Chapter 9: It's Just A Temporary Setback

Jason pauses after finishing the last phone call. It has been put off too long. He has to call Mike. He takes a deep breath and dials his number.

Mike answers on the first ring. "Sonny?" Jason notices the anxiety in Mike's voices. He closes his eyes before answering him.

J:"Mike, it's Jason."

M:"Hi Jason. What's up?"

J:"It's Sonny and Luke. They've both been shot. You need to get down to
GH."

M:"Oh God. Sonny's dead, isn't he?"

Jason opens his mouth to answer and shuts it. He knows this will destroy
Mike, but he can't lie. He takes another deep breath." Yes. Mike. Sonny
didn't make it. I'm sorry, man. There just isn't a good way to tell you."

Mike:"Oh God.... Oh God.. No...not Michael!"

Jason hears Mike drop the phone and then silence. Jason yells into the
phone. "Mike? MIKE!!"

Mike picks up the phone after a few seconds. Jason hears the Mike trying to stop crying. "Luke.. tell me...Alexis? ... Laura?"

Jason:"Luke's in surgery. It doesn't look good. Alexis and the baby are fine. Her elbow's a mess, but she'll be okay."

Mike:"Thank God ---Alexis......the baby.. Did Sonny know?"

Jason:"Yes. He knew. He protected her. He was very happy about that. And
Laura didn't get hurt. She's pretty upset though..."

Mike:"Where is Sonny now? Will they let me see him?"

Jason:"I made them bring him here, but I don't know."

Mike: "I'll be right there."

Jason and Mike hang up. Jason dials another number. As he's waiting for
an answer, he hears Lucky yelling. He turns around to see Lucky attacking Stefan. He drops the phone and runs to break up the fight.

Stefan :"Lucky, I swear to you. I did not have anything to do with this..."

Jason pulls Lucky off Stefan with the help of ER staff.

Lucky lunges at Stefan again, but Jason is able to restrain him. Jason's arms are wrapped around Lucky, pinning his arms to his side.

Lucky:"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS CASSADINE! I'LL KILL YOU!"

Jason whispers in Lucky's ear, trying to calm him ."Get ahold of yourself, Lucky. This was for Sonny. I think I know who did it, and it wasn't Stefan.. You think I'd let him live if he did?"

Lucky calms down enough for Jason to let go of him. Lucky is still glaring with pure hatred at Stefan who looks shocked and a little worried.

L:"You said you knew who did this? Tell me. Who did this?"

J:"I following some leads. I promise you, the man who shot Sonny and
Luke will pay with his life. This will be finished by dawn. In the meantime I need you to be cool. I can't go after him if I have to worry
about what you will do."

L:"Okay. I'm cool. But I bet my last dollar Cassadine is behind this whole thing. You have my word on it though. As long as you keep your promise."

J:"You have it. I need to make some calls." Jason returns to the phone
booth.

Stefan takes another look at Laura and pulls out his cell phone to make a call to his limo.

S:"Gibbons. I want you to get some women's clothes. Yes. That's what I
said. Be back here in 15 minutes." He pauses long enough to give him the clothing size. He closes his phone and walks over to Nikolas who's helping with Lulu.

S:"Nikolas. I've sent for some clothes for your mother. When they arrive, I want you to convince her to change and get cleaned up."

Nikolas nods.

Mike arrives at the ER. He hugs Lucky and they share a few words before
he leaves to go the nurses station.

M:"Excuse me. Could you tell me about Alexis Corinthos? I'm her father-in-law...."

Gibbons arrives with the clothes. Nikolas takes them and walks over to
Laura, who is still rocking in her seat. She doesn't acknowledge his presence. He looks at Bobbie, who's sitting beside Laura.

Nikolas takes one of Laura's hands as he gently addresses her. "Hey. Let's get you cleaned up and changed. You must be feeling pretty grubby about now."

Laura doesn't respond. Nikolas looks helplessly at Bobbie. Bobbie decides to give it a try.

B:"Laura. Come on, honey. You'll feel better if you change out of these
clothes. I'll go with you."

Laura still doesn't respond.

N:"I'm sure you'd like to look nice for Luke when he comes out of surgery."

Laura's comes to at the mention of Luke's name. "Luke?"

N:"I said I'm sure you'd like to look nice for Luke when he comes out of
surgery. Why don't you go with Bobbie and get changed? I have some
clothes right here."

Laura smiles absently as she notices her appearance for the first time. She puts a hand through her hair and looks down at her bloodstained skirt. "Yes. You're right. It wouldn't do for Luke to see me like this...."

Bobbie mouths a thank you to Nikolas as she leads Laura to the restroom
to clean up.

Jason leaves the phone booth as Laura and Bobbie walk by. Jason makes
his way over to Stefan.

S:"You have information."
J:"Yes. On Harry Silver. "
Stefan nods."Do you need assistance?"
Jason shakes his head."I'm going to go take care of this personally. But what I do need is to keep Lucky from following me half-cocked. And for
Alexis know that I'm out taking care of the problem."
Mike joins them.
Stefan:"Consider it done."
Mike:"What's done?" Jason leaves quickly.
Stefan:"Keep an eye on Lucky. Make sure he doesn't follow that young man. His mother needs him here."
Mike:"It's done." Mike leaves to intercept Lucky.

Mike:"Hey son. Don't go following Jason. He can handle it."
Lucky:"You expect me to stand by when my father's hit man is out there? "
Mike:"Your mother and father and sister need you to stay here. Your
mother doesn't need to worry about where you are. You can trust Jason to
handle this. Sonny trained him well." Lucky hears the tone of sadness in Mike's voice.
Lucky:"I know I said it before. But I'm real sorry, man. Sonny's the best."
Mike (voice quivering):"Yes, Michael was the best."

Bobbie and Laura return to the waiting room. Laura walks over and hugs
Ruby and Nikolas.

While Laura is still standing next to Nikolas, Alan and another doctor come into the waiting room. Lucky addresses them.

Lucky:"My Dad? He's going to be okay, right?"

Alan looks at them sadly as he delivers the news."I'm so sorry. He was
just too weak and lost too much blood. His heart stopped beating in the
middle of the surgery. We used every means necessary to keep him alive.
But he didn't make it. I'm so sorry..."

Laura's covers her mouth with her hands as the tears fall fresh from her
eyes. " No.. no.. no .. NOOOOO!" She collapses in Nikolas's arms. The whole Spencer family begins to sob uncontrollably at the news. They cling to each other for support.

Lulu stands on the outside of the circle, confused and crying, "Mama...
Mama!" over and over again. Lulu's pleas for her mother aren't heard.

Stefan notices Lulu standing alone and crying. He walks quietly over until he's a few feet from her. He crouches down to speak to her on her
level. "Lesley Lu?" he whispers.

Lulu runs into his arms. He picks her up and dries her tears.