Mistaken Identity

by Suanne

Chapter 1

Setting: Jacks' Suite at the Port Charles Hotel

Brenda was tired. Lucy had been in rare form. But, as usual, the shoot had been a great success. Lucy had driven everyone so hard that they were done two hours early. Six different outfits, six different hair styles and makeup changes. Evening gowns, swim suits, casual attire: an unending parade of accessories. As usual, Brenda had been a nervous wreck before the shoot started, but she'd calmed down as soon as the camera shutter clicked. No rash had broken out, she hadn't burst out of her clothes. In fact, Lucy had commented on the Brenda's appearance and the glow in her cheeks.

But the shoot was finally over. Now, all Brenda wanted was a long hot bath......and Jax. Preferably together. Jax hadn't been at the shoot today. "I hope he wasn't with Miranda," Brenda thought "I could take anything but that right now". Brenda let herself into the hotel suite. As soon as she stepped in the door she noticed that the lights were on. "Jax must be home" she thought happily.

"Jax? Jax, I'm home. You will not believe the day I've had. Lucy was terrific, but she drove everyone crazy. The photographer threatened to quit five times." Brenda cried out, looking around for Jax. "Jax, are you here? Jax?"

Just then, Brenda noticed a suitcase inside the door, with the monogram JJ on it. "That's odd," Brenda thought, "What would Jax need a suitcase for? How strange."

Brenda sighed and threw her jacket over the back of the couch. Even though the suitcase was here, Jax didn't appear to be home. Brenda headed toward the bedroom. As she reached the door, she heard a woman giggling.

"What on earth?" Brenda thought. "What is going on here?" Brenda pushed open the bedroom door, and couldn't believe her eyes. There was Jax, dressed only in red silk boxers, standing next to the bed, where Miranda reclined, wearing only the satin sheet from the bed.

"I don't believe this. I thought I could trust you." Brenda cried. She turned and fled the room.

Behind her Jax called out "Wait, you don't understand."

"I understand plenty. Sonny warned me about you. About you and Miranda. But I defended you, stood up for you. And then you do this.....how could you?" Brenda cried out. She turned and ran out the door.

A young woman, waiting outside of the Port Charles Hotel, saw Brenda run out the front doors crying. Concerned she took out her cell phone and hurriedly called for help. "Suanne, its Lenore. Major trouble with Jax and Brenda, send help."

Chapter 2

Setting: Jacks' Suite at the Port Charles Hotel

Jerry and Miranda are collecting their clothes, which they had strewn around the bedroom in their *haste*.

"Hurry up, Miranda," Jerry said "I'd just as soon not be here when Jax finds out that his wife caught me in bed with his first wife - and thinks I'm him."

"She's not his wife." Miranda snapped. "Do you think you should explain?" she asks, hoping he'd say no. Miranda didn't relish the idea of Jax finding out that she and Jerry were lovers - and had been on-and-off for a years.

"Why? Where's the fun in that? Come on, we have to go." Jerry replied, pushing her out the door.

"Jerry, why do you enjoy causing trouble for Jax? I thought you loved him." Miranda asks him, breathing a sigh of relief.

"What are brothers for?" Jerry asks. Miranda shakes her head at him. "Don't worry, I'll call him later and explain. Come on." Jerry says, pushing her out the front door.

Neither of them notice the young woman in the hallway. She overhears Miranda call Jax Jerry. "So that's it. I've got to call Suanne and tell her that Jerry's up to no good!" Lenore thinks.

Jerry and Miranda leave the hotel suite. They head for the airport where Jerry's plane is waiting. Within minutes they have clearance from the tower and have taken to the skies.

Setting: Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York

Tired and upset, Brenda has gone to her best friend. Tears streaming down her face, Brenda pounds on Lois' door. "Lois? Lois, where are you? LOIS!"

Lois comes running down the stairs. "Bren? What's up? You're going to wake the baby." She notices the tears streaming down Brenda's face. "Oh, honey. Oh. What's the matter? What's wrong? Is someone hurt? Jax? Sonny? Robin? No, not, Robin. Robin's not hurt is she?"

Brenda doesn't answer. She is too choked up with tears. She shakes her head at Lois. "Come on, Bren, you're scaring me here. What's wrong?" Lois asks again, holding her arms out. Brenda looks at her friend, but can't answer. With tears streaming down her face she walked towards her friend's open arms, needing solace and comfort. They sit down on the sofa, Brenda rests her head on Lois' shoulder. "How could he do this to me?" she cries softly. "Who?" Lois asks, still confused.

Outside of Lois' townhouse, a young woman watches the door. She takes a cellular phone out of her bag and calls for assistance. "Lenore, it's Holly. Suanne has me watching Lois' townhouse. Brenda just arrived, in tears. What should we do now?"

Setting: Back in Port Charles

Back in Port Charles, Jax's plane is landing. He has had a long day at work in New York, making sure a lucrative deal went through and can't wait to get back to his beautiful wife. He was running later then he'd planned, but when he'd seen the dress in the shop's window - he knew it was perfect for Brenda: simple and elegant. God knows he owed her more than a dress to make up for all of the torment he'd put her through lately. The lies and indecision. But no more. Tonight he was going to tell her....no SHOW her just how much she meant to him and how much he needed her.

Jax returns to the hotel suite. "Brenda? Brenda, are you here?" Jax calls out. He looks around the suite, noticing her jacket thrown over the couch, but there is no sign of Brenda. Figuring Brenda went out for a minute, Jax lays her dress down on the couch and walks into the bedroom. Entering the bedroom, he notices that the bed is rumpled, even though room service should have made it this morning. Just then the phone rings. "This is Jax." he says, picking up the phone.

"Jax, its Lucy. Tell Brenda that we will need to redo one of the scenes from today. The lighting wasn't right. I told that stupid photographer that, but would he listen to me? No, he would not. He was so smug and sure. I told him, yes I did, I told him that......."

"She's not here, Lucy." Jax interrupts.

"What do you mean she's not there'? She left here over an hour ago. She said she was heading straight home." Lucy tells him.

"Well, she's not here now. I'll have her call you." Jax hangs up. Jax picks up the phone again, dialing Ruby, thinking that perhaps she stopped for a bite to eat. Ruby answers the phone, but says she hasn't seen Brenda. A call to the Outback doesn't produce Brenda either.

Just then Jax notices a slip of paper pushed under the door. He picks it up, reading the message "Try looking in Bensonhurst". He opens the door, but doesn't see anyone in the hallway. Lenore hides behind the corner, tucking a notepad back in her bookbag.

"With all of the craziness going on perhaps she went to see Lois." Jax thinks. He looks up Lois' number and calls her. "Lois, its Jax. I seem to have misplaced Brenda. You haven't seen her have you?"

"She's right here, Jax." Lois tells him.

Loud enough for Jax to hear, Brenda calls out "Tell him I never want to speak to him again. Anything he wants to say to me --- he can say to my lawyer." Brenda tells Lois to hang up, which she does.

On the other end, Jax stands stunned. "There must be some mistake" he thinks.