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Chapter 4--February 9, 2000
Chris stepped up to the nurse's station and looked around as Matt came up beside him.
Matt: "Have you seen Karen today?" He asked as he looked over a chart.
Chris: "No..." He said then stopped, "Wait a minute. You haven't seen her today?"
Matt: "No. I haven't."
Chris: "That's unusual because I haven't run into her either," He replied grabbing the phone and calling Karen's number. After a few rings, her machine picked up, "Karen, it's Chris. If you're there, pick up." He waited until the machine cut him off.
Matt: "No answer?" He asked worriedly.
Chris: "No," He answered dialing Karen's cell phone. Her voice mail picked up after a few minutes. He hung up and immediately dialed Scott's cell phone number.
Scott: "Yello?"
Chris: "Scott, it's Chris."
Scott: "What do you want Ramsey?"
Chris: "Is Karen with you?"
Scott: "No, Is she not at the hospital?"
Chris: "No. No one has seen her today."
Scott: "Dammit. I'll be right there."
Chris ended his phone call and called Garcia who arrived at GH just as Scott and Lucy did.
Garcia stepped up to Chris, Matt, Ellen, and Eve. Scott and Lucy followed him.
Garcia: "When did everyone notice she was missing?"
Chris: "About half an hour ago. I thought your guys were suppose to be watching after her."
Garcia: "I'm sure nothing is wrong. She probably just needed a day off."
Scott: "Get a brain, you loser! Karen would call. She's chief resident."
Garcia: "When did everyone see her last?"
Matt: "Yesterday at the end of her shift."
Scott: "Last night around six. She came over to the firehouse. She left around 6:30."
Chris: "She was at my place last night until a little before midnight."
Scott: "What was she doing there?"
Chris: "We had dinner together, Scott."
Garcia: "No one has seen her today?"
Chris: "No. And you people haven't found Julie yet, Garcia."
Scott: "Wait a minute. Hold it. She was at your place. What did you do to her Ramsey?" His anger mounting.
Chris: "I didn't do anything to her Baldwin. Karen and I have been seeing each one another since Christmas."
Scott: "No way! She'd never be that stupid."
Chris: "Call it whatever you want, Baldwin," He said dismissing Scott all together, "Are your guys going to be able to find her?" He asked Garcia before retraining his focus on Scott, "What about your guys Baldwin? They were suppose to be looking after her too."
Scott: "Don't you dare blame this on me Ramsey! It's your crazy wife that has her."
Eve and Lucy stepped in between the men. Eve took Chris's arm while Lucy looked at Scott.
Lucy: "Hey Pal, Karen's going to be okay."
Scott: "She'd better be or I'm going to kill that idiot."
Eve: "Chris, just ignore him."
Chris: "No, he's right. Julie wouldn't be after Karen if I hadn't convinced her to help me with Julie's defense. If anything has happened to her..." He paused praying that nothing had happened to Karen.
Eve: "Karen would probably have helped anyway. Julie was her friend. You shouldn't blame yourself. You didn't help Julie escape from prison."
Lucy: "Scott, Karen cares about him. Don't take this out on him. Julie is the one who has Karen."
Scott: "She cares about him? No, not possible."
Lucy: "It's true. She told me back at Christmas. She wanted to break it to you slowly so you wouldn't completely explode. Don't do what she feared the most."
Scott: "You knew?"
Lucy: "Yeah. She warned me so I'd be able to prepare you....not that it's done much good."
Scott: "It's his fault she's tied up in this."
Lucy: "No, it's not. Julie was Karen's very good friend. Karen's got a good heart and she would have tried to help."
Scott: "Maybe."
Chris: "So Garcia," He said after passing over the anger, "Are you going to look for her or not?"
Garcia: "We're out," He said hanging up his cell phone, "They're going to your condo now to check for any leads."
Chris: "Good! maybe you'll actually do something right for a change."
Garcia: "If Julie makes any attempt to contact you, tell us. We'll find them easier. Let's hope we find her before Julie hurts her."
Chapter 5
Karen woke up slowly with her head pounding. She reached up and touched her forehead, opening her eyes a little at a time.
Julie: "Morning."
Karen focused on Julie who stood on the other side of a set of bars. She sat up and realized that she was in a prison cell.
Karen: "Morning?"
Julie: "Yes, you were unconscious all night. It's almost ten am."
Karen: "Ten am," She repeated, "Why did you do this to me, Julie?"
Julie: "Cause I needed some bait. And you're it."
Karen: "Bait?"
Julie: "That's right. I'm not really after you, Karen. No," She smiled taking a step back from the bars, "I have much bigger prey in mind."
Karen: "Julie, you don't really want to hurt anyone. You don't want to kill anyone. You're better than that."
Julie: "No, I'm not. The Julie you knew doesn't exist anymore."
Karen: "Yes she does. You're better than this."
Julie: "Karen, just shut up before I have to hurt you," She said sliding a biscuit between the bars, "Here's breakfast."
Karen: "Why me?" She asked taking the food from her.
Julie: "Because Chris seem preoccupied with you. He'll come after you. I don't think I would have gotten his full attention otherwise."
Karen: "Chris?"
Julie: "That's right. My..." She laughed, "Loving husband and I have some unfinished business. I'm going to finish him permanently."
Karen: "No!" She shouted grabbing the bars, "Julie, no."
Julie: "What's this? Sympathy for Chris?"
Karen: "Please don't kill him. Please," She begged, tears running down her cheeks from fear, "If you need to kill someone, kill me. Don't kill him."
Julie: "Why should I kill you instead of Chris?"
Karen: "Because I'm the one that started the relationship," She explained trying to reason with Julie, "I'm the one that kissed him, and I'm the one that tried to seduce him and I'm the one that told him I wanted to be with him and I needed him."
Julie: "You started it?"
Karen: "Yes," She admitted wiping tears, "I did. If you want to hurt one of us, let it be me."
Julie: "Does he know that you're in love with him? If he does, he's only going to use it against you. He'd find a way to manipulate it for his benefit. I'm going to do us both a favor."
Karen: "No, Julie....please," She said gripping the tears tightly.
Julie: "Save your tears for someone worth of them. Chris isn't and I'm going to rid us both of him," She said taking out a cell phone and calling the hospital.
Karen: "Julie, please, please don't do this," She pled over and over again.
Julie: "Shut up!" Julie shouted training the gun on Karen, "Hush."
Karen watched as Julie cocked the gun and she fell silent.
Julie smiled as Chris answered the phone.
Chris: "Dr. Ramsey."
Julie: "Hey Pookey."
Chris: "Julie, where are you? Where's Karen?"
Julie: "Worried about your mistress? How touching Chris, really. Want to explain to me why I found you two in each other's arms?"
Chris: "Look, lovebug," He said firmly, "I can explain everything but I think it's better done in person."
Julie: "You. Alone. No cops. No one else. You understand?"
Chris: "Fine. Where?"
Julie: "Christina's birthplace."
Chris: "When?"
Julie: "Six."
Chris: "I'll be there. Julie, I want to know that Karen's okay."
Julie: "Why are you so worried about her?"
Chris: "Because I care about her, Julie."
Julie: "Do you love her?"
Chris: "Julie....." He stared seeing Scott and nodding. Scott stepped up to Chris and gave him all his attention. "Julie, let me talk to her."
Julie: "Why should I let you?"
Chris: "Because there's no point in my meeting with you if you've already killed her."
Julie: "There's the Chris I know. Thinking about yourself first. Okay, fine," She said handing the phone to Karen, "Tell him you're okay."
Karen: "Chris?" She started slowly.
Chris: "Karen, thank god you're alive. Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Karen: "I'm fine. She hasn't hurt me," She answered, "Chris, do you remember the dream I had about us?"
Julie: "That's enough," She snapped as she pulled the phone away, "As you can tell, she's fine.....for now."
Chris: "Julie, let her go. It's me you want," He tried to bargain with her as he tried to figure out what Karen meant.
Julie: "At least now, I've got your attention. And Karen will be fine just as long as you're a good sport and play along," She explained glancing at Karen momentarily as she hung up.
Chris: "Julie? Julie? Dammit," He swore as he hung up the phone.
Scott: "Did she say anything about Karen?" He asked hurriedly.
Chris: "She let me talk to her. Karen's okay so far. She's scared but okay," He replied still thinking about what Karen meant about the dream.
Scott: "What did Julie want?"
Chris: "To meet with me. She's using Karen as bait. I don't think she really wants to hurt Karen. She's after me."
Scott: "Did she set the meeting?"
Chris: "Yes, but we can't get Garcia involved. He'll mess it all up."
Scott: "Garcia could screw up a wet dream. We'll do it."
Chris: "Tonight at six. The old amusement park where Garcia recaptured Julie when she escaped from Ferncliff."
Scott: "Why there?"
Chris: "It's where Christina was born. She wants to remind me why we were married in the first place."
Scott: "Why did she take Karen?"
Chris: "Unfortunately, Julie saw Karen & I together last night. She's pissed."
Scott: "Do you blame her? You're her husband Ramsey," He said sharply.
Chris: "I don't need lessons in matrimony from you Baldwin," He said, "I still don't understand what Karen meant."
Scott: "About what?"
Chris: "She asked me if I remembered a dream she told me about. And I just don't know what she meant."
Scott: "Well remember! She might be trying to tell us something."
Chris: "Gee Scott, I never would have thought of that," He said sarcastically watching Scott walk away.
Chapter 6
Karen: "Julie, what are you going to do?" She asked seeing Julie walk up to the bars dressed as a police officer.
Julie: "I'm going to get Chris. Don't worry, Karen," She said cheerfully, "I'm bringing him back here before I kill him. I want you to see what a lying bastard he is first."
Karen: "How are you going to do that?" She asked watching Julie adjust the cuffs on her shirt.
Julie: "I'm going to show you that he'll change his tune as soon as money is involved."
Karen: "Julie, he's not like that. Maybe that's what your relationship with him was based on, but that's not what Chris is like."
Julie: "He's done it again. Worked that Ramsey charm and he has you believing everything he tells you."
Karen: "No, he hasn't. Chris has been honest with me."
Julie: "Honest? He doesn't know the meaning of the word. He's a liar, a cheat and a con. You know, I thought you of all people would have seen through him."
Karen: "He's not any of those things," She said then decided to take another approach, "At least not with me. I get to see a side of him that he never let you see."
Julie: "You? You think you have something that special?"
Karen: "Yes, Chris and I have something that special together. We have since your trial. I really should thank you, Julie. You're the reason that Chris and I are together."
Julie: "You two were together at my trial?"
Karen: "Yes, We're actually glad you decided to testify for yourself. It made things easier for us."
Julie: "Now, I know you're lying. Chris and I had this all planned from the start. Do you know why he's so interested in you?" She started, not giving Karen a chance to answer, "He did it so we could imporve our chances of getting Christina. He started his nicey-nice with you to make sure he would know what was happening with Scott and Lucy. The only reason you got chief resident is because Chris and Rachel eliminated the competition one by one. Face it. He played you. You're just another mark for him. And he did it all for me."
Karen: "I thought you said he was only in it for the money," She countered, trying not to let the sting of Julie's words show, "He doesn't care about you, Julie. He only cares about your money....not you. He cares about ME!"
Julie: "No, he doesn't! He doesn't!" She shouted, her eyes enflamed with rage, "And I'll show you just as soon as I drag him back here!" She screamed in rage before leaving Karen alone in her cell.
Chapter 7
Chris stepped into the castle and took a quick look around. Nothing much had changed in the months since Christina had been born. He turned as he heard the door open.
Julie: "Hey Pookey," She said coyly as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
Chris: "Where's Karen?"
Julie: "Tucked away in a safe place. This is very uncharacteristic of you Chris. Getting so sentimental over a mark."
Chris: "She's not a mark, Julie. I care about her. Where is she?"
Julie: "I told you. She's safe," She answered firmly.
Chris: "Julie, come on. This is between you and me. Free her and take me instead."
Julie: "Oh she's very much involved Chris. The minute you two started plotting behind my back, she became part of this."
Chris: "We haven't been plotting anything. She and I have just been enjoying each other's company. That's all."
Julie: "So you admit it? You're having an affair with her?"
Chris: "Not how you're thinking. We're not sleeping together. We just spend time together."
Julie: "Don't insult me Chris. How long? The entire time we've been married?"
Chris: "Since the trial."
Julie: "She was telling the truth?" She asked foling her arms across her chest, "You honestly do care for her, don't you?"
Chris: "Yes, Julie, I do," He admitted, "Where is she? Let's end this without anyone getting hurt, okay? Let Karen go."
Julie: "No. She's my insurance."
Chris: "Insurance? Julie, come on. Trade me for her."
Julie: "No! No, you're going to do everything I want because of her. I want to see Christina."
Scott: "No!" He said firmly stepping into the light, "You're not getting Christina."
Julie immediately pulled her gun.
Julie: "You were supposed to come along, Chris! Maybe you don't care about her as much as you say you do."
Chris: "Julie," He started giving Scott a warning glance, "Please, just let us know where Karen is."
Julie: "No!" She said looking back to Scott, "You've got my daughter and I have yours. Let's trade."
Scott: "No," He said shaking his head.
Julie: "You don't care about Karen?"
Scott: "I do, but I also love Christina. I can't trade one of my children for the other."
Julie: "Christina isn't yours!" She shouted back getting angry, "She's mine! And I want her back."
Scott: "You can't have her, Julie. I don't know what kind of whacked out delusions you have going on in that head of yours but you're not getting Christina."
Julie: "Then you're not getting Karen!" She said opening the door and meeting with one of Scott's goons. Julie raised her gun and fired a shot into the man's chest.
Scott and Chris both lunged for Julie who sprinted down the hall. Scott continued down the hall as Chris bent to administer medical attention to the fallen man. Chris dialed 911 on his cell phone while tearing off part of the man's shirt for a bandage. He gave directions and explained the man's condition before hanging up as Scott came back to him.
Scott: "How is he?" He ask kneeling beside them.
Chris: "Alive....for now. What the hell were you thinking? Pissing her off isn't going to do us any good, least of all Karen. What if he takes out that anger on Karen? Did that ever occur to you?" He asked angrily, applying pressure to the man's wound.
Scott: "What did you expect me to do?"
Chris: "How about keeping your mouth shut?" He said checking the man's vitals, "We probably lost our only shot at getting Karen back alive. Dammit, Scott, we've got to find a way to get Julie to trust us and you just blew it!"
Scott: "I didn't blow anything. I won't trade Christina for Karen. Karen wouldn't expect me to either."
Chris: "No one's expecting you to, Scott," He explained as the sounds of sirens grew from a distance, "We could have offered an exchange and then not given her Christina. Now we don't know what she's going to do."
Scott: "She'll be in touch," He said sure of himself.
Chris: "The only question is, will Karen still be alive when she does?" He frowned as the paramedics rolled in.
Chapter 8
Karen lay on the cot wrapped up in the flannel blanket that had been provided. She hoped that Chris was okay, that the cops had caught Julie, that Chris would understand her clue, and that she would be found. She was cold and getting hungry, and she desperately wanted to go home. She wanted to make sure Chris was okay. She wanted to be able to hold him and have tell her that everything was going to be okay.
She sat up as she heard a noise outside the cell. She walked to the cell door and saw Julie walk in, slamming the door closed behind her in a fit of rage. Julie ran ther hand over her forehead and through her hair as she sat the gun down on the desk. She unsnapped the front of her shirt and peeled the bloody cloth from her body revealing the red stains on her white undershirt.
Karen: "Julie," She started terrified of what might have happened, "What happened?"
Julie: "I shot him! He wouldn't get out of my way!" She explained in a rant as she paced the front room.
Karen: "You shot him?" She asked feeling her heart sink and the tears involuntarily swell in her eyes.
Julie: "Yes. With any luck, he's dead," She said as she picked up a nearby towel and wiped her bloody hands, "This wouldn't have happened if Scott had just given me my baby back."
Karen: "Scott?" She asked choking back her tears, "What's he got to do with this?"
Julie: "He's got my baby and I was going to arrange a trade. You for Christina. but he showed up while I was talking to Chris and said there was no trade and insulted me."
Karen: "Scott was there?" She asked worriedly watching Julie pace.
Julie: "Yes, it's his fault I had to shoot him. Scott wouldn't deal. Maybe now he'll see that I"m serious."
Karen: "Julie, what are you going to do now?"
Julie: "Call Scott and let him know that I will do anything to get my baby back," She explained grabbing a jacket and walking back out the door.
Karen felt the world desentegrate around her as she stared at the bloodly blue shirt that Julie had discarded. Julie had shot Chris. She prayed that he was okay but there was a lot of blood on the shirt and on the towel that Julie had wiped her hands on. She sank slowly to her knees on the floor, staring at the shirt, "Oh god Chris.....no....No." She cried as she thought about how much he had meant to her, and all she'd wanted to say to him, to do with him. She hadn't been given the chance to tell him that she loved him or even been able to tell him that she truly cared about him. She hugged the blanket around herself and cried for all the missed moments with Chris that she'd never have.