AN: So I'm back in school now which is surprisingly good news for you guys as I seem to do my best writing during the lecture parts of my math class. Hopefully my grades won't suffer too badly but it's impossible to pay attention to him-he just drones on about nothing for two hours. Oh well, I hope one of you knows a good math tutor.
"So many times," Sam's voice felt like it was stuck in her throat, "There were so many times after I found out who my real family was. I would sit and I would imagine how different everything would have been if I were raised by the-how differently things would have happened. At some point I became obsessed with it, imagining this other life for myself. If I had been raised by my real family, then my daughter would still have been alive," tears began to form in her eyes. Valentin had definitely caught her off guard with his questions-he had clearly done research into the family and was trying to identify with her, "But after a lot of heartbreak and sadness, I realized that imagining the what-ifs wouldn't do anything-nothing can change the past. When I woke up in the morning, I would still be the same person and my daughter would still be gone."
"Don't you see, you and are alike, Samantha. You're life and your birthright were stolen from you," Sam began to shake her head at him, "And no matter your relationship with your family, nothing will ever erase the abuses you have suffered because-"
"I would never want to–and neither should you. Those 'abuses' taught me to cherish my life and the people in it. It's a tragedy that you lost your son and your wife but at least you were lucky enough to know them-regardless of low long they were here. Imagine never knowing them at all." She could see his resolve begin to slip, "Nothing will ever erase your losses but Helena and Mikkos are gone-they can't hurt anyone anymore-and you can choose a different path. Make a new life for yourself-embrace what little family you have left." The arm holding the dagger against Elizabeth began to dip ever so slightly; unfortunately, Nikolas took that as his cue to move towards him. Valentin snapped back sharply, holding tighter to Elizabeth and Spencer.
"I apologize, dear niece, but my heart is too jaded and my revenge is far too close to fruition for me to stop now." Sam brought Cam and Jake to her side and turned them into her body, holding her hands tightly over their eyes. Valentin quickly shifted his gaze to Nikolas, "You will know what it is to have your entire family ripped from you and not have the means to stop it."
Before anyone could do anything else, Valentin swiftly jabbed the dagger into Elizabeth's stomach. Spencer took the opportunity to break free from the madman's grasp and run to his father. Valentin quickly pulled the dagger from her stomach and placed it at her throat. Jason, who had been hiding in the hallway, trying to let Sam talk her uncle down, tore into the parlor pointing his gun directly at the man but unwilling to shoot with Elizabeth in the crosshairs.
"Let her go." He ground out; Valentin smiled a twisted grin.
"Ah, Mr. Morgan. I was wondering when I would be seeing you. Come no closer or I will end her life." Jason stopped in front of Alexis but behind Sam and the boys. "Cleary you still have some lingering affection for this woman-although it is understandable considering her position as the mother of your only child." Sam and Jason tensed-the man had really done his homework before coming to town.
"Please, Valentin, let her go," Sam pleaded, "She'll die if you don't." All of the children in the room were already crying and panicking. A pool of blood was beginning to form underneath Elizabeth. Out of the corner of her eye, Sam saw Jason nod almost imperceptibly.
"That is the point, niece. The Cassadine Prince will have everything stripped from him just as I-" Several things happened at once. Jason shouted at Alexis to get down as he tackled Sam and the boys to the ground. At the same time, a bullet ripped through Valentin's head.
"Get the kids out of here." Alex yelled as he came running into the room, sliding to a stop next to Elizabeth. Jason and Sam quickly carried Cam and Jake out of the room. Alexis recovered quickly after them and ushered Molly and Kristina out behind them. Sam came back in, already on the phone with 911.
"A medivac is on its way. It's ten minutes out." Alex nodded, applying pressure to Elizabeth's wound with his hands.
"Get them out of here," he nodded at Nikolas and Spencer who were still rooted in their spots, "And get me some towels and warm water." Sam picked up her young cousin and led his almost catatonic father from the room.
"My baby," Elizabeth gasped out.
"I'm going to do everything I can to get you and your daughter out of here safely." Elizabeth shook her head.
"I've lost too much blood…You need to deliver…" Her breathing was labored and shallow. Alex shook his head.
"You aren't in labor-you're not dilated. I can't deliver the baby." Elizabeth managed to look him squarely in the eyes. "No," he shook his head vehemently, "I won't do it."
"It can't wait. You can save my baby."
"And you'll die. Just wait for the medivac." She grabbed his arm.
"It's too far away," she pleaded with him, "We won't survive the trip." Alex knew she was probably right. The chopper was still a few minutes away-plus another fifteen minutes to the hospital.
"I only have the most basic field medicine training. I don't know how-"
"Deep, vertical incision. Pull the baby out and cut the cord." Sam had just come back into the room with the supplies.
"I need a bottle of vodka." He pulled a knife from his belt.
"You can't be serious." Sam paled. Elizabeth grabbed her ankle lightly.
"Please, Sam." Elizabeth was crying now. Sam took a deep breath and nodded, going to retrieve the alcohol.
"Here," she handed her brother the bottle.
"Brace her shoulders so she doesn't move." Sam nodded. Alex looked at his sister, "Alright, I need you both to close your eyes and not look until I tell you, do you understand?" Sam was transfixed by the knife in his hands. "Samantha Léan* McCall, do you understand me?" Alex hoped the use of her middle name would snap her out of it. (*Pronounced like Leanne)
"I understand." She closed her eyes tightly.
"Are you ready?" Alex gave Elizabeth a towel to bite down on to hold in her screams so the children wouldn't hear. She nodded, "Alright." Alex took a very deep breath and opened the knife. He dipped it in the vodka and then poured a generous amount on her exposed belly. He made the incision as quickly and steadily as he possibly could; Elizabeth writhed in pain but Sam held her still. Alex threw the knife aside and used his hands to open her stomach more fully. Once he had an opening, he pulled the baby from the womb; Elizabeth was passed out from the pain. "Okay Sam, she's not breathing." Sam immediately opened her eyes. "I need you to come over here." Sam crawled over to the baby and started CPR on the infant. Alex reached for some string and tied the umbilical cord so he could cut it. Just as he made the cut, he heard the baby take its first breath and start to wail. Sam quickly wrapped the baby in a blanket just as Jason led the EMTs inside. Alex moved aside so they could work quickly.
"Let's get her out of here." The man said as he loaded her on the gurney. "Is she alright?" he asked of the baby.
"I think so," Sam nodded, "But you should take her anyways." The man nodded and took the baby out through the door along with Elizabeth.
"Is anyone else injured?" Another of the EMTs asked. Sam looked around the room.
"He's already dead." She told the paramedic as he leaned over Valentin's body.
"The police are on the way-nobody should go anywhere." He ran out to the chopper so they could leave.
"It's okay." Jason was running his hand down Sam's back to try and calm her-she was staring unfocussed at the blood and chaos on the floors.
"Take her out of the room." Jason nodded and picked her up in his arms. Alex followed behind them.
"Did the chopper leave?" Alex nodded to Alexis as he joined them near the launch.
"The police are here." Alex nodded to the ship that was docking. Mac was the first out, followed by Detectives Rodriguez and Falconeri.
"What in the hell happened?" He took in everyone's appearances. Nikolas had been pushed onto the chopper with Elizabeth and their daughter, leaving Alexis with Spencer, Jake, Cam, Molly and Kristina-all of who were crying hysterically. Jason was still holding Sam like a child and Alex was covered in blood.
"I'll explain inside." Alex headed towards the parlor. The police followed him.
A short while later, Mac came back out. "We're going to escort you guys to the hospital. You all need to be checked out." He started ushering them towards the waiting police boat.
"Mac-" Alexis tried to speak.
"We can get statements later, Alexis. You all need to be examined." Although Mac knew there was nothing physically wrong with them, he knew that at least of few of the kids would need a sedative to calm down. Alex and the detectives made their way out of the house too. "We'll need you to come down to the station and make a statement today-and we'll need your clothes." Alex nodded and got onto the boat with everyone else.
"Sam," Jason called from somewhere off in the distance. She was sitting in the ER cubicles with her sisters as they were being treated for shock. "Sam," he tried again, finally getting her to notice him.
"Yeah?"
"How are they?" He kneeled down next to her.
"They are in complete shock. They haven't been able to say anything yet-they just sit around like zombies." Jason nodded. He could see the tears forming in his fiancé's eyes.
"How are you holding up?" She and Jake were his main concerns.
"How's Jake?" They hadn't even been able to discuss the ramifications of Valentin's revelation.
"He's asleep. He has some bruises on his arm but it's nothing to worry about. The doctors are more concerned with his mental state right now. He and Cam were sedated." Sam nodded.
"Any news on Elizabeth and the baby?"
"The baby is fine-perfectly healthy…" He paused and took her hands in his. "Elizabeth was declared DOA. She didn't make it." Sam was now sobbing heavily. Jason pulled her from the chair and into his arms on the floor.
"Here," Rodriguez handed Alex a set of sweats and a t-shirt to wear, "I didn't have anything else." Alex nodded and began to strip his shirt and pants off for the evidence bags.
"Is that it?" Alex pulled on the clothes Cruz had given him. He had already given his statement, undergone tests for GSR, had pictures taken and had surrendered his firearm to forensics.
"Yeah, you can go. The DA and Mac are going to meet later to decide officially if they're going to press charges. But in all honesty, I highly doubt they will-it's a pretty clear case of justifiable homicide." Alex nodded demurely.
"You know how to reach me if you need to." Alex walked out of the police department. He went to reach for his keys when he realized that he didn't have them-he didn't even drive there. He was about to put his hands back in his pocket when he noticed the blood. He had only been able to wash his hands once since giving his clothes to forensics. Elizabeth's blood was still embedded underneath his nails-he couldn't seem to rid himself of it. He took off at a run suddenly-needing to be as far away from everything as he possible could. After about a dozen blocks, he slowed as he reached an old, decrepit apartment building. He walked into the lobby and knocked on the first dooe. It was opened after a moment.
"Alexander," Kate took in his appearance and pulled him into her apartment immediately. The inside of the building bore no resemblance to the outside, Alex noticed. Kate had probably chosen it for just that purpose. Inside, it was bright and homey. "Clearly you've been keeping tabs on me," she hadn't given him her address; "I assume that's not your blood." Alex shook his head.
"There's this…this feeling you get when you literally have some else's blood on your hands. It's dirty and it feels like you've somehow been…" He trailed off.
"Tainted." Kate finished for him. She knew the feeling as well as he did-if not better.
"I know it's just blood but I…" Kate grabbed his hand and pulled him towards her bedroom. She took him into her bathroom and turned on the shower. Kate caressed Alex's face gently and then quickly undressed herself. She checked the temperature in the shower-hot-and then undressed Alex, ripping his shirt over his head. She led him into the shower and got in behind him, letting the hot mist rain down on him. Alex could feel the slight burning on his skin but couldn't bring himself to care; and then he felt her hands on his back, scrubbing the day away. His hot tears soon began to mingle with the water as he moved to slide down the side wall of the shower, choosing to sit on the floor of the shower, sobbing in Kate's lap.
AN II: So I had seriously considered placing a ransom on this chapter. You know, at least ten reviews before I posted the second part. Fortunately for you I decided not to be completely evil and post it at the same time. I'm really interested in what you guys think.
K