Carly waited until Jason had fallen asleep before slipping out of his
embrace. He had a habit of holding her closely to him while he slept. The
first couple of times she didn't mind but lately the closeness was
beginning to bother her. She needed to escape. She pulled on Jason's
discarded shirt and padded barefoot over to the window. She hugged herself
and stared out at the Port Charles skyline. Jason's penthouse was on the
top floor of the Harborview Towers and she had an excellent view. But Carly
wasn't concentrating on the view.
She had a big problem and his name was Sonny Corinthos. She was getting too
attached. In her past affairs Carly always made sure the rules were laid
out from the beginning and she always kept herself emotionally detached.
When the affair had run its course and she was bored with it, she had no
trouble ruthlessly discarded the man du jour. But with Sonny things were
different. His being married shouldn't have affected her that much. She's
been with married men before. Those were the easiest relationship, neither
one was expecting more than what they had at the moment. However finding
out about Sonny and Lois actually hurt and that was just one of the things
bothering her.
Being attached to Sonny wasn't smart. She couldn't afford him as a
weakness. And he was getting too demanding lately. He wanted her when he
wanted her and he expected her to jump at his every request. Things were
getting out of hand. The phone call today was just another example.
She needed to put some space between the two of them. Slow things down
until they got back to the way they used to be. And then…Carly took a deep
breath…and then she would break things off. It wasn't that she would keep
the affair going after the wedding, which was a year away. Both she and
Sonny knew that the closer she got to the wedding the sooner they would be
ending things. But now it seemed that the smart thing to do was to end it
sooner than later.
Carly heard Jason stirring in his bed. She looked over her shoulder as he
pushed himself up and squinted in the darkness. "Carly?"
"Right here." She walked back over to the bed and sat down. She ran her
fingers through his short blond hair and trailed her fingers gently across
his face.
"Couldn't sleep?" He asked.
"I have so many things on my mind…" Carly shrugged then smiled at him.
"Tonight was nice."
Jason's surprise had turned out to be an intimate candlelit dinner for two
at his penthouse. Jason nodded. "It was exactly what we needed."
Carly tilted her head and studied him closely. "However…why did I get the
feeling you're trying to cover something up?"
"What?" He laughed nervously. God, did Chris tell her about him and Karen?
"What are you talking about?"
Carly shook her head. "I don't know, it just popped into my head. You would
never hide anything from me. Right?"
"Of course not." Jason said immediately.
Carly hesitated before nodding. "Uh-huh."
Jason quickly changed the subject. "Are you hungry? Because I'm a little
hungry. I'll go heat up something if you want?"
Carly stretched out beside him. "No, I'm not hungry." She rolled over on
her back and smiled at him. "Well, not for food anyway."
Jason reached out and pulled her to him. Carly eagerly went along.
~*~*~
A few days later, Carly crossed the docks at a furious pace. She gestured
widely with her free hand as she ranted into in her cell. All of her
attention was focused on her phone call. People strolling along the docks
quickly dodged out of her way when they realized she wasn't watching where
she was going. "I don't care what the numbers look like today. We have a
verbal agreement with witnesses. It will hold up in court. Don't try to
screw me over, you *won't* like the results. No, it's not a threat. It's a
fact."
Carly quickly disconnected the call then dialed her office. "Elizabeth, I
need you to pull the Johnson file and have it sitting on my desk when I get
there. I should be there in twenty minutes, no later. Make sure that Larry
and Jim are in my office also. Very important meeting, Johnson's trying to
weasel out. Did Jasper Jacks call? Good. Find out why my gown for tonight's
Nurses Ball wasn't sent to my penthouse as requested. What? Why is it at
the office? Who messed up? Forget it, Elizabeth. When I get back to the
office I'll figure it all out."
A pair of hands grabbed her back the shoulders and pulled her back. Carly
instantly jerked back her elbow hitting whoever was behind her squarely in
the stomach. She whirled around and was about to smash her cell phone into
the person's head when she realized that it was just Sonny. "Are you out of
your mind?"
Sonny let out a breath of air. "You were about to walk right into that
garbage can. Unless you wanted to smell like garbage?"
Carly looked around. He was right. She said softly. "Oh."
"Ms. Cassadine? Ms. Cassadine?" Elizabeth's voice squeaked out. "Are you
okay?"
Carly shook her head and said quickly. "I'm fine." She snapped closed her
cell and put it away in her purse. She nodded dismissively at Sonny. "It
was good seeing you again, Sonny."
She started to walk away but Sonny grabbed her arm. "What the hell is
that?"
"Excuse me?" Carly raised her eyebrow and stared down at his hand on her.
He waited a beat before removing it and sticking it into his pocket.
"Where have you been?" Sonny demanded. "I haven't seen you in days."
Carly cocked her eyebrow. "I had no idea I was supposed to report into you
everyday."
"You're avoiding me, Caroline. I don't see you or hear from you in over a
week and then when I do you run off. What type of game are you playing?"
"I'm not playing any *games* Sonny. I'm living my life. Get over yourself
Sonny. You aren't my top priority."
Sonny narrowed his eyes and took her by the arm. Carly tried to break away
but Sonny's grip was too strong. He dragged her a few feet away into a side
alley and pushed her up against the wall.
"Hey, that's Richard Tyler you're abusing!" Carly snapped as she jumped
away from the dirty wall. She twisted around to see if the back of her soft
green suit was dirty. She couldn't tell so she slipped off the jacket
revealing a white silk camisole top. "You are buying a new one if you
ruined this!"
"Caroline!" Sonny snapped even as his eyes were glued to the swell of her
breasts above the camisole.
"What!" She snapped back.
"No more games, no more lies." He said softly.
"I really have no idea what you're talking about." She lied knowing exactly
what he meant.
"Ever since the truth about my marriage came out, you've been acting
strange. You practically disappeared after our dinner that night. Tell me
the truth, were you lying when you said you were okay with me being
married?" His eyes bore into hers and Carly found she couldn't look away.
"Sonny, you're making a big deal out of nothing. I've been busy lately. I
have a *job* and a wedding to plan. I can't be at your beck and call every
time you want to screw me." Her voice gained a taunting edge. "Unlike you,
I am in a happy, healthy relationship. I *like* to spend time with my
significant other."
Sonny didn't even let that faze him. "If you did then you and I wouldn't
even be having this conversation."
Carly rolled her eyes and slipped her jacket on. "Please."
"Look, you want out? Fine, just tell me so. Don't play these games."
"You're awfully eager to hold onto the chance to bed another man's
fiancée." Carly arched her eyebrow.
"Leftovers don't bother me." He shrugged nonchalantly.
She pressed her lips together and angrily folded her arms. This wasn't
going the way she thought it would. She and Sonny needed some distance but
she couldn't seem to be able to push him away. Sonny stepped closer to her
and cupped her shoulders in his hands. He pulled her towards him.
"Caroline…" He said softly, his voice sending shivers down her spine.
She looked down on the ground. "Yes?"
"We can end this right now if you want. I don't beg anyone to stay in my
bed sweetheart, not even you."
Carly looked up at him. She could tell that he meant it. If she were smart
she'd end things right there. But she couldn't and he knew it. He had a
hold on her. Carly closed her eyes for a moment then made a show of
checking her watch.
"You know I really have to get back to the office. Today is *not* a good
day for this. I'm having a bad day and then there's the Nurses Ball tonight
and…"
Sonny cupped her face and forced her to look at him. "Hey, answer the
question already."
"And what answer would you like?" She said flippantly.
He narrowed his eyes and shook his head slightly. "Don't be cute. You know
what I want. Right now it's about what you want. Then again it's always
been that way hasn't it?"
"What I want and what I have to do is two completely different things." She
said softly.
"What are you going to do then?" He demanded.
"It's not fun doing the right thing all the time…" She trailed away.
He nodded. "No it's not."
Carly toyed with his collar and avoiding looking at him for a minute. "I
guess I'll continue doing the fun thing—"
"Until it's no fun anymore." Sonny finished for her.
"Of course, why would I even bother?" She said with a half smile.
Sonny backed her up against the wall ignoring her suit and her squeal of
surprise. He slipped his hands inside her jacket and pulled her hips to
his. He covered her mouth with a deep kiss that left her breathless. She
sagged weakly against him when he finally let up. She stared up at him.
He brushed his thumb across her swollen bottom lip. "Now ask that question
again."
It took Carly a moment to remember what he was talking about. When she did
she punched him in the arm. "I hate you."
He laughed softly. "Right. I should get going, I don't have time to hang
around in alleys all day with you."
Carly glared at him. "Yes, because I was the one who jumped you and dragged
you here."
He smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. Though he was leaving her,
he couldn't stop touching her. "I'll see you tonight?"
She shook her head. "I have the Nurses Ball to attend."
"I know that. I'll be there too."
Carly stared at him. "Say that again?"
"You think you're the only one who can throw money around in the name of a
good cause?"
"No, it's that I never would have expected you to go to the Nurses Ball."
"Why is that?" He demanded, his eyes suddenly hard. "Someone of my, what,
*class* doesn't belong with the rest of proper society?"
"Did I *say* that? I would think that the Nurses Ball wouldn't be something
you'd enjoy. I mean, who wants to see about of people dance around and sang
badly for two hours? I hate it. I don't understand why I can't just write a
check." Carly shrugged.
"It doesn't matter, I'm going anyway."
"Fine, go, don't let me stop you. You understand, though, that I will be
with Jason?" Carly was deliberately baiting him.
"And you understand that we don't need another replay of that night at
Luke's?" He said calmly.
"Are you trying to tell me what I can and cannot do with my fiancé?" Carly
arched her eyebrow.
"No, I'm just saying that you and I both know what happens when the other
gets pushed to the edge." He warned.
"Don't worry if I start anything with Jason, I'll call you to finish me
off." She smirked. She was satisfied to see a murderous light come to his
eyes. *That* was payback for the leftovers remark. She started to walk
away. "I should have been back at the office fifteen minutes ago."
"You can be a real bitch, you know that? It's a good thing it turns me on."
He said as he followed her. Carly's answering laughter echoed throughout
the alley.
It reached the ears of one person who neither Sonny nor Carly realized was
there. Karen smiled wickedly to herself as she emerged from the shadows.
Looked like taking this shortcut was a good idea after all, she thought.
~*~*~
No, no, no, not him again, Emily groaned in her head. She hadn't seen him
for days and then when she goes into the park she sees him. Just her luck.
She wondered briefly if she should turn around and go back the way she came
but it was already too late. He'd seen her. He nodded in her direction but
didn't get up from the park bench he sat on.
Emily frowned. That was strange. Her natural curiosity got the better of
her and she walked over to him. "Hey, are you okay?"
"No." He murmured. He couldn't get near his mother. Every time he tried
Luke or Lucky Spencer were hanging around her. His hatred for Lucky Spencer
was growing more and more.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Emily found herself asking. She told
herself over and over that she wouldn't deal with him again. It was bad
enough that she'd to Lucky about him once, she didn't want to do it again.
But just like the last time she was with him she found she couldn't just
walk away. She sat beside him.
"No." He said curtly. He couldn't tell her, not now. He had already decided
to not get her involved. He didn't care about revenge anymore. He didn't
care about this Cassadine thing. All he wanted was his mother.
Emily sat back. "Never mind then."
She started to get up but Nikolas's hand shot out. He grasped her hand in
his tightly and stared up at her. "Wait, don't go."
Emily sat back down and waited expectantly. Nikolas sighed and rubbed his
face. "I'm sorry, it just hasn't been a good couple of days or months for
that matter."
Emily nodded but said nothing. Nikolas continued. "I should apologize for
that night I was drunk. I shouldn't have did what I did."
"Do you even remember what you did?" Emily asked.
Nikolas gave a little smile. "Vaguely. I kissed you didn't I?"
Emily scowled. "Yes."
"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. Maybe it was those big brown
eyes of yours." Emily still scowled, not bowled over at his attempt at
charm. "Did I…did I say anything about my mother?"
Emily thought back. "Not much, you insisted I knew her but that's it."
He stared into her eyes. "I didn't say who she was right?"
Emily shook her head. "No, not at all."
Nikolas sighed in relief. Thank god. Emily looked at him curiously. "Is
there something going on with your mother?"
"It's private." He said simply.
Emily nodded. "That's okay, I just—" The ringing of her cell phone cut her
off. "I'll be right back." She pulled out her cell and moved away from the
bench.
Nikolas watched as she talked to whoever it was calling her. He wished he
could tell her what was really going on but he didn't want to drag her into
it. At first he was going to use her as part of his revenge. He was going
to have the Cassadine name and power, the mother that Lucky Spencer stole
from him and Lucky Spencer's woman also. But now he was just tired of it
all. He just wanted to get the truth out there. Helena Cassadine had gotten
him involved in something that was proving to be too much. A wake up call
that included a death threat from Luke Spencer was the most obvious
example. These people were prepared to kill to keep him out; he didn't want
to pull Emily into that. Though the urge to confide in her was beginning to
overpower him. But would she understand? Would she run to the Spencers with
the news before he could talk to his mother?
Laura was walking through the park with Lulu. They were on their way to a
playdate in the park. Laura for once was alone. For the past couple of days
Luke and Lucky had been hovering over her. The first couple of times she
didn't mind. She loved spending time with her husband and Lucky was usually
busy with his own life that she didn't get to see him that often. But after
awhile it got irritating and then she got suspicious. Luke and Lucky were
obviously hiding something from her but every time she asked them outright
about it, they danced around the question. So today instead of informing
them of her plans she snuck Lulu out of the house. She figured one of them
would realize where she'd gone and find her in about a half-hour but until
then she was enjoying the freedom.
"Hey there's Emily!" Lulu cried happily. She started to run to her but
Laura grabbed her hand and held her back. "Mom?"
"Emily looks busy, honey." Laura said softly. Emily was with that strange
boy. Every where she looked she saw him. He seemed so familiar to her but
she couldn't figure out why and that bothered her. He wanted something from
her but whenever he approached her something happened to send him running
away.
"She's not, she's just on the phone. Who's that guy with her?" Lulu asked
innocently.
"Probably just a friend." Laura wondered how the two knew each other.
"I want to meet Emily's friend." Lulu said stubbornly.
"Another time." Laura stated firmly. She brushed a strand of hair away. "We
don't want to be late, now do we? Come on."
Laura led Lulu away, looking back once at Emily and the boy. He was
watching Emily intently as she talked. Laura narrowed her eyes, the next
time she saw Emily she was going to find out all she knew about him.
Emily finished up her call and went back to Nikolas. "I have to go. I have
an dress rehearsal to go."
Nikolas stood up. "Rehearsal?"
"This charity event I'm in tonight. The Nurses Ball, it's really big."
Emily informed him.
He nodded and slipped his hands into his pockets. "Should I say good luck
or…?"
"I think it's break a leg." Emily smiled.
He frowned. "That doesn't make sense however uh, break a leg."
Emily laughed, the soft sound making Nikolas's chest tighten up.
"It means good luck." She explained. She touched his arm lightly. "I don't
know you very well and almost every time we get together you practically
attack me—"
"Is this leading to somewhere good?" Nikolas said hopefully.
"I was going to say that if you want to talk about whatever's going on with
your mother," Emily shrugged, "I'm here."
Nikolas had a sudden urge to hug her but he kept himself in check. He
nodded tightly. "Of course."
Nikolas watched her walk away from him. He wanted to call her back, to have
her listen to him, to have her help him decide what to do, to have her just
stay with him. But he couldn't do that now. It would have to wait until
later when everything was out in the open.
~*~*~
"Jason!" Karen called out to where Jason stood at the nurses' station.
She had been trying to get a hold of him for hours but he'd been so busy.
Now that she found him, she couldn't wait to spill about how his fiancée
was a cheating skank. Why she would cheat on Jason Quartermaine with a man
like Sonny Corinthos was beyond Karen. She didn't care why and she didn't
want to understand. All she knew was that this was her chance. Jason was
too good of a man to stay with a woman who cheated on him. Karen couldn't
wait to free him. For herself of course.
Jason turned to her warily. He'd been avoiding her as much as possible. He
didn't know how she hunted him down. He nodded to her. "Dr. Wexler."
Karen grinned at him. "You know, you've been so weird lately."
Jason just stared at her. Karen nodded knowingly. "You've been thinking
about that time in the on call room. I know I have. If only Chris hadn't
interrupted us." Karen sighed.
Jason took her by the elbow and led her over to an isolated area where they
wouldn't be overheard. He hissed. "Karen, that was a mistake and we both
know it."
"The only mistake was," Karen leaned in and whispered, "we forgot to lock
the door. You wanted it Jason. I may have kissed you first but you kissed
me back and *flipped* me over. We both know what would have happened if we
weren't interrupted."
"I regret every minute of it." He said firmly.
Karen pressed her lips together and shook her head. "That's not it. Jason I
know you. You're loyal, you're upstanding, you would never do anything to
hurt someone you love and that's why you feel guilty. You think you
betrayed Carly but you didn't. She betrayed you first."
"What are you talking about?"
Karen laid her hand on his arm and said softly. "I wish I wasn't the one
telling you this but you don't deserve to be kept in the dark about this.
Jason…Carly is cheating on you."
Jason stared at her incredulously. It took him a moment before he shook his
head furiously and stepped away from her. He said, his voice as cold as
ice, "You're lying."
"I saw it with my own two eyes. Why would I lie?"
"Why wouldn't you?" He glared at her. "What am I supposed to do now Karen?
Go to Carly with your *false* allegations, get into a fight with her about
it, dump her and then what? Come running to you?"
"Jason, I'm not lying. I *saw* her." Karen said earnestly.
"Yes, *you* saw her or so you claim but where's the proof huh?" He
challenged her. "You have no proof and frankly don't believe you. Carly
would never do that to me, to us."
"Is that right?" Karen narrowed her eyes. "She wouldn't be in an alley
making out with a sleazy organized crime boss in the middle of the day?"
Jason laughed bitterly. "Can't you come up with a more viable lie than
that? Karen, we've been friends for a long time and I don't want to lose
your friendship so I suggest that you don't try to cause any trouble for me
and Carly again."
He turned and walked away leaving Karen behind. She muttered under her
breath. "You don't believe me huh? You need proof? I'll get you proof."
~*~*~
The last person Nikolas expected to see in his rented room was Stefan
Cassadine. He stood stiffly in the middle of the room as if he was afraid
that if he would relax for a second the filth and squalor would cover him
completely. His arms were folded against his chest and his eyes stared into
Nikolas.
He nodded slowly. "At least you are the appropriate age. However you look
nothing like my brother or Laura Spencer, I wonder how Helena was going to
explain away that one."
It took Nikolas a while to find his tongue. "You know I'm getting real
tired of you people just showing up in my room."
"I assume you mean Luke Spencer and I assume you know who I am. Helena
would have provided you with all the information." Stefan said, more to
himself than Nikolas.
"Look, I don't want this anymore. I want out." Nikolas said, hoping it
would get Stefan out of his place.
Stefan walked over to him. "Wise choice."
"This Cassadine Prince thing? I was looking for it, all I wanted was my
mother but then that Cassadine woman, she just threw the information in my
lap as a bonus. *I* didn't even know she was as a Cassadine until a few
days ago. I thought she was some woman who could help me find my birth
mother."
Stefan's eyes iced over. He said in a slightly confused tone, "You are
still persisting in this charade. The truth is out, there is no need."
Nikolas curled his hands into fists. They could keep their money and power
but they weren't going to keep his identity from him. "I *am* Nikolas
Cassadine."
"You are not. I was there when Nikolas Cassadine was buried. I watched as
Laura mourned her dead child. Nikolas Cassadine is dead." Stefan reached
into his pocket and pulled out a roll of bills. He tossed it on the bed.
"That should be enough to make you remember who you truly are."
He walked out of the room. Nikolas rushed across and grabbed the money. He
ran out in the hall behind him. "Hey!"
Stefan turned around. "Yes?"
Nikolas threw the money at him. "Take your damn money. I don't want it. I
am Nikolas Cassadine, I am the son of Stravos Cassadine and Laura Spencer
and no amount of money is going to make me say or believe otherwise."
embrace. He had a habit of holding her closely to him while he slept. The
first couple of times she didn't mind but lately the closeness was
beginning to bother her. She needed to escape. She pulled on Jason's
discarded shirt and padded barefoot over to the window. She hugged herself
and stared out at the Port Charles skyline. Jason's penthouse was on the
top floor of the Harborview Towers and she had an excellent view. But Carly
wasn't concentrating on the view.
She had a big problem and his name was Sonny Corinthos. She was getting too
attached. In her past affairs Carly always made sure the rules were laid
out from the beginning and she always kept herself emotionally detached.
When the affair had run its course and she was bored with it, she had no
trouble ruthlessly discarded the man du jour. But with Sonny things were
different. His being married shouldn't have affected her that much. She's
been with married men before. Those were the easiest relationship, neither
one was expecting more than what they had at the moment. However finding
out about Sonny and Lois actually hurt and that was just one of the things
bothering her.
Being attached to Sonny wasn't smart. She couldn't afford him as a
weakness. And he was getting too demanding lately. He wanted her when he
wanted her and he expected her to jump at his every request. Things were
getting out of hand. The phone call today was just another example.
She needed to put some space between the two of them. Slow things down
until they got back to the way they used to be. And then…Carly took a deep
breath…and then she would break things off. It wasn't that she would keep
the affair going after the wedding, which was a year away. Both she and
Sonny knew that the closer she got to the wedding the sooner they would be
ending things. But now it seemed that the smart thing to do was to end it
sooner than later.
Carly heard Jason stirring in his bed. She looked over her shoulder as he
pushed himself up and squinted in the darkness. "Carly?"
"Right here." She walked back over to the bed and sat down. She ran her
fingers through his short blond hair and trailed her fingers gently across
his face.
"Couldn't sleep?" He asked.
"I have so many things on my mind…" Carly shrugged then smiled at him.
"Tonight was nice."
Jason's surprise had turned out to be an intimate candlelit dinner for two
at his penthouse. Jason nodded. "It was exactly what we needed."
Carly tilted her head and studied him closely. "However…why did I get the
feeling you're trying to cover something up?"
"What?" He laughed nervously. God, did Chris tell her about him and Karen?
"What are you talking about?"
Carly shook her head. "I don't know, it just popped into my head. You would
never hide anything from me. Right?"
"Of course not." Jason said immediately.
Carly hesitated before nodding. "Uh-huh."
Jason quickly changed the subject. "Are you hungry? Because I'm a little
hungry. I'll go heat up something if you want?"
Carly stretched out beside him. "No, I'm not hungry." She rolled over on
her back and smiled at him. "Well, not for food anyway."
Jason reached out and pulled her to him. Carly eagerly went along.
~*~*~
A few days later, Carly crossed the docks at a furious pace. She gestured
widely with her free hand as she ranted into in her cell. All of her
attention was focused on her phone call. People strolling along the docks
quickly dodged out of her way when they realized she wasn't watching where
she was going. "I don't care what the numbers look like today. We have a
verbal agreement with witnesses. It will hold up in court. Don't try to
screw me over, you *won't* like the results. No, it's not a threat. It's a
fact."
Carly quickly disconnected the call then dialed her office. "Elizabeth, I
need you to pull the Johnson file and have it sitting on my desk when I get
there. I should be there in twenty minutes, no later. Make sure that Larry
and Jim are in my office also. Very important meeting, Johnson's trying to
weasel out. Did Jasper Jacks call? Good. Find out why my gown for tonight's
Nurses Ball wasn't sent to my penthouse as requested. What? Why is it at
the office? Who messed up? Forget it, Elizabeth. When I get back to the
office I'll figure it all out."
A pair of hands grabbed her back the shoulders and pulled her back. Carly
instantly jerked back her elbow hitting whoever was behind her squarely in
the stomach. She whirled around and was about to smash her cell phone into
the person's head when she realized that it was just Sonny. "Are you out of
your mind?"
Sonny let out a breath of air. "You were about to walk right into that
garbage can. Unless you wanted to smell like garbage?"
Carly looked around. He was right. She said softly. "Oh."
"Ms. Cassadine? Ms. Cassadine?" Elizabeth's voice squeaked out. "Are you
okay?"
Carly shook her head and said quickly. "I'm fine." She snapped closed her
cell and put it away in her purse. She nodded dismissively at Sonny. "It
was good seeing you again, Sonny."
She started to walk away but Sonny grabbed her arm. "What the hell is
that?"
"Excuse me?" Carly raised her eyebrow and stared down at his hand on her.
He waited a beat before removing it and sticking it into his pocket.
"Where have you been?" Sonny demanded. "I haven't seen you in days."
Carly cocked her eyebrow. "I had no idea I was supposed to report into you
everyday."
"You're avoiding me, Caroline. I don't see you or hear from you in over a
week and then when I do you run off. What type of game are you playing?"
"I'm not playing any *games* Sonny. I'm living my life. Get over yourself
Sonny. You aren't my top priority."
Sonny narrowed his eyes and took her by the arm. Carly tried to break away
but Sonny's grip was too strong. He dragged her a few feet away into a side
alley and pushed her up against the wall.
"Hey, that's Richard Tyler you're abusing!" Carly snapped as she jumped
away from the dirty wall. She twisted around to see if the back of her soft
green suit was dirty. She couldn't tell so she slipped off the jacket
revealing a white silk camisole top. "You are buying a new one if you
ruined this!"
"Caroline!" Sonny snapped even as his eyes were glued to the swell of her
breasts above the camisole.
"What!" She snapped back.
"No more games, no more lies." He said softly.
"I really have no idea what you're talking about." She lied knowing exactly
what he meant.
"Ever since the truth about my marriage came out, you've been acting
strange. You practically disappeared after our dinner that night. Tell me
the truth, were you lying when you said you were okay with me being
married?" His eyes bore into hers and Carly found she couldn't look away.
"Sonny, you're making a big deal out of nothing. I've been busy lately. I
have a *job* and a wedding to plan. I can't be at your beck and call every
time you want to screw me." Her voice gained a taunting edge. "Unlike you,
I am in a happy, healthy relationship. I *like* to spend time with my
significant other."
Sonny didn't even let that faze him. "If you did then you and I wouldn't
even be having this conversation."
Carly rolled her eyes and slipped her jacket on. "Please."
"Look, you want out? Fine, just tell me so. Don't play these games."
"You're awfully eager to hold onto the chance to bed another man's
fiancée." Carly arched her eyebrow.
"Leftovers don't bother me." He shrugged nonchalantly.
She pressed her lips together and angrily folded her arms. This wasn't
going the way she thought it would. She and Sonny needed some distance but
she couldn't seem to be able to push him away. Sonny stepped closer to her
and cupped her shoulders in his hands. He pulled her towards him.
"Caroline…" He said softly, his voice sending shivers down her spine.
She looked down on the ground. "Yes?"
"We can end this right now if you want. I don't beg anyone to stay in my
bed sweetheart, not even you."
Carly looked up at him. She could tell that he meant it. If she were smart
she'd end things right there. But she couldn't and he knew it. He had a
hold on her. Carly closed her eyes for a moment then made a show of
checking her watch.
"You know I really have to get back to the office. Today is *not* a good
day for this. I'm having a bad day and then there's the Nurses Ball tonight
and…"
Sonny cupped her face and forced her to look at him. "Hey, answer the
question already."
"And what answer would you like?" She said flippantly.
He narrowed his eyes and shook his head slightly. "Don't be cute. You know
what I want. Right now it's about what you want. Then again it's always
been that way hasn't it?"
"What I want and what I have to do is two completely different things." She
said softly.
"What are you going to do then?" He demanded.
"It's not fun doing the right thing all the time…" She trailed away.
He nodded. "No it's not."
Carly toyed with his collar and avoiding looking at him for a minute. "I
guess I'll continue doing the fun thing—"
"Until it's no fun anymore." Sonny finished for her.
"Of course, why would I even bother?" She said with a half smile.
Sonny backed her up against the wall ignoring her suit and her squeal of
surprise. He slipped his hands inside her jacket and pulled her hips to
his. He covered her mouth with a deep kiss that left her breathless. She
sagged weakly against him when he finally let up. She stared up at him.
He brushed his thumb across her swollen bottom lip. "Now ask that question
again."
It took Carly a moment to remember what he was talking about. When she did
she punched him in the arm. "I hate you."
He laughed softly. "Right. I should get going, I don't have time to hang
around in alleys all day with you."
Carly glared at him. "Yes, because I was the one who jumped you and dragged
you here."
He smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. Though he was leaving her,
he couldn't stop touching her. "I'll see you tonight?"
She shook her head. "I have the Nurses Ball to attend."
"I know that. I'll be there too."
Carly stared at him. "Say that again?"
"You think you're the only one who can throw money around in the name of a
good cause?"
"No, it's that I never would have expected you to go to the Nurses Ball."
"Why is that?" He demanded, his eyes suddenly hard. "Someone of my, what,
*class* doesn't belong with the rest of proper society?"
"Did I *say* that? I would think that the Nurses Ball wouldn't be something
you'd enjoy. I mean, who wants to see about of people dance around and sang
badly for two hours? I hate it. I don't understand why I can't just write a
check." Carly shrugged.
"It doesn't matter, I'm going anyway."
"Fine, go, don't let me stop you. You understand, though, that I will be
with Jason?" Carly was deliberately baiting him.
"And you understand that we don't need another replay of that night at
Luke's?" He said calmly.
"Are you trying to tell me what I can and cannot do with my fiancé?" Carly
arched her eyebrow.
"No, I'm just saying that you and I both know what happens when the other
gets pushed to the edge." He warned.
"Don't worry if I start anything with Jason, I'll call you to finish me
off." She smirked. She was satisfied to see a murderous light come to his
eyes. *That* was payback for the leftovers remark. She started to walk
away. "I should have been back at the office fifteen minutes ago."
"You can be a real bitch, you know that? It's a good thing it turns me on."
He said as he followed her. Carly's answering laughter echoed throughout
the alley.
It reached the ears of one person who neither Sonny nor Carly realized was
there. Karen smiled wickedly to herself as she emerged from the shadows.
Looked like taking this shortcut was a good idea after all, she thought.
~*~*~
No, no, no, not him again, Emily groaned in her head. She hadn't seen him
for days and then when she goes into the park she sees him. Just her luck.
She wondered briefly if she should turn around and go back the way she came
but it was already too late. He'd seen her. He nodded in her direction but
didn't get up from the park bench he sat on.
Emily frowned. That was strange. Her natural curiosity got the better of
her and she walked over to him. "Hey, are you okay?"
"No." He murmured. He couldn't get near his mother. Every time he tried
Luke or Lucky Spencer were hanging around her. His hatred for Lucky Spencer
was growing more and more.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Emily found herself asking. She told
herself over and over that she wouldn't deal with him again. It was bad
enough that she'd to Lucky about him once, she didn't want to do it again.
But just like the last time she was with him she found she couldn't just
walk away. She sat beside him.
"No." He said curtly. He couldn't tell her, not now. He had already decided
to not get her involved. He didn't care about revenge anymore. He didn't
care about this Cassadine thing. All he wanted was his mother.
Emily sat back. "Never mind then."
She started to get up but Nikolas's hand shot out. He grasped her hand in
his tightly and stared up at her. "Wait, don't go."
Emily sat back down and waited expectantly. Nikolas sighed and rubbed his
face. "I'm sorry, it just hasn't been a good couple of days or months for
that matter."
Emily nodded but said nothing. Nikolas continued. "I should apologize for
that night I was drunk. I shouldn't have did what I did."
"Do you even remember what you did?" Emily asked.
Nikolas gave a little smile. "Vaguely. I kissed you didn't I?"
Emily scowled. "Yes."
"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. Maybe it was those big brown
eyes of yours." Emily still scowled, not bowled over at his attempt at
charm. "Did I…did I say anything about my mother?"
Emily thought back. "Not much, you insisted I knew her but that's it."
He stared into her eyes. "I didn't say who she was right?"
Emily shook her head. "No, not at all."
Nikolas sighed in relief. Thank god. Emily looked at him curiously. "Is
there something going on with your mother?"
"It's private." He said simply.
Emily nodded. "That's okay, I just—" The ringing of her cell phone cut her
off. "I'll be right back." She pulled out her cell and moved away from the
bench.
Nikolas watched as she talked to whoever it was calling her. He wished he
could tell her what was really going on but he didn't want to drag her into
it. At first he was going to use her as part of his revenge. He was going
to have the Cassadine name and power, the mother that Lucky Spencer stole
from him and Lucky Spencer's woman also. But now he was just tired of it
all. He just wanted to get the truth out there. Helena Cassadine had gotten
him involved in something that was proving to be too much. A wake up call
that included a death threat from Luke Spencer was the most obvious
example. These people were prepared to kill to keep him out; he didn't want
to pull Emily into that. Though the urge to confide in her was beginning to
overpower him. But would she understand? Would she run to the Spencers with
the news before he could talk to his mother?
Laura was walking through the park with Lulu. They were on their way to a
playdate in the park. Laura for once was alone. For the past couple of days
Luke and Lucky had been hovering over her. The first couple of times she
didn't mind. She loved spending time with her husband and Lucky was usually
busy with his own life that she didn't get to see him that often. But after
awhile it got irritating and then she got suspicious. Luke and Lucky were
obviously hiding something from her but every time she asked them outright
about it, they danced around the question. So today instead of informing
them of her plans she snuck Lulu out of the house. She figured one of them
would realize where she'd gone and find her in about a half-hour but until
then she was enjoying the freedom.
"Hey there's Emily!" Lulu cried happily. She started to run to her but
Laura grabbed her hand and held her back. "Mom?"
"Emily looks busy, honey." Laura said softly. Emily was with that strange
boy. Every where she looked she saw him. He seemed so familiar to her but
she couldn't figure out why and that bothered her. He wanted something from
her but whenever he approached her something happened to send him running
away.
"She's not, she's just on the phone. Who's that guy with her?" Lulu asked
innocently.
"Probably just a friend." Laura wondered how the two knew each other.
"I want to meet Emily's friend." Lulu said stubbornly.
"Another time." Laura stated firmly. She brushed a strand of hair away. "We
don't want to be late, now do we? Come on."
Laura led Lulu away, looking back once at Emily and the boy. He was
watching Emily intently as she talked. Laura narrowed her eyes, the next
time she saw Emily she was going to find out all she knew about him.
Emily finished up her call and went back to Nikolas. "I have to go. I have
an dress rehearsal to go."
Nikolas stood up. "Rehearsal?"
"This charity event I'm in tonight. The Nurses Ball, it's really big."
Emily informed him.
He nodded and slipped his hands into his pockets. "Should I say good luck
or…?"
"I think it's break a leg." Emily smiled.
He frowned. "That doesn't make sense however uh, break a leg."
Emily laughed, the soft sound making Nikolas's chest tighten up.
"It means good luck." She explained. She touched his arm lightly. "I don't
know you very well and almost every time we get together you practically
attack me—"
"Is this leading to somewhere good?" Nikolas said hopefully.
"I was going to say that if you want to talk about whatever's going on with
your mother," Emily shrugged, "I'm here."
Nikolas had a sudden urge to hug her but he kept himself in check. He
nodded tightly. "Of course."
Nikolas watched her walk away from him. He wanted to call her back, to have
her listen to him, to have her help him decide what to do, to have her just
stay with him. But he couldn't do that now. It would have to wait until
later when everything was out in the open.
~*~*~
"Jason!" Karen called out to where Jason stood at the nurses' station.
She had been trying to get a hold of him for hours but he'd been so busy.
Now that she found him, she couldn't wait to spill about how his fiancée
was a cheating skank. Why she would cheat on Jason Quartermaine with a man
like Sonny Corinthos was beyond Karen. She didn't care why and she didn't
want to understand. All she knew was that this was her chance. Jason was
too good of a man to stay with a woman who cheated on him. Karen couldn't
wait to free him. For herself of course.
Jason turned to her warily. He'd been avoiding her as much as possible. He
didn't know how she hunted him down. He nodded to her. "Dr. Wexler."
Karen grinned at him. "You know, you've been so weird lately."
Jason just stared at her. Karen nodded knowingly. "You've been thinking
about that time in the on call room. I know I have. If only Chris hadn't
interrupted us." Karen sighed.
Jason took her by the elbow and led her over to an isolated area where they
wouldn't be overheard. He hissed. "Karen, that was a mistake and we both
know it."
"The only mistake was," Karen leaned in and whispered, "we forgot to lock
the door. You wanted it Jason. I may have kissed you first but you kissed
me back and *flipped* me over. We both know what would have happened if we
weren't interrupted."
"I regret every minute of it." He said firmly.
Karen pressed her lips together and shook her head. "That's not it. Jason I
know you. You're loyal, you're upstanding, you would never do anything to
hurt someone you love and that's why you feel guilty. You think you
betrayed Carly but you didn't. She betrayed you first."
"What are you talking about?"
Karen laid her hand on his arm and said softly. "I wish I wasn't the one
telling you this but you don't deserve to be kept in the dark about this.
Jason…Carly is cheating on you."
Jason stared at her incredulously. It took him a moment before he shook his
head furiously and stepped away from her. He said, his voice as cold as
ice, "You're lying."
"I saw it with my own two eyes. Why would I lie?"
"Why wouldn't you?" He glared at her. "What am I supposed to do now Karen?
Go to Carly with your *false* allegations, get into a fight with her about
it, dump her and then what? Come running to you?"
"Jason, I'm not lying. I *saw* her." Karen said earnestly.
"Yes, *you* saw her or so you claim but where's the proof huh?" He
challenged her. "You have no proof and frankly don't believe you. Carly
would never do that to me, to us."
"Is that right?" Karen narrowed her eyes. "She wouldn't be in an alley
making out with a sleazy organized crime boss in the middle of the day?"
Jason laughed bitterly. "Can't you come up with a more viable lie than
that? Karen, we've been friends for a long time and I don't want to lose
your friendship so I suggest that you don't try to cause any trouble for me
and Carly again."
He turned and walked away leaving Karen behind. She muttered under her
breath. "You don't believe me huh? You need proof? I'll get you proof."
~*~*~
The last person Nikolas expected to see in his rented room was Stefan
Cassadine. He stood stiffly in the middle of the room as if he was afraid
that if he would relax for a second the filth and squalor would cover him
completely. His arms were folded against his chest and his eyes stared into
Nikolas.
He nodded slowly. "At least you are the appropriate age. However you look
nothing like my brother or Laura Spencer, I wonder how Helena was going to
explain away that one."
It took Nikolas a while to find his tongue. "You know I'm getting real
tired of you people just showing up in my room."
"I assume you mean Luke Spencer and I assume you know who I am. Helena
would have provided you with all the information." Stefan said, more to
himself than Nikolas.
"Look, I don't want this anymore. I want out." Nikolas said, hoping it
would get Stefan out of his place.
Stefan walked over to him. "Wise choice."
"This Cassadine Prince thing? I was looking for it, all I wanted was my
mother but then that Cassadine woman, she just threw the information in my
lap as a bonus. *I* didn't even know she was as a Cassadine until a few
days ago. I thought she was some woman who could help me find my birth
mother."
Stefan's eyes iced over. He said in a slightly confused tone, "You are
still persisting in this charade. The truth is out, there is no need."
Nikolas curled his hands into fists. They could keep their money and power
but they weren't going to keep his identity from him. "I *am* Nikolas
Cassadine."
"You are not. I was there when Nikolas Cassadine was buried. I watched as
Laura mourned her dead child. Nikolas Cassadine is dead." Stefan reached
into his pocket and pulled out a roll of bills. He tossed it on the bed.
"That should be enough to make you remember who you truly are."
He walked out of the room. Nikolas rushed across and grabbed the money. He
ran out in the hall behind him. "Hey!"
Stefan turned around. "Yes?"
Nikolas threw the money at him. "Take your damn money. I don't want it. I
am Nikolas Cassadine, I am the son of Stravos Cassadine and Laura Spencer
and no amount of money is going to make me say or believe otherwise."