Chapter 68 & 69
GH2005.68 Solutions
Mark sits next to an incubator in the Mercy Hospital Nursery. His son
sleeps peacefully as Mark strokes his tiny arm gently with his finger
tips. Closing his eyes, he pictures Crystal, the day he first met her...
Flashback 2004
It's a warm summer night as Mark Drake walks down the dusty dirt road.
His face still bruised from where his stepfather mistook him for a
punching bag in his drunken stupor. If it wasn't for his mother, he'd
have been long gone ages ago, but he couldn't leave her with that drunk.
He lights a cigarette, and keeps walking. He liked the nights like this,
where the whole sky was lit up with stars so bright that it was hard to
remember it was dark out. Kicking a rock, he curses aloud. "Why ya gonna
leave me, Ma? Why didn't you go to the Doctor sooner?"
"You expecting an answer?" Out from beneath the dark clump of trees,
came his vision of heaven. Her long blond hair hanging over her
shoulder, framing her pretty face just right. She has on a simple blue
dress, but makes it look as pretty as a fancy satin gown.
"You shouldn't be out here all by yourself." He takes a drag of his
cigarette, which is promptly removed from his lip and into hers.
"Aren't you a knight in shining armor? My mama always told me I'd meet
one, but that he'd have a white horse with him." She takes a long drag
on his cigarette and smiles at him sweetly. "You really are a site for
my eyes, those muscles real?"
He laughs as they begin to walk towards a diner at the crossroads. "What
do you think they are? Plastic? Your mama know you're out walking the
town this late at night?"
She looks off towards the stars and mumbles quietly. "My mom is dead,
she and my dad were killed in a car accident. So, I doubt they care that
I'm out walking the streets. Besides I got you to protect me."
They reach the diner and Mark takes a seat on a bench outside near a
street light. She sits next to him, and once in the light, he can see
the dark circles under her eyes. "When was the last time you slept?"
She shrugs her shoulders and sighs. "Not sure, Johnny kicked me out of
the apartment a few nights ago, so it's kinda hard to sleep out in the
woods. Cars passing by, animals making noises."
He looks at her curiously. "I've never seen ya around in school."
Laughing, she leans her head on his shoulder. "That's cause I don't go
to school anymore. Not since they passed on. Johnny was taking care of
me for awhile, but he found himself one of those preppy girls. He has a
lot of money, ya know. Enough that he had me set up in my own little
apartment. What happened to your face?"
Usually a reserved person, Mark finds himself at ease with the young
woman sitting next to him. "I came home from football practice and my
stepdad was hitting my mom. He didn't see me come in and I swung on him.
He swung back, but I was able to knock him out. My mom is really sick,
and that bastard still uses her as his own personal punching bag. Well,
no more. I was just walking back from the school. I dropped off the
team."
She touches his face gently and whispers soothingly. "He's a bastard. I
bet you were real good on the team huh? Maybe a line backer or
something?" Watching his eyes bulge, she laughs. "Don't look so
surprised, my dad used to take me to games when I was little."
"You said you lived with a boyfriend, why not another family member?"
"I didn't have any other family. State put me in a foster home, but I
didn't like the people, so I split. They haven't found me yet." Pulling
out a little bag of white powder she looks up at him. "You want me to
help ya forget your troubles?"
He looks at the bag with disgust. "That stuff is nothing but trouble. If
you're on it, then you need to quit. You're too pretty to be wasted on
that crap."
Looking up at him with surprise she whispers softly. "You think I'm
pretty? No one's told me that for a long time." Looking down at the bag
and then up at him, she tosses it in the garbage. "There, I did as you
asked, now watcha gonna do for me?"
Entranced by her eyes, he manages to choke out. "What do you have in
mind?"
Taking his hand in hers, she smiles. "You look like a smart guy, do ya
know anything about the stars? My dad used to tell me about the
constellations, but I forgot them. Do you know about them?"
Leaning back on the bench and wrapping his arm around her, he uses his
other hand to point up at the sky. "That one over there is the Big
dipper.."
"Sir??"
Mark looks up at the nurse standing in the doorway. "Yes?"
"Sir, I need to feed the infant. There's a woman in the waiting room
with your friends who needs to speak to you." The nurse ushers him out
the door.
Jason Morgan shoots an angry glare at the woman standing in front of
him. "I don't care about your rules and regulations; he's the child's
father! He has the right to transfer his son to another hospital.
Especially, considering the questionable circumstances in the death of
his girlfriend."
The older woman keeps her professional tone. "Mr. Morgan, this really
doesn't concern you. To be honest, it doesn't look good for the young
man to be associated with you, considering your questionable past. From
what I understand, Ms. Monroe was unconscious the entire time she was
here; she was not married, so we have no proof that Mark Drake is the
father of that child."
Mark lunges towards the woman angrily. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVE NO PROOF? HE IS MY SON!!"
Jason holds the angry young man back, as Alexis Hardy walks into the
waiting room with Robin at her side. Turning towards the Social worker,
she extends her hand. "Alexis Hardy, I am representing Mark Drake in his
case against the hospital, and now it appears in his fight for the
custody of his son." (Turning toward Robin.)"Take Mark to have a blood
test, let's get the paternity question out of the way immediately."
Robin takes Mark by the hand and leads him out of the room. Alexis
smiles at the open mouthed woman beside her. "It is my understanding
that you have a problem not only with the question of the biological
father, but with Mark's age and living arrangements as well."
Selena Bivens nods in agreement and takes a seat, pointing a chair for
Alexis to sit in. "Mark Drake is sixteen years old-- a child himself.
His mother passed away eight months ago, and he took off from his last
foster home. I do not feel it is in the child's best interest to live
with a teen who has no means of employment and lives in a one room
apartment above a diner on the docks."
Alexis looks at her with determination and a grim smile. "Many good
people live in one room apartments but that is neither here nor there. I
spoke to my husband, Tom Hardy- Chief of Staff of General Hospital,
earlier today. He and I have agreed to be foster parents to Mark and his
child. Mark will be attending night school until he obtains his GED, and
will be working afternoons as a messenger in my Law Office. You'll see
here that Judge Markum has already signed and approved my request to be
his foster mother. Dr. Morgan suspects negligence in the death of
Crystal Monroe, and if she proves it, I'll be taking Mercy to court. I
would really rather not tangle in court with you over a custody battle
for Adam Drake as well, but I will-- if necessary."
Selena rises and extends her hand. "This isn't over, Mrs. Hardy. I'll be
checking into your papers and we will be keeping constant tabs on Mark
Drake. With you as his foster parent or not, he still does not fit the
qualifications as the best suitable parent for the infant."
Jason crosses his arms and stares at the woman angrily. "And, you of
course can tell that after having a two minute conversation with Mark?
You're right, Ms. Bivens, this is far from over."
Alexis watches the woman stalk off and then turns to Jason. "That didn't
help, Jase."
Jason shakes his head. "I don't like her. She's hiding something. I can
tell that she isn't being totally truthful with us."
Alexis shrugs before leading Jason down the hall way. "Everyone is
hiding something or has some personal agenda. The trick is not the lie
but what they are lying about and you're the better judge of that.
Jason, You know I have no problem helping Mark out. It took some
finagling though to get Tom to agree."
"What did you have to do?"
She makes a face. "I agreed to sell the penthouse and move into the old
Hardy homestead."
He laughs as he wraps an arm around her. "Never fear, I'll buy the
penthouse. Joseph could use a better place to live or Robin and I can
live there while the house is being built on the boathouse property."
Mark sits on the examining table and shakes his head in confusion.
"You're telling me that the classy lawyer who said she was representing
me, is going to be my foster mom? I don't do foster parents."
Robin looks at him firmly. "You do now; Jason says so. Listen Mark, I
have no doubt in my mind that you will be an outstanding parent to Adam,
but get this in your head..The State doesn't want to give you the chance
to do so. You are sixteen years old. You are going to have to go by the
plan that Alexis and Jason set up. That means you live with Tom and
Alexis, you go to night school, and you work with Alexis in the law
firm. Tom takes a lot of long business trips- seminars, other hospitals
and international health work, and having you around will set Jason's,
Tom's and Alexis' minds at ease over protection for her and Jason's
godson. Everyone benefits." She places a hand on his knee. "I'm going to
find out exactly what happened to Crystal, I promise you that. I know it
won't bring her back, but it'll help you gain closure. Jason and I are
here to help you with Adam. You can lean on us, Mark."
Mark's eyes well up with tears as he smiles weakly at her. "I'll never
forget what you are trying to do for me and my son , Dr. Morgan. I
don't know how I can ever repay you."
GH2005. 69 "To Hell With It"
Nikolas Cassadine descends the stairs at Wyndemere, and quickly grabs a
cup of coffee along with a copy of the Port Charles Herald. Flipping
through the pages as he drinks his coffee, he comes to a picture on the
fourth page Society column. "Ex Cassadine wife and estranged wife of the
current Mayor, A.J. Quartermaine goes for the trifecta, Gina
Quartermaine seems to be keeping company with wealthy attorney, Scott
Baldwin."
Throwing the paper aside, he growls bitterly as his phone rings.
"Cassadine.."
Katherine's silky voice answers seductively. "I'm upstairs waiting for
you."
"Keep waiting." He hangs up the phone and strides out of the parlor.
Katherine Bell hangs up her extension and looks at her reflection in the
mirror. "Damn You, Nikolas. You've been so attentive lately, what could
possibly have you so upset now?"
Staci Cassadine stands in the doorway scowling at Katherine. "Why are
you talking to yourself?"
Turning to face the young girl, Katherine forces a smile. "Honey, hasn't
your father ever told you about knocking?"
Crossing her arms, Staci assumes the casual Cassadine pose with her
hands crossed in front of her. "Daddy doesn't make me knock to enter HIS
room."
"Aren't you the precocious little angel."
Her eyes growing dark, Staci replies coldly. " Auntie Lu is the angel,
I'm the princess." Turning on her heel, the five year old saunters off.
Patting her stomach, Katherine lets out a sigh of frustration. "Your
big sister is a spoiled brat."
Gina Quartermaine sits on her desk, her arms wrapped around Scott's
waist. She lets out a moan as his hands begin to massage her back as he
kisses her deeply. Pulling away, She wipes her lipstick from his cheek.
"Scott, I can't do this here. I have a patient soon, and this is Kevin's
office."
Scotty cups her chin in his hand and smiles down at her. "Kevin gave you
the use of it, while he's away. I thought it only appropriate, that we
break in his desk."
She tosses her head to her left side and smiles at him. "I'm sure he and
Lucy have already done that numerous times."
Making a face, he backs away from the desk. "Well, that's one way to
spoil a mood. When is your last patient today?"
Hopping down from the desk, she leans over her desk and looks at her
appointment calendar. "Five thirty, Scott, stop staring at me."
She turns around to find him blushing. "How could ya tell?"
Grinning she rolls her eyes. "Believe it or not, you aren't the first to
do that to me."
Looking wounded, he crosses the room and wraps his arms around her,
pulling her close to him. "But I guarantee you, they never adored you
the way that I do. I'll pick you up at five thirty."
Gina feels her breath leave her as she watches the sexy attorney leave
her office. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"
Leaning on the doorway, with his arms crossed, Nikolas angrily spits
out. "I've been wondering the same damn thing."
Gina glares at him, as she takes a seat behind her desk. "Don't you know
how to knock?"
Striding into the room, he takes a seat on one of the chairs facing her
desk. "You never required me to knock before."
"Things change, what can I do for you, Nikolas?" Her tone is formal and
flat as she looks over her notes, not paying attention to her
ex-husband.
"I hear A.J. left for treatment yesterday. Does he know you're warming
Baldwin's bed while he's away?" Nikolas hides a smile as her head snaps
up angrily.
"Get the hell out of my office, and take your filthy mind elsewhere."
"Now that I have your attention, you and I need to have a talk." Nikolas
watches as Gina slams down her appointment book in anger.
"Talk to you? I think not, you haven't heard a damn word I've ever said
to you, why the hell would you start now?! Nikolas, your time is up; I
have a session in twenty minutes and I'd rather be in a calm and
rational mood, rather than being an angry mess. Leave my office before I
call security."
Smiling at her hungrily, Nikolas voice is filled with a smugness that
only a Cassadine can pull off. "My security guards know better than to
escort the CEO of General Hospital out of MY hospital. Gina, Scott is
using you. You have to distance yourself from him before he hurts you."
Throwing her wedding picture at him, she yells at him. "NO, IT'S YOU
THAT I NEED TO DISTANCE MYSELF FROM! You can't accept that another man
not only wants me, but that I want him back. Scott isn't like you and
A.J. He isn't controlling or power hungry. He is funny, sweet, and he
adores me. Get used to him, Nikolas. I have a feeling he'll be around
for a while."
Nikolas leans on the desk, his hands gripping the sides of the wood to
maintain his composure. "He could very well be the father of Katherine's
baby and you're a part of their plan to win millions of dollars in
Cassadine money."
Anger turning into rage, she lunges at him, grabbing him by the collar.
Pulling him toward her, she looks him hard in the eyes. "That's the most
horrible thing you've ever tried to do to me, you controlling BASTARD!
Listen to me, so that there's no mistaking my words, get the HELL out of
my office and stay the HELL away from me. You disgust me." Pushing him
away angrily, Nikolas looks at her in shock.
This was not the sweet, young girl he married a few years ago. In her
place stood a woman scorned, and years of rage threaten to explode at
the nearest target. Walking toward the door, he calls over his shoulder.
"I warned you, and when all hell breaks loose, you can beg me for
forgiveness then."
Evan kneels down and looks at the little boy in front of him. "Ian, I'm
about to introduce you to a very special lady. She'll be helping me take
care of you while you're in Port Charles, okay?" The brown eyed boy
nods as he smiles up at his father. Evan takes a deep breath and
inserts the key into the door. Opening the door, he takes Ian by the
hand and leads him into the apartment. "EM?? Babe, we're home."
Emily runs into the living room from the spare bedroom. Her hair is tied
back in a loose fitting ponytail, and there's a smudge of dried white
paint smeared across her forehead. Looking down at the little boy who
stands next to Evan, she smiles. "Hi Ian, I'm Emily."
Looking up at Evan, the little boy waits until he nods at him and then
toddles over to Emily. Holding out some wild flowers, he whispers shyly.
"For you"
Taking the flowers, she runs her hand over his cheek and smiles at him
broadly. "Thank you. Would you like to see your room?"
He nods, and allows Emily to take his hand and lead him into the
brightly colored room. The borders of the room are painted red, and the
walls are a creamy white that matches the streak on Emily's face.
Pictures of fire engines cover the wall as the little boy runs for the
toybox in the middle of the room. Evan stands behind Emily, his arms
wrapped around her, and smiles. "You did an amazing job. Em, you're the
best."
Reaching up and bringing his lips to her, she winks at him. "And don't
you forget it."
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