Chapter 5
While Luke, Laura, and Robert were facing unknown territory, the town of Port Charles was doing so as well. The Spencer family was still shaking with the loss of Laura and Luke. Tracy relayed to LuLu the same details she told Lucky about Luke's death. LuLu was in utter disbelief. She now understood how her nephew, Spencer, feels. She is an orphan. Both of her parents are gone and although she has a little family of her own now, no one else can replace the love and presence of her parents. While, LuLu was being comforted by Dante and her children, Kevin and Spencer were beginning to feel the loss of Laura. And they felt it hard.
Spencer and Kevin haven't left the house since the day of the funeral. Kevin tried to get Spencer out of the house to go to the park or to Kelly's for lunch, but Spencer refused every time. He told Kevin that everywhere in Port Charles reminds him of his grandmother. Kevin understands. He's afraid that if he goes to Kelly's and overhears someone ordering Laura's favorite salad, he would just break down and cry.
Spencer and Kevin were sitting on the couch, in their pajamas, eating Chinese take-out for lunch when Kevin decided it was time to talk to Spencer about school. Kevin said, "Spencer, it's been over a week since you've been to school. Do you want to go back to boarding school or do you want to come stay in Port Charles and go to school at the local public school?".
Spencer replied, "I want to come home".
"Not that I would mind in the slightest, but I thought Port Charles reminds you too much of your grandmother."
"It does, but its lonelier over in France. At least here, I have you and all my other aunts and uncles."
"You, Spencer Cassadine, wouldn't mind going to public school?"
"HaHa. Very funny Kevin. If it keeps me with my family and not overseas by myself, then yes, I would rather go to public school."
"Then its settled. I'll have your things shipped back here and I'll enroll you in school next week."
While Kevin and Spencer were finishing their lunch, the doorbell rang. Kevin and Spencer looked at each other in confusion. They weren't expecting anyone. Kevin cleaned his mouth and got up to answer the door. When he opened the door, he was surprised at the unannounced guest.
"Tracy Quartermaine. As I live and breathe", said Kevin.
"Doctor Kevin Collins, I see you have no sense of style these days", said Tracy eying his pajama attire.
"Come in. Sorry for the mess. We were just finishing lunch."
Tracy entered and greeted Spencer. "Hello Spencer. I'm sorry about your grandmother. She was a good friend of mine. I know you were very special to her."
Spencer gave a small smile. "Thank you. She was very special to me, too. I assume you didn't come here to talk to me, so I'll excuse myself to my room. Thank you again for your condolences."
Tracy and Kevin watched as Spencer went upstairs. Kevin invited Tracy to sit on the couch with him to talk. Tracy said, "He's a great kid. He's gone through a lot being so young".
Kevin replied, "Yes. He has. But I don't think you are here to talk to me about Spencer. So, Tracy why are you here?".
"You cut to the chase. I like it better that way. Kevin, Luke is dead."
Kevin's jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"
"Yes. He left for a walk and the next thing I know the coroner is telling me he had a brain aneurysm that killed him."
"I am so sorry Tracy. Laura told me how much you loved him. Do Lucky and LuLu know?"
"Thank you. And yes. I told them. LuLu is in complete shock that both her parents are dead in a matter of days."
"And Lucky? He was supposed to be spending his days here, but he hasn't come by once and I couldn't reach him. I just assumed he was staying with LuLu, Bobbie, or even Elizabeth."
"Lucky ran away."
"How could he run away? He should be here for his sister, his kids, the rest of his family for God's sake!"
"Kevin, you don't know Lucky like I do. He's his father's son. He runs away when things get too complicated. When he found out about his mother's rape, he ran away from home because it was too much to process. It's what he does. Do not hold this against him."
Kevin sighed. Tracy was right. This is Lucky's way of handling difficult, complex times. He stays inside for days eating Chinese take-out and Lucky runs off to unknown land. Different strokes for different folks. Kevin said, "Yet again Tracy, I am so sorry for your loss. But is that the only reason why you came here?".
Tracy replied, "No. I wanted to check up on you". Before Kevin could say anything, Tracy said, "I know, I know. That doesn't sound like the real Tracy Quatermaine, but Laura was my friend. I know she would want me to see how you are doing. And it helps me deal with my loss by focusing on something else other than Luke not being alive anymore".
"Thank you. That is very kind of you." Kevin sighed. "I miss her terribly. Spencer is a wreck. I don't know what to do. I never had children. How do I raise him by myself?"
"I know this isn't exactly the same, but when Lesley couldn't take care of LuLu anymore she sent LuLu to Luke. Well, you know Luke. He didn't know how to raise his daughter without Laura. So, I stepped in. LuLu was difficult, but I kept watching out for her because she needed someone. Spencer needs you. You'll be able to do this because one look in that kid's eyes and you'll see Laura. You'll do it for Laura the same way I looked in LuLu's eyes and saw a lost Luke and did it for him."
Kevin grabbed Tracy's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you. If I didn't know it, I would think you were a shrink."
Tracy laughed. "Thanks, but no thanks. I can barely keep myself and the rest of the Quartermaines in line. I could never keep other people's mental health in check."
Tracy got up to leave. Kevin followed her to the door. Kevin held out his arms and asked for a hug. "I know you aren't the most affectionate person, but I think we both need a hug."
Tracy smiled and said, "One hug. For Luke and Laura". She went into Kevin's arms and the two acquaintances hugged each other in memory of their lost loved ones.
While Kevin and Tracy were comforting each other on their losses, Luke couldn't run into the control room fast enough. He needed to make sure that Laura was okay. He needed to get her away from Valentine Cassadine. The Cassadines have loved to prey on Laura for years. It has been their go to attack method since 1981. He needed to check on her and see that she was fine. He had a gut feeling that something was wrong, so he began running faster down the hall. Robert was running right behind him on the way to the control room. "Spencer! Wait up! You're ancient! How are you running so fast?", asked Robert.
Luke gave a quick reply. "For Laura."
The two men arrived in the control room. It looks the same as it did almost 37 years ago, but different. It has definitely been updated with new technology. But before they even noticed the updated room, they saw that Laura wasn't in the room. The only other person in the room was who Laura said it was going to be: Valentine Cassadine. He was sitting in the main chair infront of all the control with an impish grin on his face. Luke stared at the Cassadine as if he were Satan incarnated. Valentine has taken too much from the people Luke loves most. He was going to put an end to this man, even if it killed him. Before Luke could say anything, Valentine stood up and addressed the two men.
Valentine smirked at Luke and Robert and said, "Well, we finally get to meet. Luke Spencer, I have heard many, many things about you. And Robert Scorpio. Anna has told me many things about you".
"All bad I hope" replied Luke and Robert simultaneously.
Before Valentine could get another word in, Luke shouted, "Where is Laura?!".
Valentine smirked and said, "She's been taken care of".
Robert interjected before Luke could ruin any chances of getting answers from this man. "What did you do to her?"
Valentine responded, "Like I said, Laura Spencer Collins has been taken care of. Oh. Ouch. That must kill you, Luke".
Luke replied, "What must kill me? The fact that you killed my son and daughter's brother, took Laura's son from her and made her feel an unsurmountable amount of pain, kidnapped all of us, or hiding Laura from us? You pick".
Valentine said, "Well, I was thinking the fact that she married someone, who in my opinion is way above you. She even changed her name. She must have been sick of being connected to you all her life. But I would assume the other things too. Even though, there is no proof that I killed Nikolas. It is a known mobster's word against mine. And my record is cleaner than hers".
"You are scum, man, pure scum. You are a bastard. Everyone knows you killed Nikolas. Your record doesn't need to prove anything. You are a wackjob just like your nutty father. And if your father or Helena knew you killed their precious Prince Nikolas, nothing would stop them from destroying you! You don't scare me. I faced down your kind before and I survived. Now, tell me where Laura is!", roared Luke.
"Spencer, calm down. You won't get answers when you yell at him like a neanderthal", whispered Robert.
"Fine. Will you pretty please, with a cherry on top tell me what you did with Laura?", Luke asked with an annoyed attitude.
Valentine laughed and said, "Humor doesn't sit well when negotiating with me, Luke Spencer".
Luke rolled his eyes. "Fine. What do you want? I'll give you anything. Just let Laura go. Robert and I will do anything. Tell us what you did to Laura. Tell us where she is. Tell us anything, Cassadine."
"I'll tell you what I did with Laura, if you do something for me in return", said Valentine mischievously.
Robert and Luke simultaneously said, "Anything".
Valentine responded, "One of you must stay here with me and program the new weather machine. My father wrote down a world domination plan in his will. It was to be given to the eldest, living son. Some details are fuzzy. There are some blanks in his plan. The only other people who witnessed the weather machine that are still alive are the two of you and Laura. One of you must stay with me to program the machine and the other one can go find Laura".
"You can't be telling us all of this so easily. That isn't how a Cassadine works. Why are you being so straightforward?", asked Luke suspiciously.
Valentine replied, "I knew the only way one of you would help me was if I used Laura as bait. If my memory of Helena, Stavors, and Stefan's stories serve me correct, then you would move heaven and earth for your precious Laura. Don't you consider her your "Angel"? I don't know why. She has a murder record, unlike myself who has a clean record. David Hamilton. One of Joe Scully's thugs. Rick Webber. Oh, yes. She was proven innocent in that murder case. Is that all? Or are there more we don't know about?".
Robert questioned Valentine before Luke lost control, "What kind of blanks are in the will? How do you think we'll remember something that happened almost forty years ago? I don't remember what I had for dinner the other night, let alone something decades ago! And what's the catch, Cassadine?".
"You're smart, Scorpio. Just as Anna told me. Anyway, my father didn't leave me the password to activate the weather machine and there is another code to not only apply the weather machine to Port Charles, but to the whole world. The catch, well, one of you has to find Laura before the weather machine is programmed or let's just say Laura will never go home. Oh. And if the weather machine isn't programmed in less than forty eight hours and you haven't found her, Laura will not be saved. She's a goner anyway you look at it" said Valentine.
"I'll go find Laura and you stay and help this bastard" whispered Luke to Robert.
"Are you sure?", asked Robert.
"What's the rule, Robert?", asked Luke.
Robert responded, without hesitation, "Laura's safety comes first. Always".
Valentine interjected, "So, who is staying and who is searching for Laura?".
Robert responded, "Luke will search for Laura and I'll help you. Saying the end of that sentence made me vomit in my mouth".
"Now that we are giving you what you want, tell me where I can find Laura, Cassadine", said Luke ignoring Robert's swipe at Valentine.
"Well, since you both agreed so quickly, I'll give you one hint. She's somewhere both near and far", replied Valentine.
Luke dashed out of the control room. Where was somewhere both near and far?