<HR>
Maxie stands outside the door of the police station. People were rushing past her but she ignored them. She was trying to gather her strength. She had to empty the guilt that was eating her alive for what seemed like forever. Every night she awoke to see Brandon's face looming before her. It would take her a long time to fall asleep again and thankfully, Serena was a heavy sleeper. Maxie shakes her head. She can do this. She opens the door and immediately bumps into Lucky, "Hey Lucky, have you seen my dad? It's really important."

Lucky looks down at Maxie, thinking that with her everything is always important. "Let me see if I can find him. I'll be right back."

Lucky walks down a hallway and Maxie starts to fidget. She watches the second hand on the clock and it barely seems like it is moving to her. Again, a picture of Brandon flashes before her eyes. "I can't do this." She turns and begins to run for the exit.

"Maxie!" Mac calls out, "What a pleasant surprise! I haven't seen you in such a long time. I'm so happy to see you." He walks over to her and gives his wayward niece a hug. "To what do I owe this pleasure? Need money for books or something?"

Maxie keeps her eyes downcast. "I have to talk to you about something really important. Can we go somewhere?"

Immediately Mac senses that Maxie is upset. He leads her to an empty office where they sit down. "Maxie are you ok? You know you can tell me anything. I will do anything for you, I love you like you are my daughter. I hope you know that."

"I do." Maxie takes a deep breath. "Dad, I did something really bad last year and I am so ashamed. I mean, this is really bad and I can't go on like this."

Mac immediately goes into a fatherly role. "Maxie, whatever it is, we can get over it. Just tell me what it is and I can help you."

Maxie flashes back to Dillon telling her why he’ll never be able to be involved with her. She drops her head into her arms and mumbles, "The night that Brandon Wexler was killed....I, I, uh, drugged Lucas and Dillon’s' drinks" Maxie took a deep breath. "And....because I did that...I caused his death." After she confessed, she burst into cathartic tears.
<HR>
Alexis sat behind her desk and dialed Sam’s number again, and becoming very concerned about her eldest daughter. Again, the voice mail answered, and Alexis left yet another message.

“Sam, it’s mom. Please call me back as soon as you get this message. It’s important.” As Alexis hung up the receiver rather abruptly due to frustration, Ric peeked into her office.

“So you are here? I’ve been trying to reach you for a while now and you haven’t been answering the phone.”

“I’m sorry, Ric. I’ve been swamped with work and taking care of some things I need to care of. Have you heard from or seen Sam today?”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve been trying to get a hold of her all day and I keep getting her voice mail. I’ve tried her cell, and at home, and … and I’m getting worried.” Alexis said with worry.

“Sam’s a big girl, I’m sure she’s all right. She can take care of herself.”

“Exactly … that’s what I’m worried about.”
<HR>
Sam reaches into her purse and sees her mother left her yet ANOTHER voicemail. You would think Alexis would get the hint the first 3 times she called. Sam waits around near the docks on Pier 9 for someone. Sam stares into the water and thinks about all the horrible things she’s done since returning from her “death” on Thanksgiving 2006. Lying, manipulating, stealing….not that it would be out of character for her to do so, but the fact that she did it to people she loves is what confounds her.

“You had better have a good reason for contacting me Samantha. I don’t take too well to being summoned.” Helena steps from the shadows glaring at Sam. “I have more important things to do than to meet with you.”

“I have spent the last year doing your bidding Helena. No more. I want my freedom, and I don’t care what I have to do in order to get it. I’m no longer your puppet, find another pawn. You hurt people. You tried to kill Carly and didn’t care that her unborn children, your great-grandchildren would be hurt in the process.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about Samantha.” Helena stares at Sam trying to read her.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You had me feed you information about Carly, and then you made your move. I know you’re responsible for Carly’s accident, and I’m going to help put you away.”
<HR>
"I don't think I heard you correctly. All I heard was the night Brandon was killed." Mac's eyes started to show concern.

Maxie raises her tear stained face and sobbed. "The night of....the frat party where..Brandon...was killed.....I. um, I slipped.....a drug....into....Dillon and Lucas'.....drinks." Mac looks shocked as she continues, "I set them up so Brandon would walk in and see Dillon and Lucas about to you know and ....caused them to....fight...and Brandon..he, um, he ran...into the street! I’m so sorry dad. I was…I was just so angry with Dillon for breaking up with Georgie, and I was unhappy and I just….I’m so sorry!"


Mac turns into protective father mode. He smoothes Maxie's hair back and kisses her. He pulls her into his arms like he did when she was little and she cries all the tears that she has been holding in since the frat party. Once her sobbing starts to subside, Mac looks her in the eye. "Maxie, I will be right back. Do not say a word to anyone unless I am in this room, do you hear me?" Maxie sniffs and nods as Mac leaves.

Stunned to his very core, Mac walks quickly down the hall to Anna's office, unaware Anna has been trying to find out more from her WSB contact Charlie regarding the news he contacted her about. Mac and Anna still have yet to bury the hatchet, but this was a family issue and Mac needs Anna. He knocks twice and opens the door. "Anna,"

Anna cuts him off, "Mac, I'm busy here."

"I need you right now. It's Maxie….. and right now, you are the closest thing to a mother she has." Mac closes the door behind him and lowers his voice. "Anna this is serious. She just confessed to me that she drugged Dillon Quartermaine and Lucas Jones’ drinks at the party the night that Lucas’ boyfriend Brandon Wexler was killed."

Anna doesn't hesitate. "Let's go."

When Mac opens the door again, Maxie is seen seated at her chair, wiping her eyes and trying to catch her breath. She is relieved that Mac is back but jumps up in horror to see Anna behind him. "Uncle Mac, what is Anna doing here? I thought you said....everything...would be ok."
<HR>
Back at the docks, Helena snaps her fingers. Suddenly two men appear and grab Sam. Helena walks over and grabs Sam’s dropped purse and begins to go through it.

“What are you doing? There’s nothing in there for you to….” Sam’s voice trails off as Helena pulls out a tape recorder.

“You silly bitch,” Helena begins, “Do you think I’m stupid?”

“That depends…if I say yes will I walk out of here alive?”

“Shut up. Did you really think I would incriminate myself on tape? As if I, Helena Cassadine would be stupid enough to fall for your ploy. If you want to play with the big girls Samantha, you had better learn more tricks.” Helena plays with the digital recorder in her hands before throwing it into the water. She then snaps her fingers for the guards to release Sam.

Sam takes this opportunity to fight off the guards. She low blows guards one, and connects with a punch to another. Sam goes to reach for Helena as she tries to escape and grabs nothing but air. Helena appears behind Sam and grabs her by the hair before pushing her into the wall and grabbing her throat with a knife pressed firmly against her neck.

“You’re going to get yours you evil wench,” Sam says gasping for air. “I’m going to take you down.”

Helena tightens her cold hand around Sam’s throat. “Better women and men than you have tried, and each time they fall short.” Helena lowers her voice to barely above a whisper. “It would take nothing….to have you, your mother or your sisters killed. You have no idea what I’m capable of. Juat ask your mother how I slit her whorish mother’s throat in front of her.” Helena stares at Sam as her eyes begin to fill with tears. She presses the knife closer against her throat and whispers a threat in her ear before walking away.

Sam begins trying to catch her breath and breaks down crying.
<HR>
Anna walks over to Maxie and gives her a compassionate smile and hugs her tight. " ac did the right thing in coming to me. We are all family here." Anna leaned back and grasped Maxie's hands. "Ok, I want you to trust me here. I am going to do for you what I would do for Robin. You just have to trust me. Can you do that?" Maxie hesitates and nods. "When you are ready, I need you to tell me everything that happened that night."

Maxie almost falls into her seat. She looks at the floors and whispers, "Dad, Anna, I am so sorry. I never thought, never believed that when I....when I drugged their drinks....that it would end up like this. I didn't mean to kill him. You have to believe me,” wept Maxie. Mac kneels down next to her and starts to rub her back. She starts to recount everything that happened to Anna from the moment she arrived at the party to the moment Brandon was hit on the street. When she is finished unloading her story, she collapses back in her chair.

Mac stands up and glances over at Anna. Anna nods. "You did a really good thing by coming to us today Maxie. But you have to know something here. Yes you did a horrible thing when drugging those boys drinks. And I know you are going through a hard time. But you have to be held accountable for what you’ve done. I don’t know if I can help you the way I’d like to.”

The fear on Maxie’s eyes is evident as Port Charles comes to a close.
<HR>
Next…on Port Charles
- Mac and Anna try to find a way to help Maxie
- An important acquisition for ELQ is in jeopardy after Emily’s meeting doesn’t go so well
- Lucky finds Sam at the pier
- Nikolas interrupts a board meeting with a major announcement