Chapter 20

V sat staring intermittedly between the traffic and the clock on the dashboard of her car. At this rate she'd be lucky to get to the airport at all, never mind before the planes landed.

Tapping the steering wheel as she inched a foot forward she couldn't help but take inventory of her own part in this whole mess.

She had been the one to suggest that Donna apply for the job of Jax's assistant and had gone so far as to vouch for her. She had helped Donna keep her past as a White House assistant a secret, understanding the other woman's need for anonymity. The need to make it on her own without the specter of her part in the Bartlett administration coloring people's opinion of her. The need to define herself as something other than Josh Lyman's assistant. After all, hadn't the need to be something other than the assistant of Jasper Jacks or Ned Ashton been the impedes for her to go off with Simon?

Still, she should've known--- seen--- that Donna was headed towards trouble by not making that part of her past known. She had known she was cutting herself off from people she needed--- to prove her independence--- she'd reasoned. And that was part of the problem. Because Donna's quest for independence had bordered on isolating herself when the trouble with AJ started. That had been proven when she had kept the harassment to herself, only admitting to it when Ned escorted her home to find AJ already in her apartment. Even then she'd tried to blow it off as nothing, but Jax and Carly had forced her hand making her get a security system at their expense. She only wished she could've done more. Yeah, she had apparently managed to get Donna to file for a restraining order for as much good as it had done, and at some point Donna had apparently talked to Sam, not that the idiot had done much. Truth was, she suspected that was why Donna had gone to him. He was the least aggressive member of the Senior Staff. Any of the others would have been in Port Charles as soon as Donna called, calling in the others for backup at the same time, no matter how she downplayed the situation. Sam on the other hand took her at her word.

But, V., reminded herself as she passed the accident that had delayed traffic, it didn't really matter anymore. What happened had happened, and nothing could change it, no matter how any of them might want to go back and change things. Hindsight was 20/20, after all. Lessons learned and all that. Truth was she knew that some lessons would be imparted before this was over. Lessons about the bonds of family, friendship, and love. Lessons about what really made people tick. People and relationships would be changed forever, and as she parked she couldn't help but wonder where those changes would leave them all.

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Abbey walked with Stefan down the hallway towards the ICU, a Secret Service detail trailing as discretely as was possible, all the while listening as he explained the hospital's rational for the delay in Donna's treatment although his voice held a touch of distaste throughout the recitation. "You don't seem to be at ease with the time lost by waiting for the MPA," she said simply.

"It's a policy that is rarely enforced, although I understand the need for it in a larger setting, such as Mercy. But the truth of the matter is that GH is a small hospital. The staff knows the patients, the people of this town each other's wishes. Unless specifically told otherwise, all measures are taken to save a person brought here. I don't think I've seen an issue made of the MPA or insurance during my tenure as CEO."

"She doesn't have insurance?" Abbey asked surprised and yet not. It had been one of the banes of Jed's Presidency that he couldn't get a bill for more universal insurance introduced, never mind passed.

"Jasper Jacks and Carly Spencer are taking on her expenses," Stefan informed. "So you will be paid."

"Not everything is about monetary gain," Abbey snapped.

"I didn't mean to offend you in any way, it's just. . ." Stefan paused, unsure of how to continue in the wake of her increasing temper.

Abbey only stopped short, causing Stefan to stop a couple of steps in front of her and turn, looking down at her as she grabbed his arm. "Let's get something straight here and now, you self important jackass. I'm not here because of money. My comment about the insurance issue was because, quite frankly, I didn't think Mr. Jacks was the type to not provide insurance to his employees. Furthermore, I am here as a favor to someone I consider to be a member of my family, so kindly keep you completely unfounded opinions to yourself! Do we understand each other?"

Surprised by the ferocity of her response, Stefan only nodded. Apparently content with that, Abbey dropped her hand and indicated that they should continue, although displeasure still radiated off of her. Behind them members of her detail exchanged smiles as they fought back laughter and groans. They knew she was not to be messed with when she was in a mood like this, and couldn't help but feel sorry for whomever would meet her wrath, as someone unsuringly would.

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Elizabeth smiled as she saw Alexis enter Kellys with Michael. Quickly she placed the order she had been given in front of two customers before hurrying to where they were starting to sit. "Alexis, it's great of you to bring Michael by. I'll be off in a few minutes then Jason and I. . ." she paused as she shot her boyfriend a smile, "will be glad to take him," she finished as she turned her attention back to them.

Alexis rolled her eyes as she fished her wallet out of her pocket. "Michael, why don't you go and pick out a few songs on the jukebox?"

"Really? Cool!" Michael said as he took the money from her and headed towards it.

"Was that necessary?" Elizabeth pouted.

"Apparently," Alexis sighed as she kept an eye on Michael.

"Look, I'm saying this once and only once. Michael is here with me. We're meeting Sonny."

"But Alexis. . ." Elizabeth whined. "We never get to see him. Jason deserves to spend time with him."

"Well, that's up to Carly and Sonny to decide, now isn't it?"

"That bitch never. . ."

"With an attitude like that can you honestly blame her?" Alexis asked pointedly.

"You wouldn't say that if it were Sonny she was depriving of seeing Michael."

"The difference is Sonny's Michael's father."

"Jason raised Michael while she was off having her breakdown."

"Elizabeth this isn't up to debate."

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at that, "be careful, Alexis. Her friends seem to meet accidents. I mean look at that Moss woman. If she hadn't been friends with Carly she'd probably be OK. I mean she blew off AJ and lied about it because of Carly!" she informed as Michael came back.

Alexis merely stood and stopped him from sitting down with a hand on his shoulder forcing a smile she looked down at him. "We've had a change of plans, Mister Man," she said evenly. "We're going to go meet Uncle Sonny."

"But I wanted ice cream," Michael whined.

"Really, Alexis," Elizabeth put in with a roll of her eyes, but Alexis simply ignored her. "Maybe we'll persuade Uncle Sonny to get us some at the park."

"But he never. . ."

"Then I'll make us some popcorn back at the Penthouse," Alexis said easily. "But we still need to go."

"OK," Michael sighed reluctantly, knowing the voice of authority when he heard it.

As they gathered their things Elizabeth walked back to the counter in a huff. "Can you believe her? Like it would be the end of the world to leave Michael with us!"

"Carly doesn't want. . ." Jason started.

"Puh-lease! Like she cares so much? Where is she? Traipsing around? Chasing some sugardaddy?"

"At the hospital."

"Well, considering what happened was her fault I should hope so!"

"Elizabeth. . ."

"Really, Jason. Besides, that has nothing to do with us seeing Michael. You really should talk to Scott Baldwin about fixing the situation. I mean just because you're not falling for her tricks anymore doesn't mean you shouldn't get to see him!"

"I see Michael."

"Jason. . ."

"Carly has a right to decide who her son's around. I don't always agree, but. . ."

"Jason, sometimes you have no idea when you're being played for a fool!" Elizabeth pouted before storming into the kitchen.

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Skye struggled through the crowded commuter shuttle to Port Charles to her seat, her annoyance at the situation more than apparent. There she had been minding her own business, running ELQ out of their new offices in New York City when AJ had called. "I did it again," he'd said. Not that she knew what it was, and probably was better off not knowing, but no, here she was. After all the job of the Quartermain CEO of ELQ wasn't just to keep the company running at a high profit, but to also keep the family out of trouble, which AJ had unerringly gotten himself into. I knew I should've gone to the party last night instead of having dinner with Adam and family, she thought as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, only to open them when she was jostled by the man who would be sitting next to her. "Watch it!" she muttered as she straightened up.

"Um, sorry," he muttered before slipping past her. "Excuse me."

"Like you have one?" she asked testily as she sat up, only to glare at him as he sat and took out his computer.

"I didn't mean. . ." he started as he looked at her, then paused as recognition set in. "Skye Chandler."

"It's Chandler-Quartermain," she shot back as she pulled on her jacket and shifted in her seat, while glancing over at him. "And you are?"

"Glad I'm so memorable."

"Well, I meet a lot of arrogant pretty boys."

He chuckled at that, "Sam Seaborne. I was one of. . ."

"Adam's attorneys," Skye filled in as she recognized the name, and now him. Slowly a smile crossed her lips as she remembered how they had flirted those years before.

"Yeah. Chandler-Quartermain, huh? So you've remarried then?"

Skye laughed slightly at that, "don't keep up much with current events do you, Sammy Boy?"

Sam shrugged at that, "Mostly just political, not social."

"Oh," Skye shrugged as she fidgeted and looked at him out of the corner of her eye, "anyway, it's Chandler-Quartermain because it turns out I'm adopted. I'm a Chandler by adoption, Quartermain by blood. Besides, it's a great intimidator in the business would."

"Yeah? So um. . . where's your wife? I mean, if I remember correctly you were engaged to a Linda or something, weren't you?"

"Lisa," Sam said tensely. "And we broke the engagement years ago, or actually, she did."

"Tough break."

"Yeah."

"So, why are you going to Port Charles?" Skye asked. "I mean, I haven't heard of any of the companies there looking for outside counsel."

"A good friend's in the hospital. You?"

"My brother's a screw up and it's big sister to the rescue as usual."

"Sounds. . ." Sam started only to stop as his cell phone rang. "I gotta. . ."

"Yeah, you go right ahead," Skye sighed as she pushed the seat back to a reclining position and closed her eyes. Well, it could've been an interesting flight, she thought as she opened her eyes enough to watch Sam's animated response to something he was being told. Then again, it still might be, she mentally amended with a sly smile. After all, she had always been partial to arrogant pretty boys.