Fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too
– Daughters, John Mayer

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Saturday, December 15, 2005

General Hospital: Nurse’s Station

Lately, more often than she liked to admit, Elizabeth Drake wished that she were an only child. For the majority of her life, she had not minded her older brother—older by exactly eight minutes, which Patrick had never allowed her to forget. But these days…she would have been happier to have been a foundling left on a doorstep, freeing her from her brother and her father, who only agreed on one thing—why she should stay far away from Jason Morgan.

“You’re infuriating,” the brunette muttered as she shoved her brother out of her way. “How we shared the same womb for nine months without killing one other is beyond me.”

“Ellie, I don’t think you’re trying to see this from your brother’s point of view,” Noah Drake began, hesitantly.

“Of course you’d take his side,” Elizabeth rolled her eyes. She shoved a chart into a slot and slammed her pen down with irritation. “Why can’t you ever once take my side?”

“Because I’m the favorite,” Patrick stated ironically. “Or, more likely, because Dad’s sucking up to me.” He leaned his elbows on the surface of counter and towered over his shorter twin.

“Patrick, I wish you could just let things go,” she said, exhausted by her entire life. “Aren’t you tired of being a jackass all the time?”

“It’s so nice that some things never change.”

The hesitant voice caused all three Drakes to turn around to find Robin Scorpio standing at the counter. Beside her, Elizabeth could feel her brother tensing up. “Robin,” Elizabeth said before he could say something awful. “You’re…you’re not in Paris.”

“Nope.” Robin slid her hands in her pockets of her jeans. “I was going to let you know before I got back, but…I just accepted a position in the pathology department, starting immediately.”

“Fabulous,” Patrick muttered, and Robin flicked an uncertain gaze at him. “The bright lights of Paris too much?” he all but snarled at her.

Robin took a deep breath, as if bracing herself or finding a well of patience. “I just wanted to be back home, with my family…and friends…” She looked at Elizabeth with some hesitation. “I think we’ve discovered what a crappy long-distance best friend I can be.”

Elizabeth glanced between her brother and his ex-girlfriend with some trepidation before smiling brightly. “Robin, please tell me you don’t have any plans right now because I have a break and I absolutely have to escape these two.”

“Do you want to grab some coffee?”

“God, yes.” Elizabeth tossed a dirty look at her twin and her father before following her friend to the elevators. “Thank God you’re coming home—” Elizabeth’s voice was cut off when they stepped into the elevator and the doors slid shut.

“Great, just what I need,” Patrick muttered, tapping his pen restlessly. He glanced at his father, before clearing his throat. “I have a consult—”

“Patrick, are you ever going to talk me when you’re sister’s not around?” Noah asked, slightly exasperated.

Patrick paused as he stepped down from the station. “The odds aren’t good. You can take my side over Ellie’s all you want, it’s not going to change things. The only thing we have in common is we both don’t want her hanging around Jason Morgan.”

General Hospital: Cafeteria

Elizabeth and Robin sat in silence, each stirring their respective drinks—Robin, coffee, and Elizabeth, hot chocolate. Finally, Elizabeth cleared her throat. “So, when did you get in?”

“Yesterday.” Robin shifted in her seat and sipped her coffee. “I was going to call, but…to be honest, I wasn’t sure you’d talk to me.”

Elizabeth pursed her lips for a long moment. “I’m thinking about it, but honestly, with the way you and Patrick imploded, I’m not surprised you cut your ties.”

“But I shouldn’t have with you,” Robin said softly. She reached over and gripped Elizabeth’s hand. “You were my best friend, not just the sister of my boyfriend. And I’m sorry.”

“It’d be easy to hold a grudge, but I already have enough people in my life that aren’t on good terms, I’m not in market to add more.” Elizabeth shrugged. “So why now?”

“I don’t know,” Robin hedged. “It just felt like I’d stayed away long enough.” She bit her lip. “So what were you guys arguing about?”

“Jason Morgan.” When Robin raised her eyebrows, Elizabeth continued. “After he woke up from his accident two years ago, he tried to deal with the Quartermaines, but I guess he just lacked Jay Quartermaine’s patience, and you know, Edward and Alan, even Monica, just kept pushing at him until he just walked out on them.”

“Emily wrote me a bit about it. She said that he really only talks to her and Lila, and occasionally Dillon if they cross paths. Sometimes, he says hello to Monica, but that’s rare.” Robin eyed her best friend. “And she said that you had been a major help to him. You were there when he woke up, and he’s really depended on you for friendship.”

“That’s all true,” Elizabeth admitted. “It gave me something to think about other than…my own life.” She sipped her hot chocolate. “But after a few months of parking cars at Luke’s club and keeping the books for the Haunted Star, Sonny Corinthos gave him a job at the warehouse.”

“Hence the Drake men being agitated,” Robin murmured. “Is that all Jason’s doing for him?”

“As far I know for sure.” Elizabeth sighed. “But from what I can glean from Jason, there’s…an opportunity to take on some more responsibilities. I think he’s acted as a courier, like Lucky used to do when we were in high school. Nothing overtly illegal, but maybe…” She shook her head. “I mean, we’re just friends, so it’s not a big deal.”

“Are you really just friends?” Robin pushed. “I mean, if he’s anything like Jay—”

“He’s not,” Elizabeth said quickly. “I mean, not in the ways that matter. Jay was sweet and compassionate, and he had that boundless patience with his insane family, which is probably where Emily learned it. But Jason Morgan…he’s…” she hesitated, searching for the right words. “He doesn’t let anyone close. He still has that patience, but you have to earn it.” Her words began to tumble from her lips as she grew agitated. “And the Quartermaines, my father, my brother…they look at him, and they see someone who’s less than they are, someone who’s brain damaged and isn’t a whole person—I hate the way people talk abot him, epsecially when they talk about him to his face like he’s not even there or he can’t understand—”

“Ellie…” Robin held up a hand. “Whoa. I’m not insinuating anything. I haven’t even met Jason Morgan. But, honey, if he’s hanging around Sonny Corinthis…” Her eyes widened. “I mean, we grew up on stories about him and the mob—”

“I know,” Elizabeth groaned. “I know. But he offered Jason a honest job, and Jason really wanted to prove himself. I told him to be careful, but he didn’t want to make judgements about Sonny based on what other people said. It’s hard to disagree with that. Sonny’s always been real nice to him, and he’s been polite to me—”

“You’ve met him?” Robin interrupted. “Do Patrick and Noah know this?”

“No,” Elizabeth said shortly, “And if you’re really serious about us putting the last three years of radio silence behind us, you’re going to keep it to yourself. I’m not an idiot, but Jason considers a Sonny a close friend. I’m not about to lose my friendship with Jason over something like this—it’s too important to me.”

“Fine. I just…wanted to know what was happening.” Robin sipped her coffee. “Are you sure you’re just friends?” she asked.

Elizabeth’s cheeks flushed. “Yes!”

Robin looked like she wanted to press the subject, but thankfully they were interrupted when Lulu Spencer stalked up to the table, an irritated intern hot on her heels.

“Explain to me again why I have do this?” she demanded. “Ellie, please tell Emily that I do not do bedpans.”

“Lulu,” Emily Quartermaine sighed, aggravated. “You’re a volunteer. You do whatever you’re told. And it’s not even my responsibility to wory about this.” She collapsed into a chair next to Elizabeth and then did a double take as she realized who her co-worker’s companion was. “Robin!” she squealed. She jumped back to her feet, and yanked Robin up, hugging her. “When did you get back? How long are you here?”

“Yesterday,” Robin said, drawing back to take a much needed breath. “I’m starting in the lab tomorrow.”

“Good, reinforcements,” Lulu said. “Maybe you can help.” She sat in the fourth seat and stole a sip of hot chocolate. She wrikled her nose. “How much sugar is in here?”

“Lulu seems to think that just because we’re going to be sisters-in-law that I can pull strings with the hospital and get her off bed pan duty,” Emily informed Robin.

“You’re not only marrying my brother, you’re marrying the hospital’s biggest donor!” Lulu remarked. “If you can’t pull strings, who can?”

“How did you end up on bedpan duty?” Robin asked curiously. “I remember you had to do something pretty awful to get that punishment.”

“Oh, sure…” Lulu rolled her eyes. “Well, it started with me getting suspended from school because I missed like two measly days—”

“An entire week,” Ellie murmured to Robin.

“So my parents decided I needed to be grounded and I had to start taking responsibility, so I’m stuck bussing at Luke’s afternoons after school and volunteering here on the weeks. So, as to the bed pans, well the terror on sneakers hate me—”

“The terror being Epiphany Johnson,” Elizabeth said wryly “She’s head of the nursing program, and Lulu has been irritating her since the day she started here, haven’t you, my love?”

Lulu stuck her tongue out at the nurse. “Epiphany is being as unreasonable as my parents. I was late like five times. Who isn’t late once in a while?”

“Five times in two weeks is not once in a while, Lulu.” Emily sighed. “Your parents, and Nikolas, wanted you to work here and the club so you could get a little experience, a little responsibility. And keep you out of trouble.” She raised her eyebrows. “It’s not working out so well, since you’re still dating Ellie’s idiot cousin.”

“I’d argue that,” Elizabeth mused, “but he’s a Drake male, and therefore, an idiot.”

Robin frowned. “What’s wrong with Will?”

“Well, Lulu only became interested in him after he started fighting anyone who looked at him wrong,” Emily sighed.

“That is not true,” Lulu said hotly. “Or well…it’s not entirely true. He’s very cute, you know. And he’s funny.” She propped her chin on her fist. “But don’t worry. He told me he loved me last weekend, so I’m breaking up with him.” She smiled brightly. “Let’s not talk about that anymore. Let’s talk about how excellent it is that Robin is home.” She looked at the woman in question. “How happy have you made your father and uncle? I mean, every time Robert comes in to harass my dad, he mentions you and how proud he is.”

Robin sighed, allowing the change of subject. “He still thinks I’m going to hop a plane back to Paris. I think he’s thinking about putting a lock on my bedroom.”

“Well, at least your father’s not a recovering alcoholic who spends most of his time sucking up to your brother,” Elizabeth muttered.

“Or doesn’t disappear for months on end without word,” Lulu pointed out.

“And your father hasn’t threatened to disown you for marrying a Cassadine,” Emily sighed.

“This is all true, but at least none of your fathers are retired WSB agents,” Robin remarked. “Believe me, it’s no picnic.”

“Fathers,” Lulu said, mournfully. “Who needs ‘em right?”

| Chapter Two →