Nikolas ducked quickly back into the cooridoor as an orderly came down the hall. It was eons past visiting hours and sneaking into Lucky's room was going to be a lot easier than sneaking into the Spencer home.
Nikolas looked down the hall to make sure no one was coming and started towards Lucky's room again. He'd felt so uncomfortable having the laptop at Wyndamere that he'd finally had to sneak out to bring it to Lucky. He sure was doing a lot of sneaking around since he'd befriended Lucky. He smiled at how much fun he was having, who could have guessed he liked the cloak and dagger game? Nikolas finally made his way to Lucky's room without being noticed. He quickly opened the door and went inside, slamming the door in his haste. He looked out the little window in the door, checking to make sure no one had scene him come in and spoke towards the bed.
''Sorry, Lucky, I didn't mean to wake you up. I just wanted to bring you the laptop.'' Nikolas turned and stopped when he saw the bed was empty. He glanced at the bathroom door, but there wasn't a light on. He went over and knocked anyway. ''Lucky? You okay?''
Nothing. Nikolas turned and glanced around the room. There was no one here. Where had Lucky gone? He checked his watch, one a.m. Surely Lucky wouldn't check himself out, would he? Then again, he could have, after all, he didn't know he was being poisoned. Nikolas was sure that if Lucky knew about it, he would have told him. At least that's what he tried to convince himself. So where could Lucky be? They couldn't be doing more tests on him this late at night, could they? Nikolas frowned, he couldn't exactly go ask the night nurse. He wasn't even supposed to be here. Nikolas shrugged. What's the worst that could happen? They throw him out? He'd already given Lucky the laptop, well, it was here anyway. He'd just go ask the night nurse where Lucky was and then go from there.
Nikolas laughed, So much for the cloak and dagger routine. Nikolas frowned and looked back, his hand on the doorknob. What was that? Was there someone in here? ''Hello?'' There is was again, a small moan. Nikolas dropped the doorknob. ''Lucky? Are you here? Where are you?''
Nikolas looked on the bed again, no one was there. Where was Lucky? He could swear he'd heard him. Nikolas flipped on the light and dropped on all fours, peering under the bed. His mouth gaped open as he made eye contact with a bleary eyed Lucky.
''I thought you'd never find me.'' Lucky's eyes dropped shut again. Nikolas scrambled to his feet and ran over to his brother.
''Lucky!'' What had happened? Had he fallen out of bed? Where were the stupid nurses? Nikolas tenderly turned Lucky over and was gifted by another groan. Lucky didn't open his eyes again, despite Nikolas slapping him lightly. Nikolas grabbed the pillow from the bed and placed it under Lucky's head and covered him with the blanket and ran out the door.
********************
General Hospital
Amy whistled as she walked to Lucky's room. Sometimes she really liked working the night shift, it could be a lot quieter. So far, all she'd had to do was her rounds. It was that time again. Amy frowned as she saw Nikolas barrel out of Lucky's room.
''Nikolas? What are you doing here?'' She went on, barely taking a breath, overriding Nikolas' attempts to steer her into Lucky's room. ''I mean, I know he's your brother and you two have been hanging out, but it's after visiting hours and Lucky needs his rest. He must be sleeping well tonight, I haven't had to come once to answer his call button. Last night, it was up and down, up and down. But tonight, he's been quiet. I'm just going to check his vitals. I hate to wake him, so I waited as long as I could, but I have to go now, doctor's orders and all. But you know, I'm really surprised...'' Amy stopped abruptly, her eyes bugging in surprise as Nikolas slammed his hand over her mouth.
''Amy! Lucky needs medical attention, now! Nod once if you understand.'' Amy blinked and nodded. Nikolas removed his hand and pulled her into Lucky's room, ignoring her constant stream of dialogue.
''Really, Nikolas, you didn't have to manhandle me, you could've just said something. What is wrong with Lucky? I can't believe you did that...''
********************************************************************
Inside Lucky's room
Nikolas watched quietly as the doctors worked on Lucky. He glanced at Amy who was all business now, and not talking. Nikolas was grateful for small favors. Lucky was conscious, but pale and quietly letting the doctors administer to him. That if anything, scared Nikolas. Lucky was not the quiet type. All in all, it was deadly silent in the hospital room, except for the doctors occasional command to each other. Lucky glanced over and made eye contact with Nikolas, smiling just a little and closing his eyes. He opened them again and watched Nikolas, not saying anything, a thoughtful expression on his face. He was ignoring the doctors. Finally, the doctors excused themselves and left to ''discuss his case.''
Amy fussed around Lucky. ''I can't believe you were just lying on the floor all that time. We're definatley going to have to start checking on you more often. Why didn't you use the call button? I guess you couldn't reach it. Honestly, Lucky, don't get out of bed without help from now on! You aren't ready yet.'' Amy pulled the covers up to Lucky's chin and ruffled his hair. ''Do you need anything else?''
Lucky nodded no. ''Well, if you do, I'll put the call button right here by your hand where you can reach it. And I'm going to be checking on you quite a bit from now on.'' Amy glanced at Nikolas. ''I suppose you can go ahead and stay for a while. But don't tire him out. He really does need his rest, but maybe you can make sure he stays in bed. I'll be back in about ten minutes to check on him.''
Lucky and Nikolas both watched as Amy sailed out of the room, still talking in amazement that Lucky had been on the floor. Nikolas walked over to the bed and sat on the corner. ''You okay now?'' Lucky continued to watch Nikolas intently. ''What?''
''This is the second time you've done that.''
''Done what?''
''Been the only one around to help me. I'm not used to depending on anyone other than my family.''
Nikolas looked out the window. I thought I was family. Lucky frowned. ''Hey, ''I didn't mean it that way. I'm just not used to thinking of you as part of my family. I guess I'm gonna have to start. Lately you've been the only one fitting the bill.''
Nikolas patted Lucky's leg awkwardly and both boys sat there in an uncomfortable silence. ''Hey, I brought the laptop. Did you see?''
''I was kinda busy.''
Nikolas laughed. ''Oh..yeah. I suppose you were.''
''How did you get it?''
Nikolas grinned triumphantly. ''I broke into your house.''
''You what?''
''You heard me Spencer, I broke in, got the laptop, and left, no problem at all.''
Lucky eyed him suspiciously. ''No problem, huh?''
''It's here, isn't it?''
Lucky laughed. ''Your sounding more and more like a Spencer every day.''
Nikolas' eyes widened in horror.
********************
Lucky's hospital room
Nikolas leaned over Lucky's shoulder, peering intently at the laptop.
"So you just push type out what you want, hit that button, and it finds all the information about it?"
"Well, you still have to sift through it to find the closest one, but yeah, that's basically it. Have you ever chatted before? There's a really great one I go to, I could show it to you."
Nikolas walked over to the window , drawn by the sunrise. A new dawn.
"Lucky, I have a question to ask you."
Lucky looked up from the chat room he'd been trying to explain to Nikolas.
"Shoot."
"What's wrong with you?" "You want the short list? Well, I don't have my driver's license yet, which is ridiculous, I know how to drive."
Nikolas turned to face Lucky, interrupting him. "I'm talking about medically."
Lucky frowned. "I don't know for sure. The doctors keep running tests, so I guess they aren't sure yet either."
"Your dad came over to see my uncle yesterday."
Lucky looked away. So that's what had made dad so "busy." He should have known. "And?"
"And your dad said that you were being poisoned."
"What? Man, that's not right. My dad told me I have some kind of a virus and that I'd be out of here as soon as the docs narrowed it down and gave me a shot or something. Did you hear my dad say that?"
"No, but my uncle said..."
"Man, you can't believe anything your uncle says. I don't know why he told you that, but I'm not being poisoned."
"Why would my uncle lie to me, Lucky? He has nothing to gain from it. I think your dad is keeping the truth from you for some reason."
"And you just thought you'd run over here and tell me, is that it?"
"I thought you deserved to know the truth. Everyone deserves that."
"Well, I certainly don't want the Cassadine version of the truth. I don't know what kind of games your uncle is playing, but I'm not falling for it. My dad doesn't lie to me."
"Lucky, I don't know if your dad is lying or not, but don't you think it's just a little odd that you've been here so long with no diagnosis? Do the doctors look like they know what is going on? How hard can it be to find out if a person has a virus, or what kind? Think about it!"
"Look, I don't know how it is with you and Stefan, but my dad and I are a team. He tells me everything, we back each other up, he wouldn't keep this from me, okay?"
"Lucky, whatever relationship you and Luke have is beside the point. You're sick, you're not getting better, and your dad isn't around enough to do anything about it. You need to find out what is going on. Have you talked to Alan?"
"No." Lucky glared at Nikolas.
"Maybe you should."
"I'm just about to go off duty and I thought I'd just come in and make sure you weren't on the floor or anything. Oh, hi Nikolas. I didn't think you'd still be here. Did you stay all night?"
Nikolas looked dumbly at Amy. "All night?"
Amy laughed. "Yes all night, as in, I saw you here at about one in the morning and now it's seven in the morning... that's considered all night for most people. Of course, it's really morning, it is a.m. after all, but since it's dark outside, I've always considered it to be night."
"My uncle is going to kill me! I have to go Lucky, I forgot I snuck out, they're going to be looking for me soon. I'm going to have to hurry if I want to get back before he notices I'm gone."
Nikolas paused for a second. "Just think about what I said, if it's true, I think you should know it."
Lucky nodded almost imperceptibly and Nikolas ran out the door.
"He snuck out? Why did he do that? Stefan's going to go nuts when he finds out..."
********************
Lucky's hospital room
Lucky watched in confusion as Nikolas backed slowly back into the room. "I thought you were in a hurry so your uncle didn't find out you were gone."
"I wasn't fast enough." Nikolas turned and walked the rest of the way into the room, Stefan close at his heels.
"Yes, nephew, you did not get away with your rendezvous. Just what did you hope to accomplish by sneaking out? I've let you visit the boy whenever you wanted to."
"Um, I have a name."
Stefan looked over at Lucky and dismissed him, turning back to the source of his anger.
"Excuse me, I don't think you should be arguing here in Lucky's room. He's sick."
"Nurse Vining, I own this hospital, if I want to discuss this here, I will. You can go about your duties."
Amy's back stiffened at her dismissal. She couldn't exactly argue with Stefan, someone needed to go get Luke. It looked like she'd just been elected. She hustled to the door and sighed as she spotted Luke and Sonny walking towards Lucky's room. "Thank goodness you are here! Stefan is in Lucky's room and he's.." Amy didn't get a chance to say any more. Those few words sent Luke into action. He ran past Amy and barreled into the room.
Sonny glared at the confused guards and pulled them aside to discuss their duties.
"Stefan! What do you think you are doing in my son's room?"
Stefan turned and smiled insolently at Luke. "It would appear that my nephew has become deluded into thinking he's needed here. I'm here to retrieve him."
Nikolas bristled. "Retrieve me? I'm not your dog."
"But you are a mutt aren't you? Certainly not a Cassadine pure breed."
Stefan laughed without humor. "So, you stoop to insults so quickly? You are correct, though. Laura was certainly not worthy of the Cassadine name."
"Laura doesn't need anything from the Cassadines and neither does Lucky. You can keep your mongrel at home, he doesn't need to bother coming here any more."
"Don't worry, Spencer. He won't be coming here again."
"Uncle! You can not forbid me from seeing Lucky."
Luke smiled grimly. "Oh, but I can. I can restrict my son's visitors to only family. I can stop you from ever seeing him."
"He's my brother! You can't do this!"
All eyes in the room swung to Lucky. He was leaning against the bed, panting from the effort it took simply to stand there. Luke and Stefan wore identical expressions of disbelief.
Nikolas looked worried. "You can't stop him from coming. I want him here!" Nikolas frowned. Lucky looked really bad. This fighting was not doing him any good, he looked like he was going to be taking another trip to the floor soon.
"Lucky, sit down, it's okay." Nikolas started towards the bed. Lucky looked like he might need help getting back in. Luke grabbed Nikolas by the shoulders and spun him around.
"Stay away from my son, Cassadine."
Stefan pushed Luke away from Nikolas. "You dare to touch him?" Luke simply punched Stefan in response, knocking him into the wall.
"Stop it! What are you doing? This is a hospital!" Alan glared at Luke and Stefan then rushed over to help Lucky, who had sagged to the floor, sitting with his back against the bed.
"All of you get out of here." Luke walked over and knelt next to Alan.
"I said all of you! Get out and let me see what harm you've done to my patient."
************************************************************************
As the three came out of Lucky's room, Luke lunged at Stefan.
"What are you doing to my son?"
Sonny ran over and grabbed Luke as Nikolas grabbed Stefan.
"I have done nothing to him, Spencer. Your paranoia knows no bounds, does it?" Stefan shook Nikolas off him and straightened his suit. "Are you coming, Nikolas, or do you prefer the company of the Spencers?"
Nikolas looked at Lucky's door, he wasn't going to be able to get in there, not with Luke here. Stefan was angry as well. Now was not the time assert his independence. He followed Stefan to his office.
"You want to tell me what that was all about?"
"How about you tell me how Stefan Cassadine got into my son's room. I thought you had guards on him, Sonny!"
"I already talked to them. They saw Nikolas go in with Stefan and thought it was okay. It seems Nikolas has been a regular fixture around here. They've seen Nikolas in there with you and assumed he was okay so whoever he brought was okay. They won't make that mistake again."
Luke glared at the guards and they shifted uncomfortably. "See that it doesn't."
"What's going on with Lucky? Why is Alan still with him?"
"He didn't' look good, Sonny. If he..." Luke looked away. Sonny walked over and put his hand on Luke's shoulder without saying a word.
******************************************************************************************
Alan frowned at the readout of Lucky's temperature. It was dangerously high again.
"Dr. Quartermaine?" Alan smiled gently at Lucky.
"What can I do for you Lucky?"
"What's wrong with me?"
Alan frowned. "Haven't you talked to your father about this?"
"I'm asking you."
"As I told your father, it looked like you have been poisoned and.." Alan stopped as Lucky closed his eyes and shuddered. "Are you okay, Lucky? Are you cold?"
"Yeah, I'm cold."
Alan pulled the blanket up and tucked it around Lucky. "As I was saying, we haven't been able to identify the toxin. There is no sign in any of the blood tests, yet you have symptoms consistent with poison. Frankly, Lucky, we haven't completely diagnosed you. But I thought your father had explained all of this."
Lucky spoke with his eyes still closed. "Yeah, he told me. I just wanted to hear it from you."
Alan nodded and patted Lucky's shoulder. "If you have any more questions, you be sure to let me know. We'll find out what is making you sick. It just takes time. In the meanwhile, why don't you try staying in bed. It beats the floor, don't you think?"
"Can you get my dad in here now?"
"Sure, Lucky. I'll tell him to come in."
*********************************************************************************
Luke rushed up to Alan. "How is he?"
Alan stared at Luke for a long, silent minute, trying to control his anger. "I've explained to you how sick that young man is, yet I walk in to find a circus going on. Did you even notice he was on the floor?"
"Hey, wait just a minute, I was protecting my son! Stefan can't be allowed in there."
Alan rolled his eyes. "At this moment, Stefan is the least of Lucky's problems."
"That's your opinion. How is my son? Answer me, Alan!"
"His fever is back up. You have to keep him calm. He is in a very dangerous situation and the more stress he feels, the more danger he is in. If you want him to live, you have to stop this fighting. It could literally kill him. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal. Can I see him?"
"He was asking for you, go on, but remember what I said." Luke nodded absently and walked into Lucky's room. "You okay, Cowboy?"
Lucky glared at Luke. "I thought I told you I didn't want to be called that."
Luke sat down in the chair next to the bed slowly. "What's going on, Lucky?"
"You lied to me."
"What are you talking about? I never lied to you."
Lucky raised his voice mockingly. "It's just a virus, Lucky. Don't worry about it, Lucky. You'll be fine, Lucky. Were you planning on ever telling me?"
Luke narrowed his eyes. "Tell you what?"
Lucky slammed his hand on the bed. "Man, even now you won't tell me the truth. I must have been nuts to think you ever included me. You're as bad as Stefan with all your secrets and manipulations. I'm just another con for you aren't I?"
"Hold on there! Don't you dare compare me with any Cassadine! I'm only doing what's best for you."
Lucky rolled his eyes. "You guys need to come up with a new line. That's all I ever hear, and Nikolas too it sounds like. Why don't you try 'this hurts me more than you', that's always a good one."
"Lucky..."
"No! I don't want to hear it. I'm tired of being handled. From now on I make the decisions. I decide who my family is. I decide what I need to know. I decide what I can handle."
"You're sick, you don't know what is best for you."
"Come on, dad. You don't think I know when I'm healthy. You like to be in control and that's it. It has nothing to do with what's best for me. It's about what's best for you. It always is. That's why mom couldn't have a relationship with Nikolas. It was inconvenient to you."
"You know that's not true!"
"I don't know anything about you anymore. Until about an hour ago, I would have bet my life that you wouldn't lie to me. Well, I bet my life...why couldn't you keep up your end of it?"
Luke reached out to touch Lucky's shoulder, trying to reach across sudden miles between him and his son.
Lucky cringed away from him. "Go tell Nikolas I want to see him."
"Lucky..."
"Go!"
Luke continued to sit, looking confused.
"Do I have to go get him myself?" Lucky pushed the covers away and started getting out of bed.
"No, no! I'll go, okay? Get back into bed."
Lucky pulled the covers back up. "I'll be right back, okay?"
"Don't bother. I just want to talk to Nikolas. You can go spy on Stefan or something. Leave me alone."
Luke stared at his son in disbelief, unable to make himself move physically away from him until Lucky pulled at the covers again, trying to get out of bed. Luke turned and sprinted to the door.
********************************************************************************
Stefan's office
"You will not see Lucky Spencer any more."
"You can't stop me. He's my brother and he needs me. No one else around here is doing anything to help him, that's for sure. I won't abandon him."
"Nikolas, I understand your desire to help him. It's natural to want to help someone when they are sick. Despite what you or I might think, Lucky is being taken care of, he has the best doctors..."
"Who don't know what they are dealing with."
Stefan continued as if Nikolas had not interrupted. "And his father is with him..."
"When he can fit it into his schedule."
Stefan stood angrily. "What do you propose to do? Move in with him? Adopt him? How do you think you can help him? You aren't his doctor."
"No, but I am his brother and it's about time that counted for something."
"I absolutely forbid you. You forget who you are. You are to be the Cassadine. Associating with these people is beneath you. I thought to give you some time to discover that on your own, but your lesson is up. It's time to come back to where you belong."
Nikolas started to respond when the door flew open and Luke came in and grabbed Nikolas by the arm.
"My son wants you, and by God, he's going to have you."
*********************************************************************************
Stefan's office
Luke was physically dragging Nikolas to the door when Stefan jumped up and grabbed Nikolas' other arm.
"You will not manhandle my nephew. He's not to see Lucky any more."
Luke turned, still holding Nikolas by the arm. "I already told you, my son is asking for Nikolas, and nothing's gonna stop me from getting him what he wants." Luke tugged a little on Nikolas' arm Stefan tugged back. Luke jerked Nikolas towards him. Stefan jerked Nikolas back. Nikolas threw both his arms up in the air, breaking both men's hold on him.
"What is wrong with you?" Nikolas turned to Stefan. "Uncle, Lucky is sick. He needs me and I'm going to be there for him. I'm sorry you don't understand why I have to do this, but I really don't see why you need an explanation. This is the right thing to do, I can't believe there is any doubt in your mind. You don't control me, and you certainly will not control my relationship with my brother."
Nikolas turned back to Luke. "I understand that you want to help your son, but don't ever grab me again." With that, he strode past Luke to go see his brother, leaving both men gaping at his retreating back.
"I don't know what you are doing, but I'm gonna find out. You can count on that."
"Do you ever get bored listening to yourself, Spencer? It's always the same thing...conspiracy everywhere. You and your family are not the center of the universe, despite what you may believe. I sometimes go entire days without plotting against you."
"I'll believe that when the world freezes, do you still have those plans, Steffie?"
"Spencer, get out of my office, and keep your son away from Nikolas."
"I have no problem with either of those. Why don't you do me a favor and keep Nikky boy away from Lucky? He was upset, but he'll come around and tell the dark prince to take a hike."
"I certainly do not take orders from the likes of you. However, I have every intention of keeping Nikolas away from all of you."
"Well then I guess it works out, doesn't it?" Luke turned and almost knocked Alexis over as she came in.
"Nice to see you counselor."
"Luke." Alexis nodded and watched as he loped down the hall.
"Stefan? What was he doing here?"
"He came for Nikolas."
Alexis looked around. "It looks like he succeeded. Was Nikolas here, then? You found him?"
"I did, but I fear I've lost him."
*********************************************************************************************
Outside Lucky's room
"He wants me in there! You've seen me come and go all the time. Why now am I forbidden? Luke came and got me!"
The guards stood in front of the door, staring impassively at the wall behind Nikolas' head. Nikolas moved to one side and the guard mirrored his movement. Nikolas moved to the other side with the same result. He sighed and threw his hands into the air. "What do I have to do to convince you? I need to get in there!"
Suddenly both men nodded to something behind Nikolas and moved aside. Nikolas looked behind him, right into the eyes of Sonny Corinthos. Nikolas smiled uncertainly. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me, it's Lucky that wants you in there. You be careful what you do. The Spencers have a lot of friends."
Nikolas nodded and turned to go into Lucky's room, rolling his eyes only once his back was turned to Sonny. "Hey, Lucky. Your dad said you wanted to talk to me."
Lucky sat stiffly in the bed, his eyes locked on Nikolas. "You were right, I'm sorry. My dad's a liar."
"I'm sorry, Lucky. I really didn't want to be right. I'd rather believe your dad was telling the truth and you had a virus."
"Yeah, well, we can't get what we want, can we?"
Nikolas shook his head. "I'm sorry my uncle came in here and bothered you."
"Don't worry about it. You aren't responsible for his actions. I'm sorry about my dad too. He was just as bad, if not worse."
"Why are they like that? I don't understand why they can't just get over it already."
"Nikolas, come on. They aren't ever going to let their grudge go, it's in their blood. I don't think my dad would know what to do with himself if he wasn't fighting some enemy. Sometimes I wonder how we get so many."
Nikolas sat down. "I don't know, Lucky. But as far as I'm concerned, the feud goes no farther. No matter what my uncle or your father does, I'm not going to let it continue with me."
Lucky looked at Nikolas quietly for a long time then smiled slowly. "Sounds like a good deal to me. It'll make mom happy anyway." Nikolas frowned and looked away.
"You know, mom really does love you. I think that's why it was so hard for dad...and for me. It was like you were trying to take our place or something." Lucky looked down, embarrassed by his admission.
"How could I take anyone's place? There wasn't any chance of that happening. She didn't even try."
Lucky looked up quickly. "That isn't true. Mom fought for a long time for you. You have to understand... my dad is really stubborn sometimes, and mom just got to the point where she couldn't fight anymore. If it makes you feel any better, she does the same thing with me. Look around, she's not here is she? That's my dad at work."
"That doesn't make me feel better! She should be here for you. She should be here for me. She's supposed to be a mother. How can she let anyone, especially her husband, stand in her way?"
Lucky started to defend his mother, then realized he couldn't. He didn't even want to any more.
*****************************************************************
Stefan's office
"What makes you think you've lost him? He loves you, you have to know that."
"Do I, do I really, Alexis? He questions me at every turn. He's choosing that Spencer boy over his responsibility."
"Don't you mean he's choosing Lucky over you?" Stefan just glared at her.
"Why does it have to be a choice? You allowed him to befriend his brother and now you think you can make him cut that off? You were playing with fire, Stefan, and you can't control fire no matter how you try."
Stefan got up from his desk and paced his office. "I can't loose him. Alexis. I've given everything for him, I would do anything for him. The Spencers are nothing! I can not comprehend why he can want to be part of them."
"He is part Spencer."
Stefan whirled around. "Nikolas is nothing like the Spencers. He may contain some of their genetics by accident, but that is all. I raised him! I am the one that taught him. He is to be the Cassadine in every sense of the word. The Spencers are a plague that must be purged from his blood, by whatever force necessary. I refuse to lose him to them."
Alexis watched as Stefan went back to pacing like a caged animal. He was afraid. She shook her head in wonder. She'd never imagined Stefan feared losing Nikolas, at least not with this desperation. He'd already given up so much for Nikolas, where would he draw the line?
"I have work to do, but I can stay. if you'd like."
"No, you can go. I'll handle Nikolas."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Alexis nodded to Stefan and left. She wanted to talk to Nikolas.
********************************************************************************************
Outside Lucky's Room
Alexis stopped a couple of feet from Lucky's room. Sonny Corinthos was staring intently into the room through the window. Alexis walked quietly behind him and looked, over Sonny's shoulder, into Lucky's room. Nikolas was sitting next to Lucky's bed and they were both deep in conversation. They looked sad.
"See anything interesting?" Sonny turned around slowly.
"Actually, yeah, I do." Alexis looked back into the room. Nikolas was holding a glass of water for Lucky as he sipped it, a concerned expression on his face.
"So do I."
"Are those your goons by the door?"
"Why, you need a bodyguard?" Alexis laughed mockingly and turned back to the window. Sonny looked at Alexis as she watched the boys. She was smiling tenderly and had one hand on the glass.
"You don't feel the same as Stefan does, do you?" It was more an accusation than a question.
Alexis stiffened and turned around. "We both want only what is best for Nikolas."
"Oh, and who decides what that is?"
Alexis frowned. "That's the real question, isn't' it? It seems Nikolas has decided Lucky is what is best for him."
Sonny leaned to the side and looked through the window again. "It seems Lucky feels the same."
"Luke isn't going to like that."
"Luke just wants what is best for his family."
Alexis laughed. "That sounds vaguely familiar."
"Do you think Lucky is best for Nikolas?"
Alexis crossed her arms. "Do you think Nikolas is best for Lucky?"
They both laughed a little.
"I don't think it matters what anyone else thinks, those boys have made a decision."
"What are you going to do about it, Ms. Davis?"
"I'm not going to do anything. Personally, I think it may be a good thing."
Sonny cocked his head to the side and examined Alexis. "Really? I'm surprised to hear a Cassadine say that."
"You forget, I'm a Davis with Cassadine leanings. It makes for clearer judgment. Sometimes anyway." Alexis turned back to the window. "They have enough standing in their way."
"That they do." Sonny nodded to Alexis and went to look for Luke.
*******************************************************************************************
Inside Lucky's room
"What are you looking for?"
Lucky looked up from his laptop. "I'm trying to see what kind of information I can find out about poison. Maybe I can find something to help. A lot of the newest information is online. Besides, I'm not used to just sitting here doing nothing."
Nikolas peered over his shoulder. "You really think you can find anything there?"
"It can't hurt to try."
******************************************************************************************** Stefan's office
Stefan scowled at the screen. This was not as easy as he had expected. But that would not stop him. He knew his duty and he would not fail again.
*******************
