A Walk in The Park
After she'd put her phone away, Alexis was surprised to realize how far she had actually walked into the park. She followed the path a bit further as her eye was caught by a tiny island of greenery directly ahead. The path split into two and circled a collection of low growing flowering bushes. The air around it was alive with drifts of butterflies and bumblebees.
Two circular benches framed either side of the verdant oasis, one to each side; close enough to enjoy the scent and sight of the greenery, but at the same time, far enough away as to not disturb the tiny denizens of the park who came to feed.
Alexis sank down on the edge of one of the benches. Next to it, a small bronzed plaque sat on a squat pedestal of smooth granite. She ran her fingers over it's surface, reading the inscription. It was a memory garden, planted by friends and family and dedicated to a loved one's memory. Alexis smiled. What a lovely idea; perhaps she should have one built for Stefan. Should it be at GH, where many could enjoy it, or on Wyndemere, where his family could come and commune with their memories of him?
"Thinking lovely thoughts, Councilor?"
"Actually, I was." Alexis said. In the face of what she'd been feeling, she couldn't find it in her to feel the usually mutual animosity and suspicion she felt whenever she and AJ met.
Maybe it was the expression on her face, or the look in her eyes. Or just maybe AJ Quartemaine was capable of behaving like a human being every once in awhile. In any case, instead of the usual sarcastic comment, she sensed a change in him. His words confirmed that.
"I was sorry to hear about your brother. I didn't know him or anything, of course. But..he was your brother…." His voice trailed off uncertainly, as if he was embarrassed by what he said, or maybe he had wanted to say it differently.
AJ had had a brother once too, Alexis remembered. And Jason was as good as dead to AJ now. Had AJ ever mourned? No, looking into AJ's eyes, Alexis wondered now how long had AJ mourned for the loss of his baby brother?
Alexis allowed her gaze to go back to the plaque. "Actually, I was thinking about how much whoever loved this person enough to plant a living memorial to them must have really loved them. I was thinking about what a gift true love is. I was thinking about how love gives second chances. And third and fourth chances. And I was thinking about how once someone is gone, you don't get a second chance to say I'm sorry, or I love you, or I would have done things differently if I had had a chance.
"The thing is not to waste the lesson their life gives you. Tomorrow isn't promised to anyone," she said to AJ with a vehemence that surprised them both. "You have everything to live for -today. A woman who loves you - a son you finally have a chance to get to know. Why waste your energy on revenge... you go after Carly, Carly goes after you. Sonny gets pulled in and who else? And in the end, who suffers? Courtney? Michael? And for what?"
"Be careful, Ms. Davis." AJ said with a return of his usual mocking tones. "Or I might think that your interests go way further than professional."
"You know what, AJ – at the moment, I really don't care what you think. But here's what I think. I think that you have so much right now within your grasp, if you would only open your eyes to see it. You have a chance for unconditional love. A love that doesn't judge you by what you have, or what you have done, or even what you might do - as long as you keep on giving love and allowing yourself to receive it.
She stared up at him, a challenge in her eyes. "Is revenge really more important to you than love?"
AJ's face changed. "You don't know what it's like to lose..." his voice choked off, and he turned a little away from her, leaving her able only to see his profile, as though unwilling to say more.
Alexis finished his sentence for him. "…I don't know what it's
like to lose someone – someone of your own blood - that you love
and you hate and you need all at once? Don't be too sure. But that
doesn't have to be your whole life. Don't you get it... love is a
gift - a true gift from God." Alexis didn't know if she was talking
about Stefan, Sonny, Kristina, Nikolas, or even Jax right now, it was
all jumbled up all together into one huge burst of feeling that had
to let itself out. She was suddenly overflowing with emotions. Her,
the cool lady lawyer, the gatekeeper, the consigliore of the
Cassadine empire, the woman who prided herself on her cool analytical
way of logic and order was feeling in ways she would have never
thought possible. And she was reaching out with it to the nearest
human being. Even if that happened to be AJ.
"How long have
you looked for an unconditional love? How many times did you think
you came close to it, saw the brass ring just out of your reach,
dancing just beyond your fingertips and think this time, you were
finally going to get it? Only to watch it spin past you and out of
your reach?"
She didn't give him a chance to answer. "All of us are looking for that, AJ. We look for it in our friends, our families, in people that we want to love. Some people go their entire life and never find it. But here you are, after all you've done and all that has been done to you."
AJ's body jerked as though her words had hit him physically.
Alexis kept on. "All the hurtful words, the recriminations, the
self-doubting and self-hating…. Here you are with a brand new
chance to love. Courtney is standing there, ready and willing to love
you no matter what any one else says. Are you really willing to throw
it all away? And for what? Revenge? Pay-back? Will that warm your
heart when you're alone? Can you wrap your arms around revenge in
the cold and lonely nights?
"Love is a gift of grace. It's not
there to be used, abused, or left unappreciated or unacknowledged.
Cherish it, AJ - embrace it...it's hard to open up to it. I know just
how hard it is - and I think – no, I know - you do too."
AJ looked at her as though he'd never seen her before. His mouth opened and closed, like he was searching for words to say but couldn't find any. His eyes changed, his regular cynicism slipped away, replaced by something new.
Alexis looked up at him, recognizing the battle going on inside him. But then his gaze shifted; he looked up and beyond Alexis. His face changed again, his emotions passing over his face suddenly shut themselves away. His eyes flickered back to hers for a moment, unreadable; then without a word to her, AJ turned and walked away. But something in his step was different; AJ was suddenly a man on a mission.
Alexis looked after him for a moment, puzzling at his reaction. But then she turned to see what AJ had seen.
"I only caught the end of that conversation, but whatever you Quartemaine were discussing, must have been pretty serious."
"It's just that a lot of things have been made clear to me in the last few days." Alexis turned back to watch AJ just as he reached a turning in the path. He looked back for a moment and met her eyes, then turned away to go on his way. He quickly disappeared from view. Alexis was left feeling oddly deflated. Something in him had heard her, she tried to convince herself of that. But would it make any difference? Alexis let AJ slip away from her concern and turned her attention to this new arrival. "But back to you…are you trying to make yourself out to be my guardian angel?" she said to Mason. "What are you doing here?"
He shrugged and sat down beside her. "If that is the role I'm to play in your life right now, I don't mind the job. And actually, I ran into Jax, so after learning that the two of you had a long leisurely lunch, I was hoping that you were still here."
Alexis had hoped that with the revelation of her and Sonny's relationship that Mason would be able to remain a friend. She'd meant it when she'd said that she begun to see things with a new-found clarity. Losing Stefan had been a lesson in cherishing the people in her life. And Mason had done his best to be her friend. The fact that he was here now, spoke volumes. She smiled at him.
"If I can always bring a smile to your face, principessa, then I am well content." He reached out and took her hand. "I am also glad I found you. I may be in a position to offer my help in a more concrete manner. I've been in contact with some of my European business concerns and I think I may be able to offer you some information in that arena. I know a little about the history of your family..most specifically your step-mother. I think her dealings would be of interest to you, yes?"
Alexis shuddered in spite of herself. "Yes, definitely. But please don't ever refer to her as my step-mother. She's never been anything remotely resembling a mother to me –she's always been just Helena. The hate and loathing between us is mutual. She was barely a mother to her own children – except for her darling Stavros. And he was just as cruel and sadistic as she was."
"I'm sorry, Alexis. I just wanted to help you, not hurt you further. I might be able to find out her whereabouts and I thought you and your family might be interested in that,
"If you have any information on her- I want it!"
Mason looked surprised at the sudden venom in her voice. "Alexis? What has she done to you that makes you hate her so?"
"What hasn't she done? She murdered Stefan." Saying the words aloud for the first time, Alexis felt the sting of tears in her eyes.
"Have you gone to the police with your suspicions? Or do you have proof?" he asked, his eyes intent on hers.
Alexis shook her head. "You don't know Helena. She'd never leave a trace to prove her guilt. But sooner or later, she will let me know. That's how she operates."
"And what about you?" Mason gripped her hand tighter. "What will she do to you?"
"Who knows? But I think she'd prefer me alive-for now. If only so that I can hurt, now that Stefan is gone. She's always wanted to rule through Nikolas. This is no doubt one of her plans set in motion to accomplish that."
"Then we need to stop her before she goes any further." Mason said. "I told you about my connections. They may be able to trace her actions through the Cassadine subsidiaries. But I need a list to go by. Would you have one at the office?"
"All that information is at Wyndemere." Alexis said, thinking out loud. "And that modus operandi would suit Helena to a tee. Doing her manipulations in small dark hidden places…"
"Like nasty little bugs?"
"Exactly." Alexis said, flashing him a grim smile. "And I'm going to turn the bright light of day on her machinations. That's how you make them go away. If your connections can find out what is going on within the less obvious Cassadine smaller holdings, they just might lead us to her."
"I don't have the information yet, but if we go over the Cassadine holdings, maybe we can uncover a pattern of stock, bonds and cash movement."
"And that might at least begin to point us in the right direction. Any suspicious or simple out of the ordinary transactions might be a red flag." Alexis said, excitement replacing her anger. "Maybe I can even discover her whereabouts. Nikolas and Kristina are in Europe; and I know my nephew would want to know if she's there or here in the States."
Mason stood up, drawing Alexis with him. "Then I suggest that we head out to Wyndemere right now. The sooner we get on this, the better, right?"
Alexis was about to agree, when she noticed someone approaching them. It was Johnny. Seeing him, she realized how she must have panicked her bodyguards. And obviously Johnny too, to bring him down here. She felt guilty; she hadn't been thinking when the phone call had come. That wasn't like her.
"Actually, I have some other matters that I have to tend to." Alexis said.
"More important than this?" Mason asked. "I don't understand. Shouldn't we get together as soon as possible so that we can find Helena? We should get on this right now."
He was right, this was important, Helena had to be stopped, and if Alexis could catch her red-handed in illegal actions, maybe she could even get Helena jailed for financial fraud. It would be only fitting, even if she couldn't get her convicted for Stefan's death. But then again, she had promised Jax. As much as she hated to admit it, she'd be no good to anyone else if she collapsed because she hadn't taken care of herself. And then everyone would stop what they were doing, all to take care of her. She didn't need that.
Alexis wavered, then made a decision. "I promised Jax I would stop by General Hospital and get a check up. I'm fine…it's just that I was a little light-headed today and he saw it. Let me call you when I've taken care of that and the rest of my errands, and we'll make plans to meet out at the island."
Obviously reluctant to leave her, Mason acquiesced. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the bodyguard. "He looks familiar… ah.. one of your friend's employees, looking after your welfare, no doubt."
"No doubt."
"Well, that's good to know." Mason said. He watched Johnny approach them, not looking especially pleased about the other man's arrival.
Alexis glanced at him, curious about his cryptic tone of voice. After all the effort she'd gone through to make sure he understood where the two of them stood, was he still jealous? Alexis frowned slightly.
Mason turned to catch her measuring gaze and hurried to explain. "I meant that it's good to know that there's always someone looking out for you."
Before Alexis could question him further, Mason changed the subject. He told her that he'd catch up with her in about two hours and they'd take things from there. She thought he might have kissed her cheek, but Mason gave another look at Johnny, who had stopped a few steps away and simply squeezed her hand in farewell.
Walking away, he paused briefly and nodded coolly at the bodyguard. In a cocky move, he turned back to Alexis. "Take care of yourself and whatever the doctors tells you to do – do it." He told her before he walked away.
Johnny surprised Alexis by looking after him for a long moment before coming over to her. She began apologizing before he could say a word. Halfway through it, she became aware that she was rambling, but Alexis couldn't stop herself.
"Never mind that." Johnny interrupted her. He almost smiled, seeing her acting more like her old self than she had in a long time. But he sobered as he looked at her closely. "But what was that about a doctor? You feelin' okay? Did you faint again?"
"I'll explain it on the way back to our cars." Alexis told him. She sighed to herself silently. Sometimes it was nice to be so well looked after.
But only sometimes.
