Chapter Rating- Pg-13

Chapter #12 – New Arrivals

Surprising everyone, Jasmine slept through most of the night so far.

It is now about 4am and Nikolas has decided to go back to the castle to check on his sons.

Castle –

"Nikolas, where have you been." Stavros asked, startling him.

"Teaching my wife a very long and painful lesson, why?" Nikolas said, surprised his father was still awake.

"Nikolas, I was not born yesterday. I know that's not what you were doing, and you have never done since the day you met Jasmine. I'll admit, that was a very good decisive tactic on your part. Very clever. But honestly son, how long do you really think you could fool me with it until I found out?" Stavros asked.

"It worked for 6 years didn't it?" Nikolas shot back.

"Yes, but your little ruse is over now. Now it's my turn." Stavros said, venom dripping from his voice.

"Is it now? Wasn't hurting my 5 month pregnant wife good enough for you? Do you have any idea how scared she is? How about making my sons feel so guilty, they wanted me to ground them for a year? That wasn't good enough for you?" Nikolas spat.

"No." Stavros simply said, and with that Nikolas was seized by two of Stavros' men, and taken into another room where he was to be beaten.

Meanwhile the two little boys that Nikolas and Jasmine have held so dearly to their hearts slept soundly, not having a clue what was going on.

Clinic-

It was about 7am when Luke Spencer arrived at the clinic in Greece to meet his son.

"Mornin' Cowboy. How's it going?" Luke asked.
"It's going ok…look the friends I need you to help me with…well the woman is sleeping in the back, and her husband went to get their sons. But that was 3 hours ago, and I'm really starting to worry now." Lucky said.

"So, what's going on? Why do you need my help?" Luke asked.

"I'm going to be blunt here – Stavros Cassadine is alive…and so is my brother Nikolas."

"I'll kill Stavros -gladly so. But Nikolas is alive? That's great." Luke said.

"See why I didn't want Mom knowing any of this?" Lucky asked.

"Yeah, she still cries sometimes…" Luke said.

"Yeah, anyway…apparently Stavros abducted a teenage girl (Jasmine) around the time of Nik's funeral. Held her captive for 3 years. Nikolas was also held captive for those 3 years but hadn't yet met her. When he did, Jasmine already had two 3-year old twin boys. Nikolas was told numerous times to physically punish her. He never did in front of Stavros. When Stavros would leave, Nikolas would be like we always knew he was: kind, gentle, caring. Never laid a hand on her. They've been tricking Stavros into thinking that Nik has been punishing Jasmine physically- creating bruises using stage makeup. Soon, they fell in love with each other despite the circumstances, and got married. Now Jasmine is pregnant." Lucky said.

"So what's she doing here?" Luke asked.

"Nikolas has never laid a hand on her. The same cannot be said for Stavros though. It really infuriates me. Jasmine's 5 months pregnant and she's taken countless beatings among other things from this monster that's kept her life a living hell for 6 years. Having her kids and Nikolas as her husband is probably the only reasons she's still trying to fight. I mean she must have family and friends who love her and are worried sick. Most importantly, they're both just trying to get home."

"Lucky, any word on Nikolas?" Liz asked as she came in the room with a quiet hello to Luke who nodded in acknowledgment.

"No not yet…Jasmine awake yet?" Lucky asked.

"No, she's out cold surprisingly. Where is Nikolas? He said he'd be back here before Jasmine woke up." Liz said frustrated.

After about another hour, a very exhausted Nikolas, and 2 sleepy boys came into the clinic.

The boys found some chairs and promptly fell back asleep. Nikolas on the other hand, walked very slowly and carefully per the bruises on his body.

Nikolas' face wasn't bruised, with the exception of a black eye.

"Hey, anyone got any ice please?" Nikolas almost choked out, grimacing in pain.

"Nikolas, come in here. Let's check you out." Liz said.

In one of the exam rooms, Nikolas took his shirt off to reveal a pallet of different colored bruises to an astonished Liz.

"Did Stavros do this?" Liz asked.

"Yes. Apparently hurting my pregnant wife, and making my sons feel an enormous amount of guilt at the age of 6 wasn't adequate enough."

Soon everyone (with the exception of the twins) all heard a piercing scream.

It was Jasmine, screaming from a nightmare.

As Nik tried to race to her side, Liz told him to stay where he was.

"Elizabeth, please. She's my wife, and I promised her I'd be there when she woke up." Nikolas pleaded.

"Okay, come on. Be careful. Let me help." Liz said as she helped escort Nikolas to his wife.

Already there, Lucky was trying to get a shaking Jasmine to calm down.

"Shh…Jasmine it's ok. You're safe here, you're safe now."

"Where…where's Nikolas? He said he'd be here…" Jasmine said, worrying.

"I'm right here, sweetheart." Nikolas said as he came in with Liz.

Nikolas gradually made it to Jasmine's bedside, as she buried her head into his shoulder.

To Nikolas, that was probably one of the only few parts of his body that didn't hurt.

"Shh…its okay now. I'm here, I'm here." Nikolas soothed.

"I was so scared. It's like he's never gonna go away. He's never going to stop haunting us…" Jasmine quietly whimpered.

After a few moments of silence and Jasmine's breathing going back to a normal rate, she noticed Nikolas' condition.

"What happened to you? Was it him?..." Jasmine asked.

"Yes, but I have the boys with me." Nikolas said.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes sweetie, I'm okay. Just give me some time and I'll be fine." Nikolas said.

"I have everything planned out to get us all out of here." Luke said, as 4 pairs of eyes looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

(Author's Note: Please R&R, thanks! -E.B.F.R)