Michael Morgan Quartermaine came to a skidding halt just a few feet away from the sliding glass doors. His eyes scanned the room before him, and he didn't know just who he should have been running towards. First instinct was automatically to go to his mother. Even though she didn't always know how to handle a situation, she was sure to find out any and all information. However, seated just feet away was Sam McCall, and she was covered in blood but not injured, which led him to believe that she had been there when it happened.

It wasn't an easy decision. Going to either woman would leave the other with an empty stomach. If he went to Sam, Carly would bring the roof down on them with her wails of abandonment. That is, if she didn't decide to give him the silent treatment for ignoring her. If he went to Carly, then Sam would think that he'd lied when he told his uncle that he would give the woman a shot. She seemed to make him happy, and that was about as good as any of them were going to get. And that was all excluding the fact that his father was riding his heels.

Alan Quartermaine, Jr., known to everyone as AJ, had a less than amicable relationship with everyone involved. His drinking was the reason that Jason ended up a criminal instead of following in their parents footsteps and becoming a doctor. His drinking also led to the one night stand that produced Michael, and caused a battle that lasted more than five years for the boy until finally it was decided to share custody. The fact that it was Lorenzo Alcazar who talked Carly into the agreement left a tension when all three were ever in the same place together. If Michael were to approach either woman with AJ behind him, all hell was sure to break loose.

Michael turned around on his heel and pointed at AJ. "You need to stay out here." AJ blinked at him and he sighed. "I know, you say you're worried about Uncle Jason…"

"I am worried. We hate each other's guts half the time, but he's still my brother."

"Yeah, great. Wonderful. But, see, the thing is, everybody's all crazy right now, ya know? So, if you came in there with me, fights would probably get started. And I think I saw Grandpa in there, which means more hell breaking loose. Add that in that neither Grandma's in there, and Emily's not in there…"

"You're saying I'm going to cause problems." AJ sighed and shook his head. He ran his hand over his dark blond hair and groaned. "Have a little faith in me, Michael. Despite what Grandfather will tell you, I do know how to behave in public."

"Look, Dad, I know." Michael sighed and ran his hand through his own breezy blond hair. It was a gesture so similar to AJ's that it annoyed his mother to no end, made his sisters laugh, and made his father grin. "It's just a big thing, ya know? And I don't know that everybody'll control their emotions. So, I'm gonna go in there, and you can just… I'll let you know what's going on, okay? I'm not trying to be mean or anything. I just don't wanna cause anymore trouble than what's already going on."

"I can't stand out here forever, Michael," AJ told him. "If Mom or Dad come by…"

"You'll be safe, because, look! Emily and Zander are right there." AJ turned and Michael went rushing through the doors, heading for his mother. His conscience was clear enough. It's not like he had lied or anything. Emily and Zander were headed straight for AJ the second Michael took off.

Inside, Carly's heartbeat was just starting to slow. Sofie and Sage stood on either side, waiting to see what their mother would do. The first thing Carly had noticed was Lorenzo's injured arm. That instantly cleared her thoughts of Jason momentarily from her mind. She touched him gingerly, careful not to hurt him, then instantly started screaming and ranting. They were suing the PCPD, and Alexis had better already be on the job.

"It had all been so simple! Just come to the station to get Jason out. What the hell was Sam even doing there, huh? Now, look at you! You're all… shot! And Jason… Jason's… I had to see it on TV, Lorenzo!"

He only looked at her and waited for her to stop screaming. He knew that he'd never be able to fully break her of her excitement, and he didn't really want to. One of the things that had attracted him to Carly was the fire that blazed within her when someone she loved was in trouble. She felt everything passionately, and she had no problem letting everyone know that.

Jason had left her with him. For two years, he had to hide out, waiting for the heat to cool down over a particularly brutal hit. When Jason left, Carly and Lorenzo could barely stand one another. That didn't matter, though, because he'd known that Lorenzo would take care of both her and Michael. By the time Jason returned, Lorenzo and Carly were engaged, and he was on his way to convincing her that this childish vendetta against a man who had, honestly, done her no wrong needed to be let go. They were a match made in hell for everyone else, but one made in heaven for each other.

"Are you done now?" Lorenzo grinned. Carly growled at him and he only grinned more. "Now, first of all, Sam was there because I called her. Jason was supposed to meet her at the airport when he was brought into the station, and they were supposed to leave as soon as Alexis and I got him out." His grin faltered a bit and he sighed. "And leave her out of this, alright? She's scared and she's worried. So just let her be right now, alright?"

"You…" Her eyes narrowed and she struck out, hitting him in his good shoulder. "I should hurt you for not calling me sooner. The girls saw it on TV, Lorenzo. They saw it before I did and I couldn't shield them from it. And Michael…" Her hand went to her mouth as realization hit. "Oh, my God. So stupid! I didn't even call Michael! He's got to be worried."

"He's right behind you, Carly." Lorenzo reached one arm out and wrapped it around Sofie as she drew in closer on his left. Sage came in at his right, then moved around to the front of him, careful of his injured arm. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned in. Lorenzo kissed either of their head, then looked up at Carly. "Go to Michael and let him know that everything's fine. Jason's in surgery and when I know, you'll know. And… talk to Sam, alright?" He sighed and Carly's frown. "You've been where she is. You know how to handle it. Just… be nice, alright? Jason would want you to be nice."

"Lorenzo… that was low."

He winked at her and grinned. "I know." He moved closer to her, practically dragging the twins with him, and kissed her lightly. "That's why I run this town. Now, go talk to Michael, then talk to Sam. And leave the girls with me. Oh, and watch out for Quartermaines."

Carly groaned. She rolled her eyes at Lorenzo, then turned around to Michael. As she saw AJ standing on the other side of the glass, she grunted. Watch out for Quartermaines, she thought, then grunted again. Carly wrapped her arms around her son then, still staring at AJ, muttered, "Don't I always."