Lucky stared into this father's eyes, trying to comprehend whether this was part of his dream or if it was reality. Luke shook him a little more aggressively. "Hey, Lucky, wake up." He was fully awake now and felt his lips turn into a small smile as he was his father and realized he was no longer dreaming.
"Dad..." But then he felt the tears stinging behind his eyes, his relief that he was really there overwhelming his emotions.. "How did you find us?"
"We can talk about that later. Are you both okay? I mean, you look okay, I'm not so sure about Elizabeth. She doesn't look so good."
"She's really sick, Dad."
"We'll get her out of here, Lucky. Don't worry."
Lucky looked past him and it was then that he saw Jason leaning over Tom's body. Luke looked at him, his expression serious. "You know Spencers never go anywhere without back up. What the hell were you thinking, Son?"
Lucky sighed. "Can we not get into this right now? I need to get Elizabeth to a doctor."
Luke nodded and as Lucky moved to lie Elizabeth back on the ground, Jason removed his leather jacket and knelt down beside her. "Here, it's cold. Let's put this on her."
"Thanks, Jason." Together they were able to put the jacket on her and Luke removed his own to use as a pillow for her head. Lucky laid her back gently, then stood up and looked at Jason. "So, is he dead?"
Jason shook his head. "No, but he's in pretty bad shape. What happened here?"
"He had a gun to my head. He would have killed me, Dad, but Elizabeth lunged at him and was able to grab his knife. That's when she stabbed him. I was afraid she would kill him. I don't know where she got the strength to do it as weak as she is. I just hope one day she'll be able to see how courageous she was."
"Yea, well I suspect that may take some time."
"She's been through hell, Dad. He's tortured her, physically and mentally, in ways that will haunt her for a long time. God, I swear I'd kill him myself if I didn't want to see him pay for all he's done to her. He took so much from her, and for what?"
"I know, Lucky. We may never know the reasons why. You can't make sense out of a psychopath. But I look forward to seeing him pay, too, not only for what he's done to Elizabeth, but for what he's done to you, too. The rape has changed you both, and now this… Oh yea, I want to see him pay, too. Come on, let's get the hell out of here."
"I'm going to have to carry her out of here." Lucky leaned over to pick her up and faltered, losing his balance. He leaned against the tree for support as he whispered under his breath, "Damn!"
Luke put his hand on Lucky's shoulder. "You okay, Cowboy?"
He nodded his head, trying to dismiss the weakness and dizziness he was feeling.
"You probably haven't eaten in awhile have you?"
"No, I guess not."
"Well, you're in no shape to carry her."
"She can't walk. I don't have a choice."
It was then that Jason spoke. "I can carry her." He leaned over then and gathered Elizabeth is his arms, picking her up gently. She still did not wake up. Lucky felt a tear slide down his face. He wanted so badly to be able to carry her, to take care of her. But at the same time, he was thankful Jason was there, since he knew he was too weak to carry her himself.
"Thanks. You'll be careful with her?" Jason started to speak, but Lucky put his hand up to stop him. "I'm sorry. I know you will be. It's just...she's so fragile right now."
"I know, Lucky. I know. It's not far back to the cabin where the car is. We'll get her to the hospital right away."
"What are we going to do about Tom?"
Luke was removing his cell phone from his pocket. "I'm calling 911 right now."
Jason said, "I'll stay here until they get here, so I can lead them to Baker. You two go on to the hospital and I'll catch up with you later."
Jason led the way and Luke put an arm around Lucky's shoulders as they walked out of the woods, slowly and quietly. There would be plenty of time to talk later.
Lucky was sitting by Elizabeth's hospital bed, watching how the light from the sunset coming through the window played over her face, making her skin seem rosy when he knew it was really pale. But he wasn't afraid anymore; he knew as he watched her that her sleep was pure and quiet, real. The IV in her wrist and the oxygen tube in her nose bothered him, but they were making her better, and that was all he really cared about. Earlier when she had been awake he'd told her everything, how his father had found them, how Luke and Jason had followed some leads on their own and wound up in the town nearby where Tom went to get supplies. They'd seen him in the store and followed him from a distance, not wanting to give themselves away. By the time they'd reached the cabin, no one was there, and it had taken all night for Jason and Luke to find them.
But now they were back in Port Charles, and General Hospital had never seemed so beautiful to Lucky. As soon as he knew that Elizabeth was in good hands he'd gone home to clean up and get something to eat. His mother was there waiting for him and they'd both cried tears of relieved joy. He didn't stay though; he had to be with Elizabeth, he had to see her getting better.
She was clean when he got back, her wounds dressed, and she'd actually smiled at him when he'd gone into her room. He'd been with her ever since. He wanted to be there every time she woke up.
She stirred, and her lips parted as she took a soft breath. He wanted to kiss them but he didn't, only watched as her lashes slowly lifted and she looked at him, and tiny smile creeping onto her face. "You're still here?"
"Where else would I be? Of course I'm still here. Gotta make sure my girl gets all better and they're treating her right in here."
"You know they will. Gram's been in here a million times hasn't she? And your Aunt Bobbie."
"My dad and mom have been here a few times, too, and so have Jason and Sonny. I think you were still asleep those times. They'll be back though. They were all really concerned about you. A lot of people love you, you know." He sat on the edge of her bed and put his hand on the side of her face. "Well, none as much as me of course."
She turned her cheek against his hand and reached up to take it in her own, the IV in her wrist dragging across the sheet. "I love you, Lucky."
"I love you, too, sweetie. And soon you're going to be out of this hospital bed and home where you belong. And I don't care what your grandmother or anyone else says, I intend to sleep on your floor until I know you're completely well."
She reached up and took his face in her hands, drawing it close to hers so that she could kiss him. Her lips were still warm, but no longer had the hot, arid feel as when she had the fever. In fact, they tasted sweet as he returned her kiss, gently, his hand catching the hair at the back of her head.
"I feel better already. I feel like I could walk out of here this minute."
"Well, feel like it or not, you're not leaving here one minute before they say you can."
She let him go reluctantly as he sat up again. "I know. But I don't feel like being here anymore. I feel like being outside just because I want to, not because I'm running. I want to go to Kelly's and I want to go to the docks....I want to look at everything because I almost lost it. I almost lost you."
"Didn't I tell you everything would be okay? I would never have let anything happen to you. Besides, you're the one who ended up saving ME. I'm so proud of you, Elizabeth. You were so brave.."
Her voice was quiet. "Not brave really. I didn't even think, Lucky. I just...I just knew that I couldn't live if he killed you."
He smiled. "Hey, I'm a Spencer, remember? Haven't I ever told you we're immortal?"
She tried to smile, but it faded from her face as her eyes filled with tears and she looked away. He took her hand and brushed her hair back from her face with his other hand. "What is it, Elizabeth?"
She took a deep and shaking breath. "I was so scared. You don't know how scared I was, Lucky. I've never been so scared in my whole life, not even while he was raping me."
Lucky looked into her eyes, and perhaps for the first time realized the true depth of her love for him and he wasn't sure he would be able to find his voice. She wiped a tear from his face as he finally said in a whisper, "I'm safe now, Elizabeth. We're both safe. Nothing can hurt us anymore." He kissed her softly on the lips again as she pulled him close to her, holding him tightly against her chest.