Chapter 19: Stefan Versus The World

Jason, Alexis, Laura,and Robin are in a limo on the way to the airport.

Jason:"Stefan has been handled. It went easier than expected."
Alexis:"I don't think we've heard the last of him."
Laura:"Me either."
Robin:"What do you think he'll do?"
Alexis:"Oh, the possibilities are endless. Possibly sabotage our
transportation. "
Laura:"That'd be the most effective way to ground us."
Jason:"He better not sabotage the ELQ jet. I had to play nice with
family to get it."

They arrive at the airport. Laura and Alexis leave Robin and Jason alone
to say goodbye.

Robin and Jason embrace. He tenderly strokes her hair, memorizing the
feel and scent of her.

Jason:"I love you, Robin."
Robin(tearfully):"Jason.. be careful, okay?"
Jason(tightening his arms around her):"I will, promise. Joseph will take
you back to school in the limo. I'll call you when I can. God, I don't
want to let you go..."
Robin:"Me either."

Alexis gives a little cough as a signal to Jason, who reluctantly
releases Robin. He cups her cheeks with his hands and kisses her
tenderly. Robin finally ends the kiss by pulling away and getting into
the limo.

Jason rejoins Laura and Alexis and they enter the airport. At their
gate, they are greeted by gentleman that works for the airport. He looks
very anxious.
Jason:"Is there a problem?"
Man:"I'm terribly sorry, Mr Morgan. The pilot has become very ill and
won't be able to fly the plane to Greece tonight."
Jason(menacingly):"What?! You'll have to do better than that. Call
another pilot, NOW. The cost doesn't matter."
Man:"I'm very sorry sir, I checked already. There won't be another
pilot available until tomorrow morning...."
Jason grabs the man by his lapels and brings his face to his own. "You
make one available TONIGHT or I'll ..."
Alexis pulls Jason off the terrified man."It isn't his fault, Jason. You
know that."
Just then Stefan appears out of nowhere. "Is there a problem?"

Jason sees the smug smile on Stefan's face and loses what cool he has
left. Jason walks up to within a few inches of Stefan. "Cassadine. I
should have known. You picked the wrong man to cross." Alexis and Laura
watch the men face off, trying not to smile.
Laura(in a whisper to Alexis):"This would almost be funny if it weren't
happening to us."
Alexis(whispering back):"Men. They're going to kill each other trying to
protect us."

Stefan stares back at Jason, unintimidated. "I have no idea what you are
talking about. I merely came to bid farewell to my Cousin and Mrs
Spencer."
Jason(face stony with barely controlled anger):"This is your doing. Fix
it, Cassadine."
Stefan:"I gather you lost your air transportation. The Cassadine Jet
happens to be available. Alexis, would you like to use it? It can take
you directly to the private Cassadine airstrip on the property."
Alexis:"That'd be great, Stefan. Then Laura, Jason, and I can be on our
way..."
Stefan:"I'm coming with you."
Jason, Alexis, and Laura respond in unison. "No!"
Stefan responds to Alexis and Laura. "It is my responsibility to protect
you."
Jason:"I said I would protect them, Cassadine."
Stefan (condescendingly):"You are good at providing 'protection' in Port
Charles. But we are moving onto my turf, where your skills will be....
inadequate. Irregardless of the arguments, I am coming."

Seeing Jason's murderous look at Stefan, Laura interrupts the argument
by coming up to Stefan and looping her arm in his. "Stefan, why don't
you escort us to the Cassadine Jet?" She turns to Alexis and Jason.
"Why don't you walk ahead..?"

Alexis gets Laura's signal."Yes, an excellent idea. Jason, I know
exactly where the Cassadine Jet is waiting. Why don't you help me sort
out the baggage nightmare?" Alexis drags a livid Jason with her.

Stefan:"Morgan is a common thug. Alexis would do well to distance
herself from him." Laura and Stefan stroll in silence for a few
minutes, arm and arm. Laura feels Stefan start to relax.

Laura makes her move. "I want you to let us confront Helena alone,
Stefan."

Stefan sighs. "I can't do that Lasha. If either of you were harmed, I
wouldn't be able to live with myself."

Laura:"I won't be able to heal unless I confront her alone, just Helena
and me. I've lived in fear of her for almost my entire adult life,
Stefan. Her reign of terror has to end."

Stefan:"It has ended. I keep my promises."

Laura:"Yes, I know. But I have to do this for my own sanity. After all
the things your family has done to me, don't rob me of this. Please."
She stops to face him, her eyes brimming with tears. Her eyes plead with
him silently.

Stefan softens at the sight of her tears. "Lasha" He wipes the tears
away with his thumbs, allowing his hands to rest on her temples. "Don't
ask me to remain here, waiting and worrying."

Laura:"Please, Stefan. Let me heal my own way. Let me confront Helena
alone. Show me that you care about me."

Stefan pulls her close, overwhelmed by the emotions she evokes in him.
He breathes in her subtle scent, a heady mixture of soap and light
perfume. She accepts his embrace for a moment before pulling away.

Stefan(hoarsely):"You know I cannot refuse you. Be careful, Lasha. I
will protect you as much as I can from here."

Laura:"You may not like Jason, but he will keep us safe."

Stefan nods. "I'll leave you now. If I stay, I risk going against your
wishes. Give my farewell to Alexis. Goodbye Lasha. I'll see you when you
get back." He kisses her forehead and leaves her standing outside the
gate of the Cassadine Jet.

Laura rejoins Jason and Alexis as they board the plane. Alexis looks
surprised to see Laura arrive alone.

Alexis:"Wow. I am impressed. What did you say?"
Laura:"The truth." Then she smiles. "Plus some emotional blackmail."
Alexis:"You must have the special touch. I'll have to make sure you're
in my corner when arguing with Stefan."

Jason(still peeved): "Sonny made it so you only have to put up with his
interference as long as you want. Stefan may think he runs your life
but he won't if he can't find you. Just say the word, Alexis. It would
be my pleasure."
Alexis: "We are on our way and it was easier than I anticipated, thanks
to Laura." Alexis turns to Laura. "We really are going to have to talk."

They buckle themselves into their seats and prepare for take off.

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

Commissioner Garcia enters the PCPD precinct. He looks around the
bustling room and catches sight of Taggert and Keesha. He motions them
to meet him in his office. Once they are seated, he sits on the edge of
his desk facing them.

Garcia:"Tell me what you have in the Spencer and Corinthos case."
Taggert:"Not much. It appears that the witnesses didn't see much beyond
a nondescript black car."
Garcia(surprised):"Are you implying that some of the witnesses are
hiding evidence?"
Taggert:"Morgan is definitely hiding something. I want to question him
again. And Mrs Corinthos had a clear view of the car from where she was
standing when she was shot. "
Garcia:"So you're thinking she could have seen the license plate or the
hit man?"
Taggert:"Exactly."
Keesha:"But what's her motive for hiding information? Her husband was
brutally gunned down. She's pregnant with his child."
Taggert:"Money. She probably stands to inherit his fortune, maybe even
his business. Maybe she was in on the hit."
Keesha:"That doesn't make any sense. Alexis is a Cassadine. She has
money in her own right. And she could have been killed herself "
Taggert(looking at Keesha speculatively):"A little too personally
involved, Officer?"
Garcia interrupts."She has a point, Detective. If Alexis is hiding
anything, it would be to protect someone she cares about. So who are
the possible suspects?"
Taggert:"Jason Morgan would be my bet, if he has enough brain cells left
to pull it off."
Keesha(annoyed):"That was unnecessary."
Taggert(clearly not sorry):"Oh, that's right. You're married to his
brother aren't you? My apologies."
Garcia:"Can it, Taggert. Now let's look at some other possibilities. If
this had been a mob related hit, we would have seen a lot more dead
bodies by now. This hit must have been personal. One of you should
track down Harry Silver. He used to work for Sonny. They had a falling
out several years ago over the death of his first wife. "
Taggert:"I'll get on it."
Keesha:"What about Stefan Cassadine? He has motive to kill Luke and
Sonny. It was no secret that he hated them."
Garcia:"An interview with him would be futile. He's known for his nerves
of steel. But go ahead and do some checking. If you find anything
suspicious, we should discuss how to proceed. Also check out Jasper Jax.
There was a lot of bad blood between Jax and Sonny a few years ago. They
almost killed each other over Jax's wife." Garcia turns to Taggert.
"Detective, I think you should go interview Jason again. He might have
some idea where Silver is."

Taggert gets the message."See Y'all later." Taggert saunters out. Once
the door is closed, Garcia moves over to the chair next to Keesha.

Garcia(softly):"How are you handling all this? You were close to Luke."
Keesha(trying to remain professional):"I'm doing okay."
Garcia:"You let me know if this gets to be too much. And don't let
Taggert get to you. He's rude, but he's a good detective. One of the
best."
Keesha:"Thanks. I better get going." As she's leaving his office she
turns around to address him. "Thanks for showing confidence in me by
putting me on this case Commissioner."
Garcia smiles. "You deserve the opportunity. Now prove my hunch right."

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

Stefan is sitting at his desk, speaking Greek into the telephone.

S:"I want security tripled on Helena. Laura Spencer and Alexis are to be
protected at all costs, even if that means Helena's death. Yes. Those
are my orders." Stefan pauses to listen. "No, do not restrict their
movements, except to ensure their safety. I want regular reports on
their progress. Are the devices in place? Good, we'll test them in an
hour to be sure they are in working order." Stefan ends the
conversation.

Stefan takes a sip of his brandy. He hesitates before opening the desk
drawer. He pulls out a tape recorder with head phones. He takes the
tape Mrs Lansbury handed upon his arrival and inserts it into the
recorder. He puts on the headphones as he waits for it to rewind. He
pushes 'play'.

Stefan listens to the voices of Jason and Alexis talking on the plane to
Greece. His eyes get a steely glint as he hears Jason offer Alexis a
way out of the family. He removes the headphones.

Stefan(to himself):"Arrogant Peasant! Who does he think he is to
interfere with the family?" He glances up at the family photo of
Nikolas, Alexis, and himself. "Cousin, you and I are going to have a
chat about your new associations."