Chapter 6

There was a knock on Victor Cassadine's door.  Victor raised his eyes from the 
newspaper he read and bellowed.  "What?"

He could hear Higgins' trembling voice coming through.  "S…sir?"

"Enter!"  Victor snapped together the paper and laid it to the side. Higgins 
scurried in carrying a folder.  Victor eyed the folder. "That had better be the 
Corinthos report or else…"

Higgins didn't need to wonder if Victor meant the unspoken threat. He knew he 
was a serious and impatient man.  "Yes, sir.  It's all here." He held it out and 
Victor grabbed it out of his hand.

Victor leafed through the pictures that came with the report and then started 
reading through the detailed report.  Higgins waited patiently. Every now and 
then Victor would read aloud something that caught his interest.  "Frank Smith.  
Luke Spencer connections, who in the god-forsaken town doesn't have Spencer 
connections?  Harlan Barret's daughter?" Victor cocked an eyebrow at that.  
"That annoying twit?"

Victor went back to reading.  "Married Rivera's daughter. Wife died in 
explosion. The Barret woman again.  Constantly bothered by the ineffectual PCPD 
and a certain Detective Taggert. Hmmm.  It says here that he had once stepped 
down and handed over his entire operation to the brain-damaged Quartermaine."

Higgins nodded.  He had read the entire report himself before passing it over to 
Victor. 

Victor continued.  "He returned to Port Charles after the death of this Morgan 
character.  Higgins take note; the anniversary of Morgan's death is coming up. 
My daughter will no doubt remember it and would perhaps like some sort of 
comfort.  I'm sure she was attached to man, seeing as how he is the father of 
her child."

Higgins whipped out his notepad and jotted down a note.  "Yes, sir."

Victor scanned the rest of the report and laid it down.  He leaned back in his 
chair and folded his hands.  "I don't like this Corinthos character around my 
family.  It may be necessary to remove him."  Higgins nodded in agreement.

~*~*~

Luke Spencer strolled into Sonny's penthouse as if he owned it. Sonny looked up 
from his papers in surprise.  "Hey Luke, what's up?"

Luke started to whip out a cigar but changed his mind.  "I'm not going to be 
here long, just needed to get your help on something."

Sonny shrugged.  "Anything.  Well, anything within reason.  What do you need?"

"I need some help with little Caroline. I know you two used to have a thing and 
I'm sure you will help. "

Sonny perked up.  "Carly?  What's wrong with Carly?  Is there something wrong 
with Michael?  What?" He stood up quickly.

"Whoa there, calm down.  There will be nothing wrong with Carly or Michael if 
you would just help me out a little."

"Luke, quit going around the subject.  Just tell me what's up."

"Well, I can't give you all the details just yet. All I need is for you to put 
some guards on her and the boy for a while.  Don't let her know there are guards 
on her.  She doesn't know what's up."

"I'll use some men she doesn't know.  Luke, is Carly in danger?"

Luke shrugged.  "Maybe, maybe not.  Don't know yet for sure.  I just want her 
protected.  Can you do that?"

Sonny nodded.  "I'll keep her safe, even if I had to lock her and Michael up 
here in the penthouse."

Luke chortled. "No need to go that far, buddy.  I doubt Garcia would approve of 
her living back here."

"Who cares what Garcia thinks.  Carly is her own woman.  If you were so 
concerned about Garcia, why didn't you ask him for help."

"Because he's too law-abiding.  Can't see what she sees in him. Not a usual 
Spencer woman's pick."

Sonny shrugged.  "Can't figure it out myself."

Luke put out his hand for a handshake.  "So, I can count on you for help?"

Sonny shook it.  "Sure thing but you better tell Carly what's going on and I 
would like to know also."

Luke took out his cigar and lit it up.  "You'll know when you need to know and 
so will she."

~*~*~

It was a typical night at the Spencer household. Carly was washing up the dinner 
dishes while Alex and Michael were helping clear the table. Carly took the plate 
from Michael and smiled down at him.  "Why don't you go and brush your teeth?  
Get them nice and clean and you can watch a little TV before bedtime."

"Can Alex read me a bedtime story?"  Michael asked hopefully.

"Sure, kiddo."  Alex nodded.

"Now go do what you were told."  

Michael scampered off to do what she asked.  Alex put a cup in the sink and 
placed a small kiss on her neck.  Carly smiled at him and continued washing the 
dishes.  Alex picked up a dishrag and started drying a few things.  

"So," he began, "I heard that Sonny Corinthos dropped by a few nights ago. Kinda 
late.  After I left."

"Oh?  Who told you?"  Carly started to scrub a pan.

Alex shrugged.  "I have my sources. Why was he here?"

"Why don't you ask your sources?"  Carly attacked the pan with gusto. 

"Because I'm asking you, Carly."  Alex said quietly. He put down the plate he 
was drying.

"I guess I wouldn't trust my source if he was a five year old boy either. I've 
told Michael about talking about things he shouldn't but he never listens."

"Carly…"

"I don't think I like what you are implying.  If you think something went on, 
just why don't you just go ahead and accuse me.  Show me how much you don't 
trust me." Carly snapped. She stared at the sink.

"I trust you, Carly, I just don't trust Corinthos."  Alex touched her on her arm 
to get her to look at him.

"Alex, I am a grown woman, I can handle Sonny, no matter what you think. So back 
off on this."  Carly dared not tell Alex about Sonny's outrageous idea about 
getting back together. She knew how he would react.

"I know you can but-"

"Then let me handle this. But let me just tell you this much, you wouldn't be 
here drying my dishes and reading bedtime stories to my son and I wouldn't have 
bought a new red silk teddy just for your eyes if I really were fooling around 
with Sonny. Because I would be honest enough with you to tell you what's going 
on and that we were over.  I've always been honest with you, haven't I, Alex?"

Alex nodded.  She continued.  "Good.  I've learned the hard way that I need to 
be truthful with the ones that I love and I love you.  Don't you forget." Carly 
leaned over and gave him a slow kiss.  "Now how about we get these dishes away 
and Michael all tucked in so I can model my new outfit?"

~*~*~

Next Day

Carly was just about to leave her desk and go on her lunch break. She was on her 
way to meet up with Emily, Eve, and Elizabeth for lunch; Karen couldn't get time 
off.  After Jerry and Bobbie had gotten married, Jerry and Jax had set up a J&J 
Jacks of Alaska office in Port Charles. Bobbie had convinced Jerry to give Carly 
a job as a receptionist.  Until then she had been volunteering at the hospital, 
which is how she became friends with Eve and Karen, and living off the money 
Jason had left her and what Sonny would give her.  

After a while living the life of a kept woman had worn thin and she had asked 
Bobbie for help finding a job.  Bobbie had suggested working for Luke, an idea 
that both she and Luke had immediately vetoed. So she was in luck when Bobbie 
had gotten Jerry to hire her.  She had worked part-time until this year, when 
Michael started kindergarten and was old enough, according to Carly, to spend 
the afternoon with Betty. Occasionally Carly would help out as an assistant to 
Jax's wife V, who had held a position in the company. 

Carly was just putting away some papers when Sonny showed up, flanked by his 
bodyguards, Vinnie and Johnny. She closed the drawer and said pleasantly.  "What 
can I do for you, Mr. Corinthos?" 

Sonny leaned down on the desk and whispered.  "How about I save that request for 
later, cupcake?  This is too public a place for what I want you to do."

Carly rolled her eyes.  "Do you have an appointment?  If not, I suggest you set 
one up."

"I'm here to see you."  Sonny straightened up.

"I don't have personal visitors on company time."

Sonny checked his watch. "It's time for lunch."

"And that means I'm on my break." Carly stood and gathered up her purse. "If all 
you came to do was tell me it was time for lunch, well, mission accomplished."

"I came to take you out for lunch.  Thought you could use a treat, How about 
it?"

"Sorry.  I have a lunch date. Next time you should call first before dropping 
in. It's the polite thing to do."

"So there will be a next time?  Who's your lunch date with?"

"Excuse me?  When did you become my third mother?"  Carly arched an eyebrow. 

Sonny just stared back her.  Carly relented. "If you must know, it's just me and 
the girls."

"Just you and the girls, huh?"

Carly nodded.  "Yeah.  Is this your new hobby, Sonny?  Stalking me? Because I 
think you should try model planes or train sets or something else.  Something 
that might prove fruitful."

"Carly, you were always my favorite way to pass the time." Sonny smiled slowly.

"Sorry but the Carly Playground is now closed to all men named Sonny.  You had 
your turn now it's someone else's."

"What about second chances, Carly?"  Sonny said seriously. "There's still 
something between us."

Carly shook her head.  "I told you how I feel, Sonny, there's nothing between 
us.  It's all in your head.  I've moved on and it's time you did too."

"What if I don't feel like moving on."

Carly sighed and checked her watch. "Look, I'm late.  If you want to stay here 
and rehash old memories, fine by me but I gotta go. See you later, Sonny."  She 
swept pass him and headed for the elevator.

She could hear him say behind her.  "You can count on it."

~*~*~

Emily and Elizabeth were just on their way out the door to meet Carly and Eve 
for lunch when Emily's cell rang.  She groaned and said to Elizabeth, "Go ahead 
and start the car. I'll be right there.  Hello?" she said into the phone.

"Emily?"  It was Nikolas and he sounded drained.

"Nik? Is that you?  What's wrong?"

"Emily, I've been sitting here all night thinking about things. Wondering what 
Elizabeth doesn't see in me." 

"Why? Nik, beating yourself up over this isn't going to help things."

"I know that, that's why I called you.  I need your help, Em." Nikolas sounded 
weary.

"Anything but don't you think you should be talking this over with Elizabeth?"

"I can't right now and I can't talk this over with anyone but you.  You said you 
would be my friend when I need you and I need you."

Emily sighed.  "Sure, what can I do to help?"

"Can you come out to Wyndemere?" Nikolas asked hopefully.

"Right now?  Nik, I can't…"

Nikolas cut her off. "I thought you said…"

"I will but I can't just drop my plans because you called.  I would have to 
rearrange my whole schedule to come out there and I'm supposed to be going to 
lunch in a few minutes."

"Are you sure you can't get out of it?"  

"I'm sure.  Look, I may have some free time later on in the week. I would have 
to check my schedule."

"Who are you going to lunch with?  They would understand if you said it was an 
emergency."

"But it's not."  Emily pulled out her small organizer out of her shoulder bag 
and flipped through it.  "Okay, Nik, I have a hour free tomorrow.  We can get 
together then."

"But…"

"Take it or leave it."  Emily said firmly.  "I may have a trust fund like you 
but I don't touch it. I actually like to work for my money.  I have a full 
schedule this week between photo shoots with Tom, finals at PCU, and trying to 
find time between that to spend with Sly, my family, and my friends."

"And I do work. I'm the 'Cassadine' remember? Are you trying to say I'm not your 
friend?  Or that I'm just not important?" 

Emily sighed. "No, that's not what I'm saying, Nikolas, you know that so stop 
twisting my words and trying to make me feel sorry for you. Because it's not 
working."

"All right, all right. I'll see you tomorrow then.  Call me to let me know 
when."

"Sure thing." 

"And Em?  Do me a favor and don't tell Elizabeth about this?"

"I don't like lying to my friends, Nikolas."

"Just don't tell her, please."

Emily gave in.  "Okay, I won't tell her.  Later." Emily hung up and went out to 
join Elizabeth in the car.

"What took you so long?  Who was that on the phone?"  Elizabeth immediately 
asked. 

Emily shrugged and lied.  "Just an appointment that I had to reschedule." Emily 
looked at her watch.  "God, we are late.  Carly's going to kill us."

~*~*~

Carly arrived at the restaurant and found only Eve there.  She sat down next to 
her with a smile and shrugged out of her coat. "Hey, where's Em and Elizabeth?"

Eve shrugged.  "No idea.  I was the first to arrive. I was just about to order. 
I'm starving."

"So am I.  But what I need is a drink."  Carly signaled for the waiter.

Eve arched an eyebrow.  "All ready?  It's just noon."

"Yeah, well, I earned it."  The waiter came over.

"Get a martini."  Eve suggested.  "They make some that are almost as good as the 
ones Chris makes."

"I guess I'll have a martini then."  Carly smiled up at the waiter then opened 
her menu.

Eve did the same, although her mind was all ready made up.  "So why do you need 
a drink so bad?"

"One word: Sonny."

"What's he done this time?"  Eve closed her menu. 

"Hmm, let me think."  Carly pretended to think it over.  "Well, let's see, he's 
causing trouble between me and Alex all ready."

"How's that?"

"My big mouth of a son told him about how Sonny came over and wanted to spend 
the night."

Eve's hand flew to her mouth.  "Uh-oh."

"Uh-oh is right.  Last night, Alex practically accused me of sleeping with 
Sonny."

"He didn't?"

"He did. Do you know how much it hurt when I realized that he didn't trust me 
that much?"  Carly curled her hand into a fist.  "Damn Sonny."

"I'm so sorry, Carly."

"Don't worry, we're fine.  He tried to cover it up by saying he didn't trust 
Sonny but I set him straight about what was going on.  I let him know I can 
handle Sonny and he didn't have to worry.  Then I got his mind off of Sonny."  
Carly smiled wryly. 

"But if this all happened last night, and everything's fine between you and 
Garcia, why do you need a drink now?"
 
"Because he dropped in to see me just before I came here and asked me out to 
lunch."

"What's wrong with that?"

Carly shot her a look.  "What's wrong with it is that I don't want him 
surprising me at work, asking me out to lunch and dropping innuendoes all over 
the place.  He decided, all on his own, that we still had something and that we 
should get back together and he hasn't even once considered my feelings about 
this. I don't want him back and I told him that straight out over and over."

"How does that line go again?  'Methinks the lady doth protest too much'?" Eve 
grinned.

"Eve, I am with Alex.  It's Alex and me now.  There are no feelings for Sonny 
left at all.  It was over four years ago."

"You are trying to tell me that you have zero feelings for one Mister 
Corinthos?"  Eve cocked an eyebrow.  "Absolutely none?"

Carly squirmed in her seat.  "Okay, okay, so maybe there is a little sexual 
tension left but that's all!  Sonny and I just had sex but Alex and I have 
love."

"Sure, sure, whatever you say."  Eve picked up her menu and started scanning it.  
Carly snatched it out her hands.

"I mean it!"  Carly exclaimed.

Eve just smiled.  "Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"