Chapter Three
Molly held tightly to her cup of coffee as she sat in the waiting room alone. Her mother and Uncle Sonny had arrived a day earlier than expected just when Kristina finally woke up. Now they're in her room with Michael, Dante, and Lulu. Heath left shortly after they arrived insisting that he had to go check in on some last minute campaign details but Molly knew the real excuse and it did not involve his reelection for mayor. Heath never got along well with Sonny and Michael. He bonded with Dante over baseball but they only tolerated each other. No one really got along with him except for Molly and Alexis.
"Oh there you are," Alexis Davis said closing the door behind her before walking to Molly. She sat next to her in the sofa. "Here use these," She suggested handing Molly a nearby box of tissues. Molly glanced at her mother a second before grabbing two. She patted the Kleenex under her eye with one hand while holding the cup in her other hand. "You know everybody myself included has been so concerned about Kristina that we, I haven't been paying attention to how this is affecting you." Alexis said stroking Molly's hair. "I know you're trying to be strong for your sister because that's what she needs you to do but if you need to talk,"-
"I'm fine mom," Molly blurted out cutting her mother off as she jumped from her seat to walk across the room to place her cup in the trash can. "Really I am," She said turning to face Alexis before folding her arms. "There's just a lot going on and I guess I'm just," Molly paused to pull her buzzing phone out of her pocket. She read the text multiple times before turning to her mother. "tired. I need some fresh air." Molly suggested walking past her mother as Sam stepped off the elevator with Danny by her side. He was munching on chips.
"What was that about?" Sam asked standing next to Alexis.
"Molly went to get some fresh air," Alexis answered rubbing her face with both hands before plopping down on the sofa next to Danny. " You know Molly. She's taking this harder than she's letting on." Alexis paused to grab the cup of water in Sam's hand. Sam sat next to her mother. Alexis took a sip of the water. "I don't know who's taking this worse Molly or Heath. You know he calls every hour to check on Kristina. She was talking to him when I left her room." Alexis added before drinking more water.
"Do you think that's such a good idea?" Sam asked reaching in front of her mother to hand Danny a book while trying to ignore the look of confusion on Alexis' face. "I mean after everything Kristina has been through what she needs right now is rest which is hard to do with Heath around." Sam blurted out looking at something on the table. "Just forget I said anything." She suggested cocking her head to the side.
"I'm sorry Sam but as your mother I'm afraid I can't do that," Alexis replies placing the cup on the table. "Molly ran away before I got the chance to voice my suspensions. Not to mention you've been dropping not so subtle hints all day. Now I must know once and for all. Other than her current predicament, is there something going on with Kristina that I should know about?" Alexis asked looking at Sam.
"Yes. Something is going on," Sam replied standing from the sofa with her arms folded. She gestured for her mother to follow into a nearby corner. Alexis stood from her seat near Danny to follow Sam stopping in front of her. "Look I don't know all the details right now. It's just a hunch," Sam paused to see Heath standing at the nearby opened elevator. "But I think Heath had something to do with Kristina's accident." Sam said lowering her voice. Alexis turned to Nathan who was waving at her.
Alexis put on a fake smile and raised her hand to gesture a flat wave. She returned her hand to her side rather quickly. Heath was now sitting next to Danny. The two were engaging in a conversation about his book. Sam kept her eyes glued towards them trying not to glare too hard.
"If what you're saying is true which I really hope it's not," Alexis whisper turning to Sam who was stilling looking towards Heath and Danny. "Then you do realize that, if you choose to pursue this theory of yours that Heath will not openly confess that he played a role in what happened to Kristina especially not to you." She suggested folding pointing her finger for emphasis. Sam nodded in agreement arms folded."But he might to someone else. Someone that he trusts." Alexis suggested leaning in placing her hands in her back jean pockets while looking towards Molly and cocking her head towards Sam who raised her eyebrow slightly considering her mother's suggestion.
Molly came into view walking in a hurried pace to Kristina's room as Dante, Lulu Michael, and Sonny walked out. Kristina sat up slightly at the slamming of her door to see Molly standing there clasping her phone tightly between both hands.
"We have a problem," Molly blurted out walking towards Kristina still clasping her phone. Suddenly a female nurse dressed in lilac purple scrubs with a mask on her mouth and red hair walked in closing the door behind her. Then a figure in all black with a ski mask appears coming through the window. The nurse met the figure at the window to further assist them into the room. "Okay I don't know what's going on but I'm calling security." Molly insisted running towards the phone. The figure in black grabbing her wrist, she looked up just in time as he took off his mask to reveal his true identity. Then the female nurse did the same. Molly cupped her hands to her mouth to sustain from gasping loudly in shock.
"Where did you get this?" Johnny asked pointing to the photo while looking at Maxie. It was pictures of Starr Manning sitting at a table with an alive Hope, and Cole in a Irish style restaurant.
"I knew you'd say that. It's actually very simple," Maxie suggested clasping her hands together pausing slightly. "It all started with my Eat. Pray. Love. adventure but that's a long story and not important right now. The magazine company I work for in LA sent me to Ireland on assignment. I had to scope out some photo sites for the next issue's photoshoot which by the way is beyond not easy. Even for somebody like me and this is suppose to be my thing," Maxie suggested with emphasis before continuing with a smile. "So while there I ran into Lucky. Of all people. Since I clearly didn't have the slightest idea of where I was going which again is unusual for me so he decided to show me around. After a while, we stopped for some lunch. Right in the middle of ordering I saw them together and remembered her from the tabloids. Start Manning is actually quite famous now in the fashion and music world or at least she was before she magically vanished from the scene a whole ago and lucky me I just happened to have my camera." Maxie suggested smiling happily taking pride in her own actions. "No need to thank me. For once, the opportunity to help somebody was placed in my lap and I did not screw it up. I guess there's a first time for everything," She said putting her hands in her lap. "I am so proud of myself." She added with joy. Johnny sat stiff still taking everything in. "Well, say something?" Maxie suggested looking at him.
"This can't be happening," He said leaning back. "We looked everywhere for just a shred of proof I could be innocent and never found anything. When I heard that Michael told Kristina about Starr suddenly vanishing and then breaking up with him, I knew something was off. Michael and Starr were crazy about each other. They had been through a lot together. Most of that being my fault. When you care about someone the way they did you don't cut ties like that unless something big happens." He paused finally registering everything so their (his & Kristina's) theory had been right all along. Hope and Cole did not die and Starr left to reunite with them in Ireland. He had to tell her the good news. There's always money on his book for stuff like phone calls. Even when she took a hiatus from visiting him, Kristina always made sure of that. "I need to call Kristina and tell her about this. You and Spencer just saved my ass." Johnny finished grinning. Maxie's smile flattened.
"About that," Maxie said looking up from her smartphone. "Kristina is kind of indisposed at the moment."
"Oh no. Absolutely not. I cannot be a part of this," Molly exclaimed looking towards Kristina who was wedged in between a standing TJ Ashford and Ellie Trout. "Kristina, I understand that Johnny is your friend and you feel obligated to help him but as I must the fact that you clearly have not thought things through this time." Molly suggested arms folded. "This plan you and Spinelli have concocted with the assistance of Ellie and TJ is risky, and not to mention breaking out of the hospital while you're still healing is dangerous for your health. Kristina, regaining your strength is more important than this crusade for Johnny's freedom and I'm pretty sure that he would agree with me," Molly finished staring down at her sister.
"Calm down, Molly. I am very aware of the risks involved but I don't care," Kristina said rubbing her arm slightly. "I cannot stay here another minute having every member of my family treat me like some fragile piece of glass. Poor little Kristina. She's in the hospital again. Let's hold her hand and console her like the scared, weak, naive little girl she is." Kristina added through clenched teeth with some grit in her voice. Ellie and TJ shared a knowing look while Molly stepped back slightly. "I'm sorry I yelled, Molly. It's just I need to do this. I have this feeling. My instincts are telling that there's something out there. Something we missed." Kristina paused before continuing. "Whatever it is. I am going to find it but I can't do that in here. Molly, that's where you come in," Kristina declared. Slowly, Molly started walking towards the door. With her hand on the doorknob, she turned around.
"I still think this is a bad idea that is not going to end well," Molly insisted looking towards them all exchanging a smile. She bit her lip for a second in thought. "In fact it is a horrible idea but I am going to insist to everyone that you wished to not be disturbed for a couple of hours because you are really tired and we should honor your wishes by all going to lunch." Kristina mouthed a thank to Molly who nodded her head in response. "Good luck. We'll talk later," she added before waving towards everyone as she exited the room.
Before Johnny could say anything, Maxie cut him off. "I don't exactly know all the details which is a complete shocker for me. Though I guess that's what happens when you leave town and cut all ties with Port Charles," she suggested looking at her phone. "So like I was saying that was Lucky. He stopped by to surprise Lulu and Olivia answered. Apparently Dante and Lulu are in Connecticut visiting Kristina in the hospital," Maxie pausing quickly changing her lighthearted demeanor. "I hate to sound so heartless but her being confined in a hospital is the best thing that could possibly happen right now. Furthermore I must point out that even if she wasn't lying in some icky hospital bed looking at white walls for God knows how long, you still could never tell her or anybody else about this. What I have told you must stay between us," Maxie added staring him down. "So do we have a deal? Will you keep your mouth shut?" Maxie asked extending her hand across the table.
Ellie Trout ran at a rather fast pace through the dark Connecticut Hospital with TJ Ashford behind her holding Kristina in his arms. It had been five minutes since Spinelli turned off the power to the hospital by overriding the system. They had maybe seven minutes before the generator kicked in and the power would be restored. Kristina smiled as she heard the rain and thunder. All week, a storm was said to hit Connecticut today so everyone would assume the hospital blackout was weather related. Their plan was working out perfectly.
"Slow down Damien," Ellie yelled in her earpiece while flashing the light down the hallway to the employee elevator. "We found it." Ellie said cutting Spinelli off as the group boarded the elevator. TJ leaned up against the wall while Ellie retrieved directions from Spinelli. He had been enlisted for this plan through Kristina. When he called Molly this morning, her phone had been left on Kristina's bed. She answered it and persuaded him to help. Suddenly the elevator doors opened and the group ran toward a nearby door where they went down a set of stairs to the back parking lot of the hospital.
Spinelli already had the van doors open. Ellie ran in first. She slid the van door closed after TJ was securely inside with Kristina. Spinelli sat in the front seat with all his computer gadgets in the passenger seat. "Time is of the essence Damien. We only have two minutes to secure a safe getaway." Ellie suggested looking at her watch. "We must leave at once," She insisted. Spinelli pressed down hard on the gas in response.
"Wow! All that time in Ireland with Spencer has really softened you up Maxie," Johnny suggested grinning. Maxie pulled her hand away. "Oh come on. You should know better than anybody that I'm an opportunist. You can't just wave something big like this in my face and expect me to do nothing when my instincts are screaming to use this information especially when it benefits me quite nicely " He paused leaning in closer. His previous cocky demeanor disappearing. "I've been rotting my ass in here five years. Outside of you, I've only seen three people and one of them is Sonny." Johnny yelled before looking Maxie in the eyes. "I'm getting desperate Maxie. This might just be my last and only chance."
"I know it's not right to ask you to rot in this icky, drab boring, filthy, place that desperately lacks cleaning and decor but it's not that simple as you go free," Maxie pause before continuing. "You can't imagine the lengths Lucky, Ethan, and I went through to get here. I am jeopardizing the lives of so many people by talking to you right now. Somebody is on to us and that somebody has proven they will do whatever is necessary to keep you here even if that means getting rid of us or the people we love." Maxie stopped before leaning in to whisper. "Ethan is meeting with Luke right now. We aren't exactly sure how or when but Ethan & Lucky suspect whoever is behind all this knows we're here and they are planning something big." Suddenly the door opened, Maxie quickly gathered the photos on the table before the guard could see but instead it was Kristina on crutches. Maxie stared at Johnny in anticipation."Well I do believe my work here is done for now. Spinelli and Ellie are in town on some weird assignment for some mysterious client which means I get to see Georgie," She suggested putting her purse on her shoulder, and raising from her seat. Johnny looked at her slightly confused. "Spinelli and I broke up after my trip to Ireland. He got back together with Ellie and he moved back to Portland with Georgie to keep her safe." Maxie said seeming somewhat sad. All Johnny could do was nod. Kristina darted her head down at Maxie's indirect reference to her. Maxie walked in a fast pace to the door only stopping when she reached Kristina."I hope you have a speedy recovery. Take it from me, crutches are a major pain in the ass. Not to mention they make your armpits hurt and itch. Then there's the sweat. It's just really unpleasant."
"Maxie," Johnny yelled. She turned slightly to face him in the doorframe. "I might be out of the business but the Zacchara name still holds some weight outside these walls. If you guys need reinforcement, Ethan knows about a couple of my associates that owe me some favors. Don't hesitate in enlisting them for assistance. Unlike Luke, I know Spencer will insist on doing things by the book because he believes in the greater good but being naive like that in situations like this is kinda the thing that can get you killed."
"I'll keep that in mind," Maxie replied rather quickly in response with her head down before walking out the door.