped her hand inside his boxers. He grabbed her skirt in fistfuls and dragged it well above her waist. She barely had time to roll the condom on before he kneed her thighs apart and entered her swiftly. Her head fell forward and she bit his shoulder to suppress a cry. The door swung open and Kelly Lee swallowed a surprised yelp of her own.

"Get out." Ric barked at her.

"I, um, I'm sorry Doctor." Kelly pulled the door shut with a slam.

Maxie reared her head back and stared at Ric wide-eyed. She covered her face with her hands.

"Don't." Ric reached up and pulled her hands down.

"I'm so humiliated." Maxie told him in a cracked voice.

"If Kelly Lee wants to continue to work in this office, she won't breathe a word of it."

"Let me up." Maxie demanded suddenly.

"Maxie..." He sighed as she pulled away from him.

"I can't." She apologized, staring down at her fingers as they smoothed down the wrinkles in her skirt.

"I'm getting a self-locking door." Ric muttered under his breath as he pulled his pants up over his hips.

"I should have locked it." Maxie realized. "I didn't think..."

"It's ok. It will just give us more time plan a better celebration for later."

"I should go. I have so much to do." Maxie crouched down to retrieve her shirt, but Ric's hands on hers stilled all movement.

"Stay."

"No. I don't think that that would be a very good idea. She obviously wanted you for something pretty important." Maxie reminded him.

"Nurse Lee doesn't rank on my list of important things. You do."

"I really have a lot to do. We'll meet up later." Maxie tugged her shirt on over her head and stared longingly at the door.

"Maxie." Ric reached out and touched her shoulder. He understood her embarrassment, but why was she running? The Maxie he knew didn't run. "Just wait a minute."

"What?" Maxie wasn't sure how she got the single word out at all.

Talking had never been their strong suit. In fact, it often appeared to him they did better when they eliminated talking altogether. Where words often failed and enraged them, their bodies rarely did. However something was wrong. That much Ric could tell. If he let her walk out of that door, there was no way he was going to find out what had her so distracted. "What's going on? Talk to me."

"It's just..." Maxie couldn't look at him.

"It's just what?" He prompted her.

"Ever since you came home, you've been...different."

"Different? Different how?"

"I don't really know how to explain it. Last night, when we...it felt like you were trying to prove something...to yourself or to me." He didn't speak. Ric just took a step back, his face looking as if she had suckered punched him. Seeing his reaction, Maxie advanced on him. "Were you proving something? Is that it? Did something happen in Tucson that..." Her blue eyes flashed and held onto his. "Did something happen in Tucson, Ric?"

*****

"I say a visit. No warning. Just ring the doorbell." Dillon declared, his arms crossed over his chest, his feet kicked onto the coffee table. "There's less chance she'd run away."

"And if one of her bodyguards answers instead?" Lucas challenged wearily. Part A of the plan was complete: They had found Sage. Part B was giving them hell. They had discovered her location two days ago and spent the time between then and now trying to figure out exactly how to approach Sage without scaring her and getting her to get tested to see if she was a match for Lance.

"Then we pretend to be door to door salesmen and get in the front door."

"She's going to see through it. Six years or not." Lucas squeezed his eyes shut.

"Then what's your brilliant suggestion?" Dillon countered.

"I don't have one." Lucas admitted. "I never even thought we'd be able to find her."

"Well if you don't want to do a surprise visit, I do have to say I don't think we'll get her to answer our phone calls."

"And yet we're going to ask her to save our son." Lucas didn't like the odds any more now than when he had first heard the cure to their son's illness.

"I know." Dillon reached over and squeezed Lucas's hand. "But we found her when no one thought we could and we'll figure this one out. There has to be a way to do this right."

"I don't mean to be so negative. It's just, she hasn't even tried to contact Lance."

"I know, but she said from the start that was what she wanted. We never understood her wishes, but it's what Sage said she wanted."

"Exactly. And that makes me nervous."

"Look, Sage may be many things, but she can't be completely heartless. After all, she is part of Lance and he's pretty wonderful."

Lucas smiled. "He's perfect."

"Exactly. So she will respond. We just have to come up the foolproof plan."

"We could always kidnap her. What? It works in the movies."

"Must I teach you everything?" Dillon sighed. "Think romantic comedy, not thriller. We must woo her to our side in this."

"Woo her how? Her uncle's got more money than God." Lucas reminded his husband.

"Did Lloyd Daubler have more money than God? No he did not. All he had was a boom box and he won Diane Court. We are Lloyd Daubler."

"That definitely explains your music taste." Lucas jested.

"It's still better than yours."

"Tell me more about this salesmen idea." Lucas cajoled.

"I'm thinking Avon. No woman can refuse the Avon lady."

"And which of us is dressing up like a woman?"

"You have the better legs."