PART TWO
Two days later, Sonny was woken up and dragged from his bed along with his wife. Taken to a dark warehouse, they were told to sit down and not to move. When he protested, saying he would make them pay for this, the man with the Slavic accent looked at him with scorn and said: "You can try."
Claudia found herself pulled into a room and shown pictures of her Uncle Rudy who was seriously wounded. "Why are you looking for Elizabeth Webber?"
She kept silent only for the woman to slap her across the face. "I would answer before I give you to Boris, maybe he can convince you like he did your Uncle."
Looking at Boris, she started to sneer then saw the knives being pulled out. When the large man moved closer, she looked into his eyes and saw death. Giving up, Claudia admitted that she was looking for Elizabeth because she was the way to control Jason Morgan and her husband.
"Tell me about your interactions with Morgan." Telling them everything, she even mentioned the non-wedding, only for one of the men watching on the screen elsewhere to start swearing softly. Now he had yet another reason to make Morgan pay for hurting his little girl.
When Sonny saw the knives, he said: "If you are going to threaten my wife to make me talk, don't bother."
Staring at the man, Rogan sneered then slapped him across the face. "No, from what I understand, your method of choice involving kids is a meat locker."
An hour later, the door was opened and a paranoid and shivering Sonny was tied to a chair. When he confessed why he was looking for Elizabeth Webber, the man watching walked away while Boris said "You forget that Elizabeth Webber exists or the next time we visit, you might not live. Got it?"
Jeff thought about what to do when he was on the plane heading East, he saw Rogan and Boris talking then they joined him. "Do you want us to kill Morgan?"
Stunned, he looked up and said "No, he is my grandson's father. I wouldn't want that on my conscious. Thank you for this."
"We owe you, you have always treated the sickest, never caring about religion, about political affiliation, nor about the ability to pay. Many owe you, we have done research, we know what those in that town did to hurt your little girl."
While Dr. Webber had never hidden his anger at what they did, he had always been fair and impartial in his medical care. He had been one of the few doctors who upheld the Hippocratic Oath. That had earned him respect among people who had none for authority.
"No, but if Sam McCall ever you, that one you may take care of with my thanks." He said as they landed at Heathrow. Bowing to the Chechen and shaking hands with the others, Jeff went to see his daughter, carrying the video, not wanting to show her but knowing there couldn't be any more lies.
Seeing Elizabeth and her roommate, he had hopes that her broken heart was healing until he realized the man wasn't interested in women. Much later, he told her he had had a few people who owed him favors send a message.
Elizabeth watched the tape, hearing about the almost wedding to Claudia hurt, it hurt worse than finding out about Sam, it hurt worse than Jason lying about Courtney and covering for her. But it finally came to the point that she was no longer in pain. She had moved past the pain and was now into numbness.
"I'm sorry." Her father said as Steven slipped into the room. "There is more."
Hearing about the coma, and that Robin was trying to locate Steven to help Jason, she said "Please do it; for Jake's sake. Someday, my son is going to want to know the truth, I will tell him everything, even my part in this mess. But I want him to be able to judge for himself."
Walking to the DVR, she removed the disc and said "All of it, but I hope Jason lives to face him, to explain to him how another boy and Sam McCall meant more to him than we did. I should have known years ago who Jason really was, but I refused to face it. Not until I found out the truth about the second kidnapping did I doubt him, but now... for now, no bad words, no criticizing Jason."
Nodding in agreement, Steven called. "Robin Scorpio please, tell her that it is Steven Webber."
Robin was confused and well past frustrated. Several people had tried reading to Jason, everything from motorcycle manuals, to travel books and they had ever tried a couple of romance novels, but they hadn't had the same reaction once.
"Steven, is it possible for you to come to Port Charles for a couple of weeks?"
"Robin, it's almost Christmas. I will stop in for a week, but that is all." He said before refusing her offer of a jet. "I will fly commercial and stay at grams."
Going back into the room, she saw Alice reading to Jason, her voice hoarse as she tried to reach the young man while Monica sat and listened.
"Steven Webber is going to be arriving tomorrow evening. He had one request, that we keep Sam McCall away, he said if he saw her he might not be able to control himself."
Looking up, Monica wondered what that was about then agreed. Calling Carly she gave her the news and asked if she could take care of Sam.
Agreeing, Carly went back to feeding her little girl, hoping Steven would give them some idea where Elizabeth was.
Sonny was shaking from another nightmare; his body was still freezing from being in that small meat locker two days before. When he went into their bedroom, he saw Claudia packing and asked, "Where do you think you are going?"
"Away. I intend to send a message, apologizing for even breathing the same air as that Webber girl. If were you, I would consider doing the same."
"Do you really think that Elizabeth Webber is hiding with the IRA." He said laughing at his scared wife.
"That redhead, you idiot. She is the second in command internationally. I know of at least five kills she is personally responsible for. She likes up close and personal, you are on your own. Don't you dare drag my brother or me into this."
Leaving, Claudia called Johnny, she asked all he knew about the Webber girl then frowned before telling him what was going on.
"What are you going to do?" He asked wishing he wasn't working for the Cuban.
"Leave town and hope to god that Elizabeth Webber lives a long fruitful life and if you ever said a bad word to her, ever even crossed eyes at her, I would suggest you do the same." She said. Seeing the city limit sign, Claudia drove away into the night taking a list of Sonny's numbered accounts with her.
Johnny went to GH where he found Spinelli sitting in the hallway outside of Morgan's room. Quietly pulling the younger man away, he gave him the same heads up his sister gave him only for the kid to say "I have never done harm to the Maternal one."
Seeing Sam talking to Nik, Spinelli was grateful that Elizabeth had forgiven the Goddess, well aware that at one point, Sam had made some mistakes in her quest to return to her rightful life.
Carly approached them then suggested Spinelli talk to Steven about Liz and then told Sam she wasn't to be there the next day. "He is MY FIANCEE, I will be there."
"Steven Webber made it very plain, if you are here, he will walk out and never return. If you want Jason to wake up, you had better stay away."
Sam nodded, furious at the conniving witches' brother's audacity. Spinelli promised to set up a temporary camera so that she could see everything. "Dr. Drake will never know."
When Steven walked into GH; saw the crowd waiting and sneered. "Mr. Corinthos, I am glad to see you doing well, the last picture I saw of you, you looked like raw meat."
Sonny vowed to make the doctor pay after he helped Jason. Steven looked around at the rest, shaking hands with the Q's and telling Carly he hoped she was doing well, he sneered at Spinelli, saying "As far as I am concerned you should not be here, you are not Morgan's family, in other words, shut up."
"I-I, I don't understand." He said then saw the loathing in the blond man's eyes and followed him into the room where Robin and Patrick were waiting. Looking at their notes, Steven asked if they had been monitoring all brain activity including dreams.
Reading the charts, seeing the correlation between the drugs in Morgan's system and the higher brain activity, he couldn't help recalling Carly's coma. Steven asked her about them.
"They felt real, I was living a different life in them. When I woke, it was disorienting to find myself with a child and married to Sonny. Looking back, I realize it was the life I wanted if not the man. Do you think that is what is going on with Jason?"
"We don't know." He said. Turning to Robin, he asked if she could find Alice; that he needed to find out exactly what had happened during her visit and then went to speak to Epiphany, telling the geek to go away.
Once the annoying pest was gone, he turned to Patrick and said: "He was wearing a wire and had a camera, let's go someplace, private, where we can talk."
"As for Morgan, he is voluntarily in that dream state. The only person who can pull him out of it is himself. That coma isn't a normal coma."
"I know, I need you to help me figure out how to revive him."
"Like I said, that is up to Morgan himself." Steven made a promise to Elizabeth, but he would fulfill it his own way.
"When he woke up immediately after surgery, he asked about his brother and his family."
Nodding as he took the case file, Steven called his grandmother but first made a quick stop at ELQ. Finding Edward Quartermaine he said, "I want to make a deal with you."
Looking at the old man, Steven sat down and said "Morgan is going to wake up, sooner or later. It's what he did before he ended up this way that concerns me. But if it goes to the police, I will take away the present I am about to give you."
"What do you want in exchange." Asked the old wily fox.
"I will leave what happens up to you, as long as something does."
Curious, Edward sat down and took the birth certificate that was handed to him. "So, why do I have your nephew's birth certificate."
"Jason is the father of Jacob Martin Webber."
Looking at the photo and the letter with the DNA results, Edward's hands shook and then he looked up and asked why?
Telling the old man everything Elizabeth had told him, from the night together to the mess with Lucky and Sam's infertility to Elizabeth asking if Jason would put his son first, he watched the old man grow older then angry. When he got to what had happened with the kidnappings and the threats in the park, he knew he wouldn't have to say too much more.
"This is why my sister left. She found out Sam's connection to what happened to Jake and learned that Morgan knew BEFORE he broke things off lying to Elizabeth about the reason. Then to find out Jason was living with the woman, after everything... Elizabeth is not going to forgive. There is more."
Telling him his suspicions about Courtney and the accident, to the secrets and lies that had been going on way too long.
"My sister just learned the truth about her own mother. Dr. Beth Brewer, niece of GH's Jesse Brewer. I am on my way to tell grams today. By the way, Corinthos gave Jake up to his wife, trying to find Elizabeth. My father handled it. Here."
Edward took the player and watched, having a chuckle as he saw the man hanging from a meat hook. "The wife fled. She made some very large cash withdrawals this morning. I would arrange for Morgan's attorney to shut down his accounts before Sonny needs funds."
Walking out the door, he never saw Edward's shark grin. Calling Diane Miller he arranged for her to meet with Monica and him later that day. Calling his daughter-in-law to the office, he showed her the video and told her everything he had learned.
When Diane arrived, she informed them that she had already taken care of shutting down most of Jason's accounts. "They only have access to his personal savings account which only has a few million in it."
"Shut that down and I want Mr. Spinelli and Ms. McCall out this week." Said Monica.
"I can arrange for Sam to be kicked out, but unfortunately the kid might be a different story."
"Fine just her then. Make it plain she isn't to be allowed back." Said Monica.
Calling Carly, Monica asked her to meet Diane and her at the penthouse, telling her she would enjoy the show.
Epiphany had slipped into Morgan's room and saw the blond doctor checking his machines. He said with a smile. "My sister misses you. Here, can you read this now."
Epiphany sat down and opened the envelope, finding the pictures of the two boys in costumes, she laughed at Cam's clown and Jake's pumpkin. "Why a pumpkin?"
"He was about to hit a growth spurt and was a little round." He said with a laugh. As Epiphany finished reading the letter, she looked up at the man in the bed and said: "He could have had it all."
"No, my sister was never the priority. He proved that time and time again. Now, she is getting close to healed. She has made friends, her roommate Jack for one."
"Would that be the man dressed in the trench coat and fedora for Halloween." She asked holding up the picture. "Elizabeth looks happy."
"She was, they were at a party in Soho, you should have seen them at Thanksgiving. He can cook and decided to give her a traditional meal, so he talked the boys into helping. It was fun."
"So he gets along well with the boys?"
"He took Cam to his first football game, well soccer actually. Plays with Jake, he helped potty train him. I can't wait for Christmas, they have been making a paper chain for the tree, but I think the thing is almost forty feet. I don't think there will be a tree big enough in all of London for it."
Laughing she accidentally dropped the photos on the bed and quickly picked them up, looking for the missing one of the boys.
The man in the bed could hear the words and tightened his grip on something. As he listened, he felt pulled back into the dreams, to the world without pain, where he was allowed to love.
"Daddy, Mommy said no more." Stated the imp with bright blue eyes. "Please?"
Seeing his son holding up the paper, safety scissors, and glue, he was reminded of their first tree and sat down to help him. When his brother came in, he was invited to help, but he said he needed a blue marker to work on his present for Mommy.
After cleaning up the glue and tucking the twosome into bed, he went to the study where his wife was working. "Come to bed."
"I want to get finished before the holidays. Go on up without me." She said with a smile.
"It won't be as much fun alone." He said with a saucy leer. "Trust me, I have tried."
Laughing, she went to stand, needing help as her belly was getting pronounced. As he held her, he said "My snow angel. Um, you smell like snow, tonight."
When his hand knocked a picture off the desk, he picked it up and said: "Are you going to call this one pumpkin as well?"
Epiphany and Steven stared at the man in the bed. "What did he say?"
Steven went to check on the patient while the head nurse paged Dr. Drake and Scorpio. When they arrived, she said, "He talked again."
"What did he say?"
"He said "My snow angel, that you smell like snow tonight. Then he said, "Are you going to call this one pumpkin as well?"
Robin leaned against the bed, then stared at Jason. "How much longer are were going to ignore that the only way to wake him up is the last thing we want to talk about."
"I am not going to let him use my sister again. What happens after she comes and saves his life once again? He goes back to the whore who endangered her kids, he goes for custody. As for as I am concerned. Morgan gets well on his own or he doesn't." Stated Steven before he left.
Robin nodded, "Do you think we should tell him that we agreed with that before he got here. Wait, what did he say?"
"He called a spade a spade." Said Epiphany, "The only new thing was that she endangered Elizabeth's kids."
"If that is true and he forgave her, I will personally kick his ass all over this room." Said Robin; the more she was learning about her old friend, the more she was beginning to loathe Jason Morgan.
Patrick squeezed her shoulders then went looking for Webber. "We know, we don't want it either. Can you tell me about Sam?"
"I would but I promised my sister I wouldn't go to the police and let's face it the three of you would." He said. "I am only here because she asked me to come, but frankly, she is over him. He has finally done too much damage."
"I know. But you saw the drugs, you know that he had to beware of the side effects before even taking them. Why do you think he did it? I think it was because he was in so much pain at losing her, he tried to fix things."
"The way to fix it was to be with her, but even when they were sneaking around, he was lying to her. Did you know that bastard almost married Claudia Zachara to keep Sonny in line while telling my sister he loved her."
Sickened, Patrick said "No, I wasn't aware of that. What the hell was with him?"
"He was and is a selfish son of a bitch, but Elizabeth refuses to say that. She keeps claiming that she is just as much at fault. I don' see it, but then I don't know everything. Whereby the way is her ex-husband? I have been here two days and haven't heard a peep about him."
"He and his newest half-brother are chasing after Luke for some reason."
"Good, he is another one on my shit list." Said the blond as he went home.
Patrick went to look at the tests, same results. The drugs had returned. That meant they had to flush them from wherever they were hidden. Robin entered and silently handed him the file. "We found it. It's not good. They are regenerating in his heart. His body is naturally producing them."
"So we have to wake him up, then flush them out. Did you call Monica yet?"
"I got a voicemail from her saying she was going to be busy doing a little trash removal today."
Carly walked into the penthouse and saw boxes everywhere and Monica and Alice talking to movers. "Okay, we are waiting on... there she is. Carly, I need your help. Can you start with that closet? I want all of Jason's things removed today."
Starting with his guns, Carly handed them to Monica who verified they were licensed to Jason then had them locked up and boxed up. Then she found a box with well-worn photos.
Finding the ones of Elizabeth and the boys, she noticed the water stains and realized Jason had cried over them, feeling a lump in her throat, Carly picked through them, then keeping the ones of his family, Emily and Lila as well as her sons, she left the rest behind.
Once the downstairs was empty, they found the master bedroom a mess. Wrinkling her nose, Monica removed Jason's clothes from the mess and found a box in one. "Carly do you have any idea about this?"
Seeing the vase, she said, "No, but it is too classy to belong to Sam."
Carly looked at the filthy mess and was sick Jason had actually asked the woman to marry him. How could he debase himself that way?
Handing the box of clothes to Alice, she soon removed everything else, and then closed the door. Checking the other rooms, she found another box, while Carly checked Spinelli's room.
Finding a box labeled Stone Cold, Carly took it then went through everything else. They were soon downstairs, Monica opening the safe with the code Diane had given them.
Removing the money, the passports, and all the paperwork, she saw someone had been trying to pry it open. Calling Mac, she asked him to fingerprint it. When he arrived, he asked if she was sure no one else had the code or could claim to.
"I can. Morgan didn't even give it to Sonny. I know that Sam nor Spinelli was given it." Said, Diane, as the women kept removing items. Finding the small case, Monica opened it and found a single ticket to Italy and a ring and saw how small it was. "It barely fits my pinkie, do you suppose me meant this for Sam?"
Diane said, "No, he bought that for Elizabeth, I helped pick it out."
Stunned to realize Edward had been right, Monica saw it wasn't a surprise to Carly and asked what she knew.
"They were together, secretly to protect the boys. He was devastated when they ended things after Jake was kidnapped again. He didn't feel he could protect them."
"That is bull, he should have known better." Said Monica then thought about her attack on him when Emily died and realized she might have helped re-enforce that nonsense.
Hearing Maxie and Sam ordering the men to return that stuff to the penthouse. "Just the person I am looking for."
Turning, they saw Diane standing there along with Mac. "Miss McCall, you have been served with eviction papers, you have twenty-four hours to remove your items."
"I live here, this is MY HOME!" she shouted.
"No, according to your former management company, you were paying rent on a penthouse apartment until after Mr. Quartermaine slipped into a coma. That means you are a squatter with no rights."
"Dad, do something." Shouted Maxie as she called Spinelli.
"Miss McCall, there is a restraining order in effect. You have to stay at least 25 feet away from Mr. Quartermaine and any of his property. So you are no longer allowed to visit your partner here."
Maxie stood there shocked at what her father said. When he turned to her he said: "She is NOT WELCOME in my home, got it."
"We have also fingerprinted the safe, I hope ladies, I don't find them to match either of yours."
Spinelli fell into the room, looking at the standoff between two groups and went to his girlfriend. Monica said "I would kick you out if I could, but unfortunately I can't. Sam is not allowed here, I will have people watching."
"The free ride is over Sam." snarked Carly. "Oh, and you are fired from looking for Elizabeth Webber. I can't wait until I can make it public how incompetent your agency is."
As they left, Sam took the paperwork and called her mother. "Come to the house, we will see what I can do about that."
Edward rallied the forces, calling Ned and Dillon, then Skye, telling them all he knew and asking for their help. Skye called her society friends and made use of her business contacts to get the word out while Dillon promised to see what he could do to pry Lulu away from the crowd. Ned said he would come to town, talk to Alexis but that first he had to make a quick trip to London.
It was seven days before Christmas and Elizabeth was enjoying the holidays with her boys. Jack was at work while her father had come into town bringing presents and well wishes from her sister.
She had just made herself a cup of cocoa when she heard a knock on the outer door between the duplex. Answering it, she didn't know who was more shocked, Ned Ashton or her.
"Elizabeth? What are you..." then he started laughing. "I am actually in town looking for you. But why are you at my brother's place?"
"Jack? Jack is your brother?"She asked shocked.
Seeing her surprise, he said, "Can I come in, it is rather cold after Los Angeles."
Letting him in, she said, "Why are you here?"
Knowing she wouldn't tell him how she came to be there until he did, Ned said: "Lord Ashton, is my father, I was hoping Jack since he worked in medicine could try the local licensing office to find out where you were."
"But Jack's last name isn't Ashton."
"No, he changed it after an argument with Larry, our father." Explained Ned. "Long story, but he married my mom for her money."
Elizabeth said "I heard that from Jack, but never connected the American woman with Tracy. As for why I am here, I rent the other half of the duplex from Jack. If you are here about Jason, don't bother."
"No, I do understand. Remember I saw some of his behavior first hand during the Courtney years. I am actually here for another reason. And it is on behalf of Edward. He was hoping you would be willing to let Monica come over for New Years. Jason's coma has been hard on her and finding out about Jake... well it was the shot in the arm she needed."
Feeling guilty, Elizabeth said, "At one point, Jason wanted to tell her, I was the one who stopped him."
"You owe my family NO explanations. That would all be on my cousin. But could you at least consider it."
"There is nothing to consider, tell him I would be delighted but she might not. My father is here with me."
"Why would that be a problem?" He asked confused.
Laughing she asked, "Didn't you know, she used to be married to my dad, long before she met Alan."
"How did I miss that, I knew about the affair with Rick, but wow, married to your dad."
"And it didn't end well." She said with a grimace. "How are things for you?"
"Good, Lois and Brook Lynn are already in Port Charles, I am joining them for the holidays."
With a strained smile, Elizabeth said Merry Christmas as he left, then went to check on her boys and found her father reading to them. "Aren't they a little young for Dickens?"
"No one is too young, too old, too cynical or softhearted for hearing about Scrooge." He replied before turning back to the book.
Sam entered the courtroom sure that her mother could reverse what Monica had done, leaving it twenty minutes later, she was shaking with fury and frustration while Alexis reminded her that she had warned her not to get her hopes up.
"I need to see Sonny." Snapped Sam as she left her mother standing in the hallway. Diane approached and asked, "Why on earth would you take this to court, you knew the judge would dismiss the case."
"Sam insisted. You could be a little more understanding. The man she loves is in the hospital, she can't even visit him. She has been kicked out of their home, seems to me you should be more upset about this, considering you are his attorney."
Looking at her friend, Diane sighed the said "That should be a hint to you that you are missing something in this picture. Your daughter has been less than honest with you. Starting with being engaged to Jason. Also, if she was so concerned about Jason, why before the TRO, had she only visited once a week and then only staying for mere minutes. Jason was and is a prize to be won, that is all."
Walking away, Alexis saw Ned standing in the lobby.
"We need to talk. Privately. There are a few things you need to know."
Seated in her office, she asked: "Okay, what is going on."
"First, Jason Morgan is the father of Jake Spencer."
Stunned, she said, "Elizabeth lied on the stand?"
"No, she didn't know for sure at that point. Also, here."
Watching the disc of Sonny and Claudia, she grimaced then said: "Who was behind that?"
"Someone out for your daughter's blood. I tell you all I was told." Alexis refused to believe him, there was no way that Jason would have gotten back together with Sam if it was true. She should know she had been there when he lost Michael, she knew what he was capable of."
"Oh, it is true. Ask the geek, he knew." Said Ned standing. "Alexis, I would hate for us to be on separate sides, but we aren't backing down. You of all people know what the Quartermaine's are capable of. Edward is telling Nik about this. Whose side do you think he will be on?"
Wanting to say Sam's, Alexis knew he would support the Quartermaines. Calling her daughter, she was ignored so Alexis drove out to Sonny's since she had to see Kristina anyhow.
Sonny was finishing lunch with his kids when Bernie showed up. "Mr. Corinthos, we need to talk!"
Walking into his study, Sonny said: "Since when do you give orders."
"Since your wife wiped out your Cayman Island bank accounts. The Swiss accounts were cleaned out this morning and we are now bleeding funds." He said sitting down. "Johnny disappeared this morning after a visit with Lulu Spencer and Olivia."
Sonny stood, tossing his drink at the wall while Michael and Kristina hid in the niche listening in.
Sam rushed in, worrying Kristina but her sister just screamed at the gangster. "They are ruining everything."
Seeing Sam reminded him of Spinelli. Turning to Bernie he said "Get the geek on it. See what he can do and lock down the rest of my accounts."
"I already took care of the accounts," he said then saw Sonny's nod of approval as he ignored the woman who had been annoying him for weeks wanting money he didn't have access to anymore.
"Now what is going on Sam?"
"Monica Quartermaine kicked me out of Jason's place. I am not allowed to visit him. Do something." She whined.
Sonny felt guilty, he hadn't been around to see his friend then had screwed up while trying to help him, accidentally endangering a little boy in the process. Even now he was trying to find Elizabeth, scared the hell she had gotten herself into. The IRA? What was she thinking?
"There is nothing I can do. Until he wakes up and is Jason Morgan again, Monica is in control."
Tossing her purse down, she walked over pouring herself a drink while Michael kept Kristina from entering. Something hadn't felt right for a while about Sam, but he got the feeling he might learn the truth today.
Watching as Sam tossed back two full glasses of scotch, Sonny just let her talk. When she kept muttering about how her life was going to hell and how she couldn't wait for Jason to wake up, he placated her saying "Things will go back to being the way they should be soon."
Looking at him, she said "Do you have any idea how hard I have had to work to make things right? The things I have had to do since I screwed up and slept with Ric that night."
Kristina froze, then listened unbelieving as Sam whined about losing Jason, about Elizabeth Webber having the baby that should have been hers. About the park, the kidnappings and finally about how she had plotted and planned to win Jason back.
"I knew at the Black and White Ball if the truth came out, Jason would finally come home to me. So I made sure it did, but that moron Spencer had to step into things. So I had to stay with him, there was no choice."
Sonny just raised his eyebrow, as they gained an audience in Carly and Alexis outside the door looking for their kids.
"Then I was hit and Monica confessed. I used that to make Jason grateful to me. But then the best thing happened, when Michael got shot, it put a wedge between them. Jason was soon back on my side, needing my help."
As Sam kept talking, Kristina was disillusioned while Carly was sickened. But when the woman confessed to not caring that she led the kidnappers to Jake.
"It was so easy after that, Elizabeth ran and Jason forgave me for the past. I won, I should be crowing from the top of the penthouse, but no, Jason just had to get on that bike, he just had drive fast. I have nothing, she is gone, and there is no one to rub it into. It's just not fair."
Sonny suggested she go home and sleep the liquor off. Alexis walked in and said, "Sam, go home."
Once she left, Carly sat down and asked Sonny for a drink. Handing both women one, he asked if they had known about any of that.
"I suspected but what the hell was Jason thinking. Taking her back?" asked Carly. "If I had been Elizabeth I would have cut his heart out."
Sonny sat down then said, "We can't let this become public."
Alexis sighed then said, "It is too late, Ned was at the courthouse, the Quartermaines know and want blood."
"Jason's or Sam's?" asked Carly she would fight to the death for the right to kick her best friends rear herself but she would gladly feed Sam to the wolves.
"I didn't ask. I accused him of lying. Sonny, Kristina, and Molly can never know. Please, for my sake."
"I won't say anything..."
"You won't have to." Said the girl in question. Michael and she were pale as ghosts as they sat down. "Mom, why didn't you tell me she slept with Ric? Was this while you were still sick?"
Alexis closed her eyes, ashamed of her failings as a mother. "Yes."
"Oh my god." Said Kristina running away sobbing. "How could she?" Michael ran after her then stopped at the French doors looking back he said: "Dad, we will keep it quiet if you want, but why did Uncle Jason do this?"
None of them answered none of them was ready to deal with the mess. Staring at one another. Carly said: "My guess is this is why Sam was kicked out."
They would have been very nervous if they heard Kristina and Michael plotting. "I want to make her pay," swore Kristina as she paced. "I know you don't like Ric, but he was a better dad to me than our father. Sam has been walking around like Mom was a bad mother, how dare she?"
"Please, what about my so-called perfect Uncle Jason. The man I wanted to be like when I was a kid. What an asshole. Makes me wonder sometimes." he said bitterly. "He is such a total hypocrite. We work together and make them both pay."
Looking at her brother, she held out her hand and said "Deal!"
Kristina felt a little uneasy, she had misjudged her mother a lot lately but then she thought about when Michael's biological father and that blond lady had kidnapped them and then about that little boy and knew... she knew what that had felt like. Jason had punished the people who had hurt her, yet he hadn't done the same for his own son. Making him into a second class citizen just like Sonny had done to her.
Michael thought about it then said "You know that guy Dominic, the one who you were suspicious of. I think we use him to help."
Jason felt pain, severe pain, then realized his angel had returned. Reaching for her, she sadly kissed him then said: "I can never forgive you, this time it is goodbye."Standing in front of their Christmas tree, Jason reached out for her, only for her to back away.
"Please, I can make it up to you, please don't walk away. I can't-do this. I now know there are worse places than nowhere. Than feeling nothing. Please, snow angel, don't go." He could feel himself losing her, in his desperation, he begged, asking what he had done.
With a wave, she gathered their children and slowly faded away saying "I used to know you, I used to love you. But everyone and everything will always be more important than us. We can't wait for you any longer Jason, it isn't only hurting me anymore, it is hurting our children. Go back to your old life, you never wanted us anyhow. We were a mistake."
"We were never a mistake, we are the one thing I got right in my life. Please, Angel, don't leave me. Don't you know you are my life? My soul."
Robin was still dressed for church when she entered the room, feeling like crying herself. "How long has he been like this?"
"The sheets were wet when I came in to check on him. The last check before that was two hours ago." said a weary Epiphany as she watched the grown man weep in his sleep. This was not how she wanted to spend Christmas day.
Lainey entered with Patrick and Monica saying "I have always wondered about his deep psychological issues, you know he has to have them."
Monica went to hold her son, she was furious with him, but she was still his mother and hearing this broke her heart. What had the hell been going on with him?
"We have to shock him out of whatever he is dreaming," said Patrick hooking up the paddles. Seeing Monica's face he said. "You know where the drugs are hiding. We HAVE to do this."
As they disconnected some wires, Monica tried soothing Jason like he was still a child, but all he did was sob harder. Patrick reached out and gently removed her from him and handed the upset woman off to Edward.
As they shocked Jason, they saw his machines all go haywire, then a straight line, then a second time. Finally, things went back to normal.
As Carly rushed in, an annoyed Jax with her, Monica explained what had been going on. The Aussie looked around and said, "Where is Michael?"
"Michael, I saw him earlier, but he left with his sister about a half hour ago." said Epiphany.
Jax sighed gratefully to find that Michael had actually been here, then realized his stepson hadn't lied about his whereabouts in a couple of weeks. Thinking about it, he left Carly with Monica only to see Sam stalking the hallways. Looking at the woman, he said: "He is fine, now go home."
He didn't know what was going on, but Alexis had been talking with Nik the previous day at the hotel and he had heard the Greek say that Sam wasn't welcome on Spoon Island ever again. It made him wonder what the woman had done now.
Michael dropped Kristina off, then drove home. Seeing a dejected Morgan, he made a point of playing with his brother. "What's wrong?"
"Dad," he said crying. Michael didn't know how to say it was his fault. If he had known what he was going to stir up last week, he would have walked away.
He had overheard Dominic who was really Dante talking to Olivia then followed his father's latest bedmate to her cousin's office when he had learned that the man was their brother.
Unfortunately, Dante had learned about it and confronted Sonny, now their father was on the Island with Olivia and his latest child but had sent lavish presents to the rest of them.
"We can have our own holiday," he promised Morgan. "Go get your skates, I will call Kristina and Molly then we can slip off to the rink. No one will know."
"Ahem." Turning they saw Jax standing there. "I was coming to see if the two of you wanted to go skiing but skating sounds much better."
"You don't have to be nice to us, just because our father is a jerk." said a belligerent Michael.
"I don't have to, that isn't what this is about. Morgan, go get those skates and call Kristina while I talk to Michael okay?"
"Why are you back here?" Asked Michael as he tossed himself down onto the sofa. "Where is Mom?"
"With Jason, and I want to know what you did?" he said sitting down. "That is twice we have been called about your Uncle after a visit from you. They need to know Michael, so they can bring your uncle back."
Standing, Michael looked at the man he had dismissed for so long and realized he was truly a good man. "Why are you married to my mother? You could do so much better."
Stunned, Jax stood and walked over to him saying "What has gotten into you?"
"Nothing, I just woke up to what a group of lying cheating hypocrites surround me. Mom, Dad, Alexis, they are all a bunch of liars. If it suits their cause, they lie about things. Yet if anyone else does, they scream bloody murder. The worst is my supposedly heroic Uncle Jason, the biggest liar of them all. I hope he never wakes up."
Jax was astounded, then said, "Michael, you know, we all make mistakes."
"A mistake is one coverup, one small white lie. When it is a lot of them, when it hurts an innocent, according to Uncle Jason you tell the truth. Funny how that only applies to others, not the women he sleeps with. Aunt Courtney, was a drug addict when she hit Elizabeth with a car, but he covered it up. Same as AJ yet, he protects her and scorns the Quartermaines for doing the same"
"When did you learn about that?" he asked.
Thinking about Max, Michael lied and said "I knew it when I was a kid, thought it was great how he protected her in spite of being friends with Elizabeth. What a joke. Truth is, Uncle Jason is a user. And it wasn't the last time he allowed Elizabeth to be hurt and covered for the culprit."
Not sure what was going on, Jax let him talk. "He is just like dad." said the boy softly. Then looking at Jax, he wiped the tears on his face and said "Just like dad. I thought he was better than that. I thought he was one of the good guys."
Holding the silently crying teenager, Jax didn't know what was going on but got the feeling that Carly did. Seeing the nanny on the stairs carrying his sister, Michael wiped his tears then went to help Morgan. "Jax, can we keep this between ourselves?"
"For now, but I think we really need to talk."
Kristina was in her room, thinking on what she had encouraged Michael to do. When they had entered Jason's room, he had been calm but as he had started talking Michael had gotten angrier and angrier, at the man in the coma.
When Jason had started talking, they had listened stunned. She could still hear the man pleading "Please, I can make it up to you, please don't walk away. I can't-do this. I now know there are worse places than nowhere. Than feeling nothing. Please, snow angel, don't go."
She saw the tears that started to flow as Michael said he hoped Elizabeth never returned, that he didn't deserve her. That he was glad her son was gone. That he hoped Jake found a good daddy, one who would love him for who he was.
"We were never a mistake, we are the one thing I got right in my life. Please, Angel, don't leave me. Don't you know you are my life? My soul."
When he had started crying, Michael had just walked away saying I don't love you, I don't even like you very much, Uncle Jason.
She still felt bad, the racking sobs from the older man, still ringing in her ears. Hearing her mother calling for her, she debated ignoring her, but slowly went down the stairs, saying "What?"
Elizabeth and Jack helped the boys open their latest presents on Boxing day, then teased Jeff about his choices for the boys. "Dad, it is winter."
"Yes, but it has to stop snowing sometime. "Sides, Cam really wanted the motorcycle, I could have gotten him that."
Seeing his daughter tense, then the glassy look in her eyes, he knew that someone he had reminded her of Jason Morgan. Hugging her, he distracted the boys by suggesting they play with their new toys.
Jack pulled her into the kitchen, setting her on the bar stool, he said "This is rotten timing, but we need to talk. Elizabeth, you need to go home, face him. Take back your life instead of hiding out."
Looking at him wearily, she said "You just don't understand the obligations I am under when I go there. I turn into this weak woman who gives into what everyone else wants. For god's sake, I convinced myself that I had feelings for my best friends' ex-husband and my brother-in-law, to avoid dealing with this."
"Did you know, I am thinking of working at a small town hospital in upstate New York. And that only my brother knows I am gay. Not his wife, not his daughter." he said with a playful grin.
Looking at him like he was insane, she started laughing when he said "Look, Phillip and I are over. Want to be my new boy toy?"
"Seriously Elizabeth. I am filthy rich, have a title and am a doctor. If Morgan suddenly wakes up and decides to do something stupid, we can take him on together."
"Why would you do this for me?" she asked.
"I hate bullies and most of these people sound like overgrown kids on the playground. Besides, you are my friend. One of the few people in this world I like. I know you heard the rumors at the hospital. They all think I am a nasty SOB."
"A walking House."
Pretending to look at his rear, he said "Not yet, but if I keep eating your brownies..." Laughing, Elizabeth said, "Monica is coming for the New Years, she will know."
"No, she won't. Call her, tell her you are coming home. In fact, ask her for the name of a real estate agent."
"Why?" she asked. "I still own my house, you know my payoff to make Jake and me go away."
"That is precisely why we aren't staying there," he said before kissing her cheek. "Now finish dinner woman, I have something to do on my laptop."
Shaking her head, she couldn't help thinking she was insane for even thinking about it. Then sighed, it could work. No one at the hospital knew he was gay, so if Spinelli checked, it would be a secret unless Phillip changed his mind and decided to come back for him.
Calling Steven, she asked him to stop over at the end of his shift. On his way there, her brother debated telling her about what Drake had reported. When Elizabeth told him the plan, he said: "Are you sure?"
"Yes, he is right. I need to face these people. I need to deal with the pain."
"Great, now one more thing, I think we should be engaged," said Jack from his side of the kitchen island. When Elizabeth choked on her water, he said with an impish grin, "Daddy dearest called, he is having a raging fit, I filed paperwork undoing what he pulled with my half-brother. Ned is Lord Ashton now that Dad is an Earl. I am still Lord Ashton, the one to inherit the title but he is legitimate again."
"Tracy will be pleased." she said dryly.
"Apparently she is. She loves that I screwed over my father. So we have at least one more person on our side."
Handing her the ring, he said "It is ugly as sin but if anyone, say a certain computer geek should go looking he will find that this is the family betrothal ring. An heirloom from about three hundred years ago purchased from a French Royal Dauphin."
Monica took the call, thanking Elizabeth for being willing to bring the boys to visit with her. When she offered to have her stay at the mansion, she was told that Elizabeth was bringing home her fiancee with her and it probably wouldn't be appropriate.
Saddened to realize that her son really had lost the lovely girl, Monica smiled at the pictures she sent over the internet of the boys. Printing them up, she showed them to Edward and Ned, giving them the news.
Ned choked at the name of the fiancee then got what was going on. "Uh, Monica, something I forgot to mention. Jack is my half-brother."
"Oh god, Tracy will be livid." she said as they went to the dining room for Christmas dinner.
"I will be what?" she asked looking at her annoying husband who was arguing with his daughter.
"Elizabeth is coming into town, she is bringing home her fiancee. Ned's half-brother," she said getting it out of the way.
"Elizabeth Webber is marrying Jack?" Monica was stunned when Tracy started laughing. "Oh, there are a few people I want to be there when they learn that."
Lulu quickly found a reason to leave, heading to see her brothers. Finding Nik talking to Lucky at the house, she said: "Elizabeth is coming home."
"When?" asked Lucky hoping they could finally work things out.
"In a few days. Lucky, don't get your hopes up. She is bringing her fiancee. He is related to Ned Ashton somehow."
Nik felt a twinge, then realized Elizabeth had been right. They had been using each other to ignore the pain. But the look on Lucky's face was priceless. "Who is this guy?"
"From what Ned said, he is an English Lord who is also a doctor." Lucky sulked and told Nik he would see him later. As the Greek went to finish his holiday rounds with his Aunt, he couldn't help hoping this guy was perfect for Liz.
Alexis hugged Nik then awkwardly tried to bridge the gap in the conversation between Sam, Jax who had returned the girls and Nik. "So, how was your holiday. Did you see Lulu and Lucky?"
"We exchanged presents last night, then Lulu went to the Quartermaines today," he said staring at his cousin. When she looked disgruntled, he asked Jax for a few minutes as they left.
Discussing business, he asked if he had ever come across Ned's half-brother.
"No, I know he is a doctor, but no otherwise."
"Elizabeth Webber and he are getting married. I guess he asked over the holidays. Better warn Carly so she doesn't make a scene."
Looking at him, Nik realized Carly hadn't told him. "Jake is Jason's son. You know she is going to take Elizabeth apart."
Cursing, Jax asked what else he knew. Getting the lowdown on Sam, Jason and the mess, he swore some more. "I think Michael knows about it and he is very angry."
"He isn't the only one. I can't believe Alexis is protecting her or that Jason, of all people, did."
"We have to be missing something. Whatever else, I can say about Morgan, he protects kids."
"Not in this case." said Nik getting into his car.
Sam slipped into Jason's hospital room, she had made sure the nurses were busy and had planned this to perfection. Reaching down, she started to work on her plan, but there was no response.
Sitting down, she put the vessel on the dresser and tried to figure out what was wrong. According to the research, she had done, it should have worked. She had gotten the good news and had debated how to do this. Trying again, she got the same response. Nothing.
"You truly are a skank aren't you." said the amused and bitter young voice from the corner.
"Michael, how long have you been there. This isn't what it looks like," she said sweating as he walked over and covered up his uncle's legs.
"Since before you got here and yes it is what it looks like. Get out, Sam. Now! No innocent child should have to suffer having either of you as parents singularly let alone together." he said as he grabbed her arm.
"How dare you, he raised you for your ..."
"Yada, yada yada. Sam, I have heard it all before. But see when it really counted, when he should have stepped up, my uncle fell down on the job. Jason Morgan, the great man, is a loser. You, you're little more than white trash, cheap white trash at that."
Edward had come to visit his grandson but instead got an earful as his great-grandson was tossing Sam McCall out. Looking at Edward he said, "I have dealt with it, but you might want to tell Monica that she was trying to well milk her son."
Sam fled, enraged at the end of her plan. Edward was going to sit with Jason when Michael said he needed some time alone with the man.
Edward understood and left, having no idea what was going through Micheal's mind. As he sat there, saying nothing, Micheal realized he had to make changes. He didn't want to be his father or his Uncle. Neither of them was who he had thought.
Jason looked up, staring at the empty house. As he moved around the various rooms, all the signs that a family lived there were obvious, but he didn't know what family or why it bothered him.
Seeing the finger painting on the fridge, he touched it, wondering if it could give him answers. "Who are you?"
Getting no answers, he went upstairs, the master bedroom, sitting on the bed, he looked around, the softness and comfort familiar but he couldn't figure out why. "Why am I here?"
"What happened?" Where did this family go? When did you leave?"
Finally, he found the picture, looking at the beautiful young woman, he knew she was the key, she was his way back home. As he ran his fingers over her face, he could feel her soft hair, the plump lips. He blushed when he realized he knew the feel of her body, but the thing that mattered most, he didn't know. He knew he loved her, but he didn't know her name.
As Michael saw Jason shivering, he removed a blanket from the closet, then tossed it over him. But when he started muttering, asking questions, he didn't do anything. He just sat there.
"I love you, snow angel."
When his uncle breathed those words, Michael sat back down and stared. Methodically disconnecting the various machines, like he was in a trance, the teenager, slowly removed everything keeping the man alive.
Epiphany was tired, it had been a long day and since Stan's death, she had always felt alone on the holidays. Seeing the machine's in Morgan's rooms come up on her screen then disappear she went to make sure Sam hadn't gotten back into the hospital.
If she had had her way they would have pressed charges but Edward had said he would deal with the woman.
As she entered the darkened room, she could see Jason thrashing around on the bed, his breathing apparatus gone. Calling a code blue, she quickly used the handheld bag to get breath into him.
Seeing Michael, she hollered for him to get help. "No." was all the blond said.
Patrick rushed with Matt, but when the doctor tried to put the tube back in, he felt his wrist gripped by a strong hand and the sound of a hoarse no.
Looking down into Jason's eyes, Matt pointed it out to Patrick. "Where is my mother?"
Epiphany went to call Monica. The doctor was already on her way in after hearing from Edward about the incident and she sped up.
Arriving, she quickly rushed to Jason's room and saw Patrick giving him a full workup but that Jason sounded annoyed. "Where are my parents?"
Stunned, Monica pushed her way over. "Jason?"
"Mom!" when the patient pulled her into his arms, Matt and Patrick stepped outside to give them some time alone.
Seeing Michael standing there, Patrick asked how did you know?
"To remove the equipment?" asked the blond. Shrugging he said "I don't know. Something just said to do it."
"You could have killed him." said the head nurse as she arrived.
"I know." was all he said. Then quietly, he went back into the room.
"AJ?" was all they heard before the door closed.
TBC
