Chapters 117 & 118
Chapter 117: Excuses
After his fight with Laura, Lucky jogs through the park, hoping the run across town will clear his head of the burning rage. Stefan Cassadine was to blame for all of this, for ruining his family. Their lives would never be the same because of him. Never. Because of Stefan he would be all alone in the world, with precious little family to call his own. His little sister would be raised as a Cassadine, and he'd be lucky to see her or his mother at all. Stefan had even taken Mike away from him, the man he once considered a good friend and an uncle. Practically his whole family, ripped from him in less than a year. It was too much to bear.
The only one left in town who truly cared about him, who understood and accepted him, was Emily. Sweet, loving, generous Emily. Lucky's heart constricts as he conjures up a vision of her hugging him affectionately. He had to find her, only she could help him through this tragedy. He veers off his course through the park to go in search of her.
.
Nikolas and Gina stroll hand in hand through the halls of the hospital after eating an early dinner at the cafeteria. Nikolas pulls Gina close for a lingering kiss. "I think I'm going to go find Uncle. His wild mood swings have gone on long enough."
Gina squeezes his hand meaningfully. "Just try to get him to talk about what's eating him. Obviously, something is bothering him and he needs to talk about it. He needs someone to listen, not someone to scold him."
"You forget that he's a Cassadine, Gina," Nikolas teases her. "And Cassadines don't talk about their feelings."
"Stefan's human first. Give it a try, it can't hurt," She urges him. "Besides, you're Cassadine and you talk to me about your feelings."
"Depending on who you talk to, describing the Cassadines as human is questionable," Nikolas jokes with an indulgent smile. "With you and me it's different. You are my wife."
Stefan is working at the hospital when he receives a urgent call from Laura. "Lasha! What's wrong?!" Stefan asks in alarm. "You are crying."
Laura sobs uncontrollably into the phone. "Please Stefan, what ever he says, what ever he does, please don't hurt him! Promise me!"
Stefan goes white with fear and he rises from his chair with a start. "Did Lucky harm you? If he did, by God he will pay..."
"NO!" Laura takes a deep breath, shuddering with her effort to get a hold of herself, then says in a calmer voice, "No, he didn't hurt me. He was just so angry when he left, I'm not sure what he'll do if he sees you. Please, just promise me you won't do anything to hurt him. I couldn't bear it."
Stefan walks around the desk to retrieve his coat. "I have already given you my word I will not fight him, Lasha. I would not go back on that promise now. There is nothing for you to worry about, I will be over shortly."
"No, I.. I'm fine, really," Laura says trying to dissuade him. While she had taken the time before calling to pick up the photos and upright the end table, the glass from the lamp and the picture frames still cover the living room floor. She knew Stefan would surely become unhinged at the sight of all the glass. She had to stall him long enough to clean up. "What I need most right now is some time alone to calm down. I'll
call you later tonight and we can talk."
Stefan is undeterred by Laura's attempted brush off, already putting on his overcoat to leave. "Nonsense, the last thing you need is to be alone after such a traumatic confrontation. Irregardless, I want to see you to assure myself that you and my child are alright."
"Please don't, Stefan--"
"I will be there in a few minutes, Lasha." Stefan assures her, ringing off before Laura can protest again.
A cheerful Emily waves Alan down near the nurses station in front of the elevator. "Dad!"
Alan's eyebrows shoot up with a mixture of surprise and delight at the unexpected visit from his daughter. "Hi, Honey! This is a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe the honor?"
Emily links her arm with his. "Well, Mom told me you were working late and I thought I'd bring you a picnic dinner so you wouldn't' have to eat alone." She holds up the picnic basket she's holding in her other hand. "You up for a quick picnic in the lounge?"
Alan steers her towards the lounge a short distance away. "Sure, I can't think of anything I'd like more. I have to confess I've been missing you terribly since you moved out. The house is so gloomy without you to brighten it."
"I've missed you too," Emily says wistfully. "You haven't come to see me at the diner since that first night. And when I've come by the house to visit and walk Raoul, you're never there."
Once they reach the lounge, Emily begins to set up their dinner, first spreading a cheerful red checkered tablecloth over the coffee table. Next she sets out two large Styrofoam containers full of piping hot Kelly's Diner chili, spoons, napkins, generous portions of cornbread, and two cups of coffee. "What do you think?" Emily asks, watching him expectantly.
Alan gives her a crinkly grin. "I think you've taken seriously the old adage... 'The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.' Sneaky, Emily, very sneaky. C'mon, let's dig in."
After sharing a chuckle, the both dig into the chili and enjoy each other's company in silence. Pausing to take a sip of coffee, Emily says finally, "Mom told me you plan to try to force me to come home."
"It's not that i want to be mean or unfair, Emily. It just terrifies me that something could happen to you while you're at Kelly's. I'll risk you hating me if it means you'll be safe and alive."
"But I AM safe, Dad," Emily argues. "Jason has increased security and Lucky's been staying with me a good part of the time to make sure nothing happens to me. You don't have to worry about anything happening to me."
"I'm supposed to be comforted by the fact that Lucky, the teenaged son of the infamous Luke Spencer, the wildest kid I know, and the one who goes looking for trouble is watching over my precious daughter? You'll excuse me if I'm not reassured."
"Lucky's not like that anymore, Dad," Emily implores him. "He's really calmed down since his dad died. He's practically running Luke's place by himself and he's even taking a few business classes at PCU. How many other guys his age can you say that about? Just give him a chance to prove himself. Please."
"I'll think about it," Alan replies noncommittally, returning to his chili.
Meanwhile, near the nurses station, Nikolas flags down Stefan who is trying to leave. Stefan is pushing the button to the elevator impatiently. "Nikolas, I don't have time to talk now. We can discuss whatever needs to be discussed at home later."
Nikolas crosses his arms stubbornly. "You've been putting me off long enough. I want an explanation as to why you have been so gruff lately. You've hurt my wife's feelings on more than one occasion."
Stefan sighs. "I will apologize to Gina later. Right now, I must get to your mother. She's..."
Just then, the elevator doors open with Lucky behind them. One look at Stefan and Lucky sees red. "YOU BASTARD!" Lucky bellows. "I ought to kill you for what you've done to my mother!" Lucky right fist hits Stefan's chin with the force of all his pent up rage, sending Stefan sprawling. Lucky launches himself on top of Stefan and starts to pummel him mercilessly.
"LUCKY! What the hell are you doing?!" Nikolas grabs Lucky from behind and tries with little success to pull him off Stefan, who is attempting to block his face from further blows. Neither Stefan or Nikolas are having much affect as Lucky strikes blow after blow.
Alan and Emily hear the ruckus coming from the elevators and come running to join the gathering crowd. Emily watches with mortification as Alan and Nikolas combine their efforts to pull a raging Lucky off Stefan.
Chapter 118: Caught Off Guard
"LUCKY! Stop it! Please!" Emily screams helplessly from the sidelines, watching Lucky thrash violently like a wild man against Nikolas and Alan who are trying to pull him off a prone Stefan. To her horror, she sees Lucky knock Alan off balance and onto the floor.
"You're going to pay if it's the last thing I do!" Lucky bellows as he swings at a dazed Stefan again, hitting him squarely in the eye and sending his head snapping back with a sharp thud against the tile floor. "I should have shot you when I had the chance!"
"Someone call the cops for God's sake!" Alan yells out, picking himself off the floor and rejoining the foray. At that moment, Tom Hardy arrives on the scene and with the help of Nikolas and Alan, finally pry Lucky off of Stefan.
"Let me at him!" Lucky protests. "He deserves to be mincemeat for what's he's done!" He lunges at Stefan again, but is now easily held back by the three men.
Battered and bloodied, Stefan struggles to a sitting position, panting at the effort, and brushes his split lip gingerly with the back of his knuckle as he shoots Lucky a stern look of warning.
"What the hell are you talking about, Spencer?!" demands Nikolas, his arm squarely around Lucky's neck to restrain him. "What has he done to our mother?!"
"Don't, Lucky! This is no one's business but ours!" Stefan forces out. A small crowd has gathered to watch the drama. Carly is among the last to show up and her mouth hangs open at the scene.
"What? You've been keeping another secret from your beloved Nikolas?" Lucky says with a sneer, unable to resist the chance to taunt Stefan. "Guess what, Nikky? Uncle Steffie's been real busy lately. Seems he got our mother knocked up and now he's convinced her they should marry."
"WHAT?!" Nikolas is so stunned, he loosens his hold on Lucky for a moment. Lucky takes another lunge at Stefan, whose eyes widen with alarm. Tom and Alan, who've been standing close by, grab Lucky and keep him from reaching Stefan. Nikolas looks at Stefan for confirmation. "Uncle, is this true?"
Stefan sighs. "Yes. I had planned to tell you privately later and save your mother this public humiliation."
Lucky and Stefan exchange glowering stares. Alan, who up to this point has been shocked into silence, pipes up. "Okay everyone, back to work. The crisis is over. Stefan, judging from the way you look and the way your head hit the floor, you need to have your head examined. Tom, Nikolas, I trust you can keep Lucky from going ballistic again?" Nikolas and Tom nod.
Stefan however, starts to argue. "There is no need for an exam. I am cert--" Stefan gasps painfully from a sharp pain in his ribs as he tries to stand. Alan reaches out a hand to steady him.
"Let's get you down to ER immediately," Alan says knowingly. "Looks like an xray is in order, you could have punctured your lung with a rib. Amy, will you do the honors? And get an orderly to take Mr Cassadine down there in a wheelchair. The less walking he does, the less chance of further injury."
Amy smiles with false cheerfulness. "Certainly, Dr Quartermaine. I'd be thrilled to escort my future brother in law down to the ER." After commandeering an orderly and a wheelchair, She escorts Stefan into the elevator.
Two police officers arrive on the scene and Alan flags them over. "I want you to arrest that young man over there." He points to Lucky. "He just brutally assaulted a man, causing him to be sent to the Emergency Room."
Emily, who has been standing out of the way with Carly, jumps forward. "Dad! You can't! That's not fair."
"The hell I can't!" Alan replies fiercely. "Lucky Spencer just viciously assaulted Stefan Cassadine. I can't believe you tried to convince me that he's changed for the better. If anything, he's worse!"
After getting statements from Alan and several witnesses, the officers take Lucky into custody and read him his rights. Lucky stands by docilely while they handcuff him, nodding mildly in understanding of his Miranda rights. Nikolas watches the whole proceeding in shocked silence, still reeling from everything that's happened in the last fifteen minutes.
"You can't just cart him off to jail!" Carly protests. "Why can't you just write him a ticket and leave him in my custody?"
One of the officers shakes his head apologetically. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. It's a person to person crime. But you can follow us downtown and post his bail."
"I'll do that," Carly says with determination. She leans over and pecks Lucky on the cheek and says softly. "Lucky, I'll be right behind you. We'll have you out of this jam in no time."
A short time later, a gruff and impatient Stefan sits bare chested in the exam room while his wounds are being cleaned and bandaged. "This is completely unnecessary, Nurse. I wish to be released immediately. I have important appointment I must keep."
"It will have to keep a while longer, Mr Cassadine," The nurse replies crisply. "The doctors haven't had a chance to read the xray yet."
Nikolas appears in the doorway. "I expected you to be chomping at the bit to get out of here."
"Must you to resort to those unpolished Americanisms?" Stefan says with a scowl, wincing slightly when the nurse dabs at the cut above his eyebrow.
"If you're marrying my mother, then you better get used to a lot more than a few Americanisms," Nikolas replies mildly.
Stefan looks at Nikolas carefully while he waits for the nurse to finish her task and leave. "You don't appear to be angry."
"I was for about five minutes," Nikolas admits. "As you know, I have a sore spot about being kept in the dark."
"This was not my secret to tell, Nikolas. Laura and I agreed we would not tell any of the children until we sorted out what to do."
"Logical reasoning even if I don't like it," Nikolas allows. "In case you're curious, the police arrested Lucky shortly after you left."
"I did not want him arrested. I must correct this immediately. Hand me my shirt, Nikolas." Stefan takes the shirt from Nikolas' hand and with as little movement as possible, dons the shirt and begins to button it.
"You can't leave here yet, Uncle. You might have a cracked rib or something."
With great care, Stefan stands. "I must take the risk. Laura will be upset enough as it is when she learns of the altercation, I will not have the additional stress of having her son in jail."
Nikolas puts a restraining hand on Stefan's shoulder. "Let me see about bailing him out or dropping the charges while you stay here for the xray results. We can also use Alexis to help smooth this out with the police and the DA if necessary."
Alan and a younger doctor enter the room carrying the xray film of Stefan's chest. "Stefan, have a seat. You're not going anywhere yet."
Stefan deliberately reins in his impatience in the face of being outnumbered and sits. "Very well. I would appreciate if you could handle this for me, Nikolas. Call me when you have something to report."
At the downtown police station, a beat cop hands Lucky a slip of paper and the few belongings they confiscated during the booking process. "You're free to go, Mr Spencer, thanks to your lady-friend over there." He points to Carly.
Lucky smirks. "Aw, she's not my lady-friend. She's my cousin."
"Oh. Well, she sure is pretty. Anyway, your court date is clearly marked here on your ticket. As is the law in this state, there is a temporary restraining order barring you from having any contact with the victim, Stefan Cassadine, until your court date. Unless the charges are dropped, that is. Make sure you appear in court or they'll come looking for you and revoke your bail."
Lucky nods and folds the paper, quickly slipping it into his coat pocket. "Yes sir. Now if you don't mind, I'm getting out of here. No offense, but I hate police stations."
Carly and Lucky leave the police station, linked arm and arm. "Thanks a lot, Cuz," Lucky says as he breathes in the night air. "I appreciate you getting me out so quick."
Carly gives him a bright smile and hands him a cigar, which Lucky promptly lights. "Don't mention it, a little bit of flirting here and there and they were happy to speed up the process. We Spencers have to stick together now that there are so few of us. C'mon, we'll go back to the diner, Emily's waiting for you. She's been worried sick. She tried to come down here with me, but I convinced her that you wouldn't want her to see you like that."
They climb into Carly's car with Lucky taking the driver's seat. "Smart thinking. The last thing I want is for Emily to see me in jail, or even smelling like one."
Carly sniffs at pungent Cuban cigar smoke and says wryly, "Well, that's not something you have to worry about now."
With slow painful movements, Stefan puts on his suit jacket. It seems to him that as time wears on, his bruises and sore joints become more painful rather than less so. He wonders absently whether he will be able to move at all tomorrow morning.
His cell phone rings and for once prays it isn't Laura. If she found out about Lucky before he could rectify the situation, there was no telling how she would react. He opens the phone and turns it on. "Stefan Cassadine," He answers in an authoritative voice he doesn't feel.
"Uncle, it's me." Nikolas says into the phone. Stefan can hear the ringing of phones and sounds of angry and drunk people in the background.
"Were you able get Lucky released from jail?"
"No, he'd already been released on bond before I got here. Carly Roberts posted bail." Nikolas has to practically shout to be heard over the din in the background. "The arresting officer says he doesn't have jurisdiction to drop the charges, that it's up to the DA's office whether to press charges or not."
Stefan sighs in exasperation. "Then call them and demand the charges be dropped immediately."
"I tried, but they're closed for the night. It appears that nothing can be done till the court clerk's office opens in the morning."
"Then we'll wake a judge if we have to!" Stefan replies with his voice rising in volume in accordance to his frustration.
In an unusual role reversal, Nikolas is the one soothing Stefan. "Perhaps Alexis can finesse this situation, I'll give her a call when we hang up. Irregardless, there is no reason for you to come down to the station. What did the doctors find?"
"Nothing serious," Stefan says in dismissal. "A nasty bruise on the back of my head and a few bruised ribs. I will recover."
Nikolas smirks at Stefan's dry humor. "Good. Once I'm done talking with Alexis, I'm going to head over to Mother's. She could probably use some company after her argument with Lucky."
"Your mother is not your concern, Nikolas; she is mine. I will be going over there now."
Nikolas scowls at Stefan's possessive and autocratic attitude, but then wisely realizes why. "Very well. It is probably best if she hears the news from you anyway. What will you do if Lucky shows up at the house?"
"I will deal with that eventuality when and if it arises," He replies. "While I may be bruised, I am more than adequately prepared to handle any future confrontations with young Spencer. He will not catch me unaware again. I have already called for security on Lasha and increased security at Wyndemere. Call me if there are any developments."
Nikolas is dubious. "I hope you know what you are doing, Uncle."
