Chapter 20 “The course of true love never did run smooth.” William Shakespeare Laura, Amy, Bobbie arrive at the hospital with Lucas in tow. Bobbie phoned Luke on the way to the hospital. He said that he would be there as soon as he could. Laura rushes to where Lucky is standing, still stunned; partly from the effects of the drug and partly from seeing two people that he cares about lying in the hospital. Laura can see the pain in his face and hugs him tightly. Laura: Oh, my God. Are you all right? Lucky: Yeah. But Liz and Lulu… B: Laura, they’re going to need you to fill out some papers. Laura: O.K. Take care of Lucky. B: Of course. (Turning to Amy) Amy would you take Lucas to the nurses lounge and get him to lie down on one of the couches? Amy: Sure. Lucas: No, mommy. I want to stay here with you. I want to know how Lulu is doing. B: (sighing) I’ll tell you what, if you promise to lie down, you can sit with us in the waiting room. All right? Lucas: O.K. They all move to the waiting area and sit on the couches. Audrey arrives and walks over to them. Audrey: (distraught) Where’s Liz? B: They doctors have her in exam room three. They’ll need you to fill out some papers at the desk. Audrey: Yes, of course. Lucky has been trying to think of what went wrong and how to tell his mom, so it makes sense to her. B: Lucky? What happened? Lucky: She fell off the boat. I heard her yell. I couldn’t get there in time. Laura: (holding forms in her hand) I’m sure it was an accident, sweetheart. Lucky: (pleadingly) It was. I… It… I don’t know. If anything happens to her or Liz, I’ll never forgive myself. Laura: Don’t say that. Right now we need to think positively. Lucky: Does Dad know? Laura: We called him. He was on his way home anyway. He should be here soon. Lucky gets up and walks over to exam room three. He sees Audrey standing by Liz, crying, and talking to her. Suddenly Liz’s head jerks back and her body begins to convulse. Nurse: (loudly) The patient is seizing! Another nurse grabs Audrey and moves her out into the corridor. Lucky begins to cry. Audrey walks over and hugs him. Lucky: (crying) I’m sorry. I’m sorry Liz. Audrey: (crying) There, there. It’s not your fault. Bobbie approaches the sobbing couple and steers them back to the waiting area. Meanwhile, on Helena’s yacht, Ari is pacing back and forth as Helena enters the living room. H: Did you get the items? A: Yes, Madame. I would like to go to the hospital and see how the little girl is. H: (curtly) You’ll do no such thing. Now, tell me what went wrong. A: They brought a little girl with them. After they drank the Champaign, and became unconscious, she… Ari chokes up at the thought of Lulu falling in the water. H: (callously) Go on. What happened to Lulu? A: She went and was playing on the boat. She fell overboard… H: (coldly) Well, even though she was not part of the plan. Her injury may work to my advantage. Ari stares at Helena. He can usually block out of his mind how evil Helena can be. It’s at times like this that her proficiency for cruelty manifests itself so glaringly. H: (mock sympathy) Oh, Ari. She is a Spencer after all. (Leering at him) Come to bed now. I feel like celebrating. Ari follows her to the bedroom reluctantly, sickened by what he has done and what he is about to do. Nikolas found himself at tiny restraint somewhere in Port Charles. He didn’t want to go anywhere people might recognize him. He has been thinking about the conversation he over heard his uncle and his mother having earlier. N: (to himself) Helena told me you loved her. She told me that Katherine was just a pale imitation. I asked you. I *asked* you and you *lied* to me. You’ve been lying to me. How many other lies have you told? The eleven o’clock news is on the TV at the bar. Announcer: Tragedy tonight as a little girl is fighting for her life after a near drowning accident, and another girl is in serious condition. Let’s go to Lisa Lopez who is outside General Hospital. Lisa what can you tell us? Lisa: Well, it appears that little Lulu Spencer was out with her brother and his girlfriend, when the accident happened… Nikolas stares at the screen, unable to believe what he is hearing. He walks over to the bar, trying to grasp what is being said. N: (to the bartender) Turn it up! That’s my sister! Turn it up! Lisa: Those are all the details we have for now. Back to you Kelly. Kelly: And what about the other girl? Do we know what caused her injuries? Lisa: Well, Kelly, as of now, we’ve been told that she was on the shore when Lulu fell in the water, but how she sustained her injuries or what her injuries even are, we don’t know. Kelly: All right. Thank you for your report, and we’ll bring you more details as they become available. Nikolas quickly pays and leaves. A very disturbed Luke enters the emergency room and runs to Bobbie. Luke: Where is she? Where’s Laura and Lucky? What happened? Bobbie: Calm down. First, Laura is in with Lulu. Lulu is stable, but in critical condition. Lucky is having a blood test. Luke: A blood test? Why? B: Well, the tests came back on Liz and the doctors felt that they needed to test Lucky. They won’t tell me why. Taggert and Garcia enter, and approach Luke and Bobbie. Luke: (irked) What do you two want? Don’t you have homes? Taggert: Well, Luke when there’s been a serious accident like the one your daughter was involved in, we like to check it out. Especially, when the Marine Patrol feels that alcohol may have been involved. Luke: No, no, man. NOT my kid. He knows better. The doctor approaches and summons the detectives away. Lucky emerges and sees Luke. He wants to run, but can’t seem to move. Luke: (calmly) Come here, son. Before Lucky can walk over Taggert stops him. Taggert: We need to talk. Luke: (approaching quickly) What about? T: About what happened on that island. Luke: You’re not questioning my kid without me there. And right now we need to go see Lulu. So your interrogation will have to wait. Luke drags Lucky off the exam room that Lulu is in. They enter slowly and see Lulu hooked up to all sorts of machines. Laura is by her side, holding her hand, and talking softly to her. Luke guides Lucky over to the exam table. Luke: (taking Lulu’s other hand. softly) Hey, lil darlin’. Daddy’s here, and so is Lucky. (Tearing up) Daddy wants you to get better. And when you do, we’ll have that dance I promised you. Laura: (encouragingly) Yes, we all want you to get better. Lucky has been staring at Lulu, not able to speak. What he wants to say to her, he doesn’t want to say in front of his parents. Lucky: Would you two mind if I had time alone with her? Luke: Sure. Your mom and I will be right outside. Luke and Laura leave the room. Lucky tentatively takes Lulu’s hand, and then begins to cry. Lucky: (softly) I’m sorry, Lulu. I should have watched you better. You were my responsibility, and I let you down. I let Mom and Dad down, too. I was so smug this morning. I didn’t need any advice, ‘cause I knew how to take care of you. I always thought I was a good big brother, but when you needed me most, I wasn’t there for you. (Kissing her hand) Please get well. I’m so sorry. I promise I’ll do better next time. Luke is talking with Taggert and Garcia. Nikolas sees Laura standing by Bobbie and goes to them. N: How is she? What happened? B: She’s in critical condition. Apparently, she fell off a boat and… N: (to Laura) Who was watching her? Why didn’t she have a lifejacket? Laura: Nikolas, calm down. (After a pause) Would you like to go and talk to her? Nikolas: Can I? Laura: Of course, you can. Luke sees Nikolas walking over to Lulu’s exam room, runs to stop him, and grabs his arm. Luke: Just where do you think you’re going? Only family members are allowed in there. Nikolas: (angry) I AM family. Luke: Not in my book, you little… Nikolas: You’re mad because you can’t blame this on a Cassadine. Laura rushes over to separate the two. Laura: Let’s move away from Lulu’s room. I want her to hear only nice, pleasant things, right now. As the group moves toward the waiting area, Lucky slips out of the room. He is headed over to Liz’s room, when Taggert nabs him. Taggert: (with compassion) Lucky, I need you to tell me what happened on that island. Now you can wait for your father, or you can tell me, and then I’ll tell him for you. It might be easier on you that way. Lucky: I’ll wait for my Dad. T: (probing) Where’d you get the drug, kid? L: (confused) What drug? T: (annoyed) The Rohypnol you put in her drink. You know… it’s supposed to make the girls horny. It’s also known as “Liquid Ecstasy”. L: I don’t know what you’re talking about. T: (irked) It was in her blood and yours. What happened? Forget which cup to taint? Thought you might need some help getting it up, so you put some in yours, too? Lucky is so appalled at the suggestion that Taggert is making he doesn’t know what to say or how to defend himself. By this time Laura has calmed Luke down, and he is on his way over to help Lucky. Nikolas slowly walks up to Lulu’s side. He is trying to maintain his Cassadine composure, but is finding it difficult. N: Hey, Lulu. It’s me, Nikolas. Your brother. (Tears trickle down his cheek) You have to get better. You’re one of the few people in this town who never hated me because I’m a Cassadine… I wish I could do something to take this away. I would give anything to you, you know that… (Clearing his throat) When you’re better, I’ll teach you how to ride a horse. You’ll be the *best* horse rider, I just know it. Nikolas leans over and kisses her on the forehead. As he looks at her he begins to sob. Meanwhile, Taggert, Garcia, Luke, Lucky, and Laura are standing in a small office off the emergency rooms. Taggert: All right, tell us what happened. Lucky: We walked the island, until it started getting late. We went back to the blanket, and Liz wanted to open the Champaign. Laura: (alarmed) Where did you get Champaign? Lucky: It was in the gift basket. We were just going to have a little. To celebrate. I only had a couple of swallows, I *swear*. Lucky is looking to Luke for reassurance, but Luke is not giving him any. Luke is beginning to think that his son is not telling the whole truth, and he’s thinking about his little girl a few rooms down. Taggert: What about Liz? Lucky: She gulped hers. I told her to slow down, but she drank it really fast. Then we were talking, and she said her head hurt. She went to the blanket and passed out. I tried to help her, but I couldn’t stand up. The next thing I remember it was dark and I heard Lulu scream. Garcia: Was that when she fell into the water? Lucky: No. She was still on the boat. I tried to get to her, but it was hard to move. I saw her fall in… (Choking up) I jumped in. I couldn’t see her. It was sooo dark. There was another man there, he was helping me look. Taggert: So, when did you put the Rohypnol in your cups? Luke: (suddenly angry) WHAT? WHERE did you get that, *son*? Lucky: (defensively) I don’t know what he’s talking about! Taggert: The blood tests *show* a high concentration of it in Elizabeth Webber’s blood stream, and in yours as well. Not as high, though. It’s what’s causing the young lady to seizure. Luke has Lucky backed up to the wall. Garcia moves to pull Luke away, but Taggert stops him. Laura is trying to stay calm, but is angered by what she hears. Luke: (furious) Do you realize you could have killed her? And while you were busy trying to get laid, your sister was left to drown! My God, Lucky, we raised you better than that!! Lucky: But Dad… Laura: Luke calm down. Lucky, why? Lucky: I didn’t… Luke: (screaming) It was in your BLOOD! How did it get there if you didn’t do it?!? (Shoving Lucky against the wall) HUH?!? What the HELL were you thinking? IF they die it will be YOUR fault! Laura: LUKE! Taggert: (pulling Luke away) WHY don’t we step outside for a minute. Get some coffee or water. All but Laura and Lucky leave the room. Laura has a pained expression on her face. Laura: (hurt) How could you be so irresponsible? Lucky: (pleading) I didn’t put any drugs… Laura: But you drank the Champaign, you took your eyes off of her. You were supposed to watch her… Laura walks out of the room and back to Lulu’s room. Lucky slips into Liz’s room. She is hooked up to machines, also. Lucky walks over to her, crying. Lucky: (softly) I’m sorry, Liz. I don’t understand what went wrong. I didn’t drug you. You know that. (Brushing her hair with his fingers) I could *never* take advantage of you. Not after helping you… I’m afraid they’re going to blame me for this. For you. For Lulu. (Suddenly determined) I have to get out of here. I have to go. I want you to know… you are sooo special to me. I think if this hadn’t happened… But it did, and I have to go. I’ll write to you. Get better. Lucky takes her hand and kisses it gently. He walks to the curtain, and sees that the adults are occupied. As he creeps out of the hospital, he and Nikolas lock eyes. They exchange glances; Nikolas’ is accusing and Lucky’s is apologetic. Then Lucky is out the door and into the night. It is late in the evening the next day. Earlier that afternoon Lulu went into cardiac arrest. They worked hard to bring her back, but the doctors informed Luke and Laura that the damage Lulu’s brain sustained, being without oxygen for five minutes, was extensive. They didn’t expect her to survive the day, and if she did she would be in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. Luke and Laura made the very painful decision to sign a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order. Laura has been oddly calm, and cried very little. Audrey has been by Liz’s bedside all day. The doctors were able to stabilize her, and are flushing the Rohypol out of her system. She wakes up slowly. L: (quiet) Gram? A: (happily) Yes, Elizabeth. It’s me. L: Where am I? A: You’re in the hospital, dear. You’re going to be just fine. Liz drifts off again. Many people have gathered outside the ICU room, where Lulu is. Nikolas emerges from her room, his cheeks tear stained. Laura approaches him, but he moves away from her, and sits in one of the chairs. Luke is about to enter when Lulu’s monitors go off. The doctor and nurses rush in, but do nothing. Laura is stunned, frozen to the spot she is standing on. Luke walks over to her and puts his arms around her. The monitors fall silent and Amy begins to cry. Bobbie goes to comfort her, and to get comfort. Nikolas runs from the ward. The doctor emerges and approaches Luke and Laura. D: I’m sorry. She’s gone. Luke begins to cry, but Laura is calm. Laura: Can we see her? D: In a minute. Let the nurses unhook the machines, then you can spend time with her. When the nurses indicate it’s O.K. Luke and Laura enter Lulu’s room. Luke stays by the door, but Laura walks over to the bed and picks Lulu up. She carries her over to one of the chairs that is in the room, and cradles Lulu on her lap. Laura begins stroking and kissing Lulu’s face. Laura: (calmly) She looks so sweet, doesn’t she? Just like she’s sleeping. Luke pulls up a chair, the tears are streaming down his cheeks. Luke: Yeah, darlin’. She always was sweet. Our sweet little baby girl. Laura: Mommy loves you. Mommy will always love you. Laura closes her eyes and rocks Lulu. As she rocks her she hums a lullaby. Luke breaks down and sobs. Luke: Oh, God. How could this happen? Our little girl is gone. A quick pained expression passes over Laura’s face, but then it is gone. She reaches over and rubs Luke’s arm. They spend another ten minutes or so with Lulu. Then Laura lays Lulu back on the bed, tucks her in, and kisses her on the forehead and cheeks. Luke is staring at Laura, puzzled. Laura turns and sees the look Luke is giving her. Laura: I don’t want her to get cold. Laura leaves the room. Luke goes over and kisses Lulu. Bobbie approaches Laura, and takes her hand. Laura: (thoughtfully) I think we should get her pink jumper. She always liked that one. Bobbie: (cautiously) Yes, she did. Laura: Do you think we could dry out her pony? She never likes to be without it. Bobbie: Yes, I’m sure we could get it dry. Laura, are you… She didn’t want to say “alright”, but was at a loss for an appropriate word. Laura: (reassuringly) Yes, I’m fine. I am. We need to get going. We have a lot of things to do. Luke emerges from the room and the small band of people slowly disperses.