Stolen Memories Chapters 6-10

 

Chapter 1

 

After he picked Chase up from the day care center, Lucas Stevens took his son to their favorite place to eat, Eli's,a small rib place he had found by accident one day not long after arriving in town. He always ordered the same thing, ribs and a big plate of cheese fries. He always thought it strange that he seemed to know exactly what to order the first time he went there, even though he had never been there before. Chase loved to help him eat the big plate of cheese fries he ordered for him, usually with a hamburger since he hadn't developed his fathers taste for ribs yet. He was, after all, just little boy.

During dinner something kept nagging at him, swirling around in his subconscious, causing him to be distracted to the point that Chase kept having to say, "Daddy, I talking to you" and Lucas would look at him, startled, coming back to the present, trying to grasp whatever it was that had made him go so far into his own head that he didn't even hear his precious little boy talking to him.

He reached over and touched him on the top of the head, messing up his hair a bit,' I'm sorry, Cowboy, I was just thinking about something. What do you say we go get some ice cream before we go home?" He smiled that beautiful smile that always melted his fathers heart.

Lucas didn't know what he would do without Chase. He was his whole life. Chase's mother was gone, someone he barely remembered now. When he tried to think of her his memory was fuzzy. He knew she had died, though not certain of the cause, just months after Chase was born. In fact he hadn't known about Chase before until he was contacted and told that the will found in her apartment had named him as his father and legal guardian.

In fact, so much of his memory was fuzzy; he found it hard to remember much of anything before the time Chase was first brought to him. He loved him instantly, knew instantly that he was his flesh and blood, and felt a bond with him that was so powerful it nearly brought him to his knees. From that day on he had devoted his life to Chase, vowing to keep him safe, and happy and loved always. For some reason he always felt that danger was always lurking just around the corner, that fate had some other plan for him and that just as mysteriously as Chase had entered his life, he would be snatched from him. For that reason he was a little over protective, but he simply did not know what he would do without him.

After they returned to the small furnished apartment he had rented over a small diner called Kelly's, Lucas played with Chase and let him watch his favorite movie before putting him to bed. Chase begged for one more story, but Lucas told him it was already late and he would read him another book in the morning before he took him to the day care. He tucked him into bed and leaned over to kiss him; "Daddy, I like Miss Emily and Miss Elizabeth. They were fun, but Miss Elizabeth was so sad."

"I know, Chase, I noticed that, too. I think she just wasn't feeling well. You'll just have to take special care of her tomorrow and try to make her laugh and feel better."

"Okay daddy. Night night, I love you."

"I love you, too Chase, sweet dreams." Lucas stayed with Chase until he had fallen asleep. It didn't take long, he was exhausted from his first day at the day care center. It was one of the first times Lucas had left him with people he didn't know, and he had been apprehensive, but when he had picked him up, he was relieved to find that Emily and Elizabeth seemed to really care about him and he knew it was safe to take him back the next day.

They had arrived in town a month or so before and Lucas had been able to spend everyday with Chase, but his money was running out and he knew it was time to find a job and make a little some more money before moving on. He was never sure where the would end up; he just knew they had to keep moving. But he liked it here in Port Charles, it was a friendly town and for the first time in several years he felt that he might like to stay and make a home for Chase. He took a can of beer from the refrigerator, took a long drink, and sat down on the couch in the small living room. He leaned his head against the back of the couch and ran his hands through his hair. There it was again, that feeling; what was it, why couldn't he shake it? It was a feeling of familiarity, a sense of something...but what?

His thoughts drifted to what Chase had said about Elizabeth Webber. She had looked so sad, so beautiful. It had been some time since he had even noticed a woman, but something about her had touched him, and he couldn't deny that when he had reached out to touch her shoulder he had felt an electrical charge go through him, that feeling of familiarity, that's what it was. But why?

He closed his eyes but sleep came slowly, fitfully. He was half awake, half asleep, in that strange netherland where a thousand thoughts and images came racing all at once. Finally he fell into a deep sleep and was dreaming. He was in the diner downstairs, music was playing, a sweet, slow love song. There was no one else there; only him and the girl he was dancing with. It was such a sweet dream, he was holding her so close, his face in her hair, not really dancing, just swaying to the music, feeling such love, such peace as he had not known in a long time. In the dream, they stayed this way for some time until finally he pulled away from her for a moment to look into her eyes. She was beautiful, with long dark hair that hung in waves past her shoulders, but her eyes looked sad, forlorn. Still, he couldn't quite get a clear picture of her face...just her eyes. He put his hand on the side of her face and leaned over to kiss her lips...suddenly he was wide awake, in that type of panic that wakes you from a sound sleep for no apparent reason. Chase, there was something wrong with Chase...

He ran to his room to check on him and after finding that he was still sleeping soundly, he leaned over to kiss his forhead and went back to the couch. It took him a few minutes for his heartbeat to get back to normal, partly from the panic thinking something was wrong with Chase and partly from the dream he had had. There it was again, that feeling. What was it? He was drifting back to sleep, thoughts of the girl at the day care center, Elizabeth, in his head. Why had he seemed so drawn to her, so touched by her sadness? He was just drifting off to sleep, seeing images of her in his head, her long dark hair hanging past her shoulders, and then he was dancing again in the diner with the same girl, the same dream. When he came to the part in the dream when he looked at her, he awoke with a start again, this time in a deep cold sweat. He sat up and put his head in his hands. He felt so close to her, like he had always known her. It was as if she were still in the room with him even though the dream was over and he was fully awake. There was that feeling again, and suddenly he saw her face clearly, felt that sudden shock of recognition again. He whispered to himself, "It's her, it's Elizabeth".

Chapter 7

I went to lay down after dinner, knowing Loren was in good hands. Nikolas would play with her and put her to bed, and he would love every minute of it. And Loren...Loren would talk about it for days.

I closed my eyes, but sleep did not come. I tossed and turned, moaning fitfully. I was only half awake, trapped in that strange netherland where a thousand thoughts and images came racing all at once. Suddenly I was in the diner that Lucky's Aunt Ruby owned, our favorite hang out when we were in school. Music was playing, a sweet, slow love song. There was no one else there; only Lucky and me. Ruby had closed early and I had made dinner for Lucky, Nikolas, and Emily. Nik and Em had already left, leaving me and Lucky alone to dance. It was such a sweet dream, he was holding me so close, his face in my hair, not really dancing, just swaying to the music, feeling such love, such peace as I had not known in a long time.

We stayed this way for some time until finally he pulled away from for a moment to look into my eyes. I held his gaze, each of us staring into the other's soul, until he finally broke the intensity and put his hand on the side of my face...his fingers soft and light, gently as a butterfly landing on my cheek.

We closed our eyes as he bent forward, and in the moment that his lips met mine, I sat up straight in the bed, my hands over my racing heart. I stumbled from beneath the sheets and blankets tangled on my legs and nearly fell to the floor in my frenzy. "Loren!" I screamed, Loren, there was something wrong with Loren...

I crashed into the walls in my panic. "Loren! Mommy's coming, Loren!" I reached her room and flung myself across the empty bed. "Loren!"

"Elizabeth?" a voice spoke from behind me. I sensed someone coming toward me, and when I looked up, it was Lucky. I backed away from him, holding my arms out to ward him off, my two index fingers meeting in a cross.

"Get away from me!" I screamed at him. "You're not real! Go away!"

"Elizabeth," he changed his steps, like he was approaching a strange and frightened dog. "It's all right."

"No! You're dead! You're not real!"

"It's me, Elizabeth, it's Nikolas." He knelt a few feet from me. I shook my head, but my vision was clearing and I could see the dark hair and he was bigger than Lucky, taller, darker. "Loren is downstairs with Emily."

"And Lucky?" I whispered weakly.

"Lucky is gone, Elizabeth. You know that."

I nodded and moved forward, allowing Nikolas to take me in his arms. He caught me against his chest and picked me up, planting soft kisses on my face while he carried me back to my bed. He lay me down and covered me, then sat beside me until I fell asleep.

Chapter 8

I woke several times during the night, always with the dream of dancing with Lucky just beyond my reach. I sat up in the bed, shaking and crying each time, and feeling like something was terribly wrong with Loren. I would stumble down the hall to check on her, and of course she would be fine, sleeping peacefully with her blankey and her teddy that had been Lucky's gift to me our first Christmas together.

When I woke after daybreak, it was the dream that woke me again. I just sat in the bed for a long moment, trying to get my heartbeat and my breathing under control. Loren was fine, I knew Loren was fine. I could hear her giggling downstairs.

I glanced at the clock, and I was surprised to see the digital read out said it was ten after eight. "Shit!" I jumped out of bed and dug in my bag for my clothes. I was already late for work.

Nikolas and Loren were in the hallway waiting for me when I came out of the bathroom. I felt a sudden wave of nausea and panic at the sight of him, Lucky's brother, holding her, Lucky's daughter. I stepped backward, into the bathroom again, and backed myself against the sink.

"Stay away from me!" I screamed at him.

He regarded me for a long moment, even as he knelt and put Loren on her feet. "Honey, why don't you go play in the bedroom for a minute? Will you do that for me?"

She nodded, her long blonde hair falling a little over her face, causing her to brush it away in a move that made me think of Lucky again. I closed my eyes, I couldn't bear to think of Lucky and watch Loren run from my sight.

"Elizabeth?"

"I'm late for work, Nikolas." I tried to sound like I meant it, but my voice cracked and shook anyway. I swallowed hard and tried to keep my head up, even though it felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

"Emily already talked to your boss. You've got the day off."

"You had no right to do that!" I screamed and flew at him, landing my fists against his chest.

He caught his hands around my wrists and pulled me to him. "You shouldn't be around those kids today, Elizabeth. You need to calm down."

He was right, I knew he was right. I wouldn't be any good to anyone at the day care today. But I wanted to go, I needed to go. I needed to see Chase, and I needed to see Chase's daddy. Lucky.

I crumpled into a blubbering heap on the floor, and Nikolas came to me. He lifted me into his arms and carried me back to the bed. "Okay, Elizabeth. It's going to be okay. We'll get you through this, I promise."

"I love you, Lucky," I murmured, my face buried in his neck as he lay me down. He started to pull away, but I grabbed his face in my hands and brought his mouth to mine.

"Elizabeth!" He jumped back, tearing away from me, stumbling back and colliding with the wall behind himself.

I saw him, saw his brown eyes and his almost-black hair and my entire body shut down. I threw myself forward, so I was face down and crying into the bedclothes. "Lucky! Lucky!"

"Shh..." Nikolas came to me, sat beside me, and stroked my hair.

Chapter 9

Lucas awoke several mornings later from a restless night of disjointed dreams. Dreams of being imprisoned in a small room, of a blonde woman whose face he couldn't see, and of Elizabeth, dancing with him again. Seeing her had haunted him since the day he had first picked up Chase at the day care center. Each time he had returned she hadn't been there. He wanted to see her again. He longed to see her again.

He dropped Chase off that morning and asked if Elizabeth was there, but the other girl, Emily, said she wasn't due in until 10:00. She had had a late class the night before and was coming in a little later than usual.

He was disappointed, but tried to push it from his mind. He had to set out and try to find some work. By mid-afternoon he was sitting on a bench on the dock watching the water, wondering why it has been so difficult to find work. His mind had also drifted back to Elizabeth. In fact, he had thought of little else since having the dream about her, a dream he was now certain had occurred many times before. The only difference now was that he had seen her face in the dream. He wondered why he had dreamt of her in the past, and why he was so affected when he had touched her shoulder.

He was deep in thought when he heard a voice behind him, asking, incredulously, "Lucky?"

He looked up and saw a man approaching him. He was older, perhaps mid thirties, dark hair, and intense eyes and was dressed impeccably in a dark silk suit, no tie. "Excuse me?"

The man was looking at him as if he had seen a ghost. His voice this time, at seeing Lucas face to face was hoarse, barely a whisper, "Are you Lucky?"

"Lucky? Me? No, man I don't feel very lucky today."

"What's your name, kid?"

"Stevens, why?"

"Man, you are a dead ringer for a kid I used to know, a kid I really cared about." He could see there was no spark of recognition on Lucas's face but the resemblance astounded him; sure he was a little older, but Lucky would have been about this age now, and his hair was longer, falling a little below his collar, and those deep blue eyes. Jesus, those were Lucky's eyes.

Lucas looked at him closer, "Really…well, small world I guess."

"Yeah, how come you're not feeling so lucky today?"

"I've been in town maybe a month, been looking for work and can't find anything. I've got a son to take care of."

The man's voice was very matter-of-fact. "You ain't been asking the right people. You need work, I can give you work."

Lucas looked hopeful. "I'll do anything."

"I can give you plenty of work and the pay's good. Are you trustworthy?" Lucas started to answer and the man waved his hand in front of him, "Never mind, I can tell by lookin' at you that you are. Come to this address tomorrow about this time and we'll get you started." He scratched an address on a piece of paper and handed it to Lucas. As he took it the man reached out his other hand to shake it. "Sonny Corinthos, nice to meet you."

Lucas shook his hand. There it was again, that feeling, fleeting, that spark of recognition. What was it? Sonny smiled. "You got a kid, huh?"

"Chase, he's 2 ½.. He's my whole life."

"I have no doubt about that. Where is he now?"

"Over at the day care center."

A look Lucas couldn't read came over Sonny's face. "Where Elizabeth Webber works?"

"Yes, you know her?"

"Sure, she's a wonderful girl; Emily, too. You've met them both?"

"Yeah, why?"

He considered that for a moment. "Just wondering. I'll see you tomorrow…Stevens, is it?"

He nodded, "Thank you, Mr. Corinthos."

"Sonny, please."

He smiled. "Sonny, then."

Sonny just looked at him for a long minute and shook his head. He started to walk away and then turned back to him and said, "If I were you, I'd be careful where you go in this town. I know some people be real freaked out to see how much you look like that kid I used to know."

"Lucky? Was his name Lucky?"

"Yeah, his name was Lucky. Damn, he was somethin' to behold." Then he turned and walked away.

Chapter 10

Nikolas squared his jaw when he handed me the phone. I drew my eyebrows together to question who it was, from his harsh and clipped words, I knew it couldn't be Emily. He just rolled his eyes and thrust the receiver toward me.

"Hello?"

"Elizabeth, it's Sonny." He was always doing that, identifying himself as if I wouldn't recognise his voice.

"Sonny?" I said, but my tone was asking what he wanted, why he would call me at Nikolas' house. I looked up at Nikolas for a half-second and shrugged, then went into the other room for privacy.

"Elizabeth, I met Stevens. He told me his kid is at the day care."

I closed my eyes. "Chase. Oh God, Sonny..."

"Shhh, Sweetie. I know. I know what you're thinking."

"He's Lucky," I whispered, my voice shaking.

"I know, Sweetie, I know," Sonny's words were soft and sweet, and if he'd been in the room with me, he would have wrapped his arms around me, and he would have held me until I felt safe and strong enough to keep living without Lucky.

'Where? Where did you see him?" I closed my eyes and pressed my hand against my forehead.

"On the...on the docks."

"What did he say? I want to know every word."

"Meet me for lunch? At the club?" The club Sonny co-owned with Lucky's father.

I nodded. "I'll ask Nikolas to keep Loren." Nikolas resisted, only because he didn't want me to see Sonny. Nikolas had never trusted Sonny, even when Lucky was alive, and to this day he believed Sonny had something to do with Lucky's disappearance.

Loren clung to me when I kissed her goodbye, forcing Nikolas to pull her away and drag her from the room. I could hear her screaming all the way to the car, and when I slammed the door, the sudden silence in which I found myself made me cry.

I fought tears all the way to the club, and when I saw the huge red neon "LUKE'S" sign, I lost it. I just parked the car right in front of the building and slumped over the steering wheel. "Lucky! Damn you, Lucky Spencer!" I screamed, sitting back to pound my fists on the dash before sagging forward again.

A tap on the window beside me made me jump out of my skin.

I lifted my head from the steering wheel and saw Sonny standing there. He gave me a half-hearted smile as he opened my car door. "Come on, honey, let's go inside and talk." He led me inside to a small table away from the crowd. I saw the food that he had already ordered for me sitting on the table. Sonny was always taking care of me that way. As we sat down, he waved his hand toward the food. "I took the liberty of ordering you some food, cause I knew you wouldn't want anything. But you have to eat, and I'm not letting you leave until you've eaten all of it."

I managed a weak smile, "Thanks." Then I looked up at him, searching his face for answers to the questions I needed answered, knowing that he no more had them than I did. "Sonny, you know it's Lucky, don't you? I mean you know for sure that it's him?"

"Of course, Sweetheart, I knew it the minute I saw him sitting on that bench. I think I saw a spark of recognition in his eyes when he saw me, fleeting, but a spark just the same."

"God, I just want him to remember me, to remember all of us. I want him to know his little girl. What could have happened to him? Why doesn't he know me? I can barely stand it, Sonny."

"I know, but Elizabeth, you have to give him time. You don't want to scare him off by freaking out every time you see him. I'm already working on trying to find out where he's been and what happened to him." He saw that I was crying as I nodded, knowing he was right, and he reached over and covered my hand with his. "Elizabeth, I think we should be thankful that he found his way back here, even though he can't quite remember us. Something made him come back to Port Charles, and I think that something was you; he just hasn't figured that out yet. But your love for him is so strong, and his for you, he'll find his way. You just gotta be patient for a little while."

I nodded again, feeling myself calming finally, for the first time since I had first seen Lucky. "It's just that I want so badly to hold him and take away whatever pain he's been in all these years."

"You know I'm right though? You have to stay cool."

"Yes, I know you're right. I do feel better now. How is it that you always know how to do that?"

"I love Lucky, you know, he's family. And so are you. Listen, I wanted to tell you something else, too. I'm seeing him today and I'm going to send him out of town over night tonight to make a delivery. He'll probably think he has to take Chase with him, and I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Is it going to be dangerous?"

"Baby, danger is everywhere, you know that. I know Lucky can take care of himself. I'd just feel better if his kid was somewhere safe, like your house, while he's gone."

"Are you going to tell him that?"

He smiled, "No, I thought you could do that, just say you ran into me and I mentioned he was working for me and does he need anyone to watch Chase after the day care closes."

"I don't know if he'll go for it."

"Just try, okay. Your kids can be a common ground for you two to work from. I really believe he'll remember everything in time."

"Sonny, what about Luke and Laura?"

He thought for a minute. "I don't know. I go back and forth with that. I think we should just leave it alone for now. We don't want to overwhelm him with too many people freaking out over the sight of him. I'll let you know the minute I hear something, I promise." He stood up from the table and said, "I have to get going; he's meeting me at my place soon. I don't want to miss him."