~REVEALING~

~Chapter 12~

~GH~ It didn't take Alex a while to adjust to General Hospital. Alan and Monica knew of her prior accomplishments and were happy to have her on the staff. But sometimes she felt a little uneasy, people were always looking at her. Especially that Amy Vining, when she wasn't using the hospital phone demanding to know where her sister was. One day, she pulled her aside and asked her point blank what was going on. Amy blushed and answered her. "I'm sorry. The resemblence--it's uncanny."

"Ms. Vining, you're just going to have to realize that me and Anna are two different people. Or bollix, look at our hair. I'm auburn, she's honey- brown." Alex laughed as Amy continued to blush. "It's all right, I couldn't believe it myself. Now stop gossiping and do your work."

*** Audrey smiled at Angel as they return from physical therapy. "Angel, you're doing a good job. Soon you'll be able to balance bowling balls on your back."

Angel laughed softly, stopping abruptly when she saw Audrey frowning. "What's wrong?"

Shaking her head, she spoke. "My granddaughter, she's missing--I don't want to trouble you."

Angel put her hair up and flopped onto the bed. "I do specialize in finding missing people. I could help."

"You need to focus on your recovery. The police are on it, speaking of which--" Audrey pauses and looks past the doorway. "Mac's here to see you." Audrey mouthed 'it's going to be ok' and left the room.

Muttering to herself, Angel puts on her robe and tells him to come in. "I've told you everything. Shouldn't you be out there, trying to solve the crime? Sonny was right, you are a Keystone cop."

Mac let her comment slide and spoke softly. "Angel, the cab driver you and AJ spoke of is missing. An intern patched him up and he just vanished. The cab company wasn't much help so that leaves you and the Quartermaine. I'd rather speak to you."

Angel pinched her nose. "G*d, I'm sorry. Here you are trying to help me and I'm acting like a...what would you like to know? It's not like I spoke to him for long, but I could give you a description."

"That's a start."

"Bobby had short, straight blondish hair. A little bit of gray. He was charming, a Leo. Had a thing for Scorpios. Taller than AJ, but so are most people! Oh, how could I forget this. He had an Australian accent." Angel scoffed as Mac went into deep thought. "Are you day dreaming again?"

"It would be in you're best interest to stop with your 'snide' comments. You're description sounded like my brother. He's dead."

"I don't know how many times I'll have to apologize to you. I haven't had the best moments with the police. And I heard from Amy that you haven't, either...In no way did I mean to piss you off. I just thought you were ignoring me. And I won't have that ." Angel got up and extended her hand, as Mac shook it, she smiled. "Not enemies?"

"Not enemies. Angel, when are you getting released?"

"Soon. Why?"

Mac sighed and folded his arms. "There's a surprise for you at your house. What you were going to get at Sharkey's warehouse."

"Mac, you didn't have to--"

"Hey, what are Keystone cops for?" Angel glared at him as he walked out.

*** As Kristina strolled to Jax's room, she read a flyer with an obscure picture of Santa Claus on it. She grinned at slyly put in in her bag. When she entered his room, she noticed a red-head yelling at him. "Jax, what have you done now?"

"V's overreacting, Kristina."

"Overreacting? Alexis is freaking out on the phone, then Stefan says your indisposed, and then I call all around town, never getting an answer! Your secretary should be fired. I didn't know what to think and then I composed myself and called the hospital. I'd hit you on the head, but that would be cruel."

Kristina can't take it anymore and starts to laugh. "I'm sorry--you're a riot! I'm Kristina Carter."

V laughs at herself and shakes Kristina's hand. "V Ardanowski."

"V for Vivacious?" Jax joins in with Kristina's laughter.

"No, it's Venus."

"Well, you know that when the moon hits the seventh house, that'll align with--"

"Oh like I haven't heard that one before. Jax, I'm glad you're ok. I'm going, I need a drink."

Kristina's eyes widen as V leaves. "Is she always like that?"

"Only when she's left in the dark."

"Ah...how are you Jax? Avoiding Alexis' carpet?"

"Are you always this annoying?"

"Do you always have to play superhero? I'm serious Jax, you can be pompous, but I'll always want you in my life."

"That's good to know. Hey, your reference to carpets made me think of something."

Kristina sat closer to Jax. "What?"

"I was wondering if you had ever been on AJ Quartermaine's."

"I'll have you know Jerx, that AJ's intentions are honorable."

Jax snicked as he smoothed back his hair. "Yes and you're a natural red head."

Kristina cackled and punched him on the shoulder. "On that note, I'm going to leave."

Jocelyn waits 'til Kristina leaves her brother's room and enters. "Hi Jax. Remember me?"

~PC Hotel~ Anna played with Robin's hair as they watch tv. "So, are there any men in your life?"

Robin looked down and frowned. "Jason called...to tell me he was with Carly now. He wanted my approval!"

"He's an idiot and a thug. You will find love again, I promise you."

"Stone was the love of my life Mom, nobody can compete with that."

Anna embraces her daughter, thinking of Robert and her daughter's woes. Suddenly the doorbell rang and she went to answer it. "Ryan, I didn't think you'd come."

"You heard that Brayden was gunned down. Ahem, I said I was going to stop by today, so here I am. I wanna know about Duke Lavery."

"I'll tell you anything you need to know." Anna led Ryan in as Robin dashed into the kitchen, swallowing some pills.

"Headache?"

"Something like that."

Anna saw Ryan locking eyes with her daughter and sat him down. "I don't know where to start--"

"Why don't you start at the end. How did my father die?" He said mournfully.

~The Park~ Zoe Covani was the splitting image of her mother except for one feature. Her eyes. They were of an emerald hue. She was a precocious little girl, she understood adults in a way most five year olds wouldn't. Zoe knew her mother was thinking about her father, even though Keesha's face was blank. "Daddy's ok. I know it mommy."

Keesha kissed her daughter on the temple. "I know baby, I know."

*** Laeticia handed Michael the football and sighed. "Look Mr. Quartermaine, I remember how good you were with Michael when I was at the mansion. You don't need my supervision. I'm out, but if you tell Carly--" Laeticia covers Michaels ears. "I'll cut off your balls."

AJ nods as Laeticia leaves. Michael walks closer to AJ and throws him the ball. "Unc--Daddy, wanna play football?"

"You're not too cold?"

"No, the weather's kind of warm because of the cortizone layer."

AJ runs up to Michael and tickles him. "That's ozone, buddy." AJ backs up somewhat and tells him to throw. The ball soars past AJ and into the arms of a little girl.

"Momma, I caught a ball!"

Keesha tells her to throw it back and noticing the man standing before her. "A--AJ?"

"Keesha. What brings you back?"

"I'm working with Ned. I live here now." Keesha patted her daughter on the head and smiled.

AJ chuckled. "Good luck with that lost cause. Maybe this time you won't vanish without saying goodbye. Come on Michael, you're getting sick."

"I am not! You're just trying to get away from that woman like a scaredy cat. And I wanna play with that girl."

"AJ, wait. Please. "

"I can't do this right now. Michael come on, let's get ice cream."

"It's too cold for that!"

" Now you agree with me. Keesha, we will talk, not now, but we will. I promise." AJ stared at Keesha as Zoe gave him the ball and made his exit.

~Melissa's place~ Robert shivers on the couch, drinking Melissa's tea. She leaned against the wall and sighed. "Robert, why can't I take you to a hospital or to your brother?"

"Aunt Yvonne never told you what I did for a living, did she? Well the lass told you my last name was Bedford, so I'm not surprised. What I used to do was dangerous--still is dangerous. I don't want anymore people hurt. I went to the hospital already and no one spotted me, can't go again. Melissa, I've missed you. Our childhood, it was grand, my 'coz' from Chicago."

"Robert, why did my mother lie about her last name--your last name? And why did she not allow us to see eachother anymore? We we're harmless children-- " Melissa hands him some aspirin and leans back against the wall. "I'm sorry that I'm asking you all these questions, but I'm surprised you're--"

"Alive? Well I'm shocked as well. I'm just remembering who am I Melissa. I'm not sure why Yvonne lied, she did have a drug problem, I know that's why she never let you come back to Australia, she was afraid my parents would adopt you."

"I wish they would've, Leo would've had a better life."

Robert begrudgingly put a blanket around himself and walked over to his cousin. "I'm sorry, I forgot to ask about Leo. How is he?"

"He was murdered in prison. By Joseph Sorel's goons, but my ex Roy--he killed him. And now he's in jail."

Melissa sobbed as Robert consoled her. "You know mate, my parents loved you so much. They wanted to raise you and Leo, but they knew Yvonne would never have that. You should've seen how upset Mac and I were when you left for the states that last time. You and Leo were our siblings in every other way. And don't you forget it!"

~The Weathertop~ Florence watched as Kieran talked in his sleep. "Zoe? Zoe? Ok, I'll do whatever you want. Don't touch her!"

Florence finally ran to his side and woke him up. "Who's Zoe?"

"My little girl....Did you contact your son?"

"Yes. My brother too. Marcus doesn't believe your story and took a lot of arguing with him not to bring the squad. When he comes you tell him everything or you'll fry." Florence lets Taggert and Xavier in. She loved both of them dearly but they were so different. Xavier was the sea and Taggert was the earth. But they were the best of friends. "Remember what I said, Kieran."

Xavier sat as far away as possible and Taggert stood as close as possible to Kieran. "Make it good, I have Garcia on speed dial."

Kieran sat down and folded his hands. "It's what I told your mother. I was just a simple business man. I was married and I had a child. Me and my wife were happy. Then I started to get cryptic phone calls and notes. They put me in a trance. I was different. Business started to crumble. My marriage began to crumble. Then the person responsible revealed herself. It was Helena Cassadine. She made me run certain errands, I was under her spell. Then after all that tedious work, she ordered me to kill Anna Devane. I heard a lot about the woman, she doesn't deserve to die so I refused, something deep inside of me still had the courage to say no to her. Then she said that she would kill my daughter Zoe if I didn't do as she said. I agreed, then I escaped when she took me to the Weathertop. I snuck into Florence's room. That's all I can recall."

Taggert sighed lowly and looked at Xavier. "What do you think?"

Xavier blew out smoke from his cigar in Kieran direction. "He's telling the truth, to my surprise. But...there's a slight detail that's wrong. Even Kieran doesn't know what it is."

Taggert patted Kieran on the back. "I'm sorry for doubting you Covani, but that's my line of work--"

"Bollix it, I was protective of my mother when I was your age. Xavier--are you some sort of psychic?"

"I wouldn't say that, but you say that I'm a human truth serum." Xavier hugs Florence and heads to the door.

"Covani, you'll be protected. Nothing will happen to your daughter." Taggert calls Garcia and heads out with Xavier.

Kieran stares at Florence and kisses her hand. "Thank you for believing in me, without being a human truth serum."

Florence smiled, slightly overwhelmed. "Your welcome."