Switching Places

Chapter 81

"Sonny?" said Mike. "Can you hear me?"

Wondering why his father was there, Sonny tried to say he could, but it came out all cracked and rusty. "W-wha-t happ-ened?"

"Let me just check you over, then we can explained." said Patrick Drake as Tony and Elizabeth stood in the background. Elizabeth texted Jason to let him know about Sonny waking up, then suggested calling Carly.

"I'll take care of that." said Mike as he moved back to the let the doctor in. Calling Carly, he was wishing to himself that those two could finally get their act together.

After Drake had declared him fine, Sonny asked Elizabeth what had happened.

"What do you remember?" she asked.

"Helena pointing a gun at me, then nothing."

"She shot you. Today is the first of August." she told him.

"was I in a coma?" he asked.

"More like a deep sleep, what do you remember." she asked him.

Grimacing, he said "I kept dreaming of my mistakes in the past, but things would change. they are all jumbled up now. I just know that for some reason I feel like I owe Jason and you an apology. As I wake up more, they keep getting further and further away."

"Do you want to talk to Dr. Winters?" she asked.

"No, it's fine. I am sure I will need to work with her at some point, but for now I just want to see some people. My father, Carly and Michael and of course Jason and you."

"What about Brenda, do you want me to call her. She was here until two days ago."

"No, I need a clear head when I speak to her. Things are still a little scrambled inside my head."

Johnny was getting tired of Milo and Max harassing him about losing the Bachelor of the Year competition. It was truly getting old. Taking out his binoculars, he checked in on his cell phone while watching his target. "Zachara, do you have her in view?"

"She is walking straight towards the docks. Where could she be going down here?"

"I don't have a clue, just keep an eye on her until I get there, then you need to split."

Walking over, he pretended to lecture the younger man about his job, then took over watch on Heather Webber. She was acting suspiciously but so far it seemed to be about Luke Spencer. He had shown back up in town after his spectacular failure. The idea of Helena still being out there, set more than one set of teeth on edge in this town.

Sonny was waiting for Carly, she had said she would stop in when she was available, he had been expecting her since he had woken up. He wanted to tell her his decision before anyone else. Something was telling it was important.

When she finally showed up two hours later, Sonny was disappointed by her rather calm reaction to his being awake. "I was hoping we could talk. There are things I want to change about my future."

Carly silently groaned. She had thought she recognized that look on his face. "Okay." she said hesitantly.

"I am going to move to the Island, run a restaurant there. I still think there are things missing in my mind and the truth is I want away from here. I was hoping you might consider coming with me. We were always happy on the Island, we can try and figure out where we went wrong."

Carly knew she had to do this, but she knew that she didn't feel like that about Sonny. Michael getting shot had killed that, when she had gotten a second chance at life, she had come to terms with her past and knew that Sonny had to do so now. "Sonny, I'm sorry but no. I will be staying here. My life is here. The Island might be a good idea for you, but not for me."

"Are you sure?" he asked surprised to realize it hadn't upset him as much as he would have thought.

"Sonny, you don't love me. It's just the result of your getting shot. We have moved past this. My life is moving in a different direction, I am at peace for the first time in my life." she admitted.

""Will you let me see Michael if I move there."

"We can work something out, maybe come down and visit. But I have to talk to AJ about this." she told him knowing he was still having a hard time coming to terms with that.

Jason saw his wife working at the hub, and wanted to sneak up on her and kiss the exposed skin from where she was wearing her hair up in a messy ponytail. When he saw Milo looking in the other direction rather intently he turned to see him watching the blond cop who had once asked Elizabeth out. He seemed to be watching his wife.

Officer Beck hated to do this, but he needed to know. "Mrs. Morgan, can I ask you a question in private."

"Let's go over to the waiting area." she suggested as Milo followed .

Hating to talk in front of the guard, he did so anyhow. "Just what are your friend's feelings for her ex-husband."

Elizabeth sighed, she hated the way he was asking. Carly had said they were just friends, but it sounded like Brian wanted more. "That is something you should ask Carly. She is my friend, so I keep her confidences."

"I just was wondering if I am making a fool of myself, am I about to be dumped for him."

Carly was getting off the elevator needing to talk to Elizabeth about what had just happened, but she saw that first she had to deal with Brian. He was a great guy, but just not her type. They had fun, but it was more like she had with Lucas than with a lover.

As the two of them walked off, Elizabeth joined Jason at the hub. "Do you want me come up with me to see Sonny?"

"Are you sure you have the time?" he asked.

"We have been very quiet this afternoon. So far it has been routine other than the heart attack this morning." Turning to the nurse behind the hub, she said "I have my beeper, if you need me just page me, please."

"Certainly, Elizabeth." she said with a bright smile.

Georgie had had finally had enough. Turning to Diego she told him to head home and sulk someplace else. "I don't need you here if all you are going to do is whine."

"Well, what would you do. I have to spend the year at PCH all because they won't let me quit school."

"Good for whoever they are. Jax told you that you had to stay in school as well. It will be good for you." she said as she walked off to talk to the cook about some lunch for herself.

"Hard day?" she heard from the entrance. Turning she smiled at Johnny and said "Are we talking today?"

"Of course, I wasn't the one mad." he teased. They had gone to a Expos game and he had caught a homerun ball, but had been teasing her about keeping it.

"You kept the ball, I mean, you could have given it to me." she said as she walked over and kissed him on the check, knowing her father was still upstairs talking to the new girl in room 4. Someone had broken in and taken her lap top and since Mac had been here when she came down, he took the call himself.

"You can always come and visit it." he said.

"So I am no longer banned from your apartment." she replied. He had banned her after they had almost ended up on his bed one night. He had decided it was better if they were someplace where a bed wasn't.

"Yes, you are still banned from his place." growled her father as he turned to glare at the younger man. He wanted to protest their relationship, but knew the minute he protested it would make her want him more and from what he had seen she already seemed unable to stay away from the man.

"Mr. Scorpio, it was just a joke." Johnny said lamely. The man had been itching to toss him in jail for something, anything every since he had found him kissing Georgie one night after driving her home.

"It had better be. We have a deal, you keep those grubby paws to yourself and I don't toss you in a jail cell." he said before heading out without even saying goodbye.

Once in his car, Mac counted to ten. It was a difficult situation. He had Maxie dating one of his officers who was reckless. Jesse had walked into the middle of a hostage situation, while it had worked out well, he was not very thrilled with the young man.

Then there was Georgie, seemingly in love with a man heading down a very dangerous path. the main problem was that Alexis seemed to have backed away from protesting the relationship so he was standing alone as both Maxie and her were backing Georgie's getting to make her own decisions.

The problem was that he found himself liking the young man, in spite of his background. He had been the one to save his daughters along with Jesse and Morgan's enforcer At least that was what Mac would tell himself after laughing at the way he seemed to be dealing with his middle daughter.

Brooklynn let herself into the mansion, carrying her luggage. Calling out she saw Alice entering with a smile "Miss Ashton, its so nice to see you. We have missed your own particular brand of insanity around here."

"Where is great-grandmother? " she asked excitedly. "I have presents for everyone, but I want to go and seem Georgie before we have to meet Skye and Sage."

"So, they are returning. I would have thought she had the sense to stay in Italy." sneered Tracy.

"Oh, hush, granny." said Brooklynn. Seeing Dillon entering, she hugged him and offered him his present if he agreed to drive her over to see Georgie. "I so need my own car." she sighed.

"Your right, you do." said Ned as she threw herself into his arms asking if that meant he was getting her a car.

"I already did, it is in the garage. It's not exactly a Porsche Boxster." he teased. "But I think it is more practical." Dragging him out, she saw the Jeep Wrangle and squealed in excitement.

Thanking him, she took the keys and rushed off to see Lila so that she could tell her about her trip and the new car.

Georgie was talking to Johnny about school starting next month when she saw Lulu coming in the door. "Lulu, how was your trip?" she asked trying to be friendly towards the young woman who had made her life miserable before she had left.

"Oh, just great. I was stuck mucking out stalls and feeding chickens. So much better than a summer spent at a spa. So where is your little clique." she said taking a better look at the guy at the counter now that she was inside.

"If you are talking about Brooklynn and Sage they are also due back today. Brooklynn and I are meeting Sage at the airport." she said as the younger girl walked over to the counter and helped herself to a piece of pie and asked for a soda.

Lulu took a look at the cute guy, thinking she had seen him someplace before, but couldn't recall where. "Sorry about that, she is a little slow. Takes forever to get coffee around here." she said reaching over for the pot and filling his empty cup.

"Well if Georgie wasn't waiting on freeloaders who could get their own drink, she would have done that herself." said Maxie from the doorway. "hello, Lulu. I see you are still the backstabbing bitch you were before you left. By the way, trust me, he isn't interested in you."

"I don't know what you are talking about." she said slyly.

"Really, so you were thirsty were you. Strange I just saw you toss that full Big gulp in the trash when you were looking in the window just now. What is the soda at Kelly's better, or were you just trying to get rid of Georgie so that you could take about her behind her back."

Johnny stepped back wanting to stay out of whatever was going on. When he saw Georgie placing the drink on the counter, she returned to the kitchen and told the afternoon waitress she was leaving. "Lulu, I am glad you came home, now if you will excuse me, I am wanted at the Quartermaine mansion."

Johnny tossed his check and a twenty down. Lulu picked it up and said "I will take care of this, after all I am the owner."

"Really, so as the owner, you can take care of the incoming customers." said Bobbie from the stairs where she had been assuring her tenant she would file a claim on her insurance so that she could replace her laptop. "Johnny, it's nice to see you again. Georgie I think that you can go ahead and take that time off. Lulu will be more than happy to work those shifts for you."

"So let me get this straight. Kate Howard is my old girlfriend Connie Falconari." said Sonny trying to wrap his mind around it. "she is how Olivia left town earlier this year."

"Yes, she is still in contact with Olivia and her son. They are well hidden, but I think you need to let her come to you. Sonny, she made it pretty clear that she doesn't want you in her son's life." said Jason.

"Would you obey that request."

"If it was what Elizabeth wanted, if there was a reason for it, like there appears to be here, yes." said Jason. "It would kill me, but I would do it. You of all people know what this business does to one's family."

"I just need to know about my son. That's all I want."

Brooklynn was walking to the garage when she heard a familiar sounding engine. Walking out she saw Georgie getting out of the passenger seat. "Why weren't you here when I got home, some kind of friend you are?" she teased. "I guess that means I have to give this to Maxie instead. "

"Fine, but will Maxie tell you that you suck at singing?" she said as they hugged. Brooklynn turned to look at the hottie leaning against the silver car. "So that is Johnny, he certainly looks smoking hot."

"Brooklynn, don't you dare." she said laughing. "Johnny this is my annoying friend, annoying friend, this is Johnny."

"so is it true that you won't sleep with her." she asked as Georgie turned bright red. "Oh, come on, I have had no one to mess with but Lois for weeks and weeks."

"True, but since when did you start calling her Lois?" she asked as they joined Johnny in the driveway.

"Since she decided to claim to be ten years younger. When we were eating at the Derby, she actually introduced me as a client, can you believe that?" she asked with disgust. "I swear Georgie if I didn't love my dad I would file for a divorce from my parents."

"I know, but she does mean well."

"Wait until you hear this, she is refusing to sign the paperwork for college."

"Why and can't Ned do it?"

"No, Mom has primary custody, so she has to since I am still underage. She wants me to move to LA and start working on my career now. She actually signed me up for American Idol auditions while I was there. It was so humiliating. I deliberately tanked the audition. Then that British prick said "You have a great look honey, but punk rock stars are a dime a dozen. I told him that so were critics like him, but that he was bitter because he had no talent himself. Then made a comment how those that can do, those that can't create cheesy tv shows." Mom had a cow and a half."

"Oh my god, I can just see it." said Georgie laughing. "Your mother must have been happy to see you get on the plane."

"No, she is still convinced she can make me change my mind about school." said a sad Brooklynn. "so Johnny, has Mac tossed you in jail yet?"

"It's been close but no." he said amused by the talkative girl. "When do you have to go and get Sage?"

Elizabeth was walking into the penthouse, not sure what to think about what Sonny had said.

"Where are you?" asked Jason as he walked over and joined her at the window.

"Just that he is right, about his son. I know it's not a good idea, at least until he is back on his medication, but I do understand both sides of the situation. Olivia was in a difficult situation, and she made the best decision possible at the time, but Dante is now an adult it should be his choice, not hers."

"I will talk to Sonny, tomorrow. Now I think we have to talk about this habit you have of walking away from your guards, Elizabeth you know how dangerous it is."

"Jason, I am working on a patient. I can't stop to tell Milo that I have gone from one curtain to another. We have to find another way. time was critical in the case today. My first thought was on the man lying there having his heart massaged with his chest cracked open while in your mother's gloved hand." she said walking away.

"You could have walked out the curtain through the front, it wouldn't have made that much of a difference."

"Jason, that man's life was saved by seconds. So no, I won't take the time away from saving my patient. You were fine with this before, but since Helena you aren't."

"No, it's since our daughter was born. You worry about me taking chances, then do so yourself.'

"Jason, I worry but I DON'T TELL YOU NOT TO DO IT. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to check on Lia and then work in my studio. When your stubborn ass is ready to realize I am right, come and see me, until then find a different way." she said storming past him. "and I don't appreciate you using our daughter to try and guilt me into doing what you want."

Jason racked the pool balls needing to work this out, they had promised to talk things out, but right now he was still reacting to Helena and what could have happened. What if, what if security hadn't been vigilant. Once slip up could cost him his family.

Francis took the time to call Stan and ask if he was sure?

"Yes, it's the place. Do you need me to walk you though or will the schematics be enough. I have a line on the hacker."

"No, it fine. I will be out in a couple of hours. This place isn't the most organized and I have no idea what I am really looking for."

"Fine, but be careful, they have a rent a cop who wanders around on the hour. He might decide to leave his television and actually do his job."

Francis went to the first looked filing cabinet and started to search through the government files on Heather Webber or even Catherine Rose. Sighing when he finally found them located in the R's. he took the camera out and copied everything he could find. Then he went to any names mentioned to find out all he could.

Jason heard a knock on the door and opened it to Johnny. "We have to talk, something has come up."

"I will be right out. I have to let Elizabeth know I am heading out." he said before going up to her studio. Entering he saw she had Lia in the bassinet as she drew a picture with charcoal. "Hey."

"Hey, I'm sorry. I do understand, Jason. It's just we have to find a way to change this."

Kissing her on the forehead. he said "I know, I am sorry too. I just keep seeing myself losing one of you."

"We will be fine." she said reaching up to kiss his check. "I just get so into my job, I never remember the danger."

"You were right, though. People's lives depend on you. I hate to say this, but I have to go."

"Go, but know this, I love you, even when I am mad as heck at you." she said with a smile.

"I do know that, because I feel the same way. We will talk about helping Sonny later."

"What is it?"

"Wait, we have to get Zachara as well." seeing the younger man driving the Boxster he said "Did she get mad at you again?"

"No, she is with Brooklynn and Sage who arrived home." he said then joined them in the office where Francis had already returned to.

An entering Stan asked "Is this right?" he said while handing them a printout.

"Yes. Jason, Taggert was killed tonight. By a man named James Craig. We don't have much on him, he just popped up on our radar. Also James has an interesting female companion."

"Who?"

"According to her ID, she is Angela Lansing. At least that is the name she gave your sister Johnny. We know her better as Sam McCall."

"Who is this man Craig and what is he doing with her?"

"So far they are only conning old rich men out of money, but there is a pattern to their movements. They keep ending up in Australia every four months. WE are looking into it, but don't know to much so far."

"Do we know anything like why?"

"Taggert saw Sam, he called it in and went to make an arrest. They have got this Craig on tape shooting Taggert with Sam at his side. they were claiming to be husband and wife at one point."

"Johnny, I got the file on your sister, all we have is a name. I will look into it tomorrow. Can you see where your mother is."

"She was supposed to be here already. Stan is looking into the alias she was using when she left Scottsdale."

Sage was telling her friends about the wedding and how she had gotten Skye and Lorenzo to get married while in Italy when she saw Dillon entering the closed diner. "Hey, can we talk?"

"sure, I have nothing to do tonight." he said. "How about going for a drive?"

"Okay. Georgie, I will see you tomorrow. Maybe we can get some school shopping done. As for Johnny, take your time. After all remember how it happened with me."

After she left, Brooklynn joked, "Do you think that anyone could possible be as bad as Dillon was at sex for the first time?"

"I doubt it. Thank god, Johnny isn't a virgin." she laughed. "Though if he was, he would have probably given in by now."

"Have you seen Lucas since he left?"

"No, he has written though. I will miss you this year. Think about it, you are leaving Sage and I with Lulu and Diego."

"Is he that bad?" she asked full of sympathy.

"No, it's more he is strange. He blows hot and then cold. He is also very curious about Sage and her family. It creeps me out. You should hear him talk about wanting to be a gangster. He tried to get Jason to hire him. It was weird according to Johnny who was there at the time."

Jason was waiting for the info from their contact when Mac Scorpio called. "Hey, is Zachara with you?"

"Yes, why?"

"I need him down at the station, you might want to come as well. It's not good."

Mac hung up, hesitated and then called Georgie to ask her to come down as well.

Johnny saw Georgie and was relieved to realize it wasn't about her. "Sir, what is it."

Alexis entered the station, Mac had called her to give her the news. She was keeping a big secret from her husband and knew that this could bring it out, if she wasn't careful.

Jason was handed a file by Mac and read it. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and said "Johnny, your mother was killed last night."

Johnny gripped Georgie's hand tightly and said "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am having her body brought here. but it looks like it was a robbery. She was in the convenience store and two men who had been robbing them in the Rochester area hit at the same time. They killed the clerk but not before he had pulled out a gun. That gun was the one that shot your mother. The clerk missed the robber and hit Maria."

"I-I have to get out of here." he said as the tears bottled themselves up in his eyes.

"Come on." said Georgie. "Let's go. We can go for a drive. Maybe to the beach, you said you liked to go to the beach with your mom."

"Actually there is someplace else, will you with me?" he asked. Mac wanted to protest but he had seen the pictures of Maria's body and knew it had to be bad.

"Dad, I am I going to grab a bag, I will be back." she said goodbye with a hug for Alexis and whispered "Are you going to tell him?"

"Yes, I plan it as soon as the new doctor confirms it. Now go ahead. He needs you." she said before letting her go.

Jason left the station and went to the Overlook and called Canto. the man took it hard, but said "I had spent years thinking she was dead. I only wished I have meet her. Morgan, find my granddaughter. Tell her brother it is all up to him now."

Heading home, he found Lia tucked into her crib and Elizabeth folding laundry. "Hey, I have some things to tell you."

As they sat down, he told her about Taggert and that Maria had been shot in a robbery. "How did Johnny take it?"

"Not good. Georgie and he went off for a couple of days. I talked to him before he left, he wants me to arrange for the body to be shipped to Canto."

Carly was sitting on the stoop enjoying the warm summer air when she saw Jax driving by. the Aussie stopped and returned. "Why are you outside?"

"Momma got a call from Gia Campbell, Taggert was killed in Italy. I was thanking him and came out to enjoy life. If that makes any sense."

Sitting next to her he said "Oh course it does, he saved the boys lives. So of course you are grateful but you have to know that life goes on. Just be thankful for what he did when still alive and remember him for it."

"I keep thinking how much I disliked him over the years. His obsession with arresting Sonny, and how he made me miserable for being married to the man. Looking back, he was right about part of it. There was something wrong with Sonny, but it was my marriage to him that helped me grow and change."

"You have done that, haven't you." he said. "The woman sitting here is not the same woman I opened Club 101 with. I wanted to like that woman, this version of you, I find very easy to care about."

"Thanks, Jax. After today I needed that." she said as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Sonny woke up, and I found myself not caring. But he wanted to get back together, but I don't. Then this man I have been seeing rather casually, I had to tell him it was over. I don't have romantic feelings for him. Then Taggert dying. It seems like so many things are ending."