Monica Quartermaine does not cry easily. She becomes angry easily, threats come to her mouth without hesitation, and snorts of derision and ridicule were never far from her nose. But tears? Rarely.
It's only been four days, but Monica has already shed more tears in this short time period than all in the past six months. Her two daughters had finally been reunited. And, just as Monica had prayed and expected, the two had bonded beautifully. Rinoa had been incredibly sensitive, without becoming patronizing, to Emily's confined condition. And Emily had been open to the idea of having a long lost sister, unlike the way she had been to Skye.
"Are you sure?" Monica asked sadly, wishing they would respond in the negative. She didn't want to return to Port Charles alone, with both daughters remaining back at the center. "I can stay if need me."
"We're fine, Mom," Emily reassured her mother. "Rinoa and I just want some time catching up. You know, talking and doing sisterly things."
"Yeah, you know, sisterly time," Rinoa grinned. She placed her left am around the back of her sister's wheelchair.
Monica sighed. She wished she would be invited to stay, but that didn't seem like it was going to happen. "Okay, I have to return to the hospital, anyway." Sour grapes, really. If her daughters had insisted on her staying, she would have stayed. "Rinoa? When are you headed back?"
"I'll be back in Port Charles by the weekend," Rinoa promised.
*******
Pine Valley… Enchantment Enterprises… Despite Myrtle's advice to start with Adam Chandler, Jax had decided to see Adam Chandler last. First on his list had been Hayley Vaughan Santos. The way Jax figured it, he would first get to know Hayley and then ask Hayley to set up a family dinner where he could be invited. All the Chandlers, from Stuart to Adam, from JR to Hayley, and their respective core families would be invited. That is, Stuart's wife, Hayley's husband and child, and JR's mother, had all been invited.With Myrtle at his side, Hayley had been more than willing to listen to Jax and speak to him about her sister Skye. Unfortunately, she hadn't been of much help. Back when Skye had lived with the Chandlers, Hayley had had her own problems, and these personal problems combined with Skye's personal problems had helped escalate their mutual dislike for the other.
What had been interesting, though, was that both Skye and Hayley had mothers who had been less, much less, extremely less, ideal.
After their first meeting, which had happened the day after he and Rae had arrived at Port Charles, Hayley had the Chandler dinner set up, and this was to happen tomorrow tonight, a few days after their initial meeting.
With the Chandler dinner set up, Jax could focus his attention on the other people Myrtle had directed him to in Pine Valley. Edmund Grey had been, to say the very least, less than willing to share any information he had on Skye. And he had something big, too. But Edmund hadn't been willing to divulge his past with Skye, and the only information he would give to Jax about Skye was information that Jax had already known: Skye would rise, or stoop, to any level to obtain her goal.
After Edmund, came another male resident of Pine Valley: Tad Martin. Unfortunately, Tad Martin was too concerned about his own problem to discuss Skye. He did have this one interesting tidbit of information, however: Skye had once been struck by lightening.
Undoubtedly, Adam Chandler, along with his brother, would have the best insights into Skye's character. And whatever information they had on Skye was going to be better and more interesting and more in-depth than the combined stories Jax had thus far collected on Skye.
Thus far, though.
Jax glanced at the giant clock on the wall behind the desk of the main secretary of Enchantment Enterprises. He had five more minutes to wait until his scheduled appointment with Erica Kane was to begin.
*******
Silver Springs Rehabilitation Center…"I thought she'd never leave," Emily chuckled. "I mean, I love Mom and everything, but, every time she visits me, I feel smothered."
Rinoa sat down on Emily's bed. "I'm not going to argue," Rinoa agreed quietly. She and Emily hadn't had a minute's peace to themselves until now, unfortunately. And, as that had been the case, Rinoa hadn't had the chance to talk to Emily about Skye, let alone give her the letter.
As it turned out, Rinoa didn't even have to bring the subject up. Emily did.
"How is Skye?" Emily asked softly. "I know Mom doesn't like talking about her, so I didn't ask about her when Mom was here. Is she alright?" Come to think of it, no one in her family had been mentioning Skye's name in front of her.
"Not well," Rinoa said openly. She shook her head slightly, and a huge frown formed on her face. "In fact, I'd say very badly."
"What happened?" Emily asked worriedly. Although Monica had insisted that Skye had tried to help her and Zander only for Skye's own secret agenda, Emily had refused to believe her mother's claim. Skye had looked out for her and Zander, something that no one else in her family had been willing to do.
"She wrote a letter to you," Rinoa said, leaving Emily's question hanging unanswered. "She wanted me to give this to you right away, but I couldn't with Mom watching our every move." Rinoa pulled out the sealed letter from her shoulder bag and handed it to Emily. "And she wants you to call her as soon as you read this letter and decide what to do."
Emily leaned forward and took the letter from Rinoa. She held it tentatively in her hands, almost afraid of the contents within.
*******
Pine Valley… Enchantment Enterprises… Her initial thought had been that Skye was in deep trouble, and that it had been all her and Chris's fault. She knew who Jasper "Jax" Jacks was, both by his reputation in business and by his connection to Skye Chandler Quartermaine. Although she knew of him through these two different ways, she was, due to her working with Chris on the drug case, much more familiar with his history to Skye rather than with his business history.But, note, that thought that Skye was in trouble, had been her initial thought. And Myrtle, the one who had set this meeting up between her and Jax, who has always been quick to read Erica's thoughts and facial expressions, had been swift to explain to Erica the reason why Jax had wanted to see her. Jax was here on his own- Skye had not sent him. Jax was here without Skye's knowledge, and he was here to find out more about the mystery named Skye Chandler Quartermaine.
Erica smiled warmly at the man sitting across of her. Why in the world had Skye decided to sacrifice her relationship with this man for the rat like Roscoe? That was what Erica wanted to know, but she couldn't let her visitor know that she knew so much about Skye's life. No, Erica had to play the ignorant friend.
"So when are you going to see Adam Chandler?" Erica asked curiously. She rested her elbows on her desk, and clasped her hands together. It was safe to ask a question like this, for Myrtle had been the one who had told her that Jax was here to gather information about Skye.
"Tomorrow night," Jax replied, smiling. "Hayley and Stuart convinced all the Chandlers to have dinner together then, with me as their special guest." Hayley Vaughan Santos, although definitely not her adopted sister's biggest fan, had been more than eager and willing to set up the informal Chandler dinner. And then, the morning after the Chandler dinner, Jax was going to catch the first flight to Llanview to rendezvous with Rae.
"Adam will be the most helpful, I'm sure," Erica told Jax. "Out of everyone in Pine Valley, Skye respected and revered Adam the most."
That had been what Jax had heard from everyone else he had already met and talked to. And, if memory served correctly, that had also been one of the people that Skye had once proudly boasted she had met and challenged: Adam Chandler, Asa Buchanan, and Todd Manning. But then, Jax had belittled her conquests by saying that Sonny Corinthos was much more than any one of those men.
Erica smiled invitingly at Jax. "So what do you want to know about Skye? And, remember, I'm not going to give away any damning secrets about the woman. So ask your questions wisely."
Jax grinned broadly. "I heard the most amusing story about three women taking a plane down to the Caribbean to bring a criminal back to justice. Care to comment, Erica?"
"Three women, the Caribbean," Erica repeated. Suddenly, her eyes widened and brightened, and a glorious smile filled her face. "Jonathan Kinder!"
"That was the name I heard," Jax said eagerly. He had waited for a few days now to hear this promising tale.
"It was, it was… incredible," Erica said enthusiastically, her smile broadening. "I could never get tired of telling this story. You see, Skye, one day, she left Pine Valley to go to a counseling center and work on getting certified as a drug counselor. A few years later, this man, a doctor named Jonathan Kinder, came to Pine Valley with his wife named Skye, except now she was going by her first name Toni."
"Toni's not Skye's first name," Jax said, a confused look on his face. He and Skye had signed several ELQ documents together now, and in each document her name had always been Skye Chandler Quartermaine, not Toni Skye Chandler Quartermaine or Toni Chandler Quartermaine.
"Skye's her middle name," Erica informed Jax. "Toni, or, Antoinette, rather, is Skye's real first name."
"Antoinette?" And here he had thought he had a weird first name.
"I heard that Adam and his first wife, Althea, had been planning on naming all their children with names that started with the letter A," Erica chuckled. "I've heard and seen it done in other families, so it's not too unusual."
Heck, that was what it had been like in his family. Except, it had been slightly compounded because the family name had also started with the same letter J.
"Skye must have had her name legally changed," Jax told Erica. "We've signed business papers together, and she's always signed with the name Skye Chandler Quartermaine."
Erica frowned slightly. "Why do you think she changed it? Because she didn't like the name?"
Or maybe it had been because she had found out that she was an adopted Chandler, and had decided that she didn't deserve the name that started with the letter A. But then that wouldn't explain why she hadn't dropped the name Chandler. Maybe it had been a combination of disliking her first name and the realization that she was an adopted Chandler. Or maybe her adopted mother Althea had some role in Skye's dislike for her given first name.
"Well, whatever the reason," Erica shrugged her shoulders. "Skye had hidden incriminating evidence that her husband was running some illegal drug experiments, but Jonathan knew about it. So he kept her locked up in a church attic, and he injected or fed her drugs that kept her in a dizzy comatose state. This woman, Janet Green, found out what Jonathan was doing to Skye, and when she tried to help Skye, Jonathan took her prisoner and kept her locked up with Skye. But he didn't have the necessary amount of drugs to immobilize Janet the way he had done to Skye. Janet helped Skye break through the drug's haze, and then the two of them broke free."
Erica smiled. This was where she came in. She leaned forward in her seat. "They told me what had happened with Jonathan, who everyone knew had some sort of weird obsession with me, and the three of us went to get the evidence to imprison Jonathan. But then he came after us," Erica laughed, although she distinctly remembered the fear all three women had felt that day, "and had us cornered in the attic. But then my friend Dimitri realized what was going on, and he came and rescued us all."
In Skye's terminology, Dimitri would be the white knight.
Erica frowned. There were some parts of this story that she didn't want to tell to Jax, a man she barely knew. She didn't want to admit to him that she and Janet had tried to hide Jonathan's "death", after he had fallen down the flight of stairs, by burying him in Erica's backyard. Jax didn't have to know that, and, besides, it had nothing to do with Skye.
"Jonathan fled to the Caribbean, and Skye, Janet, and I tracked him down and dragged him back to Pine Valley to pay for all the crimes he committed against Skye, Janet, myself, and, of course, for his drug experiments," Erica smiled.
For all Skye's comments and claims about wanting white knights, she often proved that she had no need for them. Even now, in Erica's story, although Skye had needed some assistance, in the end, she had been part of the team that had brought the guy back to justice. She hadn't needed to rely on a white knight to do the work for her. "Tell me," Jax said, his eyes twinkling, "when the three of you were fighting this Jonathan fellow, did Skye ever flip the man onto his back, or throw him to the ground?"
"Like kung fu?" Erica asked uncertainly. "Like in those Jackie Chan movies?"
"Kind of. It doesn't have to be that fancy, though. Just, you know, regular self-defense moves you can learn in self-defense classes."
Erica shook her head. "No, she didn't throw or flip the guy or anything. Like I said, we were backed up into a corner, and Jonathan had a knife or something. Dimitri, my friend but a guy Skye didn't really care for, had to save us. After that, Skye swore that she'd take some self-defense classes so that she'd never have to rely on a loser like Dimitri to save her." Erica's eyes sparkled as she caught on to Jax's question. "Why? Did she ever surprise you and throw you to the ground?"
"More than twice," Jax admitted, laughing. Although, once, he had been instructing her step-by-step how to throw him off. Of course, neither he nor Skye had been too uncomfortable with the positions that they had been in.
Erica laughed alongside with him. "If there's one thing I can say about Skye, it's that when she puts her mind to something, she does it."
The guilt and worry that Erica had been carrying the last few days of having intimidating Skye to work with the federal agents and betray Roscoe lightened. Skye was perfectly capable of taking care of herself when the going got rough, and, if got really rough, Chris would be there to provide all the assistance that she may need.
Jax, also, felt better after having this conversation with Erica. Although, undoubtedly, Adam was the person who possessed the most pieces of the puzzle, Erica had provided some key pieces and insights to Skye's character.
After this talk with Erica would be the main event: the evening with the Chandlers. After that, a visit to Llanview to meet other people in Skye's past.
*******
Silver Springs Rehabilitation Center…It was as if Skye had been there herself, relaying her message and begging for Emily's help. The words in her letter had an urgent feel to it. Emily could literally feel and see the panic Skye had possessed as she had written the letter.
First of all, Emily knew what Skye's handwriting was. And this, the letter, had been written quickly, with little care and thought to grammatical structure. Words were misspelled, words and phrases were crossed off throughout the letter, all evidence of the rush Skye had been in as she had given the letter life.
Secondly, Skye was practically begging in this letter. In fact, she used those very words, and even evoked the image of her on the floor, on her hands and knees, asking Emily for this one favor.
Thirdly, of all things, Skye had betrayed AJ. Although Skye and AJ hadn't been on good terms when Emily had left Port Charles, through telephone calls and e-mail, Courtney had learned that Skye and AJ had become close friends. Yet, in her letter, Skye had betrayed AJ, and had written the truth to the events that had led up to AJ's signing away the rights of his child. Zander hadn't pinned AJ to the ground and forced alcohol down his throat. Zander may have witnessed it, and he may have failed in backing up AJ's story to the police, but he hadn't been the one who had forced AJ's downfall, either.
Fourthly, even though Skye knew what had happened between Emily and Zander, and how she had purposely lied to him and broke his heart, all under the false belief that AJ had been telling the truth, Skye was asking the unthinkable: she wanted Emily to get Zander to do a favor for Skye. That asked Emily to go back to the man whose heart she had broken (although it had broken her own heart to lie to him), to ask him to help a woman he couldn't stand.
Skye was in deep trouble, whether or not Rinoa wanted to admit it. And, the last time Emily had been in trouble, Skye had been there to help her. Yeah, maybe Skye had her own motives to help Emily and Zander. But that didn't mean that Skye's intentions didn't have some purity in it. And, that didn't mean that Emily's intentions needed to be crystal water pure, either.
"Rinoa," Emily spoke up, "what's your cell phone number?"
*******
ELQ Office…Skye's fingers nervously brushed against the buttons on the keyboard. Emily had called her, and had confirmed Zander's agreement to meet her. Luckily, he has been, for the last few days, trailing Courtney and trying to "talk some sense" into her. Apparently, out of all Sonny's men, Zander was the one Courtney had bonded the best with. But then Zander's decision to attack AJ at the opening of Club 101 had forced Courtney to re-evaluate her opinion of Zander, and Zander now stood only slightly above and better than the others who belonged to the "Sonny Cult".
There was no other quick way to get the amount of money she would need. She couldn't ask AJ or Alan. And there was no time at the moment, and she needed the money badly.
Resolutely, Skye signed the slip of paper, giving her permission as CEO to withdraw two million dollars from ELQ accounts.
*******
Silver Springs Rehabilitation Center…"No way," Rinoa said resolutely, her head violently shaking and her arms waving. "Pout and cry as much as you want Emily, but the answer is no."
"And why not?" Emily demanded, her pleading, pitiful look vanishing instantly. "There's no reason why you shouldn't agree."
Rinoa stared at Emily in shock. "I don't want to sound rude or anything, Emily, but aren't you forgetting one major thing? Like, you can't walk. And that's one heck of a reason why my answer is no."
Emily shook her head in disgust. "Because I can't walk? Rinoa, I wouldn't ask unless I was able to walk." And then, in front of a very astonished Rinoa, Emily stood up, walked forward, and lifted and flexed each leg in turn. "As you can see, Rinoa, I am perfectly capable of walking."
"But... how? Mom said you were paralyzed and that you couldn't walk," Rinoa said slowly, the wheels in her brain turning.
"I regained feelings in my legs last December," Emily told Rinoa crossly. "I've been working with physical trainers to get my legs back to full shape. I was keeping it secret so that I could surprise everyone this Christmas."
Rinoa said nothing- she was speechless.
"My legs work perfectly, Rinoa, so there's no reason why I shouldn't go, is there?"
"It wouldn't work," Rinoa pointed out, her voice tired. The more she talked with Emily, the more worried she became about Skye. "Your parents will find out you left, and then they're going to pull out all the stops and search for you, Emily. And if they find you with Skye, they're going to assume the worst and throw her into prison for kidnapping."
"It wouldn't be kidnapping because I'm an adult and I can make my own decisions. Besides," Emily looked away, "I don't plan on staying with Skye."
Rinoa sighed and shook her head. She looked up, as if looking into the Heavens for guidance. "Do I even want to ask who you'll be with?"
"Will you help me?" Emily countered. "Don't even worry about the doctors here, Rinoa. Tell them that you're moving me for my own safety, and tell them, for safety reasons, that they can't tell anyone I left. They'll listen to us, Rinoa. There's no reason why they wouldn't."
Rinoa inhaled deeply. It would be a piece of cake for her to use her Cassadine connections to get Emily out and make it so that no one was the wiser, and so that neither Monica or Alan or any of the other Quartermaines ever grew suspicious. But her Cassadine connection was supposed to remain secret, and Rinoa simply didn't trust Emily enough to confide in her about her birthright. If Emily wanted out, they were going to have to play it her way.
"So what do you suggest?" Rinoa asked hesitantly. "And how do you want to get there?"
*******
The following night… Pine Valley…Chandler Estate…
The dinner had been pleasant, the family gathering had been civil, and no food had been flung. The Chandlers were definitely not as bad as the Quartermaines, even though many of the Chandlers couldn't stand each other.
Adam Chandler was a very shrewd man. He still had high ambitions, although he had already accomplished much, and planned on achieving more accolades and business acquisitions in the near future. He had spies working everywhere, even in Port Charles, and he knew exactly who this man Jax was and what his relationship to Skye had been. And although he also knew of the situation Skye had gotten herself into, his knowledge was only superficial. But he trusted and believed in his daughter. Like Hayley, Skye was an independent woman who had the capabilities to cope with the greatest of tragedies and conquer the toughest of foes. It was like what he had said to Skye about a year ago. You can cope with anything these people throw at you. Anything, because you're tough and you're smart and you know what you have to do and how to do it.
"You wanted to speak to me privately?" Jax asked.
Adam was a sharp businessman. He always went after what he wanted, even if he had to undertake an underhanded method. And he always took the quickest and surest route to success. This time was no different. He had other business to attend to, but Skye was his daughter and deserved his attention.
Adam Chandler would do anything to protect his children. Like Erica, Adam would take the suspicion for crimes committed, although he would always ensure to it that there would be no way to prove him guilty of that crime.
In the past, he had dealt with both Skye's and Hayley's psychological mothers. Although it had turned out that Skye was not his biological daughter, at the time, he had honestly thought that she was. To protect his daughter, the one he had wrongly assumed was of his flesh and blood, he had permanently eliminated the one who had been hurting her the most: her then mother, Althea. And, although he had been a prime suspect for her death, and had even been accused of murder by Skye, it had ultimately been ruled as accidental. He had taken the heat for the supposed death of Arlene, Hayley's mother. And, as for JR, he had put his marriage to Liza on the line and had seduced the judge that had been presiding over JR's case.
That was the way Adam Chandler was. That was the way Adam Chandler still is. If Skye was in trouble with this Roscoe character, and she was struggling to free herself from him and his people, and it seemed as if she really needed help, and that there as no way she was going to get out on her own, Adam would be there in a heartbeat. Adam and his men would do what they had to do to protect Skye. But, as he trusted her and wanted her to prove to herself and to the world around her that she could handle everything on her own, Adam was, for now, opting to stay out of his daughter's business. He would protect her when she needed it, but not a moment sooner. He wanted his children to be of hardy dispositions, and that meant he couldn't baby them and hover around constantly checking for imminent danger.
But, it still was his job to see to her physical protection and good health. And it was also his job to see to her happiness. And the last time he and Skye had seen each other, she had been as miserable as can be.
That was something Adam wanted to make sure Skye wasn't.
*******
Port Charles Hotel…Skye's new suite…
"Now it's very, very important that you stay quiet as a mouse, and you stay hidden back here," Skye instructed Michael. "Someone's going to come and visit us soon, and, if you want to play the game and win it, you have to stay hidden until I tell you to come out, okay, Michael?"
"Okay," Michael nodded. "Do you think we're going to win the game?"
Skye smiled faintly. "Maybe. But, remember, Michael, the game depends on you and this other man. We win if you stay hidden until I tell you time's up, and that the guy lost because he couldn't find you in time. He wins if he finds you before I tell him time's up."
"Should I hide in the suitcase again?" Michael asked, a sneaky grin on his face. "We tricked everyone when we did that last time." Rebecca had even used a fake name, Skye, to sneak them into their room. She said the guy coming would refer to her with that other name, too, but that it was all okay because it was a part of the game.
"No, no, no," Skye said lightly. "This time, you only have to hide in the other room. If he guesses the right room to look for you, then he wins. Got it, Michael?"
"Got it," Michael beamed. He had been cooped up in this room for too long, and he was glad that Rebecca was going to let him play his friend. Rebecca hadn't specified who she had invited to play the game, but she did promise that it was someone Michael liked.
The door to the suite knocked.
Skye put her index finger to Michael's giggling lips, and then quietly urged him to hurry and hide in one of the other rooms. With stifled laughter, Michael quietly ran towards Rebecca's bedroom.
Skye watched Michael's body intently. If she saw any trace of him peeking out of the hallway, she would march towards him and remind him they wanted to win the game. But he was gone- he really was hiding.
Skye took a deep breath. He couldn't and wouldn't say "no" to her, right? He had promised Emily he would help her.
A few more knocks were heard coming from the door.
Skye counted to three slowly. And then she walked towards the door and opened it. Zander Smith stood on the other side.
*******
Pine Valley…What would be the best way to describe his private conversation with Adam Chandler? Surreal? Bizarre? Helpful yet malicious?
Adam had definitely been threatening him, although it had been veiled and disguised. It sort of reminded Jax of the way Sonny worked, and the way Sonny implied certain things would come to pass unless the person stopped acting the way he had been acting.
Under his white hair, within the aged body and the wrinkled skin, lurked a ruthless, vital man. He wasn't like Edward who, despite his threats and comical maliciousness, would never intentionally physically harm another. Adam Chandler was a man who made good on his threats, and he was a man who loved his children, whether or not they were related to him by blood. To protect his children, he would eliminate the ones that would harm them. And that had been exactly what Adam Chandler had conveyed to Jax: hurt his daughter one more time, and Jax was a dead man.
But, after that had been properly brought up and communicated across, Adam had turned his attention to the next order of business. Jax now knew that harming his daughter again would equate to Adam's wrath, so, if the man was really as smart as Fortune magazine made him out to be, then he'd know better than to ever hurt her again. It was time to give Jax information to help his daughter. If Jax decided to use the information to further hurt her, well, he had been informed of the consequences.
And so the information sharing had begun. And Adam Chandler was filled with information on Skye. Although, he didn't share everything he knew about his daughter with Jax. Some things, like the real reason to the death of Althea Chandler, were better left unsaid.
But, as some things were better left unsaid, some things were better said.
Skye had an identity problem. Adam knew it, Rae knew it- everyone who was with Skye when she had learned she had been adopted knew it.
Adam: If I didn't come before, it's because I- I trusted you to be able to take care of yourself. Sweetheart I know- I know you feel vulnerable right now. But you can cope with anything these people throw at you. Anything, because you're tough and you're smart and you know what you have to do and you do it.
Skye: Because I'm a Chandler. Because I'm my father's daughter. Right daddy?
Skye wouldn't believe that she didn't have to be a Chandler to be everything that she had already proven herself to be. She had been, as Adam had claimed, tough, smart, motivated, and determined to succeed. And, contrary to her thinking, it hadn't been because of the blood within her, but because of who she was.
Skye: Do you remember… I was little and I knocked that crystal ashtray off the table?
Adam: No, I'm sorry, I don't.
Skye: You know, it got chipped. It was this little nick and it was so tiny, you couldn't even see it. But you, oh my God, you threw a fit and you tossed it out and you said that's damaged goods. I don't keep damaged goods. Well, you know what? That's what I am- damaged goods. A baby stolen from Rae Cummings by your drunken lunatic ex-wife.
According to Skye's definition, she's been "damaged goods" ever since she had been a baby, a baby stolen from its mother. And her childhood, the one with the drunken lunatic ex-wife, couldn't have done anything to help her status.
Skye: This man is not my father. And you are not my mother. I have no parents. I have nobody. I am nobody.
Was that why she had dropped her name of Antoinette? Did she think she was only an adopted Chandler, worth only half an identity? Adam had said that Skye had dropped her name soon after the truth of her adoption had come out.
There was much more to the mystery that surrounded Skye, and to solve that mystery, he would have to go to Llanview. Rae had already called and told him that she had found out quite a few interesting tidbits of Skye's stay in Llanview, and that she couldn't wait until Jax came over and learned about it himself.
*******
Skye's new suite…"What do you want, Skye?" Zander asked impatiently. Emily's call had been a painful reminder of the past, one that he had thought he had buried but was now quickly returning to haunt him.
"I need you to do me a favor," Skye said, careful to keep her voice soft. She didn't want Michael to overhear her story and piece the words to her story together incorrectly.
Zander scoffed. "Skye, why would I want to do that?" The private memorial service they had held for Michael Corinthos still burned in his memory.
"Because you told Emily you'd help me," Skye reminded him. "You promised her."
"But," Zander smirked, "I'm not breaking my promise. In my definition, to have you thrown into prison for murder, and to separate you from those who would help you hurt others, that is helping you. That is me saving you from yourself." That was something Alexis and Sonny had taught him- to twist words around so that he wasn't lying but merely redefining the terms and his interpretation of them.
Skye resisted the urge to turn around and look towards her room. Her voice was kept soft, but Zander was talking at an audible tone. "I did not kill anyone," Skye denied angrily.
And now it was Zander's turn to hesitate. Was Skye telling the truth, and she really didn't know about Michael's death, or was she faking it?
"Now, I really need your help," Skye said through gritted teeth. She hated asking people for help, and the thought of asking help from someone like Zander, one of Sonny's lackeys and one of the biggest members of the Carly Corinthos fan club, made her ill. But she had no choice. She needed Zander, Michael needed Zander. "Will you give me your help, my definition of your help, not yours, or will you not?"
"You're not going to get me to promise you something I have no clue about."
Skye stared at him suspiciously, and he returned her stare of suspicion with one of his own. The minutes passed quietly between them, both distrustful of the other's motives and of the actions the other would take.
Finally, it was Skye who broke down and gave in. She didn't have the time to play a battle of wills with him. Without taking her weary eyes off Zander, Skye turned slightly to the side. "Michael! The game's over, you can come out now."
From the main room, both Skye and Zander could hear furniture being pushed and the sound of a chuckling boy getting to his feet and running out.
"We won!" Michael cheered. With his hands and arms raised, he ran towards Skye/Rebecca.
Skye returned the look of joy on Michael's face, and bent down slightly. Michael stopped directly in front of Skye, with his hands held up near his chin level. Skye smiled back at him, although her smile was not genuine and was tainted with worry. Zander was shocked, to say the very least. She clasped Michael's hands with her own. "You did win, Michael. Look at Zander, he's shocked that he lost."
That did it. A hard look dawned in Zander's eyes, a look that was filled with fury and disbelief. "Michael, get away from her," Zander ordered roughly. Zander took a few steps towards Michael and pulled him away from Skye. "I don't know what you're trying to pull Skye, but, whatever it is, forget about it."
Skye rolled her eyes. "If you would just give me a minute to explain-"
Michael pushed Zander's arm away. "Leave Rebecca alone," Michael said in a purposely low-pitched voice. He physically placed himself between Zander and Skye.
"Rebecca?" Zander mocked. "Michael, this woman's name is not Rebecca. It's Skye, and she hates your mommy and Sonny."
"No she doesn't," Michael said stubbornly. He liked Zander and everything, but Zander hadn't saved him the way Rebecca had. "She told everyone her name is Skye so that she could help me run away from the bad guys."
"The bad guys?"
"Zander, if you'd just let me explain," Skye said impatiently, "then I can tell you everything. I didn't kidnap Michael, and I didn't plan on faking his death and I-"
Zander whipped out his cell phone. "Save your breath, Skye. I'm not buying any more of your lies."
"Who are you calling?" Skye asked, horrified. "You can't call Sonny or Carly. You'll ruin everything!"
"Good," Zander retorted.
"Zander!" Michael growled softly. "Listen to Rebecca and don't call them." Rebecca had said that his mom and Uncle Sonny would be hurt if he went back to them right now. "Don't call them, Zander."
"I don't know what kind of lies she filled your head with," Zander glared at Skye. "But don't worry, kiddo, Mom and Uncle Sonny will take care of her."
And then…
"Skye! Open up!" Rinoa called out. She banged her fists on the door. "I need to talk to you right away."
"Oh, good," Zander smiled. "A witness."
"No! Don't let her in!" Skye shouted. The last thing she needed was another person involved with this mess. How did Rinoa even know which room in the hotel was hers? If Skye had the power to, she'd fire the entire concierge department for incompetence.
But why would Zander listen to Skye? He opened the door. "Rinoa, do you have any idea what your sister… Emily." Zander stared in shock at the two women standing in front of him.
Emily was as speechless as Zander. It's been so long since they've seen each other, so long since they've been so close they could practically touch…