Alexis sipped her coffee, even though it was lukewarm. She needed the caffeine to stay alert for any news on her daughter. Carlos sat with her waiting, while Julian went to check on Olivia's condition.
"So you really think Helena Cassadine might be behind all this…"
She shrugged.
"I'd believe that over it being one of Julian's enemies. I don't know why she'd go after Sam. All of her focus lately has been on Nikolas and Spencer because they are the descendants of the legitimate Cassadine heir. This doesn't make sense."
Carlos leaned forward.
"If the woman's half as loco as I've heard, does it have to make sense?"
Alexis paused.
"Yes…and no. Helena's always got a plan, a rhyme and reason to what she does even if makes sense only to her. But being on the outside as the thorn in her side I've gotten familiar with her playbook and…if she went after Sam, I guess I'd have to answer no, it doesn't make any sense."
"Well what did she do last time she was here?"
Alexis threw up her hands frustrated.
"I don't know. She was involved in some explosion at a clinic where experiments were being done but it was all covered up by the WSB. Certainly out of the reach of any Cassadine being able to find out what happened."
Carlos arched his brows.
"I heard that woman never dies…or if she does she doesn't stay dead. Is that true?"
Alexis threw him a pointed look.
"Yes it is and I saw her alive and well and leaving Luke Spencer's cell at Miscavige Clinic with a knife in her hand. Evil never dies you know…"
"Yeah well if she were smart she wouldn't be near here."
Alexis sighed.
"Unless she's putting one of her plots in motion. I just don't know why she'd go after my daughter…"
She rubbed her hands together, feeling impatient. It'd been several hours since Sam had been brought into the ER and still no word.
Carlos smiled.
"I'm sure she'll be okay…."
Suddenly she glanced up and saw Patrick approach them. She folded her arms.
"Okay so do you have any news on my daughter?"
Patrick hesitated.
"She's conscious and there's no signs of a subdural hematoma. It looks like a concussion and we're going to keep her at least tonight for observation…"
She exhaled. It felt like she hadn't done that the entire night.
"Thank god…when can I see her?"
He smiled.
"Right now if you'd like. She's still a bit groggy but I'm sure she'll be happy to see you. Is Julian around?"
Alexis glanced at Carlos.
"He's with Ned and Olivia…there's been some problem involving her pregnancy. As the…well he felt he needed to be there."
Patrick pursed his lips.
"Okay I'll make sure the head nurse tells him when he returns. Are you ready to see Sam?"
She nodded.
"Am I ever…I'm so glad she's going to be all right… Carlos?"
He smiled again.
"I'll be here waiting for you…."
Julian looked at Dr. Winters, the brand new OB/GYN that had taken over Britta's position after she fled into the night with her diabolical father for parts unknown. Olivia was on the examination table after having received an examination. She looked ill at ease but Ned was beside her holding her hand.
"Well is everything okay?"
Dr. Winters paused glancing at her patience. Ned seemed impatient as well.
"You can tell us doctor are there any problems with the pregnancy?"
She winced.
"Maybe…not at this point in time but in the future perhaps. We've encountered something we've rarely seen before."
Both men waited expectedly. Olivia seemed to be in a different realm altogether trying to control her breathing.
Ned gasped.
"What is it?"
She furrowed her brows.
"Olivia's in good health and so is her baby so far…but we've encountered a potential complication. It seems that there's an…incompatibility in her blood with the fetus' own blood supply."
Julian frowned.
"What the hell are you talking about? What's happening to the baby?"
She seemed perplexed.
"I'm not sure. Olivia's blood types and antigens are on file but the baby's…well there are some…irregularities. Does Olivia have any relatives from Eastern Europe?"
Olivia bellowed.
"Don't treat me like I'm not here. What is wrong with my baby?"
Ned tilted his head.
"Answer her…what are you talking about…blood types…Eastern Europe?"
Dr. Winters sighed.
"I don't know. I might have to consult with Dr. Obrecht. I've encountered a protein type that's only seen in very rare occasions in either Russian or Ukrainian bloodtypes."
Olivia tried to sit up.
"What…I'm purebred Italian…my relatives came off the boat on Staten Island…I have no ancestors from that part of Europe. Maybe you should ask Julian…"
He put up a hand.
"I don't either. Unless it's far back. But I doubt anything like that would be in my family line…"
Ned looked at the doctor then at Julian.
"This makes no sense. What makes you so sure that you've found something so unusual?"
Dr. Winter's pinched her face, almost as if slighted.
"Mr. Ashton I assure you that this is as much a mystery to me as it is to both of you. The fact is that testing has found a marker that is Russian perhaps. We can redo the tests…"
Ned shook his head.
"I won't have any unnecessary procedures done on my…fiancée."
Julian rolled his eyes.
"She's not your fiancée. She's the mother of my child. What if we don't know where this anomaly came from? Is there any danger to her and the baby?"
Dr. Winters stroked her chin.
"No…we might find out more when we run the amniocentesis later on…"
Olivia shook her head.
"I won't endanger my child…."
Dr. Winters gave her an indulgent look.
"You are in a high risk group Olivia…you are over the age of 40 and at risk for several…complications including trisomy 21…"
She blanched.
"What is that?"
"Down's syndrome and that's among other potential birth defects…"
Olivia looked at Ned.
"My god…my child…"
He patted her shoulder and smiled at her.
"I'm sure he…or she will turn out just perfect. These tests are just precautions right doctor?"
She nodded.
"They could help us shed answers on the anomalies we've discovered traced to your baby. That might help us avoid further complications down the road."
All this information swam inside Julian's head. He understood most of it and he wanted his child to be born healthy even if she and its mother…weren't going to be together. He glanced at Dr. Winters.
"I want to get as much information as I can on my child. So if you'll do the tests…"
Olivia vehemently shook her head.
"I haven't decided yet and it'll be my decision not yours…."
Alexis sat by Sam's bedside. Her daughter's face didn't show any sign of injury but her head was bandaged on one side.
"Sam darling…"
Her daughter's eyes fluttered and opened. She looked confused and then her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Mom…is that you?"
Alexis smiled and took her daughter's hand.
"Yeah…I'm here. I've been here. Julian's here too and he'll be here soon."
Sam just lay there, looking suddenly fragile with an IV tube snaking from her arm and her finger attached to a heart monitor.
"Mom…I'm fine…really…but I don't know about…"
Alexis leaned forward stroking hair off her daughter's forehead.
"Sweetheart you have to rest…you've been through a lot…'
Sam shook her head against the pillow.
"No…it's not me. Someone came behind me and knocked me out but left me there…I was there to pick up Molly…"
Alexis narrowed her eyes.
"What are you saying?"
Sam paused catching her breath.
"Mom…where's Molly now? Is she still at Ric's suite?"
Alexis nodded.
"She's with her father I think. I left a message with him but I haven't heard back. But I'm sure she's with him…"
'Are you sure mom? Something happened…someone caught me off guard just before I was to pick up Molly…Something's not right about all this…"
Alexis frowned.
"Sam, you need to relax and focus on getting better. You gave your father and I a scare."
Her daughter shook her head.
"Mom…what if the target wasn't me but Molly? You need to find her…make sure she's safe okay?"
Alexis took a deep breath and exhaled.
"Okay I will…but I'm sure everything's okay…"
Sam didn't look relieved.
"Mom just check…please.
Alexis finally nodded.
"Okay… I will just get some sleep…Danny's going to stay at Grandma Monica's until you are better."
Sam smiled.
"He does love spending time at Casa Q. I'll be fine…I just want to make sure my sister's okay too…"
Julian and Ned left Olivia alone with Dr. Winters. They hadn't gotten many answers on the anomaly that she'd picked up in her testing. Ned harrumphed.
"This is our business…Olivia and I will make sure everything's okay."
Julian shook his head.
"It's my child too. I'm not walking away from it."
Ned smirked.
"I can provide a safer environment to raise it. One where it doesn't have to worry about being shot, blown up or left an orphan because its father makes poor choices."
Julian pursed his lips.
"I intend to play a role in my child's life and neither you nor her is going to stop me."
Ned folded his arms.
"What about Alexis? I thought she was the love of your life? How does she feel about you getting another woman pregnant?"
Julian paused.
"She's been understanding. More than I thought anyone could be in her situation…"
Ned cajoled.
"It must be hard on her being reminded that you cheated on her…"
Julian bristled.
"I didn't cheat…we were broken up. But it doesn't change the way I feel about her…"
"But you left her and are focused on Olivia…who wants me to help raise her child…"
Julian countered.
"That's not going to happen. You are not going to stop me from being involved in my own child's life. If you want a relationship with Olivia then go at it…my interest is in the baby."
Ned scoffed.
"Of course. Olivia was nothing but something disposable to be used by you for one night and tossed aside."
Julian sighed.
"She knew what she was getting herself into and so did I. Now that there's a baby involved that changes things. You and she can do whatever you want but you won't keep me from my flesh and blood…"
Ned rolled his eyes.
"Thanks for your permission but I'm the one she wants to help her raise it not you. Of course if you want visitation rights…"
Julian just looked at him and then Patrick walked up to them. His attention focused on Julian.
"I thought I'd find you here. Your daughter Sam has regained consciousness. Her mother's with her now."
Julian just glanced at Ned.
"Excuse me I've got to check on my daughter but this conversation isn't over…"
Milan glanced at Jerry after they'd shared a few glasses of sherry between this tucked inside a cozy parlor on Helena's yacht.
"Okay Jerry so you think you can win Alexis over the belief that Julian Jerome sired a child with someone else?"
Jerry shrugged good-naturedly.
"It's a start don't you think and my darling won't know it's not really his spawn. But the offspring of Stavros and Lulu. Olivia won't know either. She's just the broodmare that Helena selected because she couldn't use Lulu."
Milan frowned.
"You really think you can win Alexis over this way by having her believe that the man she loves sired another woman's child?"
Jerry slapped his palms together.
"Oh she'll forget all about him. He betrayed her after all and planted his seed in another woman. Alexis deserves much better than that."
Milan folded his arms.
"Meaning someone like you? The man who poisoned an entire town of people including her children no doubt…"
Jerry shrugged.
"Only two of her daughters…I'm sure she'll forgive me for that. I never would have done to her what Julian did but he always was an unsavory character including in our dealings…"
Milan shook his head.
"You really are crazy if you think that she'll respond to you in the way you want after what you tried to do to her children."
Jerry narrowed his eyes
"I'm not crazy but why does this matter to you? You're on Helena's leash which shouldn't give you much time to worry about my activities."
"I think you're wasting your time that's all. She's never going to buy into it."
Jerry chuckled.
"She's heartbroken after finding out that her prince charming of late has impregnated someone else. A woman of questionable breeding…"
Milan sipped from his glass.
"You know he's not the father of that woman's baby. That child's a Cassadine."
Jerry smirked again.
"It's not my concern. That's Helena's scientific project. All I want is a chance to woo the woman I love…"
Milan heard the determination in the man's voice. He knew he had to formulate a counter strategy and quickly.
Alexis glanced up to see that Julian had entered the room where Sam lay recovering from her injuries.
She rose from her chair.
"Hi…I'll leave so you can spend time with our daughter."
He nodded.
"Okay but I need to talk to you…"
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Okay…so how was Olivia?"
He paused, searching her face with her eyes but he didn't need her permission.
"She's…fine. Dr. Winters is taking care of her. There' something unusual about one of her tests but it won't hurt the baby.
Alexis smiled.
"I'm happy for you…and her. Sam's going to be okay. The doctor just wants to keep her overnight."
He sighed in relief.
"That's great news. Does she remember what happened to her?"
Alexis bit her lip.
"She… well bits and pieces but nothing solid. She just woke up."
He studied her face carefully.
"You sure? If she said anything…"
She shook her head.
"We need to focus on her getting better. Everything else can wait."
He didn't look entirely convinced but finally nodded and went into the room to sit in the chair next to where their daughter lay sleeping.
Alexis stood watch over them, her mind already working on a plan of what to do next. She'd called Ric and got his voice mail but when he called back he'd better be prepared to answer questions about their own daughter.
Yet Sam's words remained with her. She just didn't want to believe they might be true.
"