When Caroline stepped off the elevator on the 5th floor she saw Amy and Audrey Hardy out of the corner of her eye. The last wasn't so bad but they'd both want to know about Bobbie. She tried to glide past them both without being seen so that she could get to her appointment. This was the first time she'd run into anyone of the 'locals' since the 'transition'. She always smiled when she thought of it that way.

"Carly. Carly. Carly!!"

Caroline kept walking never looking up or breaking her stride. No one called her Carly in what seemed like so long she didn't even register the sound. Monica Quartermaine was having none of that so she stomped from her position near the nurse's station directly into Caroline's path. By this time, Monica managed to draw the attention of everyone near the nurse's station.

"Ignoring me?"

Caroline didn't even respond as she side stepped Monica and kept walking. Dr. Quartermaine isn't so bright.

"You don't think you all are going to get away with it?"

She kept moving but this time Monica wasn't about to let her get away. Everyone was watching this scene. They didn't know what Carly did to piss off Monica but they all figured it was something.

"Emily has no business with you all and should be at home with her family. Don't you walk away from me when I'm talking to you Carly..."

Monica might not have been ticked off when she started this but being ignored grated on her nerves. Caroline had something to do. Many some things to do that day and Monica was throwing off her schedule.

"Carly Roberts is dead. My name is Caroline Spencer. Back up and back off. Right now its just harassment. Two more steps and its assault."

The tone was ice cold, the volume was metered and not the shrilling loud Carly response they were all used to. But they all heard her.

Monica wasn't sure what just happened. Then she caught the full view of the woman in front of her. The clothes, hair and demeanor. Monica glanced around and saw that everyone was listening. She also noticed that there weren't any guards coming to the rescue so she felt more secure in doing the stupid thing. Caroline stepped aside and took five more steps away before Monica did a really stupid thing.

"So you're Caroline this week? How long till you change names again? The next time you change father's for my grandson. Where is my grandson? Did you managed to get him kidnaped again."

Amy and Audrey were taking all of this in. They all were. When Carly threw the first punch they'd call security. Caroline stopped and turned around slowly. She looked Monica up and down carefully as if she were inspecting fruit at an outdoor market not finding anything of value. The expression on her face blank and impassive. Her eyes were a different story. Monica should have looked into her eyes.

"Come here."

That didn't really make any sense. All Carly had to do was take a few more steps. She wasn't stupid. Monica would have to come to her or it would no longer be defensive. The way she spoke was commanding and authoritative. It surprised everyone else but it shocked Monica into stupid because she actually stepped forward. Caroline leaned forward slightly then whispered in her ear so no one else could possibly hear.

"You don't know me, you never did. Pray you never do. Disrespect my son or his father again and I will have your entire family dressed in black and your picture on the 6:00 news."

Then Caroline pulled back and stared at Monica allowing her true self to be revealed in that moment. Monica was speechless. She heard the words but the meaning took a moment to register. The voice, the tone, the delivery. It was cold and hard. It was something worse than what she'd heard from Jason. She was also scared. Not a reaction she ever thought Carly would inspire. It seemed like eternity but it was less than five seconds from the time Caroline stopped speaking until Monica gasped and put her hand to her mouth. When she saw the look on Caroline's face she stepped back. That's when understanding set in. She didn't know this person. Caroline. But she just got a glimpse. And that's when she knew with certainty that the woman was serious. Monica kept taking steps away from Caroline, never turning her back. Caroline did not break eye contact. She did not turn around. When Monica got to what she thought was a safe distance she turned and rushed down one of the hall ways. Only when she was gone did Caroline turn and continue on to her appointment.

Many people watched that show. None got what they expected. None understood what they saw. Well, yes, they understood what they saw but couldn't believe it. Stefan Cassidine watched the entire scene play out from the beginning. He saw Caroline step off the elevator and was about to move to speak to her when he heard Monica calling for Carly. That made him hold back to see the reaction. Nothing. He didn't know what Caroline said to her specifically but after getting the report from the island in Greece he had a pretty good idea. Stefan smiled and walked away.