November 9, 2004

Wyndemere: Conservatory

Emily hung up the phone and smiled to herself, checking the phrase head gardener off her list of employees to hire. The mansion and the island would be returned to its former glory if Emily had to work day and night to see to it.

She’d already hired an army of maids to open all the closed rooms and give them a thorough cleaning. She’d contracted a decorator to give the whole place a brighter and friendlier look. The house may be Gothic in design but there was no point in having it be so dark and dreary.

“Miss Emily.”

At the sound of the new butler’s voice, Emily turned to the doorway. “Yes, Richards?”

“There is a gentleman to see you…Jason Morgan.” Richards was an older man with a stiff British upbringing. Nikolas had liked him from the first interview–the man had reminded him of a butler he’d had in Greece as a boy. He wore a crisp black suit and styled his silver hair slicked back. The first time Emily had seen him, she had immediately pictured Anthony Hopkins in Remains of the Day and made up her mind to hire him. He just…looked like a butler ought to.

“That’s my brother, Richards,” Emily said. She stood from her desk and set her lists aside. “He’s to be admitted immediately at any time.”

“Very good, Miss.” Richards bowed and disappeared from the room. Emily smiled and turned to look at the view outside her window. It overlooked one of the south gardens on the estate and she had a wide view of the river as it drained into the Atlantic. The view was the reason she’d chosen this room as her sanctuary.

“Jason Morgan, Miss,” Richards said as he stepped aside to let Jason into the room. “Shall I tell Master Nikolas your brother has arrived?”

“Yes, but don’t interrupt him.” Emily smiled briefly at Jason as Richards made his exit. “He’s of the mind that the master of the house must know who is in it at all times.”

“Right.” Jason shook his head and looked at his sister. “The place looks…different.”

“Better?” Emily prompted. “I’ve been working for the past week to clean it up. Since Connor Bishop was taken into military custody, I’ve had to have something to put my mind on.” She sat on the reupholstered sofa and patted the cushion next to her. “Sit.”

He did and looked around the room. “Seems you’ve done a lot in a week.”

“Well, money can do quite a bit but you’re not here to discuss any of that.” Emily shifted. “Have you spoken to Elizabeth since yesterday?”

He nodded. “Last night. Cameron has a cold and an ear infection. She called to tell me about it so I went over.”

Emily waited and glared when he didn’t continue. Talking to her brother was like pulling teeth. “Did she mop the floor with you or did you actually talk?”

“I told her that I loved her, that I didn’t want her to give up on us.” Jason smiled faintly. “Is that what you wanted to hear?”

Pleased, Emily smiled. “Yes. Thank you. So…did you come to talk to Nikolas about the job?”

“Yes,” Jason said. “I’m not promising you anything. I just came to listen. If I don’t like what I hear, then I’m not doing it, so don’t get your hopes up.”

Emily nodded. “All right. I’m just glad.” She hesitated. “This is the first time in a long time that I feel like I’m talking with my brother.” She stood and moved away. “Since I came home, you haven’t really been acting like yourself. One of my favorite things about you, Jason, was your honesty. I could count on you to tell me the truth; even if it was something I didn’t want to hear. You didn’t see the point in lying because you knew in the long run, a lie was worse.”

Jason sighed heavily. “Emily. I didn’t lie because I didn’t know how.” He stood and slid his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “When I came home two years ago, I came home to nothing. You were gone. Robin had been gone for three years. Michael was Sonny’s son. I only had Sonny and Carly in my life.” His eyes softened and he looked passed her for a moment. “And Elizabeth.”

“Jason, you always had me,” Emily informed him. Her eyes narrowed. “So, what? You bent over backwards to keep Sonny and Carly in your life? Let them walk all over, take advantage of you? And why do that for them and not for Elizabeth?”

“Because she is and always was too good for me,” Jason said simply. “I know it’s her decision to do what she wants but back then, I wanted to protect her. So when she walked away, I let her. Emily–”

“I know that Robin hurt you,” Emily murmured. “I know that losing Michael nearly broke you. But that’s no excuse to cut yourself off from the people who still love you and that’s what you’ve been doing since you left that April. You surrounded yourself with people who would always ask for your help. Sonny, Carly, Courtney, Sam…” Emily smiled sadly and looked away. “Me.”

“Emily, I want you to come to me when you need me,” Jason said forcefully. “You’re my sister.”

“I know that. But by surrounding yourself by people who need you, you haven’t let yourself need anyone. And that’s what worries me. Because for all the people who love you, Jason, I’m so afraid you’ll end up alone.” Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Elizabeth loves you. You deserve the life she wants to give you. Why don’t you let her give it to you?”

“I think I should speak with Nikolas now,” Jason remarked abruptly. She sighed and went to the hallway. Richards was standing by the door.

“Richards, could you please see if Nikolas is free to speak with Jason? He’s expecting him this week.”

Richards nodded and moved down the corridor to Nikolas’s office. “Jason,” Emily said, turning back to him. “I just want what makes you happy. You know that, right?”

He sighed and kissed her forehead. “I know that. But trust me to know what it is and how to get it, all right?”

“All right,” Emily said. She folded her arms. “I only meddle because I love you.”

General Hospital: Kristina’s Room

“Jax!” Alexis smiled, pleased to see him outside her daughter’s room. “I can hardly remember the last time I saw you.”

“Too long,” Jax said. He kissed her cheek and looked towards the room. “I came by to see about Kristina. I should have been here earlier. When you were suffering.” He frowned. “When you made the very odd decision to marry that…lawyer.”

“It was an odd decision,” Alexis agreed. She moved to look through the window at her daughter. “But it’s one that agrees with me. We’ve all done strange and crazy things in our lives, Jax. I can no more judge him than he can judge me.”

“Yes, we’ve done bizarre things but Alexis, love, I never locked a pregnant woman in a room,” Jax remarked. “Nor drugged the one I was married to.”

“But I’ve killed a man. Plotted to kill Helena, God knows how many times. I’ve dressed like a man, and quite honestly–that is only at the tip of my transgressions. What Ric has done–he’s done. I don’t mean to say that I understand them and I’m certainly not going to forget about them. But I have the right to see who he is today.”

“Yes, well you were also in love with Sonny Corinthos.” Jax smiled ruefully. “Your line of men worries me.”

“You were in that line, I might remind you.” Alexis sipped her coffee. “Sonny was a mistake. And I deeply regret the loss of our friendship. But he gave me my little girl and nothing, no one has ever meant more to me.”

“I’m so very happy that she will continue,” Jax said. “She’s a beautiful child and you have been blessed. I’ve missed you, Alexis. If Ric Lansing is what you have chosen, who you wish to spend your life, then I will not only support it, I will celebrate it. I’ve made inquiries–Kristina will be home by December 1?”

“Yes, if all continues well.” Alexis smiled at him. “Why?”

“Well, as you know, I’ve been rebuilding the Port Charles Hotel for the last few months.” Jax smiled briefly. “I was going to rename it, but it doesn’t seem right. The Hotel was such a part of this town’s history, its heritage. It seems only right to continue that. We reopen December 15. I wish to give you and your husband a party in celebration.”

“That’s a very touching thought and I’d like to do you one better,” Alexis said. “Ric and I married with only Nikolas and Emily present. While they, of course, are important, we both agreed that when Kristina was healthy and safe again, we would have a bigger ceremony. Perhaps I could schedule it at the hotel?”

Jax grinned. “What better way to kick off a new chapter in the hotel’s history than a wedding?” He kissed her hand. “You’ve got it. Provided I get to grill the groom.”

“No.”

“Just a little.”

“Absolutely not.” A smile tugged at her lips. “Leave him alone.”

“I promise not to harm him,” Jax held up his hand as if taking an oath. “I solemnly swear on the Boy Scout motto that I won’t leave any marks. Visible ones.”

“When were you a Boy Scout?” Alexis asked suspiciously. “You’re from Australia. Do they even have Boy Scouts Down Under?”

Gate House: Front Walk

Lucky was waiting for the blonde attorney at the gate to Ned’s home. She was dressed in a plain black suit with a long skirt and a thick black pea coat. Her blonde hair pulled tightly back from her face. She carried a thick leather bag at her side. “Sergeant Spencer.”

“Ms. Joyce.” He nodded and gestured for her to go first. She did so and knocked on the door.

Ned Ashton opened the door. “Miss Joyce?”

“Hello, Mr. Ashton.” Brianne avoided the hand he placed out for her to shake and entered the house. “Sergeant Spencer and I have come by to question you, your ex-wife and Brooke Lynn.”

“Lois and Brooke are in the other room. I thought we could get me out of the way first.” Ned nodded to Lucky as he entered and shut the door. “How long have you been working at the DA office?”

“Nearly two years,” Brianne remarked. She set her bag on the floor and removed her jacket. “I hope you don’t think my age is a problem.”

“No, of course not.” Ned took her coat and waved towards the seating area. “Have a seat.”

Brianne sat in the arm chair and took out a clean legal pad. She uncapped her pen. “Now, Mr. Ashton, I would like to apologize in advance for some of the questions I will have to ask your daughter.”

Ned frowned. “What does that mean?”

“Well, I seem to have run into some problems when I ask about the nature of Brooke Lynn’s relationship with Diego Sanchez. I anticipate the defense will say that that the sex was mutual and that he will say they were dating.”

“That’s ridiculous. Brooke would never date him–”

“I understand that, Mr. Ashton, but if I don’t ask the question and don’t cover every angle, I run the risk of missing an important detail. It is extremely important to me that this does not happen,” Brianne said briskly. “So I wish to apologize in advance and assure you I only want the truth.”

Ned nodded. “All right.”

“Until recently, Brooke Lynn and her mother loved in Brooklyn, New York City. Under what circumstances did she move here and how has your relationship been since then?”

“Brooke ran away from home,” Ned admitted. “Lois, while an extremely generous and loving mother, tends to be overbearing at times. She merely wants the best for her of course and they tend to differ on what this is. Brooke ran away. She came here and Lois and I decided it was time I had more of a presence in her life.”

“Up until this point, you’ve had little contact with your daughter then.”

Ned bristled, but understood the question and saw the sympathy in the young woman’s eyes where there was none in the no nonsense tone. “No. Lois and I divorced when she was little and it wasn’t always easy with our schedules to coordinate visits. I missed out on watching her grow up and I regret that. Since she moved here, I’ve done the best I can to make up for it.”

“When did you meet Diego Sanchez?” Brianne asked.

“Ah, sometime in late September. He dropped Brooke off and I asked her who she was. Just a friend from school, she told me.”

“Did you know Diego Sanchez very well?” Brianne continued. “Have solo conversations with him? One on one?”

“No,” Ned sighed. “I thought about it. I discussed it with Lois. I didn’t like him. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t like him. One might say I was being a snob, that I didn’t want my daughter to associate with a foster child. But I wasn’t comfortable her being around him. But Lois convinced me that Brooke was an intelligent girl, that she was headstrong. She would do what she needed to do and we needed to pick our battles.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “So, no I never spoke with him alone. I didn’t know him at all beyond what I knew of him. I knew that he was a foster child taken in by Courtney Matthews.” He sneered. “What a mistake that was.”

Brianne smiled thinly, “I assure you that if the defense calls her as a character witness, I have enough information to tear her to shreds.”

Lucky smirked. “Little children in the park know about Courtney Matthews.”

“You were in the hospital room when Brooke awoke after attack.”

“Yes. She was disoriented. Unsure of where she was. She moved her arms and it began to flood back. She, ah, turned to Lois and said ‘Mama, I couldn’t stop him.'” Ned’s voice faltered for a moment and he had to look away.

Brianne’s pen trembled slightly but that was her only outward reaction. “And?”

“She said that she’d told him no, that she’d screamed…that she thought he’d been her friend. She said no name at first and I was terrified at was going through my head. I thought of Lucas and I’m sorry for that. He was her boyfriend and I suppose it’s every father’s worst nightmare that the boy they trust with their little girl will hurt her.” He exhaled slowly and looked to Lucky. “But I asked her who because I could never believe he could do that and that’s when she told me it was Diego.”

“I think that’s all the questions I have for you, Mr. Ashton,” Brianne murmured. “If I could speak with Brooke and Ms. Cerullo?”

“Of course.” Ned stood but paused for a moment. “I believe that I will look forward to seeing you try this case in a courtroom, Miss Joyce.”

Brianne frowned and watched him disappear into one of the other rooms. “What does mean?” she asked Lucky.

“He respects you,” Lucky said. “He doesn’t give that easily.”

Cottage: Foyer

Elizabeth swung the door open and frowned. “Carly.”

“Hello,” Carly pushed past her armed with Morgan in the stroller and Michael at her side. “I hope you don’t mind but when Michael found out about his cousin, he was anxious to meet him.”

“Right.” Elizabeth blinked. She closed the door and watched Carly settle Morgan into the playpen she kept in the living room for Cameron. “Well, he’s napping right now.”

“Oh.” Michael frowned. “For how much longer?” he asked disappointed. “I wanted him to meet his cousins.”

Touched, Elizabeth knelt in front of him. “Well, he’s due for a dose of medicine in about twenty minutes so if you’d like to wait around.”

“Can we, Mom?” Michael asked.

“Sure. Go play and watch Morgan while I talk to Elizabeth in the kitchen.”

“Cool.” Morgan took a hand held video game from the bag hanging from the stroller and settled in front of the playpen to watch his little brother.

Still somewhat flustered, Elizabeth followed Carly into the kitchen. “I wasn’t expecting you to embrace Cameron like this.”

“I firmly believe the children shouldn’t pay for the sins of their parents,” Carly said, sitting at the table. “Jason is an uncle to Michael. He’s part of the family and Michael wouldn’t understand why his son wasn’t.”

“I’m glad though,” Elizabeth sat across from her. “Michael and Morgan mean so much to Jason. I know he’ll be happy to hear that Cameron means a lot to them.”

“I want to tell you that I’m sorry for being one of the reasons Jason kept this all a secret.” Carly shrugged. “And I have to admit that if I had known, my reaction would have been worse than either of you could imagine. I’m a selfish person, Elizabeth. It’s quite obvious to everyone else that I think Jason belongs to me, that I should always come first.” She waved her hand. “All that and probably more would have been spewed at you.”

Elizabeth tilted her head to the side. “But you don’t believe that do you?” she asked softly.

Carly frowned. “Of course I do. Don’t you know me at all?”

“No,” the other woman said slowly. “I don’t believe many people do. I don’t think you believe that about Jason at all.”

“Well, no I don’t think he belongs to me. Jason has and will always belong to himself. It’s just that…he offers unconditional love. Unconditional friendship, support.” Carly shrugged and looked away. “It can be so easy to take advantage of that and not even realize. He’s always there when you need him. He’s so strong, you know? I just didn’t realize how much I depended on him until I realized what I was costing him.” Carly sighed. “Look, we don’t like each other. I don’t see why that has to change simply because Jason is in love with you and you have a son. I will be cordial to you. We might end up with some kind of civility thing going here. I will love and adore your son because he’s Jason’s. But I don’t expect either one of us to become best friends.”

“I don’t expect it either.” Elizabeth shifted and looked at the baby monitor. “Would you like to come up and see Cameron?”

Carly nodded. “Sure. I haven’t had a chance to see him up close.”

Gate House: Living Room

Brooke sat where Ned had before, her mother next to her and Ned pacing restless behind the couch. “Hi,” the teen said softly.

Brianne stared for a moment at the girl’s battered face but quickly averted her eyes. “Hello, I’m Brianne Joyce. I’m with the DA’s office.” She didn’t extend her hand and looked away when Lois offered hers.

“I’m Brooke Lynn but most people just call me Brooke.” She shifted nervously. “So you have to ask me some questions.”

“Yes.” Brianne turned to a fresh sheet in her pad. “I’m sorry, but they’re going to be difficult for both of us. I wish I didn’t have to ask you but I assure you, if I don’t ask it on direct, the defense will on cross. And they’ll make it worse.”

Brooke nodded and Brianne turned to her list of prepared questions. “When did you meet Diego Sanchez?”

“September,” Brooke remarked. “Maybe it was October.” She hesitated. “Early October,” she decided. “He seemed okay. Rough around the edges.” She thought for a moment. “He never really fit in with our friends.”

“How so?” Brianne asked.

“Well, he always wanted to better than everyone else. Be tougher. He wanted to work for Sonny Corinthos and when that didn’t work, he wanted to work for Lorenzo Alcazar just so he could feel big and bad.”

“What type of relationship did you have? Was it close, was it distant? Do you think there’s anything you said that gave him reason to think you felt more?”

Lois made a growling sound. “So what if she did? This isn’t her fault–”

“No, Ma…” Brooke squeezed her mother’s hand. “If she doesn’t ask, they will. And they’ll make it sound like I did lead him on, even though that doesn’t matter.” She focused on Brianne again. “I thought we were friends. We didn’t know each other very well and I felt a little sorry for him. He was dealing with a new foster home, a new city. I have always been a wealthy kid so I always feel bad when I come in contact with someone who isn’t. I was friendly with him, I don’t think I said anything to make him think it was more but I don’t know how he thought.” She shrugged. “You read all the time about these people who have obsessions with people they don’t even know because of some small interaction.”

“That’s a good answer,” Brianne nodded. “I want you to remember that for the trial.” She shifted in the chair. “November 2. You were at Kelly’s. You were alone.”

“Mike stepped out and asked us to watch the place for a bit. There were no other customers so it didn’t feel like a big deal.” Brooke swept a hand through her hair. “He wanted to work for Lorenzo Alcazar or for Sonny Corinthos and even a conversation with Jason Morgan wouldn’t change his mind. I–I was worried. I didn’t see the point in him choosing such a dangerous life. He was only seventeen. He had other options.”

“And then?” Brianne prompted.

Panic knotted and coiled inside Brooke as she prepared to speak in detail about that night. She licked her dry lips and took a deep breath. “He kissed me. I pushed him away. I was angry. He knew I was dating Lucas.” She swallowed hard. “I–he was angry. He couldn’t understand–he didn’t think we were friends. He said ‘You think I wanted to be your friend?’ I asked him to let me go but then he just started…” Her breath was coming in quick small gasps.

“Ssh, baby,” Lois murmured. She looked to Brianne. “We should finish this another time.”

“Lois, Ned, why don’t we go in the kitchen?” Lucky stood. “I think Brooke will do better if the room isn’t crowded.”

“No,” Lois said. She wrapped her arm around Brooke’s shoulders. “Why don’t you take a nap or–”

“Ms. Cerullo, I’ll have to ask you to follow Sergeant Spencer into the kitchen,” Brianne broke in. “The preliminary hearing is tomorrow and I need your daughter’s statement. It might be better if you weren’t in the room.”

“Can’t you see this is upsetting her?” Lois snapped.

“Lois,” Ned said softly. “We have to cooperate.”

“Oh, don’t you start!” Lois stood and glared at him before turning her anger on the ADA. “You have the nerve to come in here and ask my daughter insulting questions and then when she’s obviously upset by them, you just keep on going,” she seethed with mounting rage. “Do you have any compassion, any heart?”

Brianne flinched but before she could defend herself, Ned strode forward and took Lois by the arm, shaking her a little. “Do you think a defense attorney is going to be any gentler?” he demanded contemptuously. “Do you think he’s going to stop and wait for her to gather her thoughts before asking for more details? He’s going to try and break her on the stand, Lois–”

“What the hell do you care?” Lois spat with burning, reproachful eyes. “You’re barely even her father, you–”

“Stop it, just stop it!” Brooke cried, miserably. She sprang to her feet and glared at her parents. “This isn’t about either one of you. Do you think it makes any better for the two of you tear each other part?” She shoved her father away from her mother. “Go sit down,” she ordered before whirling to Lois. “And stop trying to protect me! You can’t! You can’t keep bad things from happening. They already have and I have to do this, no matter how much it hurts.”

Lois pressed her lips together and sat down hard. “Fine,” she said shortly. “Carry on.”

Brooke sat down slowly. “He pulled me into the kitchen,” she continued. Her voice was hushed and thick with tears–both from the confrontation of a few moments ago and memories of a night that had never really ended. “He shoved me against the counter so hard that I have bruises here,” she rubbed the small of her back.

She breathed in air almost greedily before continuing. “He tried to tear my shirt but it wouldn’t rip. He tried to kiss me again but I scratched his face and he hit me. It was so hard, I could feel my teeth rattle.” She touched her cheek where the bruise still bloomed dark purple. “He went for my shirt again but it still wouldn’t rip so he started yanking at my skirt.”

Lucky slowly sat back down, his knees feeling slightly week. Across the room, Ned began to pace. If he was ever in the same room as that scum….

“I heard the zipper on my skirt but I kept fighting and I hit him again. I tried to knee him but he hit me again. He threw me to the floor and I hit my head against the side of the stove.” Brooke hesitated. “It’s not really clear after that. I guess I might have blacked out. They said I had a concussion. The next thing I remembered, the kitchen was empty, my skirt was torn and my–” she swallowed and colored a little. “My panties were gone. I was sore all over but especially…between my legs.” She clenched her hands into fists. “That’s when Mike came back.”

Brianne exhaled slowly and closed her legal pad. “Brooke, tomorrow is the preliminary hearing where the judge decides if there’s enough evidence to be bound over for trial. I don’t want you to worry about that.” Her hands were shaking just a little as she slid the pad into her bag. “There’s enough physical evidence without me having to put you on the stand. I just wanted to get your statement today in case I had to. He will be bound over for trial, there’s no doubt in my mind about that.”

“And that’s when he’s going to tell people that I like rough sex,” Brooke said in a small voice. “Can he really get on the stand and say that? Lie?”

“Yes. He’s allowed to put a on a defense. However, thanks to Sergeant Spencer, we’re ready for him. We have a list of rebuttal witnesses, including your own boyfriend who are ready to testify that there was nothing but friendship. We have the doctor’s report that says you were raped. And honestly, we have your background working for us.”

“Because I’m a Quartermaine and he’s a foster kid,” Brooke said resigned.

“At least being a part of this family is good for something,” Ned muttered.

“Essentially.” Brianne stood and put her coat on. “The hearing is tomorrow at 9 AM. I’ll need you and your family to attend. To put a face on the statement, so to speak.”

Brooke nodded. “That’s fine, right Ma?” she asked, turning to Lois.

“It’s fine.” Lois looked at Brianne coolly. “If you cross examine that little scum half as well as you interrogated my daughter, we should be fine.”

Brianne remained silent, looping her bag over her shoulder and heading for the door. Lucky stood and said his goodbyes and followed her.

“She’ll hold up on the stand,” Lucky said as he followed her down the walk. Brianne ignored him and continued past the Quartermaine mansion to where her car was parked on the estate’s driveway. He hesitated a moment and stared after her before quickening his pace.

His long stride put him in front of her and Lucky slipped in to block her hand from opening the car door. “Hey, wait a second–”

Brianne jerked away. “I have to go.” She clenched her fists until her nails bit into her palms. “I have to get back to work.”

“You can take five seconds.” Lucky cocked his head to the side. “Lois is just upset. She didn’t mean what she said.”

Brianne huffed. “Of course not. Her daughter was brutally raped and beaten. She’s allowed to lash out.” She inched away from him. “What is your problem?”

“Nothing.” Lucky stepped back. “Are you going to interview any other of the other witnesses today?”

“Yes but I won’t need you.” Brianne turned and yanked her car door open. “Thank you very much. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Lucky’s hand shot out and he gripped the edge of the door to keep her from simply getting in the car and driving away. “Lucas is my cousin. He trusts me. And Georgie and Maxie are his cousins. They’ll cooperate more if I’m there.”

“You can’t be there all the time. You can’t protect them. Bad things happen all the time and there’s nothing you can do about it,” Brianne said stiffly. “So back off and let me do my job.”

Lucky blinked. Stepped back again. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Ms. Joyce.”

She got into the driver’s seat, slammed the car door shut and started the car. With a roar of an engine and the squealing of some tires, Brianne pealed out of the driveway, leaving Lucky to stare after her.

Wyndemere: Nikolas’s Office

“Hey, Jason.” Nikolas stood as Richards showed Jason into the newly renovated office. Stefan had used it when they first bought the Gothic mansion and Nikolas had it closed up when his uncle left for Greece. He felt ready, now, to embrace that part of his past. “I’m glad you came by.”

“I told Emily not to get her hopes up,” Jason remarked. He shook Nikolas’s hand and sat in the chair in front of Nikolas’s thick mahogany desk. “I was only coming to hear about the job.”

“Right, right.” Nikolas took his seat. “Well, since my uncle’s death last year, I’ve been working to rebuild the empire my family used to possess. I haven’t been able to put my full attention into it but I’ve had advisors doing most of it. We’ve got a lot of properties overseas. And we’re doing some work for other agencies, hence the need for a securities expert.” He shuffled through some papers. “In addition to overseeing the security for every building owned by Cassadine Industries, you would be expected to fly out and be present for the larger jobs or any emergencies. You would have the Cassadine Jet at your disposal of course.”

“And why exactly do you think I’d do well at this?” Jason asked after a long moment.

“Providing security has always and will always be one of your best personality traits,” Nikolas said. “When Emily suggested you, I immediately agreed. You have experience with a lot of the technology, you seem to have the capacity to expand on that and you don’t strike me as someone who’s afraid to try something new. Something better. What’s at your core, Jason, is someone who knows how to make people safe. Or at least feel that they are.”

Jason hesitated. He stood and moved towards the fireplace, where a fire was crackling. He stared into the flames for a moment before looking back at Nikolas. “Emily would have told you about Elizabeth.”

“That Cameron is your son, yes.” Nikolas shrugged and leaned back in his chair. “I knew.” When Jason’s expression stilled, Nikolas let his lips curve into a smile. “I’m not stupid, Jason. I knew he wasn’t Zander’s son. When Elizabeth came home in June, I hadn’t yet regained my memory. When I had, I was upset that I had missed Cameron’s birth. You know how much she loves him and I was sorry that I’d missed something so important. I was worried that he’d been born in early May. Which meant she’d been pregnant barely seven months. I inquired into his health and Elizabeth told me he’d been full term. A slip on her part, but it didn’t take long to understand that when Cameron was conceived, Emily and Zander were still together. Elizabeth was still parted from Ric.”

“You knew months ago?” Jason asked, suspiciously. “And you said nothing.”

“This was Elizabeth’s secret. I didn’t know that she’d told you and I haven’t always been deserving of her trust. I kept it to myself.” Nikolas laced his fingers together. “What I do want to know is if you intend to fix things between the two of you.”

“Yes,” Jason said. “I do. But I don’t want that to have anything to do with this job. It’s important that my job be separate from my personal life.”

Nikolas nodded slowly. “Have you told Sonny you’re leaving the organization?”

“No.” Jason paused. “I only decided over the weekend. Part of my problems with Elizabeth stemmed from my job. I want to remove that from the equation. I want regular hours–emergencies not included.”

“Naturally. And when you do have to travel, you can always take her with you.” Nikolas stood. “I trust Elizabeth to know what she’s doing and while she’s made choices I don’t always understand, I don’t hold them against her. She’s made the choice to be with you more times than I personally think you deserve. But only she knows why she’s doing it.” He held Jason’s gaze with dark, sober eyes. “Don’t make her regret it.”

Jason held his hand out. “Do we have a deal?”

Nikolas shook it. “Welcome to Cassadine Industries.”

General Hospital: Sam McCall’s Room

Sam smiled faintly when she saw Jason enter the room. “Hey, stranger.”

“Hey.” He sat in the chair next to her bed. “I was here for a few hours last night but you were asleep.” He shifted. “How are you?”

“Empty.” She sighed and rested her head against the pillow, closing her eyes. “Did you work things out with Elizabeth that morning?”

Jason sighed and bowed his head. “I am so sorry I wasn’t there–”

“Hey, hey…” Sam shook her head. “I told you to go. I wanted you to fix things with her. No one could have seen this coming.” A hand came up to rest on her abdomen, still swollen from pregnancy. “The doctor said that there wasn’t much of a chance that she would have survived no matter how fast I was rushed to the hospital.”

“But there was one–”

“Sure,” Sam sighed. She rubbed her eyes. “Jason, I don’t blame you. And if Sonny did, well–he doesn’t now. The only person left who blames you is you.” She reached her hand out to him and he took it. “Did you work things out?” she repeated.

“Not so much,” Jason admitted. “I’ve hurt her so much, Sam.”

“People recover from being hurt,” Sam murmured. “If you’re hurt, you can feel. And if you can feel, you’re human. It’d be nice not to have to hurt anyone, Jason, but it’s not a promise you can ever make and…what a boring life it would be if we never had our heart broken once in a while.” She squeezed his hand. “You’ll fix it with her, right?”

“Yeah.” Jason exhaled slowly. “I’m going to fix it.”

General Hospital: Vending Machines

Sonny was getting some coffee when Jason strode up to him. “Hey, have you been to see Sam?” he asked.

Jason nodded and slipped his hands into his pockets. “Do you have a minute?”

“Sure.” Sonny sipped the coffee and grimaced. “This tastes awful,” he muttered.

“There’s no easy way to say this and I’m tired of trying to find the right words for everything.” Jason took a deep breath. “Cameron’s my son. Biologically, legally and in every other way that matters.”

November 10, 2004

General Hospital: Sam McCall’s Room

Sonny paced and moved to the window. “How could he lie to me?” he muttered.

Sam glanced up from the cheesy talk show she was watching on the television. “Lie? What kind of crack are you on?”

“He has a son that was conceived while he was married to my sister,” Sonny said. He turned and looked at her. “He’s leaving his job to be with Elizabeth.”

“Mm…” Sam took a cup of water from the stand next to her and sipped through a straw. “They were engaged, you’ve said yourself that you didn’t think he was over Elizabeth, and he’s leaving his job because it doesn’t make him happy.”

“And what about him just dropping that on me yesterday and leaving?” Sonny continued, pretending to ignore her words. “Doesn’t he have any respect for me, for our friendship?” Sam arched an eyebrow. “Don’t look at me like that. This isn’t my fault.”

“You don’t pay a lot of attention to him so I’m going to let that slide.” Sam set aside her water. “Jason has respect for you. Too much, if you ask me. He kept this a secret because he didn’t want to hurt you. And in the end, he hurt Elizabeth. Now, if you ask me, his loyalties are screwed up.”

Sonny sighed. “He should have told me then. He should have avoided all of this. And I’m sorry he didn’t and hurt her. She’s the last person in the world that deserves something like this.” He grimaced. “After what Ric did to her.”

“Well, okay, then we’re on the same page. Look, just because Jason’s leaving the business it doesn’t mean you have to stop being friends. He’ll still be across the hall.” Sam hesitated. “Well, maybe not for long if he works things out with Elizabeth. But he’s still your best friend.”

Sonny frowned. “He hasn’t talked to you about the penthouse yet?”

“He said something stupid about deeding it to me but that’s just his guilt talking.” Sam waved her hand. “That’s his home. It’s not mine. I didn’t work for it and while it’s been nice to live there but I’m done with the handouts.” She let a hand rest on her belly. “It’s just me again. And I know how to take care of myself. I’m going to stay there for a little while longer until I get back on my feet.”

Sonny looked away. “Dr. Quartermaine says you can be released Monday, provided you promise to rest. I thought we could schedule Adella’s viewing for Tuesday.”

Sam bit her lip and stared at her blanket. “That sounds fine. I–I’m glad you don’t blame Jason anymore for this. I think he blames himself more than enough.”

“He shouldn’t.” Troubled, Sonny turned his gaze towards the windows with a view that overlooked the parking garage of General Hospital. “But it’s my fault he feels that way.”

Sam glared at the back of his head. “Between you and Jason, I don’t suppose there’s enough room in this situation for me to feel guilty.”

“Why would you need to feel guilty?” Sonny demanded. He turned. “No one could have prevented this. Monica said as much.”

“That’s true,” Sam allowed. “But you know I had the opportunity to induce the labor. What if I had done that? Would she have lived? Will I ever know for sure? What should I do with that information, huh?”

“This is not your fault,” he said forcefully. He strode towards the bed and jammed a finger in her direction. “I don’t want to hear you saying anything so ridiculous again, do you hear me?”

“Well then don’t let me hear you or Jason blaming yourself either because out of the three of us, I’m the only who had any opportunity to truly prevent this,” Sam said hotly.

Monica Quartermaine pushed the door open and frowned. “Are you arguing with my patient?” she asked Sonny, with a teasing tone.

“He’s being stupid,” Sam muttered. She leaned back. “Hello, Dr. Quartermaine.”

“Sam.” Monica opened her chart. “I just wanted to let you know that your tests came back. I consulted with two other gynecologists and they both agree with me.”

Sam held her breath and glanced at Sonny–these tests would tell her if she would be able to conceive again. Sam had never thought herself the maternal type but the last few months had awakened a yearning inside to give love to another. To her own child. She wasn’t sure if she could handle the knowledge that it might never be possible.

“What do they say?” Sam asked softly.

“They see no reason you couldn’t conceive again and carry a baby to term,” Monica said with a smile. “You’re young, you’re relatively healthy, you had a good pregnancy.” Her eyes clouded. “The baby was perfectly formed.”

Her mouth dry, Sam blinked. “Is she still here? I haven’t seen her–I just–I want to hold her. Can…can that happen?”

“She’s scheduled to be–” Monica stopped abruptly. No one wanted to talk about services, funerals or anything of the sort in conjunction with a baby and she especially wanted to avoid this with Sam’s child. “Let me see what I can do. It won’t be like holding a…” she hesitated.

“A living baby,” Sam supplied softly. “She’ll be cold. Her eyes won’t be open, she won’t cry, she won’t even wrap her hand around one of my fingers.” Tears filled her eyes. “But I still want to hold my daughter once.”

“Of course,” Monica nodded. “I’ll arrange it and come to get you.”

“Thank you,” Sam said. When she was gone, she exhaled slowly. “I can conceive again. That’s good.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Sonny asked quietly. “I saw Adella after she was born. It was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do, Sam.”

“She is my daughter and I have the right to say good bye in my own way,” Sam replied stiffly. Her shoulders were squared, a light of determination flickered in her brown eyes. “I have to do this, Sonny. I know you mean well but please don’t ask me not to do it.”

He nodded. “All right. I should go–make the arrangements for Tuesday.” He squeezed her hand and kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

Port Charles Courthouse: Court Room A

Brooke Lynn slid into a seat in the empty court room and looked around apprehensively. Brianne had told her that she would most likely not have to testify but she would need to be present. She would need to be in the same room as Diego Sanchez.

Part of her was unsure if she could handle it. Part of her wanted to go home, to go into her room and curl underneath the covers until ten years had past and this was all over. She knew from meeting with Elizabeth Webber that there was something worth reaching for, that there was a reason to keep living her life and striving for normalcy but Brooke didn’t think there was any shame in wishing she could get to the rest of her life and skip the recovery.

The door creaked open and footsteps entered the room. Lucas slid into the seat next to her. “Georgie, Dillon, Maxie and I skipped school today. We wanted to know if it would help if we were in here today.”

Brooke couldn’t turn and look at him. To let him see straight on the bruise that was just beginning to heal on her face. She wore a black turtleneck and a long black skirt to cover all her other bruises but no matter how much cover up she’d put on this morning, the purple and yellow pigments couldn’t be hidden. “If you want to be here, I can’t tell you not to.”

Lucas exhaled slowly and clasped his hands between his knees. He made sure to look at her, to hide the anger boiling just underneath the skin at the bruise covering the left side of her face. “I just wanted to make something clear between the two of us in case you thought otherwise. I have no intention of ending things between us.”

Brooke whipped her head to look at him, wariness cloaking her dark eyes. “What?”

“I mean, if you want to, that’s up to you. But I don’t want to. I care about you, Brooke and it has nothing to do with the physical side of it,” Lucas said quietly. “I can understand if you’d be more comfortable scaling things back so that we were just friends but I don’t want you to do it because you think I pity you. I don’t.”

“Of course you do,” Brooke replied stiffly. She swung her eyes to the defense table where in just a short hour, Diego would be seated. “I can see it in your eyes. In Georgie’s. Even in Dillon’s. And even though Maxie hasn’t gotten around to seeing me,” she said bitterly, “I know she would too. You pity me. All of you. My family. The police. Even the ADA. You all think I’m some poor little girl, some little victim.”

“Hey, it sucks what happened and whether you like it or not, you are a victim,” Lucas shot back.

Her eyes were burning with indignation. “I’m no one’s victim. He can’t make me afraid of him. I’m going to get on that stand and I’m going to tell the jury what he did to me. And I’m not going to ever let him forget it. Every parole hearing, I’ll be there until he’s served his full sentence. He’s not taking the rest of my life from me. I am not a victim, Lucas Jones, so don’t you dare sit there and cast me in that role.”

“Good,” Lucas said simply. He stood. “We were going to the vending machines out front. Dillon wants to try and experiment. Something about pouring water over the hot dogs you buy out there and seeing if they fizz. He says he saw it in New York City. Maxie bet him ten bucks it won’t happen. You want to come?”

Brooke hesitated for a moment but offered a hand. He pulled her to her feet and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. For the first time in a week, Brooke Lynn Ashton did not flinch when someone touched her.

Cottage: Living Room

“Look at Morgan,” Michael said to Cameron, who was sprawled out on a blanket in the middle of the floor. “He can walk.”

Cameron stared at his cousin with an unblinking stare. Michael sighed and pointed to his brother who was toddling around the room. “Look!” he directed. “You try it!”

Cameron just continued to stare. Michael grimaced. “You look just like Uncle Jason when you do that and he never does what I want him to do when he gets that look.”

Carly watched from the doorway and smiled to herself. Cameron did resemble his father at that moment, his beautiful blue eyes focused on her eager son. She turned and took the cup of coffee Elizabeth offered her. “Thanks for inviting us over today. Cam seems more open to playing.”

“Yeah, he seems to be mostly over his cold. The ear infection only seems to pain him when I need to sleep,” Elizabeth sighed with an indulging smile. “So you said Jason told Sonny yesterday.”

“Yep. Sonny called me after Jason left the hospital. Seems Jason dropped the bomb about both Cameron and his job and just left Sonny to deal with it. Sonny’s still processing it but I think part of him appreciated the way he was told. He said, and I quote, ‘It was like listening to him a few years ago. No excuses. No explanations. Just–here’s the situation. Now you deal with it.’ ” Carly laughed. “What I would have given to see his face when he found out.”

Elizabeth sipped her hot chocolate. “When do you think he’ll tell Courtney?” she asked reluctantly.

“Soon,” Carly said after considering it. “People know. Steven and I know, Sonny knows, I’m assuming he told Sam at some point. You mentioned Emily knows, which means Nikolas either does or will and that means the rest of the Spencers will. It’s only a matter of time. I just wonder how she’s going to take it.”

“I’m sorry if it hurts her,” Elizabeth admits. “But it’s really for the best if Jason tells her himself.”

“Yeah…well she brought it on herself,” Carly decided. “Michael, Cameron’s only a few months old. He’s not ready to tackle walking,” she called when Michael stood and attempted to pull Cam to his feet. “Crawling,” she suggested. “Show him how to crawl.”

“What do you mean, she brought it on herself?” Elizabeth asked. “It’s not like she shoved Jason in a room with me and stripped us both.”

“Well…she kissed him two weeks after you walked out on him. Even I had my doubts in the beginning if this was something that should be happening.” Carly shrugged. “But he seemed okay and she was thrilled so I encouraged it.” Her lips twisted into a grimaced smile. “It was nice to have some pull with one of Jason’s women for a change. Robin and you just were not controllable.”

Elizabeth laughed then and looked at the trio of boys on the floor. Michael was slivering on his belly and Cameron was just giggling. “No. I guess that should have been a clue.”

“Yep. The second I have any control in Jason’s life, something must not be right.” Carly sipped her coffee. “I haven’t spoken to Courtney since I moved out of the penthouse. She’s going through her own thing now and didn’t agree with me leaving and serving Sonny with divorce papers, so it seems like you’re my last female option.”

“Option?” Elizabeth said skeptically. “What does that mean?”

“It means I need some to vent about men with and Jason just does not fit that bill,” Carly remarked. “Though I will refrain from speaking about your brother with you.”

“My brother?” Elizabeth repeated. “I didn’t realize you and Steven were all that close.”

“We’re not. But he seems nice and he doesn’t treat me like I’m a five year old so he’s step above my husband and he doesn’t treat me like a disaster waiting to happen which is a step above Jason.”

“At least Jason’s right,” Elizabeth pointed out with a smirk.

“Bite me, Shorty,” Carly grumbled.

General Hospital: Morgue

Monica wheeled Sam into the cold room and stopped in front of a smaller table. “Are you sure about this?” she asked.

Sam nodded. “I think it’s something I need to do–to accept it.”

Monica sighed and lifted the sheet back to reveal a tiny baby laying on the table. She lifted her and set her in Sam’s arms.

“Oh…” Sam breathed, the tears slipping unnoticed down her cheeks. She was so cold, so still. But so perfect. Her little nose, her little lips. She touched her hand. Such small fingers and minuscule finger nails. Ten fingers, ten toes. Two eyes. She was so beautiful. “She would have been such a good little girl,” she murmured, raising her wet eyes to Monica, whose own eyes were watering.

“Her name is Adella Leigh and I think I would have called her Addy. She would have been so sweet and she would have given hugs to anyone who wanted them. She would have grown up safe, with a mother and father who loved her. She never for one moment would have doubted her worth, her future, her goals. I would have done anything to make her happy.” She leaned down and kissed her daughter for the first and last time on the forehead. “I’m so sorry I never got the chance to know you, Addy. Sweet princess.”

She lifted Adella out to Monica, who cradled her for a moment before setting her back on the table. She raised the sheet to cover her once more. “You would have been a good mother,” Monica murmured. “It’s the people who never expected to have such capacity for love that make the best parents. Jason didn’t know he could love like that either.”

“Well, he got a second chance.” Sam wiped her eyes and smiled up at her. “With the woman he really loves. I can only hope I have that sort of luck.”

Monica’s smile faltered and she shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

“You will.” Sam reached up and squeezed Monica’s hand. “Thank you for being here, Dr. Quartermaine. I think it’s better I had another woman present who understood what I was going through. Because…you lost Jason too.”

“I was luckier,” Monica said after a moment. “I had twenty-two years of memories and you have but a few months.”

“I felt her kick inside me,” Sam said softly. “I felt her move, I felt her living inside of me. That’s enough. It’s more than some get.”

Port Charles Courthouse: Court Room A

Brianne set her bag on the table to the left of the judge and took a deep breath, surveying the empty courtroom. This would be her first preliminary hearing on a felony charge. Until this point, she had prosecuted misdemeanors and pleaded cases down. She had never first chaired a trial.

“You ready for today?”

Ric’s voice at her shoulder startled her and she jumped. “DA Lansing, ” she pressed a hand to her chest. “I didn’t see you there.”

“It’s Ric,” he corrected. “And you didn’t answer my question.”

“I’m as ready as possible,” Brianne replied. “Sanchez has a public defender but I assume that will change by trial since I found out that Lorenzo Alcazar is his father.”

“I don’t know about that,” Ric replied, slipping his hands into his pants pockets. “Alcazar didn’t bail him out and visited him only once. Perhaps there is a limit to fatherly love.”

“Anyhow, it’ll be bound over for trial,” Brianne said confidently. “We have a solid case on medical evidence and Brooke Lynn’s statement not to mention Mike Corbin’s. And for the trial, well–” she hesitated. “As long as Brooke testifies, we’ll be fine.”

Ric nodded. “Well, I wanted to speak to you now because I have an appointment with a realtor after the hearing so I’ll have to duck out. Ned Ashton called the office yesterday after you and Sergeant Spencer left.”

Brianne tensed. “He did,” she said slowly, stating it rather than asking.

“He was very impressed with your handling of a delicate situation yesterday–of which he did not go into–and wanted to let me know that it was nice that I appeared to have some common sense after all.”

“I merely prevented his ex-wife from taking Brooke Lynn out of the room during an important moment of her statement,” Brianne said. She shifted some folders around and pretended to be reading the medical report.

Spectators began to filter in, the Quartermaines first and then the Jones sisters along with their cousin Lucas. When Ned Ashton, his ex-wife and his daughter entered, there was a bit of hushed silence while Brooke left her parents to sit next to her friends. Lois made a move to follow her but Ned pulled her back to sit with the adults.

Nikolas Cassadine entered next, with his fiancé Emily Quartermaine and their friend Elizabeth Webber. Brianne remarked her from her report as someone Mac had suggested Brooke speak with. Since the woman was not a counselor, Brianne made a note to question her.

A thin young man barely old enough to out of law school came through the double doors and went to the defense table. Brianne recognized him from one of her misdemeanor drug cases and remembered that he was quick to deal–especially when the evidence was clearly stacked against his client.

An officer led Diego Sanchez in from a back room. Brooke stiffened–only slightly. Lucas felt it and so did Dillon. Lucas wrapped an arm around here shoulders while Dillon squeezed her hand. If looks could kill, the left side of the courtroom would be on trial. Diego just smirked and winked at Brooke, who wanted to vomit.

“The State of New York and the city of Port Charles versus Diego Sanchez is now called to order. The Honorable Winston Solomon presiding. All rise.”

An older man entered, dressed in the black judicial robes. He settled himself behind the tall bench. “Be seated.”

Brianne took a deep breath and sat down slowly, her back straight, her eyes pinned to the judge.

“The defendant is charged with rape in the first degree and assault in the first degree.” Solomon looked up and peered at Diego. “You have not entered a plea.”

“Not guilty,” Diego said, with a smirk.

“Christopher Hartman for the defense, Your Honor.” Hartman stood. “My client was not arraigned and was denied his due process. I move that the charges be dismissed.”

“What?” Georgie hissed. She glared at her father, who sat a few rows in front of them. “I’ll kill him!”

“Shh,” Maxie ordered.

“Says here your client had his one phone call, refused his right to be arraigned and had to be assigned an attorney. Motion denied.” Solomon turned his attention to Brianne. “You. Speak.”

Brianne stood. “Brianne Joyce for the State, Your Honor.” She picked up a report. “The state believes there is more than enough evidence to bind the defendant over trial. We have a medical report–”

“I’ve read it all,” Solomon said. He picked up his own copy of the medical report. “Says here that victim Brooke Lynn Ashton suffered from among other injuries, a concussion, some broken ribs and a broken nose.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“There’s also the results of a rape kit, positive for semen that matches one Diego Sanchez.” Solomon turned a page. “Some internal bruising and bleeding. All pretty self-explanatory, Ms. Joyce. And with Ms. Ashton’s statement, I agree. There is plenty of evidence.”

Brianne hid her smile. “Yes, Your Honor. We ask that bail continued to be denied for Diego Sanchez–”

“Your Honor, that is absurd,” Hartman interrupted. “This not a murder charge, it’s a rape charge–”

“Some would say it’s worse,” Solomon cut through harshly. “Leaving a victim alive to remember rather than killing them.”

Brooke paled and felt the bile rising in her throat. She needed to get out of here. Now.

“However, I have never denied bail for anything less than a murder or manslaughter charge,” Solomon continued.

“Your Honor, Diego Sanchez has no ties to the community. His own foster mother is not present and his father has more international ties than domestic–”

“His father has no plans to bail him out,” Lorenzo Alcazar remarked from the back of the room.

Ned whirled in his seat. “What the hell?”

“Oops,” Lois muttered. “Ah, Ned, sweetie, there’s something–”

“Order!” Solomon barked, rapping his gavel. “Who the hell are you?”

“Lorenzo Alcazar, the defendant’s father,” Lorenzo said. “I’m sorry for the interruption but I’d hate for anyone to get the idea I would be bailing him out.”

Diego paled and for the first time, he began to understand that this time–there was no rescue coming.

“Sit down,” the judge ordered. “Bail is set at a hundred thousand dollars.”

Pleased, Hartman sat. He’d only wanted the judge to set bail, he never expected to get a number his defendant could pay.

Brianne sat as well. Bail meant a trial.

“This defendant is bound over for trial,” Solomon said. “Trial is be set for January 5, 2005. Is that satisfactory?”

“The defendant has a right to a speedy trial,” Hartman complained. “That’s two months away–”

“The defendant can have his case tried right now if you’d like,” the judge remarked caustically. “I have some free time. I’m sure the State wouldn’t object.”

The State would, but Brianne just smiled at her colleague. Hartman glared at her before turning his attention back to the judge. “That’ll be fine,” he muttered.

General Hospital: Monica Quartermaine’s Office

Jason, just fresh from a visit with Sam where he’d been yelled at for not telling his mother about his son, knocked on Monica’s slightly ajar door. “Monica?”

“Jason.” Monica sprang up and kept her hands at her side. “I didn’t know–how are you?” she asked awkwardly.

“I’m fine. Do you have a minute?” he asked.

She nodded and watched as he entered the office and closed the door behind him. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you how sorry I am about Adella,” Monica said.

“Sam said you took her to the morgue to see her,” Jason said. “That you helped her–I wanted to thank you for that. I think she needed to talk to a woman.”

“I only told her the truth.” Monica hesitated, thought about asking him what Sam meant about how he’d found his second chance, but decided not to.

“I’m also here to tell you that you have a grandchild,” Jason said after another moment. “I have a son.”

“A son–” Monica pressed a hand to her mouth and bit her lip hard. She’d wondered–part of her had looked at that little boy’s eyes and remembered another face. It seemed almost another lifetime. “Cameron.”

Jason frowned. “How–how did you know that?”

“I–” Monica lifted her hands. “I saw him at the hospital and he just–he looked so much like you did.” She yanked open a desk drawer and withdrew a picture. She hesitated. “I know you can’t see–”

“I’m better with pictures,” Jason said. She handed the framed photo to him and he saw a professional portrait of a baby, not much older than Cameron was now. And he realized it could be his son’s twin. “This…this is me?”

Monica nodded, fighting the tears. “You were about eight months old. Susan had it taken–she was still alive then. She gave it to Alan and he gave it to me after the accident. I–I wanted to put all the pictures of you in one place so you wouldn’t run into them all over the house. But you moved out–and it didn’t matter.” Her voice faltered and she looked away.

She cleared her throat. “I saw Cameron and I was reminded of you. Since it was Elizabeth, I did wonder. And when you said you had a son, I just–I knew.” Her smile was weak but it was genuine. “I’m so very happy for you, Jason–and so grateful that he’s Elizabeth’s son as well.”

“Why?” Jason asked, frowning. “Why does that matter?”

“Because she’ll never take him from you. And she’s mature enough to handle a child, unlike…Courtney,” Monica muttered. “Elizabeth is a good person and I always–I always hoped you would end up together. I remember what you went through when she was missing.”

“We haven’t told many people,” Jason said, awkwardly. “It’s–it’s not easy information. But you’re welcome to visit him at the cottage at any time and Elizabeth will probably–she’ll probably let the rest of the family see him. She’s a little more tolerant than I am,” he admitted.

“A baby in the family,” Monica clasped her hands together. “We have to have a baby shower–some sort of celebration. We haven’t had a reason to be happy in so long. Would you mind terribly if I brought it up to Elizabeth?”

“Well, like I said–not everyone knows,” Jason reminded her. “So…it’s not something you can do right away–”

Monica waved him away. “What better way to announce to the world that he’s yours?” she asked. “You can tell the people that matter beforehand and then everyone else at the party.” Her eyes pleaded with him.

And Jason realized that it might just be the answer he’d been searching for. His way of making this up to Elizabeth. A Quartermaine party was never thrown without publicity, without some sort of fanfare. He would prove to her that he loved their son and that he loved her.

And if he had to deal with the Quartermaines to do it, well then she might just believe it.

November 11, 2004

L & B Recording Studios: Rehearsal Room

Brooke tapped at the piano keys, her voice hushed. “And I wanna believe you, when you tell me that it will be okay. Yeah, I try to believe you. Not today, today, today, today, today. Tomorrow it may change…”

“That’s beautiful,” Maxie murmured from the doorway. Brooke snapped her head up and met the eyes of one of her best friends. They’d seen each other at the hearing yesterday but hadn’t spoken. “You must hate me.”

“I don’t hate you.” Brooke switched off the synthesizer and set aside her sheet music. “I just…I don’t know how I feel,” she admitted.

Maxie clasped her hands behind her back. “I’m sorry I didn’t visit you in the hospital. I didn’t know what to say and I wasn’t sure how I would…I would feel.”

The corner of Brooke’s mouth lifted in a humorless smile. “Disgusted?”

“No. No,” Maxie shook her head. “No, that’s not–you’re my best friend, Brooke. But this has never–I’ve never known anyone who went through this. I mean, you hear about it and you know it happens…but I never really thought about what it would be like for it to happen to someone I know. And it scares me, Brooke. It terrifies me that anyone can do this to a person, even if you trust them.”

“Maxie…” Brooke sighed. She shook her head. “This isn’t about you.” She stood and shoved her work into her shoulder bag.

“No, and that’s why I couldn’t go to see you while this was in my head,” Maxie said. “But I talked to Georgie last night and she told me to just be honest with you. So…” she took a deep breath. “We were all alone with him, Brooke. You, me and Georgie. We all spent time one on one with him and it’s terrifying to know that he had that in him all the time and it makes me feel so ashamed to be glad it wasn’t me.”

Brooke stared at the miserable blonde and tried to shove the hurt aside. A natural reaction, she told herself. She herself would have felt it. “That doesn’t mean you’re glad it was me,” Brooke said, struggling to understand Maxie’s mind. “I hope you’re not dumb enough to think that’s what you were feeling.”

“No but…” Maxie sighed. “I’m selfish, it’s not much of a surprise to you, I guess. And I feel like such a shitty person for feeling this way. This is such a terrible thing to happen and all I can think of is I’m glad it wasn’t me.”

“You get to feel how you want to feel,” Brooke said. “I can’t control any of it. I can’t control that Dillon wants to kill Diego, that Georgie’s willing to do anything–even see Diego–if she thinks it’ll help and Lucas…” she sighed heavily. “And I can’t help that the thought of Lucas touching me makes me shiver inside and not the way it used to.”

She lifted the strap of her bag over her shoulder. “I know that while it happened physically to me, that it’s happening to all of you. I know that it’s affecting everyone, from my parents to you guys and I’m trying to deal with that. But don’t get too busy dealing with this to forget that all you guys have to do is process it.” Her lips pressed together. “But I’m the one that’s gotta remember it. To get on the stand and testify. To tell people. This did not happen to you. It happened to me. Everyone else is just a bystander.”

She stalked past Maxie and into the hallway.

Courtney’s Loft: Living Room

Courtney slid her foot into a pair of white flats and looked around for her coat. She was late for a meeting with Social Services and the last thing she had needed this morning was for her alarm clock to break.

There was a quiet knock at the door. “Come in!” Courtney called distractedly as she went into the partitioned area where the bed was. “Is that you, Jax?”

“Uh, no,” Jason said, uncomfortably.

Courtney came back into the living room, her meeting forgotten. “Jason. What are you doing here?”

“I’m…I have to talk to you.” He shifted. “And I didn’t want you to hear it from someone else.”

Her heart constricted. He was going to get married again. She could feel it. To that slut, Sam. Even though she’d lost her baby, that little home wrecker still had her claws in Jason. “Jason, I don’t–”

“Cameron Webber is my son and he was conceived while we were engaged,” Jason said in one sentence, which had to be the longest one he’d said to her in months.

Courtney opened her mouth but there was no sound. She blinked. Closed her mouth and tried to process it. Cameron Webber. Son. Conceived. Engaged. The words didn’t make sense in the same phrase because if they were used together it meant…no, she had heard wrong. She must have.

“Cameron Webber is Elizabeth’s son,” Courtney said slowly. “And Zander Smith is his father.”

“No. That’s what everyone thought until her due date was readjusted.” Jason exhaled impatiently. Say it quick, Carly had advised. Like ripping off a bandage instead of peeling it slowly. “He’s my son, Courtney. My biological son.”

Okay, that was getting through but the rest of it had to be wrong. She’d asked Jason about this. She’d begged him to tell her that he didn’t love Elizabeth, that he didn’t want her and he–

He had never answered. The memory of that day was clear in Courtney’s mind, despite the haze that settled over her memories of that time. He’d said that they were engaged. But he’d never denied it.

Which was always Jason’s way of not telling the truth. Just avoiding the question. Oh, Jesus.

“I was right,” Courtney murmured. “You wanted her. The whole time. I was just–I was substitute.” Oh–and Elizabeth had given him a child. The child Courtney had been unable to. Something inside her curled up and died at that thought. She’d accused him of it–never dreaming that it would be the truth. “You married me because you couldn’t have her. You were with me because she left you.”

She’d thought she’d felt pain before. When she’d found out AJ was stalking her, when she and Jason had been broken up, when she’d lost their child. Ending their marriage. She’d thought she understood what pain was like.

But hearing–understanding–that despite it all, that no matter what they’d had together, it had never been enough. She had never been enough for him. It would always be Elizabeth for him.

There was no pain like having your heart ripped out and shredded into pieces.

There was a buzzing behind her eyes, she wasn’t quite sure what was happening outside her head. Was he saying something? Was she? Dimly, she was aware that she was crying, that the tears were sliding down her cheeks and streaking her mascara and eyeliner.

She sat because her legs would no longer support her. He’d slept with Elizabeth, had never told her–her thoughts broke off abruptly and she focused on him. “The accident. It was after the accident. A baby never would have survived.”

Jason sighed, almost as if he himself didn’t want to think about it, didn’t want to delve into the memories. “It was before and after the accident,” he admitted. “We had–it was over before we were married but it was not a one night thing.”

“An affair,” Courtney said slowly. “You had an affair with her while I was going through an addiction to pain killers, while I was dealing with my miscarriage. While I was planning our wedding, you were sleeping with Elizabeth Webber.”

And while Elizabeth was dealing with her breakup with Jason, you were sleeping with him, a nasty voice in her brain said. While she was confiding in you, treating you like a friend, you were screwing him. You threw your husband out and slept with his brother two weeks later in the bed you’d shared.

She clapped her hands over her ears. “Get out,” she said. “Get out!” Her voice rose. “Get out!” she finally shrieked. “I want you out!”

Jason dipped his head into his chest, exhaled slowly once before turning and leaving. It was better that she knew the full truth, he told himself as he left the loft and headed for the stairs. Better that she didn’t question, didn’t wonder. It was better this way.

Somehow, someday, he was sure he would believe that.

Audrey Hardy’s House: Living Room

“He appears to be recovered from his little sickness,” Audrey remarked, propping her great-grandson on her lap and cooing at him. “I can’t believe how fast he’s growing.”

“Yeah,” Elizabeth sighed. “Seems like only yesterday he was still inside me.” Her eyes clouded for a moment. “Before you know it, he’ll be running around and then he’ll be going to college, having a life of his own.” She exhaled slowly. “It goes so fast, Gram. And all you can do is live every day the best you can.”

“Well, he has an excellent mother.” Audrey tugged at Cameron’s shirt, smoothing it out. “Have you given any thought to what we discussed? A father figure for Cameron?”

“Gram…” Elizabeth sighed. “I know you think he needs someone in his life, a male influence.”

“I don’t think you need to get married to give him a father, but just someone to look up to,” Audrey said. “Someone other than his uncle.”

“I know.” Elizabeth twisted her fingers. “There is someone, Gram.”

“Oh?” Audrey arched an eyebrow. “And who is that?”

“Cameron’s father.” Elizabeth bit her lip. “Jason.”

Audrey stilled. Her fingers tightened around Cameron’s midsection for a moment before she raised her eyes to her granddaughter. “I’m sorry, darling. I didn’t quite catch that.”

“Jason Morgan is Cameron’s father. His biological father,” Elizabeth said softly. “I discovered that before I left for California and when I came home, I told Jason immediately. We chose to keep it between us for a while. He was just coming off a divorce and…the situation with Sam…” She exhaled slowly. “I love him, Gram. I hope that you can finally accept that. We’re a family–Jason, Cameron and myself.”

Audrey stood and set Cameron firmly in his mother’s arms. She walked around the back of the couch and wandered towards the mantel, where photos of the family were kept. “When I was your age, my darling, I had only just arrived in Port Charles, flushed with my independence and a golden future. I thought I do anything, be anything that I wanted. And when I met Steve…oh…how lovely it all was…” She turned, a soft smile on her face and the memory of her love for her long gone husband in her eyes. “You know that your grandfather was the love of my life.”

“I know that,” Elizabeth said. “I love Jason that way, Gram.”

“From the time I was a young girl, flushed with all the sweetness and innocence of my first real love to today, there has never been anyone that I loved quite the same way, with the same depth and passion.” Audrey sighed and twisted her slim wedding band. “We didn’t have a smooth road and it took many mistakes before I realized that I was meant for Steve, and he for me. By that time, and during that period in time, we were past the age where we could have children of our own. Part of me has always grieved for that though Tom became Steve’s son.”

“Gram…”

“You’ve been through so much in your young life, Elizabeth. More than I have experienced in my long one,” Audrey continued. “You ought to know your own heart by now and if you truly believe that Jason Morgan owns it, then I trust you with that decision.” Audrey picked up a photo of herself and Steve on their second wedding day, twenty-seven years ago. “He was always a good father to Michael, I can’t imagine he’s any less for Cameron. And though I never thought he was right for you, I can’t disagree that he cares for you.”

Elizabeth stood and shifted Cameron to rest on her hip. “So…you’ll accept him?”

“Yes.” Audrey nodded. “Yes, I will. Though I reserve my judgment until he agrees to come to dinner one night soon.”

The tension left her shoulders and Elizabeth sighed in relief. “Thank you, Gram. You don’t know how much it means to me to know you’re going to give him a chance.”

General Hospital: Kristina’s Room

Alexis flipped through the snap shots of the houses Ric had gotten from their realtor. They were either the wrong location, the wrong size and in one case of lime green, the wrong color. She was beginning to think her apartment sounded like a nice place to live for the rest of their lives.

“Mama,” Kristina chirped. She held her hands out for the stack Alexis held her in her hands. “Gimme.”

Alexis held up a picture of a split level home five blocks from downtown Port Charles but still firmly residential. “How does this look, Princess?”

Kristina frowned. “What dat?”

“Well…it could be our new home,” Alexis said slowly. “You’d get a swing set.”

“Swing!” Kristina clapped her hands. “Swing, swing, swing!”

“And possibly a tricycle,” Alexis continued, though she still had doubts about putting her baby on anything that could move away from her. “That’s a bike with three wheels.”

“Bike?” Kristina’s eyes dark eyes grew wide. “Bike! Like on TV!”

“Yes, like on TV,” Alexis said, slightly irritated that her baby-sitter had let her watch so much television. She should have been read fairy tales instead of watching whatever daytime soap the baby sitter was currently addicted to.

“We live there,” Kristina decided. She reached for the picture and hugged it to her chest. “Home.”

“Yeah, okay. We’ll go see the inside of it,” Alexis compromised. “If Mommy doesn’t like it, we’re not doing it.”

“Home,” Kristina repeated. She looked down at the picture. “Krissy get swing, swing right?”

“Yes, Krissy get swing swing,” her mother repeated, charmed by the obvious attachment her daughter had to the image. Though she was not going to pick a house simply because her two-year-old daughter liked the way something looked.

She really wasn’t.

Club 101: Carly’s Office

“And make sure that the bottles aren’t broke,” Carly told her assistant. “The last shipment was full of cracked wine bottles.”

“Yes, Mrs. Corinthos,” the young man nodded. He marked that down and was about to bring up the next topic when there was a knock on the door. Without waiting for an invitation, Sonny pushed it open and held up a sheaf of papers.

Carly swallowed. The divorce papers. “We’re done for now, Roger. Come back in about an hour.”

Roger hurried to leave them alone. “What took you so long?” Carly asked as she shuffled some papers into a useless pile.

“The messenger delivered them to the warehouse and today was the first day I went in.” Sonny set them on her desk. “The terms are unacceptable.”

Carly sighed heavily. “Listen, we both know that this is over. I don’t see why we have to hurt each and drag it out.”

“I intend to see that my boys have their own home. You can’t live with your mother indefinitely,” Sonny chided.

“Why not?” Carly asked. “Mama’s already agreed to move her shifts around so she can be with the boys when I can’t. I can bring Morgan to work with me, pick Michael up from school.”

“Then what would we pay Leticia for?” Sonny asked pointedly.

“Nothing,” Carly answered. “I let her go.”

“What?” Sonny demanded. “Without speaking to me?”

“I don’t need a nanny,” Carly argued. “I want to raise my boys, I want to be their mother. If Morgan spends any more time with Leticia, he’ll be calling her Mom rather than me. If you want to keep her on for when you have the boys at the penthouse, that’s fine but you’re not going to tell me how I’m going raise my own children. We are staying with my mother until I feel we’re ready to move on and there’s nothing you can say to change that. Sign the papers and let’s get this over with.”

“And the child support is too low,” Sonny said. “You couldn’t feed them on what you’re asking for–”

“I’m not a child, Sonny. I can feed and clothe my own children. I only asked for child support because it’s standard. I don’t even want alimony–”

“What kind of bullshit is that?” Sonny exploded. “Since when do you turn down money?”

“Since I remembered that I grew up without any and I survived. I can take care of myself, Sonny and I don’t need you standing there judging my every move. I’m not Mrs. Sonny Corinthos anymore and for the first time, I feel damn good about myself.” Carly stood, her tone matching his. “I don’t want your money, I don’t want you in my life anymore Sonny. I’m tired of all of this. I’m tired of stepping on eggshells, tired of pretending to be someone I’m not–”

“What does that mean?” Sonny demanded.

“It means that before you came along, I didn’t need anyone. And I’m tired of depending on someone else. Get out of my office, Sonny. From now on, you deal with my lawyer.”

Cottage: Nursery

Elizabeth closed the fairy tale she’d been reading to Cameron and smiled when she saw him fast asleep. There were days when he’d refuse to go down for his nap which only made the days when he just slipped into sleep all the more sweet.

“Is he already asleep?” Jason asked from the doorway. She turned, surprised to see him. “I tried to make it over before his nap.”

“He just went down,” Elizabeth murmured. She tucked the blankets in more tightly around him. She set the book back onto the shelf and left the room, closing the door behind her. “I–I told my grandmother today.”

“Really?” Jason asked, surprised. He followed her down the stairs and into the living room. “How did it go?”

“A lot better than I thought it would,” Elizabeth admitted. “I think part of her knew.” She smiled ruefully. “It seems the people in my life knew at least that Zander wasn’t Cameron’s father. Can you believe Emily thought Lucky was?” she laughed and shook her head. “God.”

“I told Monica,” Jason said. He leaned against the arm chair and watched her start to fold a load of Cameron’s clothing. “Sam suggested that I should and I’m glad I did.”

“Monica loves you,” Elizabeth said. “I hope you told her she’s welcome to come by anytime to see him.”

“I did.” Jason hesitated. “I, ah, she wants to throw a baby shower because she didn’t get to while you were pregnant.”

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose and smiled at him. “I bet you turned that down fast. You and the Quartermaines, at a party together…” she trailed off and laughed. “What an idea that is.”

“I told her that it would be fine, that it was even a good idea. She pointed out that while we tell our families, that the only way to really announce it is to do it in a public way and I guess there’s no real more public way than a Quartermaine party.”

Elizabeth lowered a green shirt back into the basket and stared at him. “Are you…are you serious? You agreed to…you agreed to a Quartermaine party?”

Jason nodded. “I told you that I was going to make this up to you, Elizabeth. And I can’t really think of a better way to prove that I’m willing to put Cameron first. The Quartermaines aren’t the same and Monica deserves to have at least one of her grandchildren in her life.”

“Jason, I don’t want you to do something you don’t want to. I know how you feel about them–”

“But I know that you like them,” Jason cut in. “And I trust you. Besides, with everything that was going on last year, did you have a baby shower?”

“No,” Elizabeth said, her lips curving slightly. “No, I didn’t get that chance.” Her eyes were sparkling now. “It does sound like a good idea and I bet no one gives gifts like the Quartermaines.”

“Good. Then when Monica descends on us tomorrow with party plans, I can leave that part of it completely to you.” Jason shifted. “Elizabeth, I told Courtney this morning.”

Elizabeth bit her lip and looked away. “How did that go?”

“It went,” Jason said. “She knows the truth. She was upset and she told me to get out but–she knows.” He shifted again, uncomfortable with the memory of the morning’s incident. “I don’t know how she’s going to react in public but–everyone knows now.”

“I guess they do.” Elizabeth sighed. “Well, it’s over at any rate. We can start with the rest of our life.” She finished folding the last of the clothes and crossed the room to him, standing between his legs and resting her hands on his thighs. “What are you doing with the rest of the day?”

“I have to go to the warehouse–there are some loose ends I need to tie up and I need to talk to Sonny. I haven’t seen him since Tuesday when I just…dropped it on him.” He sighed heavily. “I don’t know how he’s handling this. The job, Cameron, you and part of me wonders…” he trailed off.

“Wonders what?” Elizabeth murmured. She ran her fingers through the soft hair by his ear.

“I wonder why it matters so much. What he thinks, more than Carly, more than Courtney.”

“He’s your best friend.” Elizabeth had long ago come to terms with that while he loved her, that he loved his son, he also loved Sonny. “He’s been more than friend–he’s been your father. You don’t want to disappoint him and you think you have by not being what he wants.”

“I guess. He’s just been so different since I came home this last time and I don’t think it’s ever going to be the way it used to be. I don’t think I’m ever going to be person I used to be.”

“Well, that’s okay,” Elizabeth said, winding her hands around his neck. He gripped her waist and was just so relieved that this still felt comfortable, that this still felt right. After all he’d put her through and how much they’d been through together, there was still this between them. She always knew what he was thinking, what he was really trying to say and she was the only person who’d been there for him–and not for someone else first. “I kind of like who you are now.” She kissed his chin and smiled up at him. “Will you stay tonight?”

“I wish I could,” Jason sighed heavily. “But I just–” He shook his head. “I have things I need to finish before I can stay in this house again, before I’ll feel like I have a right to.”

Elizabeth exhaled slowly. “All right. I won’t pretend I wish you felt differently. I miss you, Jason.” She tucked her head under his chin and closed her eyes. “I love you,” she murmured.

Warehouse: Sonny’s Office

Sonny was shuffling through paperwork when Jason entered his office. He didn’t knock and didn’t announce his presence, just stood and waited for his friend and former partner to look up.

Sonny finished the form he was filling out before looking up though he was aware of Jason from the moment he’d stepped in. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

“I thought we should talk,” Jason said.

Sonny nodded and sat back. “You, ah, dropped quite the bomb yesterday.” He folded his hands on the desk and peered up at Jason. “I’d like to tell you that I’m happy for you. All other things aside, that is something I’d like you to be aware of. Elizabeth is a wonderful woman and Cameron is a beautiful boy.”

“Thank you,” Jason nodded. “I know how lucky I am.”

“I’m sorry you feel like you have to quit your job to have what you need but if you feel that this is what you really need, what you really want, then I support it and I’ll do what I can to make it happen.”

Jason frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“Before we’re partners, we’re friends,” Sonny said. “And I think sometimes we both forget that. I’m sorry you felt like you had to hide this. I’m sorry that my sister was hurt in the process but it’s happened. We have to deal with it.” He cleared his throat. “Have you told Courtney yet?”

“This morning.” Jason looked away. “She didn’t take it well.”

“She’s having a rough time of it,” Sonny remarked. “I’ll take care of her, don’t worry. Carly knows?”

“Everyone knows,” Jason said. “I’m tired of hiding it, of hiding Elizabeth. She doesn’t deserve that.”

Sonny stood. “Are we okay then?”

“I guess we are.” Jason offered a hand and Sonny shook it. Their friendship would never, could never be the same. But maybe, just maybe, it would be better after this day.

PCMB: Brianne’s Office

“I’m going to call Dr. Webber, Brooke, Ned, and one of Brooke’s friends as witnesses,” Brianne told Lucky. She shoved a folder across the desk. “I just haven’t decided which kid though I’m leaning towards Lucas Jones because he has the cleanest record. I’m also going to interview a few more people connected to this case.” She hesitated and tapped her pen against a notepad. “Would Elizabeth Webber be cooperative?”

Lucky blinked and shifted in his chair. “What does she have to do with this case?”

“She’s spoken to Brooke. She’s not a licensed rape counselor so her conversations aren’t confidential. I just want to check what Brooke’s said to her.”

Lucky narrowed his eyes and leaned forward. “Do you think Brooke’s keeping something back? Lying?”

“No, no,” Brianne shook her head and looked back at her notes. “Brooke’s being truthful but she may have said something to Elizabeth in a moment of emotion that she might not have felt in the room with me. I just want to have all the details.” Her blue eyes met his, hers full of a surprising intensity. “I want the cell locked so tightly on this piece of scum that there’s no hope of him going free.”

It was the first piece of real emotion that Brianne had shown and its appearance made him sit back a little, surprised. “It’s what we all want but I’m not sure Elizabeth will feel comfortable divulging anything Brooke said.”

“I want to question her anyway.” Brianne flipped a page in her notes. “Did you go back today and re-interview the stronger witnesses at the high school?”

“I have ten affidavits,” Lucky answered. He held out a manila folder for her to take and watched as Brianne took the edge and set it down on her desk. “From different groups at the school. Some athletics, some academics, couple of in betweens, a few slackers. I wanted to cover all bases. They pretty much say the same thing. Sanchez was new to the school, barely attended. They saw him in the company of Brooke and her friends. They all assumed it was because she felt sorry for him. No one saw any behavior on her part that would even suggest she felt more than friendly towards him.”

“Good, good.” Brianne stood and went over to a filing cabinet where she removed a few files. “That’s it on the Sanchez case. Thank you for your help, Sergeant Spencer, but that’ll be all for today.” She flicked a glance towards him. “I don’t think we’ll need much more investigation from the PCPD so other than preparing you for the witness stand, we’re done here.”

Lucky nodded. “Elizabeth’s an old friend of mine. She might talk to me more easily than you–”

“I can do my job,” Brianne interrupted briskly. She took the files back to her desk. “Thank you, Sergeant,” she repeated.

Lucky hesitated and nodded. “Fine.” He stood and started for the door. His cell phone chirped and he paused to answer it. “Spencer.”

“It’s Scorpio,” Mac reported. “Sanchez made bail.”

“What do you mean he made bail?” Lucky repeated. “Where the hell did he get a hundred grand?”

Brianne’s head snapped up and she stood. “Sanchez is out?”

“His lawyer appealed the amount of the bail and it was lowered to ten thousand which the sister met. Are you still with ADA Joyce?”

“Yeah, how come she wasn’t aware of this?” Lucky demanded. He turned back to see Brianne’s pale face staring back at him. “Shouldn’t she have been present at something like this?”

“She should have been which is why I’m worried. I’m going to talk to Lorenzo Alcazar. I’m putting a man on Brooke Lynn at all times. I want you to stick close to the ADA.”

“Why?” Lucky asked suspiciously. “Do you think Sanchez is that stupid he’d go after Joyce?”

If it were possible, the pallor of the woman in question faded even more.

“I’m not interested in taking chances. I’ve got the okay from DA Lansing. Until we locate Sanchez and put someone on him at all times, I want all the principals protected. Diego Sanchez has connections in this town and if it wasn’t Alcazar who sprung him, I want to know who. Corinthos wouldn’t put his neck out for him.”

“He’d have no reason,” Lucky murmured. “I’ll stick close until you tell me otherwise.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

Lucky dropped his phone back in his pocket. “Looks like you can’t get rid of me that easily, Ms. Joyce.”

Brianne sat down slowly. “How did he make bail?” she demanded, color rushing back to her cheeks.

“Seems Hartman appealed to have the bail lowered. Diego Sanchez’s sister paid ten thousand to spring him.”

“No, no, any motions would have to go through this office. We have to be made aware even if we choose not to fight it.” Brianne’s hands were shaking as she reached for the phone. “There’s some mistake.”

He took the phone from her hands and ignored the way she froze when their hands brushed. He hung the receiver up. “There’s no mistake, Brianne. Sanchez is out on bail. Mac is putting someone on Brooke and he wants me to stay with you until we have a line on Sanchez and can pin him down.”

“I just–I don’t understand.” She shook her head. “He’s a minor. He’s seventeen, he has to be released into someone’s custody. Social Services, maybe. They wouldn’t give him back to Courtney Matthews.” Her eyes met his. “Would they?”

“Not after Ned Ashton served them with papers this morning for reckless endangerment.”

“Lorenzo Alcazar didn’t sound like he’d fight for his son’s defense yesterday.” Brianne stood and moved to the windows. “Where would Diego Sanchez’s sister get ten thousand dollars?”

“I don’t know. But until we nail down what happened and get Sanchez back behind bars, I’m not leaving you alone.” Lucky clasped his hands behind his back and waited for her to argue. She’d been in a hurry to get rid of him just ten minutes ago, she wouldn’t want him to be sticking so close now.

But he had made up his mind that he wouldn’t listen, no matter what she argued. He had a job to do and Mac Scorpio was right. Diego Sanchez was unpredictable and without scruples. He wasn’t about to let Brianne go unprotected.

“That’s a good idea,” she murmured. “Better the devil you know.”

He frowned. “What does that mean?”

“What?” Brianne turned. She shook her head. “I have to go to the courthouse. I have to challenge the bail.” She pulled her arms through her black coat and grabbed her purse.

Lucky continued to frown but followed her through the door. He was beginning to understand that the way a woman’s mind worked would always remain a mystery.

Note: The lyrics snippet at the beginning of the chapter is Avil Lavigne’s Tomorrow.

Friday, November 12, 2005

PCMB: Ric Lansing’s Office

Brianne shifted in her seat. “I don’t care what the court clerk said. There was no motion, there was no phone call.”

She stared at her hands rather than at the district attorney who was currently peering out his window at the busy boulevard street below. “I had no idea Sanchez was even being considered for bail much less that he was out.”

“Something about the entire situation…” Ric shook his head. “I have no doubt that you were unaware, Brianne. Which is why I agree with the Commissioner on this matter. Someone’s using the system to help Diego Sanchez beat this charge. It’s not Lorenzo Alcazar and it sure as hell isn’t Sonny Corinthos.”

“Are we sure it’s not Lorenzo Alcazar?” Brianne questioned. “He is Sanchez’s father and he may have made that scene in the courtroom to throw us off.”

“We’ve been watching him as well. No contact with Diego, no calls to the prison and nothing to connect him to Maria Sanchez. My gut tells me he’s on the up and up on this.” Ric returned to his desk. “Scorpio is putting someone on the principals. This is a big case and I don’t have to tell you that the Quartermaines are going to be pissed if something goes wrong.”

“I understand the ramifications, Mr. Lansing,” Brianne began, “but I hardly think–”

“And that means that Brooke, the Jones girls, Dillon Quartermaines and Lucas Jones are getting round the clock guards. They’re the main witnesses. We’ve also got someone guarding the property room with the evidence. That leaves you, Brianne.”

“I doubt I’m a target,” Brianne said. “If something happens to me, they just get another prosecutor–”

“But it slows the process down. Takes time to get another lawyer up to speed. We’re not taking any chances, Brianne. Mac’s agreed that Lucky Spencer is the best choice. You can work together on the case and Spencer has the best track record when it comes to this kind of work.”

“But, sir–”

“I can understand that having Spencer camp out on your couch is obviously not a comfortable idea so the department thought a suite at a hotel would do–”

“Sir, that’s a major expense and it’s not just feasible,” Brianne argued weakly. “You can’t make me accept a bodyguard.”

“No,” Ric agreed. “But I can remove you from the case and assign someone who will.” He leaned back in his chair. “With your personal history, that might be for the best. I don’t know that this is the type of case you should be prosecuting.”

Brianne stiffened. “I have done an excellent job of prosecuting this case, Mr. Lansing, and it is unfair that a minor incident in my past can be used against me.”

“A minor incident,” Ric repeated softly. “An odd phrase for what happened, Brianne.”

She clenched her fists. “I am not one of those women who do not trust men or that see…a certain someone in every man I meet. I know better, Mr. Lansing. If you feel that having Lucky Spencer guard me is so important to my successfully prosecuting this case, then I will of course defer to you. He is more than welcome to the couch in my living room. As an officer of the law, I am duty bound to trust him, aren’t I?”

“No one’s trying to force you into something that you don’t want to do, Brianne,” Ric cautioned. “We just want everyone to be safe, all right?”

“Fine.”

Gatehouse: Brooke’s Bedroom

Brooke pushed her textbooks away and shoved her hair out of her face. She was more than a week behind in her homework and the way her concentration was going, it was only going to get worse.

She couldn’t seem to focus on anything for longer than a few seconds. She’d read a sentence and her eyes would flick away from the book, her ears tuned to the sounds in the hallway or the ones at the window.

“This is so stupid,” she muttered. She stood and started to pace. “He’s in jail. This is a fenced property with security. He’s not going get to me here. He can’t.”

She was nearly jarred out of her body when someone knocked on her door. “Who is it?” she called.

“It’s me,” Ned said. “Brooke, baby, we need to talk. Can you come out to the living room?”

She bit her lip. “I was doing my homework, I swear.”

“I know–Brooke, it’s important.”

“Okay,” Brooke reluctantly agreed. She pulled the door open and followed her father through the hallway and down the stairs to the living room where the commissioner was waiting. She hesitated at the foot of the stairs. “What’s going on?”

“Brooke,” Mac sighed, “I’m so sorry.”

“Why?” Brooke asked, her voice hitched, her breathing beginning to quicken. “What’s going on? What’s happened?”

“Diego made bail, baby,” Ned murmured. His fists were clenched but that was the only outward show of emotion he could allow himself. If he just let his guard down for a moment, he was sure he would explode and Brooke didn’t need that. She needed his support–she needed for him be calm so she could fall apart.

“Bail?” Brooke said sharply. Her dark eyes flicked from Mac to her father. “I don’t understand. He had no ties to the community, he was a flight risk–Brianne said he would be remanded. I don’t understand what’s going on.”

“We don’t know either but the ADA got a call. He was released on bail before she could get to the courthouse. Now, I don’t want to worry. We’ve got officers guarding the house, and we’re going to put someone on Sanchez at all times, Brooke.” Mac shifted and tried to look reassuring though he didn’t really feel that way. After twelve hours of trying to locate Diego Sanchez in order to put a tail on him, his officers had had no leads. The boy had all but vanished but he sure wasn’t going to tell the victim that. “You’ll be as safe as we can make you.”

Brooke shook her head. “No. He can’t be out. Why does he get to be out? He–it’s not fair!” She hugged herself tightly. “Put him back in jail!”

“We can’t unless he violates the bail agreement,” Mac said apologetically. “I promise, Brooke, we’re going to keep you safe–”

“You can’t promise that!” Brooke cried. “No one can!” She whirled around and flew up the stairs. A few moments later, her bedroom door slammed shut.

Ned exhaled slowly and looked at his old friend. “If I find him first, I don’t make any promises that he won’t need medical attention when I’m done.”

Mac nodded. He was, after all, a father first and an officer of the law second.

Lawyer’s Office

Lainey Winters buttoned her suit jacket and took a seat across from Justus Ward and his client, Sonny Corinthos. She smiled reassuringly at her client, Carly, before looking at Justus. “My client’s demands are quite small. I’m sure we can wrap this up today.”

“Mr. Corinthos is prepared to offer a generous settlement,” Justus began. “Ten thousand a month in alimony, twice that in child support as well relocation resources. All he wants is joint custody with his children.”

Lainey looked at her client, Carly shook her head. “I’m sorry, but my client has made her wishes clear. She doesn’t want any alimony and only two thousand a month in child support. She doesn’t want relocation resources and has no problems with joint custody.”

“Carly,” Sonny sighed. “I know you’re trying to make a point, but you don’t need to sacrifice the luxuries–”

“Mrs. Corinthos makes a good living from her club,” Lainey interrupted coolly. “She’s looking into buying another. She has excellent investments.”

Sonny whispered to Justus who sighed. “My client will be forced to go to court to petition for sole custody if Mrs. Corinthos does not agree to alimony and more child support.”

“Then you’re going to have to do that,” Carly said scathingly. “I don’t want or need your money, Sonny. I can’t believe you’d drag our kids through another custody battle because I don’t want your money.”

“It won’t come to that,” Sonny said confidently. “You’ll see reason.”

“If you petition for sole custody, I can promise you that I won’t hold back this time,” Carly declared. She stood. “I won’t protect you on the stand. I will tell them about the nervous breakdowns, the car bombs, the guns in my face—you don’t want to tempt me, Sonny, because if it comes down to it, they will give me custody over you every time.”

“You’re forgetting your own brush with insanity,” Sonny said quietly.

“I’m not forgetting anything,” Carly retorted. “Ferncliff was over seven years ago and my little stint in Shadybrooke is easily explained away by the fact that my husband shot me in the head!”

“She’s right,” Justus said softly. “No judge that’s not being bribed is going to give you those children.”

Sonny stared at him in disbelief. “So now you’re on her side?”

“I’m just giving you my legal opinion.” Justus shrugged. “You can’t change certain facts, Sonny. Carly would win a custody suit.”

Carly nodded. “And I don’t want it to come to that, Sonny. I don’t want our marriage to end like this. Let’s be adult about this.” She took her seat. “I understand that you want the boys to be taken care of, looked out for. I understand and appreciate that, but they’re my children too and you have to trust me to know what’s best for them.”

“And what’s best for them is to have their own home—” Sonny began.

“What’s best for them is to be with family and Mama is family,” Carly interrupted gently. “They love her and she loves them. She’s changed her schedule so she can be with them when I’m not. I don’t need a nanny when I have a live in baby-sitter. Sonny, the best thing for them is not to change anything else. They’re happy with living at the Brownstone.”

“What about giving Carly what she wants,” Justus suggested, “but write in an addendum that if at any time, she needs more child support, alimony or relocation resources, Sonny will provide it.” He looked to Sonny for his approval.

“I can live with that,” Sonny said.

“Carly?” Lainey prompted.

“So can I,” Carly agreed. Her eyes found Sonny’s across the table. “Thank you, Sonny.”

General Hospital: Kristina’s Room

“I bet you can’t wait to go home,” Steven remarked as he shined a light into Kristina’s eyes. “Probably so tired of hospitals, you could puke.”

Kristina giggled and reached for the stethoscope hanging around his neck. “Gimme!”

“Ah, ah,” Steven wagged his finger. “Can’t play with that.”

“You’re no fun,” Elizabeth said from the doorway. She sighed dramatically. “Always taking my toys and putting them away before I could even play with them.”

“Hey, Lizbits,” Steven said. “Did you need something?”

“Nope, Alexis said Kristina was up for visitors.” Elizabeth approached the crib-like bed and waved at the little girl. “Hey, I bet you don’t remember me.”

Kristina shook her head. “Nope!”

“I’m Elizabeth,” she said. “Your mommy and I have been friends for a long time.”

“Mama!” Kristina perked up. “Where’s Mama?”

“She has to sleep sometime, poppet,” Steven murmured. He unwound the stethoscope from his neck and raised the metal piece to Kristina’s chest. “This is going to feel a little cold.”

“I tried to call Mom and Dad today,” Elizabeth said quietly. She met her brother eyes. “Hung up before it even started to ring.”

“You have to tell them sometime,” Steven said absently. He shined the light again and watched as Kristina’s eyes followed it.

“I know,” she sighed. “But it’s not as though it’s the easiest news to impart.”

“Just try telling them bluntly,” Steven suggested. “Mom, Dad, I have a son and his father is a mobster with a part-time sort of second girlfriend.”

Elizabeth scowled. “You’re not amusing.”

“Neither is the situation.” Steven put the light back into the top pocket of his white coat. “Well, Kristina, guess what?”

“What?” Kristina asked brightly. She reached again for the stethoscope. “Gimme!”

“You are doing much better,” Steven told her. “Do you feel better?”

“Better than what?” the toddler asked, puzzled.

“Ah, the ability to forget that which is painful.” Steven grinned. “Your mom will be back soon, Princess.” He raised her call button so she could see it. “See this?”

She nodded.

“Press this button if you need anything, okay?” Steven directed. “Can you repeat that?”

Kristina nodded. “Press button if I need candy.”

Elizabeth grinned. “She’s obviously got her priorities set in the right place.”

General Hospital: Monica’s Office

After leaving Steven to explain once again to his young patient the purpose of the call button, Elizabeth headed to Monica’s office to ask for more details about the mysterious baby shower that Jason had mentioned.

Monica was marking charts when Elizabeth knocked on the open door. “Elizabeth!” Monica stood and immediately crossed the room to envelop the young woman in a warm embrace. “I was hoping to get a chance to speak with you!”

Elizabeth patted the other woman’s back awkwardly. “Jason said something about a baby shower—”

“Right, right, of course.” Monica pulled away and motioned for her sit on the small couch. “I just—I was so thrilled when Jason told me about Cameron. Part of me always wondered because Cameron looks so much like Jason did as a baby, but I always thought it was wishful thinking.”

“Well, I’m just glad you’re so happy,” Elizabeth replied. “My parents live in Europe, so it’s nice that Cam will have a set of grandparents here, as well as my grandmother.”

“So, the baby shower,” Monica clasped her hands together. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a baby in the family we could really celebrate—I think Dillon was the last baby. I’m just so thrilled.”

“You really don’t have to,” Elizabeth said. “Cameron has everything he needs—”

“Nonsense,” Monica dismissed it with a wave of her hand. “Baby showers are for the mother anyway. They’re usually one last hurrah before the insanity of a newborn but for you, it can be a little vacation.”

“That does sound nice,” Elizabeth agreed. “If you’re sure it’s not any trouble—’

‘Trouble?” Monica laughed. “A chance to celebrate Jason and his family? No trouble at all.”

Elizabeth smiled uneasily. “Okay then, whatever you’d like to do is fine with me.”

General Hospital: Sam’s Room

Sam was staring at the television screen listlessly when Jason entered her room. “Hey,” she murmured as he took a seat next to her. She flicked the talk show off. “What’s going on?”

“I just wanted to clarify a few things,” Jason told her. “You’re staying in the penthouse for a while right?”

She sighed heavily. “I don’t really want to, Jason. I don’t want to be dependent on you like that.”

“I understand but you’re still not one hundred percent,” Jason explained. “I don’t want you in some seedy motel room out job hunting. Just—just stay until you find another place.”

“If you insist.” Sam shifted. “The services on Tuesday…who’s planning that? You or Sonny?”

“Sonny’s handling most of it,” Jason said. “But I’ll pick you up from the hospital, take you home—on Monday. Do you want me to pick you up for the services?”

“Yeah…I mean, if that’s okay.” Sam closed her eyes and leaned back. “Are you staying at the cottage?”

Jason shook his head. “No. I—I’m at the penthouse right now but I’m going to find an apartment or someplace to stay.”

Sam’s eyes flew open and she sat up gingerly. “Are you serious?”

Jason exhaled slowly. “I haven’t told Elizabeth I’m not moving in so—don’t say anything to her.”

“I wouldn’t even know where to begin.” Sam shifted and winced a little. “Jason, why aren’t you moving in with your son, with Elizabeth?”

Jason sat back and looked away, towards the blank television screen. “Because things might not work out between us,” he admitted finally. “They never have before and I’m not about to screw up Cameron’s life more by letting him get used to having me there and changing it later. When—if—I move in, I want it to be permanent.”

“I don’t understand,” Sam murmured. “If you love her and she loves you, then why wouldn’t it work?”

“Sonny loved you. You loved him,” Jason reminded her.

“Yeah, but he was married,” Sam said, exasperated. “And still in love with Carly, to boot. There are no such circumstances here.”

“What about Jax?” Jason said instead. “Or what about Courtney? Or Robin? Or the last time Elizabeth and I tried this?’ He shook his head. “I just want to be careful.”

“Well, I’d find a better way to explain this to Elizabeth when the time comes,” Sam advised, “because it just sounds like you don’t trust her to stay.”

“I just don’t want to hurt her anymore,” Jason said quietly.

“I’m not sure you can avoid that if you go this road,” Sam replied.

Brianne’s Apartment

Lucky set a duffle bag on the brown leather sofa and eyed Brianne who was edging towards her bedroom. “I’m sure it’s not going to be for long.”

“No, right,” Brianne nodded. She gestured towards a closed door on her left. “This is the bathroom, you can see the kitchen. Um—I’ll be in here.” She shifted. “Good night.”

She closed her door behind her and Lucky frowned, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was barely eight p.m. in the evening. Surely she wasn’t going to sleep already?

ADA Joyce was definitely wound tightly, Lucky decided. He unzipped his duffle and removed a small stack of manila folders. At least he’d have some quiet to get some work done.

He sat on the couch and set the folders on the oak coffee table, glancing around at the sparse furnishings of the nicely sized apartment. It was an excellent section of town, he noted, but rent didn’t come cheap. Probably why she had only the bare minimum—a sofa, a coffee table, a television stand and a table with two chairs in the kitchen.

Or maybe she just didn’t really live here, Lucky thought absently. Young ambitious career-minded people tended to live in their jobs. God knows, he did. He had just the room above Kelly’s, preferring to spend most of his time either at the station or on the job.

But even he had a few personal belongings scattered around the room—photos, memorabilia—just something that said that he lived there. If Brianne had anything of the sort, it was locked tightly behind her bedroom doors.

And if not—he wasn’t sure if that made her one of the loneliest people he’d ever known or just one of the coldest.

Monday, November 15, 2004

Adair Suites: Lorenzo’s Penthouse

It was just after seven in the morning when Lorenzo’s quiet breakfast was interrupted by frantic banging on his front door. He wiped his mouth and stood, waiting for his guard to come in from the foyer to tell him who had disturbed him this early. It had better be for a good reason, he thought absently. He hadn’t slept much the night before—had waited up until the early morning hours to hear from his men about Diego’s whereabouts. There had been nothing.

Instead of one of his guards, a small flash of dark skin and dark hair rushed in. “He’s gone!” Maria Sanchez blurted. “He was supposed to be in the hotel room this morning and he’s gone!”

Lorenzo sighed and took his daughter by the shoulders and gently steered her towards the sofa. “Sit, take a breath.”

“I can’t!” Maria’s darkeyes flooded with tears. “He’s gone!”

“Maria, when did you even get to town?” he asked gently. “What happened to your last foster family?”

“I don’t know why that matters,” Maria choked. “Diego is gone. I have to find him—you have to help me.” She gripped the lapels of her father’s robe. “Please, Papi, please!”

Lorenzo closed his eyes and felt something inside him shift. She’d never called him Papi before and he knew she used the word now only to get him to do her bidding. But it would be worth finding the little bastard if only it meant Maria would stay with him.

“All right,” Lorenzo agreed. “But you must tell me who financed his bail.”

Maria pulled back, shifted her eyes to the side. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You don’t have the resources for ten thousand dollars. Even the bank account I have given you does not have that much money and never did. Where did you get the money?”

Maria licked her lips. “Why does that matter?”

“Because I must know,” Lorenzo stated. “Tell me, Maria.”

“It was his foster mother,” Maria said quietly. “Courtney Matthews gave me the money and Diego promised to stay in the hotel room when I went to get dinner but he was gone when I got back. You have to find him!”

“I will find him,” Lorenzo promised. “But you will stay here until I do so. Where I can keep you safe. After he is found, you will tell me when you got here and where your foster parents think you are.”

Kelly’s

Elizabeth had already ordered breakfast for herself and was feeding Cameron strained peaches when Jason arrived for their breakfast meeting. She’d taken a back table in efforts to minimize exposure. It would be the first public outing for the three of them and she was in no hurry to gain anyone’s notice.

“I ordered you coffee since I know you don’t eat breakfast,” Elizabeth told him, nodding towards the pot next to his cup.

“Thanks.” Jason kissed Cameron’s forehead before sitting down. “So, he’s over the cold?” He asked after a moment, unsure of how to proceed.

Elizabeth sipped her milk and nodded. “Better than ever.” She cracked her knuckles under the table.

Jason shifted. “The services are on Tuesday. For Adella.” He hesitated. “I was hoping you could come.”

Elizabeth’s eyes softened and she reached across the table to touch his hand. “Of course. I’ll leave Cameron with Grams for the day—she’s been asking for more time with him.” She sat back and nibbled on a piece of toast. “I spoke to Monica about the baby shower. I’m surprised she’s so enthusiastic.”

“She just hopes this will bring me back to the family,” Jason said. He exhaled slowly. “I don’t like to disappoint her but that’s not going to happen.”    He took a long swallow of coffee. “You sure you’re okay with it being held at the Quartermaines? Any party they have ends up in the papers.”

“It’s fine. It’s probably better that way. Everyone will know at once and we won’t have to keep answering questions for months,” Elizabeth replied. “I was wondering when you might want to move your things over—to the cottage, I mean.”

“Let’s—let’s hold off on that just for a bit,” Jason said uneasily. “Sam’s coming home next week and I want to make sure she’s settled before I make any new living arrangements.”

“Okay, I understand.” Elizabeth blew out a slightly exasperated breath. Just because she understood didn’t mean she liked the idea of the two of them still living together. She trusted Jason and she trusted Sam, mostly. But they were both in a vulnerable state right now and she was wary of the whole situation. “So I guess that means you won’t be spending the night either.”

“Elizabeth,” Jason began but a shadow fell over their table before he could attempt to explain himself. He looked up and very nearly sighed. “Courtney,” he said warily.

“Well, if it isn’t the home wrecking slut and my ex-husband,” the blonde remarked scathingly. She crossed her arms and glared at them. “I’m not surprised you couldn’t wait to throw this in people’s faces—”

“Courtney, please don’t use that kind of language in front of my son,” Elizabeth said quietly.

“Your son,” Courtney sneered. “You mean Jason’s son?” Her eyes flew to Jason. “I knew it–I told you last year that if you wanted her, you should go to her. But you chose to stay with me. But I always knew that you only married me because you couldn’t have her.” Her gaze raked over Elizabeth. “I don’t see the attraction a pale, skinny little twit like her myself but I guess some guys get off on constantly having to rescue the pretty little damsel in distress—”

“If you say that with a straight face, you’re a better actress than I gave you credit for,” Elizabeth broke in quietly. “You can’t solve a single problem yourself without leaning on a man so I really don’t want to hear that kind of bull leaving your mouth. Now, please—go away before you make an even bigger fool of yourself.”

“Excuse me?” Courtney fumed. She would have gone on but Mike approached the table at that point.

“Courtney,” her father began, putting his hand on her arm. She shook him off.

“Jason cheated on me when we were engaged!” she told him furiously—her voice loud enough to attract more than a few stares. In fact, every eye in the small diner was fixed on their table. Jason kept his eyes on Cameron and Elizabeth slunk down in her chair.

Mike hesitated and looked to Jason before glancing at Cameron. The father in him warred with the logical side. He’d known Jason and Courtney had been having problems long before they married and while he was furious on his daughter’s behalf, he’d known Jason too long to think he’d cheat with just anyone. “Courtney, this is a place of business,” he said quietly. “Can you just hold it until later?”

“Everyone takes his side!” Courtney raged. “Just because it’s Elizabeth and not some cheap slut he picked up off the street—”

“Courtney, that’s enough.” Jason stood. “Just knock it off and stop playing the betrayed party, here okay? You’re not perfect and you’ve made mistakes, too.” He muttered something under his breath, irritated with his word choice.

Elizabeth’s head snapped up, her face pale. “Mistakes?” she said softly. “That’s an odd way to phrase that.”

“Elizabeth,” Jason started but she held up a hand.

“I don’t want to hear it.” She stood and took a twenty out of her wallet. “This should cover the breakfast, I’m sorry for the scene,” she said to Mike. She shrugged her arms into her coat, gripped Cameron’s stroller and started out of the diner.

“Elizabeth,” Jason followed her out the door.

“Always the victim,” Courtney muttered. She glared at her father and left.

Mike sighed, pocketed the twenty and signaled for the bus boy to clean up the table.

Outside, Courtney stormed out of the courtyard and blessedly decided to ignore Jason and Elizabeth as they argued.

“I didn’t mean you and Cameron,” Jason said defensively. “You can’t believe that’s what I meant—”

“I don’t know what to believe anymore!” Elizabeth exploded, throwing her hands up in frustration. “You say you love me, that you want to be a family, but you won’t move in, you won’t stay longer than five minutes and I don’t think you intend to change that any time soon—”

“I do love you and you were not a mistake, Cameron was not a mistake,” Jason broke in. “Going back to Courtney, marrying her, that was my mistake. I should have stayed and worked things out with you–”

“But you didn’t,” Elizabeth retorted. “You turned and walked away. You always walk away. I can’t keep doing this anymore–” Her shoulders slumped and she closed her eyes. “I need some time.”

“Time?” Jason’s throat closed. “What do you mean, time?”

“Time away from you, away from us. I can’t keep wondering if I’m second prize, if you’re only with me because of Cameron. I can’t keep putting my life on hold for you. I can’t do this anymore, Jason and I won’t.” She gripped the stroller tightly. “Cameron is your son, he will always be your son but I can’t–I can’t be what you need and you refuse to be what I need.”

“No, I don’t accept that–I won’t.” He took a step towards her. “Elizabeth, we’ve come so far–why are you doing this when we’re so close to everything we wanted?”

“Because you can’t see that we’re not,” she whispered. “As long as you keep that distance between us, we’re so far apart; we might as well be on different planets.” She turned the stroller in the opposite direction and walked away.

Jason stood there, staring after her until long after she’d disappeared from sight and her footsteps only a distant memory.

Gatehouse: Living Room

Justus pulled a sheaf of papers from his briefcase and laid them in front of Ned and Lois. “I’ve drawn up the papers to file suit against the New York State Social Service Agency as well Courtney Matthews-Morgan. The suit is pretty straightforward. We’re not asking for a large amount of money because the money isn’t important.”

“That’s right,” Lois nodded. “It’s not about money, it’s about placing a dangerous kid with an unsuitable foster mother.”

Brooke shifted. “I don’t know if I’m comfortable with any of this,” she murmured. “Yeah, I mean, Courtney was an awful choice but she didn’t make Diego…do what he did.”

“We’re not saying she did,” Ned said quietly. “But Social Services have a job to do and by placing a grown teenager with a background like Diego Sanchez with the sister of a known criminal–a former drug abusing stripper, they’re sending a message that they don’t care about the quality of the foster family–just that they’re there.”

“I know,” Brooke sighed. “Will I have to testify?”

“Probably not,” Justus said. “We’re going to doing mostly character witnesses. We’ll put some officers on the stand, those who have dealt with Courtney after her stripping days, when she was accused of hitting Elizabeth Webber with a car. We’ll also bring up her family background–her connection with Sonny Corinthos, her father’s gambling convictions, the fact that she lives in a loft with one bedroom–that she was barely ten years older than the boy she was supposed to care for.”

“I get what we’re trying to do but I don’t want it to hurt the criminal case,” Brooke said. She shifted. “I mean, you see it on Law & Order all the time–the rape victim gets creamed on the stand because she’s suing.”

“That’s true, baby, but we’re not suing the defendant,” Lois told her. “It doesn’t matter–”

“But Brooke has a point,” Justus said. “I was actually going to recommend we hold off filing until after Sanchez is convicted.”

“That’s what I want to do,” Brooke said. “I want to wait.”

Ned squeezed his daughter’s hand. “We’re doing this for you–however you want to handle it. But in the end, I want to change the way they go about their business. I want something good to come from this nightmare.”

“Okay,” Brooke agreed. She smiled weakly and kissed his cheek. “Okay. Then I’ll do whatever I can to help. When the trial is over.”

PC High: Library

Lucas set his books next to Maxie at the back table. “Hey.”

She glanced up and sighed. “Hey, Lucas. I didn’t know you had study hall this period.”

“I don’t.” He sat and opened his Calculus text. “I’m skipping gym to talk to you. But look busy, I don’t want the librarian remembering that I don’t belong here.”

“Okay,” Maxie drawled. “How’s Brooke? Have you seen her?”

“Not since court on Wednesday. But I talked to her on the phone last night. You know Diego was released on bail right?”

“Yeah,” Maxie sighed. “My dad’s barely letting me and Georgie out of our rooms, much less the house. How’s Brooke handling that?”

“She’s doing the best she can I guess,” Lucas sighed. “Anyway, she wanted you to know that she’s sorry you guys fought last week. But she didn’t say what about.”

Maxie tapped her pencil against the table. “I wanted to talk to her—to make her understand why I didn’t come to the hospital at first. I mean, Lucas, my reasons are so selfish, they make me sick. But I thought I owed it to her to be honest.”

“What did you tell her?”

Maxie’s cheeks flushed. “I told her that I was glad it wasn’t me—because you know that I was alone with Diego too. So was Georgie. I know it doesn’t mean that I was glad it was her, but isn’t that what it means, deep down? That I’m glad it was her and not me?” She shook her head. “I’m an awful, selfish person, Lucas and I can’t believe Brooke doesn’t hate me.”

“It does not mean you’re glad it was her,” Lucas argued. “It means you’re relieved you’re safe, that Georgie is safe. Brooke knows that you wouldn’t wish this on anyone. And we’re going to get Brooke through this, I promise. You, me, Dillon, Georgie—we’ve got to be her support system, we’ve got to be her rock. Every day during the trial, we’ve got to be there. And even more importantly, we’ve got to be there afterwards. Brooke needs us more than anyone or anything else in our lives right now.”

“You’re right.” Maxie cleared her throat and sat up. “And we’re going to start immediately. Georgie and I will go to her house today and help her get caught up with homework. Dad will have to let us go there—there’s no where safer than the Quartermaine estate, right?”

“Right,” Lucas agreed. He put an arm around his cousin’s shoulders. “It’s gonna be all right.”

Parking Lot

Diego slid his hands in his pockets and waited in the parking garage of General Hospital. When he’d gotten back to his motel that morning after sneaking a breakfast from a nearby convenience store, a letter had been taped to the inside of his door. Inside, a time and a place had been scrawled in block letters.

Here he was, lurking behind Spot 24, his eyes peeled for any suspicious movement. It wasn’t the cops—it was too soon for them to have found him. But it didn’t rule out his dear old father—lousy son of a bitch who had abandoned him all his life. Diego sneered—he knew Lorenzo Alcazar had never meant all that bullshit about wanting to be a family.

Footsteps came towards him, sounding like someone just shuffling their feet over the rough surface. Scratch, scratch. Diego crouched behind a large red truck and watched as figure hung just back in the shadows. He was tall and slim—even it was even a man. Diego couldn’t tell from this angle.

“I admire you,” a rough deep voice emitted. It was low, to keep it from echoing. “But you were messy, you got caught.”

Diego frowned. “It wasn’t rape,” he said—because he firmly believed that. It didn’t matter what she said—she’d wanted it. He was an expert in matters such as these, and he knew when a girl wanted him.

“That’s exactly right,” the man murmured. He dropped something on the ground and kicked it towards him. Diego reached forward and retrieved a trash bag. “Open it.” Diego obeyed and withdrew a handful of folders and some labeled plastic bags. One read Pink Skirt – 7/16/94.

“What’s all this?”

“I thought you might like to have some fun while you’re on the run.” The man chuckled at his rhyme. “There are some instructions inside—just so you can do me a few favors in return for my goodwill.”

Diego noticed the wad of cash and was all to ready to agree. Except for… “How’d you know where I was?”

“We think alike, you and I.” The man stepped back. “I’ll be in touch.” He faded into the shadows.

Diego waited until his footsteps were gone before making his own escape.

PCMB: Brianne’s Office

“I’ve programmed my phone so I just have to open it and say your name,” Brianne began as she set her briefcase down on her desk. “They installed a panic button in all the offices here after that bombing last year in the courthouse. I promise not to leave my office without waiting for you. So, please—can I have a half hour to myself?”

Lucky folded his arms across his chest. “You’ll call me at the slightest instance?” he demanded. “You’ll press that button even if you only feel a little panicked?”

“Yes,” Brianne nodded. “I just—I need some time, okay?” She took her coat off and hung it on the rack beside her desk. “Just—don’t take this the wrong way, but just go away, okay?”

“Okay,” Lucky agreed. “One half hour. I’m going right across the street to GH. I can be back here in five minutes.”

Brianne arched an eyebrow. “You can fly?”

“Don’t be a smart ass,” Lucky replied as he left.

General Hospital: Administrator’s Office

“Lucky.” Nikolas stood and shifted some files to the side. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Hey—yeah, I’ve been busy with the Sanchez case,” Lucky replied. He sat. “But ADA Joyce wanted some time to herself and that building is more secure than the White House. Panic buttons, metal detectors—so I’m taking a half hour, thought I’d check in on you.”

“I can’t believe he got out on bail,” Nikolas shook his head. “I wonder what strings they had to pull to get that one over the DA’s head.”

“They’re trying to trace the money, track Sanchez down to put a detail on him. We can’t afford to screw this up or we’ll have the wrath of the Quartermaines on us and no one wants that.”

“So you’re staying with ADA Joyce until Sanchez is located?”

“Or until he’s back in jail, Mac’s not sure which.” Lucky shook his head. “Something’s not right about this girl, Nikolas. She’s either cold or lonely and I just can’t make up my mind which.”

“I don’t think I’m familiar with her—is she new?” Nikolas made a mark on his calendar about that afternoon’s board meeting.

“No, but I guess she’s been low-profile until now. She seems to be all about her work, there’s nothing personal in her apartment–it’s like its barren. But I can’t accept that it’s nothing more than a defense.” Lucky shook his head. “There’s just something about her, you know?”

“I can make a few calls,” Nikolas offered. “Get a background check.”

“No, no, that would be like spying.” Lucky shrugged. “I’ll get to the bottom of it eventually. Hey, have you heard from Elizabeth?”

“Since the bombshell? No. Emily’s worried, though. She said something about Elizabeth being miserable again.” Nikolas sighed, slightly exasperated. “I wish I knew what was really going on with her but she’s not talking.”

“I’ll try to stop by the cottage. Maybe she’ll open up to me.” Lucky glanced at his watch. “I better get back to the ADA.”

Port Charles Executive Park: Lainey Winter’s Office

“One set of divorce papers for your client to look over,” Justus announced, dropping the sheaf onto to Lainey’s desk. She glanced up and took them.

“I have to say, this is the one of the weirdest divorces I’ve ever worked on,” Lainey sighed. “They’ve got it all backwards—and did I read their file right? This is their third divorce?”

“Second actually, but third time around with attorneys,” Justus corrected. He leaned against her desk. “Want to compare war stories over dinner?”

Lainey arched a brow. “Are you asking me out?”

“If you have to clarify, then I am definitely out of practice,” Justus sighed dramatically. “Do you want to have dinner with me?”

She sat back and smirked at him. “That wouldn’t be a conflict of interest?”

“Where’s the conflict?” Justus asked. “Our clients are on the same page, they’re in agreement. We’re not even going to court on this one. I can behave if you can.”

Her smile deepened. “Fine. The Cellar at eight?”

PCPD: Commissioner’s Office

“Have you heard from Diego?” Mac demanded as soon as the door was closed.

Lorenzo shook his head. “No, but I do have some news. His twin, Maria, came to me this morning. She was upset—nearly hysterical. He’s disappeared from their hotel room.”

Mac exhaled slowly. “Well, he was released to his sister’s custody—another anomaly considering she’s underage but that’s for another time. If he’s left her sight and she doesn’t know where he is, that’s considered jumping bail. We can pick him. When we find him.”

Lorenzo nodded. “That’s good to hear. I do have something else for you—the name of the person who financed his bail.”

“Well, that’ll give us an avenue of investigation. I’m just glad it wasn’t you,” Mac told him.

“Maria told me it was Courtney Matthews,” Lorenzo revealed.

Mac sat back in his chair. “I completely underestimated how stupid that girl could be.”

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

 PCPD: Interrogation Room

When Mac entered the room early that morning, Courtney sprang out of her seat. “Why did you bring me in again?” she demanded. “I’ve already told you everything I know!”

“That’s a matter of opinion,” Mac said dryly. He sat and watched as the irate blonde paced from one side of the room to the other. “Do you know Maria Sanchez?”

“Diego’s mentioned her,” Courtney muttered. “I should call my lawyer,” she slapped her hands on her hips. “I really should.”

“Why?” Mac asked. “Have you done something wrong?”

“No,” Courtney said hotly. “But obviously you think I have or I wouldn’t be here.”

“Just a little curiosity on my part,” Mac replied. “You know you’re out ten thousand dollars, right?”

Courtney frowned. “Excuse me?”

“The ten grand you gave to Maria Sanchez to bail her brother out. You’re never going to see that again,” Mac clarified.

Courtney shook her head. “No. You get that money back after the trial’s over—” She paled. And sat. “He jumped bail.”

“His sister went out to get dinner last night and he was gone when she returned. She waited until this morning before going to her father. He’s gone and there’s no trace of him anywhere.”

“No–I can’t believe that.” She shook her head again. “It’s impossible. Diego can’t be guilty of this crime. He wants to prove his innocence–”

“Wake up, Courtney!” Mac exploded suddenly. He yanked out photos of Brooke’s battered face and tossed them across the table. “This is not the work of an innocent teenager. She’s bruised and broken from that little son of a bitch and thanks to you, he’s back on the street!”

“I don’t–I don’t understand. How can–” She swallowed hard. “How can you live with someone and not realize they’re capable of something like this?”

Mac scrubbed his hands over his face. “If you hear from Diego, we want to know immediately. Or we will charge you with obstruction of justice, do you understand?”

Courtney nodded absently. “Should I call a lawyer?” she asked quietly.

“Not unless you think you need one,” Mac said pointedly. He stood. “You’re free to go. Don’t give me a reason to pull you back in.”

Elizabeth’s Cottage

Elizabeth took a deep breath and dialed her parents’ number. She frowned when she heard an answering service inform her that the Drs. Webber were no longer living in Edinburgh, Scotland and that a phone number for their location in Barcelona, Spain was going to be said in just a moment.

“Would have been nice if they’d mentioned that,” she muttered as she copied the number. She dialed that next. After six rings, she was about to hang up. A harried voice answered just as she was taking the phone away from her ear to place it back on the receiver.

“Hello?”

“Mom?” Elizabeth said. “It’s Elizabeth.”

“Oh, hello.” The tone of Andrea Webber’s voice did not change. “Is something wrong?”

“Actually…no.” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “I had a son, Mom. He’s actually about seven months old and his name is Cameron.”

“A baby?” Andrea repeated. “Aren’t you divorced from Ric?”

“Yes, it’s not his child.” Elizabeth tapped her fingers on her coffee table. “Jason Morgan is his father. Dad knows who he is–he’s the son of Alan and Monica Quartermaine. He used to work with them.”

“Right, right, Jeff’s ex-wife. I’ve heard him mention her. Ah, well, that’s lovely, Elizabeth. I’m sure you make a wonderful mother.” Andrea paused. “Seven months old, did you say?”

“He was born May 6.” Elizabeth leaned back against the sofa, her eyes on Cameron in his playpen.

“You waited over a year to tell us?” Andrea asked.

“Well…it’s been a rough year,” Elizabeth sighed. “With the divorce from Ric–”

“Both of them,” Andrea cut in dryly.

“Yes, both of them. And I was out of town for a while–I had Cameron in Napa and since I came back and started in the nursing program, it’s been a little rough. I didn’t–I wasn’t sure how you’d take the news.”

“Well then, I hope you’ll email us some pictures of our grandson. I will certainly pass the news on to your father–I’m sure he’ll be calling soon. We’ll try to arrange some time in our schedule to visit.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Elizabeth said, surprised at the easy acceptance.

“I’m glad you called, Elizabeth,” Andrea said. “Be sure to keep in touch a little more, okay? We’ll let you know about that visit.”

“Goodbye, Mom.” Elizabeth hung up the phone and stared at in disbelief.

PCMB: Brianne’s Office

Brianne entered her office that morning, having convinced Lucky to hang out outside her office–the better to protect her, she’d said. She was blissfully alone for the first time in nearly sixteen hours and felt better for it.

Sergeant Lucky Spencer made her uneasy and not in the way she was used to. She didn’t feel the need to step away as much–to keep six feet between them as she did with other men of her acquaitanence. She wondered if this was a turning point in her life.

A bouquet of roses sat on her desk–two dozen, she noted with dawning horror. Her trembling fingers reached out for theivory card tucked between the blood red petals.

I’ll never forget.

The card fluttered to the ground as Brianne squeezed her eyes shut, remembering a bouquet she’d received eleven years before.

She was walking home from the library–just a mere five blocks from her home. It was nearly ten o’clock and most of the streets were quiet.

She could footsteps behind her. She quickened her pace, not bothering to turn her head to see who was behind her. The footsteps disappeared after a few moments and she breathed a sigh of relief–

–which was cut off by an arm banding around her abdomen like steel. She was yanked off her feet and dragged into the near brush, a large hand engulfing her screams.

Brianne sat down in her chair, her face a chilling white. She could remember every moment that had followed as though they had happened yesterday.

The days afterward, however, had been almost a blur–would have been if not for the two dozen red roses hand delivered to her parents’ house. With a card that said, I’ll never forget.

For four years after that night, two dozen red roses had appeared on the anniversary of that day. Always with the same message. But they had stopped and she’d wondered if maybe it was finally over.

She looked at the mess of petals and shivered.

Gatehouse: Living Room

“I will never understand geometry,” Brooke huffed. She shoved her hair out of her face. “I don’t understand proofs–as long as I get it the answer right, why does it matter how I did it?”

“I’d agree with you if you had gotten the answer right,” Lucas smirked. He took the pencil from her hand and erased the number she’d written at the bottom. “If you hadn’t skipped a math last year, you wouldn’t be in this situation right now.”

She snorted. “Yeah, I would have been in it last year.”

“Brooke, baby,” Lois called from the kitchen. “Can you get the mail? I’m expecting a contract.”

Brooke got up from the couch and opened the front door. She tugged a huge stack of mail from the mailbox next to the door. “There’s something here from L&B, a bunch of bills–a magazine for animal owners, weird, and hey–a package for me!” She tossed the rest of it on the desk and ripped open the manila envelope.

“Brooke, stop stalling and get over here,” Lucas told her. He glanced up to see her chalk white face staring at a scrap of fabric. “Brooke?”

“It’s my…shirt.” She swallowed hard. “From–from t-that night.” She looked up and met his worried eyes. She moved the scrap of dark material into his view. “I–I don’t understand.”

Lucas jumped to his feet and yanked the package out of her hands. He dug inside the envelope for the slip of paper–with a messily scrawled message.

I’ll never forget.

He swallowed the bile that rose in his throat. “I’ll call Mac.”

Kelly’s

“I am starving,” Carly declared as she unwound her scarf from her neck and tossed it on the back of a chair. Steven grinned and hung his jacket on the back of his own chair before taking a seat.

“Then it’s a good thing we ran into each other,” Steven replied. He took his pager out of his pocket and set it on the table. “Let’s cross our fingers that nothing happens and I don’t get called in.”

“It’s Sonny’s night with the boys so it’s just as well I’m not eating alone,” Carly sighed. She scanned the menu she knew by heart. “I am definitely in mood for some of Ruby’s Chili. You?”

“Too spicy for me,” Steven mused. He perused the menu. “I definitely want some junk food though. They replaced our candy and chip vending machine with some natural crap.” He shuddered. “The last thing I want to see after an hour in the ER is a granola bar.”

Carly snorted. “Then you would have lost your mind living with Sonny. His idea of junk food was oatmeal cookies. I had to get Courtney to smuggle Oreos when I was pregnant with Morgan.”

“But Sonny probably knew,” Steven remarked. “Seems like a guy who had a pretty good idea of what went down in his own house.”

“He pretended to ignore it. After the hell of a summer I’d had, he wasn’t going to make a big deal over some cookies,” Carly murmured. She glanced up from the menu. “It doesn’t bother you to talk about Sonny?”

“Nope. This isn’t a date,” Steven said, setting his menu down with a mischievous grin. “We’re just a couple of friends having a friendly dinner.”

“Mm,” Carly murmured, arching an eyebrow. “So, friend, how was your day?”

Steven sighed and sat back. “If you discount the actual work shift, not so good. My sister and I had lunch today and she’s depressed as all hell.”

Carly frowned. “What’s wrong with her?” She glanced at the counter, but the servers were no where to be found. Typical Kelly’s.

Steven shifted in his seat, a bit uneasy. “You want the honest answer?”

“That means the Muffin is having a thing with Jason,” Carly said, resigned. She plucked a sugar packet from the canister on the table and twisted in her fingers. “What happened?”

“Well,” Steven began reluctantly, “apparently, they were having breakfast yesterday and his ex-wife caused a huge scene during which Jason didn’t say word one and Elizabeth was a little irritated by that fact but I guess once he started throwing the word mistake around, it really kind of pissed her off.”

“Ah, well that’s understandable.” Carly shrugged and tried to catch Mike’s eye as he served someone at the counter. “I tell you, pissed off is not what I would be if someone referred to me or my kid as a mistake.”

“I’m sure he didn’t mean that,” Steven shrugged. “Bits has always heard one thing and decided it means another. And I’ve talked to Jason, he makes it easy to draw the wrong conclusion.”

“Yeah, but Jason’s been acting weird about this whole thing since it started,” Carly sighed. “I mean, I understand on some level why he hid the whole thing. I mean, I would not have been understanding at all if the whole thing had come out a year ago. I would have thrown tantrums, given Elizabeth ultimatums, offered money to certain people to leave town–” she grinned. “It would not have been my finest hour and my reaction would paled next to Sonny and Courtney. Those two have self-absorption in common. Nothing is more important than how something it affects them.”

“Yeah, I get that idea,” Steven agreed.

“Anyway, in the old days, that still wouldn’t have stopped Jason. If he had a son, nothing would have kept him from being with him and if he loved Elizabeth, nothing would have stopped them from being together. But to go to all the trouble to avoid telling anyone? Living apart, sneaking around?” Carly shook her head. “It’s not right. And I’m very surprised Elizabeth held out as long as she did before things started to go to shit.”

“She never thought it would be this long,” Steven admitted. “So you don’t think he loves my sister?”

“No, unfortunately, I think he does,” Carly sighed. “But something’s changed in Jason since he divorced Courtney–since before that really. Courtney…she miscarried a child while they were together, but she never told Jason she was pregnant and didn’t tell him she’d miscarried until after well after it happened. I guess something in Jason kind of…closed off.” She studied her hands. “And right around the time he found out about the miscarriage, his sister Emily nearly died from the cancer she was going through. It was not a good time for Jason and right in the middle of all that, he started this…whatever it was with Elizabeth and I gotta wonder, if he’d been…if things had been different, would it have happened?”

“So you think he regrets it,” Steven said slowly.

“No,” Carly replied quietly. “Jason has a lot of regrets but I don’t think that’s one of them. Anyway, I think Jason’s problem is that he essentially repeated a pattern that hasn’t been seen since he had his accident all those years ago.”

“What pattern is that?” Steven asked.

“Acting without thinking,” Carly said simply. “Following an impulse. He slept with me when he was dating Robin. Not because I was irresistible or he didn’t love her. He didn’t understand the concept of fidelity. He had feelings…and he needed an outlet. He honestly didn’t understand that what he did would hurt Robin and after he understood that concept, he changed. He developed self-control. He never acted without considering the consequences and mapping out a very direct plan. And he’s been that way for almost a decade.”

“But not last year,” Steven said.

“Not for the last two years,” Carly corrected. “I can honestly say that since the moment your sister walked out on him, Jason has been walking a very tight line and it snapped when he found out Cameron was his son. When Elizabeth left him, he did nothing but his work. He married Brenda, he slept with Courtney-and then married her. He claimed paternity of Sam’s baby–he made a lot of decisions that he wouldn’t have. But Elizabeth knocked him off balance and I don’t think anyone saw that. Certainly not me, his best friend,” she said with a self-deprecating smile.

“So what’s the reason for his behavior now?” Steven questioned.

“He’s trying to get back in balance. Think out his actions, map his plan out. He won’t be with Elizabeth, not fully, until he’s sure it’s right. Not just for him, but for her and I’ll tell you, I’ve never seen Jason be more self-sacrificing than when he thinks he’s protecting her.”

Before Steven could respond, Mike approached their table to take their orders.

PCMB: Brianne’s Office

Lucky was slipping his cell phone into his back pocket when he entered Brianne’s office. He didn’t notice her pallor at first, didn’t notice the fixed stare on the bouquet of flowers. “Brianne, I have to call in someone to take over for a day or two.”

Brianne didn’t answer.

“My sister just called,” Lucky continued, “and my grandmother–” His eyes focused on the scene in front him. “What’s wrong?” he demanded. “Where did the roses come from?”

“They were waiting for me when I got in this morning,” Brianne said. Her eyes met his and for the first time, he saw the shadows. He saw the terror. “He’s never going to leave me alone.”

Lucky approached the desk and spied the card on the floor. “Who won’t leave you alone?” he asked carefully.

Brianne snapped to attention suddenly. Her eyes cleared and just like that, she was in control again. “I’m sorry, you said someone would be covering you for a few days?”

Lucky cleared his throat and reluctantly accepted the change in subject. “My grandmother had a heart attack,” he said quietly. “My sister’s at the hospital. Me and my brother are the only family in town, so…I have to take a few days. Tonight at least. I’ll call in a replacement–”

“No!” Brianne said sharply, rising to her feet. She coughed and straightened the front of her suit jacket. “I mean, you’ve already moved into my apartment. I–I’ll go with you to the hospital. I can easily work in a waiting room or–wherever.” She clasped her hands in front her. “I don’t–I don’t want someone I don’t know…sleeping in the room next to me.”

“Okay,” Lucky agreed, a little confused. “I’ll take you by your apartment tonight then. You can stay at my…” He hesitated. “My family’s place,” he settled on. It was no longer Luke and Laura Spencer’s home, but it was still the Spencer family’s place of residence. “That’s where I’m going to be when I’m not at the hospital.”

“That’s–that’s probably for the best,” Brianne nodded. He wouldn’t be able to find her there. He wouldn’t know to look for her there.

“Do you want to take these with you?” Lucky asked, indicating the roses.

She shook her head quickly. “No! I–can we throw them out?” she asked, her voice tinged with desperation.

“Sure.” He lifted them. “Let’s go.”

She grabbed her jacket, tossed some files in her bag and hurriedly left the office. Lucky bent down and pocketed the card before following her.

Harborview Towers: Jason’s Penthouse

Jason dropped his keys on the desk and watched Sam carefully as she curled up on the couch. “Do you need anything?”

“No.” Sam sighed. “You don’t have to watch me, Jase. I’m sure you’d rather be with Elizabeth.”

Jason cleared his throat and sat at the other end of the couch. “She doesn’t exactly want to be with me,” he said hesitantly.

Sam frowned and looked at him. “I don’t understand. I thought things were going well.”

“They never do with Elizabeth,” Jason sighed. He turned and looked towards the dark fireplace. “It’s becoming clear to me that no matter what we feel each other, we just don’t seem to work when we step out of our own world.”

Sam snorted. “That’s an excuse and you know it. You guys let outside people bother you. You most of all. Forcing that poor girl to be a single mother while you dithered over who to tell first for four months.” She folded her arms and looked at the blank television screen. “Elizabeth either has no spine or more patience than a nun.”

He narrowed her eyes. “Sam–”

“Oh, give it a rest, I’m not insulting her. We both know that she loves you. She trusted you to handle the situation your way, and your way was to hide her like something to be ashamed of, like she and Cameron were dirty secrets. I don’t understand why you couldn’t just tell Sonny and Carly to bite your ass and get over that which does not concern them but hey, maybe I’m just my own person.” Sam glared at him. “You’re an idiot. I bet you tell yourself that a lot–you and Elizabeth only work when you’re alone. I bet that’s a real good way to let yourself off the hook. It’s you that never comes through, Jason. Not her, not Sonny, not Carly. It’s you. You didn’t deliver.”

Jason exhaled slowly. “Are you mad at me?” he asked, bewildered.

“Yes.” Sam stood and winced. “I’m angry because you have your chance. You have a son, you have someone who loves you–who values you. I don’t. I lost my baby, I lost Sonny. I lost my brother. I keep losing and you keep winning and it feels like you don’t even want it!” She pointed at him. “If you let Elizabeth walk away because you wallowing in your pit of misery, then you will have no one to blame but yourself. And I don’t want to hear about it anymore.”

She whirled around and went upstairs. A few moments later, he heard her bedroom door slam and he exhaled slowly, wondering if maybe Sam didn’t have a point.

114 Constabulary Road

It was a two story, four bedroom house that seemed to have leapt right off a magazine cover–with its snow white paint job and pretty blue shutters. Alexis wondered if she were in the middle of a fifties sitcom–with color that is.

“We’re certainly not going to buy it because my daughter picked it out randomly,” Alexis said as she and Ric moved through the front hallway. “I mean, that would be ridiculous.”

“Yes,” Ric agreed. “It would. However, if we were to buy it because it’s in a good neighborhood, close to both our offices and to the hospital, as well as the school–that would be quite sane.”

“Well, yes,” Alexis allowed. She frowned at the wide staircase. “It just–a Cassadine does not belong in an all-American house. It just–feels wrong.”

“You’d rather a few cobwebs in a corner?” Ric suggested with smirk. “Perhaps a parapet–”

Alexis shuddered. “Anything but that,” she muttered. “I’d end up tossing the wrong person off it again.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” Alexis replied with a quick smile. She trailed her fingers over the oak railing. “Do you like the house?”

“It’s a good house,” Ric shrugged. “It’s in a good area. It makes sense to buy it. And the fact that Kristina picked it means she’s predisposed to liking it and we do want to make her happy, don’t we?”

Alexis sighed. “If anyone finds out that we bought it because Kristina picked it, we’ll never live it down.”

General Hospital: ER

Lesley Lu Spencer was curled up in one of the uncomfortable waiting room chairs, her blonde hair a tangle down her back, her blue eyes red from crying. She didn’t see her brother until he had kneeled down in front of her. “Hey,” he said softly.

“Hey,” Lulu whispered hoarsely. She took his hands and sat up. “They haven’t come out–or told me anything yet.” She wiped her cheeks with the backs of her hand. “But Grandma’s gonna be okay, right? I mean, she has to be okay.”

“She’ll be fine,” Lucky murmured. He kissed her forehead. “Grandma’s strong. She’s always been a fighter.”

Lulu nodded and sniffled. “She’s all I have,” she said brokenly.

“Lu, that’s not true,” Lucky said softly. “You have me, Nikolas…” he swallowed. “Dad.”

She laughed bitterly, the tears streaming down her cheeks again. “I never see you or Nik and Dad might be as well as be dead for all I care.”

“Lu…” Lucky shook his head and stood. “I’ll go check on Grandma’s condition.” He turned and saw Brianne standing awkwardly a few feet away. “Lu, this is…” he hesitated. “Brianne’s a friend from work.”

“Hi,” Brianne said softly. She came forward and hesitantly put her fingertips on Lucky’s arms. “I’ll sit with her,” she told Lucky. “Go see about your grandmother.”

He lifted her hand from his sleeve and squeezed it in thanks, ignoring the way her body went stiff at the touch. “Thanks.” He left the waiting room to track down a doctor.

Brianne set her bag and coat down in a chair and sat next to Lulu. “Lucky tells me you’re fifteen,” she said.

Lulu sniffled and nodded. “Yeah. I’ll be sixteen next month.” She rubbed her arms. “So you and Lucky, I didn’t know he was seeing anyone.”

“Oh–” Brianne shook her head. “We’re not–we just work together–” She bit her lip, a little flustered. “I work at the DA’s office. We’re working on a case together.”

“It’s nice that you came down with him,” Lulu said. She ran her fingers through her hair. “I just–I didn’t even know she was sick.”

“Heart attacks don’t always come with signs to look for,” Brianne murmured. “My father…had three and we never knew it was coming until they were over.”

“She was cooking dinner and I heard this-this thud,” Lulu whispered, horrified. “I just–I’ve never been so scared in my whole life.”

Nikolas burst through the waiting room doors, Emily and Elizabeth just behind him. “Lulu?”

“Nikolas.” Lulu jumped to her feet. “I didn’t think you get here so fast.”

Nikolas crossed the room and enveloped his little sister in bear hug. “I nearly broke every traffic law getting from the docks to the hospital,” he told her.

“I bear witness to that,” Emily said with a shaky smile. She looked to Brianne. “I–I’m Emily Cassadine,” she said, offering her hand.

Brianne hesitantly took it. “Brianne Joyce–I’m prosecuting your cousin’s case.”

“Oh, right–Brooke’s mentioned you.” She looked to Elizabeth. “Remember?”

“She thinks the world of you,” Elizabeth said. “Elizabeth Webber.” She didn’t offer her hand for whatever reason and Brianne was grateful.

Monica Quartermaine came into the waiting room, Lucky at her side. “Lesley’s stabilized,” she announced.

Lulu began crying again and buried her face in Nikolas’s neck.

“Thank God,” Emily murmured, taking Elizabeth’s hand and squeezing it. “Lesley’s the heart of the family,” she explained to Brianne. “Ever since Laura…” she trailed off and looked away.

Lucky crossed to Brianne. “I’m just going to stop in and see her for a few minutes and then we’ll stop by your place, okay?”

“Okay,” Brianne nodded, flushing. She hoped his family didn’t think that something…else was going on.

“We were thinking of staying at the house tonight, too,” Emily said, flashing a sympathetic smile to Brianne. “So we can be closer to Lesley and with Lulu.”

“Do you want me to get Cam from my grandmother and stay, too?” Elizabeth asked. “It’d be no problem to pack us up and take a guest room.”

“I would,” Lulu said, wiping her face again. “I don’t want to be alone in that house tonight. Do you have anyone else who can come? Friends, family, strangers on the street?” she asked with a faint smile.

“We have to stop by the memorial,” Elizabeth reminded Emily.

“Right, right.” Emily sighed. “We’ll go now…” she looked to Nikolas. “You can get a ride with Lucky, right?”

Nikolas pulled away from Lulu. “Lu, there’s a memorial for Jason Morgan and Sam McCall’s baby tonight. I have to go for a while, okay?”

“Okay,” Lulu nodded. “But come over right after?”

“Definitely,” Emily kissed her cheek.

Queen of Angels Church

It was small and short ceremony. There was no casket to weep over, no memories to share. Just a group of people and a priest. Jason, Sam and Sonny sat in the front pew, Emily sat with her husband in the behind her brother. Jax snuck in and sat next to Elizabeth in the back. Monica was seated next to Alexis and Ric on the other side of the church.

After a short reading, Sam went to the front and cleared her throat. “I thought it would feel odd to be standing up here, to speak about a daughter that I only held after she was gone–” she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I think about the idea that I will never see Adella smile, see her open her eyes, hear her voice–that I will never watch her grow up.” She swallowed hard. “I think about all that I can never have and it is so difficult to get up and face the rest of the day. So I’m not going–I’m not going to think about that anymore.”

 

Her voice broke. “I’m going to think about the first time I felt her flutter inside. The first kick. When I saw my baby on the ultrasound. I’m going to think about all that I was given instead what I can’t have. There are some women who never get that chance and I am thankful that I had her in my life at all.” She bowed her head and took another deep breath and waited a moment until she could go on. “She gave me a dream–and she gave me a future. I never wanted children until I was pregnant. And now…I want a family. I want a child.”

 

She closed her eyes. “So thank you, my sweet little princess, for showing me a life I never dreamed I could have.”

Thursday, November 18, 2004

Quartermaine Mansion: Foyer

“You’re leaving for the hospital early,” Edward remarked to Alan and Monica as he came down the stairs. He checked the gold watch on his wrist. “You usually don’t go in for another hour.”

“Lesley Webber had a heart attack yesterday, Father,” Alan replied as he helped Monica into her coat. “We’re visiting her.”

“Lesley Webber,” Edward mused. “Didn’t you sleep with her husband?”

Monica narrowed her eyes. “Yes. And I was married to his brother. What’s your point?”

“Nothing at all,” Edward smiled cheerfully. The phone rang then, saving Edward from Monica’s irritation.

None of three came forward to answer it. When it rang for the third time, Alan rolled his eyes. “What’s the point of having servants if they’re never around?” he muttered as he yanked the phone off the base. “Hello, Quartermaine Residence.” After a moment, he frowned and hung up. “That’s the third time this week.”

“Another heavy breather?” Monica questioned.

“What is this world coming to?” Edward demanded. He cinched his blue silk robe tighter and stepped off the landing. “First that delivery of dead flowers and now some little perverted anonymous phone caller. I have half a mind to report to this to the police.”

“And tell them what?” Monica demanded. “They have more important things to do, Edward, than worry about who’s playing juvenile tricks on this family.”

“Unless it’s that son of bitch Diego Sanchez,” Alan pointed out. “He sent Brooke that torn piece of her clothing. Wouldn’t put it past him to harass the rest of the family.”

“Well, then we ought to report it,” Edward nodded. “In fact, I’ll call Mac right now.”

Monica opened her mouth to argue, but Alan touched her sleeve. “Better to be safe than sorry,” he told her quietly.

Brianne’s Apartment: Kitchen

“Your coffee is better than mine,” Lucky decided as he sipped the double roasted brew. He leaned against the granite counter and watched the blonde speculatively. “Can you cook?”

Brianne poured some sugar into her mug and shrugged a shoulder. “My mother was a pastry chef and my father ran the kitchen at the Port Charles Grille. I think it’s safe to say that I can probably cook.”

“Good coffee, good cook–” Lucky glanced around the spotless apartment. “You can clean. You want to get married?”

Brianne fought a smile as she stirred her coffee. “Well, if that isn’t the most romantic proposal I’ve ever had.” She turned to butter a piece of toast that popped out of the toaster.

Lucky watched her and thought about the card he’d tucked away. A couple dozen roses, a little romantic sentiment and he wondered why that combination had the ADA turning pasty white and scaring her so badly she’d been almost clinging to him the past two days. He made a mental note to run her name through the system when he got to work. Now that she was a little more relaxed around him, it couldn’t hurt to have more information at hand.

“So, did your parents meet at work?” Lucky asked.

Brianne glanced at him. “Why?”

“Just curious,” Lucky shrugged. “My parents met at a disco, if you can believe that. She worked for him and was married at the time but I guess you can’t fight fate.” His smile grew wistful. “She had a breakdown a few years ago and my dad’s never been the same.”

“I’m sorry,” Brianne murmured. She cleared her throat. “My father was my mother’s boss thirty years ago and she tells me that he was so damn arrogant and stubborn and they fought all the time. She was so mad at him once that she tossed a bowl of flour on him.” She grinned. “She told me he looked so funny that she started giggling and he started laughing and…they fell in love over flour.”

“That’s a nice memory,” Lucky said. “Are they still together?”

“My dad passed away about five years ago, but yeah–until then, they were. Divorce wasn’t in their vocabulary,” Brianne remembered. “They knew from the start they had combative personalities so they didn’t let it get in the way.”

“I’m sorry,” Lucky said. “Losing a parent–it’s the most difficult thing. At least…I can pretend my mother is going to get better. But it was like losing his heart for my father.”

The doorbell rang and Lucky stopped Brianne before she could go to answer it. “Let me go first.”

“It’s just my front door, Lucky,” she replied. Before he could argue, his cell phone rang. “You answer that, I’ll get the door.”

“Brianne–” Lucky muttered something under his breath as she disappeared into the front hall. He took his phone out of his back pocket and flipped it on. “Spencer.”

“Hey, Cowboy,” Luke Spencer’s voice was quiet, subdued–two adjectives one could rarely associate with the elder Spencer. “I got your message about Lesley.”

“Are you coming home?” Lucky demanded. “Lu needs you, Dad. And Grandma’s gonna have take it easy for a while. Someone needs to look them both.”

“Yeah.” Luke sighed. “I’ll be home sometime this weekend,” he replied. “There are some things we gotta discuss anyhow.”

“I’ll see you when you get in then,” Lucky replied. He slipped into his phone back into his pocket and went to find Brianne.

The door was closed and Brianne stood there, staring at a bouquet of roses on the table.

“Brianne?”

She turned to him, the white card dangling from her fingers. She swallowed hard. “I think I should probably make a report,” she whispered.

Lucky nodded slowly. “Okay.” He hesitated. “To me…or…?”

“To Mac.” She swallowed hard. “He was the investigating officer.”

“Okay,” Lucky repeated. He took the card from her lifeless hands and slipped into his front pocket. “Let’s go clean up the kitchen and we’ll go to the police station.”

“All right,” Brianne agreed. She cleared her throat and seemed to regain some of her composure, if not some of her color. “That sounds fine.”

General Hospital: Lesley’s Room

“I’m just so relieved you’re all right,” Bobbie said, reaching for Lesley’s hand and squeezing it tightly. “You had us all so scared.”

“Everyone’s being so silly,” Lesley sighed. “You’d think I had been seriously ill. Heart attacks aren’t what they used to be.”

“But they’re still a wake up call,” Audrey murmured with admonishing glare. “Slow down and take care of ourselves. Now, if Steve had just listened to his doctors…” she stopped and pressed a hand to her chest. “Asking that man to slow down would be like asking the rain to stop falling from the sky.”

“Exactly,” Lesley nodded. “And I have Lulu to look after, don’t I?” She folded her arms tightly across her chest. “It’s not as though that reprobate my daughter married can be bothered with her.”

“You know Luke’s never gotten over losing Laura,” Bobbie sighed. She shook her head and looked away. “When she didn’t recover, something went out of my brother and it hasn’t returned.”

“No one sympathizes more than I do,” Lesley sighed. “But he’s not alone in this family. Lucky’s all grown up but he still needs his father and God knows, Lu needs her father. She’s already lost her mother, I don’t know why she had to lose him, too.”

“Perhaps he’ll come around,” Audrey replied. “Lu’s still young and there’s time for Luke to correct his wrongs. I have my second chance with Elizabeth now and Bobbie has hers with Carly.”

Bobbie twisted her face in a resigned grimace. “Whether I want it or not. It feels like my whole life revolves around Carly these days.”

“Just because children grow up, it doesn’t mean our job ends,” Audrey said. “Vacation time and retirement is not in the job description.” But she softened her words with a knowing smile, having worked with Carly in the nursing program.

“I love my daughter but she can certainly wear a person out.” Bobbie’s expression grew troubled. “And Lucas. I never feel like I’m spending enough time with him and with what’s happening with Brooke, I wish I knew how to comfort him.”

“Sometimes there isn’t a way,” Audrey said. She reached across Lesley’s hospital bed and took Bobbie’s hand in her own. “Speaking from experience, he’ll just have to fumble around until he finds his own away. If he’s anything like his cousin or mother, he’ll do a stand up job.”

“Lu was talking about that the other day,” Lesley sighed. “She was interviewed by the one of the officers. I’m just so relieved that it didn’t…” her expression was guilty as she looked at Audrey. “Well…that it didn’t happen to her.”

“I think any one whose daughter or granddaughter came into contact with that animal feels that way,” Bobbie replied fiercely.

“Are we interrupting?” Alan said, knocking on the door, Monica at his side.

“No, no. Come in,” Lesley waved. “We were just commiserating over raising children.”

Monica sighed and dropped into the last remaining chair next to Bobbie, Alan stood behind her. “I could honestly strangle one of my children on any given day.”

“But I hear congratulations are in order, Grandma,” Lesley teased. “You and Audrey have a little grandson in common.”

Monica’s smile warmed and she glanced up at Alan, who frowned. “I haven’t told you yet, darling. Jason is Cameron Webber’s father. Elizabeth’s son?”

“He is?” Alan’s face folded into a grin. “Well, that is news. Elizabeth is a wonderful girl.”

Audrey beamed. “She certainly is. I couldn’t have dreamt a more wonderful granddaughter. And Cameron!” She laughed. “He’s such a delight. I had wondered where he inherited his ears.” Her eyes sparked with mischief. “My Elizabeth’s certainly don’t stick out that way.”

Alan frowned mockingly. “Are you saying my son’s do?”

“We’re throwing a baby shower in early December for Elizabeth,” Monica said. “You’re all expected to come, you know. I didn’t get a chance to celebrate when he was born–or Michael for that matter but I will certainly make up for it now. And just that Jason agreed to it…”

“Did he, really?” Bobbie asked. “That’s an incredible bit of progress. Usually Jason won’t set foot on those grounds but if he’s letting his son…”

“Now if the doctors will just let me out in time,” Lesley sighed dramatically. “Perhaps someone–the Chief of Staff possibly–could put in a good word for me?” she asked, eyeing Alan speculatively.

“We’ll see,” Alan murmured with a grin.

PCPD: Commissioner’s Office

Mac was organizing some of his open case files when Lucky knocked on his partially ajar door. “Come on in, Spencer.”

Lucky led the still somewhat pale Brianne into the office and directed towards the chair in front of the desk. “Ah, Commissioner…”

Mac frowned. “I wasn’t aware we had a meeting this morning, Ms. Joyce.”

Brianne took a shaky breath and offered Mac a weak smile. “I’m not here as an ADA,” she answered. “I want…I’ve received two bouquets over the last three days.”

Mac’s body stiffened and his demeanor changed. “What?”

“One came to my office on Tuesday…” Brianne swallowed. “And the other to my apartment this morning. I–” she bowed her head, “I know I should have told you immediately b-but I just…I wanted to pretend it wasn’t happening again.”

Mac surprised Lucky by rising from his desk and taking the seat next to Brianne, turning it so he was facing her. “It’s all right, Brianne. No one’s blaming you.” His eyes shifted to Lucky. “Have you spoken to Lucky about what happened?”

Brianne shook her head. “No. But I guess–since he’s going to be guarding me, he ought to know.”

“He’s a good officer,” Mac said. “And I’d feel better if he were looking out for you. This is enough to reactivate your case.”

Her head snapped up. “But the statute ran out three years ago–”

“Not if we can prove the crime is still occurring,” Mac reminded her. “His continual harassment, stalking…it can work in our favor. I’ll look into the particulars but anyhow…do you want me to tell Lucky?”

“No…I can do it.” Brianne didn’t look at Lucky as she said the following, “Ten years ago, when I was sixteen, I was attacked and raped when I was walking home from the library.”

Lucky swallowed hard and for a moment, an image of Elizabeth crawling out of the bushes flashed in his mind.

Brianne closed her eyes. “I woke up in the hospital the next day and it had already been reported. The police–Mac–took my statement and I thought that it would probably be it. Except…I got a bouquet of roses a few days later. With a card that said I’ll never forget. Three days later, I received another.”

She stood suddenly and stalked towards the windows. “A month later, on the anniversary of the attack, I got a piece of my torn shirt in the mail.” Her mouth twisted into half-smile, half-grimace. “I had been found completely nude–he’d stolen my clothing so that he could use the grim reminders later to torment me.”

“Jesus,” Lucky breathed under his breath. He gave Mac a stricken look.

“And every month for a year, he sent me pieces of the clothing I had been wearing,” Brianne continued. “And for four years, on the anniversary, he sent me roses. All the packages, all the flowers, they all came with cards that said I’ll never forget.” She blinked rapidly and fought down the swell of panic rising in her throat. “But it stopped and I thought it was finally over.”

“Until the other day,” Lucky said quietly.

“Yes.” Brianne took a deep breath and turned around. “It won’t affect my work, Mac. I promise.”

Mac nodded. “I never thought it would. Do you still have the bouquets, the cards?”

“Not the first delivery,” Brianne sighed regretfully. “But the second, Lucky has the card and the roses are still in my front hall. I’ll give you a key–please just have them gone when I get home.”

“I have the first card,” Lucky volunteered. He pulled out his wallet and produced the white card. He looked at Brianne. “I found it in your office.” He set them on Mac’s desk.

“We’ll try and track something down,” Mac said. He stood. “It’s going to be okay, Brianne. We might get him this time.”

“I suppose.” Brianne folded her arms tightly across her chest as if warding off a chill. “Do you mind if I wait outside until you’re finished?”

“Don’t go far,” Lucky warned.

“Believe me…until this is all over, I don’t plan to.” Brianne closed the door behind her.

“The East Side rapist,” Lucky said as soon as it was shut. “She was one of the victims.”

Mac nodded solemnly. “He raped fifteen girls, ages twelve to eighteen over a five year period and until six years ago he sent them all roses and pieces of clothing. His first victim received flowers for nine years. Brianne was his eleventh victim. The last was seven years ago and no one’s heard from him in six years.”

“Until now,” Lucky said.

“We spent a lot of man hours trying to track him down but our resources were always strained, with the many of adventures of Sonny Corinthos. When our guy disappeared, we speculated that maybe he’d been picked up and was serving time.”

“If you’re going to reactivate the case, I want it,” Lucky said immediately.

“Lucky,” Mac began.

“I know all the reasons you’re going to say no, but no one will work harder to put him behind bars,” Lucky argued. “And even if we can’t reactivate because of the statute–”

“We have DNA,” Mac interrupted. “In thirteen of the cases. New York passed the law that the statute doesn’t apply in cases that have DNA available.”

“Okay,” Lucky nodded. “Then give me the case.”

Mac sighed. “All right, but Lucky–there’s something that Brianne didn’t tell you.”

“What?” Lucky asked.

“Five months after the attack, Brianne had a miscarriage,” Mac said quietly. “I just thought you should know her case is not your average rape case.”

“I–” Lucky closed his mouth. “I’ll tread lightly around that I guess. I just…” His hands fisted at his side. “This shouldn’t happen to anyone,” he said finally. He shook his head and left the room.

Jason’s Penthouse: Living Room

“So Jason moved out?” Sonny asked, glancing around the room that was now bare of a pool table, Jason’s desk and the photographs on the mantel.

Sam curled up on the couch and sipped a cup of coffee. “He left yesterday and the furniture was picked up this morning. I was surprised…I didn’t think he’d move out this fast.”

Sonny sat at the other end of the couch. “Elizabeth left him.”

“Yeah…he told me. And then I lit into him.” Sam’s lips curved into an empty smile. “But I think my words had the opposite effect.”

“I can’t tell you what Jason’s thinking. I’m just relieved Elizabeth isn’t limiting access to Cameron,” Sonny replied.

Sam frowned and peered at him over the rim of her mug. “Did you think she would?”

“Well, no,” he admitted. “But all the same, I don’t think it would have helped matters if she had. But Elizabeth’s always been above tactics like that. She, more than anyone, understands what Jason went through when Carly ruined his relationship with Michael.”

“I think its clear Elizabeth loves him and I don’t understand why Jason won’t make the commitment to her,” Sam said, frustrated. “It’s just…he has everything he ever wanted in his sights and he doesn’t even want it.”

“The problem isn’t that he doesn’t want it. It’s that he wants it too much,” Sonny replied. “And in his experience, he doesn’t get to keep what he wants too often.” He shook his head. “I didn’t come over to debate Jason’s love life.”

“So why did you come over?” Sam sighed.

“I wanted to check on you,” Sonny replied. “I haven’t seen you since the services.”

“I’m fine.” Sam stood and set her cup on the coffee table. She crossed her arms and crossed the glass balcony doors to peer out over the harbor. “I’ve mostly come to terms with losing Adella. I meant what I said at the service. I’m going to concentrate on what I had and not what I lost.”

“That’s probably for the best.” Sonny went to stand behind her and slid his hands in his pockets. “Jason said you were going to look for work.”

“I’m only staying in the penthouse long enough to build up some money to get out,” Sam replied. “It’s the middle of winter, I won’t be able to get any salvage jobs now anyway.” She sighed. “I’m not even sure I want to go back to that. I want to have a baby, Sonny.” She turned and smiled up at him. “I’m going to get a normal job, find a normal apartment, save up and get a sperm donor.”

Sonny opened his mouth but found he had no words to say to that. He closed it. “Well…that certainly sounds like a plan.”

Sam smirked and turned back around. “I don’t expect you to approve but I also find I don’t care anymore. I want a baby and I don’t see why I should have a man around to complicate matters. It’s never worked for me before so why bother with it now?”

He found he couldn’t disagree with that and decided to change the subject. “Justus says my divorce to Carly could be finalized before the end of the year. It seems that divorces are getting easier and easier to get.”

“It’s America’s eroding sense of family values,” Sam said. “No one works at anything now. They get married without thinking it through because they know if it doesn’t work, they can just get divorce. People don’t take the time to slow down and really decide if they’re compatible or if they’ve got what it takes to last.” She exhaled slowly. “I’ve been watching a lot of day time television.”

“Sometimes it takes months but sometimes you know in an instant when something’s right,” Sonny replied with a wistful smile. “I wonder what that’s like.”

“You’ll let me know if you find out right?” Sam turned and gave him a small smile. “So I know what to look for?”

“You’ll be the first to know.”

Gardena Suites: Apartment 217

His new apartment had two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, a room large enough for his pool table (it might have been meant for a dining room) and a living room. After living in a spacious penthouse for the last two years, Jason found it almost comforting to be in a smaller space.

The only way it would be perfect if it were the size of his old room at Jake’s, but he wasn’t that person anymore. He had a son and he certainly couldn’t raise Cameron there.

Not that he was really raising Cameron now, Jason thought absently as Elizabeth stood in front of him, their son in her arms, the diaper bag slung over her shoulder. She was explaining the custody arrangement that would allow both of them maximum time with their son without having to be in a room together all that much.

“Until you really get going with your new job, Cameron can stay with you during my shifts,” Elizabeth said. She set the diaper bag on his couch, ignoring the fact that it was actually the old couch from the penthouse–the couch on which they had made promises to each other once upon a time. “I guess we’d better get two sets of baby furniture for him, one for here and the cottage–” she stopped and shifted. “I’m going to start paying you back for that–”

“What?” Jason snapped to attention. “No. Absolutely not.”

Elizabeth sighed impatiently. “Jason, you bought the cottage for us. Now that…it makes me uncomfortable to live there.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Jason replied shortly. “You’re just trying to get a reaction out of me now. You think if you threaten to pay me for the cottage or even sell it, it’s going to change something. That I’ll magically be what you want me to be but–”

“Oh, don’t be an idiot.” Elizabeth settled Cameron in his arms, managing to do so without even touching Jason once. “I don’t want to be anyone other than who you are and who you are pisses me off because you seem to enjoy keeping me at a distance. That’s fine. It’s your prerogative. But don’t you dare jump down my throat because I find it difficult to live in the cottage where we planned to be family–”

“We are a family,” Jason interrupted with irritation. “I just–I’m tired of hurting you, Elizabeth.”

“Well, what do you think you’re doing now?” she demanded, eyes glistening. She shook her head. “No, I’m not doing this again. I just–fine, I won’t sell the cottage. And you wouldn’t take money if I gave it to you, so I’m just wasting my breath.”

Jason exhaled slowly. “If you want to sell the cottage, I won’t get in your way. You should live where you want to live, where you can be happy.” He looked at Cameron whose face was screwed up in confusion, as if he couldn’t understand why his parents were using loud voices. “That’s all I want for you, Elizabeth.”

“That’s what I want for you,” Elizabeth murmured. “But I’m not sure you know how to be anymore.”

“You’re probably right,” Jason surprised her by admitting. “And I’m not willing to make us both miserable until I fix that.” He took a step towards her. “Being with you does make me happy, Elizabeth. It’s something I never thought I could have. But I don’t want to depend on you to be that way. It’s not fair to you or to me.”

“Fair enough,” Elizabeth replied softly. “I can certainly accept that.” She kissed Cameron’s forehead. And then kissed Jason’s cheek. “I do love you, Jason. But I can’t wait the rest of my life for you to find yourself.”

General Hospital: Nurse’s Station

Brianne stepped off the elevator and was relieved to find Elizabeth Webber working at the nurse’s station. She wanted to get this interview over and then go back to her office where she could close the door and forget the rest of her life existed.

Her ever present shadow Lucky had been convinced to take a break. He was waiting in the hospital cafeteria for her and she knew he was poring over her case. Brianne touched her abdomen and swallowed hard. Which meant he knew by now exactly what that night had cost her.

She had secured his cooperation by promising that she would speak to Elizabeth and return straight to him. She had fifteen minutes before he tracked her down and Brianne was grateful for his willingness to stick close. At least for now.

“Ms. Webber?” Brianne asked.

Elizabeth looked up, her face wan and smiled faintly. “Hello. Are you here to meet with Lucky? I didn’t think he was visiting Lesley–”

“No, Lucky’s waiting for me in the cafeteria. I came to speak with you if you have a moment,” Brianne said.

“I have a few minutes before my shift begins.” She picked up a few folders and led Brianne over to the waiting area to sit on the couch. “What can I help you with?”

“Brooke mentioned that she had spoken to you regarding her…regarding the incident.” Brianne took out Brooke’s statement and cursed herself silently for being flustered. If she couldn’t say the word, how could she prosecute this? She took a deep breath. “Regarding her rape.”

“She did,” Elizabeth said slowly, studying the other woman curiously. “I’ve been a friend of the family for years so they know my history–that it happened to me when I was a teenager.”

Brianne’s hand slipped and the folder went sliding to the floor. She caught it before the papers slid out and with shaking heads, she settled it back on her lap. “I’m–I’m sorry.”

Elizabeth frowned and reached out to cover Brianne’s hands. “Are you all right?” she asked softly.

“F-fine,” Brianne managed. “I just–so they thought you could help.”

“Sure. I guess you want to know what she said to me,” Elizabeth replied. She put her hands back in her lap. “Do you think she left something out of her own statement?”

“No. Not on purpose. It’s just…” Brianne closed her eyes and ordered herself to calm down. “She spoke to me as an authority figure. She spoke to you as a friend. It’s a different atmosphere and things can come out and I just–if any thing stood out to you.”

“I’m not sure I feel comfortable telling you. I mean, Brooke confided in me but I guess–I know that she wants Diego in jail for a long time and I know that it would help her peace of mind to know he’s in jail for what he did to her.”

“And Brooke gave me a signed statement saying you could tell me everything,” Brianne told her. She started to rummage through her papers but Elizabeth touched her arm to stop her.

“I believe you. We didn’t speak long anyway. I thought it would make her feel better to know more about what happened to me,” she said. “So I told her about the park, that I had done everything wrong–taken a shower, waited too long to report it–that I might have invited it the way I dressed. Brooke said she thought maybe she’d done something to lead him on. She certainly hadn’t meant to but you know, something you do or something can be taken a thousand ways and if someone really wants to read into something, they will.” Elizabeth exhaled slowly. “She was mostly upset by the fact that she had been a virgin.” Her eyes were a little unfocused now. “It made her feel better to know that I had been one, too.”

Brianne bit her lip. “So was I.”

Elizabeth frowned and looked at her. “What?”

“So was I,” Brianne repeated. She shoved the folder back in her bag. “I don’t think Brooke left anything out in her statement to me, but I just wanted to be sure so thank you–”

“Wait…” Elizabeth touched her arm. “Take a deep breath. This…” her eyes filled with tears for the second time that day. “You, too?”

Brianne closed her eyes and nodded miserably. “I was sixteen. The East Side rapist.”

“I…” Elizabeth shook her head. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not going to affect my work on this case,” Brianne’s eyes snapped open and Elizabeth saw the determination in the blonde’s eyes. “I never got to see my rapist prosecuted. And I won’t let that happen to Brooke.” She stood and pushed the strap of her bag over her shoulder.

“The East Side rapist was the one that sent those….things to his victims.” Elizabeth stood. “I can’t imagine having….that would driven me insane. I don’t doubt you’ll win this case. If you can survive that, you can survive anything.”

“Well…” Brianne shifted. “I would appreciate if you didn’t spread this information around,” she said after a moment. “Lucky knows because–he has to. But other than him, Mac Scorpio and Ric Lansing, no one else does and I have–it has to stay that way.”

“No one understands that more than me.” Elizabeth hesitated. “I know we don’t know each other, but I feel like–well, I…if you ever…” she shook her head. “If you ever need someone to just listen…”

“Thank you,” Brianne said, finally getting some control over her composure. “But I don’t need anyone.”

She went to the elevators and jabbed the button, furious at herself for having said anything at all.

Club 101: Inside

“See?” Maxie said with a grin. “This was a good idea.” She took her soda from the server and raised it up in the air. “A toast.”

“Did they spike her soda?” Dillon whispered to Georgie, who glared at him.

“What can we possibly toast to?” Brooke sighed, but she raised her glass anyway. After a glare from Maxie, Dillon and Lucas followed suit.

“We can toast to each other,” Maxie said. “Because no matter what happens, we will always have each other. I know that sounds sappy or something from a Hallmark card, but it’s important to me that you guys know how much I love you guys.” Her eyes met Brooke’s. “You’re my family. And nothing comes before family.”

“Well, then,” Lucas grinned. “To family.”

Their glasses clinked and when they’d set them back down, Georgie reached for the appetizer menu. “We should share some wings, or something.”

“Uh uh, potato skins,” Dillon took the menu from his girlfriend. “With the cheddar and bacon?”

“I want mozzarella sticks,” Lucas declared, yanking the menu from Dillon.

“Everyone knows the quesadillas are the best,” Maxie argued, tugging it from Lucas.

“We could try the sampler,” Brooke suggested. “It’s got all of those plus the jalapeno poppers.”

“So I guess you’re hungry now,” Lucas said, with an approving smile. She arched an eyebrow at him. “Well, we had to practically lift you into the car and tie you down to get you here. I believe your big excuse was that you weren’t hungry.”

“Things change,” Brooke replied sweetly.

“Good. Appetizers are settled on.” Lucas reached for the dinner menu. “I’m starving, Mom’s been at Lu’s house most of the day getting it ready for Uncle Luke to come home and for Lesley to be set up in the downstairs guest room so she didn’t even have my usual afternoon snack ready.”

“Aww, Lucas didn’t get his customary pot roast,” Maxie said with mock sympathy. She ruffled his hair. “Poor baby.”

“It’s good thing they turned this into an Under 21 club,” Georgie said, looking around with approval. “I knew Jax wasn’t a total loser even if he is dating Courtney.”

Lucas snorted. “I can’t even be sure she’s a girl. Have you seen her arms?” he shuddered. “Plus, he can’t know where she’s been.”

“You guys don’t have to diss her on my account,” Brooke said with a small smile.

“We’re not. She makes it easy to diss on her own record,” Georgie sniffed. “Dirty stripper that she is.”

“Well, I don’t think her being a stripper automatically give her a black mark,” Lucas decided. “I mean…she may not be all that pretty but she does have a pretty decent rack. How much do you think it cost?”

Outraged, Brooke whacked him on the shoulder with her menu.

Club 101: Parking Lot

After dinner and desert, the group left the club and headed for Dillon’s SUV. “Thanks for making me go out,” Brooke said, winding her arm through Lucas’s, the first touch she’d initiated in three weeks. She smiled up at him. “It means a lot that you…that you’re sticking.”

“You couldn’t get rid of me if you wanted to.” Lucas paused; letting the three others go ahead. “I don’t want to push you into being with me if it’s not something you want. But we’re more than that. We’re friends. And just standing here with you is enough for me.”

“I–” Brooke stopped and froze. “Lucas,” she whispered. “Diego is in the parking lot. I just saw him dart behind that car back there.”

Lucas’s shoulders stiffened. “Okay. Here’s what you’re going to do. I’m going to go after him–”

“No!” she whispered fiercely. “Lucas–”

“–and you’re going to go catch up to the others. Send Dillon after me and call the police. Do you understand?”

“Don’t be a hero, Lucas–”

“Brooke, just do it!” He pushed her in that direction and waited a few seconds before turning around and nonchalantly studying the landscape of dark cars. He saw a shadow move and took off.

“It’s Diego!” Brooke said as she reached the others at Dillon’s car. “Lucas is chasing him over there–”

Dillon took off after Lucas and Maxie yanked out her cell phone. “I’ll call 911, Georgie, you call Dad. Brooke, call your dad. One of them will get here fast enough to get him.”

A half hour later, an unconscious Diego Sanchez was on his away to General Hospital under armed guard. Lucas and Dillon had been restrained him but in his fury, Lucas had…accidentally knocked Diego out and if Dillon hadn’t kept him back, might have done worse damage.

Ned shook Lucas’s hand and enveloped his brother in a fierce hug. “Thank God you two were here.”

Georgie rolled her eyes. “Yes. Thank God the big strong boys were here to help the poor little damsels.” She scowled. “Honestly.”

Monday, November 22, 2004

Port Charles County Jail: Visiting Room

Brianne folded her hands and leaned back in her chair. “No deal.”

Christopher Hartman dragged his hands through his dark hair and glared at the ADA. “Come on, Joyce. This is ridiculous. It’s a slam dunk–”

“Hey!” Diego snarled.

“–you’ve got DNA, his bail jumping, the harassment of Brooke Lynn Ashton. Why are you wasting everyone’s time with a trial?”

Brianne arched an eyebrow. “Because I don’t want him serving a day less in jail than he deserves. And Brooke Lynn deserves her day in court.” She examined her fingernails. “However, I could change my mind.”

Christopher perked up. “Yeah?”

“I want to know how Diego Sanchez knew about a ten year old rape,” Brianne said. She leaned forward. “How did he know just the right way to continue the harassment of a rape victim that began ten years ago and hasn’t happened in six years? The East Side rapist has been operating nearly as long as you’ve been alive, Sanchez. How’d you know the MO?”

Christopher shook his head. “I don’t understand. What does this have to do with anything?”

“Your client knows exactly what I’m talking about,” Brianne said. “Where did you get your information?” she demanded.

“You’re not giving me a deal,” Diego said. “Even if I told you, you wouldn’t give me a deal. You think I’m that stupid?”

“I had some hopes.” Brianne shifted her folder back into her bag. “I was just hoping he’d give us a lead on fifteen open rapes but no, I wasn’t going to come through on a deal. He doesn’t deserve mercy.” She leaned across the table, making sure to keep at least a foot distance between herself and Diego. “You’re just lucky they don’t let us put rapists to death, because you’d be the first to go.”

Diego smirked. “Do you think you scare me? Please.” He stood and leaned in, just an inch from Brianne’s face. “Did you know he took pictures?”

The color slowly drained from her face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Shaken, Brianne straightened and hung her bag over her shoulder.

“That’s a lovely birth mark you have just above your breast, Ms. Joyce,” Diego called as Brianne made a hasty exit.

Christopher glared at his client. “Are you determined to serve the rest of your life in prison?” he demanded. He shoved himself out of a chair. “If you have information on fifteen open rapes, I can take it the DA. He’d override Joyce in a second to close the East Side rapist case.”

“Give it your best shot,” Diego shrugged. “Tell him I’ll talk if I get probation.”

“Probation–” Christopher broke off. “You’re out of your mind. I’ll tell Lansing we can deal. But he’ll laugh in my face if I try to get probation.”

“I ain’t doing any time,” Diego shot back.

“Well, that’s just great. I’m not sure how you intend to avoid that seeing as how you’re guilty as sin,” Christopher retorted. He grabbed his briefcase. “I’ll talk to Lansing.”

Gardena Suites: Apartment 217

“Cameron down for his nap?” Emily asked as Jason left the bedroom and entered the living room.

Jason sighed and nodded. “Yeah.” He went to the kitchen and popped open the fridge to pull out a beer. “I know why you’re here, Em.”

“I’m sure you think you do but I really just wanted to let you know that Nikolas and I are staying at the Spencer house for a while,” she said. “Lesley’s going to be weak for a while and no one knows how long Luke is going to stay around for so we just want to be there for Lulu.”

“What about school?” Jason asked.

Emily shrugged. “I’m off this semester. And it should be worked out by January. But I’m going to graduate med school in two years and that’s when the fun will really begin. Internship, residency,” she grinned. “Poor Nikolas.”

“He loves you, he’ll deal with it,” Jason said. He sat on the couch and stared into space. “I start work tomorrow.”

“I know. Nikolas has been really excited about the new security program. He’s sure you’re going to love it and it’ll be really challenging, Jason, I promise. He’s got buildings all over the world. You’ll be able to travel like you used to…” Emily stopped. “Okay, I’ve really tried to butt out but I just can’t anymore. You look so miserable, why can’t you just tell Elizabeth that you love her?”

“Because it’s not that simple.” Jason set his beer on the coffee table and stood to look out the window. “I do love her. But it’s not always enough.”

“That’s true,” Emily admitted. “But…”

“I have loved Elizabeth for almost four years now,” Jason said quietly. “I never stopped. Not even when I was with Courtney. There are just some people that get inside you, that you can never really forget.”

“I know,” Emily murmured, thinking about Nikolas.

“But you can’t survive on love alone. And sometimes people change.” Jason exhaled slowly. “And sometimes they change too much.”

Emily stood slowly. “You think you and Elizabeth have grown apart?” she asked carefully.

“I think that we never had a chance to be together,” Jason said instead. “We went from not being together to being parents and I just…I know that I want to be with her but if I screw it up this time, I know it’s going to be the last chance we get. I want to do it right this time so no, I’m not going to jump into living together. She deserves better than that, Emily.”

“So…what?” Emily asked. “You’re going…to date?”

“I don’t know.” Jason shook his head. “But something has to come between being apart and being together. We spent two years apart, Emily. Three, really. I just….I think we owe it to each other to be sure that the people we fell in love are still there. There’s more at stake here than just us. Cameron…” He looked towards the bedroom. “He’s my first priority–he and Elizabeth. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that we get it right this time.”

“Okay,” Emily said uncertainly. “But don’t be so absorbed in getting it right that you lose Elizabeth altogether, okay?”

PC High: Hallway

Brooke stepped up to her locker and ignored the stares of her fellow students. She could hear whispering and even with her eyes squeezed shut, she could picture the pitying look on their faces. Her arm still in a sling, her face still showing signs of bruising–there wasn’t a single person in this hallway that didn’t know about her rape.

She concentrated on spinning the dial of her combination lock but she kept forgetting the numbers. Her third try, she felt someone stand next to her. Maxie reached out and covered her hand. “Let me do it,” she murmured. Raising her voice just enough to reach the people next to her. “It can be such a bitch doing these with one hand. I use both mine and my lock still sticks.”

Brooke stood aside. “The combination is 8, 12, 24, 7,” she said, keeping her eyes on the ground. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Maxie unlocked the locker and stepped back. “So, I finally decided on a major for next year.”

“Oh?” Brooke asked, appreciating Maxie’s attempt at normal conversation. She glanced around as she pulled out her history and geometry books.

“Criminal Justice,” Maxie said. “I’m going to be a cop.”

Startled, Brooke’s notebook slid to the floor. She stared at the blonde as if she had grown an extra head in the last five seconds. “A cop?”

“Sure. My dad’s been kind of hinting that he wants one of us girls to follow in his footsteps and it’s not like it doesn’t run in the family. Frisco is off saving the world.”

“Frisco?” Brooke repeated.

“My sperm donor,” Maxie clarified. “He left my mom ages ago to work for the WSB or whatever. Mac’s been my dad for so long that I don’t even consider Frisco anything more than a sperm donor. Anyway, Georgie’s thinking about medicine, so it’s up to me. And besides, I like the idea.”

Brooke knelt and retrieved her notebook. “Yeah? What’s appealing about it? The long hours or the bad pay?”

“The helping people part. I’ve watched how Dad’s been handling your case and how Lucky is working with Brianne Joyce and I just…they make a difference.” Maxie shrugged. “I know it sounds stupid but…”

“No, it doesn’t sound stupid at all,” Brooke said. “And besides, it’s a good idea. We should be thinking about college majors and our future. It’s important. High school’s a flash in the pan; the rest of our lives are starting.”

“Exactly. Have you thought about your major or are you sticking with music?”

“I love music, but I don’t…” Brooke drew her book bag over her shoulder and shrugged. “I don’t think I want to be a performing artist. So I’ve been thinking about broadcast journalism. Being on the radio, you know?”

“That would be perfect,” Maxie declared. “You know more about music than anyone else I know and you have a great voice. It’s so much better and more realistic than Dillon’s plan to be the next Spielberg.”

“He could do it, he’s really talented,” Brooke said in his defense.

“I don’t doubt the talent, but he’s going to end up directing at the local cable station,” Maxie predicted. “Or at best, some cheesy soap opera in the city where he’s gonna have to commute because you know Georgie’s staying here to work at GH. And Dillon’s not leaving Georgie to go off to Hollywood.”

“Well, if that would be his reason for not being the director I know he can be, then it sucks,” Brooke murmured.

Sonny’s Penthouse: Living Room

“It seems so empty here without the boys,” Courtney remarked as she sat down on the couch and set her purse next to her.

Sonny poured himself a glass of water and sighed. “Yeah. Well, things change.”

Courtney eyed the lack of alcohol at the mini bar and nodded. “I guess they do. Did you run out of bourbon?”

Sonny shook his head. “I got the divorce papers the other day from Justus and immediately started to pour myself a glass. I stopped and realized how often I do that. When I couldn’t remember the last day I’d had without a drink, I tossed the bottles.” He sat in the arm chair adjacent to the couch. “I know you’ve been having some troubles, I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you.”

“It’s fine,” Courtney said. She folded her arms. “I know that I got myself into this. I just…” she exhaled slowly. “I thought I was ready for all of this, for moving on with my life and being a foster parent.”

“It’s not your fault they gave you Diego Sanchez,” Sonny pointed out.

“No, but it’s my fault for not realizing immediately that I couldn’t handle him,” Courtney replied. “And what I’ve done since his arrest, that’s my fault too.” She stood and crossed to the mantel, still decorated with photos of Sonny’s old life with Carly. “I should never have lied. And I shouldn’t have bailed him out. He just terrorized Brooke Lynn more.”

“There’s nothing wrong with believing in people, Courtney.”

“There is when you’re stupid about it,” Courtney replied. “And I am stupid, Sonny. I trust the wrong people, I do the wrong things. It’s just–I can’t do it anymore. I won’t do it. I have to make a break from this…this vicious cycle.”

“A break.” Sonny frowned. “Do you mean, leaving Port Charles?”

“Yes,” Courtney confirmed. “I’ve already looked into moving the foundation to New York City. Professionally, it would be a good choice. New York’s bigger; I can do more for more people. And personally…” she dragged her fingers through her hair. “My life has been a roller coaster since the day I moved to Port Charles. Sometimes I miss…” She closed her eyes. “Sometimes I miss the days when I was married to AJ and we lived in that tiny apartment and had to scrape to meet ends meet. He worked at the docks, I worked at Kelly’s. My life was simple back then.” She turned to face her brother. “Do you ever look at your life and wonder…how did I get to this place? How did I screw it all up so badly?”

“Some days,” Sonny nodded. “And others, I remember what I do have. I have my boys, my family. It makes it worth it.”

“I don’t feel like there’s anything tying me here,” Courtney sighed. “Jax has been distant since the Diego debacle and I can’t blame him. Carly’s–she’s being strong. Taking on a new life. And God knows, you have enough going on that you don’t need me–”

“You’re my sister,” Sonny cut in smoothly. “No matter what difficulties we’ve had in the past, that will never change. If you moved, I would miss you. But you’ve got to do what’s right for you.”

“And I think leaving Port Charles would be right for me,” Courtney replied softly.

Alexis’s Apartment: Living Room

“Okay, I think this is the last one,” Alexis said, passing a form to her husband. “You have to initial every page and then sign the last one.”

“I think I’m getting a hand cramp,” Ric murmured but he did as instructed. “How long did the realtor say the escrow was?”

“We can move in any time after the end of the year,” Alexis replied. “Which works out well. We won’t be scrambling to move and deal with Christmas at the same time. Kristina deserves that.”

“We will be moving in at the same time the Sanchez case goes to trial though,” Ric said, checking his court calendar.

“Yeah, but isn’t one of the ADAs first chairing?” Alexis did a second glance through the paperwork to make sure they hadn’t missed an initialing or signature.

“I have all the confidence in the world in Brianne Joyce,” Ric replied. “It’s a high profile case all the same and I’m going to keep my eye on it. I don’t need the Quartermaines on my bad side.”

“We’re going to have to talk about Sonny sometime,” Alexis asked after putting their forms into a manila envelope and setting it aside.

Ric sighed and opened his briefcase. “Has Sonny brought up custody yet?” he questioned.

“Well, no,” Alexis admitted. “But we only have a week before we bring Kristina home. And I’d like us to have a game plan.”

“I don’t think we can really discuss it until we know what he wants,” Ric stalled. He took out some folders and flipped them open. “If he’s going for full or joint.”

“I think it’ll be joint, honestly,” Alexis said. “But I’d rather know that you support me on this.”

“Alexis…” Ric met her eyes. “Kristina is your daughter. Her custody arrangements are up to you. You know me, I’m not sure I want her around Sonny’s world at all but…” he hesitated. “I don’t want her growing up and not knowing her own siblings. Michael and Morgan are her brothers, after all.”

“I know and that’s why I’ve been really considering this. I grew up and never knew about my own sister. I don’t want Kristina turning around in a couple of years and asking why. And I don’t want her to grow up hating them like you did with Sonny.” Alexis shoved her hair over behind her ear. “Sonny’s world scares me but Kristina could fall off the jungle gym or God forbid, get hit by a car. I can’t…” she paused and took a deep breath. “Her illness made me realize that I can’t protect her forever.”

“Then we’ll tell Sonny we’ll agree to joint custody.” Ric covered Alexis’s hand and smiled at her, hoping they weren’t making a mistake.

Elizabeth’s Cottage: Living Room

Elizabeth rubbed her eyes and descended the stairs, relieved that Cameron had finally gone down for his nap. He’d been cranky since she’d picked him up from his father’s earlier that afternoon and she knew why of course–Cameron was getting older and able to realize certain things about his world. And the fact that Jason was one of his favorite people was one of them.

The doorbell stopped her progress into the living room. She winced, wishing she could just collapse on the couch and take a long nap. She almost ignored the bell completely but in the end, went to answer it.

On the stoop, a suitcase at her feet, stood Andrea Webber.

“Mom,” Elizabeth said, startled. “I didn’t…I didn’t realize you were coming so soon.”

“Well…” Andrea hoisted her suitcase and stepped inside the foyer. She gently pushed her shell shocked daughter out of the way to close the door. “As soon as I told your father the good news, he all but ordered me on the plane to come see you.”

“I…he did?” Elizabeth asked, surprised.

“Darling…the reason we haven’t been able to be here on important occasions is that by the time the invitations reach us, it’s already too late,” Andrea told her daughter. “Lucky Spencer’s funeral, your high school and college graduations, and the times you’ve been in the hospital, we never even knew until Audrey told us. We’re not neglectful parents by choice, Elizabeth.”

“Right,” Elizabeth said, seeing the logic in that answer. “Well…Cam just went down for his nap but let me show you to the guest room–”

“Wait, wait…” Andrea took Elizabeth by the shoulders and stepped back. “Let me get a look at my little Lizzie all grown up.” Her eyes narrowed and a teasing glint entered her blue eyes. “Well, the hair’s a bit longer but you still weigh about ninety pounds and all of five foot two.”

“Yes, and you’re such a giant,” Elizabeth remarked with a smirk as she glanced at her mother’s five foot four inch frame. “How much do you weigh now? Ninety-one?”

“How I ever raised such a smartass, I’ll never know,” Andrea sighed dramatically. “You look lovely, dear. With a much better figure than I ever had so shortly after giving birth.”

“Well, with a little baby to raise by myself and having to work, I didn’t really have much of a choice,” Elizabeth murmured. She lifted her mother’s suitcase and started up the stairs. Andrea frowned and followed her.

“I thought you said the Quartermaine’s son was the father,” Andrea said.

“Jason is his father, but we don’t live together and he’s not…” Elizabeth pushed open the door to the bedroom between hers and Cameron’s. “He’s not always in the picture full-time.”

“Hmm,” Andrea murmured. “And how is work going, dear? I must confess, your father and I were quite surprised to hear that you had entered the nursing program. I know that you only majored in nursing at PCU to humor us–”

“I started nursing classes after my first miscarriage,” Elizabeth replied softly. “I wanted to be a mother and I knew that I had to be practical. I love my art and I’m still pursuing it, but I had to be realistic.”

“Being realistic is the worst thing about being an adult,” Andrea decided. She stepped over to the windows to peer out into the backyard of the cottage. “Nevertheless, I hope you’re enjoying your chosen career.”

“I am,” Elizabeth replied. “I know it’s not being a doctor like you guys hoped but I still feel like I’m making a difference–”

“Doctors are nothing without our nurses and just look at your grandmother.” Andrea sank onto the brass bed. “She’s an incredible nurse–she must be thrilled you’re walking in her footsteps.”

“She does have this fantasy about me one day running the program,” Elizabeth replied with a smile. “I told her we’ll take it one day at a time.” She slid her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “How long do you suppose you’ll stay?”

“Oh, at least until the beginning of the year,” Andrea told her. “I’ve cleared until January and your father’s going to fly in for Christmas. We’ll both return to Spain sometime after New Year’s, I imagine. We thought with Steven in town, we might try to do something together for the holidays.”

“That would be…” Elizabeth paused and finally admitted the honest truth, “weird.”

Andrea laughed. “Well, I suppose that’s a good way to put it. Now if we could get Sarah to fly in, it’d be downright bizarre.”

Spencer House: Front Porch

Brianne hesitated as they stepped up to the front door. “I don’t think I should be here,” she told Lucky uncertainly. “I’m certainly not family, I’m not a friend of the family and–”

“You’re a friend of mine,” Lucky interrupted. “And I don’t feel right about leaving you alone until we get a handle on Diego Sanchez’s connection with your case. I’m staying with you until we know the danger has passed, okay?”

“I suppose I don’t have any choice,” Brianne said. “With you being a cop and all. If I didn’t let you, you’d come up with something to tell Mac who would just tell Ric Lansing and it would end up being this whole huge thing and you’d still be staying with me so I imagine I’ll just skip to the end of that particular drama.”

“I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable, Bri,” Lucky said. “I just…” he shrugged. “I’d feel better if I knew for sure you were safe, okay?”

“And I appreciate that so that’s why I’m saving you the trouble of going over my head,” Brianne replied. “But we each have our own lives and our own jobs, you can’t possibly be with me all the time.”

“I can do my best. Come on,” Lucky gestured towards the front door. “Let’s go have some dinner.”

Spencer House: Dining Room

“Can you pass the chicken?” Nikolas asked, holding out a hand to Brianne, who handed the platter to him. “Lu, this is actually pretty good.”

“Oh, don’t say that like it’s such a surprise. Grandma loves to cook, so she’s been teaching me,” Lulu replied. She spooned some more potatoes onto her plate. “So, Brianne, Lucky says he works with you at the DA’s office.”

“Yes,” Brianne replied. “But only just recently.”

“DA Lansing has nothing but good things to say,” Nikolas said. “He’s on the board at GH with my aunt and with so many Quartermaines working there, we’ve talked about the Sanchez case a bit. He has all the confidence in the world in you.”

“Well my part is easy,” Brianne said. “The PCPD did an excellent job with evidence and witnesses. They basically handed me a conviction.”

“Well, Diego jumping bail didn’t help his , I imagine,” Emily remarked. “Can you introduce that at trial?”

“If I needed to, but I don’t really want to beat it into the jury’s head. People aren’t stupid. With the evidence we have, it won’t be a problem to convict,” Brianne said.

“I made brownies for dessert,” Lulu said, as she stood. Emily got up and pushed her back down.

“I’ll get it,” Emily said. “You’ve done enough. And Lucky can come help me.” She glared at Lucky until he stood and followed her.

Lulu smirked. “Yeah, ’cause that’s not totally obvious.”

Spencer House: Kitchen

Emily started cutting into the sheet of chocolate brownies cooling on the stove. “So, you brought the ADA to a family dinner,” she said, flashing her old friend a wicked grin.

“I’m just keeping her safe until certain aspects of this case are closed,” Lucky replied easily. “It’s in every one’s best interests.”

“Uh huh.” Emily broke a corner off one brownie and popped it into her mouth. “So you’re not attracted to her?”

Lucky leaned against the counter. “I’d have to be dead not to be attracted. She’s beautiful but our relationship is purely professional, Em. And besides, there are…circumstances that you don’t know right now.”

“Yeah, but you’re attracted to her,” Emily said. “That’s enough for me right now. I’ll handle the rest.”

“There isn’t going to be any rest,” Lucky said, grimacing. “Don’t help, Em.”

“I’m not going to do anything,” Emily said innocently. “You should be ashamed of yourself, Lucky.”

“Uh huh,” Lucky said, unconvinced. “Stay out of this, Em. If I want something to happen between Bri and I, I’ll handle it myself.”

“Sure,” Emily rolled her eyes. “You know, between you and Jason and Elizabeth, I am never going to get another niece or nephew. You’re all like molasses,” she complained.

Port Charles County Jail: Visiting Room

Maria Sanchez took a seat across from her twin brother and folded her hands on the table. “Why did you lie to me?” she asked quietly.

Diego rolled his eyes. “You’re such a little brat,” he said scornfully. “Why did you lie to me?” he repeated in a mocking high tone.

“You promised me if I got you out of there that we would fight the charges together,” Maria continued. Her eyes took on a glossy sheen. “But you disappeared and they said you sent the Ashton girl clothes from that night. I don’t understand, Diego–”

“Oh, you understand,” Diego replied. “You just don’t want to.” He smirked. “Poor little innocent Maria Cecilia, the only angel of the LA ghettos. You can’t really be that naïve.”

Her lower lip trembled. “You’re guilty, aren’t you? All those things you told me about Brooke Lynn being angry with you for not wanting her, wanting to get back at you–those were all lies.”

Diego sat back and continued to smirk. “Because I’m known for my honesty,” he remarked sarcastically. “Stupid little girl.”

Maria stood on shaky legs. “I hope you rot in prison,” she whispered hatefully. She turned on her heel and fled the room.

Wednesday, December 1, 2004

PCMB: Ric’s Office

Ric set a file aside and checked his gold wrist watch. He had court in a half hour and was hoping to be out of there by noon so he could meet Alexis for lunch before picking up Kristina.

His intercom buzzed and his secretary’s voice filtered through, “Mr. Lansing, Christopher Hartman is here about the Sanchez case.”

“Could you direct him to Ms. Joyce’s office, please?” Ric asked. He stood and crossed to his filing cabinet. He fished through a few files, trying to locate the Harding case file.

“Sir, he says he needs to meet with you,” Gertrude remarked. “Should I tell him you’re busy?”

“No, no…” Ric sighed. “Show him in.”

A few moments later, the young defense attorney was seated and tapping his fingers on the leather top of his brief case. “Brianne Joyce is first chair on this case. I don’t know what you’re hoping for from me,” Ric said. He buttoned his jacket and sat behind his desk.

“My client has information that can close the East Side rapist case and your ADA wasn’t interested in hearing what he had to say.” Christopher swallowed and set his briefcase on the edge of Ric’s desk to remove a statement from Diego. “Diego Sanchez is prepared to make a sworn statement about the case in exchange for probation on the Ashton case.”

Ric arched an eyebrow. “And Ms. Joyce turned this down?”

“She didn’t even let us make an offer,” Christopher said, perking up a bit. “She led us to believe she would make a deal in exchange for his information but declined to make any promises. She says she’s taking this to court. She’s not doing what’s in the best interest of–”

“What she is doing is giving Brooke Lynn Ashton her day in court,” Ric leaned back in his chair. “She did exactly what I would have advised her to do. I don’t want Diego Sanchez serving even one hour less than he deserves. We make deals in cases we aren’t sure we can get a conviction. We don’t let a brutal rapist off with a slap on the wrist because he might have information on an old case. And just so we’re clear, Brooke Lynn is a member of a family that includes the Edward and Tracy Quartermaine and Ned Ashton. They would have my head if I agreed to something like this. And besides, Hartman, we have enough information to bury your client. Does he understand the significance of DNA?” Ric asked coolly.

“Look, I know the merits of the case,” Christopher said. “But Sanchez wants to go to trial. What else am I supposed to do?”

“Remind him that the sentence for aggravated rape and assault of a minor is fifteen years to life. If he’s so eager to give us this information, we could always make a sentencing recommendation once he’s convicted.”

Christopher glared at the DA. “You’re so god damn smug, you’re so sure you can convict Sanchez.” He slammed his briefcase shut and stood. “Wait until the press gets a hold of the information that you could close fifteen open rapes and instead, chose to bow to the political pressure of the almighty Quartermaines.”

He stormed out of the office. Ric rolled his eyes and started to look over his case notes for court.

Port Charles Airport: Gate 4

“I’m so excited,” Emily squealed as she waited for the Cassadine jet to begin boarding. She straightened Jason’s leather jacket as if it were a sports coat. “It’s your first trip where I can know where you’re going, when you’ll be back, and that you won’t be shot while you’re gone.”

“I’ll be back on Friday,” Jason replied. “It’s just a quick round of the offices to make sure security is up to date and running efficiently. ”

“Well, the baby shower is Saturday, so you have to be back by then,” Emily said. “Nikolas mentioned after the new year that you have to do a longer trip.”

“To visit the other sites,” Jason confirmed. “In Rome, Athens, Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo.”

Emily smiled slyly. “I bet Elizabeth will be ready for a vacation by then. Maybe you should take her–”

“Emily, you promised no meddling,” Jason reminded her. “You’re going to let Elizabeth and I handle this in our own way and in our own time.”

She rolled her eyes and stamped her foot. “But you’re not handling it,” Emily said, tossing up her hands in exasperation. “You’re just…avoiding the whole issue. How are you ever going to be together if you don’t talk?”

“We’re giving each other some space right now,” Jason replied. “Emily, just concentrate on your own life–”

“I am. You and Elizabeth are part of that life.” Emily sighed. “I can’t get Lucky to make a move on the ADA and I am so bored out of mind waiting for Nikolas to get home from work. I seriously am going to lose my mind by the time next semester starts.”

“That’s really not any one’s fault,” Jason told her. “Find something you like to do–besides meddling in people’s lives.”

Emily huffed. “There’s no fun in that.”

“Mr. Morgan,” the flight attendant approached them with a bright smile. “We’re boarding now, sir.”

“Okay, I’ll be right there,” Jason told her. He hugged Emily. “Don’t meddle.”

“Spoilsport,” Emily muttered.

PCMB: Ric’s Office

“Mr. Lansing, Sergeant Spencer is here to see you.”

Ric muttered under his breath and set his case down. He was due in court in twenty minutes and still hadn’t left his office. “Send him in.”

Lucky strode in a few seconds later. “I need to speak with you about Brianne.”

“You have ten minutes before I absolutely have to leave for the courthouse,” Ric told him. “Make it fast.”

“We reactivated her case last month,” Lucky began. “And she’s been jumpy and kind of distracted since–”

“Lucky, could you please get to the point–”

“I’m worried about her motives for prosecuting the case,” Lucky interrupted. “I don’t think this is the right case for her.”

Ric sighed and sat back in his seat. “Look, I already talked to her about this. I understand that the two of you have grown close, Lucky, but I honestly….I’ve got it under control. And I think Brianne will do a better job because of her past.”

“It’s taking a toll on her,” Lucky said after a long moment. “She got another bouquet of roses earlier this week and she’s been having nightmares–”

Ric arched a brow. “How do you know she’s having nightmares?” he asked curiously.

Lucky glared at him. “I’m sleeping on her couch until the harassment stops,” he said through clenched teeth.

“I appreciate your concern, Lucky, but until Brianne comes to me with this, it’s her case.” Ric stood and checked his watch. “If I were you and wanted to get somewhere with the lovely ADA, I wouldn’t go behind her back even if it was in her own best interests. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get to court.”

Spencer House: Living Room

“Thanks for getting my homework,” Lulu told Georgie as she stuffed the folders that Georgie gave her into her backpack. “Even though I’m so totally behind.”

Georgie shrugged and flopped onto the flowered couch. “I can help you get caught up, it’s no biggie.”

Lulu sat next to her and shoved her hair out of her face. “So how are things with Brooke Lynn?” she asked. “All I know is what I read in the papers.”

“Brooke’s doing okay, I guess. As well as can be expected. She tried to go back to school before Thanksgiving but only made it until lunch time. But she looks better.” Georgie hesitated. “Unless she’s just pretending and if that’s the thing, then I’m not sure if she’s okay at all.”

“Yeah, the kids at school are just being really stupid about the whole thing. Mostly, they feel sorry for her but a lot of them think she brought it on herself by hanging out with Diego in the first place, which is the dumbest thing I ever heard of.” Lulu rolled her eyes. “Such is the maturity at PC High.”

“It’s been really hard for us, I mean, me, Maxie, Lucas and Dillon. No one’s sure how to act, what to say. And poor Lucas, I mean they were dating. Brooke hasn’t said anything to him about wanting to just be fiends so it’s just kind of this awful limbo. So far, he’s sticking but I just…” Georgie shrugged. “I can’t imagine how it’s all gonna end.”

The front door opened behind them and shut with a bang. “There sure are a lot more flowers here than I remember,” Luke muttered.

Lulu turned and for a moment her eyes lit up at the sight of her father but they quickly dimmed. “Hey. Dad,” she said absently. “How long are you back for?”

Luke frowned. “Didn’t Lucky give you my message?”

“He said something about you staying longer than a month.” Lulu shrugged and stood. “But your plans change all the time, you know?”

“Hey, Mr. Spencer,” Georgie said, standing as well. “I was just bringing Lu her homework. Let me know if you need any help getting caught up.”

“Thanks,” Lulu called as the other girl went to the door.

“See ya, Georgie,” Luke said as Georgie left. “Well, I’ve got some good news, Princess. I’ll be sticking around. Especially since I won’t need to traipse overseas to visit with your mother.”

Lulu frowned. “I don’t understand. Is that where you’ve been?”

“You bet,” Luke nodded. “And as soon as I can gather the family together, we’re going to talk about her future.”

“Sounds like a lot of fun,” Lulu said dryly. She hoisted her bag over her shoulder. “Pizza for dinner?”

“Nope. We’re picking Lesley up at the hospital in a few hours and then I’m taking my two favorite girls out for dinner,” Luke said.

Lulu rolled her eyes. “Look, Dad, I appreciate the gesture of family solidarity, but really–you don’t have to act around me. I know how it works and it’s really okay.”

Luke narrowed his eyes. “How what works?”

“This family,” Lulu clarified. “Lucky’s your number one kid. I’m the kid that Mom wanted and you never had time for. It’s okay. I mean, it’s not my first choice on how to live but I can’t really change that–”

“Whoa, Princess, that’s not how it is at all,” Luke interrupted. “I admit…since your mother got sick, I have been…somewhat…not here but that’s got nothing to do with you. It’s all my fault.”

Lulu sighed. “Dad…”

Luke set his bag down and approached his daughter. When had she grown up? What had happened to the tiny girl with the big eyes? “Lu, you are my daughter. Now, I never set out to be a father, okay? That was all your mother’s idea, but the day you were born, I knew a kind of terror that I hadn’t with Lucky. Lucky was a boy, I could almost picture myself raising a boy. You were a girl, you know? I didn’t know…I didn’t always know how to be with you, to be your father.”

Lulu looked down. “So it’s my fault for being a girl–”

“No, no,” Luke shook his head. “Princess, you have always been a challenge that Lucky wasn’t. I don’t know much about women, you can just ask your grandma about that and I always figured…if I didn’t want to screw you up too much, I should just keep my distance. I’m sorry if that led you to believe that you meant less to me than Lucky.”

“So you were a coward,” Lulu nodded. “That’s fine. At least the lack wasn’t in me. But Dad, I never figured you for someone who ran from something that was tough. You always seemed like you liked things that weren’t easy. But maybe that my problem for listening to the stories about you instead of using my own brain to figure it out.”

She brushed past him and hurried up the stairs. Luke exhaled slowly. Teenage daughters. He’d almost rather go up against Stavros Cassadine.

General Hospital: Nurse’s Station

“The patient in 620 was asking for you,” Elizabeth said as she handed a stack of charts to her brother. “But I think it was more to look at you than actually needing your medical attention.” She arched an eyebrow. “My brother, such a ladies man.”

Steven smirked. “The patient in 620 is twelve years old and has just discovered boys. She’s been practicing on me since they brought her in.” He signed a few charts before speaking again. “Have you noticed Dr. Patrick Drake around yet?”

“He’s the new ER doctor isn’t he?” Elizabeth asked. “I’m not supposed to start my rounds on the ER floor for another few weeks, so no. Why?” she asked suspiciously.

“He’s mentioned you,” Steven said, casually. “He thinks you’re cute.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Gee, Steven, are we sixteen years old?” She snorted and started marking charts of her own. “Cute.”

“He wanted to know if you were seeing anyone.” Steven paused. “I didn’t know what to tell him.”

Elizabeth paused and bit her lip. “I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “Jason and I are taking some space but I don’t think that means we’ve broken up.”

“Bit…” Steven hesitated. “You really don’t think it’s fair that you spend your life waiting for him to be ready for a relationship, do you?”

“That’s not what we’re doing, Steven. We’re just…” Elizabeth shrugged. “Taking time. He’s just made some really big changes in his life–”

“Don’t make excuses for him,” Steven interrupted. “I get that you love him. But love…it’s not always the answer, Liz. Sometimes, you have to know when to give up.”

“No.” Elizabeth shook her head. “We have a son together. There’s more at stake than just us. We make it work when it’s just us…it’s just when other people are around.” She gripped her pen so hard her knuckles turned white. “Steven…”

“Do you really want a relationship that works only when you’re alone?” Steven asked quietly. “Neither of you are isolated from the rest of the world. You have family and friends. They shouldn’t be cut out of your life.”

“You’re not telling me anything I don’t–” Elizabeth huffed and shifted her weight from one foot to another. “Steven, you’re not telling me anything that I don’t know, okay? These are all things that I’m completely aware of and we want to work on them. But we’re not broken up.”

“You’re not together either, Liz. Look, just think about it. It wouldn’t have to be real date. Just something to get yourself out there,” Steven told her. “Maybe it’ll even clarify things for you. That you want to work things out with Jason, that there are no substitutes.”

“I shouldn’t need a blind date to tell me that I love Jason,” Elizabeth said impatiently.

“I know you love him. He knows you love him. Love is not the problem here, Bit. The problem is that you and Jason have spent more time apart than you have together and neither one of you realizes that just because you fell in love three years ago doesn’t mean the things you loved about each other are still true. You tell yourselves that you love each other but you haven’t really taken the time to remind yourself why. You’re not in love with the person Jason is today, Elizabeth,” Steven said. “And he’s not in love with who you are today either. You’re in love with the people who existed three years ago–even two years ago. But, honey, you’re not that girl anymore.”

Elizabeth blinked. “That’s it.” She set her pen down and shook her head. “I just…that’s absolutely it.”

Steven misinterpreted the words and sighed impatiently, dragging a hand through his head. “I know you think I’m just meddling and that I don’t know Jason–”

“No, no, I mean, you’re right.” Elizabeth exhaled shakily. “I just–I never thought about it like that before. We’ve had no real contact over the last few years, he was gone so long and it wasn’t too long after he came back that we really broke contact and so many things in our lives have changed since then. We’re not the people we used to be.” Her eyes met her brother’s. “I’m not sure what to do now. I mean, I want to be with him. I want a life with him. But I can’t…do I want Jason now or the one I knew three years ago?”

“I can’t answer that for you. You and Jason have to deal with that. I’m just trying to say that you’re a beautiful young woman and you shouldn’t have to sit around waiting for grand epiphanies. I get that you and Jason have a son together–”

“I’ll think about it,” Elizabeth cut her brother off. “I can’t promise you anything more than that. But you’re right, it is time for a change.”

Sam’s Penthouse: Living Room

“Nope.” Sam scribbled out an ad for an exotic dancer. “I have the body but not the temperament. First guy to drool the wrong way, I’d probably kick him in the teeth.”

“I wouldn’t let you do it anyway,” Sonny muttered from his position next to her on the couch. Sam glanced up and eyed him. “I mean, I would have advised you not to do that.” Her eyes narrowed. “What I actually mean is that I would have suggested perhaps you continue looking.”

“Close enough,” she replied. She huffed impatiently. “I can’t stand doing this. I hate job hunting.”

“Have you ever actually done it?” Sonny asked.

“Well, no,” Sam admitted. “Before the salvage gig, I was a con artist, after all. We don’t really job hunt. We mark hunt.” She flipped to a new page. “I need to think stable income and benefits.”

“Stable has never been a word I’d associate with you,” Sonny remarked. He sipped his coffee. “You could just come work for me,” he offered.

“I also need to think no guns and no explosions,” Sam murmured. “What about a receptionist?” she asked

“A receptionist?” Sonny repeated. He smirked. “Well, it’s stable, probably has benefits and the odds of you being shot are low. But do you really think you could deal with being in customer service?”

“Hey,” Sam said, annoyed. “I am the very definition of sunshine and light and if you think otherwise, I’d like to introduce your ass to my foot, got it?”

“Ms. Sunshine, understood,” Sonny said, sipping his coffee again to hide the grin. “Where would you be working?”

“The new PC Hotel,” Sam said. She circled it. “I’m applying.”

“I don’t really think it’s your thing,” Sonny said.

Sam arched an eyebrow. “When did I ask for your input on how to run my life?” She reached for the phone. “And I’m only doing this to prove that I can do anything, even be nice to a bunch of idiots. I am a very pleasant person.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Sonny said, his grin widening.

Port Charles Hotel: Jax’s On Site Office

“So today’s the big day, eh?” Jax remarked as he shoved aside a pile of papers so Alexis could sit down in his office trailer at the site of the Port Charles Hotel construction.

“Mmm-hmm,” Alexis said. She glanced out the small windows to peer up at the stone building. “It’s looking pretty good. How’s the inside coming along?”

“The rooms are very nearly complete, actually. I was doing the administration wing last which is why I’m still stuck in this tin can,” Jax remarked. “So you want to do your wedding the Saturday after we open?”

“December 19,” Alexis nodded. “Are you sure it’ll be ready by then?”

“I’ll make sure it is,” Jax answered. He sat behind his desk. “So, Kristina’s doing as expected?”

“Better,” Alexis answered. She sighed and closed her eyes. “It’s like a miracle, really. I just hope everything else goes as well.”

“Uh huh,” Jax nodded. He fished around his desk for some paperwork. “How’s life with the DA?”

“It’s…surprising,” Alexis admitted. “Once Kristina was improving and we could kind of go back to ordinary life a little more, he started spending more time at the office. But, all in all, it’s going well. How’s…Courtney?”

Jax exhaled slowly. “I wouldn’t know,” he said finally. “We haven’t really been keeping in touch the last few weeks. She’s been very involved with her foundation and her…plans.”

“Plans,” Alexis echoed. “The last I remember, you thought you might be falling for her.”

“Well, I thought wrong,” Jax replied. “After she lied to the police about Diego and then bailed him out so he could jump bail, I’m just not sure I want to be in a relationship with someone who shares Sonny Corinthos’s views on police authority.”

Alexis snorted. “Since when do you care about that?”

“Ned’s a good friend of mine and Diego Sanchez brutally raped his daughter,” Jax answered. “I know where my loyalties are.”

Alexis sobered. “I know. And I’m certainly glad he’s back in jail where he belongs. I haven’t seen Ned except for board meetings at the hospital but he hasn’t looked well. Like he’s not sleeping.”

“He wasn’t,” Jax replied. “Especially once Sanchez had jumped bail. He told me that Brooke Lynn wasn’t sleeping at night either and when she did manage to doze off, she woke up with nightmares.”

“We should get together,” Alexis suggested. “You, me, Ned, Lois. It’ll be good. We’ll go out for dinner or just–I want to do something for him. For Lois.”

Jax nodded. “I’ll call him and set it up.”

Spencer House: Living Room

“Careful, Lesley,” Luke said, holding his mother-in-law’s elbow as she stepped over the threshold. He swung her bag and set it next to the stairs. “Let’s get you on the couch.”

“I had a heart attack, Luke, I’m not dying,” Lesley said, laughing weakly. But she followed his direction anyway.

“Lu, baby, could you get a menu from the kitchen?” Luke asked. “Kelly’s or Eli’s, wherever you want to go. I don’t think Lesley’s up for dinner out.”

“Sure,” Lulu murmured. She closed the front door and disappeared into the kitchen. Luke sighed.

“I’m not sure what I’m doing here, Lesley,” he told her as he sat in the armchair adjacent to the couch. “I want to fix the things I’ve done wrong but I don’t want to screw her up anymore.”

“Just be here,” Lesley said, patting his hand. “Now, what’s this news about Laura you’ve been keeping to yourself?”

“Well, I was going to wait until we had Lucky here and the Cassadine spawn,” Luke said with a smirk, but I suppose you have a right to know.” He lowered his voice and leaned towards Lesley. “Her doctors are moving her from London here to New York. She’s doing well enough for less intensive therapy. And if she continues to get better, in a few months, she might even be able to start out patient therapy. She might be able to come home.”

Lesley squeezed Luke’s hands. “That is good news,” she said with a wide smile. “You, Laura, Lulu and the boys. You deserve to be a family again.”

“We’ve always been a family,” Luke said after a long moment. “I was just too blind to be a part of it.”

Saturday, December 4, 2004

Cottage: Living Room

It was nearly eleven o’clock and Elizabeth was due at the Quartermaines within the hour but Cameron was feeling cranky this morning and had flung his breakfast against the kitchen wall. After cleaning him up and taking a shower, she was seriously running late.

As she was stuffing Cameron’s necessities into the diaper bag, her phone began to ring. Deciding to let the machine answer, she started a hunt for the stuffed rabbit Cameron refused to leave the house without.

“Elizabeth? It’s me.” She glanced up and frowned at the answering machine as Jason’s voice filtered through. “I should have called last night but with the time differences…I’m not going to be home until Monday so I’m going to miss the shower. I wouldn’t leave you to the Quartermaines on purpose but there’s nothing I can do.” There was a long pause. “I love you.”

The phone clicked off and Elizabeth sank onto the couch, both pleased that he’d called at all and disappointed that he was going to feed her to the wolves while he was off in Europe.

“He gets to have all the fun,” Elizabeth muttered as she resumed her search for the elusive rabbit.

Quartermaine Mansion: Living Room

“It’s so exciting to have a baby in the family,” Brooke remarked to Georgie as they perused the refreshment table. She reached for a chocolate chip cookie. “One that’s actually related to us.”

“Babies are so cute,” Georgie said. “I love going to the hospital and going to the nursery to see all the babies who were just born.” She sighed happily and filled her plate with various crackers and cookies.

“Babies are nasty,” Lulu argued. She passed the cookies and crackers right over for a chunk of fudge brownies. “They spit up all the time, they cry and you never know what they want. I had to baby sit for Cameron once and I’ll never do it again.”

“Spoils sport,” Maxie joked. “Besides, the best thing about babies is that when they get cranky, you can just shove them right back to their moms. I plan on being the world’s best aunt,” she smiled.

“No babies on the horizon for our girl Maxie, eh?” Lulu nudged her with an elbow. “I sense a kindred spirit.”

“Well, I can’t wait to have kids.” Georgie paused. “Well, actually, yeah I can. I’m like seventeen. But it’s going to be so much fun in like ten years.”

“Ten years sounds way too soon to me,” Dillon eavesdropped from the other end of the table where the drinks were set up. “Who’s up for twenty?”

“Me,” Lucas said solemnly. He bit into a cookie. “I figure I wait a good fifteen, twenty years until I’m mature enough to handle it.”

“If you wait until you’re mature enough to have one,” Lulu drawled, “you’ll be waiting a lot longer than twenty years.”

Dillon snickered. “She’s got you there.”

“Kids, stop eating the refreshments,” Monica scolded. She tugged the cake away from Dillon’s roving eye. “The guests of honor aren’t even here yet.” She smacked Lucas’s hands as he made a reach for the brownies before going to join Audrey. She kept one eye on the group of teens though.

“So, how’s the case going?” Lulu asked.

Everyone froze except for Brooke who just rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry about it guys. It’s like the elephant in the middle of the room no one wants to talk about.” She turned to Lulu. “It’s going okay. Brianne has prepared me pretty well but she wants to meet once a week until the trial starts to go over my testimony. We’ve been practicing cross-examination, too so that I’m prepared for anything that comes up.”

“Yeah, I definitely think that’s a good idea. I was reading the Manson book the prosecutor wrote,” Lulu said as she sneaked one last cookie, “and he was talking about how his star witness was actually stronger on the stand because he didn’t give the defense an opportunity to mess with her. Like, he brought out her drug use and her criminal past during the direct part. She’s totally the biggest reason they won that case.”

“What were you doing reading Helter Skelter?” Maxie asked.

Lulu shrugged. “I like true crime novels and I’m a nut for those shows on A&E. Like Cold Case Files and American Justice. I love that stuff–I’m thinking I might want to go into PI work.”

“I like those shows too,” Brooke said with a small smile. “And from what I’ve heard of the Spencers, that seems like a good career choice. It’s like Lucky’s only…not so on the side of the law.”

“Which Luke would totally approve of,” Dillon pointed out.

Elizabeth entered the room with Cameron in her arms, having left the stroller in the foyer. She scanned the room uncertainly before spotting Emily talking with her mother. “Hey, Em.”

“Elizabeth!” Emily hugged her. “Hey, everyone–the guest of honor is here!” she announced.

Elizabeth was immediately swarmed by well wishers and various members of the hospital staff. Cameron was taken from her by Monica and Audrey to coo over while Elizabeth herself was supplied with a drink and a plate of cookies.

Fifteen minutes later, she found herself cornered by a curious Monica. “So, where is Jason today?” his mother asked.

“He got stuck in Europe on business,” Elizabeth shifted. “He should be back on Monday.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Monica nodded. “So, do you make my son happy?” she demanded without any sort of preamble.

“Ah…” Elizabeth fumbled with her plate for a moment before setting it down on a nearby table. “I wouldn’t–you’d have–Monica, that’s just not something I can answer right now,” she finally settled on.

“Uh huh.” Monica clasped her hands in front of you. “Jason left me with the impression that the two of you were planning a future together.”

“We were–that is, we are–it’s complicated,” Elizabeth finished lamely. “Things have been difficult for the last few months.”

“Well, I’m disappointed to hear that. Jason looked happy when he talked about you,” Monica said. “Happier than he’s been in a long time.”

Elizabeth shifted. “Monica, it’s complicated. We’re not seeing other people, we’re just not really seeing other at the moment either. We’re working it out.”

“Well, for the sake of my grandson, I would hope so,” Monica remarked.

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. “Look, Monica, I’m not really sure you want to be championing doing what’s right for the sake of your children. If I remember correctly from what I’ve heard just in my own family history, you were never the world’s best mother either, okay?”

Monica pressed her lips together. “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Shipping your sons off to boarding school for the better part of their lives is one of the few things I can remark on but not knowing if my Uncle Rick was AJ’s father is one. Ignoring AJ’s alcoholism, getting married and divorced numerous times not to mention affairs–”

“You’ve made your point.” Monica shifted. “But I do love my children and I do want them happy which is what I’m hoping Jason will be with you and Cameron.”

“I’m hoping that too,” Elizabeth softened. “But I can’t make something happen if it’s not supposed to happen. Jason and I haven’t really been together in any kind of real way for almost three years. I want to be sure we’re together for the right reasons and not just because we have Cameron together. I won’t subject my son to that.”

“As much I as don’t want to admit it,” Monica said slowly, “you may have a point.” She sighed. “At least one of my kids is happy.”

Quartermaine Mansion: Parlor

“Emily?” Alexis entered the room as Emily was arranging the mountain of gifts in the room. “I was hoping we could have a moment to talk.”

Emily huffed and ignored her as she straightened a pile of gifts next to the chair reserved for Elizabeth.

“Emily, I was hoping you would be in the wedding,” Alexis tried again. She twisted her hands together. “Will you please just give me a chance to explain?”

“What can you possibly explain?” Emily demanded. She planted her hands on her hips. “Ric broke Elizabeth’s heart. He crushed it into the ground and now…” she shook her head. “She doesn’t know what’s going on in her life and it’s all his fault–”

“I’m not saying Ric’s blameless but your brother might have a few things to do with the current state of Elizabeth’s heart.” Alexis sighed. “When Ric found out Cameron was Jason’s son, he was devastated. He was working on his marriage to her at the same time Elizabeth was having the affair–”

“But they were divorced,” Emily said. She folded her arms tightly across her chest. “Because he drugged her and kidnapped Carly–”

“And I pushed Luis Alcazar off a building, faked a mental illness and dressed like a butler,” Alexis huffed. “You also married Zander, knowing you wanted to be with Nikolas and pretty much drove him to his death as well. No one is blameless, Emily, least of all you. Now, I want you and Nikolas at my wedding because he means the world to me and I have always considered you a friend. But I won’t beg for it and I shouldn’t have to explain being with someone who makes me happy.”

Emily sighed and looked away. “I did hurt Zander,” she said softly. “And I don’t deny that I probably drove him to what he did in the end. You’re right.” She squared her shoulders. “Nobody is blameless and I can’t whitewash my life to make myself feel better. We’ll be at the wedding, Alexis.”

The other party guests filtered in and soon, Elizabeth was lead to her chair and a present was pushed into her lap. “I have to say that I’ve been looking forward to this portion of the day,” she said with a grin as she ripped into the first present.

Cameron received enough clothes and toys and supplies to keep him happy for at least two years and Monica and Alan had bought a beautiful cradle for Cameron as well as a silver rattle with his named etched into it along with the date of his birth.

Georgie and Brooke each gave Elizabeth IOU coupons for free baby sitting and Maxie got a laugh from the crowd when she gave Elizabeth a third IOU for free baby sitting from Georgie.

Alexis was the last to give Elizabeth a gift. She held it in her lap for a moment. “Now when you open this, you might tell me it’s too much,” she began, “but I have to tell you that I could pay for Cameron to go through college and it could still never be enough to thank you for what you’ve done for my daughter.”

“Alexis,” Elizabeth shook her head. “I didn’t do it to get anything in return–”

“No, I know.” Alexis exhaled slowly. “Which just makes it all the more incredible. Kristina is my whole world and I know, you being a mother and all, I don’t have to tell you that. But you saved her life and you didn’t have to and I just…I wanted to thank you for that in some way.”

She handed the slim package to Elizabeth, who just set it in her lap and reached over to grasp Alexis’s hand. “I would do it again in second,” she told her. “I’m only glad I was able to help.”

Alexis sniffled. “Well…open your present.”

Elizabeth grinned and tore off the lavender wrapping paper and removed the lid. She held up the slim envelope inside and saw the plane tickets sticking out. She eyed Alexis suspiciously. “What are these?”

“Don’t ask, open!” Emily urged.

Elizabeth slid the tickets out and gasped, covering her mouth with her hand as she held the precious tickets in the other. “Italy,” she murmured. She looked at Alexis. “How did you know?”

“Believe it or not, you are the one subject Jason and I can talk about. I asked him the one place in the world you’d like to see and he said Italy.” Alexis leaned forward. “There are three tickets. They’re open, so you can take them whenever you want. There’s the number of a hotel in there that I’ve instructed they’re to bill me for your entire stay but if you don’t like that hotel, just pick any other and send me the bill.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I–I can’t accept this,” she breathed. “It’s too much–Alexis–”

“I want to do this for you,” Alexis said firmly. “You made my dreams come true and I want to do the same for you.”

“Well, hell, how can you turn that down?” Lulu decided. “If she doesn’t want the tickets, I’ll take them,” she volunteered.

Quartermaine Mansion: Foyer

Carly sighed impatiently as she saw the wreckage of the parlor with gifts and wrapping paper strewn about. She had missed most of the shower and didn’t really intend to stay long. She’d gotten a voicemail from Jason on her way over that he wouldn’t be here after all and since she was only coming to support Jason, there didn’t seem to be a point to it now.

“Carly?” Elizabeth poked her head out of the double doors that led to the living room. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Yes, well…” she coughed. “Jason asked me to come last week but since he’s not here–” She shoved a small gift into Elizabeth’s hands. “Here.”

“Thank you.” Elizabeth unwrapped it, understanding it would be first and last gift she’d receive from Caroline Corinthos.

“It’s beautiful…” she lifted the necklace from the box and met Carly’s embarrassed eyes. “These three stones…”

“Emerald for Cameron, citrine for you and garnet for Jason,” Carly muttered. “Your birthstones. And there’s room to add more gems for more kids–” she coughed again. “So, ah, it can kind of continue.”

“I know you don’t want to make a big deal of this and I swear after this moment, we’ll go back to being civil enemies,” Elizabeth said. She set the box down and put the chain around her neck, clasping it. “But just let me be nice and we can then return to our regularly scheduled program.”

“Okay,” Carly said warily.

Elizabeth stepped forward and embraced the blonde gingerly. She stepped back. “I know what you mean to Jason and I’m glad you came here for him today.”

“Well…” Carly rubbed the back of her neck. “I know what Cameron…and you,” she added reluctantly, “mean to Jason, so-”

Before she could finish what might be one of the only nice things Carly Corinthos would ever say to Elizabeth Webber, the door opened and Carly’s day just got worse.

“Somebody up there hates me,” she muttered to the heavens.

“Well, that’s amusing,” Brenda Barrett remarked caustically. “I was about to suggest the same thing.”

Elizabeth blinked. “Brenda. What are you doing here?”

“Well, I hear that Jason finally spawned so I decided to come meet the lucky new mob moll.” Brenda crossed the threshold and behind her, Carly spied someone else that took a bad day and just made it three times worse.

“And you brought the Saint with you.” Carly threw up her hands. “If this is what I get for doing something nice, I am never bothering again!”

Robin Scorpio smirked. “You did something nice? I’m sorry I missed that.”

“What are the odds that the three people in the world I dislike the most could be in the same room with me?” Carly asked, disgusted.

Alexis poked her head out of the double doors. “Elizabeth–”

“The only thing left is an apocalypse,” Carly muttered as she stormed towards the door. “I should have known stepping foot into the Quartermaine asylum would end up like this.”

She pushed past Robin and left. Alexis frowned and looked at the gathered women. “Was it something I said?”

Kelly’s: Inside

“The Saint, the Bitch and the Lunatic all in the same day,” Carly grumbled as she sat down at the counter. “I’m pretty sure locusts are next.”

“That doesn’t sound promising,” Steven said as he joined her at the counter. “My sister’s baby shower didn’t go well?”

“I didn’t stay long to find out,” Carly said. She flicked open a menu, despite knowing the menu by heart. “As soon as I did my nice deed, as if to punish me, God sent Brenda, Robin and Alexis to strike me down.”

“Brenda and Robin are…?” Steven prompted.

“The bane of my very existence.” Carly sighed. “No, Brenda is Sonny’s ex and Robin is Jason’s ex, so naturally neither one of them is fond of me and let me tell you–the feeling is more than mutual.”

“Well, it sounds as if your day needs a bit of a pick me up,” Steven remarked. “How about we get a table and try dinner.”

Carly eyed Steven suspiciously. “Is this another one of those friendly dinners you’ve been plying me with lately?”

Steven grinned and stood. “Sure, why not?”

Carly sighed and crossed to one of the tables. “Because I’m wondering how many of these dinners do we need to have before one of us admits they’re dates.”

Spencer House: Living Room

Luke coughed and moved to the space in front of the fireplace. “I, ah, I’m not good at this family stuff.”

Lulu snorted and glared at Lucky when he elbowed her. “What? It’s not like we weren’t all agreeing him silently.”

“Be that as it may,” Luke sent a warning glare at his daughter. “I’m glad you could all come on such short notice–” he broke off when he realized a very nervous and very unfamiliar blonde was seated next to his son. “Who’re you?”

“Ah…Brianne Joyce,” Brianne clasped her hands together to keep from wringing them. “Lucky wouldn’t let me stay home alone.”

“It’s okay, Dad,” Lucky told him, trying to convey the fact that he’d explain later without letting Brianne know that he’d explain. “So, what’s up?”

“Well, I asked you all here because well, for one, we’re a family.” He eyed Nikolas and his wife suspiciously. “Even the Cassadine branch, though it pains me to admit that we even have one. And we all want what’s best for Laura.” He took a deep breath. “She was the glue that kept us together and since she got sick…”

“Everything’s gone to hell,” Lulu muttered.

“Yeah, well…we all should have a say in what comes next.” Luke shifted. “The doctors in London say that she’s responding to some of the new treatment and she’s showing marked improvement.” He met Lesley’s eyes. “She even recognized me for a while.”

“That’s incredible,” Nikolas sat forward. “So she’s going to get better?”

“Well, now, we don’t know that for sure. They just say that she’s at a point in her recovery where family is encouraged to visit, to participate in the program. So they’re moving her here, to a place called Rose Lawn within the month. If she keeps responding, they say by the spring she could start out patient therapy.”

Lulu sat up straight. “Mom’s going to come home?”

“Well, the doctors aren’t sure. And they don’t want to make guarantees. She could slide right back or she could get better faster than they think. But they say she’s been improving regularly and if she keeps doing well, things are going to get better.”

“That’s the best news I’ve had in months.” Lucky stood and crossed to embrace his father. “So what’s there to decide?”

“Well, seeing as how we didn’t manage to get remarried,” Luke shifted. “Nikolas is her oldest son and has power of attorney. He has to okay the move.”

Nikolas stood. “Give me the name and the number of who to call.” He gripped Emily’s hand. “And I think that everyone will back me up when I say that I would have no trouble transferring power of attorney to you.” He met Lucky’s eyes for a moment before focusing on Luke. “Mom would want it that way.”

Luke swallowed hard. “Thank you. That would…that would mean a lot.”

Sonny’s Penthouse: Michael’s Bedroom

Michael flopped onto his bed and folded his arms behind his head. “I missed my room,” he sighed.

Sonny set Morgan on the bed beside his brother and patted Michael’s knee. “I miss having you in this room.”

“You and Mom really aren’t going to get back together are you?” Michael sighed. He sat up and tucked his knees under his chin, wrapping his arms around them. “This isn’t like the last time.”

“No,” Sonny said. “I’m sorry, buddy, but that’s not going to happen this time.”

“But you’re not going to fight over us this time either right?” Michael asked. “Mom said you weren’t but I wasn’t sure.”

“No, we’re not.” Sonny stopped Morgan from crawling too close to the edge. “We’re going to have joint custody. You’re going to spend weekends with me and every other holiday and your mother and I have already agreed that we can stop over the other’s house to spend time together when we’re apart. I don’t like it, but it’s for the best.”

“So if I want to come see you on a Wednesday after school, I can?” Michael asked.

“Sure. As long as you tell your mother and you do your homework,” Sonny said pointedly.

Michael huffed. “Well, if the homework is going to be the breaking point,” he joked.

“Smart ass,” Sonny muttered with a fond smile. “There’s something else I want to tell you, buddy. Some good news, I think.”

“What?” Michael asked eagerly. “Is it presents?”

“No,” Sonny drawled. “You’ve met Kristina Davis, right? Alexis’s daughter.”

Michael nodded. “She’s in Morgan’s playgroup at the park. What about her?”

“She’s my daughter, too,” Sonny said after a moment. “She’s your sister.”

Michael pursed his lips. “I don’t understand,” he shook his head. “How come you never told us before? And you were married to Mom.”

“Not when Kristina was conceived,” Sonny said uncomfortably. “Your mom and I were divorced for a year, remember?”

“Right, before her car accident,” Michael nodded. “Okay. So Kristina is my sister. That’s cool. When do we get to see her?”

“That’s something Alexis and I have to decide between us,” Sonny told him. “We haven’t come to an agreement yet.” He paused. “So you’re okay with this?”

Michael thought about it for a moment. “When Mom was pregnant with Morgan, I really wanted a little sister,” he told his father. “I love Morgan but it’s still cool to have a sister.”

“Well, good.” Sonny leaned over and kissed his forehead. “Watch your brother for a little while. I have to make a phone call.”

He left his sons and went downstairs to the phone on his desk. He dialed an old but familiar number. When the answering machine clicked on, he waited for the beep. “Alexis, its Sonny. I think it’s time to talk custody arrangements.”