CH 32

Gia sat on a bench by herself, waiting for the arrival of an early bus due to arrive at 7:00am. She had woken up two hours ago and had looked down at Zander who was still soundly sleeping. She hadn’t slept well all night. Her mind was going crazy with so many thoughts and she always felt nauseous when she thought of one person, Nikolas. She felt terrible about the way she treated him and she wanted so badly to see him and talk to him and apologize for what she had said to him the night before. She had looked down at Zander, and knew he would be sleeping for hours, so she silently got up and snuck out of her room. Now, she waited at the bus stop, still in her school uniform and feeling conspicuous as she sat there. She rubbed her arms as the cool morning air hit her body; at the same time she wondered if she was shivering from nerves. She knew that she shouldn’t be out of bed, let alone wandering the streets without consulting with her Dr first. But here she was, waiting for the bus to arrive. She just had to go to him. She stood up as she saw the bus approach and waited for it to stop, the welcoming hiss of the doors opening permitted her to board the bus. She paid the driver and quickly found a seat.

The hike up to the mansion seemed torturously long, and Gia’s mind was going crazy with possible conversations she would have with Nikolas when she arrived at his door. She finally reached the door and stood there for a moment, sighing deeply before knocking. The door swung open quickly and the force in which it was opened startled her, causing her to flinch. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, she was at a loss for words. “Hi, uh is Nikolas home?” she asked awkwardly. The man behind the door looked her up and down, making her feel uncomfortable, like he was analyzing her. “You must be Gia.” He stated rather than asked. Gia nodded her head unintelligently, like a child almost. She was surprised when the man glanced behind him quickly, and then stepped outside to join her. She eyed him suspiciously, not trusting him at all as she crossed her arms in front of her chest defensively. “I just need to see Nikolas, is he home?” Gia asked. “Yes he’s home but I’m afraid that I can’t allow you to speak with him.” He said sternly. Gia was shocked, and she didn’t think before her annoyance took over her and she began to speak again. “You can’t allow me to speak to him? Who the hell do you think you are?” Gia said incredulously. “Stovros Cassadine. Nikolas and Brandon’s father.” He said, trying not to find Gia’s attitude enjoyable. Gia looked at him, feeling foolish that she hadn’t guessed this the moment she saw him. He was as handsome as his sons. Attractive or not though, he made her uncomfortable and she didn’t like that. “Why can’t you ‘allow’ me to speak with him?” Gia asked. Stovros stepped closer to her, his overpowering presence intensifying as his eyes scanned her face. Stovros could definitely see why this girl infatuated both of his sons. Aside from the bruise on her face, the girl was utterly stunning and she clearly had a unique personality as well. But he had made a decision about this and he forced himself to stick to the plan. “Look, I know about your situation and I truly am sorry for you but my son doesn’t need to be bothered by all of this drama. He needs to live his life like a normal teenager instead of worrying about you and your issues all of the time. I’m sorry but I cannot allow him to see you any more.” Stovros said. Gia fought hard to hold in the tears she felt rising, feeling like he would somehow think even less of her if she let him see her pain. “But he’s my friend.” She whispered. Stovros looked at her. So strong, he thought. “If you truly believe that, you will understand what I’m saying and do what is best for Nikolas by staying away from him.” He said. Gia looked down sadly. “You’re right. He’s so young. He shouldn’t have to be dealing with all of this. Besides that, it’s my businesses and I had no right to drag him into it. I’ll stay away from him.” She said softly. “Thank you Gia, please know that I only want what’s best for Nikolas.” He said. “I understand.” Gia said, nodding her head reassuringly. She watched him turn around, mumbled a brief goodbye in reply to his, and stood there, staring at the closed door for several moments after it was shut. She suddenly felt very alone and scared. “Now what?” She breathed, her chin trembling as she looked around her. She slowly turned around and with tears silently rolling down her cheeks she walked away. Nikolas came downstairs as his father stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “Who was that?” He asked. “No one, just someone trying to sell me something.” Stovros answered. Nikolas nodded his head and proceeded to walk towards the kitchen to fix him self some breakfast.

He couldn’t focus on his class for anything. His mind kept wandering to Gia and how she was doing. Nikolas decided that he would go see her as soon as he was done with school. So instead of focusing on his work, he focused on how much time he had until school was over. At lunch, he sat by himself. He had looked for Zander but couldn’t find him anywhere. This made him even more concerned that maybe something was wrong with Gia. He found a quiet spot and pulled out his cell phone and a business card, quickly dialing Lt. Taggert’s number, listening intently as the phone rang. “Taggert.” His voice boomed into his ear. “Hello this is Nikolas Cassadine. I wanted to check in on Gia, how is she?” Nik asked. “Look I don’t know what kind of games you are playing here but you need to bring Gia back here, right now!” Taggert said angrily. Nikolas’s eyebrows knitted in confusion. “What are you talking about?” He asked. “Nikolas I thought that you understood that we are trying to help Gia. You need to return her at once. The doctor needs to check and make sure that there are no undetected problems with her.” Taggert said. “Sir, I swear to you that I don’t know where she is. Are you saying that she left?” Nik asked. Taggert was so sure that Gia was with Nikolas. He started to get even more edgy as he heard the honesty in Nik’s voice and believed what he was telling him. “You don’t know where she is? Zander said that he stayed with her in her room last night but when he woke up she was gone. We’ve been looking for her everywhere we can think of.” Marcus said. Nikolas let out a quick breath. “I think I know where she went. I’ll be right there.” He said and then ran through the gates of his school and left the property.

Alexis Davis was just about to leave her office, she had just got a call that her newest client was missing and was on her way to help look for her, when someone knocked on her office door. She smiled up at her secretary when she poked her head in. “Hi Janis.” She said when the door swung open. “Ms Davis, there’s someone here to see you. She said that she knows you and that it’s important that she talk to you. I know that you’re on your way out but it does seem important. She doesn’t look too good.” Janis said. “Send her in.” Alexis said quickly. Janis stepped out and shortly after, Gia appeared in her office door. Alexis gasped when she saw her, partly from relief and partly from fear. There were tears streaming down Gia’s face and her arms were tightly wrapped around herself. “Gia.” Alexis whispered. Gia looked away from her uncomfortably. “I didn’t know where else to go, you gave me your card. Please, you have to help me. I need to see my brother.” Gia said. She looked up at Alexis with desperate eyes. “Gia everyone is looking for you. You know that you shouldn’t have left the hospital. You need to go back.” Alexis said. Gia began to panic, shaking her head sadly. “No please. I’ll go to the hospital as soon as I see him, I promise.” She said, her body shaking uncontrollably. Alexis looked at her; it saddened her to see this young, beautiful girl in so much pain. “I’ll see what I can do.” She breathed. Gia ran up to her and hugged her tightly. “Thank you Alexis.” She said. Alexis returned her hug and quickly pulled back, saying that she had to make some calls. She gave Gia some money to go to the strip mall next-door to her office and buy herself an outfit to change into. After several refusals, Gia finally took the money, promising to pay her back. As soon as Gia left the room, Alexis walked to her desk and picked up the phone. She quickly looked up a number and dialed it. “Taggert its Alexis. I found her. No I’m not bringing her yet. I’m taking her to go see her brother.” She said and then hung up the phone.

Gia had bought herself a pair of baggy blue jeans and a thin black long-sleeved thermal shirt. It was a somewhat masculine outfit but she was cold and there were several bruises on her body and she wanted to feel comfortable and warm. She now sat in Alexis’s silver Cadillac and mindlessly stared out the window as Alexis drove. “Gia where did you go? You’ve been gone since this morning.” Alexis glanced over at her. “I took a walk.” Gia said softy. Alexis frowned but decided not to push her, bearing in mind her fragile state.

“OK we’re here.” Alexis announced as she pulled up to the Child Services office. Gia looked up at the building. It intimidated her. It almost looked like a hospital, or a prison. She couldn’t decide. They got out and Alexis gently placed her hand on Gia’s back, ushering her through the door. Gia didn’t look at anyone who happened to walk by them and ignored those who talked to them. She just let Alexis take charge and fallowed her everywhere she went. They were pointed to a room down the hall. Gia decided that the place looked a lot like a hospital inside, very white and sterile. The dull florescent lights added to Gia’s discomfort. They approached the nursery and Gia could hear the sound of children playing. She walked with a new excitement towards the door. Her only thoughts were of Jacob and getting to him. Finally she reached the door and she quickly turned the knob. She stepped inside and stopped dead in her tracks. She was shocked at the sight before her. Nikolas was holding a crying Jacob in his arms. His back was to her and he was rocking Jake soothingly. Jake instinctively looked up and saw her standing there, screeching to be let down. Nikolas turned around and looked at Gia, relief washing over him. He let Jacob down when he began to kick and scream and Jake ran to his sister. Gia instantly picked him up and held him to her, hugging him tightly. “Shh.” She whispered in his ear as she rocked him. She began to kiss him, on his cheeks and his head as he cried into her chest. “I love you Jacob, I’m so sorry that they took you away from me.” She said as tears rolled down her cheeks. Jake’s body shook as he breathed in and out rapidly, fighting to gain control over his crying. Gia could feel the spasms of his chest against hers. She felt them slowly die down as she held him, until he was breathing slow shallow breathes. He fell asleep in her arms. “He hasn’t been sleeping.” Nik said softly. Gia looked up at him, smiling softly. “Thank you for coming here Nikolas. He must have been so relieved when he saw you. I’m glad you came. He needed to see someone who loves him as much as you do.” She said softly. Nikolas smiled at her and nodded his head. They stood staring at each other, their eyes connecting and locking. Nikolas thought that she looked tired. Beautiful but really tired. “Gia, Nikolas has come up with a great idea.” Alexis said as she walked back into the room. Gia was a little startled as she turned to face her. She had forgotten that she was even with her. “What?” She asked. “Well we’ve arranged it so that you can volunteer here. That way you can come and visit Jake whenever you want while Taggert applies to become a foster parent.” She said. Gia sighed. Knowing that this didn’t really mean that she could see him all the time, but at least she could see him. “That’s great, thank you.” Gia said looking at both of them.

Gia had put Jacob in a crib in the nursery so that he could sleep. She had the caregiver swear to her that as soon as he woke up, she would tell Jake that Gia would be back later tonight. She now walked out to join Alexis and Nikolas in the hallway. She looked away as she saw Taggert approaching them. “Oh no you don’t! Don’t give me that look Gia. What the hell were you thinking leaving the hospital like that?” He fumed. “Marcus I’m sorry, I just needed to get out of there. I needed to see my brother.” Gia said. “Yeah well you could have seriously hurt yourself. Now come on, we’re going back to the hospital right now.” He said sternly. “Fine Marcus.” Gia said. She glanced over at Nikolas and then looked back up at her brother. “I just need to talk to Nikolas alone really quick.” She said softly. Marcus looked at his sister, and then at Nikolas. He sighed. “All right I’ll wait for you in the car. But don’t take too long.” He said and turned and walked out. Alexis soon fallowed him and Gia and Nikolas were left alone. After a few moments of comfortable silence, Gia turned and looked up at Nikolas and his heart skipped a beat when she smiled at him softly. “Nikolas I want to apologize to you for saying that I hate you. I don’t hate you at all. You’re my friend and I care about you so much. I was just so scared of losing Jake and I let my frustration out on you. I didn’t mean any of those things I said to you. I’m really sorry.” She said. Nikolas stepped closer to her. He ran his hand through his messy hair as he shyly looked down at his feet, before bringing his gaze up and looking back up at her. Gia felt like she couldn’t breathe. Thinking that she had never seen him look more adorable than he did right now. “So you don’t hate me?” He asked. Gia cocked her head to the side, her lip pouting slightly. The uncertainty she saw in his eyes saddened her. “No Nikolas I don’t hate you and I want to thank you for all that you’ve done for me. You are such an amazing person.” She said softly. Nikolas swallowed hard, pushing down the lump that was so stubbornly lodged in his throat. He stepped closer to her again, this time dangerously close to her body, causing the beat of her heart to speed up. He slowly tilted his head down, his lips slowly inching closer to hers. Just as they were about to touch, Gia pulled back. Her eyes danced across his face rapidly and her heart ached as she struggled with what she was about to say to him. “Nikolas we can’t.” She managed to say. Nikolas groaned sadly as he moved even closer to her face, almost in tears with frustration. “Why not?” He asked desperately, his warm breath brushing against her cheek softly. “Because your father won’t let us.” She said pulling back again. Nik’s eyes darkened. “My father? What are you talking about? Gia how do you know my father?” He asked. “I came to see you this morning, to apologize to you but your father was there and he explained to me that I can’t be with you. He’s right Nikolas. You shouldn’t have to be worrying about me. You have an amazing life Nikolas and you need to live it. You can’t waste it by being here with me.” Gia said, her voice thick with emotion. Nikolas gently gripped her arms and slowly pulled her to him, reaching up and touching her face lightly as he shook his head stubbornly. “No. Gia don’t listen to him. He can’t tear us apart. After all we've been through together I can’t lose you now. I, I love you Gia and my heart aches to be with you. Do you want to be with me? Tell me you want to be with me.” He said desperately. Gia looked into his eyes, her own eyes rimming with tears. “I love you too Nikolas, I want to be with you more than anything.” She cried. Nikolas cupped her face in his hands and pulled her to him, pressing his lips to hers in a soft kiss. Gia gradually parted her lips, allowing his tongue entry and the passion of this kiss quickly intensified as Nikolas pushed his tongue into her mouth. Gia moaned as she kissed him back with a powerful force. They slowly pulled apart, their breathing still heavy as Gia rested her forehead against his, her hands lingering at his neck. Nikolas pulled back slightly and kissed her cheek softly and Gia closed her eyes as his lips neared her ear. “I’ll do whatever it takes for us to be together Gia.” He whispered. Gia nodded her head softly and Nikolas took her in his arms. Gia’s emotions overwhelmed her as she clung to him, the events of the last few days catching up with her and she began to sob frantically. She felt safe and comforted in his warm embrace. Nikolas whispered soothing words into her ear as she continued to cry as he held her tightly.