AN:

After nearly a year I am back. I hope you enjoy this new chapter.

~Kelly~

PS

Thanks to Adri and Liv for all your help.

Chapter Eight

Maxie smiled when Nikolas Cassadine walked into Kelly's. She had heard about his argument with Elizabeth on the docks. It seemed as if the prince was finally seeing Elizabeth for what she really was.

"I'm so sorry about Lucky. How are you doing Nikolas?" Maxie asked as she poured Nikolas a cup of coffee.

"I'm adjusting. I saw you at Lucky's funeral. Why did you hide in the back?"

"I don't think Elizabeth would have wanted me there."

"You shouldn't have let Elizabeth stop you. Lucky was your friend too." Nikolas pointed out to the young woman.

Maxie smiled at Nikolas' words. 'This was almost too easy.' "Yeah. Lucky was amazing after Jesse died. I don't know what I would have done without him."

"He mentioned how much you helped him. Especially after he and Elizabeth started having trouble."

"You mean after she started cheating on him with Patrick Drake?" Maxie practically snapped, slamming the coffee pot down.

"Elizabeth loved Lucky. I can't see her..."

Maxie immediately scoffed at Nikolas. "I know she's your friend. Maybe... maybe that's why Lucky never said anything. He saw them go into a hotel."

"No, he never told me that. Why you?"

"I guess he trusted me. After Jesse died we got closer. In fact... I never got the chance to tell Lucky. I hope he would have been happy." Maxie started vaguely. She needed Nikolas on her side for her plan to work.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm pregnant." Maxie admitted after several minutes of silence.

"And it's my brother's." Nikolas asked the question filled with doubt.

"Of course it is."

"How convenient for you he's dead."

"I loved Lucky and I know he loved me."

"Fine. You say this baby is Lucky's, I want proof. Real proof. In the mean time I suggest you keep this to yourself."

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Mac carefully approached the nurses' desk. He hated having to do this. Elizabeth Spencer had already been though so much. "Elizabeth can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure Mac just give me a second." Elizabeth said motioning towards the waiting area. She quickly finished her files and joined Mac. "Is something wrong?"

"First, I want to say how incredibly sorry I am. Losing Lucky the way you did can't be easy."

"Thank you." Elizabeth told the police commissioner. She felt uncomfortable accepting people's condolences because she wasn't mourning Lucky. In fact, she barely thought about him being gone. "That isn't why you're though, is it?"

"No. We found something during the autopsy... something I need to speak with you about."

"The autopsy? I... I don't understand. Lucky fell off the roof."

"It's standard procedure." Mac said reassuringly. "We found drugs in Lucky's system. Would you know anything about that?"

Elizabeth was completely shocked. Never in a million years would Elizabeth have suspected this. "Drugs? No. I had no idea. We... we had been having trouble. I never imagined..."

"I hate to ask you this, but its part of my job."

"It's okay just ask me."

"Someone has been stealing drugs from the hospital. Now with this new information, I can't help but wonder..."

"I was not stealing for Lucky. I wouldn't risk my job to steal drugs!" Elizabeth yelled drawing several people's attention.

"Calm down, I know Elizabeth. I had to ask though."

"Is that it? Because my break is over."

"We're done." Mac said standing up. "I really am sorry Elizabeth."

"Me too." Elizabeth whispered as Mac walked off. "Me too."

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"Thank you for meeting me." Alexis said as Jason sat down at the table. She wasn't sure he would even show up. After some badgering, Jason finally agreed to meet her at the Metro Court.

"Just tell me what you want so I can leave."

"Fine. I want you to stay away from Sam."

Jason simply shook his head. He should have known this was about Sam. Why couldn't anyone listen to me? "I broke up with Sam months ago. I'm not going back to her."

"She thinks you are going to change your mind."

"I'm sorry, but what do you want from me."

"What do I want? Well for starters, I want all my children to be safe. I can't do anything about Sonny but you I can do something about."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Let me simplify it for you. You need to make Sam believe there's no hope of you getting back together. As long as she has hope Sam will never let you go." Alexis pressed, trying to make Jason see her point.

"Is that all you wanted?"

Alexis stared at Jason. She was frustrated. She asked him, "When you looked in the mirror and were alone, what did you think of? Did you think of Sam?" She asked him all this in a low and moderate tone, standing very close to him, looking up into his piercing eyes. She waited for his answer as he shuffled a little bit but held his ground.

Jason looked down at Alexis and he silently took his time, thinking about what she said. Did he think about Sam, did he miss her, did he long for her? Curiously the answer was no, he really did not. Sam however did not seem to understand that. Alexis, he hated to say it or think it ,was right. "Sam isn't my problem anymore." He said almost coldly before walking away.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

When Mac told Elizabeth about Lucky she had been shocked. As the day wore on Elizabeth got angry. She knew Lucky had changed after Jesse's death. She couldn't over look his anger or his accusations about Patrick. At the time Elizabeth had ignored Lucky's behavior. She didn't want to see what her husband was doing.

Looking back however, Elizabeth could see all the signs. The mood swings, the accusations, his erratic behavior, all of it pointed to drug use. Elizabeth cursed herself for not seeing it sooner.

What hurt the most was Mac suggesting she stole for Lucky. She loved being a nurse. Elizabeth loved knowing she was making a difference. Especially now that she was assisting in surgeries. Nothing would ever make her risk that. Not even Lucky.

"Elizabeth dear, are you okay?" Audrey asked when she saw Elizabeth sitting on the sofa.

"Not really Grams. Mac came to see me at work today. It seems Lucky was on drugs."

"Oh dear, I know that must have hurt." Audrey said immediately reaching out to comfort her granddaughter.

Elizabeth shrugged off Audrey and stood. She started to pace the room as she got her thoughts in order. "Hurt? Hurt? I am pissed. That bastard... how could he do this? You know Mac asked if I was stealing drugs for Lucky?"

"I'm sure he was just doing his job."

"I know Grams. I'm not angry with Mac. Lucky did this and I can't... He's dead Grams what am I supposed to do?"