Broken Road

.

"So Zack… I heard from a reliable source that you're moving permanently to Port Charles," Katie Howard cited as she slipped into the seat opposite of him. She gave him her best 'come hither' smile, only to be stung by cool dismissal.

"Hum, your source isn't very reliable," Zack countered as he folded up his newspaper. "I've already moved here with my beautiful wife and kids." Leaning back in his chair he noted that the woman had the grace to flush, but he was underwhelmed. 'This little nobody thinks she's in Erica Kane's league, she's faker then her hair color.'

"But you bought a penthouse?" Katie stated slightly horrified. 'Maybe he doesn't know…strange when he's noted for being a genius and all.' Katie fluttered her eyes innocently at him before she added, "I'm not sure if anyone told you, but the Harborview Towers are mob central."

"Really? Then why would an upstanding citizen like you try to buy a penthouse there?" Zack wondered as he narrowed his eyes before smirking. 'I think my wife is going to enjoy toying with this pretentious little upstart.'

"Where did you hear a rumor like that?" Katie brittlely tried to laugh it away, but her facial expression gave her away. 'Damn it. Who could have bought that other penthouse? Sonny's going to be so pissed.'

"The owner," Zack answered cuttingly. Picking back up his newspaper, he dismissed her. "Now if you don't mind, I am waiting for my wife to join me."

"Katie! There you are," Olivia announced as she entered Kelly's. She rushed over to her cousin's side all the while giving Zack her best smile. 'Oh, is he hot! I wonder if he's taken? Not like that will matter.'

"Olivia," Katie greeted strained.

"Hi, I'm Olivia Falconeri, Katie's cousin," Olivia introduced herself knowing that Katie wasn't going to. She held out her hand, her eyes gleamed in triumphant when the hot guy folded it and kissed the top of her hand. 'Look at that, I'm farther with this guy then Connie is and I was myself.'

"Zack Slater," Zack introduced himself. 'God and I thought Greenlee was bad.' Silently dismissing both of them, he looked down at his watch. 'Where the hell is she?'

"Is there a problem here?" Kendall demanded as she leaned down.

"There was, but now that you're here, the problem has resolved itself," Zack stated seriously, right before he kissed her lips. "Where you able to get the boys registered at school?"

"Oh yes," Kendall laughed delighted. Turning towards the women she gave them a cold smile. "Business?"

"No, they are leaving," Zack stated bluntly. He watched as Katie gradually got up, but neither one moved away.

"Oh good! I just got off the phone with Lily. She wants to move here," Kendall laughed as she looked at her husband. "Apparently Jackson is being over-protective again. So what's good to eat?"

"Your friend recommended the breakfast special," Zack stated as he picked up his coffee cup. "The coffee here is spot on."

"Oh... you must love that,' Kendall laughed fed up with the two women loitering by the table. 'Move or be moved. Stupid, fake, pretentious, floozies!' She nearly bowled them over as she took her seat opposite of Zack. "I've already talked to my business partner; we're going to look for locations nearby. What about you?"

"I have several meetings lined up and a few prospects," Zack answered instantly knowing what his wife was up too. "A young girl as taken over a hotel around here and is looking to sell."

"Try to go easy on her, will you?" Kendall stated as she tried hard not to smirk. Under her lashes she glanced at the two women who hustled out. "That was easy."

"They are like Greenlee. Leaches both of them," Zack advised as he signaled for the waitress to come take their order. Reaching out he cupped her hand.

"Succubus is more accurate," Kendall countered. "But you have to admit that this plan is working out."

"It always does in the beginning," Zack laughed heartily.

~II~

.

"What's wrong?" Jason inquired not liking the look on Carly's face. He stopped looking over his paperwork and focused on her. 'Oh something has her in a mood.'

"I would have thought that Lulu would have stopped by…long before now," Carly answered as she glanced at the door. Twisting her hands within the blanket, Carly glanced at the door again.

"Not likely," Jason responded. "Lulu knows not to just show up. Besides you have been busy with Christmas, moving, New Years and getting requited with your family."

"But Lulu…"

"Carly, Lulu will be over later today. She wanted to make sure that you were settled before she came over to see you. You could always go next door to see her," Jason pointed out reasonably. Seeing the guilty look on her face, Jason narrowed his eyes.

"I did go next door, but there was this guy… and I didn't know him," Carly admitted reluctantly. She sucked on her lower lip for a few seconds before looking his directly in the eyes.

"What guy?" Jason demanded softly suddenly more alert.

"I don't know! I didn't stick around," Carly dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Just some guy, he looked really surprised to see me."

"Describe him," Jason continued with his interrogation. 'God damn it. I knew there was a security breach.'

"Tall, dark hair… he was slightly built. Oh, and he's a chicken," Carly added as she smiled at Jason. "Now stop worrying."

"A chicken?" Jason inquired slightly confused.

"He answered to the name Coop… as in Chicken Coop, so he's a chicken," Carly reasoned with her logic. Hearing Jason laugh and then continue to laugh, Carly narrowed her eyes at him. Picking up her cell phone, she called Johnny.

"What's up blondie?" Johnny inquired intrigued by Jason's laughter in the background.

"There is a chicken next door," Carly stated seriously causing Jason to laugh harder.

"What?" Johnny demanded surprised.

"I went next door to see Lulu, but there was this guy. I didn't know him so I left. He answered to the name Coop… as in Chicken Coop… so he's a chicken," Carly reasoned with her logic. "Now Jason's laughing at me."

"Chicken!" Johnny burst out laughing. "Bak! Bak!"

"Now you're laughing!" Carly pouted. "Hey that's my phone!"

"Johnny, she's serious," Jason laughed. "Bak! Bak! Freakening hilarious!"

"Who the hell would name their child, chicken?" Carly demanded as Jason clutched his side while laughing. Crossing her arms over her chest, she pouted at him. "When is Ken coming back? She likes me!"

"Well, she might like you but I love you," Jason countered as he continued to laugh. He was still laughing as he placed tiny ghost kisses upon her pouting lips. "There is no one else like you on this plant and that's a great thing."

~III~

.

"Michael, you don't have to do this," Bobbie tried to reason with the little boy. Glancing between him and the place she drove him too, she felt that Jason would surely kill her if he ever found out.

"I have to know. Mama doesn't remember and Jason won't speak about it. I just need five minutes, that's all," Michael reasoned softly not taking his eyes off the building.

"There are easier ways," Bobbie implored softly as she gently ran a hand over his head. "We can try those."

"He'll just fake it, he's good at that. This way, there is no faking… it would be real," Michael stated as he unbuckled himself. He gasped sharply when his door opened, only to breathe easy when Johnny squatted down in front of him.

"You want to do this?" Johnny asked calmly as his sharp gaze noted the boys' paler.

"Yeah, I got'ta know," Michael answered as he struggled with his emotions. "Is daddy mad?"

"No, Jason's not angry with you, he loves you," Johnny reassured. "There will be a conversation about this later."

"Daddy sent you here, to make sure that nothing bad happens," Michael stated more than asked as he got out of the car.

"He was going to send Max but I offered to come," Johnny laughed as he stood up. "You're mother thinks Maxie's boyfriend Cooper is a chicken."

"Do I want to know?" Bobbie laughed as she picked up her cell phone.

Gently closing the car door, Johnny led Michael into Shaddybrook. Taking a moment, Johnny signed himself in. Nodding to several staff members, he was relieved that many of them looked at Michael with awe but didn't approach.

"He's in room three-thirteen," Johnny stated as he pointed out the room to Michael. When he spotted the fear in the kid's eyes, he smiled gently down at him. "I'm going to be right outside. Nothing bad is going to happen."

"Thank you," Michael whispered before he slowly made his way towards the room.

Trailing behind him, Johnny nodded when Michael looked back to reassure him that he was there. 'This place is creepy. It's a damn good thing it's on our payroll.' Looking in the room, Johnny saw Michael look at Sonny with nothing but contempt. 'Yeah… Jason's going to need to speak with him.'

"You are not my father!" Michael shouted at Sonny while raising his fist. "Jason is my daddy and he will always be my daddy!"

"No! You're mine, I destroyed Jason and his love…," Sonny bellowed stopping short his rant as he stepped away from Michael. He reached out grabbing the dresser nearest to him.

"You could never destroy Jason or his love for me or for my mama or my brothers," Michael sneered in absolute conviction. The little boy's body shook with his rage.

"I'll kill him," Sonny stated seriously as he twisted around. "You're mine!"

"You… you're nothing but a second rate schemer with grandiose visions of insanity you think are reality! You should be put down like the mongrel you are!" Michael stated with contempt.

"Time to leave," Johnny interrupted as he gently placed his hand on the kid's shaking shoulders. With measured movements, he forced Michael to head towards the door.

"He's my son! Mine! I'll kill Carly for this," Sonny bellowed as he started to trash his room. "He's mine!"

Closing the door behind him, Johnny effectively cut Sonny's rant off. Keeping one hand on Michael's shoulder, Johnny continued to move him down the hall. Giving a staff member a cold nod towards Sonny's room Johnny silently ordered the other man into a lockdown. It was when the elevator doors closed that Johnny hit the stop button.

"Kid," Johnny softly whispered as he squatted down.

"He's not my father, right?" Michael inquired as he looked to Johnny for confirmation.

"Jason is your dad. You carry his last name. Remember the uptight lady made it all legal?" Johnny confirmed.

"And Daddy married mama at the church too," Michael added as he nodded his head. "Mama's safe right?"

"Yes she is. That's some vocabulary back there," Johnny commented as he stood up. He hit the stop button again, causing the elevator to continue its path.

"I heard uncle Zack say that a few times. Do you think he'll be mad that I said it?" Michael wondered as the elevator doors opened.

"No, I don't, but do you know what you said?" Johnny probed as he led Michael outside.

"He's crazy and needs to be stopped," Michael answered with a small smile. He waved a Bobbie before opening the passenger side door.

"You two go and enjoy the day," Johnny ordered with a warm smile. He waited until Bobbie's car left the parking lot before losing his smile. Pulling out his cell phone, he dialed Jason's number.

"How did it go," Jason greeted.

"Sonny's ripping apart his room as we speak and threatening to have Carly killed," Johnny answered. "He started in front of Michael."

"I should have killed him before Benny contacted the commission," Jason growled coldly.

"Relax, Salvatore was there and heard the whole thing. The commission might do us a favor and take him out or grant us permission to kill him," Johnny conveyed as he leaned against his car.

"What's the problem with Michael?" Jason deduced.

"The kid needs some clear form of boundaries. Bobbie is willing to do anything he asks, Lucas is a push over. Something is festering with him. I'm worried, it feels like he's hiding something," Johnny stated.

"I thought that was just me," Jason sighed. "I'll talk to him tonight. Thank you for being there."

"Anytime," Johnny answered as he hung up the phone.

~IV~

.

"Michael," Jason ordered as he held open the door to the stairs.

"Where are we going?" Michael asked slightly worried.

"We're going to have ourselves a private conversation," Jason answered as he took Michael up to the roof. 'Thank god for the unseasonably warm weather we're having.' As he twisted open the door to the roof, he smiled down at the boy. "I hear you saw Sonny today."

"Yeah, he's crazy," Michael stated as he stepped up on the roof. "He kept saying I was dead, when I touched him to prove that he was wrong…. he went off."

"Michael, what's really going on?" Jason inquired. He watched the emotions dance across his son's face. 'Talk to me.'

"I overheard some guy in the park… he was going on about a Liz somebody….he said that he could destroy mama by using Sonny… so I asked Grandma Bobbie to take me to Sonny," Michael explained sadly. "I thought if I talked to Sonny…maybe he wouldn't hurt mama."

"Michael, Sonny is… the only person Sonny can hurt is Sonny," Jason tried to explain while circumventing their history with the man. "Liz was the drunk driver who was convicted for hurting you, your brothers and your mother."

"I don't understand why that man would think Sonny would hurt mama?" Michael questioned as he moved closer to the edge.

"Sonny has a brother named Ric. He's an attorney, Liz's attorney. He wants to help his client and he thinks that the best way to do that is to discredit your mother," Jason explained.

"By putting a crazy man on the stand?" Michael exclaimed completely amazed. "Cause trust me, he's crazy."

"Ric is willing to use any means, even putting a crazy man on the stand," Jason laughed. "So how are you doing?"

"I'm fine," Michael stated as he peeked over the ledge. "Whoah."

"A lot has happened in a short period of time, I'm just making sure that everything is cool," Jason stated as he watched Michael move closer to him. "Also, I wanted to let you know that you can talk to me about anything."

"People treat me different here. At Christmas that old guy, Edward, he kept staring at me. Not in a bad way, it was just …weird. Your mama kept touching me or Lucky, when she looked at Jake, she nearly burst into tears," Michael stated his observations. "Is it always going to be like this?"

"No, it's not always going to be like this. Edward and Monica… they let their emotions get the better of them. After the next few times, you'll see. They'll act normal," Jason explained as he shook his head. "Edward will tempt you into taking a job at ELQ and Monica will always try to hug you."

"Hugs are ok. Mama's need hugs," Michael stated seriously. "I'm too young for a job! What am I suppose to do? Sit there and look pretty?"

"Just tell Edward no," Jason laughed at the Carly comment that came out of his son's mouth. Running a hand over Michael's head, Jason nodded towards the door. "Let's get inside."

"Do I have to tell mama what I did today?" Michael wondered as he followed Jason down to the penthouse floor.

"What do you think?" Jason stated.

"Grandma Bobbie won't tell; she didn't want me to go in the first place. That leaves Johnny. Can you order him not to say a word?" Michael asked hopefully.

"And what about the doctors, the nurses and all the other people that saw you today?" Jason wondered as he opened the penthouse door.

"Fine," Michael stated morosely. "It's better to be honest anyways."

"Better to be honest about what?" Carly inquired from the coach. "Michael?"

"I…. there was this attorney in the park talking about his case. He said that he could destroy you by using someone named Sonny. So I asked Grandma Bobbie to take me to Sonny," Michael announced as he took a seat near her.

"Oh and what happened?" Carly wondered looking confused.

"The man's crazy! He can't hurt you only himself," Michael stated.

"I love you Michael," Carly stated as she looked down at him.

"But," Michael winced.

"But you could have been hurt! Crazy people hurt everyone around them," Carly admonished him.

"I knew about it and took proper precautions," Jason commented. He saw the grateful Michael sent his way. "Michael needed to see for himself that Sonny couldn't hurt you."

"Jason," Carly huffed as she glanced between her son and her man.

"One time deal, the next time he's going to let me handle it. Right, Michael?" Jason inquired as he looked directly into his son's eyes.

"Yes, daddy," Michael answered looking hopeful. "Besides mama, school is starting soon."

"Mikey! Come play," Ian demanded from the stair.

"Go," Jason ordered. As Michael scampered away as fast as his legs could carry him, Jason took the seat he just vacated. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good," Carly whispered tiredly. "The personal trainer and the physical therapist are scheduled for tomorrow."

"Carly?" Jason whispered.

"I don't remember her. She looks like she could be my daughter but I don't remember her," Carly answered softly. She leaned against his warm frame. "Lulu was so happy to see me and I'll admit it was nice to meet her, but I have nothing."

"You knew Lulu as a little baby but when her mother got sick; her father deposited her on her grandmother's doorstep in North Carolina. Lulu was sixteen nearly seventeen when she hitched a ride into town," Jason explained the gaps in Carly's memories. "You weren't close to her until Lulu found herself pregnant at seventeen."

"There's nothing like a personal crisis to bring the family together," Carly yawned.

"Come on, let's get you to bed," Jason laughed as he helped her off of the coach. Wrapping his arms around her, he led her up the stars. The sounds of carefree laughter greeted them halfway up as they smiled at each other.

Upon reaching the landing, they stopped and listened for a few seconds. Together they moved as one.

The End

"Bless The Broken Road"

I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

[Chorus:]
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

[Chorus]

Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.