katmere77: Thanks so much! I enjoy writing for Coop/Georgie and Logan/Georgie so there will definitely be more of that!!!
Chapter Two
Zachary Drake was not ready for the actions he was about to take. The tugging in his heart- one he didn't want to admit he had- pulled him towards the hospital, to where his father and brother worked.
He hated them.
They left him, abandoned him, hurt him. Patrick became the epitome of woman-using scum. People's daughter's, sister's, mothers- he didn't care that the women he slept with were people's loved ones. It was whatever he wanted that mattered. Selfish and cruel. His father? At least he spent his time destroying only himself with his bad habits…
Still…
Zachary backed up in the parking lot, moving behind a truck so that anyone exiting couldn't see him.
It wasn't time to see his father yet…or his brother. He just wasn't ready.
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Stockholm Syndrome.
Georgie knew all about that subject. After Diego had held her captive and she didn't hate him people had thrown the words at her like a weapon and so, as she was wont to do, Georgie had researched the subject and other cases that had been labeled as such. Neither she nor Maxie fit the bill and so she discarded it. After all, Stockholm Syndrome was often referred to in cases of trauma and sexual abuse. Battered wives suffered from a version of it. She and Maxie had been held for to little a time to be considered labeled as sufferers of the disorder.
So why would she protect her kidnapper? Why would she help him? Maxie wasn't an over all great or unselfish person and so Georgie doubted he hurt her. Maybe blackmail? But what secret was Maxie hiding this time?
Finally, Georgie looked back up at Cooper who was standing across the room, arms folded over his chest, leaning against her dresser. "I won't tell anyone." She offered quietly, "because…people make mistakes- this was one mistake and now…now you're establishing yourself as an honest citizen which is more then I can say for a lot of people."
His nod was curt.
"But I need to think about this and whether or not you're good for my sister, okay?"
Another nod. He stood straight, "You're fair, Georgie and I appreciate that."
Another person 'appreciating' her, she couldn't help but sigh. "Well, I have to get going, Coop. We can talk about this later."
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How was it that he managed to be on a tablecloth in the grass on a beautiful day with the most gorgeous woman in the world? Who, happily enough, was happy to be with him? Patrick felt, at that moment, like he was the luckiest man on earth. There wasn't any other place he'd rather be and he smiled at that. It was new for him…that made it more special.
She was smiling at him, that goofy grin she gave when she was thinking of something he had done to make an ass of himself. Eventually that would start a play fight and on darker days it would turn into a real fight.
But it wasn't an 'over' fight. It was never the end…
Until she found out he'd been hiding his brother from her.
He stifled a sigh. It was the perfect date, why was he thinking about Zack? He could have made avoiding that thought train an Olympic event the last few years. Of course it was easier when Zack had been locked up and hating him, easier still when he had been released and vanished. How he got out of any kind of probation was beyond him. Now that Zack was in town it was harder to concentrate on his great job, his great apartment, his great girlfriend…
Even if his great girlfriend was more beautiful then any other woman in the world.
"Something is still bothering you." Her grin faded and she tossed a dandelion at him. "Is it the longer hours? You know Ford is just punishing us."
"No, no, it's not that."
"Then what is it?"
"I could ask you the same thing, you know. You've been awfully preoccupied with things."
She just shrugged, "just the Nurse's Ball. It's an important event and I'm…I'm just very privileged to be helping your father host it this year and so I just want it to be…perfect."
He wished his excuse was more innocent. Leaning over the picnic basket he kissed her lightly on the lips. "It will be perfect, I'm sure of it." Gently he whisked dark locks away from her face admir5ing the silken feel of her skin against his fingertips. Hands, as he always knew, were powerful instruments but he never had known quite how powerful until hers had touched him, until she had shown him what love was.
She moved her face into the palm of his hand, "perfect is a lot to live up to, you know."
He laughed, "I think you'll manage."
"Robin! Robin!" Maxie was running towards them, looking haggard, blonde hair flying behind her. "I need you! We simply have to talk!"
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For the second time that day, Coop found himself explaining just how Maxie Jones happened into his life- this time he expected a warmer reception and received one. In his own quiet way, Zack had always made him feel better- had done it ever since they were kids. To most people Zack was trouble, a hard-headed, hot tempered weirdo but to Coop he had always been a cornerstone.
As the story wound to it's end, Coop began to explain his reasons for telling Georgie and what her response was. "I'm hoping Georgie will realize that I only want what's best for Maxie, you know? That way she'll, you know, help me out."
Zack nodded thoughtfully, leaning over his knees and looking around the park as though considering what Coop said against what was going on around them. "Did you at least get paid for the heist?"
Groaning, Coop glared. "Did you miss the part where that guy tortured all those people?"
"Yeah, but you didn't." He shrugged, "I don't see the big deal- it's not like you went in thinking 'hey, I'm going to destroy these people's lives' or anything, Coop. You went in thinking you were going to steal something from another criminal."
Leaning back against the bench, Coop crossed his arms over his chest and wet his lips. "I don't think Georgie is going to see it that way."
"If she didn't then why would she agree to not tell that guy…Mac? You know, the police commissioner?" He pointed out, brows drawn together. "Put the pieces together, Coop. Use your head."
"Man, I'm glad you're here." Coop slapped his back heartily, knocking Zack forward out of surprise. "I feel a ton better."
"Well man, I'm glad but I have to go." Zack stood, "I'll catch you later."
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Robin followed Maxie down the path, reluctantly leaving Patrick and the scrumptious food behind to console her trouble-making cousin. She was launching into a tirade about the many times Mac had interfered with her life, citing exact moments and relationships, the trouble it caused and the grief it incited. At times she was general but then went into laser specifics, littering the entire monologue with curses.
It was hard to keep up. The girl Robin considered a sister was obviously upset about more then Mac but Robin let her continue, taking in her expressive speech and watching her face change from anger to fury.
"I understand," Robin finally concluded Maxie's tirade for her, glancing over her shoulder where Patrick was sitting, arms spread wide, waiting for her return. "It's frustrating, to say the least but his heart is in the right place. Besides, I'm not entirely convinced he's wrong about your Cooper."
"Coop's a good guy." Maxie argued, "I mean sure, Mac might not know much about him but I do and isn't that what matters?"
"He's looking out for you, Maxie, we all are and like I mentioned before- Mac might be right about Coop. Just how much do you know about him?"
"Enough." She crossed her arms over her chest, "he's not some criminal like Sonny said, Robin."
"He is a drifter though. This job at the Metrocourt is the first he's held for more then a week "
"How the hell do you know that?"
Robin stared at Maxie with exaggerated patience, "you had to know Mac did a background check, right? He's done it to all of our boyfriends!"
"Right," Maxie made a frustrated sound and cleared her throat, "of course. Of course he did a background check. Well fine, you know what? I'm putting a stop to this madness."
Robin didn't like the sound of that, "Maxie, don't do anything rash."
She threw her a look, grumbling something about people always expecting the worst. "Like I'd do anything rash."
Instead of reminding Maxie of her numerous mistakes Robin just gave her a sympathetic smile, "we're your family, Maxie, we want to take care of you."
"Since when is taking care of someone a euphemism for taking over their lives?" She shot back, then smirked, "see, I can use big words too."
Robin smacked her in the arm, "no one ever thought you couldn't Maxie Jones. Now, do I have to calm you down from this irrational state of bad ideas and ill conceived plans or can I count on you to act like a rational- oh never mind. Come and eat lunch with Patrick and I."
"Okay, cool."
Robin suppressed a sigh, so much for their romantic evening.
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V put down her cup of coffee and smiled at Alexis Davis as they caught up on each other's lives. It was nice to be back in Port Charles among friends. Although the news of Alexis' cancer was hard to take V managed to shake off tears and save them for later- crying in front of Alexis would have done the woman no good. Instead she looked past her guilt of taking so much time to return to Port Charles and focused on being a better friend. "so wow, you've been so busy!" V exclaimed, "two daughters and a long lost one! Things sure have changed!"
Alexis nodded, "oh yeah and you haven't changed a bit! How is that?"
"Some of us just can't evolve I suppose." V chuckled and sipped her coffee. "I have to say, I missed this town."
"This town missed you, and look at you- a detective and everything. Are you going for Mac's job next?"
Laughing, V shook her head, "I think I'll let Mac keep it. He's cut out for that sort of thing. I'm much better off on the streets. Sometimes I even miss being a beat, you know? It was exciting- Oh, his ears must have been burning." V waved to get Mac's attention as he entered Kelly's. He smiled widely and then walked over to them, taking a seat. "I was just telling Alexis how I would never want your job."
"Well that's good to hear. Alexis, good to see you. How are you feeling?"
"Good enough to kick Ric's ass out of the DA spot."
"Even better to hear!"
"Is he really all that bad?" V asked doubtfully, "I mean, you married him, he has to has some good qualities, right?"
"Ever the optimist." Mac sighed, "have you noticed how she hasn't changed?" He asked Alexis.
The attorney only laughed.
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Bobbie wet her lips, staring at the phone, deciding whether or not she was going to give Noah a call. On one hand she wanted to see him. On the other she didn't want to seem desperate.
Of course…she was desperate. Desperate to see him. It was like some terrible time warp where once again she was completely smitten with the good doctor and he was, of course, utterly oblivious.
Except this time he was definitely less egotistical and more sulky.
She wasn't certain which was worse.
She picked up the receiver then quickly placed it back down. He was probably busy with the Nurse's Ball or with the fight for Chief of Staff and she was busy too…she should have been planning her son's welcome home party. There was still so much to do and it was in just a few days!
And she'd be doing that, really, if it wasn't her constantly thinking about the dashing Noah Drake.
With one last glare at the phone she walked back into the kitchen to bake. Maybe that would take her mind off it- besides, she needed pies.
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"Oh Noah, isn't he beautiful?" Maddie asked, smiling with bright blue eyes as she held their second son in her arms. Noah walked across the hospital room, already seeing the resemblance between the baby and his beautiful wife. He'd be a heart breaker, just like their other boy. "He's perfect."
"Yes," Noah smiled, "yes he is. Now, have you thought of a name yet, beautiful?"
"Oh yes. Just like you knew Patrick's name as soon as you first saw him. Remember that? You took one look at our gorgeous son and said 'Patrick', like it was fate. Well now I know how you feel. This boy is most certainly my Zachary."
Noah sat down on the edge of her bed, staring at his wife, his everything, before him. "Perfect choice."
"And where is our Patrick, Noah?"
"He's with the nurses showing them a new magic tricked he learned."
She giggled, "Already the charmer. He must take after his father."
Noah swallowed hard, staring into his darkened room with a set frown on his face. That had been such a happy day, bringing Zachary into this world. Patrick had been so excited that he would have a baby brother, he couldn't stop talking about it. He wanted to teach him those silly magic tricks and how to ride a bike…
They were going to be so close.
"Oh Maddie, it all went so terribly wrong."
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Penny set the coffee down in front of Lulu, "hey- have you noticed anything strange going on with Georgie?"
Spinelli, whom was sitting across from Lulu piped up first, "The Loyal Little Sister is very, very busy. Maybe it's stress." He popped a fry into his mouth and looked up, "why?"
"I haven't noticed anything, neither has Dillon and if anyone would know, it's him." Lulu offered.
The waitress shrugged, "I don't know, she's been requesting a ton of days off work, last week she was late and I see that Pete guy with her…a lot."
"Professor Marquez?" Spinelli asked, eyes widening in surprise. "B-but…"
"But what?" Penny wanted to know, "what, Spinelli?!"
He shrugged, "nothing, I'm just, you know, surprised."
"You must be," Lulu remarked, "you used his real name."
Penny sat down at the table, crossing her arms over the surface, "You know him? What's he like?"
"He's my friend."
"The guy is a loser."
They all looked up to see Danielle Higgle, a blonde haired, blue eyed vixen Lulu recognized from her very, very short stint at PCU. She had not been a very huge fan of hers in the short time they knew each other but the look of pure disdain in her eyes made Lulu curious. "He was really nice to me."
"Oh, I bet." Danielle responded spitefully, "he was really nice to my older sister too- she was his student…and lover."
"Excuse me?" Penny whipped her head around, "lover?"
"Yeah and boy did he do a number on her. So if you think your friend is hanging around him? You should get her away…fast."
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It was his favorite part of the day.
Zack slammed the idiot drunk against the wall, using his forearm across the guy's throat to keep him there. He had been waiting for his client to show up when the jerk and his two friends challenged him to a game of pool. He won the bet and they accused him of cheating, leading to a few slurs against his character.
They only made him smile- it was just the excuse he needed to let off some steam.
The first two idiots went down easily, the third though, he put up one hell of a fight. It was a good fifteen minutes before he could get him up against the wall. Chest heaving, Zack grinned, knowing full well it made him look less then sane. "Now, I think you were about to apologize."
"I'm…I'm…sorry," he sputtered through fat lips and blood running from his nose to his mouth. It was probably broken- served him right, with the pain coming from his ribs Zack realize they had broken him up pretty bad. Fair was only fair.
He let him go and straightened his collar for him before walking away towards the table. "You must be Drake."
Zack turned to see a knock out blonde with doe brown eyes and a short black number on that made her legs go on for days. He gave her a once over before settling on her face. Trophy wife- it was written all over her made-up eyes and lips. She sat down at a table, crossing her legs and staring up at him. "You were actually waiting for my stepson."
Damn. Stupid kid got caught.
"Too bad you're out of a job now, Drake. I'm telling my husband tonight and little Harry is going to be up to his eyeballs in disinheritance if he keeps up this act."
He didn't respond. Instead he stepped over one of the unconscious bodies on the ground and gulped down the rest of his beer before walking out the door and into the night.
He lost a lot of money going to Port Charles for this job and now that it was gone he almost felt relieved. There was no reason to stay, to confront his brother and his father. He could keep the status quo. Amazing.
"This is for that in the bar."
The world went black.
And when the world came back to him his head throbbed like the devil…which was ironic since he was face to face with an angel.
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"So you're fighting with your boyfriend." Patrick hid his disappointment at Maxie joining their romantic picnic and ignored the tug of relief as all. After all, he couldn't explain his brother in front of Maxie- it would be rude. "What did you do?"
"Hey now," Robin chided, "why does it always have to be the woman's fault? It could be Coop's fault."
"Oh Robin, don't you know by now that men avoid these kind of complicated, messy fights? We like easy, we like fun!"
"Oh?" she raised her eyebrows, "And you have that on good authority?"
"You're complicated creatures," he nodded, "every guy knows that."
"No, I don't think so. After all, it's girls who like to talk about the issues not hide it all inside until one day we just blow up out of frustration like some guys I know."
Maxie waved her hands in the air, "uh, hello? We were talking about me here?"
Robin shook her head at him, punching him lightly on the shoulder. "Alright, go on, Maxie."
"You need to hold your judgment, Robin." Maxie warned, "Coop's such a good guy and really, he treats me like gold, you know?" when Robin tried to look innocent, Maxie narrowed her eyes, "don't give me that, Robin. You think you know everything and what's best for everyone!"
"See? Thank you." Patrick grinned and it elicited another glare.
"I just happen to have a very clear cut view on what is right and what is wrong. That's all." She shrugged, "I know my own mind- to you that may make me a teacher's pet, so to speak, but really it's just me doing what I feel is right."
"Ugh- how am I even related to you or Georgie?" Maxie exclaimed disdainfully. "I mean, don't you ever just want to throw caution to the wind, leave what's right for the boring do-gooders and have some fun."
"I have a lot of fun!"
"Right." Maxie rolled her eyes, "maybe a little more now that Dr. Hottie is in the picture but before? Dull. As. Dirt."
"Dr. Hottie? Why thank you Maxie."
"Dating a mobster was dull as a dirt?" Robin argued, arching a brow, "I don't think so."
"That was so yesterday! We're talking the not so past, past!"
"Ladies, ladies." Patrick admonished with a crooked grin, secretly enjoying the comical banter. "I can end this debate. I assure you, Maxie, Robin definitely knows how to," he coughed suggestively, "have a good time."
The blonde girl smirked, "now that's the stuff. But really, we need to get back to me here. And my huge dilemma."
"What is this dilemma exactly?" Robin asked, obviously losing patience and trying to move her cousin along.
"Coop said he loved me."
"Well- isn't that a good thing? Don't girls want to hear that?" Patrick dodged another punch from Robin, "Hey now!"
Maxie stood up, crossing her arms over her chest, "oh yeah it's great, just great. He loves me, he loves me a whole lot. And we all know what that means, right?" She didn't bother to wait for a response, instead she walked off the table cloth and sat down below a tree, leaning against the truck, eyes closed. "It means that I'm totally going to screw this up and ruin his whole life. That's what it means."