The Week in Review: March 30th - April 3rd

This was a very disappointing week.  Part of that was because it focused on the Jax/Mac/Felicia assassination storyline, which doesn't float my boat.  It's supposed to give M&F a storyline of their own, but they've just become plot devices for Jax's storyline.  And it's supposed to integrate characters, but it's just put Jax in the room with M&F a few times.  There's been no capitalizing on the promise of a good Q business storyline, and the repetition and pace has left me flat.

The good things we had were single scenes, not even whole episodes, and they were few and far between.  It was like exposition week, in which we repeated everything that people might have missed the first time or had simple filler.  We have had several packed, heavy duty weeks lately, but I was still disappointed that we had dropped off the intensity so much.

I.  The Spencers

A.  Lucky and Helena

These two continued their conversation on Monday.  Lucky wanted to work for Helena in exchange for information about his family (and some cash, so he could stay in town with Liz), and she had agreed.  But now she started to comment on the Spencer family--how things must indeed be strained if Lucky was coming to her.  She claimed that she owed Luke a death because of all the Cassadines he has killed, but Lucky did not react.  He simply said that they should forget it.  But he appreciated the way he could hide his fear, and she said that he should come to work the next morning.

B.  Luke and Helena

Helena:  "Be still my heart."
Luke:  "Precisely what I had in mind.  Give me one good reason why I shouldn't slit your throat right now."

Helena:  "Put away the knife, Luke, and perhaps we can find something more pleasurable to do in the dark.  I was too sick to oblige you the last time you crawled in my bed, but I'm feeling much better now."

Later, Helena was in bed asleep when a hand stroked her face.  She awoke with pleasure, only to find that it was Luke Spencer, and her pleasure was mixed with fear.  The caress turned to a threat as he switched open a knife and held it at her throat.  He asked her why he shouldn't kill her right then and there.  Instead, she propositioned him.  Personally, I loved this scene, as I love all of their hateful--and slightly perverse--flirtations.  But this scene and others caused some people on ratsa to register their dislike or disgust for the dynamic between these two.  As I see it, Luke doesn't desire Helena, even if he can admit that she's a nice looking woman (for a Cassadine).  But he knows that this sexual innuendo does several things.  1) It puts her a bit off balance, since I believe she truly does desire him.  2) Because she desires him, and because she enjoys this sexualized hatred, she keeps him alive.  3) It's a battle of words and wit, on Luke's part, and he never walks away from that.  4)  It's a power struggle, and he has the upper hand in this version of their feud.  This is the newest in a long line of sexually tinged scenes between Helena and Luke, and I for one love them.  I would point out that she is invariably the one to suggest consummation, and he never responds positively.  No, he uses the physical closeness and the language of flirtation as a weapon.  I don't think, however, that this kind of threatening harkens back to his rape of Laura.  Some do.  Rather, I think that it is another example of his knowing his enemy and choosing the mode of dealing with her that will get the results he wants.

Luke:  "You harm him in any way, and I will personally eliminate the remainder of your horrific spawn.  Including precious Nikolas."

Luke:  "Anything happens to my son while he's working for you, and Nikolas will spend the rest of his life in a hospital bed with the brain function of a bowl of lettuce."

And again, once she offered an alternate activity, Luke turned to the real reason he was there.  He wanted to know what she was doing with Lucky.  Helena played innocent, and gave him the surface description of their bargain: Lucky wanted a job, and she gave it to him.  She noted, however, that he must have found out something horrible indeed to be so angry with Luke.  Luke ignores the bait, saying that if anything happens to Lucky, Nikolas will die.  But won't that alienate Lucky further, she asked?  Would killing her make Lucky think that Luke was trying to silence her from telling secrets?  He replied that Lucky would never trust the Cassadines.  And I think that's right.  I don't expect that Lucky will be stupid, no matter what he does to get back at his father.  And he knows how Helena works.  He wants to use her, and he'll know that she wants to use him as well.  And he'll keep his guard up.

Luke:  "Still feel sexy?"

Before he left, he placed his face very close to hers, as if he was going to kiss her, and asked her the above question.  She probably had to call Ari....

C.  Lucky and Elizabeth

Elizabeth read in her room until Lucky came to her window.  He told her that things were fine, and asked her if he could still stay with her.  Liz said that of course he could.  She had been having trouble sleeping since the rape, but she was sure that she would be able to know that he was there.  She did, and Lucky sat on his pallet on the floor and looked at her.  He needs her just as much as she needs him.  At the same time, I hope that he is able to continue distinguishing her from his mother.

On Wednesday, Audrey called Luke (he had called to ask after Elizabeth) and told him that he and Laura had raised a wonderful son--he had been such a help to Elizabeth.  But Luke needed information about his son (without letting Audrey know what was up completely), and that Audrey could not give.

But Lucky was upstairs in Elizabeth's room, telling her about working for Helena.  She was worried, but she was more worried about going to a group therapy session that afternoon.  She left, and Lucky headed out the window, but was caught by Sarah.  He explained, and made her promise that she wouldn't tell Audrey.  When Audrey knocked, Sarah said nothing about Lucky.  They chatted a bit, and then headed downstairs, with Audrey mentioning the book she was reading--"General Homicide."  For those who don't watch PC, this is the book that Kevin Collins wrote that is now the inspiration for a series of copycat killings.  It's apparently going to be a crossover story.

Elizabeth did go to the session.  She looked as though she wasn't going to make it in the room, but another girl encouraged her.  Once inside, however, she grew too embarrassed or upset to stay as she heard all the other women.  Gail spoke to her at the break, and Liz told her that this just wasn't for her.  As she left, she ran into Nikolas and worried that he would know why she was there.  But he was just putting up fliers and chatting--not in an unfriendly way--with Lucky.  She told him then that the women in the group weren't getting better, that they were stuck on their rapes and not getting over them, and she said that she didn't belong there.

D.  Tony and the Spencers

Bobbie visited Tony in jail on Wednesday to rant at him some more, especially about Lucas.  I believe this is the moment when Tony tells her that he had thought about taking Lucas as well, which enraged her to no end.  Tony was adamant that he had done the right thing, and that Carly and Jason are the ones people should be worried about.  Bobbie told him that she would never let him near Lucas again.

Once she was gone, Justus visited.  I don't know why he was there, and neither did Mary, who did the update for Wednesday.  Tony took the opportunity to bash Jason some more, but basically the scene was a waste.  Back out in the office, he announced to Dara and Taggert-the-flirt that Tony had to go free (what?).

Luke:  "Trust your gut."

Luke:  "If anybody ever asks you, I never said this.  But you need a lawyer."
Bobbie:  "Actually, the only person who can handle what I want done...is you."

Luke:  "I'm sorry, Barbara, I couldn't.  I cannot ask the man to walk away from his own son."

But back to the Spencers.  Bobbie went from the jail to find Luke.  She first asked after Lucky, and then she told him that she wanted to sever all ties with Tony, especially those concerning Lucas, and she wanted Luke to talk Tony into signing the papers that would do so.  Luke went to the jail and told Tony what Bobbie wanted.  Tony couldn't believe it, and gave another rousing rendition of his self-defense.  He had devoted himself to that child for months before he was born, and he would do anything to protect it.  He would be a good father to that child.  Luke asked him to see Bobbie's point of view, but he also empathized with Tony (I've always been fascinated with their connection, and this will be more food for thought).  After all, he was facing losing his own child.  And when Tony asked him if he could or would sign those papers in a similar situation, Luke left.  He returned to Bobbie and told her that he simply couldn't ask Tony to give up all rights, though Tony had agreed to see Lucas only on Bobbie's approval and schedule.  She wasn't happy, needless to say.

E.  Luke and Mike

Luke:  "Mike, watching Edward Quartermaine slap himself on the back is not my idea of a good time."

Mike:  "You have any idea how I'm gonna accomplish that?"
Luke:  "I suggest you hack off her arms and legs and throw the rest in a bucket."
Mike:  "Heh-heh.  That's kind of messy.  Um, I'll tell you what.  I will, uh, I'll come up with something a little more neighborly."
Luke:  "I thought you might."

Mike and Luke spoke on the docks on Thursday.  Luke told Mike, in brief, that Lucky wasn't living at home anymore.  He wanted Mike to keep Helena away from her yacht while he took care of things there.  In what was probably the best scene of the week, Mike delayed Helena while Luke placed bugs on board.  As Helena approached, Mike called out, "Roxy!"  And it just went from there, with Mike pretending that they had been an item at some point and trying to get her to remember him.  It was an absolute scream.  Unfortunately, Lucky arrived to interrupt the performance.  Mike took off, and Lucky told her that Mike was a friend of his dad's.  But he didn't give any guesses--even if he suspected--as to what Mike was doing there.  Back on the boat, she announced that he had passed the test by telling the truth.  But she stabbed an innocent loaf of bread to make her point.  Luke, back at the office, was listening by this point, and thus knew that Lucky had identified Mike.

F.  Luke and Katherine

Luke:  "Well let me guess.  Quick draw McCassadine is using your butt for target practice again."

Luke:  "Oh, you realize, then, that Nikolas blindsided my son with newsflashes from the Jurassic past stuffed into his empty little head by your Lord and Master."

Katherine:  "You can hardly blame Stefan for using your own methods against you."

Katherine:  "Maybe for once you should act in your son's best interest.  Revenge is not gonna solve anything."
Luke:  "Maybe you should stuff any future urges to give me advice."
Katherine:  "What has revenge done for you so far?"
Luke:  "Oh, baby.  Nothing I've done so far even comes close to revenge."

Luke:  "Didn't the man with the, uh, butterfly net find you yet?"
Katherine:  "You walked out in the middle of our conversation."
Luke:  "Well you weren't saying anything I was interested in hearing."

Luke:  "Oh baby, you are in so far over your head it stuns credibility.  For your own sake, don't go back to Wyndemere tonight.  Because Count Vlad is gonna be very angry that you visited me."
Katherine:  "I'm gonna to tell him about it myself.
Luke:  "What are you, stupid?  Or just tragically naive?"

Having seen Lucky with Helena at Wyndemere on Friday, Kat came to Luke's Club on her way to the ceremony.  She told him about Lucky, and they fought for a minute over Nik's role in Lucky's current situation.  Kat asked him to call off the revenge stuff so that Lucky would be safe--as well as Nikolas (and Stefan--her real concerns).  Luke left at one point to see about something up front, but when he returned, Kat was still there.  Luke didn't want to hear any more, but she still kept talking.  Luke just told her to keep on telling him about Lucky, since the safer his kid was, the safer Nikolas would be.  Personally, I thought her whole visit was stupid.  Did she think he didn't know about Lucky?  If he didn't, did she think that he'd hear the news calmly?  Did she really think that he would call off this thing that has been going on for years?  Is she going to give this same little pep talk to Stefan when she gets home?  Whatever.  And the line that made me most angry with her?  She pointed out to Luke that he filled Lucky's head with all kinds of bad things about the Cassadines, and then insinuated that Stefan had simply done the same.  That sure makes Stefan look good, and I don't actually think that was his conscious plan.  He doesn't deserve to be tied to such a woman--the character deserves so much better, and it's moments like this that prove that to me all over again.

II.  Jason and Carly

A.  Bobbie and Carly

They ended their embrace on Monday, and Justus arrived to offer them a ride to the hospital.  Jason had taken Robin and wanted to get Michael looked at as well.  Carly wondered aloud who had taken Michael, but Justus didn't answer.

B.  At the Hospital

At the hospital, Jason carried Robin into the ER and yelled for help.  Joe Scanlon from PC was there and took Robin away.  Later, she told Jason again that she had always known that he would come for them.  He apologized for taking so long to figure it out.  Brenda and Jax arrived as well, and when the doctor protested about so many people, Brenda actually told Jason to leave.  What's that about?  He saved her life; he's entitled to be there to see how she's doing.  Why can't Jax leave, for Pete's sake?!  Jason exited though, because he wanted to go out and see Michael, whom he told that he would never let anything happen to again.

Then the Qs arrived, en masse, and we had the typical encounter.  Carly came next, and passed all of the Qs, whom Jason was holding at bay, and ran to her child.  Better yet, Bobbie got to pass up the Qs as well, standing behind her daughter and her grandson.  As a compromise, Emily held up the child so that the Qs could see that he was alright.  Alan popped pills.

Meanwhile, the docs were checking on Robin, who as doing fine.  Mac and Felicia entered, and Mac demanded to know who had kidnapped her.  Robin said that it had nothing to do with Jason, and admitted that Tony had taken her and Michael.  Felicia was astonished, but Mac fumed.  Both Robin and Felicia thought that there must be an explanation--that Tony must have had a breakdown.  Out in the hall, Jax and Mac agreed that they would continue with the plan to find Jax's assassin.

Outside, Carly was asking Jason the same question.  But at that moment, Taggert brought Tony in for treatment (Jason had slammed the rifle butt down on his hand).  Carly flew at him, screaming obscenities, but the Qs were struck dumb.  Bobbie couldn't believe it either, but asked for a refutation.  Taggert told Tony that he should fess up.  He proclaimed himself the baby's savior, and insisted that Carly and Jason were unfit parents.  At this cold declaration, with no sign of remorse, the Qs found their voices.  Tony stood there with that smirk on his face as everybody told him exactly what he or she thought of him.  Carly was angry with everybody--Tony and the Qs alike.  Jason took them all home.

Then it was Bobbie's turn.  Tony asked her if she understood, and I think that he actually thought that she would say 'yes.'  He threw her actions regarding Lucas in the past in for good measure.  Bobbie just walked up and slapped him (you go, girl!).  She then said that she could not believe that she was ever married to him.  She asked what he had been thinking about Lucas--what will his son go through now that his father is a kidnapper and may go to prison for life?  Of course, Taggert gets in the parting shot, suggesting to Tony that perhaps he'll get to share a cell with Jason.  Crack me up.

These scenes were good--the best part was Bobbie (I love that we're setting up for a Spencer v. the Qs again)--but a bit heavy handed.  The convenient line of people there to rant at Tony was a bit too much for my taste.  And I could tell already that I wasn't going to like what Robin and Felicia were going to do.   I understand and appreciate that they want to give Tony the benefit of the doubt.  But in the face of everything Robin has seen, if she declares him innocent?  I am not going to be happy.

C.  Jason and Carly...and Michael

At home, the happy parents welcomed Michael home (I wanted a shot of Carly memorizing her child, since she was so worried that she'd forget him) and Jason promised that he'd never be taken from them again.  On Tuesday, Carly overheard him calling the hospital for Robin's room number, and she asked him about it.  He said that he wasn't going to see Robin, and they agreed it was a good thing.  Of course, she meant it for different reasons than he did--she's nervous about Robin's place in Jason's life and wouldn't mind seeing her out of it for good.  He's just worried about her, as his later conversation with Brenda attested.

D.  Bobbie and Carly

Bobbie compared hatred over Tony with Monica at the hospital, and the grandmothers agreed that they would not go out of Michael's life.  Then Bobbie told her the story of Carly's hug--of her calling Bobbie Mama--and claimed that she didn't like it.  Carly, at the same time and in intercut scenes, told Jason about it as well, saying that she was worried about what Bobbie thought of her now.  But I saw their faces, and no matter how much backtracking they want to do on that moment because of fear or hesitation, they will eventually have to admit that they belong together.

E.  Edward and Carly

Even this scene fell flat, seeming repetitious and much like filler.  Carly was trying on eyeshadow for the big night when Edward approached.  He complimented and crooned and reminded her that someday Jason might leave her and that she should be sure to take care of things against that day.  What he wanted was for her to avert the strike.  When he was gone, Carly bought all of the makeup in protest, not wanting to believe that she would ever be without Jason or his money again.  But Edward announced to Ned that the strike wouldn't happen.

F.  Jason and Carly

On Friday, Jason made arrangements with Benny to hold off the strike until he gave the word.  Carly entered, worried about her appearance and fishing for compliments.  She made all kinds of apologies for herself, and while some thought she was fishing for a present, I think she was simply wanting Jason to tell her that she was pretty and that he would be proud to be seen with her in front of the Quartermaines and the rest.  But he did get her a present.  He had Benny pick up (I believe that they were on loan) some diamond earrings and a diamond necklace for her to wear.  She fairly beamed as he helped her put them on.

III.  Mac and Felicia

As Judy said in her fill-in Tuesday update, Tuesday was pretty much filler.  It was as if we were taking a day off after the powerful scenes from the week before and the return of Michael.  Of course, that could be because I'm bored with the primary storyline of the day--the potential assassination of Jax.

V and Felicia followed Tess to an appointment, and V ended up dressed like a cleaning lady and listening at the door.  The guy we've never seen before told Tess that the hit would happen at the ceremony for the docks project and "Mac" will be shot as if he had been fleeing the scene.  Then he told Tess that she'd need to wait three weeks to leave the country, but this is the only thing V overheard, and she took the "three weeks" to mean that they had that long to prepare.  At the end of the episode, we saw Jax enter a room and talk to the same guy we've never seen before.  Dum-duh-dum-dum-DUM!  I knew he was acting suspicious when Mac and Felicia brought the planned assassination to his attention.  But at this point, I hadn't put everything together yet.

On Thursday, Tess announced that she had a surprise for Mac and Felicia.  She was sending them on a date, and had made all the arrangements.  She put Mac in a white tux and Felicia in a God-awful dress.  Felicia "accidentally" stepped on the corsage, however.  Darn.  When she went to change, Mac asked her what was going on.  She gave no answers.  She called Mitch (the guy we had never seen before) and told him that everything was set.  If Felicia got shot as well, so what?

V was suspicious.  Then she dropped this really obvious and contrived news that Jimmy had a tattoo removed from his shoulder.  Of course, at this moment we saw Tess seeing Mac changing his shirt.  No tattoo.  Geez Louise.  She called Mitch and told him it was really Mac.

IV.  Brenda and Jax

A.  Happy Birthday

In the only scenes I've enjoyed with Brenda and Jax and Robin in a long time, Brenda celebrated her birthday.  We started with Mac visiting Robin in the hospital, and she asked him to pick up the gift for Brenda.  Meanwhile, Brenda arrived at Jax's place and he gave her flowers.  She said that she was throwing herself a party (ya, because nobody else would--they're just forcing her independence down our throats some more, IMO) and that she wants Robin and Jax to be there because they were the most help to her in creating her new life.  So, they headed to the hospital.

Brenda actually appeared first, pushing this huge cart with everything necessary for a party.  Too cute.  They giggled about Jax, who had asked Brenda to be his date to the Waterfront opening, and they actually seemed like their old selves a bit.  Bobbie entered and, I think, pretended to be irritated by the party, making them promise to keep it down.  Outside, Jax ran into Ned, who was looking for Brenda (why was he at the hospital?).  They talked business for a moment; Jax was convinced that Jason would cause trouble at the groundbreaking ceremony, but Ned said he wouldn't.  Brenda came down the hall for Jax, and Ned gave her the presents from the Qs.  They went to Robin's room while Brenda went for a vase.  She ran into Jason, and she apologized for blaming him--but not for thinking that it could happen.  Jason agreed.  He asked her who had been visiting Robin, and she had to admit that he hadn't been among her guests.  But Brenda has always harped on that one note without looking to see that Jason hasn't initiated any contact with Robin in a long time.

Back in Robin's room, they had birthday cake and Ned gave Brenda ten shares of L&B stock.  Brenda protested, but then accepted.  She said then that she had spoken to Lois and heard Brooke Lynn speak, and Ned looked pained and left.  Jax's gift was the ruby bracelet she had won on the gambling trip and then pawned.  Robin told them that rubies symbolized true love, though Jax didn't buy it--she admitted to Brenda after he left that she'd made it up, and they giggled some more.

B.  Preparations for the Big Date

Jax:  "As usual, your attention to detail has been pleasantly compulsive."

Jax and V discussed the ceremony on Thursday.  Security was set, and she had made all preparations.  She commented on the length of time it would take him and Brenda to get ready and leave, and he tried to convince her that they were just friends.  She simply noted that he had never called Ashley back.

Ned and Brenda met, meanwhile, and chatted about the stockmarket and Jax.  Ned started to speak the exact words that I keep screaming at the screen.  There are more than two men in the world, etc.  He told her that he wasn't sure that he approved of Jax, brought up every argument against the match, etc.  But she wasn't sold.  She just kept clicking her heels together and repeating, "There's no one like Jax.  There's no one like Jax."  I wished a house would fall on her.

C.  The Big Event

On Friday, a reporter (has Veronica Bowles been fired?!) gave us the run down on the arriving guest, interviewing the Qs (Ned took over for Edward before he said something inflammatory) and Brenda and Jax (gee, for somebody so negative on the paparazzi before, she was eating this attention up).  Meanwhile, Mac and Felicia were stuck in a limo in the adjacent parking garage.  They realize that this was the plan, and the hit was going down that night.

Back at the ceremony, Alan and AJ chatted about the possible strike, with Alan pleased to see his son's supposed command of the scenario.  Amy approached (if it's a big event, Amy will be there), and Alan took her aside to talk about his problem.  He told her he was clean, but she didn't buy it and told him to get help.  Monica then asked Alan what they had been talking about and he gave an awkward answer.  V cautioned Jax about the ease a sniper would have given the layout, but he wasn't worried.  In the parking garage, Tess came to the limo with a gun.  She said she knew this was Mac but it didn't matter.

Carly and Jason were the next to arrive, and she ate the attention up even more the Brenda, if you can imagine that.  She was utterly impressed at the way Jason handled the questions about the potential strike, while Brenda just hoped Robin wasn't watching the happy couple on the television.  She and Jax banter about broken hearts (she made it all about her, but he was referring to his own).  At the limo, Tess asked where James was and Mac warned her that James could tell the police everything he knew.  So Tess threatened to kill Felicia.

Carly:  "Feel sorry for yourself Brenda, I'm sure that won't be much of a stretch...."

AJ and Keesha were...AJ and Keesha.  AJ was more tolerant of Carly than Keesha was.  Meanwhile, Ned discussed a compromise with Jason, who said that Edward and Jax wouldn't go for it.  Then we had a very enjoyable scene where Carly threw herself in Brenda's way and scored many points.  Brenda made the same comments she's always made, and Carly didn't let it phase her in the least.  Jax came up to Brenda afterwards and said that he was going to talk to Jason and she could skip that part of the date.  Brenda said she could handle it.  Jax made some kind of cryptic comment about the day that Jason would be nothing to anyone.

And back at the car, Mac said that he didn't know where Jimmy was, only Felicia did.  Tess didn't buy it, but Mac pointed out that the coroners could time their deaths as being before the hit.  Tess gave then 15 minutes.  A cop arrived, but Tess told them that he was a sniper.  Makes sense, since he didn't answer their pounding.  Felicia started working on the door.

Ned gave a speech to begin the ceremony.  Dara asked Justus about the possibility of a strike.  Carly left Jason's side for a minute and ran into Monica.  They had the same old argument about Monica wanting to see Michael.  Back at the podium, Edward and Jax signed the documents.  And at one point, Jax was alone at the podium.

And at the end of Friday, Mac kicked the door open as the sniper fired.  Just before the shot and the door rang out, Brenda saw the gun and shoved Jax out of the way.

V.  The Quartermaines

A.  AJ and Keesha

AJ and Keesha made love on Tuesday.  Let's just leave it at that.  Actually, there was a nice cut towards the end of the episode that Judy pointed out in her update:  "At the penthouse, Carly asks about Marino.  Jason doesn't think he'll try anything for a while.  He picks up Michael and says:  "Right now, nothing could take away what we have...."  CUT TO: AJ and Keesha in a post-coital snuggle."

VI.  The Cassadines

A.  Katherine and Stefan

After some chatting with Nikolas about Robin, Katherine, alone, placed a vase she had purchased up on the mantelpiece.  Stefan entered, admiring the view, and picked up a scarf she had dropped.  That prompted a replay of the Greek Island Flashbaack (GIF for short?) in which he presents the scarf to Laura that Nikolas had dropped.  Kat asked him what he was thinking, and launched into what she assumed was the trouble--her pedigree.  She rambled on about being a modern girl and pointed to her new vase.  It's lovely, and some of the stuff in the room is ugly.  Thinking he would be upset, he simply picked up the piece that she had removed and announced that, while historic to his family, he had never liked it.  Then he kissed her--the way he distracts her from all subjects he doesn't want to discuss.

B.  Helena Visits

Kat was headed to the Ceremony on Friday, and tried to get Stefan and Nik to go with her.  They declined.  On her way out, Helena and Lucky arrived, and Stefan begrudgingly let them stay to tea (with scones!).  Stefan and his mother jabbed at each other about poison, and then she turned her attention to Nik, who told her that he would be quite able to take over the empire when it was time--with no help from her.  He asked to talk to Lucky, and after they left, Stefan told Helena that Nikolas despised her.  Helena ignored that and said that she had information.  But it was simply that Lucky was working for her, but Stefan thought that he was another Spencer spy.  Helena then swiped at him for marrying Bobbie, and Stefan reminded her that Luke would take out his revenge on Nikolas if anything happened to Lucky.  Helena countered by saying that he was afraid of Luke--or of Laura.

Meanwhile, Nikolas tried to warn Lucky away from Helena, and Lucky was suspicious of his motives.  Nik was doing it only for Lulu's sake.

Stefan finally sent Helena away, and on her way out she met Nikolas.  Nikolas sent her away again, warning her that if she did anything to Lucky, he'd have Stefan seek retribution.  He added that he was the one that didn't want to see her; Stefan wasn't making his decisions for him.  Helena turned to Stefan again and hinted that she would tell Nikolas about Stefan's trip to N. Carolina.  Sorry, Helena, he already knows.  He left her with one last threat, should she harm Laura in any way.