Note: I should have said this sooner, but I thought it didn't matter. Now, it looks like it might. I have had this story outlined from beginning to end before I even started the first chapter. That means that if anything comes too close to being spoiler-ish, it was not an intentional attempt on my part to spoil any Spoiler Frees that read my stories. This story was written without consideration to upcoming spoilers or speculation, and any spoilers in this tale are purely coincidental. Thank you.
Also, all Lucky v.GV lovers probably won't be interested in this story anymore. Just thought I'd put up a warning. (pets lukesgrrrl Sorry, Ambereen! I love you!)
It never fails – every time I'm under serious pressure and have research papers out the wazoo (Wazoo: n, an extremely uncomfortable orifice located on the human body from which to expel research papers) I write TONS of fanfiction. WTF is wrong with me!
Heat 04
"Okay, are we far enough from the interns to be unprofessional and undignified?"
Elizabeth bit her cheek to conceal her grin and just grabbed Patrick's elbow. "Keep walking," she instructed her friend, their measured steps turning into a trot as they rounded the corner.
The operation had been a success. Patrick had alleviated the compression while Elizabeth helped keep the patient from bleeding out, and Sam's life had been saved. They had done the sutures together and the interns had just moved her to the Intensive Care Unit and were informing Alexis and Jason of the results.
Patrick was grinning broadly, his dimples out in full force, as he and Elizabeth quickly ducked out of sight from the Doctors Quartermaine and continued trotting down the hall in their scrubs. "Hey, can you cook, Elizabeth?"
She quirked a brow at him. "Why?"
"I just thought you might have a recipe," he explained, winking down at her. "My dad's going to be eating crow tonight."
The brunette let out a laugh, light and bubbly, and shoved him lightly. She was absolutely exhausted, but the adrenaline had kicked in long ago and now she was floating on cloud nine. They had worked together and saved Sam's life, and Jason was going to be okay. He had been through so much in the past two years, and it was about time someone took care of him and told him that everything was going to be okay.
"And…we're safe," Patrick grinned as they rounded the corner and stepped into the hallway leading down to the nurses' station. Elizabeth let out a squeal as he grabbed her and swung her around, elated at his most recent triumph.
Her friend was laughing as well as they stumbled into the main lobby, boisterous and flushed with excitement. The surgery had been the first of its kind for the young Doctor Drake, and it was every bit as much a monumental triumph for him as it was for the OR nurse who had just completed her first trauma case successfully.
"You can scrub in with me anytime, Webber," he grinned, jostling her with his hip and draping his arm across her narrow shoulders. "You've earned it."
"Flattered," she smiled, resting her head on his shoulder as they made their way to the station, still grinning. Epiphany was waiting for them there with Jason, who had seen them walking down the hall together. Elizabeth knew he'd already gotten the news from the other nurses and smiled at him and Epiphany. "We did it!"
"I heard," the matronly nurse replied, her eyes twinkling as she straightening the charts on the counter. "Enjoy it while it lasts."
"We will," Patrick assured her, still resting his arm on Elizabeth's shoulder as he tipped his head at Jason. "We'll enjoy it until we have to face the fallout."
Jason was about to thank Elizabeth personally for saving his fiancé's life, but another voice stopped him.
"Excuse me." Officer Garcia was standing two feet away from the station, flanked by two other officers in uniform. "Elizabeth, did you assist in the OR with Sam McCall's surgery?"
The brunette glanced at Epiphany and Jason, then at her husband's colleague. "I did."
"And who was the presiding surgeon?"
"I was," Patrick answered defiantly, his dark eyes narrowed at the officers of the law. "Who wants to know?"
"I do," came a voice from down the hall, and the foursome turned to see an apologetic but firm Mac Scorpio walk toward the nurses' station. "As of this moment, Elizabeth Webber and Patrick Drake, you are both under arrest for performing the surgery in direct violation of the court-ordered injunction. Jason Morgan and Epiphany Johnson, you are also under arrest for aiding the surgeons. You have the right to remain silent; anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
"Boss."
Salvatore Escobar turned in his desk chair, facing his bodyguard with a look of considerable annoyance. "What is it?"
"This was delivered ten minutes ago," the guard replied quietly, extending a manila envelope and a letter toward his boss.
"Did the hit go down as planned?" the Spaniard asked, grasping the envelope but leaving it closed.
The guard shifted uncomfortably. "Ramirez never returned from General Hospital, sir. We've been attempting to contact him, but have yet to receive word."
Escobar scowled at his men's incompetence and tore open the flap of the envelope. It was bad enough that the incapable minion he'd sent to take care of Lucky Spencer's wife at the Metrocourt had shot Morgan's girlfriend by mistake and then disappeared. The nurse was defenseless at the hospital – especially in the locker room. It should have been an easy hit, and his men still couldn't pull it off.
He shook the envelope, jumping back when a switchblade fell out onto his desk and spattered a few drops of blood onto the polished wood. "What the hell-"
It was the weapon that Ramirez would have used to slit Nurse Spencer's throat. Staring at it, Escobar swallowed roughly and drew his hand away, letting the knife lay flat against his desk. With a sigh, he picked up the note and carefully cut it open to read the message.
Escobar –Going after defenseless women in place of their husbands is not a good way to make a favorable first impression in this town. The nurse is under my protection and will not be harmed. Do what you want with her husband – I never liked no cops anyway.
Manny Ruiz
"You can't do this." Elizabeth's dark blue eyes glittered furiously as Garcia slapped a pair of handcuffs on Jason. "Hey – hey! How come he's the only one in handcuffs? Jason didn't do anything – he was just a bystander! You have no reason to put him under arrest."
"Elizabeth, please," Mac replied softly, waving the officers toward Patrick. The young man glared heatedly at Robin's uncle and the other officers. "You and Patrick knew going in that this operation was illegal." He glanced at Alexis and Ric, both of whom had emerged from Sam's room and were standing silently by, watching as justice was served. "Epiphany and Jason helped make it possible by distracting Alexis."
Patrick was fuming when one of the officers grabbed him roughly and pulled him out of the station. "Hey, watch the hand, pal! I'm a surgeon – my hands are my craft and if you-"
"Cuff him," Garcia growled, glaring at the young man that had seduced his best friend's wife. "And get him over there."
"This wasn't their fault," Jason tried to explain to Mac. "Patrick didn't want to operate – I forced him to. I told him I'd shoot him if he didn't do it."
Elizabeth gaped at the enforcer, furious that he would think to be the noble one and risk his own freedom to save them. What did it matter if Sam recovered or not if Jason was sent to prison? "That's a lie and you know it."
All eyes turned toward the petite brunette but she remained firm, staring down the mobster in a battle of wills.
The older man glared at her, slicing a hand through the air and tried again. "Patrick wouldn't have considered breaking the injunction if I hadn't forced him to-"
"Give it up," Elizabeth snarled, her eyes narrowing when Jason mouthed, stop it. "We did this because we wanted to save her life. No one forced us into the operating room; no one forced Patrick to pick up the scalpel. We did it because we believed we could save Sam's life. Jason's not to blame here."
"That's right," Epiphany nodded, supporting the younger nurse firmly. "I was in no way threatened by Mr. Morgan to distract the DA."
Patrick's eyes darted from Elizabeth to Epiphany to Jason, and he quirked a brow as he finally turned back to Mac. "Yeah, I'm not good with the whole noble act. I'm calling my lawyer as soon as we get down to the station. Ow!" He yelped when Elizabeth kicked his shin, and the young man quickly distanced himself from the irate brunette. "Remind me never to let you pick up a scalpel near me again."
Mac sighed, rubbing his temples. As much as he hated to drag in his niece's boyfriend and close friends, he had no choice. With any luck, they'd spend only a few hours in the holding cell before Alexis dropped the charges and let them go home. If it were up to him, he'd throw this whole thing out. There was no reason for a brilliant doctor and two dedicated nurses to be apprehended for saving a life and upholding the basic tenets of the medical community. Morgan, on the other hand…he was the one that made this whole debacle worth it.
Noah Drake emerged from the corridor, his wide eyes taking in the scene before him. Alexis and Ric stood firm, and Patrick remained quiet as he glared at his father whose dark eyes seemed glued to the handcuffs that currently restrained him. "What in the world is going on here?"
Officer Garcia turned toward the doctor, tipping his head at the foursome. "Patrick, Elizabeth, Jason, and Epiphany are under arrest for performing surgery on Miss McCall in direct violation of an injunction."
The older Drake's gaze landed squarely on his son, his disapproval evident. "Congratulations, son."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and squirmed away from Officer Garcia when he put his hand on her shoulder. Instead, she followed Epiphany onto the elevator and didn't even dignify a fuming Jason with a second glance. Patrick, the last to be led away, scowled at his father as he stepped onto the elevator.
"Thanks, Dad," he sneered, his lip curling in disgust. "And hey, guess what? I got to be a god and a martyr all in one day. Aren't you proud?"
Noah dropped his head and looked away as the elevator closed on his son's stoic countenance.
Officer Garcia watched Elizabeth as the young woman was led through the Port Charles Police Department and down the hall to the small jailing facility in the building, but she refused to meet his gaze. Instead, she stuck close to Patrick Drake who was still nursing his abused wrist and, no doubt, his bruised ego.
Garcia shook his head, knowing what he had to do. It was a shame that a woman like Elizabeth who had a loving husband, a baby that needed her, and a happy home would go and throw it all away for a debonair playboy doctor whose little black book was no doubt longer than most New York City telephone directories.
Mac was making sure the four of them were being booked properly as Garcia took his cell phone out of his pocket and excused himself, slipping into one of the interrogation rooms. He hit the third number on his speed dial and waited for his friend to pick up.
On the third ring, Lucky Spencer's voice met his ear. "Hello?"
"Lucky," Garcia sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's me."
"What's going on? Did you see her leaving with Patrick again?""Yes, technically…but not of her own choice."
A pause. "What do you mean?"
"Lucky, your wife has been arrested along with Jason Morgan, Epiphany Johnson, and Patrick Drake and is now being booked into a holding cell at the PCPD."
"What? For what?""Patrick and Elizabeth disobeyed a court order and performed surgery on Samantha McCall a few hours ago. The DA wasn't too thrilled and had them thrown into lock-down."
He could hear his friend growl into the receiver. "Why the hell would she do something like that? She knows Alexis is one of the most powerful people in this city and-"
"My guess?" Garcia sat down on the edge of the table, switching his phone to the other ear. "I think she did it for Patrick. He couldn't perform the surgery on his own and…I'm sure he convinced her to help."
"She's willing to risk her career and her job for that asshole Patrick Drake," Lucky snarled. "With our debt and the insurance and…she's doing it for him!"
"Look, man, calm down," the officer replied, knowing the words were hollow and useless. "I just wanted to let you know what went down. Elizabeth is going to be calling you soon to come down, I bet, and I wanted you to have the details."
"Yeah. Yeah. Thanks, Garcia. I'll talk to you later."
Lucky clicked off his cell phone and resisted the urge to hurl it against the wall. He didn't know what kind of hold Patrick Drake had on his wife, but it was clear she'd go to great lengths to prove her loyalty to him. The mere thought made him sick. She was risking her career and was sure to add even more debt to their growing pile thanks to court fees for a lawyer…all for that Doctor Drake.
He flung his phone onto the couch and left the room, heading straight for Cameron's empty nursery. Elizabeth had everything she wanted right here. She had a husband that would do anything for her, that would give her anything she wanted, and a baby that depended on her. And where was she? She was sitting in a jail cell with her beloved Patrick Drake instead of coming home to them. She didn't deserve him or anything that he had given her. She didn't deserve the happy home for her and her baby – whom he had fully accepted out of the goodness of his own heart. She didn't deserve any of this. She didn't deserve the love he had felt for her.
Lucky snorted, feeling that familiar, burning rage bubble up within him again. He wouldn't even be surprised if she was fucking Patrick Drake on the table in the interrogation room right now. Flinging open the closet door next to the crib, he knelt on the floor and pulled out Cameron's toy chest.
Flipping it open, he took out the stuffed animals and pitched them over his shoulder, his fingers frantically digging for the latch he had installed to pull up the fake bottom. Finally grasping it, he pulled the thin wooden piece out and reached inside for his secret stash.
Lucky didn't even bother to replace the stuffed animals and the phony bottom to the toy chest. After all, it wasn't like Elizabeth would be coming home to catch him in the act. Stumbling toward the bedroom, he flopped down on the bed – the bed where he made love to his wife, who in turn made love to that Patrick Drake – and opened the box.
With a small smile, he reached over to their only telephone that sat near the bed and pulled the line. Let her try to get through to him now. Ready now, he reached inside the slim box and pulled out a long needle. Elizabeth had been so thrilled when he had kicked his morphine addiction, and he had to admit, he was, too.
Especially since heroin produced a much better high.