Chapter 1
June 2015
Paris, France
Of all the things, Jerry Jacks never expected to be stuck here for the summer.
Technically, he seemed to classify as a prisoner. Just because he had had a lot of dabblings in
chemistry and mad sciences, she seemed to think there was nothing wrong with blackmailing
him into being Robin Scorpio's assistant in reviving her dead sons. Well, when you think about
it, blackmailing had to be a specialty of hers. But still, Jerry had been there for months, and
neither were showing positive signs.
Robin Scorpio took her jacket from where it was slung on the chair. "I'm going to bed." she
said.
Jerry merely nodded in return.
After the whole Robin-fake-dying-and-Jerry-keeping-her-hostage incident, it had been hard for
them to work together. But things eventually improved. They would do research together and
chat during meals in a friendly way; there honestly wasn't much else to do in their free time
besides talk.
It was far too quiet after Robin left the lab. Jerry felt tired. What time was it?
Jerry sighed and looked over at the chamber where Stavros Cassadine's body was stored.
When Jerry had researched him, he found a lunatic who had murdered and kidnapped,
terrorized.
Another me, he'd thought to himself. We ought to get along well.
The other one, Stefan, seemed to have a slightly better reputation than his brother. Anyhow,
Jerry just wanted them to wake up so he get the hell out of there.
Jerry locked up the lab and rode the elevator to the Cassadines' fancy apartment, where he
and Robin were staying. The lab was under the building (Jerry wondered if the landlord knew
about it). He trudged to his bedroom, peeled off his scrubs and climbed into the bed. He was
asleep almost immediately after his head hit the pillow.
Sunlight streamed into the room and woke Jerry from his deep sleep.
"Great." he muttered. The clock said 6:30 A.M.
"You look terrible." Robin said when he came into the kitchen.
"Gee, thanks." Jerry said sarcastically. "I hate getting up early. Does it really matter if we sleep
in just once?"
"The sooner we start, the sooner we get out of here." was all Robin said in reply.
"Hallelujah." Jerry muttered as they dug into breakfast. At least the food was good. It was
pretty much the only thing he couldn't complain about.
"Are they ever going to wake up?" Jerry asked Robin when they were in the lab. "We've been
at this for months now, and I haven't seen anything happen."
"Do you have somewhere important to be that would explain all your complaining?" Robin
asked.
He didn't have an answer to that. Where else did he have to be? Truthfully, he couldn't think of
anywhere.
"Well, I was also thinking the sooner we get this over with, the sooner you can go home as
well." he said. "I thought you might miss your family."
A strange look came over her face (Sadness? Longing?), and she said, "I do."
About an hour later Robin handed Jerry a bottle. "I think this is it." she said. "We have to test it,
though."
"Well, Stavros hasn't been frozen as long as Stefan," Jerry said thoughtfully, "so he may have a
better chance."
"Now you're using your head." Robin opened the chamber where Stavros' body was. "Go on.
You have to inject it into him."
Jerry looked at her in genuine shock and disbelief. "You think I should do it? And here I thought
you didn't like me."
"I never said I do. Now, are you going to do it, or are you too squeamish?"
"I am not squeamish!"
"Then do it. I'll hook up the machines."
Jerry put the liquid in the syringe, and, once everything was ready, he injected it into Stavros'
vein.
At first, there was nothing.
"I think it's a dud." Jerry said.
"Just wait." Robin replied.
She had barely gotten it out when the machine started beeping.
"Jerry, check his pulse." she said.
Jerry pressed his fingers against Stavros' wrist. There was indeed a pulse.
They had done it.
"It worked." Jerry said in wonder. "We brought him back."
Stavros' eyelids fluttered. He was waking up.