Disclaimer: The standard I claim abuse privileges and ownership of some of the ideas. I claim the interesting ones.
Distribution: Ask first, I'll probably say yes.
Babble: Remember this is POV. So in any given situation only one person's thought's will be "heard." Also I'm loosely following highlights/lowlights of the storyline at this time. I.E., Angel, Sorel, the brainwashing, Alexis' necklace, Gia and Nik being broken up, Stavros, 2 Luke's but there is a twist with each of them. So keep reading I'm going to factor in a LOT of characters. There's also a surprise in this chapter, let's see if you notice it.
Gratitude: Thanks so much for the replies, shadow, viki, they mean a lot. Anyone who may be reading drop me a line, love it or hate it let me know. The more replies, mean updates sooner. My isn't blackmail a lovely invention?
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Betrayal, Loyalty, and Love
Chapter 4
~Studio~
Did he ever think about Emily? Not if he could help it. It hurt too much to think of his friend, lying all alone in a hospital bed. Nikolas turned away from Elizabeth's accusing eyes. "Yes, I think about her."
"Look at me," Elizabeth demanded.
He sighed and did as she asked, and for once he let the guilt that he carried with him show in his eyes, and in his face.
"Nikolas I'm sorry," she touched his arm. "I shouldn't have accused you of not caring like that. I know you care about Emily."
"I do. But I can't let myself think about her," he covered her hand with his. "If I do I start to feel so bad, and so guilty that I can't function. So I block her out, I try to forget all the years that she's been the perfect friend to me. Instead I pretend she isn't that important. It's the only was I can get through the day."
"I know what you mean," she moved closer and hugged him. "But Nikolas we need to be honest with each other. I can't keep this façade up if I can't be honest with someone. I don't think you will be able to either. And we will never get past this if we don't talk to each other."
Pulling her closer he felt her words wash over him. She was right, they were in this together, they couldn't keep hiding things from each other. "Then let's talk," he let her go and moved back to the couch.
"Did you even go see her after she was hurt?"
Her words followed him and he was grateful that he had his back to her so she couldn't see him flinch. "No," he sat down wearily. "I tried to, I got as far as the corridor that led to her room, but I always left before I made it any farther. I couldn't look into her face, into those soft brown eyes of hers that were no doubt confused and in pain, and lie to her," he shifted to face her when Elizabeth sat beside him. "Because I was partially to blame for her being in the hospital."
"I did go," her words were quiet barely audible.
"You did? You didn't tell me."
"I didn't know how you would react," she shrugged. "I couldn't stay away after I found out."
"How was she?" He was dying for information on her. He couldn't ask Zander, the one time he had approached her parents they were cold to him. Even Bobbie wouldn't answer his questions.
"She was so still, so pale, she seemed to fade into the sheets. She was asleep when I went in, so I just sat by her bed and held her hand," her voice was full of emotion. "I told her I was sorry that if I could trade places with her, that I would. She woke up then and asked me why I was sorry."
"What did you tell her?"
"Nothing. Before I had a chance to say anything Zander came in I think he knows or suspects something because he was angry with me," she shuddered slightly. "He accused me of being there to check out my handiwork. When he said that he flipped the covers down to show her paralyzed legs."
"God," he just shook his head that had to have been so hard on her.
"It's funny all those times we warned her that being with him would get her hurt, and in the end we were the ones who hurt her."
He agreed with her statement, but the mere fact that Zander accused her, made him worry. "Do you think he knows what happened with Sorel?"
"I think he suspects something. But if he knew for sure he would have shown up here, or went after you or Lucky. You know how he gets."
"Yeah he's a hothead." Rubbing a hand over his chin he tilted his head to look at her when she sighed again. How long had it been since he allowed himself to really look at her? Weeks? Months? Over a year? For so long he had looked at her and seen only what he had wanted to see. He wanted her to be happy and in love with Lucky so that was all he allowed himself to see. He ignored the fact that her smile never seemed to reach her eyes. That she stopped talking about her dreams for the future. That she had been willing to model, something she hated, just so she didn't upset Lucky. That she had shut down, closed off her emotions so much that she couldn't even paint anymore.
But in the bright sunlight of this hot and sunny day he finally opened his eyes and looked at her. She had lost so much weight that her skin was tight over her bones. Her eyes were sunk far in her head, and he could see the dark circles under them. Her eyes which had once sparkled in laughter, or shone in love, were dull now, dull and guarded. She had sacrificed a lot to help Lucky, maybe too much.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
"I was just wondering if you're okay," he admitted.
She averted her eyes. "I'm fine."
"Elizabeth," he touched her chin to make her look at him. "You said it yourself we have to be honest with each other."
"You haven't wanted me to be honest for a long time now Nikolas."
"I want you to be now," he paused. He felt so alone now, without Gia, Stefan, Lucky, Emily, that he could only imagine that she must feel the same.
"Do you mean that?" her eyes searched his. "Because I really would like to have my friend back."
"I'm here, I've been here."
"That's not true Nikolas. Ever since Lucky came back home, you really haven't been my friend. When you looked at me all you seemed to see was an extension of Lucky. I wasn't your friend Elizabeth anymore, I was just Lucky's girlfriend," her mouth twisted into a bitter smile. "You weren't the only one who saw me like that. But you were one of the few that really hurt me when you did."
Nikolas felt the words hit home and knew that she was only speaking the truth. He hadn't meant to do that to her, but he had slotted her into the role of Lucky's girlfriend and he wouldn't let her be anything else. He wished he could explain to her that he had done that originally to protect her, and himself.
When Lucky first returned home, Nikolas had been in love with Elizabeth. He knew she didn't feel the same way, and that she never would feel that way about him. But that didn't matter to him he still loved her. You couldn't help whom you fell in love with. Lives would be so much easier if you could.
He had been in love with her, she hadn't been in love with him, but there was a status quo in their relationship. He could delude himself with the dream of one day being with her, and she was oblivious to that. It was fine with him, until the day Lucky came back. When Lucky returned he knew that he couldn't have those feelings about her anymore. That it was wrong to think of her like that because despite what Lucky said to the contrary he was still in love with her.
So he had to make himself stop feeling that way, stop looking at her and hoping for a future that would never come. The only way he could do that was to stop seeing her as Elizabeth. Instead he trained himself to see her as only Lucky's girlfriend. He had taught himself to do that so well that he had never stopped. Even after the love he'd had for her changed back into that of friendship, he still treated her as Lucky's girlfriend. Was it any wonder that she was looking at him with wary eyes? Why should she believe that he would listen to her and not tell her what to do or how to feel for once? After all he had spent over a year telling her things instead of listening to her.
He sighed and shook his head that had to stop. "I am sorry, for hurting you like I have. I have no excuse for my behavior, or none that would make sense. But I would really like for you to let me be your friend again. I want you to talk to me. I would want that even if we weren't stuck in this situation."
"What if you don't like what I say?"
"Then I won't," he smiled slightly. "Being friends doesn't mean we have to agree on everything."
She looked at him for a long time as if trying to see if she believed what he said. He met her gaze without flinching, hoping she would see the sincerity in his eyes.
Finally she started to speak, slowly at first but then the words sped up. "I'm tired Nikolas, I'm just really tired. I'm tired of watching everything I say and do, of trying to remember what lie I told what person. I'm tired of distancing myself and giving up people I care about, even love, because I'm not allowed to think or feel for anyone else besides Lucky," she sighed. "I know he needs help, that if the situations were reversed he would help me. But sometimes Nikolas it's just so hard."
"I know what you mean. I'm tired too. Every time I see Gia all I want to do is take her in my arms, hold her, and never let her go. And instead I hurt her, I push her away, I push Stefan away. All I seem to do his hurt people, and every time I think it can't get any worse, someone else comes along and I have to blindside them," an image of Alexis entered his head. "I hate that."
"What happened?"
"Last night I had to hurt Alexis. I had to say the words that broke her heart," he could still remember the shock and devastation he had seen in his aunt's eyes before the anger arrived. "Helena was so proud of me," he said mockingly. "She was happy that I hurt her. Pleased that I put the bastard child in her place, I saw her standing there, laughing at Alexis' pain and it was all I could do not to hit her."
"I am not a violent person," he looked down at his hands and realized that they were closed into fists, and he quickly opened his hands. "But the more time I spend with Helena, the more she tempts me into becoming violent. I'm so afraid that one day I'll give in and become the Cassadine that she so longs for me to be."
"Nikolas," Elizabeth tugged on his arm until he looked at her. "You can't let Helena win. If she turns you into that person, then she's done that. Don't let her do that. Do whatever you have to do to protect yourself from her."
"It's hard, the more I'm around her the angrier I get."
"Then leave."
"But Lucky…"
"To hell with Lucky," she yelled shocking them both.
"Elizabeth what are you saying?" he looked at her in shock.
"Nikolas remember our Lucky, the real Lucky. The one who used to call you the Cassa-creep and didn't want to be around you at all, until he got to know you. The one that kept hanging around you at times, even when he didn't know why, because he was drawn to you, because you were his brother. The one who let you sleep on his floor, when the stuff about Stefan and your mom came out, remember him. He wouldn't want you to lose yourself, not even to save him. In fact he would be angry at you for even considering becoming one of those Cassadines' just to help him."
"But I need to help him," he got to his feet and began to pace the room. "Don't you see one of the reasons that Helena messed with his head was because of me, because I had feelings for you and she wanted to help me get you?"
"Nikolas don't flatter yourself or me," she retorted getting to her feet. "Helena went after Lucky because he was a Spencer pure and simple. She was upping the ante in the sick game her and Luke have been playing for years. Did she throw in a little bonus for you? Yes. But don't forget how much she must have loved making Lucky deny his feelings for me, and making himself miserable in the process. Nikolas, even as much as she says she loves you, you are secondary to her vendetta with Luke."
"I know that but I can't help but feel guilty," and that was the main reason he couldn't let it go. He had wanted to stay here and get close to his family instead of returning to Europe after Helena had arrived. If he had left, Helena would have followed him and maybe, just maybe she would have left Lucky alone.
"Then you need to go and find Gia and tell the truth. I don't know what you see in her, but you can't help who you love. So if you love her, then find her and talk to her. If she is this great person you've always told me she was, she will support you and keep the secret. You have to trust her with the truth or you will lose her," tears were in her eyes. "Don't give up someone you love over this. Because believe me you will regret it. You will feel so empty and cold inside that all you can do is wonder why," she choked back a sob. "So find her and don't let her go."
Nikolas opened his arms to her. Elizabeth brushed at the tears on her face for a minute more then moved into his embrace. "Don't cry, you'll get him back."
"No I won't. I hurt him too badly this time. He's gone for good, and I don't blame him."
He frowned over her head, that didn't make sense, Lucky wasn't gone. He could hear the quiet despair in her voice, felt her hot tears soaking his shirt and his eye fell on a portrait on her easel. All of her art supplies and canvas' had been neatly packed up and rested in the corner, all but this one. He stared at it for a minute, before he placed it. He remembered a cold day on the docks, when he had seen her talking to Jason. She had been showing him a painting that she had made for him. This painting. At the time he had been angry and frustrated that she had been with him again, but now he only felt a bitter understanding. She wasn't talking about losing Lucky at all, she was talking about losing Jason.
"What if you don't like what I have to say?"
Her worried question came back to haunt him. You can't help whom you love. He sighed and shook his head. "He'll be back Elizabeth, Jason always comes back."
"Not this time," her words were muffled by his shirt. "I hurt him too bad this tim…" she trailed off and pulled back to look at him. "Jason?"
"That is who were talking about isn't it?"
Nodding slowly she bit her lip. "Is this the part that you get mad at me and yell at me for not meaning Lucky?"
"No," he shook his head. "This is the part when I become your friend again. And tell you how sorry I am for being such an ass and not seeing how much pain you have been in before today."
Her smile was watery, "I've missed you," she said before hugging her friend again.
~West Coast~
Jason let himself in his room after his run on the beach and looked at the clock. 7:30 he wanted to be at the hospital by 8:30 and have breakfast with Emily. Pulling the towel from around his neck he wiped at the sweat on his face, before heading for the shower. He paused by the table when the phone on it caught his eye. He still hadn't turned it on.
Letting out a breath he reached down and turned it on, if Sonny wanted to talk he would listen. He had only taken a step away from it when it rang. Burying his face in the towel he stifled a groan before turning around and picking it up. "Morgan."
"Jason I'm glad I finally caught you," Sonny's voice came over the line. "I've been trying to reach you since last night."
"I turned my phone off," it was the only explanation he offered. He didn't feel the same anger he had felt the last time he had spoken with Sonny but he still felt the disappointment.
"How is she?"
He could hear the concern in Sonny's voice and sighed heavily, he knew Sonny cared about Emily. "She had a breakthrough last night, so her spirit's have improved."
"That's great," Sonny's voice was full of relief. "I bet she's glad your there."
"What did you need Sonny?" Jason cut him off, he wasn't ready to discuss Emily with Sonny yet.
After a pause Sonny spoke again. "I'm sorry to do this to you but, something has come up here, and I need your help. I need you to come back to Port Charles."
Jason bowed his head, and pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers, he knew this was coming. Today was the day he would find out what sort of relationship Sonny and him really had. "Are you in physical danger? Or in legal trouble again?"
"No."
"Is Carly or Michael in danger?"
"No…their fine."
Jason heard the hesitation before Sonny completed his answer but let it go. He knew Sonny would tell him if they were in trouble. "Then I don't see a reason for me to come back right now."
Sonny was quiet then. It was strange being on the receiving end of silence. It made him feel uneasy, so much so, it compelled him to speak. "I don't want to leave Emily."
"I see," Sonny paused. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"What more do you expect from me Sonny?" Jason demanded anger breaking through making his voice rougher. "I have done everything that you've asked of me for years. I even followed the orders you gave me in the last few months. Even when I didn't agree with them, I followed them. I have been your perfect soldier," some of the bitterness he felt came out. "The one thing I asked of you in return was to protect the people I care about, and be there for them if they need help."
"And I let you down, I know that. There isn't a minute that goes by that I don't regret that."
"I know, I know your sorry, that's what makes this harder," unable to stand still he moved outside to feel the breeze. "You didn't mean to let me down, to let Emily down, but you did. And you did it more than once, you hate it when other people let you down, yet you do it yourself," he cleared his throat and evened his tone out. "When I got here she was surprised to see me, but she was also hurt. She thought I had abandoned her."
"What can I say to make this right?"
"I don't know," he didn't like being at odds with Sonny. It didn't feel right to him, for so many years Sonny had been his hero. Sonny had fallen from that pedestal after what happened with Carly, but that had been a good thing. It made Sonny seem more human to him.
"So where does that leave us?" Sonny asked.
"I don't know. I just need some more time. I have been so wrapped up in trying to help Emily that I can't think about anything else. She has to be my priority for a change, I have to help her."
"I understand that and if it matters at all, I agree."
He leaned against the rail, loyalty that was such a part of him had him asking, "This job, am I the only one who can do it for you?"
"No I can find someone else," he admitted. "I just thought of you first."
"Then get someone else, I'm not ready to go back to Port Charles, and I won't be for awhile," Jason told him heading back inside.
"There's something else," Sonny spoke quickly. "I had a visitor last night, Elizabeth came to see me."
That stopped him in his tracks. "Was she okay? Did Sorel make a move on her?"
"No she's fine. I'm keeping a close eye on her," Sonny hesitated. "She asked about you."
Jason closed his eyes two distinct needs raging a battle inside of him. One was a need to demand that Sonny tell him everything she said and did. The other was the need to tell Sonny to shut up, that he had no desire to hear about her. Which need was stronger?
"Jason do you want to hear about her?"
Sonny's question brought his attention back to the phone. He realized he must have been quiet too long. "No I really don't," he sighed heavily. "If she gets in trouble or needs something I want you to help her, but I don't need to hear about it." The need to protect himself from her had won out.
"Okay I'll be there for her."
Jason heard the disappointment in Sonny's voice but chose to ignore it then his loyalty kicked in again. "If something serious happens and you need me, I'll be there. That hasn't changed and it won't change, you're still my family."
"I'll remember that," the relief was evident in Sonny's voice. "Watch your back."
Jason slowly closed the phone, set it on the table and then forced himself to turn the chair he was gripping loose. That hadn't been pleasant but it had been necessary. He had learned something from talking with Sonny, he learned that eventually they would get past this. They just needed some more time before that happened. And for that he was relieved.
He continued on into the bathroom, he hadn't been prepared to hear about Elizabeth. Sighing he looked at his reflection in the mirror. A part of him already felt guilty for cutting Sonny off before he could tell him what she had wanted. She probably had a reason for going to Sonny, but he just didn't want to hear it. He knew Sonny would help her and watch out for her, especially since he still felt guilty over what happened to Emily. But he was surprised how strong the pull was to go back and see what she needed himself.
"Did you know her and Lucky got engaged?"
That was the reason he couldn't go back now, it was the reason it was time to let her go. She would always be his friend, and he would always owe her for saving his life, but he couldn't be her crutch anymore. It hurt too bad and he didn't want to go back to that. Decision made he stripped and got into the shower.
"You matter to me, were clear on that right?"
Elizabeth's words came back to him, and he groaned then stuck his head under the water, he needed to let her go.
~Studio~
"So what's the next step?" Elizabeth asked after a while.
"I guess we need to check on Luke." It pained him to say that. he didn't even want to think that Lucky may have hurt his own father. He wanted to believe in his brother, believe that no matter what Helena told him to do, that there were some lines that Lucky wouldn't cross no matter what. But he needed to be realistic, Elizabeth had said it earlier, they didn't know what Lucky was capable of.
"I can do that, I'll go by the club. That way if Helena is watching the place she won't see you," he opened his mouth to object and she hurried on. "Besides it makes more sense for me to do it, Luke is Lucky's dad after all."
"All right, I'll keep getting close to Helena," he said reluctantly.
She opened the door and waited for him to exit. "If Luke has been hurt, we have to tell people about Lucky. We can't let anyone else be hurt."
"I know, if Lucky did hurt his father, there's no telling who else he might hurt," the admission hurt him, but it was accurate.
She looked at him in surprise. "I'm glad you agree with me, I figured I would have to fight you on that."
"No more fighting, this is hard enough as it is."
"Are you going to go see Gia?"
"I don't know," he shrugged. "Keeping her out of the loop might be the best thing I could do for her. Helena is convinced that she doesn't mean anything to me anymore, but that could change. Gia would want to help, or see me, I don't want risk Helena finding out."
"Okay then promise me if it starts to get crazy, and you start feeling out of control, come to me," Elizabeth caught his hand. "Promise me."
"Are you trying to save the world?" Nikolas asked, sometimes her strength surprised him. She looked like a stiff wind would knock her over, but her determination still shone in her eyes.
"Only the people I care about, and you're one of those people. I'll come by later and tell you what I found out about Luke."
"How are you going to explain that?"
"You kicked Lucky out of your life not me," she locked the door. "If Lucky reports back to Helena about breaking up with me, she'll wonder why I didn't come to you."
"That's true, I should be there around," he stopped when he realized she wasn't beside him, turning around he found her frowning at the ceiling. "What's wrong?"
"The janitor finally changed the lights," she explained her eyes still on the lights.
"Isn't that what he is supposed to do?"
"Yeah, but they've been out for three months," she shook her head and flicked the hall light out. "No need to run it during the day. So what were you saying?"
"Be careful at Luke's if you're right and Lucky did do something to him, Helena might have people there to make sure no one gets curious," Nikolas caught her arm before she could start down the stairs. "And make sure I'm on the yacht before you come by, Helena doesn't like you, you shouldn't be alone with her."
"The feeling is mutual believe me."
He frowned at her flippant remark, "I'm serious Elizabeth."
"I know," she sobered. "I'm just really glad to have my friend back."
"Me too," he gave her another hug then hurried down the stairs. "Elizabeth," he paused at the bottom of the landing. "Don't give up on your dreams, not any of them," it was the best he could offer her. He saw her smile and knew it was good enough.
Francis waited until she started down the stairs before stepping out of the vacant room across the hall from the studio and trailing her.
~Warehouse~
Sonny stared at his phone for a long time after he said goodbye to Jason. He felt both unsettled and relieved after talking with Jason. He was actually relieved that Jason had let some of his anger he felt towards him out. Jason closed off when he was hurt, he didn't let Sonny see the anger that was there a lot of times. He was glad that Jason seemed willing to let it out this time.
The last time he had hurt Jason like this was over Carly. When that had happened other than a brief discussion in the boxcar the next day Jason had refused to talk to him about what happened. Instead he had recuperated from the gunshot wound and the betrayal alone. No, he corrected himself, not alone Elizabeth had been with him.
Jason had left town not long after that, but before he did he had told Sonny that he had forgiven him, and in fact considered him his surrogate father, but things were still awkward between them. He had been starting to believe things were getting back on track between them, when the mess with Sorel began.
Getting to his feet he moved to the window to stare at the docks. Looking back now, he knew he had been out of control in the last few months, especially with Jason. After he was shot he seemed to develop tunnel vision, he tried to get past the memory of what Sorel had done, but it followed him everywhere. The anger inside him built and built in him, finding out about Carlos had added to it, but what truly sent him over the edge had been Rick's betrayal.
He had trusted Rick to guard Carly and Michael, and it turned out he was working with Sorel against him. When that happened, somewhere deep inside of him, something had turned cold. He would smile at the right times, talk to people, he even got married again, but he was cold, on edge. He couldn't let Carly see it, he couldn't let the men see it, but he could let Jason. He could take out his fear on Jason, because Jason would never let anyone else know, and would just take it.
So he forgot the friendship at times, and instead almost every time they talked he turned it around so it was about his life and his needs and that had never been their relationship. From the beginning he hadn't seen Jason as just an employee, originally it was because of Robin, but Jason soon proved himself to be special without Robin. To his surprise they became friends, he'd recently lost Stone the brother of his heart, and Jason didn't fill that void left by Stone, but he had become another brother to him and more. Jason was his best friend, his partner, his brother, and his successor all in one. Stone was never going to go into the business, Stone didn't want too, and he would never have let him. But Jason seemed to have been born for this life, he quickly became the only successor he would ever want, they were Corinthos/Morgan and that was more of a partnership then anyone thought.
But in the last few months that had changed. He had begun to treat Jason as just another employee and Jason had let him do it. That wasn't good. So he was glad that Jason was still angry with him. That he had stood up to him and said no on the phone just now. It meant that Jason was trying to put their partnership back on more equal footing. Jason would always follow his lead when it came to the business, but now he was back to questioning things at times, and for that he was relieved. He also felt that though it would take time eventually they would get their friendship back on track as well.
Moving back to the desk he dropped heavily in his chair, his eye falling on the blue scarf there, he still had the question of Elizabeth to deal with though. He had wanted to tell Jason what she had said, but Jason had cut him off. It was true that he could have pushed, but he couldn't blame Jason for wanting to protect himself. She had admitted that she had hurt Jason very badly before he left, and that if he returned she would probably hurt him again. It seemed Jason had finally learned the art of self-protection, and how to use it when it came to people, who hurt him, he had learned it the hard way but it seemed he was finally using it.
Sonny put the scarf in a drawer, he would do what Jason had asked and keep a close eye on her. He wouldn't let her get hurt. If something happened that he didn't like he would call Jason again, but for now he would respect Jason's wishes and leave it alone. "Yeah," he called when someone knocked on the door.
"Ms. Davis is here," Johnny announced.
Sonny nodded.
Alexis walked into the room, her glasses were slipping down her nose, and she was digging in her briefcase for papers, but she was already talking. "I got your message about starting the divorce action. I already had the papers drawn up with the terms we previously discussed, concerning Carly's allowance and a trust for Michael. I also prepared a visitation request for Michael," she looked up at him then. "I realize you had originally said you didn't want visitation rights, but I strongly feel you should reconsider that. Michael has lived with you for close to two years now, if you vanish from his life you will only confuse and hurt the boy. I know it will be difficult with Carly, but I spent some time with her, while you were missing, and I believe she would have no problem letting you see Michael. So will you let me file them both?"
Sonny leaned back against his chair and grinned up at her. "How did you say that all in one breath?"
She glared at him. "Quit trying to change the subject. Do you want me to file the visitation papers or not?"
Sonny rubbed a hand over his chin and thought about it. He knew that if he continued to keep Michael in his life, Carly would use every opportunity she could to try to get him to change his mind and take her back. She would even use Michael if she had to, she had done that with Jason in the past so she wasn't above it. He wanted to avoid that, so he had decided to let Michael go. But he couldn't help but remember how he had felt when Mike had disappeared from his life. He couldn't do that to Michael, he loved that little boy too much. "File both sets of papers."
"Good," she smiled briefly and held out some papers. "I just need you to sign these."
Sonny took them and then opened his desk drawer to get a pen, the first thing he saw was his wedding ring glinting in the light. He frowned down at that ring for a long moment, before removing a pen and closing the drawer.
Alexis put her hand over the papers before he could sign them. "Are you sure about this?"
He looked up at her. "Yes. I've spent weeks thinking about this, there's no going back, and there's no way I can move forward with Carly," he pulled the papers out from under her hand. "It's over."
"You realize of course that she doesn't agree, and will no doubt fight the divorce action."
"I know," he looked down at the line reading Petitioner and quickly signed his name. "But you can get the ball rolling."
"I'll file and serve Carly today," Alexis took the papers and put them in her briefcase then stood there, fiddling with the clasp on the case.
"Did you need something else?"
"Are you still willing to get my necklace back?" She asked quietly.
"I said I would get it back for you before the auction next week and I meant that."
Sighing she sat down on the chair across from him. "I'm glad to hear that, I was afraid you might have changed your mind."
"No," he pressed the tips of his fingers together and studied Alexis who was avoiding his eyes. "Can you handle the implications of asking someone to break the law?"
She snorted. "Sonny my ethics are strange and fickle things. I once plotted a murder, did you know that?"
"No," he shook his head but didn't show the surprise he felt.
"It's true," she nodded her head and smiled slightly. "Everything that could go wrong did, a different person, then the intended victim was the one who almost ended up dead, but I planned it, I executed it, and I had no problems being a lawyer after that," she hesitated. "But…"
He leaned over the desk, resting his arms on it, so he could hear her. "But?" he prompted.
"I am having ethical problems with what happened last night."
"I thought you didn't want to talk about that. In fact you told me you never wanted us to mention that again," he shifted in his seat. He wasn't ready to talk about last night, so he had been relieved at her demand that they didn't discuss it.
"I know what I said," she got to her feet and pulled her glasses off her face. "But that was at 6:00 this morning. That was hours ago I've had plenty of time to think about what happened," she sighed heavily. "I know it's stupid. Here I have no problem plotting a murder, asking you to steal something for me, or defending you against charges when I know some of them are based in fact. But I'm having a real hard time with the fact that I slept with you. I don't sleep with my clients, that was one rule I made in law school and I kept it until last night."
"But I'm also your friend," he explained.
"I know that makes it worse," she dropped wearily back in the chair. "I know neither one of us meant for it to happen, but it did and it was wrong," she hesitated. "Maybe you should get another attorney."
"Alexis, we both had a bad night, last night we were two friends comforting each other, being there for each other, and we just went a little farther then we planned. But that doesn't mean that anything has to change between us," he argued. He didn't want any more changes in his life right now. Last night had been unexpected but he wasn't willing to pay the prices she seemed to need to pay in order to get past it. "Did what happened last night effect your ability to draw up these papers?"
"No."
"Do you have this uncontrollable urge to ravish me every time you see me now?" he asked with a grin.
"Don't flatter yourself Corinthos," she snapped back, her eyes firing in anger.
"Then I don't see the problem, we already agreed that it would never happen again. We agreed to go back to the way it was before we slept together. Why don't we see if that works before you decide to quit on me?" He knew she would hate that last line and that's what he wanted. He wanted her angry, in this situation if she thought things through logically he could be in trouble, but when she got angry, and it was personal, she tended to leap sometimes before looking.
"I wasn't just going to quit," she retorted hotly. "I was just saying I was having problems with what happened between us."
"So are you my attorney or not?"
She leveled a glare at him then got to her feet and headed for the door. "I have to go file some papers."
Sonny hid the grin as the door slammed. He was hoping what had happened between them wouldn't ruin their friendship. Judging from what just happened, it didn't look like it, and for that he was glad.
~Luke's~
"Luke are you here?" Elizabeth let herself inside the dark club, using the key Lucky had once given her. She looked around the dim club, it always looked so different to her when it was closed. The life this place always seemed to have, seemed to be missing in the bright light of the day. Luke's was a place for the night, and it suited Luke perfectly. She moved down the hallway towards his office, hoping that she would find him passed out at his desk.
She didn't see a light below the door, and sighed before pushing the door open slightly, "Luke?" She stepped in the doorway, but the office was dim and empty. She shook her head and turned to head for the stairs that led to the second floor and the two apartments that were up there. She was so busy bracing herself to talk to Lucky in case he was still here that she didn't hear the office door open and close behind her, and someone move into the hallway and begin to follow her up the stairs.
