Chapter 7

"Stefan are you in here?"  Those were the words spoken by Alexis as she entered 
Stefan's office.  The lights were dimmed, but she could see the back of his 
office chair.  Alexis turned the lights all the way back on and walked towards 
Stefan's desk.

Just when she was about to speak again, the office chair turned around and 
Stefan spoke, "Yes Alexis, what can I do for you?"

At first, Alexis hesitated to say anything.  She could tell that Stefan had been 
worrying himself sick again about Katherine and that baby.  Stefan was rubbing 
his eyes when he spoke once more. "Well Alexis, what is that you wanted?"

Alexis sat down as she replied, "I have some Cassadine Enterprise business to 
discuss with you.  It really is important."

"I am quite sure that whatever has arisen that you can take care of the matters.  
You are more than capable."

"Stefan, you have to stop allowing Katherine and her baby from preoccupying 
you," Alexis declared in an exasperated tone of voice. "There are important 
matters at Cassadine Enterprises that need to be discussed."

Stefan gritted his teeth as he spoke to his sister. "You need to understand 
Alexis that Katherine is not a preoccupation.  There is nothing as important 
Katherine and the baby.  This afternoon, Gail Baldwin is going to begin 
explaining to Katherine who Samantha and I are.  I could not even possibly think 
about business."

"All right.  If you don't want to talk about business, then let's talk about 
Katherine."  Alexis folded her hands in her lap. "So, is it true?  Has Katherine 
lost all memory of the last several years of her life?  You said last night that 
was the case. However, you also said that you wouldn't be sure until you talked 
to Tony this morning."

Slowly Stefan responded.  "Yes, it is true.  Dr. Jones confirmed his suspicions.  
Katherine has no memory of over the last 2 1/2 years of her life."

"I have done some of my own reading on the subject matter."  In a skeptical 
voice Alexis continued.  "From what I have read in the hospital library, true 
memory loss is not very common.  In fact, it is really quite rare… Don't you 
think that it is possible that Katherine might be faking?"

Rage once again was building up inside of Stefan.  He had finally calmed himself 
down after his talk with Mac Scorpio. However, the rage was once again 
returning.  "Really Alexis.  First you question my child's paternity, and now 
you think that Katherine is faking memory loss.  What are you going to suggest 
next, that it was Katherine who loosened the parapet railing and that she fell 
on purpose?"

Alexis began to feel uncomfortable now that the conversation had turned to 
Katherine's so-called accident.  Her biggest fear was that Stefan would learn of 
her involvement.  Immediately, Alexis decided to change the subject.  "All that 
I am saying is that Katherine is an excellent actress.  We all know that she is 
able to twist people into feeling sorry for her."

Stefan was now beginning to get impatient. "Katherine has a brain injury.  If 
you don't believe me, would you like to see her CAT Scan or her MRI?"

Alexis shook her head no.

"Good.  Katherine doesn't remember me or any of us Cassadines. In a way, it is 
probably for the best that she doesn't remember all that we have done to her.  I 
just hope that Katherine will give me a second chance once she learns that I am 
her baby's father."

Alexis just looked at her brother in disbelief.  She couldn't believe what she 
just heard.  "You mean that Katherine is going to be told that you are that 
baby's father?  I don't think that is wise.  Shouldn't you wait until after the 
paternity test results come back?  How will you explain to Katherine later that 
you are not the father and that someone else is?"

In a disgruntled and irritated tone of voice, Stefan responded, "Alexis, I have 
had about enough of this talk about Samantha not being my daughter… Now, stop 
it!"  Stefan spoke those last few words as he slammed his fist down onto his 
desk.  "The only reason that I had those tests done was to put an end to your 
accusations. I can see it hasn't worked.  The results will be back in a few more 
days.  Like I have said before, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that 
Samantha is my daughter."

Whispering under her breath to herself, Alexis said, "Well, we will see about 
that.  I certainly would not bet the Cassadine fortune on the outcome of those 
test results."

"What did you just say Alexis?"

"Nothing.  I was just talking to myself."

"If you are going to attempt to talk under your breath, you will have to learn 
to speak softer.  I heard every word that you spoke." The look that Stefan was 
giving her made Alexis realize that she had gone too far with that last comment.

Alexis lowered her eyes as she apologized.  "I am sorry.  I should not have made 
that last statement."

"You are right.  You should not have said it."  Then, Stefan looked at his watch 
as he began to stand.  "I am leaving.  It is almost time for Gail Baldwin to 
begin her talk with Katherine.  I want to be close at hand in case that I am 
needed."

Alexis rose from her chair.  "I will wait with you."

Stefan stopped in his tracks.  "If you plan on continuing your speech about 
Samantha not being my daughter, I don't want you waiting with me."

"I promise," Alexis said with an innocent look on her face.  "I won't say 
another word."

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

As Stefan and Alexis came upon the waiting room outside of Katherine's room, 
they found Mac Scorpio already seated.  "What are you doing here Commissioner 
Scorpio?  I thought you had already left?  Stefan asked in disbelief.

Sitting back in his chair and putting his pen back into his coat pocket, Mac 
replied, "Oh, I don't know.  I thought that I might wait around and see if I 
could talk to Katherine.  Who knows what light she might be able to shed on my 
investigations."

Stefan motioned for Alexis to follow him.  They seated themselves on the other 
side of the waiting room away from the police commissioner.  Then, Alexis 
whispered, "What is Mac Scorpio talking about?"

Leaning into his sister, Stefan quietly said what Alexis had feared that she 
would hear.  "I forgot to mention that earlier Commissioner Scorpio informed me 
that Katherine's shooting, Katherine's fall from the parapet, and the murder of 
Lauren Masters were all being reinvestigated."

Alexis' heart began to pound harder and harder as she sat back into the waiting 
room chair.  She had thought that her involvement in the loosening of the 
railing of the parapet would never be revealed.  However, if Mac Scorpio himself 
planned to reinvestigate the case, her secret might very well be uncovered.  
Even worse, what if Katherine really was faking this memory loss?  Perhaps, 
Katherine did remember the night of the Bacchanalian Ball.  Even if Katherine 
remembered only a few significant facts, those facts could be enough to link 
Alexis to the crime.  If Stefan ever found out about her involvement, Alexis 
knew that her brother would be without mercy.

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

Katherine was in her hospital room just thinking to herself that something was 
wrong.  She could feel deep down inside that something was very wrong.  Her room 
had no television, radio, or telephone, not to mention a newspaper.  All she 
knew was that she had been in an accident that had resulted in her being in a 
coma for several months.  Beyond that bit of information, Katherine knew nothing 
else about her situation.

The door to her room opened and in walked Gail Baldwin.  This was the only 
person Katherine had really spoken to in two days.  Gail had been asking her an 
endless round of questions that she said were needed to be asked to determine if 
she, Katherine, had suffered any type of permanent brain injury.  Gail sat down 
in a chair next to Katherine's hospital bed and placed a folder on a nearby 
table.  "How are you feeling today?"

With that question, all of the pent up emotions that Katherine had been feeling 
almost came pouring out.  She pulled her shoulder length hair away from her face 
as she attempted to regain her composure.  "I know that something is wrong.  I 
haven't seen anyone that I know besides you and Tony since I awoke.  When the 
door to my room opens, I can catch a glimpse of two men standing outside the 
door.  Are they guards?… Also, you have been asking me so many questions about 
my past.  You said it was to determine the extent of my head injury.  Please 
Gail.  Please tell me whatever it is that is wrong.  I need to know no matter 
how awful the truth."

Gail could tell that Katherine was already agitated.  What she was about to tell 
her would only make matters worse.  "Katherine, I am going to tell you 
everything.  I promise.  However, you have to promise me that you will try to 
remain calm.  I know that can be hard when you feel so confused.  Promise me 
that you will try to remain calm."

Katherine took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.  Then, she nodded yes.

In the most reassuring voice the Gail could find, Gail began to tell Katherine 
the events in her life that Katherine's mind no longer could recall.  
"Katherine, when you fell…" Gail hesitated and tried to search for the right 
words for what she was about to say.  However, there were no right words.  "I 
don't know how else to tell you.  Katherine, you were pregnant."  The room was 
eerily silent as Katherine just stared at Gail.  Then, she closed her eyes in 
order to absorb the magnitude of what Gail had just spoken.

Katherine then realized what awful truth that Gail had been keeping from her.  
She had been pregnant, and her baby had died in the accident.  This must be the 
news that Gail was trying to tell her.  Her whole life, Katherine had wanted and 
longed for a child. She had dreamed of giving her child everything that she had 
never had.  However, the baby that she had so longed for and dreamed of had 
died.  Tears began to well up in her eyes.  Quickly, Katherine brushed them away 
with the back of her hand.  Then, she opened her eyes and looked at Gail as she 
bit down on her lower lip.

Gail reached out and grasped Katherine's left hand.  "Are you all right, dear?  
I know this new must be quite a shock.  I just didn't know how else to tell 
you."

Katherine's voice was reduced to a mere whisper as she spoke. "It will just take 
time to accept the fact that my baby died.  I have always wanted a baby."

Gail then realized that Katherine had misunderstood her. "Katherine you don't 
understand.  You misunderstood what I just said.  Your baby didn't die."  Gail 
opened the folder that she had placed on the nightstand.  "Look, here is a 
picture of your baby."

Katherine took hold of the photograph.  It showed a tiny sleeping infant wrapped 
in a pink blanket.  Her voice cracked as she asked, "You mean that I have a baby 
girl?"

Gail sighed in relief.  "Yes… Yes, you have a baby girl. When you were in that 
accident, not only did you survive, but your baby survived as well."

Katherine didn't know what to think.  "How is that possible.  You said that I 
fell from some sort of parapet.  Wouldn't the fall have caused me to miscarry?"

"I don't know what else to say but miracles do happen Katherine. Your baby is a 
true miracle."

Glancing up at Gail, Katherine asked, "How old is my baby?"

"Samantha Elizabeth is not quite two weeks old," Gail replied.

Smiling to herself, Katherine responded, "You said that her name is Samantha 
Elizabeth?"

"Yes, I did.  Her father named her Samantha and that is where she is living 
right now.  The baby is living with her father."  Gail thought to herself that 
Katherine was taking the news of instant motherhood better than she had ever 
hoped.  Gail had envisioned Katherine becoming upset and agitated.  However, 
Katherine was genuinely happy about the news of having a baby.

Katherine continued to stare at the picture.  She traced the baby's features 
with her fingertips.  She had only learned of the baby a few minutes ago and 
already her heart was filled with unconditional love for her baby.  "Gail, is 
Mac around?  I really would like to see him."

Gail was a bit surprised by this request.  She had expected for Katherine to 
next ask about the baby's father.  "I believe Mac is in the waiting room.  He 
was hoping to speak with you today."

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

In the waiting room sat Stefan and Alexis on one side of the room and Mac 
Scorpio on the other side.  As Gail entered the waiting room area, both men 
immediately stood.  Clearing his throat, Stefan was the first to speak.  "How is 
Katherine taking the news?"

Gail answered.  "Katherine knows about Samantha.  I showed her a picture of the 
baby, and she is absolutely overjoyed at the thought of being a mother."

Quickly Stefan asked, "Should I go into her room now to be with her?"

Shaking her head no, Gail said, "I haven't told her yet about you Mr. Cassadine.  
Before I had a chance to tell Katherine that you are Samantha's father, she 
asked to speak with Mac."

Disappointment swept over Stefan as he watched Gail and Mac enter Katherine's 
room.  Then Alexis spoke.  "It looks like that you will be waiting for quite a 
while before Katherine asks to see you, Stefan.  First, she has to see all of 
her old boyfriends and ex-lovers."  Stefan just stared at his sister for the 
statement that she had just made.  Then, he walked away.  He headed towards the 
other side of the waiting room without saying a word.

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

Mac sat himself down on the side of Katherine's hospital bed, and Gail resumed 
her place in the chair that was now next to Mac. Looking up at Mac, Katherine 
could barely contain her enthusiasm as she spoke.  "Gail said that you have been 
taking care of Samantha and that you named her.  I don't remember telling you 
that Samantha is my favorite name.  I suppose there are a lot of things that I 
don't remember.  I am just so happy that we have a baby."  Then, Katherine 
reached out and hugged Mac.

Once Mac pulled himself free, he just looked at Gail. Immediately, they realized 
that Katherine had assumed that he was the father of her baby.  Before Mac could 
speak, Katherine continued.  "I haven't seen our baby yet, but I already love 
her. Mac, will you please bring her to me?  I don't think I can wait a minute 
longer.  What does Robin think about having a little cousin? I know that she has 
to be thrilled."

Then, Katherine looked down and saw that on Mac's left hand was a wedding band.  
At that moment, she knew that everything was going to be all right.  They were 
obviously married.  "When you bring me Samantha, could you also bring me our 
wedding picture?  There is so much of my past that I have to start remembering.  
Did we have a small or large wedding?… I just have so many questions.  This 
morning I was so upset because I was sure that Gail was going to be telling me 
awful news.  However, this has turned into the best day of my life.  I am 
married to the man that I love, and we have a baby."

Katherine was about to continue when Mac realized that he had to put a stop to 
this before it was too late.  Putting his fingertips on Katherine's lips, Mac 
spoke,  "Katherine stop.  Please listen to me.  You don't understand."

"What don't I understand?  It is simple.  We are married, and we have a baby."  
Then, Katherine studied Mac's face.  She could tell that he was being serious.  
Katherine felt a chill sweeping over her.  "It’s the baby isn't it.  Something 
is wrong with Samantha. Was she born with some sort of disability?… Please, 
don't tell me that our baby is going to die.  I couldn't bear that."

Mac grasped both sides of Katherine's face.  "Katherine, the baby is just fine.  
She is absolutely healthy."

"Then, what is it?  Mac tell me.  What is wrong?"

Slowly, Mac lowered his hands from Katherine's face.  Then, he spoke.  "We are 
not married."

Katherine breathed a sigh of relief.  "Mac, that problem is simple enough to 
fix.  We will simply plan a wedding.  Perhaps, something small so that we can be 
quickly married.  I really don't like the idea that Samantha is considered to be 
illegitimate.  I had to grow up with that stigma as a child… I know.  We could 
be married here in the hospital as soon as possible.  It isn't exactly my dream 
wedding.  However, I just want Samantha to have two married parents.  She 
deserves that.  Don't you think so Mac?"

By now, Mac was exasperated.  Katherine wouldn't listen to what he had to say.  
So, he reached into his wallet and pulled out a snapshot from his wedding to 
Felicia.  He hated to hurt Katherine like this, but he had to bring her back to 
reality.  "Katherine we are not married.  However, I am married to someone else, 
Felicia." With that statement, he removed the picture of Samantha from 
Katherine's hands and replaced it with the snapshot from his wedding.

For several seconds, Katherine just stared at the picture.  She couldn't believe 
what she saw in the photograph.  "You mean that when I was in a coma and 
pregnant with your baby that you married someone else.  You married Felicia."

"I am not Samantha's father."  Mac replied.

"What did you say?"  Katherine asked with confusion washed over her face.

"I am not your baby's father."

Katherine shook her head.  "That is not possible.  One of the last things that I 
do remember is of us taking about getting married and having children.  What are 
you telling me, that we never had that conversation?"

Taking his wedding photo out of Katherine's hands, Mac responded. "Yes, we did 
have that conversation but that was years ago.  We talked about that before we 
broke off our relationship."

"I don't know what you are talking about Mac.  If you don't want to have 
anything to do with me or our baby then just say so.  I can take care of 
Samantha just fine on my own.  I will not have Felicia raising my daughter.  I 
grew up without a father, and I guess so will Samantha."

Gail decided to step in and try to prevent the situation from getting any worse, 
if that was even possible.  "Katherine, what year is it?  Gail asked.

"What are you talking about?"  Katherine answered.

"Tell me.  What year do you think it is?"

"Well, some of the last things that I do remember occurred when it was summer.  
Since it has been snowing, I assume that it is now winter."  Lifting her 
shoulders as if to say that she didn't know, Katherine continued.  "I guess it 
is in the early part of 1997."

Gail took out the current Port Charles Gazette from her folder. She held up the 
newspaper for Katherine to read.  "Katherine, read the date on this newspaper."

Quickly, Katherine scanned the newspaper to find the date, which read Thursday, 
February 11, 1999.  "Gail, what are you telling me? You said that when I fell 
that I went into a coma for a few months. If this date is true, I must have been 
in a coma for over two years."  Then, Katherine thought to herself that nothing 
made any sense.

Mac left Katherine's bedside so that Gail could move closer to Katherine.  As 
Mac stood off to the side, he just thought to himself that there was only one 
person to blame for Katherine's present state.  The person was Stefan Cassadine.  
Mac vowed to himself that the almighty Mr. Cassadine would rot in a jail cell 
one day for what he had done to Katherine.

"Listen to me.  Please listen to me."  Gail pleaded.  "You had your accident in 
May of 1998.  It is now February 1999.  During that entire time, you were in a 
coma.  Remember all those tests you had the past two days, they were done in 
order to determine the extent of your brain injury.  You suffered a severe brain 
trauma that has resulted in a memory loss."

"What kind of memory loss?"  Katherine asked.  One could hear the fear in her 
voice.

"Tony says that it is called retrograde amnesia.  Usually, patients with this 
condition do not remember the event that caused their memory loss as well as 
events that occurred before that time."

Katherine began to breathe heavier and heavier.  "Is that why you were asking me 
all those questions Gail, to determine how much memory that I have lost?"

"Yes, Katherine.  I had to ask those questions in order to determine the extent 
of your memory loss.  I am sorry to say that you have lost all memory since the 
beginning of the summer of 1996."

Quickly, Katherine calculated to herself.  "If this is true, then I have lost 
over 2 1/2 years of my life.  Actually, it is almost closer to three years."  
Katherine was becoming visibly upset as her right arm began to slowly shake.

Gail tried to calm her patient.  "I wanted to tell you as gently as possible 
without upsetting you.  I can tell that I have failed. Please try to remain 
calm."

Katherine was almost on the verge of tears.  Her whole life seemed to be falling 
apart.  "I am trying Gail.  It is just so hard to accept everything that I have 
been told today.  I have a baby, but I don't remember who the father is… You 
know, don't you Gail?  Tell me."

"Perhaps, we should wait Katherine.  You have been told so much already."

Katherine shook her head.  "No, tell me.  I have to know.  You said that 
Samantha was living with her father.  Who is that?"

Against her better judgment, Gail began to explain to Katherine who was the 
father of her baby.  "When I told you that you fell from a parapet, what I 
didn't tell you was that the accident happened at a party, your engagement 
party.  You were engaged to marry a man named Stefan Cassadine."

"I don't remember knowing any man with that name."

"You met Stefan Cassadine during the time period that your memory loss covers."  
Gail replied.

Katherine closed her eyes briefly in disbelief by what she was hearing.  "You 
mean that I am engaged to someone that I don't even remember… The father of my 
baby is an absolute stranger to me." Gail did not know what to say to Katherine.  
What did one say in such a situation?  Words could not even begin to give the 
kind of comfort that Katherine needed.

"I know what I have to do."  Katherine said to herself.  "I just have to wait of 
my memory to return.  Once that happens, everything will fall into place."

It was breaking Gail's heart to have to tell this to Katherine, but she knew 
that she had no choice.  "Your memory is not going to return.  Part of your 
brain injury will never heal.  I am afraid that you will never regain those lost 
years."

Up until now, Katherine had tried to remain calm.  However by now, her breathing 
was heavily labored, and her right arm was visibly shaking out of control.  The 
news that she had lost years of her life put her over the edge.

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

Stefan was still in the waiting room when he saw a nurse hurrying into 
Katherine's room.  Then, a few minutes later Mac Scorpio and Gail Baldwin came 
out of the room. Mac headed for the elevators, and Gail walked towards Stefan.  
As Stefan began to stand, Gail motioned for him to remain seated.  Then, she sat 
down herself. "How is Katherine?"  Stefan asked.

"As I said earlier, Katherine is completely overjoyed about having a bay."  Gail 
answered.

Stefan could sense that something was wrong.  "Katherine has always wanted a 
baby.  I knew that she would love Samantha from the start.  Why did she want to 
speak to Mac Scorpio?"

With regret, Gail explained the situation.  "I am afraid that is my fault.  
Katherine assumed that Mac was Samantha's father.  I did not even realize that 
is what she thought when Katherine asked to see him.  There was a quite an 
emotional scene in the room when Mac explained that he was not the father.  
Then, she became more and more upset after I explained the extent of her memory 
loss."

"What do you mean?"  Stefan demanded.

"Katherine started to assume that she would eventually regain her memory.  When 
I told her that would never happen, she just continued to get more upset.  I am 
afraid that she had to be sedated Mr. Cassadine.  It was for her own good.  
Katherine probably won't wake up until morning."

Alexis was standing behind Stefan listening to the entire conversation.  She 
cleared her throat in order to gain Gail's attention.  "So, you mean that 
Katherine really has no memory of her accident."

"Absolutely not Ms. Davis."  Gail clarified.  "To Katherine, the last few years 
of her life never happened."  Then, Gail turned her attention back to Stefan.  
"Perhaps tomorrow Mr. Cassadine, you could bring the baby here to the hospital.  
Katherine really needs to see Samantha, and she needs to learn who you are all 
over again."

As Stefan and Gail continued to talk, Alexis excused herself. She couldn't 
believe it.  It really was true.  Katherine had no memory of the accident.  
Alexis' worst fear had been that Katherine would awaken and remember the night 
of the engagement party.  Any small fact that Katherine remembered could have 
linked Alexis to the loosening of the parapet railing.  However, Katherine's 
memory had been erased of that evening.

Now, the only other person who knew of Alexis' involvement was Luke Spencer, her 
accomplice.  Alexis knew that he would keep quiet.  The only reason that Luke 
would implicate her was if Stefan decided to press charges.  However, Alexis 
knew that Stefan had promised Laura not to send Luke to jail.  So, the nightmare 
was over.  Stefan would never know that she had been involved in a scheme to 
kill Helena that had backfired and almost killed Katherine and Katherine's baby.

By now, Alexis was heading for the elevators while also attempting to put on her 
coat.  Halfway to her destination, her cell phone rang.  Quickly, she opened her 
purse, reached for her phone, and said, "Alexis Davis."

There was no answer.  So, again she spoke, "Alexis Davis here." Just as she was 
about to write off the call as a wrong number, a voice came over the phone.  A 
man's voice that was obviously being distorted.  "I know what you did at the 
Bacchanalian Ball."

In shock, Alexis responded, "What did you say?"

Again, the voice spoke.  "I know what you did at the Bacchanalian Ball.  I know 
what you did, and I know who you are."  For a moment in time, Alexis' heart 
almost stopped, and all the life seemed to drain from her face.  Slowly, the 
cell phone slipped from her hand and crashed to the floor of General Hospital, 
shattering into a dozen pieces.