GH2005.2 'TIL DEATH DO US PART . . .

Gina turns to Nikolas angrily and raises her hand to backhand him. He
catches her hand before she makes contact. "Stop it, Gina! Get a hold of
yourself!"

Gina jerks away from him, seething with anger. "How could you? What do you
want from me?"

Nikolas feigns ignorance. "Well to start, how about telling me what the
hell you're so mad at me about?"

Gina looks at him disbelieving. (Muttering to her self)"Why did I come here?
Like he'd be straight with me. Why would he start now?"

Nikolas crosses his arms. "Care to let me in on the conversation or would
you rather continue talking to yourself?"

Gina's eyes flash in anger. "Well, at least talking to myself I get
straight answers! HOW DARE YOU INTERFERE IN MY LIFE?!"

Nikolas covers her mouth with his hand and whispers angrily. "Our family is
in the next room, stop this childish yelling."

The warning comes too late, Stefan and Laura have appeared in the hallway.
Followed by a delighted Staci. "MOMMY!"

Staci rushes to her mother who picks her up. Stefan takes Nikolas by the
shoulder to a corner of the hall "What is the meaning of this scene?"

Nikolas shrugs his shoulders"I have no idea, she hasn't told me yet."

Stefan shudders at how easily Nikolas lies. 'Learned from the best I
suppose.' He thinks to himself as he faces Nikolas."What have you done?
You were expecting her, and you are not shocked at Gina's emotional state. I
know you Nikolas, if you had nothing to do with it, you would be after the
person who was responsible."

Nikolas sighs and cups his chin in his hands, a habit that has plagued him
for years whenever he became annoyed. "Uncle, if you know me as well as you
say, then you also realize I have no intention of discussing this with you
right now. Excuse me."

Stefan watches in quiet frustration as Nikolas approaches his ex-wife.
Laura is talking with Gina who's holding Staci. "Yes, he is controlling,
arrogant and manipulative. You knew all of this already though Gina. What
happened?"

Gina shakes her head, as she continues to shake with anger. Staci wraps her
arms around her mothers neck and looks at her , her brown eyes filled with
concern,"What's the matter mommy? Who made you angry?"

Gina sighs as she stares into her daughter's eyes, her ex-husbands eyes,
dark brown with beautiful long lashes. She sees the concern and thinks back
to all the times Nikolas used to look at her that same way. He is standing
at a polite distance allowing her time with Staci."I'm fine honey. You know
how angry mommy gets when it's too cold outside. Why don't you go back to
the party with your grandparents? I need to speak with your father."

She puts Staci down who walks over to her father with her hands on her
hips"Daddy, is mommy angry with you?"

Nikolas smiles and kneels to her level"Of course not baby. Go have another
piece of cake, I'll be in soon okay."

Staci nods and kisses her fathers cheek she whispers into his ear"Be nice
daddy" She leaves with
Stefan and Laura.

Nikolas approaches Gina"We are having dessert in the dining room. You are
welcome to join us."

Gina stares at him silently for a moment then sighs"I refuse your birthday
invitation, so you arrange a surprise for me anyway? Is that what this was
all about Nikolas? Is that why you had to destroy what I believed in?"
Nikolas takes her into his arms and tries to comfort her but instead she
start to pound her fists into his chest "Damn you Nikolas Cassadine! Damn
you for having this power over my life! I thought I was free of you when I
signed those divorce papers! I will never be free of you will I?"

She pushes him away and he looks at her sympathetically "You knew that you
would always be protected by the Cassadine. I never pretended otherwise with
you. Let's take this discussion into the study; I'd rather Anastacia not
walk in on this again."

Gina silently follows him and takes the seat he offers her. He pours her a
brandy and takes a seat at his desk."Are you ready to talk about whatever is
bothering you?"

Infuriated Gina throws the brandy in his face and rises in a rage"HOW DARE
YOU PLAY INNOCENT WITH ME! DAMN YOU! IF
YOU'RE GOING TO INTERFERE IN MY LIFE HAVE THE
DECENCY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT!"

Nikolas wipes the liquor from his face and goes back to the bottle of brandy
and tosses a look at her. In a calm voice he replies"I will pour you another
one, let's see I don't wear this one shall we?" He walks over to her and
hands her the drink and then brushes the hair from her eyes"I didn't hire
those girls to sleep with your husband, Gina. I didn't supply the liquor
to him that got him intoxicated. I didn't call the paper's or the tv
stations and leak the story to them. No, all these things occurred thanks to
A.J's ignorance. They have nothing to do with me. You are my only concern,
as you've always been."

Gina shakes as the memories flood her. She can see A.J. Jumping from the bed
covering himself as the two girls make no attempt to even try. She can smell
the alcohol as clearly as if she had drank it herself. Whoever said that
vodka had no smell hadn't been in that hotel room. She remember's his
attempts at explaining, the other supporter's arranged the party, he had no
idea it was going to end up like this. She remembers the girls laughing
together as she stood with tears streaming down her face trying to
understand where she went wrong in this marriage. Had she not been
supportive enough?, She attended the co-dependents meetings as he attended
his AA meetings. She tried to remain open to his problems and his late
nights of campaigning.

She knew as Mayor he was a busy man, but this betrayal, nothing had prepared
for this. She is brought back to the here and now as she studies the
concerned face of her ex-husband. Standing beside her sipping his bourbon,
his dark hair falling almost carelessly over his forehead. A contradiction
indeed, for nothing about Nikolas Cassadine was careless. He stands over her
waiting to offer support, when he was the one responsible for her walking
into that hotel room. Everything about this whole incident has his signature
on it. His cold, calm, cruel nature
of getting what he wants at any cost. She could no longer delude herself
into thinking otherwise, it was crystal clear to her now. Nikolas still
wanted her. She had been a fool to ever think otherwise, she silently curses
herself. "Damn it, I'm a psychiatrist and I couldn't see my own
problems."She turns to Nikolas now and takes a deep breathe before
continuing"Does it please you? "

Nikolas looks at her curiously, "Please me?"

She puts down the glass of brandy and walks across the room, the tears start
to fall over her cheeks again as she starts to unbutton her blouse. She
laughs through her tears at the look of shock that crosses Nikolas face. She
continues to unbutton her shirt and bitterly says"This is what you wanted
correct? I was suppose to discover my husbands indiscretion and come to you
seeking comfort. You forgot how well I know you Nikolas. The phone call
telling me to go to the PORT CHARLES hotel only giving me the room number
and no other message. That was clearly a Nikolas Cassadine trademark
manipulation. You didn't count on me being coherent enough in my grief and
anger to realize your part in it. (he opens his mouth to speak but she
quickly crosses the room and plants a kiss on his lips quieting him, she
pulls away and see's him staring at her speechless. Not sure of what to
think.) Shhh, I'm not finished. This is what you wanted, me to find solace
in your arms. Was it worth destroying my heart to get you what you desired?
By all means take me! Whatever you say-- I'll do."
Nikolas feels his stomach turn as her final words remind him of his mother's
words. Stefan had told him before the wedding that his mother had agreed
to do anything his father said just to gain her freedom. When his Uncle
discovered her walking the island freely, she immediately replied she had
permission to be there. He had teased her, something about complimenting his
father to gain her freedom, and she replied-- anything Stavros said she had
done. She had agreed to marry him just to acquire freedom. She had offered
herself to a man she hated. Now, standing before him is the woman he loves
more than life itself making the very same declaration to him. Had he become
the possessive, obsessive man he had vowed never to be? Had he forced her
into the same desperation his mother felt all those years ago? He tries to
shake the thoughts away.'I am not my father damn it. I know that I am not
like him." Nikolas starts to button up her shirt and she pushes him away angrily

"WHAT? NOT IN HERE MAYBE? Fine take me to your bedroom, take me to the car,
you name the place Nikolas. This is your fantasy, your desire. You want
control over me then damn it, take the control.!"

Nikolas comes out of his stunned silence and whispers"No, put your shirt
back on Gina. I will have a driver take you home." Gina starts to laugh
angrily and then with the angry tears streaming down her face she grabs his
arms "LOOK AT ME!" He looks away and she takes her hands and cupping his
chin she pushes his gaze to hers"What do you see? Do you see my anger? My
pain? Take a look Nikolas, remember it well, because A.J. didn't put it all
here!"

She pushes away from him and start to undo her skirt and he shakes his
head."No! Gina stop this!".

Gina looks at him angrily, "DON'T YOU WANT ME? You went through all this
trouble then damn you! TAKE ME! TAKE YOUR PRIZE! I'm giving myself to you
Nikolas! You never hesitated before, why now? Don't tell me that you just
want to destroy my relationships with other men, and don't want me for
yourself! I can't fight that Nikolas. The only way I can read you is that
you want me in your bed. So take me, damn it. You view me as your
possession, then by all means possess me."

Nikolas angrily faces her. "Put your clothes back on! Stop it Gina! This
isn't you. You're acting like one of those girls your husband just bedded!
If I desired a whore I would have one! You are so much more to me. I love
you. I never denied that! I only wanted you to see the truth of your
husband's affairs. He doesn't deserve you Gina! He never did. I love you,
and I only tried to spare you further hurt. This was not an attempt to bed
you, surely you know I am more romantic than that! Do I come across so
desperate for someone in my bed, that I would have to hurt you just
to have sex? I didn't realize I was so pathetic in your eyes."

Gina collapses wearily on the chair as she has done many times before.
Nobody but Nikolas had the power to arouse so many emotions in her. She
let's loose of the emotions and sobs bitterly and Nikolas is overcome with
his own grief. It tears his heart out to see her hurting so. He walks
to her side and falls to his knees beside her. Pulling her to him he rocks
her gently in his arms and let's her cry. They are silent as the time passes
by and finally when no more tears are left she gently pulls away from him.

He cups her chin in his hand gently and wipes her face with his
handkerchief. He brushes her mussed up hair from her face and gently buttons
up her blouse. Gina allows him to take care of her and she silently rises
from the chair, and turning around to allow him to zip up her skirt. She
doesn't argue when he tells her a driver will take her home after she shakes
her head at his request for her to stay in a guest room. Nikolas faces her
and she looks into his deep brown eyes and see's the concern that her
daughter had mirrored earlier in the identical set of eyes."If you need
anything don't hesitate to call."

Gina sighs and nods"I am still angry with you Nikolas."

Nikolas nods"I know you are, but I really had your best wishes at heart.
Take care of yourself Gina. I will check on you tomorrow."

Gina shakes her head"That won't be necessary " She realizes she's wasting
her words as she see's the familiar stubborn look cross her ex's face"I will
be over tomorrow. Alexis will be glad to handle your case."

Gina feels the anger boil over"When will you learn to quit pushing! If I
decide I need a lawyer I will find my own. Get some sleep Nikolas, you look
like I feel. Goodnight."

Gina leaves the room and Nikolas collapses in his chair. He opens the desk
drawer and pulls out a picture from their wedding day. She looked so young
and beautiful and they both looked so happy"I promised to love you till
death do us part Gina; you should know by now I keep my promises."

He picks up the phone and dials upon getting an answer"Where is Mr.
Quartermaine this evening? Fine, follow him if he leaves. He will not be
going back to his house this evening. Stop him if he tries. Yes, that is
fine. Any word on if the scandal has hit the papers yet? I see, well you
have to give the prostitutes credit, they saw an opportunity and took it. I
am sure Ms. Bowles will pounce on this. No, I don't care what happens to
Quartermaine but you might want to have it leaked out that if Gina or my
family is pulled into this scandal there will be hell to pay. Thank-you, I
have a feeling my reign as the Cassadine will be productive as well. I will
talk to you in the morning."
He hangs up the phone and sighs"Happy Birthday to me."
..........................

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