Dark of the Moon - Chapter 7
"Sir! Sir, you cant go in there!"
Stefan kept walking. Through the glass of the double doors, he could see Zander lying on a gurney in the trauma unit. Medical personnel swarmed around him. His hair lay black against the pillow, and his face was white.
"Sir, this area is restricted to medical personnel only. Sir!"
Stefan finally noticed the tiny but determined nurse in front of him. "I beg your pardon?"
"Are you a family member, sir?"
Stefan caught sight of a tall figure in Zander's room: Cameron Lewis. As Stefan watched, Cameron brushed the hair out of Zander's eyes, then bent and kissed his forehead. As he straightened, his gaze met Stefan's, and his eyes turned to ice.
Stefan looked down at the nurse. "Excuse me?"
The nurse sighed impatiently. "Are you a member of Mr. Smith's immediate family?"
"No," Stefan said reluctantly. "I am not."
"Then I'm going to have to ask you to wait in the lobby."
She bustled away. Stefan quickly turned back to the trauma unit just as Cameron slammed through the double doors
"What the hell are you doing here, Cassadine?" he hissed.
"I should think that would be obvious," Stefan replied. He craned his neck to see around Cameron, but the other man blocked his view.
"You promised to protect Alexander from Helena."
"And I have!" Stefan protested. Through the doors, he saw Zander being wheeled away down the corridor. He tried to follow, but Cameron stepped in front of him, barring his path. Stefan ground his teeth in frustration. "Will you please inform me as to Alexander's condition?"
"Not good," Cameron said. "They're taking him to surgery now."
As if on cue, Monica Quartermaine hurried by, studying a sheaf of x-rays in her hand.
"I'm getting tired of pulling bullets out of your son, Cameron," she snapped, then continued through the double doors and down the corridor.
"Dr. Lewis." Another figure hurried toward them. It was Alan Quartermaine. He offered his hand, and Cameron shook it. "I just heard about Zander. I want to reassure you that Monica is an excellent surgeon. She's operated on Zander before with good results."
"I know," Cameron said reluctantly. "I just wish I could perform the surgery myself."
"Of course you do," Alan replied. "But as you and I both know, it's not wise for physicians to treat their own family members. It clouds our judgment."
"Of course you're right," Cameron said.
"Let me buy you a cup of coffee while you wait."
"Thanks, I'd appreciate it."
Alan clapped him on the shoulder, then turned to Stefan. "Stefan," he asked, looking puzzled. "What are you doing here?"
Stefan stared at Alan, his mind a complete blank. Cameron cleared his throat. "The shooting happened at Wyndemere."
"At Wyndemere?" Alan frowned. "What was Zander doing at Wyndemere?" He turned to Cameron. "You told us a few months ago that Zander moved back to Florida."
"He did," Cameron said quickly. "But Alexis made him promise that he would stay in touch with her and visit whenever he was in town. Isn't that right, Cassadine?"
"That is correct," Stefan said, finally finding his voice. "She wanted Alexan--that is, Alexis wanted Zander to see how much Kristina had grown since he'd left."
"Well, that makes sense," Alan said, his face clearing. "Zander and Alexis have always been close. But who shot him?" He frowned at Stefan.
"Accidents happen," Stefan ground out. "Especially with brash young men and firearms."
Alan frowned again."Zander hates guns. Everybody knows that."
Damn the man for being obtuse, Stefan thought, then wracked his brain for a plausible story.
"I think what Mr. Cassadine means," Cameron said smoothly, "is that when you live in a veritable fortress surrounded by armed guards, as he does, sooner or later someone's bound to get shot by accident. In this case, an innocent bystander."
"You are correct," Stefan said, glaring at Cameron.
"Dr. Quartermaine?" It was the nurse, hurrying toward them. She frowned at Stefan, then presented Alan with a clipboard. "If you could just look over these test results."
"Of course," Alan said. "Excuse me, gentlemen." He took the chart and walked a few steps away.
Cameron turned to Stefan. "How the hell did this happen?"
"There was an attempt made on Nikolas' life," Stefan said. "Unfortunately, the assassin mistook Alexander for his cousin."
Cameron frowned. "I don't understand. Was Helena behind this?"
"Helena would never attack Nikolas."
"So who--never mind." Cameron broke off and rubbed his eyes. "Go home, Cassadine. You have no place here."
"I beg your pardon?" Stefan bristled. "I am Alexander's--"
"Be quiet!" Cameron snapped, lowering his voice to a whisper. "As far as this town knows, Stefan Cassadine and Zander Smith don't even know each other. If you care at all about protecting him, you'll leave immediately." He turned as Alan approached and raised his voice again. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Cassadine."
Stefan felt Alan's eyes on him. He inclined his head stiffly and said, "Again, I express my regret that this unfortunate incident occurred and offer my best wishes for your son's recovery."
"Thank you," Cameron turned to Alan. "And now I could really use that cup of coffee."
"Of course. Right this way."
They walked toward the waiting area, Alan's hand resting on Cameron's shoulder, and left Stefan standing alone.
***
"What do you mean you left?" Alexis wailed. "How could you just leave him like that?"
"I didn't want to," Stefan snapped. "But Cameron is right, if Helena hasn't yet discovered that Alexander is here--"
"What makes you think she hasn't?"
Stefan pinched the bridge of his nose, praying for patience. "Think, Alexis. Alexander has been here three months, and she's made no attempt on him."
"But today--"
"The gunman said Nikolas was the target. You and I both know that Helena would never harm Nikolas; ergo, the assassin was not sent by Helena." Stefan poured a drink, downed it in one gulp, and poured another. "It's entirely possible--not probable, but possible--that while Helena knows Zander Smith is my son, she's not yet aware that I know he is, nor that I have been sheltering him at Wyndemere. This buys us time. But the last thing I need to do is call attention to myself. If there is an investigation into the shooting--"
"There won't be," Alexis said flatly.
"Why not?"
Alexis gave him a withering look. "Do you think anyone cares if Zander Smith gets shot? You said it was an accident, I'll swear to it, there won't be an investigation." She took the glass from Stefan's hand and drank.
Stefan sighed and sat, loosening his tie. "You're probably right. But Alexis, if I'm at the hospital, people will start to talk, to ask questions. If one whisper reaches Helena's ears--"
"Fine!" Alexis snapped. "I'll go. No one will question my right to be there."
"Yes, please do," Stefan said.
Alexis blinked. "I was expecting an argument."
"You won't get one from me," Stefan said. "Someone from the family needs to be there in case..." He paused. "Someone needs to be there."
"Stefan," Alexis said. "He's going to be just fine."
"If you say so," Stefan said absently. He was distracted by the bloodstain on his shirt. Alexander's blood. How had he not noticed that before?
"Zander is a survivor," Alexis said. "He's been through far worse than this and lived."
"I'm sure you're right."
Alexis handed him back his drink. "I'll call as soon as I hear anything."
"Take Dmitri with you. Don't roll your eyes at me, Alexis, just do it."
Alexis kissed his cheek. "Very well, then," she said, and left
***
Stefan heard the grandfather clock chime midnight, but he made no effort to go to bed. After prowling aimlessly around the house for hours, he had finally settled in the rarely visited family chapel. The icons on the wall stared at him with their blank round eyes as if surprised to see him there. They stared when he took the call from Alexis telling him that Zander was out of surgery but not out of the woods--it had been touch-and-go during the procedure, and he was still far from stable. They stared at him now, as if daring him to pray.
Stefan's cell phone rang, and he snatched it up. "Hello?"
"Stefan?"
"Gia." He felt himself relax at the sound of her voice, then tensed again. "Nikolas. Is he--"
"Nikolas is fine. He's asleep, and there are twelve guards just outside the door. We're safe."
"Thank God." Stefan wearily rubbed his eyes.
"How is Zander?"
"They removed the bullet, but there are complications. Alexis is with him."
"Stefan, don't worry," Gia said.
"I'm not worried."
"Yes, you are. I can hear it in your voice."
Stefan sighed and laid his head back on the velvet of the chair. "I hit him."
"What? Stefan, I can't hear you."
"I hit him," Stefan said louder. "I thought he was dead and when I found out he wasn't I was relieved and then I was furious." He scrubbed his eyes again. "I didn't know he'd been shot, I thought he was fine, and I--"
"You did what any parent would have done."
Stefan laughed in derision. "Is that so?"
"Listen, when I was four my mother took me to a street fair and bought me a balloon. On the way home it slipped off my wrist and drifted away. I ran out in the street to get it and was almost run over by a bus. My mother spanked the dickens out of me while praising God the whole time. Later she apologized but she let me know if I ever did it again Id get the same treatment."
"This is different, Gia."
"How?"
"One of the guards was shot in the chest, and I made Alexander look at the body. I wanted him to understand what could happen if he wasn't careful. I didn't think…I forgot about his brother and what seeing that would do to him."
"Stefan," Gia's voice was gentle. "Don't think about that now. When Zander recovers you can talk to him about it. He'll understand."
"I may not get that chance."
"Zander's going to be fine. My brother always said he had nine lives."
Stefan closed his eyes and massaged his temple. "Are you sure you're safe? Where are you?"
"At the window, looking out toward the river and the gardens."
Stefan's eyes flew open in alarm. "Gia, don't sit by the window. You're a perfect target."
"Stefan, you had the glass changed to bullet-proof, remember? Besides, this is my favorite place to sit in the morning. I like to watch the city wake up."
Stefan closed his eyes again. "Tell me."
Gia's voice deepened. "The cobblestones are still wet with dew, but the morning light makes them sparkle. There are buds on the trees and flowers starting to bloom. I can smell bread baking in the patisserie down below. In a little while I'll go out and buy breakfast for Nikolas and me. Coffee and croissants or, if I'm feeling decadent, crepes with chocolate and hazelnut filling. A woman just walked by with a basket full of red flowers, and I can hear the sound of truck engines and cars honking a few blocks away, where the shops are."
"Ah, the famed shops of the Right Bank," Stefan murmured. "Did Chanel and Cartier survive your onslaught?"
Gia laughed. "Barely. Trust me, when it comes to shopping, these French ladies got nothing on a Brooklyn girl with a charge card."
Stefan laughed, for what seemed like the first time in ages. "I would have loved to have been there and watched you."
"Go to sleep, Stefan," Gia's voice was as soothing as warm honey. "And call us when you have news."
"I will."
"Good night, Stefan."
***
Stefan woke from confusing dreams. He was in Paris, watching Gia try on clothes in a fancy shop. He heard laughter outside and went to investigate. Across the street stood a woman holding a black-haired boy by the hand. She turned, and Stefan saw that it was Olivia. She held another child in her arms, a dark-haired infant. Stefan ran toward her, but she slipped away down the busy street, and no matter how fast he went, he couldn't catch up. She laughed at him, and her laughter blended with the tearful cries of the baby.
Stefan realized suddenly that the cries were real. Kristina, he thought, and leapt out of bed. He hurried down the hall to Kristina's room. She was lying on her stomach, fretful and teary-eyed. Stefan reached into the crib and gently rubbed her back. "Hush, now, little one," he whispered. "Go back to sleep." Kristina whimpered, then her breathing grew deeper as she slid back into slumber.
Stefan glanced out the window at the darkness. There was still an hour to go before dawn, but he didn't want to go back to sleep. He didn't want to have that dream again. He pulled a rocking chair closer to Kristina's crib and settled in it, then sat there for an hour, watching Kristina sleep, waiting for the sun to come up.
***
The news was grim over the next few days. Zander survived the surgery, but his body remained weak and his recovery was slower than anticipated. He developed a raging post-operative infection and tossed in restless delirium, calling frantically for Peter and Emily. Alexis visited every day, but he seemed unaware of her presence.
On the second day, Stefan couldn't stand it anymore and went to the hospital. Outside the ICU, he saw Monica Quartermaine, and inspiration seized him. "Monica, you look tired. Allow me to buy you a cup of coffee."
"Why thank you, Stefan," she said, looking surprised. "That would be lovely."
He waited until she was comfortably settled in the doctors lounge with a steaming cup of coffee before her. "How is Zander Smith progressing?"
Monica looked at him sharply. "Why do you ask? Are you afraid he's going to sue you?" Stefan blinked at her in shock, and she shook her head. "I'm sorry. That was rather crass of me. But the truth is he's not doing well, and I'm worried."
"I'm sure he'll recover," Stefan murmured, trying for a neutral tone.
"Ordinarily, I would say yes. This hospital has treated Zander more times than I care to count, and he's always managed to bounce back. But this time it's different."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm a doctor, a scientist, but I also believe that sometimes it's not our bodies that need healing. I think some part of Zander died when Emily left, and the rest of him is trying to catch up."
"I don't understand."
Monica sighed. "In January, Zander overdosed on drugs. He came to the house high out of his mind, looking for Emily. I saw a look then in his eyes that I hadn't seen before, a look that said he wanted to die. And wherever he's been for the last few months hasn't been good for him."
"What do you mean?"
Monica blinked in surprise at Stefan's tone. "He's terribly thin and he seems exhausted. I assumed he was using again, but the blood tests all came back negative." She looked up as her name was called on the intercom. "Well, no rest for the weary. Thanks for the coffee." She rose and bustled away.
Stefan walked back to the ICU. From the hall, he could see Zander lying in bed, surrounded by machines that beeped and blinked monotonously. He was about to enter when he saw Cameron sitting by Zander's bedside. As if sensing Stefan's presence, Cameron looked up from his book and met his eyes with a steely gaze
Without a word, Stefan turned and walked away.
***
On the evening of the fourth day, the phone rang. It was Alexis. "Stefan," was all she said.
Dread clutched him. "Alexis? What is it?" She didn't answer. "Alexis, what's wrong?"
Her voice broke "He's worse, much worse. And he's asking for you. He says he has something he needs to tell you."
To be continued...
