GH2016.10 Nik Has A Bad Day

Takes place couple days after Chapter 9...
"When did she get back into town?...Where is she?...I'll handle it from
here." (cell phone closes)

Dark, early evening. Jerry Jacks walks along the docks of Port Charles
noting the names of the ships and tankers tied along the piers. Behind him
the light of a apartment over looking the docks casts shadows...Inside the
apartment Georgie works on the computer translating and comparing her notes
to the screen. Georgie hears a noise and looks up.

Nik: I thought you were in China?
Georgie: I got back early. Thought I would stay with a friend for a few
days...take a vacation.
Nik: And this friend couldn't come over to the apartment?
Georgie:(Smiling) I figured it would cause problems for Lu if HE did. (Nik
draws closer and sees the cyrillic characters on the laptop screen. Georgie
moves to close the lid and Nik grabs her wrist. Georgie stands up; a two
shot derringer at Nik's throat. Nik looks into the eyes that have gone
cold,dark and flat. His grip contracts and Georgie pulls back the hammer)
Jerry: (from the door) Darlin' I didn't know we had company? Normally, I
offer coffee.
Georgie: Honey, this is my roommates brother, Nik. He put his hand on me;
you know that is by invitation only.
Jerry: (nonchalantly) The traditional response to being manhandled luv, is a
slap to the face not offering to make swiss cheese out of his carotid
artery. So you are Nik Spencer?
Nik: Nikolas Cassadine.
Jerry: Knew a Cassadine once. Stefan Cassadine. Quite the prankster always
playing games never saw him without a chess set.
Nik: My uncle.
Jerry: Darlin' how about he lets go of you and you don't shoot him? (Nik
releases Georgie and Georgie eases the hammer down dropping the weapon away
from Nik.) Why don't you go for a walk. I'll chat with Mr Cassadine.
(Georgie puts a coat on) Don't forget your hat. Some poor sot will see the
moonlight on that golden hair and think he has found the mother lode.
(Georgie comes over to Jerry allowing his body to block Nik from view.)
Georgie: I lost it; I'm sorry.
Jerry: No harm, Luv. We'll talk when you get back. (Georgie leaves refusing
to make eye contact with Nik.) You've know her most of her life and yet you
find the button to push. She is the most even tempered woman I've ever met,
damn near perfect, and you lit a fuse.
Nik: (with an unfamiliar feeling of defensiveness) All I did was grab her
hand. She's Lu's friend; I didn't spend much time with her.
Jerry: You evidently been keeping an eye on her. She hasn't called anyone to
let them know she is back from China.
Nik: She wasn't in China.
Jerry: You've got the look of your uncle when he was pondering a puzzle.
Nik: I think that Georgie has gotten involved in her family business.
Jerry: And that would be?
Nik: WSB, just like her father. (Jerry smiles but says nothing) her
activities may endanger my sister.
Jerry: Well Georgie and I, we keep to ourselves as you have probably
noticed. Nobody getting hurt here except grabby men which I think a big
brother would appreciate. Why don't you give my best to your uncle. Tell
him we'll have to get together for a game.
(Jerry has been using the time to herd Nik toward the door and closes it
behind Nik ending the conversation)

The Club: later that evening. Nik, Laura and Stefan arrive at the club and
are greeted by "Ana" both men go on alert. Nik steps forward but runs into
his mother.

Laura: Cassadine party of three; I'm afraid we don't have a reservation...
Staci: (gratefully) That won't be a problem, Mr Spencer has a booth reserved
for you at all times. If you will follow me? (she walks them to the booth)
If there is anything I can get for you please let me know. Your server will
be here shortly. (Staci smiles and walks over to Lu who is behind the bar.)
Nik:(his voice rising) What in the hell is going on! (Laura grabs his hand
keeping him seated)
Laura : A lesson in camouflage. I heard Lucky tell you he was giving one
and you approved it.
Nik: (in a low tense voice) My daughter does not wait on tables.
Laura: Why not? Your mother did, your wife did and your sister still does.
I thought you appreciated women who know how to serve. (Nik glares at his
mother who is smiling and trying to tease him into a better mood.) Nik, look
at her. (Nik looks over at the dark haired girl in a red dress who appears
to be flirting with one of her bodyguards) All I ever wanted was for you to
be free. (Nik flinches) Stefan told me I expected too much but I don't
think it is too much to expect for Staci. When others look at her they see
a pretty girl flirting with a young man, not a target. WE are the targets,
me, (pulling free her pendant) Lu, (Nik looks over to where his sister is
wearing the Cassadine pendant) and you. (Laura turns over Nik's hand to
display the ring of The Cassadine) She's safe, Nik, and free for the first
time in her life.
Nik: She is pretending to be something she is not.
Laura: Maybe and that is what camouflage is about. I know. Lucky and I
lived that way for over a decade: disguises and covers, identifying threats,
packing light. Already I can see she has learned a lot. Look at the way she
is talking to Kris. Anyone watching wouldn't think that he was her
bodyguard or even that she needed one. You think she is pretending. I
think she is learning a survival skill and about herself at the same time.
(Laura gets up and leans over to kiss Nik on the cheek) And now I am going
to go talk to my daughter.
Nik: A more duplicitious bunch of females I have never met!
Stefan: Thank God, they are on your side. I love watching your mother in
action. She gets you every time. You do have a blind spot where Webber
women are concerned.
Nik: And you don't?
Stefan: Maybe, but I quit underestimating your mother years ago. She is the
only one. Somehow around her being in control isn't as important as it once
was.
Nik: Well Laura wasn't the first to blind side me today. In my earlier
meeting a woman pulled a pistol on me.
Stefan: What!! Where was your security?
Nik: I didn't think I would need it to meet Georgie Jones and evidently an
old acquaintance of yours.
Stefan: Who?
Nik: I didn't get his name...big guy, late forties Australian accent said he
recognized the look you get when "pondering a puzzle"
Stefan: Ah trouble. (Nik looks questioningly) If it is who I am
thinking...Jerry Jacks. He is a half and half kind of guy. Half the time
he shows up before trouble; half the time after. So he is in Port Charles
and has formed a liaison with Georgie. What else do you know?
Nik: He wants a rematch in chess.

Even later that same evening in an apartment in the same building as Lu's.
The doorbell rings.

Gina: Who is it?
Nik: Me.
Gina: (opening the door) How did you get in without being announced?
Nik: I bought the building.
Gina: Darn it, Nik.
Nik: I want to talk to you about Staci.
Gina: Laura said you probably would. (sitting on the couch)
Nik: My mother called you? Then you know about this farce, this lesson in
duplicity? (Pacing)
Gina: Evidently you ok'd it. I found out afterward. Our daughter evidently
needs a new wardrobe for this "farce" and wants to go shopping. Nothing
"depressingly Cassadine" I think she was quoting Lucky.
Nik: Don't even mention my brother's name. Evidently he was out of town
tonight... checking on the other clubs.
Gina: His mama didn't raise any fools. Nik, why are you so upset by
this...she is 16 and stretching her wings. That is what she is suppose to
do. Come on, don't you remember what it was like to be her age?
Nik: Yes, I Do. I nearly didn't live to be 17- if you recall. This would
never have happened of you had not moved out.
Gina: Nik, that is not fair. You know why I left. You didn't trust me
(bitterly) and you still don't. I loved you then and I probably still do
but living with you is like beating my head against a cement wall. I just
can't do it anymore. I got interested in psychology to figure myself out
and psychiatry to figure you out. I can't because you wont let me in ; you
never did.
Nik: We could always connect, Gina. (sitting on the couch he pulls Gina into
his lap and kisses her. Her hands slide around his neck as the kiss
deepens. Nik stops only when he tastes the salty moisture of her tears.)
Gina: Yeah, we could always connect. Distracting me with sex, when I wanted
to be a part of your life. It hurts, Nik; it hurts so badly. (Gina gets up
from Nik's lap. She walks toward the bedroom. I think you should go...lock
up on your way.