Chapter 32-Butterfly Stroke

"I want to kill Nelle. I want to kill Alessandro. I can't let them take Danny and Scout!" Sam threw her arms in the air and collapsed on her parents' couch. "Maybe I'll order Sonny to do it. He always gets away with it."

Drew exhaled deeply. "He's still mind mapped and Danny wouldn't want that."

"Yeah, and when the next DA comes in, they'd just trace it back to you," Alexis said.

"Mom, please, you have to work your way around the system," Sam said. "Or I'll just kill them, and Drew can take the kids."

"Sam, your focus needs to be proving that Nelle isn't your daughter," Alexis said. "The courts try to place children with families. She'll have no legal claim to them."

"So, you're not worried?" Sam asked.

"I'm always worried," Alexis said. "But I'm more concerned about Wiley. Michael and Nelle have more claim over him."

"Would Drew have a better case than me?" Sam asked.

"What do you mean?" Drew asked.

"If I sign my rights over to you, then you'd have a better chance at keeping them than I would."

"Sam…" Alexis cut in. "You need to fight for your kids."

"That's what I'm doing. But if keeping them away from Nelle means keeping them away from me—"

"It's not going to come down to that," Alexis said. "Just show the courts that you both are united in co-parenting and prove that Nelle isn't your daughter."

"Then I need to talk to Andre about moving up the procedure," Sam said.

"But he wanted to observe Jason first to ensure there are no side effects," Alexis said.

"I've been working with Jason closely," Drew said. "He seems to be acting fine. He's just changed his priorities and even quit working for Sonny."

"So, that's it. I'm calling Andre," Sam said.

Alexis sighed.

"And you, Mom, focus on winning the election. Are you sure you can handle all this?"

"I've given my clients to Scott and Diane. Lulu, Elizabeth, and Ava asked me to represent them in getting Charlotte, Violet, and Avery back, but I've passed them over to Diane. I swear, everything is custody battles now… but I'm focusing on your case, Lucas' case, and the election right now."

GHGHGH

"Why can't we swim at Grandma Monica's?" Scout asked as she sat at the edge of the pool at the rec centre. Pink flamingo floaties wrapped around the tops of her arms. She reached out to Drew who was already in the water and he pulled her in.

"Uh, your mom and I thought it would be fun to swim here," Drew said.

Danny frowned.

"Mommy's going to help Danny practice his butterfly stroke," Sam said, jumping in the water beside them. "And this is where his meets are.

Danny sighed, standing at the edge of the pool. "You don't have to."

"I want to," Sam said, treading water. "Your swim meet is next week. Your coach said you have the potential to make it to regionals."

"If I'm not kidnapped again before that," Danny mumbled.

"Danny…" Drew looked up at him. "Bad things happen in life that are sometimes outside of your control. And it's not fair when that happens, but you can't go through life just waiting for the next bad thing and forget to live. You love swimming, correct?"

He nodded.

"And is doing well in your next swim meet something you want to do?"

"Yeah…"

"You're not going to feel confident at it if you don't practice," Drew said. "And your mom is just the person to help you with that."

Danny locked eyes with Sam, then jumped in.

"Daddy! Daddy! Watch me!" Scout kicked her feet and circled around Drew.

"Okay, Danny," Sam said "Remember, keep your hips out of the water. The higher your legs and hips can be, then lower your head and chest can be, which is more favourable to move in through the water." She demonstrated for him. "Now, you try."

Danny attempted it.

"That's good but keep your legs together and your feet together like a tail. And remember it's a quick breath. The longer you keep your head up, the longer the legs have a chance to drop."

Danny attempted it again.

"That's it! Much better!"

Danny smiled a little.

"Dann-ee! Dann-ee!" Scout lifted her arms and cheered from sitting on top of Drew's shoulders.

GHGHGH

"Therefore, I grant Michael and Nelle Quartermaine full custody of Wiley Morgan Corinthos-Jones." The judge slammed her gavel. "Case dismissed."

Sam's chest went heavy.

Nelle stepped away from Alessandro and Michael and walked over to Lucas and Alexis gloating. Sam and Julian rushed over. Lucas was white as a ghost.

"Actually, his name is Jonah Quartermaine now. Michael, Nelle, and Jonah Quartermaine," Nelle said. "Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"

"How could you do this, Michael?" Lucas shouted over to him, tears streaming down his cheeks. "You better not let her hurt him! You better be good to him!"

Nelle smiled. "Don't worry, Mom. My little brother and sister are next."

Nelle took Michael's hand and they left with Alessandro.

"I could kill her!" Lucas cried.

Alexis patted his arm and looked around the room. "Shh…"

"Michael needs to wake up from this mind mapping," Sam said. "That's the only way to stop her…"

GHGHGH

"Are you sure there will be no negative side effects?" Alexis asked Andre for the twentieth time since they arrived at the hospital.

"Alexis, I can't be certain of anything," Andre said. "But I do think she'll be safe. Jason has been fine so far."

Sam sighed and leaned back in her hospital bed. "I want to get this over with."

"Well, your mother and I will be right here when you wake up." Julian kissed her forehead.

"But if something does go wrong…" Sam said.

Alexis' face paled. "Okay, maybe we should just put this on hold. If you don't remember loving chamomile, then so what…"

Sam rolled her eyes. "There's more than that and you know it… but if something goes wrong. Between you both and Drew, please protect Danny and Scout."

Julian nodded. "We will."

Alexis wrapped her arms around her. "We love you."

"I love you too."