There isn't much to do in a hospital. Maybe that's why I started
reflecting on the past. I still vaguely remember the first time that I met
Luis Alcazar. Of course he wasn't using that name then. What was he
calling himself back then? Oh yes, Jack Morris. One of his more ordinary
names. In the time that I have known him, he has used at least of dozen
aliases that I know about and probably a dozen more that I don't.
Funny, there wasn't anything unusual about that day. I don't know why I thought there should have been. A thunderstorm perhaps, or a flash of lightening streaking across the sky, like in the stories that one reads. There should have been some sign, some indication that something dark, dangerous and slightly evil was entering our lives. But there wasn't any signs. The gods didn't send down so much as a hint that we would be meeting someone who would consistently be tearing my life apart over and over again. Every time I tried to rebuild it, he shows up and tears what little I have left of my life apart. People keep asking why I hate him. All they see is the man who would give me anything. They don't get to see his other side. The side of him that I know only to well. The psychotically crazy side he uses to justify every thing that he does. It is never his fault. In his mind, if he has to kill, beat up, or manipulate someone, it is always because someone else pushed him to do it.
The day I met him, it was a clear beautiful day. I was still married to my first husband, Tom. Tom and I had been shopping. He told be to buy a new dress because he was taking me out on the town for a night to dinner and dancing. He had heard of a new club and he wanted to try it out. I had dressed to dazzle my husband. It worked. Tom was so dazzled that we were extremely late getting to the club. The place was packed. Tom had made reservations, but they must have gotten lost, because someone had taken our table. Tom went to talk to someone about getting us another table. I was standing at the top of the stairs, waiting for Tom, when someone bumped into me from behind. I nearly toppled down the stairs when that same person grabbed me around the waist holding me up until I regained my balance.
I started to turn around, slightly annoyed that someone had nearly pushed me down the stairs and grateful that they had the sense to keep me from falling.
"I'm sorry." I heard him whispered in my ear as I turned around.
As I turned around, I swore he was going to say more, but he just stopped talking. He didn't just stop talking, I swore he stopped breathing. I was actually quite flattered in a way. It was the first time that anyone was truly breathless at the sight of me.
"You are very possibly the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." I could tell that for him it wasn't just a pickup line. He truly meant it.
"Thank you for not letting me fall. You can let go now."
He reluctantly took his hands away. Just then my husband walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. The man in front of me was obviously disappointed to find that I wasn't alone. With a grin, Tom said, "Should I be jealous?"
I smiled and teased, "perhaps. Tom, I would like you to meet, I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."
"My name is Jack Morris. Your name is?"
"My name is Skye. Tom, this is Jack Morris. Jack this my husband Tom. Jack just saved me from falling down the stairs."
Tom turned to Jack and shook his hand. "Thank you for stepping in and saving my lady."
"Your wife is to kind. Especially since I'm the reason that she almost fell down the stairs."
Tom turned to me and said, "I'm afraid that I couldn't get us a table for another hour. Do you want to wait or go somewhere else?"
I smiled at Tom and kissed him lightly on the lips. "I guess that teaches us not to get so distracted."
Tom nuzzled my neck. "I wouldn't mind a little more of that particular type of distraction."
Jack interrupted us. "If you wouldn't mind sharing and perhaps a little competition for your wife's attention for an hour or so, you may join my table."
Tom smiled at me and asked, "What do you think?"
"Well he seems harmless enough."
"It is the least I can do, after nearly pushing your wife down the stairs."
"Thank you. I believe that we will accept your invitation."
"The table is in this direction."
It had actually been a pleasant evening. Jack made a wonderful dinner companion. He even paid for the bill. When we went home that night, I had no clue that that evening was the start of an obsession that would slowly ruin my life. --------
Back in Port Charles
"Ned, I need to find Skye," Jax said as he walked into the room.
"For god's sake why? Didn't you just divorce her? Be grateful that she didn't make an annoyance of herself and move on."
"Ned, Do you have any idea where she is? I checked the house. She isn't there and neither are her suitcases. Did she tell anyone in the family where she was going?"
Ned looked at Jax, slightly annoyed, "I haven't a clue where she is. I just considered myself lucky that I haven't had to deal with her lately."
"Ned, I don't get it. What is it about Skye that bothers you so much?"
"Isn't it obvious? My cousin can't be trusted, she is a seasoned liar, manipulator and backstabber."
"And how does this makes her different from the rest of your family?"
"Very funny Jax."
"I'm serious. What exactly has Skye done that is so different from the rest of the family?"
"She blackmailed grandfather. She manipulated everyone so she could get the votes to take over ELQ."
"So what? It's not like you haven't blackmailed the old man from time to time. And how many times over the years have you and AJ made a play for ELQ? The only difference that I'm seeing here is that she succeeded where you and AJ failed."
"Are you forgetting that she made a deal with grandfather to bankrupt you?"
Jax smiled. "Nope. Right about now I'm betting that she wishes that she had gone through with it rather than marry me."
"She didn't tell you that Brenda isn't dying."
"Yes, and looking back on that, considering that I ran out the door not long after finding out that Brenda wasn't dying, I can see her point for not telling me."
"Do you need me to hit you again in order to knock some sense into you?"
"Nope, I think I'm finally coming to my senses and I need to find Skye."
"Why? You're with Brenda now. You do remember Brenda don't you? My best friend, the love of your life, the woman you are currently living with."
"Correction. Your best friend, the former love of my life and I moved out this morning."
"You what? What did Brenda say? Did you argue? Now don't do anything rash that you're going to regret."
"I already did something rash that I regret. I abandoned my wife for the memory of a love that doesn't exist anymore."
"Jax you have loved Brenda for years."
"Loved as in past tense. Something that happened and is over now."
"What about Brenda?"
"I don't think that this is exactly going to come as a shock to here. We barely touch. We haven't made love since that first night. You want to know what? I haven't wanted to make love to her since that night. From the way that she has been acting, I think that she feels the same way. We may occupy the same house but we are living two separate lives. We barely even talk to each other. "
"What did Brenda say?"
"I'm still trying to find her. She left this morning for some appointment and she hasn't turned her phone on yet. I'm going to stop by the cabin and see if she has arrived yet."
"Your going after Skye, aren't you?"
"Just as soon as I can figure out where she is."
"Your crazy. You know that don't you. You left her two weeks ago. You got a slightly illegal divorce one week ago. And now you want her back. You do know that she is very probably extremely pissed at you and will probably slam the door in your face."
"I know."
"She is going to make your life a living hell. I really can't say that I will blame her for it."
"I know that too."
Ned shook his head. He knew a lost cause when he saw one. "Have you tried AJ? He is probably the only one in the family that she talks to on a regular basis."
"He won't talk to me. I was hoping that maybe he had spoken with someone in the family?"
Ned sighed. "I'll talk to the family. Maybe Alan will know where she went."
"Thanks Ned."
"Hey, If your determined to turn your life into a living hell, then who am I to stop you?"
After leaving Ned's, Jax went to the cabin to talk to Brenda. As he pulled in he saw Brenda's car. As he walked in the door, he prayed that he was right about Brenda not wanting him anymore. As much as he new that they couldn't continue in their present situation, he also didn't want to have to hurt her anymore than necessary. This situation was his fault. He screwed up and hurt his wife in the process. In the process, he made promises to Brenda. Promises that Jax knew he couldn't keep.
When Jax walked in the door, he saw Brenda sitting on the couch. She looked up as he came in the room.
"We need to talk." They said simultaneously.
They looked at each other in amazement. Brenda said, "Why don't I go first?"
Jax nodded.
"I noticed that you moved your things out of the house. I'm hoping that that means you are breaking things off."
Jax breathed a sigh of relief. "You want the same thing. For us to break up."
Brenda looked up at him slightly nervously. "Let's just say that your moving out makes what I have to say to you a little bit easier."
"Brenda, you don't have to worry about money. I have set up an account and you can stay here for as long as you need to."
"Jax," she interrupted. "You really need to sit down and hear what I have to say."
Jax just kept talking. "And I will even put the cabin in your name if you want."
"I'm not Brenda!" She blurted out.
Jax looked at her like she was insane.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not crazy. I went to the doctor because of some dreams that I have been having. Than ran some tests. I don't know who I am yet, but we have medical proof that I'm not Brenda."
Jax sat down in shock. "You look like her. You sound like her. You even have our memories."
"My blood type is different. I have had some plastic surgery to make me look like her. The police ran my fingerprints. I'm definitely not her."
"Your memories?"
"We aren't completely certain how that was done yet. I only have memories of those years that I or rather she was here in Port Charles. It was some sort of brainwashing technique. The doctor here is going to help me try to recover my real memories. The police are working on who I might be so I can go home where I belong."
"How?" Jax got up suddenly angry. "Why? Why did someone bring you here as Brenda? What the hell did they hope to gain?"
"It wasn't just someone who brought me to Port Charles. Alcazar brought me here. After the police finally believed me, they brought out a file on him. Apparently brainwashing isn't beyond his capabilities. As for why? I've been slowly putting that together."
"What conclusions have you come to?"
"When I first got here, I was extremely drugged out and confused. I had two main thoughts. One was how much I loved you and the other was how much I loved Sonny."
"You aren't Brenda. How can you say that you loved either of us?" Jax shouted. His frustration was beginning to show.
"The idea was implanted in my head."
"Sonny was the target. He blew up his warehouse."
"No, He wanted Sonny dead. I know this may sound nuts but I think that you were the target the entire time."
Jax started to say something but she interrupted. "Hear me out. Let's say for a moment that I was implanted with some of Brenda's memories, but he couldn't direct which memories where in my head. Brenda loved both you and Sonny. So in order to get me to go to you, he had to get rid of Sonny so I couldn't go to him. So he blackmailed someone to kill Sonny. After I thought Sonny was gone, I ran to you."
"There is one flaw in your logic. Alcazar shot me."
"Yes, but only after my presence didn't get him what he wanted."
"What exactly was he after? This entire time we thought he was after you."
"Yes, but if it was me that he wanted, why has he left town? He didn't go through all the trouble of brainwashing me to simple give up? Yet you and Sonny are still here and as far as I know you both still have all your territories and other various assets. I would bet anything that the reason Alcazar isn't here is because whatever he was really after isn't here anymore."
"Dear God, Skye isn't here."
"Alcazar disappeared at the same time that Skye did. I'm betting that it's not a coincidence. Plus is makes sense. He was counting on you leaving her for me and when you didn't, he shot you. He knew I wasn't ill. There was no way that I could be. I'm not Brenda. I'm betting that he new that Skye would start digging."
"He created a scenario where I would catch her in a lie. God that's funny. After all the crap that I pulled after we were married. I left her because of a lie. That bastard killed an innocent woman, started a turf war with a local gangster and stole from me. Oh God, if he has been after Skye this entire time."
"Skye is probably still in danger."
Funny, there wasn't anything unusual about that day. I don't know why I thought there should have been. A thunderstorm perhaps, or a flash of lightening streaking across the sky, like in the stories that one reads. There should have been some sign, some indication that something dark, dangerous and slightly evil was entering our lives. But there wasn't any signs. The gods didn't send down so much as a hint that we would be meeting someone who would consistently be tearing my life apart over and over again. Every time I tried to rebuild it, he shows up and tears what little I have left of my life apart. People keep asking why I hate him. All they see is the man who would give me anything. They don't get to see his other side. The side of him that I know only to well. The psychotically crazy side he uses to justify every thing that he does. It is never his fault. In his mind, if he has to kill, beat up, or manipulate someone, it is always because someone else pushed him to do it.
The day I met him, it was a clear beautiful day. I was still married to my first husband, Tom. Tom and I had been shopping. He told be to buy a new dress because he was taking me out on the town for a night to dinner and dancing. He had heard of a new club and he wanted to try it out. I had dressed to dazzle my husband. It worked. Tom was so dazzled that we were extremely late getting to the club. The place was packed. Tom had made reservations, but they must have gotten lost, because someone had taken our table. Tom went to talk to someone about getting us another table. I was standing at the top of the stairs, waiting for Tom, when someone bumped into me from behind. I nearly toppled down the stairs when that same person grabbed me around the waist holding me up until I regained my balance.
I started to turn around, slightly annoyed that someone had nearly pushed me down the stairs and grateful that they had the sense to keep me from falling.
"I'm sorry." I heard him whispered in my ear as I turned around.
As I turned around, I swore he was going to say more, but he just stopped talking. He didn't just stop talking, I swore he stopped breathing. I was actually quite flattered in a way. It was the first time that anyone was truly breathless at the sight of me.
"You are very possibly the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." I could tell that for him it wasn't just a pickup line. He truly meant it.
"Thank you for not letting me fall. You can let go now."
He reluctantly took his hands away. Just then my husband walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. The man in front of me was obviously disappointed to find that I wasn't alone. With a grin, Tom said, "Should I be jealous?"
I smiled and teased, "perhaps. Tom, I would like you to meet, I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."
"My name is Jack Morris. Your name is?"
"My name is Skye. Tom, this is Jack Morris. Jack this my husband Tom. Jack just saved me from falling down the stairs."
Tom turned to Jack and shook his hand. "Thank you for stepping in and saving my lady."
"Your wife is to kind. Especially since I'm the reason that she almost fell down the stairs."
Tom turned to me and said, "I'm afraid that I couldn't get us a table for another hour. Do you want to wait or go somewhere else?"
I smiled at Tom and kissed him lightly on the lips. "I guess that teaches us not to get so distracted."
Tom nuzzled my neck. "I wouldn't mind a little more of that particular type of distraction."
Jack interrupted us. "If you wouldn't mind sharing and perhaps a little competition for your wife's attention for an hour or so, you may join my table."
Tom smiled at me and asked, "What do you think?"
"Well he seems harmless enough."
"It is the least I can do, after nearly pushing your wife down the stairs."
"Thank you. I believe that we will accept your invitation."
"The table is in this direction."
It had actually been a pleasant evening. Jack made a wonderful dinner companion. He even paid for the bill. When we went home that night, I had no clue that that evening was the start of an obsession that would slowly ruin my life. --------
Back in Port Charles
"Ned, I need to find Skye," Jax said as he walked into the room.
"For god's sake why? Didn't you just divorce her? Be grateful that she didn't make an annoyance of herself and move on."
"Ned, Do you have any idea where she is? I checked the house. She isn't there and neither are her suitcases. Did she tell anyone in the family where she was going?"
Ned looked at Jax, slightly annoyed, "I haven't a clue where she is. I just considered myself lucky that I haven't had to deal with her lately."
"Ned, I don't get it. What is it about Skye that bothers you so much?"
"Isn't it obvious? My cousin can't be trusted, she is a seasoned liar, manipulator and backstabber."
"And how does this makes her different from the rest of your family?"
"Very funny Jax."
"I'm serious. What exactly has Skye done that is so different from the rest of the family?"
"She blackmailed grandfather. She manipulated everyone so she could get the votes to take over ELQ."
"So what? It's not like you haven't blackmailed the old man from time to time. And how many times over the years have you and AJ made a play for ELQ? The only difference that I'm seeing here is that she succeeded where you and AJ failed."
"Are you forgetting that she made a deal with grandfather to bankrupt you?"
Jax smiled. "Nope. Right about now I'm betting that she wishes that she had gone through with it rather than marry me."
"She didn't tell you that Brenda isn't dying."
"Yes, and looking back on that, considering that I ran out the door not long after finding out that Brenda wasn't dying, I can see her point for not telling me."
"Do you need me to hit you again in order to knock some sense into you?"
"Nope, I think I'm finally coming to my senses and I need to find Skye."
"Why? You're with Brenda now. You do remember Brenda don't you? My best friend, the love of your life, the woman you are currently living with."
"Correction. Your best friend, the former love of my life and I moved out this morning."
"You what? What did Brenda say? Did you argue? Now don't do anything rash that you're going to regret."
"I already did something rash that I regret. I abandoned my wife for the memory of a love that doesn't exist anymore."
"Jax you have loved Brenda for years."
"Loved as in past tense. Something that happened and is over now."
"What about Brenda?"
"I don't think that this is exactly going to come as a shock to here. We barely touch. We haven't made love since that first night. You want to know what? I haven't wanted to make love to her since that night. From the way that she has been acting, I think that she feels the same way. We may occupy the same house but we are living two separate lives. We barely even talk to each other. "
"What did Brenda say?"
"I'm still trying to find her. She left this morning for some appointment and she hasn't turned her phone on yet. I'm going to stop by the cabin and see if she has arrived yet."
"Your going after Skye, aren't you?"
"Just as soon as I can figure out where she is."
"Your crazy. You know that don't you. You left her two weeks ago. You got a slightly illegal divorce one week ago. And now you want her back. You do know that she is very probably extremely pissed at you and will probably slam the door in your face."
"I know."
"She is going to make your life a living hell. I really can't say that I will blame her for it."
"I know that too."
Ned shook his head. He knew a lost cause when he saw one. "Have you tried AJ? He is probably the only one in the family that she talks to on a regular basis."
"He won't talk to me. I was hoping that maybe he had spoken with someone in the family?"
Ned sighed. "I'll talk to the family. Maybe Alan will know where she went."
"Thanks Ned."
"Hey, If your determined to turn your life into a living hell, then who am I to stop you?"
After leaving Ned's, Jax went to the cabin to talk to Brenda. As he pulled in he saw Brenda's car. As he walked in the door, he prayed that he was right about Brenda not wanting him anymore. As much as he new that they couldn't continue in their present situation, he also didn't want to have to hurt her anymore than necessary. This situation was his fault. He screwed up and hurt his wife in the process. In the process, he made promises to Brenda. Promises that Jax knew he couldn't keep.
When Jax walked in the door, he saw Brenda sitting on the couch. She looked up as he came in the room.
"We need to talk." They said simultaneously.
They looked at each other in amazement. Brenda said, "Why don't I go first?"
Jax nodded.
"I noticed that you moved your things out of the house. I'm hoping that that means you are breaking things off."
Jax breathed a sigh of relief. "You want the same thing. For us to break up."
Brenda looked up at him slightly nervously. "Let's just say that your moving out makes what I have to say to you a little bit easier."
"Brenda, you don't have to worry about money. I have set up an account and you can stay here for as long as you need to."
"Jax," she interrupted. "You really need to sit down and hear what I have to say."
Jax just kept talking. "And I will even put the cabin in your name if you want."
"I'm not Brenda!" She blurted out.
Jax looked at her like she was insane.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not crazy. I went to the doctor because of some dreams that I have been having. Than ran some tests. I don't know who I am yet, but we have medical proof that I'm not Brenda."
Jax sat down in shock. "You look like her. You sound like her. You even have our memories."
"My blood type is different. I have had some plastic surgery to make me look like her. The police ran my fingerprints. I'm definitely not her."
"Your memories?"
"We aren't completely certain how that was done yet. I only have memories of those years that I or rather she was here in Port Charles. It was some sort of brainwashing technique. The doctor here is going to help me try to recover my real memories. The police are working on who I might be so I can go home where I belong."
"How?" Jax got up suddenly angry. "Why? Why did someone bring you here as Brenda? What the hell did they hope to gain?"
"It wasn't just someone who brought me to Port Charles. Alcazar brought me here. After the police finally believed me, they brought out a file on him. Apparently brainwashing isn't beyond his capabilities. As for why? I've been slowly putting that together."
"What conclusions have you come to?"
"When I first got here, I was extremely drugged out and confused. I had two main thoughts. One was how much I loved you and the other was how much I loved Sonny."
"You aren't Brenda. How can you say that you loved either of us?" Jax shouted. His frustration was beginning to show.
"The idea was implanted in my head."
"Sonny was the target. He blew up his warehouse."
"No, He wanted Sonny dead. I know this may sound nuts but I think that you were the target the entire time."
Jax started to say something but she interrupted. "Hear me out. Let's say for a moment that I was implanted with some of Brenda's memories, but he couldn't direct which memories where in my head. Brenda loved both you and Sonny. So in order to get me to go to you, he had to get rid of Sonny so I couldn't go to him. So he blackmailed someone to kill Sonny. After I thought Sonny was gone, I ran to you."
"There is one flaw in your logic. Alcazar shot me."
"Yes, but only after my presence didn't get him what he wanted."
"What exactly was he after? This entire time we thought he was after you."
"Yes, but if it was me that he wanted, why has he left town? He didn't go through all the trouble of brainwashing me to simple give up? Yet you and Sonny are still here and as far as I know you both still have all your territories and other various assets. I would bet anything that the reason Alcazar isn't here is because whatever he was really after isn't here anymore."
"Dear God, Skye isn't here."
"Alcazar disappeared at the same time that Skye did. I'm betting that it's not a coincidence. Plus is makes sense. He was counting on you leaving her for me and when you didn't, he shot you. He knew I wasn't ill. There was no way that I could be. I'm not Brenda. I'm betting that he new that Skye would start digging."
"He created a scenario where I would catch her in a lie. God that's funny. After all the crap that I pulled after we were married. I left her because of a lie. That bastard killed an innocent woman, started a turf war with a local gangster and stole from me. Oh God, if he has been after Skye this entire time."
"Skye is probably still in danger."