Chapter 16

Alexis hung up the phone and slowly sat down. She knew who Johnny was referring to and she didn't know if she was ready to talk to Dixon. However, regardless of whether she was ready or not, the time had come and she needed to prepare herself to meet him. She went to penthouse 2 and changed clothes. For this meeting with Dixon, she wanted to appear as professional as she possibly could. She donned a very neat, slimming dark blue pin-strip suit. Perusing her image in the dresser mirror, she was satisfied that the persona of Alexis Davis, attorney at law was in place and ready for action. She was skilled, gifted with a quick wit and aggressive in her pursuit of justice. Those attributes would serve her in the next few hours.

Johnny was casually leaning against the inside of the door eyeing a restrained Dixon. He hadn't wanted to have too much physical contact with the man since he wasn't sure he could contain himself. So, he used the cord from the drapes and tied him to a chair and waited for Alexis. When he heard a knock at the door he opened it just enough to see who it was then stepped back to allow her to enter. He took one look at her and his heart swelled with pride. She was relaxed and carried herself with a surety he knew could only come from years of successfully fighting for the rights of others. Yes, that was his sister. She was a winner and this time instead of using Dixon's help to win a case, he was now the plaintiff and she, the defendant as well as the defense attorney.

"Good Morning, Dixon. Has your stay here been pleasant?"

Dixon had looked up as she entered the room and knew the day of reckoning had come.

"Alexis."

"Funny, I thought you would have more to say to me than that. I find that I am just overflowing with things to say to you. I can't really decide where to start. It's been so long since we've had a decent conversation. Have you missed our conversations as much as I have?"

"Just get on with it."

"Lets start with a question, shall we? Did you really enjoy the cases we worked on or was it simply a way of getting to me? Now, be honest Dixon. You know how important honesty has always been in our work together."

She was being snide on purpose. She wanted to know just how deep Dixon's loyalty had been to Helena and if she had made any kind of a positive impression on him at all. The work they did for the children and how he viewed it was paramount in how she would deal with him now.

"My family owed her. I had no choice. She owned me."

His response unsettled her. There was more here than she expected. It was now imperative that she know everything.

"Ok, second question. Have you ever been asked to eliminate me?"

"No, my job was simply to keep an eye out on you and report your activities."

"How often did you make your report?"

"Once a month. More if the level of your activity increased."

"If you were given the order to eliminate me, would you follow through with it?"

"No."

"Why?"

Dixon went silent. He had been watching her pace back and forth as she put each question to him. She was good. Very good. No wonder she won each of her cases over the years. He had always liked Alexis and resented Helena for putting him in the position of deceiving her. The more he had worked with her, the more he liked her.

"Why, Dixon?"

Alexis moved closer to Dixon and sat down across from him. She didn't see any anger or defiance. She didn't see a threat from him at all.

"Johnny, untie him."

"No, Alexis. I don't trust him."

"Johnny, Dixon is no threat to us. I want to talk to him without him being restrained."

Dixon admired this woman. She was all that he wanted to be so long ago. Over the years they discussed many things and he had always been impressed with her. Making his monthly calls sickened him on one hand, but without them he would not have had a reason to work with her. And he looked forward to each of their meetings during their case work.

Johnny untied Dixon and went to sit by the door. He wasn't as sure about this guy as Alexis was, but he was willing to defer to her until he there was reason not to. She was seeing something that he didn't and he had become very interested in their conversation, or rather her inquisition of him. He couldn't help the smile he hid behind his hand. Proud did not describe the feeling he had for her at that moment. The word was too small, too simple.

Alexis allowed Dixon to stand and stretch his cramped arms and legs. She watched him start to pace as his agitation became clearly visible.

"I never wanted to hurt you Alexis. I was put in a position I couldn't get out of. It was forced on me. I tried to do my best for you in hopes that it would someday make a difference if you ever found out. I lived for the work we did together. It made the rest of it bearable. The more we worked together, the more important the work became. We were helping kids find a better life. I only wish there had been someone like you to fight for me when I was a kid. I would be a different man today. Do whatever you want with me, I deserve it. The kids were worth whatever price I have to pay now."

"Dixon, what happened to you? What did Helena have on you?"

"It doesn't matter now."

"It might. It just might. Would you be willing to help us turn the tables on her now?"

Dixon looked at Alexis skeptically. He wasn't sure where she was going with that last question, but it certainly intrigued him. With more than a little apprehension a slight smile creased his face.

"What's on you mind?"

"First, there are some things I need to know. You do know that Johnny here is my flesh and blood brother?"

"I didn't know you had a brother until last month when you sent me to investigate him. You're not going to like this, but I had to report to Helena you were searching for information. I didn't call her until I ran into the brick wall in Puerto Rico."

Dixon turned to Johnny and nodded.

"You hid your identity very well. If it weren't for my connection with Helena I never would have gotten anything previous to Puerto Rico."

Johnny relaxed. He was beginning to see what Alexis saw when she asked him to untie Dixon. He wasn't entirely ready to let his guard down as completely as Alexis, but Dixon seemed to be sincere in his demeanor and honest in his story.

"In a way that's reassuring. But, no matter, she covered me just as completely as Alexis was covered."

Turning back to Alexis, Dixon continued. "Well, in any case, Helena decided that it was time for you to remember your place, so she told me the whole story of your childhood. Alexis, I'm sorry, I didn't want to come back to you with all of that, but she gave me no choice. I was looking at a hole six feet deep if I disobeyed her."

"It's ok, Dixon. That is the one thing that has come out of the whole mess that has given me peace. Without realizing what you were doing, you gave me my brother and sister back. Sure it was on the order of Helena, but you were the messenger. For that, no matter why you did it, I will always be grateful."

Dixon saw the look she passed to Johnny and was reassured that she came out on the right side; she survived the hell he put her through. He was relieved that she held no animosity toward him for being the one with the key to her past.

"Dixon, we need to know what she has on you. If there is any way to use it against her to stop her from coming after us, we need to know what it is. She won't stop until she has annihilated all of us. Neither Johnny, nor I want to use violence against her. Getting down and dirty right along with her is not my idea of fun. I would rather take her down using the only weapon in my arsenal that she has consistently scoffed at and ridiculed on a regular basis. The law!"

"I see your point. That would be quite amusing. Helena's hold over me is not really about me. It has more to do with my family. Johnny, your Nana is my mother."

Johnny slowly stood and walked toward Dixon. Alexis was watching Johnny to see his reaction. She wasn't sure how Johnny felt about his Nana now and she didn't want him losing control. She rose from her chair and went to stand beside him.

"Johnny, are you ok?" Alexis placed her hand on his arm and sent Dixon a look to get him to back up a couple of steps.

"Johnny."

"Its ok, Lexie. Let him finish. I'm just real curious as to where this is going."

Dixon found a chair and sat down. It was the only thing he could think of doing to let Johnny know he was no threat to him.

"Johnny, my mother was not allowed to keep me on the castle grounds. When Helena found out my mother was pregnant she made it clear that my existence would not be permitted if I was kept on the island. Children other than the Cassadine heirs weren't allowed on the property. Helena wouldn't have it. That's why you and Kristina meant so much to Nana. When I was born my mother sent me to live with her sister. I did not know my parentage until twenty years ago when Helena decided she needed an operative to keep an eye on you, Alexis. It was either do her bidding or watch her kill my mother."

"Dix, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry you were pulled into this mess. Is your mother still alive?"

"Yes, she is still alive."

"Alexis, I'm not so sure I'm buying this guy's story as completely as you are. How do we know this is not just a well thought out plan on Helena's part?"

"He has a point, Alexis. You should not be so willing to accept a stranger's story. Remember, you only know me through a working relationship. If you are to survive her you must guard yourself more. There is a way to corroborate my story; well, at least some of it."

Johnny was very uneasy about all of this. It just seemed a little too convenient. A little too well planned.

"Dixon, you have my attention. How can you prove this story of yours?"

"Escort me to Mr. Corinthos' penthouse."

Alexis and Johnny starred at Dixon as though he had lost his mind. They were both having a problem with his last request. Alexis took a step toward Dixon and was halted by Johnny's hand on her shoulder.

"Wait, Alexis."

She turned, removed his hand from her shoulder.

"It's ok. I know what I'm doing."

Alexis turned back to Dixon and stepped closer to him. She gazed into his eyes, searching.

Dixon knew what she was doing and he allowed it. He wanted her to see that she could finally trust him. He let her see the truth behind his words.

"Johnny, let's go to Sonny's. We need to finish this."

"Alexis...?"

Smiling back at Johnny, "Its ok, Johnny. Please, this time, trust me. He wants this over as much as we do."

"Ok, if you say so. But, mister, you just remember I'll be right behind you. No funny stuff or you'll wish you never laid eyes on either of us. Catch my drift?"

"You have nothing to fear from me. You have my word. I will not hurt her again."