Author's Note: Bonus Chapter again this weekend. It's the last of anything I previously had written and I'm sitting in the middle of a heat wave. In this instance the the first half was a re-write. I managed to lose the original of this section when I splitting everything I previously written. Anyway, also in this chapter is some back story regarding Kellie's guards, Johnny and Francis. When I started naming some of her guards back in "When It All Falls Apart", I named a couple of them Johnny and Francis after Francis Correlli and Johnny O' Brien, Sonny's former guards/lieutenants. However, I left whether or not they could actually be them vague and up in the air. I originally intended to always leave that way. In the subsequent stories, particularly the NCIS Crossover, "Sometimes There Are No Rules" and this story, the characters just evolved over time into Francis Correlli and Johnny O' Brien, at least a version of them in this universe. Today brings us the brief explanation as to how Johnny and Francis still exist in this universe and came to be Kellie's guards. Hopefully, that makes up for this chapter not including Jason and Kellie talking about Carly and Florence until the next chapter.

Anyway, happy reading, stay cool.

Kellie & Jason's House

Kellie checked on the kids when she arrived home. After putting them to bed, she found Lorenzo waiting for her downstairs.

"Johnny already read me the riot act if that's why you're here," Kellie said, "I don't think we need to go over this again."

"What were you thinking?" Lorenzo asked, "Trying to ditch Johnny at all with Renault running around and everything going on."

"Okay, we're obviously doing this. Out in the garage," Kellie said, rolling her eyes, "Kids are in bed but…"

Lorenzo followed Kellie out to the garage.

"You know, we could just not have this conversation," Kellie said.

"Really?" Lorenzo replied, "I knew Renault was likely to ask Jason to meet. I certainly didn't expect you tag along. If you're not careful, you could end up right back in the business."

"Can you honestly say I'm not already in the middle of it just standing on the sidelines?" Kellie said, "He's trying to get his claws into the foundation. Who knows if he's trying to side step the Board yet. The way Cyrus operates, nothing is off limits. No one's safe just walking down the street in Port Charles."

"It doesn't mean you have to…" Lorenzo started to say.

"Have Jason's back," Kellie said, "Yes, I do. I want to know my husband is going to come home to me. I can't stand back when Cyrus Renault doesn't care if he puts my family and friends in danger. Let's face it, with my father gone, if something happens to Jason what then?"

Kellie waited for Lorenzo to answer.

"You didn't sign on for this," Lorenzo said.

"Except I did," Kellie said, "We never talked about it when I married Jason. But you know that Jason being completely in charge changes my role related to the business, no matter how I decide to handle it."

"I hate that you're right," Lorenzo said, "How is it that Sonny and Jason don't have more contingencies in place after all these years?"

"Because even after all this time, my father will always think he's invincible," Kellie said, "It doesn't matter how many close calls he's had. Setting up better security and contingencies like that means he would have to admit he's a mere mortal. He's always had a god complex."

"He certainly does," Lorenzo admitted, "What happened at the pier?"

"It was a draw," Kellie said.

"Meaning?" Lorenzo inquired.

"Everyone walked away," Kellie said, "Just so you know, Renault and his people had no idea I was specifically there. Or Johnny for that matter. We stayed out of sight."

"Were any terms set?" Lorenzo asked.

"No terms were set. You know for some one's that out of the business way more than I am," Kellie replied, "You ask a lot of questions."

"Forgive your old uncle for being concerned for you," Lorenzo said, "I'd rather be prepared."

"I don't know if anything could have prepared us for what went down today," Kellie said.

"Kellie, what happened at the docks?" Lorenzo asked, "Do we need to be concerned things will escalate?"

"Jason had a clean shot," Kellie said, "When Carly walked right into the middle of the meeting."

"Carly showed up at the meeting?" Lorenzo asked.

"That's not even the worst of it," Kellie said as Francis entered the garage.

"Kellie, Mayor Collins is in the study to see you," Francis said.

"I'll be right there," Kellie said, "Uncle Lo, now's the time I recommend you go home and stop asking questions."

Lorenzo gave Kellie a look, "We're not done with this conversation."

Study

Kellie and Lorenzo entered the study.

"I didn't realize your uncle was here," Laura said, "If this is a bad time."

"We were just discussing a minor security adjustment given current tensions in Port Charles," Lorenzo said.

"Its the current tensions that bring me here," Laura said, "I'm hoping Kellie can help me convince Jason to return Cyrus Renault's mother to the care facility she was at."

Laura noted Lorenzo and Kellie both appeared stunned.

"Wait a minute?" Kellie asked, "Are you accusing my husband of kidnapping an old lady?"

"In need of medical attention," Laura said.

"I know Jason and thought you did too," Kellie said, "Jason certainly doesn't kidnap old ladies."

"I can hardly believe it myself," Laura said, "But I assure I wouldn't be asking for your help if I wasn't sure."

"Why are you concerned about Cyrus Renault's mother?" Lorenzo asked, "If she's truly missing, I'm sure the cops will sort it out."

"Cyrus Renault and Martin Grey are my half brothers," Laura said, noting Kellie didn't seem entirely shocked, "We share the same father. I just found out. Curtis and I discovered Cyrus making payments to a care facility in Vermont. We went to check it out and Martin and Grey were there. Kellie, this doesn't seem to shock you."

"You realize someone finds a long lost relation like once a month here in Port Charles, right?" Kellie said, "It's not really shocking any more. Even when it's mortal enemies. I wasn't even born or raised here. Yet, aside from being a Corinthos and an Alcazar, I also managed to marry a man also not raised here with family ties to Helena Cassadine and the Giambettis."

"Huh, I guess you're right there," Laura replied, "Anyway, I thought I would be able to use that to deescalate the situation. Earlier today, I told Carly about Cyrus, Martin, and I being related and that I would handle it. I also told Carly about their mother. Now, Florence is missing. I don't think that's a coincidence. I can only assume she told Jason and he kidnapped her for leverage."

"Not really Jason's style," Kellie said, "It wouldn't be the first time someone assumed Jason did something based on oh coincidence and was wrong about it."

"I figured you if anybody could keep the situation from escalating, it would be you," Laura said.

"So you want Kellie to get involved in Sonny and Jason's business," Lorenzo answered, "That she's worked hard to stay out of? Because that's what you're actually asking her to do is get in the middle of a war with Cyrus even though Jason's code doesn't stoop to the level you're accusing him of."

"I certainly don't have any intention of Kellie getting mixed up with the business," Laura said, "But certainly you could have a word with Jason about that."

"I would except that he didn't kidnap Florence," Kellie said.

"I'm sure you want to believe that," Laura said.

"That's enough, Mayor Collins," Lorenzo said.

"Uncle Lo," Kellie said, "I've got it. Laura, I know you mean well. But I know Jason didn't do this. We've got our hands full with the foundation, Cyrus contacted board members about becoming a major donor. We've been able to convince the board to decline the funds, but he was not happy about that. Not to mention how else he might try to get a foothold into the foundation."

"General Hospital is bad enough," Laura said, "I'm sorry I had no idea that he was targeting Crossing Into Dawn."

"Nothing major yet," Lorenzo said, "The board did shut him down hard, but…"

"But it's still concerning," Laura said, "I've obviously overstayed my welcome. But if anything should come to your attention about Florence, I hope you'll do the right thing."

Kellie and Lorenzo were unsure what to say next.

"I'll see myself out," Laura said.

"If I can help, Laura, I will," Kellie replied.

"Please tell me what I'm thinking is wrong," Lorenzo said after Laura left, "Because Jason wouldn't kidnap Florence, but I"m beginning to think Carly would."

"I told you this was part where you really want to stop asking questions," Kellie said.

"Hypothetically," Lorenzo said, "How would you have found out about it?"

"Hypothetically, I heard Carly telling Jason all about it," Kellie said.

Lorenzo groaned.

"That is all I'm going to discuss with you," Kellie said, "Just keep doing what you're doing at the foundation and checking on our security arrangements. That is all I need from you, Uncle Lo."

"And what do you plan on doing?" Lorenzo asked.

"Damage control," Kellie said.

Lorenzo and Alexis's Home

"You can reheat your dinner in the kitchen," Alexis said as Lorenzo walked in, "You said not to wait up so I….you look like you had a rough day."

"I can't say I really want to talk about it," Lorenzo said, collapsing on the couch.

"But you need to," Alexis said, sitting next to him.

"Not exactly something I can discuss," Lorenzo said.

"Where'd you have to go tonight?" Alexis asked.

"Go over some security issues with Kellie," Lorenzo said.

"What happened?" Alexis said, "Was Cyrus harassing her again? Because if he was, she and Diane should…"

"Not exactly," Lorenzo replied, "Kellie got separated from her guard briefly today."

"That is interesting choice of words," Alexis said, "which sounds more like Kellie ditched Johnny."

"Yeah," Lorenzo said.

"Do I even want to know why?" Alexis asked.

"No," Lorenzo said, "I'll just leave it at Kellie felt Jason needed back up."

"It's not like Johnny hasn't been around the Sonny's business," Alexis said, "Why would she…never mind…is she okay?"

"So far," Lorenzo said, "Whatever happened came to a stand still. But things may be escalating."

"Not what we want to hear," Alexis said, "But not surprising. How worried should we be? What's the likelihood of a repeat of the Floating Rib or worse?"

"It's anyone's guess at this point," Lorenzo said, "I'm more worried about how close Kellie is to this. She went to provide Jason back up in…whatever…"

"Can you honestly say that you're surprised she'd get involved here," Alexis said, "This is Kellie we're talking about. Would her preference be to stay out of it? Most likely. But you better than anyone know she has never been adverse to getting her hands dirty to protect the people she loves. She knows what she's doing. She made sure Molly and Kristina were protected when she first came to town and went after Ethan Esoterra."

"No, it doesn't surprise me" Lorenzo said, reluctantly, "I'd just hoped that she'd choose to stand back from that."

"Renault threatened her," Alexis said, " and to leave her children without their mother and her foundation. He miscalculated when he threatened her and her children directly. Lord knows, I'd do whatever it takes if he threatened my children like that."

"Could you say that same thing if it was our daughter going after Jason to provide back up if she was still involved with him?" Lorenzo asked.

"Point taken," Alexis said, "I'd hate it and I'm glad that I'm not in that position. But I also know that doesn't make your concern for Kellie any less valid. What bothers you more? Is it that she's getting involved in the business or that you're not in the business anymore and unable to provide the support you did when Kellie took over for Sonny before?"

Lorenzo muttered something unintelligible in response.

"What was that?" Alexis asked.

"Did I ever tell you I married a very insightful woman?" Lorenzo said.

"And you're avoiding answering the question," Alexis said, "Because part of you wishes you still had the resources you did to help her go up against Cyrus."

"Guilty on all charges counselor," Lorenzo said, "I know that I'm doing my part with the foundation and keeping him away from there. With Sonny gone, I worry it might count more in a power play to have the extra back up."

"Jason is perfectly capable," Alexis said, "He's run the business before. I don't see why that would change his standing. She's got Johnny and Francis for guards. I'm still confused about that one when supposedly Johnny O' Brien disappeared at Jason's hand."

"Are you sure you want to know?" Lorenzo asked.

"I take it that means you had a less than stellar hand in whatever happened," Alexis said, "Oh come on it's not like I don't know what types of things you may have done back then before learning Kellie was your niece forced you to play nice with Sonny."

"I bought Johnny O' Brien's gambling debts," Lorenzo said, "to convince him to turn on Sonny which I thought he had. His disappearance seemed to clinch it and Francis's defection seemed to indicate a similar fate."

"Johnny never turned on Sonny did he?" Alexis replied, "Francis wanted out at the time or to protect Johnny."

"To protect Johnny. They set it up to make it look like he did turn on Sonny," Lorenzo said, "Johnny told them I was black mailing him. So they helped him out of it. It was only after the twins were born and we were looking to beef up security that Sonny and Jason gave Kellie their names, not the back story or our history."

"I'm guessing the reunion between you and Johnny was tense to say the least," Alexis replied.

"I had a black eye after that," Lorenzo said, "Still helped interview him."

"You would have been stupid not to," Alexis said, "Not when you know Kellie would need the type of loyalty Johnny and Francis have for Sonny given her lineage and connections. Looks like you got past things with Johnny."

"More like agreed to put Kellie and the kids safety first," Lorenzo said.

"So tell me," Alexis said, "Given that you gave up the business years ago and in what the other families considered betrayal by cutting a deal with the government, would you being involved in the business again now actually give Kellie and Jason any additional leverage?"

"No," Lorenzo said, "Their lack of trust in me would extend to Jason. Their lack of trust in Kellie was part of the reason for her marriage to Jason."

"I'd say you are unnecessarily worrying yourself on that front," Alexis said, "If I recall correctly, you backed Kellie taking over for Sonny years ago when she was young and that was without the resources she has at her disposal now."

"But Luis had infiltrated Sonny's organization, Sonny and Jason were on the outs over Emily's death," Lorenzo said, "She was the only one that could regain any kind of control at the time. And yet she probably is better equipped to handle it now than she was then whether she's running the show or supporting Jason. Doesn't mean I still don't worry about her."

"You wouldn't be a very good uncle if you didn't worry," Alexis said, "If she really needs your help, she'll come to you."

"While she decides what I do and don't need to know," Lorenzo said.

"If the positions were reversed, you'd do the same," Alexis said, "Now turn sideways."

"What for counselor?" Lorenzo replied, obliging her.

"You look like you could use a little stress relief," Alexis whispered in his ear as she began to massage his shoulders.