Evan slammed the folder closed. He didn't care if he was acting like a spoiled brat. Why did the world continue to laugh in his face? Even before he opened the file, he had known this much about Lulu. Maybe this kind of detailing was acceptable when the mob had run the town, but why wasn't it better now that they had been removed? There were too many holes and no linking points. Why did it seem like some things had purposely been left out? "There you go with that paranoia again." He scolded himself pushing to his feet.

Harper was sitting at his desk in much the same frustrated fashion, but he wasn't as obvious about his mood. Evan wondered if this was really the best time to bug him. Oh well. "Is there just the one file?" He held up the folder.

"What?" David barely looked up at Evan's request. There was something going on with the drug case and he couldn't figure out what exactly. From the looks of things, Vermin was trying to take over the old Corinthos/Morgan territory…that was the obvious part. The not so obvious part was which of the "business ventures" he was angling for. It sure wasn't coffee importing. "Which case is that?"

"Lulu Spencer's personal file."

"I thought you quit being a babysitter."

"I just need a few questions answered." He hadn't mentioned to Harper, though he should, about how he thought Lulu was helping Vermin because he couldn't prove it. At least that was the reason he was sticking with.

Leaning back in his chair, David looked at the younger man quizzically. That wasn't the look of someone who just needed a few questions answered. Standing up, he motioned for Cassidy to follow him. "Come on. If you are going to ask questions about the commissioner's goddaughter, don't do it for all the squad to hear."

"Fair enough." Evan followed him into the empty interrogation room, smiling at the irony.

"What do you want to know?" David asked after making sure the door was closed securely behind them.

"I want to know what links her and Logan Drake for one."

"Her cousin. And her kidnapper."

"Kidnapper?"

"Did you not read the file before you started asking me questions?"

"It's not in here." Evan promised.

"The commissioner." David reasoned. "Do you at least remember the Kristina Davis/Morgan Scorpio kidnappings?"

"Yeah. They happened before I got here, but I heard some of the guys talking about them."

"From what we were able to find out Logan Drake helped Emily Quartermaine and Courtney Mathews plan and execute those kidnappings. Lulu Spencer ended up in the line of fire, but it seems she got in the way when Logan went for her nephew. Emily died the same day her brother Jason Morgan did and in the same manner. Courtney and Logan went underground until a few days ago when Logan obviously surfaced."

"How long were they gone? The children? And Lulu?"

"About three weeks. From her statements, it seemed once Lulu arrived she was continually trying to break them out."

"Why weren't Courtney Matthews and Logan Drake taken in once they were back?"

"Couldn't find them. Logan has been giving his family the slip for years and Courtney seemed to be connected to the mysterious fourth member of the team, the moneybags."

"So two are dead and two are on the run?" It was a rhetorical question. "Wait..."

"Yes?"

Evan didn't answer him. His question wasn't so cut and dry; it wasn't coming to him all at once. He remembered Lulu's terror at the reception and her insistence that "They" were watching her. Thanks to her interfering brother, he had never been able to figure out who she was talking about. Was it possible she had seen Logan and Courtney at the reception? Or even Courtney and the mysterious fourth figure?

"I have to go. Thanks for your help." Evan hurried out of the room.

David shook his head as he watched Cassidy run out of the room. Looks like someone was back on baby-sitting duty.

*****

"I know it doesn't seem like it right now, but being discharged is the best thing for Morgan right now. Being surrounded by familiar people in a familiar setting will help him feel more comfortable." Dr. Karen Wexler explained calmly to the assembled group in front of her. "Physically there is no reason to keep him here."

Patrick rubbed his bleary eyes as he listened to the doctor. She was right: Morgan had been here long enough and he wasn't going to start talking on his own if he didn't feel comfortable. Who in their right mind found hospitals comfortable? "I..." Patrick wasn't sure what he was supposed to say. If he left and went to take care of Morgan, would the doctors just decide to pull the plug on Robin? They were sadistic enough to. If he stayed, he was choosing Nathan and Robin over his stepson. Which answer was right? He looked from left to right feeling like he had fallen into a bottomless pit in which no one would know to find him.

"We are in total agreement Dr. Wexler." Dillon chimed in quickly seeing Patrick falter. "A little interaction with his cousin and some movie marathons never hurt anyone did it?"

"No." Dr. Wexler smiled. "As long you are screening the movies carefully."

"Scout's honor." Dillon promised.

"You were never a Scout." Lucas pointed out.

"Details."

Patrick glanced back and forth between the couple to see if maybe they were pulling his leg. "Would you?"

"Would we?" Dillon scoffed. "Lance has already pulled out the sleeping bags and is ready to stay up all night and eat way too much sugar."

"It wouldn't be for more than a few days." Patrick assured them.

"Of course not." Lucas smiled. "But he's welcome as long as he wants to be there."

"I...um...thank you." Patrick managed laughing at his own frailty.

"You know us Patrick. We love to entertain." Dillon said laughing, clapping Patrick on his shoulder. "And we expect huge Christmas presents."

"Of course." Patrick nodded.

"I'm glad all that is settled." Dr. Wexler cut in. "Now as I said, physically Morgan is fine but he'll need to complete his medication just to ward off any possible infection. Two pills each dose. Once in the morning and once before he goes to bed. It may make him drowsy so just keep an eye out on him."

Lucas nodded, paying close attention just in case Dillon wasn't. "Will he need to come back for any follow-up appointments?"

"In about a month but hopefully he'll be back home by then." Dr. Wexler nodded at Patrick and handed him a slim business card. "You may find Dr. Zeud helpful. She does wonderful work with children and might be very good for Morgan."

"I'll think about it. Thank you Dr. Wexler." Patrick slipped the business card into his front pocket.

"You're welcome. I'll go down to the nurse's desk to sign the papers and then you should be all set to take him home."

"Thank you. I'll go tell him the good news." They were stationed down the hall from his room so that he wouldn't overhear them. Patrick didn't appreciate people talking about him and he suspected Morgan felt the same way. He started toward the room when something stopped him. "Did you hear that?" He asked the group, his eyes widening.

The scream continued, bouncing off the walls in the children's corridor. Parents stuck their heads out of the rooms, trying to locate the source, covering their own children's ears. It was a scream Dillon and Lucas recognized. It was the same type of scream Lance let out when he first started experiencing his symptoms. It was the scream of a child in pain. Dillon nodded slowly. "Oh God. Is that Morgan?"

Patrick was halfway to the room before Dillon finished his question. This wasn't a surprised scream. Surprise tended to be far more subtle. This was terror, pure and simple. "Morgan!" He called ahead. "MORGAN!" He skitted to a stop in front of the room and pushed himself into the room. "What happened? What's the matter?" Morgan's eyes were dilated, the sheets pulled to his chin. Patrick sat on the bed beside him, trying not to shake him. "Tell me. What is it?" He reached for a pen and pad he found in the drawer beside the bed. "Can you write it down?" Morgan continued to stare at nothing, but at least he had stopped screaming. Giant tears fell down his cheeks and he threw his arms around Patrick's neck, shaking. "Hey. It's okay. It's okay." Patrick whispered. "I won't let anything hurt you."

Dillon, Lucas, and Dr. Wexler came bursting into the room right behind him. "What happened? Is he ok?" Lucas managed to pant out.

"I don't know." Patrick said above Morgan's head. "He's terrified."

"Morgan?" Dr. Wexler approached her patient carefully, keeping her voice calm and quiet. "It's Dr. Karen. I just want to check you out and make sure you aren't hurt anywhere ok?"

Morgan shook his head. "Do you have to do that now?" Patrick asked.

"I just want to rule it out." She explained calmly. "But we can wait a few minutes. Ok Morgan? You can just hang out here with your dad a little bit."

"Morgan, it's okay." Patrick told him, rubbing his back. "I'm going to sit right here with you. Okay?" Morgan showed no response.

Dillon moved closer to the pair. "What if we all go down to the playroom or something? Maybe a change of scene would help calm him down."

"That's a good idea." Patrick agreed. "Morgan, what do you think?" Morgan reached out and took Dillon's offered hand. "Let's all go." Patrick decided, leading them out of the room.

"Morgan, you and I are totally going to kick Patrick's butt in Jenga." Dillon declared as they started down the hall.

The room wasn't a large one, but it did offer a bathroom. As soon as the coast was clear, he stepped out of the tiny closet of a room and smiled. "I'll see you again soon son." AJ promised to the retreating figures. He snuck out of the room feeling rather pleased with himself. Everything was going according to plan. Who knew Logan's irrational tendencies would pay off? Courtney was at home because she would stand out far more than he would. He slipped out of the hospital with only one person knowing he had dropped by. That was all about to change. Soon, he promised himself.

*****

There had been some suggestion that he had spent too much time in the hospital. Lucky would have dismissed the complaint as nonsense if it hadn't come from one of the nurses. Who had learned not only his name but the names of his kids and could recognize them in pictures immediately. She might have a point, he grudgingly admitted. Morgan was scheduled to go home with Dillon and Lucas. Patrick was actually seeing Nathan, an important first step. There was no change in Robin but sitting vigil right probably wasn't helpful to her at this point.

In fact Robin would probably be the first person harassing him to get out and see actual daylight, he mused as he sat outside of Kelly's. Sitting in front of Aunt Ruby's diner, with the hospital mere minutes walk away probably wasn't exactly what she would have in mind, but Robin would just have to wake up and yell at him about that.

Taking the first sip of real coffee he had since Robin went into the hospital, Lucky closed his eyes and tried to figure out a different plan. Patrick would still need help, but if he was interacting with his own son, there was hope there. Between Mom and Aunt Bobbie, Patrick should be able to get most of his questions answered about care for Nathan. And just try to stop Dillon from dramatically requesting help if he needed it with Morgan. Maybe it was time he and Elizabeth tried concentrating on their own lives. It was a novel concept, but one worth considering.

But before he could fully go back to his own life, there was just one minor detail to take care of: Lulu. His sister hadn't been seen since that first long night when she left clinging to the arm of that guy. Lucky could feel his face contort just thinking about her friend, what was his name again? Elvis? Elvin? Evan? That was it: Evan. How exactly did this guy go from not a single mention to acting like the only person Lulu considered trusting? Who was he? Where did he come from? And what exactly was his interest in Lulu?

Was there such a thing as ending a conversation with Lulu Spencer on a happy note? Or must they all conclude in a fight? Did that make it easier? He wondered. Perhaps. As long as he left mad, it would take that much longer for him to worry about her. Well he was worried now, but it was probably groundless. He had no proof.

Evan sighed noiselessly when he spotted the older brother. What was his name? It started with an "L," that much he remembered. Luke, Laura...Lucky. Lucky and Leslie Lu. He had spent the better part of the night learning Lulu's family tree hoping that one of them would fill in the holes he kept finding. "Hey." Why was he engaging in a conversation with a man who hated him? Who he could go his entire life without seeing again? A common interest, he reminded himself. Damn it.

Hearing the vaguely familiar voice, Lucky glanced up. Since when did he have the power just to think about someone and then they would appear? And if he had said power, why couldn't he have used it when it was useful, say during high school when he was infatuated Sarah Michelle Gellar? "Hey." He managed tersely.

"Any change?" He could make pleasant conversation. He was almost certain.

"No but I would think Lulu would have told you that." Lucky pointed out.

"I haven't seen Lulu today." Evan lied.

"Join the club on that one." Lucky muttered.

"She said she was heading home." Evan doubted Lucky would appreciate him having personal knowledge as to how well Lulu hadn't slept last night or how shaky she had seemed just that very morning.

"Heading home?" Lucky quirked an eyebrow. "And you believed that one?"

"No." Evan admitted. "But at the end of the day, I have to accept one truth or the other."

"And the other truth?"

"That I wouldn't know."

"Lulu's good for that. Maybe it's because she was always the only girl, but she's never come around to telling all her secrets." Lucky admitted. "I only know half the trouble she's been in because I caught her red-handed."

"It's a little hard to keep up with her, isn't it?"

"Just slightly."

"Was she always like this?" Evan told himself not to care. He shouldn't—it would make no difference whatsoever.

"A little." Lucky admitted. "Until it became uncool to want to hang out with her brother and cousin anymore." Or until they started consciously trying to ditch her. Whichever came first Lucky figured.

"She strikes me as the bookworm type."

Lucky couldn't contain his snort of laughter. "A bookworm? Hardly. Lulu's smart enough, but she hates to actually work at it. Or let anyone know she's smart. It would mess with her carefully sculpted image."

"And what image is that?"

"How close are you two if you're asking me all this?"

"Not very close at all."

"Then why do you keep showing up?"

"I hear that's what friends do."

Lucky eyed Evan suspiciously. There was nothing inherently wrong with the younger man's answers, but there was a feeling Lucky just couldn't shake there was something more going on. Evan was not giving him the full answers and he knew it. As sure as he was of his own name, Lucky knew Evan knew exactly what was going on with Lulu. He could press his luck now and demand answers, or he could wait a little while longer. What was it his father had always said? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, with Helena closest of all. "If you see Lulu, tell her Morgan's staying with Dillon and Lucas. He might appreciate a visit."

"I bet you see her before I do." Evan reasoned.

"I doubt it." Lucky corrected.

"'Doubt can only be removed by action.'" Evan chuckled, walking into the diner.

"Not when Lulu is running in the opposite direction." Lucky noted as he watched Evan walk away.