The Wayward Son and The Docile Daughter
Making her way through the hospital, Emily finds her way to her brother's suite, knowing that the family wouldn't be making their way there any time soon. Stopping just out of eyesight from those in the room, she can't help but smile softly at the sight of her brother smiling at Elizabeth, it's something she hasn't seen since he woke from his coma. His usual blank expression nowhere in sight. No matter what her parents say, Elizabeth is good for her brother and she will be damned if she allows them to destroy all the progress her brother's been able to accomplish.
"Hey," Emily voices when she walks into the room, smiling softly when he lifts his gaze to meet hers. "Think I could visit for a bit?"
"Sure," Jason replies, his smile falling but his features a lot softer than she's used to and that speaks to the progress he's been able to make. "Elizabeth's on her way out."
"That I am," Elizabeth says, smiling softly when Jason meets her gaze. "I'll be back tomorrow."
"I'll be here," Jason replies simply.
"You better be," Elizabeth counters with a slight smirk before giving his hand a gentle squeeze and rising to her feet. "He's all yours."
"I'll walk you out," Emily says, taking this as her opportunity to apologize for her family, following her out of the room. "I know what my parents did and I just wanted to apologize. They never should have gotten you kicked out of your home."
"You don't owe me an apology," Elizabeth says seriously. "My parents are who they are just as much as your parents are who they are. We are not responsible for anything they choose to do."
"Yet I still feel the need to apologize for their shortcomings."
"The curse of loving our parents despite their faults," Elizabeth sighs. "As unnecessary as your apology is, I do appreciate it. I'll see you around."
Turning to the window, Elizabeth raises her hand in a slight wave, smiling softly when he waves back. Granting Emily a slight nod, she makes her way out to the front of the hospital, meeting up with the cab before heading to Alexis' apartment. Making her way back into the room, Emily takes in a slow breath before walking over to take a seat at his bedside.
"How are you?" Emily finds herself asking, watching as he ponders his response.
"I'm okay," he replies. "You?"
"I'm okay," she mimics his response, knowing that okay really is the best term for how things have been lately. "I moved out of the estate."
"Why?"
"It was just time," Emily says simply. "I don't know if your lawyer told you, but I'm going to be testifying on your behalf at the hearing."
Emily couldn't help the soft smile that touches her lips at the slight widening of his eyes as he processes what she just said. Clearly, he hadn't expected anyone in their family to stand up for him and she's thankful that she gets to be that person for him. Ideally, this hearing wouldn't even need to happen if the others could just put aside their own desires and give Jason the space he needs to cope with his new reality, but that's asking too much of them.
"Thank you," Jason voices, slowly gaining the understanding that Emily is someone he can trust.
"You don't have to thank me," Emily replies honestly. "You shouldn't even need this hearing. If testifying can help you regain your rights, I'm happy to do it."
"Elizabeth says that saying thank you is an expression of gratitude," Jason explains. "And that I get to choose when I'm grateful for something or someone."
"Those are all true."
"I'm grateful that you would help me," Jason says simply. "So, even if I don't have to, I want to thank you."
"In that case, you're welcome," Emily smiles softly, her attention pulled to the book on his bedside table. "You like guidebooks?"
"I like reading about the world," Jason admits, watching as she lifts the book into her hands. "People, places, animals."
"The hospital doesn't have too much as far as selection goes," Emily says as she puts the book back down on the table. "If you want, I have quite the collection of books, I can bring you some that meet those criteria."
"Yeah, okay."
"Okay," Emily replies with a soft smile.
If only the family could see this part of Jason. Oh, how they are missing out and will only continue to do so for as long as they avoid the reality of their situation. They wanted the Jason before the accident, the son that followed the rules and did whatever it took to uphold the family image.
In their desire for what was, they are missing what is and the possibility that all things truly do happen for a reason. For whatever reason, Jason has lost his memory that made him their Jason and left them with this new Jason, but that didn't mean that it was a bad thing. It happened, it is, not good, not bad, it just is.
"Ms. Davis. Mr. Baldwin." Judge Russo voices, looking over the file before her. "Give me the low down, counselors, what brings you to my chambers today?"
"Ms. Davis has been interfering with a case of mine," Scott Baldwin says seriously. "I'm filing for a cease and desist."
"Ms. Davis?" Judge Russo turns to her. "I see here you're requesting a subpoena of all records concerning Mr. Baldwin's inheritance case."
"Yes, your honor," Alexis replies. "I have taken Ms. Webber on as a client and she has requested that I look into the state of her inheritance. Mr. Baldwin has made it difficult to ascertain much, but what I was able to gather has made this step necessary."
"You have no right doing this," Scott states through gritted teeth, glaring daggers at Alexis.
"I have every right actually," Alexis counters, turning back to the judge. "As far as my client is concerned, she believes that her inheritance is tied up in litigation because her grandmother contested the last will and testimony. Even with Mrs. Hardy contesting the will, it should not take as long as it has for a judge to reach a conclusion. Mr. Hardy filed his will nearly a decade ago, only making minor revisions along the way as he gained more assets, the last revision made months before he fell ill. When a cut-and-dry case takes months to deliberate, the legitimacy of the claim tends to be brought into question."
"These things take time," Scott counters firmly. "There's a lot of factors that are taken into consideration when deliberating on such a case."
"It's funny you say that, Baldwin, because there doesn't seem to be a single case filed regarding Elizabeth Webber's inheritance," Alexis counters. "I have looked through all active cases and there's no mention of the case being put before a judge in any of the files."
"Is that true?" Judge Russo questions Scott. "Is this case sitting before a judge or not, Mr. Baldwin? Need I remind you that you're under oath here?"
"No, your honor," Scott finally concedes. "The case has not yet been brought before a judge."
"Well, then today is your lucky day, counselor, because it has now," Judge Russo states, surprising both lawyers. "Mr. Baldwin, you are to hand over everything you have concerning Elizabeth Webber's inheritance case first thing tomorrow morning. Failure to do so will result in a complaint being filed with the District Attorney's office as well as you being held in contempt of court. Once I look over all the evidence, I will contact you both with my ruling. Dismissed."
Alexis hadn't expected the judge to take the case on but finds that she doesn't mind this change in plans. With all the evidence piling in favor of Elizabeth's standing, she knows that it's only a matter of time now before Elizabeth sees her inheritance. Scott Baldwin is clearly not happy with the ruling, but even he knows that he has no choice in the matter. Watching him storm off, she shakes her head as he starts to make calls, clearly whoever made him hold the inheritance isn't going to like that he failed.
"Talk about perfect timing," Alexis comments when she gets to her apartment just as Elizabeth's getting out of the cab, walking around to the driver's side to pay the driver. "I thought you'd be staying till visitation was up?"
"I had a long day," Elizabeth says as she follows Alexis up to the apartment. "His sister's sitting with him now."
"Good, that's good," she replies as she closes the door and puts the chain in place. "The more time she spends with him the more credible her testimony will be."
"She's testifying for Jason?"
"In spite of the Quartermaines' best efforts to prevent it, yeah, she'll be testifying on Jason's behalf at the hearing," Alexis explains. "I tried to get more of the family to speak on his behalf, but you know the Quartermaines, they all stand united. As long as Monica and Alan believe that they're in the right, the rest of the family will not contest it. Emily being the exception, of course."
"The things that family will do to retain control," Elizabeth sighs. "We come from different families but we might as well come from the same one. Both of our families cannot stand to lose control."
"Yeah, well, thankfully the law favors the rights of the individual," Alexis counters, pulling out the documents from her bag. "The judge signed off on your protection order. Ms. Ward will get a copy first thing in the morning."
"Thanks, Alexis," Elizabeth says as she stares down at the documents. "To think that this all started at the hands of the Quartermaines."
"Butterfly effect," Alexis agrees, knowing that Quartermaines couldn't have seen their choice taking them this far from their desired results. "You should get some sleep. It looks like today took a lot out of you."
"That it did."
"Need me to show you the room?"
"That's okay, I remember," Elizabeth says as she picks her bags back up. "Who would have thought I'd be back here again? Thanks, Alexis, really."
"Goodnight, Elizabeth," Alexis smiles softly, knowing exactly what she meant. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight," Elizabeth replies before taking a deep breath and walking off to the bedroom she used all those years ago.
Closing the door behind her, Elizabeth drops her bags to the side before walking over to the bed, picking up the picture frame on the bedside table. It seems as if the room hasn't changed a bit since the last time that she was there. It didn't surprise her much, Alexis didn't spend all that much time in her apartment much less spending any time redecorating.
Setting the picture down, Elizabeth slides under the covers, snuggling deep within its comforts as memories of the past flood her mind. Strange to think that a room in a district attorney's apartment could make her feel more at home than the house her parents reside in. What does that say for the kind of environment her parents produced? She doesn't know what life has in store for her but, if this one moment is any indication, she's not all that worried about it.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this update and let me know what you think in the review box below. As always, a million virtual hugs to you all and the reminder to take care of you and yours. With each passing day, we are reminded of the true importance of taking care of our mental health. Sometimes talking it out can truly make the difference. Writing things out can also give that same sense of release. Whatever you do, take that mental health break and do what it takes to keep yourself in a healthy space. Take care and know you're in my thoughts always.