16
Luke, Laura, and Elizabeth stood at the front desk with Lucky
ready to check him out when Stefan came barging in with a still unconcious
Nikolas in his arms.
"I need a doctor here!" He ballowed, not noticing the
others.
"Oh my God," Elizabeth gasped in shock.
"Nikolas?" Laura rushed to Stefan and took her first
real look at her eldest son. "Oh my God what did that bitch do to
him?"
"What’s going on…oh my God is that Nikolas?" Bobbie
rushed behind the doctors with a stretcher.
"Nikolas!" Lucky pushed past his mother and to his
brother’s side. His eyes widened at the sight of his brothers and fresh tears
appeared. "Nikolas what did she do to you?"
Nikolas’s eyes opened at the sound of his brother’s voice.
"Lucky? Is that you?"
"I’m here Nikolas! I’m here!" Lucky took his hand as
Stefan lowered him to the stretcher.
"Lucky we need to get you home," Luke began but stopped
when he met his son’s ice cold blue eyes, full of that ole Spencer
determination.
"I am not going anywhere. I’m staying here with
Nikolas," Lucky coldly replied, remembering how Luke had dragged him away
from his brother. Lucky knew that if he had been there, Nikolas wouldn’t be in
this shape.
"Ok Cowboy. I’m not arguing with you," Luke held his
hands up in defeat. He knew arguing with Lucky now would distance him even
further.
"You’re safe now," Nikolas weakly squeezed Lucky’s hand.
"And so are you. Soon you’re going to be well and then we’re
going to New York to see the mets. Just like we’ve talked about. Your first
real baseball game."
Nikolas tried to smile, but couldn’t move his facial muscles to do
so. "I’m looking forward to it."
"You all are going to have to clear the way. We need to get
Nikolas into a room and run some tests then treat him. Lucky, you have to check
out," Bobbie glanced at her nephew, her heart going out to him as he knelt
next to his brother, hope and tears shining in his eyes. "You may wait in
the next room if you want and I’ll inform you of Nikolas’s condition when I
can."
"No, I won’t leave him," Lucky shook his head.
"Lucky it’s ok. He’s safe here. Your Aunt Bobbie won’t let
Helena or anyone else unauthorized near him. She’ll make him well again," Elizabeth
placed a supportive arm on Lucky’s shoulder.
"It’s ok Lucky. I’ll be fine," Nikolas squeezed Lucky’s
hand.
Suddenly Lucky saw it. The look in Nikolas’s eyes…the same look
that he had…the same look Elizabeth has in her eyes. "I’m killing her Nikolas.
I’m going to kill her for hurting you too."
"Don’t worry Lucky. I’ll be fine," Nikolas whispered
before falling back into unconsciousness.
"Can you please get my nephew some attention now!"
Stefan bellowed, impatient with the delay.
Bobbie nodded and soon the doctors had Nikolas wheeled off into
the double doors, leaving Stefan and the Spencer’s staring after him.
*
Everyone is in the waiting room thirty minutes later, waiting for
word
on Nikolas. Lucky sat in the loveseat with Elizabeth, his head in
his hands while she messaged his shoulders. Laura stood in the corner glaring
at Luke, angry that he had not rescued her eldest son before any harm could
come to him, Luke stood in the opposite corner keeping a eye on Lucky and Stefan
sat in a chair against the wall staring blankly at the doors to the OR where
Nikolas was being treated. After thirty minutes, Bobbie appeared.
"Bobbie what’s wrong with my son?" Laura rushed to her
sister in law. Lucky got to his feet and stood behind his mother, Elizabeth by
his side clutching his hand, lending her support.
"Nikolas is severely malnourished. We’ve connected him to
feeding tubes to renourish his body and get his strength back up. We’ll do that
for a couple of days and then we’ll give him regular food," Bobbie stopped
and took a deep breath, ready to deal the blow to Laura for the second time.
She didn’t know how Laura would survive this news, Lucky either. "We’ve
done other tests and everything showed up normal except for one thing."
"What is that?" Stefan crossed his arms.
Bobbie swallowed. "Tests have show that there has been recent
sexual activity. Practically nonstop until recently. Telling from Nikolas’s
condition and mental state…we say it was forced."
"Oh God, not Nikolas too," Laura stiffled a sob. She had
never thought that Helena would dare touch Nikolas in that way. "My poor
babies."
"Shhh Lasha. Helena will not get away with this. I’m going to
make sure of it," Stefan squeezed her shoulders. "Barbera…what are
Nikolas’s chances of a full recovery?"
"Physically, excellent. Mentally…only time will tell,"
Barbera sadly sighed. "I really am sorry about all of this. I love both of
those boys and to know that Helena had done this to both of them….it makes me
sick."
"Well where is the Hellcat now?" Luke came up.
"She wasn’t in the compound when I arrived. I don’t know
where she is," Stefan angrily paced the floor, his hands clenched.
"Can I see him?" Lucky asked, getting to his feet.
"Well…we don’t really allow visitors this late, but I think I
can make an exception," Bobbie tenderly smiled at her nephew. "He’s
asking for you anyway."
"How about the rest of us?" Stefan asked eagerly.
"You may come in with Lucky. Nikolas wants to see you
too," Bobbie nodded.
Luke is about to open his mouth to object, but catching a glare
from Laura knew better than to say anything.
"Follow me," Bobbie beckoned.
"Tell Nikolas I love him," Laura grabbed Stefan’s arm.
"And that I’m rooting for him. He’s strong, he’ll make it
through this," Elizabeth squeezed Lucky’s hand.
"Thank you for being here," Lucky hugged her. "I
don’t think I would have made it this far without you."
"Well you’ll always have me," Elizabeth smiled kissing
him lightly. "Now go. Your brother’s waiting."
Lucky kissed her one last time before following Bobbie into the
OR, Stefan following behind him.
*
Nikolas layed pale on the table, staring up at the ceiling, not
sure rather to be thankful, or devastated at his rescue. Sure he’ll be back
with the people who love him, but how can he be expected to get on with his
life after all that’s happened? Emily, Stefan…they’ll all look on him
differently now. He know they will. He closed his eyes tightly against the
reality of his situation and the devastation of his ordeal. How was he ever
going to face everyone? How was he going to look Emily in the eye again?
"Nikolas? Are you awake?" A familiar voice interrupted his
conflictiong thoughts. Nikolas opened his eyes and felt relief and happiness at
seeing Lucky. If anyone was anyone he didn’t have to afraid of facing it was
his brother.
"Lucky," Nikolas smiled, but his smiled faded as Stefan
came in right behind him. What was Stefan going to think of him after he found
out.
"You didn’t think I’d stay out there for long did you?"
Lucky smiled.
Nikolas shook his head. "Can I talk to you alone?"
Lucky looked at Stefan, noticing the hurt in his eyes.
"I’ll be right outside with the others," Stefan nodded,
slipping out, leaving the brother’s alone.
"Helena…she…"
"I know," Lucky squeezed his hand. "So does Stefan,
mom, dad, and Liz. Aunt Bobbie told them. But I knew when Stefan brought you in
and I saw the look in your eyes. The devastation. Nikolas I’m so sorry. If I
was there she wouldn’t have thought of touching you." Hot tears slipped from
Lucky’s eyes.
"It wasn’t the first time Lucky. She…she did the same thing
to me when I was a child. Stefan didn’t know," Nikolas glared at the
ceiling, tears spilling from his eyes freely now. "And I repressed it for
all this time. It all came back to me when she began…"
Lucky’s eyes were wide with shock. He had no idea that Nikolas was
abused as a child. How even more devastating for him. "Nikolas…I don’t
know what to say…except…I’m going to kill her for doing this to you."
"No Lucky. Stay away from her. Helena is evil. Pure
evil."
"She’s going to come looking for you," Lucky
thoughtfully replied.
"I’m going to have to leave PC aren’t I?" Nikolas sad
glanced at his brother, who sadly nodded.
"Until Helena is neutralized. But I’ll come with you. So will
Liz and Em…"
"No! Emily can’t be involved. She can’t know what Helena did
to me Lucky! It’s bad enough that Liz knows!"
"But she loves you Nikolas. She’ll stand by you…just like Liz
is standing by me through all of this."
"I don’t care. She’ll hate me when she knows I was like that
with Helena. I know she will. You can’t tell her! No one can!"
Lucky sighed. He hated keeping this from his best friend, plus
Nikolas leaving will break her heart, but it was the way Nikolas wanted things,
so that was the way it had to be. "Ok. Fine. Em won’t know. So what do you
want to do now?"
"As soon as I’m strong enough, I’ll need you to break me out
of here. Then I’ll leave Port Charles for good."
"Nikolas…I have one problem with this plan of yours."
"What?"
"You’ve never even been camping. How are you planning to take
care of yourself, plus stay hidden from Helena? You won’t be able to draw on
all that money in your trustfund you know. You have no idea how to survive on
poor man’s wages."
"I know that. That’s why I’m taking you with me. Since you’re
knowledgeable in that sort of thing."
"Me? Go with you?" Lucky looked at his brother in
disbelief.
"Yeah. Both of us out on the road…dodging Helena. Lucky, she
won’t stop at chasing me. She’s after you too. If you stay here, you’re in
twice as much danger than I am."
"What about Liz?" Lucky glanced at the door. "I
can’t just leave her here in Port Charles. But I can’t take her with us. It’s
too risky…"
"Lucky please. I need you bro. We need each other."
Lucky sighed in defeat, knowing that Nikolas was right. They were
each other’s salvation at this point. As for Elizabeth, he’ll talk her into
accepting that letter to the Art Academy. Port Charles will be unsafe for her
as well. It’s best if she’s in New York studying to be a artist. "Ok
Nikolas. As soon as you’re able to go, we’ll go. I’m just going to have to
convince Elizabeth to accept the way things are going to be."
"I know that won’t be easy. I’m sorry Lucky. I know how much
you love each other."
"But this has to be done right?" Lucky sighed.
"Listen, I think Stefan was really hurt that you asked to be alone. Let me
step out and talk to Elizabeth and you can spend some time with your Uncle. He
did rescue you ya know."
Nikolas only smiled sadly as his brother left. He knew that
disappearing would hurt his and Lucky’s families, but it had to be done until
Helena was taken care of.