Disclaimer: I own nothing from General Hospital. This is for amusement and bettering myself at writing, nothing else.
Author's Note: I have to say sorry again for the late update. I have been going through a rough patch and working through some bad depression. This quarantine has me down in the dumps, but here's hoping that the New Year brings us all better times. I want to wish you all a belated Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and a wonderful New Year! I wish you all health and happiness and good tidings.
I want to thank, shermi, ghfan51184, trini12180, chicki'62, Guest 1, notenoughlove, ghfan51184, kcke2pen, fundays, Guest 2, arcoiris0502, RobJas, starlight guardian, for the reviews!
I want to thank, Bryantk82, Jmmartinez, ERCommandoTwilight, Twisted Musalih, trini12180, babeboo1968, RobJas, arcoiris0502, mif456, notenoughlove, killianariel18100, shermi, Wonderwomom, diamond2225leo, ghfan51184, lita4277, Bettyboop48748, Liasonfan75, 1bree, Meghie03, Shadow2485, brae76, jhplug, starlight guardian, IHEARTPADF00T, THEfictionfanatic, Olitz and scandal fan, Gyngerbear, SlytherinQueen020, Phasesofthemoom, phillymom65, Yin-Yang M, soagirlforver, Quinesia, selenan99, AfricanAngel94, lyndsm, jamescarrothers14, choclit98 for the favs.
I want to thank, Bryantk82, DisneyPrincess1986, Jmmartinez227129, kcke2pen, lsmalltown8, ERCommandoTwilight, Keoje3530, aphass, leeleelaya5, trini12180, ReedBrenda75, babeboo1968, Starbright62, LiasonFan50, RobJas, mif456, notenoughlove, shermi, Liason4220, Kimora J, arcoiris0502, Wonderwomom, diamond2225leo, ghfan51184, Fancyxo, byland, Mirage Rules, Liasonfan75, 1bree, Shadow2485, brae76, rebates912, sashahailee, bjq, jhplug, starlight guardian, FallenWings8Tears, SPEEDIE22, mgrand11, Olitz and scandal fan, Marie567, beachanita, Gyngerbear, SlytherinQueen020, Quinesia, gregsgirl3, phillymom65, Yin-Yang M, soagirlforver, Sota421, selenan99, monygrl, lyndsm, jamescarrothers14, BettyBest2, choclit98 for the follows.
Guest Reviews:
Chicki'62: Carly is such a bee-otch, but we need villains for every story. Franco is a bit of a wildcard, never know where his mind is going. Glad you like the Michael change, and Sam is going to get cut by something, you'll see. Thank you!
Guest 1: You are right. Franco might serve a purpose for once, other than being propped by his love interest and constantly trying to be the "good guy". Michael Quartermain should have lasted way longer. It was such a good story and a play on history for how Sonny and Carly kind of took Jason away from the Qs, to have Michael return to the Qs. But alas, good things can't last. The Cinderella storyline was a bit hamfisted. It wouldn't have been so bad if they had let Sabrina be strong and opinionated against Britt, even if she had been shy around Patrick. It was a story that literally made looks=confidence, and I didn't like that bit even if I found Sabrina and Patrick cute. Yes, I totally agree that Sabrina was Michael's best pairing so far. She brought a light and new life to the Qs, and it was just completely wasted. You'll have to wait to see what Sabrina's predicament brings. I am glad that you liked the little dragon/phoenix statue metaphor. Thank you for the review!
Guest 2: Thank you so much! Sam and Carly should always be at odds, in my opinion. They could be reluctantly civil for Jason, but they should never be friends. They are so boring as friends, and with their history…yeah, making them friends was such a laughable decision. They do lack self-awareness! It kills me how they call out anyone else for bad decisions and can't see their own hypocrisy. Bulk, over priced, bubble gum machine trinkets—that is such a perfect insult. I hope you don't mind if I use that later in the story because it is just perfect. I completely agree with how disappointing it was to have Liz in 2007, ask Jason to give up Jake. I know they both had reasons to ultimately agreeing to it, but they just hurt each other so much. They both were so busy doing right by everyone else, that they forgot to do right by themselves and each other. Liz was wrong in asking Jason to give up Jake. Sonny is such a busybody, if he were an old lady, he'd have a knitting circle and be a gossip. What becomes of Carly, you'll just have to read to see. Right?! I hate how they make it seem like Jason can't tie his shoe if it weren't for Spinelli or Sam there at his side, and Carson to talk him through it. Agreed about Luke, he was no prize. O'Brien is a common last name, but this is a soap opera fanfiction, so you never know. ;)
Author's Note: Since SORAS is a thing, there is a bit of continuity error. Jocelyn was born after Jake in canon, but it older than him in this story. I won't go hugely into details because it isn't entirely related to the plot, but I intend to backdate the relationships between characters. I will give a vague description of how this all happened, but not go too heavy handed with it. I've had to swap a few storylines in order to make things work so please bear with me.
Chapter Nine
—chapter theme song—
—All That I Know, by One Less Reason—
The familiar chime of the bell when the door to Kelly's diner swung open always brought a fond smile to Elizabeth's. She had spent many years here waitressing, and the good memories had always been enough to fight off the bad ones. She was about to usher Jake inside away from the bite of the winter chill with a hand on his arm when she saw Lulu out of the corner of her eye. "Hey, Lulu," she greeted, pleasantly.
"Hi! Where is Cameron and Emily?" asked Lulu.
"They are having a day at the park with Patrick and Emma. Jake is with me because he has a therapy appointment this afternoon," Elizabeth replied. The three of them entered the diner; the air was warm and smelled of bacon, waffles, and eggs. She allowed Jake to rush up to the counter, and waited until he was out of earshot to add, "And it gives the security team time to setup all the equipment and everything they need to do to keep the house safe."
"Yeah. Mom told me about the break-in," Lulu said, with a wince. "How are the kids handling it?"
"Cameron…Cameron is a bit watchful. He hovers over both Jake and Emily, and he is so self-reliant that it scares me. He grew up a lot when Jake was taken from us. Emily knows something is up, but she is that snow globe stage of life where her little world is untouchable from the outside. I just wish I could let Cameron and Jake have that for longer than they did," Elizabeth admitted, with no small of guilt. She and Lulu found a table in the corner that let Elizabeth keep an eye on her son but allowed him a bit of freedom.
"That wasn't your fault. You did the best by your kids, Elizabeth," Lulu told her.
Elizabeth set her purse on the table and released a deep sigh. "Honestly, there are times that I wonder. I know that I tried to make all the right decisions, or what I thought were the right decisions at the time, but there are times that I look back with a lot of regrets."
Lulu hesitated, and then said, "Especially when it comes to Jake?"
"I lied about Jake's paternity long enough that when it all came out in the courtroom that day, it just crushed everyone. And then I asked Jason to let me raise Jake on my own, I knew that I was asking him to rip out his heart." Elizabeth would always bear that cross. The weight of it was staggering and burned deep in her soul. The heartbreak that she caused Jason during that time felt unforgivable. She could only hope that one day she could make up for what she had done. "I saw what it did to him when he had to give up Michael and I still asked him to do it because we both had convinced ourselves that the danger in his life was too risky. We were so focused on the enemies in his life that we never stopped to think of the ones that I have made along the way. Helena came after Jake because of me—because I dared to stand against her, and she wanted to punish me for it.
"It kills me to watch Jake try to adjust to a normal life again after being held captive all those years, to see him try to process all this fear and anger, and knowing that he is going through all of that because of me," she whispered, tearfully. She blinked back the tears and quickly composed herself because she didn't want to draw attention. "I'm trying to give Jake all the support he needs. I try to let him have his independence while setting boundaries, trying to give him the safety that he should have had all those years ago."
"You are a great mother, Elizabeth," Lulu stated, with absolute conviction.
"Speaking of good mothers, how is little Rocco doing?"
"I swear, I buy him new clothes and he outgrows them within the day. It is crazy how fast he is growing," Lulu gushed, enthusiastically. She pulled her phone out of the purse and showed off pictures that she had taken of her son. The glow of maternal pride was bright in her blue eyes. "He looks so much like me when I was a baby. It is kind of crazy. Dante and I—" she faltered for a split second, but her smile was back in a heartbeat. "Dante and I joked about how I made a perfect little clone."
Elizabeth looked at her carefully. "Are things not going well with Dante?"
"To be perfectly honest? No, and it is all my fault."
"What do you mean?"
Lulu huffed deeply. "There has been this sense of unease that has lingered between us since the affair Dante had with Valerie. We were both earnest in wanting to fix our marriage, I know this, but it just hasn't been something that we can just shake off. It has only been compounded by my friendship with Dillion. Or I thought it was friendship, but…there are times that it feels like more. I know Dante can see it. I know that he can, but I keep pushing the envelope. I keep blowing hot and cold, and he is trying his best to keep up. I never wanted to punish him for cheating on me with Valerie. At least, I thought I didn't. Maybe I do. Maybe I am."
"Well, I am in no position to judge," Elizabeth said, with sympathy. "Take this from someone who made every mistake in the book when it comes to relationships and marriages, maybe what you need to do is to take a step back and look at your marriage. Is your heart still in it? And if it isn't, then don't draw things out. It will only make things harder and hurt more, but also your kid will be caught in the crossfire."
"You are right," Lulu replied, very quiet. "You usually are."
"I don't know about that."
Jake rushed up to the table, bouncing on his feet with an eager smile. "Mom, is it alright with you if I got a piece of apple pie with my lunch?" he asked.
"Sure, sweetheart."
"Thanks, mom!"
Elizabeth laughed, watching him dart off to tell Kiki. "He definitely inherited my sweet tooth."
"What are you and the boys doing for Christmas this year?" Lulu questioned. "Are we going to try to get everyone together this year? I know things were crazy last year, and everyone was so busy that we couldn't all get together like we normally do."
"Oh…"
Elizabeth hadn't thought much about her Christmas plans beyond doing a dinner and presents with the boys at the house. She had been trying to avoid it because between Monica trying to monopolize Jake on the holidays, and Carly trying to constantly harass into giving Drew more time with Jake, it was a living nightmare. Now that Jason was back, and in hiding, that added a new complication.
"I don't think I'll be busy so we can try to work something out," Elizabeth replied.
"You are one of the busiest people I know," Lulu pointed out.
Elizabeth sighed. "Let's just say with the way that Monica has been, and Carly and Sam getting into my face with the hospital security not stopping them that I don't think I'll be working there much longer. I think I'll see if I can transfer to Mercy after the beginning of the new year. I have enough savings to keep us afloat until then."
"Are you sure?" the blond asked, concerned. "If you need help—"
"It is all good, I promise." Elizabeth let her eyes flicker to the bruise on her former sister-in-law's cheek. She had been trying to ignore it since it didn't seem like that Lulu wanted to bring attention to it, but she couldn't in good conscious say nothing. If Lulu was in trouble, Elizabeth wanted to help. "So, you want to talk about that?"
Lulu sighed, looking away. "I got into a fight with Brooklyn. Her bite is much worse than her bark, but don't tell her that I said that."
Elizabeth pursed her lips, letting a low hum. "Mrs. Cassidine stirring up trouble again?"
"Actually, I went looking for it that time. I don't know what I was thinking—I guess, there is this part of me that wants to villainize Brooklyn to somehow make Nikolas less evil in my eyes. I want there to be this monster to explain away all his actions on that isn't him, and Helena is deader than a doornail so I can't go after her," Lulu explained, her face twisted up into a grimace.
"Not that we would have let you," Elizabeth warned, pointedly.
That managed to work a chuckle up out of Lulu's throat. The blond toyed with the paper napkin on the table idly, when all the humor dried up and left her with a despondent look on her face. "I don't want to hate him. I never imagined myself hating my brother," Lulu whispered, sadly. "What he did you—threatening the boys, and all these mad schemes to keep Jason's identity a secret…you know, my dad used to joke that he wonder when Nikolas's Cassidine genetics would kick in. Doesn't feel like much of a joke anymore."
Elizabeth reached across the table to squeeze the younger woman's hand gently. She flashed her a small, but reassuring smile. "I understand what you are going through. These last few months, I tried to rationalize or find any reason to cope with what Nikolas has done, but it is unjustifiable," she stated, softly. "It is unforgivable. It is our instinct to find the best in those that we love, but sometimes we must realize that love isn't enough. That there are times that worst in people, even those we care about, will always win out in the end."
Lulu gave a watery laugh. "You'd think I had already learned that lesson by now."
The conversation tampered off for a few moments, where Elizabeth allowed Lulu to sort through her thoughts while she looked over the menu. She kept looking over at Jake who sat at the counter, chatting with Kiki—whom he had a huge crush on, but that was a secret. He had made her pinky swear to never tell and her lips were sealed. It was kind of adorable.
"Have you heard from Lucky lately?"
Elizabeth's neck cracked from how fast she whipped her head back towards Lulu. "Where did that come from?" she asked, incredulously.
Lulu winced lightly. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to blurt it out like that. It is just that Lucky called me the other day—"
The mention of her ex-husband struck a chord deep within her. It did not come from a place of fondness, or joy, but a place of unrelenting fear that gnawed on her, a monster with razor-sharp teeth. A shadow that skulked in her memory, threatening the fragile life she had built up from the ashes of their divorce. The emotional abuse and gaslighting that she endured when he was hooked on pills and cheating on her with a barely legal Maxie Jones. He accused of her cheating—she wasn't. He accused her of being unsupportive—she had been. Everything she did was wrong in his eyes, in some need to justify his own bad decisions. The night of the blackout had changed so many things but had given Elizabeth the courage to divorce Lucky.
The abuse escalated to physical when Lucky found her packing up her things, and if Emily hadn't been there, Elizabeth shuddered about how bad it would have gotten. Lucky had gone into rehab shortly after that, but Elizabeth couldn't give him any more chances. He had been so full of hatred and spiteful and wanted to see her miserable. He tried to use her kids to manipulate her and get her to marry him again, which didn't happen because she stood firm. He made the divorce proceedings hell, and more. When none of his plans panned out, he flaunted his relationship with Sam who had done terrible things to her and her kids to keep Elizabeth away from Jason.
It killed any warmth for the good times she had once upon a time with Lucky. It killed any chance of him having a spot in her life, not that it had stopped him from trying until Luke dangled an adventure in front of his eyes and took him away from Port Charles. Elizabeth hoped that Lucky found whatever he was missing, for the sake of the boy that had helped her through one of the worst times in her life, but she had washed her hands of the mess that was Lucky Spencer.
"—he got married to some woman named Siobhan—"
Good, then he is her problem now, Elizabeth thought, insides weak with relief.
"—it literally came out of nowhere. I don't mean to blurt this out or make it your problem, that isn't what I am doing," Lulu rambled, running her hand through her hair nervously. She swallowed thickly and looked at Elizabeth with an apologetic look for dumping this all on her. "I just…I just have this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach."
"About his wife?" asked Elizabeth, reluctantly. Her ex wasn't her favorite subject, obviously.
"Not his wife, but from the way he talked…I think he is going to return to Port Charles."
That simple statement turned her blood to ice, sludging through her veins and left her cold. All the blood drained out of her face, and she stared at Lulu like she had been physically hit. Sickness oozed and sloshed in her belly, and she raised a shaky hand to her mouth to keep the scream locked behind her lips.
Lulu grimaced sympathetically. "My mom and I kind of tried to keep the news about Jason on the down low for as long as possible. You know how Lucky gets when Jason is around. He has this deep seeded, toxic, and one-sided rivalry. He has done crazy things to hurt Jason, and just because he hasn't been in Port Charles, his life choices haven't miraculously become stellar. It doesn't help that my dad is an enabler and a horrible influence when he isn't spiraling down into a mess of his own making."
"But all the news outlets—surely he has heard about Jason's return before now?" Elizabeth asked, dazed.
"He was backpacking in a remote area in Japan, and wanted to do it minimalist style, so he didn't have any electronics. It was only because his wife, Siobhan, had a cellphone that he was able to keep contact with the outside world," Lulu responded, hesitantly. "He found out though when they returned to London for the wedding."
Elizabeth felt her heart sink. "And now he wants to come home?"
"He also…asked about you and the kids," Lulu replied hesitantly. "He hasn't done that in years."
"Oh, God. This is so typical. When it rains, it pours," Elizabeth whispered out. She clenched her eyes shut tight, wishing that she could just scream up at the universe and demand to know why it always screwed her over. "I appreciate the heads up, and please take no offense, but I really hope your brother doesn't come to back to Port Charles."
"No offense taken. I wouldn't have mentioned, but I didn't want Lucky to just show up in town and blindside you. I love my brothers, but—but they are huge assholes. I wouldn't wish them upon anyone," Lulu said, bluntly. The waitress brought their food over and set it down, before walking off to greet other customers. "I also feel that I needed to warn. There was a long time that I had my head up my own ass and was a part of the hypocritical group that tried to keep you with Lucky despite you two being so miserable."
"Lulu, I never blamed you," Elizabeth told her.
"I know you didn't, but I blamed myself. You did so much for me when I got the…" Lulu hesitated, the weight of her choice was one that she didn't regret, but one that she would always carry with her. "When I got the abortion. I was a mess back then, going off the rails and lashing out everyone. You were one of the few that was there for me without condition, even when I was raking you across the coals for things beyond your control. I feel it is about damn time that I paid that loyalty forward. You need a buffer or someone to steer Lucky away from you, if he truly decides to come back then I am your girl."
Elizabeth smiled. "Thanks, Lulu. I really—" Her cellphone let out a cheery tone and cut her off in midsentence. She flashed Lulu an apologetic look, rummaging through her purse to fish it out. "It could be work. I have to take it."
"You're fine," Lulu said.
She slid her thumb across the phone screen to answer the call and pressed it to her ear quickly. "Elizabeth Webber, speaking. Felix—Felix, what's wrong? What about Sabrina? Slow down, you are speaking way too fast."
When Felix composed himself enough to speak, Elizabeth felt all the color drain out of her face and her features contorted with worry, concern, and shock. "I—I'll be there as soon as I can, alright?" she promised, shakily. "Stay with Epiphany and Lucas. We will figure this out."
Lulu stared, wide-eyed. "What happened?"
Elizabeth stared at the blank screen of her cellphone for a dazed moment, still having trouble coming to grips with what had happened. She slowly lifted her head to meet Lulu's questioning gaze, and whispered, "Sabrina was hurt really bad. She is in surgery right now, and—and they don't know if she is going to m-make it."
Madness was the cornerstone of the Cassidine bloodline. It was so deeply entrenched into who and what the family was, and only grew more prevalent with each new generation. For many years, Alexis thought that she and Nikolas had beaten the odds. She thought that the strands of madness had finally be done away, and something new could grow into that place. The longer she sat across the metal table, staring at her nephew, that hope shriveled and died in her soul. His dark eyes were hollow, an empty ache that couldn't be filled with all the money or love in the world. Nikolas's looks had hardened as if the last few years had aged him a decade or two. His face was bruised and lip split, indicating that he had been in a fight recently. He was nearly unrecognizable from the dark prince with that boyish smile.
Alexis wasn't sure why she had come. Perhaps, it was out of familial obligation. She had loved her nephew dearly, and many times wished that she and Stefan had done better to keep him from Helena's influence. She was silent as the guard secured the handcuffs to the table, and then waited until the door shut behind him to speak. "Nikolas," she greeted, tonelessly.
"If it isn't my dear auntie," Nikolas stated, bitterly. "To what do owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"I came to see you and see how you are doing," Alexis answered, her tone frank with honesty. "Despite the circumstances, grim as they may be, I still care about you very much."
"How nice."
"Nikolas…please don't be antagonistic here. I know that you are angry and want someone to blame—"
"Why are you really here, hmm? What is the agenda?" Nikolas stared her down with a cold and hard expression. There was not a single trace of warmth in his eyes. "Spying for Jason and Sam? Trying to get all the answers for them? I mean, you say that you care about me, but you haven't done a single thing to help me out."
"You know why I cannot help in your defense. I could have excused the taking ELQ with all the questionable methods you employed as being cutthroat when it comes to business, but the way that you played with everyone's lives," Alexis countered, evenly. She had never been one to cower away from adversity, but the hellish anger in her nephew made her want to crumble. "You knew about Jason, but kept the truth hidden. You told Elizabeth, all in effort to have someone else take the fall with when the truth inevitable came out which it did but had to threaten her children because she wouldn't have lied otherwise. You had Hayden Barnes shot and put her into a coma. This list goes on and on, and I can't help you justify it to yourself."
"Why not? You make allowances for Jerry, Ric, and Sonny, but you won't make any for me? And let's not get into the train wreck that is your eldest daughter. Sam always must have the whole world prop her up because she can't stand on her own. And you enable her!" taunted Nikolas, with a cold smile. "You enable all her bad behavior because you never hold her responsible. Is it guilt or love that compels you to protect Sam? Guilt over abandoning her for so many years, or a real motherly love—you think if you had real maternal instinct for Sam then you wouldn't have caused her to miscarry her baby in order to save Kristina!"
"I am not here to discuss my relationship with Sam," Alexis interrupted, in a sharp tone. She was unsettled by his maniac ranting but held tightly to her aloof mask so that he couldn't see how much his words smarted. "This is about you, Nikolas. This is about your bad decisions, your own lack of accountability. For years, a lot of us made excuses about your erratic behavior. The loss of Emily changed you—"
"Don't say her name!"
"—and not for the better," the defense attorney continued, undeterred. "This obsessive need for control and violence, to pin everyone underneath your thumb and make them fall in line—I never saw Stavros or Helena when I looked at you, but now I can see it all too clearly. What happened to you, Nikolas? When did you stop trusting people, and start giving into this side of yourself?"
"Not all of us are lucky to have better angels on our shoulders, Alexis," Nikolas responded, after a terse, silent moment. His hands flexed restlessly, and the cuffs rattled against the table. "Some of us only have the devil to lend us an ear."
Alexis felt a chill prickle along her skin. It wasn't long until the meeting was over, and she left the interrogation room while Nikolas was sent back to his cell. She marched through the parking complex to get to her vehicle when a familiar face startled her to a halt.
"Anna?" Alexis blurted out, surprised.
Anna Devane skidded to a halt, eyes growing wide in surprise. "Oh, Alexis, I nearly ran you over. What are you doing here? If you don't mind my asking that is," the former WSB agent said, with a trill of laughter.
"Visiting Nikolas," Alexis replied, with a light shrug. "I am sure that you've heard about his incarceration. Gossip and news travels fast around this town."
Anna nodded, with a slight sympathetic wince. "I have heard about it, yes. Are you here to help with his defense then?"
"No. God, no." Alexis tunneled her fingers through her hair and heaved a deep sigh. "I can't protect Nikolas for all the he did. Maybe that sounds hypocritical of me because all that I have forgiven in the past, but I—I just feel too old to deal with this anymore. Just too tired to keep trying to believe that someone's…good side…"
"Are you alright?" Anna asked, concerned.
Alexis blinked heavily a few times and breathed out slowly. "Just got a bit dizzy there for a moment. I have been running on fumes all week between working and wedding planning, and everything else in between."
Anna cracked a smile. "I know how that goes."
"What are you doing here? On a case, or something?" Alexis asked, shaking off the bizarre tiredness.
"Or something. I have to get going," Anna stated. "Give your kiddos my well wishes."
Alexis smiled. "I will do just that. Have a nice day."
"You, too."
Alexis watched Anna being given admittance to the prison by the guard and ushered through the well-guarded gate. There was a strange nagging feeling that tugged at her memory, but she brushed it aside when her cellphone rang. She didn't think about it again.
Christmastime decorations sparkled throughout the ballroom in silvers and blues, creating a beautiful winter wonderland nestled in the heart of the Metrocourt Hotel. There were a few volunteers from the hospital, college and high school milling about to finish up last minute touches since it was only a week and a half the start of the Nutcracker Gala. TJ had drove Molly and Joss here before he had to go to work at Kelly's. Molly was put the centerpiece on each table—a circular vase filled with blue and silvery and white ornaments, topped with sparkling ribbons, paperwhites and artificially blue poinsettias, when Kristina entered the room.
Molly had to do a double take because she hadn't seen hide nor hair of her sister ever since the huge blow out at the house.
"Hey," Kristina said, in a light tone. She shrugged out her coat and purse, dropping it into a nearby chair, and acted completely normal.
"I didn't expect to see you here," Molly commented.
Kristina paused for a moment but brushed it off in the next moment. "I promised that I would help set up, so here I am," her sister replied, with a shrug of her shoulder. "The place is looking really nice. I see that Carly and Sonny are pulling out all the stops. I heard that the hotel could use all the help it can get."
"That's not a nice thing to say," Molly admonished, lightly.
Kristina sent her a look. "But it is the truth."
"It is still rude, especially when Carly has been good to us."
"What alternate reality do you live in?" Kristina looked at her as if she had grown a second head before she let out a derisive laugh. "Carly only plays nice or acknowledges us when she is attached to the hip with my dad. Otherwise, we are non-entities to her self-centered little world."
Molly was floored. "I never knew you had such a problem with Carly."
"I have a problem with her and my dad's yo-yo relationship, and how they trampled on everyone else that gets in the way, or puts others in between to start a conflict," Kristina responded, honestly. "I mean, how many casualties has it been now? I bet Joss could list off a few, starting with her dad."
The blond walked by with a box of decorations in her arms, only stopping long enough to say, "I'd rather not," and then was on her way quickly from the conversation.
Molly placed a centerpiece on the table, and her legs brushed across Kristina's jacket. The sound of paper gently falling to the floor tugged her gaze downward, and a frown pulled on her features. She knelt, more swiftly than Kristina, and picked up the pamphlet. It had a serene and bright colored scene, with the title of "Dawn of Day" on the top. "What is this?"
Kristina snatched pamphlet out of Molly's hand. "Can you not snoop through my things?"
"I wasn't snooping. It fell to the floor," Molly defended herself. "What is Dawn of Day?"
Kristina hissed through her clenched teeth. "It is a self-help group if you must know. I stumbled upon a meeting that was being held at Jake's, and sat down to listen to the speaker, Shiloh."
"And you took a pamphlet?" asked Molly, in disbelief.
"You know what? This is exactly why I didn't want to tell you!" Kristina shoved the pamphlet into her purse. She grabbed her jacket, pulling it on in swift jerking motion. Her cheeks grew darker in embarrassment and shame and hurt lined her eyes. "You are so judgmental. Just like mom. You criticize or have something to say about any choice that I make. I am damned if I do, and damned if I don't in your eyes."
"I'm not criticizing!" Molly said.
"The hell you aren't," Kristina snapped.
Kristina marched out of the ballroom and the door slammed behind her while Molly stood there with a look of shock on her face. She blew out a hard breath and brushed her hair out of her face. "I swear I have no idea what her problem is," Molly commented.
Joss made a noise of sympathy. "I am not trying to justify Kristina's behavior here, but you do know what anniversary is coming up, right?"
Molly just looked at Joss in confusion.
"It's Kiefer's death. Kiefer was killed at the end of December," Joss reminded her, gently. "I wasn't exactly old enough back then to know the ins and outs, but I know that Kristina was there when it happened. I also know that Sonny was in one of his mood where therapy wasn't helpful and gave Alexis a hard time when she tried to get Kristina psychological help. Did Kristina ever get help for her issues?"
"Well, yeah. For a while, but…" Molly trailed off with a frown. She did remember Kristina being dropped off for appointments, but everything was a blur afterwards. Jason and Sam got married, Franco terrorized everyone, and she supposed she just didn't pay attention that closely to how her sister was doing. Guilt gnawed at her stomach, and she looked guiltily at Joss. "I guess it got lost in the chaos. Everything was so hectic then, and so much was happening…"
"I'm sorry," Joss said. "I didn't mean to make you feel guilty—"
"It's not—you don't have to apologize. Kristina is my sister. I should have been paying attention better. I should have been a better sister."
Joss sighed deeply. "Just…just keep in mind that Kristina is a good-hearted person and only lashes out when something is wrong. The only reason her words are sharp is because she is trying to hide a lot of pain. Give her some time, and she will come around."
Molly folded her arms over her chest. "I hope you are right."
There were times that the world seemed to hold its breath. There was a grief punctuated by each heartbeat, a maddening and out of tune pulse that battered through her skull. Elizabeth walked briskly off the elevator on the seventh floor, and her eyes darted about frankly until it was drawn to the group that stood in the waiting area. It was a motion pulled by the gravity that came with sorrow and misfortune, a black hole of despair that threatened to pull everything close it in, but it was darkness that everyone faced with tragedy clashed with. It was a distinct feeling that Elizabeth had become all too familiar with over the years, watching death and disaster strike at those closest to her heart.
Felix was hunched forward in a hard, plastic chair with elbows propped on his knees, and face buried into his hands, with a bone deep exhaustion lined his spine. Lucas was seated beside him, arm wrapped tight around his waist and chin rested on his shoulder. Epiphany stood, a sentinel with her arms folded across her chest. Her dark eyes bright with a mounting fury, and her mouth an angry slash. She looked ready to tear the hospital down brick by brick, and ready to storm the Nurses' Hub to interrogate the Chief of Staff.
Her heels clicked across the linoleum when she practically sprinted over to them, and she babbled out a series of questions in a single breath. "Is Sabrina alright? Have you heard anything? Who—who—where was she found? How did this happened?"
Felix swallowed thickly, and his hands fell into his lap. "We—they aren't really telling us anything. She is in surgery right now, and Dr. Taylor is the one handling it so—"
"Dr. Taylor?" Elizabeth's eyes grew impossibly wide. "The new neurosurgeon?"
"Yeah. So…so that means there must be head trauma or something," Felix answered shakily. "We don't know much more than that. Dr. O is watching the nurses like a hawk, so no one has dared to try and give us an update. There have been a few police officers in and out on occasion. Aimee was carted off to a spare office to speak to a detective because she was last one to speak to Sabrina before—before whatever happened to her."
"Oh, God," she whispered.
Elizabeth felt her stomach twist into an unpleasant knot. The PCPD were notoriously biased in most cases. The PCPD and the Mob had been locked in a cold war since the eighties. Anyone with so much as a tiny connection to the mob, even by association was treated with suspicion. Sabrina had been involved with Carlos Rivera, a former mobster and current jailhouse resident. She had no doubt that the cops would try to pin this on Sonny or the Jerome Organization, one way or another.
The Chief of Police was a good man but could be incredibly short sighted. Elizabeth hoped that he wouldn't be this time and mulled over the idea of going to speak to him. It probably would only make things worse.
"Have there been any updates on her condition? How long the surgery should take?" asked Elizabeth.
"No. No, we are completely in the dark," Epiphany answered, upset.
"I just don't know why Patrick isn't the one heading up the surgery. He is the best in his field," Felix said, vehemently.
"He was also intimately close to Nurse Santiago and his emotions may cloud his judgment," interjected an unwanted voice into their conversation. The group of three turned to see Dr. Obrecht with her blue eyes apathetic and narrowed, a humorless smile stretched upon her lips. She surveyed them all with thinly veiled disdain. "Now if you do not mind, Nurse Dubois, to quiet down. Your caterwauling antics is scaring off my patients."
"What is wrong with you?" Elizabeth demanded. "Are you so heartless and without emotion that you cannot understand that we are terrified for our friend? She has been hurt and no one will tell us what has happened."
"And the impassioned and righteous speech by Nurse Webber right on schedule. Contrary to popular belief, I do have many feelings and emotions. I just do not see the need to make a public spectacle of my bereavement or personally matters by shouting them to the high heavens every place I can, unlike everyone else in this entire town," Dr. Obrecht replied in a scathing tone. "Nurse Johnson, do you not have a job to do?"
"If there is one thing you will not accuse me of, it is not being sufficient at my job. I run a tight ship even when I am grieving and angry, and though we may be short staffed, many have volunteered to take over mine and Felix's shifts so that we can be there for Sabrina," Epiphany responded fiercely. She drew herself up to her full height and stood toe to toe with the Chief of Staff. "Now what can you tell us about Sabrina's condition?"
Dr. Obrecht heaved a put-upon sigh. "Nurse Santiago was admitted earlier this morning after being found in the closed off stairwell. She has appeared to have fallen," she said in a flat tone. "Any more than that you are not entitled to know."
"Like hell—" Felix snapped, jumping out of his chair.
Lucas grabbed him by the shoulder before he could do something that he would later regret. "Don't. Don't," he whispered, gently. "She isn't worth it."
Felix clenched his jaw but didn't make another move towards Obrecht.
Obrecht arched a dark eyebrow. "Should I let the HR department know that you are one step away from creating a hostile work environment, Nurse Dubois? It would be so unfortunate for your budding nursing career to be cut so tragically short."
Elizabeth knew that Obrecht was baiting them. The second she had taken over as Chief of Staff, she had been out for blood against anyone who had a hand in her daughter's fall from grace and exile from Port Charles. She was just looking for a reason to fire them all.
"What about Sabrina's fiancé? Michael Corinthos? Could you speak openly to him about her condition?" Elizabeth questioned.
Obrecht sneered at her. "The dissolvement of his relationship with Nurse Santiago was well known, given that she left Michael at the altar. Two weddings in the span of two years, and always the bride but never the wife," the Chief of Staff said, with a smirk.
"How about you keep your unprofessional comments to yourself unless you want to be brought in front of the hospital board, Liesl?" Monica Quartermain walked over with long, lengthy strides. "Sabrina was to be married to my grandson. She was as close as family, and I won't here an ill word against her. Is that clear?"
"I am the Chief of Staff—"
Monica held up her hand, halting the oncoming tirade. "Yes, you are, unfortunately. That means holding yourself to a higher standard of decorum and not taking potshots at every person that you get the chance to."
Elizabeth shared a look with Epiphany because they both knew how hypocritical it was of Monica to lecture anyone on decorum in the workplace. Monica had become such a different person after losing so much of her family, and she let that lose shape her into half the woman she once was. She was so desperate to hold onto the child she had left that she had bonded with Sam. And Sam was a snake, that used the people around her to prop up her life and lash out at anything that threatened it.
Monica had become Sam's biggest cheerleader and attack dog.
"Chief Obrecht, there is no denying that there is bad blood here, but if roles were reserved and it was Britt in that hospital bed," Lucas commented, beseechingly, "then we would do everything that we able to let you know about her condition. We wouldn't use it as an opportunity for revenge. So please, what can you tell us about Sabrina's condition?"
A momentary flash of compassion moved through the Chief of Staff's eyes. She drew in a deep breath, the picture of complete reluctance. "Since she has no family or next of kin, we had to go by her power of attorney on file. He has requested privacy at this time," she stated, primly.
"Who is her Power of Attorney?" asked Felix.
"Carlos Rivera."
Shock rippled through the group, eliciting gasps and wide eyes. Elizabeth could only stare, baffled as if Obrecht had declared the earth was flat and that the moon was made of cheese. It sounded so bizarre and unbelievable, and she had to say, "What? But he is in jail!"
"In many states, including New York, an inmate can still retain Power of Attorney over another person. If you can convince him to lift such restrictions and give the hospital permission to disclose more information about her medical crisis, then I would be happy to help," Dr. Obrecht told them, with a half-smile. "Until then, I am afraid my hands are tied."
"Well, that explains why we haven't gotten any updates from the staff about Sabrina," Lucas groused, unhappily. "Carlos has never been fond of any of us. He blames us for Sabrina not giving him the time of day."
A tremendous apprehension slammed down onto her shoulders, nearly knocking Elizabeth off her feet. It was a frigid type of dread that put ice in her blood, and all the hair stood up on the back of her neck. Her head whipped around, and eyes clashed with dark brown, and she fought the instinct to recoil from the sight of Franco. His approach set her completely on edge, and despite the all too solemn look on his face, there was something in his gaze that made all her flight or fight instincts go into overdrive.
Lucas glared. "What is he doing here?"
"He has a name," Franco quipped. "And I work here."
"I can think of several names to call you," Lucas replied sharply.
"One of the being brother-in-law, I hope," he stated, with a smirk. He then passed the patient files in his hands to the Chief of Staff and smiled at her brightly. "Here are the patient files you requested from the Art Therapy Program. I hope that Ms. Sneed will find them all helpful."
"I am sure she will," Dr. Obrecht replied, incredibly pleased. "You have been nothing, but a model employee."
"Oh, get a room already," Felix muttered under his breath.
Irritation bubbled up in her gut, Elizabeth turned a sharp glare on Obrecht. "You can't tell us what kind of medical condition that Sabrina is in, but you can tell us how she ended up in need of emergency surgery. Did someone hurt her? Was it an accident? Why are the police here?" she asked.
"It seems to have been an accident," Franco answered.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes into slits. "And how do you know that exactly?"
"Easy." Franco shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm the one that found her in the stairwell."
Elizabeth felt her lungs were ripped out of her body, and she couldn't remember how to breathe. She remained perfectly still, unblinking, bearing the burden of his gaze that seemed to taunt her. There were shadows still writhing and twisting in his thoughts, a monster that walked in the daylight and smiled like he was a friend. How anyone, especially those in the medical field, could endorse a tumor being the sole reason for his murderous past was beyond her. She would never believe him to be good after everything he had done to hurt people and got gleeful enjoyment out of it.
Felix frowned, deeply. "You found her? You?"
"Yes. Why is that so hard to believe?" asked Franco.
"It isn't so much about you finding Sabrina." Eyes dark and bright, Epiphany leaned closer. Her voice suddenly large enough to fill the room. "It has more to do with your history, especially when it comes to people close to Jason Morgan."
Franco let out a hard scoff. "Oh, come on. Sabrina wasn't close with Ja—"
"But Michael is. Michael loves Sabrina. He was going to marry her, and just because that wedding fell apart, doesn't mean those feelings just went away," Elizabeth pointed out, frostily. "A lot people like to forget history or paintbrush over it, but Jason was the first father that Michael ever had. He took care of Michael when Carly couldn't, and I know in Jason's heart, Michael will always be his firstborn. And we all know how much you like to play games with the people that Jason cared for the most."
"Okay. Hold up. Just stop it. I had no part in what happened to Sabrina," Franco stammered, a bit flustered. His features twisted up into something unpleasant at the unspoken accusation that was lodged against him. "Ever since the truth about Jason came out, I've become self-aware to the fact that I am living life in a very precarious position. I have done a complete one-eighty and have been given a second chance. I am not about to risk it to get back at Jason."
Her lips thinned into a dissatisfied line. "You might have pulled one over on the courts when Diane trotted out the whole tumor defense, but you aren't the first to try to use that story to escape the responsibility for their crimes," she went on. "Long before you fixated on Jason, there was a man named Manny Ruiz. He had a lot of people fooled after a brain surgery removed a tumor from his head, even managed to fool the courts like you did. But he could hold up the act forever, and neither can you."
Franco stiffened and eyes narrowed. He opened his mouth to speak when an elbow was drive into his side. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at the Chief of Staff whose opaque expression was steady forward, and she took control of the conversation with an iron fist.
"Enough! Nurse Santiago appeared to have forgotten the stairwell was closed to due construction and other issues, like many others have. Unfortunately, it appears she did not have the sense to turn back before she took a nasty fall," Dr. Obrecht intervened, tone sharp. "The police have no reason yet to suspect any foul play, but the hospital has handed over all security footage. Now I have wasted enough time indulging these questions. If you want further answers I suggest you speak to Carlos Rivera or the PCPD."
Obrecht spun around on her heel, grasping Franco firmly by the arm, and the pair marched away from the group.
It was a heartbreaking silence that enveloped the group. A chill that permeated the air and made it hard to breath. The world felt tilted and out of focus, and Elizabeth buried her face into her hands. Licking her lips rather nervously, she asked, "Has anyone called Michael? Does he know what has happened with Sabrina?"
"I've tried to call him, but he didn't answer. I left a few voicemails for him to call me back," Felix replied. "He hasn't yet."
"I believe Michael is supposed to be around to the mansion later today. He wanted to pick out some old decorations for that apartment building in Brownstone." Monica searched the pockets of her lab coat until she found her cellphone. "I'll make a call to Alice and have her tell him what is going on if he hasn't gotten back in touch."
"I have to get back to work, but I can try Carly's cellphone. The sooner Michael knows what is happening, the better." Lucas turned towards Felix, cupping the side of his face with one hand and placed a chaste kiss upon his lips. He shared a soulful stare with his life partner and reassured him in a gentle whisper. "We are going to work this out. We will fight Carlos Rivera if we have to, and we are going to make sure that Sabrina will be alright."
Felix nodded, with tears in his eyes. "Okay. Okay."
Lucas hugged him tightly before he reluctantly got back to work, chased off by the beep of the pager on his belt. Felix watched him go with sadness etched in his face, and he wrapped his arms around his midsection.
"We should go and get some of Sabrina's things. It would be nice for her to have some familiar surroundings when she gets out of surgery," Epiphany said to Felix.
It was obvious that Epiphany was trying to give Felix something to focus on other than hand wringing, and Elizabeth offered to stay at the hospital to keep an eye on things. She had to wait why Jake was in his therapy session anyways. She watched her two long-time friends board the elevator with a knot in her throat, and she found it difficult to breathe all the sudden.
The tragedies of this town seemed unending, and she was all too familiar with pain and loss. She had lost so many friends and loved ones over the years that she begun to think that she was cursed. Everyone that she cared for always seemed to end up in harm's way.
She only prayed that Sabrina would pull through.
Obrecht pulled Franco into an empty patient room despite his protest—"I really don't need a check-up!"—and shut the door behind them with enough force that it rattled the glass. She released his arms to walk over to the window and close the blinds before she whirled around on him with fury blazing in her eyes. "Have you lost your mind again? What were you thinking trying to goad them like that?" she demanded.
"I wasn't—"
"Do not lie to me. You may have mainstreamed your life to a certain degree, but your criminal history is well known. Anytime someone meets with foul play or strange accident in this hospital, you automatically take first place on the suspect list. There is no one besides me who gives you the benefit of the doubt," Obrecht responded, in a reprimanding tone. "I do not know what fixation you have on Elizabeth Webber or her son, but she is not some Nightingale in the twilight that will lift your higher than your past can reach."
"That's not what this is!"
Obrecht tilted her head to the side, folding her arms over her chest. "Then what is it exactly?"
"It is—I am not entirely sure." He laughed suddenly. "There is this…this little tingling sensation in the back of my head—a little ringing of a bell in my skull. I had forgotten what it felt like to be inspired. The rush, the exhilaration of knowing more than everyone else in the room and being the man behind the curtain."
If his confession alarmed Obrecht, she did not allow it to show. She held him under an unblinking stare, raised her brows and smiled ever so slightly. "I understand that certain geniuses require puzzles and problems to stave off the tedium of everyday living. I also am imagine that learning that Jason Morgan's identity has stirred up…old feelings, and that you are trying to balance your need for survival with the thrill of a challenge," she replied, mindful of each word. "But you cannot go back to who you were before."
A lopsided smirk crossed his lips. "Who said anything about going back? I have my eyes straight forward on the future."
"And that future involves Nurse Webber and her child, Jake?" asked Obrecht.
"Is that a note of concern I hear?"
"Not for the girl, but for you. I will not tell you what to do but give you a bit of advice—if you value your life, then you tread the line you walk carefully. There are many that would be eager to tie the noose around your throat, if that display out there was any indication," Dr. Obrecht responded, nose wrinkled. Her disdain for this place and people written in every stern line on her face, but it smoothed out only a heartbeat later when she returned her full focus back onto him. "If you faltered then they will descend upon you like a pack of wolves, mark my words."
Brunettes were the bane of her existence.
Carly sat at her dining table, eyes unfocused and mouth turned downward at the corners. She scraped and scraped in a line on the wooden surface of the table with her thumb. From as soon as she could walk, Carly had learned that other girls were nothing more than competition. She never befriended another female that had a domineering personality that could overshadow her own. Her childhood had been full of starvation, abuse, and so little comfort; so, she clung to all the good things that happened in her life, greedily and hungered for more than what little she had.
She had to protect her fragile world with vicious precision.
She had to protect it from all the doe-eyed brunettes, soft-spoken damsels trying to play hard ball with men way out of their league. They were a dime a dozen here in Port Charles. Saint Robin, all her well intentions to guide Jason but she never really understood what Jason needed in a relationship. And Brenda, whose left a memory that haunted Jax and Sonny, until the end of time. Elizabeth, the Nightingale, who stood on a pedestal of clay and pretend to be some angel sent down from high. Her claws so deep into Jason because of the child that they shared, and that burned Carly to no end that she couldn't chase her out of town like she did with Robin and Brenda. Then there was Reese, or Charlotte, who had come into town to enact some ill-conceived revenge against Carly. She had helped drive Carly to a breakdown but ended up in a pine box six feet under in the end. (She didn't lump Sam in with this group of women, and that was not a compliment by far. The other woman knew that she was outclassed when it came to Carly and rolled over like an obedient dog to be able to stay footnote in Jason's life. She would never pose a threat to Carly in the way the other women did.)
And lastly, Little Miss Cinderella…Sabrina Santiago. The fairy tale makeover was so ham-fisted and just painful to watch when the nurse arrived in town and had heart eyes for Patrick Drake. Anyone within a mile radius could tell that relationship was doomed from the start. Britt Westbourne nor Sabrina could hold a candle to Robin in Patrick's eyes. She only wished that Patrick had put a ring on it so Sabrina wouldn't have set her sights on Michael.
There was a knot in her throat. Guilty? Fear?
She didn't know anymore. Her moral compass had never fully functioned. Her life lived by her rules and wants, and everyone else was just collateral damage. Whatever compassion she had, it was reserved for her and her people alone.
"I had to do it," she whispered hoarsely. "I had to protect Michael."
"What about protecting Michael?"
The voice nearly startled a scream out of her, and her head snapped quickly to the staircase.
Morgan stood there with a puzzled look on his face.
She wasn't sure what part of her brain kicked into gear and placed a smile on her face, concealing all the turmoil within. It came to her like a fish in water, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Nothing. Nothing," she replied, and then swiftly amended, "No, it is something. I am thinking of hiring an attorney for you brother regarding the ELQ mess."
Morgan walked into the kitchen and put his dirty dish into the dishwasher. "I don't understand. Shouldn't Monica and Tracy have that all under control by now?" he asked. "I mean, Nikolas is in jail. Wouldn't all the stock default back?"
"If only things were that simple," Carly bemoaned, dramatically. "The Quartermains do have a whole team of lawyers salivating at the bit to reclaim ELQ, and while I trust Monica where Michael is concerned, I do not trust Tracy. I wouldn't put it past her to do something underhanded."
"I've heard the stories," Morgan said, mildly amused. He grabbed his bookbag that was hooked on the back of the chair and paused long enough to give her a peck on the cheek. "I'm heading out to the library. I'll be back later, alright?"
"Okay. Stay safe."
"Will do."
Now Carly watched her son walk out of the door and had never been so grateful that Sonny turned out to be his father, and not AJ Quartermain. She had been in a postpartum haze when she let AJ convince her to be with him and live it up in wedded bliss, but the fog lifted and she saw how AJ used Michael as a weapon against Jason. She had even taken part in those schemes, but it wasn't long until the marriage soured.
And in stepped Sonny Corinthos.
There had always been this tangible, fiery heat between her and Sonny. They clashed like two supernovas trying to take up the same exact spot in space, simultaneously a chaotic disaster and beautiful harmony. Resentment turned into lust and built up an addictive love. A lot of their fights had circled around Jason and Michael, before it delved into more personal territory, and hate was only one step away from love after all. It had been toxic, hate sex at the start but somewhere along the line, she had gotten real feelings for Sonny. When she had found out she was pregnant, Sonny got AJ to sign divorce papers and he married her straight away to protect their child.
It hadn't stopped AJ from shoving her down a flight of stairs. The night spent in the hospital, agonizing at how close she had been to losing Morgan. It had been the kick in the pants she had needed in that moment to look around and appreciate what she had. It only lasted a moment and hardly a second more. She tended to have a spark of clarity and then go back to her wild ways.
The paternity test proved that Sonny was the father, so the Quartermains lost all interest in her second born. She was glad that Morgan was spared that kind of grief of becoming a pawn for people to shove around a chessboard because—
A splintering pain reverberated through her head. It was a migraine brought on by stress and lack of sleep, and Carly got up from the table to make her way to the bathroom with the medicine cabinet. She rooted around for a minute until she found the ibuprofen. She unscrewed the cap with a vicious twist and closed the cabinet with enough force that it bounced instead of latching and swung back towards her.
Her eyes caught the reflection in a split second, and she saw Sabrina's bloodied face staring back at her. The bottle slipped from her hands and a scream was lodged in her throat. The pills scattered across the tile, sounding like rain hitting a windowpane. She stood there rigid, mind racing because there was no way—she couldn't have seen that!
With a quaking hand, she gently pushed the medicine cabinet door shut. The air in her lungs rushed out in a sigh of relief, Carly stared hard at her reflection in the mirror. For several heartbeats, nothing happened. Nothing changed, and she completely relaxed. "I just need a good night's rest," she told herself, with a forced laugh. "That's all it is."
END OF CHAPTER!
HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED!
Note: I wanted to specifically mention that Jason will always think of Michael as his firstborn. He grieved for the loss of him, when Carly took him away and Sonny stepped into the roll of father. He was still prominent in Michael's life, but not in the way he was. That doesn't lessen the importance of that time period where Jason was his father. That isn't to say that Jake isn't special to Jason. Jake is culmination of his love and his dream to be with Elizabeth, and the value of that isn't undercut by him loving Michael. He loves Cameron, too, and will come to love Emily. His connection to each child will be unique, but equally important. I just wanted to add this down here because I could see a few people a little iffy with the idea that Jason sees Michael like that still. I wanted Elizabeth to be the one to say something because she understands that and appreciates that in way that others can't or won't.
Note: Franco saying "man behind the curtain" is not only a reference to his mind games and puzzles, but to James Franco who played the Wizard in the movie, Oz the Great and Powerful.
RRs.