Once You Love Somebody

"This harebrained scheme of yours is never going to
work," Eve hissed struggling with the ropes as Ryan
finished tying her in the seat next to Lucy's.

"Oh but that's the beauty of it Eve, it already has,"
Ryan smiled proudly looking at his prisoners, "and now
that I have the both of you, well it just proves that
the rest of the gang will be on their way soon and I'm
so looking forward to that."

"Doc will stop you Ryan," Lucy shot back at him.

"Oh I'm banking on that Lucy. I've been waiting a
long time to talk to brother dear after our last
encounter, though I do regret that you won't have ring
side seats to this one," Ryan explained inching
towards her, "but don't worry, I'll send him your
love."

"You......" Lucy started struggling again.

"Don't strain yourself Lucy. Wouldn't want to hurt
the little ones now would you?" Ryan smiled wickedly,
"You know now that I think about it they'll make a
wonderful addition to my already blossoming family,"
he stepped away from the door and waved to them,
"Later."

"Ugh," Lucy groaned trying to break free once more.

"Lucy knock that off. The more you do that the more
it impacts me over here," Eve groaned slightly.

"We can't just sit here and do nothing Eve. We have
to get out of here," Lucy continued struggling again.

"We will Lucy, but we can't kill each other in the
process," Eve warned her lowering her voice slightly,
"besides help is on the way."

"What do you mean?" Lucy questioned.

"Do you honestly think I'd come here alone?" Eve asked
tilting her head in Lucy's direction, "Victor's
outside."

"Victor's here?"

"That's right and he'll be on the way in to help us
soon enough," Eve said feeling Lucy pull on the ropes
slightly, "at least I hope."

<hr>

Ryan closed the door to the bedroom as he adjusted the
buttons on his shirt. He found Angel sitting on the
sofa with an ice pack on her head.

"Where do you think you're going now?" she asked
dryly.

"To take care of some unfinished business with brother
dear," he said looking her over, "you look pathetic."

"You are pathetic Ryan," she grumbled, "I had things
under control here until you brought that damned kid
here."

"He's not a damned kid. It's not his fault that
you're incompetent and can't keep Lucy under control.
You're the one to blame here not him," Ryan snapped at
her seizing her up from the couch, "Do you understand
me?"

"No Ryan, to be honest with you, I don't understand
you these days. First you say we're going to do
things one way and then you go and do a one eighty on
me changing all the rules," she snarled at him as her
eyes narrowed, "I don't like it one bit."

"Well, my dear, you don't have a choice in the
matter," Ryan reminded her sharply, "This was my game,
remember?"

"What I remember is we were partners before you
started to have these delusions in your head about
that kid," she frowned, "That kid has ruined
everything."

"The way I see it, the kid is the only thing keeping
this together," Ryan said dryly.

"Yeah well let me put it in terms you'll understand
Ryan. It's either the kid or me."

"Guess you'll be on your way now won't you Angel?" he
countered meeting her with an icy stare.

"Fine," she said stepping towards the door.

"You aren't going anywhere," he warned reaching for
her arms and shoving her into the wall, "now listen
here Angel, I'm going to take our son and finish off
my brother and when I come back, I expect you to be on
your best behavior and have a good home cooked meal
waiting for me."

"Go to hell," she shot back.

"I feel like I'm there half the time with you baby and
it's exhilarating," he said cracking a grin and
pressing a rough kiss to her lips before releasing
her, "now take care of Lucy and Eve while I'm gone
seeing to it that they don't over power you yet again
causing me to get upset with you."

"The kid was to blame," She replied as he shoved her
back onto the couch.

"Behave sweetie," he said as TJ emerged from the other
room, "ready to go?"

"Where are we going?" he asked softly.

"I'm going to show you a thing or two," Ryan
explained.

"Like what?"

"Do you like cops and robbers TJ?" Ryan asked pulling
the gun out of his pocket and looking it over
approvingly before tucking it away. TJ looked at him
with his eyes full of surprise, "Well TJ, today you
and I get to be police officers and take care of some
bad men before they hurt us."

"Someone's trying to hurt us?" he asked looking to
Ryan.

"That's right and we need to stop them before it's too
late," Ryan explained scooping the child up in his
arms before turning to Angel with a teethy grin,
"Steak sounds like a good dinner tonight my dear and
TJ here will have a hamburger."

"Choke on it Ryan," Angel glared at him.

"I'll see you soon Lovebug," Ryan said walking out the
front door with TJ in his arms.

"Loser," Angel huffed placing the ice bag to her head
again as she looked out the window to see Ryan getting
into the car.

<hr>

"How could Kevin do this?" Scott questioned in a growl
as Marisa drove down the road. "How could he not tell
us about this?"

"I don't know Scott, but if he's found TJ then I want
to be there with our son," Marisa said accelerating
slightly as she drove along.

"I just don't know why he wouldn't mention to us that
he was going and then by taking that slimeball Ramsey
with him," Scott grumbled, "I swear I knew that I
couldn't trust them any further than I could throw
them."

"Scott, we're going to find them," Marisa said trying
to remain hopeful, "I'm just thankful that you had
that new security system installed in your car."

"Well at the time I thought it was a stupid idea, but
now," he said looking down at the small device in his
hand, "I see that this tracking thing does serve a
purpose."

"That it does," Marisa said glancing over to him, "how
much further?"

"It looks like he's stopped," Scott said with a sigh
looking out the window, "I just hope he's not in over
his head yet again."

<hr>

Chris looked around the moonlit evening seeing nothing
but trees and grass in the distance as he tapped on
the windshield of the car. He still didn't know why
he'd agreed to sit in the car and wait for Kevin
considering everything. Hell, he didn't even know why
he was here to begin with as it wasn't his fight. His
eyes surveyed the night around him as he stayed on the
lookout via Kevin's request for any unexpected
visitors to this private party.

"What the...," he said looking out into the night and
found his eyes drawn to something rustling through one
of the bushes. He looked closer trying to get a
better look at the swift movement came about again and
he wondered if it was a small animal. Finally he
opened the car door and stepped out into the night
opting for a better look. He stepped towards the
figure watching it dart off into the night as he
realized it was a person. Abruptly he raced after the
small figure and seized him in his arms as the small
child protested.

"Let go of me!" TJ shouted throwing his fists at
Chris.

"Hey little buddy it's me," Chris said trying to
dissuade the child from any further attack, "it's
Chris."

"Chris?" he repeated taking a moment to register
before smiling, "Chris what are you doing here?"

"I came to find you actually," Chris explained as the
child's grin widened.

"Is my mom with you?"

"No, but I'm sure we can find her together," Chris
informed him, "what do we say we go back to the car
and call her?"

"You mean that?" TJ asked.

"Of course I mean that buddy. Come on," Chris replied
as TJ frowned.

"I'm supposed to be waiting here."

"Well you don't have to wait any longer TJ. I've
found you, so it's time to get you home," Chris
explained.

"But I'm playing cops and robbers here tonight. My
friend Ryan-Kevin said that tonight was our turn to be
the good guys and we get to shoot the bad guys. We
even get to use real guns. Isn't that great?" TJ said
holding out a gun in his tiny hand.

"TJ, I don't think your mother would approve," Chris
finally replied thinking about what the child had said
as he saw the weapon and held out his hand, "Why don't
you give me that before someone gets hurt?"

TJ frowned handing it over, "You're probably right.
You won't tell her though will you?"

"Not if you come back to the car with me," Chris
replied, "is it a deal?"

"Okay Chris," TJ nodded, "I don't want to play anymore
tonight anyways. I'm sleepy."

"Well then let's get you in the car so you can get
some rest before your mother arrives," Chris decided
leading the small child back to the car as his thought
drifted back to Kevin.

<hr>

Kevin stepped out of the car upon coming to the exit
Ryan had requested he get off on. He stepped further
into the dark warehouse looking around wondering where
his brother could be lurking in the shadows.

"Long time, eh Kev?" Ryan called out from the darkness
stepping forth into the pale lighting in the room.

"Ryan," Kevin replied softly meeting the eyes so
similar to his own, yet so dark and cold.

"You know for a while I'd wondered if you were going
to show up, but then again I know that I have
something that you wanted, something near and dear to
your heart."

"Where's Lucy?" Kevin asked his voice stiff as he
stepped forward.

"Just stop right there," Ryan said waving a gun at
Kevin, "don't move. I like you where you are right
now."

"Fine Ryan, whatever you want. Now tell me where's
Lucy?"

"Oh come on Kev, do we have to do this over and over
again? It's getting rather old and the way I see it,"
Ryan said with a wicked smile, "since I'm holding all
the cards, we have all the time in the world, so why
don't you just to me a favor and quit thinking about
yourself for a change."

"Okay Ryan," Kevin nodded, "Just tell me what you
want."

"What I want? What I want? Since when did it matter
what I've wanted Kevin? All it's ever been was about
Kevin, but rest assured, tonight is going to change
all of that," Ryan replied with a wide grin.

<hr>

"This had better work Eve," Lucy warned looking to her
as she felt a sharp pain run through her.

"It will just as long as you remember to play this
like I told you," Eve replied with a nod as Lucy let
out a loud groan followed by a scream. Eve took her
turn as if on cue and replied, "Lucy, Lucy what's
wrong?"

"Oh Eve, the pain.......it's just.....it's too much to
deal with," Lucy replied with another loud scream.

"What the hell is going on in here?" Angel snapped
throwing open the door to the room and looking at the
two women. "What are you two up to?"

"Can't you see for yourself you half wit?" Lucy asked
through gritted teeth as she let out another groan,
"I'm in labor."

"She's bluffing," Angel said looking to Eve as Lucy
let out a loud piercing scream.

"Does she look like she's bluffing?" Eve snapped at
her sourly.

"Of course she does," Angel said a frown over her red
lips, "at least I think she does."

"How the hell would you know? How many kids have you
had?" Lucy groaned.

"None thank god," Angel mused wrinkling her nose.

"But Ryan keeps trying to change that for you doesn't
he?" Eve questioned looking to her. "I mean by
bringing that child here, he really screwed up your
plans didn't he?"

"Shut up Eve. You don't know anything about Ryan so
I'd say you were hardly in a place to analyze our
relationship," Angel scolded.

"I know he's a sicko and just the mere fact alone that
you're with him classifies you as one as well," Eve
replied sharply.

"You always were a cocky bitch, weren't you?" Angel
snarled stepping towards Eve despite Lucy's cries.
"You know that's why it was so easy pinning this on
you. Your temper made you a prime accomplice for my
dear Ryan and the police were so eager to feed on
that. Little arrogant, self absorbed Eve who was just
bitter enough to look guilty as sin."

"Why not take the credit yourself Angel? I mean you
were obviously Ryan's partner, so why take the credit
for something you both did together? Why give me the
recognition?"

"Because we needed to take the suspicion off me
somehow as I moved in to Lucy's life, but you ruined
that didn't you? You just had to keep nosing yourself
in other people's business just like you did back in
college. You just couldn't be satisfied with what you
had, so you had to take what was everyone else's."

"What are you talking about Angel?"

"Bennett Devlin ring a bell Eve?" Angel asked sharply
before letting out a laugh, "You don't think you were
the only one he'd set up with a cozy little apartment
did you? I mean before you stepped into the picture
the two of us were quite happy and he promised me a
life, one that I wanted once he'd leave his
wife.....that is until you had to move in on him."

"Angel, I did not move in on Bennett. He was the one
who pursued me," Eve started.

"Oh yeah right Eve. You know I saw the way you looked
at him. Chasing him around in our class always
volunteering to do what ever he needed. Anything to
go above and beyond the call of duty, right Eve?"
Angel asked sharply, "bet you didn't even think about
what else he had waiting for him."

"Angel, I knew he was married," Eve said looking to
her as Lucy let out another moan.

"Shut up Lucy!" Angel huffed glaring at Eve, "You know
you have no idea what it was like to see him toss me
aside for a piece of trash like you Eve. Time and
time again I told him that you were no good, but he
insisted that it was none of my business and he blew
me off for you. Once you stepped into the picture, it
was so long Angel."

"So you killed him?"

"That's right and I never felt better than when I
plunged that pen through that bastard's heart. You
should've seen the look on his face," she smiled
proudly, "he didn't even see it coming, but then when
I watched him collapse to the ground and choke out his
last breath, he knew. He knew that it was a mistake
to mess with me and then when word got out about your
fight with him, well you just gave Ryan and I the
perfect cover story and thus the beginning of a
beautiful relationship, wouldn't you think?"

"You're a nutcase Angel." Eve snapped at her as Lucy
cried out again and Angel jumped back, "You can't
leave her like this Angel. She's in labor for God's
sake."

"What do I care?" Angel asked looking to Lucy, "She
was one of the people who destroyed my father so in my
eyes she's no better than you are Eve."

"I had nothing to do with your father's demise. He
did that himself Angel," Lucy said in between labored
breaths.

"You lie," Angel spat back at her.

"It doesn't matter now Angel," Eve interrupted, "what
matters now is these two babies are on the way and
there's no way of stopping them."

"So what?" Angel shrugged.

"How do you think Ryan will feel when he comes home
and finds the mess on the carpet?" Eve questioned
pointedly, "just untie me Angel and let me help her
deliver these two and then you can show Ryan what you
did while he was gone."

"Why would Ryan care about those two brats?"

"Because Angel, you saw the way he was excited about
children and if you gave him two more," Eve said with
a wicked smile, "well I think he'd be very
appreciative of your actions."

"No......no way!" Lucy snapped at Eve, "There's no way
she and Ryan are having my babies Eve and if you think
that's going to happen, you're just as delusional as
they are."

"Shut up Lucy!" Angel warned drawing her gun out and
waving it at her. "Just shut up!"

"What do you say Angel?" Eve questioned with a smile,
"What do you say you give Ryan something to be proud
of when he gets back? Who knows just how giving he
might be when he sees the two babies here in your
arms? He might even decide to give you the honors of
killing the two of us and I know how much you'd like
that wouldn't you? I mean there is no more need for
us around once Lucy has those babies. Wouldn't you
like to be rid of us and pay Lucy back for what she
did to your father?"

"More than you can imagine," Angel said watching Lucy
cry out again.

"So what do you say Angel?" Eve asked again hoping
Angel would take the bait.

"No way," she replied firm.

"Fine, then you do the explaining to Ryan when he gets
back, unless of course you plan on delivering these
two all by yourself."

<hr>

"So where do we go from here Ryan?" Kevin asked
cautiously taking a step forward.

"Well see this is the part where you and I cut to the
grand finale," Ryan said with a smile, "it's really
beautiful you see. I kill you and then I go back home
again and kill Lucy, but not until after she delivers
those bouncing babies to me," Ryan's grin widened,
"you know Kev, I have to thank you for that at least.
I mean despite all the things you've done to harm me,
I have to thank for your final gift of generosity."

"You can't have my children Ryan," Kevin said firmly.

"Of course I can Kev," Ryan explained waving the gun
at him, "you see it's quite simple. You took my life
with Victor when you both left me behind with mother.
I should've been allowed to have the same kind of
carefree childhood that you did Kevin, but apparently
I wasn't good enough. I wasn't special enough to be
allowed a life of ignorant bliss, but you, you were
the golden child and you had everything lined up for
you Kevin."

"Ryan, that wasn't my choice," Kevin started, "if I
could've found you, I would've and taken you away from
her."

"But you never did Kevin. You never tried to find me
and you never rescued me," Ryan said with a pained
tone, "You just ignored it pretending that your other
half didn't exist until it came a time when it was
beneficial for you to come into the limelight as the
good twin again and put me in my place."

"It wasn't like that Ryan," Kevin started stepping
towards him again.

"Stay back!" Ryan warned.

"Ryan, when I heard where you were, I came to help
you. I came to Port Charles to pull you through this
and help you," Kevin said smoothly.

"A lot of good it did Kevin," Ryan said sharply, "I
mean look at us here. It's yet again another case of
deja vu between us. You trying to manipulate me into
seeing things your way and you, being the good twin,
trying to bring justice to the world, but Kev, I've
gotta tell you, this is justice. This game we're
doing right here, it's going to serve justice in the
end when you're dead and I have my family. The family
that should've been mine years ago."

"They're my family Ryan," Kevin started.

"No Kevin, you had your turn with a family and now
it's mine. It's my turn to have what I should've been
allowed to claim in the beginning and there's nothing
that you can do to stop me. Do you hear me?
Nothing."

"Ryan," Kevin started at his brother aimed the gun.

"Nope, sorry game over Kev. This is where we end this
and you die," Ryan explained with a slight chuckle,
"it's quite simple in fact."

"Except for one thing," Chris interrupted stepping
from behind the shadows. "You weren't expecting Kevin
to have back up this time."

"Oh Kevin, you disappoint me," Ryan frowned glancing
at Chris. "I thought we were going to play fair this
time, by my rules."

"Drop it Ryan," Chris warned stepping closer.

"Haven't we played this game before Dr. Ramsey and if
I do recall it ended less than favorable for you
before," Ryan noted watching Chris with a smug
expression, "you know we really must keep meeting like
this, though we do somehow have a knack for it."

"Drop the gun Ryan," Chris ordered again stepping
towards him.

"What are you doing here Chris?" Kevin asked a bit
surprised.

"Saving your butt," Chris explained still focused on
Ryan, "now what do you say you drop the gun before
this gets ugly?"

"You know Dr. Ramsey," Ryan began still more amused
than before, "at least last time you were defending
the honor of a beautiful woman, but this," Ryan looked
to Kevin, "what does this say Kev when you've got
Chris Ramsey ready to rescue you from your big bad
brother? I mean really what is this world coming to?"
he laughed again looking to Chris, "so how much is he
paying you to be his protector?"

"You have no way out of this Ryan," Chris informed him
sharply.

"Bet your girlfriend there is," Ryan smiled.

"My girlfriend?" Chris repeated.

"Oh come on Chris, you didn't really think I wouldn't
have all my bases covered and Eve, well she does make
a pretty little addition to my collection there."

"You're bluffing!" Chris snapped.

"Am I?" Ryan questioned sensing he'd found a weak
point in Chris, "you know there's something to be said
about a woman who can pull off wearing black vinyl
like that, and that mouth of hers, oh boy I can think
of a few things I'd like to do with that off hand
before I kill the nasty little witch. Now Chris why
don't you put the gun down and I promise you that I'll
give Eve a good time before I kill her?"

"I'm afraid I can't do that Ryan," Chris said stepping
forward as Kevin stood in silence watching the
exchange between them, "the game is over."

"See that's where you're wrong Chris, this is where
the game is just beginning," Ryan explained as he
turned the gun on Chris and a loud shot rang through
the night.

<hr>

"If you pull anything funny here Eve," Angel warned as
Eve moved over to Lucy checking her out.

"How far am I going to go with you pointing that thing
at me?" Eve asked looking back at her as she worked on
Lucy's ropes and Lucy let out another agonizing groan.

"This can't be happening," Lucy said trying to breathe
as she looked to Eve, "I'm not having my babies here."

"You don't really have a choice now do you Lucy," Eve
said finishing up with the ropes and helping her over
to the sofa on the opposite side of the room.

"I knew you couldn't be trusted you little witch,"
Lucy breathed as Eve helped her lay back, "You're just
as bad as they are."

"Oh shut up Lucy. I'm tired of your rambling and wish
you'd just put a sock in it," Eve muttered.

"You know if I wasn't in labor I'd wring your scrawny
little neck," Lucy said throwing her hands out towards
Eve's neck before letting out another scream.

"You know on second thought Angel, why don't you just
put a cap in her now and end all of our misery?" Eve
asked gruffly as Lucy reached out towards her again.

"Go to hell Eve," Lucy cried out as Angel paced around
the room for a moment taking this all in.

"Well, aren't you going to do something?" Angel asked
finally looking to Eve.

"I'm doing the best I can," Eve explained watching
Lucy for a moment. She looked back to Angel. "I
can't do this alone."

"What do you mean you can't do this alone? I thought
that was the point in untying you," Angel huffed.

"Well it was, but look at her," Eve said looking to
Lucy again, "I'm going to need some assistance and
since you're the only one in sight, you've been
nominated for the job."

"What do I have to do?" Angel asked as Lucy let out
another scream.

"You just have to come over here and help me with
this," Eve nodded.

"With what?" Angel asked stepping closer and following
Eve's stare.

"With this," Eve nodded again.

"With what?" Angel repeated.

"Just hold her hand while I do this."

"You've got to be kidding me," angel rolled her eyes.

"You got a better idea?" Eve questioned gruffly,
"Unless of course you'd like to be on this end
delivering these two."

"I'll pass," Angel wrinkled her nose in disgust moving
in beside Lucy and taking her hand, "how's this?"

"God it hurts!" Lucy screamed squeezing Angel's hand
tighter distracting her as Eve reached for the lamp
behind her head. Now with Angel in close range, she
moved forward knocking it down upon her skull. With
the impact, Angel fell to the floor with one loud
thud. Lucy looked to Eve before sitting up, "that was
almost too easy."

"Well, she's never been the brightest bulb as far as I
can remember," Eve said watching Angel laid out flat
on the ground, "but you on the other hand, well I hate
to say it, but with that performance you'd be a shoe
in for an Emmy."

"Why thank you Eve," Lucy said with a smile, "I
think."

"No matter," Lucy said shaking her head as she looked
to Angel again, "let's get out of here."

"You'll hear no argument from me," Eve agreed as they
headed towards the door only to see it swing open and
find Victor standing on the other side.

"Are you two alright?" Victor asked looking around and
finding Angel on the floor, "I heard the noise
and........." he looked between them, "what happened?"

"It's a long story, but right now we need to get to
Doc," Lucy said her thoughts drifting to Kevin, "come
on. Something tells me that we don't have much time."

<hr>

Ryan blinked as he noticed the blood on the ground
before him. He looked to Chris, who was still
standing there in shock himself, and found himself
wondering how it had all spun out of control like
that. He shifted his gaze to Kevin, who was now
holding the gun. Ryan looked down to the blood in his
hands realizing it was his own as he clenched his
abdomen.

"I can't believe you did that," Ryan said taking a
step back as he started gasping for air, "how could
you Kev?"

Kevin remained silent as he watched his brother
stumble slightly trying to brace himself against a
crate. He watched as his brother's astonishment
transformed into a sinister grin as Ryan looked to the
blood on his hands.

"I knew you were just like me Kev," Ryan coughed
lightly trying to remain balanced, "we're one in the
same."

"No Ryan, you're wrong," Kevin shook his head, "I'm
nothing like you, nor will I ever be."

"Kevin," Lucy's voice called out as he and a few
officers entered the room taking in the scene before
their eyes.

"Lucy," Kevin replied snapping out of his daze as he
looked to her.

"Thank God you're okay," she said throwing her arms
around him tightly.

"Oh Lucy," Kevin said embracing her tightly amazed
that she'd found her way to him despite everything
that happened.

"You didn't think I could let you go through this
alone, did you?" she asked meeting his eyes as the
officers cuffed Ryan. She followed Kevin's eyes to
Ryan and felt a chill through her. "Doc, he can't
hurt us again."

"I know Lucy," Kevin nodded turning to her again as he
watched one of the officers reading Ryan his rights.
He draped his arm around her knowing that his meeting
with Ryan was over as they headed out of the
warehouse, "come on. Let's get you somewhere else."

"I'd like that Doc," she nodded with a half smile
holding onto him, "you wouldn't believe the night I've
had."

"Maybe we can compare notes," he said seeing the
sirens flashing as he noticed another car pull up.

<hr>

Scott stepped out of the car as a few more of the
squad cars pulled up behind him. He looked to one of
the officers before taking off towards the warehouse.

"Scott, what's going on?" Marisa called out after him.

"I don't know, but I'm about to find out," he said
rushing forward.

"Scott......" she started noticing Kevin and Lucy
coming forth out of the warehouse.

"Wait here," Scott ordered turning to face her as he
spotted his car, "let me go check this out."

"Okay," she said watching him go to the car and as he
got within two feet of it, the passenger side door
opened and TJ came rushing out.

"Mommy!" he said rushing over to her arms as she
pulled him into an embrace.

"I was so afraid I'd never see you again," he said
holding her tighter.

"I'm right here baby and nothing is ever going to keep
you from me again," she assured him as Scott rushed
back over to them.

"Hey you," Scott said looking to his son and feeling a
wave of relief wash through him, "how did you end up
in my car like that?"

"It's easy daddy," TJ said with a soft grin, "Chris
found me."

"What did you just say?" Scott questioned feeling his
heart stop slightly as he looked into his son's blue
eyes.

"I said that Chris found me when I was hiding out here
and took me to the car," TJ repeated.

"No, not that," Scott shook his head, "the other part.
The part about calling me dad."

"Well that's what you are, aren't you?" TJ asked
looking between his mother and father, "right?"

"Of course he is," Marisa smiled meeting Scott's eyes
as he pulled them both into an embrace thankful that
their son was alright.

<hr>

Chris stepped out of the warehouse looking at the red
and blue flashing lights around him as he noticed
Kevin and Lucy on one end of the lawn talking to a few
officers while Scott, Marisa and TJ stood in their own
little corner in an embrace. He felt a smile come to
his lips and a twinge tugging at his heart as he stood
alone in the night thinking about his own situation.
He reached inside his pocket pulling out his cell
phone and dialing the apartment as his thoughts
lingered to Eve.

"Oh hell, what would I say?" he asked remembering
their almost kiss in the apartment before he snapped
the phone shut. He let out a sigh putting the phone
back in his pocket before he heard someone approaching
him from behind.

"Hey stranger," Eve's familiar voice called out to him
as he turned to see her standing underneath the
illuminance of the moonlight clad in a black vinyl
outfit. He remained motionless wondering if he'd
imagined it as his thoughts were consumed of her, but
as she stepped in closer he noticed the smile on her
face and knew he wasn't dreaming.

She smiled again, "What's the matter Chris? Cat got
your tongue?" she asked looking him over.

"Eve, you look," he said his eyes scanning her over
briefly.

"Ridiculous," she replied with a slight laugh.

"No, that's not the word I was looking for," he shook
his head.

"Foolish?" she questioned.

"Not that either," he said shaking his head as she
stepped in closer to him meeting his dark eyes as he
drew in a breath, "I was thinking more along the lines
of something else."

"And what might that something be?" She questioned
raising an eyebrow.

"Sexy," he said with a nod, "Yep that would definitely
be the word of the hour right now."

"Sexy. Hmm........well I could get used to that," she
said pretending to think it over, "I heard your a hero
here."

"Oh it was nothing," he shrugged his eyes upon her
full lips for a moment before slipping back to her
dark eyes.

"Oh I'd hardly consider it nothing Chris. You risked
your life here to help Scott and Marisa find their
son, not to mention helping Kevin finding Ryan just
now, I'd have to say I'm impressed," Eve continued.

"Yes well I'd have to say that this little get up of
yours has something to do with your putting your own
two cents in to this search as well, and you know Ryan
was right, you do this look quite well in fact," Chris
noted scanning her over again, "it's different, but I
could get used to it."

"Could you now?" she said then frowned, "Wait a
second. Did you say Ryan?"

"He mentioned something back in the warehouse
about......" he frowned in response, "he said he'd had
you captive."

"Well he did but then Lucy and I kind of worked
together to plan our escape with the help of Victor
and," she let out a nervous laugh, "well never mind."

"No wait a second. Back up here. You and Lucy?
Since when?" he asked curiously, "who are you and what
did you do with the real Eve Lambert?"

"She's right here," Eve smiled softly, "and you're
right in thinking that my motivation was not as
selfless as it would seem. I mean you know me better
than that."

"Then what was it?" Chris questioned curiously.

"Well, you see I had my own personal interest in this
manhunt because well, I was looking for one man in
particular myself," she explained inching towards him.

"Is that so?"

"Very much," she nodded with a smile, "in fact this
man I was looking for is one of the sexiest men I know
and I realized that I needed to find him so that I
could tell him how I felt about him."

"Anyone I know?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe," she said with a nod.

"I see," he said inching towards her ever so slightly
never breaking the contact between their eyes, "and
what was it exactly you needed to tell him. I mean
just in case I run into him of course."

"Oh of course," she said with a soft grin her eyes
looking to his lips briefly, "well what I wanted to
tell him is that ever since he nearly died on me not
so long ago when he took a bullet for me, I realized
that things changed for the two of us and well, well I
found myself falling for him....very hard in fact."

"Is that so?" he asked moving closer still.

"That is so," she nodded, "and well I needed him to
know that I think I've fallen in love with him."

"You have?" Chris asked in astonishment.

"I have," she nodded reaching out to him and draping
her arms around him as she could no longer resist the
urge and she pressed her lips to his in a soft tender
kiss. As they parted she looked back at him, "I love
you Chris."

"Say it again," he said draping his arms around her
waist, "just to make sure I'm not dreaming here."

"I love you Chris Ramsey, more now that I ever thought
possible," she confessed meeting his eyes again.

"I love you too Eve," he said with a smile, "you know
it's about damn time you woke up and admitted that to
yourself seeing as I've been telling you all along
that you wanted me," he noticed the look on her face,
"See I told you that you'd feel better if you just
started being honest with yourself here."

"You know," she said ready to throw out a few sharp
words before she followed up with a slight laugh,
"you're right. It does feel so much better."

"Well you know what feels better than that?" he asked
his smile fading as he drew her in closer to him.

"What's that?" she asked in a whisper as she felt his
breath upon her face.

"This," he whispered pulling her into a hungry kiss
knowing at last that he'd finally found his dream and
he had no intention of ever letting it go.

<hr>

"You sure you're okay Lucy?" Kevin asked looking her
over for a moment after the police officers walked
away.

"I'm fine Doc. What about you?" she questioned.

"Perfect now that you're here," he said touching her
cheek.

"Oh Doc, I was so afraid that I'd never see you again
and then when you went after Ryan like this," she
started.

"No more," he said meeting her eyes, "the nightmare
has ended for us."

"That's what you think," Ryan's voice cut through the
night as Lucy and Kevin looked up to find him standing
before them on his way to the ambulance with his
police escorts, "this is far from over."

"On the contrary Ryan," Kevin said firmly, "the games
end here. It's over."

"It'll never be over. You haven't seen the last of
me," Ryan said sharply before the officers dragged him
away.

"Doc," Lucy started with a worried expression on her
face.

"Don't let him get to you Lucy," Kevin said wrapping
his arm around her, "come on. Victor's waiting in the
car. Let's get you home and start our lives
together."

"Our lives together," she repeated with a smile, "I
like the sound of that."

"So do I Lucy," Kevin said holding her closer to him,
"let's go home."

.........to be continued in one last chapter as the
final conclusion comes about in the shape of oh say a
WEDDING.......question is how will this double wedding
go?