Written in 84 minutes. I had just started the Liason scene when the timer hit, and I was like, screw it. Let me just do this scene right.

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Tuesday, October 1, 2024

General Hospital: Fletcher’s Office

Sam dragged her hands through her hair, turned to face the doctor. “Can we please just move on to you telling me what I have to do to fix this? To help Danny? I scared him. I won’t do that again—”

“Danny told me he was scared in that moment,” Fletcher interrupted, and she closed her mouth, pressing her lips together. “Not of you as a person. But of what you might do. There’s a difference.”

“Doesn’t feel that way on this side of things,” Sam muttered, but his response settled her enough that she returned to her seat. “Okay. So then what next?”

“What do you think he saw when that happened? Put yourself in Danny’s shoes. What was he going through?”

She opened her mouth to respond, but then stopped, took a moment, and closed her eyes. What had Danny felt? Had she even stopped that day to consider what he’d wanted? She had — but—

“He didn’t tell Elizabeth had driven him to the building,” Sam admitted. “He obviously knew that would upset me, and he didn’t want me to get on the elevator. And I took his phone—” She folded her arms, her fingers digging into her biceps. “I didn’t want him to warn her. Not because I wanted to hurt her. I didn’t. I just—I didn’t want her to have time to think of a story.”

“You wanted her to react in the moment,” Fletcher prompted. “Why? Why would it matter if she knew you were coming? Do you think she would have left?”

Sam’s lips twitched. “No. She doesn’t usually back down. I don’t know. I guess I thought if she didn’t have time to think, she might admit why she’s doing all of this. That she’d be honest that she’s just trying to get Danny on her side to look better to Jason.” She pursed her lips. “I suppose you don’t agree with that.”

“I don’t know the answer. I’m not sure it matters at the end of the day,” the doctor replied, and she wrinkled her nose. “Whatever Elizabeth’s motives are, ultimately — it’s Danny who matters, isn’t it? What he thinks. What he feels.”

“I know.”

“It’s interesting that your instinct was to confront Elizabeth without giving her warning. To think that the element of surprise would push her to honesty. Danny shares that approach — did you know that he believes making you angry is the only way you’ll be honest with him?”

“I—” Sam huffed, straightened. “That’s ridiculous. I’m always honest with him—”

“Maybe that’s true. But he doesn’t think that. Why?”

“I think he’s just playing with you,” Sam returned with a roll of her eyes. “He wants you to let him off the hook for always being a smart ass. He’s a teenager—”

“Are you telling me that some of your more recent confrontations with Danny haven’t been the result of Danny deliberately pushing you?”

She squinted at him, thrown slightly. “I mean, yes, but—” Sam bit her lip, let her hands drop in her lap. “So what I’ve been thinking is Danny having a bad attitude or just wanting to make me crazy — you’re telling me he thinks it’s the only way to have any kind of conversation?”

“The only way to have a productive conversation,” Fletcher responded. “It doesn’t have to be true, Sam, for Danny to believe it.”

Sam exhaled. There was something about that statement that slid inside her brain and took root. It doesn’t have to be true…

“How do I—” She licked her lips. “I keep asking you — how do I fix that? But I don’t know even know if that’s the right question. Because it’s a question about me. And that’s the problem, isn’t it? I keep centering myself when Danny’s the one that matters.”

Fletcher leaned back. “It’s natural for a parent to have that question. To — borrowing your words — center themselves because you, as Danny’s primary parent for most of his life, are at the center of his world. At his understanding of his place in that world. Fixing the situation isn’t just making it better for you, it would make it better for Danny. The problem is — it’s not on you to fix it. Not alone.”

Sam bit her lip, looked away. “Jason and I can’t seem to talk to each other without anger. I can’t stop seeing the way he left Danny. Even if I accept that he chose to be an informant for reasons that made sense —” She stopped. “He still made the choices that put himself in the position for the FBI to ask that of him. To demand it. He might have his reasons for always leaving Danny — and Jake, even if that’s none of my business — but it doesn’t change the fact that he does it. He’s barely been present in either of their lives, do you know that? He comes in and out, and I guess Elizabeth handles it by accepting it, and going with it. Maybe it works for her. Maybe it’s not settling in her eyes, but it is for me. And I don’t want it for Danny. I don’t. He deserves better than that. He deserves what I didn’t have. What I still can’t give him. Two parents who love him and support him.”

“I can’t comment on the history of the situation or on the choices Danny’s father has made. All I have in front of me is this situation,” Fletcher told her. “Right now, Danny does have two parents who love and support him. They just don’t love or support each other.”

“Well, that’s putting it bluntly.” Sam waited a moment, then nodded. “Okay. Danny thinks the only way to make me be honest is to poke at me until I explode. He believes I’m not honest with him. What—what do we do? What can I do to help him?”

“What do you want Danny to believe about you?”

Sam frowned. “Is that a trick question?”

“No. No tricks here, Sam.”

Sam considered the question. Thought about all her recent confrontations with Danny — and the conversation she’d had a few days ago with Jake.

“You love the idea of him. The miracle baby you always called him, right? The one you weren’t supposed to have, your chance to be a mother. Because that’s all that matters to you.”

“I want him to believe that I love him,” Sam said finally. “That he doesn’t have to do, or be anything, for that love to exist. And that no matter what he does, that love isn’t going anywhere. I made a lot of mistakes. I’ll probably make more,” she admitted. “I’m not perfect. But that I can promise to do better.”

“All right. I want you to remember this when you speak with him next,” Fletcher told her. “The way you respond to his anger has to reflect those words. When Danny say something painful, when he tries to hurt you, to take a deep breath, and remember why he’s doing it. And that all you can do is try to respond in a way that’s productive. If he believes that you can hear him without attacking or trying to be right, things will get better. It won’t happen overnight. But it will happen.”

Franklin Street: Federal Parking Lot

Jake and Cameron had fallen behind the younger boys, and found them waiting at the back door of the car they’d driven in, Danny with his phone in his, arguing hotly with Aiden.

Jake swiped the phone from Danny before either of boy realized they’d arrived, and scowled he saw Sam’s contact name at the top of the text screen. “You’re not talking to your mother, are you?”

“Give that back—” Danny grabbed for hit but Jake held it over Danny’s head. “It’s mine—”

“Diane told us not to do anything—”

“I can’t do whatever—” Danny grunted, grappling with Jake until they both fell against the call. “Give me the phone—”

“Knock it off, idiots—” Cameron stepped between them both, snagged Danny’s phone and slid it into his pockets. “Stop. This isn’t going to help anyone—” He sent Jake a glare before turning to focus on Danny. “Your mom might not have done anything—”

Danny’s eyes were glittering with angry tears, his cheeks red. “Don’t be stupid! Who else wants to hurt your mom? She already tried to have Elizabeth arrested!”

“That was in the heat of moment—stop—” Cameron planted a hand against Danny’s chest when the younger boy tried to make a grab for his phone. “Damn it, dumbass. You want to be just like her, huh? Doing something stupid because you’re too angry to see straight?”

“Shut up—”

“Your mom slugged mine because she was pissed at her and my mom was, like, within slugging distance. She didn’t think, right? She was angry and she just reacted. This isn’t that, okay?”

Some of the red faded from Danny’s face and he swallowed. “No, it’s worse.”

“Yeah. It is. If she did it.” Cameron stopped. “I think you’re probably right. I think Sam’s the only one with a motive who knew Mom was at the station that night. Or that Aiden was part of it. But maybe she wasn’t. Maybe whoever did this is the one who really killed that guy. We don’t know for sure. And until we do, you can’t go off crazy, doing whatever you want. That’s not what we do here.” He sent a dirty look at his younger brother, and Jake rolled his eyes. “It’s not. We’re not impulsive assholes in this family, are we?”

“No,” Jake muttered.

Cameron looked over at Aiden, miserably standing on the other side of Danny. “Are we?” he repeated.

“No,” Aiden said, kicking at loose rocks on the ground. “But if his mom did tell —”

“Then she’s a bitch who doesn’t give a shit about anyone but herself, and I’ll be the first person to let Danny loose on her.” Cameron let his hand fall away from Danny’s chest, letting the younger boy stand up on his feet. “But it’s not just you, Danny. Right? You’re Jake’s brother, which makes you one of us. And we look out for each other.”

Danny’s mouth trembled and he looked at Jake before focusing on Cameron. “I don’t want to do anything that makes this worse. More than I already did.”

“You didn’t do anything,” Jake said roughly. “You’re an idiot, but you and Aiden — you didn’t do anything to hurt my mom. Not on purpose, okay? That matters. But you contact your mom now, you tell her what we know before Diane or my mom or Dad can figure out things, maybe we mess things up for her. Is that what you want to do?”

“No. No. Your mom’s been nice to me. Even when I was an asshole.” Danny exhaled slowly, swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. I’m just—”

“Angry. Yeah, but didn’t Dad just tell us what we’re supposed to do when someone makes us angry?” Jake said. “When you slugged Rocco, it felt good in the moment, but then it made everything worse. What did Dad say?”

“You can’t control other people,” Danny said reluctantly. “Only how you react. And not reacting sometimes is the right choice. But it sucks.”

“Yeah, it does.” Cameron stepped back, allowing Danny some space. “I’m gonna hold on to your phone until we get home. Just in case. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Davis & Miller: Alexis’s Office

Alexis removed her reading glasses, leaned back in her chair, and pressed a hand to her forehead, absorbing the call from her partner. “When did the report come in? Were you able to find out?”

“Reynolds said he’d send more information about the tip his office received, but all we know is that he got the information yesterday.” There was some rustling of paper, sounds of cars speeding by on Diane’s end. “Alexis—I don’t want to accuse her—”

“Yes, you do. Don’t play games with me, Diane. Someone made a call that nearly got Elizabeth’s bail revoked. Sam’s the obvious suspect.”

“It would give you leave to go back to family court — Jason’s home situation changing, the turmoil. If Sam played her cards right, she’d get more visitation, or even a revisit of the custody order—”

Alexis wanted to deny it, but of course Diane was right. If Elizabeth had been put back into federal custody for the foreseeable future, it materially changed the situation. Alexis would have had an excellent argument on her daughter’s behalf. “This is no small thing you’re suggesting she did. It’s not just Elizabeth she’d be hurting—”

“And hasn’t Sam demonstrated she’ll do whatever she thinks is necessary if it gets Danny back in her custody? On her side?”

Alexis sighed. “I hate that you’re right. All right. What do you want me to do? Talk to her? Keep it quiet? What’s the move?”

“Well, I don’t imagine it’ll stay quiet even if I asked you. Danny had a meltdown in court, and he might have already ignored our advice to let me and Spinelli handle it. Someone is going to confront her — whether it’s Danny or Jason. Or Dante since she’ll have thrown him under the bus and he’ll have certainly learned about it now. You have the best shot of getting her to admit it, don’t you think?”

Another point scored for Diane, Alexis thought after they’d ended their call, and she remained in her office, trying to consider her next actions. Should she call Sam? Talk to Danny? Diane was right — Alexis needed to be involved.

“Mom?” Sam knocked lightly on her mother’s office door frame. “Hey. I just got  done with the doctor, and I wanted—” She paused. “What’s wrong?”

Alexis sighed, looked at her daughter. “Well, I suppose there’s no way to do this other than to just ask. Did you tip off Noah Reynolds about Danny’s arrest at Elizabeth’s house to get her bail revoked?”

Clinton Square

Elizabeth leaned back against the bench, her eyes trained on the small reflecting pool. “I’m sorry, I just wasn’t ready to get back in the car. Not yet.”

“It’s okay.” Jason stretched an arm along the back of the bench, slightly angled towards her. She knew he was furious, that every muscle in his body was tense and poised to react, but his expression and tone were calm, even gentle. She wondered how he did that, how he was able to control himself so carefully.

“I suppose I should be grateful that the judge didn’t seem impressed by the idea of revoking bail,” Elizabeth said with a sigh. “I’d really made up my mind that they’d take me today. I don’t think I realized how much until it didn’t happen.” She looked at him. “What about you?”

“I….yeah, I guess I keep seeing it all being connected. That whatever the lawyers went, the court will do,” Jason admitted. “But unless there’s some kind of miracle, this is going to trial. And then it’s the hands of people.”

“And you’ve never liked people.”

“No.” There was a slight twitch of his lips, almost a hint of smile. He met her eyes, his expression sober again. “If Sam tipped them off—”

“You think she didn’t?” Elizabeth lifted her brows. “Who else could have?”

“I don’t know. She’s capable of it,” he added when Elizabeth remained silent. “I’m not saying she isn’t. And she’s done worse. To you, to the boys.”

“But?” Elizabeth prompted gently.

“I’m not defending her.”

“I didn’t say you were. I didn’t,” she insisted when he didn’t continue. “I know it’s not an easy thing to accuse her of. This isn’t like when Jake was a baby, or when she pulled that stunt in the park. Yes, she did terrible things that put my children in danger. But she did them nearly twenty years ago. And I know she did things in her past, before she came to Port Charles. I agree with you. She’s capable of it. And she certainly hates me — and you— right now enough to do it.”

“If she did this,” Jason said, “then it means all of those things she swore she regretted — all the mistakes she promised were behind us — that it was always a lie. That this was always who she was. Someone who didn’t just hurt you and your children, but her own. This hurts Danny. His own mother.”

Elizabeth reached for his hand, held it between both hers, and waited for him to look at her. “I have faith that Diane and Spinelli will find the evidence we need to convince the jury I didn’t do this. And I have faith that if we find out Danny’s mother did this to us, to him, that you and I, and everyone who loves Danny, that we will find a way to help him cope with it. To make peace with it.”

“I wish I had your faith in anything,” Jason admitted, but the arm he’d stretched along the back of the bench curled around her shoulders, tugging her towards him so he could kiss her forehead. “But when you say it, I almost believe it.”

Written in 71 minutes. The ending was a little awkward, but it’s good enough for now 😛

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Tuesday, October 1, 2024

James M. Hanley Federal Building: Hallway

He couldn’t breathe, his fingers clutching and twisting violently at the tie around his neck, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

“Let me get it—” His aunt’s hands brushed his own aside, and Danny stood there, his hands falling to hang limply while she loosened the knot his father had tied several hours earlier, but even with it gone, he still couldn’t catch his breath.

“They’re going to put her back in jail,” Danny told Carly, and he twisted back towards the court room, Carly grabbing at him to hold him in place. “It’s my fault, it’s all my fault, and Jake’s going to hate me, and Dad’s going to—”

“Just take a deep breath. Danny,” Carly said sharply and he jolted, looked at her, his eyes wide and slightly glazed over. “Whatever happens inside that room has nothing to do with me, do you understand? You didn’t do this. You’re just the weapon those bastards are using. Your dad knows that. Jake will know that.”

“How did they know? How did they know?” Danny repeated, his voice climbing. “Dante said no one would know!”

“I have a few thoughts,” Carly muttered, and he blinked at her, the bottom dropping out of his world because he knew who would have told. He knew who didn’t give a damn about Elizabeth or Jake.

“My mother did this, didn’t she?” Danny asked, and Carly opened her mouth, but her response was cut off when the doors opened behind them and they both turned to see  the hearing had ended. Michael was the first to join them, followed by Laura and Kevin.

“They’re not holding her,” Michael said immediately and Carly released an exhale of relief. “You good, Danny?”

“She’s going home?” Danny wanted to know. He looked past the others as Jake and his brothers filed out of the courtroom, with Jason, Diane, Spinelli, and finally Elizabeth. “They’re not arresting you again?”

“No, they’re not,” Jason told him, coming to his son’s side, drawing him away slightly from Carly. “Are you okay?”

“Mom did this,” Danny told him and Jason grimaced, shook his head slightly. “No one else could have. Or would have. Mom—”

“We’ll talk about all of this later,” Diane declared, with her brows raised. Danny clamped his mouth shut, realizing that the federal attorneys were making their way out.

Elizabeth edged away, careful to keep her eyes from even meeting Gia’s, but Carly couldn’t quite manage it.

“Is this what you wanted?” Carly called, and Gia turned, seemingly startled. “Terrorizing an innocent teenage boy?”

Reynolds furrowed his brow, looked between Gia and the irate blonde before answering, “From what I read, he’s not much better than his father.” He smirked. “Or his mother. Never had a chance, did you, Danny?”

Jason wound his arm around Danny’s chest, holding him in place.

“What kind of adult uses women and children as weapons?” Diane said, angling herself in front of the group. “The judge wasn’t impressed by your presentation. Your little house of cards built on lies.” She sniffed. “Easily constructed, easily torn away.”

“We’ll see about that.”

General Hospital: Fletcher’s Office

Sam restlessly tapped her fingers against her thighs. “Don’t you have questions or something? How does this work?”

Fletcher leaned back in his chair, a notebook in his lap, looking relaxed and completely unbothered.

She already hated him.

“I’m glad you decided to come in today,” he replied. “I know you were nervous about participating.”

She smiled thinly. “I’m sure you’ve heard all about me, right? Between Jason and Danny, you know everything.”

“Well—” Fletcher tipped his head. “I’ve heard their experience. That’s not the same thing as hearing from you.”

She hesitated, unsure what to do with that response. She folded her arms. “Okay. So what do you want to hear?”

“How have the last few weeks been for you?”

“That’s a stupid question,” Sam retorted, and snorted. “How do you think they’ve been? What am I supposed to say? Oh, it was great except for losing  custody of my kids, my boyfriend moving out, and the entire world deciding I’m the problem. But hey, the rain’s supposed to stop this week, so there’s something to look forward to.”

Fletcher set aside the notebook and sat forward. “I understand that you feel defensive. But I promise you — asking a question like that is just to see where you’re at — what do you say first, the tone, the words — it gives me a place to begin. It’s not to attack you or make light of what’s happened.”

Sam made a face. “I’m not defensive. Everything I just said is exactly what happened. The judge took away my kids, Dante can’t decide what he wants because he wants to make everyone happy, and the only person who’s on my side seems to be my sister who hasn’t exactly been the most mentally stable.” Her voice faltered slightly, and Sam looked away, blinking at tears. “I want to say the right thing so you’ll tell Danny he should stop being mad at me, and I don’t know what that is. And that’s—I don’t know how to fix this. I don’t know to make Danny see things the way I want him to.”

“What’s stopping him?”

Sam opened her mouth, then closed it abruptly, nearly biting down on her tongue to stop herself from answering it impulsively. “I don’t know,” she forced herself to say. “I know—I know it’s not Elizabeth. But you ask me that question, and that’s all I can say. I don’t think she’s doing it on purpose. But it doesn’t change the fact that Danny sees her as this perfect angel who can do no wrong, and I’m the wicked witch.” Tears clung to her lashes. “Just like his father, you know? I lost Jason the second she came into our lives, and now I’m losing Danny.”

James M. Hanley Federal Building: Hallway

When Reynolds and Gia had disappeared around the corner, Diane turned back to the unhappy crowd. “I know we all have a lot of thoughts and opinions and complaints,” she added. “But we can’t discuss them in the hallway.”

“I think we should stick with our original plan,” Elizabeth suggested, touching Cameron’s shoulder. “Cam, you drive your brothers and Danny back home — pick up something to eat? Jason and I will follow later.”

“But—” Danny began, but Jake cut in.

“We’re going. You’ve done enough,” he told his brother when Danny looked like he might protest. “Stop thinking about yourself for five damn minutes.”

“Jake,” Jason said, and Jake just shook his head.

“Whatever. Let’s just go.” Without another word, he started walking towards the elevators. Aiden followed him after a beat, and Danny looked at his father miserably.

“He hates me. This is my fault—”

“We’ll talk about it later,” Jason told Danny. “But it’s not your fault. Go home.”

“All right.” Danny looked at Elizabeth. “I’m sorry.”

“I know you are, honey.” She straightened the lapels of his suit jacket. “We’ll see you in a few hours.”

“You’ll call me if you need anything?” Laura said, embracing her former daughter-in-law.

“I promise. Thank you for coming. Both of you.” Elizabeth flashed a grateful smile at Kevin.

“Of course.”

“We’re heading home, too,” Michael said, looking at his mother meaningfully. “But if I can do anything—”

“You’ll be the first call,” Jason said. “Thank you. For sitting with Danny,” he told Carly.

“Well, if anyone knows how to stop a train wreck in progress, it’s one in recovery,” Carly quipped, hugging him lightly. “We’ll find a way to fix all of this, Jase. Don’t you worry.”

When everyone had departed, leaving Jason and Elizabeth alone with Diane and Spinelli, the lawyer’s cool exterior slipped slightly. “How the hell did they find out about that police report?” Diane demanded on a low hiss.

“Another tip,” Spinelli said, grimacing. “I’m gonna find out why Chase didn’t know anything about this. His source in the federal office should have been able to warn us—” He plucked his phone from his bag.

“If Sam did this,” Jason began, but then he just stopped, unsure how to even finish the statement. The gravity of the accusation — the thought that Sam had been furious enough to throw her own son under the bus with the hopes of removing Elizabeth from the picture—

He wanted to say it was impossible. That she would never do it—

“Did anyone else know?” Elizabeth asked softly. “Could Dex or his partner have done it?”

“Maybe. But it looks bad on the cops the way this came out. I gotta think they’d have covered themselves better,” Jason said.

“Which doesn’t leave us with much of a suspect list,” Diane said. She took a deep breath. “All right. Spinelli and I will deal with this. Neither of you can talk to Sam. Do you hear me?” she said to Jason and Elizabeth.

“Understood,” Jason said. “What do we do next?”

“We aren’t doing anything,” Diane replied. “The two of you are going home and while you’re driving, think of absolutely everyone that could have known about the visit to the station that night.”

General Hospital: Fletcher’s Office

“I understand there’s a long history between you, Jason, and Jake’s mother,” Fletcher said. “But it’s important that we stay focused on you and Danny.”

“I am—” Sam huffed. “You don’t understand. No one ever does—”

“I understand that you’re linking Danny’s rejection of you to a similar rejection you suffered from his father two decades ago,” Fletcher interrupted, and she felt her cheeks heat. Was that really what it sounded like? “Danny told me that for a long time, you and Elizabeth were able to stay civil, even friendly for the sake of Danny and his brother. Why do you think that’s changed?”

“I don’t—” Sam pressed her lips together, tried to consider the question honestly. “I don’t know. It was easier when they were younger. When Danny didn’t push back at me all the time. I—When I didn’t feel like every word I said to him was wrong. Every choice, every interaction — I could feel him moving away from me. And it just got worse when Jason came home. Because now Danny could spin a fantasy in his head about how it would be better if he lived with his dad. It just made me so mad because I’m the one who’s been there. I’ve been with Danny every second of his life, and Jason just hasn’t. I’m not wrong to resent Jason for that. And I hate Elizabeth for making Danny think it’s okay that his father just comes and goes and it’s all fine and happy. He watched Jake and Jason do that for Jake’s whole life, and Danny thinks that’s fine. Because Elizabeth let it happen. She wasn’t even angry at him, do you know that? She always settled for his crumbs, and she’s making it okay for Danny to do the same—” Sam pushed herself up out of her chair, paced over to the window. “Elizabeth raised her sons to expect less from their fathers, and now she’s teaching Danny the same lesson—”

“Is that why you were angry with her that day in the lobby? When you had your confrontation?”

Sam stopped, looked at him with confusion. “What?”

“Can you walk me through what was happening for you the day of the confrontation with Elizabeth?”

“You already know that story, okay? We don’t need to go over it. I’m sure you got everything you needed from Danny and Jason.” She looked back out over the city skyline, towards the lake in the horizon. “It’s not a happy memory, and I’d just as soon not revisit it.”

“It’s not happy for you or for Danny?”

Tears choked her throat. “He told you, why do you need to hear it from me?”

“Because you need to say it, don’t you?”

“I scared him. He’s terrified of me, is that what you want to hear?”

Franklin Street: Federal Parking Lot

 Cameron and Jake trailed behind Aiden and Danny as they approached the line of cars where they’d parked. “I know you’re pissed at him—”

“Pissed isn’t the right word,” Jake muttered, tugging at his tie. “Just when I think he’s not going to turn into his bitch mother—”

“Jake—”

“Mom’s sitting there, we’re all terrified for her life and freedom, and what does everyone have to do now? We have to take care of him,” Jake spat. “Because he got himself in trouble—” He stopped on the street, balling his fists in his pockets. “He got drunk and high, he dragged Aiden into trouble, and now Mom might go to jail because that bitch wants to pay Mom back for whatever bullshit went on a lifetime ago—and you want me to play nice?”

“Jake—” Cam let out a breath, looked back at the younger boys, neither of him seemed to realize they weren’t following anymore. “Yeah, I’m pissed that he lost it in front of the judge, too, and that maybe it could have made things worse. But it didn’t. Mom’s coming home—”

“For now. But they might have another hearing, and this time they might take her away again, and—” Jake looked towards the sky, took another deep breath, tried to find the calm. “And they don’t know who’s doing this, do they? Diane and Spinelli don’t know anymore than they did a goddamn month ago.”

“I don’t know.”

“At least with Mom at home, we could pretend it wasn’t happening, okay? But we’re back in court, and we’ll probably be here again in a week, and what if they take her this time? What if it doesn’t work? What if Diane doesn’t win, Cam? What if—”

“What if an asteroid hits the planet—” Cam put his hands on Jake’s shoulders. “It’s not easy being the older brother, you know. You and Aiden kept me on my toes—”

“Did not—”

“How many times did you get kidnapped and hit by cars?” Cam wanted to know, and Jake rolled his eyes. “Having a moron for a younger brother is something I know all about. You can’t just punch them when they’re being stupid.”

“No, sometimes you gotta slap them,” Jake muttered. He shook his head. “I don’t know how to do this.”

“That makes two of us,” Cam admitted. He slung an arm around Jake’s shoulder. “But we’ll figure it out.”