Dynasty Series 12: Blood Lines

by ss9

Continuation from Series 11: Full Circle. Can Blake win Alexis back or will Dex Dexter and a certain South American Tycoon out for revenge get in his way? Dynasty Series Starring John Forsythe as Blake Carrington and Joan Collins as Alexis Colby.

10. Episode 10: Amanda

Part 1a):

Alexis Colby couldn't sleep, she couldn't even bear to close her eyes for more than a few seconds…The things she saw when she did were probably enough to rob her of sleep forever.

So instead she stared out into the gloom, her eyes struggling in vain to pick out shapes in the vast blackness that lingered oppressively just outside the small window of the aeroplane. It didn't even look like they were really moving, without the sight of passing clouds or even land beneath them Alexis had no real evidence that they were getting any closer to their destination. Only the slow moving hands of her Rolex gave her any sense of getting closer, and even that seemed to move deliberately slowly as if taunting her.

Time ticking away…Time that her daughter didn't have…

What if it was too late already?

What if when this damn place finally arrived in Paris, and she was able to squeeze in a call to the hospital before her connecting flight, Amanda had already passed beyond her help?

Alexis knew deep in her bones she could never forgive herself, knowing as she did now that her baby daughter had lain hurt and broken on a hospital bed whilst her mother had been off…

She was a terrible mother.

A terrible person, if she had been where she was supposed to have been then she would have caught a flight hours ago instead of…

Just the thought of it now turned her stomach, she had been celebrating whilst her child was hurt and needing her. Yet at the time how could she have known? If she had had any inkling Alexis knew nothing on earth would have coerced her into accepting Ethan's invitation…

"I believe a celebration is in order." Ethan's voice was low and teasing in Alexis's ear as he leant closer his dark eyes flickering along the length of her exposed neck.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you not to count your chickens until they hatch?" Alexis retorted softly but tersely unable to tear her own eyes away from the team of lawyers that were busily tidying up the final details, occasionally her gaze would flicker across the room to where representatives from the government and in particular Senator Roberts sat.

"My mother taught me many lessons in life." Ethan replied and Alexis could detect something less than his perfect control before that hint of bitterness seemed to vanish. "However I believe in my own ability, this deal is settled Alexis."

Yes but at what price? Alexis struggled to keep her gaze from drifting back to Senator Roberts.

The poor man looked broken and Alexis couldn't help the small pang of regret and she could only wonder what Ethan had used in order to force the man to cooperate. Clearly the same thought had crossed Jeff's mind as well as Alexis had endured her son-in-law's look of disgust. Poor Jeff simply didn't have the stomach for such things; he really was too much the idealist. Yet this time even Alexis felt a slight stirring of conscience, she had wanted the Senator's cooperation but she hadn't wanted him destroyed.

"What did you do?" She asked softly feeling Ethan's answering snort against her skin.

"I don't think you really want to know that Alexis…Besides plausible deniability and all that, besides if I told you I would never be able to let you out of my sight…not an unpleasant consequence I must admit."

"Oh one of you would quickly tire of I am sure."

"We could try it and see." Ethan teased her back and Alexis couldn't help the charmed smile that tugged at her lips. The man was smooth, a charmer, a playboy no doubt of that.

And as flattering as his attentions had been Alexis still had her real life waiting for her back home…Yet right now Alexis wasn't certain she was ready to go back and face that mess.

The last in a long series of fights with Dex still hung over her like a black cloud. True Dex hadn't outright accused her of cheating with Jackson or Blake or both but I he hadn't said he believed her either and that hurt considering the fact she had chosen to believe him over Angela when there was far more compelling evidence to accuse him.

And Alexis knew only too well what Blake thought…the look of disgust and vindication on his face hurt, it hurt her deeply as had his cruel and biting words. He thought she was sleeping around, Dex suspected the same and Alexis could have accepted their anger and accusations if she had actually cheated! That for practically the first time in her life she was innocent and had actually been living the lifestyle of a nun by comparison with her earlier years, grated on her.

Perhaps getting involved in serious relationships in the first place was a mistake, reconciling with Blake had only led to heartbreak, letting Dex back into her life and her home had only led to confusion and jealousy.

Perhaps if she was going to be accused and punished like she had already cheated then she should at least have the fun of doing so?

"You know you want to stay a little longer…all this work and effort deserves a proper celebration and I have just the place. I have a beach house a little down the coast, it's secluded and has the most wonderful sunsets." Ethan tempted her as his hand rubbed down her arm. "Stay for the weekend."

"Unfortunately I need to fly back to Denver, Denver Carrington might be now on an even keel but I still have Colby Co and..."

"And the idea of staying here with me frightens you, that much I can tell." Ethan cut in earning him a glare for his troubles. "I get that but I must admit I am surprised that Alexis Colby..."

"I am not frightened, not by you or any one." Alexis spat back temper flashing to her cheeks.

"Then prove it." Ethan baited. "Have dinner with me tonight, just the two of us at my house, then if you still want to leave…" He added smugly his tone suggesting that he clearly believed that to be impossible. "Call it me calling in one of my favours."

"Alright then Mr Hailsworth but I assure you now dinner is all we will be sharing!"

"Very well Alexis I always relish a challenge…"

Closing her eyes as the memory of accepting that invitation seemed burnt into her retinas, Alexis wished as hard as she could that she could take it back But it was too late, the die was cast, it was to late to go back and undo things, all she could do now was move on…move and forget what had happened.

Forget what she had learnt.

One glance at her Rolex and a glance out the window at the slowly brightening sky was enough to bring Alexis back to herself.

Soon she would be by her daughter's side.

Soon she would be thousands of miles from her lapse in judgement and no one needed to know about it, no one, least of all Blake Carrington.

Part 1b):

Blake Carrington was angry.

No correct that he was beyond angry he was fuming, he was so furious that the next damn doctor he saw he was liable to shake them by the lapels of their pristine white jackets until they saw stars.

"I am sorry it is immediate family only…"

Just hearing those words going around in his head Blake fought the urge to punch something long and hard.

"But she is my daughter dammit!"

Blake had appealed to anyone who would listen but the medical staff were polite and apologetic but refused to budge asking time after time for proof of paternity that Blake couldn't provide. They were being deliberately cagey and from the number of uniformed officers around Blake couldn't help but become suspicious. Just how had his daughter been injured exactly, and why was everyone being so obstructive?

For the first time since discovering Amanda was his biological daughter Blake found himself cursing Alexis and her need for secrecy that had meant she hadn't listed him on Amanda's birth certificate. He cursed himself for not pursuing his original idea all those years ago and undergoing a paternity test. Yet after Amanda had confided in him Rosalind's confirmation that he was her father Blake would have felt rather churlish asking for additional proof.

So instead he was stuck here in the waiting room, unable to see his daughter, unable to find out anything more conclusive about her condition than she was critical and in ICU, until Alexis arrived.

What was taking her so long?

He had called her hotel several times himself, had left messages for her to call him urgently. Then when he had rushed off to catch the first available flight Fallon had promised him faithfully to arrange everything and to keep phoning her mother until she got through.

Blake's first action on arriving in Europe had been to phone home to check when Alexis would be arriving only to be horrified as Fallon was forced to admit she still hadn't spoken to her mother. Fallon had eventually managed to reach Jeff though who had promised to do what he could to find Alexis after she had apparently gone out to dinner to celebrate and then had not returned to the hotel.

Dwelling on what or who Alexis might be doing to celebrate was not something Blake could worry about right now. That his ex-wife was apparently falling back into bad habits...no he couldn't be certain of that and jumping to conclusions hadn't gotten him so far before. Perhaps just this once he could try and give Alexis the benefit of the doubt? Besides who Alexis slept with or if she slept with anyone was no longer his concern, Amanda was his only concern.

What if Alexis didn't make it in time?

What if he didn't get to see their little girl in time?

Rubbing his hands over his tired face Bake tried to push such negative thoughts away. Alexis would be here. She had to be. Yet Blake couldn't help but wonder if he would ever be able to find a way to forgive Alexis if she wasn't?

"Blake!" The unexpected sound of his name jarred Blake from his bitter musing as his head jerked up to see an exhausted looking Alexis rushing into the waiting room and his heart gave a momentary rush at seeing her before the reason for her long delay and what it could have cost them pushed back into his thoughts.

"Where is she…how is she…what have the doctors said…"

"I don't know." Blake replied sharply. "I don't know because they won't tell me anything…they won't tell me anything about my own child because her mother was too selfish to put my name on her birth certificate!"

"What but that's ridiculous." Alexis spluttered, of all the welcomes from Blake, this barely restrained anger and bitterness was not among them.

Choosing to bite his tongue rather than say anything else he might regret later, something that might cause Alexis to kick him out of their daughter's bedside Blake got to his feet and began the familiar walk down to the nurse's station. Now Alexis was here Blake Carrington was finally going to get some answers.

Part 2a)

There was no sound in the room save the rasp of the ventilator and it was as unspoken understanding that existed between them that neither would be the one to break the uneasy détente that existed between them. Alexis had taken the seat by Amanda's bedside leaving Blake nowhere to go other than to take the place by the only window and wait.

Wait for news.

Wait for a miracle that seemed to grow more distant with every hour that passed and the readings on the machines grew weaker.

Wait for answers as to how their beautiful little girl had ended up in this state.

Both consumed by their own guilt their own failings as parents and with the vestige of their earlier argument lingering between them Blake and Alexis sat in stony silence. Blake still bitter about being forced to wait for so long and Alexis unable to completely push that terrible new knowledge from her mind completely even as she stared at her daughter's still form. Yet perhaps it was best Blake seemed angry with her, Alexis doubted she could have stomached his comfort right now, not without the sickening guilt crawling over her skin.

Finally as the sun began to set a young doctor disturbed their silent vigil and he didn't need to say a word, his open expression said enough.

There was only one thing left to ask. "Isn't there anything more you can do?" Blake's voice was rough from lack of use but eve so there was no denying the command in his voice.

"Your daughter is already being ventilated Mr Carrington." The doctor replied in his heavily accented English. "But the results of the tests are not promising, what little higher brain function there was is deteriorating. Believe me if there was anything more we could do we would already be doing it…"

"But she could still get better?" Alexis's question was so softly spoken that for a moment Blake didn't even realise she had broken her self-imposed silence until the doctor answered her.

"With every hour that passes it becomes less likely…You should prepare yourself, eventually you might be faced with the decision to remove artificial ventilation…"

"You mean switch of the machines?" Alexis cut in her emerald eyes widening in horror turning to Blake for support. "No we couldn't."

"Absolutely not!" Blake echoed his dark eyes darkening further with anger. "We will not be hastening our daughter's demise!"

"That is your choice but I am merely making you aware of the possibility in the meantime we will do everything we can to ensure Amanda doesn't suffer." The young doctor replied softly hovering on the threshold glancing between the two parents. For two people so in sync that they could communicate with a single glance he had never seen such distance, the few feet from one side of the room to the other might as well have been a gaping canyon.

"I will leave you in peace; I will send a nurse to check on you. If you need anything…" He trailed off shaking his head sadly as he glanced at the beautiful young woman in the bed, her lovely face surprisingly unmarked despite the horrendous nature of her car accident. He could only wonder what had spurred such a lovely young creature, who if the eyewitnesses accounts were correct, had driven her own car off of the cliff…

Such a damn waste the doctor thought to himself, shaking his head as he shut the door behind him.

Part 2b)

"It isn't good news…"

Setting down the phone Fallon could hear her father's words repeating in her mind as she retook her seat at the breakfast table. Part of her unable to decide how she should be feeling about this new turn of events. It was confusing. Amanda was her baby sister and yet actually Fallon had spent more time living under the same roof as Jackson than she had her own sister.

Other than having the same parents and sharing similar DNA Fallon had struggled to find anything that bonded her and Amanda, well other than a similar taste in men if Michael Colane was any indication.

Right now Fallon knew she should feel distraught the same way she had when they had first received news about the oil rig explosion that Steven had been caught up in. Yet it wasn't the same, Steven was the sibling she had grown up with, they had a shared bond forged by growing up side by side and that wasn't something that could be forced.

Yes she was upset and worried for her sister, but in the same way she would a family friend. It was more the impact on her parents that affected Fallon on an emotional level. Her father had sounded brittle and exhausted on the phone. Clearly he hadn't slept since receiving that first phone call despite Fallon having arranged his hotel accommodation for him…and Alexis…

Clearly her parents hadn't so much as checked into the hotel because despite her father's exhaustion Fallon was certain he would have commented about her arrangements…

Still he could hardly take her too much to task it wasn't like she was forcing them to share a bed, the presidential suite had two bedrooms. If they chose her parents could come and go without having to interact at all. However if they should change their minds, being merely a living room apart should make that choice a little easier.

"Was that the phone, is there any news?"

Startled by the sudden interruption Fallon turned to reply, a cutting remark on her tongue that died there when she caught sight of the genuine sympathy and concern on Jackson's face which was missing his usual cocky smirk.

"She's not responding to treatment, they have her on a ventilator and the doctor's don't hold out much hope she will improve." Fallon answered threading her napkin between her fingers. "Daddy promised to phone if there was any change but I think we are talking hours or days no longer."

"Fallon I am so sorry for your family if there is anything I can do to make things easier…If you want to fly over to Monaco, I mean I might not be of much use but I can help relay messages or perhaps help mind the children?"

"Thank you." Fallon replied swallowing down her own helping of humble pie.

"I appreciate that but I think it's best if I stay here, Mummy and Daddy have enough to deal with without having to worry about other people crowding them and Krystle picked the children up this morning, Jeff is flying back today and it would good for them all to be together…Jackson I just want to say…that is I mean…" Fallon closed her eyes taking a deep breath for adding. "I'm sorry about before I over reacted."

Jackson's amused snort and smirk greeted her when she finally opened her eyes.

"I am trying to apologise here…"

"Yes I guessed that." Jackson answered glibly. "You're not used to it but you're not doing a bad job."

"I jumped to conclusions…" Fallon carried on as if Jackson hadn't interrupted, glaring at him slightly when he continued to chuckle at her expense. "You know this would be a lot easier if you weren't laughing at me!"

Laughing outright at Fallon's indignant pout Jackson moved to take the seat beside her. "I am not!"

"Oh really Mr Hobbs then what is this…!" Fallon teased reaching forward to poke Jackson's dimple her pulse jumping when Jackson caught her fingers and pressed a playful kiss to the tips.

His cobalt blue eyes drawing her in….

"Miss Fallon!" Lin's almost panicked tone jarred Fallon and the pair all but jumped apart as Lin stepped into the room followed immediately by a screaming infant carried by a scowling Marin Dexter who glanced between Fallon and Jackson with a knowing look.

Then dumping a screaming Jack into Lin's surprised hands Marin smoothed back her hair before demanding from the still stunned Fallon and Jackson. "Alright so which one of you two lovebirds knows where the hell my useless excuse of a brother has disappeared to?"

Part 2c):

There was music playing soft and low in the background. French doors were wide open and the soft drapes danced lightly in the breeze just as the couple on the terrace swayed to the music.

"Hmmmm I can't tell you how pleased I am you agreed to come tonight."

Smiling to herself Alexis giggled as Ethan turned her in a circle and then spun her slightly. Tottering slightly on her heels Alexis couldn't help but laugh as he pulled her back in and she had to stop herself from crashing into him by gripping hold of the lapels of his jacket.

She hadn't drunk that much champagne surely?

True she had had most of the second bottle whilst Ethan had only a glass or two….

"Well you didn't exactly give me much choice did you Mr Hailsworth?" Alexis teased back biting her lip as Ethan smirked and reached up to brush the hair out of her face, tucking a curl behind her ear.

"And give up the chance at finally having you all to myself?" Ethan retorted sliding his hand down to the small of her back and pull an unresisting Alexis flush against him. "And the night is still young…"

"Ahhh." Alexis sighed raising a hand to stop Ethan's lips as they began their descent. "But I am not and I need my beauty sleep…"

"If you become any more beautiful the angels themselves would weep from envy."

Laughing at such blatant flattery Alexis slapped his chest, pushing Ethan away with a shake of her head. "You have no shame Mr Hailsworth…Now as fun as tonight has been I really should be heading back to my hotel."

"So soon?"

"It is late and I need to be heading back to Denver in the morning." Alexis argued weaving slightly on her heels as she made her way back inside the house and scanned the room for her belongings. Not that she needed her wrap…her skin felt warm enough that even her current clothes felt excessive and itchy…

Perhaps it was the heat or perhaps the company but Alexis felt a familiar feeling curling low in her stomach, her nipples hardened against the silk of her dress. When she got back to her hotel room perhaps she should place a call to Denver; see if Dex was home and if he wanted to help her work off her frustration and if Dex wasn't available there was always…

"Well why the rush to head back to Denver?"

"I have my family and Colby Co…Not to mention I doubt that Dex would approve of my spending the night here…" Alexis began reaching for her wrap surprised when Ethan snatched it out of her hand and threw it back down on the sofa.

"So don't tell him!" Ethan insisted closing the distance between them until Alexis backed up against the sofa. "I am very discrete, and Dexter is thousands of miles away…."

"Ethan I have to go." Alexis insisted frowning slightly as the room seemed to tilt before her gaze, her protests falling on deaf ears as Ethan pressed his advantage, his mouth suddenly on hers as Alexis struggled to get free.

Yet the longer he kissed her the more difficult it became to focus…to remember why this was such a bad idea…Alexis found herself relaxing into his kiss, her sense of guilt flying out the window as Ethan's hands began to explore her body and her lust grew. Kissing him back with an equal passion Alexis barely remembered to pause long enough to breathe but when she did, pulling back for a second the room around her seemed to warp, the colours seemed to sharpen the music no longer seemed to be softly playing in the background but a pulsing living thing.

"What did you…" Alcohol had never made her feel like this…that hadn't been just champagne.

The sensation of lips along her neck made her gasp her skin felt a hundred times more sensitive and Alexis could feel the answering rush of heat between her thighs.

"I just put our champagne on Ice my dear." Ethan's voice was low and mocking as he unzipped her dress. "It should provide us with an entertaining evening…"

Groaning Alexis arched against his hands, parting her thighs willingly as Ethan's fingers slid into her underwear. God this was wrong and if she really wanted to leave she could have made Ethan stop, but her skin was burning and she wanted him…wanted him more desperately than she had ever wanted another man before…

"Alexis!"

Bolting upright in her chair Alexis almost slid out of it, her only saving grace Blake's strong hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright? You seemed to be having some sort of nightmare, you were twitching and moaning in your sleep."

Swallowing as she wiped the back of her hand across her forehead Alexis couldn't meet Blake's gaze, the look of genuine concern made her stomach clench in knots. "I'm fine…It's just this place and everything."

Nodding Blake watched as Alexis tried to compose herself, his concern growing as the hand wiping her brow seemed to shake. "Here take this, it's just as vile as the coffee in Denver Memorial but its hot and sweet and strong." Blake insisted pressing his plastic cup into Alexis's hand before she could protest.

Taking the coffee Alexis took a sip, wincing when the black liquid was as foul as Blake reported. Yet it gave Alexis the necessary time to compose herself and pull herself back from the memories of that night…No she would never think about it again…Resting her gaze on Amanda's still form, the only noise the steady mechanical sound of the ventilator Alexis allowed the present to ground her.

"Has there been any change?"

"Nothing good." Blake answered sadly his eyes narrowing as Alexis continued to avoid his gaze. "Look Alexis I am sorry I snapped at you before…I was just tired and worried and…"

"You were right."

Of all the answers that was not one Blake Carrington was expecting and he stopped in the middle of his sentence to stare at Alexis in shock.

"I did keep Amanda from you Blake…I did it deliberately and I was wrong and I am so very sorry. Perhaps if I hadn't then we wouldn't be here now…" Alexis broke off her voice breaking slightly. "This is all my fault."

"No!" Blake insisted surprising Alexis and himself with his vehemence when only on the flight over he had been cursing and blaming Alexis himself. Yet if he was honest with himself no one could have predicted what would have happened if he been involved in Amanda's whole life. He had been involved in raising Fallon and she turned out just as wild until motherhood had calmed her slightly.

Pulling his chair over from the window Blake slumped in it exhausted; some of his anger dissipating, as Blake suddenly felt too old and too tired to hold on to it any longer. "I get it."

"Wha…"

"Why you did it." Blake clarified lifting his gaze to meet Alexis's.

"It was your pound of flesh." He added catching the conformation in Alexis's eyes before she could speak it. "I knew it from the moment I first suspected the truth and yes I was angry that you kept her from me but I was more angry that you refused to admit it, but I never had to wonder why you did it."

"You didn't?"

Sighing Blake rubbed his hands across his face. "It was your way of evening the scales. I had taken Fallon and Steven from you and so you did the same with Amanda."

"That doesn't make it right." Alexis added her gaze now locked on their youngest child. "I shouldn't have used her like that. It was selfish and wrong…"

"And I'm just as guilty. If you were wrong to use Amanda then ergo I was wrong to have done the same thing, we are equally guilty in this Alexis. I can't go blaming you and holding you accountable to a different standard than I do myself. Besides we can both sit here and blame each other for the rest of our lives and what will it change? Amanda will still be lying in that bed and no amount of blame or excuses will change that. It just doesn't seem to matter anymore who was more guilty or who started it…"

Turning to stare at Blake in amazement Alexis's gaze was locked on his face, yet there was no sign of pretence, Blake appeared to be sincere even though it was something Alexis had never expected the mighty Blake Carrington to verbalise, yet he appeared sincere…sincere and exhausted and hurting just like her.

Touched and more than a little worried, it was an instinctive impulse to reach out to him. Her hand finding his, her fingers sliding across his palm Alexis could feel Blake start in surprise but he didn't push her away and Alexis found his touch soft and reassuring.

Blake couldn't pretend he wasn't surprised but he accepted the gesture as it was meant, a simple act of solidarity, something he could draw strength from. Yet he would have been lying to himself if he ignored the way his pulse suddenly jumped, as his heart gave a leap, and hope that had been so trampled down it had almost been smothered suddenly flared up once more.

Perhaps it was a fool's hope, and there was no denying this was hardly the time or the place, but perhaps there was still one last chance for the two of them after all?

Part 3 a):

The apartment was dark, the sun was creeping below the horizon but its sole occupant preferred to sit in the dim light rather than waste money by putting on the electric; a bill that the current owner couldn't afford to pay…well not yet at any rate.

It was amazing how far it was possible to fall in such a short space of time. Once he had been a respected cornerstone of society, his neighbours looked up to him and the house was almost paid off early. Mainly due to the generous payments he received in addition to his paycheck for passing on information that might be useful to certain people, or for loosing evidence when required.

Everything had been almost perfect until he had been set up. God that had been galling convicted for a backhander he hadn't even taken. That had cost him everything he had spent his life building. The respect of his peers gone in a media slur campaign, the house he had paid for taken by his wife of twenty years in the divorce settlement, his two daughters refusing to take his calls and moving away from the state to start their life anew with the stigma of their father's conviction.

Then just when he was at his lowest Adam Carrington fell into his lap and suddenly his former associates found a use for him again. Life had taken an unexpected turn for the better, his release was secured and he had jumped into a social circle for whom corruption and backhanders were almost seen as standard business practice by some. Oh he had been treated still as an outsider but no one called him vile names to his face or vandalised his car with abusive graffiti.

The name Frank Dobson was once more being treated with some respect, he was a man to watch…

All he had to do to secure this golden new lifestyle was follow the plan and secure Denver Carrington for the Davenports. It had been so simple taking the weaknesses of the Carrington's and using them against them, playing one brother on his thirst for revenge and the other on his inferiority complex. Yet Frank knew he had made one fatal flaw, he had failed to see Alexis Colby for the threat that she was. He had been charmed by her smiles and good looks, had found her vulnerability arousing feelings of protectiveness in him. He had made the mistake of treating her like an ally rather than someone to be controlled and it had come back to bite him in the arse.

He had lost Denver Carrington to Alexis and then had failed spectacularly in his attempt to snatch it back from her and in the process had lost his position on the Colby Co board and the payments from the Davenports.

Money was tight.

The six-month lease paid for by Adam Carrington was about the run out, the line of credit extended to him was maxed out and bills kept coming. The option of selling his Colby Co shares; the only thing in his own name was not a road Frank wanted to go down until he had no other option. So Frank had fallen back on his own natural talents…

Extortion and blackmail.

At first he had planned to use Alexis's suicide attempt, after all Frank was certain Alexis would be prepared to pay to keep that news out of the media but the flaw in this plan was Adam's refusal to cooperate and get hold of the damn note for him. Plus Alexis would know it was him and Frank had made the mistake of underestimating Alexis once before. Considering some of the things Frank had heard about Alexis Colby over the years, short of killing them there was little Alexis wouldn't do when dealing with her enemies, it was in Frank's eyes one of her most admirable qualities, and one that they shared.

So caught between a rock and hard place it had seemed like his prayers were answered when he took the chance to pick up Dexter's trash. The stupid Wyoming cowboy hadn't even opened the letter. It had all been going perfectly and then Dexter disappeared from the face of the earth.

Resisting the urge to crumple the half of the letter into a ball Frank reassured himself that Dexter was bound to turn up, five million dollars was a perfectly reasonable sum to ask for covering up a family scandal of this magnitude…Yet what if Dexter was calling his bluff? Selling this story to the press would barely cover his existing debt and then he would be back to the beginning again.

No Dexter would be back in time, he had to be…

Part 3b)

"Excuse me Mr Carrington…Mrs Colby but there are some men here from the police, they'd like to talk to you." The doctor's voice was hesitant and apologetic as his gaze flickered between the exhausted parents. Neither had slept much if at all in the last forty-eight hours, and he was this close to banning them from the hospital and ordering them to get some sleep lest he have two more patients on his hands.

"Of course we'll be right out." Blake answered his voice rough from lack of use as he forced his sore body out of the uncomfortable chair, his muscles protesting as he stood at being forced to remain in the unnatural position for so long.

"What do you think the police want?" Alexis asked pulling Blake back to the present, and the look of bewilderment and panic on her face made Blake's heart ache.

Catching her hand once more in his Blake's squeezed it reassuringly. "We'll find out together." He added leading an unusually docile Alexis from the room. Following Amanda's doctor down the hallway the pair entered his office where two uniformed and one plains clothed police officer were waiting for them.

"Mr and Mrs Carrington?" The senior officer asked his blue eyes flickering over the pair before softening slightly in sympathy. "I can only imagine the ordeal you are both going through right now and thank you for agreeing to see us."

Nodding Blake didn't see the point in correcting them and it warmed his battered aching heart that Alexis didn't see the need either, instead they took the seats that the officers had set out for them.

"How can we be off assistance?"

Shifting awkwardly the plains clothes officer nodded at his companions waving them outside. When they were alone he opened his briefcase and pulled out a handful of file. "Mr Carrington have you ever heard of a man called Andrei Demeter?"

Surprised by the sudden change of subject Blake frowned shaking his head as he turned to Alexis who appeared equally puzzled.

"Your daughter never mentioned becoming involved with Mr Demeter?"

"No." Blake answered, his stomach churning. Just how much about the last three years of Amanda's life did he know? After Amanda had left Denver she had made it clear to her father that she was no longer interested in continuing their relationship. Yet clearly he wasn't the only one in the dark, he knew that Alexis had stayed in touch with Amanda even if it was a phonecall or postcard once every few months.

"Who is Mr Demeter?" Alexis asked the question that was on Blake's mind. "I haven't heard of him." Which considering Alexis knew everyone worth knowing took Bake by surprise.

"Andrei Demeter." The officer answered laying several photographs down on the desk. "On the surface is a Russian exile, an ex KGB agent, who was able to take advantage of the recent changes to the former USSR and acquire some valuable oil and gas fields at knock down prices."

Scowling Blake gazed down at the photographs of a well built closely shorn blonde haired man who could be considered handsome in a rugged dangerous way, the photographs had clearly been taken under surveillance as they had him pictured getting out of cars, leaving restaurants and one dated only two days before… Andrei standing on the back of a yacht but it was the person with him that really caught their attention; Amanda in a bikini gesturing wildly with her hands her beautiful familiar face contorted in what could only be anger about something.

"Of course that is the official story, we have had Mr Demeter under surveillance for the last two months after one of our informants identified him as being part of an Eastern European drug smuggling ring."

"How long were they together?" Alexis's tremulous question broke the solemn silence that had descended after that revelation.

"From what I understand your daughter was introduced to Mr Demeter at party little over six months ago, she moved into his villa a fortnight later."

A fortnight…barely time to cover the basics and certainly not enough time to get to know a man well enough to move in with him… Blake shook his head, clearly his daughter had lost her way and Blake had thought she had hit the bottom with Michael Colhane.

"And you think Amanda was part of this group?" Alexis demanded her voice unusually shrill. "Is that why you are here to label my daughter some sort of addict?"

"I am not here to make accusations Mrs Carrington. If Amanda was caught up in this then she would not be the first woman to get in over her head with the wrong man be unable to escape." The officer replied glancing across at Blake who placed a restraining hand on Alexis's arm lowering her back into her seat.

"We do have witness reports that state there seemed to have been problems recently in their relationship, an argument at a Casino that almost became violent, and you can see for yourself from the picture taken a few days ago that their relationship was volatile."

The officer paused a grimace of sorts passing over his face. "Mr Carrington I don't wish to pry but it could be vital to our investigation…You claim to be completely unaware of your daughter's relationship with Mr Demeter, so may I ask what you have been talking with her about during your conversations?"

Frowning on confusion Blake stared blankly at the police officer. "I haven't spoke with my daughter since she left Denver."

"Mr Carrington I can understand your desire to protect your daughter but obstructing or investigation…"

"I am not doing anything of the kind!" Blake snapped his irritation with the officer growing. "And how dare you accuse me of such, believe me if I had spoken to Amanda then none of this would have happened I wouldn't have allowed it!"

"Mr Carrington we know your daughter placed phone calls to your house in Denver Colorado, we may not have succeeded in placing a tap on Demeter's phones but the phone company have supplied us with the details of all calls incoming and outgoing to his villa, numbers and duration and your private line has been called on four occasions. The phone calls were short but they were answered."

"Blake…" Alexis turned wide emerald eyes on her former husband her initial anger fading when Blake appeared to be as clueless as he claimed, and Blake had never been good at lying, not to her.

"Officer if I had spoken to my daughter I would not hide the fact…"Blake began when suddenly it was like a puzzle simply slotted into pace, and Blake could only blame his exhaustion for it taking so long. "Oh no…"

"Blake?"

Sighing Blake rubbed his face as the terrible truth sank in. "I have been getting calls, I thought they were pranks, the middle of the night and no one speaking when I answered. Once I thought I heard crying…I was going to report it to the police but then they stopped….If only I had thought…"

"There is no point torturing yourself Mr Carrington." The officer insisted. "We cannot assume if you had spoken to your daughter that it would have changed anything. All we do know is that on the morning of her accident Amanda rose much earlier than usual, that she packed a suitcase and took the new Porsche Andrei had given her, probably as an apology gift, only a few days before. What we cannot be sure of is what actually happened next. I don't personally believe Amanda drove herself off the cliff deliberately; why pack a suitcase if you are intending to commit suicide? There is witness account of another sports car speeding around the time of Amanda's accident. Yet we cannot be sure if there was a chase and Amanda was trying to escape, or maybe Amanda lost control of a car that was too powerful for her, or maybe she did deliberately drive herself off the cliff …"

Closing his eyes Blake tried to block out the vivid picture the police officer was painting yet now the image was imprinted in his mind and he could easily imagine the car going careering off, Amanda screaming as she realised what was happening. It was a nightmare he could quickly become trapped in if it weren't for the muffled sobs from the woman next to him. Forcing himself to hold it together Blake turned to Alexis pulling her unresisting form into his arms, feeling her burrow her head into his shoulder.

Locking eyes with the sympathetic police officer Blake had only one question he wanted answering. "What is it you want from us Officer…"

"It is better if you don't have my name Mr Carrington, I work mainly for Interpol and anonymity has saved my life on more than one occasion. And you're right I do need something from you…" He paused at least having the decency to look abashed. "I am sure you have noticed the heavy police presence?"

"Yes."

"That was to keep Andrei from coming to see your daughter, and that was the reason why you were treated with suspicion upon your arrival I am sorry…We needed to protect Amanda from Andrei just in case he really did try to have her killed and then sent someone to finish the job."

"And I appreciate that." Blake added through gritted teeth, even if those hours in the waiting room had been some of the worst of his life, at least now he had a reason that made sense. "So what do you want from us?"

"We want to allow Andrei to visit."

"WHAT!" Blake exclaimed aghast. "You've just told us this man in the worst kind of monster, he may even be responsible for our daughter's accident and you want us to let him see her!"

"Mr Carrington please calm down…" The officer tried to reason with him but Blake was beyond reasoning. "He wouldn't be left alone with her, but every avenue into trying to gather solid evidence on Demeter is a dead end; if we could use this opportunity to draw him out of his usual protection and plant a listening device on him."

"You want to use my daughter as bait you mean." Blake argued. "Well I won't risk it, if my daughter is to die then it will be with dignity not because your officers are incapable of doing their jobs!"

"Mr Carrington I can understand your reluctance but please consider this, if Andrei isn't able to see for himself that Amanda is no longer a threat to him then what is to stop him from trying again…allowing this monster in may be the only thing that can save her life!"

Part 4a)

Fallon Carrington couldn't help but admire her reflection in the mirror. The long slink of black silk clung to her slight curves and when combined with the incredible diamond chain Fallon had 'borrowed' from her mother's extensive jewellery collection Fallon knew every eye in the room would be on her when she made her grand entrance at The Carlton.

"Well someone looks mighty fine this evening." An admiring voice called out from the doorway and Fallon couldn't contain her laughter.

"Is that all for Mr Jeffrey Colby or was there some other handsome gentleman you were hoping on impressing?"

Snorting Fallon shook her head. "Oh no I am not joining the Carrington family dinner…Why are you going?" Fallon asked giving Jackson's casual attire the once over. "You're hardly dressed for it Jackson, those dinners are normally black tie you know!"

"Oh no thank'y Ma'am!" Jackson quipped tipping his forelock. "But I us mere hired hands aren't invited to eat at the big house! Besides I promised to spring Jessica, apparently the prison wardens of Mrs Gunnerson and Krystle are forcing so much healthy food into her that the baby is craving a good old fashioned hamburger!"

"Oh that I can believe!" Fallon snorted memories of her first pregnancy flashing through her mind. "I remember Mrs Gunnerson banning anything but the healthiest food, she even dared to try and deny me some of her chocolate fudge cake and so I used to sneak out of the house and visit my mother who had gone through the same thing when she carrying me. In fact I think that stash of chocolate was the start of my rebuilding fences with my mother."

Laughing at the vivid picture Fallon painted Jackson could well believe that Alexis would be only to happy to indulge her daughter's cravings. "Well then if you're not heading to the Carrington Mansion why are you all dressed up?"

"Oh I have a dinner meeting." Fallon answered airily, dabbing perfume behind her ears before picking up her fur stole.

"It must be some meeting!" Jackson answered winking knowingly his eyes tracking her figure.

"It's not that kind of meeting Jackson get your head out of the gutter!" Fallon tutted linking her arm with his as they both headed for their cars. "Actually I am having dinner with a woman!"

"Oh my are you sure I can't come to your dinner instead?" Jackson teased. "Two lovely ladies…"

"Oh I wouldn't say Barbara Weston is lovely…Well she isn't a total hound, we used to go to school together and I bumped into her this morning and she insisted on dinner…"

"Oh I see." Jackson retorted his smile growing. "Old rival, and you are determined to outshine her!"

Smiling enigmatically Fallon neither confirmed nor denied Jackson's suspicions, yet their little moment was broken when along the drive an old and some battered recovery truck came trundling down, pulling a familiar looking car behind it.

"Isn't that Dexter's car?" Jackson asked his blue eyes narrowing as the tow truck came a stop and a nervous looking old gentleman got out, quickly whipping off his hat as he spotted them.

"Good evening…Would you be called Alexis Ma'am?"

"Ummm no Alexis Colby is my mother, I'm Fallon Colby can I help you Mr…"

"Oh Jim Thackery Ma'am." The driver answered nodding his head respectfully. "Well I got the right place at least…I found this car broken down, and well the man behind the wheel weren't in much of a state to be driving it anyways, he asked me to bring him home, kept mumbling about an Alexis, he wrote down this address before passing out on me…He's in the back of the pick up right now."

Sharing a look Jackson strode around to the back of the driver's truck and there just as he had said was Dexter passed out amongst the old man's tool box and under some tarpaulin. "Jesus Dexter."

"God what does Mother see in him." Fallon tutted in disgust as Jackson and the old man half helped, half dragged Dex out of the back of the truck.

"Well better get him inside." Fallon muttered following the men as they took Dex into the lounge and laid him down on the couch.

"I'll help you with the car." Jackson added once Dexter had been settled leaving Fallon to scowl down at him all by herself.

The smell alone was enough to have her crinkling her nose. What had Dex been doing bathing in beer? He certainly hadn't shaved in god knows how long…or changed his clothes! Well Fallon couldn't do anything about that but she could do something about the smell and the way Dexter seemed to be drooling over her mother's cushions.

Walking over to the decanter Fallon filled a highball class full of soda water then striding back over to the comatose man on the sofa she flung the glassful of water directly in Dex's face, watching with satisfaction as Dex spluttered and fell off of the sofa.

"What the hell…"Dex grunted as his backside made an uncomfortable collision with the floor. Rubbing his eyes and wiping the water from his eyes he stared up at a smirking Fallon. "Fallon what the hell do you think you are doing, where's Alexis?"

"I was giving you a much needed bath!" Fallon snorted her lip curling in disgust. "You smell like you spent the last few days sleeping under a bar Dex!"

"What or where I have been is none of your damn business. Now I asked you a question, where is Alexis?" Dex grunted.

"Not here obviously, but then if you had been here instead of trawling through every bar in Wyoming after dumping your child on that incompetent sister of yours then you would already know where Mummy is." Fallon retorted angrily. "However since you prefer to indulge your own weakness rather than be here when you are needed…"

"Wait what…Is Jack here?" Dex spluttered as his brain tried to process all that Fallon had said. "What are you talking about Fallon, Alexis was in Australia why on earth would I need to be here?"

"No Mummy was in Australia but she left…after we got a phone call in the middle of the night to say Amanda had been in car accident."

"What…where…" Dex tried to keep up. "Is she alright?"

"No she's not, not that you care." Fallon answered spitefully pulling her fur stole closer around her shoulders. "You already did more than enough for my little sister Dex, if it wasn't for you interfering in her life then she probably wouldn't have gotten so low that she fell for Michael's lies in the first place. Then she never would have left Denver!"

"Now hold on a minute don't you go trying to pin this on me Fallon, it was an accident, one that could have happened anywhere. Now where is your mother, she is going to need me…"

"She's with Daddy, so your help won't be necessary Dexter!" Fallon retorted smugly.

"Now if you will excuse me you have already made me late this evening, might I suggest you head in the direction of the shower before stopping by to see your son…that is assuming you were bothering on going to see him." She added snidely casting her critical eye over Dex before sashaying out the door unable to contain the sly smile that snuck over her lips as she ignored Dex's demands to tell her where Alexis was.

No Fallon thought it best to keep that little piece of information to herself. The last thing her parents needed right now was Dexter and his irrational jealousy descending on them like a tornado from hell. It was best for Amanda, best for Blake and Alexis and best for the whole family if Dex stayed here in Denver…the only one it wasn't best for was Dexter but then again as far as Fallon was concerned if came down to a choice Dex's happiness was the one that was expendable.

Part 4b):

It was three in the morning.

In Denver it was early evening. Jack was probably just finishing his supper and the Nanny was getting him ready for bed. Glancing across at the phone Alexis felt the urge to pick it up and check in on things, yet the moment the receiver was in her hand Alexis slammed it back down. The chance of Dex being home was too high and right now Alexis was certain he would able to hear the guilt in her voice.

Lying back amongst the plumped pillows Alexis rested the back of her hand against her forehead trying to calm the conflicting thoughts that raced through her mind.

Amanda's doctor had all but ordered them out of the hospital. At first Alexis had been certain Blake would flatly refuse to cooperate but after the doctor had threatened to call security even her ex-husband had been forced to bend that stubborn neck of his. And right now that same stubborn neck was resting on a similar pillow in a bedroom just the other side of their shared lounge.

Hmmm perhaps she should place that call after all. Alexis had trusted Fallon to make her travel arrangements including arranging her hotel and clearly Blake had done the same. Something their smart little daughter had taken advantage of. Blake's reaction to that news was the only thing that could bring a smile to her lips. Blake had practically choked on his own tongue when the bellboy had shown them both to the same room, at least it was the best room in the hotel. He had certainly vanished into his own bedroom quickly enough…although having not slept at all for approaching fifty hours could also have been the cause.

Alexis at least had been able to take a nap in the hospital, although it would have been a travesty to have called that a rest. Her sleep had been less than peaceful and fear of yet another nightmare was keeping Alexis staring up at the ornately decorated ceiling.

It was certainly more interesting than the hospital ceiling and well Alexis didn't care to remember the last ceiling she had woken up to. Yet despite her best efforts memories of waking up in Ethan's beach house crowded into her thoughts.

She had been alone, that at least had been a relief. Yet as she turned over onto her stomach Alexis felt her body protest the movement. Her body felt like she had been through the ringer. Like her old gorgon of a physiotherapist had once more gotten her hands on her. Yet right now Alexis would have preferred if that had been the case.

Her head and stomach felt like someone was hitting her with a hammer after she had swallowed a live squid.

The hazy and yet lurid details of the night before flashing before her eyes in a sick little slideshow.

"Hmmm milady is finally awake I see." A teasing voice called out from the doorway and Alexis screwed her eyes up as Ethan swaggered over and lowered himself down on to the bed beside her, daring to press a kiss to Alexis's bare shoulder.

Flinching away from his touch Alexis wrapped the sheet more tightly around her as she swung her unsteady feet off of the bed.

"Well don't go running away now Alexis…I thought we might have ourselves a little action replay…"

"I think there has been more than enough action Mr Hailsworth." Alexis spat bitterly as she headed unsteadily towards the bathroom, her disgust only growing as she caught sight of the bags under her eyes and the unnatural paleness to her skin. God she looked terrible if this was what drugs did to a person's appearance it was a wonder that people took them at all.

"Why so formal all of a sudden?" Ethan asked following her through into the bathroom his dark eyes raking over what he could see of her figure. Reaching out he traced his fingertips along the curve of her shoulder blade.

"Don't touch me!" Alexis spat before bending down to rinse the foul taste out of her mouth.

"Oh well that it a change as I recall last night you couldn't get enough of me touching you!" Ethan retorted and Alexis could make out the slight bite in his tone.

"After you drugged me you mean." Alexis spat back meeting his ice with her fiery contempt. "You really are sick Ethan."

"Lady you had the chance to leave." Ethan retorted his dark eyes seeking out Alexis's in the mirror as she tried to do something with the bird's nest her hair had turned into. "You didn't…"

"I did try to leave as I recall and you stopped me!" Alexis snapped back. "And I was hardly capable of fighting you off."

"You didn't even try! In fact you were the one ripping my clothes off Alexis not the other way around."

"A fact that disgusts me, but at least I can console myself with the fact that I was not in my right mind when I made that choice, you however you were in your right mind you put that vile substance in my drink and that makes you the worst kind of scum!" Alexis hissed barely able to keep her rage under control.

"Scum that spent the night getting you to scream at the top of your lungs Alexis." Ethan added with a smirk. "I get it you let loose last night, you let yourself go and had the best sex of your life and now in the light of day you are feeling guilty because of that little cowboy you've got waiting for you at home."

Snorting in derision Alexis shook her head at Ethan's delusion. "My we do have an inflated opinion of ourselves, you were hardly the best darling, and its no wonder you have to drug your women." She added laughing at the outraged expression on Ethan's face.

Gripping her arm as she tried to push past him Ethan's grip was verging on painful his scowl deepening to an angry expression that made the hairs on the back of Alexis's neck stand up.

"Compared to who Alexis, that cowboy you ride or perhaps the legendary Blake Carrington, don't tell me that old man is better in the sack? I amazed he can even get it up any longer let alone satisfy a woman of your appetite."

The slap that Alexis landed across his smug face certainly took Ethan by surprise. Yet it was Alexis's words that were intended to land the lethal blow. "Blake Carrington is by far and away better in bed than you will ever be! And he has never failed to satisfy me in the bedroom, on the contrary he is the best man I have ever had, you pale terribly by comparison!"

Reeling from Alexis's words Ethan's handsome face seemed to contort into something ugly. "Well that really is funny considering how close a comparison that is Alexis, I mean surely you must have noticed…"

"I don't care to listen to your delusions Ethan. There is nothing similar between you and Blake Carrington." Alexis scoffed struggling slightly in Ethan's grip. "Now let me go before we add imprisoning to your long list of offences!"

"Look closer Alexis." Ethan hissed. "Surely you of all people must see it…"

Rolling her eyes Alexis realised her only way out of the damn house any time soon was to indulge this ridiculous whim. Yet as she raised her eyes to stare into those dark eyes Alexis felt a jolt of familiarity that made her stomach churn. No…No that wasn't possible…

Seeing the dawning realisation in Alexis's eyes as well as the growing look of horror on her face Ethan paused dramatically before going in the kill. "Tell me Alexis does the name Tom Carrington Jnr mean anything to you?"

Part 5a):

A few months ago Dex would never had believed it possible but Fallon Carrington Colby was quickly making her way up the rankings of his least favourite people! Right now she was even a potential rival for knocking Blake off of the top spot in Dex's list.

How dare she refuse to tell him where Alexis was?

Oh Dex could guess why, Fallon at least was straightforward and upfront about her feelings. Ever since she had forgiven Blake, Fallon had been trying in her own way to bring her parents back together. Probably in the childish belief that if left alone the two would finally overcome the issues keeping them apart, with Dex himself as a particularly large roadblock impeding that reunion.

Well if Fallon refused to tell him then Dex would simply have to find the answer all by himself.

After he had taken a shower…

Fallon had been right about that at least. Dex had caught a glimpse of his reflection in Alexis's vanity mirror and he did resemble a drunken bum who had staggered in off of the sidewalk. That he had understandable reasons for wanting to drink himself into oblivion Dex refused to think of now, instead he focused on his righteous fury with Fallon allowing that to push away thoughts of Farnsworth Dexter Snr.

The shower helped to sober him up a little, but there was still enough bad whiskey flowing through his bloodstream that Dex had avoided a close shave with a blade. Somehow he didn't trust his shaking hands not to cause the blade to slip and solve Fallon's roadblock problems for her. So instead he had settled for the less than satisfactory attentions of his electric razor and slipping into his pyjama bottoms and towelling robe to return his appearance to something not quite so terrifying before visiting his son.

Yet apart from the smell if really wouldn't have mattered as on arriving in the nursery Dex found his son already fast sleep, sucking on the now somewhat ratty soft rabbit that Alexis had given him. Perhaps it was a comfort thing, since his mother was absent or perhaps his son was simply teething again. God Dex hoped somewhat selfishly that it was the first; not that he wished Jack any form of anguish but trying to sooth a teething Jack was best left for when Alexis was back home.

"Sleep tight little guy…" Dex mused reaching and down and stroking his son's soft cheek. "Mummy will be home soon Daddy will to see to that."

Yet even as he made the promise Dex felt a twinge of fear. What if Alexis wasn't home soon? Fallon had said things were bad with Amanda, but how bad? There were significant degrees of bad and dammit was it asking too much to be kept informed when these things directly impacted on him and his son?

Besides at the back of his mind Dex couldn't shake the niggling thought that Fallon's plan might actually have a hope of succeeding the longer Alexis and Bake remained together, depending upon each other for support. God even when they had been married Dex had often been the second choice for emotional support whenever it came to one of the children, at the time he had had no choice other than to step back.

After all how could he possibly begin to understand what Blake And Alexis were going through as parents? And on the rare occasions Alexis had turned to him for support Dex had been floundering blind, providing her the shoulder she needed to cry on, but he had felt so helpless unable to provide more practical help and support. Well he wasn't quite so clueless now. Having suffered through so much with Jack, Dex was certainly well acquainted with the indescribable fear of a parent faced with losing a child.

He had to find out where they were….

Surely Fallon had noted down the details somewhere?

Confident and certain of his plan Dex left the nursery, taking advantage of the practically empty house to do a little reconnaissance.

Fallon hadn't even locked her door…

Smirking as something seemed to be going right Dex slipped into the room, pulling the door shut behind him before coming to an uncertain pause a little inside. It just felt a little unsettling being inside someone else's personal space. The moonlight from the window highlighted all the little touches, the children's photographs every where and the discarded towels on the floor made him feel like the intruder he was, but Dex pushed down those feelings and focused on his anger.

First he tried the bedside cabinet, yet there were no international numbers scribbled on the pad by the phone and the only thing a quick snoop through Fallon's personal drawer turned up was a half trashy novel by a Jackie somebody and an item of personal use that had Dex slamming the drawer shut when he realised it wasn't a torch.

Making his way over to the dresser, Dex yanked the drawers open, rummaging roughly in the clothing for anything that shouldn't be there, a filofax or….

Pulling out the hard shape his fingers had closed on Dex felt his stomach drop away as he immediately recognised a dark velvet box.

"No she wouldn't…" Dex muttered yet as he flicked the lid open Dex was forced to confront the truth, to recognise that the depths Fallon Colby would go to were far deeper than withholding of a hotel or telephone number. Yet theft….

Closing the box and hiding the twinkling perfect ring from sight Dex felt something snap. So Fallon wanted to play games, fine, let's see how much she liked the consequences.

And with that Dex settled down to wait in the dark, if Fallon liked games Dex could only imagine that she loved surprises!

Part 5b):

This was not exactly the family dinner that Krystle Carrington had envisioned when she had offered to look after the children to ensure they were all together and protected from the terrible news about Amanda. It was times like these that the family needed to forget all the different squabbles between them and pull together like a proper family and as Blake not here to take the helm Krystle had no choice but to step into his shoes.

Seated in Blake's seat at the head of the table Krystle tried to keep the conversation light and flowing, yet underneath it all there was an undercurrent of tension that no one could get over.

At least the children seemed genuinely delighted to have their father back, and even if Adam seemed less than thrilled by the returning conqueror's presence he at least had the sense for once to hold his tongue.

"And did you really see a kangaroo Dad?"

"I saw lots of them and they looked just like Lauren's toy one, except not quite as cuddly." Jeff answered his son, catching Krystle's eye and sharing a smile before ruffling his son's hair and putting his other arm around his daughter who turned her large dark eyes up at her daddy as she hugged her new 'Kanga' close.

"Now Lauren that kangaroo is very special you know, I was in the airport and I swear he hopped right over to me and told me to take him home to a very special little girl…"

"Stupid toy can't talk." Danny's sudden and bitter interjection took everyone by surprise…well perhaps not everyone as Adam didn't seem quite so shocked as everyone else by the boy's sudden outburst. "Uncle Jeff is a liar!"

"Danny what on earth…" Krystle began only to stop as LB took matters into his own hands.

"Don't you dare call my daddy a liar!" LB snapped, his hands moving as quick as lightening as he pushed his cousin.

"Don't push me!" Danny spat back pushing LB back even harder, so hard in fact that LB fell from his chair and bumped his head hard on the floor.

Jumping up from his seat Jeff immediately rushed to his son's side. "LB are you alright? Danny what the hell did you think you were doing?" He demanded turning his piercing Colby blue eyes on Steven's son who had the nerve to glare back at him.

"Jeff I am sure this is just a misunderstanding…I am sure if Danny says he's sorry." Krystle tried to calm the situation moving to Danny's side her hand fluttering on his shoulder, hurt when the boy shrugged her comfort aside. "Danny please this isn't like you."

His jaw clenched Danny refused to meet anyone's gaze. He wouldn't be forced to apologise. He wasn't sorry in the slightest. It wasn't fair. Everyone always took LB's side and he had pushed Danny first but he wasn't in trouble! "No."

"Steven Daniel Carrington you will apologise to my son or you can go right up to your room with no dessert!" Jeff demanded hotly his anger growing when a mere slip of a boy continued to defy him, just like those arrogant board members who had the nerve to question his ability to pull off the Australian negotiations, well he had shown them…

Although Alexis and her latest stooge had played some part, a fact that took the shine off of their victory for Jeff and left him feeling slightly on edge; perhaps that could excuse his shorter temper but regardless Jeff was not about to let a child sass him.

"I am still waiting!" Jeff repeated.

"Danny darling just say you're sorry and then we can all go back to our nice dinner and it will all be forgotten." Krystle tried to placate Danny; unable to understand where this sudden stubborn wilful streak had come from.

The Danny she remembered was a sweet loving child, true he hadn't had the most stable of childhoods and Krystle couldn't imagine his latest move to Colby Acres, formally Delta Ro his mother's former home now turned upside down by Alexis had been particularly easy on him.

Crouching down Krystle moved to cup Danny's cheek and turn his face up to meet hers yet Danny yanked his chin out of her hand and without a word of apology stormed out of the dining room.

"Danny…" Krystle called out after the fleeing child before turning back to the family her crystal blue eyes wide with horror. "What on earth can have gotten into him?"

It was Adam's snort of amusement that seemed so very out of place as the eldest Carrington son lent forward for the wine bottle and topped up his glass.

"Is something about all of this amusing you Adam?" Jeff snapped back his ire now firmly fixed on his brother-in-law as Krystle took over fussing over LB.

"No I can't possibly find anything about this situation remotely amusing." Adam drawled sarcastically his own blue eyes watching as their precious LB hammed his injury up for the ever-gullible Krystle.

"Good because only a sick individual would take pleasure in a child hurting themselves!" Jeff snapped back.

"And only an unfair parent would punish one child and not the other…LB was the one to push Danny first or has everyone conveniently forgotten that little fact?" Adam retorted smugly his eyes gazing around the table watching as his words barely sank in.

"Of course not why am I not surprised." He added disgusted by the blatant double standard. Well if no one was going to punish LB for turning the squabble violent in the first place then Adam at least refused to see Danny singled out for punishment.

Picking up his own untouched dessert and a spoon along with his wine glass Adam stood from the table.

"Adam where are you going?" Krystle asked as she glanced up from checking LB's head for bumps.

"To talk to the boy, someone needs to and since you are so clearly already occupied…" Adam drawled his irritation with Jeff growing as the Colby heir once more interfered in something that had nothing to do with him.

"You will do no such thing Danny can stay in his room and think about what he did…"

"I'm sorry Jeff but are you actually suffering under the delusion that I have to listen to you?" Adam scoffed cutting the righteous Jeff Colby off mid flow.

"That boy has to be punished."

"Perhaps but it won't be by you, you're not his father you're not even a blood relative…" Adam retorted his eyes passing around the room. "In fact the only adult in this room with any actual blood relation to the boy is me. I'm his real Uncle and I will talk to him."

"And say what?" Jeff added. "Perhaps give him more tips for how to attack my son?"

Shaking his head Adam could only call back over his shoulder, Jeff Colby may have stolen Denver Carrington out from under him but he refused to allow him the last word. "Delusional and paranoid! I'd get some rest Jeff, take a few days off, clearly all that Australian sun has addled what little brains you had left!"

Part 6a):

Fallon Carrington Colby's evening had been a mixed one; the food at dinner had been excellent but then considering they had dined at The Carlton that was only to be expected. Barbara Weston's sour face had certainly been worth the extra effort Fallon had put into her appearance, as had her orders to her staff to be extra attentive to their table. Still the highlight of her evening had occurred before she had even reached the hotel, a return to form of flirting with Jackson gave Fallon hope that her own idiocy hadn't ruined things between them. Of course the lowest point in her evening had also occurred before leaving for her dinner. Just the memory of Dexter's drunken body stretched out over her mother's white couch had Fallon's blood boiling.

Sure Dex was good looking in a rugged way, with his military history for heroics, and Fallon had overheard gossip about his prowess in the bedroom, so she could understand why her mother would be attracted to him. There was a point in time when Fallon had herself considered changing her friendship with Dex into something more but then Zorelli had came along and Fallon had let any burgeoning feelings for Dex fall by the wayside. Plus since Fallon had been the one to help pick up the pieces of her mother's broken heart after Dex had cheated with Sable there was no way Fallon could do that to her own mother.

Looking back Fallon could only regret ever getting Dex involved her mother's recovery, yet at the time it had seemed the best choice for them all. However had Fallon known then what she did now, that Dex would use the situation to push her mother back into a romantic relationship before she could possibly be ready for one, then Fallon might have made other arrangements.

Still with the way Dexter seemed to be self destructing at the moment it wasn't like Fallon needed to set him up, Dex was doing a good enough job of destroying his relationship with Alexis all by himself!

That thought alone had Fallon smirking as her mother's driver brought them back to Colby Acres, tired but satisfied with the way her day had turned out. Yet that smirk quickly slipped from Fallon's face the moment she opened the door to her room and found an unwelcome interloper.

"What are you doing in here?" Fallon demanded her eyes narrowing in disgust at the man sitting on her bedside chair.

"Waiting for you obviously!" Dex retorted his dark eyes locked on Fallon who glared at him from the doorway. "I had a question for you Fallon."

"I have no interest in answering any questions you might pose Dex I already told you I won't tell you where Mother is." Fallon snapped flinging her fur down. "Now would you please leave Dex it has already been a very long day…"

"I am not going anywhere until you explain how the hell this came to be in your dresser?" Dex retorted flicking open the small velvet box he held in his right hand, leaning back his dark eyes locked on her figure.

"I don't know what you are talking about!" Fallon hedged yet her nervous expression gave her away.

"Oh I think you do." Dex answered hotly getting to his feet as he stalked across the room ring in hand. "Take a good look Fallon look familiar now?"

"It looks perfectly common to me." Fallon sniffed looking down her nose at the ring. "Is that even genuine?"

"It is and you damn well know it is, otherwise why the hell would you steal it?" Dex demanded.

"I think all that time you spent in the bar has addled your brain Dex." Fallon huffed, fluffing her hair as she checked her reflection in the mirror before glancing at her watch. It was getting late surely Jackson must be back by now…perhaps he might be interested in a little nightcap. "Now if you don't mind Dex I would prefer you leave."

"Oh I don't doubt you would prefer it." Dex mimicked patronising. "However it isn't what you want that concerns me Fallon, its how you got your hands on this ring and how the hell you thought you could get away with keeping hold of it?"

"Are you accusing me of stealing Dex?"

"If the cap fits." Dex added leaning down his face now level with Fallon's.

"Well that is ridiculous. I have never seen that ring before."

"Then how can you account for it being in your dresser hidden away?" Dex demanded hotly.

"How should I know, you probably put it there when you were getting your jollies off going through my personal possessions!" Fallon retorted her temper raised along with her voice.

"Now I don't know what your problem is but I know damn well it will only double when I tell mother about your recent behaviour…drunkenness, ransacking my room, dumping Jack on anyone who would take him….hell perhaps Monica was right all along about you are an unfit parent!" Fallon added slapping the ring out of Dex's hand as she turned and made for the door.

"Don't you dare…." Dex began reaching out and grabbing Fallon's arm.

"Let go of me!" Fallon struggled wobbling on her stilettos as she slapped Dex's arm, her nails going for his face.

Reeling back from her sudden attack Dex didn't know what or how it happened, one moment he was whirling around lifting his hand to defend himself the next his elbow clocked Fallon on the jaw and she lost her battle with gravity, her heels caught in the long slippery fabric of her dress.

Her scream of surprise was cut off as her head connected with the edge of the skirting board, which opened a long nasty looking cut and left Fallon dazed.

"Oh my god Fallon…" Dex spluttered stepping forward hands outstretched to help. "I didn't mean to…I'm sorry…"

Yet just as he was leaning down the door to the bedroom was kicked open and a furious looking Jackson Hobbs stormed inside and grabbed Dex by the jacket before he could say another word.

Pushing Dex back against the wall Jackson could feel the red mist taking over, memories long suppressed from his childhood struggling to take hold but Jackson pushed them aside. Yet he held onto his anger, only the worst sort of men hit women, and perhaps Jackson had made a error in judgement but he had thought Dexter better than that, yet the evidence spoke otherwise. "What the hell is the matter with you Dexter? Hitting defenceless women is that how you are getting your kicks these days?"

"Jackson it isn't…It was an accident." Dex tried to explain turning his face to Fallon who had pulled herself into a sitting position and who raised a shaky hand to her bleeding brow.

"Fallon tell him, I didn't hit you… we are arguing…" Dex struggled against the almost choke hold that Jackson had on him. A hold that Dex couldn't break and if it were not for his well documented playboy lifestyle Dex might have been convinced Jackson had received military training he was so good.

Dizzy and a little winded Fallon raised her gaze, her quick mind making a split second decision, the flash of conscience quickly squashed. "Oh Jackson thank goodness you are here…I thought he was going to hurt me…please get him out of here…please I can't stand the sight of him a moment longer!"

Part 6b):

"It's not good news."

Blake hadn't expected it would be, but part of him had been able to hold onto a tiny flicker of hope that somehow miraculously during the hours they had been forced to leave the hospital that there would be some improvement. An enforced absence that had done little real good, yes the shower and change of clothes had made Blake feel a little more human but he still hadn't caught more than a few minutes sleep and Blake could have gotten that much in a chair beside Amanda's bedside.

"What do you mean by not good news Doctor?" Alexis's question drew Blake back to the present, she sounded as defeated and exhausted as Blake felt. There were clear dark circles under Alexis's eyes, which today seemed to be a duller shade of jade rather than their usual bright emerald. She hadn't even bothered to style her hair, instead it was pulled back simply in a ponytail, the occasional wisp escaping to frame her pale face.

"I mean Mrs Colby that the latest brain scan has shown no signs of improvement, there is no higher brain activity at all. Her body is now simply going through the motions. Amanda is now dependant upon the machines keeping her alive." The doctor paused swallowing nervously before continuing. "It is our medical opinion that additional support be removed…"

"You mean you want to turn off the machines, to let our daughter die!" Blake snapped, his lack of sleep making him quicker to anger. "No I won't give up on my daughter."

"Mrs Colby do you feel the same way?"

"Of course she does." Blake snapped glaring at the young upstart of a doctor who dared to even try and drive a wedge between them on this. How dare he try and put this burden on Alexis's frail shoulders, couldn't he see she was suffering enough?

"I was asking Mrs Colby Mr Carrington, as Amanda's mother and her appointed emergency contact the final decision whether or not to remove organ support is ultimately her decision."

So his opinion didn't even count, just because he wasn't listed on a piece of paper they didn't need his approval to end his own child's life!

"Now listen here you…." Blake began visibly shaking with rage as he stood from his seat, his anger clawing at his throat. "If you think I am going to let anyone make a decision like that without even consulting me…"

"My decision?" Alexis echoed and if possibly Blake thought her face became even paler at that thought.

"Alexis please you can't even be considering it." Blake muttered aghast, reaching out and grasping her by the shoulders as the doctor took this opportunity to escape from the room and Blake Carrington's ire.

Staring up at him her eyes hollow and blank Alexis could only stare at him. "I don't know what I am thinking right now…Do I want to be responsible for making this decision…No…but I don't think I can bear dragging this out much longer…Blake help me I don't know what to do?"

"Alexis she's your daughter…our child…you gave her life, can you even for one second consider taking that away?" Blake reasoned crouching down now so that their gazes were almost level. "Darling you wouldn't be able to live with yourself."

"I know that!" Alexis snapped back pushing away Blake's hands. "Don't you think I know that?" She added her tone bordering on hysterical.

"Yet what's the alternative, we sit here for days…weeks with no hope of her getting better. We keep her stuck in this limbo, unable to pass on because we can't bear to let her go, because we're too selfish?"

"She's not dead yet." Blake growled. "You have to give her every chance Alexis."

"To do what, get better?" Alexis retorted pouring all her own frustration into their argument, getting to her feet and pacing too in the small room.

"Well what if she won't ever get better Blake? All we are holding onto here is just a shell, the Amanda that we know can't come back; is it fair to keep her tethered here because we are unable to let go? Could you really go back to Denver, and go on with your life knowing that our daughter was kept alive only by machines? That that was the fate we as her parents had condemned her too!"

Running his hands through his hair Bake tugged on the ends, almost tearing some out on his frustration. Blake didn't have all the answers; only a deep-seated feeling in his gut told him that this was wrong, very wrong. "I don't know how I would cope but I can guess how I would feel if I didn't even try it…I am not ready to give up hope yet Alexis…"

Catching Alexis as she turned Blake slid his arms around her waist moulding himself against her back, resting his cheek against hers. He could feel the dampness of her tears against his face, the way her body seemed to tremble with fear and pain and rage. Tightening his hold as Alexis seemed to sag into him, Blake sighed as she turned in his arms and curled into him.

"Please….please Alexis I am begging you, don't agree to turn the machines off."

Feeling Alexis nod Bake couldn't contain his exclamation of relief, tightening his hold on her as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Thank you."

Breathing in Blake's cologne Alexis's burrowed her face into the crook of his neck, her body soaking up the wonderful warmth and sense of solidity that Blake exuded.

"I wouldn't make a decision like that without you….I couldn't." Alexis added her voice breaking slightly there really was no way she could have coped without him here. It was just terrible that it took a tragedy of this nature to make that clear. No matter their disputes, or the many times they had hurt one another when she really needed him Blake was there holding her up. "Oh Blake what are we going to do?"

It was a valid question and his momentary relief at Alexis's capitulation aside Blake wasn't blind to the merits of her argument. Could he go on with his life knowing his daughter would never wake up and he had condemned to her to live out the rest of her life like that instead of granting her some dignity to her death? There were no easy answers here, and there was only one thing of which Blake was certain in all this mess…

"I don't know what to do for the best, but you won't have to make this decision alone. Whatever we decide we will do it together, we created Amanda together, and if eventually we have no other choice…." Blake paused his own voice breaking as he was forced to concede to the possibility, even if it was only to ease Alexis's sense of guilt. "I know my signature has no legal authority but if one day we do decide to switch them off, you won't be alone… I will sign too."