Spin around and fall down
Do it again
You stumble and you fall
Yeah why won’t you ever learn
Spin around and fall down
Do it again
You stumble and you fall
I wonder if you will ever learn
– Everything to Everyone, Everclear
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Drake Condo: Hallway
Patrick eased the door to Emma’s nursery closed, then headed into the living room for the stack of paperwork he’d picked up on his way out of the hospital. With any luck, Robin would have tracked down her mother by now and they could toss this entire mess into someone else’s lap. And if Matt had anything useful to add after talking to Nadine, then that would just be a bonus.
He wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about including Matt in all of this, but just like so much of this situation, it was out of his hands. But he had to admit, even if it was just to himself, it was a relief to leave the animosity behind.
Patrick reached the living room just as the door blew open and Robin came in, her face red, tears staining her cheeks. “Whoa—”
Robin turned to slam the door, but her mother was right there, holding it open. “I told you, I don’t want to hear it! There’s nothing you can say!”
“What’s going on?” Patrick wanted to know.
Anna slid through the open door, causing Robin to lose her balance and grip on the door. She fell forward and the door slammed. Patrick winced, glanced back towards the nursery, but nothing happened —
“Robin, you must let me explain. You’ve taken everything out of context, and you don’t understand—”
“Are you kidding me? I should have known. What made me stupid enough to believe that you’d come here for me?” Robin demanded, her voice hitching. She whirled on Patrick. “She’s here because of Karpov. And we’re not telling her a damn thing because she wants to arrest you!”
“What?” Stunned, Patrick focused on Anna. “What?”
“That’s not entirely accurate—”
“Really? You didn’t tell Uncle Mac that you wanted to drag Patrick in for questioning? That you didn’t care that Jason has a family now—all you care about is the job! You don’t care about me! About Emma! About my life!”
“Oh, that’s just not true. Please. Please—” Anna came forward, her hands up. “Darling, you know that isn’t true. I love you, and I adore Emma. I came here—”
“No, no. Don’t say another word.” Robin turned her tearful eyes on Patrick. “Call Alexis. Call Diane. Call a lawyer. We’re not talking to her without one. No one is. She can’t be trusted—”
“Robin!”
“All right, let’s just—” Patrick stepped between them. “Let’s all take a deep breath. First, just answer yes or no,” he told Anna. “Did Robin hear you right? Do you want me to come to the PCPD for questioning?”
Anna pressed her lips together mutinously, then nodded. “Yes. I did say that to Mac, but—”
“Okay. Then that’s all I need to hear. I can’t use Diane,” he told Robin. “She’s going to conflict out.”
“Then call Alexis.” Robin crossed her arms, glaring at her mother.
“Oh, I’m not threatening to arrest anyone! Or press charges! Will you both calm down and let me explain—”
“We’re going to let you explain,” Patrick said, holding a hand out when Robin opened her mouth to protest. “But it’s a one-way street. You do the talking, and after that, I’ll call Alexis and run it past her.”
“And I suppose you’ll trot right over to call Jason Morgan,” Anna said sourly.
“You’re damn right I am,” Robin seethed. “How dare you come here and use my child, use my life and my friends—all those questions, every conversation—all of it was just to get information—” Her face crumpled again, and she faltered, pressing her hands to her face.
“Robin, hey—” Patrick went to her, took her in his arms, and she sobbed into his shoulder. “It’s okay. We’re okay.” He kissed the top of her head and looked at Anna. “You’ve got five minutes to explain yourself, and then you can get out.”
Anna exhaled carefully. “Then I’ll cut to the chase. No, I was not planning to make Port Charles my base before the WSB asked me to use my connections here to investigate Andrei Karpov. When the DEA raided his freighter, we were brought in to discern what he’d been doing here in Port Charles, if it was similar to what he’s done in other places, and what, if any, danger was still on the ground. But once I received the assignment, I decided it would be a good opportunity for us to spend more time together—”
“I don’t believe you.” Robin pulled out of Patrick’s arms. “I just don’t. Because you’re targeting Patrick and the hospital. You came here to use me. Admit it.”
Anna hesitated, then rubbed her temple. “Yes, that was part of it, but your connections and my own — it’s why the WSB gave me the case. Can’t you understand—”
“No, I can’t. Stop making excuses. Finish explaining or go now. Why do you care about GH?”
“All right. All right. He’s an arms dealer,” she said, “a former KGB agent turned into a backer of Putin. They quite desperately need connections in South America and shipping routes to trade weapons on the black market. We’ve been trying to get inside his organization for some time. But his legal business? He’s in pharmaceuticals in Russia. And he has a few clients stateside.”
“Pharmaceuticals?” Patrick echoed.
“Yes. It’s a front for drug laundering as well. Once we learned Karpov was here, it was only natural to focus on General Hospital. It’s the largest in the region, and the most prestigious. And Port Charles was, until the last few months, a very lucrative smuggling hub for shipments going into Canada. You’ve hinted that there are issues at GH,” Anna said. “I was hoping to learn more about them, to connect something to Karpov. I would imagine Jason was an obvious explanation. Robin, you must believe that I really do want to spend more time with you, with my granddaughter—”
“Your five minutes are done. If and when Patrick and I want to talk to you again, you’ll hear from our attorney.” Robin stalked to the door, yanked it open. “Now get out.”
Crimson Pointe: Living Room
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the prodigal son.” Anthony steered the wheelchair to a rolling stop a few feet from Johnny at the arched doorway. “What brings you all the way down here?”
“Can’t a son come to see his father?” Johnny wanted to know. He headed for the mini bar but only poured himself a glass of water. After the confrontation outside with his sister, he needed a minute to calm down. To find his cool. He’d meant what he said — at the moment, he had no interest in throwing Claudia under the bus to get his father to agree to help, but he wasn’t going to let Nadine get hurt again for what his sister had done. What Johnny had kept quiet.
“He can. He hasn’t.” Anthony clasped his hands in his lap. “But my reports tell me you seem…” He pursed his lips. “Dare I say….happy with your new wife?”
“Your reports.” Johnny looked back at the old man. “You could have called.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Anthony wanted to know. “Not that there’s been much fun to be had. You’re not very interesting, John. She goes to work, you stay inside. And you mostly only leave together. A little homemaker, are you? Keeping the place spic and span for the missus?”
“Looking for something to do with my time. You were right, Dad. A graduate degree in art and literature isn’t really useful.”
Anthony narrowed his eyes. “You must want something. You haven’t told me I was right about anything since you were a kid.”
“You haven’t been right since I was a kid.”
“Where’s the wife? Trouble in paradise?”
“She’s in Port Charles planning her sister’s memorial,” Johnny said, almost tonelessly. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know Jolene Crowell died two days ago.”
Anthony was quiet for a long moment. “Your wife’s sister has died, but you’re here and not with her. So I’ll say it again. You want something.”
“There’s been some…” Johnny grimaced, looked down at his water glass. “Just some unrest. Not from Jason’s side. He doesn’t give a damn what I do as long as I stay out of his hair. But he’s not the only guy up there.”
“He ought to just exterminate all the little roaches, but I figure with what happened to his partner, he’s not looking for more pressure from the PCPD. Smart. Boring,” Anthony said with a sigh, “but smart. Some of these guys making pests of themselves?”
“Just some rumblings. I’m an easy target, being your kid. That’s always been true,” he said, and Anthony tipped his head. “But no one goes after me.”
“Ah. Some rumblings about the bride. So now we come to our purpose. What are you looking for?”
“No one goes after me because of you,” Johnny told Anthony. “So just do whatever you need to do to make sure that extends to Nadine.”
“You want me to cast the loving, protective arms of my reputation over your wife, a woman you barely knew before giving her your name without the benefit of a prenuptial agreement to protect yourself.” Anthony lifted his bushy brows. “What makes you think I’d do that? She keeps you up there. Maybe if you’d think about relocating — coming back home where you belong.”
“That might be possible now,” Johnny said slowly, though the lie felt like sawdust coating his throat. “Nadine’s lost her sister. And she’s not…marrying me isn’t making her popular. Maybe not right now, Dad. You gotta give her time. We’re having services for her sister, and in a few weeks, we’re going to fly out to Ohio, bury her with Nadine’s aunt.”
Anthony sighed, looked away, and was uncharacteristically quiet for a long time. “This was the sister who killed people, huh? The one in the coma.”
“Yes.”
“And your girl, she came to New York because of it? She moved here after, didn’t she?”
“Yes. She wanted to put some good into a place where her sister did so much evil.” A corner of his mouth tugged in a reluctant smile. “You probably think that’s stupid.”
“I do. But your mother wouldn’t.” Anthony studied him for a long moment. “If I told you moving home was a condition of my protection, what then?”
“I can’t do it right now.”
“Because she’s not ready to move.”
“Nadine’s still going through it. But, yeah, making sure that no one hurts her is important to me.” Johnny’s mouth was dry, but he forced himself to continue. “You always told me what happened to my mother was the worst thing you ever did. That losing control and hurting her would haunt you forever. Nadine’s never done anything bad in her whole life. All she’s ever done is stand by me even when I don’t deserve it. You liked her when I was on trial. She told the truth, even when it got her in trouble. She doesn’t deserve to be hurt because she’s married to me.”
“I suppose there are things I could do,” Anthony said reluctantly. He looked at Johnny. “This one is different from the crazy one. From LooLoo.”
“Dad—”
“You never asked me for my help with that one. You thought you knew better. You thought I was the enemy—”
“You had a psychotic break and tried to kill Lulu last year, Dad. And you tried to kill Nadine. You shot that other nurse—” Johnny pressed his lips together. “You were the enemy. But you went to Ferncliffe. They said you were better. I’m asking you as my father to help me. Please.”
Nadine’s Apartment: Living Room
Nadine frowned but stepped back to allow Matt to enter the apartment. “Uh, hey—”
“Hey.” Matt entered, then turned in a slow circle until they were facing each other. “I, um, wanted to check in. See how you were.” He shoved his hands in the pockets of his long black jacket. “Your, um, husband around?”
“Oh. No.” Nadine closed the door, scratching her temple. “He went to see his father. I appreciate it, but I really—I’m fine.”
“Sure. Sure. I just…um—” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking distinctly uncomfortable. “I just feel bad. I would have waited with you until your husband got there yesterday, but I had patients.”
“No, I wouldn’t—” Nadine folded her arms across her middle. “Listen, I know we got off to a rough start.”
Now Matt smiled, some of his discomfort fading. “Rough start? That’s one way to put it. You broke into my room and got caught searching it. Did you really think I was stealing drugs from the clinic?”
She wrinkled her nose, some of the embarrassment washing over her again. “Oh, man. No, I mean, in hindsight, that was such a crazy thing to do. Reckless. And I appreciate you for not making things difficult. It’s nice that you came by and thank you—I don’t know what made you call Johnny, but I’m glad you did.”
“What?”
“On Tuesday.” She walked past him towards the kitchen, missing the surprise in Matt’s eyes. When she looked back, it had cleared. “I told you I didn’t want you to call anyone, but when he got there, I really—I needed to see him. Thank you,” she repeated.
“Oh, sure. Sure. Like I said, I didn’t feel right about letting you be alone with all that. I’m glad it worked out. I hope it’s okay, but we ordered an—we ordered an autopsy.”
“An autopsy?” Nadine tipped her head. “Why? I mean, I’m not asking questions. I’m a nurse. I know long-term coma patients can have all kinds of complications.”
“Yeah, sure. But, well, she wasn’t just a patient.” Matt made another face. “Patrick said something about some lawsuits and pending litigation.”
“Oh.” That stumped her for a minute, but realization dawned. “Oh, of course. Because she’s a patient at the hospital, and a liability. No, of course, the hospital has to cover itself. And I obviously don’t want any more harm to come from my sister. She did enough when she was alive,” she muttered. “Run any test you want, and Patrick can see whatever he needs. Anyone can. Please.”
“I’m sorry to bring it up like this—” He looked away. “It’s probably the last thing you want to think about right now—”
“I wish I could forget it.” She folded her arms again, leaned against the counter. “Jolene and I weren’t close. We haven’t been since high school. And now—” she looked at him. “All I have left is the damage she caused. What a terrible legacy.”
General Hospital: Conference Room
More than twenty-four hours, six bottles of orange soda and hours of footage later, Spinelli didn’t have much more to offer in the way of information. He’d been able to track the mysterious nurse from the moment she entered the hospital until she’d left, but she’d come in posing as a visitor, then changed once she was inside.
And despite all the traffic cams he searched, he couldn’t find any trace of her once she’d disappeared into the parking lot.
He knew Stone Cold was right — that finding the assassin wouldn’t give them much to work with. That’s how such people worked, but it did not leave Spinelli with any sense of accomplishment to offer nothing but confirmation of what they’d already suspected.
He hadn’t been able to find out who’d tried to kill the Fair Elizabeth, and now he couldn’t help them find the villain who’d taken Nadine’s sister, too. What good was a hacker if he couldn’t provide answers?
The conference door banged open, and Maxie stalked in, planting one hand at her hip. “All right, Dingus, you’ve ignored five calls and six texts. You either better be dying or in the middle of a psychotic break—” She broke off, looked at the stacks of files surrounding the laptop, and the discarded bottles of orange soda. She narrowed her eyes, returned to her focus to Spinelli.
“You’ve got one minute to tell me what’s going—”
Spinelli made a face and got to his feet. “The Jackal apologizes for his lack of communication, but he knows—”
“You only slip into that third-person speak when you’re nervous,” Maxie accused. She stabbed a finger in his direction. “What’s going on?”
Spinelli opened his mouth, then closed it. “How did you know where to find me?”
“Oh, that is the wrong answer—” She fisted her hands at her side. “Why are you lying to me? Why are you avoiding me?” Tears glimmered in her eyes. “Is it because of what I said about Elizabeth?”
“Uh, no, but—” He winced. That would have been a perfect excuse. He really was a dingus. “No,” he said again. “But you ask a lot of questions,” he said, opting for a version of the truth. “And I don’t like to tell you I can’t answer. So I…” He made another face. “Avoid the conversation.”
“It’s something for Jason?” She looked around, at the files, then back at him. “Something for Jason and the hospital?”
“I just said I can’t answer—”
“No, you wouldn’t be here if it weren’t about the hospital, and you only don’t answer questions if it’s about Jason. So what do they have in common? Elizabeth.” Maxie scowled. “What did she do now?”
Spinelli went to the door, opened it, and gestured. “As the Jackal has already established, he cannot answer questions. Next time—”
“Oh, you think there’s going to be a next time, you jerk? Fat chance.” She stalked out. Spinelli dragged his hands down his face and hoped the day wouldn’t get any worse.
Harborview Towers: Hallway
Having been told that Robin had been crying when she’d checked in at the front desk, Jason was waiting for her in the hallway, the baby monitor in his hand. The elevator door slid open, and she simply stood in the car, staring at him for a long moment, her mouth trembling.
His heart sank. “What happened? What—” He slapped a hand against the side of the elevator to hold it open. “Robin—”
She swiped at her tear-stained cheeks, stepped into the hallway, and Jason let his hand fall back to his side. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry—it’s—you’re fine. I mean, it’s fine. It’s not—” She sucked in a deep breath. “No one’s in trouble. I should have called, but I didn’t want to take any chances—”
“Let’s go inside. Talk—”
“Mom doesn’t know anything, but you need to call Diane. We’re calling Alexis—”
None of that sounded good, but Jason kept his thoughts to himself until they were in the penthouse, and he’d closed the door. He set the monitor back on the desk, then focused on Robin again. “What happened?” he asked again.
“I—I had this feeling, you know—thanks—” She took a tissue from the box he held out. “I had a feeling my mom was up to something, and I talked it over with Liz earlier today, but I had it confirmed. I caught her at the PCPD with my uncle, talking about taking you or Patrick in for questioning—she’s here to investigate Andrei Karpov.”
Jason exhaled slowly, set the tissues on the desk, then dragged a hand down his face. “I don’t know what that means.”
“She said she came here after the DEA seized his freighter. The WSB chose her because of me. Because—” Robin cleared her throat. “Anyway. She doesn’t know anything. She was arguing with my uncle because she has all these suspicions but nothing she can prove, and nothing he can work with. She doesn’t know about Elizabeth’s complications or what happened with Jolene.”
“Oh.” Then it dawned on him. “Oh. She came here to investigate Karpov. And me.”
“Not to be with me,” Robin said. She squeezed her eyes shut, clenched her fist, then took another deep breath. “I told Liz that I was going over my conversations with her, and I realize now she was pumping me for information. Asking about you and about Elizabeth, and just later about the hospital. I never gave anything she could use, and neither did Patrick. But—”
“But she was using you,” Jason finished, and Robin nodded. “That’s why you’re upset.”
“Yeah, I should have waited until I’d calmed down more, but I knew I’d have to tell you, and I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry that my mother tried to use me, and she tried to use Liz. I can see that now. I’m sorry—”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t worry about any of that. I’m just—I’m sorry,” Jason said, a bit uselessly. “I don’t know what to say.”‘
“There’s n-nothing. Not really. It’s just—” Robin looked away, pressed her lips together, then looked at the tissue in her hand. “We’re talking to Alexis to make sure we’re covered. You should loop in Diane.”
“Yeah, I’ll do that. Whatever you need, Robin.”
“I think you’re still in the clear. I mean, she came here to investigate Karpov, but if they’d had anything, they’d have used it already. You’re good. Patrick and I think we’ve handled most of the ethical concerns.” Robin forced herself to smile. “It’s going to be okay. It’s not the first time I’ve been part of my mother’s job. Not even the first time she’s lied to me about it. I’ll get over it.”
General Hospital: Nurse’s Station
Elizabeth checked her phone again, but there was still nothing. No call from Robin updating her on the conversation with her uncle. Nothing from Patrick or Jason. Maybe no news was good news, she thought.
She flicked through another stack of insurance forms, searching for any last-minute mistakes. The last thing any of them needed was issues with their insurance partners.
“Oh, of course. Why wouldn’t this day get worse?”
Elizabeth glanced up at the words spoken in such disgust and rolled her eyes. “Oh, look at that, it’s the first thing you and I can agree on. Go away, Maxie. The adults are working.”
“Listen, you insufferable know-it-all,” Maxie hissed, charging forward. She jabbed a finger at her. “You think because you got Spinelli and Jason thinking you’re freaking Snow White that I still don’t remember what an absolute bitch you really are—”
“Looking in the mirror again?” Elizabeth asked, and the blonde nearly growled. “Go away, Maxie. I’m working.”
“No! No! I demand to know what you’ve got Spinelli doing in here that he can’t even tell me! Why is he here holed up like some sort of shut-in—”
Elizabeth dropped the insurance and charged around the counter of the nurse’s station so quickly that Maxie closed her mouth abruptly and actually backed up a few steps, her eyes widening. “Whoa—ow!” she yelped when Elizabeth grabbed her arms and pulled her towards the elevator.
Elizabeth pressed the button, tightening her grip on Maxie’s elbow. “Sometimes you really don’t know when to shut up.”
“Let go of me you lunatic—” Maxie struggled, but she was no match for two years of pent-up resentment and fury.
The elevator doors slid open and Elizabeth all but threw her inside, then followed. Maxie hit the back wall, and could only watch in stunned disbelief as Elizabeth hit the doors close button, and as soon as they did, slapped the emergency stop button. “What—”
“Shut up! I am done with you and your snide remarks! I felt sorry for you,” she snapped. “Losing Jesse that horrible way and then lashing out at the world. I’d been through it, and I was trying to have a little grace, a little compassion. You thought Lucky could fix what was broken, and you did what you thought you had to do to keep him.”
Maxie’s throat tightened. “You don’t know what you’re talking about—”
“We’re not that different, you and me. I thought Lucky was worth saving, too. I destroyed my life to keep him, and I thought I’d learned my lesson. But I hurt the people around me, lied, and walked out of it feeling like a horrible person. I could have told everyone where Lucky got those drugs.”
Maxie pressed her lips together, tears welling in her eyes. “Oh, you think you did me a favor—”
“I didn’t have the time or energy to be angry with you, Maxie, and then I didn’t have the heart after Georgie.”
Maxie closed her eyes, looked away, the tears burning. But she refused to give Elizabeth the satisfaction. “Don’t talk about her.”
“I lost my sister, too. I still don’t know how to live without her. Emily was my touchstone, my anchor. So I swallowed that hurt and anger at you, Maxie. I thought we’d both been punished enough for the horrible things we’d done. For living even though maybe I didn’t deserve to. Because Emily was a doctor who could save people, when it seemed like all I could ever do was hurt them. It’s hell, Maxie, feeling like the wrong girl died.” Her voice shifted. “The wrong sister.”
Maxie stifled a sob, pressed her fist to her mouth, started to shake her head. “She was so good, she was so pure and special, and she loved me and, oh God—” Her knees buckled, and she slid to the floor. “Oh, God. Why? Why did he take her? Why wasn’t it me? Why Jesse? Why Georgie? Why isn’t it me?”
Elizabeth exhaled slowly, then crouched down. “Because as unfair as it sounds, that’s not how it works. Emily would be so angry at me for feeling that way. Do you think Georgie would want it for you?”
“Don’t, don’t—”
“She was a good person, and the world is worse for her loss. For Emily and for Jesse, and for everyone else we’ve lost.”
“You d-don’t understand—” Maxie looked at her, tears staining her cheeks, her voice shaking. “You don’t understand. It’s always me, and it shouldn’t be.”
“Maxie—”
“I w-was in that park, but J-Jesse’s the one who’s gone. And I was—” She heaved a sob. “I was sick, and BJ died, and then she saved me. And Georgie. Georgie, God, I’m Mac’s family, too, but Diego went after her because of him. Lulu—” Her shoulders shook. “Lulu was trying to help me, and now she’s locked in her head, and I can’t fix her, and I can’t bring them back, and I can’t do anything, and I’m so mad and angry and I want to hurt someone—”
Elizabeth drew Maxie against her, curling an arm around her shoulder. “I know.”
“But it doesn’t help! N-Nothing h-helps—” Maxie clung to her, and Elizabeth rocked slightly, as the sobs continued to wrack her small frame. When they finally slowed, the younger woman slid away, started to wiping at her face, averting her eyes.
“It won’t until you forgive yourself for living.”
“How did you do it?” Maxie asked glumly.
“Remembering that Emily loved me. That I loved her. But it’s not easy, and some days I get angry all over again. Spinelli loves you,” Elizabeth said softly, and now Maxie looked at her. “And you’re afraid the universe will take him next. You’re picking a battle you know he can’t fight. He can’t tell you the things Jason asks him to do. You know that. You knew that before you ever started to care about him. So why are you angry about it now?”
When Maxie just stared at her, Elizabeth sighed. “Spinelli is Jason’s family, and he’s lost enough of them over the last few years. He deserves your respect and your trust. You keep pushing him away, he’ll stay gone. And I think that would be sad for you both.” She hit the emergency button again, and the doors opened. There was a small crowd around the elevator, and Maxie immediately hurried out of the car, and away down a hall.
Elizabeth stepped out, and the doors slid closed behind her.
“You finally pop her in the mouth?” Epiphany wanted to know, stepping up beside her.
“No. I don’t like her,” Elizabeth added, folding her arms and sighing. “But there’s no point in hating someone who hates herself more than I could.”
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