"The Course of True Love..." Part Eleven

"The course of true love never did run smooth." William Shakespeare

Katherine is returning to the boardroom from the bathroom, where she had been 
sick to her stomach. Alexis is calling Jerry Jax for Katherine. As she enters, 
everyone notices how sick she is. Before she can make it to her chair, she 
faints.  Stefan rushes to her, and gently strokes her hair and face.

S: (whispering) Katherine. Katherine.

As the doctors scurry for a gurney, Stefan continues to caresses her face. He is 
barely able to maintain his usual business like composure. A fact that is not 
lost on Edward, as he puts his hand on Stefan's shoulder.

EQ: (calmly) Cassadine, you need to step out of the way so the doctors can help 
her.

S: (looking up) Yes. Yes, you're right.

Orderlies, using a backboard, lift Katherine onto a gurney, and rush her to an 
ER exam room. Stefan follows close behind. Alexis, not seeing Katherine being 
wheeled away, notices a distraught Stefan rushing down the hall, and follows 
him. The doctors stop him at the door to the exam room. Alexis walks up behind 
Stefan.

A: (concerned) Was that Katherine?

Stefan forgets for the moment that he banished Alexis from the family, and talks 
with her the way he used to.

S: (full of emotion, but quietly) Yes. Oh, God I hope she'll be all right. I 
*love* her. I need her. I know you never understood that, but I do *need* her. I 
can't believe how foolish I was to let Helena and her twisted plans get to me. 

Alexis listens quietly, afraid if she says anything the spell will be broken and 
he will go back to loathing her. She is relishing every moment of him being open 
with her, the way it used to be.

S: (voice shaking) She was so pale, as if the life had been drained out of her.

A: (cautiously) She was in the bathroom getting sick. I gave her some water, but 
it didn't seem to help. I'm sure the doctors are doing everything they can.

Jerry Jax enters and spots Alexis. As Jerry walks over, Stefan comes to his 
senses and takes a step away from Alexis. She sighs, thinking it was nice while 
it lasted.

J: (to Alexis) Hi. They said upstairs Katherine was brought down here. What 
happened?

A: She was…

S: (business like) She left the board meeting looking ill, and when she 
returned, she fainted. They have her in there now.

The doctor comes out of the room, and approaches the group.

S: (demanding) What's happening in there? Is she all right?

D: She regained consciousness, and we are running some tests on her.

S: What kind of tests?

The doctor looks at Stefan, and asks his next question, knowing the answer.

D: (snidely) Are you her husband, or a relative?

S: (solemnly) No.

D: Then, Mr. Cassadine, you know as well as I do, I can't release patient 
information to anyone who isn't related to her. The tests should be done in 
about an hour, if she wants to tell you the results, that is her business. 
(Looking at Jerry) Are you Jerry?

J: Yes.

D: She's pretty scared and asked to see you. You can go on in. And try to keep 
her calm, O.K.?  

As Jerry enters the room, Stefan has a hurt and determined look on his face. He 
goes over and sits down on one of the chairs in the waiting area. Alexis tries 
to sit next to him, but the look on his face tells her he is back to loathing 
her. She walks away slowly.

Awhile later, Jerry exits the exam room after the doctor reenters. Jerry spots 
Stefan and walks over to him. Jerry almost feels sorry for Stefan. Stefan looks 
at Jerry.

J: (consolingly) She's O.K.

S: (business like) What's wrong with her?

J: I don't know. She asked me to leave the room when the doctor came in.

Stefan smiles to himself, glad that Katherine hasn't been completely taken in by 
Jerry. He is sure that if he could get Katherine alone, without Jerry 
interrupting, he could make her understand how sorry he is, and how much he 
really does love and need her. Jerry was becoming an annoyance to Stefan; always 
showing up at the wrong moment, always taking her away, and always calling her 
"Lois". Stefan never liked the American tradition of calling people by a 
shortened version of their given name, but this was truly puzzling. "Kathy" or 
even "KatieBell" he could comprehend, but not "Lois".

Shortly after the doctor leaves her room, a very tired Katherine emerges. Stefan 
rushes to her, and put his hands on her shoulders, then moves his hands to 
cradle her face, and looks intently into her eyes.  Jerry is amused at this 
display, and walks slowly over to them.

S: Katherine, are you all right? I've been so worried.

Katherine looks lovingly into his eyes and smiles weakly. 

K: (softly) Yes, I'm fine. You didn't have to wait for me.

S: (earnestly) I *will* wait for you…

Katherine nods her head, then looks at Jerry.

K: I'd like to go home now.

She slowly steps away from Stefan, and walks away with Jerry, who puts an arm 
around her waist to help steady her. Stefan is crushed, but manages to get into 
his office before he breaks down. 

As she and Jerry walk through the parking garage, she stops and looks at him.

K: I'm pregnant.

J: (smiling) Is it mine?

K: (wryly) Yes. Yes, Jerry the baby is yours.

J: (smugly) Hey, my boys are *good*. Able to leap great distances in a single 
bound.

Someone: AMY! Come on!

Katherine and Jerry both spin around to see Amy Vining standing about two feet 
away at a car. Neither of them had noticed her standing there before. Amy gives 
them both a big cheesy grin, and quickly leaves.

K: Oh, no! Now the whole hospital will know.

J: The hospital? My understanding of that woman is… it should be on message 
boards across the Internet within the hour.

K: You are *such* a comfort to me.

Jerry helps Katherine in the car. They talk as he drives her home.

J: How far along are you? Do you know when this baby was conceived?

K: (matter of factly) The night before we met in the park. (Thinking back) 
Stefan and I were going to a dinner, I wasn't fully dressed, one thing led to 
another, caution, and protection were thrown to the wind…

J: (smiling) It's amazing what gets blown back at you when you throw caution to 
the wind.

Katherine is staring out the window, thinking of how passionate Stefan was 
toward her that night, and wondering if maybe he really loves her.

K: Oh, what am I going to do? (Pondering) I promised myself a long time ago I 
would never use baby to get, or to keep a man. I could have done it with Scott, 
Ned, and even Damian, but I refused to that. And it's not that I don't want 
Stefan back. (Exasperated) It's the whole Laura issue. Does-he-still-love-her? 
Did-he-ever-really-love-me-or-was-I-just-a- substitute? Does-he-want-me-because-
he-knows-Laura-will-always-love-Luke? Am-I-some-sort-of-consolation-prize? (Big 
sigh) I just can't go back to him until I know for sure. 

J: (venturing) You could always have it "taken care of.” 

K: (shocked) NO! (Quieter) I've waited so long and this might be my last and 
only chance to have a baby. No. I'm definitely keeping this baby. 

J: (supportively) O.K. You know I'll do anything I can to help.

As he says this he pats her hand reassuringly. She gives him a tired smile, then 
looks out the window again.

K: Of course, Stefan will know it's his. (Sighing) When he finds out… he won't 
leave me be, and I'll end up not wanting him to. (Suddenly) Helena! She'll 
probably have me killed if she finds out I'm carrying Stefan's baby… Oh, what am 
I going to do?

Jerry thinks for a minute. Katherine is beginning to look terrified at the 
prospect of Helena knowing. Jerry smiles as an idea runs through his head. He 
looks at Katherine.

J: I have a solution Lois… marry me.

K: (confused) What? How will that help?

J: You said Helena knows you went home with me that night, if we get married she 
won't think its Stefan's. After all, in her eyes you're only after his money, so 
why would you marry *me* if it's *his* baby? She'd assume you'd use the baby as 
leverage to get Stefan back. If WE get married it should be enough to confirm 
what she already thinks of you anyway.

K: It is a thought… But that wouldn't be fair to you. Why should you be scorned 
by your family for marrying me? Jasper will think I got pregnant just to get 
your money. 

J: I have never spent much time worrying what my family thought. Besides, it 
would be perfect if he did make a big stink. It could be just what you need to 
make Helena think it's mine not Stefan's. Come on Lois… let Superman rescue you.

K: (pondering) Why did he rescue her? Really? I mean Lois was always getting 
herself thrown off of, out of, or into things that would kill her, and Superman 
always saved her. What did she ever do for him?… O.K. she occasionally tossed a 
piece of Kryptonite out of range for him, but other than that…

Jerry contemplates for a moment, the looks at Katherine.

J: I think it was because seeing her safe and happy made all of the other vile 
things he had to deal with not as unpleasant… 

K: (smiling) And do I?

J: (smiling back) In a way… Yes. I enjoy being free… going where I want, when I 
want. When I came to town it was to deal with some unpleasant family business. 
You gave me a reason to *want* to stay, not to flee to some jungle somewhere.

K: And you don't think being married to me will make you feel trapped?

J: No. Besides, I have a feeling we won't be married long. You should have seen 
Stefan's face while you were in with the doctors. For a man with a reputation in 
the business world of being a cold-hearted snake, he certainly wasn't able to 
maintain THAT steely composure at the thought of you being ill. You may not want 
to hear this right now, but from what I saw… Stefan  *needs* you. He may have 
let his need of you laps from his consciousness momentarily, but now that he is 
thinking straight, he knows it is you that he loves, and can't live without. AND 
he's not going to let a little thing like our marriage stop him from trying to 
win you back. In fact, I've got ten bucks that says it'll make him more 
determined. 

Katherine smiles at Jerry, wondering what she did to deserve a friend like him.

K: You know I can't promise you I won't go back to him.

J: I know that. (A thought occurs to him) Hey, we can stop at my lawyer’s office 
and sign a pre-nup, that should keep Jasper happy and at bay, then we can be 
off.

K: To where?

J: I understand Vegas is a good place to get married in the States. What do you 
say?

K: Alright, Mr. Jax. I will marry you. (Smiling) Mrs. Jerry Jax. Katherine Jax. 
Lois Jax.

J: That would be Lois Kent.

K: Oops! Sorry.