Several days later, Lisa was moved to a regular room. Stefan stood waiting by Lisa's door as Laura walked over to him. "Okay Stefan, what was so important that I had to meet you right away? You said it wasn't about Nikolas."
"It's not, Lasha. There's someone here that you need to see."
"Who is it? And why is it so important that I see them?" Laura suspected that Stefan was up to something, and she wanted to know what it was.
"Go on in and see for yourself. I'll wait out here."
Stefan could be so infuriating, Laura thought. She started to go in, anxious about who she would see. The Cassadines were full of surprises and she didn't like it. She walked in and glanced at the girl in the bed. She recognized the girl, even before the door had fully closed behind her.
She crossed quickly over to the bed. "Lisa."
Lisa opened her eyes, and they brightened immediately. She smiled, obviously feeling better than she had just a couple of days before. "Momma.” She quickly corrected herself, “I mean, Laura. How did you know I was here?"
"Stefan told me. Are you okay?"
"I will be. I’m so glad to see you. What are you doing in Port Charles?"
Laura laughed a little. There was so much that Lisa either didn't know or didn't remember from years before. "I live here with my husband and children."
"Right. About calling you Momma when you first walked in...”
Laura interrupted her, laughing slightly, “It’s okay. Really." Laura reached down and stroked Lisa's hair. "You can call me anything you want. What are you doing here in town?"
Lisa hesitated, but only for a second. Her “surrogate” mother was the only person that she felt comfortable telling the whole truth to. Just like always. "I found out that I have a half sister that needed a bone marrow transplant a few months back. I came to town to see if I could help, but I wasn't a match."
Laura sat down in the chair surprised, but grateful. "You came to help Lulu."
Lisa was confused. "How did you know her name?"
Laura smiled, tears in her eyes. "She's my daughter."
The realization sinking in as she remembered back to her years on the island, Lisa muttered, "Nikolas is the older brother Lucky talks about. He never mentioned a name. Oh no, then you know that I..."
Laura interrupted her again by nodding and saying, "Yes. I know that you're my step-daughter. I've always known."
"Momma, I’m sorry. If I had known..." Changing tracks, she continued, "I don't want to cause any trouble between you and my father."
"Does Luke know?"
Lisa nodded, “Lucky told him."
Laura asked, "How did Lucky find out?"
Before Lisa had a chance to tell Laura about the fight she had with Ruby, Bobbie walked in. “Laura, I’m surprised to see you here.”
Laura shrugged, “Why? Lisa is close to both Luke and Lucky, and I’ve known her since she was a little girl.”
“Really?” Bobbie asked, suspicious. “Is that a fact?”
Laura and Lisa just smiled. Lisa giggled a little. “You don’t know, do you?” Lisa asked.
“Know what?” Bobbie asked.
Laura and Lisa exchanged glances, “It’s not our story to tell,” Laura said simply.
The room was eerily silent as Bobbie checked Lisa’s vitals and made a note on her chart. After a few minutes, Bobbie said, “Well, I guess you’ll be pleased to know that you’ll be getting out of here tomorrow.”
Lisa nodded, “Good, I’m starting to feel cooped up in here.”
“Have you been walking short distances? Just down the hallway or wherever?”
“Yes.”
“Be very careful not to pull your stitches or aggravate your cuts.”
“Don’t worry, I’m still really sore, all things considered. So I’m not moving too much. I’m probably just going to go home and do the same thing I do here, lie around.”
Bobbie nodded, “You took quite a beating, but you’re healing very well.”
“Thanks.”
“Yes, thank you, Bobbie,” Laura added.
Bobbie smiled slightly, “No problem,” she said before leaving.
*****
Stefan watched as Bobbie left Lisa’s room again. Alexis came up quickly, “Well?” he asked. “Did you take care of our problem?”
Alexis shook her head, “Evans is no where to be found.”
“What? How is that possible?”
Alexis sighed, “I mean that no one has scene or heard from him since yesterday. He didn’t check out of his hotel, but he’s not been in his room either.”
Stefan just shook his head and sighed, “This is not good, Alexis. Find out where he went.”
*****
Luke poured himself a cup of coffee from behind the bar of the club. He had enough paperwork for two weeks, and all of it had to be done before opening time, giving him two hours. He crossed the room and pulled a pencil out from behind his ear, sat down to work at the table closest to the bar.
Sonny came in and smiled at Luke, “It’s done.”
Luke smiled, “Painful?”
“Absolutely.”
“And not traceable?” Luke asked, concerned.
Sonny just looked at him, “What do you think?”
Luke stood up and smiled, patting Sonny on the shoulder, “Thanks man, I owe ya.”
Sonny shrugged and smiled, “Just consider it a service to the community.”
The front door opened and Bobbie entered. Luke sat back down at the table and Sonny made himself scarce. Luke didn’t look up as she crossed the room and dropped in the chair opposite him. “Hello Barbara Jean.”
She looked up at him, “Hi. Luke, you don’t have to be so distant, you know.”
Luke barely glanced up at her, “I think I do, now that you’re taking up with the enemy.”
“Stefan is not your enemy,” Bobbie said quickly.
“He’s a Cassadine, Little Sister. That spells trouble with a capital T.” Putting down the paper and pencil, he asked, “All right. What’s wrong, Barbara Jean?”
“Lisa’s being released from the hospital tomorrow.” But there was more to it than that. Bobbie took a deep breath and jumped right to the point. “Why do you keep going to see her?”
“Why do you care? It’s none of your business.”
“Oh, come on, Luke. You and Lucky practically lived there. You’re there almost as much as when Lu was there. What’s the catch, Luke?”
“We owe this girl. Lucky wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for her, Barbara.”
Bobbie glared at her older brother. “Lu wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for Nikolas.”
“Don’t go there, Little Sister.” Luke took a deep breath before continuing. There was no denying the truth now, and he might as well tell Bobbie. “Lisa’s last name is Spencer.”
Bobbie didn’t get it. “But I thought...”
Luke cut her off. “Lisa is my daughter.”
Bobbie was shocked. This was the first she’d heard about it. She was full of questions. “What do you mean? Another child? Who else knew about this? Oh my gosh, does Laura know?”
Luke ran his hands through his hair. “Ruby was the only other one that knew. I thought she was killed with her mother in a car accident when she was four years old. That’s what I was told, anyway. I didn’t know until a few days ago who she was.” He laughed a sarcastic laugh. “And do you know it was Lucky that told me? He overheard Lisa and Ruby arguing.” And as if the last question suddenly hit him, he quickly added, “No, Laura doesn’t know. But I guess I’ve gotta tell her now.” He sighed.
Bobbie just looked at him, unsure of what to say. She reached out and touched his arm. “Let me know if I can do anything.” She knew that this wasn’t the time to tell him that Lisa and Laura knew each other, apparently pretty well, too.
Luke pulled his arm away from her, “I think you’d better go now, Barbara Jean.”
Bobbie stood up and started to head out, but she had just one more question. “Did you know she was your daughter when you brought her into the hospital?”
Luke shook his head, “No. It wasn’t until the next day that Lucky told me.”
Bobbie nodded and silently walked out the door, leaving Luke alone with his thoughts.
*****
Finally, after her long hospital stay, Lisa was finally released. Luke had offered to take her back to Kelly’s, but she told him that she had some things to take care of first. Lisa decided to go see someone who hadn’t been to see her, except once, but had definitely been hanging around.
Lisa pulled off her backpack and dug around for a key as she approached the large intimidating door of Wyndemere.
She unlocked and opened the door. As she walked around, she looked for someone, anyone, but no one was to be found. “Silent as a tomb,” she said, cringing. “No problem, I can wait,” she said aloud to herself as she sat in what appeared to be the most comfortable chair around.
She didn’t have to wait long. Not five minutes had passed before she heard someone else opening the large front door. She sat back and watched as Nikolas Cassadine entered.
He spotted Lisa immediately and walked across the room to her, stopping only once he was directly in front of her. Gruffly he asked, “What are you doing here?”
She stood up to face him. With a look of mock sorrow, Lisa asked, “What, aren’t you happy to see me?” Then she smiled slyly at Nikolas, who also broke into a big smile.
Then Nikolas gently pulled her into a huge bearhug. “Of course I’m happy to see you, Leezia. I was worried when my uncle said you were in the hospital.”
Lisa smiled, “That’s sweet, you didn’t have to worry about me.”
“But I do. I’ve known you my whole life. We grew up together.”
Lisa nodded, “That we did. But I feel like I’m about a hundred years older than you now.”
“Are you still sore?” he asked, concerned.
“I have a funny feeling I’m going to be sore a long time.”
Nikolas looked down quickly, “Everytime I wanted to see you, you had company.”
Lisa nodded, “Even Laura came.”
Nikolas was on the defense, “Only because Stefan told her you were there.”
“True. But there’s something I learned since I left Greece. Take all the support you can get.”
A third voice heralded the return of the elder Cassadine to Wyndemere. "Still spouting words of wisdom, my dear Leezia?"
"No more than ever before, Stefan," Lisa countered as Stefan entered the room.
“Welcome home,” Stefan said as he crossed over to Lisa, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a passionate but ever so gentle kiss.
*****
CHAPTER TEN
Luke was waiting for Lisa at Kelly's. He had offered to pick her up at the hospital, but she said she had an errand to run. He just had no idea it would take so long. He was getting impatient, not to mention worried.
Ruby looked over at Luke. She knew he was anxious. "Relax. Lisa's a big girl, she can take care of herself."
Luke looked at her. "You can’t be serious. My daughter just spent almost two weeks in the hospital because some jackass decided that she was his property."
Right before either of them said anything else, Alexis Davis walked in the door and up to the bar. “Ms. Anderson, did Lisa come here when she was released from the hospital?”
“She’s not here, Ms. Davis,” Ruby said quickly.
“Well, you’re her aunt, do you know where she went?” Alexis asked anxiously. “I’m sorry,” She asked, calming down. “It’s just that I don’t think either of us want Evans to have the chance to finish what he started two weeks ago.”
Luke glared at her, “And how do you know my daughter, Counselor?”
Alexis smiled. "Have you even talked to your daughter and asked her where she's been living all these years?"
“Does it matter?” Luke asked flippantly. “And in regard to your ‘concern’ for her welfare, Evans is dead.”
Alexis nodded, “Well the Cassadines can add another family member to the list of ones you’ve killed.”
“That bastard was a Cassadine?” Luke hissed.
“A cousin, yes.” Alexis turned back to Ruby, “If you see Lisa, would you please tell her that I’m looking for her?” And with that, she turned on her heel and left.
“What the hell is going on around here?” Luke asked of the air.
Ruby took a deep breath, “You don’t know what Lisa’s life has been like, Luke. Please don’t rush to judgment.”
“How did she get associated with the Cassadines?”
“There’s a lot that no one knows about her life.”
Luke stared at Ruby, waiting for her to finish. After she didn’t volunteer any more information, Luke asked, “What aren’t you telling me, Rub?”
Ruby looked at Luke. "I think you and Lisa need to have your first real father-daughter chat."
"Damn straight," he said while standing up and heading toward the door. “I’m going to go find her.”
"Luke," she called after him, "just remember that she really is your daughter. I know that for a fact. Where she's been isn't that important. It doesn't change who she is."
Luke nodded and left.
*****
Alexis walked into Wyndemere and saw Nikolas playing chess against himself. “Hello Nikolas.”
Nikolas looked up quickly, “Alexis.”
“Lisa came here after she was released, right?”
Nikolas nodded, “Of course. She and Uncle are walking around the grounds now.”
“Perfect.” Changing subjects, she said, “Her father arranged to have Evans killed.”
Nikolas smiled, “Good. He deserved it for the hell he put her through. So I take it that you saw Luke Spencer.”
Alexis smiled back, “I did. I threw in a couple of vague hints that Lisa was associated with us. Knowing him, he’s probably out looking for her right now.”
Nikolas laughed, “Do you do it just to make him mad?”
Nodding, Alexis said, “Why not? It shows him that he doesn’t always have the upper hand.” A wicked grin crossed her face, “And I love playing mind games with him.”
*****
Lisa and Stefan walked slowly around the Wyndemere grounds. Stefan walked casually beside her, with his arms behind his back. She held her coat around herself tightly, trying to keep out the biting wind. She also kept looking around.
He noticed that she was frowning. "What's the matter Leezia, don't you like it here?"
"It's beautiful, Stefan. I just feel like I'm going to be forever looking over my shoulder."
"It’s my understanding that Evans has been taken care of. He won't bother you any more," Stefan declared about Lisa's attacker.
She sat down on a nearby bench slowly, wincing slightly from a stab of pain. "Stefan, Billy lives for control, he's not going to give up. If he can't have me, he'll kill me. He’s already tried. You can’t stop him, Stefan, as much as you want to. Quite frankly, I’m scared."
"He cannot harm you in his current condition."
Her eyes got wide as she looked up at him. "He’s dead? You killed him? Stefan, you'd never kill anyone."
He smiled slightly as he sat down next to her. "A friend of your father beat me to it. But, I would have killed him. Ripped him apart limb from limb for what he did to you. There wasn't a good enough punishment for him."
She leaned forward and held her head in her hands, “But I lived through it. Bruises heal.”
He touched her face. "I know, and I will be eternally grateful for that. It could have been so much worse." He put his arm around her shoulder, gently, as if she was a porcelain doll. “You must be freezing out here. Why don’t we go inside and I’ll have Mrs. Lansbury fix your favorite dinner?”
She looked over at him, “I can’t. Stefan, I’m sorry.”
He sat back, “Is this about Barbara?”
She patted his arm affectionately and stood up slowly. “You just do what you have to. I don’t want to know about it.”
“You are staying here.” It wasn’t a question.
Lisa shook her head, “No, I’m not. I’m going back to my room at Kelly’s. I need to try and forget the last couple of weeks.”
“You won’t be able to hide the facts from your father forever, Leezia.”
Lisa sighed. "Let me deal with my father. He'll just have to accept the truth about me. Laura knows what it was like back then. She’ll help me explain things, I'm sure."
Stefan's look became serious as he stood up. "Do not be so sure what Laura will or won't do. Even for you," he warned.
Lisa was quickly becoming uncomfortable with where this conversation was going, “I’d better be getting back before my father worries about me.”
*****