GH2005.04 FOR THE LOVE OF GINA . . .
Nikolas takes of his jacket and lays it over the back of a nearby chair.
A.J. glares at him. "Planning on being here long? I thought I told you to
get the hell out of my house."
Nikolas smiles sadistically while pulling out a flask from under the jacket.
"Care for a drink?"
A.J. eyes the flask. "I don't drink. I'm in recovery."
Nikolas throws his head back and laughs. "Really? According to Amber and
Ginger you knock them back with the best of them."
A.J. Flinches at the mention of his campaign workers names."You set this
up; didn't you?"
Nikolas sighs. "I set nothing up, Quartermaine. No, you ruined your political
career and marriage all by yourself. Congratulations. I am here to offer you
assistance though."
A.J. Glares at him again. "I don't need your assistance, Cassadine."
Nikolas shakes his head. "Tsk, Tsk, there you go again jumping before the
gun goes off. I haven't told you what I'm offering yet. I will see to it
that your pathetic political career survives and that you come out of this
better off then when you entered."
A.J. eyes him curiously. "And?"
Nikolas smiles like a cat about to pounce on a mouse. "And you divorce
Gina discretely. No more harm will come to her because of you, Quartermaine."
A.J. starts to pace again then turns to look at Nikolas. "I didn't just marry
Gina; I married you too. Hell the first few nights we were in bed together I
swear you were there too."
Nikolas shudders at the imagery. "Thank you for sharing but I don't need
these visuals."
A.J."Shut up and let me finish. You have been a presence from day one. The
custody suit, the hospital board, every time I turn around-- you're there. She's
not your wife anymore, Cassadine. You haven't accepted that yet. She left
you and you have never forgiven her for it. To you, you're just separated. (He shows his ring to Nikolas.) This. This is your reality, Cassadine. I am her husband and no one will tell me to leave her. You had your chance and you blew it. I haven't given up on my marriage yet. So take your deals and get the hell out of my house."
Nikolas walks towards A.J. "I will always look out for Gina. You made the
custody suit easy. No judge would take my daughter from me and allow her
to live with a drunk."
The anger boils over and A.J. punches Nikolas. He ducks and lands a punch on
A.J.'s cheek. "I am not finished. I am on the hospital board because my
family saved that hospital and as for being in bed with you and Gina, hell I can't help if she missed what she had."
A.J. throws another punch and this time connects with Nikolas' jaw."You
lousy Son of A B*tch. You come into my home after trying to ruin my marriage and insult me!"
Nikolas rolls up his sleeves and smiles at A.J. "Normally I don't resort to
this vulgar show of manhood, but I'm going to enjoy wiping the floor with you."
A.J. rolls up his sleeves and lunges at Nikolas and they topple over the
couch landing wild punches at each other while cursing the other's existence. They are stopped by a high-pitched whistle. They look up to see Emily standing in the doorway.
Emily "Get up off the ground!"
They oblige her and start to wipe the blood from their faces. Emily paces in
front of them and tries to stifle a giggle. "Shame on you both. Two
seemingly intelligent,grown men fighting like boys in a school yard. I came here to find Gina, but I'm willing to bet she's not here."
Nikolas nods. "She left with Lucky. I apologize, Emily. This is an awkward
situation."
Emily smiles. "Get your coat. We're going for a walk. A.J. I'll be back in a
little while. We'll talk then."
Emily escorts Nikolas out and they walk in silence till they reach Lila's rose
garden. Emily turns to Nikolas and kisses his split lip. "Poor baby. Does it
hurt
much?"
Nikolas smiles at her and sits on one of the patio chairs. "You are making fun of
me."
Emily laughs and takes a seat near him. "Isn't every day I get to see Nikolas
Cassadine let his guard down and act human."
Nikolas shoots her a bewildered look. "Act human? What are you saying?"
Emily squeezes his hand. "Pouting won't work on me, Nikolas. I've known you
for too long. You know I'm crazy about you so I won't play games with you.
What the hell were you trying to prove in the Gatehouse?"
Nikolas ignores her for a moment and looks at the roses."I've always loved
roses you know. Back in Greece I would spend hours in the garden's just
watching them sway in the wind. I never thought I'd see a more beautiful
rose than the one in our garden. Then I met you in the rose garden that
warm summer night and Lila's roses took my breath away. God it seems like
an eternity has passed since those days, Emily."
Emily smiles as she remembers the day ."I kissed you that day. I was wasted as
usual and I called you here to kiss you. I don't even remember what excuse I
gave you to lure you to my trap."
Nikolas smiles at her. "You told me that you needed to talk. You've always been
a good friend to me. I don't know what I was trying to prove. He hurt her
and I wanted to make him pay."
Emily laughs. "For the love of Gina."
Nikolas cocks an eyebrow at her. "Excuse me?"
Emily swings her legs absently. "I should hate her. Lucky was in love with
her, you were in love with her, A.J. is in love with her. I feel like Jan
Brady 'Gina, Gina, Gina!' Even before I kissed you all those years before I knew your heart was with her. It still is. You lost her, Nikolas because you refused to let her into your soul. You didn't trust her enough to get inside you. Yet, even though you pushed her away, you refuse to allow her to move on with her life. You sure as hell haven't moved on with yours."
Nikolas turns to look at Emily and as he studies her long brown hair, with those compassionate eyes, the legs that never seemed to end and the smile that could light a room; he let her words wash over him.
Emily:"You're staring at me. What's up?"
Nikolas takes her hand in his and kisses it gently. "You are so beautiful.
Not just on the outside, you have the purest soul of anyone I ever met. "
Emily feels the goose bumps cover her body as she stares into his warm
chocolate brown eyes. "Nikolas, don't."
Nikolas rises and pulls her to him and kisses her gently on the lips. She
feels her resistance melt but pushes him away "No, not when you're thinking
of her. I got my self- respect back, Nikolas. I won't lose it by giving into
lust when your heart and thoughts are with another."
Nikolas smiles apologetically. "I'm sorry, I was swept away for a moment. You
speak the truth Emily, as always. I lost her and have been making others pay for it. Yes, my heart is still with her, but only part of it. We share a daughter and I will always love her, but that doesn't mean I'm not ready to move on."
Emily smiles and brushes a stray lock of his hair from his eyes. "You are a
true product of Stefan Cassadine. You manipulate others including yourself.
I just walked in on you fighting with my brother over his wife. Excuse
me if I don't run into your arms carelessly. You know I'd do anything for you
Nikolas. Including saving you from yourself. Face your feelings for Gina and
deal with them. Once you've done that and if you're still interested-- you
know where to find me. No matter what though, I'll always be your friend."
Nikolas kisses her cheek. "I adore you. Once again I'll take your advice.
So, what about dinner?"
Emily breaks into laughter and swats his behind playfully. "You haven't
listened to a word I've said!"
Nikolas grins. "I heard every word, but you have to eat; I have to eat, and
we are friends. 7 o'clock I'll pick you up."
Emily smiles "Seven is fine. Dinner as friends, Nikolas."
Nikolas smiles "Scout's honor."
Emily "You were never a boy scout; you weren't even born in America!"
Nikolas looks at her sheepishly. "You know me too well. I have to see to a few
things before dinner. Thanks for the talk and the dose of reality."
Emily kisses his cheek. "You know me, a kiss to mend your heart and a kick in
the butt to clear your head. I'll see you later."
Nikolas turns to leave. "A kick in the butt? You've been hanging with Lucky
too much."
Emily watches him leave and sighs. "Nikolas Cassadine you're a drug and you
don't even know it."
On the Road
Lucky is driving the convertible and singing to the radio "Stand by me . . .
ohhh Stand By me . . . "
He looks at Gina who is staring at the passing trees. "You know the words.
Sing with me."
She smiles as a stray tear falls over her cheek. "I'm not much into singing
right now."
Lucky nods and pulls into the club parking lot. He walks around to her
side of the car and escorts her into the club.
Gina;"What are we doing here?"
Lucky smiles as he goes around to the bar and pulls out to shot glasses and
a bottle of tequila. "Spencer therapy. Guaranteed to make you laugh, forget
about your problems for a little while and give you one major hangover in
the morning."
Gina laughs and downs a shot. "Sounds like heaven."
Lucky puffs on his cigar. "Heaven it is, baby. Now, wanna tell me about it?"
They both down another shot and she shakes her head "Can we just avoid the
subject right now. You know basically everything and for once I don't
want to be responsible. I want to cut loose and just forget about it for
right now."
Lucky smiles and gives her another shot. He moves over to the radio and turns
on a slow song.
He offers his hand and she takes it. They dance together and Gina feels herself
melt in Lucky's arms. They feel so protective but in a different way from
Nikolas and A.J.; he offers solace while not requesting anything in return.
Lucky breathes in the scent of her hair and moves his body to the rhythm of
the music with her. It pains him to see her so distraught again. The last time
she was hurting this bad was when she walked off of spoon island. He hoped
to God this wouldn't be as painful for her. It had about killed him to watch
her grieve the other time.
Aeromith's song Crazy is echoing through the club and Lucky is holding her
tightly..
~That kinda of loving turns a man into a slave~
~That kinda of loving sends a man right to his grave~
~I go crazy crazy~
~baby I go crazy~
~you turn it on~
~then your gone~
~yeah you drive me~
~crazy crazy~
~crazy for you baby~
~what can I do?~
~honey I feel like~
~the color blue~