Notes: (lots of them)
1.) Thanks to those of you who reviewed first of all. I always welcome your thoughts and others. :)
2.) I was originally going to write the Sam/Sarah scenes another way – with Sarah's main interest in helping Sam being part of her neurological research (and that still will factor in), but I was inspired by the upcoming doppelganger story, and here we will assume "Sam," does have a look-a-like named "Alicia," though I am not basing that story point on any of the spoilers for GH. It was just an initial point to tie together the canvas. Tying the Webbers (via Sarah) to JaSam and that whole story makes even more sense later. But that's for much later. ;)
3.) Yes, this is still the same day as Chapter One, a few days later than the Prologue. Who knew I could manage to draw out one day for three chapters? It'll actually be 4, because the next chapter will STILL be the same day.
4.) I hope I'm writing the "cops" stuff okay. Crime and mystery aren't my forte – human relationships are where I'm much better than whodunit. (And please remember, my Murphy/Jesse story is somewhat different than how it played out on GH.)
5.) I know I promised the Webber family dinner would be in this chapter, but it was just too long to fit it without making it Webbers 24/7 (and messing with the chronological time). So, it begins at the end of this chapter, but the "news" will be in the next chapter. I never realized how long it'd get. Sorry.
Enough notes:) Without any more fuss, here's Chapter Three of "Aftermath."
-Alison
Chapter Three
Two Sides of a Secret
---
"The cause is hidden. The effect is visible to all."
-Ovid
---
Elizabeth approached 812 with the chart in nervous hands. These were her last rounds for the day, before she left. This was her last room, actually. The one she didn't want to finish. The one she really didn't want to pull now, after she knew for sure the results of her test.
She hadn't realized that Courtney's chart had been in the pile handed to her until it was too late to switch discreetly. No one at the hospital seemed to know or remember or think of the surrogacy plans, seemed to think there would be anything inappropriate or indelicate about sending Elizabeth in to check on Mrs. Jasper Jacks, two days after Courtney had miscarried and been disfigured by a car accident.
Elizabeth flipped through the chart first. Dr. Asher Thomas's name appeared in the most recent entry. He'd seen Courtney that afternoon for the second time. Psych check-ups had become regular since Courtney flipped out the first time she saw Jax.
"How is she?" Elizabeth heard Jax's voice and turned around. She hadn't seen him sitting on the chair, in the alcove nearby. She'd been so inside herself.
"I don't know yet," Elizabeth said. "I was just reading today's history. It looks like she's doing better. They may be able to go into surgery for the collar bone tomorrow, but I can't really say for sure." She paused. "And I shouldn't even be telling you that."
Jax nodded. He knew Courtney had asked them not to inform him, to keep her medical records private from her husband, to have Mike be considered her next of kin, if she needed surgery or any additional emergency that she was unable to approve herself.
Elizabeth had been in the room when it happened, when Courtney flipped, but even if she hadn't, she would have heard about it: everyone in the hospital had. Courtney – arm in a sling, collar bone shattered, face smashed – had a fit that looked nearly epileptic. They'd barely understood her shouting. She'd had to be restrained. It took them almost five minutes to realize what she wanted was Jax out of the room.
But what Elizabeth remembered most of all wasn't Courtney's reaction – it was the look in Jax's eyes when he realized he'd caused that, that she wanted him out that badly, that not only couldn't he help, he'd hindered, unknowingly, somehow hurt her worse.
Elizabeth suspected it was guilt, but that was only because she knew Courtney had miscarried, because she'd heard Courtney ask about the child and seen the look on her face when the doctors told her she wasn't pregnant any longer. Elizabeth knew because she could read the little blue note, early in the chart. But Jax didn't know any of that. Elizabeth imagined that was the medical information Courtney wanted to keep concealed.
"Ask her if she'll see me? Please?" Jax asked.
Elizabeth nodded slightly. "I'll try. I'll do the best I can without upsetting her."
"Thank you."
Elizabeth was just relieved Jax hadn't thought to ask about her own pregnancy, the surrogacy, whether it had taken or not. She tapped lightly, as was custom, and then entered.
"Hey," She said softly. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I had my face cracked open."
Elizabeth grimaced at her tone, but there was nothing particular towards Elizabeth – not even any real hostility. Just bitterness. Sadness.
"Do you want me to see if the doctor can recommend something better for pain?" Elizabeth asked, but she knew that wasn't Courtney's meaning. "Though we have you on a pretty high dose already," she murmured quietly.
"Well, I wouldn't object to a wall of numbing meds, if you can arrange it," Courtney said darkly. She let out a long breath. "But I'm not counting on that." She watched through her gauze as Elizabeth made notes on the charts.
Elizabeth forced a small smile. "Would you prefer someone else come in from now on? Because I can tell them – "
"No, Elizabeth, it's not you," Courtney said softly, imagining Elizabeth's notes (Pulse: normal, BP: tad high, Temperature: slight fever, Temperament: bitchy.). "Actually, once you're done writing down my vitals, we probably need to talk."
"Okay." This was what Elizabeth had been dreading. Elizabeth sat down, and put the chart on her lap. Jax may have forgotten to ask, but it was all Courtney could think about.
"Are you pregnant?"
Elizabeth bit her lip, not wanting to answer at first. She wasn't sure why – was it for Courtney, or herself?
But it didn't matter anyway, Courtney didn't need anything other than the look on Elizabeth's face. Even through the gauze, she could read it perfectly. "You are. It took."
Elizabeth nodded finally. "Yeah."
"Don't tell Jax," Courtney said, her voice halfway between a command and a plea. "Don't tell anyone. Make something up – a story, a change, put it off. Announce it next month. Make the baby Lucky's. It'll come premature, but it'll be his, or you could go away for awhile. No one would know the difference. It could work somehow." Courtney had been thinking a lot about it. She couldn't stand to raise this baby. Not now.
"How can I do that?" Elizabeth asked, even though the idea had almost crossed her mind, too, under the circumstances.
"I'll make sure he still pays you."
"It's not about the money, Courtney. I made a promise. To both of you."
"Please," Courtney said softly. "Please do this for me."
"I don't know if I can. But I won't say anything yet," she promised softly. "You might not even really want that anymore – once you feel better, you might change your mind."
Courtney couldn't imagine feeling better. Especially not with Liz and Jax's baby in her arms, when her own should have been there, too. "Just don't tell Jax."
"You know, he's outside now. Jax," Elizabeth told her. "He's been at the hospital all day. Yesterday, too. I think he even stayed overnight, in the waiting room. Waiting for you. Waiting to see if you'd let him in without screaming. Wishing he could fix everything."
"Well, he can't." Courtney closed her eyes, but Elizabeth couldn't see her expression. "And I can't let him in till I know for sure I can work through this. If he still takes this baby from you, I can't be any part of it. And there's no way he'll give it up if he knows."
---
Sam closed the filing cabinet and looked at Sarah, wondering what happened now that she was caught, and why the girl who'd found her looked more amused than outraged.
"What exactly do you think you're doing, Lisha?" Sarah asked. She looked about ready to laugh. "And when did you get to Port Charles?"
Sam had no idea who Lisha was, or who this girl was. But she decided to play along. "Not long ago," she said softly. "And I was looking for some files. Medical records. On Jason Quartermaine Morgan." There was no lie that was easier than the truth.
"Why?" Sarah looked more closely at the girl now, flinching a little, seeing something was off. But they were interrupted by Alan Quartermaine.
"I'm sorry it took so long, Sarah." He stopped and looked surprised to see Sam, with Sarah, in his office. "Hello. Sam, may I help you with something?"
"I was just talking with Sarah," Sam said, catching the name he'd thrown. "But I'll wait for her." Sam was out of the office quickly. Sarah looked confused by the whole ordeal.
"How do you know Sam McCall?"
"Not well," Sarah said softly. "I've seen her in passing. A few common friends. I had no idea she was in Port Charles."
Alan looked surprised. "I can't imagine what common friends you and she would share," he said, but he accepted it, without further prying. "Anyway, I have spoken with the board, and they think that your research is fascinating, and that you'd also make an excellent addition to our neurology staff. If you're willing to call General Hospital home again, Dr. Webber."
"That's the plan."
Alan nodded. "I'm actually very interested in your most recent study as well," he added slowly. "My youngest son has the kind of injury you've been studying, you know."
Sarah nodded, too. "I didn't know it was the exact kind, but I had heard about Jason. He and my sister were friends at one point."
"Yes." Alan looked down at his files again, as if unsure. "Anyway, anything I can do to help you further this research, any resources you need help acquiring within the hospital, you have my full support. The whole of the Quartermaines' support, whatever weight that still carries here."
"If you don't mind my saying so, I thought Jason was estranged from your family," Sarah said softly.
Alan's face changed. They had no reason to be discussing this, but he wanted to explain his attachment to her research. The study had affected him profoundly when he'd read it, just a few days ago. In fact, he looked more alive, less exhausted, for it. "I gave up all hope of getting Jason back years ago, but when I read your research, it was like finding that hope again. I don't know if it will lead anywhere, or if Jason could ever reconcile with my family, even if the damage was reversed, but finding that file on my desk made me feel like… working. It makes me happier to be here today."
Sarah smiled softly. "That's an awful heavy load, Dr. Quartermaine. And I've barely finished my residency." She could see him nodding, his face tightening as if agreeing with her and feeling foolish. "But if my research pans out, and helps your family or any other, that's what makes me feel like working. And happier to be here today."
---
Ric paced as he waited in Sonny's living room for his brother. He had no idea how he was going to convince Sonny that Kristina should spend nights in an empty apartment with a babysitter, instead of at Greystone with Sonny. But here he was, back in the middle again.
"Where's Kristina?"
"Hello to you, too," Ric said. "Kristina's still at the hospital. With her mother. Visiting. Nikolas is staying with them for a little while, in case Kristina needs something Alexis isn't in any condition to provide."
"So, what are you doing here?" Sonny asked, shrugging.
"Alexis wanted me to talk to you," Ric said.
"Let me guess, she doesn't want Kristina here. She'd prefer our kid be with the babysitter, and I not know she's still in the hospital."
"She just wants Kristina to sleep at home, in her own bed. Not to disrupt her routine, her sense of home and security," Ric said. "Look Alexis is already feeling guilty enough about being in the hospital, away from her. I'm just here because if Alexis pushes herself to get out, before it's safe, the baby could be at risk. And you know Alexis, she will if – "
"– she doesn't get her way?" Sonny said, rolling his eyes. "What did I do to her that was so bad, Ric? Have you figured it out, because I haven't? I haven't tried to take Kristina away. I had every right to try – and I didn't. I could have. Hell, Ned took her for a year, and he wasn't even the real father. I let Alexis keep our kid, and just asked to be a part of my daughter's life. Do me a favor, Ric. You remind her of that when you go back to get my daughter." Sonny crossed his arms. "Actually, you know what, we've done this little dance through you long enough," he said, walking towards the door, "I think I'll remind her myself."
"Wait. That's a really bad idea, Sonny." Ric walked after him quickly. 'Great,' he thought. 'Worst possible case scenario, here we come.'
---
Sarah left Alan's office and ran into Sam, who was waiting for her, looking nervous.
"What did you tell him?"
"Not much. Who are you?" Sarah said, looking at the girl for a longer moment now. "You're not Alicia Cranwell. Except for the hair and wardrobe, you look just like her."
"Who's that?"
"Another doctor I knew in London. She was from Boston. Her mother was a doctor, too. Giselle Worthing Cranwell, invented a lot of the techniques we use today in facial grafting. Father's family in the printing business. Any relation?"
"No." Sam almost laughed. That was about as far away from her life as she could imagine. "I would seriously doubt it."
"Well, the resemblance is uncanny. You should google her, or something," Sarah said, but she regained initial purpose. "So, who are you? And what do you want with Jason Morgan's medical records?"
Sam sighed. She didn't want to tell Sarah, but she didn't have much of a choice. She had to convince the girl to keep her cover. "I'm trying to help him figure out some things."
"He can request a copy of his records."
"It will be suspicious," Sam pointed out. "Besides, Jason doesn't know. He doesn't want to hear anything about the Quartermaines or the accident, but something's weird. I just know it, so I have to find out, for his own good."
"That's it. You want to know about his brain damage?"
"Yeah."
"Get his consent somehow, and I'll help you with everything. It doesn't need to be cleared through the hospital. Just find a way to get his consent to me. I'll be moving into my office here, tomorrow afternoon. Find me then." She paused. "And for the record, there is no physical file on patients for ten years. It's on the computer. So, stop breaking into filing cabinets, Ms. McCall."
---
Mac walked into the police station, looking for Murphy. He'd called on his way in and had them pull Murphy off duty.
"Where is he?" Mac asked the desk sergeant. He was all business now.
"Murphy's in the interrogation room. He was going to wait in your office, but the guy from I.A. is there now, wanting to talk to you."
"I.A. can wait. I'm going to sort through this first," Mac said. "Make sure they don't interrupt my talk with Murphy."
"Sure, Commissioner."
Mac entered the interrogation room, unsure of how to approach the situation. Did he want to go at Murphy, see how he reacted? Play it like he was on his side? Mac didn't know who's side he was on. He just knew he wanted to feel the guy out. He decided he'd see if Murphy would lie.
Murphy was sitting on the table, watching as Mac entered.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" Murphy asked.
"Yeah. Didn't expect you to wait in here."
"I didn't feel like mixing in with I.A. Unless you want me to for some reason." He paused. "They're here for Beaudry, I'm guessing."
"Yeah." Mac nodded. "Seems like he's been pulling drugs through the department, making some side deals."
"Seems like," Murphy agreed.
"You know anything about that?"
"Not any more than anyone else, sir."
"Or anything about what went down at that cabin, with my daughter, Maxie. She said something about you before she went under. That's why I called you here."
"I just know that Beaudry kept telling people it was me. Because I'm new, I thought. I don't have a lot of friends here yet." He paused. "And I was trying to track him, take him in, make him admit the truth."
"Were you at the cabin?"
"Only for a few minutes before it went down. Your daughter believed him, I think. He tried to make her think I was going to shoot her. I was just trying to bring him in, sir. I'm sorry I didn't call for back-up sooner." He looked nervous. "I know I way overstepped."
"Way overstepped is an understatement," Mac said. "You put Maxie in danger by acting alone and impulsively. And if you knew where Beaudry was, why not call it in immediately? Why try going alone?"
"I thought they'd believe him. He was setting me up at that cabin, seeding false evidence there. He told me he would. Goaded me. I don't know what he had against me, sir."
Mac looked skeptical. "I want you benched, Murphy. Pending further investigation. I'll arrange for full pay for two weeks, half after that, if you're still off-duty – until I.A. tells me you're under arrest, or clears you for work." He paused. "Seems like you are involved with I.A. after all, no matter what room you want to sit in."
---
Justus was passing through the hospital when Durant stopped him. "Mr. Ward, perfect, just the man I wanted to see," Durant said, wheeling himself in Justus's path.
"Why is that?"
"Because I'm suddenly in need of a lawyer. Ms. Davis seems to be unable to continue."
"I understand your predicament, but why on earth would you think that lawyer would be me, Durant?"
"Because you still want to be mayor," Durant said. "Even after everything, you still want to play for the good team. And I can let you back on it. An A.D.A. position, the best cases, a political leg to stand on, and then someday, not far from now. The office will be open in three years. And then, you get your place back as the man your parents expected you to be – the man you expected to be. By then, hopefully, I'll have Corinthos convicted, and my endorsement will mean even more."
Justus looked at Durant. He had thought about that, more than once. The guy had his number, but that didn't mean he trusted him. "You just want me to represent you to stick it to Sonny and Bobbie all at once. Same way you wanted Alexis."
"It doesn't hurt that you used to be his guy, no, or that it would upset him," Durant said, smiling and shrugging.
"The Quartermaines have a vested interest in the hospital. And I'm on the board."
"Not biting, huh? Okay, I've got deal #2 for you. I'll take a settlement, but only if you handle it, and only if you give me something else."
"Nobody's burying Bobbie for a settlement."
"I don't want Bobbie. I want Sonny. And you can help me, with that."
---
Felicia sat up straighter as Maxie's eyelids fluttered for the second time in a row. Bobbie had been watching through the glass, looking into the I.C.U. room with knowing eyes. She entered through the open door.
"It's reflexive," she said softly. "Her vitals haven't changed."
"But there's brain activity?"
"Yeah, there's brain activity. She's not that bad off, just way too stressed physically now to wake up."
"But she will wake up?"
"There's a good chance," Bobbie said softly, wishing she could say 'Yes, I promise' instead. "A very strong chance that she will – every reason to believe she will."
---
Elizabeth was crushing saltine crackers to put into the meatloaf when Lucky came in the kitchen. Cam's playpen had been moved near the kitchen, so she could see him from the counter.
"So, we're having company, huh?"
"Just my parents, and Stephen. And maybe Sarah." Elizabeth said, crumbling the pieces of cracker into a mixture of beef, cheddar cheese, peppers, onions, and butter. "I'm making a meatloaf and roasted potatoes. And probably some green beans."
"You need help?"
She looked up and shrugged. "Yeah. You can start washing and chopping the potatoes, that'd be great."
Lucky could tell something was bothering her. She was done mixing now and pressing the meatloaf into the pan, patting it down with some frustration. "Um, you don't look terribly…happy. It's not about Sarah, is it? Because we never really talked and if you want to –"
"No, no, it's not about Sarah," Elizabeth said, letting out a long breath. "Though I am not thrilled at the potential awkwardness of all that tonight, with Mom and Dad here. It's been a long enough day already."
"What happened?"
Elizabeth sighed. She took her hands out of the meatloaf and wiped them on a dish towel, sighing. "Well, I wasn't going to tell you till after dinner. After my family left." She put the dish towel down, slipped the pan into the oven, and turned to him. "But I'm pregnant. The surrogacy took."
Lucky nodded. "Well, we can deal with that. I've been a real jerk about it, but I promise I won't let it affect us – "
"Well, it is going to affect us. Maybe a lot," Elizabeth interrupted. "It's more complicated than you think. Courtney doesn't want me to tell Jax. She wants me to tell him it failed and to somehow pass this baby off as yours."
"Why?"
"Because – God, I shouldn't be telling you this," she sighed, but she continued anyway, "Because she miscarried again during the hurricane. In the car accident. And she wants no part of this baby, she says. I told her she might change her mind, but I'm not sure. I just don't know what to do."
Lucky didn't respond for a moment. He was peeling potatoes while he thought about it, and Elizabeth wasn't waiting for a response. She started washing the green beans, pulling off the bad ends.
"Why don't we do it?"
"What?" Elizabeth ask.
"What she wants, make the baby ours," Lucky said. "It will be best for us, best for Courtney, and maybe in the long run, best for Jax. If we tell him, he has to decide between his wife and his child, right?"
"I guess. That's what Courtney made it sound like."
"Look, we can do whatever you want," Lucky said softly. "I think that's the best choice, for everyone, but I'll be here either way."
Elizabeth just shrugged, still completely unsure what to do.
---
"I really should come see you two girls more often," Nikolas said softly, feeling better than he had in months. It was amazing the healing power of an adorable three-year old.
"Yeah, sometime when neither one of us is in a hospital room, or a jail cell, or any other kind of grave danger," Alexis said, smiling as Kristina played next to her, drawing pictures with an enormous set of crayons – something like five hundred in a huge, plastic case – that Nikolas had brought.
"Definitely," Nikolas promised. He paused. "You and Kristina are the only family I have left," he said, his voice suddenly sounding small.
Alexis reached out for him, and he met her hand halfway. "Things aren't any better with Emily?"
"She started seeing Dr. Winters at least, but it's even more time spent here. If anyone wants to find my wife, this is the place. Not Windemere." He sighed. "I know I sound selfish, and I really want Emily to do what's best for her, but how long can we live like strangers? How much time is the right amount?"
Alexis sighed, thinking about her own marriage. "I don't know. But as someone who's erred on the other side of caution, I'd have to say, stick it out until you're sure."
"You thinking about Ric?"
She was about to nod and say more when Ric came into the room.
"What about me?" He asked.
"Nikolas was wondering when you were coming back," Alexis lied. "How did it go with Sonny?"
"Not good. He's on his way here now," Ric said. "I had to drive like a maniac to beat his driver. Please, please, please, do not get upset, or make it any worse. Think of the baby. Think of Kristina."
At her name, the little girl looked up, but she didn't say anything. She and Nikolas exchanged glances. Nikolas wished he could reassure the girl.
"He's angry?"
"I don't know," Ric said. "Actually, it was weird. I think he was actually, more hurt."
---
Sarah entered her grandmother's room. Audrey was watching television and looked up and smiled to see her granddaughter. The room was filled with flowers, almost bursting.
"Look at this room. Every time I come in, you have more gifts," Sarah said.
"It's nice to know you're appreciated. And nice to see my family, even if it takes a bump on the head for it," Audrey agreed.
"Well, you'll be seeing a lot more of me, even once you get well, Grams." Sarah smiled as she sat down next to Audrey's hospital bed. "I just came from my meeting with Alan Quartermaine earlier. He hired me for a neurology staff position, and the hospital is going to completely fund my research for at least another six months after the initial grant money runs out."
"That's great news, dear. I had no idea you were coming back to Port Charles."
"I've been considering it for awhile. With the new grant, my research needs to be done in the U.S." Sarah told her. "I know it was a mess the last time I was here," she said quietly. "But a part of me still feels like this is home, strange as that sounds, even though I've spent most of my life somewhere else."
Audrey smiled. She had heard that often throughout the years. "This town has a way of getting under your skin," she agreed. "Don't worry about your sister, Sarah. Elizabeth will come around if you let her, and if you're honestly sorry. I don't think a person could hope for a more forgiving heart than hers."
"She takes after you, probably, Grams," Sarah said, smiling. They hadn't needed to discuss what had happened exactly. That was something she loved about Audrey. The way she understood without words.
"Speaking of your sister, isn't she having all of you over for dinner tonight?"
"I thought I'd sit with you instead."
Audrey shook her head. "No, you should go. I insist. I'm exhausted anyway. I'll probably do nothing but sleep the whole time."
Sarah sighed. She knew Audrey meant well, but Audrey hadn't seen the relieved look on Elizabeth's face earlier, when Sarah suggested she might not be able to make it. But, she wasn't going to argue either.
"Well, I'll let you rest then," Sarah said, but she didn't promise she'd go to Elizabeth's. She had no intention of joining the Webber family dinner that night.