CH 17

“Nikolas please talk to me, it’s been weeks and you’re still upset.” Sarah said as she stepped into the living room. Nikolas was sitting with a drink in his hand. He had been there for several hours. Sarah speaking snapped him back into the present and he quickly downed his drink. He looked up at Sarah and shook his head. “Please just leave me alone. I told you I need some space. We will talk about it, I promise but right now I just need to be left alone.” Nik said. Sarah crossed her arms in front of her chest angrily. She stormed out and walked right over to the phone. “Lucky, you need to come talk to your brother. Please, I didn’t want to disturb you because I know that you’re getting ready for the wedding but you need to come see him. Thank you Lucky. I’ll stay away for a while. He doesn’t want me around. I think you might be the only person who can get through to him.” Sarah said, and then hung up the phone. Nikolas heard everything she said, and he closed his eyes. He wasn’t sure if he was even ready to talk his brother about this. “I’m leaving for work Nikolas, I’ll be back later.” Sarah said from the door. Nikolas ignored her and sighed as he heard the door slam. He rested his head back in his chair and closed his eyes. Tears began to slip down his cheeks. An image of Gia popped into his mind, again, it was always the same. The look on her face as she peaked behind her shoulder to look at him before disappearing into the water. “I love you.” Her words plagued his mind and he could still feel the shiver that her breath had caused, when she whispered those words in his ear. “Gia.” He said softly as he shook his head. He got up and poured himself another scotch, and quickly gulped it down.

Lucky let himself into Wyndemere and searched the house for his brother. He finally found him sitting by himself in the living room. “Nikolas?” He said as he approached him. He could tell that his brother had been crying. “Hey Lucky.” Nik said softly, clearing his throat as he sat up a little straighter. Lucky sat across from him and looked at him intently. “Will you tell me about the dream? I know that this has to do with Gia. Tell me what happened.” Lucky said. “Nothing happened Lucky. I did what I had to do. I told her that I couldn’t dream about her anymore because I’m in love with another woman. I broke her heart.” Nik said. “Well that’s hardly nothing. It must have been hard.” Lucky said thoughtfully. Nikolas looked away from him. “I think it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.” Nik said. “But Gia’s not real. I mean that’s the whole reason you told her that, its because you know that she’s not real. So why are you hurting so much?” Lucky asked. Nikolas’ chin trembled. “What if I wanted her to be real?” He said. Lucky sighed. “Yeah but Nikolas we talked about this. It’s better this way. You couldn’t have broken her heart because she’s not real.” He said. Nikolas stood up and poured himself yet another drink, looking down at it numbly. “Then how come I feel like my heart is broken into a thousand pieces Lucky?” He asked and then drank the alcohol. Lucky didn’t know how to answer him. “I don’t know.” He admitted. Nikolas sat back down in his chair and looked at his brother intently. “She told me she loves me.” He said. Lucky thought about this. “Maybe that has something to do with Sarah. Maybe that’s a sign that you’re doing the right thing because you’re choosing to make a commitment to Sarah, not Gia.” He said. Nikolas shrugged. “I don’t know.” He said softly. “Nikolas Sarah is really concerned about you. You’re shutting her out and that’s not fair. You need to talk to her.” Lucky said. Nikolas nodded his head. “You’re right. Thank you Lucky. You helped me a lot.” Nik said. Lucky smiled. “Good.” He said as he lightly tapped Nikolas on the arm. “You can go now. I know you’re busy with the wedding. Hey let me know when you’re ready to go pick out the tuxes.” Nik said. “I will Nikolas. And it’s no problem. That’s what brother’s are for.” Lucky said. He gave Nikolas a quick hug and headed for the door. “Oh and Nikolas.” He said turning around. Nikolas looked up at his brother. “Take a shower and brush your goddamn teeth because you reek man.” He said. Nikolas laughed aloud, for the first time in days. “OK bro.” He said, a smile lingering on his face. Lucky grinned and walked out. Nikolas took his brothers advice and headed for the shower.

Nik was refreshed and cleaned up as he walked back into the living room and sat down again. Like every time he was alone like this, his mind began to wander. He closed his eyes and pictured her face again. His heart ached as it had ever since that night. His nights were now filled with meaningless dreams again. Each night he would pray that Gia would return but she was nowhere. He guessed that that should be a sign that she was never real to begin with. He fought that tugging at his heart that she was indeed real and dreaming of him too. Remembering her words, “Stop saying that! I am real and I’m in love with you!” He shook his head, couldn’t think that way. Gia couldn’t be in love with him because she wasn’t real.

He stood up and walked over to his desk. He sorted through the mail. He had been so distracted from his life lately. The phone rang and he quickly picked it up. “Nikolas Cassadine.” He said. “Nikolas its Stefan. I really need to speak with you. You need to come into the office.” Stefan answered. Nikolas nodded his head against the phone. “I’ll see you in a few minutes uncle.” Nik said and then hung up the phone.

Nikolas stepped into the building that he hadn’t been in for several weeks, Cassadine Industries. He looked up and saw Jewel behind the desk. “Well hey stranger.” She said as she placed the book she was reading down. Nikolas smiled at her. “Hi Jewel. How have you been?” He asked. “I’ve been great Nikolas but I want to know how you have been. You look tired. Your dreams getting to you?” She asked. Nikolas looked at her in shock. “You remember that?” He asked. Jewel smiled over at him thoughtfully. “Of course Nikolas. It was interesting. Are you still having them?” She asked. “No.” Nik said. Jewel looked at him, she detected a hint of sadness in his voice. “Do you want to talk about it?” She asked. Nikolas shook his head with a soft smile on his face. “No actually it’s a good thing. I can finally get back to my old self.” He said, nodding reassuringly. “Hmm.” Jewel answered. Nikolas’s eyes darkened slightly as he looked at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked defensively. “Well it’s just that your old self never seemed very happy to me. I always felt that you thought you were missing something in your life.” She said. “Well you’re wrong.” Nik said rather harshly before he walked passed her desk and to his office. Jewel watched him leave. A little stunned but not hurt by his actions. She knew she was right and that’s why he was getting so defensive. Nikolas was not happy.