Switching Places
Chapter 34
Goethe: Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.
Georgie wrapped her coat more tightly around herself as she skirted the park; she had heard enough from her father to avoid going through it at eleven o'clock at night. Looking down at her feet encased in satin pumps, she just sighed as she kept walking. As soon as she was at the hospital she was going to see if she had any clothes that would make the walk home easier.
Seeing the well lighted path, she stopped to consider taking it, but could hear Mac inside of her head warning her not to. In a spirit of rebellion, she pulled out her pepper spray and stalked her way through the park. At the steps she saw the shadow and turned to make sure whoever it was knew she was paying attention, she saw the man disappear through the shrubbery.
Wondering if he was more scared of her than she was of him, she kept walking never noticing the shadow getting closer until she was grabbed from behind with a hand across her mouth telling her to say nothing while the pepper spray seemed to have no affect. Freezing up for a minute, she started to struggle, then bite the glove covering her mouth.
When he pulled away she screamed as loud as she could hoping against hope that someone was in the park.
"You bitch, I told you not to scream." The voice in the shadows said as he reached out and backhanded her. Georgie felt herself losing consciousness as she hit her head on the steps. Trying to kick out in desperation, she felt her attacker reaching down to rip at her necklace, then reach for her coat as she fought to stay awake.
Then nothing, just cold air hitting her as he grabbed for her purse, then her watch. Then the sound of footsteps as the man whispered "I know who you are and I will be watching you. You can run but you can't hide princess."
Jason, Lucky and Nik all arrived in the park as AJ and Mac came from the other side.
"Oh my god, GEORGIE!" Shouted Mac as he fell to his knees next to his daughter and cradled her close to his body. Turning to Spencer who was standing there in a trance, he said "Get an ambulance and some officers down here now."
"Mac, I already called them." Said Jason as he put his phone away. Taking off his jacket he handed it to the man as Georgie shivered while going into shock, Nik following along with AJ. As the men waited for the siren they listened as Lucky called Taggert in the stunned voice he was still using.
Mac was trying to check his little girl over, when she came to long enough to push his hands away saying no, don't touch me. Mac retreated a little as every single rape victim he had ever talked to rushed through his head.
Jason watched as Mac turned bleak eyes away from the scene of his daughters ripped clothes. His hand shaking as he called his wife, Jason knew that Elizabeth would be the best person to talk to the young girl if she had indeed been attacked in that vile manner.
The medics arrived and rushed over to check their victim but she was pushing their hands away even as Jason could hear Elizabeth answering her cell. Telling her what was going on, she said "I will head straight to GH. Jason who is there?"
After listening she said "Get AJ and Nik out of there, tell Mac that I said to tell Lucky to go someplace else until they get Georgie to the hospital. She is not going to want to go, but make sure they insist. I'm walking out the door right this minute, with Monica."
Jason got his brother and Nik's attention and passed on Elizabeth's message then did the same to Mac. Seeing the police commissioner was going into shock himself, he got an entering Taggert's attention. The man had been shocked at the call from Spencer but the scene made it even worse.
"Morgan, who was here when you arrived?" He asked.
"AJ came with Mac from the hotel side. Nik, Spencer and I were coming in from the hospital side. There was a guy who I saw entering before us, but he was in the park for barely a minute before she screamed. It took us almost five minutes to get here, so I doubt he was the attacker."
"Did you see anyone coming your way after she screamed?"
"No, but I wasn't looking. This is close to the same spot where Elizabeth was attacked years ago, I just wanted to get to the woman screaming." He said looking over as Bobbie Spencer came into the park and got Georgie calmed enough to take her to the hospital.
Carly saw Lucas entering the house quietly. "You are in before your curfew, besides Momma is at the hospital."
"I just was hoping no one would ask about the dance, and before you do, it was a mess. Lulu showed up and hit on Dillon. He spent the night telling Georgie he didn't know how to dance then did so with her. To make matters worse, she decided to take control of the conversation, Dillon was being polite and it screwed things up with Georgie and with Brooklynn for me."
"Why didn't anyone say something to Lulu? If she was acting so badly?" She asked curious.
"Georgie said that she was acting like this because of what happened at school, she got kicked out. Dillon doesn't know to just ignore half of what she says and spent a good part of the night digging a deep whole for himself."
Carly winced as she could imagine the scene that had to have played out. "Where did Lulu go after the dance?"
"Who cares, I don't. Georgie left with Maxie and I was dumped to get home all on my own by a pissed off Brooklynn."
Hearing the sound of footsteps, they turned to see Maxie panting as she rushed into the room. "Why didn't you answer your phone? Have you seen Georgie, she left the hotel by herself?"
"No, she said she was going to go with you."
"I never heard her asking me to wait, I left and went to a party." She said worried about her sister.
Elizabeth entered the emergency room just as the ambulance pulled up with Georgie. Seeing the look on Mac's face, she went straight into the room with Georgie and waited while Dr. Meadows checked her pupils and breathing. "Slightly dilated Elizabeth I need you to try and talk to her, like the girl last month." She said squeezing the petite brunette's shoulders.
Georgie opened her eyes to see Elizabeth standing next to her, saying she needed to talk to her. "How are you feeling?"
"My head hurts, my back hurts where it hit the steps. My wrist also hurts where the guy grabbed my arm to remove my watch." She said.
"Georgie can you tell me what happened?" She asked softly.
Georgie told her what had happened that evening from the dance to the ending of her date. Then the trip she had planned to GH. Finally she came to the attack. "He was leaning down then he whispered I know who you are and I will be watching you. You can run but you can't hide. Then he called me princess."
"Georgie, I have to ask did he rape you?" She asked keeping her tone even.
"No, but I think he was going to, if he hadn't heard footsteps. Then later I heard the bell from the church at St. Marks." She told Elizabeth. "My dad was there along with Jason."
"Do you want me to tell your dad what you said or do you want me to let him in?"
"Please let me be for a minute. I can't face him tonight." She said.
"I will send in the doctor who needs to have you checked out. You hit your head pretty hard."
Elizabeth removed the examination gloves and went to the waiting room where it looked like the whole of the Port Charles Police department was along with Jason, Nik and AJ. Seeing Emily entering with Dillon, she intercepted them before Mac saw the younger man. "Emily take him to your mother's office, Dillon, you should not be here right now."
Turing she waited until Emily slipped the younger man down to the stairs and went to see Mac. "She is going to be fine. A possible concussion, Tony is looking into it. She was mugged and he pushed her down ripping her clothes, that is all."
Mac leaned against the wall, relieved yet well aware that the young woman before him had been in his daughter's position and had not been so lucky. "Can I see her?"
"Right now she is with Dr. Meadows," Seeing the look on his face, she said "Only because she is working the ER so that she can have Christmas off. Tony is the only specialist she needs. I swear Mac."
Grabbing her hand, Mac could not get past the lump in his throat when he said Thank you.
"They are going to need some time with her. The best bet is to let her be for right now. I was going to have the new shrink talk to her when she feels up to it. Now do you want me to write up a report for you or give the information to one of your officers?"
Mac turned to tell the uniformed officer that was there to take her statement but realizing it was Spencer asked Taggert if he would mind doing so. "Sure Mac. I have Capelli out searching; we might have a witness, if we can find him.
"Have them keep me informed." He said then turned to walk to the chapel needing a few minutes alone.
Seeing Alexis standing off to the side, Elizabeth joined her saying "I have to deal with Dillon, after talking to Taggert. Can you keep Mac away from Monica's office for now?"
Jason stood and listened as Elizabeth gave Taggert all the information. The abrasive detective was remarkably gentle with his wife as he listened to what Georgie had told her. After reminding Elizabeth that Georgie would still need to file an official report, he asked how she was dealing with this.
"I'm fine, thank you. Taggert, catch this guy, he was going to attack her if it wasn't for the footsteps. All I could think of when I heard that it happened in the park, the idea of Tom Baker." She said as she stopped talking.
"I understand. I need to deal with this, but if you ever need reassurance about Baker, just remember he is still in prison and will be there for several more years. I attended his latest parole hearing; he is not getting out until he had served the full term."
Jason backed away so that the man didn't see him, then gripped his hands tightly, wishing he had never made the promise to Emily that he would not kill Baker. The man had died a thousand times in his mind, but the fact that he was still breathing after hurting Elizabeth so badly left an ache inside that would never heal as long as he was alive.
Seeing AJ talking to Monica he joined them, saying to his brother "Elizabeth said you were looking for Georgie. What is going on?"
As AJ told him about what had happened with the dance, Jason could still hear Elizabeth's explanation of her rape and Lucky's standing her up. Shaking it off, temporarily, he told AJ to get Dillon out of here, that Mac would not take his part in this lightly.
"I plan on it. Mom told me that Elizabeth sent him to her office to keep him hidden. What a screwed up night. All because he couldn't keep his mind off of a blond airhead."
"I need to see if Mac needs anything." Said Monica as she walked away from her sons. Dillon had screwed up but the thing was, she had seen his sorrow. Walking past Tony she asked how Georgie was doing?
"She is blaming herself for getting attacked. Mainly because she cut through the park, knowing what had happened to Elizabeth. She didn't want Mac to know how bad the date had gone so she was going to come here and change into some less formal clothes that she had here."
Elizabeth told Dillon to meet AJ outside. Leaving all he could think was this was his fault. At least that was how it felt. Seeing his cousin, he followed AJ to his car and went home wishing he hadn't been paying attention to the pretty blond. He liked Georgie not her but the attention had gotten to him.
Emily hugged her best friend, knowing that rape cases tended to get under her skin. "Where is Jason, I would think he would be checking up on you?" She asked not knowing he was right outside the door listening to them.
"I left him downstairs hoping that if Mac saw Dillon he could keep him from strangling the kid. This isn't his fault, but right now Mac is going to be looking for someone to blame. It's natural."
"Elizabeth from the sounds of it this was close to what happened to you, but you never blamed Lucky, why would anyone blame Dillon?"
"Emily, I hate to disillusion you, but I blamed myself, so by the time I realized that if I hadn't been stood up by Lucky I wouldn't have been in the park, he was thought dead. The fact is I did blame Lucky. It's part of the reason that I felt so guilty when he came back. I blamed my grams, I blamed Sarah and I even blamed you. That is part of being raped. Eventually I came to realize that it was Tom Baker who was to blame for what happened to me."
"That man is locked away where he can never hurt anyone ever again."
"I wish he were dead. I always have." She said looking straight into her best friend's eyes. "When I found out that you made Jason promise to not kill him, I hated you for that."
Emily backed away and sat on the edge of the desk, shocked at what Elizabeth was saying. "Elizabeth, he is in jail, which was the best place for him."
"Emily every single February 14th, I have nightmares about what happened. I also know that someday he will get out of jail. Maybe you think that serving time in prison is enough, but I have never agreed. Because some day he will get out and he will rape another person. I could see it in his eyes."
Emily was shocked and yet she could understand the pain Elizabeth was going through. "Do you still hate me?"
"No, I do understand not wanting anyone's blood on your hands. I came to accept that he will be free someday, but I still hope that he slips off a tall building and dies when reaching the bottom. "
Jason vowed to make sure that happened, no matter that it would break his promise to Emily. Discreetly walking back to the main hallway, he called Marco and asked for a report.
Carly rushed into GH with the kids; Bobbie had called and said that Georgie had been attacked. Listening to Taggert talking to Lucky, she was grateful to realize that it had been a mugging instead of something worse. Seeing Alexis talking to Mac while gently rubbing the man's back, as Maxie threw herself into her father's arms.
The obvious love between father and daughter made the lump in her throat grow, this was her fault. Georgie had not been attacked in the alternate timeline. Seeing Alexis getting up she went over to her rather pregnant friend and said once Mac and Maxie had walked off. "This didn't happen last time, I am so sorry."
"You are not at fault for this; the man who hurt her did this."
"I heard about the date and Lulu crashing the dance, I was planning on spending some time with her trying to stop some of the reckless behavior she will exhibit in the future. I think I need to start now."
"Have Elizabeth help; after all she has known Lulu since she was a kid."
AJ was being handed his coat from the medics when he saw Carly sitting with Alexis, walking over he asked if she needed a ride home?
"Yes, I refuse to get into a car with that Radcliffe kid again. He is a worse driver than I am."
"Not likely." He teased. "Let's get you home."
Walking out to the parking lot, she saw that Reginald was waiting with the Bentley. "Where is your car?"
"I was at a meeting with my new boss, when this all started. He stayed at the Grille; I went to find Georgie after explaining to him what was going on."
"How did he take that?" She said.
"Other than looking at me a little strange for chasing after a teenage girl, I think he was fine with it."
Chapter 35
The best part of Christmas isn't the presents; it's the anticipation of them.
Elizabeth waited until the hospital seemed to empty out, then told Jason she was going to be staying with Georgie.
"Can we talk for a few minutes first; there are some things you need to know."
Leaning in she pulled his head down and kissed him saying "Meet me in Grams office."
When they finally reconnected, Elizabeth was carrying Jason's leather jacket and he had food for them. "You need to know that I heard what you said to Emily. I wish you had told me before how you felt about wanting Baker dead. I thought you agreed with Emily on his not dying."
Taking her husbands hands Elizabeth sat down next to him and said "While I would not want him to die for what he did to me. I am terrified of what he will do to someone once he gets out. Tom Baker has no remorse; no conscious, Emily never saw that. I do want him dead, but you can't do it. They would trace it back to you in an instant. I would rather have my husband safe and with me. He will make a mistake, and strangely enough I do believe Taggert, Tom is going to stay in prison for many years."
Gathering her close, he said "Did you keep some things back when talking to Taggert or was that all that Georgie told you?"
"She told me all she remembered, but she was a bit cloudy towards the end. She seemed to forget something. Do you know what it is?"
"That comes into something I can only tell you part of. I was following someone; he came to GH hurt, badly. I wasn't responsible for the injuries, but wanted to know more because of the part I can't tell you. While here I called Marco and had him follow the kid when he left."
"Kid?" She asked.
Jason thought about what the report Bobbie had given him and said with a slight grin "I guess I shouldn't call him a kid, he is the same age as you. Okay, well he walked over to the park bench and ripped up his prescription for pain pills and then went into the park walking slowly. He has several broken ribs, what looks like belt welts on his back and older bruising and broken bones."
"Marco said he was just meandering through the park when they heard the screams. It was close by so this kid went to the steps. He stayed with Georgie but he got a good look at the attacker. Marco said he talked to her but that he was too far away to hear what was said. When we all showed up, there was no one there. According to him, this kid went deeper into the brush."
"Why didn't he stay to tell the police what he saw?"
"I would guess that he didn't want to be blamed for it. But that is part of the problem, Marco said they saw the guy that hurt Georgie. The kid shot him. Two shots to the back of the skull. A professional hit. Then he took the stuff the man stole from Georgie and left."
"Is the body just lying someplace?"
"No, I had Marco make it go away, I didn't want Mac to think I did it or sent some of my men to do it."
"Jason, this guy told Georgie he knew where she lived, that if she talked he would come back. We have to find a way to let her know he won't be returning."
"That is the problem, we CAN'T." He said looking into her eyes and making sure she understood.
"I understand, but I am not happy about it." She said stubbornly. "Why did you not just tell Mac, do you think he would have gone after this kid?"
"I think that this kid took a risk to do this. I think he is in worse danger than Georgie, which's why we can't just tell Mac and let him handle this." He said.
Elizabeth laid her head on his shoulder and said "Are you going to help him?"
"I would if I understood what was going on. I need to talk to Carly tomorrow, she isn't going to like it, but there are some things that can not be kept quiet anymore."
It was Christmas Eve and Georgie wasn't a happy person, she jumped at shadows and almost punched Dillon when he came up behind her to apologize for the dance. Seeing her dad and Alexis as they arrived at the hospital she was grateful for one thing, she didn't have to wear an elf costume this year.
Smirking as she saw Lulu, Maxie and a drafted Brooklynn, she looked around for the forth elf. Not seeing Sage she went to find out if the girl needed help getting into the green outfit. Walking into the locker room, she saw that dark haired girl holding up the empty garment bag, saying. "There is no tacky dress inside."
Bobbie had heard about the missing outfit and realized what Audrey had meant. "I'm sorry, Sage. They had to order one more costume because the forth one was worn out. It didn't arrive yet."
"Thank you! Georgie, let's go and laugh at the others." She said dragging off the protesting candy striper.
"That is so not fair, why couldn't it have gone missing when I had to be an elf?" She pouted to the delight of her companion.
"Because I am Lucky!" Said the other girl with her nose in the air as they walked into an uniformed police officer. Georgie laughed and said No you're not, this is Lucky, you are Sage.
As they wandered off laughing, a confused Lucky walked into the small area where Elizabeth was talking to a rather reluctant Max who was dressed as Santa. Francis moved in closer as the officer slipped behind Elizabeth, startling the nurse by saying "Elizabeth, do you have a minute?"
Sending Max to Monica for the bag of presents, Elizabeth said to Lucky "What could you possible have to say to me?"
"I'm sorry, for more than just what has gone on recently. Look can we do this without your guard. I promise to be on the best behavior."
Francis was getting ready to insist on staying after seeing the softening of Elizabeth's face. He was relieved when she said "We can move away a little if you don't want him to hear what you have to say, but it can't be too far and if you so much as raise your voice I will not be happy."
Lucky took a deep breath as the guard left them a little space and said "I was there the night that Georgie was brought in. I heard the comments that were being made. This was almost as bad as what happened to you. People are blaming Dillon, at least Mac was. Taggert too. When I asked him if he thought I was responsible for what happened to you. Taggert said that I was part of the reason you were in the park that night."
"He was right, I was. I abandoned someone I thought was a friend for a chance to get one up on my brother. Then I did it again, in spite of the fact that it was Helena who had me brainwashed, I did still hurt you. I'm sorry." He said looking down. "Then there was the mess with chasing you and sleeping with Courtney. She might have been the one chasing me, but I still went to bed with her. I know that I hurt you but I would like another chance to regain some of what we had in the past."
"Lucky, I do forgive you. Maybe it is time for us to move on, past the pain and anger. I hope we can." She said pressing his hand then walking away followed by her guard.
Seeing her husband coming towards her with Sonny, she greeted them saying to Jason, I missed you.
"You only missed the bike ride I promised you this morning." He teased.
"Well, I missed the chance to drive; you know how much I like to be in charge of the steering." She teased as she saw the way his eyes flared. She had woken up this morning to a note saying he had to run out and that he would see her here.
Jason was thinking of all the places they could go where she could most definitely be in charge of steering the ride, when he realized that his mother was trying to get his attention. "Sorry, Monica, I was lost in thought. What can I do for you?"
"Your grandmother sent me to find you. She arrived about ten minutes ago."
Jason went to greet the matriarch and saw that she had shooed away Edward to so that they were alone. "I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. I understand that Elizabeth and you are stopping by early tonight, but are heading out the cabin."
"Yes, we wanted to be alone for our first Christmas. How are you doing?" He asked, she looked better than she had recently and he was hoping that she would have a happy holiday.
Alexis smiled as Maxie tried to get Mac to tell he what she had gotten for Christmas, the girl was inventive she had to give her that. Seeing Georgie and Sage teasing a pouting Brooklynn she watched as all three girl just treated Dillon like a friend. His mistake of paying attention to Lulu again was going to cost him she thought. What was it about men and blonds, she sighed.
Georgie came over and said to Alexis, "Mr. Cassidine has arrived and asked me to tell you that he would be joining you promptly. Also there was a man who called the house saying he is representing a former client of yours and needs your files."
"Did he give you a name?" She asked.
"Nope, but I told him to call your office the day after tomorrow and that your assistant would be glad to help as soon as he sent you the paperwork stating the client was allowing you to break the confidentiality clause. "
In other words, the guy had gotten snotty and the younger girl had taken him to task. Alexis loved it when Georgie got her back up. Turning to Mac, she asked him if Felicia had called back yet. The woman had promised to call and talk to the girls before the party started and so far had not done so.
As Alan sat down and started to traditional story, they all gathered round and listened, Carly watched as Jason was holding Elizabeth and seemed to be calm. Yesterday he had been anything but calm when she had refused to tell him about the house out at Crimson Point. She had told him that Ric Lansing was a slime ball and was Sonny's brother.
When she told him that Sonny hadn't let him kill the man because of that fact, Jason vowed to make sure that Lansing was dealt with now. Before that happened.
Watching as Lulu was flirting with Dillon, Carly was wondering if she should warn the girl about the heartache coming her way. But the future was already changing so who knows, maybe there would not be a baby and she would not make the choices she had in the future.
As Michael leaned back against her knees, she reached down and messed up her little man's hair while watching as his father teased Emily by pulling on the braids that she was wearing for some reason. Elizabeth had been laughing earlier when she saw the hairdo, so there must be a reason for the childish style.
As they left for the day, to head home to their own celebrations, Carly glanced back and saw Ric leading Sonny away from the crowd and knew that it was going to be too late. Sonny would find out the truth, soon.
As they let themselves into the cabin, Jason brought in the tiny tree and placed in on the small table that Elizabeth had suggested. As his wife unpacked the paper ornaments he smiled at the sight that greeted them, Reginald had been up here stocking the refrigerator and arranging other things at Monica's request.
Putting the rocket ornament that Michael had made on the top of the tree, he led his wife over to the mistletoe that the butler had hung and kissed her slowly removing the outer layers only for her to stop him saying she wanted to get his present first.
"Forget the presents." He said pulling her close.
"Don't move I will be right back." She said slipping under his arm and into the bedroom.
Throwing himself down onto the sofa, Jason wondered what present could have his wife so excited. Deciding they needed heat, he lit the fire and some of the candles that were placed around the room. Going to the small lights that had been hung around the room, he lit the Christmas tree lights then turned off the harsh over head lights.
"Close your eyes!" He heard her order. Doing as she requested, Jason could hear Elizabeth joining him in the room and standing next to the tree. "Okay you can open them."
His wife was standing in front of him being backlight by the white lights which shown on the elf costume and hat. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, where did you get that outfit." He said pulling her into his arms, "Do you have any idea how many fantasies that outfit inspired." He growled as he pulled her into his arms.
Two hours later as they finally got around to opening the presents, Jason was wearing nothing but his pulled on jeans and the Santa hat Elizabeth had placed on his head when she had slipped back on the elf costume.
Enjoying their time together Elizabeth was a little worried when Jason picked up the heavy package her grandmother had gotten for him. As he lifted the lid on the newly nude box, he stared inside trying to keep from laughing as his impatient wife was eagerly looking inside. As she lifted out the t-shirt, and then the next and then a third and continued until the box was empty he just let the laughter flow.
"I can't believe my grams." She said as the dark hued array of shirts was spread across both their laps.
"Do you think that she has a problem with black?" Asked Jason as he held up a dark green t-shirt.
"I have no idea. All I got was lots of paint supplies from her." Said Elizabeth. Then holding the dark gray tee, she said "Maybe she wants me to use them as nightshirts, they would fit."
Carly watched as Michael opened up the anonymously sent train set. Any other time she would have been upset at the present marked from Santa, but she knew that AJ had meant well. Lucas was trying to pretend he wasn't eager to read the thick Harry Potter book she had seem him readying, so she waited until later to open the gift marked Baby.
When Bobbie announced it was time to go to their father's both boys groaned until they were reminded they would be getting presents there as well. Bundling Michael up, Carly followed him out into the snow and down to the waiting limo, where Sonny greeted her friendly enough but then spoiled it by making comments about where she was spending the rest of the day.
Telling Michael to be good at church she just ignored Sonny's jibe and went inside to go with her mother to deliver the various packages they still had. The first stop was the Spencer house; she was pleasantly surprised to see Stefan trying to raise Lulu's spirits.
While the teenager didn't believe in Santa, she had wished that her father had returned home to celebrate. Leslie was trying to keep Lucky and Nik from going after the old man, both upset at his disappointing her. Carly went over and asked the younger girl if she wanted Carly to stay saying she was just helping Bobbie with some last minute gift giving.
"No, that's fine. Nik promised we could go over to Spoon Island for a snowball fight." She said "Then Mrs. Landsbury is fixing us a large dinner. Weren't you supposed to be coming over for that?"
"We will be there." Carly said as Nik followed them out to car, like the gentleman he was.
"Carly I just wanted to say thank you for the information about Lansing, it helped keep us from making a huge mistake. I don't know what to do about Luke, but at least Lucky seems to be coming around."
"I heard about the talk he had with Elizabeth, do you think it will stick?"
As they arrived at the Quartermaine's they could see the younger crew heading out to go sledding. Calling out to them, Bobbie handed them the presents and said to them see you later.
Sage thanked the red head, then turned to Carly and said "Where is Michael?"
"With his dad for the day, is your uncle coming for the New Years?"
"Maybe later, but for now he is stuck elsewhere, do you know Uncle Lorenzo, you seem to?"
"No, I have not met the man yet. I hope things work out for you, though. I do think you should play cupid for him and Skye, if he is available." She suggested.
"I intend to, I think it would be great, she has been so nice to me and after the jerk she was married to, and she deserves a great guy like my uncle."
Inside the laughter was a surprise, usually a holiday at the Q's was more like a day in debating class but there seemed to be strange calmness to the air. As they entered Bobbie was greeted by Ned who had kissed every single entering woman with a kiss under the mistletoe that was placed strategically by the door. Carly saw the happy looks on everyone's faces, but soon realized that Edward was not around.
"Where is the old fussbudget anyhow?" She asked the others.
"Emily and Elizabeth's gift to Lila upset him." Announced Alan from the fireplace where he had tossed another log onto the dying fire. He then asked if she had known before hand.
"Known about what?"
"This." Said AJ as he handed her a large book with a grin. Opening it up, she smiled as she recalled the past place she had seen these pictures was the PCPD interrogation room when Courtney had tried to claim Elizabeth had been behind her kidnapping. "Grandfather was a little upset at his characterization."
Carly and Bobbie sat down and looked through the caricatures of the various town residents, Edward as a befuddled Papa Bear, Taggert as your favorite cleaning solution, Carly as a hurricane, Jason as SuperJase she had to laugh knowing that her friend had never ever seen these pictures. The various other citizens were given equal treatment.
Lila had been turned into a hybrid flower between a rose and a lily, Michael as a Johnny Appleseed, even Jason's guards hadn't escaped, Johnny was a lounge lizard and Max was a great big teddy bear. "Why would Edward be upset, she was actually kind to him?"
"Edward didn't see it that way. I do have to say that I love I get to be the sly fox." Said Skye as she turned the pages. "This is an incredible book; even various buildings are presented. I do love the one of the motorcycle it has wings."
"She was sending these to Emily; there are quite a few that didn't make it into the book that she has shown me over the last year." Said Lila, who smiled at the one of Elizabeth and Emily that was the opening page, the two had been drawn as Gibson girl phone operators.
When they finally left the Quartermaine's, Bobbie wanted to drop off the presents to the Scorpio household, the girls and Alexis were joining them for dinner at Spoon Island. Knocking on the door, they were amused to see Maxie with ribbons and bows stuck all over her.
"Come in, before my dad eats all the cake." She said loudly.
Seeing Mac swallowing something while hiding a fork, Maxie glared at him saying to the others, "He ate all the fruit case and left the plum pudding. We only got the treats out a few minutes ago, what time are we eating at the Cassidines?"
In about two hours, said Bobbie as she passed around the presents. When she handed the last one to a quiet Georgie she asked the young girl if she was doing okay?
"Yes, but like Maxie I'm starved and my prizes make no sense."
"What prizes?" Asked a confused Carly.
"Sean and Tiffany are in London and she sent us this Christmas pudding cake with charms inside, they each have meaning, mine were a jester hat which means fun times and an airplane that mean travel. Georgie got a key, which means new openings, a star, which you wish upon, and a heart, which means romance, but together we can't find the meaning for all three."
"Why did she get three and you get two?"
"They are put in indiscriminately; you have no idea where they are. Alexis only got one, an owl that means wisdom and dad got a heart and a cherub, which means joy. Here take a piece."
Carly was a little worried at the idea of the charms but did as ordered, as she ate the cake she found three charms and was amused at what she got. A dove which she was told meant peace, a key and lastly a cherub.
"I guess that means you will find peace and joy in your new life." Said Georgie as she opened the present that Bobbie had handed to her, wondering why she had gotten two from her aunt. Finding the English lit text and support material inside; she looked up and saw Carly looking at her.
"Thank you, but you really didn't..."
"Hey if you want to ruin your back by carrying around a text book you won't need for years, who am I to stop you." She said as she reached over and picked up the book. "Besides I figure that way when Michael as questions in English I will just sent him to you."
"You do know you can use the support stuff as bedtime stories." Said Georgie eagerly.
"Only if you want Michael to be a nerd." Huffed Maxie, "What is so big about dead writers that no one has ever heard about?"
Alexis and Georgie shared the look of why us, which caused Mac and Bobbie to laugh as they explained about Shakespeare, Mallory and the poets.
"So this guy Lord Byron was kind of like Sonny, right." She said after listening to them.
Alexis looked at the blond with more respect than she had minutes ago. "Yes, Maxie like Sonny, mad bad and dangerous to know, thought Sonny has never had an affair with his sister."
"That's because Courtney was a few fruit loops short of a full bowl and she looked like she worked out more than Jason did." Said the blond in disgust.
Carly wanted to protest on behalf of her late former friend, but realized that Maxie had hit the nail on the head once again. "Alexis I think we have to get going. Mac are you sure you don't want to go with us?"
"I have to go and relieve Taggert down at the station, he worked most of last night, slept in the on call room and then was back out today. With Gia and her mother in Washington he offered to work so that some of the men with kids and wives could have the day and night off."
Jason and Elizabeth were curled up on the sofa with nothing but a blanket covering them talking about the past year and what the future hopefully held. "Do you think we should make some sort of an effort to get up?" She asked as she picked up the last of the cherries from the plate in front of them.
"Why, I would just have to undress you and carry you back here." He said as he gathered her close.
"Is it wrong that I don't feel guilty about it being just us?" She said lifting her head and placing it on his arm.
"I don't think we owe it to anyone, none of our friends and family is alone today. Even the guards are together."
"I would almost pay to see Johnny dealing with Max, Milo and Francis after getting his present."
Jason could feel her laughter as much as hear it. "Elizabeth what did you do?"
"I did nothing, but Carly, Alexis and Emily did something."
"What did they do? Am I going to be one guard short soon?"
"Not likely, my guess is that he decides he wants to strangle Carly, but even she just did a favor for someone else."
"Who?"
"Brenda."
"Elizabeth?"
"I was sworn to secrecy." She said giggling. "Besides, this way you can claim ignorance."
"I can get you to tell me, so do you want to confess now, or should I make you tell me?"
"Do you worst." She said as he leaned over and tortured her until she breathless with pleasure.
"Are you going to tell me now?"
"Are you crazy, not a chance."
After two more sessions, Elizabeth whispered into his ear between pants, then said I think you had better work on this; I have no intention on giving this up.
Jason looked up at his wife who was sweating from trying to find her release saying I am just getting started.
Twenty minutes later, she spilled her secrets, only for Jason to finish her off saying "I told you that you would confess."
Looking into the rather sated face of her husband she said laughing, "I hope you don't treat all your suspects this way."
"No, only the one I am married to. You do know that Johnny is going to kill all of you."
"I had nothing to do with it." She said with a straight face.
"I love you, Elizabeth Imogene Morgan, but I will not protect you from this."
"I'm not worried; there is no proof of anything."