Against the Grain-- Chapter 6
~6
Carly struggled against Dani’s hold and Dani hissed for her to be quiet. Carly wrenched free of Dani and made a “what?” gesture at her.
Dani pointed frantically to the docks where Helena and Stefan were still standing apparently unaware of their little scuffle.
~*~
“You just make sure Lucky is ready when we make our move.” Stefan threatened.
“I admit it has taken longer than I anticipated, but rest assured he’ll be ready when the time comes.” Helena said confidently.
“Don’t underestimate him, he is still Luke’s son.” Stefan warned.
“Oh don’t worry, I can handle young Spencer.” Helena said, a suggestive grin crossing her face.
Stefan groaned. “Oh Mother, don’t be gross.”
Helena rolled her eyes and Stefan glanced around nervously. “Are we done here?”
“Oh Stefan, you’re so paranoid.” She said commenting on his nervous posture. “But yes we’re done. Keep me updated on your progress with Lasha.”
Stefan nodded curtly. “You do the same with Spencer.”
Helena nodded and they both turned and walked off in opposite directions.
~*~
As soon as they were sure that Helena and Stefan were gone they walked out onto the docks.
“Oh my G-d!” Carly exclaimed running her hands through her hair. She walked a few feet away from Dani and spun around abruptly. “I can’t believe all this time, that little rat was comforting Laura and he had her son. I mean he hates Luke but Laura and Lulu and… ahh… doesn’t Lucky have a brother?” Carly said searching her brain for a name. “That Cassadine… Nikolas!”
“Yeah I haven’t met him yet.” Dani said absentmindedly. “So I assume that was Stefan and Helena.” Dani’s mind was still running in overdrive from what they had just learned, so she could only manage small sentences.
“Oh yeah, that was them.” Carly smirked. “And to think all this time I thought Luke was just paranoid.”
“Well, evidently he’s not.”
“Well, what are we standing around here for, let’s get going!” Carly said in a burst of energy and grabbed Dani’s hand.
Dani stopped in her tracks and pulled her hand away from Carly. “Wait a second Caroline. We need to figure out what we’re gonna do.”
Carly looked at her surprised. “We’re gonna go get Lucky, that’s what we’re gonna do!”
Dani made a dismissive gesture. “I knew that, we just need to figure out how we’re going to do that. All we know is that Lucky’s alive somewhere and Helena has him. We don’t know where his is or what they’re doing to him. We need help.”
Carly nodded in agreement. “Okay, then we go get Luke.” She said as if that solved everything and started off in the direction of the club.
“Hold it there speedy.” Dani said stopping Carly. “I don’t know if we should tell Luke.”
“Why not?”
“Well what if it’s not true, or if something goes wrong. I don’t think Luke could handle loosing Lucky again.” Dani said worriedly.
“Yeah I see your point.”
“And the way Helena was talking about Lucky almost being ready kinda makes me nervous.”
“Yeah I noticed that too.” Carly said shuddering and emitting an ew sound.
“I mean, what if they changed him somehow, done something so that he’s not the same as he was before.”
Carly threw up her hands. “Well even if they did do something to him, how would we know the difference!”
Dani laughed softly. “We just bring someone who would know the difference.”
“If you’re thinking about Lizzie, you can just forget about that!” Carly said gesturing wildly. “I might have agreed to have a bit of an open mind about her but that’s pushing it!”
“No, not Elizabeth. I don’t want to tell her for the same reasons I don’t want to tell Luke.”
“Okay then, who do we go to?” Carly said, thinking then grinned when an idea came to her. “Sonny!”
“Huh?” Dani said puzzled.
Carly smiled brightly. “Sonny knew Lucky and he has all those guys with guns.”
Dani laughed. “Well that will help.”
Carly looked down at the watch Sonny made her wear. “Well we might as well tell him now, besides, if I’m not home soon he’ll send out the troops.”
~*~
Luke stood behind the bar making a gin and tonic for a businessman. Claude had been so happy that Luke had just let him have the rest of the night off. He gave the businessman his drink and looked up when he heard the door open. He smiled when he saw Alexis enter and sit down at the bar.
“Twice in one day Natasha? What did I do to deserve this?” Luke said smiling.
Alexis frowned. “You asked me to come.”
“Oh right.” Luke’s expression saddened. He reached under the bar and took out the legal papers. “Here. I signed them.”
Alexis took the papers and looked at Luke sympathetically. “Okay, but are you sure about this?”
“There’s nothing I can change about it Alexis.” Luke said sadly.
“Uh-oh.” Alexis said with mock surprise. “Now I know something’s wrong. You called me Alexis.”
Luke smirked. “Well even I slip sometimes.”
“Well I’ll get this to Laura’s lawyer’s office first thing in the morning.” Alexis said putting the papers in her briefcase.
“Who is Laura’s lawyer anyway?” Luke asked.
Alexis mumbled something inaudible and Luke frowned. “What was that?”
“Scott Baldwin.” She said softly, she knew about Luke and Laura’s past and knew that Luke wasn’t going to like this.
Luke shook his head. “Well isn’t that ironic. I wrecked his marriage so he’s helping to dissolve mine.” Luke said ruefully.
Luke looked up at the commotion coming from the direction of the door.
“See I told you he’d be here!!” Lucy exclaimed rushing up to the bar arms flailing wildly with Felicia close behind her. Alexis made a motion to duck and cover to protect herself from Lucy’s wild arms.
A very tired looking Felicia got to the bar shortly after Lucy and smiled at Luke. “I found her.”
“I can see that.” Luke commented. “How ya doing Lucy my dear?”
“I am so wonderful! I can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve seen you! Not since right after… well it’s been a long time.” Lucy said trying but not succeeding in avoiding the subject of Lucky.
“It’s okay Luce. I’m not going to break.”
“I never said you were mentally fragile! Did I say anything like that?” Lucy said looking at Felicia and Alexis for backup.
“Well I’ve always said he was mentally fragile, but no Lucy, you didn’t say that.” Alexis offered.
“See.” Lucy said victoriously. She abruptly changed gears and scowled at Luke and brandished her finger at him.
“You have a lot of news to tell me mister!”
Alexis stood from her stool. “Well I’ll head home and let you three… do whatever it is that you do.”
“Oh Lexie stay!” Lucy said dramatically throwing an arm around Alexis and hugging her to her side tightly. Alexis stiffened with a look of utter horror on her face.
“Oh yes Lexie stay!” Luke said mimicking Lucy’s tone exactly, with an overly bright smile on his face.
Alexis glared at him. “My husband will probably have a fit if I’m not home soon.”
“Well now I insist that you stay.” Luke said grinning.
Alexis glared at him.
“No Lexie you have to stay and help us get this guy to tell us all about his daughter!” Lucy pleaded dramatically.
“Yeah Alexis you need to help us get him to tell us the whole truth.” Felicia said smiling.
“But I’ve already heard this story!” Alexis whined.
“You told her before you told us!” Lucy accused Luke.
“Oh he didn’t tell me. Bobbie told me, along with some other people at dinner tonight.” Alexis offered.
Lucy looked shocked and offended. “There was a dinner party!?”
“It was a very unplanned dinner that happened cause Barbara wanted to introduce Dani to the family.” Luke said trying to appease Lucy.
“And I’m not family?” Lucy pouted. None of them could come up with anything that might not make Lucy rant even more.
“Hey I’m getting a divorce!” Luke said in a desperate attempt to change the subject. He knew Lucy probably wasn’t going to give up on this until something distracted her and unfortunately this was the only thing his brain could come up with. It might have been the last subject he’d ever want to talk about, but it was having the desired effect.
“Ohhh.” Lucy exclaimed sympathetically and ran around the bar. She hugged Luke tightly.
“You know I really am devastated.” Luke said with a sly grin as he wrapped his arms low around her waist.
Alexis and Felicia exchanged skeptical glances. “You know Lucy, he’s just trying to cop a cheap feel.” Felicia said.
Lucy craned her neck to look at the girls. “I know, but it does make him feel better, so I guess I’ll make the sacrifice.
~*~
“Sonny!” Carly called as she blew into the penthouse with Dani hot on her heals.
“Hey keep it down. I just put Michael to sleep.” Sonny said coming out of the kitchen wiping his hands on a dishrag.
“Oh did he go right to sleep?” Carly said, momentarily forgetting her earlier excitement at the mention of her son.
“Yeah, out like a light.”
“Oh good.” Carly said and glanced at Dani and noticed the puzzled look on her face as she looked at Sonny. “What?”
Dani pointed at Sonny. “So what is he, Sonny Homemaker?”
Carly shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah, I know. He cooks.” She said and gave Dani a go figure gesture.
Sonny rolled his eyes. “Okay, what are you two up to?”
Carly tried to look offended. “We’re not up to anything! We’re doing something good.”
“Uh-oh.” Sonny joked.
Carly reached out to him and smacked him playfully on the shoulder. She had that mischievous glint in her eyes that half the time made Sonny cringe and the other half made him smile. He smiled.
“Just tell me what has you so excited.”
Carly almost jumped in her excitement. “Lucky’s alive.”
“And Helena and Stefan have him.”
“And we have to save him!”
“But we can’t tell Luke.”
“So you need to help us.” Carly finished.
Their little exchange of sentences had succeeded in making Sonny’s head spin. He pinched the bridge of his nose and walked over to the couch. “I need to sit down.”
He sat down and Dani sat next to him while Carly sat on the ottoman in front of him. Carly took his hands in hers and looked at him with a big grin on her face.
“He’s alive?”
Carly nodded her head vigorously still very excited about the whole thing.
“Luke deserves to know about this.” Sonny said turning to look at Dani.
“Yeah I know, but we just heard Helena and Stefan talking on the docks. What if it’s a trick or if they’ve done something to him. I can’t let Luke go through the pain of loosing him again, I don’t know if he could take it. I have to be sure first.” Dani said firmly.
Sonny nodded understandingly.
“Plus Helena said something about Lucky being almost ready and we should probably find out what that means before we tell anyone. Not to mention that Dani and I wouldn’t know Lucky’s personality from Johnny’s.” Carly added.
Sonny smiled and nodded. He got up from the couch and walked over to the phone. “I’ll call Benny and get him on it and Jason and I will take care of it.” He said picking up the phone.
“Oh no you don’t!” Carly said getting up and following him. “Dani and I go along or we’ll just go by ourselves.”
They stared each other down, neither one backing down. Sonny knew that Carly meant what she’d said, but he still tried to convince her to stay home.
“Carly you’re pregnant…”
“Sonny, I’m three months pregnant, it’s not like I’m eight months and big as a house!” Carly took a deep breath and looked into Sonny’s dark eyes. “I need to do this Sonny.” She said with a desperate tone in her voice.
Sonny sighed heavily and conceded. “If you go, you go on my rules. You stay behind if things get hairy.”
“Okay okay!” Carly said quickly. She was just happy he didn’t put up more of a fight.
Dani got up and walked over to them.
“Thank you Sonny.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. I’d do anything for Lucky or Luke.” Sonny walked over and opened the door. “Johnny, tell Jason I need to see him.”
“Sure thing boss.”
A few seconds later Jason walked through the door. “What did you need Sonny?” he said glancing momentarily at Dani and Carly who had gone back over to sit on the couch.
“I need you to call Benny when you get back from taking Dani home.”
“Sonny, I can get myself home.” Dani said quickly.
“No, it’s late I don’t want you walking around alone. And besides, Luke would kill me.” Sonny finished with a smile.
“Sonny, why do you need me to call Benny?” Jason said bringing Sonny’s attention back to him.
Sonny motioned for Jason to follow him out in to the hall.
Dani looked at Carly and smiled. “We’re gonna find him Caroline.”
“I know, I can’t believe we’re both going to get a second chance.”
“Everyone’s getting a second chance in this.” Dani shook her head and laughed nervously. “I really don’t know how I’m going to be able to not tell Luke.”
“He’s gonna be so happy isn’t he?” Carly said smiling.
“Yeah, I just hope nothing goes wrong and we can do this for him.” Dani said, worry masking her features.
“Hey,” Carly reached over and put her hand on Dani’s shoulder reassuringly. “We’ll get Lucky back, and he’ll be fine.”
At that moment Sonny came back in. “Jason’s waiting Dani.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there.” She reached over and hugged Carly tightly. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
Dani got up and walked over to Sonny and hugged him impulsively. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Sonny said shrugging his shoulders.
Dani smiled and left the penthouse.
Carly walked over to Sonny and hugged him. Sonny looked at her puzzled as she pulled away. “What was that for?”
“For not putting up a fight when I wanted to go to get Lucky.”
Sonny smirked. “Well I figured you weren’t going to back down.”
“That’s right.” Carly interjected.
“And it’d be safer if I could keep and eye on you. Who knows what you’d do if you were left here to do nothing but scheme.” Sonny shot grinning.
“Very funny.” She said smacking him playfully on his arm.
“I thought so.” Sonny said smugly. He watched her thoughtfully as she turned and walked to the couch and sat down. He walked over and sat on the ottoman in front of her. “This is important to you, huh?”
Carly nodded. “Yeah. It seems like this is my second chance for almost everything, man. To show Luke that I’m more than just a vindictive slut. To get to know Lucky, and I don’t know, in a way make up for not getting to know Ruby.” Carly ran her hands through her hair and let out a deep breath. “I just feel like I’ve never been a part of that family and this is my chance to prove myself.”
“They’re your family Carly, you don’t have to prove yourself.” He said comfortingly.
“I feel like I have to.” She said sadly.
“You seem to be pretty comfortable with Dani.”
“I don’t know, it’s just easy with her. I almost feel like I should resent her cause she walks in and she’s instantly accepted where I still feel like an outsider.”
Sonny opened his mouth to say something but Carly cut him off. “Yes I know, I came to town and seduced my mother’s husband, but that’s not the point here.” She said pointing a finger at Sonny’s grinning face. “The point is that I just click with Dani. She’s the only person that’s instantly felt like family to me.”
Sonny put his hands over hers and she looked up into his eyes and smiled. Suddenly she felt self-conscious. “Um… I better go check on Michael and then get to bed.” She said getting up and heading for the stairs. “Cause I need to rest right?” She said sarcastically to Sonny.
“Right.” Sonny called as she disappeared up the stairs. He sighed heavily and ran his hands through his hair. He was trying to tell himself that he was going after Lucky cause he would do anything for Luke and Lucky was like family, but somewhere in the back of his heart he knew that he was doing it for Carly too.
~*~
Jason stopped his bike in front of the brownstone and waited for Dani to get off. Dani handed him the helmet and ran a hand through her dark brown hair.
“Thanks for the ride Jason. You didn’t have to.”
“No Sonny was right, you shouldn’t be walking around alone.” Jason said softly.
“Still, you could have had Johnny take me so thank you.” She said smiling. She bit her lip and looked down for a few moments. “I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I don’t know you and I have no right to judge.” She said quietly.
“You’re right you don’t.” Jason said coolly.
“I know, I’m sorry. I guess I have a little bit of a protective streak.” She said smiling sheepishly. “I just found this family and I guess I feel like I need to make up for lost time.”
“It’s okay, I understand.” Jason said nodding slightly. “You better get inside before Luke starts to wonder where you are.”
Dani glanced at her watch and smiled. “Oh he’s not even close to being home I’m sure. He’s probably having a very boring night at the club right about now.”
~*~
“Luke, I am NOT going to table dance.” Alexis said holding her hand to her head in slight pain from when she stood up too quickly.
“Oh come on Tash. It would really cheer me up.” Luke whined only very slightly inebriated. All of the customers had already left so the four of them had decided to have a little party of their own.
“I’ll do it!” Lucy exclaimed standing up and climbing onto her chair.
“No no no no!” Felicia said frantically “Lucy, you know you can’t trust him when you’ve had too much to drink.”
“I am not drunk!” Lucy defended herself as she plopped back down into her chair.
“You know you still owe me a strip dance Blondie!” Luke said grinning.
Alexis looked at Felicia shocked. “Felicia!”
“He stole my shoe!” Felicia cried as if that explained everything. She continued when she saw that Alexis needed more of a story. “I bet him a strip dance against my shoe on a coin toss. And I won!” She said bringing her hand down hard on the table, causing Alexis to hold her head from the noise. “So I don’t owe him a strip dance.”
“Technicality.” Luke grumbled.
The door opened and Kevin walked in hesitantly. “Luke what have you done to my wife?”
“I don’t know what happened Doc, we just had a few drinks and then she was offering to table dance for me.” Luke said shrugging his shoulders.
“What in the world would make her want to table dance?” Kevin asked trying not to laugh.
“Cause I wouldn’t do it.” Alexis explained.
Kevin nodded and helped Lucy stand up from her chair. “Come on Felicia, help me get her home and I won’t tell Mac.” He said grinning.
“You’re sneaky!” Felicia accused.
“And your point?” Kevin said dryly. He looked at Alexis. “Alexis would you like a ride home?”
“Nah, Doc don’t worry about her, I’ll get her home.” Luke said quietly smiling at Alexis sitting with her head resting on the table.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, come on honey.” Kevin said as he and Felicia led a very sleepy Lucy out of the club.
After a few moments Alexis raised her head and looked around. “Where’d everybody go?”
“Kevin came and took them home.” Luke said getting up and started putting the bottles the table back behind the bar.
“Who’s Kevin?” Alexis slurred.
Luke chuckled. “Kevin Collins. He’s Lucy’s husband.”
“Oh yeah, he’s nice.”
“Yeah, he is pretty cool for a shrink.” Luke allowed as he walked back over to the table she was sitting at.
Alexis stood up abruptly and teetered a bit. She grabbed a hold of Luke until the room stopped spinning. She set her eyes on something across the room and concentrated on walking there, while Luke watched in amusement.
“Luke dance with me.” She commanded as she reached the jukebox.
“Couldn’t you just dance for me?” Luke said frowning.
“No!” She protested as she perused the selection of songs.
“Tash let me pick the song, cause as hammered as you are you might end up picking one of those boy band songs Claude made me put on.” Luke said grimacing.
“No I want this one.” She exclaimed, batting his hands away from the jukebox controls and pressing the buttons she wanted.
Sittin’ in the morning sun,
I’ll be sittin’ when the evening come,
Watching the ships roll in,
And I'll watch 'em roll away again, yeah,
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Watching the tide roll away, ouh,
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Wasting time.
Luke smiled as the sounds of Otis Redding drifted through the club. “Not bad Tash, not bad. Kinda suits me right now, huh?”
Alexis looked up at his sadly. “You’re not lonely Luke.”
“Yeah well it feels pretty lonely all of a sudden.”
Alexis walked over to him slowly and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Come on, dance.”
I left my home in Georgia,
Headed for the Frisco bay
I have nothing to live for,
Look like nothings gonna come my way,
So I'm just go sit on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away,
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Wasting time
Luke tightened his arms around Alexis’ waist and held her close as they swayed slightly to the music. He didn’t really know if it was the combination of alcohol and loneliness but it felt so good to hold Alexis like this.
Alexis laid her head on Luke’s chest and relaxed totally in his arms. She hadn’t relaxed in so long and she honestly didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the company that was helping her now
Look like nothings gonna change,
Everything still remain the same,
I can't do what ten people tell me to do,
So I guess I'll remain the same, yes,
Sittin' here resting my bones,
And this loneliness won't leave me alone, yes,
Two thousand miles I roam
Just to make this dock my home
Alexis lifted her head and smiled sadly at Luke. He brought his hand up to stroke her cheek softly. He smiled wistfully as his fingers touched a strand of her brown hair. His eyes connected with hers and he could swear that for a second he was almost drowning. By some unexplainable force he bent his head down to hers and brushed his lips across hers lightly and then with more pressure.
Now I'm just go sit at the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away, ooh
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wasting time
Alexis and Luke slowly pulled away from each other and her eyes opened wide in surprise. “Um… vodka bad.” She murmured as she disentangled herself from Luke.
Luke ran a hand through his short hair and blew out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “Yeah, I should get you home.”
Alexis nodded her head numbly. “Yeah.”
Luke wordlessly grabbed her coat off a stool and helped her get it on. They both walked out of the club without saying a word.
Song Credit: “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” By Otis Redding and Steve Copper, Performed by Otis Redding
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