AJ walked through the park like a man on death row walking towards his final hurrah. His eyes were puffy, red and irritated. He had bags under his eyes and they were sunk in from lack of sleep. To think that he had thought that he could leave Courtney when he needed her the most. And to think that he hadn't thought that she would be at his side when he needed her the most. How stupid he had been.
For not only had she stuck by him and proved that their love was the strongest thing in there hearts, but she had also helped him through the roughest period in his life. That period would be now.
His son.
The child he had been denied.
The child that he had so desperately yearned for was missing.
No, more specifically. He had been kidnapped.
A random act of violence.
For once Sonny was not to blame, and neither was Carly. They didn't know whom to blame-- other than themselves, which they were doing constantly.
Carly had taken Michael to the park and had turned her back for a second while Michael played in the newly falled snow. When she had turned back around he was gone.
"A crime of opportunity" is what Mac had called it.
"A travesty" is what Taggart had called it.
"Wrong", others had called it.
And even more called it "karmic".
How could losing a child like that be "karmic"?
Sonny had tried to say that it was maybe Alcazar.
But even Alcazar-- who had freely admitted that his own children had been kidnapped from him and his beautiful wife when he was younger-- had offered his services in helping to find Michael. Not that AJ would have noticed. He was too focused on finding Michael to pay attention to who was standing next to him most days.
Sonny tried to say it was an enemy.
He even tried to pin it on AJ. But his boss, Azora had taken up his defense and given him a stone cold iron clad alibi. He had, after all been working that day and with 50 other dockworkers as witnesses. Eventually, Sonny backed off.
Carly couldn't even get him to realize that it was a random act of violence. And in a fit of white-hot rage she left him, tore up their marriage license, and pawned off all her wedding rings.
Sonny couldn't see that not everything was about him. He wanted to use his resources to bully his thuggery into finding Michael in the "organization" when Carly knew that that was NOT where her son was.
Courtney had talked AJ into allowing Carly to stay in the extra room while she got a Penthouse Suite in the PC Hotel. Which Ned had made sure was leased under an alias, so that Grandfather couldn't hound her. But she ended staying in the little, in the little apartment with her ex-husband and his wife. The suite was to quiet. At least in the little dingy apartment there was noise.
He could barely stand his own skin. Azora had cut back on his workload. The guys down at the job-site were taking turns on the volunteer search patrol, as were he and Courtney. Not to mention that he guys had also given up the drink for him, so that he wouldn't be so tempted. For a bunch a burly, no neck, muscle heads they sure had a bunch of heart and they were great about trying to take his mind off things. The problem was that they never quite succeeded.
He sighed heavily as he plopped himself down on a bench. It was his off day from work. There were too many volunteers as it were, and he was doing nothing productive by being in Mac or Taggart's way, so he was bored out of his skull and worried and thinking and worried and feeling helpless, and worried�
As he sat there, his thoughts swirling and whirling around his in head, he couldn't help but panic. They had done such a good job pf keeping him occupied so that he didn't have free time to think about what was happening to Michael that when he did have a free moment to himself he was bombarded with the overwhelming sense of panic and dread.
What if Michael was scared?
What if he was hurt?
What if whoever had him were abusing him?
What if whoever had him was forcing himself on him?
What if he was crying out for help and there was no one around to answer?
What if he were in pain?
What if he never got the opportunity to tell him how much he truly loved him?
What if he never got to hug him?
What if he and Carly never got to right the wrongs they had both done?
What if he were�
A soft whimper and the sound of bushes rustling caught AJ's attention. It was odd. The little things had begun to grab his attention over the last two grueling month since his disappearance. The sound of a childs cry. Parents raised voice. The cooing of an infant. It was as though Michaels' abduction had forced his paternal instinct into action.
He got up so that he could hear better and was stunned to realize that that was not rustling he was hearing it was flesh on flesh fisticuffs! Not only that but he could hear the moans of what he suspected to be a child and the grunts of an ADULT! He was just about to rush onto the scene when a bright white light came out of nowhere and the force of the light threw onto his back.
He could barely see and tried to shade his eyes. What he saw dropped his jaw.
There before him, as large as life, in a white dress with peasant sleeves that were cut so that they would flow was Kristina Carter Cassadine looking as though she had never looked better. Her hair was blowing behind her in wisps, her dress fit her to a "T" and in her arms she held Michael: bruised and battered and half unconscious. His clothes were bloodied and he had no socks or shoes on, but he was there.
"AJ�AJ" Her voice was so soft and comforting. "Don't be afraid. You can take him�" She was holding him out to him being careful of his wounds. She turned her head a little when she heard a rustling sound behind the bush wall. "Hurry AJ� You're his last hope�before it's too late."
Her words snapped him out of his trance and he quickly took off his jacket and carefully took his son from Kristina's arms. "Thank you�thank you�" was all he could think of to say.
Kristina heard the rustling again, but only closer this time. "Run AJ! RUN!" She pleaded, as she slipped something into the pocket of his jacket and gave him a slight nudge.
AJ took off running. He wasn't running for his life he was running for Michaels.
------------- Five minutes later---------------
Somewhere between the park and GH Michael had woken up a little. Just enough to see AJ's face and weakly put one of his arms around his neck and beg, "Don weave me," in a raspy pleading voice.
His words fueled AJ to run like a mad man and not stop until he was barreling through the doors of the ER.
"HELP! HELP! For the love of God! HELP!" He roared helplessly.
All the doctors and attendees turned to stare at the raving lunatic until Chris Ramsey realized whom it was and whom he had.
"Oh shit! THORNHEART! Get your scraggly Irish whiskey lovin' butt over here! STAT!"
Ian was about to yell at Chris until he saw him help AJ put the small red haired boy on a stretcher. He gulped. That could have been Danny.
"What happened!?! Where'd you find him, lad!"
"In�in the park�I � I was walking and...I heard this noise�and I heard this�this whimper and�and�" He rambled as the realization of what he had just done sunk in.
"It's okay�we just need to know what happened to the kidnappers."
"If� if they haven't woken up yet their still in the park. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I should have called 911 but I saw him and I couldn't control myself! I had to�I had TO DO SOMETHING!!!"
Ian stayed behind as Chris, Frank and some of the other doctors rushed Michael into the ER. "It's okay, mate. Just calm down." But that did little to sooth AJ. He was pacing, nervous and anxious.
Ian led him to the waiting area. "They're going to fix him right? They have too. They have TOO! I mean�I mean�" He was starting to hyperventilate. Ian put his hand on AJ's arm.
"You're going to do that lad no good by passing out okay. I need to get some information from you, and we need to call his mum."
AJ paled. "Oh God. Carly�"
-------Fifteen minutes later------
**Ring**
**Ring**
**Ring**
"Hello"
"Thank God Carly. You have to get down to GH! ASAP! Like ten minutes ago."
"WHAT? AJ, slow down, you're talking a mile a minute! What happened? Did they find Michael?" She asked her voice catching in her throat.
"I don't want to tell you over the phone. Just get Court, and get down here to GH quick and bring that folder of�" he paused. "Just bring that folder you showed me!" He said and hung up quickly, slamming the pay phone into it's cradle and leaning against the wall. He felt like such on ass. But he didn't want to tell her until she got here.
-------Mean while------
Michael woke up with a start. His heart started to race as all these different strangers stood over him in masks. 'Oh no, not more�' he inwardly groaned and tried to wiggle away.
"WOAH their Michael. Calm down. It's okay." Whispered Karen as she tried to sooth him.
"Keep him still Karen. He's been through hell, lassie, and we have to fix it."
"Did you hear that little boy?" She cooed trying to distract him from the commotion around him. He looked at her through the corner of his eyes and spoke in a hoarse whisper. "Hurt� bad."
"I know, I know, we're trying to make it better." She said getting choked up.
"Who� Saved� Me?" He asked pleadingly. "He�saved. Mikee�from� Hurts�" a tear escaped his uninjured eye. "Make� Mikee� feel� not� so� scared." Karen caressed the side of his cheek and whispered.
"Would you like to see him? Would that make you feel better? If so, blink twice, you need to conserve your energy." He blinked twice rapidly and then closed his eyes and tried to relax.
"Wexler, whatever the kid wants get it. His heart rate is off the charts and I remember reading somewhere that he had heart problems as an infant. We need him straightened out and QUICK!" Ramsey said as he and the other did their best to help the boy.
"He wants AJ. He saved him and made him feel safe. Is that okay?"
Thornheart and Ramsey shared a glance and then nodded. "Get the man a pair of scrubs and face mask."
She found him wringing his hands in the waiting room waiting on Courtney and Carly. "AJ." He jumped up ten feet into the air, startled out of his rather destructive train of thought. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
"What's wrong? What happened?" His own heart rate was going from ninety to nothing, he could barely stay on his own two feet.
"Nothing, yet. He's very scared, and understandably so. But with his history of heart problems we need him as calm as possible."
"If you need something, just ask. I'll give it." He was desperate.
She smiled. "Good. We need you."
"Me? Why?"
"He's asking for you. You're the one that saved his life in his eyes. He's too scared not to think so and wants his protector there."
"I�I'm�That's great. But shouldn't someone�"
"Don't worry, you're just going to take my place and I'll stay out here and when Courtney and Carly get here I'll explain everything." She watched as he sighed in relief. "If you'll just follow me�"
-------Back in the ER------
AJ walked in hesitantly and watched for a second as they hurriedly worked on Michael. Chris saw him first and motioned for him to come on over. He did and when he saw Michael he just about burst into tears.
He looked so tiny compared to all the machines and gizmos around him.
He knelt down beside him and caressed his cheek. Michael slowly opened his eyes and looked at him curiously. AJ slipped off the facemask so that Michael could see who he was and smiled. This made Michael happy.
Ian and Chris glanced up and the heart monitor and shared a knowing looking as they saw the erratic and high numbers slow a great deal.
"Hey, lil guy. You feeling okay?" It was a dumb question but what else did AJ have to say 'oh, and by the way, you can call me daddy?' now was neither the place nor the time.
"Better� now." He said quietly. One eye was swollen shut the other while open looked tired and over wrought.
"Good�Good." He whispered and watched, transfixed as Michael slowly brought up his hand and reached out for his.
"Pwease." He whispered.
"Anything for you." He replied tears in his eyes.
"Pwomise you won' weave."
"Never" he answered hoarsely.
"Pwomise you'll pwotect me."
"Forever."
"Fank you for saving my wife."
"Think nothing of it." He said as he continued to hold, squeeze and stroke his hand and arm. "Think nothing of it." He tried to keep Michael as distracted as possible but he was also trying to keep himself from looking at all the instruments they were using to fix him.
--------------Waiting room---------
Carly and Courtney ran up to the nurse's station. Carly was in near hysterics so Courtney asked, "Excuse me, is there an AJ Quartermaine here?"
"Over here," Karen said as she walked over to meet them.
"What happened? Where's my baby? Why couldn't AJ say anything over the phone? Is he okay? Please tell me he's okay." Karen could tell that Carly was in a very fragile state of mind so she led them both over to the waiting room and sat them both down.
Just as she was about to open her mouth Marcus Taggart showed up. "Good, two of the three people I wanted to see." Carly stood up, clutching Michael's blankie and his medical file.
"What! TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED! Why isn't anyone telling me where my SON IS!!"
Courtney wrapped her arms around Carly and pulled her down to the couch. "It's okay Carly, just listen to the man and the doctor. If it were bad news Taggart wouldn't look so smug. Remember, he's been the one that has been heading the searches and he's been investigating all the tips too."
Carly gave them an apologetic smile and waited.
"Taggart, I think you should go first."
"Good. First off, the good news is whatever move your hubby put on that kidnapper worked, because when we found him he sang like a song bird." Carly began to breath. She hadn't breathed in a month.
"The bad news?" She asked preparing herself for the worst.
Taggart hesitated. "Maybe you should take over from here, Dr. Wexler."
She nodded, sat down on the coffee table and put her hands over Carly's. "AJ found Michael in the park." Her eyes brightened, but dimmed when she realized what she was saying.
"How� How bad?"
"Us he conscious?"
"In and out."
"Is he in pain?" Karen nodded. "Why don't they give him something for it?" Carly's voice took on a child-like quality that Courtney was all too familiar with when she thought of her son in pain.
"From our initial check up he's lost a substantial amount of weight and blood and we just don't want to do anything that he won't be able to handle. We did give him a mild local anesthetic so that he wouldn't be in too much pain."
Carly gulped as tears flowed down her cheeks.
Courtney squeezed her shoulder. "Where's AJ?"
"He's with Michael right now in the ER."
Courtney and Carly seemed surprised by this. "What? I�I mean I don't mind. I'm�I'm relieved that someone's with him but�but Michael barely knows AJ."
Karen nodded. "But he feels safer with AJ. AJ is the one that saved him�" Carly paled. "Oh�Taggart�"
"Yeah, after AJ brought Michael in here one of the nurses called the PD and sent us out to the park." Karen looked at him queerly. No one from GH had made any such call. "The perp was glad to see us." He snorted. "Sorry, couldn't help it. He was begging us to make 'them leave him alone'� whatever that meant."
"Was it random like you said?"
"Totally�" He hesitated to tell them the rest.
"What? Is there more?" Carly demanded.
He looked around. "Is there a more private place I can talk to these two?" He didn't want there to be an audience for what he had to tell Carly.
"Of course, just follow me. I'm sure one of the Dr.'s Quartermaine won't mind if we use it."
------ Outside the office as Marcus talks to Carly and Courtney-------
Patients and doctors stood around quietly as the moans and grieved wails emanated out of Alan's office. The ones that knew her knew that it was Carly and they felt her pain. They didn't know what had happened but they knew it had to be bad for her to be crying in public. Most knew that she kept her emotions guarded and never let anyone see her hurting but there was not a person within hearing distance that did not feel sympathy for her or her son.
---------Inside the Office------
Karen had her arms full with Courtney, and Taggart was comforting Carly as she tried to rap her mind around the atrocities that had been forced upon her son.
"It's okay Carly. Just let it out." He cooed rubber her back as she cried into his shoulder.
------------ER--------
"AJ, we're going to put him under now." Chris told him as they changed into clean gloves.
"Why?" He asked perplexed, but allowed them to put the mask over Michael's mouth. Michael squeezed his hand as tightly as he could muster. "Sssh, it's okay. It's going to make you feel better in the long run, honest." Michael smiled before going under. AJ let go of his now limp hand and turned to Ian. "Now tell me what the HELL is going on!"
Neither one wanted to be the one to show him but figured that he would see it soon or later. Ian nodded to the interns at each side of the table and the carefully flipped Michael over. When they stepped away Chris took a pair of scissors and cut the remainder of his clothing off down the center all the way down. Ian folded one side and AJ's eyes grew wide and he stumbled over himself getting out there. He ran to the closest trashcan and emptied his stomach's contents into it.
He wiped his mouth and slid down the wall covering his eyes and sobbing for his son.
He heard shoes across the linoleum and looked up to see Taggart with his arm around Carly's waist and she had her head resting against his shoulder. Courtney had her hand reached out to him. Her eyes were blood shot and red-rimmed and he could tell she knew.
"When?" He pleaded, half sobbing. "When does the madness stop!?"
She shook her head and sunk down beside him and enveloped him in her arms. He sunk into her embrace and found comfort when he needed it the most...
