In the air

The helicopter glided through the air on its way to Kennedy International with Robert, Mac and Vincent aboard as passengers. Vincent sat in the front with Mac and Robert in the rear.

"Are you sure about Helena?" asked Robert.

"No. Just speculation," admitted Mac. "Her normal pattern is to go into hiding for a while and then resurface when you least expect her to weeks or months later."

"And always smelling like a sweet, innocent rose," said Robert.

"Not this time. I'm going to lean as hard as I can on her henchmen to turn state's witnesses."

"You have enough proof with the tape and other things. Get a killer district attorney assigned to the case. Someone completely impartial."

"I will," Mac fidgeted then said, "Listen, bro, I want to go with you."

"You got a big job here."

"It feels more and more like a noose 'round my neck," said Mac. "Dia and I have talked a lot about this. It's not like I have to work to support a family anymore. After we get back from our honeymoon, I'm resigning as chief and commissioner."

Robert turned to his brother. "This isn't entirely unexpected. I just didn't realize you were that unhappy about it."

"It's not about happiness. The job is ... is a bad fit. Always has been. I'm more PI than top cop."

"So what's next? Are you joining Dia in the real estate business?"

"No. She's exploring different options, too. Whatever she finally decides on is fine with me. I'm just relieved she's out of the WSB. I haven't trusted them for a long time."

"It's not my bureau anymore that's for sure," said Robert. "What are you going to be doing to stay out of trouble?"

"I'm waiting to hear about some things. I've squirreled away some money. I want to invest it in a business that I feel good about and that's needed."

Robert clapped a hand on Mac's shoulder. "Whatever you do, I'll stand behind you."

"You can take your old job back for a start."

"No. Those days are behind me," said Robert. "Maybe it's time for some new blood in the police department. Have you told the mayor about your decision?"

"No. You're the first to know."

"Don't tell anyone yet. Tell him just before your wedding. There'll be less time for him to maneuver politically which means that whoever you nominate to replace you will likely get the job."

"That's slick."

"Sometimes I think Sun Tzu meant to write about the art of politics instead of war," said Robert. "Speaking of war, I want you to keep an eye on Anna while I'm gone."

Mac chuckled. "That's a tall order when the lady has her own mind about everything."

"She's got a lot on her plate with the family and the team. She's got her feet under her and moving forward but she is overwhelmed," said Robert. "Give her a hand when you think she needs it, okay? And don't let her bulldoze you, either. Just help her."

"All right. Will do."

The Cottage, Villa Scorpio

Noah met Anna at the door. Beyond him, Anna could see Patrick slumped on the sofa. His head in his hands. Matt was beside him preparing a syringe.

"I don't ... don't want that," protested Patrick.

"It'll calm you down," said Matt.

"I AM calm!" Patrick cried out.

Matt did not respond. He merely looked at his half brother. Patrick noticed Anna. Anna gave Patrick a quick hug.

"Maybe you should take that shot," Anna said quietly.

"It won't help me after I wake up. It can't answer my questions," said Patrick.

"Questions?"

"What do I do now? Who did I fall in love with Robin or Eve?" asked Patrick. "If Robin's found, then what-"

"When. When she's found," interrupted Anna. "The only thing you can do is take care of the most precious thing to Eve."

"Emma," said Patrick. "How do I take care of her and raise her the way her mother would have wanted?"

"It's not impossible, Patrick. Many children are raised in single parent households," said Anna gently. "I did it with help from Filomena. You've got all of us here to help."

"But how do I manage it?"

"You will because you must." Seeing Patrick's desperate confusion, Anna took pity on him. "Patrick, take the next few days to rest and think. But don't think too hard yet. You've been through hell. You're overwhelmed. You're not in a fit state to make decisions. We'll look after Emma while you rest. When you're ready, let us know what you decide."

"I've already decided," said Patrick. "You're right. I am overwhelmed. I can't think." He glanced at Noah. "I'm going to go with Noah on a medical tour of South America. I would like you to become Emma's guardian until I return."

Anna and Patrick sat on the sofa. Noah and Matt left for the Barn to give them some much-needed privacy.

"Patrick, decisions made in haste or in extreme upset are the worse kinds to make. Your daughter needs you. Anyone else, even me, is only a temporary substitute."

"Emma is my life now. I know that. I want that."

"Then why are running away from her?"

"From memories," Patrick gestured at the cottage. "Even without our things here, I remember her constantly. The house. The hospital. Jakes. The park. Everywhere I go it's a barrage of memories. I remember. I hurt all over again."

Anna nodded. "I know how that feels." She placed a comforting hand on Patrick's arm. "The one thing, the only thing, that got me through is seeing my baby's face every morning. I may have cried myself to sleep for what Robert and I lost but I woke up each day because of my child."

"How good am I to Emma if I'm depressed and angry? I can't focus. I'm not good for anyone until I get my head straight. I can't do that here with all these memories around me."

"You don't have to be good. You just have to be there," counseled Anna.

"But I don't know what to do to make things better," admitted Patrick. "People tell me do this and that but I'm not sure. I HAVE to be sure. I can't be wrong for Emma's sake."

"Stop seeing this through the eyes of a doctor."

"That's what I am and who I am. I can't help it."

"Well, you're going to have to be more of a father than you ever imagined. Being a doctor has to become second," said Anna.

"Eve would have been an awesome mom. It's all she wanted to be. Emma would have been fine with one super parent and one average parent. What does she have now? The wrong parent."

"That's why you're afraid and want to run away. You don't know if you can be a good father."

Patrick sighed. He sat with elbows on his knees. His head held in his hands. "Whatever I do, I want to be the best. If I can't, then I find something else to try."

"Conquer, you mean."

"Yes. I can be so competitive. It's a bad thing sometimes," said Patrick. "But being a father is constant, forever. Before Emma was born, I read everything I could. I thought I could handle it. Then, I held her for the first time and my mind blanked. I was terrified. I'm more terrified now."

"Hmm, yes, that happens to everyone. Your heart is hammering in your chest. Your palm are clammy and you're afraid you'll drop her. Your legs go rubbery."

"What if I ... I do something now and Emma pays for it somehow and at some time. I'm her father. I'm supposed to be the one she turns to and the one to fix things for her. What if I can't?"

Anna withdrew her hand from his arm. She folded both hands on her lap. "Patrick, I need to tell you something and I want you to listen, really listen. Can you do that?"

Patrick nodded.

"I was married to David Hayward, a doctor."

"Robin ... Eve told me. He's a brilliant man."

Anna took a deep breath before continuing, "A brilliant surgeon, yes. That was the problem. You can't just be a surgeon in the outside world. You certainly can't think like one. Being a doctor was so ingrained with David that he treated everyone as patients and the world as his operating room. He was brash, daring and willful. His convictions and attitudes were carved in stone. That's all well and good because a doctor has to be focused and has to be supremely confident in his abilities in order to do his or her job. I understand that."

"The patient is counting on us. That's a huge responsibility."

"Being a doctor is a job. Being a parent is a trust, a contract, between you, a baby and possibly a partner. There are no manuals to read. Each contract is unique. But every contract needs to be shared with your partner, your family, your friends, the world. It's not something done in an operating room once and then forgotten. A parent can't think like a surgeon. He can't be selfish. The ego has ... has to be checked at the door." Anna looked down on her hands for a moment. "My daughter Leora was born with a heart condition. A doctor advised that she should have surgery as soon as possible. David disagreed. In his professional opinion, she did not need surgery. I sided with David and we took our baby home. Finally, Leora's condition worsened. I had to take her into Emergency. Dr. Martin diagnosed that Leora had to have a pacemaker to live. I ... I took it upon myself to authorize that surgery. As her father, David couldn't do the operation and he didn't believe it was right. But during the surgery, David barged in demanding to do the surgery himself because only he could save her. He really believed that. He was hauled out of the operating room. My Leora did not leave that room alive."

"He might have been right."

"Maybe. Or maybe not. The time that was spent taking him out of the room was time that could have been spent on Leora. Perhaps, if I had sought treatment for her sooner and not relied on David, she would be here today. I'll never really know," said Anna. "At Leora's funeral, all he could do was blame everyone else. He kept insisting that he could have saved her if only he had been given a chance. He insisted on revenge for his reasons not really for our child. It was his daughter's funeral, Patrick. He was being a surgeon and a selfish jerk when a father and a husband were needed the most."

"He was hurting too."

"He was. David loved our baby. I think he loved her more than he loved me. He couldn't ever be just a father," said Anna softly. "A surgeon relies on facts, experience and his word is law. But a parent doesn't have those things. Not even a safety net. A contract to be a parent, like a marriage contract, is based on love, faith, commitment and trust. I know it's hard to deal with the uncertainty. The easy option is to give up and throw the contract away. Maybe let others be responsible for it. I wouldn't blame you. What do you have to look forward to? Every day, you'll doubt yourself and how you're caring for your child. You'll be driven to despair at every perceived failure. You'll worry all the time about her well being. And, it's for life. There's no walking out of this operating room. That can be scary."

"What if I make things worse? You're a natural parent. Even Dad is. Mac is an amazing father. I'll make a thousand mistakes and you'll only make a hundred. Emma is better off with you," said Patrick. He wiped at his eyes with his sleeve. "I only want what's best for her."

"I'll tell you what's best for her. When she's taking her first steps, the person she's walking towards should be you. When she's feeling blue, it's her father's arms around her. When she goes for her first day at school all nervous, it should be her father pacing and fretting outside the classroom."

"You did that?" asked Patrick.

"Well, not in the hallway. I waited for Robin in the outside courtyard thinking that she'd come running out after a few minutes and I wanted to be there for her," said Anna eyes that gazed far into the past. "But that daughter of mine stayed in the classroom. We had just moved to a new country and she didn't know anyone. She wanted to prove what a big girl she was to her best friend Luv. She only knew me as Luv, a family friend. She was so brave and stubborn. Outside the school, I was a wreck. After classes, she jumped into my arms and talked nonstop about her day at school. I went through a lot of emotional highs and lows that day."

"You got through it with flying colors."

"So will you."

"Will I? Emma is the most important thing to me. I can't screw it up."

"No parent wants to. But no parent is perfect. No child expects perfection. It took me a long time to realize that. To a child everything is perfect. If a toy get broken, it gets fixed. It's perfect again just because it's there. Parents should be there, Patrick. It's a clause in the contract. Parents show up. If the surgeon comes along, fine, but it's the parent that counts and acts first. Understand?"

"Loud and clear."

"I'm going to ignore your request about Emma's guardianship. I want you to rest and spend time with her. You need time. We all do," said Anna. "We'll be here for the both of you. Neither me or Robert want to be replacement parents. Doting grandparents, absolutely. But Emma has a parent already. However, I also know that giving advice is easy. Ultimately, Robert and I will be fully supportive of whatever you decide to do."

"What do I do now?" asked Patrick. "Tell me what to do."

Anna laid a palm on Patrick's cheek. "Don't make any decisions in your current state of mind. Take some time first. And, most of all, be with Emma. That may be the best cure for you."

Tom's River, New Jersey

The bartender kept his eyes down and his head on his work. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the owner taking down chairs from atop table preparing his establishment for the day.

"Yeah, best to keep your mind busy, boy," muttered the bartender. "You know nothing. You hear nothing. You see nothing."

Upstairs, in a spartan apartment, a meeting was ending. It was the yearly meeting of the local businessmen's club. It's chairman rose from his chair smiling benevolently at his club mates.

"We've had a terrific year and our plans for the next few months are ambitious but we need to push ourselves, don't we?" asked the chairman.

"Yeah, before they push back or know what we're up to," said someone.

This elicited some laughter and snickers.

"The element of surprise is on our side. We're going to plan this out properly just like we've done for the last three years. Baby steps, people," exhorted the chairman. "We know what we want, how to get it but we need to execute and we will. Meeting's over."

The men and a few women filed out of the room leaving behind rows of fold out chairs, the chairman and his trusted mentor.

"Fine, fine meeting, Dino. Just like the old man's meetings. Orderly but to the point." Paulie settled into the recliner and began to light up his pipe. "No messing around. Victor didn't like that."

Dino closed his leather binder. A heavy silver ring gleamed on his right hand. "We have good people. They make it easy."

"They know who's the boss. That's why it's easy." The old man puffed into his pipe. "You done good. You know that don't you?"

Dino Jerome grinned. "Yeah, 'course I do. And I appreciate you coming up here for this."

"Well, I was hearing some things. I wanted to make sure no one had any doubts that I support you." Paul "Paulie" Carter looked directly at Dino. "The Carters and the Jeromes have had their problems. That's in the past. Family is family and business is business. THIS is business. We need the best person running things. That's you, Dino."

"We're heading for the big time and the big money. I need you a lot more than you need me."

"Nah, you've proved yourself already, kid. I'm just here for moral support," said Paulie. "I used to think it was a shame that Victor died with no successor and the Jerome organization got taken over the way it did. If your half-sister Olivia had made a move, I think she could have done it."

"She was a very capable and ruthless woman," mused Dino. "I learned a lot from her mistakes. Why go in guns blazing when the iron hand under a velvet glove works just as well."

"You got them all in line. I can see it in their eyes. They're ready to move. You just say the word."

Dino took a seat on the sofa opposite Paulie in the recliner. "I'm going to do right by them 'cause you did right by me. You gave me a chance here."

"The old ways worked. 'Course you've made adjustments. It's different times but we ain't in a video game. Guns and muscles have their place but I'm growing to prefer your style, Dino - smooth as butter but stings like a hundred angry bees."

"I don't like to be angry all the time. I had enough of that in prison." Dino sighed and stretched out his arms in the air. "I like my freedom. I'm not going to be stupid and lose it."

Paulie began to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Just thinking that you're gonna do something Victor couldn't do and that Julian and Duke failed at - turn the family legit," said Paulie.

Dino shook his head. "They wanted full legitimacy. That's not practical or realistic. But having legitimate front business won't work either. The legal eagles know that trick. We need something that can stand up on its own and that the law can't bring down."

"If your plan works, that's what we'll have," said Paulie. "It feels right to me."

"I hope it feels right to Alcazar's people when we meet up with them."

"They're not happy with their capo. Things are bad and getting worse in Port Charles. The bad gun deal really soured 'em. Put a black eye on the Alcazar network. The old hands are a proud bunch. They'll jump over to our side, Dino. They're getting desperate."

"I hope so. I owe Lorenzo, too. And you. And Etienne. I got a lot of support when I really needed it. I don't know what I would have done without you all."

"You haven't done badly paying me back. That stock portfolio you put together for me is a gold mine!" guffawed Paulie. "All's good with us, Dino. Keep your eyes and your head on the future. I got your back."

A knock at the door made both men jump to their feet.

"You expecting anyone?" asked Dino. Paulie shook his head. "Let's not panic."

Paulie moved to a bureau cabinet, opened it and pulled out a gun. He held it hidden down his side. He nodded at Dino who opened the door with a smile.

"Can I help you?" asked Dino of the tall, bearded man standing outside the door.

In an accented voice, the man said. "I'm here to see Dino Venturi or Jerome. I forget which. I have a message from Etienne Gastineau."

"Etienne died in a shoot out weeks ago," replied Dino coolly.

"I know. I was there. Spain. They shot him like an animal on the tarmac," said Franjo. "He said we have a ... a common enemy and that you could help me."

"Come inside," said Dino. "Who are you and who's this common enemy you say we have?"

"My name is Franjo Curic," said Franjo. "Our enemy is the man who put you in jail - Robert Scorpio."