~~~Cassadines Don't Divorce Chapter 2~~~ (Stefan and Bobbie)

From: Rebel

Chapter 2
Stefan and Bobbie's bedroom:

Stefan rises from in front of Bobbie's seat. ''Now I wonder why Luke would cajole you into breaking into my safe box in the first place... Certainly he had no idea it contained the file on Caroline. So he was after something else. Did he tell you what it was?'' Stefan asks, not expecting an honest answer. He walks over to the box, unlocks it, and lifts out a videotape. ''Perhaps this?''

''What is it?'' With the way this night has gone, she's wouldn't be surprised to find Stefan holding a nuclear bomb in his hands.

''You want me to give away the ending? No, I can't possibly do that.'' Stefan reaches out his hand to his pale wife. ''Shall we retire to study and watch the entertainment?''
Bobbie refuses to budge.''I can't, I can't take anymore tonight. I just....'' A sob lodges in her throat. Right. No place to run, no safe place to hide out and lick wounds. Good job, Bobbie, you've done it again. Poor gullible Bobbie has no place to go.

Before she thought her haven was Luke, her rock solid, never-steer-you-wrong brother. She could count on him even when she couldn't count on a husband, even when she couldn't count on her own judgment. He would never lead her astray, except.. except he has. Repeatedly and fundamentally. So not only can't she rely on her own judgment, she can't count on her rock of Gibraltar either.

And where does that leave her? In a room wondering how her life became a twisted Jerry Springer Special. Her dull as dirt ex-husband is sleeping with her long lost daughter, her current husband just caught her trying to poison him, and her brother Luke is convinced there is a Cassadine plot to take over the world. Frankly it's too bizarre even for Jerry Springer.

And in this life, she can't even trust her own basic instincts. Clearly she's going to have to trust something or someone. But who?

Luke.

Luke had lied about Laura being killed in a fire, he'd lied about her daughter being dead and God knows what else. But she'd trusted him all her life, and for the most part he has always had her best interests at heart. It's hard to discard that bond, that fundamental trust even when it's so sorely abused.

Stefan.
Well it isn't clear what Stefan had done exactly. He'd lied to her repeatedly for sure, but then he hadn't promised to be honest either. He was her brother's bitter enemy. Circumstantial evidence pointed to him being responsible for the power outage at GH which almost killed Audrey on the operating table. Maybe he was responsible for a deadly computer virus. Maybe he cheated on her with Katherine. Maybe, Maybe, maybe.
So where does that leave her? With more questions than answers.

Bobbie looks at Stefan dead in the eyes. The big question first. ''Have you slept with Katherine Bell? Have you cheated on me?''

Stefan's eyebrows raise at the radical change in subject, but the look on Bobbie's face clearly indicates how seriously she expects an answer, that the fate of their marriage might rest on his answer. Not a time to evade. ''I have been faithful to you since the day we married, and that includes any dealings Katherine Bell. Katherine will never be a threat to our marriage. Ever.''

Bobbie sighs. The problem with Stefan is that he can look you right in the eye and lie. Except... except he was much more likely to evade than lie directly. Bobbie is tempted to ask him.. are you attracted to her, are you in love with her. But she doesn't want the answers. Actions are what matter. Besides, he never promised to love her, so it's unfair to ask him if he's in love with Katherine. It isn't fundamental to their marriage. Studying his face, she believes he means what he says. Well that's one question answered.

''I want to see the inside of your safe box.''

Stefan stands aside and waves her magnanimously forward to look inside. ''By all means. Don't trust your husband. Look for yourself, you will see no love letters.''

Bobbie stands on shaky legs and crosses the room to look into the box. It was empty now, without the videotape and file. No letters, computer disks.... no microchips.... no other files. Just an empty innocent looking wood box. No evidence of a Cassadine plot in there. God, had she sacrificed her marriage for nothing?

''Satisfied, My Darling?''

Bobbie puts up her hand to wave off his sarcasm. ''You wanted me to see this tape?''
''A moment ago you refused.''

''I don't know if I can survive another one of your surprises, but what choice do I have?''

''Before we move to the study, perhaps you would like to call your brother,'' Stefan suggests. ''I am sure he is anxiously awaiting a status report.'' He hands her the phone. ''Call him and tell him to give up the watch, Barbara. You won't be meeting him tonight.''
Right, Luke is on the docks waiting for a signal. Nothing like having your life blown to smithereens to make you forget a few details.

Bobbie numbly takes the phone from Stefan. Hell, if Luke could lie to her, serves him right if she lies right back. Clumsy under the strain, she fumbles the phone while trying to dial and causes it to clatter to the floor.

Stefan picks it up, asking softly, ''What is his number?'' Bobbie rattles it off while he dials. ''Give him no indication of what has transpired tonight. None.''

Bobbie nods obediently, taking in a calming breath while waiting for Luke to answer. ''Luke, it's me. No, everything's fine, it's just not going to work out tonight.'' She looks up at Stefan who is listening attentively to every word. ''No, he doesn't suspect anything, I've been careful.... No, it's just the strain of it all.... right, we'll talk tomorrow. I've got to go, he's coming. Good night.'' Bobbie disconnects.
Stefan plucks the phone from her hands. ''You are quite adept at that, aren't you? A pity, since I will forever wonder whether you are telling me the truth.''

''Pot, Kettle,'' Bobbie mutters under her breath, shivering in her thin black negligee. ''And just to set the record straight, I didn't lie for you.''

''Of course not,'' Stefan answers bitterly. Getting her robe from the close, he slips it over her shoulders and escorts her through the bedroom door. ''Come, we must finish what we've begun. After tonight, there will be no more secrets between us.''

A few minutes later, Bobbie is seated in front of a television in the study, feeling much like a lamb waiting for slaughter. Stefan pops the videotape in and presses the power button. A few moments later an image of the back of a house comes into focus, a house that is familiar to her. She looks at Stefan in confusion. ''The Ward House? This was before it burned!''

''Indeed. Be certain to look in the windows. Can you detect anything?''

Bobbie leans forward and takes a closer look. Her eyes widen with shock. ''Flames? A videotape of the fire?!'' Before she can ask why he's showing her this, a tall lanky male figure flees out the back door of the Ward house. A few minutes later, the house is completely engulfed in flames. Bobbie gasps. ''Wait, rewind!''

''Of course.'' Stefan points the remote at the VCR and the tape rewinds to play again.
Bobbie's hand covers her mouth in growing horror as she watches the scene replay. ''It can't be! It can't.''

''You recognize him?'' Stefan prompts, for a moment pretending he doesn't know who the man is. ''You know from attending Laura's murder trial that this must be the man who killed Damian Smith.''

Bobbie shakes her head over and over, her mind racing as she tries to find reasons not to believe it was Luke. But there isn't one. It was him, clear as day. ''No.. No, it doesn't make sense. There must be some mistake. He said.. he said he was meeting Justus, and that the first time he saw the house it was already engulfed in flames!''

''There is no mistake,'' Stefan counters smoothly. ''Luke killed Damian Smith and left the scene of the fire where his wife was upstairs with helpless children. They could have easily been killed.''

Oh Lord, this was too much to contemplate. The lies! This wasn't one simple lie, it was months of lies. He lied through the whole traumatic ordeal and most likely intended to keep the secret forever. He didn't trust her to tell her the truth, not even when his life depended on it. Somehow, even with all the other lies, it seemed unreal. This had to be happening to someone else.

Bobbie's lips quiver with the devastating reality. ''He... he didn't know she was upstairs until he met Justus in front of the house! Justus was the one to tell him that Laura was upstairs with Lulu and one of the Ward babies.'' As the truth of the video sinks in, Bobbie's stomach tightens painfully. What Stefan said was true. Laura and Lulu could have been killed. She remembers with wrenching clarity those long painful minutes when Luke ran into the house and everyone thought they had perished. Then she recalls the almost knee-buckling relief she felt when they emerged from the carnage unscathed.
''I am sure that is true, Barbara.'' Standing beside her chair, Stefan turns off the TV with the remote. ''I won't dispute his love for his family. I am certain he would protect them with his life.''
''Oh God, he let Laura stand trial for murder,'' Bobbie whispers to herself. The shock has begun to wear off, to be replaced by a numbness that was almost comforting. Without thinking she reaches a cold hand out for Stefan. ''He stood by and let her be arrested. Did Laura know all this time? No, she couldn't have. She was too terrified by the whole thing.''

Has he gone too far, showing Bobbie this? Stefan has a pang of guilt as he studies his deathly pale wife who is normally so vibrant. She looks like a fragile child all of a sudden, and utterly destroyed. He crouches in front of her, takes her trembling hand and tries to warm it between his. There is no going back, no taking this back now. Only following through. He will see her through this, and she will be his wife in mind and body once this is over. ''I have no idea, Barbara.''

''He.. he wouldn't have let her go to prison for murder, certainly not a murder he committed. He wouldn't...'' Bobbie shakes her head unable to finish the thought, the tears falling unheeded.

''Maybe, maybe not,'' Stefan answers gently, still stroking her hand. ''You know more what your brother is capable of. Of course, we will never know for certain what Luke would have done since Laura was acquitted.'' He pulls a handkerchief out of his robe pocket and tenderly dries her face before handing to her.

Bobbie accepts the damp handkerchief and drags in a shaky breath. It's too much. Her chest hurts from the mountain grief she's holding at bay. She has to get a grip, now before she becomes as useless as a wet noodle on the floor. ''You... you've had this tape all along. You've never used it.''

''Yes, it has been in my possession since before Laura's verdict, before I came to Port Charles. At one time I had plans to use it to destroy their marriage.'' Stefan explains, rising to his feet again. ''But when I married you and Luke faked Laura's death, that plan ceased any importance. Safeguarding our family is my only interest now.''

''I just bet,'' Bobbie answers bitterly. ''What was your goal exactly, in sharing this little gem now? If it was to level me, you did a great job, let me tell you!''

''That was never my goal,'' Stefan protests. ''I assure you. I thought you deserved to know the truth. The whole truth about your brother. I knew it would be difficult to digest. I knew you might be furious with me.''

''You knew I would hate him,'' Bobbie retorts angrily, almost relieved to have an outlet. ''Well congratulations, Stefan, for a job well done.''

This wasn't going at all the way he planned, but then he'd been forced to do this on a spur of the moment, he hadn't had time to minimize the ramifications, or devise a plan so she wouldn't associate him with the information. If he lost her over this... No, he wouldn't lose her. He wouldn't. ''What shouldn't I have told you, Barbara? What part did you want me to lie about?''

''Don't turn this around on me!'' Bobbie shoots back rising to her feet to meet him face to face. ''You drop these bombs in my lap and expect me to thank you?!''

''No I never expected you to thank me,'' Stefan answers sarcastically. ''Why would you thank me for the truth when you want to delude yourself into believing your brother is a hero?''

''You bet I do!'' Bobbie voice breaks, fresh tears coursing down her face in a torrent. ''Tell me, who doesn't want their older brother to be their hero? Who? And you took that away from me!'' She lurches away from him on unsteady feet but Stefan grabs her elbows to steady her, bringing her close for an embrace. ''Let me go!'' She sobs, fighting against his hold.

''No, not when you are this distraught,'' Stefan answers in pained whisper, shaken by Bobbie's outburst. After a moment, Bobbie surrenders and leans against him. He runs his fingers through her red hair soothingly while she weeps brokenly against his chest. ''Just let it out, Barbara. It's all right.''

''It's not all right! It'll never be all right again.'' Bobbie stiffens in his arms, pushing against his chest until he drops his hands and steps back. She turns away from him and collapses into the seat she just vacated ''I need to be alone. I need to think.''

Stefan regards her bowed head for a moment, torn between wanting to comfort her and knowing he must honor her request. Yielding to the inevitable, he says to her, ''As you wish.'' Quietly he retreats through the study door. In the hall, he meets a male servant. ''Watch her. Go where she goes and report her movements to me. Do nothing else. If she takes the launch, call Milton on the mainland and have him track her from there. Are my instructions clear?''
''Yes Sir.''

Chapter 3