Proper Disclaimer: I am not now nor have I ever been associated, in any form or fashion, with ABC/Disney/General Hospital… the writers or actors.

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A/N: Apologies for the super long delay in the update, but I sure hope it was worth the wait and that you haven't forgotten this little story.

A/N: Italics show the other end of the phone conversation in this chapter.

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Once the house was quiet and locked up for the night Samantha sat on the sofa and practically gnawed her left hand off contemplating her next move. Sonny had been explicit in his request that she not call Alexis. Sonny had been explicit in his demand that she stay out of it and that he and Jason would handle things. Sonny had not been specific or explicit in her not calling anyone else and that was all the opening she needed to decide on her next move. Picking up the phone she dialed Emily's cell.

After a half dozen rings her best-friend finally picked up. "Em, what took you so long… oh, sorry… well I thought you might be and I really need to bounce what just happened off of someone… when I got home Sonny was hear making dinner then half way through Jason called and he rushed out. They got back a few hours later in foul moods and Jason definitely looked like he'd been in a fight… Of course he didn't tell me anything, except go to my room… because the cops showed up with Commissioner Scorpio ready to arrest Jason, Sonny, Max and who knows who else… I did some not too brave barking back the way I've seen my mom do and at least talked them into not using the handcuffs. Em, I don't know… no he was very clear about that… she'll probably be angry with both of us… I guess Em, but I just needed to talk it out with someone… alright, as soon as I know I will. Night!"

Well, that confirmed it… almost. She needed to call her mother this situation, whatever it was, needed more than false bravado. It was time to call in the big guns. It was time to call her mother. Sam paced the length of the sofa mostly resolved in her decision, but still putting it off every time her subconscious went to the possible consequences her father would inflict on her. The overwrought teen was pulled from her thoughts when she heard little feet padding down the steps into the room.

Running over to sit on the foot of the steps Sam called to her sister. "Hey bug-a-boo, what are you doing out of bed?"

"Me and Mr. Muffles heard a scary noise." The 5-year old mumbled with her thumb stuck in her mouth.

"Nothing scary about the wind and I bet that's exactly all it was. Aw, Krissy you dragged Mr. Muffles down with you. I bet he's cold and sleepy. We should probably get him back in bed before he catches a cold."

This seemed to propel the thumb from the little girl's mouth and solicit a giggle. "He's not real Sammy he can't get sick. Silly sissy…."

Sam rubbed the tattered long-eared dog and addressed him. "Well Muffles mommy Krissy says you can't get sick, but I bet you would still like to be all tucked in the bed instead of down here. What do you say we go upstairs and check that room for strange noise makers? Then we can all get some more sleep."

Starting to stand Sam's movement was halted by five little fingers pressing into her thigh. "Can we just sleep with you in your room? I think Mr. Muffles would feel more safe."

"Really? Krissy you know daddy wants you sleeping in your own bed."

"But it's not for me… it's so Mr. Muffles will feel better."

"Alright, Muffles I'll do it for you." Sam picked her sister up and put her phone call on hold for a few more minutes.

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Sitting atop the steps closest to her bedroom door Sam took out her cell again resigned to dialing her mother's line. Stopping and starting two times before committing Sam listened to the constant ringing guessing that her mother was completely out of it and sleep for the night. On the sixth ring the groggy mother of four picked up.

"Mom, it's me Sam."

"Hi baby. What's wrong? Why are calling so late?" Alexis was wide awake now and her voice didn't sound worried, but matter-of-fact.

"Um… I couldn't sleep, so I was going to make a call, but my phone was downstairs. I didn't want to go…."

"Samantha, breathe and tell me why you called. Is it one of the kids or is it daddy?"

My goodness Sam thought no wonder she was considered the best. This woman wasted no time getting to the point. Sam knew she had to get to it too. "The Commissioner was here with a bunch of other cops and they took daddy, Jason and Max to the police station."

"What? Okay, Sam you need to tell me exactly what they said and did." Alexis was on full alert now. She wasn't a wife or a mother in this moment. Her ears were listening as an attorney. She clicked on the light and put on her glasses reaching for the pad and pencil by the side of her bed.

Sam prattled on about everything she witnessed first hand and some of what she suspected based on what she had seen and heard. Now and again her mother would interrupt with a question, but mostly Sam just let the verbal diarrhea spew from her mouth in a continuous stream.

"You did good baby. We may end up law partners some day. Okay, I'll take it from here. I want you to go up to bed and take care of Krissy. It's fine to let her sleep in your bed tonight. Daddy has bigger concerns on his mind at the moment."

"So, what are you going to do?" Sam wanted to know that calling her mother was really the right thing to do and what she was going to do to fix things.

"I'm going to handle it and you are going to bed. Don't worry Sammy everything will be fine in the morning… trust me."

"Okay… thanks mom… night."

"Goodnight baby." Hanging up the phone Alexis moved around the room tentatively. She gathered her bag and then realized she had no car. Taking out her cell again she called for a car service and before hanging up barked that the driver was to meet her at the side entrance by the East Wing. She had no intention on trying to get to the front lobby moving the way she was or getting past the drill sergeant duty nurse.

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Each man was sitting at a different detective's desk waiting to be hauled into the interrogation room before Marcus Taggart and Mac Scorpio. Jason was silently staring ahead refusing to answer anything more than what his name was until he was allowed to call his attorney. Max was flirting, without shame, with the female officers at the desk across from where he was seated and Sonny was making every attempt at appearing aloof and unaffected. They hadn't been processed or cuffed, but each man knew that they weren't really free to go.

The door flung open and Taggart screamed, "Corinthos you're first!"

Reaching out for his arm detective Daniels was glared at by Sonny and dropped his hand away from the most irritated mob boss. Turning on his heels and moving with a slow swagger toward the door Sonny was stopped by a sound he was not expecting to hear.

"Now I know you weren't about to question my client without his counsel being present."

Jaws dropped while husband and wife locked their gaze on one another. Seeing relief, fury, shame, pain and gratitude seeping from the others eyes neither spoke a word, but resigned themselves to the fact that there would be much to say when they got back home.