Chapter 12
Jodie walked quietly into the house, her hand on the handle of the door leading out to the backyard. Slowly she closed the door and turned to hurry up the stairs when a light came on. Uh-oh…busted. Turning, she saw Lorenzo sitting on the couch. His face was blank, devoid of emotion. But one look into the man's eyes had her realizing that he was very much upset with her and her disappearing act. Biting her lip she smiled. "Hi!" she said stuttering a bit as she talked. "I – I didn't know you . . . you'd be home. I was out looking at the horses in the stables. They're beautiful." As she talked she made her way to the stairs. "Well, I'm going to bed. Goodnight!"
"Hold it!" announced Lorenzo, not moving from his spot. His arms were now folded as he looked directly at her. "Were you really at the stables and not somewhere else?"
Slowly, Jodie turned and looked at him her hands slightly shaking. "I-I was at the stables…" she started but his look made her sigh. He knew exactly where she had been. With her head hung low she made her way over to where he was sitting, deciding at the last minute it would be better to sit on the other couch, just in case she needed to make a quick escape.
Lorenzo slowly sat forward, his eyes on his daughter. Her hair covered half of her face, but he could see the fear in her eyes. Lorenzo didn't want that from her ever. Walking over he sat on the table in front of Jodie and slowly lifted her chin up with his finger. "I'm not going to hurt you Jodie," he said, his voice softer so as to not scare her. "I'm just very disappointed in you."
If Jodie had had the choice of him either being angry her or being disappointed, she would have chosen angry. Her lip trembled, as she looked up at him the tears falling already. "You're going to send me back aren't you," she stated.
Reaching out Lorenzo brushed her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear while his thumb ran softly across her face wiping at the tears that fell. "Never," he whispered and then pulled her into his arms. Lorenzo hated to see Jodie cry. Ever since she had come into his world Lorenzo loved her instantly and he accepted her for who she was, including the part of her that sometimes disappeared, especially during a fight or when she was scared. "But we do need to talk." A smile graced his lips as he felt her body freeze in his arms.
Jodie pulled away and looked up at him with sad eyes. "You don't want me to disappear anymore…and you don't want me to hang out with Michael either," she said before looking down once more. Why did she have to keep losing everything? First her mother, then her home and now the first read friend she had ever had.
"It's for the best Jodie. There are things that you still don't know about me and my work, and in time you will learn, but for now I think it is a good idea that you don't see Michael again. Ever."
Frowning, she looked up at him. "But Mr. Alcazar, he's my friend. He understands me," she explained. Jodie didn't understand why it was so wrong for her to see Michael and his little brother Morgan. They were cool. They were her friends, and she wanted to see them. Now her own father was forbidding it, and Jodie didn't like it at all.
Lorenzo knew it would take a long while before his daughter was ready to call him father or dad. He had to almost hide a smile at what Diego called him now and could see Jodie copying Diego and referring to him as Pop. For now he would deal with her calling him Mr. Alcazar or Lorenzo.
Taking her hand in his, Lorenzo rubbed his thumb over her delicate fingers. "I can't let you see Michael anymore Jodie. It's too dangerous . . ."
"Too dangerous!" snapped Jodie as she pulled her hand out of his and stood up glaring at her father. "We play in his backyard and sometimes I climb the window to his room. How can that be dangerous?"
"How do you think I knew you were at his father's?" asked Lorenzo standing up and putting his hands on his hips. "And you shouldn't be climbing in or out of anyone's windows!"
"And what are you going to do?" yelled Jodie putting her own hands on her hips, not realizing she was imitating him, as she stared at him. "Lock me in my room?" Jodie's attitude was coming out full force and she didn't care. Mr. Alcazar was being so unfair!
Lorenzo was surprised by his daughter's outburst and sighed as he looked down at her. "Where is this coming from?" he asked. "All I am asking you is to stay away from Michael."
"Michael is my friend!" she screamed this at him. "I will not stay away from him!" Turning she flipped her hair around and stomped up the stairs. Reaching her new bedroom, Jodie slammed the door as hard as she could, not caring if it fell right off its hinges . . .
Lorenzo looked at the stairs, somewhat in awe and frustration. This was going to be much harder then he thought.
The drink that was put down in front of her made Skye smile, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Nodding to the waiter to indicate he could keep the drinks coming, she looked down in front of her at the glass. Reaching out she picked the glass up and brought it to her nose, smelling the disgusting, but very strong, smell of the liquor. Then Skye brought it to her mouth. Her lips were just touching the glass when she slammed the glass down hard enough to almost break it. Not caring about the people who were looking at her Skye grabbed her purse, threw some money on the table and got up.
Skye had to see if Lorenzo was really involved with this Jodie woman. Then she had a few choice words for that slime she found herself attracted to and who she couldn't get her mind off of.
Turning away from the disgusting glass of scotch, Skye put two steps between her and the table, and was surprised when she kept going. That was one obsession she had no problem getting rid of, Luke had been the second…and Lorenzo would be the third.
The elevator doors of General Hospital's 10th floor opened and Jason walked out trying to keep his heart from racing out of control. Although he and his father Alan had not been close for the last ten years Jason had not wanted to see the man hurt or possibly even die. Moving toward the Nurses station Jason stopped when he saw Elizabeth. "Where is he?" he asked not having time for the conversation that he knew Liz would bring up.
"Jason," said a voice from behind that made him turn to see his mother.
"Where is he?" he asked again, moving forward until he was in front of her. He could see the worried look on Monica's face, and the fear in her eyes. Jason had not seen that look since AJ had returned, bringing trouble with him.
"Come with me," said Monica grabbing her son's arm and leading him down the hall. Once they were at the door she watched Jason pause his hand freezing on the handle. "Jason…he wants to see you. Please."
Turning his head to look at Monica, Jason nodded before opening the door and going inside closing it firmly behind him. Alan was lying in the bed hooked up to machines that kept him keeping him alive. When Monica told him what she had seen walking into Dr. Thomas' office, fear along with anger had run through him. It could have been worse…his father had almost died and all Jason could think was it could have Michael. Slowly he moved to the edge of the bed and then a little closer, seeing how pale Alan was. Jason just stood there watching him.
Opening his eyes when he felt a presence in the room, Alan's eyebrows furrowed in pain as he tried to get back his vision which, at the moment, was impaired. "Jason?" he asked his voice chocked. God, he hurt.
"I'm here," said Jason reaching out and taking his father's hand, seeing how the man relaxed slowly as he closed his eyes again. Another reaction from the injection had left Alan without his vision. It was better then losing his memory like Jason had. "What happened?"
"I was talking to Dr. Thomas," Alan said licking his lips, his throat feeling dry. "I wanted him to get Michael away from you and Sonny." Alan felt Jason's hand clench around his. "I'm sorry son. I never meant for this to happen."
"What happened next," asked Jason trying to reign in his anger toward his father knowing this was not the time to lash out at him.
Alan thought for a minute. "He . . . reached into his . . . desk to get something . . . when I was yelling at him. I . . . threatened him. I turned to . . . leave and he . . . grabbed me and I felt pain . . . in my neck. One minute he . . . was normal, the next he . . . was a . . . madman."
Jason nodded as a realization came to him. Dr. Thomas was the one that was working with Faith. He was the one that took Carly and Sam. "Do you remember anything else?" Jason asked, hoping that Dr. Thomas had said something and Alan would remember it. Please, he thought. It was the only chance he had to find Carly and Sam before it was too late, if it wasn't already – but Jason didn't want to even consider that.
"I'm sorry Jason," he said after a moment. "I don't remember anything else. I think he's the one that took Carly and Sam."
Jason didn't say anything.
With a small smile, Alan squeezed Jason's hand. "It's okay," he said. "You don't have to tell me…but I'd like for you to do me a favor."
"What?" asked Jason, knowing he didn't have time to do what Alan asked of him.
"Get that son of a bitch," said Alan, his voice becoming hard. "Get him for taking Sam and Carly…for Michael."
That was a surprise. Jason had been expecting him to say let the police handle it, or it was time to get out of the mob while he still had a chance, anything other than this. "I'll do it," he said. "And for you too." He then let go of his hand and walked toward the door.
"Jason," said Alan. He didn't know if Jason had turned, but he smiled. "I love you son."
Jason nodded and then opened the door and left. He was going to do what his father asked, and so much more.
Skye passed the guards when they opened the door nodding to them briskly as she walked into the living room of Lorenzo's house. She saw him at the bar pouring himself something to drink. "Oh no you don't," she said grabbing the glass and throwing it against the wall watching it shatter. Glaring up at him she threw her purse and coat down. "You bastard."
Was this the day that everyone was pissed off at him, or was it just ill timing on his part? Lorenzo though as he turned, looking at Skye in surprise. Even in fury she looked beautiful. "Problem?" he asked calmly, considering she had just walked into his home, ripped his glass out of his hand, destroyed it, and was now calling him names.
"Problem?" laughed Skye. "How dare you after all this time…"
"How dare I what?"
Skye wanted to scream at him, scratch that beautiful face with that wonderful beard, kiss him, and then scratch his eyes out. No, she would not kiss him. She would not let him win this round. "How dare you come to my house, or my bar, and then go behind my back!"
Confusion left him speechless. Lorenzo could see how upset Skye was, but at him? He had no idea what he did to bring her beautiful wrath down on him. "Could you please get to the point," he said his voice dry.
Ace the scratching of the eyes; she was going to cut off his manhood! Skye began screaming at him. "We've been out on dates, even danced on one, and all this time you've been going out with what's-her-name? Jodie!"
If he had been drinking, Lorenzo would have surely choked on it. Looking at her in surprise he found himself suddenly laughing. "You think…" he started but he couldn't stop laughing.
"Why are you laughing!" yelled Skye. "It's true. I came here tonight and you were out looking for Jodie! Diego even told me!"
"Diego…" he laughed.
Skye looked at him in horror. It was true then. "How long have you been with her?"
Lorenzo stopped laughing all at once, the smile now off his face. His eyes turned hard. "Did my son attempt to even tell you her age, or did you run out of here as fast as your heels could carry you?"
Skye was appalled and if she had to admit, even a little freaked by the way he had been laughing one minute and then serious the next. If he wasn't a businessman she could have sworn he was an actor. Straightening, she continued to glare. "I didn't even care to ask," she said her chin high.
"Well maybe you should have, that way you would have known that Jodie is nine years old," he said folding his arms again.
Nine, what! Skye looked up at him. "Oh," was all that came out.
Moving from her he began pacing, anger now in his voice. "Jodie is the name of a nine-year-old girl that as it turns out, happens to be my daughter. I found out just very recently. How could you think that I was sleeping with her?" He didn't even want to think of it.
"I – I don't know, Lorenzo. I'm sorry," she said, realizing that she actually did feel very sorry for the assumptions she had made.
Stopping, Lorenzo looked at her. "You're sorry," he said his voice tight as he shook his head and turned away again.
All of the anger, fear, jealousy, and hurt she had arrived with flew right out the window when he turned his back on her. Skye walked up to him. "I said I was sorry," Her voice just as tight as his.
"If you were sorry, you wouldn't be standing here throwing around accusations that aren't true!" yelled Lorenzo as he turned to her. "How could you think that when you know how I feel about you?"
"That's just it!" screamed Skye. "I don't know how you feel about me!" She then began hitting him. "Damn you!"
Lorenzo grabbed her fists and twisted so her arms were at her sides, and her body was against his. They were both breathing heavily when Lorenzo captured her lips with his in a hard kiss. He then let go of her wrists as he cupped her face deepening the kiss instantly.
Skye was surprised by the kiss, and even more surprised as she responded by wrapping her arms around his neck. She opened her mouth to his, feeling Lorenzo's hands run through her hair.
Sliding his tongue into her mouth, Lorenzo moaned before breaking the kiss and leaning his head against hers. "Enough fighting," he whispered pulling her closer to him, hugging her to him.
"Enough," she whispered back as she ran her hands through his hair. "Make love to me."
Lifting her into his arms, Lorenzo nodded as he claimed her lips again and walked them up the stairs and into his room, kicking the door shut.
"Oh my God," whispered Carly as she looked back at Sam and then at the three figures in front of her. One of them was Dr. Thomas; the others were standing in darkness so she didn't see their faces.
Dr. Thomas smiled, the gun in his hand aimed at both women. "Going somewhere?" he asked, in a cold, hard voice.
Sam shivered. How could she have let Michael go to this psycho for help? How could she have let herself believe that Asher Thomas believed in her and allowed her to believe her opinions were worth something? Sam shivered. Jason had been right all along…this man was the enemy. "You bastard," she growled.
A laugh came out of one of figures behind Dr. Thomas…one that Sam recognized. Then suddenly she felt pain as a gun went off. Reaching up, she touched where the pain was and brought her hand, back seeing it covered in dark red blood. "Carly," she whispered as her knees gave out and she fell to the floor.
"Sam!" screamed Carly as she watched the other woman fall to the ground. Carly dropped to her knees and pulled Sam up, seeing the bullet wound on the side of her head. She then saw a gun pointed at her. "You fucking bastards!"
With strength she didn't know she had, Carly lifted Sam until the other woman's arm was around her neck and then she ran, making it out of the door as bullets flew past her. Carly saw the docks and ran for them. "HELP!" she screamed as she pulled Sam along. When she saw Lucky her eyes widened right before she fell to the ground. "LUCKY!"
Sam felt her body being turned onto her back as she looked up at the sunlight her eyes slowly closing. "Jason…I love…love…you," she whispered before her eyes slid closed and her head fell to the side.