Chapter Twenty Three Dr. Carlson got the address of Sonny’s penthouse from the police station and went to talk to Luke or at least try to get him to talk. She didn’t know how he was going to react to her and the little she got out of Laura and the personalities during her talks was not enough to provide her with a clue. She wished Laura would have told him the truth long ago and then none of this would be happening. She walked down the hallway and noticed the guard at the door. She tried to smile but it was kind of unnerving to explain why she was there to a man that obviously didn’t care. The guard finally went to get Sonny. Sonny walked out in the hallway and closed the door. “You are Laura’s doctor?” Sonny asked. “Mr. Spencer?” Dr. Carlson asked questionably. “No. I’m Sonny Corinthos, a friend of the family. Luke isn’t ready to talk to anyone right now. I thought it might be better if you explain things to me and I’ll relay them to him,” Sonny said. “You're telling me that Luke is ready to blow his top and you don’t want me to get hurt,” Dr. Carlson said with a small smile. “You heard about his temper?” Sonny asked with surprise. “Trixie told me about his temper and so did Laura,” Dr. Carlson said. “Who?” Sonny asked. “I’m sorry. I’m used to talking about Laura’s other personalities as different people. I deal with them separately as well,” Dr. Carlson explained. “So what Mac told us is true? How long has Laura known about this?” Sonny asked. “She didn’t until she came to Switzerland to help her mother. Tom Hardy ran across Trixie and he contacted me. I have been taking care of both mother and daughter for over a year now. Laura wanted to handle this on her own and we thought she was doing fine up until now,” Dr. Carlson said. “You knew that Laura could hurt one of her own children and you still let her near them. Are you mad?” Sonny almost yelled. “No. I didn’t learn about Lasha's plot until I was on my way here. She didn’t even come up with it until Luke and Laura were divorced. Lasha only wanted Lucky out of Laura’s life, so she could make room for Nikolas. If I had known this was going to happen, Laura would have been locked up a long time ago. She wasn’t a danger to herself or anyone else until now,” Dr. Carlson explained. “You have a weird way of judging that. I say dumping a child off at an orphanage is something to worry about,” Sonny said sarcastically. “I normally would agree, but Lucky was in the states and from what Laura told me, there was no need to worry about him coming to stay without his father. Lasha was too scared of Luke to come out when he was around. If she didn’t let Laura take control, one of the others did. Normally, it was Trixie. Lasha could control what she said and did most of the time,” Dr. Carlson explained. “What happened to cause all of this?” Sonny asked. “Normally, it is a traumatic experience but in Laura’s case it was because of Helena Cassadine. She tried to change Laura into a person that could run the Cassadine family with her son Stavros but it backfired. She ended up splitting Laura’s personality into two different people. Trixie and Christy are Laura’s creations to help her deal with Lasha. Laura’s case was different also because as long as Luke was in her life, she used her love for him to stay together. The longer they were apart the harder it was for her to stay in control,” Dr. Carlson said sadly. “I get it now. What is going to happen to Laura?” Sonny asked. “I just left the DA and he is willing to place Laura in my care, as long as I can guarantee that she will not cause any more harm. It might take time but I think I can rebuild Laura's mind and reverse the damage Helena has caused. Laura might end up doing some time for the deaths of those kids, but I’m not sure yet. We will deal with that later. I just wanted to give this to Luke and offer him my services,” Dr. Carlson said. “I’ll give him the letters but as for Luke talking to you or any shrink, I don’t think that will happen. I’ll tell him what you told me and thanks for talking to me,” Sonny said turning around and leaving her standing in the hallway. Dr. Carlson shook her head but left. She had a lot to do before she and Laura headed back to the hospital. She hoped Luke would get some help for himself and the children. Brenda was up with Lucky and everyone else had left as soon as Luke arrived. He didn’t look like he was up to talking and they decided to give him space. Sonny sat back and watched his friend stare out the window. “Who was at the door?” Luke asked, finally breaking the silence. “Laura’s doctor. Mac was right she did go for help. I learned a few things about all of this if you are ready to listen?” Sonny said, moving a little closer to him. “No, but go for it,” Luke said turning around and taking a seat at the table. Sonny told Luke what the doctor had told him and handed him the letters Laura had written earlier that day. Luke took them and opened the one with his name on it. Luke, I guess a letter isn’t much but I think it’s for the best. I know you must feel betrayed and hurt for everything you found out by now. I can say that I’m sorry until the end of time and it will never be enough. I know you don’t understand why I did this alone but I had to. You were the one keeping me together for so long that I had to find out if I could do this on my own. I guess I found that out the hard way. I watched as Lasha hurt you and Lucky and was helpless to stop her. I did try but without your love it didn’t work. I understand now for me to really get better, I have to learn to live on my own. I want you to know that I love our children and I love you with all my heart. I wish this could be different, but it can’t and I’m sorry for that. I need to explain a few things to you before you hear them from anyone else. I just learned them myself and I have been trying to keep them from Lasha as long as I could. She found out and this secret is the reason she tried to kill Lucky and Nikolas that night of the Prom. I was forced to watch as she tried to kill my sons. I tried to stop her but I was too weak to do anything. You see, I don’t know who Lucky, Nikolas, and Lu’s fathers really are, because of all the sleeping around I did, with a little help from the other personalities. I might have been pregnant when I was taken to the island and if so, then Nikolas is your son and Lu is your daughter. But Stefan could also be his father, as well as Lu's. Lasha called Stefan when we were separated before Lu was born. He could be their father. As for Lucky, I might have been pregnant when I left the island, so he could be either Stavros, Stefan or your son. I’m so sorry, Luke but please remember you raised Lucky and Lu and that makes you their father. I don’t care what blood runs threw their veins. Don’t hurt them any more than I all ready have and turn your back on them. Do this for what we used to have, before the Cassadines came into our life. I did forgive you all those years ago and no matter what Lasha said, you were the best thing that ever happened to me. I saw the man that I married long before you ever knew he existed. I’m asking you this for the children's sakes, not mine. Go on without me and find someone who will love your children with their whole body and mind. Help Lucky to understand all of this and make sure Lu doesn't think that her mother never loved her. I will never bother you or them again. If I get out and if they don’t lock me away for life, I will stay as far away from all of you as I can. Don’t worry about me because I learned to survive from the best and can handle anything that comes my way. I do have one request. Please make sure Helena pays for the pain she has caused us. But don’t kill the old witch. Keep her alive and make her suffer. She was the one that did this to me and all of us. If it takes joining forces with Stefan, do it. You might not understand this, but he is more like you than either of you realize. I couldn’t have even thought about going to him for comfort in the first place if he wasn’t. I know this is hard for you to take and I’ll understand if you can't do it. But please don’t hurt those kids any more. I did enough damage to them. I did write letters to Lu, Lucky, Nikolas, and few of our friends to help make up for what I did. You can use your judgment on when to give them the letters or you can just burn them. I will let you decide. Good bye Luke and I love you forever, Laura Spencer And I was proud to be your wife. Luke looked up at Sonny with tears falling down his face. “I guess she loved me after all. I want you to do me a favor and find a way to help me bring down Helena. I want all the information you can get on what she did to my wife. I want that women to pay for this and I don’t want her dead,” Luke said, the life coming back to him slowly. He didn’t care what Laura said about the children because to him, Lu and Lucky would always be his children. He just hoped the Cassadines didn’t find out or he might have a fight on his hands to keep them. They had been through enough because of that family already. He went upstairs to talk to Lucky and Lu, to try to help them understand. Even though he was still having trouble with some of it. Sonny watched him walk up the stairs and then went to make some calls. Luke was right. Helena had caused too much pain as it was and she needed to be stopped. He also knew death was too good for the old woman. There had to be a way to stop her and make her suffer until her dying day at the same time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stefan didn’t go right to the docks. He had plans to make and he wanted his mother’s punishment to fit her crime. He was sitting at his desk late at night. It was the very night that Laura was being taking back to Switzerland. He got up to retrieve a file and when he turned around to go back to his desk, he found Luke Spencer sitting there. “I see we are both thinking the same thing,” Luke said, looking over the notes on Stefan’s desk. “Here.” Luke threw a letter in his direction. “It’s to you and Nikolas from Laura and don’t worry I didn’t read it. I had enough trouble reading my own.” “What do you want from me?” Stefan asked, not knowing how to handle a Luke without a smart remark coming from him. “I want her to pay for Laura, Lucky, Lu, Leslie, and all of us. I need your help. I can’t get her alone without killing her and Laura was right, death is to good for that old bat,” Luke said his hate filling his words. “I wouldn’t believe it but I understand. I have the perfect idea and I could used your help in leading her into a trap,” Stefan said sitting down in the chair in front of his desk with a cold look on his face. “What do you have in mind, Count?” Luke asked taking a cigar out of the box and lighting it. His evil smile out matched Stefan by a mile. “Watch out Helena your enemies have just joined forces.” Stefan spent the next few hours going over what he had planned, with a little refining from Luke. Helena’s fate was soon sealed and just about to be delivered. Luke left right before the sun came up and left Stefan alone to read his letter, before heading out to bring down his mother once and for all. Stefan, How do I start this and not make our time together sound cheap? I did care for you but in my own way. I could never love anyone as much as I love Luke but you would come a close second. I heard about the money you placed in an account for me for when I get released. Thank you. You're right, it will not make up for the things your mother did to me but remember it was her crime not yours. I forgive you for all your misgivings and don’t worry, I’ll stay out of Nikolas' life forever. I have already done too much damage to him. I do remember some of our time together on the island but not much. You were used to help destroy me and I can’t hate you for it. I hope you find a life outside that family and the love of a woman that can bring out the best in you. I know the Stefan Cassadine you hide. Please don’t keep him hidden for too long because you might forget how to love after a time. If you want my advice, go after Bobbie. She was the best for you when you were together, no matter what Luke said. If you can stand up to your mother, Luke should be a push over. I hope you and Luke do join forces and get rid of Helena. If he doesn’t come to you, please go to him. I would rest easier knowing that Helena paid for her crime by the men she hurt the most. I do know Lasha loved you and it might be the only good thing that woman ever did. Take care of Nikolas and look after him. He has turned out a lot like his father and I’m grateful for that. He might be the best Cassadine that ever lived, at least he had a good teacher. Laura Stefan stood on the cliff and watched the sun come up. He remembered the time back in Greece with Laura and hoped he knew the true woman and not his mother’s creation. He also relished the thought of the prison that he and Luke had set up for her. But none of what they did would make up for all the pain she had caused all of them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Helena stood on the docks and waited for Luke to arrive. She knew it could be a trap but the though of seeing him in pain because the loss of his true love was too good to turn down. Helena didn’t hear him walk up until he stood right behind her and said, “Good show, darling.” She turned around and noticed a gun pointed right at her. “Luke, I’m surprised at you. You could have come up with something better than just shooting me in cold blood,” Helena said, not moving an inch. She knew her men were looking out for her and she had nothing to worry about as long as they were there. “I do have something better. This isn’t a gun with bullets but darts. You see Helena, Stefan and I have gotten sick of your involvement in our game. We like our lives the way they are and if we want to kill each other, we don’t need your help. If you are waiting for Ari and your other play things, Sonny got rid of them for me and you will not be needing them where you are going,” Luke said and slowly pulled the trigger and the dart hit her right where her heart should be if she had one. Alexis and Stefan came out from the dark shadows, with smiles on their faces. “I can’t wait until she wakes up and discovers were we placed her,” Alexis said. “She will not wake up until we get her there. I also ordered her yacht back to Greece and put into dry dock. We can get rid of it later on. She will not be using it any longer,” Stefan said smiling as his men came and took her away. “I have two kids to look after. I’ll leave the rest to you. I’ll visit the dear bat when she gets settled in her new home. Ari and the others are all tied up. You can find them on the yacht, compliments of Sonny and Jason. You better get going Mac can’t keep his men away from this side of the docks forever,” Luke said and disappeared in the dark. “You could have done this without his help. Why did you let him in the game?” Alexis asked. “Mother wouldn’t come so willingly if I would have asked and beside I did it for Laura. Mother destroyed her and I want her to pay for that. If it takes working with Luke this one time, why not?” Stefan said and they went to the car and headed to take Helena to her new home. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Two days later, Stefan and Alexis arrived at a small hospital in Greece with Helena in a straight jacket, being wheeled in by one of their men. “Mr. Cassadine, I’m so glad to see you again. I read your letter and I want you to tell Mrs. Cassadine not to worry. I will make sure that Ms. Larson will be kept out of her way for good,” the doctor said. Helena had just started to wake up and she heard all of it. “Ms. Larson? Stefan, what do you think you are doing? Get me out of this thing right now? Doctor you have been lied to. I’m Mrs. Cassadine and my son has lost his mind. I want you to lock him up and his little friend as well,” Helena yelled trying to get free from her restraints. “Now, Ms. Larson. I want you to calm down. We are going to help you get the rest you need,” the doctor said and motioned for a nurse. The nurse arrived with a needle and slowly injected Helena with a substance. Alexis went with the doctor to fill out the paper work. Stefan leaned over and whispered in his mother’s ear before she passed out. “Mother, I hope you like your new home. I made sure you get the same treatment that Leslie Webber got. I had the doctors add a few new drugs and if you do get out of here, I assure you that your mind will never be the same again,” Stefan said and walked away with Alexis. They both had small smiles on their faces and were humming a song that sounded a lot like a song from the Wizard of Oz.