January 5, 2006

Faith’s Room

In the early hours of the morning, Faith stormed back into her room and ripped her coat off. Her first plan had been a disaster –she’d been tempted to spin the car around and take the trio of doctors out entirely but she had pulled over to the side of the room and had taken a deep breath. It probably wouldn’t have worked anyway, she could reflect now as she sat down at her table and stared at the glossy candid of Dr. Robin Scorpio as she stood outside her uncle’s house. It would have been seen as a hit and run and Sonny and Jason might never have connected it.

It would be the last time she acted without planning the consequences, Faith decided. She had been able to curb her impulsive nature for two years and it had benefited it her–they seemed to think that she wouldn’t have the patience to wait so long before she struck and now she had the element of surprise on her hands.

But of course, scores had to be settled. Faith took out her digital camera and went to print out the photos she had taken after she’d followed Robin’s rescuer to the Port Charles Hotel. His demise would be quick and simple–and painful.

Corinthos Penthouse: Living Room

Carly crossed her arms and glared at a fidgeting Max Giambetti. “What do you mean Jason isn’t at the penthouse? It’s 7 A.M.”

Max rubbed the back of his neck. “Eh, Mrs. Corinthos, he probably went to work early–”

“Oh, please. He always has breakfast with Lanie at eight, do you really think I don’t know Jason’s schedule? Where is he?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” Max admitted. “I talked to Milo and he said that he didn’t seen Jason come out that morning and I talked to Andrew who was on the door last night and he never saw Jason come home. Maybe he’s on an assignment for–”

“I would know,” Carly stressed. “It was Lanie’s birthday yesterday and Sonny would never send Jason anywhere around this time of the year. Now, I need you to find Jason, okay?”

“There’s no need for that,” Elizabeth said from the doorway. She looked down at Lanie. “Why don’t you go up to Morgan’s room and play for a little while?” She looked to Max. “Can you take her up there?”

“Of course, Mrs. Morgan,” Max said, clearly relieved to be out from under Carly’s scrutiny. He scooped his favorite charge up and took her upstairs to play with her cousin.

“What you mean there’s no need for that?” Carly demanded. “What happened?”

“Jason’s staying that the Port Charles Hotel for a while,” Elizabeth said miserably. She sat on the couch and closed her eyes. “Lanie’s been asking for him and I’m not sure how to explain to her that her daddy doesn’t live with us right now.”

Carly’s legs gave out and she flopped on the large chair adjacent to the couch. “What do you mean, Jason’s at the PC Hotel? Why? When?”

“Yesterday. I went to the warehouse and tried to force him to deal with it. I tried guilt–that Lanie would know something is wrong and he decided that I was right. That Lanie doesn’t need her parents arguing or being cold to one another and I especially didn’t need that kind of stress so until he could figure out how he feels about the whole thing, he’s moving out.”

“It’s the Sonny syndrome,” Carly muttered. “When in doubt, move out.”

Elizabeth snorted and started to laugh but soon those turned into tears. Carly stood and reached for the box of tissues on the desk and dropped them in her friend’s lap. “Don’t let yourself get too upset,” she advised. “Just calm down and take deep breaths.”

“I just can’t believe this is happening,” Elizabeth sputtered. She blew her nose and took a few calming breaths. “We’ve been married for two and a half years. Because I made a mistake two years ago, that doesn’t mean anything anymore?”

“If it didn’t, Jason would have left and filed for divorce,” Carly told her. “I think because you, Lanie and this new baby mean everything to him that he’s trying to sort it out. I would normally say that you have to fight for him and make him listen but that only works on men like Sonny.”

“Laura told me that I should fight for him, that I shouldn’t let him walk out the door but at what point does it become pathetic?” Elizabeth sighed. “And Jason’s not like that. I should have just left the situation alone–should have let him deal with it and now, I’m looking at the end of my marriage.”

“No, no,” Carly shook her head. “It won’t come to that. I’ll kick his ass if he thinks he’s bailing now. Look, the decision we made–maybe it was a mistake. I won’t try and say that we were out and out wrong, but it was two years ago and it’s not like you’ve spent the entire time lying to him about everything, just this one thing. He’ll get over it, Elizabeth. He’s not like Sonny.”

Elizabeth sighed. “You’re right, I guess. I’m just feeling tired and worn out. I’m not going to think about it any more today. Can Leticia keep an eye on Lanie for me today?” she asked. “Lu had to go on a location shoot with Dillon and Georgie so she wasn’t available. I have to stop in at the gallery and then I have to meet with Robin and Emily about the benefit we’re holding in a few weeks.”

Carly grimaced. “Saint Robin. Why do you want to hang out with her?”

“Because she’s my friend,” Elizabeth stood. “Look, whatever happened it was a long time ago, Carly. You and Robin are completely different people now.” She hesitated and smirked. “Well, you’re a completely different person now.”

“Why are we friends again?” Carly demanded.

“Because no one else will have you,” Elizabeth called over her shoulder as she left the penthouse.

General Hospital: Cafeteria

“Sorry we couldn’t go anywhere else for lunch,” Robin said as she set her tray down at an empty table. “But I’m supposed to get some test results back and I didn’t want to stray too far from the hospital.”

“No, it’s fine,” Elizabeth dismissed it. She and Emily sat down as well. “I spoke with Edward over the holidays and he agreed to donate the use of the Port Charles Hotel banquet hall so we don’t have to pay for the privilege of using it.”

“Yeah, he has a soft spot for Robin over here,” Emily mused. “Seems like everyone does these days.”

“Hush you,” Robin replied with a small smile. She cleared her throat. “I was talking with Lucy on the phone–”

“Oh, no, you’re not changing the subject that easily,” Elizabeth interrupted. She waved her fork at Emily. “What was she talking about?”

“It’s nothing,” Robin replied. “Just something stupid that happened this morning. Anyway, Lucy said–”

“It was not nothing. It was the most adorable thing I’ve seen in months,” Emily proclaimed. “He’s totally your knight in shining armor.”

“He?” Elizabeth asked, arching her eyebrows. “Okay, before I was curious, now I’m not leaving until someone tells me.”

“It’s nothing,” Robin repeated. “I wasn’t watching where I was going last night and a car almost hit me.”

“The sexy new surgeon saved her,” Emily said dramatically. “Leapt out and pulled back on to the curb.”

“You’re delirious,” Robin rolled her eyes. “He grabbed my elbow and yanked me back. I actually have a bruise so don’t let Miss Lady Lovely Locks over here delude you. It was not the romantic interlude she’s describing.”

“One could argue that he’s a very strong guy and that’s why you got a bruise. Strong, sexy…” Emily waved her hand in front of her face. “Plus, like I said, he’s got the rescue thing going on.”

“This morning was not a rescue,” Robin retorted. “Elizabeth, I can’t reach her from here–smack her.”

“Uh, uh, I wanna know what happened this morning.” Elizabeth crossed her arms on the table and leaned forward. “Come on, Robin, I see the blush going on.”

“I was in the parking lot with Emily this morning and I slipped on some ice. Dr. Drake was just lucky enough to be there to keep me from falling flat on my face. It was not romantic or even remotely adorable, it was mortifying.” Robin waved her fork at Emily. “Stop giggling, it’s not funny.”

“Dr. Drake,” Elizabeth grinned. “Sexy Surgeon has a name then?”

“It gets better,” Emily sang and then ducked as Robin launched a piece of her fruit salad at her. “Turns out that the Mr. Sexy called Robin in on a bunch of his surgeries as a drug consultant. He’s totally digging you, Robin.”

“He’s a surgeon and I get called in for consults on Tony’s patients all the time,” Robin said, her teeth clenched. “Do you think he digs me too?”

“Oh, it’s totally not the same thing when he’s a brand new doctor at the hospital. He could have picked anyone,” Emily told Robin.

“You know what, Quartermaine–I’m going to shove you out a window,” Robin threatened. She frowned when she saw Elizabeth wince and press a hand to her abdomen. “Hey, that salad not going down okay?”

“No, no…” Elizabeth shook her head. “I don’t know why they call it morning sickness when it hits all times of the day.”

Emily dropped her fork. “Morning sickness?” she repeated. “Elizabeth!”

“Oh my God!” Robin leaned forward. “How far along are you?”

“Six weeks,” Elizabeth admitted. “We haven’t really told anyone yet except for Luke and Laura and Carly was with me when I first got sick, so of course Sonny knows too.” She took a deep breath. “Okay, it passed.”

“This is totally fabulous. I mean, Lanie’s the cutest, but I wasn’t around much when she was a baby,” Emily said. “I can’t wait to spoil my new niece or nephew and make up for that.”

“Congratulations,” Robin said. She reached across the table and squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “I’m so happy for you–and for Jason of course.”

“Right…” Elizabeth sighed, deciding to keep the news about Jason moving out to herself. “So, Robin, does Dr. Drake have a first name?”

“You see what you started?” Robin demanded of Emily.

“It’s Patrick and he’s actually the son of a doctor who used to work here,” Emily informed Elizabeth ignoring Robin’s protests. “Bobbie used to date him and apparently, he drove all the females wild until he moved to Atlanta. Maybe your grandparents mentioned him. Noah Drake?”

“Doesn’t sound familiar,” Elizabeth shrugged. “So, you gonna ask him out, Robin?”

“Oh, that’s it.” Robin flung a piece of celery at her giggling friend. “You’re all a bunch of twits.” She cleared her throat. “Now, if we could just try to accomplish what we met here to do, that would be great.”

“Right, right.” Emily sobered. “I’m glad you asked us to help you run the foundation, Robin, it means a lot.”

“Well, I knew I couldn’t do it by myself,” Robin said. “And I wanted someone connected to Sonny to help because he was so close to Stone. But at the same time, it was obviously not going to be Carly. And I couldn’t ask Sonny directly because I just…” she shrugged. “We didn’t part well.”

“Well, for whatever reason, I’m excited to be a part of this,” Elizabeth said. “We’ve got the hotel secured for the event. What were you saying about Lucy?”

“Oh, she was letting me know that she’d be out of town and couldn’t host so we’re going to have do it ourselves.” Robin drew her folder out of her bag. “So anyway–”

“I’m sorry to change the subject real quick,” Emily cut in. “Robin, have you given any thought about what Patrick said last night? About hearing the car gun for you? I was just thinking about the whole thing again–”

Robin rolled her eyes. “I’m sure that someone didn’t deliberately try to run me over. He was probably hearing things or…I don’t know. But it was dark and I had a dark coat on. It’s not too hard to imagine that it was an accident.”

“Still,” Emily said. “You should be careful.” She grinned. “Maybe Doc Hot can protect you.”

“I’ve got celery here and I’m not afraid to use it,” Robin threatened.

Harborview Towers: Lobby

“Check that out,” Milo Giambetti whispered to Paulie Soretto, a fellow guard stationed on the floor. “That woman just came in, looked around and left again.”

“Maybe she was lost,” Paulie said. “So?”

“So, she didn’t look at the mailboxes or nothing. She came in, she looked at the elevators and then left. Plus, she was wearing sunglasses.”

“So maybe the sun was in her eyes,” Paulie retorted.

“It’s overcast today, ain’t you been outside?” Milo demanded. “Look, just go make sure she ain’t hanging around outside. Better to make sure.”

“Fine.” Paulie rolled his eyes and disappeared outside.

When twenty minutes had passed without his return, Milo abandoned his post and went outside. Paulie was no where in sight–not in the ally next to the Towers and not across the street at the coffee vendor.

“Now where did he go?” Milo muttered.

Back of a Van

“Hello, darling,” Faith cooed as she let a finger slide down Paulie’s cheek. “You don’t know who I am, do you?”

“No,” Paul said, doing his best to keep a bland expression on his face. That’s how Jason Morgan would handle it, he told himself. Don’t let her get you.

“We’re going to get to know one another all too well,” Faith purred. She reached into her purse and withdrew a small photograph. “Do you recognize this?”

The color drained from the guard’s face. “That’s…that’s… from my house.” He swallowed. “How did you get that?”

“Oh, my dear dear boy, I have my ways. Such a lovely family you have here. But they don’t look happy at all in this one.” She held up the second one depicting a woman tied to a chair and two young boys tied to a bed. “Now, which portrait do you prefer?”

“What do you want from me?” Paulie demanded. “Mr. Corinthos will make you pay for this–”

“Now, it would be a shame if anything were to happen to this lovely family,” Faith cut in smoothly as though he’d never spoken. “Anything more that is. And the best to avoid that is to cooperate. Now, do we have a deal?”

“What do you want from me?” Paulie repeated.

“Just some information.” Faith’s lips curved into a feral grin. “It won’t hurt you a bit, darling. I promise.”

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