| Chapter 2 Lucky and Lu were walking in one of the halls with a guard near by. Their father had just woke up and everyone worse fears had come true. Luke had a stroke. How bad he was wasn�t known yet but to add to the trouble. The seizures were still happening. He had two while the kids were there with him. Alex was running test now to see what she could do. Lucky figured his sister needed a break. So, this was why were walking. Neither of them spoke too much. They just wondered the halls alone wondering if their father was going to make it. They turned a corner and ended up walking into a group of reporters. The guard had been taken off guard. By the time he realized what was happening reporters already surrounded the kids. They were yelling out their questions getting closer and closer to the kids. �How is your father? Is he awake? How bad is his condition?� were just some of the questions that were called out. Lucky had learned to deal with this press during his time in Russia. The trouble was he wasn�t in the mood to deal with them. Lucky put Lu behind him and yelled. �Back off!� The reporters quieted down and the backed up a bit. �Don�t you people have a life? Do you have to hound us at every turn? You want to know how my father is. He isn�t that good. He had a stroke and my sister and I need to be alone to deal with it. Now get lost,� Lucky snapped. The guard finally moved in right then and guided the kids away from the crowed. The moment Lucky was in the elevator he hit the side with his fist. �Damn them,� Lucky cursed. �Why they do that?� Lu asked. �Because they don�t care,� Lucky said putting an arm around his sister�s shoulder. *************************** Mikkos wasn�t happy when he found heard about what happened. �You were suppose to be with them,� he yelled at the guard. �It wasn�t his fault,� Lucky said as he leaned against the wall. �They just don�t get it when someone tells them to get lost.� �Well, I think it is time you two go back to the house. Your father is resting now there is nothing you can do for him tonight,� Mikkos said putting a hand on his grandson�s shoulder. �What if I don�t want to go?� Lucky asked. Laura had been listening near by. She saw the rage in Lucky�s face and knew it was because he was worried that he was worried about this father. �Lucky,� Laura said walking towards her son. �Go to the house and be with your sister. She needs her sleep. Can you do that for me?� Laura asked. Lucky thought about this for the moment and said, �Ok, but I�m coming back in the morning.� �That�s fine,� Laura said kissing Lucky on the cheek. Mikkos smiled at her and then he took the kids and left. �You should go as well,� Ruby said from behind Laura. �I can�t. I can�t leave him,� Laura said going to the window and looking in on Luke. Ruby stood beside her and watched as well. She was worried like the rest of them but for different reason. Ruby knew Luke and knew he would never want to live like this. She wondered if it wasn�t for the best if he did die then he wouldn�t have to live his life half way. ************************** Victor was driving down the freeway when he spotted a familiar car off to the side with the hood up. Victor pulled the car up behind the car and got out. He walked to the car with a smile on his face. �Ms. Quartermaine, you need help?� �You by any chance have cell phone on you?� Tracy asked smiling as Victor walked towards her. �I have a better idea. I�ll give you a ride wherever you want to go,� Victor said smiling. �As long as I get to my meeting on time, I don�t care what we do,� Tracy said as her and Victor walked back to his car. Victor pulled the car back into traffic as he handed Tracy his cell phone. �Where to?� Victor asked. �ELQ,� Tracy said smiling as she called to get her car towed. �How did you end up out here without your phone?� Victor asked as he drove. �Oh, I have my phone but for some reason my battery is dead,� Tracy said knowing full well who did it. It was the same person that cut her radiator hose. �How did that happen?� Victor asked reading Tracy�s facial expressions. He had a feeling that this wasn�t done on accident. �Let�s just say family trouble,� Tracy said with a smile. �I have those sometimes,� Victor said grinning. �I noticed when we were at your brothers wedding. You don�t have a loving family do you?� Tracy asked. �No, but then again you don�t either,� Victor replied back. Tracy smiled and then asked, �How is Luke?� �I haven�t heard yet but don�t think he is doing good,� Victor said sounding a bit sad about this. �I�m sorry. I like Luke. He has way of getting to father,� Tracy said with a grin. �Speaking of Edward. He trying to keep you way from a meeting or is it Max?� Victor asked. �Father,� Tracy said grinning. �This fits Edward,� Victor said. �Yes, well. I can take care of him,� Tracy said. �I�m sure you can,� Victor laughed. Tracy and Victor talked like this all the way to ELQ headquarters. As Tracy got out she said, �I want to thank you for stopping. How about I take you do dinner?� �You don�t have to,� Victor said smiling. �Oh, I want to,� Tracy said smiling back. �Ok, when?� Victor asked. �Tonight?� �Fine with me,� Victor said and they set a time and place to meet. Victor knew that Tracy was attracted to him. He wasn�t that old that he could read women�s bodies moments. It was nice to have some young then he was looking at him that way. He knew Alex wouldn�t be too happy but it was only dinner. What harm could it do? ********************************** Gia arrived at the hotel room that Nikolas rent for them until they found a new place to live. She was surprised to find a red head sitting on the couch. �Hi,� Kristina said smiling. �Hi,� Gia said wondering if she walked into the wrong room. �You must be Gia. Nikolas is in the other room on the phone. I think is from Russia,� Kristina said. �Oh ok,� Gia said still not sure who this woman was and what she was doing here. Nikolas walked out of the room right then. �Gia,� Nikolas said smiling but she could tell he wasn�t happy. He walked over to Gia and kissed her. �How was your day?� He asked. �Ok, yours?� Gia asked worried. �I got elected in getting the new building ready for operation. Kristina here has been hired to decorate,� Nikolas said introducing Gia to Kristina. �Yes, and I have to go. We can pick this up tomorrow,� Kristina said as she gathered her things. �Yes, I�ll meet you at the building at nine,� Nikolas said walking Kristina to the door. �I will and have good night,� Kristina said and she left. Nikolas turned around to see Gia staring at him. �What�s wrong?� He asked. �I was about to ask you that. You don�t look happy? Was it the phone call?� Gia asked. Nikolas sighed and sat down on the couch. Gia got up and sat beside him. �Yes, it was the phone call. That was Grandfather, Luke isn�t doing to well and Lucky kind of went off on the press.� �Oh, no. I know how much he loves his father. Is he ok?� Gia asked concerned about her friend. �I don�t know. Lucky was asleep I didn�t get a chance to talk to him,� Nikolas said. Gia sighed and asked, �What is Luke�s condition?� �He had a stork. It isn�t good. He can�t feel or move anything on the right side of his body. Plus he is still having those seizures,� Nikolas said hugging Gia. He remembered when Stefan was hurt. He knew how hard it was watching him to fight back to his old life. So, he knew what Lucky was feeling at this moment and he wanted to be with him. ************************ The same call came through at Stefan�s house. He reported the news to BJ who decided to take off for a drive. Stefan was worried about her but he knew why she did it. She wanted to be with Lucky to be there for him because he was there for her when Tony walked out. Stefan stood watching the sun go down. He like Nikolas was thinking about that time he was hurt. He knew what was head of Luke. He remembered not being able to move on your own. Depending on others to help you. It might be different reasons but it had the same feelings. You still felt useless. Stefan wondered how Luke was going to react to this. He knew Luke fought back his back was broken but he did that alone. He didn�t anyone looking after him. Would that make a difference in Luke�s recover or would it hinder it? Chapter 3 Back to Affairs of the Heart |