Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Two:
Landings

Lucky tightens the strap on his watch around his wrist, but doesn't bother to check the time. The sun is starting to set. Wind is picking up, too. At this height, near this much water, it's to be expected. The oppressive heat is evaporating… In fact, he's feeling cold.

He turns and glances out at the Aegean. The light form the sun is reflecting on the water and the image is immediately familiar. It takes him a moment to connect it to Hannah's picture. Once he does, he turns the rest of the way and lets himself watch for a minute. When did life get this fast? He'd never considered speed to be a problem before. But his brain would not grasp things the way he wanted it to. Just tired, he thinks, listlessly. Just bordering a little too much on human…

He'd heard the helicopter before it had landed and known that Nikolas had kept his word. With requisite spectacle… Cassadines really weren't as quite and reserved as they appeared to be… If you listened the right way, they were downright loud. They just didn't seem to hear themselves.

Emily had been gathered up and laid out in the back, and they had taken off and brought her here. Three rather burly and impressively large security men… nothing like the guys at Spoon Island… and with Nikolas they had taken her downstairs while the man flying the helicopter had taken off again to retrieve a doctor. Lucky hadn't followed. He's not sure if Nikolas noticed that.

Lucky exhales and turns away from the sunset, walking away from the lip of the roof. It's high up… This part of the roof look right out over cliffs and the fall would be spectacular. Lucky has always been just a little unnerved by heights. Not so much a fear as a… Fascination. One he doesn't feel like he has a lot of control over. He's never been able to pinpoint exactly why, but whenever he's some place like this… Just a misstep from death… he feels an overwhelming urge to take that plunge. He can see it… The fall, the crash, the way the waves would pull anything that fell to them into their grasp and carry it off forever.

It's not suicidal… It's just a temptation he's always had… Take that leap… Like it's the one thing he has to prove he's not afraid of. The ultimate dare he has to keep turning away from.

Lucky moves his eyes, carefully, away from the crashing waves against the cliff, and looks out at the sea. Aegean. Named for Aegis, Theseus's Father… Who threw himself into the sea because he saw the ship that took his son to be sacrificed to the Minotaur return with black sails… a sign that his son had perished. In fact, he had slain the beast and was perfectly fine. Just forgot to change the sails.

Oops.

Lucky shakes his head and turns away from the view entirely. He takes a few shallow breaths and frowns. He feels… Wrong. Like… Something is missing. And it's not Emily, or his father or… Anything he thinks he's ever experienced before. Something that should be here isn't. And it's throwing him off. He shakes his head and turns towards the door leading down from the landing pad and into the house.

Just walk through the door, Lucky. It's just a door, just go over there and walk inside.

He doesn't move.

Instead he lets his eyes move from the roof, over the edge, and to the land behind the house. The hills… Steep and rocky, with scattering of bushes on sparse grasses. They move steadily up from the compound, reaching to the sky and obscuring any view of the water from where Lucky is standing. It doesn't look like an island. It's more comforting to look this way… It doesn't make him feel so trapped.

Nikolas comes through the door and onto the roof. He stops, catching sight of his brother at the roof's edge. He is about to open his mouth to ask him if he got lost, when the realization comes over him that "lost" is exactly how Lucky looks right now. Nikolas feels a sudden chill and moves onto the roof, allowing the door to swing shut behind him. He moves slowly towards Lucky, like he would approach a wild dog… cautiously and prepared to bail out at any second.

Nik: Lucky. (At his voice, Lucky turns his head in his direction. They lock eyes, and Lucky becomes suddenly aware of just what that missing piece is. He opens his mouth to speak, then turns away quickly, digging his hands into his pockets. His heart is pounding, suddenly and without warning, and his mouth has gone dry. This is what was wrong. This was why… He can't remember a time when he hasn't looked at Nikolas and had something… some way… to keep him away. He's always been able to bring up his defense of choice. Push him back with anger, sarcasm of indifference. It always worked… Nikolas was an easy mark most of the time. And he would be now. It's in his stance. He's being tentative, keeping his distance. But for some reason, Lucky feels like the well has run dry. He doesn't have anything to strike out with. He feels like his safety net has just failed at 350 feet and left him on a thin line with no direction to go but straight ahead. He closes his eyes, swearing under his breath. What is happening to him? He hears Nikolas take another step towards him. Oh, God…) Emily is in one of the bedrooms in the east wing. You can… (He stops and clears his throat) Do you want to sit with her? (Lucky shakes his head, turning away)

Lucky: I'll go down in a minute. (Lucky looks up, something occurring to him) Is someone with her?

Nik: (nodding) Her name is Mariah. Josef's sister.

Lucky: (after a moment) Josef…

Nik: He's here. He… He went to get the doctor.

Lucky: The guy in the helicopter.

Nik: Yes. (Lucky nods, absorbing this. He still doesn't quite look at Nikolas)

Lucky: Ok. (He exhales) So I guess that marks our first break.

Nik: (smiling slightly) Provided he doesn't burst into flame. (Lucky turns away quickly and paces along the edge of the roof, looking down at the rocks below.) That wasn't meant to be entirely serious. (No response. Oh, great, Nikolas thinks. This game is still in play) Lucky, come inside. (Lucky continues to stare down at the ground) Lucky.

Lucky: I said I would in a minute. (There is only a small trace of anger in his voice. Mostly it seems… Melancholy. Heavy. Nikolas decides to forgo the usual strategy, and moves across the roof, coming up behind Lucky.)

Nik: (carefully) Are you ok? (Lucky shrugs)

Lucky: I'm fine.

Nik: Lucky. No one here is fine. I can't remember the last time any of us could have said that and really meant it.

Lucky: It's all relative.

Nik: Even so…

Lucky: (turning to him) Where is this doctor?

Nik: Rhesus. They should be here any moment.

Lucky: Yeah, well. What's five more minutes at this point.

Nik: She really is…

Lucky: Don't. Just… Don't tell me she's going to be ok. (He stares down at the roof) I shouldn't have let her come.

Nik: We needed her.

Lucky: that's not a good enough reason.

Nik: Do you honestly think there was some way to leave her behind? Do you think that would have been better? Lucky… you took her out of Port Charles for a reason, remember? (Lucky's face clouds. God, on some level he'd forgotten that.)

Lucky: Nikolas?

Nik: Yeah?

Lucky: Do… Do you remember us talking about things like… Plans? Rules… and… All that stuff?

Nik: Vaguely. (Lucky gives a slight laugh)

Lucky: This wasn't supposed to be about us.

Nik: It's not.

Lucky: Yeah… (He looks back at him) Then… What was all that stuff you said back on the path? (Nikolas lets out his breath slowly)

Nik: That… That was about us. (His eyes darken) Crossed a big line, didn't I?

Lucky: If there is a blueprint to… 'us'… I think you just ripped it in half.

Nik: Maybe… That's not such a bad idea.

Lucky: I… (Lucky shakes his head hard) I don't know what you're expecting from me, Nik. I mean… God. It's not like we're in the real world right now. Alice probably said some pretty weird things when she hit the bottom of the rabbit hole, you know?

Nik: (slowly) You're saying…

Lucky: I know… (He takes a deep breath) Look. Maybe I've never really said this out loud to you, but I know you know it. (He looks up at Nikolas who is tensing visibly, trying not to anticipate what might come out of Lucky's mouth) Emily is about all I have left right now. (Nikolas blinks. After a moment, he takes a step back from Lucky)

Nik: (distantly) I know that.

Lucky: Yeah, and you probably thought I was going… (Lucky feels his tongue begin to trip over his words. He can't believe this stuff is even coming out of his mouth) In the parking lot? I had a concussion, ok? I did some stuff I probably wouldn't have, normally. And today… I knew, when she… When I saw how out of it she was on the hill? I knew we had to rely on you. And I didn't want to do it… but you did come through. So thanks. For that.

Nik: (after a moment) No qualifiers this time.

Lucky: Nope. (Nikolas breathes this in. Well. That's Something… It's something, but somehow not what Nikolas was… What? Waiting for? Hoping for? Oh God, Nikolas, you did it again. You thought… Something. You thought he'd come around. You thought what you said to him might mean something.) But the rest of it… (Nikolas looks away. Enough of this)

Nik: We don't have to get into that.

Lucky: Ok. (That hits Nikolas a bit harder than he'd thought it would. HE looks back at Lucky, feeling himself begin to get angry)

Nik: I'll try to keep the soul baring to a minimum.

Lucky: (heavily) What do you want me to say, Nikolas? "Oh, alright". Or "Hey, man… That's ok!" I can't… I can't do that. (Nikolas laughs bitterly.)

Nik: No. Of course not. Why would you? Like you said… I set the tone! What do you have to feel bad about? I mean… you weren't nuts about the idea of contributing to my near-death experience on the stairs. So I guess that's something. But the rest of it… Uh… What? (Nikolas frowns, in mock confusion) Oh, right. The whole letting me believe that my mother… someone who was kept away from me, someone who I only just found out didn't WANT to be kept away… was DEAD. (Nikolas steps back and shakes his head) I hated you when I met you, but that was without reason. After That… After you told me that my mother was dead while KNOWING that she was alive… I had every reason on earth.

Lucky: So much for forgiveness.

Nik: I DO forgive you! That's the stupid part! I don't UNDERSTAND it, but I can't… I can't be mad at you anymore! I don't feel it… I used to, it used to burn through me and this just doesn't. I would LOVE to hate you again. It was so simple! It didn't HURT to hate you!

Lucky: (tightly, as controlled as he can managed) I don't deal in forgiveness. There is no point in it. People do things and if you don't learn from them… if you don't decide to trust or not to trust, then you're stupid. It's that simple. And when I was growing up stupid equaled dead. Do you get that? No. Why would you?

Nik: I have done everything in my power to try to undo…

Lucky: You can't undo things! You can't.

Nik: Then what? What? Come on. Are you telling me that what I did when I was sixteen… and bitter, and angry and alone… something you can't pretend to me you don't understand. I've seen you, Lucky. I've seen just how bitter and vicious you can get. And it's not pretty, but I can't hold it against you because I've been there. And I admit, it took me a long, LONG time to get over the conceit that I was the only person in this scenario who had the right to feel that way. But I DID. I changed, and I tried and I did what I could… I'm STILL doing what I can… to fix the mistakes I made and it doesn't mean a damn thing to you, does it?

Lucky: I never said that.

Nik: What?

Lucky: You REALLY have to stop acting like you understand what I'm thinking. So far, I can't think of one time you've been even CLOSE to the mark.

Nik: Then tell me, Lucky! Give me a clue.

Lucky: Maybe I don't KNOW. Did you think of that? CHRIST, Nikolas! Look at this! Look at this place! I'm standing here and I'm trying to find a way to walk through that door into a house where my mother was TAKEN, where she lived with a man she hated and where she… Where… (Lucky turns away, tears springing to his eyes without warning. Nikolas looks at him, shocked by the sudden emotion) Sometimes I look at her… When I can? When… (Lucky's voice starts to quake) When it doesn't make me angry, or… Make it impossible to breath. And think… Something is broken in her. Because… she's… (tears start to roll down his face and Lucky wipes at them impatiently) I used to know her so well. And her heart was too good for some of the stuff… All this… (his voice cracks. More tears start to fall and he ignores them this time) In her heart she can't REALLY be who… She couldn't be that way. The way all of this makes her look? (He looks at Nikolas, unsteadily) That's not the real her. It can't be. Not Unless… (He turns away from him, staring at the door) Whatever broke in her, broke here. But I'm standing here anyway, so don't try to tell me I'm not reevaluating some of my convictions, ok? (Lucky's expression darkens, into determination, and he walks passed Nikolas like he doesn't even see him, and moves towards the door. Nikolas, not sure of his ability to walk at this moment, turns and watches Lucky pull open the door and enter the House of Cassadine.)

Cab, turning onto Pendleton Mews

Luke Spencer stares out the rain streaked window at the high-class town houses as they pass, looking for some sign of familiarity. Something that will suggest he should be here. He sees nothing, feeling like the street is just as dead as the look in his eyes. The car nearly passes the house where his mother in law lives before Luke recognizes it.

Luke: Whoa, ye doggies… (Alexis looks up) This is it. (The cabbie slows) Yeah, fine. Just stop. (the car stops, Luke glances at Alexis) You gonna pay the man? (Alexis glares at him, then opens her purse, hands the man a few pound notes, and looks over at Luke)

Alexis: Don't think I don't know you just do this to annoy me.

Luke: (exhaling) You just glare so pretty. (He opens the door) Coming, counselor? (Alexis pulls open her own door and exits the cab. She closes the door, and watches Luke as the cab pulls away from them, continuing down the street. Strange. He's dialogue is as affected as always, but there is another overwhelming sense of fatigue weighing on him. She recognizes it as the same stuff that's working on her right now.)

Alexis: (walking towards him) If I hadn't seen you on the plane I'd think you hadn't slept in days.

Luke: Didn't sleep a wink.

Alexis: I had my suspicions. You strike me as a snorer. (Luke continues to gaze up at the house)

Luke: Why counselor… I didn't know you'd thought of such things.

Alexis: I just can't imagine you'd be any less annoying unconscious. (Luke smirks slightly, then turns to face her)

Luke: Five men. At least. Jason does pay his debts.

Alexis: I'm relieved.

Luke: You don't gotta stick around for this.

Alexis: Where else am I going to go? Besides I have to call in with my operatives…

Luke: Operatives. You ever think of joining the WSB?

Alexis: Too pedestrian. I'll wait here. (she pulls out her phone) Go do what you have to. (Luke nods, and turns away from her. One thing he has to admit about this woman. She can be much easier to deal with than advertising suggests. He walks up the walk, to the door. He pauses outside a moment, ghosts coming up to taunt him a moment. He pushes them down and raps on the door sharply. After a few minutes, he hears a sound, the curtains being pulls back a little on the window, and inwardly curses Lesley's lack of street smarts. God, he got here in just the nick of time.)

Luke: Lesley, it's me. Open up. (Lesley pulls open the door, wearing an expression that almost masks her wariness of him. The tightness of her mouth gives her away, however)

Lesley: Luke. I… (she shakes her head, resigned) I didn't expect to see you.

Luke: I'm here for my daughter.

A Hallway, in the east wing.

Lucky sits in a chair pressed up against the wall, leaning forward, his elbows rested on his knees, staring into the swirls in the carpet that runs over the polished hardwood that runs the hallway. He's very aware of his surrounding, no matter how hard he tries to lose himself in carpet-study. He can hear Nikolas breathing, he can hear wind outside… faint… and even the sound of the waves. But he can't hear a damn thing that might be going on inside the room across from him. And that is all he can think about now. It's the only place that feels safe. Just concentrate on Emily and let everything else fade into obscurity… He hears Nikolas clear his throat.

Nik: Are you hungry? (Lucky shakes his head) Me neither. Which defies all logic, I know. (Nikolas exhales. He could not feel more discombobulated if he tried. Here he was, in the one place where he's always known exactly how to act, what to do, what was expected… And he looks at Lucky and feels absolutely lost. Hopeless. Pointless. Like he'll never be enough… He'll never really have a grip. It's disturbing. A part of him really wants Lucky to just… Go to bed, or something, so that he can re-assimilate in peace. Ridiculous thoughts… All that should matter right now is Emily. But Lucky had said, when they'd returned, that she had waken up. And that was, he remember the doctor saying back in General Hospital, weeks and weeks ago "as good a sign as we can hope for". Besides, in the realm of possibilities, he won't accept anything but good for Emily. Nothing else is acceptable. Which brings him back to the bizarre experience of standing in this hallway, a prince in his castle, feeling like the most powerless being on earth.

The door opens, without any warning, and Dr. Lyserius, an aging family physician, exits, looking exceedingly tired. Lucky snaps to attention and stands up. Nikolas steps towards him immediately.

Nik: Is she alright? (Lyserius gives a wane smile.)

Dr: She's fine. She's going to be fine. (Nikolas glances over at Lucky. Lucky looks at the doctor, highly suspicious, his eyes dark)

Lucky: What's wrong with her?

Dr: Heat stroke. (Nikolas nods, not surprised. Lucky still stares at the doctor, who looks back at the boy, and narrows his eyes) Have you been taken care of? (Lucky looks surprised at the question, and Nikolas glances over at him, realizing for the first time that Lucky's physical appearance… something he's become accustomed to… is not one of someone in great health. He's pale, his eyes have been bordering on bloodshot since the Tea Room, and he's… Yes, now that he looks, he's definitely lost weight. God… How could that have looked normal to him?)

Lucky: I'm fine. (Nikolas shakes his head at the doctor, obviously telling him not to push.) Tell me about her. (The doctor sighs. It's been a long day, and this is not a case without questions. However. He'd been informed in a manner that bordered on threatening by the man who flew him here that he should not ask nor tell in this situation. He looks up at Nikolas, finding that much easier to do when looking at the prince rather than this… uh… Other young man).

Dr: It's very simple. She took a drug. A pharmaceutical… pain killer.

Lucky: Right. She was in pain. (the doctor casts his eyes in Lucky's direction)

Dr: Yes… This particular drug has the effect of impeding the patient's ability to deal with any form of extreme heat. In her already weakened condition, she was not able to expel the heat from her body, so instead, she accumulated it. Which is why she collapsed.

Lucky: And the seizure? That was all because of the heat?

Dr: Entirely.

Lucky: But she has a head injury. She was hit by a car…

Dr: Which did her no favors. But I assure you. That had nothing to do with her current condition, other than the fact that it was her reason for being on this medication, yes?

Lucky: (after a moment) For her ribs. They're broken. I mean, cracked.

Dr: It was a contributing factor. But she has heat stroke. She vomited, you said… after he regained consciousness. (Lucky nods) Nausea, high fever, seizures… All the product of heat stroke. She has no neurological disorder.

Lucky: Are. You. Sure.

Dr: Positive. (He looks at Nikolas, who is standing perfectly still behind his brother, and speaks slowly, as if asking Nikolas silently, if he is doing the right thing) You may… See her… (Nikolas nods) Now. If you wish. (Lucky exhales, and stares at the floor for a moment. He then looks up)

Lucky: Is she…

Dr: She's sleeping. But someone should stay with her. Her fever is breaking, but she'll need care.

Lucky: I'll do it. I'll take care of her.

Nik: I'll have anything she might need brought to the room. (Lucky nods and passes the doctor, heading towards the door).

Lucky: (mumbling) Thank you. (He pulls the door open and goes into the room, closing it behind him. The doctor turns to Nikolas)

Dr: Are you certain he's alright?

Nik: No. But he will be. I'll see to it. (He crosses to him) Thank you for coming.

Dr: It was certainly a surprise. It's been so long since I've been called to the island. Not since before Madam Cassadine's recovery.

Nik: (after a moment) Yes. It's been awhile. (He narrows his eyes at the man) You understand the terms of your contract requires this goes no further. You're not to speak a word about any of this to anyone.

Dr: Yes, Mr. Cassadine. I understand you want this kept private.

Nik: Entirely. No one is to know of my brother's presence here. Or his wife's. I would explain, but… (he smiles slightly) Well. There really shouldn't be a need, now, should there?

Dr: It is a pleasure… (he smiles) To see you again, in your place. (He breathes a sigh that suggests he feels his world is beginning to right itself) Quite a pleasure. I look forward to being of service in the future.