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The Quintessential Q
Chapter Eighty Four
Round Table
Carly and AJ pull up the the brownstone. They recognize a couple of the vehicles-- Maddy's van, Jason's limo. "I guess Mama made it home." Carly tells AJ. "Otherwise those vehicles would be out front of the PCPD. I'm not leaving my cell phone home again."
"It'll be a tough time having a quiet weekend if you don't." AJ reminds her. "And we did have some plans for getting away and having some fun before the baby gets here."
"Oh I'm sure we can manage to get some alone time in the next six- seven months." Carly is out of the car before the engine even stops and racing up the stairs to the brownstone. She doesn't knock just enters. "Mama?"
"Carly!" Bobbie gives Carly a hug. "That was fast. I thought you were out of town."
"The auction was just over in Beechers Corners. Some old farmstead was being liquidated. I got some great stuff for the stables and office. The next one was going to be further afield." Carly drags herself back to the now. "So how was it? Where did you go? AJ wouldn't tell me."
"Iceland. On the Quartermaine Jet. Jerry and I stayed in this great cabin out in the middle of nowhere. There was a stream in the backyard. He went fishing every morning at the crack of dawn."
"Fish?" Carly wrinkles her nose. "He didn't..."
"He did. You will and like it." Bobbie tucks an arm around Carly's. "Jerry's already fired up the grill in the backyard. Lucas is out there..." Bobbie makes a little quote motion with her free hand. "...helping. Emily and her friend picked us up at the airport. Jason was here waiting when we arrived with Michael and Lucas. They're out back too. What is this about Nik moving his horse out to your place?" Bobbie and Carly move into the house. AJ arrives in time to shut the door. Seeing that the reunion is going on, he goes outside where everyone is bundled up in jackets huddled around the grill where Jerry is holding court.
Em and Maddy are enthralled with Jerry's line of BS. Em and Maddy, both being city girls, fall for some of the bull Jerry is pitching all in fun-- getting grossed out by tales of grilled bear, crock or grubs depending on where he happened to be in the world. And to hear him talk... none of them tasted like chicken. Jason snorts now and then hearing the colorful... exaggerations coming through. Michael runs from the backyard toys to the various family members. Lucas stands by with whatever Jerry might need. Jerry had seen the lack back when he and Bobbie had vacationed that weekend in Cape Cod and turned his childhood survival lessons into instruction in the fine art of dining outdoors to Lucas and AJ over the summer. Even Michael too young to have anything to do with the grill could tell when the coals were ready by the way they looked.
Finally the fish is done. Lucas holds the platter while Jerry carefully transfers the whole fish. Everyone goes inside shedding coats and taking a seat at the dining room table. Carly goes into the kitchen to see what Jerry is doing. She recoils from the sight. "Jerry, it still has a face. Oh God." She moans. "You can see the eyes. I can't eat that." She starts making a face and shaking her head. "No, no, no."
Jerry slides the fish onto a cutting board and picking up a cleaver whacks the fish twice. Once to remove the head right behind the gills and the second to remove the tail. "There. Problem solved." He slices the knots where he had sewn the fish shut and removes the dill branches he'd stuffed inside. Then he slides the fish onto a serving platter on a bed of rice, drizzling lemon butter over the top of it all. He hands Carly the vegetable side dish and takes the fish in himself. Like carving a turkey on Thanksgiving, Jerry slices steaks off the large fish.
Having mercy on Carly, he hands Michael's plate to AJ. AJ goes through the portion carefully removing any bones. The fish flakes into smaller pieces easily. AJ adds some rice and hands it to Michael. Carly's plate is loaded with rice and vegetables leaving room for only a sliver of the fish. Michael leans over his plate and sniffs the fish suspiciously. He doesn't take a bite until after he sees his fathers and Grandpop taste it first then digs in. Everything is going fine conversation is building up but comes to a halt when Carly hands Jerry her plate again. "May I have some more?" Everyone looks at her. Maddy doesn't quite know what is going on but knows something is up. "What? It's good." Carly says defensively.
"Carly, you hate fish." Jason reminds her.
"Usually. But this is different."
"Carly, you don't have to have seconds to make me feel good. Catching this sucker was enough for me." Jerry lets her off the hook.
"But I want some more!"
AJ stands up and takes Carly's plate. He carves off another steak for his wife and hands the plate back to her. "Enjoy it, sweetheart. I might be willing to get up some morning at 2am to make you grits but no way am I going to fly to Iceland to get you fresh salmon."
"Carly, are you okay?" Em asks her softly.
Carly looks at AJ. They'd planned on keeping things quiet for a couple of more months until the first trimester was over and she started to show. AJ shrugs figuring it's pretty much out of the bag now. Carly takes a deep breath and then looks at Bobbie and then Jerry. Finally she blurts out. "You're going to be an aunt again." She follows that with a bite of fish. AJ can handle all the question from here on out. The congratulations make their way around the table along with hugs for Carly and AJ. Only Jason is silent.
Jerry looks around the table. "Okay what else happened while we were away? Carly and AJ have already shared. Emily?" Jerry goes to the next person beside AJ skipping over Michael.
"Two things I guess." Em grins and then drops her bombs. "I quit school. Oh and I got Jax to give all the R&D guys down at Deception a 2.8% pay raise along with some other concessions. I was going for 3.5 but we compromised."
Before the explosion can happen from Em's announcement. Maddy adds hers. "Mr. Q offered me the same tutor as he is giving Em to finish up school early." Then she shrugs. "And Stefan Cassadine is paying me to play chess with him." She turns to Lucas. "You're up, kid."
"AJ got me a new gameboy cartridge for lying to Mr. Quartermaine so we could leave their house early. Carly punched out Dr. Monica. And Carly says Thunder can move up to her stables as soon as Jerry says it's okay. It's okay right, Jerry?"
Jerry is still reeling from the idea of Jax compromising on anything let alone money, Emily's friend playing with Cassadine when Lucas asks about Thunder. "I have to think about that one. Get back to me later tonight." He temporizes.
"Carly, you hit Monica?" Bobbie questions her daughter at the same time.
"She started it. Edward and Alan don't have a problem with it and I already apologized to Lila." Carly says defensively. The little snitch is in so much trouble. "Big mouth!" Carly snaps at Lucas.
"Mom says she's going back to work on Monday. You think Dr. Monica isn't gonna tell her?" Lucas sticks his tongue out.
"Enough." Jerry says loudly. He turns to Jason who is sitting next to him and across from Carly. "Please tell me things are fine on your front. We aren't in the midst of some gangland war or anything."
"Yeah, everything's cool. I've got Em's bike back together. She can have it back as soon as she is out of the cast."
"Oh you mean it!" Emily enthuses. "No offense, Maddy, but I will so happy when I get my own wheels back."
"None taken." Maddy shrugs. "But Em, in a month when you get that cast off we might have snow up to your... knees."
"Damn. You're right. And I don't think Mom and Dad would go for me moving to Florida for the winter just so I could ride my bike. I'll think of something."
There is a knock on the door along with a yoohoo from the front entrance. Bobbie hollers back. "We're in here, Lucky."
Lucky, Elizabeth and Nikolas come in. Elizabeth starts protesting immediately. "Oh we interrupted your dinner. We should have called but we saw all the cars out front and figured you were back."
"No, no! Come in!" Bobbie encourages. She sees that Lucas and Michael are done eating. "Lucas, go help Michael wash up. Then you two can play until dessert is ready." The boys vacate away from the adult talk without a second invite. Carly cleans up the now open spaces and everyone shifts around to make room. Nik takes a seat next to Em. Liz takes the seat vacated by Lucas and Lucky pulls up a chair. "Have you had dinner yet?" Bobbie is already in the kitchen and bringing out more plates handing them to Jerry to dish up. "You're just in time. Everybody was sharing what has been happening since Jerry and I took our break. Sounds like it was busy. Nikolas, you moved Sheba? Anything else?"
Nik looks across the table. Lucky, Liz and Maddy all knew what he was up to but nobody was talking. "Keeping busy at the hospital." True but incomplete.
"How did you find Carly so fast?" Bobbie asks.
"Yeah, I'd like to know that one too." Maddy seconds.
"I was at the same auction. Just checking out knickknacks for the house." Nik tries to shrug and pass off to someone else. "Liz had some interesting classes. PCPD can you believe."
"You mean PCU right?" Bobbie corrects.
Liz shakes her head. "No, PCPD. I lucked into an independent study with a forensic artist. Taggart hooked me up. It's a very different way of drawing. Drawing what you hear rather than what you see. It's very uncomfortable from an artistic standpoint. But I'm learning a lot of technique that is going to do wonders for my people painting. Most of the police departments use composites and computers now but the PCPD actually has someone who draws from scratch. Kelly's is still standing. Tammy kept Luke out of the kitchen."
"Well that's a relief. What about you, Lucky? When am I going to get to see your new place?" The protective aunt is coming out in Bobbie.
"I'm being hounded by Swiss bankers. They are more relentless than Hard Copy was. They want to talk about building a portfolio. The only portfolio I'm interested in is Elizabeth's. I wish the whole thing would just go away. And the place I'm staying is a carriage house on someone else's property. That's why I'm so slow on the invites."
"That's right-- you scored a bundle on some old stocks you found." Jerry remembers.
Carly looks from her stepfather to her cousin and an idea occurs. "And your year is up isn't it? It expired while you were away." Lucky has money that the IRS already knows about and Jerry needs a cover for money he can't explain. "Lucky meet Jerry; he knows all about Swiss bankers and calling off the hounds."
Emily nods. "That's a really good idea. I think you two would have a really good time. Lucky isn't as risk adverse as Carly is. He'd probably be happier than heck if you lost the whole thing."
"That would not be the plan." Jerry says wryly. He looks over at Lucky consideringly. Lucky's money would cover a hell of a big splash and step up the scheme he'd been working on, on the side while coaching Carly.
With dinner finishing up everyone breaks into smaller groups. Jason gathers up Michael and tells Bobbie and then Carly and AJ that he's heading out. Michael will be back at the Happy Family house the following afternoon. Carly and AJ give Michael smooches and remind him to be good for Jason. Bobbie walks Jason out pausing on the stoop. The guys have their coats on but Bobbie has only a light sweater. She hugs herself from the chilled night air. "Jason, are you okay? With Carly's news I mean?"
"She's not going to leave him." Jason stares down the street.
"No. She's not." Bobbie runs a hand down Jason's arm. "I'm sorry, Jason. Not for Carly because she seems to have finally landed on her feet but you know I've always treated you like a son. I know how much you've done for my daughter."
"Not as much as AJ." Jason says bitterly. His ignorance had led to big mistakes with dealing with Carly. "Carly told me all along what she wanted; what she needed. I didn't hear her."
"You were sifting what you heard through a Robin filter, Jason. That's human. Everyone does that. Uses their experience to make decisions in the present, for the future. Next time and there will be a next time, sweetheart, you won't just have your experience with Robin but also your experience with Carly, with Michael. You'll be able to recognize all different kinds of love. Not just the kind Robin showed you."
Sonny softly raps once on Jason's door before entering. Softly in case he is trying to get Michael to sleep. Jason's normal routine with Michael had been interrupted by Lucas being there and Emily's phone call. Jason holds to his routines as Daddy only varying them as Michael indicates a preference. When Sonny comes in Jason is standing at the window. "Is Michael asleep?"
"Yes, he was excited to see Bobbie and Jerry but Lucas wore him out."
"Lucas wore me out." Sonny senses something is off with his friend. "What's going on, man?"
"I can't keep waiting for him to screw up."
"AJ?"
"Yeah, if he were flying solo he would have stepped in it big time by now. But ever since the little SOB figured out he might be Michael's father... he's been a man on a mission. And since he got Carly out of here, AJ hasn't stepped wrong. Nearly sure, but never quite. Someone is always there: Alan, Jerry... Carly. And his almost screw-up's just pull her closer: New York, Jakarta, Evans."
"What happened?"
"She's pregnant. Carly told everyone tonight."
"I don't know what to tell you, man. I can only tell you what doesn't work-- drinking yourself to oblivion, smashing everything in sight? Nope. Getting Laid? That works until it's over and you're laying next to someone who isn't her."
"Why did you come over?" Jason finally asks changing the subject.
"I know you are technically out of the the business but I've got a situation you need to know about."
"What's that?"
"Benny called. Pete Robideaux's business manager called him. Robideaux is going to be in the area soon, and he wanted to inform me as a courtesy."
Jason frowns trying to remember the name from when he was running the territory. "Robideaux? Isn't he Southeast?" Jason remembers the name from a summit of the New York and NE territories he'd attended. "Some of the bangers from the City were modeling after the way he runs things."
"Yeah, he runs the I-10 corridor from Florida to Texas. He's the man in the middle collecting tolls going both ways. And he has enough cops on the payroll to ensure nobody goes to the police."
"Why is he coming?" Jason asks coldly, protectively. Moreno had been enough of a pain that drug on way too long. Long enough for Sorel to think he could pull the same. Experience is an excellent teacher. When it comes to business-- Dropping the hammer first made negotiating with the leftovers infinitely easier.
"The business manager emphasized to Benny that it is personal not business. But he has a favor to ask so he wants to take us to dinner. Our choice of locations."
"He want this public or private?"
"Public-- all the witnesses we want."
"He's got something going down on his turf."
"Yeah, that's was my first thought. Having this guy owe us a favor can't hurt us. He's got Code. He collects favors like candy but honors his own debts."
"When?"
"Next Saturday." Sonny sees Jason wince. "I know-- Michael. You need Leticia to stay over?"
"Nah. I'll talk to Carly first. If she's got plans then I'll ask Leticia. If Michael is here I don't want business on the floor."
"Johnny's for dinner? It's public but..."
"Yeah, Play by ear from there. I'll get Robideaux a suite at the Port Charles Hotel for the weekend."
Back at the brownstone. Carly had seen that Lucky is really uncomfortable talking business around her. Grabbing AJ they had hustled out of the brownstone after kissing and hugging welcomes again to Jerry and Bobbie. Bobbie and Jerry offer them again their congratulations and promises of support. Once they are gone, Bobbie goes to check on Lucas up in his room. Jerry walks back over to Liz and Lucky. "I know your cousin makes you nervous."
"Yeah, that's one way of describing it." Lucky nods. "I know she lives in interesting times but I like to keep life simple."
"That's difficult to do with a well known bank account. You do have to take precautions. It drives lottery winners nuts. Who are their friends really? Is their family safe? Carly went through it when Michael was kidnapped. She likes power but you notice she has a big ass fence around her own house and a cop on speeddial. What Emily just went through... What your brother deals with everyday but he is the product of generations of practice."
"He's got more to worry about with his own family." Lucky grins wryly.
"True. What's this whole thing with Emily's friend playing chess with Stefan. How bizarre is that?" Jerry is momentarily distracted.
"Emily says she is really good." Liz interjects her voice drops down to a whisper as to not offend Nikolas even though he is in close conversation with Emily. "And nobody will play with Stefan so he has to pay her."
"I knew kids like that back on the playground." Jerry laughs. "But here is what I wanted to tell you. The money doesn't have to be a burden. You could be having... well-- fun."
"Fun?"
"Sure. I know what Carly's thinking. Scary thought I know. She knows I'm about to go on a tear up and down Wall St. Pirating gets in your blood. I enjoy it. Sneaking up on some fat cat and snatching his pigeon away from him is invigorating. But that's me, it might not be you. So instead of bitching about the money think about what you enjoy and get into it in a big way. Carly uses her money for protecting Michael and a little bit of payback. The last things she bought into... and this goes no further. BlueJay records."
"Whoa sweet." Lucky whistles. "That label is hot. The artists are top drawer."
"Right. So here's this gal, Jacara Principal, with her dream and no cash to expand on it. Carly comes through with the capitol. Jacara gets to expand and promote her people."
"And what does Carly get?"
"Well until she made a deal with Em; it was a launching pad to make a run on L&B. She doesn't like Ned. So if she can pump up Jacara whom she respects and take down Ned at the same time. Win/win."
"And then Em submarined Katherine to get Carly to stop going after Ned." Liz interjects. For her this is like a tabloid come to life.
"So she still has a piece of a music company... just in case down the road she changes her mind or Emily changes hers. And Katherine needed taking down; that woman is a menace." Jerry shudders at the memory of his few meetings with Katherine. Luckily Katherine had been more interested in sucking up to Jax. There were certain drawbacks to being the golden boy. "You want to do Em a favor and keep some semblance of peace in her family. Try to buy Carly out of Blue Jay. Or if you ever feel like pirating... let me know. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go see a boy about a pony."
"Don't give in too easy, Jerry." Lucky calls after him. "Lucas was there when Nik got Carly to give his horse a stall. She was feeling kind of over the barrel when she gave in and Lucas was right there with his request. He got this really smug look on his face when she said that he had to ask you first."