CHAPTER FIVE



	Lisa walked back into her room at Kelly’s.  She shut the
door behind her and flopped on the bed, thankful that today was her
day off.  She looked at the clock, only 4pm.  She sighed.



	After a minute, she got up and looked in the mirror.  She
reached up and touched the bruise around her eye.  It was still very
tender to the touch and was much more purple then she remembered
it being earlier.  “Damn you, Billy Evans,” she mumbled to
herself.
 


	She put her favorite CD into the player.  As “Songbird” by
Fleetwood Mac began to play, she walked over and looked in the
closet.  She pulled out her suitcase, then sighed and put it back.  It
would be so easy just to pack up and leave again.  Disappear from
everyone’s life forever.  At least in theory.  But then there was her
brother.  And her father.  She sighed again.



	There was a brisk knock on the door that startled her.  She
opened the door and just stood there, surprised to see Stefan
standing there.  “May I come in?” he asked slowly.





For you, there’ll be no more crying.
For you, the sun will be shining.
And I feel that when I’m with you,
It’s alright, I know it’s right.




	“Uh, yeah, sure,” she stood back and let him enter, then
turned her back to him.  “What do you want, Stefan?”



	Stefan took her gently by the shoulder and turned her around
to face him, “I think you know.”





To you, I’ll give the world.
To you, I’ll never be cold.
‘Cause I feel that when I’m with you,
It’s alright, I know it’s right.




	She turned her head away, so he couldn’t see the severity of
the bruise around her eye, “Stefan, please.  I told Alexis that I
wasn’t ready for this.”



	Stefan cupped her chin in his hand and turned her face back
towards him, “Leezia.  Let me look at you.”



	She avoided meeting his gaze while he looked over her
bruises.  Finally, their eyes met.  She saw tears welled up in his
eyes as he looked at her.  She pulled away from him, “Stefan, I can’t
face you like this.”





And the songbirds are singing,
Like they know the score.
And I love you, I love you, I love you,
Like never before.




	“Leezia, this is not your fault.  I haven’t seen you in almost
three years.”



	She nodded, “I know, and I’m sorry.”



	“What happened before isn’t your fault or my fault.  Why
must you punish us both for it?”





And I wish you all the love in the world.
But most of all, I wish it from myself.




	She walked away from him and sat on the bed, “I don’t
know.  I just don’t know,” she said, wiping away the tears.  “I just
can’t handle it, I guess.”



	Stefan crossed the room and sat next to her, “You’re in
danger here.”



	She nodded, “Do you think I should leave town?  That’s
what I was thinking about doing right before you came.”



	He put his arm around her and turned her back so she faced
him.  Seeing the worry and fright in her eyes, he pulled her into a
tender embrace.  “No, don’t leave town.  Just let me take care of
you, like before.”





And the songbirds keep singing,
Like they know the score.
And I love you, I love you, I love you,
Like never before, like never before.


*****



	The sunlight streamed into the window next to Lisa’s bed. 
She stirred slightly and felt a pair of arms protectively wrapped
around her.  “Stefan?” she asked almost silently.



	“I’m here, Leezia,” he said, just as softly.



	She sat up and looked back at the fully clothed figure on her
bed, “I think you’d better go.”



	“Are you okay?” he asked, concerned.



	She nodded, “Yeah, but there’s no need to draw attention to
the fact that you were here all night.  If Lucky should drop by, or
heaven forbid, my father...”



	Stefan sat up and put a finger over her mouth, silencing her,
“Don’t worry about it.  No one will know that I was here.”  He
grabbed a pen and paper and quickly scribbled two numbers down,
“The first number is to Wyndemere, where Nikolas and I are
staying.  The second is my cell phone.  Call me if you need
anything.”



	Silently, he gets up, kisses Lisa chastely on both cheeks and
on the forehead and leaves.  As soon as the door shuts behind him,
she leans back and sighs audibly.  “You deserve better than this,
Stefan.”



*****



	Lisa knocked on the door to Carly and Tony’s apartment. 
Carly answered.  “Hey Cee,” Lisa said, smiling.



	Carly’s eyes widened, “Cousin?”  She quickly embraced
Lisa, “How are you?  When did you get here?”



	Carly lead Lisa inside, “So where’s Dr. Jones?” Lisa
asked.



	“At work.  So?  What’s the scoop with you?” Carly asked
again, smiling.



	“Well, I came after you called to tell me about Lulu.  And
guess what?”  Carly raised an eyebrow expectantly, so Lisa
continued, “Billy Evans is here.”



	“Oh no.  Not that jerk that kept chasing you while we were
in Florida.”



	Lisa nodded, “The very same.”  She pointed to the bruise on
her face, “See?”



	“Well I wasn’t going to say anything.”  Carly suddenly
remembered something, “Oh, Lisa, I heard from Alexander last
week.”



	Surprised, Lisa asked, “Really?  What did he want?”



	Carly shook her head, “Don’t know.  But I have a sneaking
suspicion that he’s going to show up here.”



	“He can’t do that.  He’ll blow both of us right out of the
water.”



	Carly nodded, “I know, I know.  I don’t want him here any
more than you do, Cousin.  If he shows up, what are we gonna
do?”



	“Hide?” Lisa offered.



	“Ha ha,” Carly deadpanned, “Very funny.”



	Lisa shook her head, “I’m serious, Cee.  We stay low key,
out of the way.”  A thought occurred to her, “Wait a minute, how did
he know how to find you?”



	“I have no idea.”



	Lisa sighed, “I know.”



	“How?”



	“Helena Cassadine.  She’s been feeding him information.  I
know that she used to have me watched.  Apparently, she’s started
again.”



	“But why did he contact me instead of you?  I mean,
shouldn’t he have called you or something if they’re watching
you?”



	Lisa shrugged, mentally searching for answers, “Maybe they
don’t want me to know.  I don’t know, Cee, but I’m going to see
what I can find out.”  She stood up quickly, “As soon as I find out
anything, I’ll call you.”



	Carly nodded, “You just be careful, Cousin, okay?”



*****







CHAPTER SIX



	Several nights later, Lisa was leaving the club.  Her bruises
from her last attack had faded, and she hadn’t seen Billy anymore. 
She hoped that maybe he’d heard that Stefan was in town and had
given up.  She’d hate to have to leave everything again.  There was
more in Port Charles to hold her here than in any other town that
she’d been in since she left Greece.



	On her way out, Luke caught her gently by the arm and tried
to insist on walking her out to her car.  Lisa flatly refused, “That
really isn’t necessary.”



	"Don't argue babe, Ruby told me about the jerk who beat you
up.  She's worried that it might happen again."



	"I'm a big girl, Mr. Spencer.  I can take care of myself," she
insisted.



	“Like last time?” he asked bluntly.  When she glared at him,
he threw his hands up in the air.  "Fine.  Then I'll just watch you
from the door ‘till you get out to your car."



	Lisa agreed, "Fine."



	Luke stood at the door of the club and watched as Lisa
walked across the parking lot and unlocked her car.  He watched as
she got in, and locked the doors behind her.  She waved at him, so
he smiled and went back inside.



	But that didn’t stop her from feeling the cold blade of a large
knife against her neck.  She dared not breathe as Billy sat up in the
back seat.  “Hello again,” he said smoothly.



	“What do you want, Billy?  And how did you get in here?"
she asked, breathlessly.



	“I have my ways.”  He moved the knife around her neck and
waved it around flippantly.  "Lisa, my precious Lisa, why don't you
like me?"



	“Because you’re a jerk?” she suggested.  Refusing to show
any fear, she continued, "Didn't you get the picture last time?"



	He touched a scar on his face where Lisa had fought him off
once before.  In the rear view mirror, she noticed Billy sporting a
black eye.  “Have some trouble?” she asked blankly.



	“Apparently Stefan is still trying to protect you.  Why can’t
he understand that you are mine to do with as I please?”



	Lisa cringed as she realized that Billy actually believed
what he was saying.  “I’m no one’s possession,” she said defiantly. 
“I will never give you what you want.”



	Billy nodded slowly, “I think you believe that.  But I intend
to prove to you otherwise; I’m tired of all these games.  So this time,
you won’t be able to argue any more,” he said, insanely calm. 
"Now get out of the car."



	Lisa rolled her eyes, fighting back tears and did as he said. 
He pushed her up against the wall of the alley.  It wasn’t until she
felt the first few impacts of his fist against her face and stomach, and
the cold steel of the knife mixing with her own warm blood that she
realized that he had every intention of killing her.  “Please, Billy,
stop!” she begged.



	“Begging, Lisa?  That’s so unbecoming of you.  Besides,
there was plenty of time to beg before.  Now it’s too late. 
Sorry.”



	Lisa looked down at her body and the last thing she saw
before losing consciousness was Billy plunging the knife into her
body yet again.



*****



	Two hours later when Luke left the club for the night, he was
not happy to see Lisa's car still in the parking lot.  Feeling that
something was off, he walked over to the car to look around.



	He looked in the windows and noticed that the keys were
still in the ignition and the doors were unlocked.  "Lisa?  You here,
babe?" he called out, trying to see if she was anywhere close by. 
No response.  He looked down the alley and saw what appeared to
be blood along one of the walls.  He rushed back over to the car and
pulled out the keys.  Something inside of him told him to open the
trunk.
  


	The sight that met his eyes was one of despicable horror. 
An unconscious Lisa had been thrown in her own trunk like a rag
doll and left to die from her wounds.



	"Damn!  Lisa?" he asked, reaching down and touching her
bleeding face gently.



	Lisa stirred slightly and opened her eyes, trying to focus on
the figure standing over her. "Daddy?" she asked in a daze, not
realizing that she was blowing her cover.



	He shook his head, not thinking anything about his own
daughter, but seeing only an employee, "No darlin', you just hang on
and we'll get you taken care of."



	Luke ran to the club door and opened it, yelling,  "Mike, get
me an ambulance here for Lisa!  Now man!"  He ran back to the car
and pulled a blanket out of the back seat.  He covered her gently as
Mike rushed outside.



	“The ambulance is on the way.”  Just then, Mike noticed the
frail looking figure in the trunk, “My God, Lisa?”  Luke nodded
silently.  “Get her out of there!” Mike demanded.



	Luke shook his head, “Don’t move her until the paramedics
get here.  I don’t want to risk more injury.”



	“Daddy, I can’t feel anything,” Lisa mumbled.  “Help
me.”



	Luke wiped away his own tears, his heart breaking for this
girl.  He looked at Mike, “She thinks I’m her father,” he whispered. 
Luke reached down and squeezed Lisa’s hand gently, “Everything’s
going to be okay, babe.  I promise.”



	Lisa managed a weak smile before losing consciousness yet
again.



*****