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The Triumph Of AJ Quartermaine
Vignettes
Penthouse--
Jason hangs up. "Carly called Bobbie. Told her that they'd be home in a few days. Only one question left. Where's home?"
"Benny thinks that he has something, a corporation that bought a residential property."
"What's the corporation called?" Jason asks.
"Happy Family." Sonny replies grimacing.
Jason laughs without humor. "That's it. What's the address?"
The Mansion--
"Reginald!!!!"
"He hasn't called." Reggie replies already knowing the question.
"What is that boy thinking?" Edward grumps.
"That he wanted some peace and quiet?" Reggie asks rhetorically before leaving.
"And this is who you're backing for CEO? Someone that tosses everything at the drop of a hat to party and go on vacation." Ned reminds his grandfather triumphantly.
"Don't even start, Mr. Leather Britches." Edward grouses.
Port Charles Grille--
Alan and Monica are having a quiet lunch or at least that was the plan.
"...For Goodness Sake, Alan, She's a nut. She drugged him he could have died. Carly isn't fit to raise a gerbil let alone a child. And having her anywhere near either of my sons gives me hives."
"Monica, they are grown men. Jason has been dealing with Carly for over a year and hasn't killed for or been killed by Carly. That was my greatest concern. I thought sure that Tony would end up in an alley somewhere and all roads would lead back to Jason. AJ and I had a long talk at the clinic before all this happened. Monica, he has been planning this for a year. He knows better than any of us what Carly is like. You aren't going to convince him otherwise and any attempt by you is going to drive AJ further away-- if that's possible. Can't you just trust him to do it on his own this one time?"
"How can you be so calm? These are our sons, our grandson, all in the hands of that witch!"
"The Lord's granted me the serenity to accept the things I can not change..."
Monica rolls her eyes. "Oh please! Who are you and what have you done with my husband?"
Jax's penthouse--
Jerry slams into the apartment without so much as a knock or a by your leave. Tossing his jacket aside he goes to the pinball machine and puts a ball in action. He walks past Jax without comment.
"Good to see you too, Jer; sure, I don't mind if you just walk into my rooms without knocking and play with my toys."
"Bugger off, Jax! Can't you see I'm going to beat your high score?"
Jax walks over to the game to watch Jerry skillfully rack up points on the Jackpot game as Jerry nears his high score Jax leans against the the machine... with enthusiasm. Tilt.
"You did that on purpose!"
"Figured that you were spoiling for a fight thought I'd do my part. What's the problem have a spat with the little woman?" Jax teases.
"You ever say something like that to Bobbie's face and she'll skin you but good." Jerry replies calmly putting another ball in play.
"Note to self, Jerry didn't say that he hadn't had a spat with Bobbie." Jax quips.
Jerry throws up his hands. "That woman could give stubborn lessons to Lady Jane."
"Tell your little brother all about it; but know up front I think that Bobbie is right-- whatever it is." Jax grins.
Jerry rolls his eyes. "Bobbie's primed to jump all over her daughter, won't even give the girl a chance to explain herself."
"Carly? This is about Carly?" Jax waves a hand. "Whoa, no big surprise there. Bobbie's great and all but her daughter is a succubus from hell with Letters of Marquis on all the men in Port Charles from Satan himself." Jax rubs his jaw and looks up at his brother from the floor. "What was that for?"
"Carly is Bobbie's daughter. You'll keep a civil tongue in your head when you speak of her or you'll keep your bloody hole shut."
"You go around deckin' everyone that says anything bad about Carly and you'll have permanently bloody knuckles." Jax holds up his hands in an -I give- motion when Jerry appears ready to drop him again. "Gees, when did you become her white knight? Jerry, She doesn't need one-- she has Morgan for goodness sake."
"Not for much longer, there's been a substitution late in the game."
"What poor schmuck has she got on the hook now?" Jax hold his hands up again. "Consider that last statement rephrased any way you want."
"AJ Quartermaine hijacked Carly and Michael. Morgan has no idea where they are, neither does Bobbie. Carly called Bobbie today to tell her that she'd be back in a couple of days."
"Then what is the problem?"
"Bobbie is ready to take Morgan's side on everything without hearing what Carly and AJ have to say for themselves."
"I'm still not getting it... What does AJ have to do with anything?"
"AJ is Michael's biological father. And your very good friend Robin knew about it for over a year and didn't tell anyone." Upon hearing Jerry's flat declaration Jax is stuck dumb. "Oh and another thing..." Jerry walks over to the door and opens it ready to leave after getting the last word. "Sonny's back."
New York City--
AJ sits at the table with his papers spread before him. Carly comes out from the bedroom after getting Michael down for his nap. He looks up at her.
"I don't want to talk about it." Carly preempts defensively. "What are you working on?"
"How to get Katherine Bell's ELQ stocks away from her. I've isolated her weakness-- something I learned from Jax."
"What was that?" Carly seats herself across the table from AJ.
"Acme Sprockets. A contract I let lapse 'cause I was too busy interviewing lawyers. He bought the company and renegotiated the contract."
"And paid for the company with the new contract, I bet."
"Yeah, between the new contract and then ELQ buying the company so it wouldn't happen again-- Jax put himself right back in the game."
"And you're trying to take Katherine out, using the weakness that you've found?"
"Yeah, It's really like a big poker game: know who is holding what, who's got the weak hand, what wild cards haven't been seen yet."
"Pool's always been my game, playing the angles, you know? Edward's had so many problems with outsiders holding stock; I can't believe that he gave Katherine an option."
"Grandfather has a weakness for blondes." AJ laughs grinning ruefully.
"Oh really, I hadn't noticed." Carly winks at AJ. "Are you going to have everything done by the time the board meeting comes around?"
"It's going to be close. My meeting with Jason, the court hearing and the board meeting are all within days of each other. My focus is going to be all over." AJ sighs and gathers his papers together. "It's all in motion now. I won't be able to do anything more until we get back to Port Charles. This is our last night in town; we're flying back tomorrow. Did you want to take in a play or something?"
Carly shrugs. "I don't have a thing to wear."
AJ laughs. "We can take care of that once Michael gets up from his nap. I can't believe we've been here for a week and still haven't hit Bloomingdales. Anything particular that you want to see?"
"You're the one on the culture kick. I'll leave it in your hands." Carly shrugs. "What time are we getting back to town tomorrow?"
"I wanted to get back fairly early, maybe do some last minute errands around here but all the stuff we've bought so far has been delivered to the house. So it's going to be nightmare putting everything together."
"At least you're going to be around to help me right?" Carly sighs already envisioning moving again.
"Heck, I thought that we'd invite Bobbie, Lucas and Jerry over and make a party of it."