Title: Love lies and deception

Chapter 71

'A Shocking Truth'

(Caroline Benson was hoping that Jason would come through for her today. It was the day of Michelle's court case regarding custody of baby Andrew. She had warned Michelle and Nikolas to be prepared as things would be out in the open regarding secrets or details that come to light. Some things they or the Brady's would not be prepared to hear. Caroline looks around the empty courtroom and sighs deeply)

Caroline: "Please, Jason, come through for me."

***Nikolas & Michelle's Place***

(As they're getting ready for the big day, the couple faces each other)

Nikolas: "Nervous?"

Michelle: "Trying not to be. Between today and…who knows how long it'll take…a judge will decide the fate of my son."

(Nikolas takes her in his arms. He pecks her lips and nods)

Nikolas: "We need to have faith that Miss Benson will win, that she'll help us keep Andrew."

Michelle: "I'll feel bad for the Brady's. In the end, though, I want my son with me."

Nikolas: "I see your point. They've raised him since birth. You never got a chance to see him or know him because of Linda, Sparrow, and Gislo."

Michelle: "Linda seems genuinely sorry. Gislo…doesn't."

Nikolas: (nods) "He'll get what's coming to him."

(There's a knock at the door. Nikolas answers it, revealing Lucky and Elizabeth. Michelle looked tired while Nikolas had a serious expression)

Lucky: "You two either look like shit or you're ready to kick some ass."

Nikolas: "We're praying Caroline will come through for us."

Michelle: "She has to."

Liz: "Just have faith."

Nikolas: (nods) "We're trying. Where's Ashlynn?"

Liz: "Emily and Max were kind in taking care of her while the custody case is going on. They both send their love."

***Port Charles Courthouse***

(The gang arrives to see Caroline going through her briefcase. They walk to her)

Nikolas: "Getting things ready?"

Caroline: (nods) "Yes." (smiles) "I have a few tricks up my sleeve and Jason has never failed me yet when digging for information that's needed for a case."

(The bailiff announces the judge is ready. Everyone goes into the courtroom. The Brady's and their lawyer go inside. Michelle takes a seat next to Caroline while Nikolas sits right behind them. The Brady's sit next to their lawyer, Miss Powers. Michelle said a silent prayer that the judge would be on her side. She had nothing against the Brady's. She just missed her son terribly. She wanted Andrew with her permanently. After everyone takes a seat, the bailiff walks in from the left corner of the room)

Bailiff: "All rise. The honorable Judge Anna Devane is here. Court is now in session."

(After the judge gets to her seat, she tells everyone to be seated, which they do. As the judge gets her paperwork ready, she speaks to Caroline)

Judge: "Miss Benson, you're representing Michelle Thomas on custody for baby Andrew?"

Caroline: "Yes, your honor."

Judge: "And Miss Powers, you're representing Eric and Samantha Brady?"

Miss Powers: "Yes, your honor."
Judge: "Miss Benson, you may call your first witness."

Caroline: "Your honor, I call Linda Johnson to the stand."

(Everyone watches as the former nurse walks to the podium and raises her right hand to the bailiff and lowers her left hand on the bible)

Bailiff: "Do you swear to the truth, the whole truth, so help you God?"

Linda: (nods) "I do."

(Caroline walks to her first witness)

Caroline: "Miss Johnson, you worked for Gislo Yasmen while being a nurse at General Hospital, correct?"

Linda: "Yes and I will regret working for him for the rest of my life."

Caroline: "Why do you regret it?"

Linda: (sighs) "I made some bad judgment calls in my life. Gislo found out about them and blackmailed me to work for him. Otherwise, he'd tell the world what I did."

Caroline: (shrugs) "What exactly did you do?"

Linda: "I was dating a married man, a doctor, and I got pregnant. I didn't tell the man I was pregnant, though."

Caroline: "Why not?"

Linda: "Because I didn't want to be the reason why their marriage fell apart. Also, his wife found out and threatened to have me declared an unfit mother where I couldn't keep my child if I told the truth."

Caroline: (raises her eyebrows) "Quite the story."

Linda: (nods) "Yes."

Caroline: "What does that have to do with Michelle Thomas?"

Linda: "Gislo threatened to spill all my wrongdoings if I didn't help him. I didn't want to risk losing my son."

Caroline: "You could have gone to the police so he wasn't threatening you. Yes, you may have had to spend time in prison. At least Gislo wouldn't have had a hold over you."

Linda: "Yes, I realize that now."

Caroline: "Gislo also had you do other things, mainly to Michelle Thomas, didn't he?"

Linda: (sadly nods) "Yes. He had me impersonate Michelle's signature so it would look like Michelle gave the consent to put her baby up for adoption. I didn't want to do this, but I felt my back was in the corner."

Caroline: "So, you regretted it?"

Linda: (nods) "Yes, ma'am. Unfortunately, I went to the police too late. I'm just glad it's over. That Gislo doesn't have anything over me and I can live in peace. Even though I'll be in jail for a while."

Caroline: "What about your son?"

Linda: "Being he has medical issues, he'll be with my sister until I'm released and can take care of him again."

Caroline: "Anything you'd like to say to my client?"

Linda: (nods) "Yes." (to Michelle) "I feel horrible and I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to say no to him. I will regret my choices for the rest of my life."

Caroline: "No further questions, your honor."

Judge: "Miss Powers?"

Miss Powers: "Miss Johnson, Gislo confided in you some of his dirty dealings, didn't he?"

Linda: (scoffs) "I've tried to forget."

Alexis: "Name one of them."

Linda: (sighs nervously) "No one knows this. One time years ago, Gislo 'proudly' bragged that the Brady's could have their own baby, even though they were told otherwise."

(The Brady's, Nikolas, Michelle, Lucky, and Elizabeth are all in shock. Caroline doesn't know what to think. Miss Powers composes herself and continues her questioning)

Miss Powers: (clears her throat) "What else did he tell you, Linda?"

Linda: "Samantha and Eric Brady went to a specialist, who told them they couldn't get pregnant. When they decided to get a second opinion, they were told the same thing. From what Gislo said, even though they were told there was no way to have kids, there actually was a way."

Miss Powers: (puzzled) "What do you mean?"

Linda: "What I was told, there is a surgery that Samantha can have done. It won't harm her. It will increase her chance of having a biological child."

(Eric and Samantha were shocked to hear this! They were also upset, because of Gislo, they were lied to…again)

Linda: "It's called a Reproductive surgery."

Miss Powers: "I see. Thank you, Linda."

Caroline: "Your honor, move to redirect on Linda."

Judge: "Go ahead. Ask your questions."

Caroline: "Linda, are there any other secrets Gislo told you and expected it to stay hidden?"

Linda: (nods) "Yes. Gislo mentioned one of the doctors that the Brady's went to regarding their attempting to get pregnant…Dr. Trinity Carpenter. He paid her to keep her mouth shut. She wasn't happy about it, but she saw dollar signs and that convinced her."

Caroline: "Thank you. No further questions."

(The judge tells Linda to step down. Michelle was called next to the stand)

Caroline: "Miss Thomas, you were lied to repeatedly while pregnant or when you gave birth. Weren't you?"

Michelle: "Yes. I was told my son died at birth. I was told that after he miraculously survived, I signed away my rights to him. I was out of it at the time as it was a complicated birth. Even though I supposedly signed away my rights, I don't remember doing that. I wanted my child, so I know I never would've done that."

Caroline: "Who told you these lies?"

Michelle: "Dr. Joshua Sparrow and Nurse Linda Johnson."

Caroline: "What happened when the truth came out?"

Michelle: "I was told Eric and Samantha Brady adopted my son, Andrew. I wasn't mad at them because they were in the dark, too. I was furious at the people who lied to me and everyone I cared about."

Caroline: "What do you want to see have happen after all this is done with?"

Michelle: "I understand the Brady's have had Andrew since birth. I wouldn't want to be ripped away of the child I loved all this time. While I want full custody of my son, I'm willing to let the Brady's see Andrew when they wish. They didn't ask for any of this, either."

Caroline: "Thank you, Michelle."

Judge: "Miss Powers?"

(Miss Powers gets up and walks to Michelle)

Miss Powers: "Miss Thomas, you may want full custody of Andrew. Have you thought of what might happen should the judge grant my clients custody?"

Michelle: "I would be heartbroken. While I have nothing against the Brady's, it's not my fault that any of this happened."

Miss Powers: (shakes her head) "No, it wasn't. However, it's not my clients' fault, either. Legally, though, they adopted Andrew."

Michelle: "I'm aware of that."

(All of a sudden, the front doors to the courtroom burst open and Jason rushes in. Everyone watches him run to Caroline)

Caroline: "I was beginning to wonder about you."

(Jason, who is out of breath from the running, chuckles)

Jason: "You'll thank me, though, after you hear what I found out."

(Caroline quickly faces the judge)

Caroline: "Y-Your honor, in light of receiving new evidence by my private investigator, could I ask for a brief recess?"

Judge: "Miss Davis, do you object?"

Miss Powers: "No, your honor. I'm curious what this new information is, as well."

Judge: "I'll allow an hour break."

Caroline: "Thank you."

(The judge bangs her gavel before going back to her chambers. Caroline faces Jason and Miss Powers goes to them, as well)

Miss Powers: "Alright, what's going on?"

Caroline: "That's what I'd like to know, Jason. What'd you find out?"

Jason: (raises his eyebrows) "Are you ready for this, Caroline?"

Caroline: (cautiously) "Do I need to sit down for this?"

Jason: (chuckles quickly) "Maybe."

Caroline: "Just tell us, Jason."

(Jason briefly looks at Alexis before focusing on Caroline)

Jason: "You know how the Brady's adopted Andrew when he was born?"

Caroline: (nods) "Yes?"

Jason: "The adoption…it wasn't legal."

Chapter 71 Done

Chapter 72 Preview: "Adoption Details"