GH2005.86 For This We Give Thanks
The monitors hum together as the two men stand next to her bedside.
Katherine's listless, wasted body kept alive only by the machines in the
room. Running a hand through his spiky blond hair, Scott Baldwin turns
to Nikolas. "She listed me as next of kin, but I wanted to let you know
about my decision. I guess she thought I'd never find out how she had
manipulated me."
Nikolas lets out a heavy sigh as he stares at the woman who used him
too. "It has been nearly a month since the accident, even the
specialists say she will never regain consciousness; she's brain dead."
He begins to walk to the door. "I trust you will not need me further?"
Scott shakes his head. "No." He turns to the doctor in the room. "Go
ahead, Dr. Ramsey." The monitor's tone changes as the sound of her heart
flat lining fills the room. Taking a deep breath, Scott walks out without
looking back.
Jason and Ned sit on the stoop outside of the Ashton's home, sipping the
hot chocolate Gloria insisted that they take with them. Ned tosses Jason
a smile. "Robin seems much better than she was two weeks ago. You can't
even see the cuts now."
Jason leans back on the railing. "Carly saved her life, if she hadn't
pushed Robin away from Mae-Ling.." His voice trails off as the thought
pierces his heart. "She still has nightmares, seeing Mae-Ling die in
front of her was pretty traumatic. Carly is handling things better, but
then she didn't know her." He looks at his watch. "I should call and
check on Emily. She and Evan should have arrived by now. Lois said they
locked that impostor up in some loony bin."
Ned shakes his head. "She went to the cops and said her husband, meaning
me, was kidnapped by an impostor Mrs. Ashton, meaning Lois. It was a
nightmare; Lois lunged at her. I had to talk Lois down-- reminding her
that assault charges are not something she needs on her record. The
girl's off her rocker-- she kept screaming that she'd save me from the
Mafia's clutches to just hang on. I didn't have the heart to tell her
that I'm the one related to the Mafia Don not Lois!" Changing the
subject, he looks at his watch. "You're right, they should be here by
now."
Jason smiles. "They're bringing Ian, that may explain the delay."
"I was surprised they took Lois up on the offer to come here, I figured
they were going to the Scorpios." Ned comments.
"Mac and Felicia are in Texas with the girls; Em and Evan had classes."
They look up as a car pulls in and Evan and Emily approach with Ian.
Jason and Ned meet them halfway, as they each embrace Emily.
"Sorry we're running a little late: Ian needed some more juice, someone
forgot to pick up the diaper bag." Emily teases, as Evan blushes.
"I remembered the stroller." He shakes Jason and Ned's hands. "Em told
me that you have a stockpile of diapers and bottles here though."
Jason chuckles as Ned pats Evan on the back. "Sure, let's take this tyke
in to meet my girls and I'll help you get situated with all your toddler
needs."
Once alone, Jason cocks his head at Emily curiously. "Everything okay?"
"Mom and Dad are a little upset that we decided to eat here, but they
ended up taking that cruise, so things worked out okay. I ran into
Carly, she told me to give you all hugs. She's working tonight, so I
told her there'd be leftovers to her by midnight." Emily grins as she
holds out her hand. "You're the first one to see it; Evan proposed to me
last night."
Hugging her tightly, Jason kisses her cheek. "Congratulations, Emily."
Mark smiles indulgently at Stone. "Adam's still a little small for you
to play baseball with, Stone." Noticing the look of disappointment on
the little boy's face, he adds. "But, if Alexis will hold him for a
little while, I can go play with you."
Tom's booming voice comes from the kitchen. "She'd love to-- anything to
get her out of here."
He jokingly ushers Alexis out of the kitchen as she pouts playfully. "I
wasn't going anywhere near the stove." Taking a seat on the couch, she
gently takes Adam from Mark and smiles down at the little boy. "He's
grown so much, Mark."
Mark chuckles as he pulls Stone into his hands and playfully wrestles
him to the ground. "You say that every day, but you're right. Dr. Morris
says that his appointments can be cut down to once a month soon."
Turning to the little boy pinned to the carpet, he exclaims. "You ready
for some catch, runt?"
Scrambling up off the floor, Stone runs to the door. "Hurry Mark!!!"
The door shuts as Tom walks into the living room to find Alexis cradling
the baby. "You're a natural."
"Our arrangement is really working out, isn't it?" She comments softly.
"Yeah, Mark and Adam are both flourishing here. You have Mark studying
for his equivalency exam, and he really seems interested in researching
those law cases." Rolling his eyes jokingly, he adds. "Another lawyer,
just what the world needs."
"The social worker called yesterday afternoon, we've been granted
permanent status as Mark's guardians. I haven't told him yet because
we'd only discussed a temporary arrangement." Alexis looks at her
husband. "What do you think?"
"I think we need to tell Mark he'd better decide what color he wants
that room, now that he's staying on." Tom leans over and kisses her
forehead. "Did you really think I'd tell you no?"
Alexis runs her finger gently over Adam's tiny hand. "I never had a
doubt in my mind that you'd do the right thing."
Cassidy squeezes Lucky's hand as they stand outside of Wyndemere. "I
didn't realize how cold this island gets this time of year."
Lucky stomps out his cigar and replies deadpan. "It's the souls of the
spirits begging for release from the island of fog."
The sound of someone clearing their throat, startles them both. Turning
around, they find Nikolas with his arms folded across his chest. "The
only spirit on this island will be yours if you ever stomp out another
of those dreaded cigars on a rug Mrs. Lansbury just beat."
Holding up his hand in protest, Lucky explains. "I couldn't see that it
was a rug, the fog is affecting my vision."
Cassidy giggles. "Right, it's affecting your brain to come up with that
half-ass excuse. Nikolas, are you okay?" She asks with concern.
Taking in a deep breath of the cool evening air, Nikolas nods. "Baldwin
removed Katherine from life support today."
"So the dim bulb is now a dead bulb?" Lucky asks.
"Save it, Lucky. I am not in the mood for your vile humor this evening."
Nikolas quickly enters the home, as Lucky shakes his head.
"Damn, you'd think he would be celebrating."
Cassidy kisses his cheek. "There was a time he cared for her, Lucky.
Pick on Stefan tonight instead."
Scott places an oversized turkey on the table. "Lucy, out of my kitchen
in those heels, you'll break your neck."
Lucy pouts as she and Serena emerge both licking pie filling from their
fingers. "Oh pooh, I was just checking to see what you and Karen whipped
up in there."
Karen wipes some flour from her face as she walks out with a green bean
casserole. "I didn't do too much; Joe kept cooking over my shoulder."
Joe grins sheepishly. "Sorry babe, but the recipe's wrong, I've watched
my ma make stuffing many times."
Serena giggles. "Uncle Kevin needs a towel."
Kevin walks into the room with a baby held at arms length from him. "No,
Serena, Uncle Kevin needs a hose. Scott, what the heck did you feed this
infant?"
Cries of "mommy he hit me, well she's looking at me" Send Joe and Karen
to referee in the living room, as Scott takes the baby from Kevin's
arms. "I didn't feed him earlier, the dame in the stiletto heels did."
Wiping her husband's shirt off with a damp towel, Lucy shoots a playful
glare at Scott. "Tyler, you'd better listen up and listen good, I don't
care what your silly daddy says, women do not like to be called dames."
Serena coos at her little brother. "Right, we prefer goddesses."
Rolling his eyes, Scott sighs. "You spend too much time with your
mother."
Serena grins. "Mom, you're gonna let him say that?"
"Hand me the baby, Baldwin. Serena and I are going to plot unusual ways
to ruin your football game." Taking the child from Scott, Lucy walks out
of the room.
"Have you heard from Gina?" Kevin asks nonchalantly.
"Does the sound of her phone slamming down count?" He answers miserably.
"She returns my letters, flowers, gifts, heck she slams down the phone
no matter which one I use. I already filled up her call block service.
I'm running out of ways to say I'm sorry, and I'm the king of
apologies."
Kevin shakes his head. "Perhaps you should try something from your
heart, something that your newly returned money can't buy. It's a
thought."
THE END