Chapter 90

Her face gray and drawn, Helena covers her mouth with a handkerchief as she watches her eldest son, covered by a sheet, carried out of her secret lab on a stretcher. Even Andreas's most concerted efforts to make her dead son presentable didn't lessen the stunning reality of his death.

Andreas stands at her right elbow in the event Helena needs him. His voice is hushed and sympathetic. "I'm sorry, Madame."

"It is an abomination!" Helena hisses in fury. "I will make it my life's mission to kill Spencer for this. But before he dies, he will see the one he holds most dear die before him! He will be made to feel the grief I feel. He will suffer so that it will eat him from the inside out."

"I will assist you however I am able, Madame."

"And my wretched second son will not live and thrive in the world when my beloved Stavros is dead," Helena spits out, malice flashing in her shining blue eyes. "His treacherous hand in Stavros' death has not been obscured to me. He fools no one with his cowardly behavior."

She turns to face Andreas. "I want the bottle delivered to Wyndemere, tonight."

"Madame," Andreas cautions. "We must proceed carefully if we are to be successful. Your son has a full contingent of staff who will be sure to detect an outsider's presence and dispense with anything foreign."

"Then the man you choose for the task must not be seen," Helena retorts, dismissing his concerns with a wave of her hand. "The bottle is from my son's favorite vineyard, he will suspect nothing. I want it done tonight, Andreas. I will not wait to have my vengeance."


"Woah, Carly! What's wrong?"

Her escape thwarted and presented with a target to vent her rage, Carly pounds AJ as hard as she can in the chest. "Don't you dare pretend you care! You hate my guts as much as I hate yours! You're just a drunken spoiled rich kid who was stupid enough to sleep with me once and get me knocked up. And when you tried to ruin my life by taking my baby away, I returned the favor. Mess with me again, and I swear I'll bury you for real this time."

"CARLY!?!" AJ grabs her fists to protect himself. The vitriol comes so hard and so fast it makes his head spin. But the tears streaking down her face soften his reaction. "What the hell is wrong with you? I'm not your enemy."

Carly wrenches her hands out of his grip and steps away from him. "The hell you are!" She swipes at the tears she can't seem to stop. "And keep your hands off me, you jerk, or I'll make you sorry you were ever born."

"You ran into me, remember?" AJ answers defensively. "You were the one attacking me."

"Well what the hell are you doing here? Following me?" Carly accuses. "Or maybe you found out about him being released and you came to rub it in?"

"For what reason?" AJ shoots back. "You hold all the cards, remember? I piss you off and I don't get to see Michael anymore. Wait... who is being released?"

"Oh, don't play dense with me!" Carly snarls. "I'm sure Edward called you up and told you the joyful news about Evans. He's probably the one posting bail. If not, then Monica."

"What about Evans?" AJ's mouth hangs open. "Wait, are you telling me Evans has been released?"

"Like you didn't know." Carly hugs her stomach. "Any time now, he's going to be out on the streets again. I can't believe he's going to get away with what he did to me."

"Carly, I swear, I had no idea." AJ takes a step towards her and thinks better of it. "This is bad. Does Jason know about this?"

"I don't know..." Fresh tears spill down her cheeks. She turns to AJ and gives him a glimpse of the raw devastation. "Do you have any idea what this means to me? This guy is so sadistic he gets his kicks out of terrifying me. He's not going to stop until he's got me under his thumb again."

"It's not going to happen," AJ says adamantly. "We flattened him in court once, we can do it again."

"Get real." Carly shakes her head morosely. "You think this guy is ever going to see the inside of a courtroom? He's going to buy his way out of this. He already has!"

"I promise you, Carly. He's not going to get a chance to hurt you again." AJ crosses his arms confidently. "I'll make sure of it."

Carly sighs as she looks out over the water again. "I can't believe I tossed my cell phone into the lake."

AJ raises his brow. "Not the smartest move when you're stranded on the docks."

"I'm not stranded," Carly retorts, her anger subsiding some. "I was mad, it was the only thing I had to throw at the time. You weren't close enough to the edge to push in."

AJ fights a laugh, not doubting her. Remembering his appointment, he looks at his watch. He's already missed half of the AA meeting, he'll have to catch the next one. "How about I treat you to a cup of coffee and a ride home? It'd give you some time to get yourself together."

It's on Carly's tongue to decline, but at the last moment she realizes this is the solution to her dilemma. She doesn't want to be alone but more so she doesn't want to be with a sympathetic friend who would feel sorry for her. AJ was the perfect alternative.

"I'll buy the coffee," She hedges.

AJ gives her a small smile. "Deal."


"Did it get delivered, as I ordered?" From the bed, Helena watches with pleasure as Andreas slowly slips out of his silk road to reveal his beautifully sculpted nude body. He knows her so well, to prolong her anticipation with a strip show. She loves looking at him and knowing he's hers.

"Yes, Madame." Andreas looks down at her, putting a knee on the bed. He waits for her signal rather than initiating, knowing from experience that his mistress prefers to direct the action. "Misso's errand was made easier by the fact that the servants had been dismissed earlier. He was in and out without being detected."

"Excellent." Helena's fingers stroke down Andreas's chest, practically purring. With her other hand she parts the sheets to allow him to slip in next to her. "My son grows careless. His folly is my boon."

Wordlessly, Andreas slides in next to her, letting himself be pulled into her web. Their legs entwine. At her playful nip, he drapes an arm about her slender waist and opens his mouth to receive her kiss.


Dressed in blue silk pajamas and a matching robe, Edward approaches Lila's suite of rooms. He's given her the weekend to sulk and cool off, but after three days of the silent treatment from her and the staff, he was done waiting her out. If he had to force down another cold breakfast of granola, he is surely going to choke.

Coming to her door, Edward carefully smoothes back his hair. He intentionally picked out the set of pajamas she liked most because he needed every advantage to soften her position and win this battle. He'd meticulously groomed himself and used the cologne she'd given him for Christmas last year.

He knocks three times, not too loud but not so soft she wouldn't hear. A few moments later, the door opens a crack to reveal Reggie.

Reggie blocks the doorway. "Mr Q, she doesn't want to see you tonight."

"Listen here, Reginald," Edward blusters. "You are an employee of mine and I will not tolerate you standing in the way of my seeing my wife. I must insist you stand aside."

"Correction, Mr Q. I am not employed by you, I am employed by Mrs Q. and she has expressly stated I am to refuse you entrance."

"Get out of my way, Reginald!" Edward blusters. "I am going to see my wife tonight and you aren't going to stop me!"

A distance frail female voice calls out. "Reginald...."

"Yes, Miss Lila. I apologize for the disturbance." Reggie glowers at Edward. "If you give me another moment..."

Lila emerges from behind the partition. "No need to apologize, Reginald. You are not responsible for my husband's boorish behavior."

"Now, Lila," Edward begins, his voice softening and forcing a smile. "I was desperate to see you, Darling, and this.. this upstart was getting in the way of my seeing you. I miss you terribly, Darling...."

Lila glowers at Edward. "If that were true, if you truly were as devoted to me as you claim, you would have heeded my warnings about interfering in Michael's custody arrangement. You chose to ignore me."

"Lila, you know I love you. I understand that you're angry with me, but I did what I thought was......" He rubs his hands nervously.

" I told you I would have nothing to do with you if you tried to hurt Carly again. She has suffered enough from this family! You chose to ignore my warnings and foolishly believed I wouldn't discover your machinations." Lila is practically vibrating with fury. "Your antics could have cost AJ his visitation with Michael. Now it will be a miracle if I see Michael again before I die! You have scared all my grandchildren away. Monica has suffered the most, having lost all her children as a result participating in your scheme. Do you have any idea what you've done to this family, Edward?"

"Lila," Edward pleads, stricken by her fury. She has been angry before, but he can't recall a recent time that she's been this enraged by something he's done. "There has to be something I can..."

"There is nothing you can do, Edward," Lila retorts coldly. "If I were younger and stronger I would consider divorce, but I am old and tired and I don't want to hurt the rest of the family. You will leave my sight, Edward, and you will not try to gain entry into my suite again. If you do, the staff will move you out of the house."

"Lila, Darling..." Edward's voice cracks, crushed by her condemnation. He tries to take a step towards her but Reggie stands in front of him.

Lila, exhausted by the confrontation, turns her wheelchair around and motors herself around the partition and out of sight.

"You heard Mrs Q.," Reggie says in a voice that is gentle and firm. "Don't make this harder on her than you've already made it."

Edward bows his head in defeat. "Very well, I'll go... I love you, Lila," He calls out. Turning away, he shuffles out of Lila's suite and down the hall to his bedroom.




Kelly's

Carly sips her hot tea carefully while glancing over at AJ who is doing the same with his coffee. "This is pretty bizarre."

AJ raises his eyebrows at Carly and puts his coffee cup down. "What?"

Carly explains. "We've spent months.. hell, years, wanting each other dead and now we're having coffee together and being civil? I figured the world would come to an end before that happened."

"It is pretty surreal." AJ agrees. He stares into his coffee, considering their volatile and sometimes violent history. "Though I'm not sure I wanted you dead so much as I wanted you wishing you were dead. I have to say this feels better... healthier than being bent on revenge."

Carly screws up her nose. "Ugh, healthy should be a four letter word. Pretty soon I'm going to be so healthy I'm going to have to change my name to June Cleaver."

"Nah, I always thought June Cleaver was kinda repressed..." AJ quips, his eyes twinkling.

Carly fights a laugh, a little bit of the awkwardness of the moment evaporating. "She probably had Valium in her coffee every morning just so she could function."
For the first time since she found out she was pregnant, she is reminded of their former camaraderie.

AJ's eyes are caught by the door to Kelly's swinging open. He winces when he sees who enters. The timing couldn't be worse.

Carly turns around, curious to see who has AJ's attention.Monica. Her mood plummets. Her eyes narrow suspiciously as she hisses, "Oh you have to be kidding me! Tell me you didn't set me up?! I swear to God, AJ...."

AJ alternately gives Monica a warning look and puts up his hands in surrender. "I swear I didn't set you up. You and my mother in the same room would classify as masochism and I've given up masochism for lent. The last time I talked to her was in court."

"This is just a perfect end to a perfect day," Carly complains bitterly as she pulls a few bills from her jeans pocket. "I'm outta here."

"Aw, come on," AJ cajoles. "We were just getting started. We didn't even get to our favorite topic: Michael. Don't let her scare you off."

"Scared? Not hardly." Carly stands, tossing a bill on the table. She considers AJ's apparent sincerity. "I almost believe you prefer my company to hers."

AJ glances over at Monica who is sitting rigidly at a table across the room, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Believe, me, at this point I do. Any way I look at it, she's not going to be fun to be around."

"Well, that's not my problem is it? She's your mother, not mine. Besides, if I stay here I'm likely to start something."

AJ rises, remembering the ride he promised her. "Then I'll take you home."

"Forget it. I'm in a foul mood. I think I'll call a cab." She exchanges one last hateful look with Monica. "And wait outside."

AJ waits for Carly leave before taking his coffee in hand and moving to his mother's table. His tone is annoyed when he joins her. "Mother, what are you doing here?"

"I'm doing what most people who come to a diner to do, AJ," Monica retorts acidly, her hold on her menu so tight it threatens to crumple. "I'm ordering dinner."

"Bull. You're either here to pick a fight or there's some other reason that made you walk through that door. But you didn't walk into a Spencer-run diner to have a quiet dinner, that's for sure. So what's the real reason?"

"My children aren't returning my phone calls, my husband has walked out, and the staff at the mansion are on strike." Angry at herself for letting the tears come to her eyes, Monica swipes them away. She's miserable and tired, and most of all, lonely. "What else am I supposed to do, AJ? Sit at home and wait by the phone for one of you to call me back?"

AJ shakes his head. "Don't you get it, Mom? Your actions caused this! Do you have any idea how close I came to never seeing Michael again because of the stunt you and Grandfather pulled?"

"AJ, I---"

AJ leans forward in his chair to stare eye to eye with his mother. "No, Mom, I don't want to hear excuses. A few days ago, I wondered why you took action that affects Michael without asking me. Now I really don't care why. But this time you're going to listen to me. I'm going to say this one last time and you're going to hear me, because it doesn't any more fundamental than this. Carly has custody of Michael. Full custody. By the grace of Carly..." Seeing her about to protest, he raises his hand again to stop her. "Yes, by the grace of Carly, I am allowed supervised visitation. It is written in our agreement that she can revoke that visitation at any time, and for any reason."

"That's wrong, AJ, that's plain wrong. That bitch has no business..."

"STOP!" Angry, AJ raises his voice, causing the other patrons to stop talking and glance towards them. He lowers his voice. "Just stop right there. She has every business because she holds all the cards, Mom. Because I broke the law and deprived her of her right to see Michael, I could have been sent to jail. She could have pressed charges or cut me out of Michael's life completely, but she didn't."

"Just so she could lord it over you and the rest of us, " Monica mutters bitterly.

"Maybe so, Mom, maybe so. She might be the biggest bitch in all of creation. But she is Michael's mother and has full custody of my son. I'm grateful for what she lets me have with him. For whatever crumb of visitation she lets me have. And I'll be damned if I let you or Grandfather or anyone else mess with that." AJ leans back in his chair. "In my life, Michael is first, last and always."

"AJ, you can't let her lead you around by the nose!" Monica implores. "You can't be fooled by her so-called 'generosity'. She's got an agenda and she'll stab you in the back when you're not looking. She's poison, AJ. And she's going to destroy you and Michael if you don't find a way to stop her."

AJ shakes his head in disbelief. His mother hasn't heard a word he said. She's fixated on "Carly is Evil" and won't let it go. "Maybe all you say is true, Mom. But my first priority, my only priority is to be in my son's life however much I can. If that means making peace with Carly, I'm going to do it. If she tells me to stand on my head, I'll do it. And if it means cutting you, Grandfather and the rest of my family off, I'll do it. I won't hesitate because this is about my son's life. And I'm going to be in it."

"Oh AJ...." Monica's eyes fill with tears. She reaches across the table to take AJ's hand.

AJ lets her squeeze it for a moment before withdrawing. "I love you, Mom. I'll always love you. But your hatred of Carly is all you see. It's eating you alive and you still can't see it." He rises to his feet and rounds the table to stand in front of her. "Until you accept responsibility for what you've done and see what your hatred of Carly has done to all of us, I can't be around you. I can't risk losing Michael for you. Goodbye, Mom." He kisses her on the top of the head and walks out.


Chapter 91

NOTE for the purposes of this story, the PCPD Jail operates like the jail in my town. Inmates share cells, there is a rec area and other amenities that the PCPD jail hasn't shown. My knowledge of handball as a sport is virtually nonexistent, so if I have it wrong, I apologize in advance



Luke... pick up! What is it with all of you not answering your phones! I need to know whether you have gotten ahold of her. I keep calling her cell phone and she's not picking up...

His face still buried in his pillow, Luke reaches out blindly for the phone, knocking the handset off the base. The answering machine cuts off abruptly. Groaning, he feels around for the end of the phone cord.

LUKE..? With the answering machine off, the Bobbie's voice is more distant yet more frantic. LUKE!

His fingers finally wrap around the mouthpiece and he drags is up to his head. "I'm here, I'm here. Don't get your knickers in a twist!"

You scare the living daylights out of me last night and you're telling me not to get my knickers in a knot?! You can't have it both ways, Brother of mine.

Luke feebly lifts his head out of the pillow to look at the red LED numbers on his clock. "It's 8 o'clock in the morning! Damn it, Barbara Jean. You know my brain doesn't engage before noon."

Get over it, Luke, Bobbie snaps. You were Mister Doom and Gloom last night, so thanks to you, Lucas and I are on the road. You promised me you'd find Carly and tell her what's going on and get her out of town. Do I have to come home and do it myself?

Whimpering again, Luke rolls over onto his back. "Fine, I'm awake. No, Carly hasn't checked in. I left messages at her home and her cell phone. So far nothing."

 You don't think... Bobbie's voice is tight with worry.

"Nah, I'm sure Caroline is fine, Darlin'. She's a pretty distant target for Helena to use to get to me. When Helena comes for me, it's going to be big." Luke drags a hand over his face to wake himself up further. "I'm sure Carly's just laying low. If she heard about Evans being released, she probably wasn't feeling real sociable last night."

Damn you! Why am I just hearing about Evans now!?! You knew about him last night, didn't you?!

"Evans isn't going to be a problem for Caroline."

I'm going to settle Lucas in with Sean and Tiffany and I'm coming back to Port Charles. She shouldn't have to deal with that sick bastard by herself.

"I've got the Evans angle already covered. You stay with Lucas. Trust me, I'll find Caroline."

I'll call from Tiffany's. If you haven't found her by then, I'm coming back. I never should have left without her to begin with.

Luke sits up with his feet over the side of the bed. "You had Lucas's safety to consider and your daughter is a big girl. Call me from the Donelly's. I'm sure I'll have found her by then."

Carly might be a big girl, but Michael's just a baby! If anything happens to that little boy... Bobbie's voice cracks.

Luke swears. "I'll go over to Caroline's right now and I'll call you from there. I'll see to it that both of them are safe."



In a cell is not much larger than a closet, Evans paces while his cellmate reads a book on his bunk. Only a few more hours and he would be sprung from this hovel. He never belonged here from the start. And to add insult to injury, they made him share a room with a common thug?! He wasn't a criminal, he shouldn't have to associate with these lowlifes. The whole experience made his skin crawl.

Only a few more hours. He would be free.

His cellmate looks up from his book, "Hey, man. Do you mind? I'm trying to read."

Evans gives him a condescending smile. "My sincere apologies for interrupting. I forget this is probably the only enrichment you get."

The muscle in his cellmates jaw twitches while his hands itch to wrap themselves around Evans's neck. "You asking to be flattened?"

The jail officer appears with two trays. Evans stands off to the side while his cell mate drops off his bunk to take his tray.

Looking at the officer disdainfully, Evans hesitates a couple seconds before taking the tray. He sits on his bunk, lays his paper napkin carefully on his lap and surveys his breakfast with a scowl. "I can't believe they expect us to eat this vile stuff."

His cellmate rolls his eyes. He pulls out his napkin, and underneath it, finds a small brass ring with what looks to be a sharp gemstone in it's center. He slips it onto his left ring finger, gem side out. It wouldn't be long now. All he needs is the right moment.



Stefan looks up from his paper when Nikolas enters the dining room. "Good morning, I am pleased you made it.."

"Good morning." Nikolas takes a seat. "You said it was important. You have news?"

"Yes, but let us wait for Alexis to join us, so we only have to discuss it once."

Nikolas leans back as Mrs Lansbury approaches to pour him some tea.

"Good morning, Master Nikolas," She greets with a warm but respectful tone. "As always it is good to see you."

Nikolas smiles back. "Is it too much to hope that your scones will be on the menu this morning?"

Mrs Lansbury smiles. "They will be out of the oven shortly. Would you like some cantaloupe first?"

"Yes, please."

Stefan folds his section of the paper carefully and lays it on the corner of the breakfast table. "How are things with Ms Quartermaine?"

"Faring better now that she is out of the Quartermaine mansion." Nikolas takes a careful sip of his tea before continuing. "We've set a date for the wedding. October 12th."

"Excellent!" Stefan smiles widely. "Shall I make arrangements for the wedding to occur in our gardens?"

"I'll discuss it with Emily this afternoon and get back to you. I'm sure Emily is going to want to be involved in making the arrangements."

"Arrangements?" Alexis asks as she breezes into the dining room shrugging off her coat as she does. She gives Nikolas and Stefan a quick peck on the cheek before sitting down. "Good morning, Sorry I'm a little late."

"We were just discussing Nikolas's impending nuptials," Stefan replies jovially. "It appears we are to prepare for a fall wedding."

"Congratulations Master Nikolas." Mrs Lansbury says, appearing with platter of cantaloupe sections. Please give Ms Quartermaine my best wishes. I would be more than happy to assist her in any way she would find helpful. After placing the platter on the table, she takes Alexis's coat. "Good morning Ms Davis, you are just in time for some breakfast. I will be back shortly with scones.

"Thank you, Mrs Lansbury. Congratulations, Nikolas! Emily's an amazing young woman. Couldn't ask for a better wife for you." Alexis serves herself some cantaloupe before passing the platter to Nikolas, who also takes a slice.

Stefan accepts the platter from Nikolas and serves himself before placing the platter in the middle of the table. "Much as I would prefer to speak at length about Nikolas' betrothal, we have more pressing matters at hand."

"This must be pretty serious if you ordered us a family meeting resplendent with food," Alexis says between bites. "I take it this something to do with Helena?"

"As a matter of fact, yes." Stefan meticulously lays his cloth napkin across his lap. "As expected, Helena was released from Shadybrooke yesterday. I am imploring you both to be especially cautious now. And I would like to add security for both of you, as an extra precaution."

"No." Nikolas and Alexis answer in unison.

Stefan scowls. "Why must you both be so intractable about security? It is for a limited period of time, merely until Helena can be fully contained."

"Can you explain to me why the doctors let her go?" Nikolas asks. "She threatened Luke Spencer in open court. I don't understand how the psychiatrist can just let her go a few days after that.."

"I am not surprised Helena was released so quickly," Alexis puts in. "The psychiatric commitment law doesn't really provide a means of containing someone with Helena's cunning. She can easily con the doctors into believing she is sane and rational. She would be better handled in the criminal system, honestly."

"In any event, in a week, it will not matter," Stefan announces. "She will be fully contained by then. In the interim, I insist you accept the security I have arranged for you. It is nonnegotiable."

"Then why did you present it as if we had a choice?" Nikolas puts down his fork and pushes his plate away, his appetite gone. He really detested when his father dictated his life to him.

"Because I had hoped you would see the wisdom of it on your own," Stefan answers reasonably. "And it is merely for the short term."

Alexis leans over towards Nikolas, giving him a wry smile. "Devious Cassadine that he is, he wanted us to think we had a vote."

"I would feel better if you and Ned moved into Wyndemere, Alexis," Stefan continues. "Just until the crisis with Helena is over."

"Forget it, Stefan," Alexis refuses firmly. "I won't ditch the guards, but there is no way am I going to live here. I want to preserve my marriage and my relationship with you."

Nikolas stands and plops his napkin on the table. "Give Mrs Lansbury my apologies. I have lost my appetite."

"Nikolas, sit down." Stefan admonishes.

"I can't stop you from putting guards on me, but I'll be damned if I stay on Spoon Island while you take over my life. I'm moving my things to the Retreat." Nikolas turns abruptly and stalks out.

"Nikolas!" Stefan stands and starts to follow him. "Nikolas!"

Alexis puts a restraining hand on Stefan's arm. "Let him go, Stefan. He'll calm down and see why you're doing it."

"Has he forgotten how deadly Helena can be when angry and grieving?"

"He's never seen Helena on the warpath, how can he truly comprehend it?" Alexis shivers at the long ago memory. "He wasn't there to witness what happened when Mikkos died, or when we all thought Stavros was dead."

"I have to make him see the risk. There is no telling what Helena might try. Without the hope of Stavros's resurrection, she is capable of anything. Even striking at Nikolas...."

"I don't think she'll hurt Nikolas," Alexis argues. "It's you I'm most worried about. She's not a fool. She's bound to guess that you had a hand in Stavros's death, if she hasn't figured it out already. It's you she'll come after."

Stefan takes Alexis's hand in his and squeezes it, comforted by her concern. "I have my guards. I am being careful. I will be fine, Alexis."


The insistent pounding on the door at the cottage has Carly flying down the steps, her robe flowing behind her. Reaching the landing, Carly peaks out the peep hole before banging her door open. "WHAT are you doing at my door at this hour?!"

Covering his bone-melting relief quickly, Luke crooks a casual smile. "Hey there, Baby Doll. Your Momma sent me over to check on ya." He glides past her, his hands in his jeans pockets. "You wouldn't happen to have any coffee on wouldya?"

"No, Luke. I don't have any coffee on. You see, I was sleeping rather soundly until two minutes ago when some LUNATIC started pounding on my door like my house was on fire." Carly crosses her arms in annoyance. "You want to tell me what's going on?"

"Like I said, your momma's been worried about ya 'cause you haven't been answering your phone. She hounded me out of bed at Zero-Dark-Thirty to get me to check on you. So I figured I'd share the pain." Luke ambles around Carly's living room, and noticing one of Michael's trucks on the table, picks it up and turns up over to inspect it. "You're gonna make some coffee now that you're up, right?"

Carly tosses her hair back and glowers at Luke. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't kick your butt out the door, Uncle Luke."

"I'll give you three. One, you aren't big enough to kick me out unless I let ya," Luke drawls, ignoring her muttered 'try me'. "Two, your momma would kick my ass and be on your doorstep next. Personally I think I'm the more charming of the two of us. Three, you and your son are in danger."

Carly plops down on the sofa. "Okay, you have my attention. Talk."

Luke runs a hand over his closely short head. "That would be easier if I had some lubrication, Doll. That's what I've been trying to tell you."

"FINE." Carly gets up and huffs out into the kitchen. "But if you're here about Evans posting bail, I already know. He's the reason I threw my cell phone in the lake."

"Wondered why you weren't answering it. But what about your land line?" Luke asks. "You break that too?"

Ignoring the espresso machine she doesn't know how to work, she goes straight for the automatic coffee maker. She pulls an electric grinder down from one of the cabinets and measures some beans into it. "No, I didn't break it. I just didn't feel like listening to Mom and Jason worry about me so I turned off the ringer. "

Luke leans against the kitchen counter with his arms crossed in front of him. "Jason huh?"

"Don't go there, Luke." Carly turns on the grinder. "So tell me about my life being in danger."

"Helena Cassadine."

"WHAT?! You too?" Carly rolls her eyes dramatically. "Please. I got the big bad Mama Cass lecture from Stefan, I don't need it from you."

"What? Vlad's been here already?"

"No." Carly flushes, remembering the last time she saw Stefan. I wish. "Before he dumped me. He thought Helena would target me to get to him so he forced me to have guards. What a waste they were. All they did was make me stand out like a sore thumb. So I ditched them."

"Interesting..." Luke rubs his jaw thoughtfully. "Well this puts a whole new angle on this situation. You're in more serious trouble than I thought if Helena thinks she can get to Stiffen and me through you and Mikey. Damn."

"What do you mean? Hello?!" Carly waves her hand in front of Luke's face. "Stefan dumped me! He doesn't give a rat's behind what happens to me."

"Yeah, but I'm thinking Helena might not buy that...." Luke pushes off the counter. "Darlin, I think you and Mikey need to get out of town."

"Forget it. I don't cut and run at the first sign of trouble." Carly upturns the coffee grinder so the grounds dump into the coffee filter. Filling the coffee maker with water, she sets it to brew. "She's done nothing but make noise. Why would I let her scare me away now?"

"Because, Caroline, She's gonna come after me." Luke takes his stubborn niece by the shoulders and forces her to look at his somber face. Carly is stunned by how serious he is. "And she knows the fastest way to make me nuts is to go after the people I care about. And since Laura, the kids, Bobbie and Lucas are out of town, you're next in line."

"No way. I'm not going to cut and run. I'm no coward."

"Listen to me, Sweetheart and listen good. I haven't survived this long by second guessing my gut. My gut's screaming you're in deep kimchee."

"So why is she after you? Does this have to do with what happened in court?" Carly puts her hands on Luke's forearms. "What did you do to her?"

"I killed her son, Darllin'."

"Yeah, but that happened years ago!"

"No, see, that's what we all thought." Luke explains. "But the night before your hearing I found out that Helena had plans to bring back Stavros."

"That's not possible!"

"When the Cassadines are involved, just about anything is possible." Luke releases Carly to snag a coffee mug off the counter. "And as a Spencer, it's time you had a crash course is defeating the Cassadines."

Carly fights the urge to roll her eyes. This conversation is going cliche fast. "So this is where you tell me that the way to beat the Cassadines is to do what my Uncle Luke says. right?"

"See?" Luke says with an indulgent grin. "I knew you were smart."


Rooftop of the jail

Evans bounces the handball once, twice, three times before smacking it with the palm of his hand toward the concrete wall. The ball ricochets off the wall and his opponent, his bunkmate, dives for the ball and misses it. He swears colorfully as he lifts himself off the ground and dusts his prison jumpsuit off. "You aced it. Either you're getting better at handball or I'm off my game," He grumbles.

Evans smiles smugly. "Game point."

His bunkmate rolls his eyes. "Get over yourself, we aren't playing at the US Open."

"Sore loser, Biggins." Evans retrieves the ball and bounces it three times before serving it again. This time his opponent easily reaches the ball, lobbing it back. In good position, Evans fists the ball as hard as he can at the wall. Biggins makes a dramatized attempt to return the ball and misses, again landing on his side.

A jail officer steps forward. "Time's up. Evans and Biggins, back to the cell block."

With his back to Evans and the officer, Biggins turns the brass ring on his left hand around so the stone is palm side in. He slowly rises and brushes himself off with his right hand.

As they walk through the doorway, Biggins slaps Evans on the back of the neck with his left hand, bare skin to bare skin. "Good game, Evans. But I'll get ya next time."

Feeling a slight sting at the slap, Evans angrily shrugs Biggins's hand off. How dare this hoodlum touch him with his filthy hands? "There won't be a next time, Biggins. Because unlike you, I'm getting out of here. Touch me again and I'll have you arrested for assault."

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