Chapter Four

"I take it the board meeting is over?" Epiphany asked the moment Nikolas approached the nurses' desk.

"Yes ma'am." Nickolas said politely. If there was, one thing Stefan managed to do was teach him manners.

"Well? Are you going to tell me what happened?" the nurse demanded to know. She wanted to know everything that happened with her staff.

"I was hoping to speak with Dr. Drake and Hunter first." He said instead of actually answering the nurse.

"I had better not be losing both my neurosurgeons Mr. Cassadine."

Nikolas shook his solemnly. "No one was fired, at least for now."

"I guess that's something." Epiphany said reaching for the phone. A few moments later, the two men joined Nikolas at the nurses' station. "Mr. Cassadine here needs to speak with you."

"This is about the board's decision right." Patrick asked seeing Nikolas' serious expression.

He nodded not sure how to start. "Well I have good news and bad news. The good news is no one got fired."

"But?"

"The board has decided to put you on probation of sorts."

"What the hell does that mean?" Patrick snapped already frustrated by the situation.

"Well Patrick can still perform surgeries but only under supervision. The rest of you..."

"What do you mean the rest of us?" Matt interrupted and demanded to know.

"You, Epiphany, and Elizabeth."

"You're punishing Elizabeth and Epiphany too?"

"Hey Tracy wanted the four of you fired." Nikolas said trying to hide his amusement at what happened in the boardroom.

"How'd you talk her out of that?" Patrick asked even though he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"I convinced Edward to see things my way."

"By using Emily."

"More like Elizabeth's friendship with Emily" Nikolas said with a casual shrug. "It worked and that's what matters."

"So what about Elizabeth?" Matt asked filled with guilt and worry. It was bad enough that Patrick was paying for his screw up now Elizabeth was too.

"You're going to be reassigned to the ER for now."

"I think I'd rather be fired." Matt groaned thinking back to how much he hated his ER rotation.

"Don't forget I still need you at the clinic. Besides it's only temporary."

"Unless we lose the lawsuit."

Nikolas smirked at Matt's statement. He was going to have to toughen up to practice at General Hospital. "That's not going to happen."

"You seem pretty certain. Do you know something we don't?"

"Maybe. I am supposed to give you this," he said pulling a business card from this jacket.

"Pierce Montgomery
? Who is this?"

"He's a lawyer that I sometimes use at Cassadine Industries."

"You didn't have to find us a lawyer." Patrick said shocked at how much Nikolas was willing to help them.

"I didn't he called me. In fact, he's excited about it. I think he and Diane butted heads a few times in New York."

"So this case is what like a rematch?" Matt asked uncertainly. He didn't know if he should trust Nikolas or not. The only reason he was willing to try was Elizabeth.

"You could look at it that way. Either way he's a brilliant lawyer."

"Thanks."

"No problem." Nikolas told the two men before heading off to the elevator.

"This sucks." Matt said banging his head on the nurses' desk.

"But it's better than being out of a job."

"I didn't mean me."

"Elizabeth?" Patrick asked already knowing the answer before Matt nodded. "Look it I've tried to stay out of this but... what is going on between the two of you. And don't tell me it's just sex."

"I care about Elizabeth. She... I guess she's a friend." the younger man struggled to explain.

"We both know it's more than that."

"Stay out of it Patrick. The last thing I need is you scaring her off."

"I knew it." Patrick exclaimed genuinely happy for his brother.

"Stop." Matt begged looking around the open area. "Please just stay out of it."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Dr. Webber." Steven said absentmindedly answering his phone. He was in the middle of a stressful case and did not need the distraction.

"Did I catch you at work?" Elizabeth asked settling on her sofa.

"I'm always working Elizabeth you know that."

"Yeah I guess you are."

Steven was immediately concerned by the tone of his sister's voice. "What's wrong?"

"How do you do that?"

"I might have sucked as an older brother in the past but not anymore. I know you Elizabeth."

"We lost a patient a few days ago." Elizabeth admitted softly knowing that Steven more than anyone would understand.

"I'm sorry. I know how tough that can be."

"Especially when the family sues."

"Crap." he muttered giving Elizabeth his full attention. "What happened?"

Steven's simple question made Elizabeth want to cry. The question never got any easier and now Matt might lose everything. "I don't know."