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Written in 57 minutes.

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Friday, September 12, 2024

Webber House: Living Room

She nearly didn’t open the door.

Just the sight of Sam through the little window blocks next to her door made Elizabeth wish she could turn off the lights and hide.

But she was an adult, it was nine in the morning so turning off the lights wouldn’t help, and unfortunately, Sam wasn’t going anywhere so she reluctantly pulled open the door. “Sam.”

“I…suppose I deserve how long it took you to answer the door,” Sam said, folding her arms, rocking back slightly. “You don’t have to talk to me.”

“And send you away without finding out why you came all the way here?” Elizabeth stepped back, irritated by her own curiosity. “But if it goes anything like our last conversation at the police station, you’re going back out that door, and you won’t be welcome back.”

“I deserve that, too,” Sam said, following Elizabeth into the kitchen where she was loading the dishes from that morning. “I should probably start with an apology for that—”

“I don’t need or want it. But Jason, Danny and Jake deserve it.” Elizabeth flicked on the dishwasher, turned to face Sam, keeping the island between them. “But you came over here after school started, so you must want something from me.”

“I do. And maybe you don’t want the apology, but I’m going to give it anyway. You and I—we’ve worked hard to put the bad blood between us in the past. To focus on Jake and Danny, because I know we both agree that they’re what matters.”

“I thought so. But the woman I saw last week? Started to remind me of who you used to be. And that version of you is a danger to my kids.” Elizabeth folded her arms. “I don’t know what’s changed between us—”

“It’s—it’s not about you. Or it wasn’t. Let me just—I had a whole—” Sam gestured in the air. “I had a whole thing planned, so let me get through it.” When Elizabeth didn’t protest, Sam nodded. “Okay. Okay. You know that things with Danny took a nose dive last year. His grades went off the rails, he started getting in trouble at school, and he got suspended last spring. The cops brought him home after he broke curfew. All of that — it was happening before Jason ever got back, so I know that’s not on him. I know that.”

She picked up the salt shaker, twisted it in her hands. “And it’s hard to feel like a failure. I—I wasn’t always the best mother, I know that. I can be selfish and self-destructive, and I ended up being away from my kids for months because I took reckless chances with Shiloh. It wasn’t enough for me to get Kristina away from him. I had to take him down. Me. Not anyone else. And I’ve paid for that choice. I thought Danny had forgiven me, but I guess—” Sam paused. “I don’t know. I just—I started to see Danny going down those same roads, and not knowing how to stop it. Nothing helped. Not time, patience, grounding, taking away electronics—everything was a disaster. And then Jason comes home, and I find out—from him—that Danny found him in the boathouse while he was supposed to be a fugitive.”

Elizabeth’s lips parted and she leaned forward slightly. “I didn’t—I didn’t know that.”

“He didn’t tell me. Jason told him not to. Jason made him an accessory, and God, I just—I saw red when he told me. I get maybe he was still—” Sam pressed her lips together. “I almost understand it. He was undercover, and you know, it’s not that different from pulling a con, and you have to be that person, but all I could see was Danny on the wrong road already — and Jason coming back to drag him all the way to the end of it. I didn’t handle it well. At all. I tried to get Jason out of the deal with the FBI, thinking that would get him out of danger, but that was stupid and reckless—” Sam set the salt shaker down. “I tried to explain this to him, but he seems to think it’s enough that he’s out of Sonny’s business, and things have been quiet since the Pikeman investigation ended. That wasn’t that long ago, okay? He was being shot at in the warehouse at the end of June.”

Elizabeth waited a long moment before responding, gathering her thoughts. “I will say that I hadn’t really thought about it from that perspective — that Danny was already making reckless choices. And that Danny’s easy forgiveness of Jason might have been another sign he was happy to follow some of Jason’s lesser choices. Jake…he just wasn’t interested in any of that. And Jake—they’ve done visits and overnights, but he’s never lived with Jason day in and day out. He wasn’t old enough to remember what happened with the Russians. He doesn’t even remember the Cassadines that well now, which—thank God, I guess.”

“And maybe that’s part of it for me,” Sam admitted. “Danny seemed so eager to be with Jason — and I worried it was the danger that did it. That he liked sneaking around and hiding the truth from me. I know Jason’s never wanted Jake or Danny involved in the business. He hated when Michael skirted near those lines. I don’t think he’d ever really encourage them. But Jake’s never showed the slightest interest. Because he’s your son. Mine? Can’t get enough of the risk. And—” Sam’s voice thickened. “It’s difficult when you realize that it’s because of you that he’s like that. Jason’s world gives him opportunities but I’m the one with the addiction to danger. It…it was easier just to blame him, you know? To tell myself I can still fix this, I can save Danny from all this pain and terrible choices if I just keep him from danger—”

Elizabeth came around the island, sat on the stool next to her. “Sam—”

“I can’t admit when I’m wrong — you know that. I’ve never been able to take accountability for anything until I’m forced to. And even then, I try to wiggle out of it. Spinelli got hired for your case, and Jason told him that I can’t help.”

“Oh.” Elizabeth tilted her head. “I didn’t know that.”

“I tried to get Spinelli to let me in anyway, but he refused, and so I tried to explain things to Jason, but he’s still just—” Sam paused. “He’s angry at me not just because of Danny. I think he could forgive me for the way I’ve tried to cut him off from Danny. I wouldn’t deserve it, but he always blames himself for all the danger anyway. But I…I said some things in front of Danny, and I didn’t realize how upset he was. He went to school, he told Jake, and Jake brought it home to Jason.”

“Some things?” Elizabeth echoed.

Sam dropped her eyes, looked to the side. “Something about you accepting Jason’s crumbs and accepting the same low standards for Jake.”

Elizabeth stared at her for a long moment, then pursed her lips. “You don’t like Jake, do you? Or me? Despite everything we’ve been through, we’re always going to be the obstacle that got in the way of your happy ending, aren’t we?”

“I think that Jake is a great kid, and I couldn’t ask for a better brother for Danny. I think you’re a good mother, and a good person.” Sam met her gaze. “But no, I’ve always resented both of you. Because as soon as Jake existed, I was never going to have Jason all to myself again. He was always going to be settling for me because he didn’t think he deserved you. And I know Danny was my consolation prize — the baby he’s accepted, that he loves, but that he didn’t want. Because if he couldn’t be Jake’s father, he shouldn’t be one at all.”

Elizabeth nodded, slid off her stool, and headed for the door. “Thank you. For admitting that.” She opened the door. “We’ve cleared the air, so you should probably go.”

Sam stopped on the threshold, stopping her from closing the door. “I know that the resentments I have now are wrong, and belong to a more bitter, angry version of me. And most of the time, I don’t feel that way. I love Dante.” Her eyes warmed. “I love him in ways that I’ve never loved anyone else, and he loves me. He’s the one I’ve been waiting for. It’s why you and I could get along. Why I could encourage Jake and Danny’s relationship. But then Jason came home, and I fell into all my bad habits. I’m sorry. I’m working on myself, and I don’t expect you to forgive me. I don’t expect Jake or Jason to either. But Danny—he’s my miracle. And I need to find a way to make it better with him.”

“And you think helping Spinelli with my case will do that?” Elizabeth asked. “Why?”

“Because it’s helping you. And Jake. Two people Danny thinks I hate. Because it’s the right thing to do. You’re innocent and I know that. Jason said that it would be up to you.”

“Did he?” Coward, she thought. She’d have to have a conversation with him about that. “I’m going to have a conversation with him. We may need to do more work before we’re at that part, Sam. Jake and Danny shouldn’t have been part of this war between us, and you’re the one that put them there, not me. That doesn’t get fixed overnight.”

“That is—frustrating but fair,” Sam admitted on a mutter. “Thank you for listening.”

“Thank you for being honest.” And then Elizabeth closed the door.

District Attorney’s Office: Robert’s Office

“Come in, Mr. Reynolds.” Robert gestured at the circular table by the windows overlooking downtown. “I’m so glad you decided to ask for this appointment.”

“You are?” Reynolds stood by the table, but didn’t take a seat. He furrowed his brow. “Why?”

“Because I’ve thrown a grenade in the middle of your case, and I knew you’d be interested in finding out why.” Robert sat down, smiled again. “Please. Sit. We’re colleagues of a sort, and this isn’t personal—”

“You’re interfering in the murder of a federal agent—” But Reynolds reluctantly took a seat. “I don’t see how that’s not personal.”

Robert leaned forward, still smiling, though there was a glint in his eye that suggested it wasn’t entirely friendly. “You have evidence that proves John Cates was on official business that night? After all, he was once a resident of Port Charles with several friends and associates still around. The Quartermaine party was well-attended.”

“Mr. Scorpio—”

“Mr. Reynolds.” Robert leaned back, crossed his legs. “Commissioner Devane was also unhappy with me. She suggested that you had proof John Cates was lured there by a party who is not the woman you have charged with his murder. Imagine my surprise when I looked through our evidence collection and didn’t see such a voicemail – though my people are the ones that collected the cell phone from the body. And I’m willing to bet you haven’t turned over that exculpatory evidence to Diane Miller.” Robert’s smile deepened. “That’s a Brady violation, my friend.”

Reynolds opened his mouth, then closed it, considering his next words very carefully. “The Commissioner told you that?”

“Yes. And since it’s not in any of the files, I’m willing to bet it was something you or the FBI shared with her. Now why would you do that, Mr. Reynolds? Did you think Anna would trot over to your real primary suspect and warn him?”

“It’s not as if it’s out of the realm of possibilty,” Reynolds said coolly. “She’s been known to be friendly with Morgan. And there’s the matter of Valentin Cassadine getting away after spending several nights with Anna in his bed.”

“I don’t believe I mentioned Mr. Morgan being the party on the voicemail. So thank you for confirming that it exists. I’ll expect a copy of it to be delivered to my detectives, and to Ms. Miller by the end of the day.” Robert got to his feet, straightened his jacket. “Mr. Reynolds, we both know that you’ve rushed to charge on flimsy evidence at best. If you came here to intimidate me into relinquishing jurisdiction, I’m afraid you’ll be leaving empty-handed. My team will be conducting a parallel investigation, and there’s nothing you can do to stop us.”

Lake House: Living Room

“It’s a mistake,” Sam told Molly with a shake of her head. “Not because I think Elizabeth is guilty — she’s not, obviously — but your career—”

“Since when do you care about careers?” Molly unwrapped her sandwich from Kelly’s, reached for napkins Alexis had put in the middle of the table. “You haven’t had a real one since you got fired from the DA’s office twenty years ago.”

“Eighteen okay? Don’t make me older than I am,” Sam grumbled. She looked at their mother. “Mom—”

“Molly knows the risks. And if it tanks her career at the DA’s office, well—” Alexis looked at her youngest daughter with pride. “You wouldn’t be the first Davis to flame out there.”

“Nope, just the third.”

Sam stuck her tonuge at Molly, and Alexis smiled watching them. It was so good to see Molly a  bit lighter, with some purpose in her step. Maybe it was a reckless choice, but Molly was standing on principles and it was hard to be disappointed in that.

She looked at the empty chair next to Sam, and wondered how long Kristina would be sitting there again — and how to mend the break between her and Molly.

That was a problem for another day. Today, she was going to focus only on Molly, and hope Kristina wasn’t getting into any trouble Alexis would have to fix later.

Hanley Federal Building: Pretrial Services Division

“I can’t believe I have to come here every week,” Elizabeth muttered as Jason opened the glass door leading to the suite of offices. “Three hours in the car just to be interrogated—”

“I’d say we could do the bike next week,” Jason said, and she looked at him with some interested, “but I don’t know if you’d want to do these meetings with helmet hair.”

“Oh—” Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. “Probably not. You know, I remember a time when you wouldn’t even think about something like that. Or me. I don’t like being an adult.” She went up to the counter to check in.

“But hey, today we get to go straight to the airport and pick up Cameron,” Jason reminded her, and she grinned.

“That is one upside to this whole nightmare. Getting to see Cam and not have it mess up his classes. I know you’ll just brush it off, but it really does mean the world to me that you’re covering the flights. I won’t even bother to say I’ll pay you back—”

“It’s not just for you,” Jason told her. “Jake—” He hesitated. “This has been hard on him, and Aiden, too. But I think he’s struggled to be the oldest brother, to take care of everyone and not make any mistakes. He needs a break from that.”

“He needs his big brother.” She softened. “And it’s just like you to notice that. Thank you.” Someone called her name, and she made a face. “This is going to be awful, I can just feel it.”

And it was. They sat in the cubicle, in chairs shoved as close together as possible, with a woman who checked all their identification, looked at the logs of Elizabeth’s GPS monitor—

“You’re clear on where you’re allowed to go?” the agent asked. “City limits and here to the Federal building. Any other travel, your custodian has to get it approved by someone here first.” She looked at Jason. “You’re prepared for that, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“All right. You’ll be taking a weekly drug test.” She leaned over, pulled out a plastic cup. “Are you ready?”

Elizabeth sighed. A drug test when she didn’t even have time to do anything more crazy than a glass of wine. “Yeah, sure. Let’s get it over with.”