Lieutenant Joe Kelly made his way through Port Charles General Hospital on his way to speak with Katherine Bell. He wasn't looking forward to the conversation he was about to have but it was necessary, and he doubted delaying it any further would be helpful. So, he stepped off the elevator on 4 North and made his way down the corridor that led to the 4 North Stepdown Unit. When he arrived on the unit and learned that Katherine was in her room, and alone, he knew the moment was right. Or at least as right as possible, he supposed as he pushed open the door.
"Excuse me, Ms. Bell, I am Lieutenant Joe Kelly with the Port Charles Police Department. I work with Detectives Scanlon and Vanburen," he said.
"So, have you come to apologize for their behavior yesterday?" Katherine asked.
Joe considered that for a moment. When he had left Port Charles in January 1984 to transition into the State Police Force, Curtis Vanburen had been a relatively young officer and Frank Scanlon had been a freshman at University of Notre Dame. He hadn't really known either of them well. Detective Vanburen seemed to have some basic jerk tendencies but Detective Scanlon seemed like a decent man and also seemed to keep his partner in line. "If you have concerns or complaints with my Detectives conduct then of course I want to hear that and address that but, I came here today to talk about the investigation directly," he said.
"So, did you finally arrest the thug who assaulted me?" Katherine asked.
"We have not made any arrests. We have, conducted a thorough investigation. This has included scene processing, witness statements from Nikolas Cassadine, Dr. Alan Quartermaine, Dr. Jonathan Ross, and Paramedic Michael Wilson. We were also able to obtain security footage from the Port Charles Harbor Master. That shows you entering the frame as if you were coming from the Outback not Mario's and indeed one of the Outback bartenders remembered you being there. When we viewed the security footage it is very clear that you were alone. You appear unsteady and you simply lost your footing and fell down the stairs. It was an unfortunate accident. I understand you sustained a head injury so perhaps that explains how details got confused in your mind," Joe said.
Katherine rolled her eyes dismissively. "Your department is beyond inept. I told you that I was pushed. Now get out there and arrest the person who did this!"she said.
"Ms. Bell, I can understand that this may be embarrassing but we can't arrest an innocent man just to allow you to save face in the media."
"This is rich coming from the department that arrested me for Damian Smith's murder when the man was still alive," Katherine said.
"Ultimately, once it was determined that Mr. Smith was framing you for murder, the charges were dropped. But, the two investigations are unrelated. Regardless, unless the DA wishes to pursue public intoxication charges against you the case will be closed now. I wish you well in your recovery," Joe said before he made his own exit. Well, that went well, he thought as he made his way back to the North Elevator Bank.
XXXXXXXX
Carly Ashton groaned and yawned when her alarm went off. She realized that there was something wrong with setting an alarm for eleven o'clock, but she had never been a morning person and lately she had been so exhausted. She had a doctor's appointment at one and Ned would likely be coming home for lunch before that. She had no disillusion that she might have a nice lunch prepared for her husband, but it would probably be good if she was at least out of the shower by then.
XXXXXXXX
At the Port Charles Train Station on Western Boulevard, Brenda Barrett watched the throng of passengers disembarking onto platform six. Then she saw Miguel and rushed into his arms. "I've missed you!" she squealed as she threw her arms around him.
"The feeling is mutual, Brenda," Miguel said.
Yet, as they walked to her car, Brenda reflected on the fact that Miguel hadn't been back in Port Charles since Lily had died. "I also want you to know how much I appreciate you coming back for this. I know this is all hard for me but I'm sure it has to be even harder for you and although I probably am, I really don't mean to be so selfish," she said.
Miguel wrapped the arm not pulling his huge suitcase around her. "I don't think you're selfish, Brenda," he said.
Brenda wanted to believe that. It was just hard to overcome years and years of her father and Julia's lamentations to the contrary.
XXXXXXXX
Dr. Monica Quartermaine hung up the phone with a sense of dread. At face value her husband had just called her to tell her that he had evaluated a child who he felt clearly didn't have a surgical abdomen but had apparently had a witnessed syncopal event and needed to be worked up for that. Unfortunately, said child was the daughter of the ethically questionable and often annoying, Dr. Jeff Webber, and the granddaughter of the judgmental Audrey Hardy RN who also happened to be the current Director of Nursing at Port Charles General Hospital. So basically, the consult was fraught with as much baggage as when she had taken care of Tiffany Peterson the week before.
"Dr. Harmon, I'm going to head down to the ED for a consult but I don't want to make you late for noon conference so why don't you page me when conference is over and we can regroup then," Monica suggested. In her experience it was often easiest to diffuse the behind the scenes baggage without housestaff in tow.
After Dr. Harmon wheeled off in the direction of the elevator, Monica took and released a deep and cleansing breath. She was going to need it.
XXXXXXXX
Brenda Barrett followed Miguel into Kelly's Diner. He was taking up residence in his old room for the extended weekend. He had promised her lunch before she jumped back into Nanny mode and dealt with school pickup and the multiple extracurriculars of the multiple Quartermaine children.
"Miguel! It's so great to see you!" Ruby Anderson shrieked as she came around the counter and enveloped Miguel into a hug.
Brenda just silently dropped down into a chair at an empty table. She really had no appetite. She winced a bit when she considered what AJ would say about that, what he had said about that.
June 4, 1996
As Sonny Corinthos tossed the first handful of earth on his wife's casket, Brenda Barrett dabbed at a tear and felt like the biggest hypocrite on the planet. She had never believed in their marriage. She had respected it, at least in her actions. She had dated Miguel to keep them both honest. He'd stay away from Lily; she'd stay away from Sonny; it would be perfect. Except it wasn't and, as mourners trickled out of the cemetery in pairs and small groups, Brenda doubted anything would ever be close to perfect again.
Brenda felt strong arms wrap around her shoulders from behind. "I'm ok, Ned, I just need a minute," she said.
"I'm not, Ned," AJ Quartermaine whispered back.
Ok, so maybe he really has been going to the gym! "I still need a minute," she whispered.
"Alright, but I still don't really believe you're ok," AJ said.
Brenda knew he was right. It wasn't something she could admit. There wasn't really anyone to admit it to. Miguel had no intentions of ever returning to Port Charles; Lois was worried about Sonny; Robin was sneaking off with Jason; Keesha tried but she was still grieving for Jason-or the person he had once been; and Ned had disillusions that her sister, Julia, could understand and help.
"I promised Ned I'd make sure you got home safely."
Brenda sighed as she allowed AJ to lead her away. Technically they called the same place home. She had been his parents' hapless nanny for almost two years and AJ had moved out of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house when his cousin Jason came back to Port Charles to recuperate after the accident.
"Did you want to stop somewhere for lunch?" AJ asked as he drove towards the exit of Memorial Cemetery.
"I'm not really that hungry."
"You never are when you're upset, I've noticed that. You barely ate anything when Stone was dying."
Brenda didn't say anything. She glanced out the window to avoid conversation more than to look at the scenery. Eventually her eyes focused. She realized AJ was heading in the wrong direction on Route 372. "Umm, AJ, you're going the wrong way."
"I'm just taking you somewhere else first."
"There are laws against kidnapping," Brenda said. She had intended it as a joke, or maybe she had, but the look on AJ's face told her it fell flat.
"If you want to go home immediately just say the word. I'll take you."
He sounded so disappointed that Brenda hesitated. "I told your grandmother I would be home by 12:30."
"I already talked to Grandmother. She is fine with this. Mom isn't on call tonight, so she was going to pick everyone up at school."
"Ok, but where are you taking me?"
"You'll see," AJ said with a smile.
He did have a nice smile. Brenda had noticed that before, back before the accident. She hadn't seen it much recently. It was still nice though, she decided as her eyelids drifted closed.
XXXXXX
Brenda opened her eyes as the car stopped. She blinked a few times and realized they were at the Quartermaines' lodge on Lake Kemp. "I haven't been here since last summer," she said. Stone had been alive then. Mary Mae and Lily too. Jason had been Jason. It hadn't even been a year and things had almost changed beyond recognition.
"I come up here to think sometimes, ok, a lot of times," AJ admitted.
"So, you aren't always at the library?" Brenda asked. The idea of AJ being less than honest with his parents intrigued her a little. That was probably bad, more evidence that she was every bit the bad influence Mac Scorpio thought she was, never mind that Robin had been sneaking around with Stone before Brenda met either of them. Never mind that Brenda had nothing to do with Robin's latest relationship with Jason.
"Oh, if I said I was going there I probably did at least briefly but eventually I would give up. I guess I feel closest to having hope here. I thought maybe it might be contagious."
Ok so maybe AJ wasn't less than honest with his parents. Even so, the idea was incredibly sweet. AJ could be incredibly sweet. Sometimes she forgot that. "Do you still have a Jacuzzi on the lower back deck that looks out on the water?"
"Yeah, but it's supposed to get into the eighties by this afternoon I would think that would be about the last thing you wanted to do," AJ.
"We could go swimming. I think I left a suit up here when we were here for Labor Day." Actually, she knew she had because at the time she had intended to come back up with Sonny and borrow the Jacuzzi. But then life had happened…the wire incident…Stone got worse…Stone died…Sonny married Lily. In short there had never been an appropriate time, and there probably never would be again.
"We can go swimming after lunch. Is French toast ok?"
"French toast? But don't you need eggs or milk or something for that?" Yes, she was slowly learning how to cook from AJ's little sisters. Very slowly…
"You need both, but that won't be a problem. I made breakfast up here Monday morning."
So that was where he went after he left the Outback, Brenda realized as she followed him up the front steps of the lodge. "Ned was really worried," she said.
"Yeah, I apologized. I just needed to get out of there, maybe it's just too soon," AJ said as they stepped into the kitchen.
Most people would infer he felt it was too soon for Ned to be playing after Lily's death, but Brenda had a feeling that Robin sitting in Jason's lap and kissing his neck had been what caused AJ to flee. Honestly, it hadn't been the most comfortable thing for her to watch either but maybe that had been because she had felt like a third wheel since Lois was making sure Sonny was alright, which Brenda knew he wasn't, and Jax had come up with some J&J Enterprises emergency as soon as he realized that Lois wasn't going to be there. "Don't be mad at Robin, AJ, none of this has been easy for her either."
AJ seemed to consider that while washing his hands at the kitchen sink. "I'm not really mad at either of them. I guess maybe I'm just grieving for the cousin, who might as well have been a brother, that I guess I'll never know again. Grandmother thinks he is still in there somewhere. Maybe he is but it's almost like he is determined to never come out again."
"I guess we have to accept that."
"So, say Mom and Dad but maybe Jason needs to accept that they're trying to accept and be a little patient. Or maybe Jason needs to trust that I'd never do anything to hurt him and I'm not pushing Keesha in his face, so I can have Robin."
That idea hadn't even occurred to Brenda. "Jason said that?"
"Well in not so many words."
"But many grunts?" Brenda quipped.
AJ cracked half a smile as he cracked eggs for the French toast. "You might say that."
"Do you like Robin?"
"I've known Robin since I was eight when she showed up on her dad's doorstep unaware that he was her dad. Even after the truth came out, her mom was always busy, you know the whole PI thing I guess, so we had a lot of sleepovers."
Brenda giggled. "Dr. Monica Quartermaine let her son have coed sleepovers with an older woman?"
"Hey, Robin is only a little more than a year older! She was hardly a woman when I was eight. Anyway, we slept in separate bedrooms, we just bribed grandmother to make us pancakes together in the morning."
"Well they say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach."
"Maybe but I have many other reasons to love my grandmother besides her pancakes. But to answer your question, no, it isn't Robin that I have romantic feelings for," AJ said before he at least pretended to be very engrossed in making their lunch.
Brenda sunk down to one of the stools in the kitchen and watched him work in silence. So, he wasn't interested in Robin, but he was interested in someone, hmm.
Brenda smiled a little at the end of that memory. Since she and AJ had sort of nebulously started dating some time that Summer most people would conclude he had been referring to her. Perhaps he had been, although Brenda suspected maybe, even back then, he had been referring to Keesha. But it had been too soon because, even though Jason had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with her, when AJ looked at Keesha he felt like he was stealing his cousin's girlfriend.
"Ruby made tomato soup, so I ordered us two bowls with grilled cheese. Does that sound ok?" Miguel asked when he sat down across from her.
Brenda supposed it sounded as good as anything. "Yeah, sure, that is fine," she said.
XXXXXXX
Dr. Monica Quartermaine adjusted the echo probe so she could watch the flow through the aortic valve one more time, then smiled and removed the probe from Sarah Webber's chest. "The echo looks perfect, Audrey. There are no structural or valvular abnormalities. I looked at both of the EKGs Dr. Larmon obtained and both are normal sinus rhythm. He also sent some cardiac enzymes and they were negative as they should be. I suppose it is possible that this was provoked by an underlying arrhythmia so admitting for observation with telemetry monitoring could be a reasonable plan. Since I think we need to make sure we thoroughly look at the non-cardiac side of the differential as well I think it might be best if Dr. Stryker was the primary attending but I can speak with him and if for some reason he is not comfortable I can certainly admit."
Audrey Hardy had her face screwed into a disapproving frown and her arms crossed. "I really am not convinced that it is not her appendix. Sarah is not a complainer so if she says her stomach hurts then it really hurts!" she said.
Monica forced herself to take a breath and pause before responding. She was quite certain that Alan had already explained very diplomatically that he didn't have concerns for appendicitis or any other acute surgical abdomen. She was confident that was a combination of his physical exam and his personal review of the CT Scan of the Abdomen and Pelvis that their imaging happy colleague Dr. Larmon had obtained before he even consulted Alan. That scan had shown a well visualized and completely normal appendix. Of course, she realized any agreement with her husband would be viewed by Audrey as just that, agreement with her husband rather than respect for his physical exam skills, or even agreement with his physical exam. Although Audrey would never understand, her agreement represented the latter much more than the former. She had noted that pressure with her stethoscope had not evoked any tenderness but lighter albeit noticed palpation in the same area had evoked a very dramatic response. All of that had caused her to question exactly how much pain Sarah truly had. All of that had moved functional abdominal pain and even malingering much higher up on the differential. She was sure Alan had known that neither diagnosis would be well received, and she wasn't any more ready to go there either.
"Alan and I both personally reviewed the CT Scan and the appendix is well visualized and completely normal. It was my impression that Alan also ordered a Strep screen, a urinalysis, and a pelvic ultrasound to rule out an ovarian torsion. Since it looks like all of that was also normal it might also be reasonable to consider the diagnosis of an abdominal migraine and I will certainly suggest that to Dr. Stryker. Now, if there are not any other questions, I think I will give Dr. Stryker a call so we can take care of the admission arrangements and get you somewhere a little more comfortable than the Emergency Department."
Audrey flashed another disapproving frown and recrossed her arms but did not speak.
"Thank you, Dr. Quartermaine, and will you please thank Emily for me. She really helped me earlier and didn't let me hit my head or anything. It was so scary to be so sick, but it really helped that Emily was there," Sarah said.
"Yes, Emily is a very compassionate soul and very good at thinking on her feet. I will certainly pass on your thanks," Monica said. Yet, as she slipped from the cubicle, she was thinking of how distressing it likely was to have witnessed what she was beginning to believe were really Sarah's histrionics. Unfortunately, she had STEMI call but hopefully Alan would be able to get free from the hospital and pick Emily up after cross country practice and make sure she was ok.
XXXXXXXX
Ned Ashton took his wife's hand and braced himself as the ultrasonographer typed demographic information into the system. In a few minutes he would see the child that would become his, that in many ways had already become his. There was no going back. He glanced down at Carly and noticed how tired she appeared. He gave her hand a squeeze and stroked her hair a bit with his free hand. He knew the third trimester could be very physically hard. It certainly had been for Lois.
July 20, 1994
Ned Ashton entered his own kitchen to find his wife bracing herself against the counter breathing a bit heavily. "Honey, here let me help you, I thought I was going to make something once I got home," he said as he led her over to one of the chairs in the breakfast area of their kitchen and helped her lower herself down into the chair.
"I'm pregnant, not disabled, Nedly!" Lois retorted through pursed lips. But then she clapped her hand over her mouth and Ned knew she was about to be sick again.
XXXXXXXX
As he watched his poor wife empty the contents of her stomach into the toilet in the powder room down the hall from the kitchen Ned gently squeezed her shoulder. "I'm sorry," he whispered although he knew the words were inadequate.
"It isn't your fault, Ned, some women just vomit throughout the pregnancy. I guess I'm one of them," Lois said as she reached around and flushed the tank.
Ned passed his wife a wet washcloth to wipe her face. "Have you kept anything down today?" he asked pretty sure he knew the answer.
Lois wiped her face, closed the toilet lid and rested her head on it. "Maybe a little ginger ale. I actually was feeling better after my nap, I got the entire September and October Schedule for Luke's completed so I will have more time for Brookie once she finally gets here," she said.
"Should I call Dr. Newman's answering service and see if he can arrange for you to get some more fluids?" Ned asked. He would certainly feel more comfortable if she did that.
"I'm ok Ned, it isn't as bad as it was after Karen and Jagger's wedding. I think I just got overheated and was on my feet too much anyway that day," Lois said.
Ned was sure that had played a role, but he doubted that was all of it. Originally after Lois's terrifying collapse moments after Jagger and Karen literally rode off into the sunset on his motorcycle Dr. Newman had recommended that Lois just remain in the hospital until after she delivered. That had sounded like a safe plan to Ned, but Lois had objected and quoted articles that suggested bedrest had no improved neonatal outcomes and increased risk of maternal thromboembolic disease. Ned hadn't fully understood that, or how she had known that but both Dr. Newman and his Aunt Monica had agreed she was correct. So, then Dr. Newman had released her after a mere forty hours and offered that she could come in for six to twelve hours of IV fluids if the vomiting was bad and just listen to her body and not overdo. In the nine days which had followed, Lois had availed herself of his offer once. Three days earlier she had almost passed out going to the car intending to attend church services and allowed Ned to drive her to the hospital instead.
Ned gave Lois's shoulder another squeeze. "Why don't you let me help you upstairs to bed then?" he offered.
Lois gave him a wan smile and extended her hand. "Ok," she said.
Ned remembered how he had been falsely reassured when she had managed to sip a few ounces of Gatorade and take a few bites of dry toast. To be fair, perhaps Lois had been as well.
July 21, 1994
"Ned…Ned…"
His wife's sobs pulled Ned Ashton from sleep. He reached over switched on the light and then turned to her. "Honey," he began as he noticed how pale she looked.
"I'm sorry, I really thought I was better, but the baby hasn't been moving very much and…."
Ned wrapped his arms around her for just a minute. "Shhh it's ok. I'm going to go get the car," he said.
Ned remembered how Lois had prayed that Brooke was ok the entire short trip to the hospital. In the end the ultrasound had showed exactly that. Her heartbeat had been basically perfect and perhaps she had just decided to take a bit of a snooze, since it was after all two o'clock in the morning.
"He is certainly an active little guy," the ultrasonographer commented. Then she clapped her hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry, did you want the sex to be a surprise?" she asked.
"No, we know we're having a son," Ned said but then he realized that Carly's face was contorted into some degree of agony. That was why the tech had presumed she had slipped up.
Ned moved so he was directly facing his wife. "What's wrong, Carly? Is something hurting you?" he asked.
Carly bit her lip. "I'm sure it's just a cramp or something," she said.
Ned heard the anguish in her voice. He squeezed her hand again. Then he made eye contact with the tech again. "Maybe you could have Dr. Meadows come in," he said.
Ned turned back to Carly. "It's ok, just breathe, I'm right here, honey," he said. Then he offered his own silent prayers that both Carly and the baby would be just fine.
XXXXXXX
"So, apparently Buzz is taking one for the team, or the family, and he will be admitting Sarah Webber to his service. He asked that since Audrey is still convinced that we're all missing an appendicitis can you just have your residents do a few serial abdominal exams and then do your own re-exam in the morning and he will leave her NPO in the interim just in case. Also, since apparently Sarah pulled Emily into her epic drama and I have STEMI call, can you make sure that you personally pick her up after cross country practice and touch base." Dr. Monica Quartermaine told her husband in hushed tones as they stood in the ICU where she had just finished admitting a patient and he was about to do a consult.
"So, you're also considering malingering on your differential as well?" Alan asked.
"Maybe that makes me horrible, but yes. There is just something off about all of this, and if this is some little attention seeking stunt then I'm furious that she is tormenting poor Emily this way. Anyway, Buzz is going to put her on telemetry and then repeat the EKG in the morning so I guess we can be sure this isn't some arrythmia or something. I suppose it could be, but from what the Paramedics reported the only certain true syncope was after hyperventilation," Monica said.
"Ok, well I'm going to see this consult and then I'll go over to Pediatrics and repeat my abdominal exam and then I should be able to get out of here so I'll have a chance to touch base with Emily. I'll give her your love," Alan said.
"Thank you. I can't think of anyone else I could parent with as well as you," Monica said.
"And there you have it," Alan said with one of his patented goofy grins.
XXXXXXXX
"Your color looks better when you're on your left side with the bed flat. Do you feel any better?" Dr. Meadows asked.
Carly considered the question. Although she had told Ned it was a cramp it wasn't really that her stomach had hurt it was more that she just felt overheated and dizzy maybe almost like she might pass out. But truly she had never passed out before, so she wasn't even completely sure what that felt like. "I think so," she finally said.
"Your blood pressure is quite low; it is better in this position so let's just let you rest like this for a bit longer. I would like to admit you at least overnight for some IV fluids and to do some more tests. Is that ok?"
"Of course, if that is what the baby needs. I just want him to be ok. Was the ultrasound ok?" Carly asked.
"I would have liked to have seen more interval growth. Of course, some babies are just smaller and perfectly healthy so let's not get alarmed but let's just monitor both of you closely throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. Tonight we're going to do continuous fetal monitoring because I doubt you feel well enough to be out of bed anyway but when you are feeling better I think it would be good for us to plan on at least twice weekly appointments with Non-Stress Tests at a minimum," Dr. Meadows said.
"Thank you, Doctor," Ned said. He gave Carly's shoulder another squeeze, as he spoke, physically reminding her he was still there.
Carly was almost ashamed at how much she needed that reminder. Or maybe she was ashamed at how much she needed Ned.