Chapter One Hundred Nine:
Little Fingers

General Hospital, Nurse's station.

Amy flips through papers, a bored expression on her face. It's been a slow day, not much going on anywhere. She closes the file she just finished updating, and sighs heavily, just as Bobbie comes around the corner, eyes wide, a worried expression on her face. She runs up to Amy.

Bobbie: Amy! Have you seen Monica?

Amy: (without enthusiasm) Yeah, she's on an emergency consultation.

Bobbie: An emergency? What about Alan?

Amy: (shrugs) Haven't seen him.

Bobbie: Amy! Have you seen ANYONE go into Emily Quartermaine's room all morning?

Amy: Nope. (She narrows her eyes at Bobbie, realizing this might be interesting) Why?

Bobbie: (leaning against the counter) Oh, God.

Amy: What?

Bobbie: I think our precocious nephew might have done something really crazy.

Amy: Nikolas?

Bobbie: Of course not!

Amy: Because Nikolas was here to see her this morning.

Bobbie: I know, I saw him… (She shakes her head)

Amy: Bobbie! Will you just tell me what's wrong?

Bobbie: Amy, Emily is not in her room!

Amy: OH my GOD!

Bobbie: I have to find Monica!

Alan: (coming up behind her) Why's that? (Amy stares at Alan, her mouth open.) Good morning Amy. How's my beautiful daughter today?

Amy: Uh… Bobbie just checked on her. (Bobbie shoots Amy a nasty look)

Bobbie: Ummm… Alan. Look. Is there any chance anyone in your family would have taken Emily anywhere?

Alan: (paling) Taken her? Oh my God! She's not in her room?

Bobbie: (taking his arm) Now, wait a minute, maybe they needed to do more tests, or…

Alan: There were no tests! There were no more tests! She was just supposed to rest! (He turns on his heel, running off down the hall, Bobbie close behind him) Why don't you know that?

Amy: Alan! (Amy looks heavenward, then heads after them)

Bobbie: I'm just saying, before we panic, that there might be an explanation!

Alan: Was Lucky here? That's the explanation I need!

Bobbie: Alan, wait a minute! Lucky wouldn't risk Emily's health like that. And there's no way she could have… (She stops at the doorway. Alan is standing there, mouth open, staring at the empty bed).

Alan: My God…My God! She's not here!

Amy: (catching up) That's what Bobbie just told you!

Alan: (turning back to them) Where is she?

Bobbie: Alan, calm down.

Alan: Calm down? How calm would you be if your daughter disappeared into thin air the morning after being released from Intensive Care?

Bobbie: I understand, but…

Alan: When was the last time you checked on her?

Bobbie: I came in around ten, but…

Alan: But?

Bobbie: Her doctor was due to see her around eleven, if she wasn't here…

Alan: Dr. Jackson is in surgery! Who took over his rounds?

Bobbie: I… I'm not sure, I was called away from the floor, and…

Alan: This is CHAOS!

Amy: No, it's just General Hospital. (Alan and Bobbie both look at Amy. Suddenly Alan starts past her).

Bobbie: Alan! Where are you going?

Alan: To find my wife! (He turns on her, his voice turning into a low growl) And then I'm going to find Lucky Spencer.

Nikolas' Apartment Building.

Lucky walks out of the front door, and stops, taking in a lung full of air. He's feeling fatigued already, the beginnings of a headache forming. He sighs and leans against the building, pulling out his cell phone and dialing a number from memory.

Jason: Morgan.

Lucky: (heavily) Hey. Your doctor made it here.

Jason: Good.

Lucky: He's prescribed some stuff, but he's going to do it all in Nikolas' name, so the doorman's picking it up… (He stops, rubbing his eyes) Whatever. She'll get it, is the point.

Jason: Where are you?

Lucky: Outside. There's no one around.

Jason: Ok. The ID's are ready. I'll deliver them to you as soon as an opportunity presents itself.

Lucky: What does that mean?

Jason: Just keep me abreast of your movement. I don't want anyone else involved in this.

Lucky: Good idea. I'm leaving Emily with Renaldo for, like, half an hour while I go see Hannah… Emily wants to say good-bye.

Jason: You think that's a good idea?

Lucky: (tense) I think it's not going to hurt. I mean, it's not going to be too strange if she goes to Nikolas' Place… oh! And it was clean, by the way. No bugs anywhere.

Jason: Yeah, Johnny called and told me.

Lucky: Well, Nikolas had a point. He said Helena wouldn't bother bugging him because she could find out everything she needed to know from Hannah.

Jason: I don't really see what good all that stuff is going to do her.

Lucky: Helena's twisted. If she knows what's important to him, what he cares about, she'll try to use it to manipulate him. It's sick.

Jason: Sounds like the Quartermaines.

Lucky: Yeah, but Jason, they just want… (He stops, frowning) Actually, it does kinda sound like them. Just without the homicidal tendencies.

Jason: Is Cassadine giving you any problems today?

Lucky: No. Not so far. I mean… Look. Nikolas was around. He's ALWAYS around lately. Whether I want him to be or not.

Jason: I'm just not sure why you keep going to him for help when all you guys ever do is fight.

Lucky: I'm NOT going to him for help! He's… (He stops, shaking his head) Look. He has resources I can use. And he's got information I need. So the guy gets on my nerves. Do you like the people you work with?

Jason: No.

Lucky: (wryly) Of course, you probably have a better way of taking care of it. However, my mother gets really tense every time Nikolas and I get into it, and that's nothing compared to my sister, so basically, I'm stuck with him. (Jason nods slightly) Look. I know AJ drives you crazy…

Jason: AJ isn't my brother.

Lucky: Well, Nikolas isn't mine either. But see, Monica isn't your “mother” either. That simplifies things a little. (He shakes his head) Look. I just want this to get taken care of and get out of here. I'm sure Nik wants the same thing.

Jason: I still think Canada's your best choice.

Lucky: I know. It's just… It's too obvious.

Jason: (matter-of-factly) You've said that three times now.

Lucky: Well, if I was playing against my Dad, it would be so insultingly obvious for so many reasons… It would probably be a good move just because he wouldn't think I'd be that stupid.

Jason: (recounting the reasons for the millionth time) You said you need some place large, some place close, some place where Emily can get medical attention… either I send my doctor on the road WITH you…

Lucky: Yeah, yeah, or we go to the world of universal health care and rip off a foreign government.

Jason: It's not foreign, it's Canada…

Lucky: (heavily) Don't ever say that to a Canadian. They get sensitive about that.

Jason: I've given you eight separate reasons why Canada makes sense. And all you've told me in response for why it doesn't is that it's obvious and it breaks a “rule”.

Lucky: (mumbling) Always do the unexpected. AND it's way too close to upstate New York. (He shakes his head) No, you're right. I know you're right. All I really have to do is keep her hidden for… What? Three days? Then we can probably just… Go where the wind takes us.

Jason: Before you do that, we got some business to settle.

Lucky: Yeah, I know.

Jason: We'll talk then.

Lucky: Well, like you said… When the opportunity presents itself… I guess we can settle then.

Wyndemere, Living room.

Nikolas enters, and stops, taking in the room. So little has changed. It's so familiar. Katherine had added touches to this room… To all the rooms, when she'd moved into the main house. Once she was dead, Stefan had them all swept from the house. At the time, Nikolas has thought it was an act born of his deep grief at having lost his wife. Now that grief was something he couldn't trust. In fact, what was there that he could trust in Stefan? What was there that he was not capable of lying about? That he couldn't hide, if he wanted to badly enough?

Nikolas looks up at the sound of Stefan entering the room. He clearly sees him evaluate his mood, before pasting on a smile and coming down into the main living room to greet him.

Stefan: Nikolas. I didn't expect to see you today. (Nikolas lets that statement stand until the silence becomes uncomfortable. He looks away.)

Nik: I never know whether or not to believe you when you say that.

Stefan: (carefully) Why is that?

Nik: I know you don't like to be taken by surprise.

Stefan: I endeavor to avoid it, yes.

Nik: You think that might be a trait you'd pass on to your son... Your ability to always know what is going to happen before it does. (He looks at him) But then, that would put us on a somewhat more equal footing. I might actually rival you. We couldn't have that. (Stefan's expression darkens)

Stefan: You are aware of your mother's visit.

Nik: So you DID expect to see me today.

Stefan: I was uncertain. Perhaps you'd feel no desire to discuss your conversation with your mother with me.

Nik: Why wouldn't I? What do you think she told me?

Stefan: I presume she told you her version of the truth.

Nik: Version? (He shakes his head) She told me that she had always known that there was a possibility I was your son. That YOU knew this, and what's more gave her the confirmation that you WERE my father… And she told me… (He turns away)

Stefan: That she was going to tell Luke. (Nikolas laughs slightly... That was not the part of Laura's confession he was concerned with. Luke and his irrational anger could rot in hell. But that was, of course, where Stefan's concerns lay).

Nik: Yes.

Stefan: (bitterly) Once again, displaying her loyalty to that murderous outlaw…

Nik: (turning on him, in anger) You would say that! You would condemn her for her honesty! (Stefan is momentarily taken aback, but quickly rallies)

Stefan: Her honesty? Is that what you think this is about?

Nik: I know what this is about. It's not about truth. It's not about purging the soul, and it certainly isn't about me! It's about control. Yours, and Luke's… And hers.

Stefan: I can understand why this is upsetting to you…

Nik: (He turns to him) You know that story you always tell? About me and the stairs… That marble staircase… About my tenacity. My fearlessness as a child.

Stefan: (smiling) Traits I believe you hold to this day.

Nik: Well, I'd have to, wouldn't I? Where would I be without tenacity? I'd be a sheep. Your sheep… Or if you'd been unlucky, Helena's.

Stefan: Nikolas…

Nik: I've come for the truth this time, FATHER. And I intend to get it.

The Spencer House

Laura enters the house, feeling emotionally exhausted. She drops her purse onto the table and grips the back of a chair with her hands, bowing her head. One step closer. She promised Lucky she'd talk to him once more before she told Luke… and she hopes to hell it goes better… She keeps feeling as if she should ask him if he'd rather she put it off… But every time she does, she can't help but feel he'd just go off again. Doubt her sincerity. No. She told him it would end, and she told him she would be the one to do it. Worrying about this being too much for him to handle right now was pointless. It was painfully obvious that the secret was too much for him to handle already. This couldn't be worse.

The door to the kitchen opens and Luke appears. Laura looks up in surprise.

Luke: Hey, Darlin'. I wasn't expecting you back so soon.

Laura: I thought you were at the club!

Luke: I went to check if Lucky had turned up there. (Laura looks at him expectantly) He hasn't.

Laura: God…

Luke: I was going to check the hospital, but I figured he probably doesn't want me in his hair right now. But tonight…

Laura: (tense) Luke.

Luke: What?

Laura: (carefully) I think maybe what Lucky really needs right now is some time to himself.

Luke: He's had plenty of time to himself. He's barely been around this place since he moved out.

Laura: I just think we should be taking our cues from him.

Luke: What do you think I'm doing here? (Laura sighs heavily and turns away from him) No. If you think I'm messing up here, I think we should talk about it.

Laura: I don't think you're messing up.

Luke: (coming up behind her) Then what is this?

Laura: I just… You saw the look on his face last night. You saw how upset he was. I'm just so… I can't see him like that again. Not for anything.

Luke: (wrapping his arms around her waist) I'm not gonna let that happen.

Laura: Neither am I.

Luke: Then we're in agreement here, right?

Laura: (shakily) I guess we are.

Luke: Look, the kid's strong. He always has been. (Laura pulls away from him)

Laura: Luke… Don't you think we sometimes… Or I sometimes… I'm so used to Lucky being able to handle anything, that I just assume he will deal with whatever gets thrown at him. I don't even… Most of the time, I barely even looked to see how he was doing, because the answer was always the same. Fine. And if he wasn't, he sure let me know about it.

Luke: Yeah, I know what you mean. He never had a problem will telling it how he saw it.

Laura: (smiling slightly) No, he certainly didn't. (She shakes her head) But he hasn't done that with me… Well… For a long time… He hasn't been “fine”. He couldn't have been. But I thought he was. Maybe a little distant, but…

Luke: I know, Darlin', I know. I've been thinking the same thing.

Laura: I just… I lost him somewhere. And I kept thinking I know where, but then I realize I'm wrong. And now… I'm just not sure anymore. (She sighs and sits down on the couch) I guess I really lost him when he found out about Nikolas… (Luke sits down on the arm of the sofa, beside her) I never really got him back after that.

Luke: (concerned) Baby… He loves you, you gotta know that. (He reaches out and slides a comforting arm around her shoulder. She bolts from the couch, walking across the room).

Laura: Don't, Luke…

Luke: What?

Laura: I… You don't have to comfort me. Really. I'm just talking out loud. Trying to figure it out.

Luke: Hey, I understand that…

Laura: I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. (He hugs him fiercely. Luke grips her with equal intensity, his Spencer-sense going off like warning bells at a five-alarm fire. He strokes his wife's hair with one hand, staring at the floor intensely)

Luke: He's going to be all right, Baby. Once we know what's wrong, we can fix it. (Laura closes her eyes. There is no fix for this. And if there is, Lucky's certainly not going to allow her to administer it for him. She feels familiar tears come to her eyes, the guilt of allowing her husband to comfort her nearly choking her. She pulls back, and Luke notices the haunted look in her eyes). Laura? Baby, what is it? (Luke is interrupted by a violent pounding on the door. He looks over at it, frowning) Oh, goody. Visitors. (He leaves her side, heading for the door as the pounding continues) and they're enthusiastic, too. (He pulls the door open) Sorry, Amigo, there's no room at the inn… (He stops at the sight of a seething Alan, and a tight-lipped Monica. He looks over at Laura) Well, June. Looks like the Beaver's done it again.

Hannah's Apartment.

Hannah folds up the final letter, and stares at it. That's it. The last excuse. She places the letter on the top of the desk, and sits back. Her heart moves up into throat. So this is all it takes. She's not taking anything with her, just what she can fit in her purse. The rest she'll leave. She'll be back for it. And if worse comes to absolute worse, she'll leave it for Emily. She slipped the key to the apartment into Nikolas' jacket when she kissed him goodbye this morning, and she's assuming he hasn't found it yet. Not that it matters. She's certain Emily has been moved from the hospital by now, and Lucky no doubt knows how to proceed from there. She pushes back her chair and stands up.

This IS it. No reason to linger. The good-byes have been said, the details taken care of… Getting out of town was going to be messy business. But she had a plan on that as well. She was being followed, that was a given. So she had to go someplace crowded. Some place believable, some place Helena wouldn't suspect as being out of the ordinary. The only place that really fit that description was General Hospital. Once she was there, she could slip into an elevator alone, get off and any floor that struck her as appropriate, and then find an alternate way out. She'd done this sort of thing before. Escaped police raids in New York, or avoided debtors in any number of places she'd stayed. Helena Cassadine was going to be a little more difficult, but this was a big country. More importantly it was a crowded country, and she hadn't been seen outside this burg since the early nineties. There had to be some place, somewhere, where she could disappear for however long this was going to take. Helena had been “defeated” before, and without her, what was she going to do? Nikolas would be safe. And his uncle would no doubt take care of the woman. This might not even take that long. She lets out a long sigh, and rechecks the letters. One to Emily, one to Nikolas, both filled with things she couldn't explain today, but had to let them know. And not a single clue as to where she'd gone.

She swallows hard and steels herself. No more time for this. She picks up her purse and opens it, reassuring herself that she has everything she needs. Old habits had always died hard for her. Ever since New York, she's saved cash, made sure she had alternate identifies, on the chance life just got too stifling, too painful… And this time, to God Damned dangerous.

Well, what was a girl to do? She rechecks her money and birth certificate. Another American identity… This time IN America. What a novelty. She wasn't particularly fond of this name. Lucille. Whatever. She'd kinda liked Hannah. It had a ring to it, she supposed. Who knows… Maybe when this was all over she'd keep it. When this was all over, she'd have a choice.

She closes the purse, and smiles to herself. Ok. That's it. She picks up her coat and throws it on, taking her keys off the top of the desk out of habit more than anything else. She turns around and checks the apartment. Letters in plain sight, the living room in need of a quick straightening, dishes still in the sink… A nice touch, she thought. It really did look like she was coming back.

Hannah's thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door. She jumps, then looks at it like a deer caught in headlights. Oh, God. What if Nikolas had found the key? Or Lucky had gotten suspicious? She throws her purse across the room, and shrugs off her jacket, tossing it over the chair by the desk. She walks to the door, then stops, remembering the letters. She rushes back to the desk and quickly throws them into a drawer.

Hannah surveys the room, and satisfied, moves back to the door. She pulls it open and finds herself immediately in the grip of an intense stare, swallowed up almost immediately by an icy gaze that holds her. She tries to speak, but her throat is dry. She feels herself go cold, and takes a step back, her eyes still fixed on those of her visitor.

Hannah's eyes widen as she feels the bullet rip through the soft flesh of her abdomen.