Chapter 10- Curses and Blessings

"Lex…" Julian repeated and reached for her hand.

She stared at him fixedly with a blank expression on her face.

"Dad! You're awake." Sam hugged him gently.

Lucas held his free hand. "You really scared us there."

He looked up at them groggily. "What happened?"

"You were shot," Sam said. "Don't you remember?"

"Shot?" He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a deep breath.

"How are you feeling?" Lucas asked.

"Dizzy," Julian muttered. "Tired."

Lucas nodded.

Helena/Alexis suddenly rose and walked out of the room. Lucas and Sam exchanged confused looks.

"Lex…" Julian said softly, closing his eyes again.

"I'll go after her." Sam stood. "Stay with Dad." She squeezed Julian's hand and followed Helena/Alexis out to the hallway.

"Mom!" Sam ran to catch up and caught her arm. "Mom, wait."

She cleared her throat and turned to Sam. "My room at the Metro Court awaits."

Sam squinted her eyes. "You were drawn to Dad… you wanted him back."

Her face went tense.

"Come on, let's go back in there," Sam said taking her mom's hand and squeezing it. "I know you're in there. Please, let's go."

"I need to go to the Metro Court."

"You stayed," Sam said. "You stayed even though you could leave. I know you wanted to be here. You wanted to know that Dad was okay."

She lifted her head high. "He is a stunning man."

Sam laughed. "Yeah, you're attracted to him because he's your husband. Listen…" She squeezed Helena/Alexis' shoulders. "You fought for me when I was in jail, you fought for my kids… now I'm fight for you. Please, Mom… please come back."

"Come back?" Carly's voice appeared before she did, and she laughed. "She's standing right there."

Sam turned around and groaned.

"So, not only are you negligent and a bad influence on your children," Carly said. "But you're certifiably insane!"

"Carly, please…" Sam said. She looked up at Helena/Alexis and her nostrils flared.

"And you leave your children on a school night, to do what?"

"Uhh, my father almost died today. What are you doing away from your children?"

She laughed. "Julian? That abusing low life who is also a bad influence on your children?"

"How did you even know I was here?" Sam asked.

"I didn't. Unfortunately, I have to pick up Sasha from her appointment since Jason is too busy shopping for Jake's present when his birthday isn't until next month." Carly rolled her eyes.

"Oh yeah, how dare he try to do something nice for his son…" Sam muttered. "I hope you didn't leave Avery and Donna alone in the car again.

"Don't give me that snarky attitude," Carly yelled. "If you would have just stayed with Jason, he would have his priorities in check! You are a disgusting waste of space not even worthy to touch the hem of Jason's black t-shirt!"

"That's all Samantha was to you…" Helena/Alexis stepped forward. "A door mat that you expected to wait at the penthouse for Jason. To spend his spare moments with when he wasn't running around town obeying your commands. Now that she's smartened up you are treating her as if she were like you… a gold-digging proletariat. Yes, Carly, the Spencer blood runs through you. Years ago, I cursed your Uncle Luke and Laura and just look at how their lives have been. Laura was a vegetable and Luke a good for nothing drunk. And now their descendants are paying the price."

Sam's eyes grew wide.

Carly scoffed. "You? Alexis? Cursed Luke and Laura? That's a good one…"

"And then I cursed the Quartermaines. I cursed every last one of them. One by one they have been plucked off the face of this earth and the ones left are suffering." Helena/Alexis gritted her teeth. "Now, I curse you Caroline Spencer. I'll make sorrow and regret your constant companions."

Carly laughed. "You really have lost it!"

"Yes, and you will too once you have lost every last person, place, and thing that matters to you. And perhaps then you will think again before declaring a war against the Cassadines." She stormed past her and walked back into Julian's room.

Carly gaped.

Sam grinned. "What she said!" She nudged Carly and followed Helena/Alexis back inside Julian's room.

Helena/Alexis set her hands on her hips. "I expect you to come to Wyndemere with me."

"Huh?" Julian moaned.

"For protection against Valentin."

"Uh, Lex…" Lucas cut in. "I don't think Dad's in any shape to protect you right now."

She shook her head and took the seat next to his bed. "Then I'll be taking up residency here until he's released."

Lucas turned to Sam and she shrugged.

"You know, Mom…" Sam placed a hand on her shoulder. "You could be with Dad always if you agree to let Andre do the procedure on you."

"Absolutely not."

"But I really doubt Dad will go with you to Wyndemere if you don't have the procedure," Lucas said.

"If he doesn't oblige, I will make him come with me," she said.

Sam rolled her eyes. "We should really get home. I hope Krissy and Molly managed to get the kids to sleep."

Lucas grinned. "If not, it'll be a fun night."

GHGHGH

"I just have to check my schedule for next week," Lucas said as they left Julian's room. "I'll meet you at the car?"

"Sure."

Lucas took off towards the nurse's station and Sam headed towards the elevators but stopped when she heard crying. Sasha, with a large belly, sat on the bench with her face buried in her hands.

Sam glanced at the elevator, then shifted her feet awkwardly. "What's wrong?"

Sasha looked up and quickly wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. "I'm sorry… this is so embarrassing."

"What happened?"

"Oh, just Carly… She called me a slut and complained that my ultrasound was taking too long, so she told me to walk home."

"Oh geez."

"I'm afraid she's going to try to take my baby, like she did with Avery."

"Well…" Sam shrugged. "Probably."

"I just feel kind of stuck, you know? I have no job and no money. I'm kind of relying on Sonny and Jason right now." She sighed. "Jason showed me so much kindness when I first moved in with him. He made me feel like…"

"Like you matter?"

She smiled. "Exactly. He came with me to all of my appointments. He listened when I needed to talk. But now he's kind of giving me the cold shoulder. He's avoiding me."

Sam cleared her throat. "I would really recommend finding a job and getting a place for you and your baby. I wish I did that."

She raised an eyebrow. "You were in a similar situation?"

"Too similar. Almost exact. Sonny and I had an affair when he was married to Carly. I got pregnant and Sonny moved me in with Jason. I fell in love with Jason. He showed me kindness… but it was all a lie. I was never first for him. You really don't want that kind of life, trust me. Make a life for you and your baby away from Jason, Sonny, Carly, and the mob."