~*~ Chapter 5 ~*~
John stood in the office building catching his breath a minute before knocking on the door that read "Scott Baldwin District Attorney". He looked down at his feet and back up again before finally knocking.
"Come in" he heard Scott grunt from the other side of the door.
John slowly opened the door and walked in. "You wanted to see me?" Scott looked over the rims of his glasses and looked hard at John.
"Yes, I did. Sit down." Scott said not taking his eyes off of him for a minute. "What are your plans?" Scott asked him.
"Pardon me…"
"What are your plans? Why are you here?" Scott asked him again.
John knew exactly what he was talking about and he was just getting ready to answer him when the intercom buzzed. "Mr. Baldwin," the secretary said, "Mr. Lewis has question on today's case that he needs you to answer before the hearing."
Scott shook his head in disgust, "Alright, I'm coming." He said turning off the speaker then looking at John, "Don't you move, I'm not finished with you."
Scott walked out of the office leaving John alone to ponder what was coming next when Scott returned. Trying not to let his nerves take over, he got up and began to look around the room. He noticed pictures on a table behind Scott's desk and he moved closer to get a better look. He picked up a picture of Serena and Karen when suddenly he heard the door open behind him. He quickly set the picture down and turned to see who came in.
"Hey," Karen said as she walked through the door with her head down as she looked through her bag for the papers that she was bringing her father. "I have the information that you need for this afternoon, to get fitted for your tux, and the invitations that you wanted" she explained as she walked over to Scott's desk still not looking up.
"Karen!" John said when he turned and saw her.
Hearing that familiar voice, Karen stopped in her tracks and looked up. As she stood there in complete shock, she dropped the papers that she had in her hand.
"How are you?" he asked her trying to break the ice noticing that she wasn't saying anything.
She finally took a step back and looked around quickly for her father. "What the hell are you doing here, Jagger?" she finally asked looking around the room again, "Where's my father?"
"He stepped out for a minute."
"What are you doing here? Why are you in my Father's office?" She asked him again with a raised voice.
Jagger moved out from behind the desk and toward Karen. With each step closer, Karen took a step back as if she was almost afraid of him. "I decided to move back to Port Charles, I was just hired as the new detective at the PCPD," he explained. "I guess your father just found out that I was the one that was hired and he wanted to see me."
Karen just stood there and stared at him as a mixture of emotions overtook her body. The last time that she had heard from him was when she received the letter that he wrote admitting his affair. There were so many things that she wanted to ask him, but the anger that she felt was blocking her.
"You're looking well…" he started trying to engage in a friendly conversation.
"Like you care," she shot back quickly.
"Karen, I never stopped caring about you. You have to believe that."
"I don't have to believe anything that you say. If you honestly cared about me, you never would have treated me the way that you did."
He wanted to make her understand what he was going through back then; but Jagger could see the confusion and anger building up behind her eyes. Instead he tried a more gentle approach, "Listen, Karen…" he started as he moved closer to her "…maybe we could get together…"
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" she shouted as he reached out to touch her shoulders. Scott, who was on his way back to his office, heard her shout. He quickly ran the rest of the way to his office just as Karen was running out. Not paying attention to where she was going, she ran straight into her father who immediately wrapped his arms around her and held her tight as she cried.
Scott looked up at Jagger with anger flashing in his eyes. "What the hell did you do to her?" he shouted as he continued to hold her.
Jagger didn't respond. He stood there watching Scott hold her and try to calm her down. He couldn't believe how much her life had changed since they were together. He remembered nights from their past when he was the only man in her life. Now, here she was, years later being comforted by the man that she had longed for, her father.
"Calm down, sweetheart," Scott attempted. "Come on, let's get you a glass of water."
"No, I'm okay, Dad, really" she replied pulling away from him and drying her eyes. "I just let my emotions get the best of me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm fine…" she said through her sniffles. "I brought by the information for your fitting this afternoon. I have to get back to the hospital, my break is almost over."
"Okay, honey, are you sure that you're going to be okay?" Scott asked with concern.
"I'll be fine, Dad. I'll call you later."
"Okay," he said giving her a kiss on the cheek and hugging her again, tightly. " Have a good day at work."
Karen returned the kiss and hug before turning to leave; never giving Jagger a second glance. Scott walked past Jagger into his office and sat down at the desk. "Get in here and close the door," He ordered out to him.
"That is an example of what I didn't want to happen." Scott started. "I'm only going to tell you this once. Stay away from her. She is finally happy, with no thanks to you. She has finally made a life for herself and I'm not going to let you waltz in here and take that away from her. She has worked hard to overcome her past and that includes you. I don't know why you're back here, or what your plans are, but they better not include my daughter."
"Look, Mr. Baldwin, I understand where you're coming from. And the reason that I came back to Port Charles is because I am tired of running. I'm tired of being on my own. I came back to be near my family, and whether you like it or not, Karen is a part of that family. Divorced or not."
"No, she's not. You severed those family ties the minute you slept with another woman. And then you had the nerve to tell her in a letter. You're nothing but a coward. And so help me, if you so much as hurt in any way, you're going to have me to deal with, not her," Scott threatened, giving Jagger a deep, dark look. "I believe you can show yourself out. And just remember, I'm watching you, Cates!"
Jagger got up and left without saying a word. He wanted to lay into Scott so many times for the way that he treated Karen years ago, but he knew that was not the way to start a new job. The more he thought about it, the angrier Jagger got. How dare Scott criticize him for the way he treated Karen, when Scott didn't treat her any better. But now it was abundantly clear, Karen now had a strong bond with her father and working with his ex-Father-in-law was going to be a lot harder than he had anticipated.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
At the hospital, Chris was walking down the hallway toward the elevator when he heard his name called from behind. He turned around to see Kayla walking rapidly towards him. Ignoring her, he turned back around and tapped on the elevator button.
"Chris, wait, please." She said catching up to him. "Do you have a minute?"
"No, I'm busy. I have patients to see," he replied with disgust.
"Please, Chris, I just want to apologize. I was way out of line the other day," she admitted sincerely.
"Yes, you were. Now if you'll excuse me…"
"Chris…please…"
"What do you want me to say? 'Hey, it's all right…you're new here. You were just taking out your frustration on the first person you saw!' Well forget it, Dr. Preston, you stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours." He said as the elevator doors opened and an upset Karen walked off nearly knocking Chris over.
"Karen, are you okay? You look like you're ready to burst into tears" He asked grabbing her arm and pulling off to the side.
"I'm fine…" she said.
"You don't look fine," he said and then smirked. "You were okay when you left to go see…oh…what did that idiot father of yours do this time?"
"Chris, that's enough, my father didn't do anything. I'm just having a bad day."
"I'm sorry…I'll tell you what…What do you say, we go out tonight for a early dinner at the grille, and then a nice drive out through the country to watch the sun set." He offered trying to make her feel a little better.
"You know, that sounds wonderful."
"Great, I'll pick you up at five." He smiled and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek just before he left to check on his patients. Karen smiled to herself as she walked over to the nurse's station to pick up the charts for her rounds.
"Looks like the Barbie doll likes to play," Kayla said to herself as Karen approached.
"Do you have a problem?" Karen shot at Kayla as she slammed her charts down on the counter.
"I'm not the one with the problem, Barbie. You're the one who seems to have a problem with having a monogamous relationship."
"A monogamous relationship? Listen, Dr. Preston, you don't know a damn thing about me; although, you should. So instead of standing here making snide comments about my relationships, maybe you should take a hard look at yourself and the relationships that you have had in the past. Especially your relationship with Scott, because you sure as hell never listened to a word he ever said to you."
"What would you know about my relationship with Scott and where do you get off, speaking to me like that?"
"No, Kayla, where do you? I know a lot more than you care to realize," Karen retorted as she walked away leaving Kayla standing there in awe.
"There you go again…" Eve said with a laugh coming up on Kayla from behind.
"Excuse me," Kayla said as she turned around and glared at Eve.
"That's one of the ones that you don't want to make an enemy of." Eve replied.
"Why, she's just a resident, what kind connections would she possibly have at this hospital," Kayla sarcastically snorted back at Eve.
"Now, you see, answering that question would take away the fun of watching you dig yourself deeper and deeper into this hole that you're creating for yourself. Just keep in mind that that girl has more connections in this hospital than most people will ever have anywhere."
"Well then, please, enlighten me, oh wise one…"
"Uh uh ah…" Eve started waving her index finger. "You'll find out soon enough, if you keep acting like that." Eve finished being the third person in a matter of minutes to turn their back and walk away from Kayla.
Kayla stood by the nurse's station for minute. By this time her blood was boiling. "What's so special about that little princess, anyway?" she asked herself as she finally left to meet Monica.
John stood in the office building catching his breath a minute before knocking on the door that read "Scott Baldwin District Attorney". He looked down at his feet and back up again before finally knocking.
"Come in" he heard Scott grunt from the other side of the door.
John slowly opened the door and walked in. "You wanted to see me?" Scott looked over the rims of his glasses and looked hard at John.
"Yes, I did. Sit down." Scott said not taking his eyes off of him for a minute. "What are your plans?" Scott asked him.
"Pardon me…"
"What are your plans? Why are you here?" Scott asked him again.
John knew exactly what he was talking about and he was just getting ready to answer him when the intercom buzzed. "Mr. Baldwin," the secretary said, "Mr. Lewis has question on today's case that he needs you to answer before the hearing."
Scott shook his head in disgust, "Alright, I'm coming." He said turning off the speaker then looking at John, "Don't you move, I'm not finished with you."
Scott walked out of the office leaving John alone to ponder what was coming next when Scott returned. Trying not to let his nerves take over, he got up and began to look around the room. He noticed pictures on a table behind Scott's desk and he moved closer to get a better look. He picked up a picture of Serena and Karen when suddenly he heard the door open behind him. He quickly set the picture down and turned to see who came in.
"Hey," Karen said as she walked through the door with her head down as she looked through her bag for the papers that she was bringing her father. "I have the information that you need for this afternoon, to get fitted for your tux, and the invitations that you wanted" she explained as she walked over to Scott's desk still not looking up.
"Karen!" John said when he turned and saw her.
Hearing that familiar voice, Karen stopped in her tracks and looked up. As she stood there in complete shock, she dropped the papers that she had in her hand.
"How are you?" he asked her trying to break the ice noticing that she wasn't saying anything.
She finally took a step back and looked around quickly for her father. "What the hell are you doing here, Jagger?" she finally asked looking around the room again, "Where's my father?"
"He stepped out for a minute."
"What are you doing here? Why are you in my Father's office?" She asked him again with a raised voice.
Jagger moved out from behind the desk and toward Karen. With each step closer, Karen took a step back as if she was almost afraid of him. "I decided to move back to Port Charles, I was just hired as the new detective at the PCPD," he explained. "I guess your father just found out that I was the one that was hired and he wanted to see me."
Karen just stood there and stared at him as a mixture of emotions overtook her body. The last time that she had heard from him was when she received the letter that he wrote admitting his affair. There were so many things that she wanted to ask him, but the anger that she felt was blocking her.
"You're looking well…" he started trying to engage in a friendly conversation.
"Like you care," she shot back quickly.
"Karen, I never stopped caring about you. You have to believe that."
"I don't have to believe anything that you say. If you honestly cared about me, you never would have treated me the way that you did."
He wanted to make her understand what he was going through back then; but Jagger could see the confusion and anger building up behind her eyes. Instead he tried a more gentle approach, "Listen, Karen…" he started as he moved closer to her "…maybe we could get together…"
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" she shouted as he reached out to touch her shoulders. Scott, who was on his way back to his office, heard her shout. He quickly ran the rest of the way to his office just as Karen was running out. Not paying attention to where she was going, she ran straight into her father who immediately wrapped his arms around her and held her tight as she cried.
Scott looked up at Jagger with anger flashing in his eyes. "What the hell did you do to her?" he shouted as he continued to hold her.
Jagger didn't respond. He stood there watching Scott hold her and try to calm her down. He couldn't believe how much her life had changed since they were together. He remembered nights from their past when he was the only man in her life. Now, here she was, years later being comforted by the man that she had longed for, her father.
"Calm down, sweetheart," Scott attempted. "Come on, let's get you a glass of water."
"No, I'm okay, Dad, really" she replied pulling away from him and drying her eyes. "I just let my emotions get the best of me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm fine…" she said through her sniffles. "I brought by the information for your fitting this afternoon. I have to get back to the hospital, my break is almost over."
"Okay, honey, are you sure that you're going to be okay?" Scott asked with concern.
"I'll be fine, Dad. I'll call you later."
"Okay," he said giving her a kiss on the cheek and hugging her again, tightly. " Have a good day at work."
Karen returned the kiss and hug before turning to leave; never giving Jagger a second glance. Scott walked past Jagger into his office and sat down at the desk. "Get in here and close the door," He ordered out to him.
"That is an example of what I didn't want to happen." Scott started. "I'm only going to tell you this once. Stay away from her. She is finally happy, with no thanks to you. She has finally made a life for herself and I'm not going to let you waltz in here and take that away from her. She has worked hard to overcome her past and that includes you. I don't know why you're back here, or what your plans are, but they better not include my daughter."
"Look, Mr. Baldwin, I understand where you're coming from. And the reason that I came back to Port Charles is because I am tired of running. I'm tired of being on my own. I came back to be near my family, and whether you like it or not, Karen is a part of that family. Divorced or not."
"No, she's not. You severed those family ties the minute you slept with another woman. And then you had the nerve to tell her in a letter. You're nothing but a coward. And so help me, if you so much as hurt in any way, you're going to have me to deal with, not her," Scott threatened, giving Jagger a deep, dark look. "I believe you can show yourself out. And just remember, I'm watching you, Cates!"
Jagger got up and left without saying a word. He wanted to lay into Scott so many times for the way that he treated Karen years ago, but he knew that was not the way to start a new job. The more he thought about it, the angrier Jagger got. How dare Scott criticize him for the way he treated Karen, when Scott didn't treat her any better. But now it was abundantly clear, Karen now had a strong bond with her father and working with his ex-Father-in-law was going to be a lot harder than he had anticipated.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
At the hospital, Chris was walking down the hallway toward the elevator when he heard his name called from behind. He turned around to see Kayla walking rapidly towards him. Ignoring her, he turned back around and tapped on the elevator button.
"Chris, wait, please." She said catching up to him. "Do you have a minute?"
"No, I'm busy. I have patients to see," he replied with disgust.
"Please, Chris, I just want to apologize. I was way out of line the other day," she admitted sincerely.
"Yes, you were. Now if you'll excuse me…"
"Chris…please…"
"What do you want me to say? 'Hey, it's all right…you're new here. You were just taking out your frustration on the first person you saw!' Well forget it, Dr. Preston, you stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours." He said as the elevator doors opened and an upset Karen walked off nearly knocking Chris over.
"Karen, are you okay? You look like you're ready to burst into tears" He asked grabbing her arm and pulling off to the side.
"I'm fine…" she said.
"You don't look fine," he said and then smirked. "You were okay when you left to go see…oh…what did that idiot father of yours do this time?"
"Chris, that's enough, my father didn't do anything. I'm just having a bad day."
"I'm sorry…I'll tell you what…What do you say, we go out tonight for a early dinner at the grille, and then a nice drive out through the country to watch the sun set." He offered trying to make her feel a little better.
"You know, that sounds wonderful."
"Great, I'll pick you up at five." He smiled and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek just before he left to check on his patients. Karen smiled to herself as she walked over to the nurse's station to pick up the charts for her rounds.
"Looks like the Barbie doll likes to play," Kayla said to herself as Karen approached.
"Do you have a problem?" Karen shot at Kayla as she slammed her charts down on the counter.
"I'm not the one with the problem, Barbie. You're the one who seems to have a problem with having a monogamous relationship."
"A monogamous relationship? Listen, Dr. Preston, you don't know a damn thing about me; although, you should. So instead of standing here making snide comments about my relationships, maybe you should take a hard look at yourself and the relationships that you have had in the past. Especially your relationship with Scott, because you sure as hell never listened to a word he ever said to you."
"What would you know about my relationship with Scott and where do you get off, speaking to me like that?"
"No, Kayla, where do you? I know a lot more than you care to realize," Karen retorted as she walked away leaving Kayla standing there in awe.
"There you go again…" Eve said with a laugh coming up on Kayla from behind.
"Excuse me," Kayla said as she turned around and glared at Eve.
"That's one of the ones that you don't want to make an enemy of." Eve replied.
"Why, she's just a resident, what kind connections would she possibly have at this hospital," Kayla sarcastically snorted back at Eve.
"Now, you see, answering that question would take away the fun of watching you dig yourself deeper and deeper into this hole that you're creating for yourself. Just keep in mind that that girl has more connections in this hospital than most people will ever have anywhere."
"Well then, please, enlighten me, oh wise one…"
"Uh uh ah…" Eve started waving her index finger. "You'll find out soon enough, if you keep acting like that." Eve finished being the third person in a matter of minutes to turn their back and walk away from Kayla.
Kayla stood by the nurse's station for minute. By this time her blood was boiling. "What's so special about that little princess, anyway?" she asked herself as she finally left to meet Monica.