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When Cassidines Fall
More than One Way
Monday.
The alarm goes off in Nik's room. Maddy reaches over and turns it
off with a yawn. She belts the robe Nik gave her for her birthday
and makes her way downstairs. Varying her schedule, she pours her
coffee in her travel mug and collapses in a chair at the table.
Another yawn followed by a groan. New Years couldn't come fast
enough. The business on top of everything else is kicking her ass.
Nik follows her down to the kitchen and pours himself a cup of
coffee as well. "Are you okay?"
"Just tired." Maddy half smiles.
"If possible-- things are getting crazier." Nik agrees.
"At least Stefan is back to take care of the hospital.
You'll probably want to spend as much time as possible with Laura."
"What happened yesterday in Chinatown?" Maddy explains
the situation. Nik exhales. "Not good." Nik agrees with
the whole assessment.
"Yeah, and it's causing ripples all over the place. Not just
with Mei and her family but also with Em 'cause Queen of Angels
was... is sponsoring the mission."
"There is really nothing we can do." Nik shakes his
head. "Cassadines whenever possible limit our interaction
with communists. We dealt with the soviets some after things
warmed up a bit but that was to bring them down and get a more...
reasonable government back in Russia. Do you want me to talk to
Stefan?"
"Not yet. Not until there's some information." Maddy
says with some frustration brushing her hair back from her face
then reaching for her coffee mug. "Right now there is
nothing to go on. And it's kinda like the situation with Larry
and the VA... if we push, they've got the guy locked up. They've
got the hammer. Whatever we do could be held against him.
Mei or her grandmother will call me if they hear anything. I have
to get going." Maddy rises from her seat and coming around
gives Nik a quick kiss before heading to the basement. "Call
me when your mom gets in."
Nik grabs her arm before she can get entirely away. "I think
I'll be at the hospital all day." Nik informs her. "You
can reach me there."
Jerry goes out to the stables above Deception to use Carly's
computer. Bobbie and Lucas had still been asleep when he left.
Entering his password he starts calling up the annual profit
statements from J&J of Alaska for the last eighteen years.
Year by year he figures what his piece of the profits were. Then
he takes what he considers a fair percentage of that. And runs it
through a program that calculates compound interest. He whistles
when he gets the total and then groans. No way would Maddy go for
that. Two different scenarios... she'd either consider it him
trying to buy her or buy her off. Neither were in his nor her
best interests. He goes back and does his calculation using
simple interest. Still a tidy sum and not quite so intimidating.
He starts accessing his international accounts. He might not have
been able to trade in the US for a year, thanks to the Feds, but
that still leaves a big world out there and the nest egg from
that last job for Stefan has grown substancially. After getting
all the money in one place, he leans back and considers how he is
going to present this and minimize his involvement. A trust fund.
Yeah, an educational trust fund. That can only be used for school
until she hit... 25. Maybe by then she'd have gotten used to the
idea. Now all he needs is a lawyer to draw it up. "Don't
want to put Dara in the middle." Jerry mutters. "I
wonder if Alexis is in yet?"
Stefan walks KC out to the waiting limo in front of the PC Hotel.
V and Jax walk off the elevator. V double takes at the departing
couple.
"V?"
"Ah? What?" V looks back to Jax.
"Is everything okay?"
"I just thought I saw someone I know but it's impossible.
You said you tried to call Jerry but Bobbie said he was already
gone?"
"Yeah, I think I'll wait until I get to Deception and try
again."
"Did you call out at the stables?"
Jax snaps his fingers. "Worth a try. 'Course if he's out
there this early-- he's up to something. His cell phone is off."
V glances at her watch. After her time working with Jax she
calculates the time difference in an instant. "Europe or
Nikkai depending on if he's doing today or tomorrow. Did you talk
to him about what Alexis said?"
"No, and that's the thing. I'd rather do it face to face.
And fill him in on the folks."
"Lady Jane getting impatient?"
"Yes, not only with Maddy but Carly too. Mum figured with
Carly's habit of going out of town on the weekend that she'd get
Lucas for the weekend when Jerry and Bobbie extended their stay."
"Didn't happen." V says with surety.
"Didn't happen." Jax says grimly. "She took the
kid with her to some out of town horse show to check out the
competition. Then she took him riding Sunday afternoon out at her
place."
"How do you know all this?"
"Oh I know. Carly makes no secret of it. She wants it to get
back to Dad and me."
V unlocks her car in the hotel garage by remote. As she nears she
checks the backseat for any unwanted company before climbing in.
Jax climbs in the passenger side and slides the seat all the way
back to get some semblance of legroom. "So in other words--
Carly is playing you and you're letting her."
Jax growls.
Stefan escorts KC into his office. Nikolas and Amy are already
there. Stefan is momentarily surprised not only at their presence
but at his clear topped desk. "Nikolas, Amy."
"Yes, Alexis and I were hard at work in your absence."
Nikolas answers the unasked question.
"I hope I have not made myself superfluous."
"Never. Dr Ryan, This is my mother's sister, Amy Vining."
KC extends a hand. "KC."
"Amy. You're the doctor?! I mean of course
you are. I just..." Amy starts babbling.
"Thank you." KC interrupts deciding to take it as a
compliment. "Mr Cassadine said you arranged for your
sister's room and you work here. What are the chances of you
showing me around?"
"Oh no problem." Amy offers. "I'll fill you in on
everything... and everybody."
"We'll be back in a bit. Give you two time to catch up."
KC suggests as Stefan is about to protest. The two women leave.
Nikolas moves away from the chair behind the desk. He waves with
a flourish. "It's all yours."
Stefan takes the seat. Nik settles into the chair across from him.
"First thing... your mother?"
"Flight left on time from Carolina. She is being accompanied
by a nurse and paramedic. They should be arriving in four hours
give or take. Amy handled the preparations here. Grandmother and
I selected a facility should it become necessary after Mother
meets with Dr Ryan."
"Helena?"
Nik shrugs. "Probably ticked at you after you shut down that
European subsidiary that was making noise."
"They serve at the pleasure of The Prince." Stefan nods.
Most of the potential trouble makers had been fired the same day
as their perfidy was discovered. The rest transferred to
different companies with the clear message that they were being
observed... closely. "And what is this that Madeliene
discovered about Victor?"
Nikolas explains what the priest had told Maddy. "I didn't
know Maddy was even looking into it."
"Nor did I." Stefan admits. He leans back in his chair,
strokes his beard as he considers the situation. "Unsatisfactory."
Nikolas nods. "But as Maddy pointed out at least it means
Helena is not taking advantage of the situation." Nikolas
goes on to describe the contents of the care package.
Stefan winces at the addition of Discourses. "Madeliene's
practical nature works to our favor. Is she willing to continue?"
Nik nods. "I think it offends her that we have so much and
Uncle Victor so little. I will send notes to accompany the
packages. It might be best if you did as well although I
explained to Uncle Victor what happened."
"No." Stefan muses aloud. "It would be better if
you handled this. Next time I play chess with Madeliene I will
tell her what I remember of Victor. Perhaps it will give her some
ideas of things he might enjoy."
A hush falls over the reception area of the ELQ Port Charles
building. And then there is a murmur that fuels like a forest
fire sweeping the building. Before Jason even gets on the
elevator to go to the executive floor news of his presence has
spread. AJ meets him at the elevator. "What's up, Bro? To
what do I owe the pleasure... blah blah blah." AJ stops in
his tracks. "Is everything okay? Em? Mom? Grandmother?"
"Far as I know. Can I talk to you... privately?"
"Carly is there. We were going to go to lunch." AJ
warns.
"That's fine."
"Well if you want it private you'd better talk fast. The old
man is in the building and I'm sure someone is already telling
him you are here."
Jason grimaces. AJ leads him to the CEO office. Carly is standing
by the window. "Jase?"
"Everyone is fine." Jason clears the air on that one.
"Em tell you what happened yesterday?"
"About the missionary. She mentioned it when she was
dropping Michael off yesterday." AJ looks to Carly for
verification. Carly nods.
"What have you got going in China?"
"Oh no. You are not thinking of going to China." Carly
shakes her head. "Em's telling horror stories about this guy
looking at a bullet and you want to go there? Un uh. Yeah, right
like you'd blend. No, no, no."
"Offices in Hong Kong and a plant in Shanghai. The plant is
actually the property of the government but we contract for 98%
of their output." AJ answers Jason.
"When was the last inspection?"
"Did you two hear me? I said NO!" Carly protests.
"Carly, it's not about the guy... it's about his family."
Jason informs her. "I'm just going to go over there and take
a look around."
"Yeah, and they say you can't lie." Carly sputters.
"Mr Travelogue man, exactly how many people are there in
Shanghai? In China? And you think you're going to waltz over
there... not step on anyone's toes, save the girl and just waltz
back on out?"
"1.3 billion in China. Shanghai-- 16 or 17 million depending
on who is telling the story. And I don't waltz."
"It's impossible! AJ, talk some sense into your brother."
"You have better chances of winning the lottery." AJ
agrees with Carly. "And last time I looked your second
language was French not Mandarin."
"That's why I want to go with a group. Sort of an inspection
thing. That will get my foot in the door without making any waves.
There is a guy in the American Consulate who can narrow the
search. He's the one who notified Father Frank of the missing
missionary." Jason can't stand explaining himself. "Look
can I use ELQ as a cover or not?"
"Carly?" AJ looks over to his wife knowing that his
life will be hell if he doesn't get her okay on this one.
Assisting Michael's Daddy on a wild goose chase would not endear
him to his wife. Or the rest of his family if Jason got locked up
in a chinese jail.
Carly's eyes narrow. "I know somebody who speaks some
Chinese. He goes and I'll shut up." She crosses her arms
defiantly.
"Who?" Jason asks getting a really bad feeling.
"Jerry. He's familiar with that part of the world; he can
take care of himself, and he's a pilot." Jason groans. He
knew he wasn't going to like it. "Take it or leave it.
Either of you try to end run me on this I will not only go to
Lila but to Edward and Ned too. That's how serious I am. AJ is
not going back to Indonesia and you aren't going to Communist
China." Carly starts heading toward the door.
"Honey, where are you going?"
"I'm not hungry anymore. I'm going to pick up Michael and if
Edward is down there pick a fight with him. I'll see you at home."
Carly slams the door after her.
AJ winces. "Great going, Bro."
"I am going to China." Jason states flatly.
"Then I'll make the arrangements and build your cover."
AJ sighs. "But if you have a single chance in hell of
succeeding... Carly's right. You should get Jerry to go. All else
fails... he'll get you out of there in one piece.
And if you are trying to smuggle someone out.... Does Em know
about this?"
"No."
"She does now."
Lucky watches as the private jet makes a smooth landing on the
cleared runway. Liz smoothes her other hand over Lucky's. It's a
comforting gesture but it also reminds him to ease up before he
breaks her knuckles. Lucky brings their clasped hands to his lips
and presses a kiss to the back of her abused hand. "Sorry."
"It's a good thing she's coming home. And Stefan brought the
specialist back with him. They're waiting for Laura at General
Hospital." Liz reminds him of all the positives.
The ambulance pulls up to the plane by the private hanger. The
door opens. The paramedics from the ambulance go in to check
things out. Lucky mutters to himself. "Screw airport
security." He puts the truck in gear and drives out to the
hanger where the plane rests. In the time it takes for him to get
to the hanger, Laura is already being transferred from the plane
to the ambulance. With the ambulance attendants and the nurse
it's getting rather crowded in the ambulance. Luke is about to
cause a scene and kick one of them out of the ambulance to make
room for him when Lucky pulls up. "Dad, You need a lift to
the hospital?"
"Yeah, you're right on time, Cowboy." Luke throws his
duffle in the back of the pickup and climbs in next to Elizabeth.
"How was the flight?" Elizabeth asks attempting to
distract Luke.
"Too damn quiet." Luke tries to shake it off. "The
nurse brought the last set of test results. How has it been going
in good ole Port Chuckles?"
"Not quiet. Not around Lu and Grandma." Lucky looks
over and grins. "You aren't going to recognize Lu."
"Where is my princess?"
"At School." Lucky nods.
"We told her she could come to the hospital after school.
And Lucky explained that Laura is still hurt from the accident
and hasn't woken up yet."
"Yeah, that works." Luke's focus is the ambulance in
front of them. No lights no sirens. Just minding the speed limit
on the way to the hospital. "I'll pick Lulu up after we get
your mom settled."
Lucky starts to say something and then decides to wait.
Jerry pulls open the doors to L&B records. "Hey V. Is
Alexis in?"
V's eyes go wide. "Um yeah, but, have you talked to Jax? You
really need to talk to Jax."
Jerry grins. "Did he finally get smart and pop the question?"
"Depends on how you define question." V gets on the
phone. "Alexis, I'm going over to Kelly's you want anything?...
Right. I'm forwarding the phones to the machine."
"I'll just go on up." Jerry starts heading to the
stairs.
"Oh no, you don't." V grabs him by the arm. "We're
going to lunch. And you're going to turn your cell phone back on
so Jax can get hold of you."
"What has Golden Boy done now?" Jerry says with some
disgust but he goes along with V opening the door so she can go
first. They start walking in the direction of Kelly's.
"Had me talk to Alexis about Maddy. That's why I had to stop
you. Jere, Alexis is a the Cassadine lawyer first. She is
sympathetic sure but she feels that Stefan and Nikolas have made
Maddy Cassadine Business. She'll turn down any business
that she feels is in conflict with that. And report that you're
looking at attorneys back to the Cassadines, to Maddy."
"**** me." Jerry mutters. "Nice save. I guess I am
buying you lunch after all. So any suggestions? Dara is out too.
I don't want her in the middle... her relationship with Maddy is
rocky enough as is."
"Baldwin. Lee Baldwin. He's good and most people don't get
the urge to kill him like they do Scotty." V bites her lip.
"But you'd better warn Lee that he'll be going up against
Alexis."
"There will be nothing for her to go up against. I just need
for him to write a done deal."
V shakes her head. "You don't know what..."
"I know exactly what Alexis is like. She is my attorney
remember? I watched her beat up the feds."
Reginald picks up the phone. "Quartermaine's."
"Reggie? Put Em on the phone." There is a
click of a phone picking up. " Em?"
"I'm here. What's up, Carly?" Emily asks. She looks
across the room to Maddy who is at the table having lunch after
the days instruction.
"I want to know how bad this situation is in China.
Jason is going to go; I just know it. I tried to talk him out of
it but you know how he is. He thinks I'm just being hysterical.
He's going to use some junket thing that ELQ is doing as a cover."
"But Carly, China! Jason can't really think..." Em
protests. Maddy goes over to the extension and picks up the phone
in time to hear Carly's answer.
"He knows there are millions of people in Shanghai and
he thinks he's just gonna go over and get this missionary's
family and bring them out. Like some kind of John Wayne or
something."
"Can he do it?" Maddy asks curiously.
"Who the hell knows! He says he has a contact person
already lined up. Somebody that the priest over at Queen of
Angels gave him. How much trouble would I get in for killing a
priest?"
"Lots." Em and Maddy both answer quickly.
"It was a rhetorical question."
"When is this all going down?" Maddy asks.
"Well I got ticked and left before I got all the details.
Why?"
"Cause I might be able to get him some more contacts. I know
the family here in Port Charles. I might be able to come up with
some friends or family in country. Course the cops over there
probably have the same info."
"Well if we can't talk him out it... we have to make
sure it's as safe as possible. Em, don't mention this to Lila yet
not until I try one more time."
"Okay Carly, thanks for the 411." Em and Maddy hang up
the phones.
"Your brother would do that? Just drop everything and go off
to China for somebody he doesn't even know?" Maddy wonders.
"Jason doesn't think the way everyone else does." Em
says carefully. "He and Sonny give a lot of money to the
church.... a lot. They had a new boiler put in the school over
the summer and now I hear they are going to be working on
upgrading the gym. Jason... I don't know what he's thinking. It
could be that he feels responsible for Harry Chow because Jason
and Sonny basically pay his salary. I expected Jason to do something
but I didn't expect this."
Maddy's cell phone rings. "Yeah... Okay Candy, I'm on my way."
Maddy hangs up. "Nik and Lucky's mother just arrived at
General hospital."
"Let's go." Em grabs her coat and tosses Maddy hers.
"Let's take the van. We can stop by the house and pick up
Granny Lesley. Maybe even stop at the school too and pick up Lu
if Lesley says it's alright."
KC and Amy assist in the transfer of Laura from the ambulance
gurney to her room in General Hospital. Amy brushes her sister's
hair back. Denise is right there as the official on site nurse.
KC starts making her initial assessment of Laura's current
condition. She talks to Laura while she is doing her simple
reactive tests. She verifies the information she can without
ordering further tests and checks to make sure that all the
surgical sites are undamaged by the transfer.
Luke is right there. "Who are you and what are you doing to
my wife?"
"Mr Spencer." KC walks over to Luke who is standing in
the doorway. "I'm Dr. Ryan; I was called in to consult. I've
talked to your sister-in-law..." KC refers to Amy. "I
was hoping to get to talk to you too. You've been spending the
most time with Mrs Spencer. You can give the best assessment of
her current state of recovery."
"Then what do I need you for?"
"Dad." Lucky protests. He is slightly taken aback by
the surgeon's youthful appearance. He'd actually been expecting
someone who looked like Uncle Tony.
"You need me for ordering further tests and to discover if
something more than patience is needed." KC says calmly. The
patient's family were often the toughest part of the job.
Emotions normally ran high as well as tempers.
"Luke, she is from John Hopkins. That's one of the best
hospitals in the country." Amy reminds Luke.
Nikolas arrives at the room. His attention is drawn first to his
mother. Like a cursed fairy tale princess. He doesn't look away
as he tells the people in the room. "I called Maddy she is
going to pick Grandmother up on the way to the hospital. They
should be here anytime." Finally Nik looks to Dr Ryan.
"Is there anything you need?"
"Some place to talk to Mr Spencer."
"The roof. Lets go." Luke demands. Lucky shrugs out of
his coat and offers it to KC. Luke escorts her to the elevator
and then pushes the roof. As soon as he gets up there he lights
up a cigar. "Can't smoke these damn things in the hospital
and they got ticked when I dismantled the smoke detector."
"Yes, I see where that could be a problem." KC says
wryly. She sniffs the air.
"You want one?"
"No thanks. It just made me homesick for a minute. A friend
of mine's Great Aunt Arminda used to smoke a cigar now and then.
But it was when she was working with bees." KC zips up
Lucky's jacket and stuffs her hands in the pocket. "It
relaxes them."
"It relaxes me." Luke admits.
"You've been under a lot of stress for the last week.
Strange city, strange place with an injured family member. Your
wife has been under the same stresses. Things will be easier now."
"You know why you're here right? Cause Tony Jones can't do
surgery if it becomes necessary."
"Yes. I know." KC nods. "But there a lot of things
we can do before surgery becomes an option. It may never be an
option. I want you to know that up front."
"Shoot straight with me and we'll get on fine." Luke
drops his cigar and grinds it to nothing under the heel of his
boot. He goes over to the door and holds it open for KC. They
make the trip back to the neuro floor in silence. Once they step
off the elevator Luke sees the gathering outside of Laura's room.
Lesley had arrived with Lu, Maddy and Emily.
"Daddy!" Lulu goes running at Luke who sweeps her up in
his arms.
"Who is this?" Luke teases as he plays with one of
Lulu's beaded braids. "Cause I know she's a perfect ten."
He nuzzles Lulu's neck his three day beard tickling her neck and
causing her to break out in giggles.
"You're silly." Lulu gasps. "Grandma picked me up
at school. She says mama is here. Can I see her?"
"Well Doc?"
"Sure."
"You're a doctor?" Lulu asks curiously stringing her
arm around Luke's neck. She might be too big to be carried but
Daddy liked to do it. "Like Grandma?"
"Yes." KC agrees. The family is all outside of the room
and make room for Luke and Lulu to come through. Luke sets Lulu
on the floor next to Laura's bed and stands behind her his hands
on her shoulders.
"Hey Mama." Lulu calls. "Wake up!" As if by a
miracle Laura's eyes open. "Daddy, Mama's awake!" KC
moves over to the bed and pulls out a penlight. She glances in
both of Laura's eyes and then moves the pen from side to side.
"She's not really awake, Pumpkin." Luke tries to tell
Lu.
"But her eyes..." Lu protests.
KC comes around to Lu. She points to a chair by the bed. Lulu
climbs up on it. KC squats down in front of her. "Lets do an
experiment." She covers both of Lu's eyes with one of her
hands. "Can you see anything?"
"No."
"Are your eyes open?"
"Yes."
KC takes her hand away. "Same thing..." She glances
over to Luke who mouths Lulu. "...Lulu. Your mama's eyes
aren't asleep. Her brain is. And I'm going to need your help."
"What can I do?" Lulu says in a whisper.
"It's hard to tell when a brain is waking up. But that is
what we want to happen. That means we don't whisper around your
mother. We want her brain to hear you. Maybe when her eyes are
open her brain is starting to wake up... so she needs to see
colorful pictures... things that make her want to wake up. Maybe
she has something she loves the smell of... something that would
wake her up."
"Like coffee? Daddy can't wake up without coffee."
"Exactly. What is her favorite flower?"
"She likes Daisies."
"Then we need Daisies and since it's the wrong time of year
I need a huge picture of daisies with lots of
colors. And you know where I'd put it?"
"Where?"
"Right on the ceiling. So it's the first thing she sees when
her brain starts waking up. Can you get me a picture?"
"I'll make one tonight." Lulu vows. "Elizabeth
will help me. She's an artist."
"I'm going to need lots of pictures. We're going to have to
change them alot so your mama doesn't get used to them."
"Lu, why don't you go see if your Grandma needs a pepsi. She
doesn't have one in her hand." Luke suggests. As soon as Lu
clears the room. "What the hell are you doing, Lady?"
Luke says suspiciously.
"Sensory Stimulation." KC rises to her feet. "It
can't hurt and it frequently helps. You need to do it too. Is
there some kind of music your wife likes? I'm not talking snoozer
tunes... something that will draw a response from her."
"Lady, do you know who you are talking to? I can have the
tape for you by tomorrow."
"Great." KC walks over to the bed. "Mrs Spencer,
rest up from your trip. Tomorrow morning we start the tests.
Bright and early."