Chapter 40


Lifting her face into the wind while taking the launch back to the mainland, Carly smiles her herself. After a painfully rocky start, last night had been wonderful. She hadn't realized how much she missed sleeping in Stefan's arms. To feel his warmth, his protection all night. Last night of all nights, she had needed that.

It wasn't so much that she'd forgotten how restful it was to sleep with Stefan. She had missed him keenly laying in her bed in the dark solitude of the cottage. But last night had been all the more precious because of the time she had had to spend apart from him. Knowing living apart was the right thing to do for Nikolas and her custody battle was cold comfort as she lay awake missing Stefan.

Her smile turns melancholy as she recalls what happened after they returned to Wyndemere. Once they reached his room, she had turned in his arms, kissing him deeply, pulling at his clothes urgently, intent on burning out the hurt and sadness she felt through a primal coupling. But Stefan had stopped her, taking her by the shoulders and pulling her away from him......



"Why?" Carly gazes into Stefan's face, biting her lip to keep from crying. She couldn't take another rejection. Not tonight, not from the man she had come to count on. "Don't you want me?"

Stefan answers by placing a soft kiss on her forehead as his arms hold her lightly. He places another and another on her eyes, her cheeks, the corners of her mouth. Full of aching tenderness, full of understanding. With each kiss, a part of Carly crumbles until she is weeping in his arms. His voice is soft, almost inaudible as he comforts her. "It's all right, Caroline... that's it."

"Why?!" Carly anguished cry is heart wrenching. "Why can't she love me? Why? Am I that unlovable? Am I that horrible?"

Stefan's warm hands cup her wet cheeks as he brushes a kiss over her quivering lips, then kisses her cheeks, her eyes, all over her face, showing her in every way he knows how that she is precious. "No, Caroline, no. You are far from unlovable. Far far from it, Darling. Don't think that. Don't EVER think that."

"Oh God..." As the last of Carly's resistance dissolves in the face of his tenderness, her knees buckle. "I can't...."

Stefan catches her quickly, carrying her the short distance to his bed, where he holds her gently in his lap. His voice is rough with emotion when he speaks in low tones while rocking her. "No need to worry. You're safe, Caroline. I will take care of you as long as you need..."



Once again, he had known what she needed while she didn't have a clue. 'How did he do that?' Carly wonders. After weathering her breakdown, Stefan had proceeded to make love to her with a tenderness that surpassed anything she had experienced before. He had been intent on healing her gaping wounds, and by some miracle he had. In the face of the emotional carnage, he had given her love and hope.

Crossing her arms and rubbing her hands up her shoulders, Carly's thoughts turn serious. For all the signs and symptoms, she hadn't realized until this morning that she was in love with him. Completely, madly, unalterably in love with Stefan Cassadine.



Bobbie sits in the Brownstone looking over the file Carly gave her. She's read the results countless times since last night, trying to let the truth of it sink in. She's so lost in thought she doesn't hear Luke come up behind her until she feels his comforting hand on her shoulder. Bobbie jumps at the touch. "That bad, huh?" Luke offers sympathetically.

Bobbie swallows hard. "I don't think I'm ever going to be able to fix this."

Luke rounds the couch to sit next to her, taking her hand as he does. "How did it go with Caroline?"

Bobbie doesn't even try to stop the tears from falling. "She was so cold... but who could blame her?" Her face cracks for a moment. "Oh Luke, it went all wrong, I didn't know what to say to her, so being true to form, I shot myself in the foot. But even if I knew what the right thing was to say, I don't think she would have listened. She hates me. And I can't blame her, I've been so horrible to her the last few months."

Luke puts an arm around her shaking shoulders, holding her while she weathers her grief. "She's a Spencer, Darlin', of course that's how she's going to react at first. She's been hurt bad. It'll take a while for her to forgive you, but she will forgive you. She's too much like her mama to hold a grudge for long."

An emotionally exhausted Bobbie lays her head on Luke's shoulder. "I feel like a Mack Truck has run over me. It's just to unbelievable. How.. how could it be true? Peyser was so convincing on the stand. How could I have been fooled by that weasel?"

Luke tightens his grip on her shoulder. "I was fooled too, Barbara Jean, so don't blame yourself." He notices the file on the coffee table. "I gather this is the proof?"

Bobbie pulls herself together, mopping her face with a handkerchief as she hands Luke the file. "It's all here. Courtesy of Stefan Cassadine of all people! He apparently has taken a 'personal' interest in Carly. He was there last night.. sneering at me. He made a huge production of trying to 'protect' her from me. The whole scene made me sick. I wish I could blame him for turning Carly against me, but I've done a pretty good job of it all on my own."

"You were set up, Darlin', we all were. Deep down Caroline knows that...." Luke continues to hold Bobbie's hand while reading over the file. "Everything looks pretty cut and dried here. You want me to check out this.... Dr Vader? Make sure he's legit? You never know with the vampire, he could be pulling a fast one."

Bobbie continues to wipe the tears off her face as they fall. "Would you? I know Dr Vader, he's been with GH for years and he's a pretty upstanding guy. But I want to know for sure. I have to know one way or another." Her face dissolves in a fresh outpouring of tears. "Oh God, how am I going to make this up to my baby girl? Luke, I've said some unforgivable things to her. Things I'll never be able to take back."

Luke squeezes Bobbie's hand. "We'll work on a way to fix things with Caroline and make her see Vlad is just using her as a pawn. We'll get her back, I promise."



With a lilt in her step, Carly disembarks from the Spoon Island launch. Once on solid ground, she pauses to glance at her watch to find she has some time before her appointment with Margo. The rest of the morning would be spent putting the finishing touches on the nursery..... her heart skips a beat at the thought. Starting tomorrow, Michael would be with her for the rest of the weekend. Before leaving the docks behind, Carly gazes out at Wyndemere one last time.

"You don't really think he cares about you, do you, Carly?"

Carly's heart drops to her stomach at the sound of the venomous voice that haunted her many sleepless nights. Whirling around, she finds Dr Evans standing a few feet away, his face set in mock sympathy. "Dr... Evans." Carly's voice sounds odd even to her, as if it came from outside of her. "What.. what are you doing here?"

"I was concerned," Dr Evans answered simply. "How could I not be when I heard the news that one of my most trouble patients was suing for custody of her son? How could I stand by and let that little boy be put at risk?"

"You don't know anything about me!" Carly snaps. "You never did!"

"Oh, but that's simply not true," Evans counters in a calming voice. "But I can see why you have to believe that. You wouldn't be able to do what you're doing if you weren't deluding yourself about your ability to care for him. You and I both know that it's a day-to-day struggle to take care of yourself. A struggle you lose more often than you win." His eyebrows raise as a thought occurs to him. "Oh but of course, you have a strong older man taking care of you, don't you?" Evans asks, smiling when he sees he's made a direct hit. "So true to form, Carly."

"You don't know anything about Stefan!" Carly blurts angrily. He was twisting everything around and confusing her. He couldn't be right, Stefan was good for her, she could count on him... couldn't she? Faced with a smug Evans, her old insecurity came flooding back. "Stefan is different. He's there for me the way no one else has ever been!"

Dr Evans nods knowingly. "Ohh, it's even more serious, I can see that now. You believe you love him! Let me disabuse you of that particular delusion: it isn't love, Carly. Far from it. How do I know, you wonder? Because you are so damaged you are unable to form healthy loving relationships with men, let alone anyone. Every relationship you have is based on dependency. You have confused dependency and sexual gratification with love." He could tell from the emotions that crossed her face that he was hitting the mark. He knew just where her weak points were and he would use them to his full advantage. There was no way he would let this little manipulator get away with making him look the fool. He would have his revenge.

"You're wrong!" Carly retorts vehemently. Swamped with uncertainty, She grasps desperately for some grounding. He was lobbing bombs into her carefully reconstructed world and blowing it up. He had no right to do this to her now, not when everything she wanted was within her reach. "God, why am I even talking to you? You have no power over me, you're nothing. Nothing but a fat self-important control freak who enjoys terrorizing helpless patients!" Carly advances on him, her voice rising in volume.

"He will become bored in time, this Stefan Cassadine." Evans continues as if Carly hasn't said a word. "When he's tired of propping you up, pulling you out of your scrapes and dusting you off, fixing your disasters. The sex won't be enough to hold him. Your penchant for crisis and self-sabotage will become tiresome and he'll dump you. Just like all the others."

"Shut up!" Carly hisses taking another step towards him. "I'm not the same pathetic patient you treated, I was never that person. She was a figment of your oversized ego. I can take care of myself, I've always been able to take care of myself."

Dr Evans shakes his head sadly. "So typical, your case is almost classic. Denial, projection. You are decompensating, and you don't even realize it. And what of your son's welfare? He will be living with an unstable, mentally ill mother as his only caregiver. A mother who is unable to form loving bonds and will teach him the same crisis lifestyle she lives herself. A mother who will demand that he fill the missing gaps in her life, to fix her. Do you think that's healthy for a little boy? A defenseless toddler? Especially one so fragile and damaged already?"

Carly sees red. It was one thing to insult her, but to use Michael? She could kill him. Just as she's about to take another step towards Evans, a steely voice cuts through the tension on the docks. "Step away from the lady. Now."

Astonished, Carly and Dr Evans look in the direction of the voice and find Roy Dilucca approaching them. Dr Evans recovers first, his tone is cold and authoritative. "I don't know who you are, but this is none of your business. This was a private conversation. I can assure you, she is at no risk from me."

"You might not put a hand on her," Roy replies, not slowing his approach, his eyes trained challengingly on the older man. "But I can tell a bully from a mile away, and you fit the bill, Mister. Step away from the lady or I will see to it myself."

"There is no lady present." Dr Evans sneers. "Who is this thug, Carly? You certainly know how to pick interesting...." His mouth twists with disgust as he looks at Carly again. "paramours. So uncertain of your wonderful Mr Cassadine that you thought you needed a back up?"

Before Carly can react, Roy decks him, sending Evans to the ground with a split lip. Evans glowers at Roy angrily as he gingerly touches the blood at the corner of his mouth. "You... you Neanderthal! I'll have you brought up on charges of assault!"

Roy stands over Evans, his legs apart, his hands clenching and unclenching at his side as if ready to hit him again. Carly regains her voice. "You go ahead and try that, and I'll tell them you tried to attack me. You fat slimy snake, go slither back under the rock you crawled from!" She punctuates her last sentence with a vicious kick to Evans' gut.

Roy roughly grabs Evans by the coat front, lifts him to his feet, and shoves him away. "You heard her, get out of here."

Carly watches Evans retreat until he's out of sight, then slumps onto a nearby bench.

"Are you okay?" Roy asks gently as he sits beside her.

Carly's head whips around and she eyes him warily. "Of course I'm alright. I can take care of myself. Who the hell do you think you are for interfering?"

Bristling, Roy stands up to go. "You're welcome. Have a good day."

Carly closes her eyes, embarrassed by her own rudeness. "Wait, don't go. I do owe you a thank you. You probably stopped me from doing something incredibly stupid."

"I could tell he was enjoying goading you." Roy answers sympathetically. "Anytime I can stop a sadistic bastard like him from harassing someone, I'm happy to do it." He reaches his hand out to Carly. "The name's Roy Dilucca."

Warmed by his genuine smile, Carly accepts his outstretched hand. "It's nice to meet you, Roy Dilucca. I'm Carly Benson."


Chapter 41

 

Carly and Roy at the bench on the docks.


"You were at Jake's last night and saw.. it all?!" Carly chuckles with embarrassment. "Boy, I can just guess what you must think of me! Two run-ins in less than 24 hours...."

Roy smiles at her gently. Just as he suspected he would, he found himself liking her immediately. "I was on my way across the bar when a gentleman came to your rescue. I guess you could say I can't resist a damsel in distress. It's gotten me into trouble more than once."

"Well it's nice to know I had some back up. For a minute last night I thought I was in big trouble." Carly looks at her watch in swears under her breath. "I'm going to be late!"

Roy stands and offers her his hand. "How about I walk you to your car?"

"I don't drive," Carly admits as she rummages around in her purse for her cell phone. "And with the delay of Evans hassling me, I'm sure the cab I called has long since given up on me."

"If you don't mind getting a ride in an old beat up Mustang, I'd be happy to give you a lift."

Carly flashes him her 100 watt smile. "You sure you don't have armor under that jacket? You've got the Knight routine down pat."

Roy grins crookedly as he gives her a hand. "Don't speak too soon, you haven't seen my baby yet. Let's just say she needs a bit of work. One look at her current condition and you might decide to run to your appointment."

Carly can't remember feeling so ease with a man she's known in such a short time. She slips a hand into the crook of his arm and strolls alongside him. "You said you have a Mustang? What a coincidence. I happen to have great memories of cruising in a 1967 Mustang on Friday and Saturday nights when I was a teenager. I actually liked my boyfriend's car more than I liked him."

"It must not been much of a boyfriend," Roy quips. "You're in luck because that's the year I have. Of course, she's not much to look at. But she gets me where I want to go."

Carly smothers a smile as she asks, "With or without black smoke?"

Roy casts a sideways glance. "With."

Carly laughs. "Beggars can't be choosers, lead on."



"Yes, Alexis, that would be satisfactory." Stefan says into the phone as he looks at his watch. "Tell Ned I will meet him around seven this evening.... see you then." Just he is putting the phone down, Nikolas strolls into the room and heads for the breakfast table.

"Good Morning, Father. Is Carly gone?"

Stefan pours himself another cup of tea and joins Nikolas at the table. "Indeed, she has. If you could find it within yourself to refrain from launching another attack on Caroline's character this morning, it would be greatly appreciated."

"As a matter of fact, I wanted to apologize to you," Nikolas replies as he puts the cloth napkin on his lap and picks up the silver fork. He pauses before eating to look at Stefan earnestly. "On my first day home, I went on at length about Carly and her capacity for destruction, specifically what she did to Bobbie. You admonished me for attacking her based on unfounded rumors. At the time I didn't believe you. I was wrong."

Stefan sips his tea thoughtfully before returning the china teacup to it's saucer. "Your apology is misplaced. The person you wronged wasn't me, it was Caroline."

Nikolas' jaw clenched to keep him from starting in on the old argument. The idea of apologizing to Carly rankled. Just because Carly hadn't been guilty of hurting Bobbie didn't mean she was innocent of all the other crimes. It didn't change Nikolas' conviction that Carly was out to use his father. But pointing it out to Stefan again would only anger him. Nikolas looks at his plate and shoves the remains of his breakfast around with his fork. "I will make an effort to be civil to her, for your sake. I won't promise anything beyond that."

Stefan's eyes narrowed at Nikolas' sullen attitude. "Unacceptable. I expect impeccable manners toward anyone of importance to me. Your behavior in regards to her has been abominable. It is past time you rectified that."

His appetite ruined, Nikolas pulls back from the table and stands. So much for not arguing about Carly. "I'm late for an appointment in town. I gather I won't see you for dinner?"

"No, I have a dinner meeting with Ashton and Alexis that will keep me out quite late." Stefan rises and goes to stand in front of his son. Nikolas' frustration had not gone unnoticed by Stefan. He cups Nikolas' cheek briefly. "It is good to have you home, Nikolas. In spite of our disagreements, don't ever question that truth. I trust you to do the right thing."



The Cottage

After the pleasantries are over, Carly and Margo quickly get down to business. "Do you think AJ's lawyer will get AJ to agree to give me full custody of Michael to avoid jail time?" Carly picks up her her coffee mug and sips gingerly at the piping hot liquid. "The sooner Michael is out of that house and away from all Quartermaines the better!"

"I assume you had chance to reread the child psychiatrist's report?" Margo asks, waiting until Carly nods before continuing. "Then you know the psychiatrist cautions against removing any of his caregivers. To do so now could destroy the little progress Michael has made and his already fragile psyche."

This is the issue Carly has been dreading. She had seen this conversation coming yesterday when she had read the report. The words of the psychiatrist are still reverberating in her brain: 'After losing Jason Morgan, his primary caregiver for 18 months, so abruptly, Michael's ability to form attachments has already been compromised. Losing any more caregivers at this juncture could very well destroy his chances of ever being able to form solid social attachments.' Even so, she still can't voice her worst fears out loud "So what are you saying?"

Margo's tone is soft and sympathetic, but firm. "I'm suggesting that you seriously consider how you want to help your son heal. Would severing ties with AJ be in Michael's best interests?"

Too jittery inside to sit still, Carly gets up and starts pacing. The idea of giving up her fight for Michael now is too much, too upsetting. "AJ is a disaster, he can't parent himself out of a bag, he's completely helpless! He's not the role model Michael needs. It's only a matter of time until AJ starts drinking again, and that will hurt Michael too."

"Yet Michael has become accustomed to AJ as his parent," Margo counters. "Leaving him and the rest of the Quartermaines, in particular Emily Quartermaine, will upset him. Let's forget the psychiatrist's report for a moment. Seeing how your son has handled changes lately, what do you think it will do to him?"

Carly's eyes flash with anger and her chin juts out defensively. "What are you saying? Are you saying I should leave Michael with AJ? I won't do it! I won't believe AJ is the best parent for him. I didn't come this far to give up!!"

"Of course not," Margo answer soothingly. "Of course not. I wouldn't have come this far with you, fought this hard for your rights if I was going to advise you to give up and walk away. But look at the facts. In the last two and a half months, He's lost Jason permanently and he's lost you for an extended period. You are just now finding your way back into his trust. Now we're looking at taking away yet another caregiver he's come to rely on."

Carly plops onto the couch. "I hate letting AJ off the hook. That slime ball destroyed my life, he should pay. He's the one who broke the law. He shouldn't be allowed to come within 100 feet of Michael."

Margo puts a comforting hand over Carly's "You're right, he should pay for what he's done. In fact, if you wanted to, you could send him to jail. We have enough excrement to bury him for a long time. But is It worth it at the cost to Michael? It's your call. But you have to acknowledge the price your son will pay."

Carly winces. Michael has paid for all of her mistakes. Again and again, he's paid... when she disappeared right after he was born, when she turned away for just a second and Tony snatched him, when she shot Tony in open court, when she played crazy in Ferncliff.. But most of all when she sent Jason to jail, Michael had lost the only person he truly trusted. It had to stop. She couldn't be responsible for hurting Michael again.

While she couldn't go back and change what she'd done, she could try and repair the damage. For Michael's sake, she had to try.....

Carly's private thoughts are interrupted by Margo's next words. "At this point, this discussion is just hypothetical on our part. No decisions have to be made now. Come Monday, AJ might choose to fight us and it could be out of our hands." Margo gathers her notepad and file and stashes them in her briefcase while allowing Carly to lead her to the door. "Please consider what I've said over the weekend. I've given AJ's attorney until the end of the day on Monday to negotiate a settlement. We'll talk then. In the mean time, have a nice weekend with Michael."



Carly flings open her front door, a mixture of joy and relief written on her face at the sight of Stefan on her stoop. He is just what she needed after the day she's had. Finding herself enfolded in Stefan's embrace, Carly allows herself to melt into him, shedding some of her worries at the same time.

After they share a lingering kiss at the doorway, Stefan lets Carly lead him by the hand to the sofa. "Your day has been difficult," Stefan deduces.

Carly shudders. "You don't want to know. Let's just say it ended with Margo forcing me to consider some realities I didn't really want to admit."

Stefan's quirks an eyebrow. "Such as?"

"The fact that sending AJ to jail isn't in Michael's best interest."

"Ludicrous. AJ Quartermaine should be held accountable for his criminal actions."

"But Margo is right," Carly continues. "Tearing Michael away from AJ completely could be the last straw for Michael. After all he's been through, I can't risk it. I've hurt him so much already. But the idea of letting AJ walk away scot free after what he's done to me and my family makes me sick to my stomach."

Stefan smiles mysteriously. "There is more than one way to make AJ Quartermaine pay for what he has done."

Carly recognizes the look. "You have something planned."

"If all goes as planned at this evening's meeting, I shall give you all the details afterwards." Stefan turns Carly so that her back faces him and begins a massage at the base of her neck. "Your curiousity will have to be satisfied by that tidbit."

Carly groans as his expert hands rub the knots out of her shoulders and upper back. She can feel herself liquifying under his touch, soon she will be a puddle of jello in his lap. "Mmmm," She murmurs huskily. "I am at your mercy. Your wish is my command."

"I think you can guess what I want," Stefan whispers in her ear, smiling at the catch he hears deep in her throat. His hands travel down her back until they curve around her rib cage, turning the soothing massage into something more electric, more teasing. "It is unfortunate that we don't have the time required to follow it to it's inevitable conclusion. Can we resume this later?"

Carly chuckles. "I love your way with big words. You bet."




After Stefan leaves

"Jason?"

"Jason isn't here, and even if he was, he wouldn't talk to you," Sonny snaps into the phone. "What are you doing calling here, Carly? Didn't you get a good look at how angry Jason is last night at Jake's?"

Carly closes her eyes, working hard to keep her temper in check. "Listen, Sonny, just give him a message for me. Tell him I need to talk to him about Michael." Before Sonny can say anything more, Carly hangs up.



Chapter 42

 

The Gatehouse

Ned sits across from Stefan, letting out a low whistle as he assesses the older man. "You certainly have Junior trussed up like a bird ready for roasting. So completely, I almost feel sorry for him."

Alexis puts a supportive hand on her husband's shoulder, silently communicating her empathy as a fellow gatekeeper. Even as he might despise AJ and relish in his humiliation, Ned would feel an urge, an obligation to try and protect his family from this latest disaster. Old habits die hard. She knew that more than anyone.

Ned shakes his head side to side. "Unbelievable. On one hand I can't believe AJ had the guts to pull of this kind of scheme, and on the other I can't believe he was so completely moronic as to pay the guy out of his personal account."

Alexis glances at her brother and sees from the glint in his eye that he has another bomb to drop, one even bigger than the last. "This isn't really why you're here, to give us warning."

Stefan looks over his carefully steepled fingers at Ned. "You are correct. I have a proposition. A business proposition... One that will allow your family to avoid unnecessary scandal and embarrassment; and give you an opportunity you've been longing for."

"What kind of business? ELQ? I didn't think that held anything but passing interest for you." Predictably, Ned's interest is piqued, but he is suspicious. The last time Stefan dabbled with ELQ it was disastrous. He caused enough trouble in Jakarta to drive a nasty wedge in his relationship with Alexis. While he understood his wife's unwavering love of her brother, he didn't trust Stefan as far as he could throw him.

Stefan reaches into his briefcase and lays out two packets on top of the coffee table between them. "As you will see, I have more than a passing interest in ELQ now." With the air of man in control, Stefan reclines back in the sofa while Ned and Alexis read the legal documents. He couldn't help but smirk when Ned's curiosity turns somber with time. "While I am not certain what Caroline Benson will do with her shares of ELQ stock, I can assure you the Cassadine family will retain their interest in ELQ for the life of the company."

Alexis removes her spectacles and studies her brother. To say this latest manuever by Stefan is a landmine is no understatement. She was squarely in the middle. On one side her husband's family, and on the other, Stefan. If it blew up, it would be her that would feel the fall out most. "So what exactly are you asking of Ned?"

"To begin with, his cooperation at the next board meeting."

Ned breathes deeply, trying to loosen the ever tightening knot in his stomach. His family was in an impossible position: threat of a scandal coupled with substantial shares in the family company could bring the family to it's knees. Stefan could ask his price and get it. "Considering for a moment that you might have something to offer me in return, and suggesting I am interested, you're assuming I have influence with my family these days. Much as I hate to admit it, they don't listen to my advice."

Stefan shakes his head simply. "That will be unnecessary since I will be able to procure their cooperation through more effective means. Once I've laid out my proposal, I believe you will find it not only logical but irresistible."



Carly curls up on her sofa to study ELQ's quarterly report. With the soft glow from the nearby light and the soulful voice of Sarah McLaughlin in the background, she finds it hard to keep her eyes open. After several tries reading the same paragraph she drops the file in her lap and rubs her eyes. "Man, I think I found the cure for insomnia!"

The phone on the end table rings and Carly reaches to answer it. At the last minute, she pulls her hand away and lets the answering machine pick up. "Hi, this is Carly. Please leave a message and I'll get back to ya..." There is a BEEP and a long pause as if someone isn't sure what to say. "Carly? It's Bobbie...." Another pause. "I didn't really want to leave a message but I've been calling all day. Listen, I really want to talk to you. Soon. It's important... I guess I'll try back later.." Another awkward pause. "Good-bye, Carly." Click.

With her jaw set, Carly reaches for the answering machine and hits the erase button.



Michael's Bedtime

AJ sits in the rocking chair beside Michael's crib watching Michael play with his toys in the corner of the nursery. This had become their unspoken routine in the last couple weeks. AJ would stay at a comfortable distance from Michael, not crowding him, not advancing. And Michael would return the favor by not clamoring for Leticia. As much as he hated to admit it, watching the way Carly tried to reconnect with Michael had given him the idea.

AJ loves this time of the night, his time alone with Michael. It is the one time of the day he could count on some peace. No family harassing him, questioning his every move. To think it is going to end. A hard lump forms in his throat. "Hey Buddy," AJ says softly, trying to distract himself from depressing thoughts. "Whatcha got there?"

Michael looks over his shoulder at AJ for a moment, his face serious as he squeezes a bright green rubber frog. The frog squeaks in response, so Michael squeezes it again and again, to see if it'll squeak again, which it does. "You like that little guy, don't ya? I'll tell Leticia to pack it with your other stuff to go to your Mommy's."

Michael turns himself around on the floor so he's facing AJ, and AJ takes it as encouragement. "Yep, that's right. Tomorrow you're going to go visit Mommy at her new house." The lump in AJ's throat re-forms, making his voice hoarse. "You know what else? You've lived there before. It's the house with all the trees. Isn't that great?"

Still holding the frog tightly in his hand, Michael crawls a few feet closer to AJ. AJ is careful to keep still, his posture open and his hands down at his sides. The last few nights, Michael has been crawling closer to AJ. Not touching yet, but AJ knew it was progress. This time Michael stops right next to AJ's leg, actually grazing it with his elbow. AJ's breath catches and he doesn't dare move. When AJ speaks again, his voice is softer, more confidential as his hand itches to tousle his son's hair. "Daddy's sure gonna miss you, Buddy. It's going to be downright lonely here."

Michael looks up at AJ curiously. "Daddy?"

AJ's eyes brim with tears. "Yeah Michael, I'm going to miss you."




"Do we have an agreement, Ned?" Stefan asks finally, after detailing the plan and answering numerous clarifying questions. Stefan had always believed Ned Ashton was little more than a lightweight at business, someone who dabbled at it as a pastime. Competent perhaps, but fickle and unreliable, especially after his stint at L&B. Now after spending the last hour and a half being grilled by a mind with a steel trap, Stefan had to concede that Ned was talented, even bordering on brilliant. With time and proper cultivation, Ned could aspire to be his equal. Perhaps.

Alexis hears Stefan's impatience and tries to stall him. "Stefan, you really can't expect Ned to make this kind of a decision without some time to consider?"

"It's okay, Darling, I don't need time to consider." Ned rises and stretches out his hand to Stefan, to which Stefan stands as well and accepts his hand. "We have a deal, Stefan. I take it the meeting will happen within the next couple days?"

Stefan gives Ned a rare smile. "You gathered correctly. The summons will go out tomorrow morning, and I will count on you being ready."



A couple hours later at the cottage, Carly's answering machine picks up again. This time it's Jason's voice. "Carly, it's Jason. Sonny said..."

Carly picks up the phone. "Jason."

"Sonny said you called about Michael," Jason explains, his voice clipped, angry. "This better not be some stupid game to get to me."

"Believe me, it's not. If it weren't for Michael, I'd never have anything more to do with you." Carly fiddles with the phone cord impatiently. "Listen. I don't know if you've been following the custody hearing or not, but as of yesterday, I've been awarded regular weekend visitation."

"Don't expect me to congratulate you."

"Listen, you big dope!" Carly snaps, then realizes she's losing it and takes a deep breath. "I'm calling to see if we can work out a way for you to see him. We have to make peace, Jason. For Michael's sake. Will you sit down with me and talk this out?"

Jason rocks back on his heels. He'd walk through fire if it meant seeing Michael, and honestly he never thought he'd get a chance like this. "When and where?"

"Meet me at Luke's Place in an hour," Carly suggests. "I'd say Jake's but after the last time..."

"Luke's is fine. I'll be there."

Without another word, Jason hangs up the phone. Carly waves her receiver in the air. "Good bye, Jason. Thanks for NOTHING. Jeez, you're a pain in the---"




"Corinthos, it's Stefan Cassadine." The words flow smoothly off Stefan's tongue as he leans back in his limo, the cell phone cradled against his ear. "It's time an emergency ELQ Board Meeting was called... yes, this Sunday. I want you to arrange it for the Port Charles Grille...Good, call me when it is arranged." Stefan flips his phone shut and taps on the window separating him from the driver. "Tibbs, take me to Ms Benson's residence."




Luke's

Carly arrives early for her meeting with Jason. At her table in the corner, she pulls off her leather bomber jacket to reveal that she's wearing a pair of jeans and large sweater. The picture of casual modesty, no one could accuse her of being seductive tonight.

Luke winks at her as he brings her a beer. "Hey, Doll. Sorry about the death threat. And to show you I'm sincere and I don't hold your current association with Count Vlad against you, your drink is on the house."

Carly takes a sip of beer. "If you're trying to butter me up for Bobbie, you can forget it, Luke."

"Come on, Darlin'," Luke says in a cajoling tone. "She didn't know Peyser was lying. Everyone believed him, including me. And I don't fool easy."

Carly puts her hand up to stop him. "I really don't have time for this conversation right now, Luke. I'm waiting to meet Jason about my only priority: Michael. And until that's squared away, Bobbie Spencer is going to have to wait."

"Jason called, he says he'll be here in a few." Luke turns a chair around and sits with his stomach against the back of it. "Speaking of the little tyke, how is he?"

"Not great," Carly admits, her face getting worried as she thinks of him. "He hasn't adjusted very well to living with the Q's."

Luke shivers. "Can't imagine living with those nut cases all day long. So he's throwing world class tantrums, huh? That's to be expected, even encouraged."

"Actually, he's not," Carly replies, playing with her bar napkin as she speaks. "That's just the problem. He's not doing anything. He's not walking, he's not talking, he just sits in his crib and throws his toys."

Luke winces. "That's bad."

"Hey Luke," Jason says as he joins them. "Carly."

"And that's my cue to leave," Luke quips, getting up. "Get ya a beer, Jason?"

"No thanks. I'm good." Once they are alone, Jason leans forward. "Let's get straight to it."

Carly puts aside her half glass of beer. "Bottom line, Michael needs you in his life. I don't expect us to like each other, but since your only chance to see him is when he's with me, we have to find a way to get along for his sake."

"I don't have a problem putting Michael first, I never have," Jason replies coldly. "If that's all, I'm out of here."

"Jason!" Carly is completely exasperated. "It's not that simple, you and I both know that. We can't be around Michael together if we can't even discuss what's happened. He'll feel the tension between us... that's the last thing he needs."

"Fine, you want to talk about, we'll talk about it." Jason's voice gets even more brutal and hard. "You are everything I despise, Carly. You lie and you betray people you're supposed to care about to get what you want, without caring what happens to them. If it weren't for Michael, I would see you dead." Leaning back, he glares at her. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"Okaaaay," Carly pushes away from the table and stands. "This obviously isn't going to work. I'll see you when I see you, unless I can avoid it."

Carly is just about to walk off when Jason grabs her arm. "What do you want from me, Carly? You want me to lie and say everything's just fine? I can do that if it means seeing Michael."

"No, I don't want you to lie, I want you to be Michael's Dada. I want you to ask me how he is." Carly's eyes fill with tears. "I'm scared for him, Jason! He's slipping away. Every time I see him, it seems like he's a little farther away from the real world. And here I am, trying to build a bridge between us so we can help him, and all I get is anger from you."

Jason sits back down hard. "Tell me about Michael, I want to hear about Michael." The brusque tone betrays his fear.

Carly drops back into her chair. "He's bad. Real bad. Leticia.. she's with him and that's good. But she isn't enough. He's stopped walking, Jason. And he's not talking, not even babbling."

Jason looks up at Carly in alarm and sees her genuine concern for Michael. "He's regressing... the books I've read say that when small children are traumatized, they regress because they don't have the words to express themselves..."

"Exactly. I need your help, Jason. Michael needs your help." Carly leans forward, her voice soft and pleading. "I need you to promise me that if I let you see him, you won't try and take him away. Please, I know you could and I'd never see him again, and I know with everything that I've done, you would feel justified. But taking him away is not going to help him. What will is to have his family around him, working together to make him feel happy and secure again.... I'll let you see him as much as it helps Michael, but I need that promise from you."

"You have it," Jason answers without hesitation. "Not for you, but for Michael. He doesn't need more upheaval."

"Okay then, we've got a start." Carly's shoulders sag with relief, like a heavy burden has been lifted. She rises and grabs her jacket. "I pick him up on tomorrow morning. He'll need some time to get settled, so if you want, you can visit Sunday after lunch."

Jason gets up with her. "Yeah, I'll do that. Where are you living... not at Wyndemere?"

Carly shakes her head. "I have my own home now. Would you believe I bought the cottage? The one where you and Robin lived for a while?" Carly puts up her hand before he can protest "It's not as insane as you think. I bought it because it's a place Michael is familiar with. You have to know I didn't pick it for myself, but I want Michael to be happy and comfortable, and the cottage seems to have the best chance for that."

Jason nods. "Make sense. I'll see you tomorrow then."

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