Thursday, November 18, 2004

Quartermaine Mansion: Foyer

“You’re leaving for the hospital early,” Edward remarked to Alan and Monica as he came down the stairs. He checked the gold watch on his wrist. “You usually don’t go in for another hour.”

“Lesley Webber had a heart attack yesterday, Father,” Alan replied as he helped Monica into her coat. “We’re visiting her.”

“Lesley Webber,” Edward mused. “Didn’t you sleep with her husband?”

Monica narrowed her eyes. “Yes. And I was married to his brother. What’s your point?”

“Nothing at all,” Edward smiled cheerfully. The phone rang then, saving Edward from Monica’s irritation.

None of three came forward to answer it. When it rang for the third time, Alan rolled his eyes. “What’s the point of having servants if they’re never around?” he muttered as he yanked the phone off the base. “Hello, Quartermaine Residence.” After a moment, he frowned and hung up. “That’s the third time this week.”

“Another heavy breather?” Monica questioned.

“What is this world coming to?” Edward demanded. He cinched his blue silk robe tighter and stepped off the landing. “First that delivery of dead flowers and now some little perverted anonymous phone caller. I have half a mind to report to this to the police.”

“And tell them what?” Monica demanded. “They have more important things to do, Edward, than worry about who’s playing juvenile tricks on this family.”

“Unless it’s that son of bitch Diego Sanchez,” Alan pointed out. “He sent Brooke that torn piece of her clothing. Wouldn’t put it past him to harass the rest of the family.”

“Well, then we ought to report it,” Edward nodded. “In fact, I’ll call Mac right now.”

Monica opened her mouth to argue, but Alan touched her sleeve. “Better to be safe than sorry,” he told her quietly.

Brianne’s Apartment: Kitchen

“Your coffee is better than mine,” Lucky decided as he sipped the double roasted brew. He leaned against the granite counter and watched the blonde speculatively. “Can you cook?”

Brianne poured some sugar into her mug and shrugged a shoulder. “My mother was a pastry chef and my father ran the kitchen at the Port Charles Grille. I think it’s safe to say that I can probably cook.”

“Good coffee, good cook–” Lucky glanced around the spotless apartment. “You can clean. You want to get married?”

Brianne fought a smile as she stirred her coffee. “Well, if that isn’t the most romantic proposal I’ve ever had.” She turned to butter a piece of toast that popped out of the toaster.

Lucky watched her and thought about the card he’d tucked away. A couple dozen roses, a little romantic sentiment and he wondered why that combination had the ADA turning pasty white and scaring her so badly she’d been almost clinging to him the past two days. He made a mental note to run her name through the system when he got to work. Now that she was a little more relaxed around him, it couldn’t hurt to have more information at hand.

“So, did your parents meet at work?” Lucky asked.

Brianne glanced at him. “Why?”

“Just curious,” Lucky shrugged. “My parents met at a disco, if you can believe that. She worked for him and was married at the time but I guess you can’t fight fate.” His smile grew wistful. “She had a breakdown a few years ago and my dad’s never been the same.”

“I’m sorry,” Brianne murmured. She cleared her throat. “My father was my mother’s boss thirty years ago and she tells me that he was so damn arrogant and stubborn and they fought all the time. She was so mad at him once that she tossed a bowl of flour on him.” She grinned. “She told me he looked so funny that she started giggling and he started laughing and…they fell in love over flour.”

“That’s a nice memory,” Lucky said. “Are they still together?”

“My dad passed away about five years ago, but yeah–until then, they were. Divorce wasn’t in their vocabulary,” Brianne remembered. “They knew from the start they had combative personalities so they didn’t let it get in the way.”

“I’m sorry,” Lucky said. “Losing a parent–it’s the most difficult thing. At least…I can pretend my mother is going to get better. But it was like losing his heart for my father.”

The doorbell rang and Lucky stopped Brianne before she could go to answer it. “Let me go first.”

“It’s just my front door, Lucky,” she replied. Before he could argue, his cell phone rang. “You answer that, I’ll get the door.”

“Brianne–” Lucky muttered something under his breath as she disappeared into the front hall. He took his phone out of his back pocket and flipped it on. “Spencer.”

“Hey, Cowboy,” Luke Spencer’s voice was quiet, subdued–two adjectives one could rarely associate with the elder Spencer. “I got your message about Lesley.”

“Are you coming home?” Lucky demanded. “Lu needs you, Dad. And Grandma’s gonna have take it easy for a while. Someone needs to look them both.”

“Yeah.” Luke sighed. “I’ll be home sometime this weekend,” he replied. “There are some things we gotta discuss anyhow.”

“I’ll see you when you get in then,” Lucky replied. He slipped into his phone back into his pocket and went to find Brianne.

The door was closed and Brianne stood there, staring at a bouquet of roses on the table.

“Brianne?”

She turned to him, the white card dangling from her fingers. She swallowed hard. “I think I should probably make a report,” she whispered.

Lucky nodded slowly. “Okay.” He hesitated. “To me…or…?”

“To Mac.” She swallowed hard. “He was the investigating officer.”

“Okay,” Lucky repeated. He took the card from her lifeless hands and slipped into his front pocket. “Let’s go clean up the kitchen and we’ll go to the police station.”

“All right,” Brianne agreed. She cleared her throat and seemed to regain some of her composure, if not some of her color. “That sounds fine.”

General Hospital: Lesley’s Room

“I’m just so relieved you’re all right,” Bobbie said, reaching for Lesley’s hand and squeezing it tightly. “You had us all so scared.”

“Everyone’s being so silly,” Lesley sighed. “You’d think I had been seriously ill. Heart attacks aren’t what they used to be.”

“But they’re still a wake up call,” Audrey murmured with admonishing glare. “Slow down and take care of ourselves. Now, if Steve had just listened to his doctors…” she stopped and pressed a hand to her chest. “Asking that man to slow down would be like asking the rain to stop falling from the sky.”

“Exactly,” Lesley nodded. “And I have Lulu to look after, don’t I?” She folded her arms tightly across her chest. “It’s not as though that reprobate my daughter married can be bothered with her.”

“You know Luke’s never gotten over losing Laura,” Bobbie sighed. She shook her head and looked away. “When she didn’t recover, something went out of my brother and it hasn’t returned.”

“No one sympathizes more than I do,” Lesley sighed. “But he’s not alone in this family. Lucky’s all grown up but he still needs his father and God knows, Lu needs her father. She’s already lost her mother, I don’t know why she had to lose him, too.”

“Perhaps he’ll come around,” Audrey replied. “Lu’s still young and there’s time for Luke to correct his wrongs. I have my second chance with Elizabeth now and Bobbie has hers with Carly.”

Bobbie twisted her face in a resigned grimace. “Whether I want it or not. It feels like my whole life revolves around Carly these days.”

“Just because children grow up, it doesn’t mean our job ends,” Audrey said. “Vacation time and retirement is not in the job description.” But she softened her words with a knowing smile, having worked with Carly in the nursing program.

“I love my daughter but she can certainly wear a person out.” Bobbie’s expression grew troubled. “And Lucas. I never feel like I’m spending enough time with him and with what’s happening with Brooke, I wish I knew how to comfort him.”

“Sometimes there isn’t a way,” Audrey said. She reached across Lesley’s hospital bed and took Bobbie’s hand in her own. “Speaking from experience, he’ll just have to fumble around until he finds his own away. If he’s anything like his cousin or mother, he’ll do a stand up job.”

“Lu was talking about that the other day,” Lesley sighed. “She was interviewed by the one of the officers. I’m just so relieved that it didn’t…” her expression was guilty as she looked at Audrey. “Well…that it didn’t happen to her.”

“I think any one whose daughter or granddaughter came into contact with that animal feels that way,” Bobbie replied fiercely.

“Are we interrupting?” Alan said, knocking on the door, Monica at his side.

“No, no. Come in,” Lesley waved. “We were just commiserating over raising children.”

Monica sighed and dropped into the last remaining chair next to Bobbie, Alan stood behind her. “I could honestly strangle one of my children on any given day.”

“But I hear congratulations are in order, Grandma,” Lesley teased. “You and Audrey have a little grandson in common.”

Monica’s smile warmed and she glanced up at Alan, who frowned. “I haven’t told you yet, darling. Jason is Cameron Webber’s father. Elizabeth’s son?”

“He is?” Alan’s face folded into a grin. “Well, that is news. Elizabeth is a wonderful girl.”

Audrey beamed. “She certainly is. I couldn’t have dreamt a more wonderful granddaughter. And Cameron!” She laughed. “He’s such a delight. I had wondered where he inherited his ears.” Her eyes sparked with mischief. “My Elizabeth’s certainly don’t stick out that way.”

Alan frowned mockingly. “Are you saying my son’s do?”

“We’re throwing a baby shower in early December for Elizabeth,” Monica said. “You’re all expected to come, you know. I didn’t get a chance to celebrate when he was born–or Michael for that matter but I will certainly make up for it now. And just that Jason agreed to it…”

“Did he, really?” Bobbie asked. “That’s an incredible bit of progress. Usually Jason won’t set foot on those grounds but if he’s letting his son…”

“Now if the doctors will just let me out in time,” Lesley sighed dramatically. “Perhaps someone–the Chief of Staff possibly–could put in a good word for me?” she asked, eyeing Alan speculatively.

“We’ll see,” Alan murmured with a grin.

PCPD: Commissioner’s Office

Mac was organizing some of his open case files when Lucky knocked on his partially ajar door. “Come on in, Spencer.”

Lucky led the still somewhat pale Brianne into the office and directed towards the chair in front of the desk. “Ah, Commissioner…”

Mac frowned. “I wasn’t aware we had a meeting this morning, Ms. Joyce.”

Brianne took a shaky breath and offered Mac a weak smile. “I’m not here as an ADA,” she answered. “I want…I’ve received two bouquets over the last three days.”

Mac’s body stiffened and his demeanor changed. “What?”

“One came to my office on Tuesday…” Brianne swallowed. “And the other to my apartment this morning. I–” she bowed her head, “I know I should have told you immediately b-but I just…I wanted to pretend it wasn’t happening again.”

Mac surprised Lucky by rising from his desk and taking the seat next to Brianne, turning it so he was facing her. “It’s all right, Brianne. No one’s blaming you.” His eyes shifted to Lucky. “Have you spoken to Lucky about what happened?”

Brianne shook her head. “No. But I guess–since he’s going to be guarding me, he ought to know.”

“He’s a good officer,” Mac said. “And I’d feel better if he were looking out for you. This is enough to reactivate your case.”

Her head snapped up. “But the statute ran out three years ago–”

“Not if we can prove the crime is still occurring,” Mac reminded her. “His continual harassment, stalking…it can work in our favor. I’ll look into the particulars but anyhow…do you want me to tell Lucky?”

“No…I can do it.” Brianne didn’t look at Lucky as she said the following, “Ten years ago, when I was sixteen, I was attacked and raped when I was walking home from the library.”

Lucky swallowed hard and for a moment, an image of Elizabeth crawling out of the bushes flashed in his mind.

Brianne closed her eyes. “I woke up in the hospital the next day and it had already been reported. The police–Mac–took my statement and I thought that it would probably be it. Except…I got a bouquet of roses a few days later. With a card that said I’ll never forget. Three days later, I received another.”

She stood suddenly and stalked towards the windows. “A month later, on the anniversary of the attack, I got a piece of my torn shirt in the mail.” Her mouth twisted into half-smile, half-grimace. “I had been found completely nude–he’d stolen my clothing so that he could use the grim reminders later to torment me.”

“Jesus,” Lucky breathed under his breath. He gave Mac a stricken look.

“And every month for a year, he sent me pieces of the clothing I had been wearing,” Brianne continued. “And for four years, on the anniversary, he sent me roses. All the packages, all the flowers, they all came with cards that said I’ll never forget.” She blinked rapidly and fought down the swell of panic rising in her throat. “But it stopped and I thought it was finally over.”

“Until the other day,” Lucky said quietly.

“Yes.” Brianne took a deep breath and turned around. “It won’t affect my work, Mac. I promise.”

Mac nodded. “I never thought it would. Do you still have the bouquets, the cards?”

“Not the first delivery,” Brianne sighed regretfully. “But the second, Lucky has the card and the roses are still in my front hall. I’ll give you a key–please just have them gone when I get home.”

“I have the first card,” Lucky volunteered. He pulled out his wallet and produced the white card. He looked at Brianne. “I found it in your office.” He set them on Mac’s desk.

“We’ll try and track something down,” Mac said. He stood. “It’s going to be okay, Brianne. We might get him this time.”

“I suppose.” Brianne folded her arms tightly across her chest as if warding off a chill. “Do you mind if I wait outside until you’re finished?”

“Don’t go far,” Lucky warned.

“Believe me…until this is all over, I don’t plan to.” Brianne closed the door behind her.

“The East Side rapist,” Lucky said as soon as it was shut. “She was one of the victims.”

Mac nodded solemnly. “He raped fifteen girls, ages twelve to eighteen over a five year period and until six years ago he sent them all roses and pieces of clothing. His first victim received flowers for nine years. Brianne was his eleventh victim. The last was seven years ago and no one’s heard from him in six years.”

“Until now,” Lucky said.

“We spent a lot of man hours trying to track him down but our resources were always strained, with the many of adventures of Sonny Corinthos. When our guy disappeared, we speculated that maybe he’d been picked up and was serving time.”

“If you’re going to reactivate the case, I want it,” Lucky said immediately.

“Lucky,” Mac began.

“I know all the reasons you’re going to say no, but no one will work harder to put him behind bars,” Lucky argued. “And even if we can’t reactivate because of the statute–”

“We have DNA,” Mac interrupted. “In thirteen of the cases. New York passed the law that the statute doesn’t apply in cases that have DNA available.”

“Okay,” Lucky nodded. “Then give me the case.”

Mac sighed. “All right, but Lucky–there’s something that Brianne didn’t tell you.”

“What?” Lucky asked.

“Five months after the attack, Brianne had a miscarriage,” Mac said quietly. “I just thought you should know her case is not your average rape case.”

“I–” Lucky closed his mouth. “I’ll tread lightly around that I guess. I just…” His hands fisted at his side. “This shouldn’t happen to anyone,” he said finally. He shook his head and left the room.

Jason’s Penthouse: Living Room

“So Jason moved out?” Sonny asked, glancing around the room that was now bare of a pool table, Jason’s desk and the photographs on the mantel.

Sam curled up on the couch and sipped a cup of coffee. “He left yesterday and the furniture was picked up this morning. I was surprised…I didn’t think he’d move out this fast.”

Sonny sat at the other end of the couch. “Elizabeth left him.”

“Yeah…he told me. And then I lit into him.” Sam’s lips curved into an empty smile. “But I think my words had the opposite effect.”

“I can’t tell you what Jason’s thinking. I’m just relieved Elizabeth isn’t limiting access to Cameron,” Sonny replied.

Sam frowned and peered at him over the rim of her mug. “Did you think she would?”

“Well, no,” he admitted. “But all the same, I don’t think it would have helped matters if she had. But Elizabeth’s always been above tactics like that. She, more than anyone, understands what Jason went through when Carly ruined his relationship with Michael.”

“I think its clear Elizabeth loves him and I don’t understand why Jason won’t make the commitment to her,” Sam said, frustrated. “It’s just…he has everything he ever wanted in his sights and he doesn’t even want it.”

“The problem isn’t that he doesn’t want it. It’s that he wants it too much,” Sonny replied. “And in his experience, he doesn’t get to keep what he wants too often.” He shook his head. “I didn’t come over to debate Jason’s love life.”

“So why did you come over?” Sam sighed.

“I wanted to check on you,” Sonny replied. “I haven’t seen you since the services.”

“I’m fine.” Sam stood and set her cup on the coffee table. She crossed her arms and crossed the glass balcony doors to peer out over the harbor. “I’ve mostly come to terms with losing Adella. I meant what I said at the service. I’m going to concentrate on what I had and not what I lost.”

“That’s probably for the best.” Sonny went to stand behind her and slid his hands in his pockets. “Jason said you were going to look for work.”

“I’m only staying in the penthouse long enough to build up some money to get out,” Sam replied. “It’s the middle of winter, I won’t be able to get any salvage jobs now anyway.” She sighed. “I’m not even sure I want to go back to that. I want to have a baby, Sonny.” She turned and smiled up at him. “I’m going to get a normal job, find a normal apartment, save up and get a sperm donor.”

Sonny opened his mouth but found he had no words to say to that. He closed it. “Well…that certainly sounds like a plan.”

Sam smirked and turned back around. “I don’t expect you to approve but I also find I don’t care anymore. I want a baby and I don’t see why I should have a man around to complicate matters. It’s never worked for me before so why bother with it now?”

He found he couldn’t disagree with that and decided to change the subject. “Justus says my divorce to Carly could be finalized before the end of the year. It seems that divorces are getting easier and easier to get.”

“It’s America’s eroding sense of family values,” Sam said. “No one works at anything now. They get married without thinking it through because they know if it doesn’t work, they can just get divorce. People don’t take the time to slow down and really decide if they’re compatible or if they’ve got what it takes to last.” She exhaled slowly. “I’ve been watching a lot of day time television.”

“Sometimes it takes months but sometimes you know in an instant when something’s right,” Sonny replied with a wistful smile. “I wonder what that’s like.”

“You’ll let me know if you find out right?” Sam turned and gave him a small smile. “So I know what to look for?”

“You’ll be the first to know.”

Gardena Suites: Apartment 217

His new apartment had two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, a room large enough for his pool table (it might have been meant for a dining room) and a living room. After living in a spacious penthouse for the last two years, Jason found it almost comforting to be in a smaller space.

The only way it would be perfect if it were the size of his old room at Jake’s, but he wasn’t that person anymore. He had a son and he certainly couldn’t raise Cameron there.

Not that he was really raising Cameron now, Jason thought absently as Elizabeth stood in front of him, their son in her arms, the diaper bag slung over her shoulder. She was explaining the custody arrangement that would allow both of them maximum time with their son without having to be in a room together all that much.

“Until you really get going with your new job, Cameron can stay with you during my shifts,” Elizabeth said. She set the diaper bag on his couch, ignoring the fact that it was actually the old couch from the penthouse–the couch on which they had made promises to each other once upon a time. “I guess we’d better get two sets of baby furniture for him, one for here and the cottage–” she stopped and shifted. “I’m going to start paying you back for that–”

“What?” Jason snapped to attention. “No. Absolutely not.”

Elizabeth sighed impatiently. “Jason, you bought the cottage for us. Now that…it makes me uncomfortable to live there.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Jason replied shortly. “You’re just trying to get a reaction out of me now. You think if you threaten to pay me for the cottage or even sell it, it’s going to change something. That I’ll magically be what you want me to be but–”

“Oh, don’t be an idiot.” Elizabeth settled Cameron in his arms, managing to do so without even touching Jason once. “I don’t want to be anyone other than who you are and who you are pisses me off because you seem to enjoy keeping me at a distance. That’s fine. It’s your prerogative. But don’t you dare jump down my throat because I find it difficult to live in the cottage where we planned to be family–”

“We are a family,” Jason interrupted with irritation. “I just–I’m tired of hurting you, Elizabeth.”

“Well, what do you think you’re doing now?” she demanded, eyes glistening. She shook her head. “No, I’m not doing this again. I just–fine, I won’t sell the cottage. And you wouldn’t take money if I gave it to you, so I’m just wasting my breath.”

Jason exhaled slowly. “If you want to sell the cottage, I won’t get in your way. You should live where you want to live, where you can be happy.” He looked at Cameron whose face was screwed up in confusion, as if he couldn’t understand why his parents were using loud voices. “That’s all I want for you, Elizabeth.”

“That’s what I want for you,” Elizabeth murmured. “But I’m not sure you know how to be anymore.”

“You’re probably right,” Jason surprised her by admitting. “And I’m not willing to make us both miserable until I fix that.” He took a step towards her. “Being with you does make me happy, Elizabeth. It’s something I never thought I could have. But I don’t want to depend on you to be that way. It’s not fair to you or to me.”

“Fair enough,” Elizabeth replied softly. “I can certainly accept that.” She kissed Cameron’s forehead. And then kissed Jason’s cheek. “I do love you, Jason. But I can’t wait the rest of my life for you to find yourself.”

General Hospital: Nurse’s Station

Brianne stepped off the elevator and was relieved to find Elizabeth Webber working at the nurse’s station. She wanted to get this interview over and then go back to her office where she could close the door and forget the rest of her life existed.

Her ever present shadow Lucky had been convinced to take a break. He was waiting in the hospital cafeteria for her and she knew he was poring over her case. Brianne touched her abdomen and swallowed hard. Which meant he knew by now exactly what that night had cost her.

She had secured his cooperation by promising that she would speak to Elizabeth and return straight to him. She had fifteen minutes before he tracked her down and Brianne was grateful for his willingness to stick close. At least for now.

“Ms. Webber?” Brianne asked.

Elizabeth looked up, her face wan and smiled faintly. “Hello. Are you here to meet with Lucky? I didn’t think he was visiting Lesley–”

“No, Lucky’s waiting for me in the cafeteria. I came to speak with you if you have a moment,” Brianne said.

“I have a few minutes before my shift begins.” She picked up a few folders and led Brianne over to the waiting area to sit on the couch. “What can I help you with?”

“Brooke mentioned that she had spoken to you regarding her…regarding the incident.” Brianne took out Brooke’s statement and cursed herself silently for being flustered. If she couldn’t say the word, how could she prosecute this? She took a deep breath. “Regarding her rape.”

“She did,” Elizabeth said slowly, studying the other woman curiously. “I’ve been a friend of the family for years so they know my history–that it happened to me when I was a teenager.”

Brianne’s hand slipped and the folder went sliding to the floor. She caught it before the papers slid out and with shaking heads, she settled it back on her lap. “I’m–I’m sorry.”

Elizabeth frowned and reached out to cover Brianne’s hands. “Are you all right?” she asked softly.

“F-fine,” Brianne managed. “I just–so they thought you could help.”

“Sure. I guess you want to know what she said to me,” Elizabeth replied. She put her hands back in her lap. “Do you think she left something out of her own statement?”

“No. Not on purpose. It’s just…” Brianne closed her eyes and ordered herself to calm down. “She spoke to me as an authority figure. She spoke to you as a friend. It’s a different atmosphere and things can come out and I just–if any thing stood out to you.”

“I’m not sure I feel comfortable telling you. I mean, Brooke confided in me but I guess–I know that she wants Diego in jail for a long time and I know that it would help her peace of mind to know he’s in jail for what he did to her.”

“And Brooke gave me a signed statement saying you could tell me everything,” Brianne told her. She started to rummage through her papers but Elizabeth touched her arm to stop her.

“I believe you. We didn’t speak long anyway. I thought it would make her feel better to know more about what happened to me,” she said. “So I told her about the park, that I had done everything wrong–taken a shower, waited too long to report it–that I might have invited it the way I dressed. Brooke said she thought maybe she’d done something to lead him on. She certainly hadn’t meant to but you know, something you do or something can be taken a thousand ways and if someone really wants to read into something, they will.” Elizabeth exhaled slowly. “She was mostly upset by the fact that she had been a virgin.” Her eyes were a little unfocused now. “It made her feel better to know that I had been one, too.”

Brianne bit her lip. “So was I.”

Elizabeth frowned and looked at her. “What?”

“So was I,” Brianne repeated. She shoved the folder back in her bag. “I don’t think Brooke left anything out in her statement to me, but I just wanted to be sure so thank you–”

“Wait…” Elizabeth touched her arm. “Take a deep breath. This…” her eyes filled with tears for the second time that day. “You, too?”

Brianne closed her eyes and nodded miserably. “I was sixteen. The East Side rapist.”

“I…” Elizabeth shook her head. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not going to affect my work on this case,” Brianne’s eyes snapped open and Elizabeth saw the determination in the blonde’s eyes. “I never got to see my rapist prosecuted. And I won’t let that happen to Brooke.” She stood and pushed the strap of her bag over her shoulder.

“The East Side rapist was the one that sent those….things to his victims.” Elizabeth stood. “I can’t imagine having….that would driven me insane. I don’t doubt you’ll win this case. If you can survive that, you can survive anything.”

“Well…” Brianne shifted. “I would appreciate if you didn’t spread this information around,” she said after a moment. “Lucky knows because–he has to. But other than him, Mac Scorpio and Ric Lansing, no one else does and I have–it has to stay that way.”

“No one understands that more than me.” Elizabeth hesitated. “I know we don’t know each other, but I feel like–well, I…if you ever…” she shook her head. “If you ever need someone to just listen…”

“Thank you,” Brianne said, finally getting some control over her composure. “But I don’t need anyone.”

She went to the elevators and jabbed the button, furious at herself for having said anything at all.

Club 101: Inside

“See?” Maxie said with a grin. “This was a good idea.” She took her soda from the server and raised it up in the air. “A toast.”

“Did they spike her soda?” Dillon whispered to Georgie, who glared at him.

“What can we possibly toast to?” Brooke sighed, but she raised her glass anyway. After a glare from Maxie, Dillon and Lucas followed suit.

“We can toast to each other,” Maxie said. “Because no matter what happens, we will always have each other. I know that sounds sappy or something from a Hallmark card, but it’s important to me that you guys know how much I love you guys.” Her eyes met Brooke’s. “You’re my family. And nothing comes before family.”

“Well, then,” Lucas grinned. “To family.”

Their glasses clinked and when they’d set them back down, Georgie reached for the appetizer menu. “We should share some wings, or something.”

“Uh uh, potato skins,” Dillon took the menu from his girlfriend. “With the cheddar and bacon?”

“I want mozzarella sticks,” Lucas declared, yanking the menu from Dillon.

“Everyone knows the quesadillas are the best,” Maxie argued, tugging it from Lucas.

“We could try the sampler,” Brooke suggested. “It’s got all of those plus the jalapeno poppers.”

“So I guess you’re hungry now,” Lucas said, with an approving smile. She arched an eyebrow at him. “Well, we had to practically lift you into the car and tie you down to get you here. I believe your big excuse was that you weren’t hungry.”

“Things change,” Brooke replied sweetly.

“Good. Appetizers are settled on.” Lucas reached for the dinner menu. “I’m starving, Mom’s been at Lu’s house most of the day getting it ready for Uncle Luke to come home and for Lesley to be set up in the downstairs guest room so she didn’t even have my usual afternoon snack ready.”

“Aww, Lucas didn’t get his customary pot roast,” Maxie said with mock sympathy. She ruffled his hair. “Poor baby.”

“It’s good thing they turned this into an Under 21 club,” Georgie said, looking around with approval. “I knew Jax wasn’t a total loser even if he is dating Courtney.”

Lucas snorted. “I can’t even be sure she’s a girl. Have you seen her arms?” he shuddered. “Plus, he can’t know where she’s been.”

“You guys don’t have to diss her on my account,” Brooke said with a small smile.

“We’re not. She makes it easy to diss on her own record,” Georgie sniffed. “Dirty stripper that she is.”

“Well, I don’t think her being a stripper automatically give her a black mark,” Lucas decided. “I mean…she may not be all that pretty but she does have a pretty decent rack. How much do you think it cost?”

Outraged, Brooke whacked him on the shoulder with her menu.

Club 101: Parking Lot

After dinner and desert, the group left the club and headed for Dillon’s SUV. “Thanks for making me go out,” Brooke said, winding her arm through Lucas’s, the first touch she’d initiated in three weeks. She smiled up at him. “It means a lot that you…that you’re sticking.”

“You couldn’t get rid of me if you wanted to.” Lucas paused; letting the three others go ahead. “I don’t want to push you into being with me if it’s not something you want. But we’re more than that. We’re friends. And just standing here with you is enough for me.”

“I–” Brooke stopped and froze. “Lucas,” she whispered. “Diego is in the parking lot. I just saw him dart behind that car back there.”

Lucas’s shoulders stiffened. “Okay. Here’s what you’re going to do. I’m going to go after him–”

“No!” she whispered fiercely. “Lucas–”

“–and you’re going to go catch up to the others. Send Dillon after me and call the police. Do you understand?”

“Don’t be a hero, Lucas–”

“Brooke, just do it!” He pushed her in that direction and waited a few seconds before turning around and nonchalantly studying the landscape of dark cars. He saw a shadow move and took off.

“It’s Diego!” Brooke said as she reached the others at Dillon’s car. “Lucas is chasing him over there–”

Dillon took off after Lucas and Maxie yanked out her cell phone. “I’ll call 911, Georgie, you call Dad. Brooke, call your dad. One of them will get here fast enough to get him.”

A half hour later, an unconscious Diego Sanchez was on his away to General Hospital under armed guard. Lucas and Dillon had been restrained him but in his fury, Lucas had…accidentally knocked Diego out and if Dillon hadn’t kept him back, might have done worse damage.

Ned shook Lucas’s hand and enveloped his brother in a fierce hug. “Thank God you two were here.”

Georgie rolled her eyes. “Yes. Thank God the big strong boys were here to help the poor little damsels.” She scowled. “Honestly.”

← Chapter Sixteen | Chapter Eighteen →