The next afternoon

(It’s noon time and Ned is awake; Alexis is totally exhausted and still sleeping)

(Alexis has not eaten for 2 days)

(Monica walks in with an IV)

Monica: How is she?

Ned: (very sad) The same.

Monica: Do you want her to get the IV? It’s your choice.

Ned: I don’t want her to starve, give it to her.

(Monica walks over to Alexis’ bed; and put the IV in)

(as soon as the IV is in Alexis wakes up)

(Ned notices that Alexis is awake and goes over to her)

(Alexis is trying to take the IV out and Ned grabs her hand)

Ned: (stern voice) No!! Alexis. Leave it.

(Ned takes Alexis’ hand; Alexis does not look at him)

Ned: Alexis, I love you.

Alexis: (whispers) I love you too, Ned. (she looks into Ned’s eyes). I am sorry for all the pain I caused you.

(Monica walks over and takes Alexis’ vitals)

Monica: She seems all right.

Alexis: (crying) I am so sorry. I should have realized that you and Michael needed me.

(Ned walks over to Alexis and hugs her)

Ned: It’s all right. (stroking her hair)

Alexis: I need to hold Michael.

Monica: I will get him. (Monica leaves the room)

Alexis: (looks into Ned’s eyes) I cannot believe that I put you through this. You had to worry about me, Brittany, and Michael.

(A nurse walks in with a tray of food)

Nurse: Are you hungry?

Ned: I am sure she is starved.

(the nurse puts the tray down)

Ned: (smiling) Can I feed you?

Alexis: Yes.

(Ned notices the food)

Ned: Yuck.

Alexis: (laughing) I have to eat that not you.

(Ned grabs the fork and starts to feed Alexis)

(Ned misses Alexis’ mouth on purpose and gets it on her face)

Alexis: Ned. (she goes to wipe it off)

(Ned grabs her hand)

Ned: No. Let me. (kisses her chin)

(Ned realizes how happy he is and starts to kiss her)

(Alexis wraps her hands around his neck not wanting to let go)

Alexis: (in between kisses) Ned we have to stop. Monica is going to come in here. (pushes Ned away)

Ned: Looks like everything is back to normal with you.

(Just then Monica walk in with Michael)

(Alexis sees Michael and it is too painful for her; she starts to cry)

Ned: It’s all right honey. (takes Michael from Monica) You need to get stronger so we can find Brittany.

Monica: If you need anything call me.

(Monica leaves the room)

Alexis: Ned, I am sorry I cannot hold him. I still feel like a part of my heart was ripped out.

Ned: It’s fine.

(Ned sits down on the bed; He holds Michael in one hand and puts his other hand around Alexis)

(They stay like that until Alexis fall asleep)

Meanwhile…..

Helena’s yacht

(Helena is enjoying playing Brittany; She is holding the girl up to the mirror and she sees Stefan standing behind her)

Helena: (to Brittany) Your mother will pay with her life. She will want to protect you from me…

Stefan: (interrupting) Hello mother. It looks like Alexis was right. Hand me the baby now. (Stefan points a gun at his mother’s head)

Helena: How did you get in here?

Stefan: (laughing) I hit Ari over the head with my gun. He is out like a light so don’t even bother calling for him.

Helena: Don’t point that gun at me. I have a human shield. (she holds Brittany up). You would not kill your sister’s daughter would you?

Stefan: No but I would kill my mother. (yelling) Because of you my sister is withdrawn from the world…

Helena: (interrupting) Manners. Please show some to me.

(Just then Stefan phones rings and he gets it because he knew it could be Ned)

Stefan: Stefan Cassadine…Hello Ned…Yes…That’s good…I am having a talk with Helena….

(Helena slips out a door because Stefan is distracted)

Stefan: I have to go…She left…Bye

(Stefan hangs up the phone)

(Stefan goes after Helena knowing that he probably would not be able to catch up with her)

The next morning

Alexis’ hospital room

( Ned is holding Michael and sitting down on the bed)

(Alexis is starting to wake up)

Ned: Hello beautiful.

Alexis: Hello Ned. (sees that Ned is holding Michael; she grabs his hand) Hello Michael.

Ned: Monica said you can leave this morning. Last night I talked to Stefan and it looks like you were right. Helena did take Brittany.

Alexis: (fear in her voice) What?

Ned: When I had called Stefan, he was paying Helena a visit. As I was talking to him, Helena slipped out of the room. She was on her yacht.

Alexis: I have to do something. I cannot let anything happen to her.

Ned: I know you want to protect her.

(Monica walks in)

Monica: You can go home. (cuts the band off of Michael’s foot)

Alexis: Thank you.

(Monica leaves the room)

(Ned and Alexis leave the hospital with Michael and they go home to the Gatehouse)

Gatehouse

11 AM

(During the ride home from the hospital, Alexis had a smile on her face)

(As soon as the limo pulls up to the Gatehouse Ned notices that Alexis’ smile has left her face)

(Ned holding Michael walks into the Gatehouse and goes to the nursery and Alexis follows)

(Alexis sits down in one of the rocking chairs in the room and starts crying)

Ned: What’s wrong? (places Michael down in the crib)

Alexis: (she never saw the room since Ned wanted it to be a surprise to her) The room is beautiful, Ned. There should be two children here right now.

(Ned tries to hug her but Alexis pushes him away)

Alexis: Ned, I love you but could you leave me alone. Please.

(Ned leave the room and Alexis picks up Michael and holds on to him tightly)

(Alexis falls asleep in the rocking chair holding on to Michael)

(2 hours later)

(Ned walks back into the nursery and notices that Alexis is sleeping)

(Ned takes Michael out of her hands and places him in the crib)

(Ned scoops Alexis up in his arms and walks towards the bedroom)

(Ned places Alexis on the bed and walks back to the nursery)

(Alexis sleeps for 5 more hours while Ned does some work in the other room)

(While Alexis is sleeping she has a nightmare/flashback when she was younger still living on the Cassadine island in Greece)

NIGHTMARE/FLASHBACK

(Alexis is 10 years old and Stefan is 13 years old)

(Alexis and Stefan had left the house in direct violation of Helena’s orders)

(Alexis and Stefan are in the house now)

(Helena is in the living room)

Helena: (yelling) Alexis get in here now!!!

(After hearing Helena, Alexis comes running in; Stefan is standing in the hallway outside the door because he knows what is going to happen)

(Two guards are standing on both sides of the door; Helena goes over to the door and slams it shut which cause Alexis to jump)

(Alexis is shaking and is visible scared)

Helena: (turning to look at Alexis) I will not tolerate your behavior anymore, young lady. I have had with you. You will do what you are told. Is there anything you want to say?

Alexis: I hate you so much.

(Helena grabs Alexis)

Helena: Don’t ever talk to me like that again.

(Helena slaps Alexis in the face and Alexis starts crying)

Helena: (still holding onto Alexis) Stop crying!!!

(Alexis stops crying because she is scared that Helena will hit her again)

Helena: I have had with you.

(Helena throws Alexis again a wall. Alexis’ head hits the wall hard and their is a huge gash on her head. Her head starts to bleed and she puts her hand to her head. She removes her hand from her head and sees blood all over her hand)

(Stefan comes rushing in)

Stefan: Mother stop it now!!!

(Stefan tries to get over to Alexis but Helena grabs his arm)

Helena: (to the guard) Get him out of here now!

(the guard removes Stefan from the room)

(Helena then looks back at Alexis who is sitting on the ground)

Helena: Get her out of here too!!

(the guard comes over to Alexis and picks her up; she is losing a lot of blood and is too weak to stand so the guard carries to her room)

ALEXIS’ ROOM

(The guard throws her on the bed and leaves)

(Alexis is having a hard time staying awake since she is loosing so much blood)

(An hour later)

(Stefan walks into Alexis’ room)

Stefan: (seeing Alexis) My God. Are you all right?

(Alexis does not respond to him so Stefan picks Alexis and brings her to the doctor who lives on the other side of the Cassadine Compound).

DR.’S OFFICE

Stefan: (still holding Alexis) Dr. I need your help.

(Dr.’s back towards Stefan; he turns around)

Dr.: Oh my!! Take her into that room.

Stefan: Alexis, help is here. (kisses her forehead)

Dr.: What happened? (looks Alexis over)

(Stefan tells him everything)

(Alexis is starting to wake up)

Alexis: Stefan…Where am I?

(Stefan tells her everything)

Dr.: Alexis we are going to have to put stitches in your head.

(Alexis starts screaming at Stefan)

Alexis: No Stefan. Don’t let him.

(Stefan hugs Alexis and strokes her hair)

Stefan: It’s all right. I am here. Mother will pay.

(Stefan continues to hold her as the Dr. puts stitches in her head)

Dr.: There Alexis. I am finished. (to Stefan) She needs to come back in a week.

(Stefan picks Alexis’ up and brings her back to her room)

ALEXIS’ ROOM

(Stefan has already brought Alexis to her room)

(An hour later and Helena walks into the room)

Helena: (grabs Alexis) Wake up!!!!

BACK TO PRESENT TIME

Alexis: (still sleeping) Get off of me!!!

(Ned hears Alexis and goes into the bedroom)

(Ned grabs Alexis’ shoulders to try to get her up; Ned shakes Alexis)

Alexis: (sleeping) Get off of me Helena!! (she starts pushing Ned away from her because she thinks it is Helena)

Ned: Alexis walk up. It me Ned.

(Alexis wakes up)

Ned: Were you having a nightmare?

Alexis: Yes.

Ned: Want to tell me about it?

(Alexis tells Ned the whole story)

Ned: (holding Alexis) It’s all right, honey.

Alexis: Thank you.

Ned: Want me to stay with you?

Alexis: (quietly) Yes.

Ned: Hold on (he gets up and goes to the nursery and picks Michael up; walks back into the bedroom and lays down next to Alexis)

(Ned and Alexis go to sleep; Michael still in Ned’s hands)

Next day
Around 6AM

(phone rings; Alexis is closest so she answers it)

Alexis: Hello Alexis Ashton.

Helena: (cold voice) Hello Natasha.

Alexis: Helena!!

(Ned turns and looks at Alexis; Michael still in his hands)

Ned: What does she want?

Alexis: I have no idea. (to Helena) Why do you call so early in the morning? I was sleeping.

Helena: Will you pay attention to me!! I call you so early in the morning just to annoy you. This is life or death. You are to come to the yacht tonight with your husband. I suspect you to be on time. Don’t be late. 5PM.

(Helena hangs up the phone)

Ned: What did she want?

Alexis: We are to go to her yacht tonight at 5.

Ned: Hand me the phone.

(Alexis hands Ned the phone)

(Ned dials the police)

Ned: Detective Garcia or Taggert please….Detective Taggert this is Ned Ashton…My wife just got a call from Helena Cassadine…Yes…She wants up to come to her yacht tonight…You will be over in 3 hours...Ok.

(Ned hangs up the phone)

Ned: Detective Garcia and Taggert are coming over in 3 hours to talk to us.

(Ned and Alexis get dressed and eat breakfast; Michael is fed)