Author's Note:As always, my sincere thanks to everybody who have read, saved in favorites, set to alert or commented on 'Till You Make It'. I really do appreciate it.
I also want to remind everybody that this story is based on my own personal take and views and not that of the actual characters of General Hospital, so please keep that in mind when you read inner thoughts and/or dialogue that you don't agree with. Thank you.
Happy reading and I hope you enjoy!
Valerie
Chapter 4: The Bodyguard
"Elizabeth, do you have a minute?" Looking up from the chart she was in the middle of filling out Elizabeth was surprised to see Siobhan, Lucky's girlfriend, standing in front of her with what looked like red eyes that came from crying.
"Sure." Elizabeth placed the chart back in the tray and led the Irish woman over to the waiting area where they could sit and talk in private. It was mid-morning and the Hub was busy. "Is everything okay Siobhan?"
"Oh, not really." She tried to laugh it off but failed miserably.
"What can I do for you?" Elizabeth asked.
"Actually there is nothing you can do. I wish there was, believe me I wish there was but there isn't. Or maybe there was but it's too late now and then really, why would you? We've only had a handful of conversations and I never got the feeling you liked me all that much but I guess I'm to blame though. Oh I had my doubts but a handsome smile and a few sweet words later and I convinced myself to ignore them and now look where I'm at. You know I take that back, I forgot for a second why I am here so yes, there is something you can do for me. Well, more like a couple of things unless there isn't." At times her accent was already hard enough for Elizabeth to follow, but mixed in with her emotions and added rambling - Elizabeth was just plain lost.
"Why don't you start by telling me what is wrong then we can move on to the rambling part?" Elizabeth joked to bring a smile to the woman's sad face. Mission failed.
"To be truthful Elizabeth, I am all talked out." She released a long tired sigh sounding it. "I am flying back home to Ireland."
That took Elizabeth by surprise. With the exception of this morning, the last time she talked to Lucky and had asked how he and his relationship with Siobhan were doing he had told her everything was going good. "I honestly don't know what to say."
"That's okay. I really don't expect you to say anything. I just wanted to tell you because I wanted to ask two things of you. Well, one is more like a promise."
"Okay." Elizabeth answered slowly; unsure of what it was she may be getting herself into.
"I was hoping I could stop by your house this Saturday to say goodbye to the boys. I know I haven't been in their life long enough to make a lasting impression but they are both such little darlings and I didn't want to just up and leave like that." Respect for Siobhan just shot up in Elizabeth's book.
"That would be fine and I appreciate you thinking of them." The woman smiled her thanks and Elizabeth would have returned it had her words not just sunk in. "Wait, this is Lucky's week...end." Elizabeth leaned back against the chair and sighed. "I take it by that look of yours I will be getting a phone call from Lucky changing that."
"He is following a lead out of town this weekend with Sam and Spinelli; possibly Jason as well. To be quite honest Elizabeth I don't care anymore. Lucky has canceled on me more times than I can count and I am stuck by myself in his home with no friends or family to help ease the loneliness I feel waiting for him to walk through the door. He is always working on a case or following a lead and more and more they are involving the mob and that is not what I signed up for. I've had my fill of adventures and danger and don't really care for them anymore. But Lucky is drawn to it and I just can't be a part of it."
All Siobhan was telling her was not news to her. Elizabeth had been seeing glimpses of the old adventures man she once fell in love with returning. Lucky working alongside Jason was like a scene from the past except now he was no longer the young kid who was given only a few simple safe tasks, no, now he was a man barreling ahead armed with a gun and badge. "How did Lucky take the news to you leaving?" She asked.
"That is where the promise comes in." Elizabeth knew she wouldn't like the sound of this but she remained quiet and waited for her to continue. "Lucky will be leaving early Saturday morning..."
"You don't plan on telling him." Elizabeth finished.
"Not exactly."
"I get why you're ending it. I even get why you are upset, it's justifiable, but do you really think Lucky coming home to an empty apartment is what he deserves?"
"You're right, he doesn't deserve that, but that's not what I'm doing. I'm sorry I didn't make myself clear. When I said not exactly I meant that I gave Lucky an ultimatum. If he left then I would not be here when he returned home."
"He chose to let you go." Disbelief clearly in Elizabeth's voice, though she shouldn't be so surprised. It seemed like most of the men of Port Charles were drinking from the same water.
"He didn't come out and say it but he might as well have. Instead he said I was being ridiculous and that it was important he go because Sam's life is in danger yet again and when he returned he would take me out for a nice dinner."
Oh Lucky, you have screwed up.
"I'm sorry." There wasn't anything she could say. As Siobhan had pointed out, they had never attempted to get to know each other.
"Thank you Elizabeth. I think you really mean it and I appreciate that."
"You're welcome."
"So, can you promise not to mention any of this to Lucky when he calls? A part of me is still hoping he will change his mind but the other part doesn't believe that or I wouldn't have already bought my plane ticket with the money my sister sent me."
"I don't know Siobhan..." Elizabeth hesitated.
"I know this is putting you in an awkward position and if it weren't for wanting to see the boys one last time then I wouldn't be here giving you a heads up but if Lucky finds out then he will stay for all the wrong reason and it shouldn't be different just because I bought a plane ticket. I need to know how important I really am because believe me Elizabeth I have been telling him all day and will continue to remind him until the last minute." She hated it but Elizabeth understood where Siobhan was coming from; could even sympathize with the Irish woman. The question though, was it enough to promise her not to tell Lucky. This may come back to bite her in the ass later on but something inside was telling her to do this one nice thing for the woman she never attempted to get to know.
"I promise." Elizabeth reluctantly answered and soon found herself engulfed in a hug.
"Thank you Elizabeth."
"Sure."
"What would be a good time for me to stop by Saturday?"
"My shift ends at one; anytime after that I guess. I most likely will have a few guests visiting but it should be fine."
Elizabeth remembered that one of those guests will be Nikolas and didn't know how he would react because it was a sure thing that he will question Siobhan visiting the boys. She could just not invite her best friend over but thinking of how he had stepped in today and all the other times he's been there for her, Elizabeth vetoed that idea right away. She would worry about that later on; right now she could hear her name being paged.
"I'm sorry I have to get back to work." She apologized as she began standing up.
"Don't be." Siobhan stood up as well. "I am grateful to you for giving me the time."
"I really hope Lucky comes to his senses."
"As do I."
When lunch rolled around for Elizabeth she called Nikolas to check on her boys and was told that they were both doing fine. "Spence and Cam have been inseparable like I knew they would and are outside enjoying a picnic with Rosie, an event I was told I was not invited to. I do believe the boys wanted the nanny to themselves."
"I have got to meet this woman." Elizabeth replied. She was sitting in the cafeteria eating a sandwich she had just bought. This morning in her haste to get the boys ready she had forgotten to make herself a lunch.
"I don't know Liz; I think the boys may not like sharing her even with you."
"Well I am just glad she isn't overwhelmed by them."
"Stop worrying, she was perfectly happy to step in and has been taking good care of them."
"How is Jake feeling?"
"He is sleeping right now. He wasn't happy when he realized that he would be unable to join in on all the fun. I spent most of the morning keeping him occupied. Since he wasn't feeling too well he was not quite up for getting to know the new nanny."
"Oh, I hope he wasn't difficult for her." Elizabeth exclaimed, worried.
"He wasn't. He demonstrated a perfect ostrich and hid his face on my shoulder. She understood why."
"Thank you Nikolas."
"Hey..."
"I know, I know." Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "That's what family is for."
"Yes it is. So, how is your day going?"
"It is going fine, though I wish it were a little busier so the day can end sooner."
"Wanting to catch up on the sleep you missed last night?"
"God yes!" Elizabeth moaned out.
"Well Cam will be tired out having exerted all his energy here so he shouldn't give you any problems for bedtime."
"Something I am ever so thankful for." Elizabeth chuckled.
"Jake may be a different story."
"His pediatrician wrote a prescription for him so that will undoubtedly knock him out too."
"Well then you are set."
"Sure sounds like it...Oh by the way. Do you and Spencer have any plans for Saturday? "
"I have a meeting mid morning but other than that our day is free. What did you have in mind?"
"I extend the invitation to Rosie as well and was hoping you all would like to come over for a nice barbeque dinner?"
"Uh huh...and who will actually be doing the barbequing?"
"Why Kelly's of course."
Nikolas broke out in laughter. "You have a perfectly good grill Liz."
"That I am still learning how to use. Lucky was always the one to handle that."
"Speaking of my brother I am guessing by your invitation that he has already called and cancelled for the weekend."
"No he hasn't, I am still hoping, but..." Elizabeth quickly changed the subject. "Actually there will be one other guest attending."
"Has Lizzie invited a date?" Nikolas teased.
"No. Kristina will be joining us."
"As in my cousin?"
"That would be her."
"I wasn't aware you two were close."
"You know the coffee shop I go to?"
"Java Junkie." Nikolas named right away. "Which is awful." Something he always had to mention every time the name came up.
"Well yesterday..." Elizabeth ignored him. "Kristina stopped in for the first time. She saw me and we instantly struck up a conversation. She came in again today."
"And after two days you just invited her over?" She could hear his curiosity.
"Like I said, we talked. Apparently her family will be busy this weekend and I don't think she wanted to be alone so I extended the invitation. I had already intended to invite you over so what was one more person. I didn't see it being a problem since she is your family."
"No it isn't. I am just surprised."
"I admit I'm surprised too. So what do you say about Saturday?
"I say, what time?"
"Well if you are adamant about me actually using that damn grill than I suggest four because you are going to help me. There is no way I am going to be held solely responsible for ruining dinner."
"I have a better idea. How about we not take a chance with the kid's lives and make it five; I will bring the food."
"Deal."
After hanging up with Nikolas she sat back in silence; her mind was anything but. Kristina, Ethan and Johnny, three people Elizabeth would never have thought would be entering her life, occupied her thoughts. And she had no doubt she would be seeing them more often. It looked like Kristina wasn't going anywhere and according to Johnny's 'I look forward to our next conversation' parting, apparently so wasn't he. Though she hadn't seen Ethan, she knew it was just a matter of time. Elizabeth wondered about him and Kristina, how they interacted and where exactly Johnny fit in. From what she knew, the two men were friends. Ethan worked for Johnny; although she didn't know how deep in he was with the mob. Seeing those three together would be very interesting and she couldn't wait for that to happen.
All these thoughts ran through her mind and as the minutes slowly ticked by, Elizabeth could feel the beginning of pressure building inside her, trying to rise to the surface. The stirring of something she hadn't felt for the past two years. It was familiar, surprising but welcoming and it set her off in a fit of laughter. A few tears of happiness trailing down her cheek. The hospital employees sitting around watched Elizabeth and wondered whether she was crazy or needed their help. Nobody stepped forward and that was fine with her. This was not something she wanted to or could explain to anybody. It was hers and hers alone.
None of them knew the mess her life had once become or how lost she was from the person she used to be. Elizabeth felt like she walked around disconnected from anything and everyone. Not her boys; never them. They were what grounded her, what reminded her how beautiful life could be regardless of all the ugly that lived in it. What exactly sparked this sudden desire, Elizabeth could not say. She leaned back against her chair and started thinking on what could have been her inspiration. Nothing seemed to be coming to mind. It could just be that she was now ready to again. Elizabeth didn't believe that and discarded the thought. She switched thinking gears and began to think of what it was that always motivated her before. The answer was easy; her emotions.
I paint what I feel.
The day Elizabeth let the man she loved go, the day he walked away from her at the courthouse, was the last day she held a paint brush. Pencils were only used when helping Cameron with school work. No longer did Elizabeth's fingers get splinters from stretching her own canvases. The jeans she wore when she painted, the ones that were soft and frayed at the end with holes at the knees; blotches of paint splatter all over, now lay undisturbed at the bottom of her drawer. She hadn't even visited her studio.
But that was all going to change now because there was a shift, something inside her clawing to get out and all Elizabeth Webber wanted to do was paint.
There was a man standing in front of the door to Johnny's Penthouse. He was unfamiliar to Kristina and from the moment she stepped off the elevator his eyes targeted in on her and had not wavered since. The man looked young, possibly middle twenties or older; his arms massively built with muscles noticeable even through the black button down shirt. The two of them stood rooted on spot, unwilling to be the first to break eye contact. The man tilted his head to the side and lightly chuckled. Apparently he found something about her amusing. She didn't appreciate it and narrowed her eyes letting him know just that. Of course this seemed to amuse him more because his hazel eyes were now expressive and twinkling with merriment.
Who the hell is this man?
"Good morning." He broke the silence first; no hint of a Spanish accent despite his obvious Hispanic ethnicity. The man stuck his hand out to her in greeting and Kristina took a step to do the same but stopped immediately when his handsome face became distorted in anger and he snapped, "Wrong!"
Kristina looked up at him in surprise. She did not understand what 'wrong' meant. Seeing the confusion on her face made him sigh; the left of his hand moved to rest against his hip, the right of his fingers ran through his thick black hair then both arms fell back to his side. "My name is Ray." He introduced himself.
"Kristina."
"I know who you are Miss Corinthos." The first shiver of unease flitted through her stomach. "I am a new guard Mr. Zacchara hired."
Kristina felt her body relax and offered Ray a genuine smile. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
"Johnny asked that I meet him back here." She explained her reason for being there.
"Actually Mr. Zacchara had just called before you arrived. He explained that something's come up and instructed I take you to him."
"Oh." Kristina exclaimed in surprise. "Okay."
"Wrong again!" The anger was back on his face.
What the hell was wrong with him!
Suddenly he started stalking towards her. Fear ran down her spine but she refused to show it or be intimidated. Instead she stood tall and with a tilt of her chin, challenged him with her eyes. It worked because he stopped in his tracks; his face now expressing disbelief. The ding of the elevator signaled its arrival and startled Kristina. Ray did not flinch. The doors slid open revealing Johnny and immediately she felt safe. When he saw them he gave pause. She slowly inched closer to his side; flashing Ray a look daring him to try something now. The man throwing his head back in laughter was not the response she was expecting.
"Seriously, what the hell's your problem?" Kristina demanded, crossing her arms across her chest and tapping her left foot. Ray chose to say nothing. He just stood there staring at her with that ridiculous smile. Kristina wondered if Johnny would be opposed to her borrowing his gun.
"What's going on?" Johnny asked Ray much to Kristina's surprise. That did not settle well with her at all.
"Why are you asking him? He is the one who is threatening me."
"So you acknowledge you were being threatened?" Ray asked, no, more like demanded.
"Excuse me." She huffed out. "I believe I was talking to Johnny. I don't know who you are."
"Then why were you willing to let me get close enough that I could've hurt you." Kristina's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "Not to mention you were willing to get inside a car with me not knowing who I was." That seemed to snap Kristina back to attention.
"You told me Johnny asked you to take me to him."
"Why would you believe me?"
"Because he hired you as one of his guards."
"And how do you know that?"
"Because you said so." Her voice raised an octave higher.
Johnny jumped in. "Why the hell would you get in a car with somebody you don't know?"
"Did you not just hear me?" Kristina was aware her voice was loud but she was too upset to care.
"Let's take this inside." Johnny suggested placing his hand lightly on her back and walking her to his door where he pulled out his keys and unlocked it allowing the three of them in. Kristina threw herself on his couch, the end closest to the door. At Johnny's invite, Ray sat in the armchair, a picture of ease. This made her close her eyes and grit her teeth.
Count to ten.
Kristina didn't open her eyes till she felt Johnny sit next to her. "Kristina I would like you to meet Ray Alvarez."
Kristina kinked her eyebrow up at him. Was he serious? That was really how he was going to start this. "We have already had the displeasure of meeting."
"He is a new hire..."
"Something else I already know."
"He will be your bodyguard."
"Excuse me." Kristina must've heard wrong.
"He will be your bodyguard" Johnny repeated again. Apparently not.
"He most certainly will not!"
"Just hear me out."
"I don't think so Johnny. If I don't let my own father put one on me then I sure as hell am not going to let you."
"He won't be anything like one of Sonny's..."
"No."
"It's..."
"No!"
"Just..."
"NO!" Kristina yelled out.
"Ray will you excuse us for a minute." Johnny's eyes did not shift from hers.
Ray quickly made his way to the door and once he had closed it, Johnny's face softened and he grabbed hold of both Kristina's hands. "Will you at least let me explain before you dismiss the idea?"
No was on the tip of her tongue but seeing the pleading look on his face Kristina released a sigh and caved. "Alright explain."
"You know your father has many enemies."
"Tell me something I don't know."
"You're a very good way to get to Sonny."
"No, that's not it." She didn't know how but Kristina knew that Johnny was lying. He did the same thing at the coffee shop. "What don't you want to tell me?" Johnny sighed and stood up. He walked over to his mini bar and pulled a glass out. Kristina cleared her throat which stopped him. He turned around and looked at her questionably; she answered by pointing at his glass. Johnny looked down at it with confusion then understanding dawned. He released a pained groan and reluctantly put it back. "I am going to have to watch you." She watched as he pulled out a water bottle. Kristina declined hers.
"I can't guarantee I will remember every time I reach for a glass but I will try my best.
"That's all I ask. And it's not like I'm saying you can't drink ever again; just limit yourself, no matter how bad your day is going...now back to this ridiculous notion you have that I am going to agree to a bodyguard."
"I really do think you need one."
"What aren't you telling me Johnny, and please don't feed me this crap about my Dad's enemies. I want the truth." Johnny shifted his eyes away from her and seemed to be lost in thought. Kristina wondered what it was that had him worried and hoped that he would share whatever it was with her. A minute later his eyes made contact with her again.
"I want Ray on you because of my father." Okay. Not what she was expecting.
"Why does your father want to hurt me?" Kristina knew the Zacchara's and her Dad were enemies but she didn't think they would ever involve her.
"He doesn't."
"Okay, now I am really confused." The expression on her face showed it.
"I really don't want you to know but since you're being so damn stubborn..." He seemed reluctant to continue.
"Just like a band-aid Johnny; rip the damn thing off." She encouraged.
A few sigh's later. "My father has got this crazy idea that you and me...well, that we should get together."
Her mouth dropped open in surprise then closed to make a comment but then dropped back open again. Kristina had no doubt that she looked like a fish out of water. Finally she was able to make her mouth work, but instead of using her words she found herself laughing. At what; she could not say. Maybe it was the absurdity of the notion. Johnny's chuckles joined hers. "Why does your father...what made him...I am still confused." Kristina tried using her words once the laughter faded away.
"Your guess is as good as mine and to be honest, I try not to get inside my father's head unless I absolutely need to." Kristina could understand that. "After you left yesterday my father began spinning this fantasy and though he promised he wouldn't do anything I know my father and he had this look in his eyes that I know very well."
"What could he possibly do?"
"I don't know and really don't want to discover what he can do. My father can be creative when he wants to, not to mention very persistent. Who knows what length he would go to get his way which is why I want Ray watching you."
"But now that I know what he is up to then I can just avoid him."
"You really think that would be enough to deter my father?" No, it wouldn't be but Kristina did not want a bodyguard on her; especially the rude oaf who stood on the other side of that door. "It will just be until I am sure my father has given up on this crazy idea." Johnny continued when she didn't say anything.
"I don't want..." Kristina was cut off.
"It would hurt me if my father was to do anything to you Krissy." It was true; Kristina could see it in his eyes. She knew how hard it had to be on him trying to keep the peace between their fathers. Sonny acted impulsively and Anthony with calculated malice but both outcomes always resulted with Johnny and Jason cleaning up their messes. There was a lot already in his lap so if she could just bite down on her tongue and give him one less thing to worry about then she could try.
"Fine." Instant relief flashed across his face. "But does it have to be that Neanderthal?"
"Ray is very good at what he does." Kristina's responded with a snort.
"Could've fooled me." She mumbled stubbornly.
"You didn't even notice him this morning."
"This morning?" Kristina ignored his smirk. "What do you mean this morning Johnny?"
"He was at the coffee house."
"I don't remember seeing him." She tried to envision all the faces from this morning but was unable to.
"He was there. How else did you think I was able to find you?" Now that Kristina thought about it, not once did she wonder how Johnny knew where the place was.
"I really need to be more aware of things."
"Yes you do which brings me back to what the hell you were thinking easily accepting the word of a stranger. Something could've happened and nobody would've been around to help you." He was right, Kristina knew he was.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking." She hated admitting.
"Please start being more aware of your actions and things around you." Kristina badly wanted to snap at him but once again bit her tongue because though she hated that he was chiding her like a child, she knew he was once again right.
"I promise." Johnny called Ray back inside and re-introduced him to her. He began giving her bodyguard, more like jailer, instructions on what was expected of him and what to be looking for.
"As you know her father is Sonny Corinthos and though he and I aren't exactly on friendly terms, we do have a truce. My father has been causing trouble that sometimes makes that truce harder for him to honor. Now saying that I need to make one thing clear, if ever there comes a time I am with Kristina and Sonny and I get into an altercation your job is not to step in. Her safety is to come first, always. Are we clear on that?"
"Yes sir."
"It doesn't matter whether it's her father's enemy, mine or someone else's; your job is to always protect her, even if it's from me."
"You could never hurt me Johnny." Kristina assured him.
"I know I wouldn't purposely hurt you but sometimes when things get heated I don't always keep a cool head."
"I trust you and you can count on me to remind you of that." Johnny smiled.
"Thank you for your trust but I'd rather you stay out of things concerning your father and me completely."
"I can't make any promises."
"Don't I know...but you can promise to try really hard." Kristina promised with a nod and Johnny turned back to Ray. "Now the main reason I have you guarding her is my father. He may try something." Johnny was vague with the details. "At this time it isn't anything dangerous but that may change. If you see him approaching her then you stay close but it is up to Kristina whether or not she wants you to interrupt."
This surprised and pleased Kristina. He was compromising by not completely taking away her freedom. A smile slowly formed on her face and instead of voicing her thanks, she opted to place her hand on his arm and gently squeeze. He replied by covering her hand with his own and squeezing back before placing it back in his lap.
"When she is home for the night you will be relieved of your duties till the morning. Kristina has agreed to this but I know how much she is hating it so I want you to do what you can to make things as easy for her as possible." Once again Johnny surprised her. "I have a few phone calls I need to make and suggest you two get better acquainted while I am upstairs."
Johnny stood up from the couch and left her alone with Ray who was staring at her with what looked like curiosity. Kristina assumed he was getting ready to ask her something but when he continued to just sit there and not say anything she became annoyed. "Well, are you going to sit there all day or are you going to speak."
"You're not very patient are you?"
She chose not to answer; instead she threw a question back at him. "What the heck was all that in the lobby about anyways?"
"I wanted to see how you would respond; what exactly I am up against."
"You were testing me!" She was outraged.
"I was." He answered with a grin.
"You..." Kristina was so upset that she couldn't come up with anything to say to him.
"In case you were wondering, you failed." His grin grew wider then suddenly grew serious. "Do you know what I could've done had you accepted my handshake." He didn't wait for her to answer. "I could've easily immobilized you Miss Corinthos. You wouldn't have had a chance to make a noise. You would either be held defenseless at an unknown location or dead."
"But then you told me who you were." She tried to argue though her voice sounded small.
"Something you easily accepted with no proof. Once you would've gotten in my car then it would have been all over for you. And why didn't you try to get away from me when I began advancing on you?"
"I didn't appreciate you trying to intimidate me." Kristina snapped, hating how he was making her feel. Johnny was one thing, he was her friend. But this man was nothing to her.
"So because of your stubbornness you decided to show me up by, what, standing your ground? " Again he didn't wait for her to answer. "What good would that have done if all you accomplished was getting yourself killed?"
"I was standing up for myself." There was so much more she wanted to tell him, about her relationship with her father; Keifer. Maybe then he would understand her need to not let any man intimidate her. But she couldn't get the words out.
"Miss Corinthos, I do apologize if I scared you out there but in order for me to do my job accordingly I need to know how you would respond."
"I don't want to be weak." What made her admit that, Kristina did not know. It was too late to take them back.
"Being cautious is not a sign of weakness." Ray leaned forward resting his arms on his knees and immediately his whole body seemed to have relaxed. Kristina felt more at ease with him. "I think it is courageous that you stand up for yourself but you need to learn when it's the right time to fight and when to save yourself. If you're ever unsure of what to do then always remember this; it is better to be safe than sorry. Now, can you please hand me your phone Miss Corinthos."
"I'm sorry." Kristina was thrown by the change of subject.
"Your phone please." She reached in her purse, pulled it out, handed it over and watched as he began to fiddle with it. "I have programmed my cell number but it would be wise of you to memorize it should you ever be separated from your phone." He pulled out his own cell which was lit up. "I now have yours as well." For the next ten minutes Kristina answered all sorts of questions that he said would help him get to know her better and had her run down her day to day schedule. Johnny rejoined them just as she was asking Ray why he wasn't writing any of this down. "I have a good memory Miss Corinthos."
"And in his line of work that is a good thing." Johnny added. "Did the two of you need any more time?"
"I have all I need for now Mr. Zacchara."
"What about you Kristina?"
"I'm good." She answered. "And if we are done here then I think I am going to head out."
"Ray is going to start first thing tomorrow morning."
"Well then I will see you tomorrow Ray."
"Miss Corinthos." He nodded his head.
Grabbing her purse, Kristina walked to the door with Johnny trailing right behind thanking her for understanding and agreeing to this. Once she was inside the elevator and the doors had closed she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. So far this day has brought a few changes in her life; some by choice, others not so much. But the one thing that stuck out in her mind the most was the reason for Johnny putting a bodyguard on her. Why would Anthony Zacchara want his son and her dating? What prompted this sudden decision? What would he get out of it? More importantly would he go far to make this happen and if so, how far was he willing to go?
Kristina knew what Johnny's father was capable of and it made her shudder to think that she was now on his radar. It also made her feel a little better that Ray would be looking out for her. Not that she was happy about it, because she wasn't; Kristina probably never would be. One thing she was happy about though, was that she had the rest of the day to handle a few things she would rather not have Ray around for. The first stop to make would be back at home to freshen herself up before heading back to Java Junkie. Hopefully the manager would be there so she could apply for the job with her personally, because there was no way Kristina was taking no for an answer.
"Seriously, how long are you going to stare at your phone?"
"I am not staring at it." Ethan answered his sister who was making her way to the bar of the Haunted Star.
"You so are. I was staring at you the whole time and not once did you look away from it or even notice that I was here."
"Why are you here?" Ethan chose to reply with a question because there was no answer he could come up with that would explain why he had been staring at his phone willing it to ring.
"Gee, what a way to make your sister feel welcome."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I am just surprised to see you here during work hours." He apologized to her. It wasn't Lulu's fault that Ethan was in the mood he was in. "I really had a bad night of sleep." He offered as explanation which basically was true. What he did not say was what kept him up; or rather, whom.
"Oh, I hate those." She seemed to have bought it.
"Tell me about it."
"Despite your bad night, how are you? I haven't seen you for the past few weeks."
"You know me..." He hoped his nonchalant answer would deter her away from pushing any further.
"I do." She threw her purse on the bar and seated herself in front of him. "I just hope that you are being careful doing, well whatever it is you are doing."
"I promise I am." Ethan assured her. Sometimes it still amazed him that he had a family that worried so much about him. "What about you, how are things at work?"
"Oh my God it has been busy. Kate keeps giving us mountains of things to do and as always she expects them done, like yesterday, which is why I am here now. I really needed to get away during my lunch break. And then there is Maxie who seems to think that I am interested in hearing her go on and on about Spinelli."
"How is he doing?"
"According to Maxie he has been a little off since he came out of his coma."
"Hasn't he always been a little off." Ethan joked.
"Ha, ha. I admit Spinelli is different, but he is a good guy."
"I don't doubt that."
"But now Maxie is determined to help him through whatever it is he is going through. And believe me what Maxie wants, Maxie gets."
"It sounds to me like you don't approve."
"It's not that I don't approve. Maxie's persistence can be a good thing sometimes but..." Lulu paused and leaned forward, crossing both arms on the bar. "She talks about everything but Matt, her actual boyfriend."
"Ouch." Ethan sympathized with the man. "That's got to be tough on him."
"I am sure it is though she says he insists he is fine with it all."
"I don't think so." Ethan shook his head knowing the man had to be lying. "No man would be okay with their girlfriend spending so much time with another man they once were engaged too."
"I agree and believe me I have pointed this out numerous of times but she refuses to see anything wrong with it."
"She doesn't want to see it and unfortunately until she is ready to admit that she still has feelings for Spinelli, the two of them will just constantly be circling each other's orbit, hurting other's in the process."
"Wow, deep." Lulu teased him.
"I do have my moments." He threw back with a smirk.
"How is Dad doing these days?" Just as Ethan suspected.
"Ah ha, I knew there was another reason for this visit." Their father had been drinking heavily these days and this has concerned Lulu and Lucky greatly. Ethan admitted he was concerned too but like he told Kristina one time, when she listened to him as he discussed Luke with her; it made him feel like a hypocrite to say anything when he was a drinker too. Not as heavily as his father, still, this instilled fear that he could succumb to alcohol just as easily as Luke did.
"I am concerned about him and about Lucky."
"Lucky?" This was news to him. "What's going on with Lucky?"
"I don't know. It seems that he is spending a lot of time helping Jason. It kind of reminds me of when he used to work for him."
"Wait, what?" Ethan really needed to brush up on his family's history. "Lucky? You're telling me that our cop brother used to work for the mob."
"Jason always made sure the things he did were small and not dangerous but just being around them at all was a danger of its own and it worried my parent's, especially my Mom. Not to mention Elizabeth."
"How far back was this?"
"Lucky had to have been sixteen, seventeen." She sounded unsure.
"I take it Elizabeth was about the same age."
"Yeah."
"I have to admit it is hard to imagine Elizabeth being friends with Sonny and Jason. I know I don't know her that well but I am having a hard time seeing it."
"That's because you have only known this Elizabeth."
"This Elizabeth?"
"Oh yeah, she used to be fierce." Ethan's eyebrows rose in disbelief making Lulu laugh. " I swear it."
"So what changed?" This seemed to clamp his sister up right away.
"She's been through stuff and made a lot of bad decisions. I think it finally took its toll on her."
"The times I do see her, she seems to be happy."
"And these times you have seen her, have they been with the boys?"
"They have, but there is nothing wrong with that. It shows how good of a mother she is."
"Oh you won't get any arguments from me but she can't make her life just all about her boys. Elizabeth needs to connect with somebody besides just people she works with. I know she is friends with Robin and Patrick but they had been dealing with a lot and now that Lisa Niles is no longer a threat they are concentrating on their marriage, their daughter and I am sure their careers. Her brother is busy running the hospital not to mention in a relationship and I have to say that she and I haven't been close like we used to."
"Why is that?"
"We just drifted apart." Ethan knew there was more but chose not to push.
"So basically it sounds like Elizabeth doesn't really have anybody close in her life." He wondered if maybe there was a reason for Kristina and Elizabeth crossing path. It sounded like they could use each other in their lives.
"No she doesn't. Nikolas has been in and out of town so I doubt he's been around. And Lucky seems to be drifting away from us all..." Lulu's phone ringing interrupted them. His sister answered and from the sounds of it, it looked like his sister would be heading back to work. "I'm sorry to cut this short."
"No problem."
"It's just that Maxie can't find..."
"Go to work Lulu." Ethan stopped her midsentence as he walked around from behind the bar and helped her off the chair. "I am glad you stopped by."
"I am too. We will have to set some time aside for us to do this again."
"I'd like that."
"Maybe we can try and coerce Lucky to join us."
"We could try." Ethan continued to walk her out.
"It would be great if Dad could join us also. We can make it a family night." Ethan chose not to say anything. He didn't see that happening since Luke was still upset with the intervention they inflicted on him which blew up in their faces. "I will call Tracy and get her to help me persuade him."
"Just let me know and I'll be there."
"I will." With one last goodbye, Lulu left.
Looking at his watch Ethan saw it was time to head over to Johnny's. He made his rounds and made sure everything was locked up before he left. As he walked, his thoughts drifted to Kristina who he had hoped would have changed her mind and call. Right before Lulu interrupted him he was debating heavily on whether to call her or not. Each time he decided not to go against her wishes, he would find his phone open again with his fingertip ghosting over the call button a few minutes later. This cycle repeated until his sister arrived stopping it. He wished there was something he could say or do to make things right between them; but he knew there wasn't.
When he arrived at Johnny's, he was ushered inside where he saw that they were not alone. A man sat in the armchair assessing him; Ethan greeted with a nod, the man returned it in kind. "Am I going to need a drink?" Ethan had a feeling things were about to get interesting.
"Probably but I rather you wait till afterwards." Johnny smirked at him. Normally Ethan would've mimicked this move but he was too tense to do anything. "Ethan this is Ray Alvarez, Ray this is Ethan Lovett."
"Nice to meet you." The man shook his hand firmly.
"Mr. Lovett."
"Ethan will be fine mate."
"Ethan it is."
"Ray will be Kristina's bodyguard." This made him laugh. "Oh man, you have a death wish."
"She already knows."
"Does she now...I bet that went over well."
"She came around." Johnny widely grinned.
"You, my friend, are on a roll." Ethan said as he sat on the couch. "First you crashed her time with Elizabeth this morning and now you have put a guard on her. What are you going to close with?"
"Nice to know you find this all amusing. Oh and by the way she got herself invited to Elizabeth's this Saturday."
"That really doesn't surprise me. We both knew there was a chance their friendship would progress. Guess she's decided to continue on with her mission."
"She has, as well as a few other decisions that I am sure she will tell you all about herself."
"That is if she ever talks to me again."
"She will come around. If I were you I would take this time to think things through."
"There is nothing to think about."
"Sure there isn't."
"So how did she take the news that you were putting a guard on her?" Ethan changed the subject as Johnny joined him on the couch.
"She was not happy. I had to ask Ray to give us some privacy." Johnny admitted.
"What did you say to convince her to agree?"
"The truth." The smile Ethan had quickly disappeared.
"What truth? What's happened? Is Krissy okay?"
"I promise you she is fine but my father has this crazy idea in his head and I just want to make sure that he doesn't do anything." Johnny tried to make it sound like it was nothing but Ethan wasn't fooled.
"Johnny you know we are friends but your father is a different story and as your friend I am telling you if he ever goes near her..."
"I know." Gone was his relaxed state, the muscles in Ethan's shoulder were now painfully tensed. "There is more." Johnny said. Ethan held in his groan.
"And that would be?"
"Why my father has an interest in her."
"I assumed it was because of Sonny." Johnny wasn't looking at him and this made Ethan nervous.
"No, the old fool has got it in his head that me and Kristina getting together would be good for the business." The man tried to laugh at this but it came out all wrong and he heard how worried Johnny was for her.
"How far would he go?" Ethan wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.
"We both know what he is capable of."
"That we do mate." Ethan dragged his fingers through his hair which caused him to pull some of it out from the rubber band that secured it at the nape of his neck. That was happening a lot lately and he wondered if it was time to cut it.
"I promise you both that I will protect her with my life." Ray broke the silence that Ethan wasn't even aware the room had fallen into. "As long as Kristina doesn't do anything crazy she will be fine." At that remark Ethan and Johnny looked at each other and released a groan. "I take it that will be a problem."
"When it comes to Kristina Davis, crazy is her middle name." Ethan told Ray.
"That girl can come up with some pretty wild ideas." Johnny added.
"Which often ends up with disastrous results." Ethan threw in.
"And means that someone, namely Ethan, has to help her out of whatever mess she has gotten herself into." Johnny was back to smiling again.
"It sounds like you know her really well." Ray was staring directly at Ethan with a look on his face that made him uncomfortable; like he knew something Ethan didn't.
"I do. Why?"
"Because I may need your help in convincing her to let me teach her some self defense moves; especially after knowing how she responds to danger when I tested her earlier."
"What did she do?" After hearing how Kristina was ready to jump in a car with a man she didn't know Ethan jumped off the couch and began pacing behind it. "I swear she is going to be the death of me." He mumbled which made the other two men in the room laugh.
"How about we move onto what you originally came here for." Johnny suggested.
"Do I really have to know Elizabeth's business?" Ethan hoped he didn't have to. "After all she is family."
"By a marriage that she's no longer in." Johnny answered.
"What about Sam? If Krissy finds out I knew things about her sister she will be very angry with me."
"Need I remind you that it is your fault Kristina is on this road to begin with?"
"Wine and candles Johnny." His friend's response was a chuckle that Ethan did not find amusing. "Fine, let's just get this over with."
"I think this is my cue to step out." Ray stood up.
"There are a few things I still need to discuss with you. Come back in a few hours." Johnny instructed the man as he walked to the door.
"Yes sir." He looked at Ethan. "I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot of each other."
"Oh you got that right." Johnny answered for him.
"Yes, Kristina and I often bump into each another." A cough came from Johnny.
"Then I will see you later Ethan."
"Ray." He stopped the man before he could close the door. "Kristina is very important to...a lot of people."
"I understand."
For the next few hours Ethan learned things he really wished he hadn't. This made him see a few people in a whole different light. He could understand Johnny's concern over Kristina finding any of this out; he hoped she never did because there was no telling how she would react when she found out the horrible things her sister had done. As for Sam's past, Ethan really couldn't judge her on that. He was a con-man and that would be like the pot calling the kettle black, but standing back and watching a baby being kidnapped and then not doing anything to stop it or even tell anybody about it was a different story. Johnny told him that Sam has gotten her life straight and wasn't the same person she once was. Ethan had to admit that he liked the woman and just because he now knew things it wouldn't mean he would treat her any different. She was a good person who obviously loved her family.
Elizabeth Webber's history basically verified what Lulu had told him earlier, that once upon a time ago the woman was a tough cookie. She had to have been to endure being raped at the tender age of fifteen and then a few years later believing that the boy you loved died in a fire only to come back not the same. But somewhere down the road Elizabeth must have lost her way and his sister's words came back to him. She's been through stuff and had made a lot of bad decisions. How true that was, but then again who was he to judge, he hadn't exactly been a modeled citizen himself. Ethan had never really gotten to know Elizabeth Webber. Sure they had been introduced before but it never went further than greeting in passing or chit-chat's at the hospital. Hell, he was Cameron and Jake's uncle. But then again; after what he had just learned – not by blood.
Which brought him to one Jason Morgan.
Ethan liked the man, had always respected the cool level head he seemed to always have on his shoulders. But to know the man didn't fight for his son was hard to believe. Johnny believed that Elizabeth may have played a heavy part in that decision. It didn't make a difference to him; Jason should have fought her on it. It also puzzled Ethan how he could've gotten back together with Sam knowing what she did to his son. Ethan can look past that because she was nothing more to him than Kristina's older sister but if he were in Jason's shoes than he couldn't have trusted her to allow her close to him again. Sure one could say that Kristina falsely accusing him of being the one to beat her up that night was the same thing, but to Ethan they didn't compare. Kristina was a scared girl and Keifer was threatening her. Sam on the other hand was a very angry older woman, and she may have been rightly so, but to take it out on innocent children was just low.
By the time Ethan made it back to the Haunted Star his head was pounding from everything as well as last night's lack of sleep. Again he contemplated calling Kristina but after taking a few aspirins he decided what he needed was a nice nap. Tomorrow he would find her and thanks to having her bodyguard's cell number, it would no longer be hard to do. And this time he would work things out between them the right way; the first step is apologizing to Kristina for asking her to forget that night ever happened. Ethan realized how wrong and insensitive he was for that and hoped she could forgive him.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading. Chapter 5 will be added soon. Comments, criticisms and suggestions are always welcomed.