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The Longest Night
This chapter takes place on February 7th in the city of Port Charles, New York between the hour of 9pm and 10 pm
Chapter Ten
The Fourth Hour- Part One
9:00 pm
"Carly."
She looked up from the paperwork she had been reading on her desk- where she was going over her plans to house all the extra guests the blizzard stuck her with. A huge smile curved her lips at the sight of her brother. She jumped out of her chair and hurried around the desk.
"Hey! What are you doing here?"
"I heard there was a party going on. You don't mind if I crash, do you?"
"I would have invited if I knew you would be home."
"Its cool," Lucas said.
She hugged him quickly. "I'm glad you're here."
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9:01pm
The second Lucky's hand covered Sam's, trapping hers against the table, she knew she was a goner. She might talk a good game about not wanting him but if he kept touching her then her body would betray her words sooner rather than later.
It was bad enough that she had to look in his eyes and pretend they didn't make her want to melt into his arms, say to hell with her anger, and let him be the man she needed again. The man who made her happy when her world was falling apart around her.
But she couldn't. Not this time. Because he was the one who had made her world crumble. One slip of the tongue, his ex-wife's name falling off his lips, and everything between them shattered like a broken glass hitting the wall.
Just looking at him now was hard.
She still saw the man that she wanted to hold her, to crawl into her bed, into her body, burrow into her cold, bitter heart, heal the cracks in her soul. But he wasn't that man anymore. He wasn't her man.
Her body didn't realize that though. When he touched her it was akin to sensory overload....with flashes of every kiss, every caress, every moan he drew out of her exploding through her mind, setting her skin on fire, and her heart racing.
His touch was too much for her to resist. If he only knew how easy it was for him to make her wet...if he knew the power he really had over her, he would never dare crave another woman instead of her again. But he didn't know. She hadn't ever told him. It was just too big of a risk to reveal that much, knowing he probably wasn't hers to keep.
Saying it would have made it real. And leave her even more destroyed when he finally left her, like she knew all along he would, and like he did. That's why she was so shocked, all those months ago, when he said that she was his girlfriend.
Sam never expected him to want something so real with her. It had been a happy surprise. Looking back, she should have known better.
Happy never lasted for her.
She swallowed hard as Lucky said "You might be willing to let go of me so easily but who says I'm willing to do the same?"
Whispering, her voice thick with emotion, she asked "Who says you have a choice?"
He leaned toward her. "We....are...not...over. I'm not over you."
"Liar."
"Sam." Her name was a hoarse plea, as his lips just about brushed hers.
"That's my date your hugging up on, mate," Ethan said.
She jerked her eyes away from Lucky, as he leaned back in his chair, and then looked up at Ethan. "Where the hell have you been?"
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9:02 pm
Lulu could not believe this shit. She really couldn't. Johnny said he would wait at the bar for her, in his text message, but of course when she finally decided to go meet him he wasn't there.
Ticked off, she dialed his cell phone but it went to voice mail. Lulu stomped into the ladies room, and was just about to head into a stall when Maxie came out of one.
Their eyes met.
Before Lulu could say anything to her, Maxie raised an eyebrow and asked "Did you steal that dress from Kate? Oh my God, do you know how much that dress costs?" Maxie grabbed her arm. "And what is on the sleeve...is that cheese?"
"Milo wanted nachos." Lulu jerked her arm away.
Maxie grabbed her again and drug her over to the sink. "Good Lord, you should never wear couture."
"Shut up about the stupid dress. Did you sleep with Johnny tonight?"
"Hold still so I can try to get this stain out. If Kate finds out about this...she's here, you know. She could have already seen you. Do you want to get us both fired? I know you don't care if you ever make it to the tents in Bryant Park but I do. And since my future is linked to yours- because Kate will fire us both if either of us screw up- you should really adopt a new motto before everything you do: WWMD."
Lulu raised an eyebrow.
Maxie went on, in a tone that said the answer was obvious, "What would Maxie do?"
"Did...you...screw...my...boyfriend, you crazy narcissistic bitch?"
"Harsh."
"In one second I start swinging," Lulu said.
"Oh relax. Nothing happened between me and Johnny. He helped start a car. Can you be a little more paranoid, Lulu? If I really wanted to do him then I could have a hundred times by now. We could have been banging like bunnies every time you ran out to the store. But we didn't. I think this is where you say thank you."
"You're ridiculous." Lulu crossed her arms over her chest.
"Don't pout. Those frown lines will not look cute when you hit thirty-five. See you at home. And, if you bring Johnny back with you, I promise not to drag him off to fix any cars in the middle of the night. There, you happy?"
With that, Maxie gave Lulu a smirk and then walked out of the bathroom.
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9:07 pm
Maxie stepped out of the bathroom and her face fell. She let out a long breath. Looking out into the crowd at the party she hoped to spot Spinelli but he was no where to be found.
Probably off speaking computer garble to Winifred.
Shaking her head, she headed toward the bar. She spotted a very depressed looking Milo. "You. Me. Lets go," she said and pulled him by his tie to the dance floor.
At this point she needed some warm body to make her forget who she was, what she had done, and what- or more like who- she really wanted most. Life was so much easier when she didn't give a fuck about who she hurt. When only her own hurt mattered to her. When the smile of someone like Jesse or Cooper was enough to convince her that life would all work out fine, as long as she stayed in their arms.
She knew better now. Her sister was dead and buried, and nothing would ever feel fine again. Now it was just about managing the pain the best she could. If she couldn't be in the arms of the man she wanted, then any arms would do for a while.
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9:09 pm
Milo held Maxie stiffly and wondered if all blondes were born just a little crazy. He was baffled by their behavior. From Carly to Lulu to Nadine to Maxie...he was lost.
But he didn't understand Claudia either.
Hmm.
It must be me, he thought to himself.
He really hoped Spinelli didn't spot him dancing with Maxie. That would be one conversation he would hate to have to deal with tonight.
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9:10 pm
Johnny knew he had to say something to Spinelli- even if it was a lie.
Spinelli had walked up to Johnny at the bar, ten minutes before, and said "We must speak mano-a- mano..which in strict translation is hand-to-hand but is more commonly used to infer man-to-man which is how we must now speak about your intentions toward the Blonde One and Fair Maximista. I have seen their good and loving hearts torn asunder before by the likes of a man that was more beast than gentleman and I shall not stand idly by and watch that situation unfold again. I humbly ask for honesty when I inquire about the liaison that took place when Maximista and you absconded into the elevator earlier this evening...holding hands like two characters from a Shakespearean play who are separated by forces beyond their control. A most romantic image, you must agree, though it leaves me cold to consider it may be closer to the truth than the writings of the Bard. And if it is in fact the-"
"Listen, I don't know what you think happened but-"
"Let us not speak of this here where gossip may flare with one overheard word."
Johnny followed Spinelli through the crowd and into the stairwell where Spinelli rambled for at least four more minutes about how it was not his feelings for Maxie that caused him to ask but his concern for both Maxie and Lulu and their budding friendship.
Finally Johnny interrupted him, clamping a hand on his shoulder, "The last thing I want to do is hurt Lulu or Maxie."
"I take that answer to mean you feel that there is a chance you may?"
Johnny shook his head and looked down. "You're a good guy, Spinelli, to care so much."
"Sadly that is the truth. But good guys finish last, as the saying goes."
I'm sorry. Those were the words that went through Johnny's mind. Not because he kissed Maxie earlier that night. Because he knew he was gonna kiss her....and a hell of a lot more....in the future.
And nothing, not even Spinelli's sad eyes, would stop him.
The hunger that Maxie set off in Johnny was too fierce to be denied forever. Every kiss made him only want her more. If he was half the man Spinelli was then he would walk away from Maxie and Lulu, saving both of them from his lifestyle and his darkness, but he was not that kind of man.
And he was just about ready to stop pretending he was.
Spinelli went on "My being a good guy does not mean much if I can not protect the people I care about most. But nothing will stop me from trying. So if you are thinking of breaking The Blonde One's heart and starting a dalliance with Maximista then the only way you are going to do that....is going through The Jackal."
"I don't want to fight you."
"I may look puny but all great boxers are more heart than brawn. Of course, they are some brawn, which it could be argued I am not but, all the same, I must defend the honor of my friends...even if I must fight to the death."
"Did Maxie say she wanted her honor defended?"
"She would not because she does not see herself in the true light that she shines."
"Its good that you are so loyal to Lulu and Maxie. Don't ever let that change, Spinelli. Being a good guy is underrated. You don't got to worry about me anymore tonight. I'm gonna stay far away from Maxie."
"That is a relief."
"We cool?"
"We are copacetic, Dark Prince."
Johnny nodded and walked out of the stairwell, a bitter glint in his eye as he completely accepted, for the first time, he would never be as stand up as Spinelli. He wasn't born to be honest, unselfish, noble, kind. He was born to take what he wanted, lie, scheme, and ruin lives.
And it was about time that he got around to living out his birthright.
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9:14 pm
Patrick hands were literally shaking as he drove down the snowy, ice covered roads. It had been over an hour since him and Jason started looking for Robin and they hadn't come across her van yet.
Jason kept working the phone, calling the cops to see if they had found Robin yet, checking with the hospitals to see if Robin came in there, and trying Robin's cell and the Drake's home phone. He also kept checking in with Carly at The Metro Court to make sure Robin hadn't shown up there.
As every minute ticked by Patrick started to feel more and more desperate. His panic grew to such a point that there was a lump in his throat and he didn't think he could even squeeze words out anymore.
His cell rang and Jason glanced at the screen. He held out the phone to Patrick. "Its your brother."
Patrick cleared his throat. His eyes were stuck scanning the ditches next to the road, as his mind fought off getting lost in memories of Robin from the first few months they knew each other...back when she made him change everything he ever thought he knew about women and love and himself.
He choked out "Matt."
"Where in the world are you, man? Did you and Robin sneak up to a suite or something? Can I sleep on the couch? Can you believe we are snowed in at this bash? Its got more mobsters per square foot than an episode of Sopranos."
"Robin....she never made it to the benefit. I'm looking for her right now but I can't find the van."
"Are you saying...are Robin and Emma missing?"
"It looks that way."
"I'll start searching right now. Where should I go?"
"No! Stay inside. Its bad out here."
"Hell no. I'm not sitting here drinking champagne while my sister-in-law and baby niece are in trouble."
"Matt, you'll just give me another person to worry about if you come out here. Promise me you won't."
"But- "
"I'm pulling rank as the older brother. You stay right where you are, you got me?"
"Call back when you know something. Okay?"
"I will, I promise."
"Patrick.....I'm sure she's fine. Robin is the smartest chick I ever met. She can take care of herself in any situation."
God, let him be right, Patrick thought desperately.
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9:17 pm
Robin drug her broken body through the snow, crawling on her stomach, moaning her daughter's name over and over as she tried to reach Emma's car seat.