Episode 3

As Trevor and Ric discussed business, Frankie interrupted, Ric noticing Alexis standing in the doorway and smiled a hello. She stepped in and into the welcoming arms of Trevor.

"Hello Trevor." she greeted with a smile. "It's nice to see you again."

"It's nice to see you again, Alexis." he replied and then Alexis went to give Ric a warmer hello.

She leaned in and gave him a kiss, as Trevor looked on. "Ahem ..." Trevor cleared his throat to remind them he was still in the room with them.

"I'm going to check on a few things, Ric. I'll be back later." he excused himself, leaving Ric and Alexis alone together.

"I assume he's here for a reason?" Alexis referring to Trevor being in Port Charles.

"Yeah he heard about the shooting and came running, like the good father he seems to think he is." Ric replied remembering the kind of father Trevor had been to him all those years ago.

"I'm also going to assume he's asked to take over while you're laid up?"

"Yeah he has. I haven't given him anything yet, and not sure I want to. I know how he operates. I'll give him the access and the bastard will steal it right out from under my nose."

"So what do you plan to do?"

"I don't know just yet. I might just let him do what he needs to do to get things under control, at least till I'm out of this bed." Ric replied, Alexis taking notice it was eating at Ric that he had to be locked up in the hospital while his business was being threatened.

"I wouldn't be too hasty, Ric. I mean this could be something or it could be nothing." she hinted.

"What? What do you know, Alexis?"

"Well, it's probably nothing but .. I find it rather odd that you're shot, Zander comes back to town, and your father shows up all in a 24 hour period. You don't think that strange?"

"Zander's back in town? When did that happen?"

"Yeah he and Emily flew in last night."

"I'm assuming he came back here for you. I mean the two of you are close."

"Yeah that's what I thought, but things just don't add up. He told me he had heard about the shooting and they flew in from Miami as soon as they heard. But .... I don't know, I just found it odd that's all."

"You don't think he's here to take Sonny and I down, do you?"

"I'm not sure what to think, I mean Zander has never had use for Sonny, that's a given. And I think he's tolerated you because of me and he wanted to see me happy. I don't think he'd do anything rash. I mean he is a hot head but he's not stupid."

"Well, that's debatable." Ric replied with a bit of snarkiness.

"Now, be nice." she said with a smile.

"Okay then what is going on? Why now? Why come back to Port Charles now? Unless he's got something on Sonny or I or both of us?"

"I don't know, maybe if I spend some time with him and let him open up to me a little. Like you said, we're close. Maybe he'll tell me what's going on, you know, in confidence."

"Then again, maybe not, you are married to one of the most wanted crime bosses on the east coast." Ric chuckled.

"Yeah that, but Zander trusts me. If he's here to harm you or my family, I need to know about it. That would make this personal, and well ..."

Alexis stepped closer to her husband's bedside and leaned down to him. "Sweetheart, this will become personal and I don't take kindly to people who want to hurt my family. It's that Cassadine blood in me, when we're crossed, you better watch your back." she winked.

Ric believed every word Alexis spoke. She can be the kindest person someone would ever want to meet, but cross her path the wrong way or hurt one of her family, and you live to regret it.

Coming up ....

~ Jason goes to see Emily.

~ Zander has information Durant needs to put Sonny and Ric both away for a long time.

~ Zander has some explaining to do to Alexis.

~ Happy New Year to everyone! ~