Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 130

~ Timoria: Greece and Its Secrets ~

"How's he holding up?" Gina's concern was strong and sincere as her voice traveled around the globe.

Tommy could almost see the frown as it creased her brow and the firm set of her jaw as she waited for his response. He moved away from the desk and its pile of mail that consisted of false leads and sadistic suggestions. Holding the cordless telephone to his ear, he moved to stand in the doorway that led to the East Wing's second floor balcony of the Cassadine compound. Outside, stood the object of their conversation. Nikolas' back was to him, and he stared sightlessly towards the setting the sun. Another day was nearly done and still there was nothing that could lead them to Dawn. Tommy could feel his friend's heartbreak and his heart went out to Nikolas. After several weeks with empty leads, all their hearts had begun to break. The pain was evident in Tommy's deep voice as he spoke to Gina. "Barely, Gina. He's trying, but it's not easy."

"How about you?" she asked softly. "I can come over. I want to."

"I know you do, but I'd rather you stayed in Port Charles...not that I'm telling you what to do, of course," he added with a smile.

She smiled in return. "Of course, you'd never do that. But you didn't answer my question, Thomas Hardy, Jr. How are you doing?"

"I'm here, sweetheart," Tommy told her. "It's not easy, you know. Everybody's hurting, and it reminds me of New York."

"But you and Sonny got there in time. Simone is okay now."

"Yeah, she is, but... Well, I can still feel the fear of not knowing if she would be okay and if we would make it in time. We had the advantage of knowing that she was with that asshole, but we don't know who has Dawn. We think it may be Helena, but what if it's not? And, coupled with Lucky's disappearance... None of it makes any sense. Nikolas has lost his wife, child, and brother... I try to be here for him, but I don't think I'm helping any..."

His voice broke and he swallowed hard to recover it. Afraid that Nikolas would hear him, he moved away from the doorway and went back inside. He offered Stefan's close friend, Spiros, a faint smile as the older man entered the room. Spiros went to the corner desk and began his ritual of going through the mail and sorting the possible from the impossible. Tommy watched him without really seeing him.

"I think you are helping him, but don't push yourself so much," Gina was softly saying. "Hon, are you sure that you want me to stay here. Gail says that I can take some time off."

"What about Mrs. Spencer? I thought you were helping her."

"The entire town has shut down to help her-"

"Gina," he said gently, "come on, now."

"I'm sorry, but this is so frustrating. I'm glad that you all are in Greece and aren't here for this. I swear you'd think a world leader had disappeared or something from the way some people are acting around here. When word came out that Lucky was missing, everyone harped on him and nearly forgot about Dawn...all because of a last name. She's just as important as he is!"

"Is it really that bad or are you exaggerating?" he asked, running a weary hand over his face. He released a deep sigh and sank down onto the plush deep green sofa. In the background, Spiros' steady pecking on the computer's keyboard drowned out the cry of the sea gulls as they flew off towards the sunset. He turned his attention back towards his beloved. "Are you telling me that they're not even mentioning Dawn in the papers and on the news?"

Gina sighed. "The national coverage has been pretty good, but I'm sure you must know that. Peter Jennings mentioned it again last night. But the local coverage has shifted a little. Some of the papers have tried to tie their disappearances together...maybe hinting that Dawn and Lucky ran off together-"