Chapters 38 & 39 CHAPTER 38: POINT OF VIEW   Lu watches everything around her as the launch heads for Wyndemere. It doesn't take a genius to notice all the stepped up security. Two guards at the docks accompanying every launch and everyone other than family is checked and rechecked before even being allowed nearby. She looks over at Stefan, who is sitting on the opposite side with Laura, staring out over the water, deep in thought. She catches Laura's gaze and smiles slightly, but says nothing. The silence is deafening. Laura watches as her usually bubbly daughter is quiet and pensive. Lu's eyes seem darker somehow, as if her age had quadrupled in the three days at the hospital. Worry was written all over her face, and she refuses to say anything about it. And Lu's haunted look worries Laura. She wishes she could make it all go away. Trying to help lighten things, Laura turns back to Lu, "Hey Lu, your grandmother and Hans are going be staying with us at Wyndemere until Staci gets back." Lu smiles slightly, "Cool. I'm glad." Laura knows that Lu genuinely is glad, but she can see the trouble she's having expressing herself. Laura walks over to her and wraps her arms around Lu. Lu rests her head on Laura's shoulder and starts to cry. Laura rocks Lu gently as she cries, "It's okay, baby. Shhh," she says soothingly. Through her tears, Lu chokes out, "It's my fault, Mama. If I hadn't been so preoccupied, I would've been paying more attention. Staci would still be here." Lu looks up at her mother slowly, "Can you forgive me?" she asks quietly. Laura holds Lu's face in her hands, "It's NOT your fault. Now just put that out of your head." "What if they kill her? What are we gonna do? What if they come after the rest of us?" Lu squeaks. Laura pulls Lu quickly towards her again, holding her tightly, "You are SAFE, Lu. We all are. And they will NOT hurt Staci. We'll find and get her back. Trust me. Trust your father and your brothers. They are doing everything they can to get Staci back safe and sound." Stefan walks over and kneels in the floor of the launch in front of Laura and Lu. He takes both of Lu's hands in his and looks into her eyes, "Your mother is absolutely correct, Angel. There are people working around the clock to get Staci back. And as for our safety, no one will be able to harm us. Nikolas and I have made the island completely secure. I give you my word on that." He fights to keep a stray tear in check, but loses. Lu watches first one, then another tear rush down Stefan's cheek. She throws her arms around his neck, "I love you, Daddy," she says through her own tears. Stefan holds her tight, "I love you too, my Angel." In Wyndemere, Nikolas puts down the phone and turns to Lucky and Gina, who are sitting nearby, "Their launch just arrived." "How is Laura doing?" Gina asks. Nikolas shrugs, "The doctors only released her if she promised to come home and relax." Lucky snickers, "Oh yeah, right. And they actually believed her?" Gina turns to Lucky, "And you don't?" Smiling, he says, "Well, I know my mom pretty well. She probably promised them the world if they'd release her. She's not going to be away from here another day, as long as Lulu and Grandma are here." Nikolas sighs, "I just keep expecting Anastacia to bound through the door any minute now." Lucky's cell phone rings. "Spencer." A pleased grin crosses his face, "Thanks man, I owe ya for this one. See ya in 45." He flips the phone shut. Nikolas raises an eyebrow, "Well?" "I've been collecting information on everyone that Cassadine Inc. released in 2007. That call, hopefully, will give me a lead into who might grab Staci." Lucky stands up to leave as Laura and Stefan enter the room. Lu is following them, still on crutches. Nikolas goes over and gives Lu a hug, "How are you feeling?" Lu shrugs, "Fine." Nikolas turns to Laura and kisses her cheek, "Mother?" She smiles, "I'm okay." Lucky kisses both Laura and Lu, "Sorry to say hi and run, but..." Laura smiles, "It's okay. Go." Lu leans her crutches against the table and hugs Lucky tightly, "Hurry back, okay Big Brother?" she says, starting to cry again. Lucky hugs her, then pulls back and frames her face with his hands, "You sure you're okay, Lulu?" She nods quickly and wipes away her tears. Lucky kisses her on the forehead, "We'll talk later, I promise." He walks quickly out the door. Lu picks her crutches up again and starts to leave the room, "I'm going to my room," she says softly. Stefan nods, "Okay Angel, would you like my help getting up the stairs?" "No Daddy, I'm fine thanks." Stefan and Laura watch Lu with concern as she leaves the room. Nikolas notices Stefan and Laura's expressions more than anything else, "Is something wrong with Lesley Lu?" Laura walks over and kisses Nikolas on the cheek, "No more than with any of the rest of us." Lu's kisses Dylan in the park. A deep, booming voice echoes through the sky, "NO ONE IS SAFE FROM YOU!" She pulls back from Dylan and looks in his eyes, "Did you hear that?" Shaking his head, he leans forward to kiss her again, "No, nothing." He tries to kiss her, but she pulls back. Lu hears a scream. Staci. "AUNT LU, HELP ME! HELP ME!" Dylan pulls Lu towards him, "It's nothing. Nothing you can do." She turns away from Dylan as Staci's voice tells her, "It's your fault I'm dead, Aunt Lu. You didn't do anything to save me." Dylan turns her head gently towards him, "But I love you, Lu. You belong with me." She starts to kiss him, but a man clearing his voice behind her causes her to jump. She wheels around to face Stefan. He crosses his arms and gives her a disapproving stare, "What did I tell you about seeing this miscreant?" "Daddy, I..." "Hush Lesley Lu. Your family is in danger, either come with me, or stay with him." Dylan begs with her, "Please, Lu, please stay with me, I love you!" Defiantly, she loops her arm around Dylan, "I'm staying with Dylan, Daddy. He loves me and I love him." Instantly, Laura is by Stefan's side. She falls to her knees and sobs, "My babies, my poor babies!" Lu looks at what her mother is focused on. To her horror she sees five headstones, precisely in a row. Laura screams, "They're all dead, all DEAD!" She turns harshly to Lu, "This is YOUR fault. They would be alive if you had been paying attention." Lu looks at the names on the headstones: ANASTACIA CASSADINE, NIKOLAS STAVROVICH CASSADINE, LUCAS LORENZO SPENCER; SR., LUCAS LORENZO SPENCER; JR., RUBY ANDERSON. She cries out, "I didn't kill my father, Aunt Ruby, Lucky and Nik?" Stefan turns to her, "Oh no Angel? Then where are they? Why aren't they here? Where are they?" The words echo over and over in Lu's head as she sits up, out of breath and screaming. She clamps a hand quickly over her mouth and looks around. Listening, she tries to hear if she woke up anybody. Nothing. She slips out of bed, puts on her robe and hobbles out the room. Stefan wakes with a start, hearing someone moving in the room. He can feel Laura lying next to him, so he knows it's not her. Sitting up slightly, he can barely make out a form in the darkness, sitting in a chair next to the bed. He remembers Lu watching him sleep after her father and aunt died many years ago. "Angel?" he asks softly. "Yes, Daddy," she whispers back, sniffling. Laura wakes at the sound of their voices and turns on the bedside light, "Lu, honey, what's wrong?" Lu looks at the floor, "I had a nightmare. I had to make sure that you were okay." She starts to cry again. Laura motions for Lu to sit next to her, "Come here." Lu climbs up on the bed, "It was scary, everyone was dying and it was my fault, I couldn't do anything to stop it!" she says, choking back the tears. Laura pushes the hair out of Lu's face, "None of this is your fault. Okay? You believe me?" Lu nods quickly as she chews on her lower lip. "I know that in my head, but the rest of me can't seem to get it right." Laura hugs her daughter tightly, "It's okay, baby." Lu starts crying again, "You let it all out, okay?" Laura says consolingly. After a minute, Lu pulls back from Laura and hugs Stefan. He rocks her and rubs her back soothingly, "It will be all right, Angel," he repeats softly, over and over. A short while later, Laura touches Stefan's arm and nods towards Lu, "She's asleep," Laura whispers. Stefan looks down and sees that Lu has fallen asleep in his arms. He smiles and kisses her on the forehead, "I love you, Angel," he whispers.   CHAPTER 39: WORKING TOWARDS THE ANSWERS   The next day, in the Cassadine's swimming pool, Lu rests with her eyes closed in a floating pool chair. Lesley sits at the patio table, underneath a large umbrella, reading a book. Georgie walks up slowly. Lesley waves to her, "Good morning, Georgie." Georgie nods, "Morning, Mrs. Von Vetten." Georgie walks over and sits on the edge of the pool, her legs dangling over the side. "Hey Lu." Lu doesn't look up, "Hi," she says quietly. "So, your leg looks pretty good, what did they do?" Georgie asks. Lu looks over slowly, then touches the slight scar on her leg. Softly, she answers Georgie's question, "Technology, G. Lucky says I was really lucky that the bullet was only a .22. They were able to use lasers to make and seal the incision. 15 years ago, it would've taken tons of stitches and I'd still be in the hospital." "So why did you say that you're limping so bad?" "The muscle's knitting itself back. That takes time, even in today's world. But my doctor said working it some in the pool would be good PT." Georgie nods, "Kind of like aqua therapy." Lu nods, "Something like that, just as long as I'm careful." She calls out to Lesley, "Hey Grandma, you oughta get in here, the water's great." "Maybe later, honey." Georgie shoots Lu a glare, "Like you could tell! You've only gotten your butt wet. You wimp!" Lu looks over at Georgie, "You're one to talk." Georgie stands up, "Okay Mopey, is that a dare?" she asks in a jokingly harsh tone. Lu leans forward, "Yeah!" "Look out!" Georgie yells as takes a few steps back. She then runs and jumps in the pool, landing only a foot away from Lu, soaking her. "HEY!" Lu yells as Georgie comes up for air. Lu promptly pushes her back under. "Your dead, absolutely dead, Jones!" Lu fusses as she slides slowly out of her chair and into the water. Lesley calls out to Lu, "Lu, honey, be careful of your leg." "I will, Grandma," Lu calls back as the girls begin splashing one another. After a few moments, they swim over to a far corner of the pool to talk. Georgie wipes the water out of her face, "Well, any messages for Dylan?" Lu frowns, "No, not now. I can't." Georgie leans her head to one side, "That's a different tune than what I'm used to hearing." Lu shrugs, "Things change, okay?" "Yeah, but..." Suspecting something, Georgie asks, "What did he do?" "Nothing. It's just I can't be with him. With the kidnapping and everything, my family has to come first. I have to focus on them, I can't do that and be with Dylan." Georgie nods, "I understand." Lu smiles, "Good, then you can explain it to Dylan, right?" "Whoa!" Georgie says, throwing her hands in the air, "I can't break it off with him. That you're gonna have to do for yourself." "But I don't know what to tell him." "Tell him what you just told me. Look Lu, if you're serious about breaking it off with him, you have to tell him. The sooner the better." Lu thinks for a second, "I should give him a call, then. Or maybe drop him an email." "You should tell him in person." Lu shakes her head, "No, I don't think that's a good idea." Georgie gives her a pathetic look, "Lu, he really cares for you. He's been calling me almost every hour, wanting to know if I've heard from you. He's got it bad, the least you could do is tell him in person." Lu starts to answer, but looks up and sees Laura walking towards the pool with Lucky. Her eyes light up, "Hey Lucky! You and Mom coming swimming?" Laura shakes her head, "Not right now, sweetie." "Lucky?" "Nah, but I've got a couple of questions for you, sis. You game?" Lu sits up on the steps of the pool, and shrugs, "Yeah, sure. What's up?" Lucky sits on the concrete next to her, "How's the leg?" She shrugs, "Sore, but Dr. Scanlon said I would be, even after the wound itself looks completely healed." Lucky nods, "Yeah, too bad they couldn't just stick ya under some machine to knit up that muscle for ya." "That's still Star Trek material." Lucky laughs, "Yeah, I guess so. Lu, tell me again exactly what happened the other night." Lu rolls her eyes, "I've already told everyone everything. Over and over. Do I have to do it again?" "Please?" She sighs, "Okay. I was in the park. Gina and Staci came up to us. Gina got a page on her beeper, said it was an emergency. I offered to bring Staci home, since that's where I was heading anyway. She walked ahead of us towards the parking lot. I heard her scream, but by the time I got there, all I saw was the black car speeding off." Lucky nods, "And you and Dylan jumped on his motorcycle and started chasing them." Softly, Lu agrees, "Yes. They started shooting at us. I felt this sharp burning pain in my leg, lost my balance and fell off the bike. When I woke up, this woman was looking down at me. She told me to be still and that she was calling you. The next thing I remember was you in the hospital." Lucky nods, "That was Lisa. She called the ambulance and stayed at the hospital until I got there." "That was nice of her," Lu says, "I mean, staying there like that." Lucky thinks for a moment, "Yeah, it was," he says distractedly. "Maybe a little too nice." He leans over and gives Lu a kiss on the forehead, "Thanks babe." Lucky rushes off, waving to Laura and Lesley, "Later Mom, Grandma." Laura stands up to follow him, "Lucky, wait a minute, I need to talk to you about something." Lucky waits up while Laura joins him. Lu swims back over to Georgie, "What was that all about?" Georgie asks. "I'm really not sure," Lu says, trying to figure out what was going through her brother's mind. Laura and Lucky walk slowly back to the house, "What's wrong, Mom, is it Lulu?" "No, this is about Lisa." Lucky crosses his arms, not sure if he wants to hear this or not, "Go ahead." Laura takes a deep breath, "Lucky, before Staci was kidnapped, Stefan pulled some information on Lisa." "I'm not going to like this, am I?" Laura shakes her head, "No. Lisa is Jennifer Smith's daughter." Laura can practically see the steam coming out Lucky's ears, "Wait, I think there's more. I haven't had a chance to confront Lisa yet, but based on her age, and a few other factors..." This part is hard for her to say, "Lucky, I think it's possible that she could be your half sister." "WHAT!" Disbelievingly, Lucky fumes, "That's impossible! Dad would've said something. He would've told you! It's not true." Lucky starts to walk off, Laura tries to grab his arms, but just brushes him, "Lucky, wait, please," she calls out to him, but he's already gone. Derek Barrington sits in his penthouse at the Port Charles Hotel. He jumps slightly at the knock on the door. "Who's there?" he calls out as he gets near the door. "Your dream girl," the female voice responds. Derek opens the door a crack and frowns when he sees Lisa. "Or your worst nightmare," she adds, smiling sarcastically. "It's been a long time," he says. "May I come in?" she asks pleasantly. He shrugs, "You aren't going to kill me are you?" he asks before laughing and standing aside so she can come in. As she enters, she laughs slightly as well before saying, "Well, not right now, anyway." He motions towards the sofa, "Can I get you anything?" She shakes her head. As they both sit down, he asks, "What brings you to Port Charles?" "Can't a girl come and see her favorite ex-husband?" When Derek gives her an odd look, she laughs. "Seriously, I saw you at the Nurses' Ball with Amanda, and I just wanted to see how you were doing. You look good." He smiles, relaxing, "Thanks. So do you. How is..." She cuts him off, "Fine. Just fine. So, are you still working at the same place?" He shakes his head, "Cassadine Inc? Nah, I left there about three years ago." Lisa nods, "You okay with that? I thought you loved that place." Smiling again, he says, "Yeah, well, things change." She laughs slightly, "Don't I know it. I never thought we'd be able to have a civil conversation again." Now it's his turn to laugh, "How true. We've come a long way."