-1Watch Over Me

Rating: PG, for now.

Disclaimer: I don't GH, if I did, Maxie would be dead and Scrubs would have a baby. ;)

Introduction

"Hey, man, wait up!" Logan Hayes shouted across the street as he quickened his walk into a jog. Cooper Barrett turned around and waited for him patiently. Logan caught up and fell into an even step with his buddy.

"You on your way back to Kelly's?" Logan questioned. Coop nodded, and Logan prodded further. "So what's new in the fabulous, exciting, high danger, high adventure world of a PCPD cadet?"

"Nothing much. We did ride-alongs today."

"Oh, now, how did that work out for you?"

"Okay, you know. I can't wait till I graduate and--"

"Yep, I know." Logan cut in. "And be the example cop; just like you were the example soldier. Nobody can find anything wrong with Cooper Barret; he'll be the most exemplary, noble, obedient cop out there. All he'll always want to do is to serve other people out of his own good heart."

Cooper looked a little nervous, but recovered quickly. "Hey, just 'cause it wasn't what you wanted for the rest of your life doesn't make it bad."

"Oh, no, not at all." Logan grinned. "Just that some of us would like to collect on what we fought so hard to earn."

Coop grunted. By this time the two young men had reached the door of Kelly's, and entered it. Mike, waiting at the counter, motioned to Coop.

"There's someone waiting for you in your room." he spoke to Cooper.

"Who?"

Mike glanced at Logan and the customers that lingered at the counter. "He asked not to be identified."

Logan's eyebrows shot up. Cooper nodded, and looked at Logan. "I'll catch you later, okay?"

"Oh, yeah, sure." he replied nonchalantly. But inside he knew his appearance was a lie. There was no way Coop was getting strange visitors and he wasn't gonna be in on it. If it was a girl, that'd be one thing. Coop was entitled to that. But this was different; mysterious men wanting to speak with Coop--this would be just the kind of thing that would happen here in Port Charles, he mused. At least if Cooper was working for Corinthos, or Alcazar, not for the PCPD. Maybe Cooper had found some incriminating evidence against one of them and they were going to do something to him. Coop could be in danger right now.

He waited only until he was sure Cooper would be in his room by now before running up the steps and pausing at his friend's closed door. He leaned his ear against it, held his breath, and listened.

"--he's still in town! Are you sure you knew nothing about it?"

The accusing voice sounded familiar to Logan. He couldn't quite place it.

"No, sir, I didn't! If I did I would have told your boss as soon as possible!" Cooper defended himself.

"And how are we to know you aren't working with him to take Sonny out?" the voice demanded again. This time Logan identified it. It was Max, Sonny's loyal bodyguard and head of security at the Metro Court Hotel. What was he doing with Cooper? And who exactly was it that was now in town that wasn't supposed to be?

"With all due respect," Cooper said, his voice reaching edging toward impatience, "If I wanted to take Sonny out, I wouldn't depend on him to keep me alive and out of prison, and I sure wouldn't work for him."

Working for Sonny? Cooper was working for Sonny Corinthos? Logan's thoughts were swarming. Why did Coop need to be kept out of jail? And was this why Cooper had been so opposed to Logan working for Sonny himself?

He stood paralyzed, thinking, when Max's voice sounded closer to the door. "Yeah, well, we'll see what he has to say about it!"

The door flung open, and Logan took a step back, but he was too late. Max had Cooper by the collar and was pushing him out the door, but he stopped when he saw Logan.

"What are you doing out here?!" he exclaimed.

Logan sent him a smile. "Oh, just passing by the hall. It's the only direct route to the head, you know."

Max continued to glare down at him, and Logan knew he was caught.