Disappearing Act

*This was the winning entry I submitted a few years ago to Tonygeary.net for the writing contest it had. It started the journey into my writing of Luke and Laura fan*fiction.  {ALL writing on this site is © by Jhill Bosher-Perran and is my property. Please do not copy or use it without prior permission from me. It is for your reading enjoyment only. Thank you.}


Here was the question we had to answer: Where did Luke take Laura? [for the summer]

"I won’t ask where you’re going," Nikolas said. " I know it’s best this way, but I want you to tell me what alias you’ll be using. I’ll set-up a Suisse bank account so that the American authorities won’t be able to track your moves."
Luke had underestimated this kid. He replied. "Lloyd Carmichael."
Nikolas nodded, and continued. "Sergei Kuznetsov is Captain of The Titan. Tell me where you want to board, and I’ll have it waiting for you."
"Halifax, Nova Scotia."
"Okay," Nikolas said, handing Luke a business card. "Here’s his cell phone number. He’ll be our contact. When you get safely to wherever you’re going, call him and tell him ‘The Titan’s renovation is underway’. If you need more money, tell him the renovation will cost whatever dollar amount you need, and I’ll wire it into your Suisse account."
Luke studied him for a minute. "I’ve misjudged you."
"I may be a Cassadine, Luke, but half of me is sitting out there in your car, and her blood runs just as strongly through my veins."
"I think her blood is the stronger of the two," Luke said, reflectively.
"I won’t deny that." Nikolas agreed. "Take my cell phone. Your using it won’t arouse any suspicion."
Luke patted him on the back.
"Take care of my mother."
Luke looked him squarely in the eyes. "Always."
Lucky hurried into the house with the contents from Luke’s safe in his hands. "Here are the passports and cash, Dad."
Luke looked at Lulu Carmichael’s passport and remembered the last time it had been used. It was a happier time for them. "Thanks, Cowboy," he said.
"You need anything else?" Lucky asked.
"No. I’m good," Luke said, looking at Nikolas.
"I’ve got to hit the road."
Lucky hugged his father. "Be careful."
Luke nodded. "Take care of your sister."
Lucky echoed Nikolas’ sentiment. "Take care of Mom."
"You don’t have to worry about that," Luke said. "Your mother is in safe hands."
"I know she’d want you to get her away from Scott."
"I agree," Nikolas said.
"Until I’m six-feet-under," Luke told them. "I’ll always protect her from Baldwin!"

* * *
Luke took Nikolas’ cell phone and dialed the familiar number. "The Titan pulls out of Nova Scotia tomorrow at three. You up for some sailing?"
He heard the familiar response and smiled...

* * *

Robert walked into the ship’s bar. He knew that’s where he’d find Luke.
Luke smiled when he saw Robert stroll in. "I’m getting too old for this, Man!"
"Oh come on Mate! What are you...like nine in dog years?"
"Not quite!" Luke said, indignantly.
"Who’d ever believe we’d be on this old tub again, eh?" Robert said, looking around.
"Yeah," Luke said, handing Robert a scotch on-the-rocks. "We’ve come a long way from our cargo-hold days."
Robert laughed. "Those were some good times," he said, sipping the single-malt. "So, what big adventure have I signed up for?"
"I need you to meet with Dr. Pierre Bourgogne," Luke said. " He’s been doing extensive research on the permanent effects of LS-49."
Robert’s eyebrow shot up. "Any leads?"
"He’s made some interesting discoveries," Luke said.
"Robin’s been following his research closely since November, and has kept me updated. After meeting with him last December, it appears the original trial tests could be flawed - the catatonia might not be permanent."
"Sounds promising."
"I’m banking on that!" Luke agreed. "I was supposed to meet him on May 26th, but this damn custody hearing screwed everything up!"
"That judge should be on the receiving end of a bullet."
"Sonny has some plans for the bastard!"
"Cement shoes?"
"No, man!" Luke smirked. "He’s got something slower in mind. I think it involves a cattle prod."
"Good Ole’ Sonny..."
"Yeah, glad he’s on my side," Luke paused, searching for the right words. "I need to get word to Tracy that I’m fine."
"How is the old ball and chain?"
"She came through for me, Robert, when she helped me get Laura out of Shadybrook," Luke said. "I guess love can make a girl do strange things."
Robert said in mock disgust. "I’m trying to enjoy my drink here! And don’t kid yourself, Mate!
Saying that Tracy knows the meaning of love is like saying Medea knows the meaning of motherhood!"
"You’ve got a point," Luke said, humored. "But she’s been a good ally."
"Don’t be a bloody ass! She’s working an angle!"
Luke feigned shock. "You’re saying this to the master of angle-working?"
"I’m saying ‘watch your back!’," Robert replied, cautioning his best friend.
"I have no illusions about Spanky."
Robert sipped his scotch before asking, "Are you going to be able to get yourself out of this relationship-travesty unscathed?"
"When the timing’s right," Luke said, reflectively. "It’s all in the timing, Man."
"Now, there’s the bastard I know and love!"
Luke raised his class in salute, then asked. "Can you use your contacts at the World Health Agency to get us into this medical conference? It’s invitation only."
"Invitation only, eh?" Robert said, considering the request. "It won’t be easy, but when has that ever stopped us?"
Luke thought for a moment. "I seem to recall never," and they clinked glasses, laughing.
"Right," he agreed. "So, where is this conference being held?
"In Amsterdam," Luke replied. "We’re going to Amstel."
"Amsterdam," Robert said, pleasantly surprised. "I hear the weather’s lovely there this time of year!"
"It sure beats the hell out of Caracas in the summertime!" Luke exclaimed, sarcastically. If they could save the world from freezing, he thought, they damn sure could find a cure for his angel!"
"Well, Mate!" Robert said. " You know I’ve always had a sweet spot in my heart for Laura. I’ll do whatever you need."
"I knew I could count on you, Friend!" Luke said, realizing that these two, old dogs still had a few tricks left in them. With Robert along, it felt like old times. The only difference: the world they were going to save this time was Luke’s.

* * *

Blue Lights In My Basement

***This is a blog entry from my blog "The Beanstalk Chronicles" but I'm copying it here because it's a poem I wrote about Luke and Laura during one of our Genie's Angels campaigns.  This is an actual accounting of all that's transpired these last 32 years.  Next, I'll put up a brief overview of the history of General Hospital & then we'll be ready to "dust off the cobwebs of so long-ago written gems" from my vault! ;-)

 

Background to the title of this blog entry: Years ago when my husband and I lived in Maryland, we listened, on Saturday afternoon/early evenings [4-7 pm on WPFW/89.3 FM] to an addictive show of Andrea Bray's called "Blue Lights in the Basement".  Andrea's show is an eclectic mix of oldies but goodies, great, rhythm & blues, soulful jazz classics.  Her soothing, sultry voice encouraged us to sit back.  Relax.  Enjoy, as we dusted off the cobwebs of some long-ago gems and fondly took a look back and a listen to.  Since then, I've affectionately adopted the sentiment, "Blue Lights in the Basement" to include old movies, t.v. shows, or great works of literature.  Which leads me to this blog post:

I wrote this piece three years ago when a band of Genie Francis' supporters created a group called "Genie's Angels" to fight to get her back on General Hospital. It was a successful campaign and one that Genie has appreciatively acknowledged.  With the recent cancellation of two beloved soaps, and the looming threat of losing a genre that has been a part of my life since I was old enough to recall memories, [hm hm years ago] a friend recently asked if the LnL fans, that's Luke and Laura, for those of you not in the know, could say something nice about them.  I reached back into my files and decided to dust this off.  It's the nicest thing I can say about a couple, who, in my mind, will go down in history as one of the greatest romantic duos ever created.  I will never be able to thank Genie Francis & Tony Geary enough for the many years of entertainment and joy that they have brought me.  But, this is a start...  Sit back. Relax. Enjoy!

 

An Epical Ode to Luke and Laura & a Love Never Forgotten

©Jhill Perran

August 10, 2008

 

For me, it began as a slow, simmered "Rise",

while the story unfolded through those incredible eyes.

The anguish, the longing, the heat of their stares,

kept me fanning myself, on the edge of my chair.

There was intrigue and mystery and passion that oozed -

between two, star-crossed lovers who were torn and confused.

And, we saw in the glimpse of that one, awful night,

how one man’s human foible made him a strange kind of Knight.

Luke’s remorse and despair cut to the depths of our soul,

and redemption began from the trust that he stole.

Yes, we rooted for him, and we rooted for her.

It was them who we hoped had a committed re-birth.

Because they suffered and struggled over their formidable love.

It was hard-fought and hard-won - but it fit like a glove.

We could not get enough of their angst-filled, raw, passion,

They were genuinely flawed, yet it was poignantly rationed.

Their story, as told, showed a unique kind of grace.

Luke found his absolution from an unlikely place.

The woman who received his most brutal attack,

found forgiveness within, and she offered it back.

In that moment, we couldn’t have cared for them more,

It was them who we cheered for! It was them we adored!

And that glorious summer, when they went on the run,

when they brought down the mob, without the use of a gun.....

Who’d have thought that one story could bring such fun-filled, pure joy-

than the one that was told through the Left-Handed Boy?

It was short-lived! We knew when that cigar band came off,

We were in for LONG days, but we were in for the haul....

We bore witness to some of the most powerful scenes

of a love that was spoken through the lines in between....

The unuttered words and their subtle nuance,

clearly showed their desire - the profoundness of want.

How is it that two people could make love without touch?

It was all in their eyes, and their eyes said so much....

We felt tingles and shivers and were giddy each minute,

in the way that they told it and how well they did spin it....

And the heat was turned up during summer number two,

diamonds, a yacht - a tropical island to boot.

There in their glory was Luke and his gal,

and his good-looking, sexy, Australian pal.

Yowzah, we thought! Who could ask for much more?

There was a starlet, a "mad" guy and bad guys galore!

Port Charles in the deep freeze, in August no less....

What a yarn that was spun with that name "Ice Princess"...

In the fall, finally! Finally! we all got the dream!

Luke and Laura united with the exchange of a ring....

Like Camelot, the magic was gone much too quick,

Something precious was lost in that cold, foggy, thick...

Oh, I cried when our Laura disappeared in the night,

And, for me, that’s when GH lost its most luminous light.

Luke without Laura? - Too painful to watch it back then,

But I watched in ‘83 when our ship sailed again....

I was there holding on......and holding my breath,

when they finally connected in that earth-moving caress...

In his arms, Laura jumped as Luke screamed out to God,

it was a path only made for Angels and Heroes to trod.

It was splendor and wonder and grace personified,

when those two saw each other, when they embraced and they cried.

One knew in that moment, that fairy tales do come true,

If you believe in such things, and I assure you I do!

It was magic, I tell you - seeing that miracle unfold,

Watching Laura and Luke spinning more tales of pure gold.

True love, it endures. It survives. It abides...

You saw it so clearly when you looked in their eyes.

Nothing and no one would keep them a part!

You can sever one’s ties but you can’t sever their heart!

And therein and throughout, lies the crux of it all,

One heart shared by two lovers can’t be arbitrarily recalled...

No one could keep Laura on an isle with a cool, hunk of steel,

No one would stop Luke from protecting his Angel from evil.

Thus, commenced an odyssey of adventure and fun,

Luke and Laura were together - happily, back on the run...

And the following year, we got the Aztec Adventure,

With that most special scene: the telling of a new, baby Spencer.

Then, they left us to go live their lives off the screen,

but we knew they’d return.....can you say "Halloween, 93"...

Oh, Happy Days! Happy Days! Happy Days, don’t you know!

Luke and Laura were back with their Lucky in tow.

What followed can only be summed up like this:

It was JUST as it was when we last saw them kiss!

The magic still sparked, in the whirl of their dance.

Down the Triple L aisle, and the heat of their glance,

and the way that they touched and the way that they moved,

Made our hearts pitter-pat as we swayed with their groove.

We giggled over hijinx, watched sorrow amidst happier times.

The birth of sweet, Lulu and news of a son: Cassadine.

There were struggles, separations, and severe growing pains,

Yet, through all of those lessons, it reinforced their one, great strength:

Love. Always love. It was love from the start.

Every obstacle faced couldn’t tear them apart.

Yet, the unthinkable happened - papers signed for divorce,

No! No! No! No! No! No! That’s not REALLY their choice!

"Why DID we get divorced?" Tony asked Genie one day.

She replied with regret, "Cuz they wrote it that way!"

Then, we watched them discover what WE knew all along,

It was there with each other where they truly belonged.

They must marry again. It was destiny’s fate!

Luke and his Laura would forever be bound as soul mates.

But, the other shoe dropped, and it blew all apart,

not only our story but these two lover’s heart.

It was disbelief, horror and I gasped "Holy crud!"

When that candlestick hit Rick, then fell with a thud.

What happened in that attic isn’t really that clear,

all I know, was I knew it was my worst kind of fear....

Genie leaving? Laura crazy? Please say it ain’t so!

It felt helpless and hopeless - it was the worst kind of low!

The one thing I felt was how unbelievably wrong,

it was to hush the splendor of their incredible song.

We love her! He needs her! Don’t take her away!

Luke’s humanity. His Angel. PLEASE! God! Let her stay!

Yet, it wasn’t to be and we all watched just how,

These two said their goodbyes in that sad, attic-vow.

Those vows, oh those vows....they serve to remind,

We were gifted with not one but TWO one-of-a-kinds!

When Luke lovingly said "just my Sweetheart and me,"

There was a crumble within and I went weak in the knees.

She was courageous! Outrageous! He said that’s what she’d need,

To throw in with a guy from the wrong-side of Elm Street.

Then, he marveled again at her beauty and grace,

as he vowed his true love, as tears streamed down his face.

I remember that look, when she looked in his eyes,

and she cried in her truth: it’s there she felt safest inside.

Laura told him with knowing, with a sincere, true-love grit,

that he lived in her heart....right in the center of it.

Then, she broke from her hero as he fought not to weep,

he lost all that had mattered. Had Luke sown what he reaped?

Had the chickens come home to finally roost on past sins?

That’s the seed that took hold of his demons within.

In the past, she had seemingly taken each hit,

for the payback that had Luke Spencer’s name written on it.

There was Mikkos, Stavros, Nikolas too,

Laura suffered because Helena sought to punish her Luke.

And if that weren’t enough, we mustn’t forget,

What it cost her because Luke chose her over Jennifer Smith.

As I went into mourning because Laura was gone,

still, my heart dared to hope she would, one day, come home.

And the memories of past times, when their love was in bloom,

kept me buoyed from the despair, disappointment and gloom.

In my mind, "Fascination" memories of a pink-feathered lift,

made my heart smile again, as I cherished the gift,

That Gloria Monty gave us, when she paired up these two,

and made history with daytime’s most-beloved, dynamic duo!

Years past, as we waited and prayed for a fix,

And the magic returned in the fall of ‘06.

Hallelujah and glory and Hallelujah again!

Laura’s back! She’s awake! From ear to ear spanned my grin.

It was wonder and heartfelt - nothing better than this,

when the name "Luke" was called out from those once-quieted lips.

And, we watched sheer relief as Luke turned in pure awe,

once again, gold was mined in the love that we saw,

as he knelt and he looked and he cried "is it you?"

And her hands traced his face as a small-smile broke through.

"Yes, it’s me!" she declared. She’d been there all along,

They could take her away but not silence their song!

It’s too powerful, this love - this story - this pair.

That’s evident! It’s been 30 years. 30! Years! Still, we care!!!

There was a moment - a happening, at Beecher’s Corner’s when they...

went to dance....it was a most sacred, revered interplay.

When her arm went around him and she buried her head,

there was so much unspoken yet so much clearly said.

When Luke held her and stroked her with such sweet tenderness,

It was Tony who assured Genie in that gentle, utterance:

"I know, Baby!"

It was all staring at me, but the lines clearly blurred.

For a moment, I wasn’t certain who it was I had heard?

I can tell you I saw much resolved in that embrace,

It was one more REAL moment of their beauty and grace.

Time had stood still. It had waited for them.

Four years disappeared; wiped away - a faint dim.

The story played out - in the span of mere weeks,

all the love and the longing and the wanting for keeps...

It’s a love story that’s been so much a part of the lives,

not just for the fans but those who breathed it to life.

Once again, we strapped in, for a wonderful ride,

that ended too soon - in the blink of an eye.

What’s the matter with those who are running this show?

Can’t THEY see when they’re holding an ace-in–the-hole?

It boggles the mind that we lost Genie again,

Especially when Tony declared HE wanted his friend,

to return to her home where they had more gold to mine,

but it fell on deaf ears. All requests were denied.

It was too much to bear, being deprived of what’s golden,

How was it that ABC didn’t feel the least bit beholden -

To these actors and their fans who once saved this show from ruin,

from a cancellation stamp when rating-troubles were brewing?

Could they have truly forgotten who put GH on the map?

It was raised up by an unsuspecting Angel and her unlikely Chap!

We still loved them and missed them and wanted them back,

it was humanity and grace that our show sorely lacked.

Thus began an uprising: "Genie’s Angels" campaign,

We weren’t taking this lying! It was clearly insane!

When a show’s lost it’s heart, it’s goodness and luster,

Is change-in-direction really THAT hard to muster?

It appeared so, but we demanded OUR voices be heard,

They could solve so many problems if they’d just bring back our girl!

Clean up the mob-violence - write it again as sub-text,

Get rid of the dead weight! That’s the thing to do next!

Give us love, and joy and some stories with passion:

Luke and Laura, family values, how bout hospital interaction?

That’s what we’ve longed for, prayed for, yet when hope seemed MOST lost,

that she was not coming back, no matter how much the cost...

Something magical happened....in the kindliest knack,

Someone heard us! Praise be! "Mama" Laura is back...

It may be a brief moment with regard to this stint...

But within it, there’s hope that’s much more than a glint.

There’s a story - a sunset - that sets NOT solely on him!

Every road, we all know, leads us right back to them.

LukeandLaura: it’s one idea, one love and one tale.

For the die-hards, this love story is OUR Holy Grail!

We won’t rest til the ending matches up with the truth,

with the narration that was told in the days of our youth.

See, some of us believe fairy tales can come true.

For the fans, there’s one ending: it’s Laura with Luke....

What "Emphatically Luke and Laura" is all about...

I have been a Luke and Laura fan since I was a young teen, which has been 30-something years now.  I started watching the show because of Genie Francis.  She brought me to General Hospital, and she kept me with the show.  When she left, I left.  When she returned, I returned.  In the meantime, I've had stories in my mind about backstory and continuing story involving this golden couple.  I was dismayed in 2002 when Genie left GH, though I understood the reasons why.  Still, this was my hour get-a-way from the stressful and crazy rigamarole of daily life.  It was my escape - the hour a day I gave myself to "escape" after a long day of, at first, school/college, then work.
When Genie left the show in 1983-84 [brief stints in both years] I began watching Santa Barbara.  I returned to GH when Luke and Laura came back to Port Charles in 1993. 
Five years ago, I entered a Luke and Laura fanfiction contest and, to my surprise, won.  Several people emailed and asked me to consider continuing my storytelling.  I'm a Luke and Laura purist.  The vision that Gloria Monty gave us back in the late 70's and Genie and Tony sold to us back in the day, is what the truth of this story and golden couple is for me.  I've never bought into the offensive and ridiculous re-writes of recent years, that have attempted to whittle away, undermine and destroy the legacy.  This story belongs to the fans who helped save the show from cancellation 32 years ago.  Sadly, I'm not sure if the fans can save GH this time, nor if we'll ever get our Luke and Laura sunset ending.  Still, I've tried to keep the story alive and real for some of the fans who've missed them and longed to see them again [along with me].  It was in 2005 that I stumbled upon a wonderful group of people at Luke and Laura Unrevised who shared my passion and addiction for this story.  It was a blessing!  I'm sure that there are people out there who don't get the involvement in serial dramas.  The only thing I can say to that is that there are just as many people who don't get those who avidly follow sports, comic tales, action adventures or futuristic stories.  [I'll see your Superbowl and raise your Trekkie ;-) - shout out to Jonathan Frakes!!!]
I've got a regular, small following, and that has always done my heart good and filled it full.  However, I was going through my archives today, and thought it might be a great idea to put the saga in one place and open it up to anyone who wants to re-visit this golden couple continue to do so.
This has never been done for money nor have I ever received any for it.  It's just one fan's way of keeping this story alive, because many people have missed them - ME included.  I was one of a small group of Genie's fans who created a campaign called "Genie's Angels" several years ago.  We vigorously fought to get Genie back on General Hospital.  We worked tirelessly for the last several years on her behalf.  Sadly, our efforts [save once] fell on deaf ears with TPTB.
In any event, there's a lot of material just sitting in my filing system, collecting virtual dust.  I'm a writer, and I believe that stories are meant to be shared, read, enjoyed and treasured.  My loyal readers treasure these tales, and I cannot thank them enough for encouraging me to keep going, because they never tire of hearing what's happening with Luke and Laura from my perspective.
If you'd care to join the club, I'd love to share my stories with you.  It is simply one of the greatest love stories ever created in fiction, in my opinion, and this is my way of honoring that legacy.
I think if you ask most Luke and Laura fans, they'll tell you that the last 32 years with this couple has been a wild ride.  It's an addiction.  It's a passion.  It's a diversion.  It's a love affair!  Most of all, it's a simple pleasure.
I hope that's what you find as you read.
Welcome to this side street in my blogging neighborhood.
Blessings!
Jhill

P.S. I chose the adverb "emphatically" because it means: Standing out in a striking and clearly defined way. [Webster's Dictionary]  I can think of no better description for this couple.
Stay tuned...My Luke and Laura ride will begin shortly...

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