Unsettling Realizations

By Didi

Disclaimer: General Hospital, property of the ABC which in turn is property of the Walt Disney Company; which just means that Walt Disney owns the universe. It is not, by any means or wishful thinking, owned by little ole me. I am in no way associated with the show and by no means have any control of the direction of how it is going. No malicious intended by this "borrowing" of characters from the show and no profits are being created, invented or made… though donations are welcome in the form of lovely reviews.

Summary: Luke shares his information; Carly shares her news; Enrique shares his plans and Lucky shares his joy.

Author's Note: Yes, I will apologize for a long delay in updates. I've been distracted. I'll try to be better… or just wrap this story up. Sorry!

Rating: T

Key: "Spoken," "Thoughts." ("Spanish") Any questions?

Acknowledgement: I thank anyone that is actually still reading this thing. (Please don't kill me.)

Chapter 35 – Sharing is Caring… Sometimes

Inexplicable nervous, Jason raised his hand to knock on the door but then hesitated. Medically speaking, he wasn't supposed to be able to feel extreme emotions. And yes… the human brain was an amazing thing, it seems to be capable of anything, including self healing at times. Perhaps that's what this was, his brain had finally fixed itself or found new pathways to rewire the damaged parts from long ago. And that's why he was so uncertain and nervous about walking in there and seeing the woman that he's been trying to deny for years now.

"What's up? Why are you just standing there?" Luke asked as he approached the usually pokerfaced enforcer.

Turning, Jason regarded one of the more unassumingly dangerous man in town. "Why did you call this dinner?"

"Can't a guy want to see his family?"

He offered Luke Spencer a look of complete un-amusement.

Luke smiled indulgingly and nodded toward the end of the hall where they can't be overheard by any number of the rooms along the corridor. "Zacchara and Lancing aren't trifling, they're dangerous and they're coming at you from all sides."

"They've made contact?"

"Lancing has. And he's made an offer."

Jason waited for the answer to follow.

Knowing very well that Jason takes nothing for granted – except maybe Carly – Luke nodded his head and smiled again. "You don't hold my princess hostage and expect me to play nice with you." He patted his breast pocket smugly. "I also added an bit of insurance while I was at it."

Frowning because he didn't like the sound of that, "What did you do?"

"A little ace up my sleeve just in case he decides to try anything with my daughter again," Luke made a face to let Jason know how well that idea was going to go over. "By the way, you might be interested in knowing that Lancing isn't exactly close with his boy. I have a feeling that that relationship has been strained at best and broken at worse. You might want to look into that."

Nodding his head, Jason acknowledged the information with sighed. There were too many things at play right now. "I'm leaving Carly here… temporarily."

"And she agreed to it?"

He nodded again.

Luke's sharp eyes narrowed and he frowned with concern. "What's going on between you and that niece of mine?" He studied the strain on Jason's boyishly handsome face. "You two have been weird since she came back. Did something happen while you were away?"

Shaking his head, Jason looked toward Carly's door again. "We're having a disagreement."

"She's being stubborn again?"

"No," Jason said nothing more. If anything, Carly was being ridiculously reasonable for a change and it was scaring the life out of him. But he didn't want to discuss this with Luke. He wanted to talk to Carly.

"Hey!" Lulu looked at the two men in the corner curiously as she balanced the tray on one arm and prepared to knock with the other. "What are you guys doing over there?"

"Just talking, Princess," Luke grinned and went over to help his little darling. "And how are you this lovely day, daughter of mine?"

Lulu slated his father a curious look of uncertainty, "I'm doing well for someone locked on a island like some sort of bad Greek myth. But then again, I am my mother's daughter so this shouldn't be that big of a stretch," referring to the time Laura had been kept captive on an island by the Cassadines. "And what might you be plotting this morning, my dear father?"

"Plotting?" Luke clutched his chest has been jabbed by a knife. "You wound me, fruit of my loins. How can you say that to your own dear old dad?"

"Because I know you," she sassed and knocked on the door. "You're always up to something, Dad. Don't deny it." She steady the tray again and muttered under her breath, "Fruit of my loins? I feel like I'm back in Martinez's literature class again," and briefly wondered if she's been kicked out of college yet.

"Come in."

"Good morning! I brought…" Lulu shoved the heavy oak door open with her shoulder and presented the breakfast tray proudly, only to find that her cousin Lucas had beat her to it. "Oh hell…"

"You're kind of a late riser," Lucas grinned and patted an empty piece of the bed. "But better late than never I say. Join us. We're having a sibling bonding moment here."

Carly made a face. "More like he's forcing me to eat healthy stuff because he's all into it. What did you bring?" craning her neck to look at Lulu's tray.

"Omelet, country potatoes and toast. I figure bacon would be overkill if you're sick," she set the tray on its legs and carefully climbed into the bed.

"Bacon is never overkill," Carly informed her and stabbed some fried up potatoes. "Um… this is breakfast. Get that oatmeal out of my face."

"You were sick last night," Lucas argued, pushing the bowl of unappetizing mush toward her again. "You need to keep the greasy stuff low and the protein stuff high."

"Eggs have protein," Lulu pointed out, turning the fork around to Lucas. "You should try this. Cook makes the best omelets ever; it's even better than Aunt Ruby's."

"No one cooks better than your Aunt Ruby," Luke corrected her as he came into the room. "Feeling better, Caroline?"

"I was," she grouched at him, sipping on orange juice. "What do you want, Luke?"

"Just to see if my sweet little niece is feeling up to a chat," Luke wondered over and sat down by his daughter's side, glancing briefly at his princess. "How's your wound, Cupcake?"

"Healing, Daddy," Lulu answered sweetly.

"And how's the hoodlum?"

"Doing well and has a shorter rap sheet than you do, Daddy."

Lucas choked on his coffee.

"Very good, Princess," Luke acknowledged at ease. "But remember, he's still young."

"Leave him alone," Carly suggested, sniffing the omelet carefully – there was onions in it. She longed for coffee… and cheesecake.

"Plan on it," Luke replied casually as he picked up a piece of toast.

Looking for one to the other, Lulu asked, "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why would you leave him alone?" to her father and to Carly., "And why would you tell him to leave him alone?"

"Good advice," Carly and Luke replied at the same time.

Lucas whistled low, dutifully impressed. "Wow, this might be the first time I've seen the two of you agree on something." He faked a sniffle of emotions, "Mom would be so proud." Carly shoved her brother off the bed with a well placed foot on his butt.

"So you're not going to interfere if I decide to continue to see Johnny?" Lulu asked dubiously.

"Not my place," Carly shook her head and poked at the omelet. Nope, she wasn't even going to try. She wondered if she could charm that crabby butler of Nickolas' into giving her cheesecake… with strawberries.

"Stop playing with your food," Luke said, ignoring the incredulous look on Lulu's face. "Eat something before that sister of mine comes up here complaining about us starving you or something." He studied Carly's face a moment. "Princess, why don't you and your cousin go see where your aunt Bobbie disappeared to? I need a moment with my dear niece here."

"No, don't leave," snagging Lulu's arm before she could escape. "You too, Lucas."

Surprised, "But Uncle Luke said…"

"And when did you start paying him any attention," Carly asked with a frown.

"When I decide that it's a good idea sometimes," Lucas answered honestly but sat down by his sister's side again. Carly wasn't up for fighting with Luke; Lucas was pretty sure his mom would be pissed at him if he left her to fend for herself.

"Now, now, Caroline…" Luke admonished.

"Cut the bull Luke," Carly replied with her usual sass. "Whatever it is can be said in front of the legal-aged kiddies. If they can drink, they can hear the family's dirty secrets."

"Then I should probably order more coffee since that's going to take a while," Lucas replied with a grin as he picked up dry toast that has since gone cold. "Ew…"

"You're the one that brought it," Carly replied and made a face as she sipped herbal tea. A part of her wondered how she was going to make it through the next few months without java. Well… in her life, she'd happy if she makes it through the next few months without getting kidnapped or shot at and actually manages to through a delivery like a normal person.

Lulu poked at the omelet in the same fashion as her cousin and made a face. "You might as well get it off your chest Dad."

If Luke thought, even for a second, that his daughter and nephew could be reasoned with, he'd have given it a try. But they were Spencers through and through… and therefore it'd be a waste of time and breath. "Trevor Lancing."

"Big bad ugly?" Carly asked with a smile, "Yeah, we've met."

"Can we prove that he took you?"

"My word against his," she replied easily enough. "And I've been locked up… twice."

"In a mental institution," Lucas corrected firmly.

"That's better than jail?" Carly asked with a dubious look for her brother.

"Yes," Lucas answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Not where it counts," she informed him with a smile before turning serious again, "No, there's no evidence in my possession that links him to me." Her brushes with the law over the years has given her some legalese.

"Well we'll just have to change that up a bit, don't we?" Luke said with a nod. "Your mama is going to want to see you again before she takes off. See if you can talk her into going back to wherever it is you've got your boys stashed. It'd be safer."

"Do we have to?" Lucas whined pathetically.

"Mama isn't going to go anywhere," Bobbie informed her brother as she walked in, stopped when she saw the two separate trays already on the bed. "Oh… I guess you won't be needing breakfast," looking down at her own tray.

"Depends on what it is," Carly replied cheerfully, genuinely glad to see her mother.

"Soft boiled eggs, herbal tea and toast. There's also a banana if you want it but I know that you don't like mushy fruits when you're…" she paused and shook her head. "Eat the eggs."

"Better than oatmeal I guess," Carly complained then poked her spoon at it.

"Eat it," Bobbie said in her mom/head-nurse voice.

"It's good for you," Lucas chimed in with a chuckle – which earned him a smack to the back of the head from his mother.

"Don't pick on your sister right now, she's not feeling well."

"Ow… Damaged brain cells Mom," Lucas complained, rubbing his head.

Bobbie glared at him then turned to Carly. "Are you feeling better, honey?"

"Yes," Carly replied with a smile and nodded toward the trays. "Must be all the food."

"You didn't eat any of it," Lucas pointed out with a frown.

"As fun as this conversation is," Luke grumbled with a bow in retreat. He knew a family moment when he saw one and he didn't want to be involved in those one. "I have to be off."

"Where are you going?" Bobbie asked suspiciously.

"To see if I can be of any assistance to some of your nearest and dearest," Luke replied with that roguishly charming grin that has worked well for him in this life time. "Fear not, sister of mine; it will only be good for you."

"I've heard that before," Bobbie replied sourly but nodded her head in acceptance. Her brother will never change… and as far as she was concerned, it wasn't such bad thing. "Try to stay out of trouble."

"Always," he inclined his head and kissed Lulu's cheek. "Be careful Princess. The prince may keep a safe haven here but darkness can creep into even the safest of sanctuaries. Don't let your guard down and beware of everyone... and I mean everyone." He gave her a stern look and pat on the head. "Caroline, try to patch it up with Jason. You're driving him crazy."

"Good bye Luke," Carly growled in annoyance.

Wiggling fingers over his shoulder, Luke disappeared again as quickly as he had appeared.

"He's up to something," Bobbie murmured quietly.

"When is he not?" Lulu added with shrug. Her father has been acting weird lately, weirder than usual that is, but for the life of her, she hadn't figured out what it was yet. "But I think this time it might actually for our sake that he's sneaking around with evil."

"Evil?" Carly asked.

"Lucky said mentioned Trevor Lancing snooping around my dad."

"You're kidding," Carly rolled her eyes. "Obviously Lancing hasn't done his research or he'd know that Luke isn't going to sit around while someone threatens his family."

Lucas raised a brow. "Wow, first the whole agreement about the yummy Johnny and now you willingly called him family… This is a day for the books."

Carly shoved her brother off the bed... again. "I meant Lulu."

"And you," Lulu grinned, not the least bit fazed by the her father and cousin's constant game. "Like it or not, Dad does not exclude you from the illustrious Spencer family tree."

"Speaking of family," Carly took a breath, "I want your opinion about something."

"I think you should paint your house yellow; it's much more cheerful than blue," Lucas replied as he dusted his bottom and hopped back on the bed.

Lulu shoved her cousin off the bed again before turning to ask, "You were saying?"

Glaring at her brother, Carly nodded to Lulu, "Thank you. If I may continue… Do you think it's safe enough around here for me to bring my boys back? I can't keep them aboard indefinitely."

"Given that you and I are pretty much under house arrest," Lulu pointed out, "I don't think it's such a hot idea."

"On the other hand," Lucas added as he got p again, deciding to stand now, "given that Mom and I are back and you and Lulu are currently safe on the island, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea. Consolidate the resources a little, give them less targets."

"Or shooting fishes in a barrel," Lulu muttered with a shrug. "As Dad said, even the best fortress have their weaknesses. Do we really want to make it that easy for them to get to all of us at once?"

"There is that," Lucas sighed with resign.

Carly nodded, "Mama? What do you think? Should I just leave the boys where they are?"

Reaching out, Bobbie took her daughter's hand. "Let me ask you this: do you want your boys home?"

"Of course I want them home."

"Would it make you feel safer to bring your boys home? Do you think it's be safer for them to come home?"

Taking a moment to think it through again, Carly shook her head. Between the kidnapping, the terrifyingly dark tunnel, the deal with the chick in the car… not exactly a healthy and safe place for her boys. And she's rather die than put them in danger. "I guess not." And before she brought her boys home, she really ought to talk to Jason about her impending bundle of problems. Given her track record, it'd probably be another boy.

Well… at least Morgan would be happy, he's been bugging her about wanting to be a big brother.

"Hey," Lucas poked Carly on the arm. "Don't tune out on us here."

"I'm allowed," Carly sighed tiredly.

"How come?" he asked picking up a piece of cold, dry toast.

"Hormones," she muttered and leaned back on the bed.

"Huh?" Lulu and Lucas both stared.

Bobbie winced and gave her daughter a pitying look. Spencers were sharp on the uptake, especially about things they weren't suppose to pick up on.

"Oh my god Carly," Lulu's big eyes went wider, "You're not pregnant again are you?"

"Jeeze," Lucas groaned as if he was actual physical pain. "Like you haven't got enough problems already?"

"Shut up," Carly snapped with irritation. She does not need others telling her what a screw up she is; she was perfectly well aware of that fact.

"Well?" Lulu asked expectedly. "Are you? I didn't hear a yes or a no."

"Leave her alone," Bobbie said quietly as she got up to usher the two youngsters out. Carly didn't need that kind of stress in her life. "Come on now; she's not feeling well. Let's let her get some rest."

"What? That's it?" Lucas asked, surprised by it all. "You can't just leave us hanging here? Well are you?"

At one point she may have lied but she was too tired to even try now. "Yes."

"Holy mother of…"

"LUCAS," Bobbie shoved him out the door and grabbed Lulu's arm, calling over her shoulder, "Get some rest honey. I'll talk to you later."

"Mama, can you find Jason for me?" she shouldn't put it off. The more people that know, the more likely Jason was going to find out. And he needed to hear it from her… he deserved that much. "I need to talk to him."

"Oh he's going to be pissed," Lucas predicted.

"Why?" Lulu asked with a frown. Bobbie paused in the act of closing the door, seeing the startled look on Carly's face.

"Can you imagine?" Lucas replied with another head shake, "Yet another reason and person for him to have to protect. Oh yeah, he's going to be thrilled." He paused and looked back at his sister, "Hey, who's the daddy this time? It's not Sonny again, is it? Didn't you just get another divorce from… HEY!" he almost tripped when his mother gave him shove to get him moving.

"God you're nosy," Bobbie said shutting the door to Carly's room. "You're just like your uncle."

"Which one?" Lucas asked with a grin. "The cool one or the ultra cool one?"

"The nosy one," she replied and pushed him down the hall. "And stop teasing your sister!"

"What do you think?" Enrique crossed his arms and leaned back against the doorframe, watching the stark, sterile hospital room with sharp assessing eyes. Getting rid of the damn guards had been difficult… not impossible but definitely difficult.

Lorenzo frowned for a second, a deep wrinkle marring his handsome face, before it cleared and a sparkle of amusement lit his eyes. "I think you have been holding out on me."

"My apologies but this is…"

"Family," Lorenzo nodded wisely and smiled. "And I think it's brilliant."

"I'm going to need a contact on the inside," Cruz murmured as he stared at the ceiling.

"I don't like police," Enrique replied sourly.

"I am the police," Cruz snapped.

Nodding in acceptance, Lorenzo sighed. "I assume you mean Lucky Spencer."

"He's my partner," Cruz looked at him with startlingly bright eyes. "I don't like keeping secrets from him."

"Spencer will do what's necessary to protect his family," Lorenzo predicted with a grin, "He's not without his own faults."

"You talking about his father?"

"I was thinking the rest of his family," Lorenzo shrugged and looked at Cruz again curiously. "Your mama…"

"Is not going to be part of this," he warned darkly.

"Understandable," Lorenzo looked at his man. "Have you begun the set up?"

"Yes," Enrique stood a little straighter. "We'll be ready by the end of the week." He looked at his brother, "Will you be up to moving by then?"

"Jamie has been nothing if not strict about my physical therapy. I'll be ready," Cruz nodded.

"Then let's set it up," Lorenzo replied and stood, concluding the quick meeting. "I don't want the Zaccharas knowing about your true condition, not even Claudia. I trust that woman as far as I can throw her. I'm still not convinced of her true agenda."

Cruz nodded and went suddenly slack when the door of the his room suddenly opened.

"Where the hell are the…" Lucky Spencer almost went to for his gun with his son in his arms. He shoved Cameron into Elizabeth's arms and shut the door in her face. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Paying my respects," Lorenzo replied calmly.

"Visiting my brother," Enrique shrugged.

Lucky rolled his eyes. "Well can you guys do it some other time? I brought my kid to visit Cruz."

Nodding his greeting, Lorenzo exited without putting up a fuss. Enrique smiled and motioned that he'd be waiting outside when Lucky was done. Making a face, Lucky ushered his wife and son to the foot of the bed and smiled sadly at his catatonic partner.

"Hey buddy, you missed the party." Picking up Cameron, he came closer. "We made it official: Cameron Webber Spencer. Say hi to your Uncle Cruz, Cameron."

A laughing Cameron tried to reach out but his father held him back. "Cruz, Cruz, Cruz..."

"We're waiting for you to wake up and come barbeque with us," Elizabeth added, leaning on Lucky's arm and gently added her hand to Cameron's. "Cameron might feel generous and let you share the new bubble maker Lulu bought for him. It's pretty nifty."

"BUBBLES!" Cameron screamed at the top of lungs and laughed. "Cruz come play with bubbles!" he nodded curly mop head with a definite pronouncement.

"You hear that partner?" Lucky smiled and held his son tighter. "My son's already promised so you better be waking up soon while this weather holds. I'm not freezing my ass off during winter to watch you play bubbles with my son. And my grandmother would have a cow if we use that soap machine in the house."

Elizabeth laughed, gently hitting Lucky on the arm before reaching out to squeeze Cruz's hand. "Wake up Cruz. We're all waiting for you to come home."

Lucky nodded in agreement before handing Cameron to his mother. "Honey, why don't you take the baby home and I'll be there soon. I'm just going to discuss some things with Cruz's brother."

Nodding in understanding, Elizabeth said her goodbye and allowed Enrique back into the room. But not before a quick, "Don't involve my husband in anything I'm not going to be happy to hear about. I'll sic my son on you if you do." Cameron stuck his tongue out obediently.

Enrique grinned and shut the door. "You have a beautiful wife and son."

"Keep them out of whatever the hell you're planning."

"I don't involve families," he replied hands up in defense. He nodded toward Cruz.

Confused, Lucky hesitated a moment before turning and almost jumped out of his skin at the clear eyed stare from his presumably non-responsive friend. "What the…"

"It's about freaking time you adopted that kid!" Cruz grinned and rolled his eyes. "Seriously, everyone says you're smart but you're not too fast on the uptake on that one."

"How did you… when did you…"

Enrique pulled up a chair and urged the good detective to sit. "This may take a while, sit down. My brother has many things he'd like to talk to you about."

Cruz nodded and watched as a stunned Lucky slowly took a seat, never taking his eyes off his partner. "Let me begin again. But know that I would understand if you choose another path. I would never willingly jeopardize you or yours for any reason, my friend."

Blinking back his confusion, Lucky gave himself a moment to digest what Cruz was saying. Then he turned and looked at Enrique for a moment. The brother did nothing but met his gaze with steady conviction. Coming to a decision, Lucky turned back and regarded the partner that's always been at his back with a honest nod of acceptance. "Tell me what's going on."

to be continued…