Disclaimer….I do not own GH or the characters….just my own spin on the missed opportunities by the writers. LOL

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Ironic, don't you think, Sonny?" Johnny drawled as he leisurely crossed the room, enjoying the way the other man's eyes warily followed his every move. "You set me up. Asking me to go undercover in the Alcazar Organization, telling me to not talk about the assignment with anyone. Five weeks later Morgan 'killed' me for betraying you. Now look at us. Karma must be a cruel bitch, huh?"

Perspiration beaded along his brows. There would be no reasoning or calming the man staring at him with disdain and pure malice. Too much had gone down between the two for any excuse to be accepted. Unless a miraculous distraction blessed him, Sonny knew he would be meeting his maker. Johnny O'Brien's body language and hard, cold eyes promised retribution. Rubbing his clammy hands along his slacks, Sonny glowered, knowing he had nothing left to lose at this point. "You did betray me, just not in the manner I told Jason."

"Okay, I'll bite. Just how are you justifying that bullshit excuse?"

Indignant fury filled his beady eyes. "Questioning my orders, damn it! Your job was simple, do as I said, O'Brien, to follow my orders. Instead, you had the nerve to question my decisions."

Johnny snorted. "Only when you were fucking things up. And we both know the truth. You set me up because I uncovered your part in Marino and then the Roscoe's targeting Elizabeth. Even back then you tried to remove her from Jason's stratosphere." Smugly chuckling, he took pleasure watching the rage of failure darken the condemned man's features. "That leads to your present predicament. You truly had to have lost what little mind you possessed to think teaming up with Zacchara, Lansing, and Helena wouldn't explode in your face. Jason would've let you live out the rest of your pitiful existence on your precious island. All you had to do was stay there, leaving him and Liz in peace."

Crashing his fist into the cushion, Sonny growled. "He took my business! Then he partnered with that little bastard Johnny Zacchara! I started this organization! I made it the success it is now! Me, not Jason and sure as hell not that punk kid!"

"Pure wishful thinking and fantasies in your deluded head, Corinthos." Glancing at his watch, Johnny leaned forward, all traces of amusement evaporating. "Tell me about Carly and Sam. What plan did you three world class idiots concoct?"

If he thought he could bargain with the cold man, Sonny would have told all, tossing his exes to the wolves. Unfortunately for him, he already knew it would not alter his fate. If he was going to die, Sonny wanted Jason and Elizabeth, along with the Zacchara kid to suffer. Thinly compressing his lips, he shrugged. "No clue what you're talking about."

"Really?" Johnny smirked. "Anthony sent Johnny a package detailing your deal with him. Don't feel bad though. The old man not only screwed you, he killed Lansing. Had his throat slit so Lansing could not turn on him first." Seeing the flash of surprise, Johnny sighed. The man really was stupid. "Anthony decided not to give Trevor the option of committing him again. See, he decided on another course of action entirely." Too bad they still hadn't completely figured out what the old man was up to. All three could only agree that Georgie and Baylor were right in the midst of whatever the old man was up to.

Unable to contain his nerves, Sonny started to jump to his feet only to lose his breath as Johnny's fist connected with the right side of his chest. The sharp pain of a couple ribs snapping brought tears to his eyes as he bit back a scream, doubling over gasping to get air.

"Tsk, tsk, Corinthos. You should control that temper better. Last chance. Tell me what you know about Sam and Carly's plan, along with any of the others coming after Jason's family and Zacchara's."

"Do your worst, O'Brien. I know that I'm dead man. If I can't be around to enjoy watching Elizabeth the Saint and that slut Zacchara tricked for all that power, at least I will die with the knowledge that some other person will bring them down. Jason cannot save everyone, no matter how much he attempts too," Sonny taunted, enjoying pushing the man's buttons.

Palming the syringe that he'd pulled out, Johnny showed him the paralytic while sneering. "Nobody really believed you had the smarts to save yourself from a horrendous death, Corinthos. Do you know what this will do?"

Choking on fear, Sonny attempted to reason, knowing that it was hopeless. "Be reasonable. Think about this, Johnny. The coroner will find whatever that substance is."

"Oh, we know that. But the simple fact is the last person the video surveillance tape shows entering here and then leaving is Carly. And with Bobbie a surgical nurse, it's not a reach that she used her mother's ID badge to gain access to this lovely drug. It's used in ERs and sometimes in ORs to help with intubation. Only you won't be needing that breathing tube, not for our purposes." Taking pleasure as Sonny's mouth gaped open, he stepped closer. "Carly was even at GH before visiting with you last night. Don't fret over Michael and Morgan though. Jax is a wonderful stepfather to them, treats them just like he does Joss. You know, like a good parent, unlike you and that whore."

Jumping to his feet and attempting to evade Johnny, Sonny was knocked backwards and then spun and held as he struggled, especially after noticing who had joined them without a sound. "Think about this, Corelli! You honestly going to take the chance that Jason won't kill you both. He'll never completely abandon Carly, not to let her be framed for my death."

Francis chuckled while forcing Sonny back to the couch. "I think I'll chance it. See, Jason called me late last night. He thought I might want to come home to finally see you get exactly what you deserve. Needless to say, I jumped on the first flight back. I'm almost as excited as O'Brien here to finally take you out. But you should've told us what you knew. That syringe is filled with a paralytic agent, Sonny. Basically, you're gonna smother to death while completely aware and unable to help yourself. Couldn't happen to a better person, either." Inclining his head to Johnny, held the struggling man as his best friend injected the medicine into a vein. "We could have done way worse though. Be happy that we wanted Carly to hang for your death."

Removing the needle, Johnny stepped back and watched as Francis dropped Sonny to the couch. Within seconds his chest went still, as did his entire body. Waving the other unused syringe in front of the bulging, terror stricken eyes, he smugly grinned. "This would have knocked you unconscious. Your own hatred and greed caused you unnecessary pain, Corinthos." He glanced at his watch, calculating that this excuse of a man would no longer be a problem within the next three minutes. "Thank you for being so stubborn. It's been a pleasure, Sonny. Remember to tell your bitch of a sister hello from all us. We'll give Carly your regards too."

"Enjoy hell," Francis added.

The two friends stood silently and watched as the life drained from the former mob boss. Each having no regrets at what they had just done. It had been a long time coming.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

The raw pain consuming Georgie could be heard in her wavering voice. "Why? Why would you even consider hurting me and Baylor that way?"

"Anthony has proof of something that I…"

"So you'd hand an innocent child to a madman to keep your secrets hidden?" Johnny harshly demanded while wishing that Georgie and Patrick, along with Baylor Emma who were in still playing in the backyard, were not present. He had no intention of letting this person live to see the sunset. "Fuck, Barrett! That little girl out there would die without her medicine! Not to even mention the emotional damaged to Georgie and Bay."

Cooper hung his head, ashamed that he had even been used this far. "I couldn't do it, Georgie. Please! You and Bay, I could never hurt either of you, not like that." When he attempted to step toward her, Logan applied more pressure and jerked him backwards. He swallowed hard while desperately trying to catch her eye. "I was going to come to you and explain, lay everything on the table."

Logan's gruff voice filled the room. "You're a freaking liar, Coop! The only reason that we are even standing here is because I saw you leaving Anthony's hotel room yesterday evening." His voice dropped and disbelief and anger filled the next words. "What that old man had on you, it should have never led to this. I don't understand how…."

"Understand? There is no way it will ever make sense!" Georgie's knees buckled and Johnny caught her, easing her into a chair while keeping his hand firmly clasped with hers. His own urge to extract the information he needed the hard way was tempered by Georgie's accelerated breathing and pulse that he was monitoring with his thumb stroking her wrist. Apprehensive about shock setting in, he stayed at her side, knowing that he'd get his chance to take his frustrations out. But that was something that he never wanted Georgie to witness, him losing control.

"Jason, we need to move Baylor to your place for now."

"NO!" Her nails dug into his skin. "I need her here, Johnny."

Crouching down in front of her, Johnny framed her face with both his hands. "Georgianna, listen to me. Jason and Elizabeth's house has more guards. Bay will be safe there. I don't want her coming in here or even catching a murmur of what is going on. Trust me, sweetheart. She needs to be away from here right now. She'd never understand all the tension in this room if she busted in her right now." Not liking the distance visibly taking hold in her eyes, he gave her one slight shake to snap her attention back to him. "Do you trust me?"

"Yes," she breathed.

Swinging his unreadable eyes to Logan, Jason arched a brow. "Can you handle this, Hayes? I know Barrett is your friend."

Light blue eyes filled with shadows never wavered but it was obvious that he was battling his own urge to give into the murder in his eye. "Yes. I wouldn't have come to you with all of this if I couldn't."

Stepping around Spinelli who appeared petrified, Jason placed a comforting hand on the slim, shaking shoulder. "Georgie, I think you should come with me, Patrick, and the kids. Let John tell you everything that Barrett and Spinelli tell him."

Shattered brown eyes nailed the young hacker. "You too?" she whispered.

"I..I...I just h-had…"

"Not another word," Johnny bit out as he stood. Hearing that the geek had a part in this almost had him losing the small band of control and restraint he was barely hanging on to. Spotting Milo approaching from behind Spinelli, he shifted his attention back to Georgie, who seemed to be pulling inner strength from somewhere. Sighing, he nodded to Jason. "She's not gonna leave until she hears what they have to say. I'll have one of the guards bring her to stay with Elizabeth after they attempt to justify their actions."

The two men exchanged a look before Jason pinched his nose. Leaving their fate in Johnny's hands was difficult, especially after Logan had explained what was going on. And with Spinelli, after taking him in and making a friend of him, Jason felt that betrayal deeply. Squeezing Georgie's shoulder lightly one more time, he exhaled and nodded before silently making his way to the backyard to collect the two children and Patrick. Right now, Baylor needed to be secure, away from the turmoil escalating in that room. And Jason knew it was only going to get worse once Johnny and Georgie heard everything that Cooper and Spinelli had to say.

"Before you try and justify this fucking mess, tell me what my father wants with Baylor," Johnny demanded, his nearly black eyes pinning Cooper.

Wetting his dry lips, Cooper kept his gaze trained on the angry man. Georgie's expression ate at his gut, making him sick with guilt. "Um, he planned on using her to control you. He believed that you'd do anything to keep her safe, therefor following his wishes in using the newly acquired power that you gained. But it's mainly the Jerome connections that he's after."

"And what did he have on you?" Johnny inquired softly, knowing that his father was correct. He would have done whatever necessary to get Baylor back from his demented father. He loved her just like she was his flesh and blood. There was no way he trusted his father not to hurt Baylor. Catching the way that Logan and Spinelli both were flickering their eyes to Georgie, Johnny got a bad feeling about what he was about to hear.

"I-I did something a-a..."

"Stop sputtering and stalling, Coop! Just say it." Georgie's voice broke. "What could possibly cause you to hurt me, Bay, and Maxie by even entertaining the thought."

"I was terrified that you'd learn the truth."

"Truth about what?" Johnny hissed, losing all patience with him.

"Diego wasn't the TMK, Georgie. I knew it and Anthony was extorting me over it."

"But he confessed to Sam," she protested weakly, her heart aching at the mention of the murders that had torn her life apart. She had fled the Alcazar estate because it was believed that Diego had murdered all those women, putting her on the collision course that destroyed her life. "Then who was, Coop? Who the hell strangled Leticia and Emily? Tried to kill Maxie?"

When he didn't answer, her eyes swung to Spinelli. "Who, Spinelli? And what the hell did you do?"

"Loyal friend, I …"

Reaching her limit of bullshit, she turned broken eyes to Logan, who looked disgusted. "You know?" He nodded once while wishing that he didn't. To know that his best friend, his brother, had been capable of such things had him wondering what else he had missed. "Please, Logan, just say it fast. It only hurts more with their excuses."

Tearing his eyes away from her tears, he saw Zacchara nod. Clearing his throat, he dropped his eyes once more to connect with Georgie's. "Diego came back into Port Charles to seek out Morgan, but not for revenge like we were all told. He wanted help protecting you from the WSB. Even with their mutual dislike, he took the chance, wanting you to be able to come home. Sam saw him and freaked because he wasn't dead like everyone believed. Coop was on patrol and heard the screaming." Stopping long enough to shoot a glare at his onetime friend, Logan grimaced. "He deiced to use Diego as a scapegoat for his own crimes."

"Wait!" Needing clarification, Johnny held up a hand. "You killed Leticia and Emily? You tried to strangle Maxie?"

As the conversation had went on, Coop's eyes began to glow with an eerie sheen and his demeanor change, becoming insolent. "I did. But Georgie came home early and stopped me from finishing her off."

She was out of the chair and across the room faster than anyone expected. The sound of her hand cracking against his flesh resounded in the now quiet house. "Why?" she screamed. "Maxie loves you!"

"Because of you!" he admitted tenderly, reaching for her. Logan immediately stepped in front of Coop and gently shoved Georgie back to the safety of Zacchara's arms, who had been approaching with a deadly gleam in his own eyes.

"Don't you dare try to blame Georgie for this!"

Coop chuckled. "But she is responsible. I wanted her from the day that Maxie introduced us, but was terrified that Maxie would rat my part in the Metrocourt heist to her father if I dumped her for her very own perfect sister. It took time to formulate a plan, but I knew that Georgie would be devastated over Maxie's death. I was going to pick up the pieces and help her heal."

Recoiling as her stomach churned, Georgie shook her head. "No. No way. You're crazy!"

"Pinning what I thought was your murder on a man that Maxie used to rant over you loving, well, it was fate. Diego Alcazar wasn't worthy of you. Neither is Zacchara," he spat.

Studying Logan's body language and the way that he was only getting tenser by the minute, Johnny shifted so that his arms encircled Georgie's waist. Unable to fully comprehend Barrett's way of thinking, he did know that Georgie's guilt was growing by the second. The urge to inflict as much suffering as possible on the man burned inside him. "And what about you, Spinelli? How exactly do you fit into this?" He shifted to the other man, needing time to process all that Cooper had admitted to while Georgie just kept muttering not possible under her breath.

"I hid the truth from my Loyal Friend," he whispered. "Not about the former law abiding one," he quickly continued. "I was in the dark on that. But I did know that Wise Georgie mourned needlessly for the young heiress's father."

Georgie's breathing faltered while Johnny closed his eyes briefly as the words hit them both. "Are you saying that Diego Alcazar is alive, Spinelli?" Johnny narrowed his eyes on the cowering geek while unconsciously pulling Georgie even closer to him.

The answer was whispered so softly that it barely traveled the room. "Yes."

Reflectively catching Georgie as she passed out, Johnny's own emotions and thoughts were threatening to drown him. There was no way that he was giving up the woman in his arms, or the child that he had come to think of as his.

Spinelli tried to step back at the rage and misery so clearly displayed by Johnny. "You must let me finish…."

"Take them both to the safe house out on Rte. 5." Lifting a still unconscious Georgie, Johnny's steps faltered when he heard the words quickly tumbling from Logan's mouth.

A/N: Sorry about the delay. It's been a nightmare at my house lately.

Hope you all enjoyed the two scenes today. The next update gives more details on what you learned in this one, and it also pulls in more characters to the mess.

Thanks for all the reviews! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this update!