REPAIRING THE DAMAGE

CHRISTMAS EVE PT1

CHAPTER 50

MORGAN HOUSEHOLD

Jason watched as Cam ran around the house singing Frosty the Snowman loudly off key, he would say that the predicted hangover wasn't happening. Jake was lying on his back in the middle of his playpen staring at the blinking lights on the Christmas tree. He was enjoying the morning with the Morgan men. Diane had finalized the adoption papers for Cameron. He was now Cameron Webber Morgan. His son legally.

Finding her men all in the same room, Elizabeth carried in the plate with the broken pieces of brownies. Cam had woken them up at six o'clock wound up with the idea of Santa coming to visit him tonight. She saw Spinelli slipping down the stairs, he had came in long after the rest of the house had gone to sleep, having spent part of the night with Serena before she had given in to his pleas and visited her parents.

"Good morning little brother, I need you to follow me into the kitchen." Elizabeth ordered her brother, not giving him a chance to say differently.

Cam stood as Spinelli walked in the kitchen, then told Jason "Mommy is using her angry voice. Is Spinelli bad, because Santa won't visit him if he is?"

"I think your Mommy wanted to talk to Spinelli about Miss Davis." he said as he too watched the door, knowing that Spinelli was getting the just say no to drugs lecture.

Elizabeth didn't want the boys to hear her so she dragged her little brother into the laundry room and ordered him to sit on the bench.

"I heard something last night while at the party. About you and your smoking buddy Alexis. What were you thinking Damian?" she asked him.

"I, uh, I wasn't?" he answered.

"Was that an answer or a question?" she asked.

"Uh. can we skip the lecture, Jason already yelled at me, and made me promise to never do that again. I promised." what if she didn't want him around anymore. He had just started to feel like he was a member of a real family. What if she told him he couldn't be around the boys. The idea had Damian tearing up, he didn't want to lose his family.

When Elizabeth saw his eyes she was sorry she had made such a big deal about it. Jason must of really laid into him about it. "Damian, I am worried because I love you. No matter what, I love you. You are my little brother, it's my job to be protective and to worry, she informed him as she hugged the shaking hacker. She hadn't realized he would take her lecture this hard.

"I love you too. My nephews as well. Please don't tell the family." he asked her.

"I won't, but you probably should. Now, where are you spending the night. Audrey and Jeff are fighting about it. Stephen called me to ask you since you turned off your cell phone. I told them you were invited to spend it with us as well." she wanted him here, he needed to be here she thought.

"I was going to stay here tonight, then spend part of the time with Serena tomorrow. I was also invited to the Quartermaines for dinner. I am not sure on that one. They are a little scary."

COTTAGE

Johnny could verify that the new sofa was comfortable. Georgie was furious with him. She had shoved him out of their bedroom and locked the door behind her after he had told her they could not make love. What had gone wrong yesterday? He needed to figure it out before he screwed up any further.

Dr. Lee had told them to be careful not to rupture the stitches, he was only listening to the doctor but his wife had acted like he was rejecting her. He picked up the baby book he had been reading and hoped that he would find out the answers to his questions.

"Johnny, I can't spend another night like this." Georgie walked down the stairs furious with herself and Johnny. "We need to talk."

"I tried last night, before you kicked me out of our bedroom! I don't understand why you are mad at me." he said as he sat up, groaning mentally, Georgie's robe had came free of its ties as she sat down on the other end of the sofa.

"You are the one that stopped me last night, saying you thought you should sleep in the other bedroom. Not me!"

"Dr. Lee said you had to be careful. To be sure not to rupture the stitches. That you would get them out in seven to ten days. That is at least four days from now."

"Yes, not to rupture them but that I could go back to my regular routine. I just wanted to kiss my husband last night, without medical personnel entering, maybe even plotting to seduce him. All normal things."

"I don't want to have to take you back to the hospital, Georgie since the beginning of this month you have been a patient in the hospital three times. I can't deal with a fourth until at least the new year, please!" he couldn't look her in the face, he didn't want her to see his fear.

Georgie stood and walked down to his end of the sofa and sat down next to him. "Okay I will speak to Dr. Lee but if she tells me all is well, we can go back to being us. Not these two people who aren't communicating with each other." She was lifted and place on the sofa with her legs across him, then Johnny kissed his wife glad their first fight hadn't been that bad. "Why did you sleep down here not in the spare room?"

"I sleep with the tree lights on. Your sister and the others did a great job but we still need to place the ornaments on." as he leaned back into the plush new sofa.

"Later" she said as they curled up together and finally got some much needed rest.

GENERAL HOSPITAL

Monica couldn't believe she had no one to play Santa Claus. Leo and Patrick had already said no. As she started to go through the list of available men she tried to think who she could get. After getting rejected by virtually everyone she could find, she was considering asking her son for one of his guards, the one dating his attorney would be perfect she thought.

"Jason I need a favor." Jason told her that his guards would be busy the next couple of days.

"Jax, would you be able to play Santa for the kids?" She changed her mind, the kids wouldn't by Santa with an Australian accent.

"Mac can I borrow one of your officers to play Santa?" She groaned as he told her that the Mayor was insisting that there be a heavy police presence at the Mall.

Monica was starting to consider asking Luke Spencer, when the perfect candidate walked into the hospital. "Jeff, I need a small favor?"

PENTHOUSE IV

Francis listened as Taggert told him how he had missed Janice Matthews in Memphis, that she had been thrown out of a casino there. They were having no luck, Taggert's information was at least five days old. They wanted to find the mercenary woman. She was their only clue as to why Courtney had targeted Elizabeth. There had to be more to it, why else would she have been so intent on keeping Jason and Elizabeth apart even after she lost interest.

Going down his list Francis called Cooper Barrett. He had gone to Mac when he heard about Logan and told him what he had thought Logan was into regards to the drugs and the placebos. He offered his boss his evidence that he had gathered over the last few weeks and told Mac about trying to solve the case.

Mac had been angry that he had not come to him, but other than telling him that he was going to put a letter of reprimand in his jacket he was going to let it go. Francis had feed the younger man all the information that Spinelli had gathered.

Looking up he saw Brenda walking in with Max and Milo who were confused as to why the brunette was here. "She has some information that Jason considers important."

Seeing their eyes on her Brenda explained that while she had been on Lois Alcazars yacht, she had heard the man talking about having the drugs in Port Charles that he needed. That the person had been on the yacht for a meeting with the man, that he had not trusted the woman. "It hadn't been Courtney, but an older woman. She had been angry that he had turned her down."

"Why is this any thing important?" asked Milo.

"I saw a picture on the desk the other day, she was a slightly older version of the woman. Courtney would have had to know what her mother was up to. She had to have known about Alcazar. I think they are how he had so much information about Sonny and Jason."

"So why is this important. We knew that he had insider information." Max told the woman.

"Ric Lansing was working behind the scenes remember? I never saw him then, but he would have been the middle man for ANY transactions. He had to know that Courtney was not the person she tried to portray. Why didn't he out her. He would have had to have a file on her. Luis never did anything with out checking the person he was meeting out."

"Okay I get what you are saying. You think that Sonny knew about Courtney. Why would he let her stay? You know how he feels about betrayal."

"I think that there was more in it for him to keep her close then to send her away. Sonny is all about SONNY.. You need to find out what she was really up to with those drugs. Why Jason?"

Francis knew they already had those answers but didn't want to tell her so he told her they would look into it.

As Brenda was leaving she felt the letter in her pocket and hesitated but she knew she had to give it to them. At least Francis was less likely that Jason to yell at her. "One more thing, I found this letter in a magazine. Johnny O'Brien had left it for Jason. I forgot to give it to him. Would you tell him I am sorry."

Francis and Max froze as there was the missing envelope the evidence that Johnny had been telling the truth. He had tried to wake Jason up to what had been going on in their world. Brenda had forgotten to give it to him. The entire last five years screwed up because a letter had not been passed on. Telling her thank you, Francis grabbed the letter out of her hand and watched as Max pushed her out the door and locked it behind her.

"Should we open it or wait for Morgan?"

Francis called Jason and was told to open it. As he read the letter to the enforcer, they were all sickened. Things could have ended years ago. People who were dead could still be alive and Nik Cassidine might not be facing a death sentence. They could barely stomach the contents. At least they had only one more day until it was all over. Francis vowed that it would be over for good the day after Christmas. He felt sorry for Morgan and Micheal but they would be better off with Jasper Jacks as a father.

GENERAL HOSPITAL

As the guests started to arrive, Maxie was grateful that she didn't have to wear the elf costume this year. Serena and Brooklyn had volunteered to be elves. So with Lulu and Georgie also dressed up, there would be no way for Mrs. Hardy to get her into one of those ridiculous costumes. She was getting to old to be an elf anyhow. She was late for her own shift as a candy striper. Serena had to be coaxed into still coming she was blaming herself for Logan. With Georgie not answering her phone, Lucy had grabbed her from the boutique to help her.

Serena watched nervously as people started to come into the hub, Dr. Quartermaine had pulled her aside and reassured her that no one blamed her for Logan. She watched as Jax and Carly arrived with a couple of shopping bags of presents for the children and Micheal and Morgan. When Micheal came over and hugged her she hugged the little boy back, then kissed his cheek watching as his face turned as red as his hair.

Seeing her son trying to make his crush feel better, Carly went down the hall to see Monica, knocking on the door she was invited in. "Monica, this is from the boys. Monica thanked her and told her to thank the boys for the scarf.

Glad that Emily's mother hadn't rejected the present like Mike Corbin, she gave the woman a smile and walked back to the hub in time to see Jason and Elizabeth exit the elevator with the boys. Momma had told her they were here a while, but that Cam had wanted to go and visit his friends in the daycare.

Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth walked over to the annoying blond and gave her the presents for the boys, and the gift for her and Jax from Jason and her. Jason hadn't wanted to give Carly any hope so she had agreed to deal with her. As the two women talked, Carly handed her a bag telling her they were for the boys, surprising Elizabeth a little. Seeing the hub start to fill up Elizabeth looked around for the elves. Lulu was talking to Nik and holding Spencer, Serena was opening a present while Micheal and Morgan were standing there.

Seeing Edward getting off the elevators she was amused to see Tracy being kissed by Luke. she walked over to greet the old rogue who hugged her. Lulu and Nik joined them and told her that they had visited Laura the day before.

"I know, Luke called Alexis about Lucky. Nik, we aren't worried about Lucky trying for custody. Diane is ready for anything he might try. So just enjoy the holidays." She leaned in to kiss her friend on the cheek and hugged him and Spencer.

As Elizabeth walked away the three remaining sane members of the Spencer family discussed Lucky's deteriorating mental state. Lulu hesitated but knew she has to ask "Did anyone else notice that Mom didn't seem as far away as she usually is. It was like she was different yesterday. More alert."

"Robin told us last year, pumpkin, that there would be days like that. Please don't get your hopes up."

"I know but it's the season for miracle." she kissed him then went to join Serena who could probably use some support.

Scott had called that morning to tell Lulu that he was arranging for Logan's body to be cremated today. The man had sounded like he was completely defeated by life. Lulu hadn't wanted to, but she offered to come to a service if he had one for Logan. For her mother's sake if nothing else.

Laura had been close to Scott and even had been married to the man at one point, so in honor of that and only that she had wanted to attend. Scott had choked up while thanking her but told her he was going to arrange for them to be place in the mausoleum with his mother in Texas. Thanking her for caring, his voice had been breaking up when he hung up the phone.

She knew that this was a bad idea, but Brenda followed Robin off the elevator into the gathering crowd, Robin had been rather upbeat all day. Telling Brenda that she could not wait to get on a plane and go to Sydney. Brenda saw Sonny with his sons at the counter talking to Jason. She was amazed at the enforcers control. He had told her yesterday that he was waiting until after the holidays to deal with what had been revealed about Courtney. Brenda just thought he was in denial about how far his best friend had been helping Courtney.

Kristina and Molly followed Alexis down the hall they were looking for their brother. No one had seen Georgie and Johnny since they had arrived for their appointment with Dr. Lee. Alexis was worried about them. Mac had tried Georgie's cell phone also no answer.

"That is some costume." he was trying not to smirk as he helped his wife back into the elf costume. Georgie was blushing, he had practically attacked her earlier. Dr. Lee had given them the all clear, then had embarrassed the young couple with way too much information about having sex while pregnant, then while helping her change, Johnny had been more than a little aroused by her costume.

"Do you think Mrs. Hardy would notice if you didn't return it? Maybe she would let us buy it."

"I am not asking Cameron's great-grandmother if we can buy this so that you can fulfill some strange fantasy. This is the most embarrassing outfit I have ever worn in my life. So don't go making any plans mister to get me to wear this more than once a year." she emphasized her point by doing up a button on his dress shirt for each word said. "We have to hurry, they are going to be wondering where I am."

"Well from the looks of you two, not much wondering is going to be happening. My guess is that they will figure it out. Didn't you learn your lesson form what happened to your sister in supply closets?" Patrick snickered as Leo gave in to the urge to harass the elf and her half dressed husband.

"Patrick go find nurse to flirt with, and as for you Dr. Julian, I am certain that I could ruin any plans you seem to be making for my sister. Maybe telling her the truth, that you never had plans with Patrick last night, and it was all an excuse to go out with her?" Georgie smiled at the two doctors knowing she had made her point.

"How did you know?" asked Leo.

"Maxie called me this morning and mentioned it. Funny I seem to recall that Patrick had to cover your shift since you covered his the other day. At least according to Elizabeth."

Johnny fixed his jacket and removed his gun from the shelf placing it in the middle of his back as the two doctors recalled that while he seemed more easy going than Morgan, he was probably as lethal. Patrick turned to Leo as they headed back down the hall. "You know that is why you don't want to be dating Maxie, break her heart and her brother in law can stop yours instantly."

"Good thing I'm a cardiologist then. That way I can fix it, besides Dr.Drake, that is your MO not mine. Monica agreed to take Maxie back as a patient, so I am free and clear to date who I want. Maxie is never a dull moment, she is light in a darkened room, with a bit of the bad girl tossed in."

"That is the part you want to watch out for, and stop sounding like some cheesy poem, before I decided to preform your much needed lobotomy."

Micheal and Spinelli were wandering around pointing out the mistletoe to the men in the room, Jax stood by talking to Alexis who was worried about her son and his wife. She had looked all over the hospital for them. Carly had rolled her eyes. "They are newlyweds, did you check an empty room." she bit her tongue trying to restrain from telling the DA off.

Regina and Nadine distracted Epiphany on orders of Elizabeth, Jason had a surprise for the head nurse and they were all under orders to keep her distracted. Only any more distracted and they were going to end up on report or suspended for a week. The woman had to think they were the most incompetent people in the world.

Cassius made sure to forget to stock covers, and when she went into the supply closet to yell at the orderly the conspirators all fled. "Maybe he was doing it deliberately. Nurse Johnson."

Epiphany turned around happy to hear Troussiant's voice, even happier to see the man standing. As the two friends hugged, he told the older nurse "Merry Christmas."

"How are you here?" she asked.

"Mr. Morgan arranged for a plane, your son is more than likely in trouble with the FAA, and the little guy who used to follow Morgan around sent a car for me." he explained.

"I thought you were staying in Los Angeles. How can you be here for the holidays."

"A Mr. Ned Ashton has arranged for us to work here. I am going to be recording in Port Charles. I was hoping to take my friend out to dinner since I am a few days early."

Elizabeth talked to Sonny, keeping a smile on her face as they discussed holiday plans. She was looking around for Jason but he had been swallowed up by the crowd. Kristina had called out to her not allowing the nurse to pretend to not see the mobster. When she had greeted the two girls and Morgan, she asked where Micheal was only to be told he had been dragged off by Lulu and Serena.

"So how are the wedding plans coming along?" Sonny was curious, he wanted everything to go well for the two of them, to have some happiness before their world was blown apart. He only wished that Jason had kept his priorities in order. Elizabeth was an incredible woman but she had the worst affect on his men and Jason. they all seemed to forget who they worked for when she was around.

"I am not sure. Lucy and Kate are in charge of the planning. Your partner wants it to be perfect." she was relieved to see Dr. Lee who interrupted saying she needed to talk to Elizabeth.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Elizabeth was even happier when she found out that operations make Epiphany's holiday's had worked out. Kelly asked her to stop in a private corner then suggested in as vague of terms as possible that she might need to offer a little support to Johnny and Georgie.

Elizabeth understood, she had talked to the young woman earlier, when she first arrived. Johnny was one disaster away from pure panic mode when it came to his wife. Jason had told her to relax that after Wednesday all would be well. Elizabeth knew that there was a good chance it would be worse, once the young father had nothing else to occupy his time. She knew that the next nine months were going to be a strain on the two.

Asking Kelly if the analysis had came back on the tests, she was told it would be back the day after Christmas. The lab had been closed except for emergencies.

Seeing Jason out of the corner of her eye Elizabeth wished Kelly a Merry Christmas and headed over to her husband and sons. Brenda saw the nurse joining Jason and went over to apologize for her behavior the other day. It was the first time she had seen the brunette since that night at Jakes. "Elizabeth can I have a word? It will only take a few minutes." Sighing, she stepped away from her family.

"I just wanted to say I am sorry for what happened both here at the hospital and Jake's. I should have not said what I did. I also need to apologize for forcing Jason to marry me when I thought I was sick. I had no idea he was in love with you. I know it is a little to late, that if I had done things differently in the past Jason and you would not be just getting married." Brenda saw the brunette take a deep breath and waited for her to yell at her.

"You are not the only one at fault. There were a lot of things that could have been handled differently. As for the hospital, I saw the video tape of what you said to Carly. Damien showed it to me. I agree with what Jason told you yesterday. Now if you will excuse me Jason and I need to settle the boys down for the story." she walked off to join her family.

Jason was furious, he had just seen Robin talking to Luke Spencer. As she walked over to him he was looking for someone to take the boys to safety. He had no intention of letting her poison the day for the boys. Marco distracted Cam but had no way to take Jake as well. So Jason hoped the doctor had the sense to keep her voice down as he held his sleeping son.

"Still playing daddy to Lucky Spencer's boys. I see." Robin was in a good mood. She was ovulating and they had implanted the first of the sperm. "Doesn't it grow old playing daddy to other peoples children."

"Walk away now!" was all he said.

"No, you see, you don't intimidate me at all. What happened to the Jason that was my friend, my boyfriend, my lover."

"He matured into a man with a mind of his own. not a little boy to be manipulated. Robin get some help. This is getting beyond repetitive. By the way, the attorney you have helping Lucky. Doesn't stand a chance." seeing the surprise on her face, Jason felt the satisfaction of knowing more than she did.

"You had me followed." she was worried that they would know about her partner as well.

"No, we were having him followed. As for you, you don't worry me. Robin there is nothing left for you to manipulate. I'm not buying this concerned friend act. You want to punish me, for not chasing after you all those years ago, for loving Elizabeth. You want to make us pay for ruining your fantasies.

I could not figure out why you didn't attack Sam like this, then we figured it out. you really saw her as a replacement for you. Didn't you. She wasn't. She was someone who had been hurt, that needed help. It was basically an obligation.

The more this drug is out of my system the more my mind clears. I see the strings that were attached to make me do what others wanted. As the fog is lifting, I am getting control back. This man standing here is not the man of the last five years. I am making my own decisions, and following my heart. So understand this. You are not part of my future and I wish to hell you weren't part of my past."

Robin saw Lucky's son start to fuss as Jason raised his voice to her. Wishing she had a way to give Lucky back a present for the gift he had given her she walked off a ways and using her camera phone snapped a picture of the baby just as he woke up and smiled.

Slipping into her old office she turned on her computer and downloaded the picture. As she started to crop the photo she took a good look at it. Backing away in her chair, she shook her head. No, you are seeing things that aren't there.

Logging on to the Internet she used the software on the WSB website and did a facial comparison, then ran the program again. She slammed the computer off. No, it had to be wrong.

Taking a deep breath she ran it a third time then retrieving the DNA samples did a string comparison. She slammed the computer shut and grabbed her keys from her pocket and headed to the garage, she needed to see her partner, before it was to late. they had been given the wrong information.

There had been lying but obviously not by Jason and Elizabeth.

As Jeff joined the party in his Santa costume, Monica looked over the lobby, missing her daughter Emily, her husband Alan. The Quartermaines had been decimated this year.

Though they had grown as well. Seeing Jason and Elizabeth holding their sons and Ned with Lois, and Skye arriving late with Lilarae, she was grateful that the next generation would be around for the holidays. She had been gratified that the young red head had agreed to join them for Christmas.

Jax and Carly were standing with Micheal and Morgan, his hands resting on the new life growing inside his wife. Monica shuddered at the thought of a miniature Carly. The blond had mentioned earlier that they were hoping for a little girl.

Seeing Alexis standing next to Mac, she was amused to see them trying to avoid looking at each other. Good Mac deserved some happiness, and Alexis needed a good man in her life.

Glancing around she was trying to find her awol elf. She had heard Patrick and Leo talking when they had been helping Jeff with his beard. Sounds like Georgie and Johnny needed a lecture on proper conduct for supply closets. Most importantly on locking the door. Finally finding the newlyweds she was amused to see Georgie's hat on the young mobsters head, with his little sisters sitting in his lap. she couldn't help trying to figure out which of them had asked Johnny to wear the cap.

She felt some regret that Molly was going to grow up with without a father, but she glanced back at the older couple standing in front of the hub, maybe Mac was going to be helping raise little girls again.

Maxie had given Nik the toy she had bought for Spencer. She was grateful for his friendship. It was just nice being friends with a guy. She was hoping he had the surgery and recovered. Wishing she had been more clearheaded last summer, she was regretting the chance to have been friends with Emily and Elizabeth.

Since she had been a little girl she had seen them as the competition for Lucky. Now she was regretting that, she had tossed away a chance to have real female friendships, for a man who when she had finally had him turned out to be the worst thing in her life.

Seeing Leo she was going to listen to Lainey and take things as they happened. Last night had been nice, she had enjoyed his company. When he had helped her into her car, she had felt the thrill of wanting him, but this time she was going to go about this the right way.

No secrets, no games. She felt a pang in her heart when she saw Cooper in his uniform talking to Brenda, another thing he had never told her. He was cousins with the model. She wished him well and make a point this morning at Kelly's to tell him that she would never tell his secret.

As she passed the doctors on her way to Georgie, Maxie decided to have a little fun, they were standing underneath the mistletoe, so she stood on her tip toes and kissed Patrick on the cheek and the Dr. Archer, finally she accidentally kissed Leo on the corner of his mouth saying Merry Christmas as she continued on her way.

Monica sat down finally and started to traditional story, taking over a tradition that went back to Steve Hardy himself. Audrey smiled with tears in her eyes as she watched another generation of Hardy / Webber / Quartermaines were part of hospital history.

Seeing Jason with Jake and Cam, knowing they were adding a new baby in the upcoming year made her grateful for being alive to see the family she had been so against being created had came together on their own.

Jason watched as his family gathered, missing Emily while enjoying his time with his family. He was happy to have a chance to be with the ones he loved. He was looking forward to the future, tomorrow he was dropping one of the last anchors holding him to the dark times. Seven days from today he was finally marrying to woman who had stolen his heart eight years ago, today.