Chapter 2

Mac Scorpio was glad that he had firmly planted his feet on the ground before he picked up the phone. It wasn't everyday that he got a call from his wife's ex - husband, let alone a WSB agent. Since Frisco was calling him directly and not the house to reach the girls, he figured the call must have something to do with the WSB.

''Frisco?''

''Yes.''

''What can I do for you?'' Mac inquired. ''I take it this isn't a personal call?''

''Not exactly. I'm informing you that I'll be in town to question a few citizens of Port Charles.''

''The WSB doesn't need my permission to question anyone, Frisco.'' Mac sighed sensing the real reason Frisco was calling him before continuing, ''The girls would love to see you if you plan to be in town long enough.''

An awkward silence followed. Despite the fact that they shared a mutual love for the same women in their lives, the two couldn't help but like each other. But there was also a hint of envy between them also; Mac of Frisco for living a life of danger, and Frisco of Mac of living the family life with his family. But despite all this, they found that they got along, and could count on the other for emergencies. Frisco knew that Mac would do everything he could to inform him if one of his girls was in trouble, and Mac knew that Frisco would lend WSB help from time to time when it was needed in a case.

''Thanks Mac, I'd like that. But that's not the only reason that I'm calling. Do you still have that astrology file handy?''

Mac felt his whole body tense as Frisco's question echoed in his mind. Of course he still had that file that the two of them had dubbed the astrology file so that they wouldn't be caught by other WSB agents in the handling of confidential records in the hands of a civilian. It had once been his only hope that somehow a miracle could have happened in Robert's disappearance, but after all these years that hope had greatly diminished. He didn't look at the file of Robert's and Anna's death much anymore, but he still had it hidden away. He'd never give it up.

''Yes, I still have it, why?''

''I think it might help me crack my case. You're sure you still have it?''

''Yes, I'm sure, but why do you need my astrology file, don't you have your own?'' What was Frisco getting at, Mac wondered? His documents were copies, Frisco had access to the original…he didn't need his. And why was he speaking in code? Was someone watching Frisco closely, or him?

''I need to see yours to see if our information matches.''

Something was definitely up, and the only way Mac knew that he was going to find out what was if he played along with Frisco and hope that he really was going to be in Port Charles fast, like in the next 24 hours. Anything involving Robert or Anna definitely held his attention.

''That's fine. How soon can I expect you to be arriving?''

''Within the next 24 hours, I'll get in contact when I arrive and get settled. Don't tell the girls I'm coming yet. I kind of want to surprise them, if that's okay.''

''They'll be excited to see you whether or not you surprise them.''

''I know. And, Mac, thanks.''

Mac heard a click on the other end, indicating Frisco had hung up, before he could even respond. Well that was Frisco for you, doing things his way. But Mac couldn't help but wonder what Frisco's adventure had in store this time. He hung up the phone he still cradled in his hand by pushing the dial tone button, then reached to dial the international number he had intended to call before.

The phone rang twice before he heard Robin's voice on the other end. ''Hey sweetie, how are you doing?'' Mac asked once he heard her sweet voice. He wouldn't dare tell her what had transpired between him and Frisco, or what had been in his thoughts when he tried to call before, he just needed to hear her voice. Somehow she always made him feel better without even trying.

~*~*~

Unfortunately the hole was too small for Lucky to crawl through, but at least he could have face to face contact with another human who would understand what he was going through. Lucky stuck his head through the hole in the wall and took his first look around the opposite cell. He was looking at a mirror image of his own cell, it was really spooky, but then why would it have been much different then his own? It wasn't if they were in a five star establishment.

Lucky reached out to shake the hand of the man that had kept him calm for so many nights. Or rather to shake the hand of the man that was regarded as a bit of a legend in his family. Robert Scorpio. He was a little older, greyer, and definitely thinner than the pictures his dad had shown him, but he was the man. How? Well he shouldn't be surprised by anything in this joint, Lucky realized.

''Robert Scorpio?'' Lucky shakily asked as they shook hands.

''In the flesh. Do I look alright for a dead man?''

''You look more that alright, but, man you're not dead.''

''I should hope not, but then again I'm about good as dead trapped in this place.'' Robert said as he laughed and then motioned around his room. ''And you Lucky Spencer have grown up to be quite a man. The last I saw of you was a little wallet-sized picture your parents sent me shortly after your birth. You were this tiny scrunched up red thing, but your parents were as proud as could be over you.''

''You didn't have to bring up my baby photos did you? I can't stand to look at those things.'' Lucky said slightly blushing. He meets his father's best friend for the first time and they resort to talking about his baby pictures.

Robert grinned his cocky grin and laughed at Lucky. It was so nice to have a human to talk to again. ''Just wait until you have a girlfriend, she'll go crazy over them.''

''I do, and she does. Mom loves showing them to Elizabeth.'' Lucky's eyes got a far off blissful look thinking about Liz.

''That's a beautiful name, you must really love her.'' Robert said, noticing the boy didn't talk like he was in puppy love, but a man in love. It made him miss his Anna even more, but that bastard wouldn't let him near her, wherever she was.

''Yeah, she must be out of her mind not knowing where I am. I hope she's alright. You know my dad, why hasn't he found me yet?'' His relationship with his father had been strained over the last year or so, but he knew that his dad would never give up looking for him. His family was like that, his dad was like that, never give up on your own, protect all family whether they wanted it or not.

''Lucky, I'm sure she's fine, she has a family to take care of her, right?''

Lucky nodded yes.

''And if I know your parents, they're watching out for her too.''

''Yeah my parents really liked her, even if we all didn't get along with each other.''

Whoa, the Spencer family wasn't getting along? He sure had been gone a long time…that was one loyal family if he'd ever saw one, Robert thought. Close or not, the family would be looking for Lucky, if they knew to look for him. However it was Faison's style to torture a family by making them think they're loved ones were dead, while keeping his prisoner in a living hell. Sometimes he thought it would be better if they were dead, then they wouldn't have to go through this suffering, but he'd give anything to see his wife and daughter again. So he stayed and waited for the perfect timing to escape. Hopefully if this Spencer kid was anything like his father, he'd be a great asset to him. Spencers and Scorpios definitely made great teams in his book. Now he just had to tell the kid that in all likely hood there wasn't a search party out looking for him.

''Lucky, how long have you been here for?''

''I don't know, do you?''

''No, but I know it's been long enough that there probably isn't anyone out there looking for you.''

Lucky's eyes got wide as he acknowledged what Robert was trying to tell him.

''Faison's style is to keep his prisoners locked up and let their families think they're dead. It's his cruel way of torture.''

''No! I know my dad is out there looking for me. He wouldn't stop, I know he wouldn't.'' Lucky couldn't comprehend this bit of news. There was no way he was going to live the rest of his life in this place. There had to be some hope out there somewhere.

''Lucky, I know your father, you know your father. He would have found you by now, if he knew to look for you.'' Robert tried to say as he broke the news gently. He didn't want the kid's temper to be set off, he'd already heard what his temper could do, and he didn't particularly care about seeing it.

Lucky knew what Robert was saying was most likely true, he just didn't want to believe it. He couldn't survive in here much longer. How had Robert done it? He'd been in here for what? Seven years or so? That was a long time, a whole lot had changed in that time. He didn't know what was worse, being trapped forever or going home to see that your whole world changed. He hung his head and leaned against the wall so Robert couldn't see the single tear slide down his cheek.

~*~*~

Tommy Hardy sat on the curb on the sidewalk by his school. He wished he had a car of his own, then he could drive himself anywhere he wanted. Like to the airport to see his dad. Not that he didn't like living with his mom, she was pretty cool, for a mom that is. But he just missed his dad. He also wasn't old enough to drive yet, so he had to rely on other people for rides. Maxie's or Lucas's mom usually gave him rides when his mother was working, but today his cousin Liz was picking up.

He liked Liz alright, but he wished she'd be on time. Ever since her boyfriend was killed in a fire she was just sort of there. She always seemed okay, but she wasn't her perky self she used to be. He used to remember her at his grandmother's house and she was always doing some new art project. She'd often get out some of her extra art supplies and let him play with them. But now she hardly ever had her paints out. Liz would say hi to him whenever he came over, but then she'd retreat to her room to be by herself. All the adults were worried about her, but they didn't know what to do for her. She was seeing Dr. Gail, but everyone still worried about her.

Tommy just figured she was sad. He was sad that Lucky was gone, he was a cool guy. He would play video games with Lucas and he, and take them out to see movies. It was sad to lose someone that meant a lot to you, Tommy knew. He didn't get to see his daddy very often, and poor Liz didn't get to see her boyfriend anymore. He didn't have a girlfriend, in fact all girls his age, except Maxie were silly. But everyone kept telling him that he'd have a girlfriend someday. Not in this life. But just in case he did, he didn't want to lose her in a fire. He couldn't even imagine losing his best friend, Maxie in a fire. No he didn't worry about Liz, he understood her.

But he still wished that Liz would be on time. It was embarrassing sitting here and waving at his friends went home on busses, and in their parents' cars. Some offered rides, but he just said, no Liz is picking me up. They'd smile sadly at him and tell him to tell her that they she hoped she was okay. Everyone had heard about the fire, and since she was Steve and Audrey's granddaughter, everyone knew how she was handling it.

He never told her about their nice comments. He preferred to keep the subject away from Lucky as much as possible because he didn't like to look at her when she'd get that sad far away look in his eyes. Tommy would usually tell him about his day at school, or what he hoped they would do at baseball practice. He found out that Liz actually knew a lot about baseball, this he liked because not many girls he knew liked baseball. She said she had been a tomboy when she was younger and had been on baseball teams. Not softball teams, but baseball teams she had emphasized. Sometimes she would help him with his batting, or throwing. She wasn't bad for a girl.

Finally Tommy saw the old blue volvo that his grandmother let Liz drive around town. 'Bout time Tommy thought as he glanced at his watch. She was fifteen minutes late. At least she hadn't broken her record of being an half of an hour late.

''Hey Tommy,'' Liz said as she reached over to open the passenger side of the car for Tommy to crawl inside.

''Hey Liz,'' Tommy answered as he sat down inside, closed his door, and slung his school bag on the seat behind him. ''Did Mom give you my baseball stuff.''

''She sure did, it's in the trunk. Sorry I'm late. I ran into someone.'' Liz glanced at the clock on the dash as she noticed that Tommy stayed quiet. He must be a little mad that I was late, yet again. ''We still have time to throw some catch before practice, I'm game if you're game.''

''Really? Sure.'' Tommy said as his face brightened up.

That was better, Liz thought. She liked this kid, especially when he was his happy self, because somehow he made her feel a little more cheerful. It was just like when she worked with the kids at the elementary school. Maybe if the art school didn't work out, she could teach kids.

~*~*~

Anna DeVane Scorpio was getting worried about her patient. She was afraid she'd have to play nice with Cesar to get her proper medical attention. She'd rather hurl her guts out than play nice to the madman, but Brenda wasn't getting much better. Since Anna wasn't a doctor, she had no idea what she should do for her. She made sure that she was lying down most of the day and tried to keep her fever down. But she couldn't tell if she was getting better or worse, she pretty much stayed the same.

The poor girl wasn't much older than her own dear Robin. In fact, Brenda had said that Robin and her had been friends since high school. She loved to hear Brenda talk about her Robin, at least she knew that she hadn't grown up completely abandoned. She had her Uncle Mac and Felicia. If only she could see her again. If only she could get Brenda back on her feet. If only she could get out of the claws of Cesar Faison.

~*~*~