Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Eight:
You Turn Your Back For One Second...

The Rental Car, Katija's Driveway, mid-afternoon.

Alexis runs across the lawn, the map over her head again, and slams out of the car. She sits down, takes a breath, and looks over at Luke, reclining in the driver's seat. She glares at him.

Alexis: Are you going to sit here all day?

Luke: I sure as hell ain't goin' in that ramshackle den of iniquity over there.

Alexis: Luke. You're casting aspersions.

Luke: (looking at her) Have you talked to my wife?

Alexis: Your wife isn't talking. She's pacing. She's glaring. She might just rip Stefan's eyes out if he doesn't stop blocking the door... (Alexis frowns) I think she's waiting for you.

Luke: (tired) Waiting for me to do what?

Alexis: There's a big caged animal vibe emanating from her right now. I asked her how she was, I swear to God, I heard her hiss at me. (Luke chuckles in spite of himself) Luke! She's... She's not making any sense!

Luke: Really? (He stretches) You'd almost convinced me she was coming to her senses.

Alexis: Do you know what she wants to do?

Luke: Yeah. Yeah, she told me.

Alexis: And?

Luke: Longer I sit here, the more sense it makes.

Alexis: Stefan says she wants to face Helena. Alone.

Luke: Yeah.

Alexis: How can that possibly make sense? (Luke says nothing) We can't stay stalled here --

Luke: I know that.

Alexis: They why are you sitting out here in the car like a teenager who didn't get the raise he wanted in his allowance? (Luke looks over at her)

Luke: First of all -- I never had an "allowance" in my life, sweetheart. Secondly -- I think better when Count Vlad isn't hovering over my shoulder. I need to be focused, not worrying about the angle of my fetching jugular. (Alexis groans)

Alexis: God, will you --

Luke: I'm going to the island.

Alexis: Just like that.

Luke: Yeah.

Alexis: and Laura?

Luke: Well. You seem to have a grip on the situation.

Alexis: hey! It is NOT my job to baby-sit your wife!

Luke: Then let your brother do it.

Alexis: WHAT is this? Didn't you just say you thought she should see Helena?

Luke: I said it made sense. I didn't say I was going to help her do it! What do you think I am? A lunatic?

Alexis: No comment.

Luke: (exasperated) Look. You were the one who insisted we come tell big brother the lay of the land - have you done that much?

Alexis: Yes!

Luke: And?

Alexis: And... (she makes a face) And Laura already insisted to him that Lucky and Nikolas met up after they left Port Charles. He seemed disturbed, anyway. I think he plans to head to the island as soon as Laura... Well. When that situation is resolved.

Luke: And you're looking at me to solve that little "situation" for you? Nice try, counselor.

Alexis: I know he's not going to let Laura go off on this... this...

Luke: What Laura does is none of his God damned business!

Alexis: She's Nikolas's mother.

Luke: She's MY wife!

Alexis: Then YOU do something about it! (Luke turns away, looking out the window)

Luke: (finally) What is this place?

Alexis: What?

Luke: (knocking his knuckle on the glass) This place -- That woman who lives here -- daughter of American Gothic -- who is she?

Alexis: Katija? She was one of Nikolas's nannies. She... Helena had her sent away, I don't know why.

Luke: ah ha.

Alexis: Ah ha? Luke, you start calling me Watson, I'm out of here.

Luke: You're sitting here with me in the driveway of my wife's alibi's house and you're asking ME to go put Laura on a leash for Steffie? Hey -- if he can't stand the heat, he should stay the hell out of my wife's kitchen.

Alexis: LUKE! Will you make up your mind? Are you --

Luke: I'm going.

Alexis: Right now?

Luke: To hell with them, to hell with all of this. We're going back to the airport, we're taking the dammed plane, and we're going to that island of yours and dragging anyone we find there back to Port Charles. I don't CARE what's going on in there, I'm not wasting anymore time. They want to come, they come. Otherwise, all of you just get the hell out of my way.

Alexis: May I remind you that the plane you're talking about is the Cassadine Company Jet?

Luke: You know what? I don't care. I've wasted enough time.

Alexis: I'm supposed to put you and Stefan on a private plane together?

Luke: I don't care what your brother does! I wasn't my idea to get him involved in the first place. (Alexis turns and looks away, her mouth tight. Luke exhales, forcing himself to relax minimally) Alexis. (Alexis pauses, then looks over at him guardedly)

Alexis: What did you just call me?

Luke: I need to find my son. The rest of this... It's just noise. I need my son. And I can't give him a chance to get lost again, or worse -- Understand?

Alexis: Better than you give me credit for.

Luke: So. We go in there in agreement? Everyone's going to the island.

Alexis: (heavily) Looks like that's the only way.

Cassadine Compound, Guest Quarters, late evening.

Emily is sitting cross-legged on the bed, brushing her hair. The door to the balcony is propped open and a strong wind is blowing through the room, moving curtains and the lace covers on the furniture. Water is running behind the closed bathroom door. She closes her eyes, feeling the wind on her face and smiles.

She might just be in a good mood. At the very least, she's not in a bad one. And given her situation, not bad was a phenomenal achievement. She can't even remember the last time she was this free of worry. Things are still tugging at the edge of her mind -- the knowledge of where she is, what they're doing there, for instance -- but it all feels mild in comparison to the simple fact that 1) her head wasn't swimming 2) every muscle in her body DIDN'T ache and 3) Lucky's mood had shifted from nihilistic to just irritated. What's more, she'd caught him smiling more than once that day and that alone was in danger of sending her into the stratosphere with joy.

Emily finds herself grinning as she combs over the afternoon's events. After her angst-filled night of worrying about Lucky and his intentions, she had slept like the dead and woke up feeling better than she had in months. It was the first day she was feeling sure enough on her feet that she could roam freely -- not that she'd gone far. She'd tracked Lucky down and found him, predictably, tying himself into knots over Nikolas. But for the first time in ages, he wasn't impossible to distract. And diner hadn't been nearly as painful as it had the night before. Nikolas was quiet, but there was nothing oppressive about the silence. It was eerily close to calm... That had surprised her. But overall, she couldn't complain. Things felt a little bit normal, she told herself. Normal wasn't so bad. It only felt weird because she'd been away from it for so long.

The bathroom door opens and Lucky emerges, his brow still furrowed as it had been when they'd come back to the room, and looking like something is very wrong with his world. Emily shakes her head and leans forward, dropping her head so that she can brush her hair up from the base of her neck. She feels the bed jostle as Lucky collapses onto it. She laughs and parts her hair so that she can see him. He casts his eyes in her direction and gives a long suffering sigh.

Lucky: Hi. (Emily makes a face at him, and pushes her hair back. She reaches out and smoothes her hand over his forehead)

Em: You're going to give yourself premature wrinkles.

Lucky: Uh huh. (Emily sighs and drops her hair brush on the bed, moving down to where Lucky is lying. She puts her hands to his temples and start to rub them in slow circles. Lucky groans, but smiles. Emily rolls her eyes)

Em: You are losing your touch.

Lucky: Huh?

Em: You're just not doing the tortured thing all that convincingly today. (Lucky tips her head up to look at her)

Lucky: Sorry.

Em: No, that's really Ok. (She leans over and kisses his forehead) I can live with that. (She slides her hands under his neck and starts to massage the tendons there. Lucky gives a sigh that borders on contentment and makes no move to stop Emily's ministrations.) So, Atlas. Are you going to tell me what part of the world you're struggling to hold up this time?

Lucky: (groaning) Guess...

Em: No thanks. Guessing what's going on in your head these days seems to be causing way more problems than it's solving. (Lucky exhales)

Lucky: Ok, Ok... Question. (Emily nods, looking at him expectantly) How did Nik seem to you? At dinner?

Em: (wincing) Truth?

Lucky: Yeah. (Lucky opens his eyes and looks up at her) Truth. (Emily stills her hands)

Em: Kinda... Strange? (She shakes her head hard, and speaks quickly, trying to dismiss the feeling she was getting during diner) But I was thinking, I've BARELY talked to him since we've been here. And my last conversation with him was really... Heavy, you know? He's avoided me a bit since then.

Lucky: (Shifting to see her better) What do you mean?

Em: He just... I told you about it -- on the path? He got upset and --

Lucky: Upset how? (Lucky rolls over, pulling himself into a sitting position. Emily sits back)

Em: Upset. Like... (She looks away) Ok, like he was going to cry. Or he was crying -- I don't know. It was getting dark. That's when he took off.

Lucky: Right. (He looks off into space, deep in thought)

Em: What it is?

Lucky: He's just... He's been weird today. He started off just like Nikolas, but then he just got strange and then... That thing with the boat --

Em: (exhaling) Oh thank GOD! The thing with the boat!

Lucky: You too?

Em: It just gave me the creeps. I think I'm really getting used to being alone. (Lucky shakes his head)

Lucky: It was weird. I just... I didn't like it.

Em: Yeah. You know what was strange? When I saw it, the first thing I thought was "Oh no." -- Like it was something really horrible. (Lucky nods in agreement)

Lucky: Yeah, I know what you mean. And Mediros -- that's driving me nuts, I know I heard that name before.

Em: Well. I mean... The thing is, if something was going on, he'd tell us. (She looks uncertain) Right?

Lucky: You're asking ME?

Em: (shaking her head hard) God, what am I saying? We KNOW Nikolas would tell us.

Lucky: No. No, you said the first thing you thought was that something was wrong. This place is totally deserted and then one day - bang - neighbor goes out for a pleasure cruise on a boat the size of New York State... And Nikolas doesn't blink.

Em: Nikolas knows this place better.

Lucky: Yeah.

Em: I... I understand why you're worried. I mean... I had the same --

Lucky: And he took off with Josef for the next HOUR after that. (there is more than a hint of childish annoyance in Lucky's voice. Emily stops and looks at him)

Em: Uh huh... Do you think that means something? (Lucky shoots her a look) You know, Josef isn't exactly the Antichrist, Lucky.

Lucky: (deadpan) I have seen no proof of that. (Emily laughs)

Em: I know you hate all this "Yes my Prince, No, my Prince" stuff --

Lucky: You say that like it's a bad thing.

Em: (warning) Lucky. (Lucky rolls his eyes and collapses onto his back.)

Lucky: Yeah, yeah. I know. Bad dog. (Emily laughs, that grin working it's way back onto her face and falls forward, supporting herself with her lower arms, and slides down the bed towards him)

Em: I was trying to make a point! (Emily's grin is infectious, and Lucky finds himself returning it)

Lucky: Yeah?

Em: Yeah. (Lucky looks at her expectantly. Emily blinks) Which... I've completely forgotten. (She puts her hand over his eyes) Stop looking at me. (Lucky can't help but find this amusing, and makes no move to pull her hand away. Emily furrows her brow) Oh yeah. (She pulls her hands away, and Lucky raises his eyebrows at her, smugly. She makes a face) Knock it off! I was trying to say -- Josef is from... Another planet. I mean, whatever planet you're from -- and I'm going to track that place down one day -- he's from the furthest star from that.

Lucky: People don't live on stars. (Emily settles down onto her stomach, supported by her elbows, and looks down at him).

Em: Lucky. He's not you. (Lucky's good mood falters. Several expressions flit across his face before he turns from her and stares up at the ceiling over his head. Emily lets one hand lightly brush his hair) Nikolas has been relying on you for a long time. Just because he doesn't need to do it here as much doesn't change what you did. (Lucky squeezes his eyes shut, and exhales an unsteady breath)

Lucky: (almost a warning) Em. (Emily leans down and kisses him, softly. It's a long, gentle kiss, catching Lucky off guard. He returns the kiss and raises his head to deepen it just as she pulls away. Lucky looks at her in confusion. Emily pushes his hair back from his face in a more solid gesture). I love you. I think the world needs more of you. But we're just making do with the one. (She kisses him again. Lucky closes his eyes and savors the feeling of her lips on his. His mind goes blank, all consideration of Nikolas fading from it temporarily.) Josef doesn't hold a candle.

Lucky: (exhaling) Who's Josef? (Emily stares at him a moment, then looks away, laughing)

Em: We're supposed to be talking. (Lucky blinks)

Lucky: Hey, I was talking. You're the one getting physical.

Em: (teasing) Excuse me. You were looking at me. (Lucky rolls over, sliding off the bed. Emily, deciding suddenly that she is in a vulnerable position, rolls the other way and lands on her feet on the other side of the bed. She looks across at Lucky warily) What are you doing?

Lucky: (innocently) Trying to save my virtue. What are you doing? Preparing for battle? (Emily looks heavenward)

Em: Exactly when did you invest in a sense of humor? (She looks back at him, smirking) I mean the kind that doesn't draw blood.

Lucky: Ouch. (Emily cocks her head to one side, and looks across at Lucky -- really looks at him. Something IS different. He might be angst-ridden, but it's a much more relaxed and composed variation on that theme. He's smiling -- she'd almost forgotten how much she loves his smile.... And his hair keeps falling in his eyes. She puts her hands on her hips)

Em: Tomorrow. I'm cutting your hair. (Lucky takes a step back, eyes popping in surprise)

Lucky: What?

Em: Just because we're waiting for the sky to come crashing down on our heads is no excuse to look like you got lost on your way to a Grateful Dead concert. (Lucky looks injured and runs his hand through his hair)

Lucky: Hey!

Em: I managed to get my hair cut in the middle of all this madness!

Lucky: Man. You must be bored here.

Em: You think with all their money, they'd invest in a deck of cards... (Lucky smirks at her)

Lucky: They wouldn't have to if they'd give us our damn bags back. (Emily frowns)

Em: Right! I forgot about that.

Lucky: I mentioned it to Nik today, we get them tomorrow. Or I'll raise hell. (Emily grins at him)

Em: Hey, any excuse. (her expression softens) You know... I meant what I said. Josef runs the island. I'm sure that's all he and Nikolas were talking about. (Lucky's expression clouds)

Lucky: Maybe.

Em: Ok, I admit -- we don't know. But... Lucky? (She moves forward, climbing back up onto the bed so that she is kneeling on the mattress. Lucky looks over and meets her eyes) It comes down to this -- either you trust him, or you don't. (Lucky closes his eyes and lets out a long breath. After a moment he looks back over at her)

Lucky: I don't know what's going on in his head. I really don't.

Em: I can't help you there. I just know... None of us are really being healthy right now, you know?

Lucky: I don't know what I think right now. (He shakes his head) I really don't know.

Em: Lucky? In my opinion... (She looks up at him tentatively) He's not going to do anything that'll hurt us. (Lucky looks over at her and feels her words hit the pit of his stomach hard. Us. He can't say that about Nikolas yet, not about him... But the idea of it being him and Emily, the whole picture shifts. He finds himself nodding)

Lucky: Yeah. Us. (He looks back at her and gives her a soft smile) You're my redemption, you know that? (Emily looks at him like he's crazy)

Em: Your WHAT? (Lucky moves over and gets back on the bed, mirroring her stance)

Lucky: My redemption. You're what convinces people I'm not totally beyond help.

Em: You don't need me for that. (Lucky nods, smiling at her, his eyes locking on hers)

Lucky: Yeah. It's just one of a million things. (Emily finds herself flushing under his stare)

Em: You make me better. (She swallows hard) You give me a reason to care about... Everything. (She moves across to him, taking his hand) You make everything make sense.

Lucky: I wouldn't... advertise... that... (Emily laughs)

Em: I mean it. I mean all of it. And I... (She looks away, feeling her throat close up. She clears it hard.) You're stronger than anyone I know. You make me want to find that kind of strength in me. (she looks back at him. Lucky is looking at her in complete shock)

Lucky: Em... (Emily shakes her head hard)

Em: I know you don't think that. I know you don't, but I do. I could never... (She shakes her head) I know how much you -- (She stops again, looking at him hopelessly) I just know. (Lucky reaches out, pulling her towards him and wrapping his arms around her. He holds her tightly for a long moment, leaning his head on her shoulder)

Lucky: You put up with me. I don't know what could take more strength than that. (Emily laughs in a short, sharp burst)

Em: You are so wrong about yourself. (She pulls back, framing his face in her hands) One day you're going to figure that out. (She leans in and kisses him, the same slow and gentle kiss she gave him when he was lying on his back. Lucky slides his hand into her hair and manipulates the kiss, his mouth moving provocatively with hers. He hears Emily give a sigh of contentment, then pulls away and starts to kiss her in a very deliberate, teasing way, pulling back every time she tries to deepen it herself. Finally, in frustration, Emily pulls back, takes his face in her hands again and holds his head firmly as she kisses him senseless. Before she really has time to think about it, Lucky has lowered her onto the mattress, and is beginning to work her nightgown up her thigh. She tries to pull him down on top of her. Even in his current state, she feels him resist. Emily pulls in a deep breath, but can't feel anything besides her blood racing through her veins and her heart hammering in her chest. She raises her lips to Lucky's ear, whispering to him)

Em: I don't hurt anymore. (Lucky shakes his head, dizzy)

Lucky: Where? (Emily sinks into the pillows and smiles at him, sliding both legs along the outside of his)

Em: Anywhere. (Lucky leans in and kisses her passionately. As they kiss, he lowers his weight carefully, then lets himself rest against her. Emily doesn't gasp, or stiffen in response. Rather, she cradles him between her thighs, lightly brushing them over his hips and coming to wrap them around his waist. Lucky groans in the kiss, feeling her arch against him. He's gone, he realizes. Completely. His arms move under her, gathering her against him and kissing her hungrily until finally pulling back and catching his breath, his eyes still closed, heart pounding)

Lucky: (brushing his lips against her) That doesn't hurt? (Emily pulls him down closer to her in response)

Em: (catching her breath) Nothing feels worse than you feel good. (That's all the encouragement that Lucky requires. He lets himself sink into her, his mouth devouring hers, hands sliding under that ridiculous night dress to find bare skin. Emily's hand reaches out blindly, with her last bit of awareness, extinguishes the light -- clear notice to the servants that they are not to be disturbed).

The Docks, Cassadine Island, South Side.

Nikolas descends the stairs to the dock where a small speed boat is already warmed up and waiting for him. He carries a small traveling bag in one hand. Aside from that, he looks like he's just on an evening stroll. The wind, stronger down on the water, grabs at his shirt. He stops and drops his bag, staring out into the dark at the end of the dock, then tips his head up and takes in the canopy of stars overhead. Josef descends the stairs behind him. He stands a respectful distance behind the Prince. He waits a few moments before speaking.

Josef: Any final orders? (Nikolas turns, looking up the cliff to the side of the house, still visible.)

Nik: Just make sure he doesn't leave. (With that, Nikolas turns, picks up his bag, and boards the skiff. The motor is gunned and the boat pulls away from the dock and shoots off into the night.)