"Bring Stefan Back Fanfiction Challenge"
Beyond Your Reach
By Slacker "How long?"
He studied her closely, watching her exhale slowly, the bitter chill in the air capturing her momentary hesitation. "Please," he implored her, "how long have I been gone?"
She lowered her face from her task, her long, dark mane cascading from her shoulders, masking her expression from his gaze. Lying was a skill she was proficient at, but not with him. "28 months."
Stefan reared back, as if struck. Had it been that long? "They had no knowledge? Alexis and Nikolas?"
She shook her head. "That was Helena's plan. Replacing you seemed to be the only course to follow. It worked, for a period of time."
"My replacement? Who was he?"
"A Russian nobleman, destitute and thrown from his family's home. He was desperate."
"So desperate as to take my place and die for me?" His brow creased with anger.
She turned to face him, her expression haunted. "Have you never been in such a situation before? How fortunate for you."
She stood and began placing her things into the duffel bag she'd brought with her. "You may stand. We will be leaving shortly."
Stefan pulled himself to stand, leaning against the wall for support. It had been quite some time since he'd been able to do this without intense pain enveloping him. He let out a slow, relaxing breath, his thoughts merging to his loved ones. "Nikolas. How is he? Does he know? And Alexis?"
"They were informed of your whereabouts a few hours ago. They should meet you at the airstrip within the hour." She hesitated, unsure of his readiness. "They were relieved to learn you were alive and well. Your sister spoke with great emotion."
Stefan smiled briefly, picturing Alexis biting back threatening tears. "And Nikolas?" he asked eagerly. What of his nephew?
She swallowed hard at the mention of the Prince. "He was calm and polite, but happy. He thanked me four times," she said, remembering his delighted laugh just before ending the phone call. "They send their love."
Another member of the unit entered the neglected holding cell that had been his home for the past 6 months with the change of clothes Stefan had been promised earlier. He took the bundle, his fingertips relishing the feel of the expensive fabric. He took them to the privacy of the small bathroom and began to rid himself of the last remaining hold of Helena's plan. Among the bundle lay his personal toiletries. The intimate gesture caught his breath. Suspicion arose almost immediately. It was possible Alexis or Nikolas or even Helena revealed the items to her, but he couldn't risk the decision of accepting a possibility.
"How is it that you found me?" he called into the other room.
"Helena has been under our surveillance for quite some time. She made 3 trips to this island last year alone. It was a coincidence that needed pursuing," she replied efficiently.
She was lying. He was almost certain of it.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't hear your name when you announced yourself earlier. It would be foolish for me to not learn the name of my rescuer."
She turned sharply to the partially shut door of the bathroom, suddenly suspicious. Did he know? She shook her head slightly, brushing the thought from her mind. Of course not.
"Athena Tomasa." She checked her watch. "We need to leave shortly." She handed the duffel bag to the guard and waved him off. Restless, she leaned against the wall and watched the bathroom, her eyes narrowing slightly. She was anxious suddenly. Why? He had no knowledge, not in the slightest. She had been careful. Painstakingly so.
He emerged from the bathroom, almost as a different man. Gone was the unkempt appearance. The soiled clothing had been discarded along with the helplessness of wearing them. He stood tall, regal and centered his focus on her. "You were fortunate that my Mother was so foolish as to actually come to the place that held her son captive, knowing she was under one form of surveillance or another." He took a deliberate step towards her, his emerald orbs gleaming fiercely. She met his gaze evenly.
"Fortunate, yes."
"Curious. She's never been this careless before. Are you sure there was no previous knowledge of this place?"
"By the WSB? No. No previous knowledge."
"Really?" He folded his hands behind his back. "And Alexis and Nikolas had no prior knowledge of the imposter?"
Athena shifted slightly. "They grew suspicious over time."
"Yet made no effort to confront him? They did not even confirm their suspicions with each other?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"They were assured that nothing positive would emerge from a confrontation. They agreed to keep the information private, even from each other. They rarely spoke and saw each other only a few times."
Stefan nodded as he absorbed the information. Things were becoming much clearer now. Athena glanced at her watch once more. "As soon as I am informed the path is secure, we will depart."
"How did you get Alexis to agree?"
"I spoke with her. She was unwilling initially, but I persuaded her eventually. Nikolas soon followed. Both simply wanted the charade to end, they were quite docile, in fact."
"How fortunate."
Her expression tightened at his repeated words.
"So, not only were you able to track me to this location, you were able to convince my closest family members to continue a farce for over a year?" He smiled genially. "Perhaps I could persuade you to join my security crew."
"I am already gainfully employed, thank you." Her tone had changed. Cool. Her arms crossed in front of her. For the first time, she was being openly defiant. She looked so young.
"What of Helena? Where is my beloved Mother at this moment?"
A smirk played about Athena's lips knowingly. "Nothing but dust remains."
"You are certain?"
Athena nodded once. "I saw to the task myself."
Stefan noted the pride in her tone. She was more than giving herself away now. "This was quite a personal expedition for you," he remarked slowly. "Finding the island, containing and holding my sister and nephew at bay, mounting a rescue operation and finally, riding the world of Helena Cassadine."
Athena moved to speak, but stopped at the last moment, realizing his game. "Is there anything here you wish to take with you?"
"Yes," Stefan replied. He took a step towards her. "I would like to know who you really are. I wish for nothing more."
Athena stared hard at Stefan, her spine tingling. "I have already given you my name."
"Yes, and you are employed by the WSB." He paused, waiting for any addition from her. When none came, he arched his brow, as though he was amused. "Yet you are a Tomasa and so I must ask, what part of the Cassadine family are you?"
Athena paled at the implication. "Pardon me?"
"Tomasa is a precious name to Cassadines. I have only heard of 2 others in our ancient family lineage, to receive such honour. Do you know what Tomasa means?" he asked, suddenly gentle. The holding cell had trickled away and all that remained was the captive man and the strange woman who'd freed him.
Athena shook her head, dread filling her with each second that passed.
"It means twin."
Horror filled Athena. He had worked out most of the details, yet by the tone in his voice, she knew he did not see the picture for what it was.
"You are a Cassadine." It was no accusation, but it felt as though he was stabbing her through the heart. She could not speak.
Stefan watched her curiously. She was frightened. Not of him, but of the things he spoke of and even more, of the things he had not yet said.
"You are also a twin."
Athena's walkie talkie roared to life as a crackling voice barked into the room, breaking them both from the spell, informing them of the helicopters that had just landed.
Athena's resolve righted itself. "We'll be right out," she responded before tucking the walkie talkie back onto her belt. Pulling out her sidearm, she turned for the door. "It's time to go."
"Whomever bestowed the Tomasa name on you, did so with the intention of reuniting you with your family."
His remark was met with silence as Athena stalked out of the room. Without a backwards glance, he followed. They traveled the narrow hallways until reaching the final doorway that led to the outside. She took a breath, calming herself.
Stefan leaned closely to her. "You go to great lengths to free me and yet you cannot bring yourself to acknowledge who you are," he whispered, his voice easily defeating her silence. Her vision blurred and a sob threatened to escape her throat.
No! Her head screamed at her. She threw the door open and immediately two large men grabbed Stefan by the arm and hurried him out the door and across a landscape of tall grasses. In the distance stood two helicopters and the lush greenery was littered with uniformed men and women, clad in black and carrying impressive firepower as they stalked the surroundings. Athena jogged ahead, her hair whipping in the wind. Stefan called to her, but the roar of the helicopter blades drowned him out and he was efficiently loaded into a waiting helicopter.
"Athena!" he shouted to her as he was belted into his seat. Panic crept into his voice. "You must tell me!"
Athena turned and regarded him. "Mr. Cassadine, you must leave now! Your son is waiting for you!" she blurted out.
Stefan froze. His son?
"Nikolas."
She nodded without hesitation. "I can acknowledge who I am." Her voice was clear and controlled. Gone was the conflicted young woman of just a few short moments ago.
Athena Tomasa.
She knew who she was.
"My son," Stefan said, as if in a daze. Athena said nothing, her face neutral.
And now Stefan knew too.
"What of my daughter?" he asked, his voice hoarse with sudden emotion. His eyes glittered as the million fragments of Athena neatly fell into place. "Where is she?"
Athena placed her trembling hand on the helicopter door. She hadn't planned on a moment like this.
"She's beyond your reach."
With that, she slammed the door shut, securing it tightly.
"No," Stefan whispered, crestfallen. He watched as Athena turned and walked away from her spot in the grass. The helicopter slowly rose, pulling away from her.
"No!" Stefan called, suddenly frantic to remove his safety belt. He did not feel the guards hold him back, nor the prick against his neck as the sedative was administered. He screamed helplessly as Athena became smaller and smaller until she was gone from his line of sight. Warmth overwhelmed him and his limbs begged for rest. He slipped into darkness only a moment later.
An agent approached Athena and looked at her curiously. "Why did you tell him?"
Athena shrugged, accepting the coat he held out to her. "I don't know, Dade. He would have figured it out sooner or later. Why not beat him to the punch?"
Back to lying. Dade frowned at her but did not voice his disbelief.
"Tomasa! Phillips! Boss wants to see you!" called a low ranking agent from the other helicopter.
Dade's face broke into a wide grin. "Oh, he'll be thrilled about you spilling everything to Cassadine," he teased.
Athena forced out a chuckle. "Please, Jerry Jacks doesn't authorize anything he isn't prepared to deal with.
"Maybe, but how is he going to feel about Stefan Cassadine wreaking havoc with the WSB infrastructure to find you? I don't think he authorized that."
Athena's expression darkened. "I can assure you, my Father will be of no consequence."
"No?"
"Of course not. I am beyond his reach."
