The Best Laid Plans - Chapter 41
 
 

Monica, Alan, and Edward were all waiting in the Quartermaine Den when
Emily and Justus came in.

'' Justus, Emily. How is Sasha Cassadine?'', Alan asked.

'' Not well. The doctors don't hold out much hope.''

Emily went to Monica. '' Oh, Mom. It was Awful. I have never seen Nikolas so upset. And the only thing that I could think of was....''

'' Jason.'', Monica quietly replied. '' Justus, thank you for bringing Emily home.''

'' No problem. The Cassadines seemed as if they weren't going anywhere, and since they were only letting family into see her, I knew that Emily and I weren't welcome. Well, folks, I will be seeing you.''

'' I'll walk you out, Justus.'', Alan said.

They went outside and got to Justus's car.

'' So. What did you find out about the 'accident'?''

'' What? It's no longer an 'accident', Alan. They are considering it a hit and run. And the guilty party will be charged accordingly. Lucky for you, there was only one witness. An old man whose eyewitness view can be seriously questioned.''

'' Well, maybe, if I went now, down to police station..''

'' Alan, what the hell for? It won't do any good. You don't even know IF Sasha Cassadine is going to make it. And even if she survives, what condition will she be. Alan, the worst thing that you can do, is to go and do a confessional to Taggert and Garcia. Legally, you don't know how it would shake out, and it's just simply foolish. In addition to that, Stefan Cassadine is out for blood. So, Alan, what do you think Stefan is going to do with a drug addicted Chief of Staff who injured his daughter? Alan, the man will crucify you. Jail would be the LEAST of what would happen to you. If he's even a BIT like the rest of his clan,
not only would he come after you, but the rest of the Quartermaines would be on the chopping block. So, there will be NO confessions. At least not now. Am I understood?''

'' Yes.''

'' Now. About this problem of yours. All I can say is that I hope you have a large enough stash. Because, if you disappeared for treatment now, all sorts of questions would be asked. Especially, if they put you in the area, trying to get some of your little friends. But, you need
help, Alan. And we'll get you some, as soon as the time presents itself. Until then, keep it up. You've obviously turned into a wonderful liar. No sense of a little thing like a conscience getting in the way. Do you get that also?''

'' Yes.''

'' I mean it, Alan. You go on a truthtelling spree, and this entire family will be made to suffer. Well, I will keep you abreast of the situation.''

'' Thank you, Justus.''

'' Don't thank me yet. I have a feeling that the worst is yet to come.''
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bobbie is in Sasha's room, preparing everything. Checking the monitors. Bobbie shook her head. How could such a live, vibrant young woman, be sitting on this life support machine. For some reason, the two of them had connected. She turned and saw Nikolas and Stefan standing together, staring through the window at Sasha. And Bobbie could only sympathize
with Stefan. Whatever their problems, his one true virtue, as she saw it, was his devotion to his children. He had seen it with Nikolas, lo, all those many months, of their entrance into Port Charles, and during their marriage. And he saw it with Sasha, when he came when she was sick the first time, and also in Sasha, who was so much like Stefan, it was scary. She wouldn't wish upon any parent the situation that Stefan was in. Never at all.
Bobbie goes to the door and opens it.

'' Stefan. Nikolas. You can come in now.''

Both of them slowly enter the room. They each take a hand, and sit down and hold it. Bobbie could see the silent tears running down Nikolas' face. And Stefan? Bobbie could see that he was completely devastated. As she checked the monitors, Alexis came in.

'' Stefan, Nikolas...Do you need anything?''

'' No thank you, Alexis. Nikolas and I are fine.''

'' Well, I'll be sitting outside if you need me.''

'' Fine.''

Alexis walks out, and in walks Katherine.

'' Stefan, Nikolas, do you need anything?''

'' No, Katherine, we need nothing.''

'' Well, I'll just stay with you two for awhile, and give you support.''

Bobbie rolled her eyes and left the room.

'' Bobbie?'', Alexis called.

'' Yes, Alexis.''

'' Tell me, honestly, how is she?''

'' The doctors didn't pull any punches. He told you the brutal truth. If she makes it, it will be a miracle. I'm going to go back to the Nurses Station, and clear up the rest of my case load, so that I can work fulltime on this case.''

'' Bobbie, is that really necessary?'' Bobbie and Alexis turn to see Katherine standing there. '' I mean, I'm sure that there are plenty of other capable nurses.''

'' That maybe true, Katherine. But, I don't mind. Really, I don't.''

'' Well, maybe Stefan would mind.''

'' You know, Katherine. You're not family to Sasha, so I don't even know why you're here.''

'' Well, because...''

'' Because you are sleeping with MY husband. Nothing more. So, a few tumbles in the hay gives you more rights and knowledge than me, Sasha's stepmother and a surgical nurse of 20 years. Who would've thunk it.''

'' Bobbie, I don't see...''

'' No, you never did. But, that's neither here nor there, Katherine. The bottom line is that Stefan's daughter is in there, fighting for her life, and whatever has to be done, in order to keep her going, is what I'm going to do. So, if my being on her case REALLY bothers you that much, I suggest that you take it up with Stefan. But, DON'T get in my face anymore.'' Bobbie turns and walks away, leaving Katherine there. And Alexis with a smirk on her face. Katherine turns and goes back into the room. Alexis simply rolls her eyes.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jax was in his slumber, when he felt something on his neck. He opened his eyes to find a smiling Dara, nuzzling him.

'' Ah, Ms. Jensen. It's only you.''

'' And WHO else could it have been?''

'' No one. Not after the night that we had.''

'' So. You enjoyed yourself, Mr. Jacks?''

'' Enjoy is a mild word for last night.''

'' Well, then, what word would you use?''

'' I would say momentous was appropriate.''

'' Oh.''

'' What time is it?''

'' I would say, close to 11:OO a.m.''

'' Dara, do you know, that we're supposed to be out of here at Noon?''

To that, Dara climbs on top of Jax and begins to kiss him down his chest. When she gets to his stomach, she looks up at him, with a completely devilish smile.

'' I guess not.'', Jax answered his own question.

Dara moves over Jax and to the telephone.

'' How polite of you, Dara. To inform the desk...''

'' This is room 1246. I would like to order two bowls of whip cream, some strawberries, some Vanilla and Chocolate icecream, cherries and sprinkles.''

'' Dara, isn't that a strange meal for breakfast.''

'' Depends on how you eat it, Jax. Now, how long do you think it will take for them to get it up to us?''

'' Just long enough.''
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emily came to the ICU. She saw Nikolas, who was sleeping on a chair. Alexis had the couch. Emily goes over to Nikolas and slightly touches him. He jumps up.

'' Emily!''

'' I'm sorry for bothering you, Nikolas. I just thought that you might be a bit hungry. So, I brought you some bagels, croissants and some of Cook's sticky buns. I know that the last thing you think about is eating. I remember it was the last thing on my mind.''

'' When your brother was in here.''

'' Yes. Is there any word?''

'' No. Nothing has changed. She made it through the night, which is something, I suppose.''

'' It's a start, Nikolas. I know. For the first few days after Jason's accident, we went from hour to hour.''

'' But, your brother woke up and he didn't know any of you.''

'' I know. But, at least he's alive. Even if he isn't. I'm sorry. I came here trying to cheer you up, and I don't think that I've done a good job.''

'' You did fine. Actually, I wanna get out and think for a bit. Will you take a walk with me?''

'' Sure.''

Nikolas and Emily leave.

Stefan is by Sasha's bedside.

'' Stefan. Don't you think you ought to go home and get some rest?''

'' No, Katherine. I can't leave her side.''

'' Stefan, if anything changes, the hospital will contact you.''

'' I won't leave her.''

'' Stefan, you'll run yourself...''

'' I TOLD YOU, that I am not going ANYWHERE! Now, if you want to go back to Wyndemere, GO!''

'' No, Stefan. I'll stay here, with you.''

'' That's not necessary, Katherine. I will be fine.''

'' Well, if you really don't need me.''

'' I will be fine.''

'' OK. I'll go and shower and change. And I'll bring you and Nikolas back a change of clothing.'' Katherine left after she got no response from Stefan.

After Katherine left, Bobbie came in.

''Stefan?''

'' Barbara. How is she?''

'' She's still alive.''

'' But, you don't hold out much hope.''

'' I'm not the one who has to have hope. That's for you and Nikolas to have.''

'' You don't believe that we have foolish hope. The third specialist I flew in agreed with Dr. Hiroshi. That she was a lost cause.''

'' She's only lost when you and Nikolas say she is. Until then, she's just fine.''

'' You've been very kind, Barbara.''

Bobbie takes Stefan's hand. '' Stefan, you can't believe that I, of all people, would wish this on you. Surely you know that.''

'' Yes, I do know that, Barbara. Thank you.''

'' I forgot my purse....'', Katherine said as she entered the room, witnessing Bobbie holding Stefan's hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alexis was walking around the hospital when Mai came up to her.

'' Ms. Davis?''

'' Oh, Mai.''

'' How is she?''

'' There's no change. Nothing at all. She's still in pretty bad shape.''

'' I was wondering if there was anything that I could do for you, Mr. Cassadine, and Master Nikolas?''

'' No. Mai, I'm sorry. I completely forgot. If you would like to see her..''

'' Oh, no. I wouldn't think of intruding on the family during this time. I came to see you, because I do have something that I must discuss with Mr. Cassadine. I was wondering if I could see him?''

'' Of course. Go right on ahead.''

'' Thank you, Ms. Davis.''

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Katherine is looking at Bobbie and Stefan.

'' Well, Stefan. I have to go home, for a bit, and check on Lucas. I will be back though. And if there's any change in her condition, the Nurses will notify me, and I'll be back as soon as possible.''

'' Thank you, Barbara.''

Bobbie leaves. Katherine is still standing there.

'' I thought you were leaving Katherine.''

'' I suppose I am.''

Katherine leaves. Bobbie is at the desk, finishing some paperwork.

'' Stefan is so fortunate to have a nurse that's so dedicated.''

'' Goodbye, Katherine.''

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'' Well, Dara, I NEVER have quite enjoyed sundae's as I have today.''

'' I told you it was all in the presentation.''

'' You know, when you busted me for drugs during that entire bad time, I had NO idea what you were really like.''

'' And if you had?''

'' I still wouldn't have believed it. I was lost, in the Brenda FOG. Man, it was bad.''

Just the mention of Brenda, made Dara get a solemn look on her face. Who was she, to think, that she could compare to the other women who've been in Jax's life?

'' Dara, look at me. I know that the mention of Brenda must upset you. And it shouldn't. Dara, I'm where I want to be. With whom I desire. I'm crazy about you, Dara. Don't you know that?''

'' I want to. Because, I'm crazy about you too.''

'' How crazy, Ms. Jensen? Because, I think that I am...''

The phone rings. '' Jasper Jacks. Jerry, your timing stinks. No, Jer. I hadn't heard about it. I'm sorry. You know what? I'll be in Buenos Aires in a few hours, if you want me to. OK....I'll go back to Port Charles and give you the word from there. Bye.'' Jax hangs up the phone, and
then dials. '' This is Jasper Jacks. I want my plane ready in 90 minutes.'' Jax hangs up the phone..

'' I guess this ideal world is bye-bye. That was your brother?''

'' Yes.''

'' Why do we have to go back to Port Charles.''

'' Sasha Cassadine was involved in a bad accident. It doesn't look good.''

'' And why would that be important to your brother?''

'' Because, she's his ex-wife.''

'' Oh.''

'' I'm sorry, Dara.''

'' No need to apologize. Why don't we take a shower and just extend this vacation for as long as possible.''

'' Fine.''

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stefan was sitting in Sasha's room when Mai came in.

'' Mr. Cassadine?''

'' Ah, Mai. She's holding her own.''

'' That is something. Mr. Cassadine, I hate to intrude on you, at this time, but I came to tell you, that I need to go to England. It would be only for 2 days at the most. But, there is Pegasus Group business that cannot be delayed. I would not leave otherwise.''

'' I know that, Mai. Your devotion to my daughter, I do not question. And you are right. If Pegasus Group business needs attending, then, of course, do it.''

'' I would like to be able to be kept abreast of her condition.''

'' Of course, forgive me. Your name will be on the list of those to which information about her condition can be released.''

'' Thank you, Mr. Cassadine. Know that I will be thinking and praying for her.''

'' Of course. I will see you when you return.''

'' Goodbye.'' Mai leaves Sasha's room and says, when alone, '' I will make sure that things stay in order, Sasha.''

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bobbie got home and went directly to her mail. The package that she was
expecting had gotten there. She opened it up, and took out the CD Rom.
She placed it into the computer and was beginning to read it, when her
beeper went off. It was the hospital. Something was wrong with Sasha.
Bobbie got her coat and left out the door immediately. The computer
screen was still on.

The heading of the screen was

'' Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts''

The OB-GYN Division
Specialty: Oncology: Uterine Cancer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stefan is in Sasha's room, when...
The monitors begin to flatline. The alarms go off. Alexis and Nikolas, who have been walking the hallway rush back to the room, just in time to see them performing CPR on Sasha. They push the electric paddles on her, and finally, after a few minutes, she is alive once again.
By the time that they get Sasha stable, Bobbie is back in the room. Stefan, Nikolas, Alexis and Katherine are all looking into the room, from the window. The Doctor comes out to Stefan..

'' Dr. Hiroshi?''

'' Mr. Cassadine. It is only a matter of time. I'm sorry.''

Stefan is staring through the window, at Sasha. His face gives up nothing. Nikolas and Alexis, have begun to break down in tears.

'' Thank you, Doctor.'', Stefan says, completely without emotion. Stefan turns and walks away from the group. Katherine follows him. Somehow, Stefan winds up in the Chapel.
He points his finger at the Altar.

'' I can't believe you! I can't believe that you could even think about taking her life. When there are so many others, myself being one of them, that deserve it completely. You have gone back on our bargain. How dare you!''

''Stefan? Stefan? Who are you talking to?''

'' Katherine, leave. This is neither the time nor place for this.''

'' Stefan, please. Let me help.''

'' Katherine. I have been told that my daughter is going to die. WHAT do you think that you could do for me?''

'' Well, I could help you through this..''

'' THIS?! THIS!? How could you? What could I even say to you? My daughter doesn't even LIKE you. Do you know how disloyal to her I feel? Talking to you about her? GO!''

Katherine leaves. The fury in Stefan gets to him, and he begins to destroy the chapel.
He hears the door open.

'' I thought I told you to go.''

'' No. You didn't tell me that.''

Stefan turns around to see Bobbie standing there.

'' Barbara, please leave.''

'' No, Stefan, I won't go. You're in here, destroying a chapel. You need to stop.''

'' Barbara, I will replace whatever I break. You don't need to worry.''

'' To hell with you, Stefan. I know you can replace it all. That's not the point. You don't need to destroy. You need to talk with someone about it. Nikolas. Alexis.''

'' They wouldn't understand.''

'' Then, how about me?''

'' Sorry, Barbara, I doubt you would understand.''

'' You're lucky you're on the other side of the room, or I would certainly have smacked you. IF I don't know what you're going through, then who the hell would? But, fine, you want to act like a child, instead of being a man, then, I'm outta here.'' Bobbie turns to leave
and is almost out the door when,

'' Barbara, wait..................You are right, of course. It's just that...''

'' You're scared. Terrified.''

'' I feel as if I've stepped into a black hole.''

'' And that it's swallowing you whole.''

'' Yes....''

'' Well, Stefan. Don't think that you know how I feel. Don't think that you have any idea at all. Magnify what you're feeling by tenfold, and you may be able to imagine what it would be like, if you lost her.''

'' The pain is throbbing.''

'' And pounding.....But, Stefan. You can't give up hope.''

'' But, the doctors....''

'' As long as she's alive, and they don't tell you brain dead, them you have hope. YOU must have hope. It is only you and Nikolas that can bring her back. And not even Nikolas. YOU, Stefan are all that she has. IF she believes that you have given up on her, then all is lost.''

'' Barbara, I have no idea, as to what to do..''

'' You could begin by praying.''

'' Praying to a God that I just cursed. Wouldn't that seem hypocritical?''

'' No. When we are at our angriest, it's when you need him the most. And I have to believe that he hears us, in the heart, especially.''

'' I don't know how to pray, Barbara.''

'' Stefan, in all that education, I'm sure that your instructors handled it. And funny thing, you never seem to forget. So here...'', Bobbie takes Stefan's hand in hers. Quietly, she begins..
'' The Lord is My shephard. I shall not want. He maketh to lie down in
green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my
soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.''

Stefan joins in..'' Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me; thy rod and thy
staff, they comfort me...''

Bobbie and Stefan finish praying as Katherine looks on through the glass
in the door.