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The Triumph Of AJ Quartermaine
Chapter Fifty Six
Cleaning Tony's Clock.
8:30 am Port Charles Family Court the doors have yet to open principles and gallery begin to gather. Carly rushes up to Bobbie. "We aren't late, are we?"
"No, it hasn't started yet." Bobbie nervously brushes imaginary lint from her suit skirt. The waffle that she'd eatten earlier lump in her stomach that the butterflies were using as a landing area.
"Don't mind me but, Mama, you look like you are going to toss your cookies." Carly grabs Bobbie away from Jerry and Bobbie's lawyer and pulls her into the ladies room. "You want to sit down or something? Can I get you some water?"
"Want to shoot Tony for me again? I promise not to do CPR on him this time." Bobbie sags against the wall and taked a deep breath. "You know this is going to happen over and over again until Tony gets what he wants. How can he be the perfect doctor again if he isn't allowed to see his son?"
"Well you could always pack it in and roll over." Carly says sarcastically. Bobbie pops off the wall as if burnt. Carly holds up a hand. "Or you could have Jason move you and Lucas out of the country. He'd do it in a heartbeat for you."
Bobbie sighs shaking her head. "I did all my running when I was your age. I'm not going to do it anymore. Running was Tony's choice it'll never be mine again."
"There is an upside to this." Bobbie looks at Carly questioningly. "At least Lucas isn't here for this."
"Thank goodness for school. And Jerry. Can you believe that he made waffles this morning? Lucas was over the moon mostly because Jerry was back but the damn boomerang might have had a piece of that."
"I didn't see Jerry buy the boomerang. I'm surprise he didn't send me out to get it. He sent me out for everything else. Can you believe AJ's in the middle of a war zone and Jerry was sending me out to get him LUNCH?! He almost wore it!"
"I've noticed that the Jacks boys seem to be preoccupied with food."
"Jerry said something about that. That whereever he went he tried to find the best restaurants. And I'm not saying that he didn't -- the greek deli he sent me was to DIE for. I brought back some baklava. It's over at the house. When you get done mopping the floor with Tony we can go over there and totally pig out."
"Carly, I really have no idea how this is going to turn out. Tony has been working this forever now. We've all had shrink appointments now-- including Jerry. Lucas didn't seem to be upset by his but I didn't want to stress him out about it either. Goodness knows how the shrink would have reacted to Tony's "poor me, hole in my soul" routine."
Carly gets serious all of a sudden. "Mama, I'm going to do something and I don't want you to get upset."
"Oh oh. Why am I not liking this already?" Bobbie moans.
"I'm not going to do anything. I'm not going to say anything-- I swear. But I am going to sit on Tony's side. Right behind that sorry son of a bitch if I can arrange it."
"Carly..."
"Mama, I'm going to rattle his cage. I'm going to sit there right behind him and glare a hole in the back of his hollow little pea brain. And then I'm going to really freak him out by holding Alan's hand throughout the whole thing. I want him to think two and three times before he calls him to the stand. Tony is using Alan."
"When did you and Alan get to be such buddies?"
"I don't think that we are, but he was nice to me the night of the board meeting." Carly shrugs. "This isn't really about Alan; it's about Tony."
"No Caroline, it's about LUCAS." Bobbie reminds.
"I know that. But he isn't going to crawl over your bleeding body to get to Lucas either. I swear, Mama, I'm not going to say a word to Tony-- if he wants to play head games with himself that's not our problem."
"Oh Carly, I don't know." Bobbie looks down at her watch and grimaces. "Promise me that you won't DO anything. We have to get back out there."
"Wait." Carly draws Bobbie into a hug. "It's going to be okay, Mama. It might not seem like it but the Spencers are actually on a roll-- well except for Luke, but I think that he likes it that way." Bobbie hugs Carly back. Then pulling away she straightens looks once in the mirror and walks out the door with Carly following closely behind. Going back into the hallway, they see that nobody has moved just bunched together in small groups. Carly and Bobbie go over to Bobbie's attorney who is talking with Jerry.
"What is going on? We should be going in now, right?" Bobbie nervously asks her attorney.
"Small change. The judge that was suppose to hear the case had to have an emergency appendectomy. There is a judge here to hear the case but he is catching up on the file."
"What judge?" Carly asks suspiciously wondering if the fix was in. The attorney names off the judge and Carly blanches. "Ohmygod. I have to talk to AJ."
"Carly?" Bobbie eyes grow wide at Carly's loss of color.
"I'll be back in a minute, Mama." Carly goes over to where AJ is talking to his father. She interrupts them without so much as an excuse me. "AJ, it's our judge."
"What do you mean?" AJ asks.
"OUR JUDGE. OUR JUDGE! The one that signed off on Michael's custody. The scheduled judge had to have surgery or something." Carly sounds panicked. "You have to talk to Mama. Did you set this up? What's going on?"
AJ shrugs. "Small world. I didn't do anything."
"But this judge knows ME. Oh this is terrible."
"Baby, all the judges know you. I'm sure they talked about you over drinks after you shot Tony. This guy is good and fair, you know that." AJ says jokingly trying to break Carly out of her panic attack.
"You have to tell Bobbie." Carly says shakily pressing her hands together to stop them from trembling.
AJ puts a reassuring hand on Carly's shoulder. "No problem. I'll fill Jerry and Bobbie in. Dad?"
"I'll stay here with Carly, Son. Go talk to Bobbie." Alan reaches out to Carly and starts patting her on the hand in a comforting gesture. Carly latches on to Alan's hand with a white knuckled grip and won't let go. AJ looks at Carly then walks over to where Bobbie is quietly freaking out.
"I hate courtrooms." Carly says defensively. "I have ever since I thought that the system would protect Michael. I told Jason that the system would protect him but Jason told me no, that justice could be bought. I didn't believe him. I KNEW that the system would protect Michael and when it didn't and Tony got away with it, I went a little nuts."
"A little nuts." Alan murmurs.
"Okay-- majorly nuts. Oh Alan, I don't think I could handle it if something happened to Mama or Lucas. You can't leave me alone in there okay? I know I have to be here for Mama but please don't leave me alone." Carly pleads.
Over with Bobbie, AJ and Jerry have their heads together."What has got Carly so frazzled? She's scaring Bobbie." Jerry growls rubbing Bobbie's back in a reassuring manner.
"It's our judge; the one that settled Michael's custody." AJ states. "Now I don't think that's a bad thing. I hand picked this guy when I was trying to get access to Michael and Carly because he COULDN'T be bought."
"Oh gosh, he's a father's rights advocate. We're sunk." Bobbie starts to freak.
"No Bobbie, Don't think like that-- the guy is FAIR; he can't be bought. This last minute switch is a good thing. If Tony was pulling a scam with the other judge that is out the window. This guy is going to look at all the evidence."
"Excuse me if I don't want fair right now. God why couldn't Carly have just killed him." Bobbie realizes what she just said. "I didn't mean that-- I didn't..."
Just then the bailiff throws open the door and says in a voice that would carry to the back of any theater. "Jones versus Spencer in the matter of a minor child. All concerned parties may enter." Tony and Bobbie with their respective attorney's enter. The bailiff makes his way back to the front of the courtroom watching the crowd as it files in. Bobbie's side quickly fills with Jerry, Jax, Luke, Mac, Taggart, AJ and Monica. Tony's side of the courtroom is more skimpy with only Felicia, Alan and Carly. At the last moment Laura and Jason slip in. Jason on Bobbie's side and Laura on Tony's. The doors shut behind them. Jason looks surprised briefly on seeing Carly sitting behind Tony but the intractible mask soon comes down. The Bailiff calls the courtroom to order and all rise as the judge enters taking their seats only after he does. The Judge scans the courtroom seeing familiar faces. He pauses as he sees Carly who shrinks under his direct gaze.
"Ms Benson." The judge calls out pointing at her. Carly rises hesitantly dragging Alan along with her as he is still caught in her death grip.
"Yes Sir."
"Are you armed?" Tony smirks from the seat next to his attorney.
"No Sir." Carly is shaking in reaction.
"Who is that with you?"
"This is AJ and Jason's father-- Mr Quartermaine and Mr Morgan's father, Alan Quartermaine." Carly stutters.
"Mr Quartermaine, are you armed?" Alan confirms to the Judge that he is not armed. The Judge then turns back to Carly. "Ms Benson, you know I run a tight ship; there will be NO outbursts today."
"No Your Honor, I already told my mother I wouldn't say a word." Alan puts a comforting arm around Carly.
"Thank you, Ms Benson. You may be seated." The judge turns his attention to Taggert. Taggert sighs and hauls his butt out of the seat not even waiting for the judge to call his name. "Mr Taggert?"
"Checked it at the office, Your Honor."
"Good. Maybe we can get down to business now. Dr Jones, you petitioned for this hearing you may start." The judge winces as the attorney for Tony rises and starts outlining his client's case for joint custody.
Carly murmurs softly to Alan as to not draw the Judge's attention again. Carly doesn't look at Alan but instead stares flatly at the back of Tony's head. "The judge hates lawyers especially long winded ones." Carly's grip on Alan eases as Tony's attorney drones on. Meanwhile on the other side of the courtroom, AJ is passing a note to the same affect to Bobbie for her attorney. The attorney takes the note and scans it quickly, nodding. When it is Bobbie's attorney's turn to speak she keeps her opening short and sweet.
"Dr Jones shouldn't have access to the minor child because he hasn't done anything to address the issues that had caused Ms Spencer to seek a restraining order in the first place."
The Judge smiles approvingly at the short winded attorney before catching himself and putting back on a poker face. "I have reviewed the court ordered psychologicals of the principals and their findings will be entered into the record. First witness."
Tony's attorney calls Monica Quartermaine. Monica rises and takes the stand after being sworn in. Tony's attorney leads Monica through a careful testimony about Tony's skill as a doctor, that he is an asset to General Hospital, that he is employed, that he is a able adminstrator of the neurology department and a capable teacher now that his surgical career is over. Bobbie's attorney rises to cross.
"Dr Quartermaine, You were present when Dr Jones was treated for his hand injury. Could you tell the judge what Dr Jones said that day?" Tony's attorney objects. Bobbie's attorney clarifies for the court. "Your Honor, my client is willing to stipulate that Dr Jones is a competent doctor but that wasn't the reason that Ms Spencer asked for and received the restraining order. Dr Quartermaine has direct information that we believe the court should hear." The judge allows it. Monica tells the court how Tony had admitted to taking Michael and planning on taking Lucas as well. "Dr Quartermaine, in any subsequent conversations you've had with Dr Jones has he ever shown ANY remorse for his *custodial interference* of Michael Morgan or his plan to kidnap his son from Ms Spencer?" Monica shakes her head and then says no so that it can be put on the record. "A final question, Dr Quartermaine, in your position and experience as first the head of cardiology and then as chief of staff, does being a good doctor necessarily mean that you are a good parent or even a good person?" Once again Monica shakes her head and tells the court no. Tony's attorney waives redirect and Monica steps down with a sigh of relief.
Tony's Attorney calls Dr Alan Quartermaine. The judge frowns and a ripple goes through the gallery as everyone that knows Carly stiffens. Alan rises patting Carly on the arm. The judge directs Tony's attorney to keep his questioning short and to the point. Alan takes the stand and is sworn in. Once again the attorney attempts to lead Alan through the length of his friendship with Tony. Things get a little dicey when the subject of Alan's addiction come up along with his detox with Tony's help. Bobbie's attorney rises to question Alan once Tony's is done.
"Dr Quartermaine, were you present the evening that Dr Jones was brought in with his hand injury?" Alan confirms that he was. "Do you recall the converstion where Dr Jones admitted his plan to take Lucas Jones?" Alan admits he does and states much the same conversation as Monica had earlier testified. "Dr Quartermaine, working closely with Dr Jones at the free clinic, has Dr Jones EVER indicated that he has sought therapy for his grief issues, admitted remorse for his custodial interferance in the matter of Michael Morgan, or expressed any regret for his plan to take Lucas Jones from his mother, Barbara Spencer?" Alan indicates no to all of the attorney's questions. "Dr Quartermaine, in your personal experience as well as that of the former chief of staff of General Hospital, does being a good doctor necessarily mean you are a good person or even a good parent?"
Alan hesitates and then looking directly at AJ states flatly. "No. It doesn't."
"One final question, Dr Quartermaine. How soon after Dr Jones helped with you with your detox was he reinstated at General Hospital?"
"I couldn't say for sure-- about a week, I think." Tony's attorney winces but doesn't redirect and Alan steps down retaking his seat beside Carly.
Tony's attorney calls Felicia Scorpio-Jones to the stand. Felicia is already getting a bad feeling about this. Bobbie's attorney was asking the same question of each of Tony's witnesses. Felicia is sworn in and answers Tony's attorney's questions: length of friendship, depth of relationship, BJ's death and what Tony had done for Maxie, her feelings on whether or not Tony should have visits with his son. As the attorney sits back down, Felicia shifts in her seat dreading the cross examination.
"Ms Scorpio-Jones, you are actually in a fairly unique and thankfully small group, you've had a child kidnapped before, haven't you?"
"Yes, my daughter Georgie was kidnapped by Ryan Chamberlain."
"That was DR. Ryan Chamberlain, correct?" The attorney clarifies. "The child's pediatrician." Felicia nods and then says yes. "Would Dr Chamberlain have hurt your daughter?"
"Dr Chamberlain was a very sick man, a serial killer, but he didn't hurt Georgie, I don't think he had it in him to hurt a child-- adults no problem, but a child-- no."
"You didn't know that at the time though, did you?" Bobbie's attorney continues on without waiting for an answer. "To your knowledge has Dr Jones ever sought therapy for his grief issues regarding the death of his daughter, shown remorse for the custodial interference of Michael Morgan or regret for his plan to take Lucas Jones from his mother?"
"I don't think that Tony would have actually taken Lucas." Felicia protests. The judge orders her to answer the question. "No, he never has."
"Do you have direct knowledge of Dr Jones violating the restraining order barring him from contact with Lucas Jones specifically the day that Lucas Jones was caught in a warehouse fire down on the docks?" Felicia admits it's true, looking over at Tony and shaking her head. "In fact, Ms Scorpio-Jones, wasn't Dr Jones talking to you when he left his son, who he was seeing in violation of a court order, unsupervised to enter that building?" Felicia nods and then reluctantly says yes. "One final question, Ms Scorpio-Jones, does being an excellent physician who is kind to children necessarily mean that you are a good or emotionally stable person?"
Felicia realizes now why Ryan had been brought into the line of questioning. "No. It doesn't." Bobbie's attorney sits back down. The judge asks Tony's attorney if he wants to redirect. With the attorney's shake of his head, Felicia steps down.
Tony's attorney is starting to get frustrated but goes for the another character witness- Laura Spencer. Laura is very careful in answering the questions. But explains what she has observed of Tony's relationship with Lucas. She sits up straight when Bobbie's attorney rises to question her.
"Mrs. Spencer, how long have you know Barbara Spencer?"
"About twenty years."
"Would it be fair to describe your relationship as ...difficult? Maybe even adversarial at times?" Laura smiles and agrees.
"Is it also true that you've been out of the country and then out of the state and you have no direct knowledge of Dr Jones behavior or state of mind over the last few years?"
Laura is taken aback at the blunt assessment. "I guess so."
"No further questions. Your Honor, ask that Ms Spencer's testimony be stricken as irrelevent."
"I've heard it already so it'll stay in but please keep your witnesses to people that have direct knowledge of the PRESENT situation." The judge rebukes Tony's attorney and asks Laura to step down. Tony watches his attorney break out in a sweat and shifts in his seat. He can feel the glare of Carly's unwavering stare. The attorney looks at his witness list and crosses off Jason Morgan. It was just too risky. He goes straight to his ace in the hole.
"Your Honor, We call Robin Scorpio to the stand."