Huey stepped back and wiped the tears from his face. He furrowed his brows and looked away, hardening his face until it was as if he hadn't just been a puddle of tears on her shoulder a minute ago. "That may be true… but I can't do it anymore, Webby. They don't understand how it feels. I spent my childhood trying to protect theirs. But I can't protect them from whatever secrets are hiding around Sam if they won't listen."

He sighed and stared back at the RV. "Whatever happens from here… I can't protect them." He lowered his head, staring into his hands. "But I'll be here to pick up the pieces… like always."

Webby set her hand on his shoulder. The anger in his face drained until only a pensive frown remained.

Her heart panged with sympathy and even a little secondhand guilt. "Huey… I know you're just trying to protect them… and maybe it's just me being an only child, but I think your brothers are old enough to decide for themselves. Their emotional well being is not your responsibility." Goodness knows he has his own to worry about between the Duke, Gosalyn, and his own daddy issues.

He lifted his head and gave a faint smile. "It's the big brother curse, Webbs. I'm never gonna not feel responsible for them. What can you do?" He shrugged before stuffing his hands in his pockets and shuffling towards the RV.

Webby sighed and watched him go. Maybe he should just take a break and visit Gosalyn. That seems like it would be healthier than this. Then again… She glanced towards Sam's RV. He needs to confront things with their dad at some-

"Lou is gone!" Dewey broke her train of thought as he stumbled out of the RV.

"Gone? What do you mean gone?" Webby scrambled over.

"I've searched the RV top to bottom. This is all I found." A little yellow hat sat in his hands.

Huey moved past him. "Did you try calling him?"

"Five times. It doesn't even ring, dude."

Huey stepped out of the RV after searching it, closing the door only for it to fall back open. "The latch is snapped off." The two brothers met eyes.

"You don't think?"

"Gus." They both muttered the name in unison.

Webby heaved an exasperated sigh. "Who's Gus? What is going on?"

"Right, right. We haven't caught you up on the lore yet." Dewey threw his arm around her shoulders and gave her a brotherly squeeze. "You'll love this."

"What lore? What's going on?!" Holy cow this family holds more secrets than the pyramids of Egypt! She jittered in place, unable to withstand the suspense.

Dewey tossed the hat to Huey before grabbing her by the shoulders. "Now, this is just between us. No yapping to Uncle Scrooge or Mom or Donald, got it?"

"Yes! YES! Just spill it already! I can't take it!"

"Alright, hold your horses." Dewey stretched and cleared his throat. "Louie was part of a gang while he was in prison. In exchange for safety, he offered the gang leader, Gus, a ton of money. Gus got out of jail a few weeks ago and has been hunting us down ever since. Clearly, Louie is broke soooo we've been dodging him until we can come up with a better plan."

Webby blinked, frozen in a state of both shock and confusion. Honestly, why am I surprised? That's very… Louie.

"Clear as mud?"
"How much money are we talking about?"

Both Huey and Dewey gave her a look that made her stomach do summersaults. "Yikes."

"Far more than we'll ever be able to get in the timeframe Gus wants it and Uncle Scrooge won't make that kind of a pay off to a criminal."

"But if Louie's life is in danger? We have to tell Scrooge!" Webby pulled out her phone. "When does Gus want the money?"

"Yesterday." Dewey grabbed the phone from her hands.

Webby elbowed him and withheld the urge to ninja-throw over her shoulder to get her phone back. Louie's life could be on the line! "Dewey, we have to call them. He could be in real danger!" She turned, spotting Huey out of the corner of her eye as he crawled around the rim of the RV. "What on earth are you doing? Aren't you worried?"

Huey paused and sat up on his knees. "We're not calling Uncle Scrooge. Not yet."

Webby huffed, propping her hands on her hips. "And why is that?"

"Something tells me Gus has more motive for kidnapping Louie than to hurt him." He reached under the edge of the RV and yanked out a massive dandelion plant with roots that snaked through the cracks in the asphalt around them. Heaving a sigh that sounded nearly identical to one of Donald's, he tossed the overgrown weed on the ground at her feet. "If we call Uncle Scrooge and he gets his hands on Louie before we do… it's back to the big house for our little bro."

Webby straightened. "No, no. Louie didn't do anything wrong! If Gus kidnapped him, he'll be the one going to jail and Louie will be safe."

Dewey knelt down and poked the dandelion plant. It twitched before swelling even larger. "No, Webbs. He's right." He flipped over the dandelion to see a small drop of dried, neon green goop.

Webby's eyes grew big as she watched the dandelion steadily grow bigger by the minute. "What is-"

"It's Ludwig Von Drake's growth serum." Huey rubbed his forehead and groaned. "I watched him give it back to Gosalyn with my own eyes. Either it was a fake or he had already found a way to duplicate it before I made him hand it over." He kicked the weed and spun around, gripping his hair between his fingers. "How could I let this happen? I should have watched him closer."

"It's not your fault. Louie is… well, Louie. We all let our guard down." Dewey kicked the plant. "Odds are, Gus took him and the serum to ensure he got his money."

Webby's brow creased. She snagged the little yellow hat from Huey. "Then what's this? It's too small to be one of yours." She smirked. "And definitely not your color."

"Phil! Philbert! Kid, where are you?" A familiar voice called out from across the parking lot, thick with concern.

Dewey grew rigid. "Is that?"

Huey's jaw tightened. "Get in the RV. We have more important things to worry about than… him." He grabbed his brother by the arm and started to load up.

Webby turned the little yellow hat inside out. "Wait, guys… Louie's not the only one missing."