Chapter 10:

Somebody Told Me …The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts

This has never been truer than with my own family. We were great on our own, but when we came together, we were a force. Nothing could beat us; they sure tried, but failed. It took us a long time to come together, after many trials and tribulations, but we did, slowly but surely.

FEW DAYS LATER:

"Anyone want to try my Spanish omlette?" Dante asked

"Shouldn't we wake up Sam?" Michael asked.

"Yours? Hey I helped you make it," Morgan interjected.

"Pass the syrup," Molly requested.

"Nah, she'll be up soon. She was at the hospital last night." Dante replied

There they were, Molly, Morgan, Michael and Dante having breakfast in Alexis' kitchen. Alexis' house had become the central zone since the day of Kristina's attack. This was where they spent most of their time now, apart from Kristina's hospital room. It was hospital and then home and today, they would add school into the mix. Alexis and Sonny had decided that it was time for Michael, Morgan and Molly to get back to their routine which included school. It had taken a bit of convincing and negotiating, but it was decided that they would go to school, visit with Kristina and then go home to finish homework. Morgan and Michael insisted on staying at Alexis' so they would be close if anything happened. Sam and Dante volunteered to keep an eye on them, since Alexis and Sonny had spent the last few nights with Kristina. They only ever left her side to eat, shower and change into clean clothes.

"So, who needs a ride to school?" Michael asked.

"You guys are going to be driven there," Sam said walking in.

"That's not fair!"

"Take it up with your dad, Michael."

"That's what he said and for once, I agree with him, at least until we know what we are up against." Dante put in.

"Are we ever going to find who is responsible for this, between dad's connections and your police department, we should be able to nail this guy to the wall."

"We are working on it."

"Yeah, that's all I hear."

"Guys, Max is here," Molly quickly added, before things got out of hand between Michael and Dante.

After the kids had left, Sam and Dante caught up. It seems they had taken over. Alexis and Sonny were always with Kristina, hoping for some miracle, slowly pulling away from everyone and everything.

"Gianna found out some information about the Bauers, but it seems everything is very hush-hush, which seems odd because Gianna is quite connected with the WSB. The only thing she could tell me was that a Warren Bauer is working for some Russian organization…"

"Russians, who specifically?" Sam asked thinking of Helena. She had heard enough stories about her from Lucky and Nikolas.

"Why? Does that mean anything? The organization is highly dangerous and they are heavily involved in the European underworld."

"Alexis' family is originally from Russia."

"I though they are Greek."

"They are, but during the revolution, they moved to Greece and that's where they have been, I think."

"So, how does that connect to Kristina? Was she a target? What about you or Molly or Alexis."

"Is that all you got from your contact?"

"Yeah, that's all she would tell me, it seems she was holding back something…I don't know…it's not like her. She seemed to think this was very strange. She mentioned someone by the name of Dmitry Ivanov. Why did you ask me who specifically? Do you know something?"

"Well, Helena Cassadine has never hidden the fact that she hates my mother. She even tried to kill her."

"Uh, Sam, don't you think you should have mentioned this earlier?"

"Relax, Dante, everyone knows about Helena. I am pretty sure my mom or Mac or Nikolas or even Sonny has checked up on this. It's not a secret, the whole of Port Charles knows about this. Anyway, it doesn't seem like Helena's style."

"Helena's style?"

"It's complicated," Sam replied.

"Of course it is." Dante was beginning to finally realize that nothing is as simple as it appears in Port Charles especially its citizens.

"I spoke to Lucky and he doesn't think it is Helena, neither does Nikolas."

"Okay, I'll talk to Nikolas and find out more about this Russian connection."

"I'll talk to Spinelli. Do you think we should tell Alexis about this?"

"I say we wait until we have more information."

Alexis had decided to come home for the afternoon or rather she was sent home by an insistent Sam. She was to take a nice long bath and maybe even a nap. Sam would stay with Kristina along with the kids who were to come after school.

"What are you doing home? I thought you would be with Morgan and Molly? Alexis asked Michael, who had just walked in from school.

"I'll probably go in later. So, how are you holding up?"

"Hanging in there. I just want her to wake up. How are you doing?"

"I am so sick of all this…first me and now Kristina. It's so damn frustrating."

"I know Michael, but Kristina is a strong girl. She'll come through. She has to." Alexis pleaded

"Why haven't we found that son of b**** yet? Michael demanded.

"Michael! Mind your language."

"Sorry, Alexis, but I am so just angry right now that I could kill him for what he did to Kristina"

"I know Michael. What he did to Kristina was … unforgiveable… abuse is unacceptable and once the PCPD find him and I'll make sure he rots in jail for the rest of his life."

"What is Dad doing about this? Is he doing anything about it? I know he isn't because if he was, the guy would be dead by now. Dad's just doing nothing."

"Michael, what do you want him to do? He is still coming to grips with what happened to Kristina. We all are."

"No, Alexis I want you to do something."

"Me! What do you want me to do?"

"Tell him Alexis, he'll listen to you?"

"Tell him what?"

"Tell him to fight for Kristina. This is breaking him. Tell him to find Keifer and kill him and his entire family. I want revenge."

"Michael!" Alexis pleaded.

"He always listens to you…You are the most important thing to him…I have spoken to Jason and Jax. They told me about your past with Dad and how my mom ruined it, how they all ruined it. I remember Alexis, the time you fought for me. How you fought for my best, during the custody battles when I had a million dads…I don't remember the details but I remember you and my dad together. He was always happy with you. He was different around my mom."

"Michael, that's not really what you want. You don't what to take someone's life… I know how you feel…you are angry, you feel helpless…"

"No, I want to hurt Keifer just as much as he hurt Kristina, you, me and everyone … I want him to die"

"You can't just starting killing people … you can't become a mob-"

"What, a mobster? Is that what you were going to say? But, that is exactly what I have become… a mobster…a monster…a criminal. I have become one of those guys…"

"Michael, listen to me," Alexis took Michael's face in her hands, "You are good kid, and you have been a great brother to Kristina. You want Kristina to wake up and she will wake up whether we get Keifer or not. You have been through a lot…you will get through this, Kristina will get through this. We will all get through this." Michael's arms reached out and pulled Alexis into a hug.

"You know sometimes I think that you keeping Kristina away from all this was the best thing you ever did. I wish my mom had done that."

"Michael, your mom loves you and so does your father."

"I know, but I just wish she had chosen to walk away from dad so we could have had a safe life or if he had given up the business. I know I would have raised hell as a child if I was away from dad, but at least I wouldn't feel this way."

"Michael, I know you are getting older and you are realizing that life isn't easy and every choice has its consequences. I know you might think that keeping Kristina away from Sonny kept her safe and it might have, but she lost so much time with her father and so did Sonny. Sometimes, I regret that decision and at times like this, I am glad. But this had nothing to do with your Dad's business or my family's connections."

"I know, Kristina often wished she had a relationship with dad like I did, but I don't think she realizes the hell we get to go through with the guards, the constant fights, the moves, the drama. I love my dad and I know he loves me, but his life, the violence, the guards…I wish I had a normal childhood. I wish I didn't feel like this."

"Sometimes, I forget, of all the people involved, you have been here right from the beginning. Michael, I am afraid for you… the road you are going down… you can be so much so more than this and I know your father, or Carly don't want this for you either. You might end up in jail or even worse dead…what then?"

"Then, maybe they should have been better parents. Maybe AJ should have raised me or Jason or even you or the Quartermaines?"

"Where is this all coming from, Michael?"

"I don't know, I guess I am just realizing that my life is complicated …for all the people who love me and have done things for me …it's still so …I don't know."

"You can't blame your parents for everything, Michael, they are human too. I don't think you know much about your father's past…don't be too hard on him. He is still human and he loves you. Maybe you should talk him and tell what you feel."

"I'll see"

"You know Michael; you have talked a lot about your past, your life, the choices made for you. So, why don't you make the right choices now? You can change all of that ... take control of your life. Do the right thing. Believe me, there is nothing more satisfying that taking your life in your own hands and living it to its fullest. What about college? A job?

"Thanks for the talk Alexis; I am sorry for yelling and dumping all of this on you."

"You're welcome, Michael and remember, I am always here for you."