Chapter 3

"I certainly will be glad when it is 5 o'clock today, and this week is 
officially over," Amy Vining declared as she was writing in a patient's chart.  
"This hospital reminds me of an armed camp. Not only have there been guards 
outside Katherine's room for weeks, but now, I have had to work around the 
guards in front of the nursery."

"Oh Amy," Bobbie laughed, "you have been loving it.  Some of the guards have 
been gorgeous.  You said so yourself."

"Well, you are right about that, but they won't even talk to me or to anyone 
else for that matter.  They just watch everyone as though someone is going to 
try an snatch Samantha Cassadine."

"All I can say Amy is that I feel sorry for that baby.  Stefan is taking her 
home today to Wyndemere.  Can you imagine being raised in that mausoleum?"

Just then, Alexis walked up to the nurses' station.  "Bobbie, do you know where 
I can find Stefan?"

Bobbie pointed down the hallway, "I believe I saw him heading towards his office 
not more than a minute ago."

Alexis began walking down the corridor and up ahead saw Stefan about to enter 
his office.  Alexis called out, "Stefan, wait."

Stefan turned around with a package of photographs in his hands to see Alexis 
hurrying towards him.  "I thought you had several more days on your business 
trip for Cassadine Enterprises?"

"I finished early.  With everything going on, I wanted to return to Port Charles 
as soon as possible."

Stefan motioned his sister into his office.  He shut the door and sat himself 
down behind his desk.  Alexis took off her coat and seated herself across from 
her brother.

"So, how is Katherine?  Has she made any progress since I have been gone?"

Stefan tapped a pen on his desk as he spoke, "Like I told you earlier in the 
week over the phone, Katherine squeezed my hand after Samantha was born.  Other 
than that, she has not responded during any other of my visits or during any of 
Dr. Jones' examinations."

Alexis looked doubtful.  "Are you sure that one so-called response was not just 
some kind of involuntary reflex?"

Stefan shook his head.  "Absolutely not.  I know Katherine heard me as I was 
telling her about the baby. Besides, Dr. Jones told me himself that based on 
Katherine's latest test results that he was very optimistic as far as 
Katherine's recovery."

Alexis just sighed.  "Tony is hardly a reliable doctor.  He would say and do 
anything in order to restore his medical career.  He is probably just feeding 
you false hopes in order to further his own interests."

"I am not going to argue with you about Katherine's recovery.  I know she is 
going to awaken from this coma.  It is merely a matter of time.  Now perhaps, 
you would like to see some pictures of the baby.  They were taken right after 
she was born."

Stefan handed her the photographs.  As Alexis glanced through the pictures she 
said, "I stopped to see the baby before I came looking for you.  I was surprised 
to see two guards from the island outside of the nursery."

"I don't see why that would surprise you Alexis.  I have had a rotation of 
guards protecting Katherine for weeks now.  Samantha simply needed the same 
protection.  I will not allow that psychotic mother of mine to harm either one 
of them."

"Stefan, no one has seen Helena in weeks.  I am sure that she is no where near 
Port Charles."

"The fact I don't know where my mother is at is the precise reason why Katherine 
and the baby need to be protected at all times."

"Well, I am sure you know what is best."  Alexis finished looking at the 
pictures and then placed them on the desk.  Her whole reason for wanting to 
speak with Stefan today concerned a very delicate subject.  For a moment, she 
reconsidered even bringing up the matter.  However, Alexis knew the subject 
could not wait.

"Stefan, there is a matter I really need to speak with you about. I know you are 
going to take offense to my even bringing this topic up, but I think it needs to 
be discussed."

Stefan folded his hands on his desk as he spoke, "Well Alexis, you sound 
extremely serious.  You certainly have my curiosity peaked.  What is of such 
grave importance?"

Alexis looked straight into Stefan's eyes and said, "I think you are jumping to 
conclusions by assuming that you are the father of Katherine's baby.  Have you 
considered the possibility of having a paternity test performed?"

For several moments, there was dead silence.  Then, Stefan slammed his hands 
down onto his desk.  The sudden noise startled Alexis.  "How dare you even 
insinuate that Samantha is not my child.  Is this why you came back early from 
your business trip to cast these hurtful accusations?"

"I am not questioning that baby's paternity to hurt you Stefan."

"No, you are right.  I don't think you are casting these accusations to hurt me.  
However, you would do this to hurt Katherine.  Is that the reason you are 
questioning Samantha's paternity because of your hatred and distrust of 
Katherine? Answer me…  Am I right?"

Alexis looked down at her hands.  "It is true that I have never liked Katherine, 
but I have never hated her."

"No? Then exactly what was that hoax you pulled off over a year ago when you 
tried to convince me that Katherine was my sister?"

"I did that to protect you from a social-climber and a gold digger.  It was a 
known fact that Katherine had already tried to extort money not only out of 
Scott Baldwin but Ned Ashton as well. Her reputation had preceded her, but you 
would not listen when I tried to warn you.  What I did back then was not done 
out of hatred towards Katherine.  I simply did what I had to do in order to 
protect you from an opportunist."

"It is amazing Alexis that even now, you are still able to rationalize to 
yourself that that entire hoax was in my best interests.  Therefore, I can 
hardly believe that your actions today are truly altruistic."

"Stefan, I am not questioning the paternity of that baby in order to hurt 
anyone.  I am your sister, and whether you believe it or not, everything I have 
ever done is because I love you.  You have been hurt so much already since 
coming to Port Charles.  I don't want you to endure any more pain."

"Then, why even suggest that Katherine was unfaithful?  Do you honestly believe 
that the weeks preceding the engagement party last May, Katherine was sleeping 
around like some common tramp?  I know that during my time with her, only one of 
us was unfaithful in our relationship.  I was that person.  When I should have 
been thinking only of my future with Katherine, I was obsessing over Laura 
Spencer.  Because of that obsession, Katherine and our baby almost died.  I will 
have to live with that guilt for the rest of my life.  Now, this topic is closed 
for discussion."  Stefan arose from his desk and walked over to the window.

Alexis arose as well and walked over to her brother.  "I won't drop this matter 
Stefan.  You have already admitted to betraying Katherine.  How do you know that 
she hadn't been unfaithful to you as well?  You need to have a paternity test 
done on that baby to make certain she is really your child."

Stefan turned towards Alexis with his arms folded in front of chest.  "You keep 
on referring to my daughter as "that baby" or "that child."  She has a name, 
Samantha Cassadine."

"Are you really certain that she is a Cassadine or are you only assuming that 
she is because that is what you want so desperately to believe?  You have 
allowed your guilt over Katherine's accident to cloud your judgment."

"I told you this topic is closed."  With that statement, Stefan turned back 
towards the window.

"No Stefan, this topic is not closed."  Alexis grabbed his arm. "Look at me."  
Once again, he was looking at his sister.  "You assumed for eighteen years that 
Nikolas was your son.  I was with you right after Christmas when you found out 
what you had always believed to be true was actually a lie.  You were totally 
devastated.  At one point, I did not think you would even recover. Do you really 
want to make another assumption like that again?"

Stefan did not answer.

"You may want to delude yourself for a second time, but I won't let you.  Do a 
paternity test for your own peace of mind."

Deliberately Stefan spoke, "My mind was at peace."

Alexis took a deep breath.  "Perhaps, you are correct, and the baby…"

Stefan interrupted.  "Her name is Samantha."

"I stand corrected.  Perhaps, Samantha is your child, but make sure this time.  
Don't make another assumption like you did with Nikolas all those years ago."

"The fact is Alexis, I know Samantha is my daughter.  Katherine was completely 
devoted to our relationship.  So, the notion that she was unfaithful is 
absolutely ludicrous.  I don't have to prove anything to you or to anyone else.  
However, I will not have you questioning Samantha's paternity for the years to 
come.  So, if having this test is what it takes to quiet your innuendoes, then 
so be it.

"Good, prove me wrong.  I would like nothing better."

"Let me warn you Alexis.  Don't ever let me hear you speak one word about this 
to anyone."

Just then, the buzzer to the intercom went off, and the voice of Stefan's 
secretary filled the room.  "Mr. Cassadine, Mrs. Lansbury is here to see you."

Stefan walked over to his desk and spoke into the intercom. "Please send her 
in."  Again Stefan looked at his sister and said, "Not one word Alexis."

The office door opened, and Mrs. Lansbury entered and saw Alexis. "Oh Mr. 
Cassadine, I didn't know you were busy.  Earlier on the phone, you said to some 
straight to your office."

"Ms. Davis and I have just finished."

Mrs. Lansbury placed her purse in an empty chair and began to take off her 
gloves.  It was obvious that she was barely able to contain her enthusiasm.  
"Isn't it exciting that Miss Samantha is coming home today?  I haven't taken 
care of a baby in so many years.  I can hardly wait."

Stefan was holding his hands behind his back as he asked, "Is everything ready 
in the nursery for her homecoming?"

"The nursery is just perfect.  The antique furniture arrived from Greece just a 
few days ago, and I have been shopping all week purchasing baby clothes and 
toys.  The nursery is completely decorated for the arrival of the newest 
Cassadine princess.  I can't imagine there is anything Miss Samantha could need 
that we don't have."

"I know without a doubt my daughter is in very capable hands." Stefan stressed 
the words "my daughter" as he cast a glance towards Alexis.

Stefan then looked at his watch.  The time was getting late. "Mrs. Lansbury, why 
don't you stay here in my office while I finish up some hospital business?  I 
hope you don't mind waiting alone since Ms. Davis was just leaving.  Once I have 
finished, we will bring Samantha home."

Stefan opened the office door as an indication for Alexis to leave.  Then, he 
left himself.  During the past week, experience had taught him that at this time 
of day, Dr. Hamilton could be found in the nursery.  As Stefan approached the 
nursery, his hunch was correct, and he found Dr. Hamilton who was just about 
ready to leave.

"Ah, Mr. Cassadine, I see you have come to take that baby of yours home today."

"Yes, I have, but I need to speak privately with you for a moment."

"Of course, we can talk in one of the empty exam rooms."  They entered the room 
and Dr. Hamilton closed the door.  "What is it you would like to discuss?  
Samantha is perfectly healthy if that is what concerns you."

"No, actually I would like to discuss having a paternity test performed."

Dr. Hamilton was left speechless by the request.  "Excuse me Mr. Cassadine, I am 
a bit shocked.  I really had no idea that there was even a question of 
paternity… I suppose I could order the needed samples to be collected before you 
take the baby home this afternoon.  The type of paternity test usually performed 
on infants entails collecting a sample of cells from the lining of the baby's 
mouth as well as your own.  The cells are then cultured, and a DNA analysis is 
then performed.  The entire test takes about two to three weeks."

"Fine, however, I want to stress Dr. Hamilton how important it is to keep this 
test confidential.  I don't want anyone to know the test is even being 
performed."

"If confidentiality is that important, instead of having names on the test 
order, I could identify the samples strictly by a number code," Dr. Hamilton 
suggested.

Stefan continued to stress the need for privacy.  "I also happen to know how 
loose information is in this hospital.  I do not want anything about this test 
to be even noted in the hospital records. Do I make myself understood?"

"Certainly Mr. Cassadine, I will do everything I can to ensure the utmost 
confidentiality.  I will even collect the samples myself."

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

An hour later Stefan was sitting in his limousine heading home for Wyndemere.  
He watched Samantha as she slept next to him in her car seat.  Stefan knew that 
he had once again betrayed Katherine by ordering that paternity test to be 
performed.  He had done it in order to quiet Alexis' accusations not because he 
had any real doubts.  Without question, Samantha was his little princess.  
However, Alexis had been right on one point.  Finding out Nikolas was not his 
son had been totally devastating.  He had lived the last eighteen years of his 
life based on a lie, and upon discovering the truth, his entire world had fallen 
apart.  Finding out days later that Katherine was alive and carrying his baby is 
what had saved him.  For without them, he would not have survived nor would he 
have wanted to survive.