September 12, 2003

Elm St. Pier: Security Van

Luke slid on a pair of headphones and looked at his wife. “You ready?”

“Ready.” She leaned forward and spoke into the microphone. “Elizabeth? I’ve got you on camera. Just touch your ear if you can hear me.”

The grainy image on the screen inside shifted and Elizabeth touched her ear. “Great, honey. Luke and I are around the corner in the van.” She looked at another screen. “Sonny’s under the steps and Jason’s about five feet away behind a bush. Nikolas, Lucky and Zander are spread over a few rooftops.”

Elizabeth touched her ear again and Luke smiled proudly and pointed to the screen. “Look at her, she makes one hell of a Spencer.”

Elm St. Pier: Bushes

Jason shifted, not even looking away from Elizabeth long enough to blink. He hated this idea—he hated every inch of it. They could cover all the angles they’d want but Ric could be anywhere and one shot would take her away from him.

But Emily was in danger and Elizabeth would do anything to save her. Better they do this with supervision and all the security money could buy than her rushing off on her own.

“Morgan.” Luke’s hushed voice spoke through his earpiece. “It’s 7:59. You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” Jason muttered.

Corinthos Penthouse

Carly shoved another Oreo in her mouth as a silent rebellion to the husband who didn’t think she belonged out tonight.

She took another from the package and raised it up. “This is for you, jackass.”

Elm St. Pier

At exactly eight, her cell rang. Elizabeth kept her hand steady and raised it to her ear. “Yes?”

“Hello, beautiful,” Ric said smoothly.

Inside the van, Luke growled a little but Laura kept her concentration on the tracing machine, trying to pinpoint Ric’s location.

“I want Emily returned now,” Elizabeth said firmly. “Tell me what I have to do to guarantee that.”

“She didn’t think you’d come for her,” Ric informed her. “She prayed for it actually—even now she’s shaking her head. She can’t believe you’d try to save her after how she betrayed her.”

“She was protecting her brother. I’d do anything for mine,” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “I want her back.”

“It can be arranged.” Ric paused.

“What do you want?” Elizabeth snapped

“You.”

Elizabeth tensed. “What?”

“You surrender willingly. End this. You turn yourself over to me—walk away from your friends, your family—your beloved husband. In return, your best friend returns safe and unharmed.”

“I’m not stupid, Ric. I do that and I’m dead as soon as the baby’s born.”

“I’m open to negotiations.” There was another pause. “Do we have a deal?”

“No!” Emily shrieked in the background. “Don’t Elizabeth!”

“I have a gun pointed at your lovely friend’s forehead. Do you really want to play with Emily’s life?”

“I’ll do it,” Elizabeth said quickly. “When and where?”

“I’ll be in touch.”

The phone went dead and Elizabeth slowly slid the cell into her pocket. She touched her ear and walked away, slipping into the shadows.

What she really did was move under the steps where Sonny was waiting. “Well?” he asked. “How did it go?”

“It went.” Elizabeth exhaled slowly and when Jason joined them, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. “I had to agree—I’m sorry.”

“Agree to what?” Jason demanded.

“Oh, Lizzie,” Luke sighed in her earpiece. “Tell Butch and Cassidy we’re heading back to the joint. We’ll have the tapes there.”

“Luke said to go back to the penthouse,” Elizabeth said dully. “He’ll play the tapes for you then.”

“What did you agree to?” Jason repeated.

She didn’t answer him then or the next three times he asked.

Corinthos Penthouse

Carly had hidden all signs of her junk food binge though Sonny studied her as though he’d like to smell her breath. She was rapidly tapping her fingernails against her glass of milk as she watched Laura slide a tape into a tape player on the table. “I didn’t know they still made those things,” she mused.

“Technology’s wonderful but I don’t exactly have the equipment to record CDs in that dingy van,” Luke said dryly.

“Quiet,” Jason said and Laura pressed play.

“Hello, beautiful.”

“I want Emily returned now. Tell me what I have to do to guarantee that.”

“She didn’t think you’d come for her. She prayed for it, actually—even now she’s shaking her head. She can’t believe you’d try to save her after how she betrayed her.”

“She was protecting her brother. I’d do anything for mine. I want her back. ”

“It can be arranged.

“What do you want?”

You.”

“What?”

“You surrender willingly. End this. You turn yourself over to me—walk away from your friends, your family—your beloved husband. In return, your best friend returns safe and unharmed.”

“I’m not stupid, Ric. I do that and I’m dead as soon as the baby’s born.”

“I’m open to negotiations. Do we have a deal?”

“No! Don’t Elizabeth!”

“I have a gun pointed at your lovely friend’s forehead. Do you really want to play with Emily’s life?”

“I’ll do it. When and where?”

“I’ll be in touch.”

Laura turned it off and sighed. “He’s in Port Charles. All we could pinpoint was that he was within five miles of the pier. Voices didn’t echo so it’s probably an apartment or a house of some kind.”

“I’ll have my men search every inch of the surrounding five miles,” Sonny said. “Elizabeth bought us some more time.” He leveled a cool gaze at the brunette in question. “Which is all you did. Don’t think for one second any of us are entertaining the idea of letting you walk away.”

Elizabeth exhaled slowly. “If we don’t find Emily or Ric and Faith before that, we might have to. It would buy even more time since Laura’s not due until January—”

“Don’t ask me to let you do it,” Jason told her quietly. “It was hard enough doing this tonight. I’m not going to hand you off to him.”

“You’re not going to do anything,” Elizabeth said testily. “You may be my husband but—”

“He’s right, Elizabeth. He needs you alive to get Laura but there are other ways to hurt you. It’s very noble of you but Emily doesn’t really deserve that kind of loyalty,” Nikolas said. “I want her back as much as you do but you even heard her in the background. She doesn’t want you do this either.”

Elizabeth sighed. “Fine. I just—I wish I could go back eight months and run screaming the first time I laid eyes on Ric Lansing.”

“Well wish in one hand—Ow!” Luke rubbed his elbow. “Watch it woman,” he snarled good-naturedly at Laura.

“We’ll find Emily,” Laura told Elizabeth. “You’ve put yourself on the line for someone who hurt you so much. But don’t let your love for her blind you. You’re a mother now.”

“Right,” Carly said. “I love Courtney but you wouldn’t see me putting this kid on the line for her.” She snorted. “Even if that girl can’t keep a thought in her head anymore.”

Sonny frowned and looked at Carly oddly. “What does that mean?”

“Well, she came by about two weeks ago. Something about going to lunch—making up for distance. I went up to get changed and when I came back down, she told me it was nice visiting and she’d see me later.”

Jason sat up slowly. “She was alone downstairs?”

“Yeah.” Carly narrowed her eyes and looked from her husband to Jason and back again. “Why?”

“How well does Courtney know the guards?” Lucky asked.

“Pretty well. Francis guarded—” Carly bit her lip and looked down. “Well, there’s a strange coincidence.”

“I’ll have someone take a look at her place first,” Sonny said softly. “Just…just to rule it out.”

Elizabeth frowned. “You think Courtney did this? She’s angry but working with Faith and Ric—isn’t that taking it a little far?”

“Well….” Nikolas hesitated. “I would say yes under normal circumstances but did anyone really think Emily would do it either?”

September 13, 2003

Quartermaine Mansion: Terrace

“It’s not like Emily to just take off without any word,” Monica murmured as she traded speculative looks with her husband.

Jason shifted uncomfortably. “With everything that happened with Elizabeth, she and Zander wanted to take some time. They left for the island a few days ago. I meant to come and tell you sooner but Elizabeth’s been feeling ill. I didn’t want to leave her.”

“Of course not,” Monica replied. “Is she feeling better?”

“Much.” Jason hated lying. Even if it was for the good of everyone involved—he hated it and he hated that he knew Monica and Alan didn’t believe a word of what he said.

“When you see Emily, tell her we understand,” Alan said after a moment. “That we trust her to take care of herself and if she can’t, that you will.”

The silent message was understand and Jason nodded before leaving the terrace.

Monica sagged against Alan. “Do you think Emily’s all right?”

“I think that Jason will do whatever he needs to do to be sure she is.” Alan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Do you think he’ll ever tell us what happened to her?”

“I somehow doubt it,” Monica said, slightly resigned. “I want to run to the police and demand they find her. I hate knowing that that Jason is our only hope of having Emily home again.” She exhaled slowly. “It makes me feel so useless.”

Corinthos Penthouse

Sonny stared at the report in his hands and then flipped to the accompany pictures. If he hadn’t seen proof, he might not have believed it.

A picture taken from the roof of the building across the street revealed the shadow of a man in Courtney’s apartment. A second picture found a blonde much smaller than Courtney lounging in the living room.

And still a third revealed a slim brunette sitting in a chair in the kitchen. Tied to a chair to be more exact.

Ric and Faith were indeed hiding in Port Charles. They were hiding in Courtney’s loft.

September 14, 2003

Corinthos Penthouse

Jason stared at the photos of Ric, Emily and Faith sitting in the loft that he had once shared with Courtney. She had sold them out. And she’d done it in a way that Emily never could have dreamed. Emily had been trying to protect her brother and though he could never forgive the method, he understood the motivation.

Courtney was exacting revenge and meant to hurt him. And to hurt Elizabeth. And he couldn’t forgive that.

“Now that we have this information, we can form a solid plan,” Laura said. She set the photo of Emily on the coffee table and leaned back against the arm of the couch. “We can lure Ric and Faith out of the apartment and lead them into a trap while we get past Courtney.”

Luke smirked. “Not much of a challenge.” He saw Sonny’s dark look and cleared his throat. “But I think it’d be better to lure Courtney out. I want her to get caught in the act.”

Carly nods. “Damn right. So here’s what I think—” she began.

“Carly, why don’t you head upstairs?” Sonny suggested. “Take a nap.”

Elizabeth hid a smile as Carly leveled a glare at her husband. “Why don’t you bite me?” she said sweetly. “As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted…Courtney obviously lured Emily to the penthouse so I’m assuming she herself can be lured there again. Sonny could go to her loft and tell her that it would be nice if she made her peace with Elizabeth.”

Luke nodded. “And you could tell her you’ll arrange for Jason to be out of the place, so it won’t be awkward. Nice going, Carlybabes.”

“I have my moments.” Carly ate a carrot stick and smiled at her husband. “But I’m not finished. Once Courtney finds out that Elizabeth is alone and guarded by the usual guards, I’m sure at least Ric will jump at the chance to try for something. And Courtney will have to get him inside the penthouse and figure out how to dispose of the guards.”

“But that leaves Faith with Emily,” Elizabeth said. “Faith’s the one I trust least of all. She’s got no stake in this, no reason to keep after me.”

“Exactly what I’m counting on. Faith is out for Faith,” Carly observed. “A trait I can definitely understand and even admire. She’s smart. She’s going to recognize the trap.”

“And this is something we want?” Nikolas asked skeptically.

“Because Ric won’t care,” Elizabeth murmured. “He’s come too far. He’s too close. He makes mistakes when that happens. He goes too fast, does things he shouldn’t. When we thought they were dead and I was out of the penthouse…Ric waited less than a week to make his move. If he’d waited longer, until we were more comfortable and less on our guards, he might have succeeded. But he wanted to take his chance right at that moment. He won’t be able to resist the attempt to get me.”

Jason pulled her hand into his lap and held it tightly. “So even if Faith warns him, he won’t care. He’ll go anyway. And if we count on Faith seeing the trap—”

“She’s gonna do what Faith does best.” Carly’s lips curved into a smile that Luke recognized from her days of tormenting Barbara Jean. “She’s going to look out for number one. She won’t stick around that loft long enough for one of us to catch her. Which leaves Emily free for the taking.”

Sonny kissed his wife hard. “Days like this I remember why I married you.”

“You’d better. Now, I want some Oreos to go with the words.”

September 16, 2003

Courtney’s Loft

When Sonny entered his sister’s loft, he knew that Ric, Faith and Emily were somewhere within and the knowledge made it hard to look into his sister’s smiling face. “Hey.”

“Hey, Sonny,” Courtney said warmly. She sat on the couch and tucked her legs underneath her body. “What brings you by?”

“I know this situation has been awkward,” Sonny began, “and I know you’ve been hurt about Jason and Elizabeth’s marriage…”

“It was my own fault,” Courtney interrupted. “I knew he wasn’t over her and I let myself fall in love with him anyway. Just another one of life lessons.”

God he wished he could believe that. That she was okay. That none of this was happening. He cleared his throat. “Well, that’s good. Elizabeth’s just been upset about it for weeks. And I was hoping you might relieve some of the stress by just…making your peace.”

Courtney tensed. “Why?”

“You don’t have to mean it.” Sonny managed a smile. “She’s just been stressed with the baby, with arguing with you…this thing with Ric. Jason refuses to let her out of the house or near a phone because he knows how torn up she is about Emily.”

“She’s not going to do anything stupid is she?” Courtney asked hesitantly.

“If she had the chance…” Sonny sighed. “I think she might go to save Emily. A lot of misplaced loyalty in that girl. Anyway, I know she could use a friendly face and with Emily gone, she could use a friend. If it helps, I can arrange for Jason to be gone. If that would make it better.”

“Well…” He could almost see the wheels in her head turning. “I wouldn’t want her to be upset on my account,” Courtney said after a moment. “She’s pregnant and all this stress isn’t good. I guess I could come by around sevenish? If you could make sure Jason’s gone then?”

“Great.” Sonny kissed his sister’s cheek and stood. “We’re all a family now and we have to stick together.”

“Right.” Courtney stood. “I’m glad we talked this through.”

“Me, too.” Sonny smiled at her before making an excuse and leaving. He’d never felt so nauseated in his whole life.

When he was gone, Courtney turned and called out. Faith stepped out of a closet and Ric slid out from under the bed. He went to check on Emily who they had stuffed in the shower stall and tied to the door.

“You’re not actually going to go are you?” Faith asked, slightly bored. “You’re not that good of an actress.”

Ric dragged a struggling Emily out of the bathroom and tied her to a chair. “It’s perfect,” he declared. “Courtney can get inside and let me in. Elizabeth will understand when she sees me. You heard Sonny. If she had the chance, she would go.”

“Oh you have got to be kidding me.” Faith pursed her lips. “It’s a trap and you’re going to walk right into it.”

Courtney shook her head. “Sonny has no idea I’m involved. If he did, I wouldn’t even be breathing. It can’t be a trap.”

“You go in, I’ll come in through the balcony and once we’re sure she’s cooperating,” Ric told Courtney, “she can leave with you and I’ll go back out. She won’t believe that you’re involved unless she sees me.”

“She’ll probably think I’m trying to do away with her because of Jason,” Courtney mused. She hesitated. “But maybe I should try to lure her out on my own. I don’t think you should take the chance.”

“This is what I’ve been waiting months for,” Ric replied. “I have to be there to see it play out.”

“This is like some really bad horror movie,” Faith muttered. She looked at Emily. “Can you believe these two?”

“Shut up, Faith,” Ric said absently. “Okay, so if he’s arranging for Jason to be gone around seven, I’ll be there at 7:10.”

Courtney nodded. “So it’s a plan.”

“It’s a trap!” Faith threw up her hands in exasperation.

Morgan Penthouse

“It’s 6:45, Jason,” Sonny called up the stairs. In Elizabeth’s art studio, Jason tilted his head towards the door and Andrew stepped outside. “I don’t like the idea of you actually being here,” Jason repeated for the third time that afternoon.

“I’ll be in the room with Andrew and you know that Ric’s never even going to reach the stairs. I just want the chance to see him when he’s caught. When this is over.”

Jason hesitated and took her hands in his. “Just promise me you won’t come out until we tell you it’s clear.”

“I promise.”

“And then when this is over, we’re going to have another wedding,” he told her. “One where we’re both sure and ready.”

“Jason, we don’t have to—”

“I want to.” He kissed her lightly. “I’m going to go back downstairs. Wait here with Andrew. Okay?”

“Okay.” She squeezed his hands and reluctantly let him go as he left the room. Andrew reentered a moment later. “It’s going to be okay, right?”

“Sure, Mrs. Morgan. Mr. Morgan’s going to take care of anything. Can we get you into the room now?”

“I get the feeling that you would tell me whatever I want to hear,” Elizabeth sighed as Andrew herded her into the room.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Yeah?” Elizabeth smiled as Andrew locked the door behind them. “Who’s your favorite, me or Carly?”

With an absolute straight face, Andrew answered, “Mrs. Corinthos of course.”

It was the first genuine laugh Elizabeth had managed in weeks.

Hallway

Courtney breezed out the elevators a few moments later and smiled charmingly at Bill and Frank, the guards on duty. “Hey, did Sonny tell you I was coming by?”

“Yep.” Frank smiled. “Mr. Morgan’s already gone and Mrs. Morgan is in her studio. She said to send you right up.”

“Great.” Courtney passed them and went into the penthouse. Sonny stepped out from the opposite corner.

“It’s time.”

Courtney’s Loft

“They never listen,” Faith muttered. She jabbed the syringe into a vial of clear liquid. “I’m the one not emotionally involved but do they listen? No. They run straight into a trap. Well not me. Not this time.”

She yanked the gag off Emily. “Look, tell your brother I was only this for as long as Ric was useful. We had plans. It wasn’t supposed to take this long to secure that stupid harpy but he insisted. Well now he’s done himself in and I’m hitting the road. I’m going to drug you so you pass out and once I’m out of town, I’ll call your sweet brother to tell him where I’ve left you.”

Emily glared at the blonde. “He’ll find you.”

“Lovely. Looking forward to it.” Faith’s lips curved into a smile. “But when he does, it’ll be on my own terms and not because my partner’s a royal moron.” She set the tip of the needle against Emily’s arm. “Sweet dreams, buttercup.”

Morgan Penthouse

When she was inside the penthouse, Courtney bypassed the stairs and headed straight for the balcony where she unlocked the windows and drew them open. “She’s in her studio. Let’s get this over with.”

Ric climbed inside and walked briskly towards the stairs. When his foot was on the first step, Jason stepped onto the landing. “Going somewhere?” he asked.

Ric stepped back, his eyes wide. He spun around but Johnny exited from the kitchen along with another guard who moved to block the window.

And Sonny stepped in through the front door. “Fancy meeting you here, Lansing,” he murmured.

“Sonny, I can explain,” Courtney began.

“Save it,” Sonny said coldly. He met Jason’s eyes before looking at the trapped duo. “It’s over.”

In A Car

Faith Roscoe pressed the cell phone to her ear. “Hello, Jason, darling. I’m sure by now you’ve caught the bumbling idiots. I tried to warn them but they wouldn’t listen. I thought it was time to cut the loose ends.” She laughed. “But you’re probably more concerned about the darling little sister. I left her with her parents. I’m sure they were terribly worried.”

She shut the phone off and looked in her rearview mirror. “Don’t rest too easily, Port Charles,” she murmured. “I won’t be gone forever.”

January 24, 2004

Morgan Penthouse

“Thanks, Andrew,” Elizabeth said as the guard set the large package on the coffee table. “I can’t believe how many presents Laura has.”

Andrew nodded. “The Families can be generous when they like.” He left her then and returned to his post on the door while Elizabeth worked on opening the package.

Life during the few months had been close to idyllic. She and Jason had renewed their vows at Christmas time and Laura had been born January 4. Their relationship with Emily was still awkward though she and Emily had made more progress than Emily and Jason.

They knew it would never be the same between all of them but Emily was not hoping for a miracle. Merely her brother’s forgiveness which Elizabeth knew he would one day reluctantly give.

“Jason!” she called. “We have to be at the church in an hour!”

“We’ll be down in a few minutes,” he called back over the sounds of Laura gurgling.

Elizabeth returned her attention to opening the package. She pulled some cotton from the top and withdrew an elegant silver rattle. She smiled and set it aside. She next pulled out a bottle of expensive champagne. “How odd,” she murmured.

The champagne had been resting on a soft white baby blanket that felt luxurious next to her skin. She pulled it from the box and a white envelope with her name scrawled in blood red ink fell from its folds.

She hesitantly set the blanket down and picked up the envelope. The handwriting was not familiar but she felt goose bumps rising on her skin as she opened it and slid out the thick cream-colored piece of paper. The ink inside matched the color outside and Elizabeth could fee her blood chill and her heart began beating fast as she read the note.

Congratulations on the baby, Princess. I’m sure you and your hubby are just thrilled. Have a drink on me and don’t worry—I’ll be sure to see you soon.

Love,
Faith

THE END

Author’s Note: Thanks for reading PD. I know there are some people who have no problem with this version (and may prefer this since there is not a ton of angst as there is in the rewritten version, A Few Words Too Many), but as a writer, I just knew I could do this storyline better. I think I did, but you guys are the ultimate judge. Rather than leaving to expire into the dust when my domain expires, it’ll remain in here for as long the threads work and on my site for as long as that’s around.