Elizabeth Chapter 7

Part 7

The Drive Home:

Nikolas, Elizabeth, and Family:

Nikolas presses the call button on his steering wheel, "call Damien Spinelli…Spinelli, it's Nikolas Cassidine. I'm driving Elizabeth home. We've developed a cover story as close to the truth as possible. The police will want to question you but tell them all you know except for Jason. Tell them I asked for copies of the security tapes, and I determined to get into the GPS. I think you have matured enough to know how to handle any questions I will take all the blame and I will square it with the hotel clerk. I think Robert will absolve you of any criminal charges. Dante will come out to take a statement from Elizabeth and you should be prepared for him to call you sometime after that. I'll give you a heads up, ok thanks!"

Nikolas pulls into Elizabeth's driveway. He looks over at her and asks, "are you ready? I will be with you every step of the way. I know you were only missing a few days and Esme drugged you. You were bound and gagged, Jason took care of your wrists, and you appear to be okay, but I want Kevin to check you out regarding any drug withdrawals and if he thinks you need to go to GH, promise me you will"

"I promise", Elizabeth says. "But first I want to hug my boys. I want to let them know I'm fine. Then we can talk to Kevin and Laura, and I want Cam to know about Esme. Then we can call Dante. I think Robert will want to know about what Helena did to Esme. You know better than anyone what she did to Lucky. She also did it to Jake. Robert and Laura and even Dante know what Helena is capable of, I'm not sure yet if I want Dante to know the Helena angle yet."

Nikolas replies, "first let's go inside and the rest we can discuss, okay?"

Elizabeth gets out of the car and says, "okay".

They walk inside and Elizabeth is greeted by hugs and kisses from her kids. After spending time with Jake and Aiden, Elizabeth says, "I need to talk to Kevin, Cam, and grandma, can you go upstairs and study or play a game on the computer?"

"Sure mom", they answer. "We love you and are glad you are back."

Laura, Kevin, Cameron, Nikolas, and Elizabeth sit down at the table. Elizabeth starts, "Nikolas and I want to explain some things before Dante arrives and Laura you should call Robert as he has experience in what I am about to tell you. This involves Helena's actions; despite the fact she is dead. Dante has experience as to what she and Stavros did to LuLu, but before we go further, we need a census on the extent of how much we tell him. Kevin and Laura, we want you here because we value your input. Nikolas also wants Kevin to access me and decide if I need any treatment at General Hospital."

Elizabeth continues, "Cameron, we want to include you in this conversation because much of it involves you and we want you to be prepared before everyone else knows. While Esme confirmed to me, she was responsible for the sex tape, this is no tangible proof she is responsible. There is something far more important you need to know. She did take me out of Shadybrook and is responsible for over-medicating me and while there, she taunted me and caused me to have intense nightmares." Elizabeth turns to Kevin and apologizes for not saying anything to him. "Cameron, after Esme took me, I remembered something disturbing. This affects you directly. Do you remember what Helena did to Drew and also to Jake? She also placed a curse on Luke and Laura and brainwashed and controlled Lucky with the Ice Princess. Kevin tried to help. She tried turning him against us until Luke, Laura, Nikolas, and I found a way to break through the programming."

Cameron interrupts, "I've heard the stories, but what does this have to do with what Esme did? Did Helena do something to her too?

Elizabeth replies "Possibly, but that's not what I want to tell you. The reason why I was having flashbacks and nightmares was because of something Helena did to me. After Esme took me, I remembered, I remember…" Elizabeth's voice trembles and Nikolas holds her hand. "Cam, when you were born, Helena took your twin sister. I'm sorry, but I didn't remember it until a couple of days ago. Helena gave me something to forget and Esme is your sister. She blames me for giving you the life she didn't get and blames you for having a better life. She wanted you to pay for my mistakes."

Cameron hugs his mother and says, "mom, I am so sorry. It's not your fault. I don't blame you and you are the best mom anyone could have."

Elizabeth says, "thank you sweetheart., but how do you feel about all this?

Cameron replies, "Whew! I don't know. I mean I have a twin sister, I should embrace that, but she humiliated Joss and kidnapped you, I can't help but want her to pay."

Elizabeth says, "I understand how you feel. I do want her to be held responsible, but I think about your Aunt Sarah. I know you never met her, and we didn't have the best relationship and she hurt me but made mistakes. While we will never be close, I would never want something bad to happen to her. Your uncle Nikolas and I made some bad mistakes and hurt Lucky but he forgave us and I helped him when he went through a difficult time after Siobhan died. I would never wish ill of him, nor do I think Nikolas would."

Nikolas has been silent but decides to speak up. "Those are different entirely different circumstances."

Elizabeth replies, "no they are not, but we can discuss that later. Laura, and Kevin, what is your take on this? Is it possible Helena could go to these extremes? I wasn't with Lucky when Cam was born. And of course, when she wanted to control Drew, that had nothing to do with Lucky,(and Jason was under peter's and Fasion's control), but she did want Sam dead, who is part Cassidine. While Laura, you Luke, and Lucy rescued Jake, once he was returned to me, Lucky left again. By then everyone knew Jake was Jason's biological son. Lucky being gone wasn't hurting him. It was hurting me, and she mind-controlled Jake with the Chimera to release the biotoxin. She wanted to use him to destroy Port Charles. But she knew "Jason" was Drew and her target was Port Charles. Drew and Franco helped stop that. Was I considered a Spencer by association, and she wanted to blame me through Jake? I know she wanted to hurt Lucky with Aiden, but those were switched DNA results, not mind control." Laura weighs in, "Who knows what went through Helena's head? She's had her fingers in all sorts of pies for years. She went after Lulu, but she had a vendetta against us for decades. Helena may have programmed Esme to believe you abandoned her. Please be careful."

Elizabeth says, "Cam, don't you have classes and a shift at Kelly's? We will be okay. Dante is stopping by to take a statement. He may want to talk to you about the sex tape, but for now, I think it's better not to mention Helena or Esme being your sister. If I tell him, I'll leave your knowledge out of it. Say hi to Joss and Spencer for me. You can let them know I am home safe and maybe you can have everyone over for grilling this weekend." Cam hugs his mother, says goodbye to everyone and after grabbing his stuff, he leaves. He meets up with Spencer, Joss, and Trina and updates them on his mother, leaving out the Esme part.

Elizabeth calls Dante and Laura calls Robert telling him she has news regarding something Helena may have put in motion 20 years ago, she suggests he show up after Dante takes Elizabeth's statement.

Dante arrives, and they give him Elizabeth's statement. He says, "Elizabeth I am happy you have returned safely, but can you tell me what happened?"

Elizabeth replies, (providing as much truth as possible) "I believe you are aware I checked myself into Shadybrook because I was having flashbacks and lost time. It turns out Esme Prince was responsible for my psychological issues. She drugged me and made me feel paranoid. Through her internship, she found ways of tormenting me and soon after, led me out of Shadybrook and to a motel about 50 miles away. She tied me up and a couple of days later, Nikolas and Spinelli found me."

Dante asks, "Spinelli? Nikolas, can you fill in the blanks on how you found Elizabeth and neglected to go through proper police channels?"

Nickolas answers, "I'm sorry, Dante. I should have called you; I was more concerned about finding Elizbeth and didn't want a strong police presence to scare away whoever had her."

Dante replies, "okay, but what does Spinelli have to do with this?"

Nikolas says, "I bribed Spinelli to make copies of the security cameras and when I saw the car Elizabeth got into, I made a note of the type of car. He told me there was an abandoned car matching the description and I suggested he get into the GPS of the last destination before the car was dumped. I bribed a clerk and got a key to the room Elizabeth was being held and found her tied up and quickly untied her and got her safely back to the hotel I was staying at."

Dante asks, "can you provide the address where Elizabeth was being held?" Nikolas nods and writes down the address. Dante continues, "why didn't you call anyone once you found Elizabeth?"

Nikolas replies, "Elizabeth was disoriented and scared and asked me to wait until she composed herself."

Dante says, "okay, I'm going to need to question Spinelli about what he saw in case he saw something you didn't. Elizabeth, do you know why Esme took you?"

Elizabeth takes a deep breath, "Esme confirmed she was responsible for the sex tape of Cam and Joss. As for taking me, she was mostly ranting about stuff that made no sense. Soon after I passed out and when I came to, Nikolas was standing over me untying me. What Nikolas said was true. I was disoriented and not prepared to see or talk to anyone until now."

Dante finishes his notes and closes his laptop and says, "I think that's enough for now. You should get yourself checked out and if you remember anything else, please give me a call."

Elizabeth replies, "thank you, Dante, I will." Dante leaves.

Robert arrives a few minutes later. He hugs Elizabeth and gives Laura a peck on the cheek. "Anna filled me in on your ordeal Elizabeth. How are you?"

Elizabeth replies, "surviving Robert. What did Anna tell you."

Robert recounts everything from Esme, the sex tape, taking Elizabeth, and the Helena and Esme connection. "I understand she is Cameron's twin. For now, I can keep this information out of any reports, but if she is caught, the revelation may come out. As Anna told you, I can't sweep this under the rug. I will try to minimize the damage because we all know what Helena is capable of. If Helena had anything brainwashing or programming Esme, that may help in her favor. I promise our department will do everything we can to bring her in safely."

Elizabeth replies, "Thank you, Robert. I'm still coming to terms with what Esme told me. I'm fortunate to have the life and children I have, but I will always wonder if being with me would have made a difference in how she turned out." Robert kisses her on the cheek and leaves.

Elizabeth tells Kevin, I'm going to General Hospital to get myself checked out and I'm going to ask for a few days off. I will try to get a few days off to rest. I may stop by to say hello to a few friends and maybe later you could re-evaluate me" I'd love to get your professional opinion on Esme, Helena, and myself.". She asks Nikolas for a ride to General Hospital, and they discuss why Elizabeth disagrees with Nikolas's comments.

"Nikolas, could you get me a ride to GH? I want to finish our conversation." Elizabeth tells Jake and Aiden she will be gone for a few hours, but she will bring home take-out." She says goodbye to Kevin, and Laura says, "if Nikolas is around, he can give me a ride home, or maybe you can pick me up." Laura offers her assistance.

Elizabeth joins Nikolas in his car and says, "I'm afraid when Helena said there were additional levels of Lucky's conditioning, it may explain his behavior even after we thought we had him de-programmed. Remember when he got addicted to the pain pills and became obsessive in his thinking and paranoia? He slept with Maxie and did things I never imagined him doing. He made it more about my fault and just when he seemed to be okay, he went back to being angry again. When we had our affair, he called me awful names. This is not the Lucky I fell in love with. He goes off and has a green card wedding and after returning Jake to me, he leaves town and rarely calls his son. I kept trying to connect with him. I blamed myself for everything that went wrong and maybe he jerked me around like he did when he returned over 20 years ago, I kept trying to reclaim and recreate that love from when we were kids and that was my fault. I never should have married him and should have left him after Maxie and despite everything that came after, I am grateful for Aiden, but I can't go back again. And why I kept getting dragged back into his drama? Maybe Kevin can help me figure that out. Whether Esme or someone in your crazy family conditioned or just raised Esme to be like them, I hope someone can give her a chance. I want to say I'm sorry, but the more I think about it, if she can't be saved, she needs to be held accountable. The children I raised, the ones I have now are my main priority, but I feel guilty."

Nikolas pulls into the entrance to General Hospital and says, "I understand. I do know Lucky was never the same after he returned from the fire and it's possible, he was still doing things under Helena's orders. Maybe her death has changed things, but that doesn't explain Esme"

Elizabeth thanks Nikolas for the ride and says, "thanks for the ride, you may want to update Jason on everything I told you and I will try to see him soon, maybe after the boys are in school and Cam is at work. Make sure you square things with Spinelli for when Dante interviews him. Please give Jason, give him my best and I will see him soon."

Jason and Spinelli:

Jason calls Spinelli and asks for a favor. "Can you try to track down Esme from when she left the motel and if they haven't cleaned out that room, can your collect any trash and check for fingerprints? Then wipe down the room, please. Let me know if you find anything and don't say anything to anyone." Spinelli promises and Jason ends the call.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth gets checked out at GH, and other than being a little dehydrated and underweight, she is given a clean bill of health. They told her wrists were healed. She asks for a few days off and it is granted. She says hi to Terri and Epiphany. She assures them she will be back in a few days. She calls Laura if she can pick her up from GH. Laura picks her up and they return home. Elizabeth sleeps for six hours. Laura left a note that food needs to be reheated, but she is heading home with Kevin to give Elizabeth her space, and Kevin will call to set up an appointment with him next week.

Meanwhile:

Jason and Nikolas: Nikolas provides Jason with a gun and a large amount of money. He updates him on what Elizabeth told him and she will probably want to discuss it with him further. She will try to call soon. Nikolas leaves.

Elizabeth and Jason:

After reheating her food and checking the time for when the boys will return, she picks up the phone and calls Jason….