Chapter 13

It was nearly 8 o'clock in the morning in Port Charles.  For the last half-hour, 
Katherine had been watching the sunrise from her hospital room.  She had hardly 
slept the entire night.  All that she could think about was the new life that 
she would soon have in Greece.  She was anxious and hesitant at the same time. 
Over and over, she kept wondering if she was making the right decision. However, 
now was not the time to have doubts Katherine told herself.  She had made a 
commitment to Stefan and their baby to create their own family.  Katherine 
intended to keep that commitment no matter how many doubts she had.

Stefan had phoned not more than fifteen minutes ago to inform her that he would 
be at the hospital to pick her up just a little after 9 o'clock.  They would 
then drive to the airport and board his private jet.  His housekeeper, a Mrs. 
Lansbury, would be meeting them there with Samantha.  Then, they would set off 
for Greece.  Katherine walked over to her bathroom in order to change her 
clothes.  The garment bag that had been messengered over from Wyndemere 
contained a matching navy blue skirt and sweater for her to wear.

Katherine felt infinitely better once she was wearing real clothes.  She 
realized that since her accident that she had probably not worn anything but 
hospital clothes.  Looking at herself in the mirror, Katherine almost did not 
recognize the woman that she now saw.  In just a few hours, she would be 
starting a whole new life.  No longer would she be a woman searching to fit into 
high-society.  Soon, she would be high-society.  Being part of the Cassadine 
family would open doors for her that she had once only dreamt of.  Yet, even 
that did not seem to console her.  Obtaining the social status that she had 
always longed for did not seem to matter anymore.  Maybe she really had changed 
during those lost years.  It seemed as though she was less like the "old 
Katherine" that she remembered and more like the "new Katherine" that she did 
not even know.

Stepping out of her bathroom and back into her hospital room, Katherine noticed 
that her breakfast tray was sitting on her nightstand.  Obviously, it had been 
delivered by the nursing staff while she had been changing her clothes. She 
really wasn't hungry, but she thought that she would try to eat just a bit in 
order to keep her stomach settled during the long plane trip.

Taking off the lid to the breakfast tray, Katherine's eyes instantly focused on 
what was wedged between the plate and the glass of orange juice.  It was an 
envelope just like the one she had received just a few days ago.  Katherine 
picked it up and put the lid back on the tray.  Sitting down on the edge of her 
bed, she just stared at the envelope that she held in her hands.  It read as it 
had before "To Katherine Bell, Confidential." Katherine wondered if she should 
even open it.  Was someone trying to destroy her relationship with Stefan?  If 
that were the case, she would be playing right into their hands by even opening 
the envelope.  Yet, Katherine had to know the contents.  Perhaps, it was more 
information about her past.  Without hesitating a moment longer, Katherine 
ripped it open.  Inside, there were more newspaper articles.  However, this time 
there was more.  Among the articles, there were three photographs of Stefan with 
Laura Spencer.

The first picture was of Stefan and Laura getting into a limousine.  The second 
picture was of them getting out of the same limousine, and the third picture was 
of them kissing.  Katherine turned the photographs over and saw that a date had 
been written on the back.  The date was of February 20, 1999.  The pictures had 
been taken just last night.  Was it possible that after Stefan had left her 
hospital room that he had gone to meet Laura Spencer?

Immediately, Katherine began to search through the top drawer of the nightstand.  
She was looking for the picture that she had accidentally found of Laura, 
Stefan, and Samantha together.  When she found the picture, Katherine simply 
stared at all four photographs.  It was obvious that Stefan's connection with 
Laura was not some sort of platonic relationship that he would have her believe.  
Something was going on here.  Katherine put the pictures down and turned her 
attention to the newspaper articles.  She took a deep breath in order to calm 
herself, and then she began to read more about her past.  For the next hour, she 
read and reread the same articles.  Katherine wanted to make sure that she 
understood everything perfectly clear.  It was so obvious to her now why Stefan 
had been so desperate to leave Port Charles.

Katherine was so filled with anger that she was barely able to contain her rage.  
Picking up her breakfast tray, she threw it against the wall.  The crashing 
sound instantly brought the security guards stationed outside of her door into 
the room. Katherine grasped the photographs in her hands and asked, "Is Mr. 
Cassadine here at the hospital?"

One of the guards responded, "Yes, he is.  I saw him about an hour ago."

"Where can I find him?"  Katherine's temper was short.   Even before the guard 
could answer, she snapped back an answer, "Never mind.  I will find him myself."

Katherine left her hospital room and began to walk down the hallway towards the 
nurses' station.  The whole time she held onto the handrail along the wall of 
the corridor for support.  Trailing behind her was one of the guards.  He tried 
to offer assistance, but Katherine refused.  She wanted no help from anyone 
associated with the Cassadines.  Katherine approached the nurses' station and 
looked for a familiar face.  The only person she knew was Amy Vining.

"Amy," Katherine spoke almost out of breath, "do you know where I can find 
Stefan Cassadine?"

Amy looked up from a patient's chart in surprise to see Katherine Bell standing 
in front of her.  She hesitated as she replied to the question.  "I… I think Mr. 
Cassadine is in his office.  It is down the other hallway."  Amy pointed with 
her pencil.  "It is the last office on the right side."

"Thank you," Katherine replied.

Amy watched in astonishment as Katherine made her way towards Stefan's office.  
She wondered what that was all about?

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

Stefan was sitting behind his desk just finishing up some last minute paperwork 
because Alexis would soon be taking over the role of CEO at General Hospital.  
Looking at his watch, he realized that Mrs. Lansbury should already be at the 
airport with Samantha. All he had to do was collect Katherine.  By now, she 
should already be dressed and ready to go.  Soon, he would be on his way to 
Greece with his family.

His concentration was broken when he heard his office door open and then slam 
shut.  Standing by the door was Katherine.  She looked angry and visibly shaken.  
A feeling of dread swept over Stefan.  He could only imagine what had happened. 
Taking off his glasses, Stefan stood up and placed them on his desk.  He walked 
towards Katherine and asked, "What is wrong?  Has something happened?"  Then, he 
reached out to take hold of Katherine's arm, "You should sit down."

Immediately, Katherine pulled away.  "Don't you touch me, and don't you tell me 
what to do."

Stefan felt as though someone had struck him across the face by the way 
Katherine was speaking to him.  She sounded exactly the way she had a few days 
ago when she had thrown a vase of roses at him.  He noticed that something was 
in her hands.  "What are you holding?"

Katherine grabbed Stefan's right arm and slammed the pictures into the palm of 
his hand.  "Do they look familiar?  They should. My anonymous friend sent me 
photographs of you and Laura Spencer. Just how long have you been having an 
affair with that woman?"

Stefan flipped through the pictures.  Instantly, he knew that they had been 
taken last night.  Who he wondered?  Who would have taken these photographs?  
The parking garage had been deserted except… except for the black Mercedes Benz.  
Stefan cursed at himself for having been so careless.  He should have refused to 
speak with Laura just like he had refused to return any of her phone messages.  
Now look at the result.  Katherine thought he was having an affair with Laura 
Spencer.  Stefan did not say a word as he looked up from the photographs and 
back towards Katherine's face.

Katherine was full of not only anger but the feeling of being betrayed.  Once 
again, the man in her life had betrayed her.  She wanted Stefan to feel the same 
hurt that she felt.  "Finally, you are at a loss for words.  Can't you think of 
some lie to tell me? The back of the photographs are dated yesterday.  My guess 
is that Laura must have been waiting for you when you left my hospital room last 
night.  What were the two of you doing in the limousine? Having a last minute 
make-out session?

"I know how this must look.  It is apparent that someone is trying to destroy 
us.  Don't let them do it."  Stefan's voice was pleading for Katherine to trust 
him once again.

"Don't you put the blame on me," Katherine replied in astonishment.  "You are 
the one having an affair with a married woman.  Look at the last photograph.  It 
is a picture of you and Laura with Samantha.  I found it in a stack of pictures 
that you once gave me.  I never said anything because I wanted to believe it was 
an innocent picture, but it wasn't… Exactly, how many times have you allowed 
Laura Spencer to play mommy to my baby?"

Stefan said nothing.

"Answer me," Katherine screamed.

"She only came to visit Wyndemere once.  That is all."

Katherine shook her head.  "I don't believe you.  I know better than to believe 
anything you have to say.  You told me over and over that you wanted to go back 
to Greece so that we could live as a family.  Now, I know better.  I know the 
real reason behind this desire to go to Greece."

"I don't know what you mean."  Stefan barely knew what to say in his own 
defense.  It was painfully obvious that she no longer believed or trusted him 
anymore.

"I think that you wanted to take me to Cassadine Island as a way of getting rid 
of me.  With me out of your life, you would be free to be with Laura.  Do you 
really hate me so much that you would take my baby away and make Laura Spencer 
her mother?… Isn't it a shame that I have ruined all of your carefully laid 
plans?"

Stefan was at a loss for words.  His entire world was falling apart.  "Katherine 
you have it all wrong.  Laura is simply Nikolas' mother.  She was once my 
sister-in-law.  There is nothing between us.   You… you are the woman that I 
love."

"You really expect me to believe that?"  Katherine was shocked that he had the 
nerve to say that he loved her.  It was an insult.

"Yes, it is the truth.  I love you."  The look on Katherine's face told him that 
she no longer believed in his declarations of love.

"You are such a liar," Katherine declared.  She wondered how he lived with 
himself.  "Whoever sent those photographs also sent more newspaper articles.  I 
read them over and over again this morning.  I know everything now, and I mean 
everything."  She said those last few words slowly and deliberately so that he 
would know exactly what she meant.  "You led me to believe that I fell from a 
parapet at our engagement party and that I went into a coma. Supposedly, for 
nearly the last nine to ten months you were at my side praying for my recovery… 
That is not what happened, not at all.  I was believed to be dead.  You weren't 
arrested for attempted murder but rather for murder itself.  You tried to kill 
me so that you could inherit my money in order to be with your true love, Laura 
Spencer.  I have to admit Stefan, I would never have taken you as a man capable 
of a crime of passion."

Stefan ran his hands through his hair.  He would not allow Katherine to think 
that he had tried to kill her.  He reached out once again to touch her.  
However, she backed away as before. "Katherine, I don't care what you read.  It 
isn't true.  I never tried to murder you.  The prosecution's theories were all a 
pack of lies.  I was acquitted of the crime.  I was found innocent." Little did 
Katherine know that Stefan had actually bought a "not guilty" verdict.

"Many guilty people have been found innocent in a court of law. I would wager 
that you are just one of them."  Katherine only looked at him with contempt.

Stefan could not stand to see the look in her eyes.  "I will tell you again and 
again until you believe me.  I never tried to murder you.  I loved you then as I 
do now.  We… we were soulmates.  We knew each other like no one else."

Katherine laughed in disbelief.  Did he actually expect her to believe him?  "If 
you knew me so well, then why didn't you realize that it was a fraud who was 
impersonating me all through the fall of 1998?  I read the newspaper account.  
It said that some woman named Lauren Masters impersonated me for months and then 
ended up murdered.  Did you know that it wasn't me?"

Stefan was ashamed by the answer that he had to give.  He had not known that it 
wasn't really Katherine, but the facts were that he had never taken the time to 
really even notice.  "No, I was totally fooled just like the rest of Port 
Charles."

"Well, that just proves to me how well you really knew me.  Your mother replaced 
me with a fraud, and you couldn't even tell the difference."  Katherine paused 
and then finished sarcastically. "I can see that we were anything but 
soulmates."

The world of Stefan Cassadine was falling apart right before his very eyes.  
Nothing he said to Katherine could make her believe in him again.  How long 
would it be before she learned his three deepest and darkest secrets: that he 
was the unknown assailant that had shot her on Spoon Island, that he had tried 
to turn her into the image of Laura Spencer, and that he had murdered Lauren 
Masters with the belief that she was actually Katherine Bell? Slowly, all of his 
secrets were surfacing to the top, and there was nothing he could do to stop the 
destruction.

By now, Katherine had had enough of Stefan Cassadine.  No longer would he be the 
one making all the rules and decisions.  For once, she was going to dictate the 
commands, and he could very well listen.  "I am going to make this perfectly 
clear Stefan.  I am not going to Greece, and neither is Samantha.  She is my 
baby, and she stays with me.  If I have my way, you are never going to see 
either one of us again."

Stefan listened to Katherine's words with his jaw clenched.  The telephone was 
ringing, but he did not answer.  He would never allow anyone not even Katherine 
to take away his daughter.  He had already lost one child, and he refused to 
lose another.  The pain was just too great to bear a second time.  Stefan knew 
that right outside his office was an exit door.  The door opened up to a walkway 
which led to the parking garage.  There, his limousine was waiting.  If he had 
to, he would have his security guards drag Katherine out to his limousine.  His 
private jet was at the airport, and by now, Mrs. Lansbury was onboard with 
Samantha.  He could have Katherine on that plane within the hour, and they would 
all be on their way to Greece.  If Katherine wanted to hate him and despise him, 
she could very well do it on Cassadine Island. At least, they would be 
altogether.

Finally, the telephone stopped ringing.  "You really should have answered the 
phone Stefan.  Who knows, it might have been Laura."

Then, a voice came over the hospital's paging system.  "Mr. Stefan Cassadine, 
please call the emergency room.  Mr. Stefan Cassadine, please call the emergency 
room."

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

Five minutes later Stefan and Katherine entered exam room #5 of General 
Hospital's emergency room department.  On the hospital bed was their baby, and 
sitting in a chair next to the bed was Mrs. Lansbury.  She hurried over to 
Stefan as soon as she saw him enter the room.

"Mr. Cassadine, I am so sorry.  I know that I was suppose to meet you at the 
airport, but Miss Samantha became so ill.  I didn't think it would be wise for 
her to go on such a long journey if she was sick."  Mrs. Lansbury was visibly 
upset.  In fact, she was on the verge of a near breakdown.  The care of Samantha 
Cassadine had been entrusted into her hands, and she felt as though she had 
failed.

Stefan put his hands on Mrs. Lansbury's shoulders as Katherine rushed to be at 
their baby's side.  "What happened?"  Stefan demanded to know.

Looking back over at the baby, Mrs. Lansbury began to recount the events that 
had only occurred hours ago.  "Miss Samantha did not wake up this morning like 
she usually does.  At first, I thought nothing of it.  Then, when I changed her 
clothes, I noticed a red rash was forming all over her body.  Finally, when she 
did wake up, she refused to take her bottle… She also has a fever."

"You made the right decision by bringing her here.  Has anyone examined Samantha 
yet?"  Stefan asked.

"Yes," Mrs. Lansbury replied.  "A hospital intern was examining her before.  
Then, he left along with the nurse.  They said that they would return in just a 
few minutes."

"I don't want some incompetent intern examining my daughter.  I own this 
hospital."  Stefan picked up a phone that was hanging on the wall and called the 
pediatrics department.  He ordered that the head of pediatrics come to the 
emergency room immediately. Then, he slammed the phone back down onto the 
receiver.  He couldn't believe it.  After all the money he had wasted on this 
hospital, his daughter was examined by an intern.

While they all waited for the head of pediatrics, Katherine never said a word.  
She simply stared at her baby.  Samantha was crying and was in apparent pain.  
Yet, when Katherine tried to hold her, Samantha just resisted.  So, she just 
simply stroked her baby's hair in order to provide some kind of comfort.

When Dr. Abbott, head of pediatrics, entered the room, he already had Samantha's 
chart in his hands.  He was reading the notes that had been made by the intern.  
He asked Mrs. Lansbury several questions in which she recounted the exact same 
facts as before.  Then, Dr. Abbott examined the baby for himself.  All eyes were 
fixated on the doctor.  Stefan was standing with his hands folded in front of 
his chest.  Mrs. Lansbury was standing next to him while twisting a handkerchief 
in her hands, and Katherine continued to sit at her baby's side while being 
consumed with worry.

Stefan could not take the silence or the helplessness anymore. He was only 
accustomed to being in command.  "What is wrong with my daughter?  I have never 
seen her like this before.  She hasn't been sick once since she was born."

"Before I say anything," the doctor replied, "I would like to have some tests 
performed."

"What kind of tests?"  Katherine asked.

Reluctantly, Dr. Abbott answered.  It was never easy describing the following 
test when it needed to be performed on a baby. "Samantha needs a spinal tap… A 
spinal tap entails inserting a needle into the vertebrae of the lower part of 
the back.  Then, fluid is extracted from the spinal cord."

"Is that really necessary?"  Katherine could not imagine allowing a needle to be 
inserted into her baby's spine.  She was just over three weeks old.

"Yes, doctor.  Is that really necessary?"  Stefan demanded to know.  "It sounds 
as though you already have a diagnosis in mind. What is the point of putting our 
baby through such an ordeal?"

Dr. Abbott closed Samantha's medical chart.  He had heard that Stefan Cassadine 
was a difficult man to talk to.  Evidently, the rumors were correct.  "From the 
symptoms that Samantha is exhibiting, I am almost certain that she has 
meningitis."

Katherine's heart almost stopped when she heard the word meningitis.  She was 
far from being any type of medical expert, but she knew that meningitis could be 
fatal.  She looked at Samantha.  Her baby was obviously very ill.  Her cries 
were becoming fewer and farther between.  It was almost as though she didn't 
have the energy to cry anymore.

"The reason I want a spinal tap performed is not only as a confirmation of my 
diagnosis but also so that the bacteria can be identified.  Bacteria are 
becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics.  I don't want to waste time by 
administering antibiotics to your daughter that the bacteria are already 
resistant to."

Immediately, Katherine spoke.  "I want to stay with Samantha during the spinal 
tap."

"So, do I."  Stefan interjected.

Having parents watch a spinal tap on an infant was just asking for trouble.  
Oftentimes, the procedure had to be performed two to three times before an 
acceptable specimen was obtained.  "I will be up front with the both of you.  A 
spinal tap is a traumatic procedure even when performed on an adult.  Samantha 
will be given anesthesia.  She won't feel anything.   Even so, I don't advise 
parents to watch.  It would really be best for the both of you to stay outside 
in the waiting room."

Stefan wanted to demand to stay.  However, he knew that if he did, Katherine 
would stay as well.  Just looking at her told him that she would not be able to 
endure watching such a procedure. So, as Katherine gave their baby one last kiss 
and reluctantly left the room, Stefan did the same.  They both sat in the 
emergency room waiting area for what seemed to be an eternity. Mrs. Lansbury had 
excused herself and gone to the Ladies' Room. Stefan knew that she had gone to 
cry in private because she blamed herself for Samantha’s illness.  Nurses and 
doctors went in and out of exam room #5 and all that Stefan and Katherine could 
do was watch.  When Stefan tried to take hold of Katherine's hand as they 
waited, she quickly pulled away out of his reach.

Approximately thirty minutes later, Dr. Abbott reappeared.  "The spinal tap went 
very well.  I was able to obtain an excellent sample on the first attempt.  The 
laboratory is on alert to make the analysis of the spinal fluid a top priority."  
As he spoke, the hospital bed was being wheeled out of the exam room. "I am 
having the nurses take Samantha up to the pediatrics floor. A room is being 
prepared for her even as we speak."

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

In room 521 of the pediatrics floor laid Samantha Cassadine in a hospital baby 
crib.  She was still asleep due to the aftereffects of the anesthesia.  She had 
an IV in her right arm, and an IV in her left arm.  One was providing fluids, 
and the other was pumping cephalosporin into her tiny body.  Katherine was 
sitting at her baby's side just as she had done in the emergency room.  Stefan 
was standing beside Katherine as they both watched their baby sleep.

Out of the corner of his eye, Stefan saw that Dr. Abbott was about to leave.  
So, he followed the doctor into the corridor.  He had questions to ask, and he 
had a terrible feeling that Katherine should not hear the answers.  Once in the 
hallway, Stefan spoke. "What is the prognosis for a baby with meningitis, and 
how did my daughter contract such a disease?"

Dr. Abbott decided to be completely honest with Stefan Cassadine.  He could tell 
that protecting this man from the truth would not be appreciated.  "Meningitis 
is caused by a bacteria which most people harbor in their bodies naturally.  It 
is hard to tell who exposed Samantha to the bacteria.  She could have come in 
contact with it anywhere.  The incubation time for meningitis is usually one to 
two weeks."  The doctor paused and then continued. "As far as the prognosis, it 
is hard to say.  Meningitis causes the membranes covering the spinal cord and 
the brain to become inflamed.  I read from the medical reports that Samantha was 
born premature.  It is not uncommon for premature infants to contract 
meningitis.  The immune system of these babies are just not developed enough to 
fight off such a disease."

"Samantha will be all right, won't she?"  Stefan was almost afraid to ask, but 
he had to know.

"I am not going to make any promises that I can't keep," the doctor explained.  
In his experience, giving false hopes to parents was worse than telling them the 
reality of the situation. "Meningitis can cause permanent brain damage and even 
death. However, in your daughter's situation, she was brought to the hospital 
quickly so we were able to administer antibiotics in the early stages.  If I 
don't see a marked improvement within the next twelve hours, I will change 
antibiotics.  By then, an identification of the bacteria should be made… All 
that I can say is that we are going to have to wait.  I know that is easier said 
than done, but it is all that we can do for now."

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

For the rest of the day, Stefan stayed by his daughter's side. Never once did 
Katherine say a word to him.  In fact, she never even looked at him.  All of her 
attention and energy was focused on their baby.  Later on, when Stefan glanced 
out of the hospital room window, the sky was dark.  Evening was here, and it was 
barely past 6 o'clock.  "I know that you haven't eaten anything all day 
Katherine.  Can I get you something to eat from the cafeteria?"

Katherine did not respond to Stefan nor did she look at him. She appeared as 
though she had not even heard him.  Her face was so white that it looked as 
though all the life had been drained out of her.  They should be comforting each 
other through their baby's illness.  Instead, they were at odds.  Stefan 
wondered how long was he going to have to continually pay for his past sins? 
Would it never end?

Stefan left the hospital room and walked towards the chapel that was on the same 
floor.  It was a small room with just a few benches and an altar at the front.  
He sat down in the first row and began to pray.  Only a few weeks ago, he had 
pleaded with God to allow his baby to survive being born.  Now, Stefan was 
pleading with God not take away his baby once again.  Could God really be so 
cruel as to answer the first prayer and not the second?

Instinctively, Stefan knew that if Samantha died that he would lose Katherine as 
well.  Without them in his life, what would be the point of living?  Only once 
before in his life had he ever came close to a total breakdown.  The last time 
was when Nikolas had been shot.  Stefan was very nearly to the breaking point 
once again.  Stefan's hands began to shake as he continued his prayer with God 
not to take his daughter away.  As he finished his prayer, he felt someone touch 
his shoulder.  When he looked up, he saw Laura Spencer.

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

Katherine was still keeping a constant vigil by her baby's side. Samantha simply 
looked so weak and pale except for the rash that covered her tiny body.  
Suddenly, the door opened, and Gail Baldwin entered the room.  She put her coat 
and purse down on a nearby table. Then, she pulled up a chair in order to sit 
next to Katherine.  Gail took hold of one of Katherine’s hands and said, 
"Everything is going to be all right."

Katherine turned and faced Gail.  Her eyes were brimming full of tears as she 
reached out to hug Gail.  Katherine's voice cracked as she spoke.  "I am so glad 
that you are here.  Samantha is so ill with meningitis.  Every time I look at my 
baby, my heart just wants to break."  Then after a few moments, she pulled away 
from the embrace.  She wiped any tears away and apologized for losing her 
composure.

"Katherine, you don't have to apologize for crying.  It is only natural given 
the circumstances."

"I told myself long ago never to cry in front of people.  It only shows that you 
are weak.  I have to be strong for my baby as well as for myself."  Katherine 
truly believed what she had just spoken.

"I am not one of those people."  Gail wondered why Katherine would think that 
showing emotion was a sign of weakness?  "I may be your psychiatrist, but I am 
also your friend.  I will not think less of you if you cry.  You don't have to 
be strong all of the time.  Let me help you."

Katherine was so relieved to hear Gail say those words.  It was hard putting up 
a front of invincibility all the time.  "I think that you are the only true 
friend that I have ever had… Thank you."

Gail looked around the room.  She didn't see Stefan.  In fact, she hadn't seen 
him at all in the hospital.  "Where is Stefan?  Is he close by?"

"I don't know, and I don't care," Katherine responded.  The mere mention of his 
name reminded her of their fight earlier in the day.

"Katherine, what has happened?"  Gail asked.  "Before I left for my psychiatric 
conference, you were planning on leaving for Greece with Stefan.  You were going 
to marry him.  What has happened?"

"I found out about the truth.  I know everything."  Katherine recounted what the 
newspaper articles had revealed: from her shooting on Spoon Island, to the 
murder trial, to the murder of Lauren Masters.

Gail was astonished by what she heard.  However, what concerned her even more 
was how Katherine had learned of the past.  "You mean that someone left you 
those newspaper articles anonymously? Why would someone do that?"

"I don't know Gail.  I am hardly well-liked in Port Charles." Katherine knew 
that saying she was not well liked was putting it mildly.  "I am sure that there 
are any number of people who loved the idea of rubbing the past in my face.  In 
a way, I don't even care who it was.  I am just relieved to know everything now.  
No wonder Stefan continually lied to me over and over again.  The last few years 
of my life seems to have been filled with just one hurtful episode after 
another, and they all seemed to revolve around Stefan."

Gail thought back to the day she had left for her conference. "Are you angry 
with me?"  She asked.

"Why would I be angry with you?"  Katherine replied.

"I could have told you about your past as well, and I didn't." Gail knew without 
a doubt she had made the wrong decision by leaving for California with Katherine 
still in the dark about the past.

"It wasn't you fault… Anyway, you tried to warn me.  You begged me not to leave 
with him, and I didn't listen.  It is my own fault."  Katherine was not about to 
blame anyone else for her own mistakes.

"It isn't your fault either Katherine.  Please, don't berate yourself."

Katherine just shook her shoulders.  "I don't know who else to blame.  I should 
have never believed one word that Stefan spoke. They were all lies.  Just one 
lie after another… Did you know that he has been having an affair with Laura 
Spencer?"

Gail was shocked by the revelation.  "An affair.  Did he tell you this?"

"No of course not.  That would entail telling the truth.  Along with the 
newspaper articles, I was also sent photographs of Stefan with Laura.  It showed 
them kissing."  Katherine looked around the hospital room.  "I don't even know 
what happened to those pictures or newspaper articles now."

"Did you ask Stefan?  What did he say?"  Gail was becoming angry with Stefan as 
well.

"He just denied it.  I had proof right in my hands, and he still had the nerve 
to lie right to my face."  The thought of their confrontation still angered her.  
"I think this whole trip to Greece was just an excuse to get me out of the way 
so that he could be with her.  I don't think he ever cared about me at all… I 
was so complete fooled."

Gail could tell that Katherine was worn thin and completely heartbroken by the 
day's events.  "Why don't you take a break? Walk down the hallway and stretch 
you legs.  Get something to eat.  I will stay here with Samantha.  Even a break 
for just a few minutes will do you a world of good.

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

"I called Wyndemere this afternoon to find out if you had really left for 
Greece," Laura spoke.  "One of the servants told me that Samantha had taken ill… 
What has happened?"

Stefan's hands were shaking as he wiped any trace of tears from his eyes.  At 
first, his voice cracked as he began to speak. "Samantha has meningitis.  
Katherine is with her now… I can't believe it.  My baby is lying in a hospital 
room with tubes running in and out of her.  The doctor says that she could have 
permanent brain damage or even die."

Laura could tell that Stefan was near the breaking point. Without a doubt, this 
was the man she truly loved.  Why had it taken her so long to realize it?  "I am 
sure that Samantha will be all right."  Laura placed her hand on Stefan's arm.  
"I will be here for you if you need me.  All you have to do is ask."  Then, she 
hesitated for a brief moment as she leaned forward and kissed him like she had 
done in the parking garage the night before. Stefan immediately pushed her away.  
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the door to the chapel open and close with 
a flash.  He stood up and rushed out of the room without saying a word to Laura.  
With a sense of disappointment, Laura turned and watched him leave.

Stefan looked down the corridor to only see Katherine walking back towards 
Samantha's room.  He knew that Katherine had seen the kiss.  Stefan raced down 
the hallway.  "Katherine, wait.  Please, wait."  He grabbed her arm in order to 
make her stop.  He turned her around so that they were facing each other.  "Let 
me explain."

"What could you possibly explain.  It is quite obvious that you were having 
another rendezvous with Laura.  Should I apologize for interrupting?… I don't 
even know why I care.  It is really no concern of mine."  Katherine was 
breathing heavily and her head hurt from a migraine.  She felt as though she 
could pass out at anytime.  So, she reached back and took hold of the hand 
railing on the wall.

"This all a simple misunderstanding.  Laura is Nikolas' mother. That is all.  We 
were only having a discussion."  Stefan was pleading like he had never pleaded 
before.

"Is that how you have all your discussions with your former sister-in-law?  I 
don't believe you just like I don't believe that my awakening from my coma was 
one of the happiest days of your life.  I think you were disappointed that I 
awoke.  I have simply been keeping you from your true love."  As they continued 
to argue, Laura walked up beside Stefan.  "Well, Stefan you are in luck.  Laura 
is still here.  Perhaps, the two of you can continue your discussion in 
private."

As Katherine turned to leave, Stefan reached out to stop her once again.  In her 
anger, Katherine slapped him across the face. The sound echoed throughout the 
corridor.  "I don't ever want you to touch me again.  In fact, I never want to 
see you again.  You have lied to me so many times that I have had enough.  I 
almost died and our baby almost died because of her."  Katherine shot a look at 
Laura.  "If you want her so badly, go.  I am not going to stop you."

Stefan continued to stand there in shock.  He couldn't move. Never in his life 
had he seen Katherine so angry, and it was all his fault.  As for Katherine, she 
was only becoming more enraged by the fact the he didn't leave.  Taking her 
hands, she pushed Stefan towards Laura.  "I said go… GO!!  Don't you ever come 
near me or my baby ever again."

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

A black limousine pulled up to the front door of General Hospital.  The driver 
quickly got out in order to open the door for his employer.  A man stepped out 
of the limousine and walked into the hospital.  He immediately headed for the 
elevators and pressed the button to take him to the pediatrics floor.  It was 
past 9 o'clock at night and visiting hours were over.  However, he didn't care.  
He had come first hand to witness the damage that he had caused between Stefan 
Cassadine and Katherine Bell.  If everything were going according to plan, 
Katherine would be very susceptible to his influence.  After all, she couldn't 
trust Stefan thanks to the newspaper articles and photographs that he had sent.  
Who else could she trust but an old friend from the past?  Soon, he planned to 
have another little conversation with Alexis Davis.  This time it wouldn't be an 
anonymous phone call. Rather, it would be a face-to-face meeting.

The man stepped off the elevator and made his way to the room of Samantha 
Cassadine.  He opened the door quietly and saw that Katherine was in a chair 
with her back towards the door.  Without making a sound, he walked up behind 
Katherine and put his hands over her eyes.  "Guess who?"

Katherine was startled by the sound of someone's voice.  She had not heard 
anyone enter the room.  However, the voice did sound familiar.  It was from a 
time in her past long ago.  She pulled the hands away from her face and turned 
around.  Standing in front of her was Anthony Moreno.