Chapter 7
Emily and Elizabeth arrived just as the waiter was taking Eve and Carly's
orders. "Sorry, we're so late. Em had to take some important phone call."
Elizabeth apologized as she sat down.
"Sorry. Couldn't put it off." Emily smiled as she took her seat. She turned to
the waiter. "I'll just have a large salad and a large iced tea, thank you."
"I’ll have whatever the lunch special is, thanks and an iced tea also."
Elizabeth gave her order next. She turned back to the group. "So what's up
ladies?"
"Other than the wild, wacky world that is also known as Carly's love life?" Eve
laughed. Carly nudged her in the side.
"What? Problems with Alex?" Emily asked.
"Not just Alex." Eve sniggered and then gasped as Carly kicked her in the shin.
She glared at Carly and reached down to rub her leg.
Emily immediately noticed. "Not just Alex? Who then? Hmmm?" Emily leaned
forward.
"No problems with Alex at all. Everything is fine, despite what Eve says."
Carly frowned at Eve. She didn't want to put her problems with Sonny and Alex
out for everyone to know.
Her leg still hurting, Eve ignored her frown. "Sonny's sniffing around again."
"Sonny? Sonny Corinthos? Wow." Elizabeth asked. She hadn't been good friends
with Carly until recently and barely knew about her past relationships.
"Look, we are not going to spend this lunch going over my romance life. I say
we concentrate on some one else's. Like the newly engaged girl's?" Carly
smiled. "Tell us, Eve, how are things now that you and Chris are going to tie
the knot. Have things gotten all staid and routine?"
Eve shook her head. "Things have just gotten better! Chris Ramsey has become
the most romantic man in the world since he's proposed, I guess he's afraid I'm
going to change my mind. And he has thrown himself into this wedding thing.
He's trying to organize everything himself. If I'm not careful, he'll be picking
out my wedding dress."
They all laughed. Eve turned to Carly. "Carly, remember how you wanted to throw
a party for us?"
"I'm the party mood." Carly nodded.
"Well, Chris isn't, sorry. He wants to just have a few friends get together for
dinner. He's going to cook and he's even willing to let Garcia in the apartment.
I hope you're not too disappointed."
Carly shrugged. "I don't mind, just tell me when."
"Well, today is Tuesday, so how about this Friday?"
"No!" Carly and Emily said in unison. They quickly looked at each other. They
knew what Friday was and there was no way that they were going to celebrate
anything on Friday.
Eve looked from Carly to Emily and back. Obviously Friday was important to both
of them. She wasn't worried about what Friday meant at the moment. She knew she
could weasel it out of Carly later on. "Okay. Is Saturday good for you two?"
Emily and Carly nodded. "I'm sorry for bursting out like that. It's just that
Friday is…" Carly began. "Friday is a special day. And I would rather not talk
about it."
Emily looked down at the table. "Neither would I."
"Okay, I can see we need a change of subject here." Eve looked around the table
and zeroed in on Elizabeth. "So, Miss Webber, how's the Cassadine Prince?"
"Uh, um," Elizabeth blushed. "We're, we're fine. Everything's hunky-dory."
Eve nodded. "Really. Geez, sounds like the only ones with perfect relationship
here is me and Em."
Emily nodded. "Sly and I are wonderful."
"You act like an old married couple." Carly teased, glad to have the topic off
her for once.
"It's good practice." Emily laughed.
~*~*~
Bobbie was sorting through some papers at the Nurses Station when Stefan came up
to her. "Stefan." She said. "Have you heard from Victor?"
He caught Nurse Amy Vining watching them and knew that this wasn't the place to
be discussing Victor. "Come with me, Barbara. We can't talk about this hear."
Stefan led her over to the empty waiting area. He then said, "I haven't heard
from him since the day you came to me. He knows that I may be the father but he
doesn't accept it. However, I do know that he's in the city."
Bobbie frowned. "We already know that. I just wish he would come out and do
something already. It's driving me crazy."
Stefan reached out and placed his hand over hers. "You're doing exactly what he
wants you to do. He is enjoying this. You need to make him believe that you
don't care and that you aren't afraid of him."
Bobbie resisted the urge to withdraw her hand and looked up at Stefan. "I'm
trying but…"
Stefan cut her off. "Place a smile on your face when you are at work, I'm sure
he has spies everywhere watching out reactions. Worry at home in private if you
must but don't let him know how much this is effecting you."
Bobbie looked down. "I just don't want anything to happen to Carly and Michael
because of him."
Stefan, who was still holding her hand squeezed slightly. "Victor wouldn't harm
Carly and Michael as long as he believes that they are his. If he didn't believe
they were he would have no interest in them. Fortunately, there is the
possibility that Carly is my daughter." Stefan looked at Bobbie meaningfully.
Bobbie immediately understood. "Perhaps we could some how convince Victor that
Carly really is yours."
"Without proof?" Stefan cocked his eyebrow. "Victor would demand concrete
proof."
"Yes, we will need some sort of proof." Bobbie started chewing on her bottom lip
slightly. "A blood test would work but now I am beginning to believe it's best
that Carly doesn't know anything about this at all."
"I would like to meet with Carly." Stefan said suddenly. Bobbie looked at him
in shock and removed her hand from his grasp.
"Excuse me?" She asked.
"I would like to meet with Carly." Stefan repeated. "I believe it is time I
meet my 'daughter' and 'grandson'."
Bobbie started to laugh. "You're going to acknowledge her *now*? Because Victor
has shown up and is laying claim to her? Tell me, how long have you known that
she was your daughter? Since you knew she was mine? Since you knew she was
sleeping with Tony? When?"
"Barbara…" Stefan began. Bobbie held up a hand to hold him off.
"No wait, I'm still trying to figure this one out. Were you just going to
forget that she even existed? It's kind of hard to do. Carly is the type who
tends to stick out. Why did you wait until now? And don't try to tell me some
crap about Helena because she wouldn't have cared at all about Carly or
Michael."
"Barbara." Stefan said wearily. "I do not want to fight with you over this. I
have my reasons for remaining silent about Carly and at this time I would rather
not give them to you."
Bobbie crossed her arms. "Well, you better be willing to give them to Carly
because if you believe you can just show up on her doorstep and say, 'Daddy's
home' and expect her to welcome you with open arms, then you've got a serious
problem with reality. Because Carly will be wanting answers and not just the
easy ones."
"Does this mean you do not mind my going to visit Carly?"
Bobbie threw her hands up in the air. "It's not like I have any say in the
matter. You've all ready made up your mind. I can tell you were just letting
me know out of common courtesy. But just do me this one favor. Can this wait a
least a week or two? Because I have a feeling that this week is going to be
hard on Carly and she doesn't need to deal with the Cassadines on top of
everything else."
"What's wrong with this week?"
"It's…" Amy came over to Bobbie with a big smile on her face.
It was clear that Amy was dying for details and it was clear that she wasn't
going to get any. "Phone for you, Bobbie. Some guy with a sexy accent and no,
it's not your husband."
Bobbie's eyes flew to Stefan's and they shared a long look. "I-I'll be right
back." Bobbie stammered and rushed over to the phone. Amy and Stefan watched
her go.
Bobbie picked up the phone. "Hello? Bobbie Jacks."
"Barbara, darling, did you miss me?" It was Victor. Bobbie looked directly at
Stefan and nodded.
"Victor, what do you want?"
"I want to know how you could let our daughter get involved with Quartermaines
and mobsters?"
"What?" Bobbie couldn't believe her ears. "Carly's a grown woman who can get
involved with who she wants and she's not your daughter, Victor."
Victor laughed. "So little Stefan's been telling you the same fairy tale, hmm?"
"It's not a fairy tale. I was there that night, Victor, I know what happened
after you passed out."
"I never passed out." Victor said firmly. "Sorry to cut this so short, darling,
but I need to be going. I have an appointment that I need to keep. Say hello
to Stefan for me. And give Luke my love." Victor laughed and then hung up.
Bobbie slowly put down the receiver. Stefan, who had frightened Amy into doing
her work, came over and stood by her. "What did he say?"
"He says… hello."
~*~*~
Later
Carly slid back into her seat and sighed. She had needed to get away from the
office and even though Eve brought up Sonny and Alex as many times as she could,
Carly had enjoyed the lunch immensely. She was just getting things into order
when a suave older gentleman appeared in front of her desk. The man had short
dark blackish-brown hair with a feathering of gray at the temples. He had heavy
lidded dark eyes topped with thick eyebrows. He had a quick smile on his face
and seemed to enjoy just being in the room. A small dark man that reminded her
of a rat followed him.
Carly smiled at him and said cheerfully, "Hello sir, what can I do for you?"
The man smiled broadly and looked back the small rat-like man who had followed
him. "So formal and polite! I like that."
Carly's smiled wilted a little. Why do I get stuck with wackos? "Sir? Do you
have an appointment?"
"Ah, yes." The man nodded. "I should have one with Mr. Jasper Jacks, the name's
Higgins, Victor Higgins."
Carly flipped through her copy of Jax's appointment book. "I'm sorry sir, your
appointment is for tomorrow, not today."
Victor threw a glare at Higgins before smiling warmly at Carly. "Well, that's
okay. These things happen." Victor looked down at Carly's desk and noticed a
picture of Michael. He picked it up. "Cute kid. Is he yours?"
"Yes." Carly resisted the urge to snatch the photo out of Victor's hands. She
didn't like the he was looking at the photo. "He's my son."
"I have a grandson just about his age."
"Is that so?" Carly said coldly.
Victor nodded. He could tell that she was uncomfortable. He replaced the
picture. "I adore my grandson. Does your son get his red hair from his father?
I can see he doesn't get it from you."
"He gets it from my mother." Carly was ready for this man to go.
Victor nodded and looked at the other pictures on her desk. There were only
three, two of Michael and one with Carly, Alex, and Michael. Victor zeroed in on
the one with Alex. "Is that the father? Your son doesn't take after him at
all."
"No. That's not him." Carly snapped. Talking about Jason still hurt at times
and she didn't need this man dredging up old memories. "My son's father is
dead. Sir, if you want me to try and fit you into today's schedule, I'm afraid
that's not possible."
Victor knew she was trying to be polite but was determined to get rid of him.
"No, I'll just show up tomorrow for my correct appointment, thank you. It was a
pleasure meeting you, Miss…?"
"Carly Spencer." Carly supplied, glad that he was on his way finally.
"Yes, Miss Spencer, it was indeed a pleasure." Victor smiled before turning and
walking out of the room with the rat-like man scurrying behind him.
V came out of her office with a stack of folders for Carly and noticed Victor
and his companion walking out. She dropped the folders on Carly's desk and
asked. "Who was that?"
"A Mr. Victor Higgins." Carly stared at the door after them. There was
something about that man she didn't trust. He had some sort of ulterior motive,
she could feel it. "He was a day early for an appointment with Jax."
~*~*~
In The Car
Victor reached over and smacked Higgins across the face. "You fool!" He
hissed. "I told you to set up an appointment for *today* with that jackass,
Jax, not for tomorrow."
Higgins reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, which he
pressed to his bleeding nose. "Sorry, sir, I was assured that the appointment
was for today not tomorrow."
"I put *you* in charge of doing this, not some incompetent underling."
"Sorry, sir, it will never happen again." Higgins vowed, nodding furiously.
"See that it doesn't or I will hold *you* fully responsible." Victor growled
before settling back in his seat. "Where is my grandson right now?"
Higgins whipped out the schedule that he had made up after having Michael
watched for several days. "He should be in the park with that Betty woman."
"Well, let's go to the park. I feel like seeing my grandson."
~*~*~
Sonny was going through some papers dealing with the docks when there was a
knock at the door. He looked up as Johnny opened the door and announced,
"Detective Garcia."
Sonny looked up with a slight smile on his face. "Alejandro, how nice of you to
visit. I thought it was Taggert's job to harass me. What do you think I have
done this time?"
Alex shrugged. "I'm not here on police business."
Sonny stood. "Oh, so this is personal business? What's this about?"
"It's about Carly. Stay away from her." Alex glowered.
Sonny tried not to laugh and folded his arms over his chest. "What? Did Carly
send you here with that message? I thought she was a big girl now."
"Carly thinks she can handle you but I don't want you around her at all."
"Isn't that for Carly to decide? Maybe she *likes* having me around?" Sonny
smirked.
Alex didn't say anything and just stood there and glared at Sonny. Sonny sighed.
"Look, I don't know why you're all fired up about this. Nobody makes Carly do
anything she doesn't want to do. If she doesn't want to be with you, she's not
going to play games with your head, she'll just walk right on out without giving
you a say in the matter."
"Kinda like the way she did with you?" It was Alex's turn to smirk.
Sonny frowned. He hadn't enjoyed the way he came home one day and Carly and
Michael were gone and all was waiting was a note saying that it was over and he
didn't appreciate Garcia bringing it up. "Yeah, sort of."
Alex, glad to finally get one in, decided to leave while on a high note. "Well,
I just hope I got my point across."
Sonny shrugged, he wasn't going to let Garcia get to him. "Door's that way." He
nodded in that direction before sitting back down to his papers, completely
ignoring him.
Alex clenched his jaw and stared down at Sonny before turning and heading out.
Johnny came back in after him. Sonny looked up, impatient. "What?"
"One of the guys said that someone was poking around trying to find out things
about you."
Sonny sat up. "Can you find out who?"
Johnny shook his head. "Sorry boss. Whoever it was has stopped. I just got
word about this."
Sonny nodded. "It's okay. But let me know as soon as possible if anything
happens again. Now what about the men I have on Carly and Michael?"
"Nothing's happening, boss." Johnny reported. "Everything's quiet. Is there
someone specific they should be on the lookout for?"
"No. Just have the guys make sure nothing happens to either of them." Sonny
dismissed Johnny with a wave of his hand. He sat at his table wondering what was
going on that Luke was freaked enough to ask him to put guards on Carly and
Michael. Just then Sonny spotted the small desk calendar on his table.
"Is this date right?" He whispered. "It must be. Man, I almost forgot what
Friday was. I wonder if Carly has remembered?"
~*~*~
In a dark room sat two men. The first man was tall with short blond hair; the
second was medium height with gray hair.
"Do you understand your assignment?" The gray-haired man asked.
The blond nodded. "Go to Port Charles, find out what Cassadine's doing there,
and then haul his butt off to jail. Simple."
"Don't screw this up or this will be your last WBS mission." Warned the gray-
haired man.
~*~*~
Paris
Robin was walking out of her small apartment when she bumped into a tall man.
"Oh, excuse me. My fault." She apologized.
She looked up and what she saw shocked her. "W-what!" she stammered before
fainting at the feet of the smiling man.
~*~*~
Wednesday
Emily got off the launch and walked up the dock towards Wyndemere. She hated
coming out to Spoon Island but since Nikolas had sounded so desperate on the
phone, she knew she just had to come out to see what was up.
Sly wasn't too happy when she cancelled on him. They barely had time for each
other, lately. As much as she wanted to tell him that she was helping out a
friend, she knew how pouty Sly could get when she blew him off to help someone
else. Sometimes she wondered why she even bothered. But she knew why, because
even at his jerkiness, Sly was the one for her, something she's never doubted.
She spotted Nikolas waiting for her and waved at him. He waved back. He came
walking to her, with a big smile on his face. Emily frowned.
"You're looking pretty chipper for a guy who practically begged me to come out
here. Nik, you better have a legitimate reason for me rearranging my whole
schedule." Emily said when he finally reached her.
Nikolas surprised her by grabbing her and hugging her close. He gave her a big
kiss on her cheek and said, "Thanks for coming, I really need your help."
Emily extracted herself from his embrace. "You don't look like it. What do you
need my help with?"
"I am planning a big surprise for Elizabeth, something to say 'I'm sorry for the
way I've been acting' and since you know Elizabeth the best, I was hoping you
would help."
Emily shrugged. "Sure, but why don't you try telling her that you're sorry?"
"No." Nikolas shook his head. "Words aren't enough right now. So will you help
me?"
"Nikolas, I already said I would, so don't worry! But how about we go inside so
we can plan this big 'surprise'?"
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