Chapter 19
Cassadine Compound
Sasha's Room
Sasha sits on the bed and Ned comes in holding a washcloth. Mikkos walks in behind him.
Ned takes Sasha's chin in his hands and starts to dab her cheek as Mikkos watches them closely from the corner.
Ned: (dabbing her cheek) "You know this would have been a lot easier if you let me do this in the kitchen."
Sasha: (horrified) "NO!!"
Ned and Mikkos look up at her in surprise.
Ned: "Are you all right?"
Sasha: "I'm fine.. I'm just more comfortable here."
Ned: (letting it go) "All right…" A pause. "I think you'll live."
Sasha: "Thanks Dr. Ashton."
Ned smiles.
Ned: "You know you're a tough kid. You didn't even flinch when he hit you."
Sasha: "I'm used to a lot worse then that. Trust me."
Alexis enters.
Alexis: "And how's the patient?"
Sasha: "According to Dr. Ashton here, I'll live."
Alexis: (looking at Ned) "Dr. Ashton?"
Ned shrugs.
Alexis: (to Sasha) "I'm sorry about Stefan."
Sasha: "It's not your fault. The Cassadine's just can't handle their anger. But I don't think I was wrong and if he's waiting for an apology, he's not getting one."
Mikkos: "And you should not have to apologize for anything."
He leaves.
Stefan's Room
Stefan stands in the middle of his childhood room.
He walks over to a dresser and looks at some old photos that have grown yellow and forgotten over time. One of them is a picture of a young Alexis and Stefan, smiling and playing.
Stefan picks up the picture to look at it and thinks back to an easier time.
Mikkos enters.
Mikkos: "Stefan…."
Stefan: (putting down the picture) "Father, is Sasha all right?"
Mikkos: "She's fine."
Stefan: "Good."
Both men are silent and looking at each other nervously.
Mikkos: (breaking the silence) "May I ask you a question?"
Stefan: "Of course Father."
Mikkos: "Why do you hate Ned Ashton so much?"
Stefan: "What makes you say that?"
Mikkos: "Oh please Stefan. You don't want him anywhere near Sasha or Alexis, and its obvious he loves them both."
Stefan: "Because Ned Ashton has hurt Alexis a number of times and I don't want him to hurt her again, or her daughter."
Mikkos: "That is not your decision to make, it's Alexis'."
Stefan: "However as you can remember Alexis has not always had the best taste when it came to men."
Mikkos: "Your jealous."
Stefan: "Excuse me?"
Mikkos: "You have always been where Alexis was concerned. You were the only man in her life for so long that any other, even the most simplest friendships, became a threat. And now Ashton has come back in the picture and is taking your place again not only with Alexis, but now with Sasha, a niece you never knew.
Stefan: "That's absurd."
Mikkos: "Perhaps my son, but it is the truth."
Cassadine Compound
Sasha's Room
Sasha sits on the bed and Ned comes in holding a washcloth. Mikkos walks in behind him.
Ned takes Sasha's chin in his hands and starts to dab her cheek as Mikkos watches them closely from the corner.
Ned: (dabbing her cheek) "You know this would have been a lot easier if you let me do this in the kitchen."
Sasha: (horrified) "NO!!"
Ned and Mikkos look up at her in surprise.
Ned: "Are you all right?"
Sasha: "I'm fine.. I'm just more comfortable here."
Ned: (letting it go) "All right…" A pause. "I think you'll live."
Sasha: "Thanks Dr. Ashton."
Ned smiles.
Ned: "You know you're a tough kid. You didn't even flinch when he hit you."
Sasha: "I'm used to a lot worse then that. Trust me."
Alexis enters.
Alexis: "And how's the patient?"
Sasha: "According to Dr. Ashton here, I'll live."
Alexis: (looking at Ned) "Dr. Ashton?"
Ned shrugs.
Alexis: (to Sasha) "I'm sorry about Stefan."
Sasha: "It's not your fault. The Cassadine's just can't handle their anger. But I don't think I was wrong and if he's waiting for an apology, he's not getting one."
Mikkos: "And you should not have to apologize for anything."
He leaves.
Stefan's Room
Stefan stands in the middle of his childhood room.
He walks over to a dresser and looks at some old photos that have grown yellow and forgotten over time. One of them is a picture of a young Alexis and Stefan, smiling and playing.
Stefan picks up the picture to look at it and thinks back to an easier time.
Mikkos enters.
Mikkos: "Stefan…."
Stefan: (putting down the picture) "Father, is Sasha all right?"
Mikkos: "She's fine."
Stefan: "Good."
Both men are silent and looking at each other nervously.
Mikkos: (breaking the silence) "May I ask you a question?"
Stefan: "Of course Father."
Mikkos: "Why do you hate Ned Ashton so much?"
Stefan: "What makes you say that?"
Mikkos: "Oh please Stefan. You don't want him anywhere near Sasha or Alexis, and its obvious he loves them both."
Stefan: "Because Ned Ashton has hurt Alexis a number of times and I don't want him to hurt her again, or her daughter."
Mikkos: "That is not your decision to make, it's Alexis'."
Stefan: "However as you can remember Alexis has not always had the best taste when it came to men."
Mikkos: "Your jealous."
Stefan: "Excuse me?"
Mikkos: "You have always been where Alexis was concerned. You were the only man in her life for so long that any other, even the most simplest friendships, became a threat. And now Ashton has come back in the picture and is taking your place again not only with Alexis, but now with Sasha, a niece you never knew.
Stefan: "That's absurd."
Mikkos: "Perhaps my son, but it is the truth."