Chapter 27

Gia felt bad as she was handed a momentary lapse at the hospital. She knew Sonny was concerned about her and despite all his calls she still had not spoken to him. Sighing heavily Gia stepped outside and quickly called him on her cell phone.

Sonny- Corinthos...
Gia- [smiling] Is that how you always answer the phone?
Sonny- Gia... where have you been? I been calling you constantly and...
Gia- I was at home getting myself in order...
Sonny- You could have picked up the phone and told me. I was on the verge of coming over there myself and...
Gia- All you had to do was ask the guard on me... he would’ve told you I was fine.
Sonny- Guard? What...
Gia- Sonny... my other brother "is" Marcus Taggert. Don’t you think I noticed the guy constantly following me?
Sonny- He’s for you protection. You being my sister...
Gia- I know Sonny...
Sonny- Gia...
Gia- I’m fine… you don’t have to worry.
Sonny- Why haven’t you answered your phone or...
Gia- I wasn’t ready to face or talk to anyone.
Sonny- I’m concerned...
Gia- I’m fine...
Sonny- Where are you now?
Gia- I’m at the hospital and...
Sonny- You have not been there either.
Gia- I changed shifts with someone at the last second so I could have a little time to myself.
Sonny- Leave...
Gia- Sonny I can’t do that...
Sonny- Yes you can...
Gia- It’s my job... no matter what’s going on in my life...
Sonny- I saw him yesterday...
Gia- You saw who?
Sonny- Gerald...
Gia- What... why...
Sonny- He and Mike ran into each other in Kelly's and I had to go in there to play the peacemaker...
Gia- [smiling] You the peacemaker?
Sonny- Yes... aren’t I always?
Gia- If you say so... [sighing] what did you say to him?
Sonny- It doesn’t matter.
Gia- Yes it does. I want... I want to know why he’s here and what he wants.
Sonny- Gia...
Gia- Sonny I want to know...
Sonny- I’m not going to let him hurt you.
Gia- I know and I won’t either... but I want to know what he said.
Sonny- I...
Gia- [shaking her head] Forget it... he didn’t hurt Mike did he?
Sonny- You don’t have to worry about Mike...
Gia- Mike is ok isn’t he?
Sonny- Yes...
Gia- [softly] I’m not going to leave him or you just because Gerald is back.
Sonny- I know...
Gia- Tell Mike that too...
Sonny- He knows as well.
Gia- Good... I have to go and...
Sonny- What are you doing when you get off of work?
Gia- After I sleep for couple of hours absolutely nothing...
Sonny- You’re doing something now...
Gia- Huh?
Sonny- You’re coming over here for dinner and...
Gia- I don’t know Sonny...
Sonny- Come on... I insist...
Gia- I don’t really feel like sitting through an entire dinner with some chick staring holes through me.
Sonny- You won’t... it’ll just be you and me.
Gia- Seriously?
Sonny- Yes... I want to cook dinner for my sister and enjoy her company.
Gia- It’ll just be you and me?
Sonny- Yes...
Gia- No Johnny? No Jason?
Sonny- No...
Gia- No Jake? No...
Sonny- No anybody... I told you... just you and me.
Gia- [softly smiling] Ok...
Sonny- Ok?
Gia- Yeah... I would love to come over and have dinner with my big brother.
Sonny- Good...
Gia- If you see Mike tell him... [shaking her head] I’ll call Mike myself...
Sonny- Whatever you want...
Gia- I want this all to go away...
Sonny- Gia...
Gia- I’ll see you tomorrow about seven ok...
Sonny- Call me if you need me…
Gia- [softly] I will...
Sonny- Gia...
Gia- I’ll cal you Sonny ok...

Quickly hanging up Gia trying to concentrate on the time left she had at the hospital. Breathing deeply before entering Gia tried to lose herself in the activity that swirled around the emergency room. Seeing Kamar once or twice the most Gia could so was wave and continue on with her work. As another lull came about Gia headed to the lounge in search of some coffee. Seeing Dr. Oliver enter the lounge Gia quickly made her way to locker hoping she would not have to engage in any type of conversation with her.

Dr. Oliver- I see you’ve finally returned...
Gia- Yes Dr. Oliver...
Dr. Oliver- Dr. Campbell I would suggest you find another choice of careers soon.
Gia- Why would you say that?
Dr. Oliver- It is fairly obvious to me that you lack the proper dedication this job ensues.
Gia- How do you see that?
Dr. Oliver- It is extremely unprofessional to not only not come into work but to not call...
Gia- I did call... I exchanged shifts with Martinez and...
Dr. Oliver- You were given that shift for a particular reason and...
Gia- And something came up that I had to deal with.
Dr. Oliver- Regardless...
Gia- I had to switch shifts... there’s nothing I can do about that now.
Dr. Oliver- I would suggest you watch your tone Dr. Campbell.
Gia- Do you have a problem with me?
Dr. Oliver- No... I just do not accept incompetence in my interns...
Gia- Incompetence... I am doing the best that I can...
Dr. Oliver- [shaking her head] If this is your best you are in for a rude awakening.
Gia- [softly as she rummaged in her locker] Whatever...
Dr. Oliver- If you can not take proper criticism then...
Gia- [turning towards Oliver finally fed up with her attitude] I can take criticism but I’m a little tired of what I’m constantly getting from you.
Dr. Oliver- [smirking] And what would that be?
Gia- You tell me...
Dr. Oliver- I will not accept this attitude from you. If you continue...
Gia- [slamming her locker as she walked out of the room] Do what you have to do.

Not stopping until she was well out of Dr. Oliver’s line of view Gia collapsed against the wall shocked that she lost her composure. Dr. Oliver already had it out for her and the last thing she wanted to do was anger her more. Sighing knowing that some form of disciplinary action would come because of her outburst Gia slowly walked back to the ER knowing a patient would soon come in and distract her.

Chapter 28

His phone had been ringing steadily all day long and as of yet he still was in no mood to speak with anyone. Coming to Port Charles, except for a moment or two, had been the biggest mistake he had made in a long long time. His and Helena’s plan was no closer to fruition much to Helena’s dismay but he was not ready to move it into action. His plans for Lucky seemed to form anew after each encounter with him. And Gia... shaking his head he pushed thoughts of Gia from him. She had been haunting his dreams and the more he thought about her the more he knew he would be able to break the hold she already had of him. The constant ringing of the phone finally getting to him Nikolas hastily jerked the phone from its receiver.

Nikolas- [rudely] What do you want?
Stefan- Nikolas...
Nikolas- What?
Stefan- Have you not heard my calls?
Nikolas- Yes I heard them.
Stefan- Yet you chose to leave them unanswered?
Nikolas- I didn’t deem them important.
Stefan- "You didn’t deem them important" Nikolas I can not stress enough...
Nikolas- [interrupting him] What do you want Stefan?
Stefan- I would like to speak with you...
Nikolas- Well you have...
Stefan- Nikolas... I want to speak with you face to face. Come to Wyndermere...
Nikolas- [shaking his head] No...
Stefan- [faintly smiling] It was not an invitation nor a request...
Nikolas- Meaning...
Stefan- Come to Wyndermere now.
Nikolas- And if I choose not to?
Stefan- [as he hung up] You won’t...

Nikolas could not believe Stefan had hung up on him. It would serve him right if he did not show up at all. Wyndermere was definitely the last place he wanted to be. Good thoughts of Stefan he long pressed to forget somehow always rushed back to him the moment he walked through the door. Momentarily he even believed Stefan to love him but the words of Helena chased those thoughts quickly away. Steeling himself as he slowly made his way to Wyndermere on the launch Nikolas why Stefan was demanding to see him now. Flashing a brief smile at Mrs. Lansbury Nikolas made his way to Stefan’s office. Entering Nikolas observed Stefan at his desk, inches of worry stretched across his face. Staring at him as he went to sit before him Nikolas sighed before beginning the conversation.

Stefan- What is your problem Nikolas?
Nikolas- I have none...
Stefan- From the moment you arrived back in Port Charles you seemed to have changed and I am concerned about you.
Nikolas- [shaking his head] There is no need to be concerned...
Stefan- I think there is...
Nikolas- What is all this "concern" coming from?
Stefan- How long have you been in Port Charles Nikolas?
Nikolas- Why should that matter?
Stefan- [nodding] I see you have become very good at avoidance...
Nikolas- [shaking his head tired of Stefan’s continued questioning] What is this all about?
Stefan- What is your excuse for not alerting your mother of your return?
Nikolas- "My mother" you summoned me here about Laura?
Stefan- Nikolas...
Nikolas- No Stefan... I can not begin to imagine why my not calling Laura should have any bearing on you.
Stefan- She is your mother Nikolas...
Nikolas- [yelling as he stood] She has never once acted like one.
Stefan- Nikolas...
Nikolas- For as long as I can remember Laura was never once concerned if I lived or died. The only time I was of little importance to her was when I was the key to saving Leslie Lu’s life.
Stefan- Why would you think such a thing?
Nikolas- Think what you want about Laura but in my eyes she is no more my mother than she is yours.
Stefan- Nikolas...
Nikolas- What? [fanning his hands] Did she come to you with fake tears questioning you why I treated her so bad?
Stefan- No...
Nikolas- Then am I to assume she called you on the phone... voice full of sorrow... and you fell for her lies?
Stefan- What has caused this change in you Nikolas?
Nikolas- Reality... I see things clearly for the first time.
Stefan- Then your vision is skewed...
Nikolas- [shaking his head] No what’s skewed is you thinking you could change my opinions of Laura and of you.
Stefan- What of me? has your opinions of me changed as well?

Looking at Stefan without responding Nikolas simply shook his head before turning his back on him and walking out.

Stefan- [rushing behind Nikolas grabbing his arm] No... you are not leaving here until we...
Nikolas- [calmly without turning towards Stefan] I would suggest that you remove your hands from me.
Stefan- Nikolas...
Nikolas- I will only tell you this once again... release me...
Stefan- [releasing Nikolas] What is your problem? When...
Nikolas- [turning cold eyes towards Stefan] I wised up... I suggest you do the same.
Stefan- Nikolas...
Nikolas- [shaking his head] I do not have to answer to you. I make my own decisions. If I chose to never speak with Laura again that is my choice... you have no say so.
Stefan- Nik...

As Stefan began to speak Nikolas turned and walked out on him. On his ever-growing list of people he planned to ruin Nikolas quickly added Laura’s name. Who was she to go to Stefan and tell him of his wrongs. He had no use for her and nothing Stefan could say would change that. Exiting the launch Nikolas quickly made his way back to the hotel seeking the recluse of his penthouse.