Alliances
Chapter 16
Katherine opens the door after the second knock looking calm and composed. She had seen Stefan pull up a few minutes before and watched him sit in his car before coming towards the door. Those few minutes had given her time to prepare herself and slow her quickening heartbeat. She has resolved not to lose her temper or let Stefan see how much he effects her.
"Stefan. What a pleasant surprise." That remark sounds phony even to Katherine's ears, so she just steps back in way of an invitation to enter. "I read about Cassadine Enterprise's recent misfortunes in the newspaper this morning. Have the authorities found anything?"
Stefan doesn't want to discuss business but he also doesn't want to just blurt out his intentions. "Yes, it is truly awful. Scores of media persons have been calling me since it happened. It makes me realize just how much a good PR person has to handle. I now realize how lucky the hospital was to have you during that run of scandals we experienced."
"Yes. Well,..." Katherine doesn't know what to say to this unexpected flattery but she quickly recovers, "I'm sure your people are perfectly capable of doing their jobs."
"They are capable but you were always more than that. You took care of every possible problem that could crop up." Quickly Stefan changes the subject, "Did you get the flowers I sent you."
"Yes. They are lovely but I would have preferred if you hadn't sent them at all."
"I'm sorry if you feel that way but I sent them for a reason," Stefan replies.
Katherine doesn't want to ask this question but she does anyway, "And what reason would that be? To upset me maybe?"
"No. Upsetting you is the last thing I want to do," Stefan's voice conveys the truth of his words. "I sent those roses for the same reason that I came here today." Stefan pauses and says what he knows he didn't say often enough before. "I love you, Katherine. I want us to be together again."
Despite her earlier resolve, Stefan's words are having a big impact on Katherine. Her emotions are in a turmoil over his last words. When they had been a couple she had hoped that he would say those words to her but the only time he did was at Serenity. She had given him the benefit of the doubt, thinking that Cassadine men most likely weren't taught to express their feelings, and believed that he felt as she did even though he didn't say the words. Her belief in him had ended when she discovered his preoccupation with Laura, however. All the times he hadn't told her that he loved her when she had, were proof to Katherine that he had only wanted her as a Laura substitute. Now however, here he is, saying what not long ago she would have been overjoyed to hear.
To cover her confusion Katherine says snidely, "You want us to be together, do you? Just like before maybe? Me in the guesthouse longing for you, while you're in the main house dreaming of somebody else." In a softer, pleading voice she asks, "Why can't you just leave me alone? I can't go back there. That woman wasn't me."
Stefan responds to Katherine's distress automatically by clasping her hands in his and squeezing them reassuringly. "I understand what you are saying and I feel the same." Katherine is startled to hear this but Stefan continues, emboldened by the fact that Katherine hasn't wrenched her hands out of his. "I don't want it to be like it used to be. I want it to be totally different. Would you please just listen to what I came here to say."
******************
Agent Janice Dallas sits at her desk thinking about the case she is the head of. It has been twenty-four hours since the simultaneous bombings and the two most likely suspects have still not been found. She has begun to suspect that they won't turn up at all, which radically changes the nature of the crime. At eleven o'clocl she orders warrants for the two men's houses and her men get to work.
Two hours later the case finally gets a break when a check made out to the NY suspect is found. It doesn't take long before all roads seem to head toward Helena Cassadine.
******************
"What's the latest news?"
"There's a suspect," says the FBI informant shortly.
"Who."
"Helena Cassadine. The evidence is really piling up against her."
"Good. Keep me updated. I want to know the second they make an arrest."
"Yes, sir." The informant hangs up and Victor slowly leans back in his chair with a smile of satisfaction on his face. He picks up the phone once again and conducts a short and to the point conversation with his banker. When he finishes, his account is missing five million dollars and the account of Charlie Bouffett is that much richer.
With that done, he is just about to leave his suite when there is a knock on the door.
Helena barges in before he can open the door, a huge smile on her face.
"Victor darling, everything is going perfectly. The FBI are totally clueless, eventually they will give up and we will have succeeded completely!" she says in an unusually upbeat voice.
Victor smiles at her, thinking how far she is going to fall in just a matter of days, maybe even hours.
******************
Katherine hesitantly agreed to listen to Stefan and they went into the living room. She sat on the couch and he remained standing, pacing back and forth from the couch to the mantel while he talks.
Stefan starts off by saying, "I meant what I said earlier. I know you didn't believe me, but it's true and I intend to make you understand how much I mean it."
"Ever since you moved out it has been like an essential part of my life has been missing. I never imagined that I could miss a person so much." Stefan stops and leans against the mantel, not looking at Katherine as he says what he has to say next.
"I have had relationships with several other women in my life. Until you the most important relationship I had was with Laura, my beloved brother's wife. When she left I became fixated on her. I thought that I loved her and it wasn't until recently that I realized that I was obsessed. That obsession lasted over seventeen years. It wasn't until I met you that I realized that what I felt for Laura was just a poor imitation of love. You made me feel things I never have before. You were the first woman who ever really loved and accepted me. I know I didn't express my feelings like you expected me to. Part of that was due to the way I was brought up. As you can probably tell, mine was not a house in which feelings were talked about. I learned to hide my inner longings sometime during my boyhood." He hesitates before the next words," I know you don't want to here this, but the other reason was Laura."
From her place on the couch Katherine emits a sound that is a mixture of disgust and anger at the mention of Laura's name. He understands her feelings but continues, "I'm not saying that to hurt you. It's the truth. I continued to hold onto what I thought Laura and I could have. I held on so tight to that distorted fantasy that I let you, the best thing to come into my life since Nikolas, slip away."
Stefan doesn't say anything more for such a long time that Katherine thinks he is finished and, trying to keep the hope from her voice, she says, "How can I believe that you you've just said?"
He finally turns around and looks into her eyes and says in an anguished voice, "I haven't given you any reasons to trust me ever since the moment we met," the moment I shot you, he thinks, "but I hope that you know me well enough to be able to tell how sincere I am right now when I say that I would do anything to have you back in my life."
The tears that Katherine has been trying so hard to fight back finally get loose and begin to course down her cheeks.
Stefan goes over to her and sits next to her on the couch. He takes her face gently in his hands and wipes away her tears. "If you give me another chance, I'll never take you for granted like I did before. I know how terrible living without you is and I won't ever let you go again. Please come back to me," Stefan finishes, pleading as he never has done before.
Katherine doesn't know what to say. His words are what she has been dreaming about since she realized how much she loved him. She opens her mouth to say something but all that comes out is a sob. Stefan puts his arms around her and holds her as she cries on his shoulder
Chapter 17
It is the day after Stefan revealed his heart to Katherine. Ever since he left that afternoon they have both been thinking constantly about each other. Stefan has been hoping that Katherine will believe his sincere words and give him another chance. Katherine has been racking her brain, analyzing every nuance of the encounter for signs of Stefan's honesty, both desperately wishing that their feelings about the other's intentions were true. Deep down he felt that she would one day return to him. She secretly thought that he meant what he had said about loving her and wanting her in his life. Another part of herself doubted that conviction however because she had always felt that he was in love with her. Right up until she found the painting of Laura Spencer in the cellar, that is.
******************
Stefan is on a conference call with three of his lawyers, discussing the pros and cons of his latest business movement. They are against his decision but he is not in a mood to try and convince them.
"I pay your salaries. I have made up my mind. I want you to finish selling General Hospital to Edward Quartermaine. I no longer have any interest in the establishment. Quartermaine is willing to take it off my hands and I intend to accepted his offer. We have signed all the necessary documents. All you have to do is file them."
"You're going to lose money Mr. Cassadine. If you would just take our suggestions and make the changes, then General Hospital could turn a profit for you," said the senior partner of the New York firm Stefan has dealt with for the years since he came to Port Charles.
"I'm only going to say this one more time Horace, make the deal." Stefan hung up the phone. His patience had simply run out. He had been meaning to unload the hospital for months now. There was no need to use it as an excuse to stay in town any longer.
All the employees either hated or feared him, so there was no emotional attachement to the place either. That's why in a couple hours Stefan planns to have one less hospital under his control.
******************
10:00
"You've got to be mistaken," the cultured voice said with disdain and not a hint of worry.
"No Mrs. Cassadine. You are about to be arrested for conspiracy to murder two employees of Cassadine Enterprises. Johnson, read Mrs. Cassadine her rights." Janice's thoughts review the evidence against Helena Cassadine. It was a surprisingly tight case. 'Almost too good' she thought.
"Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?"
Helena's answer is full of sarcasm to cover her mounting disquiet, "Of course I do you idiot. I'm not a simpleton like yourself."
Johnson puts the cuffs on her, maybe a little tighter than usual after that last remark, and leads the stately looking woman to the unmarked police car that he and Detective Dallas arrived in. They had shown up thirty minutes before, only to be told by a man who closely resembled a Greek god and had the IQ of a plant that Helena would be out "momentarily." It had taken their good host twenty-five minutes to get around to them and when she finally did, she was unbearably rude.
Janice gets into the car, trying to block out the tirade of threats that the criminal in the backseat is hurling at them in an infuriated voice.
******************
10:30
"Hello Mac. We just brought her in. She should be in fingerprinting by now. What a pity that she has to mess up that perfect French manicure all because of a couple little murders. She seemed rather put out over the whole ordeal."
"Good job, Dallas. Nailing Helena Cassadine is going to be huge news. I'm just glad we got her in here without the press sniffing it out. That woman would love the media attention. Her bail hearing is set for one thirty today, Judge Fitzwater."
"You don't think there's any chance she'll make bail, do you," Janice asks.
"The chances are slim but I've been in this business long enough to know to expect the unexpected," Mac admitted.
******************
12:00
Katherine has spent the day staring at an ad for perfume. Every time she puts it down however, the slogan goes right out of her head. She hasn't been able to concentrate on anything. Finally she gives up and picks up the phone.
She doesn't know when, but sometime between breakfast and now she made_decision. Nothing, not even Deception is going to keep her from acting on that decision. With a new found resolve, she picks up the phone and dials.
"Hello. May I speak to Jasper Jacks, please?" Katherine asks his cheerful secretary. "Oh, okay. If he's in a meeting with a client don't bother him."
"Is this Katherine Bell," the secretary asks.
Unsure of how she knew this Katherine answers, "Yes."
"Miss Bell, I'm sorry. I can put you right through to Mister Jacks. Sorry for the wait. He told me that if you were to call to patch the call through."
This news makes Katherine a little wary and she quickly says, "No. I don't want to disturb him. But could you give him a message for me. I just want him to meet me for lunch, if he doesn't already have plans, at The Outback at 2:00. Okay? Thanks so much."
She hangs up the phone, wondering about her and Jax's relationship. It seems a little weird to her that after one date he is willing to drop everything for a call from her. 'I hope he isn't thinking that we will be more than friends. It will make everything so much harder if he does,' she thinks desperately.
******************
1:30
The press still has not gotten ahold of the story about Helena Cassadine's arrest so the court room has only a few people for whom Helena's bail hearing is of vital importance. Sitting in the back row is a young man, a spy for Victor. He has been sent to record the exact details of what goes on to report immediately after. Also in attendance is Stefan. He has come to witness his mother's destruction. When they lead her in, he is only slightly disappointed that she is not in cuffs. There is a guard on her side however, leading her to the seat.
Helena's attorney looks imminently professional and together, Stefan thinks. 'It's going to take more than a Harvard educated suit to get you off mother,' he thinks. She turns and catches sight of him in the seats. It is a good thing that the press isn't present because the look that passes between mother and son is full of hatred that is visible even to the most clueless observer.
As the formal proceedings start Stefan's mind wanders back to his past dealings with his mother. There was a time, he can hardly believe it now, when he felt remorse for eliminating Helena. When he was younger, 'stupider' he thinks now, Stefan had had several openings to take her down permanently. Helena had believed him weak, and not taken proper precautions. When he had finally moved against her, his efforts had been pathetically ineffective, but they had alerted Helena to the possible danger he poised. She had never left herself as open since that day. Now however, he had finally done it. He had triumphed over his mother. She will never be able to touch those he loves ever again.
******************
2:05p.m.
Jax was exactly on time, as usual and they had been seated right away. 'Being the ex of the owner does have some perks,' Katherine thought as she was seated without the usual wait that the Outback had during the busy lunch hours.
"Katherine, I am so glad you called. It is always a nice break to have lunch with you. It brightens my day of meetings and bargaining."
Katherine engages in small talk with Jax all through the meal but her mind is on the real purpose of lunch, not the weather and the possible presidential candidates for the next year. She can't help thinking that what she is about to do is really stupid. The part of her brain that shouts that however, is no match for the part that yells "I love Stefan," so Katherine broaches the topic that brought them here after both have finished eating lunch.
"Jax...I had a reason for asking you to meet me today." Not knowing how to start, she reaches out and takes his hand. He senses her seriousness and looks her in the eye, squeezing her hand in a gesture of encouragement.
"What is it Katherine? Is something wrong?" he asks concerned at the tears that are welling up in her eyes.
What she says next surprises him, because of her pleading tone of voice, "I wish you would just stop it Jax! Stop being so nice to me. I don't deserve it."
"Of course you deserve it," he says, confused.
"No. I don't." The passion with which the latter words were spoken_is gone from her voice. "Jax. I'm going back to Stefan. I wanted to tell you that even though you are one of the most wonderful men I have ever met, I am still in love with him and cannot get over it. It's not fair to you, letting you become attached to me in any way when I know that it is all going to end up with you hurt. I don't know if I'm presuming too much about your feeling for me but I thought you deserved to know what I am doing. You have been one of the best friends I've ever had. I don't want to lose you even though I am going back to Stefan."
Jax doesn't think that Katherine can tell how upset he is by her words. She has no idea how far his feelings for her have gone. He can't believe that he has let this happen to him again. 'Why am I always falling in love with women who can't get over their last loves,' he thinks despairingly, thinking of first Brenda then Katherine. 'I can't let her know what I'm feeling. She would feel awful.'
"Katherine it's okay. I'm totally okay with you going back to Stefan. All I want is for you to be happy." Jax pauses, not wanting to alienate her but wanting to say this, "Are you sure that Stefan is right for you? Even though we aren't involved romantically, you are my friend and I don't want to see you get hurt. I saw you after you two first broke it off and you were destroyed. If you go back to him he could hurt you again; maybe worse than the first time. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
Katherine chooses her next words carefully before speaking. "Yes. I understand. I have thought about all of what you've said. I remember what it felt like when I moved off the island, trust me, I won't forget that pain for a long time. But I also remember how much I loved Stefan and how much he loved me. I doubted that he ever did for such a long time but now I don't. He has come to me and told me that he misses me, wants me back and I believe him. I have to try and work it out with him. I've never loved any other human being as much as I love Stefan and I can't turn my back on that. At least not without giving it a second chance. I would hate myself for not being brave enough to risk the hurt. I might get hurt. I don't think so, but I might. But isn't it worth it? If it works out than I will have what I have always craved." Katherine hadn't realized until just a few moments ago how much she wants Jax to understand.
******************
2:10p.m.
"Mister Cassadine?" the young spy's voice was fast and excited. "Is it over?"
The man is in the men's room. He has already checked under each stall twice and he is standing with his back to the door. "She made bail."
Victor's smile can be heard through the phone, "Perfect. How much?"
******************
2:15p.m.
Stefan cannot believe what just transpired in that court room. His mother had been granted bail. A mere dollar amount had been placed on her evilness. It didn't comfort him any that her accounts were frozen--thanks to his forethought--and that she could not reach her funds. Just the fact that such a thing could happen was an awful sign to him that the American justice system could not be counted on to ensure his family's future safety.
Stefan was the last person to leave the court room and he left deep in thought, heading for the office of a man he hoped could help him.
Mac wasn't in his office however, "The commissioner is not available right now," is how Mac's secretary had phrased it. She had been perfectly willing to give out his whereabouts when Stefan had explained that he needed to get in touch with 'the commissioner' about a breaking case. Two minutes later Stefan is heading to the Outback, where Mac had been called to handle a last minute problem.
******************
2:40
They sit in silence until the waiter bustles up to deliver their checks. They pay and walk out together. Both Jax and Katherine are wondering if they will be able to maintain their friendship after what just transpired inside the Outback.
They get outside and turn to each other virtually simultaneously. "I want to see you again soon," Jax says. "I know that I need a good friend like you and I hope you need me too."
Katherine really smiles for probably the first time today and replies, "I do. I'm so glad that we have been able to get closer." She then impulsively reaches out and hugs him. Jax can't help himself. He hugs her back, not caring that he is probably holding on too long. He inhales the scent of Katherine's hair wondering who he is going to be able to find to compare to her.
******************
Stefan steps out of his car in the parking lot of the Outback--he had decided to drive himself today--and is frozen on the spot by what he sees. Standing just outside the double doors to the entrance is Katherine, in the arms of Jasper Jacks. He can't believe it. In front of his eyes is his worst nightmare: the woman he loves in the arms of another man.
Stefan slowly sits back down in the drivers seat, the car door still open. He watches as Katherine and Jax part and go their separate ways. His heart is beating amazingly fast in his chest. Stefan has to close his eyes to process what he just saw. He had been so sure that Katherine was going to come back to him, that she still loved him. 'How could I have been so wrong about something so important?' He sits it the car for a few minutes before taking off. His desperate need to talk with Mac had evaporated instantly. Now it just didn't seem to matter as much that Helena had made bail. What harm could she do to him if she actually managed to get out that would be worse than what had just been done?