37

 

          It’s been two weeks since Luke and Laura’s trial had ended and life fell into a peaceful lull for Lucky’s friends and family.  Luke, Laura, and Earl began their community service, Stefan returned to his business while Nikolas and Beth prepared for their upcoming nuptials and Lucky and Elizabeth spent their time with Laura mostly.

          That day, Elizabeth was alone in the studio Stefan had sat up for her, watching television as she painted.  Lucky had taken Laura to the park.  Once in a while she would glance outside to see Beth and Nikolas pouring over a magazine full of bridal fashions.  She giggled, remembering how her and Lucky had done the same thing not too very long ago.  Sighing she turned her head to the television and gasped.  There he was, her rapist, and by the looks of it, he was in handcuffs being led somewhere.  She took the remote control and turned it up.

          Today, Blackmailer Tom Baker was released from prison on good behavior.  He was originally sentenced to five years, but only served a year of his sentence.  Tom was convicted of blackmailing model Emily Quartermaine last year.  When asked what his plans were for the future he replied paying long overdue visits to family and old acquaintances. 

          Elizabeth couldn’t believe what she had just heard.  They were sitting him free!  Just like that!  He had hurt her terribly and all he got was a year in jail and because he behaved himself he was getting out of jail!  While she had to live with what he did to her for the rest of her life, he got to get out of jail only after a year! 

          She stood up from her stool, knocking over the stool and dropping her paintbrush and the remote control.  “LUCKY!!!” She screamed, finally collapsing onto the angrily pounding the ground.  “LUCKY!!!”

          Not even a minute later, Nikolas and Beth were in the room pulling her to her feet, throwing questions at her.  What’s wrong?  Is it the baby?  Does she need water?  She they call a doctor?

          Reaching out, she tightly grabbed hold of Nikolas’s arm and made him look at her, trying to pull herself together when all she really wanted to do was curl up in a ball of defeat and hide from the world.

          “What is it Liz?” Nikolas asked, his eyes full of concern.

          “Tom…Tom…”

          “Tom?  Tom Baker?  What about him?”

          “Who’s Tom Baker?” Beth asked, her blue eyes revealing just how frightened she was.  What if this was the baby?  What if she was loosing her baby?  They should be getting Liz to a hospital.

          “They’re letting him go!  They’re letting him go!” Elizabeth’s legs gave out on her once again, making her fall into Nikolas’s arms. 

          “What?  But that’s impossible,” Nikolas held  her off the floor.  “Elizabeth, I’m not understanding you.  Tell me again.  What’s going on?”

          “Tom Baker is being let out of jail for good behavior!  He’s probably out on the streets right now!  Oh God he’s going to come after me Nikolas!  I know he is!  He wants revenge for putting him in jail!  Lucky!  Where’s Lucky!”

          “He’s with Laura,” Nikolas held Elizabeth tightly against him, as if trying to protect her against the outside world.  “Liz, listen to me.  We’re going to take you to your room so you can rest.  Ok?  This isn’t good for the baby.”

          “He’s right Liz,” Beth nodded.  “You need rest now.  Lucky will be back soon and we’ll send him up.”

          Elizabeth didn’t resist as Nikolas got her on her feet and led her to the room she shared with Lucky.  She crawled under the covers and curled up in the fetal position, her arms wrap around her swollen stomach, as if she was trying to protect her child. 

          “Everything will be alright Liz.  Just stay in here.  Lucky will be back soon,” Nikolas said closing the door.  As soon as He and Beth were back downstairs and outside, Nikolas picked up one of the chairs and hurled it across the balcony barely missing Lucky who had just left Laura with Mrs. Landsbury.

          “Hey, watch where you throw things.  What’s going on here?  Why are you throwing furniture off the patio?” Lucky questioned, picking up the chair.

          “Believe me, I have a good reason,” Nikolas snarled.

          “What did Kat do now?” Lucky asked, crossing his arms.

          “This doesn’t have to do with Kat.  It’s Elizabeth,” Nikolas glowered, pacing the balcony, running a shaky hand through his dark hair. 

          “Whoa there, what does my wife have to do with you being this angry…and I do mean Cassadine angry, not just mad,” Lucky became a bit defensive.  He had never seen Nikolas this angry before.  This anger was darker then the other times.  Nikolas turned his dark glare on his brother and tried to calm himself down, something which was nearly impossible.

          “It’s not Liz herself…it’s the man who raped her.  They’re letting him out Lucky.  On good behavior.”

          “What?” Now Lucky was getting mad.  What did Nikolas mean they were letting Tom out?  He couldn’t be serious. “That’s not funny Nik.”

          “I know.  And it’s not a joke.  We heard Elizabeth screaming for you upstairs.  We ran up there and she was hysterical.  She told us she saw it on the news.  They’re letting him out on good behavior.  It has only been a year and he’s getting out.”

          Now it was Lucky’s turn to take a chair and hurl it across the patio where it smashed to pieces this time.  “Son of a bitch!  I’m going to kill him!  Since they won’t do anything I will!”

          “WAIT WAIT WAIT!” Beth yelled, wanting to get their attention.  “What’s going on here?  Who’s this Tom Baker guy?”

          “He raped Elizabeth two years ago and blackmailed Emily.  Because there was no evidence to get him on raping Liz, we got him for the blackmail.  But he’s getting out of jail early,” Nikolas explained, pacing the patio.

          “Come on man, what are we waiting for?  Let’s go get him,” Lucky glared at his  brother, ready to go rip the guy’s heart out.

          “You don’t know where he is,” Beth said.

          “That can be arranged.  I’m a Cassadine, let me pull out my connections, I can find out where the guy is in a couple of hours,” Nikolas pulled out his cell phone.  He was all for going after Tom, not really thinking of the consequences of killing Tom and Beth was too scared to remind either of the boys.  They were both so furious. 

          “I’ll go check on Liz.  Let me know when you have news,” Lucky storms into the house, his anger still very evident. 

 

          Two hours later, Tom Baker was in his favorite location in Port Charles.  The park.  Oh yes, he loved it there.  So many lovely things, just waiting for him to come out and do what he did best.  He smiled at the thought of young Miss. Webber.  The last girl he had in that park.  Oh how he’d love to have some of that again.  He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn’t hear the footsteps behind him until they were right up on him.

          “We can kill you right now and you wouldn’t know it,” a male voice grumbled. 

          Tom turned  and happily smiled.  “Why isn’t my big sis and her hubby,” He stood up and hugged Calvin and Paula McCoy.  “It’s been too long!  What brings you to Port Charles?  You’re definitely not  here to see me are you?  I mean this is the first time in years that I’ve seen you.”

          “Stuff it Tom.  We’re here to make sure you stay out of jail this time,” Paula crossed her arms.  “We won’t have you ruining our plans.”

          “Plans?  Do explain,” Tom sat back on the bench, making room for Paula and Calvin.  “Now tell me what brings you here.”

          “You long lost nephew,” Paula snorted. 

          “You mean Lucas?  You finally found him?  Well how about that.  What’s the kid like now?  Where has he been all this time?  Has he been here in Port Charles this whole time?”

          “Yeap.  Ever heard of the Spencers?” Calvin crossed his arms, real hatred in his voice.

          “Yep.  In fact one of the kids responsible for my prison term last name was Spencer.”

          “Lucky Spencer?” Paula asked, not believing their luck.

          “Yep.  Oh man, don’t tell me… that kid couldn’t have been Lucas.  He had too much of a temper to be Lucas.”

          “Well it seems like we won’t have to introduce you two then, seeing you already,” Calvin laughed, slapping his knee.

          “Why speak of the devil,” Paula got to her feet as Lucky and Nikolas entered the park, murderous intent in their eyes.

          “You son of a bitch,” Lucky immediately punched Tom, sending him to the ground.

          “Ow,” Tom laughed, rubbing his chin.  I see where he gets the temper from.”

          “Shut up,” Nikolas growled, ready to deal Tom a kick to the head.

          “Really Lucas, that is no way to greet your Uncle,” Paula shook her head in amusement. 
          “What?” Lucky glared at the woman that had given birth to him.  “you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

          “Hey it’s ok big sis.  I’m used to this kid throwing punches.  He just can’t stand that I had his little girlfriend before he did,” Tom laughed at the look of pure fury on Lucky’s face. 

          “Who is he talking about?” Cal asked.

          “Elizabeth Webber.  Surprised you haven’t heard of her,” Tom grinned.

          “Don’t even whisper her name,” Lucky growled, grabbing Tom by the collar of his shirt wanting to wring Tom’s neck.

          “Calm down kid.  I don’t want to fight with blood.”

          “You’re not even related,” Nikolas crossed his arms.

          “I guess you have a hearing problem then.  Paula just told you who I was.  I’m Paula’s little brother.  Your Uncle.  Imagine that.  Who would have thought we’d be related.  Man, I wonder what Liz is going to think of that.”

          “You bastard,” Lucky pushed him to the ground.  “You stay away from her.  You hear!”

          “And you’re not his Uncle,” Nikolas grabbed Lucky’s arm, wanting to get him away from the park before the McCoy’s could throw anything else at him. 

          “A biological fact.  Gee Lucky…since I’m a rapist…and it is my blood pumping through your viens…I wonder what that makes you…”

          “Shut up!” Nikolas immediately landed a right hook to Tom’s jaw sending him to the ground and began kicking him.  His fury  was now taking over, he didn’t even feel anyone pulling him away from Tom.  “You stay away from my brother and Elizabeth!”

          “Come on.  Let’s get out of here.  Looking at the three of them is giving me a headache,” Lucky pulled his brother away, heading for the exit.  But Tom’s last shout makes him stop in his tracks.

          “Remember Lucas!  Us rapists stick together!”

          “Ignore him,” Nikolas glared one more time at the convict.  “Let’s just go home to the girls and call mom and Luke.  They need to know what’s going on.”

          Lucky just nodded and started moving again.  Nothing was said on the way home and when they got back to Wyndemere, Lucky locked himself in Stefan’s now empty office, to think about the news he had just heard.

 

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