When Everything Changes 17

Chapter 17: Unexpected Reactions...

"Stefan is your father."

"What?" Nikolas asked, with an expression of all the complete and utter shock
he was feeling. "What are you talking about?"

"I found out." She said simply.

"Does he know this?" Nikolas asked, still incredulous.

"Of course." Katherine almost laughed.

Still letting it sink in, "He told you?"

"No. Of course not." She scoffed. "But it's the truth."

He looked at her, narrowing his eyes, wondering what to believe. He didn't
know what to believe. He didn't even know which he wanted to believe. Finally,
he spoke. "You're right. Stefan is my father. He has always been my father.
This is the truth." He nodded, continuing in a calm, slow, unshaking voice.

Continuing, looking straight at Katherine, "He will always be my father. He is
the man who cared for me and raised me as his own. In this right, he is my
true father. But, he isn't my biological father. You've listened to too many
of Helena's lies over the past few months, I'm sure. She tried to convince me
that my Uncle was in love with my mother. She cannot be trusted. In time, I
hope--as does my uncle, I'm sure--you'll realized this. We've missed you." Her
mouth nearly dropped open at all of this as he smiled at her and left without
a goodbye.

~~

Ned entered the room with his coffee just minutes before the doctor did. Lois
stood up and they both looked at the doctor with then same question in their
eyes.

"Is she going to be okay?" Lois asked.

At the same time, "How is she?" Ned asked quickly.

"She made it through surgery with flying colors." The doctor said, with a
slight trace of a smile. "The internal damage was repaired without a hitch.
She's not out of the danger zone, and she's still unconscious, but she could
wake up as soon as tomorrow morning. Even if she doesn't wake up tomorrow,
that's not a bad sign. She could take up to a week to wake up. It's about
waiting for her body to adjust."

"But all of this is good news, right?" Lois asked.

"So far, so good is my opinion right now." The doctor answered.

~~

"You are still welcome to see Michael anytime." Carly told Jason for the
hundredth time.

"He's safer with you." Jason admitted. "But I'll miss you both."

"Well, don't be a stranger." Carly said with a smile. "And it's only for two
months. Once they reevaluate me, I'll be able to live in Timbuktu with Freddy
Krueger for all they care."

"I'll come to visit." Jason promised.

She smiled. "Good." Looking away, "And Jase?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry about Robin." She said softly. "I mean, I know we didn't get along,
me and Robin, but I'm sorry she's dead. And I'm sorry you're hurting."

"Thank you." He said softly. "Well... I'll see you."

"Yes, you will." She said, with a smile. She leaned up and kissed his cheek
quickly. "Bye, Jase."

"Bye."

~~

Alexis was leaving as Nikolas entered. They nearly bumped into one another.
"I'm sorry." She said with a smile. "I was just leaving."

"Could you wait a minute?" He asked her.

"Sure. Why?" She asked, looking at him quizically.

He sighed. "I ran into Katherine."

"People in this family keep doing that. I suppose I'm next on the list." She
said, shaking her head. "Your Uncle did too. He said that she seemed as though
she'd been brainwashed by Helena. Did she threaten you?"

"No." Nikolas shook his head. "But she did claim to know that Stefan was my
father. I thought it was Helena's influence as well."

"That's all it was, I'm sure." She sighed and shook her head. "Helena won't
stop until this family falls apart."

"Or until she's in control of it." Nikolas put in.

"Believe me one advocates the other." Alexis said softly. She patted Nikolas'
shoulder. "Don't let it get to you." She smiled. "Goodnight."

"Night." He said as she left.

~~

Justus entered his penthouse. "Well, well, well... time you got home, Mr.
Ward." Taggert said, stepping forward.

"What are you doing here?" Justus asked.

"Just working my social circut. Don't tell me you forgot we were having tea
today?" He smiled. "What do you *think* I'm doing here?"

"Being annoying? Badgering an innocent citizen? Breaking and entering?" Justus
suggested. "All of the above?"

"Nope. Sorry." Taggert looked around. "I don't see an innocent citizen. Do
you?"

"What are you talking about, Taggert?" Justus asked him, his eyes burning with
a hard glare.

"I think you know." Was all Taggert said before he left Justus alone in the
room, with his thoughts.

~~

"Oh. Really?" Garcia said to Eve. "Because that's not what he said."

"What are you talking about?" Eve said, with a raised eyebrow. "You're
bluffing your hand, just like you were with the bracelet that did *not* have
Devlin's blood on it."

"And the sky isn't blue." Garcia scoffed. "Next, you'll try to sell me the
Brooklyn bridge. Come on, Eve!"

"You bluff too much, Garcia. It's very unbecoming." She quipped. "So, I had
blood on my bracelet. I'm a doctor; I accidentally get blood on me two days
out of three." She sighed. "Now, is there anything else, or may I go? I am a
very busy, *free* woman and you have your killer behind bars." He didn't say
anything. "I'll take that as a yes." She smiled. "Goodbye, Dectective." She
waggled her finges in a wave and left with a smile.

~~

Jagger was on the phone at the police station. "Well, thank you, Mr. Jacks.
You've been very cooperative. We hope to be able to find the person who did
this to your fiancee` and anything else you turn up would be appriciated as
well." Pause. "Yes, sir, we will check it out." He rolled his eyes. "Yes,
someone will call if we reach any conclusions. Thank you. Goodbye."

V entered the room and say him sayng the last few words ."A tip?"

"On Brenda Barret's murder. Did you know her long lost mother was in town?"
Jagger said.

"Her mother? No. You don't think...?"

"I don't know. Mr. Jacks seems to think it's a possibility." Jagger replied.

She shrugged. "We might as well check into it."

~~

Carly and Bobbie were talking in Bobbie's living room. "Thank you." Carly told
her. "It was nice of you to let me stay in Felicia's old apartment." Pause. "I
promise I'll keep up with the payments as soon as I find a job."

"Jason said he'd take care of it, but I told him he'd have to talk to you
about it." Bobbie said with a shrug. "But it doesn't really matter. I'm glad
you're out."

"Me too. I thought I really was going to snap." Carly said with a wry smile.

"Everyone else thought you had." Bobbie pointed out.

"I know," she said with a sigh. "I'm sorry, Bobbie... it's just... everyone
kept telling me Jason was going to leave me in there, and..." she trailed off.

"And you couldn't help, but believe if after awhile." Bobbie finished and
Carly nodded. "I understand." Bobbie said with a sigh. "I'm not happy you let
me--and everyone else--think you were crazy, but I understand."

~~

Nikolas sat down beside Stefan. "Guess who I ran into?" Nikolas said, with a
sigh.

"Katherine?" Stefan asked, his eyes steady.

"Yes. She tried to convince me that Helena was right. That you'd been in love
with Laura all these years and that you're my father."

Stefan took off his glasses. "And what did you say?"

"That it was true. You were my true father, but not because of biology, but
because you raised me." Nikolas sighed. "She's been brainwashed."

Stefan sighed. "She's been filled up with hatred for months." Shaking his
head, "I'd like you to excercise caution when speaking to her, like you would
with Helena. With so much of my mother inside of her, who knows what she will
do?" Another sigh. "Helena made herself an ally out of my fiancee`."


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