The limo pulled onto the grounds of the safe house but continued past the house to one of the outer buildings and stopped. Caroline looked over at Jason for finally confirmation but he responded before she spoke.

"I know."

"Ok."

When Luke delivered AJ, the guards took him to a separate building out of sight and sound of the kids and Letisha and that's where he remained. Caroline told Jason she didn't think AJ deserved a production. He agreed. They'd ask him stuff and then she'd put a bullet in him and be done. Their bags were brought into another area so that they could shower and change before seeing her mother and the children. She didn't know her uncle was still there.

AJ sat bound and gaged in a chair waiting for them but wasn't blind folded. Both of them stood silently behind the two way mirror taking in the scene in front of them in amazement. Was Luke deaf? Were the guards stupid? She caught Jason's eye,

"What the fuck?"

"I have no clue but I'm gonna find out."

Before either could move to find out just what happened, someone approached from behind. They both knew who that was by the distinct smell of the Cuban.

"Sweet Caroline."

"Uncle Luke."

He gave her a long, appraising look before breaking out in a wide grin and pulling her into a hug. Once they pulled apart he looked to Jason.

"Jason, how's it going?"

He just looked at Luke in astonishment.

"When I told Emily to tell you to knock him out anyway you wanted, I really didn't think you'd go this far. I understand Bobbie's your little sister and I'd have done the same thing for Em but...Luke."

"This is neither my fault nor my handiwork. I couldn't have stopped it if I tried."

"The guards?"

"Barbara Jean."

Silence.

"Mama did this?"

"Yep. She's a street fighter from way back."

Jason shook his head while Caroline threw back her's and laughed. Jason motioned to both of them and all three stepped into another room.

"How's mama?"

She hadn't let herself think what condition Bobbie might be in until now.

"Fine, she's baking cookies now. Takes the edge off every time the urge strikes her to come out here and go a few more rounds with Junior."

"Jase, I know what you're thinking. We've had that conversation about my family. Let it go."

He just laughed. Whatever.

"Luke, what happened?"

He exhaled and that told both of them he was still pretty pissed no mater how light his tone earlier.

"She got the papers from the fake process server. Edward was supposedly suing for custody and they were calling Bobbie as a witness to testify to Caroline being an unfit mother. Reference to the plan and all. She didn't open the packet at the hospital—Amy, enough said. Anyway, she was sitting outside Kelly's going over them when Junior walked by. They talked for a few minutes then he offered to walk her to her car. She was heading to the penthouse to show you guys the papers. AJ said he'd been gone for awhile and wanted to know if his parents were alright before heading to the mansion to try to speak with them. Half way to her car he injects her with something and she's out.

Next thing Barbara Jean knows she wakes up in a room in iron chains connected to a wall. He was there and so was Jennifer. She's gone, by the way. Laura has the update but I told Lucky I'd wait here for you guys before taking off. Anyway, the chains were the only thing that saved his ass. As soon as I cut her loose she tore through that house like the grim reaper. Kicked his ass until I had to pull her off of him to get him on the plane and back here. The only thing that stopped her from taking him out is knowing you two had to get some information. I say get it quick before she gets the urge again. She's already gone after him twice since we've been here. I've known her all her life, I'm not stupid enough to try to stop her."

Jason kept close watch on Caroline. Luke did too. This whole situation was a major surprise to all the Spencers. He couldn't help wondering how she managed to keep it inside and hidden for so long. Jason took her hand,

"We need to talk to him first, remember?"

"Yeah, but I'm still killing his ass. It was gonna be quick."

That's all she said then turned and walked out of the building. Luke's confused and turns to Jason with a quizzical expression and raised eye.

"I think she went to get the garotte. Its barbed."

Luke damned near dropped his cigar as he stared at Jason with wide eyes. Jason nodded.

"You didn't read the reports out of Miami? That's the most qualified person I've ever known. You don't want to know about the others."

Luke knew Jason was serious. Impressed with his niece, he simply nodded and changed the subject.

"What's the status?"

"As soon as I talk to this one and find out everything he knows and has told, we're heading back. The kids are in some kind of competition to see who can find Rivera first. Fine. I want his ass in the next 2 days. Then everybody goes."

Luke tilted his head slightly to take in all of Jason. The kid really came into his own over the last year. Luke knew it was a surprise to everyone that he managed to do what he's done. He saw it in him long ago. When Sonny decided to step down, Luke thought turning things over to Jason was his back door if he should decide he didn't like retirement. Figured Sonny thought he could come back and ask the kid to turn things back over to him out of loyalty or something. During the first conversation they had once Jason took over, Luke was certain that wouldn't happen. The man standing before him came along way since then. Luke knew he was definitely looking at the boss.

"What about Moreno?"

"I'm taking him out and taking over the next day."

Luke whistled and grinned from ear to ear.

"They have no idea who you are."

"Not yet, but they will."

Right about then, both of them looked up as Caroline re-entered with her metal brief case. He was certain she had all kinds of goodies somewhere on her body so he figured the garotte was in the limo. But this was a new one. Jason was confused because she didn't leave the penthouse with anything. Eyeing her and then the case,

"Caroline?"

"I keep a spare on the plane."

That's all she said. They got it and followed.

AJ thought Luke would hold him and that after awhile Bobbie would get tired and they'd ship him back to Brazil. That was fine with him, he had no desire to return to Port Charles ever again. When he looked up and saw Jason walk in, he darn near fainted. It would be bad, but he still figured on walking out alive. There was no way Jason would do that to Emily or their grandmother. Even though he really didn't speak to her, AJ was certain Jason wouldn't do anything to hurt Monica either. He was still stuck on Jason Quartermaine. He didn't count on Jason Morgan. And, he didn't know Caroline Spencer. He should have kept his mouth shut once she removed the gag. Luke did. This was first hand fact finding and he was taking it all in.

"Carly...."

"Carly Roberts is dead. My name is Caroline Spencer."

Her tone left no doubt in anyone's mind that she meant it. Luke nodded his approval, always happy to have another Spencer added to the clan. For a split second she wondered if that should be her hook every time someone called her Carly. She forgot that's what she said to Bret until that moment.

Jason stood silently and impassively near her. Luke leaned against the wall. They didn't have a lot of time but Jason knew she was going to hurt him and not just physically.

"AJ, I'll get right to the point. We have some questions for you and then we are leaving. Right before that, though, I'm going to kill you. It was going to be quick, but now that my uncle told me exactly what you did to my mother, its not.

I know what you're thinking but you don't know what I'm thinking or what I'm capable of doing. Answer Jason quickly and honestly and what I'm gonna give you will—well its still going to hurt and you're still going to die but they might be able to recognize the body afterwards. Understand?"

Luke turned to Jason after hearing that but at Jason's nod he leaned back to watch the show.

Shock, disbelief, resignation, fear.

Caroline got to work right after that. It really didn't take long. AJ, apparently, has a low pain threshold. He sung like a canary and cried like a baby. That last part was getting on Caroline's nerves. She turned to Jason,

"Need anything else?"

"No, that's it."

She hesitated for a second 'cause she didn't know how Jason would feel about it. Didn't matter, he knew her and he knew what she was thinking. He stepped up.

"I'm gonna tell him."

She smiled, then laughed.

Luke had no idea what that was about. Jason picked up the gag and retied it. There really was no need to considering he probably couldn't talk but he'd take no chances with this. Then he stood to AJ's right and whispered softly in his ear. Caroline was closest and she couldn't hear. But since she knew what he was going to say she knew to watch for the light bulb of understanding to go off.

Didn't take long, all things considered. AJ's eyes went wide, bulged and his face paled. Then he tried to get angry but couldn't really move. He cried a lot more realizing what he almost did. It wasn't a pretty sight. Jason stepped back out of the way because this was over. Caroline walked up and did her classic three to the chest and two to the head. Just to be sure. Luke was amazed, impressed, and ticked off at not knowing the secret. He looked at his niece,

"Five shots?"

She didn't miss a beat or look up as she started cleaning her weapon and applying the solution to the garotte and knife.

"Gets him to hell quicker."

Luke went back to the main house while they showered and changed. Bobbie was still ticked every time AJ's name came up but hearing he was gone calmed her down a bit. Luke pulled her outside for that discussion. He thought about it for a minute and filled her in on what he just saw. The real Caroline was taking some getting used to but it wasn't a secret among the family. Luke didn't see any point in keeping this from his sister.

Bobbie stared at him. Luke nodded.

"Jason said something about reading the reports out of Miami but not wanting to know about the others. According to him, qualified doesn't cover it."

She took a few moments to consider this information about her child. But, Barbara Jean Spencer is no hypocrite. She shrugged.

"Everybody ought to have a skill."

Perhaps not the most maternal thought but Bobbie had a pretty bad two weeks. Spending time with Lucas and Michael helped a lot but she was still spoiling to be in the fight.

After Jason and Caroline spent time with the kids they met with Bobbie and Luke to give the Cassidine angle. They both decided to keep her part in the retrieval and going to Spoon Island a secret. Bobbie probably should have been kept out of this meeting too when she heard what Sonny did 'cause she blew several fuses on the spot. But, it couldn't be helped. She was a player, a Spencer and she was all the way on the team. Luke intervened a couple of times.

"They're right, Barbara Jean. You're the only one who can stay with the kids and someone has to be here. I'd take them to Laura but it might expose them in the transfer."

"I know. Caroline, what else did Sonny say about Helena?"

"Just what I've said so far. Plus, she was jet setting at least three months before their paths crossed four months ago. As soon as one of those two mini felons finds Rivera I'd like to put them both on tracking her movements. Which means tracking her money. She's got her hands full right about now trying to figure out if it was Rivera or Jason who took him because she knows it isn't Luke or she's be dead too. Sorry about not trying to take her out. I didn't have enough information about how she operates or plans and I didn't know if she had something in play for that possibility."

Luke leaned back in his chair listening to her work through things then gave his take on things.

"You did good, cupcake. Smart thinking because I've considered the same thing since finding out she's back. If she thinks its Jason, she'll come for you."

"I thought about that too. Nothing stopped her from trying that before. And I'm certain I'm on her list anyway. Right now, I'd say she's banking on it being Rivera. But when he turns up dead and Jason's still standing she'll know."

"Watch your back. The dragon lady doesn't play in the real world. Nor does she think like normal people. It'll be off the wall and strange."

"How much longer are you going to be out of commission?"

"A while. There's a lot of other stuff I'm doing."

Caroline nodded silently and let her mind wander. Luke nor Bobbie had a clue where she was and turned to Jason, he shrugged.

"Ok, thanks for the help and for getting my mother out safely."

Then she turned to Bobbie.

"Mama, thank you. For every thing. And thank you for agreeing to stay here with the kids. It won't be too long but there will be fallout from both moves and we don't want them in the cross fire. The Quartermaines will be up in arms again, Taggart will be in Jason's face, and the feds will be crawling all over Port Charles. The less they see of Michael or Lucas the better. Plus, there's always a possibility that we miss a cockroach the first go round. I don't want anyone getting any ideas."

"You don't have to thank me. I'm still pissed but I'll get over it soon enough. Since I'm on indefinite leave anyway, I might as well enjoy all the time I want with my grandson. Lucas is treating the compound like summer camp so that's a good thing."

Then she took a breath and turned the conversation to another flash point.

"Tell Emily to cross reference Tracy with Helena when she starts her search."

At that everyone blanches and Jason just about loses it.

"Calm down people. Luke, sit down. Jason, you and Caroline are dealing with current events. I'm thinking about ancient history neither of you were around for. It wouldn't be the first time one of those Quartermaine women hooked up with a Cassidine. Alexandra did it when Mikkos tried to freeze the world. She was a full partner and player in that diamond scheme. I'm not saying that's happened again because Helena is the type of woman who has to be the queen bee in the hive—everyone else is a drone. But its always good to cover all the basis. Tracy Quartermaine does no matter who she's married to. And none of us thought Sonny would ever cut a deal with Helena. So what does that tell you folks?"

Barbara Jean Spencer, the voice of reason. They got it.