Chapters 11 & 12

 

Chapter 11 Into Each Life a Little Rain Must Fall

The docks. Seeing her mother sitting nearby waiting for the launch, Lu breaks away from Gabe and greets Laura.

In an attempt to sneak away unnoticed, Gabe moves off to the side and picks up his pace.

"Hey wait a sec, don't take off!" Lu calls after the rapidly retreating figure. She breaks into a slow trot to catch up with him. "Hey," She smiles brilliantly. "You can come over you know. . . ."

"I was just walking you as far as the docks, that's it." Gabriel answers shortly. "I'm not interested in your stinking family."

Lu takes his arm and leads him towards Laura. "Don't be ridiculous, they're YOUR family too. And we are precious you thick-skulled creep! My mother, your grandmother is absolutely DYING to meet you. Why don't you come back with me?" Her tone turns pleading. "Come on Gabe, give us a chance."

Gabe follows her reluctantly, because to refuse would mean he'd have to pry himself out of her iron grip. "Anyone every tell you you're a pain in the a-?"

"All the time." Lu answers soberly. "But only after they do what I tell them to." Flashing a dimple, Lu leads Gabe over to a bench where Laura sits.

"So you are my prodigal grandson, " Laura greets him warmly. "Well, come over here and sit down. I need to get a good look at you." Holding out both soft lily-white hands, Laura pulls Gabe down next to her. "Oh my, aren't you handsome? Not the spitting image of your father. . . .no not the spitting image, but still there's something. . . "

Gabe's dark eyes reluctantly meet Laura's deep blue pools. "It's nice to meet you. . . ."

"Call me Grandmother. I've found I like the sound of it."

Completely charmed by the genuine happiness in the old woman's kind face, Gabe can feel himself start to relax somewhat.

"There!" Laura exclaims suddenly. "At this very moment you look so much like your grandfather, it's almost eerie." Laura remarks softly. "It's not really in your coloring, Luke was fair like me... or in your eyes, they must be your mother's. But in the way you carry yourself, and in your smile... I can see my darling son, and my Luke."

"Luke?"

"Lucky's father, my late husband. He died the year before you were born. And in a way, if Luke hadn't died, you probably wouldn't be here with us today." Laura explains gently. The sound of thunder rumbles in the distance, causing Laura to look up at the dark gray sky. "It's a long story and there's a storm brewing. Why don't you come back to Wyndemere with me and I'll tell you all about it?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A small dance studio. Alone in the room Anna Morgan stretches gracefully to the lilting classical music. Dressed simply in a black leotard she bends and flexes, catching one heel and extending her leg straight up. Then assuming first position, her back straight and shoulders squared, she begins to rise up on her toes and stand on point. Making several complicated steps, she eases into leaps and jetes across the room. Her pent up frustration and anger coming out in a frenzy of dance and movement.

Unnoticed in the side doorway, a handsome man in his mid-twenties stands watching her. He is wearing a black leather jacket, black slacks, and sunglasses. He folds both his arms across his chest and studies Anna closely, as if deciding how best to approach her. Their relationship in the past several months has grown increasingly uneasy. But what's a guy supposed to do? So far in the past six months Anna Morgan had been on an unholy mission. Her purpose, to scare off every single potential girlfriend within a fifty mile radius. At first it had been kind of cute. But now that she was growing up, it has become something more. And Stone Corinthos had no idea how to handle the girl/woman he's adored all his life. But right now, none of that matters, only that she is hurting. "Anna?"

Stone's rich voice pulls Anna up out of her almost frenzied dance. In his voice is a wealth of sympathy and caring... it's irresistible. She flings herself across the room and into his waiting arms. "STONE!" Secure against him, Anna lets the emotions of the past several days wash over her in a flood of tears.

Stone merely holds her close and strokes her long blonde hair, ignoring the sudden impulse to stem Anna's tears with a kiss.

"How did you know?" Anna sniffles.

"Michael called me, I figured you'd be here." Stone brushes back an errant lock of her hair and peers down into Anna's red-rimmed eyes. "You gonna be okay? Mike sounded like hell."

"He's a jerk, and don't tell me he's not! He's selfish! And mean and hateful!" in a fit of angry frustration, Anna whirls away from Stone.

Calmly Stone lights up a cigarette and shakes his head at Anna's frown. His expression clearly says 'I don't want to hear it.' "Mike loves you, Kiddo. Even though, he's not the touchy-feely type, he's hurting as much as you are."

"But he lashes out at Mom."

"Well who else is there for him to be mad at?" Stone slips out of his jacket and drops into a chair next to a small refrigerator. "Come on, Anna. Just because you're not mad at your mother doesn't mean that Mike shouldn't be."

"Who says I'm not mad at her Stone? Huh? Of course I am mad at her! And I get mad at Daddy too for not making her stay! And I get mad at everything! But it doesn't help to lash out does it? It won't bring back Robbie! It won't put Mom and Dad back together! And if Mike keeps acting like this, maybe Mom will decide not to come back at all!" Anna blurts out.

"So that's what's got you scared?"

"I am NOT scared, Stone Corinthos! NOTHING scares me!" Anna huffs. "Geesh! I think Alexis was married to a shrink too long! You sound just like one!"

"Ha-ha-ha." Stone mutters. "So you okay?"

"Fine." Anna answers, then notices his silk shirt and pressed slacks. "Are you going somewhere?" She asks impertinently

"I was on a date when Mike called. In fact she's kind of waiting for me at Cafe Mattisse." Stone hedges. "Unless you need something."

"Oh no, go ahead." Anna declines graciously. "Have a good time. And Stone?" She adds as he just crosses the threshold.

"Yeah Anna?"

"Thanks for being here." Anna nods in his direction. "I always know I can count on you." She pauses for a moment. "Actually. . .could you give me a lift home? I ran here, but it looks like it's going to start raining any minute and I don't have an umbrella."

"Sure." Stone replies easily, relieved because if she was going home, there'd be no way to ruin his date. "Go ahead and get changed. I'll run you home."

"Thanks Stone."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Alone in a darkened Morgan home, a dejected-looking Michael sits slumped in a chair, clutching a photo to his chest. He is so lost in thought, he is unaware when the door opens to reveal Jason.

"Michael? Son?" Jason moves to turn on the lights but Mike holds out a hand to stop him..

"Leave them off please, Dad?" His voice is empty and brittle.

"You saw your mother?" Jason approaches the boy carefully and pries the photo out of Michael's arms. It is a picture of one of Anna's birthdays. The four of them were all dressed up and smiling broadly. Robin has both arms wrapped around her children. "I'm sorry, Michael."

Michael rips the picture from his father and flings it with all his might across the room. "I HATE HER!"

After a moment of stunned silence, Jason speaks softly. "I know you're angry. I know how it feels. Heck, I've been angry too. And even though she hardly ever shows it to you or me, Anna's been angry too. It's natural. What I don't understand is why you can't move past it. . .why it's still so raw."

"Anna's not angry!" Michael answers derisively. "She's talking about spending the SUMMER with that woman! Can you believe it? Just like any other summer vacation with her mother the Nun!" Michael dashes away a tear and stomps around the room. "It's not right, Dad! And I know you'll hate me for saying this, but it would have been easier if she had died!" Stunned at his own words, he lets his hands fall to his sides and hangs his head.

Jason stands and embraces his son tightly. "I could never hate you, Michael. I love you and your sister more than my own life." He whispers softly. "And I'll tell you a secret. You're why I could never hate your mother." Jason clasps his son closer to his beating heart. "Your mother gave you life. How can I hate her? You and Anna are my life. And so was Robbie. Losing Robbie was too much for your mother and I to take. I shut her out and she turned to the church. But eventually we managed to stop blaming one another. Why can't you?"

"Because it should have been me!" Michael's words are torn from him as he leans weakly against his father. "I was supposed to be the one walking with Robbie. I told Mom I was going to take Robbie to the park and at the last minute I backed out because some guys wanted to play ball. So Mom said she'd take him." His sobs increase until they are shaking his body. "And you know what? I wish I'd died with Robbie."

Horrified at the guilt his son is carrying around, Jason is almost speechless. "No. Don't say that... EVER."

"Yes. It seems like everything died when Robbie did. I just couldn't take it anymore, Dad. And it's been easier to blame Mom than to admit that it was all my fault. . ." Mike's eyes widen hopefully. "Maybe if I tell Mom it's all my fault she'll come home! Do you think, Dad? Do you think there's a chance?"

"Michael." Jason whispers brokenly. "I had no idea you were thinking like this. No idea at all. It's not your fault. and it's not your Mom's fault." He leads Michael to the sofa, keeping him close. "My son. God." He shakes his head. "I love you, Michael. Don't blame yourself."

"I'm sorry Dad. I'm so sorry." Michael whispers into his father's shirt.

*~*~**~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~

"I want this done tonight." His gold crest on his ring reflects in the mirror as he holds the phone up to his ear. "I want to take possession of Ms. Collins now. But I want it done swiftly and discreetly. The storm should provide sufficient cover for any prying eyes." Waiting for an affirmative answer on the other end of the line, the man hangs up and adjusts his cufflinks. "Soon Dominique, very soon."


*~*~**~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~

The Firehouse. Listening to the thunder roll, Dominique scans the list Simon had brought her of people who might benefit if her security software never got into the hands of the government. One name keeps coming up. A Mr. Lee. Number one with a bullet (so to speak), on the F.B.I's most wanted list for weapons trafficking and numerous other violations. What strikes Dom the most though is how little is known about this mystery man. It's been rumored that he's been hiding in plain sight in Port Charles, but so far no one who has done business with the man has been willing to talk. Some had gone so far as committing suicide in their cells rather than discuss the powerful underworld figure. "Well Beyanu, I think Mr. Lee might be our man. But if the F.B.I can't figure out who he is, how can I?" With those words, the lights go out and Dom is left sitting alone in the dark.

Chapter 12: A Little Falling Rain, Can hardly Hurt Me Now

Winds whip through the night in Port Charles. Sheets of driving rain pound against window panes and lightning splits the sky. Simon's houseboat is still in the middle of the storm, it's moorings secure against the rolling waves outside. Dressed only in a pair of black sweat pants Simon sits in the lotus position and rolls his shoulders back to relax them. Then he begins a series of slow, almost hypnotic movements from one yoga position into the next. A particularly loud clap of thunder breaks his focus. "DAMN! I have got to stop thinking about her." He curses loudly, giving up meditation for his favorite form of relaxation. Food. Somehow through either environment or simply karma, Simon had inherited Lucy's astonishing appetite as well as Kevin's culinary skills. Moving to the kitchen, he begins to remove several pans from the chef's rack over the stove and then begins to empty the contents of his refrigerator. Hearing a loud noise like a shot, Simon grabs his weapon from the counter top and races to the door and flings it open. Like a conjured vision, he sees Lu across the marina, standing next to her car. The tailpipe of her car is smoking, obviously having backfired. She punches numbers in on her cell phone stamping her feet when she gets no reply.

"Lu!" Simon waves his arm to get her attention. "Come on in! Hurry up before you get soaked any more!" He can feel himself get drenched, and his jet black hair sticks to his face and neck. He races out to the car, and smiles crookedly at Lu. "An awful night to get stranded, huh?" He takes her arm. "Come on! Mom always said her kids needed the sense to come in out of the rain!" He laughs as they make a mad dash for his houseboat.

"Come in." Simon pulls Lu up on the deck of the boat and holds the door for her. "You're soaked. There should be some clothes from Dom and Des lying around somewhere." He mutters to himself. "I have no idea how they manage to leave clothes in all of our houses, but I think everyone's given up trying to figure it out." His chuckle is indulgent.

"I hate to be such an imposition," Lu offers uncomfortably.

"You're not!" Simon blurts out, then rephrases it. "Really you're not an imposition." He leads Lu to a small side room where there is just a small bed and a chest of drawers. "You should find something in here to fit." He says. "I'll go up and change and meet you in the kitchen. I hope you're hungry!"

Opening the dresser, Lu removes a pair of sweat pants, thick socks, and a white T-shirt. Using one of the towels on the old fashioned rack on the back of the door, she dries her thick dark hair till it's fluffy, then makes a quick call for a tow truck. Afterwards she joins Simon in the kitchen. "Looks like I'm going to be here for a while, I just called a tow truck and they had no idea when they could get to me. What can I do to help?" She offers, watching as a freshly changed Simon pulls his hair back once more.

"Keep me company." Simon answers as he begins to rinse some vegetables. At Lu's curious gaze, he shrugs his shoulders. "I can't have someone in the kitchen with me. It's my dad's fault. He used to tell my mother he'd rather see his kitchen burned to the ground than have her try to make anything more complicated than tea and a bagel." Removing a large knife from a drawer, Simon chops vegetables rapidly as he talks. "Destiny is the same way."

"I hardly ever get the time to cook," Lu replies. "Too busy."

"Too busy for food? Never!" Simon protests.

As she sits back and watches him as he cooks, Lu can believe that Simon knows what he's talking about. His hands move swiftly and competently, almost as if by rote, freeing his mind up to do other things. "This is a lovely home." She observes.

"The boat was a gift from Uncle Scott. I think it was his effort to get us kids out of the lighthouse before mom and dad were too old to enjoy it. Feel free to take a look around." He offers.

Lu slides off the kitchen stool and strolls around the living room, occasionally picking up a picture and asking Simon about it. Finally she admires one of Kevin's many paintings. "I think that this is probably my favorite of all these." Lu stands before a canvas with shades of blue all cascading, and flowing one from the other.

Wiping his hands on a dish towel, Simon comes to stand behind Lu. "Really? Mine too. Dad may have started painting a few portraits here and there, but I think at heart he's an abstract kind of guy. This was one of a series he painted, there's one for Serena, Destiny, and Dominique as well."

"Oh right, I think I remember hearing about these several years ago." Lu snaps her fingers in recognition. "There was a lot of fuss because Kevin wouldn't sell any of them."

"Dad felt that they should stay in the family," Simon explains. "You know, I just realized I haven't offered you anything to drink. What can I get for you? I've got some white wine . . . . "

"Sounds great." Lu agrees enthusiastically, feeling a small *pang* at the feel of his hand on her arm. She ruthlessly crushes it and turns back to the kitchen. "You know the first time Dominique told me her brother lived on a boat named "Forever Jung" I didn't get it." She laughs sheepishly.

Simon's warm chuckle reverberates in his throat. "It's Uncle Scott's idea of a joke. I think he dated Gina for too long." Simon pours his own glass of wine and gestures for Lu to join him on the couch. "Dad groans every time he sees it, and then mutters something about getting even with Pepe."

Seeing the stacks of movies piled next to the VCR Lu raises an eyebrow. "Planning a movie marathon?"

"Yes as a matter of fact." Simon answers. "Pick out one you like and we can watch until dinner is ready."

Sorting through the stack Lu notices that several that she already owns. "This! This one is perfect! I love this movie! I've watched my copy so many times that I've worn it out!" Holding aloft one of her favorite movies, she slips it into the VCR and turns it on.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A deserted road leading away from town.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Anna exclaims in disbelief. "We can't really be out of gas!"

"Well we are!" Stone snaps. "Out of gas and my cell phone isn't working. Must be some sort of interference with the storm."

"So what do we do now?" Crossing her arms, Anna glares out at the storm around them. "Because I am not about to walk home in this rain!"

"We sit and wait and hope someone as stupid as us is out on a night like tonight." Stone slides his seat back into a reclining position and folds both hands under his head. "And I get to chalk this up to another date you've ruined."

With an outraged gasp, Anna turns her face from the window to scowl at Stone. "I beg your pardon? I did NOT ruin your date! Geez Stone! You make it sound like I siphoned the gas out of your tank and conjured up the forces of nature to convene in a terrible storm. . . . and your cell phone, let's not forget your cell phone, I must have done something to that too! Why considering how powerful I am, ya gotta wonder what a goddess like me is doing wasting her time on the likes of YOU!" Her tirade over, Anna turns away from Stone and back to the window.

Stone stifles a small chuckle at her indignation. "Yeah, ya gotta wonder." But as always she never admitted to ruining his other dates on purpose. Watching Anna with half closed eyes, Stone can see the gears in her head moving, and at the next clap of thunder she is over the console and half in his lap, shaking with either suppressed laughter, or supposed fear.

"Oh! That was so close it scared me!" Anna gasps, wrapping both arms around Stone's neck. Resting her tousled head on his shoulder, Anna settles in and sigh contentedly. "Oh, that's muccccch better." Her voice is a throaty purr.

"Anna. . . " Though Stone's words are cautioning, his arms clasp her reflexively, to keep her from sliding to the floor of the car. "This is a bad idea."

"Why?"

Despite the fact her words are deceptively simple, Stone knows better than to answer that question with anything more than an evasion. "It just is."

Placing her hand on the side of Stone's face, Anna smiles trustingly up at her lifelong friend, savior, and the man she considered her soul mate. "No it's not." With the certainty of a woman in love, Anna places a small kiss on the underside of Stone's strong jaw.

"Anna! You shouldn't do that." Grasping her wrists in his hands, Stone pries her arms from around his neck. "You're just a kid!"

"No I'm not! Not any more I'm not, Stone Corinthos! And don't you forget it!" Anna's lower lip trembles. "I'm not going to let you just push me away cause you're scared. You don't want anyone to know that the great big tough Stone Corinthos loves somebody. . . . .me. And you don't want to ruin your reputation for being the male equivalent of a tart!"

"Now wait just a minute!" Stone storms, grateful for the change of emotion and the excuse to gently push the lovely girl off his lap. He returns to lecture mode. "Who I see is none of your business!"

"Yes it is! I've been in love with you forever Stone! You know it! Alexis knows it! Mom knows it and so does Daddy! I loved you before I even knew what the word meant! And don't shake your head at me like I am just a little girl. . . . I'm not! I'm old enough to know what I want. And you can date all the models you want but you're never going to love any of them! Not the way you love me!"

Frustrated physically, mentally, and emotionally, Stone throws both hands up and turns away from Anna to rest his face against the glass window and take several slow, deep breathes in an effort to control his raging hormones. It had been like this for the past three years. Ever since the day he'd woken up and realized that little Anna Lila Morgan was no longer little. And instead of a clingy, fragile child, he found a smart, funny sexy young woman who loved him more than anything. It has taken all of his willpower and resolve not to take her in his arms and end any lingering doubts about his feelings for her.

Tired of the oh-so-typical silent treatment any time things got to close with Stone, Anna grabs her bag and flings open the car door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Stone demands angrily.

"Where I'm less likely to get the cold shoulder!" Anna slams the car door shut and begins walking towards home.

Stone jumps out of the car and trails behind her. "Your brother and father will kick my *** if I let you walk all the way in the rain," he growls in aggravation.

"What I do is none of your business, Stone. You've made that clear." Anna doesn't look back at him. "I'm an adult, I can take care of myself."

"Grow up, little girl. If you want to be treated like an adult start acting like one instead of throwing tantrums whenever you don't get your way." Stone's words cut to the quick. "Grow up and realize that just because you want something doesn't mean it's just going to magically happen that way. I have my own life, Anna. And I don't need you interfering in it."

The soft, fat raindrops mingle with Anna's tears as she refuses to allow Stone the satisfaction of knowing he's made her cry. A battered classic truck pulls up along side Anna and Stone, and a dark head pops out the window. "You folks need a ride?"

"No." Stone answers tersely.

"Yes." Anna replies, waiting for the owner of the truck to open the door.

"Anna!"

"My life, Stone, and it's time I made my own decisions." Anna remarks softly before climbing in next to a handsome Native American man who studies her for a moment. "My house is a few miles up the road. I really appreciate you stopping like this."

"No problem, but I don't think that your friend back there appreciates it very much." Gabe remarks. "By the way, my name is Gabe Young Bear."

"Anna. And he's not a friend. Not any more." Anna answers staring straight ahead and swallowing a deep breath.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The firehouse. Sitting alone in the dark, Dominique gropes for a candle and lights it with her match. It casts an eerie glow in the dark living room. "Well Beyanu, I think we need to check this out," She murmurs. "Let's start with the fuse box, and go from there." Walking slowly down the hall in her white gown and robe, holding the candle out before her, Dom looks like a ghost from times past.

A soft sound draws her attention to the back door. Slowly fumbling in the pocket of her robe, Dominique removes her gun and blows out the candle. She stands still, knowing that any sound could lead her intruder directly to her.

Dressed all in black, the intruder glides almost effortlessly across the floor. He creeps silently through the living room and to the hall where Dominique presses against the wall. He reaches out and grabs her, pulling a terrified Dominique against his wiry body. "Don't scream." He hisses, covering her mouth with one hand. "I won't hurt you, all you have to do is cooperate."

Feeling a powerful surge of adrenaline, Dominique slumps in the man's arms, breaking his hold on her.. Then as he reaches to catch her, Dominique kicks her attacker with all her strength and sprints wildly down the hall racing for the front door.

The intruder sprints after her cursing and snags one hand around her ankle, causing Dominique to crash to the ground. "Bitch!" He mutters as she aims another kick for his face.

A terrified Dom pulls herself along the ground towards her fallen gun. "LET-ME-GO!" Dom screams loudly, kicking her legs as hard as possible. Her fingertips brush the gun, but she is unable to get a firm grip on it. Turning suddenly, She rakes her fingernails across her attacker's face, causing him to howl in agony. The attacker slips a small lethal blade from his pouch and drives it into her side making the her scream in agony. Slowly darkness overwhelms Dominique and she slips into unconsciousness.

Still smarting from Dominique's counterattacks, her attacker rises from the floor and goes about tidying the firehouse. First removing the security tapes, then making sure he's left no trace of his presence.

The back door opens, and a flash of lightning reveals the face of his employer. "What the hell have you done?" He demands icily. Seeing Dominique slumped on the floor in a pool of blood that stains her pure white nightgown, he pushes past his lackey and moves to take her pulse. Rage courses through his veins as he looks down at the slumped figure in his arms. He eases Dominique's bloody, limp form to the floor and checks her wound. Warm, soft blood flows over the impeccably dressed man's hands.

Just then Dominique's attacker reappears in the doorway. "I'm sorry, Boss. She put up more of a fight than I had expected. I never-" The attacker never finishes his sentence as with a deft flick of his wrist, his employer removes the dagger from Dominique's side and hurls it in the direction of his flunky's voice. There is a soft gasp and a gurgle as the dagger finds it's mark and the assailant drops to the floor with a sickening thud.

Calmly dialing 9-1-1, the man turns on the light switch. Revealed in the harsh lights of the hall is Lucas Jones. Removing Dom's robe, Lucas applies direct pressure to her wound and solicitously brushes the hair back from her face. "Yes, my name is Lucas Jones. I was walking past the firehouse on Charles Street and heard woman scream for help. I came in and found her bleeding. The attacker jumped me and was killed in the struggle. The woman is unconscious and bleeding heavily. She needs an ambulance."

After hanging up the phone, Lucas cradles Dominique close to his own beating heart. "I apologize, My Love. I never intended for it to go this far."

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