...Unconditional...
All her secrets, all of it, has been brought out into the light and she just couldn't believe that it has come to this. Her husband never once betrayed her in life, but it seems that his loyalty did not extend into his death. After all that they have been through, she just can't believe that he would betray her the way that he has. Standing before his grave, she stands with a heavy heart, uncertain of what her future holds for her now.
It was no secret that they did not see eye to eye on most things, but he swallowed his pride and accepted her methods regardless. To think that he kept records of her misdeeds, of every single thing she did wrong in this life, she wonders if she knew her husband at all. Just as she thinks of his betrayal, a past conversation comes to mind, shedding light on the betrayal she never saw coming.
"How could you do something like this?" Steve had asked her after she made a judgement call on a patient who she deemed unworthy of being saved. "It is our job as medical professionals to save people regardless of their identity."
"I regret nothing," Audrey says sternly. "The world is better off with less people like that man."
"That's not your call to make!" Steve snapped. "Can't you see the path you're walking down? Can't you see that this is not the kind of person you should choose to be?"
"It's done," Audrey snaps right back. "Are you going to report me?"
"I made my vow to you and I will always uphold it," Steve states. "Till death."
That had been the end of the argument because he stormed out before anything else could be said. Looking back on it now, clearly he meant that literally and that his loyalty to her would end the moment he took his last breath. It has taken every last of her favors to keep her from doing any time behind bars, leaving her with not a single string to pull from here on out.
Seeing her time in this small town has come to an end, Audrey says her last goodbyes to her late husband before getting into her car, a new life on the horizons. With this town lost to her, she must set out to find a new place to call home, preferably one where they don't know her name or her history. It's the only way she'll find peace from her sins.
Locking up the estate once the cleaning crew is finished with the house, Steven stores the key in the envelope along with everything that Elizabeth will need to take claim of her inheritance. Getting Audrey out of the house had been a little harder than he had anticipated, but he's thankful to finally be done with the whole thing.
With his mission officially over, Steven wonders if he could really call this place home, knowing everything that he knows about his family now. For years he has hated this town and all that transpired within its boarders, but he doesn't feel that hatred anymore.
Fighting for his sister the way that he has, he's come to realize things about himself that he hadn't known before. This very well could be a new beginning for him and he almost can't wait to see what the future holds for him now. Before all that though, he has one thing left to do, deliver the envelope. Only then can he move forward with plans for his own life.
"It was close, but I'm pretty sure that I wasn't seen," Sarah says seriously, glancing around to make sure that she's alone. "No one died and the fire was put out rather quickly. Just tell me what I need to do next."
Standing outside the living room door, Nikolas couldn't believe his ears as he listens to her conversation, clearly admitting to the fire that occurred at the warehouse. He just couldn't grasp how she could do something like that to her own sister. Could she truly be that cruel?
She had been so broken when he told her about it, she appeared physically shattered at the thought of her sister almost dying. For her to be responsible for the fire, he just didn't know what to think. The look on her face when he stepped into the room, catching her in the middle of her plotting, it was as if she was trying to find a way to spin this and it just made him sick.
"Nik," Sarah starts to say, but her words fall off when he just shakes his head.
"How could you?" Nikolas questions in frustration. "Answer me!"
"It's not what you think," Sarah says, carefully trying to make her way over to him. "Lucky and I..."
"You're conspiring with my brother?!" Nikolas questions in disbelief. "You both are impossible! How much more must you take from the girl?"
"She's the reason Lucky's in prison!" Sarah snaps. "She has caused us so much pain! Why shouldn't we get revenge on her?!"
"Lucky put himself in prison," Nikolas states sternly. "For you to talk about pain as if you know what true pain feels like is beyond ridiculous. To think that I let myself get duped by you yet again, I just..."
"Nik, please, try to understand," Sarah pleads, hurt when he yanks his hands from her grasp. "Lucky and I have lost so much because of my sister! Can't you see that I'm just trying to get what I lost back?"
"You make me sick," Nikolas says with a heavy heart. "I want you gone by the time I get back."
"Nikolas...please..."
Dropping to her knees as her tears fall down her cheeks, Sarah watches as he walks out of the room and right out the front door, hating herself for losing him again. It wasn't fair. After all the work she put into getting him to let her back into his life, to lose him now, she just can't stand it.
Riding the launch back to the mainland, Nikolas is out of sorts, unable to believe that he had been so blinded by her facade. He had tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, his family having pushed him to his limits time and time again, so, he knows what family can do to your sense of character. Something Sarah played into profusely as she tried to get him on her side again.
Deciding to go to Eli's to think through his next steps, Nikolas freezes in his steps the moment he steps through the door and finds Emily sitting at a table with the last person he ever expected to see back in Port Charles. From the look of them, it was clear that they were picking up right where they left off and that hurt him on a deeper level. To know he had her and lost her for someone like Sarah.
"Emily," Nikolas voices when he steps up to their table. "Can you spare a minute?"
"No," Emily says plainly. "I'm busy."
"Em," Zander says carefully after eyeing Nikolas for a moment, gaining her attention immediately. "Maybe hear him out."
"Are you serious?" Emily couldn't believe Zander, glancing between the two guys before meeting Zander's gaze once more. "Fine, but you better not leave. We're not done talking."
"I know," Zander reaches out a hand to give her's a reassuring squeeze. "And I'm not running from it. I'll be right here when you're done."
"You better," Emily says seriously before rising to her feet. "Outside."
"Thanks," Nikolas says to Zander when Emily heads for the door.
"Don't thank me just yet," Zander counters, lifting the menu. "She's taking you outside to avoid witnesses."
Turning to the door, Nikolas stares at it for a moment before making his way outside, finding Emily waiting for him just off to the side. As he steps over to her, thanks to Zander's warning, he's acutely aware of just how alone they are in the parking lot. Still, being with Emily, even if she's angry at him, is something he's thankful for. Wondering if he can really fix things between them.
"You wanted to talk," Emily says seriously. "So, talk. What's so important that you had to talk to me now?"
"I..." Nikolas tries to speak, but is at a loss for words, seeing something in her eyes that he hadn't expected. Anger mixed with hatred. "I wanted to know how Elizabeth's doing."
"Well, then, you should have called her," Emily counters plainly. "Not that she'd take your call."
"I know, I tried," Nikolas admits, having tried to talk to Elizabeth on more than one occasion, but never getting through. "Could you please just tell me?"
"She's recovering slowly," Emily relents. "She sustained a lot of damage when the beam fell on her, but she's a fighter. She'll be fine. Is that all?"
"No, that's not all," Nikolas sighs. "I also wanted to apologize. You were right about Sarah and I should have seen it."
"Keep your apology," Emily says seriously. "I don't need or want it."
"Em..."
"No, Nikolas, you don't get to mess with my head by stringing a whole bunch of words together to confuse me into forgiving you," Emily cuts him off. "Instead of trusting me, your girlfriend, you chose to defend her. You chose to protect her! Just because she's shown her true colors, yet again, doesn't mean you get to come back to me in search of forgiveness."
"I guess I deserved that."
"If that's all you had to say, I have a date to get back to," Emily states. "Do us both a favor and forget I exist."
"I know who set the fire at the warehouse," Nikolas blurts out when she starts to walk away, instinctively taking a couple steps back when she turns around to glare at him.
"What did you just say?" Emily questions, slowly walking back over to him, anger surging through each step, seeing something in his eyes that made her angrier than she's ever been. "It was Sarah, wasn't it? Wasn't it?!"
"And Lucky," Nikolas admits. "They conspired to hurt Elizabeth for what she's done to them."
"For what she's done to them?!" Emily practically shouts. "Are you freaking kidding me?! They could have killed her and countless others!"
"I don't think that was their intention," Nikolas finds himself saying though he doubts she cares about anything he has to say at this point. "That's not me defending them."
"No? Because it sounds just like it," Emily counters before turning her back on him. "You're unbelievable."
"What are you going to do?" Nikolas questions, but she's already walking away from him, ignoring him completely.
Making her way into the restaurant, Emily gets their orders to go, thankful that Zander doesn't question her on it. In her state of mind, there was just no telling what she'd say in the heat of the moment and she didn't want to put him through that. Finding out where they are, Emily makes her way to Elizabeth's place, finding Jason in the living room while the doctor is in with Elizabeth.
"You okay?" Jason questions her when she walks inside, clearly distressed.
"It was Sarah and Lucky," Emily blurts out once he shuts the door. "They set the fire."
"Whoa, back up," Jason says, trying to catch up to what she just said. "Say that again."
"Sarah and Lucky conspired to hurt Elizabeth," Emily explains. "Nikolas told me that they set the fire."
"I'll handle it."
"I know," Emily shakes her head before taking a deep breath. "How is she?"
"She's okay," Jason assures her. "It's just going to take time."
"Yeah," Emily accepts. "I wish I could stay, but I have to handle something."
"Before you go," Jason says, pulling open the front door. "You sure you're okay?"
"Nothing a girl's night with Elizabeth won't fix," Emily assures. "Let her know I came by, okay?"
"I will," Jason assures. "Just take care of yourself."
"Will do."
Closing the door once she heads out, Jason makes his way into the house, needing to figure out what his next moves will be. Where Sarah is concerned, leaving it up to the law just might be the way to go for the time being. No sense in putting blood on his hands that's not necessary. As for Lucky, however, he's got to have another talk with Sonny. Sending a quick text to Alexis, knowing she can handle things on legal end for him, he then sends a text to Sonny.
"Mr. Morgan," Dr. Sanders voices when she walks downstairs, gaining his attention immediately. "She's got some challenges ahead of her, but she's on a steady road to recovery. I left a list of dos and don'ts on the table, make sure she sticks to it to avoid any further setbacks. I'll be back in a few days to follow up."
"Thanks, Doc," Jason says, pulling open the door for her. "We appreciate you opening your schedule for us."
"Of course," Dr. Sanders says simply. "You know my number in case something should arise."
Shutting the door, Jason shakes his head, knowing what had to come next. Taking a deep breath, he makes his way to her bedroom, finding her looking over the list that was left by the doctor. The moment he steps in the room, her eyes find his, clearly not pleased with the list of demands that has been set before her.
"If I knew it would be this extensive, I would have just stayed in the hospital," Elizabeth voices when he walks over to sit next to her, handing him the list. "I mean, really, I can't even shower unsupervised."
"You can't even stand," Jason reminds her. "You could always just take a bath. That doesn't require standing. Besides, we both know you wouldn't have stayed in the hospital."
"Still," Elizabeth shakes her head. "I guess I can't complain. I did agree to the terms before I knew what they were."
"If you're up for it, there's something we need to talk about," Jason voices, setting the list down onto the table. "But only if you're up for it."
"Well, now I need to know," Elizabeth turns to look at him. "What is it?"
"Emily stopped by earlier," Jason explains. "Apparently, Nikolas told her who set the fire."
"How would Nikolas know who did it?" Elizabeth questions before a thought hit her. "Wait, you said Emily spoke to Nikolas? How was she? Did she look okay to you?"
"She's okay," Jason assures her. "She said it was nothing a girl's night wouldn't fix."
"Right, well, I'll call her later to set something up," Elizabeth accepts. "Sorry, you were saying something about Nikolas knowing who set the fire."
"It was Sarah Webber and Lucky Spencer," Jason voices, watching as understanding settles in. "I already have Alexis handling it."
"You're going to have her arrested," Elizabeth shakes her head. "I guess that is the way to go about it."
"For now, yeah, it's the best solution," Jason admits, pulling out his phone to find a text from Sonny. "I have to talk to Sonny for a minute. Do me a favor?"
"Depends on the favor," Elizabeth says with a slight smile.
"Get some rest," Jason says, leaning over to place a kiss on her temple. "Please."
"Okay," Elizabeth accepts. "As long as I get food out of it."
"Deal," Jason smiles softly. "I'll be in the living room if you need anything."
Waiting long enough for her to settle in and close her eyes, Jason makes his way out to the front door to let Sonny in, getting right down to business the moment the door closes. Sonny has tried to get Luke to see that he needed to school his son on the way things run, but clearly that hasn't sunk in for the boy. Having Sonny's blanketed protection, the boy has gained an undeserving amount of confidence and it's time the kid learned the ways of the world.
"Pull his protection," Sonny states. "If he wants to act all big and bad, he can do so on his own merit."
"Leave him with a parting gift?"
"If that's what you want, so be it," Sonny accepts. "I'll handle Luke."
"Corelli and O'Brien?"
"They had something to handle in Pentonville," Sonny waves away his building question. "Something about unfinished business. They wouldn't give specifics."
"Lucky?"
"Doubt it, they left before you sent the text," Sonny assures. "Besides, they know the way things stand, they wouldn't do that without telling us."
"True."
"How is she?"
"She's good for now," Jason assures. "She's not too fond of the restrictions, but she's accepted it."
"Sounds a lot like you in that sense," Sonny laughs. "Why don't I cook up something before I head out?"
"Sure," Jason shrugs. "I can help."
"Huh, I can't remember the last time we cooked together."
"Yeah, well, take it or leave it," Jason counters. "It doesn't happen often."
"I'll take it," Sonny shakes his head. "As long as you pay attention this time."
"Try not to talk so much and I will."
Sharing a laugh, the two guys appreciate the moment of peace they are granted, knowing that once they are done in the kitchen they will have a lot of work ahead of them. Now that they know that the threat came from outside the business, they can handle it swiftly and move on to the bigger situation at hand.
Elizabeth's biological family and the past that still needs addressing. Not to mention Sonny's diner opening in a few days. Yeah, their hands are definitely full, but for now they have peace and they'll take it for as long as it lasts. Even if it's only for the next hour or so.
"Doc, no offence, but we're on a tight schedule," Johnny says seriously, glancing at his watch. "What's so important that it had to be now?"
"Just this," Steven says, handing him the envelope. "I need you to make sure this gets to Elizabeth."
"Do I want to know?" Johnny questions. "No, scratch that, I want to know. What is this?"
"It's something she should have had a long time ago," Steven says simply, pulling open his door. "Just make sure she gets it, okay?"
"Yeah, okay," Johnny shakes his head. "Don't see why you can't be the one to give it to her."
"I've never been a part of her life," Steven says simply. "Why start now?"
Before Johnny could say much more, Steven starts up his car and takes off, leaving Johnny holding the envelope in his hands. If he had more time to think about it or address the situation, Johnny would, but they are on a tight schedule as is and they had to get back to it. So, stashing the envelope in the trunk for the time being, Johnny jumps back into the car to head to the jail with Francis. Both set in what has to happen. No matter what it takes, each threat to Elizabeth will be dealt with, starting with one of the oldest threats of all.
Author's Note: You do not know how many times I've written and rewritten this because a part just didn't fit or my words just didn't make much of any sense. In other words, sorry it's taken this long, but I finally got it to where I'm satisfied and I hope you are, as well. Till the next one, stay safe and I can't hear what you thought of this update. Thanks.