My Life Closed Twice
Chapter 18: Working the Room
Disclaimer: General Hospital and all its characters belong to ABC, Disney, etc.
Author's Notes: Thanks to my faithful beta reader. Please read and review!
Mrs. Corinthos knocked my hand away from her mouth. I turned to face Michael's parents.
"I feel like I should apologize for their behavior, but quite frankly if I started doing that I would never get to do anything else for my entire life," I told them.
"They don't matter," Mr. Corinthos said.
You're not related to them.
Mrs. Corinthos wasn't so inclined to let things go, "Why should anyone apologize to my husband? Just because he has loved, raised and protected Michael nearly all his life. Shouldn't he be hated and despised for keeping Michael safe from AJ?"
"I don't hate anyone on Junior's say so," I responded.
"Carly," Mr. Corinthos attempted to calm her.
"Why not? A Quartermaine is always right," Mrs. Corinthos continued.
"Carly, she didn't shoot Michael," Dr. Collins interrupted.
That stopped Mrs. Corinthos. The fight left her and she just looked worried again. Mr. Corinthos put his arm around her and led her back to the chairs.
I had forgotten Dr. Collins was even here. "Thanks," I said.
"She is just upset about Michael. Don't take it personally," he said.
I knew that. I shrugged, "At least she is still talking."
Dr. Collins gave me a strange look, but I spotted Uncle Alan coming back. To ensure that Michael's parents got any news first, I hurried over and grabbed him before he could even turn toward the Q's designated area.
"His parents first, then the family," I instructed.
Uncle Alan knew better then to disagree. I shot Aunt Emily a look that said 'keep the Q's contained' as we headed toward the Corinthoses. Aunt Emily inclined her head to let me know she understood the message.
Mr. Corinthos stood as we approached. Mrs. Corinthos stayed seated, her face caught between hope and fear.
"Michael is still in surgery, but it looks very good. The bullet did hit his lung, but it seems to have missed every other major organ. They have repaired the damage to the lung. They are now going through and repairing the minor damage. It may take as long as another hour or two. However, his vitals have been good and strong since he was brought in. Dr. Cooper is very good. He is going to come out and speak to you when the surgery is done," Uncle Alan reported.
It was the first time I had seen anyone sag with relief, but Mrs. Corinthos did. It was left up to Mr. Corinthos to handle the courtesies.
"Thank you Alan," he said.
Uncle Alan accepted the thanks with a nod of his head.
I slipped my arm through Uncle Alan's and gave it a squeeze as we headed over to the Q's. Dr. Collins followed us as far as the nurses' station.
Great-Grandfather Edward was already up in arms by the time we got there. Aunt Emily practically had to sit on him to keep him in the Q's section.
"That is my great-grandson they are discussing over there. I have a right to hear what is going on young lady," Great-Grandfather was arguing.
"Kristina said to stay here Grandfather, so we are going to stay here." Aunt Emily was not moved.
"Kristina doesn't know any better. She is just bowing to Corinthos," Junior put in.
"That little girl doesn't understand what the situation here," Great- Grandfather concurred. "If Cassadine hadn't stolen her, she would know better then to do this. It's a miracle that we were even informed about Michael's injury. Come to that, what is Kristina even doing here?"
"Edward be quiet," Aunt Monica ordered as she saw Uncle Alan and I approach.
I let go of Uncle Alan and listened to him repeat his report for the Quartermaines. Just as he was finishing up his lecture and Aunt Monica was dragging him into the Q and A section I heard the elevator doors open. I figured it must be Uncle Zander so I headed over to help him carry the drinks. I was wrong.
I turned around in time to see the back of Ms. Spencer running down the hall toward the Corinthoses. Mr. Spencer followed her out leading my mother.
Mom looked like she had taken a huge step back. I didn't think time in the hospital with either the Corinthos or the Qs was a good idea, but better the insanity you know then the one you hate. So I hurried over to help Mr. Spencer.
"Come on Mom, the Qs are over here," I told her as I grabbed her other arm and started her in the right direction.
"See here she is sweetheart, just as pushy as ever," Mr. Spencer said. He looked relieved to see me. Yeah that must have been a fun ride to the hospital. Between a worried grandmother and my catatonic mother. For once I think Mr. Spencer wasn't the craziest person in the car.
Then Mom did the most surprising thing; she grabbed me in a bear hug. Now my mother had hugged me before, just not often and not in public. The Cassadines are not a demonstrative bunch in general. It didn't mean they loved me any less, but they didn't hug. When Dad was alive he would grab me like this all the time. But quite frankly, if Uncle Stephan ever tried it I would probably get him to a doctor tout-sweet. Mom doing it after six years of hardly moving was something of a shock.
After a minute I managed to wrap my arms around her back. "I'm OK. I'm right here. Everything is OK." I murmured to her.
When she seemed to relax a little, I moved to her side and led her over to the chair Great-Grandfather Edward had just vacated. I settled her in it and stood by it keeping a hand on her.
The Qs were all watching us with concern in their eyes. Mr. Spencer had gone over to Dr. Collins and seemed to be getting an update from him. I couldn't see the other half of our vigil party, which had been the reason to send the Qs over here in the first place. I needed to regain control of the situation.
"Uncle Alan, the Corinthos' will probably need a medical translator when Dr. Cooper comes out and I am not sure Ms. Spencer will be up to doing it. Do you think you or Aunt Monica would be better suited to do it?" I asked briskly.
Uncle Alan and Aunt Monica looked at each other for a minute. They seemed to have a discussion with their eyes. Finally, a decision was made.
"It would probably be better if I did it," Uncle Alan said.
I tended to agree. In public, Aunt Monica was the more volatile of the two. "All right, I will arrange it with them," I said.
"Why should you ask Corinthos for anything? I have a right to be there," Junior argued. .
"No." I told him. We had a staring contest for a minute. I don't know why he even tried. I won like always.
I leaned down to Mom, "I'm going to go talk to some people for a minute. I'll be right back." I figured that keeping the Corinthos name out of the conversation as much as possible was probably better for now.
I started walking away. I had made it about three steps when I heard my mother's voice, "Kristina Davis-Ashton, what did I tell you!"
I was stunned. I slowly turned to face my mother. She was now standing in front of the chair I had put her in. For the first time in six years my mother, my REAL mother, was looking at ME. Her eyes demanded some response.
"You told me to wait at Mrs. Strumen's for you," I answered.
Chapter 18: Working the Room
Disclaimer: General Hospital and all its characters belong to ABC, Disney, etc.
Author's Notes: Thanks to my faithful beta reader. Please read and review!
Mrs. Corinthos knocked my hand away from her mouth. I turned to face Michael's parents.
"I feel like I should apologize for their behavior, but quite frankly if I started doing that I would never get to do anything else for my entire life," I told them.
"They don't matter," Mr. Corinthos said.
You're not related to them.
Mrs. Corinthos wasn't so inclined to let things go, "Why should anyone apologize to my husband? Just because he has loved, raised and protected Michael nearly all his life. Shouldn't he be hated and despised for keeping Michael safe from AJ?"
"I don't hate anyone on Junior's say so," I responded.
"Carly," Mr. Corinthos attempted to calm her.
"Why not? A Quartermaine is always right," Mrs. Corinthos continued.
"Carly, she didn't shoot Michael," Dr. Collins interrupted.
That stopped Mrs. Corinthos. The fight left her and she just looked worried again. Mr. Corinthos put his arm around her and led her back to the chairs.
I had forgotten Dr. Collins was even here. "Thanks," I said.
"She is just upset about Michael. Don't take it personally," he said.
I knew that. I shrugged, "At least she is still talking."
Dr. Collins gave me a strange look, but I spotted Uncle Alan coming back. To ensure that Michael's parents got any news first, I hurried over and grabbed him before he could even turn toward the Q's designated area.
"His parents first, then the family," I instructed.
Uncle Alan knew better then to disagree. I shot Aunt Emily a look that said 'keep the Q's contained' as we headed toward the Corinthoses. Aunt Emily inclined her head to let me know she understood the message.
Mr. Corinthos stood as we approached. Mrs. Corinthos stayed seated, her face caught between hope and fear.
"Michael is still in surgery, but it looks very good. The bullet did hit his lung, but it seems to have missed every other major organ. They have repaired the damage to the lung. They are now going through and repairing the minor damage. It may take as long as another hour or two. However, his vitals have been good and strong since he was brought in. Dr. Cooper is very good. He is going to come out and speak to you when the surgery is done," Uncle Alan reported.
It was the first time I had seen anyone sag with relief, but Mrs. Corinthos did. It was left up to Mr. Corinthos to handle the courtesies.
"Thank you Alan," he said.
Uncle Alan accepted the thanks with a nod of his head.
I slipped my arm through Uncle Alan's and gave it a squeeze as we headed over to the Q's. Dr. Collins followed us as far as the nurses' station.
Great-Grandfather Edward was already up in arms by the time we got there. Aunt Emily practically had to sit on him to keep him in the Q's section.
"That is my great-grandson they are discussing over there. I have a right to hear what is going on young lady," Great-Grandfather was arguing.
"Kristina said to stay here Grandfather, so we are going to stay here." Aunt Emily was not moved.
"Kristina doesn't know any better. She is just bowing to Corinthos," Junior put in.
"That little girl doesn't understand what the situation here," Great- Grandfather concurred. "If Cassadine hadn't stolen her, she would know better then to do this. It's a miracle that we were even informed about Michael's injury. Come to that, what is Kristina even doing here?"
"Edward be quiet," Aunt Monica ordered as she saw Uncle Alan and I approach.
I let go of Uncle Alan and listened to him repeat his report for the Quartermaines. Just as he was finishing up his lecture and Aunt Monica was dragging him into the Q and A section I heard the elevator doors open. I figured it must be Uncle Zander so I headed over to help him carry the drinks. I was wrong.
I turned around in time to see the back of Ms. Spencer running down the hall toward the Corinthoses. Mr. Spencer followed her out leading my mother.
Mom looked like she had taken a huge step back. I didn't think time in the hospital with either the Corinthos or the Qs was a good idea, but better the insanity you know then the one you hate. So I hurried over to help Mr. Spencer.
"Come on Mom, the Qs are over here," I told her as I grabbed her other arm and started her in the right direction.
"See here she is sweetheart, just as pushy as ever," Mr. Spencer said. He looked relieved to see me. Yeah that must have been a fun ride to the hospital. Between a worried grandmother and my catatonic mother. For once I think Mr. Spencer wasn't the craziest person in the car.
Then Mom did the most surprising thing; she grabbed me in a bear hug. Now my mother had hugged me before, just not often and not in public. The Cassadines are not a demonstrative bunch in general. It didn't mean they loved me any less, but they didn't hug. When Dad was alive he would grab me like this all the time. But quite frankly, if Uncle Stephan ever tried it I would probably get him to a doctor tout-sweet. Mom doing it after six years of hardly moving was something of a shock.
After a minute I managed to wrap my arms around her back. "I'm OK. I'm right here. Everything is OK." I murmured to her.
When she seemed to relax a little, I moved to her side and led her over to the chair Great-Grandfather Edward had just vacated. I settled her in it and stood by it keeping a hand on her.
The Qs were all watching us with concern in their eyes. Mr. Spencer had gone over to Dr. Collins and seemed to be getting an update from him. I couldn't see the other half of our vigil party, which had been the reason to send the Qs over here in the first place. I needed to regain control of the situation.
"Uncle Alan, the Corinthos' will probably need a medical translator when Dr. Cooper comes out and I am not sure Ms. Spencer will be up to doing it. Do you think you or Aunt Monica would be better suited to do it?" I asked briskly.
Uncle Alan and Aunt Monica looked at each other for a minute. They seemed to have a discussion with their eyes. Finally, a decision was made.
"It would probably be better if I did it," Uncle Alan said.
I tended to agree. In public, Aunt Monica was the more volatile of the two. "All right, I will arrange it with them," I said.
"Why should you ask Corinthos for anything? I have a right to be there," Junior argued. .
"No." I told him. We had a staring contest for a minute. I don't know why he even tried. I won like always.
I leaned down to Mom, "I'm going to go talk to some people for a minute. I'll be right back." I figured that keeping the Corinthos name out of the conversation as much as possible was probably better for now.
I started walking away. I had made it about three steps when I heard my mother's voice, "Kristina Davis-Ashton, what did I tell you!"
I was stunned. I slowly turned to face my mother. She was now standing in front of the chair I had put her in. For the first time in six years my mother, my REAL mother, was looking at ME. Her eyes demanded some response.
"You told me to wait at Mrs. Strumen's for you," I answered.