Dream a Little Dream

Chapter 46

“Mom! I don't have anything to wear!”

Laura Spencer walked into Lulu's room and looked in the jam-packed closet.

“Really? Then what's all this besides a big chunk of my American Express balance?”

Lulu rolled her eyes with all the exasperated superiority a teenaged girl could have over her parents.

“You know what I mean,” she said. “I don't know what to wear!”

It was Lulu's first day at Port Charles High School. Her only chance to make a first impression. Her hair, loosely waved, was perfect. Her makeup was subtle yet polished, befitting the daughter of cosmetics tycoon.

What sort of image did she want to project? Tough and independent? Strong and sporty? Creative and free-spirited?

Laura put her arm around Lulu and steered her over to the bed, sitting beside her.

“Lulu, relax,” she said gently. “Don't try to establish yourself in one day. You won't be alone – you've got Georgie, Serena and Brooke Lynn. If you try too hard, you'll push people away. I remember new girls in my school who tried too hard – one wore roller skates her first day, another dressed like she was going to a disco. And they both ended up being laughed at.”

“Talk about full circle,” Lulu said. “I could wear heelies.”

“No, you couldn't,” Laura said in mock severity.

“Okay,” Lulu said, getting up and going to the closet. “So, what should I wear?”

“How about those new dark wash jeans we got in New York?” Laura suggested. “Layer some camis, and that fitted worn khaki jacket over them.”

“Perfect!” Lulu said, rummaging through a drawer for camisoles. “And I can wear my suede ballet flats! Thanks, Mom!”

Laura kissed the top of Lulu's golden head.

“You're welcome, sweetie,” she said. “I'll go clean up the kitchen. Don't dawdle – you want to get there early to meet the girls.”

* * *

Carly Quartermaine sulked over her waffles. Not that anyone noticed, she thought, bitterly.

Michael was worked up over the first day of school, and monopolized AJ's attention. Dillon was heading off to his first day of classes at Port Charles University. Jason had already left for his rescue squad class. Tracy was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Ned. Alice had noticed the still-made bed in Tracy's suite, but would say nothing unless one of the Drs. Quartermaine asked.

Everyone was caught up in their busy days and didn't notice – or pretended to not notice – Carly's dark expression. She'd been stewing over her run-in with Jeremy Logan at the cookout the day before, and it dominated her thoughts. She looked sharply at her in-laws – even her husband – wondering if they viewed her as a gold-digging whore like Courtney Matthews.

“Well, I'm off,” Emily said, pushing back her chair. “I told Nikolas I'd meet him before classes.”

She walked over and kissed Alan and Monica. “See you tonight,” she said. “I'll be home for supper.”

Alan and Monica watched her leave with relief. After all the drama of the last few months, Emily seemed refreshed and ready to tackle medical school again.

“I guess we'd better get going, too, huh, buddy?” AJ said to Michael. Michael's bus picked him up at the end of the driveway. Michael shoved the last too-big wedge of waffle into his mouth.

“Ookmph, Dadph,” Michael mumbled around the waffle as syrup dripped out of his mouth and onto his chin.

“You know better than that!” Carly said sharply. AJ and Michael looked at Carly, puzzled. Her tone was too harsh for the offense of poor table manners. She knew it, but wouldn't give in. She was saved from further conversation by the doorbell.

“Flowers for Mrs. AJ Quartermaine,” she heard someone say. Carly's face brightened. She loved getting flowers. AJ often would send her flowers for no reason – from lavish arrangements of tropical flowers to delicate nosegays for her dressing table. She rose and sauntered into the foyer.

A few moments later, everyone at the table was startled by a crash, followed by the sound of stomping and a door slamming.

“What did you do?” Monica asked AJ.

AJ shrugged, a puzzled expression on his face.

“I didn't do anything!” he said. “Not that I know of, anyway. And the flowers aren't from me, either. I'd better go check on her.”

“But Dad!” Michael protested.

“Don't worry, Michael,” Alan said. “I'll wait with you at the bus stop.”

“Okay,” Michael said. Grandpas were the next-best things to dads. Also, they gave you candy more often.

AJ saw a shattered florists vase and a gorgeous bouquet in a purple color scheme splayed all over the foyer. Alice was coming from the dining room with a broom, dustpan and mop.

“Thanks, Alice,” AJ said. He spied the card on the floor and picked it up.

Carly, I'm very sorry for yesterday. Please forgive me. Jeremy.

What on earth could mild-mannered Jeremy Logan have said or done to make Carly so angry? AJ wondered as he went up the stairs.

AJ found Carly sitting Indian-style on the window seat, arms folded. Every word of her body language said, “Closed.” But AJ ignored the warning.

“I think an explanation is in order,” he said, holding up the card. Carly looked silently at him, then, biting her lip, looked out the window. AJ sat down next to her and waited. Finally, Carly told him what had happened at the cookout.

“Wow,” AJ said. “I can't believe Jeremy'd say that.”

“You calling me a liar?!” Carly cried, flaring up instantly.

“No!” AJ said. “I believe what you say, it's just ... not something I'd expect him to do.”

“It's that bitch's fault!” Carly snapped. “She's got him snowed and turned him against me!”

“I doubt that, Honey,” AJ said in a soothing voice, stroking her hair. “Look, don't worry about it. I'll call him and get to the bottom of this. You just take it easy.”

It worked. Carly's whole body seemed to unclench. She nodded and gave him a half-smile.

“Better get to work,” she said. “I'll see you tonight.”

* * *

Bobbie Spencer sat at the desk in what had been Audrey Hardy's office ... now her office.

It still didn't seem real. She was afraid to even take a deep breath because it might shatter this dream. Bobbie Spencer – teen prostitute, town scandal – was director of nursing at General Hospital.

When Audrey retired, she had thoughtfully removed every personal touch, so her successor could create her own legacy. At her own expense, Audrey had the old wallpaper and carpeting removed and the walls painted in the new hospital-color of rich sandy beige, and had maroon carpeting installed.

As a congratulations gift, Alan and Monica Quartermaine had bought her a new desk and Carly and AJ had bought her a luxurious office chair in soft maroon leather with brushed nickel accents. She reached back and softly stroked the leather.

Lucas had had her nursing diplomas – both her bachlor's and and master's degrees – mounted and framed. His father, GH neurosurgery chief Tony Jones, had hung them behind her desk. He had also arranged for the cleaning crew to come in and clean the office top to bottom so it shone.

Luke and Laura bought and had delivered a large walnut bookcase. Carly had sent over a gorgeous chaise, upholstered in brown linen, perfect for cat-napping if she had to work very late. Bobbie had already put up several volumes of nursing textbooks. The remaining empty bookshelves, she'd fill them up over time – more books, photos, plants.

Carly and AJ, Luke and Laura, Audrey Hardy, Jeremy Logan, Lucky and Lulu, Felicia and Mac Scorpio, Kevin and Lucy Collins, and old beau Scotty Baldwin had all sent flowers. How did I get so blessed? she wondered. A fragrant lavender plant, sent by Jerry Jacks, sat on a table by the sunny window.

The computer sat on one side of the L-shaped desk. The space in front of her was bare. Bobbie opened her large satchel. She'd splurged over the weekend and bought a leather-lined desk blotter, a rattan tissue-box box holder with matching in/out boxes and wastebasket, a “Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul” desk calendar, and two picture frames. One was a collage, with photos of Lucas, Carly, Michael and Morgan. The other was two silver 5-by-7 frames joined by a hinge. The frames held photos of her Aunt Ruby and daughter BJ – both gone, but still there in the love they'd left with her.

Bobbie smiled as she took out the last item – a rosy peach Depression glass candy dish – and set it on the desk. It had been one of Ruby's few material treasures. Ruby's probably bustling around heaven right now, Bobbie thought, pouring coffee and rejoicing over Bobbie's success with Steve Hardy and Jessie Brewer. Ruby never held with that whole eternal rest thing. Her rest probably lasted just a few days before she went to God and demanded something to do.

Bobbie filled the dish with Hershey's Kisses and Dove dark chocolate hearts. Bobbie knew her nurses – they talked better with chocolate.

That was it. Her office was done. It was real.

Barbara Jean Spencer, this is your life! she thought. She laughed as she twirled the chair in delight.

* * *

“Good morning, undercovah lovah!” Lucky Spencer said in a mocking greeting as Coleman walked into Vagabond for the early work.

“Unless you feel like unloading this week's liquor shipment yourself, you'll stop right there,” Coleman growled. “Your dad here?”

Lucky grinned. “Nope, you're safe for now,” he said. “Unless Celeste comes downstairs to let you know again how disappointed she is in you.”

Coleman ran a hand through his lush, thick hair.

“I think I'd rather face your dad,” Coleman said. “That Celeste is a travel agent specializing in guilt trips.”

“I've known that since Piph was my babysitter,” Lucky said. “So, what happened after you dropped everyone off?”

“What do you mean?”

“How soon was Tracy at your place?” Lucky asked. Coleman sighed.

“She came by later on,” he said briefly. Lucky sensed he was treading in more sensitive territory than he'd realized.

“Everything okay?” Lucky asked. “Look, Coleman, I just don't want you to get hurt. I've known that family ever since I was a kid. Emily's one of my oldest and best friends. I love the Qs, but they can do a number on each others' loved ones. I think it's why Lois never remarried.”

“I'll be okay,” Coleman said in a terse voice. He and Tracy had a strange night – embarrassment mixed with relief. It made for sizzling lovemaking, but not much conversation. She was getting dressed when he left for Vagabond.

The front door opened; Coleman had forgot to lock it behind him. They looked up to see Ned Ashton walking in, a determined look on his face. Coleman swore under his breath. This is gonna get good, Lucky thought.

* * *

Lulu's nerves vanished when she saw Brooke Lynn Ashton, Serena Baldwin and Georgie Jones waiting for her near the entrance to PCHS. She barely remembered to wave back to Laura before heading into the building. Laura smiled, sighed and blinked back a tiny tear watching her baby blend in seamlessly with the young men and women.

“Where's your locker?” Georgie asked. Lulu pulled out a piece of paper from her purse.

“Second floor, northeast corner,” she said, and followed Brooke and Georgie.

They reached the top of the stairs and opened up the double doors there. “Oh, no,” Georgie said in a low voice.

“Damn!” hissed Serena.

“He's baaaaack!” Brooke quietly sing-songed.

“Who?” Lulu asked, puzzled. She soon found out.

“Greetings, my charming brainiac!” a slack-faced, shaggy haired boy with pasty skin called out to Georgie. “Delighted as always, Pop-Tart!” he said to an icy Brooke as he approached. “Fearless leader!” he said to Serena, president of the junior class. “And who are you, oh blonde goddess?” he asked to a confused and slightly annoyed Lulu.

“We have names,” Georgie said acidly. “And, being as we're people and not objects, we prefer them to labels, thank you.”

The boy slouched a bit more into his baggy clothes. Despite his weird affectations, Lulu felt pity for his whipped-puppy eyes.

“Hi,” she said, holding out her right hand. “I'm Lulu Spencer.”

“Spencer! As in, Luke and Laura Spencer? Once the First Couple of our fair burg?” the boy cried, bending over her hand in a surprisingly courtly manner. “This is an honor. I am Spinelli. You can call me The Jackal.”

“More like The Jackass,” Serena muttered.

“Just call him Damian,” Brooke snapped. “Don't indulge him. Or better yet, ignore him and he'll go away.”

“You wound, Pop-Tart,” Spinelli said in a reproachful voice and with a melodramatic hand to his heart.

“You haven't begun to be wounded,” Brooke said. “But you will be if you keep calling me that.”

The boy slunk away, looking wistfully over his shoulder at Lulu, who looked away uncomfortably.

“What's his story?” she asked.

“Spinelli's a computer genius,” Georgie said.

“But a social idiot,” Serena chimed in.

“'Idiot' is putting it mildly,” Brooke said sourly. “I think he's a stoner. I swear, this 'Pop-Tart' stuff better stop or I'm gonna crack his skull. Here's your locker, Lulu.”

* * *

Coleman looked at Ned unflinchingly as Ned approached the bar.

“Coleman,” Ned said.

“Ned.”

Lucky, watching from the other end of the bar, felt like he was watching two cowboys get ready to shoot it out in front of a saloon in a Western movie.

“I assume my mother was with you last night,” Ned said. “Is she all right?”

“She's fine.”

“Good,” Ned said. “What are your intentions?”

Coleman stared.

“My what?!”

“What are your intentions with regards to my mother?” Ned asked. “I know you probably think we Quartermaines look for ways to poison each other's oatmeal several times a week. But I love my mother and don't want her hurt.”

“What makes you think I'll hurt her?” Coleman demanded. “You think I'm not fancy rich enough for her, or something? She knew this was gonna happen...”

“Your socio-economic status is a new twist for my mother,” Ned said loftily. “But that is not the issue.”

“Then what is?”

Ned and Coleman were too focused on their conversation and Lucky was too absorbed in the potential drama and no one noticed Tracy walk into the restaurant.

“My mother ... doesn't make the best choices when it comes to relationships,” Ned said. “She fought her entire life for some validation from her father. She often did herself in in that regard, but she never gave up her quest for his respect and approval. It set up a pattern. Every man she's been with has been just as unattainable in some way or another. Mitch Williams used her for her name and connections. My father, for her money. She threw herself at Paul Hornsby, Dillon's father, and got humiliated and left for it.”

“And you wonder where I fit in,” Coleman said.

“I'm hoping you don't,” Ned began.

“He doesn't!” Tracy barked. All three men whipped their heads around.

“God, all that college and that's the best armchair psychology you could come up with?” Tracy snapped. “Because I'd love to hear you tell me how Lois fit into your mommy issues.”

“So sorry for showing concern about your well being,” Ned replied sarcastically. “Believe it or not, Mother, I do care about you. This ... affair ... is not like you. If I wasn't concerned, you'd be angry that I didn't care. And what about Dillon?”

“What about him?”

“Your son started college today,” Ned reminded her. “With most mothers, that's a major milestone.” Tracy's eyes went wide as she remembered.

“You could have at least called and wished him luck,” Ned said reproachfully. Tracy looked down and shook her head.

“Damn,” she said. “You're right ... I'll call him later and apologize. That, you're totally within reason to call me on. But nothing else.”

Ned rolled his eyes.

“I'm not trying to call you on anything other than that, Mother,” he said, more gently. “I just want to know that you know what you're doing here. And, quite frankly, that Coleman knows what he's getting into.”

With superhuman effort, Lucky choked back laughter at Ned's comment and unintentional double entendre.

“I think I'm getting the idea,” Coleman said.

“It's only just begun,” Ned said in an ominous tone. Tracy rolled her eyes.

“All right,” she said sourly. “You saw me, you know I'm okay, can we stop this before we give Lucky any more gossip to bring to his Aunt Amy?”

“That hurts, Tracy,” Lucky said, feigning wide-eyed innocence. “I have some honor. I'm just telling my dad, not Aunt Amy.”

Tracy glared at him and stalked out of the restaurant.

“Run while you can,” Ned said to Coleman in a low voice.

* * *

Working the early shift once in a while had its advantages, Sam McCall thought as she turned the corner towards Kelly's after finishing work at the Iroquois County Rescue Squad. It was only noon, and she was done with work for the day. She'd have some time for shopping.

And, since she'd worked Labor Day before heading to the Quartermaine cookout, she had some sweet holiday pay coming. Half, she decided, would go into her house savings. The rest, she had for shopping. Danny needed new winter boots. She needed a coat. Sam sighed. There were new expenses every time she turned around.

So absorbed was she in her planning, she didn't hear footsteps behind her, nor several callings of her name.

“Sam!!!”

Sam nearly jumped out of her skin. She whirled around, and nearly jumped out of her skin again. Brian Beck was standing before her.

“Brian!” she said. “I'm sorry, I was off in my own world there.”

“That's not safe when you're walking alone, Sam,” Brian said. “I could've been a mugger ... or worse.”

“You're right,” she said. “So, how are you? Are you down here for work?”

“Actually, yes,” he said. “I'm here to get you.”

“Me?” Sam asked. Then a frightening thought came to her.

“Oh, my God,” she gasped, clutching Brian's arm in panic. “Danny! What happened? Is he all right? Where is he? Tell me!”

“It's not Danny,” Brian said, patting her hand so she'd let go before she cut off the circulation in his arm. “John Durant wants you down at the PCPD as soon as possible.”

“John Durant?” Sam asked. “The federal prosecutor? What does he want with me?”

“I don't know, Sam,” Brian said. “I'm just here to bring you in. Don't worry, you can ride in the front with me.”

Still puzzled, Sam followed Brian to his squad car.

* * *

AJ picked up the phone in his office and dialed Jeremy Logan's cell phone.

“AJ,” Jeremy said, seeing the number on his caller ID.

“Hey, Jeremy,” AJ said. “I guess you know why I'm calling.”

“Carly?”

“What the hell happened?” AJ asked. “She was furious this morning when she got the flowers. Jeremy, we've been friends a long time, and I never pictured you doing something that would offend a woman like whatever it is that set Carly off.”

Jeremy told him of reacting to what he overheard Carly say.

“I know you love Carly, AJ,” Jeremy said. “And I was wrong to do it at a family party, but ... Courtney's my friend. I won't stand by and let Carly bad-mouth her for basically having been the Carly of ten years ago.”

AJ shook his head.

“Dude, run like hell,” AJ said. “You're being played. You know what Courtney tried to do to me. You don't think she's capable of doing something like that to you?”

“AJ, how many people gave you the same advice with Carly?” Jeremy replied. “You remember what your grandfather did? And you and Carly proved him wrong.”

“Carly and I were married and had a kid,” AJ retorted, then stopped short. “Oh, man, Courtney hasn't ... ?”

“We're just friends,” Jeremy said in a low, controlled voice that surprised AJ. “But she is my friend. Carly would do well to remember that. I hope she can forgive my comments, because I forgive her.”

AJ was too astonished to reply at first.

“Jeremy ... just be careful,” AJ said. “Please.”

Jeremy laughed. “When am I not careful?” he asked.

AJ felt better. “Look, I'll try and smooth things over with Carly,” he said. “But it may take time.”

“I understand,” Jeremy said. “Take care, AJ. We'll talk again soon.”

* * *

Sam trembled as she followed Brian down the hall. Despite Brian's reassurance that Danny was fine, she was still scared. Why else would she be wanted? Unless it was something to do with work ... but what?

And why was John Durant all smiling and friendly as he came over to greet her?

“You're probably wondering why we called you down here,” he said.

“Yes,” Sam said in a small voice, fear over Danny still clutching at her throat. Brian sympathized, and decided to speak up.

“Sam's worried something happened to her brother, Danny,” Brian said. “He lives over at the Ward group home.”

John shook his head and smiled gently at Sam.

“This isn't about your brother – at least not directly,” he said.

“I don't understand,” Sam said.

“Sorry I was cryptic,” he said, then turned to Brian. “Thank you, Officer Beck. We're done.”

Brian left, knowing that he was being dismissed because Durant didn't want him to know what was going on. He wondered if he could use it as an excuse to call Karen Wexler.

“Okay, Brian's gone, you can tell me what's really going on,” Sam said to John, her inner street smarts returning now that she was reassured about Danny.

John laughed. “You get right to the point, I like that,” he said, then turned serious. “I need help with a case. We have a suspect, but your cooperation is needed to help close it.”

“Me? What can I do?” Sam asked.

“Just listen, for now,” John said, leading her down a hallway. Puzzled, but intrigued, Sam followed his lead.

“I'm glad I can help,” Sam said, as they approached an interrogation room. John nodded, and the guard unlocked the door. “I wonder who it ...”

The door opened. A fleeting look of shock passed across Sam's face, then it turned hard and unreadable.

“Hi, Sammykins.”

“Hi, Dad,” Sam said, making the name sound like an epithet.

* * *

“Hey,” Marcus Taggert said, trying to make his voice sound casual.

“Marcus!” his sister, Gia Campbell, gasped into the phone. “Is everything all right? Is Mom all right?”

“Yeah,” Marcus said, a bit taken aback by the worry in Gia's voice. He was following Cameron Lewis' advice to reach out to his sister. Maybe it was a mistake. But too late to back out now. “I'm just calling to see if you're free for lunch.”

It was Gia's turn to be taken aback. Marcus, Mr. “Dining al Desko,” wanting to go out to lunch? She blinked in shock for a few moments.

“Yeah, I'm – I'm free,” she stammered. “Kelly's? In about 20 minutes?”

Marcus felt the sting of her stammer. His sister shouldn't be shocked at a lunch date with him. And that was his own fault. Cameron was right – he had a lot of work to do to get acquainted with Gia.

“Kelly's it is,” he said, forcing out any quaver in his voice.

* * *

Only Cody McCall could see past Sam's poker face to the hurt, anger and hostility behind it. It had been almost ten years since he'd seen his daughter – ten years in which she'd gone from a girl to a woman. His leaving had finished her girlhood. And the woman she'd become was a stranger to him.

Sam hid any shock at the shine in Cody's rapidly blinking eyes. Those couldn't be tears. It's just another con.

“Well, this is a surprise,” she said, in a voice like granite. “Not you being in federal custody – you being here, I mean.”

“Yep, the long arm of the law caught up with me,” Cody said, feigning lightness with a shoulder shrug and his old what-can-you-do expression. Sam didn't let on that the old expression tugged at her heart, remembering how she would see it so many times in her childhood.

“It took this long?” Sam asked in mock surprise, angry at herself for still caring for her father and angry at him for everything he'd done and not done.

“Oh, wait a minute,” she said. “You looking for bail money? An alibi? Absolution? What do you want, Dad? Well, whatever it is, you're not getting it from me!”

Sam whirled and walked out of the interrogation room. John Durant saw a golden opportunity walking out the door with her, and followed.

“Sam,” he said. “Please, wait. Hear him out.”

“What are you thinking?” Sam demanded. “Whatever he's got to say, it's just another lie, another con. He walked out of our lives when Mom died and Danny and I've done fine without him. I won't have him coming back into our lives and upsetting Danny. I don't know what you're expecting from him, Mr. Durant, but count me out! I've worked too long and too hard to get Danny where he is today to have Cody Goddam McCall come in and ruin everything like he always does!”

Sam had to stop to take a ragged breath. John took advantage.

“Your father can't con us,” he said. “Come on, let's go somewhere private and I'll tell you what's going on.”

In another interrogation room, John laid the story out for her. Cody had been arrested running an insurance con. They knew he'd probably done all sorts of other scams in the past, but had no evidence of them. Despite being very talented, he was also small potatoes.

“He always said he'd rather be a nobody and free rather than a big shot in jail,” Sam said.

So the feds offered Cody a deal – go into a form of witness protection, where he'd be working for the government against bigger con artists. He'd get a whole new identity, a clean slate for his old crimes, and government protection.

He'd returned the insurance con money, but the rest of his holdings were offshore. Most were gambling winnings, and were totally legal. The government couldn't touch them.

“That's where you come in,” John said.

“Me?”

“Cody told us the money he'd set aside offshore was what he was saving for you and your brother,” John explained.

“And you bought that?!” Sam asked incredulously.

“He made you a condition of taking the deal,” John explained. Sam raised an eyebrow.

“You take the money – we'll work out the details so it's not on the record anywhere – for Danny and yourself, and he'll take the deal and go to work for us,” John said.

“So I'm supposed to take dirty money?” Sam asked.

“I don't think it's dirty, Sam,” John said. “We traced almost all of it to casino winnings – mostly poker and blackjack – over the last 26 years. Again, he laid low and didn't draw attention to himself.”

Sam knew John was telling the truth. Cody was a card shark.

“If I refuse?” she asked.

“He won't take the deal and we'll have to go to trial,” John said. “And I don't like taking our chances in the courts. I'd rather have a sure thing and have Cody working on our side for a change. He'll have a whole new identity. Any record of Cody McCall will be buried. Anything he does can't be tracked back to his old life, or to you and your brother.”

Sam knew John was under pressure. She felt it, too. If she refused this, it could mean criminals could go free elsewhere to do worse things than Cody would dream of doing. But if she took it, what would that mean to her and Danny?

“I can't,” she said. “There's too much I don't know. I don't trust this yet and I definitely don't trust him.”

“Fair enough,” John said. “I think he can answer a lot of your questions. Shall we go in and talk with him?”

Sam nodded.

* * *

Marcus sat at a table at Kelly's, fiddling with the pepper shaker. He hoped he didn't screw this up.

Gia paused a moment outside the door and caught a rare glimpse of her brother's vulnerable side. Angry as she'd gotten with him after he'd gone after Linc, as closed as her life had been to him since then, seeing him like that tore at her heart. She pushed the door open. The bell above it tinkled. Marcus looked up, a tentative, slightly shy smile on his face as he stood.

“Hi,” she said, meeting him halfway with a warm smile. He leaned over and kissed her cheek, just like old times.

“Thanks for coming on short notice,” Marcus said.

“It was a bit of a surprise,” Gia said.

“What, a man can't have lunch with his kid sister?” Marcus asked.

“I was wondering that,” Gia teased. “All those times I brought you lunch that you were too busy to do more than wolf down between interrogations.”

Marcus laughed. “I did appreciate them,” he said. “Even though I probably didn't say it at the time.”

The waitress came over and took their orders – chili for Marcus, grilled chicken breast sandwich with bacon and avocado for Gia.

“So, what's going on?” Gia asked, taking a sip of her iced tea.

“Slow day at work,” he said. “Also ... well ... I've missed you. I haven't seen you since ...”

“Since you went bat-guano crazy over me and Linc,” Gia said bluntly.

“Yeah,” Marcus said, looking her in the eye. “I still don't like that. I'm not going to pretend that I do. But that's not here nor there today. Tell me what's going on with you, your life.”

“On one condition,” Gia said. “Tell me what brought this on.”

Marcus fumbled the pepper shaker he'd picked up again.

“Nothing other than wanting to have lunch with my sister without a whole lot of drama,” Marcus said.

Gia knew there was way more to it than that. But she also knew that to push right now would make Marcus shut down.

“That sounds nice,” she said, leaning back and sipping her tea.

* * *

Sam led the way into the interrogation room, staring Cody down with a hard stare.

“Mr. Durant filled me in on a few things,” she said. “Now I want the truth from you.”

Cody nodded. “Fair 'nough, Sammykins,” he said. “What do you wanna know?”

“If I accept this money – and I do mean 'if' – how do I know you won't come back and swindle it out from under us?” she said.

“The feds'll handle that,” Cody said. “Danny first. The lawyers all drew up a trust fund for him. You'll be in charge, and can make any arrangements you want for him. He seems really happy where you got him.”

Sam turned pale. “You went to see him?!” she demanded in horror. “He wasn't ready for that! How could you -?!”

Cody held up a hand. Sam noticed for the first time that he was in shackles and leg irons, and felt a slight stab of pity.

“We drove by and stopped across the street,” Cody said. “He was outside working in a garden. He couldn't see us. The windows were tinted. It seems like a nice place, that Ward House. Is that why you came here?”

Sam nodded.

“Looks like you did good,” Cody said. “Anyways, there's enough money for Danny to stay there for the rest of his life. The interest'll pay for everything – his staying there, doctor's bills, clothes, things like that.”

Sam caught her breath. She couldn't believe this was happening. Cody McCall never stepped up and put someone else first.

“If anything happens to Danny, the money'll go 50-50 to you and that Ward House,” Cody said.

“All right,” Sam said, then looked at John. “This is legit? Lawyers looked it over and everything?” John nodded.

“The remaining cash in the account has been converted into diamonds,” John said. “That way, there's no record of you getting any money. We can make arrangements for safekeeping.”

“I thought it was all for Danny,” Sam said. “I don't want anything.”

Again, Cody held up a hand.

“I know you've been paying for Danny all this time, Sammykins,” he said. “That should've been me doing that. You've done way better with him than I would've. But it's still a debt I've gotta pay.”

Sam nodded, stunned over this turn of events. Just a little while ago she was worried about buying Danny winter boots. Now she was sitting with her long-lost father talking trust funds and diamonds. Too weird.

There was a knock at the door. John got up and conferred in a whisper with the guard.

“I took the liberty of making arrangements for the safekeeping of the diamonds,” John said. “My source is also good at selling them for you.”

Cody couldn't help but grin.

“Go to the cops when you want the best fence,” he said.

The door opened and the guard led Luke Spencer in. Lucky's dad! Sam wished the floor would open up and swallow her. Luke's eyes opened wide when he saw her.

“Well, this is a surprise!” he said. “So how'd you get into the diamond business, tiny ninja?”

Sam jerked her head towards Cody. “My father,” she said shortly. Luke turned, then stopped and stared.

“Cody?” he asked. “Cody McCall?!”

Cody laughed. John and Sam stared.

“Spencer? I thought you'd either be dead or running a mob syndicate somewhere by now!”

“Came pretty close on both counts,” Luke said.

It was Sam's turn to go wide-eyed as the two shook hands and Luke gave a playful backslap to Cody.

“You two know each other?!” she asked.

“Your dad was the best card shark I ever saw,” Luke said.

“And you ruled pool hustlin' and craps,” Cody said.

“My sister Barbara and I grew up in Florida,” Luke explained to Sam. “We had it pretty hard, and ended up living with our Aunt Ruby. I was a hustler to make money – pool, craps, errands for local 'businessmen.' Your dad worked a nearby city. Never figured out you were related.”

“So, how is Bobbie anyway?” Cody asked. “She still workin' at Ruby's? Or is she running it by now?”

“She's a nurse at a hospital nearby,” Luke said, looking sternly at Cody before he said anything else in reference to Bobbie's tawdry past and thus fall out of John Durant's good graces. Since Cody lived in another city and had dropped out of school, he'd never known John during that time. Luke figured no reason to let anything on.

“You're kidding?” said a clueless Cody. “That's great! And you? You good?”

“I'm good,” Luke said. “And I'm legit, believe it or not. So legit, I was once mayor of this town.”

“Get out!” Cody said. “Then again, politics is just another racket. So you'll be able to take care of my girl here?”

Sam stopped herself in mid-eyeroll. Luke saw it and winked.

“Don't worry, old man,” Luke said. “I've got connections. She'll be fine.”

John stepped forward.

“Your transport is here, Cody,” John said. “You've got a few minutes to say your goodbyes to Sam. We'll be in the hall.”

Luke followed John out. Sam looked at Cody, sadness mingling with gratitude mingling with leftover anger.

“You could've come found us any time,” she said. “Why didn't you?”

“I didn't have enough to offer you,” he said.

“Maybe we would've liked a father instead of a bank account,” Sam said tartly.

“I was never much of that and you know it, Sammykins,” Cody said. “I'm only good with the family man thing for a little while, then I've gotta hit the road. I tried to settle down after you were born; I just couldn't do it. The way it was, it was the only way your mother and I could make it work.”

“You call that making it work?”

“It worked for us,” Cody retorted. “I offered to divorce your mother several times if it'd make things easier for her. But she wouldn't. She knew I wasn't gonna change – I told her flat-out if she wanted Ward Cleaver to look somewheres else.”

Sam shook her head. She remembered her mother struggling, scrimping and saving to keep everything together. And those last years of her mother being sick ...

“She deserved better,” Sam said. “Pity she didn't see that.”

“Evelyn was a grown woman,” Cody said. “She made her choices. Don't blame her for not making the ones you would've.”

“What about Danny?” Sam asked. “The choices you two made affected him. And me.”

Cody sighed. “I can't undo bailing on him – and you – the way I did, Sammykins,” he said. “But I hope today can make things a bit more right, you know? I meant what I said before – you've done real good with him. You get all the credit. I just hope the money makes things a little easier for you.”

“It will, Dad,” Sam said. “Thank you for that.”

“Could you do one thing for me?” Cody asked.

“What?” Sam asked.

“Clean Spencer out in five-card stud,” Cody said. “I owe him one.”

Sam laughed. “I've done it several times already,” she said.

“That's my girl,” Cody said with a grin.

“Yep, you taught me well,” Sam said, her face relaxing a bit, then clouding again. “Dad, are you sure about this deal? Are you sure that it's safe?”

Cody shrugged.

“No less safe than going back out there,” he said. “It's a good deal, Sammykins. It's kind of fun to be working on this side for a change. Who knows? Maybe I'll swindle Osama and help bring him in.”

“You always dream big, don't you?” Sam said.

“Where would we be without our dreams?” Cody said. The door opened.

“It's time,” John said gently. Cody's eyes filled.

“I know I can't take any credit for it, but I'm real proud of you, Sammykins,” Cody said. “You're gonna do great.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Sam said. She hesitated, then reached over and embraced her father for what she knew would probably be the final time, surprised by the sting of tears in her eyes. She felt Cody's wet cheek against her own, and choked. He pulled away, patted her cheek, and looked into her eyes one last time.

Cody turned and nodded at John, and walked towards the door. Then he turned around for a last look.

“Damn, you're as beautiful as your mother,” he said gently. “'Bye, Sammykins. You and Danny be happy, okay?”

“Okay,” Sam said. “'Bye, Dad.”

Luke waited outside the room for John to return from seeing Cody off, then they went in together.

“You all right?” Luke asked Sam, who wiped the tears from her face and nodded.

“Wow, wasn't expecting this when I got up this morning,” she said with a shaky laugh. “So, what comes next?”

“Let's go over everything,” John said. “First of all, Sam, while the bulk of the money went to Danny, you didn't get chump change.”

“What do you mean?”

“He set aside $3 million for Danny,” John said. “But he set aside a little over $1 million for you.”

Sam gasped. After all those years of cobbling together a living, pulling the rent out of thin air at times, sleeping in her coat to avoid turning up the heat, eating ramen noodles every night for two weeks straight so Danny could have new shoes, she was suddenly ... a millionaire?!

“My God,” she whispered. “Why didn't he come bring that to us, instead of going back for more and getting arrested?”

“Some people can't walk away from the game,” Luke said. “Your dad grew up in a pretty rough life from what I remember. Nothing would've ever been enough for him.”

Sam looked down and sighed. She knew what Luke said was right.

“So why'd he take the deal then?” she asked.

“He may have been greedy, but he wasn't stupid,” John said. “The fact that he kept going as long as he did and stashed his earnings the way he did shows that. Want to see your fortune?”

John reached into his jacket and pulled out a black velvet bag from his jacket's inside chest pocket. He slowly tipped out the contents onto a table. Luke whistled.

“I'd say you're in pretty good shape,” he said to Sam. “If you want, I can store it at my house. I have a WSB-quality safe in the house. Only me, Laura, Lucky and Barbara can get into it. I'll have to let them know, because I'll probably be traveling sometime in the next few months so if you need to access the diamonds they can get them for you.”

“What are you going to tell your family?” Sam asked, thinking of Lucky. Luke knew that she was, but didn't let on.

“I'll tell them that you came into these honestly, and that I'm fencing them as a favor,” he said. “Anything else you want to tell Lucky is up to you.”

“Thanks,” Sam said.

“If you need money while I'm gone, Lucky can handle the fencing,” Luke said. “I taught him everything.”

“You know, some dads teach their kids to fish, or how to throw a baseball,” she said teasingly.

“Well, now I know why you kick my ass in poker,” Luke said.

“So, what are you going to do with this?” John asked.

Sam smiled slowly. She knew just what she was going to do. That lonely ranch house was still on the market. All the things she'd dreamed of doing with it, she would do. It would be a home for herself and Danny. The thought almost gave her vertigo.

“I have a few ideas,” she said.

* * *

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

With that typical teenaged male greeting, Lucas Jones and Dillon Quartermaine greeted each other while between classes at Port Charles University.

“Getting around all right?” Dillon asked.

“Yeah, so far,” Lucas said. “Seems weird. We're actually here, you know? I almost expect it to be a field trip and Mr. Dobson to be calling us to get on the bus to go back to school.”

“I expected more of a hoopla feeling,” Dillon said. “My mom wasn't there this morning, after what happened yesterday.”

Lucas laughed. “Sorry, dude, but that was probably your family's funniest disaster yet,” he said. “I don't know what was more hilarious – Alan's face, or the way you all yell 'Shut up, Carly!' like it's second nature.”

“It is second nature,” Dillon said.

“Knowing my sister, I see that,” Lucas said, remembering his exchange with Carly.

“Be warned, something pissed her off yesterday,” Dillon said. “She was totally bitchy at breakfast, even to Michael, then someone sent her flowers and she smashed the whole thing in the front hall.”

“That may have been me,” Lucas said. “I went off on her yesterday because she was being a total brat that Mom wasn't with the man Carly wants her to be with.”

“Don't worry about it,” Dillon said. “It may have been something else. God knows Carly's capable of pissing off lots of people.”

“I've got the childhood scars to prove it,” Lucas said as they approached the student center. Just inside was a bulletin board advertising campus organizations.

“This looks pretty cool,” Dillon said, looking at a poster for the campus radio station. Soon he was absorbed in all the possibilities. Lucas zeroed in on one – the campus Gay/Straight Alliance. No, he thought. Might as well put a pink bulls-eye on my back.

* * *

John Durant settled into a quiet corner of Heather Webber's pastry shop with a cup of coffee and a pain au chocolat.

The Cody McCall case had touched him in many ways. First, was the sadness of Cody's selfishness leading to his abandoning his children. Sam was almost as much a stranger to Cody as Carly had been to John when he first came to Port Charles. John had no say in the matter. Cody threw his family away. Then, when he realized Cody's connection to Luke. They were of the same time and place. Only family, dogged determination and Bobbie's sacrifice separated John from a sad existence like Cody's.

The bell above the door tinkled. John looked up to see Bobbie walking in ... with Jerry Jacks. John remembered it was Bobbie's first day as director of nursing at GH, and wondered if he should say something. But he looked over again, and saw Jerry's arm around her waist, his face gently nuzzling her hair. John raised the newspaper to block his face, glad he wasn't seen.

But he was. Heather stood in the doorway of the kitchen as one of her girls waited on Bobbie and John, who took a cheesecake to go. She felt pity for John, knowing what it was like to be on the outside looking in on such matters.

She also felt something else – a wondering of “what-if” that shook her. Normally, she thought that of someone from her past, namely, Scotty Baldwin. But she was feeling it with someone she'd never been with. Her cheeks flamed, and she scooted back into the kitchen before someone spotted her.

Over her apricot tarts, she mused. John had such a nice face – slightly rugged, slightly stern, but also playful. He had a nice laugh. She wondered if he laughed in bed.

Deep in her thoughts, she didn't hear the bell again, or Bobbie and Jerry talking with Lesley Webber as they left and she came in. John looked out from the side of the newspaper.

“Hi,” he said, after Bobbie and Jerry had left. Lesley whirled around.

“John! Hi!” she said. “How are you? How was your Labor Day?”

“It was good,” John said. “I was down on the Chesapeake. Got in late last night. How were things here?”

“Oh!” Lesley exclaimed. “You missed it!” She proceeded to fill him in on the latest Quartermaine party disaster.

“What I would give to see Tracy's face when that door crashed open!” John said between gasps of laughter. “I'm sure my daughter had her say on the matter.”

Lesley laughed.

“She sure did,” she said. “She'll be rubbing Tracy's face in this from now until the end of time.”

“That's my girl,” John said with a sardonic half-smile. He looked appreciatively at Lesley, with her sparkling eyes and vibrant smile. He could see where Laura got her sparkle from.

“What are you doing right now?” he asked.

“No plans beyond this apple cake,” Lesley said.

“Want to go to a movie?” John said. “I hear The Constant Gardener is good. I'll buy the popcorn.”

“I'd love to!” Lesley exclaimed. They got up and left together. Heather watched them go from the kitchen door with a sigh.

* * *

Luke and Laura listened to Lulu describe her first day at PCHS, from her comments on her teachers, to the awkward meeting with Spinelli.

“He seems like he could be nice, but it's hidden under this ... attitude he uses,” she said. “It's like he feels like he has to be something he's not for some reason. If he's doing it to make friends, can't he see what a failure that's been?”

“Some people are just scared to be themselves, honey,” Laura said.

“That makes no sense,” Lulu said. “Oh, well. Better go do some reading.”

She went upstairs. Luke stretched in his chair.

“So what was the interesting thing that happened today?” Laura asked. Luke told her about going to the police station and seeing the McCalls, and how he's going to fence the diamonds for Sam.

“That's got to be hard,” Laura said. “Getting this money, but the price is losing any chance of having a relationship with her father.”

Luke snorted.

“Cody's a good enough guy, but as a father ... it's no great loss for Sam or her brother,” he said.

“That must make it hurt even more, in a way,” Laura said.

“So I'll be seeing a bit more of her,” Luke said. “It'll be interesting to get to know the woman my son's crazy in love with.”

Laura nearly dropped the dishes she was carrying to the dishwasher.

“What?!” she demanded. Luke grinned.

“You heard me, Angel,” he said.

“How do you know this?” Laura asked. “What did he say to you? How long has this been going on”

“Nothing's going on, and he hasn't told me anything,” Luke said. “But I've known since the Nurses' Ball. I saw the way he looked at her.”

“You're sure he wasn't looking at someone else?” Laura said. “Maybe he was looking at Elizabeth.”

Luke shook his head.

“Nope, Darlin', it was Sam,” he said. “And he's got it bad. I recognized the look on his face. I saw it in the mirror many a time when you were still married to Baldwin.”

Even after all these years, Luke still looked like he'd bitten into a wormy apple whenever Scott was mentioned. Laura saw it, but made no comment, being more interested in her son's feelings at the moment.

“Wow,” Laura said.

“How would you feel about Sam as a daughter-in-law?” Luke asked.

“If she loves Lucky the way he loves her, I'll feel fine,” Laura said.

“She does,” Luke said. “I thought she was going to die of embarrassment when she saw me. And her first worry about my handling the diamonds was what I was going to tell Lucky about her father.”

“Wow,” Laura said. “Well ... we'll see how your hunch plays out. Would you like some dessert before going back to work?”

Luke reached over and touched her hand.

“Yes, but nothing that can be found here in the kitchen,” he said with a leer.