Chapter 93- Nelle's Version of Events

Alexis' eyes fluttered open to find Molly sitting at her bedside. She had oxygen tubes in her nose. "Molly? Where's Sam? Is she okay?"

Molly held her hand. "Kristina and Dante are with her. She lost a lot of blood. She's awake but very weak."

"I need to see her…." Alexis pulled out her tubes.

"I don't know if this is a good idea. I'll ask Lucas."

GHGHGH

Where are you? Felicia read a text from Maxie. Georgie needs you. She's asking for you.

Felicia bit her lip and winced as Elizabeth finished stitching her shoulder.

"There you go," Elizabeth said. "You can make an appointment at the desk to get the stitches removed in two weeks."

"Thank you," Felicia said.

"Esme, your x-ray has been scheduled 30 minutes from now," Elizabeth said. "I will check on you again soon."

After Elizabeth left, Felicia pulled her chair closer to Esme's stretcher, where she sat clutching Ace and staring at the wall.

"Frankie, sweetie, I know you're scared," Felicia said. "But you and Ace are safe now. Georgie would also like to see me. Maxie is here. Would you be okay with Maxie coming to sit with you for a few minutes while I check on Georgie? Then I'll come right back."

Esme turned to her. "Right back?"

Felicia nodded. "And you won't be alone. Maxie will be here."

"Okay."

Felicia kissed the side of Esme's head, then texted Maxie back: I'm in the ER with Esme. Can you come here and sit with her while I go see Georgie?

Okay, Maxie texted back.

GHGHGH

Mac gaped at Nina. "I had to shoot her. She was going to kill my wife."

"You're a police officer," Nina said. "Isn't shooting someone supposed to be last resort?"

"Yes. And it was. If she wasn't inches away from stabbing Felicia to death, I wouldn't have shot her."

They turned when Patrick walked out, and Mac stepped aside.

"How is Nelle?" Nina asked. "How's my daughter?"

"She made it through the surgery," Patrick said.

Nina sighed in relief.

"She was lucky," Patrick continued. "The bullet didn't hit any organs or major arteries. She's going to make a full recovery. You may go see her. She should be waking up any time now."

"Thank you, Patrick."

GHGHGH

Lucas, Michael, and Josslyn sat around Carly's bedside holding the babies.

"So, what are you naming the third baby since she's a girl?" Michael asked, as he cradled her in his arms.

"I'm still calling her Jason," Carly said.

"Good call, Mom," Josslyn said. "Sonny, Carly, and Jason just fits."

"They're beautiful," Lucas said. "I had no idea Nelle had you locked in the basement."

Carly shook her head. "Nelle is a psychotic lunatic. Do you know what else was in the basement with me?"

"No," Lucas said. "I still haven't heard about everything that went down."

"She kept four dead bodies down there. One of them was… was… Mama." Carly started crying.

Lucas paled. "What?"

"I don't understand," Michael said. "I thought they found Grandma's body."

"They did, but Nelle must've gotten a hold of it somehow," Carly said.

Lucas' eyes welled up. "That is so disrespectful… no… heartless… cruel… evil to do that to Mom's body. Do you think Nelle killed her?"

"I don't know," Carly said. "I wouldn't put it past her."

"So, she tried to kill Sam's mother, possibly my mother, and I don't know if she's targeted Felicia—Esme's mother," Lucas commented. "She wanted to replace them."

There was a knock on the door and a woman walked in. "Hello, Carly Spencer? I'm Patricia Dawson from children's services. Unless a family member is willing to take the babies, I'm afraid I'll have to take them with me while you're under investigation."

Carly looked at her horrified. "You can't take my babies. Not after what we just went through."

"I'm sorry, but if a family member doesn't step up, then I need to take them," the social worker said.

"I'll take them," Josslyn said. "Spencer and I can temporarily care for them. Then you can see them whenever you want, Mom."

Carly nodded. "That's probably the best alternative."

"But Miss Jacks is also currently under investigation after the shooting," the social worker said.

Carly clenched her jaw. "Michael, will you take them?"

Michael sighed. "Mom, I'm already swamped taking care of Amelia. I know there's always someone at the Quartermaines willing to help out, but I wouldn't be able to give them the attention they deserve. Especially since I'm trying to get Wiley back into my custody."

"I'd be happy to take them," Lucas spoke up.

"Are you sure?" Carly asked.

Lucas nodded and smiled down at little Sonny.

GHGHGH

"Excuse me, Elizabeth?" Jordan asked when she reached the nurse's desk with another officer. "Can you tell me what room Nelle Benson is in? We're here to arrest her."

Elizabeth nodded. "She's in room 432."

GHGHGH

Nina held Nelle's hand and pressed it against her cheek. "Come on, honey. It's okay. Patrick Drake said you're going to make a full recovery. You're strong. You survived falling off a cliff, so I know you're going to pull through this."

Nelle's eyes slowly opened.

"That's it." Nina smiled. "Hi honey."

Nelle looked up at her. "Nina?"

"Yes, it's me. Your mom. You were shot in the chest. I just gave Mac some words about it. Are you okay?"

Nelle nodded.

"They uh… Lucas said you stabbed Sam, and Mac said you were going to stab Felicia," Nina said. "What exactly happened?"

Nelle licked her lips. "Nina… Mom… can I call you Mom?'

Nina stroked her hair. "Absolutely. I would love that."

"Mom…. They were threatening to take Esme and Wiley away. I have custody of Wiley now and they're not happy. And no one is happy that Esme chose to live with me."

Nina raised an eyebrow. "So, you stabbed them?"

"It was self-defense," Nelle said. "You have to believe me. I couldn't let them hurt Esme and Wiley. I was trying to protect them."

"Why was Esme living with you?" Nina asked. "I don't understand why you kept calling Esme, Sam, and Lucas your children…."

Nelle teared up. "I've just always wanted a family. I didn't think you wanted me."

Nina started crying. "I've always wanted you. I always will. You and Willow are everything to me."

"And Sasha," Nelle reminded her. "The way you feel about Sasha is how I feel about Esme. I want to protect Esme and Wiley the way I was never protected. I wanted that for Sam and Lucas too, but they turned against me."

"Well, I think it would be wonderful for you and Esme to be friends," Nina said. "I'm very close to her sister and I'm friends with Felicia too. I don't know if Esme wants you for a mother though. But you have my full support in developing a friendship with Esme."

"But Esme, Wiley, and Ace are my family, not just friends," Nelle said. "And I want more than anything for you to be a part of our family too."

Nina smiled again. "I would love that. Your sister Willow too."

"I don't know about Willow. She hates me. But maybe you could be a part of it."

"Yes!" Nina said. "I want to. I want to be part of your family."

"Then can you help me?" Nelle asked.

"Help you how?" Nina asked.

"I'm really worried about Esme. Sam and Lucas terrorized us tonight. Then Mac and Felicia arrived and made it worse. I really want to check on Esme to make sure she's okay. Will you take me to see her?"

"But you just had surgery…."

"I'll be fine if you push me in a wheelchair," Nelle said. "I know I'll always be fine as long as you're with me. I know you would do the same if you were worried about Sasha."

Nina pondered it. "And for you and Willow too."

Nelle grinned. "I knew you'd understand, Mom."

GHGHGH

Molly wheeled Alexis into Sam's room where Dante and Kristina were sitting at her bedside. Sam was pale, sweaty, and unconscious.

"How is she?" Alexis asked.

"She still hasn't woken up," Dante said. "Dr. Randolph said she's gone into Hypovolemic shock. They have her on fluids and she's had a blood transfusion."

Alexis kissed Sam's hand. "Come on, Cookie, you can pull through this."

GHGHGH

Jordan and the officer entered Nelle's hospital room.

"Ms. Benson?" Jordan glanced at the empty bed.

GHGHGH

Felicia stepped out into the hallway to speak to Maxie. "How's Georgie?"

"She's been diagnosed with hypoglycemia," Maxie explained. "They injected her with a glucagon. She's already starting to feel better, but they're keeping her overnight. What happened to your shoulder?"

"Nelle stabbed me."

Maxie gasped. "What? I knew she was bad news when she came to Esme's party."

"I know. I'm going to be fine. It wasn't deep and I got stitches. Esme's waiting for an x-ray. Nelle locked her in the house, so she tried to escape through the window with Ace. I think she broke her leg."

"Why would she go stay with Nelle in the first place?" Maxie asked. "I was appalled when you told me."

"Maxie, she didn't know what Nelle is like. Look, I need to go see Georgie. Please just keep Esme company. I love you." Felicia hugged her, then took off down the hallway.

Maxie took a deep breath, then walked into the room. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

Esme shrugged and looked down at Ace who was sleeping in her lap.

Maxie sat beside her. "Listen, Esme. I'm glad you and Ace got out. But I hope you can learn something from this. When everyone around you—especially your family—is warning you about someone, it's probably not the best idea to move your baby in with that person. And what do you have against Mac? He's the best stepdad ever. We can't get better than him. You need to trust us—"

"Ahhh… Ahhhhh…. Ahhhhhhhhh!"

Ace jerked awake at Esme's scream.

Maxie looked at her. "What's wrong?" She turned at the opened door to see Nina wheeling Nelle into the room.