Switching Places

Chapter 65

Elizabeth was going through her wardrobe, trying to find something for the party next week. "Carly are you sure we should dress up? I mean let's face it only Lucas and Georgie know what they are doing?"

"Come on, it will be fun. Besides everyone else will be dressed to the nines. From what I understand they are going to be performing as well as waiting tables, so I am hoping for a great evening. Michael is even being allowed to stay up to attend."

"I just am not sure I have anything appropriate to wear and no time to purchase anything." She said.

"Let me find something for you. So I understand you are sitting at the Quartermaine table, how did that happen?"

"Monica asked, since Tracy isn't coming. Lila and Edward are celebrating their anniversary that night, so they won't be there. Who are you sitting with?"

Grimacing she said "Momma, Luke and a few others. Can you please come over and rescue Emily and me?"

"You are on your own. So far I haven't seen Lucky since his return and I would like to put that off as long as possible, if you don't mind."

Georgie walked into the warehouse, looking for Johnny O'Brien. "Could you do me a favor? I wrote this to my unknown friend, could you arrange for him to receive it?"

Johnny wasn't sure that it was the best plan, Alexis had been questioning Jason and him about the kid, not sure what to think about the notes and postcards. "Fine, but are you sure you should be writing to him?"

"It's just a thank you note. Please Johnny, this will be the one and only time. I promise." She said.

Johnny waited until she left, then called the cell phone number for the phone they had left at the studio, Elizabeth had reported it gone and a note saying thank you. "Hello?"

"We have to meet Vista Point. One hour."

"I will be there."

Johnny went in to see Jason and told him that he was meeting with the Zachara kid. "Be careful, Taggert is looking at us for the explosion down by the waterfront."

"Spencer's handiwork, why don't you just give the detective the proof."

"I have every intention of making him pay, but no intention of making us the suspects." He said.

Alexis went through the paperwork, then called Mac. "I have got the paperwork for Nik, so I have to run out to Wyndamere. Viola has Kristina; do you know what you want to do for dinner?"

"I will be stuck at the station. Another drug store was broken in to. Amazing how they stopped while Spencer was gone, but now that he is home they start up again." He said annoyed. "Could you give Nik a hint regarding Lucky's drug use?"

"I am on my way; also Stefan is looking for you, about the questions you had."

"I will be here, I am waiting for results from forensics and Taggert is still convinced that Morgan blew up the old Anderson building."

"I know, how many times do I have to show him that the permits for the building to be taken down legally before he believes us? I mean if they were going to illegally blow up his property, I guarantee that we would not pay for those permits."

"This is Taggert, he could have been there while Jason and an official crew was waiting to blow it up, and he would still try to arrest him."

Georgie waited in her sister's car. When she saw Johnny pull out of the warehouse, she followed. Keeping cars between him and her, she stayed close, only to have to pull back when he turned onto the cliff roads. Going to the next exit on the interstate, she turned down the roads back towards Port Charles.

Seeing his truck at Vista Point, she kept on driving by after taking a look at the only other car on the lot. A Silver Toyota Camry with a PCU sticker in the back window. Slowing down further down the road, she took out Mac's binoculars, and got the ID number. 1904, all she had to do now was find out who drove the car and her Mr. Noname would finally have a name.

Returning to the Port Charles Hotel she joined the others in the dining room. "So how are we doing?"

"Is that a trick question?" Asked Guy as he looked up at her soaking wet with an apologetic Brooklynn holding the tray close to her chest.

"I just can't seem to get this. How do you manage to make it look so easy?" Asked the aspiring rock star.

"Let's start at the beginning." Said Lucas from the other side of the room. Somehow in two days, they had to turn their classmates into flawless servers.

Georgie split the twenty-five students up into two groups, the intermediate and the beginners. "Brooklynn and any one else still dropping things follow me, the rest of you join Lucas."

An hour later, Maxie walked into the room, then told Georgie. "I have the name, why are you interested?"

"Just tell me?"

"Silver Camry 1904 parking spot belongs to one Dante Falconari of New York City. He is a junior and has a reputation of being a ladies man. Now answer my question?"

"His name came up with something I was looking into. Nothing too important. I just wanted to confirm he was who I thought he was." She said shrugging, hearing her name being called she turned back to her classmate and said to Maxie. "Thanks I will see you later."

Dante entered the student union and found his classmate waiting with his keys. "Are you sure you don't want to trade? That is one sweet ride. I still don't get why you wanted to drive my old car instead of that babe magnet, man I had some girl trying to pick me up at the grocery store."

"No, I think I will keep my car. Thanks for letting me drive yours though." Said "Dominic" before heading to the practice room. Once there, he closed the blinds and pulled out the letter. Flipping it over repeatedly, he just waited for a few seconds not sure he wanted to know what it said.

Closing his eyes, he opened it and read. "I am not sure what to call you, so I will just say Dear Friend, Dear Friend, It's weird, we have never met and this is the first time I have written to you, but I still think of us as friends. I look forward to receiving your letters, not because of the mystery surrounding them. The one-sided conversations that make my day brighter, whether from the words written or even sometimes not written.

"I have no idea how you found me, or why you are writing, but I want you to know that I would like to write to you. Enclosed is a post office number. Prepaid and the key taped to the back of this opens it. The number is also written there. If I don't receive a note at the address included I will accept that I have over stepped the boundary's you have set."

"Some day, I hope we can meet in person so that I may put a face with the words that have touched me over the past year."

"A friend."

Elizabeth and Jason were touching the screen; both wanting to stay connected to their little girl. Looking to make sure that Dr, Meadows had left, she said "So much for having a boy." She giggled. "I can't wait to tell Carly she was wrong."

"What if we don't tell her?" He said.

"Jason, she is already making plans to buy out the baby department at Wyndhams, I think we should at least consider it."

"I can't believe we are having a little girl." He said imagining dolls and bubble baths, tea parties and braiding hair.

Dressing was interrupted frequently as Jason kept pulling her into his arms and kissing her. "We are going to be parents in five months."

"Four months. Not five." She said laughing. "I just want to shout it from the rooftops."

Jason looked down, recalling what Carly had told him about the past. He had almost lost this; he had almost lost the chance of Elizabeth and him. He refused to ever find himself in that spot. Now that he knew how special it was to have her, he would hold on tight. Some part of him pitied Lucky Spencer, if it wasn't for his mistakes, Jason would not have had the chance to have Elizabeth in his life.

Olivia got off the phone with her cousin, irritated. Connie had been saying for years that she had to tell Sonny the truth, but now that she was going to do so, her cousin was telling her not to. That she had no idea what he had become.

Yeah, right. Like she didn't read the same tabloids as everyone else. There were not many people in New York City who didn't know the mobsters, the press wrote about them everyday. Sonny had walked away from the life; in fact he was running a restaurant in that small town where he had settled.

Now she had to do the right thing. She had to tell Sonny about his child. About Dante. Dante had to be told about his father, he had questioned her for years, but she had always lied and said his father was a one-night stand who had given her a false name.

Getting on the train, she took a deep breath and pulled out the latest tabloid and it's rumors of the week. According to it, Sonny was currently seeing no one. At least no one they could find. Wondering how hard it would be to find the blond, this Carly Corinthos, his ex-wife; she turned the page and read the latest about Brad, Angelina and Jennifer.

Maria checked her hair in the mirror then told the cabbie to take her to the Port Charles Hotel. Checking into her room, she debated calling the man who had helped her get clear of Trevor's drugs. While he might be able to help her, she had seen him with his wife. After Trevor had helped Anthony "kill" her, she would not take a chance of endangering anyone else.

Pulling out the folder, she looked at the list of names. Alan and Monica Quartermaine were listed as sponsors of this party the hotel was having for the high school fund. Thinking on it, she knew they were probably her best hope of finding out the truth.

At least she knew where to find Annie's daughter. Amazing how even after all this time, she could remember the face of the woman who had tried to save her. She could still hear Annie "I have nothing to lose. I am dying. I have arranged for my friends to raise my daughter."

Now all she had to do was hope that someone at GH would remember the name of the doctor who had helped with the delivery. It was the same man who had helped bring her own son into the world. She had to find this Dr. Drake. He had been one of the many kind people who had helped hide her during the time she had escaped Trevor's plan.

Remembering the day two months after Johnny was born, when he had caught up with her at the small apartment in Arizona, she shuddered at being returned to Anthony and the madness he was already experiencing.

Stefan walked into the office carrying the file, then sat down. "What did you find out?"

"Dr. Lansing, was a busy boy. He had to have been the one who delivered the baby. The thing is we have no idea what happened after that. I talked to the women of the society, they refused to answer questions, but I can understand that. But I did confirm that Annie Logan brought in a pregnant woman about the same time."

"The records show Steve Hardy examining a patient who fits the description. So we know that he was involved. I think Audrey too. I still can't understand why all these years later, why these women won't talk."

"You have to understand, there are some men that even years later, think they have ownership. Look at Spencer, both senior and junior. Look at your mother, if your father was still alive."

"I get what you are saying, but it is frustrating."

"I agree, but they believe in protecting these victims. I asked around, Steve and Audrey were involved, but I have no proof of how deeply. Same with Annie and her mother. So we know they helped this Maria Zachara escape her husband, but what I can't figure out is the rest of this mess."

"I have to head home to change. Are you going to be at the party for PCS?"

"Georgie is one of the waiters, so I have to be. Lucas is our server, thank god. I heard Georgie is waiting on the Quartermaine's, with the rest spread out covering the remaining tables."

Sonny looked over the applications and called to have Benn-Bernie check them out. Giving him the list of five names, he paused before adding the sixth. "Dante Falconari. Could you check and see who his mother is?"

"Thank you." He said before reaching to call Jordan. She had agreed to meet him to discuss returning as his attorney, but added that incentives would have to be offered. Not sure exactly what she was talking about, he had decided to offer to pay for her office space, maybe that would do the trick.

Seeing Jason entering his office, he waved him into a chair, then returned to his conversation. Hanging up he said "I seriously hate attorneys. What are your plans for Valentine's?"

"Elizabeth hates to celebrate, so we will more than likely stay home and spend it together. Why?"

"Brenda is coming into town and wants to throw a party here. For some reason the list of guests includes you."

"Why would Brenda invite Elizabeth and I. I know that she is still in contact with Robin, and I made it pretty clear about wanting nothing to do with her. Not after her attack on Elizabeth."

"Jason, I have talked to Robin since then, she is pretty broken up about it. She said she apologized and that her apology was rejected. I don't mean to tell you how to live your life, but at one point she meant something pretty important to you."

Jason looked at the man, then asked "Did she happen to mention what she apologized for?"

"I am sure that it was for the mistake, I mean even you have to admit that it was an honest, if overeager mistake."

"No, she apologized to me for hurting me, for what it did to me. NEVER for what she did to Elizabeth. In fact she made a point of telling Elizabeth that she wasn't sorry. That she had been ordered to apologize to her but made it pretty clear she wouldn't mean it. So yes, I rejected her false apology."

Sonny winced. Brenda was determined to come home, but only if she could get Robin to return as well. She seemed to think her friend needed her. So Sonny had agreed to work on a truce between the factions. However he had no intention of losing Jason and Elizabeth's friendship.

"I will let Brenda know. I am sorry, I had no idea. Robin is still hurting, more from the fact that in her mind you chose Carly over her, than anything else."

"I chose Michael over both of them. Carly was only a friend, you know that. You called me on the fact years ago. I wanted Michael and that meant having Carly there. Robin and I ended because I grew up; I became my own man. I wish her well, but if she returns, I won't allow her near Elizabeth and I. "

Elizabeth was walking into the penthouse when she saw the dress hanging by the fireplace. "Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Corinthos dropped that off earlier. I have to be outside. If you need anything please let me know." Said Milo.

Marco was outside waiting to leave, but turned to tell Milo, "You might want to cut down on being so friendly, that is why Francis pulled you off of her before."

"I was just being polite, I like Mrs. Morgan, she is sweet."

"You might want to realize that Francis looks at her like a daughter and sees everyman through those same glasses as the father of girls you dated in high school."

"So I can expect to be told to keep my hands to myself and have her home before ten o'clock and no traveling on dark roads." He joked.

"Something like that. Johnny said that Francis has always looked at Elizabeth that way. Mrs. Morgan's real dad sucked as a parent, so he sort of thinks of himself as a substitute dad."

Elizabeth was cooking dinner and studying when Jason arrived home. Seeing how tense he was, she finished cooking and waited for him to return from the shower. "Any thing I can do?"

"Find a way to get Brenda here so that Sonny can stop driving me insane or give Sonny something new to obsess about. Better yet, do both but lets make sure that Robin stays in Paris." He said before sitting down and explaining what was going on.

"So she is thinking about returning. Good for her. My guess is that it doesn't happen. Steven was telling me that she is in the middle of the clinical studies and won't be free of them for at least a year and a half."

Let's find something more interesting to talk about, like coming up with plans for that empty bedroom upstairs."

"Sounds good to me, I actually want to talk to you about something. If I draw the outline for a mural I need someone else to paint it, would you mind having Georgie and Sage here for a few days?"

Jason recalled what else he had to tell her. "That depends on whether or not she is through tailing Johnny. He caught her following him the other day. When he took the cliff roads, she stopped, but then came down them from the next exit on the interstate. She is trying to find out about Johnny Zachara."

Elizabeth laughed and said "Do you want me to talk to her?"

"Yes, please, before I have to tell Mac. I don't think that would be a very fun conversation."

"I don't know, he might take it as a compliment."

"I don't think he will." He said firmly. "What are your plans for the rest of the evening?"

"Well I got my studying out of the way, so that I could talk my husband into spending the evening under the covers."

Alexis took the file, and could feel it burning in her hand. Inside was all the information the clinic had on donor 200938. The biological father of Kristina. There had been a case on the news of a man who had fathered children using the same process who had successfully sued to find out about his kids and she didn't want to take any chances.

Hesitating, she realized if she was going to do this, she had to do it now. Mac was at the office; Georgie and Maxie were in their rooms. Maxie studying at least was attempting to study. Georgie was calmly reading in the window seat.

As she walked past, the younger girl called out "Alexis is everything okay?"

"Yes. I just am in a restless mood. What are you reading?"

"Di Vinci Code. It's not as good as I was expecting." She said tossing it down.

"Are you ready for tomorrow night?"

"Not really, I can deal with the waiting tables, it's the performing I have a problem with. There is the guy from PCU who is accompanying us. He is pretty good, but he seems to make mistakes whenever I am the one practicing."

"I'm sure it isn't deliberate." She said. "What are you performing?"

"Can't tell you, I keep hoping I can develop laryngitis before tomorrow evening." She said blushing.

"Word of advice, if anyone tells you to imagine someone naked, that it will help, don't do it. Trust me it doesn't. My very first case, I was in front of this scary judge, I did that. Then when he asked me what was wrong, I told him. He never ever let me forget it. So don't do that."

Georgie laughed and said "Maybe that could be fun." She said.

As Elizabeth changed into her dress, she took the call from Jason. "Don't worry I can handle this if you can't make it. Be careful."

"I'm only meeting with Bernie and Diane, but thank you." He said before telling her he would get there as soon as he could.

Calling Francis, she asked if they had time to pick something up before heading over if they left now.

Zander and Cameron were exiting their suite, when he got the call from Nik. "Thanks I will see you at the dance."

"What was that?"

"Nik found some proof about Lucky. For Emily and Elizabeth's sakes we are working together to get him into rehab. Do you think you could make a few calls and find someplace that is good."

Maria called down to room service and ordered her meal, not wanting to be seen until the end of the party. She had checked on this Dr. Hardy and had been surprised to learn he had been Elizabeth's grandfather and was dead. One less lead into finding the proof.

Worried about her son, she had no idea he was two floors down changing into a tuxedo in order to play piano for the teenagers working the charity party.

"So, do you think you can manage not to make a mistake?" Joked Dante as he teased the man.

"I am not that bad." Answered "Dominic".

"If by that bad you hit the same wrong note every time she sings, you are right, you are not that bad."

"Don't you have a job to do?" He said.

"You're correct, I do. Those trays don't magically transfer themselves to the rooms."

Jax was hanging out at the bar, waiting to see Carly. He wanted to thank her for the letter she had written to his mother. Jane had been shocked by it's content, but it had helped her deal with her loss.

Carly had managed to do what he had not after the death of his father. Given her something to live for.

Seeing Elizabeth entering with the Quartermaine contingent, he asked if Carly was coming.

"She is running late, Michael had to make a quick trip to the flower shop." She said. AJ walked over and offered her his arm saying "I promised Mom I would be your escort until Jason showed up."

"Blame Diane, there was a real estate contract that came up and she insisted on his dealing with it immediately. Alexis is here, so my guess is that it should not be long."

Walking over they confirmed with the attorney, who laughed and explained. "Jason told her to get the property at any cost, but my guess is he meant money, not time spent with you, Elizabeth."

Mac greeted his younger daughter, while his older one showed her date around. He was in one of her fashion classes and had already gotten on Mac's nerves. Seeing Tony Jones he went over and greeted the girl's uncle who looked just as relieved for the company.

"So I hear you are sitting with the head of Radiology." Said Bobbie as she walked up.

"Sanders, has something to talk to me about. Have you seen Lucas?"

"Backstage along with the rest, except Georgie. She is looking for Michael."

Johnny/Dominic saw Dante help prep the food for the kids, then leave to take care of a room service order. Hiding in the kitchen until he had to go and play, he was walking around when he ran into Georgie. "Excuse me."

"No, it was my fault. Can I help you?" He asked.

"No, I was looking for one of the waiters. Dante Falconari. He was listed as one of the waiters setting up for us. Do you know which one he is?"

"No, not a clue." He had no intention of introducing her to the other man. Dante was well known on campus for his one-week relationships. "Are you ready for tonight?"

Georgie looked over at the cute guy, and said "Yes, I think so. Look, I really have to find this guy Dante. It's important."

"Don't have a clue." He lied while escorting her to the back area.

When Lucas looked out between the curtains, he saw the room was filling up. He could see his mother and cousins sitting at their table. Then looking so that the rest of the people he knew where there as well. Looking back at Sage, he said "Are you ready for this?"

"Yes, did you see my uncle?"

"Yes, with Skye and some others from the college. Your tie is coming undone."

"Fix it, please. Was your cousin out there?"

"Lulu? Yes, with my family. Don't worry about it, you are waiting on some of the doctors from GH, my dad included. I have my family and Georgie has the Quartermaines. The most difficult ones are taken care of."

Georgie was tying her tie, when a member of the wait staff showed up. "Do you need some help?"

"Yes, I can tie my dads, but this one is actually on me, so it isn't working." After he finished he asked "I was looking for the piano player. Dominic, have you seen him?"

"He was here a few minutes ago, but I think he forgot his cuff links."

"Could you please tell him Dante is looking for him?" Seeing her nod, he said "Thanks."

Georgie waited a few minutes, then tried to figure out why he had lied. Seeing him coming around the corner, she walked over and said "So you don't know who Dante is, strange he was just here looking for you. You liar!"

Protesting, he watched as she left. This was not happening. His first chance to have contact with her and he had ruined it. Now what?

Sonny entered the room then turned to Jordan who was entering at the same time. "What Table?"

"6, and you?"

"Four, I have to go. I hope you will reconsider my offer."

Mac was just seating his wife when his cell phone rang. Nodding, Alexis knew he had to take the call.

When he entered a few minutes, later he whispered in her ear "The finally got proof about Lucky. Taggert is going to have him called down to the lobby later, and arrested. He is going to be facing prison time."

Nik and Zander were seated with the Spencer family, as Emily had stormed off to sit with her own after Lucky had made a comment about Liz attending on her own.

All Nik could do was shake his head, and hope to get through the night. Tomorrow they were staging an intervention and hopefully Lucky was off to rehab.

Jason entered the penthouse, grabbing his suit; he rushed off to change. Searching around for his keys, he finally found them in the pockets of his jeans.

Calling Francis, the guard said "she is fine, Spencer is staying away and I am suffering through the opening number."

Elizabeth and Emily were watching as the wait staff came out performing let us entertain you, with a small comedic sketch in the middle. Dillon it turned out was a pretty good comedian. He had poked gentle fun at the same time as laughing at himself.

Olivia came down to the lobby, looking for her son. He told her he would meet her on his break.

"Mom, over here."

Turning she saw him sitting in the small alcove. "Why are you in Port Charles?"

"I had something to discuss with you; do you have some time later?"

"I will be done in about two hours. How are you staying here?"

"Your Aunt Connie. She arranged for it."

"Why, she ignores us most of the time, why would she care now?"

"It's a long story and why we have to talk later."

Dante was agreeing, when she stopped him and asked "Do you smell something?"

"It's probably the baked Alaska; the guy over there is eating."

Lucky got the message he was wanted downstairs, Mac took the call from Taggert and called out to hold the elevator. Spencer would have ignored him but the woman inside did not. Looking at her, he thought to himself that she looked familiar.

Once on the ground floor, Mac and Spencer exited. "Lucky Spencer, you are un-"

"He's running. You check on this floor, I will head to the basement."

Mac hurried to the back stairs, stopping when he smelt something burning. Turning he saw the man with a cigar but didn't have time to bust his chops for violating the smoking ban. Catching Spencer took priority.

Hearing the man exit through the side door, Mac realized that if Lucky was in the basement, he was trapped, but if he had slipped outside there was a good chance he was gone. Returning to the hallway, he opened the exit door and looked out.

Only one set of footprints, the man smoking the cigar by the trash bins. "Have you seen anyone?"

"A guy running down the hallway, before you, but he continued down that hall."

"Thanks." Mac returned and slowly and cautiously went down the stairway. Almost reaching the bottom, he saw the fire extinguisher with the flashlight. Grabbing the light, he kept it dark until he had to use it.

Not hearing anything, Mac leaned up against the wall, calling out "Spencer, there is no place to run. Come on out."

"I don't think so. I have no intention of being arrested."

Two minutes later, the sound of the fire alarms, interrupted Georgie's intro. Thinking it was a false alarm, she thanked god, then moved off stage.

Hearing the sound of the alarm, Skye was worried. This new system was very precise and didn't sound unless it was close. "Lorenzo, we have to start getting these people out of here."

"What is it?"

"The new alarm system, it works with a computer, if it had been a fire in the kitchen, the announcement would have us exiting. This mean there is a fire nearby."

"Let your father know. I will get Mac."

"He just went down in the elevator. See if you can find Jason."

"Not here, he was running late. There is his guard Francis, let him know."

"MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE; THIS IS THE PORT CHARLES FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE IS A FIRE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING. PLEASE USE THE STAIRS TO MAKE AN ORDERLY DECENT, DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT USE THE ELEVATORS!"

Carly just met Elizabeth's eyes across the room and sighed. She had thought with Skye updating the electrical and fire systems this would not happen. Walking over to Alexis, they both were handed their wraps.

"Carly, what is going on?"

"I don't know, but the fire didn't happen last time until much later. Things have changed, but one thing remains the same, we need to get out of here."