Chapter 21
Laura Spencer watched as EMT’s wheeled the still unconcious Stefan towards ICU, and probably surgery. She had to keep telling herself to breathe, lest she stop.
The only thing she could tell herself was that he wouldn’t die; not right now. Not while so many things were still left unsaid. God was not that cruel.
She tried to follow Stefan into surgery, but a doctor she did not know gently pushed her out of it’s doors. Laura had to comfort herself by sinking into one of the uncomfortable seats in a waiting area.
She tried to relax, but could not. She kept thinking about the way he had looked at her, as he lay, bleeding in her arms. There had been no hatred in his eyes; no coldness in his voice. The mask had been thrown off. He had been only himself.
How could she not have known that it was all a mask; that he had always loved her? She had been conflicted because she did not know if she should follow her heart or her head. It had never occurred to her that he might’ve had the same problem, and simply given up on his heart; shut it out when he spoke to her. It was only when Alexis, and then Nikolas had begun to speak to her, that she began to wonder.
She tried to quiet her thoughts, but they would not be silenced. How could I not be there for him? There was a gun pointed at the man she loved, and she couldn’t follow her heart long enough to be there for him? He could’ve died alone! She could see him, looking at the gun. And, without his family; thinking that he had been abandoned by his son and the one woman he loved....he might not have had the will to survive.
His words haunted her; chilled her to her very soul. “Lasha, I love you.” Had he left that as a last testament? Had he wanted her to know the truth before he...died?
Luckily, before her mind followed that path anymore, she saw Nikolas enter the hospital, Alexis at his heels.
Before Nikolas could say anything, Laura had him in a hug. “Are you okay?” she asked him.
She could feel him tremble, and she saw how dark his eyes were. But, he nodded. “I think so. How is he?”
Laura shook her head, looking him straight in the eye. She would not hide anything from him. “He went into surgery; I have no idea how it’s going.”
“No doctor has been around?”
She shook her head, again. “Not a soul. And, I haven’t had the courage to peek into
the surgery room.” she almost cried, but kept her tears at bay.
He pulled out of the hug, and looked at her, still trembling. “Do you know who did it?”
There was an odd emotion edging on Nikolas’s voice; one that not even his mother could pick up. It made her shiver. “No,”
“Well, we do.” a voice came up from behind her.
Laura turned, and caught sight of Alexis. Alexis was standing straight, and looking calm. But, as is often the case, there was more than meets the eye. Laura could see that Alexis was not okay.
She caught Alexis’s eye. “Who?’
The answer came with a perfectly straight face. “Luke.”
Laura couldn’t answer. She had a vague cold feeling, but she could not believe what Alexis had told her. That was crazy! No matter how much Luke hated Stefan, he would never act out on his feelings. He wouldn’t do anything that might alienate Laura...besides Felecia. Okay, then. Laura still knew that Luke would never do anything to hurt Lucky, and Lucky had sworn that Stefan hadn’t kidnapped him.
But, Luke might not have been thinking clearly, tonight. He might’ve been hurt, and
he might’ve had a gun... Laura looked back at Alexis, clinging for one shred of hope that she was lying. But, Alexis rarely lied. And, she looked so calm right now, piercing straight into Laura’s eyes; Laura could not believe she was lying.
Which meant....Oh God. Laura felt her knees falter, her son keeping her steady. “Mother?”
She looked straight at him. “Luke did it?”
He nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“How do you know?” she managed.
Alexis spoke up with the answer. “He practically confessed. We were on the docks, and saw a helicopter heading for the island. Luke showed up, all of a sudden, and told us that it was heading to Wyndemere, that Stefan was...” she couldn’t quite finish the answer; simply trailed off into silence. But, what Alexis could not say was painfully clear.
Laura was mute, again. Before she could get anything out, Bobbie had entered the area.
Laura was the first to speak, finally able to stand on her own feet, again. “You just get back?”
“A couple of hours ago.” Bobbie answered. “I was just called in. What happened?”
“They didn’t tell you?” Alexis asked, curiously. Bobbie turned to her.
“They told me that Stefan was in the hospital, in surgery. That he was shot. But, I don’t know how it happened.”
“I’m not sure you should.” Alexis answered, under her breath. Bobbie offered her a curious glance, before being called back to Laura.
“How is he?”
Bobbie was immediately grave. She would’ve preferred not to upset Nikolas, but she couldn’t lie in front of him. “Did anyone tell you anything?”
“Not since I brought him in.”
“Well, what do you think?” Bobbie asked, gently.
“He lost a lot of blood?” came Laura’s answer, as she recalled once more what had happened, how he had lain in her arms, the odd feeling as she had tried to cover the wound with two fingers. The warm stain on his shirt, which she had somehow understood without understanding...
Bobbie nodded. “There were two wounds; the bullet went straight through. It barely missed his heart.”
“How is he?” Laura asked, as images of Luke with a gun taunted her.
“The bullet’s out, and they were just about finished stitching him up. But, I won’t lie to you. It doesn’t look good.”
“Why not?”
“He lost a lot of blood, and he didn’t respond very well to the transfusions. We finally got some in him, but he’s not fighting very hard.”
“Will he be okay?” came Nikolas’s main concern. His voice echoed husky, and completely wrong to Laura’s sensitive ears. Only she couldn’t look at him, now. Her world was crumbling around her, and her eyes were locked onto Bobbie’s. She prayed that Bobbie could throw her a lifeline.
But, Bobbie Spencer held no such guarantee. She just shrugged, avoiding Nikolas’s piercing gaze. “The chances don’t look too strong, but you can never go by stats with bullet wounds. I can’t tell you anything more than that; I’m sorry.” she ducked Nikolas’s gaze, again.
Alexis broke through the group, reminding them that she was still there. “Do you still want to know what happened?” her voice seemed to catch in her throat, but somehow she got it out.
Bobbie turned to her, slowly. “I don’t need to know. But, if there’s a report to be filed; assault, for example, then it would be helpful.” she paused, trying to see into Alexis’s eyes. But, Alexis was blinking back tears, at the moment, and nobody could focus on her eyes long enough to read them.
She wiped her closed eyes, and when she spoke again, her voice was stronger. “We think Luke shot at him.”
A pause. “What makes you think that?”
“He confessed.”
Bobbie blinked. She really couldn’t say anything to that. So, she didn’t try. “Well, um...there are papers that need to be filled out.”
“I’ll do it.” Nikolas volunteered, valiantly trying to stay steady. He felt a hand on his arm.
“Are you sure?” Laura asked him, gently.
“Who else is going to do it?” Nikolas answered. He followed Bobbie out of the area, leaving Laura alone with Alexis.
Redemption
Chapter 22
Alexis’s eyes were immediately fastened on Laura, unmoving with a noticeable trace of quieted anger, and... fear? “What happened?”
Laura had pulled herself, unsteadily, into one of the hard plastic chairs. She couldn’t quite speak.
Alexis, evidentially, didn’t believe Laura’s anguish. “Tell me what happened.”
Laura, in turn, took a deep breath, and finally got some words out. “I don’t really know. I decided to go to Wyndemere, but it took me awhile to convince the launch to take me over.” she wasn’t looking at Alexis, as she relived those frightening moments. “I was coming in, and I heard a gunshot, so I ran...and I just saw him lying there...” she couldn’t get any more out; the words were chocked up in her throat. Another wave of tears seemed to threaten her.
Alexis wasn’t willing to give Laura any reprieve. “Come on; keep going. Did he say anything to you? Did he just fall over?”
Laura wiped away her tears, and turned her emotions on Alexis’s waiting expression. “Why do you keep asking me?”
“I know him. If he saw you, he would’ve said something to you. Did he tell you who did it?”
“All he said was that...he loved me.”
Alexis’s eyes fell, darkness approaching once more. “He never saw it.” she whispered.
“Never saw what?”
Alexis turned a very still expression on Laura Spencer. “Who you really were.”
Alexis’s accusations echoed through Laura, painfully. Usually, she could handle them pretty well. But, at this very moment, her world was crumbling. And, she simply couldn’t take it. “Wait a second. You asked me to prove you wrong; to show you that I really did love him. I was about to prove it.”
“I didn’t know that your husband was going to shoot at my brother.”
“What does that have to do with who I really am?” Laura responded.
“Why do you think Luke would finally erupt?” came Alexis’s cold answer. “He never fired on Stefan before, although he claimed many reasons to aim. Why would he do it, now?”
“He was probably angry because of Lucky defending Stefan.”
“So, you don’t think that you had anything to do with Luke’s decision? That, somewhere in the back of Luke’s little mind, he wasn’t thinking about all the nights you ‘wasted’ with my brother? That, somehow, Luke would become the hero out of all of this?”
Uh-oh. That sinking feeling was back. But, Laura bravely ignored it. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to get at.”
“Then, let me put it more clearly.” Alexis answered. “For all the years I’ve been in Port Charles, and watched my brother and Luke vie for your attentions, you have practically pitted them against each other. You had Luke save you from Stefan, had Stefan protect you from Luke. My brother continually sacrifices himself on your altar, Laura. You remain with Luke. And, Luke knows that. So, don’t you think that there might’ve been a glimmer, deep within his mind, that Luke was saving you?”
Actually, that hadn’t really occurred to Laura. “You blame me for Luke shooting Stefan?”
Alexis nodded. “Just as I blame you for Stefan not fighting back.”
Okay, now that had crossed Laura’s mind. Her eyelids lowered a little, but she would not let Alexis see anything. “You blame me for Stefan not fighting back?” Laura uttered, as if the thought hadn’t just crossed her mind.
“I told you, Laura. You abandoned him. This time, he just couldn’t handle it. A gun must’ve looked mighty tempting; an escape. A way out.”
Laura would answer that in a moment. “What do you mean, ‘this time’?”
Alexis was unblinking, almost merciless. “On the island. In Greece.” when Laura looked uncomprehendingly at Alexis, Alexis tried to place the thought more clearly in Laura’s view. “He was fine when I left for law school. He wasn’t cold or cruel. But, when I saw him again, he had this unpenetrated shell that he rarely let go of. I didn’t question it.” she paused. “You started seeing each other again, and he was becoming himself, again. Didn’t you notice?”
Laura could only nod.
“You left him again, without allowing him a moment of explanation. And, he just faltered. But, he couldn’t be completely cold. So, he decided to leave. And, this...opportunity just opened itself.”
Laura was silent. She couldn’t take all of the guilt Alexis was heaping on her. Her emotions were on the fritz to begin with, and Stefan was still in surgery. She just exploded. “Since when are you Stefan’s guardian? You almost killed his fiancee’! You’ve gone behind his back for a legacy that you don’t claim to care about. You willingly told him that Nikolas was not his son. None of these were particularly uplifting for his health and well-being. Since when does all of the blame for Stefan’s problems go to me?”
Alexis had grown calmer, but she remained focused. “I told him about Nikolas because he needed to know the truth. It had nothing to do with hurting him. As for everything else, I know I’ve made mistakes. Nothing was ever intended to hurt him, and he knows that. Besides, I never left.”
Laura deflated. But, she held steadfast - this was not her fault! Not entirely, anyhow.
It couldn’t be, even if Alexis’s words rang true in Laura’s mind. “I was going back, though. I was going to tell him. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Why did you take so long?”
The gleam in Alexis’s eyes seemed to accuse Laura on the spot, and Laura could not take it. She sputtered. “I --I had to think about it.”
“You had to think about it.” Alexis repeated. “It took you that long to think about it?”
Laura held her ground...or, at least tried to. “I had to know what I was doing. Which was more important. But, I was going over there.”
“You were too late.”
Before Laura had a chance to respond, Nikolas reentered the area. All of her attention turned to him. His face was pale; tear-streaked, although his dark eyes were valiantly dry. The harsh lighting of the hospital gave his face an odd, ghostly coloration. He was standing straight, but not quite steady. And, yet, he did not go to her. He remained between them.
When he opened his mouth to speak, somehow he became older in front of Laura’s eyes. “We’ve all made mistakes regarding my father. What’s the point of blaming each other?”
He turned to look at Alexis, but she refused to look back at him. She couldn’t meet his eyes. “You finished signing the forms?”
He nodded. “I tried to glance in to surgery, but I didn’t see him. Has anyone been around?”
Laura shook her head. “Not since you left with Bobbie.”
“This isn’t necessarily bad.” Alexis commented.
Laura took a quick look around. “There’s Bobbie. I’ll go ask.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bobbie Spencer was going through files, when she heard footsteps approaching her. She didn’t look up just yet, though. If it was Nikolas, she couldn’t face him again. Although she had been divorced from Stefan for quite awhile, she still cared for Nikolas. She didn’t wish to scare him.
Then, she heard Laura’s voice. “Did they move him? Where is he?”
Bobbie turned, to see Laura. Laura still had that pallor to her cheeks, her lower lip imperceptibly quivering. Bobbie was confused. She had thought that Laura and Stefan had broken up, after the issue about Lucky. Laura was still acting as if she were in love.
And, not with Luke, either.
But, Bobbie would not question. At least, not right this second. “He’s still in ICU, but out of surgery. Room 7, to be exact.”
Lucky number 7. “How is he?”
Bobbie shook her head, brown eyes uncertainly on Laura. “Not much has changed, I’m afraid. He’s alive; and there’s brain activity - always a good sign. But, I don’t know... it almost seems as if he’s lost the will to fight.”
Laura swallowed, hard. Her guilt was starting to shadow her. “Can people really do that?” she asked, falteringly. The thought of Stefan staring down the barrel of a gun still haunted her. “Isn’t there a basic instinct to survive?”
Bobbie wasn’t sure how to elude Laura’s question. So, she didn’t. “Usually, yes. But, if the victim believes that there is nothing left to live for, then that can win out over any basic instinct.” Bobbie paused, trying to piece together the right words. “What he subconsciously thinks can be more important than how much physical strength he has. If he thinks, inside and out, that there’s a reason to survive, then he has more of a chance.”
“Really?”
“He could come through this, Laura. There is a slim chance, anyhow. But, if he doesn’t have the will - and, at the moment, he doesn’t...” Bobbie trailed off. But, as usual, the end of her sentence was evident in her eyes.
Laura nodded, holding back tears. “I’ll go talk to Nikolas.” she moved out of Bobbie’s way, before her ex-sister-in-law saw her cry.
Redemption
Chapter 23
It seemed to take less time to reach the remaining Cassadines, Nikolas and Alexis, then Laura wished it to. She wanted a good amount of time to collect herself, to not think of herself...to know she could stand on two straight legs, and tell Nikolas the news.
Perhaps she could do it. By the time she did reach them, her eyes were dried and she was standing. Surely, she could tell them.
Nikolas pounced on her the moment she was in earshot. “What did Bobbie say?”
She turned to him, ready to tell the news to him, and be the shoulder for her Nikolas to lean on. She was his mother; that was the part she played. But, his eyes pierced her, the black pinned on her. And, Alexis’s accusations, and Bobbie’s pronouncement on Stefan’s conditions - they began to echo through her all over; a wave of guilt and worry rushed over her, breaking the fragile wall of courage she had tried to erect.
Suddenly, she faltered. Before she fell, she heard Nikolas run to her, felt his arms gather around her once more. But, yet again, she could not quite look at him.
“Please, Mother, you have to tell me.”
“Laura,” came Alexis from the other side. Alexis sounded gentler, simply because she could not force herself to argue with Laura anymore. It wasn’t worth it.
She took a moment, leaning against her son for support, silencing all of the guilt and worry weighing upon her...for the moment. Finally, Laura spoke. “He’s in ICU. Room
7.”
“He’s alive.” Alexis whispered, briefly relieved.
Nikolas was still carefully watching her. Laura could feel his eyes search her, without seeing her son’s face For one brief second, he reminded her of a particular memory of Stefan - but her mind could not stay focused. “He’s not okay.” he said, softly. “Tell me.” he pled, again.
Laura answered, slowly. She really didn’t want to say it outloud. “Bobbie told me he hasn’t changed much. There’s brain activity, and all. But, it seems he’s lost the will to survive.”
Alexis and Nikolas were both silent for a moment. Finally, Alexis said something under her breath, barely speaking at all. She spoke louder a moment later, her eyes not really focusing on anything. “He lost the will to survive?” she repeated.
Laura only nodded.
“That’s possible?” came Nikolas’s interjection.
Laura shrugged. “Evidentially,” she answered, softly.
Alexis seemed to want to answer that, but she chose against it. She simply watched Laura.
As the subject was exhausted, and Nikolas wished to cause his mother no more tears, he spoke up. “Can we visit him?”
“I don’t know.” Laura answered. “Bobbie didn’t tell me either way.”
“I doubt that they would kick us out.” Alexis answered. “He owns the hospital, after all.”
“Okay, then.” Nikolas paused, and turned back to his mother. “Mother, do you want to see him first?”
She immediately shook her head. “You should go. You’re his son.”
Nikolas answered earnestly. “I think that if he has lost the will to survive, maybe it would be best for you to see him first.”
For once, Alexis agreed. She nodded, and her voice was soft. “If you could’ve kept him in Port Charles, then you might be the first one to get him to hold on.”
Laura thought a moment. “I’ll try.” she volunteered. For him, she added silently.
“I’ll ward off anyone trying to keep us out.” came Nikolas’s offer.
Alexis made a very light attempt at humor, offering her nephew a half-smile. “If anybody comes by, just put on your...how did Lucky put it?”
“’Cassadine hat.’” Nikolas answered, with a small, vague smile. His heart wasn’t
really in it. He turned to Laura. “Go ahead, Mother.”
She gave him a hug, and finally let go of her son. With unsteady steps, she made her way slowly towards ICU, hoping she could face her lover when the time came.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Laura reached Room 7 rather quickly, which was odd, considering how she’d had to stop every so often, to keep herself calm. But, now she was here, and there was no turning back. She smoothed her mussed blonde hair, and wiped her tears, as if somebody was going to see her.
And, she bravely stepped in.
The first thing that overpowered her in Rm. 7 was the silence of it all. It was deathly quiet; even the machines seemed to make such little noise. It reminded Laura of a tomb - like the catacombs of Paris. The comparison was quickly, and firmly kicked out of Laura’s consciousness.
She let her eyes trail over the room, following a respirator, and an IV, among other things. They connected to a bed, and that’s where Laura’s eyes finally stopped.
“Stefan,” she whispered, scarcely aware that she had even spoken.
Laura moved closer to him, her eyes brimming over with tears again. She wiped her eyes.
He was so still. There wasn’t the slightest movement coming from him, and that scared her to her very soul. Stefan was never still. Even when he had been hurt or mad at her, he had never been motionless. She couldn’t recall a time where he hadn’t moved when she had entered a room. He had always turned to see her.
But, he wasn’t doing any moving, now. She couldn’t even really tell if the respirator was working.
Slowly, she leaned over him. He looked so small and helpless in that bed. She let her finger run over his cold cheek, her tears falling over him.
It came back to her, suddenly, how she had found him at Wyndemere. How he had told her he loved her; and his voice hadn’t been cold or angry. His eyes had been pure gold; liquid and shining.
But, now those eyes were closed, and he was silent. All she could see was a shell. His spirit seemed to actually be gone. Laura recalled what Bobbie had told her; how Stefan had “lost the will to survive”. Had he already given up?
She had to speak to him.
“I don’t even know if you’re still there. I pray that you are, Stefan, and that you can hear me.” she began. “I need you to hear what I have to say.”
She paused, caught her breath, and then continued, her eyes never leaving his face.
“I’m so sorry, Stefan. That I couldn’t give you what you wanted; what you needed. I forgot to follow my own heart, and I just left you alone. I didn’t listen to you. If I could take back what I did, Stefan, I would tell you the truth.”
She halted. Could she really say it? Perhaps, if he was going to come back to her, he would need to know. “Stefan, I never stopped loving you.”
Laura had been silently wishing that he would wake up to her proclamation of love, like the hero in any trashy romance novel. But, this wasn’t a romance novel. And, his demeanor didn’t change.
Perhaps she should keep going. “I still need you, Stefan. I need you to be with me every day, and stay with me every night. To keep me warm and safe. I know I left you again for Luke, and I have no right to be loved by you anymore. I turned you away from my mind and my heart. But, I was wrong. You’re my true love; Luke never was.”
It occurred to her that she had never told him why she loved him. Maybe it would help. “Stefan, do you know why I love you so much? Why I couldn’t forget you, no matter how far away I moved from your grasp?” she paused, answering the question for him. “It was because of the island. You were dark and intriguing; something different and exotic compared to boring old Port Charles. You sparked something in me. That’s why I was attracted to you.”
“But, the reason I fell in love? Because I knew there, when I looked at you, that you
would never consciously hurt me. Despite that spark, I knew. You would always protect me, and risk your life just to keep me safe. I loved Luke then, but he had hurt me; he had raped me. And, I didn’t feel safe in his arms. I was always worried, somewhere deep in my mind, that he could hurt me again.”
She paused, looking straight at him. Her eyes burned. But, at least she wasn’t crying anymore. “But, you... I knew you wouldn’t dare hurt me. Never consciously. And, I loved you for that. It’s just that somehow, I forgot.” she paused. “I blindly believed Luke when he told me about Lucky. I couldn’t stop to think of any other reason; I was just hurt that you had hidden my son from me. I forgot what I should’ve known; that you wouldn’t hurt me...for anything. And, I couldn’t prove to you that I loved you, by listening. I was just so hurt, and so overwhelmed.”
“But, I’m done forgetting, and I’m done chasing Luke. I promise. Just come back to me, Stefan, and I swear I will try to listen. I will stay with you.” again, she was sounding like the heroine from another trashy romance novel. She just didn’t care.
She moved to touch him again, hoping to spark something in him. She kissed his forehead. But, he remained the same.
And, she had nothing left to say to him. “Just remember I love you. Please don’t give up.”
She moved to leave.
Redemption
Chapter 24
Bobbie was filling out forms at the nurses’s station, keeping one eye on Nikolas and Alexis, when she heard someone creep up behind her.
Unfortunately, she had too much going on right now to give attention where it was due. She didn’t even look. “I’m sorry, Roy. I can’t go with you...I’ve got two surgeries, and I’m suppose to keep my eye on a couple of patients in ICU.”
The voice sounded in her ear. “I’m not Roy.”
Bobbie turned, and finally saw her older brother. Luke’s eyes were still flashing, intensely. And, his voice sounded not quite all there. But, other than that, he seemed to be in good health and good spirits.
She wasn’t sure what to say to him.
Luckily, she didn’t have to say anything at the moment. For, Nikolas had seen Luke come out of the elevator, and had decided to give Lucky’s father a piece of his mind. Alexis hadn’t even yet noticed that Nikolas had left the waiting area.
But, now, the young prince was in front of Luke. And, his dark eyes were murderous. “You,” he couldn’t come up with a word threatening enough, despite years of classical
studies.
Luke put up his hands, in mock defeat. “Relax, little prince. Don’t blow your crown off.”
“Why are you even here?” came Nikolas’s response.
“The whole world doesn’t revolve around the Cassadines, y’know.” Luke retorted, his grin still full. He put a protective arm around Bobbie’s waist. “I came to see my darling sister.”
Nikolas was about to respond, when Bobbie’s voice broke through the conversation. “Nikolas, why don’t you concentrate your strength on more important things.”
Nikolas grew silent. Luke grinned wider at Bobbie. “Why, thank you, Sis.”
But, Bobbie wasn’t done, yet. “And, you shouldn’t be here.” she admonished Luke.
“Why not?”
“If what Nikolas and Alexis told me is true, then you can be charged for assault. And, then there’s...”
Laura stepped into the circle.
“...Laura.” Bobbie finished, softly. She moved out of the group, back to the nurses’s station. Meanwhile, Alexis had finally seen what was happening, and had gently taken Nikolas back to the waiting area.
Luke and Laura were left alone.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They watched each other a moment, complete silence surrounding them. Usually, they looked like the perfect couple. Both had blonde hair, and blue eyes, and were perfectly proportioned to each other. But, they were at opposites. He was tan; she was pale. His eyes flashed with dark intensity, while her’s were pure. Basically where Luke was cocky, Laura was...lost.
Finally, Luke cracked a grin. “Hello, darling.”
If he noticed that Laura was breathing strangely; that the light in her eyes was flickering, and darkening fast, he said nothing to it. He only continued to grin, and spoke. “So, how is the Prince of Darkness?”
Finally, Laura spoke. “What did you do to him, Luke?”
“Me?”
“I know you shot him, Luke.” she answered. “I just can’t figure out why...”
He stopped grinning, and looked over her with a worried twitch in him. “Laura, he kidnapped our son.”
“There’s no proof of that.” she answered.
“Laura,”
“But, we’ll forgive that, for the moment. He didn’t warrant being shot at.” she paused. “And, you must’ve really hit him, to get a man so strong to allow you to shoot him...”
“Strong?” Luke answered, staring at Laura with unbelieving eyes.
Laura took security in her confession of Stefan’s strength, and suddenly stood straighter. “Stronger than you ever were.”
Luke held his ground. “Let me remind you of one thing. Lucky. If he was so strong, why didn’t he tell you?”
“I don’t know.” Laura answered, but she did not lose her reasoning. “But, if you really
wanted to fight him, then you could’ve when he was a good match for you. He lost his family, Luke.” she looked him dead in the eye. “Everything important to him; he didn’t believe he had a reason to live. You acted like a coward.”
The intense light in Luke’s eyes suddenly shimmered like the blade of a sword. “I don’t have to take this...” he started.
“Then, don’t.” Laura answered, with all of the strength left in her. “Go cuddle with Felecia. You’ve wanted her badly for so long, Luke. Go back to her. I don’t need you here.”
“Don’t bring Felecia into this.” Luke told her.
But, Laura didn’t have the strength to deal with him anymore. “I don’t care where you go, Luke. Drown your sorrows in a bottle of whisky, or in Felecia’s arms... even Tammy’s; I don’t care. Just, please, leave.”
“You ought to be more grateful.” he informed her, under his breath. But, thankfully, Luke soon retreated. As he passed his sister’s back, she stopped him.
His voice was serious. “Do you think I’ve made a mistake, Barbara Jean?”
Bobbie turned, and stared at Luke as if he had asked the stupidest question ever. Which in fact, he had. “What do you think?”
Luke glanced to where Laura still stood. “I expected her to, if nothing else, understand.”
Bobbie eyes remained unblinking. She couldn’t believe her brother really had such confidence in himself. I mean, she knew him and all, but this was too much. “You shot a man whom she was in love with.”
“She knows who he is.”
“She knows what you told her.” Bobbie answered, wisely. “And, what he told her. But, what Laura needs to do is decide for herself.”
Luke didn’t stop. “Do you think I made a mistake?”
“Again, Luke, what do you think?”
He actually thought about it this time, and his blue eyes hazed over for a second. “I might’ve.”
And, before Bobbie could respond, or kick him out, Luke had disappeared into the awaiting elevator. Laura was alone once more, but she could hear her son’s approaching footsteps.
Nikolas’s voice sounded in her ear. “You told Luke off.” he sounded astonished.
Laura let him hold her steady, mainly because she was uncertain if she could continue standing by herself.
“He certainly was proud of himself.” Alexis remarked.
“He’s always proud of himself.” Nikolas returned.
“Still, that was a little much...” Alexis trailed off, her eyes on the elevator. It was good to still be able to speak.
Nikolas shook his head, his dark eyes turning somber once more. “We can deal with Luke, later. Mother,” he turned to Laura.
Laura looked back at her son, trying once more to stand steady. “Yes?”
His voice betrayed his concern. “How was it?”
Redemption
Chapter 25
Laura didn’t answer her son’s pleading question. How could she? She didn’t want to worry Nikolas any more than he already was worried. But, she would not lie to him.
After all of the lies and half-truths that had swarmed about the young prince about his paternity, how could she ever lie to him again?
But, maybe she didn’t have to make it sound so bleak. Maybe she could respond with something that he could handle. Quietly, Laura took a breath, and pushed her blonde hair back behind her ears. “He’s more...stoic than usual. Unmoving, and it is awfully quiet in there.”
“He’s still unconscious?”
“Yes.” she paused, suddenly. “But, at least he won’t try to prove his point to you.”
Nikolas smiled at the attempt. Then, he turned serious again. “Do you think he can hear us?”
“I think that if he is aware of it, then he’s trying.” she answered, honestly.
Alexis piped up, having been forgotten for the moment. “There was no change when you spoke to him?”
Laura shook her head. “I didn’t see one. But, I also didn’t know what to look for.”
“Do you think he heard you, Laura?” Alexis’s eyes pinned to her.
Laura took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice from giving out in it’s trembles. “I hope so.” she didn’t quite answer Alexis, but now seemed to speak to herself. Her eyes seemed to plead with a higher being. She took another breath, and was able to talk again. “But, I’ve heard that you should try talking to them when someone is like that.” she couldn’t say dying, because Stefan was not dying. It was inconceivable.
But, just as before, Alexis and Nikolas saw what Laura left unsaid, and both of their expressions were sober.
“I’ve heard that, too.” Alexis offered.
“So, someone else should be with him.” Nikolas entered. “Who thinks they can go next?”
Well, obviously, Laura couldn’t handle seeing her lover so soon, again. “Can you go, Alexis?” Nikolas continued, not even bothering to question Laura.
She looked back at him. “You aren’t ready?”
He shook his head. “I couldn’t handle him right now. I wouldn’t know what to say.”
Alexis nodded. “Then, I guess I can go.”
And, before she could give herself a second thought, Alexis was off to visit her brother.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Luke took another swig of cheap vodka, letting the warm liquid pulse through his veins, as he sat at the vinyl-covered chair in his office. The vodka was bitter, but Luke kept lapping at it, in hopes it would affect his mind as the whisky had done earlier. He wanted to forget what he had done, but unlike his reasoning which had all but disappeared when he had gone to extract revenge from Cassadine, the vodka wasn’t doing well at erasing anything.
He stared at the prominent picture of Lucky on his desk; his little boy, ten years old, with a sweep of blandish hair, and flat blue eyes. Luke tried to focus his bloodshot eyes on the image of his son.
“If I could ask you, cowboy, would you tell me I was wrong? Would you tell me I committed some sort of crime?” Luke stared at the picture, willing it to respond. But, the ten year old child that looked back with his childish grin and unworried air, didn’t answer.
Luke couldn’t stop talking. “You know why I did it, right? You’d understand. At least, you would have before you were hit by the Cassadines. I did it for you...”
All of a sudden, Luke heard the door to his office creak open. A sweet, warm voice sounded in his ear. It almost melted the cold feeling that had been stealing over him since he had seen his angel cry over the fallen form of Stefan Cassadine. “Did what, Luke?”
Luke turned, and his pale blue eyes found their focus on Felecia Scorpio.
She took one more step in, her blonde curls disheveled charmingly, her sparked blue eyes catching on him. “Did something happen, Luke?”
Luke tried to smile at Felecia, and when he failed, took another swig of vodka. He focused once more on the empty eyes of the image of Lucky Spencer.
She was behind him in a moment. “Luke? Did something happen with Lucky?”
He turned to see her this time. His eyes glimmered oddly in the dimly lit office. They almost pled with her. “You know I would do anything for my son, don’t you? Anything to make it all okay for him.”
“Of course I know that, Luke.” came the soothing response. “Lucky is everything to you. Why? Did you do something?”
He wasn’t talking to her, exactly. His speech wasn’t really meant for her. Felecia
didn’t know who he was pleading to, but she still listened. “I wanted someone to pay for whatever they did to my son. So, I had a few drinks, to keep the fire going. I promised him he would pay...”
Felecia’s eyes narrowed. “Luke?”
“I went to Wyndemere, and I fired.”
Felecia’s eyes went wide. She couldn’t say anything at the moment. Finally, her words came out. “You shot at Stefan?”
He actually turned to see her, this time, his eyes betraying his confusion. “Crack shot. He fell like a rock.” he still seemed a little proud of that. “I was retreating, and Laura came running and she just sort of went nuts. I still didn’t feel anything bad; even told the prince and Natasha.”
“Luke,” Felecia started in again, but Luke wasn’t done, yet.
“I went to GH, just to see how things went over. I saw Laura. I expected that it would’ve made her see what Stefan really was, a kidnapper and a coward. But, she continued to defend him; fuming on me. And, underneath everything, I could just feel how devastated she was. And, that’s when I started to wonder about what I did.”
“What did you expect, Luke?” Felecia asked. “Did you expect Laura to lie to you, and herself, again?”
His expression was sharp. “What are you saying, Felecia?”
“No matter how ill-conceived her feelings might be, you know that Laura loved
Stefan.”
“But, I did it for her. Her and Lucky. Lucky would’ve understood.”
Felecia’s question pierced him. “You really think Lucky would understand you firing on an innocent man?”
“Innocent?” Luke stood by his actions. “He kidnapped my son; played keep-away for a year.” his voice quieted. “Him and that Black Widow ruined my son.”
Felecia’s voice tried to shine through him. “That’s what we’ve assumed, Luke. That’s what we thought. We have no proof.”
“I know what he did, Felecia.”
Felecia tried to be reasonable. “Okay. Let’s say that he did. He’s lost the woman he seemed to love, and his son has pushed him as far away as he possibly can. I don’t like Stefan Cassadine, but surely he deserved to keep his life.”
His eyes pierced her. “So, you think I made a mistake?”
“I think you made a small error in judgment.” Felecia answered, carefully, never avoiding Luke’s eyes. “Is he alive?”
“He’s at GH.” Luke dismissed the question as trivial. “Has my wife attending to him as if he were some wounded lamb.”
“Luke,”
“I wanted to make everything right. How could she not see?”
Felecia was, oddly enough considering her crumbling relationship with Mac Scorpio, a voice of reason is Luke’s dark haze. “Love is blind, Luke.”
“I never meant to hurt her. To really hurt anyone... besides him.”
“I’m sure you didn’t.” came the soothing response.
Luke continued to press his question. “Do you think I made a mistake?”
“Do you believe you made a mistake?” came the answer. Felecia met his gaze.
Luke thought for a moment, before speaking. Perhaps, even in drink, he could retain a little humanity. “I honestly didn’t think so. But, after I saw everyone’s reactions, I started to recall what I did... And, now I’m not as certain.”
“Good. Maybe you should tell Laura that.”
Luke shook his head. Despite a stab at humanity, he would be stubborn until his end. “I can’t tell her I was completely wrong.”
“Well, you have to tell her something, Luke.” Felecia reiterated.
“I need to think.” he said. “I have to go.”
Felecia seemed to agree. And, Luke left for his walk.
Index