Chapter 54


"Kevin, what do you want? Do you want to go to the classes with me? Fine. But you have to tell me. Do you think it's Victor's idea of a good time?" She couldn't help herself, she started to laugh. "Oh, yeah, I can see Victor's goal in life was always to be a Lamaze coach for his grandchildren. Can you see it?" Leaning against the wall to the elevator, she laughed harder. "Maybe you can coach one, and he can coach the other. I'm sorry. Things that aren't funny just seem hilarious to me lately."

His expression told her he found no humor in what she was saying, but was a little worried that she did find it funny.

"Do you want to come to the classes with me, or not? This is not a hard question." A trace of a smile still on her face, she stared him down.

"Yes. Does that bother you?"

"No." She shook her head and smiled. "All you had to do was say it."

The elevator doors opened, and she stepped out.

"Have you eaten?"

"As a matter of fact, I have. I've eaten, I've gone to my class, I'm going home, and I'm going to get some sleep. Next class is day after tomorrow. Ta, Doc." Kissing his cheek, she went out the door.

As soon as she was outside the hospital, she leaned against the wall and let her tears fall.

Standing here helpless
Where do I go
If you leave me alone
If it don't work out
As far as I can see
This isn't the way
That you said it would be

Kevin went back upstairs, only to find out that Eve had left. The ride in the elevator to the parking garage was long and lonely.

Don't leave me like this
Don't leave me stranded
If you walk away now
You leave me empty handed
Don't leave me like this
Don't leave me stranded
Don't leave me now
Don't leave me....

Eve waited outside the main entrance for Chris. The sight of Kevin chasing Lucy wouldn't leave her mind. Fighting tears, she stared up and down the street looking for his car.

Wasn't it you
Who brought me here
To the place lovers go
Just look at these arms
Reaching out to you
You said that you'd always care
I just turned around
And there's nobody there

Sitting in the driver's seat of his car, Kevin put his head on the steering wheel. Lucy, walking away from him. Eve leaving without a word.

Don't leave me like this
Don't leave me stranded
If you walk away now
And leave me empty handed
Don't leave me like this
Don't leave me stranded
Don't leave me now
Don't leave me...

Driving home, Lucy couldn't stop shaking she was crying so hard. Damn him! Every time she thought she knew what he was thinking, and she had their relationship straight in her head, he pulled a stunt like this.

You said that you'd always care
I just turned around, and there's nobody there

Chris finally pulled up to where Eve was standing. The look on her face when she got int the car told him she was in a lot of pain. Without a word, he drove away.

Don't leave me like this
Don't leave me stranded
If you walk away now
And leave me empty handed
Don't leave me like this
Don't leave me stranded
Don't leave me like this
Don't leave me stranded
Stranded

Song credit "Stranded" by Heart

Chapter 55

The next day, Lucy answered the door to find Kevin standing outside. Smiling, she opened the door for him to walk inside.

"How are you?"

She laughed. "How am I? You're the one who was so upset last night. What do you want me to say? I'm fine. Are you here to tell me you changed your mind?"

"About?" He returned her smile, but his eyes never left her growing belly.

The smile on her face faltered slightly. "Lamaze?" Suddenly she had a very bad feeling. Something wasn't right, and she was almost afraid.

"No. I haven't changed my mind." Crossing to her, he put his hand on the babies. "I'm the father. We're going to have twins. God, you're glowing."

His eyes finally met hers and Lucy knew. Her heart started to pound, and she could barely breathe. But she couldn't let Ryan know she knew who he was. "I've never been happier."

"Are you sure you're okay on your own? Do you need anything?"

Moving out of his reach, she struggled to keep her composure. "I'm fine. I've told you. I actually like being on my own. I admit, I never thought I would be okay on my own, but I am."

Putting her hands protectively on her babies, she wondered what he was talking about. His tone actually sounded sincere. "Kevin, I'm just tired right now. I need to get some rest, and I have to go to Jax this afternoon."

"You have to go to work? Shouldn't you be resting? Aren't you overdoing it?" His tone started to rise, and it made her nervous.

"I'm fine. The babies are healthy. I see Dr. Newman every two weeks. She told me I can go to work as long as I'm not too tired. And if I lay down now, I'll be okay to go this afternoon."

Her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her body, and she knew it wasn't good for the babies. But neither was Ryan figuring out she knew who he was.

Fortunately, Ryan wasn't in the mood to push his luck. "I'll let you get some sleep. I just needed to see you. I wanted to check up on our babies." Knowing there was nothing going on between her and Kevin, he simply walked out the door.

As soon as he was gone, Lucy allowed her tears to fall while she picked up the phone and dialed. "Luke? It's Lucy. The situation we discussed a while ago? Guess who's back." The rest of what she was going to say was lost in an uncontrollable wave of hysteria.

Chapter 56

Unaware of what was going on at Lucy's, Kevin went to Ferncliff. Eve had come home late and gone right to bed. There didn't seem to be anything he could say to her. And it had been almost a week since he'd seen Julie, and he felt guilty about not making the time to see her. When Julie was brought into the room, she stared at Kevin with a look of almost terror on her face. Then it was gone, and she was staring at him.

"Julie? Is something wrong?"

She didn't answer. Her eyes locked with his, and she stared into them, looking for a clue to what his mood was today.

"Are you okay?" The concern on his face eased Julie's mind a bit.

"Just wondering what I'm in store for today."

"What's wrong? Can you tell me what you're thinking?"

"I don't want to tell you anymore. I really don't want to talk to you anymore."

Looking at her, Kevin stepped away from her. "Julie, if you don't tell me what's going on, I can't help you."

"Help me? Help me!?" That was all Julie could take. "What you'd better do is get some help for yourself!" Standing close to the door, she watched him carefully. "I'm tired of this, this... whatever game it is you're playing. With me, with yourself, in your mind. I don't know, I don't care. I'm tired of you threatening me, playing with me, whatever it is you're doing with me. Leave me alone!"

Completely confused, Kevin stared at her. "Julie, can you tell me what you're talking about? I don't know what I've done to upset you."

Her eyes searched his face. Finding no hint that he was lying, she shook her head. "Do you not remember what you say to me when you visit?"

That dark thought in the back of Kevin's mind made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He had to know more. "What did I say? I need your help, Julie. If I'm not remembering, I need to know."

"You really don't remember threatening me? I may be crazy, but I'm not imagining this! One time you're here, you're nice and I believe you want to help me. The next, you act like it's all you can do to not kill me yourself! What's going on here?"

"I threatened you?" Kevin knew, but he didn't want to. "When's the last time I acted like this?"

"A couple days ago! Kevin, are you in trouble?" Julie was catching herself worrying about him. Yes, she wanted to use him, and make him work for her, but he didn't deserve another breakdown.

"No. I'm not in trouble. At least not the way you think I am." Standing, Kevin knew he had to make some arrangements. "It won't happen again. I'm going to make sure of it. When I can, I promise I'll tell you more. But right now, I have to go."

At the guard desk, he left strict instructions that he was not to be allowed to see Julie unless he could provide identification. A quick conference with Julie's attending physician assured him that everyone would be aware that Ryan might come back. If he could not provide proof of identification, he would be held and the PCPD call immediately.

Standing outside Ferncliff, he called Mac. After telling him that Ryan had apparently been there in the last few days, he headed for Lucy's house. She had to know, and he felt it was his place to tell her in person. He did remember to call Eve and tell her. Mac had agreed to send a uniform to GH and keep an eye on her.

Main Fanfic Page      Chapters 57-59