Chapter 9
"No!" Lucy screamed realizing that the heart monitor was reading a flat line as Kevin collapsed in her arms. "No Doc, don't you dare do this to me. Not after all we've been through together. I refuse to let you give up now. I love you Kevin Collins. Do you hear me? I love you with my whole heart and I refuse to let you go." 
"Lucy, what's going on?" Ellen called out rushing into the room only to discover Lucy sobbing over Kevin. Pushing her way over towards Lucy and Kevin, Ellen directed her attention to the monitor reading it for a moment before tapping Lucy on the shoulder. "Lucy?" 
"Ellen, you have to do something." Lucy pleaded getting up off of the bed and allowing Ellen access to Kevin. 
"Just as I thought." Ellen sighed in relief holding up the lead that had fallen off of Kevin's chest. "It must've been pulled off when you sat down." 
"But....." Lucy trailed off in disbelief as Ellen reattached the lead resetting the monitor in the process. "He was just talking a moment ago......and then he just...." 
"Lucy, he's still alive." Ellen assured her taking note of the hot tears streaming down Lucy's face. "Right now he's just feeling the effects of the sedative we've given him to ease some of his pain." 
"Ellen, I can't lose him. Not now......" Lucy explained in between sobs as she gazed over at her friend feeling a glimmer of hope. "Please tell me that you've found a way to help him through this." 
"Lucy, I've done all that I could at this point. We've been able to stabilize him for now but," Ellen began hesitantly, "I'm afraid that Kevin's rapid depletion is just going to continue until...." 
"There must be some other way." Lucy interrupted standing up straighter as she turned to Kevin refusing to let him go. "Whatever poison Ryan gave him has to be irreversible and if anyone can come up with a way to save Kevin, I know it's you Ellen." 
"Lucy, I've tried everything that I could think of at this point." Ellen replied sadly knowing the agony Lucy must be going through. 
"There has to be a way Ellen. After all remember when I was poisoned and everyone thought it was the end for me, but then all of a sudden a cure came about." Lucy insisted shaking her head for a moment as she noticed a dark expression cloud over Ellen's features. "What? What is it?" 
"You're right Lucy." Ellen nodded as an idea began formulating in her head. "They did find a way to cure you and in the process something else was formulated." 
"Okay, you've lost me Ellen. Wait a second, you know of something don't you?" Lucy replied watching Ellen's face light up. "Ellen, what? What is it?" 
"Lucy, you stay here with Kevin and I promise you that I'm going to do everything in my power to see to it that he pulls through this." Ellen explained to her before rushing out the door. 
"But...." Lucy trailed off in confusion as the door slammed shut behind Ellen. Shrugging her shoulders, Lucy directed her attention to Kevin. Feeling goosebumps form on her arms, she took a seat next to him reaching for his frail hand and squeezing it tightly. "Don't you leave me Doc.....don't even think about it." 
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
"Perhaps we should go check on Kevin's progress." Matt suggested to Tracie after their moment had passed. "Maybe Ellen has some good news for us." 
"I hope so." Tracie agreed as Matt started off towards the door. 
"Are you coming?" Matt questioned noticing that Tracie hadn't moved an inch. 
"I think I need a minute to collect myself." Tracie explained forcing a weak smile as he eyed her closely. 
"Are you sure there's not something you're not telling me? You look like you've got something on your mind." Matt decided as he watched her for a moment. 
"I'm fine. Really." Tracie nodded trying not to let him know what was on her mind. "I'll be out there in a few minutes." 
"All right." Matt agreed moving out into the hallway and leaving her alone with her thoughts. 
Pulling Eve's letter out of her pocket, Tracie began to wonder about it's contents once more knowing in her heart that the secret to Chris' strange behavior would somehow be locked inside. After a few more minutes of fumbling with the paper in hand, Tracie let out a sigh and reluctantly gave into her impulses opening the letter unprepared for what lay before her eyes as she scanned the page. After reading a few lines, Tracie felt her face grow hot as she carefully read through one passage in particular that captured her attention. 
"Chris, I'm sorry that I had to do this, but it's best for both of us that I left. I know that last night and this morning we made a lot of promises to one another that we just couldn't keep. Don't worry I won't hold you to them, but I do want you to know that I meant what I said when I told you that I loved you Chris....." 
"Chris, just what happened between you and Eve last night?" Tracie questioned realizing that she couldn't spend her energy torturing herself about something that could mean nothing. She continued to read on hoping that she wasn't reading the clues correctly as her imagination got the best of her. 
"They couldn't have. Chris told me point blank that he and Eve were just friends. This has to be why Chris was so upset when he left, but then.......no, there's nothing more to this than just a letter between friends." Tracie insisted shaking her head trying to dismiss the thought circulating in her mind knowing that there was something odd about the whole undertone of the letter. Deciding to read a bit further still, Tracie began to analyze the words further realizing that it almost sounded like a break up letter, yet she knew that Eve had no reason to write something like that to Chris. 
"......Things just happened so fast between us when neither one of us were expecting it and now, well, now I'm not sure about anything anymore. I came here yesterday with the intentions of letting you know that Kevin asked me to marry him and I'd accepted. I was so sure that I was doing the right thing in accepting his proposal, and now I'm more confused than I've ever been in my life, but it almost seems too late to change things now. I never meant to hurt you like this Chris, but trust me, it's for the best that we end this now before one of us ends up resenting the other down the road..." Tracie read to herself suddenly struck with an all too familiar feeling as the words love and devotion crossed the page, along with a few other phrases, Tracie became more concerned with discovering what the meaning behind the letter. "....you deserve better than someone like me. If you step back for a moment to think about it, you'll see that I'm right. I just pray that one day you'll understand why I had to walk away like this and I hope you'll forgive me down the road. Love always, Eve." 
"Oh Chris, what have you done?" Tracie questioned feeling tears forming in her eyes as she crumpled up the paper before dropping it into her lap. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
"Come on Eve." Chris ordered pulling away as he glanced over her lifeless features hearing the faint sounds of sirens in the distance. "You can't give up on me now Eve. Do you hear me? I'm not letting you go away like this." 
"Eve," Chris pleaded once more lowering himself in an attempt to force her to breathe on her own at the combination of the winds and the people outside the abandoned building caused the walls to rumble loudly. Checking for a pulse, Chris realized there was still hope as he took in another breath preparing to continue mouth to mouth on her when she began wheezing gasping for air as he took her into his arms. 
"Easy," he instructed holding her up as she collapsed back into his arms like a rag doll. "Everything's going to be okay." 
"Ch-Chris.......?" Eve questioned faintly as her eyelids fluttered. Struggling to move, she let out a frustrated whimper realizing that she was drained physically. "Please.....no......." 
"Shh it's all over. Everything's going to be all right." Chris whispered caressing her soft skin and wiping away the hair from her face as she slipped back into her unconscious state. "No, no don't do this. Eve, come on you have to stay with me. Eve!" 
"Well, well, well.......Eve honey, it looks like we've got some company." Ryan announced catching Chris off guard as he turned around coming face to face with Ryan's burning eyes. 
"You stay away from us Ryan." Chris instructed taking a step back as Eve began to mumble incoherently. 
"Or what? You're going to hit me again like you did the other night? I thought we already played that game." Ryan laughed shaking in anger as he glared at Chris for a moment before averting his eyes upon Eve who remained motionless in Chris' arms. "Eve honey, it looks like your jealous little roommate has dropped in on us as we were about to leave." 
"Back off Ryan!" Chris instructed nearly tripping over a small crate in his attempt to keep a distance between him and Ryan. 
"You don't belong here Chris........she's made her choice and you have to respect that." Ryan continued leering towards them emotionlessly as he focused on Chris with an icy glare. "Eve and I belong together and I won't let you have her even if I have to kill you for her." 
"Ryan, why don't you just turn yourself in to now? You've got no where to go." Chris replied taking note of Eve's fragile condition as Ryan backed them into a corner. Hearing the sounds of sirens quickly approaching, Chris tried to stall for time. As Ryan closed the gap between them, Chris carefully placed Eve on top of a crate trying to ignore her muffled cries as he directed his attention back to Ryan determined to do whatever it took to keep her out of harm's way. 
"Go to hell Ramsey!!! If you think you're going to be the one to play the hero in all of this coming out on top, you're sadly mistaken. I've worked too hard to have a no one like you ruin my plans." Ryan announced lunging forward at him in a rage. "I'll never let you take me down." 
"Well, you don't have a choice." Chris shot back at him in a rage as he swung his fists wildly into the air trying to keep Ryan from coming into contact with Eve. With one swift movement, Chris' fist came to a clanging thud upon impact with Ryan's jaw. "I won't let you get away with this." 
"Is that so Ramsey? Now that you've taken your best shot, it's my turn." Ryan laughed grabbing a hammer off of the ground and swinging it at Chris who'd managed to successfully duck out of the way. As Chris moved in behind Ryan, he was able to knock the hammer out of Ryan's hand before the two became entangled in a fury. 
"Come on Chris." Ryan urged gaining the upper hand as he began pounding on Chris chest. "Show me what you're made of!!!" 
"Ryan, you're going to pay for all you've done!!! I'll see to it." Chris yelled slamming his fist into Ryan's abdomen with a sharp blow causing him to fall to the ground gasping for air. Chris was now in a full blown rage as Ryan crawled about on the floor seeking some type of relief. "I'm not finished with you yet!!!" 
Ryan and Chris rolled around on the ground hitting each other furiously as Eve remained over by the crates oblivious to the scene taking place before her. Chris could feel the pain throbbing in his head from a blow Ryan had given him as the fighting continued. Finally Chris managed to gain the upper hand in the situation as Ryan lay on the ground in near defeat. 
"This is for Eve!!" Chris yelled slamming his fist into Ryan's jaw as vehemence rang throughout his body. "You'll never be able to hurt her again!!!" 
"Ugh." Ryan gulped as blood spurt out of his mouth and he turned to see the fire in Chris' eyes. "You'll never have her Ramsey......I won't let you win......." 
"Shut up!!" Chris ordered hitting him again with a larger impact as he was suddenly overcome with his hatred for the man before him. 
"Chris, oh....." Eve moaned slipping back into consciousness as the whirlwinds of Chris and Ryan's bodies moving around the room came to her in a blur as her chest began to tighten. She drew in a breath trying to force herself to remain alert as she let out another muffled cry. "I'm.....I'm starting to feel dizzy...and so weak." 
"Eve, hold on." Chris began turning his attention away from Ryan as Eve began trembling once more. "I'm going to get you out of here as soon as possible." 
"You're not going anywhere." Ryan spat at him in a rage pulling him down to the ground once more as their struggle continued. 
"Freeze!" A voice called out as Scott, Garcia, and a few other members of the PCPD entered the abandoned warehouse aiming their guns in Chris' direction. 
"Ramsey," A voice called out as Chris looked up to find Scott standing before them. 
"Let him go Chris. We'll take over from here." Garcia instructed aiming his gun in Ryan's direction as Chris tightened his grip on Ryan's collar. 
"No......he's going to pay for what he's done." Chris replied shaking his head. "I won't allow him to hurt anyone else ever again." 
"Come on Chris...." Ryan began whispering in a menacing tone even in his weakened condition. "Why don't you be a man and finish me?" 
"That's just what I intend to do you bastard." Chris replied turning his attention back to Ryan again as he raised his fist. 
"Release him!" Garcia instructed once more taking a step closer. 
"Then do it!!!" Ryan dared him in a voice of pure madness. "Step up to the plate for once Chris and do the job right. I dare you." 
"Chris..." Scott began stepping forward knowing all too well the rage that Chris must be feeling at that moment in time. 
"What are you waiting for Chris?" Ryan asked as the faint sound of police sirens filled the air. "Come on........do it!!!" 
"You'll get what's coming to you," Chris began hearing Eve's coughs and lowering his fist to remove himself off of Ryan, "but it won't be from me." 
"Too chicken to kill me huh?" Ryan teased weakly as Garcia's men seizing him pulling him to his feet and slapping the handcuffs on him as Chris scooped Eve up into his arms. "I guess that Eve isn't worth that much to you if you aren't willing to kill me for her." 
"That's just it Ryan." Chris said facing him again as Eve nestled into his chest. "Eve means everything to me and that's why I won't kill you." 
"Oh God." Scott gasped as darting across the room towards Chris and Eve. "Ramsey, is she.......?" 
"She's alive, but we have to get over to the hospital right away." Chris explained as the flashing lights from the squad cars flooded the darkened glass window panes of the warehouse as he cast a glance back in Ryan's direction. "She needs medical attention as soon as possible." 
"You haven't seen the end of me." Ryan laughed darkly glaring at the group around him. "I'm not finished yet. You're all going to pay for this.......each and every one of you." 
"Get him out of here!" Garcia instructed as the men hauled Ryan off to the squad car while Scott cleared a path for Chris towards the front door. "Come on. I'll escort you to the hospital."
"Don't worry, everything's going to be all right." Chris whispered trying to assure himself as he felt Eve tremble in his arms as he tightened his grip on her. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
"Just the person I was looking for." Ellen called out approaching Matt after her retreat from Kevin's room. 
"Ellen, what is it?" Matt questioned sensing that something was terribly wrong by the look on her face. 
"Matt, I was just in Kevin's room and Lucy reminded me of something." Ellen explained remembering the idea that sparked in her head. "Remember when Frank Scanlon had his accident?" 
"How could I forget, it turned everyone's life upside down when the truth that he'd been using DL-56 got out in the open." Matt replied thinking back. "We all could've been wiped out because of the carelessness of him and Chris." 
"Yes, but that's not what I wanted to discuss with you." Ellen insisted realizing that time was running out. "While most of Chris' notes were destroyed in a race against time, he still continued research after the outbreak." 
"Of course that's why Lance spent all that time and energy funding his defense." Matt nodded a bit cynically. "Leave it up to a weasel like Chris to find a company like that to work for. You know it should've told us something when Sebastian said he was working for Lance Pharmaceuticals. Everyone in that place is shady." 
"Matt, let's not dredge up that one again." Ellen pleaded not wanting to get into another argument about Sebastian and his less than honorable motives for being in Port Charles a while ago. "But since you brought up DL-56, Sebastian had talked about some further research Chris was doing for Lance saying how he was working on a BETA formula which claimed to eliminate the side effects of the original formula." 
"Ellen you can't be thinking about giving Kevin that stuff." Matt interrupted suddenly realizing where this discussion was leading. "We have no idea just how true those claims are and that's an awfully high risk to take considering Kevin's condition." 
"At this point Matt, it's all we have left." Ellen explained poignantly turning down the hall. "I can't let Kevin die. Not after all he's been through to make it back to Lucy. I owe them that much. 
"Where are you going?" Matt questioned watching her walk away. 
"To call Lance Pharmaceuticals." Ellen replied spinning around to face him once more. "Are you with me?" 
"Oh, all right." Matt reluctantly agreed with a sigh as he followed her. "Ellen, I just hope you know what you're getting us into." 
------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Lucy remained frozen at Kevin's bedside holding onto his hand as if she'd never let go as a few stray tears fell from her eyes. Using her free hand, she wiped her face trying to keep herself thinking positive as she watched Kevin's chest rise and fall with each labored breath he took. Remembering a time not so long ago when she'd been in his position fighting for her life, with him by her side, she vowed to transfer her strength into him as the eerie silence filled the room engulfing her. 
"You know," she spoke up feeling a hoarseness in her voice as she broke the silence in the air, "I have to admit that I'd never envisioned us getting to this point with one another. I just soft of assumed that on our wedding day everything would fall into place, you know happily wedded bliss, children running around the place, Sigmund in the duck pond, but look at us. Here we are in this dreary hospital room.....you fighting for your life while I'm just trying to pull together enough strength to will you back to me Kevin. You've already come this far, and I refuse to let you leave me now." 
Lucy paused for a moment wiping away the tears escaping from the corners of her eyes as she let out a sniffle. She gazed over Kevin feeling her heart fill with sadness as the realization of how much time they'd lost together set in. Closing her eyes for a moment, she thought of all they'd been through over the last few years, knowing how much he truly meant to her. 
"Oh Doc, how could I have not known it wasn't you?" Lucy questioned tearfully reopening her eyes to look at his frail body laying on the bed before her. "I should've known you'd never back out on me like that....not after all we'd been through. The things we shared with one another.....I should've known that nothing in this world could've come between us. Your love for me was so strong, and I felt it so many nights when we were apart, but I just couldn't place the source of all the confusion between us. I thought it was because of Eve......so many times I'd tried to blame her for all of this saying it was her influence...that if you'd just rid yourself of her, we'd rediscover the tie bonding us together, but I see what it was now......boy do I see it Kevin and if I'd only known. If I would've only listened to my intuition, we wouldn't be here like this now. " 
"Kevin Collins," Lucy began sternly glaring at him after he'd remained unresponsive. "Now you listen here and you listen good. Don't you under any circumstances even start to think about leaving me! After all we've been through together, I refuse to let you go. Do you hear me? I simply WON'T allow it! " 
Lucy paused for a moment realizing that she'd raised her voice quite a bit as she spoke to him. She watching his chest rise and fall as the fury inside of her came to surface. Feeling her lip quiver a bit, she softened her tone leaning in to place a kiss on his forehead before speaking in his ear. 
"You're always telling me that WE control our own fate and destiny. While I wasn't quite as sure as you were that we control our future rather than cosmic forces, I'm a believer right now....I'll believe whatever it takes as long as you stay with me. Do you hear me? Because my gut keeps telling me that you can hear me Kevin, and if I'm right, then please answer me. Give me some sign letting me know that you haven't given up.....that you're not ready to throw in the towel. I need to hear you say it Kevin. I need a sign.....anything." Lucy pleaded tearfully desperately awaiting a response from the man she loved. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Chris Ramsey stepped out of the rain and in through the doors of General Hospital with Eve in his arms opting to leave the others behind down in the lobby after the ambulance had broken down on the way to the warehouse leaving them with no other option but to bring Eve in a squad car. Feeling the pounding in his chest through the lump in his throat with each step he took, Chris cast a glance down the nearly deserted hallway, scanning the area looking for any sign of help. 
"Someone we could use a little help around here!" Scott blurted out following Chris into the hall as the sounds of his soaked tennis shoes squeaked across the floor. "There are at least a dozen doctors on staff, but where's the help when you need it?" 
"We can't afford to wait any longer than we have already." Chris explained darting towards the ER and realizing time was running out for Eve when he noticed Karen emerging from the lounge. 
"Oh my God." Karen gasped taking note of Chris' frazzled condition as she moved towards him signaling for a nurse's assistance. "Chris, what happened?" 
"I found her about twenty minutes ago. She's been in and out of consciousness this whole time." Chris explained carrying Eve towards emergency with the two of them at his side. "Apparently she's been drugged and right now her body is reacting to whatever toxins he gave her......." 
"What's going on?" Ellen questioned stepping out of the lab and jumping into the scene approaching the two of them. 
"Ellen, we have to help Eve." Chris pleaded with her feeling a chill take over his body as his rain soaked clothing clung to his body. "She's finally breathing on her own now, but look at her. Whatever he gave her is apparently shutting her system down." 
"Let's get her into three now." Ellen instructed as they flocked into the tiny examining room as Ellen began her examination on her. 
"You've got to do something Ellen." Chris repeated feeling his hands trembling with fear as he lowered Eve down on the tiny hospital bed taking note of the color change in her face. "You need to help her." 
"Chris, I'll do my best." Ellen insisted nodding for Karen to tend to him as Joe slipped into the room jumping into action and checking Eve's vitals. "Well?" 
"From what I can see she's got elevated blood pressure, excessive flushing, and a steadily increasing heart rate." Joe explained glancing over at Ellen as they began to work on Eve. 
"That's what I was afraid of." Ellen replied pushing her way over to Eve. "I want toxicology to get up here and run a test right away. If what I suspect is accurate, what we're looking at is a possible cardiovascular collapse." 
"No! That's not possible. Eve's as healthy as they come." Chris blurted out pushing Joe aside as he moved in next to Eve. "Eve, come on. You have to fight this! Eve please..." 
"Do something about him." Ellen instructed taking note of the look of bewilderment on Joe's face. "I can't get close to Eve with him in this condition. I need toxicology right away." 
"Wait! I also found this next to her." Chris explained handing the vial over to Ellen before directing his attention to Eve once more. "Come on Eve. I know you can hear me. You came back to me once, now don't let me down after we made it this far." 
"What is it?" Joe questioned in confusion accepting the vial as Chris started to work on Eve frantically pulling machines over to her. 
"I suspect it's what Ryan injected her with you idiot. Don't just stand there." Chris replied showing Joe the needle mark on Eve's neck and arm as he began frantically throwing things around the small room. "Aren't any of you going to do anything? Well, if you won't, then I will." 
"Chris please...." Ellen started watching him slam his fists into the tray of surgical supplies sending them flying across the room as Ellen began nodding for Karen to remove him from the room as soon as possible. "Chris, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave." 
"I'm not going anywhere." Chris snapped back at her moving in towards Eve and knocking over another tray in the process. "Eve, baby you've got to hear me. I won't let you go like this." 
"Chris please, let me work on her." Ellen spoke up again as Karen tugged on Chris' arm trying to guide him out of the ER 
"Eve......." Chris mumbled feeling his knees grow weak as Karen placed her hand on his shoulder. 
"Chris, come on. Let Ellen do her job. You're too shaken up to be of any assistance." Karen insisted exchanging worried glances with Joe as she led Chris out of the room. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Tracie sat in the corner booth of the hospital cafeteria grateful that the place was nearly deserted due to the horrendous storm conditions outside. Holding Eve's letter in hand, she slumped down in her seat rereading the words that stung at her chest knowing for certain just the meaning behind the words as she thought of Chris' reaction up on Jasmine Island when he realized who Kevin was. Blinking back hot tears, Tracie folded the letter back up tucking it into her pocket trying not to allow herself to cry over something that had been apparently obvious to her for months no matter how much it hurt her. 
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" A familiar voice called out interrupting her thoughts as Tracie looked up to find Frank Scanlon before her. "Tracie Richards, what a surprise to find you here especially without that slimeball Chris Ramsey by your side. I assume you've finally come to your senses and given him the boot, huh?" 
"Frank Scanlon. I should've known it was you standing before me. I thought that I recognized the foul stench in the air the moment you stepped foot inside this place." Tracie shot back bitterly as he looked down at her in amusement with his bright eyes. 
"Oh Tracie you always were sharp with the tongue weren't you? Of course that was one of your finer points if I recall correctly. It made for some interesting conversations at times." he chuckled in amusement at her greeting as he decided to slide into the booth next to her flashing her one of his cocky grins. "I assume this seat isn't taken." 
"As a matter of fact, it is." she answered through gritted teeth as he smiled arrogantly placing his arm around her shoulders. Scooting herself over in the other direction, she pushed his arm off of her. 
"That's too bad." Frank replied with a frown eyeing her closely before trailing his fingers along the back of the booth. "I was so hoping that you and I could reminisce about the good old days, but since your companion hasn't arrived, it looks like we just might be able to find the time to do that." 
"What good old days?" Tracie questioned rolling her eyes. "If I call correctly, they were anything but good." 
"Oh come on Tracie, you might be singing that tune now that you've become Port Charles' good girl exposing all that's bad in the world and making it right, but I remember a time not so many years ago when you were singing another tune." Frank informed her taking her in as he glanced her up and down appreciatively. "In fact, the more I think about it, the more I realize just how different both your words and actions were during some of your younger more wilder days." 
"You're right Frank, I am starting to remember a bit of the good old days, of course it was for what, a few minutes of fun every now and then until things fizzled." Tracie countered unamused with his display of bravado as he moved in towards her. 
"Oh come on, you and I both know that each time we were together those were the best times of your life. Whether it was back on the sandy beaches of Cancun during spring break, that one weekend where we spent most of our time on that little balcony at that hotel just off the coast, oh and there was that time when we just couldn't wait to get back to that cabana I'd rented so we pulled over on the side of the road while all that oncoming traffic just passed us by shining the light in our eyes." Frank grinned in amusement sensing her discomfort as he trailed the tips of his fingers along the back of her neck. "Just think of all those cars passing by unaware of the little adventure taking place inside my pick up truck. It was probably one of the best times of my life until that officer stopped by to checking things out and boy were you embarrassed. That probably was one of the few times I'd actually ever seen you blush......." 
"What do you want Frank?" Tracie blurted out irritably scooting further away from until she found her back pressed to the wall. 
"I just wanted to see how you were doing after the little adventure you went through. I heard about your experience on Jasmine Island and I also heard about Ramsey taking off after Eve. It's completely shameful the way he just dumped on you like that after the horror you've just been through." Frank explained relaxing in his seat while he continued. "Now that Eve Lambert, she's a pretty hot number and all, but I don't see what in the world would possess him to give up a knock out like you during your time of need." 
"Chris is trying to help a friend of his who's in danger." Tracie replied reaching for her purse in an attempt to leave as Eve's letter slipped out of her pocket onto her lap. "Now if you excuse me I think I'd better get back upstairs and wait for him." 
"Oh Tracie, don't run off on me just yet. I miss all our conversations." Frank urged holding onto her arm to prevent her from leaving. "You know, the limits of your sex appeal are endless especially when you're angry." 
"Frank, let me tell you something." Tracie replied softening her tone as she signaled for him to move in closer to him so that she could whisper in his ear. 
"Yes?" He questioned intrigued by the look on her face. 
"I don't know what you're trying to pull, but I wouldn't crawl back to you if you were the last man on Earth and my life depended on it." Tracie explained matter of fact before leaning back in her seat. "You're just not my type anymore." 
"Oh Tracie, I'm always your type. Even you can't deny that one." Frank chuckled in amusement as she continued to freeze him out. "I know this isn't about Ramsey because I've seen the two of you together and it's more like a game for you two. Just another power play, huh?" 
"Frank, just give it a rest." Tracie snapped at him irritably as she tucked Eve's letter into her purse realizing it probably wasn't a good idea to keep it out in the open. 
"So if this cold disposition isn't about Chris, then what could it be?" Frank pondered eyeing her closely as she continued to disregard him. "Oh come on. Don't tell me you still have hard feelings about that Denise thing." 
"Oh no Frank, I wouldn't hold that against you." Tracie replied innocently flashing him a smile before closing her purse and scratching her head. "Of course that was all before I found out about Tina, Sofia, Melissa, Cory, and what was the other one's name?" 
"Gina." Frank responded with a laugh as he placed his arm around her once more. "Come on Tracie, you can't hold it against me for something that I did almost a decade ago. I was so much younger then and I needed to sow some wild oats before I settled down." 
"Including messing around with the likes of Courtney Kanelos from what I've heard." Tracie remarked sarcastically turning to face him. "Speaking of which, what ever happened to that little tramp after Joe found out what she was really like? I know how much you and her were aching to get at Chris and Joe not so long ago." 
"Who cares?" Frank shrugged leaning in towards Tracie. "Right now all I want to concentrate on is the two of us." 
"Well funny thing about that." Tracie chuckled removing his arm. "I don't." 
"Ms. Richards?" A voice called out as Tracie looked up to find Detective Garcia standing before her. 
"Detective Garcia." Tracie replied grateful for the distraction as she put distance between her and Frank. "What are you doing here?" 
"Actually I was looking for you. One of the nurses suggested I might be able to locate you here." Garcia explained quickly reaching for his note pad. "I just needed another statement." 
"Sure, no problem. I'll do whatever I can to help out." Tracie nodded motioning for him to sit down and join them. 
"Excellent." Garcia smiled at her as he found a pen. "I promise that I won't take any longer than I have to. I just need to ask you a few more things." 
"So tell me Detective, have you heard any word on Ryan Chamberlain or Eve Lambert yet?" Tracie inquired leaning forward. 
"Actually Ryan Chamberlain has been apprehended and Eve is upstairs in emergency." Garcia explained casting a glance in Frank's direction. "I take it you haven't run into Chris yet." 
"No, is he here?" Tracie questioned feeling her heart pound in her chest as Garcia nodded. "Detective, I hope you don't mind, but could we do this later. I should really get back upstairs to check on Chris." 
"Of course." Garcia nodded as Tracie collected her things and crawled over Frank in order to remove herself from the booth. 
"It's been fun." Frank called out to her as she rushed towards the door. 
"Whatever." Tracie muttered rolling her eyes and stepping out of the lounge. 
"As always Detective, your timing is impeccable." Frank snarled turning his attention back to Garcia. 
"Did I miss something here?" Garcia questioned blankly. 
"Yeah, seems to be the story of your life." Frank muttered crumpling a napkin in hand and tossing it across the table before leaving the cafeteria. 
"What did I say?" Garcia shrugged realizing he seemed to have a strange effect on people. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Scott rushed into the hospital lobby unable to keep his emotions under control as he thought of Lucy's frightening disappearance during the midst of the Ryan Chamberlain manhunt. Thinking of the startling conclusion leading up to Ryan's apprehension, he let out a breath of relief knowing that the man would be behind bars unable to hurt anyone he loved ever again. Scanning the room looking for any sign of her as he heard the faint sirens of an ambulance in the distance. After a couple of seconds spent searching, he finally spotted Amy Vinning chatting in the corner of the room with another woman. 
"Amy!" he exclaimed rushing over towards him. 
"Scottie Baldwin, what a surprise." Amy replied greeting him with a warm smile. "You know it's been a while since I've seen your face around here." 
"Look Amy, I need your help with something." Scott explained scanning the area. 
"Sure, anything you need Scottie, I'm your guide." Amy explained with a nod taking note of his tussled appearance. "What can I do for you?" 
"I'm looking for Lucy Coe." Scott explained feeling a bit out of breath. 
"Gee, why am I not surprised? When it comes to that woman, she just has all the good looking men crawling to her every beck and call." Amy huffed in irritation rolling her eyes a bit. "So tell me Scott, what is it about that woman that has all of you going crazy, because quite honestly I never have seen what it was. I mean she treats you all like dirt half the time and the way that she carries on about things all the time....." 
"Amy, look I can see that you're in the mood to jaw jack and catch up on old times, but I'm a bit pressed for time at the moment." Scott explained interrupting her little speech on Lucy Coe. "Now I was told that she was brought over here to be checked out." 
"Hmmm, well, she's not listen on my sheet here of those admitted," Amy replied thumbing through the pages before her when something else caught her eye, "but I do see that Kevin Collins is down in ICU. You might want to check over there if you're looking for Lucy seeing as the two of them were once....." 
"Thanks Amy." Scott replied cutting her off as he headed to ICU. 
"No problem." She muttered closing the chart in front of her and letting out an irritated huff. "Men!" 
----------------------------------------------------------------- 
"Why won't Ellen just let me stay in there with them?" Chris questioned trying to gaze into the glass window of the emergency room as his heart began pounding wildly in his chest. "What in the world is taking so long? That's it. I'm going back in there." 
"Chris wait!" Karen called out as he took a step away from her and tried to get a closer look hoping to discover what was happening with Eve. 
Chris heard the muffled sounds of the machines as he approached the room once again in a frenzy. He tried to make out what Joe and Ellen were saying as they worked on Eve behind the doors in front of him. His mind instantly painted thoughts of Eve lying helpless wishing that he hadn't allowed his emotions to take control earlier when he'd first arrived at the hospital as he now realized that he needed to be with her now more than ever. He began to inch towards the door once again when Karen grabbed a hold of his arm once again. 
"You know you can't go back in there Chris." Karen explained leading him back towards the lobby wishing that he'd calm down. "You and I both know that you won't be any help in there considering the mental state you're in right now." 
"I need to be with her Karen." Chris insisted pushing forward a bit. 
"Joe and Ellen are doing all that they can at the moment, so why don't you do all of us a favor and try to relax until they can tell you in detail what's going on?" Karen suggested patiently. 
"I need to find out what's happening to her Karen!" Chris explained frantically pleading with her concerned eyes. "If Joe was in there in Eve's place, you'd want to be by his side, wouldn't you?" 
"Look, I can understand that you're upset Chris, but you and I both know what it's like to be in there when emotions are running high. It's the worst thing you could do right now." Karen responded firmly trying to get him to back off. "Look, Chris, if you aren't going to cooperate, then I'm going to be forced to get security to remove you from this area." 
"Come on Karen." Chris begged feeling his hands tremble with fear before tugging on her arm. After a moment, he let out a sigh looking at her with tears in his eyes. "Okay, I'll quit arguing and try to calm down." 
"Good." Karen replied with a breath of relief. "Now, why don't you come sit down with me for a few minutes? Please just try to believe that Eve is in good hands right now. You know Ellen is going to do all she can to help Eve." 
"I can't lose her Karen." Chris spoke out shaking his head in disbelief. "This can't be happening...not after everything I have lost in my life. I can't lose her now too." 
"Chris," Karen spoke in a whisper seeing another side of Chris Ramsey as he sunk into a state of deep sorrow. 
"I love her so much Karen. You don't understand, but Eve has become this huge part of my world and I don't know what I'll do without her." Chris admitted turning to her with sad eyes as he unsuccessfully tried to fight back tears. "I can't live without her." 
"Chris, don't talk that way. You won't have to worry about that because she's going to be fine." Karen tried assuring him as her own doubts clouded her mind. "She's going to pull through this." 
"What if she doesn't?" Chris asked in a panic as his deepest fears came to surface. "I can't go through this again. First my mother and now Eve. This was supposed to be different than everything else that I had go wrong in my life." 
"Chris, you have to think positive." Karen insisted noticing the tears in his eyes as he turned away from her. 
"Karen, I don't know what I'm going to do if I lose her." Chris started choking on the tears that were now escaping from his eyes. 
"You aren't going to lose her Chris." Karen insisted saying a silent prayer to God for her friend's recovery as she looked back towards the ER. 
"Why Karen?" Chris questioned reaching out to hug her tightly as tears escaped from his eyes grasping for some type of answer. "Why did this have to happen?" 
"I.......I don't know Chris." Karen explained a bit shocked by his sudden transformation from the tyrant he usually presented himself to be as he turned away from her. "Chris, right now I don't have the answers no matter how hard I want to." 
"I can't lose her Karen." Chris insisted trembling with fear as his heart pounded wildly in his chest. "Not after all I went through to find her.......to bring her back home to me." 
"Chris......" Karen began at a loss for words moving towards him. 
"Karen, I need her. If I lose her, I just don't know what I'll do......." Chris blurted out choked up with emotion as tears flowed down his hot cheeks. Noticing how upset he was, Karen reached out to hug him again as he sobbed on her shoulder unable to hold back any longer. 
"Karen, what am I going to do? I love her so much and losing her now.........I just can't bear the thought." Chris sobbed uncontrollably as Tracie entered in the lobby hearing the tail end of the conversation. "I just can't." 
"It's going to be okay Chris." Karen responded trying to comfort him as Tracie felt her heart sink before turning around to leave the lobby feeling out of place. "I just know it." 
"Chris," Ellen called out stepping out of the room as she took in the scene before her. 
"Ellen, how is she?" Chris questioned breaking away from Karen as Joe stepped into the room. 
"She's going to be just fine. We were able to determine what was in that vial you gave me," Ellen explained as he let out a relieved sigh, "so therefore we were able to stabilize her before the drugs worked their way through her system." 
"Oh thank God." Chris gasped overcome with joy as he reached out to hug Ellen catching her off guard. "Thank you Ellen." 
"You're....you're welcome." Ellen replied exchanging confused glances with Joe as Chris pulled back. 
"I need to see her right away." Chris announced pulling away from Ellen. 
"Of course," Ellen nodded understanding his desperation, "but first I need to ask a favor of you." 
------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Tracie rushed down the hallway thinking of Chris' confession to Karen as a mixture of emotions flowed through her veins. She pushed herself forward at a steady pace trying to make sense of the scene knowing that she should just question Chris about his feelings for Eve, yet feeling as if she needed some space. As she turned around the corner of the hall, she ran smack into someone nearly knocking herself off balance. 
"Ms. Richards?" Alex Garcia questioned recognizing her after catching her in his arms. "Are you all right?" 
"I'm fine." she answered quickly regaining her composure noticing that he was still holding onto her. "You can let go of me now." 
"Oh, I'm sorry." Garcia apologized feeling his face grow hot with embarrassment as he stared at her not knowing what to say. "So...where were you going in such a hurry?" 
"What business of yours is it?" Tracie snapped at him bitterly realizing that her anger was displaced. "I'm sorry Detective. I just needed some air." 
"After the day you've been through, I can understand that." Garcia nodded noticing the red blotches underneath her eyes. "Please, call me Alex." 
"Okay Alex." Tracie smiled weakly. 
"Are you sure there's nothing else bothering you?" Garcia questioned eyeing her skeptically. 
"I'm fine." Tracie insisted as his pager went off. 
"Hold that thought. It's the station." he replied reaching for his cell phone and dialing the station. "Garcia here. What do you have for me? Yes....yes.......what? How is that possible? But.......all right I'm on my way." 
"Alex, what is it?" Tracie questioned noticing that the color had drained from his face. 
"I have to get down to the station right away." he explained quickly. "Apparently two of my officers have been murdered." 
"How did this happen?" Tracie questioned quickly. 
"They were transporting a prisoner to the station when....." Alex trailed off realizing he shouldn't be giving her too much information. "I have to go." 
"Wait!" Tracie called out chasing after him. "Answer me one thing." 
"Ms. Richards I have to go." he explained in a panic. 
"It was Ryan Chamberlain, wasn't it?" Tracie questioned already knowing the answer as she recognized the look of fear on Alex's face. "Oh God." 
------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Scott approached ICU thinking about Lucy and Kevin together again after all this time. In the hustle and bustle to catch Ryan Chamberlain, he hadn't taken the time to think about what impact Kevin's return would have upon his relationship with Lucy. Closing his eyes for a moment, he stopped in the middle of the hallway to ponder the thought of what the future could hold in store for him and Lucy. 
"Don't torture yourself like this now." he instructed himself as he peered in the window of Kevin's room noticing Lucy sitting by Kevin's side as he debated whether or not he should intrude upon their time together. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
"Lucy?" Kevin questioned opening his eyes and discovering her beside him. "Wh-where am I?" 
"Oh Doc!" she gasped reaching out to hold him. "I just knew you'd wake up." 
"I feel so.....so weak." Kevin breathed straining for air as Lucy touched the side of his face causing a mixture of emotions to stir in him. "Oh you're really here." 
"Of course I'm here Kevin and I promise never to leave you again." Lucy explained kissing his hand happy to see his brown eyes gazing up at her. 
"All those nights when I'd dreamt about you.....dreamt about holding you again....just to see you....." Kevin mumbled lazily still feeling the effects of the sedatives as the tears formed in his eyes. "You're really here.." 
"Yes, yes I am Kevin Collins and I'm never leaving your side again." Lucy announced blinking back her own tears as she noticed the strain in his features with each word he spoke. 
"What is it?" Kevin questioned noticing that Lucy's tears began to fall harder as she reached out to hold him. "Lucy?" 
"I...I just love you so much." she whispered unable to contain her emotions as she held onto him. 
"You're not telling me something." Kevin deducted feeling a cough coming on as she pulled away from him. "Wh-what is it Lucy?" 
"Doc, I'm just so happy to see you again." Lucy insisted with a smile running her fingers through his hair. "I'm so happy." 
"Lucy, don't lie to me." Kevin replied knowing that something was terribly wrong even in his weakened condition. 
"Oh no....no, no, no." Lucy answered shaking her head. "Doc, I would never do that to you." 
"Lucy, I know I'm dying." Kevin spoke up reading the thoughts in her mind. 
"Don't you dare say such a thing Kevin Collins." Lucy snapped back at him taking his badly scabbed hand in her own. 
"I know what's happening to me Lucy. After all the months......all the pain......" Kevin replied with tears streaming down his face as he turned away from her. "I know..." 
"Kevin.......oh Kevin......" Lucy sobbed reaching out to touch his face. 
"Lucy, please don't cry." Kevin whispered blinking back his own tears hating to see her so upset. "I hate it when you cry." 
"I can't help myself Doc." Lucy replied feeling her lip quivering with fear of the unknown realizing that she needed to savor each moment she had left with Kevin. 
"Lucy, please...what happens to me doesn't matter now. All that matters is that I saw you...I could feel you once again..." Kevin trailed off lazily feeling his eyelids grow heavy once more. "No matter how much he tried.........he just couldn't......couldn't....couldn't take away my love for you. I wouldn't let him...." 
"Shh, Doc, save your strength." Lucy instructed sensing that he needed his rest even though she desperately wanted to keep talking to him. 
".....I couldn't let him keep me away.........." Kevin mumbled as his hot tears fell down his face staining his pillow, "....nothing could stop me from coming home to you...Lucy, I....I love you..." 
"I love you too Doc." Lucy cried out holding onto him as if she'd never be able to let go unaware of the pair of eyes watching her emotional display with Kevin. 

"Well, well, well, speak of the devil." Matt began as Chris stepped into the lab. 
"Oh God, Ellen you never mentioned anything about having to work with him on this. If you would've told me, then I might've had second thoughts about doing this, but I suppose it's too late to back out now, huh? You know, the least you could've done was warned me that he'd want in on this," Chris muttered rolling his eyes as he approached Matt, "but I suppose that would've been too much to ask for, huh?" 
"Chris right now this isn't about conflicts of interest. It's about saving a man's life." Ellen spoke up stepping in between the two men before things got out of hand. "That's the important thing to remember." 
"You know Ramsey, as much as I detest sharing the same air you breathe, let alone being in a room with you for extended periods of time, I'm willing to put my personal feelings aside in this effort to keep Kevin alive." Matt countered smugly glaring at him after Ellen finished speaking to the both of them. "I trust that you'll be grown up enough to do the same." 
"Matt, when have I not conducted myself professionally when it came to issues of this importance?" Chris questioned watching Matt open his mouth to speak up again. "On second thought, don't answer that one since I'm sure you've got a detailed paragraph of all the wrong doings you've felt I've committed against you." 
"Actually it's more like a novel now that you mention it." Matt added bitterly as Ellen shot him a look of disapproval. 
"Okay, that's enough." Ellen snapped trying to get them back in line. 
"It's time to throw this ego bashing nonsense out the window and get down to business." 
"You're right Ellen. Saving Kevin takes precedence over this drawn out repartee Matt's and I usually engage in." Chris admitted moving towards the center of the lab. "Besides, I'd rather get this out of the way so that I can concentrate on Eve once she wakes up." 
"Eve? What's wrong with Eve?" Matt questioned in confusion turning to Ellen. 
"Apparently she was yet another victim of Ryan Chamberlain's." Ellen explained calmly glancing back at Chris. 
"Oh my God. Is she okay?" Matt questioned turning to Chris in concern about his friend. "What happened?" 
"Thanks to Ellen she is." Chris replied thankful Ellen had been able to help Eve. "Ryan kidnapped her and from the looks of things he was planning on taking her away from Port Charles with him." 
"He also drugged her during the time he had her, but Chris was able to locate her in time before the drugs took too much of an effect on her." 
Ellen added quickly filling Matt in on the details. 
"With the same thing he used on Kevin?" Matt questioned curiously. 
"I'm afraid not." Ellen replied with a frown retrieving the vial out of her pocket that Chris had given her earlier. "Eve's condition was the result of a high dosage drug interaction, but Kevin on the other hand is experiencing the direct exposure to an unidentifiable chemical which has slowly been leading up to nervous system malfunction." 
"Ultimately leading to total shut down." Chris finished grasping what Ellen was saying as he turned on the computer screen pulling his disk out of his pocket. "So how long are we looking at here Ellen?" 
"A day...maybe less......." Ellen trailed off watching Chris pull his notes on DL-56 on the screen. "His body is starting to refuse the treatments we've been pumping into him." 
"Well, then we're going to have to find a way to counteract what's taking place and DL-56 might just do the trick. I'm going to need a few things sent down here from the eighth floor, but with any luck we can get this out to Kevin in less than an hour." Chris nodded as the familiar formulas came up before him. 
"The faster the better." Ellen piped in watching Chris go to work. 
"I'll do my best." Chris replied turning to Matt, as he let out a sigh. 
"What you do say we get to work?" 
"I'm right on top of it." Matt nodded moving towards Chris to lend him a hand. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------- 
"You know I was thinking Doc," Lucy started trying to lighten the mood as she began running her fingers through his snarled hair hoping to ease the pain she sensed he was going through, "I never did get around to making you that chicken soup." 
"Chicken soup?" Kevin questioned in confusion gazing up at her. 
"Yeah, remember a long time ago I promised I'd make you chicken soup?" she continued with a smile. "You were having a rough night and I came over offering to make you some chicken soup, but when I got into the kitchen things were just so.....well, they weren't in the best order......." 
"What are you talking about Lucy? My kitchen was always in perfect order...that was until you moved into the lighthouse, then it took some effort to work my way around the kitchen." Kevin added with a chuckle feeling a pain in his chest as he started to cough. 
"Doc, oh honey, are you okay?" Lucy questioned as his coughing died down. "Maybe I should go find Ellen and have her come back to check on you." 
"Lucy, I'm just fine." Kevin insisted noticing the dissatisfied look on her face as he sighed. "All right, I'm not fine, but I'm adequate given the circumstances." 
"Kevin Collins, you could never be just adequate." Lucy piped in with a smirk admiring the front he was putting on for her as she leaned forward to kiss his forehead. "You're a stupendous man bordering on amazing at times if I do say so myself." 
"Liar! You know I'm pompous, stuffy, borderlining on fatuous and completely lacking any spontaneity." Kevin remarked closing his eyes and taking in the feel of her lips pressed against his aching forehead. 
"Oh I'd strongly disagree with that one Doc." Lucy interjected stopping him abruptly. "I can think of a number of times when you were filled with spontaneity." 
"Like when?" Kevin questioned eyeing her closely hoping to focus in on their conversation as his body throbbed in agony. 
"Hmm, well, there was that time you and Mac did your undercover work in your attempt to keep me from harm's way." Lucy suggested pausing for a moment. "Now that I think about it, maybe spontaneity didn't play a role in that, but it took a lot of gall for you to dress up as a woman....an amazing one at that. How I did admire Norma....." 
"Ugh, one of my more inauspicious moments." Kevin moaned thinking back to his caper as Norma. 
"You and Mac....or should I say 'Eve', were quite facetious." Lucy insisted in retrospect. 
"Eve......." Kevin trailed off remembering briefly what Ryan had told him about his 'life' with Eve. "Lucy, about Eve......" 
"Kevin, shh. We don't need to talk about Eve right now." Lucy replied noticing how pale he looked. "I know now that it wasn't you, so there's nothing left to say on that subject." 
"I feel as if I must." Kevin continued with a sigh. "I know that after she brought those pictures to our wedding, that I shut you out completely, but it wasn't because I didn't love you." 
"Kevin, I know." Lucy nodded taking his hand in hers. 
"I would never choose Eve over you.....never." Kevin blurted out thinking back to Ryan's nefarious plot to make Lucy believe that Kevin no longer loved her. "I would never do that...ever." 
"I know Kevin and I'm so sorry it took me so long to realize it." Lucy admitted sadly wishing that she could erase all the months of confusion she'd lived through. Feeling a dreary mood fill the air, she locked gazes with him once again and spoke up jokingly. "Doc, I realize there's only one 'Eve' for you in this lifetime and if Felicia is willing to share him with you, then who am I to object?" 
"Well, in that case, you'd better get him on in here, because we have a lot of catching up to do." Kevin decided realizing time wasn't on his side as he began remembering his friendship with Mac. "So tell me everything. How are Mac and Felicia?" 
"Everything? Well, that's a pretty tall order." Lucy replied following Kevin's lead in this change of conversation as she noticed how tired he appeared to be getting. "Hmm, well for starters, Mac and Felicia are happier than ever. She even told me the other day that he's planning on whisking her away to Venice for their anniversary. Venice of all places. 
Can you believe that? Never in a million years did I think that Mac Scorpio would come up with something like that.....granted, I'm not saying that there isn't a romantic bone in his body because I'm sure there is otherwise he and Felicia wouldn't be so happy, but...." 
"Lucy, slow down." Kevin spoke up in a whisper struggling to keep his eyes open as she rambled on. "As you can see, I'm quite a captive audience at this point, so you can take things at a more steady pace." 
"Typical Lucy I see." A voice called out as Lucy turned to find Mac Scorpio standing in the doorway with a crooked grin on his face. 
"Can't you give the man a break for a moment Lucy? Not even one day back into Port Charles and you're already talking his ear off." 
"Speak of the devil." Kevin chuckled as Mac stepped into the room as if on cue. 
"Mac, what are you doing here?" Lucy questioned a bit puzzled to see her friend before her. 
"Felicia and I came down to the hospital to see you two." Mac explained gazing over at Kevin and doing his best not to cringe at the sight of his friend. "I can see that I came not a moment too soon." 
"Mac, it's good to see you." Kevin called out weakly trying his hardest to pull himself together. 
"It's good to have you back Mate." Mac nodded in agreement feeling his heart break in two for his dear friend as he shook Kevin's fragile hand. 
"So what did you REALLY come here for Mac?" Lucy questioned sensing there was more to the visit as she scrutinized Mac's features. 
"Actually," Mac began with a sigh, "I came down here to talk shop with Kevin for a few moments about Ryan." 
"Mac Scorpio, you and I both know that the last thing Kevin needs to be doing is answering any questions in his condition!" Lucy started to object taken aback by Mac's motivation behind the visit. Protectively taking a stance aside of Kevin, Lucy reached for Kevin's hand holding it firmly as she glared at Mac. "He needs to be resting right now and......" 
"Lucy," Kevin interrupted taking note of the serious look on Mac's face, "it's all right. If I can help Mac out in any way, then I'm more than willing to do so." 
"Doc, I really don't think....." Lucy began to protest turning to face him once more. 
"Lucy please," Kevin urged silently pleading with her to calm down. 
"Fine." she replied in a huff crossing her arms in front of her chest as she glared at Mac. "Well?" 
"Actually Lucy, if you don't mind, I'd like a word alone with Kevin. 
Just for a moment or two." Mac confessed knowing that she would be irate at the suggestion. "I promise it won't be long." 
"Mac Scorpio," Lucy started looking back at Kevin knowing that the last thing he needed was for her to get into one of her tantrums. 
Turning to Kevin, she kissed his face once more and whispered in his ear. "I'll be right out in the hall if you need me." 
"I'll be here." Kevin replied weakly as she turned towards Mac glaring at him. 
"I promise it'll only be a few minutes." he spoke up as she let out a huff. 
"It better be!" She remarked scurrying out of the room. 
"That's Lucy for you." Kevin chuckled lightly watching her leave the room before directing his attention to Mac knowing that whatever he had to say, it wasn't pleasant judging by the look on his face. "Okay Mac, spill it." 
"Kevin, I don't know how to bring this up." Mac started uneasily unable to look his friend in the eye. 
"He's still out there, isn't he Mac?" Kevin questioned weakly already sensing the answer from his friend's gloomy features. "He's still on the loose.......but wait, there's more isn't there? Mac?" 
"He's murdered two of my men. Men with families Kevin." Mac admitted quickly looking back at Kevin's expressionless face. "They were transporting him to the station when all hell broke loose." 
"Somehow I'm not surprised." Kevin admitted closing his eyes and letting out a long sigh realizing his nightmare was far from over. 
"There's more Kevin." Mac started hesitating yet again as he noticed the darkened bruises running up Kevin's arms. "Look, I know this isn't the time, but I need you to answer a few questions for me." 
"Mac, I honestly don't know where you'll be able to find Ryan." Kevin started fighting to keep himself together as the voices he'd fought to suppress thus far found themselves creeping to the surface yet again. 
Clenching his teeth, he turned away from Mac unable to look his friend in the face as the madness began to set in once again. Silently pleading with himself, he brought his hand into a fist doing his best to fight the darkness looming inside as Mac spoke up again. "I don't know where he'd be Mac." 
"I'm doing all that I can to get on top of this investigation, but first there's something I need to know. Something I need to ask you." Mac continued noticing Kevin twitch a bit as he threw out his question. 
"Kevin, what can you tell me about a Dr. Thomas Mediva?" 
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Lucy," Felicia called out to her rushing down the hallway nearly tripping an orderly in the process. Throwing her arms out around her friend, Felicia gave her a hug, "I came over here as soon as I heard about Kevin. How is he?" 
"Mac's in with him right now talking to him." Lucy explained shaking her head in disgust. "I still don't understand why Mac kicked me out of there." 
"Perhaps he wanted to question Kevin about Ryan." Felicia decided feeling a chill go down her spine at the very mention of the man's name. 
"You know it's a shame about what happened tonight." 
"You mean other than Ryan holding Kevin hostage all these months and nearly taking me down in the process?" Lucy questioned sensing there was something more that Felicia knew. 
"The police found Ryan tonight." Felicia started after a moment's hesitation. 
"That's wonderful news." Lucy blurted out excitedly. "Now that monster will pay for all the hell he brought into all of our lives. You know if hadn't been so quick to run away, I might've just snapped his neck like a twig if I knew of what he'd been doing to my Doc all of these months......" 
"Lucy, I'm not finished." Felicia insisted cutting her off. "While Detective Garcia and his men were able to apprehend Ryan earlier this evening, he managed to escape taking down two officers in the process." 
"What?" Lucy questioned in bewilderment. "No, that can't be. He can't be out there still. Not after everything that has happened." 
"Lucy, I don't want to believe it either. God, just the thought of that man roaming free all this time without any of us knowing it. It just brings on a nauseated feeling inside of me." Felicia added feeling chills run down her spine. "I should just be thanking my lucky stars that this time around he chose someone else to fixate his sick obsessions on rather than me or the girls. Poor Eve Lambert......." 
"Eve?" Lucy questioned for a moment remembering her conversation with Chris on the pier. "Oh my God. Felicia, then it's true. Ryan did kill her?" 
"Kill her? Oh heavens no." Felicia replied shaking her head as Lucy involuntarily let out a relieved sigh. "Apparently Chris Ramsey found her alive down in a warehouse and was able to keep her out of harm's way while Scotty and Garcia made their way to where Ryan was hiding out." 
"Well, Eve Lambert may not be my favorite person in the world, but I'm glad to hear that she didn't end up as one of Ryan's casualties. 
Felicia, did you just say Scott?" Lucy repeated realizing that she'd just abandoned him in the midst of everything that was taking place. "Oh no, I was supposed to wait for him in the squad car. I promised I'd stay there, but I left. I just upped and left! Right now he must be thinking that something horrible happened to me especially since Ryan is still on the loose." 
"Don't worry Lucy. He knows you're here." Felicia assured her quickly trying to keep Lucy from going into a tizzy. "In fact, I saw him standing out here in the hallway not so long ago. I'd assumed that he came in to see you and Kevin." 
"Nope." Lucy replied thinking it over for a moment realizing that she hadn't taken the time to think about Scott during her quest to be with Kevin. 
"He was just here." Felicia added a bit puzzled as she looked around the corridor. "Maybe he stepped out for some air." 
"Maybe....." Lucy trailed off feeling a twinge of guilt in her chest knowing that she owed him some type of explanation, but knew that for the moment, her place was with Kevin. Scanning the hallway for a moment before turning back to Felicia, she spoke up again. "Hmm....I wonder where he went to." 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Scott Baldwin pushed open the door to the hospital room Eve was staying in and stepped inside to find her slowly awakening unaware of her surroundings as noticed her eyes fixed on the white ceiling above her. He watched as Eve let out a groan trying to roll over in the cramped hospital bed in an attempt to make herself comfortable taking her time until she finally noticed him taking a seat in the chair beside her bed. 
"How are you feeling?" he questioned reaching out to her brushing the hair from her eyes and taking note of how pale she was as she strained to focus on him. 
"Like I went at least twelve rounds with Mike Tyson." she answered weakly instantly recognizing the voice as her eyes focused on him. 
Forcing a weak grin, she spoke up again. "I feel awful." 
"You look like it." Scott replied cracking a grin as she did her best to shoot him a menacing glare. 
"Ha, ha very funny." Eve huffed letting out a cough feeling the dryness in her throat as Scott reached for her glass of water on the table next to them. 
"Here, try some of this." Scott instructed helping her sip out of the glass. 
"Thanks," Eve replied appreciatively as her head sank into the pillow. 
A bit puzzled, she glanced over at him again. "Um, Scott what are you doing here?" 
"Well, the last time I saw you, you didn't look so hot, so I thought since I had some free time on my hands that I'd come check up on you." Scott explained scooting in closer towards her bed. "I have to admit that you had all of us worried for a while there." 
"What happened?" Eve questioned in confusion taking note of her surroundings. "Where am I?" 
"You're in the hospital Eve." Scott explained sensing her disorientation as she tried to sit up. "Hey, hey just take it easy would you?" 
"It's all just a blur." Eve started as images of darkness flooded her mind and a sensation of terror took over her body. "I remember being in the car and then......" 
"Eve, what is it?" Scott questioned reaching out to her as she began to shake fearfully. "Eve?" 
"Oh God!" She gasped turning to Scott in horror latching onto his arm. 
"Serena. Oh God, Scott where is she?" 
"She's asleep right now Eve." Scott replied a bit puzzled by her response. 
"Scott, is she all right? You have to believe me when I say that I tried to keep the car from going over the cliff, but I wasn't fast enough. I just left the car for one minute....just a one and then it started to roll. 
Oh Scott, I'm so sorry...." Eve began tearfully as she looked up at him. 
"I never intended on hurting Serena because that's the last thing in the world I would want to do along with hurting you. Scott, I never meant to let you down like this." 
"Eve you lost me." Scott announced still puzzled by her frantic behavior. "Eve please just try to calm down." 
"Scott, I can't remember much after I saw the car rolling, but I knew she was in there and I tried to stop it.......I really tried......" Eve insisted choked up with remorse as Scott took a step back taking in her words. 
"You're talking about Serena's accident, aren't you?" Scott gasped as Eve nodded shamefully. 
"Please tell me she's going to be all right." Eve started reaching out to him as she tried to move out of her bed. "I'm fine, but she needs help." 
"Eve, Serena is just fine." Scott tried assuring her as she nearly toppled out of bed. "Eve, please try to relax." 
"Scott, I can't relax. I need to see her....to make sure that she's all right." Eve insisted fiercely as Scott struggled to keep her in bed. "I don't want anything to happen to her Scott. Just the thought that I may have hurt her is destroying me. I don't think I could live with myself if something like that happened to her......" 
"I know." Scott explained taking her hand in his trying to calm her down. 
"One minute we were on our way home from ballet and then......" Eve trailed off terrified at the memory. "Scott, you have to help her." 
"Serena's just fine Eve." Scott assured her as he guided her to lay back down. "Her accident was a long time ago." 
"A long time ago?" Eve questioned blankly looking into Scott's eyes burning with something she couldn't quite place as he looked beyond her. "Scott, I picked her up from ballet just this afternoon. Scott, what is it?" 
"Nothing Eve." Scott added quickly snapping back into reality as he took her hand in his. "Listen, I know right now you're a bit disoriented about things, but I can assure you that Serena is just fine." 
"Thank God." Eve breathed in relief as a few more images flooded into her mind. A bit puzzled, she turned to Scott once more. "Scott, how did we get here? I don't remember how I got here like this. The last thing I remember was the car going downhill and I started chasing after it." 
"Chris brought you here." Scott explained not knowing whether or not to go along with what she was saying seeing as she was in such a fragile state. "He was the one who found you and rushed you over here as soon as possible." 
"He did?" Eve questioned as an image of Chris passed through her mind briefly. 
"Do you remember something about your trip here?" Scott inquired taking note of the look on her face hoping that some of it was ringing a bell to her. 
"Vaguely." she answered after a long pause. "Where is Chris?" 
"Ramsey, oh well, he's down in the lab with Matt and Ellen, but from what I heard he was in here a little while ago checking up on you." 
Scott explained noticing the relief on Eve's face as she sank into her pillow. "You know, if it hadn't been for Ramsey, well there's no telling how things could've turned out." 
"I owe a lot to Chris, don't I?" Eve added struggling to remember more about her rescue unable to fill in the missing pieces. "I don't remember much, but I can still hear him pleading with me to just hold on. The more I think about it, the more bits and pieces are coming to me." 
"He cares about you a lot." Scott spoke up remembering Chris' battle with Ryan. 
"I know. He's such a good friend Scott." Eve added in amazement that Scott had something nice to say about Chris. "I know that you don't care for him too much, but when you get beyond all that egotistical self-centered exterior there's a heart of gold underneath. I'm just glad he found Serena and I before something terrible happened." 
"Yeah it's a good thing." Scott answered quickly suddenly very uncomfortable in the situation. "Listen Eve, I have to check up on something down the hall, but I promise I'll be back in a few minutes to check on you. Okay?" 
"Sure," Eve nodded as Scott stood up to leave. "Hey and while you're out there, see if you can find a way to sneak me out of this place. I'm already starting to feel claustrophobic." 
"I'll do my best." Scott replied slipping out of the room leaving Eve alone in her confusion. Moving down the hallway, he found Karen at the nurse's station scanning over a patient's charts. "Karen, can I talk to you for a second?" 
"Of course," she nodded setting the charts down as she noticed the concerned look on her father's face. 
"Karen, I just went to see Eve a moment ago, and I think that we have a problem." Scott explained remembering her confusion. "A big problem." 
-------------------------------------------------------------------- Tracie Richards turned around the corner of the hall after her run in with Alex Garcia debating whether or not she should inform Chris of this new turnabout with Ryan Chamberlain. After struggling with herself, she found her way back up to the sixth floor in search of Chris when she noticed him emerging out of one of the labs with Matt and Ellen beside him. 
"Chris, can I have a word with you?" Tracie started approaching him after Matt and Ellen had gone off in another direction. 
"Tracie, hey I was just about to come looking for you." Chris replied uneasily unable to look her in the eye as he cleared his throat. "Listen, we have a lot to discuss and believe me there's nothing more that I'd rather do, but right now I don't really have the time to get into what we need to talk about." 
"Chris please, this is important." Tracie insisted reaching out to him noticing he stiffened at her touch. 
"I really need to check on Eve." Chris started locking gazes with her for a moment before letting out a reluctant sigh. "All right, what is it?" 
"I'd really rather not do this out in public." Tracie explained motioning for Chris to follow her into the lounge. 
Chris nodded and walked behind Tracie into the lounge contemplating his words carefully debating what he should or shouldn't do in the situation now that Eve had been located. Looking at her tired features, he realized that telling her the truth was going to be harder than anticipated, but he knew it was the right thing to do. 
"Look I know that this is probably the last......." Tracie started uneasily as she looked up at him. 
"Tracie wait." Chris interrupted raising his finger to her lips silencing her, "There's something I need to tell you." 
"Chris, I'm sure there is, but right now I really need to tell you that......" 
Tracie insisted as he silenced her once more. 
"Whatever it is, it'll have to wait because I need to do this now before I follow the Ramsey philosophy and chicken out losing the nerve completely. Trust me on this one. What I have to say, I need to get it out right now because I owe you this much. Please let me say this." 
Chris explained caressing her cheek for a moment as he looked into her concerned blue eyes. Feeling a lump forming in his throat as he thought of all the promises he'd made to her less a week ago when they'd discussed where their relationship was going, he struggled to remain focused knowing that he was going to tear her apart with his turnabout in his relationship with Eve. 
"Tracie, there's no easy way to say this, but you have a right to know......I have an obligation to tell you the truth before I hurt you even more than I already have." Chris started uneasily thinking back to his night at the cabin with Eve. "You see last night I made a mistake....well actually I can't quite call it a mistake because I don't really believe it was. I'm not quite sure what it was, maybe a sign or something that's just been denied for so long. Either way, I know that it was a turning point for me and I know there's no turning back. I don't know how to say this without causing you any grief, but I feel you have a right to know none the less. Tracie, last night I found myself in a position where I let my impulses take control......." 
"Chris........" Tracie began feeling the her heart pounding as the realization dawned on her that from the look in his eyes that her instincts had been dead on about him and Eve. "You don't have to........" 
"Tracie please, what you and I had together was so special. You came to me during a time when the rest of the world was ready to write me off as the biggest jerk to ever set foot in Port Charles. Everyone saw me as this greedy, power hungry monster who's only role in life was to look out for himself above all else at any cost, but you...you found it in yourself to look beyond all those things people were saying about me no matter how much actual truth was behind their words and give me a chance to prove my worth. You found it in that generous heart of yours to hear my side of the story and you allowed me into your life despite all the conflict is caused for you with your friends and family." 
"Chris," Tracie spoke up trying to get a word in edge wise as he rambled on. 
"Tracie, you stood up for what you believed me to be and fought to prove to the world that I did in fact have a purpose for being here. No one has ever made that kind of sacrifice for me before, but you....you knew from the beginning that I was a screw up, yet you stuck it out vowing to help me out of the situation I'd gotten myself into after the all the trouble that came along with Julie Devlin and DL-56," Chris paused choked up with emotion turning away from her, "and now........well, now....as much as I appreciate all you've done for me......I really......I really wish you hadn't." 
"Chris I......" Tracie started knowing where this was leading as he refused to look at her. 
"Tracie I mean it." Chris blurted out clenching his fists in frustration as he faced her once again. "If you hadn't been so caring or so damn wonderful, then I wouldn't feel this way about everything, but you are. 
In the past something like this would've come easy to me because I never invested a part of myself in anyone before besides Eve. You're everything a man could've asked for and more, yet here I am about to do one of the most horrible things I ever could've done in my life to someone who has done nothing but care for me.........If only I hadn't allowed myself to let things get this far.......if only I would've just been honest with myself before now, then we wouldn't be standing here like this......" 
"Chris, I know you're in love with Eve." Tracie blurted out pushing her emotions aside as she looked back at him. "Deep down I think that I've always known." 
"You did?" Chris questioned in surprise looking back at her. 
"Of course I did." Tracie admitted with a sigh. "Anyone could see it written all over your face....anyone except Eve of course. I'm just surprised it took her this long to realize what a gem she had before her all this time." 
"Tracie, it just happened so suddenly......." Chris started feeling as if he owed her some type of explanation. 
"Shh....." she instructed raising a finger to his lips. 
"I never meant to hurt you." Chris insisted noticing the sadness cloud over her beautiful features. 
"I know that." she replied tracing the outline of his lips. "You don't have to explain." 
"But I want to...." Chris urged as she silenced him once again. 
"Chris I'm smart enough to know when to cut my losses." she explained forcing herself to be strong as she continued. "I've been thinking about this for a while and sooner of later it was going to end. I'm not one to go chasing after someone in the hopes of them someday falling in love with me you know." 
"I never expected it to be anything like this Tracie." Chris insisted noticing how calm she appeared to be. "When you and I started this thing, I never imagined that we'd get anywhere even remotely close to this point." 
"Neither did I and quite honestly it was the last thing I was looking for." Tracie admitted with a sigh. "You know Ramsey, in a strange sort of way, this is a blessing in disguise. You were a real downfall in my professional life.......one that I'm not ready for yet." 
"I'm sorry." Chris started not knowing what to say as he stood frozen in place. 
"Don't be." Tracie replied shaking her head and letting out a soft laugh. 
"You know, when I first met you, I knew that you were going to be one hell of an adventure Chris. I just didn't know where it would lead." 
"And now I'll bet you're wishing you were never stuck in that elevator with me that first day, huh?" Chris questioned lightly as she touched the side of his face. 
"Are you kidding?" Tracie questioned with a soft smile trying to fight the tears forming in her eyes as she thought of their first meeting at Ferncliff when she'd been working on her first assignment in Port Charles. "Those fifteen hours with you were the most amazing fifteen hours of my life. I'll never forget them." 
"Me neither." Chris added running his fingers through her soft blonde hair. "So now what?" 
"I suppose this is the part where we say our good-byes and you tell me that you've never met another woman like me." Tracie suggested lightly feeling a tear escape down her cheek. 
"There will never be another woman who even compares to what you have. You deserve nothing but the best you know." Chris replied wiping her tear away. 
"I know." she nodded struggling to hold back on what she was feeling. 
"You're amazing Tracie Richards." Chris whispered taking a moment before moving away. 
"You're not so bad yourself Christopher Ramsey." she added nudging him slightly. 
"Dr. Ramsey," a voice called out as Chris looked up to see Nurse Walsh before him, "I've been looking for you all over." 
"Is something wrong?" Chris questioned instantly regaining his composure. 
"Dr. Lambert is awake now and she's asking for you." Nurse Walsh explained taking note of the tension in the air between Chris and Tracie. 
"Thank you." Chris nodded turning back to Tracie with pleading eyes. 
"Tracie...." 
"I know." she replied standing up taller as she noticed the look on his face. "She needs you right now." 
"I don't want to leave you like this." Chris insisted realizing there was so much still left unsaid between them. 
"I'll be fine. Go to Eve." Tracie insisted placing her hand on top of his for a moment. "I hope this thing works out for you the way you hope it will. I sincerely mean that." 
"Thank you Tracie. That means a lot to me." Chris responded taking a step away from her. 
"Wait a second!" Tracie called out tugging on his arm a second later. 
"Yes?" he questioned turning to face her as she reaching out to him one last time as she moved forward kissing him. 
"We at least had to say a proper good-bye." Tracie whispered breaking away from the kiss as she gazed into his eyes. "Eve's waiting." 
"Good-bye Tracie." Chris replied still a bit shaken as he turned towards Eve's room. 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Eve checked the time realizing it had been quite a while since Scott had left her room. Feeling a bit dizzy, she closed her eyes trying to remember the events leading up to her awakening in the hospital bed. 
Images of her car ride with Serena replayed in her head, but beyond the car's unexpected tumble down the hill, she drew a blank. Re-opening her eyes, she let out a frustrated moan trying to distract herself for the time being as she began to count ceiling tiles. 
"Well, isn't this just wonderful? Look what you've been reduced to." 
she muttered to herself as she nestled underneath the thin blanket trying to force herself back to sleep when new images filled her mind. As she closed her eyes, she found herself in a small room onlooking water with Chris at her side. Straining to see the picture clearer, the scene came into focus. 
"You're amazing Eve." Chris' voice rang out in her mind. 
"No, I'm not." Eve heard herself reply as she watched herself lean into Chris. "After all, I'd hardly consider ripping down wallpaper and painting anything to get too excited about. Anyone could've done what I've done tonight." 
"That's just it Eve. I wouldn't want to be here with just anyone." Chris confessed spinning her around to face him as he pressed his lips to hers. 
"In fact, there's no one I'd rather be with than you." 
"Oh my God." Eve gasped opening her eyes a bit startled as she heard the door to her room open. 
"I heard you were awake." Chris called out brightly approaching her. 
"How are you feeling?" 
"Chris....hi.." Eve stammered feeling her face grow flushed with embarrassment at the 'dream' she found herself having of Chris. 
"I'm.....I'm just great." 
"Well, you're not looking so good." Chris commented reaching out to touch her face. "Any aches or pains you'd like to tell me about?" 
"I'm fine." Eve replied backing away abruptly. "Really." 
"Okay, I was just checking." Chris replied confused by her response. 
"Are you sure you're feeling okay? You've just been through one hell of an ordeal." 
"Really Chris, after I rest a bit, I'm sure I'll be as good as new." Eve sinking back into her pillow feeling a headache coming on. 
"Of course you will." Chris agreed taking a seat beside her. "Before you know it you'll be back on your feet again toasting your recovery with one of my killer martinis." 
"Now that sounds good." Eve sighed remembering Chris' martinis as she faced him once again. "You know, I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for us this afternoon." 
"Eve you know I'd never let anyone or anything hurt you." Chris whispered reaching out giving her hand a squeeze. "You mean too much to me." 
"What you did today was amazing." Eve added returning the squeeze as she looked back at him. "While I don't remember much about what took place, Scott told me that you were the one who brought me here. 
Words can't express how much it means to me knowing that you helped us in our time of need." 
"It was nothing." Chris shrugged noticing the color return to her cheeks. 
"Oh Chris, don't be so modest." Eve insisted drawing in another breath. 
"For a while there I wasn't sure what was going to happen. Things looked pretty hopeless for us when the car started moving, but...." 
"Car?" Chris questioned a bit confused as Eve carried on. "Eve, what car and why do you keep saying us? Who are you talking about?" 
"Why Serena and I of course." Eve replied matter of fact. 
"Serena? What does Serena have to do with any of this?" Chris questioned a bit puzzled by her answer. 
"You're got to be kidding right?" Eve replied eyeing him closely. 
"Chris, what is it? Why does everyone have that dumbfounded look on their face when I mention Serena? Oh God.....please don't tell me that something's happened to her." 
"No...nothings happened to her. Serena's fine Eve." Chris answered staring back at her. 
"Then why do you and Scott both have those looks on your faces? Are you sure there's not something you're not telling me about Serena's accident?" Eve insisted sensing that something was terribly wrong. 
"Chris you're my best friend and if something's happened, I have a right to know. What's going on?" 
"Eve, I don't know how to say this." Chris began hesitantly unable to believe what was taking place as his heart sank. "You don't remember anything after you ran out of gas?" 
"I remember the car moving and I started chasing after it, but then.......well, then I draw a blank." Eve confessed with a sigh closing her eyes for a moment. 
"There's nothing else?" Chris questioned moving in to examine her. 
"Nothing." Eve shrugged as he started to check her out. 
"Nothing about Kevin," Chris started realizing that she appeared to be doing all right, "...or me?" 
"Should there be?" Eve questioned blankly as Chris sank back into the chair. "Chris?" 
"I suppose not." he replied with a sigh. 
"Hey, did I say something wrong?" Eve asked reaching out to him. 
"Chris, what is it?" 
"You know, I just remembered a patient I was supposed to check up on down the hall, so if you'll just sit tight for a few minutes, then you and I can finish this conversation in a bit." Chris answered quickly standing up from his seat. 
"Not so fast Ramsey." Eve urged reaching out to him as he avoided her stare. "Chris, please.....tell me what's going on." 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
"Please Kevin," Mac urged hoping to get an answer out of his friend, "I need to know exactly what happened in that sanitarium." 
"I....I....I can't Mac......" Kevin insisted closing his eyes trying to block the images rushing through his mind. "It was just so horrible......" 
"Kevin, they found the man lying dead in a pool of blood apparently murdered in cold blood. I need to know what happened up there so that I can get to the bottom of this investigation with Ryan. Perhaps if I have a little more insight as to the man's relationship with Ryan, then the officers up north will be more willing to work with me on this case." Mac explained noticing Kevin's features darken. "Oh God Kevin........don't tell me that you were the one who......." 
"That's it!" Lucy muttered impatiently as she pushed her way past Felicia back into Kevin's hospital room. "Mac Scorpio, you've monopolized Doc long enough. It's time for you to leave now." 
"Lucy, I was just on my way out. Kevin, if anything comes to you...anything at all, then please feel free to call me." Mac replied locking gazes with Kevin for a moment before turning to leave. 
"Good bye." Lucy said shooing him out the doorway before turning to Kevin. "The nerve of that man. Coming here to give you the third degree while you're indisposed like this. It's absolutely shameful and completely out of character for a best friend. You know if Felicia had been so rude with me during a time like this, then I'd surely have given her the boot long ago. In fact........Doc, what is it?" 
"Oh Lucy, there are so many things that I have to tell you." Kevin sighed feeling his hands trembling still from Mac's line of questioning. 
"So much that I don't want to tell you, but somehow feel compelled to share with you. Things you need to know about me....." 
"Kevin Collins, I know all that I need to know about you." Lucy insisted moving towards him. "I thought we covered that years ago." 
"Lucy, so much has happened......." Kevin started thinking back to his struggle with Thomas Mediva. "When I was locked up, something transformed in me. It was as if something inside of me snapped like a rubber band and the only thing holding me together was......" 
"Was what Kevin?" she questioned reaching for him. 
"Was you." Kevin confessed tearfully. "You were the only thing that kept me going Lucy and so many nights I found myself on the verge of giving in to the darkness inside of me, but as I came close to reaching that point, it was your voice in my head keeping me from going over the edge. You were the one who kept me from losing my sanity.....and now......now that you're here...there's so much I need to tell you....so much left unsaid...." 
"Doc, we have the rest of our lives to look forward to." Lucy explained as she noticing the dark cloud over Kevin's features. "We have to believe that." 
"There's no sense in deluding ourselves here Lucy." Kevin nodded drawing in another shallow breath. 
"We're not deluding ourselves Kevin." Lucy insisted boldly. "Before you know it, Ellen is going to come in here any second waving around some miracle cure that she concocted just for this occasion. You'll see. 
She's quite the genius you know." 
"Ellen's a very gifted woman, but she's not a master of fate Lucy. She can only do so much, and if my chance it's my time to go," Kevin sighed feeling his hand collapse beside him on the bed as exhaustion took over and tears filled in his eyes, "then so be it." 
"Don't you dare talk like that Kevin Collins." Lucy snapped at him unable to accept his theory of despair. "Fate has pulled us together again and God wouldn't be cruel enough to rip us apart again." 
"Lucy, even if Ellen comes up with something, where will that lead us? There's so much time.........so much pain........" Kevin started realizing that in his year away Lucy had lived a very productive, happy life from what he'd seen in the videos Ryan had shown him. "I know your life has gone on without me and there are other things in your life now that you love very much...things I may never be able to give you and I just don't know if I can compete......." 
"Yes Kevin, while you were away I was forced to move on with my life struggling to pull the pieces together and along the way I found some happiness, but all the while there was something missing. I felt as if a big part of my heart had been ripped out of my chest and while I continued to go on with my day to day activities, you're forgetting one important thing Dr. Collins. When it comes to competition, nothing could ever compare to you......not now, not ever." Lucy insisted unwilling to let Kevin speak so low of himself as she noticed a hint of sadness in his voice. 
"What do I have to offer you Lucy?" Kevin questioned tearfully. "I have nothing now." 
"You're wrong Kevin! You have everything." Lucy insisted watching him transform into a very fragile creature right before her eyes. "You have my heart not to mention that you are compassionate, understanding, loyal, dedicated, logical, intelligent, and the most wonderful man I've ever known in my whole entire life. To top all of that off, you're my very best friend in the whole entire world." 
"You're my best friend as well. When I couldn't be with you, all I could think about was finding my way back to you." Kevin explained sensing the warmth of her breath upon his face. Feeling her pull away, he strained to bring his hand out to draw her near to him once again. "Ah, oh Lucy. Don't move just yet. Please......" 
"I'm not going anywhere." She replied in a whisper running her index finger along his hollow cheekbone. 
"You know what the worst part of this was?" Kevin questioned lost in his own world as Lucy noticed the distance in his eyes. "It wasn't being taunted by Ryan or the seclusion from the outside world that killed me, it was being away from you. Knowing that in one moment of ignorance, I behaved so hastily giving up any chance of being able to have you in my life. That day I walked out on our wedding was just the beginning in my downward spiral." 
"It was a start of a nightmare for both of us Kevin," Lucy added thinking back to her heartbreak when she thought she'd lost him forever, "but now destiny has seen to it that you and I are here together in this moment and right now my heart is telling me not to look back on all of those painful memories. Right now my heart is shouting out for me to savor each and every moment I have with you down to the millisecond and that's just what I intend to do." 
"There's nothing I'd like more." Kevin agreed choked up on emotion as Lucy lowered herself to him placing a soft, tender kiss upon his lips. 
"I love you Kevin Collins." she whispered after they'd parted from their kiss. 
"God how I love you Lucy." he breathed using all his strength to pull her to him for another emotion filled kiss as he felt the warmth of her tears fall upon his face. 
"Monk! Lucy!" Victor called out rushing into the room invading upon the tender moment between them as his heart filled with happiness to see them together again. 
"Victor, what is it?" Lucy questioned looking up at him after Kevin had broken away from the kiss. 
"I have wonderful news." Victor insisted rushing over to hug Lucy. 
"Ellen is on her way over here right now, and she thinks she may have found something to help Kevin." 
"I knew it!" Lucy cheered squeezing Victor tightly before turning to Kevin. "See I told you Ellen wouldn't let us down." 
"That's what you said." Kevin replied letting out a cough as Ellen and Matt entered the room. 
"Well, it's good to see the patient alert. That's always a good sign." 
Matt spoke up noticing Kevin looking back at him. "It's good to have you back Kevin." 
"It feels good to be back home." Kevin nodded as Lucy reached for his hand. 
"This may sting a bit at first," Ellen explained injecting the DL-56 into the IV, "but I think that soon enough you'll be running circles around the rest of us Kevin. There, we're all done." 
"That's it?" Kevin questioned letting out a yawn as he felt his eyelids grow heavy. 
"So now what?" Lucy asked noticing that Kevin appeared to be drifting off to sleep. 
"Now we wait." Ellen explained praying that she'd made the right decision.