Chapter 10
Leo looked over to Jax as he ended his call with Josh. "We'll need to fly in three people," he said simply. "Possibly a fourth."
"It will be taken care of," Jax replied as he pulled out a notepad from the briefcase next to him. "Where are they flying in from?"
"DC, Pine Valley, Chicago, and, if need be, New York," Leo replied as he watched Jax take down the information.
"I'll make some calls to get things moving," Jax said as he started to do just that, leaving Leo with his thoughts as they continued towards the hospital. As he sat there he couldn't help but wonder what was going on. He had been a player in the political arena for too long not to know when someone was evading an issue, and Jasper Jacks was certainly doing that when he tried to gather more information on what had happened to Donna. Turning his head to look at the man who was busy taking notes on the calls he was making, he frowned as he started to form a mental list of questions that all needed to be answered. Why did Jax tell him that the fall had been accidental? Why had someone called one of Toby's cubs and tell them that someone had tried to kill Donna? And more importantly, why would anyone even want to? The more he worked out possible scenarios in his mind the more sure he was that what they were all walking into was not going to be pretty. But no matter what, they would get Donna through it. Taking comfort in that thought he leaned back in his seat, knowing one thing for certain: whoever was trying to pull something here was in for a rude awakening. No one messed with a member of what was essentially the West Wing branch of the Bartlett family and got away with it. They might prefer to fight fair, take the high road and be the good guys in a given situation, but they could also get as down and dirty in the mud as the next guy, and for one of their own. . . Leo shook his head as the thought that someone was going to be going down and wishing that they had never crossed them entered his mind and the car pulled to a stop outside of the hospital.
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Justus sighed as he looked at Edward who was pacing the living room. "You do realize how bad this can become. Especially if they bring up the fact that Ms. Moss isn't the first woman that AJ pushed down those stairs."
"It won't get that fair," Edward replied tensely as he turned and looked at his grandson.
"Do you think that Jax, Ned, or Carly are going to let this go? They're involved it brings Corinthos and Alexis into the mix, which in turn can mean the Cassidines. Together that means trouble."
"If it even got that far who would listen to them? Ned and AJ have, at best, a turbulent history. Carly is a known liar. As for that hoodlum Corinthos, let's not even start with his list of crimes. The Quartermain name will keep AJ in the clear."
"That and campaign contributions, right Grandfather?"
"And what's wrong with showing some civic pride."
"Pride is one thing. Bribery another," Justus sighed. "And did you ever think that AJ having to face up to his actions might stop things like this from happening?"
"Seems to me you didn't mind taking advantage of the amnesty that the Quartermain name could buy you," Edward said pointedly.
"In case you failed to notice, I have regained my moral standards. Something that other people in this family could benefit from doing."
"Meaning?"
"Just that. What do you think covering up his murderistic tendencies is accomplishing?"
"Murderistic tendencies?" Edward bellowed. "He just happened to be there when two women fell down the stairs!"
"He pushed two women down the stairs. He killed an unborn child in the process. He's been borderline stalking women. How many have you paid off so far?"
"They lead him on. Misunderstood his attentions," Edward rationalized with a flutter of his hands.
"Who are you trying to convince: me or yourself?"
Edward exhaled sharply at that, "I won't let this family be embarrassed because of that drunkard.
You know I regret his actions. Feel for what Carly lost. Hell, I feel for that young girl. She was bright, charming. . . ." he shook his head. "But the family integrity is more important."
"With the exception of Lila this family has no integrity."
"You know what I mean. I will not let this family be ruined because AJ had too much to drink and hurt someone. It will be ruled an accident. We'll all move on."
"Till the next time," Justus sighed, causing Edward to glare. "I'm just stating his track record. Besides, she might not be like the others. . ."
"Mark my words, Justus, this family will not be taken down by some little nobody."
"And remember this, Edward: to someone, she is an important somebody."
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Toby looked up as the door to his office opened and Danny Concannon burst in. Toby frowned slightly as he put aside the notes he was reading on pending stories, his eye catching sight of a picture on the side of the desk reminding him why he was putting up with the man. "You summoned?" Danny cracked as he slid into a chair opposite his desk.
"Nice to see you too, Concannon," Toby groused.
"Well, I figured you'd want to cut right to the chase. Never knew you to be one for pleasantries."
"At least not with you," Toby sighed as he handed the other man a file. "Look, like I told you on the phone, I have a story you might be interested in covering. It might be something big, might not. Either way it's not being released until we've gathered more information."
"Since when do you give me anything?" Danny asked as he ran a finger across the unlabeled file.
"Just read it and tell me if you're still interested or not," Toby ordered as he picked up one of his own files, trying to get as much work done before he had to leave.
Danny glared at Toby for a few seconds before his inquisitive nature took over and he opened the file. Scanning over the hastily written notes, Danny frowned. "Is this for real?" he asked, earning only a cold glare in way of an answer. "OK, OK, stupid question," he conceded. "How much of this has actually been verified."
"Leo got a call around 0100 informing him that Donna had been involved in an accident."
"Who's been contacted?"
"Who do you think, Einstein?"
"Your temperament certainly hasn't improved."
"Excuse me if the fact that, during a staff meeting to review possible story ideas for the day, I was informed by an ignorant cub that a young woman I worked with, and consider to be a close friend, is in critical condition, and the cause of said condition may or may not have been the result of an attempt on her life, has put me in a bad mood."
"And here I thought it was just you being your typical charming self. Who'd have thought that the great Toby Zeilger was capable of human emotion?" Concannon replied sarcastically.
"Do you want the story or not?" Toby asked through gritted teeth.
"Why me?"
Toby sighed, knowing that Concannon was fishing for a compliment. "Because the cub who got this is too green. Because the rest of my staff is too ignorant of the people involved to cover this. Because I'm too involved to. Because you knew Donna and won't exploit her if you do the story. Because even if you are one of the biggest jerks to ever grace the press corps you're a halfway decent reporter."
"High praise," Danny smirked. "I'll take it. It will give me a chance to catch up with CJ."
Don't count on it, Toby thought as he reached into a drawer and pulled out a small, rubber ball. "We're keeping it quiet. Remember that. Don't go in there and cause more trouble. Keep a low profile on this."
"Who are you kidding? The senior staff of a President who was almost impeached are not going to walk into some town and go unnoticed. Not to mention that the former President will undoubtedly put himself in the middle of this. Me keep a low profile? Can we get real here?"
"Just don't make it worse. We're trusting you not to," Toby replied as his hand clenched around the ball and he resisted the urge to throw it at the other man, al bit, barely.
Danny nodded as he stood, knowing that the statement showed a level of high regard. "I'll try," he said evenly. "Is this everything you have?"
"For now. Leo hasn't called from the hospital with an update yet," Toby sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "I don't even know how much of what's in that file he's aware of."
"I thought you said he was called last night?"
"I also said someone told him it was an accident."
Danny raised an eyebrow at that as he thought of the implications of what he had read. "So we can be talking. . ."
"Cover up," Toby sighed as he started to bounce the ball. "Every Bartlett staffers' two least favorite words."
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Carly looked into the ICU, surprised to see that Sonny and Ned where sitting there staring into their individual cups of coffee. "Well, you're both still alive, so I guess that's a good thing," she said as she breezed in, slightly refreshed now that she'd changed and brushed her hair and teeth. She then proceeded to grab Sonny's cup of coffee out of his hand.
Sonny watched in amusement as she started drinking it. "I did bring you your own, you know."
"Yeah, but yours is always better," she replied cheekily as he rolled his eyes.
"I'm leaving now," he said as he rose.
"What? My company that repulsive?"
"Somehow I doubt if any one would appreciate it if I got into a confrontation with Candyboy. Besides, Alexis charges quadruple for any fights between the two of us."
"Like you don't compensate her in other ways?"
"Let's not go there," Sonny sighed. "Breakfast is on the end table. Either Alexis or I will pick Michael up after school. Please try to get some rest," he added as he kissed her forehead.
"I'm not making any promises."
Sonny only shook his head at that, "you know that Michael can stay as long as. . ."
"I know," she interrupted with a slight smile. "Now go count coffee beans or something.,"
"I'll call and check up on you later."
"You don't have to."
"Yeah, I know," he shrugged. "Sue me."
"Alexis would love that!" Carly laughed as he started to the door only to stop and turn. "Remember what I said, Nedley," he called over before continuing out.
The remaining two conscious occupants of the room seemingly ignored each other as Carly went to take a look at what Sonny had brought for breakfast. "You didn't have to have him check up on me," Ned said without looking at her.
"I didn't," Carly replied as she prepared to plates. "He actually came to check up on me. Guess he wanted to make sure I didn't do anything stupid like pull a gun on AJ again," she added as she walked over and handed him a plate.
"Again?" Ned asked in amused surprise as he took the plate.
"You don't want to know," she sighed as she sat down.
"Oh, but it sounds so amusing. And why didn't we ever hear about this? Would've been great grounds in a custody hearing."
"Maybe because he was drunk?"
"So? What happened?"
"You're not going to let this go are you?" Carly asked, blowing out a breath so that her bangs moved with it.
"What do you think?"
"Fine, but I swear, if you tell anybody about this, I will make you pay."
"Who'd I tell? My family?"
"Point taken. It was after the miscarriage," Carly started, her voice breaking slightly. "You know how AJ was. . . well, it seemed like he was taunting me with it and how he was basically getting away with killing my baby. So, I cornered him with a loaded gun at the Nurse's Ball that year. Sonny stopped me from actually doing anything but brandishing it. We went home and then to his island. End of story."
"Do you ever regret not doing it?"
"Every time he does something like this. But then, I look at Michael and I'm thankful I didn't. Sometimes realities are far better than what ifs," Carly remarked causing Ned to look at her sharply.
"Why is it that all of you seem to think I need to stop playing what ifs?"
"Because you do," Carly sighed shifting so that she was looking directly at him. "AJ did this, not you. None of us expected it."
"You did. You got Jax. Called for Mac and Taggart."
"Jax and I were talking. I looked up and realized what was going to happen when I saw how close they were to the steps. I saw the same realization on your face," she paused as he looked away before continuing. "I froze. I don't even remember saying anything--- just Jax telling me to get Mac or Taggart. But I think we all knew it was too late."
"I wanted to grab him. Pull her back. . ."
"You didn't have time."
"I should've known. It should've been me, not her."
"No, it should've been AJ," Carly sighed. "But it wasn't. It was Donna and we have to pull it together for her."
"You mean me."
"No, I mean we. Sonny was right. I was considering doing something stupid."
"What?!?! Why?"
"Because Donna's my friend and he hurt her. Because I had the chance to stop him and didn't. Because I keep seeing them so close to the stairs; her body at the bottom of them. Because I keep reliving my fall and waking up to Sonny telling me. . . " she stopped as tears started to fall. Quickly Ned took her plate and laid both of theirs on the floor before pulling her into an awkward hug, letting her cry on his shoulder. "It should have never have happened again," she cried bitterly.
"We'll make sure it doesn't happen again," Ned said with more confidence than he felt as Leo and Jax stepped into the room. "Exactly what won't happen again?" Leo asked causing Carly to pull away from Ned and both to look from Jax to the older man in surprise.