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San
Francisco General Hospital: San Francisco
 The
room is thick with tension and Stephanie is desperately trying to
maintain her cool demeanor but David is not budging and she knows
that time is running out.
"What is it going to take to make you tell me the
truth?"
"Perhaps
you should hold a gun to my head -- but we've played that game
before haven't we?"
"Don't
push me David because the way I'm feeling, I'm amenable to almost
anything."
"Which
is why it makes it all the more believable that you would run me
down."
Stephanie
sighs, "But you know I didn't do that."
"And
I don't care.
Having you get thrown back in the loony bin would be worth
watching the real attacker go free and it looks like that's going
to happen."
"Oh
no." Stephanie pulls herself up from her seat and moves
towards the bed.
"You're not sending me back there again.
Tommy won't allow it and neither will
Kyle.
You see, he believes me when I say that I didn't run you
down and he knows exactly the kind of stunts you're willing to
pull to see me thrown back behind bars.
Well you're not going to get away with it.
You're not."
David
laughs, his voice sounding through the room like a hyena.
"How exactly do you think you're going to stop me?
By locking yourself in my hospital room like a maniac?
God you are such a stupid bitch, you know
that?"
"And
you a heartless, lying bastard!" Consumed with rage,
Stephanie surges forwards but before she can reach the bed, David
holds up a hand in which he is grasping a red alarm button.
"You
know you really should learn to control that temper Stephanie.
Then again, it might come in handy when you return to the
cuckoo's nest." Smiling, he watches his ex-wife's expression
as he slowly pushes the button and a bleeping sound begins.
"No.
The door's locked.
They won't get in here until I've finished with you."
"You
think they don't have a key?
It's too late.
You're finished alright." David chuckles again.
"No!"
Running back to the door, Stephanie drags the heavy chest she was
sitting by which makes a screeching sound as it moves across the
linoleum floor.
With one last movement, she wedges it against the door
before the handle can be turned.
"Mr
Elliott!" A nurse calls out, rattling the handle.
She can see both of them in the room and is clearly bemused
by the situation.
As
Stephanie turns round, she can see that David's expression has now
turned to one of shock and he pulls back the blanket on his bed.
"Get out of my way."
"Oh
no.
You're not going anywhere." Pushing forwards with her
hand, Stephanie sends him backwards with a crash onto the bed.
Still
disoriented by his head injury, David lets out a pained groan and
attempts to fight the dizziness which is taking hold.
"This isn't going to settle anything."
"You
can settle everything so long as you tell me who tried to kill
you!" Stephanie rests a hand on David's throat.
"Please…you're
jeopardizing your parole.
You won't get away with this."
Stephanie
bends down and whispers into his ear, "But I've got nothing
to lose.
If you're going to have me arrested for someone else's
attempt at murdering you…I might as well finish what they
already started."
"No…"
David protests but Stephanie moves her hand up and grips his jaw
tightly.
"I'm
not going to leave here until you tell me what I want to know.
Now are you going to do the sensible thing and tell me the
truth?"
The
look of resignation in David's widened eyes betrays his
determination and it is obvious he knows he has lost.
Ready to give up the battle, he nods slowly.
Guy
and Cassie's House: Napa Valley
 "I
feel a little insensitive coming over here like this…"
"Don't
be silly.
Congratulations." Cassie puts an arm
around Michael and hugs him for a moment.
"You deserve some happiness."
"So
do you." Michael releases her and looks over at Guy for a
moment who seems deep in thought.
"I take it there's still no news."
"No."
Being reminded of the situation comes as a start to Cassie and she
turns her back to Michael, walking to the other side of the room.
Wringing her hands, she speaks again.
"But…I need you to apologize again to Lauren for me.
The way I treated her the other day was…it was
unforgivable."
"It wasn't unforgivable.
She understands what you're going through."
"Yeah
but I can't take it out on other people.
It's not fair."
Before
Michael can reply, the phone begins to ring from the dining room
and the atmosphere it invokes is immediately apparent.
Seeing that his wife can barely move, Guy jumps up to
retrieve the phone.
The
ringing stops as he answers it and Cassie locks eyes with Michael
a for a moment.
She doesn't need words to make him understand what she is
feeling.
"What
are you doing?
Where the hell are you?" Guy raises his voice in anger
as he returns to the living room.
"Who
is it?" Cassie attempts to interrupt but he ignores her, his
face contorting with rage.
"If
you lay one finger on him you son of a bitch, I'll rip you to
pieces…"
"Guy,
no!" Cassie tugs her husband's arm, desperately trying to
reach for the phone.
"It's Jake isn't it?
Let me speak to him, please let me talk to him."
Finally
breaking down from the desperation in Cassie's voice, Guy
despondently hands her the phone and watches as her face lights
up.
"Jake?
Why are you calling?
Are you coming home?"
"No."
Jake replies sternly.
"I'm not coming back."
"Why?
Don't you realize how much Lucas needs us?
We're his parents."
"I'm
the only parent he's got now."
"No."
Cassie chokes a sob.
"I'm the one who gave birth to him and I'm the one
that nurtured him.
He is my child, not yours."
"Not
any more."
"How
could you do this?
Don't you have a single shred of decency in you?"
"My
compassion dwindled the day I found out you cheated on me.
You're not blameless Cassie."
"So
this is to punish me right?
You're doing this to get back at me."
"Not
entirely but revenge is a perk."
"Then
you've punished me enough.
I'm going insane.
I can't live without my son.
Just please bring him back to me…please."
"You
think I'm that stupid?
You'd have the police straight on my back as soon as I
stepped foot in San Francisco."
Cassie
begins to panic, "No!
No I wouldn't.
I'd never do that.
Not if it meant getting Lucas back."
"I
don't trust you.
I did that once before remember?"
Struck
by his words, Cassie glances at Guy who is staring back in
anticipation.
We caused this.
She thinks to herself.
You and me.
"Yes I remember.
But I've changed."
"Yeah
so have I." Cassie can hear Jake smirking.
"And I'm not going to let you or my half breed uncle
walk all over me anymore."
"Do
you want me to beg you?
Because I will, I'll beg you.
Anything…"
"It's
not going to work."
"Then
stay in touch, please.
I need to know that my son is safe."
"I
will…on one condition."
"Anything."
"I
want you to tell my mother that I'm okay and I'm sorry for hurting
her like this.
Tell her that this isn't about her in any way."
"So
you realize how much you're affecting her too?"
"Don't
start getting self-righteous on me.
Just agree to the terms and I'll stay in contact.
"Okay."
Cassie takes a deep breath and notices that her hand is shaking
violently.
"Okay, I agree."
Before
Jake can reply, the sound of Lucas's crying sounds down the phone
and almost sends Cassie into a trance.
"Lucas…" She whispers.
"I've
got to go."
"No!
No you can't stop me from hearing him…"
"Goodbye
Cassie." With that, the line goes dead and unable to move,
Cassie remains frozen to the spot.
It is only when Guy approaches that she is able to force
out words.
"I heard him crying."
"Sshh."
Guy takes her in his arms and feels her tears soaking into his
shirt.
"No
I'm not…I'm not upset.
Not really."
"Why?
What did he say?"
"We're
going to get him back Guy…I can feel it.
We just need to play him at his own game."
Uneasy
about interrupting, Michael decides to broach a suggestion.
"You know I could try having the call traced."
"Yes…you
do that.
But I've got to see Julia.
Now."
San
Francisco General Hospital: San Francisco
"No.
She was just doing what I told her to.
There was no problem." Stephanie smiles as she hears
David defending her to the guards and she slips out of the room,
walking confidently down the corridor.
Now
I finally know.
I admire what you did, but I'm not going back to the
sanitarium for you.
As
she reaches the elevator, Stephanie pulls her cellphone from her
purse and looks around to make sure nobody is about to pounce on
her for breaking hospital rules.
Sure the coast is clear, she dials the number and waits.
"Hello?
"Kyle,
it's me."
He
seems a little surprised to hear her, "Where are you?"
"I've
been to the hospital to see David."
"Stephanie,
I don't think that was a good idea…"
"No
Kyle, it's all worked out perfectly.
He told me who ran him down."
"Who?"
"I
don't want to say over the phone but we need to stop them and call
the police.
I'm on my way to pick you up and then we've got a visit to
make."
"Where?"
"The
Masters house.
So get ready."
Part
1 | Part 2 | Part
3
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