Chapter 11: Late Night Vigils

Stefan carries a sleeping Lulu into Wyndemere as Laura walks numbly
beside him. Laura hasn't said a word since leaving the hospital. It doesn't surprise Stefan.

Wordlessly he leads her upstairs to a prepared suite of bedrooms. It is a two room suite with a bed in each room. There is a bathroom adjacent to the main bedroom. Stefan lays Lulu down on the bed in the small room. He removes her jacket and shoes as he tucks her in, kissing her forehead before he leaves. Laura tucks in her blanket and kisses her cheek mechanically.

Stefan pauses before leaving the suite.

S(in a whisper):"You and your daughter will be safe here, Lasha. You have my word. My room is across the hall if you need anything during the night. Or you can call for one of the servants. There are some clothes in the dresser that you might find useful tonight."

Laura looks blankly into space. "Thank you, Stefan."

Stefan studies her for a moment. He surmises from her exhausted appearance that she will sleep easily. "Is there anything you require before I take my leave, Lasha?"

Laura shakes her head. "No thank you. Good night."

Stefan resists the urge to hold her or comfort her. He knows she would not welcome it. "Good night then." Stefan leaves.

Laura walks robotically to the dresser and pulls out some clothes to use as pajamas. She changes into them and gets into bed. Within moments of
closing her eyes she is deeply asleep, finding the escape from reality that she's craved since saying goodbye to Luke.

Meanwhile, Stefan enters the living room and pours himself a stiff drink. His cell phone rings.

S:"Cassadine."
J:"It's Morgan."
S:"Were you able to locate him?"
J:"Yes, it's a dead issue. It wasn't personal, it was a contract."
Stefan takes a deep breath, fearing the answer."What did he tell you?"
J:"Helena ordered the hit." Jason hears Stefan swear in Greek. "The targets were Alexis and a Spencer. She didn't care which one. Which means Alexis and Laura are still be in danger."
S:"I will take care of it. She will not hurt anyone again. Where's the body?"
J:"In a safe place but I want it delivered to Helena. Can you arrange that?"
S:"Yes. I will make sure she wakes up to it. As you say in this country, she's made her bed, now she can lie in it. Here's where I want you to take it...." Stefan gives Jason directions.
J:"Okay, I'll be there in one hour. That should give you time to arrange the rest. Then I'm going back to the hospital to be with Alexis. Someone is with her, right?"
S:"Nikolas is with her now. He will stay with her until you get there."
J:"Where are Laura and the kids?"
S:"Laura and her daughter are here. Lucky is with Mike."
J:"Good. I'll order guards for Mike and Lucky. Alexis is my responsibility now."

Stefan bites back a protest. "We will discuss this further tomorrow.
Good night Jason."

Stefan ends the conversation. He picks up his house phone and begins
making some phone calls. He downs his drink in one gulp and pours himself another.

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

Alexis awakens to find Nikolas holding her hand at her bedside.

Nikolas smiles encouragingly. "Hey. You're awake."
Alexis is still groggy:"Hi Nikolas." Alexis licks her dry lips as tries to reach for the water pitcher to pour herself a drink. Nikolas intercepts and pours her some water and helps her to drink it.

N:"They fixed you right up. Dr Quartermaine said there's no reason you
won't gain full use of your arm."

Alexis smiles. Then she remembers that Sonny is dead. The pain and the
sadness return. Nikolas sees this cross her face. Then he sees the tears form in her eyes.

N:"Oh, Alexis. I wish I knew what to do to help."
A:"There's nothing you can do to bring him back. Thank you for staying
with me, Nikolas. It helps."

Nikolas squeezes her hand. "I'm glad to, Cousin."

Alexis leans forward like she just remembered something. "Luke? Is he
going to be okay?'

Nikolas shakes his head grimly. "No, he died in surgery. He lost too much blood."

Alexis lays back defeated. "This wasn't supposed to happen. They should
both be alive, taking care of their families." She begins to cry again. "How's Laura? Shouldn't you be with her?"

Nikolas:"She's devastated. Uncle took her back to Wyndemere."

Alexis sees Nikolas' concern for his mother in his face. "You should go be with her. I'll be fine. Really. Jason should be back soon."

Nikolas shakes his head. "No. My mother is in good hands with Uncle. I will be with her tomorrow. Tonight, you are stuck with me."

Alexis:"Oh, what a chore that is, having you as company." Alexis stifles a yawn.

Nikolas:"Go ahead and sleep, Alexis. You won't hurt my feelings."

Alexis closes her eyes. "I can't keep my eyes open anyway. Thank you,
Nikolas. " She squeezes his hand. She is asleep a few moments later.

Nikolas keeps vigil at her bedside.

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

Several hours later, Stefan climbs the stairs like an old man. His shoulders are bowed and his footfalls are slow and deliberate.

Stefan peeks into Laura's suite and notices them sleeping soundlessly. He closes the door and returns to his room. With slow deliberateness he
changes and gets into bed. He lies there unable to close his eyes. Every time he does, he sees the image of Laura in hospital, begging him to stop his mother's laughter. Finally he gives up and rises.

He enters Laura's suite of rooms. He walks past Laura to check on Lulu. She is sleeping peacefully despite the unfamiliar bed. With tears in his eyes he bends down and kisses her cheek. She stirs briefly, "Mama..."

S (in the softest whisper):"Sleep, little angel. I will protect you from the dangers of the night." Stefan realizes in this clarifying moment he has sworn to protect Lulu for the rest of her life. It feels right to him.

Lulu has settled back to sleep. He adjusts her bed covers and walks over to Laura's bedside. The dim light from the hall highlights her face. He can see traces of the agony she has endured at his mother's hands. He resists the urge to hold her hand, fearing that it will wake her.

Tears fall from Stefan's face as he addresses her sleeping form.

S (in a soft whisper):"Lasha, I am so sorry for what my family has done to you. You, most of all, did not deserve this. How can I atone for this sin?" He pauses to wipe the tears from his face. "My mother has had her revenge on both of us. You will never see the man you love again. And I will never have you, Lasha... How can I, when my mother has killed your husband? How can you not blame me for this, when I blame myself?" His voice cracks as his despair overwhelms him . He sits at her bedside watching her. She stirs but does not wake.

Stefan:"This is my promise to you, Lasha. My mother will never hurt you
again."

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

Alexis' hospital room. Alexis is still sleeping when Nikolas decides to get up and stretch his legs. Nikolas nods to the bodyguard sitting outside Alexis's room. The hospital hallways are quiet in the early morning hours. Only the nurses are milling about caring for patients. Nikolas is surprised when he runs into Detective Taggert making his way to Alexis' room. Nikolas blocks his path.

N:"I'm sorry Detective Taggert. Alexis isn't up to visitors."
Taggert looks him over considering his words."You're the Cassadine kid,
right?" There a a twinge of mockery in Taggert's voice.
N:"Yes. That is correct."
T:"Well, I'll let Alexis be the judge of that if you don't mind. I have a case to investigate." Taggert tries to brush past Nikolas, but Nikolas blocks his path again.

N:"I said she isn't up for visitors. Now why don't you run along and go
interview someone else."
T:"Do you want to be charged with obstructing justice? If not, get out of my way...."

Alan walks around the corner and interrupts the argument between Nikolas and Taggert.

A:"What's going on here?"
N:"Taggert here was about to harass my cousin. I was just telling him to
leave."
T: "Dr Quartermaine, I need to interview Mrs Corinthos on the murder of
her husband and Luke Spencer. She is a witness. She could have valuable
information. Now if you will both excuse me, I'll interview her now."
Taggert tries to enter her room, but this time Alan intervenes.

A:"I'm sorry Detective Taggert, but interviewing Mrs Corinthos is out of the question. She has just come out of surgery and is in no condition to be interviewed. If you had contacted the hospital before coming down here, we could have saved you the trip. I'm sure Mrs Corinthos will be able to talk with you in the early afternoon. Until then, her visitors are restricted to family only."

Taggert scowls at both Nikolas and Alan before stalking off towards the
elevators. Alan shakes his head. Jason walks up to them, having successfully avoided Taggert catching sight of him

N:"Thanks. The last thing my cousin needs right now is that man grilling
her. Why couldn't they send over Keesha?"

A:"I don't know. Taggert is good at solving crimes, but not with victims."

J:"What happened? He didn't interrogate Alexis did he?"

N:"No, Dr Quartermaine put a halt to that."

Jason looks at Alan in appreciation. "Thanks Alan. Nikolas, I can take over now. Thanks for staying with her."

N:"Sure, no problem. She's sleeping but I'll go in and say goodbye."
Nikolas leaves Alan and Jason alone.

A:"Where have you been?" He sees the look of annoyance cross Jason's
face. Alan puts his hands up admitting defeat. "No, never mind. Forget I asked."

J:"How is she? Did her surgery go okay?"

A:"Yes. The doctor that performed the surgery says she may have lingering pain, but in time she'll regain full use of her arm."

J:"That's good. Thanks again, Alan."

Jason enters Alexis' room. He sees she is still sleeping. Nikolas kisses her on her forehead and turns to leave.

N(in a whisper):"Do you know who did it?"

Jason avoids the question."Has Alexis been awake since the surgery?"

N:"Great, you're as tightlipped as my Uncle. Yes, she woke up briefly. She knows about Luke. She's doing pretty well considering."

J:"Yeah, she's tough. Thanks again, Nikolas." Nikolas gets the message that he's being dismissed.

N:"Okay. I'll see you later then." Nikolas leaves.

Jason watches Alexis sleep fitfully. He pulls out his cell phone and makes a call.

J:"Robin? It's Jason....."

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

A short while later, Nikolas enters Wyndemere. He sees Stefan sitting
alone in the dark living room with a drink in his hand. His hair is tousled.

N:"Is everyone settled?"

Stefan looks up wearily. "Yes, your mother and sister are sleeping. Lucky is with Mike. How is Alexis?"

Nikolas:"As well as could be expected. Jason is with her now. Had to run off Detective Taggert though. What an imbecile."

S:"He gave you a hard time?"

N:"Nothing I couldn't handle. So are you going to tell me what's going on? Jason wouldn't tell me a thing."

S:"I think your mother should be the first to know. You will have to be
patient."

Nikolas shakes his head. "Well I should be used to this." Stefan starts to protest. "No, its not worth fighting about. I'm too tired anyway. I'm going to bed after I check on them. Are you coming up?"

Stefan:"Not yet. You go on. "

Nikolas:"Good night then."

Stefan:"Good night." Stefan sits alone in the dark living room, nursing his drink.

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

The young woman in Venezuela is on her hotel phone. Her long brown hair is in a single French braid down her back. She paces restlessly as she
listens to person on the other end.

W:"Yes. That's all done. I just need a couple days and my report will be
complete. So how is Greece? Any new developments?" She pulls a bottle
of milk out of the fridge and pours herself a glass.

W:"Any idea what it is or who it's for? Well, the Cassadines are an odd
bunch. It could be anything, including a stolen sculpture. " She drinks her milk. "Yes, that's true. I know you'll find out what the mystery package is and if it's anything we need to pay attention to. My meeting starts in ten minutes so I better get going." She laughs. " Okay, bye mate."

The woman hangs up the phone and makes another call.

W:"Hi, you don't sound too good... Yes, it's me. I saw what happened a few hours ago when I logged onto the Internet. How is everyone holding up?" She plays with her braid as she listens. "Yes, I called them both. She should have a phone message from me when she wakes. Listen, there was a package delivered to the compound, was it from you?" She begins pacing again. "I wish I could be there... I know, I know. You don't have to tell me. Okay, I'll do that. Give them my love, Bye."

The woman sits on her bed looking at the phone. She wipes a tear from the corner of her eye and begins to change for her meeting.