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Mr. Immigration Man, Chap. 10




Stefan arrived at the hospital just as Bobbie and Tony were told that Lucas did not have long to live. Bobbie left Lucas' room and walked, like a zombie, out of General Hospital. Stefan, wondering what was wrong, sought out Dr. Shapiro, who gave Stefan his diagnosis on Lucas. He went to Lucas' room. Tony and Felicia and Lucky were there.

"What are you doing here, Cassadine? Hasn't my Aunt Bobbie suffered enough from you?"

" Lucky, please. Stefan helped save Lucas."

" You didn't answer Lucky's question, Stefan. What ARE you doing here?"

" I was concerned for Barbara. Isn't she here?"

" No, she's left. And no one knows where she is."

" I am sorry. I will be going . Dr. Jones, I spoke with Dr. Shapiro. I know of Lucas' condition. I am sorry."

" Yes, well. Thank you."

" Goodbye."

Stefan left the room. They did not know where Barbara had gone. But, considering the news that she just received, Stefan believed he knew where she would go.

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It was an unseasonably cold night for early autumn. The chill was on, and a thunderstorm had arrived. In the pouring rain, Bobbie has walked to the cemetary. As Stefan arrives, Bobbie is arranging flowers at BJ's grave. Bobbie is placing the flowers, just so, as if Better Homes and Gardens is coming tomorrow. She takes a handkerchief and although pouring rain, is wiping the tombstone off as if she is dusting. Bobbie stands up to look at her work. To see if everything is just right.

" Hello, BJ. It's Mommy. I don't know why I am here. I guess to get used to the feeling. You know I miss you. Something terrible. There's such an emptiness here, I doubt you'd understand that. At all. Oh, BJ, I wish......."

Bobbie sees Stefan.

" What are you doing here?"

" I talked to Dr. Shapiro, Barbara."

" Oh, you did. Well, that's wonderful for you. Why don't you get the hell out of here Stefan?"

" Barbara, you shouldn't be alone right now."

" And I need you?"

" You need someone."

" Well, isn't that how my luck has always been. This is almost the worst night of my life, and who is here, in my time of need? A man who thinks that I am getting exactly what I deserve. And who's not surprised at all that I have yet another child near death."

"Barbara, surely you don't mean that. I would never think that anyone should be going through what is happening now. You are a good mother Barbara."

" But I thought it was a burden for Lucas to have me as a mother."

"Barbara, you know that was said in anger. Your skills and devotion as a mother are unquestionable and unparalleled."

" If I lose Lucas, then all is gone. I can't fight you now Stefan; there's nothing left.............So, take your best shot and leave."

" Do you think me such a beast?"

" Is that rhetorical?"

" Touche."

" You know.....I hate cemetaries. You wanna know what I'm thinking right now? Would I like that kind of headstone and lettering for Lucas. My, God, I just realized, soon I'll be able to visit all 3 of my children in the cemetary. Well, I guess that's whay you call one stop shopping."

"Barbara, I...."

" You risked your life to save him. Not that in the end it meant anything, but WHY?"

" Because I know how much he means to you."

" Why should you care? You hate me."

" As you hate me."

There was an eery long silence between them.

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" So, tell me Stefan. My friends won't be honest, but I thought you could squeeze out a few honest thoughts. So, what's my sin?"

" Barbara.."

"NO! Tell me what's my sin! What I did to be punished like this! A saint, I'm not. Nor have I ever pretended to be. But I did as "they" asked. I cleaned up my act. I went the straight and narrow. I was decent.. SO TELL ME MY SIN! What? At a loss for words? Usually, you are so verbose Stefan? See, our marriage was worth something, when did I ever use verbose before? Don't give me platitudes. DON'T give me phony sympathy. IF you can't muster up something real, then get the HELL out of my face..NOW!"

Stefan is standing there. Bobbie is brimming with rage, anger, sorrow and more pain than she can bear. Bobbie walks up to Stefan and starts to pound him on his chest.

" SAY something, Dammit! Anything! Tell me why! Give me a reason! SHOW some emotion! Tell me I deserve it! Tell me that I'm worthless and I was fooling myself all these years thinking that I could be anybody's mother! Tell me that a Gutter Rat like myself isn't mother material! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!"

Bobbie is dissolving into tears as she continues this. She loses all strength in her body. She slumps to the ground, on her knees. Her face stares towards the wet ground. It what seems an eternity, Bobbie is still, motionless. Stefan kneels down and lifts Bobbie's face. He wipes the wet hair away and gently kisses her forehead. He then picks her up and carries her away. The entire time, Bobbie says nothing.

Stefan brings Bobbie back to the Brownstone. He takes her up to her bedroom. Soaking wet, he takes off his own coat, jacket and shirt. Then he attends to Bobbie, who is dripping a puddle. Very gently, he removes Bobbie's clothes and dries her off. Bobbie's skin is cold, clammy and complete goosepimples. He finds a flannel nightgown for her. He throws the last of the previous season's firewood into her fireplace and starts a fire. He places a rocking chair in front of the fireplace and walks Bobbie over to it. Bobbie sits in it, and STefan gently covers her with a quilt. Stefan turns to walk away, but Bobbie won't let go of his hand. He sits, by Bobbie, holding her hand, until she falls asleep.

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After a couple of hours, Stefan, who has been sitting in a chair next to Bobbie, receives a phone call. He leaves the room in order not to disturb Bobbie. As he returns, Bobbie is awakening. As Bobbie opens her eyes, the face she sees is Stefan's. Not the Stefan of the night he threw her out, but the Stefan from her front stoop. Bobbie almost forgets what has happened, but then reality sets in.

" I vaguely remember getting here. How long have I been asleep?"

" Only for a few hours."

" What about Lucas?!"

" There is no need to worry. I have been calling every 30 minutes to acertain his status. There is no change. Well....... I suppose you will need to get dressed, in order that we return to General Hospital. I will leave and be waiting downstairs. All is not lost, yet, Barbara."

" What do you mean?"

" That we should get to General Hospital as soon as possible."

" Stefan..."

" I will be waiting downstairs."

Stefan and Bobbie make their way to GH. Tony, Felicia and Ruby are all there when Bobbie goes into Lucas' room.

" Where have you been?"

" Are you alright?"

" What happened?"

" I just needed some space and time."

" But where did you go? We called and called the brownstone. But no answer. I had Mac go there, the cemetary, to Luke's and even up to the fishing cabin, but you were nowhere to be found."

" I wound up at the brownstone after I took a long walk."

" And you didn't answer the door? or the phone? Bobbie, I would have come by and stayed with you. You shouldn't have been alone last night, of all nights."

" I wasn't alone, Felicia. Stefan was with me."

As if on cue, Stefan entered Lucas' room. With a stranger.

" Barbara Cass....Spencer, Dr. Jones, I would like for you to meet Dr. Johan Gruber from the Josslyn Center."

" The diabetes center in Boston."

" Yes, Dr. Jones. "

" Why are you here?"

" I flew here upon Mr. Cassadine's request. He sent me the files on your son's case. He thought that I might be able to help."

" And can you?"

" I don't know. The treatment that I would prescribe is in its experimental stages. There are no complete test results about this method. With each case, there seems to be a different set of unique circumstances. I suppose that I am saying is that I cannot promise you anything. I have no guarantees whatsoever. Are you willing for me to try?"

" Willing for you to try? Right now we have a doctor who tells us we should say our goodbyes. If you have ANYTHING that can change that, I'm willing to try it. Tony?"

" Yes."

" Shall we go somewhere, where it would be possible for me to explain my procedures with this treatment?"

" You can use the Library."

" Thank you Mr. Cassadine. Shall we?"

Bobbie, Tony, Ruby leave the room. Stefan turns to leave.

" Bobbie tells me that you were with her last night."

" That is correct, Ms. Jones. Barbara needed my help, and I was glad that I was able to be there for her."

" I bet you were."

" Now, if you don't mind, I have matters which demand my attention. Goodbye."

Stefan leaves the room. Felicia whips out her cell phone.

" Mac, do you think that we can get an earlier flight to Europe?"
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