Chapter 4

Sable Colby made her way around the crowded room and towards her ex husband, Jason, with ease and grace. "Jason, you really should at least pretend to be happy," she chided gently.

"Sable, please," he exhaled as he turned the glass in his hand and looked pass her to the woman masquerading as his daughter-in-law.

"Oh, for pity's sake, Jason, suck it up. Do you think any of the rest of us are happy with his whole scenario?" she wondered as she took the glass out of his hand and took a swig.

Jason shook his head, slightly amused by her antics: "what are you up to, Sable?"

"Just reminding you that there are other things to worry about, and be happy about as well," she retorted as she placed the now empty glass on a tray of a waiter moving by.

"Worrying I can see. Did you notice that Miles disappeared with Jeff and Steven for a while?"

Sable huffed: "Of course I noticed. Jason, I have kept an eye on all of them since the moment I arrived. It's a shame we all have to worry about what could possibly go wrong at every joint family event."

Jason looked down and then up at her again: "if someone had gotten down there sooner. If we had heard. . ."

"The house was over two miles away, Jason. There was nothing that could've been done."

"I wonder if you'd be saying that if it were your granddaughter who had made that trek scared and alone," Francesca Colby challenged her sister as she came to her husband's side.

"It was my grandniece who did it, and I'll remind you that Miles has always been quite close to all of the children," Sable replied annoyance clear in her tone.

"A little too interested for my taste. Like his mother he doesn't know when to give up," the other woman replied icily as she slipped her arm through her husband's.

"Well, I'll take it as my cue to leave you two love birds alone," Sable said breezily. "Just remember that all precautions were taken."

"Like you would know?" Francesca wondered.

Rolling her eyes, Sable shook her head: "on the up side I do think I saw Connie around," she informed her ex, trying to change the subject.

Jason smiled at that, "well, that is definitely a plus. I don't know what the girl is thinking running off for so long."

"Yes, definitely not like her mother," Sable sighed sadly, thinking of her late daughter, Bliss, who had died all too young.

Nodding, Jason reached out a hand and placed it on her shoulder, trying to ignore the stiffening of his wife next to him, "she had made her own way. They all have, some with more pitfalls than others."

Sable exhaled: "I know. I just can't help but think of all the time I missed with Bliss. . ."

"You weren't the only guilty party," Jason put in. "I pushed Miles and Monica out of my life at the same time. Sometimes I can't help but wonder if I hadn't. . ."

"What's done is done," Francesca jumped in. "Neither of you can go back and change things."

"Perhaps, but you would've think I had learned my lesson from what happened with Jeff," Jason said simply by way of a further apology as he let his hand fall. "I will say if I ever find out who changed those tests results. . ."

"It wasn't only your fault, Jason. I should've told you what had happened to me," Sable told him simply. "But the times were so different then. . ." she shook her head. "Frankie's right though, we can't change the past. We need to move on. I. . . ummm. . . I should go and see some of the other guests. . . find Connie and talk to her."

Jason nodded: "is Winnie here? I haven't seen her."

"No. She's working on some caper or another," Sable told him with a forced laugh. "She takes after Dex in that respect. I would prefer her somewhere behind a desk, knowing she's safe, but, she checks in when she can. Danny said he spoke to her earlier tonight. That she looked good. I'm sure she sent a gift or something. . ."

"Well, your daughter would be good at that," Frankie said shortly.

"Like I said, I'm going to go and catch up with some friends," Sable replied tiredly as she turned and walked off.

"Was that really necessary?" Jason asked as he looked at his wife.

Francesca rolled her eyes: "for pity's sake, Jason, she doesn't even belong here!"

"She's family, Frankie."

"Barely."

"Considering all the family's lost these last few years do you really think that cutting her out is going to do anyone any good?" Jason wondered. "She cares about those kids as much as anyone else."

"Oh, and the hell she put Jeff and Fallon through was. . ."

"Was her way of being a good mother to her son," Jason cut her off. "And it was years ago. If she and Fallon and Jeff could put it aside why can't you?"

"She caused a lot of pain, Jason."

"She wasn't the only one. . ." he sighed. "I need another drink. Would you like one?"

"No," Francesca sulked. "I'll do fine without one. I think I'll see if I can't find Lauren."

"All right, just let me know when you're ready to leave."

Francesca huffed: "you won't be ready to leave to well after the party's over and you've spoken to Jeff and Blake. I'll get the driver to take me back to the hotel when I'm ready. In fact, I think I'll just check on the girls and then leave. I'm really not in the mood for playacting tonight."

"Fine. I'll see you back at the hotel then."

hr

"Well, cousin dear, it certainly seems like few things have changed," Alexis said as she came up to Sable after watching the exchange.

"I suppose not," Sable said stiffly. "You're still flying around on your broom after all."

"Oh, dear, I gave that up years ago."

"Right."

"Such a shame to see you pining after a man who tossed you aside for you sister after, what is it, 25 years?"

"Why, Alexis, I'm surprised you care, but considering you're pining after a man who left you some 40 odd years ago I don't think you have room to talk."

"I am well over Blake Carrington."

"I suppose your various divorces and men on the side should prove that?"

Alexis laughed: "at least I've had them."

"What can I say? I'm much picker than you," Sable shot back.

"Well, you certainly didn't mind picking up my leftovers. How is Winnie by the way?"

"Enjoying her job."

"Ahh, yes. And what exactly is it that she does?"

"Nothing you would find interesting."

"Since she is dating my grandson…"

"Then ask him," Sable said as she slid pass Alexis, ignoring the women's snide comment about like mother like daughter as she did.

Constance Colby edged her way around the room, feeling a bit uncomfortable in her skin. It had been years since she had been to a family party. Part of it was do to the fact that after her mother's death from Cancer, her father had limited the interations between her and her family and the other part was due to Helena Cassidine.

She hated the woman with a passion. Hated how she had stolen her life from her for a handful of years, but was also starting to see that she was lucky. She had been let go, although she knew that at anytime her pass could be rescinded. She had not done what the woman had wanted in the way she had wanted and had been replaced.

It was to her horror that it was with Isabella Carrington.

Shaking her head, she made her way over to where Kirby Carrington was finishing up a conversation with a Denver Carrington employee. "Kirby, can I talk to you a minute?" Connie asked.

"Of course," Kirby said as she let the younger blonde lead her to a quiet corner. "Is everything ok?"

"I'm just a little overwhelmed. Not used to so much family in one room," Connie tried to hedge.

"If that was the case you would've made a beeline to your grandparents. This is something else, isn't it?"

Connie nodded: "I don't know what to say. I don't even know how much I can say. Really I can't say that much. It could endanger. . ."

"You know something, don't you?" Kirby asked tensely.

Connie nodded: "my… my disassociation from the family for the last couple of years wasn't by choice. . . I didn't see them the whole time. Actually, not until Port Charles."

Kirby exhaled: "then you've talked to. . ."

"Only Belle. Only in passing. It was always with other people around and we couldn't take the chance," Connie rushed out. "But, before I left, she slipped this to me. I thought you'd want it," she finished slipping Kirby an envelop.

"How?"

"We were working in the same hospital. She was a tech and I was a nurse."

"A nurese?Connie you hated. . ."

"Yeah. Still do, that's why I'm going to talk to Grandma about a job at the Colby Collection. It's. . . it was what she set me up as," Connie shook her head. "New name. New identity. New job. Let's just say that I learnt to play stupid along the way. Everyone thought I was naive and straight off the farm.
I don't know if I played the part too well or not well enough because I'm here and they're not.
I got to stop being Nadine and go back to being me and they're. . ."

Kirby put out a hand: "it will be ok. But I'm sure that. . ."

"They'll have questions," Connie sighed. "I just don't think I have the answers. It wasn't like what happened with all of you
I went to class one day.
Had dinner with Dad and she walked in and next thing I knew I was a pawn in her game. . . She treated me decently. . . almost too decently from what I've been told.

I'm afraid I was just a step into the direction she wanted to take.
The rebound before. . ." Connie shook her head. "I can't say more. I'm afraid of the consequences if I do. I've already taken a huge change by giving you that."

Kirby nodded: "I'll put it away till I can read it with Adam," she said simply. "Now, why don't you go talk to some of the others? If someone is watching it will seem odd that we've spoken for so long."

Connie nodded and then slipped back into the party as Kirby stared after her: "well, she wasn't targeted because of Adam, so just who else is this woman after and why?"

Luke watched as Fallon let herself into her room at the Metrocourt, "you don't have to stand at the door, you know, you can come in," she chided as she dropped her wrap onto a nearby chair and moved towards the windows to stare out of them.

"Just waiting on an invitation," he said as he stepped in.

"Like not having one has ever stopped you before?" she asked as she looked at his reflection in the window.

"Can't be too careful."

"Ahh, yes, the jealous wife," she laughed tiredly. "That can be a problem."

"Wasn't just talking about Tracy."

"Yes, I know," Fallon sighed as she turned to look at him: "I've made friends with one of the cleaning ladies. Things should be discrete, not that you usually are."

Luke laughed catching her meaning: "you wound me, English. Besides one can never be too careful."

"Very true."

"I suppose that's why you're still keeping secrets."

Cocking her head to the side she sized him up and then shrugged: "can you blame me, Luke? A good con knows how much to reveal and how much to keep close to her vest."

"You're not that great a con. Too open a face."

"And stuck too much in the past, I suppose," she replied tiredly. "I have to do what is best for my son whether you believe me or not."

"And this is the best you can do?"

"It's all I know how to do," she told him angrily. "And if you don't like it you can leave. I don't need you or anyone telling me how I should handle this."

"Fine. I won't tell you how to handle this," Luke said amused. "But I could use a drink."

"Well, I can't!"

"Come on, English, a nightcap for old times sake?"

Fallon rolled her eyes: "its all old times sake where you're concerned, and you never need an excuse for drinking. I told you earlier. I want to go to sleep."

"Just one?" Luke said as he went to the phone and dialed room service.

"Fine. But I don't want a drink. I want chocolate, and lots of it!"

"Well, now. That can be fun," Luke shot back, raising his eyebrows at her.

"Luke, order what you want. I'm going to take a shower---- and you are not joining me. Your wife thinking we're revisiting the past is one thing. Actually doing it is another!" she replied angrily as she headed towards the bathroom, fuming.

"Well, at least she's not in a depressed funk anymore," Luke muttered as he gave their order to room service.

Nikolas walked into the living room of Wyndermere not surprised to see Liz wrapped in Lucky's arms with tear streaks drying on her face. "What do you two want?" he asked with a long suffering sigh.

"Nikolas, you need to know about the hateful things that Rebecca said to Liz," Lucky self righteously informed his brother.

"Right, so tell me, Elizabeth was this before or after you accused Rebecca of sleeping with Ethan?" Nikolas asked as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, clearly waiting for an answer.

"Nikolas, you have to understand what I saw, and besides, that doesn't give her the right to say the things she said!" Elizabeth sputtered, slightly surprised that Rebecca had not only called him, but he had already taken her side without listening to her.

"You saw her give Ethan a hug, something we've all seen you to do Patrick hundreds of times. Does that mean you're sleeping with him?"

"That's different and you know it!"

"No, Elizabeth. I don't.
I know Rebecca called me in tears after your altercation. That she said she'd been up since five and pulled a double while you had a shortened shift because Cam had a school play today and two nurses covered for you—with overtime--- so you could go."

"They were doing me a favor."

"On the hospital's dime.
Meanwhile Rebecca worked a double but because of the way her supervisor made her sign in and out she'll be paid for two separate shifts."

"And that should matter to me? Especially after what she said to me?!?!?"

"She brought up Liz's rape, Nikolas," Lucy told him.

"A fact that's common knowledge," Nikolas exhaled, now understanding what Rebecca meant when she told him she had said horrible things that could change his opinion of her.

"Right, after she called me a slut and whore only out for a meal ticket and a baby daddy," Liz huffed with more confidence, seeing the slight waver in Nikolas's expression.

Nikolas raised an eyebrow at that: "you mean you haven't already heard that one around the hospital? That particular rumor has been floating around the hospital for some time. In fact, I believe Dr. Drake is in the lead in the polls."

"That's not funny, Nikolas," Lucky told him, a touch of anger at how lightly his brother was taking this in his voice.

"Maybe not, but it's true.
A lot of the nurses, hell, staff for that matter have been around long enough to know about Liz and her past. A lot think she gets by because she's Audrey's granddaughter and Bobbie and Amy's niece. My former sister-in-law. Allowances were made for her that weren't for others."

"I can't change what people think or say about me!" Liz yelled. "And since when have you felt this way. If Emily were alive. . ."

"I'd what? Take your side?" Nikolas asked. "Liz how many times did I take your side over hers? How many times did I put her in tears because of it? You want me to treat Rebecca differently, well, here's where I start.
Stop trying to prove to me that she's not Emily. I know that. Emily is dead and she's not coming back. That being said, I see beyond the resemblance to the real her. Something the you two might want to try."

"You mean you see the real her that she wants you to see. She's a con artist!"

"Once upon a time, Liz, you were not so innocent.
You and Lucky both pulled cons.
You two changed, maybe she can too."

"Only a personality transplant would change her!" Liz shot back.

"Liz," Lucky warned into her ear before turning his attention to his brother: "Nikolas, the rape should be off limits."

Nikolas resisted the urge to roll his eyes and looked to his brother a bit too much like Stefan Cassidine in that moment for his liking: "Exactly what did she say?"

"That I play the rape victim card. That she wouldn't have accused a teacher and that I should use what happened to me to help others by volunteering at the clinic," Liz listed huffily.

"OK.
Well, you have on occasion played the card."

"I have not!"

"You have the choice between a rape victim or a trauma, you take the rape. You say its because you'd know better how to handle/help them, but its been brought to my attention on more then one occasion that its almost always done at the end of a shift when you'd be more likely to get off closer to the actual time your shift would be over.
Two, you did accuse Mr. Murty based on circumstantial evidence. And three there would be nothing wrong with you volunteering to help teen victims."

"I have two kids at home, can we get real here, Nikolas?" Liz shot back.

"Right.
You two know where the door is. I have some paper work I need to get done between now and going to bed.
Good night."

Krystina Carrington forced a smile as she escorted Dr. Alexandra Marrick over to introduce her to her brother-in-law, Jeff. She wasn't particularly sure of what the European doctor wanted, but she figured she'd play along. With any luck it would have something to do with her missing family members.

Of course, she wasn't supposed to be concerning herself with all of that. She was supposed to be going on with her life and waiting like a good little girl in the wings. But that wasn't who she was. Hell, that wasn't who any of her family members were. They all had their own ways of trying to gather information. Hers was via the medical community.

Not that it was all too helpful of late.

All she had was the fact that Isabella had a look a like who was probably her twin sister who her been in a rehab hospital after her spine was crushed in a train accident.

That being said, she hadn't missed how 'Fallon' her invited the mother of one of Lauren's friends--- one she knew was a reporter--- upstairs, or the later exchange between the later woman and her husband and Count and Dr. Marrick, while her sister's double ganger made herself scarce.

"Jeff," Krystina said as she came to a stop in front of her brother-in-law who was watching the party, "This is Dr. Alexandra Marrick. She wanted me to make introductions."

Jeff raised an eyebrow at that: "Dr. Marrick. Is there something in particular you wanted?" he asked simply.

"If you wouldn't mind taking a walk with me, I'm sure I can explain in detail. It seems we have some mutual friends in upstate NY," she answered.

"I. .. umm. . . I see. I suppose this has to do with some business deal or another that they don't want getting around."

"But of course," she said as she slipped her arm through his and he escorted her through the crowd.

From the other side of the room, Holly glared: "wipe that expression off your face, Sugar. She ain't her sister," Tiffany told her as she came over with a drink.

"Well thank god for small favors. Where's Sean?"

"Taking a call from Mac," Tiffany told her as she took a sip of her drink.

"Do you think he. . ."

"Honey I have no idea and I stopped asking questions a long time ago."