Part 21: Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On

Brenda jumped right into her car and started fiddling with the keys. She wanted 
to get to the hospital as soon as possible.  She put the keys into the ignition, 
when she felt the tip of a cold gun press against her neck. The chill of the 
metal caused her entire body to freeze.

George: Hello, Miss Barret.

Brenda: Wh- wh- what do you want?

George: To feel your blood…

Brenda: Don't, please…

George: Don't worry, I won't kill you… yet.  I just wanted to give you a little 
message from Mr. Moreno and Mrs. Cassadine…  Stay in town.  Do not attempt to 
run away, or they will have you brutally killed.  Stay in town, do as you’re 
told, and you may be able to live a long life.  Got it?

Brenda: *nods* Yes…

George: Good.

George gets out of the car, leaving Brenda shivering.  She looks in the mirror 
to see him running away to a limo.  She didn't know what she should do…  the 
only thing she could think of was to just take off and go to the hospital.  She 
still wanted to know how Jason was doing.

*^*

Sonny entered the living room to see Carly pacing around.

Sonny: Carly, you've got to calm down.

Carly: I can't help it…  Why hasn't Jason called back?

Sonny: He probably just hasn't gotten the message yet.  He might be meeting with 
some people to get your daughter back.

Carly: *shakes head* No, something's wrong, I know it.  Something's happened…

Sonny: Carly, I'm sure everything is going to be all right.

Carly: *stops pacing and looks at Sonny* What if I never see them again?  What 
if I never see Jason or Caitlyn again?

Sonny: Hopefully, you won't ever have to find out.

Carly put her head into her hands, in deep frustration.  She couldn't stand any 
of this.  Sonny could see this and gave her a hug.  Carly put her head on his 
shoulder.  She needed this.

Sonny: Don't worry, Carly…  Everything is going to be all right.

*^*

Moreno had already left as Helena sat on the couch.  She was reading a book, 
when she heard the footsteps of someone entering her yacht.  She stood and 
turned to see Veronica enter the room.

Helena: Veronica?  It has been quite awhile, has it not?

Veronica: Shut up, Helena.

Helena: What vulgar language…  May I ask what your visit is for?

Veronica: I realized you would know I was back in town.  You always do figure 
these things out.

Helena: So?

Veronica: So, I am here to tell you to stay the hell away from my daughter, or 
you will pay.

Helena: Oh…  And how do you hope to accomplish that?

Veronica: Never doubt a mother's wrath, Helena.  You should know that.

Helena: You people make me so ill, really.  Coming in here, throwing your most 
pitiful threats, but it all ends the same.  Till the day I die, Veronica, I 
shall always triumph.

Veronica: You've flown high far to long, Helena.  It won't be much longer until 
you fall.

Helena: *laughs* You are delusional.

"Not entirely." said a voice outside.  Then, entered Charles.

Helena: Charles, have you not made enough visits this night?

Charles: Apparently the first one did not get through to you.  I know you and 
your little mobster friend were behind the shooting at the mansion.

Helena: Oh, there was a shooting?  Was Stefan hurt?

Veronica: Like you would care if your son died or not.

Charles: She does care, she wants him dead.

Helena: You two might as well go.  You can babble on about your threats, but it 
will not do any good.

Charles: You know what… you're right.

Charles turned around and left.  Veronica followed him out to the docks.

Veronica: So, you're an enemy of Helena's, too?

Charles: Correct.

Veronica: I guess that would make us friends, then.  I'm Veronica Barret.

Charles: Charles Silver.  I do not mean to butt in, but exactly what is it 
Helena is planning against your daughter?

Veronica: My daughter, Brenda…  she's the daughter of Mikkos Cassadine.

Charles froze for a second.

Charles: Tell me more…

*^*

Jerry opened the door of his hotel sweep to see Alexis.

Jerry: Alexis, hello.

Alexis: Is V. here, yet?

Jerry: No, I still haven't heard back from her, but Luke called, said that they 
got back a little while ago.

Alexis entered.

Alexis: Did you they find anything?

Jerry closes the door.

Jerry: He told me it would be best if V. told us.  It was really confusing, he 
said he had no place in telling us what they found out.

Alexis: Well, that's odd.

Jerry: Tell me about it.

Alexis: I just hope we find out soon, if we're going to keep Elizabeth safe, we 
need some sort of leverage on her.

There was another knock on the door.  Jerry answered it excitedly.

Jerry: V!  Come in!

Venus entered and looked at Alexis.

Venus: Hi.

Alexis: Hello, V.  What did you find out?

Venus: *clears throat* Uh…  This isn't going to be easy.

Jerry: *closes door* What do you mean?

Venus: *looks at him* I found out something about myself tonight.

Alexis: V, I don't mean to sound cruel, but-

Venus: Alexis, I'm Natasha.

Jerry was confused by that statement, but Alexis, on the other hand, was 
stunned.

Alexis: Natasha?  As in…

Venus: As in the same person you tried to make Stefan think Katherine Bell was.

Jerry: Um, excuse me, but what do you mean you're Natasha? Natasha who?

Venus: *looks at Jerry* Mikkos’ Cassadine's illegitimate daughter…

*^*

Frank was on break and at the Recovery Room with Karen.

Karen: Does your mother have anything to say about the arrangements for Joe?

Frank: She's refusing to accept the fact that he's dead.

Karen: I'm sorry.

Frank: She'll get better… I know she will.  This is just a tough time…

Karen: This is a tough time for all of us.

Frank nodded his head in agreement.

Frank: I can't help but wonder what's next.

Karen: Things couldn't get any worse.

Suddenly, Frank's beeper went off.

Frank: I have to go.

Karen: Yeah, I understand.  See you later.

Frank: Right.

Frank went to see what the emergency was.

*^*

As Zoe slept on the couch, Alisha smoothed out her daughter's hair. Then she sat 
back in her chair, not knowing how to feel.  She knew Linus was selfish, and 
could be a bit arrogant, but she liked him a little.  Also, if he didn't make 
it, she didn't know what would happen to her and her daughter.  She remembered 
the hell she went through before, going from job to job, not knowing if she was 
going to find a way to stay off the streets or not.  She was this close to 
ending up in a shelter, before Linus came along and gave her this chance.  Now, 
she could lose it.

Edward and Ned were nearby, chatting.

Edward: I knew living in that business would cause something like this to 
happen.

Ned: Grandfather, please, do not get into this now.  The last thing anyone in 
this family needs right now is you criticizing Jason in a time like this.

Edward: Do not tell me what to do, Ned, I run things here.  The only good thing 
about this is that at least we might not have to worry about Linus causing us 
anymore problems.

Alisha looked at him, her jaw dropped.  What was he saying?

Edward: With him out of commission for a little while, maybe we can find a 
loophole in that whole marriage thing.  If he dies, then he can't do us any 
harm.  Maybe we can even retrieve the stocks.

Alisha stood up and went over to him.

Alisha: Who the hell do you think you are?

Edward turns around and looked at her.

Alisha: I mean, what kind of inhumane cretin says someone should die while their 
fighting for their life?

Edward: Who are you?

Alisha: Linus' wife.

Edward: Oh, so you’re the white trash he got to marry him.

Alisha: *frustrated* Do you need a smack across the face, old man? Because you 
are definitely deserving one.

Ned: Whoa, easy. *steps toward her*  This is a rough time, so I suggest both of 
you take it easy.

Alisha: Fine, I don't think I can stomach this guy anyway.

Alisha goes back to the seat by her daughter.  Ned turned back to Edward.

Ned: You might want to be sure to watch what you say around her.

Edward: Yeah, whatever, anyway, how much do we know about her?

Ned: Who?

Edward: The wife.

Ned: Well… not much.

Edward: Find out as much as you can.  Maybe we can find a way out of this 
through her.  Possibly the only way to get out of this situation would be a 
simple pay off.

Ned: What about Stefan Cassadine and Charles Silver?

Edward: What about them?

Ned: Even if we get rid of Linus, Stefan and Charles are still going to be a 
problem.  They got their foot in the door, and I think they're working on 
acquiring independent stalks.

Edward: Oh, let's worry about one thing at a time, all right?

Ned: All right.  I'll get on finding out about Linus' wife tomorrow…

Edward: No, I want you to start working right now.

Ned was going to refuse, but he didn't feel much like arguing.

Ned: All right, fine.  I'll get right on it.

*^*

Brenda entered the Mercy Hospital lobby to see Julia.

Julia: Brenda, what is it?  How did it go with your mother?

Ned was walking by, when he saw them.  He walked to them.

Ned: Julia, what are you doing here?

Brenda: *interrupting* How's Jason?

Ned: I'm not entirely sure yet.

Brenda: I hope he makes it out of this.

Julia: Brenda, how did it go with your mother?

Ned: Mother?  I thought she was dead.

Brenda: Guys, I have to tell you something…

*^*

Frank pulled the stretcher into the Mercy ER, as doctors rushed to them.

Doctor: What happened?

Frank: Two teenagers were found in a car that crashed on Sixth Street.

Doctor: Any other injuries?

Frank: No, they crashed into a tree.

Doctor: Any identification?

Frank: The male is Nikolas Cassadine, the female is Emily Bowen-Quartermaine.

Doctor: Oh my God…  Her brother was just shot an hour ago.  This is going to be 
tough on the family…  Is she stabilized?

Frank: No.  Nikolas Cassadine seems to be okay, but I don't think she's gonna 
make it…