Jump to content

SoapQueen89

Members
  • Posts

    1,835
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Blog Entries posted by SoapQueen89

  1. 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.


  2. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 10


    At the hospital --


    With that Zander flipped closed his cell phone and walked back inside the hospital. He met Alan and Monica at the nurse's station on Emily's floor and stopped to talk with them before going back to sit with his wife.

    "What the hell happened, Zander?" Alan barked wanting to know the details about why Emily was back in the hospital.

    "I don't know Alan, I wasn't there ...." Zander began but Alan interrupted him.

    "You promised you would protect our daughter! And now this?! And this isn't the first time ...." Alan replied with anger and Monica stepped in wanting to trying to take control before Alan's temper got the better of him.

    "Alan ... I'm sure Zander did all he could to protect Emily ..." Monica said and then eyed Zander for confirmation.

    "Of course I did! Look, Thomas was there, I stayed back here in town, I had no reason to believe that there was any danger! You want to know what happened at the house, you can ask Emily or ask Thomas. Right now I am going to sit with my wife!" Zander stepped forward to leave and Alan put his hand up against Zander's chest and stopped him.

    "I'm not finished with you just yet .... Emily will wait." Alan said sternly and Zander looked down at Alan's hand that laid heavy on his chest.

    The tension was high between Zander and Alan while Monica looked on not knowing how to stop the crash that was about to happen.

    As Alan and Zander stood face to face with each other, tension was building between two the of them, as Monica looked on. She noticed Dr. Meadows step off the elevator and walk towards them, the concern on her face worried Monica.

    "Zander, can we talk?" Dr. Meadows said as she came up behind him.

    Zander turned around when he heard someone speaking to him. The look on the doctor's face worried him. "Yeah sure." he said to her, but before leaving Monica and Alan he added ..."We'll continue this later." Zander walked away with Dr. Meadows and Monica and Alan both concerned about Emily wanted to know what was going on too and followed.

    "What's wrong, Dr. Meadows?" Zander worried.

    "I can see now that the 48 hours I gave Emily isn't going to be enough, she's in need of more time for rest and I don't think she's going to get that at home."

    "What are you saying?" Zander asked wanting the doctor to be more clear on Emily's condition.

    "What I am saying is that the baby's heart beat isn't quickening like I want it to, though it has increased since Emily was admitted. I feel she needs to stay here a little longer then 48 hours. I'd like to keep an eye on her."

    "Is she going to lose the baby?" Monica spoke up and Dr. Meadows turned around towards her.

    Dr. Meadows hung her head in doubt. "I don't know. Only time will tell."




  3. 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.




  4. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 12


    At the hospital --



    "She can't be in labor yet, Alan .. it's too early!" Zander said as he held onto Emily's hand for comfort and reassurance.

    "I don't think it's labor pains .. this is something else." Alan replied with worry.

    Tears began to well in Emily's eyes as the pain she was feeling became stronger, too much to bear. She cried out in pain again and squeezed Zander's hand with all that was inside her.

    "You have to do something!" Zander yelled at Alan as he felt Emily squeeze his hand.

    Monica returned with Dr. Meadows and she did an examination of Emily and the baby.

    "I can't lose this baby, Dr. Meadows! Please save our baby!" Emily cried, the tears warm as they rolled down her cheeks.

    "Just try to calm down, Emily ....I'm going to do all I can."


    Dr. Meadows asked for Monica and Alan to leave the room so she could do a thorough examine of Emily and the baby, Zander would of been asked to leave as well, but Emily wasn't about to let go of him.

    As Dr. Meadows did the examine, Emily could feel the pain subside and she became more relaxed. "Is the pain diminishing, Emily?" Dr. Meadows asked as she noticed Emily didn't seem to be in much discomfort.

    "Yeah it is ...." Emily sniffled back the tears.

    "Good. Now I'm seriously keeping you here longer the 48 hours. Stress caused this episode and we can't be having it happen again." Dr. Meadows explained hoping her patient would understand.

    "The baby? How's the baby? He's okay, right?" Emily concerned, she looked at Zander then at Dr. Meadows for reassurance.

    Dr. Meadows hesitated and all went silent, it was deafening and the pause from the doctor, gave Zander the overwhelming feeling there was more that she wasn't telling them.

    "Dr. Meadows ... what about the baby?!" Emily's tears began to well in her eyes again as she noticed the doctor's somber look.

    "The baby seems to be feeling some discomfort but that can be expected after the ordeal Emily's been through." the doctor replied as she pulled back from Emily's bed and stood up from her swivel stool.

    "What can we do for him?" Emily asked worried about the welfare of her unborn baby.

    "Right now all we can do is wait and see. There isn't anything medically we can do, you just need to relax and sustain no stress, which was the case the last time. And again I'm prescribing complete bed rest. Which means, I'm not releasing you just yet. I'd like to keep an eye on the baby tonight and then do an ultrasound tomorrow to see what's going on in there."

    Zander reached down and caressed Emily's head with his hand as a reassurance to her he was there with and not to be afraid. But it would take more then Zander's touch to keep her from feeling afraid, she was afraid she was going to lose this baby, something she wasn't going to be able to handle. She couldn't lose this baby.




  5. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 13


    At the hospital --


    "Thank you Dr. Meadows. I can promise you Emily will get all the bed rest she needs." Alan spoke up and he glanced at Zander from across the bed.

    "I'm sure you will, Dr. Quartermaine. I'll check on Emily later on tonight." Dr. Meadows replied and then left the family in the room with Emily.

    Dr. Meadows closed the door of Emily's room before Alan spoke and tried to keep his anger contained so not to upset Emily. "I don't think we should stay too much longer, Emily needs her rest."

    "Right, doctor's orders." Zander replied smuggly, knowing that Alan was trying to keep him from his wife.

    Alan turned on his heel and brushed passed Monica as he headed out the door of his daughter's room. Monica apologized for Alan's reaction and then kissed Emily on her cheek goodnight. "I'm sure you are in very capable hands ...." Monica said as she glanced at Zander.

    "Yeah I am .." Emily smiled. "See you tomorrow though, right?"

    Monica nodded that she would be back to visit. Monica left the room, leaving Emily and Zander alone together.

    "Do I even want to know what is up with you and dad?" Emily replied as Zander took a seat on the swivel stool.

    "No, you don't. It's not good for you to know, it will just bring more worry, and it's the last thing you need right now. He'll get over it soon enough. He always does." Zander remarked and then leaned in towards her, she leaning in to him and their lips meeting for a sweet kiss.

    Emily noticed the guard that now stood outside her room and Zander noticed him as well. "The guard is just an extra precaution, nothing to worry about. I asked Thomas to have someone outside round the clock. While you're here in the hospital, I want you and the baby to be safe."

    "As long as you're here, I am." Emily replied as she latched onto Zander's hand.

    "I'm not going anywhere, I will be right here by your side .... there is no getting rid of me." he cracked a smile and brushed back a few strands of her hair that caressed her cheek.

    She felt more secure knowing her husband wasn't leaving her side, she didn't know what she'd do without him. She just didn't want him to feel like all this was his fault, because it wasn't. Emily knew that her father was blaming Zander for this, he always had blamed Zander for everything, since the first day she and Zander had met, it was nothing new. Zander didn't need the extra pressure from her father, he had enough to deal with, he certainly didn't need to have the guilt of this on his shoulders too.

    Emily slowly drifted off to sleep with Zander holding her hand in his, he watched her drift off. "Sweet dreams, sweetheart ...." he whispered and kissed her softly on her forehead as he stood up from his seat.

    He left her side and went out into the corridor and had a look around, the hallway was empty and he acknowledged the guard who stood at his post as he was ordered to. Zander walked back into Emily's room and sat on the chair once more. He watched her sleeping peacefully and soon he too had drifted off to sleep.

    The morning sun had woke him as his eyes opened and adjusted to the sunshine that filtered in through the blinds that hung in front of the windows. He stretched and twisted his tired body and stood from the chair. He walked towards the bed quietly, Emily still a sleep, he looked down at her and said a little prayer for her and the baby to be alright. He was startled by a knock on the door and quickly went to see who it was visiting so early in the morning.

    He was greeted with a huge bouquet of flowers carried by one of the duty nurse's and she stepped into the room, then walked towards the table and set down the vase. "These are for your wife ... beautiful aren't they?" the nurse remarked as she took a sniff at the flowers before leaving the room.

    Zander went to check for a card and he found one buried amongst the baby's breath. He pulled it from the bouquet and opened up the envelope, thinking it probably was from Ric or his mother. He certainly wasn't expecting what he found.

    Emily's name written across the front of the envelope and inside a small note card, harmless enough. He opened the card and began to read the message that was inside.

    "For Emily,

    I am sorry to hear that you and your baby are not well. My well wishes to the both of you.

    Best Regards
    Lorenzo Alcazar"

    Zander took the note and envelope from the flowers and stuff it in his jacket pocket, he had heard of Lorenzo Alcazar and nothing good. He was a major arms dealer among other things. Zander wondered why Lorenzo Alcazar would be sending Emily well wishes and how did he know Emily was in the hospital unless he was the one who who had sent the assailant to the cabin.




  6. 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.

  7. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 15


    Ric's Office ---



    Ric had come back to see Emily a few times over the next few days and each time he would visit, he had a few choice words for Zander. Ric was become relentless about catching the assailant who tried to harm Zander's family, and Zander stood reluctant to tell Ric anything. Zander was pushing Ric to the point of arresting him for obstruction on top of a murder charge for Sal and Miguel Morales.

    Ric sat behind his desk and looked over the evidence in both cases, hoping to find a common line other then Zander. He didn't find any, unfortunately. Ric sighed deeply because he knew what he had to do, even though he didn't want to, Zander had pushed him to the point of choosing his job or his brother, and Ric couldn't cover for him any more. It was time Ric did his job.

    Ric got up from his seat with purpose and grabbed his suit jacket. As he walked down through the squad room he grabbed a few officers to take with him to serve the papers for arrest. He wanted to wait until Emily was out of the hospital and out of danger of losing the baby, but he couldn't wait any longer. If Zander wasn't going to tell him who was after him, Ric would take charge and make Zander tell him.



    Emily's Hospital Room --


    Ric and the officers obvious stop was at the hospital. Zander was more then likely with Emily, he had been by her side every day, what would make this day any different. Ric rapped on the hospital door and waited to enter till he heard Emily's voice from inside and invited him in. She not too concerned to see Ric until she noticed the officers who followed him in.

    "I take it your looking for Zander?" she said when she saw the officers who stood in the doorway.

    "Yeah I am, has he been here today?" Ric replied as he looked around the room for evidence of Zander being there with her.

    "He was here earlier. He left a little while ago."

    "I guess you're not going to tell me where he went, huh?" Ric asked knowing Emily too well.

    "Sorry, Ric. I don't know where he went, he didn't say. Can I ask what you want him for this time?"

    "I'd like to get some straight answers from him for a change." Ric replied before leaving Emily's room heading to the warehouse, perhaps Zander had some business to tend to.

    Ric and the officers left the hospital empty handed and headed to one of Zander's warehouses down on the docks. If not with Emily, Zander would be conducting business, Ric had only hoped that this time, Zander was amidst paperwork and not business associates.



    Outside Zander's warehouse on the docks --


    The unmarked police cars pulled up at the warehouse on Pier 51, two limos were parked out front. One limo Ric figured was Zander's, the other .... anyone's guess. Ric and the officers proceeded with caution, not knowing what they might find inside. The officer's guns drawn, ready for the unexpected.

    The door ajar, Ric pushed it open with his hand and peered inside into the empty warehouse. It dimly lit, though there was light in the office towards the back of the large empty space. Ric and the officers cautiously moved within the warehouse, alert for any sudden movements in the shadows.

    There were large wooden crates scattered about the warehouse, a closer look would tell Ric that Zander was obviously doing business with someone who would take the shipments off his hands. By just walking through the warehouse, Ric would have enough evidence to put his brother away for a very long time. But that wasn't what he was there for, it wasn't what the arrest warrant was intended for, so he had to be blind to the fact that there were crates of illegal product staring him in the face.

    "Zander! It's Ric, are you here?" Ric shouted as he and the officers walked towards the office.

    Some scurrying noises could be heard from the back of the warehouse and Ric ordered the officers to go check it out, leaving him alone looking for Zander. Ric opened up the office door slowly, hoping to find Zander at his desk. He was disappointed to find no one there, but a pile of paperwork. Though tempted to see what the pile contained, he kept focus on the task at hand, finding Zander.

    As Ric closed the office door, he could hear a car engine roar outside the warehouse. He rushed to the door, only to catch a glimpse of the taillights of one of the limos as it sped away down the alley.



  8. 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.



  9. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 17


    Backseat of Zander's limo --



    A short time had passed and Zander sat waiting for Ric in the back seat of his limo. He didn't want to give up Lorenzo but if it meant staying out of prison, he'd hand Lorenzo over on a silver platter to Ric.

    "Thomas ...."

    "It's 10 minutes since the last time you asked, Sir."

    "Where the hell is he, Ric should of been here by now."

    "Maybe he's not going to show, Sir?"

    "Oh he'll show, he wants answers. This has been going on far too long. If anything, I know Ric and he's desperate to punish someone. He'll be here."

    Thomas looked in the rearview mirror and saw an unmarked police car pull up behind the limo.

    "I think your guest has arrived, Sir."

    Zander turned around to see the unmarked car parked behind them. Ric emerged from the driver's seat and walked towards Zander's car. The back door opened and Ric climbed in.

    "This better be good." Ric said as he closed the door.

    "It is but I want some assurances before I give you anything." Zander replied wanting some promises first.

    "Zander ... " Ric shook his head side to side.

    "Look, I'm not going down for something I had nothing to do with and if you want the person responsible for it, you'll give me what I want, Ric."

    Ric sighed knowing Zander knew exactly what buttons to push to get what he wanted. "Okay, what do want?"

    "I want is full immunity from this case, Ric. No questions asked."

    "So you are in over your head again, huh?" Ric replied, thinking on Zander's offer.

    "Do you want this man or not?"

    "Yes I do want him, but .. full immunity?" Ric contemplated what he should do, he really needed the information Zander had to stop the violence that had been happening over the past few months.

    "You are the DA, Ric .. you make deals all the time. Now I'm asking for a deal for me. What's the problem?"

    "The problem is, is that you are my brother, Zander. I don't want to be compromised for giving you a deal of full immunity!" Ric replied laying out for Zander the situation he could be in.

    "Then I guess you have a choice to make, now don't you? You either give me, your brother the deal of full immunity or no dice. I will go after this man myself and there will be more violence and more killing, Ric. I can guarantee you that!"

    "Alright! I'll take the heat for this if it comes back on me ..... you have your full immunity."

    Zander grinned. "Thank you."

    "Now .... tell me .... who is this person? Who are we up against?"

    Zander reached in the back pocket of the seat in front of him and pulled out a manilla file folder, at least an inch thick. He handed it to Ric.

    "This is all the information you need to put a stop to the man. I've done all the leg work for you Ric, all you need to do is prosecute him." Zander said as Ric looked down at the file folder he was handed.

    Ric opened up the folder and began looking through all the paperwork inside. A picture of the man was attached to the reports Zander's men had compiled.

    "I don't know what to say, Zander."

    "A thank you might suffice. And tell me that I will not have to worry about this man again. He has hurt my family, our family, Ric .. I want him punished!" Zander replied reminding Ric that it wasn't only Zander's family but Ric's family as well.

    Ric looked up from the folder and looked at Zander .... "Oh you don't have to worry about that, Mr. Alcazar will be punished for all he has done, trust me."

  10. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 18


    At the hospital --


    Zander feeling pretty good about his deal with Ric, he had Thomas drive him back to the hospital to see Emily. He had been gone for quite a while and he was sure she'd be worried about him. Thomas pulled the limo up in front of the hospital and Zander gave him a few last instructions before he climbed out of the car.

    Zander walked down the corridor towards Emily's room and saw the guard he had posted, was there as instructed. Zander approached and the guard nodded in acknowledgment of his boss. Zander opened the door to Emily's room and peered inside. He noticed she had visitors and he hesitated, but Emily saw him before he had a chance to back out.

    "Zander .. where have you been?! I've been worried sick about you!" Emily scolded as Zander stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

    "I've been keeping you safe ...." he began as he stepped towards her, glancing to her mom and dad standing on the other side of the bed.

    "You call this keeping her safe?" Alan replied as he pointed out to the guard outside the door.

    "Dad, please. Zander's doing all that he can to protect me!" Emily spoke up as she reached for Zander's hand.

    "May I speak with Emily, alone, please?" Zander asked implying for Alan and Monica to leave.

    "Come on Alan, let's leave them alone." Monica said as she coaxed Alan towards the door.

    Zander didn't say anything more till he saw the door close behind them. He took a seat on the edge of the bed and caressed his unborn child with his hand.

    "Now are you going to tell me where you have been? Ric was here looking for you and I didn't know for sure what to tell him."

    "Yeah I know, I spoke with Ric. He gave me a deal, Em."

    "What kind of deal?" she replied as she tried to sit up.

    "A kind of deal that guarantees me the rest of my life with you and our children."

    "What does that mean? Ric's not looking to arrest you, is he?" she became worried now because of Zander's answer to her.

    "No, he's not and it's nothing for you to worry about. I have it all under control." Zander tried to reassure her.

    "Yeah where have I heard that before ..." she snickered and raised his brow.

    "It's different this time .. promise." he replied.

    "Okay, Zander .. I trust you that it is." she answered as he leaned down and laid his lips against hers gently.

    "I won't let anything happen to you, Em. You can trust that."

    "I do, Zander .. I do." she reached up and embraced him, pulling him to her.

    He pulled back from her and caressed her cheek with his hand. "Has Dr. Meadows been to see you today yet?"

    "She was here earlier. She says everything looks good, but still wants me here so she can monitor the baby." Emily replied as she rubbed her hand over her belly.

    Zander stood up from the swivel stool and removed his suit jacket, he laid back on the chair that sat in the corner and rolled up his sleeves. Emily gave him a confused look, she wondered what he had planned now, as he went to the door and turned the lock.

    "Well, since Dr. Meadows insists that you spend all the time in that bed, I guess the only way a husband gets some TLC is if he joins you." he smirked as he turned down the lights and walked back towards Emily.

    Emily moved herself over to make room for Zander, being careful of the monitors she was connected to, he climbed into the bed with her. She leaned into him and laid her head in the crook of his neck, as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to him.

    His hand instinctively laid gently on their unborn baby and her hand joined his. "She's going to be okay, you know?" Emily said softly.

    "I know .. I'm just worried about the two of you. We've been here before and I don't want anything to go wrong." Zander replied as his thoughts traveled back to when Emily was pregnant with Devon. "Speaking of Devon, I guess Alice isn't tired of him yet?" Zander added jokingly.

    "Are you kidding? They love having him at the mansion. I'm probably going to have a hard time tearing him away from them when I get out of here. Don't worry about Devon, he's being spoiled rotten as we speak." Emily laughed.

    "I'm sure he is. Between Edward, Lila and your mother, Devon I'm sure is getting the best care. I'm not worried, just that he's been with them a while now ..."

    "Mom and dad don't mind to watch Devon, they're glad to have him when they get the chance." Emily replied as she snuggled close to him.

    Before Zander realized how exhausted they both were, he found himself drifting off to sleep with his wife in his arms. It wasn't very long before a knock on the door startled him awake. He slipped from Emily's arms and walked to the door. He unlocked the door to see Alexis standing in the hallway waiting for him.

    Zander could see Alexis was agitated.

    "I just got off the phone with Ric ... when were you planning on telling me about this deal you made with him?"



  11. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 19



    At the hospital --


    "Look, the deal was straightforward and it was done between my brother and I. I didn't want to drag you into this Alexis."

    "Drag ... me into this? Zander, I'm your attorney of record, don't you think you should of consulted with me first before going and making deals with the DA?"

    "Alexis I didn't have time to consult with you."

    She sighed heavily. "Okay, so what kind of deal did you make that you shouldn't of ."

    "Full immunity ...."

    "Really ... for what? I mean, there has to be a catch?"

    "In exchange for the information on the man whose been behind all that's been happening around here for the past 6 months."

    "And Ric was okay with this?"

    "Well, not at first .. it took a little convincing, but he went with it."

    "I don't like the sound of that, Zander." Alexis replied.

    "Ric and I have an understanding ... let's leave it at that."

    Alexis sighed. "Well, let's just hope this deal of yours don't come back and bite us in the ass."




    Ric's Office --


    Ric returned the PCPD and headed straight to his office. Zander might have gotten immunity from the case about Sal and Miguel but he surely didn't have any deals about exporting and importing illegal product. Ric had no other choice but to write out an arrest warrant for his brother. Ric had seen too much and confiscated too much evidence from the warehouse to look the other way.

    Ric walked into his office and he was startled to see someone sitting in the chair waiting for him.

    "Mom?! What are you doing here?" Ric said as he realized it was his mother waiting for him.

    "I came to visit with you, can't a mother visit her son?"

    "Yeah you can, but I'm ... quite busy with work at the moment." Ric answered not wanting to write out the arrest warrant in front of their mother, but he had no other choice, he had to act now.

    Ric sat down at his desk and opened a file drawer. He pulled out the proper paperwork for the warrant and began filling out what he needed to. Elenore sat and watched as Ric made a phone call to the courthouse and she listened as Ric asked for the judge to sign a warrant for Zander.

    "You can't do this Ric!" his mother blurted out as she rose from the chair.

    "I can mom and I am. I have evidence on Zander, I can't turn my back on it!"

    "He's your brother! How can you do this to him?!"

    "Do this to him? Mom, he's been conducting illegal activities in Port Charles for the last 5 years now, and I've always looked the other way, it's time I stopped and did my job!"

    Ric grabbed his coat and stormed out of his office, leaving his mother alone worried about what was happening with her two sons. Ric hurried down to the squad room and grabbed a few officers to go with him.



    The PCPD Squad Room --


    "Let's go, pick up Zander." Ric ordered.

    "Ric ..." Commissioner Scorpio called.

    Ric turned around to see Mac standing only a few feet from him with a stack of files in his arms.

    "You're doing the right thing." Mac said.

    "I'm just doing my job." Ric turned on his heel and he and the officers walked out of the squad room on their way to serve the arrest warrant on Zander for the illegal product and shipments they had found in the warehouse.

    With Emily asleep still, Alexis and Zander talked for a while in the lounge just outside her room when Zander's cell phone rang.

    "I'm sorry, I have to take this." he said to Alexis as he pulled out his phone and flipped it open.

    "What's going on, Thomas?"

    "I need you here at the warehouse on Pier 53.....right away."

    "Okay, I'm on my way." Zander flipped closed the cell phone and said goodbye to Alexis, who became concerned something was going down that needed Zander's attention.



    Zander's Warehouse --


    Ric had the officers positioned out of sight, but he had a clear view of the alley behind the warehouse on Pier 53. He had hoped that Zander was still tending to business as usual, and soon enough, Zander would show to check on the shipments that had come in the night before. He looked down at the warrants he held in his hand, they covered all of Zander's warehouses and the vehicles in Zander's fleet. Ric had covered all his bases this time, there was no way Zander was going to wiggle out this time.

    Thomas was inside the warehouse uncrating the recent shipment when Zander arrived. Ric held back the officers till Zander was inside and then gave him another few minutes just to be sure.

    "Okay ... let's go." Ric ordered into the walkie talkie he held in his hand.

    Zander and Thomas were discussing the manifest as Ric and the officers busted through the back door of the warehouse. It had all happened so fast, there was no time to run and Zander was surprised to see Ric with 4 officers approach him.

    Ric saw Thomas reaching for his 9mm he kept in a shoulder holster. "Don't even think about it." Ric said as one of the officer approached Thomas with caution and took the gun from his side.

    "Alright Ric, what's this all about?" Zander asked.

    "This is an arrest warrant and this is a search warrant." Ric handed his brother two folded documents. "Now turn around, I believe you know the drill."

    Zander rolled his eyes, he couldn't believe this was happening. "How could you do this to me Ric?!"

    "Why is everyone asking me that! This is my job, Zander. I am here arresting a criminal ... that is you, right?" Ric said as he turned his brother around to face him.

    "I thought we had a deal?!"

    "We have a deal on the murders of Sal and Miguel ... we have no deal for illegal product distribution and possession." Ric smirked.

    "You have got to be kidding!"

    "Does it look like I'm kidding, Zander? I have enough evidence on you, I can't turn a blind eye on this one. I'm sorry, Zander, not this time."




  12. SoapQueen89
    He was startled by the cell phone ringing in his jacket pocket and went quietly to answer it. He slipped out of the bedroom so he not disturb Emily who was sleeping peacefully, and he walked down the stairs before flipping the phone open and saying hello.

    "Do you have any idea of what time it is?" he said to caller.

    "I'm sorry sir but this can't wait." the voice replied.

    "What can't wait Thomas?" Zander asked when he recognized the voice belonged to his foreman at the warehouse.

    "Turn on the television, sir."

    Zander walked into the living room and turned on the television and turned it to the local news station to see what was so important. As he stood and watched the news broadcast, his body tensed up and anger began to fill him up. He listened to the reporter at the scene and clinched his fist as the story unfolded in front of him.

    "The criminal activity here on the Port Charles docks came to a head tonight, once again. Shots rang out on the docks earlier this evening and two men are dead, a few others were taken to the local hospital and are said to be in critical condition tonight. The Port Charles police are investigating this latest war, but are not releasing the names of those victims of tonight's attack. We will know more as it becomes available to us."

    Zander turned off the television and focused his attention back on Thomas who was still hanging on the other end of the call.

    "I need details and I need them now, Thomas! This war has got to stop, there has been too much bloodshed already." Zander demanding to know what happened.

    "I'll see what I can find out." Thomas replied.

    "Yeah you do that and report back to me as soon as you know anything." Zander flipped closed his phone and then ran his hands through his hair in anger.

    He rubbed his hands along his face and sighed deeply. The latest attack was sure to bring more focus on him, something he didn't need after all that had happened over the past few months. More security was indeed the next step, he wasn't going to take the risk of losing his family and all of what he worked so hard to keep.

    The rain still pounding hard against the windows, and the thunder rolled across the sky, it seemed the storm had been letting up just a bit, he thought, until a crack of lightening lit up the sky surrounding the cabin and the lights flickered. The storm had not let up at all, it just became more wicked.



  13. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 20



    Zander's Warehouse --


    The officers had cuffed Thomas and Zander and walked them out to the squad cars that were parked out behind the warehouse.

    As they got to the squad car, Ric turned Zander towards him. "You told me once to do what I had to do, it's my job as DA. Well guess what, my job as DA is making sure criminals that make their lives here in Port Charles get arrested, and unfortunately, brother dear, you are one of them."

    "You know Alexis will have me out on bail by tomorrow morning!" Zander barked back as the officer shoved him down into the back seat of the squad car and slammed the door.

    Ric turned away from the car and started to walk back to his unmarked vehicle .... "I don't think Alexis can even help you this time."



    PCPD Squad Room --


    Ric and the officers walked thru the squad room doors with Zander and Thomas both in silver bracelets. "Take a seat ...." Ric said as he showed Zander the chair by the officer's desk.

    "Hey .. I get a phone call." Zander said and Ric handed him the receiver from the phone that sat on the desk.

    "You have one call, so you better make it Alexis."

    Zander dialed the phone and called his attorney.

    "I need you. I'm at the PCPD."

    Zander hung up the phone and looked on as the officer talked with Thomas, who sat at the next desk over from where Zander was sitting. Alexis was right, yet again. The deal that he had made with Ric had come back and bit him, and he couldn't help but think about what all this was going to do to his family.

    It wasn't long before Alexis arrived at the PCPD and found Zander sitting in a chair, handcuffed to the wooden arms. "What's going on here, Ric?" she barked as she approached her client, Ric sitting at the desk filling out paperwork.

    "What's going on here, counselor is that I am charging your client with possession, distribution and trafficking of an illegal substance. And before you even ask if I have proof ....." Ric reached in the box that sat on the floor next to the desk and pulled the evidence from the box and laid it on the table. Zander laid his head back and closed his eyes because he knew Ric had him dead to rights with what he's got in that box behind the desk.

    "And you had a search warrant for that?" Alexis asked, her mind thinking quickly of a way to get Zander out of this mess.

    "Yes I do." Ric pulled the search warrant from his jacket pocket and handed it to Alexis. "This collar is by the book, counselor."

    "May I see you a minute?" Alexis asked as she motioned to Ric she wanted to see him in private.

    Ric got up from his seat and followed her into the interrogation room, closing the door behind him.

    "What are you doing? Do you even know?!" Alexis questioned.

    "Look I'm not liking this any more then you are, Alexis! But I cannot sit by and watch my brother do his dirty dealings right underneath my nose!"

    "Okay, what about Zander's deal? He told me .."

    "Yeah Zander and I have a deal ... I gave him immunity for the murders of Sal and Miguel. Not for drug possession and distribution!"

    "Do you know what this is going to do to Emily?! Do you even care about your brother or his family?! Ric you can't do this to him and you know damn well that you left very little wiggle room for me to help him!"

    Ric hung his head because he knew she was right. He didn't think far enough ahead to consider Emily and Zander's family, he was focused more on taking down Zander's operation then what would happen when he did.

    "Okay what about a deal, Ric? A lesser charge, suspended sentence ...?" Alexis continued hoping Ric would realize that what he was doing. "Help me here, Ric ... give me something."

    Ric pondered Alexis's offer, but need more time to go over a few things before he'd give her a definite answer. "Look, I'll think about it, that's the best I can do for now."


  14. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 21


    The PCPD --


    Ric walked out of the interrogation room and back to the desk to finish up the paperwork, Alexis followed and asked to see her client.

    "May I see my client now?"

    Ric agreed and had Zander uncuffed from the chair, they walked into the interrogation room and Alexis closed the door for privacy.

    "Has he lost his mind?!" Zander shouted at Alexis and she offered him a seat.

    "Ric's doing what he thinks is the right thing to do."

    "The right thing to do? Does he know that this will destroy my family?! I'm not too concerned about my business but Emily will be devastated and not too mention she's at risk right now, Alexis! Being arrested could not of come at a worse time!"

    "I know, Zander .. I told him that. I'm working on a deal."

    "What kind of a deal?"

    "A lesser charge and a suspended sentence."

    "Alexis, do you know what Ric has in evidence? He's not going to go for that, especially when he has my entire shipment! He's got me over a barrel and he knows it."

    "Let's not get ahead of ourselves with thinking the worst of your brother ...." her thought interrupted by Ric walking into the room. Ric came in and closed the door behind him.

    "Okay, you know I've got you on a list of charges that will send your ass to Pentonville for the next 30 years ... BUT, I've thought about it and made a few phone calls."

    "And ... you're willing to deal with my client?"

    "IF he can give me what I want." Ric teased.

    "What more do you want, Ric .... I've already given you more then enough for the immunity deal."

    "I want the bigger fish, Zander ..... if I get him, I'll deal to a lesser charge, suspended sentence and you go home to your wife and family. If not, well then ....."

    "If not then .. what? You're gonna send your own brother to prison?!" Alexis spoke up.

    "Wait, so if I give you my contact, I'll walk on these charges plus our immunity deal still stands?"

    "That about sums it up." Ric answered waiting to hear Zander's decision.

    "You know what that does to me Ric? That will put the biggest red target on my forehead, bigger then one I already have on for Jason! ..... " Zander sat and thought about the options he was facing.

    "No ... no way. I'm not giving up my contact."

    "You better re-think that Zander ... the deal isn't on the table very long. Remember you have Emily to think about and your children." Ric hoping to play on Zander's weaknesses to get what he wanted from him.

    "If I do this deal, Ric ... I'm signing my death warrant as well as my family's. I am not putting them in any more danger then they are already in!"

    "With the evidence I have against you, Zander .... your children will have their own children when you next see them, do you want that?! Do you want Emily to raise those children alone for the next 15 to 20 years? Do you?!"

    Alexis stepped in and backed Ric off of Zander. "Give me a few minutes with him..."

    "Fine .. but like I said, this deal is fading fast, so if you want it, you better jump at it pretty quick." Ric walked out of the interrogation room and closed the door, leaving Zander to ponder the consequences of making the deal to save his life from prison or to make the deal and sign his death warrant.



  15. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 22


    The PCPD --


    Alexis placed both her hands on top of the table and leaned in towards Zander. He avoided looking at her by looking at the shiny silver bracelets he was wearing.

    "Look at me..." Alexis said and Zander looked up.

    "You need to take this deal Ric is offering you. You have Emily and your children to think about, Zander. You can't very well protect them from behind bars."

    "Yeah well I can't very well protect them if I'm dead! And taking Ric's deal will just be signing my death warrant, Alexis!"

    "Look, you signed your death warrant when you took over your father's business, Zander and Emily married you regardless, cause she loves you and she knows you will protect her! She trusts you! You can't go to prison and leave her with Devon, unprotected. You have no other choice but to take Ric's deal!"

    Zander couldn't imagine his life without Emily and his children, they are his world. He couldn't let his children grow up without a father and making the decision to take the prison term would be leaving without a father for the next 20 years. Alexis was right, he can't protect his family from behind bars. He had no other choice but to take Ric's deal.

    Alexis saw Zander was thinking over his options and excused herself from the room to talk with Ric. Perhaps leaving Zander to think on what she said would change his mind. She left the interrogation room and closed the door behind her, Ric meeting her when she emerged.

    "So .. did you talk some sense into him?"

    "I tried, I'm hoping he makes the right decision."

    "I hope so too, for Emily's sake. She needs him."

    "Yeah she does. Do you really need his contact, it sounds like he gave you plenty for the immunity deal?" Alexis asked.

    "You know the deal, Alexis .... Zander gives us the contact and I'll make sure things are in order for him to get a suspended sentence on these new charges."

    Ric and Alexis turned towards the interrogation room as Zander emerged and walked towards them. "The deal still on the table?"

    "You're doing the right thing, Zander." Alexis said as she stepped forward.

    "Oh one catch though." Zander said as Ric pulled out the paperwork.

    "What's that?"

    "Thomas is included in this deal." Zander replied and looked over towards Thomas still sitting and handcuffed to the chair.

    Ric sighed. "Okay, you give me your contact and you and Thomas can go. I'll work out the deals and give them to Alexis."

    A smile came over Zander's face. "So, tell me ... the contact?" Ric asked.

    "Can we not do this out here in the open?" Alexis led the way back into the interrogation room, Ric and Zander followed.

    Zander took a seat at the long metal table and Ric sat down across from him. Alexis closed the door and went to Zander's side of the table as Ric reached into his coat pocket for a pen. There was a tablet laying on the table in front of Zander and Ric laid the pen on top for Zander to use to write down what Ric wanted to know.

    "Okay Zander, tell me .... who's your contact?"

    Zander took the pen in his hand and wrote down his contact's name on the tablet in front of him. He turned the tablet around for Ric to read the name he had written down.

    "You have got to be kidding!" Ric blurted out.

    Zander smirked from across the table, "Ric, you wanted my contact and now you have him. I cannot help it he's on a cold, hard slab in the morgue."



  16. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 23


    At the PCPD --



    Sal Morales is .. was your contact?!" Ric replied as Zander smiled at him. "Well, Sal had been and then Miguel took over the last few years ...."

    "They came to Port Charles to see you ..."

    "Unfortunately yes they did."

    "Now I see why you wanted the immunity deal!"

    "Yeah, and now you can uncuff me, I have a wife who needs me." Zander replied as he showed Ric the handcuffs that still wrapped his wrists.

    Ric pushed himself away from the table and got up from his seat. He stormed out of the interrogation room and an officer came in to release Zander. Zander and Alexis walked back into the squad room and he noticed Thomas was still cuffed to the chair.

    Zander cleared his throat and Ric glared in his direction.

    "And Thomas? He was part of the deal, Ric." Zander said as he pointed towards Thomas.

    Ric motioned for an officer to release Zander's man from the chair. Some of the officers in the squad room blocked the doorway and Zander from leaving.

    "He's free to go ...." Ric said and shook his head for the officers to move out of Zander's way.

    As Zander walked towards the door, he heard the loud bang of Ric's clenched fist hitting the top of the metal desk in frustration and disgust.

    Zander stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around to look back at his brother, as Alexis walked up behind Zander and coaxed him thru the doors of the PCPD and out onto the front stoop.

    Zander gave Alexis a warm thank you kiss on the cheek .... "If you need me, I'll be at the hospital with my wife."








    Outside the PCPD --



    Zander and Thomas walked down the front steps of the PCPD, leaving Alexis standing alone as she cracked a smile while watching him walk to the limo that was waiting for him. She thought it strange that the street was empty, the silence was deafening, but that was shattered when gunfire echoed through the desolate city street and Zander suddenly fell to the ground.

    He laid lifeless underneath the lit streetlamp, Thomas lay with him. Alexis watched as the gunman ran towards a car that was waiting for him, Ric and other officers came running out of the police station when they heard the shots.

    "Someone call an ambulance, we've got two men shot out here!" Ric yelled back as he raced down the cement stairs to his brother's side.

    A few of the officers raced to their cars and gave chase to the car that sped away into the night. Sirens shrilled as the police cars took after the suspect, Alexis and Ric rushed to Zander.

    Hoping Zander was still alive, Ric turned him over and checked for a pulse, there was one but it was faint. Alexis knelt down by Zander and laid his head in her lap, she caressed his face and smoothed back his hair as tears stained her cheeks.

    "We gotta do something, Ric!" Alexis worried and in a panic.

    "There is so much blood, this can't all be Zander's." Ric noticed as he went to Thomas, who was lying next to Zander.

    "Is he ....." Alexis asked as she sat with Zander's head in her lap.

    "No, he's alive, but barely. Where is that ambulance?!"

    Officers began taping off the scene as they were instructed to do by Mac, who had come down the stairs to assess the situation.

    Ric stood up and was met by Mac.

    "Was it a hit?" Mac asked as he observed the two victims lying at his feet.

    "Yeah I think so."

    "The shots came from .... across the street." Alexis pointed. "He took off down the sidewalk to a car that was waiting for him at the end of the block." she explained as the ambulance sirens could be heard as it approached.

    "Well we have officers in pursuit, we'll get him." Mac said and he saw the medics had arrived.

    Alexis held onto Zander as the paramedics came onto the scene, their medical supplies in hand. One attended to Thomas as the other one knelt down beside Zander.

    "Ma'am you're going to have to get out of the way, so we can work on him." the paramedic said to Alexis as the evaluated Zander's wounds.

    "I'm not leaving him!" Alexis exclaimed tearfully as Ric came up behind her and tried to pull her back.

    "Come on, Alexis, let the men do their jobs ..." he said as she looked up at him, tears could be seen on her cheeks.

    Zander's blood stained Alexis's shirt and hands as Ric pulled her back from the scene, she focused still on Zander and watched as the paramedics worked feverishly on him. The officers around them treated the scene as a crime scene and one began to ask questions of her. She concentrating on Zander and not on anyone else, ignoring the officer who stood in front of her.

    Ric wrapped his arm around her ...."Zander's going to be alright. He has to be." tears fell from Ric's eyes as he spoke.

    Alexis turned into him and wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. Ric motioned for the officer to leave, that it was the wrong time to be asking questions from Alexis. The paramedics got Zander and Thomas both on gurneys and rushed them to the ambulance that was waiting. Alexis noticed and left Ric's arms to be with Zander.

    "I'm going with him!" Alexis demanded as she approached the paramedics.

    "I can't let you do that, ma'am ..."

    "I said I'm going with him!" she shouted again and tried to get into the ambulance. Ric came up behind her and his hands grabbed onto her arms and pulled her back.

    "Go! Go! We'll meet you at the hospital!" he ordered the paramedics.

    Alexis turned into him, and glared. "Zander needs me! How could you let him go without me?!" she cried angrily, the ambulance's sirens could be heard as it pulled away.

    "I know he does .. we'll meet them at the hospital. Come on, I'll drive."








  17. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 24





    At the ER ---


    Alexis and Ric raced through the emergency room doors looking for anyone who could tell them about Zander and his condition. They were immediately met by Bobbie, who had just gotten the page that there had been a shooting.

    "Bobbie! How is he?" Alexis asked as she tried to pull herself together.

    "How's who?" Bobbie asked as she was in a hurry to get to the patient the paramedics had brought in.

    "Zander, he was just brought in with a .... gun shot wound ..." Alexis replied as Bobbie was headed back to the triage area of the ER.

    "Gimme a few minutes ... " Bobbie replied and left Alexis with Ric in the waiting area of the ER.

    Alexis turned into Ric's arms. "He's going to be alright?" she asked looking for reassurance from Ric.

    "Zander's in very capable hands, Alexis. He's gonna be alright."

    "Emily ...." Alexis pulled back from Ric's arms.

    "I'm sure someone will tell her ...." he replied as he wrapped his arm around Alexis and led her to a chair to sit down.

    "It shouldn't just be someone, Ric ... she shouldn't hear this on the evening news or from some duty nurse."

    "Let's wait and see what Bobbie has to tell us and then we'll figure it out. Okay?" Ric tried consoling Alexis the best he could, but he was worried about his brother as well.

    As they sat waiting for word on Zander's condition, two police officers walked into the ER looking for Alexis. The two burly officers were looking for some answers to tonight's shooting. But to their surprise, Ric wasn't having any of it. Alexis had been through enough and she wasn't in any condition to be bombarded with questions from two rookie cops.

    The two rookies started giving Ric a hard time.

    "Look, my brother is in there fighting for his life, and you want to ask questions?!" Ric barked at the two rookies.

    "But ... you're .." the one rookie stammered.

    "Yeah I know who I am, now leave before I have both your badges!" Ric threatened to the two rookies.

    The rookies turned to walk away when Bobbie approached Ric and Alexis who were waiting in the lounge area. Alexis noticed Bobbie approaching and got up quickly, hoping there had been some news.

    "Well, how is he?" Alexis rushed to Bobbie concerned about Zander.

    "He's being prepped for surgery, the doctors are not sure on his prognosis. Alexis, he's in very capable hands. I'll be back when he's out of surgery."

    Ric steady Alexis from behind as he wrapped his arms around her. "There has to be more you can tell us, Bobbie?"

    "I'm sorry, Alexis, there isn't. We're just not sure where the bullets are lodged until we get in there. I'm telling you all I know right now."

    "Bullets?"

    "Yes, bullets. Zander took a few hits, but we're doing everything we can to save him. I'm sorry I don't have more info for you." Bobbie left Alexis with Ric, both frantic with concern.

    Alexis turned into Ric's arms as tears began to stream down her cheeks, obviously upset as Ric held her against him and comforted her the best he could.

    "Zander's strong, he'll get through this Alexis." Ric replied in a soothing voice.

    She pulled back from his arms and dried her tears with her hand. "You know as well as I do, Ric, we don't know that for sure. Ric, he could die! I couldn't handle that, Ric!"

    "I know, so we have to be strong for him, and stay positive, we can't give up on him. You know Zander, he's stubborn, he's not going to give up, he has too much to live for, Alexis."

    Ric held her in his arms for a few more moments, then he realized he should be making a few phone calls to family, his mom should know and someone should be with Emily.

    "Are you going to be alright, I should call our mother and tell her. She shouldn't hear this on the tv news or the radio."

    Alexis nodded that she would be alright .."What about Emily, we need to tell her."

    "We will, we'll got together and tell her, she'll need both of us there for support." Ric smiled and then left for a few minutes to call his mother.

    Ric returned and he along with Alexis walked somberly to tell Emily what had happened. When they reached Emily's room, Ric entered, Alexis followed close behind. Ric closed the door, Alexis stood in silence as she focused her eyes on the floor. Emily felt there was something wrong just by Ric and Alexis's lack of words to her. She saw it in their faces that something bad had happened to her husband and as Ric steadied her for the news, Alexis held onto her hand.

    Emily's cries echoed thru the empty corridors of the hospital as Ric and Alexis broke the news to her. Alexis sat with Emily while Ric went to meet his mother who was to arrive at the hospital. While Ric was gone, Emily and Alexis comforted each other, both were worried and afraid for Zander who was still in surgery.









    *Note there will be no more episodes of WICKED posted this week as I will be in LA all week. Episodes will resume on Wednesday 7/18.*









  18. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 25


    Emily's hospital room --


    "He's going to be okay, right Alexis .. please tell me he's going to be alright." Emily sobbed.

    "They're doing all that they can for him, Em ... Bobbie said they won't know anything till they get him into surgery, but he's in very capable hands." Alexis replied not wanting to make matters worse by saying something she shouldn't.

    "I want to go to the chapel and say a prayer for him, would you go with me?" Emily asked as she dried her tears.

    "Sure, I'll go with you." Alexis not at all religious but she knew it was important to Emily to find some comfort during this time.

    Alexis pulled over the wheelchair that sat in the corner of Emily's room to the bed and assisted Emily into it. She grabbed the blanket that lay across the foot of the bed and laid across her lap for warmth. Alexis put on Emily's slippers and then went to prop open the door.

    Alexis wheeled Emily down the hall to the chapel so they could light a candle and say a prayer for Zander, who was hanging on to dear life.

    "He thinks alot of you, Alexis." Emily said as she sat with Alexis staring at the lit candles.

    "I know he does, and I think alot of him."

    The two of them sat and each saying a little prayer for Zander, and Alexis thought, if miracles were real and really did happen, she had hoped that one of those miracles would happen for Zander now.




    In the ER --


    Ric walked into the waiting room of the ER where he had told his mother to meet him, she not knowing the hospital, he wanted to be sure she wouldn't get lost, the ER was the best place for them to meet. As he rounded the nurse's station, he saw Elenore sitting in the chairs waiting for him. He walked up to her and she stood up to greet him with a hug.

    "How is he?" she asked as Ric held her in his arms.

    "We don't know, he's in surgery."

    "Emily? Does she know?"

    "Alexis and I told her a short time ago, she took the news as I expected she would."

    "Take me to her, please, Ric."




    Emily's hospital room --


    Ric did as his mother asked and walked with her back to Emily's room. When they arrived, the room was empty. The guard outside Emily's room told Ric that Alexis had taken her to the chapel. Ric and his mother walked down the corridor towards the chapel, in the hopes of finding Emily there with Alexis.




    In the hospital chapel --


    Emily and Alexis sat in the first pew, Emily leaning on her for support, and neither had heard Ric and Elenore enter the chapel. They walked up to Emily and Alexis, Emily looking up to see Elenore standing there with her arms open. With Ric's help, Emily stood up from the pew and embraced Zander' s mother.

    "I'm so sorry, Emily." Elenore said softly.

    "I know, but Zander's going to be okay, he has to be."

    "We should be getting you back to your room, you know the doctor still has you on bedrest." Alexis reminded Emily and she nodded in agreement.

    Ric helped Emily back into the wheelchair and pushed her back to her room, Elenore and Alexis following close behind.



    Emily's hospital room --


    The four of them waited in Emily's room, for what seemed like hours, until they had heard anything about Zander. Ric decided not to wait, he went looking to find someone who could give him some answers, leaving Elenore and Alexis with Emily.

    Ric walked out into the hallway, where he was met by Bobbie who was returning from the OR, to discuss with Emily, Zander's condition.

    "So ..... how is he?" Ric asked anxious to hear about his brother.

    Bobbie didn't say anything, just led the way back to Emily's room, where the others were waiting. "I think it's best I tell all of you together." Bobbie finally spoke as she and Ric stood outside Emily's room.

    Emily sat herself up in the bed when she saw Bobbie enter her room with Ric leading. He held back and Bobbie went to Emily's side, she had a somber look on her face, and Emily knew it wasn't good news.




  19. 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."



  20. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 27





    Zander's ICU room --




    Elenore was unaware of Emily's presence in the room as Alexis wheeled her in to see Zander. "How is he?" Emily asked and startled Elenore.

    "He's the same, dear."

    "May I?" Emily asked implying she'd like to sit with her husband.

    "Oh sure, dear. Alexis and I will go get some coffee or something." Elenore replied as she and Alexis left Emily with Zander.

    Emily wheeled herself to Zander's bedside and reached for his hand to hold it. She quickly felt a light squeeze and she knew that he realized she was there with him. She brought his hand to her lips and softly kissed it as tears welled in her eyes.

    "Zander .. baby, I know you can hear me." she whispered to him as her other hand brushed back the nagging forelock from his eyes.

    "I want you to listen to me, okay .... we're going to survive this, you are going to be as good as new soon and I will be here waiting for you." she whimpered as she felt another squeeze on her hand.

    "Devon misses you, he loves his daddy so much." Emily said as she continued to talk to her husband.

    It had been about 6 hours since Zander came out of surgery, and Emily was hoping by now he'd be waking up. She sat a little longer with him, caressing his hand and talking to him, just so he'd know she was there with him.

    As she sat with him, she looked up and saw her parents standing just beyond the plexiglass window. She laid Zander's hand down and wheeled herself out into the hallway, her father holding the door open for her.

    "I hope Dr. Meadows gave you the okay to be out of bed, young lady?" Alan scolded.

    "Dad, I'm not 10 years old anymore. And yes, Dr. Meadows said it was okay for me to out of bed." Emily replied with a smirk.

    "There's no change?" Monica asked about Zander.

    "Not yet, he's still hasn't woken up. And to tell you the truth, I'm scared. He should of woken up by now."

    Alan stood behind Emily and comforted her as he caressed her shoulders. "Give it a few more hours, he's only been out of surgery 6 hours, sometimes it takes longer for some patients to come out of it."

    Emily sat with her parents in the waiting area across the corridor from Zander's room, she wanted to be near him in case he woke up.

    "How's Devon? Is he being a good little boy for you?" Emily asked.

    "Devon is just fine, he's really keeping Alice on her toes." They all chuckled at the thought.

    "I just wanted to thank you both for taking care of Devon while all this is going on."

    "There is no need to thank us, Emily. Devon is our grandson, of course we would take good care of him for you."

    "I know, but I also know how Dad and Zander are, and ...."

    "And Devon is no part of that. Zander and I have problems yes, and probably always will, but I don't hold that against Devon."

    "I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that the two of you ...." Emily hung her head as she realized what her words had sounded like to her parents.

    The three of them were startled to hear the alarm coming from one of machines in Zander's room. Monica rushed into the room to see what had happened, while Alan wheeled Emily to the doorway and told her to wait.

    "Zander! ....." Emily cried out to her husband.

    Monica checking the machines to find which one's alarm was blaring, and soon the sound stopped. As Monica turned off the alarm, she noticed a pair of eyes staring up at her.

    "Sorry." Zander whispered to her as a smile came over Monica's face.

    Alan realized that Zander had woken up and wheeled Emily to his bedside.

    Zander felt Emily's hand intertwine with his and he rolled his head towards her and smiled.

    "Hi ..." he whispered, his throat feeling like cotton.

    "Hi." Emily smiled at him so glad that he was awake.

    "We're going to leave the two of you alone, but only if you, Zander promise not to pull anymore alarms."

    Zander smiled, wanting to laugh, but it hurt too much. Monica took his smile as a promise and she and Alan left Emily with her husband.

    "Aren't you .." the words barely escaped Zander's lips, he trying to talk but with the cotton feeling in his throat, it was making it difficult.

    "Shhh .. don't try to talk, okay. And yes I'm suppose to be in bed, but Dr. Meadows said it would be okay if I came and sat with you for a while." Emily reassuring her husband that she would be okay there with him.

    She drew his hand to her lips and kissed them softly, thankful he was alive and grateful that he would be able to see his children grow up. It was her worst fear that Zander wouldn't be able to see his children grow up and be happy. She felt his hand caress her jaw and she leaned into it.

    Zander wanted to tell her just how much he loved her, and it took all that was within him to do so. "I love you so much, Zander." she whimpered as tears welled up in her eyes.

    "I .... love you .. too."









  21. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 28


    Zander's ICU Room --

    Ric had heard that Zander had woke up and rushed to his brother's bedside. He found Alexis and his mother standing outside the room, their noses pressed against the plexi-glass window, just watching Zander with Emily.

    "Hey, I got here as quickly as I could." Ric said to Alexis when he arrived.

    "Any word on who did this?" she asked as Ric tried to catch is breath.

    "We don't have anyone in custody yet, but we're pretty sure on who it was. It's just a matter of time before we catch him."

    Alan approached them and asked to speak with Zander before Ric went in to talk with him. Ric agreed and Alan entered Zander's room.

    "So, how are you feeling?" Alan asked as he picked up Zander's chart and reviewed it.

    "Like I got hit by a truck." Zander replied and Alan chuckled.

    "Yeah that's to be expected after what you've been through. I just stopped by to check on you."

    Alan stood at the foot of Zander's bed and pulled back the blankets to reveal his bare feet. It had been quite a few hours since the surgery but Alan wasn't expecting the swelling to go down quickly. "Tell me if you feel anything, okay?"

    Emily kept Zander's attention towards her so he couldn't see what Alan was going to do. She had been through these tests before and she knew what was coming, she hoped Zander would feel the pen running up and down the bottom of his foot as she smiled at him.

    Alan ran the bottom of his pen light up and down the bottom of Zander's bare foot, and he noticed he flinched at the sensation. Zander smiled and turned to look at Alan.

    "You felt that?" Alan said looking for confirmation from Zander.

    "Yeah I did. But I also feel some sensations, like tingles in my legs."

    "You will for a while, but it's a good sign that you felt the pen light on the bottom of your feet. The tingling will subside, as the swelling surrounding your spinal cord goes down, you'll get more and more feeling back in your legs and feet. I think right now it's safe to say that you will make a full recovery." Alan explained.

    While the blanket was pulled up, and Zander's feet exposed, Alan asked him to wiggle his toes. Alan wanted to make sure he had the movement as well as the feelings. Zander did what Alan asked him to, and he smiled.

    "Yeah, you're gonna be just fine. But we still need you to get some rest. It's going to be the best medicine for you right now and try not to move around too much, you have many stitches in you, and I don't want you opening them up. I'll check back later." Alan said and then left the room, the family waiting to hear Zander's prognosis.

    "So .... " Elenore began waiting for Alan to tell them what they had hoped to hear.

    "Zander's going to be just fine. But he needs his rest, so let's try to keep the visitors to a minimum." Alan suggested.

    Alan left the family and went on his rounds, as Ric stepped into the doorway and Emily turned to see him standing there. She motioned for him to come and Zander saw his brother standing at the foot of the bed.

    "Hey little brother." Ric said as Emily wheeled herself out of the way, so Ric could get closer.

    "Hey .. you've been here the whole time?"

    "Actually I've been chasing down the bad guys."

    "Oh, well you didn't have to go to far..." Zander replied, referring to himself as being one of them.

    "Yeah well, I was chasing down the bad guys who shot you and Thomas."

    "And ... did you catch 'em?" Emily asked.

    "Not yet, but we're close. We're pretty sure who contracted the hit, it's just a matter of following the paper trail to lead us to the trigger man."

    Zander winced as he tried to push himself up on the bed. "I had never seen the guy before, so who ever hired him certainly knew that I had been hauled in and was sitting waiting for me and Thomas to come out of the PCPD."

    "Well, according to what we recovered at the scene, which wasn't much, we determined this guy was a professional."

    "Yeah but professionals usually don't work with anyone else, Ric. I heard a car leave the scene."

    "True, but if the person who hired the gunman to kill you, wanted to see his work, don't you think he'd make sure he had a front row seat for the show?"

    "The only person who would gain from this is Lorenzo Alcazar."

    "Yes but there are also those who work for Morales, they would have much to gain by having you dead."

    "I'm thinking that the person who shot at Emily is the same person who shot me."

    Ric shrugged. "Makes sense. Thing is this person isn't the mind behind the operation, there are bigger fish beyond him, he's just the guy who they hired to take you out."

    It suddenly got very crowded in Zander's room, as Dr. Meadows came looking for her patient. "Emily, I think it's time for you to get back to bed. You and your baby need your rest too."

    Zander still weak and growing tired, reached for his wife. Ric stepped out of the way so Emily could get closer to her husband.

    "You do what the doctor tells you, okay?" he said hoping she'd listen to him.

    "Yeah but ..."

    "No buts ... you and the baby need your rest. I'll be fine. I don't want you to worry, okay." Zander smiled and reached up his hand and caressed her face.

    Emily nodded in agreement. She knew he was right, she did have to take care of herself and their baby and she was getting a little tired. She kissed the palm of his hand and smiled. "I love you, so much."

    "I love you too, baby.." Zander replied as Ric took a hold of the handle bars on the wheel chair and pulled Emily from his reach, their hands still reaching for one another.

    Dr. Meadows followed Ric and Emily out of Zander's room, Zander watching his wife leave his side and his mother enter the room after her.

    "Care for some company?" Elenore said as she sat down next to her son.

    "I would love it if you'd sit with me till I fall asleep?" Zander remembered how his mom used to tuck him in bed at night when he was a kid. She used to sit with him till he fell asleep, sometimes. Having her near him was always a comforting feeling for him.

    "Sure...." she smiled.

    Zander smiled and closed his eyes, he was more exhausted then he thought, and soon he was sleeping peacefully, while his mother sat by his side and held his hand, just like she used to.



    Emily's hospital room --




    "I want you to get some rest now, Emily." Dr. Meadows instructed her very pregnant patient.

    Ric helped Emily from the wheel chair to the bed and tucked her. She smiled at his bedside manner and laid her head back against the soft plush pillows.

    "Thanks Ric ..." Emily said and she yawned.

    Ric smiled in return and walked towards the door as if to leave but turned around ready to say something. "We're going to get him, you know?"

    "I'm sure you will do everything you can to catch them."

    "I promise you right now, we will catch them and they will pay for this."

    Emily was confident in Ric's abilities as an officer of the court, she knew when he said they'd pay for shooting Zander, he meant it and he wouldn't rest until all those involved were in prison for a very long time.


  22. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 29



    Lorenzo's Penthouse --




    "Zander's still alive and latest report is that he's going to make a full recovery." said the voice on the other end of Lorenzo's cell phone.

    "Dammit!!! I swear that guy has 9 lives!" Lorenzo shouted as he took his anger and frustration out on his cell phone and threw it against the wall of his apartment.

    "Look on the bright side, boss, he's only got 5 more lives left."

    "He wouldn't have any more lives left if you would of done a better job!"

    "Hey we can try again .."

    "No ... we can't Greg, this was a one shot deal! The cops are going to be all over this like ugly on an ape, we can't take the chance try it again."

    "Look, Zander trusts me, he's got me second in command now, there's no way he suspects one of his own. Lorenzo, I can do this .. I want to do this."

    "My question to is why? Why do want Zander dead? He's been good to you for a long time, Greg."

    "I'm tired of being the second, I want to be first for a change. You know how it works in this business Lorenzo, never getting your hands dirty, it's always the other guy who takes care of things for you, yet you get all the credit. Zander would be a big feather in my cap, Lorenzo."

    "Oh so your doing this for notoriety? You want your name in the paper saying that you were the one who took out Zander Smith, big time mob boss? Are you crazy or just plain stupid? No one does this for the glory, it's all about money and power, not for some front page news story!"

    "Look, I pretty much come from nothing, Lorenzo. Yeah the money is a major part of it, but so is recognition, acceptance from others like Zander. I've been his henchman for far too long, it's time for me to move up on the food chain. And if that means killing Zander, then .... then so be it."

    "But see, that's just it ... you had your chance and you fucked it up. I can't take this chance again, Greg. There's too much police activity right now about this shooting. They're soon going to put two and two together and get Lorenzo Alcazar."

    Greg was obviously disappointed that Lorenzo wasn't going to give him another shot at Zander. In Greg's mind, he didn't need Lorenzo take Zander out and to make it worth his while, he was in perfect position to frame Lorenzo for a killing that he did. A devilish smile came across Greg's face as these thoughts entered his mind, the plan was starting fall into place.

    "Okay fine. You take care of Zander yourself, Lorenzo. But just know that Zander will be back in business and he will still be a thorn in your ass." Greg replied and turned to leave Lorenzo's apartment.

    "Greg, wait." Lorenzo walked towards his desk and then pulled on the drawer to open it up. "Here, it's the last installment." Lorenzo handing Greg a overstuffed white envelope.

    Greg pulled open the envelope and exposed a wad of hundred dollar bills. "What's this for?" he asked shocked that Lorenzo was giving him the money.

    "Consider it severance pay." Lorenzo replied, his eyes stone cold. "Now get out and if you tell anyone about our arrangement, you won't get time to spend it." he threatened.

    Greg left Lorenzo's apartment and stood out in the hallway, grinning once again, the pieces to his plan were falling very nicely into place. He stuffed the envelope in his jacket pocket and left the apartment building, heading back to the warehouse. With Thomas and Zander both in the hospital, the warehouse was in need of someone to look after the shipment that was due later that night.



    On the docks --




    As Greg walked down on the docks towards the warehouse, he was met by a few of Zander's other hired hands. Greg stopped dead in his tracks when he noticed them blocking his path.

    "Gregory ... in a hurry to get someplace?" Cory asked as he smoothed out Gregory's suit jacket with his strong hands.

    "I'm heading over to the warehouse." he replied standing his ground and not letting on that he had just come from seeing Lorenzo by being nervous.

    "Oh, well ... we got the warehouse covered, we just came from there. Unless there was another reason you were headed there?" Cory said suspicious about Greg's motives for wanting to be at the warehouse.

    "Oh, okay .. I just wanted to check a few things out .. thinking you guys might need some help, you know with Thomas and the boss in ...."

    "Yeah we know ... I have one question for you though before you go." Cory replied as Greg made a step to walk away and Cory stopped him.

    "What's that?" Greg asked as he felt his heart racing, hoping they didn't notice the over stuffed pocket of his suit jacket.

    "If you're here, then who's at the hospital protecting Zander and Emily? Weren't you on guard detail?"

    Greg sighed a relief. "Frank's on Zander and I got Marcus to cover Emily's room. Don't worry, about it, I got it handled." he smiled.

    Cory raised an eye brow suspiciously and then left Greg go. He had a feeling there was more to Greg then any of them knew. He wasn't ready to bring his suspicions to Zander just yet, he wanted more proof that Greg had betrayed the organization.

    Cory pulled two of them with him closer. "You watch him like a hawk. You got me. I don't want him out of your sight for a minute."

    "You think something's up?" Trent asked as he watched Greg walk further and further away from them.

    "Yeah I do .. and it isn't good." Cory replied and then motioned for them to go.

    "You really think there's something going on, Cor?" Wade asked.

    "Yeah I do ... there's just something going on with Greg, I just can't put my finger on it. Come on, let's go see Zander and Thomas."


  23. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 3




    At the cabin ---


    Emily laid her arm across the bed and felt the coldness of empty space. Her eyes flew open and she realized her husband wasn't laying next to her. She slid out from underneath the blankets and shivered as the cold morning air surrounded her. She reached for her robe and slipped it on to dampen the chill before searching for her missing husband.

    Emily made a quick check on Devon, he was sound asleep in his crib and she closed the door quietly. She made her way to the stairs and took a few steps towards the landing. As she came down the steps, a smile came across her face. She stood and watched for a few moments, Zander so peaceful and relaxed as he slept on the couch in the living room. She bit her bottom lip and held her hand against her stomach as she walked down the steps wondering if she should wake him. She left him sleep a little longer as she went into the kitchen and brewed a fresh pot of coffee.

    She turned on the small television that sat on the counter as she walked in and turned on the local network, hoping to catch the news. She went about getting the mugs from the cupboard and making fresh coffee, not really paying attention to the broadcast but listening to what the reporter had to say.

    "Organized crime in Port Charles is once again under the watchful eye of the Port Charles Police Department and the District Attorney's office, after last night's fatal attack on the waterfront. As we reported last night 2 men associated with organized crime are dead, and at last count 4 others are in serious condition at General Hospital. Police are still investigating the attack last night, but sources say it all started in the warehouse on Pier 52 and escalated from there. According to reports, the two men who were killed in last night's incident, were new to Port Charles and had just arrived a few days prior. Police were unaware of their presence in Port Charles and are looking into the reasons why. The names of the deceased are Sal Morales and his son Miguel. The others who were injured in last night's attack have not been named as of yet. As more information becomes available we will be sure to pass it along."

    Emily stood in shock at the turn of events that she was listening to as she held her hand to her mouth and the other one on her stomach. She wondered if Zander knew about what had happened on the waterfront last night. She rushed to the living room and found him sitting up on the couch rubbing the sleep from his eyes trying to revive himself from his night's sleep.

    "Zander? Did you hear about last night?" Emily asked as she came into the room.

    "Yeah I heard. Thomas called and told me." he replied knowing she was talking about the shooting on the docks.

    She came and sat down beside him and reached for his hand as she laid her head against his arm. "I'm just glad it wasn't you ...." her words drifted off as she felt his arm wrap around her and held her against him.

    "But it could of been." he said realizing that it was him a few months ago lying in the hospital of a gunshot wound, it wasn't the first time and he didn't think it would be the last.

    "Yes but it wasn't this time, and for that I'm grateful." she replied as she looked up at him. "I remember that night you were shot, my mom called from the hospital and she didn't have to say anything, I knew you were hurt. I knew it, Zander. I felt it, I felt something was terribly wrong. It was the worst night of my life, I thought I lost you that night, Zander....." her words became sniffles as her eyes filled with tears and she leaned into him. His arms wrapped around her tighter as he tried to comfort her.

    "I'm so sorry, Em ...." was all he could say as he held her in his arms.

    Their moment together was interrupted by a knock on the door of the cabin. Emily wiped her tears as Zander rose from his seat to answer it, but not before reaching behind his back and pulling his weapon from his waist band. After the phone call last night from Thomas, he thought it best to be prepared for the unexpected.

    He peered out the window to see who was the door, and saw Ric standing on the porch waiting for him. He put the gun back in his waist band and opened the door and then stepped out onto the porch with Ric. Ric turned to see his brother walk out onto the porch, and Zander noticed a change in Ric on this visit. It wasn't a social call this time, this was business .... police business.

    "I guess you heard about last night?" Ric asked as Zander closed the front door and approached him.

    "Yeah I did. I take it this is not a social call." Zander replied as he leaned up against the railing and eyed his brother.

    "Not this time, little brother. I need to ask you a few questions about the two who were killed last night."

    "What do you want to know, Ric?" Zander got defensive.

    "I need to know how well you knew Sal Morales and his son Miguel?"

    Memories flashed in Zander's mind about the man he knew only as Uncle Sal. His father had many dealings with the man from Puerto Rico and Sal was a frequent visitor in their home in Miami. Zander never really knew his father's business associates, but Uncle Sal was one he knew quite well. Sal's son Miguel had been raised in the family business, like Zander and it was obvious that he would take over the organization when Sal thought it was time. Miguel was a rough character, though wore the finest of clothes and had an excellent education from the finest schools, his business ways were deadly.

    Ric saw Zander had drifted from the conversation. "How well did you know Sal and his son, Miguel?" Ric asked again.

    Zander looked at his brother, not knowing if he should tell him that he grew up knowing Sal Morales as his Uncle Sal. It wouldn't be the first time that Zander lied to his brother, but he had thought he was beyond the childish games of lying and having Ric cover for him. But telling Ric the truth could drudge up a whole lot more then he was ready for.

    "I knew them, Sal was a business associate of my father's. Do you think Sal being in Port Charles has something to do with Frank?"

    "No, I think it had something to do with you."
  24. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 30



    On the docks --



    The two burly men took the stairs and headed for the hospital.

    Trent and Jerry followed Greg close behind, but not close enough that Greg noticed. "I think Cory's paranoid, Greg isn't that stupid to betray the organization." the words slipped from Trent's mouth.

    "Are you sure about that, Trent? I mean there would a whole lot of money involved if he did." Jerry replied.

    "Yeah but Greg should know that if Zander found out, he wouldn't live long enough to spend it."

    "This true, doing something that stupid would be signing your own death warrant. But this is Greg we're talking about." The two men chuckled at Jerry's remark and soon they had arrived at the warehouse, where in a few hours would be filled with brand new product.

    Trent still laughing under his breath .... "Come on, we got work to do."





    Zander's ICU Room --




    Cory and Wade walked into the ICU area looking for Zander's room. Ric was standing outside watching as his mother sat with Zander while he slept.

    "You lost, DA Lansing?" Cory asked as he and Wade approached.

    "No Cory I'm not lost, I just stopped by to see my brother before going back to the station."

    Elenore emerged from the room when she heard voices in the hallway. "Do you guys mind? This is a hospital."

    "Sorry ... we just came by too see how Zander was doing." Wade spoke up and glanced into Zander's room.

    "The boss man is doing fine!" Zander shouted from his bed loud enough so his men could hear that he was awake.

    Cory and Wade went to Zander's bedside while Elenore and Ric watched on from outside the room.

    "Aren't the two of you suppose to be at the warehouse with Greg?" Zander asked as his men stood next to him.

    "Yeah, that's what we came to talk with you about."

    "There's a problem?"



    PCPD Squad Room ---




    Ric took the files from the officer and thanked him. He laid the folder down and opened it up. There was a stack of papers in front of him, bank statements and copies of transactions that had been occurring for the past 6 months. Ric looked over the statements and followed the money from one account to the next, it finally leading him to the original source. He looked up and noticed a few officers gathered around the desk next to him.

    "Bring in me Lorenzo Alcazar!" Ric ordered the officers.

    "On what charge, sir?"

    "Three counts of attempted murder!" he bellowed and Mac came hurrying over to him.

    "You got proof?" Mac asked before allowing the officers to go anywhere.

    "Proof enough?" Ric handed the bank statements to Mac.

    Mac looked over the paperwork in the file and nodded to the officers. "Go pick him up."

    "You got this evidence, where?" Mac asked as he handed the file back to Ric.

    "Martinez. He said he found what I was looking for and handed me the paperwork."

    "Martinez!" Mac called for the officer.

    "Yes, sir." he came rushing over to Mac.

    "This paperwork, where did you get it?"

    "It came special delivery, sir."

    "Messenger service?" Ric asked wondering who would of went through the trouble of gathering it and sending it to the police station.

    "Yes, sir. About 20 minutes ago."

    "Get it to forensics right away and lift the prints. Hopefully the person who sent it, left some behind." Mac ordered.

    "Do you think the statements are legit?" Ric questioned.

    "One way to find out." Mac replied and handed Ric the phone receiver.

    Ric dialed and reached the bank that the funds were drawn on. He checked the transactions with the teller and she confirmed they were factual and had been signed for by the account owner. Ric hung up the receiver and handed the file back to Mac.

    "They're legit. But is it enough?"

    "We'll soon find out." Mac replied.


  25. SoapQueen89
    EPISODE 31


    Zander's Warehouse --





    Cory and Wade stood watch outside the warehouse, while Greg secured the inside. He lurked about the shadows of the warehouse and checking on the office door more then twice in the last 10 minutes, Greg was nervous and worried that his counterparts outside were on to him and his discreet dealings with Lorenzo. The uncrated product sat in stacks as Greg stared at the millions of dollars that sat in front of him. It wouldn't take but a minute for him to take his own cut and no one be the wiser.

    He walked over to the tallest stack and snatched a bag from the top. Greg quietly and cautiously made his way to the back of the warehouse and out into the alley where his car sat parked in the shadows. He propped the warehouse door and then scurried to his car, popping the trunk so it was open when he got there. He pulled back the carpet in the trunk and stashed the bag he had hidden underneath his jacket, and pulled the carpet back into place. He closed the trunk quietly, and rushed back inside, looking over his shoulder being sure no one was watching him. He stepped inside the warehouse and closed the door behind him. He leaned up against the inside of the door and breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he did so, he was taken by surprise by a blaring light in his face.

    "Taking a break, Greg?" Cory asked as he held his flashlight on his friend.

    "Yeah, I just needed some air." Greg replied as he tried to hide that his heartbeat was racing and he was out of breath.

    Cory was suspicious of Greg and his excuse, but needed more then just theories and suspicions. Cory turned off the flashlight and turned his back on Greg as he started to walk away. Greg knew just by Cory's behavior that Cory was suspicious about him and there was no way, Greg was going to wait to be caught and face his boss for betrayal. Greg drew his 9mm from his waistband and swung the butt hard against the back of Cory's neck. Cory fell to the ground like a bag of bricks, face down in the dark, Greg turned and ran out the back door of the warehouse. He jumped in his car and took off down the alley, leaving Cory, not knowing if he was dead or alive.

    Wade had heard the squealing of car tires and saw the bright red tail lights speed down the street and he jumped into action. With his weapon drawn, he entered the warehouse, hoping to find Cory lurking about in the shadows. Instead he found Cory face down on the ground, just beginning to stir.

    "Cory .. what happened?!"

    "Greg happened! He blindsided me with the butt of his gun." Cory replied as he rubbed the back of his neck.

    "Why would he do that?"

    "I told you before, that something strange was going on .... this just proves it!"

    "Zander is not going to be happy about this, Cory."

    "Yeah no kidding and I want to be the one size up Greg for cement shoes!" Cory infuriated at Greg for hitting him in the back of the neck.

    Greg took off down the street as fast as his car would take him. The product nicely tucked away in the trunk of his car, he headed to the one person he knew of that would be interested in taking down Zander and taking the territory right out from underneath him.

    Wade helped Cory to his feet, Cory still massaging his neck. "We gotta call Zander."


    "I hate to do that, but I think in case we have to." Cory replied and Wade pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

    "You do it." Wade said as he handed the phone to Cory.

    "Why me?" Cory replied as he looked down at the phone.

    "Zander like's you best." Wade chuckled.

    Cory rolled his eyes and took the phone from Wade. He dialed Zander's room at the hospital and waited for him to pick up.

    "Hello ..." the voice answered on the other end, Cory recognizing it was Zander who answered.

    "Boss ... we have problems."

    "What kind of problems?"

    "Greg ... he knocked me out and took off with a bag of the shipment."

    "Are you alright?" Zander asked worried about his guard.

    "Yeah, I'll have a headache till next week, but I'll be fine. What do you want to do about Greg?"

    "Find him, and bring him to me. I'll deal with Greg!"

    Zander hung up the phone and Cory and Wade rushed out the door on the hunt for their former friend, Greg.









×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy