''The Course of True Love...'' Part Three

''The course of true love never did run smooth.'' William Shakespeare 

Katherine and Jerry Jax enter his apartment. She is soaking wet and shivering. 

J: Here we are Lois. Welcome to my humble abode. 

K: (smiling weakly) It's very nice. 

J: Well, no need for you to shiver any longer. Let me show you where you can 
take off those wet clothes and have a nice hot shower. How does that sound, 
Hmmm? 

He leads her to a bedroom.

J: I'll just find something for you to put on while your clothes are drying. 

Katherine follows, but then stops at the doorway not sure if she should enter. 

J: What's the matter? Or do you prefer standing around in wet clothes? 

K: (hesitantly) I...I don't even know you. Why would you do this for a complete 
stranger?  How do I know you're not an ax-murderer? 

J: (laughing) I assure you I would never hurt an ax. 

K: (smiling) You KNOW what I mean.

J: (still laughing) I know. You know my brother, Jasper, right? 

K: (shrugging) Sort of. He donated the money for the nurse's ball last year. 

J: (chuckling) That sounds like him. Did he say he was doing it to atone for all 
of the women his ax-wielding brother had killed? 

K: (smiling) No. But if I had an ax-wielding brother, I wouldn't go around 
announcing it, either.

J: Fair enough. (Getting a shirt from one drawer and a robe from the closet) If 
you like, we can call my brother and you can ask him yourself. 

Katherine takes the items from him as he hands them to her. 

K: (shaking her head) No, that's O.K. (a dark mood comes over her again and she 
says softly) If you kill me it wouldn't matter. Apparently I'm too stupid to 
live, anyway. 

Jerry looks at her, his face fills with concern. 

J: Lois, don't say that. Go on now. Have a hot shower, and I'll heat up some 
broth for you. 

He pushes her toward the bathroom. 

J: If it'll make you feel safer you can prop a chair in front of the door...If 
you need anything you know what to yell.

K: (bemused) Superman? 

J: Now you're getting it.

He leaves and closes the door behind him. As she showers she begins to cry, and 
sinks to the floor of the tub, sobbing.

Meanwhile, Luke is at the docks with binoculars in hand. He is unaware that 
Laura was with Stefan earlier that evening. Stefan arrives, sees Luke, and walks 
past him. He is still upset about Katherine and doesn't want to deal with Luke 
right now. 

L: Hey, hey, hey - Count Vlad. You're out awfully late. But then I guess the sun 
doesn't rise for another four, five hours.  

Stefan is trying to ignore him, and looks impatient the launch is not there. 

L: There was quite some activity at your place earlier. What happened? Did the 
blonde bombshell go over the wall? You gotta be careful with her type.

S: I want YOU to stay OUT of my business!

L: Sooo, Blondie did escape! (Laughing) Maybe I was wrong about her. Maybe her 
IQ IS larger than her bra size. (Quieter and looking indecisive) Although, I'm 
still not sure by how much. (Glinting at Stefan) Well, Vlad that's a shame, 
'cause she was the only lady, I use that term loosely, left in town who would be 
wooed by your so-called charm.  (Standing next to Stefan and talking softly) 
Just between us guys, how was she in the sack? Huh? 

Stefan is growing angrier, which shows in his set jaw and clenched fists.  Luke 
continues goading him.

L: I have a feeling that is one woman who KNOWS how to satisfy a man. I mean 
she’s had alllll that practice. (Lightly nudging Stefan with his elbow) Come on 
you can tell me. Is she a moaner or a screamer? I have her pegged as a little of 
both. 

With that Stefan takes a swing at Luke and hits his target dead on, knocking 
Luke to the ground. Just then the launch arrives, Stefan steps in, and it speeds 
away.  

L: I really need to learn not to stand so close when I say those things (as he 
stands up, rubbing his jaw). 

At Jerry’s apartment Katherine is finished with her shower and enters the living 
room. Jerry is not there. 

K: Jerry? Jerry I’m done with my shower, are my clothes dry? (A little louder) 
Jerry? CLARK? SUPERMAN? 

Just then the front door opens and Jerry enters.

J: Lois - You were calling? I just had to pop out for the soup. I forgot how ill 
prepared for company I am. Just moving in and all. Feeling better? 

K: Yes, somewhat. You really didn’t have to go to all that trouble. 

J: No, trouble at all.

K: Well, thank you, but if my clothes are dry I really should be going to the 
hotel. 

J: It’s very late. Why don’t you stay here? You can barricade yourself in the 
bedroom if you like.

K: Oh, that’s O.K. You’ve gone to enough trouble as it is.

Jerry gestures for her to sit on the couch. Katherine sits pensively. 

J: If you want to go - I’ll take you anywhere, but the man who’s looking for 
you, don’t you think he’d have his “people” staked out at every hotel and inn 
here in Port Charles?  

K: (biting her lip) Yeah, you’re probably right. 

J: So, stay here. It’ll give you time to think about what you want to do next. 
What do you say Lois?

K: Why do you keep calling me Lois? 

J: You never told me your real name. 

K: (laughing weakly) Oh. My name is Katherine Bell.

J: (smiling at her) I like that name, Katherine. But if you don’t mind terribly, 
I kinda like calling you Lois.

K: (shaking her head and smiling) I don’t mind. I’ve been called worse. 
She sits back on the sofa, relaxing a little. 

J: So, will you stay here? You look exhausted. 

K: (shrugging her shoulders and nodding her head) Yeah. Thank you for being so 
nice to me.

J: The pleasure is all mine. Now, let me go heat up some soup on the stove. 

K: (wryly) What’s the matter Superman - Is your X-ray vision broke? 

J: (smiling and laughing as he walks to the kitchen) I don’t like to abuse my 
super powers. (Turning and smiling at her) No pun intended. Why don’t you rest 
on the couch for a few minutes until it's ready? 

Katherine lies down on the couch resting her head on one of the pillows. 

K: (softly) Ohhh, Stefan. I love you so much. How could you do that? 

She closes her eyes, and falls asleep almost immediately. Jerry reenters the 
living room, sees she is sleeping, gets a blanket, and covers her with it. He 
stands there studying her for a few minutes.

J: (softly) Well, I guess I'll just barricade *myself* in the bedroom. Good 
night, Lois. 

He turns out the lights and goes into the bedroom.