Disclaimer:
I own nothing related to or affiliated with Disney, ABC Daytime, or General Hospital. Characters are not mine; they are merely being borrowed.

AN:

This is one of those crazy what if fics that pop into my head. This is going to be a short fic six chapters at the most. However it's going to be a bumpy bumpy ride. I hope you enjoy this as much as I am writing it.

Background:

Everything that happened up until Thursday May 29th happened in this fic. With one exception. ;) As always feel free to ask any questions.

Shadow Games

Chapter One

Luke waited until he was certain Julian Jerome had left before pulling out a cellphone. When the line stopped ringing he said, "Boss it's me. Jerome just left."

"The plan is on schedule then?" he asked anxiously. Ric Lancing was going to learn the hard way not to mess with his organization. He was fully going to enjoy make both Sonny and Ric suffer.

"Right about now the PCPD should be arresting Ric Lancing."

"Perfect," he said pleased with how things were playing out. "I've been waiting years to make Lancing pay. Now you're job is to make sure Jerome doesn't grow a conscious."

He was tempted to chuckle at the comment. Julian Jerome was going to exactly as he was told from now on. That new found family of his was a serious weakness. "I'm certain he got the message not to cross you."

"For you're sake he better. I will not have my plans ruined. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir." he gulped not waiting to piss the boss off. Luke had seen what the man was capable of and it scared the hell outta him.

"Excellent. Then have fun on your little vacation." he said hanging up before Luke could ask him how he learned about the trip.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ric couldn't believe he was sitting in an interrogation room. A small part of him wanted to blame Sonny for being arrested. Only there was no real reason to frame him certainly not for this. If his brother truly thought he was behind Julian Jerome he'd be dead. Of course that left him with no other suspects. He knew people hated him but this felt like something more. It felt almost personal.

Closing his eyes Ric let out a frustrated sigh. Things had been going so good between him and Elizabeth. He could still see the hurt and confusion written on her face. This could be the things that ruined them for good.

Well except for the fact Elizabeth said she believed him. When the cops showed up he begged her to trust him just this once. Ric knew that given his past it was a lot to ask. Still he couldn't help himself. It took longer than he'd have like but she eventually agreed to trust him.

That trust was the only reason he hadn't lost it. Ric had gotten a peek at the evidence and had to admit it was a good frame job. He doubted it was prefect however. He hadn't been in town that long after all. No this was something to get him out of someone's way. The question was who?

"Are you ready to talk Mr. Lancing?" Anna asked closing the door and sitting down. She felt terrible for Elizabeth. The young woman seemed to have the worst luck in picking men. However it was better if she knew the truth now. "Or are you still claiming to be innocent?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Alexis almost couldn't believe what she was hearing. Julian was accusing Ric of being his boss. It was unimaginable. She couldn't understand why he would lie about something so important. Apparently Julian thought she was a total idiot. "So you turned my ex husband, Molly's father, in as your boss?"

"I'm sorry Alexis but I had to do something to get out." Julian said softly. He needed Alexis to believe him. What he did was wrong but his family was at stake. Surly she could understand.

"And having Ric arrested was the only way?" she asked trying to clam herself down. Alexis doubted she could get away with murder twice. Well probably anyways.

"It was the only I could be free of the mob yes."

"You expect..." Whatever tirade she was about to go was interrupted by someone pounding on the door. She was shocked to see Elizabeth Webber standing there, looking slightly disheveled. "This is a surprise."

Elizabeth tried not to feel more embarrassed about being there. Having the PCPD see her in almost nothing was bad enough. "Sorry to barge in but I've had... a difficult night. Ric... Ric got arrested."

"I know." Alexis admitted letting out a sigh. Whatever Julian gave the cops it must have been good. "Julian is the one who turned him in."

"You did this?" Elizabeth demanded to know marching up to the older man. "How could you lie like that? Don't you care who you hurt? Or is this just some mob game to you?"

"Look all I did was tell the truth. Ric is the one..." Julian stopped mid sentence by Elizabeth slapping him across the face. "What in the hell was that for?"

"Breaking my little boy's heart." she snapped back. On the ride over all she could think of was how Cam was going to be devastated by all this. He adored Ric. Apparently the though was enough to bring Lizzie out. "You might not care who you hurt right now but you will."

"Are you threatening me? Don't you know who I am?"

"I know exactly what you are Mr. Jerome," Elizabeth said rolling her eyes. Mobsters were really all alike. She wondered if they had to take some sort of class. "and I'm not scared of you. Compared to Helena Cassadine you're an amateur." she finished refusing to back down. Julian Jerome wasn't as scary as he thought.

"Is that so? Aren't you a brave little thing?" he asked amusement lacing his voice. Julian was surprised that someone so tiny wasn't afraid of him. He was going to have to learn more about Elizabeth Webber.

"Julian I think you should go." Alexis told him firmly. She didn't want the situation to get anymore out of hand. She was already dreading having to tell Molly about Ric's arrest. The news was going to beak her daughter's heart.

Julian was stunned by the request. He knew thought Alexis would side with her ex. "You don't believe me either?"

"Not this time." she told him shaking her head. It broke her heart to acknowledge that Julian was framing Ric. She cared for the other man deeply. However she couldn't overlook his lies. Not about this. Not ever again. "I think it's best if we stop seeing each other."

"I can't believe this. You're both insane." Julian muttered storming out of the house and slamming the door.

"That was unexpected."

Elizabeth let out a long sigh and collapsed on the couch. This was not how she expected her night to end. She had been so close to making promises to Ric. Now she didn't know what to think. "I probably shouldn't have hit him huh?" she muttered rest her head in her hands.

"He'll get over it." Alexis said waving off her concerns. She didn't think Julian would go after Elizabeth because of this. Not if he truly wanted out of the mob. "So back to Ric. Do you believe he's innocent?"

"I need to believe him Alexis. You should have seen him when the cops showed up... I've never seen him so... scared. If he was lying... I want to believe in him. Is that crazy?"

"Not at all." she reassured the younger woman. It was clear that Elizabeth still had deep feelings for their mutual ex husband. Feelings Alexis knew he shared. God help Ric if he was Julian's boss. She'd kill them both. "Why donn't I go down to the PCPD and see what's going on?"