A/N: Thanks so much for all the reviews! I'm glad you are enjoying the story, and this chapter begins my version of GH, so I hope you'll keep reading ;) I'll be updating as frequently as possible, so expect the unexpected!

BTW: luvr - Hope this helps your sanity, and Queen of Elven City - the interaction you want is coming, no worries!

Chapter 4

"What…happened?" Lucky asked, just as Luke walked through the door. Liz looked behind her, and tried to quickly hide what had happened only 24 hrs before. She turned back to Lucky's inquisitive, yet weak eyes and immediately softened.

"Helena shot you, Lucky – do you remember that?"

"Yea…Emily…she got away," Lucky's breath was labored, but he needed to find out what had happened after he and Helena stared each other down in the Cassadine crypt.

"Yeah she did, and you were rushed here," Liz started explaining, and Luke listened intently; he realized he had never asked for the full story when he finally came back. "You were in a coma, and then had a stroke, which is probably why you're having a little trouble talking."

Lucky could tell Liz was hiding something. His dreams flooded back to him as she spoke, and he remembered studying all of her features, committing them to memory in case he never saw them again. The honesty in eyes wasn't there when she described what happened – he knew she was leaving out the worst parts.

"I'll tell him, Liz," Luke finally spoke up. "You don't have to."

"Luke," Liz's voice took a hard tone, warning him to stop before he said anything else to upset Lucky.

"Someone -" Lucky said slowly, and shifted slightly in the bed.

"Cowboy, the doctors told me people with your profile never recovered." Luke was staring right into Lucky's eyes, raw and honest. He wasn't going to hide from what he did, whether Lucky had lived or died. "The machines were breathing for you, they were keeping you here, maybe causing you more pain than I could bare to imagine. I didn't want you to live like your mother. I didn't want you to be trapped in this body, this life, if you didn't want to be..." he paused. Lucky's eyes had gone from sympathetic to widely alert, bracing himself for what Luke was saying. Liz only looked down at the floor.

"I took you off life support. I pulled the plug."

Georgie stepped off the elevator with Lucas and Bobbie, and sat at the hub with her head in hands while Lucas said a quick goodbye to his mom.

"Georgie, what's up? You were silent on the way over here, you were stiff during the memorial," Lucas said, rubbing Georgie's back.

"I know, it's Dillon," Georgie looked up worried. Lucas just rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Lucas, I wanted to talk to him, you know, comfort him or something, but I can't even tell if he's still mad at me. He ran off so fast when I got into it with Diego and Brook... I'm sorry, Lucas. I didn't mean to bring them up." Georgie imagined her foot being rammed down her throat once again.

Lucas just shook his head. "I don't care about them. They can do whatever they want." He didn't totally mean that; he did care about Brook Lyn and she had dropped him to his face. "And if Dillon doesn't come around because of something so small, it's his fault, you know that."

"I want us to talk, I really do," Georgie said, "but his family is so torn up now. Isn't it wrong to approach him about a stupid fight now? I just wish things were like they used to be, when I knew when and what to say to him."

"You still do, Georgie, you have to believe that. You're so lucky to have that at all – just give it a minute, and you guys will work it out." Lucas tried his best to console his friend.

"Since when do you support me and Dillon? Who are you, pod-Lucas?" Georgie tried to make light of the situation, rather than focus on it more.

"I know," Lucas chuckled a little, "it's just – sometimes I wish I had that. Someone to worry about, to fight with, make up with, you know what I mean. I've never been in love...sometimes I envy the fights I see my friends get into with their girlfriends, or boyfriends – in your case. At least you're not alone." Lucas shifted uncomfortably and looked away from Georgie. "If nice guys always finish last, I crawl in after them." He smiled ruefully, but Georgie knew he really felt that way.

The janitor ran her bucket into the wall near the elevator, causing Lucas and Georgie to jump up. She quickly scurried away, head down in embarrassment, and right past Dillon, who looked around the corner to see Georgie turn back toward Lucas.

"C'mon, Lucas, you are great," Georgie nudged him, "just because Brook couldn't see that doesn't mean anything. You'll find someone great, I swear."

"Yeah, well, looks like someone found you," Lucas pointed out, turning Georgie around to Dillon's subdued gaze.

Jason let out a small groan as he stood up from the pew in the church. Sam leaned into him, so that he could shift as much of his body weight as he could onto her.

"Jason, let me take you back to the hospital, please," Sam looked into his pained eyes and wished she could make him stay put for more than five minutes.

"No, no more hospitals," he looked down at her concerned chocolate eyes. "I just want to go home – with you."

Sam had yet to think about going back to the penthouse, for any reason other than helping Jason. Maybe that's all he meant, she thought but didn't let the worry show on her face.

"Sit down, ok, and I'll be right back," Sam gently pushed Jason off of her and walked over to Monica and Alan. "Monica, I'm sorry to interrupt, but can I talk to you for a second?" Monica turned to Sam, still tearing from the emotion of the ceremony but saw concern all over Sam's face.

The two women walked toward Jason, and Alan soon followed. "Is everything alright, Jason?" Monica bent down in front of her son and began checking his forehead and pulse.

"He wants to go home, instead of the hospital, and I wanted to be sure it was ok," Sam answered for Jason, who stopped himself from rolling his eyes. He knew Sam cared, but he didn't want his mother to worry about him instead of taking care of herself.

"I just want to go home," Jason said slowly. "I can sleep in my own bed."

Monica looked exhaustedly up to Alan, hoping he would chime in but he looked so lost in thought she gave up. "Sam, if you can look after him, make sure he does not move unless absolutely necessary, and takes all the medication – then it's alright by me." Jason nodded in approval and looked up at Sam.

"I know I'm in good hands," his lips curled into a small smile.

"I promise, Monica – on one condition," Sam looked from Monica's face to Jason's. "That you come to check on him when you have time, any time." She knew it would ease Monica's mind to monitor Jason's condition, and she hoped Jason would let her.

"I'd be happy to," Monica glanced gratefully at Sam. Jason simply nodded, not wanting to protest too much. He knew what Sam was thinking, but he wasn't going to argue and risk hurting Monica's feelings, not today.

"Jason, this may be not the best time," Alan finally spoke up, looking coldly at the three of them, "but when you're feeling better, I'd like for you to be the one to find AJ's killer."

Jason looked up in disbelief, but Monica turned on her husband, annoyed. "It most certainly is inappropriate, and I won't have you acting out your rage in this church or anywhere else, Alan!"

"He came here, Monica," Alan looked at her angrily, "he should know the truth about Courtney and what she did! I'm not asking him to take her out – although he might be more comfortable with that request."

"What does Courtney have to do with it?" Sam asked, echoing Jason's exact thought.

"She and AJ were still legally married, she went down there to get him to sign real divorce papers, since he doctored the other ones, and they fought. An hour later, he's dead, and she's free to marry Jax!"

"Courtney didn't do it," Jason finally said, thought his breathing was becoming shallower. He stood up slowly, leaning on Sam. "I'm not going to go after Courtney. I'm going home to rest, and I hope by the time I'm better you find out who the real killer is."

"Right!" Alan scoffed as Jason and Sam walked out of the church. Monica looked hard upon him, contemplating whether or not to turn her rings inward and leave an imprint on his face or not. "What Monica! Say it – I offended your precious Jason! Forget about your son that's DEAD, huh!"

"Alan, stop trying to be the father that you never were to AJ, and trying remembering you're the father of two other children. There's enough heartbreak with the ones that are living." Monica turned and stalked off, leaving Alan to wonder what she meant.

"You sure you want to go through with this?" Rachel said into her cell phone just outside of St. Timothy's.

"Hey, we both want revenge, right?" AJ responded, annoyed that his partner might be pulling out on their deal.

"I'm just saying, your family's really broken up over this," Rachel answered back.

"They'll get over it," AJ cackled, "now finish what we started." Rachel heard a swift dial tone, and proceeded to Courtney's loft.

"What is it, Mac?" Alexis rushed into the PCPD, talking as soon as she walked through the door. She had Kristina in her arms, and Sonny, Carly and Ric filed in behind her. Carly immediately saw Courtney motion to her from the corner of the room, so she whispered in Sonny's ear and pulled Courtney into the interrogation room.

"What's going on? You said it was an emergency," Carly studied her friend's face. Courtney looked like she hadn't slept for days, and her makeup wasn't hiding it well.

"Thank God Kristina's ok," Courtney said, not wanting to divulge her drama just yet. "What happened?"

"Jason went to Rollo's apartment and Faith cornered him there," Carly explained, and Courtney's eyes widened. "He's fine, Courtney – Sam got there, and they found Kristina, but there was struggle and Sonny and I and that agent got there as she was about to fire. Sonny and Agent Marshall killed her. Anyway, Mac called us down here – now, what are you doing here, and what is the emergency?"

"Ok, just let me tell you the whole thing – before you say anything, ok?" Courtney asked. She knew telling Carly about her non-divorce from AJ was going to be a shock.

"Fine, now spill it."

"Skye got a call from AJ, saying I couldn't marry Jax because he filed phony divorce papers," she breathed deeply, "and that I was still married to him."

Carly looked at her in disbelief, and then horror when she realized what that actually meant. "You and Jason –"

"Were never legally married," Courtney finished her best friend's sentence, and quickly continued on. "So I got real divorce papers and went to AJ to get him to sign them. He pretended he would and then refused. He wanted half my assets, and when I refused he threatened to drag it out in court. I went to leave, he grabbed me, I slapped him, he slapped me…"

"He WHAT!" Carly was still in shock, but was seeing red at the thought of AJ laying a hand on Courtney.

"Yeah, and I knocked him over. The concierge saw it all, and I got on a flight home. I met this woman on the plane," Courtney stopped, anger growing in her eyes. Carly could tell whoever she was, Courtney didn't like her and she knew it got worse. "I was so stupid," Courtney continued, turning away from her friend. "I poured out my history with AJ, Jason, Jax – all of it, and during my layover in Miami, she went back to the Bahamas and killed AJ – for me." Courtney turned back to see Carly's alarmed face. "Now, she wants me to kill for her – and she wants me to kill Steven."

Carly quickly recovered from the disbelief. "Who else knows about this?"

"No one, Carly," Courtney countered, "and I'm not sure who to go to. Sonny and Jason have just been through this whole ordeal with Kristina, and Rachel – the woman – she's a psychopath. I don't know what she'll do if I try to turn her in." Courtney began to rub her forehead and whimper.

Carly looked through the window to see where Sonny was standing with Ric and Alexis, looking intently at Mac. "Don't worry, sweetie," she said, as she hugged her friend. "I'll fix it."

"We recovered Faith's final possessions," Mac stated to Alexis' impatient eyes. Sonny stared almost blankly at him, and that was not lost on Ric, who was just as worried about his brother as his wife. "Her personal items will go to Justice, per her attorney's instructions, but I thought you should have what we found on her."

"What does that have to do with all of us? Mac, really, I want to get Kristina to the hospital and have her checked out. Let him deal with her things – I'm sure there's some secret thug memorabilia he'd like to have as a memento." Alexis snapped in Sonny's direction, but he never even flinched.

"I understand, Alexis, but there is something in here for you," Mac replied in a raised tone. He wanted to be done with this case as much as anyone. "For each of you."

"I don't understand," Alexis replied, her face suddenly less angry and more worried. "Is she still a threat to Kristina? Did she do something to her?" She stroked Kristina's face.

"No – it looks like she was planning to send these to you all when she had Kristina," Mac said, as he pulled out three envelopes, one addressed to Alexis, one to Ric, and one to Sonny. "We don't know if she intended to mislead you again and move Kristina, but each has a picture of Kristina and a note attached."

Alexis took the envelope and sat with Kristina at the nearest desk. She looked at the picture carefully, and then read the note aloud: "'I promised you that I would do the best I could.' Remember that, counselor? Now, I'll make sure you never forget." Alexis breathed out and clung that much harder to Kristina. "What does yours say?" She looked at Ric's pale, confused face.

"My partner, my lover, my Judas. Now I'll take another one of your children from you." Ric read Faith's word and quivered inwardly. Two children? Alexis just found out she was pregnant. He looked at his wife, but waited to ask her later.

"Sonny," Mac announced his name, and Sonny looked up from the paper, as Reese walked up behind the solemn group. He just sighed loudly, and they knew he would never reveal what Faith had left for him.

It'll never be over for you.

"You did what?" Lucky looked incredulously at his father. He understood what he had said, but he had never known his father to give up on him, and that's what it sounded like.

"Lucky, I wanted you to choose!" Luke cried out, exasperated that he had to explain this for the millionth time, but this was the most important one, so he tried again. "I didn't want your body to get hooked on machines and never come back on your own. If you wanted out, I was going to give it to you. Cowboy, I love you, and I'm proud of you for fighting back…" Luke stopped. "But I'm not going to apologize for my reasoning, and I'll just have to live without your forgiveness if it's come to that." Luke stood up, looked over at Elizabeth, and walked out.

Liz walked over to Lucky's bedside, and stared at his confused expression. She grabbed his hand tightly. "You know, Lucky, I'm trying to understand your dad. He's so hurt, but I know he never wanted to hurt you. He didn't want you to suffer, and you came back on your own anyway. Are you angry with him?"

"He says…he didn't give up on me," Lucky slurred slightly, "but that's what it feels like, Elizabeth. Mom's been the same for years, but he pulled the plug in less than two weeks." Lucky blinked back a few tears.

"I tell myself that's why he did it," Liz said gently. "He feels like he waited to long to help your mom, and he just wanted to help you sooner than later. I can't lie to you, I was angry with him at first, but I know in my heart he was just trying to do the right thing."

"That's all that matters to you, isn't it, Elizabeth?" Emily called out angrily from the door.

Monica sat in the family room, holding a picture of her three children that was taken what seemed like a lifetime ago. AJ, with the same smirk Tracy had mentioned at St. Timothy's, sitting in front, with Jason standing behind him, his hand on his shoulder. Jason looked so carefree then, smiling broadly. Looking at this photo Monica realized how much Jason's face had changed over the past 10 years, much harder, even though his eyes were still the same earnest cerulean shade. Emily stood on the other side of Jason, looking up at him smiling, with her hand on AJ's other shoulder. Monica couldn't even cry anymore, she just wanted to etch this image in her brain forever, and remember them the way they used to be.

A loud slam of the front door startled Monica, as did the swinging doors to the family room when Alan burst through them.

"I have had just about enough of this," Alan was near screaming. "You don't approve of how I grieve for my son, you don't back me up with our other son – that you are just sooo quick to defend, and then you leave the church, spilling cryptic quotes that I'm supposed to decipher? Where the hell do you get off Monica? You expect me to shed tears for Jason's bullet wound, when he refuses to help us nail AJ's killer? PLEASE, please tell me you're not continuing to cling to whatever scraps of a relationship Jason is willing to throw your way! It's simply –"

"ENOUGH!" Monica walked toward Alan and slapped him as hard as she possibly could. "You don't want me to insult your grief, then don't insult mine! You want to rant, fine, but don't expect me to support you railing against the world, Alan – or against me. AJ was my son, I carried him, and I loved him when you didn't even believe he was yours!"

Monica huffed and walked away from Alan's stunned and angry face. She composed herself as best she could before facing him again. "For your information, I don't expect you to care or worry for Jason, but I will because I'm his mother, and I will grieve my son by loving my other children with all my heart, soul, and strength. Now if we're finished judging each other, I'll tell you what I meant before I left the church."

"What," Alan retorted, raising his hand to his reddening cheek.

"I was talking about Emily, Alan," Monica began slowly. She wanted to handle telling Alan with Emily, but she wasn't going to let him run off causing more havoc when he could be comforting his daughter. "Have you even noticed how different she is lately…of course not. Neither did I." Monica turned away from Alan before she could think about what Connor had done to Emily.

Alan walked around the table to face Monica. "Emily has been a wreck about killing Connor, and now her brother's death. I know what that's doing to her Monica. Don't accuse me –"

"She didn't just kill Connor in self-defense, Alan! She killed him after he raped her!" Monica shouted in Alan's face, and immediately regretted it. "Alan, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I wanted Emily and I to tell you together, I swear. We have to help her Alan, don't you see? She's still here, and she needs us." She sat next to Alan, who had dropped to the couch, with his head in his hands.

His mind raced. She barely let me hold her earlier, and I never even asked why, he thought. He clutched Monica to him. "We will Monica," he said as he rose to his feet. "And we have to start by telling Nikolas."

"What?" Monica faced her husband. "We can't – Emily has to be the one to tell her husband."

"Monica, he has the same face! Do you think she's even going to be able to look at him?" Alan set his eyes hard upon his wife, and grabbed her by the shoulders. "I don't want to, but maybe if he knows he'll know how to help better than we can."

Monica shook her head. "I know, I know. What if we make things worse this way?"

"Monica, I never stepped in when I should have with AJ. I never helped him fight when he couldn't. I have to do that for Emily. We both do." Alan walked over to the phone, and called Pentonville to schedule a meeting with the warden about seeing Nikolas. Monica looked on, resigned.

Sonny simply shook his head, and crumpled the paper in his hand. He turned when he heard Reese's heels step slightly closer behind him.

"Are you ok?" she asked in a low voice near his ear. They were so close, she could smell his Armani Mania cologne and her mind drifted for a second in his scent. She briefly thought about their bodies pressed against each other on top of his car, but refused to let her eyes show it.

Sonny, still dazed and angry from what had happened, held his arm out to Reese, but they were standing so close, instead of shaking her hand, his arm brushed around her waist. He stepped back, feeling the heat of her body against his forearm and how quickly it was cold again as he removed it from her. He extended his hand and shook hers fiercely.

"Thank you for your work, Agent Marshall. Have you talked to Sam and Jason?"

"Ahem, yes, Mr. Corinthos," Reese stammered out. She felt like her hand was on fire where he held it, and let it drop quickly at her side. "They gave their statements, and I am just here to file them and close this case." She looked toward Mac, who nodded and left to get the files from another desk. Reese turned back to Sonny. "You can look at it if you like."

"Yeah, Corinthos – you may want to get your stories straight," Durant called out, causing Sonny and Reese to break the intense stare that enveloped them. Ric and Alexis stood up from the other side of the room, and Carly and Courtney walked out right after.

"You're going to need it, when I charge you for murder."