Author's Note: Lulu is going to be fine. She's still hurt in the explosion. But no long-term brain injuries or comas here. I'll have some scenes between her and Dante coming up eventually.
"What is it?" Sonny asked.
"I tried to tell the bartender, but then the explosion happened," Dev said.
"Just tell us what it is," Jason said.
"I noticed a backpack left under one of the booths," Dev said.
"Did you see who put it there?" Sonny asked.
"No," Dev said.
"Go with Johnny to the car," Kellie said, "I'll let Mac know he needs to make arrangements with Diane to talk to you."
Kellie left Sonny and Jason and made the arrangements with Mac.
Jason walked with Kellie to the car.
"What do I need to know?" Kellie asked.
"Just be careful," Jason said, "We don't know what happened yet."
"That backpack was probably a bomb," Kellie said, "And I can probably guess who arranged for it to go there."
Kellie and Jason arrived at the car. Johnny and Dev were already inside.
"Don't wait up for me," Jason said, opening the door for me, "I don't know how long I'll be."
Kellie kissed Jason before getting into the car.
"I know the drill," Kellie said, with every intention of waiting for Jason.
Dev got stitches and Charles was admitted to the hospital. X-rays showed he'd fractured his leg in several places. Knowing Cyrus had a hold on the hospital, Kellie arranged for a couple of guards to keep an eye on Charles. Once Kellie was assured Charles was comfortable for the night, she took Dev home.
"Thanks for getting me to the hospital and arranging with Diane to talk to the cops tomorrow," Dev said as we approached the door to Dad and Carly's house.
"You're welcome," Kellie said, "I'm glad you were there to help my father-in-law."
"I'm glad I could help," Dev said, "He seems like a nice guy. I did have one question. What you said earlier about him helping kids without families, does he make a habit of that? He works for your foundation."
"He spends a lot of his time helping kids in the foster system or bad family situations," Kellie said, "That's how I met him."
"Like helping kids in your foundation with bad situations," Dev asked.
"This was long before there was even a foundation," Kellie said, "He helped me get out of the foster system. Live on my own before I turned 18, be legally responsible for myself."
"You were a foster kid?" Dev replied.
"Sonny didn't even know I existed," Kellie said, "My mom never told him about me before she died."
"I'm sure you're glad you found him," Dev said.
"Wait until you hear us fight," Kellie replied as Carly opened the door.
"What's taking you two so long?" Carly asked.
After a short conversation, Kellie left. She checked on the kids when she got home. They were all fast asleep.
Kellie fell asleep up on the chair in the bedroom. Kellie woke up when Jason went to move her to the bed.
"I told you not to wait up," Jason said,
"I know if I fall asleep here, you'll move me to the bed when you get home," Kellie said.
"Which will wake you up," Jason said, "And that's the point."
"I just want to know when you're home," Kellie said, "No matter what time it is."
"It's not like I can stop you anyway," Jason said, getting into bed with Kellie.
"So what happened tonight?" Kellie said, "That you can tell me."
"Julian knew about the baby switch," Jason said.
Kellie's jaw dropped, "Since when?"
"According to Britt Westbourne," Jason said, "Brad told him awhile back."
"That's what Nelle had on him," Kellie said, "Damn…explains the whole marriage to attempt take Wiley from Michael when Nelle weaseled her way out of prison. Have you or Dad talked to him yet? Never mind. You probably wouldn't tell me."
"Julian seems to have disappeared," Jason said, "No one knows where he is."
"That's not good especially if Nelle wasn't the only one using it blackmail Julian," Kellie replied, "Ava? If he was in trouble, he'd go to her first."
"No luck yet," Jason said.
"Any more information on what happened at the Floating Rib?" Kellie asked.
"Nothing official," Jason said, "But PCPD thinks it was intentional."
"No surprise," Kellie said, "They'll talk to Dev tomorrow."
"Thanks for setting that up," Jason said, "And working to keep the fact he saw anything on the down low."
"He doesn't need that target on his back," Kellie said, "Especially if Cyrus is behind it."
"No, he doesn't," Jason said, stroking Kellie's hair as they settled into a tense silence.
"I know you and Dad are dead set against me seeing what I can find on Cyrus," Kellie said, "But Jason, he's raising the stakes."
"But this is business," Jason said, "We don't want you involved."
"Except what he's doing killed at least two people in the explosion," Kellie said, "And from the time I heard about the explosion until you showed up, I was preparing myself to hear that you and Danny were dead. Then that Charles was in there. Then Lulu..."
"What happened to Lulu?" Jason asked, "I thought she made it out."
"She collapsed at the hospital. A head injury of some kind," Kellie said, "She's going to be okay. They got her into surgery in time. But it was way too close."
"I'm sorry," Jason said.
"It's more than business," Kellie said, "If Cyrus was behind this, he's willing to hurt innocent people. It's not the first time. He kidnapped Cameron and Trina to kill Taggert.."
"But if you start poking around, he's going to know," Jason said, "He's that well connected. He managed to take over General Hospital. He could even send you down a rabbit trail."
"Jason, he's trying to get a foothold in at the foundation too," Kellie said, "He reached out to one of the board members about making a donation. Uncle Lo shut it down pretty quick. He's doing additional background checks on new staff hired in the last year, along with new volunteers. But we're going to have to come up with something on him. If he pushes, Uncle Lo and I may not be able to stop the board from accepting his donations. He'll push harder than Shiloh, Garrett, and their crew did."
"They should know to listen to you after that mess," Jason said.
"I'd hope so," Kellie said, "But I've got no assurances that will be the case. I can't just stand back and do nothing."
"I know," Jason said, " I just don't want you being any more of a target than you already are."
"What if it's the difference between ending this with fewer casualties and stopping him," Kellie said, "or having more casualties and a drug ring running through Port Charles. Uncle Lo will have my back along with the Johnny and Francis."
"What if you find something, but the cops can't close it out like you normally do," Jason said, "You taking on Cyrus in your own way has the potential to drag you back into the business."
"Then we'll deal with that if it comes to that," Kellie said, running her fingers through Jason's hair.