CHAPTERS 79 & 80
GH2017.79 It Only Takes A Second
Brooke and Mark, the body guard assigned by Jason, walk out to the tour
bus after finishing a show. The driver has already gone out to warm up
the bus.
Brooke: (bubbling) It was a great set! I can't believe that we are
already half way through the tour. (Patting her tummy) It may be awhile
before I can tour again, I guess I should make the most of this... Maybe
even extend this tour.
Mark: (joking) It's such a glamorous life; Why would you ever stop?
Brooke: You didn't know what you were getting into when you took this
assignment; did you?
Mark: Not really, but it's been fun. One of your roadies has been
collecting autographs for my kid while I've been keeping an eye on you.
Brooke: This is really so unnecessary. I don't need protection and
it's interfering with you really enjoying the tour!
Mark: You kidding? I'm going to make a fortune off the bootleg tapes I
have of your practices.
Brooke: You'd better be kidding! The lawyers my mother has make Alexis
Hardy look like a walk in the park! (Just then she grabs his arm--
stopping them about 100 feet from the bus) Wait-- something isn't
right.
Mark: What do you mean? The bus has been a cold start since day one.
As soon as the driver gives it a goose; it runs fine.
As if hearing Mark's comments, the driver revs the engine and with a
fiery explosion, the bus is consumed in flames. Mark puts himself
between Brooke and the bus throwing her to the ground and covering her
with his body. As soon as it appears that all the debris has fallen, he
hustles Brooke back inside the arena. Pulling his pistol, he keeps a
hand on her-- positioning Brooke away from his gun hand and behind him.
Barely keeping her cool, Brooke hugs the wall moving swiftly behind her
bodyguard. Finally, they come to an empty room that Mark and Brooke
enter. Barring the door, he gets out his cell phone. The call to 911
is soon over and then he calls Jason. Brooke sits in a far corner,
reaction hitting her as she rocks back and forth hugging herself and her
unborn child.
At the other end of the phone connection:
Jason: ( Picking up on the first ring) Morgan, this had better be good.
Mark: ( tersely) There was an attempt on Brooke tonight. Her driver is
dead. They blew up the bus. She was about a minute away from being a
marshmallow, me along with her.
Jason: (sitting up in bed, all his focus on the call) Are you in
danger?
Mark: Unknown. We're holed up in one of the rooms behind the stage.
There is a ton of confusion outside. I don't like this. We're sitting
ducks. It was okay for a retreat but now I need to get her out of here
and to a more secure location.
Jason: Where are you? (Mark tells him the name of the city and the
location within the arena)
Okay a friend of ours will be there within thirty minutes. He will have
your cell phone number. He WILL NOT knock on the door. He will call
you when he is outside and that way you'll know it's okay. Anybody who
comes through that door without calling first- take them out. ( He
looks over at Robin who is grabbing his arm and wide awake at the phone
call. She mouths that she wants to talk to Mark.) Robin wants to talk
to you. Don't stay on the phone long. (with that he hands the phone to
Robin and moves off to his den to make his own calls.)
Robin: Mark, Is Brooke okay?
Mark: How the hell should I know? You're the doctor. ( There's a
pause) Sorry. Yeah, physically she seems fine. She has some gravel
burns on her face from being on the ground. Robin, I threw her to the
ground and was covering her right after the bomb went off. I don't
know if maybe I messed up with her being pregnant and all.
Robin: Pregnant? Brooke is pregnant? (Mark is silent realizing that
he's screwed up.) Mark, let me talk to Brook. ( Mark hands the phone to
Brooke)
Brooke:( in a small voice) Robin?
Robin: (reassuringly) Yeah, Honey, it's me. Are you okay? Do you hurt
anywhere? Any cuts or bleeding or anything?
Brooke: No, I'm okay. I don't really feel anything right now. But
Robin, that poor man, the driver, he never had a chance. (She starts
crying. Mark takes back the phone)
Robin: Mark, I think you need to keep an eye on her for shock. Keep
her warm. Jason is probably going to call her folks so they don't see
it first on the news. Will you remind her to call them again when she
gets to the hotel?
Mark: Sure. Robin, I should get off the line. Hopefully help is on
the way.
Robin: I know it is. Thanks Mark, for being there for her.
Mark: Don't thank me, she saved my butt. She knew something was wrong
with the bus or we both would've been on it. Tell Jason I'll call when
we get to the hotel.
The loft den of Jason Morgan who paces the length of the room along the
railing that overlooks the family room below. Wearing a headset that
allows him to move freely and keep his hands free he moves into action
calling in his troops. The first call to the buddy who'd pick up Mark
and Brooke has already been made. The second call to a hotel manager is
already in progress
Jason: Yeah, I take it you already heard about what happened at the
arena? ... I got a VIP coming to town and this looks really bad for
your city; what kind of crackpots you got living there? ... Oh so you
can guarantee this person's safety and privacy? ... There will be a
security detail traveling with them...Do you have a floor that can be
blocked off? ... Penthouse is fine. I'll want one of my people to be
able to check the people coming off the elevator unless you can key all
but one for no access to the penthouse floor... Okay, that'll be
satisfactory... Who is it? Why don't you just make up a name... All you
need to know is that ELQ is picking up the tab. Do this right and
you'll have all the ELQ business through your town. Screw this deal for
me, I'll buy the damn hotel and fire your ass; you got it? ... I
thought you would.
(Second call Jason takes a deep breath as he waits for the connection.
As expected the phone is answered before the first ring is
complete)...Lois, she's all right. ... Yeah, I got guys on the way to
pick her up from the arena and she'll have the entire top floor of a
hotel there. ... Robin talked to her.... Lois, my best guy is with
her.... In fact his kid is staying with Robin and me while he's on the
road with Brooke. (Jason hears Robin coming up the stairs bearing
coffee) Robin is here; why don't I put it on the speaker phone? (He
clicks on the speaker phone so that everyone can talk)
Lois: (scared) Robin, is she okay?
Robin: Physically she's fine, Lois, but she saw the bus blow up. She
knows that the driver couldn't have made it, so I'm having Mark keep an
eye on her for shock.
Jason: This is the first attack that seems to be specifically aimed at
the Quartermaines. The kidnaping attempt on Staci Cassadine and the
bomb that took out the apartment all seemed aimed at the Cassadine.
Robin: Honey, I'm not so sure of that. Lois, Has Brooke mentioned
anyone to you that she is dating or dated recently?
Lois: She was seeing Nik Cassadine for a while. Remember he came to
Ma's party with Brooke. But she hasn't mentioned him lately.
Jason: So this could still be aimed at the Cassadines.
Lois: (getting past the fear and right onto the anger) So what? They're
going after one of my kids! I want to talk to Brooke. I think she
should come back here ASAP.
Robin: I told Mark to have her call as soon as they got to the hotel.
I'll talk to you later, Lois.
Jason: How's your security there?
Lois: We're fine. The couple you put here will have to go on diets
because Ma keeps feeding them. I think Bridgette is in love with the
driver you provided but she's at that age...Boy crazy.
Jason: I think it is time to pull them out of school, Lois; keep them
around the house more.
Lois: I think so too, Jase. But this can't go on much longer. They're
good girls, but if it goes on too long; they'll start fighting the
restrictions.
Jason: Then put a picture of the burned out bus on all the doors along
with the driver's funeral announcement.
Robin: JASON!
Jason: Sorry Lois-- I know you're right. I thought we'd have the slime
by now. Look-- I should get off the phone. We both have more calls to
make tonight. I'll keep you and Ned up to date. Where is he anyway?
Lois: Business in Vegas with the radio stations. He should be in a
plane on the way back here. He's flying commercially. I'm hoping that
he won't see any of this and I'll get to tell him in the morning.
Jason: If he has questions, have him call me. I'll be up. Talk to you
later, Lois.
Lois: Thanks Jase-- for taking care of my girl. (she disconnects the
call)
Jason: (curious) What made you ask about dating?
Robin: Mark let it slip that Brooke is pregnant.
Jason: Damn-- if the baby is Nik's or even if the Russian Mobsters
think the kid is Nik's, they'll do anything to get their hands on Brooke
and nothing I could say would influence them.
Robin: What difference does it make?
Jason: Nik and I talked a bit at Gloria's party. His first born male
child gets everything when Nik dies. The responsibility for the whole
family. They get their hands on that kid and they have Fort Knox.
Robin: And to get their hands on the baby now; they have to get Brooke.
Jason: Exactly. I was going to call Cassadine anyway but I think this
call isn't going to wait.
Robin: Jason, she didn't tell anyone she was pregnant...Not that I know
of anyway. You can't go blurting it out.
Jason: Well since I won't lie about it; I guess I'll just have to make
sure the subject doesn't come up. (Robin gets a pained expression but
nods then goes down stairs to check on the kids. Jason dials another
familiar number and connects with Stefan Cassadine. Rising he begins to
pace the room again as he waits for Stefan to answer.)
Stefan: Cassadine.
Jason: Morgan. There has been another bomb; this time aimed at a
Quartermaine target.
Stefan: (rising from his bed, his eyes narrow as he begins to consider
all factors.) Any casualties?
Jason: One believed dead, the driver of Brooke's tour bus.
Stefan: (shocked) Brooke? What about Brooke? (Looking over at his
sleeping wife, Stefan moves out in to the hallway so that he can talk
freely without waking Laura) Was she harmed?
Jason: She saw the whole thing.
Stefan: But how is she... physically?
Jason: Why don't you come out and ask, Stefan?
Stefan: Last time I saw Brooke, I thought she might be pregnant?
Jason: (Sarcastically and with growing ire) Really? That's not
something that she's told anyone in the family. That would be something
I would have to know because it would affect the security arrangements I
made for her. Especially if I thought she might be pregnant with the
DAMN SPAWN OF THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS!
Stefan: I didn't know until she was already on tour. And then she had
a fight with Nik and she hasn't spoken to him since.
Jason: DO YOU THINK THE RUSSIAN MOB CARES IF THEY ARE SPEAKING OR NOT?
This was something I needed to know! As soon as you thought there was
even a possibility. Hell, you should have told me they were dating.
Nik should have. Brooke may not know what this means- I don't know what
it means probably, but I guess she is the biggest target for every
crackpot out to make a buck in the US, maybe even the world.
Stefan: Unfortunately accurate.
Jason: And our able leak evidently knew they were dating.
Stefan: That narrows the number of people that could be the leak.
Jason: Well I guess there's a silver lining in every cloud. I haven't
heard from my guy with Brooke which means that they are still trapped in
the Arena waiting for some friends of mine to get them to a safer
location. 'Course with this new information you've just given me
finding her a safe place just got a bit more complicated.
Stefan: Is there any way we can be of assistance?
Jason: (shaking his head) Man, If I told you what I was thinking right
now. No, I think you and Nik have done quite enough.
Stefan: I would like to know when Brooke is safe.
Jason: Well IF Brooke is pregnant and IF the child is Nik's-- I pretty
much think her days of safety are over; don't you? I'll let you know
when she is clear of immediate danger. (Jason hangs up the phone
abruptly.)
Wyndemere: Stefan goes to Nik's room and knocking first, enters. Nik
wakes at the knock and looks toward the door.
Stefan: There has been another incident. I think we should talk.
I'll order some coffee for the study. (Turning, he walks away without
explaining further.)
GH2017.80 For Her Own Good
Nik enters the study. Stefan pours coffee from a carafe that a weary
servant has set up. His hands shake slightly as he pours. Sighing he
puts the carafe down and moves to a chair where he sits running his
fingers through his hair.
Nik: What has happened?
Stefan: You should sit down. (Nik sits impatiently) There was another
bomb tonight. I received a call from Jason Morgan.
Nik: They have begun to attack the Quartermaines then?
Stefan: No, we are still the targets.
Nik: What do you mean?
Stefan: Brooke's tour bus was blown up. The last information I had-- she
was still trapped in the arena where she was playing waiting for Jason's
reinforcements to arrive so that she could be moved to a safer location.
Nik: (The only emotion showing is the tightening of his hands around the
arms of the chair.) Is she all right?
Stefan: As far as I know.
Nik: How does this make us the targets?
Stefan: You refused to tell me how your conversation went with Brooke
after I told you my suspicion of her being pregnant.
Nik: (his face tightening) That is really none of your business.
Stefan: I think what happened tonight makes it our business. What
happened?
Nik: I confronted her about cheating on me and being pregnant with
another's child.
Stefan: (wincing, rests his head on one hand) I wish that you had
allowed me to finish before rushing out to confront her. There are
things you don't know.
Nik: We've been down this road before. I will not be played for a
fool again.
Stefan: Did you ever read the material that Lucy Collins forwarded to
us regarding the Matchmaker?
Nik:(confused) What has that got to do with anything?
Stefan: ANSWER ME!
Nik: No. There was no time.
Stefan: Allow me to summarize. Exposure to the matchmaker enhances the
chemistry between two people...
Nik: ( impatiently) yes so?
Stefan: ...it also changes the female's chemistry. The only
application that Lucy will ever have for that perfume is as a fertility
drug. In concentrated doses in a closed area it overrides the natural
cycle of the female. The laboratory tests of the drug resulted in
pregnancies in well over half of the laboratory animals. Later tests
using animals that were on conventional means of female contraception
were also overridden by the Matchmaker to the same degree. (Nik pales
as he realized the ramifications of Stefan's words)
Nik: (with growing dismay and horror) What have you done? What have I
done?
Stefan: All of this information became available to me after your first
exposure. I didn't know about your suspicions that she had not been
faithful. She is nothing like Katherine Bell, Nikolas. Nothing.
Somehow your liaison to Brooke has made it's way to our enemies. The
bomb was meant for her and through her... for you. If they discover she
is pregnant, even if I am totally wrong about her and the child is not
yours, as Jason put it on the phone-- she is now the target of any
criminal who believes that she is carrying the next Cassadine... on one
hand it might save her life-- no more bombs at least until the child is
born.
Nik: Oh My God! I have to go to her. (He rises to leave the room)
Stefan: No.
Nik: What do you mean-- no?!
Stefan: There is nothing you can do right now. Not until we have more
information from Jason Morgan. Once Brooke is out of immediate danger,
he will call me. I'll find out her location then.
Nik: (angrily) You intended this all along-- an heir to the Cassadine!
You have been pressuring me to marry again.
Stefan: Be angry. But be angry with me. There was no trickery on her
part. I saw that she made your life more colorful, you seemed alive
when you were with her-- even when you fought. From the day I watched
you observing her as she slept in this very room while posing for me I
knew that she could be the one. Just as I knew all those years ago when
I saw your mother at the cove.
Nik: Yes and look what happened!
Stefan:(nodding) Your mother has given me the greatest joy and yes, the
deepest despair that any man could know. But I could never imagine my
life not being a part of hers. Had I seen her but that once; she would
have haunted me for all my life. Can you say that you feel differently
about Brooke?
Nik: (Looking back over his time with Brooke from the first time he saw
her dancing with his brother answers honestly) No. But I don't want
it. I don't want anyone to be able to tear my heart out the way mother
did yours.
Stefan: It's already too late. It was too late the moment you met
her. And in a way I'm sorry, because I know the horror of killing the
woman you love because of something you did. If something happens to
Brooke now because of whom we are; I don't know how you will bear it.
I pray you never find out.
Nik: Mother didn't die in that explosion; it was a trick.
Stefan: That didn't make it hurt any less when it happened. And what
is going on now is no trick. (Rising from the chair, feeling every year
of his age, Stefan stops briefly at the door) I'll let you know when
Jason calls.
The parking garage below a luxury hotel. A limo pulls straight to an
open elevator. Mark and Brooke exit the limo and move into the
elevator. Pushing the penthouse floor, they quickly arrive at the top.
Security, recognizing Mark, allow the two to pass. As they enter the
hotel room, both heave a sigh of relief feeling as if they have run a
gauntlet.
Mark: You want to call your mom now or after you take a shower?
Brooke: It's going to be a long talk-- maybe all night. I think I need
that shower first. Wait-- I've nothing to wear; what I didn't lose in
the bus is back on the parking lot.
Mark: These posh digs probably have bathrobes hanging on the back of
the door. Do you want anything to eat? (Brooke grimaces) The kid
needs fuel, Brooke, before he starts sucking the calcium from your
bones.
Brooke: Lovely picture, thanks. Maybe some soup. Nothing heavy.
Mark: It will take a while anyway I am going to send one of the guys
for it. We won't be using any of the staff here.
Brooke: (automatically) Do you really think that is neces....never mind--
I'm done arguing about security. Whatever you and Jason say-- goes.
Mark : Thanks. You'll get your second wind. I know it; I won't hold
you to that blanket statement, but it was nice to hear.
Brooke: I know you have to call Jason. And I reek of smoke. Let me
know when the coast is clear. (With that she walks into the bedroom
portion of the suite and through it to the bathroom. She's relieved to
find her favorite soap and shampoo stocked by the hotel. Looking up in
to the mirror she gasps at her reflection one side of her face is
scraped from being on the blacktop. Smudges of dirt cover her) What a
mess! I guess it's a good sign that I even notice this. (Quickly
stripping, she steps under a warm spray and begins to scrub the smoky
remains of tonight's horror from her skin and hair)
Back in the living room. Mark talks with Jason as he watches a 24-hour
cable news station.
Mark: So far so good. There was no problem; everything worked as
planned. Tell Robin she seems fine physically. I'm sure she'll be sore
tomorrow but she's functioning and making sense. Damn... Jason, turn on
the news... yeah , yeah the national news channel.
* These pictures are coming to you live from the memorial arena. The
tour bus of Rising L&E recording star Brooke Ashton, burst into flames
after her concert. The fire department has extinguished the flames and
the coroner's department was called when representatives of the fire
department searching the bus for any hot spots discovered a body--
presumed to be the driver.
Police are calling this a suspicious fire and death. Representatives
of L&E had no comment other than to express their confidence that the
local authorities will resolve this tragedy.*
Mark: (turning on the mute) The cops are going to be looking for
Brooke.
Jason: I don't have a problem with that. But they only get one
interview. And they only send one person up. Call the copshop and set
it up. Use a scrambled line. If they won't comply with the request
then they can go fish. Has Brooke called her mother yet?
Mark: I think she's planning on talking to Lois all night so she
grabbed a shower first.
Jason: Well Lois is going to be up to her ears in press. Hopefully
they'll start at the L&E building before they descend on the house in
Bensonhurst. She needs to get on the phone before the reporters make it
impossible to get through. Good work on this. I'll have you out of
there within twelve hours so get some sleep if possible.
Mark: Thanks. How's my kid?
Jason: Sleeping. It's the only time he's quiet. I think you'll be
properly horrified at what mine have been teaching him.
Mark: (laughing out loud) I'm sure the exchange of information goes both
ways. Last time I talked to him he was lusting over one of Emily's
dogs.
Jason: I'm not going to discourage him. Say the word and Emily will
put a search out to get you one.
Mark: Let me get back to Port Charles first. (There is a knock on the
door) I'll talk to you later, Jase; I think that Brooke's dinner is
here. (As they exchange goodbyes, Mark checks the door to verify who it
is and then hanging up lets a female body guard in.)
BG: ( Loaded down with packages) I stopped at a 24-hour place and
picked up some stuff for you and Ms. Ashton. I figured everything got
torched.
Mark: No doubt. Brooke should be out in a minute. (Brooke walks out
of the bedroom dressed in a thick terry robe and her hair swathed in a
towel.)
Brooke: I don't suppose you have a comb, Mark?
BG: One of the things I picked up. I hope I got your size right on the
clothes. You look bigger on stage.
Brooke: Anything would be great. (Reaching for the bags ) Thanks for
this.
Mark: You might want to get dressed; we're going to be having a visit
from the cops.
BG: I'm out of here then. Local PD hassles me everytime they see me.
Mark: (handing her a card) If you need to relocate, call Jason Morgan.
He's got friends all up and down the coast.
BG: Thanks. I will. (She leaves checking the hallway before opening
the door)
Brooke: (sorting through the bags) Cautious lady but thorough. These
aren't my brands but they are all my size.
Mark: Yeah, she seems good. I'll tell Jason about her. Jason says we
should let the cops have one interview. You've already made the cable
news. (Brooke frowns and sighs, shaking her head.) He says you better
get on the phone to your mom before the reporters descend on her. If
they can't find you; they'll go after them next.
Brooke: Okay, I'll get dressed and call Ma. Let me know when the cop
is here. Mark, either they're here within an hour or they can wait for
ten. I don't think I'll be awake much longer.
Mark: More than reasonable.
An interview with a local cop.
In the parking garage detectives are met by the security detail provided
by a friend of Jason Morgan. The officers are uncomfortable recognizing
some of the nastiest hoodlums that have never been caught in their city.
Hood: So which of you is going up?
Officer: All of us.
Hood : I don't think so. The deal is one detective/ one interview, and
if you want to screw the deal; then go get a warrant.
Officer: We don't need a warrant. We can go to the hotel management
Hood: (all his buddies laughing) That might be fun to watch. I think
that the hotel management is more afraid of the 'economic consequences'
of messing with Ms. Ashton's family than they are of either us or you.
Gentlemen, make up your minds. Ms. Ashton's only condition to this
interview was that is either start within the hour of which forty-five
has already lapsed or you can just wait until she gets some time to
recover from her 'traumatic experience'. Garrison, you have experience
in both arson and homicide, right?
Garrison: (flushing with fury at the criminal's knowledge of his service
record) Yeah.
Hood: (Making a decision for the cops) You also got the rep for being
honest. Ms. Ashton will deal with you. The rest of you yahoos can wait
at the donut shop. Now are you coming or going?
Garrison: (with a quick nod to the others) Coming. (at the end of a
silent elevator ride Garrison arrives at the Penthouse floor)
Hood: (not leaving the elevator) They're expecting you. ( The elevator
door closes behind Garrison and he walks toward a door that has two
sentinels with cold eyes watching his every move. As he nears the door,
one of the guards knocks and the door opens revealing Mark)
Mark: Detective Garrison, I assume? You come recommended.
Garrison: (freaked) What the hell is going on here? I haven't seen
security like this since the president was in town.
Mark: There has already been one attempt on my client's life. I think
I like the security just the way it is.
Garrison: Who are you?
Mark: I'm Ms. Ashton's...personal assistant. I was with her when the
bus exploded. I assume you'll have questions for me as well.
Garrison: I'll need to interview you separately.
Mark: No. There will be no need for that. I've been authorized to give
you my full cooperation but Ms. Ashton will not be left alone in a room
with anyone until whoever did this is either dead or in jail. ( cutting
off Garrison's protest, Mark goes to the bedroom door that is ajar and
knocking firmly gets Brooke's attention)
Brooke: Ma, I have to go. The cops are here. Yeah. Give everyone my
love; I'll be home soon. Look just put the machine on. Mark has the
number of Jason's people at the house. If I need to talk, I'll call
through them. (Hanging up the phone, she wipes her eyes and nose with
the back of her hands) Sorry, It hit me all over again when I was
talking to Ma.
Mark: It will for a long time. Detective Garrison is here. I told him
I was your personal assistant.
Brooke: ( laughing) Oh gosh-- don't make me laugh; I might start balling
again. Come on, let's get this over with. (Moving into the living room
she waves the Detective back to his seat as she takes a seat on the
couch. Mark moves to the Kitchenette and brings out a tray with coffee
and herbal tea.)
Garrison: So he's not actually your personal assistant?
Brooke:(shrugging) That title works as well as any other. Mark knows
every person on my crew, every venue we play. And which herbal tea,
which I despise in general on principle, I'll actually drink when my
tour bus and driver are blown up in front of me.
Mark: I think we need to get down to the facts, Detective. This
appears to be one in a series of attacks on Ms. Ashton. The day she
left on tour her apartment building in Port Charles, New York was bombed
also. The FBI is investigating there but they are not exactly fountains
of information, as I am sure you are aware. (Garrison grimaces knowing
that this case will eventually be pulled away from him) Ms. Ashton's
connection to the building was not generally known. It was believed to
be an attack on the Cassadine family. You may have heard of them.
(Garrison nods.) The chief of police in Port Charles is Alex Garcia.
I'm sure he has copies of all the information on the bomb that exploded
there. He's not one of my greatest fans but he'll help you.
Brooke: This may not be about me. I dated Nik Cassadine for a while, a
very short while. I am extremely close to his sister and daughter.
Mark: Brooke, it doesn't matter if it was about you or Nik. You'd have
been just as dead if you had been on the bus. Detective, Ms. Ashton is
canceling the rest of her tour and will be living very quietly. So
quietly, I don't think that anyone will be able to find her.
Garrison: What if I need more information or the Feds do take over?
They'll want to re- interview.
Mark: That's not Brooke's problem. She can be reached through her
label. Any questions you might have that you don't think of tonight can
be faxed to her.
Wyndemere a few hours later. Stefan enters the study. Nikolas is
already there having not returned to bed after Stefan's early morning
visit. Instead he watches the cable reports of the explosion over and
over.
Stefan: (handing Nik a piece of paper) Jason Morgan called. This is the
location where Brooke is staying. He says she is safe enough now.
He'll be moving her later today to her mother's home in Bensonhurst.
Nik: (protesting) That isn't a good idea. I've been watching the news
and the house in Brooklyn is already under siege by the press. She would
be better off here.
Stefan: Jason's people are good. They'll get her inside without being
seen.
Nik: I'm going to call Brooke. (Taking the number off the paper, he is
quickly connected to Brooke's room. She sleepily answers the phone.)
Brooke, I want to talk to you about what happened last night.
Brooke: How in the hell did you get this number? Never mind don't
answer; we have nothing to say to each other. *click* (Nik redials but
his call is forwarded to the switchboard who tells him there is a
'don't disturb' on the number.)
Nik: She isn't taking my calls.
Stefan: That might be best for now. You can't do anything to draw
attention to her.
Nik: I screwed things up before and now this. I can't let anything
happen to her. I need to convince her to come back here for her own
safety.
