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The Quintessential Q
Chapter Nineteen
The party.
"I've no idea what you're talking about." Emily tries to pull away.
"You don't have it." Johnny says softly.
"Don't have what?"
"Ms Benson's skill at lying. I don't have to be your brother to tell when you're lying. Getting good at it. But I can tell. What did you do?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Emily looks over Johnny's shoulder.
"Just remember that anything you do can and will be held against your brother. When your dad was messing up Taggart tried to use that against Jason. He catches you on the wrong side of the law then he's going to use that against Jason. And you, unlike your father, ARE leverage."
"Why do you care? You quit." Emily ducks under Johnny's arm and moves into the middle of the kitchen to get a little space.
"Yeah, but it doesn't mean if Jason or Sonny go down that I don't go down too. I got a few years before the statute of limitations runs out on my business dealings with your brother. You got my life in your hands and if I have to bird dog you to keep my skin intact. I'll do it."
"Is that why you kissed me? To try to control me?"
"It hasn't worked so far." Johnny laughs ruefully. He stares at Emily's mouth. "No, you are a complication I don't need."
"Then just stay away from me." Emily insists.
Carly and Rita arrive with Michael. Carly senses the tension in the air immediately. "Woah! if we're interrupting we can come back later." She offers.
"No." Johnny and Emily say together. Johnny continues. "This is for the Judge and Ma." He walks out of the house and back to the van. Carly walks over to Emily.
"What was that all about?"
"A lecture-- what else?"
"Wow is that what they call it now?! Maybe I would have paid more attention in school if I ended up getting my lipstick smeared during lectures." Carly opens her eyes real wide.
"YOU ARE A PAIN." Emily snarls and stalks off to find the nearest bathroom to fix her makeup.
Carly turns to talk to Johnny who just gives her a significant glance. The *I'm not going to talk about it so don't even bother to ask* glance that Carly immediately recognizes and sighs. "You know I really hated when Jason did that. Rita and I have to get changed."
"And showered so you don't smell like horse." Johnny obviously sniffs Rita then holds his nose teasingly.
Rita punches him in the arm playfully. "Did you notice Carly's kitchen? I did it before we went riding." She looks up for approval.
"I wondered what happened when I could actually find everything. Good work, Squirt. Now get going before your father thinks that we've been making you sleep out in the barn." Carly and Rita take off to get showered and changed. AJ arrives while they are upstairs and puts him back into what is left to be unloaded. AJ tosses his suit jacked on a chair and loses his tie, rolling up his sleeves. When the last tray is brought in he finally asks. "Where is everyone?"
"Carly and Rita are getting changed. Emily is around here somewhere." Johnny mutters. The door bell rings. AJ looks at Johnny with dread. "It's not my house. I'm not getting it. I'm just doing this for Ma." AJ goes to the front door checking the monitor to see who it is... Ned, Jax and Alexis.
"Great." AJ mutters then throws open the door "Come on in. Alexis, Jax great to see you. Why don't you head on into the living room but on some music or somthing I need to talk to my cousin privately."
Alexis and Jax go into the other room. "Don't worry about it, AJ. I've already been put on notice that our... bickering it limited to the office."
"Notice by whom?" AJ asks suspiciously wondering if Carly had another run in with Ned.
"Me." Emily walks up to AJ and Ned. "Ned is my date for this evening. I told him what I'm about to tell you. I am so sick of you two bickering. So chew each other up as much as you like-- just don't do it while I'm around. I don't like it. It makes me sick to my stomach that you two don't get along. And I don't need an ulcer on top of everything else."
"Sorry Em." Ned and AJ say both remorseful. Their bickering was a time honored tradition dating back to before Emily had joined the Q's. Neither of them want to stress her out. Emily strings an arm through Ned's and leads him away to the living room. AJ is about to shut the door when Bobbie, Jerry and Lucas arrive. AJ gives Bobbie a hug and Lucas a shake of the hand. AJ glances at Jerry significantly. Jerry tells Bobbie and Lucas to go on in.
"What's up?"
"Ned's here." Jerry starts laughing.
"Thanks for the invite, Mate. Looks like we have a front row seat."
"This isn't funny!" AJ looks beyond to where the Bentley is pulling up with Lila, Edward, Alan Monica. Reggie gets out of the car and assists Lila into her chair. "Was this really a good idea?"
"You got any popcorn in the house?" Jerry slaps AJ on the back and heads into the Living room.
"Mom, Dad, Grandfather." AJ leans over and kisses Lila on the cheek. "Everyone is gathering in the living room. The guests of honor haven't arrived yet." AJ looks out the drive and sees that it is empty. He sighs in relief. Shutting the door, he leads the Quartermaines to the living room. Carly is there talking to her mother. Rita, with Michael on her hip, has taken off with Lucas to show him her new riding boots that Carly had bought her when they went shopping one afternoon.
Johnny is walking into the living room when he hears the front door bell ring. Looking around he shrugs and decides to answer it. "Hey boss. I wasn't expecting you."
"Not your boss anymore, Johnny." Jason says. "Sonny and I are here as your friends. The Judge isn't so bad either." Sonny and Jason walk into the entry way and make their own way to the living room. A kind of hush falls over the room. Edward just can't resist..
"WHat is that Hoodlum doing here?" He bellows.
Carly rolls her eyes. "I don't know maybe he's planning on an impromptu board meeting! What do you think he's doing here, Eddie?"
"Don't call me Eddie." Edward mutters.
"Then don't question who is invited into MY house." Carly walks by Edward and brushes against him patting him on his stomach. "Hear the cracking noise?" She whispers. "That's the ice under you. Be nice." Edward continues to mutter. Carly finally grabs a canape and stuffs it in Edward's face. "Have you tried these yet? I think Johnny's out done himself." Carly keeps walking on out to the entry way to relieve Johnny at the door. "I'll take over out here looking for Judge and Cook."
"Are you kidding. I think I have the best seat in the house right here away from all that." Johnny pleads.
"This was a bad idea right?" Carly winces. "Go in you can talk glocks and AK47's with Jason or something. I need a break already. I'm preserving my strength for when the folks get here. I wouldn't want to already be in a foul mood. Edward likes your canapes by the way. It's the only way to get him to shut up. Go GO." Carly insists. Johnny shrugs and walks to the living room. He pauses before entering to stand up straighter and take a deep breath. Carly laughs softlyl at Johnny's demeanor. The laugh is cut off in mid breath when the door bell is rung and she sees who is there. "Viki."
"Carly."
"Everyone is in the living room." Carly says coldly.
"Including your husband?" Viki prods at Carly. "And don't you have something better to do than hold the door? Or is that all you're good for."
"You really are the stupidest cow alive. Pull that crap when we're alone. Or are you too chickensh..."
"My Sweet Caroline!" Luke interrupts having come up on Carly closing in on Viki. "How is my favorite Niece? Got the balls racked, baby?"
"She's more of a ball buster from what I've heard." Viki says softly but not so softly that both Carly and Luke hear her. Luke wraps an arm around Carly's waist just in case giving her a hug from behind.
He whispers in her ear. "After the party, baby. She ain't worth seeing ya sweat."
"Are you kidding. I wouldn't even work up a sweat taking her out." Carly snarls. Viki just laughs and turns away going into the living room. She immediately goes over to Alan and Monica and starts making nice. Luke loosens his grip on Carly. "You should have let me take her out. What a witch."
"Well the odds are pretty even on who'd be celebrating and who'd be bummed that you got thrown in the can. Play this one smart, sweet Caroline." Luke reminds.
"Yeah, I got that." Carly takes a deep breath. "In my own house she makes a play on my husband."
"You nailed it baby, she is the stupidest cow on the block. She'd give that box o'hair a run for her money in the dumbass competition."
"OH that's right. Katherine Bell." Carly is distracted. "Dearest, Sweetest Uncle Luke..."
"AH oh." Luke takes a step back. "I don't like the sound of this already."
"Emily is up to something and she won't share. I was hoping...."
"I'll see what I can find out." Luke listens momentarily-- "Where is the music?"
"I was waiting for you." Carly grins.
"Now I'm really afraid." Luke gives a mock shudder and strides off to the living room. "Okay let's kick this PARTY UP!" He declares as he walks in and takes over the stereo. "Emily, you're the one other than Caroline that knows where everything is. Junyur, you just stay right over there and don't touch anything; my niece would have my hide if you touched the stereo. Em and I will get this joint jumping." Luke reaches into his trench coat and pulls out a tape. "This time I came prepared." Luke slides in the tape and hits play. He takes Emily's hand and leads her out into the middle of the living room. "Not quite Luke's but lets show them what you can do."
"Luke's?" Monica looks at Alan. "Did he say Luke's? Since when has Emily been going to Luke's?" Alan shakes his head and shrugs.
"After the play, dear." Lila reminds Monica. "Carly and AJ took Emily out to await the reviews."
Johnny pauses in what he is saying to Jason distracted by Emily's laughter as she tears up the floor with Luke. Sonny watches from across the room where he is talking to Ned. "Uh oh. Houston we have a problem."
"What?" Ned asks. He glances around the room. "You mean besides Spencer horning in on my date?" He sees Johnny watching Emily and worse Emily watching Johnny. "Oh boy."
Viki also notices who is watching Emily and practically purrs as she takes a sip of her sparkling cider. "Oh this is perfect. This works. Thank you, brother dear. You just made my life so much easier."
Is da Bomb
Carly throws the door wide as Judge and Cook's car approaches. She walks onto the porch to greet them. "Hey how are you two lovebirds?! How was Mexico?"
"Hot." Cook replies taking JD's hand as she climbs from the car.
"Where is my kid? And why are all the cars here?"
"Little welcome back shindig." Carly claims. "All the kids are here-- even Viki."
"Really." Cook looks at Carly questioningly. Cook had tried without luck to get Viki involved in the wedding and knew she faced an uphill battle getting Viki's civility let alone respect or like.
"OH JD! OUCH" Carly exclaims sympathetically. "Sunblock man. It's a must in the tropics."
"Now you tell me." JD winces. "And will you look at Cookie-- not a red mark on her let alone a peel."
"Honey, I tan; I don't burn." Cookie reminds JD calmly. "It was the snorkling." Cook tells Carly. "Luckily that was the day before we left."
"I could never get out of you guys where you were staying. Was it great? Should AJ take me?" Carly strings her arms through both JD and Cookie's and leads them up the stairs to the front doors.
"Isla Mujera." JD says. "One of the guys on the bench has a house down there. Parts of it are touristy but mostly it is just a laid back place that rolls up the streets at dark. How's Rita? She wasn't a problem was she?"
"No, she was an angel the whole time." Carly claims. "While you were gone I bought a horse, so we went riding every morning. Johnny saw her every day. She was helping out at the restaurant normally either before lunch or before dinner."
"Johnny was at the restaurant EVERY day?" Cook asks concerned.
"Yeah, Edward stole his chef at the wedding; so he's been working full time there." Carly nods then stirs up some trouble. "He closed today to get a day off."
"That old goat." Cookie mutters. "I'm gonna kill him."
"The old goat is here." Carly says cheerfully. "Along with the rest of the Q's."
"He bought you the damn horse, didn't he?" Cookie looks at Carly with narrowed eyes.
"Oh yeah, and paid through the nose for it." Carly adds confidentially. "Emily made sure that he knew everything about it including how much Mr Roberts set him back. Rita's doing really well; she is going to be ready for the competition at the end of the summer. Who knows you might be able to get a horse out of Edward too. I have an extra spot in the stable for one." Carly shrugs. "No rush though. Rita and Mr Roberts have bonded. She gets plenty of time with him." Carly falls silent momentarily as they walk into the livingroom. She announces in a voice loud enough to be heard clearly over the music. "Ladies and Gentleman-- Judge and Mrs JD Porter." There is a round of applause. Rita races across the room to give her father a hug and Cook a shy smile.
"Careful, honey." Cookie warns Rita. "Your dad got crisped the last day in Mexico."
"OH DADDY." Rita looks at him and shakes her head. "Every year, you do it at least once. I made SURE you packed sunblock."
JD tucks an arm around Rita and looks over to where Viki is standing. Cook and JD split up to make the rounds each starting with their kids. JD walks over to Viki and gives her a kiss on the cheek and catches up with her. Cook walks over to Johnny who is in conversation with Sonny and Jason. "Mr Corinthos, Jason, mind if I steal Johnny away from you a minute." Johnny walks a couple of steps away from his former employers. "What's this I hear about the old goat stealin' that overpaid chef of yours?"
"Carly's already been spilling everythin' I see."
"Answer the question."
"Yeah, Ma, you finally got your wish. I'm fulltime at the restaurant." Johnny nods. "The wedding got a great write up in the Herald and the place has been packed every day."
"I'll be there in the morning to help out. Did Viki give you any problems about you spending so much time with Rita-- her helping at the restaurant?"
"We'll talk about it tomorrow." Johnny tells Cook all she needs to know and she winces.
"JD starts a big case tomorrow. So I'll be around. Now I need to see an old goat about a bit of thievery." Cookie looks around for Edward. "Got him."
"What is your mom doin?" Sonny asks walking over to Johnny and watching as Cook seeks out Edward.
"Letting Edward have it about stealing my chef. She hasn't even been home for two minutes." Johnny laments shaking his head.
Edward looks up from his conversation with Lila to see Cookie closing on him. "I want to talk to you, you old goat."
"Cook, you look wonderful dear. Marriage agrees with you." Lila smiles at Cook.
"Thanks Mrs Q. It's been great so far. I need to borrow Mr Q for a minute. We need to clear the air somewhat."
"Of course, Dear. That charming Mr Spencer has taken over the music. You two didn't get to dance at the wedding..." Lila reminds Cookie.
"Lila...." Edward pleads already sensing the fury coming off of Cook. "I don't think that's such a good idea."
"Oh no, I think it's a great idea." Cook grabs Edward's arm and leads him out into the middle of the living room floor. "What the HELL you think you doing messin' with my son?"
"I thought you'd like it." Edward whines just a little. "He's not working for those hooligans anymore."
"Don't start acting like you were doing me some kind of favor. You were thinking with your stomach as usual. And you've gotten just what you deserved. I would have tried to find someone to take over for me-- someone that might have actually lasted in that nut house you call home. But now you've got that idiot who can't tell the difference between a croissant and a beignet. You're on your own." Cook walks away from Edward in the middle of the dance and goes over to Emily giving her a hug. "How you doin', honey."
"Great. Really happy you're back." Emily hugs her back. Emily feels the hair going up on the back of her neck and looks up to see the Judge approaching with Viki and Rita. She shakes off her unease wondering what is causing it. The hair also goes up on the back of Johnny's neck. He looks around for the threat and sees the quickly covered loathing in Viki's eyes. Loathing aimed at his mother? Or Emily?
"She's a problem." Carly says quietly from beside him.
"I'm gettin' that feeling." Johnny replies equally quiet. "But for whom? Ma or was she giving Emily the evil eye?"
"Both. They're both competition. I'd bet that all through school there was a little asterik by her name that said she didn't play well with others."
"Take one to know one?" Johnny suggests.
"Yeah, little Miss Viki and I had that conversation at the wedding. When I told her I'd clean her clock if she put her hands in AJ's pockets again. And I'll have you know I actually play very well with others. Always have." Carly looks over to see that AJ is dancing with Monica and decides this is her chance to check in with Alan.
Alan sees her approach and smiles. "You and AJ think you're being slick?"
"Keeping peace in the family." Carly nods.
"How are you doing, honey? Have you given any more thought to those names I gave you?"
"Truthfully no, but at least I haven't thrown the list away." Carly shakes her head and takes the seat next to Alan. "The thought of going to a shrink still sends me to the ceiling. But things are a lot better now. The whole Ferncliffe thing is totally behind me now that Evans is behind bars. I've been keeping busy with AJ and Michael, the house, the horse and lately kidsitting."
"Rita is a little charmer. She reminds me of Emily when she first came to us. Rita is going to keep Cook busy. I get the feeling she doesn't look for trouble but it finds her. She's too smart and curious for it to not." Alan gets sad for a minute. "Emily is growing up so fast I have to make an appointment to see her."
"Rita is handling everything so well. The sudden addition to her family with Johnny and Cook. It's like nothing phases her. JD did a great job with her. I know I wouldn't have handled things as well when I was her age. Hell-- Emily handles things better than I do now."
"You've been good for Em." Alan declares. "I see your influence when I see how confident she has become. The mansion is not the healthiest place for a child."
"You know you're welcome anytime, right Alan?" Carly reminds him. "You were there for me and AJ when I fell apart. I couldn't have gotten through that night without you." Carly falls silent as AJ brings Monica back to her seat next to Alan.
"Carly." Monica greets Carly with ice in her voice.
"Monica." Carly returns the favor with a matching lack of enthusiasm. AJ looks at his father and rolls his eyes. He holds a hand out to Carly.
"I haven't gotten to dance with my wife yet." AJ offers. Carly takes him up on it gratefully. That was the problem with the Q's. To be around Alan you had to put up with Monica. And to see Lila you risked running into Edward. Edward she'd figured out. Monica was a whole different ballgame.
"What did that little bitch want?" Monica mutters.
"Your daughter-in-law and I were comparing notes on the newlyweds and the kids." Alan says diplomatically.
"Emily spends too much time with her. I would never set foot in this house if it weren't for my grandson. AJ has been so distant since he married her." Monica repeats a litany of complaints that Alan has heard once too often. He stands up.
"I need to talk to Bobbie about the staffing down at the clinic. And don't worry, Monica, as soon as Cook and JD open their presents, we'll leave. You won't have to suffer Carly's presence for long." Alan walks away leaving Monica to stew.
Bobbie sits on Jerry's lap despite a seat being available right next to him. They watch Rita and Lucas make up dance moves out on the floor. She smiles as Alan approaches. Alan takes a seat next to Jerry. "Monica still not cutting Carly any slack?"
"Nope. So I'm here to talk staffing at the clinic." Alan tells his excuse up front. "It's convenient but true. I was planning on calling you at the hospital tomorrow anyway to get the schedule and rotation of the nursing students into the clinic."
"I'll let you two talk shop, love, and talk a little of mine own with Jax." Jerry pats Bobbie on the back. She rises to let him out then settles back in his chair to talk to Alan.
"Jerry, if you could get Carly to have JD and Cook open their presents I'd be able to get Monica out of here before there is a scene."
"Noted." Jerry nods. He makes his way over to Jax who is listening to Alexis and the Judge talk shop. Alexis is filling the judge on all the courthouse gossip that happened while he was gone.
"I hear you are sitting on the alledged terrorism case." Alexis states/asks.
"Starting tomorrow." JD nods. "All the pretrial briefs kept me occupied while I was worrying that Cookie was going to back out of the wedding. We're enpanaling a jury starting tomorrow." JD frowns. "I'm really surprised that it hasn't been pulled up into Federal court."
"No, you're not." Alexis shakes her head. "My source in the treasury department says that the feds are still investigating. They aren't even ready to go to grand jury yet. They don't want these guys; they want the ones above them."
"Treasury department?" JD eyes narrow and his quick brain starts processing. "I would have thought ATF or the FBI."
"They actually seem to be coordinating their efforts but there have been some threats against the government by some people saying they are in the same organization as these two so the secret service is taking the lead. You should probably talk to Mac about additional security." Alexis suggests.
Jerry walks up in time to hear part of the conversation and files it away for later. "Judge, why don't you and the new missus open up some of those presents." He leans into the judge to convey quietly. "Monica Q and Carly are bout ready to explode. Best to get the kids out of the blast zone."
The Judge laughs and calls out to Cook to join him. They go behind a table that Carly had set up with presents. Everyone gathers round to see the haul. The bulk of the wedding presents were already over at the Judge's house. Carly and Rita had inventoried them so that Cook would have an easier time with the Thank You notes. Presents that had come in in the last few days were on the table along with any presents that had been brought by the guests. Cook thanks Sonny for the professional style espresso maker. Jax's restaurant sized mixer with all the attachments is also received favorably. Jax looks over at Emily and winks. Her advice about Williams-Sonoma had been on target. Cook picks up a package still in it mailing wrap. She shakes it experimentally. "There is no return address." She comments, "and look at all these stamps." Cooks makes a move to unwrap it but is startled by Johnny's snap judgement.
"MA, PUT IT DOWN AND MOVE AWAY!" Johnny shoves Rita and Emily behind him
"Carly, Call TAGGART NOW!" Jason insists pushing his way to the front of the crowd.
"Bobbie, get everyone out of here." Jerry snarls.