Chapter 10
Metrocourt Robbery,
Part Une,
Carly knocked softly then entered the hotel suite to see Jason looking critically around him.
"What was so important, I had to tear myself away from my lunch to take care of?" she teased him.
"Is this in proportion?" he said showing her the table setup.
Carly's jaw dropped and stayed that way for a whole minute, she was speechless. Jason Morgan was worried about whether a table set up with what looked like fixtures from Kelly's was proportional? "Uh, it looks fine."
"CARLY, its really important!' he said looking at her annoyed.
"It's fine, Jason. Why are you so stressed about this. I don't get why the room here if you are going to make things look like Momma's diner."
Flushing he said "It was dancing with her there, that made me realize that what I wanted wasn't just friendship. That I wanted her to want to be dancing with me, not remembering Lucky."
"You should be glad that I am trying to be mature right now." she snapped as she realized he was recreating the night she saw him dancing with Elizabeth and had ended up sleeping with Sonny. Sighing, she said "Fine, well it looks right, but what is with the rest of the room?"
Looking around, Jason said with a soft smile, "The balcony is about a conversation we had one night a long time ago, a conversation that I screwed up because I was scared of losing her. The sofa and the plant are reminders of something else."
"That isn't a plant, Morgan, its a pine tree in a pot. You might want to reconsider the flowers." she said dryly. "Even Elizabeth Webber would rather have flowers that a miniature pine tree that I saw on your balcony covered in snow when you asked for help with this."
"That is our pine tree, mine and hers. We saved it." he said proudly never noticing the strange look she gave him.
"Well if you need anything else, let me know. Momma said the delivery boy will be bringing over the food in a little bit. Soup, a # 7 no onions and a burger. Are you sure you don't want to change your mind, I can have Andre whip you up something romantic in just a bit."
Looking around, Jason said "No, no this is perfect. Elizabeth isn't into the overly done stuff that you told me to do, it's not her, its not who we are together. She doesn't want ostentatious or gaudy, I don't feel I have to buy her love."
"In other words, she isn't Sam or Courtney." she said. Thinking back, she realized that she had taken Jason asking her for help as meaning he didn't know how to do romantic gestures, but looking around she finally got it. Jason's heart hadn't been into it. This showed who Jason really was, a man who could be romantic if for the right woman.
"I am sorry I hurt them, but I finally figured it out. Life isn't safe, neither is love." he said looking up without really seeing Carly as he worked out the rest of the evening in his head.
Wiping the tear out of the corner of her eye, Carly kissed his cheek and said "I am only sorry that instead of allowing you to live your life, I tried to run it. Who knows there might be a whole annoying passel of little kids running around calling me Aunt Carly and Muffin face and I might have made peace a long time ago."
Johnny saw the automated text from Spinelli and rolled his eyes annoyed with the spastic geek, he felt it was necessary to inform him of every single little breakthrough, but all Johnny wanted was to know who his sister was and where he could find her.
He was a little busy at the moment, maneuvering his way past the police officers. Seeing his target in front of him, he made a point of accidentally tripping over a nearby uniformed officer's feet and forcing Baldwin to drop what he was carrying. Switching envelopes, he was grateful when the Mayor and Ric Lansing distracted the man with the receding hairline.
"Mr. Zachara is there something I can help you with?" Turning to looked at the police commissioner and offer up his excuse, he swore when he ended up wearing what looked like a large milkshake.
"I am... oh it's you!" said the brunette with the foil in her hair and a kerchief covering it. Johnny rolled his eyes when her tone went from contrite to annoyed and suspicious when she realized who it was. "Did you follow me?"
"No, you highness." he said bowing while trying not to laugh. "I was following the frequency put out by the foils in your homemade antenna. You know, I really doubt that increases cell phone reception."
Turning to her father, Georgie slammed his dinner down on the desk in front of him and snapped "Next time Lucky Spencer pulls a disappearing act, don't call me to bring you food if this is what I have to put up with."
Turning to the annoying man, she snarked "Did your life of crime finally catch up with you, are you actually under arrest?"
"No handcuffs!" he said showing her his wrists. They usually bring you in wearing those when they arrest you. So are you going to explain the hair or am I going to have to wonder all the way home."
"Keep wondering, it might help you stay out of trouble." she snarled leaving the bullpen to head back to the hotel spa, she had five minutes before she had to get the foil off and wash her hair. The hairdresser had been furious that she had ran out in the middle and as it was was going to require a huge tip to placate him. She would love to get a hold of Lucky Spencer and slap him silly since it was thanks to his disappearing act she had had to run an early dinner down to her dad.
"As I asked before my daughter and you decided to reenact a moment from a Spencer and Tracy movie, why are you here?" As a father, Mac wasn't happy with the sexual tension between the mobster and his daughter but as a simple bystander he had to admit that the two of them were pretty amusing.
Thinking hard, Johnny shrugged then said "I forgot thanks to your daughter trying to drown me with a milkshake."
"Then since you have no business here, why don't you leave." he said glaring at the man wearing his mocha and caramel milkshake while wondering if ordering him to replace it would be considered accepting a bribe or restitution.
As the two sisters got dressed in the now empty shop, Maxie was trying to find out what had set Georgie off. Her sister kept mumbling something about klutzes and handcuffs. "Georgie, your highlights look great."
Instead of calming her down like she had hoped, Maxie had to back away from the glare that Georgie now had on her face as she was now mumbling about cell phone reception.
When her sister was standing in front of the mirror, Maxie gasped. Georgie had been keeping her dress quiet, saying it was something that Brook had found one while looking around. "When did you get boobs?"
Georgie flushed then looking down at the exposed flesh asked in dismay "Is it too much?"
"No, you look perfect." she said looking at the dress closer she said "Isn't that the dress Penelope Cruz wore to the Oscars?"
Looking down at the red heavy silk dress that fitted nicely through the top then flared out just below her hips, Georgie said "I don't know. When Brook sent it, I was a little worried about the bodice though."
"Don't be, but be glad Mac isn't here. While he was forced to accept that I grew up, even after your marriage, he still tends to think of you as his little girl, I think the idea of you having boobs would sent him over the parental edge."
Maxie had never noticed that her sister had filled out, with the loose clothes that barely qualified as style she would guess that most of Port Charles had noticed either. Looking at her sister standing there in the evening gown with her hair pulled up but loosely to show off her added color, Maxie couldn't help thinking out loud "Eat your heart out Dillon."
Giggling, they soon headed up to the ballroom, Maxie had wanted to be there early to see what everyone was wearing.
Sam was panicked as she left her apartment. One of the few workers there she was friendly with had called. She said a handsome man had been there looking for her and had asked to send her up to the top floor suites.
Once on her way, she called Sonny. "Jason and I are meeting tonight at the Metrocourt. Thank you for all your help, Sonny. I owe you one."
"Just enjoy yourself, the two of you deserve some alone time after all you have been through. In fact, get a hold of his phone and turn it off, that way Carly can't bother you. I promise I won't call." he said hanging up, relieved. The shipment was being transferred at the hotel this evening and with his former friend busy with Sam, Sonny should have clear sailing.
Sam was trying to call the hotel when she saw the flashing lights in her rear view mirror. Cursing she pulled over and rolled down the window. "What is the problem officer?"
"License and registration please." he asked then told her. "It is against the law in New York State to be driving while talking on the phone."
Sam waited pissed off as the man took his time writing her up then handing her the ticket said "Not even you are above the law. I don't care who you are married to."
Elizabeth and Emily were kissing the boys goodnight, when Cam touched her hair and said Mommy looks pretty.
"Oh, baby, thank you." she said kissing him then promising to be home before he woke up. "Now be good for Alice and Carol, okay?"
"Okay Mommy. Is Mr. Jason coming over for a sleepover tonight?"
Seeing Emily's sharp look, she said "Not tonight baby."
Once in the hallway, Emily tugged her arm dragging her back into her bedroom then teased "Are you holding out on me, Webber? Sleepovers at your house with my brother? When were you going to tell me"
"No, it's not what you think. Jason and I are friends, nothing more. He has helped me out a few times with Cameron since I can't leave him with grams and I hate to stick him in daycare all the time. He has stayed over in the guest room to help out."
"Yup, sure. My brother, Jason Morgan, Mary Poppins wannabe. Try and sell me another one. He is so into you." she chimed as they went down the stairs.
Seeing the sad expression in Elizabeth's eyes, Emily realized that whatever was going on, neither her brother or best friend had been honest with each other yet. Just how hard was it to say I love you and have for years? Honestly, if Nik and she could do it twice, why was it so hard for those two?
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Emily preened at the knocked out expression on Nik's face then pretended to be annoyed when he thanked Elizabeth for her help with the gown. "Hey what about me? I am the one filling out this very lovely creation."
"You'll do." he said then pulled her into a sweet kiss. "Shall we go?"
"One minute." said Monica from the doorway. Standing the two women in front of the fireplace, she snapped a picture, Emily in her barely pink strapless gown and Elizabeth in a ivory silk dress from the thirties looked like perfection.
Lulu entered the Metrocourt furious, she had lowered her standards and had asked out the young mobster only to be stood up. Seeing Dillon without Georgie standing next to the balcony doors, she went over hoping to talk to the filmmaker.
"Are you alone too?" he asked.
"Where is Georgie?" she asked.
"Over there." he said waving his hand. Lulu looked down at the dress she was wearing and then up at the sight in front of her and frowned. Georgie seemed to be talking to an older woman and laughing about something as the red head slowly motioned for her to turn and seemed to be impressed with something.
She consoled herself that she looked better in the dress than the dark haired girl. Looking back at Dillon who seemed to be intent on ignoring Georgie, she smirked, maybe, just maybe she could get back what should have been hers in the first place.
Helena was on her way to the safe house, once the vials and the two young women were procured, Sasha was going order their people to release a small dose into the air at the gala. She didn't want to kill anyone just yet. She just wanted them looking in the wrong direction. That was what Jerry Jacks was for.
As people milled between the lobby and the ballroom, Carly and Jax dealt with the various minor problems that kept cropping up. Seeing her cousin in the corner dressed in what had to be a rented tux, Carly let Milo know to keep an eye on him. "If you see him talking to Elizabeth Webber, take him down."
Nodding he went to discreetly track the officer, he observed him taking his third glass of champagne in fifteen minutes. When he saw the man's head turn as he followed a brunette wearing what looked like a sort of white dress, Milo moved in then backed away when he saw it was Morgan's sister.
Looking around, he saw Elizabeth Webber talking to Nik Cassidine and an older man. As he got closer, he saw her guard off to the side and went over to warn him about Spencer. "Who is that?"
Seeing the younger guard pointing he went through the list that Spinelli had given them said "Lee Baldwin, he is a member of the GH board."
"Wonder if he is related to Sc..." Milo got his answer when the lawyer walked up and drew the elder man off. On his way back to see what Spencer was up to, he overheard Scott complaining to his father that someone stole his invitation to this shindig and that he had had to pay fifty bucks to get in.
Alan and Monica were joking with Gail Baldwin and Edward when they saw Tracy and Luke entering arguing like usual. Seeing Spencer stop to greet his daughter, Monica was amused to see she was wearing a knock off of the dress Georgie Jones had on.
With the announcement that there would be a delay in starting the speeches, most were relieved at not having to sit for a little bit longer; meanwhile Robin had joined Nik and Elizabeth who were talking to hospital staff. "So where is Emily, I want to see her in the dress we picked out?"
"She ran to the powder room then was going to stop and see her parents." said Lainey admiring the way Jax was keeping the peace between Carly and Alexis Davis who were giving each other tense and phony smiles.
Nik looked around and saw that Emily wasn't with her parents and felt a bit uneasy. Turning to Elizabeth's guard he asked "Have you seen Emily?"
"Uh oh. Milo was keeping an eye on your brother, he said they were talking."
Nik thought about what Jason Morgan had said when he called and went to find out what was going on. If he found that Lucky had done anything to upset Em, brother or not he was going to hit him. Emily had made it plain that she wasn't interested and Nik was insulted on her behalf that Lucky was only interested now that it was over with Elizabeth.
Nik arrived with Milo and Max who had been informed of what was going on and pounded on the door when he heard the sound of something large crashing inside. Max ordered him to move then used his head of security key to get inside. When the door was opened, Nik stood in shock at what he saw.
Emily with her hair coming down and an empty bottle in her hand with Lucky unconscious on the floor, Nik went over and got him up saying "How dare you?"
"He is beyond answering." Emily said with a small laugh that turned into a hiccup as she kept herself from crying.
"What happened Miss Quartermaine?" asked Max as he took Spencer from Nik and tossed him onto a chair not caring when he slid out of it to the ground.
"He was too drunk to realize I wasn't Elizabeth. He kept giving me these." she said showing them the rings. "He said that they were getting married and that he knew she loved him. There was a lot of rambling."
"How could he afford this place?" asked Nik while pulling Emily into his arms, he looked around, expensive food and French champagne. Taking the rings, his eyes popped. The ring set was a five carat diamond. "How could he afford these rings, they are from the jewelry store downstairs."
"Let me check." said Max who called down and reached a furious Marty who was doing desk duty. "Wait, what was that number again?"
Pulling out the miniature notebook that he wrote everything down in he hung up then said to Nik. "That is impossible, I really doubt Mrs. Corinthos gave him her credit card, I didn't think Sam knew Lucky."
Nik had an idea and went over to his brother who was coming to. "Did Sam help you set this up?"
"She knows that Elizabeth and I have a permanent lock, she believes in us." he slurred before falling right back to sleep.
Walking away, Nik took Emily to the room where he planned to ask her to marry him later, grateful that the staff hadn't begun to prepare things for him and let her fix her hair.
"Go back to the ball, please. Milo will escort me when I am ready. Don't let Elizabeth know what happened beyond warning her what he is up to. I don't want her to feel guilty about Lucky."
Kissing his considerate and beautiful girlfriend, Nik went back to the gala, knowing she was right about Elizabeth.
Marty was working the lobby when he saw Sam McCall entering. "Glad you could bother to show up for work, though you are a little overdressed or rather under dressed for the occasion."
"Excuse me?" she said haughtily. "Who do you thi..."
"I think I am your boss, the person who scheduled you to work tonight. Now go find a uniform from someone and get busy. We have a lot of convention business checking in as well as guest for this gala to deal with."
Wanting to tell him to screw his job, she decided she couldn't bother wasting her time. Besides, this time tomorrow, she would be back home where she belonged. Agreeing to change, she went to the staff hallway then slipped into the penthouse express elevator using the manager's key that the geek had copied for her.
Emily was leaving the suite when she saw her brother making a call as he entered a room down the hall. "Jase?"
"Em, what are you doing here, I thought you would be downstairs."
As they discussed Lucky mess and Sam's possible part in it, she said to her brother "So can you tell me what is going on? And does it involve my best friend who seems to be under the mistaken idea that you have a new career as Mary Poppins in mind."
Sam entered the hallway and cursed. Her hair was a mess and she wanted it to be perfect for Jason. Hearing the sound of his voice, she listened as he asked someone who Mary Poppins was.
"A nanny." his sister replied. "So are you going to keep avoiding the question?"
Looking at her, he said "It has to be a secret, at least for tonight Em. So are you sure you can keep it to yourself? I don't want her to know for a little bit longer."
Sam smiled at the idea he wanted to surprise her, that was so sweet!
"Yes! I knew it; you are going to finally do what you should have a long time ago and make thing work with her this time."
Stopping the primping of her hair, Sam wondered if he would ask her to wear her engagement ring again or if he would buy her a new one. She was leaning towards wanting a new one. Tugging a little on the bodice of her dress, she lowered it just a bit, liking the extra bit of flesh she had gained in her pregnancy.
"Yes. At least I plan on getting all of our misunderstandings straightened out, then letting her know that I love her and have for a very long time. That I want to adopt her son and be a family, like we should have been all along. I was a fool to let her leave the penthouse that night. If I hadn't been such a coward, who knows..." he let the sentence hang then looked at his sister.
They would have been married by now. Now they were going to have to get Ric out of their lives. At least on paper Sonny was the father again, so he could sign the papers so that Jason could adopt her son and make him theirs.
"I know that you are happy but can you keep this quiet for now?" he asked knowing that she had a hard time keeping secrets from Elizabeth.
"Of course. Since you are here, I assume Carly helped."
"She tried." he said with an annoyed smile. "She just doesn't get it, I don't want that fake romance stuff that she considers so important, I don't want fancy dinners and roses and flashy jewelry that Carly has to pick out for me.. The roses especially they remind me too much of Spencer."
Sam was a bit annoyed with that statement, he was going to have to work pretty hard before she would give in, those expensive gestures and a couple of nice pieces of jewelry ought to come with the very pretty apology he was going to owe her. Spencer, what does he had to do with roses, she liked roses, especially the white ones.
Hearing the chirp of her phone, Emily showed him that it was Elizabeth and laughed as he seemed to brighten even at the idea of her on the phone. After listening she said "Okay, okay Webber, I am on my way. Stop dancing with my man or else!"
Sam couldn't help wishing Spencer well, everyone deserved to be as happy as Jason and she were going to be. Even Elizabeth Webber. She frowned a bit as she remembered the wills, one of the first things she was going to have to insist on was Jason getting a new will soon.
As his sister scurried away, Jason called down and let Elizabeth's guard know that he was coming down. "Tell her enough work, to come and play as soon as she is done." He knew that Elizabeth hadn't wanted to come tonight but was there to help support GH and be a presence for the Hardy/Webbers.
Sam took a deep breath and came around the corner with a large smile on her face, "Tell whoever that is to stop tracking me down, I am already here."
Jason looked at Sam confused then said "What are you doing here?"
"I know about the surprise Jason, I saw the reservation in the computer, the repeat of the first romantic meal we had together. The flowers petals that you wanted all over the room." She said moving closer, wanting him to know it was okay to touch her.
Looking at her, Jason was horrified to realize she had the wrong idea. "That was Carly's doing, not mine. Both times. The night with you and the mistake she made here. Sam, this isn't for you, I told you at Christmas time that I had no intention of getting back together with you and I meant it. I had plans with..."
Stumbling back in pain, she looked at him and said "No, you have to be lying, are you angry I ruined your surprise is that why you are doing this. Why else would you have the same dinner, the flowers at where I work. You wouldn't be that cruel to meet another woman here, I know you love me."
Looking at her, he sighed then said "Carly did the dinner, come to think of it, it must be some sort of standard thing for her, it was the same thing she set up when she wanted me to propose to Courtney. I remember because I wondered why she would chose something I really don't like."
"Why Jason if you aren't here to tell me you love me, why are you here?" she asked sure she could worm her way back using guilt. "You should recall how sensitive a pregnant woman is at a time like this. I mean you have to realize that with my being pregnant on Valentine's day it might be remind me of the night our daughter was created, our daughter that died before she could live, yet you expect me to believe this is a coincidence."
"Sam, how was I supposed to know that?" he asked exasperated with her trying to use her dead baby, yet again to get what she wanted.
"C'mon, you should remember that was the night of the hotel fire, Sonny and I slept together then came to the auction. Jax made quite a stink about it because it was the same night I slept with him."
Lifting his eyebrow, he said dryly "I'm sorry I didn't realize that you considered the night you slept with two men without condoms something to put in your scrapbook."
Sam slapped his face furious that he dare throw that up at her. "You know what that was about, we all thought we were going to die. Haven't you ever made the mistake of thinking it was love when it was lust as the result of adrenaline?"
Looking at her, he was reminded of who she was and snapped "Yes, that was pretty much our relationship. Loneliness and adrenaline that was mistaken for being more."
Crying Sam got on the arriving guest elevator and stopping the door from sliding "Someday, Jason Morgan you are going to regret this. I will make you pay for hurting me like. I will find out what you want the most and destroy it, I promise you that."
Georgie saw Lulu stomping over and looked back at the attorney who had just as if her father was coming. "No, he usually works so he can avoid these things."
Lulu crashed into the table in front of them tripping in her heels, then glared at Georgie, sure she knew something about her missing date.
Diane laughed then helped the girl wearing the same dress as the commissioner's daughter stand up. "Are you okay, Miss Spencer?"
"Do you know where that Johnny guy is? He agreed to come to the gala with me, then never showed up. WHERE IS HE?" she asked convinced that somehow Georgie was making a fool of her..
"No idea, I barely know the guy."
"Sure, I really believe that one." she snorted. "By the way, nice dress, let me guess Goodwill?"
Diane had spent some time listening to the two girls and seen them both on different occasions, so she knew that Georgie would just ignore Lulu, but she couldn't stand to have one of her favorite designers maligned. "Miss Jones is wearing a Cristabol Balenciaga original not a designer knockoff purchased at JC Penney."
Lulu flushed at the on target insult and turned to Georgie saying "So you finally saw the light and realized Dillon doesn't love you anymore."
"Unlike you who he never loved at all. Go find your date!" she said to the annoying girl.
Emily was on her way down to the lobby to meet Nik and Elizabeth when she ran into her mother, explaining her delay, she gave her the bare bones of the Lucky story as they walked over to where Alan was getting Edward's heart medication.
Seeing Jax talking to someone, they greeted the Australian who told the parking attendant to find out who had been playing pranks. "I was called down here, someone said my car had been hit and the police needed me to sign the report."
Seeing the head nurse walking out with the new heart surgeon Alan asked if there was a problem. "Mr. Ahmed is refusing to let anyone treat him. Since I speak Farsi, I am going to trying and reason with him. Drake is waiting for us to arrive so that he can come over to go on his date with Robin, so if I don't want to hear about this forever..."
"Go." said Alan in amused understanding.
Sam got off the elevator, swearing vengeance and seeing Carly decided to start with the blond. Stalking over, she had just reached the check-in desk when she heard the gunshots.
"EVERYONE GET ON THE GROUND, NOW!"
Sam went to hide behind the counter, seeing the silent alarm, she hit it, then took out the manager card and went to slide it into the reading machine so that the police could see the camera's inside.
Instead of hitting 911 she hit 711, thereby locking down the hotel. Feeling a shadow, she looked up into the eyes of the man who was doing the talking. "Thank you, princess. You just did my hardest job for me."
"Now get up and join the rest of your fellow hostages." Sam moved around to the lobby and saw Marty and Carly sitting against the wall along with Milo. Luke and Tracy Quartermaine were sitting with Edward who looked terrible. Hearing footsteps, the man in charge saw Nik and three women, "What do we have here?"
"A trio of beauties and a prince. Sit down." he said roughly shoving the nearest of the women. Robin fell hands first onto the glass that had been shattered from the bullets. When Elizabeth tried to check it out, she said "Don't touch me."
"What do we have here, a little spat between my hostages. Let me make it clear, the only person allowed to give orders is me, now what is your problem with the very beautiful Miss Webber?"
Elizabeth froze when she realized he knew who she was but the hostage taker was soon the one swearing when Robin said "I didn't want her to touch me because I have HIV."
Turning to one of his men he said "#3 get her some rags, so that she can clean up her mess, a few more so that she doesn't infect anyone else. Afterwards Miss typhoid Mary, you can sit all by yourself in the corner, like a good girl, okay?"
Seeing Nik and a few others who knew her getting ready to protest, Robin just shook her head, trying to keep tempers from exploding. Hearing the sound of a high pitched male voice, the man in charge said "What do we have here?"
"He was wandering the halls, he claims to be looking for his boss, but won't tell me who that is." Said #4 as he shoved Spinelli down hard onto the sofa hugging his laptop to his chest.
"Got a few more boss and this one was wearing a weapon." he said pointing to Max who had his hotel security badge on and was holding onto his sore head. Alexis, Mike Corbin, a bruised up Miss Sneed and Scott were soon seated in a group by the centerpiece in the lobby.
"Where is the person you were supposed to find?" he asked mocking his people. "And where oh where is lucky #7?"
The only female among them went over and whispered into his ear, then backed away when he fired his weapon into the air. "Find a way to get in there, now. We have six hours. Now move it."
Robin soon had the blood cleaned up and was against the far wall when she saw Sonny easing around a corner, not wanting to draw attention to him, she quickly looked down. When she looked up again, she saw he was not there. Hoping he went to get help, she leaned against the wall mentally trying to figure out how much blood she would lose if they weren't rescued soon.
At the sound of the gunfire, the group coming in from the garage found themselves pressing against the carpet, terrified for their loved ones still in the ballroom. When the gate to the main part of the hotel came down, Jax swore softly then told the Quartermaine's to follow him.
Arriving outside, they saw the whole of the Port Charles Police and Fire Departments pulling up with Swat vehicles, guns, ladder and water tank trucks and suddenly a lot of press. "Mac what is going on?"
"I was hoping you would know the answer to that." he said to Jax. "What is the last thing you can tell about before the alarm went off?"
"Can't you check the camera's; that is what we installed them for." he pointed out.
"They aren't working. The silent alarm went off then everything went dark and an alarm sounded at the fire department." he said.
Hearing footsteps, he saw a few members of hotel staff. "It's a robbery, I saw a man in a mask go to the safe" "Two gunmen, I hid in the laundry hamper." "Black masks, large guns."
Emily looked at her parents and said softly. "Jason is in the hotel, he was going to set up a romantic evening with Elizabeth. I hope they are alright."
"Emily, did you see Lucky?" asked Cruz as he approached her while she was changing into medical gear at the EMS medic station getting set up. "He was supposed to be here."
"He is passed out in the Executive Suite, drunk." she said bluntly. "He isn't going to be any help to you."
Harper came out through the emergency exit with the last of the guests not trapped in the lobby. "Sir, we found Spencer. One of the doctors is taking him to the hospital to dry him out."
Jason had heard the gunshots and was working his way to the ballroom, arriving he saw no one there just a lot of broken glass. Hearing the sound of his phone ringing, he turned it on when he saw Elizabeth's name and just listened as he got an earful.
When he heard them saying they were looking for someone then one of the people mentioning the safe, he shut his eyes and leaned against the wall. Sonny had once joked about using the hotel safe to hide contraband. He had made it all sound like a good joke, but now Jason was afraid of what he had done.
Getting in as close as he could to the lobby, he took a quick count and then saw two shadows coming from another hallway. Seeing the usually locked computer room door open, he hid behind desk when the gunman shoved Sonny into the room and called someone over his ear piece.
They were soon joined by a man with a British accent that sounded too perfect to Jason.
"Well, Mr. Corinthos it seems we have quite the conundrum. My briefcase which you promised would be safe and easily accessed isn't accessible. Do you happen to have a good explanation for this?"
"I told you the first time, I have no idea of that pass code for the safe. You will just have to wait until it opens again. As for the briefcase, I don't trust you anymore than you do me, so you get that code when I get MY money."
"You might want to rethink that answer. See your pregnant wife, your father and your ex-wife are even as we speak sitting in the lobby terrified of their fate. Now I think a lesson is in order on what happens when you lie to me."
Jason didn't like the sound of that and went to follow them, only to find that they had locked the door. Swearing he feverishly worked until he got it open only to hear the sound of gunfire.
Stopping he gave a small prayer that everyone he cared about was okay, he took a quick look and saw the crazy bastard had shot the only man who could give him the .
"Now, Mr. Corinthos, I suggest your start remembering, before your loved ones get to see you die. Tick tock, Sonny."
Patrick Drake arrived at the hotel to see the flashing lights and rushed over to find out what was going on, just as Jason Morgan ran up to Mac and said "We have to talk, where is Lansing?"
"Stay out of police business, Morgan." said Ric from the command post vehicle door..
"We don't have time for this. Mac, Robin has glass in her hands, she is bleeding profusely. There appear to be eighteen hostages. Carly, Miss Sneed from GH. The hotel manager, Max and Milo Giametti. Some computer nerd, Nik Cassidine, Scott Baldwin, Edward, Tracy, Luke Spencer, Alexis, Sam and Mike Corbin. Maxie is in there, Mac. Along with Elizabeth, and they just shot Sonny. Two bullets in the stomach."
Patrick moved closer and asked Morgan about Robin's condition. "I have no new information. Elizabeth called my cell phone, what I know is what I managed to hear before they collected the phones."
"Did they know she had it on?"
"I don't think so." he admitted. Ric saw the fear in his face and debated, he had worked with Morgan before to protect Elizabeth and it looks like he would have to again. He looked at the hotel and knew that somehow this mess was going to get worse before it was resolved.
"How was Sam, is my baby doing alright?" That was another reason he would allow Morgan to stay, he had given him a file on Sam, oh it had come anonymously, but he had known right away where it had come from. What had started out as his sleeping with the woman to get one up on Morgan, had ended with Morgan being the one helping him.
"I have no idea." he told the man. He hadn't really been paying any attention, his mind of getting Elizabeth home to safety along with the others he cared about. Sam had been a quick glance the same way he would have reacted towards any pregnant woman. "She looked fine, but I couldn't say for sure."
Johnny had arrived late, having dealt with the theft of a large cache of weapons from Trevor's stash. Seeing Morgan surrounded by police he moved in to hear what was going on.
Looking around, he didn't seem to calm down, then seeing a bright red dress, he found himself breathing again, until he heard Lansing and Jason talking about Elizabeth. Feeling the vibration of his phone, he saw the call from Spinelli and realized he was getting streaming video.
"Morgan, take a look at this." he said showing the two men with him as well.
Spinelli might have turned over his phone, but the geek still had some kind of gadget that he was using to send them what was going on. Sonny looked terrible, Robin seemed isolated, and from the looks of things, the lead man seemed to have taken an interest in Elizabeth who was talking to him.
"We need to stop the bleeding."
"Are we talking Mary over there or Corinthos? Don't worry, I have no intention of letting the host of this party die."
Seeing her confusion, he laughed and turned to make sure all could hear him. "See, Mr. Corinthos over there, got greedy. When his partner walked away from the business, all restraint went away. He agreed to accept a shipment from my boss. A very small package worth fifty million dollars. All of you being held here are his guests. If he had done what my employer wanted, none of this would be happening."
Turning back to Elizabeth he mocked "Do you still want to save his sorry ass?"
Quietly she looked at Sonny and then thought about it, then said "Yes."
"So the angel of Port Charles, wants to save the big bad mobster. From what I understand he hasn't treated you kindly in years, yet you are willing to help him. Care to amuse us with the reason?"
"Because, no child deserves to grow up without his parents."
"Aw, how sweet! You do realize that if the positions were reversed he wouldn't help you if it meant saving himself?" asked the man in the mask.
"See that is the difference between men like Sonny and you and rest of us. We would do our best no matter who the person lying there injured was." she said.
Maxie Jones couldn't help snorting in disbelief. "So, Miss Jones, you disagree with Elizabeth?"
"I would leave his rear. Especially knowing he is the reason we are here." she said glaring at the man lying on the ground holding his bloody hand to his stomach.
"So, Mr. Corinthos, what is your opinion? Should I let the sweet ministering angel save your life?"
Startled, Elizabeth saw Sonny looking at her with shock in his coal black eyes and said "You are going to do what you want no matter what I say."
"True, okay, lets keep the game going, shall we. Let's take a vote. Do we save the godfather of Port Charles or do we save....." he looked around and smirked behind his mask. "...um, this could be fun.... so do we save the HIV patient or the man who can save the lives of the rest of you?
"Oh so helpful pregnant girl, you first. Your husband or Mary over there?"
Sam quickly replied Sonny, she needed his help with Ric. She barely knew Robin and the doctor had always acted a little uppity towards her.
Mike soon agreed, followed by Marty, Luke, Tracy, Max and Milo all thinking about the missing code..
Mac, Ric and the two mobsters watched, scared off what the man with the gun might do. Ric was thinking of the mother of his daughters and the new baby on the way. Mac kept looked up at Georgie wearing a blanket on her shoulders and praying his other two girls made it out alive.
Johnny kept looking at the now beeping cell phone and saw it was the program the geek had installed to give him updates on his sibling search. Turning it off, he concentrated on what had to be taken care of now. Those vials of bio-weapons that Sonny Corinthos was helping to transport could not be allowed to continue on their way.
Jason kept mentally promising to bring Elizabeth home to Cameron and hoping he could save the others he cared about inside, Carly, Robin and even Edward. They had no knowledge of just how dangerous it was to be in that lobby.
Moving closer, he was watching the other gunmen moving around and tensed up then swore long and loudly. "What the hell?"
Mac saw what he was pointing to and turned white. "That is plastik cord. What is going on in that lobby?"
Seeing the DA's confusion, Johnny softly said "That orange rope stuff is bomb making material, all you need is a fuse."
The gunmen moved around to Edward and asked "Okay old man, what is your choice"
"Robin." he said not even thinking about it. He was sure the police and or Jason would free them, Sonny could finally die for all he cared.
Scott looked at the man who had ruined his daughter and chose to save her old friend saying "Robin."
Maxie didn't even hesitate before saying her cousin's name. While Nik quickly followed.
Alexis couldn't help thinking how he was the father of her daughter. Then seeing the blood dripping and the chalky whiteness of Robin's skin; she said Robin.
"Okay, now it is the former Mrs. Corinthos turn. So who do you want to save?"
Carly looked at Sonny and then Robin who she had long hated. Robin wouldn't live without medical attention whereas Sonny had survived bullet wounds before. Thinking on the past, she then said "Robin."
Spinelli thought about it, he was sure he could crack whatever code was needed and Mr. Corinthos was not a nice person. "The girl with the bird name."
"Corinthos doesn't get a vote, so the Angel gets to decide, do we let the police have the godfather, knowing he has the code to save you and needs medical attention what do they say, oh yes. Stat! Or do you save your friend?"
Elizabeth looked at the twosome and said "Since I can't save both; Robin, but can we get some medical help for him so he stops bleeding."
"Okay, the tribe has spoken, Typhoid Mary goes home to live to see another day."
Turning to Gunman #1 he said "Get the police commissioner on the phone, I am sure he will be quite happy to learn his niece if not his daughter will be coming home tonight."
Mac answered the phone on the first ring and pretended ignorance while sweating at the idea of the bomb. Getting the message, he asked if he could send in medical personal to look at Sonny.
Looking at Elizabeth, he gave a cruel grin and said "I don't think so, see I have a very helpful and quite beautiful angel of Mercy right here. Now have your people set the kit on the front door, we will be sending out the bird girl.|
Looking around, he said "Okay, who wants to help the sick girl to the door. You and you."
Pointing at Scott and Luke, he handcuffed them together and said "Don't think about running."
Scott saw Robin wrap more cloth around her arms and then scooping it off the chair gave her his suit jacket, so that they could help her up without touching her bleeding arms. Seeing the guards following Luke said softly "When you get out, give my regards to your boyfriend, Lucas, his mother was once my ex-fiancée."
Not sure of what he was saying, she was soon at the door and collapsed as when they forced the men to release her. Patrick had pulled on medical gloves and sprinted over to get her while Jason was suiting up to go in against Mac's protests.
Seeing Robin was unconscious, Patrick got her on a gurney and with the help of Monica Quartermaine soon had an IV attached as the ambulance rushed off. Ric was watching the screen when they saw the medical equipment kit dropped at Elizabeth' s feet.
"Okay, lets play another game." said James Craig.
TBC