A/N: I'm sorta fooling around with history here. Most of the stuff mentioned happened (sans Sam of course) but not necessarily all at the same time. Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy.

Chapter 2

She packed her briefcase in stony silence. Her client was gone off with her family to celebrate, the opposing council was off licking her wounds and the judge was at home or at his mistresses anywhere but here. She tried to remember when winning meant something to her. But she couldn't really. Truly losing is what mattered. It was something she simply couldn't do. She'd lost too much.

Why then did she feel as if she lost? Something wasn't right. The smug look on his face. Or was it the look in her client's eyes. Something told her this wasn't over, and might very well just be beginning.

Well, it wasn't her problem anymore. She'd done what her cousin had asked, and now maybe she could return home. Home. Did she still consider Manhattan home? She wasn't sure. She enjoyed spending time with Nikolas and having family dinners with them and she was growing quite used to her flirtation with her former client's 'nephew', though after what had come out over the past few days…maybe it would be best if she kept her distance. She was forever doing that. Keeping her distance. It probably was time to go back to her life.

She turned on her cellular. 12 messages. All she wanted to do was get back to the hotel, open a bottle of Merlot and eat some popcorn. Well, she was multi-tasking for as long as she could remember, so she decided to take a short cut along the docks and check her messages on the way to the hotel.

"Ms. Davis…Legs…hold up."

Alexis groaned…loudly. "What is it Spencer, I've had a long hard day, and I'm not in the mood for you."

"You lost a case?" Luke said incredulously.

"No, I don't lose cases, I don't lose because I give 120 percent at all times. That makes me tired Mr. Spencer and cranky. So I repeat What.Do.You.Want?"

"It's about our friend Kathy."

"I told you, I have no interest in Katherine Bell. She makes my cousin happy. That's all I care about."

"But I think you are right…I think she could be Natasha." Luke called to her back as she walked off. Despite herself, she froze on the spot. "I have a few more leads to follow up on, but…"

"Drop it Luke, just drop it." Her voice left no room for discussion. Luke watched as she forced herself to walk away. He smiled. He was right. Katherine Bell was no more Natasha Cassadine than she was the tooth fairy. He started to follow, when he heard his name.

"Spencer, you ain't stalking the lady are you?"

"Officer Taggart, how are you this fine evening."

"I'll tell you Spencer…I'm sorta itchy."

"Oh, I think CVS sells something to help with that…or do you need prescription strength relief?"

"It ain't that kind of itch. I'm itching to collar me a scumbag. You'll do."

"I'm honored Taggart, but I've places to see and people to be…some other time perhaps. Keep up the good work, my man." Luke winked and started off again.

"Alexis Davis…Oh hi Ned. No I haven't gotten through all my messages…Oh thank you, but I'm going to pass. I appreciate the offer. Give the family my best. I'll probably be in Port Charles through the holidays…Ooff." Alexis was completely blindsided and ended up on the ground. She heard Ned calling out to her, but wasn't sure where her phone had landed. She looked up in time to see a small figure rushing away.

"Hey…Hey…stop!" She fumbled around for her purse…it was still there, but DAMMIT. "STOP!" She screamed at the disappearing figure.

Her wallet was gone, all her credit cards and…well there wasn't much else…except her ID and her hotel key…Alexis wanted to scream.

"Hey, Legs! Ya lose something?" Alexis forced herself up before looking at Luke. One arm full of a squirming teen and the other holding her wallet.

"Leggo of me you perv." The girl screamed.

"Do as she says Spencer." Marcus Taggart said.

"Taggart this kid just mugged me." Alexis cried.

"I'm aware of that Ms. Davis." Taggart reached behind his back and pulled out a pair of cuffs. "You have the right to remain silent…"

"I didn't do anything…this is a set up…" The girl yelled.

"She needs to work on that remaining silent part, I've perfected it myself."

Alexis reached to retrieve her wallet from Luke, but Taggart stopped her. "Sorry Ms. Davis, that's evidence."

"It's my wallet. I need it back."

"You'll get it back, after the trial."

"What if I don't press charges, can I get it back then?"

"'Fraid not Ms. Davis. Mayor Scruggs is cracking down on Juvenile crime, if you don't press charges, I'll have to…I saw the whole thing."

The girl stopped struggling, and her shoulders sagged. For the first time Alexis got a good look at her mugger. Not quite five feet tall, with dark hair, baggy clothes and a dirty face. She couldn't be more than 15…no Alexis was sure she wasn't that old.

"I want my wallet back!"

"Then come with me. Night Court just started, if she pleads guilty you can have it back after her case is heard…but I bet she won't."

The fire returned to the child's eyes. "Damn right I'm not pleading guilty, I didn't do anything. I want a lawyer."

"Well you just ripped off the best lawyer in town…otherwise I'd recommend Ms. Davis here…"

Taggart ushered the girl up the steps. "I like her." Luke smiled. "She's got spunk. Tough luck she robbed you in plain sight of a cop."

Alexis said nothing, but glared at Luke, before heading back to the courthouse.

"I'm fine Stefan. I have a few scratches on my hands from the fall, but other than that… I don't ever carry cash, you know that. Yes…thank you, but I'm staying until her case is heard and I can get my wallet. Okay, yes, that's very sensible. I appreciate it."

Alexis turned off her phone. She was sick to death of today. She had called a panicked Ned back then called the hotel to explain she might need a duplicate key then she listened to the remaining messages on her phone. Finally she had called Stefan, who insisted she spend the night at Wyndemere, she refused, she couldn't stand the dark old house, especially with Katherine flitting around like she was the lady of the manor. Stefan accepted her decision, but told her one of his men would be there with cash, so she would be able to take a cab and buy dinner, if her wallet was not returned.

She sat in the back of the dingy courtroom, going through Cassadine/General Hospital contracts, but couldn't help paying attention to the cases in front of her. She cringed at the lackluster defense and the pathetic arguments from the prosecution. She cursed prostitutes getting 30 days and Johns going home to their clueless wives, spreading god only knows what to them. It was after midnight when her case was called. She saw the child brought in, eyes down cast, hands still cuffed.

The bailiff announced the case. "The state versus Jane Doe 72J4."

"What's your clients name Mr. Jarrod?"

"She won't say your honor."

"She hasn't called her parents?"

"No Sir." The ADA answered. "She was in fact offered a phone call, but she said she had no one to call."

"Fine, how does your client plead?"

"Not guilty, Your Honor." The girl answered defiantly.

"You realize, Miss Doe, that you will be remanded to the custody of the state, do you not? This would be much easier on you and your family, if you just told us your name."

Alexis rolled her eyes. Her lawyer should have explained that to her at the very least.

"It wouldn't make any difference." She answered, then after being nudged by her lawyer, she added. "Your Honor."

"As you wish. Your recommendations."

"My client is innocent your honor, it would be in the state's best interest to put her in a group home, until she can clear her name, or until she can be reunited with her family." Alexis watched the girl stiffen at the suggestion.

"Your honor, for all we know Ms. Doe could have a record a mile long. We are assuming that she is a juvenile, which she has not confirmed or denied. It is the state's recommendation that she be held in the Port Charles jail until her trial."

"Your honor if I may." Alexis barely realized she'd stood. "There must be a better solution. Ms. Doe is obviously a child, and it would be cruel for her to have to spend a weekend in lock up."

"Who the hell are you?" The judged spit out, obviously annoyed by the outburst.

"Alexis Davis, your honor, may I approach the bench?"

"No…this is a hearing Mrs. Davis, not a circus."

"Ms. Davis." She corrected.

"Do you know this young woman?"

"We haven't been properly introduced, but we ran into each other on the docks."

"You're the one she mugged?"

"Allegedly, I'm the one she allegedly mugged, yes."

The judge rolled his eyes. Alexis continued on. "There are a number of situations that would be better for Ms. Doe. The Ward House for one."

"The Ward House is at capacity Ms. Davis."

"Emergency foster care?"

"You would ask me to ask a family to take a thief into their home the week before Christmas?"

"Alleged thief. It would only be for the weekend."

"Ms. Davis, this is the Friday before Christmas, if Ms. Doe insists she is not guilty, she has to go to trial. Her case will not be heard until after the new year."

Alexis turned to the child. "Tell them your name." She waited a beat. "Tell them."