Chapter 10 Heard It Through The Grapevine

General Hospital Emergency Room: The Spencers are mourning the news of
Luke's death. Stefan is holding Lulu, who has finally stopped crying. Mike
is hugging Lucky who is violently distraught. Alan is standing by.

Laura quickly recovers from her initial collapse. She pulls herself away from
Nikolas and wipes away her tears. She turns to Alan.

Laura (forcing herself to be calm):"I want to see him. I won't believe it."

Alan:"I don't know if.."

Laura voice becomes shrill as fresh tears fill her eyes."I don't care Alan, I have
to see him. Please!"

Bobbie pipes in. "Alan, I think we all need to see him. We need to see him for
ourselves. to say good bye."

Alan."Okay. I'll go see what I can set up. It should only take a few minutes."
Alan leaves to go make arrangements

Lucky:"I want to see him too." Mike lets him go when he's sure that Lucky has
calmed down.

Bobbie:"Of course Lucky."

Mike:"Lucky, I'm going to see Sonny one last time. You'll be okay?"

Lucky nods. "Thanks Mike." His tears have stopped temporarily, but only
by sheer force of will. Mike leaves quickly.

Alan comes back and escorts the Spencer clan to Luke's room. Nikolas and
Stefan (holding Lulu) slowly follow behind the Spencers.

Stefan is murmuring to Lulu as he rubs her back. "What a brave little girl you are
Lesley Lu. So brave and very sweet." Lulu buries her head in his shoulder. "I bet
you're tired. Aren't you?"

Nikolas is amazed to see this side of Stefan. "I can take Lulu now." Nikolas
starts to take Lulu from Stefan.

S:"She's fine where she is, Nikolas. Besides I need you to be with Alexis when she
wakes up from surgery. She should be in recovery shortly."

N:"Where did Jason go?"

Stefan:"To take care of some pressing business."

Nikolas:"You're not going to tell me are you?"

Stefan:"No, not yet. I want you to stay with Alexis until Jason returns."

Nikolas:"My mother and Lesley Lu need me..."

Stefan:"They will be cared for until you return. I have arrangements to
make. It is likely that your mother and sister will stay at Wyndemere tonight
for their safety. I need you to sit with Alexis. She lost her husband tonight, and she's
frightened for her child. Can you do this for her?"

Nikolas (resigned):"Fine. I'll go see Alexis now. As long as I have your word that
you'll keep me up to date on my mother." Nikolas kisses Lulu's forehead. He smiles
at her as she rubs her face on Stefan's shoulder. "See you later, little one. Sleep
tight."

S:"You have my word." and whispers to Lulu. "Did I tell you what a pretty girl you
are?" Lulu smiles sleepily. "Go to sleep pretty one." Lulu closes her eyes. He
begins to rock her softly to assist her to sleep.

Mike comes up to them as Nikolas gets ready to depart. Mike looks like
he's aged 10 years in the last few hours. His eyes are puffy and red.

N: "I'm really sorry Mike. Sonny was a good guy. The best." Nikolas gives him
a comforting pat on the back before leaving.

Stefan: "Michael, I want to say how sorry I am about Sonny. He was good
to Alexis. I will never forget how he protected her and her unborn child."

Mike bows his head. "Thanks. What's the plan now?"

S:"Lucky will refuse to come to Wyndemere, but I plan on taking Laura
and Lesley Lu there so they are under my protection. Until Jason has the
threat neutralized, Lucky will require some watching. Stay close to him
tonight."

M:"Of course. You've always been able to count on me."

S:"Yes I have."

Bobbie walks out of Luke's room She wipes tears from her face as she hugs Mike.

Bobbie walks over to Stefan and Lulu. "Thank you for helping with Lulu." She
notices Lulu has fallen asleep.

S:"It is not a bother. She's a sweet child. I'm sorry for your loss, Barbara. Would
you like me to have Tony called?"

B:"No, thank you. I'm glad we've been able to remain friendly, Stefan."

S (whispering so as to not wake Lulu):"The fact that our marriage failed
had nothing to do with you. I will always remember your kindness,
Barbara. And seek to repay it."

Lucky bursts out of Luke's room and the first thing he sees is Stefan holding his
precious sister.

Lucky:"I'll take her, Cassadine. She's my responsibility now."

Stefan motions Lucky to keep his voice down as he whispers back, "No,
she stays where she is. I will not risk waking her. She just now fell asleep."

Lucky (keeping his voice down) :"Let's get something straight Cassadine. I don't
take orders from you. And Spencers take care of their own."

Mike intervenes. "Hey Son. Everyone knows that. But do you really want
to risk waking her up and upsetting her again?"

Lucky:"Fine. for now. But I'm watching you Cassadine."

Meanwhile Laura is in the room with Luke. Her face is covered with tears
as she kisses his lips one last time. "Good bye, my love."

As she walks away she feels like she's in a long tunnel and she can barely find
her way to the door. She can hear Helena's laughter the day she learned
Luke was dead on the island. She remembers Stavros' marriage proposal.
She feels a familiar feeling, one that she hasn't felt for a long time. The feeling
of being suffocated. She rushes out of the room to face her family and friends.

She looks at them but they seem foreign to her. The only thing that seems real
is Helena's laughter. She can still hear it. She covers her ears to try and block
it out but Helena won't stop laughing. She can feel Bobbie take her elbow
and lead her but she can barely hear what they're saying. She hears them ask
for Tom.

Everyone is alarmed by Laura's look of sheer terror. Bobbie leads her to
the ER waiting room while they wait for Tom to appear. Lucky attempts to
reach his mother.

Lucky:"Mom? It's me Lucky. Mom? Don't do this again Mom, Come on,
Snap out of it... Mom!"

Laura:"I have to get to the water. I have to..." She tries to get up but Lucky
stops her.

Lucky:"Mom, it's okay. We're all here. We'll help you through this. Just
come back to me."

Laura looks at them:"Someone stop her! She's laughing at me! Can't you
hear her?!" She covers her ears again.

Lucky looks at Bobbie helplessly. Stefan's face goes ashen. Just then
Tom walks into the waiting area. Tom takes a seat next to Laura. Bobbie apprises
him of the situation.

Tom:"Laura? It's Tom. Can you tell me what you're hearing?"

Laura:"I have to get to the cove. It's the only place I don't hear her...." Her
voice trails off.

Stefan moves closer and whispers to Tom. "Let me speak with her."

Tom shrugs his shoulders and gives his seat to Stefan. Stefan sits, careful
not to wake Lulu.

S(whispering):"Lasha. Let me take you with me to Wyndemere. You'll be
safe from her. She cannot harm you there. There is water all around it,
just like the cove."

Laura recognizes Stefan for the first time."You brought me blueberries
once. Didn't you?"

Stefan feels his heart break for her."Yes, Lasha. I brought you blueberries."

Laura feels relieved when Helena's laughter ceases. "Then I will go with
you." She takes Stefan's outstretched hand and holds it.

Tom: "Laura, I want to give you a prescription for a sedative. It will help
you sleep tonight."

Laura:"No. I don't need it."

Tom:"I'll give it to you anyway. Just in case. I'll go get it now." Tom leaves.

Lucky:"Where do you get off, Cassadine? Coming in here and taking over
MY family!"

Stefan:"Keep your voice down or you'll wake up your sister. I am only
doing what is necessary to protect Laura, Lesley Lu, and you." He sees
Lucky shake his head in sarcastic disbelief. "Yes, even you. I want you to
come to Wyndemere tonight. You will be protected there."

Lucky:"No way am I going to that house of horrors! You can forget it.
And neither is my family. I won't have you taking advantage of my mother in the
state she's in."

Mike:"I hate to say this Lucky, but Stefan has a point. We don't know who
the next target is. Until Jason gets back we need to spread out and plan the next move.
You can bunk with me at my place. He can protect Laura and Lesley Lu better than we can. Laura has already said she's going with him."

Lucky:"Fine. Whatever. I'll stay with you Mike." Lucky stalks off and Mike follows him.

Mike:"I know you hate this Lucky."

Lucky:"My Dad isn't even cold yet and he's swooping in, taking control.
Damn him."

Mike:"Yeah, he does have that knack doesn't he? Well don't let him get to you. Your mother will be herself in no time. She's just been thrown for a loop tonight."

Tom arrives with the sedatives for Laura. "Laura, here you go. I think you should take one before you leave."

Laura:"No. Thank you anyway Tom." Laura refuses the bottle.

Tom turns to Stefan."Since she's going home with you, I'll giving them to you. The directions are on the bottle."

Stefan refuses."Laura says she doesn't want them. I will honor her wishes."

Tom is clearly frustrated. "Take them just in case. If she ends up not needing them, throw them out." Tom puts the bottle in Stefan's coat pocket. Stefan glares at him but says nothing.

Mike returns with Lucky who's considerably calmer. Laura and Lucky say
their goodbyes. Stefan gives Lucky and Mike the number to Wyndemere.

Stefan escorts Laura out of the hospital with Lulu still asleep in his arms.

..........................

Jason arrives at the hotel Harry Silver is staying at. Jason directs two of the men to take the stairs to Harry's room. Jason and two other men take the elevator. They draw their weapons as they enter the hotel hallway leading to Harry's room. Jason and the men arrive outside Harry's door without encountering any of Harry's men.

J:"Man this is weird. Okay. I'm going in. You wait outside. No one comes in or out until I say so."

Jason stands beside the door and twists the knob. He is surprised to find it unlocked. He looks in to find Harry alone with his back to the door. Jason comes inside with his gun raised.

H:"I've been expecting you." He picks up the liquor glass that is beside him.

J:"Then you know I'm here to kill you. " Jason grabs Harry by the arm
and pushes him up against the wall, his arm pressed against Harry's chest. The glass goes flying.

H ( muttering as if to himself): "It was never supposed to be him. Just
her and Luke. He was never supposed to die."

Jason places the silencer of the 22 automatic in the space between Harry's eyes. "What?"

H: " Helena Cassadine wants Alexis dead. She betrayed her family. She
even joked about there being a bonus for Spencer-- either one...."

Jason gets a knot in his stomach: "Stefan Cassadine? Is he in on it too?"

H:"Stefan Cassadine? No, just Helena. I was going to use the money to retire for good this time. It was never supposed to be Sonny. God, I loved him like a son. I could never have hurt him. He pushed her out of the way..." Harry's voice cracks.

J: He's dead and you killed him. And now you have to die, you son of a
bitch."

H: I know. I am expecting death. You'll be doing me a favor."

J: Sonny would let you take care of this yourself or tell you to get out of town. He tried that once and look how you repaid him."

H: "This has gone on long enough."

J: "Yes it has, and I'm not Sonny anyway." ( the gun fires.)

............................

In a small hotel in the city of Caracas, Venezuela, a young woman sits down at table with a glass of milk. She pulls out her notebook computer
and connects her modem to the hotel phone system. Within minutes she is
connected to the Internet.

W:"Okay. Let's see what's going on in Port Charles today...."

She pulls up the Herald Online for Port Charles. The leading story is titled: "Local mobster killed in driveby shooting."

The woman begins to read the story and gasps. "No! It can't be!"