Chapter Sixteen

Across the city of Port Charles, there was stunned shock as they watched the events play out live on their television screens. At the Hardy residence, Audrey was furious with her granddaughter even as the phone rang. Seeing the caller ID showed one of her friends, she went up to bed, ignoring it, not wanting to deal with how this was going to affect her social circle.

The Quartermaine house was silent for a few seconds then Lila looked at Ned who said "Don't look at me. I was asked to be silent until they could come and speak to you tomorrow Grandmother."

"Fine, but what about me. I am your boss, I had a right to know." huffed Edward. "There is a Quartermaine grandchild out there, I should have been told I had another heir."

"No, you don't." said the man entering through the french doors. Seeing them looking his way, he said "Sorry, Mrs. Quartermaine."

"Steven. What is the meaning of this?" asked Monica stunned to see Elizabeth's brother entering her house in such a stealthy manner.

"Sorry, but there are reporters all over the place out front. I came in across the drive from the dock. Sir, Jason called me and asked me to get here and say if you speak to those reporters, use the word heir even once, he will cut you off completely. Will cut Lila off completely because he refuses to have his son raised the way you did AJ."

"But-"

Steven looked at the old man, saw the way the family was watching and said"No, and don't do anything stupid like threatening to go for custody or even creating just one bit of stress for Elizabeth. He said he has the financial wherewithal to destroy ELQ and if you so much as breath the word heir again, he will do it. Oh, and one more thing, his son, his name is Cameron Steven Morgan, not Quartermaine."

With that, Steven left the way he came in. "Damn, where is Emily when I need her?"

"Edward, did you even listen to a word that boy said." snarled Monica. "I assure you, Jason will do it."

"Pssh, who knows if those are even Jason's words." he said.

"Jason and Steven were pretty tight today." warned Ned. "I hadn't realized until I saw them together, the slight resemblance. It was Jason that told how they are related, not Steven."

Monica called Alan who told her he had seen the news. "Emily filled me in on the rest. We are going to have to rein in father."

Getting told what the older man had already said. He looked at his daughter who was now speaking to Dr. Lee while waiting for the baby being brought in and said "Emily?"

The resident turned just as Monica looked at Edward who was for some reason going over Steven's parentage with Lila. "So, he was that unfortunate Heathers son? But she wasn't crazy until she did drugs right?"

"What on earth?" Monica muttered to herself, wondering what the man was up to now, then when she took a sip of water, she heard him discussing her "regrettable" lapse regarding Jeff, then her affair with his brother... "Oh no, Edward, so help me. I swear to god if you do what I think you are planning on doing, I will pull a Tracy and withhold your medicine myself."

Ned couldn't help it, he laughed at that one as Monica approached Grandfather. "Emily isn't interested in Steven Webber. He is NOT interested in her. You stay out of my children's lives or so help me..."

She was fuming as she said "Alan wanted me here, but I am going back to GH before I strangle you old man. Stay away from my grandson, stay away from my son, stop trying to run my daughter's life."

Walking out, she missed a knowing Lila adding. "And dear, stay away from Elizabeth too, I am sure it was just an oversight on Monica's part in missing to threaten you in regards to this."

"I don't think it was." said Ned standing and deciding to go to bed."I am sure that she is well aware that if Grandfather makes the mistake of upsetting Elizabeth we will find him floating out the Seaway wearing cement shoes. And no one would ever tie it to Jason."

Anthony had been watching the whole thing play out on television. "Now, Ms. McCall, you just moved from the naughty list to the very naughty list. I am going to have to deal with you. As for you, Mrs. Alcazar, no, I don't think just coal will do. You don't even deserve that."

Seeing Mac Scorpio speaking, he said with a sigh. "Okay Maria. I get the message, but he is a cop, do I really have to."

"Yes, yes he is the father of our delightful little elf... okay, okay I will stop dragging my feet but I don't know how you want me to fix that one."

"NO! Please, Maria. Anything but that." he said groaning then pouting."But I had other plans... I just want you to know, this goes against the grain of everything I believe."

"Fine, but I am going to bed, I am done talking about this, Maria." he warned and stomped up to bed just as his son returned home. Johnny was on his way to the stairs when he saw the two glasses of wine in the library.

There was a scent in the air, one that made him feel... feel almost... no, he wouldn't go there. With that, he left and walked out the door. He was going to see what was going on, he needed answers before he told Georgie the whole truth.

Lorenzo was on his way downstairs, when he heard something. Looking out the window, wondering who the guards had let past, he was beyond shocked when Michael entered with Morgan and a backpack. "What is going on?"

"Did you see the news. What is going on with Sam?" he asked directly. When Lorenzo nodded, Michael gulped then said "We want to go back to your place. We want out of there, please?"

"Michael its not the simple." he said gently. "I would gladly take you back there, but I have no rights. Your mother legally doesn't have any right."

The preteen sat down, then placed his brother next to him. "He is heavy."

There were no words, Lorenzo thought to himself. He didn't know how this happened, he had planned the divorce from Carly, thinking there were no remaining entanglements between the soon to be divorced blond but that one conversation between Michael and him had created a bond.

He got the little boy, got that he reacted the way he did because of his parents and now Lorenzo was feeling responsible for him. With his eyes traveling over to Morgan, he admitted to himself to both of them. "What I can do is call your grandmother, she must be frantic with worry."

"Nah, she is working at the hospital tonight, they called her in after sending home a nurse about the baby." said Michael. "Leticia is off tonight so Leslie Webber is there along with Lucky's mom. They aren't too bright."

Lorenzo said "That isn't nice to say about adults, Michael."

"I know but honestly I was saying it as nice as I could." he confessed. "The blond grandma's age is odd, she says the oddest things. And the older lady, well she is nice but just... well..."

"Not too bright. She had some very bad things happen to her, Michael. She used to be a doctor." said Lorenzo. "Now what odd things is Laura saying?"

"She keeps saying that my dad was wrong, which I know." he said. "But she also keeps talking about how Luke can't be allowed to interfere with Lucky. That he needs a good time out. That maybe it will stop him from doing bad things any more. Its just... well she talks like Luke Spencer is still alive and Lucky is simply in detention. He is dead, isn't he? I mean he didn't fake his death like my dad did that time, did he?"

"I don't think so, but I never really knew Luke Spencer." he said then hearing the doorbell went to answer it. Seeing Mac Scorpio there, he groaned and said "The boys came on their own."

Entering, Mac said "I am not here about that. I was coming to tell you about your wife."

"I saw it on tv." he said. "The boys did too, its why they are here. Michael wants me to take Morgan and him to South America. I had to tell him I can't."

"Good because I don't have time to deal with another kidnapping charge right now. Your wife isn't under arrest no matter how much the provocation, but only because I don't want her that close to Corinthos. I had her sent to GH where they had to sedate her when she woke up."

Michael listened in from the slightly open doorway as Mr. Scorpio and Lorenzo talked. "I am sure they did. Carly isn't going to take this marriage very well. If it wasn't for those two boys in there, I would file the divorce papers we already signed."

Mac looked at the arms dealer and found himself offering some advice. "I can't believe I am saying this, but at one point. Corinthos had gotten himself cleaned up, was straightening out his life, then he made a mistake, Slept with Carly, she got pregnant."

Continuing he said "Corinthos fell for her son, just like Morgan did. It let her get her claws into them. Morgan woke up, mainly because he has long been in love with the Webber girl. Corinthos was dragged in deeper and deeper. Now he is in a jail cell facing a life sentence. I honestly think, without Carly in his life, it wouldn't have come to this."

"What are you saying?"

"That you are falling into the same trap as Morgan and Corinthos, what is worse is that you are sleeping with her still. Bobbie Spencer Jones is a good stable person for the boys minus her guilt regarding Lucky."

"What do you mean?" asked Lorenzo. "Why would she feel guilty about Lucky? Carly I understand, she is her mother."

"A few years ago, Lucky stabbed her son Lucas. Bobbie could have gotten him help them, pressed charges but she didn't because of two things. One her brother convinced her that the brainwashing was gone, it wasn't and two, she knew that Carly's life was a mess and that without Jason it would have spiraled into disaster."

Seeing his confusion,. Mac said "I saw Jason with Elizabeth back then, everyone and I mean everyone in this town was verbally attacking the two of them for their what they call 'more than friends' friendship. In truth, they were in love and no one wanted it because they would have to put aside their own selfish agendas."

"Ah, so to help Carly, she added to the Liz and Lucky nonsense, that the only thing that would fix Lucky is poor Elizabeth Webber." said Lorenzo as he thought about the file he had on them. "I get it. So now she feels guilty because she should have been getting Lucky real help."

"Exactly."said Mac. "Anyhow, I have to go to the station, but Lorenzo, Michael is also a Quartermaine, and honestly I have to say... AJ, his biological father. He isn't a bad guy, just a man who made some bad mistakes."

"He is a drunk, according to Carly. To Courtney." said Lorenzo who hid his wince. The delivery of the Courtney porn was supposed to arrive in his distribution centers this week.

"He is an alcoholic. But was clean when she was pregnant with Michael, he always claimed she set him up, poured liquor on him after knocking him out. I have to admit, I tend to believe him. His marriage to Courtney was another mess, Courtney decided she wanted Morgan, then was very public about it. I don't agree with AJ's solution but truthfully he was no worse than Sonny and to a certain extent, this isn't talking his career choices for Sonny but as a parent, AJ would have been a damn sight better."

"How can you say that?"

"When Carly was married to AJ, AJ was a hands on father, he was sober, he was with Carly in spite of hating her for their son's sake. He bit his tongue a lot in regards to her actions for their son's sake as well. Plus there is no way that Lila Quartermaine, after seeing the mess that Edward created with those boys, would allow it to happen to another generation."

"Mac, do you know where AJ is? I am thinking maybe I should speak to him, get his side of the story." said Lorenzo with a heavy sigh as he got that Michael was listening in.

"Yes, he is in Belize. When he returned the money to ELQ he stole last year as a temper tantrum, the charges were dropped so he could come home if he wants."

With that Mac left and Lorenzo's eyes met Michael's. "It is up to you."

"I want to met him. Ask his side of the story." he said swallowing his fear.

"I will arrange it." with that, Lorenzo made a call, told them to pick up AJ but said he wasn't to speak to the boy until he had spoken to AJ. Then calling his attorney said "File the paperwork."

Michael on the other hand went to his secret stash of Internet files regarding his family. Reading them again, he sat down, looked at his little brother and tried to figure out what he was going to do to protect Morgan.

At GH, Jason was stalking the hallways looking for his wife. When she left the small room, he pulled her close then backed her back into it. "So, why didn't you speak to me?"

Pulling his head down into a kiss, she released him then said with a smile."I wanted to get the baby to safety before Carly woke up. Then those bodyguards insisted I got to the hospital and get checked out. They weren't taking no for the an answer."

Backing her up against the wall behind her, he leaned in closer. "I think we stay home tomorrow, hide and let all of this die down, then come out of hiding. Cam, you and I, can stay home, then while Cam is taking naps, we can..."

"Get out my supply closet." said Alan humorously as he opened the door."Nurse Webber or should I say Morgan, this is not appropriate behavior."

"Sorry sir." she said blushing. "It won't happen again."

"Lying to your boss, shame, shame." said Emily from behind her father. Looking at her brother then at Elizabeth. "Jase, could you have gone a little more public. I mean national television, don't you think that is a bit much."

"What are you talking about?" he asked confused.

"Oh dear, uh, Jason, what was going on in the penthouse, it was on the news." said Elizabeth. "I saw it all in the lobby and that was on CNN."

"Why would... never mind." he said wincing, he had told Stan to get a way to take down Carly, he hadn't realized he would do that so publicly. "So, Nurse Morgan, I say we head out of here and go home."

Walking out, they missed the malevolent gaze of Courtney as she went to see Carly. She had seen the news, had heard what was going on and she was going to put a stop to this, there was no way in hell Elizabeth was going to get away with claiming her husband.

Storming up to the hub, she was furious to be told that no one could see her best friend. "She is sedated and will be that way until morning. Come back and see her then."

Arriving back at the hospital the next morning, Courtney was going through the list of people who would help her, who would be equally angry about Jason and Elizabeth, when she heard a snotty voice at the other end of the hub arguing with her in-laws.

"Audrey, yes it is true." said Alan as Monica joined him. "Why are you so angry about this? You know that Jason loves Elizabeth, that she loves him. That he is Cam's biological father. That they are married. To us,that is wonderful. Yet you are still here, still complaining... why?"

"That son of yours in nothing but a criminal, he must not be allowed to drag my granddaughter and great grandchild into the muck. If you won't help me put an end to this, well... what kind of parents are you?"

"The kind that want their son to be happy. Elizabeth and Cam are happy too, Audrey."

"She doesn't deserve to be happy. She has skated through life, never facing that actions have consequences." she snapped. "Look at poor sweet Lucky, he was abandoned, why? Why would she abandon a police officer for a mobster. And I won't let her drag my grandson down into it."

"Audrey, that police officer is in prison for manslaughter, he wanted your great grandson dead. He tried to kidnap Elizabeth with the help of Sonny. What part of that makes him sweet?" asked a shocked Monica.

Audrey just glared at them, not happy that they didn't seem to see how terrible this news was. Walking away, she was on the elevator, when the blond on it with her, hit the emergency stop button. "Mrs. Hardy, you and I are on the same side. I think we should work together because you are right, Elizabeth doesn't deserve to be happy."

The elderly woman looked at the tall blond, from her overly processed hair, to her designer but not quite appropriate clothes, then at her face. "Courtney, you and I will never be on the same side. I find you and your biologically family to be nothing more than jumped up gutter trash. I would joyfully accept my granddaughter married to Jason, rather than ever work with you."

Seeing her stunned expression, Audrey continued. "My granddaughter will wake up to the mistake she is making, when she does, I will be waiting with open arms to help her get back on the right track. However I may feel about her choices, at least Elizabeth has never fallen so far down into the gutter as to strip to get a man's attentions. You, you are as classless and clueless as your best friend Carly."

"But if we pair up, Jason will leave..."

"Ah, I knew eventually you would tell me what you wanted out of this."stated the woman looking at the blond. "While I may despise Jason Morgan, even he doesn't deserve to be stuck with you. Or rather Lila and Edward don't deserve to be stuck with you, not when they already have to deal with Carly. Go back to your squalid little home from whatever welfare haven you came, Ms Matthews,"

By now, Courtney was speechless, as the tall elderly nurse hit the button to get the elevator going again. "Oh, and Ms. Matthews, stay away from my granddaughter and great grandson, they are already tainted enough by you and yours."

When the doors opened with a swoosh, Audrey got off, then looked back and rolled her eyes in annoyance at the pathetic blond before going to her office and getting back to work, she had allotted enough time out of her busy day to wasted activities, now she had a nursing program to run.

TBC