| Chapter 9: Lucy, who hates just sitting around and watching, decided to go out and look for a place that fit Bobbie�s needs. She hit pay dirt three days later with a little help from someone that works at her company. They owned a few small houses for rent just a few blocks down from the lighthouse. The last tenant moved out just days ago and they were about to put the place on the market. Lucy told them to hold off and took Bobbie to the house right away. The place was someone furnished and it had all the updated kitchen appliances. As the women walked around, Bobbie commented on the place. �Well, it does have three bed rooms and a big back yard. Does the land lord take dogs?� Bobbie asked thinking of Foster. Lucky would never forgive her if he had to give up his best friend. In fact, she knew the dog would come with them even if she liked it or not. �Yes, I talked to the landlord and told them a little about your problem. I said that your nephew had a dog but he was very well behaved. They said as long as no damage was done they didn�t mind.� Lucy told her. �Good, you know how much Lucky loves that dog.� Bobbie said as they moved around the house. It was a one-floor type house with very little storage space but Bobbie needed very little. What they didn�t need here could be stored at Luke�s house or the brownstone. The reason she didn�t take one of those places was simple. Tony had her apartment and Lucky wasn�t ready to live back at the house. The mere mention of the place turned the kid white. The walls were all white and the rugs were a neutral color. It would help to put some of her old things in the place and not worry that they wouldn�t match. The bedrooms were a little small but that really didn�t matter plus the rent was within her price range. �Call your friend and get me a lease.� Bobbie said after they finished looking around. �I�ll take it.� �I have one with me. I figured you would want it.� Lucy said with warm smile. �I own you one, Lucy. If it wasn�t for you. I would have most probably lost Lucky.� Bobbie said as she signed the papers on the kitchen counter. �Don�t worry about it. I enjoyed helping you out and besides, I couldn�t watch that kid go to a foster home. It would kill me,� Lucy said with a sad smile on her face. �Yeah, and Luke would kill me.� Bobbie said just wincing at the idea of her brother�s reaction. �If we don�t kill him first. We wouldn�t have to do any of this if he would haven�t tried to turn his brain into a sponge.� Lucy gripped. �Well, I don�t know what could be worse now that I read Laura�s journal entry. Luke getting drunk or Luke killing Stefan.� �You got a point. Either way, Lucky would have ended up with you.� Lucy said and the two women headed out of the house. They had lots to do before the week was up and time was running out. It was the length of time the judge gave Bobbie to get Lucky settled in a home or she would place him in one for her. She wouldn�t have that if Kevin hadn�t stepped in and guaranteed his well being. After paying the deposit and this and next months rent, Bobbie spent most of the day getting this set up for the move. She hired someone to clean the house and even sent the copy of the lease to the judge. She was hoping that it would ease the judge�s tension and give her the time she need to get things set up. Bobbie had stopped in at Kelly�s before heading to the hospital for the late shift. She was surprised and delighted to see an old friend sitting at the counter. �Jake?� Bobbie said in a surprised tone of voice as she got closer to the counter. �Hi, Bobbie.� Jake Meyer said with a warm smile and gave his old friend a hug. �When did you get back?� Bobbie asked as she sat down beside him. �Today and Ruby is nice enough to give me a place to stay. I�m back for good.� Jake said. �What happened to you and Kelly?� Bobbie asked, �or is that too hard to talk about.� �We just fell out of love. I need a new start and I thought about the hunts back here. I hear you are in some trouble.� Jake said changing the subject because the past was just hard for him to deal with right now. �Yeah, I have to get divorce, keep my nephew out of foster care, and set new life.� �I can help. I�m still a lawyer and work has always helped me forget things,� Jake offered. �You better not offer unless you mean it. I�m desperate.� Bobbie said looking at him to see if it was a joke or not. �I mean it. I heard from Ruby about what happened and I want to help. Tell me the details.� Jake said and Bobbie told him. He listened like a lawyer, asking a question or two along the way. After she was done, he thought a little longer and then commented. �I�ll call the judge now and inform the right channels that I have your case now. I think with you having a lease they should give you time to get things settled. It also helps that Lucky is living with his doctor as you do this. It will be an on your plus side because of it. As for your divorce, Cassadine was a fool for not having you sign a prenuptial agreement. We can really nail him, especially with Laura�s journals. Also, I might not get a criminal case brought against Mr. Cassadine but I can file a wrongful death suit for Lucky and sue for big money. If that Journal was true, Stefan forced her out of town and that lead to her death. If the plane crash is found out to be more then an accident then I think Cassadine might end up in a lot of hot water.� �You think, he caused it?� Bobbie asked. The idea had never crossed her mind but now that she thought about it, it was possible. If Stefan couldn�t have Laura then no one could. It would be right up Stefan�s alley. �I�m not saying he did or didn�t. I�m just pointing out things to you. I will say that if he did, Mr. Cassadine is in a world of hurt.� Jake told her and he reached over and grabbed the phone. He wanted to get on Bobbie�s case right way and she had to get to work. After penning a quick agreement, Bobbie took off. She was glad Jake was back in town and felt better now that he had her case. Alexis could be a tough person to go up against in court and Jake might be the one to beat her. �He is where?� Stefan yelled at the man standing in front of him. He had been looking for Nikolas for days now and had just learned where he was at. �Please, Mr. Cassadine,� The man said, a little unnerved at the moment, �I am just telling you what I saw. I saw the young master walking with your mother to her yacht. From what I gather, he has been there for a few days now.� �Get out of my sight,� Stefan said through his teeth. He was beyond mad. He was outraged. He knew he had to calm down because going up against his mother this angry would only work against him. He had to deal with her in a calm and rational manner if he was to win. Stefan grabbed his coat and headed right to the yacht. There was no way he was going to allow his son to stay with that viper any longer then necessary. Helena was sitting in her living area ready to greet Stefan when he arrived. �Mother, where is Nikolas?� Stefan demanded as he walked into the room. �You mean your son?� Helena said with a cold smile on her face. Stefan went completely and totally white. He looked worse then anyone that has been dead for hours. Helena smiled at the sight of him. She knew this little bit of news rattled him completely. �Now, that I have your attention, I want you to sit down.� Helena ordered. At first Stefan didn�t move, he just stood there frozen in his tracks, but slowly he started to comply because he knew she had him. At least for now. �Where is he?� Stefan asked trying to regain his composer.� �With Ari on an outing. I knew you would show up as soon as I saw your man. I figured we need a little time alone to talk.� Helena said pouring him and herself a drink. �No thanks,� Stefan said waving off the drink. �I remember the last time you poured me a drink.� �You are learning, but too bad it wasn�t as quick as you should have. I�m very disappointed in you Stefan. You were doing so good until you let that little weakness of yours get in the way,� Helena said without a hint of love or kindness in her voice. �What�s that?� Stefan asked. �Human kindness. I know of Bobbie�s little outburst and no Cassadine man would allow a woman to talk to him in that manner. You should have put her in her place then and there but you didn�t. So, now, she has moved out and took the one hold you had on Luke with her.� �Your right, I remember the times you talked back to my father and the punishment you got for it,� Stefan said coldly and for a moment. Helena did finch at the memories. �I was different. Bobbie was your wife in name only. She was a pawn and should have be treated like one. Now, I am going to correct your mistakes and teach you how to be a real Cassadine.� Helena said with a cold lifeless tone. �You don�t control me. I�m still the regent and I want Nikolas returned to me this very moment,� Stefan commanded. He finally found enough courage to stand up to his mother at least for the moment. �Very good, but good enough. Here read this,� Helena said throwing a file on the table beside him. Stefan picked it up and started to read it. He got colder and very unsteady again. �You see,� Helena went on. �I arranged for a little accident for the love Lasha. I did it all in your name. When the authorities come looking for you. They will have all the proof they need but that is if I allow it. You want to stay out of jail; you will do as I say. Understand?� �Yes,� Stefan said feeling his world crash down around him. He knew from that moment that she had all the cards and he could do nothing about it. �Good. Nikolas and I will be moving into Wyndemere within the week. I will bring my staff and you will send the others back home. Have you heard from you �wife?� Helena asked him. �Not yet, but it is a matter of time,� Stefan told her. �I assume you had her sign a prenuptial agreement?� Helena asked him, but from the look she got from Stefan, It was clear that he hadn�t. �You idiot.� Helena said, getting up and suddenly slapping her son across the face. At first, Stefan was going to attack her but then he stopped himself. He just looked at her with cold and hate filled eyes. He knew now that the only mistake he ever made was leave her alive. �Well, this is another of your messes I will have to clean up as well. She will of course hire a lawyer and try to get all the money she can. I have a way to make sure that it will not happen. Thankfully, she has a dark past and dark enough to have lost of secrets lying around.� Helena said thoughtfully. �Let me, handle, Barbara.� �No, I am in charge. You will do as I say or Stefan, I warn you, I could make sure that Nikolas pays for your crimes against Stavros.� Helena said coldly. �NO, You wouldn�t,� Stefan said as really fear ripped right threw him. �Yes, I would. You made this mess by sleeping with that little slut Lasha. She and you caused my son�s death and I am going to make you pay for it. Now, go to the house and make the proper arrangements and take Clause and Sarge with you. They are around to make sure you do as you are told." Helena commanded. Stefan took one look at the men and realized that he was trapped at the moment. He got up and left the yacht without saying another word. He was thinking of ways to get rid of his mother and save his son but so far nothing really workable came to mind. Chapter 10 Back to Monster Within |