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When Cassadines Fall
All Over Town
Monday morning.
Lesley is down in the kitchen with Lulu. "Keep looking, baby. Any house Lucky has access to is going to have Apple Jacks. It's a family thing." although your father goes for the alternative definition. Lesley finishes the thought not for Lulu's hearing.
Nik comes into the kitchen with a shade too much cheer. "Good Morning, Grandmother! And my favorite sister." He leans over and gives lulu a kiss.
"You're silly. I'm your only sister."
"Oh that's right." Nik recalls with a smile. "Lucky and I talked; I'm taking you to school and Lucky will pick you up."
"Just until we figure out the bus. Right Nikolas?" Lesley corrects.
"We'll have to talk about that." Nik opens the cupboard Lulu had been looking for and pulls down three cereals-- two of them fortified and one of them actually healthy. Lulu picks the Apple Jacks. She grabs it, the milk from the fridge, bowl and a spoon. Settling into her own breakfast routine which had only been interrupted by her inability to find the cereal.
"Since you're the man with the plan." Lesley offers Nik a toast with her ice cold pepsi. "What's the plan for me?"
"Elizabeth received a list of long term care facilities from Mrs Hardy. We should be prepared when Luke receives authorization."
Lesley nods. "Baby, go get Grandma's purse." Lulu hops up from the table and races to Lesley's room lugging back the oversized and overstuffed bag. Lesley searches through it until she finds Lulu's multivitamin and gives it to her. "After you drop Lulu off we'll go. It'll give me time to get ready." Nik glances over at the board knowing what he'll find and then pours himself a cup of coffee . "What time does that girl start anyway?" Lesley inquires noting Nik's actions.
"5am." Nik replies not even pretending to not know. And it's getting difficult for him to sleep past that hour as well. Maddy never intends to wake him. She never wakes him, her absence does. Maybe he should just go see Sheba. He muses. Then realizes the horse would probably be asleep too!
"And she took that... dog with her." Lesley continues not being privy to Nik's thoughts.
"Cinnamon, Grandma." Lulu reminds around a mouthful of cereal. She decides from her grandmother's tone to not tell her where the dog slept the night before.
"That Dog..." Nik says quietly his tone serious. "Is Maddy's four legged bodyguard."
"And why does she need one, Nikolas?"
Chinatown.
Maddy had called ahead knowing she is too early for polite calling but wanting to get there before the little one went to school. The lady she'd gotten the sewing machines for was an artist with a needle but her english is seriously challenged. Her knock is promptly answered. "Hey Mei."
"Hi Maddy. Grandmother is making tea and breakfast."
"I'm sorry for stopping by so early."
"It's no problem." The little girl leads Maddy into the cramped kitchen. Every available inch and some most wouldn't think weren't are turned over to the sewing business with only the barest of necessities taken care of. "What do you need?"
"A little translating." The chinese woman pushes Maddy into a chair next to her granddaughter and puts a bowl of a thick rice soup in front of her. "Thanks."
"You eat. Warm you up." The elderly woman urges as she takes her own seat across from the girls.
"No poptarts in this house." Mei quips. "What do you want me to tell her?"
Maddy talks directly to the chinese woman telling her what she needs. A wool poncho-like garment for Lesley. She explains about the injury. The little girl translates as needed filling in a word here and there but Maddy's pantomime of the injury needs no translation. She tuts in sympathy. Maddy also explains Lesley had been living down south and hasn't need a heavy coat so she isn't prepared for the weather.
The woman nods. "I take care. You come after Perry Mason."
"Perry Mason?" Maddy looks over at the little girl.
"Grandma is hooked on the reruns. And they are helping with her english. But she always figures out who did it before Perry does on the show. She thinks he's hot." Mei answers.
Maddy almost spews back in her bowl and covers her laugh with a cough. Guess it takes all kinds. "Do you want me to drop you off at school?"
"I'll go get my books." The girl puts up her breakfast dishes and grabs her backpack and slides on her Queen of Angels jacket to put over her uniform. Her Grandmother gives her last minute instruction in a quick chatter of chinese. The girl is nodding even as she grabs her lunch from her grandmother. "Yeah, yeah." She says in agreement.
As they are walking down to the van Maddy asks. "What was all that about?"
"Grandmother telling me there will be hell to pay if I flunk the math quiz. She doesn't want me to do anything that will screw me up going to this school."
"Queen of Angels. Kinda spendy yeah?"
The girl shrugs. "I get a scholarship cause my uncle is still teaching over on the mainland."
"Teaching?"
"He's a missionary. Queen of Angels sponsors him and his parish."
Maddy unlocks the door to the van and Mei climbs in. "Wait a minute I thought they didn't do that over there."
"They don't. It makes it a really high risk profession. If he gets caught he'll be thrown in prison."
"Jesus."
"Exactly."
General Hospital.
Stefan stops at the nurses station to collect his messages. There is one there from Nikolas indicating that he will be in the afternoon after looking into facilities for Laura with his Grandmother. Taking out his palm organizer, Stefan winces at the schedule set for this day. Thanksgiving is a four day holiday for anyone who can arrange it. The hospital runs on slim staffing with all elective surgeries postponed until after the holiday. But Monday is definitely back to business. Relatively few meetings thankfully but all the paperwork for the end of the month is coming due. How did General Hospital manage to generate as much paperwork as the whole of the Cassadine Estate? He asks Audrey as he looks up. "Is Barbara Jacks scheduled for today?"
"Bobbie is going to be in surgeries all day." Audrey answers and then looks up from her own paperwork. "She really can't be interrupted unless it's an emergency. The surgeries she's scheduled on aren't expected to be difficult but she is working with the new residents."
"Ah." Stefan lets the rest go unsaid. It wouldn't do to imply or discuss further that a nurse would be running the OR. "And Dr Quartermaine?"
"Is back from vacation tomorrow. Elective surgeries scheduled for half of the day." Stefan nods and starts to walk away. "Stefan?"
"Yes."
"I just wanted to thank you for including me in your Thanksgiving."
"I will pass your thanks along to Nikolas but it was a first for me as well. It is a special tradition made all the more so by your company and that of your granddaughter." Stefan nods and then leaves.
"I will never understand that guy." Audrey shakes her head.
"Who?" Tony Jones asks as he grabs his messages.
"Stefan Cassadine."
Tony grins. "You're in plenty of company."
Audrey hands Tony a file. "This came from North Carolina."
"Laura?"
"Yes." Audrey had been in the business long enough to know from the quick glance as the fax was printing out that the news is not good.
Tony opens the files and does a quick glance through. "Audrey, hold my calls." Tony says grimly and then it occurs to him. "Did Amy see this?"
"I sent her home. She was in no condition to work but I let her know that you were meeting with Laura's family today after you'd had time to make your own assessment." Tony nods and leaves the station for his office.
Up at the stables, Nik pauses in assisting Lesley from the truck. "Are you sure, Grandmother?"
"I couldn't look at another one of those places." Lesley says grimly. "I know they are doing good work but to think of my daughter.... I need a break and you need to take care of your horse."
"I can narrow the search maybe only have you check it out when I get it down to a couple." Nik suggests as he opens up the office to Carly's stable.
Lesley looks around the cosy office. "This is a stable?"
Nikolas grins. "The stable is thru that door. A vet lives in the apartment above. Carly works here or down at the spa."
"Maddy took me to the spa yesterday. I must have missed it."
Nik indicates toward the front window. "The path is covered with snow but you can see the break in the trees and the roof of the spa." Lesley crosses to the window and looks out over the pristine white of the field and the snow cover firs. Nik moves over to the hotplate and starts hot water for tea. "It won't take me long. Why don't you make yourself comfortable. It's warmer in here."
"I want to see this horse of yours." Lesley protests.
"As soon as I get everything cleaned up." Nikolas suggests a compromise. "Depending on if the vet student had an early class it might be awhile for me to get all the stalls cleaned."
"How many horses are there?"
"Three. Mine, Carly's and the vet's. But Lucas is trying to make it four and have his Thunder moved up here too. You'll be okay?" Nik worries.
"Don't push it." Lesley says fractiously. "Just go take care of your horse."
Nik moves off into the stables. As the kettle starts to whistle, Lesley fumbles one handedly with it pouring the hot water over a tea bag. It was easier than dealing with the loose stuff in the cupboard. She is just getting settled on the couch when Carly walks into her office bringing Michael along with her. "Hi." She says startled not expecting anyone other than Nik or maybe Lucky to be there. "I saw Lucky's truck out front." She tries again. "I was expecting Nikolas." Oh great that sounded rude. "Third time is the charm. Hi! I'm Carly Quartermaine."
"Bobbie's girl." Lesley realizes. She'd heard stories but never had a face to go with the name. "So this must be Michael."
"Who are you?" Michael asks from behind his mother's leg.
"I'm Lucky and Lulu's grandmother, you can call me Auntie Lesley. Lucas does."
"You look funny."
"Michael Quartermaine Morgan!" Carly pulls out Michael's full name. Next thing you knew her progeny would probably start swearing and damn her completely as a mother.
"I was in an accident." Lesley explains to Michael not taking offense. "Big owie."
"How is Laura?" Carly asks.
"We'll know more this afternoon when the results from the specialist is in." Lesley says flatly. Carly winces. "Nik is out cleaning the stables." Lesley changes the subject.
"I'll go help him. We'll get done twice as fast. Do you mind if I put in a tape for Michael?"
"Just so long as it isn't Barney."
"On that we completely agree." Carly pops a tape in. Michael settles in on his pillow in front of the tv. "Be good, Mr Man." Carly takes a last look at the office before going out into the stables.
"What in the hell do you think you're doing bring that animal into a hospital?!" Tony roars.
Maddy takes a deep breath she hadn't even stepped off the elevator yet. oh great "Mister...."
"Doctor Jones. Take that animal out of here before I call security and then the police."
"Look if you'll just give me a second."
"Now." Tony insists. He steps toward Maddy and then steps back as the hair goes up on the back of Cinnamon's neck. Maddy reaches down and runs a hand over Cinnamon's head and neck to let her know everything is okay.
Maddy looks around for a familiar face. "Denise! Can you call Dr Collins please." The nurse is already on the phone and nods in Maddy's direction.
Kevin comes racing from the locked unit. "Maddy!"
"What kind of crackpot therapy are you hatching now, Collins?" Tony says sarcastically.
"Pet therapy-- it's been very well received in England. Maddy and Cinnamon both have permission to be here." Kevin insists.
"Its a pitbull! I guess you haven't worked the ER lately! And if you want to practice in England I suggest you go back there. It's not the first time your schemes have gotten this hospital in trouble. You ready to start another round of lawsuits, Collins? Those dogs are killers."
Kevin is rather affronted by Tony's blasting. But he doesn't have time to reply because Stefan is already there. "Maddy, I was hoping to take you to lunch while Cinnamon mets with Larry." Stefan ignores Tony as he speaks only to Maddy.
"You knew about this?!" Tony protests. "Bringing a pitbull into a hospital?"
"Of course. It was cleared by the patient's doctor as well as the administration. Dr Collins, if you will..." Kevin leads Maddy and Cinnamon into the locked ward away from the coming confrontation.
"I'm really sorry if I got you in trouble, man."
"I'm not in trouble. And Larry's been looking forward to this all day." Kevin reassures.
Stefan turns to Tony as soon as the door shuts behind them. He draws close to Tony and keeps his tone to a low hiss. "Don't you ever speak to another staff member in that tone especially infront of a member of the community. If you have a problem with Dr Collins there are proper channels for your concerns."
"Who do you think you are talking to me that way?" Tony snaps back unprepared for the dressing down.
"Your employer." Stefan reminds. Walking over to the nurse, he requests. "Buzz me in if you will."
Denise quickly keys him in. Stefan opens the door to the locked unit and goes to the dayroom where there is a happy reunion going on not only with Larry and Cinnamon but also some of the other patients are coming over and petting the dog. One woman giggles when Cinnamon gives her a kiss. Stefan stands to the side just watching the interaction with some of the orderlies. Kevin is more in the thick of things. Maddy glances over and happens to see Stefan. She whispers in Larry's ear. Larry looks up and sees Stefan standing there and nods. Maddy comes over to Stefan. "Well I've been given my walking papers for half an hour if that lunch offer is still open."
"I would be honored."
Jerry walks into the office of the stables and sheds his coat. Carly is working on her email when he comes in. Michael is playing with his toys having been promised computer time in just a few minutes. "You just missed Nikolas."
"Damn. I've tried to connect with Maddy at the kiosks but she's always just been there. What about you?"
"Not since Friday. I got to meet Nik and Lucky's grandmother. She was with Nik. They were looking at nursing homes for Luke's wife."
Jerry grimaces. "Grim. I know you're not going to like this but Jax is on his way. He said he had something he wanted to tell me away from the parents or rather before the parents. And they have the habit of showing up over at the Brownstone unannounced."
"Ugh." Carly makes a face. "Fine. But I'm not leaving. This is my place."
"Understood." Just then Jax pulls up the drive.
He climbs out of his lowslung sports car reaching back in to pull out a bag. Jax comes over to the office. "I brought lunch. Thanks for meeting with me, Jere." Jax turns to Carly. "You really should do something about that road. A guy could kill himself or his car on it."
"Didn't work did it?"
"Caroline." Jerry's voice has a warning in it.
"He started it!"
"And I'm finishing it. Jax, why all the mystery?" Jerry demands.
"I got a midnight caller over at V's last night. Warning you off of Maddy." As he is dropping that little bomb Jax is unpacking the lunch he'd gathered from V's supplies: Bigos (hunters stew), a load of dark rye bread, pierogis stuffed with either sausage or beef, golabki (stuffed cabbage rolls) and a walnut torte.
"What? Someone threatened you?"
"Indirectly." Jax takes a plate from Jerry and starts setting up servings. With a considering glance he decides that Michael would probably like the meat filled pastries more than the hunters stew. "I think you know the lad. Same one who dropped all the info to help Dara Jensen."
"Ricky?!" Jerry automatically deals out the filled plates. "How did Ricky get involved in this?"
"Well I first took it as a threat. He claims that having any familial relationship with Maddy Reynolds would be hazardous to your health and to your family too." Jax looks over at Carly and then down at Michael for emphasis.
"That's a load of bull. And how does Ricky know about this anyway? The only people that know were at the table playing cards."
"Not me, Jere. I don't even know who the guy is." Carly denies.
"Son of a friend of mine down in New Orleans." Jerry explains.
"Some friend." Carly shakes her head.
"After he left before I could clean his clock for him, V pointed out that Maddy's sole relative is on trial, set up for something she didn't do and how easy it would be to do the same with you or dad." Jax says around a mouthful of cabbage roll. "Pointed out that the lad over there would be in college before you got out of jail if they did the same thing to you."
"Damn! Larkin." Jerry starts pacing the office. "No! I will talk to Maddy. Even if I have to kill the guy myself."
"Well thats one way to ensure you won't see Michael graduate." Carly reminds.
"Only if they find the body."
Jax shakes his head. "I'm so glad V went into the office; premeditation of felonies upsets the cop in her."
"I hate to shock you both and be the voice of reason here, but all this means is you can't take out an announcement in the Herald." Carly suggests as she butters a slice of the dark dense rye bread. "So you do the testing on the sly I can vouch for the nuns over at Mercy... those ladies can keep a secret. I already told you, Jerry. Maddy's going to be the problem. Might as well get used to it."
Maddy runs up the steps to the apartment in the Chinese quarter. The elderly woman opens the door and waves her in shutting the door firmly to keep the heat in. "Hi, I hope I'm not too early."
"Show over." The woman shuts off the tv and then goes over to her sewing table. She brings over a wool poncho but this poncho is finished and the reverse is of another fabric.
"Is this silk?" Maddy says in disbelief.
"Not first quality." She dismisses. "Warm. You try."
Maddy slips it over her head. Not an inch of skin was touched by the wool only silk. "Oh this is heaven." She pulls it back off. "How much do I owe you?" Maddy pulls out her wallet and starts grabbing twenties to hand to the woman.
The woman grabs Maddy's hand and holds it around the money, not excepting the cash. "Partner call. Big job. Big house. Lots of Money."
"That's great but you should take this." Maddy tries again to give her money. The elderly lady just starts to look ticked. "Okay fine." Maddy makes a production of putting the money away. "But if you ever need anything you call me." Maddy points to herself.
"You good girl." The woman pats Maddy's arm and then escorts her to the door. "I call."
In his office at General Hospital, Tony Jones looks at the gathered grim faces: Nikolas, Lucky, Lesley and Amy. Amy's eyes are red and wiped free of mascara. Tony begins. "I wish I had better news..."