When Cassadines Fall

Conservation

Maddy strides into the club. She'd left the house without her purse, without her coat. She had her keys and a five in her pocket and that was it. Five bucks wouldn't even get her to Beecher's Corners in the van. She orders a drink from the bartender. When he brings it to her she offers him the five. He holds up both hands. "The guy at the end of the bar bought it."

Maddy looks over to the end of the bar. Picking up her drink she wanders over to the other end. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Trying to figure out where the hell my life is going. And how I ended up just along for the ride."

Maddy slides onto the stool next to him. "What happened?"

"I don't know. I have no clue. Dad and the Judge evidently got to talking and have mapped out the next four years of my life."

"Poppi and the JUDGE?" Maddy's eyes go wide. "How did those two connect?"

"I take it you didn't hear what happened in court today."

"It was paperwork, that's what Dara told me. I had to cook tonight so I swung by the courthouse kiosk early." Maddy starts to get worried. "I haven't talked to her since. It was just paperwork right?"

"Yeah, right. That's the same thing Rita told me." Ricky snorts. "Larkin flipped his nut when Jensen's lawyer nailed him with the money. He pulled a gun and took the whole courtroom hostage."

"They're all okay right?" Maddy grabs Ricky's arm. "Dara and Nik's Aunt?"

"Yeah, they're fine. Larkin was taken down and is in jail. Nobody had a scratch on them cept him. He pretty well got his ass kicked."

"Good." Maddy says with relish. "Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. But how did that hook up Poppi and the Judge?"

"I was there. He thinks I rescued Rita." Ricky says glumly.

"Rita was there too?! Oh man." Maddy falls silent.

Ricky pulls the rest out like pulling teeth. "I got Rita out of there before the press showed up. And before my cover was totally blown. We picked up Cookie and took her back to the house to wait for the Judge. When he finally showed... the die had already been cast. He sits me down across from him at the kitchen table and says .... what do you know about fostering?"

"Fostering? You mean like group homes and ward of the state stuff?"

"That's what I said. He started shaking his head. Said it was actually an ancient tradition predating common law even. Going all the way back to Feudal times. Evidently a guy would take his kid and send him off to somebody he trusts for training. Cause parents are too close and treat their kids like babies or something."

Maddy grins. "You're a little old for that. They used to do things like that when the kid was like seven or eight... you know reaching the age of reason but not likely to drop dead from some childhood illness about a thousand years ago."

"It's the first I heard of this crap." Ricky says grimly. "So I couldn't even come up with that argument. Caught me totally flatfooted. So now The Judge is saying that I'll be staying in Port Charles; going to University and spending every Sunday at his house. It was the first Cookie had heard of it too. And she was just there nodding her head in agreement. Then she got out that rod thing you use to sharpen knives and says. and don't think I won't be checking up on you Monday thru Saturday."

"Johnny's Mother?! But isn't she like.... I mean I don't deal with her. I deal with Johnny."

"Totally unpredictable."

"Ricky, ... she um... killed a guy. Did time." Maddy says hesitantly.

"To quote the munchkin, he probably needed killing. I can handle her. Just don't get between her and a knife, don't bug her while she is cooking, and don't be an idiot. It's the Judge I can't figure." Ricky shakes his head. "Why would he do this?"

"Why would Poppi go along?"

"Dad doesn't want me in the business. You know that."

"What are you going to do?"

Ricky shrugs. "I have until the term starts to figure this out. I need to talk to Dad. So what's your deal?"

"Jerry Jacks showed up at the house and went parental on me."

"Yeah, I see where you'd freak. Wasn't the last guy to go parental on you Billy Bob?" Maddy shudders at the memory, that had been a nightmare timed about the same time as O'Meara started putting on the pressure. "Jerry's a good guy. He wouldn't be trying to tuck you in at night when Lisette is passed out drunk off her ass."

"We already covered this. I don't have a father and I'm fine with things as they are. I have my friends and my business. That's plenty. You were going to get Jacks to back off."

"Evidently it didn't take." Ricky shrugs. "Sorry."

"Yeah, I can tell you're just heartbroken." Maddy takes a sip of her drink. The two of them settle into their individual funks. Maddy glances over to the door. "Oh man, now it's really going to hit the fan."

Ricky sees what has caught Maddy's attention. "Cassidy."

"It's Cassadine." Maddy reminds sternly. She knows he just does it to get Nik torqued. "Don't let anyone put anything in my drink." Maddy hops up from the stool and walks over to where Nik is standing by the door and looking around the room. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" Nik retorts. He studies her carefully for any signs of distress.

"I asked first."

"Looking for you. You left without this." Nik reaches into his pocket and pulls out Maddy's pocketbook.

"Thanks." Maddy strings it over her head running it along the diagonal of her body. "Aren't you worried that I'll split or something?"

"No. I have your dayplanner."

"You shit!" Maddy's jaw drops. She reaches out and tries to punch him in the arm. But Nik grabs her arm first.

"Yes, I'd love to dance. Thank you for asking." He leads her out on the dance floor and pulls her close.

"Monica... You just got back." Alan protests, glancing over to the clock beside the bed. It is almost midnight. He pulls up a pillow against the headboard of his suite at the PC Hotel. "And now you're leaving again."

"This is all your fault. If you were at the hospital rather than at the clinic... then you'd be going with Stefan. Why didn't anyone tell me about Laura Spencer?" Monica slides into her comfortable, professional travel outfit.

"You just got back." Alan repeats. "Why do you have to go?"

"Because Stefan doesn't speak doctor. He's no Steve Hardy but at least he knows it. I'm going to represent that side of the hospital."

"You are a cardiac surgeon. Tony Jones should be going."

Monica settles in on the bed next to her husband. "Considering we're interviewing Tony's eventual replacement that would be an even bigger can or worms. You know how much I love the Cassadines." Monica does an eye roll on that one. "But the way Stefan laid it out... I had to agree with him. God forbid can you imagine the situation we'd be in if Jason had his accident now?! Tony was able to save him before but we don't have anybody on staff that could have done it now. Unless you like the idea of Joe Scanlon whipping out his trusty black and decker."

Alan winces. "You know I don't. But Tony is a friend."

"He was a friend. A friend who basically blackmailed us into backing him in his custody suit against Bobbie. You know things haven't been the same between me and Bobbie since then. He forced us into picking sides and we've gotten screwed on the deal."

Alan slowly nods his head. Not that Monica and Carly would ever get along but at least if she'd been able to maintain her relationship with Bobbie then she'd be able to see Mikey. He'd been able to build his own relationship with his daughter-in-law. Even Edward got to see Michael more often than Monica. "What do you need from me, Honey?"

"Nikolas and Alexis are going to cover for Stefan while he's out of the building. He left word with them if there are any medical issues they should call you."

"How long is this going to take?"

"Not long. Probably not even as long as it took the Cassadines to take over the hospital."

Alan winces defensively. "You know things were a mess after Steve died. It's probably what killed him. I did the best I could."

"Yeah, I know. I know that Stefan probably did a lot of prep work before he blitzkrieg the hospital. There was no way of you knowing that GH was a target of the Cassadines. He's done his research on this one as well. He had a list of names and background investigations on all of them this morning. Whatever weakness the person I picked has, he'll exploit. I'll probably be back by the weekend. That's one of the reasons we're leaving tonight. He's arranged an introduction down in Maryland for the morning." Monica's cell phone starts ringing. "Monica Quartermaine.... yeah, I'll be right down." Monica disconnects the call and then leans over and kisses Alan. "My ride is here. Do you want me to bring you some crab cakes back from Maryland?"

"Just you." Alan pulls her close again.

"I got to go." Monica murmurs.

"I know." Alan replies with a sigh. Monica rises from the bed and grabs her overnight case that she hadn't even unpacked from Italy. "Call me when you get there."

"I will." Monica looks back once more and then leaves shutting the door quietly behind her. The elevator ride is quick and she strides out to the waiting limo. The chauffeur opens the door and takes her bag. Monica climbs into the back across from her traveling companion. "You know the timing on this sucks. I just got home. It would have been nice to see my kids before flying off again."

"All the more reason to accomplish our task in a timely fashion." Stefan says grimly. "I have family obligations here as well." Leaving while both Nikolas and Madeliene unaccounted for went against his every grain.
 

Jerry watches the sun rise from the bedroom window. His arms are crossed and he stares out at nothing. Bobbie reaches out from her side of the bed to his. Her fingers stretch and her hand moves automatically. Bobbie's eyes open. "Jerry?"

"I'm here." Jerry says quietly.

"Did you sleep at all?"

Jerry shrugs. "Not much."

Bobbie rises from the bed and slides on her robe over her skimpy nightgown. "You were afraid this would happen."

"No, you were afraid this would happen." Jerry corrects. "I said the word father and she was out the door."

Bobbie runs a hand up the middle of Jerry's bare back. "Yes, I was. I think you need to talk to Pete or Miz Sophia. Maybe you should have talked to them first." Bobbie shrugs. Should'ves were counterproductive and a waste of time. "They would have a better knowledge of Madeliene's history. I do remember though you said that Lisette had lousy taste in men, or at least that is what Pete told you. Maybe you need to find out how lousy."

"What's your schedule like?"

"I have to work this morning but then I'm off for the next couple of days. Why?"

"I think that we should drop Lucas over at Carly's and take a quick trip to New Orleans."

Ned looks at the napkin in his hand and grins. He doesn't know how legal it is since both of the parties had been ripped out of their gourds at the time. The writing was barely legible but it was signed by both parties and witnessed not only by him but by Taggart as well. He'd read enough contracts for ELQ and L&B to recognize a tight partnership agreement when he saw one. There was even an addendum that Dara's buy in to the partnership would be doing studio work 4 days a month. Being an L&B artist was a deal breaker but she'd agreed to the studio work.

Alexis stumbles down the stairs holding her head with both hands. "Coffee, please Coffee... if you ever loved me." Ned hides his grin and goes over to his wife. He walks her to the couch where Alexis sags gracelessly closing her eyes. "Damn! I haven't been this hung over since... Stefan broke into the cellars while Helena was away on business and we got ripped on 25 year old scotch down in the caves."

Ned hands her a cup of coffee and a four aspirin. "How old were you then?"

"Fifteen." Alexis swallows the pills dry and then follows with a sip of coffee. "Oh I needed that."

"What you need is food."

"Oh don't even mention that four letter word or I swear I'll throw up." Alexis groans.

"Come on, Baby. I've got your coffee. Let's go." Ned rises from the couch and pulls Alexis up too.

"Where are you taking me?" Alexis protests leaning up against him.

"A nice hot bubble bath. To get your blood flowing. I'll even scrub your back. Stefan has already called this morning. He said he was sending you an email with directions."

Alexis groans. "Did Dara really hang up on him last night?"

"Yep."

"He's going to kill me."
 

Taggart comes back from his morning run. Going into the bedroom he adjusts the blinds so that the weak winter sun can reach the person still in bed. Dara groans and pulls a pillow over her head. Taggart comes over and kicking off his shoes he climbs back into bed. "Wakey wakey sleepy head."

"This is police brutality." Dara mutters.

"Nah that would have been if I had let you use my cuffs like you wanted last night."

Dara groans and tosses off the pillow. She slowly opens one bloodshot eye. "What did I do last night?"

"Guess you'll just have to wait to find out until we get the film developed."

Dara with what little strength she has bashes Taggart over the head with a pillow. "It's a good thing I know you're kidding." There is a long pause. "You are kidding right?"

Taggart grins. "Don't worry. I talked you out of the tattoo."

Dara groans. "You are a fiend." She rolls out of bed onto all fours on the floor and then uses the bed to pull herself upright. First clue as to who put her to bed. Rather than her comfortable football jersey and fuzzy socks she is wearing Taggart's favorite babydoll nightgown. Victoria's Secret loved the guy ever since they'd hooked up-- free shipping and notification of all the sales. The last time she'd worn this outfit it was 'cause she lost a bet. And then it had been July not nearly December.
Dara shivers and unsteadily makes her way to the bathroom where she turns the shower on as hot as it will go. Stripping out of the skimpy garb she slides in under the steamy spray and sighs. A shiver goes through her as the glass door to the shower is opened creating a brief draft. Then Taggart reaches around her and moderates the temperature down to less than boiling and grabs the shower gel and puff. It was a compromise nothing flowery or fruity, nothing that would have the guys down at the station sniffing and commenting.

"We have to go down to the station this morning and make a statement." Taggart tells her as he runs the puff over her shoulders.

"Define morning."

"Not for awhile yet."

"What time is it?"

Nik glances over to the bedside table. "Seven Am."

"oh man!" Maddy sits up abruptly in the bed.

Nik grabs her by the back of his shirt and pulls her back down covering her body with his own. "Lucky was still up when we got home. He's going to cover the kiosks this morning before he goes to bed. Elizabeth had time before class to take Lulu to school. You don't have to be anywhere before going to the Quartermaines. Anywhere but right here."

Maddy's eyes narrow. "You know you're getting kinda bossy for a roommate."

Nik quirks a brow and grins. "Kinda?" He leans in to press an open mouth kiss to the place where her shoulder meets her neck. Maddy's head falls back against the pillow and her hand runs through his hair at the nape of his neck. Her eyes close and her breathing grows labored. She couldn't remember when Nik had found that spot but it drives her nuts. Gripping his hair firmly she pulls his head back and latches onto his mouth with her own. They still had a couple of hours.

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