Deliver Me -- Chapter Four

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Eve stepped into the Recovery Room to pick up a light lunch she'd ordered to share with Kevin. She walked up to the bar before spotting Ian with his nose in a book across the room. She frowned as she took a moment to decide what she should do. She squared her shoulders and walked over to him, "Ian."

"Eve," He said standing quickly from his chair and smiling. He held out his hand, offering her a seat, "Please. Join me."

She gave him a polite smile as she took a seat across from him. She placed her purse on the table beside her and carefully chose her words, "Look, I think we need to talk."

"I found some interesting things about the mystery patients that you might want to hear."

"I think we need to discuss what....what almost happened between us. I want you to know that it can't happen ever again. In fact, I can't see you anymore."

"Just wait. I love my husband. There's nothing in the world that I wouldn't do for him. I can't see you anymore beyond this. I know that I started this little mystery with you, but Kevin needs me and I need him."

"Eve, that's what I wanted to tell you. I'm going back to Doctors Without Limits. Things here haven't been on the up and up for me," He frowned as he looked to her, "On any level whatsoever. It's best if I go back to doing what I like best."

"Ian," Eve frowned a bit before giving him a brief smile, "I hope you find what you're looking for."

"It's good to hear you say that," He said before glancing back at his books in front of him.

"I guess this is good bye then," She said as she stood and smiled. She extended her hand to him. He accepted her hand lightly and they shook hands as if they hadn't been nearly as close as they had been, "It's been a pleasure, doctor."

"Yes it has, Doctor," He smiled sadly before she turned, grabbed her lunch and walked out the door.

Eve stood outside the door momentarily, trying to decide if she should go back inside and convince him to stay in Port Charles. Didn't she have too many problems to deal with already? She sighed as she started walked back over to GH. She would be better off if Ian went back to Doctors Without Limits. Her life really had been turned upside down when he'd shown up anyway. Maybe things would calm down again if he left.

Livvie took a seat in the park at her favorite bench and curled her feet beneath her. It was really getting chilly during the days. She began to thumb through the classified ads as she heard a familiar voice.

"Livvie," Lucy said as she crossed her arms before her, "I think we should talk."

"No, wait. Here me out. There are a lot of things you need to know. Doc didn't know about you. He's a kind and caring man. He'd have been there for you every day of your life had he any clue that you existed. You have to give him a chance. Running off to Chris every time you have a problem won't help you solve anything at all."

"He's only going to cause trouble for you, and if you're not careful for Doc too. Do you know what Chris is capable of? Of course not, or you wouldn't be around him all the time. He's a liar and a cheat and he's despicable. He helped Julie take my daughter and I won't let him do the same thing to Doc."

"No, you just listen. Doc wants to be your father and he wants you two to be close. That can never happen as long as you're around Chris. He's only going to hurt you, and then you'll see what we've all been trying to tell you. He's horrible...just horrible."

"Yes you do," Lucy said pushing Livvie back down on the bench as she stepped in front of her, blocking her way, "Yes you do, because I will not let Doc lose his daughter. I lost mine to Ramsey. I won't let it happen again."

"Kevin isn't losing me. He doesn't even have me yet, Lucy," Livvie said angrily.

"You listen here," Lucy said strongly, "Do you really want to know about Chris? Did you know that he hates Rachel and Kevin? He would do anything to hurt them and that's why he has you. Do you think he really cares? He doesn't. He's just using you."

"Stop it. Just stop it! You don't know Chris," Livvie screamed back at her, "You don't know him like I do. And I don't have to defend any of this to you." She shouted as she pushed her back far enough to begin an exit.

Lucy grabbed her arm, "Why don't you ask him then? Ask him about why he wants to be your friend so badly. Ask him."

Livvie tore her arm from Lucy's grasp and walked away. Lucy shook her head as she sighed, "Livvie, you're making a huge mistake."

Chris looked over the chart before him once more as the knock came upon the door. He took a deep breath, "Come in."

Kevin stepped inside and closed the door behind him easily. He leaned back against the door slowly and crossed his arms.

Chris turned in his chair and spotted Kevin. He sighed as he put down his pen and sat back in his chair, "I was actually wondering how long it would take before you came by."

"I don't know what you're planning to do, but you leave Livvie out of it. I don't care how this game of yours started, you end it."

"Kevin, if you're under the impression that I somehow control Livvie, you're wrong."

"All I do is suggest. I don't force her and I don't push her. She does whatever she wants to do. It's not up to me."

Kevin paused as he took in a deep breath, "I want you to stay away from her, Chris."

"Obviously, you haven't spoken with your wife lately," Chris responded picking up his pen again, "I have every intention of gently severing my ties with your daughter."

"Yes," He nodded as he turned back to the paperwork in front of him, "It's best for everyone that way."

Chris frowned as he shook his head, "No games Kevin. I know you think that I'd use her to hurt you. While the thought crossed my mind quite a while ago, it's long since faded. I don't want to see her hurt. And the best way to do that is to stay away from her."

"That's not what I hear. I hear that you're giving her a place to stay tonight."

"Eavesdropping Kevin?" Chris turned to face him, "That's not very ethical of you."

"Don't you dare lecture me on ethics. You're taking advantage of an 18 year old girl. She's hardly prepared to face what you'll do to her."

"Or what you're family will do to her either. Livvie's really stuck between the brink and insanity with you guys. Rachel isn't exactly stable, but you....well...a family full of former institution residents....Livvie's not prepared to deal with quite a bit, is she Kevin?" Chris countered as his anger was being pushed to the limit.

"Chris, that is irrelevant here," Kevin shouted at the top of his lungs, "If you lay one finger on her, I'll..."

"You'll what Kevin? You'll what? Kill me? How could you build a relationship with Livvie from death row?"

Eve stepped into the office and put herself between them, "Would you two knock it off? I could hear you from down the hall."

"You don't get to tell me if I can see her or not, Kevin. It's not that simple. You may be her father, but just like Rachel, you don't control her."

"I'll remember that," Chris said coldly as he met Kevin's eyes, not willing to back down at all.

Livvie stood at the door, having missed the confrontation between the two men but she could still feel the tension in the air. She looked between them all before stepping forward and linking her arm with Chris', "What's going on?"

Chris broke his stare with Kevin and looked to Livvie. He forced a light smile, "Kevin and I were just discussing you."

"Kevin," Livvie said turning her attention back to him, "I told you already. If you accept me, you have to accept Chris too. If you can't do that, then maybe this isn't something we should deal with."

"Livvie, don't say things like that. I was just giving Chris a word of warning," Kevin said meeting his eyes again, "I don't want him to hurt you."

"And I don't want or need your protection, Kevin," Livvie said firmly standing between Kevin and Chris.

"Livvie," Chris spoke softly as he placed his hands on her shoulders, "It's okay. Kevin's just trying to do the right thing here."

"No, it's not okay, Chris. I won't have him pushing you out of my life. You've been the one person that I could count on and trust, and I've known from the beginning that you care about me. I won't let him ruin what I have in you."

"Hey," Chris said turning her to face him completely, "Give Kevin a chance here."

"Listen to me, Livvie. If you really trust me, you'll take my word on this. Kevin's only trying to protect you and see that you're not put through any more pain," He said as he glanced back to Kevin, "And maybe he's right."

Eve looked back to Chris and gave him a slight nod of encouragement though she could see the pain behind the solid expression on his face. He wasn't speaking, but his eyes said so much.

"I think Kevin's right. I think it's best if we don't see each other anymore," Chris said as his eyes met Livvie's.

She stared at him for a moment, not sure that she'd heard him right, "But Chris...I thought you said that you cared about me."

"Livvie, you need to know the truth here. And I think Kevin would be more than happy to hear my real motives in all of this," Chris said as he shrugged towards Kevin, "I mean after all, he was part of my plan from the beginning."

"What? I....I don't understand," Livvie said as she felt tears already threatening her eyes.

"All of this was about revenge. Revenge on Rachel and revenge on Kevin. I wanted to make them suffer for all the pain that they'd put Julie through. I wanted them to feel the same pain I felt when Julie left. When you came along, it gave me the perfect opportunity."

Livvie shook her head, "But you didn't know that who I really was until after we'd been friends for a long time."

"I did know, Livvie," He spoke, revealing the truth about everything....at least the truth about his plans, "I found your ID from your school in Arizona. I knew your name was Olivia Locke since that day in the park."

Chris nodded, not trusting his voice for the time being. He took a deep breath before he continued, "All of it. Now that Rachel's secret is out....I have no further interest here."

"You....," Livvie paused as her tears finally slipped down her cheeks, "You didn't care about me at all. I was just a tool for you?"

Chris watched her cry and wished he could take it all back. He nodded and decided to seal the end of their association completely as he chose his parting shot carefully, "And you worked out better than I could have hoped."

Livvie took a step back, "How could you? How could you do this to me? I thought you cared about me....I thought you....I thought you were different," She cried as she spun around and rushed down the hall.

Eve looked back to Chris and he shifted aimlessly on his feet, "What have I done, Eve?"

"Chris," Eve spoke as she watched him stare at the door. He started towards the door, stopped and paced the room again. He pointed towards the door before throwing his hands up in the air.

Eve watched her friend being torn apart and she paused. She looked at him for a moment and weighed all the options. None of them were pretty, but she didn't think she could stand the pain of watching Chris lose someone else he loved, "Go after her," Eve said lightly.

"Because she's better off without me. She's better off being with her father," He frowned rubbing his face, "And I'm better off without her."

Eve frowned as she watched him accept his choice, "Chris, I'm sorry it has to be this way."

"So am I, Eve," Chris said with a frown. He looked around his office for a moment before aimlessly speaking out, "I'm going home and I don't want to be disturbed....so don't even bother trying to get through."

"Eve, leave me alone," He said shrugging off her hand before leaving his office and stepping down the hall. Livvie stood with her arms around Rachel with Kevin nearby.

"What are you talking about?" Rachel asked looking back to Kevin in confusion.

"I know the truth, Rachel. I know that Livvie is my daughter and she knows that Grace is her mother. You've lost," Kevin shouted back at her.

"I haven't lost," Rachel returned, "Look at her," She stroked Livvie's hair as Livvie cried against her, "She's here with me, isn't she?"

"Stop it!" Livvie screamed as she pushed away from both of them, "I'm not a game. This is not a game. This is my life! Why can't you see that? Why can't anyone see that?"

Livvie started to walk down the hall and stopped in her tracks as she spotted Chris. Chris stood speechless as he looked at her. She felt the tears building, "Why?"

"Livvie, it's better this way. It would only hurt worse later. I'd only hurt you somehow down the road."

"You're hurting me now. Don't you see? I trusted you. You were the one person that I thought I could count on."

"Livvie, I'm sorry. But you're better off without me and you deserve to know your father."

"Then why are you doing this to me? How could you use me this way? You don't care about me. I thought you did, Chris. I thought.....I......." Livvie cried as she turned away from him and walked away feeling more lost than ever before.