| Subject: Chapter 13 |
Author:
Becca
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 10:15:41 02/24/01 Sat
In reply to:
Becca
's message, "The Path of Thorns" on 09:58:31 02/24/01 Sat
Chapter 13
**The Boxcar**
“Look at this place,” Landon coughed lightly as he stepped up into the boxcar. “Can you believe someone used to live here?”
Lucky looked at Landon, “Really? Who?”
“Jason ‘I’m so great so I’m leaving for the greater good of the people I love’ Morgan.”
Lucky laughed at his brother’s obvious distaste for the man. “I take it you aren’t a big fan of Jason’s?”
“Nope, never was,” Landon informed. He sat down heavily on the ground, resting his head against the dusty walls of the boxcar. Lucky sat on the ledge, staring up at the starry night. “Dad should be here soon.”
“What’s wrong with Morgan? From what Emily and Carly have told me he was a good guy, very loyal,” Lucky noted, knowing instinctively that there was a real reason behind Landon’s hatred.
“That’s exactly the problem, everyone loves him. Emily and Carly and Gina and even, even my new wife Liz loves Jason Morgan,” Landon added bitterly.
Lucky flinched at Landon calling Liz his wife, but shook it off. “Oh come on, are you saying your entire dislike for a man is based on, what, petty jealousy?”
“So what if it is,” he said simply, pulling his tuxedo jacket around his body tightly. “What do we do from here Lucky?”
“Well, we hit the road till Luke and Sonny and everyone can help us out, get us cleared then . . .”
“No!” Landon said sharply, causing Lucky to jump. “What do we do with the knowledge that we . . .we took someone’s life?’
“Oh,” Lucky whispered. He didn’t know how to answer. Lucky still wasn’t entirely sure what happened or how to deal with it. It happened so quickly, in a flash, that Lucky couldn’t fully comprehend his or his brother’s actions yet. It just happened and when it was all said and done with, two people were dead.
Lucky was about to say something, anything, to make the overwhelming silence go away when he was jolted into defense mode by the snapping of a twig outside the boxcar. He jumped up immediately, motioning for Landon to do the same.
“What the hell have you two gotten yourselves into?”
Landon stepped around Lucky, his face a wash of relief. “Dad, finally.”
“Well?” Luke questioned as he stepped into the boxcar, regarding Lucky with a smile. Both young men stayed silent for a moment. “One of you please explain why you are out here in the middle of the woods instead of at Caroline’s fancy new restaurant, celebrating your,” he pointed at Landon, “wedding reception?”
“Two people are dead, two of Helena’s people, and we are both responsible. Clean and cut, we killed these people and we need to disappear until . . .” Lucky began, his voice fading out as he couldn’t find the words to say. He didn’t know if they’d get off, if this would blow over. If the police didn’t make them pay, Lucky knew Helena surely would. She always warned him that his insolence would be punished.
“Well, well, well, looks like you two have taken the whole brotherly bonding thing to a dangerous new level, huh?” Luke snickered as he motioned for them to follow him. “But don’t worry, we’re Spencers, this is what comes second nature to us.”
**Pier 21**
“Why isn’t the band playing?” Liz whispered to herself as she slipped to the ‘backstage’ area to chastise Sly and his band for not playing. “Sly!”
“Taking a break,” a familiar voice told her, slowly turning to reveal himself.
“Jason?” she asked in disbelief. He only smiled at her, sliding his hands into his slacks casually. He seemed more relaxed, more at ease than the last time she saw him well over a year ago. Even his dress was different. He wore a suit, not jeans, and it was light colored. He looked good, but he seemed different. “What are you doing back?”
“Charges dropped, everything is cool, not to mention I couldn’t miss your wedding, even if it is to that Spencer brat,” Jason snipped as he pulled her into a quick hug.
“Yeah, well . . .why are you lurking around behind the stage?”
“Jason, should I do it now?” a woman asked. Liz looked at her hard for a moment, trying to figure out where she knew her from when it suddenly came to her.
“Brenda?!” Liz nearly yelled, covering her own mouth in shock.
“Lizzie right?”
Jason touched Liz’s shoulder softly, “You alright?”
“She’s dead, Brenda is dead … how? Oh my God! Jason, Sonny will freak . . .so will Carly, this isn’t good . . .what is she planning to do?” Liz rambled, the fact that Lucky and Landon disappeared an hour ago finally not the most present thought in her mind.
“Hey Liz, what’s going . . .” Sly began as he came around the corner from the restroom, only to find Jason Morgan and Brenda Barrett looking back at him. “Holy crap, Brenda?”
“I’m going to go surprise everyone. If you want to baby-sit these two Jason, be my guest,” Brenda told him with a smile and quick kiss on the mouth before she slipped onto the stage.
“Oh no, Jason, what is she going to do?” Liz asked in horror.
“Is she going to sing?” Sly joked.
“She’s going to announce her, well, life,” Jason told them with a grin as he watched Brenda with an intrigued smile.
“But why here, now, like this?”
“She was always a drama queen,” Jason pointed out with a laugh.
“But . . .but . . . Carly will just freak out Jason. She and Sonny, they are . . .really close and Brenda will only make her feel threatened. And you, of all people, know how Carly is when she’s threatened. And why isn’t Brenda dead?” She added, a frustrated frown on her face.
“Her body washed up on the shore somewhere, people took her and stuff . . . I ran into her in Paris and then we spent the last few months just hanging out as she got her memory back. I think I’m in love too,” Jason told his friend with a wistful smile.
“Oh, this is just too weird,” Sly pointed out. “What next? Is Robert Scorpio going to come back from the dead? Or how about faking someone’s death? Or maybe we can resurrect Katherine Bell and drop her off of another parapet?”
“Sly, shut up, you don’t want to miss this,” Jason informed with a laugh.
**
“How is everything?” Carly asked as she stopped by Laura’s table, noticing that Luke and her two cousins were gone.
“Fine I guess . . .you’ve done a wonderful job on the restaurant Carly. This place is just beautiful,” Laura told her warmly. They didn’t know each other too well, but Laura had a certain respect for Carly. She was strong willed and determined, a true Spencer, and Laura always had a soft spot for Spencers.
“Thanks, this place has really helped to center me and . . .” she cut herself off, noticing that everyone’s attention was now directed at the stage, but she didn’t hear Sly’s band or any music, only soft whispering. She turned around, her eyes narrowing at the figure on the stage. “It can’t be.”
“Is that . . .Brenda?” Alexis asked as she reentered the dining room, stopping near Carly.
Carly’s eyes immediately went to her best friend and lover, one look at Sonny’s reaction and she’d know exactly who it was.
Sonny sat motionless in his seat, his face pale and ghostly, Carly knew.
“Hello everyone, in case you haven’t figure it out . . . I’m not quite dead,” Brenda began, trying to make light of the situation.
“What the hell does she think she’s doing,” Carly muttered as she crossed the dance floor so she was closer, in better striking distance. “What is going on here?”
“Carly, you’re still around, huh? Funny, you’ve taken my reject while I’ve managed to win the grand prize,” Brenda taunted, she never liked Carly.
“Sonny, your reject? I seem to remember he left YOU at the altar, so honey, he rejected you . . .what do you mean, grand prize?”
Brenda smiled wickedly as Jason stepped out onto the stage. “Hey Carly.”
“Jase?”
Backstage Liz and Sly exchanged a nervous glance and rushed out to maybe stop what they feared was about to happen.
“Carly, hey, have you seen the groom or his brother?” Sly asked suddenly, hoping to distract her.
“Not now Sly, I have to send Brenda BACK to the great beyond,” Carly said fiercely, her glare not wavering from Brenda’s face.
**
“Oh, this is so not good,” Emily whispered as she sat back in her chair, watching the scene unfold.
“Who’s that guy?” Steven whispered, leaning across the table.
“Jason Morgan, Emily’s sister, he and Liz were friends before he had to leave Port Charles because he killed some mobster guy,” Sarah told her brother with a smile.
“What?” Steven nearly choked. “So Liz really is friends with mobsters?” He looked at Maria helplessly, “Here I thought it was just a passing acquaintance she had with Corinthos. This is . . .”
“Mind blowing? How can someone be dead and come back to life?” Maria wondered, just as unaccustomed to the ways of Port Charles as her companion for the evening.
“Oh no, it’s a normal occurrence here in the Chuckles,” Lucas interjected with a grin. “So many people have been thought dead only to come back later. Uncle Luke, Aunt Laura, Katherine Bell, just to name a few. After a while, you get used to it.”
“Get used to people dying but not really dying?” Maria muttered. “I don’t know if that is really possible.”
“Maybe not get used to it, but it stops being a total shock, you know?” Lucas took a sip of his water and focused his attention back on Carly and Brenda snipping at each other. His sister had now jumped up onto the stage to get into Brenda’s face a bit easier.
**
“Um Sonny, maybe you should, you know, go up there,” Lucy suggested with a sigh, fearing Carly would do something she would later regret.
“But I don’t want to,” Sonny whined. “I know Brenda and I know Carly, and I do not want to get in the middle of those two.”
Kevin and Lucy exchanged a look. “Sonny, is that all?” Kevin wondered.
“Is what all?”
Kevin leaned closer to Sonny, dropping his voice to a whisper. “We’ve talked about this in our sessions, about what would happen if Brenda had somehow ever returned. I never got the impression that you would be so . . .blasé about it.”
“Well Kevin, since you asked, I’m about one step away from having a panic attack because my thought dead lover is up their fighting with my current lover, but frankly I don’t think I’m really in the position to be having somewhat public panic attacks. After all it’s not like I’m an over worked accountant, doctor.”
Kevin nodded understandingly.
“Can I see you tomorrow afternoon?” Sonny whispered. “I do think by then I’ll need some heavy head shrinking.”
“Kind of figured as much,” Kevin chuckled softly.
Alexis sat at the other end of the table, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. Something very strange was going on, and it had nothing to do with the diminutive former model and the scheming blond. No, this was Spencer Cassadine strange.
Lucky and Landon had disappeared about an hour ago and Nikolas had been in and out of the ballroom all night, appearing very nervous.
She politely excused herself from the table and headed outside. Helena’s yacht was in clear view from the dock outside the restaurant. It took her a moment to realize what was going on, but once she did her heart started to race. There were police cars and officers swarming all around where Helena’s yacht was docked. Instantly Alexis took off in the direction of the boat, unable to believe her eyes.
“Taggert, Taggert, wait up,” Alexis yelled as she tried to catch her breath, and Marcus Taggert. He turned to her, a grim look on his face. “What’s going on?”
“What isn’t going on?” he groaned. He looked over her shoulder at the lit up restaurant, “Is the reception over?”
“Oh no, Brenda’s back from the dead, made her grand appearance, I think she and Carly may end up in a fist fight, but that is beside the point . . .what is going on here?”
Taggert blinked at her response, realizing that he couldn’t dwell on that little anomaly. “Some heavy stuff is going down with your warped little step mother.”
“Like . . .”
“Like, your nephew and Helena’s right hand man hand delivered proof that Helena kidnapped Lucky Spencer nineteen years ago.”
“Oh my god,” Alexis gasped. “He didn’t say anything.”
“I got the impression that Nikolas was trying to make up for the sins of his family,” Taggert told her.
“What else is going on?” Alexis wondered as she saw men from the coroners department board the yacht. “Who’s dead?”
“I really shouldn’t be discussing this with you . . .”
“Come on Marcus, this is my twisted family, we both know that somehow, someway I’ll end up involved, you might as well fill me in now,” she insisted, glancing over her shoulder to find V and her mysterious friend Alistar Leo, approaching.
“Dr. Jane Keros and a guard.”
Alexis held her breath for a moment, silently praying it wasn’t Andreas. “Andreas?”
Taggert shook his head, “Nah, he’s fine. Nikolas and Mr. Andropolis are at the station giving their statements on Helena’s kidnapping charges.”
“And Helena? Is she in custody?”
“We’re not that lucky, seems she has disappeared. But at least now, whenever she comes back, we’ll be able to nail her and send the witch away for good,” Taggert said confidently.
“Lieutenant, there is something you should see,” an officer called out.
Taggert nodded and regarded Alexis with a smile. “I better go, if you hear anything about where Helena is hiding . . .”
“You’ll be the first to know.”
Alexis watched the good cop walk away before turning to V and Leo. “Let me guess, Carly killed Brenda and you came down to see if the cops wanted a two for one crime scene investigation?”
V shook her head, “No, that didn’t happen yet, though I think a pool has started. I have my money on Brenda hitting Carly with a tripod by the end of the month, but Alistar here thinks Carly is going to dump Brenda into a laundry cart first.”
Alexis laughed, smiling at Leo, “But you don’t know either woman.”
He arched an eyebrow before shrugging his shoulders. “Yeah, but Carly seems like the scrappy fighter if you ask me.”
“What’s, um, going on down here?” V asked innocently, trying to appear as uninvolved as possible. The key to Leo and V’s mission was anonymity.
“Murder, kidnapping, and Helena’s disappearance, you know, another day in the life of our resident villain.”
V nodded understandingly. “Do you want to head back to the reception, see if anything has been broken yet?”
Alexis shrugged, “Might as well.”
“Wait a second ladies, looks like things are about to get interesting down here,” Leo mused as he pointed to Taggert who was practically sprinting off the yacht.
“Put out an APB on Lucky and Landon Spencer, find those two boys now,” Taggert ordered his men as he approached Alexis, V, and Leo.
“Taggert, what is it now?”
He frowned, “Are Landon and Lucky up at the reception?”
Alexis was about to answer but V cut her off, “Yeah, why wouldn’t they be?”
Leo looked to the promising young agent, trying to figure out why she had just lied.
“Because they, not Helena, are responsible for the two dead bodies on the yacht. Helena’s security camera caught it all on tape, most of it at least.”
“Most of it officer?” Leo questioned. “What do you mean most of it?”
“That, sir, I can’t discuss.”
Leo grumbled something under his breath before V took his arm to calm him down. “I’m sure all you have to do is head up to the restaurant and you’ll find the boys up there. I’m sure this is all a big misunderstanding,” V insisted.
“Two young men, both possessing firearms, on video standing over two dead bodies. How does one misunderstand that V?” Taggert challenged, leaving before she had a chance respond.
“Damn,” V groaned. “This was not supposed to happen, was it?”
“Well, this is what we get taking the laid back route. I told Frisco it wasn’t a good idea,” Leo said sharply, jamming his hands into his black slacks in frustration.
“Frisco? As in Frisco Jones, what are you talking about?”
“Oh great, I forgot she was here,” Leo complained as he looked at Alexis. “What we are about to tell you, you can’t tell anyone, got it?”
**Route 104**
Lucky held onto the steering wheel of the car, staring out at the dark road ahead of him. His mind not on his brother sitting beside him, or on what was happening and the fact they were running from murder. No, he could only think about one thing.
<<<“What happens when dreams come true?” he whispered, almost as if he was asking a higher power. He turned to Elizabeth, his blue eyes flashing with happiness, but looking deeper she could see something more, she could see a hesitant fear. “Have you ever asked yourself that?”
Liz shrugged her shoulders as she leaned back onto the bed, pulling the covers around her. “I don’t know . . . I never really dreamed about anything before. I was always more of an in the moment person. Putting too much stock in what might happen only ever led to heartbreak for me.”
Lucky sighed, sitting down next to her. He touched her cheek softly, “It’s ok to dream now. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure your heart isn’t broken. I’ll protect it with everything in me,” he whispered. He leaned forward and kissed her. “All my life I dreamed of a better life, of finally being happy. But it never seemed like I could ever reach it. Until now, until that day I met you. Everything fell into place and I finally found something that felt familiar. I know this is going to sound crazy Elizabeth, but I can’t help but think we were meant to be, that this was something predetermined.”
“Like soul mates,” Elizabeth whispered, running her fingers through his short brown hair with a smile. “I know the road ahead is going to be rough, but I can’t help but think we’ll make it . . .together.”
“Together, I like the sound of that.”>>>
It took everything inside of Lucky not to turn the car around and go back so he could explain to Elizabeth why he was gone, what was happening.
“Are you alright?” Landon asked, noticing how quiet Lucky had gotten suddenly.
Lucky cleared his throat and glanced over at Landon. “Yeah, I’m cool. Why?”
“You just got real quiet and all . . .I was just worried, that’s all,” Landon noted, trying to figure out Lucky. He wasn’t sure if it was possible though.
“I said I’m fine, don’t worry about it,” Lucky said sharply as he reached for the radio station. “We’ll get to Canada in a few hours and from there we’ll just lay low until we talk to Luke again. Everything will be ok, I know it.”
“How can you know it Lucky? Everything is a mess, we’ve totally screwed up our lives, our futures . . .” Landon complained tiredly.
“No we didn’t, at least I didn’t,” Lucky said with a hint of longing. “I’m not about to give up. I’ve been fighting someone else’s war far too long to give up because someone went and died on us,” Lucky added with a laugh, trying to lighten the grave mood.
“Yeah well, at least when this is over you have someone to return home to. I’ve got nothing Lucky, nothing. Do you know how that feels?”
Lucky glanced at Landon, almost wanting to tell him how he knew nothing. How he felt it, lived it, every time he was with Jane. But he didn’t.
“I’m sorry,” Lucky whispered.
“For what?”
“I didn’t intend to fall in love with Elizabeth and I had no idea she’d fall for me . . .”
Landon stuck his hand out of the window for a moment, sighing deeply to himself. “Do you love her?”
“More than I’ve loved anyone.”
“Then that’s enough Lucky. Liz is an amazing girl, part of me will always be in love with her. But I know you are who she’s meant to be with . . .just make her happy dude and I’ll give you my blessing,” Landon confessed. He was conflicted over so many things, but finally letting go of Liz felt good, like weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“Thanks man, that means a lot to me,” Lucky said with a smile.
The two young men sat back and relaxed, taking the remainder of the trip in silence.
**Spencer House**
“What?” Liz shouted as she stood up from the couch. The party had long ended. Brenda’s reappearance coupled with the police looking for Landon and Lucky put somewhat of a damper on the evening’s festivities. She changed and went over to the Spencer house with Laura, waiting for word from Luke on what was happening.
“That’s not possible Luke, Lucky would never kill someone, it must have been a mistake,” Maria insisted. Luke thought it was only fair that she was there too.
“I don’t know exactly what happened, the boys were pretty nervous and shaken so I didn’t press. I’m there father, I don’t need excuses, I’ll help no matter what,” Luke explained. “But we’ve got to stay calm and . . .”
He was cut off when the front door flew open followed by Alexis and Nikolas.
“Natasha, it’s about damn time you got here,” Luke quipped. “What do you know?”
“About what? Your sons being wanted for murder?” Alexis questioned. “Why am I here?”
“I was hoping you’d represent them,” Luke said, hating that he was asking a Cassadine, even if it was Alexis, for help.
“For once, I agree with Luke,” Nikolas chimed in. “Landon isn’t a killer, and even if he is responsible somehow for this I know there has to be a real reason. He’d never just kill someone, not Landon.”
“So wonderful, we are agreed, Lucky and Landon wouldn’t kill anyone. That doesn’t change the fact that my supposed husband and the man I love are missing,” Liz groaned inwardly as she realized she had just revealed the secret about the wedding.
“Supposed?” Laura questioned.
“This is just what I needed,” Liz muttered as she looked to Maria for help.
“The wedding was a sham,” she said with a smile for Liz. “Something happened with Lucky and he thought it would be best, in order to fool Helena, to have Landon and Liz get married in order to keep them safe . . .”
“Until he could fix things,” Laura added. “Damnit Luke, you didn’t even raise him yet he’s exactly like you.”
“But it wasn’t a real marriage,” Liz continued. “Sonny hired a person to marry us and we didn’t sign anything and we aren’t married.”
“Does Landon know?” Laura asked, worried her youngest son was about to get his heart broken.
“Yeah, he’s been in on it from the start.”
“That’s good,” Laura noted.
“Wait a second, so you’re in love with . . .” Luke’s voice faded off as he allowed himself to smile for a moment. “Hell, you just can’t escape the charms of Spencer men, can you?”
Liz shook her head and grinned briefly, “I’m in love with Lucky but right now that’s beside the point. What is going on? Where are they?”
“Heading to Canada until we can get them cleared or until Natasha can.”
“They can’t just come back though,” Nikolas spoke up. “Helena is going to think Lucky is responsible for the information the police received on her tonight. She’ll go right after them. They are safer wherever they are right now. We have to wait until Helena is neutralized for any of us to really be safe anymore.”
“He’s right,” Luke said bitterly. “This war is far from over, it’s just beginning.”
“And that’s why you need my help,” Nikolas said sternly. “I’ve got an idea.”
“An idea?” Liz wondered. “If it brings Lucky home to me I’m all for it.”
“Not if it is dangerous. I’m not putting all three of my son’s in danger,” Laura added.
“First we need to make Helena believe that I’m really Stavros’s son, somehow switch the paternity records. After that I’ll get on her good side. According to Alexis one of the security tapes from the yacht is missing. It’s the tape with the actual murder happening. If I can get Helena to think that I’m on her side that I want my brothers to burn . . . she’ll gladly turn it over,” Nikolas explained.
“But why wouldn’t she turn it over now?” Luke challenged.
“She probably has her reasons … one of which she wants her own revenge on Lucky and you guys. She trusts the justice systems about as much as we trust her,” Nikolas said confidently. “If I can get on her side and . . .”
“But what if the tape shows Lucky and Landon . . .you know?” Liz asked nervously.
“We’ll cross that road when we come to it,” Luke told her as he touched her shoulder lightly. “Don’t worry.”
“Alexis will worry about the actual legal practices going on. Our job is to neutralize Helena. I get on her side, we are one step closer to bringing her down. Once she trusts me we’ll practically be able to hand her over to the cops and she’ll be gone for good,” Nikolas finished, a proud smile on his face. “Well?”
Luke sat on the couch, folding his arms in annoyance. “I never thought I’d say this, but the Prince may be on to something. This can work.”
**
“Yes, things have begun,” Helena said into her cell phone as her driver sped down the highway away from Port Charles. “Find the Spencer boys and bring them to the place we have discussed . . .Yes, I know the original plan was for just one but plans change. . . Oh and if you see Andreas, don’t do anything, just let him know I’m looking for him.”
With that Helena closed her eyes to sleep, knowing that everything was just starting to become fun.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 