Chapter 24- Willow's Visitor

"Thanks for staying with me for Laura's check-up," Spencer told Nikolas and Alexis after he put Laura back in the carrier.

"We're here for you through thick and thin," Alexis said.

Spencer sighed. "I wonder how Esme made out at the Denver hospital. Maybe Sonny can find out for me."

"Are you ready to go home?" Nikolas asked.

"Thank you, Father," Spencer said. "But we won't be going back to Wyndemere. Not since Ava moved back in."

Nikolas sighed. "All I want is for you and Ava to get along."

"Where will you be going, if not to Wyndemere?" Alexis asked.

Spencer shrugged. "I was thinking Grandmother's, but it seems she has a full house right now. Metro Court, maybe, if Ava allows me to dig into my trust fund. If not, I can probably afford Kelly's. You're welcome to visit, Father, as long as Ava isn't with you."

"That's ridiculous," Nikolas said. "You're not going to a hotel. You're coming home with me."

"I'm not living with Ava. And I don't want her around Laura."

"But Spencer, do you even know how to care for a baby on your own?" Alexis asked.

"I can look up YouTube tutorials," Spencer said.

"But you seem uncomfortable just holding the baby," Alexis commented. "You've kept her in the carrier most of the time and when you do hold her, you're very tense."

"I'll get used to it."

Alexis looked between them. "Why don't you come home with me?" She suggested. "I can help you with baby Laura, and Nikolas can come and go as he pleases, so can Kevin and Laura. You'll have a comfortable roof over your head and you'll be with family. It's win-win."

Spencer smiled. "Really, Aunt Alexis? You'd do that for me? For Laura? Okay, but I'm going to work at Kelly's and at least help with bills or something."

GHGHGH

"No, Aiden, you have not disappointed your mom," Laura assured him as they sat in the waiting area. "I bet your mom sensed your presence and she understands how you're feeling right now."

"Are you sure?" Aiden asked. "Because Cam and Jake were braver than me."

"Your brothers are older, and I bet that deep down they are scared too."

"But they're stronger than me. I don't think they get scared of anything."

"Even I get scared, and so does your mom," Laura said. "Everyone gets scared sometimes. That's what makes us human."

"Are you scared right now too?" Aiden asked.

Laura nodded. "I'm very scared for your mom. She's like a daughter to me. But I also know how strong she is. She has you boys to fight to get back to. So, I have faith that she's going to pull through."

Aiden reached over and hugged her.

GHGHGH

Cam and Jake waited outside of Elizabeth's room when they heard the new doctors were checking on her. Cam especially wanted to hear what they had to say and how they could help her.

The doors finally opened, and Cameron tensed up, when their maternal grandparents stepped out.

Jake's mouth dropped slightly. "Grandma Carolyn and Grandpa Jeff?"

Jeff smiled a little. "Hello Jake, hello Cameron."

"I don't believe it." Jake stepped forward and shook their hands.

"Are you boys doing okay?" Carolyn asked. "We were so sorry to hear about your mom."

Cam crossed his arms and Jeff looked over at him nervously.

Jake shrugged. "We're staying at Grandma Laura's house right now. We'll be better once Mom wakes up. So, you guys are the special doctors that are here to help Mom?"

Jeff nodded. "We're going to do everything we can save her."

Cam cleared his throat. "Excuse us…." He grabbed Jake's arm. "Come on, Jake." He prodded him to Elizabeth's room.

Carolyn smiled and waved. "It was so nice to finally meet you boys."

Cameron shut the door behind him and smacked Jake's head. "What is the matter with you?"

"What?" Jake scoffed. "They're here to help Mom."

"Why so suddenly?" Cam asked. "They've never been here for her before."

"I think they're trying to now. I emailed them a bit last year. They want to reconcile. Why is it so terrible to have grandparents?"

"We do have grandparents," Cam said. "You know? The ones who have actually been there for us. Grandma Laura, Grandpa Scott, even your Grandma Monica. Grandpa Scott texted me earlier, he wants to take us out for dinner to get our minds off things. That's what grandparents do. They don't stay out of your lives then suddenly show up randomly one day."

"So, you're saying that if Lucky contacted us and wanted to make up for lost time, you wouldn't want to give him a chance?" Jake asked.

Cam ran his hand through his hair. "Well, he has been in contact sporadically. And he Zoom chats with Aiden regularly… but yeah, I don't know."

"Because life is too short to hold grudges," Jake said. "I already lost my dad, and we might lose Mom too. I don't want to push people away who want to be there for us. I really think they do want to make amends. Who cares about the past? If Dad wasn't dead and decided he wanted to spend time with me, the same way he did with Danny, then I'd let him. I wouldn't begrudge him. Before he died, I probably would've felt differently. But after losing him, I know I'd give him a chance."

"But we have to think about Mom," Cam said. "There is no way she'd want them here. Not after everything they did to her. She didn't even like them contacting you, Jake. She won't want them around us."

GHGHGH

Liesl finally arrived at the hospital and made her way to Terry's office. "What is it, Britta? Why is this so urgent? Why do you think Willow got the wrong cells?"

"Because of this." Britt handed her the pages from Carly's file she printed off.

"What is this?"

"These are from Carly's file." Britt pointed to them. "Look at the inconsistencies from 2006 compared to now."

"But how is this possible?" Liesl asked. "It's showing two different blood types for Carly."

Britt nodded. "And look at the images of the markers. Polar opposite. Now look at these images of Willow's markers." She handed her another page.

She took it and her mouth dropped. "But… it's so close to Carly's recent markers… too close."

"Too close indeed. Do you think the lab mixed up the bloodwork? Carly got tested at a small lab in Denver. They could very well have mixed up."

"But which patient could they have mixed it up with? Who has such close markers to Willow's? It had to have been a close relative. A parent or a sibling."

"My sentiments exactly," Britt said. "But I'm worried about Willow. She's been in terrible shape today. Terry and I thought it was just the normal side effects from the transplant. But if she received the wrong cells, could it give her a setback?"

"We need to get to the bottom of this," Liesl said. "Call the lab here and I will call the lab in Denver."

GHGHGH

Nina watched Willow sleep for a few moments before she rose. "You need to pull through this." She glanced down at the baby who was also asleep. "I'll come check on you both soon. I will do anything for both of you."

She stepped out to the hallway to find the guard just outside of Willow's room. "Please keep your eyes peeled while I'm gone. You have the pictures. Don't allow Madeline Reeves, Heather Webber, Ryan Chamberlain, or Dex Heller in. If you see any sign of them, call the police immediately and then call me."

She headed down the hall but as she started to turn the corner she bumped right into Josslyn.

Josslyn set her hands on her hips. "Well, well. If it isn't Miss Homewrecker herself."

Nina sighed. "Josslyn, it's been a long day. A long week more like it…. Willow is asleep, so if you visit her, I suggest a short one or wait until later."

Josslyn scoffed. "Now that you realize you have a blood tie, you think you get to control Willow and who gets to see her?"

"I never said that. My only concern is that the baby's kidnappers don't get in to see her."

"Well, I think you need to leave. Willow doesn't want you here. You're only going to cause her more stress."

"That's not true. Willow and I made peace."

Josslyn laughed. "Yeah right. Willow hates you. You'll never be a part of her life and you're going to stay the he ll away from my niece and nephew."

Nina clenched her jaw. "That isn't up to you. That's up to Willow."

"You need to leave."

"Says who?"

"Says me," Josslyn said. "And my mom. She told me to make sure you stay away from Willow and the baby."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"You will if I have anything to say about!"

"You don't have a say," Nina said through gritted teeth.

Josslyn shoved her to the ground and jumped on her.

Nina struggled underneath her. "What are you doing?"

"Stay away from my family!" She slapped her.

"What's going on over here?" The guard from Willow's room approached them.

"Get off me, little girl!" Nina shouted.

The guard bent over and pulled Josslyn off of Nina.

GHGHGH

When Morgan and Nelle arrived back at the house, the car was gone from the driveway and the house was empty. Even the police cars and ambulances were gone from next door.

"You don't think the police took Lin away, do you?" Nelle asked.

"I hope not," Morgan said. "Times like these I wish we had a phone."

"But where's the baby?"

"I don't know."

"What do we do?"

Morgan shrugged. "I guess just go to bed and see if she returns by morning. If not, then I don't know."

GHGHGH

Madeline wore a scarf around her face and made sure to take the stairs at GH to ensure she wasn't spotted. She reached the fourth floor and peeked around the corner. A large man was gripping a young, blonde woman who was yelling at Nina. Madeline crept across the hall and opened the door to Willow's room, shutting it carefully behind her.

She removed the scarf and approached Willow's bedside. "Hello, Kali dear." She kissed her forehead.

Willow's eyes slowly opened, and she gaped up at her. "Lin? Am I in Heaven?"

"No, dear. You're still alive and your guardian angel is here to see you."