Chapter 10

Nikolas and Gia had spent the weekend in New York City. Their return flight had been delayed by the storm. When the plane finally landed the walked to the parking lot where Gia had left her car.

Gia noticed the strange look on Nikolas' face. She could tell he was worried about something. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"I don't know. I have this feeling that something is wrong with my mother. Do you mind going by her house, before we go home?"

"No I don't mind."

A few minutes later, they were zipping through the streets of Port Charles avoiding branches and other debris that littered the street. The closer they got to Royal Street, the worse the damage seemed to be.

Gia parked the car as close as she could to Laura's house. A fallen tree blocked the driveway. The roof was blown off, but the rest of the house seemed to be intact.

Nikolas hoped out of the car and ran to the front door. He knocked, but no one answered. Gia joined him on the porch.

"I guess they aren't here," she said.

"I'm not leaving yet. Something is wrong," Nikolas told her. He left the porch and walked around to the back of the house.

The back of the house seemed to have suffered a little bit more damage. The kitchen appeared to have partially collapsed.

"Mom!" Nikolas yelled.

"Nikolas?" said Lesley's voice from somewhere below him.

"Where are you," he called back.

"Lesley Lu and I are in the basement. We're not hurt, but the stairs are gone."

"I'm coming down to get you."

"Nikolas, be careful. I think there is a gas leak down here."

Nikolas took a deep breath. He leaned over the edge to try to reach them, but they were too far down.

"Nikolas, let me try. You hold onto my ankles," Gia said.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded.

Nikolas took hold of Gia's ankles and slowly lowered her down. Lesley handed Lulu to her.

"Pull me up!" she yelled at Nikolas.

It was a long slow process for Nikolas to pull up their combined weight. Lesley Lu was not as light as she looked. Finally he got them to the top.

Gia sat Lesley Lu down in the yard.

"I don't know how we're going to get Lesley out," Nikolas told Gia. "She's a lot heavier that Lulu."

"I know, but we can't leave her down there."

Meanwhile, Lesley Lu had been staring into the garage. She saw something that gave her an idea.

"Nikolas?" she said tapping him on the arm.

"Not now."

"But Nikolas," she said again.

"Sit down over there, while we decide what to do."

Lesley Lu exhaled sharply. She was not happy that Nikolas was ignoring her, but she sat down like she was told.

"We're going to have to call for help," Gia said to Nikolas.

"I don't know if we have time to wait for help if there is a gas leak," he said.

Lesley Lu got back up and walked back over to Nikolas. She tapped him on the arm again. When he didn't look at her, she tugged on his sleeve. "Nikolas!" she yelled.

"What?" he said finally.

"Why don't you use the ladder in the garage to get Grandma out?" she asked pointing.

Nikolas and Gia looked into the garage and saw the ladder sitting undamaged against the back wall. They laughed at the fact they hadn't thought of it.

Nikolas went into the garage and came back with the ladder. He put in into the basement and climbed down and helped Lesley back up.

They sat resting for a minute.

"Where's Mom?" Nikolas asked.

"She and Luke went to Beecher's Corners for dinner. I hope they made it," Lesley said sounding worried.

"I'm sure they did," Nikolas said trying to reassure her. He didn't feel as confident as he sounded. "Come on, I want to take you and Lulu to the hospital."

"We're fine," Lesley protested.

"Please. I would feel better if a doctor confirmed that," he said.

Lesley nodded and they all walked back to Gia's car and headed for the hospital.