Spy Games

T&B, Liz, Cam/Morgan, CarJax, MiStarr

Author's notes: This will have everyone in Port Charles in the fic at some point, but the Mannings, Webbers, and Spencers (yes, Carly IS a Spencer) are the main characters. Not every character is going to be in every chapter (much like a soap is written).

Todd and Blair, Carly and Jax are end game. Cam is gay. Morgan IS his love interest. Liz doesn't have a set love interest, because I'm writing this for a friend who doesn't want LL2, but I do want LL2. So hopefully feedback will end our argument on who she should be with. The first chapter is really introducing Cam and Morgan as teens, their relationships to those around them and what T&B have been doing for the last year. It might be a little boring, sorry! The story picks up. It's action/adventure/comedy/romance

Casting:

Cameron: Shane Coffey

Morgan: Billy Unger

Sarah Webber: Jennifer Skye

Reading key (in large portions):

Bold: is writing

Italics: flashbacks

(Parentheses): Thoughts.

Chapter One

In which Blair and Jax are business partners, Todd and Carly mope about it, Cam cons all of Port Charles and Morgan is as charming as he is smart.

August 2013

We all want what we can never have. I mean, my parents want to save the world and that isn't going to happen. The Johnsons want me to be so grateful that they are giving me a place to stay, that I forget to be me and that's just as absurd as what my parents want. My sister wants…oh yeah, theory blown. Sarah always gets what she wants. Unless fate intervenes. And by fate? I totally mean me and a first class ticket to Port Charles, New York.

"What are you doing, Webber?"

Cameron Webber looked up from one of the many journals that he found in his mother's studio to see his boss's temperamental, idiotic son Jack Manning; who, if not for nepotism and an exorbitant amount of wealth, would probably end up as nothing. (Well, maybe he could be a model or something. He's pretty, at least.) He wore clothes well too. A steel gray business jacket with Armani slacks and a white button down made him look sleek and pressed. All that was unruly about Jack was his hair, which was to be expected since it was the style.

Jack claimed he got his style from that dead Victor guy, but Cam knew that it had to be Blair Cramer. That woman had flare.

"I get a thirty minute break every day, Manning." Cam responded tightly, flipping to the next page of his mother's journal, despite the fact that he was no longer reading it (it's always best to look busy when confronted by annoying people, they are more likely to go away). Ignoring Jack was something he easily did; when he wasn't getting paid by Todd or Blair to spy on their son, anyway. He was paid by each, separately and neither knew the other was shelling out cash for the information . Jack didn't have a clue either; but he was paying Cam to pretend to be his friend so that, as Todd's personal assistant, he could casually drop that Jack was doing fine, Jack didn't need to go to boarding school, and Jack was a really good influence on him. The formerly married couple even paid for information on each other; leaving Cam to wonder if they really as over each other as they claimed to be.

But Cam had all the goods on both. For instance, Cam knew that Blair and Tomás had broken up months ago when she started doing business with the exiled Jasper Jacks and came to Port Charles to do so. She let Todd believe that she was still with him because that kept Todd at bay, and she didn't want to fall prey to his lies again. He didn't tell Todd that part, because he could easily claim to not have found that much out, and he could use that information at a later date. He did, however, tell Todd that Blair didn't see her lover much and that was probably leading to trouble in paradise.

Todd, on the other hand, had been working overtime to break up a couple that were already in splitsville by getting "No Mas" investigated by the government. Which Cam kept from Blair because he knew it could get Todd in a lot of trouble, and despite all the evidence he left to the contrary, Cam liked his boss. Instead, he told Blair that Todd had been spending a lot of time with Carly, which was truly driving the ex-Mrs. Manning mad with jealousy. Which was kind of fun to watch, really.

"Doesn't your dad get pissed that you're never home?" Jack wanted to know (I just want to know why you won't go away, and why you're so obsessed with my life). "Or does he assume you're with your boyfriend and just get too embarrassed to ask?"

"He's not my dad." Cam said sincerely about Lucky Spencer, whom he had no real attachment to anymore, outside of the resentment he held for his mother's constant regard of him. (He's the only man on the planet mom wouldn't tear apart for leaving his family.) "and he doesn't care that I'm gay."

"Did your mom freak?"

"No." Cam looked up from the journal darkly, "why do you care? You gay?"

"No!" Jack said, completely dismayed (I shouldn't be so mean, just because I know how to press your buttons, doesn't mean I should). "I just never met your mom, so I wondered. What was she like?"

(Talking to you about my mom is the last thing I want to do) Cam brushed some of his dark curls from his forehead and looked up at Jack quizzically. The kid had everything; money, power, friends (what makes you so fucked up that you heckled some kid enough to practically kill himself?). Everyone knew what happened with Shane Morasco. The moment that Jack showed up at Molly's private school, word was out. Cam went to PCH, because his mother didn't have more money than God; he was fine with it. Although, kids were cruel considering he was openly gay.

Not that it mattered. He didn't need friends.

He just needed money.

Which was why he was working as an assistant to Todd Manning, having been hired after Sam Morgan got her baby back and quit. It was also why he was babysitting Sam Manning, scamming the entire Manning clan and doing odd jobs for some of the older women in the neighborhood. He needed the money, what he was attempting to do wasn't cheap.

"Why?"

"I don't know." Jack shrugged, "did she get you into karate?"

Cam rolled his eyes, "mixed martial arts," he clarified, "mostly Muy Thai. And yes. "

"Was she a good mother?"

"Yes."

"Did she really sleep with your uncle?"

Cam slowly stood up, making himself level with Jack and allowing an expression of malice to cross his usually calm and still features. Like his mother, Cam had a temper, and he was very physical person- with his anger, as well as his affection. Everyone knew that, most of all Jack, whose little homophobic friend got a face full of fist after a few slurs that Cam didn't appreciate. "Nikolas is not my uncle, Jack."

"Fine, whatever. Did she really sleep with her fiancée's brother?"

"Yes." Cam answered with a shrug, before sitting down again.

Jack's eyebrows flew up, "that doesn't bother you?"

"Why don't we talk about you, Manning?" Cam shot back with a smirk, "like, how does it feel to know your father killed his brother?"

Jack scowled, "scarface was not my dad. He let my mom think I was dead right after I was born. He's nothing to me."

Cam's smirk didn't leave, "then I guess we're done talking about parents, hm?"

Jack gave an exaggerated sigh, "fine, whatever. Are you going to the party tonight?"

"No. Now go away."

XXX

Todd stared at the party invitation, then tossed it into the garbage, leaning back into his chair, intertwining his fingers and placing them behind his head. Blair and Jax.

"What kind of a name is Jax anyway?" Todd asked Carly Jacks, who was seated across the room, wearing much the same irritated expression as Todd was. The blonde hotel owner, who had since bought out her husband's ownership of the Metrocourt, had her arms crossed around her chest and glared at the question. "I mean, what is he? A video game character?"

She sat down across from him and raised one eyebrow, "I think it's a sexy name."

"Ah. That must be why you're dressed for his party." Todd motioned toward her white button down shirt and black skirt. "Is the party business attire only?"

"I wasn't invited."

"Well gosh Carly, why is that? I mean, the party is commemorating the partnership between Blair and your husband, not to mention it is sort of a coming home party, right? Since all of the charges against him magically vanished." Spreading his hands out, Todd gave a fake smile, "oh yeah, because your husband can't stand you."

"We have some issues to work through." Carly admitted, "and we could probably work through them a lot faster if your ex wasn't in the way."

"My ex is with Tomás." Todd replied darkly, "she's hardly your problem. Your problem is that you're too chickenshit to go talk to him; because you think he moved on to that model- whatshername."

If looks could kill, he'd be laying down dead (If looks could kill I'd have died a long time ago). "Jax is so done with Brenda, she's still in Rome."

"So you're checking up on her."

"I may, or may not, have used Morgan's MyFace account to check her status and where she was going." Carly shrugged, "at least I don't have my little assistant babysitting his children and spying on him. How is that going, by the way?"

Todd rolled his eyes, "Remind me not to tell you anything. Ever. Again." Todd stood up and walked across the office, unable to be still any longer. He liked to keep moving, it was just in his nature. "Cam's doing alright. I mean, he's got no future with the CIA, but he gets me what I need. I'm sure he can update you on Jax now, since he'll be working so closely with Blair."

"Oh can it," Carly stood up and poured herself a glass of brandy from the cart that he kept in his office, "like you're not as jealous as I am."

"I'm not jealous of Jasper Jacks- he looks like a Ken doll." Todd lied easily, like he always did, and made sure to laugh after his statement, to show just how not jealous he really was. But truthfully, he was jealous of Jasper Jacks. At this point, he was jealous of the damn chauffer that drove Blair everywhere. It was driving him crazy. She always drove him crazy (do I like to be driven crazy? Is that it?) "Besides, their business is going to tank anyway. She named it Meladora, after Melador, which she didn't have the best luck with, by the way."

"Ah."

"And really? Clothing design? Why? She makes jewelry, not clothes"

"Probably Jax's idea." Carly put in dryly, "he loved this clothing designer once-upon-a-time. He's sentimental. I bet he's probably even using some of her stuff."

Todd rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

"So is Cam going to the party to be your little spy?"

Todd shook his head, "the kid isn't much for partying, you know, he's pretty busy moping and being friendless. Even I have friends- well, Um, a friend, I guess." He made a face, "I think he's the only person who hates more people than I do. I wonder if he has a list."

"A list? Why, did you have a list?"

"Several." He smirked, "why? Don't you?"

She just shook her head with both eyebrows raised and a look of annoyance coloring her features. Blair had made a similar expression once when he talked about his list of people to get. It had been longer then though. Maybe Blair just had thicker skin than Carly did. "Anyway, Cam agreed to stay here and help with the paper or whatever. He's always here anyway."

"But you two aren't friends." Carly replied slowly and disbelievingly.

"Are you implying that I am sleeping with my employee?"

"Todd."

"No. I told you. He doesn't have friends. He doesn't talk." Todd motioned to the door, "all he does is spy and work, work and spy. Oh, and do that kick-fighting thing. He's sad really."

Carly smiled, putting a hand on her hip, "Oh yeah, he's still into that? He used to be friends with my son Morgan, but then Morgan went off to military school." She shrugged, "I guess they had a falling out after Cam came out as gay. I don't know. I think it might have weirded Morgan out a little." At his quizzical expression, she continued, "Morgan and Cameron were best friends since….forever. They were literally attached at the hip- drove me crazy because, quite frankly, his mother was a muffin-faced, passive-aggressive little bitch." She stopped and looked sheepish, "probably shouldn't say that, she was good to Morgan and she saved Joss' life, but really, it's how I felt at the time." She made another face, and raised a brow. Todd was actually interested in the story of his assistant, well, mildly interested. He was one of the few people not throwing their life story at him. "Anyway, Morgan worshipped Cameron. Seriously, every day it was Cam did this, or Cam did that, or did you know Cam can do this?" She mimicked the voice of her son and then shook her head, "so when Cam came out, it was just like whoa…." She put both hands up, "and so Morgan was thrown for a loop, I mean here was this kid he worshipped and now he was gay? So…Morgan asked to go to military school and that was the last we heard about how great Cameron was." She took a long drink from her class and then set it on the desk. "Cam took it pretty badly, I guess, because when his mom died, he didn't speak to Morgan at all, even when Morgan tried to reach out to him."

"Do you think Cameron was like…in love with your son?"

"I think so." Carly nodded, "I think Cam told Morgan he was in love with him and that was what freaked him out. It's not like he's homophobic. My brother Lucas is gay and Morgan thinks he's great." She shrugged, "it's the only thing Jax and I could think of that would tear those two apart. Jax asked Liz about it once, because they were friends," she rolled her eyes, displaying her displeasure over that little fact. "But according to Liz, Cam had a crush on Lucas and it was no secret, she put a big ol' nix on it because of the age difference. Not that I blame her. Jax thought maybe Cam used Lucas as a cover because he was embarrassed about the whole thing."

"And Morgan's never mentioned it?"

"Not to me. He's close with Jax though, and they have this weird bond thing. Maybe he told him." She bit down on her lower lip, took in a slight breath and stated, "maybe you can find out from Cam?"

"You want me to grill my assistant about your son?" Todd barked out a laugh, "you're kidding right- have you met Cam? That kid barely says hello. He makes me look kind of social." Todd shook his head, "no dice. Besides, spying on my spy seems…tawdry."

"Like you care." Carly pointed out. "Besides, if you talk to Cam, then I'll crash the party your ex is throwing for my husband and give you all the information you want. I may even write an article about it for your paper." She pointed at him as she made the statement, lips lifted with smugness and eyes glinting with mischief and excitement. "You know you want me to."

He did want her to. He wanted the party crashed and burned, actually. If he had his way, he'd set that damn Haunted Star boat on fire (or, I would if Starr and Blair weren't on it. Or I would set it on fire, then save them and be the hero…that would probably work the best). "You won't do it. Besides, Starr will inadvertently tell me everything that happens, and if she doesn't, your son will while he's trying to win me over, you know, so I hate him a little less." Todd gave her a smile

Truthfully, Starr was being even more tight-lipped than her mother. They had worked things out, but she was pretty protective of Blair. He missed the days when his little Shorty was trying to get them back together and he could use her as an excuse to reunite with Blair. Now he had to take credit for all of it (which sucks, really. Especially since I've been rejected so many times. And all because of a few little lies and a dead brother). "Come on, Todd. Let's make it a deal. Who knows? Maybe Cam is secretly in love with you and will therefore tell you everything. It would explain why he's always here."

"Watch this." Todd told her with a smirk. He walked over to the door, opened it and leaned out while still holding the knob, "hey Webber, are you secretly in love with me?"

Jack, from where he sat on Cameron's desk, looked up in ultimate horror. Cameron, however, didn't even move his expression from the screen he was staring at, nor did he stop typing as he spoke in a toneless voice. "Yes, But ours is a forbidden love, and I have finally learned to accept that."

He glanced at Carly and wagged his eyebrows, "it's because I'm so pretty."

She shook her head in ridicule, then flounced past him to Jack, taking his arm in hers, "come on, Jack. I'm going to be your plus one for this party."

"You're kidding, right?" Jack was asking as she started dragging him out of the office. He looked back at Todd as if asking for help, but Todd smiled and shrugged helplessly at him (Blair is totally going to flip).

He then looked to Cameron, who was still focused on his task. "Do you ever emote, kid?"

"Sure." Cameron answered just as emotionlessly as he had answered Todd's first questions. "sometimes I get angry."

Todd stared at him for a moment, then started back into his office, "order our regulars, Cam. It's going to be a long night."

XXX

"Everything looks perfect." Blair clapped her hands together and grinned at her daughter as she looked around the Haunted Star. The boat now belonged to Lulu Spencer solely, and had been that way since Johnny Zacharra went missing a year earlier. That was of great comfort to Blair, and she was sure even more comfort to Todd, who hated Johnny with the passion of a thousand suns. "Don't you think it looks perfect?"

Starr beamed and nodded, "absolutely, mom."

"It looks great."

Morgan Jacks, Blair's business partner's adoptive son walked into the room with little Sam on his back. He was babysitting because the usual sitter, Cameron Webber, wasn't available. According to Carly, Morgan had spent most of his time in military school, only leaving the year before because of their lackluster computer program. He returned to Port Charles to attend the highest rated private school in the country, which had connections to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He could mostly be seen hanging out with Damian Spinelli, Molly Lansing, or Blair's beloved Starr. Sadly, he and Jack didn't get along.

He had spent the summer growing his hair back out, so he could bleach parts of it and mix in some green with the black, and Blair appreciated the panache that he had. His clothes were always the pinnacle of what was going on in counter-culture style, and his model good looks didn't hurt his case with that either.

She got along with Jax's son, who had been the one to originally broach the idea of the two becoming business partners. Well, it had been a combined effort of both Starr and Morgan, actually. Blair was grateful for the idea because Jax was a great businessman and the work was fun and exciting. It seemed to breath new life into her, she felt braver than she had in a long time, and freer too. Together they made a damn good team.

Morgan allowed the ten year old Sam to hop off his back. "Why isn't Cam babysitting me tonight?" he asked, pushing his glasses up onto the rim of his nose and looking up at Morgan with a troubled expression. "Doesn't he like me anymore?"

Blair reached down and picked him up, leaving out a heave as she did. He was growing so quickly. She wished that he could stay little forever sometimes, because growing up was so hard, especially in the family he was in. She nuzzled his cheek lovingly and told him in a sweet voice, "Cameron can't tonight, honey. You see, tomorrow is going to be a very hard day for him."

"Why?"

"Well," she softened her voice even more, and tried not to think too hard on what she was saying. Her heart broke for him at the idea of it, and so in order for her not to cry herself, she had to remain detached. "You know how you lost your daddy?"

He nodded gravely.

"Well, Cameron lost his mother like that too, okay?" Blair told him, "He took it very hard, Sam."

"Maybe," Sam said quietly, "his mommy and my daddy are friends in heaven?"

She almost lost it there, and when she looked at Starr, she could see tears in her daughter's eyes. She was probably thinking about Cole and Hope too. (We've all lost so much, haven't we? I just wish the world would stop spinning for a moment and give us all a chance to breathe). "You know, I bet they are." Blair said through the lump in her throat. She set him down on the ground, "you're so smart, Sam." With a tender hand, she brushed a few strands of hair out of his face. "So you understand that tomorrow is the anniversary of the day he lost her. So you can see why he can't be here?"

Sam nodded, "yeah."

"Sam, Michael and Lulu are in the kitchen making some sandwiches to hold us over until the party. Why don't you go in and tell them what kind you want, okay?" Starr suggested.

"Okay." He ran off, disappearing behind the bar and Blair waited for the sound of the door shutting behind him.

Starr walked over and took her mother's hand in hers. "You're so good at that."

She wanted to tell her daughter that she was the one who taught her to be good at it, that talking to Starr as a child was what prepared her for Jack and Sam. But it wasn't the time, or the place and she still felt the wounds of Hope being gone were too fresh. It was tough talking about little girls with Starr. She would sometimes get that sad, distant expression that let Blair know just what she was thinking about. "Thanks."

"Okay, so I just stopped by to tell you that Alexis is picking Jax up from the airport." Morgan told them matter-of-factly, "they should be at this party right on time."

"Great!" Blair exclaimed, "I am so excited to meet your dad in person, Morgan. He's so charming- I can see where you get it from."

"It ends that whole nature Vs. nurture debate, huh?" He chuckled, "although looks come directly from the parents, which explains why you're so gorgeous Starr. You know," Morgan's grin showcased his dimples in full glory, "your mother is a knock out. Any chance that I could convince you to go for a younger man, Blair?"

Blair simply chuckled and waved a hand for him to stop it. "Speaking of beauty, I should be at home primping for tonight." She gave her daughter a hug and a kiss on the cheek, "I'll see you later?"

"With bells on." Starr promised. "Is dad coming?"

Blair exchanged a glance with Morgan and shook her head, "he didn't RSVP, darling. I'm so sorry."

Starr sighed, "he's still so hurt about you being engaged to Tomás. I wish I could say he would come around but…" she trailed off, "you and I both know better than that, don't we?"

"Oh baby-girl, I'm so sorry. Your dad and I, we just always make a mess of things; and you're the one who pays every time." Regret left a catch or two in her voice, and she shook her head. "You wanted us together so badly when you were little."

"Well, what kid doesn't want their parents together?" Starr asked with a little laugh, "but it's alright mom, I've outgrown it, you know?" she kissed her mother on the cheek and then looked to Morgan, "Michael and I will finish getting Sam ready if you want to go get Molly and TJ?"

"Sure, thanks." He held an arm out to Blair, "since your beloved is not attending this with you, would you allow me the honor of escorting you?"

She laughed good naturedly and accepted his arm, "but of course, kind sir."

They conversed idly, with mild flirtation, as they exited the boat (he reminds me of some kind of prince from the past, whose flirtations were to fulfill courtly manners, no more and no less. Nonetheless, why has he not found himself a girlfriend? He's a good lookin' kid, and a real charmer to boot). As they entered his black 1968 mustang, Morgan leaned over the car door he opened for her with a smile full of mischief. "You know your daughter is totally lying, right? She'd be completely beside herself with joy if you and your ex hooked up."

"Morgan," Blair began in a warning voice as she ducked inside the car and he shut the door.

He rounded the car and opened the door, leaning in, "no seriously." He adjusted the seat and then shut his door, "I heard her talking with Michael last night, and she told him that if she could have anything for her dad, it would be you, and that she knew deep down Todd Manning was it for you." Her heart should have sank at that, but it didn't, which was confusing in and of itself. "Look, all you have to do is tell him that this relationship with Tomás is a lie, and I can stop doctoring stupid emails for you. Easy as pie. Then just go to Todd, tell him you're in love with him and then wham, bam, thank you ma'am. You're married in like…two days."

'Oh?" she asked defiantly, "you don't think Todd is going to be a little resentful of me lying about being engaged to his captor for an entire year?"

"You're kidding, right?" Morgan scoffed, "he'd build you the fucking Taj Mahal if that's what it took to get you back, and he'd be right to do it. You're beautiful, smart, fierce and by God, I'm half in love with you myself."

She crossed her arms over her chest and averted her gaze to the window, eyes taking in the beautiful boat that Lulu Spencer owned. Her heart glowed at the compliments, but she couldn't let these sweet words cloud her judgment. "He'd also trample all over my feelings and my life to have me, if that's what it took. You're young and sweet, so you don't get this but…it's hard to rebuild after someone has hurt you as badly as Todd Manning has hurt me."

"He made mistakes," she glared at him, "okay, so he's made giant mistakes that wrecked everything around him. But he's suffered, Blair. He's miserable without you, anyone can see that." She wanted to do exactly what Morgan was telling her to do. Every part of her ached for it. But then where would she be? At the brink. At the edge (I'd just be waiting for it to all fall apart. I can't live like that). She looked at Morgan, whose eyes were dark and hopeful (How can I not live like that? Love is always a risk). Her conflicting thoughts sent her stomach churning and her heart pounding, she was still so confused. "Look, he's screwed up, but lots of people do. They do things that they wish they could take back more than anything- but they don't mean to do it in the first place. Sometimes people get scared, they- they panic and they don't know what to do or how to react, so they do the exact wrong thing…"

"Are you speaking from experience then?"

He looked startled, "you love him. I can see it every time you say his name, Blair. And he loves you. Otherwise he wouldn't be scanning your emails."

"That's not love, that's stalking."

"You said yourself that you and Todd don't do love like normal people." He reminded her. "Blair, go. Go to him right now."

"You're young," she reiterated, "it's not as easy as all that, Morgan. You don't know what it's like to love someone like I love Todd. It's insanity. It's non-stop. Morgan, it's terrifying."

He was quiet, and when she looked at him, she noticed a troubled expression. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Morgan?" She asked, suddenly worried that she was giving him bad advice (but if I am giving him bad advice, that means I am also giving myself bad advice…and I'm not. I finally have my life together, I can't let anything destroy it. Not even love).

XXX

"This is the photo you want to use." Cam said, tossing the picture of Lulu Spencer at him. The picture was of her looking over her shoulder at the camera, eyes twinkling and looking sweet but seductive. "Pull the public in with her beauty, then you use this picture." He tossed a second picture at Todd, this one was of a very unstable looking Allison Perkins, the loon of Llanview, who was responsible for attacking Lulu. It was the headline for the paper, and Todd promised Cameron that he would let the kid work on it with him. Besides, he was good at this kind of thing. The last paper he helped with, sold better than many of the other papers that year. "This accentuates the fact that she was the attacker, see how the shadows play under her eyes? Doesn't that make her look creepy? All the while, the cover of this paper shows a beautiful sweet young girl that the audience wants to identify with, sympathize for."

Todd had to admit that his idea seemed sound and that the pictures he chose fit the article in a way that made sense to Todd. He worked well with the kid, and he liked him alright. The kid didn't constantly tell him he was a bad person, or try and get him to change. Actually, outside of money, Cam didn't seem to want anything from him at all. It made their relationship very simple. "What about the writing itself, would you change anything?"

"I'm not good with words."

"I've noticed." Todd chuckled, took the pictures from his desk and examined them, then looked back up at Cam. "We still have 10 more pages to go, and of course the online component."

"I know."

(Could it hurt the kid to try and talk? It would make my life easier, and this little favorite Carly a lot less awkward). "Don't you have a life?"

"No." Simple. Direct. Cold.

"No friends?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Since when did you care if I had a life?" Cam sneered, "My first day you told me to give up all of my friends and family because this paper was going to be my entire existence. A month into the job called me in at two in the morning to bail you out of jail for assaulting Johnny Zacharra." Cameron snorted, then sat on the desk with his back towards Todd, "in fact, the only friend you want me to have is Jack and that's just another job."

"I was being facetious."

"You weren't." Cam said in disbelief. He hopped off the desk and turned to him, "you wanted me to quit doing martial arts, because you thought it was going to take up time that should have been spent on your paper."

Todd sighed, "well I was being serious, but I don't expect people to actually listen to me. I give that same speech to every single person here, and they have lives."

"But you don't care about their lives." Cameron pointed out, crossing his arms over his chest, "and I know you don't care about mine. So the only thing that I can think of, is that someone asked you to care about my life. I know it wasn't Jack, it couldn't have been Blair, and like you would listen to Lucky, who would be the only one to ask you anything about me. So, I'm at a loss. Who wants information?"

Todd tried to laugh it off, "you don't know what you're talking about."

But Cameron was having none of that, and his eyes were fixed on Todd as though he could discern the answer just by looking at him.

Todd decided to try another tactic, he folded his hands and propped his elbows up on the arms of his office chair and looked up expectantly at Cameron. "I pretty much spend all of my time with you, I mean think about it, when are we not at work? So I'm a little curious, sue me."

The speculative look at Cameron's face didn't give Todd much hope for an answer, but the boy sat down in front of him, gazed at him levelly and said in a very even tone; "I don't need a life, I need money. I work because working gets me that money. So you see, it's very simple."

"What do you need money for?" He asked, raising his eyebrows and squinting his eyes while he lifted his shoulders, "your aunt is a doctor who pays for everything and your mom's life insurance set you up for life." For a moment, Todd thought he saw an actual expression cross the boy's face. But it must've only been his imagination, because Cam looked passive once more and said nothing. "Carly said that you were friends with Morgan and Molly. You know," he chuckled, "it's okay to like M&Ms." (I crack myself up sometimes).

And there was, he actually saw Cameron Webber smile. "My mom used to call them that."

Todd had met Elizabeth Webber exactly one time before her death a year before, and it had been quite a throw away moment. She had driven her son to the interview and waited for him in the lobby.

Cam had been different then, but eager to work and had recommendations that kind of made him sound like a God, so he had hired him on the spot. Todd thenwatched as Cam left the office, walked into the lobby and his mother, just a tiny brunette, gave her son a hug that reminded him of the way Blair always hugged Starr. "Anyway, this whole sharing is caring thing is getting old. Can we stop?"

Todd shrugged, "okay, fine. We won't talk about you then. You'll tell me what you found out about Blair yesterday."

"Things are the same. Long-distance romance, business venture with Jax, party tonight..." Cam rolled the words off and gave a little eye roll, "status quo."

"And Jack?"

"Now Jack you should worry about, because if you didn't notice? He left with Carly. That kid doesn't stand a chance."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

Cam let out a bitter sound that Todd thought could have been a laugh. "You're kidding, right?"

"Oh, screw it." Todd threw up his hands in defeat, and made a sound of exaggerated annoyance. "Are you in love with Morgan Jacks? Is that why he ran off to boarding school hell, because he just couldn't deal?"

"So that's what this is about? Carly? She couldn't get answers from me or her son, so she sent you here to do it." Cameron shook his head, stood up but as he moved, he knocked his stack of files and books over and one of them fell open onto the floor.

Instinctively Todd moved to pick them up, "is this even in English?" He picked up the leather bound book that had fallen open, and turned it sideways then right again. It looked to be written in gibberish, there were lots of Zs, Ys and Rs, he noticed right away and his mind started to try and work to solve the puzzle before him. "It's some kind of code." He started flipping through the pages, then jumped as Cameron tried to grab it off of him. Each page had the same gibberish, but then there were pictures and drawings put into it as well.

"Give it back Todd, you realize that I can simply take it off you, right? I can kill you in like…a thousand ways without even needing a weapon or anything."

That sounded like panic in Cameron's voice (so he does emote after all).

Todd quickly made it to the other side of the room, then stopped dead as he is a picture that he recognized. It was a drawing, but a good one, it was rendered well enough that he recognized the face. There were cartoon aspects to it, like devil horns and a pointed beard, but that countenance was unmistakable. "What is this?"

"Nothing. Give it back."

"Do you know who this is?" Todd questioned, holding the drawing up for Cameron to see, "did you draw this?"

"Yes, I know who it is. But I don't see how you would. And no I didn't draw it. Give it back, Manning before I fucking take it back." With frightening speed, Cam snatched the book bag, and held it closer to him.

Todd stared at him, "Cameron, what is a drawing of the mother I shot and killed doing in your mother's journal?"

XXX

"How did the session go?"

Victor's question was said in a casual, conversational tone, but there was steel beneath it. It wasn't his steel though, it didn't belong to Victor, it belonged to the man who was controlling his thoughts. A man who was an expert in the field, who had decades of practice with the human mind.

Cesar Faison.

"Father said it went poorly." He responded with an exhale that displayed his unhappiness. "He will try hypnosis next. We don't want a repeat performance of the Rebecca and Emily thing," he shuddered at the memory of that, "what a nightmare."

Victor gave him a smirk, "so Rebecca means nothing to you?"

"She's not Rebecca." He answered simply, "Rebecca never existed. So why would she matter? And what's left of Emily's mind…well, not even that Zander guy would want her now. Her mind is mush."

It was heartless sounding, but that came with the territory, and he was still relatively bitter about how Faison, his own father, had tricked him into going to Port Charles using the supposed 'con artist.'

"We'll be putting her in with Emily now." Victor informed him, "your father insists that she'll be a calming influence."

"Father knows best." The bitterness in his voice was evident. "all I know is that we need to get that information from Elizabeth Webber now that Irene is dead…and we need to do it."

"By any means necessary." Victor agreed.

The whole situation left a bad taste in his mouth and a rock in his stomach; but it had to be done. He knew that better than anyone, had sacrificed more than anyone, and knew what would happen if they failed…better than anyone. Frowning, Ethan Lovett nodded at Victor Lord Jr. "By any means necessary." He repeated.