January 7, 2006

General Hospital: Nurse’s Station

Carly hoisted her daughter Morgan higher on her hip while keeping one eye on Michael who was working on his math homework, making sure he didn’t sneak a comic book into his textbook.

She saw Emily Quartermaine approach them with a shy smile and felt the usual stirring of pity for the intern. After her betrayal, Emily’s relationship with Jason had never recovered and he could barely be in the same room with her for longer than twenty minutes. Elizabeth, as always, had been more forgiving and the two were cozier than ever. Carly wondered at Elizabeth’s capacity to forgive and figured it would backfire on her one day.

“Hey, Carly. Dr. Samson is a little backed up today and she thought that I might be able to do Morgan’s check up,” Emily said hesitantly. “I’m a pediatric intern so I’m qualified–”

“It’s fine,” Carly said. She bounced eighteen month old Morgan a little. “You want to see Aunt Emily?”

Morgan clapped and giggled and reached for the brunette she didn’t even know all that well–Morgan was a friendly child and loved everyone. “Em!” she squealed.

“Thanks, Carly.” Emily took her. “If you guys will just follow me to Exam Room 3–”

“Actually…” Carly hesitated. “I have a quick errand to run and it’s Leticia’s day off so maybe you could watch Michael too? I’ll only be about twenty-five minutes and Morgan’s checkups are usually about that long.”

“No, that’s fine,” Emily said. “I don’t see the kids enough so it’s great.” She held her hand out to Michael. “Come on, buddy.”

Michael, always suspicious and not having spent a huge amount of time with Emily since the summer of 2003, followed at a distance. Carly bit her lip, reconsidering her decision to let Emily Quartermaine look after her kids but in the end, going to the hotel and knocking the idiot known as Jason Morgan upside the head was more important.

She started for the elevators and grimaced when they slid open and revealed Robin Scorpio. “Please tell me you’re getting off.”

“Gladly,” Robin remarked dryly. She stepped off the car and started down the hallway but an attack of conscious made Carly call out her name. “What?” Robin asked, turning.

“Look, we have to live in the same town and worse, Elizabeth is a good friend to both of us, so we’re going to have to coexist,” Carly sighed. “I don’t by any means want to be all nice and happy with you, but I do think…I think it’s time we both moved on from–whatever happened before.”

Robin arched an eyebrow. “I have moved on. You’re the one that snarks at me every time we cross paths.”

Carly pursed her lips and fought back the natural reaction to twist Robin’s little elfin ears off. “That’s true,” she admitted. “But the situation with Michael actually turned out for the best and you know, it brought Jason and Elizabeth together initially which led me to Sonny, so you know, you might have done us all a favor.”

“Yeah, because I really wanted to make life better for you,” Robin said wryly. “You know that’s my goal in life. I wake up every morning and think–how can I improve Carly’s life today?”

“Now who’s snarking who?” Carly demanded. “Look, Princess Purity, I am trying to extend the god damn olive branch but as usual, you are making everything more difficult than it has to be. I am sorry that your life has been empty since you left this town and we both know why you came back so don’t you cut the attitude–”

Robin held up a hand. “You know what? I’m really not in the mood for another round of Robins Want to Steal Jason. I haven’t even spoken to him in the three months since I moved home, so that’s a really lame excuse to insult me, Carly. You just like to get under my skin and that’s the way it’s always going to be so why don’t you drop the act and tell me what you really want?”

Carly sighed impatiently. “You are such a pain in the ass. Why couldn’t you just stay in Paris? Believe me, Port Charles doesn’t need another sainted know-it-all on her moral high horse. Doesn’t it ever get lonely up on that high pedestal you petty little–”

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Dr. Scorpio–” A unfamiliar man sidled up to Robin and grinned at her. “But if you can put your little cat fight on hold, we have a consult.”

“I’ll be there in a second, Patrick,” Robin rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to her combatant. “Look, Carly, fine. Consider the olive branch accepted. I certainly don’t want to spend any more time standing here with you. You haven’t changed a bit since I left–”

“And neither have you, you selfish little brat,” Carly seethed. “Poor Saint Robin, all alone with her cold sheets and empty life. You’re just jealous, you know.”

Robin laughed sharply. “Jealous? Of you? You are just as delusional as ever. Ferncliffe must be missing you, Carly–”

“Because you tried to destroy my relationship with Jason and you failed. You’re still pissed because he didn’t kick me to the curb like you thought he would. And you know what really hurts you Robin?”

“I’d love to hear this,” Robin said. “Because you’ve already demonstrated just how well you know me.”

“I have the family that you will never have,” Carly said. “And you know that. I have the husband and the children and the life that you will never be able to call your own.”

Robin paled and she swallowed hard. She looked to her side to see Patrick Drake looking at the two of them with obvious curiosity. “Patrick, I’ll meet you in the conference room, okay? Just give me a second–”

“Are you sure?” he asked, flicking Carly a strange and confused look. “Maybe you should just–”

“I’m fine,” Robin said. “I’ll be there in a minute.” When he’d left, Robin turned to Carly. “I know that’s partially true. And that is all you’ll ever get out of me, Carly. Yes, I am slightly jealous because you have children and my chances are slim. I just find it hard to believe that Elizabeth could be friends with a hateful person like you that would throw something so painful into argument just to get a rise out of me–”

“I’m sorry,” Carly sighed with a huff. “It was out of line. You just piss me off and sometimes there’s really nowhere left to go. It was wrong and I shouldn’t–things should never be brought into a fight and that’s one of them. So, look, let’s just agree that from now on, we should fight the urge to snark at each other because it’s clear that we both let it go places it shouldn’t.”

Robin exhaled slowly. “Fine. And I shouldn’t make cracks out Ferncliffe because I know why you were really there, so I’m sorry too. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have a consult.” She turned on her heel and stormed away, leaving Carly feeling slightly irritated with herself for letting the argument between them stoop to such a nasty level.

She glanced at her watch and cursed silently. The scene with Robin had eaten in her confrontation time with Jason. She’d have to take the kids to her mother’s in order to get that in today. The things she did for her family.

Port Charles Hotel: Room 432

Jason opened the door and he couldn’t fight the smile that spread across his face as his daughter hurled herself at him, wrapping her arms around his legs. “Daddy!” Lanie cried. “I miss you!”

Elizabeth bit her lip. “I’m sorry–I probably should have called but Lanie wanted to see you.”

“It’s fine.” Jason lifted Lanie into his arms and kissed her cheek. “What have you been up to?”

“Mommy made me clean my room,” Lanie sniffled. “‘Cuz I got her paint all over my stuffed animals an’ I haf to throw ’em out.”

“We’ll try cleaning them, Honey, but I can’t make any promises,” Elizabeth said apologetically. She cleared her throat. “If it’s okay, I’ll leave her here for a while. I can go visit with Laura or go to the gallery for—”

“No!” Lanie cried. “Mommy, stay!” She reached for her mother. “Want Mommy!”

“I told you, Baby, Mommy has errands to run,” Elizabeth said, trying to keep the tears from falling. “That’s why you’re here with Daddy.”

“Elizabeth…” Jason reached out to stop her from leaving. “Why don’t you stay and we’ll call up some lunch.” He shifted Lanie. “We can talk when Lanie goes down for her nap.”

“No nap,” Lanie said. She framed her father’s face between her tiny hands. “Stay awake, see Daddy.”

“Okay, we’ll see,” Jason said, knowing the little girl would be out like a light in just over an hour. He looked backed to Elizabeth. “Will you stay?”

“Sure,” Elizabeth said after some hesitation. “I’d like that.”

General Hospital: Bathroom

Faith adjusted the brown wig over her hair once more and wiped her black rimmed glasses with a cloth before placing them back on her face. With the plain make up, the brown contacts and the dowdy blue nurse’s scrubs, she barely recognized herself.

She stepped into the hallway and busied herself outside the hospital conference room where her primary target was arguing with Dr. Scorpio.

“You’re being narrow-minded,” Robin accused. “Surgery is not always the answer–”

“And drugging someone into oblivion isn’t either,” Patrick shot back.

“It’s called taking a risk, you self-centered–”

“Excuse me, Dr. Drake,” Faith entered the room. “You’re needed in the Exam Room Three.”

“Fine,” Patrick glared at Robin once more before following Faith out of the room.

Faith kept her eyes from meeting anyone they passed in the hallway. She had covered herself but there was no point in taking extra risks.

She waited until the doctor was in the room, before closing the door and withdrawing the syringe from her scrubs pocket. Patrick frowned when he realized there was no one else in the room and turned. “What’s–”

Faith lunged forward and jabbed the syringe in his neck, pressing the plunger. He swore and instinctively pushed her out of the way. But she’d already injected him and her lips curved into a smile as she watched him slump to the floor. “Enjoy your nap, Dr. Drake. This was only the beginning.”

She slid out of the room, reveling in the minor victory.

Port Charles Hotel: Jason’s Room

“You should probably get a smaller bed for Lanie to use when she’s here,” Elizabeth said as she closed the bedroom door behind her and joined Jason in the living room of the suite. “She’s going to get lost in that bed.”

“Elizabeth…” Jason sighed. He held his hand to her and she took it, letting him draw her down next to him on the couch. “How are you feeling?” he asked after a moment.

“Tired,” she admitted. “The morning sickness is hitting more in the afternoons and evenings this time around.” Elizabeth exhaled slowly. “I–I have a doctor’s appointment in a few weeks, I’ll make sure to let you know the date.”

“I don’t anticipate being here in a few weeks,” Jason admitted. He brushed her hair behind her ear. “I’m not–I’m not here to punish you, okay?”

“It certainly feels that way,” Elizabeth said glumly. She stared at their joined hands. “I wish I could take it back. If I’d known what was going to happen, I would have told you. I’d pretty much do anything to avoid this.”

“I know you were only trying to protect us,” Jason said. “And I know that I’ve had to do things to protect you without telling you about them. But it’s not easy to be in the reverse position.”

Elizabeth threaded her fingers his hair and kissed him lightly. “Come home,” she whispered against his lips. “I miss you.”

“I need to know that you trust me.” Jason pulled away slightly, his eyes met hers and he wanted more than anything to just pack his clothes and go back to their penthouse–he would do anything to take that sadness from her eyes. “I need to know that you trust me to protect you, protect Lanie.”

“I do,” Elizabeth swore. “It was never about not trusting you. I just…I wanted to protect you and I knew Faith would never act on her threat. I didn’t want you to spend the rest of your life waiting for that second shoe to drop. We were just getting used to being happy again.” Her gaze clouded with tears. “Please come home. What we have–it’s so important, it’s so special. You can’t let one mistake ruin everything–”

“Hey, hey–” Jason framed her face in her hands and used his thumbs to wipe away her tears. “That’s not even an option. You’re everything to me, Elizabeth. You, Lanie, this baby–our life is important to me.” He shook his head and sighed impatiently. “I’m not handling this well, Elizabeth. I’m sorry–”

“No, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I drove you away but I’ve never lied to you, Jason,” Elizabeth promised earnestly. “This is the only thing I’ve kept from you since the day we got married, I swear. And it’ll be the last.”

“Okay,” Jason nodded. “Okay. Let’s get Lanie and go home.”

General Hospital: Hallway

“I can’t believe he missed the consult,” Robin grumbled to Emily as they headed towards the cafeteria for lunch. “He gripes at me for being five seconds late this morning and then he totally blows off Isabelle Denton’s consult. This poor girl has a brain tumor and he’s probably off flirting with some stupid nurse—”

“Maybe he just forgot,” Emily shrugged. “But it is weird–he’s supposed to be one of the top neurosurgeons in the state.”

“Surgeons,” Robin muttered. “They’re all egotistical—”

“Methinks someone doth protest too much,” Emily teased. “Doc Hot has you all worked up. You should just ask him out.”

“Oh, not this again—” Robin rolled her eyes and paused as they passed Exam Room Three. She bit her lip and looked towards the door. “I wonder if there was some kind of emergency earlier. A nurse came and got him and he never came back to finish the meeting.”

“Well, can’t hurt to go in and check,” Emily said. She pushed open the door. “Oh my God!”

Robin darted past her and kneeled next to the sprawled out form of Patrick Drake. “Do you see any kind of injury? Did he just pass out?” She checked his pulse. “It’s weak,” she murmured. She flicked her eyes to Emily. “He was fine when he left the conference room.”

Emily pressed her fingers against the pulse point in his neck and her eyes bulged when she noticed the puncture mark in his neck. “Robin—I think someone—”

A low groan passed through Patrick’s mouth and his eyes started to flutter. “God damn nurses,” he muttered.

“Patrick, can you tell us what happened?” Robin demanded as soon as he was a little more coherent. She and Emily helped Patrick into a sitting position against the bed. “What happened with that nurse?”

“There was no one in the room—” Patrick pressed his hand to his neck. “I turned around and she jabbed a needle in my neck.”

“Jesus,” Emily swore. “What did you do to piss her off?”

“Nothing!” Patrick said defensively. “I’ve never seen her before.”

“You know…she wasn’t familiar to me either,” Robin said. “I don’t–I don’t think she was a nurse.”

“Gee, you think?” Patrick asked sarcastically, starting to push himself to his feet. He leaned against the bed. “This is mortifying. She couldn’t have been any taller than you–”

“You should get blood drawn,” Robin said. She looked to Emily. “You should go alert security–tell them that one of the doctors has been assaulted–”

“Oh, hell no,” Patrick shook his head. “You are not telling anyone that a nurse assaulted me.”

“Oh, get over yourself,” Robin rolled her eyes. “You should be thinking about who might want to hurt you. If you can even count that high.”

Emily started for the door and then turned back. “What if this is related to that car thing?” she asked. “I mean, it’s probable that no one’s ever done this sort of thing to you before right?”

“You can’t possibly think this is related,” Robin said.

“Well, it’s kind of weird. I mean, Patrick’s only been in town, what–two weeks?” Emily looked to Patrick who nodded. “He hasn’t had time to make any actual enemies. On the other hand, there was that car and it’s not like we can rule out it wasn’t intentional. He saves you and a few days later, someone knocks him out?”

“But why would anyone even want to hurt me?” Robin shook her head. “My mother isn’t an agent anymore, my father’s dead and it’s not like I’m dating Jason anymore–”

“Agent? What the hell?” Patrick spoke up.

They ignored him. “No, that’s all true but…” Emily bit her lip. “It doesn’t rule out someone trying to hurt you, Robin. It could be anything. I should—I’ll call Liz. She can ask Jason if…if there’s anything that might have come up. An old enemy that might not realize you and Jason don’t really talk anymore.”

“Who’s Jason?” Patrick demanded. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on here?”

“I’ll call Liz, and skip security for now,” Emily decided. “You get him admitted and make sure he’s okay.”

“Hey, I am an adult and I can make decisions for myself,” Patrick interrupted. “I’m fine and I want some answers.”

“Well, we don’t have any to give you,” Robin replied, irritated. “Now, if you’ll just have some patience, we’re going to help you figure out who just tried to kill you.” She glared at him. “Jackass.”

Faith’s Room

Faith hummed as she went through her collection of wigs. It was time to strike in a different direction. Sonny’s father was still in town–running that dive Kelly’s. It would be fun to go in, order a cup of coffee and slip Mike Corbin a little something special.

She laughed to herself as she pictured young Dr. Drake waking up in the hospital room, wondering what had happened to him. It had only been a sleeping agent she’d injected him with and she’d enjoyed watching him slump to the floor. She wasn’t quite ready to do away with him yet though–he might come in handy for the Robin Scorpio section of the plan.

She was going to decimate Sonny and Jason’s lives. She would take away everyone that they had loved–no matter how long ago it had been. And when they had been stripped of everything and stood before her, groveling for the lives of their pathetic wives, she would laugh and tell them that they could have same future her beloved husband had. The same future that Ric had.

No future of all, of course.

Faith laughed again as she plucked a jet black wig from the pile. She was so glad she’d waited this long.

Who would have thought revenge could be so sweet?

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