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The Triumph Of AJ Quartermaine
The Hits Just Keep Coming
Carly answers the ring at the front door and opens it while still talking to the person behind her. She turns around and makes a quick recovery of her shock. "Judge. And Detective Taggert-- or is it Lt. Taggert this week? Come on in. Let me take your coats. Judge, you should see what you signed me up for."
"Signed you up for?" Judge asks curiously wondering what the heck he'd been signed up for.
"Yeah, all the Quartermaines are here, AJ's family. Mama and Lucas are here too through. Thankfully you didn't get to meet Lucas today. I think that we would have both hated that."
"Worst part of my job." The judge admits.
"Yeah, but you're so good at it. Go ahead on in. I need to talk to Taggert for a minute."
"Ms. Benson." Judge says sternly.
"Don't worry. No guns allowed." Carly pats the Judges arm. "There is some coffee in there." Carly points to the dining room. "And try the baklava. I smuggled it in from Australia." Carly steers the Judge toward the dining room while she blocks Taggert from going any further. "I didn't understand what you were doing in the courtroom today." She says with her hand in the middle of Taggert's chest.
"I investigated your son's kidnapping and I was there when Dr. Jones made all of his admissions. At least I think that is why I was subpoenaed by your mother's attorney. She is your mother this week right?"
"She's my mother every week. Although most of the time she likes to deny it. Before you go in there you should know that Jason, Edward and Jerry are all in there."
Taggert grimaces. "Great."
"Look, my little brother and my son are in there too. As well as Mrs. Quartermaine. So everyone is going to play nice."
"And what do I get for that?" Taggert suggests with a waggle of an eyebrow.
Carly laughs. "I'll back you in pressing charges on Edward. That should get you some breathing room with the Mayor. We might not be able to get the old goat for burglary but criminal trespass works for me. I don't want him in my house when I'm not here. I don't particularly want him in my house when I am here. And it's stupid for you to get busted for doing your job. I mean you pull enough crud that you should be busted for but not this one. I can't believe that Mac went along with it. He always liked being above all the politics-- part of being one of the perfect Scorpios." Carly sneers.
"Yeah, I thought that was strange too." Taggert muses. "I think that it has something to do with you."
Carly pat him on the arm caught up in her own thoughts. "Go on in. All else fails stick close to Lila; she is nice to everyone. Oh and Taggert, I think I want to talk to you later; I've got something that I'm working on-- it could be big, but it can't be connected to me."
Taggert rolls his eyes. "Why can't you people leave the police business to the police?"
"Hey I'm sure that Garcia wouldn't mind making Lt. if you aren't interested. I just thought that you might be since you are the one that made it all possible to get the dirt."
"What are you talking about-- how am I responsible?"
"Ferncliffe. I've found out things that would make your hair curl if you had any. But who is going to take an ex mental patient's word for anything. That's what they count on." Carly says bitterly. "I haven't told anyone what really happened in there. And AJ and Jason can't find out. It would drive them crazy."
"Really." Taggert's eyes narrow. He had been hearing stories but nothing that anyone was willing to talk to him about-- on or off the record.
"Go on in. We'll talk later." Carly suggest even as the door bell rings again. "Uncle Luke."
"Thought sure that you'd be in the pokey, little girl, don't you ever learn?" Luke shakes his head.
"Would you have at least visited me this time?" Carly quips.
"Yeah, sorry about that but I was hip deep in sharks out here."
"Oh please don't give me your Cassadine problems when I'm hip deep in Quartermaines. What the hell was your wife thinking testifying for Tony that way?" Carly snarls rolling her eyes.
"I don't know what Laura is thinking; I haven't for awhile." Luke admits sadly.
"Come on in. Put down my music collection, get some tunes started... maybe some music will sooth the savage beasts within. And it's about time you showed up. We were about to get seriously outnumbered by Quartermaines here." Carly forces herself to string her hand through Luke's arm and drags him in the direction of the living room. "AJ can handle the door for awhile. I think most of the people are here now. The only rule for you is none of your cigars in the study... but I've got this great pool table down in the basement. I haven't finished decorating down there but I was thinking of going for a Luke's/ Jakes motif."
"Those only work if you have a bar, Baby; and I'm betting that you won't."
"Well," Carly shrugs "I'll think of something." Carly escorts Luke into the living room. Jason starts looking relieved. Bobbie was fine and so was Carly if he could ever get a word with her but the party was stinking with Quartermaines and then Taggert had to show up. AJ was talking quietly with the Judge. Taggert had taken Carly's advice to heart and was chatting up Lila while listening intently to Lucas telling stories about school. Edward was blustering to Alan and Monica on how he hadn't been invited to the party and Ned was off in the corner wondering when the hell things had changed. The door bell rings again. Carly looks over at AJ catching his glance. AJ excuses himself from the Judge to answer the door. Luke takes over the stereo glancing through Carly's cd's. Carly makes her way over to the Judge.
"Judge, I have one question for you-- Do you play pool?"
The Judge looks around furtively. "Don't tell anyone, but I paid for my books through law school playing pool. It's been a few years."
"I knew that we would get along-- okay the ones that you have to watch out for. Jason plays like a shark so don't let him sucker you. And if I may say so..." Carly buffs her hand on her dress. "I'm good, damn good. I was just telling Luke that I put a pool table down in the basement. Maybe we could get a game in later. Luke and Jerry are more into cards and Taggert looks like a darts man to me. But you know who I think probably has it going on? Miss Lila, I bet that woman cleans up at mahjongg."
Carly smiles as the Judge laughs. "You know you remind me of someone and I just don't know who." The Judge looks at Carly intently.
"I don't get that often." Carly smiles and then looks over toward the door to see who has arrived. It's Jax and he has Robin with him. Carly's smile fades and her gaze turns icy. She looks over at AJ who is also not looking happy. "Excuse me, please." Carly makes her way over to Jerry. "How much trouble would you give me for killing your brother?"
Jerry looks over at the doorway and swears under his breath. "None, but don't do it. Too many witnesses. Let me talk to him."
"Use the study. It's soundproofed." Carly snarls hotly. "And get that bitch out of my house."
Jerry makes his way over to his brother and shakes his head. "Can I talk to the two of you... in the study perhaps?"
"Carly, are you okay? You've been so good. You didn't even freak when Taggert showed up, Edward either." Bobbie reminds softly rubbing her daughter's back.
"No Mama, I'm not okay. Edward and Taggert are pains but I don't dream of handing them over to the Spanish Inquisition like I do that disloyal bitch."
"Carly..." Jason interrupts coming up on Bobbie and Carly unnoticed. He'd seen Jerry pull Jax and Robin aside.
"Don't even talk to me right now." Carly fumes. "This is all your fault. I wouldn't even know that witch if it weren't for you. I wouldn't have lost months with my son if she hadn't testified for Tony-- months she spent with my son instead of me. Then she shows up here in my house after trying to do the same thing to my mother. You think that she told AJ about Michael so that I could keep our son? HA! She was probably hoping that we'd both lose him. God, I hate her."
"I'll get rid of her." Jason says flatly.
"You do that and stay gone with her. Let AJ know if she is still in town on Friday. I'll make other arrangements for Michael." Carly walks away.
"Jason, she didn't mean that." Bobbie attempts to reassure Jason.
"Yeah, she did. But I don't want Michael around Robin any more than she does. Let her know that, okay?" Jason's shoulders slump but he goes into the study where Jerry is holed up with Jax and Robin. "What are you doing here?" Jason demands of Robin.
"I was looking for you. You didn't wait for me after court. I stopped by the penthouse but you weren't there."
"Did Sonny tell you where I was?" Jason asks flatly looking at the wall behind Robin.
"No, he told me that you'd moved. Are you living here now?" Robin asks curiously.
"No. This is Carly's house and you aren't welcome here. And you knew that, Jax, when you brought her. What were you hoping for?" Jason turns his attention to Jax.
"Yeah, Bro. I'd like the answer to that one as well." Jerry leans up against AJ's desk his clenched fists disguised by having his arms crossed in front of him. "This is a gathering to celebrate Bobbie keeping her son and you bring someone that testified against her to the party? Does family loyalty mean less to you than getting over on Morgan and Corinthos?"
"Jerry-- family loyalty? What are you talking about?" Jax is really starting to wish that he'd found out what had happened in court before coming to the house.
"I told you; anyone that messes with Bobbie or one of hers, messes with me." Jerry states flatly not even looking at Robin. "You bring your little friend here after she did her best today to drag Carly through the mud as she's excusing everything that twisted piece of work Jones did and then starts in trying to separate Bobbie from Lucas."
"I told the truth." Robin declares hotly.
"You wouldn't know the truth if it bit you in the arse. I don't know you but I've met plenty like you that look down their nose on people if they don't rise to your expectations. I've never cared for the sort and I don't care for you. You made an enemy today, little girl, and I suggest you get out of my sight before I forget that I don't hit women and slap the snot out of you." Jerry says harshly.
"Jason, are you going to let him talk to me that way? I just wanted to talk to you."
"However Jacks wants to talk to you is his choice, and not my business any more. I knew where you were if I wanted to talk to you; I would have called. You aren't welcome here and you should leave." Jason gets on his cell phone and calls Johnny. "I need you to drive Ms. Scorpio home."
"Miss Scorpio?" Johnny asks bewildered. Cook's ears perk up interested in her son's call. After all he thought that Jason was just in the next room. When had Jason left the house? When had he run into Robin?
"Yeah, she's in the study here. Carly wants her gone and so do I."
"Oh hell; I'm on my way, Boss." Johnny snaps his cell phone shut.
"What happened?" Cook asks.
"Robin Scorpio is out there. The boss wants her gone and so does Carly." Cook throws him his coat.
"Don't just stand there. Get going. This could get messy." Cook pushes him out the kitchen door after tossing him his keys. Johnny avoids making eye contact with anyone as he makes his way to the study. He walks softly into the tension filled room.
"Take her to her Uncles' house, Johnny. Take her the airport, take her anywhere she wants to go as long as it is away from Ms. Benson, me, or our son." Jason says flatly.
Johnny puts his hand on Robin's arm. "Let's go."
"But Jason..." Jason ignores Robin's protestations as he focuses his glare on Jax. Robin is already wiped from his mind as he moves on to the next problem.
"Use the French doors behind you, I think that she's already out stayed her welcome with the people out in the living room." Jerry insists also focusing on his brother.
"Right. Let's go, Ms. Scorpio." Robin finally leaves in a flood of tears.
"Now Jerry..." Jax's starts defensively. "I didn't know what happened in court today; Robin shows up at my door looking for Morgan..."
"Cut the bull, little brother, that's not going to fly." Jerry says rising from the desk. His clenched fists fall to his sides. "You knew that it was Carly's house, You knew that those two had a wicked history between them and You knew that Morgan would be here. And I know that you hate the idea of you little friend..." Jerry sneers "with Morgan as much as you hated Brenda with Corinthos. You used her to get over on Morgan and Corinthos and didn't care who you hurt: Bobbie, Carly or that little twit."
"Jerry..." Jax tries to interrupt.
"I've allowed myself to be your whipping boy since everything came out about Dad. I've practically offered to kiss your ass in the town square to get back in your good books. That's over. You're on your own, Golden Boy, find someone else to do your dirty work. Bobbie has been nothing but sweet to you in trying to get us back talking and this is the way that you pay her back? You aren't worth it and I only wonder now why it took me so long to figure out what an entitled spoiled brat you are. You might think that you aren't losing much-- but nobody has to draw me a picture. I know I'm not." Jerry walks away without another word leaving Jason and Jax alone in the study.
"Bobbie tells me that Carly loves this rug." Jason looks down at it and shrugs not caring either way. "And it might be the right size and everything to wrap your bullet ridden and blood soaked body in to toss in the Port Charles harbor but I don't think Carly would like that. Not you dead, you understand, but losing the carpet." Jason smile takes on a feral quality that puts the hair up on the back of Jax's neck. "Perhaps another time." Jason also leaves shutting the door to the study behind him.