** Author's hugs:
Jerilee – You never disappoint when you review… it makes me want to write all day long just so that I can post and have you review!! And it is a writer's dream to hear a person say they can't stay away, so THANK YOU! As for the no CarLo and the Jason/Courtney stuff, that was completely unexpected for me too. It just came out… and when I was ready to post, I said "Whoa, no CarLo… what do I do?" So I read through it again, and really liked it, so I put it up. I'm glad you liked it! Let me know what you think of the next part… :) P.S. I finally got to your CarLo site… it looks great!!!
Lizmtla - Well, aren't you just a sweetheart?!?! I'm a J&Cer for life as well… with a little hope held out for CarLo (I can't help it). As for Courtney – I liked her for a while, but then was sorely disappointed in the pairing with Jason. I don't like them together. I'd rather see Jason alone than with her (or Elizabeth, or Robin…). But as for the story, I haven't decided where I'm going to leave them. Together? Apart? I'm not sure. And Sonny… well, I like him. So, I'm not sure if he's going to stay gone. He's just not going to be with Carly. But you are sooo right – he's messed with Carly one too many times. It's time for him to pay up. I love the Spencer angle, too. I love Luke's character and I think he and Carly should interact more on the show. They have such great personalities that it would make for great TV – and Bobbie in the mix would make it even greater!! Helena has been guessed a few times… and you'll just have to wait and read. It might be, it might not be, you may be closer than you think… or not. I ain't gonna spill the beans… :P And thanks for your review on What I Couldn't Say Then… Trust me, updates on that as soon as my brain lets go of this one. I can only multitask so much!
Luvcarlo – Thank you for your review! And you're right… it is building. So much so that it's almost driving me crazy! All the action takes place in my head and I just want to be able to write it down as quickly as possible… and now that it's getting close to the end, my fingers won't type fast enough. So, I guess you can say the suspense of it all is killing me too!
Rach6 – Good to see you hanging on… :P You'll see if your guess is right later… we're almost there. Hopefully it'll be an exciting end!
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Carly's eyes opened slightly as the morning light seeped into the bedroom. A frown marred her features when she realized that she was sleeping on her back and was very uncomfortable. She was normally a side and stomach sleeper. When she tried to bring an arm up to rub the sleep from her eyes, she knew immediately why she was uncomfortable. With a groan, Carly tried to sit up. Every single muscle in her body protested the movement. When she looked to her side, she saw Lorenzo lounging in the chair next to the balcony doors. Her movements caused him to stir. She chuckled as she watched him acquaint himself to his surroundings.
"What are you doing way over there?" she asked as she used her free arm to put a pillow behind her. He blinked a few more times as he ran a hand over his face.
"Well, Sleeping Beauty… as of four o'clock this morning, you kept kicking me. To the point of bruising, in fact," he said as he got up, stretched and then made his way to where Carly sat. Carly chuckled.
"I'm sorry… I'm uncomfortable, and I have no control over myself while I'm sleeping. Pair that with being stuck in one position and you have the makings of disaster," she said as he leaned down for a quick good morning kiss. He laughed as he pulled back.
"Well, I'll keep that in mind," he said. He was about to lean in for another quick kiss when he was interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone. Carly flopped back with a groan.
"Don't they know it's morning?" she said as she pulled a pillow over her face. Lorenzo reached over to pick up his phone.
"Well, Carly… the sun is up. Most normal people are up with it," he said with a laugh. Carly pulled the pillow of her face long enough to mock glare at him.
"Come on! Do you actually consider me normal?" she asked, muffled by the pillow as she replaced it over her head.
"Normal? Certainly not," he told her before he put the phone up to his ear. "Yeah?" The information he received made him stand up from the bed, and Carly watch him cautiously from over the top of the pillow.
"What happened? Do they have him?" he asked, causing Carly to sit up straighter. Her eyes locked on to the pacing man.
"Spencer's there? Okay, give me a few minutes and I'll meet him there," Lorenzo said before hanging up the phone. Carly watched silently as he rushed into the bathroom. She waited patiently as he took his shower. But when he started to rush around the room getting dressed, her curiosity got the better of her.
"So? What's going on?" she asked as she gingerly removed herself from the bed. Lorenzo grabbed a suit coat from the closet before he looked at her. He was silent for a moment as he put the article of clothing on.
"Someone got into your mother's last night. They were there to get rid of you," he said as he straightened the cuffs of his shirt. Carly's heart constricted in a moment of panic.
"Momma? Lucas?" she asked quietly. Lorenzo shook his head.
"No one was hurt. Luke was there, waiting for him. He took care of it," he said as he started out the room. Red flashed before Carly's eyes just briefly.
"You were just going to rush out of here without telling me that, weren't you?" she asked, anger hinted in her voice as she followed him. Lorenzo stopped at turned to her, causing her to almost run into him. He grasped her shoulders lightly and forced her to look up at him.
"Carly, no. I'm trying to think things through right now. It doesn't mean I wasn't going to tell you. I need to figure out who's behind this, why they're doing it and then stop them. I'm going to keep you safe, even if it kills me, okay? I don't need you jumping all over this like I'm trying to keep something from you," he said. Carly's eyes softened as her good arm came up and she placed her hand on his cheek.
"I know," she sighed. "I just… I'm so used to being completely in the dark. And I'm worried. When I'm worried, I get angry and I do stupid things. If you haven't figured that out by now, you will." Lorenzo's hand came up to brush a stray hair behind her ear.
"Carly, I know. I know how you work. And hopefully, you'll realize that I would never intentionally keep something important from you regardless of what it concerns. I'm not like Sonny," he said. Carly smiled reassuringly as his voice hardened at the end.
"I know you're not. I would never make the mistake of thinking you were," she said. Lorenzo returned her smile as he stepped back.
"Good. Now, you should go rest. Your son isn't up yet and I can already predict that he's going to want all of your time today. And I need to get to the police station. Luke is waiting for me," he said. Carly nodded, but grabbed his hand before he turned.
"You'll tell me what happens?" she asked, her brown eyes concerned. He smiled.
"Of course. I'll tell you when I get back," he said before he leaned down at kissed her on the cheek. She squeezed his hand once before she let him go and watched him walk down the hallway. With a smile on her face and much to the surprise of anyone that ever knew her – if they'd been there – she did as she was told and went to go rest.
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"Well, it took you long enough," Luke griped as Lorenzo walked up the stairs to the police station.
"I was taking care of your niece, Spencer," he said, causing the other man to wince slightly.
"So, that's what they're calling it these days, huh?" he asked with a wink. Lorenzo rolled his eyes.
"How old are you Spencer?" he asked as he reached out to pull open the door to the building. Luke frowned.
"That's not a polite question," he answered. Lorenzo smirked as he held the door open for the other man.
"If you're old enough to answer that question like that, then you're old enough to keep your mind out of the gutter," he said, following the still frowning man into the station. After a second, Luke looked over his shoulder at Lorenzo with a smirk of his own.
"Never too old for a gutter mind, kiddo," he said. "It keeps me young and spry." Lorenzo chuckled as they emerged into the room to see Jason Morgan leaning over a desk and firmly speaking to a seated, agitated-looking Scott Baldwin. Lorenzo turned to Luke, a questioning eyebrow lifted. Luke shrugged.
"Morgan's been at it for about a full fifteen minutes now. Poor Scotty can't seem to get a word in," Luke said as they approached the scene. For a second, Luke watched the mob's number two man thoughtfully. "I'm thinking it's years and years of suppressed anger finally blowing its way out of the kid. It's been due to happen…" The two men got close enough to finally make out some of what Jason was yelling. Most of the rant containing negative comments and name-calling caused Lorenzo to nod in agreement even though all of it had been said at one time or another to the PCPD by various citizens. But it probably sounded new coming from the usually silent Jason Morgan. And Lorenzo had to applaud that.
"… almost got Carly killed time and time again you in competent pieces of…" Luke rushed forward and placed a hand on Jason's shoulder.
"It's good that we can finally add you to the consensus of what the rest of the city thinks of these oh-so-able-bodied-and-proficient guardians of the peace, Morgan… but let our other resident mobster have a go, shall we?" the white-haired man said. Scott looked up to see Lorenzo watching the scene with a twinkle in his eye.
"Well… it looks like the gang is all here… or mostly here. Sonny skipped town, Alcazar… why didn't you?" the district attorney asked snidely. Lorenzo just smiled.
"There was an attempt on Carly Spencer's life last night. I am simply here to see what assistance I can offer," he said. Scott's eyes narrowed.
"Boy oh boy. Everyone just seems so cooperative today – even with the minor lapse in Morgan's traditionally stony demeanor. And usually, the more cooperative people are, the more they are involved…" he said, watching the three men in front of him carefully. Jason frowned and stepped forward menacingly, only to be stopped by Luke grabbing his arm and Lorenzo stepping in front of him.
"I am here to help, Mr. Baldwin. I would like to see the man that was brought in. I may be able to identify him," Lorenzo said as diplomatically as possible knowing that Jason was behind him ready to start ripping off arms. Scott took a moment to study the man in front of him, and when he was satisfied, he nodded to a deputy to go bring the prisoner to a questioning room. The four men held a tense silence as they waited in the hustle and bustle of a busy department. All of a sudden, the deputy came running back, startling everyone.
"Um, I think we may… have… um… a problem," the out-of-breath man said. Scott rolled his eyes as he turned to look at him.
"What problem could there possibly be?" he asked impatiently. Jason, Luke and Lorenzo all looked to the stammering deputy.
"Well…" he started, an uncomfortable look crossing his face. "The prisoner's dead."
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Carly walked slowly next to her son as she pushed the stroller carefully next to the docks. The day had turned out to be beautifully warm and Michael had become restless. Knowing that her son needed to expel some of his inexhaustible energy outdoors, she decided that it would be a good time to take a relaxing walk with her daughter and let Michael loose.
"Mommy! Look at the boats!" Michael cried, leaning over the guardrail and pointing. Carly smiled affectionately at her son.
"I see them, Michael. And be careful standing up there. We don't want you falling," she said as she attempted to catch up to him. Confident that Michael would stay put for a second, in thrall of the boats coming and going in the harbor, she turned to look out at the water herself, catching a slight breath. Taking care of an infant and running after a child all while still recovering took a lot out of a person – but she wouldn't give it up for a second. With a smile, she bent down to make sure her beautiful daughter was properly shielded from the slight autumn breeze.
"Well, well, well… if it isn't one big happy family…" a voice said. Carly's head snapped up to see Faith Roscoe standing a few feet from her son. Michael's head turned to the blond woman and he smiled.
"Who is she, Mommy?" he asked innocently as Faith stepped closer, causing Carly to panic. She watched in horror as the blond woman knelt down next to the boy and ran a finger over his rosy cheek.
"Why, are you a cutie! You can call me Aunt Faith," the moll said in a sugary sweet, but obviously fake, voice. The little boy next to her didn't know any different as he looked back to Carly with a smile. When he noticed Carly's look and the fact that Johnny had stepped closer to his mother, Michael's smile faltered and he took a step away from Faith.
"Mommy?" he asked and reached for Carly's outstretched, beckoning hand.
"Come here, sweetie," she said, pulling him to her as his hand grasped hers. Carly's eyes never left Faith's as she handed her son over to the bodyguard at her side.
"What are you doing here, Faith?" Carly asked. The woman just smiled.
"It's so good to see you alive, Mrs. Corinthos," she said, stepping closer. Carly's hand jerked on the handle of the stroller and finally pulled it behind her.
"I'm not going to ask you again, Faith," Carly warned. Faith tsk-tsked with a shake of her head.
"Now, now Mrs. Corinthos. I don't think you are in the frame of mind… or body, for that matter… to be making any threats," Faith replied, a smile cracking slightly over her face. Carly eyed the woman carefully, knowing there was more here than met the eye.
"What do have to do with all of this?" she asked warily. Faith shrugged.
"What do I have to do with what?" she asked. Carly's eyes narrowed.
"Don't play stupid, Faith. What do you have to do with someone trying to kill me?" Carly asked.
"I may know what's going on," she admitted. "Let's just say that you being dead is more of a business benefit for me. There are other people who have a higher interest than I do. I mean, you are supposed to be dead…"
"Who's doing this?" Carly interrupted. This time Faith broke out into a full smile.
"Now, if I told you that, it would ruin all of the fun," she said. "But I will tell you this. I am not behind it. Nor am I involved directly. I washed my hands of it. That's all I can tell you." The blond threw a look to her own bodyguard and left Carly standing with Johnny and her children. Carly thought over the other woman's words for a second before turning to Johnny with a short snort.
"Typical Faith Roscoe, Johnny. Trying to save her own butt," she said as she nodded for them to head home.
"Who was that lady, Mommy?" her attentive son asked from the safety of Johnny's arms.
"No one, Mr. Man. No one important," Carly said, instinctively knowing that her words were correct.
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"It's been taken care of," a voice said into the phone.
"Good. You've seen to it that there are no connections?" the man said.
"Yes," was the answer.
"And Corinthos?"
"Most assuredly out of the country, sir," the voice guaranteed.
"Good. We still have to worry about Alcazar, Morgan and Spencer," the man said, starting to pace.
"Alcazar is concerned about keeping Carly safe – it's his first priority . He won't be a problem. Morgan and Spencer haven't even gotten close in their inquiries around."
"And what about Germaine?"
"I have it on good authority that she's planning on flying in sometime early next week," the voice answered.
"Good. Set it up then. And arrange a meeting with Ms. Germaine – and make sure she knows it's in her best interest," he said before he hung up and poured himself a drink. "It will be only a matter of time before everything will be squared up."
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**A/N – Okay, so I'm scrambling as best as I can to pull this all together. Hopefully, the next part will be the last part before the epilogue… so, technically, there should be two planned parts left (we all know this is subject to change should my muse actually start to work for me & not against me). This is your last chance for the "wish list". Let me know if there is anything you absolutely need to see and I will try to incorporate it into my story line as best I can. No other chances after this to possibly see your idea come to fruition in this story! Last call, last call. Anyways, let me know what you think of this part… if ya'll hate it, then I'm going to have to do a lot of rewriting (please don't hate it, *clasps hands in desperate prayer*)!