Chapter 2

"Mr. Cassadine, Mr. Cassadine."

Stefan looked up at the nurse away from his sleeping infant that he had been 
rocking for nearly the last hour.  He could honestly say that the holding of his 
baby girl was the first real peace that he had known in months.

"Dr. Jones is on the phone.  He says that Ms. Bell is in the Radiology 
Department.  She is about to undergo a CAT Scan and a MRI.  If you want to see 
her for a few minutes before the tests begin, you will have to hurry."  

"Yes, tell Dr. Jones that I am on my way now."  Carefully, Stefan put his 
daughter back into her incubator.  As he was about to leave the nursery, he 
turned towards the nurse, "I don't want my daughter left alone for a minute 
while I am gone."

Stefan raced through the now empty halls of General Hospital to reach the 
Radiology Department.  When he arrived, he saw that the nurses were preparing 
Katherine for what seemed to be another round of endless tests.  This was the 
first time he had seen her since she had gone into labor hours ago.  She looked 
so peaceful as though she was merely sleeping.  Stefan took her hand and began 
to describe to her their new baby.

"I want you to know that we have a baby girl.  She may be a few weeks premature, 
but she is perfectly healthy.  She has all ten fingers and ten toes.  I counted 
myself.  Our child is absolutely beautiful.  I suppose all fathers think that 
their baby is beautiful.  However, since she has your blue eyes, I know that she 
is going to be just as beautiful as her mother."

Stefan was going to continue describing their baby when a nurse interrupted.  
"Mr. Cassadine, it is time for Katherine to start her CAT Scan."  Stefan 
reluctantly let go of Katherine's hand, and the nurses moved her into the next 
room.

"You should get some sleep," said Dr. Jones.  "It will be quite some time before 
Katherine will be done with these tests and back into her room.  Once I have had 
a chance to analyze the results, I will be better able to give you an assessment 
of her condition. Meet me at my office first thing in the morning."

When Stefan was alone, he got out his cell phone and called the head of security 
at Wyndemere.  "As soon as it is possible to get through this blizzard, I want 
some guards sent to General Hospital.  My daughter has just been born.  I want 
security stationed outside the door to the nursery.  Prepare to set up a guard 
rotation because she is to be protected at all times."

With that done, Stefan started back to the nursery.  He knocked on the nursery 
door for the nurse to let him back into the room. He made a mental note to 
obtain the security code for the nursery in the morning.  Stefan sat back down 
in the rocking chair and began to watch his daughter as she slept.  Until the 
guards reached the hospital, Stefan was not going to let Baby Girl Cassadine out 
of his sight.

What seemed like only minutes but was actually several hours, Stefan again heard 
the words, "Mr. Cassadine, Mr. Cassadine." Only this time they were being spoken 
by a different nurse. "There are two men in the hallway to see you.  They are 
from your security department."

Stefan left the nursery to speak with the security team. He instructed them that 
his daughter was to be guarded at all times. Under no circumstances was she ever 
to be taken out of the nursery without his direct authorization.  With those 
instructions given, Stefan headed for his office for a change of clothes.  Then, 
he decided that he would go to Dr. Jones' office to await word on Katherine's 
condition.

In the hospital library, Dr. Tony Jones was reading over Katherine's test 
results one last time.  The past two months had been a trying period in his 
life.  The ordeal had begun last fall when he had gone to Stefan asking for his 
hospital privileges reinstated in exchange for spying on Helena.

Helena had been skeptical when Tony had tried to befriend her. She had said that 
in order for him to gain her trust he had to prove himself.  This test of 
loyalty meant being taken to Greece in the middle of the night with no 
explanations.  He was told later on the airplane that he was going to one of the 
many Greek islands owned by the Cassadine family.  He was informed that there 
was a coma patient on the island that needed his care.  He had been totally 
shocked when he saw that the coma patient was actually Katherine Bell.

The doctors on the island had explained to Tony the treatments that had been 
administered to Katherine since her fall from the parapet.  Not only had they 
been able to save her life, but they had prevented a miscarriage from occurring.  
However, the doctors had been unable to awaken Katherine.  This was to be his 
assignment, to bring Katherine out of her coma.  For as Helena had explained, 
she had plans for Katherine.

For nearly a month, Tony had received daily phone calls from Helena demanding 
news on Katherine's condition.  Then suddenly, the phone calls stopped.  Word 
then reached the island that the reign of Helena Cassadine had come to an end.  
Helena was wanted for murder and was on the run from the authorities.  Tony had 
then been able to gain access to a telephone.  He had called Stefan with the 
news that Katherine was alive.  Since had had been caring for her for weeks, 
Stefan had reinstated his hospital privileges on a temporary basis and put Tony 
in charge of Katherine's recovery.

When Tony reached his office, he saw that Stefan was already there waiting for 
him.  He knew that the outcome of this case would make or break his career.  
Because with Stefan Cassadine on his side, he would be able to restore his 
medical career.  Tony placed the folders which contained Katherine's test 
results on the desk and then sat down himself.  He looked at Stefan who sat 
across from him.  Stefan looked haggard and worn, as though he had not slept for 
days.  However, Tony had not slept all night either, but he was running on pure 
adrenaline because he knew what he was about to say in the next few minutes was 
going to determine his future.

"I want you to know Stefan that I have been studying the results of all the 
latest tests performed on Katherine, and based on those findings, I feel that 
there is every hope that she will awaken from this coma."

Stefan looked at Tony and slowly said, "I trust Dr. Jones that you are not 
merely saying what I want to hear.  I know very well that I can determine the 
future of your medical career.  So, don't lie to me Dr. Jones."

Tony took a deep breath and began to explain the situation. "From the moment 
your mother kidnapped Katherine from the hospital and took her to Greece to 
recover, Katherine has been receiving the best medical care available.  Also, no 
matter what you may think about this so-called "Romeo and Juliet" drug that was 
administered to Katherine, it saved not only her life but also the life of your 
baby.  Because the drug slowed down Katherine's metabolic functions is the 
reason why she did not miscarry."

"When I first became Katherine's doctor on the island, I thought her coma was 
due entirely to that drug.  However, I have been doing daily blood chemistries 
on Katherine for the past two months.  I can't find any trace of this drug in 
her bloodstream. Therefore, the reason for Katherine still being in the coma is 
due strictly to the trauma of falling from the parapet.  She is really no 
different from the hundreds of other coma patients whose conditions were caused 
by car accidents, carbon monoxide poisoning, or near-drowning incidents."

Stefan was skeptical at this explanation as he crossed his arms in front of his 
chest.  "Dr. Jones, you just said before you had every hope that Katherine would 
come out of this coma, and now you are saying, she is just like the countless 
other coma patients in this country."

Tony began to explain further.  "You have to understand that a coma is merely 
the level at which the brain is functioning.  When a person is awake, the brain 
is at the highest level. However, when that person is in a coma, the brain is at 
the lowest level of functioning.  Usually this low level of functioning is due 
to some sort of damage to the brain.  In the case of Katherine, her coma is due 
to the fall from the parapet and not the "Romeo and Juliet" drug.  Therefore, 
standard treatments for other coma patients should also work on Katherine."

"Is that why you have Katherine on that oxygen treatment even though she is 
capable of breathing on her own?"

"Exactly.  When I arrived on the island, the doctors were already giving 
Katherine excellent care.  However, I started her on an additional treatment 
called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.  As I have already explained, this treatment 
has a patient breath 100% pure oxygen.  Therefore, the concentration of oxygen 
in the bloodstream is up to 2000% higher than normal.  Since the brain consumes 
20-25% of they body's oxygen, this treatment allows the brain to obtain six 
times the amount of oxygen as through normal respiration."

Tony handed Stefan a medical journal, which explained this innovative treatment 
for coma victims as he continued describing the therapy.  "During a stroke, 
coma, or other types of head injuries, brain cells are damaged, and "idling" 
neurons are formed because of the loss of blood and oxygen to that specific area 
of the brain.  The beauty of this treatment is that the high dosage of oxygen 
given to the patient causes the reactivation of those idling neurons.  
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy enhances the body's ability to heal so that those 
idling neurons can regain electrical activity."

Stefan asked, "Has Katherine been responding to this treatment?"

"Absolutely," Tony answered.  "Even though Katherine has been receiving this 
treatment for really a relatively short period of time, the results of her CAT 
Scan and MRI already show increased electrical activity in her brain.  She is no 
longer in a truly comatose state.  I would expect that she will begin responding 
to external stimuli at anytime, but I can't give an exact date as to when that 
will occur.  The awakening from a coma is a gradual process and will simply take 
time."

"I can see that I made a correct decision when I allowed you to continue as 
Katherine's doctor.  She could not be in better hands. I always repay my debts 
Dr. Jones.  Therefore, I have decided not only to reinstate your hospital 
privileges permanently but also reinstate you as the head of the neurology 
department."

"Thank you Stefan for your confidence.  I will continue to give Katherine the 
highest level of care possible."

Before Stefan left the room he said, "Don't make me regret this decision Dr. 
Jones."

As Stefan headed for Katherine's room Bobbie stopped him in the hallway.  
"Stefan, I need to speak with you about the baby."

"Is there something wrong?"

"Well, there is if you count the fact she doesn't have a name. I suppose there 
is no real hurry in naming the baby, but I am sure she would like a name besides 
Baby Girl Cassadine.  Also, the hospital really does prefer to have the birth 
certificate completely filled out before the baby goes home."

Stefan began rubbing his eyes as he said, "I have not even thought about names.  
I don't even know what Katherine would have wanted."

Bobbie handed him a piece of paper, "Well, here is the birth certificate.  Take 
your time in filling it out.  Like I said, there really is no rush."

Stefan took the blank birth certificate and proceeded to Katherine's private 
room.  He opened the door and asked that her personal nurse to leave so that he 
could be alone with her. Katherine had her oxygen mask on but otherwise looked 
peaceful. Stefan began to stroke her blond hair, which just touched her 
shoulders.  He did this often on his visits.  It saddened him that already he 
had to make decisions about the baby without her.  Stefan sat down next to the 
bed and picked up Katherine's hand.  As he began to think back to a time before 
the engagement party last May, he placed a kiss on her fingers.  

-------------------

Evening was approaching, and Katherine and he were sitting on the stone bench 
ready to watch the sunset.  As the sun began to go down, Katherine had suggested 
that they make love that night in the hopes of making a baby.  Katherine had 
described how she longed for a child.  However, he had been totally caught off 
guard.  The thought of them having a baby together had never crossed his mind.  
He had always thought that Nikolas would be the only child that he would ever 
have, want, or need.  As Katherine spoke of the joy that a baby of their very 
own would bring into their lives, he had begun to hope for child as well.  When 
they returned to the house that evening, they had made love. Afterwards, as they 
lay together in each other’s arms with Katherine's head resting on his chest, 
Stefan had never known any greater peace.

"Stefan, I really think we made a baby tonight.  I feel different inside.  It is 
no longer just the two of us anymore but rather three."

"So, what do you think we made tonight, a boy or a girl?"  He asked as he 
whispered into her ear.

"A girl.  We definitely made a girl," Katherine announced.

Stefan laughed, "You are probably already picking out names."

"Well, may be I am.  I have wanted a baby girl for so long that I may just have 
a few names in mind."

As Katherine toyed with the Cassadine medallion that hung around Stefan's neck 
he asked, "So, what names have you picked out for my daughter?"

"I want to name her Samantha Elizabeth.  Samantha was the name of my maternal 
grandmother.  She died when I was very young, but I still remember and miss her 
dearly.  Once she was gone, mother and I were all alone in the world.  As far as 
Elizabeth, it is the middle name of myself and my mother."

"I can see there is quite a bit of history that goes with those names in the 
Bell family.  I have a few names to suggest that are traditional in the 
Cassadine family.  How about naming the baby Gerta, Helga, or Olga?"

"You are not going to name my little girl anything like that," Katherine 
declared as she poked him in the side of his chest with her elbow.

"No?"  Stefan asked.

"No, you are not.  Our baby girl is going to be named Samantha Elizabeth 
Cassadine."

With that, Stefan turned Katherine onto her back and loomed over her.  "You seem 
awfully certain that we made a baby tonight.  Just to make sure, I think we had 
better try again."

"Oh, we should?"

Stefan leaned closer into Katherine.  As he was about to kiss her he spoke, 
"Absolutely.  We had better make love for the rest of the night because practice 
definitely makes perfect."

------------------

As Stefan reverted back to the present, he realized that night eight months ago 
had been without question the happiest night of his life.  He had the love of a 
woman who not only wanted spend her life with him but also have his baby.

Stefan continued to hold Katherine's hand as he began to speak of the past, "Do 
you remember a night no so long ago that we spent making love with the hope of 
making a baby.  You told me if the baby was girl how you wanted to name the 
child Samantha Elizabeth. I am going to do just as you had wished Katherine.  I 
am going to name our baby Samantha Elizabeth Cassadine just as you had wanted."

He watched Katherine's face for some indication that she had heard him, but her 
face remained motionless.  The room was totally silent except for the sound of 
the oxygen machine.  By now, Stefan's voice began to crack as he began to plead 
with her, "Katherine please, please, wake up.  I can't raise our baby all by 
myself.  Our baby needs you.  I need you."

As Stefan finished his plea with his child's mother to return to him, he felt 
Katherine squeeze his hand.