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SoapQueen89

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  1. SoapQueen89
    The Penthouse--



    The smoke from the explosion hours earlier had cleared the way for the sun that rose over the horizon of the harbor. Zander climbed out of bed and slipped on his robe and slippers. He looked back over his shoulder and saw her sleeping peacefully. He walked down the stairs to the kitchen and made a fresh pot of coffee. After last night he need something stronger, but with the medications he was taking, coffee was the strongest drink he'd be having for a while. He noticed as he passed through the living room, Cord had already brought in the morning paper and laid it on his desk.

    While the coffee was brewing, Zander walked out to his desk to get the newspaper. He stopped shy of the desk and read the big headlines on the front page. "Mob Takes Another Hit". He got closer to read the subtitle of the article, but he didn't have to read the rest of the aritcle to know it was about him and his feud with Sonny and Jason. "PC Businessman's Ship Explodes in PC's Harbor"

    "Great! Just freakin' great! This is all I need, a front page story. Don't these people ever sleep?! Dammit!" he cursed as he heard the door open and Cord enter behind him.

    "Sir? You alright?" his guard asked as Zander leaned himself against the desk chair.

    "Call my brother, and get him over here. Now." Zander ordered. Cord did as his boss told him to and Zander picked up the paper and took it with him to the kitchen.

    He was sure his shouting woke up Emily, and she was bound to see these headlines. He threw down the paper on the counter and poured himself a cup of coffee. He went and sat down on the stool and opened up the morning edition of the Port Charles Herald.

    Zander didn't hear Emily sneak up behind him as she looked over his shoulder at what he was reading. "That's a nice picture of you, honey." she snickered and then gave him a kiss on the cheek.

    "Ya think? I thought the other one last week was better." he replied with sarcasm. "You're enjoying this aren't you?" he added, trying to make light of the situation. She turned around and looked at him.

    "Now why would I enjoy seeing your picture on the front page and especially with the heading "Mob Takes Another Hit"?" she asked with a serious expression. "That ship last night could of been our limo or could of been this apartment, Zander. ... no I am scared to death and making a joke out of this is alot easier to do then face the fears that I'm feeling right now." she added with a scowl on her face.

    "I'm sorry, you have every right to be afraid. You're right it could of been the limo or this apartment, that's why I have asked Ric to stop by. I'd like to have more security put in place around here." he replied as she took her first sip of her morning coffee that she poured herself.

    Zander even hated to suggest what he was thinking, but he did anyway and waited to hear her object to it. "I think Devon should stay with your parents for while. I don't want him around this stuff going on right now. Maybe it would be safe for the two of you to stay at the estate for a while, at least till all this blows over." She stood and thought about what he said and she thought he was right.

    "Maybe your right. I think it would be safer for us to stay at the house, at least for a while. I don't want to bring Devon home to this warzone, and that's what this is, Zander."

    Zander shocked that she agreed with him, they were always on opposite sides when it comes to what was best for her and Devon. She set down her coffee cup hard on the countertop and walked out of the kitchen. He knew from the tone in her voice, she was upset with him for asking that she and Devon stay at her parents for a while. He thought it best for his family. "She'll get over it." he muttered to himself as he heard Cord calling him from the other room.

    "Sir, your brother is here to see you." Cord announced as Zander appeared from the kitchen.

    "Thanks Cord." he replied as Ric walked in the door.

    "I take it you saw this morning's paper?" Ric asked as he followed his brother into the kitchen.

    "Yeah I did and lets just say that on top of this, Emily's not happy with me this morning." Ric helped himself to a cup of coffee as Zander sat back down on the stool.

    "Why is she upset with you this time, what did you suggest now?" Ric chuckled.

    "I suggested she and Devon stay at the Quartermaines for a while till all this blows over. I'm thinking of their safety, Ric. I don't want what happened to the ship last night, happen to the limo she rides in or the apartment she lives in. At least if they are staying with her parents, she and Devon are our of harms way." Zander's explained.

    "So she wasn't keen on the idea, huh?" Ric assumed.

    "Oh she was all sorts of keen on this idea, it was the attitude that came with it, that gave me the clue she was pissed of with me for even suggesting it."

    "So what did youu want to talk about?" Ric asked changing the subject as he refilled his coffee cup.

    "I wanted to find out where I stand in all this sh*t that went down last night. I would assume, I'm at the top of the Commissioner's list to talk to. Since my name is now all over the front page of the morning paper." Zander replied as he pushed the morning paper towards Ric who could see the headlines from where he sat.

    "If you didn't do anything to cause last night's attack on the ship, then you have nothing to worry about. Right?" Zander raised his eyebrow to his brother. "Tell me you didn't set up last night's explosion?"

    Zander didn't answer his brother's question. "Oh my God! You did it .. you blew up your own ship to set up Sonny and Jason?!" Ric shocked to hear that Zander would take this feud that far.

    "I'm not saying anything on the recommendation of my attorney." Zander smirked.

    "Oh man you are not funny, Zander. This could end very badly you do know that right?" Zander nodded in agreement.

    "Thus the reason for getting Emily and Devon out of this house. I don't want this to come crashing down on my family."

    Ric stood in disbelief that Zander would put himself and his family in this position and a very dangerous one at that.

    "You do realize now they are going to come after you and hard." Ric said as Zander read over the article again. "Little brother, you just put yourself in the line of fire, and Sonny is standing there holding the gun!"

    "Zander for once listen to me! This plan of yours is going to back fire on you and you are going to lose everything you have worked so hard for. Your territory, power and not to mention your wife and baby. This is just suicidal. If you think that Sonny coming after you is in any way a good thing, God help you because it's not, Sonny isn't going to stop with just you, you have an organization to think about plus your family, your wife and your child. I'm not asking you to reconsider this plan, Zander ... I'm telling you to drop it before it goes any farther because in the end, you are not guaranteed that you will be the one left standing. And while your signing your death warrant, consider this ... What about Emily and your baby? If this goes wrong and Sonny kills you, what happens to your wife? She'll be left alone with a toddler to care for by herself, Zander. This plan of yours has way too much risk to even be thinking about." Ric finished his speech and left penthouse, leaving Zander to think about what the plan may cost him if he continues.


  3. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 8




    At the cabin --


    Thomas heard the engine roar of a vehicle outside and rushed out onto the front porch, hoping to see who the hidden assailant was, leaving Emily on the floor of the foyer, in shock of what just happened. Thomas didn't see anything but dust as the vehicle sped away down the dirt road, he then turned his attention back to Emily still lying face down on the hardwood floor. He rushed to her and helped her to her feet.

    "Are you okay?" Thomas asked as Emily stood up and brushed herself off.

    "Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you for doing what you did." she replied, her mind reeling.

    "Are you sure you're okay, should we go back to the hospital?"

    "Don't be silly, Thomas. I'm fine. I think we should call Zander though, he could be in danger at the warehouse." Worry about Zander overcame her, she had a bad feeling building in her gut.

    Thomas pulled out his cell phone and called Zander. It took a few rings before Zander answered.

    "Sir, I think you should get back to the cabin as fast as you can. We've encountered a problem." Thomas said when Zander answered, not giving him the chance to ask questions.

    "Emily? Is she okay?" Zander asked as worry set in.

    "Yes sir, she's right here...." Thomas replied and handed Emily the cell phone.

    "Zander? You gotta come back to the cabin!" Emily's hand shook as she held the cell phone to her ear and talked with her husband.

    "What happened? Are you alright?" Zander asked in fear for his wife.

    "I'm fine but you just gotta come back, Zander .... I think the danger is in town! You have to come back!" she pleaded.

    "Okay ... I'll be right there!" he replied and she could hear him ordering Gregory to take him back to the cabin.

    "Em .... I need to talk to Thomas, can you put him back on the phone?" Zander asked calmly making sure she understood.

    "Yeah, sure ... I love you ..." she replied and then handed the phone back to Thomas.

    Emily wiped her eyes of the tears that began to well in them as it had become apparent to her as to what had happened. She steadied herself on the chair before taking a few steps and sat down on the couch. Thomas kept his eye on her as he finished his conversation with Zander on the phone.

    "Thomas, what the hell happened?!"

    "I brought Emily back to the cabin and I noticed the front door was slightly open. I did a search of the house and found nothing and as we stood in the foyer, I heard gun shots and we hit the floor. I tried to get a look at the vehicle as it left but there was too much dust ...." his words drifted off as he tried to remember something about the assailant's getaway.

    "Is Emily okay?" Zander asked again filled with worry and concern about his wife.

    "Yes sir, she's fine ... a little shaken up but she's fine."

    "Stay with her Thomas, I'll be there as soon as I can." Zander replied and then flipped closed his phone.

    Thomas flipped close his phone and noticed Emily was sitting on the couch with her head being held in her hands. He could hear her sniffling back the tears and went to her, to see if there was something he could do.

    "Zander's on his way. Gregory is going to have him back to the cabin shortly." Thomas reassured her as he approached.

    Emily looked up from her hands and sniffled back the tears. "Thank you, Thomas .... You saved our lives, you know that, right?"

    "Just doing my job, Emily." Thomas replied being modest.

    "Job nothing, those bullets could of killed us, Thomas ... you didn't think twice about shielding me from them." Emily replied as Thomas towered over her.

    "Like I said, that's my job .... your husband expects that from me, Emily. I am just told what to do and expected to do it." Thomas answered her.

    "Job or not ... thank you." Emily sighed.

    "You're welcome. I'm going to go and check around the cabin. Are you going to be okay here?"

    "Yeah, Thomas I'm fine ....." Emily calmer now, knowing that Zander was on his way and he'd be safe once he was back at the cabin with her.

    Thomas nodded his head and began to look around the cabin, perhaps for a clue left behind that would tell them who was there and what they may have been looking for.




  4. SoapQueen89
    Ric's Office --


    Ric picked up the phone and dialed it quickly. "I need an arrest warrant drawn up, now! I don't care what time it is, I need one immediately! Name? Sonny Corinthos Charge? First degree murder .. Yes you heard me right. And I want it on my desk ASAP!" Ric slammed down the phone and turned his attention back on Steele.

    "Now, if you excuse me I have an arrest warrant to serve." Ric added as he got up from his desk and directed Steele towards the door.

    "Now wait a minute, Mr. Lansing .. this is my case .. I want in on this bust!" Steele reminded Ric if it weren't for him Sonny wouldn't be arrested or charged with the murder of Zander's father.

    Ric thought a brief moment, and guessed he'd give Steele the collar, he did do all of the work to get Sonny charged with first degree murder. "Come on, let's go ..." Ric replied as he grabbed onto Steele's jacket and led him out of the office.

    The warrant was waiting for Ric when he arrived in the squad room with Steele by his side. He called over a few other officers and explained what he had planned.

    Three officers, Ric and Steele walked out of the squad room with the arrest warrant in hand and went to see Mr. Corinthos.



    At the cabin --


    Darkness still lingering, Zander's cell phone rang. He reached over to the night stand and flipped it open to answer it. "Hello .." he answered still half asleep.

    "Zander, little brother, if you want to see a murderer come to justice, I'd suggest you meet me at the PCPD in about an hour." Ric being cryptic didn't leave Zander much choice.

    "I'll be right there." Zander replied and flipped close the phone. He slipped from underneath the sheets and quickly got dressed. As he went down stairs he called Marcus to come pick him up, he'd let Emily sleep but he left a note on the table explaining his absence.

    It didn't take long before Marcus picked Zander up at the mountain cabin, and they sped away heading back towards town to the PCPD.


    At the PCPD -- the squad room


    They arrived in record time and Zander walked into the squad room wondering what his brother had been trying to explain to him on the phone. Marcus stood by Zander while he waited and saw that his boss was becoming more and more anxious.



    Sonny's Penthouse --


    The officers and Ric along with Steele arrived at Sonny's penthouse, the warrant in his jacket pocket. Ric pounded on the door and waited for someone to answer. It was a few minutes before he heard movement towards the door. The door opened, Sonny in his robe and shocked to find Ric standing in the hallway with 3 officers.

    "Ric do you know what time it is?" Sonny said as he stepped away from the door and they stepped into the apartment.

    "I know what time it is Sonny, and I came on official business." Ric replied and handed Sonny the arrest warrant.

    "What is this?!" Sonny asked as he threw the warrant back in Ric's face.

    "That is an arrest warrant. You're under arrest for the murder of Frank Smith. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law, you have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you by the state of NY ...." Ric recited as the officers slapped cuffs on Sonny in the middle of his living room.

    Carly had heard the commotion and raced down the stairs to see her husband in a pair of handcuffs. "Hey what's going on here?" she shouted as she went to her husband.

    "You can meet us at the police station, Carly .. and bring some clothes for your husband." Ric told her as they walked Sonny out of the penthouse and then onto the elevator.

    Carly raced back upstairs and grabbed what she could and followed the police cars downtown.



    The PCPD - Squad Room


    Zander sat waiting for Ric to come back, when he looked up to see Ric and Steele walk into the squad room. Three officers followed and they had Sonny with them in handcuffs.

    "Hey what's going on here, Ric?" Ric pulled Zander into an interrogation room for a little privacy to tell him that Sonny was the one who murdered his father.

    "What?! Sonny killed my father?!" was heard from inside the interrogation room and soon Zander stormed out from the room, his eyes piercing through Sonny like knives.

    "You bastard!" Zander shouted as he pulled back his arm and laid his fist against Sonny's jaw before anyone could stop him.

    "Zander! That's enough." Ric said as he grabbed his brother before he did more damage to the suspect. "Take him into the interrogation room, please." Ric instructed the officers in what to do with Sonny.

    "Would you calm down!" Ric said to Zander as he saw Zander's fists were clenched and the anger just boiled inside of him.

    "Calm? You want me to be calm? That son of a bitch killed my father and you want me to be calm?! After 15 years, I found out the man who took my father from me was under my nose the entire time!" Zander barked back.

    Ric understood Zander's rage and didn't blame him one bit for feeling what he felt. "Just let me do my job, I want these charges to stick!" Ric said before he headed into the interrogation room to question his murder suspect.


    Zander watched from the squad room as his brother questioned Sonny about his father's murder. He began to pace the floor and wringing his hands together in anticipation of Ric emerging and telling him the case was finally closed that Sonny was going away for a very long time. At this moment the business didn't matter, this was personal and Sonny was going to pay dearly for what he had done.

    Tempers flared and loud voices could be heard from the interrogation room, as Zander couldn't tear himself away from observing what was going on inside. Suddenly the door to the room flew open and Ric emerged, his rage could been seen to those in the squad room.

    Zander approached him with anticipation to know what happened in there. "So, Ric, tell me he's not getting out of this, tell me you can make this stick!" Ric turned to his brother wishing he could tell him what he wanted to hear, knowing that they would need Zander's testimony to put Sonny away for killing Frank.

    "Yeah we can .. but ... I'm going to need your help." Zander looked at his brother confused.

    "My help, what hell do you need me for?" Zander questioned.

    "I'll tell ya about in my office." Ric led the way to his office and Zander followed close behind wanting to know what he would have to offer this case against Sonny.



  5. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 11


    At the hospital --


    "You have to save our baby, Dr. Meadows!" Zander distraught about his child and about Emily.

    "I'll do my best, Zander ... but it's up to Emily now. I've done all I can medically to help her." Dr. Meadows replied before leaving the family in the waiting area.

    "You know Emily wouldn't be in this situation if it weren't for you!" Alan barked at Zander.

    "Don't start with me Alan! My concern right now is for Emily and our baby! I don't have the time to argue with you." Zander snapped back and stormed off headed to see his wife.

    Alan went to go after him and Monica pulled him back. "Let him go, Emily needs him now. Fighting with Zander isn't going to make this situation any better." she replied as Alan pulled her to him.

    ****
    Zander stood in the doorway of Emily's hospital room and watched as she slept. Her hand draped gently over her bulging belly, he becoming more and more concerned for both of them as he looked on. He quietly walked into the room and sat down on the swivel stool next to her bed. He reached for her hand and held it in his as she opened her eyes when she felt his touch.

    "Hey ...." she said softly as her eyes focused on him sitting next to her.

    "Hey .... sorry I didn't mean to wake you." he replied as he brushed back a few strands of her auburn hair that caressed her cheek.

    "Are my mom and dad here?" she asked, glancing towards the door.

    "Yeah they're out in the waiting area. Devon's at the mansion with Alice." Zander replied trying not to make her aware of his concern for her and the baby.

    "What aren't you telling me?" she said as she saw the worry in his eyes.

    Zander breathed in deeply, he knew he had to tell her what Dr. Meadows had said, he just didn't know how. He knew she was going to be upset and worried, which was the last thing she needed.

    "I talked with Dr. Meadows. She's going to keep you here a little longer then originally planned." Zander began.

    "The baby? I'm gonna lose him aren't I?" Emily replied as panic was setting in. "Zander we can't lose this baby!"

    "We're not going to lose the baby, okay. Dr. Meadows said that all you need is rest and she doesn't think you can get the rest you need at home, she needs you to stay here for a few more days." trying to reassure her, he had hoped all she needed was rest. He was relying on Dr. Meadows to know what was best for Emily and their baby. He had to trust her, something Zander wasn't all that good at doing with people.

    Emily laid her head back against the pillow, a concern washed over her, her stomach tied up in knots, she felt them tighten inside her and a sharp pain shot through her. She grimaced in pain as her hand went to where she felt it. Zander noticed something was wrong, she trying to hide it, but it was too sharp to deny.

    "Oh God, Em ...!" he exclaimed as he felt her hand squeeze his tighter and tighter from the pain she was feeling.

    "Go ...." was all that escaped her lips and Zander knew she needed the doctor.

    He raced out of her room and into the hallway, calling for help from someone, a nurse ... anyone who could hear him call for help. Alan and Monica came running towards him from the nurse's station and asked what was wrong.

    "I don't know .. Em just got this pain all of a sudden ...something's wrong..."

    The three of them rushed to Emily's side and Alan began an evaluation of Emily's condition by applying his hands to her abdomen hoping to feel what was wrong. Emily grimacing in pain as she felt the pressure from her father's hands as he kneaded her like dough.

    Emily cried out as Alan told Monica to go get Dr. Meadows, something was seriously wrong. Zander stood on the other side of Emily's bed and held onto her hand wanting so much to take away the pain she was feeling. He felt so helpless.




  6. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 26


    Emily's hospital room --


    "Bobbie? He is okay, isn't he? Please tell me he's okay." Emily sniffled back the tears the best she could.

    "He's out of surgery and they'll be taking him to the ICU on the 4th floor, but it will be a while till he wakes up. The doctors have requested only immediate family may visit. It took a while but they retrieved all the bullets, without complications ....." Bobbie stopped mid-thought, like there was something she wasn't telling.

    "What is it? Tell me!" Emily cried.

    "Because of where the one bullet was lodged, Zander's quite bruised and his cord is inflamed and swollen, till the swelling goes down, he ... he won't have use of his legs. The doctors are hopeful though that once the swelling goes down, his legs will be full functional. They're just not sure when that will be."

    "He doesn't know that though, right?" Ric asked as he stood with Alexis at the foot of Emily's bed.

    "No, he doesn't know that yet, and won't know till he wakes up, which could be another 8 to 12 hours. We're not sure, Zander's always been a fast healer though, so I don't forsee him having any trouble coming out of the anesthesia quickly." Bobbie replied.

    "I want to go be with him." Emily said quickly as she tried to get out of bed on her own.

    "You need to stay in bed, Emily. Zander will be sleeping for quite a while, I'll come back and let you know when he's awake." Bobbie replied as she stopped her from going to her husband.

    "Bobbie, he needs me, I can't just lay here!"

    "Okay, just so I don't have to worry about you leaving this bed, I will find Dr. Meadows and ask her if it's alright, we don't want to put you or the baby at risk by leaving this room."

    Emily was satisfied with that. "Okay."

    "Don't worry about Zander, Ric and I will go sit with him." Elenore spoke up and looked at Bobbie to be sure it was okay for her and Ric to do that. Bobbie nodded in agreement.

    Emily feeling a little better that Zander wouldn't be alone in the ICU, she relaxed back against the pillow. "I'll stay with you if you want?" Alexis said as she laid her hands upon Emily's legs.

    "I'd like that, Alexis ... thank you."



    Zander's ICU Room --


    Bobbie escorted Elenore and Ric to Zander in the ICU, Alexis took a seat on the swivel stool next to Emily's bed.

    Ric and Elenore stood outside Unit # 2, and saw Zander laying lifeless in the hospital bed, tubes and machines attached to him, and Bobbie noticed the scared look on their faces.

    "One at a time, we don't want to overexcite him with too many visitors just yet." Bobbie smiled caringly.

    Elenore and Ric exchanged glances as to who wanted to go into the room first, and Ric offered Elenore the first chance to sit with her son.

    Bobbie opened the door and walked in with Elenore. She pulled the swivel stool to Zander's bedside and sat down. Elenore reached for Zander's hand, and glanced at Bobbie for reassurance. Bobbie nodded.

    "It's okay, you can hold his hand and talk with him. Trust me, he's listening."

    Before leaving Zander, Bobbie checked his vitals and stats, making sure all was okay. She smiled at Elenore before leaving tell her that her son was okay.

    Elenore took Zander's hand in hers and held it tightly. She leaned down and held it up to her lips, giving it a motherly kiss. "Zander .... it's mom, I'm here with you sweetheart...." tears began to well in her eyes as she spoke to him.

    Bobbie exited Zander's room, Ric staring through the plexiglass at his brother. "I thought you'd like to know, Zander's guard who was shot also, he'll be out of surgery soon."

    "Thomas? He's going to make it?" Ric asked.

    "He's holding on for now, we'll have to wait and see."

    Bobbie walked away leaving Ric focused back on his brother who laid lifeless, yet listening to his mom's soothing voice.

    Zander could feel his mother's touch, he knew she was there with him, and it reassured him to hear her voice. As she spoke to him, he exhausted himself trying to say something, but to no avail. He was yelling inside, but nothing was coming out. It was like he was trapped within his own body.

    Elenore continued to talk with her son, and Zander unconsciously realized he could at least tell her he was listening and knew she was there by squeezing her hand.

    She wiped her tears and smiled as she felt the light squeeze of Zander's hand on hers. "Zander .... I may not have told you this lately, but .... I love you so much." Elenore sniffled back the tears as she held her son's hand to her lips.

    Trying to get the words out but couldn't, Zander's words just echoed through his body .... "I love you too, mom."



  7. SoapQueen89
    Elizabeth slipped on her silk robe and slippers and went downstairs to wait for Sonny and Carly. Max announced them as she was pacing the floor waiting for them.

    "Sonny .. please give me good news. Please!" Sonny and Carly exchanged glances and she knew the news they had for wasn't what she wanted to hear. Sonny took her by the arm and asked her to sit down on the couch. Carly followed and sat on the other side of her and tried to be there for her when Sonny started to explain. Elizabeth's cries echoed through the apartment as she leaned into Sonny for comfort. He tried to reassure her that Jason would be alright, but Elizabeth wanted to see for herself. Carly helped her upstairs to get dressed, she was going to the ER to be with her husband.

    Sonny called for Max to take Elizabeth to GH and to go in with her to the ER, he and Carly would follow them there. Max did as he was instructed and he escorted Elizabeth to the limo that was waiting for her in the parking garage. Max drove her there as fast as he could knowing that this night had to be one of Elizabeth's worst fears coming true.

    He pulled up to the ER and tried to walk Elizabeth in, but she rushed passed him as soon as the automatic doors of the ER opened. She saw Monica and Alan tending to a patient and rushed up to them to see if they knew anything about Jason. Bobbie interceded and tried to keep her from pursuing towards the patient that laid still on the gurney.

    Elizabeth didn't need anyone to tell her who the person was as she cried out for her husband. "Jason!!!" her legs buckled underneath her as Max was there to catch her before she fell to the floor. She leaned on Max as he tried to steady her against him. Sonny and Carly walked through the automatic doors of the ER and Sonny rushed to Elizabeth's side to help. He and Max walked her to the waiting area and sat her down on the couch. Elizabeth trembled as tears fell from her soft brown eyes, fearful for her husband, not knowing anything, she tried to get as close as she could to see him.

    As she tried to rush to his side, she noticed her best friend Emily was standing on the other side of the nurse's station talking with her mother. Elizabeth wiped away her tears and composed herself the best she could and walked over to see if she could help. She was in no shape to help anyone, but she needed to be there for her friend.

    ********************

    Emily and Elizabeth had been the best of friends for as long as they could remember. It had been rough over the last year or so since Elizabeth had married Emily's brother Jason, Jason being Zander's adversary, it made things difficult for the two of them to stay connected. Elizabeth rushed to her friend's side and Emily fell into her arms, without a thought about why they were not close anymore, nothing else mattered. Emily needed her friend right now and she knew Elizabeth would be there for her.

    "Oh my God, Emily!" Elizabeth asked as her friend sobbed uncontrollably. She held her like any friend would and tried to comfort her the best she could. "Come, let's sit down." Elizabeth took Emily by her hand as she wiped the tears from her eyes with a tissue from her pocket.

    "Emily .. listen to me. We're gonna get through this. We're gonna do it together." Elizabeth trying to stay strong for the both of them as she saw Emily's parents walking towards them.

    She stiffened and Emily felt her demeanor change as she turned around and saw her mom and dad approaching. Emily rushed the two of them as they drew closer and Elizabeth followed wiping the tears from her cheek and trying to compose herself enough to understand what they were about to tell her.

    "How's Zander?" Emily asked as her mom took her hand and tried to steady her for the news she was about to tell her.

    "Zander's in surgery. It will be a few hours before we know anything." Monica replied as Emily's fear worsened.

    "Well, why aren't you in there with him?! I want ..." Monica tried to explain that he was getting the best care that GH could offer him and that she should try to calm down.

    Elizabeth took Emily's hand in hers and squeezed it tightly. "How's Jason?" she asked as another doctor approached them.

    "We're working on him ... I can't give you much more than that. I am so sorry. We'll know more soon, though." Alan replied as he and Monica tried to reassure the girls.

    "I want to be with him!" Elizabeth insisted as she saw the gurney Jason was on being moved to an enclosed exam room. The curtain was drawn closed and she wasn't able to see what was being done to him.

    "Give me a few minutes, okay. Then I'll let you see him." Monica replied as she turned and went to see what could be done for her son.

    Emily and Elizabeth stood together watching as Monica went behind the closed curtain. What seemed like hours for Elizabeth, Monica appeared in a few minutes and led her to be by Jason's side. Emily sat in the waiting area with her dad and Devon as she anxiously awaited news about her husband.



  8. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 9



    At the cabin ---



    It wasn't long till Emily heard a car pull up outside the cabin. She peered out the shattered window to see who had arrived and noticed it was Gregory with Zander. She raced out onto the front porch, and not waiting till he emerged from the car, she was down the front steps and rushed towards the limo. Gregory opened the back door as fast as he could and Zander emerged as Emily rounded the corner of the car, she fell into his arms thankful he was there with her.

    Thomas emerged from the cabin and stood on the front porch as Zander and Emily walked up to the front steps together. She leaning on him as they climbed the few steps and onto the porch, Zander holding her tight against his side, his arm wrapped around her and his hand caressing her arm to comfort her.

    "Give me a few minutes ..." Zander said to Thomas as he walked into the house with Emily by his side.

    Thomas nodded and then walked down to the limo to meet with Gregory, who stood by the car waiting for instructions from Zander.

    Zander and Emily stood in the foyer of the cabin, and she turned into him holding him tight against her. She was thankful he was okay and with her now, she let out a sigh of relief as she felt his arms wrapped around her.

    "I am so sorry, Em .... I .." he began.

    "I know, but I'm fine ... the baby's fine ...." she replied her voice muffled against his chest.

    "But you're not fine, Emily ... you and our child could of been killed and it's all my fault."



    At the hospital --


    Zander insisted that Emily go to the hospital to be examined by Dr. Meadows after what had happened to her and Thomas. He wasn't taking no for an answer. He called for more of his men to secure the cabin while Gregory took he and Emily back to the hospital.

    Gregory pulled the limo up outside the emergency room and parked. He got out of car and went to open the back door for Zander and Emily. Zander climbed out first and lent a hand to Emily. They walked into the ER, Emily leaning on Zander as they walked through the automated double doors. Bobbie stood behind the counter of the nurse's station and saw the two of them walk in, Emily looking pale, Bobbie immediately knew something was wrong and rushed to help her.

    "Emily .. you don't look so good?" Bobbie remarked as she greeted them.

    "I'm fine ... Zander insisted I come in to be re-checked by Dr. Meadows." Emily replied and rolled her eyes towards Zander.

    "Does he have good reason to be concerned?" Bobbie questioned as they waited for the wheelchair Bobbie motioned for.

    "He seems to think so, but I'm fine, really." Emily insisted as she sat down in the wheelchair that was brought by one of the orderlies.

    "You do look a bit pale ...." Bobbie began as her hand latched onto Emily's wrist and took her pulse. "Why don't we see what Dr. Meadows has to say about it." she continued and then cracked a smile.

    Dr. Meadows made room in her schedule to re-exam Emily and afterwards asked her to stay overnight for observation. The baby's heartbeat was a little slow and she was hoping that if Emily got some rest, the baby would improve. Emily was taken to a private room and given strict instructions.

    "I need you to rest, completely rest at least for the next 48 hours. We'll check on the baby later and hopefully the heartbeat will quicken to where it should be. If not, we'll do another ultrasound to see what's going on." Dr. Meadows instructed before leaving Emily with her husband.

    Zander reached up with his hand and brushed back a few strands of auburn hair that laid against Emily's face. She leaned into his touch and smiled at him. "I'm sorry I fought you so hard ..." she apologized.

    "It's okay, you're here now and you and the baby are going to be fine." Zander reassured her.

    "Yes, but there is someone out there who wants you dead, Zander. That's something you just can't forget."

    "I don't want you to worry about that now, remember what Dr. Meadows said ... you need complete rest and that means no stress." Zander leaned in and laid his lips softly against hers. She reached up and caressed his jaw line as the kiss lingered a little longer.

    Zander pulled back from the kiss when he realized someone should call Emily's parents. "I'm, uh .. going to call your parents and check on Devon .... okay?" he said as he got up from the swivel stool he was sitting on. "You get some rest while I'm gone." he continued then smiled at her before walking towards the door of her room.

    "Don't be long, okay?" she replied and he turned back towards her and smiled before leaving her alone to rest.

    Zander didn't want to worry her but his reasons for leaving her to rest was mostly to inform her parents but there was that part of him who wanted to know who took shots at his wife, that were more then likely meant for him. Zander walked out of the automated double doors of the front entrance to the hospital and reached in his pocket for his cell phone. His first call was to the Quartermaine estate to let Alan and Monica know that Emily was in the hospital, and to check on Devon. His second phone call was to Thomas, he wanted to know who fired those shots that could of killed his wife.

    "Thomas you better have something for me?!" Zander said as Thomas answered his cell phone.

    "Well, we know the guy came into town a few days ago. Who hired him? We're still working on it." Thomas replied.

    "You have 48 hours, Thomas ... Emily will be in the hospital that long and I want to have dealt with this man before she gets released. And I want a man on her room at the hospital 24/7 .... you got that!" Zander ordered.

    "Yes sir, right away." Thomas complied with his boss's orders.

    "Good, now Devon will be staying at the Q's for now and I want the estate looked after as well. I am not taking chances with my family!"

    "Got it." Thomas answered. "We'll take care of it."




  9. SoapQueen89
    The Night the Lights Went Out (In Georgia) by Reba McIntire
    Originally performed by Vicki Lawerence

    He was on his way home from Candletop
    Been two weeks gone, and he'd thought he'd stop
    At Web's and have him drink 'fore he went home to her

    Andy Wolloe said hello, and he said hi, what's doin', Wo?
    'Said " Sit down I got some bad news, and it's gonna hurt"
    He said "I'm your best friend and you know that's right
    But your young bride aint't home tonight
    Since you been gone she's been seeing that Amos boy Seth"
    Now he got mad and he saw red
    Andy said "boy don't lose your head
    Cause to tell you the truth I've been with her myself"

    Chorus:

    That's the night that the lights went out in Georgia
    That's the night that they hung an innocent man
    Well don't trust your soul to no back woods southern lawyer
    Cause the judge in the town's got bloodstains on his hands

    Well, Andy got scared and left the bar
    Walking on home cause he didn't live far you see
    Andy didn't have many friends, and he just lost him one
    Brother thought his wife must've left town
    So he went home and finally found the only thing
    Daddy had left him and that was a gun
    He went off to Andy's house
    Slipping through the back woods quiet as a mouse
    Came upon some tracks too small for Andy to make
    He looked through the screen at the back porch door
    And he saw Andy lying on the floor
    In a puddle of blood and he started to shake

    The Georgia patrol was making their rounds
    So he fired a shot just to flag 'em down
    A big bellied sheriff grabbed his gun and said
    "Why'd you do it"

    The judge said guilty in a make believe trial
    Slapped the sheriff on the back with a smile and said
    "Supper's waiting at home and I got to get to it"

    Chorus:

    That's the night that the lights went out in Georgia
    That's the night that they hung an innocent man
    Well don't trust your soul to no back woods southern lawyer
    Cause the judge in the town's got blood stains on his hands

    Well they hung my brother before I could say
    The tracks he saw while on his way
    To Andy's house and back that night were mine
    And his cheatin wife had never left town
    And that's one body that'll never be found
    You see little sister don't miss when she aims her gun

    Chorus:

    That's the night that the lights went out in Georgia
    That's the night that they hung an innocent man
    Don't trust your soul with no back woods southern lawyer
    Cause the judge in the town's got blood stains on his hands

    That's the night that the lights went out in Georgia
    That's the night that they hung an innocent man
    Don't trust your soul with no back woods southern lawyer
    Cause the judge in the town's got blood stains on his hands


    <HR>

    After finding out the truth, Alexis and Sam had agreed to try to be civil to one another, and perhaps even begin to form some type of relationship. Alexis knew it would take a lot for them to ever feel like mother and daughter, but she had to try. She had agreed to meet Sam at Kelly's for coffee and to talk. Alexis had arrived early and had sat down at an open table. Mike brought her the cup of coffee she ordered as she waited for Sam. She kept checking her watch, it had seemed Sam was late for their meeting. Alexis collected her thoughts about what she was going to say to Sam once she had arrived, she knew anything related to Manny would spark an argument and she wanted to avoid another battle with Sam. As she sat in thought, Sam walked into the diner and approached her.

    "Hi ....." Sam greeted and Alexis invited Sam to join her.

    "I'm glad we could meet and talk about this." Alexis replied as Mike approached to take Sam's order.

    Mike left the table, leaving the two women hesitating to start a conversation.

    "Sam, I know the subject of Manny is a delicate one and we don't necessarily agree about him or what I had to do for him, but I need you to be careful. I fear Manny is still a threat to a lot of people."

    "You don't have to worry about me, Alexis. I can take care of myself."

    "Well, the situation between Jason and Sonny has made things a lot more volatile and with Manny still out there ...." Alexis replied implying that Manny could make his move against Sonny and Jason at any time, being their vulnerable right now, due to the situation their in.

    "I'm sure Jason has a handle on Manny." Sam replied confidently.

    "I'm not sure he does. There have been times that I have the feeling Manny is lurking about and he's coming up with a plan. One that's even worse then the previous ones he's come up with."

    "Jason has bodyguards on anything that moves, I'm sure he's ready for anything that Manny has planned."

    "Someone should be doing something ...."

    "Alexis, what are you suggesting?"

    "I'm not suggesting anything, I'm just saying that Manny is a threat to all of us, and until he's stopped, we are all targets of his psychotic behavior until that happens."

    As Alexis and Sam talked, Ric walked in the door and approached them. He leaned down and gave Alexis a kiss hello and then acknowledged Sam. Feeling it was time to make her exit, Sam stood up from her seat and left Ric sit down.

    "Thanks Alexis for the coffee and the talk." Sam said politely.

    "You're welcome, Sam. I hope we can do this again sometime." Alexis smiled.

    "Yeah, me too." Sam replied as she left the diner, leaving Ric and Alexis at the table alone.

    "So it went well?" Ric questioned as he removed his jacket and got comfortable.

    "Yeah I think so. I mean Sam and I aren't going to become best pals overnight. It's going to take some time to work things through, but I think we have a good shot."

    "Well, good. I hope you can."

    Alexis noticed that Ric seemed a little distracted. "Are you all right?" she asked as she noticed he looked a little flushed.

    "Yeah I'm fine. I got a pile of files on my desk at the office, that's all."

    Alexis sipped her coffee not believing his excuse but didn't press the issue. If Ric wanted to tell her, he would.

    *******************************

    Sam left the diner and took the shortcut through the park as she headed back to the penthouse. Her thoughts on what Alexis had said about Manny and how he was a threat to everyone until he was stopped. Because of Jason, she knew Manny was no longer living at Kelly's, but had moved to a room over Jake's. It was on her way home, she decided to stop and have a chat with him.

    She walked into Jake's, Coleman behind the bar cleaning glasses and he nodded a hello as she walked by. She headed up the stairs to the rooms above the bar and knocked on Manny's door. No one answered. She reached for the doorknob and turned it, hoping it was open, perhaps she could do some snooping if he wasn't there. Sam opened up the door and saw Manny lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood. She stepped closer to him, not taking notice she had left her footprint in the stream of blood. She could see he had been shot in the chest and his body lay lifeless. Leaving the door open, she quickly ran down the stairs and out the back door of the bar, ending up in the alley. She took a moment to calm herself before going back to the penthouse. Her mind racing of thoughts of who she saw and what she did over the past few hours, she knew Durant would point the finger at her or Jason. After all Manny had done to her, she knew she'd be on the top of the suspect list.

    As she ran down to the end of the alley, she could hear sirens in the distance. She quickly ran away from the scene and reached the penthouse in record time. As she rushed in the front door of the penthouse, Jason was waiting for her on the couch. He noticed something was wrong and began questioning her. She explained to him what she had found and that soon Durant would be at their door. Jason quickly tried to think of what to do next. It didn't take long before the PCPD was at their door asking questions and wanting to take them both down to the police station for further interrogation.

    *********************************

    Alexis and Ric still sitting at Kelly's in conversation was unaware of what was going on but was soon alerted as Alexis' cell phone rang. She flipped it open and answered it.

    "Sit tight, I'm on my way." she said and then flipped it closed again.

    "What happened?" Ric asked as Alexis gathered her things and than jumped from her seat.

    "I'll tell you on the way ... let's go." Before he could even get his jacket on, she was out the door.

    By the time Alexis and Ric arrived at the police station, Durant had Sam in handcuffs and she was being interrogated about Manny's murder. Alexis stepped up and took Sam's case without even thinking twice about what she was doing. Her daughter was in trouble and it was the least she could do after all that had happened between the two of them.

    She rushed into the interrogation room and put a stop to the questioning immediately. "My client has nothing more to say." she announced as she barged into the room.

    "But ..." Sam began.

    "No buts ... Mac, please can I have a few minutes with my client."

    "Sure ..." Mac replied and then left the room.

    "I didn't ask for you to come down here." Sam said sternly as Alexis took a seat across from her.

    "I know you didn't. Jason did. He's worried about you and he asked me down here as a favor."

    Sam looked up and saw Jason looking through the glass window of the interrogation room. She noticed the worry in his eyes and complied to having Alexis as her attorney.

    "Tell me what happened."

    "Durant says they have enough evidence to arrest me for killing Manny."

    "What kind of evidence?"

    "Apparently they have my fingerprints and foot prints at the scene or something."

    "Or something?" Alexis started to get worried herself. It was getting grim as Sam continued to tell her story.

    Alexis sat and listened to Sam, she knew she had to do something, or Durant would pin this murder on Sam, regardless if Sam was innocent. Alexis excused herself from the conversation and walked out into the squad room. Durant and Mac were huddled together as they discussed their next move. Alexis approached them and took a deep breath. She had to do it, they had enough substantial evidence to arrest her daughter for something she knew Sam wouldn't do. There was no time to think about it, she would do it for Kristina or Molly, she had to do it for Sam.

    "You have the wrong person in handcuffs." Alexis said calmly. Ric standing in close proximity he heard what she had said to Durant and Mac, and quickly reacted.

    "Alexis, no! You can't do this!" Ric bellowed as he rushed to her side.

    "I have to, Ric. I have to tell them the truth."

    "And what might that be, counselor?" Durant asked as Alexis wrung her hands as Ric stood by her side and worry came over him.

    This was not what he had planned, not at all. It wasn't suppose to happen like this. But what was he suppose to do. His wife about to confess to a crime she didn't commit to save her daughter who had been arrested for the same crime. He couldn't let Alexis do this, she had to think of Kristina and Molly. He had. Manny was a problem and he had to protect his family.

    "I killed Manny." Alexis blurted out.

    "Oh really." Durant said, not believing Alexis' abrupt confession.

    "Alexis think about what you're doing!"

    "Yes Alexis, think about what you're doing." Mac agreed.

    "I know what I'm doing. I killed Manny. I had no choice. He threatened my family, my children. I had to do something."

    "Well, Alexis, I don't believe you. You're covering for Sam. Any parent would. Their child is in trouble and their first instinct is to help them any way they can. Isn't that right?"

    "No, I'm not covering for Sam. I did it! I shot Manny in the chest! I killed him!" Alexis shouted wanting them to believe her.

    "Okay, okay. If you did it, where's the gun?"

    "The gun?" Alexis had to think quickly. She had to think of something to tell them about the gun. She stammered as she thought of a good story to tell them about what she did with the gun.

    "Yes, the gun. We didn't find one at the scene. It's the only key piece of evidence missing from the crime scene."

    As Alexis thought of a story, Ric could do only one thing. He left her side and laid his briefcase down on the desk next to him. He opened it up and his eyes quickly looked down inside the case, a 9mm staring up at him. The weapon the police were in search of, the weapon that he used to kill the bastard that was threatening his family. He stood in front of this briefcase for what seemed like a very long time contemplating on what options he had. He could only think of one.
  10. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 34



    Zander's hospital room --



    "Go on ...."

    "Sir, we found Greg at Morgan's place. I think he struck a deal with Morgan to get him out of town."

    "In exchange for what, Greg doesn't have anything worth while, Cory?"

    "He may not now, but maybe Greg's playing both sides of the fence. Look, Greg worked for you, he had access to every shipment that came into your warehouse. He had access to you and Emily, he had access to alot of information."

    "So what your saying is that Greg struck a deal with Morgan to take me out?"

    "Makes sense doesn't it?"

    "Yeah but Morgan wouldn't jeopardize Emily's welfare or her well being. I don't think it was Morgan who hit the cabin a few months ago, no, I think it was Lorenzo who hired Greg to do that job. And I also think that Greg screwed it up and Lorenzo gave him one more shot at me and Greg screwed that up too. No I think Morgan is Greg's latest accomplice. I think Greg and Lorenzo took the shots at me and the family. It's not Morgan's style. Don't get me wrong, Morgan will take you out if given the chance but he's more of a nuisance then a killer. He'll take shipments, burn down warehouses, plant car bombs, but shoot someone point blank, especially someone this close to his sister? I don't think so. No, what happened to Emily and I came directly for Lorenzo. Now whether or not Lorenzo hired Greg or Greg propositioned Lorenzo, it doesn't matter, their both to blame!"

    "Okay .... I just wanted to be sure you knew that Greg was found at Morgan's. Just be careful, sir. Morgan's unpredictable."

    "I'll be fine. You just go take care of Greg." Zander replied.

    He had a lot on his mind and had a lot to think about, what to do next was at the top of his list.

    "Frank!" Zander called from his hospital bed to his guard standing just outside the doorway.

    "Yes sir."

    "I want you and Marcus to get over to the warehouse right away, there will be trouble there tonight and I don't want anything to happen to the shipment!"

    "Yes sir ... what about guarding your room and your wife, sir?"

    "I'll call for replacements, just secure the warehouse."

    Frank left Zander's room and went to get Marcus. The two men rushed from the hospital to the warehouse to replace Cory and Wade.


    Outside the warehouse --

    Jason and two of his men, emerged from the shadows of the alley and broke into Zander's warehouse, to find the stacks of product that Greg spoke about. Jason's men counted each bag and gave Jason the number of bags that were left waiting for the picking.

    "I want this moved tonight! Zander in the hospital and by now he's occupied with Greg, I don't think we'll be disturbed." Jason said as he looked over the number of stacks that sat on palates before him.

    The two burly men with Jason, picked up and carried what they could in their arms, and then came back for more, as Jason stood and watched the product go passed him. He grinned a devilish grin when he realized what kind of deal he had just made with Greg. The shipment that he was taking from Zander would put Zander back quite a few million dollars. Certainly enough to make Zander think twice about being in the business he was in, and even more in a position to give up the territory that Jason had been wanting for a long time now.

    As Frank and Marcus arrived at the warehouse, they noticed the two limos parked out in the alley. "Morgan." Marcus parked the car near the warehouse, he and Frank would walk the rest of the way, he hoping to find Morgan in act of taking the product, giving good reason to kill the bastard. Marcus was not one for talking, he was one for action, and then asking the questions later.

    As the two men approached the warehouse, they were unaware that Morgan and his men had already left the warehouse by the back door and had escaped with the most of the shipment. Marcus and Frank taken by surprise when the warehouse just exploded in a ball of fire, knocking them both to the ground, unconscious.

    The flames of the explosion lit up the night sky in a pretty red amber, and they could be seen across town as they shot up into the air. Marcus coming to first, scrambled away from the flames, dragging Frank with him to safety. He reviving Frank, the two of them sat a distance from the burning building just watching as another one of Zander's warehouses went up in smoke. Marcus coughed feeling the smoke filling inside his lungs.

    "If Morgan wants a war, he's got one .. Zander is going to kill that son of a bitch!"
  11. SoapQueen89
    At the hospital --



    Meanwhile at the hospital, Jason still unconscious was wheeled out from the surgical wing and into a recovery area till he woke up.

    Monica emerged from the double doors and saw Elizabeth and Alan still sitting and waiting in the chairs outside the ICU. She approached cautiously, trying to think of the words she would tell Elizabeth. Jason's recovery would not be easy, nor will it be short term.

    Elizabeth looked up when she heard someone approach. "Is it over?" she asked as Monica sat down with her.

    "Yeah it's over. Jason's in the recovery area, he's still unconscious."

    "Is he going to be okay, did you get the bullet out?"

    Monica paused a moment with a worry in her eyes as Alan wrapped his arm around Elizabeth to steady her for the news Monica obviously had to tell her.

    "We got the bullet out, it was difficult but we got it, all of it. Now it's up to Jason. It's not going to be an easy road, but Jason's strong, he can handle what lies of ahead of him."

    Elizabeth wiped a tear from her eye as she listened to what Monica had to tell her. "When can I see him?" she asked.

    "Give him some time to rest, a few hours should be okay. Why don't you go home and some rest, you've been here all night, Elizabeth." Monica suggested as she looked towards Alan to offer something.

    "Why don't I drive you home, Elizabeth?" Alan offered and she looked up at him.

    "No thank you Dr. Quartermaine, I'll get Johnny to take me home. I guess there isn't much I can do here till Jason wakes up. But you will call me as soon as he does, right?"

    Monica stood up from her seat and removed her surgical mask from around her neck. "Sure, we will." Elizabeth felt the urge to give Monica a hug for all she did for Jason, she felt close to Jason's parents, even if Jason didn't. Monica surprised by the hug from her, but returned the embrace just the same.

    Alan and Monica watched Elizabeth walk somberly down the hallway towards the elevators. Alan reached for Monica and pulled her into him. He looked down at her ..."Come on .. I want to go see our son."




    At Ric's Office --


    Ric offered Zander a seat as they walked into the office and Ric closed the door behind them. Zander watched as his brother took a seat in the chair behind his desk.

    "So are you going tell me what this all about? Why do you need my help?" Zander asked still baffled by what was going on.

    "I need you to remember, Zander. I need you to remember all that happened that night, the night your father was killed."

    "Ric, I'm sorry, but I don't remember anything about that night." Zander replied without wanting to go back to that night.

    "Look, I know you a small boy, and I know that the night has probably haunted you years afterward but Zander, I need you to remember. You are the only one who can put Sonny at the crime scene."

    "I can't go back there, Ric. It took me a very long time to rid myself of those nightmares, and you're right, I had been haunted by the memories, and I finally got rid of them, Ric. I don't want them back!"

    Ric sighed heavily. "I'm sorry Zander, I need you to go back there. You don't get this do you? If we don't have you as a witness, we don't have Sonny on murder charges. It's that simple."

    Zander dreaded even the thought of remembering that night, but he knew he had to if he wanted to send his father's killer to prison.

    "Alright! I have to. What now?" Zander replied.

    "Now? Well, now we should get a statement of what you remember from that night."

    "Which isn't much. I told you Ric, I don't remember all of it. I was 8 .... how much do you expect me to remember after 15 years?"

    "I expect you to remember enough to send Sonny Corinthos to prison, Zander. If we need to, we can make an appointment with someone who can help you remember."

    "What, like shrink? You're kidding, right?"

    "No I'm not kidding. A professional can help you remember what you selectively forget."

    "So who's on tonight to take my statement. Let's get this over with." Zander sighed, he certainly wasn't ready for this but wanted to get this ordeal over with as soon as he could.

    Ric picked up the phone and dialed down to the clerks office for a transcriber, he had no luck at this hour. He pulled out a tape recorder from his desk and set it on top near Zander and turned it on.

    "Whenever you're ready." Ric said as he leaned back in his chair and waited for Zander to begin telling his story.

    Zander breathed in deeply, he concerned with reliving the past, but he had to if he wanted a conviction of his father's killer. "It was late, after midnight I think. I had gotten up and had gone downstairs to the kitchen. Mom always kept a special jug of milk in the refrigerator for me, she said it to help me go back to sleep, she called it the magic milk.

    Zander hesitated as more memories of that night came flooding back to him, "Anyway, I went down to the kitchen and I passed by the study and I noticed a light was on, nothing unusual in my house, dad always worked late. It was the topic of my parent's fights most of the time. I didn't hear anything, so I walked into the kitchen for the milk and then returned to my room. On my way back from the kitchen I heard voices. There were at least 2 voices arguing, so I pushed open the door just a little to see what was going on. I don't think any of the men saw me peeking in because the arguing continued. I don't know what they were talking about, but it was loud and my father was upset with them. It all happened so fast ...."

    Zander stopped. Ric sat up in his chair and reached for the tape recorder to turn it off. Zander's hand came up and stopped him. Ric backed off the recorder and Zander continued.

    "I remember hearing the shot and my father falling back in the chair, the men grabbed what they could from the room, they knew he kept lots of money in drawers of his desk. When they were done stuffing their pockets they came towards the door, and I hid. I didn't make a sound as I hid in the shadows and I watched them leave the study and walk out the front door of the house."

    "Who was the person you saw shoot your father, Zander? Who killed Frank?"

    Zander sat in the chair and became agitated. He tried so hard to forget that night, his mind and body not wanting to remember, he tried to shake off the feelings that had all rushed back and overwhelmed him. The fear, the sadness, the sense of loss, he sat in the chair and began to feel the sweat beads form on his forehead and he became uncomfortable in the chair.

    Ric asked him again .. "Zander, who was the man you saw shoot your father?"

    The answer Ric was asking was something that Zander never remembered, in his nightmares, he never saw the faces of the two men who were in the office that night with his father. He could of met the person on the street and never knew it. Images of that night flashed in Zander's head as he sat in his brother's office, but nothing that made sense to him enough to piece that night all together. The faces were blurry, he couldn't get the pictures to focus enough to see who they were.

    "I'm sorry, Ric. I don't know. I can't remember." Ric sighed and turned off the tape recorder.

    "It's okay, Zander. We'll try again another time."

    Ric got up from his desk and thanked Zander for trying. He had Sonny on other charges to keep him at least 36 hours, he'd give Zander a little time, if he pushed him too much, he may not be able to remember at all.

    Zander stared down Sonny as he walked back into the squad room, Sonny cuffed to a desk chair. Ric encouraged Zander to keep walking passed, that he didn't want any more problems with the case. Ric walked Zander out and then came back in to finish up the paperwork on Sonny's arrest.

    Zander walked down to the limo, Marcus was waiting for him. "Let's go, Emily I'm sure is waiting for me back at the cabin." he said to Marcus as he opened the back door for his boss.

    "Yes, sir." Marcus replied and then shut the door.

    Zander arrived at the cabin and he noticed a flicker of light in the living room. Marcus stopped the car and got out. He walked to the back of the car and left Zander out of the back seat.

    "Thanks Marcus, you can go back to town now." Zander instructed before walking up to the front door of the cabin.

    He peered in the window and saw Emily lounged on the couch in front of the fireplace. He unlocked the door and entered the cabin quietly trying not to wake her up. As he approached her, she awoke and saw him standing over her.

    "Zander, oh my God, I was so worried about you!" she said as she jumped up from the couch and latched onto him. "I'm sorry I had to rush off like that. I think there is something I need to tell you."



  12. SoapQueen89
    At the cabin --


    Zander laid with Emily in his arms till they both had fallen asleep on the overstuffed couch in front of the fireplace. She began to stir and woke up in Zander's arms. She quietly got up from the sofa and went up stairs to check on Devon, who had slept through night, surprisingly. Zander felt her get up off the sofa and he turned into the cushions waiting for her to return.

    Emily walked down the stairs and went back to the couch to check on her husband. She pulled the afghan up over him leaving him sleep a little while longer. She knew he was exhausted from the long night before, and he could use the extra rest without interruption.

    He heard her walking away after covering him up and called out to her. "Em...where you going?" he asked as he turned over.

    "I was going to let you get some sleep, you were so tired last night." she said as she came back towards him.

    "No I'm good...." he said groggily as he wasn't quite awake yet. She giggled cause she noticed she was right and he did need his rest.

    "Come here, lay with me." he asked as he reached for her hand to join him on the sofa.

    She looked up towards the upstairs thinking Devon would be okay for a little while longer, he was still asleep too. "Okay just for a few minutes. Devon will be up soon." she said as she took his hand and laid back down on the couch with him.

    He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him. He felt so content with her by his side, her body fit so right with his, just like the right piece that completed the puzzle.

    She didn't want to fall asleep with him, but she did. The sun filtered in through the windows and made funny shapes on the hardwood floor in the living area where they slept.

    They were awaken by the rapping on the cabin door, and Zander awoke with a start. He wondered who would be knocking, no one knew they were there but one other person. He and Emily got up off the sofa and went to the front door to answer it.

    Zander peered out the window as he pulled back the curtain and noticed someone he knew standing on the front porch. He went to open the door as Emily scurried to the kitchen to make some coffee.

    "Alexis ... what are you doing here? How did you know ..?" he greeted her and invited her inside the cabin.

    "Beautiful place, Zander." she said as she entered the cabin and walked around the first floor.

    "Thanks, but you didn't answer my question, Alexis. What are you doing here?"

    Alexis turned towards him ... "I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by." she managed a smile for him.

    He cracked a smile in return. "Seriously, Alexis. It must be something important for you to drive up here to talk with me, what's going on?" he asked as he turned away from her and walked into the living room. She followed him and took a seat that he offered her.

    Alexis looked up at him, as he stood next to her, she replied ... "What's going on is that we have 24 hours to come up with something to charge Sonny with or he's going home."


    "Alexis, what do you want me to do? I can't just force the memories to come into my head, ya know. It's going to take me longer then 24 hours to know for sure it was Sonny."

    "I know, Zander. I'm sorry for pressuring you like this. But it's important that we have all our angles covered, because right now, Sonny's attorney is not all too happy that we have him locked up on suspicion of murder."

    Emily emerged from the kitchen with a tray of coffee mugs and a decanter of fresh coffee.

    "I thought you guys might need some of this." she said as she sat down the tray on the coffee table. "Hi Alexis, how are you?" Emily greet their guest as Alexis smiled and pulled her into a hug.

    "I'll be better when I know I have a case against Sonny I can win." she glanced at Zander who was pouring some coffee into one of the mugs.

    "Yeah Zander told me all about it. I guess it's riding on him right now, isn't it?" Emily asked as she sat down on the couch.

    "Unfortunately, yes it is. What about talking with a professional?" Alexis suggested and Zander shot a glare towards her.

    "No shrinks, Alexis. I'll remember on my own, thank you." Zander objected.

    "Okay, no shrinks. I have to be getting back to town, now, but thanks for the coffee and conversation." Alexis said as she turned and walked towards the door.

    "Zander if you remember anything, even if it's the smallest detail, you call me. Okay?" she added as she turned around towards him.

    "I will Alexis, don't worry, you'll be the first person I'll call." Zander replied as Emily went to see their guest to her car.

    Alexis and Emily walked down to Alexis's car that was parked out in front of the cabin. "I don't know what to say Alexis, I don't know how to help him." Alexis eyes were filled with concern for she and Zander.

    "I know but pushing the issue isn't going to help him remember, he's going to remember when he's ready to. And all you can do is be there for him when he does. Because I have a feeling when he does remember, he's going to need you more then ever."

    Alexis pulled Emily into a hug and gave her a quick peck on the cheek goodbye. "Thanks for coming all the way up here, I know it's a ride from town." Emily appreciative of Alexis going out of her way to make sure they were alright. Alexis smiled and then got into her car.

    Emily turned back towards the cabin as Alexis turned the car around and headed back out the long dirt driveway. Emily made her way back into the house and closed the old wooden door of the cabin. When she stepped into the cabin she heard Devon's cries from upstairs. Zander so deep in thought, he didn't flinch at the sound of his son crying for them.

    Emily rushed up the stairs to comfort Devon and soon the crying had stopped. Emily emerged from upstairs with Devon in her arms as she came down the stairs with him in her arms. Devon's eyes were puffy and red from crying as his face lit up when he saw Zander sitting on the couch. Devon reached for his dad as Emily walked into the living room.

    "Would you watch him for a couple minutes till I get his breakfast ready?" Emily asked of Zander as she sat Devon down on the couch.

    "Yeah sure, go ahead, we'll be fine. Won't we?" Zander said as he picked his son up in his arms and fell back with him on the couch. Devon giggled. Zander laid down on the couch with Devon sitting on top of him. Devon watched as Emily disappeared into the kitchen and Zander bounced him up and down on him. Emily could hear Devon's giggles as she put together his breakfast.

    All seemed right with Zander and the family he loved so much, but the past was still lurking and just waiting for him to remember what he tried so hard to forget.



    At the hospital --


    Jason was getting stronger and stronger every day, and every day it was getting harder and harder to keep him in the bed. He didn't want to stay much longer in the hospital, he had had enough of the dismal place.

    "Okay, so when am I getting out of here?" he asked the duty nurse who was on that particular morning.

    "I don't know Mr. Morgan, I'll have to ask the attending physician on your case." she replied as she checked his vital signs for the third time that morning.

    "Okay, you go do that. I want to get out of here. I have a business to run and I can't run it from this hospital bed." he remarked as the duty nurse turned and walked out the door.

    "Well, you're feeling better I see." Elizabeth said as she stood in the doorway.

    "I do feel better and I want to go home, I can't take much more of this place." he replied and reached for her hand.

    Elizabeth knew she had to tell Jason about Sonny being arrested, it was all over the front page of the morning paper, he was bound to see it or hear someone talk about it. She went and sat down on the swivel stool next to his bed and he could see in her eyes something was on her mind.

    "What's wrong, Elizabeth?" he asked.

    "Something's happened, Jason. And I think I should tell you before you hear it from someone else." she replied.

    He could see that this was difficult for her to do, so he prepared himself to hear the worst. "What is it?" he asked again.

    "It's Sonny, Jason .... he's been arrested on suspicion of murder."



  13. SoapQueen89
    Jason's Penthouse --



    Even though Jason had been laid up from the shooting for weeks now, he was still on top of things that were going on in Port Charles, and what was happening with Zander and Emily. He wasn't happy at all about Sonny going to the county jail for 3 weeks till the trial and had his own plan ready to go into motion on his order. The only problem Jason had with his plans, was his sister getting caught in the crossfire.

    Elizabeth had gone shopping, like every Friday before. While she was out, he would take the first step in his plan, and that was finding where Zander had taken his family. Jason called a few of his contacts to see what he could find out about Zander's whereabouts, and he finally got a hit amongst a few of the misses.

    "I don't want you do to anything to him, you understand me? My sister is with him and I don't want her hurt. Just follow him and his driver Marcus. I want to know where Zander goes on a daily basis, if anywhere." Jason flipped closed his cell phone wondering if he should pay his sister a visit.

    He grabbed his jacket and his keys before heading for the door to leave. As he opened up the penthouse door, he found Emily on the other side ready to knock.

    "Hi." she said as his momentum almost pushed him into her.

    "Hi." he replied as he invited her inside.

    "I know I shouldn't be here, Jase. But I had to see you. Is Elizabeth home?"

    "No, she went on her regular Friday shopping ritual."

    "Oh, good. I came to see you about Zander."

    Jason wondered what she had swirling around in her mind. He closed the door and walked towards her. "What about?" he asked as he showed her a seat on the sofa.

    "I want you to promise me, Jason, that you won't come after Zander."

    Jason taken back by her request. "You know I can't promise you something like, Em." he replied, her eyes filled with disappointment.

    "Look, I know things between you and Zander are to say the least .. strained. But can't you do this for me, Jase. At least till this trial mess is over with."

    "Em, your husband sent my best friend and partner to prison and he's going to testify at Sonny's trial! How can I not retaliate?" Jason stood up and walked away from her.

    "I know, but Sonny is Zander's father, how would Sonny feel if you hurt his child, Jason?!" she threw the only card she had left at him, hoping for some sympathy.

    "Don't you dare use that with me Em! Zander is not the victim here!" he snapped back.

    "How can you say that, Jason .. of course he is! He's spent years of his life trying to forget all the hurt and pain that Sonny and Frank caused him, and now that the secrets are out, he's still living the nightmare! Zander is so the victim here!" she shouted back at her brother.

    "Okay, I'm sorry, Em. I'm not that unfeeling for Zander's pain and hurt but he's putting Carly and her children through their own nightmare, they have lost Sonny for God knows how long! How are they suppose to deal with this situation?" Jason asked as Emily got up from her seat and went to him.

    "I know this is a bad situation for everyone involved. And I am sorry that Carly and her boys have to endure it as well, but dammit Jason, can't you just see passed it and let it go. Stop it before it gets way out of hand and someone else gets hurt!" Emily replied hoping she was making some sense to Jason.

    "Look, I can't guarantee anything ... our lives don't come with guarantees or promises." he replied as she cracked a smile.

    "Thank you." she replied as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

    "You be sure to tell your husband, that after this is all over, it's back to business and then those promises are null and void." he threatened.

    Emily walked towards the door, feeling a little better then when she had arrived. "I'll tell him." she smiled as he opened the door for her and she stepped out into the hallway.

    "I'll tell Elizabeth you stopped by." he said before saying goodbye to Emily and closing the door.



    Elevator Leading to the Parking Garage --


    Emily stepped onto the elevator and pushed the button to go down, Marcus was waiting for her in the parking garage to take her back to the cabin. But she thought before she'd go back, she do a little shopping while she was in town. She quickly called Zander and left him know that she was going to shop for a little while and that she'd be back before dark.

    The elevator came to a stop on the parking garage floor, and the doors opened up for her. She stepped out and noticed the limo was parked there waiting, but she didn't see Marcus. She called for him a few times, but he didn't answer. As she walked around the car she got the uneasy feeling she was being watched and it scared her considerably. She quickly became aware of her surroundings and reached inside her bag for her cell phone. When she flipped it open she realized she had no service inside the garage and it did her no good to call Zander.

    She reached the back end of the limo and the back door flew open. It startled her so, she jumped back and heard a voice from inside demanding her to get in the car. Her heart began to race faster and faster and she froze where she stood, her feet firmly planted to the cement floor. Her eyes widened when the person the voice was attached to emerged from the back seat of the limo.

    "I think it would be in your best interest to get inside the car, Mrs. Smith." the tall and distinguished man said as he held the door open for her.

    "I'm not going anywhere till you tell me who you are and what this is all about?!" she demanded as the man scowled at her.

    The man pulled a 9mm from the back of his waistband and pointed it at her discreetly. "Now, I don't think you would like what your other option is." he replied with no emotion.

    She slowly walked around the door and got in as she was told. "What did you too Marcus?" she asked as she sat down in the back seat with the stranger.

    The stranger ignored her question as he closed the door, still holding on to his gun and pointing directly at Emily. "All I want to do is talk with you, Mrs. Smith. There's no reason to be alarmed."

    "No reason to be alarmed? You are pointing a loaded weapon in my direction and forced me inside this car with you, and I don't even know who you are or what you want!"

    The stranger sat back against the cushion of the seat and laid the gun on the seat beside him. Her eyes watched as he carefully laid his hand on top of the weapon, though not in his hand anymore, it still was very much threatening.

    "So who are you and what do you want from me?" she asked again as the stranger stared at her, he was like studying her every feature making sure he remembered every inch.

    "My name is Damien Smith and I want you to take me to see my nephew."



  14. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 16


    Zander's Warehouse --



    "Dammit!" he scolded as the other officers came running to assist him.

    "What do you want to do know, sir?" one of the officers spoke up as they watched the dust fly in the air from the limo.

    "What I want is Zander! And I will bet you anything he was in that damn car!" Ric replied frustrated that his brother was one step ahead of him. "I want an APB out on Zander and all of his vehicles, including the jet! I want him in custody within 24 hours! He has some explaining to do!" Ric barked at the officers who then scattered back to the cars to get started on catching the suspect.

    As Ric stood in front of the warehouse, the cell phone in his pocket began ringing. He reached in and flipped it open to answer it.

    "Lansing." Ric answered.

    "I'm sorry Ric I had to do that." the voice replied, Ric knowing it was Zander on the other end.

    "Where the hell are you?!" Ric demanded to know.

    "I can't tell you, I'm sorry Ric but I'm doing this my own way."

    "Zander! I can't let you do that! ..." Ric's words drifted off when he heard he was talking to dead space. Zander had hung up on him.

    "Dammit, Zander!" he scolded to the cell phone as he felt the urge to throw it out of anger and frustration.

    Ric, heavy footed strutted over to the unmarked police car and ordered for other units to get down to the warehouse and confiscate everything inside, including the shipments and the files. He wanted everything. While Zander was playing by his rules, Ric was going to be playing his.



    Zander wasn't about to run, not with Emily still in the hospital and their baby's life at risk. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and called Ric back.

    "Lansing." Ric answered.

    "Ric .. cleaned out my warehouse yet?" Zander replied but didn't get a chuckle out of Ric.

    "Actually, yes I have Zander." Ric said bluntly.

    "You didn't!"

    "Zander you left me no other choice." Ric replied.

    "Meet me at the cabin .... and leave the officers at home." Zander instructed.

    "Zander, I don't take orders from you, I'm not an employee of yours .... I'm your brother!"

    "Yeah my brother who just happens to be the District Attorney. You'll meet me at the cabin, if you want to catch the person who has reeked havoc on your city, Ric."

    Zander flipped his phone closed and Thomas drove Zander to the cabin to wait for Ric.



  15. SoapQueen89

    WICKED: Episode 43

    By SoapQueen89,

    EPISODE 43

    Emily's Hospital room ---


    "What about Jason?" "He's being tended to here at the hospital. He's going to be charged with a whole list of felonies, I'm sure. And ... Lorenzo, he's dead. Marcus ...."

    "He saved your ass didn't he?"

    "Yeah he did. I owe him."

    "I owe him too ..." she replied and pulled him to her in an embrace, but not before she gave him a kiss, thankful he was alive.

    "I love you so much, Zander ...."

    "I love you too."

    Zander pulled back from her noticing he was bleeding from the patch on his shoulder and he didn't want to get any on her. "I'm going to have my shoulder checked out. Are you going to be okay here by yourself for a little while?" he asked concerned for her.

    "Yeah I'll be fine. Go get checked out. I'll feel a lot better once you do."

    He walked towards the door and turned his head back towards her. He gave her wink and then made a quick escape out the door. She laid back against the pillows and smiled.

    It was over, finally. Lorenzo was dead, Jason would be behind bars, they were no longer in danger. They could finally go back to living a normal life, as normal as the life they led would allow. The future was looking a lot better then it had, and she sighed as the stress she was feeling began to disappear. She could finally concentrate on the family and the new addition that would be making his appearance real soon.



    In the ER --

    Zander sat on the end of the hospital gurney waiting for someone to tend to his gunshot wound. The gauze bandages that were wrapped around his upper arm were soaked with blood, the bleeding hadn't stopped. He could hear familiar voices coming from the other side of the drawn curtain, and as he waited, he was startled when the curtain was pushed back. He was surprised to see Mac standing there and his expression shown his discontent.

    "What do I owe this pleasure, Commissioner?" Zander asked as Mac stepped towards him.

    "I heard you had an eventful night?" Mac remarked as Zander reached his hand up and applied pressure to the wound in his arm.

    "This? Just a scratch." Zander remarked about his bullet wound.

    "Looks like a bullet wound to me. Care to tell me how you got it?"

    Before Zander could answer Mac's question, someone else did it for him. "No he doesn't." Alexis said as she stepped forward.

    Zander relieved to see her, he figured she'd be along any time, Ric was bound to call her, at least he had hoped. Alexis stepped towards Zander and stood next to him. She glanced at Zander to reassure him she was there to help him and that he shouldn't worry.

    "My client has nothing to tell you, Mac."

    "It would be in your client's best interests to explain what happened right here, or do you want me to drag him down to the police station?"

    "Mac, the man is hurt, can't we get him looked at first?" Alexis pointed out to the Commissioner.

    "Oh right, the scratch. Yeah get him looked at and to make sure his next stop is the police station, I'll just leave a few officers outside to make sure he gets there." Mac replied before leaving and drawing the curtain closed the way he found it.

    Alexis waited till Mac left, then turned her attention to Zander. "What happened this time?"

    "Didn't Ric tell you?"

    "No, Ric didn't tell me .. why don't you tell me." she ordered as she looked over at his blood soaked bandage.

    Zander about to tell Alexis what happened, but he was interrupted. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Zander." Bobbie said as she pulled back the curtain and stepped towards him with a metal tray in her hand.

    "I'll wait outside for you." Alexis excused herself and stepped out to wait for him.

    Bobbie tended to Zander's wounds and stitched it. She re-wrapped his arm and then cleaned up the mess she had made as he slid off the end of the gurney and thanked her. "You shouldn't have any trouble with it, but if you do, just come back and see us, okay?"

    "Thanks Bobbie. I'm sure it will be fine." Zander smiled and stepped out, only to be met with two police officers. Alexis came up to him quickly to save him from the officer's clutches.

    "May I talk to you a minute." Alexis smiled as she took a hold of Zander's arm and whisked him away from the officers.

    "I guess we should talk, huh?"

    "Yes we should if you want me to defend you in whatever kind of mess you're in now." Alexis replied.

    Alexis and Zander sat down in the waiting area as the officers looked on. "It's complicated." Zander answered as he and Alexis sat down on the couch together.

    "Well, why don't you try to explain it to me."




  16. SoapQueen89
    Judge Cooper's Chambers --



    "It's nice to meet you, Emily .... I'm Elenore." Zander's mother replied as she extended her hand to Emily.

    "I wish I could say that I've heard a lot about you, but Zander's been pretty quiet about his family over the years." Emily smiled.

    "It's okay, dear. I have my boys with me now and of course a new family with you and my grandchild, we can start anew and forget about the past." Elenore proclaimed.

    "I'm sure your sons would like that very much, as would I and Devon."

    "Good." Elenore replied and then looked at Ric. "How did the case go?"

    "The judge is in deliberations. It may be a while. He has a lot of testimony and evidence to review." Ric replied as the two boys huddled together with their mother.

    "How soon do you have to return?" Zander asked, his mind already thinking of an option to keep his mother a little longer in Port Charles.

    "I don't really know Alex. But I can't be away for very long, the danger is still out there." she replied and wondered what he had working in his mind.

    "Zander, I have an idea ..." Emily spoke up.

    "I hope your thinking of what I'm thinking, sweetheart."

    "I'm sure that I am .... why don't she come stay with us for a while. A few days perhaps." Emily suggested and Elenore became worried about bringing more danger to her son and his family.

    Zander pulled Emily to him and kissed her as a thank you for thinking of her idea.

    "And don't worry about the danger, Emily and I are staying at one of the safe houses right now, it wouldn't be any trouble at all to have another guest. There's plenty of room."

    Elenore looked at Ric and then at Zander and Emily's smiling faces. "I would have to clear this with the proper authorities first." Ric said wanting to do this by the book.

    "Okay, you go clear the red tape and I'll have one of the men take mom and I back to the cabin, Marcus can take Emily to pick up Devon at the Quartermaine's. You can meet us later and let us know what you've been able to accomplish." Zander suggested to Ric.

    Elenore became excited to know she'd be spending some time with her family and she would be able to see for the first time her grandson, she was anxious to have some quality time with her sons.

    Zander pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket and called one of his men, then he'd call Marcus.

    "Thomas, I need you to pick me up at the courthouse." Zander ordered. "And let's do the pickup on the side street, we have a delicate package come with us." he added as he winked at his mom.

    He hung up with Thomas and then called his other driver, Marcus to pick up Emily. He made the arrangements and closed his cell phone before stuffing it back in his suit jacket pocket. Zander stepped out into the hallway and held the door open for the rest of them, Ric heading towards his office after saying his goodbyes, while the others went to the side exit and waited for Thomas and Marcus to pick them up.

    Marcus was waiting for Emily as soon as they arrived at the side exit. Zander kissed her goodbye and assisted her into the back of the limo. "I'll see you back at the cabin." he said before he closed the door and then Marcus whisked Emily away.

    "She's even more beautiful in person Alex. You make me very proud." Elenore said and she kissed his cheek.

    It was the first time he could remember hearing that from either of his parents. All he's ever wanted was to have his parents proud of him and proud of what he had accomplished. He could finally say that his life was now complete.


  17. SoapQueen89

    CUFFS - Episode 3

    By SoapQueen89,

    "Keys ... this is Lucky Spencer. He and I know each other from way back." Zander said as he introduced his partner to his friend. "Lucky, this is my partner Jack Keys." Lucky shook hands with Keys and gave a confused look to Zander.

    "Partner?" he questioned with a grin.

    "Oh, sorry. I'm a Detective now with the Miami - Dade County police department. Jack's my partner." Lucky chuckled.

    "Oh, okay. Nice to meet you, Jack." Keys shook hands with Lucky and smiled.

    "Nice to meet you too. Boy, Zander, you didn't tell me you knew everyone in this town." Zander smirked.

    "Trust me, you haven't met everyone yet."

    "So what are you doing back?" Lucky asked as LuLu came back in and handed Zander the file he needed.

    "Keys and I are here investigating a case. Lorenzo Alcazar." he replied as he handed Keys the case file.

    "Lucky was working on the case we had against Lorenzo, that's why I asked him in. I was hoping the three of you could work together on this." Mac explained as he turned around when he heard another knock at the door.

    "Some things never change." Zander chuckled as he noticed who was standing in the doorway.

    "Come on in Alexis." Mac said as he approached her.

    "Sure come on in and join the reunion." Lucky said as he stepped out of the way of Alexis as she approached Zander.

    She embraced him lovingly and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "It's good to see you, Zander." she said as Keys stood next to him staring at the beautiful woman who graced his presence.

    "And who is this lovely woman?" he asked as he took Alexis's hand.

    "Keys, this is Alexis Davis." Zander said as his partner caressed her hand in his.

    "Keys?" Alexis said as she glanced back to Zander.

    "You call me Jack." Keys said as he stood admiring her.

    "Nice to meet you .. Jack. I'm Alexis Davis." she said with a smile.

    "This is our DA." Mac pointed out as he stood among them.

    Alexis and Jack got acquainted as did Zander and Lucky, it had been a long time since Zander had been in Port Charles, there was alot of catching up to do.

    "I hate to do this to you guys, but I'd like my office back." Mac chuckled as he tried to chase everyone out.

    "Okay, we get the hint. As soon as we find anything, we'll let you know." Zander said as they all headed towards the door.

    "I want updates on a daily basis." he said as he pointed to Zander and Lucky in particular.

    "You got it boss." Lucky remarked with a smirk as they headed out the door.

    "Have you guys eaten yet? I'm starved." Zander and Keys looked at each other and felt the hunger set in.

    "Yeah, you know of a good place to eat around here?" Jack asked as they made their way back towards the squad room. "Sure do, how's Kelly's sound?" he said as he slapped Zander on the back of his shoulder.

    "I'll catch up with you later, Zander. Okay?" Alexis said as she headed down the other hallway.

    "I'll call you." Zander, Jack and Lucky walked through the squad room and out the front door of the PCPD.

    "Kelly's?" Jack asked. "What is a Kelly's?"

    Zander tugged at Jack's jacket. "Come on, you're about to find out."
  18. SoapQueen89
    The Penthouse --


    Emily came down the back stairs with her bags in hand and dropped them on the floor at the bottom of the stairs. She noticed he was in deep thought about something and went to him.

    "Are you okay? What's wrong?" she asked as she stood there next to him caressing his back with her hand.

    "I just got reamed out by my older brother." he said with a blank face.

    "Well did you deserve it?" she giggled, not knowing why he was given the third degree by Ric.

    "I don't know if I deserved it or not but it surely gave me something to think about while we're away." he replied as he reached up with his hand and rubbed it against his scruffy chin.

    "While we're away? I thought just Devon and I were going?" she questioned.

    "No, I think it best we all go together, I'm going to make arrangements to stay at the safe house till all this blows over. Besides, I'm suppose to take it easy, remember?" he smiled at her and pulled her into his arms. She sighed against him relieved that he was coming with them.

    "Why don't we get Marcus to put the bags in the car, we'll go pick up Devon at the estate and we'll leave town right away." A big smile came to her face when she heard that from him.

    "Okay." She went and picked up the bags from the floor and took them out to the living room and set them by the door.

    Emily opened the door to find Cord standing guard and asked him to call up Marcus to take the bags down to the car, they'd be leaving in a few minutes to go pick up Devon, as soon as Zander got dressed and ready to go. As Zander walked up the back stairs to the bedroom all that was on his mind was what his brother said to him. After thinking about it a little while, he realized Ric was right. This was too much of a risk for him to take with his wife and child. He had to find another way to bring Sonny down and to hold on to the territory he had inherited from his family. He reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He flipped it open and dialed one of his contacts.

    "Hey, it's Zander. Listen I want you to call off everything we talked about. Why? Just do it!" he flipped close the phone and stuck it back in his pocket.

    He grabbed a few extra things from his dresser that he needed and headed down the stairs to meet Emily who was waiting.

    "All set?" he asked and she nodded. "Marcus is bringing the car around." she replied as Cord stood with Emily just outside the doorway.

    "Cord, I need you here all the time, 24/7 .. if not you then someone else. I don't want this place left alone for one second. Got that?" Cord nodded in agreement with his boss as the elevator doors opened and Marcus appeared.

    "Car is waiting for you, sir." Marcus said as he approached the penthouse.

    "We'll be at the safe house till all this blows over, I will call you with any more instructions." Zander filled his guards in as the elevator waited for them. Marcus followed and boarded the elevator with his boss and Emily.

    "We're going to the estate to pick up Devon, then we're going to the safe house .... the mountain cabin." Marcus nodded in acknowledgement as the elevator came to a stop and they all got off on the parking garage floor of the hotel. Zander didn't want anyone to know that he and his family had left town, it was business as usual.

    Zander and Emily climbed into the car and Marcus climbed into the drivers seat. Marcus started the car and drove out onto the street, heading the car towards the Quartermaine estate. It didn't take them but a few minutes to get there and soon they were driving up the long maple lined drive towards the house. Once stopped Emily got out of the car and went inside to get Devon.



    The Quartermaine's --


    Reginald met her at the door and she went inside.

    "Hi Reginald. I came to get Devon. Can you go see if he's ready for me?" Reginald said he would and went up the staircase to the nursery, while Emily stood and waited for him in the foyer.

    The house was quite, she assumed everyone was either at work or not home, till it erupted in the living room. Shouting, yelling and anger could be heard from the living room close by. She knew she didn't want to get into that argument, so she stayed put in the foyer and waited for Reginald to return with her son.

    She looked up at the top of the stairs and saw Reginald carrying Devon down in his arms. She met him half way and took Devon from him.

    "He was just put down for a nap, and I see he's still sleeping for you." Reginald said as he handed Emily her son.

    "Thanks Reginald. Tell mom and dad that I'll be gone for a while. I'll get word to them when I'll be back, cause right now I'm not sure." she whispered hoping not to wake Devon who looked so peaceful.

    "I'll tell them. We'll miss you." Reginald replied with sentiment as he opened the door for her and saw a limo waiting to whisk them away.

    The family heard the front door and hurried out to the foyer to see who came to visit. Reginald closed the door and went about his business, not telling them that Emily had just left.

    "Reginald?! Who was just here?" Alan said as he watched Reginald head for the staircase.

    "Emily, she came and picked up Devon. And she left a message for you. She said she was going away for a while, and that she'd get word to you when she'd be returning, she wasn't sure right now." Monica and Alan knew things were getting dangerous if Zander had taken Emily and Devon out of town. Worry and concern for them set in and Monica turned to Alan for comfort.

    "Don't worry, Zander's with her, he'll keep her and Devon safe." Alan said trying to soothe Monica's fears.

    "That deviant has never kept that poor child safe, in all the years they have known each other!" Edward bellowed.

    The family returned a unanimous "Shut up, Grandfather!" .. he stomped off in a huff.

    Alan looked down at Monica in his arms and said .... "Don't listen to him, they'll be alright, I'm sure Zander has a plan."



    The safe house --


    Zander and his family reached the safe house which was set deep into the forests someplace in New York state. Marcus drove the car up the longest drive Emily had ever seen and then stopped in front the most quaint log cabin with a wrap around front porch. Marcus got out of the car and went to open up the door for Zander and his wife. Emily unbuckled Devon and scooped him up in her arms as Zander and Marcus unloaded the trunk of their bags.

    Emily's eyes widened as she looked over the cabin from the car. "Wait till you see the inside." Zander teased as he and Marcus led the way to the front door. Emily gawked at the landscape that welcomed her and her family.

    "Zander, it's breathtaking." she remarked as he opened the front door with the key from his pocket. He pushed the old wooden door open and stepped inside. He dropped the bags he was carrying and went to enjoy the reaction from Emily as she stepped inside the log cabin.

    Her eyes widened even further as she walked into the the quaintly decorated cabin, with Devon in her arms. "Welcome to you home for as long as you'd like to stay." Zander said as he took Devon from her so she could go explore the house she so anxiously wanted to see. It was like letting loose a child in the a candy store. She was in awe of everything that decorated the cabin.

    Zander had Marcus take the bags up stairs to the master bedroom while, he tried to follow Emily from room to room as she explored every inch of the place. She ended the tour of the house in the living room area, as she entered the room, the large stone fireplace drew her attention.

    "Oh Zander, it's beautiful." she remarked about the fireplace as she went up to it and her fingers glided across the stone.

    She overjoyed with the accommodations Zander provided for her, she took a seat on the overly stuffed sofa and invited him and Devon to join her. Marcus came down the stairs had taken the bags upstairs to the master suite, Emily then realized there was an upstairs she hadn't seen yet. She jumped up from her seat with a smile on her face and rushed past Marcus as Zander laughed at her enthusiasm.

    "Thanks Marcus. I'll be in touch." Zander said as he walked Marcus out to the front porch. He turned and came back into the cabin, Devon still in his arms, he closed the wooden door behind him and then peered up the steps to hear if Emily was still exploring.

    "Oh my God, Zander! This is just wonderful." she said as she came down the stairs towards him.

    "Well I'm glad you like it." he said as he followed her into the living room once more.

    "Like it? I love it! How long can we stay here?" she giggled.

    "As long as you want, sweetheart." he replied and pulled her in for a kiss.

    All their worries had seemed to disappear the minute they stepped foot in the cabin. No more stress, no more worries about who was coming after them next, all the danger concerns were gone.

    Devon sat on Zander's lap and Emily noticed a little yawn and his droopy eyelids as he began to drift off to sleep. "I think someone has had too much excitement for one day." she giggled as she brushed her finger against his chubby cheek.

    Zander picked him up in his arms and turned Devon into his chest, holding him against his shoulder. Devon relaxed against his dad's shoulder as Zander took him up the stairs to the extra bedroom. A crib sat waiting for the sleeping toddler, as Zander laid down Devon gently. He laid his son on his back and gently rubbed his fingers in circles on Devon's tummy. Emily stood in the door way of the room and watched on, bringing a smile to her face as she was witness to the most beautiful moment between a father and a child. Zander leaned on the railing and watched as Devon fell to sleep.
  19. SoapQueen89
    At the hospital --


    Another week had passed and Zander was finally ready to be released from the hospital. Emily and Devon had been playing in the waiting room for about an hour before Monica came to get them.

    "Hey, there's my big boy!" she said to Devon as she approached him. He looked up, smiled and reached for the person he knew as grandma. She picked him up in her arms and kissed him on his cheek, just hugging the stuffing out of him. Emily collected Devon's toys laying on the table in front her and put them back in the diaper bag that sat next to her on the floor.

    "So can I take Zander home?" Emily asked as she zipped the bag closed. Monica was admiring how big Devon was getting, as he took hold of the stethoscope around her neck.

    "Oh, yeah, sweetie. Just a few more minutes." her mom replied as Alan approached them. Alan came up behind Monica and smiled at Devon. He smiled at his grandpa and reached for him.

    "Oh come here." he said as he held out his hands to his grandson.

    "Hi sweetie, you guys here to pick up Daddy." he said to the young toddler.

    "Yes dad we are, if we can get all the paper work in order." Emily noticed a volunteer pushing her husband in a wheel chair around the corner and headed towards them. "Finally." she exclaimed as she hurried to him. She embraced him as her parents and Devon approached.

    Alan was carrying Devon in his arms and his face just lit up when he saw his daddy for the first time in over a week. He reached for him wanting to sit with Zander on the wheel chair. Alan passed Devon to his father as Emily signed the last piece of paperwork for Zander's release. She turned back towards her family and took the bag from her mother and hung it on her shoulder.

    "How's Jason?" she asked as she heard Zander and Devon giggling behind her.

    "Jason's going to be fine, a few more days in the hospital to rest, he should be good as new." her mom replied just as the beeper she had in pocket began to beep.

    She reached in her pocket and checked the message. "I gotta go, I will call you later, sweetheart." she gave Emily and Devon kisses on their cheeks before she raced to the emergency that called her away. Alan signed the release papers and Zander was free to go.

    "Can I go home now?" Zander asked as Emily took Devon from him.

    "Yes you can, but I wouldn't try to do too much for the next couple of days, take it easy, okay." Alan replied as he saw his son in law was anxious to go home.

    "He'll take it easy, believe me." Emily replied as she reassured her father that Zander would not strain himself once he got home.

    The volunteer wheel Zander to the elevator and pushed the button to go down. Emily held Devon in her arms and they entered the elevator as Alan watched from the nurse's station, he waved and Devon waved in return. Alan smiled at his grandson as the elevator doors slid shut.



    Zander and Emily's Penthouse --


    The limo pulled up outside their apartment building and shut off the engine. Emily gathered Devon's things and climbed out of the car. Their driver, Marcus, opened Zander's door and assisted him from the car. Emily released Devon from his car seat and scooped him up into her arms as Zander leaned on Marcus and walked towards the door of the building. Emily grabbed the bag and followed them thru the automated sliding glass doors and towards the elevators. Zander left Marcus know that he and his family would be okay, and Marcus could tend to the limo. Marcus followed the instructions his boss gave him as Zander and his family entered the elevator, the door slid shut as Emily pushed the button for the top floor.

    The doors slid open when it reached it's destination, and Zander cautiously stepped out into the hallway of the 19th floor. Cord was standing guard outside their penthouse and came to assist his boss and the family. Emily opened the door of their apartment and went inside as Zander talked a few minutes with Cord just outside the doorway. Cord nodded in acknowledgment and Zander came inside. Emily unloaded her shoulder as she dropped the diaper bag on the floor and carried Devon to the couch. She took a seat next to him and unzipped his jacket. Zander slowey moved towards them stopping for a minute to take a look at the papers laying on his desk.

    "Oh no .. no work, you are suppose to rest, remember?" Emily said as she quickly picked up Devon and hurried towards her husband who was reading what the papers contained.

    "I was just reading, geezsh!" Zander replied as Emily's hand flipped closed the folder and then grabbed his hand wanting him to follow her. He reluctantly followed, wanting so badly to throw himself back into work, against doctor's orders.

    Emily was ready to place Devon into the playpen but Zander couldn't resist reaching for his son as he sat down on the couch. Devon smiled at his dad as Zander took him into his arms and sat him on his lap.

    "You have grown so big ..." he said to the toddler as he ran his hand over the toddler's thin black hair.

    Emily just smiled at knowing she finally had her family all together again. She loved to watch Zander and Devon, they were a lot alike, in so many ways. Devon had Zander's eyes, he had Zander's hair, he definitely had Zander's strong will and stubbornness, he certainly was father's son, no doubt.



    Later that same night -- Zander and Emily's Penthouse


    The darkness fell on Port Charles, as Zander watched over Emily and Devon drifting off to sleep on their queen sized bed. He scooped his son up in his arms and slowly walked with him to the nursery across the hall. He placed his son in the mahogany crib and rubbed his tummy in small circles trying to soothe him back to sleep. Zander kept his balance by leaning against the crib, and quickly turned as he heard the soft footsteps creep up behind him. Emily stood in the doorway and watched a few precious father and son moments from afar.

    "Hey ...." Zander whispered as she approached.

    "I thought you were asleep?" he asked as she walked closer to him.

    "And I thought you were suppose to rest?" He pulled her close to him in a loving embrace and gently kissed her.

    Devon was sleeping soundly as they left the nursery and walked across the hall to their bedroom, Emily went to turn down the bed as Zander followed. She walked to the other side of the bed and turned down the blankets, and removed her silk robe and slippers. She climbed into bed and watched him slowly removed his navy blue robe revealing the white gauze bandages around his waist that hid the results of the worst fear that had come true.



    Outside Harborview Towers --

    Meanwhile, Detective Steele kept watch on the front door of the apartment building from his car across the street. Unbeknownst to him, he was being watched from afar.



  20. SoapQueen89
    At Ric's Office --


    While Zander and Emily were safely away at the mountain cabin, Ric was on the case of Detective Steele. He too was curious as to why Steele was focusing the investigation on his brother. He had made a few phone calls to contacts he had in Florida to get more information about the murder case Steele was digging into.

    "Look, I know you don't have much information about this case, but I need to find out more information then what I do have." Ric ordered as he spoke with someone in the DA's office in Miami on the phone. "Yes I know this is a 15 year old case, but ..." he just seemed to be getting doors slammed in his face at every corner. No one was talking or they didn't have the information he needed. This case was closed up tighter then a drum, which made him wonder why, what was so top secret about this 15 year old murder case. It just didn't make any sense to him.

    As he sat frustrated in his office, there was a knock on his office door.

    "Come in!" he barked from behind his desk. Detective Steele peered in as he opened the door to Ric's office.

    "Bad night counselor?" Steele said as he pushed the door open and saw Ric sitting behind his desk.

    "Yes it has been and I should be home, but I'm not, I'm here working on a case at 2am in the morning. What can I do for you Detective Steele?" Ric was not at all happy with Steele and this was just the wrong night for him to come calling and fishing for information.

    "I have it on good authority that your brother and his wife skipped town, is this true?" Steele asked as he stepped towards Ric's desk.

    "I have no idea what you are talking about, Steele." Ric replied as he closed the folder he was reading closed, weary of Steele.

    "It seems kind of funny that this investigation finally can bring your brother some closure on his father's death and he's conveniently out of town with his wife, don'tch ya think?" Steele replied as Ric got up from behind and his desk and walked towards him.

    Ric pushed Steele down in the leather chair behind him and said ...."Well since you are just source of information, why don't you sit down and tell me all you know."


    Steele sat down hard in the leather chair and Ric sat on the edge of his desk glaring at the person who was about to tell him all about a murder that so obviously included his younger brother. "I want to know what you know Steele. And I want to know right now." Ric said calmly as his insides were ready to knock the smug look off Steele's face.

    "Alright. I'll tell you all I know." Steel replied as he reached into his jacket pocket for the small tablet he had been writing things down on while investigating the case.

    "I'm listening." Ric said as he got up and went to sit down in his leather chair behind the desk.

    "15 years ago, your brother's father was the head of an organization that powered over just about the entire eastern seaboard, including some territory here in Port Charles. His right hand man, though a young, was aggressive and wanted more then what was offered to him, by his boss. In the end, the boss was dead and the young man was never found, obviously skipping town, and the country to evade prosecution. It never was truly proven that the young right hand man did the deed, it was suspected enough to have charges waiting for him once he was found." Steele explained.

    Ric sat and listened but it still didn't tell him how Zander was involved in this, he was only 8 when this murder happened, how much would an 8 year old know about his father's business. "And how does Zander tie into all this...?" Ric asked.

    "I'm getting to that ...." Steele said and then continued. "From what we know, Zander was witness to this and when investigators talked with him, he couldn't tell them anything. Shock, I guess."

    "So now you expect him to remember? After 15 years? If he couldn't tell them anything back then, I'm sure he's blocked out the memory of it by now. What happened to the young suspect? Ever find him?" Ric inquired hoping Steele could give him something to go on.

    "Actually I think I'm closer then any of the others who have taken on this case." Steele piqued Ric's curiousity.

    "And .. where is he? There's no statute of limitations on murder, he can still hang for this." Ric said as Steele flipped through his black notebook.

    "According to what I have, the young suspect apparently ran to his family in Puerto Rico and had been underground for some time there. He had gotten in the business there and built his own organization in the islands before bringing it to shore and building it up in the states. As far as I can tell, he's as powerful now as he's ever been, owning most of the important inlets and outlets of the eastern seaboard." Steele described someone sounding very familiar to Ric, but he couldn't be sure.

    "So have you found him?! You found the man who murdered Zander's father?" Ric asked again as Steele looked up from his notebook.

    "You're not going to like it. Cause he's been right underneath your nose for the last 10 years." Steele grinned.

    "Steele, I hate riddles, just tell me who I can go arrest for this 15 year old murder." Ric getting impatient now with Steele.

    Steele grinned smuggly .. "The man's name is Sonny Corinthos."



  21. SoapQueen89
    Episode #1



    Late Night - at the safehouse cabin --


    The rain pounded hard against the windows and the thunder rolled across the midnight sky as Zander sat in the wooden rocker just rocking himself back and forth. It had seemed to become routine for him to be restless at night, not being able to sleep, he had guessed because he had alot on his mind. He had yet to come to peace about his father's death, the only father he had ever known, and his killer still walked free from the responsibility of taking the life of another. His mind still wondering about the what ifs and where he would be at that moment if had known his real father, how would his life be different. His mother, would she still be running looking over her shoulder or would he have had the chance to live his life with her in a loving home the way a child should. His mind took him to an off distant place and it startled him back to the here and now as the lightening cracked outside. The storm raged on outside as well as inside him as he sat and rocked himself hoping to find some sleep tonight, and hoping that he would be able to come to terms with all that had transpired.

    As he rested his head back against the wooden rocker, he closed his eyes in the hopes of some peaceful rest, but he knew that wouldn't come to him, not with all the memories of his past still haunting him. His past still very much lingering around him, and he wished like every night before that he could just rid himself of the demons. As he sat there resting his eyes, not keeping them closed for very long because of the images that flashed before him of Sonny and what he had done to his mother. Whether he liked it or not, Sonny was his father, he was the bastard child of rape, there was no denying it, it was staring him in the face every night since he remembered what had happened that night.

    Zander had sworn when his son, Devon, was born that he would never become neglectful of him or never raise his hand to his child, he would always show Devon love and understanding, respect and honesty and he would never tell a lie to his child. He would never leave him, like his father had done. He figured what his mother had said to be true ..... any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a daddy to a child. Zander had that with Frank. Frank was his father in every respect of the word. Frank was there to guide him, to listen to him, to give him all the love and support he needed growing up. Frank was the only father he had known and Sonny took all that away from him. Frank was dead and Sonny killed him, those were the facts, yet Sonny was not behind bars, he had not suffered as he had for the past 15 years, Sonny took no responsibility for what happened that night and it was time he did.

    Zander sat and watched as the storm raged on outside the window, lightening flashed across the darkened sky and he could hear the thunder rolling above him. He wondered to himself why his mother seemed to recognize Emily's family, she hadn't mentioned the name Quartermaine as he was growing up, it intrigued him that his mother would have some connection to the most influential family in Port Charles. He was sure she wasn't about to explain it to him, he would have to find out on his own, what he wanted to know .. if he wanted to know. He wondered what deep dark secret his mother might be carrying around with her for all these years. It didn't make him feel any better to know that someone else besides himself, carried their own demons within them, he just hoped he could rid himself of his one day.


  22. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 14


    Emily's hospital room --


    Zander picked up the bouquet and carried it out to the corridor. The guard gave him a look of concern.

    "Marcus, take these and get rid of them. I don't care what you do with them, just take them. And then I want you to call Thomas and get him here, right away. It's urgent." Zander ordered.

    Zander pulled the note from his pocket and studied it. He wondered if all this time it was Lorenzo Alcazar pulling the strings. The explosion in the harbor, the attacks on the docks, the missing shipments.... was Lorenzo Alcazar responsible?

    Was Lorenzo Alcazar the person to blame for Emily being in the hospital? Zander's fists clenched around the note card as he thought about all that Lorenzo had done to him and his family.

    Lorenzo Alcazar was living on borrowed time.


    Zander sat with Emily, which eased her fears of being in the hospital and her worries about their baby. She had been in this situation before with Devon, and she knew the risks of being pregnant again. She began to blame herself. If she had not been so selfish of wanting another baby for her and Zander, she wouldn't of put a precious life in danger.

    "This is all my fault..." Emily said as she hid her head in her hands.

    "It is not your fault. Don't go blaming yourself for this, you and I both wanted another baby. If you take the blame for this, then I should share in it too." Zander replied as he pulled her hands away from her face.

    The moment was broken by a knock on the hospital room door and Ric peered in. "Am I interrupting anything?"

    "No, Ric come on in ...." Zander invited as he swiped his hand across his eyes and wiped his tears away.

    Ric came in and stood at the bottom of Emily's bed with a smile across his face.

    "Well, you're looking better." Ric said to Emily.

    "Thanks ... I'm feeling better." she replied as she caressed her tummy.

    "How's the baby, he's doing well too, I hope?"

    "Yeah, he's doing a lot better. So says Dr. Meadows. We just need a lot of bed rest."

    "Good... happy to hear that." Ric replied to Emily then turned his focus on his brother. "Zander, can we talk?"

    "Sure ... I'll be right outside if you need me." Zander said before leaving Emily and going with Ric out into the hallway to talk.

    "We got nothing on the assailant from the other night, Zander. Not fingerprints, witness .... nothing." Ric disappointed he didn't have better news.

    Zander not wanting to tell Ric about the flowers delivered to Emily from Alcazar, he wanted to handle the situation on his own. Alcazar had done this to *his* family, and he would handle it. Zander had enough experience with the PCPD know when that he would have a better chance at making Alcazar pay for his crimes against the family, then any court of law.

    Ric noticed Zander's expression and realized Zander had something but was keeping it from him. "You know something don't you?" Ric asked and Zander realized Ric saw the wheels turning inside his head about Alcazar.

    "Sorry, my men came up empty too ..." Zander answered, lying to Ric.

    "Don't give me that! You know who sent the man to your house, Zander .. you know, don't you?"

    Zander sighed, hoping he could keep what he knew to himself, but Ric saw right through him. "Zander, you have to tell me!" Ric demanded.

    "I don't have to tell you anything, Ric! This is business ...." Zander replied letting Ric know where he stood.

    "This isn't business, Zander .... this is personal! And it became personal when Emily became the target, and you know it!"

    "Just know that I've got it handled." Zander said as he turned and walked towards Emily's room.

    "No, Zander .... you're going to tell me who is responsible for this and you're going to tell me right now!" Ric ordered as he grabbed Zander's arm at the elbow, preventing him from going anywhere.

    Zander yanked his arm away from his brother's grasp and without answering him, Zander walked back into Emily's room, leaving Ric standing alone in the hallway, still waiting for answers.

  23. SoapQueen89
    On the docks --


    After leaving Ric's office, Zander found himself sitting on the docks for a while. He sat alone on the bench just looking out over the choppy waters. The breeze had picked up and the water rippled in and out against the pier. He decided he had stayed long enough in town, it was time to go back to the cabin and be with his family. He reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

    "Marcus ... can you pick me up at Pier 33? No, everything's fine, I'd just like to go back to the cabin now. Thanks." Zander flipped the phone closed and stuck it back in his pocket. He sat on the bench till he saw the headlights of his limo approaching. He got up and walked towards the car as Marcus got out and went to open the back door for him.

    Marcus drove Zander back to the cabin where Emily was waiting for him. She greeted him on the front porch as he walked up to her.

    "Hey, how did it go?" she asked as he pulled her into embrace.

    He sighed heavily. "Not well. I don't think they have much of a case against Sonny. Not unless Ric can find some new evidence to present."

    He could see in her eyes that she was disappointed. "I'm sorry, Zander. I know you were expecting some good news." she said somberly as they walked into the cabin together.

    "Yeah I was and I know Ric was too." he replied as he sat down on the couch. "All we can do now is wait to hear from Ric, which might take a while till he has something concrete to take to court." he added.

    "Well, I know Ric, he's not going to stop till he gets a conviction. He's bound and determined to get Sonny and he won't stop till he does." she said as she sat down with him.

    They snuggled together on the couch for a while till they heard Devon from upstairs. "I'll go ..." he said as he got up from his seat. Emily smiled and watched as he went up the stairs. She knew Devon would be able to put a smile back on Zander's face, he always did.



    The courthouse - a few days later --


    Zander and Emily walked up the front steps of the courthouse together, she could feel that he was nervous about testifying. She looked down at her watch and saw they had about an hour or so before he had to report. The two of them walked down the hallway towards the courtroom and took a seat on one of the empty benches along the wall and waited for Ric and Alexis. Emily was glad they had made arrangements for her parents to keep Devon for the day while they were at the courthouse.

    Zander went over his testimony in his head while he waited with his wife, his hands were collecting moisture the longer he sat there thinking about what he had to say. This was only the Grand Jury hearing and if the court found enough evidence to indict, they would, then he'd have to tell his story all over again for a jury. He needed to focus and concentrate on the matters at hand, there was no room in his mind for business matters that had popped up the night before, the Jason problem could wait.

    As he and Emily sat together quietly, he noticed Ric appear from around the corner with his briefcase in hand. Nicely dressed in a dark suit, dark blue shirt and dark blue tie, his shoes polished till they shined, he walked with purpose as he approached them.

    "No Alexis yet?" he questioned as he looked around the corridor for her.

    "No not yet." Zander said as he wrung his hands together. Ric noticing his brother was nervous.

    "You're going to do fine, Zander. Alexis and I will be there every step of the way." Ric reassured his brother.

    Footsteps were heard coming up from behind Ric and he turned to see who was approaching him. Alexis neared wearing a dark black pinstriped double breasted suit with a white silk blouse, she looked ready for her day in court.

    "You look nice." Ric complimented her on her appearance.

    "Thanks." Alexis cracked a smile.

    "I didn't know the two of you were ... um ..." Zander began and smiled.

    "Oh, we're not ...." they replied quickly. "Strictly platonic ...." Alexis replied .

    Emily and Zander looked at each other and smiled. "Oh okay ... we just thought .." Emily said as Ric and Alexis tried to disparage them from thinking there was anything else going on. Emily giggled trying to hide her amusement at the two of them.

    Alexis looked down at her watch and noticed the time. "We should get in there." she said to Ric. "After you .." he replied as he stretched out his arm and left Alexis lead the way.

    "You'll be called by the bailiff when we're ready for you, Zander." Alexis said before walking away and towards the door to the courtroom.

    Emily stretched her arm across the back of the bench and caressed Zander's shoulders trying to help him relax. This was only the beginning for him, and she wanted to support him as much as she could through this ordeal. It wasn't going to be easy and he wasn't making it so by worrying.

    They sat there a while before the bailiff came out and asked him to step inside and take the stand. Zander got up from the bench and Emily took his hand. They walked in together and Emily took a seat behind Alexis, as Zander walked passed them and took the stand. He adjusted his tie and unbuttoned his jacket before he sat down in the chair. He ran his hand through his hair nervously as he sat and waited for Ric to start his examination. Zander tried not to make eye contact with Sonny who sat at the table with his attorney, Zander knew if he did, he would freeze up and he couldn't let his mother or his brother down. He needed to do this.

    Ric stood up from his seat and buttoned his jacket before walking towards Zander in the witness box. Zander cleared his throat and got himself prepared to tell his story to those who were in the courtroom that day. Ric gave Zander a nod of reassurance as he stood before him.

    "Please state your name and occupation for the record." Ric instructed.

    "Zander Smith, and I am a business man here in Port Charles." Zander replied and he looked over Ric's shoulder at Emily sitting in the front row.

    "Now, Mr. Smith tell us how you are involved in this case against Mr. Corinthos, please." Ric asked as he walked back towards the prosecution table.

    "I am the son of the man Sonny murdered 15 years ago in Florida." Zander replied with a glare towards Sonny.

    "Objection, your honor ... my client has not yet been convicted of this crime." Victoria spoke up.

    "This may be true, counselor, but this isn't a trial, it's just a hearing to see if the prosecution has enough evidence, so your objection is overruled. You may continue, Mr. Lansing." Judge Cooper replied.

    "Thank you, your honor." Ric replied "Now, Mr. Smith can you tell us in your own words what happened the night of March 21st, 15 years ago?" he instructed Zander as he approached the witness box once more.

    Zander cleared his throat before he began telling his story of what he remembered about that night. He felt his heart beat pound inside his chest as images of that night flashed in his head, each image more vivid then the last. His palms began collecting moisture as he became more and more uncomfortable in his seat. His mouth became dry like cotton as he moistened his lips with a swipe of his tongue.

    This was going to be more difficult then he thought, but he looked towards Emily smiling at him lovingly and he knew everything would be alright, he just had to tell the truth about that night and this nightmare would soon be over.
  24. SoapQueen89
    At the cabin --



    A few days had passed since Alexis had visited the cabin, and Zander was no closer to remembering then he was 3 days prior. He was getting frustrated with himself because he couldn't remember, all he wanted to do was to punish the man who shot and killed his father. Emily sat with him every night trying to keep his mind off of his past the best she could, but it was getting more and more difficult as time passed. The pressure on Zander to remember began to tighten on him, the longer he couldn't remember, the worse it was for the case against Sonny. Emily could see how exhausted Zander had become over the past few days, he wasn't getting his rest at night and Devon kept him going during the day.

    Zander had locked up the downstairs tight and turned out the lights, as Emily climbed the stairs slowly, keeping the pace slow till Zander could catch up to her. She led the way to the master bedroom as Zander followed close behind her. His hands latched on her waist and guided her into the bedroom, closing the door behind him by kicking it closed with his foot. She could tell by his demeanor that he was in no way tired to sleep, he had other things on his mind.

    Once inside the bedroom, Zander scooped Emily up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He needed to just relax and he knew a night of lovemaking with is wife was just what the doctor ordered. As they lye in each other's arms afterwards, Zander had finally drifted off to sleep. Emily lay watching over him and slowly she too fell asleep.

    Flashes of that fateful night sparked in his mind, and Emily felt Zander become restless, tossing and turning against her. She was afraid to wake him, not knowing what he might be dreaming, she had read that waking up a someone in midst of a nightmare could be harmful to those who were dreaming and the person who was doing the waking, so she left him continue for a little while longer.

    The memories of that night filtered into Zander's mind so easily, it replaying back to him the events that happened frame by frame.

    -dream sequence-

    A little boy walk down the stairs to go to the kitchen. As he turned the corner, he seeing the light from underneath the door of his father's office, curiosity in him led him to the light to listen to what was being talked inside the room, all he heard was silence as he placed his ear to the door. He turned away from the study and patted to the kitchen for some milk. He reached up for the jug of special milk his mom always had for him. After taking his drink, he placed the jug back in the refrigerator and walked back towards the staircase. Shouting could be heard now from the study, as he leaned up against the door to get a better listen.

    "I can't believe you'd betray me like this Michael! I trusted you with my family, with my life! We've been partners for years and you go and do this to me!" dad shouted at his right hand man, Michael.

    "Mr. Smith, it just happened! I didn't know what I was doing, I couldn't control myself, sir!" Michael shouted back.

    "You couldn't control yourself? How could you not control yourself, Michael? You disrespected me in the worst possible way someone could! You know what I do to people who betray me, Michael!" dad yelling at Michael, but listening closely enough to hear the gun snap into firing position.

    "Tell me something Michael, did my wife beg for it?!"

    The room became silent again, but I couldn't tear myself away from the door, and I just listened.

    "What am I suppose to tell my child when he grows up, Michael?! What am I suppose to tell Alexander?! Tell me!" dad started yelling again at Michael.

    "I don't know Frank, he's your son!" Michael replied.

    "That's right he is my son! My son, Michael .. not yours! Mine! I raised him, I provided for him, I protected him from people like you, Michael! I love that child like he was my own! He might of come from a violent act, but he's know that he is loved by his mother and me!"

    Things turned from bad to worse as another gun was pulled and cocked.

    "You filthy son of a bitch! How could you let an innocent child pay for your crime, Michael?!"

    "Alexander isn't going to pay for my crime, Frank .. you are!"

    Gunshots rang out ...

    -end of dream sequence-


    Shots rang out and it startled Zander awake from his dreams.

    Emily sitting by his side as he sat up in bed, covered in sweat, his breathing erratic.

    "Zander, are you alright?" Emily asked as she noticed he had fear and anger in his eyes. "Did you remember something?" she continued as he wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

    He looked at her confused, and distant. His eyes glazed over, he wasn't in the room with her, he may have been physically but psychologically he was someplace else.

    "Zander, focus on my voice. Did you remember anything?" she said as she made eye contact with him, she knew she wasn't reaching him.

    He began to shake off the nightmare and she saw in his eyes, he was slowly coming back from where ever it was that his dream took him.

    "Oh my God, Em!" he latched on to her and squeezed her tight, she could feel the fear inside him, it sent shivers up her spine. Something he remember seriously scared him to death.

    Zander pulled back from Emily's arms and shook off the feelings that were left inside of him from the dreams.

    "Zander, did you remember something?" she asked as sat on the edge of the bed.

    "Yeah I did." he replied as he glanced back over his shoulder.

    She crawled to his side and sat with him. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked as she caressed his back with her hand.

    "I just can't believe it." He was shocked to see in his dream what he had once blocked out of his mind for so long.

    "Why don't you tell me about it, we can work through it together." she said as he got up from the bed.

    What he dreamt couldn't be true, he couldn't be who the dream said he was. It's not possible. He tried to put that part of the dream aside and focused more on the the actual shooting and who the person was who pulled the trigger.

    "Zander, what did you see?" she asked hoping to coax him into telling her about his dream.

    "I saw everything Em and I heard them talking. I heard the gunfire and saw them leave the study, just like I said before." he replied as she got up from the bed and walked towards him.

    "Did you see who it was? Was it Sonny?" she asked again. Zander slipped to that far away place again, and was set back to reality when she called his name a few times.

    "Yeah it was Sonny but there's more Em .... " he said as turned into her. "The argument they were having was about me, Em .. it was about me."

    Emily pulled him into her as he felt guilt wash over him. His father was dead because of him, not because of some business deal gone wrong, but because of him.

    "It's all my fault." he said as they walked back towards the bed and sat down once again.

    "This is not your fault Zander, you were 8 years old. You were just a little boy, so don't go blaming yourself." he knew she was right but he just kept thinking about the argument between his father and Sonny. And then it hit him, like a punch in the gut as he remembered more of the argument and why they were arguing over him.

    His mind went back and forth between Frank and the man he knew only as Michael, because that's what his dad called him as. "But Frank wasn't my father .... that's what they were fighting about ..."

    The more Zander remembered about that night, the tears in his eyes welled as he realized what had actually happened that night, how much he had truly heard coming from inside the study.

    "Zander, you lost me again. Frank wasn't your father? Then who was?" Emily asked as he kept slipping in and out to that far away place.

    "Michael .... that's what the fight was about." he repeated as he snapped back from empty blank stare.

    Emily sighed. "Okay, who's Michael? Someone you knew, a close family friend, who?"

    He stared into her eyes and said bluntly....."Sonny."


  25. SoapQueen89

    Ric Lansing

    By SoapQueen89,

    Portrayed by Rick Hearst


    Ric Lansing grew up in the middle of a mob life with his father Trevor. He and his brother, Sonny Corinthos, though raised in two separate households, both were exposed to the life of crime. It wasn't until recently the two combined their territories and raised the stakes.

    Ric married to Alexis Davis, the Port Charles District Attorney, for the past 5 years. They raise two daughters together, Kristina and Emma. Kristina's biological father is from a previous relationship Alexis had with Sonny Corinthos.
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