Ric stepped into the dead silent room and took several steps toward Jason.
Jason turned and handed Adella to Carly and then put himself physically
between Ric and the baby.
"You can't keep me from my child," Ric said.
Jason remained silent and Sonny, Lucky, and Nikolas all rose to their feet.
"Her mother is incapable of taking care of her," Ric said. "I am taking my daughter home with me."
"Please try," Jason's voice was deadly quiet.
Justus had slowly made his way to the front of the room. He stopped next to Jason as Ric stared at the Enforcer's eyes. Ric had seen Jason's eyes turn to ice before but the fire he saw in them at that moment was new to him.
"As Adella's father, I have the legal right to take her while Elizabeth is incapacitated," Ric said addressing Justus.
"As Elizabeth's attorney, I'm afraid that simply is not true," Justus said.
"What?" Ric asked in disbelief.
"Knowing that her life was in danger, Elizabeth made arrangements for this possibility," Justus said. "In the event of Elizabeth's death or inability to care for her child, full and permanent custody is to be given to Jason Morgan. If Jason is unable or unwilling to take on this responsibility, custody falls to Michael and Carly Corinthos. In the event that the three aforementioned people are all unable to care for Adella, custody goes to the following people in the following order: Emily Quartermaine and Nikolas Cassadine, Alexis Davis, Lucky Spencer, Bobbie Spencer, and Monica and Alan Quartermaine."
"But I am Adella's father," Ric sputtered.
"That's irrelevant," Justus said. "Elizabeth is Adella's only legal guardian and she has sole discretion as to who raises her daughter. Seven layers of back-up guardians say pretty clearly that she didn't want you raising the child."
"You did this," Ric said glaring at Jason. "You poisoned Elizabeth against me."
"Jason didn't need to do anything," Emily said quietly. "You drove Elizabeth away all by yourself with your insanity and your hatred of my brother."
Even Ric knew better than to verbally attack Emily while Jason was so close to the edge. Instead he turned back to Justus.
"This isn't over," Ric said before storming out.
A few silent moments passed before Monica turned to Jason and asked, "Are you alright?"
Instead of answering her question, Jason turned to Justus and posed one of his own.
"Will that custody thing stand up in court?" Jason asked.
"The odds are in our favor but only if Carly and Michael will testify," Justus said. "But that opens both of them up to being cross-examined by Ric. I think you know where that could lead."
Jason nodded in understanding. A few minutes passed while Jason processed the information.
"Can you keep him from asking about my job?" Jason asked.
"No, he'll say it's evidence of your unfitness to be a parent. The same goes for Sonny and Carly," Justus said.
Jason considered this for a few moments before starting to pace again. The rest of the people in the room quietly discussed Elizabeth's legal arrangements. She hadn't confided those plans with anyone but Justus hoping it would never become an issue.
Two hours later an exhausted Bobbie entered the private waiting room. A ghost of a smile played across her lips as she surveyed the room. Who would have ever guessed when Elizabeth came to town that she would end up bringing together such an eclectic group of Port Charles residents.
Emily slept lightly, her head cradled in Nikolas' lap and her feet resting on Lucky's. Audrey clenched Lucky's hand in one of hers and spoke quietly with Luke and Skye. Monica sat next to Justus, both of them watching Jason closely. Sonny and Carly were seated in front of them, trying to entertain Adella with soft singing and cooing.
Slowly everyone realized Bobbie was standing in the doorway. They all focused their attention on her and the air became thick with emotion.
"The surgery is over," Bobbie said. "It was successful in repairing her injured internal organs and stopping the internal bleeding. However, Elizabeth is still unconscious and until she wakes up, the situation is critical. We are transferring her to a private room in ICU but I need someone to sign the paperwork."
"Jason has her medical power of attorney," Justus said. "Emily and Lucky are the alternates."
"I can sign it," Lucky said. "Em, you should go ahead in and talk to her."
"What are you going to do, Jase?" Emily asked.
"I'm going to sit with Elizabeth," Jason said. "And as soon as she wakes up, we're getting married."
"You can't keep me from my child," Ric said.
Jason remained silent and Sonny, Lucky, and Nikolas all rose to their feet.
"Her mother is incapable of taking care of her," Ric said. "I am taking my daughter home with me."
"Please try," Jason's voice was deadly quiet.
Justus had slowly made his way to the front of the room. He stopped next to Jason as Ric stared at the Enforcer's eyes. Ric had seen Jason's eyes turn to ice before but the fire he saw in them at that moment was new to him.
"As Adella's father, I have the legal right to take her while Elizabeth is incapacitated," Ric said addressing Justus.
"As Elizabeth's attorney, I'm afraid that simply is not true," Justus said.
"What?" Ric asked in disbelief.
"Knowing that her life was in danger, Elizabeth made arrangements for this possibility," Justus said. "In the event of Elizabeth's death or inability to care for her child, full and permanent custody is to be given to Jason Morgan. If Jason is unable or unwilling to take on this responsibility, custody falls to Michael and Carly Corinthos. In the event that the three aforementioned people are all unable to care for Adella, custody goes to the following people in the following order: Emily Quartermaine and Nikolas Cassadine, Alexis Davis, Lucky Spencer, Bobbie Spencer, and Monica and Alan Quartermaine."
"But I am Adella's father," Ric sputtered.
"That's irrelevant," Justus said. "Elizabeth is Adella's only legal guardian and she has sole discretion as to who raises her daughter. Seven layers of back-up guardians say pretty clearly that she didn't want you raising the child."
"You did this," Ric said glaring at Jason. "You poisoned Elizabeth against me."
"Jason didn't need to do anything," Emily said quietly. "You drove Elizabeth away all by yourself with your insanity and your hatred of my brother."
Even Ric knew better than to verbally attack Emily while Jason was so close to the edge. Instead he turned back to Justus.
"This isn't over," Ric said before storming out.
A few silent moments passed before Monica turned to Jason and asked, "Are you alright?"
Instead of answering her question, Jason turned to Justus and posed one of his own.
"Will that custody thing stand up in court?" Jason asked.
"The odds are in our favor but only if Carly and Michael will testify," Justus said. "But that opens both of them up to being cross-examined by Ric. I think you know where that could lead."
Jason nodded in understanding. A few minutes passed while Jason processed the information.
"Can you keep him from asking about my job?" Jason asked.
"No, he'll say it's evidence of your unfitness to be a parent. The same goes for Sonny and Carly," Justus said.
Jason considered this for a few moments before starting to pace again. The rest of the people in the room quietly discussed Elizabeth's legal arrangements. She hadn't confided those plans with anyone but Justus hoping it would never become an issue.
Two hours later an exhausted Bobbie entered the private waiting room. A ghost of a smile played across her lips as she surveyed the room. Who would have ever guessed when Elizabeth came to town that she would end up bringing together such an eclectic group of Port Charles residents.
Emily slept lightly, her head cradled in Nikolas' lap and her feet resting on Lucky's. Audrey clenched Lucky's hand in one of hers and spoke quietly with Luke and Skye. Monica sat next to Justus, both of them watching Jason closely. Sonny and Carly were seated in front of them, trying to entertain Adella with soft singing and cooing.
Slowly everyone realized Bobbie was standing in the doorway. They all focused their attention on her and the air became thick with emotion.
"The surgery is over," Bobbie said. "It was successful in repairing her injured internal organs and stopping the internal bleeding. However, Elizabeth is still unconscious and until she wakes up, the situation is critical. We are transferring her to a private room in ICU but I need someone to sign the paperwork."
"Jason has her medical power of attorney," Justus said. "Emily and Lucky are the alternates."
"I can sign it," Lucky said. "Em, you should go ahead in and talk to her."
"What are you going to do, Jase?" Emily asked.
"I'm going to sit with Elizabeth," Jason said. "And as soon as she wakes up, we're getting married."