GENERAL HOSPITAL #025

As luck would have it, the damage done to General Hospital was not as bad as first expected. Several building engineers had surveyed the structural integrity of the building and agreed that the rest of the hospital building was fine, and the damage that was done would be repairable.

In lieu of the tragic event the day before, Monica Quartermaine had just been reinstated as the chairperson of the board of trustees which oversaw the financial security of General Hospital. She had also agreed to the hospital shutting down briefly, except for basic services, so that a service could be held for Dr. Obrecht and the two orderlies who been killed in the elevator seconds after the blast.

For now, all Monica knew was that the police were still investigating. But with the abduction of Spencer Cassadine in the news, and with Nikolas being killed in the blast, rumors that there was much more going on flew around like a tornado.

And, to help settle the staff, she had reached out to an old friend to take on the role of Chief of Staff; Jeff Webber.

Jeff Webber was the brother of the late Rick Webber, and father of Elizabeth Webber. He had left Port Charles many years ago, but had accepted Monica's request to help restore order to GH, and to steer it back to the once lofty reputation held.

Jeff sat across Monica inside her office. Her desk was littered will all kinds of reports and other items that, with the death of Dr. Obrecht, would have to be seen to immediately.

"I can't thank you enough, Jeff, for coming back to Port Charles to help see GH through this," Monica said with a genuine smile.

Jeff smiled back at her.

"When I got your call," Jeff replied, "and heard about what happened, I knew I had to come back. Besides," Jeff added, "it will give me a chance to fix my relationship with Elizabeth; if I can. And just so that we're clear," Jeff added, "I'm only here for six months."

Monica nodded her head. She had heard something about Jeff and his daughter, Elizabeth, having a falling out years ago, but not any of the specifics.

They both stood up and hugged each other. So much history had happened since Jeff had left, but Monica was happy to have him back. It even appeared he had the same thought too.

"We'll have to have dinner," Jeff said as he turned to leave Monica's office, "so you can catch me up on what I've missed."

Monica laughed.

"We'll have to eat out every night for about a month," Monica replied with a weary look on her face, "to catch you up on what you've missed."

Jeff left Monica's office, and she closed the door.

The Metrocourt Hotel…

Elizabeth and Carly stood outside the door of Laura Spencer's room. There was no love lost between Carly and Elizabeth, but they had put that aside their disdain for each other after Liz had told Carly that she hadn't heard from Laura in over a day. Carly held the master-key card in her hand.

"I hope you're right about this," Carly said to Liz.

Liz shot Carly an annoyed look.

"Didn't you hear me?" Liz asked with agitation in her voice. "She was supposed to watch Jake today. They were going to go the mall and see that new Star Wars movie. I'm sure, after what happened at GH, she would have called."

"Exactly," Carly replied, "Nikolas is her son. Maybe she is in her room, or somewhere else, grieving. People do that you know."

Liz just stared back at Carly. Carly gave up and swiped the master-key card through the electronic log's slot. The door knob clicked and the door opened.

Both women did a quick search and came to the conclusion that Laura was not there.

"So," Carly finally said, "she isn't here. What now?"

Liz thought for a moment then had an answer.

"Could you give Dante a call," Liz suggested. "Maybe the police could put out some kind of bulletin. Carly," Liz added with concern in her voice, "I think something has happened to her."

Carly reluctantly nodded her head and then went over to the phone on the table next to the bed and called the police department.

Inside another room at the Metrocourt, Inessa Marick was standing outside the balcony of her room with a drink in one hand and wearing a bath robe, when at last a knock came at her door.

She set down the drink, and rushed over to the door and opened it; standing there wasn't the person she was expecting it to be. Instead it was Robert Scorpio.

"You can't be here," Inessa said to Robert. "He's on his way."

Robert nodded his head at the young lady

"I just want you," Robert said with a fatherly tone to his voice, "to be on your heels. He could kill you if he suspects anything," Robert added with his Australian accent more pronounced with his last sentence.

Inessa smiled.

"Thank you," Inessa said with appreciation in her voice. "But the WSB trained me for missions like this Uncle Robert…and I can do it; I have gotten this far already."

Somewhat put at ease, Robert nodded his head and left as Inessa closed the hotel room door.

Walking down the corridor, Robert Scorpio knew that it was Inessa's first real field mission for the WSB. She was right, Robert thought to himself, she had been trained by the best.

She had even been in deep cover for nearly six months, and was in position. She was the "lady friend" of Gaius Fedorov…and for now, she was the best shot the WSB had at bringing down Gaius's father; Petrev Fedorov.

Continued… if you have a facebook account, I am posting this story over there which will also include pictures of the cast of this story AND places where this story takes place.

Anyone can currently join. It is called General Hospital 2016 and my name there is Robert Benson. I hope to see you there soon!