Chapters 14 - 16
GH 2025.14 Forms Of Communication
"My bike!" Ian lets out an anguished cry. "That miserable bastard took apart my bike!"
Dominique just stands gaping at the huge mobile full of bicycle parts on the ceiling of her home. "I can't believe it! How did they ever get it up there?" She asks in wonderment.
"Let's find out." Ian storms over to the TV and rewinds the surveillance tape of the living room back to the moment they left for the Outback. There is a strange sounds like a beeping noise, and then footsteps. A dark shadow by a chair, then a gloved hand slips around the side of the main camera and sprays a strange substance over the lens. Ian glances up at the camera. "Silly string." He curses softly and proficiently under his breath.
Dom can make out a little Russian, some German, and a healthy dose of Portuguese during his tirade. "It looks like all the parts are here." She says eying the pieces of his bike.
"Yeah, but damn it, someone totaled my BIKE." Ian declares grievously, looking like he's about to cry.
"Look. I'll change into something less likely to be ruined by grease and we'll put it back together again." Dom offers.
"You do cycle repairs as well?" Ian's lips quirk in a small smile.
"Hey, I'm a woman of the twenties." Dom tosses back over her shoulder as she takes the steps two at a time.
Upstairs in her room she rummages through the closet for a pair of soft worn jeans and a comfy T-shirt. She makes a quick change. "Hey, Smokey. I forgot to feed you this morning, what with all the commotion." She reaches for the kitten in the small basket by her bed. "Come on let's get you some food." Picking up the limp kitten, Dominique begins to shake. "Smokey?" She drops the kitten back in the basket and lets out a blood curdling scream. "IAN!"
Ian's steps thunder as he races into her room, kicking the door open, with his firearm drawn. "What? What's happened?"
"Smokey." Dominique shrinks back away from the bed.
Ian crouches down and lays a steady hand against the kitten's body. "He's dead." Out of the corner of his eye, Ian spots a piece of folded white stationary. On it is printed five blood curdling words.
"Everything You Touch Will Die." Noting the kitten's rapidly cooling body, Ian grabs a trembling Dominique and pulls her close.
"Hey Scoop!" Evan Scorpio yells from the kitchen. "You seen the pea pods?"
Serena briefly glances up from the New York Times crossword puzzle. "Um, you try the fridge? Hey! What's an eleven letter word for "Thwarted feeling"?
Vaulting over the back of the sofa, Evan lands next to Serena. He nibbles on her earlobe. "Frustration?"
"Thanks!" She fills in the last boxes and smiles triumphantly. "Done!"
"God, you're sexy when you're brilliant." Evan teases. "Which is always. Marry me."
Serena clasps her hands around his sweet face. "Evan, I love you. But the answer is still no." She glances at her watch. "And you're early with the proposal tonight. It's not due for another hour."
"I couldn't help myself. Occasionally I like to be early." Evan kisses her lightly, as he moves to go back to the kitchen.
"I'd curb those tendencies if I were you Scorpio!" Serena scolds. "Nothing's worse than a man your age with premature. . . ." She pauses for effect. "Articulation. Speaking before you think!" She sniffs delicately. "Is that dinner?"
"DAMN!" Evan bolts for the kitchen, too late to save the stir-fry in the pan.
"Guess it's take out from the Red Dragon again." Serena remarks her laughter. "We go through more pots this way. . . . "
"Hush, woman!" Evan scolds as the telephone rings. "Scorpio."
"Dad. I need your help."
"What is it Ian?" Evan asks, sobering immediately.
"You know that case I've been working on? The one I couldn't tell you about?"
"Yes." Evan replies, sitting on a stool.
"Well it's a stalker case. Grandpa and I thought we could handle it, but things have gone too far and I need your input." Ian hastily adds. "But you can't just show up here with half the force, that'll blow everything wide open."
"What can I do?"
"I want you and Serena to drop by that Chinese take out place and bring over some food. Make it look casual, like you're visiting."
A cold shiver runs down Evan's spine. "Visiting where? You haven't told me who the victim is."
"Dominique. Dad, she's real shaky right now. I think having Serena here will help."
"We're on our way, son." Evan reassures Ian quietly before hanging up the phone.
"Who was that?" Serena asks.
"Ian. Look Serena, there's a situation and it puts me in a bad spot. As the police commissioner, I know this is breaking the rules since you're the press, but it's your family, and they need you."
"Oh God Evan, you're scaring me. Tell me. What is it?"
"It's Dominique. We're needed at the Firehouse." He holds the door open and waits for her to grab her jacket. "I'll explain on the way over."
"Let's go."
At Destiny and Rick's new house. "God. I love this place!" Destiny sighs in satisfaction, surveying the sparsely furbished contemporary house. They'd pulled a lot of stuff from Kevin and Lucy's storage space, and thrown in a few pieces Scotty had made, and it's just starting to look like a real home.
"I know why you really love it." Rick teases. "It's that bunch of weeds on the roof."
"They are NOT weeds!" Destiny argues hotly. "Those are ferns. Those are delicate, beautiful, exquisite, breathtaking ferns. And if you ever refer to them as weeds again I will use you as plant food." She threatens.
Rick holds up both hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Ferns. You love those ferns."
Smiling in satisfaction, Destiny answers. "Yes. I love the flowers I grow, but ferns are special; they require so much love and attention. I'm so happy that the last owner left these with me." Noticing Rick staring at her, she becomes self-conscious. "What? Why are you staring at me?"
"You're nothing like I thought." Rick continues to look at her thoughtfully. "When I first met you, I thought you were pretty and nice, but kind of flaky and a prima donna."
"Well gee! Doesn't that make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside?" Destiny drawls, as she places dishes in the cupboards.
Rick starts to hand them to her. "But that was my first impression. My second impression was that you were funny and smart and a hell of a lot of fun."
"Better." Destiny concedes. "And now?"
"Now I think you are without a doubt one of the coolest women I know." Rick admits. "Let's see, you tease your siblings, run a multi million dollar company, babysit, grow ferns, and order a mean pizza."
"Flatter me all you want, buddy boy. You're still not getting the big bathroom." Destiny chuckles as Rick feigns a wound.
"Now is that any way to talk to your roomie?"
Destiny cocks her head to the side and considers it. "Yes. As a matter of fact, it is."
Rick coils up a damp towel and gives her a good, hard *Snap*.
"What a baby!' She says coiling up her own towel and running after him. "If I wanted to be teased and tormented, I would have moved in with Simon!"
"And miss the chance to see me in a towel?" Rick jokes.
"YUCK!" Destiny tosses her towel at him. "It would probably give me cooties!"
"Would not!"
"Would so!" The two exchange glances and burst out laughing.
An hour later, Evan, Mac, and Ian are huddled in the kitchen of the Firehouse. "I can't believe Dominique was in danger and it never occurred to either of you to call the police! What in the hell were you thinking?" Evan demands, angry enough to spit nails.
"Shh!" Ian glares at his father. "Dominique can't handle a fight right now, Dad. I think finding Smokey is about all she can take."
Evan glances at a shaken, pale Dominique huddled on the sofa with Serena. "Agreed. But I had a right to know what was going on." He looks at his watch. "I've got a couple of guys watching this place plus a street sweep every half hour."
"I just can't believe it, Serena." Dominique whispers softly. "This person killed something, because of me. It's my- - "
"STOP IT!" Serena shakes Dom gently. "Don't you dare say it's YOUR fault. Some sicko-path breaks in here, terrorizes you and does something unspeakable to a helpless animal. It is NOT your fault, it's theirs." She cuddles Dom close. "It's not your fault, baby." She soothes. "It's not."
GH 2025.15 True Confessions
Staring out the window at the gray Port Charles sky, Rick lets his mind wander. He had to call Thaao soon. His father must be concerned about his abrupt departure and whereabouts. Tiredly he runs his fingers through his hair. Both of his fathers, and all of his brothers, and a sister and a mother. Finally he had his mother's attention, but it wasn't the same mother. What was he to make of it all? His shoulders square in resolve and he walks up the stairs leading to the greenhouse. He opens the door and warm air rushes out. "Destiny?"
"Over here!"
Rick walks gingerly around tables teeming with exotic flowers and ferns. Rounding a corner in the leafy labyrinth, he finds Destiny sitting on a small bench.
"Wow!" Rick gasps taking in the lushness and serene beauty of the plants, coupled with the blanket of stars visible through the glass walls and roof.
Destiny pats the seat next to her, and takes in his troubled expression unhidden by his admiration of the plants. "What's wrong?"
"I need to bounce some things off you." He begins cautiously as he takes his seat. "But to do that, I need to tell you the truth."
"Sounds serious." Destiny says as she pulls off her gloves and straddles the bench so she's facing him.
"It is. Destiny, I've been lying ever since I met you."
"About what?"
"My name isn't Rick James." He shifts uncomfortably. "The name I grew up with is Patrick Onassis. But even that was a lie." He takes a deep breath, and slowly exhales. "My real name is Richard, Richard Cassadine."
"Come again?" Destiny blinks.
"It's true. I'm sorry I lied to you." Richard sits back and waits for an explosion. Several minutes tick by and when it is apparent none is forth coming, Richard says, "Destiny?"
"Aunt Laura and Uncle Stefan's son?" Destiny shakes her head as she whistles softly. "I'm trying to decide whether this is where I hug you, or smack you silly." She stands and begins to pace slowly. "Why all the lies? Not just to me, but to everyone? Surely you must know that your family is dying to meet you? That there's no reason to hide?"
"I learned who I was from my mother as she lay on her death bed." Richard explains quietly. "In the space of a few seconds, everything in my world went spinning out of control. I suddenly had a new family. A family I'd never seen, people I didn't know, and then I was just supposed to waltz in and say what? 'Hi Mom! Hi Dad! I know it's been 24 years, but I'm home!' " He pauses and takes a deep breath. "I had to see them, put faces with the names that Georgie Jones had put in my head. I had to have some sense of control again."
"So you came to do a little recon before deciding what to do?" Destiny stops pacing and folds her arms. "That's damn unfair of you, Richard." She tells him bluntly.
"What do you mean?" Richard looks at her curiously.
"What were you going to do? Study them, evaluate them? Then decide if they were up to your standards? And what if they weren't? If you didn't like what you saw, would you have vanished again?" She continues. "And why wouldn't you want your family?"
"They aren't my family!" Richard bursts out roughly. "They're strangers They're SUPPOSED to be my family, but I don't know them. I don't know what they'll want from me." In a smaller voice, "And I don't know if I can give them what they want."
With a soft sigh, Destiny sits back on the bench and takes one of Richard's hands in both of her own. "I don't know what to tell you."
"Tell me about them." His dark eyes plead with hers. "Who are they? What are they like?"
Destiny is quiet for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Aunt Laura, she's the most gentle person I know. She feels for people, she understands them and is accepting of just about anyone, except people that hurt her family. Uncle Stefan. I've known his ever since I was born, and he's still kind of a puzzle... very secretive. His first, and last loyalty is to your mother. But that loyalty extends to Nikolas, and Lu and Lucky."
"Even though Lucky isn't his son?" Richard asks.
"Yes. Mom says it's because Lucky is a part of Aunt Laura."
Richard is confused. "Aunt Laura? Is she really your Aunt?"
"No, not really, " She explains. "Laura's actually a distant cousin by marriage. But because the families are so close, she's more like an aunt."
"What about Nikolas?"
"Nikolas is a stick in the mud. But there's hope now that he's married to Brooke," Destiny says with a grin.
"In what way is he a stick in the mud?"
"He likes things ordered, traditional, he's a good guy, but hard to know. But again, like everyone in your family, he is loyal, and protective. And don't forget Lu. She's not a blood Cassadine, you know. She's a lot like her mother... generous, caring, straightforward.. but also loyal and protective."
"You make my family sound like golden retrievers." Richard quips. "But seriously, they sound perfect. What if I'm not the person they've missed all these years?"
"PERFECT?" Destiny throws back her head and laughs. Seeing the wounded expression flit across Richard's face, she reigns herself in. "I'm sorry. But the truth is, your family is far from perfect. They have had more problems, and fights, and close calls, and miscommunications, and near brawls than any family I know. As for you not being what they want, that's plain not true. They want you. Whoever you are. However you are. You are a part of them, and always will be. They aren't looking for a paragon, Richard. All they're looking for, all they have ever looked for is their son." She considers something for a moment. "Did Lucky know who you were when he hired you?"
"Yeah, he caught on as soon I hit town. He's been pretty cool, he gave me a chance to find a job and a house before he spilled the beans."
Destiny bites her bottom lip. "You know, this puts him in a bad position." She shakes her head. "Oh well, Lucky's been in worse spots, he can take care of himself. So when are you going to go see the family?"
Rick looks down at his watch. "I guess tonight." He stands. "I know I don't deserve a friend like you, but I'm very glad to have you." He gives her a quick hug. "Thanks."
"Good luck." Destiny smiles as he walks to the door. "Oh! And Richard?"
He turns from the door. "Yes?"
"Welcome home."
"Lucky?" Rick's voice is tentative over the phone.
"Hey, kid." Lucky replies. "What's up?"
"I'm going to Spoon Island and tell the family tonight." Rick informs him. "I thought I'd better let you know my plans."
"I'm with the family right now." Lucky lowers his voice. "I'll be here. You're doing the right thing."
"Good." Rick hangs up the pay phone and moves to the small power boat at the end of the dock. Navigating the small craft through the dark waters, his thoughts turn to the irony of coming full circle. His real family on the island he'd never seen, but was finally going home to. Another family on another island that had been home his whole life, but that he would never set foot on again. Maneuvering the boat into the slip, Rick slowly climbs out and begins to walk up to the house slowly, trying to gather his thoughts and his nerve. A servant opens the door. "I'm here to see Mr. and Mrs. Cassadine." He forces out through his constricted throat.
"This way, Mr Spencer informed me you were coming." The man says formally. "The family is in the game room." He leads Richard to the door."I shall announce you."
"No." Richard objects. "I'll announce myself, thanks."
"As you wish, Sir." The older man walks off.
Richard pushes open the heavy doors to the curious gazes of Laura, Stefan, Nikolas, and Lu.
Chapter 16 A Long Awaited Reunion
Lucky's cell phone rings, breaking into the family conversation at Wyndemere. . He rises from his chair and moves to a corner of the room. "Spencer."
"Lucky?" Rick's voice is tentative.
"Hey, kid." Lucky replies, attempting to sound casual. "What's up?"
"I'm going to Spoon Island to tell the family tonight." Rick informs him. "I thought I'd better let you know my plans."
"I'm with the family right now." Lucky lowers his voice further. "I'll be here. You're doing the right thing." Lucky closes up his cell phone after Rick hangs up and lets out a sigh, this whole charade would end tonight, and all he could do was pray that his family could forgive him for keeping such an earth shattering secret.
"Lucky, you done staring off into space? I want to start looking for Richard now." Nikolas declares vehemently. "If we wait too long, we could lose him again."
"I agree with Nikolas. Daddy, Mom we have to start looking." Lu pleads
with her parents.
Lucky slumps deep into his chair, feeling guiltier by the second, as his family twists themselves up in knots over a missing child that is no longer missing.... that would be arriving any moment.
Stefan looks at Laura thoughtfully, "Actually Lasha, I am weary of the waiting myself. We have been patient. But now, I am growing concerned. What if Richard never comes to us on his own? What if we lose all trace of him while we wait? I couldn't bear it."
"Me either." Laura clasps Stefan's hand tightly, trying to hide the worry that has been brewing for the last week. "Let's do whatever is necessary to bring Richard home. I want to see my baby again."
The door to the game room opens. Rick stands there looking very nervous, behind him is an anxious servant.
"It's okay, Reese, you've done your job." Lucky pipes up at the servant. The servant, now assured that he hasn't lost his job, vanishes.
"Rick!" Lu's smiles in greeting. "This is a surprise. Is there something wrong at the club?"
Lucky, noticing Richard's deer in the head lights look, clears his throat. "No, Lu. I don't think that's what he's here about."
"I. . I'm not sure how to begin." Richard says as he walks tentatively into the curious group. "My real name is... Richard. Richard Cassadine. The mother that raised me, Miranda Jameson, died. And before she did, she told me about my real parentage. . . about the kidnapping." He takes a deep steadying breath. "Then I ended up here in spite of myself. When Lucky figured out who I was, I was going to leave, but he wouldn't let me." Rick stops, unable to continue, unable to say anything at all.
Laura's blue eyes fill with tears. "It can't be... you can't...." She swings to face Lucky, trying to believe the unbelievable..
"It's true, Mom." Lucky says in a whisper, wrapping an arm around Richard and bringing him forward. "Stefan, Mom. This is Richard... your son."
"Th.. Then it's true, Lucky?" Laura's blue eyes sparkle with tears. She turns to the handsome young man before them. "Richard?" Her words falter as she moves across the room as if in a trance. "This.. this is my son? My baby boy?" Laura looks to Lucky one last time for confirmation, but in her heart she knows.
"Yes." Is all the answer Lucky can give through the lump in his throat.
"My baby." Laura's hands skim over the outline of his face, not quite willing to touch him, for fear that he will disappear once again. "We thought we'd never see you... never set eyes on you again. Then we... we heard from Georgie that you were alive... " Her voice trails off as the magnitude of the news robs her of the words to express herself.
Sensing Stefan and Laura's need for privacy while they reunite with Richard, Lucky pulls an astonished Lu and Nikolas out of the room, leaving a trembling Laura, and a frozen Stefan. "Stefan?" Laura asks.
Laura's plea breaks him from stasis. Stefan moves slowly toward mother and son, but for this moment, he looks twenty years younger, the weight of all the false hopes, and dead ends lifted from his shoulders. His son is home at last.
Laura captures one of Richard's hands in her own. "Look." She commands softly. "Look how large your hands are compared to mine. They weren't always, you know. The day you were born, you were magnificent, but your hands were so tiny and fragile. I could fit them both in my palm." Her free hand brushes back his hair. "You look like Nikolas. Proud, and strong." Her voice breaks as the reality hits her. "My baby, you're home!"
Stefan wraps a shaking hand around the back of Richard's neck and pulls his face close. Pressing his forehead against his son's,Stefan whispers one word. "Richard."
An almost unbearable wave of emotion rocks over Richard with the force of a Tsunami. His mother's eyes filled with such happiness. And the warm feel of Stefan's hand against his neck. Laura's soft hand cradling his own. His father's eyes delving down deep, deeper into his very soul. The dam breaks and tears run down his face, despite efforts to hold it in. Laura croons to him softly, the voice so comforting, he seeks some memory of it from his subconscious.
"It's all right, baby. It's all right. Go ahead. let it all out." Laura whispers softly, realizing that she is speaking to Stefan and herself as well as their child.
"I'm- I mean. . .I didn't mean to stay away after Georgie found me." Richard stammers. "I just didn't know what to do."
"You're here now, my son." Stefan comforts, the joy he feels at this moment making his voice richer than it had been in decades. "You're home now, that is all that matters. You matter with all our hearts." He kisses Richard's cheek as the young man clings to him. "You're home!"
Out in the hall, Nikolas braces himself against the wall, his eyes filled with unshed emotion. His baby brother, home. It is too good to be true, too good to be believed.
Lu, however is not quite so silent. "You bastard!" She hisses before slamming her fist into Lucky's stomach, leaving him doubled over. "You knew! You knew who he was all along and you didn't tell us? You put us through this waiting and worrying for NOTHING?!"
Lucky straightens up slowly, tears in his eyes. "You think I did this on purpose, Lu? That I didn't want to scream it from the rooftops that my baby brother was home? That he was alive and in my club?" He swings to face Nikolas. "I swear, I wanted to, but he was ready to split. When I told him I knew who he was he was halfway out the door. It took everything I had to keep him here.. to give us all a chance."
"Why?" Nikolas' voice is low, and shaky. "Why did you have to lie to us? Why did he want to leave?"
"He's terrified, he's shaken up. I had to make a deal with him, I told him I'd keep his secret for one week, just long enough to get a house and a job, then I would tell the family. I knew it was important to give him the time to come to us on his own." Lucky's eyes plead with Nikolas' for understanding. "I couldn't. . I just couldn't let him walk away. I couldn't let him go."
Lu swallows at the anguish in her brother's voice. "It's okay, Lucky. All that matters is that he's here, with us. He's where he belongs."
The door opens and Laura extends her hands to her children, her eyes still sparkling with tears, but her voice is full of joy. "I think it's time we all were properly introduced, don't you?" He takes Nikolas' hand and leads him to where a red-eyed Richard stands next to Stefan. "Nikolas, Lu, I would like you to meet your brother, Richard."
Nikolas hesitates for a fraction of a second, struggling with self-control, then wraps both arms around Richard and pulls him tightly into his arms. Lu follows, as does Lucky. The four siblings clutch one another tightly without saying a word.
Stefan pulls Laura's head to rest on his shoulder, as they watch their children. Together at last.
