Pygmalion

Chapter 96

Helena sits at her desk with her reading glasses perched on her nose as she writes in her bold scrawl on cream colored stationery. Andreas stands in the background, hands clasped in front of him, waiting for instructions.

Finishing, Helena folds the first, slips it into an envelope and addresses it to Caroline Benson. Then she folds the second note, slips it into another envelope and addresses it to Luke . She smiles up at Andreas and she places the notes in his hand. "Have the package delivered as I instructed, then deliver these. Once you complete your mission, return here. We have much to prepare before our guest arrives."

Stefan's hospital room.

"I had a feeling I'd find you here, Baby Girl." Luke glances at the couple's clasped hands and scowls. Ugh. Just what he was afraid of. "Just can't stay away from the bloodsucker, can ya?"

Carly's hackles go up immediately. "You're disgusting, you know that?"

Stefan tightens his grip on her hand as he glares at Luke. "Pay him no notice, Caroline, he is merely trying to bait you. If you ignore him, he will eventually get bored and find someone else to menace." It rankles that he is laying flat on his back in the hospital bed, defenseless while Luke is walking around unimpeded.

Luke grins as he strolls into the room. "Come now, Stiffin, You've been missing my nocturnal visits to Wyndemere, admit it. It livened up your otherwise dull existence."

Carly rolls her eyes up towards the ceiling. "What is wrong with your guards, Stefan? Can't they even keep the riffraff out?"

"Apparently not," Stefan answers drily.

"Can't hire good help these days, can ya?" Luke quips, pulling a cigar out of his pocket. His eyes rove unapologetically over Stefan. "You're looking mighty pale, even for your kind. I gather Mommy Dearest was feeling affectionate?"

"That's it! Get out!" Carly orders, her temper flaring, She tries to rise to enforce her demand but Stefan stops her by holding on tightly to her hand.

"Your concern is touching, Spencer, but send flowers instead of yourself next time you have the urge to visit, won't you?" Stefan retorts coolly. "Your presence is tiresome at best."

Luke lights up his cigar and takes a drag. Ignoring Stefan, he turns his attention on his niece again. "You were supposed to be on a bus out of town, Little Girl."

"That was your idea, not mine," Carly returns. "And it's a good thing I didn't leave, or Stefan would be dead."

"You say that like it it's a bad thing," Luke quips, blowing white puffs of smoke.

Stefan bats the foul smoke away. "My heart breaks."

Carly's eyes narrow suspiciously at Luke. "And I have to wonder if that was part of your plan, to get me out of town so I wouldn't know you were setting Stefan up to take the fall for Stavros's death."

Luke smirks malevolently. "Sweet sweet Caroline, I'm impressed. You do have those Spencer smarts. Did you already figure out he was my informant?" He nods at Stefan grudgingly. "Never did thank you for the tip."

"There was no need," Stefan answers mildly. "The end result was mutually beneficial."

Carly looks curiously between her uncle and Stefan. "You two were almost civil there for a moment. I wish I had a tape so I could have recorded it for posterity." She grins wickedly, enjoying a moment of tormenting Luke. "Or blackmail."

Luke shudders. "Okay, enough of that. I didn't come here to exchange pleasantries. I promised your mama I would see to your safety. And that's just what I'm going to do."

"I'm not leaving," Carly answers stubbornly.

"Caroline," Stefan interjects gently. He lowers his voice so only she can hear. Luke suppresses the urge to make gagging noises. "Perhaps it would be best if you left me to handle Spencer."

"I don't trust him where you're concerned," Carly hisses. "He doesn't care what happens to you, he'd be happy if you ended up dead right alongside Helena."

"But you trust me, hmmm?" Stefan lifts her knuckles to his mouth brushes them tenderly with his lips. His expression softens further when her eyes fill with tears and she shakes her head. "I can handle Luke Spencer easily enough, even in my current condition."

Carly swipes angrily at her tears. God! Why couldn't she stop crying? "But..."

"You saved my life tonight, allow me a chance to salvage some of my pride?"

With that plea, she has no choice but to agree. She kisses him on the forehead, but before she can pull away, Stefan's hand comes up to cup the back of her head, pulling her down for a proper kiss. A kiss so full of tenderness she sinks into it. So starved for it, she's oblivious to their audience.

Luke blows smoke at them until they break the kiss, coughing. Without looking back, Carly turns towards Luke, and plucking the hated cigar from his fingers, stomps on it viciously. "Touch one hair on his head, and family or no family, you're a dead man. Got it?"

Luke looks down at his smashed cigar. "HEY! Why did you do that for?"

Carly pokes Luke in the chest. "Because you are too obnoxious for words. I meant what I said." She glances at Stefan one last time before leaving and gives him her brightest smile. "I'll be right outside."

Outside the room, Carly finds the Cassadine guard standing at his post. She strides right up into his face. His eyes widen with surprise when she grabs him by the front of his shirt. "You have soooo screwed up. You want to explain how you let Luke Spencer walk into that room without stopping him?""

"I was here the entire time," the guard denies. "I know Luke Spencer on sight and I wouldn't allow him to pass."

Releasing his shirt, Carly grabs him by the crotch and the guard gasps. Her words are ground out through clenched teeth. "You mean to tell me you didn't see Luke pass?! So what the hell were you looking at? Some candy striper with nice legs?"

The guard yelps as she increases the pressure. He rushes to explain, "There was a man who was lost, he wanted directions..." Falling back against the wall, his eyes roll back in his head from the pain and the realization of how badly he screwed up.

"You idiot! You're lucky it was just Luke. It could've just as easily been Helena." She puts her face right into his and whispers seductively in his ear. "Next time you screw up like that I'm going to feed them to you, you got it?"

Just then Nikolas rounds the corner and catches sight of what Carly is doing and he winces. "Carly, let him go."

Carly releases the guard and steps back, satisfied she's made her point. The guard whimpers in relief and doubles over. "I was done anyway. This pathetic excuse for a guard was distracted and Luke got past him."

Nikolas eyes narrow dangerously. "You're fortunate she got to you first. Call in your replacement, as soon as he's here, you're dismissed."

After Carly leaves, Luke turns again to Stefan. "I don't suppose you had a moment of competence and succeeded in ridding the world of Helena?"

Stefan scowls. This is not the conversation he wanted to have with Luke. "I will suffer your presence only as it pertains to securing Caroline's safety. If you can confine your remarks to that subject, we can continue. If not, then I will have you removed from this room."

"It's simple. my niece gets out of dodge until Psycho Granny is dead."

"If it were as simple as telling Caroline to leave, you would have been successful in getting her out of town earlier tonight. As we both know, Caroline knows her own mind, and resents anyone making decisions for her. If you force her hand, she will find a way to defy you again and she will be unprotected and at Helena's mercy." Stefan stares broodingly at his hospital blanket. "Unfortunately that would be infinitely more dangerous now because Helena is desperate and knows exactly what Carly means to me."

"Tell me something I don't already know," Luke snarks, then sighs grudgingly. "What are you suggesting."

"She will stay at Wyndemere tonight where my guards and Nikolas will be with her every moment." He rubs his goatee thoughtfully. "Tomorrow I will be released and will personally see Caroline to a remote location where Helena will not be able to touch her. Then I will return to deal with Helena once and for all."

"No go, Cassadine." Luke shakes his head. "You had your chance to handle Helena tonight and you flubbed it so bad you ended up with a knife in your back. It's my turn."

"If you wish to dispatch Helena tonight, you are welcome to her. But if she is not dead by the time I return," Stefan warns. "I will handle her as I see fit."

Luke ran his hand over his head. He didn't like leaving Carly's safety to anyone else, but he didn't see that he had much choice. "If Carly agrees to your plan, then I'll leave her security to you. You fail her, and you'll be wishing I was Helena. Comprende?"

Carly plunks herself down in the chair next to Nikolas and lets out a heavy sigh. "Does this night feel like it's stretching into years to you?"

Nikolas leans his head back and closes his eyes. "Definitely."

Carly follows his lead and leans back and closes her eyes. The silence stretches for several minutes before she breaks it. "Thanks for holding me together tonight. I don't know if I would have made it otherwise."

Nikolas tips his head up and a gives her an encouraging smile. "You would have."

Carly shakes her head doubtfully. "Probably not without getting arrested for trying to kill someone." Remembering the excruciating wait, Carly feels a lump form in her throat. "I don't do well with waiting. So.. thanks for that."

Nikolas reaches over and puts his hand on hers, squeezing. "You came through for my father tonight, it was the least I could do."

Carly smiles crookedly. "I guess this means our feud is over, huh?"

"It was never a feud. I made the mistake of judging you by your reputation." Nikolas shrugs. "By the time I figured out I was wrong, you were holding a grudge."

"Six months ago? I had more than earned that reputation," Carly admits ruefully. "And I hold a mean grudge."

Nikolas shakes his head in bemusement. "You're telling me."

Carly gives him a sidelong glance. "But we're good now, right?"

Nikolas squeezes her hand again, emphasizing his words. "My father is lucky to have you, Carly. I hope he's learned enough not to let you go again. Any time you need anything, I'll do what I can to help."

"Well don't you two make a pretty picture?" Luke drawls, strolling into the waiting area with his hands in his pockets. "Course that's what you Cassadine men do, right? Share your blondes?"

Carly starts to rise, but Nikolas grabs her arm. "Carly, you know what he's doing."

"You're so gross!" Carly snarls, sagging back in her chair. Ooooooh, what she wouldn't do to kick his ass right now. "God, I can't believe I'm related to you."

Luke blows a kiss in Carly's direction. "I love you too, Caroline. I love you too. You'll be happy to know that the Count has won you a reprieve. But call your mother, will you? She was pretty ticked at me when you didn't show earlier and is probably on her way into town as we speak." Next Luke turns to Nikolas. "Nikky Boy, I think Pops wants a word with you. Now, if you don't mind, I've got a dragon lady to slay, and if it's all the same to you, I'll pass on the hugs and well wishes. I'm heading out."

Carly rolls her eyes heavenward as Luke strides away to the hospital elevators "God, could he be any more of an ass?"

Nikolas grins. "As Luke would say, it's all part of his charm."

Carly groans.

Nikolas approaches Stefan's room and is pleased to find an alert guard in place. He nods at the guard in greeting, then places his palm on the door. He's surprised by how much he's dreading this, this isn't at all what he expected to feel. Drawing in a deep breath, Nikolas opens the door and pastes on a smile.

He stops in his tracks. The Stefan he was raised by has always been astoundingly healthy. He could count on one hand how many colds his father has had since coming to Port Charles. Stefan suffering anything more serious was all but unheard of. His father never had accidents, not even with the horseback riding he enjoyed. The most Nikolas could expect to see were the occasional bruises and a cut lip from scuffles with Luke Spencer. This couldn't be his father laying in that hospital bed.

And now, to see his father in front of him attached to an IV drip, pale, tired and covered in bandages was deeply disturbing. He's seen plenty of this on other patients. But that was just it. Those were other patients. Not his father.

Stefan opens his eyes at the sounds coming through the still open door. His gaze falls on Nikolas, standing stock still in the doorway, looking very much like he'd seen a ghost. He smiles encouragingly. "Nikolas."

At his name being called, Nikolas expels the breath he'd been holding and comes to. The reality of his father, seriously injured and... who could have died. His eyes water almost immediately. "Father," he whispers.

Although it is painful, Stefan opens his arms to his son. "Come."

Nikolas isn't sure how he got there, but the next moment he is crying on his father's shoulder while his father soothes him. "Come now. You see now that I am all right. It will take more than one of Helena's pathetic attempts on my life to do me in. Shssh, it'll be all right, I promise."

Nikolas wrenches himself away. "No, it's not all right, Damn it!"

Nikolas's sudden movement causes Stefan to suck in his breath, in pain. "Nikolas---"

Nikolas crumbles again when he realizes what his sudden movement caused. Damn it, he was making it worse. "I'm sorry, I ..."

Regaining his composure, Stefan cuts him off. "It is nothing, just tell me what is wrong."

Nikolas looks at Stefan's pinched face and realizes in that moment he can't do it. He can't lay this burden on his father. It was his to bear, he was an adult now. He had to put his father's well-being first and foremost. Pushing the bubbling emotions down into his stomach, Nikolas forces a look of calm onto his face. "It's nothing, I'm fine. I was just upset for a moment."

Stefan strokes Nikolas's cheek tenderly, swamped suddenly with nostalgia. It isn't often they can be like this, like it used to be when Nikolas was younger. "If you are trying to be brave for me, it is not necessary. My injuries are not nearly as severe as they appear. I am certain I could go home tonight if it weren't for the doctor's insistence that I need monitoring. There is no need to protect me from whatever is bothering you."

"It's nothing..." Nikolas looks at the far wall while he struggles to find the words. "I owe you an apology, Father. I know the last time we spoke, I didn't take your concerns about Helena seriously. I said some harsh words..." Nikolas looks at the floor and swallows hard. "Anyway, I was wrong."

"I handled the situation poorly. I should have consulted with you about the appropriate steps to ensure your safety rather than taking unilateral action," Stefan admits. "It is a fault of mine, when I am fearful of your safety, I overmanage. I will try to do better."

Nikolas shakes his head. "Don't you get it? You were right, Father! I thought I had all the answers. I thought I was safe enough, that we were all safe enough. And look what happened to you--" His voice cracks. "Every time I think about what could have happened..." The lump in his throat cuts off his speech. He shakes off the emotion. "Why.. how did Helena get to you, Father? You were so careful to protect me, Alexis and Carly. But what about you?"

"I did not anticipate her move," Stefan explains simply. "I will have to investigate to see what if any security breaches there were at the time of her attack. But regardless of the results of that, Helena's days to wreak havoc are numbered. Luke is moving on her as we speak If he is successful, I will applaud him. If not, I have my own ways of dealing with her that will ensure she will never hurt anyone again."

"Tell me how I can help," Nikolas asks eagerly.

Stefan smiles proudly. "I was hoping you would say that."

Sonny hangs up the phone and turns back to Luke. "It's all set. The men will be in place within the hour. Then you'll be ready to roll."

"Can never have too much back up going up against the Queen of the Damned." Luke extends his hand. "I appreciate it, Man. I owe you."

"Don't thank me until she's in the bag." Sonny gives a rare smile then takes his old friend's hand and shakes it. "And I figure I'm doing my civic duty on this one, so you don't owe me anything."

Roy paces the docks, his coat collar turned up against the brisk night air. He checks his watch, shakes his head and resumes his pacing. "Come on, Luke. Let's get the show on the road."

The next moment he feels himself jostled from behind. Roy catches himself, checks for his wallet and finding it there calls out to the man who is now well past him. "Hey, watch it, Buddy!" It's then that Roy sees the pale envelope on the ground. His stomach tensing he reaches to pick it up.

Luke

His stomach does a flip. Shit. Any way he looks at it, this couldn't be good. After a moment's hesitation, Roy rips open the envelope and scans the contents and gasps. "Oh God!-- Son of a---" Shoving the note in his pocket, he fumbles quickly for his cell phone. He hits speeddial.

Cool your jets, Dilucca," Luke barks, pulling into the light night traffic on Port Charles Avenue. "I just got finished with Sonny. I'm on my way!"

"LUKE! Helena..." His brain freezes in panic for a moment. "Do... do you know where Lucky is?"

"You know I sent Lucky out of town. Helena can't touch him..." But even as he says the words, Luke's stomach lurches. "What's going on?"

""One of her messengers dropped a note at my feet. I'll read it to you," Roy explains, his breathing shallow and panicked. He pulls the note out again and reads:

Luke, My Darling.

I have left you a present, the irony of which you are sure to appreciate. Time will tell if you too will suffer a cold reality.

See for yourself if the debt has been paid in full. Time is running out.

Forever yours,
H

"Son of a BITCH!" Luke roars as he slams on the brakes, coming to a screeching halt in the middle of the main thoroughfare. The car behind him, traveling at more than a safe distance, has to slam on the brakes to keep from rearending him. The driver blares his horn before screeching around him.

"Tell me you have a way to contact Lucky," Roy pleads.

Luke swears a blue streak and slams his head on the steering wheel repeatedly. "No, Damn it! That's how Spencers stay safe on the run. No contact until the all clear signal."

Roy looks to the dark sky, his hand on his forehead, "Listen to me, Luke, it must be something you have access to. There have to be clues in here..." Roy reads through the note again more slowly. "Cold... time's running out..."

"The freezer at the club," Luke guesses, his stomach doing somersaults. Damn it, he'd been careful, she couldn't have gotten to Lucky, could she? Only one way to be sure. Luke hits the accelerator, screeching through the red light and narrowly missing the cross traffic. "I'll meet you there in five."

Chapter 97

While it had only been two short weeks since Stefan had kicked her out of his life, it felt like forever since they kissed like this. His lips, slanting across hers, were as soft and as sensuous as she remembered them. Though in truth, he could kiss her a hundred different ways depending on his mood and the desired result. Brutal, wildly erotic, drugging, punishing, mind numbing, knee knocking, sexually explicit, the list is endless.... but this kiss, without the promise of more to come, was still one of her favorites. Because it made her feel cherished, like she was the only woman he ever wanted.

She wanted to stay like this forever, perched on the edge of this hospital bed, being kissed endlessly. She cups his bearded cheeks lovingly, stroking them with her fingers, wanting to touch more, to be closer but afraid to hurt him. His hands buried in her hair are heaven as they massage her skull and caress her hair. Tears spring to her eyes, she feels so much it's flowing over the brim and down her cheeks. Too wonderful, too astounding.

Stefan ends the kiss to look at her tears, in pain. His hands hold her cheeks lovingly while trying to catch the tears. "Please don't cry. Please, I cannot bear to be the reason you hurt. I've had too much of it in the last few weeks."

"Can't you tell?" Carly gives a choking laugh, swiping at the tears that continue to fall. "I'm... I'm happy." She presses quick kisses on his jaw line not able to contain the bubbling inside herself." I love you I love you I love you I--"

Her words are cut short when he pulls her down for another kiss, this one fierce and selfish, capturing her words of love, devouring them greedily. Starved for them, and for her. Frustrated, he breaks off the kiss, his breathing ragged. "I hate that I am forced to remain in this hospital bed."

Lightheaded and giddy, Carly lays her head on his chest. Her eyes close while his fingers comb through her hair. This moment is just about perfect. "Tomorrow you will be home."

Stefan sighs, returning to the business that had been interrupted when he couldn't resist kissing her. "So you will go to Wyndemere tonight, with Nikolas."

Carly smiles sleepily. "If that's what you want."

"I need to know you will be safe." Stefan fights the urge to plead. "I cannot protect you myself in my current condition and Nikolas is the best alternative. Promise me."

"I don't want to leave you at all...." Carly sighs, pulling herself back up to a sit and kissing him fully on the mouth before standing up. "One night. That's my promise."

Just outside Port Charles

Well, I'm Running Down The Road
Tryin' To Loosen My Load
I've Got Seven Women On My Mind,
Four That Wanna Own Me,
Two That Wanna Stone Me,
One Says She's A Friend Of Mine

Bobbie sighs at her fogged up windshield and flips the switch on her AC to clear it. Her windshield had been doing this since nightfall and for the last several hours she has had to suffer intermittent bouts of cold so she could see to drive. Not much longer now.

Take It Easy, Take It Easy
Don't Let The Sound Of Your Own Wheels
Drive You Crazy

As her car ate each passing mile her stomach twisted into a tighter and tighter knot. The mounting dread was eating her alive.

Lighten Up While You Still Can
Don't Even Try To Understand
Just Find A Place To Make Your Stand
And Take It Easy

Annoyed by the music so in contrast to her mood, Bobbie switches it off. Carly had to be okay, she just had to be. Bobbie looks up at the familiar road sign.

Welcome To Port Charles

Her purse starts to ring. Bobbie looks in her rearview mirror and, finding the road behind her clear, she pulls off the side. With some trepidation, she answers her phone. "Hello?"

"Mom, it's me," Carly says, glancing at Nikolas and Emily who are sitting beside her in the back of the limo. The limo turns off the main thoroughfare towards the docks. "I'm okay."

"Carly! Thank God!" Lightheaded with relief, Bobbie sends up a silent prayer that her daughter is fine and that she had the presence of mind to pull over. No doubt she would have caused an accident. " Where are you?!"

"I'm with Nikolas Cassadine and I'm on my way to Wyndemere."

"What... How...?"

"It's a long story..." Carly answers with a yawn, suddenly attacked by a wave of fatigue. "Stefan was injured and he asked me to go stay with Nikolas for my safety until he's released from the hospital." The idea of trying to explain it further makes her feel like her head is going to explode. "I'll explain the rest tomorrow. I'm safe, Mama, that's all you need to know."

"Wait a minute, where is Michael?"

"He's safe with Jason. I just spoke to Jason a minute ago and Michael is sound asleep." Carly closes her eyes and yawns again. "If I'm lucky I'll be asleep before my head hits the pillow."

"Wait a minute, Young lady," Bobbie voice starts to rise with her fury. Damn it, she was wide awake with a head start on a bleeding ulcer and there was no way her daughter was going to get away without hearing exactly what Bobbie thought on the matter. "Do you have any idea how scared I've been? Do you have any idea what it's been like for me to---"

"Bobbie?" Nikolas says into the phone suddenly thrust at him. He looks over at Carly whose eyes are firmly shut. Playing possum. "I think this might have to wait until tomorrow."

"You tell my daughter to get a good night's sleep and get her strength back because she will have hell to pay tomorrow morning, and I'm going to be the one to collect!" With a furious punch of her finger she ends the call and lets out a scream of frustration. There was absolutely no satisfaction in cell phones. No slamming down of the receiver, no yanking the cord out of the wall. Sure you could throw them, but then how would anyone get ahold of you? Besides, she had Luke to call yet. Calling up her cell phone memory, she dials Luke.

He picks up on one ring. "YEAH!"

"Luke, it's Bobbie---"

"Where are you?" His questions are rapid fire

"I'm just entering Port Charles, why--?"

"Have you seen Lucky?"

Bobbie is startled by the question. "No, but--"

"Gotta go. Call me if you see Lucky."

"LUKE!" Bobbie yells, completely baffled and frightened. "What's going on?!"

"I don't have time for twenty questions! I've got to find Lucky!"

Before Bobbie can say anything else the connection goes dead. For the second time in sixty seconds, Bobbie screams in frustration. It's official, her family has driven her insane. Again.

.

Luke bolts into his club with Roy close on his heels. Everyone in the room stops talking and watches as the two men dash through the club like their lives depended on it. Luke slams the swinging door to the kitchen door open.

The cook stops stirring to look up at the frantic men. "Hey Boss, what---?"

Luke and Roy ignore him as they head straight the walkin freezer. He fights with the lever that holds the freezer closed, and after two violent tries he finally opens it.

Nothing. Just the regular boxes and bottles and canisters filled with the foods they ordered. Nothing unusual and nothing large enough to be his son. "What the hell?"

"He's not here, Luke," Roy states the obvious.

"No sh--, Sherlock." Luke shakes his head baffled. "Did we get the note wrong?"

"This is the only walkin freezer at the club. Right Luke?"

"Yeah..." Luke slaps his palm on his forehead and lets out a long loud list of expletives. "Kelly's!"

Wyndemere Conservatory

Nikolas enters the conservatory where Emily is waiting. "Carly is settled in one of the guest rooms with guards posted outside. She's secure for the night."

"You look tired." With her finger, Emily smoothes the creases on in Nikolas's forehead.

"I am." Nikolas clasps her hands in his and kisses her knuckles before leading her to the sofa. "Have I thanked you for your insistence in staying with me tonight?"

"Given everything that's happened, I knew I couldn't sleep if I was away from you," Emily admits. "I'd be tossing and turning and wondering if you are okay."

Sitting down first, Nikolas draws her up against him so that her back is against his chest and his arms are wrapped around her waist. "This is much better than being alone." Closing his eyes he brushes his cheek against her soft hair.

"Gnawing your insides out with guilt," Emily adds lacing her fingers with his. "And brooding about ways to protect Stefan."

She knew him too well. If he was a little less tired, he might be more disturbed about how perceptive she was. "Perhaps."

"You've been thinking about going after Helena yourself, haven't you?" Emily presses, giving voice to the fear that's been growing all night.

Nikolas considers lying for a moment, but what was the point? She would guess anyway. "If Luke doesn't finish Helena off tonight, then yes, I plan to resolve the issue myself. I gave father my promise tonight to protect Carly. But tomorrow, all bets are off."

Upstairs, Carly rises from her bed. It was useless. Lying there wasn't getting her any closer to sleeping. There was just too much noise in her head keeping her awake. Slipping out of the covers, she puts on her robe and fastens the tie at her waist. Never being good about waiting in her room, Carly opens the bedroom door and looks out. The guards turn at the sound, their hands on their weapons.

Right. How could she have forgotten Burly guard 1 and Burly guard 2? She flashes them a smile. "I'm going to the kitchen for a glass of milk. Do you want to join me?" No answer, just watchful eyes.

Sliding out of the room, Carly pushes past them. The guards look at each other for a split second before following her down the hall, being careful to scan the surroundings for any danger. Word had traveled fast about what happened at the hospital and they knew it would be their heads if something happened to Mr Cassadine's mistress.

Carly is about to enter the conservatory but stops with her hand on the knob when Emily's tentative voice filters softly through the door. "Jason will help if I ask him to. For Michael and Carly and me he would do it. He's good at this."

It's on the tip of Nikolas's tongue to refuse, but he sidesteps the issue instead. "I thought you'd want to talk me out of it."

"Would it work?"

"No." Nikolas smiles into her hair. "Thank you for understanding why I need to do this."

"While I'd rather you stay 100 miles away from Helena, I know I can't stop you. But will you promise me you won't to go it alone against Helena? I'm afraid for you." Emily tightens her grip on his hands. Afraid wasn't half of it, she was terrified. But yelling and crying and demanding wasn't going to change Nikolas's mind. She knew this. "Luke and Stefan separately have been trying to kill her for years and haven't succeeded...." Her voice trails off.

Outside, Carly stops breathing.

"And you're trying to ask me why would I be anymore successful?" Nikolas asks. Emily nods in response. Nikolas thinks for a moment before answering. "I can't really speak for Luke, but I know why my father hasn't killed Helena."

"Why's that?"

"For all their feuding, and my father and Helena have feuded since before I was born, I don't think my father can kill Helena." Then he adds. "He wasn't able to kill Stavros either for that matter."

Emily shivers. "I hope Luke will do it then."

"That would be the simplest solution." Nikolas shrugs. "But if not, then I will. I am not going to risk losing my father again." He shakes his head bitter determination. "All my life, my father has tried to protect me, to warn me about the danger of Helena. I didn't understand until tonight exactly what she is capable of. I know she won't stop coming after father. If Luke isn't successful then the burden is mine. Helena dies before she gets another crack at father."

Losing interest in milk or anything else in the kitchen, Carly turns about-face and heads back upstairs with the guards trailing behind her.

Brownstone

Bobbie dims the lights in her living room so that the candles give the room a golden soothing glow. This was much better. Rum and coke in hand she moves over to her stereo, picks out a CD of George Winston and slips it into the tray and hits play. The gentle music fills the room. Even better.

Bobbie slides onto the couch, kicks off her pumps and folds her legs under her, smoothing her skirt over her knees. Perhaps in an hour or so she'll be calm enough to sleep. Or at least the urge to strangle her family will fade.

Taking a long sip, Bobbie closes her eyes.

The door bell rings and Bobbie jumps, sloshing the Rum onto her blouse. "Of ALL THE---!" Putting down her drink, Bobbie gets up and strides barefoot to the front door. "Luke, if that's you I'm going to wring your neck...." Pausing to look into the peephole, Bobbie frowns, then opens the door. No one. Then she sees it. A small pale envelope on her doormat. Crouching, she picks it up.

Caroline Benson In bold black scrawl. Creeped out, Bobbie slams her door shut and locks it, sliding the deadbolt and chain in place. She stares at the envelope. "Why would it come here? It doesn't make any sense...."

She puts the envelope down and steps away from it. Wanting some distance. But it keeps calling to her, almost. She sits on the couch and looks at it...

Giving up, she goes to the stereo, turns off the CD and picks up the envelope again. She rips it open and slides out the heavy expensive stationery. She flips it open and reads it:

Caroline,

Your attachment to my son is touching but
woefully misplaced. You should know by your own
experience that it is dangerous to interfere in
matters between a mother and her son.

I believe a reminder is in order.

Sincerely yours,
Helena

Bobbie drops it as if she's been burned. "If that BITCH has touched my grandson, so help me GOD---" Rushing to the phone, she dials a number.

After several rings a groggy voice answers. "Morgan."

"Jason! Thank God you're there--"

Jason bolts up in bed, instantly alert at the terrified sound of Bobbie's voice. "Bobbie, what's happened to Carly." He demands.

"Nothing.. at least I don't think..." Bobbie's breath catches. "Jason... just tell me if Michael's okay. Look at him and tell me he's sleeping in his bed. PLEASE."

In one fluid motion, Jason jumps out of bed and sprints down the hall. There he finds Michael, in his room, in his crib, sleeping peacefully, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. Jason sags against the doorjamb. "He's right here. He's sleeping. He's fine."

"I just had to be sure." Bobbie's eyes fill with tears. If anything happened to that little boy... "Jason, could you... would you sleep in his room. Just to be sure?"

"What's going on?"

"There was a note left on my doorstep for Carly. I think it was a threat against Michael." Bobbie reads it to him, getting a fresh set of chills down her spine after finishing. "Sounds to me Helena's got something planned."

"I'll be with him all night. But Carly...." Jason swears. Cassadine couldn't be trusted, too many mistakes have been made.

"I'll check with Nikolas," Bobbie answers before he can finish his question. "Just protect my grandson, Jason. Please. Don't let that witch or her goons anywhere near him."

In the Wyndemere Conservatory, the phone rings. Nikolas, who is resting on the sofa with Emily asleep on his chest, answers it after the first ring. "Cassadine Residence," He says softly. "Bobbie, what's wrong?"

Rousing, Emily sits up. "What's going on?"

"I need you to check on Carly," Bobbie pleads. "There was a letter from Helena delivered on my doorstep a few minutes ago."

"It's Bobbie, she wants me to check on Carly..." Nikolas explains to Emily as he rises and heads up the steps to Carly's bedroom. "Bobbie, read me what it says."

Nikolas nods at the guards who are standing post outside Carly's door. He knocks. "Carly?...." Nothing. "Carly?!" He knocks again, this time loudly. Swearing under his breath, Nikolas opens the door.

A tousled bed, but no Carly. "What the--- " Nikolas turns to the guards and barks at them, fear multiplying in his gut. "Where is Carly? Your job was simple! WATCH CARLY. Where did she go?"

The guards pale at the empty room. In quick order they toss the contents of the bedroom, searching the adjoining bathroom and closet until they discover something no one had known existed in this particular room. The guards show Nikolas the secret panel. "Sir, she must have she left---"

Luke fumbles with the keys outside of Kelly's, dropping them once before finally forcing the key into the lock and turning it. Roy is right behind Luke as he bangs open the door and makes a beeline for the kitchen and it's freezer.

Luke pulls on the handle, belatedly noticing the padlock on the door. He thumbs through the keys and finding the right one, inserts it in the lock and opens it. He yanks the padlock off the door and tosses it aside. Roy prays silently beside him, hoping against hope that it's a hoax.

Luke unlatches the door and flips the light switch that's right outside the locker. There on the floor is the stuff of nightmares ---A black vinyl body bag. Luke's knees buckle and he lands on his hands. NO! All he can croak out is, "Dear God, please. No."

Roy puts a restraining hand on Luke's shoulder. His voice is a pained whisper. "You don't want to do this. Let me...."

Luke nods numbly, his body all but shutting down. All he seems capable of at this moment is to look on. Watching the scene unfold like a silent movie.

Roy bends down on one knee and with trembling hands pulls at the zipper. He throat closes at the obvious dead weight in the bag. He spies tell tale flannel shirt and jeans first, and the nausea starts to roll. Then he looks up to the face and his mouth hangs open. "WHAT THE---"

"I don't care how bad it is..." Luke says as he crawls over to the body. "I have to see Cowboy for myself."

Roy can't decide if he should be revolted or relieved or.... "Luke, this isn't Lucky." He unzips the bag all the way and pulls the sides open. "Look for yourself."

"What the HELL?!" Luke roars. "What the heck is this?!"

"I think...." Roy gasps in disbelief. "I think it's Spam, Luke."

** Song credit: 'Take it Easy' by The Eagles

Chapter 98

"What do you mean she's gone?!" Stefan bellows into the cell phone. He lowers his voice to avoid alerting the nurses. "My request was simple and within your capabilities. Tell me what happened, Nikolas, " He demands in a hiss.

Nikolas closes his eyes. This was bad, very bad. "We don't really know. The room you suggested for Carly tonight had a sealed secret panel we weren't aware of," he explains. "From the looks of it, Carly found a way to open the panel and left while the guards were stationed outside her room. It's my fault, Father, she wanted privacy while she slept.... I didn't think she would leave."

"Nor did I," Stefan admitted tightly. He's gotten rather good at predicting her behavior, but obviously he'd been a fool to trust her promise. Yet, short of locking her up, what choice did he have? He pushes himself upright on the hospital gurney, ignoring the pulling and stinging sensation in his back and neck from the strain on the stitches.

"What do you want me to do, Father?" Nikolas asks. "The guards have been sent to search the tunnels and grounds, but she could have left any time in the last two hours."

"Then she may already be on the mainland. As a precaution call the launch operator and instruct him to keep her on Spoon Island if he comes in contact with her." Stefan swings his legs off the bed. "Call me on the cell phone the moment you have news."

After saying goodbye to Nikolas, Stefan turns off the phone and gazes at the IV line still attached to his arm. He'd been told that the fluids were necessary to replace those lost during his battle with Helena. The theory was the the fluids would speed his recovery. His cell phone chirps again. Stefan takes his eyes off the IV and answers it. "Stefan Cassadine."

"Mr Cassadine, this is Rothchild, out at Helena Cassadines yacht."

Cradling the phone against his good shoulder, Stefan pulls the IV out of his arm with a quick jerking motion. He winces at the sting and dabs the small wound with the hospital blanket. "Has there been movement?"

"Yes Sir. I thought you would want to know that Miss Benson just walked onto the yacht. We weren't sure what you wanted us to do about this development, so I am calling you for instructions."

"Is she alone?" Stefan slides off the bed to his feet, sucking in a breath with the pain. He could at least be thankful that whatever drug Helena gave him had worn off. The room was steady.

"Yes Sir, she came by herself."

Stefan walks stiffly to the closet where a fresh set of clothes are waiting for him. "Who is on the yacht, besides Helena and Caroline Benson?"

"Not including her guards on the docks, just the yacht itself? Andreas Andropolous plus 3 guards stationed as lookouts."

"Neutralize her guards, but do nothing to alert Helena as to what you are up to. Once her lookouts are removed, station one of the men to monitor the situation on the yacht. Make no move against Helena unless you deem Caroline's life to be at immediate risk. I will be there shortly."

Stefan calls his driver next and after a moment's hesitation pushes the nurse call button. A moment later a nurse arrives, gasping when she sees Stefan is up and pulling clothes out of the closet. "Mr Cassadine! You are in no condition to be out of bed!"

Stefan treats her to his most imperious and intimidating glower. "I am signing myself out of the hospital immediately. You can either help me get my clothes on and preserve my stitches and your job, or you can try to stop me. The choice is yours. But I am leaving one way or the other."

The nurse rushes forward when she sees Stefan wince at pulling his arm out of the sleeve of his gown. "You're going to pull your stitches out like that, Mr Cassadine!" She gently lowers his arm and guides the fabric off his bandaged shoulder. "You really should stay overnight to give those stitches a chance to heal some. Tell me that you at least have someone picking you up and taking you directly home to bed?"

"My driver will be here shortly," Stefan answers tersely, grateful for her help in putting on his shirt and suitcoat. As it is, his back is burning with the smallest of arm movements.

"I'll need to call the doctor before you leave, of course," The nurse says finally, her brow crinkled with worry. Stefan was doing better than she expected, but with all the exertion in the last few minutes his pallor had turned an alarming gray.

Now fully dressed, Stefan pockets his cellphone, slides on his signet ring with the Cassadine crest, and slips his watch onto his wrist. "You may call the doctor whenever you like, but I will not be waiting. I will be in touch with him in the morning for any final instructions."

"Mr Cassadine, surely you realize ---" Stopping midsentence, the nurse blinks. She's been talking to an empty room, because Stefan is already gone.

Carly finds Helena standing in the middle of the yacht's opulent stateroom, waiting for her. Regal in a sage green gold flecked caftan which swells around her ankles, Helena's eyes light up with delight when she sees Carly. "I'm so glad you could come, Miss Benson! I've been waiting for you."

Carly's eyes narrow at a Helena, who could at this moment easily pass as a hostess for a dinner party. Helena's hair is coifed and she's fully decked out in an elegant gold braided necklace and a matching set of bracelets on her wrists. This wasn't what Carly expected at all. Hell, she expected to have more of a challenge getting on the yacht. The way Helena is eying her, much like a cat who has trapped a tasty morsel, is a bit unnerving.

Well, it didn't matter, Carly thought grimly, while gripping the pistol in her jacket pocket. Helena would die in the end. Everything else was window dressing. She stepped further into the room, her eyes locked on her adversary, revealing the depth of her hatred. "I'm not interested in whatever sick agenda you've got going, Helena. I'm here for one thing and one thing only, settling the score for Stefan."

"Then you didn't read my note?" Helena asks, her eyes dimming slightly with disappointment. "I shouldn't be surprised my son's slut would show up, but I would think you'd be more interested in your son's welfare than my pathetic offspring. "

Carly easily dismisses Helena's not so subtle threat. "Michael is safe and sound, exactly where I left him."

Helena clasps her hands in front of her, her brows raised. "Are you sure about that, My Dear?"

Carly rolls her eyes. "You should really try to get a new game plan, because that one, where you try to scare me by threatening Michael, is getting predictable and tired. Michael is FINE, safe with Jason Morgan and you and your minions can't get within two hundred yards of him." Carly steps closer to Helena. "Fact is, you're weak and getting weaker by the minute." And soon you'll be dead and a threat to no one.

"You think me weak?" Helena retorts haughtily. "Foolish girl, you know nothing about me." This stupid child knew nothing about the power she wielded and it would be their downfall, Carly, Luke and Stefan. She would rise, victorious, as always. With Carly in her clutches, Stefan and Luke wouldn't dare move against her. "ANDREAS!"

In a flash, Carly has the gun out of her pocket and pointed straight at her head. "Too late, Helena." Carly circles around Helena so that she is behind her and has a view of all exits and windows. Her voice comes out as a hiss. "Call your goons off because if I see any movement, I'm going to blow your head off!"

Helena eyed the gun casually, not at all concerned by the fact that it's cocked and at point blank range. What Carly didn't know is that it was really too late for Carly. Andreas was already in the engine room, poised to start the engine and maneuver them out of the harbor at her signal. Her guards were instructed to stay on the docks and prevent any interference or rescue attempt. By the time Luke or Stefan could mount a successful attack, they would be long gone. Helena only had to keep Carly from pulling the trigger long enough to get them out of the harbor. Then her remaining guards would subdue Carly or kill her if it became necessary. The girl had Spencer guts, but no sense. She would enjoy toying with Carly, breaking her spirit and driving Stefan crazy all the while. Helena's smile widens, this would be so much more satisfying than killing him. It was perfect!

Carly's eyes dart to the windows and doors in the stateroom, watching for any movement. But then she catches Helena's triumphant smile. Steadying her outstretched hand with her other one, she snarls. "What are you smiling at?"

"You, My Darling," Helena answers simply. "You are so madly in love with Stefan, you would throw your own life and the life of your son away? Believe me, he is not worth the trouble."

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Carly snaps, aiming the gun slightly to the left, she fires. The bullet whizzes past Helena's right ear, missing it by an inch before lodging itself in the stateroom wall. Satisfied at Helena's startled look, she cocks the gun again and aims again at Helena's face. "Next time, it'll be your head."

Luke leans back against the stocked shelves in the Kelly's walkin freezer, his eyes closed. He looks exhausted. "Are we sure it's SPAM?"

Down on one knee, Roy examines he contents of the body bag closely. "Yep, it has that distinctive processed meat smell. You didn't tell me Helena had such a sick sense of humor."

"Oh, she does," Luke mutters. "But I didn't think she even knew what SPAM was, much less that it could be molded."

"So what do you figure she's after?" Roy asks, zipping up the body bag again and brushing his hands off on the back of his jeans. This night was fast becoming the most bizarre night in history.

"My guess?" Luke opens his eyes and sighs. Pulling his legs under him, he pops up to a stand. "The Queen of SPAM was trying to send me on a wild goose chase and mess with my head at the same time. Did a damn good job of it too. She wanted me busy..." The ringing of his cell phone interrupts his thoughts. Luke pulls it out of his breast pocket and flips it open. "Yeah, Spencer here."

"Luke, it's Sonny. I think you better get to the yacht."

If Luke wasn't still numb, his stomach would have plummeted. But he's too bone tired to feel much of anything at this point. "What's going down?"

"Your niece just walked on board. Helena's remaining guards must have been expecting her because they stayed out of sight and didn't stop her."

"Because it's a trap," Luke finishes. "I wondered why she wanted me busy. Now I know. I'm five minutes away."

"There's one other thing," Sonny adds.

As if anything else could go wrong? "What's that?"

"Someone else is after Helena. Her guards are dropping like flies."

Helena's temper flares at Carly's threat. She listens for sound but hears nothing. Why isn't she hearing the yacht's motor? Why aren't they moving? What is Andreas up to?! She decides to take a different tack. "What do you want, Caroline?"

"I already told you what I want. I'm settling this once and for all," Carly explains as if she's talking to a particularly dimwitted child. "You tried to kill Stefan tonight, and I'm not going to give you a chance to do it again."

Helena swings her arms out wide. "So you thought you'd come here and kill me yourself? How original."

"I don't particularly care if I'm original," Carly spits out, "But you'll be dead. Doesn't seem like Luke or Stefan can ever seem manage it, but I'm woman enough to do it. Maybe it takes a woman to get it done."

Dropping her hands to her sides, Helena searched Carly's face, the grim determination, the unwavering gaze. No fear, no hesitation, no guilt. This was different. Helena ran her tongue along her top lip, thinking. "Did you ever wonder why Stefan could never kill me? Certainly he's made noises like he's wanted me dead. At times he's imprisoned me, poisoned me, but somehow never managed to kill me."

"I don't really care why he hasn't," Carly answered coldly. "But I'll be damned if I'll let you live another day after you almost killed him tonight. I won't let you hurt him again, you witch!"

Helena smiled wryly and started to walk the length of the stateroom. "You must have a hundred questions about my son that are just begging to be answered. You must wonder why he sleeps so poorly, hmmm?" Helena pauses in her pacing to look at Carly, gauging her reaction and sees a direct hit. "Or why, for instance, he's obsessed with blondes... Or what his worst fears are.... What his nightmares are about... or even why we loathe each other. He is a mystery, isn't he? That's why you are so drawn to him. But if you kill me, you won't ever know the answers. Because I alone know his secrets. And surely, we both know he will never tell you these things. Aren't you just dying of curiosity?"

Carly saw the trap for what it was, a delay tactic. Helena was up to something but what? "Shut up! You think I'd believe anything you say? You are a monster! You are his mother and you tried to kill him! You make me sick."

Helena stopped and held out her hands again. "But what reason would I have to lie now? I'm just moments from dying, what reason is there to lie now?"

"To save your scrawny neck!" Carly tossed her hair back, eyes glittering with fury. "You don't think I know your game? Evasion, manipulation, twist the words and truth around to get what you want. I'm not stupid. I've done it myself."

"Then be done with it," Helena retorted, keeping her arms outstretched. "My death at your hands will ensure my best revenge."

A hair's breath from pulling the trigger, Carly paused. "What the hell do you mean by that?!"

"No more explanations, you said you wouldn't believe it, so be done with it," Helena challenged.

"Bitch," Carly hissed. "You explain what you mean or I start shooting off body parts."

Helena sighed in exasperation. "Haven't you figured it out already, Caroline? I thought it was obvious."

"WHAT?!"

"Stefan loves me," Helena said lightly. At Carly's snort, she nodded, convinced of what she says. "He adores me. Even as he tries to destroy me, Stefan loves me. It is why he can't kill me."

"I never heard a bigger line of bullshit in my life," Carly said with a derisive laugh. "Stefan loves you? The psycho-mother of the Universe? You are delusional."

"It's true," Helena repeated, advancing a few paces towards Carly. "I loathe him with every fiber of my being, he is a miserable failure. His constant bids for my love and approval are nauseating to say the least. But everything he has done in his life has been to try to gain my approval, my love. You kill me, he loses any chance at winning my acceptance. "

"Just shut the hell up!" Carly barked back. "God, you are a piece of work, you know that? You actually believe that load of crap, don't you?"

"I would stake my life on it," Helena answered, then smiled widely at her own words. "I am staking my life on them. From the time Stefan was a child he was needy and demanding. Never satisfied, always unhappy. I could barely stand the sight of him, and yet he craved my attention. Deep down he is still the same needy boy he was at age four." She saw the doubt register on Carly's face, the meerest hesitation for the first time since Carly pulled the gun. Helena continued her assault, walking closer, within grasping range of the gun. "You kill me and any chance at a life with my son is over. My murder will destroy Stefan. He will never recover and he will never ever forgive you for depriving him of the chance to win his mother's love. He will hate you."

Not giving Carly a chance to recover, Helena made a grab for the gun, got her hand on it and rushed at Carly to throw her off balance. Pushing the gun into the air, Helena shoved at Carly to knock her over but Carly, surefooted and more agile, regained her footing and shoved back hard. Helena is propelled backward and a single shot rings out. Helena collapsed, and Carly without the aid of Helena's resistance, fell on top of her.

Dazed, Carly rises to her hands and knees, gun still in hand. Underneath her is Helena, motionless, blood spreading rapidly from a gunshot wound in her chest onto her sage green caftan, turning it crimson. One look at Helena's glassy eyes and slack jaw and Carly knows she's dead. But how---? Her gun didn't go off, nor was it in the position...

Choking back a sob, Carly falls back on her knees, dropping her gun on the ground at Helena's head. Oh God! She's really dead.

Carly hadn't thought past the act of killing Helena, not beyond the fact that Stefan would be safe. She hadn't cared, she just knew she had to stop Helena reign of terror. She wasn't sorry either. The witch needed to die, but now what?! Grabbing the gun, Carly tries to wipe the fingerprints off with her jacket. Then, for the first time she realizes the blood staining her front, Helena's blood marking her. Her stomach flip flops.

If that doesn't make her look guilty... And she hadn't even done it! "Oh God, oh god oh god oh god...." Tears spill down her face. Michael. Michael needs me. I have to fix this, have to get out of here before someone finds me. Rising onto her wobbly knees, the gun slips through her trembling fingers with a soft thud on the carpet.

The door to the stateroom creaks open and Carly's stomach freefalls.

Stefan panting in the doorway, a hand on the jamb holding him upright, takes in the grisly scene. Caroline is next to Helena's body, a trembling wreck. Blood on her clothes and hands, gun at her feet. Tears stream down her cheeks unchecked. And his mother appears shot and very dead on the floor, her blood seeping into the plush carpet.

Carly's words come in a rush. She had to make him understand she hadn't killed Helena. She couldn't bear him hating her, not after they just found their way back to each other. She takes a step away from Helena's body towards Stefan. "I... I know how this looks. But I swear, Stefan. I didn't do it. I wanted to, I would have, but... I didn't!"

Stefan rushes to her side and crushes her to him so hard she feels she'll break. But then he releases her and checks her from head to toe. "Are you hurt? Did she hurt you? The blood...."

Carly hiccups through her tears. "Hers. We... we fought over the gun. It was above our heads. It didn't go off, I swear."

Stefan pulls her into another bone breaking hug, still quivering from the fright he got hearing the gunshot from the docks. "You are all right then?"

Carly nods, fresh tears flooding her eyes. "Yes." Her eyes fall on the figure at their feet. "But Helena..."

Stefan crouches and checks for a pulse. His speaks slowly and softly in a voice tinged with bewilderment. "She is dead.... I had almost given up hope... that it would ever happen."

"I didn't kill her," Carly tries to explain, her voice high pitched and full of fear. "I came here to kill her, but..."

Rising to his feet, Stefan took her hands in his and kisses each one, so relieved to see her safe and in one piece. He catches a faint whiff and pulling her hands up for inspection, notes the black marks. "It doesn't matter," he dismisses quickly. "What matters is that you're safe."

He takes the gun from the floor and uses his handkerchief to carefully wipe it clean, then pockets the pistol. "We need to get you away from here, quickly. Before anyone discovers us." Taking her arm, he tries ushering her to the door.

But Carly digs in her heels. "You don't believe me?"

"You have nothing to fear, Caroline," Stefan vows, framing her face with his hands. "I won't let you be punished for what I should have done years ago. I swear on your son's life, you will not see the inside of a jail cell. But you must come now."

Carly wrings her hands. "You think I killed her."

"You are so brave, Caroline. So very brave. I am in awe." Stefan strokes her face tenderly. "This has been a horrible ordeal, one I should have prevented. Perhaps things happened so quickly you didn't realize..."

"But I didn't!" She bows her head. "God, if I can't get you to believe me, I don't stand a chance!"

Stefan puts his hands on her shoulders and squeezes. He had to convince her that anymore dallying would be disastrous. They had to leave. Now. "Look at your hands, there is a mark of black soot and a smell of sulfur. We must get you away from here. If the police find you, they will look no further and it will be all the more difficult to shield you."

Carly studies her hands and sure enough she sees the greasy black marks. Oh. Shit. "That was before...."

"Well well well. What do we have here?" Luke drawls as he strolls into the room. He quickly sizes up the situation. Helena dead on the floor, blood all over Carly, Stefan at her side. "Awww, Shucks Car-o-line. I wanted to do the honors. The Queen of the Damned turned SPAM was supposed to be mine."

Nurses Station.

Yawning, Amy Vining looks up from the patient charts she's been filing to find one of PCPD's finest coming toward her. She grins at the friendly face. "Hi Mac!"

Mac gives her a tired smile. "Hi Amy. I didn't know you worked nights too."

"I don't usually, but I'm covering for Maryann," Amy explains. "She's home with a sick kid. I always knew there were benefits to my single status."

Remaining patient, Mac puts his elbow on the counter of the nurse's station and leans closer to her, making his voice soft and cajoling. "Hey, I know it's late and Dr Ramsey said that Stefan isn't up for visitors until morning, but we really need to get a statement from him..."

"You're too late," Amy says with a bewildered shake of her head. "He flew out of here AMA about twenty minutes ago. Didn't even stay for discharge instructions."

"Thanks Amy." Mac stands upright and grinds his teeth in annoyance. This is so typical for the Cassadines, always taking matters into their own hands, acting outside the law... he could lay odds on exactly where Stefan is heading.

Carly lets out a scream of frustration. "But I didn't!"

"Hey, Doll. I'll take the glory if you don't want it," Luke quips, his eyes flicking around the room, finally resting on Stefan. "You got the weapon?" He asks.

"Yes, and it is wiped clean," Stefan supplies. "But if the Port Charles Police Department finds us here, all of my precautions will be for naught."

Luke waves him off as he circles Helena. "So whatcha waiting for, Vlad. Get her out of here."

"Will you two stop talking as if I'm not here?!" Carly snaps. "Did either of you hear me? I didn't kill her. I shot the gun off during my conversation with Helena but it whizzed past her ear. Someone else killed her. And if it wasn't one of the two of you, then who...."

A commotion outside the stateroom door drowns out her words. "LET ME GO! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT..." A moment later a struggling Andreas Andropolous is shoved into the room by two of Sonny's men. Each henchman has one of Andreas's arms pulled behind his back.

Roy DiLucca comes strolling in after them. "I thought you folks might want to chat with this fellow. We found him trying to ditch this..." Roy puts a bulky handkerchief into Luke's palm. "... as he was escaping the yacht."

Luke unfolds the handkerchief carefully to reveal a 38 caliber pistol. He whistles. "Hot damn! Lookee what we have here." Pulling a pen out of his pocket, he hooks the pistol around it and lofts it up into the air for everyone to see. "Looks like you were telling the truth, Baby girl. What d'ya know!"

"I swear you two couldn't be more dense." Carly rolls her eyes skyward.

Stefan grabs Andreas by the front of his shirt. "Tell me, Andreas. Did you shoot my mother?"

The fight goes out of Andreas as he looks away from Stefan. He swallows convulsively before answering. "Y... yes, Mr Cassadine."

Stefan's voice goes darker and more ominous. "You were going to leave Caroline, an innocent woman, a woman Helena tried to victimize, to take the fall for the murder you committed?"

"I th... th...thought she could plead self... self defense," Andreas sputters. This is it, he was a dead man. Cassadines don't suffer betrayal.

"Filthy Coward!" Stefan bellows before shoving Andreas away. His energy spent, he leans over panting. Carly tries to take his arm, to support him but Stefan waves her off. "Explain yourself, Andropolous."

Andreas shakes his head. Roy nods at one of Sonny's henchmen who pulls out his pistol, cocks it, and rests it against Andreas's temple. "You better explain yourself, Man," Luke says softly. "Or Gus here is gonna splatter your brains all over the stateroom all. It'll make a nice front page story. 'Murder Suicide on yacht of love'."

"Since she employed me I have plotted to kill Helena to avenge my brother Ari's death," Andreas begins, his voice a monotone. "She killed him on a moment's whim, not because he betrayed her, but because she decided he knew too much." His hatred for Helena glitters in his eyes. "I have been waiting for the perfect moment to kill her, one where I would not be caught for killing her. But she always had lots of guards, so I was forced to bide my time." He looks at Carly. "I didn't want you to go to jail either, Madam, so I waited to shoot until she attacked you. I reasoned you could argue self defense and be found innocent. But if I was caught, I would go to prison and I would die there.."

"And so you shall," Stefan says darkly. "You could have gotten Caroline killed!"

"No so fast, Dark Prince," Luke says thoughtfully. "He did do us a public service after all."

"He ran like the cowardly mongrel he is," Stefan says with a growl. "And left Caroline to the fates."

"Or maybe he saved my life," Carly pipes in. "When he shot Helena, Helena had just grabbed for my gun. Who's to say.... she might have gotten it away from me, or called her guards in to kill me."

"The guard were already dead," Stefan says coldly. "They were dead within minutes of your arrival."

"But neither of us knew that," Carly argues. "Why was Helena expecting me, Andreas?"

"She planned to abduct you," Andreas explains. "A letter was delivered to your mother's residence in hopes of luring you here. Once you arrived, I was to wait for her signal and take us out of Port Charles."

"But you didn't," Carly muses.

"No."

"And he couldn't have," Luke says with a grin. "I had a feeling Hells might try for a quick exit, so Roy and I disabled the engines earlier tonight-- right about the time Helena went after Count Vlad. I needed to buy some time to get Sonny's men in place."

"I can't believe it," Carly says, shaking her head in bewilderment. "I walked right into her trap..."

"Well I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not keen on keeping company with a corpse," Roy cuts in. "We need a game plan."

"I'm thinkin'...." Luke says, his eyes glinting at the thrill of a scheme in the works. "What justice is there in Andreas going to prison for doing the world a favor? I think if we put our heads together we can come up with a plan that'll keep us all out of it."

"Doesn't bother me if he gets off," Carly says, starting to sway from the shock of the evening. "I just want to get out of here."

"What happens to Andreas means little to me," Stefan puts in grimly. Pulling himself back up to full height, he puts a steadying hand at Carly's lower back. "Caroline has had enough. I am taking her to Wyndemere, and as far as anyone is concerned, that is where she has been all evening. No one has seen her here. Are we agreed?" He waits until everyone, including Sonny's men, nod in agreement.

Before Carly and Stefan leave, the stateroom door bursts open again, admitting a frantic and out of breath Bobbie. "Carly! Thank God you're okay!"

Luke rubs his hands together gleefully. "I think our plan just got easier."

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