"Miss Elizabeth there is a garish flower covered van pulling up outside, I believe it is Miss Robin for you."

Elizabeth puts down the newspaper and grabs her knitted shawl, "Yes, Alfred you are correct."

"What time shall I expect you back home miss? I am still uncomfortable with you going on your own. Master Nikolas was quit specific with his instructions for your care."

Elizabeth gives him a light peck on the cheek as she rushes out the door, "What Master Nikolas doesn't know won't hurt him." As she races to the van, which now has it's horn blaring and Robin hanging out a window beckoning her in she hears Alfred mumble, "It's not Master Nikolas I'm worried about."

Elizabeth pushes into the overstuffed van and finds a seat next to Robin and P just as it squeals onto the road with many in the group singing "If you're going to San Francisco be sure to wear some flowers in your hair."

It is 12:45 and the gates are open at the Monterey Pop Festival, Elizabeth's group has an in with The Mamas and The Papas and are guaranteed seats near the front.

"Far out that song is trippin," Robin screams into Elizabeth's ear as Janis Joplin performs "Ball 'n' Chain".

Elizabeth is beginning to feel the effects of an afternoon in the warm sun, amidst a large crowd of people – or perhaps the pot and LSD being used liberally around her was getting to her. She indicates to Robin that she was heading out of the concert area for a break.

She stops walking a few hundred yards from the gates, leans against a tree and takes a few breaths, she is surprised how quickly she has become unaccustomed to crowds and drugs, her life in California hasn't included much hanging out in smoke filled clubs. "Perhaps being Nikolas's wife has changed me," she says to herself.

Taking a deep breath she listens to Otis Redding perform "Shake", the crowd is chanting shake with him. The vibe is energetic and fun, Elizabeth turns and watches the crowds, they are all having fun, light-hearted, innocent fun. She begins to wonder what Nikolas is doing right now. He has been gone for three of his six weeks of training. He should be finished with Ranger School. He told her that he would also be receiving paratrooper training. Perhaps he was on his way to Georgia this very minute.

"I miss you Nikolas," she thinks paying particular attention to all the young men around. She looks at their beautiful faces with big wide open eyes. Some eyes were full of excitement, some were more serious, but all are young. Some of these men will be going to war, they may join on their own or get drafted. Some of them will come home physically whole, some will die, but all of them will leave something behind in Vietnam.

Nikolas is doing everything he can to be the best leader for his men. His goal is to bring as many men home as he can, hopefully physically and mentally sound. They have discussed his reasons for going to Vietnam many times, she remembers being mad at him when he first told her he was going, now she feels only pride.

A police officer comes over to her, "Are you Mrs. Nikolas Cassadine?"

With no hesitation she answers, "Yes, I am she."

"We received a call from a Stefan Cassadine, there is a shake-up happening at the Greek Consulate and we need to watch over you. It would be best Mrs. Cassadine if you left this event now."

"But my friends, I can't leave without them. I don't know what any of this is about Officer but I feel safer staying with them than going off with you, a stranger."

"That's fine Mrs. Cassadine and probably wise in these trying times." He waves another young officer over. "This is Mrs. Cassadine, you are to stay by her side until you receive different orders."

The first Officer leaves talking into his walkie-talkie, saying that they have secured Mrs. Cassadine.

Elizabeth looks at her new bodyguard in confusion, "Do you know what this is about?"

"Just that some political dust-up is occurring between the commies and the royalists in Greece ma'am. The Greek Consulate was bombed here today. We are to help secure all the Greek diplomats and their families until the Greek security details can do so themselves."

"Diplomats? My husband isn't a diplomat, he's a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army."

"That's all I know ma'am. I must say I'm glad we found you so quickly, in this crowd I thought we didn't have a chance. That man Alfred at your place helped us by giving a very detailed description of you."

Elizabeth and the officer return to Robin and P. The officer is yelled at by some in the crowd for "harassing the bird," so Elizabeth only stays long enough to assure Robin that she is fine and will find her own way home. Robin insists that P stay with Elizabeth until the ride is secured. "No trusting the establishment, P stays with you until you're home or with Alfred."

Alfred pulls up in Liberty during a Jimi Hendrix set. He's dressed all in black and the look in his eyes is fierce, like he's been to war. "Please come home with me Miss Elizabeth."

Elizabeth thanks P and the officer for their assistance and get's in the passenger seat. "What's going on Alfred?"

"If it is all right Miss Elizabeth, I would rather leave the explanations up to Masters Stefan or Nikolas. I will tell you that you have nothing to worry about, all immediate threats have been handled."

"I thought all I had to worry about was the Viet Cong, now it appears my husband has been keeping secrets. That or I'm going to wake up tomorrow thinking this was some way-out LSD trip."

*************
History Notes:
The Monterey Pop Festival took place in 1967 you can read all about it by using the link. Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, and Jimi Hendrix all performed at the Festival. "Be Sure to Wear Flowers in you Hair" is performed by The Mamas and the Papas and was used to promote the Festival. Drug use was evident at this peaceful event.
There were several bombings during the 60s, some were Consulates for countries in favor of Castro. There was also great political unrest in Greece, especially with the Apostasia of 1965.