No one will ever see this side reflected
And if there’s something wrong, who would have guessed it?
And I have left alone everything that I own
To make you feel like it’s not too late, it’s never too late
– Never Too Late, Three Days Grace

---

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Morgan Penthouse: Kitchen

“How come Stone Cold never cooked such delicious flaps of jack before the Little Dude and the Sequel came to live with us?” Spinelli demanded, bringing his syrup-stained plate to Jason at the dishwasher.

“Because you’re an adult who can cook for himself, and Jake and Cameron are my sons who can’t use a stove,” Jason said, almost absently. He rinsed the plate and stowed it with the others. “Just be grateful I made extra for you.”

“The Jackal never complains, he only inquires why Stone Cold hid the domestic side of his nature. But perhaps he needed just the right influence to draw it out of him,” Spinelli said, beaming as Elizabeth joined them in the kitchen. “Has the Fair Elizabeth cleansed and renewed to her satisfaction?”

“No trace of syrup anywhere. The boys are in the living room arguing about which cartoon to watch,” Elizabeth told Spinelli.

“Then the Jackal must offer his sage advice. They have the worst taste.”

Jason just rolled his eyes after the tech disappeared. “I think sugar makes him worse,” he said. He frowned. “How is Jake arguing with Cam about what to watch?”

Elizabeth grinned, slid her arms around his waist. “He slams the remote out of Cam’s hand every time Cam stops on a channel he doesn’t want. He’s like his father. Actions, not words.”

“Is that right?” Jason kissed her, careful to keep his sticky hands away from her face or hair. “Don’t you think that’s going to start a fist fight?”

“Sure. That’s why I sent Spinelli in. They always do what he wants. He’s their favorite older brother.”

“Oh, don’t—” Jason winced, then rinsed his hands and switched on the dishwasher. “Don’t call him that.”

“Okay, fine. Favorite uncle.” Elizabeth set the tea kettle on the stove to boil and went searching for her favorite tea in the cabinet. “He’s part of your family, Jason. Whether you like it or not. And you have to admit, he’s amazing with the kids.”

“That’s because they have the same level of maturity—” Jason exhaled slowly. “You’re right. And he’s worked hard for me. I just—” He leaned against the counter. “He’s like a fungus. He annoys you and keeps growing until you look around and can’t imagine him not being there.”

“Accurate.” She set her tea to steep and went to the table to wait. “Plus, he’ll keep the boys occupied long enough for us to talk about the call I just got from Patrick. He and Robin are having Alexis meet with Anna tomorrow. She’s still not ready to completely talk to her mother, but we’re turning everything over.”

“Why are we waiting until Monday?” Jason wanted to know. He poured another cup of coffee. “Why not today?”

“I asked that, and Patrick says the official line is that Robin thought we should wait until we go to dinner tonight in case something happens with the Zaccharas.”

“And unofficially?”

“Robin just wants to let her mother stew a little longer. There’s no hurry, unless you think there should be.”

“No. I mean, whoever did this to Jolene is probably getting impatient, but I still don’t know who it could be. I know Anna is interested in Karpov, but I don’t see how this could be him. Whoever is doing this is going after Johnny, probably to get to his father. But I don’t know why.”

“Well, wouldn’t it be the same reason he wanted to go after you?” Elizabeth asked. She bit her lip. “Unless you don’t want to get into it—”

“No, it’s—” Jason set his coffee aside, debating just how much to tell her. “We have international routes between South America and Canada. He came to me first, and I said no. For a lot of reasons, but mostly because I didn’t want to deal with the Russians. Anthony doesn’t have those routes, so I don’t understand why Karpov would be interested in Johnny.”

“Well, let’s say Anna’s right to suspect Karpov. She’s got connections we don’t. You said Karpov brought that guy to Sonny’s the night before the shooting.” Elizabeth sipped her tea. “He thought you’d be too distracted by me, and Sonny could take back the business and he’d agree to the deal.”

“If you’d…” Jason was quiet for a long moment, listening to the sounds of cartoons from the living room, the maniacal high-pitched giggling of Cameron and Jake mixed with Spinelli’s slightly deeper tones. “If Patrick had been even a little bit later getting you into surgery, you’d be dead. And I’d be no good to anyone. So it could have worked.”

She reached over, covered his hand, using her thumb to stroke over his skin. He was comforted by this reminder that while tragedy had struck that day, it hadn’t been the nightmare Karpov might have envisioned.

“He also didn’t know Sonny would go after Johnny like that in broad daylight,” Elizabeth said softly. “So he’s ruthless but he doesn’t know the players as well. He’d have been better off bringing that shooter to you. Didn’t you say he had the guy tell you it was Johnny?”

“That’s what Sonny told me that morning. Karpov brought the guy to him, the guy delivered the story, and Karpov executed him on the spot. No way to double check, to know the identity, nothing. Sonny was too angry to consider that at the time, but it seemed too convenient that Karpov would be able to produce the shooter, and he’d give up Johnny.”

“He could find the shooter if he hired him in the first place,” Elizabeth said.

“Yeah, maybe. But—” Jason hesitated. “I keep coming back to why Karpov would have Kate shot. He had a clean shot at Sonny, at me, but he went after Kate. If he’d taken me out, Sonny would be back in the business. He’d have no choice. And Sonny would have made the deal.”

“Okay, well, I hate this conversation,” Elizabeth muttered, rubbing her cheek. “Okay, so it sounds like you don’t think Karpov went after Kate.”

“I don’t know for sure, but the more time passes, the more I don’t think so. I don’t know if Karpov heard everything we knew and figured Sonny would come after him, so he was trying to get in front of it. Maybe he was framing Johnny.”

“Everything you knew?”

“Russian shooter. Russian gun and ammunition. But maybe—” He frowned. “It’s hard to know because I wasn’t there, but maybe it was the shooter. And Karpov got to him first, twisted him to use him against Sonny.”

“But if Karpov didn’t go after Kate, Jason, that doesn’t leave anyone except the Zaccharas.”

“No, it doesn’t.” And he’d already made the deal for peace. He grimaced. “It was Anthony. Had to be.”

“But Johnny was there—he had to know Sonny would blame his kid—” Elizabeth closed her mouth. “Did Anthony know you’d been holding Sonny back all year?”

“Ric and Trevor knew, so yeah. And Claudia damn well did.” His fingers curled into a fist. “He had to know I wouldn’t blame Johnny. Not with Lulu there. What did he think would happen—”

“Exactly what did,” Elizabeth said, her eyes somber. “You and Sonny at odds. Not trusting or talking to each other. Karpov here to keep making problems for you.” Her breath was a little shaky. “He wanted to cause chaos. Like he did last year. And he didn’t care what happened to his son.”

“He thought I’d protect Johnny.” Jason’s smile was grim. “And he was right. I left Sonny in lock up, and the only reason I wasn’t there that day was because you were in emergency surgery, and I didn’t give a damn what happened to any of them. That’s not Anthony. That’s Karpov. I had them both coming at me from opposite directions at the same time, not even working together.”

He dragged a hand down his face. “And now I’m taking you to a dinner where you have to walk over to their damn table, smile at them—”

Elizabeth pulled his hand away, waited for him to meet her gaze. “We already knew that something was happening on their side. And you can’t tell me you ever really crossed Anthony off the list.”

“No—”

“You told me that this dinner was about making sure that everyone knows you don’t blame Johnny for what happened to Sonny. And you don’t. It’s not about Anthony.”

“No. No, it’s not.” He sighed. “No, and he has few allies in all of this.” Jason gripped her hand more tightly. “You were right, you know. About letting you in. I don’t like it, I never will. But…”

“You don’t have a lot of people you trust anymore. Who know you and Sonny,” Elizabeth said. She smiled, tipping her head. “I’m not looking to be your consigliere or whatever that Tom guy was in The Godfather, but I’m the one person in the world whose loyalty and trust you will never, ever have to question.”

He tugged on her hand, pulled her into his lap to kiss her lightly. “The Godfather?”

“It’s the one movie I know you’ve seen,” she teased, nipping at his lips. “You’re safe with me,” she murmured, some of the humor fading from her expression. “Always.”

“I know.” He stroked her cheek. “I’m just sorry I fought it for so long. I’m better with you.”

Nadine’s Apartment: Bedroom

Nadine sifted through her closet, looking at her meager collection of semi-formal outfits. There was a dress she’d worn on her one real date with Nikolas, so obviously — no on that. The white dress she’d worn at the Black and White Ball the year before — and one that Anthony Zacchara had tried to murder her in, so that was out—and it was too formal, she thought. Basically a wedding dress.

She shoved the garment bag aside, making a note to donate it. The dry cleaner had restored it to wearable, and some other woman could have better luck in it.

Johnny strode in, the ends of a tie loose around his neck. “We can back out,” he told her, and she looked at him. “If you’re not up to going.”

“They’re driving all the way up here,” Nadine said. She pulled out a green dress — the top layer was a filmy, floating material that gave it an extra sense of formality. She held it against her, checked herself in the mirror over her dresser. “What about this one?”

“You look great in everything,” Johnny said, his mouth pinched. “And if anyone says anything—”

“Johnny.” She sighed and sat on the bed. “Look, we’re in this for at least…another six months. Maybe a year, right? How long before you think the PCPD can’t bring a case against you?”

“At least that long,” he muttered. He whipped the tie from around his neck.

“I don’t want to create problems with your father. You already have enough baggage with him,” Nadine added when Johnny just looked at her. “I don’t want to add to it by refusing to have dinner with him. And don’t act like backing out now would be easy. I didn’t realize you didn’t want to go when your sister brought it up. I’m sorry I agreed.”

“It’s not—” Johnny just shook his head. “Never mind. Never mind. I just—” He rubbed his mouth. “I hate that you’re worrying about what to wear to impress my father like it matters, that’s all. You’ve…you’re going through so much, and I don’t want to make it worse—”

“It’s a relief,” Nadine admitted. She removed the dress from the hanger, laid it out on the bed, then shed the robe she’d put on after her shower, leaving her clad in a plain white bra and panty set. After weeks of sharing such a small space and bed with Johnny, her self-consciousness had faded entirely. She went to her small jewelry box, looking for some gold pieces. “Something else to think about other than the memorial that no one is going to come to.”

“People are going to come—”

“You. Your family. Epiphany. Elizabeth. Probably Jason because he’ll go anywhere Elizabeth asks him to.” Nadine sighed. “I don’t want to keep wallowing in this. Jolene killed people. I married Lulu’s boyfriend a week after she had a breakdown—”

Johnny came behind her, pulled her against him, encircling her shoulders with his arms. She leaned against him, letting the heat from his body slide through her, surprised when there was tingling low in her belly. She bit her lip, then slowly turned in his arms, his hands sliding down her skin to rest at her hips. She rested hers on his chest, looking up at him. “This is going to sound insane.”

His breathing had quickened, and his eyes were darker, the tips of his fingers sliding over the top of her panties. “We’re supposed to leave in twenty minutes.”

“I know.” She smiled ruefully. “Maybe when we get back—” She stepped back to get dressed, but Johnny yanked her back and kissed her hard, fast, and intense, fisting his hand in her hair. Nadine shoved his suit jacket off his shoulders, his free hand twisting the strap of her bra until he could palm her breast in his hand.

“We can be late,” Johnny decided, tossing her on the bed. “They’ll deal with it.”

For the time in a week, Nadine grinned, dragged him down so she could feel the weight of him against her. “We’re supposed to be newlyweds, we have a built-in-excuse.”

Cosmopolitan Hotel: Suite

The hotel wasn’t nearly as luxurious as anything she’d find in Manhattan, Claudia thought, pausing in the foyer area of the suite to check her makeup in the gilded wall mirror, but she’d stayed in worse.

“We’re really going to go to this viewing on Tuesday?” Ric said, sidling up to her side, straightening his tie. “Your father thinks that’s a good idea?”

“Daddy is eager to keep Johnny happy,” Claudia said. She reapplied her lipstick, then tossed it in her clutch. “Plus, he figures Jason Morgan will be there, so why not?”

“Your father thrives on chaos. It doesn’t make you nervous he engineered this whole evening when he tried to kill Jason and Elizabeth last year? Or is likely behind Kate’s shooting?”

Claudia paused, met the lawyer’s eyes in the mirror. “You must be very sure of yourself, Ricky, to be making those kinds of statements out in the open.”

“Your father and Trevor already went down to the lobby which you know. And since you set up the hit that landed Michael Corinthos in a coma, I’m not worried about you.”

A chill slithered down her spine, but she kept her expression in its characteristic smirk. “Like I said, very sure of yourself.” She raised an eyebrow. “If you think I’m the reason your nephew is a vegetable, then why not tell Jason? Oh, right. Because he hates the sight of you. Didn’t you do something terrible to Carly once upon a time?”

“You’d think it was about Carly, wouldn’t you? But I’ve always known Jason’s hatred is rooted in something much more…personal. Visceral. I managed to get Elizabeth to the altar before he did.”

“But couldn’t keep her, could you, Ricky?” She turned and patted his cheek. “She’s not a fond, loving ex-wife, is she? Neither of them is. Daddy must have loved sending you to Port Charles as the messenger. Jason couldn’t lay a hand on you—”

“I have no doubt that in the event I’m murdered, the last face I’ll ever see is his,” Ric said dryly. “But enough of my checkered past, Claudia. My crimes are well known. Yours? Not so much.”

Claudia lifted her brows. “All I hear are words. Not a single ounce of proof.”

Ric laughed, long and rich, making her clench her jaw. “Oh, and Anthony Zacchara is going to require evidence? You think Jason will? No, it would just be confirmation of what they both probably suspect, and you know that. You live because Jason, while capable of violence, likely thinks there’s been enough blood shed in this war between your families. But he could always change his mind.”

“Is there a point to this little tête-à-tête?” Claudia asked, tightly. “Or are you just having fun?”

“I’m enjoying myself, to be sure, but I thought you might want to know that your deep, dark secret — the one you’re protecting so hard? Everyone already knows. And one day, it’s going to be worthwhile to use it. If I were you, I’d make sure I’m the one pulling the strings, not waiting for the ceiling to crash down. Since you’re the reason Johnny’s looking for protection in the first place.”

Her smile faded entirely. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I love my brother—”

“Sure. So did I.” Ric strode to the door, opened it. “Shall we meet the others, or do you want to keep having this conversation?”

“I love my brother,” Claudia repeated through clenched teeth. “And I will do anything to protect him—”

“Sure,” Ric repeated with that infuriating smile. “And I’m sure Johnny appreciates your efforts.”

She hissed, then stalked past him. Little bastard didn’t know what the hell he was talking about.

Morgan Penthouse: Living Room

Audrey beamed when Elizabeth and Jason came down the stairs. “Oh, don’t the two of you look so nice!” She lifted Jake in her arms. “Jake, doesn’t Mommy look pretty?”

“Pretty Mommy,” Jake echoed with his slow, sweet smile so like his father’s. Elizabeth laughed, then took her son from her grandmother, cuddling him.

“Thanks for coming tonight,” Jason said to Audrey. “We really appreciate it—”

“As soon as Elizabeth told me you were taking her out to dinner, I couldn’t say no. She doesn’t get to put on a pretty dress enough,” Audrey said. She went over to the shelf where Elizabeth kept a digital camera to take photos of the boys. “I think we need one to add to the album—”

“Gram—” Elizabeth’s cheeks heated, and she looked at Jason with a little mortification. “It’s just dinner—” She set Jake on his feet, and the toddler made a beeline towards his older brother, playing with his Legos.

“I know, but it’s my job to embarrass you,” Audrey said, lifting her chin. “Now—in front of the fireplace, I should think—”

“I am so sorry about this,” Elizabeth told Jason when he just laughed and pulled her across the room to stand in front of the unlit fireplace. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”

“But you look beautiful,” Jason told her, pitching his voice low so that only she could hear him. He adjusted the thick strap of the lavender floral print dress she’d chosen for that night, with its sweetheart neckline, and full skirt that ended just above her knees. “This reminds me of the dress you were wearing at Vista Point.”

“You—” Her eyes widened. “You remember what I was wearing?” The night he’d kissed her so senseless she’d had to sit down and try to remember her own name. She brushed his suit jacket, the flush in her cheeks deepening.

“The straps were thinner, but yeah, I remember. It was the last time—” Some of his good mood faded. It was the last time he’d kissed her until that night in his penthouse. Almost exactly four years later.

“No regrets,” she murmured, resting a hand on the crisp black shirt beneath his suit jacket. Their eyes met, held. He’d left off the tie at her request. In fact, she’d chosen the suit he’d been wearing the night he’d carried her up to his room and they’d been interrupted by Carly. She knew he’d be distracted and tense after the meeting, and she had a plan to take his mind off things.

But she’d never dreamed he’d bring up that night at Vista Point.

The flash of the camera startled them both, and they looked at Audrey who’d taken a photo without their knowledge. “Gram!”

“Now this time, let’s try looking at me, and smiling.”

Jacks House: Kitchen

“Oh, good, pizza.” Carly kissed her mother on the cheek, then went to take plates down from the cabinet. “I should really hire a chef or something. This kitchen is too nice to only be used for the microwave and toaster oven.”

Bobbie smiled, rubbed Carly’s back as she passed her on the way to the fridge. “Where’s Morgan?”

“Watching some new Disney movie. His current favorite one, so we’re good for maybe thirty minutes before I should check on him. He never takes his eyes off it.” Carly sat at the island. “Mama, do you think I’m a good person?”

Bobbie set the bottle of iced tea on the counter. “That depends on your definition.”

“I bet you wouldn’t ask for a definition if Elizabeth or Robin asked you.”  Her mother sighed, and Carly made a face. “I’m right, aren’t I? You’d say yes without thinking if it were them.”

“I would. But they’d never ask me, and I think if you have to ask, well, maybe you already suspect the answer.” Bobbie poured two glasses of tea, set one in front of her daughter, and sat on the other side of the island. “What are we really talking about?”

Carly sighed, rotated the glass halfway to the left, then to the right. “The day we transferred Sonny to Silver Water, Robin showed up to say goodbye. And I…was annoyed. Because she hasn’t been around in years, but she wants to come in like the perfect angel in the end—”

“She and Sonny were close for a long time, Carly. It doesn’t take anything from you to let that be true.” Bobbie tipped her head. “But you also mentioned Elizabeth, so this is about Jason.”

“Jason hated Robin after what happened. He was so angry, and I felt so vindicated that he’d finally seen what I always had — but he was nice to her. And mad at me when I said something bitchy like she didn’t matter. We had a fight because there’s no way I will ever forgive that bitch for what she did.”

Carly looked away from her mother’s gaze, seeing the same exasperation she’d seen in Jason’s. “Robin came out from talking to Sonny, and she and Jason were just so—God, so nice to each other. And he was smiling at her, like she hadn’t come through our lives like a wrecking ball—and Elizabeth, she pisses me off because she knew why I was really mad — because all of this — me and Sonny and Michael — it can be traced back to Robin blowing things up with Michael and ruining any chance Jason and I ever had—”

“Is that really bothering you right now? Not being with Jason?” Bobbie wanted to know. “I thought you’d put that away—”

“I did, too. And I have. Mostly. But Elizabeth came over yesterday, and I was just angry with her all over again because she and Jason—Jason talks to her. He never talks to me. I never know what’s going on unless Jason has no choice. But she gets to be in the inner circle. And I’m watching them — and Jason—he’s so happy, Mama. Even with all the sadness around him — he makes time for those boys, and he’s making time for Elizabeth and I’m jealous—”

She took a long, slow breath. “I’m so jealous I can’t see straight. Because all I ever do is sabotage my life. I slept with Sonny and destroyed Jax’s trust in me. And when he tried to reach out to patch things up, I slapped his hand away. I love him. Why did I do that? Why do I care that Elizabeth is the one that makes Jason happy? Or that she’s given him a son? He deserves that, doesn’t he? If I’m really his friend, then wouldn’t that be all that matters?”

She picked at one of her nails, left jagged from nervous biting. “But I’m not his friend. Not really. He can’t rely on me. Can’t trust me or count on me. The one thing he’s ever let me do is watch the kids because, well, sure I can screw that up, but I have a nanny, so it probably won’t be that bad, right? Do you know how much it hurts to know he doesn’t trust me? That I’m not as important to him as he is to me?”

“Do you want to be with Jason?” Bobbie asked gently. Carly looked at her mother. “Is that what this is all about? Watching Jason settle down with someone he’s loved for a long time. With children of his own. A family that doesn’t have you at the center the way Sonny’s did. That must be hard if somehow, deep down, you always thought he’d come back to you.”

“I don’t—” Carly exhaled slowly. “Maybe I did. Did I ever tell you how the lie about Jake got started?” She smiled faintly at her mother. “Me. I hovered around Elizabeth, waiting for those results. She got them, read them, and kept doing her job. And I assumed if she wasn’t rushing to tell Jason, that it must be Lucky’s. And she wouldn’t tell me—and I figured, oh, of course she’d tell me. She’d have lorded it over me that she was giving Jason a child—”

“Oh, Carly—” Bobbie closed her eyes.

“That’s right. I rushed over to Jason because I wanted to give him the good news, and, God, he looked devastated. He’d wanted it so much and I took it away from him. I don’t know what he said to Elizabeth when she got there, but he told me he said something stupid and made Elizabeth think he didn’t want the baby, so she didn’t correct him. Do you know why I leapt to that conclusion?”

“Because it’s everything you would have done if you’d been pregnant with Jason’s child,” Bobbie said.

“That’s right. I would have shouted it from the mountaintops.” Carly smiled thinly. “And Elizabeth didn’t play the part I wrote for her, so I got that ball rolling. I know they picked it up and ran with it, but I started it. Because I couldn’t stand that Elizabeth of all people might get what I wanted. Because you’re right, Mama. There’s a piece of me that’s always expected Jason, and I to circle back around to each other. Because I thought we loved each other so much that he’d have to admit he still did. But he doesn’t love me, does he?”

“No. And he didn’t back then, Carly. You know that, don’t you? It was about Michael for him. He cared about you, but it was always about that little boy. I doubt he knew that, but I could see it. Because I knew he was falling in love with Elizabeth that winter. Which is why you can’t stand her. Jason chose Robin instead of you, and then he fell in love with Elizabeth when it was supposed to be you. And you’ve never let either one of them forget it.”

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