Do not own General Hospital or any of the characters.
The Flame of Franco
A Candle Burning...
Sam was quiet on the drive home.
They both were.
Jason didn't know what to say to make her feel better. He was out of words. Franco was winning the game he wasn't sure he knew how to play. This was all getting way too out of hand way too quickly. Franco had already broken to his house and now had confronted Sam. He was out for blood this time. Jason just didn't know why still. He still didn't understand Franco's obsession with him. Only that the artist thought they were the same. When Lucky had called him, he had been pissed. Going after him was one thing but going after Sam to get to him was another. Guilt was eating away at him. He should had gone with Sam to the office. He should had stayed with her. He should had been there...so when Franco had come, he could had killed him and ended this stupid game he was playing with him.
"Is there anything I can do?" asked Jason towards Sam as they stepped into the Penthouse. His eyes were filled with concern and worry. He wasn't sure what she was thinking as she walked passed him into the living room.
"No," she shook her head, "I just want to take a shower." Her eyes locked with his as she immediately began to take off her heeled boots. She just wanted to feel clean, to wash Franco's eyes off of her. He hadn't touched her but she felt violated all the same. "The way he stared at me Jason...it felt like I was back in that room, in the stupid box. He had the stupid look on his face..." her voice broke suddenly as tears steamed down her face. It felt like her world was crumbling yet again around her.
Jason didn't think for one minute as he enclosed the space between them and wrapped his arms around her. He held her closely as she continued to cry. There was nothing he could do but be there for her at that moment. "I should had killed him," she stated through her tears, "I had the gun pointed at his heart...I should had just shot him... I just let that bastard walk..."
"Sshhh," whispered Jason down at her. He hated how much pain she was in. How she was blaming herself for Franco showing up there and then not doing anything about it. She wasn't to blame though in any of this. She was just the victim. It was him that was to blame for Franco. He was the one Franco wanted. He was the one who should be dealing with him, not Sam. She shouldn't have to be dealing with any of this, he thought to himself as anger built within his stomach. He was furious. He was more determined then ever now to find Franco and for once in all kill the sick son of a bitch.
"Do you want me to call Dr. Winters?" asked Jason after a moment or two had passed.
Sam pulled away from him at this and shook her head. "No," she stated. "I don't want to talk about Franco anymore. I just want to take a shower." Her face was tear stained as she glance up at him. She just wanted to feel clean and to shut everything off for a few moments.
Jason slowly nodded his head at this. He didn't want to push her in to doing anything that she didn't want to do.
"I just want to take a shower," she whispered again as her eyes once again filled with tears. She was biting down on her lower lip as she looked away from Jason. She hated how vulnerable she felt. How scared she felt. Franco in less then 24 hours had taken away all the progress she had made in months. He had taken away yet again her security. Her safety. She no longer felt safe, any where. She felt like she had no where to go in fear that Franco would somehow show his face again.
She then without another word, moved passed Jason and headed upstairs.
Jason waited and listened until she had the shower running before picking up the nearest object and hurling it with all his might into the fire place.
He was seeing red. He hated how things had turned out. After months of moving passed it, they were both back to where they had started from. He hated how yet again Franco had taken everything away from him.
"You are still coming over tonight right?" asked Alexis to her eldest daughter.
"For what?" asked Sam in confusion. She was on the phone with her mother. She had just gotten out of the shower and was sitting on the edge of her bed.
"Remember, Dinner!"
"Oh yeah," cried out Sam suddenly, it dawning on her how her mother wanted to have dinner with all of her children that night. The lawyer had just gotten all the charges on her for killing Kiefer dropped. She wanted to celebrate. With everything that happen over the past few days, she had forgotten. "Yes, yes I am coming!"
"Good! For It wouldn't be the same without you. I will see you at six!"
"I will be there!" replied Sam, as she ran a hand through her soaking wet hair. She didn't have the energy to go over and have dinner with her family. But she knew it would be better then sitting here and thinking about Franco. At least with her sisters around, it would be a distraction. Or so she hoped it would be.
She talked to her mother for a few moments longer before hanging up and throwing her phone into the centre of the bed.
"Are you ready for this?" asked Jason towards Spinelli as he turned off the engine of the SUV. The two men were on a mission. They were about to step into the world of Franco or at least his art. They were checking out the artist's show in town. Jason hadn't planned on going but after everything that had happened over the past few days, it was the only place he could think of where Franco might be.
He had been planning on going alone. But Spinelli had insisted that he needed back up.
"Of course Stone Cold, the Jackal is ready for anything," spoke Spinelli putting on a face of bravery and smiling at the enforcer. Spinelli wanted to show not only Jason but himself that he wasn't a coward. That he could handle Franco. He knew he didn't really have to prove himself. But he wanted too. He hated Franco. For sleeping with Maxie, for kidnapping and rapping Sam. And then continuing to terrorise Jason and Sam. The young computer hacker wanted to see the artist brought to an end too.
Jason stared at Spinelli for a moment longer before nodding his head and stepping out of the vehicle.
Normally the gallery wouldn't be open so late. But having the famous Franco show there at such a small gallery was a big deal. The gallery had changed their hours to a culminate not only the high demand of visitors to the space. But also meeting the artist wishes as well. He had wanted for his art to be looked at in the dead of the night. He said it added to the experience of his work. His agent had made sure that this wish came true. So the gallery hours were extended late in the night.
It wasn't that late at night though however as the two men entered the gallery. It was just passed 7 or so in the evening. They were greeted with a silent nod and glance by the gallery receptionist as they entered the small space. Walking passed the receptionist desk, they entered the main space of the gallery.
It was lit only from the hundred of golden candles that were scattered around the room. The lay out of the expedition reminded Jason for a shrine of some sorts as he walked into the candle lit room. The walls were bare, expect for the wall opposite of him. Where a large canvas covered a good portion of the gallery wall.
Noticing the painting, Jason moved towards it. He wasn't one for art. He had never really understood it. Especially modern art with its abstract forms and colour. And this painting was no different. It was painted in a rich red colour. The colour of wine. It had the word HOLLYWOOD sprayed painted in both silver and gold at the top, with the figure of a nude woman painted in gold and purple underneath.
Jason knew there was a message of sorts hidden within the piece like all of Franco's previous work he had seen. However, Jason was at a lost. He was no iconologist. He wasn't really sure what Franco was trying to tell him. Moving closer to look at the paining, he notice the little information card posted beside the painting. Leaning forward, he began to read it in hopes that it would some how lead him to where Franco was. However, it only left him more pissed off and confused.
Title- Sam
Media- Oil on Canvas
Portions- 6' by 4'
Description- Gold and silver reflected in glass as she stared up with lost. The letters of HOLLYWOOD flashing from Route 66. Two brothers torn apart and brought together not knowing. What yours is mine for blood runs deep.
This did not make any sense to Jason what so ever as he reread the little card. However, he knew it was a message for him. The title of the painting told him so.
As a million thoughts raced through his mind all at once he did not notice Spinelli approach him from behind.
"This is most defiantly a message for Stone Cold," stated the computer hacker as he looked up from the card and towards Jason. He couldn't quite read what Jason was thinking as he continue to stare at him. Jason wore a blank face like usual. "The title alone suggests that. But the description on the piece is most confusing," continued to explain the Jackal. "Gold and Silver reflected in glass as she stared up lost... this must be about Sam but the rest I do not quite understand. What does Route 66 have to do with anything?"
Again Jason did not answer the P.I. He had no clue what Route 66 had to do with anything or Hollywood for that matter? He knew for a fact that Franco had grown up in Brooklyn. So he knew that Franco had no connections really to LA that he could think of.
"The only thing the Jackal is sure of is that Franco is defiantly telling Stone Cold something with this piece. Either that faire Samantha is in danger again and he is taking her to Hollywood. or that he is in Hollywood, waiting for Stone Cold to appear. I am not quite sure," Spinelli was talking more to himself now as he thought out loud. He knew vaguely what Route 66 was. He knew he would understand Franco's message after he did a quick search on his computer on the famous U.S. highway.
As the two men continue to stand there, studying the painting they were unaware that they were being watched.
"They are here," spoke the receptionist into the phone.
"Very good," replied back Franco on the other line. "I have been waiting long enough."
And with that the line went dead. The receptionist frowned at this as she placed the receiver of the phone back down. She had thought that after sleeping with the famous artist Franco and doing him this little favour of looking out for this man who had just arrived in the leather jacket that she would be awarded for her troubles. How she had been wrong, she thought to herself as she glanced up, looking over at the two men before turning her attention once again onto the computer screen. And began to type away on the keyboard.
After dinner was finished and both Molly and Kristina had gone off to be bed. It was just Sam and her mom. It was ten at night. Sam knew she should be heading home but she didn't have the heart to do so. The Lake House was untouched by Franco. And she liked it like this. The artist hadn't gotten to this safe haven yet. When Sam had arrived at her mother's house, her two younger sisters had been fighting.
"MOLLY GIVE IT BACK!" cried Kristina towards the preteen, who held something behind her back.
Molly just smiled at Kristina.
"MOLLY!" yelled Kristina, stopping her foot like a child against the floor.
Neither girl had noticed Sam's arrival. Sam didn't know what they were fighting about but she couldn't help but smile at the sight of them. Their fighting seemed so normal. It gave her a sense of comfort to know her sisters were untouched by craziness like she was. They were innocent little beings. And she wanted it to stay like that.
"HEY! You two knock it off. Sam is going to be here soon..." Alexis had just appeared at the top of the landing, looking in at her two daughter's fighting in the middle of the living room.
"I'm here!" cried out Sam taking a step further into the room and waving her hand at everyone.
"Oh hi," spoke Alexis in greeting to her eldest daughter. She smiled a warm smile at her before turning to the two younger girls. "NOW, Molly give Kristina back whatever it was you took from her! Dinner is almost ready and I don't want any fighting!"
And so dinner had gone out like any normal family dinner would. The conversation had flowed between what Kristina and Molly were doing for the summer break. Kristina was going to summer school and volunteering at the Woman's clinic. She wanted to better her chances of getting into Yale. She was tutoring a boy in her class named Taylor. Molly was attending the same science camp she had gone to last summer.
The wedding was also talked about at great length. Both her sisters were going to be bridesmaids and had showed Sam the dresses that they had bought, with the help of Maxie.
But after her sisters had gone off to their rooms. Sam's nerves had returned with the thought of having to return home.
It was just Sam and her mom. It was ten at night. Sam knew she should be heading home but she didn't have the heart to do so. The Lake House was untouched by Franco. And she liked it like this. The artist hadn't gotten to this safe haven yet.
"Sam, what's the matter?" asked Alexis to her daughter as she looked on at her with concern.
Sam smiled a weak smile at her, "Nothing," replied Sam, "I was just thinking about the wedding. It's just all a little overwhelming." A part of her wanted to tell her mother about Franco. But another part didn't want to worry her. So she lied and said she was just nervous about the wedding.
Alexis frowned at this. She wasn't convinced. The two women were seated on the couch. "Sam," she whispered, taking a hold of her hand, "What's really bothering you?"
Tears welded up in her eyes suddenly, "I can't go home!"
"What do you mean you can't go home?" asked Alexis in puzzlement. "Is it Jason? Is he pressuring you to have sex?" Alexis remembered the incident from her birthday.
Sam shook her head at this, "No it's not Jason..." her voice trailed off slightly. She hadn't wanted to go there tonight. But she knew it was unavoidable now as her mother continued to stare at her, waiting for an answer. "It's Franco. He's back!"
"He's back!?" cried Alexis, her hands going to her mouth. She didn't like the sound of this.
Sam nodded her head sadly at this fact. It was true, he was back in town. "He sent a message to Jason and me. Some stupid whine-up toy monkey..." began to explain Sam.
"Oh My!" spoke Alexis in a shutter breath. She was thinking of the homeless man she had talked too briefly outside of Harborview Towers. How he had shown her his whine- toy monkey. "No it couldn't be!" she thought out loud to herself.
"What?" asked Sam in confusion, her brown eyes gazing intensely at her mother.
"I think I seen him," she replied.
"What? You saw Franco! Where!?"
"Outside of Harborview Towers," explained Alexis, " There was this homeless man or what I thought was a homeless man. He had this stuffed whine-up monkey... "
"Oh don't tell me that!" cried out Sam suddenly in a panic. She didn't want to hear that Franco had been outside of her apartment building. She didn't want to hear that he might had been watching her and Jason.
"It was a couple days ago. When I came over to see your dress," continued on explaining Alexis.
"Oh I think I am going to be sick," whispered Sam as she began to rock back and forth, her face was buried in her hands.
"I didn't see his face though...he had it covered with the hood of his jacket...it could had been anyone..." she was trying to reassure her daughter but she knew she was failing.
"It was Franco," stated Sam. She knew it had to be. "How many people have a whine-up monkey? uh?" she asked looking up and locking eyes with her mother. "It was Franco!"
"Well, as long as you haven't seen him..."
"I have seen him though mom! TWICE!" cried Sam as tears fell down her face. "That's why I can't go home...he's been inside my house!"
Alexis looked perplexed at this. She didn't understand.
"He broke into the Penthouse just like he broke into my apartment back in December. He broke in while we were asleep...I woke up and he was standing at the edge of the bed..." her voice trailed off as her emotions spilled over her. She could remember his eyes on her. The way he had stared at her. That stupid smile on his face.
Reaching out, Alexis pulled her daughter to her chest. She hated to see her daughter so afraid. "Well, you can stay here tonight," whispered Alexis as she rocked Sam back and forth like a child. She hated what Franco had done to her. She hated how she had taken everything from her and left her this scared vulnerable person. If she ever saw the bastard again, she wouldn't think twice about killing him.
Sam was graceful that her mother was letting her stay over at the Lake House. She couldn't stand going back to the Penthouse after what had happened last night and that afternoon. She was safe here. At least for a while that was.
It was a little while later as Sam sat on the edge of the bed. She was in the guestroom. The same room she always stayed in when at the Lake House. It was the same room she had lived in for a short period of time after her break up with Jason. It was also the same room that Manny had broken into and kidnapped her from. Shaking her head from side to side, she reached for her phone. She didn't want to think about Manny, who was another sicko from her past. Dialling Jason's number, she brought the phone up to her ear.
"Where are you?" asked Jason picking up the phone on the first ring. She knew he would be up, waiting for her to come home.
"I'm at Alexis's still," she spoke softly into the phone. She was suddenly overcome with exhaustion. It had been a long day. "I'm going to stay over."
Jason was silent at this. He knew she was scared to come home after what had happened last night and today. He hated this. He hated how Franco had taken all her comfort away from her like that. That she didn't feel safe in her own home.
"Okay," he replied after a moment had passed.
"I love you," she spoke in a whisper.
"I love you too," he replied back before hanging up.
"You can run all you want but you can't hide," whispered Franco to himself as he watched Sam through the bedroom window. He had been following her all day since she left the Penthouse that morning with Spinelli. And after confronting her at the office, he had continued to watch her from afar. He had seen how she had talked to her cop friend, Lucky and been hugged by had followed the two of them home. Where he had continued to sit out on his perch just outside of Harborview Towers watching the people pass by. He had been expecting to stay there all night until he saw her again. However, he had been wrong. He was surprise to see her come out of the doors, alone just a few hours later. He then knew this was his chance. The moment he had been planning for.
He had followed Sam to the Lake House. He had waited patiently in the bushes for her to come out, where he planned on taking her. However, he had been disappointed when she had not come out. He knew it was going to be tricky but he was up for the challenge as he watched as she flicked off the lights in the room and got into bed.
Franco's face twisted into an evil grin as he undid the latch on the window. He loved how easy these older homes by the lake where to break into.
"Hello Sam, we meet again," whispered the artist as he looked across the darken room, the only light coming from the single candle burning on the nightstand. The red flame illuminated her face as she stared back at him with surprise.
She tried to scream but nothing would come out.
And before she knew it, Franco was on her. His hand covered her mouth as his other hand grasped her arm and pulled her out of the bed. "That's a good girl Sammy. Play nice," whispered Franco into her ear.
:o And so the games begin again!
Julie