Chapter 7- With a Vengeance
After dropping a quiet Danny off at school, Sam went to Diane's office to meet with her and Julian. Her dad was already sitting at the desk waiting for Diane and Sam.
"Good morning." Sam hugged him and sat beside him.
"Morning."
Diane walked in behind Sam and sat behind her desk.
"Thank you for meeting with us," Julian said.
"Of course." Diane frowned. "So, what exactly happened to Alexis?"
Sam cleared her throat. "Valentin, the Marchesis, and Peter have been working with Dr. Cabot to do this mind control experiment on me, Drew, Jason, Elizabeth, Carly, and Sonny. It was originally Helena and Faison's plan to take over Port Charles. They thought Mom was meddling in their plans and originally wanted to kill her… but they ended up wiping her memory and giving her Helena's memories instead."
Diane's eyes grew wide. "What is this, an episode of The Prisoner?"
Julian shook his head. "It's messed up. She at least has minor Alexis memories mixed in… but Andre can't restore her memories without her consent."
"Is there anyway we can prove her incompetent and have Dad act as her next of kin?" Sam asked.
"I'm afraid it'll be very difficult," Diane said. "They will look right at Franco's case. I think our best hope is either she decides to do the procedure on her own, or she goes full Helena and does something crazy."
"Well, she did take the kids yesterday," Sam said.
"But she was on the daycare's pick-up list, correct?"
"Mom was, yes."
"So, she hasn't broken any laws," Diane said.
Sam groaned. "There has to be a way to fight this."
"And we will. I'm just saying our chances are slim," Diane said. "But in the meantime, try to convince her to go through with it. Try to bring Alexis to the surface."
GHGHGH
When Julian and Sam arrived at the hospital, Molly was sitting on a bench crying.
"Oh, Mol…" Sam sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her.
Julian knelt in front of her. "Is your mother okay?"
Molly nodded. "I just don't…"
Sam looked up at Julian. "Why don't you go in and see her? I'll talk to Molly."
Julian nodded and headed into Alexis' room.
"I know," Sam said. "It's hard seeing her that way."
"I just want her back. I want my baby to know her. I just want Mom… and I didn't really know Helena… but I know she was horrid to Mom. And now she's taking over her life."
"But it's not going to be forever." Sam started rubbing her back. "She'll have that procedure and she'll be back to being Mom. And we'll be complaining again when she calls us ten times a day."
"But they said they can't do the procedure without her consent."
"Diane is going to help us fight it," Sam said. "But in the meantime… Dr. Cabot said there are flaws to this mind mapping. Muscle memories and emotions… we can help bring Mom to the surface. When we hold her hand and talk to her, it's helping more than you think."
Molly shook her head. "But I don't like seeing her like that."
"I know. Me neither."
Molly placed her hands on her baby bump. "I want Desdemona to know Mom."
"Desde…?" Sam bit her lip so she wouldn't laugh. "So, it's a girl? You found out?"
"No. TJ wants to be surprised. But I know it's a girl."
Sam placed her hand over Molly's hands that were still on her stomach. "Des… she will know Mom. And Mom will know her. I'll make sure of it." She kissed the top of Molly's head and wrapped her arms around her.
GHGHGH
Julian was at Helena/Alexis' bedside with his arms crossed when Sam walked in.
"My dear, if you think I'm going through with a procedure to turn into my illegitimate stepdaughter…" she started laughing. "You are sadly mistaken. I shouldn't even be in this unsavory hospital bed."
Julian groaned.
"Mom… Hi…" Sam walked over to the bed and hugged her tightly. She let go and sat on the bed. Helena/Alexis' eye was twitching.
"I know what you are doing. If you think hugs and kisses are going to bring Alexis back…" She studied her fingernails. "I am here to stay."
"No, you're not," Julian said. "You are certifiably insane, and Diane is going to prove it."
The door opened and Robin walked in looking through a chart.
"Robin… I heard you were back in town," Sam said.
"Yeah, we just got back the other day," she said. "I'm afraid I have bad news."
"What is it?" Julian asked.
"Alexis… or Helena… is in perfect health. Legally we can't keep her here anymore."
Helena/Alexis smiled.
"What?" Sam felt her heart sink. "She can't be out there on her own!"
"And we're not taking her home to any of the kids right now…" Julian added.
"I'm sorry." Robin shook her head. "But this is out of our hands."
Julian turned to Sam. "Do you think Kristina could handle her? Either that or if you can take Leo for a while…"
"That is absolutely unnecessary." Helena/Alexis sat up and let her legs dangle from her bedside. "All I will need is a bodyguard and a room at the Metro Court until I can return home."
Julian groaned.
Sam shrugged. "That's not a bad idea actually. The guard can protect her and make sure she doesn't get into trouble… and we can visit her until we can get her to do the procedure."
"How many times do I need to tell you, Samantha?" Helena/Alexis asked. "I am not having the procedure."
"Anyway," Robin said. "You just need to go to the nurse's desk to sign a few thi—"
The door swung open and slammed against the wall. A boy around Danny's age with shaggy brown hair held a gun in his shaky hand and pointed it at Julian.
Sam's mouth dropped open.
"What is the meaning of this?" Helena/Alexis asked.
"Matteo?" Julian raised a hand. "Matteo, put the gun down."
"You know this boy?" Robin asked.
Julian nodded. "Marchesi's grandkid…"
"Don't talk about my grandfather!" Matteo said, his lip trembling. "You killed him!"
"He only did that to protect me," Sam said. "Your grandfather was trying to hurt me."
"Liar!"
"Your father sent you here?" Julian asked. "You don't need to do this. You don't have to be like them."
"Yes, I do!"
Bang!
Sam, Robin, and Helena/Alexis screamed as a bullet punched its way through Julian's right temple causing a gaping hole in its wake that quickly filled with blood and gushed out. Julian fell off his chair and dropped to the ground, eyelids closing.