A/N – Okay, this is the finale of the party! Enjoy and leave me a review so I know how you felt about it!
Chapter 10 – Hesitance
Johnny and Jason stood together by one stairwell entrance and Nikolas and Sonny stood in the other. They had all donned waiter attire and were checking the guards rotations for a time to sneak back in to the party. Their plan was set and they each knew their role by heart. Johnny's heart was racing furiously, knowing that the plan had a few holes that could be disastrous. Jason motioned and Johnny quickly followed him through the doorway and into the ballroom, going undetected by any of Helena's men. A few minutes later, Nikolas and Sonny did the same. Stage one was complete.
However, stage one was the easy part. Stage two and three, getting closer to the villains and taking them down, respectively, were the ones that could get them killed. Johnny and Jason slowly, never taking more than a step at a time, came closer to the middle of the room where Helena, Jerry and Anthony stood. They were spread out which was to the superheroes' advantage. Anthony stood near Carly on Nikolas and Sonny's side of the room. Helena was closest to the door and Jerry stood near Johnny and Jason. Helena was the only one without a weapon, yet somehow was the most dangerous. Both Johnny and Nikolas moved towards her, leaving Sonny to get in position to take down Anthony and Jason in position to take down Jerry.
Everyone finally reached a position where they could strike when the time was right. Johnny took a glance at the clock and saw that it was only fifteen minutes until midnight. Only fifteen minutes before everyone would be killed if their plan didn't work. Johnny looked to Nikolas who looked to Sonny for the signal. Their actions had to be completely in sync or there would be complications.
"I wonder if your superheroes will actually let you die," Helena mused. "Perhaps they're more flawed than fearless."
As Helena uttered the last syllable the superheroes sprung into motion. Sonny elbowed Anthony in the face and disarmed him. He knocked Anthony to the floor and tied his wrists together with the rope each of them had stored in their waiter disguises. Jason mimicked Sonny's actions with Jerry adding a kick to the shins to help send him to the ground. Johnny and Nikolas both grabbed Helena and held her upright, knowing she needed to stay visible to her men.
"Tell your guards to lower their guns," Nikolas demanded.
"Never, shoot these people!" Helena bellowed.
"You try to shoot us, we use your boss as a human shield," Johnny spoke.
"Come on, grandmother, this is your chance. The only way to get out of here alive is to tell them to lower their guns," Nikolas reasoned.
"Do it, Helena," Anthony muttered from the floor.
"I must agree, darling," Jerry added. "I would rather be alive in prison than dead."
"You're cowards, both of you!" Helena shrieked.
"As are you," Johnny replied. "You're so afraid of not having power you can't sleep at night."
"You don't know what you're talking about," Helena mumbled, her voice showing weakness for the first time.
"Call...off...the...guards," Johnny said, emphasizing each word.
Johnny didn't know what had given him the strength to stare down Helena Cassadine in front of the entire town of Port Charles, but he was doing it. He held her stare and silently willed her to heed to his demand. He knew she wanted to live more than she wanted the superheroes dead, so if he remained stoic, she would give up. After what seemed like an eternity, Helena broke his gaze and looked at the guard Johnny assumed to be in charge.
"Let the people go," Helena muttered and the crowd gasped and sighed in relief.
All of the Helena's men dropped their weapons and the citizens of Port Charles rushed for the exit. Carly was the only one who remained, looking a little dazed and confused by the events that had happened. The police arrived shortly to take Anthony, Jerry, Helena and all her men to the station. Johnny breathed a sigh of relief as the last squad car rolled away from the Metro Court and turned to Jason.
"I have to go get Lulu," Johnny smiled. "Do I need to do anything else tonight or can I go home?"
"You've done more than any of us could have ever expected of you," Jason said with a smile of his own.
"You certainly have," Sonny agreed. "I'm proud of you."
"Thank you," Johnny replied.
"Now go get Lulu before I decide to ask you why the two of you were in a hotel room to start with," Nikolas said pointedly and Johnny hurried from the room.
"You have that kid scared to death," Sonny laughed, shaking his head.
"I swear, if he wasn't so good under pressure and at keeping Lu safe, I'd kill him," Nikolas joked.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think Lulu is lucky to have him," Jason added.
"Okay, which one of you three wants to tell me what the hell is going on?" Carly piped in, reminding the men of her presence. "You four are the Fearless Yet Flawed Foursome?"
"I'm exhausted," Nikolas said suddenly.
"Me too," Sonny agreed.
"I could sleep for days," Jason remarked as they all turned to walk out of the Metro Court, but Carly wouldn't be denied.
"I want an explanation!" Carly yelled, chasing after them to no avail. They were all out of sight as soon as she made it outside. "Damn. How did they do that?"
Lulu had almost worn a hole in the floor when she finally collapsed onto the bed in tears. He had been gone too long and Lulu felt she would die if he didn't walk in the door at that moment. As if Johnny knew her sentiment, the door swung open and Lulu turned to see him stride through the door. In less than a second, she was up and in his arms. He held her as tight as possible and she clung to him, so thankful that he was okay.
"I was so worried," Lulu sobbed against his chest.
"Shh, I'm fine," Johnny soothed.
"Are you really?" Lulu asked, pulling away and looking him over. "Where is your suit?"
"We needed to blend in," Johnny answered.
"What happened?" Lulu questioned.
"The Terribly Troubled Threesome were holding everyone hostage," Johnny replied, wiping away her tears. "They wanted to use Port Charles as a base to take over the world."
"That's crazy," Lulu muttered.
"I know," Johnny sighed. "But we stopped them and they are all in jail now."
"So it's finally over?" Lulu wondered.
"In this town, the danger will never completely be over," Johnny said, shaking his head. "But they're out of the picture."
"Well that's good," Lulu noted, leaving Johnny's arms completely and going to sit on the bed.
"Not to sound clingy, but I would appreciate holding you right now," Johnny smiled, going to sit beside Lulu.
"And I want you to hold me, but..." Lulu trailed off.
"But what?" Johnny asked and Lulu felt fresh tears fall down her face. "But what, Lulu? Talk to me."
"I don't think I can do this," Lulu cried and Johnny's heart broke at the sound of her voice.
"Do what?" Johnny pressed. "What can't you do, Lu?"
"This," Lulu repeated, motioning between the two of them. "Us."
"Okay," Johnny nodded, standing up and walking to the door.
"Okay?" Lulu asked in disbelief. "Don't you want to know why?"
"No," Johnny said softly.
"Why not?" Lulu wondered.
"Because there is no explanation that would stop my heart from ripping to shreds," Johnny replied, unshed tears glistening in his eyes. "I love you, even now, and I will forever, so I don't see the point in you telling me why. Details don't matter."
"I don't want to hurt you," Lulu whispered. "I would never want to hurt you."
"I believe that," Johnny nodded, opening the door. "But it doesn't make it better."
With those words, he left and Lulu started sobbing all over again. Her body shook as the tears cascaded down her cheeks. She remembered why she had always feared giving romance a chance with Johnny. It was this. Her screwing it up and losing him forever.
Jason looked at his watch. He had called Johnny three times and left him several voice mails and texts telling him there was a meeting, but Johnny had never responded. Jason assumed he was with Lulu and had gotten the messages, but not taken the time to answer. But now, Johnny was thirty minutes late and Jason was starting to worry. Johnny wasn't always right on time, but he had never been this late before. Sonny cleared his throat again, wanting to start the meeting without Johnny and Jason nodded, deciding that maybe Johnny had only turned his phone off. But before Sonny could speak, the door opened and Johnny walked in. He looked like hell. His face was unshaven and Jason noticed as he walked by that he smelled heavily of alcohol.
"Thanks for joining us, sunshine," Sonny mumbled and Johnny didn't even acknowledge him.
"Let's just get this meeting started," Nikolas groaned. "We're already way behind schedule."
"Right, well this is just a short meeting to let everyone know where we stand right now," Sonny began. "With the Terribly Troubled Threesome behind bars, we should have some peace for a time. So if anyone wants to take a vacation, now would be the time."
"What if we want to quit?" Johnny wondered, staring off into space.
"You want to leave the superheroes?" Sonny asked.
"I have no reason to be in the group," Johnny muttered.
"What about Lulu?" Nikolas questioned and Johnny looked at Nikolas. He tilted his head to the side and raised an eyebrow.
"She's your sister," Johnny replied. "You can protect her."
"Excuse me?" Nikolas said with wide eyes.
"You heard me," Johnny said, rolling his eyes.
"What the hell-" Nikolas yelled, but Jason cut him off.
"Let it go," Jason advised. "Johnny, if you don't want to be here anymore, then you should leave."
"See ya," Johnny said, getting up and walking out.
"What the hell is his problem?" Nikolas demanded, looking at Jason.
"I don't know, but something isn't right," Jason noted. "Have you talked to Lulu?"
"No," Nikolas said, shaking his head.
"Look, what happened doesn't matter," Sonny interrupted. "What does matter is protecting Johnny and he isn't in a good frame of mind right now. Jason, I think you should follow him and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
"Okay," Jason nodded, heading for the door. "I'll be in touch if I learn anything."
Jason left in a hurry, trying to pick up Johnny's trail. He didn't know what was happening, but he knew Johnny was in more danger than ever before. The look in Johnny's eye had been one of recklessness. It told Jason that Johnny no longer cared if he lived or died.
