Stefan finally got to sleep around three am. The visions of what had happened between Katherine and himself at her house had haunted him continually. After she had dashed inside, Stefan had slowly walked to his car and driven away. When he got back to Wyndemere, Nikolas had still been up and had told him of Jax's visit. He had not been happy with this news. Jasper Jax in his life was the last thing he needed. In the morning he is awakened by his phone, which is located on the table beside the bed. On the fourth ring Stefan picks it up and says, still a little groggy, "Hello."
"Stefan. It's Victor."
"Victor. What time is it?"
"It is ... 8:30 am. Don't tell me you've been lazing about while I have been forwarding our plan," Victor asks contempt creeping into his voice.
"No. No." Stefan sits up in bed. "How did it go?"
"Good. She was shocked to see me of course but I think I convinced her."
"When are you meeting again? I want you to wear a wire so I can get an idea of whether or not you have her at your feet."
Victor is surprised at this request and unsettled because it indicates that Stefan doesn't totally trust him. He agrees then asks with a slight edge in his voice, "Anything else?"
"Just make sure you keep me updated on any new developments." Stefan hangs up the phone and get out of bed to get dressed.
_________________________________________
On the other end of the line Victor is seething. He hates having to cow-tow to his nephew's commands. He reassures himself aloud however, "It's only for a short while longer though. Just until I have them where I want them. Then I'll be the one in control!"
_________________________________________
[1:00pm]
"Hello Mister Jax."
"Oh, hi Gabby. How's it going?" Jax asks the smiling Deception receptionist.
"Good. Do you want to see Ms. Bell?" He nods yes. "Well, you're in luck. She just had her last appointment. Plus she's been in a really good mood all morning."
"So I can just..." he gestures to the door. She nods. After knocking and getting the response, "Come in" from Katherine he enters.
"Jax! What a nice surprise!" Kat exclaims.
"She sounds very cheerful and happy and is smiling brightly at him. A little too brightly maybe because Jax senses that something is wrong from the first moment. Her eyes just don't quite have the smile that is on her lips.
"Hi. I just stopped by to see if you wanted to have lunch with me." He sits down in one of the black leather chairs in front of her desk.
"That'd be great. Just let me finish up here real quick then we'll be ready to go."
_________________________________________
"Tell me what's bothering you," Jax urges when their waiter bustles away with their order.
Katherine is surprised at his words. She had thought she was doing so well but Jax explains, "I know something is wrong. Your eyes are a little red, which I didn't notice at first, and you're not as happy as you try to make me think. I'm your friend Katherine, tell me. Maybe I can help you."
She doesn't want to tell Jax about the night before with Stefan but before she can decline the words start slipping out of her mouth. When she finally finishes her eyes are brimming with tears with overflow when Jax reaches out and takes her hand. "Sorry to unload on you like this," Katherine manages, wiping away the moisture from her cheeks.
"It's no problem."
"You don't think I'm a fool for still caring about Stefan then?"
Jax meets her anxious eyes and answers, "No I know it's hard to let go of someone you love, even when they've hurt you. At first, after Brenda left I was angry but also still in love with her. I would have taken her back if I had been given the chance. Now I'm past that though. I've gotten over my feelings for Brenda, just as you will yours for Stefan."
Looking down at her hands Katherine wonders if that is possible but she nods at Jax's words nonetheless.
Anything else either or them was going to say next is cut off when their food arrives. They eat in silence. Katherine thinks about Jax's advice and although she doesn't see herself getting over Stefan as easily as that she decides she'll try. When Jax finishes his Monte Cristo Katherine looks him straight in the eye to get his attention then says, "About what we were talking about earlier, I was thinking maybe you could help me."
"Sure. What do you need me to do?"
"Well, how about if you take me out to dinner or something sometime," Katherine suggests nervously.
Jax is taken aback at this suggestion but also pleased. He had been wanting to invite her out again but had not been sure if she'd be ready. "Okay. When would be good for you?"
"How about tomorrow night around 7:00pm." "That sounds good. I'll pick you up."
The meal ends when the waiter brings their check. As they leave Katherine turns to Jax and gives him a grateful thing after saying, "Thank you. I'm so glad that you're my friend."
_________________________________________
All the work for the day is done and her secretary has left for the day but Katherine is reluctant to go home. She loves the cottage but the emptiness of it can wear on a person. Instead she goes over to the wall and flips the radio on. As the music plays she thinks of her impending date with Jax. Doubts about her plan to get over Stefan by getting closer to Jax crowd her mind. So far she just doesn't feel the way about Jax that she does for Stefan. The only way she can imagine him in her life is as a friend.
_________________________________________
"Jax speaking, how may I help you?"
The person on the other end of the line smiles at the familiar voice and says softly, "Hi, Jax."
"Brenda?"
"Yes, It's me. I just had to call you and let you know that I'm so sorry. I hate that I hurt you but I just couldn't deny my true feelings any longer," Brenda says in one breath. She is nervous about his reaction.
"You did hurt me." Jax pauses and sits down, putting a hand over his eyes. "It's okay though. I just hope you're safe and happy."
"I am. You know Jax, you should really start seeing someone else. It might help you forget."
He cuts her off in mid-sentence by saying, "I am." She is silent on the other end and he continues, "In fact I have a date tomorrow." The childish urge to rub it in to h is former lover gets the better of him, "With Katherine Bell."
"Oh. Well, I should be going - I hope you're happy Jax. Good-bye."
She hangs up, leaving Jax to think about the call.
He hadn't just been trying to comfort Katherine earlier today he realizes. He is over Brenda. Probably in part because of Katherine and how much time they've spent together the last few weeks with the Nurses ball and her moving into the cottage.
_________________________________________
Katherine reclines on her leather couch in her office with a sketch of a perfume bottle against her knees and a pencil in her mouth. She has just finished a couple possible packaging containers for the new Deception/Jacks perfume. A song comes on the radio and slowly she lowers the pencil and just listens, remembering...
[[The nights he visited her in the hospital and eased her fear and grief over her condition]]
If you see him
Tell him I wish him well
How am I doin'
Well sometimes it's hard to tell
I still miss him more than ever
But please don't say a word
[[Sending private messages to each other during the day via computer]]
If you see him
Oh, if you see him
[[A nervous Stefan bringing her every type of bagel and coffee possible]]
If you see her
Tell her I'm doin' fine
And if you want to
Say that I think of her
From time to time
[[Making love at Serenity and him saying he loved her for the first time]]
Ask her if she ever wonders
Where we both went wrong
If you see her
If you see her
[[Riding down the road with her hair blowing, Stefan beside her and both of them laughing]]
Oh, I still want her
And, I still need him so
Oh, I don't know why we let each other go
[[Their afternoons at his retreat house in the sun and pool]]
If you see her
Tell her the lights still on for her
Nothing's changed
Deep down the fire still burns for him
[[Their first Christmas together with Nikolas]]
And even if it takes forever
Say I'll still be here
If you see him
If you see her
If you see him
If you see her
Chapter Fourteen
Katherine awoke to a beautiful morning with a frown on her face. She hadn’t gotten to bed the night before until two because she'd fallen asleep at her office. When she finally went home she had had a not too pleasant surprise waiting for her. Two dozen red roses had been sitting under the cover of her porch. All the card had said was: “I miss you. --S”
The roses were still out there, probably wilted from the night’s cold because she hadn’t wanted to let them in the house but couldn’t bear to destroy the beautiful things.
----------------------
When Katherine arrives at work she is met by Alexis. They go into her office and Alexis demands, “What’s going on here? A couple weeks ago you wanted information from me as is your life depended on it. Now you don’t seem to care at all, although I do still have those two dumb bodyguards trailing me everywhere.”
“I totally forgot about them. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. I no longer have any need for you.”
Alexis is grateful but also curious, “Why?”
Trying to sound cold Katherine replies, “Let’s just say that I’m no longer interested in the subject you were providing information about.” Alexis had known of Stefan and Katherine’s split, it has been all over town. She had just figured they’d had some sort of quarrel and that Kat would be even more intent on finding out about Stefan’s Helena induced Laura complex.
Alexis attempts to say how sorry she is but Katherine ushers her out the door. Standing in the lobby, Alexis decides that she needs to know what happened between her brother and kat.
----------------------
Stefan looks up as his door opens and Alexis strides in.
With determination she says, “I need to talk to you.” He begins to protest the intrusion but abruptly stops when she says, “It’s about Katherine.”
“Is she all right?” His face instantly freezes with worry.
Alexis assures him that she is find, physically. Once he is sure that Kat is fine his eyes harden, “What do you have to do with mine and Katherine’s relationship? Haven't you done enough?”
“Yes. I have. And that’s why I’m here. I tried to break the two of you apart but it didn’t work. Now though she doesn’t want anything to do with you. Why? You survived my manipulations I though you two were committed to each other.”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
“Did Helena’s plan succeed? I know I have never been Katherine’s biggest supporter but at least she made you happy. Laura Spencer never will.”
At the mention of what he knows is the simple truth Stefan stands up, eyes blazing. “No, I didn’t throw Katherine over for Laura! I’ll admit for a few crazy moments I considered what my life would be like had Laura and I become a couple but then I came to my senses. Too late unfortunately.” Stefan explains the circumstances of his and Katherine’s breakup while Alexis sits in silence and guilt.
She starts to profess her part in his misery but when she says “I’m so sorry.” Stefan silences her with a look.
“Don’t be. I’m going to get her back. She still loves me despite the way I hurt her and no matter what I have to do I will regain her trust also.
“I want to help you.”
----------------------
Victor is sitting on the end of his seat in the plush hotel room Stefan is paying for. He is just finishing his conversation and is smiling widely. “Yes, Helena darling, I guess you’ve earned your keep. I so wanted to kill you but since you performed your role in our operation so well I guess I’ll abstain.”
He hangs up and says quietly to himself, “No. I won’t have to kill you. I have another more important job for you my dear.”
----------------------
Stefan’s phone rings before he can answer Alexis. “Hello, Stefan Cassadine here.”
“Mister Cassadine, there’s been an explosion at our Japan location and another at almost the same time at our New York headquarters.”
Turning his back on his sister Stefan calmly inquirers, “Was anyone hurt?”
“No but several very expensive pieces of equipment were destroyed and it was only a miracle that no one was killed.
Stefan and the frantic man talk for several minutes about how to handle the disaster as Alexis listens, her curiousity growing every minute. Finally the conversation ends and Alexis asks, “Is everything okay? That sounded bad.”
“Yes. Everything is under control.” He thinks for a second then asks, “You don’t have any ties to Helena do you?”
“No. I’m totally out from under her influence,” Alexis asserts adamantly.
“Good. That’s not what I meant though. I mean do you have any ties that the authorities could trace?”
“I don’t think so. What’s going on here Stefan?”
“I can’t tell you everything. And what I’m going to tell you cannot leave this room.” Alexis nods her acceptance of this. “Helena is no longer going to be a problem for anybody very soon.”
Alexis questions her brother further but he will not admit more than that and eventually she gives up feeling equal parts relieved that Helena will be neutralized soon and frustrated that she cannot help bring about that downfall.
----------------------
Meanwhile, the FBI has been called in on the case of the simultaneous Cassadine bombings. They determine that the bombs were timer operated and constructed in the US. The list of possible suspects is vast and it promises to be a tedious case.
----------------------
On her yacht Helena watches the news with glee as the reporter estimates that the bombings caused over five million dollars in damage. No one would ever know that she masterminded the whole thing either, Victor was to take care of the cover up. And if everything went right maybe suspicion would fall on Stefan.
----------------------
The voice box makes his words crackle and creates static but the police can still distinguish the words of the man, they think, saying “Find the two missing employees. One is American, the other Japanese. They are the key.” As cryptic as that sounds the FBI has to put some faith into it. The message was left exactly fifteen minutes after the bombs went off and the man had said his tip had to do with the Cassadines. It is the FBI’s only lead so far. That’s why the head of the case, Janice Dallas gets right to checking out every employee who missed work’s alibi.
Out of the roughly 5000 employees of the two plants, exactly twenty-six missed work that day, fifteen in NY and eleven in Japan.
“Okay then,” Janice tells her assistant, “I want every person on this list to account for his or her whereabouts twenty-four hours before and after the bombings.
----------------------
“I’m going home Gabi. Can you handle everything that’s left?” Katherine asks as she pulls on her coat.
Gabi is glad her boss isn’t burying herself in work like burying herself in work like she’s been doing. “Of course. You have fun.”
Leaving the building, Katherine thinks about her assistants remark, hoping that she can manage to have a good time with Jax that night.
----------------------
[5:30 pm]
Jax has just left a message on Katherine’s machine telling her that they will be going to the new French restaurant in the neighboring town.
He is very nervous. Despite his reminders to himself that it is only a first date Jax knows that he is already looking forward to more happening between them. A psychiatrist would probably say that he is on the rebound and very emotional but Jax doesn’t think so. His feelings toward Katherine seem to natural. The time they have spent together in the past weeks has been very precious to him. Ever since before the Nurses Ball Jax has been hoping that they would become more than friends.
The fulfillment of that dream is both good and bad. Good because they will be able to get even closer. Bad because he doesn’t want to reveal his true feelings for Katherine yet, better for her to have similar feelings for him before he confesses what he feels, otherwise she might be scared off.
Chapter 15
If she only knew
What I knew but couldn't say
If she could just see
The part of me that I hid away
If I could just hold her in my arms again
And just say I love you
But she's gone away
The evening had been perfectly lovely. The restaurant was elegant, the food divine, and Jax had been interesting and charming throughout the five courses. Now afterwards in the car going home, Katherine mentally mulls over her feelings and comes to the conclusion that she must be insane.
Any woman in her right mind would be ecstatic to be dating such a great catch as billionaire Jasper Jacks. And although she enjoyed his company, Katherine doesn't think that he is going to turn out to be her type.
******************
After dinner, Jax had raced home, making the trip in thirteen minutes. He is feeling extremely happy. His mood isn't just a result of the silky champagne he had indulged in at dinner however. The main cause is the success of the night. Jax has a feeling that Katherine's feelings toward him might have been changed after the fabulous dinner they had just enjoyed.
******************
"Dallas? I've got that data you wanted. I had a couple FBI buds in Japan check out the absentees there. All have been accounted for except one."
When her assistant came in, Janice Dallas had been deeply entrenched in a mountain of research but this news captures her attention immediately. "Name?"
"His name is Jimmy Keystone, an American transfer. So far he seems like the only possibility. I ran his name and found three priors. Two for theft and one for destruction of property, both within three years from now."
"That's great but that doesn't mean he is our man. Find him."
"We're already working on it."
Janice gestures to the papers on her desk, "I've just been reviewing the findings of the NY search of absentees. Two have yet to be accounted for, Jeremy Smith and Dan Latchkey. Neither have anything on their records except parking violations." With a sigh Dallas continues, "You go on home, you've been here since five this morning. You need your rest."
"All right Lieutenant."
"I'll stick around and see what I can come up with." 'It's not like I have anything to go home to,' thinks Janice with a rare indulgence into self-pity.
Maybe she'd stay
If she only knew
If she could just feel
What I feel here in my heart
She'd know it was real
Pure and true right from the start
But I'm just a man who didn't understand
What she was going through
But she's gone away, maybe she'd stay
If she only knew
******************
"Uncle, I heard about the bombings on the news. You must be furious," Nikolas has just gotten home from the movies. He had been out with Emily, Lucky, and Liz.
"It's disconcerting yes, but not to worry, we were insured," Stefan replied.
Nikolas is shocked, "That's all you're going to say?"
On the spur of the moment, Stefan decides to let Nikolas in on his little plan. He is the heir after all. He starts the explanation off with, "Nikolas, there's a reason I'm not overly upset about the bombings..."
Nikolas listens quietly except for a few clarifying questions. "So Helena will be arrested for the sabotage of Cassadine Enterprises?"
"No. She'll be arrested for murder or conspiracy to commit murder. This very minute the FBI are searching for who bombed the plants. They will find out that it was two Cassadine Enterprise employees. Then they will discover that those men have disappeared and all the evidence will indicate murder."
"The aren't really...?" Nikolas lets the question hang in the air.
"No. I expect that the two men are somewhere tropical as we speak spending the considerable fortunes they earned." Stefan sits back and looks at Nikolas to gauge his reaction.
Nikolas has one more question though, "Why will they think it was Helena? There are many other people who would love to sabotage the Cassadines."
"Good thinking but that's been taken care of. Evidence has been planted on your grandmother's yacht that connects her to the men. The FBI will find checks in her hand and from her account to the men and records of phone calls over the last few days. And just for good measure, there are records of trips to Japan and Brooklyn on her credit card. Several witnesses from the mens' neighborhoods will also be able to testify that they saw a tall, thin, blonde, older woman conversing with the victims." Stefan finishes his explanation, and is prepared if Nikolas doesn't understand why it was so necessary for him to take this action against Helena. Therefore, he is surprised and relieved when Nikolas speaks.
"Well then, it sounds like everything has been orchestrated perfectly. It will be a relief when she is finally behind bars where she belongs."
Nikolas stays a few more minutes before retiring for the evening. After he leaves, Stefan sits in his study thinking about what comes next. Neutralizing his mother was just the first step in preparing his life for the future. The next is even more important: getting Katherine back. Starting tomorrow, his plan to regain what he so foolishly let slip away will go into effect.
And how, how did I let her get away
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
'Cause love, love is so easy to feel
But the hardest thing to say
If she could just see
What I see when I close my eyes
All that I dream
Surely she would realize
But like a fool I waited much too long
To let her know the truth
She's gone away, maybe she'd stay
If she only knew
******************
-the next morning-
Katherine knew that it was going to be a long day when she looked at the newspaper and the first thing she saw was Stefan's unsmiling face staring back at her.
"I can't deal with this today," she says with a sigh, dropping the paper onto the table and reading the article while eating her breakfast of toast and grapefruit.
Katherine is reading Detective Janice Dallas' sparse comments about the case when the doorbell rings. At the door is a goofy looking delivery boy with a dozen red roses in his hands. After tipping him, Katherine reads the card, smiling slightly at Jax's words, "Just a little thank you for the pleasure of your company last night."
Before she even has a chance to put the flowers in water, the doorbell rings again.
Still holding the roses, Kat answers the door, only to find the same gangly teen there again with another bouquet. "You're certainly the popular one," he comments with a smirk, handing her the new flowers.
Even before she reads this card Katherine knows who it is from. The words, "I miss you. I love you. I would do anything for you. -Stefan" only confirm what she already knew and feared.
Despite herself, Katherine feels a traitorous melting pleasure at Stefan's words that she hadn't experienced from note.
If she only knew
What I knew but could not say
If she could just see
The part of me that I hid away
If I could just hold her in my arms again
And just say I love you, I love you
She's gone away, maybe she'd stay
If she only knew, if she only knew
Maybe she'd stay but she ran away
Why she had to go away
'Cause of what I didn't say