Chapter 20
“The course of true love never did run smooth.” William Shakespeare
Laura, Amy, Bobbie arrive at the hospital with Lucas in tow. Bobbie phoned Luke
on the way to the hospital. He said that he would be there as soon as he could.
Laura rushes to where Lucky is standing, still stunned; partly from the effects
of the drug and partly from seeing two people that he cares about lying in the
hospital. Laura can see the pain in his face and hugs him tightly.
Laura: Oh, my God. Are you all right?
Lucky: Yeah. But Liz and Lulu…
B: Laura, they’re going to need you to fill out some papers.
Laura: O.K. Take care of Lucky.
B: Of course. (Turning to Amy) Amy would you take Lucas to the nurses lounge and
get him to lie down on one of the couches?
Amy: Sure.
Lucas: No, mommy. I want to stay here with you. I want to know how Lulu is
doing.
B: (sighing) I’ll tell you what, if you promise to lie down, you can sit with us
in the waiting room. All right?
Lucas: O.K.
They all move to the waiting area and sit on the couches. Audrey arrives and
walks over to them.
Audrey: (distraught) Where’s Liz?
B: They doctors have her in exam room three. They’ll need you to fill out some
papers at the desk.
Audrey: Yes, of course.
Lucky has been trying to think of what went wrong and how to tell his mom, so it
makes sense to her.
B: Lucky? What happened?
Lucky: She fell off the boat. I heard her yell. I couldn’t get there in time.
Laura: (holding forms in her hand) I’m sure it was an accident, sweetheart.
Lucky: (pleadingly) It was. I… It… I don’t know. If anything happens to her or
Liz, I’ll never forgive myself.
Laura: Don’t say that. Right now we need to think positively.
Lucky: Does Dad know?
Laura: We called him. He was on his way home anyway. He should be here soon.
Lucky gets up and walks over to exam room three. He sees Audrey standing by Liz,
crying, and talking to her. Suddenly Liz’s head jerks back and her body begins
to convulse.
Nurse: (loudly) The patient is seizing!
Another nurse grabs Audrey and moves her out into the corridor. Lucky begins to
cry. Audrey walks over and hugs him.
Lucky: (crying) I’m sorry. I’m sorry Liz.
Audrey: (crying) There, there. It’s not your fault.
Bobbie approaches the sobbing couple and steers them back to the waiting area.
Meanwhile, on Helena’s yacht, Ari is pacing back and forth as Helena enters the
living room.
H: Did you get the items?
A: Yes, Madame. I would like to go to the hospital and see how the little girl
is.
H: (curtly) You’ll do no such thing. Now, tell me what went wrong.
A: They brought a little girl with them. After they drank the Champaign, and
became unconscious, she… Ari chokes up at the thought of Lulu falling in the
water.
H: (callously) Go on. What happened to Lulu?
A: She went and was playing on the boat. She fell overboard…
H: (coldly) Well, even though she was not part of the plan. Her injury may work
to my advantage.
Ari stares at Helena. He can usually block out of his mind how evil Helena can
be. It’s at times like this that her proficiency for cruelty manifests itself so
glaringly.
H: (mock sympathy) Oh, Ari. She is a Spencer after all. (Leering at him) Come to
bed now. I feel like celebrating.
Ari follows her to the bedroom reluctantly, sickened by what he has done and
what he is about to do.
Nikolas found himself at tiny restraint somewhere in Port Charles. He didn’t
want to go anywhere people might recognize him. He has been thinking about the
conversation he over heard his uncle and his mother having earlier.
N: (to himself) Helena told me you loved her. She told me that Katherine was
just a pale imitation. I asked you. I *asked* you and you *lied* to me. You’ve
been lying to me. How many other lies have you told?
The eleven o’clock news is on the TV at the bar.
Announcer: Tragedy tonight as a little girl is fighting for her life after a
near drowning accident, and another girl is in serious condition. Let’s go to
Lisa Lopez who is outside General Hospital. Lisa what can you tell us?
Lisa: Well, it appears that little Lulu Spencer was out with her brother and his
girlfriend, when the accident happened…
Nikolas stares at the screen, unable to believe what he is hearing. He walks
over to the bar, trying to grasp what is being said.
N: (to the bartender) Turn it up! That’s my sister! Turn it up!
Lisa: Those are all the details we have for now. Back to you Kelly.
Kelly: And what about the other girl? Do we know what caused her injuries?
Lisa: Well, Kelly, as of now, we’ve been told that she was on the shore when
Lulu fell in the water, but how she sustained her injuries or what her injuries
even are, we don’t know.
Kelly: All right. Thank you for your report, and we’ll bring you more details as
they become available.
Nikolas quickly pays and leaves.
A very disturbed Luke enters the emergency room and runs to Bobbie.
Luke: Where is she? Where’s Laura and Lucky? What happened?
Bobbie: Calm down. First, Laura is in with Lulu. Lulu is stable, but in critical
condition. Lucky is having a blood test.
Luke: A blood test? Why?
B: Well, the tests came back on Liz and the doctors felt that they needed to
test Lucky. They won’t tell me why.
Taggert and Garcia enter, and approach Luke and Bobbie.
Luke: (irked) What do you two want? Don’t you have homes?
Taggert: Well, Luke when there’s been a serious accident like the one your
daughter was involved in, we like to check it out. Especially, when the Marine
Patrol feels that alcohol may have been involved.
Luke: No, no, man. NOT my kid. He knows better.
The doctor approaches and summons the detectives away. Lucky emerges and sees
Luke. He wants to run, but can’t seem to move.
Luke: (calmly) Come here, son.
Before Lucky can walk over Taggert stops him.
Taggert: We need to talk.
Luke: (approaching quickly) What about?
T: About what happened on that island.
Luke: You’re not questioning my kid without me there. And right now we need to
go see Lulu. So your interrogation will have to wait.
Luke drags Lucky off the exam room that Lulu is in. They enter slowly and see
Lulu hooked up to all sorts of machines. Laura is by her side, holding her hand,
and talking softly to her. Luke guides Lucky over to the exam table.
Luke: (taking Lulu’s other hand. softly) Hey, lil darlin’. Daddy’s here, and so
is Lucky. (Tearing up) Daddy wants you to get better. And when you do, we’ll
have that dance I promised you.
Laura: (encouragingly) Yes, we all want you to get better.
Lucky has been staring at Lulu, not able to speak. What he wants to say to her,
he doesn’t want to say in front of his parents.
Lucky: Would you two mind if I had time alone with her?
Luke: Sure. Your mom and I will be right outside.
Luke and Laura leave the room. Lucky tentatively takes Lulu’s hand, and then
begins to cry.
Lucky: (softly) I’m sorry, Lulu. I should have watched you better. You were my
responsibility, and I let you down. I let Mom and Dad down, too. I was so smug
this morning. I didn’t need any advice, ‘cause I knew how to take care of you. I
always thought I was a good big brother, but when you needed me most, I wasn’t
there for you. (Kissing her hand) Please get well. I’m so sorry. I promise I’ll
do better next time.
Luke is talking with Taggert and Garcia. Nikolas sees Laura standing by Bobbie
and goes to them.
N: How is she? What happened?
B: She’s in critical condition. Apparently, she fell off a boat and…
N: (to Laura) Who was watching her? Why didn’t she have a lifejacket?
Laura: Nikolas, calm down. (After a pause) Would you like to go and talk to her?
Nikolas: Can I?
Laura: Of course, you can.
Luke sees Nikolas walking over to Lulu’s exam room, runs to stop him, and grabs
his arm.
Luke: Just where do you think you’re going? Only family members are allowed in
there.
Nikolas: (angry) I AM family.
Luke: Not in my book, you little…
Nikolas: You’re mad because you can’t blame this on a Cassadine.
Laura rushes over to separate the two.
Laura: Let’s move away from Lulu’s room. I want her to hear only nice, pleasant
things, right now. As the group moves toward the waiting area, Lucky slips out
of the room. He is headed over to Liz’s room, when Taggert nabs him.
Taggert: (with compassion) Lucky, I need you to tell me what happened on that
island. Now you can wait for your father, or you can tell me, and then I’ll tell
him for you. It might be easier on you that way.
Lucky: I’ll wait for my Dad.
T: (probing) Where’d you get the drug, kid?
L: (confused) What drug?
T: (annoyed) The Rohypnol you put in her drink. You know… it’s supposed to make
the girls horny. It’s also known as “Liquid Ecstasy”.
L: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
T: (irked) It was in her blood and yours. What happened? Forget which cup to
taint? Thought you might need some help getting it up, so you put some in yours,
too?
Lucky is so appalled at the suggestion that Taggert is making he doesn’t know
what to say or how to defend himself. By this time Laura has calmed Luke down,
and he is on his way over to help Lucky.
Nikolas slowly walks up to Lulu’s side. He is trying to maintain his Cassadine
composure, but is finding it difficult.
N: Hey, Lulu. It’s me, Nikolas. Your brother. (Tears trickle down his cheek) You
have to get better. You’re one of the few people in this town who never hated me
because I’m a Cassadine… I wish I could do something to take this away. I would
give anything to you, you know that… (Clearing his throat) When you’re better,
I’ll teach you how to ride a horse. You’ll be the *best* horse rider, I just
know it. Nikolas leans over and kisses her on the forehead. As he looks at her
he begins to sob.
Meanwhile, Taggert, Garcia, Luke, Lucky, and Laura are standing in a small
office off the emergency rooms.
Taggert: All right, tell us what happened.
Lucky: We walked the island, until it started getting late. We went back to the
blanket, and Liz wanted to open the Champaign.
Laura: (alarmed) Where did you get Champaign?
Lucky: It was in the gift basket. We were just going to have a little. To
celebrate. I only had a couple of swallows, I *swear*. Lucky is looking to Luke
for reassurance, but Luke is not giving him any. Luke is beginning to think that
his son is not telling the whole truth, and he’s thinking about his little girl
a few rooms down.
Taggert: What about Liz?
Lucky: She gulped hers. I told her to slow down, but she drank it really fast.
Then we were talking, and she said her head hurt. She went to the blanket and
passed out. I tried to help her, but I couldn’t stand up. The next thing I
remember it was dark and I heard Lulu scream.
Garcia: Was that when she fell into the water?
Lucky: No. She was still on the boat. I tried to get to her, but it was hard to
move. I saw her fall in… (Choking up) I jumped in. I couldn’t see her. It was
sooo dark. There was another man there, he was helping me look.
Taggert: So, when did you put the Rohypnol in your cups?
Luke: (suddenly angry) WHAT? WHERE did you get that, *son*?
Lucky: (defensively) I don’t know what he’s talking about!
Taggert: The blood tests *show* a high concentration of it in Elizabeth Webber’s
blood stream, and in yours as well. Not as high, though. It’s what’s causing the
young lady to seizure.
Luke has Lucky backed up to the wall. Garcia moves to pull Luke away, but
Taggert stops him. Laura is trying to stay calm, but is angered by what she
hears.
Luke: (furious) Do you realize you could have killed her? And while you were
busy trying to get laid, your sister was left to drown! My God, Lucky, we raised
you better than that!!
Lucky: But Dad…
Laura: Luke calm down. Lucky, why?
Lucky: I didn’t…
Luke: (screaming) It was in your BLOOD! How did it get there if you didn’t do
it?!? (Shoving Lucky against the wall) HUH?!? What the HELL were you thinking?
IF they die it will be YOUR fault!
Laura: LUKE!
Taggert: (pulling Luke away) WHY don’t we step outside for a minute. Get some
coffee or water.
All but Laura and Lucky leave the room. Laura has a pained expression on her
face.
Laura: (hurt) How could you be so irresponsible?
Lucky: (pleading) I didn’t put any drugs…
Laura: But you drank the Champaign, you took your eyes off of her. You were
supposed to watch her…
Laura walks out of the room and back to Lulu’s room.
Lucky slips into Liz’s room. She is hooked up to machines, also. Lucky walks
over to her, crying.
Lucky: (softly) I’m sorry, Liz. I don’t understand what went wrong. I didn’t
drug you. You know that. (Brushing her hair with his fingers) I could *never*
take advantage of you. Not after helping you… I’m afraid they’re going to blame
me for this. For you. For Lulu. (Suddenly determined) I have to get out of here.
I have to go. I want you to know… you are sooo special to me. I think if this
hadn’t happened… But it did, and I have to go. I’ll write to you. Get better.
Lucky takes her hand and kisses it gently. He walks to the curtain, and sees
that the adults are occupied. As he creeps out of the hospital, he and Nikolas
lock eyes. They exchange glances; Nikolas’ is accusing and Lucky’s is
apologetic. Then Lucky is out the door and into the night.
It is late in the evening the next day. Earlier that afternoon Lulu went into
cardiac arrest. They worked hard to bring her back, but the doctors informed
Luke and Laura that the damage Lulu’s brain sustained, being without oxygen for
five minutes, was extensive. They didn’t expect her to survive the day, and if
she did she would be in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. Luke and
Laura made the very painful decision to sign a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order.
Laura has been oddly calm, and cried very little.
Audrey has been by Liz’s bedside all day. The doctors were able to stabilize
her, and are flushing the Rohypol out of her system. She wakes up slowly.
L: (quiet) Gram?
A: (happily) Yes, Elizabeth. It’s me.
L: Where am I?
A: You’re in the hospital, dear. You’re going to be just fine.
Liz drifts off again.
Many people have gathered outside the ICU room, where Lulu is. Nikolas emerges
from her room, his cheeks tear stained. Laura approaches him, but he moves away
from her, and sits in one of the chairs. Luke is about to enter when Lulu’s
monitors go off. The doctor and nurses rush in, but do nothing. Laura is
stunned, frozen to the spot she is standing on. Luke walks over to her and puts
his arms around her. The monitors fall silent and Amy begins to cry. Bobbie goes
to comfort her, and to get comfort. Nikolas runs from the ward. The doctor
emerges and approaches Luke and Laura.
D: I’m sorry. She’s gone.
Luke begins to cry, but Laura is calm.
Laura: Can we see her?
D: In a minute. Let the nurses unhook the machines, then you can spend time with
her.
When the nurses indicate it’s O.K. Luke and Laura enter Lulu’s room. Luke stays
by the door, but Laura walks over to the bed and picks Lulu up. She carries her
over to one of the chairs that is in the room, and cradles Lulu on her lap.
Laura begins stroking and kissing Lulu’s face.
Laura: (calmly) She looks so sweet, doesn’t she? Just like she’s sleeping.
Luke pulls up a chair, the tears are streaming down his cheeks.
Luke: Yeah, darlin’. She always was sweet. Our sweet little baby girl.
Laura: Mommy loves you. Mommy will always love you.
Laura closes her eyes and rocks Lulu. As she rocks her she hums a lullaby. Luke
breaks down and sobs.
Luke: Oh, God. How could this happen? Our little girl is gone.
A quick pained expression passes over Laura’s face, but then it is gone. She
reaches over and rubs Luke’s arm. They spend another ten minutes or so with
Lulu. Then Laura lays Lulu back on the bed, tucks her in, and kisses her on the
forehead and cheeks. Luke is staring at Laura, puzzled. Laura turns and sees the
look Luke is giving her.
Laura: I don’t want her to get cold.
Laura leaves the room. Luke goes over and kisses Lulu. Bobbie approaches
Laura, and takes her hand.
Laura: (thoughtfully) I think we should get her pink jumper. She always liked
that one.
Bobbie: (cautiously) Yes, she did.
Laura: Do you think we could dry out her pony? She never likes to be without it.
Bobbie: Yes, I’m sure we could get it dry. Laura, are you…
She didn’t want to say “alright”, but was at a loss for an appropriate word.
Laura: (reassuringly) Yes, I’m fine. I am. We need to get going. We have a lot
of things to do.
Luke emerges from the room and the small band of people slowly disperses.
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