Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with General Hospital.
A/N: Do I even have to tell you my favourite part of today's episode? "I can't imagine my life without her in it." Best line ever!
To Choose Life
Chapter 16
The beginning of my trip with Jason was uneventful. I did a lot of sleeping in the car and he even let me drive. We arrived in Oakfield Tennessee and found his Grandmother's rather quickly. "Don't worry; I have a plan," I offered.
"What is that?" he asked, skeptically.
"Just follow along," I ordered, before climbing out of the car and making my way up to the door. I knocked and someone answered within minutes. She was an older lady.
"What can I do for you?" she asked gently.
"Is Damien here? There is something we need to talk about?"
Her eyes traveled to my stomach and then bulged out of her head. "He's actually out right now, but come in dear. Make yourself comfortable. Who is this?" she asked, pointing at Jason.
"He's my brother. He drove me here."
"Nice to meet you," the lady said, holding out her hand. She started talking about how wonderful it was that I was taking responsibility for getting pregnant. I just half listened and wondered if Dillon had bought my lie that Carly had paid for me to get out of town for a few days. He had been worried of course, but I assured him I was fine.
Suddenly Spinelli appeared and Jason grabbed him before he could run. "How dare you abandon the girl you got pregnant?" his grandmother shouted at him.
"It's okay," I said, trying to calm her down.
"No it's not okay. Damien you…"
"He's not the father," I said, feeling bad for the look of terror on his face.
"What?" his grandmother said to me.
"He's just a friend."
Within minutes Jason had convinced Spinelli to return to Port Charles with us. Alcazar's men had of course arrived and it took us a few minutes to escape into Jason's vehicle. Then we started driving and I pretended everything was okay, so that I wouldn't feel stressed. It took a while for Jason to lose them, but I made an attempt to sleep.
XXXXX
I awoke in Port Charles. We went straight to the Metro Court and Carly came up to see us. She asked me how I was feeling and Jason insisted that I stay with Carly until they had turned themselves in. I tried to protest but both agreed I was better off there.
Carly and I discussed the trip and she made sure I was feeling okay with the pregnancy. I assured her I was fine. We moved onto the topic of men and she complained about Sonny, while I complained about Dillon.
Carly's cell phone started ringing and she told me she had to go. I took that opportunity to leave the Metro Court and went straight to the police station, careful to avoid my brother.
I went into the room where Spinelli was being held and demanded he help me with Rick Webber's murder. I wanted to prove my mother's innocence once and for all. He agreed and then I slipped from the room and waited for him to be released. Jason agreed that Spinelli could stay with him and Sam, since his life was still in danger.
Spinelli and I decided to go to Kelly's for a drink. We arrived and Dillon showed up only moment's later. He came to me. "How was your trip? Did you do anything fun?"
"It was very relaxing," I said elusively.
"What did you do?"
"What are you talking about pregnant one? You were kidnapped."
"KIDNAPPED?" Dillon exclaimed.
"Shh," I muttered. "It's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal?"
"It was a misunderstanding. I'll tell you all about it later."
"Lulu," Alcazar's angry voice filled the air. "We need to discuss my grandchild."
"You don't have a grandchild…" I muttered.
"You are carrying Diego's child," he said angrily.
"No she's not," Dillon said defensively. "That child is 100 mine."
"Don't lie to me. I have rights to see my grandchild."
"She's not pregnant with your grandchild," Dillon spat.
"You stay out of this Quartermaine. This is between Lulu and I. Lulu I would like to speak to you outside."
"I lied. I am pregnant with Dillon's child. Not Diego's."
"You're just saying that to protect yourself. Even Spinelli knows this child is my grandchild."
Spinelli stayed quiet. "Believe me, this child is Dillon's," I muttered.
"I want a blood test," he said viciously. "We're going to the hospital right now."
"She's not going anywhere with you," Dillon said, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling my body against his. I felt so safe wrapped in his arms. The pressure of his arm holding my body to his reminded me of the nights we spent together with our flesh pressed against one another.
"She lied to you Dillon. This child is Diego's," Alcazar said tersely.
"That's not possible. I never slept with Diego, but if you like, I could venture over to the police station and tell my brother Lucky about you holding me captive with Spinelli. He's a good witness," I threatened.
"I'm not going to go away," he threatened, before turning and walking away. I turned my face to Dillon, ashamed at the tears that slid down my cheeks.
"Spinelli, I need to speak to Lulu alone for a minute, so if you could excuse us," Dillon said, as he pulled on my arm and led me outside.
"Tell me everything," Dillon insisted, as soon as we reached the courtyard.
I told Dillon my tale of being kidnapped for helping Spinelli, my lies to Alcazar, my trip with Jason, and Spinelli agreeing to help me with proving my mother's innocence, and then I broke down. Dillon wrapped his arms around me. "I'm so sorry that this happened to you. You need to protect yourself from Alcazar. Come stay with me at the Quartermaines," he begged.
"I'll stay with Carly."
"Carly has a lot going on. I need to know you're safe Lulu."
"I could stay with Nikolas."
"Lulu please? Just until this situation is resolved."
"I don't know Dillon. I don't want your family to start trying to control me again."
"They won't. They'll leave you alone. I just can't sleep unless I know you're safe."
My eyes met his and they filled with tears again. "I'm sorry that I'm so emotional," I said gently.
"It's okay. I'm just glad you're safe."
He pulled me into an embrace one more time before leading us back inside. "Okay Pregnant One, I'm in," Spinelli said, as Dillon and I sat down at his table.
"In what?" Dillon asked.
"The PCPD files."
"What?!" Dillon exclaimed.
"Dillon calm down," I tried to assure him. "We need to do this."
He looked perplexed but within moments got into it and asked Spinelli to open the autopsy files. Of course, Dillon wouldn't let me look. "We need to examine the crime scene," he said.
Spinelli and I agreed. "Can you get in there?" I asked Dillon.
"Of course," he said, as the three of us set off to Mac Scorpio's attic.
XXXXX
We made our way inside the attic and Spinelli rebooted his lap top. I was filled with an overwhelming sense of despair in this room. This room was the place where my whole world changed and my life fell apart. "Are you okay?" Dillon asked with concern.
"What happened in here changed everything; my life."
"I know," Dillon offered pressing his hand against my arm.
"I'm in," Spinelli exclaimed again.
He helped Dillon and I recreate the crime scene. Dillon and I then prepared to recreate the crime. Spinelli ran to the washroom, while Dillon and I acted out how my mother would have killed Rick. We did it over and over, faster and faster, until the last time, I ended up in his arms, just as Georgie walked in the room.
"Georgie, nothing is going on…" Dillon started.
"Are you comforting her again Dillon?" Georgie spat coldly.
"He's just helping me investigate Rick Webber's murder," I tried to defend him.
"Why?"
"I want to prove my mother is innocent."
Georgie turned her attention to Dillon and glared at him. "Nothing is going on," he insisted.
"Something is always going on with the two of you. It will only be a matter of time before you end up kissing and then only a little longer until you start having sex."
"That is ridiculous," I said. "I'm not trying to take Dillon from you. He offered to help and we're not alone," I said, pointing at Spinelli, who had come in the room.
"You're kind of a third wheel," Spinelli said to Georgie.
"Thanks for pointing that out," Georgie responded viciously.
"Man, little sisters are such a drag," Spinelli muttered.
"No, no, no," I said. "Georgie is not Dillon's sister."
"Oh, she's your chick," Spinelli suddenly exclaimed, making me want to slug him.
"His chick?" Georgie growled.
"But Lulu, I thought you and Dillon were…" Spinelli started.
"That's enough," I interrupted.
"He got you pregnant. Aren't you like in love with…"
"Spinelli shut up," I ordered. "We need to give them a moment alone, so grab your computer and let's go."
I dragged Spinelli outside and we went back to Kelly's. Milo and Max showed up. "What's up boys?"
"Mr. Corinthos wants someone with you at all times. So he's paying Milo to be your bodyguard until everything with Alcazar is dealt with," Max explained.
"I don't need a body guard," I said. "Put one on Spinelli. I'll be fine."
"Mr. Corinthos was adamant."
"Well tell him I'm not interested. Sorry boys, but I don't need a babysitter."
"I can't do that," Milo said, as he sat down at our table.
"Look, I'll take the blood test. I'll get Dillon's DNA and prove Alcazar is not the father of this child. Dillon," I exclaimed, as soon as he entered the room. "Perfect timing, we're going to the hospital."
"Is everything okay?" he asked in a panic.
"Yes, but we're still going," I muttered, as Milo followed behind. "Spinelli, I'll see you later."
Dillon and I got into his car. "Are you going to tell me what is going on?" he asked.
"Yes. Sonny put one of his guards on me because of Alcazar. So I've agreed to prove that you're the father of this baby with a blood test so that he'll leave me alone and I won't feel like I'm being permanently stalked."
"I kind of agree with Sonny. I'd like to know you're safe."
"Dillon no. A bodyguard is out of the question."
We arrived at General Hospital and Dillon led me to the elevator while Milo followed a few feet behind.
I asked Dr. Lee if she could take me in and she agreed that she'd run a DNA test for Dillon. We had lied and told her that Dillon wanted to ensure he was the father. We followed her into an exam room. "Have you made an appointment for your next sonogram?"
"Yes, in January."
"Excellent," she said, as she did the blood test.
"How long will this take?"
"Probably about a week."
"A week?" I exclaimed.
"Is that a problem?"
"No," I muttered. "Guess I'm moving in with you," I mumbled to Dillon.
He smiled. "Living at the mansion is not the worst thing in the world."
"Speak for yourself."
Dillon laughed as he led me out of the hospital and back to his car. Milo was of course only a few feet behind. "I am going to kill Sonny for this."
"I'll bet it was Carly's idea," Dillon said.
"I'll bet it was," I agreed, as I mentally pictured strangling her.
Dillon helped me pack some stuff and take it back to the Quartermaines. I called Sonny and told him, so that he could call off Milo. He said I'd have to take it up with Carly. So I did. She said, she would allow Sonny to call him off, if I had a chaperone take me everywhere. I agreed, even though I'd rather have just shot myself in the face.
Edward was delighted when I came through the doors with luggage. "You're moving back in?"
"It's temporary."
"Things not working out at Carly's?" Tracy asked miserably.
"She's busy for a little while," I explained.
"What happened to your brother?" Tracy asked.
"Tracy, shut your big mouth. We don't want to chase her away," Edward ordered.
"Nikolas and Emily just reconciled and I don't feel up to being a third wheel."
"Well we are very glad you're back," Edward said gently. "If you need anything, you just let me know."
"I will," I said cheerfully. "Right now, I'd like to take a nap."
Dillon followed after me with my old luggage. I reentered my old room and fingered the bedspread. It was the same one that had been there when I'd gotten ready for my mother's wedding. I felt tears fill my eyes. I dropped onto the bed and sobbed.
"Lulu what's wrong?" Dillon asked as he sat down beside me. "Do you really hate it here that much?"
I shook my head and leaned into his shoulder. "The… the last t… time I was here, was for my parent's… wedding," I cried.
"I'm sorry. Do you want a different room?" he asked gently.
"It's not the room. It's just all the memories of losing my Mom."
He rubbed his hand up and down my back and I absorbed his touch. It was such a comforting gesture, especially from him. "I wish I could make this all less painful for you but I can't."
"I know. It would mean a lot if you would just sit with me for a while."
"Of course. I wouldn't mind at all." He pulled my body closer to his and together we sat for hours, talking about movies, cars, our families and anything else that crossed our mind. For that moment, everything felt exactly as it used to be and it made me love him so much more.