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When Cassadines Fall ~ The Detour
Jax is more enamored with downhill skiing but he’d done his share of snowshoeing and cross country skiing while living in Alaska. It wasn’t as fast as flying or a snowmobile but it was quieter. The Cassadine chalet is equipped with everything as they’d found out the night before when they’d arrived. This afternoon the trainer is supposed to be back with the dog. But might as well make the best of things while waiting for the arrival. They’d be back in the air tomorrow and on their way back to Port Charles. Stefan would deliver the dog on Sunday and V had to be back to work on Monday. Today is going to be the day for fun.
"I haven’t done this in years." KC is game to try though. "First college and medical school and then it seemed when ever I took a break from school is was to go to someplace like Uganda. Not too much snow skiing there."
"I would guess not." Jax selects poles and skis for KC. "Where is V?"
"She said she forgot something upstairs and would be right down." KC takes the poles. "Jax, I don’t think she wants to go. I think she wants to talk to this dog trainer."
"V seems very... knowledgeable about the breed already." Jax asks curiously.
KC shrugs. "We just come from the same town. Doesn’t mean I read minds."
"Shame that." Jax grins. "Would come in handy. Well how about a short run and then we’ll circle back and pick up V. Hopefully she’ll have had time to talk to the trainer."
Stefan comes into the storage area by the back door and sees that Jax and KC ready to go. Jax is wearing a backpack that contains emergency supplies. "Here is a walkie talkie."
Jax tests it and sees that the signal is strong. He has KC drop it in the back pack. "We’re just going to go for a short run. Be back soon... while there is still light. You and V can join us once you’ve finished your appointment. Just give us a ring and we’ll head on back. Have a nice trail blazed for you."
"Ms Ardanowski isn’t going to join you?" Stefan asks.
V hears the comment from the doorway and quickly steps back and sheds her gloves and coat. Then she comes into the room pushing up the sleeves on her turtleneck. "One klutz on trail is enough."
"Thanks, V." KC says wryly. "Break a leg is just for the theater right?"
"Definitely." V agrees.
"As soon as the dog arrives we’ll call." Stefan doesn’t like but figures he’ll figure what is up with the divide and conquer. Just the same as V and Jax evidently believe.
Later that day, Stefan takes the paperwork on the dog. Everything seems to be in order. All of the medical certificates and the registrations. While he is making sure that everything is in order, V is talking to the trainer.
"So he’s used to riding in a van and going all over town." V runs her hands over the big dog. Patting it affectionately and roughing it’s thick double coated fur. She avoids anything to do with the dog’s mouth. That is something for the trainer or a vet.
"Mir would be no use to the woman if he gets carsick, yes?"
"True enough. What about airplanes? Has he ever been on an airplane?"
"Airplane, no." The trainer admits. "I bring this for the flight back to America." He brings out the tranquilizers. "One right after he is on the plane in a piece of cheese put in this bowl. He eats only from his bowl– no other. He shouldn’t wake."
"Shouldn’t." Famous last words. "We’re going to be in a small plane. He’s going to be in the compartment with us."
"There is another just in case." The trainer pats the dog affectionately. "This is a good place for Mir. He is too friendly to work security. He would be too lonely."
"What?!" That gets Stefan’s attention. "This dog is supposed to be protection for Madeliene."
V and the trainer exchange a look. V is the one that answers. "He will be.” V turns back to the trainer. “I think Mr Cassadine is used to security dogs rather than companion dogs." V explains.
"Mir will be both." The trainer says proudly. Since V is the one that seems to be interested in his work with the dog he explains his methods and all the things that Mir can do.
When Cassadines Fall ch 16
Rita relaxes in the saddle. It’s colder than heck and there is a brisk wind blowing up but the trees up above the riding ring block most of it. And it could be a whole lot worse. She could be nice and warm in the stables shoveling out manure like Lucas is. He’d done something that really pissed off Carly cause as soon as he was done with the stalls she’d set him to polishing bits. Lucas isn’t going to get to ride at all.
Inside the stable office, Cookie puts the kettle on the hot plate to make up a pot of tea. Mei examines the names of the videos that are over by the television. “You finding anything interesting over there?” Cookie asks.
“Did you know that giraffes get sore throats?”
Cookie blinks. “Well I guess that makes sense. I wonder if Halls makes a cough drop for that? Carly and Rita are going to be at it for at least another 45 minutes. You’ve got time to watch one of them if you want.”
“Uhhhh. I don’t think so.” Mei grimaces. She wanders over to Carly’s brag wall that has pictures of Lucas and Rita at the last show. Rita had gotten kidnaped after that. But they hadn’t met anyway... not until Rita started going to Queen of Angels and that didn’t happen until after Rita had been kicked out of the public school. “Why is Lucas Jones on punishment?”
Lucas walks into the office just in time to hear the inquiry and answers it for himself. “Because I went over to Jerry’s mother’s house and shoveled her walk.”
Cookie’s eyes narrow at that. She knows there is no love between Carly and Jerry’s parents. But there is more to the story. “And what else? You shoveled the walk and what else.”
Lucas looks away. “I didn’t call Carly and tell her I was going over there.”
“Ah. That is sounding more like it.”
Carly comes in to get a travel mug of tea that she can drink while watching Rita work out on Mr Roberts. “Oh don’t forget to tell her the part about ditching school and taking Cousin Lulu with you.”
“Carly.” Lucas complains plaintively. Carly shrugs and goes back outside.
“Is that it? Ditching? Not calling?” Cookie asks.
Mei wonders why the heck Lucas is answering it’s not like Cookie is anything to Lucas. It’s not like her staying with the Judge and his family. She eyes Lucas sympathetically.
“It might have been okay except...”
“Taking your cousin?”
“Nah, I think Carly might have been okay with that. I kinda backed her into a corner and she had to invite Lady Jane to stay over night at her house.”
Cookie just shakes her head. “You’re a brave boy, Lucas Jones.” But maybe not too bright.
Jason answer the door at the first knock. The guys at the front had clued him in that Reginald Jennings, his grandmother’s right hand man is on his way up. “Grandmother alright?”
“Planning a dinner party for Emily’s birthday tomorrow.” Reggie hands over the invitation.
Jason winces. “That is probably a very bad idea.” Then he looks at the invitation and back up at Reggie when he sees the second name on the envelope. “And Li Chow?”
“Maybe you should call Mrs Q and touch base.” Reg suggests not willing to say anymore.
“Great.” Jason just shakes his head. First this thing with Johnny’s mother wanting to meet Li and arranging a dinner party tonight and now Grandmother getting in on the act. Li is supposed to be keeping a low profile. Dinner at the Q’s would blow that all to hell.
When Emily gets back to Johnny’s apartment over Porter’s she isn’t expecting anyone to be there. Because of the possible pressure that her family could bring down on Johnny because of her age they’d been *good* ever since Em had moved in. And it was getting to be hell. Even though they are living together it’s like they’ve been avoiding each other. But there is just one more day. Just one. Not even a day. Midnight. Just had to make it to midnight and then being good could be thrown straight on out the window. When Em opens the door she can hear the sounds within, “Hello?”
“Hi Em!” Rita says cheerfully as she comes out of the dining room. She is still carrying silverware and napkins. “Cookie is making dinner here tonight because Daddy has a jury.”
“O-kay.” Em shakes her head. That just didn’t make sense.
“And since Daddy has a jury, Cookie is going to meet Li finally. And Li is going to get to meet her cousin Mei-Mei.”
“Rita, I don’t know if that is such a good idea. Li being in the country is supposed to be a...”
“Secret. I know. That’s why we had to wait until after Daddy had a jury. So he wouldn’t have a conflict of interest. But since Mei already knows about Li being in town it really doesn’t have to be a secret from her.”
“Rita, is that table set yet?!” Cookie calls out from the kitchen. “Quit holding Em up.”
“Guess you’re being summoned.” Rita practically runs back to the dining room where the table has been expanded to pretty much take up the whole room with barely enough room for the chairs.
Em counts the chair before heading to the kitchen. “Eight?” She counts out the number of people in her head. “How did you come up with eight?”
“Ricky will be coming too.” Mei answers as she sorts out all the plates around the table.
Rita expands on the answer. “He’s in deep ****.” Rita puts silverware at the place settings that Mei has created. “He skipped a midterm and Cookie found out about it when she called his prof.”
“Cookie calls his professors?!”
“Oh yeah. Actually she doesn’t have to anymore. They email her. She normally only visits teachers once. She called the prof after getting an email about the midterm. Ricky pretty much better be missing a kidney.” Rita says cheerfully glad for once to not be the one in trouble. “Or he’s going to be.”
“Ouch.” Em gives a sympathetic wince. Cookie had always been very careful to not overstep when she’d been working for the Quartermaines. But it didn’t mean that she hadn’t known everything that was going on in that house and what she knew-- Grandmother knew.
“Emily!” Cookie calls out.
“Yeah, I’m right here. If Jason and Li are coming you better set another place for Michael.” Em reminds Rita as she drops off her coat and bag on the couch and goes to the kitchen. Being around Cookie and her son had been a crash course in fine dining but not cooking lessons. But she can tell that Cookie has everything under control... as always. “Ummm... guess we’re having a dinner party?”
“Johnny is going to work up until the last minute. He might get called down to the restaurant if anything bizarre happens.” And nothing had better or there would be hell to pay. “Figured this will be the perfect time to do this. Not like you and Johnny are going to be doing anything.” Cookie gives Emily a knowing look. “At least not until after midnight.”
Emily’s eyes narrow as she studies Johnny’s mother. “You’ve been talking to my grandmother.”
“Of course I have.” Cookie shrugs. It wouldn’t be a surprise. “Heard you wanted a perfect birthday.” Cookie rolls her eyes. “Good luck with that.”
“It was worth a shot.” Em suggests wryly. “The only other option was to give them up all together; since I don’t drink turning 21 in three years isn’t such a big deal anyway. So what is the plan that you and Grandmother have come up with?”
“Dinner at the mansion tomorrow. There will be no Quartermaine contact before the dinner. No early morning phone calls or drop by visits. But you’re going to have to do the dinner. This dinner party will kill time between now and midnight. Figured it would be better than staring at a wall and watching the clock.”
This was going to happen there is no doubt about it. “What can I do to help?” Em shrugs.
“Find some music. Something soothing. Ricky is going to need it.”
“I heard. Michael is going to be here– Rita and Mei-Mei too.” Em reminds Cookie of the little ears that will be present.
Cookie shrugs. “Better they learn now the consequence of skipping school. Rita and Mei-Mei were out at Carly’s place for Rita’s riding lesson. Lucas was there on punishment for ditching school: shoveling manure and polishing silver. It’s never okay.”
Emily winces and replies defensively. “Grandmother okay’d the times I skipped.”
Cookie just gives her The Look.
What ever had been bothering Maddy had worked itself out. But Nikolas suspects it is more acting like it has worked itself out. Nik studies Maddy as she puts the finishing touches on dinner. It didn't mean it wouldn't happen again. Lucky and Liz had taken Lulu and Grandmother out for dinner. Time to get answers without interruption. "What did you mean when you told Emily that you were afraid you'd end up like Lisette?"
Maddy stiffens but keeps her back to Nikolas as she focuses on the stove. "She told you that?!" What happened to the solidarity of girlfriends?
"She is concerned. Maddy, if I have done anything that would make you think I would beat you to death... tell me."
Maddy winces and then sighs. She looks at what she is doing. It would wait. It would have to wait. She turns everything down. Then she comes over to sit across from Nikolas at the kitchen table. Their most productive conversations happen at this table. "That is not what I meant. Em knows it and so do you." Before Nikolas can say anything Maddy holds up a hand. "When you and Lucky didn't come back like you normally do last Sunday... I went looking for you. That's what I meant. That's something my mother would have done. Gone looking for a fight. Tracking down whomever she was sleeping with and have a screaming match in public and that was the preferred reaction."
"I should have called." Nik admits. "If the situation had been reversed and you were gone all day... especially with Cinnamon back with Larry. I would have been concerned. You were right to go looking for me."
"Nik, we're not like that. That's Lucky and Liz. We're not supposed to be like that." Maddy repeats.
Nik camouflages his wince. "Maddy, you have my permission to track me down if I am so inconsiderate again about not calling. I have been put on notice. I would suggest if I don't call or don't reply to your calls in a prompt fashion-- which I would have. But if the situation arises again, you should contact Lucky or my uncle. In my family..." Nik grins wryly. "... it is reasonable to expect foul play."
"That is not what was going on!"
"No, what was going on was me being inconsiderate and I apologize, Maddy. Even if you say that what we have is not like Lucky and Liz you have the right to courtesy, Madeliene. You know I would expect a call from you." Nik replies. "I have since the first ice storm. And yes, while the weather has improved..."
"In what hemisphere?" Maddy mutters.
Nik smiles but ignores the interjection. "I can foresee that there will be times when I am the one making phone calls or tracking YOU down-- especially with Cinnamon gone."
"Look, Niknik, this is all very sweet and you're being great about putting a smiley face on things but that was not what was going on! I wasn't concerned about your health! I was Jealous. I have got to get out of here."
“No.” Nik states flatly. “Maddy, you aren’t your mother. I have never met anyone who is more independent than you are! You are so....” Nik shakes his head and starts over. He has to get this right. He already knows Maddy could be packed and out of here in an a day... hell in an hour. “You can depend on me. You can trust me. You can call me... anytime for any reason. I... need you to do that.”
Maddy reaches across the table and takes Nik’s hand. She looks at him– really looks at him and remembers back to when they’d stayed up late talking about Em, Johnny, Stefan and then Nik himself. She’d known back then. Nik took protective to the extreme– straight down to his bones. She’d known it even before Emily’s kidnaping. She takes her time in answering. “I get that you need that from me. Nik, I don’t think I can do that. I’ve never....” ...Trusted anyone. Maddy looks away.
“Are you willing to... try?” Nik suggests softly.
Emily opens the door to the first of the guests. “Hi.” She leans over and gives Jason a kiss on the cheek. “Johnny is still downstairs working but the kids are here. Cookie put them to work getting everything ready.”
“You set this up?”
“Ha!” Em rolls her eyes. “This is all on Cookie killing two birds-- no three with the same dinner party.” She holds up one finger. “Keep me from doing anything that might get Johnny thrown in jail.” Second finger. “Meet Li. Hey Li.” Em goes with the third finger. “And the thing that is going to save all of us. Ricky got caught skipping class at college. So he is in the doghouse and we’re off the hook. But that could all change on a dime.”
“Hi.” Mei says shyly from half behind Emily.
“Li, this is your cousin, Mei. Mei, this is your cousin, Li.” Emily does the introductions.
Mei starts spilling the beans on everything her grandmother had told her the day before about Li’s father and mother. Because it’s faster for both of them the conversation is carried on in Chinese. They end up with their heads together and Mei takes Li’s hand and pulls her over to the couch where they start catching up.
Em grins at Jason. “That looks like it’s going well.” Em greets her godson. “Hey Michael. Do you want to go find out what Rita’s doing?” She holds her hand out to him. Michael takes is cheerfully figuring he’s going to get some kind of goodies out of this. “I’ll bring you back a beer.” Em says over her shoulder to Jason. “If the door rings it’s going to be Ricky. Johnny will be coming up at the very last minute.”
Sure enough the doorbell rings. Jason goes over to answer it. “Robideau.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” Ricky demands.
“Cook is multitasking.” Jason says wryly.
“At least the food will be good.” Ricky sighs.
When Em comes back from the kitchen she has beers for Jason and Ricky both. “Told Cookie you’d arrived. She’s already called down to Johnny. Soup is going to be on very soon. What’s that?”
Ricky looks down at the package under his arm just now remember he has it. “A bribe for Cookie.”
“Oh no way!” Rita comes out of the dining room. She is carrying Michael even though he is getting way too big to be carried. “That’s against the rules! You can’t bribe the sentencing authority! You’re busted. Do the crime... do the time. Porter House rules.”
“Listen Judge Judy, I could talk my way out of this one with the Judge. I’ve got mitigating circumstances coming out the ass.”
“Ass.” Michael repeats and grins.
“And some aggravating ones too.” Rita says smugly. She restrains herself from adding the nah-nah-nah. But gives Michael a quick smooch on the temple. “Cookie is ready for everyone to have a seat.” Rita leads the way into the dining room. It isn’t quite boy girl around the table. Because of Cookie’s multiple agendas there are actually place cards by seats. Cookie is at the seat closest to the kitchen. Johnny will be at the seat closest to the door in case he gets called back to work. Michael’s seat is right between Rita and Mei where he probably won’t even be allowed to feed himself he’ll be so spoiled. Ricky is seated right next to Cookie and he winces when he sees it. On the other side of the table Em, Jason and Li take their seats.
Johnny comes up on the fly and heads straight for the kitchen in his apartment assisting his mother get all the dishes on the table. This was going to be family style. Once everything is out Johnny and his mother take their seats. Johnny extends a hand to Em and gives hers a quick squeeze and then a wink when he sees everyone around the table. Ricky looks like he’s expecting the ax to fall anytime. Li just seems to be soaking everything in. Johnny raises his water glass in a toast. “To a pleasant dinner with no business discussed so we can enjoy in peace this wonderful meal.”
Ricky quickly raises his glass. “Here here.”
“Honey bear?”
Edward straightens and looks in the bathroom mirror. He’d swallowed the mouthwash instead of spitting it.. Something was up. He wasn’t getting kicked out of the bedroom. That is for sure but Lila wanted something. Something big. He opens the door and walks into the bedroom. “Yes, Lila, my love?”
“Emily wants a quiet birthday this year.” Lila reminds as she pats the space next to her that is already turned down.
“I’ll be nice to Cook.” Edward grumbles as he takes off his robe throwing it over the chair next to the bed and sliding out of his house shoes. “I already said I would. That agreement has been in place since you and Emily arranged for the Monday night dinners.” He climbs into bed next to his wife and pulls the covers up.
“And you’ve been wonderful, Darling.” Lila agrees with a nod. “Everyone is supposed to be at the dinner and it will be stressful enough with Monica and Carly in the same room.” Lila shakes her head and wonders if there is anyway to get Monica called into work. But it’s unlikely since Monica is Chief of Staff at the hospital and the guest of honor’s mother. “Jason is going to be bringing a date.”
Ah and now the crux of what was bothering his sweetheart. “Haven’t seen anything in the paper about him dating.” Edward indicates not showing his hand and knowing that Lila wouldn’t have mentioned it if she wasn’t planning on explaining.
“Maddy let something slip when she was over writing out the invitations for me. Li Chow.”
Edward shakes his head. “That’s Michael’s nanny. French girl. Smart as a whip he’s already picking up the language. Chow. Damn.” Edward puts together what he hadn’t before because he’d just been listening to Michael talk about his friend Leigh. “That’s Emily’s missionary’s name. Queen of Angels has been raising money for them during the half time of Rita’s basketball games.”
“That’s what Maddy explained. Li is the missionaries’ daughter who arrived early... secretly. I think she is very important to Emily and Jason. I just didn’t want you to be surprised.” Understatement there. Edward when he’s surprised always managed to stick his foot in his mouth. “Honey bear, this is the first time that Jason’s brought a girl over to the house since his accident really.”
Edward grunts as he processes what Lila has said. He turns out the bedside lamp and snuggles in next to her. “Maybe I can get this one on my side before I have to buy her a horse.”
“Maybe.” Lila pats Edward’s hand.
“It’s a bribe.” Rita declares.
“It’s a present.” Ricky retorts.
“Daddy would never go for it.” Rita tells Cookie. “He’d double punishment for even trying it.”
“I really think you need to stay out of this one, Munchkin. Don’t you have something you have to be doing?”
“No, not really.” Rita crosses her arms and doesn’t move from the table.
Johnny sits at the other end of the table and just snickers as he takes a sip of his after dinner coffee. Rita had been waiting in anticipation of this moment all evening long. She’d been the one rushing the plates off the table and the dessert out. Whereas Robideau had been lingering over his dinner and dessert until the very last crumb was gone off the plate and most of the glazing. “Rita, Ricky is a grown man who pays his own bills. If he wants to skip a class, a test whatever– he’s the one that is paying.”
Ricky gives him a grateful look. Rita is out for blood. He turns back to her. “Look, Munchkin I’m sorry I missed your game. It’s really all her fault anyway.” Ricky indicates with a thumb in Cookie’s direction.
“Then why aren’t you trying to bribe me?!” Rita demands.
“It’s not a bribe! It’s a present!” Ricky declares again.
“One way to know for sure.” Cookie unwraps the box that had been set in front of her as soon as dessert was done and the conversation couldn’t be postponed any further. She examines the inside cover of the book inside the box as well as the accompanying package: A signed 1961 first Edition of Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child and a pound of Black winter truffles. “This is definitely a bribe. An excellent bribe.”
“A bribe would have been the white truffles.” Ricky mutters defensively. Damn old man Quartermaine. This is definitely the last time he listened to that old man. Should have just stuck with the cookbook and left the truffles out of the package. Should have known better– the old man bought Carly a horse for heaven sake.. And Emily a modeling agency. What kind of advice would he give?!
“Damn Guy! You can bribe me anytime!” Johnny comes around the table and picks up the package of truffles. He inhales deeply. “Damn. If you can’t take them, Ma, I will.”
“Oh I didn’t say I wasn’t going to take them.”
“Cookie!” Rita protests loudly.
“Just that it wasn’t going to work. And I think you better start explaining how this is my fault.” Cookie suggests softly to Ricky.
Ricky winces. He got the feeling that the softer the voice the more leery he should be. It’s kind of like the misquitos back home. If they were buzzing they weren’t biting but if you didn’t hear anything.... “I got this package from Benny Abrams. Evidently someone told him I wasn’t being challenged at school.”
“And you’ve been working on that for 3 days straight? Missing Rita’s game? Missing a Midterm?! Pull the other one!”
There is a quick exchange of Chinese from the doorway. Mei is the one that speaks up. “Mrs Porter, Li says that she saw Ricky when she was looking at her parent’s apartment. That she got the key from him for the apartment and he looked then as if he hadn’t left his apartment for a long time. But she didn’t want to be rude in case he always looked like that. Specially since her parents are going to be living across the hall.”
“But school is a job, oui?” Li asks in English. “And missing an exam? It is very bad. At my school if you miss an exam, you fail and have to repeat the whole course– very bad.” She and Mei go into the kitchen to get what they came in for– a drink for Michael.
“Yeah.” Cookie’s eyes narrow. “And considering I received an email from your professor saying that he was giving you a make-up exam. I have to wonder what you bribed.. Oh I mean gifted him with.”
“I didn’t have to.” Ricky declares. “That’s why I wanted to talk to the Judge about this one. Yeah, I screwed up. The max I can get on the make up exam is a B and you can bet that it’ll be tougher than the damn test that everyone else took. I know I lucked out getting a do over at all. The only reason I could is because the midterm I missed was for the accounting class. I showed the Prof what I was working on and he cut me some slack.” Ricky doesn’t mention the phone call the Prof made to his broker once he’d seen all the proof. That might count as the bribe portion.
“Okay.” Cookie nods and sets the package to one side– away from Ricky. That gift is definitely going home with her. “I talked to The Judge before this dinner and after finding out about the makeup exam from the professor. I am ready to pronounce sentence as determined by Porter House Rules.”
Rita looks at Ricky smugly. He is in such deep ****.
Cookie pulls a sheet of paper out of her pocket. “Richard Robideau, you are sentenced to moving into the Porter House where your attendance and performance at college can be more closely supervised.”
“Oh hell no!” Ricky protests.
Cookie looks up and then looks back down at the Judge’s sentence. “Sentence is suspended and you are placed on probation until the End of the Term. Any missed classes let alone missed tests will result in the revocation of your probation and imposition of sentence. You are subject to all General Conditions of Probation. Do you understand each of these conditions?”
Rita whips out her copy of the General Conditions of Probation and slides it across to Ricky. She knew that they would be brought up sometime while Ricky was getting punished.
Ricky scans thru them and winces. “Yes.”
“Good. Come over to the house for brunch tomorrow. I’ll be making omelets with shaved truffles.” Cookie picks up her gift. “You ready to go Rita? Mei?”
“Yeah, we’re out of here.” Rita gives Ricky a pat on the back. “Depending on how good my bribe, oh I mean gift, is I’ll help you with your appeal.”