Part 4: The Aftershocks Stefan: Barbara! Stefan went down to Bobbie, who had been knocked to the floor of his office. Bobbie started to get up. Bobbie: What the heck was that? Stefan: I have no idea… It sounded like an explosion. Bobbie: I better get out there and see if anyone needs help. Stefan: Are you all right? Bobbie: Sure, I was just knocked to the floor. Bobbie stood up and walked to the door. She turned the knob and pulled the door open, but just pulled out the knob. Bobbie: What the heck… Stefan: Looks like we are trapped in this room. Deep in Stefan's mind, he said, “trapped together.” *^* Nikolas and Luke started to pull things out of their way so they could get out of there. Nikolas had pulled what was left of a monitor and then sat down. Nikolas: This is no use. Luke: You're giving up to easily, boy. Nikolas: Come on, Luke. Soon there will be people who will remove this debris and help us out. Luke looked at Nikolas. Luke: It may take too long. Sorry, but I don't want to die in here. Nikolas: What about me? Luke: Excuse me? Nikolas: What if I died in here? Would you even care…? DAD. Luke avoided Nikolas' gaze and thought about this. Luke: Look, I do not want you to die, okay. Nikolas: Because I'm Laura's son or yours too? Luke looked at his son, very uncomfortable with the situation. Nikolas: Look, just tell me, if you… if you had known about me, would you have looked for me? Luke: Nothing would have stopped me… nothing could have stopped me if I knew I had a son with those people. Nikolas: Well, THOSE people happened to be the people who raised me. Does it even matter to you that I am your son? Nikolas stood up. Nikolas: For the past couple of years you have made it clear to me that you hate my guts. Now what? Luke: I don't know! When I found out you were my boy, I didn't know what to think, okay? What about you? Nikolas: I… I am just as confused by this whole situation as you are. There was a silent moment between the two. The air was very thick between them. Luke: Let's work our way out of here, okay kid? Nikolas: Okay. They went back to getting things out of their way so they could get out of the hospital… *^* Scott, Serena and Alexis were in the elevator. Serena: Daddy, you think Karen is all right? Scott had a worried look on his face when he looked at his daughter. Scott: Don't worry, I'm sure your sister is fine. Serena: I hope so. Alexis was sitting on the floor, her head in her hands, hoping time would pass quickly. Serena: What's your name? Alexis jerked her head up and looked at the little girl. Alexis: Uh… my name is Alexis Davis. Serena: My name's Serena. You're a really pretty lady. Alexis smiled at the girl. Alexis: Thanks. You're pretty too. Serena: Do you work here at the hospital? My sister, Karen, works here with her cute boyfriend Joe. They're student doctors. Alexis: That's nice… um, I used to work here but there were circumstances that didn't allow me to work here at the hospital. Serena: So what are you now? Alexis: Lawyer. Serena: You were a lawyer for the hospital? Then, you must know my grampa. His last name is Baldwin, like me. Alexis: Lee Baldwin? Scott: That's right. Alexis: Then that must make you Scott Baldwin. Scott: Aw, my reputation precedes me. Alexis: Not really, Lee just mentioned you were his son from time to time. We never really conversed. Serena: Conversed? Scott: She means talk, Serena. Serena: Oh. Scott: Well, Ms. Davis, since we may be stuck here for a little while, why don't you tell me a little about yourself? Alexis: Well, I have a daughter, named Lizzie, she's 16 years old. I live at a sweep at the Port Charles Hotel. As I have already mentioned, I'm lawyer. Not really much else to tell. Scott: Oh come on, there has to be some other stuff. Alexis laughed for a second. Scott: What? Alexis thought, ''If only you knew.'' Alexis: Nothing. Why don't you tell me about you? *^* Stefan sat in his chair waiting patiently while Bobbie paced around the office. Stefan: Could you stop doing that? It isn't going to get you out of here any sooner. Bobbie: Sorry, I can't help it. Bobbie continued to pace when Stefan asked, "How's Caroline?" Bobbie gave him a look. Stefan: Aw, sore subject I see. Bobbie: Our relationship still remains to be the same as it was before. I still can not believe she tracked me down to make my life a living hell. Stefan: Barbara, have you ever looked at her point of view? Bobbie stopped walking, “What?” Stefan: Well the girl is highly emotional, always acts without giving much thought to the consequences. She hated the fact that she was adopted, for many years she thought you had abandoned her. Bobbie: Stefan, I know you're trying to help, but please… do not act like you can have ANY idea of what this is like. Stefan: I can have some idea. How much different if the situation between you and Caroline and Laura and Nikolas. Bobbie: That is completely different. Stefan: At a level, it is different but in a way, the situations are the same. Two mothers felt like they had to leave their children behind. The children resent it and dislike the mothers who gave them up. The difference is that Nikolas would never go as far as Carly, and I have tried to give Nikolas some understanding… well, okay, not after she faked her death, but that's because I didn't understand her anymore. Bobbie: Right… I can remember how upset you were by her death and then he suddenly being alive. I can remember how angry I was to see her. First I got that phone call. I was praying it was just some practical joke, but there she was standing right in front of me on the dock. I slapped her right across the face. Stefan: Barbara, exactly how did you forgive Laura for her betrayal? Bobbie: I don't know… Bobbie walked over to the window and looked out. Bobbie: I guess I just found a way to understand it. Luke was paranoid, pressured her into a last minute decision, she felt she had to protect her kids so she went along with it. Stefan: I see… so you found a way to understand her point of view. Bobbie: Yeah, I guess. Bobbie started to think about Caroline. -^-^-^-^- After she had given birth to the darling little girl, she held her baby in her hands. Her girl smiled up at her and she couldn't help but smile back. She began to memorize the baby, so she could remember her for years to come. The feel of her little hands grabbing onto her big fingers, the wiggling of her toes, the outline of her face. She smiled at her little angel and started crying when she realized she was going to lose her forever. -^-^-^-^- Bobbie looked at Helena in disgust after she had just revealed to Nikolas that he was Luke's son and that Xavior was Laura's son at Luke's club. Bobbie: How dare you do this to Nikolas. What kind of a woman are you? Laura: How dare you keep my son from me! Helena: Oh… You mean like your husband has kept his niece from your sister-in- law. Bobbie looked at Luke and back to Helena. Bobbie: What are you talking about? Luke: Don't you dare say anything. Bobbie: Luke, what is she talking about? Helena: I'm talking about the fact that your daughter is alive and well in Port Charles and your brother has refused to tell you. Bobbie looked at Luke, astonished. Bobbie: Is this true? Luke was tongue-tied. He didn't know what he should say, but he decided he better be honest. Luke: Yes… it's true. Bobbie stood there looking at Luke in disbelief. Bobbie: What did you say? Luke: It's true. I lied about your daughter. Bobbie stood there for a second and let it all sink in. Then she walked over to him and slapped him. Bobbie: How could you! How could you lie? Do you know what it did to me? Why didn't you tell me? Lucky: Aunt Bobbie, he must have had a good reason… Bobbie looked at Lucky. Bobbie: Stay out of this! Bobbie looked back at Luke. Bobbie: Why did you tell me my daughter was dead? Huh? Luke: Bobbie, I couldn't tell you… Bobbie: Why the hell not? What could possibly justify you breaking my heart in two? All those times I told you about how I wish I could have known my daughter, all you did was just sit there and let me believe it. What kind of a bastard are you? Luke: The reason I didn't tell you was because the night I found out who your daughter was, was the same night you saw her in bed with you husband! Bobbie stood there, shocked. Bobbie: No… Luke: Ho could I tell you that your daughter tracked you down and deliberately tried to ruin your life. Bobbie: No, not her. Helena: Yes, her. Bobbie looked back at Helena. Helena: The woman who put so much effort to get your husband and make your life a living hell was your daughter. I must admit, hearing about all of sweet Caroline's schemes was quite enjoyable… Bobbie: Shut up! You just shut up! Luke: Now you see why I couldn't tell you? Bobbie looks back at Luke. Bobbie: Don't you start with me! You should have told me Carly was my daughter the minute you found out. I don't want to hear your justifications, as a matter of fact, I don't want to hear anything out of you right now! Bobbie walked out. -^-^-^-^- Bobbie had just entered Jason's penthouse that same night. Bobbie: I was a sixteen-year-old hooker. I had no idea who your father was, I had no way to support you. Things were bad in my life and they wouldn't get better. If I kept you with me, it would have been selfish and probably wouldn't have turned out as well as I hoped. I didn't want you to end up like me! Carly: Oh yeah, you were such the selfless, noble type! You didn't know things weren't going to get any better, you could have kept me and hoped for the best. Bobbie: Things weren't getting any better at the time. I gave you up for your own good! Carly: And look at me now! Do you know how it felt to have my father just walk out on me and then to find out I had a mother who didn't want me either. And then when I find out who she is, she's a woman married to a doctor and has her own kid. HER OWN KID! Bobbie: I looked for you! I sent a Private Investigator to find you. Carly: Too little, too late, MOMMY! I went through emotional hell growing up. I was never good enough for anyone, Bobbie. I wasn't good enough for Frank, I wasn't good enough for my mother, I wasn't good enough for anyone! Bobbie: What about Virginia? She loved you and raised you. Carly: Yes she did. She was the only one who was ever there for me and I hate myself for not realizing that sooner. Caitlyn started crying. Jason: I'll go take care of her. Carly: No, I'll go. I don't abandon my children. Bobbie: Oh, give it a rest! Carly went into the nursery leaving Jason alone with Bobbie. -^-^-^-^- Bobbie looked at Stefan. Bobbie: I see what you're trying to do, but it's not going to work. There's no way I could ever understand Caroline and I would appreciate it if you would stop interfering. Stefan: I'm sorry. Stefan stood up and joined her at the window. Stefan: Any sign of help? Bobbie: Apparently not… Stefan, exactly why do you care? I mean, about Caroline? Stefan: Well… you wanted to help when you heard about Katherine. I thought I could return the generosity. Caroline is your daughter, your only daughter. She's yours and you should not lose the opportunity to have her. Stefan gazed out the window and Bobbie could tell he meant Nikolas, how he lost him. Bobbie rested a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. Stefan looked at her, as if to say “thank you”. They both stood there for about a minute, not exchanging any words. Then they kissed.