Missing by dndmom (sequel to GNO)

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter 10


When Mac, Skye and Felicia arrived, everyone in the penthouse was gathered around the laptop screen, with Maxie and Dillon at the center of the group. Luke noticed them arrive, and shooed everyone away, leading Mac and Felicia to the screen. Maxie saw Felicia, and jumped up to hug her, “She’s alive,” Maxie whispered, crying softly.

Mac looked at the screen, and smiled – she was alive…but she was so still. “Does it look like she’s ok? Has she moved?”

He saw Dillon nod, “Yeah – she was moving before - she’s just asleep now. She sleeps like a rock if she’s really tired.” Dillon felt Mac tense up behind him, and Dillon’s eyes widened as he just realized what he’d said.

Mac grimaced…he’d known they were sleeping together, but it hadn’t occurred to him that, at this point, Dillon knew more about Georgie than he did. He put a hand on Dillon’s shoulder. Mac had promised Georgie that he wouldn’t try to hurt Dillon anymore, and he’d keep that promise. Besides, they were on the same side now.

“Can this be traced?” Felicia asked.

“I’m trying, but whoever set this up is pretty good, “ Deacon answered from a second computer by the couch.

Felicia looked at Mac, “Maybe we should call in some help.”

Mac nodded, “I called Sean last night – he said someone would be contacting us.”

Luke looked at Mac, an eyebrow raised. Mac looked back, defiantly, waiting for Luke to make a comment, but Luke just shrugged, “Hell, I probably should’ve called them in when they took Lucky.”

“The WSB?” Ned asked.

Mac nodded, “Georgie is the daughter of one of their agents, and she’s been taken by Faison. Either one of those alone would be enough to get them interested.”

Maxie listened to the conversation. She should have been glad that the WSB had been called in – there would be a chance that Frisco would come home…but somehow it didn’t seem like enough. She looked over at Deacon hunched over the computer, and wondered how good he was at this. How good would the WSB be at tracing the computer link? No – for Georgie she had to find something better. She excused herself from the group, and went out to the balcony, pulling her cell phone from her pocket. She browsed through the phone list until she found his number, and then hit dial. After a few rings, a distracted voice answered, “Hello?”

“Garrett?”

“Yeah, who….wait, Maxie?”

“Hi,”

“Hey…when did you get back?”

“Yesterday….look, Gar, I need your help again.”

“Did that website pop back up?”

“No…look, have you seen the news?”

“C’mon, Maxie, when have I ever watched the news?”

“There’s an Amber Alert out here in Port Charles…it’s my sister, “ her voice cracked a little as she spoke. She hadn’t had to say that out loud before.

“Shit…Maxie, “ the line went silent for a moment, “what can I do?” he asked.

Maxie took a deep breath, “We know who took her. He’s someone who has caused trouble for my family before and,” she paused again. Her throat had tightened up – she swallowed again, and wiped her eyes, “he emailed a link to her boyfriend…we don’t know why, but it’s a webcam of her.”

“Mail it over to me – I’ll trace it for you.”

Maxie sniffed and smiled, “Thanks, Gar.”

“Hey – you know I’ll always be your nerd in shining armor.”

Maxie smiled a little, “Thanks, Gar. Bye.” The website from high school had popped back up in college, and Garrett had shut it down for her – she trusted him, and, if anyone could track the web cam, it would be him. Maxie returned from the balcony, finding that Felicia had left with Jason to work on tracing the surveillance cameras at the docks, and Mac, Skye and Luke were each at computers, looking through screens of phone records from the night before. Maxie sat next to Dillon, and looked at the webcam. She reached out and took his hand. “She will be ok, “ Maxie insisted. Dillon nodded, his eyes fixed to the screen.



Ned looked at Dillon…there was no way he’d get Dillon away from the computer. This called for a plan B. Ned walked over to Mac and tapped him on the shoulder, “Can I talk to you?”

Mac stood up and nodded toward the kitchen, “Let’s get some coffee.”

Ned followed him, and leaned against the door as Mac poured himself a cup of coffee. “I’ve got a plan to distract Tracy.”

“OK?” Mac said, prompting him to continue.

“I was going to take Dillon to his father.”

Mac raised an eyebrow, “That would do it.”

“I spoke to Jenny earlier – told her I’d be bringing Dillon over today.”

“You’re never going to get him away from that computer.”

Ned nodded, “Yeah – I can see that. I was going to have Lucas dress in Dillon’s jacket, to try to get Tracy to follow him while we got Dillon to the plane – but, I think I’m going to need to modify that.”

Mac smiled, “That explains Lucas’s hair this morning.”

Ned nodded, “If I can get Tracy to follow Lucas to the plane, thinking it’s Dillon, it will at least get her out of the way for a day or so. We can pick up Paul in California, and, once he gets back here, he should be able to keep her busy. But I need your help.”

“What do you need me to do?”

Ned walked to the coffeemaker and poured himself a cup, “Call Paul and Jenny and tell them what’s going on. I told them I’d be bringing Dillon to them, but I don’t have much credibility with them to start with, so, if I suddenly show up without Dillon…”

Mac nodded, “Give me the number, and I’ll make the call. Are you using the Quartermaine jet?”

Ned shook his head, “No – it would be too easy for Tracy to track that – I want to keep her a few steps behind us. Jax is letting us use his plane.”

Mac was about to say something when the door opened and Lucas looked into the kitchen, “Ned – do I have time to call my Mom before operation spikey hair commences?”

“Well, actually we’re going to plan B,” Ned answered.

“Plan B?”

“You’ll see – just tell Bobbi that you’re going to be with me for the day – I’ll have you back tomorrow, ” Ned put his coffee down, and walked to the door, steering Lucas out of the kitchen, and leaving behind him.



Maxie couldn’t watch the web cam any longer – it just made her feel more helpless. She had gone to the nursery to talk to Elizabeth, who was getting Cameron dressed. Maxie watched from the doorway and smiled as she looked at Cam – he looked so much like his father. She remembered when Zander had been killed – the sick feeling she got in her stomach, the helplessness…wondering what she could have done to stop it. She closed her eyes and hoped that she wouldn’t go through that again, especially not for her little sister.

“Hi,” Maxie heard a voice next to her – she looked down, it was Michael Corinthos.

“Hi,” she said, forcing a smile. “Thanks for having us over.”

Michael nodded, “It’s going to be ok, “ he said, very solemnly. Maxie smiled, she tried to say something, but he throat had tightened up. Michael continued on, “My sister was kidnapped too, but my dad got her back, and he’s going to get your sister back.”

Maxie smiled a little, but started to cry softly. Michael saw her crying, and reached up for her hand. She grabbed on to his hand and squeezed it – Michael reached over to her and hugged her around her waist. Maxie hugged him back, dropping to a knee, and crying.

Elizabeth heard them by the door, and picked up Cameron, walking over to Maxie and putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. Maxie looked up, and wiped her eyes. She stood up unsteadily, and looked at Michael, “I’m sorry.”

Michael nodded, “It’s ok. Sometimes you just need to hug someone.”

Elizabeth smiled, and brushed Michael’s hair away from his face, “You’re a smart kid.”

Michael put on a lopsided grin, “That’s what my Mom says.” He looked at Maxie, “Are you going to be ok?” Maxie nodded – Michael looked back at her with a serious expression on his face, “Ok – if you need anything, just ask.”

Maxie replied, “Thanks,” and watched as Michael left.

Elizabeth stood next to her, “You can tell he’s Sonny’s little boy,” she commented affectionately.




Lucas looked through the plane window – aside from watching Tracy argue with the security guard at the airport, the trip had been pretty uneventful. For the last five hours after that, he’d just been staring at the tops of the clouds. Lucas leaned back in his chair and looked over at Ned. “You want to fill me in on some of the details now?”

Ned closed the magazine he’d been reading, and smiled. “We’re going to California, and we’ll be bringing Dillon’s father back to Port Charles.”

Lucas stared at Ned, his eyes widening a little, “You’re kidding…your Mom is going to go ballistic.”

Ned’s smile faded, “Yeah, I know.” Ned stood up and started pacing, “I wish I didn’t have to do this to her, but…but, I just don’t see why she’s never liked Georgie, and I could see her doing something that would hurt the chances of Georgie coming home safely.” Ned sat down again and leaned forward toward Lucas, “I like Georgie – she’s a wonderful girl, and probably the best thing that’s ever happened to Dillon. And I’m not going to let my mother punish her any more for that.”

Lucas nodded, “Georgie’s been through a lot with your Mom.”

Ned nodded in agreement, and ran a hand over his eyes, leaning back. The phone next to his seat rang, and he picked it up. He listened for a moment, and then said, “Thanks.” Ned looked over to Lucas, “Get buckled up – we’ll be landing in a few minutes.”



Mac had gone home to pick up a few things Maxie had forgotten, and paused to look into Georgie’s room. He saw the empty bed and remembered back to when she was little, and would wait up for him at night…he’d tuck her in, and she’d ask him about work. She said she wanted to be a police officer then – he knew she was young, and that she’d most likely change her mind, and she was probably saying it because she thought he’d like to hear it, but when he thought of Georgie, that was always the first thing that came to mind.

He looked over at Georgie’s dresser – there were photos of Dillon, Maxie, Felicia, Brooklyn, Lucas, him…he picked up one of Georgie and Dillon. It looked like it was one from a strip of photos taken at a booth – Georgie must have been sitting on Dillon’s lap, her head was turned, nestled against Dillon’s cheek. Dillon was looking at the camera and smiling…they were both happy.

Mac got an idea – he put the photo back and went to his room, pulling out a box from the back of his closet. The box held the last few remnants of his life before joining the police – the things he couldn’t get rid of, “just in case”. He pulled out a black notebook, and leafed through the pages, wondering if the contact he was looking for was still in business, and could get him what he needed.



Ned saw Paul waiting by the gate to the runway – as soon as the plane had stopped, and the ramp was down he pushed past the guard, and headed for the plane. Lucas got up to leave, but Ned held up a hand to stop him. “I think he’s going to want to take off right away.”

Lucas sighed and looked out the window next to Ned. He shook his head, and went toward the plane’s kitchen, “Great – I finally make it to California, and I don’t even have time to see the beach…”

Ned picked up the phone to the cockpit to talk to the pilot, “Jim – sorry about this, but how soon can we turn this around and get home?”

“Mr. Jax said you might want to turn around quickly – we just need to wait for the refueling to get done. We should be out of here in about half an hour, Mr. Ashton.”

Ned watched Paul climb into the cabin, “Thanks, Jim, “ he said into the phone, hanging up and then turning to Paul. Ned extended a hand, “Hi, Paul.”

Paul looked at Ned, his face expressionless – but he shook Ned’s hand. “Ned.”

Lucas came back from the kitchen, swallowing the last piece of a cookie, and stopped short, watching Ned and someone who must obviously be Dillon’s father staring at each other. Lucas wiped his hands on his pants, and extended a hand to Paul, “Hi – you must be Mr. Hornsby. I’m Lucas Jones.”

Paul looked at Lucas, a little surprised, “Bobbie’s little boy?”

Lucas smiled, “Yes, sir.”

Paul smiled back, “Are you a friend of Dillon’s?”

“Um – well, he’s going out with my cousin, “ Lucas hedged, not wanting to have his opinion of Dillon be fuel for the conversation for the next few hours on the plane.

Paul nodded, ignoring the fact that Lucas hadn’t really answered, “That’s Georgie, right?” Lucas nodded. “Is there anything I can do to help find her?” Paul asked.

“You’re doing it, “ Ned interrupted, and motioned for Paul to sit down. “Look – I don’t know why, but Tracy has decided that she doesn’t like Georgie, and you know how she can take a situation like this and just make it worse.”

Paul nodded, “More than anyone.”

“Right – well we need someone who can keep her away from Dillon for a while - away from the search for Georgie until she’s home safe and sound.” Paul looked at Ned, suspiciously. “Look, Paul, “ Ned continued, “I know you don’t like me – but, as far as this is concerned, my only motivation is getting the kids through this.”

Paul looked at Ned, his face expressionless. Ned realized there was another detail that Paul would need, “There’s something else, though” he started.

“Yes?” Paul asked, suspiciously.

“Cesar Faison kidnapped Georgie.”

Paul’s eyes widened, and he shook his head, “No – the WSB said he’s dead.”

Ned shook his head, “They were wrong – we’ve got witnesses.”

Paul looked from Ned to Lucas, who nodded to confirm what Ned had told him. “Why? Why did he take her?”

Ned shook his head, “We’re not sure. Luke Spencer doesn’t think it’s revenge, but we don’t know for sure.”

Paul nodded, his face drawn, and leaned back in the chair. “When do we take off?” he asked.

Ned sighed, and glanced over to Lucas. “I’ll check with the pilot, “ he said, this time walking to the cockpit instead of phoning. He needed to get away for a few minutes – there were too many painful memories associated with Paul and that time in his life.

Lucas smiled nervously at Paul, “So….it’s going to be long flight back, isn’t it?”

Paul laughed humorlessly, “One of the longest of my life.”



The plane landed just before midnight, and Ned had a car waiting to take them directly to the penthouse. Ned and Lucas had explained everything that had happened since Georgie had been kidnapped, and Ned had tried to fill in what he could for Paul about Dillon’s life. Paul studied Ned’s face as he spoke about Dillon – whatever Paul felt about Ned aside, he could see that Ned did genuinely care about his brother. When Paul had asked for a picture of Dillon, Ned gave him one from his wallet – a picture of a young man with wild hair, Ned, and Tracey. Paul looked at the young man – he’d been looking for him for years, and had never gotten this close before…

They got to the penthouse after 1am, and Paul entered first, looking around the room. The young man from the picture, his son, wasn’t there – he did recognize some faces – Luke in a corner, sipping what appeared to be a scotch, and talking to someone he didn’t recognize. Mac was sitting on the couch, talking quietly with an auburn haired woman….there were a few others who looked familiar, but he wasn’t sure he recognized them. “Hello? “ he said, trying to get someone’s attention.

Luke looked over at him and smiled, walking across the room, and pulling Paul into a hug, “Hornsby! How are you? How’re Jenny and the kids?”

Paul slapped Luke on the back, and hugged him back, “They’re good – you?”

Luke shrugged, “Well, Lucky’s a lot like me, which is poetic justice I guess. Lulu is a lot like her mom in the good old days, and that’s more than I deserve.”

Paul smiled – he’d heard what had happened to Laura, and knew better than to ask after her. Mac appeared behind Luke, and Luke stepped aside, letting Mac give Paul a hug, “Hey, how are you doing?”

Paul nodded, “Not bad. I’m so sorry to hear about Georgie – if there’s anything I can do, “ Paul started.

“You’re already doing it – we need you to keep Tracey away from Dillon.”

Paul nodded, “My pleasure.”

Mac turned, and motioned for the auburn haired woman to approach, “Paul, this is Skye Quartermaine.” The woman held out her hand, and Paul reached over and shook it. Paul noticed that Mac put an affectionate arm around her waist, “Skye is Georgie’s boss, and she’s pretty close to both her and Dillon.”

The woman smiled, and Paul couldn’t help but notice that she was strikingly beautiful, “Your son is a wonderful young man.”

“So I’ve heard, “ Paul agreed, “Is he here?”

Mac shook his head, “He’s still recovering from a head injury he got the other day – we’re trying to make sure that he gets enough rest, so we gave him a tranquilizer, and got him off to bed a couple of hours ago. He’ll be down first thing in the morning.”

Paul nodded, “OK – I guess I’ll wait here then.”

Luke waved his arms, “Oh please – you can do better than this. Come on back with me to the Haunted Star, and I’ll put you up there for the night.”

“Thanks – Ned said that Dillon lives on your boat.”

“BOAT?” Luke repeated, incredulous, “The Haunted Star is more than a mere boat! Let me get you over there, we’ll split a bottle of bourbon, and I’ll tell you the details, “ Luke continued, pulling Paul toward the door.

Paul waved at Mac on his way out, and Mac called after him, “Dillon will be here around 7 or so.”

“See you then,” Paul called back as the elevator doors closed.

Skye looked at Mac and smiled, “It is genetic. Luke drags Dillon’s father around the same way as he does Dillon.”



Dillon stumbled from Jason’s penthouse across the hall to Sonny’s and headed straight for the computer. Lucky had been on the most recent shift of watching the webcam, and Dillon stood behind him….Georgie was asleep, but was restless. “How long has she been asleep?” he asked.

“Since I got here at 4, “ Lucky replied, “JD had the shift before me – he said that she went to sleep around 1:30 or so.”

Dillon nodded, and moved around the back of the couch to sit next to Lucky, but Lucky shook his head, “Unh–unh – you’ve got someone to see you.”

Dillon shook his head, confused, and Lucky pointed to the other couch. A tall man stood there, who looked vaguely familiar, as if Dillon had seen a picture of him. Dillon walked over to the couch, and extended a hand, “Hi. I’m Dillon Quartermaine.”

The man took Dillon’s hand nervously, “Hi, Dillon. I’m Paul Hornsby…I’m….your father.”

Dillon let his hand drop, and stared at the man…he was numb. He was too tied up with what was happening with Georgie to process this….

For years he’d wondered about his father, knowing better than to buy Tracey’s story of why he wasn’t there, but wondering himself, especially when Tracey had left him in a hotel alone, why his father hadn’t tried to find him. Dillon realized that the man…that his father…was staring at him, and that he should say something. He just didn’t know where to start.

Paul cleared his throat, “Look – Ned told me what’s going on with Georgie – with your girlfriend, and I know this is sort of blindsiding you, “ Paul started.

“Uh, yeah, “ Dillon agreed, nodding his head slowly. “I really can’t think about much of anything else, you know?”

Paul nodded and agreed, “Yeah – I do. My daughter…your older sister Susan, was kidnapped before you were born. Kidnapped by Cesar Faison. I know how helpless you feel.”

“Sister?” Dillon asked.

Paul nodded, “She’s a doctor now, in Chicago You’ve got a younger sister and two younger brothers as well.”

“Ah, “ Dillon said, looking at Paul uncomfortably.

There was a short pause, and then Paul spoke, “Hey – look, I know this isn’t the best time for a reunion. I wish we could have done this years ago – I’ve been trying to find you ever since Tracey disappeared with you, “ Dillon started to say something, but Paul held up a hand and continued, “But right now Georgie is the priority – I understand that. Ned told me a lot about you and her on the plane over here, and I’ve got an idea of how important it is to you that we get her back.”

Dillon nodded in agreement, “I don’t think I’ll be able to survive without her.”

Paul smiled, “You won’t have to – between Mac Scorpio and Luke Spencer, Faison doesn’t stand a chance.”

“Um…Thanks.” Dillon said. Any other time, he would have had a million questions, but now….”Look, when she does get back, we can catch up for real. You can tell me about my brothers and sisters, and I can tell you…well, what I’ve been doing for the past 17 years.”

Paul nodded, and held out a hand for Dillon again. Dillon looked at the hand, and, impulsively reached over to Paul and hugged him. Paul closed his eyes, and hugged Dillon back for several seconds. As they backed away from each other, Ned appeared, putting a hand on each one’s shoulder. “Good morning, “ Ned greeted.

Dillon looked at Ned, “Did you do this?”

Ned shrugged, “We needed to distract Mother. Bringing your father into town to sue for custody and have her charged with kidnapping was the biggest distraction I could think of.”

Dillon and Paul both stared at Ned, their eyes wide, and, at the same time both said, “What?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Dillon asked.

Ned shook his head, “Look – it’s not like she didn’t kidnap you. And, you know the havoc Mother can wreak when she wants something – and that she wants Georgie out of your life. This will very effectively take her out of the picture.”

“Until Justus gets her out on bail,” Dillon argued.

Ned took Dillon by both his shoulders, “Justus has already started on the paperwork for Paul’s case. It’s going to take her a little while to find another lawyer. You know Tracey won’t play fair when it comes to Georgie, so we’ve got to fight back the same way.”

Dillon closed his eyes – this would hurt Tracey, but Ned was right. Dillon had made a choice between Tracey and Georgie, and, for Georgie’s sake, this was what they needed to do.

[JRK Archiver]

Dillon stared at the computer – other then the times when Mac took him aside for depositions, or when Ned dragged him to the courthouse for preliminary hearings, he was at the computer from the moment he woke until Elizabeth decided he had enough and forced him to go to sleep. Usually there was a concerned face next to him on the couch – at the moment it was Lucky, who was always there when Dillon got in first thing in the morning. Dillon had started to lose track of time…it felt like months since Georgie had been taken, but he knew it couldn’t have been more than a few weeks.

The webcam had become fairly predictable – Georgie would be asleep until around 7:30, and then she’d be taken away for an hour or so. Faison was usually there when they took her away; Georgie and Faison would speak for a few minutes, then Georgie would take a pill, and soon after fall asleep. Men would come in and take her away, and then return her. Georgie would wake up again after a few hours, and then spend the day reading or just looking around the room until she fell asleep again…that was the pattern, and Dillon had it memorized.

Today was different though – Dillon looked at the clock – 8:45, and Georgie was still asleep. Faison had entered the room, this time with a bottle and two glasses, instead of a pill, and sat at the table in the room, watching Georgie. Something was wrong, Dillon thought, and he knew Lucky sensed it as well – Faison had never stayed in the room like this before. Both Lucky and Dillon leaned forward, watching the screen intently.



Georgie woke up, sitting up in the bed, and staring around the room. It took her a second to realize that Faison was in the room, sitting at the table and staring at her. Georgie stared back defiantly, pulled on her robe, and sat at the table opposite him. She cleared her throat, “Good Morning,” she said, noticing that, instead of a pill and a glass of water, there was a bottle of sparkling cider and two champagne glasses. She looked at them uneasily, and then over to Faison.

“I’m pleased to tell you that the first phase of your task is complete. You’ve passed the tests, and the procedure has been started, “ he said, pouring cider out into both glasses.

“Started?”

“Yes, my dear,” Faison slid a glass across the table to her, “It will take some time to complete.”

“How long?” Georgie asked, looking at the glass suspiciously.

Faison smiled, and took a sip of cider. He coughed quietly, and pushed his hair back from his face, “I think perhaps it’s time to provide you with some of the specifics of the medical procedure.”

Georgie nodded uneasily, “Go on.”

Faison stood up and leaned against the table, “When you knew me as Charles Jenkins, and thought of me more kindly, you commented on the persistent cough that I have, and speculated that it was a result of my tobacco use.” Georgie nodded, and Faison continued, “Well, my dear, you were quite right. A bit late perhaps, but quite right: the doctors say that I have lung cancer, and that, sooner rather than later, it will kill me.”

Not soon enough, Georgie thought to herself.

Faison continued, starting to pace around the room, and gesturing as he spoke, “Upon receiving that news, I took stock of my life, and realized that I didn’t fear death – but I did fear leaving undone certain things that I always thought I would have time for.”

A terrible thought occurred to Georgie, and she felt as if a hand had tightened around her heart, “What sort of things?” she asked warily.

Faison smiled, “I’ve always felt that a life is incomplete without a child.”

Georgie felt as if her heart stopped, and she stared at Faison in horror, “No…” she muttered.

Faison continued, oblivious to Georgie, “But, who would be a suitable mother for this child? Certainly, I could pay a surrogate, but that would be unsatisfactory. There would be no family connections, and, for my part, I find the character of a woman who would engage in such behavior for pay to be in question.”

Georgie stood up, and started to back away from the table, knocking her chair over, “Wh-why me?” she gasped.

Faison stared at Georgie, “Any child of mine would inherit not only my genes and my money, but my enemies. What better way to defuse those enemies than to make my child their grandchild?” Faison moved around the table and started to approach Georgie, “I had considered other candidates. Your cousin Robin was eliminated for her HIV status, as was your sister due to her heart condition. Brook Ashton is quite talented, and was certainly considered, but the only connection she has is to the Quartermaines. Similarly, Elizabeth Webber has quite a remarkable spirit, and is quite a talented painter, but she is connected to the Spencers alone. You, however, are related to both the Scorpio and Jones families, and are thought of quite fondly by the Spencers. And, as an added bonus, I fully expect that you will marry into the Quartermaine family.”

Georgie stared at Faison, her eyes widened in shock, “How…” she started to ask, but her voice gave out.

Faison smiled, “We are fortunate that we live in an age where medical science eliminates the need for some of the more distasteful actions which would have been otherwise required. My dear, not that you’re not a beautiful young lady, but I know your heart wouldn’t have been in it, and even I’m not that much of a monster.”

Georgie closed her eyes, and let it sink in…”How far along?” she asked.

Faison reached over to the table and picked up the glasses, offering one to Georgie, “The doctor has just confirmed that you’re one month pregnant.”

Georgie glared at Faison. He pushed the glass closer to her – she grabbed it, and threw the drink into his face.

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter 11

Faison returned his glass to the table, and retrieved a towel from the bathroom to dry himself. He smiled at Georgie, “I understand this must be a shock – your behavior is to be expected.”

“My behavior…” Georgie repeated, still numb. She glared at Faison again, moving away from him and stumbled over to the table, catching herself by leaning against it. Faison saw her stumble, and reached out to try to steady her…as he approached, Georgie backed away, and brought her hand up, slapping him as hard as she could. “Go to Hell!” she yelled angrily.

Faison backed away, a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. He half bowed to Georgie, and replied, “Soon enough. However, for now, I’ll leave you to rest.” Faison approached the door, and Georgie heard the locks being turned. As Faison stepped out of the room, Georgie grabbed one of the glasses, and threw it at the door – it made it out of the room, but missed him, and she heard it crash somewhere outside. Faison looked back into the room, “Try to get some rest, Miss Jones,” he suggested, and then closed the door

Georgie stared at the door, trying to make sense of it all. But there wasn’t any sense to it…she had been worried about pregnancy for months – ever since she and Dillon had first slept together. But that was different – even if she had been pregnant, it would have been with Dillon. It should have been with Dillon – they should be going through something like this together, and not for years…not until she’d had her 3rd Pulitzer, and he’d had his 5th Oscar…

Georgie felt as if she’d aged decades over the last few minutes. She slowly moved from the table back to the bed, and sat on the edge of the bed, her hands unconsciously moving over her stomach. Georgie tried to will herself not to cry, but all she could hear was Faison’s voice, calmly outlining his plan…she curled up on the bed, clutching a pillow and started to sob.



Dillon stood up and yelled at the computer, “What in the Hell is that? What did that bastard do?”

Lucky shook his head, and watched Georgie crying on the bed, “I don’t know – I…” Lucky turned to Deacon, “You’re recording this, right?” Deacon nodded, “Ok – we need the last five minutes – we need to see it again.”

Mac, Felicia and Skye rushed over, Skye taking Dillon’s arm and trying to calm him down. “What?” Mac asked worriedly.

Dillon watched Georgie sobbing on the bed, and didn’t respond to Mac’s question. Lucky stood up between Mac and Dillon, “Something happened – it looked like Faison told Georgie something, and Georgie attacked him – threw a drink at him, slapped him.”

“I’ve got it recorded over here,” Deacon said from a desk by the balcony. Mac, Felicia and Lucky went to the computer and watched the last few minutes play out again - Dillon stayed behind, watching Georgie – he didn’t need to see it again. Skye stood next to him, watching Georgie cry. Georgie slowly got herself under control, and Skye and Dillon watched as she sat up, and then, unsteadily, moved to the bathroom. Skye looked at the girl…there was something about the way she was moving. Something she’d seen before, but couldn’t quite place…




Lucas sat in the kitchen of Jason’s penthouse, staring at a cup of coffee and trying to wake up. Bobbie poked her head into the kitchen, “There you are!” she exclaimed, hugging him from behind, and giving him a peck on the cheek – pausing to wipe away the lipstick stain before she went to the coffeemaker to pour herself a cup.

“You don’t want to do that,” Lucas warned tiredly.

“Do what?” Bobbie asked, taking a sip of coffee. “Oh good lord,” she said, grimacing as she tasted it, “Did your sister make this?” Bobbie poured the cup down the sink, and began to look through the cupboard for more coffee to make a fresh pot.

“It was here when I got here – I have no idea who to blame.”

Bobbie found the coffee, and started looking for filters. She paused to look at Lucas, and put the coffee down, putting a hand to his forehead, “Are you okay? You look pale. Have you been sleeping?”

Lucas smiled, “I’m fine – stayed up a bit late last night, that’s all.”

Bobbie found the filters, and started washing out the coffee pot, “Were you with Brooke?”

Lucas rolled his eyes, “Mom…please – you know we haven’t been dating for months.”

“Why not?”

“Look…,” Lucas paused, trying to figure out how to phrase what he wanted to say without getting into a discussion about it, “Let’s just say she’s not the person I thought she was.”

Bobbie pushed the on button for the coffeemaker and sat across from Lucas. “OK- so, because she’s “not the person you thought”, you ignore her?”

The door to the kitchen swung open, and Maxie answered the question, “He’s not ignoring her, Aunt Bobbie – she dumped him without as much as a courtesy break up call.” Maxie pulled a cup from the cupboard, and poured herself some of the still brewing coffee.

“She what?” Bobbie asked, a surprised tone in her voice.

Maxie sat between Lucas and Bobbie, pouring sugar into her coffee, “One day she’s going out with Lucas here, and the next, she’s not even returning his calls.”

“That little spoiled diva – “ Bobbie started angrily, searching for the right word.

“Quartermaine, “ Maxi suggested.

“Exactly!” Bobbie agreed.

Lucas put his head down on the table, wrapping his arms around it, tuning out the rest of the conversation. Maxie and his Mom could talk like this for hours. He wouldn’t be able to get a word in edgewise if he wanted to. Fortunately, he didn’t want to.

Lucas heard the door open, and heard Luke exclaim, “Hey there, Barbara Jean!” Lucas turned his head and watched as Luke walked to the coffee maker, pulled out the carafe, and sniffed it suspiciously. “Who made this?”

“Just started the pot a few minutes ago, “ Bobbie answered.

Luke smiled and poured himself a cup, “You’re a lifesaver, Bobbie. I don’t think I could manage another cup of Carly’s coffee.” He kissed Bobbie’s forehead on his way to taking a seat at the table. He turned the chair around, and wrapped his arms around it’s back as he sat. He looked from Lucas, his head buried back in his arms, to Bobbie and Maxie. “They picking on you?” he asked.

“No more than usual,” Lucas answered, his voice muffled.

“Leave him alone, “ Luke warned.

“Did you know Brooke dumped him?” Bobbie asked.

Luke shook his head slowly, and started to pour sugar into his coffee. “Doesn’t surprise me, though. Lucas here isn’t what she’s looking for, and frankly, my boy, “ Luke slapped Lucas on the shoulder, “you can do a lot better.”

Maxie smiled, “And just what is she looking for?”

Luke shrugged, “Someone who would put their own life on hold for her career. Follow her around from concert to concert, watch her adoringly in the recording studio, carry her bags into the hotel…you know, someone without a life of their own. She’ll grow out of it eventually, but, until then…” he shrugged again.

Maxie nodded, “OK – I’ll buy that. Could just be a Quartermaine thing too”

Bobbie raised an eyebrow and looked at Maxie, “When did you start thinking that the Quartermaines were the root of all evil?”

“Ever since Tracey started messing with Georgie.”

Bobbie shook her head, “She needs to learn to pick on someone her own size.”

“I wouldn’t worry about Georgie, “ Luke assured her, “she can take care of herself.”

Lucas laughed and looked up at Luke, “Are you kidding? Did you see Georgie last year when Dillon cheated on her?”

“Dillon cheated on her?” Luke asked, surprised.

“You remember last year, just before the fire, the couple of months where Georgie was crying constantly?” Bobbie reminded him.

“Well, yeah, “ Luke answered, “But I thought it was just a teenage thing.” Luke shook his head and took a sip of coffee, “It was that girl who was killed last summer, wasn’t it? Alcazar’s niece?”

Maxie nodded, “Yeah. That Eurotrash skank decided she was going to make Georgie miserable, and, for a while, she did.”

“Maxie!” Bobbie said, surprised, “She’s dead – calling her names isn’t…well, nice.”

Maxie rolled her eyes, “Please, Aunt Bobbie, just because she’s dead doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten – or forgiven – what she did to Georgie. And - ugh - that “song” that Brooke did after she died, “ Maxie shuddered, “What the hell was that? She was lonely and scared? And that makes her different how? Were we supposed to pity the poor little rich girl who doesn’t have any friends? Please – if she hadn’t tried to make Georgie miserable from the second she stepped into town, she could have had friends.”

Luke and Bobbie stared at Maxie. Lucas looked up at her, his head still resting on his arms, “You know – it wasn’t just that Sage was out to hurt Georgie. Dillon really didn’t do anything to stop it.”

Maxie nodded, “Yeah, I know. I haven’t forgiven him yet, but it looks like Georgie has, so I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt for now.”

Luke shook his head, “Have you seen him? With the web cam? He’s glued to that thing – you couldn’t tear him away.”

“I’m not saying that he doesn’t love her. I’m just saying that sometimes he doesn’t put her first when he should, and she ends up getting hurt.” Maxie explained.

“Ahh,” Luke said, starting to understand.

The room grew quiet, and Bobbie got up to get herself a cup of coffee. Lucas sat up and sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose – he had a headache. He usually did when he didn’t get enough sleep. “Is there any aspirin around?” he asked.

“I saw some in the downstairs bathroom next door, “ Maxie answered.

“Thanks, “ Lucas muttered. He got up, walked over to Bobbie, and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“I’ll be back later, sweetie – I’ve got to get to the hospital soon.”

“Kay – see you.” Lucas left the kitchen and headed for the front door. As he reached for the handle, the door swung open forcefully, and hit him in the face. Lucas backed away, his hands reaching up for his nose, which had taken most of the impact.

At the other side of the door, the short red headed girl who had opened the door stared at him in shock, “Oh my God!” she yelled, dropping the luggage she was carrying. “I’m soooo sorry! Are you ok?”

Lucas nodded, and muttered, “Uh – yeah, I think so,” his voice muffled by his hands.

The girl approached Lucas and reached for his hands, trying to pull them away from his face. Lucas started to back away from her, and the girl explained, “I know a little bit about first aid. Things like this kind of happen to me a lot.”

Without realizing it, Lucas had backed into the couch, and fell over it’s arm, so that he was half lying on the couch. The girl knelt beside the couch, and finally managed to pull Lucas’s hands away from his face. “Will I live?” Lucas asked, smiling. He’d just been hit by a door – he should have been upset. But, there was something about this girl….

The girl frowned slightly, but Lucas could see her eyes were still smiling. She shook her head, “I don’t know – it looks pretty bad. It might need to come off.”

Lucas laughed, and awkwardly moved his arm around to extend it to the girl, “Lucas Jones,” he said, “lurker behind doors.”

“Jennifer Hornsby, flinger of doors,” she said, her smile returning as she shook the offered hand.

“Hornsby? Are you related to Dillon?”

The girl nodded, “So I’ve been told – I’m his sister. You’re a Jones – are you related to his girlfriend?”

Lucas nodded, “I’m her cousin.”

“I know everyone has probably said, “If there’s anything I can do,”, but it’s sort of obligatory, and I do mean it, so, if there’s anything I can do…”

Lucas smiled, “As soon as we need a door flung open….”

Lucas and Jennifer heard someone clearing their throat by the door, and both looked over to see Brooke standing by the open door. “Um, hi, “ she said awkwardly, “Is Maxie around? Mac wanted to see her.”

“Uh, yeah,” Lucas said, struggling to sit up, with Jennifer helping him, “She’s in the kitchen.”

“K – thanks,” she said, heading to the kitchen.

Jennifer looked at Lucas, “Who was that?”

“Her name is Brooke Ashton. She’s Dillon’s niece.”

Jennifer raised an eyebrow. “I’m not related to her, am I?”

Lucas laughed, “Nope – not at all.”



Maxie looked at the webcam. Georgie had stopped crying, and was just staring into space. For weeks, Georgie had spent her days reading, but today, after what had happened in the morning, all she did was cry or stare. Maxie felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked up – it was Liz. “How’re you doing?” Liz asked.

Maxie looked around – she didn’t see Dillon nearby. After seeing the morning’s events, she’d wanted to talk to Liz, but didn’t want Dillon to hear the question. Maxie sighed, “Can I ask you something?”

Liz moved around to the front of the couch and sat next to Maxie. “Sure.”

Maxie didn’t quite know how to phrase it, and just jumped in, “I remember when you were Georgie’s age, you were attacked, “ she started.

Liz nodded, and watched for a moment as Maxie tried to phrase what she wanted to ask – but, before Maxie could say anything, Liz realized what she wanted, and looked away from Maxie, “Oh,” she said, looking at Georgie on the webcam, and then back to Maxie, “You want to know if I think she’s been raped?”

Maxie broke eye contact with Liz, and looked down, nodding. “I’m sorry – I know you’re not an expert, but you’ve been through…that…and I thought you might be able to see something in how she’s acting.”

Liz forced a smile, “It’s a good question – but, you know, I don’t think so. I’ve been to survivor groups, and seen all sorts of reactions. It almost gets to the point where you can recognize the body language – and I don’t see that with her. It is something bad, but I don’t think she was raped.”

Maxie had a tear running down her cheek, and Liz brushed it away. Maxie forced a smile herself, “How did you survive? I mean, I can’t imagine…”

Liz nodded, “You can’t survive alone – I got a lot of help. Survivor groups were important, but, Lucky was the one person who helped the most. When Georgie gets home, she’ll get help too, and Dillon will be there for her the way Lucky was for me.”

Maxie nodded, “I hope so, “ she said softly. Liz reached over and hugged her, and they both watched Georgie on the screen.



Dillon lay on the couch – he’d tried to get some sleep, but it was impossible, especially once he heard Maxie and Liz talking. He’d wondered about the possibility of rape himself, and was glad to hear that Liz didn’t think it had happened. Even if she were lying to spare Maxie some pain, it was good to hear someone say “it didn’t happen” out loud.

“Hey, scoot over,” Lucky said, standing by the couch with a small plate and a can of soda. Dillon sat up, and Lucky sat next to him, putting the plate on the coffee table, and offering him half of his sandwich. Dillon shook his head, and Lucky started eating.

“Can I ask you something?” Dillon asked. Lucky nodded, his mouth full. “I overheard Liz – she said something about how you helped her through something.” Lucky put the sandwich down, and nodded again for Dillon to continue. “How did you know what to do?”

Lucky swallowed, and took a sip of soda. He shrugged, “It’s instinct. I saw she was hurting, and I just tried to make her feel safe. When she needed to talk, I listened. When she needed to be held, I held her. The important thing is to be there, and for her to know you’re there, and that she can count on you being there.”

“What if I mess up? What if I’m not there when she needs me?”

Lucky shook his head, “You’ll be there. When Liz needed me, that was the most important thing in my life – nothing and no one else mattered. It will be the same for you and Georgie.”

Dillon leaned back, and ran a hand through his hair, “God, I hope so,” he muttered.



Mac was working on a map, plotting out the locations of the phone calls that had been made from the cell phone tower the kidnappers used that night, when Sonny approached. “Mac?” he asked, to get Mac’s attention. Mac looked up, an eyebrow raised. “There’s someone here to see Maxie.”

Mac stood up, “Who?”

Sonny shook his head, “Never seen him before. Says he’s a friend of hers – name is Garrett.”

Mac nodded, “Thanks,” he said, heading for the door. When he got there, he found that Max was holding a young man – his police training kicked in – early twenties, glasses, 6’2”, about 180 pounds, slight build, short, curly black hair, brown eyes, dark complexion. “Thanks, Max,” Mac said, motioning for Max to go into the penthouse. “I’m Mac Scorpio – Maxie’s father. Why do you think she’s here?”

Garrett looked at Mac nervously, “Um – she called me.”

“And she told you she was here?” Mac asked, an edge to his voice.

Garrett shook his head, and held up his hands defensively. “Oh no – she sent me a web link to trace. I traced the link here.”

“What?”

Garrett sighed, and shoved his hands into his pockets nervously. “The link was a mirror site – the original webcast was coming from somewhere else. The mirror site was here – I shut it down and redirected it the link to the original site this morning, and wanted to tell Maxie.”

Mac shook his head, “The mirror site was here? So, that means that someone here was blocking the trace?”

Garrett nodded, “Yes, sir.”

“Can you trace it now?”

Garrett nodded, and handed Mac a piece of paper – Mac saw a list of six addresses on it, “I might be able to narrow it down a little more with time, but thought it might be faster if you just had someone go there.”

Mac smiled – finally, a friend of Maxie’s he could approve of. He reached a hand out to Garrett, who shook the hand nervously. “Come on in – Maxie’s inside.” Garrett followed Mac into the penthouse, and Mac pointed Maxie out to him. He watched as Maxie, sitting next to Liz, looked up, and smiled when she saw Garrett, standing up and hugging him.

Mac looked at the list, and thought about what Garrett had said – someone in the apartment had been stopping them from tracing the signal. He looked at Deacon, sitting at a computer by the balcony, a worried expression on his face – he must have realized that Garrett had taken down the mirror site he’d set up to stop the trace. Mac looked around the room to find Luke – he was the one who had brought Deacon in to this….

“It’s stopped!” Liz yelled, interrupting Mac’s train of thought. Everyone in earshot crowded around the computer – and saw that the web cam had frozen, the last image one of Georgie looking up at the door.



Georgie sat on the bed, staring at the wall. She’d done a lot of thinking since Faison had told her why this was happening, and the latest topic had been Laura Spencer. Georgie wondered if, sitting and staring like this, if she were on her way to being like Laura. Laura had been kidnapped, and had a baby before she got home. True – she was ok for a while after that. Years on the run with Luke, two more children – and the trauma of Lucky being kidnapped, and Lulu being sick. Maybe it wasn’t just one thing that pushed her over the edge. Maybe it was all the crises adding up, until something finally broke her.

Maybe this was the first trauma for her. She wondered how many it would take before she broke like Laura did…before staring at nothing was preferable to anything else…even Dillon.

A noise startled Georgie and she looked up at the door – a second later, the lights went out, and she blindly reached for the bed post. There was another noise – this one was clearer, and closer – it almost sounded like an explosion. Her mind instinctively snapped back into survival mode – this was an opportunity: no power, no surveillance. They wouldn’t be able to see her. Deal with everything else later, get away now.

Georgie got up and started to feel her way over to the closet – she could hide in there, and it was close enough to the door that she might be able to sneak out if the door were opened and they were looking somewhere else. Stumbling through the darkness, she found the table, cursing softly as she stubbed her toe against the leg. She pictured the room – table to bookcase, bookcase to closet…as she reached the closet, she heard the locks on the door start turning. Georgie got into the closet and stood against the wall, moving a few garments in front of her to shield her from view.

She saw the flashlights moving around the room, and heard the men talking. The voices sounded the same as the ones that had brought her here weeks before – in the dim light from the flashlights, she recognized the two men from Port Charles among the six or so looking for her. When they were searching the bathroom and under the bed, she slipped from the closet and through the door, running through the front door, and out of the house.

It was cold – it still had to be winter, and she had bare feet and no jacket, but she was out of the house. She ran, hearing the men behind her, but not looking back. There was yelling, some of it at her, but there were other voices. She veered from the road, and moved into the woods by it’s side. Standing behind a tree, she looked back at the house – there were men, dressed in black, rounding up Faison’s guards. Georgie caught her breath and started to shiver…they were rounding up Faison’s men – was this the police? Had Mac found her?

Georgie started to make her way back to the road, but a hand grabbed her by the shoulder and slammed her back against the tree. Something jabbed into her side and she winced – and then saw his face in the moonlight. It was the smaller man – the one who’d hit Dillon, and who she’d hit with the crowbar. “I don’t think so, blondie. You owe me, “ he rasped, pulling the shoulder of Georgie’s nightgown down so that her chest was uncovered. She tried to bring her knee up to his crotch, but he anticipated her move, and punched her in the face.

Georgie reeled, stunned by the punch. She felt him start to rip the rest of the nightgown off, and tried to move, but was numb from the cold. Suddenly, the man was gone, and Georgie fell to the ground. She tried to cover herself with the torn nightgown, and looked up to see another one of Faison’s guards pulling the man away from her. Georgie saw the two men struggle, and, as she got to her feet to try to get back to the police again, heard a shot, and felt a searing pain in her side. She clutched at her side and stumbled forward…her vision started to get blurry, and she hoped she was heading in the right direction.

A bright light lit the woods around Georgie, and she heard a voice over a loudspeaker, “Put the gun down, and put your hands in the air.” Georgie fell to the ground, and, as she was starting to lose consciousness, heard a voice near her say, “She’s hurt – we need a stretcher!”

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter 12

Georgie drifted back into consciousness, and realized that she wasn’t cold anymore. The pain was pretty much gone too, but everything was fuzzy – she must have been given a pain killer of some sort….the baby, she thought – they didn’t know about the baby…there was a man next to her stretcher. “The baby,” she whispered. The man looked at her, his expression worried, and Georgie realized she knew him. “Mr. Donnely?”

Sean forced a smile, “Hi sweetie – try to rest. We’re getting you to a doctor.”

“The baby…” she whispered again, starting to drift off.

“Baby?” Sean asked. “Honey, what baby?”

“Pregnant…I’m pr…” Georgie fell unconscious again.

Sean looked at Georgie, brushing away a hair that had fallen across her face. They’d known about Dr. Anderson’s kidnapping, and, after Georgie had been taken there had been theories that Sean hadn’t wanted to believe. But now….Sean closed his eyes and picked up his phone, “Dr. Kim? Just so you know when we get in – Miss Jones is pregnant.”




Luke leaned against the counter, shaking his head, “There’s got to be an explanation.”

“There is – he’s working for Faison,” Mac replied, his arms crossed.

“No way. He’d never hire anyone for something like this. Too much chance that someone else would pay more. If Deacon is working for him, it’s because he’s being blackmailed.”

Felicia stood by the door, a mug of coffee in her hand. “Blackmailed how? Family?”

Luke shook his head, “No – they’re back in Texas, and JD talks with them all the time – I’d have heard if there was a problem.”

“Girlfriend?” Mac asked.

Luke considered that. “Deke got to town about a year and a half ago – he was in a rehab program at GH. JD said he’d been in a car accident back in Texas, and that his girlfriend had been killed. I haven’t seen him with anyone here.”

“Maybe he’s keeping it quiet?” Felicia suggested.

Luke shook his head, “No – no reason to. JD would’ve been happy about him moving on after the accident, didn’t matter with who.”

Mac uncrossed his arms and leaned back against the counter, “Maybe we should just ask him? If he is being blackmailed, we might be able to help him.”

Luke looked down, and slowly nodded, “Sounds like a plan.” Luke left the kitchen to bring Deacon back, and Mac walked over to the window. It was cold, but the sun was bright today… the webcam had been off for a couple of hours, and it started to hit him how much he’d come to rely on being able to see Georgie, and knowing that she was, at least superficially, ok.

He closed his eyes, frustrated with himself. He’d been slipping up - how could he have trusted Deacon? A stranger he’d only met a few times before the kidnapping? Luke had vouched for him, and, despite their differences, he trusted Luke when it came to Georgie and Maxie. How could Luke have been wrong as well?

“It’s not your fault,” Felicia commented, guessing what was on his mind.

Mac turned toward her, “Then who’s fault is it? I should have checked his background better.”

Felicia walked to Mac, and placed a comforting hand on his arm, “Faison was going to get a source somehow – that’s how he works. He doesn’t need to plant his people to get things done – he looks for a vulnerability in the people who are already there, and exploits it. If it hadn’t been Deacon, he would’ve found someone else.”

The door opened, and both Mac and Felicia turned toward it – Luke had returned with Deacon and JD. Deacon looked nervous – he had to know that he’d been caught by now. Felicia walked to Deacon, and motioned for him to sit at the table, sitting across from him. “We know about the mirror site,” Felicia said softly.

Deacon looked at JD, who appeared confused. Luke and Mac obviously knew what was happening, but JD didn’t. “I had to, Dad,” Deacon started to explain.

JD looked at Luke, and then pushed past Luke and Mac to the table, leaning on it and shielding Deacon from them. “What’s going on, Deke?”

“He’s got Sharon – I had to do what he told me to, “ Deacon said quietly.

JD shook his head, “No – Sharon’s dead. You were in the hospital when they –“

“It was a lie, “ Deacon interrupted, an angry edge to his voice, “she was ok after the crash. Her Dad told everyone she’d died.”

“Deke – I know he didn’t like you, but why would he do that? He’d have to send her away from her family for it to hold up.”

Deacon closed his eyes, “He was going to do that anyway. She was pregnant. He wanted her to go away, have the baby, and give it up. He wanted her to forget about me, and just go on with her life- go to college, maybe be a doctor.” Deacon opened his eyes again and looked at his father, “We were leaving town when the crash happened.”

JD sighed, and sat at the table, “You sure?” he asked.

Deacon nodded, and reached into his shirt pocket, pulling out a picture, and sliding it across the table to JD. JD rotated the picture so it was upright, and saw a young woman in a room that looked a lot like the room Georgie had been in for the webcam. Sharon looked the same as he remembered her – but something was missing. He remembered she had shining eyes, and a beautiful smile, but the girl in the picture didn’t. She looked scared and alone, and was protectively holding a baby.

Deacon looked up at Luke, “I’m sorry – I wanted to tell you, but he said that he’d hurt her and the baby.”

Luke nodded, “You did what you had to – I’d have done the same.”

“And we’ll help you get her back, just like we’re going to get Georgie back,” Felicia assured him, taking his hand.



The older teens had been banished to the den as per Carly’s orders. She’d woken up at 2am and wanted to look in on the children – and got concerned when Michael and Lulu weren’t in their rooms. She’d found them relatively quickly, but hadn’t liked what she found them doing – Michael and Lulu were playing poker with Maxie, Lucas, Jennifer and Garrett, and apparently had been having midnight poker games for several weeks. Lucas had tried to argue the point that Lulu and Michael won most of the time, and that it wasn’t really staying up late when you could sleep in, but Carly shot him down, and decreed that the younger children wouldn’t be spending as much time with the older teens as they had been.

Lucas, Jennifer, Maxie and Garrett sat in a row on the couch in front of the TV, a bowl of popcorn between Jennifer and Maxie. Dillon slouched in an overstuffed chair to the side of the couch, staring blankly at the screen, and Brooke stood by the balcony, ready to step outside and take a call when her cell phone rang.

“What’s next?” Jennifer asked as Spiderman 2 finished up.

“No more comic book movies, “ Maxie requested.

“No chick flicks either,” Lucas added.

Jennifer went to the DVD rack, and looked through the collection. “No…no….maybe, “ she pulled a movie out, “no….definitely not….”

“Oh – for the love of God, would you just pick something!” Brooke yelled.

Jennifer stood up, turned to face Brooke, and crossed her arms, “Got something to say, chica?”

“Doesn’t this seem pointless? Shouldn’t we be doing something a bit more useful then sitting in a dark room watching bad movies?” Brooke shouted.

Maxie stood up and stalked over to Brooke, pointing her finger toward Brooke’s chest, “Look – don’t you think we’d be doing something if we could?

“Hey – I don’t know, “ Brooke pushed Maxie’s hand away from her, “it’s not like you paid much attention to her before you went to college.”

Maxie’s face grew red, “Look- for a supposed “best friend”, you really never had a clue what was going on with her – at least I knew when she was hurting and tried to help.”

“Oh yeah – like when you slept with Lucas to “save” her?” Brooke asked sarcastically. Jennifer and Garrett both raised their eyebrows and turned to look at Lucas, who had dropped his head, and put a hand over his eyes.

“At least I tried to help her! Where the hell were you when Sage was sniping at her? Do you even know how bad that bitch got to her?”

Brooke gritted her teeth, and spoke slowly and angrily, “Don’t talk about Sage that way. She was just a scared, lonely girl.”

“Bullshit. Everybody’s scared and lonely. Not everybody makes it their mission to destroy an innocent girl. That wasn’t about scared and lonely – that was about jealous.”

Dillon had gotten up and wedged himself between Brooke and Maxie, facing Maxie, “Look – she’s dead, and we can’t change what happened.”

Maxie pushed Dillon back, her expression disbelieving, “And you’re still fucking defending her! Do you know that every time Georgie saw you with her, it twisted the knife a little deeper? Even after you got back together? How the fuck hard was that to figure out?”

“Maxie!” Mac called from the door – he’d heard the shouting and had gone to the den to investigate, “That’s enough.”

“It’s the truth, Mac,” Maxie said, angrily, starting to tear up.

“It’s not helping anything. Stop – now.”

Maxie looked to Mac, her mouth drawing itself into an angry line as she struggled to keep from crying. She stormed out of the room, pushing Mac aside as she went through the door. Dillon turned around to Brooke. “You ok?” he asked.

Brooke nodded, “Yeah. I….I just need some time, OK?” she said, turning around and leaving the room. Dillon sighed heavily, and headed to the balcony for some fresh air.

Lucas looked over at Garrett, who was taking a handful of popcorn. “Go after Maxie, “ Lucas advised.

“Whmph?” Garrett asked through a mouthful of popcorn.

“Look – do you want to get together with Maxie?”

“Yeah,” Garrett nodded, swallowing the popcorn.

“Then go after her!” Lucas yelled. Garrett put his hands up defensively, got up, and left to find her.

“This is much better than a movie,” Jennifer said as she sat back down next to Lucas, grabbing a handful of popcorn. “But, I thought Maxie and Georgie were your cousins?”

“Yeah, they are. I’m adopted, though.”

“Still, “ she said, shaking her head.

“Yeah – I think we figured that out too, “ Lucas agreed.

“So, “ Jennifer grabbed some popcorn, “Tell me about this Sage person.”

Lucas shook his head, “It’s a long story – and, honestly, I’d rather forget about most of it.”

Jennifer nodded, “Ok – you get a pass for now. But I want a raincheck on it.”

“Deal, “ Lucas said, putting his hand out for Jennifer to shake. She smiled, and shook his hand. “So – what’s the next movie?”

Jennifer smiled and picked up the remote, “Night of the Living Dead. Original version.”

Lucas smiled – a movie that he would have picked. He leaned back, and put his arm around her. Jennifer looked at him, smiled, and leaned against his shoulder.



Dillon could see the waterfront from the balcony. That was where it had all started 44 days and 17 hours ago. The last time he saw her she had been happy – and then it all went black, and everyone was telling him that she was gone. And now, the last image he had of her was a voyeuristic webcam, with Georgie angry and upset….

Dillon heard a noise and turned – Mac had entered the balcony from the living room entrance. “Hi, “ Dillon said, turning back to the view.

“Maxie didn’t mean that – she just gets upset at times,” he said, standing next to Dillon.

Dillon nodded, “But it doesn’t mean she’s wrong. I fucked up so bad last year.”

“Yeah, you did, “ Mac agreed, chuckling humorlessly.

“I’m lucky that Georgie was able to forget about it.”

Mac looked at Dillon, “She hasn’t forgotten.”

“What?” Dillon asked, worriedly looking at Mac.

Mac backpeddled a little, “Look – she’s gotten past it, and she’s forgiven you, but she’ll never forget seeing you in bed with Sage. Believe me, when you see something like that, you never forget it.” Mac looked out at the waterfront, watching the sunlight glint off the water.

Dillon studied Mac’s expression, and guessed that Mac was speaking from experience – but he didn’t think questions would be welcome. “Is that enough? I mean, I know you don’t like thinking about me and her having a 50th anniversary, but I do think about it – a lot - and, can we get there with her remembering that?”

Mac considered the question and nodded slowly, “Yeah, you can.” Mac turned toward Dillon, “You’ve changed a lot – you’re not the same obnoxious rich teenage boy who stole his cousin’s car and took out a dozen parking meters, “ he explained. “I had hoped that this was just a teenage thing at first, and that Georgie would grow out of it – but both of you have gone through a lot, and you’re still together.” Mac smiled, “Who knows? Maybe the two of you will have an article in the local paper on your 50th anniversary, talking about all your years together, and how her ogre of a father always hated you.”

“Do you?”

“Do I what?”

“Hate me?”

Mac smiled, “At the moment, no. And, as long as you treat Georgie right, you’ve got a chance.” Mac put a hand on Dillon’s shoulder, “Look – everyone makes mistakes. They’re not always as spectacular at the ones I’ve seen you make, but everyone does. As long as you learn from them, and don’t repeat them, you’ll be ok.”

Dillon smiled, “Thanks – and I will treat her right.” He put his hand out for Mac to shake. Mac looked at the hand for a second, and pulled Dillon into a hug. Dillon tensed up for a moment, and then hugged Mac back.

After a few seconds, Mac pulled away, and reached into his pocket, pulling out a picture that he’d laminated. “I, uh, was going to give this to Maxie – something to help her out until Georgie gets back.” Mac handed the picture to Dillon, “But, given the fact that you’re in it as well, and given Maxie’s tirade back there, maybe it’d be better with you.”

Dillon looked at the picture, it was from a strip at a photo booth in the mall, and Georgie was sitting on his lap, giving him a kiss on the cheek. She’d been so happy. It was before Sage, and one of the few times when she hadn’t been grounded, or forbidden from seeing him. They’d just seen a movie, and Georgie had dragged him into the booth. The smile on her face was something he hadn’t seen in ages. Dillon sniffed, starting to tear up as it hit him just how much he missed her, “Thanks, but, don’t you want this?”

Mac smiled, “I raided her room a couple of weeks ago – I’ve got a couple of others. You keep that one – and just remember how happy she was there. You’ve got to believe that she’s going to be that happy again.” Mac put his hand on Dillon’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, and then went back into the living room.




Sean looked through the window to the recovery room at a pale and fragile Georgie. He could see both Frisco and Felicia in her features, but, in the few times she’d been conscious since they’d recovered her, it was obvious that Mac had raised her. Dr. Kim left the recovery room, and approached Sean. “Mr. Donnely?”

“Dr. Kim – how is she?”

“The bullet broke 3 ribs, and one of the ribs punctured a lung. There weren’t any respiratory problems initially, but, in repairing one of the ribs, a lung collapsed, and we needed to reinflate it, which increases the possibility of edema. Additionally, she has numerous lacerations on her legs, and there is the pregnancy to consider.”

“Can you tell how far along the pregnancy is?”

Dr. Kim shook his head, “We need to wait for the test results to come back – at this point, all I can say with any certainty is that she’s in the first trimester.”

“Can you abort the pregnancy?”

Dr. Kim looked at Sean, surprised, “Shouldn’t we wait for her to wake up to ask if she wants the pregnancy terminated?

Sean shook his head, “If the pregnancy occurred after her abduction, then we’re all a lot better off if she thinks she lost the baby due to the gunshot wound.”

Dr. Kim nodded somberly, having worked with the WSB long enough to know not to question Sean’s judgement. “Alright – but, as I said, we need to wait for the test results to be certain of how far along the pregnancy is. However, terminating the pregnancy would put additional stress on her, and it would be better to wait until she’s a little stronger.”

“Thank you, Doctor, “ Sean said. Dr. Kim left, and the nurse entered the waiting area. “What do you think, Bree?” Sean asked.

“She’s a strong girl – she’s got a good chance.” She stood next to Sean and looked in on Georgie. “Is there any way to bring her family to her? It would be easier for her if there were someone she trusted here.”

Sean shook his head, “Faison got away again – and we haven’t rounded up all of his agents in Port Charles. There’s too much of a chance that he could have an agent track someone here.”

The nurse crossed her arms, and looked at Sean disapprovingly, “Look lad,” she said, the Irish accent in her voice becoming more pronounced, “I understand that you’ve got security to consider, but you’ve also got a scared girl to think about. It’s not just her physical condition that’s a concern – emotionally she’s going to be a mess when she wakes up, and she needs someone she trusts to help her with that.” Brianne looked around Sean to a man standing in the doorway, and addressed him, “Isn’t that right, Mr. Wilfred?”

The man approached and looked at Georgie through the window, “Couldn’t agree more, love.”

“Don’t, “ Sean warned.

“Don’t what?” Wilfred asked innocently.

Sean sighed, and turned toward Wilfred, “You know perfectly well “what”,” he chastised.

Wilfred smiled, “I’ve no idea,” he said, reaching across Sean to take Brianne’s hand and kiss it, “Mrs. O’Conner – always a pleasure.” Wilfred winked at Brianne, and slapped Sean on the shoulder. As he headed for the door, he called back, “Don’t wait up, kids.”




Dillon fidgeted on the courtroom bench, loosening his tie a little. He was in the first row in the spectator section on the prosecution’s side of the courtroom, next to Justus and Paul. Given how slowly he had heard the courts ran, it seemed surprising that Tracey’s court date had come up so quickly. Skye and Mac entered, sitting just behind him – Skye leaned forward and asked, “How’re you doing?” She noticed his loosened tie, and reached around the bench to straighten it.

Dillon nodded, “Um, ok, “ he said nervously.

Paul turned toward him, putting a reassuring hand on Dillon’s shoulder, “It’ll be ok,” he reassured Dillon.

Mac leaned forward, “Look – it’s just a preliminary hearing today. It should be over pretty quickly, and it’s not likely that you’ll be called.”

Dillon nodded to both of them, and muttered, “Thanks.” He watched the courtroom as the rest of the spectators entered – the Quartermaines split half on Dillon’s side of the room, and half on Tracey’s. Dillon forced a smile and said, “Hi,” as Ned and Brooke sat next to him.

And then, he saw Tracey. He didn’t know how, but she’d somehow made peace with Alexis long enough to convince Alexis to defend her, and the two of them entered the courtroom together, sitting at the table on the other side of the room from Rick at the prosecutor’s table. Rick and Alexis nodded to each other, and then both turned their attention to the paperwork in front of them.

Tracey looked at him – and Dillon didn’t expect the sadness he saw in her eyes. He’d expected to see anger, and maybe some hatred, but not sadness. It was the same look she got when she wanted Edward to notice her and he didn’t, the look that meant she felt alone and abandoned. Dillon started to get up, but Ned took his arm, shaking his head, and mouthing, “No.” Before Dillon had a chance to argue, the bailiff announced that the judge was entering, and Ned pulled Dillon up to a standing position.

The judge sat down at the bench, looked down at the papers in front of her, and began reading, “Case 02-135, the State of New York vs. Tracey Quartermaine – the charges are kidnapping the minor Dillon Quartermaine Hornsby, interfering with Paul Hornsby’s parental rights, and child abandonment. Ms. Quartermaine, how do you plead?”

Tracey and Alexis stood up together, and Tracey announced clearly, “Not guilty, your honor.”

The judge marked something down on the papers in front of her. “Bail, Mr. Lansing?”

“The state considers Ms. Quartermaine a flight risk, and requests bail set at one million, your honor.”

The judge raised an eyebrow, but didn’t comment, “Ms. Davis-Lansing?”

“Your honor, Ms. Quartermaine’s family is in Port Charles, and she’s on the boards of several local charitable organizations. We request that she be released on her own recognizance.”

The judge raised an eyebrow again, and shook her head, “Let’s split the difference then, shall we? Bail is set for $500,000, cash.” Dillon saw Tracey lean over to whisper something to Alexis, who looked surprised, and shook her head. Tracey nodded vehemently, and wrote something on the legal pad in front of Alexis. The judge noticed the exchange as well, and asked, “Ms. Davis-Lansing, is there something your client would like to say?”

Alexis stood up, looking disapprovingly at Tracey for a moment, and answered, “Permission to approach the bench, your honor.”

“Granted.”

Alexis walked to the bench, and quietly spoke to the judge, “Your honor, Ms. Quartermaine has informed me that Mr. Hornsby is not Dillon’s father. She’s requested a paternity test.”

The judge’s expression went blank, and she looked over to Rick, “Mr. Lansing, please approach the bench.” Rick glanced at Tracey, and joined Alexis in front of the bench. “Ms. Davis-Lansing, could you please apprise Mr. Lansing of your client’s request?”

Alexis gritted her teeth, forced a smile, and repeated, “Ms. Quartermaine has requested a paternity test to prove her contention that Mr. Hornsby is not Dillon’s father.”

Rick looked surprised, and shook his head, “Your honor, she’s just trying to buy time – Mr. Hornsby is the father of record on the birth certificate.”

“That doesn’t necessarily prove paternity, Mr. Lansing. A paternity test is so ordered.”

“Your honor?” Alexis interrupted.

“Yes?” the judge asked wearily.

“To protect her son from any further publicity, Ms. Quartermaine has asked for a gag order on the paternity test.”

The judge nodded, “So ordered as well. Does Dillon Quartermaine have an attorney?”

“Justus Ward,” Rick answered.

“Ok – that will wrap it up for the day – if there weren’t still snow on the ground, we could’ve gotten in nine holes.”

Rick and Alexis smiled weakly at the judge, and headed back to their benches. Alexis whispered, “Say one word, and you’re on the couch tonight.” Rick smiled, and shook his head – he’d already figured that out.

“As per a request from the defense, this case will be recessed until, “ the judge looked at a calendar, “Monday the 21st – “

“Holiday, your honor,” the bailiff whispered.

“Tuesday the 22nd, “ the judge continued, not missing a beat, “and I’d like to see the defendant, Paul Hornsby, Dillon Quartermaine Hornsby, and their counsels in my chambers.” She rapped the gavel against the bench, signaling for everyone to rise as she left.



In less than an hour, Dillon found himself at GH, with Steven Webber taking a swab from his cheek for a DNA sample. Sonny had bodyguards assigned to him who had escorted him to the hospital, and Dillon knew they were waiting for him outside, but he also knew Tracey and Paul were out there as well – he could hear them sniping at each other. Steven saw the look on Dillon’s face as he listened to the fighting. “Hey,” he pointed at a door at the far end of the room, “Go out that door. I’ll call Tracey in next, and you can hook back up with the guards after she’s out of the hall.”

“Thanks,” Dillon said, heading out the back door. He watched Tracey be called into the room, and heard her ask indignantly where he was. Dillon leaned back against the door, and looked at Paul and the guards. How the hell did things get here? It was February – he should be with Georgie as she obsessed over the SATs. Force-feeding her pizza and lattes because she’d forget to eat…

Impulsively, he headed away from the guards, making it to the elevator unnoticed. He broke into a run after he hit the hospital exit, and kept running, not really caring where he went. He finally stopped, out of breath, and realized he was almost at Kelly’s. Dillon went to the walkway that overlooked the dock where it all began and looked down. 46 days, 19 hours. She’d been laughing as they showed off for Jax and Courtney.

“Hey,” he heard a voice behind him. Mike came up and stood next to him, putting an arm around Dillon’s shoulder. “Shouldn’t you have a couple of guards?”

Dillon smiled weakly, “Yeah, I guess. I just needed to get away.”

Mike nodded, “I’ve been there. But there are going to be a lot of people worried about you.”

Dillon nodded, and turned to Mike, but, before he could say anything, there was someone behind him, and Dillon felt a sting in his leg. He tried to turn, to see what was happening, and heard Mike shouting, but then everything went black.

[JRK Archiver]

Dillon woke up disoriented. He blinked a few times to try to get a grip on his surroundings, and realized he was in a van…a van that was moving. Dillon tried to stand, and noticed that he was handcuffed to panel on the wall. He sighed and tugged against the short chain - he hated being handcuffed. Well, except for that one time when he and Georgie were both drunk….

“Hello, son,” a voice called to him. Dillon turned around to see a man move out of the shadows, blinking a few times to bring him into focus. The man leaned forward, handing Dillon a bottle of water, “This will help with the headache,” he said, smiling. Dillon thought he looked vaguely familiar.

“Who are you?” Dillon asked cautiously, “What the hell is going on?”

The man sat across from Dillon, “Name’s John Wilfred, and I’m with the WSB. As to what’s going on –“ Wilfred reached into his pocket and handed a photo to Dillon, “I’m taking you to see Georgie.”

Dillon stared at the picture – Georgie was in a hospital bed. There were IV’s, an oxygen tent…he stared at it for a moment, and then turned to Wilfred. “Is she ok? What happened to her?” he asked, anxious.

“The WSB rescued her about a week ago, but she was injured in the operation. The doctor’s expect her to make a full recovery, but she’s been asking for you. I understand that you were hurt when she was taken, and she’s worried that she won’t see you again.”

Dillon nodded, still looking at the picture. “So why’d you knock me out? And? “ he tugged at the handcuffs.

Wilfred sighed, “Faison escaped – and he’s still got agents in Port Charles. We couldn’t openly take anyone to Georgie – too much of a risk that he’d be following.”

“And this?” Dillon said tugging on the handcuffs again.

Wilfred laughed, “You really don’t like those, do you?” he pulled a key from his pocket and handed it to Dillon.

“You do?” Dillon asked, unlocking the cuffs.

“Depends on the circumstances,” Wilfred responded with a wink.

Dillon nodded, and massaged his wrist. “Riiiight,” he said quietly. Dillon leaned back, “So – how do I know you’re who you say you are?”

Wilfred nodded, “Valid question, “ he took his wallet from his right front pocket and sat down, pulling a picture from it, and handing it to Dillon.

Dillon looked at the picture – it was Wilfred, Mac and Felicia, with what looked like very much younger versions of Maxie and Georgie. Dillon looked back at Wilfred, “How do I know this isn’t a fake?”

Wilfred laughed, “Son, you’ve got serious trust issues.”

Dillon shrugged, “Quartermaine,” he explained.

“Tell you what, “ Wilfred said, taking back the picture, “you can trust me after you see Georgie.”

Dillon considered the request, and nodded slowly, “Ok – I’ll go that far, “ he agreed. “When do we get there?”

“We’ve been on the road for a while, “ Wilfred looked at his watch, “Maybe another half hour.” He sighed and leaned back against the wall, “There’s a few things you should know before you get to her – things that Georgie shouldn’t have to be the one to tell you about right now.”

Dillon felt his heart drop. “What happened to her?”

“First off – it’s not as bad as it could have been. She wasn’t exactly sexually assaulted – “

“Wasn’t exactly?” Dillon repeated worriedly, “What the hell does that mean?”

“Look – Faison is a sick bastard. He decided he wanted a child, and he picked a mother, and it didn’t matter that she wasn’t interested.”

Wilfred paused and looked at Dillon. Dillon shook his head, hoping Wilfred was saying what he thought. “No,” he whispered.

“I’m sorry, son, but yes. She’s pregnant – but, as I said, it could have been worse. The pregnancy was the result of artificial insemination.” Wilfred stood up, grabbing on to a panel on the side of the van, “There is an off chance though…”

“An off chance of what?” Dillon asked numbly, trying to process what Wilfred was telling him.

“Look – is it possible that she was pregnant when she was taken?”

Dillon’s eyes widened slightly, and he shook his head, “I don’t think so – we were pretty careful.”

“But it’s possible.”

Dillon shook his head, “Yeah, it’s possible, but it isn’t likely.” Dillon reflexively reached for the picture of Georgie that Mac had given him, and ran his thumb along the side of her face…they’d get past this, he told himself.

Wilfred twisted around to look at the photo, and extended his hand, “May I?” he asked.

Dillon nodded and handed the picture to him, “Mac gave that to me – it was Georgie’s.”

Wilfred nodded, looking at the picture, briefly examining the back of it. “She’s got a smile like her Mum’s,” Wilfred commented, handing the photo back to Dillon.





It was the longest ride of Dillon’s life – but the van finally stopped. Wilfred opened the back door, and led Dillon toward house they’d pulled up to. It was growing dark, but the driveway was lit, and he saw two people waiting for them.

“I told you not to,” the man waiting for them said to Wilfred.

“Oh – is this what you were talking about?” Wilfred asked, feigning surprise, “Sorry – totally misinterpreted that.”

The other man shook his head, frustrated, and turned his attention to Dillon, “Mr. Hornsby?” he asked, offering his hand.

“Uh, just call me Dillon,” Dillon said uncertainly, shaking the hand. He still found it unusual to hear any name other than Quartermaine.

“Dillon – I’m Sean Donnely.”

Dillon nodded, recognizing the name, “Mac’s mentioned you.”

Donnely smiled, “Don’t believe a word of it.” He ushered the older woman standing next to him forward – Dillon thought she looked like Maureen O’Hara. “This is Mrs. O’Conner, she’s Georgie’s nurse.”

Dillon nodded to her nervously, “How is she?” he asked.

She smiled, “She’ll be much better when she sees you, dear,” she said, taking Dillon’s arm and leading him into the house.

Dillon looked around as they entered – the house was huge – larger then the Quartermaine mansion. They’d entered through a back door, and Mrs. O’Conner led him up a back stairway. On the third floor, she moved down a corridor, and ushered him into a small washroom. “You’ll need to scrub up, lad – she’s still pretty weak, and we can’t take the chance of infection.” Dillon nodded, and took off his jacket. He remembered the procedure from when he’d gone with Georgie to visit Mac in the hospital, and got ready quickly. Mrs. O’Conner looked him over, and nodded, “Try to see that she rests, dear, “ she advised, opening a door at the far side of the washroom for Dillon.

Dillon stepped into the next room – and saw her. He felt as if time stopped, almost as if he were still watching her on the web cam, and he froze in place for a second. Then he felt Mrs. O’Conner push him gently in the small of his back, and he walked slowly to the bed, afraid that she’d disappear again if he pushed his luck.

Dillon sat in the chair by the bed, and leaned over the side, kissing George gently on the forehead and taking one of her hands…she was still, and her skin was cool and dry. “Georgie?” he said softly. She moaned a little, and turned toward Dillon. “Georgie, honey?” he called again.

Georgie’s eyes opened slowly, “Dillon?”

“Hey, beautiful,” he said, trying not to cry.

Georgie smiled, “What took you so long?”

Dillon smiled back, running his hand along the side of Georgie’s face, and brushing her hair back, “You’re a hard woman to see,” he answered.

Georgie coughed weakly, squeezed Dillon’s hand, and closed her eyes, “M’ busy - should make n’appointment,” she said softly, drifting back to sleep. Dillon kissed her forehead again, and held her hand with both of his. He cried softly, not wanting Georgie to hear. Dillon remembered what Lucky had said, and knew Lucky had been right. Georgie was the most important thing in his life – nothing and no one else mattered, and nothing would get him away from her side.

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter 13

It was several days before Georgie woke up completely, and Dillon stayed by her side for as long as Mrs. O’Conner would let him. On the first day, Mrs. O’Conner kicked him out whenever she needed to tend to Georgie, but Dillon would sneak back in before she was finished, and she finally relented. By the end of the second day, he’d worn her down to the point that she had allowed him to help her – just passing requested items to her, but Dillon felt certain that he could eventually wear her down to the point where she’d let him take over Georgie’s sponge baths.

Dillon spent the nights sleeping in the chair next to Georgie’s bed, holding her hand, with his head resting on the bed. Usually, she’d wake up for a few seconds at a time, just long enough to look at him and smile, and then she’d go back to sleep. She’d had a few nightmares, and they’d scared the hell out of him – the same feeling of helplessness he’d had when he watched her on the webcam returned. All he could do was try to comfort her, and hope she knew he was there.

On the fourth morning, Dillon felt Georgie’s hand on the back of his head. He looked up at her, and she smiled at him, “Hi, “ she said, her voice raspy.

“Hi,” he answered back, reaching up to brush his hand along the side of her face. She crooked her finger at him, and motioned for him to come closer. Dillon stood up, kissed Georgie’s forehead, and leaned against the bed.

Georgie scowled jokingly, “That’s it? I come back from death’s door, and that’s all I get?” Dillon smiled, leaned forward, and kissed her softly on the lips. Her smile returned as he pulled away from her. “That’s more like it.”

“Don’t take it too fast. I’m pretty sure Mrs. O’Conner could and would kick my ass.”

Georgie looked toward the door, “Is that her name? I knew there was someone else here with you, but never got her name.” She looked back at Dillon, “Where is everyone else?”

Dillon sat back down in the chair and took her hand, “They’re still back in PC. The WSB didn’t think it would be safe to bring too many people to you.”

Georgie looked down, and nodded slowly, her smile disappearing. “He got away, didn’t he?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry.”

Georgie looked back at Dillon, and sighed, “But at least we know he’s out there…and what he wants.” Georgie took both of Dillon’s hands in hers, “There’s something I’ve got to tell you,” she started.

Dillon shook his head, putting a finger across her lips, “It’s ok – I know.”

Georgie looked at him, “I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have…” she began to say, but felt herself start to cry and couldn’t continue.

Dillon moved onto the bed next to her and pulled her into a hug – she began to cry against his shoulder, “There wasn’t anything you could’ve done,” he whispered.

Georgie shook her head, and pulled away from him, “I took the pills….I thought I was being smart – he was going to make me take them anyway…”

Dillon pulled her closer, and looked into her eyes, “You said it yourself - he was going to make you take them anyway. If he’d forced you, you might’ve been hurt more, and you’d be in worse shape now.” Georgie sniffed and wiped her eyes – Dillon ran his fingers along her cheek. “It will be ok.”

Georgie laughed bitterly, “How? How can this ever be ok?”

Dillon smiled, “It’ll be ok because we’re together.” He reached into his pocket, and handed Georgie the picture Mac had given him. “Mac found this in your room and gave it to me – he said I needed to believe that you were going to be happy again, like you were in the picture.” Georgie looked down at the picture and smiled, remembering when it had been taken. Dillon placed his hand under Georgie’s chin, and tilted her head up so that she was looking at him. “Whatever happens from here on, you’re not going to be alone.” Dillon smiled and kissed her softly, “You’re stuck with me.”

Georgie smiled and laughed softly. “There’s no one else I’d rather be stuck with.” Dillon reached over to Georgie and pulled her into a hug again, leaning back onto the bed. “So – Mac gave you a picture of me?”

Dillon smiled, “Yeah – we’ve actually been getting along pretty well lately.”

Georgie sat up, and twisted around to look at Dillon, “What’s been happening back home?”

Dillon sighed, “It’s a long story – maybe you should rest up now?”

Georgie shook her head, “No – I’ve been “resting” ever since he kidnapped me. The worst part of it all was not knowing anything. Please, Dillon – what’s been going on?”

Dillon nodded, and sat up, pausing to think over the events of the past two months. “Well – your dad figured out it was Faison pretty quickly.”

“How?” Georgie interrupted.

“When they found the car the kidnappers used, it had surveillance photos of you – and some of them were of the docks, and had Jenkins in them. Mac showed Mike and me some mug shots, and we picked out Faison.”

“Why would they leave photos like that in the car?” Georgie asked, shaking her head.

Dillon shook his head as well, “We weren’t really sure – Mac thought it might be to make everyone suspicious of my Mom.”

“What?”

Dillon sighed, “The pictures Sage took last year were in there as well.”

“Mac saw those?” Georgie asked, grimacing.

Dillon nodded, “Yeah,” he said, running his hand over Georgie’s hair.

Georgie sighed – she’d hoped Mac wouldn’t ever have to know about that. It had been bad enough with Maxie and the web site – she’d hoped that this could’ve just been forgotten without Mac ever finding out. Georgie sighed, “OK – what then?”

“Once Mac knew it was Faison, he thought Faison might be after other people as well, and he asked Sonny Corinthos if we could hide out at his penthouse.”

Georgie’s eyes widened, “You’ve been staying at Sonny Corinthos’s penthouse?”

Dillon smiled, “Jason’s actually. The girls stayed with Sonny, and Lucas and I stayed with Jason.”

“The girls?”

Dillon nodded, “Maxie, Brooke, Lulu and Jennifer.”

“Jennifer?”

Dillon smiled, “My sister.”

Georgie’s mouth dropped open, “Sister?”

“Did I mention that my father is back?”

Georgie smiled, a little lost, and tapped Dillon on the temple, “Narrative flow, Mr. Quartermaine, narrative flow,”

Dillon grabbed her hand and kissed it, “From the beginning then?”

“Please.”

“Ok – recap: I was in the hospital, and Mac brought in the pictures they found in the car. He figured out Jenkins was Faison, and moved anyone he thought might be in danger into Sonny and Jason’s penthouses. I got an email that had a link to a web cam –“

Georgie’s eyes grew wide, “Web cam?” she asked, remembering the surveillance camera.

Dillon nodded, “Yeah – I guess he had a camera set up in your room.”

“And you were watching?”

Dillon brushed Georgie’s hair back behind an ear, and moved his hand down the side of her face, “As much as I could. Liz sort of played mother hen, and made sure I ate and slept, but, if I wasn’t watching, someone else was.”

Georgie nodded, “I kind of suspected there was a camera, but I never thought anyone else was watching.”

“At least we knew you were alive.”

Georgie shook her head, “Why? There must have been a danger of the web cam being traced back.”

Dillon shrugged, “I don’t know – who knows why he did any of this?”

Georgie thought for a moment, trying to fit the pieces in place. “What happened after the web cam?”

“Uh - that would be Ned trying to keep Tracey away from me. He brought my dad back from California - I guess to keep her occupied.”

“Wow – so, you met your dad?”

Dillon smiled a little nervously, “Yeah… but…”

“But?”

“I don’t know – I always thought I’d sort of make a connection with him, but…I just didn’t feel anything.”

“It sort of sounded like you were preoccupied with the web cam.”

Dillon smiled, “The word “obsessed” was mentioned. But still…the thing is, just about the only person I thought even had a clue about how I felt was Mac.”

Georgie nodded, “He’s good at that sometimes. I guess it’s a “dad” thing.” Georgie’s eyes widened as some of the pieces started to snap into place. “I know why they left the pictures, and why he showed you the web cam.”

“OK?” Dillon asked, prompting Georgie to continue.

“Faison said he took me so that the baby would be protected from his enemies by being one of them, “ Georgie started.

A shocked expression came over Dillon’s face, “What?”

Georgie took Dillon’s hands, “I’m a Jones and a Scorpio, and I’m in love with a Quartermaine…”

“And if you’re the mother…,” Dillon said, numbly.

Georgie nodded, “So he needed to make sure that you knew I was alive, so you wouldn’t give up hope, and he needed to remove the one person who might have been able to break us up.”

“My mom….” Dillon said, his voice trailing off. “That sick bastard….they told me he’d kidnapped you to have a baby, but didn’t say why it was you.” Dillon’s face fell, “And it’s partially my fault.”

Georgie shook her head vehemently, “No - it’s not your fault that you’re a Quartermaine, or that I’m a Jones and a Scorpio.” She put her hands on both sides of Dillon’s face, “We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Dillon sighed, and began to say something as the door opened, and Mrs. O’Conner entered the room. She looked at Dillon lying on the bed next to Georgie and frowned – Dillon got up and stood next to the bed – Mrs. O’Conner nodded approvingly. “It’s good to see you awake, Miss Jones.”

“You must be Mrs. O’Conner,” Georgie said, taking Dillon’s hand.

Mrs. O’Conner smiled, “It appears your young man has been filling you in on some details.” She picked up a blood pressure cuff from a table by the door, and approached Georgie, “If you don’t mind – I need to check one or two things.”

Georgie looked over to Dillon, “Can he stay?”

Mrs. O’Conner smiled and shrugged, “Dear, I haven’t been able to get rid of him.”



Max’s job had changed a great deal since Sonny had started watching over two penthouses full of teens and preteens. Before, there had just been Sonny’s children, and, every once in a while, Lucas. Now – from Max’s observation post he caught glimpses into the inner workings of the teenage world that had developed….Lucas and Jennifer kept sneaking off into quiet corners together…Maxie would launch onto long tirades about anything that crossed her path – with Liz doing her best to keep her calm…Brooke would sneak off to call Diego every few hours…Lulu had a crush on Diego…Michael had a crush on Maxie…Cameron and Kristina chased each other through the house, with Leticia struggling to keep the trail of destruction they left behind them to a minimum. He hadn’t seen Morgan in a while – Carly probably had him locked away from the older kids.

Things had changed a week ago, though – when Dillon disappeared. Most of the kids had taken it stoically – not really wanting to wonder out loud what had happened to him, or who might be taken next. Except Brooke. At first, she’d become hysterical – screaming incoherently, and struggling against anyone who tried to help her. Dr. Webber had been called, and given her a sedative – since then, she hadn’t spoken more than a few words to anyone. He’d seen Ned, Lois, and Sonny all try to get her to talk, but she just sat in the den, staring and clutching a pillow to her chest.

And so, when the elevator doors opened and Lorenzo and Diego Alcazar got out, Max wasn’t surprised. The obvious next step would be to get her boyfriend to try to talk to her, and, given that this would be enemy territory for her boyfriend, it made sense that his father would accompany him. Lorenzo nodded to Max, “Good morning, Max. My son would like to see Miss Ashton, and, if he’s here, I’d like to speak with Commissioner Scorpio.”

Max nodded, “Wait here, please,” and called John over to watch the door while he went to find Sonny. Max checked his watch – 7am. Sonny would probably be in the kitchen working on breakfast. If nothing else, the past couple of months had given Sonny the chance to cook – and Max knew how much he loved that. Max looked into the kitchen – Sonny, Jennifer, and Lucas were working on pancakes. “Sonny?” he called.

Sonny looked up from the mixer, “Crucial point, Max – egg whites are almost done. This better be important.”

“Lorenzo Alcazar and his son are here. Diego would like to see Brooke, and Lorenzo would like to see the Commissioner.”

Sonny scowled and nodded, “Yeah, that’ll do it.” He pointed to Jennifer, “You know how to do this, right?”

Jennifer rolled her eyes, “Please…egg whites to soft peaks, fold into batter after the blueberries.”

“Good girl,” Sonny said approvingly, and looked at Lucas, “You – do what she says, right?”

Lucas smiled, “I’ll do whatever Chef Hornsby says.”

Sonny shook his head, “Just don’t get distracted, kid“ he said, taking off his apron and handing it to Lucas. “Where are they?” he asked Max as he left the kitchen.

“Still in the hall.”

“and Brooke?”

“The den.”

“Is Mac here yet?”

“Working on the computer with Deacon and Garrett.”

“Ned or Lois here?”

“Ned’s in Jason’s penthouse.”

Sonny nodded and pointed to the living room, “Bring Mac and Ned to the den. I’ll go talk to the Alcazars.” Sonny entered the hall. “Lorenzo…Diego,” he said, nodding to each of them in turn.

“Sonny. Is Brooke available? Diego’s worried about her.” Lorenzo explained.

“Brooke’s not feeling well.”

Diego started to say something, but Lorenzo put a hand up to stop him, “I see. He won’t stay long, and I think she’ll want to see him.”

Sonny looked to Diego – he did look worried, and, whatever he thought of Lorenzo, Diego seemed like an okay kid. A bit overeager at times, but he’d seen Diego and Brooke together, and couldn’t deny that she lit up when he was around. Sonny nodded, and opened the door, “Follow me, “ he said.

Lorenzo held the door open for Diego, and then followed himself. Sonny led them to the den, turning on the lights as he entered. Brooke sat on the couch, her knees drawn up to her chest, with her arms around them. Diego pushed past Sonny, and ran to the couch, putting an arm around her, and whispering into her ear. A look of shock came over her face, and she began to cry softly. Sonny looked at Lorenzo, “What’s going on?” he asked quietly.

Lorenzo looked to Brooke, “Brooke?” he called, getting her attention.

Brooke looked at him, and knew what he wanted. She nodded, “It’s ok – go ahead and tell them.” She leaned against Diego, holding his hand.

Mac, Felicia and Ned entered the room, “What’s going on?” Ned asked.

Lorenzo answered, “I have some information on Faison.” He reached into his jacket pocket and handed a disk to Mac, “These are computer records from a safehouse Faison used in Mexico.”

“And why would you have this?” Mac asked, looking at the disk suspiciously.

“A little over 3 weeks ago, Diego’s mother was kidnapped while she was on a trip to Mexico, “ Lorenzo began. He nodded his head to Diego, “The kidnapper contacted Diego, and forced him to send information on your investigation of Georgie’s disappearance.”

Ned looked over to Brooke, “Brooke?”

Brooke looked up at her father, tears running down her face, “I’m sorry Daddy…” Ned crossed the room, and sat next to Brooke, on the other side from Diego, putting an arm around her protectively. Brooke turned to face him, “I…I didn’t think anyone would get hurt. Dillon had guards…he should have been ok…why did he..?”

As Brooke’s voice trailed off, Ned hugged her closer, and kissed her forehead, “It’s ok, honey.”

“It’s my fault, “ Diego said, his voice wavering, “I made her help me….I should have told Lorenzo as soon as it happened.”

“No, “ Lorenzo said, still facing Mac, “Diego has only known me for a short time – he had an obligation to protect his mother, and didn’t know me well enough to trust me to help. He did tell me, once it appeared that the information might have caused Dillon’s disappearance.”

Mac sighed, “And she’s safe now?” he asked, wondering how many other people had been taken as part of Faison’s plan.

“Yes – my men found where she was being held yesterday – that disk contains all the information they found on Faison.” Lorenzo turned back to Brooke, “One thing you should know – it appears Faison is looking for Dillon as well.”

The room fell silent. “He doesn’t have Dillon?” Ned asked a moment later in surprise.

“The information seems to suggest that.”

Felicia looked at Lorenzo suspiciously. “Why should we trust you?”

Lorenzo sighed wearily, “Mrs. Scorpio, this Faison has been stupid enough to attack my family. I will make sure that he pays for what he’s put Diego and his mother through. As for your daughter, I have no reason to wish her harm. I loved my niece, but I have no illusions about her – she was her father’s daughter. The…unfortunate incident…last summer was provoked, and, I’ve been informed that your daughter’s actions were out of character for her. If Sage hadn’t been murdered by Mary Bishop, then I’m certain Sage would have escalated her war with Georgie.”

Felicia frowned, not believing Lorenzo completely, but decided not to pursue it. “All right – for now,” she said.

“Commissioner Scorpio, if there’s anything else I can do to help, please give me a call.” Lorenzo turned to Diego, “Diego – we should be leaving.”

Diego started to say something, but Brooke spoke before he did, “Please – Mr. Alcazar, can he stay a little longer?”

Lorenzo frowned for a moment, and then sighed and nodded, “All right – but call when you’re ready to come home – I’ll send a car.”

“I’ll make sure he gets home safe,” Sonny offered, and then called, “Max?” Max stepped into the room. “Please show Mr. Alcazar out. And tell Jennifer and Lucas that there will be one more for breakfast.”



Tracey entered the bar on the top deck of the Haunted Star, and looked around. It was early, and as empty as she expected for the hour. But, by the end of the bar, watching TV and nursing a beer, was the person she was looking for. She sat down next to him, and looked for the bartender. “Is Deacon working today?” she asked.

JD turned toward her, and smiled. “He’s got another job now. Hasn’t worked here in a while.”

Tracey raised an eyebrow and shrugged, “Pity. The boy knew how to make a vodka martini.”

JD smiled, and walked around behind the bar. “What can I get you? I’ll warn you, though, if you ask for any kind of martini, I can promise you’ll be disappointed.”

Tracey smiled, “Double scotch rocks?”

JD smiled back, and looked for a glass. “A real woman’s drink,” he commented, placing it in front of her.

Tracey smiled, tilted the glass toward him, and downed half of it in one gulp. “Thank you.”

“So,” JD started, reaching for his beer, and leaning against the bar, “What brings you here? Haven’t seen you around since that night Georgie got kidnapped.”

Tracey sighed, and took a letter from her purse, sliding it across the bar to JD. “Could you get this to Dillon? I haven’t been able to see him for weeks, and I’d just like him to know that…that I’m not the monster Paul may be making me out to be.”

JD looked at the letter, and then at Tracey…she didn’t know, he realized. “Um…I’m sure he knows that you love him,” he said uneasily.

Tracey smiled sadly, “Thanks – just, could you get the letter to him? It would mean a lot to me.”

JD smiled, and put the letter into his shirt pocket. “I’ll give it to him the next time I see him. You know – you start getting sentimental, and your dragon lady reputation is going to get shot.”

“Dragon lady?” Tracey laughed.

“Yeah – that’s how you always struck me. No sentiment, all business, ruthless…and get anywhere near her kids, and she’ll tear you to shreds.”

“Ah – then you mean that in a flattering way,” she smiled, gulping down the rest of the scotch.

“Isn’t it a bit early, even for you?” Paul’s voice called from the doorway.

Tracey closed her eyes, “Shouldn’t you be with your son?” she asked bitterly. She slid her glass across the bar to JD, and held up a finger, mouthing, “One more.”

Unseen by Tracey, Paul flinched as she mentioned Dillon. He’d been gone nearly a week, and Paul had been frantic. “There is a restraining order,” he mentioned, wanting to get rid of her.

Tracey turned to look at him, and leaned against the bar, “There’s a restraining order keeping me away from Dillon – but Dillon isn’t living here now. He’s locked away with his mobster cousin, which I’m sure you think is a much more wholesome environment for him.”

“More wholesome than with you – “ Paul started.

“Hey!” JD yelled, moving around the bar, pushing a finger into Paul’s face, “She’s his Mom – you’ve got to respect that. The worst thing you could do would be to try to turn Dillon against her.”

Paul pushed JD back, “I’ll keep that in mind if I ever see him again!” he yelled, not thinking.

Tracey stood up, and placed her hand on JD’s arm. “What?” she asked, alarmed. “What do you mean, “ she turned to Paul, “if you ever see him again?”

Paul closed his eyes and swallowed. JD looked at him, and knew he wasn’t going to tell her. JD took Tracey’s hand, and led her to a chair – he knelt beside her. “Dillon’s missing, “ he said softly.

A shocked look came over Tracey’s face, “He’s….did he run away? He’s done that before, “ she said, a trace of hope in her voice.

JD shook his head, “I’m sorry – no. There was a witness – he was kidnapped. We think it was the same person who took Georgie.”

Tracey shook her head, “No…” She stood up, and walked back to the bar. She stumbled slightly, and JD grabbed her arm to keep her from falling. “Thank you, “ she muttered, and leaned against the bar. “Who?” she asked, her eyes closed.

JD sighed, “We think it’s Cesar Faison.”

Tracey opened her eyes in shock, “Oh God…” She looked back to Paul, “Why in the hell would he want to take Dillon? What have you gotten him into?”

Paul looked at her stunned, “What have I gotten him into? What in the hell are you talking about?”

“He has blackmailed you before – or have you forgotten?” Tracey approached Paul, and yelled in his face. JD took her arm and tried to pull her away.

“How could I forget that?” Paul asked through clenched teeth.

[JRK Archiver]

Tracey shook her head, laughing bitterly. She went behind the bar, grabbed the bottle of scotch, pulled the pouring spout out, and took a swig. “I keep him safe for eighteen years, and, in less than two months you get him kidnapped. Tell me, how many of your children have been kidnapped now? Is this just the second, or have there been others you haven’t bothered to mention?”

“How many times has he run away from you, Tracey?” Paul yelled. “Why was he living here, when he could have been living in a mansion? Maybe if he and Georgie had been at the Quartermaine’s instead of on the docks, she wouldn’t have ever been kidnapped – and he’d be here too.”

“Ohhh…” Tracey said, laughing, “Like the Quartermaine mansion could have kept Cesar Faison away –“

“Tracey!” Luke’s voice called from the top of the stairs, “Looking for a job? I’ve got to admit, no one knows more about booze than a Quartermaine, but, darling, I’m afraid you’d drink up all the profits.”

“And you!” Tracey waved the bottle at Luke, “You’ve been corrupting him since the first day you met him – is he part of one of your plots to get revenge against Faison? Or is this a Cassedine thing – and Faison’s just working for them again?”

Luke walked behind the bar and grabbed the bottle from Tracey, taking a swig himself before putting it back on the shelf. “So, you heard about Dillon then?”

“Yes – and thank God there was someone here with courtesy enough to think I might care,” Tracey said, her arms crossed, staring at Luke defiantly. Luke raised an eyebrow, and looked at JD, who shrugged. “So – what’s being done to find him? Has anyone called the WSB?” Tracey demanded.

Luke sighed, and looked at Paul – who was obviously angry, but didn’t want to get into it with Tracey again. Luke had to admit, fighting with Tracey was exhausting at best. But she had a point – whatever the courts had to say, she was still his mother, and had a right to know what was going on with Dillon. Luke picked up Tracey’s purse and handed it to her, “Come with me – we should probably fill you in on a few things.”



It had only taken a few hours to wear Mrs. O’Conner down to the point where she didn’t immediately insist that Dillon stop lying next to Georgie on her bed. The head of the bed was inclined, and Dillon stretched out, his arm around Georgie, who had her head on his chest, and her finger tracing circles on the shirt over his stomach…he kissed the top of her head, and she hugged him tightly for a few seconds – and then she went back to tracing circles. “You’re thinking about something,” he observed.

Georgie’s fingers stopped moving, “Yeah…” she said, sounding reluctant.

“What?”

She sighed, and was silent for a moment. “I remember some things from when I was sick – just parts of conversations people were having nearby.”

“OK?” Dillon prompted.

“Did you meet Mr. Donnely?”

“Yeah….”

“I…I remember him talking to the doctor. They were talking about when I’d be strong enough to have an abortion.”

Dillon froze…he hadn’t thought about that. It was the obvious solution, but, there was something about the way Georgie was talking. “Do you…want to have an –“ he started.

Georgie sighed, “An abortion. I don’t know…I mean, I know it’s the smart thing to do – the way out…but…”

Dillon remembered back to when they’d spoken about this before – they’d gone through “what-ifs” about something going wrong, and Georgie becoming pregnant – and abortion had been a topic. “Before you said that you didn’t know if you could have an abortion.”

“That was different – that would have been you and me. It would have been our baby – he’d have had your smile and your eyes…but this…this is different.”

“I remember you saying that you thought it all came down to when you believed a baby was alive – and that there wasn’t any way to prove that. It’s a matter of belief…so, the question is – what do you believe?”

Georgie was silent for a moment, and then sat up, and looked at Dillon, “I wish I just thought of this as a…a medical problem, but I don’t. I’ve been thinking of this as a baby – as a baby I need to save from him…I don’t even think of it as his.”

Dillon took her hand, “Does it really matter who the father is? I mean, look at Nicholas or Skye – his father is as bad as Faison, and she doesn’t even know who hers is. They’re both really cool people despite that.”

Georgie started to cry, “I can’t ask you to-”

Dillon smiled, and put a finger up to Georgie’s lips, “Look – when I think of your dad, I don’t think of some guy you’ve never met who’s off saving the world. I think of Mac. And this baby – it’s part of you. If I can be as good a father to him as Mac has been to you, then…well, he’s going to be an amazing kid.”

Georgie looked into his eyes, and shook her head, “I don’t want to force you into this because you feel obliged – you shouldn’t have to waste your life raising someone else’s baby.”

Dillon leaned forward and kissed Georgie, “I love you – and I don’t think I can live without you. This isn’t about obligation. It’s about spending my life with you…and this baby. He’s going to have your smile, and your eyes, and I’m going to be his dad…if you’ll let me.”

Georgie began to cry softly, and Dillon pulled her into a hug, kissing her cheek. The WSB wouldn’t like this, but that didn’t matter, Dillon thought. Georgie was the one who would have to live with it, and he wouldn’t let anyone force her into something she would regret later. He was going to spend the rest of his life with her…and this was going to be their first baby. Neither Faison or the WSB could stop that.

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter 14

Skye had been watching the last day’s footage on the webcam repeatedly – there was something about the way that Georgie was acting. Something about her body language. Something she’d seen before, but just couldn’t place. It finally came to her a few days after Dillon disappeared as she drifted off to sleep – Melissa Braithwaite.

In college, she’d been in a sorority, and Melissa was a year behind her. Just before Thanksgiving break in her sophomore year, she’d seen Melissa get a phone call – and, after speaking on the phone for a few minutes, Melissa had acted just the way Georgie was acting on the webcam. Moving around stiffly, as if her body was suddenly alien to her…one arm unconsciously covering her stomach. And the look in her eyes…it was the same look Georgie had.

Back in college, it didn’t take long for the news to make the rounds through the house – Melissa had found out that she was pregnant, and desperately wanted not to be. Skye hoped she was wrong, but, after rushing back to the penthouse to see the webcam footage again, she was only more certain.

She couldn’t watch it any more – now that she thought she knew what was happening, it broke her heart to think of Georgie at that monster’s mercy. And worse – who knew what Faison had been doing to her after she fell asleep? Was he evil enough to have….Skye didn’t want to think any further than that. She knew she should tell her suspicions to Mac, but Mac wouldn’t handle it well, and he needed to concentrate on analyzing the information Alcazar had given them.

And so now, she was waiting at her house for Felicia – she needed to tell someone, and hoped that Felicia would handle it better then she thought Mac would. Maybe even more, though – she hoped that Felicia would tell her that she was wrong. The doorbell rang, a few minutes earlier then she expected, and Skye nervously opened the door to a stern looking Felicia. “You wanted to see me?” Felicia asked curtly.

Skye smiled weakly, “Uh, yeah, “ she said, starting to lose her nerve. “Come inside, please, “ she said, ushering Felicia in to the living room. “Can I take your coat?”

Felicia looked around the room, “Thanks – but Jason and I are chasing down a lead, so I can’t stay long.”

“OK, then, “ Skye said, taking a deep breath before she plunged into the speech she’d rehearsed. “I’ve been watching the video of Georgie on that last day the web cam was up -”

“I’ve seen that, “ Felicia interrupted.

“I know, “ Skye defensively put her hands up, “It’s just that something in the video clicked with me, like I’d seen someone acting like Georgie was that day.”

Felicia looked at Skye, “Clicked?”

Skye nodded, “Her body language, I guess. I…I’d seen someone moving that way before – with the same expression…and…and crying like that.”

“So – what then? What do you think it means?”

Skye hesitated, and then spoke haltingly, “I…I think she’s pregnant.”

Felicia stared at Skye for a second, her eyes widening in surprise, and her head shaking slightly. She started to say something, and then stopped herself, looking away from Skye and taking a few steps toward the door. “My God,” she whispered, one of her hands moving up to cover her face.

Skye looked after her and smiled nervously, “Could you please just tell me I’m crazy?”

Felicia shook her head and looked back at Skye, a tear in the corner of her eye. “I remember everything about that day – every shot of that video….she was acting so differently…I guess it scared me to think about why….but it would make all the pieces we have fit.”

“All the pieces?”

Felicia nodded, and spoke distractedly, still going over what Skye had said, “Some of the emails that Alcazar gave Mac – they mentioned a doctor, and medical equipment.”

“Wait – so maybe he found out she was pregnant, and got someone to take care of her?” Skye asked hopefully.

Felicia shook her head, “No – this was before she was kidnapped. We think the doctor was a fertility specialist who disappeared last December. I guess this was a possibility that I didn’t want to consider….so…”

Skye closed her eyes, “Maybe…maybe Dillon is the father?”

Felicia laughed bitterly, “You know, I think even Mac would be happy about that.” Felicia turned to face Skye, “You haven’t told Mac, have you?”

Skye shook her head and sniffed, wiping her eyes – she hadn’t realized she’d started crying, “No, I didn’t think he’d handle it well…didn’t want to upset him if I was wrong.”

Felicia nodded, “We might still be wrong, “ she said, moving to sit down on the couch. Felicia sighed heavily, “I haven’t exactly been fair to you – or to Mac.”

Skye shook her head, sitting next to Felicia, “Hey – it’s understandable – “

“No, “ Felicia interrupted, “I know it’s over for me and Mac. Even if we did get back together, we’d break up again – and it would be worse this time. Neither of us has changed….I guess it just took me a little while to figure that out. I want him to be happy – and I think he can be happy with you.”

Skye smiled, not quite sure how to respond, “Thanks,” she said softly.

“Just be good to him, ok?” Felicia got up and headed for the door, “Keep an eye on him – if he gets a good lead, but he thinks it’s dangerous, he’ll try to go after it on his own – but, if this is true, he’s not going to be able to handle it alone.”

“I promise – I’ll take care of him, “ Skye said, turned around on the couch so that she faced Felicia, who stood with her hand on the doorknob. Felicia nodded, and left to get back to work on the investigation.



Diego tentatively knocked on the door to Lorenzo’s study, and opened the door a few inches. “Lorenzo?”

He heard papers being shuffled around, and then Lorenzo answered, “Come in, Dieogo.” As Diego entered, Lorenzo stood up from behind the desk and approached him, “How is Brooke?”

Diego smiled, “Not great yet – getting there, though. I…uh…I wanted to ask you for a favor.”

Lorenzo smiled, and leaned back against the desk, “Anything.”

Diego laughed, “You may end up regretting it when you say that sometime.”

Lorenzo shrugged, “Maybe. But, for now, I’ve got a few years to catch up on. So – what would you like?”

Diego sighed, and began to pace nervously, “Look – it’s like this – most of my life I never really made friends, because I didn’t think I’d be in one spot long enough for friends. At least, until I got here, and it sort of looked like I’d be here for a while. And Dillon and Georgie are my friends, and I betrayed them, ok? I need to try to help them, “ Diego paused and looked at Lorenzo, who seemed to be unaffected. Diego continued, changing his tactic, “Ok - you want a mercenary motive? I am so seriously going to flunk history and English without Georgie.”

Lorenzo shook his head, “You’re a straight A student – “

“Math, science, yeah, “ Diego interrupted, “But I completely suck when it comes to other stuff.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What? That I have no clue why the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor?”

“They needed to remove the American military as a potential threat to their expansion in the South Pacific, “ Lorenzo replied reflexively, and then he smiled, “Sorry – habit. I could help you out – or, if you’re uncomfortable with that, we could get a tutor.”

Diego shook his head, “No – Georgie knows how to explain things to me, and I’m helping her with Math, so it’s not like I’m a total loser.” Lorenzo started to shake his head and respond, but Diego interrupted him, “Look – some of it’s mercenary, and some of it’s guilt. But it doesn’t matter where it’s coming from – I owe it to them because they’re my friends.”

Lorenzo sighed, and thought for a moment, “OK – I’ll do what I can.”

“Thanks – I know it must be difficult. I heard what you said to Georgie’s mom, but…well I didn’t believe it any more than she did.”

“What?” Lorenzo asked, confused.

“About my cousin. You blame Georgie for her dying.”

Lorenzo frowned, “Not for her dying. Maybe for her dying alone.”

“You know Georgie never would have locked her up if she thought it was dangerous.”

Lorenzo nodded, “Intellectually, I understand that. I’m still working on processing it emotionally.”

Diego nodded somberly, “You can’t rush some things.”

Lorenzo sighed, clapped his hand against Diego’s arm affectionately, and walked around the desk, “I guess I should be making some phone calls.”

“Thanks. Um – would you mind if I went back to see Brooke?”

Lorenzo laughed, “Have fun – just make sure you have a driver.”

Diego responded with a laugh, “You know the coolest thing about being rich?” Lorenzo shrugged, and Diego continued, “I’ll never have to take the bus again.”



Dillon had the chair by the bed turned toward it so that he could watch Georgie as she slept. He’d woken up nearly an hour before, and had managed to get up without waking her. Since then he’d taken a shower and gotten some breakfast, but Georgie was still sound asleep. He reached a hand out to her face and brushed a hair away from her eyes – she reflexively brought an arm up, and then turned to her side. Sleep was probably the best thing for her now, he thought – when she was awake, she was worried…but now, she looked so peaceful.

There was a soft knock on the door, and Dillon got up quickly and answered – it was Sean Donnelly. “She’s still asleep, “ Dillon explained, keeping Sean from entering and closing the door behind him.

Sean nodded, “I wanted to talk to you anyway.”

Dillon’s eyes narrowed in concern, “About what?”

Sean sighed, “I need you to help me help her.”

Dillon thought back to what Georgie had told him about Sean, and the overheard conversation, and replied cautiously, “How can I help her?”

“The best thing for her right now would be to end this, so she can move on and not look back –“

“You want her to have an abortion, “ Dillon interrupted.

Sean nodded slowly, “It’s for the best.”

Dillon shook his head, “She doesn’t think so.”

“She’s not thinking clearly, “ Sean insisted.

“She is thinking very clearly right now. If she did what you want, she would look back and regret it, and that would kill her.”

Sean grimaced, and looked away from Dillon. He sighed heavily and looked back at the teenager, “Look – it’s not necessarily her decision.”

Dillon looked at the stern expression on Sean’s face, and hoped he’d misheard, “What?” he asked.

Sean stared unblinkingly at Dillon, “Some things just can’t be allowed.”

“How is that your decision?”

“It’s my job to stop Faison – that’s how.”

“And it doesn’t matter who gets caught in the middle?”

“This is her way out of the middle, “ Sean insisted, not understanding why Dillon, and apparently Georgie, didn’t get that.

Dillon stared back at Sean, “We’d like to talk to Mac or Felicia.”

“That’s not possible, “ Sean said, leaning in toward Dillon intimidatingly.

“Why not?” Dillon said, trying to keep his voice steady over the mix of fear and anger he felt.

Sean pushed Dillon against the door, “Look – you’ve never dealt with him before. This is the only way to protect her.”

“By making her do something she’ll regret for the rest of her life?”

Sean grabbed Dillon’s shirt and lifted him off the ground a few inches, “She’ll get over it,” he said menacingly.

The door behind Dillon started to push open, and Sean backed away. Georgie looked out from around the door and called, “Dillon?”

Dillon glanced at Georgie, and then looked back at Sean, “It’s ok, sweetie. Mr. Donnelly and I were talking out here so we wouldn’t disturb you.”

Georgie looked at Sean suspiciously. “Well, I’m awake now. You can talk to me.”

Sean looked at her, and his expression softened a little, “No – that’s ok. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you…I’ll…I’ll be back later, “ he said hurriedly, and then he left without looking back at them.

Dillon stared angrily after Sean, and Georgie put her hand on his arm to get his attention. “What happened?” she asked softly.

Dillon shook his head, “Look – it wasn’t anything –“

“Oh yes it was. You’re mad…or maybe scared…but it’s something.”

Dillon sighed and nodded, opening the door, and motioning for Georgie to go back into the room. He followed her in, “Yeah…he…,” Dillon started, wanting to tell her what was happening, but not wanting to scare her.

“He what?” she asked, confused.

Dillon closed his eyes. If anyone could handle this, she could. Probably better than he was. He opened his eyes, took her hand, and said softly, “He pretty much said that he was going to make you have the abortion, whether or not you wanted it.”

Georgie nodded slowly, and walked to a windowseat in the corner of the room, sitting down and leaning back against the wall. “I thought that might be it, “ she said softly.

Dillon followed her, and sat across the window seat from her, “I asked to see Mac or Felicia, but he said we couldn’t.”

Georgie shook her head, “This isn’t the way the WSB works – Mac and my Mom told me enough about them to know that. Something is wrong here.”

“Look – are we sure they’re the WSB? I mean we just have their word.”

Georgie looked out the window, and nodded absently. “I thought they were because Mr. Donnelly was there. Maybe they are…maybe they’ve changed.” They drifted off into silence, and then Georgie looked at Dillon, “We have to leave,” she said decisively.

“What?” Dillon asked, surprised.

“We’ve got to get to people we know we can trust – Mac, my Mom, Ned, maybe Luke. Mr. Donnelly isn’t going to let us get to them, so we’ve got to do it ourselves.”

Dillon shook his head, “You’re not in any shape –“

“I’m in better shape for it now then I will be in a few months.”

“Where would we go? And – we don’t have the right clothes, or any money or ID.”

“We won’t need to get that far – just far enough to get someplace where we can get a message out. And, look, “ she said, pointing toward a break in the trees, “There’s a service road that way – it’s along the power lines – there are usually shacks every 5 or 10 miles along the service roads with phone equipment.”

Dillon looked at Georgie in amazement, “How do you know that?”

Georgie shrugged and smiled, “Mac. He made sure Maxie and Robin and I knew about stuff like this.”

Dillon smiled and nodded, “OK…but we should try to sneak some food first, and maybe try to dig up some warmer clothes.” Georgie nodded, and forced a smile, trying not to look as scared as she felt. Dillon moved closer to her, and pulled her into a hug.



Wilfred listened until Georgie left to take a shower. Sean had planted enough bugs in the hall and the room that Georgie and Dillon shared for him to have heard Sean and Dillon’s conversation, and then Georgie and Dillon’s plans. He leaned back and rubbed his eyes. Georgie had been right – this wasn’t the way the WSB worked – this was Sean out of control. And, if it came down to a choice between Sean and Georgie, there really wasn’t a choice to be made. He owed that much to Mac.

Wilfred looked across the room to the computer Sean kept a copy of the case records on. He’d broken in to it weeks before, and had tried to keep up on the things that Sean wasn’t telling him, but he hadn’t dug into the case too deeply, trusting that Sean’s briefings were accurate. Wilfred checked the cameras – Sean was checking the security, by the north gate. He’d have at least 20 minutes.

Wilfred logged on, and opened the case files – filed under the Persephone project – the name that Faison had used. He looked through the files, and went back to just before Georgie had been kidnapped. That was when he saw the notation – the date stamp was 2 days before the kidnapping – “Target Cleo is set for 12/29”. And, shortly after that, another note: “Confirmation: target Cleo identified as Jones, G.”

Wilfred stared at the notes for a moment, trying to digest the information. Sean had known 2 days before Georgie had been kidnapped that the attempt would be made. But there weren’t any notations about alerting her family, or the Port Charles police. He had used her to bring Faison out into the open. And now, he was still using her. She wasn’t any safer here then she’d be with Mac and Felicia – but if she were here, that would lure Faison into coming after her, and that would bring Faison to Sean. She was bait, pure and simple.

Wilfred grimaced. He and Sean had been friends for years, and he wanted to trust Sean, but he couldn’t now. Georgie – and Dillon – needed his help. He logged out of the computer, and went back to the taped surveillance. He cued the tape back to Georgie and Dillon’s conversation about running away, and deleted the record. Sean would come after them – but there was no point in making it any easier for them to be found.



It had taken the better part of a week, but Mac had finally finished going through the records that Alcazar had brought back from the safehouse in Mexico. Putting that together with the previous records that Garrett and Deacon had gotten from tracking the webcam had let him narrow the search to 3 possible sites. His first instinct had been to turn the information over to the WSB, but he decided against that fairly quickly. They’d been less than cooperative – in fact, when he’d mentioned that he had a list of potential sites, he’d been informed in no uncertain terms that he needed to butt out of the investigation. He’d tried to contact Sean, but Sean was “on a mission”, and couldn’t be contacted.

So – the WSB was doing whatever it did, and Mac got the feeling that Georgie was less of a priority to them than they wanted him to think. And that meant one thing: the WSB could go to Hell. He had people here in Port Charles whose first priority was getting Georgie and Dillon back again, and they would take care of this themselves.

Now, his team, such as it was, had been assembled. Like the first night after Georgie had been kidnapped, he looked around the room – but this time, he was surprised to see Tracey Quartermaine, caught in an argument with both Ned and Paul. Mac looked over to Luke, who took a gulp of whiskey from his glass and shrugged back at Mac, not even wanting to try to explain her presence.

Mac cleared his throat loudly, and Tracey stopped in mid-argument, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow as she turned to Mac. “Allright, “ Mac started, “Thank you to everyone for coming over tonight. We’ve correlated the records Lorenzo Alcazar brought back from Mexico with the traces we had from the webcam, and have three potential search locations – the area around Buffalo, the Albany area, and Northern Vermont, or possibly just over the border in Canada. We need to get to these sites directly to see if there is any evidence –“

“And why can’t the WSB check these sites?” Tracey interrupted.

Mac glared at Tracey, “The WSB isn’t interested, “ Mac explained.

“A homicidal international criminal starts kidnapping teenagers, and the WSB isn’t interested?” Tracey exploded. Ned glared at her, and took a half empty glass from her hand.

“Tracey, what exactly are you doing here?” Felicia asked angrily.

“My son has been kidnapped. Probably because of the…relationship…he has with your daughter, “ Tracey said with a sneer.

Mac turned toward Felicia, “It’s ok, “ he said, and then turned back to Tracey, “as long as you behave,” he warned.

“Oh, goody,” Tracey said sarcastically, taking her glass back from Ned and finishing it off.

“We do have one thing in our favor, “ Mac started, pulling a box out from under the table, and taking a small electronic device from it, “Dillon was carrying a tracking device when he was kidnapped – it’s short range – less than five miles, but, if he’s anywhere near one of Faison’s base sights, these will take us to him.”

“What makes you think he still has the tracking device?” Ned asked.

“It was a picture of Georgie – the tracking device was attached to the back,” Mac explained.

Ned nodded, “Ok – that he’d keep.”

Mac continued, “Felicia, I’d like you and Jason to go to Albany. Luke and Paul, you take Buffalo, and I’ll take Vermont – “

“I’m not going to allow his mobster cousin, or his deadbeat father to play hero – the boy has a warped enough sense of values as it is,” Tracey interrupted.

Mac grimaced, “What would you suggest?”

“Ned and I are the closest family he’s got – we’re going as well,” Tracey insisted.

Ned turned toward her and raised an eyebrow, “We’re what?”

“We’re going to help.”

“We wouldn’t be helping, we’d be in the way.”

Luke, realizing Tracey couldn’t be argued with, but that Ned would try, got up and stood between them, taking Tracey’s hand, and leading her away from Ned and Paul, “Nonsense, my boy,” he said to Ned, “a person with your Mother’s peculiar set of skills would prove invaluable.” Luke called to Mac over his shoulder, “Commissioner Scorpio, please continue.”

Mac took the hint, and adjusted his plans, “Alright – Tracey, if you’d accompany Luke, and Ned, you go with Felicia and Jason.” Mac looked at his watch, “It’s just about noon now – we should take a few hours to plan out our routes and learn the tracking devices – plan to get on the road by sundown.”

Skye realized that Mac would be taking the third site on his own, and glanced over to Felicia, remembering her warning that Mac might try to do something alone if he thought it were dangerous. Felicia caught Skye’s look and nodded to her, understanding her concern, and motioned for her to move to the side to talk, “Do you think he’s going to do something dangerous?” Skye asked, worried.

Felicia nodded, “The WSB used to have a base up around there, I think. Mac is probably going to try to find it and break in to get to their records.”

Skye’s eyes widened, “Why?”

“It looks like they’re cutting him out of the loop, and he probably wants to know why…Look – just, try to keep an eye on him, ok? I mean, don’t do anything stupid, like try to help him break in or anything, but just try to be the voice of reason.”

“I’ve been called a lot of things in my time, “ Skye said with a smile, “but, “voice of reason” is a first.”


Luke approached Mac, who was apprehensively watching Felicia and Skye talking to each other. Luke gave a low whistle and observed, “Damn – got to be tough when the Ex and the Current start trading notes.”

Mac shook his head, “Tell me about it. Are you going to be ok with Tracey going along?”

“Phph, “ Luke said dismissively, “I can handle her. Besides, I’ll bring JD along – I think she likes him.”

“That’s…not really something I wanted to know, “ Mac said. Luke shrugged, and Mac continued, “Look – something is up with the WSB – I haven’t been able to get in touch with Sean for weeks, and they’re trying to cut us out of the loop.”

Luke raised an eyebrow, and replied sarcastically, “And this is different how?”

Mac shook his head, “It is different Luke – just be careful.”

Luke smiled and raised two fingers to his forehead in a mock salute, “Always, Mon Capitan.”



It took Mac longer to leave than he had hoped – Felicia had insisted on making sure that everyone’s travel arrangements had been logged, and that emergency contacts were worked out. But now, just as the sun was setting, Mac headed for his car. He knew he’d be leaving and had packed that morning – the only additional items he had to add were the emergency satellite phone Felicia had insisted on, and the tracking device. Mac opened the door and looked across the car to the passenger seat, and was surprised to see Skye, smiling at him. “Hi, “ he said, slightly confused.

“Hi, “ Skye said, smiling a bit more broadly.

Mac stared at her in silence for a moment, and then ventured, “Uh – can I drop you off at your house?”

“Oh no – I’ve already packed,” Skye said brightly.

“Packed?”

“For Vermont.”

“Look – I can handle this on my own.”

“Of course you can. But you’re not going to.”

Mac grimaced, “Is this what you and Felicia were talking about?” he asked as he got into the car.

Skye shrugged, “Maybe a little. I told her I’d take care of you.”

“Take care of me?” Mac said, surprised, “I can take care of myself, you know.”

“Of course you can, “ Skye agreed, and leaned over to give him a peck on the cheek, “But- lucky you – you don’t have to.”

[JRK Archiver]

Sam had insisted on going to Albany with Jason, and the group had checked into a hotel in Schenectady after a few hours of driving. Felicia had a search grid worked out, and they checked into the closest hotel they found to the starting point. They’d agreed to start out at 7am, and had retired to their respective rooms, but Ned found that he couldn’t sleep, and wandered over to the bar for a quick drink before bed. To his surprise, he saw Felicia sitting at the bar, with a couple of empty shot glasses in front of her. He approached, and motioned to the empty seat next to her, “May I join you? Or would you prefer your privacy?” he asked.

She looked up at him, and motioned to the seat, “Please, “ she said, with a slight smile.

Ned called to the bartender, “Two of whatever the lady is having,” he requested.

The bartender nodded, and then did a double take. “Eddie Maine?” he asked.

Ned smiled, “Used to be – retired from that a few years ago.”

“Damn – that’s a shame - you were pretty good. My wife was a big fan….hey, “ the bartender reached for a pad of paper, “Would you mind?” he asked, handing the pad and a pen to Ned, “She’ll never forgive me if I don’t ask for your autograph for her.”

“No problem, “ Ned said, glancing over at Felicia, who was looking away from him and smiling, “What’s her name?”

“Annie.” Ned wrote out an autograph and handed it back to the bartender. “Thanks, “ the bartender replied, tucking the sheet of paper into his shirt pocket, “Hey – what brings you up here? You coming out of retirement?”

Ned smiled and shook his head, “No – I don’t think I could take the road anymore. Got a family to think about now – teenage daughter,” he looked over at Felicia who shook her head slightly – Ned interpreted it as her telling him not to give out too many details, “I’m just visiting some friends.”

The bartender nodded, and looked over to Felicia, thinking that Ned might want to be alone with her, “Hey, thanks again- let me go get your drinks, “ he said, excusing himself, and returning a moment later, putting shot glasses in front of each of them, and a bowl of lime wedges between them.

Ned looked at the limes, and sniffed the glass. “Tequila?”

Felicia nodded. She put some salt on her hand, licked the salt off, downed the shot, and then squeezed a lime wedge into her mouth. “Yep, “ she said.

“You’ve done this before, “ Ned observed.

Felicia shrugged, “Only on special occasions.”

“Is today special?”

“Today my divorce is final,” Felicia answered, absently playing with one of the empty glasses.

Ned raised an eyebrow, “I thought you and Mac got divorced years ago.”

Felicia nodded, “Yeah – but a divorce isn’t really final until you accept that it’s over. And today, I had a nice talk with Skye, and told her to take good care of Mac.”

“Ah, “ Ned said, understanding what she meant. “Hey, if it’s any consolation, Skye will take good care of him.” Felicia nodded sadly, and they both lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. “OK – how do I do this?” Ned asked, pointing to the tequila.

Felicia smiled, “Salt – tequila – lime.”

“Ok, “ Ned said, taking the salt shaker, and shaking a little onto the side of his hand, “Salt, “ he licked the salt, “Tequila, “ he drank down the tequila, “and lime, “ he said, grimacing as he reached for a wedge of lime and squeezed it into his mouth. “Gaahh, “ he gasped, “That is foul!”

Felicia smiled, “You’re too slow – if you do it fast enough it kills the taste.”

Ned raised an eyebrow, “Wouldn’t it make more sense to just drink something I didn’t mind tasting?”

Felicia looked at him somberly, “Ah – but then you wouldn’t be drinking tequila.” Ned chuckled. Felicia looked for the bartender, and shouted to him, “Senor – mas tequila, por favor!” The bartender looked toward them and nodded. “So – we know why I’m here. What brings you here at this hour?”

Ned shrugged. “Couldn’t sleep. I guess I’m worried about Brooke – Mac said that Faison was having her followed too.”

Felicia sighed, “Yeah – her and others. They’re safe now, though.”

Ned shook his head, “But Georgie and Dillon aren’t.”

“They will be. He’s gone to far this time – there are more people after him now, and I think some of us have gone past the point of just wanting to see him arrested,” Felicia said angrily.

“What are you saying?” Ned asked, a little taken aback.

Felicia looked at Ned and calmed down a little, “Nothing really. Just a little bit of anger and a little bit of tequila.”

Ned smiled, and waved to the bartender, “Hey – I need to catch up with the lady. You’ve had?”

“Four,” Felicia answered.

“Right – so I need 3, and then another round for both.”

The bartender shook his head, “Look – Mr. Maine, are either of you driving anywhere tonight?”

Ned held up his right hand in a boy scout salute, “Scout’s honor, Annie’s husband. Just enough to get me caught up with my friend here, and then another 2?” he looked at Felicia for confirmation – she nodded, “Another 2 rounds more.”

“Promise you’ll call it a night after that?”

“I promise. I don’t think I’d have much choice at that point, but I promise,” Ned swore. The bartender sighed, and nodded, pouring out the last 7 shots for the night. “Thanks, “ Ned said, putting two fifties on the bar, “Keep the change.” The bartender nodded his thanks as he picked up the bills.

Felicia looked at Ned as the bartender walked away, “Well, that was generous.”

“Too much?” Ned asked.

Felicia shrugged, “I guess not, if you’re used to having money like that.”

“And I am, “ Ned replied absently, getting ready to start on the tequila shots. He went through the salt-tequila-lime cycle more quickly this time, and found Felicia was right – the taste wasn’t as bad. He looked over to Felicia, who nodded at him approvingly, and he repeated the procedure with the other two shots he needed to catch up.

“Do you mind if I ask you something?” Felicia asked.

“Depends on what it is.”

“Ok – it’s this: do you think Dillon’s anything like your Mother? I mean, he doesn’t take after Paul, and, well, you’re not anything like her…so, maybe it’s like a recessive trait in genetics?” Felicia said – Ned thought he heard her words slur just a little..

Ned thought for a moment, and decided to answer the question he thought Felicia was really asking, “He’s not going to hurt Georgie.”

“He already did.”

“That was stupid teenage stuff. You don’t need to be a pedigreed Quartermaine to screw up like that.”

Felicia smiled sadly, “Yeah – I guess I’ve lived that one myself.”

Ned shrugged, “So have I. Hell, I missed most of Brooke growing up because Lois didn’t want her anywhere near my family.”

Felicia shook her head vehemently, “No – I was worse. I hurt Mac, and I deserted my daughters…and none of my reasons at the time really seem that important right now…” Felicia glared at the tequila shots, and downed one, without benefit of salt or lime.

Ned downed a shot himself, and grimaced at the taste. “You’re still in love with Mac,” Ned observed.

Felicia started to shake her head, and then stopped herself, and softly said, “Yeah.”

“So, why don’t you go after him?”

Felicia smiled sadly, “Because I haven’t changed. I’d just get caught up in a case again, and forget to call, and he and the girls would be worried….I was such a rotten wife and mom…” she said, starting to tear up.

Ned reached over and put an arm around her shoulder, “No you weren’t. Mac and the girls love you – they understand why you were gone.”

Felicia shook her head, “How? How can they understand when I don’t?”

Ned laughed, “Well, if it weren’t for the five shots of tequila, it might seem a bit clearer.”

Felicia laughed, sat up and wiped her eyes. “Thanks. You’re a good guy, Ned Ashton.”

Ned picked up his last full shot glass and tipped it to Felicia, “And you’re a remarkable woman, Felicia Jones-Scorpio.”

Felicia picked up her glass, clinked it against Ned’s, and the two of them drank the shots down at the same time. “Ok…” Felicia said, unsteadily standing up, “That’s it for me. My closing out the bar days are long since over.”

Ned smiled and nodded, “Let me help you up, “ he said, standing up.

Felicia waved him away dismissively, “I can make it back to my room, thank you very much, “ she said, and turned to leave.

As she started away, she tripped on the railing of the bar, and Ned reached out and caught her before she hit the ground. “You were saying?” he asked with a smile.

Felicia laughed, “I was just about to thank you for your generous offer to escort me to my room.”

Ned helped Felicia up, and they walked away from the bar slowly, heading back to their rooms. When they got to the elevator, the door opened soon after the button was pressed, and Ned ushered Felicia inside. They rode the elevator in silence, and Ned, slightly less drunk than Felicia, took her key and opened the door for her. “Milady,” he said, holding the door open from the hallway, and ushering her inside.

Felicia smiled and turned around in the doorway to face him. “I’d invite you in for a drink, but we did that.”

“Yeah, we did, “ Ned said, feeling a little awkward. He’d been very aware of how beautiful she was for a while now, and it was one thing to be sitting close to her in the bar, in public. It was quite another thing to be this close to her when they were alone. He cleared his throat, “I guess I should be getting some sleep – we’ve got to get started early tomorrow.”

“Yeah, we do, “ Felicia agreed, holding out her hand for him to shake.

Ned reached out, and took her hand. Impulsively, he kissed her cheek, and turned back to the hall, trying to leave quickly, “Goodnight,” he said.

Felicia looked at him, surprised, and didn’t let his hand go. Ned turned back to face her, and, acting on her own impulse, Felicia dragged Ned into the room, and pushed him up against the wall, kissing him.

Surprised, Ned tried to push her away, “Hey – hang on here…look, we’ve both maybe had a little too much to drink, and…you’re in full rebound mode right now…”

Felicia kissed him again, “I don’t care about being drunk, or about why…I, “ she paused, and kissed him again, surprised to find him starting to kiss her back. “I just really need a friend tonight.”

Ned looked at Felicia – he didn’t want to leave her…but, somewhere in the back of his mind, his common sense was screaming that taking things too quickly could ruin something that could be potentially great. Felicia was looking into his eyes, and he was about to try to say no – but she kissed him again, and that was enough to silence any arguments his common sense had left. He stumbled further into the room with her, and they both fell onto the bed.



Wilfred followed Dillon’s movements on the surveillance cameras – and, he had to admit, to the casual observer, it looked a lot like a hungry teenage boy raiding the kitchen. He knew better, though, as he saw the small pillowcase sack of food that he was bringing back to his and Georgie’s room to add to their stash.

Wilfred sighed and logged out of the computer – the deeper he dug into the case, the more he realized how personal this had become for Sean. That Sean had lied to him was something he could understand, especially with good enough reason – but this was beyond that. This was revenge against Faison, and damn anyone who got in the way.

Wilfred looked back at the camera – Dillon was close. If he was going to get them out of here, they’d be better off leaving as soon as possible, before Sean realized he’d been deleting Georgie and Dillon’s escape plans from the tape. Wilfred slipped out of the room and into an alcove that was in a dead spot for the cameras – as Dillon passed by, he reached out, and pulled him into the alcove, putting his hand over Dillon’s mouth to keep him from yelling. Dillon struggled for a moment, and Wilfred spun him around, holding a finger to his lips to indicate the Dillon should keep quiet. “Shhh – there are bugs, “ Wilfred warned.

“What do you want?” Dillon whispered.

“To help Georgie, “ Wilfred whispered back.

Dillon raised his eyebrow skeptically, “With what?” he asked, expecting this to be a trick by Sean.

“You’re planning to get out of here. I’m going to help you.”

Dillon shook his head, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Wilfred shook his head, “Look – I told you there were bugs – in your room as well. I know you’re planning to head out to the Service Road, and that you’ve been stocking up on food and warm clothes for the past 3 days.”

Dillon gulped, and stared at Wilfred, “What do you want?”

Wilfred closed his eyes and shook his head, “I told you. Look – I owe this to Georgie and Mac.”

“Why should I trust you?”

“No reason at all – but, just let me talk to Georgie. If I can convince her, will that be good enough?”

Dillon looked at Wilfred and nodded – this was different from Sean’s threats. Maybe Wilfred was playing him, but he didn’t think so. “Ok, “ Dillon agreed, “Come on back to the room and talk to her.”

Wilfred shook his head, “Look – I told you – there are bugs and cameras all over the place. This is one of he few dead spots in the house. You head back to the room – I’ll be there in a couple of minutes. Before I get there, put something over the mirror over the dresser – that’s where the camera is hidden.” Wilfred reached into his pocket, and handed Dillon what appeared to be a pen. He pulled an antenna out from the end, and pressed a button on it’s side – a small red LED lit up. “This will jam any audio surveillance, “ he said, turning it off again, and closing it before handing it to Dillon. Dillon looked at it skeptically, and then nodded, taking the pen, and leaving the alcove for his and Georgie’s room.

When Dillon got back to the room, he saw Georgie sitting in a chair by the window reading. As he entered the room, Georgie looked up, and started to ask, “Did you get any – “

“Food – yeah, “ Dillon interrupted, heading for the bathroom to grab a towel. He rubbed it through his hair, pretending to dry it, and then tossed it to the dresser, where it landed over the mirror. Georgie looked at him quizzically, and he went over to sit next to her, taking the pen out, extending it and turning it on.

“What on earth are you doing?” Georgie asked, smiling slightly.

Dillon shook his head, “Maybe being an idiot – I’m not sure yet.”

“Ok…” Georgie said, waiting for him to continue.

“I told you about Wilfred, right?”

“Yeah – the guy who kidnapped you and brought you here.”

Dillon nodded, “He said he knows about our plans and wants to help us – and that the room was bugged. This, “ he held up the pen, “is supposed to block the audio, and he said there was a camera in the dresser mirror.”

Georgie shook her head, “Do you trust him?”

Dillon shrugged, “I don’t know yet…he said he’d come over here – that you would trust him.”

Georgie shook her head, confused. “I don’t –“ She was cut off by a knock on the door, and Dillon got up to answer.

Wilfred entered, and Dillon closed the door behind him. He looked over to Georgie, and smiled, “Hi Georgie girl.”

Georgie’s eyes widened in shock, and she stood up slowly leaning on the table, shaking her head, “But…you’re…” she stammered.

“Dead? I was close enough to it for a while, but the reports were somewhat exaggerated.”

Georgie’s face slowly broke into a smile, and she began to tear up. She ran to Wilfred, and he wrapped his arms around her. After a second, she turned to a surprised Dillon, “Dillon – I’d like you to meet my Uncle Robert.”

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter 15

Dillon looked at Georgie and Wilfred - but he wasn't Wilfred, Georgie had just said. "Uncle Robert?" he asked.

Robert smiled, and extended a hand to Dillon, "Sorry I couldn't tell you sooner – but, as I said, Sean's got bugs everywhere, and I'm supposed to be keeping a low profile."

"So, you're Mac's brother?" Dillon asked, still not quite fitting the pieces into place. He cautiously shook Robert's hand.

Georgie smiled, "Yup - Robin's dad."

Dillon looked at Robert skeptically, "Why do you have an accent?" he asked.

"What?"

"Mac doesn't have an accent - you do."

Georgie smiled a little more broadly as Robert tried to explain, "Well, Mac was always good at blending in - able to fit into new environments. Helped him to no end in his career, " Georgie waved his hands, trying to stop Robert from continuing, but he just looked at her in confusion as he finished, "as a mercenary."

Dillon's eyes widened, "Your dad is a merc?"

Georgie smiled sheepishly, “Didn’t I mention that?”

"And you didn't tell me because?" Dillon prompted.

Georgie shrugged, "Well, you were freaked out enough that he was a cop - I wasn't sure how'd you'd react if you knew what he used to do."

Dillon nodded, and was about to say something, when Robert interrupted. "Mac's a police officer?" he asked with a trace of a smile.

Georgie nodded, "Police commissioner," she said proudly.

Robert chuckled, "So - little brother finally grew up. Guess marrying your mum was good for him."

Georgie frowned a little, "They got divorced, actually."

Robert shook his head, "Well, then he can still be a bloody idiot." Robert reached over to Georgie and hugged her tightly. After a moment, he held her out to look at her, "Wow - you have grown up."

Georgie shook her head, "I don't feel grown up. I just want to go home to my Mom and Dad."

Robert kissed her forehead, "And you will, sweetheart." He then turned toward Dillon, and put a hand on his shoulder. "I've got a car by the South Gate - it's where you came in the first night, the door near the kitchen, " Dillon nodded, following the directions. "I'll head out first - tell Sean I'm going to check perimeter security. I'll take out the cameras on the back stairs -I'll be waiting in the car." Robert turned back to Georgie, "We'll get you home to your mum and dad soon."

Georgie smiled weakly, wanting to believe him, but worried that he needed to sneak around as well - it only confirmed the suspicions she'd had about Sean. "Please be careful Uncle Robert."

Robert smiled at her, and put his fingers under her chin, raising her face up to look at him, "Always, sweetie." He hugged her again, and then turned to the door, "Leave in 5 minutes, " he said to Dillon as he left.

Dillon went over to Georgie and wrapped his arms around her. "So - Uncle Robert?" he asked.

Georgie nodded, sniffling a little. Seeing him had started to give her some hope that she and Dillon would get home - but it also gave her someone else to worry about. "We should get our things together, " she said, pulling away from Dillon. If she stayed busy, she hoped she wouldn’t think about how scared she was.

Dillon moved around in front of Georgie, grabbing her arms to stop her. "Are you ok?" he asked, worried.

Georgie nodded, and tried to smile, "Yeah, " she said, her voice cracking, "Just a little scared, I guess."

Dillon hugged her, "It'll be ok," he promised, "I'll take care of you." Georgie hugged Dillon tightly, and he hugged her back, not wanting to tell her that he was just as scared. After a few minutes Dillon checked his watch, and whispered to her, “We should go.” Georgie nodded, pulled a sweater out of the dresser, and followed Dillon to the door.

Dillon led the way - Georgie hadn't been allowed to leave the room much, so Dillon was more familiar with the route. He cautiously stuck his head out of the door, and, seeing that the corridor was empty, motioned for Georgie to follow him. They moved down the corridor quietly, and Dillon led them to the back staircase. In a minute, they were outside.

Georgie paused as they left the house, and looked around. The last time she'd been outside was when she'd run out of where Faison had held her - it had been freezing, but she'd been so terrified that she'd barely noticed. Now, it was a little chilly, but obviously getting warmer...she had lost track of time, she realized, and wondered exactly how long she'd been away.

Dillon grabbed her arm and pulled her toward a car across the courtyard - she saw Robert in the driver's seat. Dillon opened the back door of the car, and ushered Georgie inside, following her. Robert turned back toward them, handing a blanket to them. "Get under this, " he whispered.

Georgie and Dillon crouched down in the back seat, pulling the blanket over them, and Georgie felt that car start to move. She reached for Dillon's hand, and tried to stay calm. The car stopped, and Robert said something to someone outside the car - a guard she wondered? They were only stopped for a few seconds, and Robert was joking with whoever was there, but Georgie felt her heart in her throat, and wondered if they'd ever start up again. Dillon squeezed her hand, and she wondered if he were as scared as she was.

After what seemed like hours, they started again, and she felt the car gradually pick up speed. She and Dillon stayed frozen in place until, finally, the car pulled over, and Robert reached into the back, pulling the blanket off of them. "We're out?" Georgie asked hopefully.

"We're out, " Robert confirmed. "You can get up now. Once we get a bit further away we can get a call out to your mum and dad, but it's still a little too close now - too easy for them to trace." Georgie and Dillon both nodded, and moved up onto the seat. Georgie leaned against Dillon, and giggled as Robert shouted back at them, "Seatbelts, kids - I don't care what the two of you do back there as long as you've got seatbelts on and you don't distract the driver." It was dark, but she heard Dillon chuckle as well. They both put their seatbelts on, Georgie using the lap belt in the center. She leaned against Dillon, and he wrapped his arms around her.

Georgie looked through the window - there was a moon, nearly full...and more stars than she thought she'd ever seen before. She didn't want to think, just look at the stars. She'd been worried for so long, and now, for the first time in months, she felt like could stop worrying for a while – that she and Dillon and the baby were safe. Dillon’s arms were wrapped around her, and she heard him begin to snore softly. She smiled – he’d been worried too, and he always had a hard time sleeping when he was worried. He must be as relieved as she was.

“You still awake?” Robert asked.

“I am,” Georgie answered, “But Dillon’s sleeping – he’s been having a hard time sleeping at night.”

“How about you?”

“Me? I sleep like a rock – just like my Mom.”

“Good – it’s better for the baby.” Robert slowed the car and pulled onto an on ramp for the highway.

“Where are we going?” Georgie asked.

“I’ve got some friends just outside Montreal – Sean will be expecting us to try to get to Port Charles, so he’ll be less likely to look for us in Canada.” They lapsed into a silence as Georgie watched the signs along the highway – the distances were in kilometers now – she guessed they must have crossed the border. “So…” Robert began hesitantly, “How is she?”

“Robin?”

“Yeah.”

“She’s good – she’s in Paris now, studying at the Sorbonne.”

“Always did take after her Mother,” Robert said – Georgie saw him smiling in the mirror, but then saw his smile fade. “Sean had records that showed Faison had her under surveillance, but the surveillance was dropped pretty suddenly. Any idea why?”

Georgie closed her eyes – she hadn’t wanted to be the one to tell him, but he deserved to know. “He must have gotten her medical records,” she said quietly, “She’s HIV positive.”

“HIV…” Robert repeated, shocked. “She’s got AIDs?”

Georgie shook her head, “No - she’s completely asymptomatic, and she’s really careful about keeping an eye on herself.”

Robert frowned, “I…I should have been there for her. It’s just that Sean had me convinced that Robin and Anna were safer if Faison thought I was dead.” Robert sighed heavily, “When this is over, I’ll try to make it up to her.” Georgie nodded, unsure of what to say.

They lapsed into silence again, and, after they’d been on the road for what Georgie guessed had been an hour and a half, Robert pulled into a rest stop. "Allright - we should be good now, " Robert said.

Georgie nudged Dillon awake, and he looked at her, confused for a second. "Wha - " he started to say.

“We can call my mom and Mac now,” Georgie said, smiling. Dillon nodded sleepily, and ran a hand through his hair as Georgie kissed his cheek.

They got out of the car, and Georgie looked around – the parking lot was deserted. “What time is it?” she asked.

Robert looked at his watch, “2 AM.”

Georgie shivered – it was getting colder. Dillon noticed, and took his coat off, draping it over her shoulders. Robert handed the phone to Georgie and warned, “The WSB or Faison may be tapping her phone, so don’t get too specific – don’t tell her where we are, or where we’re going, or that I’m with you, ok?”

Georgie nodded, “What should I tell her?” she asked.

“That you and Dillon are ok. We should give her someplace to meet us. Is there anyplace you can think of that would mean something to you and her and Mac, but that no one else would know about?”

Georgie thought for a minute and nodded, “There was a campsite – it was in Upstate New York. We went rafting, and Mac had to pull Maxie back in after she fell out.”

Robert nodded, “That’s good – tell her to meet us there.”

Georgie sighed heavily, and dialed the phone. After the fourth ring she realized that her mom might be asleep, and not able to hear it. She was about to hang up and try Mac’s number when she heard the line pick up. “Hello?” a voice said – it took Georgie a second to recognize it.

“Ned?” she asked, confused.