Chapter 17
AJ got off of the elevator and started to walk towards Jason's apartment. As
soon as Renaldo and Johnny saw him, they rushed forward to block his path.
“Mr. Morgan gave us strict orders not to let you in. So why don't you turn
around and leave, before we are forced to do our job, and hurt you.”
“Hurt me? Is that a threat? Can you say “ assault and battery”? Did they teach
you that in you that in your Mob relations handbook?”
“Sure, we can say that. But if you don't leave here now, you won't be able to
say that again. Ever,” Renaldo said stepping closer.
AJ looked at the two bodyguards and realized that he wouldn't be able to get
past them on his own, so he decided to take a different approach.
“JASON! JASON! GET OUT OF THAT PENTHOUSE NOW! I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU! JASON!
GET YOUR A$$ OUT NOW!” AJ shouted at the top of his lungs.
From inside Jason rolled his eyes, as he listens to AJ shout. “Damn, he probably
has the court order” he thought. Jason got up and walked to door. He was going
to get served with the papers sooner or later, so it was better to get it over
with now. “All I have to do is make sure that the paternity tests are fixed”, he
said to himself as he opened to door.
When AJ saw Jason open to door, he smiled triumphantly. “I have a little present
for you”, AJ said, separating himself from the bodyguards.
Renaldo looked at his employer's cold face, and started to hold AJ again, but
stopped when Jason nodded to him, letting him know that everything was okay.
“Okay AJ, give it to me, and then leave” Jason said, holding out his hand.
“Well, aren't we cheerful this morning” AJ commented dryly. “I want to come in.”
“Why?” Jason asked
“What do you mean, 'why'? I'm sure you know what this is,” AJ said, holding up
the court papers. “I'm surprised that you're so indifferent about it.”
“You're right, I do know what it is, so why should I let you in and talk, when I
know its not going to change the writing on it?” Jason said, snatching the paper
from AJ.
“Jase, I could make this easy on you, or we could do this the way I want. I
would love to tell the family and the rest of Port Charles about this, just to
prove my point that there is no such thing as a “respectable” mobster.”
Jason opened his mouth to tell Renaldo to escort AJ out of the building, when
Caroline flashed in his mind. He had never given a damn about what the world
thought about him, but he didn't want Caroline to be the target of everyone's
anger. He knew that she would be upset if the whole of Port Charles, especially
Bobbie, turned against her. Jason sighed, and held open the penthouse door,
without a word.
Once they were both inside, and the door was closed, Jason turned to AJ and
looked at him expectantly. “Okay, say what you came to say, then get out”.
“Aren't you even going to look at the documents?”
“No. I all ready know what it says” Jason repeated, crossing his arms.
“Good. You have 48 hours to take Michael and get the test done. Oh, and I want
to know when the test will be taken, so that I can be there. I think that it
would be best if all if we had our blood drawn at the same time.”
“Are you finished?” Jason asked impatiently.
“Not yet. I just wanted to say that I was never going to tell the family… until
the results were in.”
“Fine. Not that it matters; Michael isn't yours.”
“Yes, I'm sure that you believe that. But you know what? You're starting to
sound like Carly, and that's really not a good thing. By the way, where is the
psychotic slut?” AJ said looking around.
Jason's eyes completely froze over, and he stepped closer to AJ. “I've warned
you before… NEVER insult anyone I love in front of me. You've done it twice. If
you do it once more, I assure you that you will regret it. Is that clear?” Jason
said, his voice low and cold.
AJ rolled his eyes and laughed bitterly. “Aye, aye, Skipper,” he said
straightening himself and saluting.
Jason stared at him, his expression not changing, then went to pour himself
another shot of bourbon. He took a sip, then turned to look at AJ. “You can
leave now.”
“Well of course I could, if I wanted to. But you know what? I don't want to, not
yet. I asked you a question. Where is the mother of my child?”
“Michael is not your son, and Caroline is out.”
“CAROLINE, huh? What did she get sick of using a borrowed name? Well where is
she? Is she out with the guy she went to the park with yesterday?”
Jason narrowed his eyes. “How do you know about Shane?”
“Oh, is that his name? Amy was telling everyone that she saw Carly-Caroline-
whatever at the park with some guy.”
Jason took another sip before responding. “Caroline is no concern of yours. What
she does, where she does it, and who she does it with, is none of your
business.”
“Protective, are we? Well that's okay, I didn't really want to know where the
lovely liar was. Although I am a little disappointed that I won't be here when
she sees the court order.”
“AJ, get out now, or Renaldo will escort you…”
“Well good, Renaldo is my favorite bodyguard…”
“And next time, don't scream at the top of your lungs in public. Number one,
people may think you're crazy, and two, other people live in this building.”
“Well, isn't this something? I'm receiving proper etiquette advice about
behaving in society from someone who goes around killing people.”
“Renaldo!” Jason called. “Please escort Mr. Quartermaine out.”
“Nope, you don't have to do that. I can walk.” AJ said, going past them.
Jason took his glass to get a refill of alcohol. He may end up getting drunk,
but hell, he needed something to block out all of the crap life was throwing
him.
***************
“Wait a minute, let me try and get this straight. Michael's father is a
recovering alcoholic, his aunt and grandfather are recovering druggies, his
great-grandfather is a conniving kidnapping bastard, and his grandmother was a
champion tramp? Is there anyone in that house who is normal?”
Shane and Caroline were driving back later that night. They had spent the day
riding, and talking bout each other's lives, since they have separated.
“Well, Ned seems pretty nice. I mean, he has to be cool to wear leather pants…
although I heard that he had an affair with his uncle's wife. But overall, he's
okay. And then there's Lila, Edward's wife. She's a real darling, although I
have no idea how she put up with Edward for all those years.”
“Well, at least they have two normal people to balance out the other five in the
mansion” Shane said, signaling to change lanes.
“Actually, there's more people living there, Reginald and Katherine. Reginald is
the trustworthy butler, who deserves some sort of Medal of Honor for putting up
with all the crap he gets served everyday. Katherine is a friend of the family's
or something. Anyway, I heard that Reginald once tried to poison Katherine, but
she survived. But, he's not the only person who tried to kill her. She was shot
once… and I helped with her physical therapy. Several months ago, she got pushed
or slipped from a parapet. Everyone thought that she was dead, but my mother's
ex-mother-in-law had secretly given her a Romeo and Juliet type drug, to make
her appear lifeless, and then nursed her back to health. Interesting family,
isn't it?” Caroline said, running out of breath.
Shane glanced at Caroline, as if she were crazy. “Umm, Caroline, are you sure
that you don't want to take Michael and go back to Florida?”
Caroline laughed. “I know it sounds scary, but I'm sure that everything will be
fine, as long as I keep Michael away from the Quartermaines.”
Shane glanced at her again, but didn't say anything. He decided to let the
subject drop, and they drove in silence for a while. He thought about how he
could provide Caroline and Michael with a normal life, and didn't notice that
the car was now driving on the wrong side.
“Shane! You're in the wrong lane! Stop!” Caroline cried, panicked.
Shane quickly swerved to the right, and kept the car steady. He couldn't believe
what he had just done. He was usually a very alert driver, and he was angry with
himself for letting other thoughts distract him.
“Caroline,” he began softly, “I'm sorry. I didn't realize…”
“Forget it, its okay. I overreacted” Caroline said, taking a deep breath.
“Considering that we both lost someone to a car crash, I would say that you
acted normal.”
Caroline leaned back in the passenger seat, and closed her eyes. A vision of
Carly's funeral flashed before her, and she bit her lip, trying to compose
herself. She then reopened her eyes, and looked at Shane. “You know, I still
don't have my licensee.”
“I didn't think you did. There's nothing wrong with it. I only drive because I
need to. I'm not the type to drive for pleasure, and I never take the long way.
Speeding on the highway this morning, was out of character for me. I guess, I
didn't think about her. “
Caroline was silent for a moment. “Sometimes I think about the night of the
accident. I wasn't there, but I replay an accident scene in my mind, over and
over again. Her face, her reaction, her thoughts…”
“Caroline, don't. Please don't. I think about those things too, but I try not
to. Carly was my twin, a part of me. When she died, a felt as if a part of me
died with her, and I'll never get it back,” he said, his voice filled with
emotion.
“I know”, Caroline said softly.
“I think about her murderer too. That's the way I think of him. I know that he
didn't mean or want to kill her, but that's what he did. The bastard filled
himself with alcohol, then endangered everyone on the road, by getting behind
the wheel. He got sentenced to a few years in jail, but so what? It won't bring
my sister back,” he said angrily. “She was 17. She had a life in front of her.
And he stole that. He stole it away from her. She'll never graduate from high
school or college. She'll never fall in love, get married and have children. And
it’s all his fault.”
“Maybe we shouldn't talk about this now,” Caroline said quietly, watching the
road.
“You're right,” Shane said taking a deep breath, and clutching the steering
wheel. The two of them drove the remainder of the way in silence, each thinking
of Carly Roberts.
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