And So It Begins

Part 17

Stefan opened his eyes, studying Laura's face before speaking. "Are you all right?" He already knew the answer. Luke had managed to hurt and humiliate her once again. Stefan was devilishly proud of the way Laura had stood her ground, and would tell her so sometime.

"When did they take you off the oxygen?" she asked, avoiding his gaze.

"A couple of hours ago. I'm to try breathing on my own. As long as I cough periodically they'll spare me the indignity of suctioning my lungs."

"When are they moving you out of ICU?"

"Tomorrow, if I keep improving. I'm told I'm making a remarkable recovery."

"No surprise there. I'd have been here sooner, but I called my mother to tell her about Lucky. She was out when I tried yesterday and that isn't the sort of news you leave on an answering machine. Then Lulu needed reassuring that you were okay."

"You haven't answered my question. Are you all right?"

Laura nodded at first. When their eyes met, however, she admitted, "No, I'm not, but I'll get over it. How much did you hear?"

"Most of it. There's a great deal of glass in the wall."

"Still speaking to me?"

Stefan laughed. "I've been called worse than a scoundrel. Regardless, a small part of it saved you."

"Oh? Which part was that?"

When he motioned for her to come to him, Laura sat on the bed and leaned forward, her face just inches from his. His voice just above a whisper, he said, "That you've finished shredding my heart. Does that mean I can give it to you this time without fear of having it returned to me in pieces?"

"Give it to me this time, and I keep it forever. Are you sure that's what you want?"

"If I can lay equal claim to yours," he said, placing his hand on her side and pulling her farther onto the bed with him.  "Or most of it, anyway."

Laura laughed and touched her forehead against his chin. "I think we're breaking a couple of rules here, aren't we?"

"I'm entitled."

She leaned forward to kiss him. "You have my heart, Stefan. Don't ever doubt that. And, if you do what the nurses tell you and get out of this hospital soon, I just might give you the rest. It's almost blueberry season and I'm sure there are all kinds of wonderful things —"

"Whisper softly if you're going to say something suggestive, Laura. It's safer that way."

"Why?" She was going to kiss him again when the muted sound of an explosion startled her. "What was that?"

He nodded toward the nightstand. "Dial 2400 and hand me the phone."

"They don't have phones in ICU."

"I do."

Laura found Stefan's cell phone in the drawer and handed it to him. "I didn't think cell phones were allowed in hospitals."

"First generation analog wasn't. I've made certain all of the wiring and equipment at GH can tolerate digital and newer analog phones. It was a necessary move since the majority of our staff have them now. This is Stefan Cassadine. What's going on? Was anyone hurt? Good. I assume the police have been called then. Fine. Keep me apprised. Yes, thank you."

"What was it?" she asked as he handed her the phone and she placed it on the nightstand.

"Luke is fine, Laura. He was far enough away not to be injured, but when he started the car with his remote, he triggered a car bomb that destroyed the vehicle. Evidently, he had borrowed one of mine. Those around it were also destroyed, I'm told. If you need to go, I understand."

"Helena."

He started coughing with such violence that Laura grabbed his right shoulder to steady him. "Don't worry, it's good for me," he said when he could talk. "It feels as though someone is playing soccer with my lung, but it's preferable to having tubing shoved down my windpipe." He patted Laura's hand. "Go. I'm fine, really."

"You're sure he's uninjured."

"So I've been informed."

"I guess the war has begun."

"And so it will end."

"Oh, for pity's sake, you're always so melodramatic," Helena said as she entered Stefan's room.

Laura reached for the phone. "I'm calling security."

"No." Stefan touched her arm to stop her. "Not yet. What do you want, Mother?"

"You really should better train your security staff, Stefan," Helena said with her usual disdain. "A little diversion and I waltzed right past tgen. Oh, by the way, Luke is fine. I do hate those remote starters. It used to be when someone started a car engine, it was all over in a second. Now they crank the vehicle while they're 20 feet away. I suppose I'm going to have to catch up with the times and resort to remote detonation as well. Was that a new car, Lasha? I don’t recall seeing it before.”

"Stefan asked you a question," Laura said coldly. "Why are you here, Helena?"

"She's probably disappointed that she failed to kill me." Stefan was calm, almost seeming amused by Helena's visit. "You know, my father tried years ago to get her to take lessons from a marksman. She refused, of course. Just as she refused him most things."

"I assumed, at such close range, a bullet through the chest would be enough to kill anyone, even if that person is a heartless as my son," Helena said to Laura. "Of course, he did keep me from shooting your dear son, Lucky. But he ruined everything, you know. I had such hopes for that boy."

"Care to enlighten us?" Stefan asked.

"Oh, Stefan. Your father had vision and tenacity. He saw the world as something that could be obtained and used according to his whim. You'd settle for nothing more than this useless tramp and a musty old mansion in this God-forsaken town. When I told you that her husband has your father's most prized possession, and that a worthless boy can by used to help us reclaim that and more, you proved again that you aren't worthy of the Cassadine legacy."

"What does Luke have?" Laura asked, not caring which one answered her.

"You honestly mean he's kept it a secret from you all these years?" Helena laughed.

"Obviously." Laura looked to Stefan for help. "What's she talking about?"

"The Ice Princess, you idiot," Helena said. "The world's most precious diamond. The stone my husband died for."

"The stone had nothing to do with father's death," Stefan argued yet again. "It was a means to an end. Laura was there, remember. She knows what killed him."

Laura nodded. "He fell into his weather machine and froze to death. Besides, I don't believe you. Luke wouldn't have kept something like that from me. Not when it could have endangered our children."

"Did you order that Lucky be kidnapped or was it Faison's idea?" Stefan asked.

"Does it matter whose idea it was? Cesar and I decided it was time to enjoy the sweet rewards of revenge and reclamation. I saw it as an opportunity to destroy my enemies, throw cold water on your disgusting relationship with this tramp, have a little fun, and retrieve certain things of value."

"How long have you known Faison?" Stefan was trying not to show the hatred he felt for his mother and finding it more difficult than usual.

"A very long time. We're surprisingly close, my dear. He's done odd jobs for me in the past. Retrieving medical files, removing loose ends. He was a very discreet and worthwhile man before your henchman killed him. Efficient and satisfying as well."

"In other words, he killed Nikolas' doctor for you," Stefan said.

"You'd blame me for all of the world's ills if you could, wouldn't you?" Helena looked from Stefan to Laura and back. "How this sickens me."

"You know what sickens me?" Laura asked. "The way you use people to carry out your pathetic deeds. The fact that you always target innocent people because you don't have the — what? —courage or decency? — to face your enemies. First you order Stefan, because he loves me, to kill my mother —"

"Something else he failed to accomplish." Helena looked at Stefan with disdain.

"Now you take my son when he's even younger than I was. What were you going to do to him, Helena? Abuse him the way you did Stefan? Or were you hoping to turn him into another Stavros?"

"An eye for an eye, Lasha. I wanted you to know how it felt to lose a child. I wanted you to suffer the way I did after you murdered Stavros and left me without my beloved son. You were to feel the pain and loss that go along with being denied the chance to watch your son become the man he was destined to be. And now you've taken Cesar from me as well."

Laura stood, ignoring the fact that Stefan tried to catch her arm. She approached Helena slowly, her fists opening and closing as she walked toward her. "You have a son worthy of your love, Helena, and you rejected him. You tormented, assaulted and lied to him. Why? To keep him from knowing the truth about the man he was destined to be?"

"He wouldn't recognize the truth if it fell into his lap."

"Well, he knows it now. He knows that the animal of a man you tried to pawn off as the Cassadine heir was a bastard. You have belittled and endangered Stefan time and time again because you knew everything belonged to him and, rather than give him what he deserved, you hated him for it. Why not admit it, Helena? Before I rip your heart out, tell Stefan he's the prince."

"Is that true, Mother?" Stefan asked.

Helena looked at Laura in horror. Her anger turned to outrage when she addressed Stefan. "You deserved nothing.  You were a disgrace to the family name! Instead of working with Stavros to crush people like this tramp, you were busy studying ancient literature and writing poetry to her. And all the while, when his back was turned, the two of you were rutting like —"

Laura felt as though she were someone else when her hand found its way to Helena's cheek with full force. Though Helena didn't fall, she staggered backward and grabbed the sink to steady herself.

"Laura, come here!" Stefan leaned forward and caught Laura's arm, yanking it to pull her next to him onto the bed. "Is it true, Mother? Was Stavros a bastard?" he asked in an attempt to redirect Helena's anger toward him.

"Yes. But he was more Cassadine than you'll ever be. You will never lay claim to the Cassadine fortune." Helena threw back her shoulders and smiled at Laura. "Did that amuse you, Lasha? You seem to enjoy striking me of late. At least this time they aren't having to carry you away."

Laura started to rise again but found her arm was held too tightly by Stefan. "That's enough!" he insisted.

"Stefan, I warned you that digging too deeply into one's past could be painful," Helena said. "All either of you really needs to know is that my gloves are off. I may have missed Luke a few minutes ago, but that will be a minor bump in the road. After all, there's nothing that says I have to deal with him first. In fact, I think I'll keep him to last and savor the experience. As for the two of you." She reached into her pocketbook and removed her pistol. "Say good-bye, dears."

It appeared that Laura was going to go after Helena yet again. "Don't you ever learn?" Stefan asked in a tone an adult would use with a child. He pushed himself into a sitting position and leaned forward, moaning loudly as pain tore through his left shoulder and down his back. It wasn't evident which of the women he was addressing, so both looked at him in surprise. With all of the strength he could muster in his right arm, he wrapped it around Laura and pulled her sideways so that she was yanked off balance and most of her torso landed behind him on the bed. "Put the gun away, Mother. You don't want to shoot anyone here. One spark in this room right now and —"

"You'll never get away it," Laura said.

"I remembered the silencer this time, dear," Helena said. "When they break the tragic news to me that my son and his married mistress were found shot to death in his hospital bed, I'll cry appropriately and offer Nikolas all of my love and support."

"You’ll never get away with it. No one would believe you," Laura said. "Especially Nikolas."

"Commissioner, do you have enough?" Stefan asked as he fought another coughing spell.

And So It Begins

Part 18

The next few days passed by quickly and quietly. Stefan continued to improve, especially with Laura ministering to his needs. He was moved to a regular room and was now ordered to walk as well as cough. If he continued to improve, by the end of the week he would be released.

Lucky agreed to Stefan's offer of the guest house since it would only be for a while and it would save his mother from having to worry about buying furniture and everything else right now. Mac asked only minimal questions about Faison's death, focussing on Helena's involvement instead.

Four days after her initial arrest, and just hours after the last few charges were filed, Helena was taken before a judge to be formally charged and bound over for trial.

Arraignments are usually simple procedures. The prisoner appears before the judge, both sides state their care, and the judge determines whether the defendant should be held without bond or released until the trial. That's the way they are supposed to be, but Helena wasn't the typical defendant. Halfway through the procedure, the courtroom began filling with a noxious smoke. By the time it was cleared, the unconscious parties were rushed to General Hospital for treatment and Helena and her attorney were no where to be seen.


* * * * *

Stefan was shaken from a natural sleep by a rough hand. He sat up quickly in response, ready to strike his unwelcome guest.

"Easy," Ian said. "I come bearing news."

"Next time, try knocking." Stefan, who was now in his second day on a regular nursing floor, used the remote to raise his bed into a sitting position. He glanced at the clock. "Four-thirty. I've slept most of the day. What do you have?"

"Your Mum escaped during the arraignment."

"Where is everyone?"

"Laura and Audrey are working, Nikolas is at Deception, Lucky is outside waiting to see you, Elizabeth is at Kelly's, Lulu is with her sitter, and Luke is at his club. I already have men covering them. We're looking for Helena."

"Lucky's here?"

"Outside."

"Then why am I talking to you? Go and find Helena. She isn't to leave town. However, call me before you do anything."

Ian saluted his employer and friend, pausing at the door to grin back at him. "Is there anything else you desire, Prince Stefan?"

"No. I want my mother." Stefan's look of amusement belied the serious tone of voice.

Ian held the door open for Lucky as he left. Lucky entered slowly, as though his usual air of self-confidence had left him.

"Hi, am I bothering you? Or do you have a minute?"

"I have all the time you need, Lucky. Sit, please. Did Ian tell you Helena has escaped?"

"Yeah. I called everybody to warn them. I figured I should tell Mom in person, so I came over."

"Thank you."

"How are you feeling?"

"Better. I'm supposed to stay a few more days, but with Mother on the loose, I'm seriously contemplating getting out of here." Stefan smiled at Lucky's obvious discomfort. "I know your mother won't approve, but I can handle her. Well, I can avoid her. What can I do for you?"

"I, uh. You see, I had quite a bit of money saved for New York, but it was trashed in the fire. Now that the garage is toast, I don't have any way of earning it back. I could work at Dad's club, or do something else for Sonny, but I really don't think I want to do either."

"Are you looking for work at GH?"

"I was thinking something along the lines of computer security or web page design."

"I see. Nikolas told me you hacked into my office computer to get the information about Stavros."

"Yeah. You had pretty decent password security to get into the machine — I gather that was something personal."

"It was."

"Not bad. But the system security is way too easy. Besides, in both cases you used terms that were too easy for me to guess."

"Really? What made you think of my personal password?"

"Carmen? It was the name of the opera you took Mom to, wasn't it? It was your first date and you're sentimental about her. Considering you probably change every few months, I played the odds. That was a little out of left field, but not difficult to guess."

"I don't use encryption here. Since all of the Cassadine holdings were frozen, and Mother assumed control, I get requests daily from attorneys asking for encryption keys. I have yet to provide one."

"You won't have to now, will you?"

"Not after I'm able to address the matter." Stefan folded his arms across his chest and began stroking his beard. "All right. Has your mother replaced your laptop?"

"Not yet."

"That's no problem. Go by data processing and have them provide whatever you need. If they don't have it readily available, have them purchase it for you, to your specifications. I want you to break into the hospital's various information systems — both stand alone networks and those attached to the mainframe, such as medical records, billing, personnel data, tumor registry, etc. DP can give you a list."

"No, let me see if I can find them all on my own. You want me connected or should I do it by modem?"

"Both. Let me know how long it takes you to hack your way in and what you would recommend for better security. If you accomplish that to my satisfaction, I may let you tackle Cassadine industries just to see if you think you can break my various encryption methods."

"Nikolas says you're pretty good, as a rule."

"It's a hobby more than anything else. Something tells me you're better."

"We'll see, won't we?"

"Prepare a consulting contract, stating your terms and the amount you wish to be paid, and I'll sign it."

"What? I get to set the amount I'm paid."

"Hourly or for the whole project; whichever you prefer. I fully anticipate you'll be reasonable."

"Yeah, sure."

"I know your mother won't have any qualms about this, but are you sure your father will allow it?"

"It's none of his business. He doesn't like my staying at your guesthouse, but that hasn't stopped me either. I think he's a little surprised that you trust a Spencer enough to let one wander around your place without guards close behind."

Stefan laughed. "I have a short list of people who require a silent escort when on the island. I'll be the first to admit your father is one of them. However, you are welcome to stay as long as you like."

"Thanks. Anything else I can do for you?"

"You can bring me the clothes hanging in the closet. I've got work to do."

Lucky brought him the suit and travel bag. He unzipped the bag before placing it on the bed. "Need any help?"

" I can manage. However, if you happen to run into your mother, will you keep her busy for me?"

"One of the things I do best." Lucky paused at the door. "Do I —?"

"I'll call DP and tell them you're on your way."

"Thanks."

Stefan watched him leave before reaching for the phone. After giving his chief information officer instructions, and explaining why he didn't care what the staff would think of the idea, he realized what had just happened. In his own way, Lucky had finally accepted him as a part of Laura's life. While he knew they might never be especially close, at least that was one less burden for Laura to worry about in taking their relationship to the next level. If, he thought while pulling the IV needle from his arm, I don't get myself killed this time.

His cell phone rang, interrupting his dressing. "Yes?"

"She's on a yacht registered to our Herr Krieg — pier 81 — and it looks like they're getting ready to raise anchor," said Ian.

"Any sign of the police?"

"They have her yacht staked out, but she hasn't been near it and we're almost at the other end of the docks. They also have the family jet, helicopters and automobiles under surveillance, and officers are watching all forms of public transportation. Short of calling a cab, this may be her only option."

"You know what to do."

"I have a car waiting for you on the east side."

"Then I'll be there shortly."


*****

Stefan soon wished he had asked Lucky to help him get dressed. He removed the sling that was supporting his shoulder first, which caused instant pain. However, he managed to get into the remainder of his black shirt and suit without groaning loud enough to bring the nurses rushing into his room. Walking past the nurses' station without showing any signs of distress was almost impossible, but went well because no one dared to approach him.

The car was waiting where Ian said it would be and he eased himself into it. Stefan nodded to the driver, but no words were exchanged as they headed for pier 81.

*****

Ian hesitated, then dialed the number. In a few rings, he heard Laura's voice. "It's Ian. Look, I know he's going to hate me for this, but you may be the only one who can talk some sense into him."

"Him, who? Stefan?" Laura asked. She was seated at her desk, just thinking what a relief it was that she had seen her last unruly teenager for the day.

"He's on his way to confront Helena again."

"He's in no shape to do that!" Laura stood. "Where is he going?"

"Pier 81. She has another yacht."

"Can't you stop him?"

"Me? Are you kidding?"

Laura cursed under her breath. "All right. I'll do something." She hung up and dialed Stefan's cell phone number, praying he had taken it with him.

He answered on the second ring. "Yes?"

"Stefan, what's going on?" Laura asked as gently as her nervousness would allow.

"Remind me to drown Ian when I get to the waterfront," Stefan said to the driver. "I have to do this, Laura."

"Call the police. You aren’t up to it now."

"I tried that. You saw how worthless the justice system is. I won't let her harm you or anyone else you love again. It's time I face the responsibility, Laura. I promised to protect you and I will."

"She isn't worth it, Stefan. Please. Just let it go!" Laura made no attempt to hide the fact that she was crying now.

"No, she isn't worth anything. But it has to end." There was a long pause before Stefan said, "I want you to know, that no matter what happens, I will always love you. Good-bye, Laura."

She heard the sound of a call being ended. Inside, she felt as though everything she cared about was also coming to an end. "No. Please God, no."

Laura ran from her office to the elevator. Slapping the down button multiple times did no good whatsoever, but she felt better. At least she was doing something. The doors opened and Laura rushed in, almost failing to notice an exiting Lucky. "Mom, what's wrong?"

"Lucky! What are you doing here?"

"I just got a job. I figured I'd ride home with you."

"Whatever. Thank God. Where is pier 81?"

"The lower end, just outside of the city limits. Why?"

"Show me." Laura grabbed his arm. "Stefan's going after Helena again.”

*****

Stefan approached Ian slowly; however, his anger was more than obvious in his walk. "You called Laura. Why?"

"So she could talk some sense into you. Guess it didn't work."

"It served no purpose other than to upset her. Is Helena on the yacht?"

"Yeah, and my men have everything in place. The engines will stall every time they're started. That boat is dead in the water, for all practical purposes. You’ll have all of the time you need."

"Good." Stefan held out his hand until Ian handed him his favorite Beretta.

"Don't abuse my 'Retta. I've grown accustomed to the way she feels in my hand." He also gave him a second one. "She isn't as friendly, but she's an excellent dinner companion."

"When Laura arrives, as I'm certain she will, keep her out of harm's way."

"Whatever. What makes you so sure your Mum won't kill you this time?"

"I won't give her the opportunity. "Everyone knows when they're to move in?

"Precise timing is our greatest asset.”

Stefan pocketed the second gun. The Beretta he slid under his waistband in the small of his back. He knew Helena's men would check his pockets, but they had yet to actually frisk him closely.

He strode casually down the pier to the yacht and went aboard. As he expected, Helena was waiting for him below and he still had the Beretta safely tucked away.

Parts 15-16

Parts 19-20

And So It Begins
Index