Chapter Two Hundred Seventeen:
Still Beating Heart

Private Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Lucky manages to walk only a few steps down the hallway before he feels his legs betray him and break into a run. He fights it only momentarily, then finds himself flying down the hallway, and around the corner. Get out of here, just MOVE. Nothing else matters, suddenly, except getting away. He pulls open the door to the stairway at the end of the next corridor, hearing a nurse scolding after him in Greek. He pays her no attention, just keeps moving. He's down one story when he hears the door above him open. He doesn't have to look back to see who it is. He moves quickly down the stairs, running down them, and then leaping to the next landing. Luke, trying to make up distant, jumps the railing, and lets himself drop down to the next flight, just as Lucky hits the bottom and moves to the door out of the hospital.

Luke: LUCKY! (Lucky throws open the door to the ground floor and dashes out the door. He manages to stumble almost immediately on an unexpected step, that slows him down long enough for Luke to come flying out the same door and nearly crash into him. Lucky feels his father's arms surround him from behind, holding him tightly to his chest. Lucky fights against the embrace, trying to pull away.)

Lucky: LET GO OF ME!

Luke: Not in your life.

Nikolas's room

Nikolas looks at the door, then at Stefan who is standing beside it. He takes in the sight of his father -- dressed in head to toe black... an outfit that was probably immaculate at one point. Now... it's worn a little. The lines are bordering on sloppy, from too many days of straight wearing. Not the picture he was expecting... he only vaguely remembers seeing him after the boat. All of that was a blur. All he knew for certain was that he felt terrible. And then there had been more bad news... and things had faded into white.

He looks at his father warily, then lets out a long breath.

Nik: I don't have the energy to argue with you. (Stefan's expression changes ever so slightly)

Stefan: I had no intention of arguing with you.

Nik: No. (Nikolas allows himself to supine slightly against the headboard) But you have spent the last few days planning exactly what happens when I open my eyes -- how fast you can get me away from this place and Lucky -- and since I'm about to tell you that I'm not going to play along, I have a feeling we're going to be arguing very shortly. (Stefan frowns. He takes this in, then shakes his head slightly and walks across the room to Nikolas's bedside. He reaches it and looks down at his son, who doesn't look up at him. Stefan brings a hand our and gently cups the side of Nikolas's face. Nikolas's eyes move up towards him. His father's eyes are shining. Ah, hell, Nikolas thinks.)

Stefan: Then may I have a moment please... Before we begin... To say that I am very relieved to see you. And that the sight of you awake is a great comfort to my soul. (Nikolas closes his eyes and lets out a long breath. Stefan never fights fair. Finally he lets his cheek lean against Stefan's hand a moment. Then he opens his eyes, and looks over at Stefan, suspiciously)

Nik: You always do that. (Stefan pulls a chair away from the wall, placing it by Nikolas's bed)

Stefan: Am I being accused of something?

Nik: (heavily) I know you better than anyone else on this planet. And the best I can do as far as predicting your behavior is to just admit it's completely unpredictable. (Stefan nods, as he sits down. He crossing one leg over the other and looks at Nikolas a little severely. At least, it would appear severe to someone who did not know him)

Stefan: Would you prefer that I yell at you? Tell you that you've been incredibly callous and irresponsible with your own life?

Nik: (folding his arms) If you WERE to say those things to me, I wish you'd be up front with me about them and not sneak them into the conversation under the guise of the hypothetical.

Stefan: You haven't been particularly up front yourself, of late.

Nik: What can I say? I learned from the best.

Stefan: Touche. (Nikolas grimaces)

Nik: I think a verbal fencing match counts as arguing. And regardless, I'm not in the state of mind for it.

Stefan: I have been attempting to impart to you, Nikolas, that I have no desire to make any of this difficult for you. (Nikolas looks at Stefan critically, trying to ascertain his father's state of mind)

Nik: What are you doing?

Stefan: I beg your pardon?

Nik: You're doing SOMETHING. You always are. You're being far too agreeable. What did you do? (Stefan shakes his head, not bothering to try to look innocent)

Stefan: I have done nothing. Not that you are unaware of.

Nik: That can't be true.

Stefan: Are you challenging me?

Nik: (wryly) Engarde. (Stefan frowns)

Stefan: I'm not entirely certain that I follow you.

Nik: (looking away) It's been a wild couple of weeks.

Stefan: (raising his brow) Wild? (Nikolas fights against a smirk)

Nik: I'll warn you now. Lucky has permanently marred my vocabulary.

Stefan: (a bit tightly) I see.

Nik: Thank-you... (Nikolas looks over at him) For allowing him to see me.

Stefan: (folding his hands) He felt that he could offer some assistance. I will admit, that either his timing was excellent... or perhaps there was some truth in what he was saying.

Nik: What was he saying?

Stefan: That's of no matter.

Nik: Obviously it IS. That's why I'm asking.

Stefan: I can tell you one thing with utter certainty -- at no point did I expect that he would allow Spencer in here to browbeat you in your current --

Nik: He wasn't browbeating me! See? This is what I meant! I knew you'd come in here and start in on them!

Stefan: Them?

Nik: The Spencers.

Stefan: Your feelings regarding Luke Spencer --

Nik: Haven't changed. Much. But he wasn't browbeating me, he was... talking to me.

Stefan: I see. (Nikolas is irked. He always does this -- moves in, assesses, and fixes.)

Nik: He... We... (Nikolas fumbles. He lets out a long breath. Oh, what is going on here? This would be so much easier if his father would just get mad at him. But apparently, taking off without any notice whatsoever is a move that is leading Stefan to start off with a different offensive. Nikolas bows his head. Ok. There's not only thing to say here.) We have something in common now.

Stefan: (after a moment) Lucky?

Nik: No. (He looks at Stefan, and centers himself) We are both killers.

Outside

Lucky goes limp against Luke for just a moment, allowing his father to think that perhaps he's finally giving into him. Then Luke realizes he's wrong -- passive resistance. He loosens his grip and Lucky pulls away from him like he's being pushed. He spins around and looks at Luke, his eyes bright with fury.

Lucky: WHY can't you just leave me alone? Just --

Luke: (crossing his arms) I'm your father. (Lucky shakes his head, backing away)

Lucky: I'm not seeing your point.

Luke: I'm done playing games with you, Lucky. We're dealing with this. Now.

Lucky: Oh. I get it. This is the "My father card trumps your free will card" thing. Well -- try this on. I'm done being your "Cowboy". I'm finished with all of it. You want to hear this?

Luke: (goading) Yeah. Yeah, I do.

Lucky: (screaming) I'm FINISHED with you! Ok? I'm not going to try to be a Spencer anymore, I'm SICK of it. I'm sick of your God Damned "Rules" and your advice and your talks. You don't want to talk to ME. You want to talk to your son. (he laughs, high pitched and out of breath.) Well -- sorry. (he throws his arms out) Can't help you, old man. I don't know where he went.

Luke: You're not fooling me. Not anymore.

Lucky: Not trying to.

Luke: Cut the act, Lucky!

Lucky: Sorry. This is the only one I got. (Luke reaches out and grabs Lucky's arm. He pulls him towards him in a quick movement)

Luke: (shouting) I TALKED TO EMILY, Lucky! (Lucky looks like he just got punched. The air rushes out of his lungs and he forgets to pull it back in. After a long moment, he pulls his arm away from Luke, and stumbles back a few steps, his back hitting a tree on the small bit of lawn by the door. Luke watches him, disturbed. He speaks again, his voice soft and even.) I talked to her, Lucky. I know what's going on. I know you're scared. (Lucky stares at the ground, hard, then lets out a small, mirthless, laugh. He slides down the tree trunk to sit on the grass.)

Lucky: Scared. Is that what I am? I thought I was in shock. (His voice begins to tremble as he speaks) Man... you head shrinkers should really start comparing notes--

Luke: Knock it off. (Luke crosses to Luke, and crouches down in front of him. He tries to catch Lucky's eyes, but Lucky refuses to let him. Luke lets out his breath) I'm not some fancy Cassadine-paid shrink flown in from the ends of the earth to talk to you for ten minutes and tell you everything you should know about yourself. I'm your father. And you can't change that because you're feeling guilty, Lucky.

Lucky: (laughing sharply) Guilty. (He laughs again, looking down) Man, I think I passed "guilty" a good two years back. (Lucky looks over at Luke, finally. His eyes are bright, shinning with unshed tears) What the hell do you think you're doing?

Luke: I'm trying to bring you back.

Lucky: (nodding) Back. Right. To what? To Port Charles? To the house?

Luke: To yourself. You're saying you don't know where my son went? Well I can see him. I look in your eyes, and I can see you. You can't hide from me.

Lucky: (weakly) You want to test that theory?

Luke: Don't push me away.

Lucky: Push you away? (Lucky laughs, frowning bitterly) Nah. Wouldn't waste the energy. (He looks up at the sky) Usually doesn't take that much to just get you to walk out. (Luke breaths that in. Ah, man... )

Luke: (low) Lucky...

Lucky: What? (he looks over at Luke) What? What are you going to say to me? That you had to go? That you did it for me? So that you could... what? Spare me your wrath? (Lucky leans forward, challenging him) What were you sparing me? What did you want to do? What? Yell at me? Tell me I betrayed you? Or more? Did you want to hit me, Dad? Is that it? (Luke turns away, this time, shaken.) That's it, huh? You wanted to hurt me so you --

Luke: (through gritted teeth) I NEVER wanted to hurt you. (He looks back at Lucky, tears glistening in his own eyes) NEVER. Don't you know me better than that, boy?

Lucky: Come on, Dad. I've seen it in your eyes. It's not that hard -- You look like you want to bounce me off ever wall in the room.

Luke: Ok. OK -- Taking my own advice here. You want me to step up to the plate? (Lucky says nothing. He presses his lips together tightly) Yeah, sometimes, this last year? I've wanted to shake you. I've wanted to do any damn thing I COULD to get you to talk to me! And I tried asking questions, I tried NOT asking questions. I tried confrontation, and I tried staying out of your way. You pushed me and pushed me and pushed --

Lucky: And THAT is what you're fighting for? More of that?

Luke: Yeah! Yeah -- if that's what I'm going to get? Damn straight, that's what I'm fighting for! (Lucky stares at Luke, looking like his heart is right in his throat. He opens his mouth, and closes it again, not having any words. Luke reaches out, slowly, to put his hand on Lucky's shoulder. The second he touches him, Lucky shrugs him off angrily, and pushes himself to his feet. Luke stumbles backwards, and has to catch himself to keep from falling over)

Lucky: You're insane! (Lucky takes a few steps back to the door, Luke calling after him and he pulls himself back up to his feet)

Luke: Lucky! (Lucky spins around, fire in his eyes)

Lucky: No. No, you are! You're trying to pretend none of this ever happened, aren't you? Come to Greece, collect your son from the clutches of the evil Cassadines, and jet back to PC so that we can WHAT? WHAT???? Mom is in a coma! We don't know what is going to happen to her. And I'm not some ten year old kid selling worm farms and looking at you like you hung the God Damned Moon! I didn't grow up to follow in your footsteps, I grew up to become your worst nightmare, and you won't even acknowledge what I am!

Luke: A traitor. Is that it? (Lucky takes a step back like he's just been slapped. He pulls in his breath sharply and turns away from Luke. There. He finally heard it. And it cuts just as deep as he thought it would. He laughs and it's acid.)

Lucky: Yeah. Yeah, that's exactly it.

Luke: I don't buy it. (Lucky looks back at him, incredulous)

Lucky: You want the facts? I can give them to you. Alphabetical or chronological order -- Take your pick.

Luke: I know what you did, Lucky.

Lucky: Do you? Do you REALLY? What did Emily tell you? Are you going to share THAT with me?

Luke: She told me... (Luke stops) You don't go holding this against her --

Lucky: Don't tell me what to do!

Luke: That little girl is the best thing that's ever likely to happen to you --

Lucky: YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT??? GOD, Dad. Do you know what I've put her through? Did you see the bruises on her? All the way up her back, around her neck... (He stops, having to catch his breath) She was thrown against a rock. Her throat was squeezed until she couldn't breath. That happened because she was with me! It happened because I needed her too much to just leave her behind.

Luke: Don't do this to yourself.

Lucky: (pushing on) She collapsed on the way to the island. Did she tell you that? She got heat stroke because she was so freaked out at the idea of being a BURDEN to us that she pushed herself too hard. And she has three cracked ribs and a cerebral hemotoma because I was dumb enough to think I could just love someone and let it BE that way. I forgot that I was a Spencer and there were strings. Love someone -- sentence them to a LIFETIME of misery! And I know, I'm going to make good on that promise, because there is NO WAY ON EARTH I will ever leave her. (He laughs again, though there is no humor in it -- it's nearly a sob) I'll love her until it kills her. Because I don't have it IN me to do anything else. (he puts his arms out) There you go. How's that for cold honest truth?

Luke: (after a long, stunned, moment) Like looking in a mirror. (Luke takes a step towards him) Only I took it one, step further. I had children with her. (He shakes his head) You're no weaker than any man for that one, Lucky. Love makes a rich man beg, makes a poor man crawl... Welcome to the club. (Lucky turns away from his father, looking pale. He puts a shaking hand over his stomach)

Lucky: (shaking his head) I should...

Luke: What? Be able to resist? Look into those big brown eyes and not want to just melt right into her? Let her take everything away, make everything look bright and shiny again? You'd be a bigger fool than any son I'd admit to raising if you could do that. (Lucky looks at his father, defiantly)

Lucky: I did. Almost.

Luke: Caroline.

Lucky: Yeah. Yeah. That's what happened, you know. I was looking right into those big brown eyes... And blew everything to smithereens.

Luke: Yeah. Well -- that was stupid. You learned. (Lucky snorts)

Lucky: You don't get it. You REALLY don't. I don't just do stuff like that once! Try to count it off, Dad. How many secrets? How many lies? Can you even keep track of them all? I framed my girlfriend's brother for arson. Why? (Lucky shrugs) Why not? And then -- I started working for Jason. That went over pretty well with everyone, didn't it? And then I didn't tell you about Hannah -- and when I did, I only told you half of it. Do you GET it? It's a pattern. Hell -- I'm bordering on pathological.

Luke: You kept a secret.

Lucky: (laughing, a low and spooky sound) Oh, we both know it was more than that! It was THE secret! Dad -- That first day. That first day Nikolas showed up -- do you remember that?

Luke: Yeah, Lucky. Yeah. I do.

Lucky: (feverishly) I hated him. I hated him like I didn't know I COULD hate. The only thing I wanted was for someone to make him disappear. And I KNEW you understood. I knew you wanted the same thing. (Luke doesn't say anything) I could have gotten rid of him, Dad. You know I --

Luke: Your mother never would have allowed it.

Lucky: Are you SURE of that? Are you really? (Lucky's throat closes up. He can't do it. He just can't. He turns away, tears stinging his eyes) Mom was lost. She was lost and she was scared.

Luke: And that's why you decided to protect her. I get that, Lucky. I do.

Lucky: (frustrated) I didn't just protect HER, Dad! (He looks at him) I could have destroyed him. I could have taken away all the things he took away from me -- security, family, that God Damned TITLE. All of it.

Luke: No --

Lucky: OR -- I could have let Stefan make the decision. Keep it all and leave... Or stay and lose everything. What do YOU think he would have done? (Luke says nothing) I knew this. The second I HEARD him say the words, I knew I held Nikolas's life in my hands. NIKOLAS'S. Not Mom's. And I protected her, sure. I protected a family I couldn't believe in anymore -- yeah. (The words twist in his mouth, coming out bitter and contaminated) Maybe, day one... That's what I was doing. But I kept this a secret for two years! TWO. And it wasn't just for Mom. I couldn't DO what Nikolas did to me. I couldn't take his life and his position and his FAMILY away from him. I did it for HIM, Dad. I did it for Nikolas just as much as I did it for anyone else. I did the same thing Mom did. I sold out everything our family was supposed to believe in, because of him.

Luke: (shaking his head) I can't see it that way.

Lucky: Then you're lying to yourself.

Luke: There was too much at STAKE, Lucky. And your mother had no right to ask you to --

Lucky: She didn't ask. Not once. I decided what I was going to do.

Luke: She shouldn't have let you!

Lucky: Yeah? So it's all HER fault, huh? When all else fails, let's blame the woman in the coma!

Luke: That is NOT what I'm saying!

Lucky: You're not seeing it. You're not looking at it the right way. You just AREN'T!

Luke: How do you know that? What? Because I don't hate you for it? Because I think I understand?

Lucky: (raw) There is so much more than that.

Luke: I know.

Lucky: You don't KNOW! You were in there, you looked at him and said "Face yourself". I can't DO that, Dad. I tried, and I CAN'T!

Luke: It's not the same, Lucky.

Lucky: Yeah, it IS. I made a choice! And then... I couldn't live with it! I turned around and I hurt every single person who mattered to me. And if it didn't take the first time, I tried again.

Luke: But we're all still here.

Lucky: Mom's not. (Luke takes a step back.)

Luke: Don't blame yourself for that. (Lucky laughs, shaking his head)

Lucky: Why was she THERE, Dad? Who was she looking for?

Luke: It wasn't like that, Lucky.

Lucky: Come on, Dad! I might as well have pushed her myself!

Luke: She was looking for Helena! That's what she left Port Charles for, Lucky. She knew you were going to be Ok, she trusted you.

Lucky: Look where that landed her.

Luke: She had a choice, Lucky.

Lucky: She only had to make that choice because I wasn't strong enough.

Luke: It wasn't your job! Don't you get that? None of this was YOUR job. You can't protect everyone every minute. (Luke steps back to him, getting right in his face) I let your mother walk into the fog off the end of a dock and disappear, Lucky! You're looking for the genesis of all this? There it is! (Lucky looks away) You're not it! This started before you were born. And if I'd done MY job, you wouldn't have gone through any of this! You think I don't understand you, Lucky? I AM you! (Lucky shakes his head)

Lucky: You just don't know what happened. You don't know what ... Was... (Lucky falters. His throat is tightening up again, like a vice.)

Luke: You want to know what Emily said to me? You want to know what I've got burning a hole in my gut right now?

Lucky: (hoarsely) Save it.

Luke: She told me that I never let you know it was Ok for you to love your brother. (Lucky freezes. For a long moment, he's convinced he can't hear because the world has gone entirely silent. He can't hear the cars there were on the road moments earlier, or the wind. Nothing. Then he hears his father's voice again) That's what she said. That it tore you up. I made you think you had to love one or the other. (Lucky tries to breathe. Simple task. Easy. Just pull in the air. Instead he only manages to open his mouth. The tears start falling quickly from his eyes. They are hot on his face, and unexpected. He turns away. Luke feels like someone's just shoved a hot knife into his gut) That's what happened, isn't it? You saw your brother on the ground with a bullet in him, and you suddenly knew you cared. You saw a chance (Luke's voice cracks, rich with emotion) You saw a chance to tear that family apart and you couldn't do it. And you couldn't tell me about it either, because you thought I'd make you choose. (Luke coughs, tears starting to run down his face) And you know... I'm not sure I wouldn't have. I can't say that, Lucky. I just can't say that for sure. Because even now, I can feel it ripping me up. (Luke's face contorts as he tries to maintain his composure -- or what's left of it) And that doesn't make me much of a man, does it? That I can be THIS threatened because my son loves his brother. (Lucky shakes his head hard. He can't answer.) You do, don't you? (Lucky's answer is a choking sob. He covers his face with one hand, the other clenched tight into a fist) That's what this was all about, huh? You came here so that he wouldn't get himself killed. But you couldn't have lived with that. You didn't want to lose your brother.

Lucky: Go away.

Luke: Look! Look at me. (Lucky doesn't. Can't. Luke reaches out and cups his face in his hand, trying to turn Lucky's head to his. Lucky resists, and Luke steps up to him, taking his son's face in his hands and turning it to face him. Lucky fights this a moment, then just drops his hand and looks up into his father's eyes. He sucks in his breath hard, making a sound like a choking hiccup. He's shaking, uncontrollably. Luke lowers his head and looks into his son's eyes intensely) I'm not going away. I'm never going away. Maybe you CAN scare the rest of them off if you try hard enough -- But I'm your father. And I love you. Do you hear that? I LOVE you. That's not even a choice I make, that's the way it is. I love you and I will love you beyond my last breath. Do you get that? You will. Once day you'll have a kid, and you'll know that loving them is bigger than anything -- it's bigger than you are, and you can't change that, Lucky! You just can't. (Lucky stares into his father's eyes, shaking with every fiber of his being. He swallows hard, tears still streaming down his cheeks. Luke reaches out and pulls Lucky into his arms, crushing him against his chest in a bear hug. Lucky's arms hang useless at his side for a moment, then move quickly up to embrace his father. He buries his head in Luke's shoulder and cries two years worth of terror away. He's not thinking anymore. He's not capable of it. He just holds his father tightly, and lets his father hold him)

Stefan stares at Nikolas with incredulity. The connection between recent events, and Nikolas's words, is an easy one to make, but Stefan's brain simply does not want to make the logic leap. He shakes his head slowly.

Stefan: No.

Nik: Father.

Stefan: No, you -- You couldn't have.

Nik: It was me. I did it. I took a gun, I aimed it, I fired it. I did it. I killed her.

Stefan: Nikolas, you were drugged.

Nik: Nonetheless. (Stefan shakes his head. Nikolas's demeanor is frighteningly -- uncharacteristically! -- calm. He simply can't reconcile this with the boy he knows)

Stefan: Lucky. You're covering for him -- Nikolas, I assure you, it's not necessary --

Nik: I'm not covering for him.

Stefan: As far as I'm concerned, he did our family a service, and he won't --

Nik: I'm NOT covering for him! Look at me! (Stefan does so. His eyes are a little frenetic) It was ME. (He holds up his hand, the medallion still hanging from the chain threaded through his fingers) It was this hand that did it. I shot her.

Stefan: Why?

Nik: You can't be seriously asking me that question.

Stefan: (shaking his head) Yes. Yes, I can -- You are simply not the sort of person --

Nik: Who kills his own grandmother in cold blood? (Nikolas smirks bitterly) Maybe not. Nothing about it felt cold. But it was either shoot her... Or shoot Lucky. (he looks up at Stefan meeting his father's eyes) And I wasn't going to do that.

Stefan: I cannot fathom how... How you found yourself --

Nik: In Helena's chambers with my brother and a loaded gun? I'll tell you. Once I work up the energy. (he lies back on the headboard) It's a little convoluted.

Stefan: Dear God, what did she do to you?

Nik: A lot happened on that boat. One thing in particular... I think concerns you.

Stefan: I imagine a great deal of it concerns me! Nikolas --

Nik: You haven't told me to stop calling you father. Why is that? (Stefan stops. He looks at Nikolas, then turns his head)

Stefan: It... hadn't occurred to me. (he looks momentarily confused.)

Nik: It doesn't bother you.

Stefan: Nikolas! No. (He reaches out and seizes his son's hand) Never. This is a secret we kept out of necessity! For your safety. That threat has passed. (Nikolas's face clouds, as he searches Stefan's face)

Nik: You mean that. You ... Really do mean that.

Stefan: Yes! Nikolas... What is this about?

Nik: She knew. (Stefan draws back, his hand still covering's Nikolas's.)

Stefan: She...

Nik: She told me everything. That she was the one who told Katherine where to look. That she had always known that I was not Stavros's son. That she had chosen for me to be raised as the Prince all the same. That she didn't care. That you... that you didn't desire the title, and you chose to use me as a puppet that you could manipulate. And when Katherine found out the truth... (Nikolas frowns, bowing his head. He takes a long breath, then looks up at Stefan) Was she pregnant? When she died?

Stefan: (after a stunned silence) I never wanted you to know that.

Nik: So that wasn't a lie.

Stefan: It seemed cruel... to let you know that you had lost a brother or sister, along with your Step...

Nik: Mother. (He stares down at his hands. His father's Cassadine crest ring.) You lost a son. Or a daughter. (Stefan says nothing) I'm sorry. (Stefan nods, stiffly, unable to make any words) She told me you had them killed. (Stefan looks up sharply) She painted a pretty picture. And I was drugged, so... Emotionally, all I could think of was... how much you'd lied to me. Over and over and over... and how hard it was to know what the truth was with you. (Nikolas looks at Stefan, his expression pained) I don't know what to think about you anymore. I used ... to see the entire world the way you wanted me to. Through your eyes -- Your version of events. Half of them lies, or censored beyond recognition. (Stefan opens his mouth to protest) No. Please. Let me talk. (Nikolas's words are soft, but firm. Stefan sits back, after a moment, withdrawing his hand. Nikolas reaches out immediately and takes it again, holding it tightly in his. A lifeline) It... doesn't really matter, because, in my whole life, I only ever had you to rely on. And when I tried to rely on other people, it went badly. So I know this. I know you always tried to protect me. I know you tried to do what you thought was best. And I know you love me. But... the rest. The rest is a mystery. And maybe it always will be. And... (Nikolas looks up at him, meeting his eyes) I can accept it. It is what you are... And I love you. You're my father. You were before the blood tests. No matter what name I called you, I always knew that. (Stefan's eyes fill with tears. He squeezes Nikolas's hand in response, and nods. It's enough. Nikolas smiles with some difficulty, and lowers his head) I know I haven't been... Forthright. I wasn't sure I could be. (he smiles slightly) No. I knew I couldn't be. I... I had to go after her. (He looks back at him) She killed Hannah.

Stefan: I know.

Nik: She'd kill again. I knew that. And... (Nikolas takes a long breath) I... I need something from you. I know... there is a lot we need to discuss, and talk about and... decide on.

Stefan: It can wait.

Nik: Good. Because I'm not doing it right now. Right now... I... I just need to know that you and Luke Spencer... That it's over between you. That you are finished with Timoria, and that this isn't going to keep going on. Lucky and I... We... have a peace. It's not much more than that, and I'm not asking you to understand it. But I am asking you to tolerate it. And not to engage Luke Spencer. I can take care of myself. And he is no threat to me.

Stefan: You are certain of that.

Nik: I am certain that Lucky and Lulu wouldn't allow him to hurt me. And... My mother --

Stefan: Nikolas.

Nik: (haltingly) I remember. You don't have to tell me. I know she's in a coma. Lucky told me.

Stefan: They don't know --

Nik: I know you've already done this. But I'm going to say it anyway. (He looks at Stefan) I want the best doctors in the world brought here... I want their diagnosis. Their course of treatment. Then I want everything moved back to Port Charles. As soon as it is possible. She can begin her course of treatment there, whatever that turns out to be. With everyone she loves around her. (Nikolas looks at Stefan, his expression far more vulnerable than his words. His father smiles back at him. It is a strange bond, theirs, Nikolas thinks at his father's smile. Canyons of misunderstandings lie between them more often than not... and yet. Somehow, something always makes it acceptable. He doesn't understand it -- doesn't care to. Cassadines are Cassadines. Lucky's always had a point... It's a Gulf between them he was naive to think could be crossed. And so it remains... When all else is in rules, he has Stefan. And vice versa. He feels Stefan squeeze his hand again)

Stefan: You are a Prince. To your core, Nikolas. Titles aside.

Nik: I am what you raised me to be.

Stefan: And I would not change that. Not for the world.

Outside the Hospital.

Lucky's head is spinning. He sits on the small curb he tripped on coming out the door of the hospital stairwell, and leans his back against the door. He's looking down at the ground, but he doesn't see it. He can't see much of anything. The world seems to sway around him. He's aware of a dark figure approaching, but doesn't move. Luke stops in front of him, and holds out a bottle for Lucky. After a long moment, lucky looks up, manages to focus his eyes on the bottle, and takes it from Luke. He twists off the top, and takes a swig of the contents. He nearly chokes on the contents, and pitches his head forward, sputtering.

Lucky: Jesus!

Luke: Brings you back to your senses.

Lucky: (choking) Little strong.

Luke: Ginger will do that to ya.

Lucky: (looking at the bottle -- Jamaican Ginger Beer) Uh huh. (he blinks again. Oddly effective. He takes another swallow, prepared for it this time. He looks over at his father) What's the matter? Couldn't find any paint thinner?

Luke: (smiling wanly) There you go... I recognize that voice. (Lucky's face clouds, and he turns away. Luke sits down next to his son and puts a hand on his shoulder. For the first time in recent memory, Lucky doesn't shrug it off. He just stares straight ahead, taking occasional swigs from the bottle. It is having a soothing effect, in it's way. The burn in his throat is just masochistic enough for his current sensibilities.)

Lucky: You don't know me anymore, Dad. You might... (Lucky stops. He can't make the word come out) You might be able to look the other way, or whatever... But I can't. I live with this every day of my life. And I know I'm not the same person anymore.

Luke: Yeah, well. People grow up. And... when you're not driving me crazy, I like the man you've become. He's a hell of a guy.

Lucky: (sarcastically) Oh, a real saint. Yeah, that's me. (Lucky looks over at him) did Emily tell you even a fraction of what I've put her through? A hell of a guy. That's the operative word there -- hell.

Luke: You're doing pretty well with that self-pity thing, huh? (Lucky looks over at him sharply. He looks hurt a moment, then the look fades into a bitter smirk)

Lucky: Don't knock it. Sometimes, it's all I've got.

Luke: What I could tell from talking to Emily... She thinks a lot of you. So you can't be that bad.

Lucky: Yeah. Well. (Lucky takes another swig of the ginger beer) She loves me. It clouds her judgment. (Lucky winces, and looks down into the bottle at the pale liquid) She knows me, though. Better than I want her to, sometimes.

Luke: You really think you've hurt her, huh?

Lucky: I know I have. (Lucky's voice cracks on the last word)

Luke: You were right - what you said before. You do have to face this, Lucky. You hurt her. You hurt Lulu. You hurt your mother, you hurt me... and you hurt yourself. A whole lot. (Lucky squeezes his eyes shut, and leans his head forward.) But I hurt you first.

Lucky: No.

Luke: No, it's true. I... I didn't want to see what was going on around me. I tore a strip off your mother for the same thing, but... I'm guilty of it too. I shouldn't have made it so hard for you.

Lucky: I do what I want to do, Dad. I always have.

Luke: You do what you think the Spencer thing to do is. And I have always been damn proud of you for that. But sometimes you put me to shame, boy. I need you to know... Cowboy?

Lucky: Yeah?

Luke: You don't have to feel guilty anymore. I forgive you. (Lucky closes his eyes, shaking his head)

Lucky: (a whisper) Don't. Please don't.

Luke: No, you have to face this, Lucky. You have to look it straight in the eyes and tell it to go to hell. You did this. You did a lot of things. You hurt a lot of people. And they forgave you. I forgive you. You're the only one holding on to all this hate. And it's gonna kill you. And I am telling you know... As your father... That if you hurt yourself over this any more than you already have... That's something I won't forgive. Because you are stronger than that, Lucky. You have it in you to go on. And if you don't, it's because you want to stop. You want to give up. And I can't believe that of you. You say I don't know you? I know your core. I know your heart. Those things don't change. (He pats Lucky's back and stands up) You think about it.