Luke stopped when he saw Laura and Stefan Cassadinearguing. His first impulse was to tear into the bat, but somethingheld him back. He decided to keep his presence hidden, maybe oleuncle Stefan would let something slip with just Laura there. He wouldbe more careful with his words if he knew Luke was listening.Silently Luke eased behind a bush close to the pair so he couldlisten without being seen.
Laura- I thought you loved Nikolas!! What do youthink this will do to him when he finds out? Thanks to your family,they hate each other.
Stefan-The Cassadines didn't make Luke plant drugson him. We didn't make him greet his son with a wall of hatred!! Andwe didn't make you turn your back on him three different times. Thosewere the Spencer's choices, not mine! And in case you've forgottenLasha, I am the one who protected Nikolas from Helena andStavros!
Laura-Believe me, I haven't forgotten. If youhadn't changed the paternity test results, Helena and Stavros wouldhave killed him. I know that! And I am grateful to you for saving myson's life. When I begged you to help me, you said if we did this, wecould never take it back. What has changed Stefan?
Stefan- My feelings for you have changed Lasha! Icommitted treason against my family by protecting and raising yourand LUKE SPENCER'S son as the Cassadine heir. And in the process, Igot my own brother killed.
Laura- Stavros got himself killed. You had nothingto do with that! You have to know that. But would you really destroyNikolas just to get back at me? I thought you loved him! You're theonly Father he has ever known. How could you do this to him?
Stefan- (With a dangerous look in his eyes) Don'tyou dare question my love for that boy!! And don't you pretend tolove him after what you have done to him. You do not fool me for oneminute, It's not Nikolas you are concerned for. You are afraid of howyou husband will react when he finds out, that you left HIS SON to beraised by the Cassadines!
Luke's mind was numb, he could no longer hear thewords of betrayal. All sense of his surroundings left him. Hisbeloved angel had betrayed him by making his own son his enemy. Forthe first time is his life, Luke felt completely defeated. No matterwhat hell he faced, he had always been able to count on Laura's loveand loyalty. And now he finds out that he never really knew her. Hemoved as if in a trance, his subconscious taking control and movinghis body away from the source of his pain. He turned and saw Nikolasstanding behind a sign, he had the same lost look about him. For abrief moment their eyes locked. Each too lost in shock and pain toreact to the other. Without a word Nikolas ran from him as fast as hecould.
"I don't blame you kid," Luke thought.
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Sonny was sitting at the bar talking withJason.
Sonny- How did it go?
Jason-No problems, everything went as planned. Theywant a meeting in a couple of weeks though. Said they would be intouch to set it up.
Sonny- A meeting huh? Well can't say I haven't beenexpecting it.
Sonny quit talking when Mike came up to them withfresh drinks.
Mike- Uh-oh, Looks like trouble.
Mike nodded indicating Luke storming into theclub.
Sonny- You're right, I wonder what's up.
Luke- (Who has obviously been drinking) Give me abottle of whiskey Mike and make it quick.
Mike- Do you think that's a good idea boss?
Luke-I think you should mind your own damn businessand give me the g@ddamn bottle. That's what I think Mike.
Mike looked at Sonny who nodded and Mikereluctantly handed him a bottle of jack danials.
Luke-That's better. (Taking the bottle) I'll be inmy office but if anyone is stupid enough to ask for me, I ain't here.Got it?
Mike-Got it.
Sonny- Something wrong Luke?
Luke- You don't even want to know, you wouldn'tbelieve it anyway, hell I don't even believe it myself.
Sonny-You never know, want to talk about it?
Luke- No thanks, I just need some time to think.(Then holding up the bottle) No, make that time to not think.
Luke took his whiskey to his office and sat down athis desk. He opened the top and took a long swallow. Leaning back inhis chair, he began to replay Laura and Stefin's argument in hismind. He still couldn't believe it, the little bastard was his ownson. His son raised as his enemy by the Cassadines with his wife'sblessings. A son he could never trust. And a son who hated him asmuch as he hated his own father. How could Laura have done this tohim? To them? Laura, his angel, his love, his betrayer. He opened thebottom drawer of his desk and took out the gun. What was the use, hethought. He swiveled around in the chair and propped his feet on asmall filing cabinet behind the desk. With his back to the door helaid the gun in his lap and took another swig of whiskey. Almostwithout thinking he picked up the gun and placed it to his head.
Sonny was worried about Luke. He had never seen himlike this before. That was a man in pain. The look on Luke's facereminded him of the way he was the night Lily died. Sonny decidedLuke shouldn't be left alone and headed back to the office. Hestarted to knock, but decided against it. Instead he quietly openedthe door and peeked in. Without thought he ran into the room andgrabbed Luke's hand, the gun went off. Sonny wrestled the gun awayfrom Luke as Mike and Jason came charging into the office.
Sonny- What the hell do you think you are doingman?
Luke- You don't understand. The world doesn't makesense anymore.
Sonny turned to Mike and told him to go get a potof strong coffee. The he tossed the gun to Jason.
Sonny-Do something with this, then wait at the barfor me. It's a good thing we weren't open, or we would have someexplaining to do.
Mike brought in the coffee just as Jason wasleaving the office.
Sonny- Thanks Mike, why don't you leave us alone sowe can talk, and take this with you. (Handing Mike the bottle ofwhiskey)
Mike- Sure Sonny, Let me know if you needanything.
Sonny poured Luke a cup of coffee and made himdrink it. He sat in the chair facing Luke's desk and studied hisfriend.
Sonny-Can I assume this is either about theCassadines or Laura?
Luke-The Cassadines and Laura. God Sonny, I can'tbelieve she betrayed me that way. I trusted her, man. And it has allbeen a lie. All these years together was nothing but a lie!
Sonny- Why don't you tell me about it. Get it offyour chest.
Luke starts to laugh- Well Sonny my friend, it'slike this you see, They've won. The Cassadines got the ultimaterevenge and there ain't a damn thing I can do about it. It's alreadydone and can't be changed. And get this, they did it with Laura'shelp!! She went to the other side man, of her own free will.
Sonny- You still haven't told me what she did Luke.It can't be all that bad, besides, Laura loves you. You knowthat.
Luke jumps up and screams- I DON'T KNOW NO SUCHTHING!!
Sonny- Okay, okay calm down, your scaring me. Tellme about it.
Luke wearily sits back down. He takes a deep breathand closes his eyes.
Luke- Sure I'll tell you about it. (Taking anotherdeep breath, a sad haunted smile crosses his lips) But I'm tellingyou man, You ain't gonna believe it. You know that Cassadine bastard,Nikolas? Well guess what, He ain't a little bastard, and he ain't aCassadine.
Sonny- Whoa, wait a minute, what do you mean, Heain't a Cassadine? Is he some kind of impersonator? Your sayingLaura's son is still on that island of theirs?
Luke-No, that ain't it. (Luke reaches into a drawerand gets two cigars, and tosses one to Sonny. He lights his ownbefore holding the lighter out to Sonny). By the way, thanks forstopping me from doing something stupid.
Sonny- Anytime man, and you know I don't smokethese things.
Luke- Humor me then. (Reluctantly Sonny lights hiscigar as well). Congratulate me pal, it's a boy. Little St. Nik is myson.
Sonny- Your kidding right?
Luke- No, man, I ain't kidding. Apparently Laurawas already pregnant when they took her to the island. Uncle Stefinchanged the paternity test results and passed my kid off as theCassadine heir. And get this, it was at her request! Can you believeit?
Sonny-Maybe she was afraid they would kill the kid,if they knew it was yours.
Luke- Maybe, but answer me this, how could sheleave our son with those people when she escaped? She left MY son tobe raised a Cassadine and my enemy. How can she explain that? And didshe tell me about it so I could rescue him? NO! Hell she still ain'ttold me the truth about it.
Sonny- Well how do you know it's true then if youain't talked to Laura about it? (He pours Luke another cup ofcoffee).
Luke- I overheard Laura and the bat arguing over itin the park. (Suddenly Luke sat up and sat his cup down). Oh my God!!He was there, Sonny he was there! He must have heard them. I was sofar in shock, I couldn't help him. Sonny, he had the same look in hisface as me. He won't deal with it any better than I did. I gotta findhim before it's too late.
Sonny- You're in no shape to go after him yourself,Me and Jason will go with you.
Luke- (Grabbed the first aid kit out of the filingcabinet). Thanks man. I think I know where he'll go.
Sonny's limo pulled up to the river, there was acave that led to the catacombs. Sonny, Jason, Mike and Luke got outand ran to the cave. Luke led them to the chamber where he had foundNikolas before.
Luke- If he is here and okay, let me talk to himalone, but stay close and don't let him leave till I say so.
Sonny- Anything you say, it's your call.
When they were almost to the chamber, Luke's heartsank. He was too late. They could see the blood pooled near theentrance. Jason grabbed the first aid kit from Luke and ranahead.
Jason-Nobody's here.
Sonny- Maybe the kid changed his mind and went forhelp.
Luke- Uh-eh, look closer, There was a fighthere.
Beside the pool of blood there was a blood smear onthe cave wall as well as a nearby rock. There was also several printsand marks in the dirt.
Jason- Your right, (pointing to the marks on thecave floor). And someone was dragged off that way.
Mike- We don't know that it was the kid. It couldhave been anybody.
Luke- No, it's him, I feel it. We gotta find himbefore it's too late.
Sonny- We'll find him.
Luke- Not you Sonny, the three of us can handlethis, besides someone needs to call an ambulance, better call Mactoo.
Sonny- If your sure?
Luke- I'm sure, go.
Sonny went back to the limo while the other threefollowed the trail to a small chamber. They shined their flashlightsaround the room and found nothing.
Jason- Looks like a dead end.
Luke- I don't understand, the trail leads tohere.
There was a flash as the light reflected offsomething. Luke quickly moved the light back and they all went toexamine the shiny object. It could be seen through the cracks of somerocks. Luke moved a rock and a hand was exposed, the shiny object wasa watch.
Jason felt for a pulse.
Jason- He's alive.
In a near panic, they began throwing the rocks off.Finally Nikolas was uncovered.
Jason- He's been stabbed. (applying pressure to thewound).
Mike- Look at the cuts on his hands and arms. Heput up a fight. That means something Luke, he wants to live.
Luke opens the first aid kit and begins cleaningthe blood and dirt from Nikolas' face.
Luke- Yeah, the kids a fighter, he'll pull through,he has to. What's taking them so long? Maybe you should show'em theway down here.
Mike- Your right, they'll never find us if Idon't.
Voice from the Darkness- Hold it right there!
************************************************************************
Voice from the darkness- Hold it right there!
Jason, Mike and Luke, all look up at the voice andthe lights shining in their eyes. Taggert comes forward and checks onNikolas.
Luke- Thank God you got here, he's hurt bad.
Taggert- You don't really expect me to believe yougive a damn about that boy's health do you? Everyone knows how muchthe Spencers and Cassadines hate each other. Nice try though. Tell meSpencer, was this (pointing to Nikolas) part of the vendetta?
Luke- I don't care what you believe Taggert. Whereare the paramedics?
Taggert- They are on their way. Officer Wells, whydon't you go back and lead them down here as soon as they arrive.(Turning back to Luke) Mr. Spencer, I'll tell you what I do believe.The fake death thing didn't work, so you got your pal Corinthos andhis right hand man to help you get rid of the kid instead. Youbrought him here to hide the body.
Luke- In case you haven't noticed, Sonny's nothere. And we were uncovering him, not burying him.
Taggert- Oh we got Corinthos outside. Not much of alookout man. Guess he didn't want to get his hands dirty.
Footsteps are heard approaching. The paramedics andMac arrive at the same time. The paramedics go to Nikolas and begintreating him. As they lift him to the gurney, Mac turns toTaggert.
Mac- That's enough Taggert. It'll wait till we getthe boy out. Luke, Sonny filled me in about Nikolas when he called.You going to want to go with him to the hospital?
Luke-Thanks Bubba, I would.
Taggert- I don't think that's a good ideacommissioner, I still have questions to ask Mr. Spencer.
Mac- You can ask them at the hospital. In themeantime, get a forensics team down here. I want to know who did thisto the kid.
Taggert- Could be we already know who did it.
Mac- I don't want speculation, I want hardevidence. The media is going to have a field day over this, so don'tmake any mistakes.
Nikolas is taken out of the catacombs and put inthe ambulance. Luke is allowed to go with him. Jason, Mike and Sonnyfollow in the limo. Mac calls Stefan and Laura on his cell phonewhile driving to the hospital.
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Bobbie and Tony are in the ER expecting a stabbingvictim. Tony reserves an OR and puts together the surgery team. Whenthe ambulance arrives the patient is brought in and Tony and Bobbiego to examine him.
Bobbie- Nikolas!! Oh God No!!!! ( she starts tocry). Nikolas!
Tony - I don't think you should be in the ORBobbie. You're too close.
Bobbie, still crying, kisses Nikolas on the cheek-You're going to be okay, Nikolas. Tony will take real good care ofyou. I love you.
As he is taken to surgery, Bobbie puts her hands toher face.
Bobbie- Oh God, I can't go through this again. Ican't lose another child.
Luke walks up to Bobbie- He's going to be all rightisn't he?
Bobbie- Do you care? If he dies, it sure would makeyour life easier wouldn't it!! This is what you've been wanting allalong isn't it? Well are you happy now?
**********************************************************
Luke walks up to Bobbie- He's going to be all rightisn't he?
Bobbie- Do you care? If he dies, it sure would makeyour life easier wouldn't it!! This is what you've been wanting allalong isn't it? Well are you happy now?
Luke- I don't want to argue with you Barbara Jean,just tell me how he is?
Bobbie- Why do you care?
Sonny, Jason, Mike and Mac enter the emergencyroom.
Sonny- How's the kid, Luke?
Luke- That's what I'm trying to find out. If Bobbiewould just answer my question.
Mac- Speaking of questions, I'm going to need afull statement from all of you. We can do it here while we're waitingor you can drop by the station in the morning. And Luke, if there isanything I can do, let me know.
Bobbie - Oh sure, Luke finally gets his wish andNikolas is half dead, but you'll do what you can for Luke! What aboutNikolas? What are you going to do to find out who did this to him? Orare you just going to sweep it under the rug because he's aCassadine?
Mac- She doesn't know, does she?
Luke- She don't have a clue.
Bobbie- Would someone tell me what's going on?
Stefan comes running into the hospital. He isobviously very worried.
Stefan- Barbara, how is Nikolas?
Bobbie- He's is surgery, I'm sorry that's all Iknow. Tony will let us know when he's through. He's in good handsStefan.
Stefan (holding Bobbie close) - I can't lose him,he is the joy of my life.
Luke- You've already lost him, Cassadine!
Stefan - What did you have to do with this,Spencer?
Luke- Damn you! (Luke punches Stefan and Stefanhits him back. They are about to tear into each other when Sonny andJason pull Luke away, while Mac and Mike pull Stefan away. Lauraarrives in time to see the exchange.
Laura- My God, what's happening? How's Nikolas?
Stefan- You will have to ask your husband.
Laura- Luke, what happened?
Mac- Sonny called me and said they thought Nikolaswas in trouble in the catacombs.
Luke- I can speak for myself Bubba. Like Mac said,I was afraid he was going to hurt himself, so I went to the catacombsto look for him.
Stefan (angrily)- Are you insinuating that hisinjuries are self-inflicted?
Laura- Did he?
Luke- No, we saw signs of a fight and followed thetrail to him. Somebody had stabbed him and buried him under somerocks.
Bobbie- My God! Who would do that to him?
Stefan- Somebody? Or you?
Luke tries to go after Stefan again, but is heldback.
Laura- How did you know he was in trouble? And whydidn't you call me?
Luke (sarcastically)- I don't know, maybe it wasthe look on his face, after he overheard your chat in the park thismorning!
Laura and Stefan look at each other with shock andquilt and fear. Stefan's face drains of color. They speaksimultaneously.
Laura- (With tears) Oh God!
Stefan- He knows then.
Bobbie- Knows what? What's going on?
Laura ( To Luke)- You heard too, didn't you?
Luke- How could you do it, woman? How could youleave OUR son with those monsters?
Bobbie- Your son?
Laura- I... I had
Luke- How could you do it to him? Hell, how couldyou do it to us?
Laura- You have to know I didn't have a choice,They would have KILLED him! You KNOW Helena, you know what she'scapable of!
Stefan- She is right, Mother would have killed him.There was no choice.
Luke- I didn't ask for your impute UNCLEStefin.
Luke- You could have told me after you escaped! Iwould have found a way to get him back.
Bobbie- Laura, are you saying that Nikolas isLuke's son? Is this true Stefan?
Stefan- Barbara, I am Nikolas' father! I am the onewho raised him. I am the one who loved and protected him. It takesmore than biology to be a father.
Laura- Yes Bobbie it's true! Luke, we've beenthrough this before! You would have gotten killed. That island is afortress! (tears are running down her face).
Luke- What about this summer? Why didn't you tellme then?
Laura- How could I? He saved Lulu's life and youwanted me to repay him by taking away the only family he has everknown? And replace it with what? A father and brother who hatehim?
Bobbie (To Stefan)- Why didn't you tell me? I'myour wife!
Luke- Barbara Jean, open your eyes, there's a lothe ain't tellin you. (Turning back to Laura)
Luke- It would have been different if we'd knownthe truth.
Laura- How can you say that? His being my sondidn't make a difference, because he was raised by theCassadines.
Bobbie- That's a good point Luke, with yourCassadine paranoia, would it have made a different? (Tony walks inunnoticed).
Luke- You tell me little sister. Does finding outCarly Roberts is your daughter change anything for you?
Bobbie- What are you saying?
Luke-You heard me, Carly Roberts is CarolineBenson, your daughter!
Bobbie- But you said Caroline was dead!
Luke- I lied!
Bobbie slaps Luke- You two-faced hypocrite, you'reno better that Laura! You two were made for each other. I'll neverforgive you for this! Laura did you know about this too?
Laura- I had no idea. I'm sorry Bobbie.
Tony - Luke, are you sure that Carly is Bobbie'sdaughter?
Luke- Never mind that, how's Nikolas?
Stefan- Yes, how is he? When can I see him?
Tony- Answer the question Luke.
Luke- I'm positive.
Tony- How could you let me have an affair with myown step-daughter?
Luke- Wait a minute, Dr. Feelgood. I don't recallyou asking MY permission! And don't blame me if you couldn't keepyour pants zipped.
Tony lunges at Luke, but Sonny and Jason getbetween them. Alan noticing the commotion comes over and takescharge.
Alan- I don't know what the hells going on here,and frankly I don't want to know! I just want to remind you peoplethat this is a hospital! And if you care anything at all for thatboy, you'll leave your animosities outside. And if that's not enoughto calm you down, the one more outburst and you will all be thrownout.
Stefan- Your right of course. Tony, how isNikolas?
Tony-(Trying to maintain an air ofprofessionalism). The knife punctured a lung and he lost a lot ofblood. We've stopped the bleeding and gave him a transfusion. Barringany complications, we expect him to make a full recovery.
Bobbie- Tony...I don't know what to say.
Stefan-When can we see him?
Tony- He'll be in recovery for about an hour, thenwe'll transfer him to am ICU unit. You can see him then. But only fora few moments. As his physician, I'm restricting his visitors tofamily members only.
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