Episode 112

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Episode 112

Scene 1:

"And you would be?"

"This is my friend, Rick," Maura cut in before Rick could say anything. "We were in town for a business meeting and thought it might be nice to stop by. I'm sorry, we should have announced ourselves." She stole a glance at Tristen who was planted firmly next to Bruce for protection.

"That would have been nice," Bruce replied warily. "But seeing that you're here..."

"Oh, no! We're not staying," Maura explained. "We just wanted to say hello to Katie." Bruce and Katrina exchanged the briefest of looks.

"You'll stay for Tristen's after school treat of course," Bruce said, his manner changing quickly. "Tristen, run tell Karla that it's time for milk and cookies. And tell her to bring a tray of tea as well." He pushed the little girl off toward the kitchen. Maura was still dazed at the sight of her but she wanted to soak in every detail as long as she could. "Sit down," Bruce ordered as soon as she was safely out of earshot. "What in the hell are you doing here, Maura?"

Maura flinched at his tone but held her chin high. Rick's hand slipped into her, squeezing it reassuringly. "I came," she started, "because of Rick."

"He's the father," Katrina interrupted.

"I see. And do you think you can just waltz in here and expect to be introduced, is that it?"

"No," Rick answered slowly. "I just found out, Mr. Ford. I wasn't allowed an opportunity to know her or make any decision concerning her. I asked to see her that was all. And I think your tone with Maura is unnecessary."

"You do? Well, Mr...?"

"Upton."

"Mr. Upton, perhaps you are not aware of the legal issues involved here?" Bruce asked. "You see, when Maura gave up her rights to Tristen, she also gave up any visitation or contact she might have had. In fact, didn't you say, Maura, that you would never come to New York willingly?"

"Trust me, I didn't come willingly," Maura muttered.

"Regardless, she has no rights to Tristi and neither do you, Mr. Upton. I suggest that you take this short meeting with her and make it your last."

Tristen and the maid emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray of cookies and tea. Tristen, happy to be home apparently and over her initial shyness, studied them both as Karla poured tea for them. She took a cookie from the tray but waited until they had their tea before taking a bite.

"Tell us about your day in school, Tristi," Katrina prompted stiffly.

Tristen flicked a knowing gaze at her but launched into a diatribe against a boy named Rupert in her class. Maura listened and let herself relax momentarily, pretending that it was Katrina and Bruce who were the intruders. She spoke in clear sentences with a voice very much like Piper's and a way of holding her head like Rick.

"All right, Tristi. I think that's enough," Katrina said after a full fifteen minutes about how evil Rupert was. "Say goodbye to our guests and go upstairs and change out of your school clothes." Tristen obeyed, saying a quick goodbye to Rick and Maura.

"You've seen her," Bruce announced getting to his feet. "Now, leave."

Scene 2:

Stephen stood his ground against Hallie's tone and defiant stare. "I was looking for Jamie but seeing you is here is certainly a surprise. I thought you weren't on speaking terms with your aunt."

"I needed something from her that she wouldn't give me," Hallie returned sharply. She frowned at him. "What do you want Jamie for? He's not here anyway."

"Business," he answered waving her questions off. He wasn't about to get into a conversation about who he did business with. "Now, Hallie, what was it that only Gwen could give you?"

"None of your business. Now, get out of my way." She brushed past him, letting the heavy door of Four Winds slam behind her. Stephen watched her storm towards her car. Jamie wasn't here so there was no need to bother anyone here. He followed her to her car, actually enjoying how annoyed she was at the moment. She fumbled with her keys, trying to get the car unlocked.

"Hold up Hallie," he said, stilling her hands. "What is the matter? Every time I've seen you lately, you've been upset by something." Hallie jerked free of Stephen's restraining hold.

"Why can't you leave me alone? You said you would but you keep coming around to torture me," Hallie demanded, spinning around to face him. "I told you that I loved you and you threw it back in my face. I'm a game to you, Stephen. And I hate the way that makes me feel. But right now, my problems have nothing to do with you."

"So you admit you have a problem. Lay it on me, maybe I can help." He leaned against her car door and folded his arms across his chest.

"No. Get out of my way, Stephen."

"Come on Hal...." Another car pulled up behind his, parking in the driveway. Stephen half expected Jamie or Luke to emerge but it was someone he didn't know. He walked towards them getting both their attention.

"Excuse me. Hallie Lennox-Conlan?" The man asked of Hallie.

"Yes, that's me," she replied crossly.

He reached into his breast pocket and pulled an envelope from it. "This is for you," he said handing her the envelope. She snatched it out of his hands and tore it open. The man didn't wait for a response, retreating instead to his car to leave. Stephen turned his attention back to Hallie who had gone a pale shade of pink.

"What is it? Hallie?" He asked. Her hands were gripping the paper tightly and her eyes had narrowed dangerously. "Hallie..."

She shoved the papers at him. "He is not getting away with this," she muttered through gritted teeth. Stephen took the papers and read over it. Legal separation? Luke Conlan had more of a backbone than he realized. He skimmed it, catching the reason at the bottom. Irreconcilable differences? Well, made sense after all.

"All right," Stephen said looking up at her furious expression. "What in the hell is going on Hallie? And don't lie to me."

Scene 3:

"You didn't page me," Ian scolded her from the doorway. "I had to lie to my mother."

"Poor baby," Georgia snapped, pushing the door closed on him. Ian caught it with the palm of his hand holding it open.

"Is this about what happened today at the hospital? Because if it is Georgia..."

"I'm not listening to you, Ian. You were rude and officious and insulting and..."

"And exactly what John Stafford and Jamie Mason want in the ER," Ian added. "I had to be professional."

"That wasn't professional and that is not an apology." She planted herself in front of him determined to keep him out.

"Georgia, please. I'm sorry all right? I just didn't think it was wise to let on that we...knew each other outside of work. Tomorrow, I'll tell John how wonderful you are. Just let me in." He offered her a puppy dog gaze, batting his eyes innocently. Georgia rolled her eyes at his efforts but relented, stepping away from the door just enough for Ian to slide through.

"You can come in, but I don't know if I've forgiven you," she pouted as he passed her.

"Well, don't stay mad too long. I brought peace offerings," he said dropping a paper bag on her table and turning back to her. He held out a long stemmed rose and grinned playfully. "Chinese food from the Royal Dragon and a rose which isn't nearly as beautiful as you."

"You'll have to do better than that," Georgia replied taking the rose. "I'm still angry."

"I can help you work that anger out," he murmured pulling her against him crushing the rose between them. He lowered his head to kiss her but she turned her cheek to him at the last second. "So," he said pulling back. "That's how you're going to be?"

"You could have told me about the job," she scolded. "Or you could have told me your last name."

"You didn't share your last name either," Ian reminded her letting her go. "And last night it didn't matter. If I had known you were going to be working for me...well, I wouldn't have seduced you," he added matter-of-factly.

Georgia frowned. "You seduced me?"

"All that matters is that we did connect last night. I can't go back and change it and I don't want to either. The fact is, Georgia, I think we have something here. Something pretty damn good. Do you want to give that up? Because I don't think we've fully explored where we could go."

She couldn't deny that she'd enjoyed their night together. But his treatment of her at the hospital set off warning signals in her head. He had been so different there. Granted, they barely knew each other. Yet, in the space of a night, Georgia felt more connected to him than she had to anyone else in years. She lifted her gaze to his face, smiling repentantly.

"No, I don't really want to give that up," she replied at last. "But, Ian, promise me that you will never treat me like that at the hospital again."

"I promise as long as you promise me something." He cupped her chin in his hand. "I have to ask, for both of our careers, Georgia, that we keep our personal relationship between us. It just wouldn't look right if we were seen as something more than coworkers." Georgia nodded in agreement. She knew he was right. Besides if it ever became more serious, they could deal with making it public then. "Good girl," Ian grinned. "Now...I believe I owe you a raincheck?"

Scene 4:

The color drained from Hallie's face as she stared at Stephen's face. He was slightly angry and more than a little annoyed from the expression he wore. She lifted her chin defiantly and stared at him, unwilling to allow him any satisfaction. It was bad enough that Luke had done this, but to learn he had in front of Stephen was too much.

"Hallie?" Stephen stared at her expectantly, waiting for an answer. "Don't tell me then. It isn't as if I can't see it all for myself. What did you do to lose Conlan?"

"I didn't do anything!" Hallie snapped, snatching the paper from Stephen's hands and stuffed it into her wallet.

"Then he did something. Come on, out with it. I know something happened," Stephen pressed. "Did you cut him out on some deal? Or is this his way of throwing a temper tantrum?"

"Fine!" Hallie exploded, her anger with Luke boiling over. "You want to know, I'll tell you. He's having an affair. All right, are you happy now?"

Stephen's expression smoothed considerably. He had the decency to look sorry for a change, she noticed. "No, I'm not happy about that. Do you know who with?"

"Oh the irony of it all, Stephen. You had an affair with a secretary and that was bad enough, but Luke! He did it up right. He's having an affair with my secretary. Nice of him to top you wasn't it?"

"I'm sorry, Hal. Really," Stephen whispered.

Oh she just could not take his pity. She pulled her car door open and threw her purse inside. "Don't be. I'm not. Luke Conlan is not going to hurt me." A shadow of a smile crossed Stephen's face. "What are you smiling about?" She snapped.

"You. I seem to remember when you found out about Maggie, you weren't as nice as you're being now," he replied.

"I'm not letting him get away with this, Stephen..." She covered her face with her hands, taking a deep breath. "I don't know why his affair bothers me so much," she admitted. "I don't really care, you know? It doesn't hurt the same way it did when you...it's different. It's almost like I should angrier about it. But I'm not. I don't even care that he slept with Liza Gennaro. What bothers me is how blatant he is about it! It's humiliating, Stephen."

Stephen placed a hesitant hand over hers. "I know. Look, why don't you come home with me?" She opened her mouth to snap back but he held up a hand silencing her. "For dinner. I'll make you something to ear and you can pour your heart out if you want. That's all."

Hallie stared at him. "Are you being nice to me?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"There's a first for everything. What do you say?" Where else could she go? Her home with Luke that he hadn't been since the fire? She nodded stiffly, letting him lead her to his car. He opened the door for her and waited as she climbed inside.

"Stephen," she said as he started to close the car door for her. "Thank you." Stephen only smiled and closed the door. She didn't want to think about Stephen's reasons for being nice to her suddenly. All she really wanted was to forget that once again, someone else had been chosen over her.