Chapters 46 & 47
GH2005.46 Men At Work
A.J. takes a deep breath before approaching Gina at the Hospital nurses
station. "Hey there."
Gina turns to face him half annoyed, half surprised to see him. "I
wasn't expecting you. I take it Scott sent you the new papers outlining
the divorce? I think it's pretty cut and dry-- no need to really discuss
it."
A.J. places his finger to her lips gently. "Shhh, just hear me out for a
moment and then I'll leave."
Gina angrily pushes him away. "You'll leave now if I choose to have you
removed!"
Dr. Matt Harmon wheels over to them concerned. "Gina, is there a
problem?"
Gina smiles, obviously embarrassed. "No, Matt, I'm fine. We're both
fine. Guess these resident hours are getting to me."
Matt smiles at her understanding. "100 hour weeks can drive anyone
batty." He gives her a grin. "My door's always open. I'm not just your
supervisor, I'd like to think I have just as strong as a shoulder as
anyone. Feel free to use it."
He looks up at A.J. "Hey, A.J. Well, I'll leave you two alone now."
Gina pulls A.J. over to the chairs by the side of the room. Taking a
seat she points to one for him. "Sit, speak then leave. I can't believe
you showed up here! I just made a really bad impression on Dr. Harmon."
A.J. leans forward resting his chin on his hands. "Matt's a cool guy,
Gina. He won't hold this against you."
Gina rolls her eyes. "I keep forgetting how you think. As long as
something won't be held against you then it's okay. Well, not to me.
He's my supervisor, my colleague and a friend. I take that very
seriously. This is my career, A.J. Just because you could give a damn
about yours, doesn't mean I don't care about mine. I worked years in
medical school and now as a resident in the hopes of being a brilliant
doctor. I'm lucky enough to have both Dr. Collins and Dr. Harmon to look
to for guidance and I won't jeopardize that; do you understand? Now, why
are you here?"
A.J. reaches into his breast pocket and hands her a brochure. "Before we
make any hasty decisions on our marriage, I wanted you to look at this."
Gina flips through the brochure and looks up at him. "Yes...so?"
He laughs uneasily. "Baby, it's a brochure for Betty Ford. They've
accepted me. I'm going into treatment."
Gina looks at him clearly annoyed. "Excuse my lack of excitement, but
how many times have you been through this, A.J.? I know the drill;
you'll tell me you're doing this for our marriage-- out of your love for
me. You'll enter treatment and probably succeed, come back. I'm supposed
to welcome you home with open arms. As soon as you face some kind of
crisis, you'll fall off the wagon and lash out at me. I won't be your
crutch. Do what you want, but sign the divorce papers first. I'm tired
of fighting for marriages."
A.J. grasps her hand tightly in his. "Gina, No. This isn't for you; it's
for me. I'm doing this to save myself. I know I'm drowning, baby. I want
to sober up. I need to prove to myself that I can do this. I just want
to go in with a clear head. I can't do that by making a haste decision
about the divorce. All I'm asking for is 42 days. Let me get through
treatment and then approach me with the papers. I'll listen to anything
you have to say then."
Gina leans back in the chair and puts her hand to her temple. She begins
to laugh bitterly. "I should be happy you aren't planning some dirty
divorce fight. At least we don't have children. I couldn't bear another
knock down drag out fight over a child. You want 42 days? I'll give ya
60. Sixty days and then you sign those papers. I won't change my mind.
If you try anything I promise to allow Scott to use every dirty trick he
knows to allow me to win. Don't make me more bitter than I already am,
A.J."
She rises and leaves the area. A.J. watches her leave and whispers.
"I'll show you, baby. I'll show you; I'm the man you love."
Bobbie approaches Tony wearily. He turns to her and puts down his
patients' charts. "What's the matter? You look like hell?"
Bobbie throws up her hands. "Thanks Tony. Nice way to make me feel
better. I just spent the last hour and a half trying to convince the
boarding school not to expel our son. Oh Tony what is happening with
him?"
Tony wraps his arm around her and leads her to his office. "What
happened this time? Another prank? A fight?"
Bobbie leans into his arms as they approach his office. "A fight. It
took two people to pull him off the boy. Lucas wouldn't even tell me
what the fight was about. His reply was 'I did what I had to do.'
They're demanding we find another school for him next term. Tony, what
are we going to do? I just don't understand what's going on with him!
For the past few years he's been fighting and causing problems. I miss
my sweet little boy who loved his banana pancakes."
She begins to cry gently and Tony hugs her tightly. "With the faces only
his mom could make right. I know Hon, I miss that little boy too, but
he's not a little boy anymore. I think it's time we have him examined by
a professional. I think Alan has the name of a renown child
psychologist. Maybe we can finally find some answers."
She flops on his lap and sighs. "Did we do this? In our relationships
with Stefan and Carly and everything that followed? Did we make him so
angry that he continues to lash out even to this day?"
He strokes her cheek gently while gazing at the picture on his desk:
him, Bobbie, Lucas and A.R. "I don't know, Bobbie. Perhaps, but there
has to be more to it. It got worse after Anthony's birth. I figured it
was only sibling rivalry. Plus he was just getting used to Carly being
his sister. That's quite a bit for a kid to swallow."
Bobbie smiles. "I haven't had the chance to really tell you this yet,
but Carly and I made progress. We everything is out in the open. She
called me Mama. Oh Tony, I never thought I'd hear that from my little
girl. When I found out she wasn't dead but here all along I thought it
was worse than her being dead. That too much had happened and she'd
never accept me as her mother. I was wrong. She wants me as much as I
want her."
Tony kisses her gently. "I'm happy for you. How is Carly? That had to be
a major blow to her-- learning she was Taggert's intended victim."
She shakes her head in disbelief. "He wanted her dead for something she
could barely recall. What kind of mad man just goes around killing
innocent people? So, back to the subject at hand, what to do about
Lucas?"
Tony opens the top of his desk drawer and pulls out some brochures.
"These are the schools we glanced at before, but never went with. I
guess we give it another try."
Boston, Massachusetts...
The crowd is roaring and begging for an encore. Cries of "EDDIE! EDDIE!
EDDIE! EDDIE!" can be heard echoing through the stadium as the stage is
being covered with flowers, gifts and even some ladies unmentionables.
Backstage Lois wipes Ned's face with a towel and smiles at him. "You
hear that?? They love ya, baby! They're screaming for more. Every
concert it get's more intense. Nedly, you're more than just a rock star,
you are now a bonafied, proven to the max, mega singing sensation!"
Ned puts down the water he's sipping and kisses her tenderly. "You did
this. You fought for my soul and for my right to be happy. Okay, Guess I
better get out there."
She pulls him back by his tee shirt. "Wait a minute, you don't leave me
mid compliment. The longer they wait for you; the more they want you.
Now, you were heaping praise on me?"
He takes the ends of her leather jacket and pulls her to him. "You are
the bonified, proven to the max, best manager, wife and mother around"
She laughs as she kisses him passionately. "Don't you forget it, baby.
Okay, they've waited long enough. Get out there. I'm still your manager
and time is money. Go, Go, Go!!"
He pulls away and winks at her. "Be back in a bit."
She cheers him on. "Go knock em dead, Nedly!"
Ned walks back on stage and the crowd erupts into a fit of cheers and
squeals. He approaches the microphone and looks around at all the gifts.
"Well, you folks prove that Boston has the best fans around!" This is
met with even more cheers. He continues. "So, how can I deny the best
crowd around a couple more songs? I've worked through all my original
stuff, but how about an oldie but goody. This is dedicated to the woman
of my dreams. She wakes me up with a smile that's brighter than the Hope
Diamond, and has more faith in me than I probably deserve."
The Idle Rich begin to play the music to an Old Billy Joel song and
Eddie begins to sing-- Shameless.
The crowd screams and squeals as he gyrates on stage and winks at fans.
Lois watches from the stairs and cheers just as loudly as the fans. The
roadies exchange smiles and the newbie looks to the older ones. "I keep
forgetting she's the manager, she's kinda like a fan."
The older roadie laughs. "She's his biggest fan. Always will be."
Kevin puts down his paint brush and picks up the ringing phone.
"Collins."
His publisher squeals on the line. "Kev, baby, I have the best news.
Seems everyone is dying to get their hands on Raised by Lilith. Better
yet they are dying to meet the genius behind the series. There could be
a movie deal in this for ya. Think King..Anyway when can ya leave?"
Kevin shakes his head. "Slow down, Tina. I think you've spoken to Lucy
one too many times. Leave for what?"
Tina fingers the copy of Raised by Lilith as she smiles. "For the
biggest book tour to hit the US in the history of non fiction. We're
going to hit every big city, every major book store chain. Barnes and
Nobel, Waldens you name it; we're there. I booked appearances for you on
major Television shows. Get this, Letterman and Leno both want you.
You're bigtime now."
Kevin, clearly overwhelmed, sighs. "Look, this probably isn't the best
time."
Lucy enters the room. "Best time for what?"
Kevin smiles at her. "A book tour. Tina says she wants to book me across
country and on late night TV."
Tina interrupts. "Has booked not wants to. Look, Kev, if you look at the
contract it says you will be willing to promote when necessary. Come on,
we're buds, we don't want to get into the legalities of the contract."
Kevin becomes irritated. "You said that was for local appearances. I can
always have Alexis take another look at the contract."
Tina mumbles. "That pit bull, um look Kevin, take some time. Talk it
over with Lucy. I'm sure she'll agree with me here. This is the best for
you and your career."
Kevin hangs up the phone and turns to Lucy. "WE need to talk."
Serena answers the phone while jogging through the living
room."Baldwin's."
The voice on the other side laughs. "Scanlon's.. hey kiddo."
Serena squeals as she heads over to the fridge to pour some water for
her and Scott. "Karen! Hi!! How's Joe? How about my niece and nephews?"
Karen leans on the wall of the break room at Whitman Hospital. "Everyone
is fine. How's dad?" Serena laughs as a very tired Scott enters the
livingroom jogging slowly. "You cheated, Serena! No cutting through
lawns."
Serena laughs as she hands him some water. "You're just mad cause you
couldn't hop over the Henderson's fence. Karen is on the phone."
He takes the phone and groans as he hears her laughing. "Not from you
too. I get no respect. What's up?"
Karen scolds in her official Doctor tone. "Now. Mr. Baldwin we've been
over this. You have to start eating right."
Scott grins good naturedly. "Is that an order, Dr. Scanlon?"
Karen laughs. "Yep, I'm fine, Joe's fine; the kids are fine. And we
think it's time we come back for a visit. Joe is talking to Mary and
Frank as we speak. Hopefully we'll be back in a few days or so. I can't
wait to see you and Serena and everyone. I'm sorry I couldn't make it
home for Lee and Gail's funeral."
Scott nods. "I know you are, honey. It was short and simple. So, I get a
visit with the grandkids eh? Well Serena is reaching for the phone so
I'll let you two talk. I love you and can't wait to see ya."
Karen smiles. "Love you too, Dad."
Chapter 47 Take Me Out To The Ballgame
The sun is bright and warm on the spring day in Port Charles. The
Baseball complex buzzes with coaches, players, parents and fans.
Scott attempts to call his team together once more. "Hey come on girls!
I know you have other stuff going on, but I thought we might actually
play today."
He looks at the girls who are chatting, dancing and doing everything but
listening to him. Georgie approaches. "You aren't having much luck."
He looks down at her amused. "You think you can do better?"
She takes the megaphone and shouts into it. "Get your butts over here
now, Coach is ready to play!"
The girls begin to run over to them and Georgie hands him back the
megaphone. "Okay, ball's in your court."
Scott shakes his head. "Okay, thanks Georgie." He looks at the girls
surrounding him and smiles. "Okay, nothing to be nervous about today.
Practice has been pretty productive. By the way thanks to Lu and Georgie
for that tai-chi lesson yesterday. Granted-- it had nothing to do with
softball, but anytime I can look like a fool for you guys I'm happy to
help out."
Lu looks at him sheepishly. "I told you to watch your balance."
Georgie giggles as she remembers the image of Scott falling on his butt.
"I don't know coach, with some practice..."
Serena laughs. "Nope, he's a klutz. You should have seen him..."
Scott smiles down at her. "Serena! Remember our rule...we don't tell
anyone about my um... home activities."
Serena shrugs. "Not really considered home, Daddy. I mean, you fell
trying to get over the Henderson's fence..Gloria saw ya."
Gloria giggles and Scott groans. "Okay, now that we're done discussing
that, anyone interested in actually playing today?"
Lucky watches Nikolas shoot glares at Scott. Trying to hide his
amusement, he taps him on the shoulder. "What's up, bro? You look like
you're plotting to take the man out."
Nikolas scowls. "I don't think he's the best choice to coach Lu's team."
Lucky nods. "Right, and you would be better? I tried teaching you
baseball, bro; it wasn't pretty."
Nikolas rolls his eyes. "You could have coached."
Lucky laughs. "Sure, I can see that. Naa-- I'll stick to coaching for
drivers licenses, you stick to tai-chi lessons and let Baldwin teach the
girls baseball."
Lucky turns to the other field. "Hey, Scanlon is Stone's and Ar's coach.
Did you know that?"
Nikolas looks over at the field. The dark haired man with the coaches'
whistle was trying to demonstrate something to the team, but they didn't
seem to be grasping it. Nikolas and Lucky turn to the young brunette
who's sitting next to the older blond. She screams out to him. "It's
okay, honey; go ahead and teach them a proper slide, I brought some
thread and a needle."
Frank looks up at his wife in amusement. Picking up his megaphone, he
addresses the crowd. "A round of applause please for the lovely Julie
Scanlon, Doctor by day and baseball comedian during off hours."
Julie rises and bows as Mary Scanlon busts out laughing at the crowd
applauding her very pregnant daughter-in-law. Stone and A.R. listen as
Coach Scanlon begins to tell them about the positions again.
A.R. smiles as he spots his mom and dad arrive. "They made it."
Stone looks up in the stands and notices A.R.'s Mom, dad, grandma
sitting together. To the right of them he spots Nikolas and Lucky who
seem to be scoping out Lu's team. Laura, Stefan, Mac and Felicia are a
few rows below them and to the left of them are Robin, Jason and Mike,
Alexis and Tom. Katherine makes her way to the stands and climbs up to
where Nikolas and Lucky are.
Nikolas helps her over to the seat next to him. "I thought you weren't
feeling well?"
Katherine smiles. "No, I'm fine. I didn't want to miss Serena and
Staci's first game."
Nikolas looks at her curiously. "Serena's? I didn't realize you're close
to the Baldwins."
Katherine laughs. "I'm not really. Serena is my niece. Dominique, her
biological mother, was my sister. I got to spend some time with her when
I was away from Port Charles and we got along pretty well. So, where's
Staci?"
Nikolas points over to Coach Saunder's team. "She's over there; he was
hesitant to take her. Seems he thought she was kinda young, but I looked
in the manual. Staci's the correct age."
Coach Bruce Saunders walks over to Claudia Markum and smiles. "You
aren't holding the bat quite right. Let me show you." He reaches around
her and helps place her hands in the right spot. "There you go; now
remember-- draw back and put everything into the swing."
Claudia grins shyly. "Thanks Coach. I appreciate the extra help."
He tugs her hat. "Anytime sweety, I'm always available to help." He
turns to the other girls. "Okay, are we ready to play?" The girls
surround him as he goes over the game plan.
The games get underway and the parents and fans are cheering and
groaning over the plays.
Stone slides into home plate. The crowd cheers until the umpire calls
him out.
Lucky stands up yelling. "What are you-- blind? He was safe!"
Tom joins in. "He was clearly across the plate! Get some glasses, UMP!"
Jason and Mike rise from the stands and approach the fence.
Mike looks at the umpire angrily. "What do you mean he's out?"
The umpire is clearly annoyed. "Go back to your seats."
Jason looks at him curiously. "I don't think you answered our question.
What do you mean he's out?"
The Umpire grows more annoyed. "I said he was out so he's out, and so
will you be if you don't TAKE your seats."
Stone looks over at his grandfather and Uncle and sighs. Looking up in
the stands, he sees Tom, Lucky, Nikolas, Alexis, Laura and Stefan all
booing the call. Taking his seat on the bench next to AR he groans. "Why
are they doing this?"
A.R. shrugs. "I don't know. You looked safe to me."
Stone sighs. "Yeah I was, but man."
Kevin, Lucy and Gina arrive and join Mac, Felicia, Stefan and Laura.
Gina smiles at Laura. "Has Staci or Lu started yet?"
Laura shakes her head. "No, not yet. Wait there's Lu!"
They turn to watch Lu pick up her bat and swing. She seems shocked as
the ball sails deep into left field. The Cassadines rise and urge her to
run. Lucky can be heard over all them screaming "Go Lu, go!" Lu rounds
the bases and lands safely on third. She waves to her family and Georgie
takes the batter's box. She sails the ball over towards Lu but lands
safely on second. Lu isn't able to advance since the other player
managed to grab the ball. Serena approaches the plate and gets into
position. She swings at the first ball but misses--strike one.
Scotty claps his hands. "It's okay, baby. Shake it off."
Serena swings at the next ball and misses again. Lucy yells out to her.
"It's okay, Serena! Good try, honey!" Serena looks at the pitcher and
winks as the pitcher puts a fastball across home plate. Serena swings
and the ball sails over the fence. Lu, Georgie and Serena all round the
bases and make it across homeplate as the crowds cheer.
Lucy turns to Kevin. "Did you see that? She just popped that ball right
over that really big fence. I mean, who'd a thought a little girl could
muster up the strength to just pop that little white ball over the
fence. Though if you really think about it the ball isn't so little. I
mean it's a softball, which makes me wonder why on earth do they call it
a softball? It's not soft. When Serena and I were playing catch and she
beamed me on accident, of course-- it was not a soft ball. You'd think
they'd name it something like 'bigger than a baseball'..no wait that's
too long..um bigball?? No, no, that doesn't sound right..Girl's
ball..wait that's like- chauvinistic...Though the entire game of
softball is kinda chauvinistic..I mean why aren't the girls playing with
the same balls the boys are playing with?"
Felicia turns to Lucy. "Put a sock in it! We're trying to watch the
game."
Lucy looks at her offended. "Well, pooh! I was just commenting on the
game . I don't see why you're so snippy. I thought Georgie did really
well."
Mac smiles at Lucy. In a mock whisper. "She's sore Scotty was chosen as
the coach over her."
Felicia punches him in the arm. "I heard that. Why do they keep
overlooking me? I should be able to coach. I'd be a good coach. Stefan,
tell this chauvinist oinker I'd be a good coach."
Stefan looks at Mac with a twinkle in his eye. "Mac, Felicia says she
would be a good coach."
Laura laughs as she playfully smacks him. "That wasn't nice. She just
wanted some backup."
Felicia pouts. "Well, if all those girls get their hair cut like Scotty
I'm protesting!"
Nikolas beams as Staci approaches the t-ball stand. He leans over to
Lucky. "Watch this."
Staci swings and makes a clear hit down the center of the field. She
giggles as she makes her way to first base and then turns and blows a
kiss to her dad. Who catches it and blows one back to her. "That's my
girl!"
Stefan and Laura clap loudly; Gina begins snapping pictures. Lucky
whistles loudly and Staci begins to blush. Katherine watches Gina and
feels a pang of jealousy. She takes Nikolas' hand in hers. "She did
great, honey."
Nikolas kisses her gently. "Yes, she did. Lucky and I spent a lot of
time with her and Lu practicing."
Katherine watches Staci slide into second base. "And who taught her
that?"
Nikolas doesn't answer and runs down the bleachers quickly with Lucky
right behind him. The men reach the fence just as Staci rises and
brushes the dirt off her uniform. She smiles at them and calls out.
"Uncle Lucky! It worked!"
Lucky grins sheepishly at Nikolas. "I didn't know she'd use it. I was
teaching Lulu and she wanted to learn too."
Nikolas looks at him incredulously then turns to watch Lu take the mound
to pitch. "Lucky, if either of them break a leg because of you..."
Lucky pats Nikolas on the shoulder. "Relax, bro. This is just the
opening of the season. You have plenty of games to get worked up about."
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