Chapter Two Hundred Twelve:
Lost and Found

Lucky remembers what the pain had felt like in the flash of the gun's bullet exploding from it's chamber. In the fire of the blast, seen even behind closed eyes, it all comes back to him. Nothing else could trigger it -- he knew that being shot had hurt, he knew it had been bad, but what do you do with the memory of intense pain? How can in serve you when you're ten years old and just starting your life? It doesn't. So you put it aside. You forget.

Until you're staring down the barrel of another gun and the trigger gets sprung. And suddenly you feel your body burn, and you remember the feeling of hot metal tearing through your insides for that instant... that one instant where you were totally aware of yourself and your body, before pain and shock picked you up and carried you away. And at the sound it comes back to him, and Lucky feels sharp pain burn through him -- sharp and hot and all over, as the force of the bullet pitches his body back, and he stumbles. His eyes fly open and meet Nikolas's. He stares at him, eyes wide, lips parted slightly in shock, then looks down, pulling a hand that had moved automatically up to cover the place on his stomach where his old gun shot scar is. He looks down at his hand, then his chest.

No blood.

Then he feels it. His shoulder. He turns and comes face to face with Helena's wide staring eyes. Her hand is still on his shoulder, her nails digging into the soft flesh just above his shoulder blade. Lucky's hand flies up and grabs her wrist, pulling himself free as he realizes what is happening here. What the look on Helena's face means. He drops her wrist, stepping back from her, his back to Nikolas. She stares at him, opening her mouth.

And there is the blood. Pouring. The bullet didn't hit him, the force he felt was her grabbing her as the bullet cut her through the neck. Lucky turns away, the image burning his eyes, just as she crumbles to the floor. He turns straight into his brother's gaze. And Nikolas is there. Behind the glassy brown eyes that looked like mud puddles for death to play in, is his brother, and Lucky realizes, fully and completely, that he's still in the game. He's not going to die. Helena is.

Lucky: (breathless) Nik.

Nik: I... (He stops, but his mouth keeps working. Trying to say something. Nikolas breaks eye contact with Lucky and looks down at his hands. The gun. Lucky follows his gaze, and sees that Nikolas's previously steady hand is shaking with a violence he's never seen before. Nikolas looks back at him, eyes wide, as if looking for an explanation. His thought process is interrupted by a sound behind then. The sound of someone fighting for breath. Lucky's heard it before, and he can tell Nikolas recognizes something in it too, as he watches the blood drain from his brother's face. Nikolas turns his head towards Helena.)

Lucky: NO! (Lucky rushes forward, grabbing Nikolas's shaking hand) No -- Nik -- (Lucky's other hand comes up and grabs Nikolas's chin, forcing him to look back at him. Nikolas's face follows but his eyes don't.) Nikolas LOOK AT ME! (The sharpness of Lucky's words command Nikolas's attention, and he looks back at Lucky. His gaze is unsteady, and close up, Lucky realizes why his eyes looked so damned dark -- they are dilated to an extreme, making his irises more black than brown. Lucky feels himself go cold with the realization of what is going on here. The tremble he caught sight of in his brother's hand earlier has grown into a full-out tremor. Lucky can feel it vibrate up his own arm as he holds Nikolas's wrist. Nikolas's breath -- unnatural before -- is nearly gasping now. He was holding it back, Lucky realizes. This was all going on inside him, and somehow, he held it together. Lucky shakes his head slowly, pulling his hand back.) Man... She really did a number on you. (Nikolas winces, and swallows hard)

Nik: I tried, Lucky.

Lucky: I know. (Lucky moves his hand from around Nikolas's wrist and takes the barrel of the gun in his hand) Give it to me.

Nik: I --

Lucky: (softly) Give me the gun. (Nikolas takes a moment to really understand what Lucky is asking him. After a moment, his hand goes limp. Lucky pulls the weapon out of his hand) Good. (He glances down, checking the gun and flipping the safety on, then looks back at Nikolas quickly. He has to keep him distracted. He can't let him look at what is happening just a few feet away. He doesn't have to worry, though, because Nikolas is staring at the gun, like he hasn't seen it before. Lucky frowns) Nik. (Nikolas looks up at him)

Nik: (stunned) I shot her.

Lucky: I know.

Nik: I shot her in the throat! (a choke -- sputter -- comes from the woman lying on the floor. Nikolas jerks, and his eyes move back to Helena. Lucky follows his gaze and sees Helena lying on the floor, her hand over her throat, the other reaching, still -- reaching towards Nikolas as she fights to say something. Oh, God... Lucky turns, his hands going immediately to Nikolas's chest, as he tries to push his brother away from her.)

Lucky: No, Nik. No.

Nik: (hoarse) Grandmother. (Nikolas looks past Lucky. He tries to move forward, but Lucky presses him back)

Lucky: You don't want to do this, Nik.

Nik: I have... I have --

Lucky: Don't look at her! (Nikolas's gaze moves back to Lucky, pleading -- begging him to stop this somehow. He looks a million miles away from the Nikolas who pulled that trigger. Lucky shakes his head, knowing that Nikolas is going to listen to whatever he says here -- intently. He makes sure he is holding Nikolas's gaze) Don't forget what's going on here.

Nik: (unsteadily) I don't know how to do this, Lucky.

Lucky: It's done. (Lucky moves forward, gently pushing Nikolas back from Helena. He can still hear her choking. He tries to ignore it) Don't look at her. Don't do that to yourself. Trust me. (He pushes Nikolas back against the wall. Nikolas's back hits it, and he sags against it gratefully, looking up at the ceiling).

Nik: Oh, God...

Lucky: You had to do this. We didn't have a choice, Nik. (Nikolas shakes his head, a sound escaping from deep in his throat. Not a healthy sound. More like a dying puppy. Lucky puts his hand to the side of Nikolas's face and directs his gaze back to him. His voice is low, stern). Hey, no... Stay with me. Stay with me. You don't want to see that. (Sight doesn't matter though. In the quiet, Lucky can still hear the sound of her struggling, the sound of her trying to breathe while no one helps her. Oh, God. He has to distract him. Nikolas can't DO this, he can't... Except he did. And Oh GOD, this is a mess...)

Nik: She's ... (Lucky shakes his head hard)

Lucky: Dying. It's OK. It's OK, she's just... (He closes his eyes on the word) dying. (Helena lets out a sound -- a guttural, shaky, keening noise. Nikolas's whole body tenses at the sound. Lucky reaches up and pulls Nikolas's head down onto his shoulder, needing to somehow shield him from this. Needing with something that is as innate to him as breathing, to protect Nikolas against what is happening in this room. He turns his head and speaks softly into Nikolas's ear) Think about Hannah. Just think about her, it'll be OK. (Nikolas shakes his head, grinding it into Lucky's shoulder. Behind them, Helena lets out a long, gurgling moan. Lucky feels Nikolas shudder against him, and wonders if the violence of Nikolas's reaction is sparing him from noticing his own. Oh, God... He should just finish her off. He should just -- Lucky's thoughts are interrupted when Nikolas's arm comes up, suddenly, and grabs Lucky's shoulder. He sucks in his breath sharply -- Helena's death grip has left it tender -- then realizes what is happening here. He's hugging me, Lucky thinks. How the hell did I get here...? Strange bedfellows. Or maybe that's less the case here than he wants to believed. Lucky lets out his breath, and moves his arm around Nik's back, gun still in his hand. He turns his head and keeps his eyes on the door. He listens -- to the strangled sounds Nikolas is making, the choking death rattle from Helena... and his own heart, pounding in his chest. End, he thinks. End. Stop. Die. Get me out of here... He closes his eyes tightly for a second, as if issuing a silent prayer, and the noise stops. Not his heart... not Nikolas's breathing... but Helena. Helena stops.

Lucky pulls back carefully. Nikolas raises his head, and glances at Lucky quickly, before averting his eyes. The moment has passed. Lucky pulls away from him, and turns, looking at the woman lying on the floor. Her arms is still out, reaching for them... but she is limp on the floor. Lucky takes a step towards her.)

Lucky: (not looking back) Keep your eyes on the door, Nikolas.

Nik: (hollow) I already saw her.

Lucky: I know. (Lucky steps towards Helena cautiously, pointing the gun at her. He moves deliberately across the carpet, trying to ignore the fact that her blood is spreading out from the body -- being soaked into the fibers -- he reaches her and moves down slowly. He flips the safety off the gun, and points it at her unsteadily, while his other hand slides under the woman's head and along her neck, looking for a pulse. He lets out a long breath and drops his head when he doesn't find what he's looking for.

Ding, dong, the Witch is dead. )

Lucky: (straightening up) She's gone. (Nikolas says nothing. Lucky turns and looks at him. Nikolas is not watching the door. But then, who really expected him to. His eyes are fixed on Helena. On the woman he just killed. Lucky had really hoped to avoid this... He had never meant for Nikolas to actually do anything like this. How the hell had everything gotten so far out of hand?)

Nik: I did this all wrong. (Right, Lucky thinks. That's how. But his hearts not in the accusation. Nikolas's voice sounds flat -- dead. He looks up at Nikolas wearily)

Lucky: No. You can beat yourself up about this later. (Nikolas's eyes move back to Lucky. The panic is gone, the desperate quality. They look empty again. Lucky cringes, looking away, and mumbles his response) Something must have gone right. We're still here. (Nikolas jerks his head up)

Nik: I wasn't... Lucky, I was never going to -- (Lucky stands, cutting him off)

Lucky: (quietly) I get it. I get it -- Oscar caliber, Nikolas. (he runs one hand through his hair) You missed your calling. (Lucky looks down at his other hand. Blood. Cassadine blood. Jesus... He doesn't share it with Nikolas, but the 180 degree turn his mind is making right now might just be doing him more damage than a gun shot would have. He can feel the shake in his own body now, and he knows he doesn't have time for it. He's hanging on by a very thin thread here, but it's all that's holding him and Nikolas. He loses it now, they all go down.

Oh, but no pressure.

Lucky looks up at Nikolas, wiping his hand on his shirt absently, trying to pretend it's just wet. Nothing to see here, folks. He turns his attention of the fire arm and opens the chamber, checking for bullets. There is a full round, minus the one that killed Helena. Looks like Helena was giving Nikolas's aim as much credit as Lucky would have... though Lucky wouldn't have stood quite so close to the target. The price of showmanship. He shakes the thought off and looks up at Nikolas, knocking the chamber back into the gun. The click hits something in his brain. Knocks something temporarily into place. He pulls in a deep breath.) We gotta get out of here. (Nikolas nods slowly, his eyes still on Helena. Then looks up sharply)

Nik: Emily. (Lucky feels the gun in his hand. The magic word... no falling to pieces now, not for either of them. Not while the princess is still locked in the tower)

Lucky: (numb) I know where she is.

Nik: I didn't want --

Lucky: LATER. (He tightens his grip on the gun and starts across the room, shooting Nikolas the briefest of looks) Can you walk? I mean... are you --

Nik: I'm OK. (Lucky stops and allows himself to look at him critically)

Lucky: I really don't want to see your idea of bad shape.

Nik: (mumbling) Later. Later, right? (Nikolas looks at him, fatigue showing in every inch of him. But Lucky has no idea what is going on here... where Ari is, who is out there waiting for them... all he knows is how many bullets he has, and that leaving Nikolas alone right now -- prince or no -- is about the worst idea he can conceive of.)

Lucky: Right. (Lucky feels like he should say something. Do something. Man, he thought when he finally had a chance to talk to Nikolas, it would take hours for him to run out of things to say. But there's nothing there. Nothing that matters. He lets out his breath) Promise me you're gonna tell me is you're going to faint on me or something.

Nik: (with an edge of stubbornness) I'm fine.

Lucky: Then let go of that wall and prove it to me. (Nikolas takes a deep breath and gives only the very slightest hint of a smile. Lucky returns the non-smile, when he suddenly hears a sound. He looks at the door just in time to hear a shout, and see the door shake under an incredible blow from the other side.)

Lucky: (under his breath) Shit.

Nik: Company.

Lucky: You think? (Nikolas stands up -- without thinking about it too much, it is much easier for him to access that shallow well of adrenaline that he has left to run on. The door is hit again. Lucky raises his gun) Whoever it is, I don't think I want to see them. (Nikolas gives a short, breathy laugh, verging on hysteria)

Nik: Master of the understatement.

Lucky: Always. Stay back. (the door shakes again and wood splinters. Man... It just don't stop. Nikolas, without any other real choice, stands back, out of the way, so that Lucky can face down whoever is on the other side. Nikolas's capacity for action is about as limited as his capacity for independent thought. All he knows at the moment is that he has to get someplace safe and collapse. It's the only thing his body really knows how to do right now.)

Nik: (mumbling) Good idea. (Lucky doesn't hear him. The door is kicked again. And again. The door jamb tears, and the door flies open. Lucky's finger twitches on the trigger as the door slams into the wall, and the "company" is revealed, framed in the broken doorway. Lucky's body jerks in recognition before his mind catches up with him. He doesn't move, just stares, as a single word escapes his mouth with his breath)

Lucky: Dad.

The Prison Room

Emily is cold. Cold like ice, if ice could shiver. She is curled up on the bed, hands wrapped around her knees, rocking slowly. Time is dragging, and every second that ticks by brings her closer to the edge. Edge of what, she's not sure... but the effects of the drug are wearing off fast -- the room is clear, the bright colors and lights have faded, leaving her a shell of herself.

She had a terrible feeling of sickness. It's coming on, and there is nothing she can do to stop it. She's going to be useless. Again. She closes her eyes and puts her head down on her knees.

Please stop, please stop, please stop. Please GOD, don't make me do this again. Please, please, please...

She hears a hum interrupt her chant. Familiar sound, it's becoming... that noise that the door makes just before it opens. She stops rocking, but can't bring herself to lift her head. She doesn't want to know... not if it's bad news. She might be in hell, but at this moment, she's sure it's preferable to the possibilities that door opening is going to present her with.

The door starts to slide open, and a voice wafts into the room. Words murmured in Russian. She puts her head back down on her knees. No. Oh God, no, no, no... She can't look. She can't.

Alexis stands in the door, and takes a moment to truly absorb the scene before her. Emily Quartermaine, huddled on a four poster bed like a wounded animal. She can hear a soft whispering coming from her. The girl makes no sign of noticing their arrival. She starts to rock.

God Almighty, Alexis thinks. She's just entered a POW camp of one...

Alexis: Emily. (Emily doesn't move. She just rocks herself, her breathing choking on sobs that won't come, and shivering with even more violence. Alexis takes this in, and feels her stomach tighten. She wasn't entirely in agreement with Luke's version of priority -- but Nikolas's whereabouts were hazy, and at least this way she knows that they'll have a card in the deck... that was the way she was thinking as she came down the hall. The reality, she wasn't prepared for. She couldn't have been. Her brain had been striving to protect her from what it was likely that she'd find.

But she can handle this. She has to, she tells herself firmly.

She clears her throat and speaks with lawyer-clarity. Her court voice.) Emily Quartermaine. (Nothing) Emily. It's me. It's Alexis. (Emily struggles with her breath. No matter how much she breathes, she can't seem to keep anything in her lungs. She raises her head, a dazed expression on her face. It takes a moment for her eyes to focus, and she sees Alexis Davis standing in front of her. In front of her and to the side is a man who Emily doesn't recognize. She murmurs something to him in Russian, and the man drops to his knees, obediently. He laces his fingers together and places his hands on his head, chin raised. Emily looks back up at Alexis, not sure what to make of this turn of events)

Emily: (squinting) A... Alexis. (Emily sits up. Of all the people she expected to come through that door, she has to admit, her cousin's ex-fiance was NOT one of them. She turns and looks around the room to make sure she hasn't somehow waken up in Port Charles) What -- (Emily looks back at her and stops dead when she notices that Dominick has a gun to the back of his head -- one that Alexis is holding in her hand. Definitely not PC.)

Alexis: Emily, it's Ok. (She gives as warm and comforting a smile as she can manage -- which comes off as more than a little unconvincing.) We came to get you.

Em: (staring at Dom) We?

Alexis: Luke and I. We came bring you and Lucky home. (Emily frowns, her brow knitting until her brain absorbs the key word there)

Em: (turning to Alexis, sharply) Lucky!

Alexis: Luke is getting him.

Em: He's still alive? (Alexis hesitates. They'd heard a gun shot. That was when Luke had pushed her down this corridor -- and she had gone, because there was just no good way to argue with a man who may have just heard the shot that killed his son.)

Alexis: I'll take you to him.

Em: He was hurt.

Alexis: I don't know, Emily. Luke went to get him.

Em: (low-key panic) Helena took him. She was going to kill him. (Alexis winces. The look on Emily's face is frightening. Her eyes are wide, and she is pale as a ghost. Alexis wants to move to her, but she can't take the gun off Dominick.)

Alexis: (finally) Luke's here now. (Emily nods slowly. It's an answer. Alexis can tell it means something to the girl. Emily moves on the bed, swinging her legs over the edge. She looks up at Alexis, warily. Alexis nods at her) That's it, Emily. Good -- just make it to the door. We'll leave Dominick here -- and then we'll go to the helicopter. (Emily looks at her. There are still questions, she can tell) Please, Emily. (Emily nods. She stands up -- the definition of unsteady -- and reaches out, grabbing the air around her, as if it can help her. She looks up at Alexis sharply, then lets out a laugh) Are you all right?

Em: (shaking her head) Don't worry... (She lowers her head, willing her body to stop it's shaking. She pulls in a deep breath, then looks up) If there's one thing I know how to do, it's take one more step when I don't have anything left.

Helena's Death Room

Luke glances at the gun in Lucky's hand, then up at his son. His eyes jump from Lucky's face -- having ascertained the oh-so-precious fact that he hasn't fallen -- and back to the woman lying on the floor. His eyes move immediately back to Lucky, and he stares at him, a grin spreading across his face. He drops the gun he'd had cocked and ready to fire to his side. He looks at Lucky as if he's half convinced he's an apparition.

Luke: (with infinite relief) Cowboy. (Lucky stares back, his gun still raised. He is aware that he should do something... move. Move, he should move, he was going to go get Emily. Get Emily, and somehow get her and Nik the hell off this boat... That has to happen. Once that's done, this is over, and... and... And no part of his brain knows what to do with the fact that his father is suddenly standing in front of him. Luke's expression moves, slowly, to an expression of concern when Lucky doesn't drop his weapon) Lucky... (Lucky's head snaps around to look at Nikolas, who is still hugging the wall. Nikolas is staring at Luke without any clear reaction. Lucky loses himself in the distraction of his brother for a moment -- the place his entire attention had rested moments before -- until he senses movement out of the corner of his eye, and looks back to his father. Luke has taken a half step, but stops dead, seeing the look on Lucky's face. He slowly puts a hand up, smiling gently at his son)

Luke: (softly) Looks like I missed the party. (Lucky doesn't give any indication of having heard him. He's feeling suddenly and powerfully dizzy, his eyes focusing but giving him no information he can put meaning to. Lucky feels the thread snap. That's it. Good bye. Luke watches this, then nods towards his son's outstretched hand) Lucky -- you can put down the gun. It's safe. (Lucky just stares. Luke swallows. Ok... Ok, he knew this was going to be tricky... but frankly, he thought that would be because of the gun shot... and Helena. Not quite this situation) Lucky, what are you doing? (Nothing. Luke takes another step towards him, but the second he moves, Lucky's arm tenses, and his finger wraps around the trigger again.)

Lucky: Stay away from me. (Luke stops. Dead. The fear in Lucky's voice -- terror -- is impossible to miss. He looks at Lucky while his brain twists around this behavior. He takes a deep breath. No. He is not accepting this situation)

Luke: (sternly) No more games, Lucky. I'm all played out. (He takes another step towards Lucky. At the wall, Nikolas closes his eyes and lets out a slow breath)

Nik: Don't. (it's unclear to Luke who Nikolas is talking to -- but he doesn't much care.)

Luke: (not looking back) Don't sweat it, Nikky. It's Ok. (Luke keeps walking towards Lucky, very slowly, one step at a time. Lucky doesn't waver, but Luke can see his arm shaking under the strain of keeping the gun up. Luke just looks into his eyes, slowly advancing, until he is standing a step away from the gun Lucky is holding at full arm's reach. He reaches up, and wraps his hand around the barrel of the gun. Lucky doesn't so much as blink, just looks at Luke in pure horror. Luke pulls the gun from his son's hand -- though Lucky doesn't let go easily. Luke takes the gun and points it down at the floor. Lucky drops his hand, finally. He breaks eye contact with his father and looks down at his hand. He stretches it against cramping. Luke takes another step towards him, and Lucky backs up without looking up, squinting as if he was looking right into the sun.) Talk to me, Lucky. (Lucky shakes his head, still stretching his hand. Luke looks at him, his forehead creased with concern) Luc -- (Lucky turns, on a dime and walks the length of the room, away from Luke. He reaches the far wall, then stops. He puts a hand out, carefully, and touches the wall. He runs his hand over it slowly. Solid. Real. A start.)

Lucky: (quietly) We have to get out of here.

Luke: That's what I'm here to do. (Lucky closes his eyes. After a moment, he leans forward, putting his forehead against his hand)

Lucky: I can't leave with you. (Luke blinks)

Luke: Just how the hell do you think you're getting off this voyage of the damned, kid? (Lucky doesn't move. He just leans against the wall. Luke watches him, then reaches out and puts his hand on Lucky's shoulder. Lucky jerks back, his hand flying up to hold his own shoulder, slapping Luke's hand off. Luke takes a step back.)

Luke: (under his breath) Jesus. (Lucky rubs his shoulder, turning slightly from the wall. Frowning, he looks down at the carpet. After a moment, he turns his head and looks down at the white cotton of his shirt. Little specs of red... So he is bleeding. His eyes trail down to the red smears on the shirt from where he wiped off Helena's blood.)

Lucky: (quietly) You can't touch me.

Luke: (after a moment) Ok. Ok, if that's what you want.

Lucky: (distantly) I don't have time for this right now.

Luke: What do you think I'm here to do? (Lucky looks up, but refuses to look directly at his father.)

Lucky: (quietly) I really don't want to think about what you're doing here.

Luke: Lucky.

Lucky: And I really don't want to talk about just now, if you don't mind -- I'm a little busy. (Luke opens his mouth to respond, then thinks better of it. Not now. He watches Lucky instead. After a moment, his son's eyes head back to the body on the floor) Helena's dead.

Luke: So I see. (Lucky lets out a long breath)

Lucky: Emily's locked in a room on --

Luke: Alexis is getting Emily.

Lucky: (shaking his head) There are guards --

Luke: We got 'em.

Lucky: (after a moment) The crew.

Luke: Had the guards call and tell 'em to stay put. It's taken care of. (Lucky falls silent. Luke watching him intently . The fear is gone, but whatever it's been replaced with... it's worse. It's worse, because he doesn't recognize it, and, Luke realizes, that was one thing he wasn't expecting to encounter. He didn't think he'd still be walking into rooms and looking at this kid with his son's face, and not know what to do. Not know how to fix it. He knows, though... some part of him knows something innate in Lucky, and he knows that all he can do right now is get Lucky away from this scene. His son has shot someone, and now is not the time to hash out all things out. Now is simply the time to get his son back to safety. Once that happens... once that happens, he'll make damn sure that this is put in the ground. He notices that Lucky's eyes have moved back to the body on the floor. Luke looks at the woman again. Helena... Man. This must be what's wrong, he decides. Lucky's killed. Lucky's never killed someone before.)

Lucky: (quiet) Alexis is getting Emily. (Luke looks up, blinking. Just go along with it all, Spencer, he tells himself. Get the kid out of this room)

Luke: Yes.

Lucky: And you got some way to get out of here?

Luke: Helicopter. On the landing pad. (Luke talks like he's pointing out bread crumbs to Hansel) But we saw a boat leaving when we landed - we got to move. Now.

Lucky: (looking at him finally) Who's driving?

Luke: Alexis.

Lucky: Good. (Lucky looks back towards Nikolas. He jerks, and blinks, like he's coming back to earth) Nik.

Luke: What? (He glances back to the wall where he took in the sight of the Dark Prince upon entering. There's nothing there. He looks back at Lucky who is, if it's possible, paler than he was a moment ago)

Lucky: What the hell -- (Lucky starts for the door)

Luke: Wait -- (Luke reaches out to grab Lucky's arm. Lucky jerks violently, and pulls away from Luke)

Lucky: I said don't TOUCH me! (He backs up from Luke, holding his arm like it's been burnt. His eyes are dark, injured. Luke takes a step back) I meant it.

Luke: I got it --

Lucky: No you don't. You don't get anything that just happened here. And you're not stopping me.

Luke: I... All right. All right, cowboy. I'm not doing anything.

Lucky: (Uncertain) Good. (Lucky looks at him pointedly) Because I have to find my brother. (He turns and head towards the door, leaving a shaken Luke behind)

Dry Land

The boat is at the edge of the dock, and the motor is running. Katija walks down the dock, her hand gripping her bag so tightly that her knuckles are white. She stops at the end of the dock and looks up at the island that she used to call home. She doesn't know why she has been summoned, but she knows that whatever it is, it's exceptionally bad. Medical Helicopters have been summoned, and her cousin has already left post haste to Rhesus to get a doctor. But the look on his face was dire. It suggested that he was going on a fool's errand. She glances over at the boat and sees that the boatman is holding out a hand to help her onto the launch. She takes his hand, and steps onto the boat, putting the thought of what sort of errand she is embarking on out of her head.

The Chimera

Alexis has Emily's arm around her neck, and is supporting much of the girl's weight as they move, painfully, towards the light at the end of the hallway. Emily's trying hard, but she's still shaking violently, and walking is hard when you're suffering from motion sickness brought on by your own private motion. She stumbles, and Alexis falters next to her. She stops, finding her feet are still on the ground, and looks over at Alexis miserably.

Em: (breathless) I'm sorry.

Alexis: My stepmother did this to you, I should be apologizing.

Em: I'm trying -- (She stops, choking on her words) I'm sorry. I can't stop apologizing.

Alexis: Just as long as you don't stop moving.

Em: (laughing derisively) I don't stop until I lose consciousness. Ask anyone. (She closes her eyes and takes another halting step) Or Nikolas and Lucky, at least. (Alexis nods)

Alexis: Almost there. (Emily suddenly freezes)

Em: What was that?

Alexis: What? (She stops, and turns her head back. Noise. She hears it too. She points the gun down the hallway. Lucky Spencer appears at the end of the corridor).

Lucky: (stopping) Whoa... (Alexis lowers the gun, her breath coming out in a rush)

Alexis & Em: Lucky. (Emily reaches out blindly, for a wall. Alexis, seeing that she's about to tip, grabs Emily around the waist)

Lucky: (heading towards her) God, Emily.

Em: (choking) You made it. (Lucky shakes his head, and reaches her. He envelopes her in his arms and buries his face in her hair)

Lucky: (strangled) No doubt. (Lucky holds her tightly, feeling like he's returning, just a little bit, to earth. He glances up and sees Alexis. He gives her a weak smile) Never thought I'd be this happy to see a Cassadine. (Alexis gives him a strange look. Ok, she thinks... She's spent the last few days saying that she didn't like Lucky -- never really being able to put her finger on what her problem with the guy was. Now she remembers -- he's just STRANGE. But... glass houses.)

Alexis: Good to see you, Lucky. (Lucky seems to have forgotten she exists again, however. He's holding Emily like she's the key to everything that's gone wrong. She averts her eyes just as Lucky moves in his and Emily's embrace)

Lucky: (pulling back) Nikolas...

Alexis: Is he here?

Em: Is he all right? (Luke appears around the corner. Lucky extricates himself from Emily and looks back at him)

Lucky: (looking at Luke) He's still in one piece.

Alexis: (after a moment) What does that mean, exactly? (Lucky looks back at Emily, and lowers his head to look directly in her eyes)

Lucky: You Ok?

Em: Yeah. (Emily reaches out and takes Alexis's offered hand for support) What's going on?

Lucky: I have an errand to run. (Emily blinks) I'll be right back. (he turns and shoots Luke another, decidedly unfriendly look, then turns to Alexis) Nikolas is fine. (he turns and takes off down the hall, not even looking at Luke as he passes. Luke watches after him. Emily looks from the place where Lucky disappeared, to Luke, and then to Alexis)

Em: What's wrong?

Luke: (looking after Lucky) I think I let Prince Nikky get away. (he looks back at them) Apparently that was a bad move.

Em: Away...?

Alexis: Luke. Are you all right?

Luke: (shaking his head) I... I didn't believe it.

Alexis: Luke --

Luke: I didn't believe he didn't want to see me. But ... he doesn't. (Luke looks over at Emily, standing against the wall, shivering. He looks at her, pained. She stares back at him with hollowed eyes) What about you? You promised me you wouldn't turn your back on my boy -- if I promised you the same thing. Well... I did it, Honey. I turned and I walked out...

Em: Stop it. (Luke falls silent. Emily just shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes) Just stop it. (She reaches a shaky hand out to him. Luke walks towards her and before he knows it he's picked the girl up in a bear hug. She's clinging to him, crying against his shoulder, and he's holding her like a small child. It's a moment of perfect understanding. Luke knows she doesn't hate him -- needs not to hate him right now. And she knows that he needs her to let him know that there's going to be a way out) He doesn't hate you. He can't.

Luke: (strangled) I know.

Em: God, get me out of here, Luke. (Luke nods. He puts Emily down for a millisecond and then picks her up, carrying her in her arms. He looks over at Alexis, his eyes wet)

Luke: Come on. Let's get this show on the road.

The Top Deck of the Chimera, near the bow of the boat.

Nikolas stands at the railing of the thin staring down at the water beneath him. The water is churning around the boat, like it's caressing it. He watches it spin beneath him. It looks friendly... inviting. He nearly drowned in this water, a lot closer to land, when he was a very young child. He remembers only the most basic elements of the experience. Being unable to breath... panicking... and then feeling what was really happening... believing that slipping under the surface wasn't a bad thing, and letting go -- letting himself float, letting himself sink into the warm water. Only feeling cold, only feeling the salt burn his eyes and the harsh pain in his lungs AFTER his Uncle pulled him from the sea.

Father. Uncle. Father.

Nikolas is right above the place where the crew is probably driving this boat. Who knows who they are... who knows what they know... He sighs heavily. It's over. It is. She's dead and he killed her, just like he set out to do.

All right. So he didn't set out to kill her... not like that. But he'd known it was a possibility. And that didn't bother him. Not yet.

Nikolas moves across to the other side, his hand playing absently with the medallion he's pulled out of his shirt. The one he didn't pull off in front of Helena. Why didn't he? In the long run, it was good that he didn't. Nikolas muses on this, pacing the bow of the deck. He runs the medallion along the chain, back and forth, and walks to the opposite railing. He pauses at the edge and stares back at the water. With a sharp tug he breaks the chain and pulls the medallion from his neck. After a moment, he turns his attention down to the medallion. He stares at it a long moment, until he hears a voice behind him.

Lucky: Nikolas. (Nikolas glances up. He absorbs the sight of Lucky -- dressed still in the part of the prince's erstwhile brother. He looks like some kind of romantic hero, if you ignore the blood on his shirt. He's standing at the top of the ladder that leads up to this small deck, his arms draped over the top of the railing. Nikolas turns away and look back at the water. Lucky steps up onto the deck, looking at Nikolas warily) What are you doing, Nik?

Nik: (turning the medallion over in his hand) Getting some air.

Lucky: You know, we gotta talk about your timing. When we get off this barge. (He snaps his fingers as if something has just occurred to him) Something we should probably be doing right about now.

Nik: Where's your father? (Lucky looks at him, blankly)

Lucky: Who? (Nikolas smiles slightly.)

Nik: It's over, Lucky.

Lucky: (refusing to look at Nikolas's probable meaning) Amen to that. (Lucky nods towards Nikolas's hand) What are you doing up here? (Nikolas says nothing for several moments)

Nik: She knew. (Nikolas looks over at Lucky) I don't know about you, but I really wasn't expecting that one. (Lucky closes his eyes. He has no energy for this... but it's like being pulled into a whirlpool. He doesn't have the ability to resist. He finds himself walking across the small expanse of the deck)

Lucky: No. Me neither. (Nikolas looks back at his medallion, leaning over the railing again)

Nik: I didn't expect a lot of it. You tried to warn me.... But I didn't think she had that much to use against us. (Lucky just stares at him, taking everything in. There is nothing about Nikolas, since they first saw each other again, that has not creeped him out. And this is no different... the only difference is that this time, no part of him is naive enough to hope that something in this is an act. The stupid thing is, right now... Nikolas, no matter what is going on, is his safe ground. Nikolas and Emily. He knows what is going on with them. It's familiar, and right now he doesn't know how to be around anyone else. Doesn't WANT to be around anyone else. And there are "elses" all over this boat. Which means they have to get out.)

Lucky: Nik... Word of the hour, man -- is "later".

Nik: She's really gone, isn't she.

Lucky: Helena? Yeah. (he puts to fingers up in a salute) Scout's honor. (Nikolas shakes his head slowly)

Nik: No. Not her. (Lucky frowns at Nikolas, until the meaning comes to him in a cold rush)

Lucky: (quietly) Hannah.

Nik: (barely audible) Yeah.

Lucky: Yeah, Nik. She's really gone. (Nikolas gives a soft, humorless laugh)

Nik: I'm not crazy, you know.

Lucky: I know.

Nik: No you don't. (Lucky shrugs, his hand reaching out and gripping the railing)

Lucky: No crazier than the rest of us, that's as much credit as I'm gonna give anyone in this bloodline.

Nik: I didn't think she was still alive.

Lucky: I know.

Nik: I know what dead means. I do. I... (he bows his head, struggling to push the words out over the hard lump in his throat) I didn't know I felt like this... I didn't know that I felt like she'd come back if I got rid of the person who killed her. I ... Didn't think I could solve it --

Lucky: You didn't, but you did. (Nikolas leans forward, crossing his wrists over the railing and dropping his head. He lets out a harsh sob, shaking. Lucky closes his eyes.)

Nik: I can't FIX it!

Lucky: (by rote) You stopped it from happening again. (Nikolas looks up at him, sharply)

Nik: (angry) What good does that do her? What does that do for Hannah? She's DEAD, Lucky! She died, and she's never coming back. I'm never going to have her again. The rest of my life, and ... I don't know how to DO that! (Lucky shakes his head firmly, averting his eyes)

Lucky: You'll find a way.

Nik: I don't WANT to. (Lucky stares hard at the water. He feels incredibly cold. And it's not because of the wind.)

Lucky: (carefully) What did you come up here to do, Nik? (Nikolas turns away, slow tears sliding down his face. He wipes at them impatiently with the back of his hand and doesn't answer. Lucky looks back at him. He speaks quietly, just loud enough for Nikolas to hear him) Couple of things that happened in that room were real, huh? First and foremost -- You're not yourself right now. (Nikolas gives a heightened laugh and looks at Lucky bitterly)

Nik: Who, exactly, am I?

Lucky: Not the time for an identity crisis.

Nik: I can't DO this. Do you get that? Lucky -- you were right. Some stuff in that room made sense -- Sick as it is? You are the best friend I ever had. (Lucky blinks, looking away with more than a trace of uneasiness) Because you don't sugarcoat anything for me! You have NEVER tried to spare my feelings. Don't start now.

Lucky: (Looking down) You know damn well I'm not ever going to go easy on you, Cassadine.

Nik: Don't call me that.

Lucky: Why not? (Lucky looks up at him, meeting his eyes) It's what you are. (Nikolas takes a step back, breathing in that same hard way he has been since Helena slipped him that... whatever it was)

Nik: You know... you got a point. (Nikolas opens his clenched fist and lets the medallion hand from the broken chain, threaded between his fingers) You know what this is? (Lucky nods slightly, purposely refusing to play this off like it's anything other than business as usual)

Lucky: Medallion.

Nik: Cassadine Family Medallion. We all have one of these. You know why?

Lucky: I always figured that it was something you all dug out of a cracker jack box.

Nik: It stands for something. It stands for family. Loyalty. And the legacy. You wear it out of respect... and pride. And because you know what you are. Why the HELL do I have this thing hanging around my neck? Can you answer that for me?

Lucky: Because you're a Cassadine.

Nik: NO I'm NOT! (Lucky laughs slightly)

Lucky: You proved anything today, Nik... It's that. You're a Cassadine. You're up to your eyes in Cassadine.

Nik: Right. And that's what you hate me for. That's what got Hannah killed.

Lucky: What do you want me to do, Nik? (Nikolas stares at him. He can't make the words come out of his mouth. He just shakes his head)

Nik: I always end up in the same place, Lucky. It gets old.

Lucky: This... Looks like a new place to me.

Nik: What do you think is going on here?

Lucky: Really -- I'm waiting for you to tell me you came up here for the view. But that's not it, is it?

Nik: I don't know why I came up here.

Lucky: I think you do. (Nikolas frowns. He looks down at the medallion again)

Nik: You didn't tell me where your father went. (Lucky shakes his head, jerking away like he's just tasted something bitter)

Lucky: Forget about him, Ok? It doesn't matter. (Nikolas looks up at Lucky, a maudlin expression on his face.)

Nik: I ... I took one look at him and realized that I don't have any idea how the hell I'm supposed to go back to normal.

Lucky: (shrugging it off) Luckily for you, we aren't coming from normal, there's no reason to go back. (Nikolas stares at Lucky. After a few moments, Lucky finds himself forced to look up and meet his gaze. It's pervasive)

Nik: You get it. Don't you. (Lucky lets out his breath)

Lucky: You mind read now?

Nik: You don't know how to go home either. (Lucky looks down. Frankly? Lucky has no idea how to take one more step. He just knows he has to. After he does... he doesn't even want to think about what comes next).

Lucky: All I know is... Emily's not looking so great, and she has to get out of here. And there's a helicopter down there that we leave on, and until we get off this boat -- (he looks up) And until we get back on solid ground, none of this is over.

Nik: That's the part I'm trying to avoid.

Lucky: It's inevitable, Nik. And don't even think about it -- you're not going over the edge here. No way.

Nik: Maybe not. (he stretches his hand out and hands the medallion over the water and lets it hang, staring at it in the sun)

Lucky: (slowly) I don't think you really want to do that.

Nik: I really do... I really, REALLY do.

Lucky: Throw it all away? You might want to sleep on that.

Nik: Give me one reason not to.

Lucky: You didn't listen to me last time I tried to talk you out of something.

Nik: I didn't shoot you.

Lucky: No. Ok, good point.

Nik: You can't do it this time, though, can you? You can't give me a reason not to just throw everything away. (Lucky takes a step towards him, then stops. No one ever just walks up to someone who is talking the way Nikolas is. They always hover back and inch their way over. But that just seems stupid to him. Unnatural. So he does what does seem natural. He reaches out and takes the dangling medallion in his own hand. Nikolas looks up at him, meeting his eyes)

Lucky: Because I'm asking you not to. Not yet. (Nikolas just stares at him) I let you almost shoot me -- you owe me this much. (Nikolas drops the chain and pulls his hand back. Lucky brings his own hand back and looks down at the chain in his hand. He knows it's just a stupid Cassadine accouterment, but somehow he feels like he just pulled a hell of a lot more back from the edge. He lets out a long, shaky breath) I came up here to yell at you, you know. You keep taking the wind right out of my sails, man.

Nik: I'm sorry.

Lucky: No you're not. (Lucky sits down, his head rested in one hand, looking at the medallion in his fingers) You don't have to change what you are, Nik. You just have to change what it means.

Nik: Easy to say.

Lucky: Yeah. (Nikolas slides down the railing and sits beside his brother)

Nik: I don't think I know how to be anything else. (Lucky shrugs)

Lucky: You are what you are because they lied to you. Now... You'll be what you are because you know the truth. (Nikolas looks across at him)

Nik: That's not easy.

Lucky: (shaking his head) Nope.

Nik: You're still figuring it out. (Lucky says nothing. After a moment he closes his hand over the medallion. He gestures at Nikolas with the closes fist)

Lucky: I'm... I'll take care of this for you. (He clears his throat. It's tight) Ok? (Nikolas just leans forward and puts his head down on his knee)

Nik: God, I'm tired. (Lucky laughs slightly and puts his own head down.)

Alexis: LUCKY! (Nikolas and Lucky both look up to see Alexis comes up the ladder. Lucky and Nikolas both look over at her. She stops dead and stares back. A smile cracks her face) Oh... Oh, Nikolas. (Nikolas grips the railing, looking at his aunt in shock. Lucky notes that Nikolas doesn't look entirely happy to see her)

Lucky: Yeah.... Apparently Luke didn't come alone.

Nik: Alexis. (Alexis stops at the top of the ladder)

Alexis: It's good to see you, Nikolas. (Nikolas looks over at Lucky, who shrugs as if to say "don't ask me what to do here". Nikolas looks back at his Aunt. She notices this exchange, and decides to get to the point) Lucky -- Nikolas. Ok. When we were approaching we saw a speed boat leaving the Chimera. (Lucky frowns)

Lucky: What? Why?

Alexis: I don't know, but they're doubling back -- it behooves us to get off this boat as soon as possible.

Nik: (after a moment) Behooves? (Lucky laughs softly)

Lucky: You're really out of practice.

Nik: (shaking his head dizzily) It's scary. (Alexis looks at them both with a mixture of horror and confusion)

Alexis: You want it in plainer terms? MOVE! (Lucky looks over at Nikolas, then pulls himself to his feet. Nikolas still hasn't moved. He puts out his hand)

Lucky: This time it's really almost over.

Nik: (taking his hand) It's never going to be over.

Lucky: (as he pulls his brother to his feet) That's what I like about you, Nik. You're never-ending faith and optimism. (Alexis approaches and gives Lucky a look, then puts her arm carefully around Nikolas's waist. She whispers to him, gently, in Greek. After a moment, he raises his head and looks down the ladder to Luke, standing at the bottom. He looks over at Alexis)

Nik: (unsteadily) Why do I get the feeling I'm walking into the lion's den.

Alexis: It gets better. (Nikolas looks at her) Really. Eventually you begin to suspect that all the lion really wants to do is wrestle. (Nikolas's eyes narrow) Come on. Let's go.

Nik: Going. (he turns, and she lets go of her grip on him. Nikolas turns and goes down the ladder. He stops at the bottom and he and Luke look at each other. Neither say a word, then Nikolas turns and heads down the stairs to the landing pad. Alexis follows. Luke looks up and waits for Lucky to descend. Lucky stands at the top until Alexis has started down the stairs, then turns and looks at his father. He looks, unmistakably angry to Luke. Luke sighs and digs his hands into his pockets. This is going to be a long trek)

Luke: Cowboy? (Lucky shakes his head. He starts down the ladder, tossing a comment at his father like it's nothing)

Lucky: Let's go home.