"Six more days, Lasha. Six more days."
Laura dropped the phone and started shaking a little. Luke looked over at her with concern, and picked up the phone to find out who was on the other end. There was no one. He hung up the phone and looked back at Laura, who had tears streaming down her face.
Luke: Who was it, Angel? Who's got you so scared?
Laura: (quietly, almost a whisper) I don't know.
Luke: Well, someone said something to make you frightened. I want to know who it was.
Laura: I don't know.
Luke: What do you mean ‘you don't know'?
Laura: I said I don't know.
Luke: Okay, okay, Baby. I'm sorry.
Laura was still shaking and the tears were coming down faster. Luke knew the Cassadines had to be behind this one. He didn't know how, though, but he was going to find out. He held Laura close to him, her head laying on his chest. She was still crying, but was starting to calm down in his arms. Laura heard Luke's heartbeat and felt comforted by it. Luke, whispered in Laura's ear, "Go to sleep, now. Everything will be alright. I'm here and I'm not going to let you go." He kissed her on the her forehead and started to stroke her hair until she fell asleep in his arms.
Luke looked down at Laura, who was still fast alseep next to him. He looked over at the clock, 3am. ‘I'm not getting any sleep tonight.' His mind was filled with so many thoughts about what the phone call could have been about. It was time to pay a visit to Count Vlad's castle to find out what he was up to. He was not going to be blindsided by any Cassadine, especially an inept one.
Luke hears crying coming from Lulu's room. He looks back down at Laura again, who is still asleep. He was grateful that she didn't wake up. He gently lifted up Laura's head from his chest, and placed down on her pillow. He quietly got up from the bed and left the room to find out why Lulu was crying.
When Luke walked into Lulu's room, she screamed, "Daddy!"
Luke went over to her and picked her up. She immediately stopped crying as soon as she was in his arms. ‘I seem to have that affect on women today,' he thought. He looked down at his daughter, who is holding onto him very tightly. "What's wrong?"
Lulu: A big man chased me.
Luke: Oh, Sweatheart. You're okay now. It was just a nightmare.
Lulu: I was scared.
Luke: I know, I know. Shhh. You're safe now, though. Daddy's here to protect you. Daddy will always protect you.
Lulu smiled and let go of her grip around Luke a little. Luke sat down in a chair, rocking Lulu in his arms. ‘You are starting to get too big for this or I'm just getting too old,' he thought. He noticed that Lulu had immediately fallen back asleep in his arms. He continued to rock her gently as he just stared into her face.
Luke: (whispering) Oh, Lulu. I'll always keep you safe. Always. (He thinks back to Laura earlier) Lulu, your mother is frightened of something and she won't tell me. I don't know what to do. I'm try to be an understanding husband. A husband she can always confide in, but she's scared. I'm scared that she is scared of me. I know I have a temper and can act before thinking when I am angry. But, I try my best not to ever let my anger get the better of me when it involves her. That phone call tonight had to be Stefan, but she wouldn't tell me. She wouldn't tell me..."
Luke looks up and sees Lesley standing in the doorway. She walks over to Luke and puts a hand on his shoulder.
Luke: I didn't realize you were standing there.
Lesley: I'm sorry for eavesdropping. I just came to make sure Lulu was alright.
Luke: Just a nightmare. She's asleep now. (Luke gets up and lays Lulu back in bed)
Lesley: She's so beautiful. So precious.
Luke: Yeah, she is. Just like Laura.
Lesley: What was that about a phone call?
Luke: There was a call earlier and Laura answered it. After she said hello, the next thing I know, she is frightened out of her mind. She wouldn't tell me who it was, but I know it's Cassadine.
Lesley: Why are you so sure?
Luke: Because no one could bring that much fear into my wife.
Lesley: What are you going to do about it?
Luke: I don't know. My hands are tied until Laura can tell me about it. She's scared...
Lesley: (hugging Luke) Shhh. She will tell you in her own time. Let her face it herself first. That's all. Just remember, she'll always loves you.
Luke allows himself to be comforted by his mother-in-law and whispers, "I'll always love her too."
