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Chapter 8
Karen woke from some much deserved rest. She showered and readied herself for an evening with Joe. She was terrified of what might happen when she told him. Would that Scanlon temper get the best of him? Would he take out all the lies on Frank or Courtney? Would he be able to put all of that aside for Neil's benefit? Would he even let her tell him after what had happened with Chris?
Why was she even thinking of Chris? She guessed because he was the one that told her about the paternity mess to begin with, but that didn't explain why she involuntarily licked her lips when she thought of him. Damn him. She really was beginning to hate him for playing with her head like that.
The door opened to her apartment and Joe stepped in. She smiled as she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him softly.
Karen: "How was your day?"
Joe: "It just got a whole lot better."
Karen: "For me too," She smiled at him.
He touched her cheek with one hand while the other held her waist. He looked into her eyes and kissed her once more.
Joe: "I'm sorry for being such a jerk lately. This whole Julie thing just got to me, I guess. I think I was just disappointed that we didn't see things the same way."
Karen: "It's been known to happen to us before," She said softly, "But I shouldn't have pushed it so hard. Besides, it didn't do anyone any good. Julie, Chris, or me for that matter."
Joe: "What were you hoping to get out of that anyway?"
Karen: "Besides seeing a person I thought was innocent being set free? I wanted my friend back, Joe."
Joe: "You really believed her, didn't you?"
She nodded and sighed.
Karen: "Yeah, I did."
Joe: "And now?"
Karen: "I still don't think that the Julie we knew would have done that, but something is different about her. She's violent and is a threat to the rest of us. I don't think she should be let out."
Joe: "We finally agree."
Karen: "Finally," She said before he kissed her again, "Joe, there's something I need to tell you."
Joe: "Is it about kissing Chris?"
Karen: "That has something to do with it."
Joe: "I want to hear all about this, Karen. I don't want to think that I've heard stuff all day that might be true."
Karen: "The only think you've heard is a lot of baseless speculation. There's nothing between Chris and I other than a tenative friendship."
Joe: "Then what was the kiss?"
Karen: "It was a way to avert suspicion."
Joe: "By creating more? You're confusing me, Karen."
Karen: "We should sit down," She said taking his hand and setting on the sofa beside him. She took a deep breath and started, "I've learned a lot of things in the past twenty-four hours that could help Neil."
Joe: "Such as?"
Karen: "I don't even know where to begin."
Joe: "How about at the beginning?" He asked with a soft smile.
Karen: "Okay," She said softly then started, "Well, last night, Chris and I started talking. He's been friendly to me and we've kind of forged a friendship along the way. Well, anyway, the subject of Courtney came up."
Joe: "Hold it. Don't tell me he's upset because Courtney dumped him."
Karen: "No, that never even came up."
Joe: "Oh, okay, then continue."
Karen: "Well, I was telling Chris that Courtney was pregnant with a marrow donor for Neil. He said that was probably a lie. I told him that he had to be nuts. But then he started telling me things and it started fitting together."
Joe: "Like?"
Karen: "Courtney and Frank, don't you think that's kind of all of a sudden?"
Joe: "Yeah, but I've warned him not to disturb her."
Karen: "But apparently they have continued on anyway. That's because of Neil."
Joe: "Neil? You think Courtney needs a support?"
Karen: "No, I think that Courtney and Frank are together because Neil is their son."
Joe looked pale for a moment then stood up.
Joe: "Did Ramsey put that in your head? It figures."
Karen: "Joe, just wait."
Joe: "No, and I can't believe you would believe this."
Karen: "Joe, I wouldn't have believed it. But there's proof," She said walking over to the counter where the lab reports were and she handed them to him, "Here. Read it for yourself."
Joe stood there for a moment and looked over them. He paced around the room.
Joe: "No, no, no! I won't believe this!" He said tossing the papers back at her, "This is not the truth. Did Ramsey give you this? Did Ramsey make these up so that you two could play with my head? Is he waiting for you tonight after you broke this to me?"
Karen: "Joe, look I know this hard for you, but don't you dare blame this on me! I'm not the woman that lied to you. Courtney is. If you want to take this out on someone, you go over there and let her have it. Not me!"
Joe: "You're just doing this to me because you're sleeping with Ramsey."
Karen: "Where the hell did that come from? I am not sleeping with Chris!"
Joe: "I don't even know what I was thinking. I was thinking that we had a future together, but you know, I guess I was crazy. You thought I was the one who had a sex obsession and you're the one that was a stripper and now you're with Ramsey. Great," He shouted before slamming out the door.
Karen took a deep breath and felt the tears roll down her cheek. He hadn't even let her explain before he turned the entire betrayal around on her and spearing her with it. She hadn't been able to even tell him that she loved him.
She looked around the apartment and grabbed her phone. She dialed the number and stood there feeling her pulse race.
Chris: "You're talking to the Doctor."
Karen: "I'm talking to a dead man. I want to see you now!"
Chris: "Whoa, attitude. What happened?"
Karen: "Just meet me at Luke's, Chris."
Chris: "Why Luke's?"
Karen: "Because if I kill you there, Luke will probably be willing to help me hide the body."
Chris: "Okay, Karen, I can tell you're upset but what's wrong?"
Karen: "Just be at Luke's in fifteen minutes," She said before slamming the phone down.
Chapter 9
Karen walked into Luke's and walked over to where Chris was sitting at a table. He was nursing a drink and he pointed at the chair.
Chris: "There's a chair. You can do two things with it. Kill me now or sit in it and explain to me what's wrong."
Karen sat down and slapped her purse onto the table.
Karen: "Well, it happened. Joe walked out."
Chris: "You told him and he didn't take it well."
Karen: "No, Chris, he did not take it well," She said firmly, "Now I want to know why you really told me about this. Did you set it up so that Joe and I would end our relationship?"
Chris rolled his eyes.
Chris: "No, Karen. I was trying to do the right thing for once in my life, but since you seem to want to accuse me of Courtney and Frank's misdeeds, I think I'll leave," He said standing up.
Karen: "Chris, wait," She said standing and grabbing his arm, "Don't leave."
Chris: "Why should I stay? Are you going to throw some more accusations my way?"
Karen closed her eyes as she felt the tears well up. She withdrew her hand and sat back down in her chair. Chris noticed just how upset she was as he sat down in a chair beside her and moved it closer to her. He reached out to touch her cheek.
Chris: "Hey, Karen, what happened?"
Karen: "He accused me of planning this with you. He accused me of sleeping with you behind his back."
Chris frowned and wiped tears from her cheek.
Chris: "Hey, don't let him get to you. He didn't mean the things he said and if he did, he's a pin head. He was just upset and letting that explosive Irish temper get the best of him. He'll crawl back to you apologizing on his hands and knees when he realizes what a moron he's been."
Karen: "No, you don't understand, Chris. It's just been one thing after another and we just can't connect anymore. Not since Frank was trying to break us up."
Chris: "You'll get through this, Karen. You two will work it out."
Karen: "I don't know that there's anything left to work out, Chris. We can't seem to be together for long periods of time these days. I just don't think that I'm good enough for him."
Chris: "Karen, you're a good and strong woman. What more could Joe want?"
Karen: "I just think that I've got too much in my past."
Chris: "So Saint Joe wants a saint for himself, huh?" He frowned as he wiped more of her tears, "Well, he'll die a very lonely old man. Karen, you're a wonderful woman despite what happened in your past. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't move past it because you have."
Karen: "Have I, Chris? I don't think so. Joe even brought it up tonight."
Chris: "He brought up your past to throw it in your face? Karen, you deserve better than that."
Karen: "Do I? Do I really? I love him so much."
Chris: "Even after he ripped your heart out and stomped on it because he wouldn't believe you," He replied hopelessly, "Well, since I got you into this, at least let me try to smooth it over."
Karen: "I think you've done enough, Chris."
Chris: "All I was going to do is buy you a drink," He said with a faint smile.
She smiled.
Karen: "Okay, I'll take a drink."
Chris: "So what's your poison?"
Karen: "Long Island Iced Tea."
Chris: "You don't start slow, do you?" He asked with a grin before ordering her drink.
Karen: "No, never have. If you're going to do something, you might as well go all the way."
Chris: "Careful. You might be giving me ideas for the next time I kiss you," He teased.
Karen rolled her eyes and grinned.
Karen: "You can forget it. These lips are off limits to you."
Chris: "You just broke my heart," He said covering his heart with his hand and grinning.
Karen: "Yeah, I can tell," She said with a smile while wiping tears from her eyes.
Their drinks arrived and Chris raised his glass in a toast.
Chris: "Here's to the ones that got away."
Karen: "Here's to the ones that ran away."
They touched glasses and smiled before taking drinks. Chris smiled as he sat his martini back on the table.
Chris: "So, did you dream about me while you were sleeping today?"
Karen groaned but smiled.
Karen: "You're impossible."
Chris: "No, for you, I'm highly probable," He grinned, "So, did you?"
Karen: "No, as a matter of fact, I didn't."
Chris looked at her skeptically for a moment while she smiled.
Chris: "Yes you did."
Karen: "No, I didn't."
Chris: "Yes, you did," He smiled, "Tell me all about it. I want lots of sensual details."
Karen: "I was choking the life out of you. Good enough?"
Chris: "Oh, kinky, I could get used to that," He said with a smile.
She laughed.
Karen: "Nothing ever shuts you up, does it?"
Chris looked like he was thinking about it before he shook his head in the negative.
Chris: "Nope, so tell me about this dream."
Karen: "I don't think I should. You know, Lucy sees all kinds of meanings in dreams. She'd be labeling this one all over the place."
Chris: "Well, maybe I can find some meaning of my own, but I'm not one to believe in all that hocus pocus stuff."
Karen: "Promise me not to take me completely literal when I tell you this, okay?"
Chris: "That's not fair. I can't exactly promise that when I don't know what you're going to say."
Karen: "Well, it started at the hospital."
Chris: "With us kissing in the elevator."
Karen: "Yeah," She said softly watching him, "You know, if you had the same dream, there's not much of a point to me telling you about it."
Chris: "Oh, but I want to hear your description."
Karen: "You're an evil man."
Chris: "I dare you to tell me that you hate me."
She smiled softly as she saw him wink at her.
Karen: "I think you like abuse."
Chris: "From you, yeah. I like it when you tell me you hate me."
Karen: "No, you like responding to when I tell you that."
Chris: "You're right. I do," He replied.
Karen: "Now where was I?"
Chris: "We were getting jiggy with it in the elevator."
Karen: "We were not," She said with a laugh, "We were just kissing."
Chris: "We had different dreams then," He smiled.
Karen: "Did I give you permission to have erotic dreams about me?" She asked, trying to be serious.
Chris: "I didn't ask."
Karen: "Did you enjoy it?"
Chris: "Damn right," He laughed softly, "Don't ask me to repeat it. I'd need a cold shower."
Karen: "Hmm, now that's not fair, why should I share when you won't?"
Chris: "Because you hate me remember?"
Karen: "Oh yeah, I forgot, I do."
Chris: "Say it."
Karen: "No," She smiled.
Chapter Ten
Chris: "So, in this dream," He said placing his empty glass on the table beside two others, "You and I were in prison and Julie was holding the keys?"
Karen looked over at him and nodded placing her third glass on the table.
Karen: "Yeah, I guess being trapped in that elevator fried my brain."
Chris: "Must have, and here we've fried the remainder," He said pointing to the empty glasses. He watched her barely restraining a smile, "What are you smiling about?"
Karen: "Nothing," She said before giggling, "Okay, I was imagining what you'd look like in prison stripes."
Chris: "And that's funny?" He asked with a smile.
Karen: "No, I was thinking that you would be kind of cute in them."
Chris: "You're drunk," He said almost laughing.
Karen: "I am not," She said firmly then laughed, "Okay, maybe just a little."
Chris: "Try a lot," He laughed, "Come on. I should take you home."
Karen: "I don't want to go there. Anywhere but there."
Chris: "Okay, I'll take you back to my place. You can crash on the sofa."
Karen: "Oh darn, I was hoping you'd help me misplace my virtue."
His eyes widened and he laughed.
Chris: "Now, I know you're drunk. Let's go," He said helping her from the chair and outside the club.
They got into a cab and rode back to Chris's building. She drapped herself on him, using him for support as they went to the elevator.
Karen: "This brings back memories," She smiled as they boarded the elevator. She wrapped her arms around him and looked up into his eyes. He watched her for a moment and his eyes were drawn to her lips. She stood on her tip toes and took his bottom lip into her mouth before kissing him deeply. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her body to his.
Chris returned her kiss drawing her into his arms tightly as he kissed her. Her hands were driving him crazy as the roamed from his back to his chest and down to his waistband. He trapped her hands with his as he tore his lips away.
Chris: "We can't do this."
Karen: "Yes, we can," She said kissing him once more. She took her hands from his and began undoing the buttons on his shirt.
Chris: "No, we can't.
Not this way," He said pulling away from her as the elevator doors opened.
His body was waging war with his conscience. He stepped off the elevator
while Karen followed him. He took his keys from his pocket and was
about to slip the key into the lock when Karen's hands landed on his thighs
and started upwards. He dropped his keys while her hands worked their
way up his chest again, wrapping her arms around him as she pressed her
body into his back. "Karen, you're driving me insane," He said bending
for his keys as she stayed pressed against him all the way down and all
the way back up.
She finished unbuttoning
his shirt as he opened the door. He walked in as Karen's hands found
their way inside his shirt.
Chris: "Woman, would you quit?" He said turning in her arms.
Karen: "No," She said kissing him again.
Chris gave into her kiss and drew her against him as he closed the door and pressed her back into it. She ran her hands into his hair as she kissed him. His hands lingered at her waist.
Eve: "What's going on?" She asked sleepily as she came out of her room, "Whoa, what have we here?" She said as she opened her eyes fully.
Karen peeked around Chris as he turned around to see Eve.
Karen: "Hi Eve," She said with a giggle.
Chris: "Hi Eve," He said while Karen's hands moved up his chest. Chris stilled Karen's hands as Eve looked at the two of them in shock.
Eve: "What is going on here?"
Karen: "Chris was just about to take me to bed," She smiled as she stepped in front of him and looked back at him before placing a kiss in the center of his chest.
Chris: "Karen!" He said as he drew her eyes up to his, "We're not doing this."
Karen: "Sure we are," She said drawing him into another kiss.
Chris reluctantly pulled his lips from hers as he moved Karen across the room. He looked over to Eve.
Chris: "Help me get her into bed. She's drunk."
Karen: "Just a little though," She laughed holding onto Chris.
Eve frowned as she watched them.
Chris: "Don't look at me that way. I had no intention of taking advantage of the situation."
Karen: "As a matter of fact, I'm the one trying to take advantage of him and he won't cooperate," She pouted before Chris lifted her into his arms, "Now that is much better. Change your mind, sailor?"
Chris: "No, you're going to sleep those Long Islands off," He said carrying her towards his room. Eve opened the bedroom door and Chris carried Karen inside. He placed her on the bed but she wouldn't relinquish her hold on him. He smiled, "Now normally, I wouldn't argue with you, but I will not take advantage of your condition, Karen. I may be a bastard, but I'm not that big a bastard."
Karen: "Please?" She said with a pouty smile pulling him into another kiss.
He returned her kiss and caressed her cheek.
Chris: "Not like this," He kissed her once more, "Now sleep."
Karen closed her eyes but wouldn't let go of him.
Chris: "Uh, Karen...I need my neck, please."
Karen: "I don't want to let go. I want you to stay here with me."
Chris: "No," He said prying her fingers loose from their death grip and moving her hands from around his neck. He lifted her hands to his lips and placed a quick kiss on her skin, "Go to sleep."
Karen: "Party pooper," She pouted as she burrowed into his bed, pulling a sheet up around her.
Chris sighed a breath of relief as he grabbed a pillow from the bed and walked back out to the den where Eve was waiting on him like a mother hen. She had her arms crossed and gave him a look of contempt.
Chris: "What??" He said tossing the pillow onto the sofa.
Eve: "What is happening between you two? There's that whole thing at the hospital and now you bring her in here and she's like pawing you to death."
Chris: "That last part is not a bad thing."
Eve: "Chris!"
Chris: "Eve, look, there's a lot of things that you don't know about and I don't think it's my place to tell you about them. Karen is having some troubles with Joe and some of it has to do with me."
Eve: "What have you done?"
Chris: "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Eve," He said sinking into the sofa, "I haven't done anything. No, wait, scratch that. I did do a couple of things, but I'm trying to make that right now."
Eve: "By getting Karen drunk?"
Chris: "I did not get her drunk, Eve. We were sitting and talking and drinking. We both are a little past the point of good judgment."
Eve: "I'm going back to bed. First thing in the morning, I want details about everything. Do you understand me?"
Chris: "Since when did you become my mother? Your concern is noted. Get out of here," He said covering his face with his pillow.
Chapter 11--December 24, 1999
Chris stood in the doorway watching as Karen began to wake up. She stretched out on his bed before curling into a ball. He smiled as he watched her open her eyes then shut them quickly.
Karen: "Oh. God."
Chris: "Good morning, sunshine," He said cheerfully, watching her grab her head.
Karen: "Shhh, don't speak. Just let me die in peace," She complained as she covered her head with a pillow.
He couldn't help smiling as he walked over to the bed and placed a cup of coffee on the bedside table. He sat down on the side of the bed and placed an arm around her.
Chris: "Come on. As much as I like having you in my bed, you've got to face the day."
Karen: "Why?"
Chris: "Does the job title chief resident mean anything to you at all?"
Karen: "Yes, it does, but I don't want to go. I feel like hell."
Chris: "No wonder. You know, I don't think that you and alcohol mix very well."
Karen removed the pillow from her head and slowly sat up. Her head was pounding and she felt queesy.
Karen: "I think I'm going to be sick."
Chris: "Please don't," He said with a frown.
Karen: "Just tell me you have some coffee."
Chris: "I have some coffee," He said taking the cup from the bedside table and placing it into her hands.
She sipped it and looked over at him with a quick glance before gazing back into her coffee.
Chris: "What? You looked like you had something run through your head right then."
Karen: "Well . . . I . . . .," She sighed, "I guess I want to apologize for last night."
Chris: "Please don't. I was flattered," He smiled.
Karen: "Thank you for not letting the situation get out of hand," She said meeting his eyes with hers.
Chris: "Like I said last night, I may be a bastard but I'm not that big a bastard. I do have some morals that I won't jeapordize," He said pushing a lock of hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear.
She smiled.
Karen: "You do have some good down deep in there somewhere, don't you?"
Chris: "Shh, don't let that get around," He winked at her before getting off the bed and extending a hand to her, "Come on. You have to help me explain some things to Eve before she has my head on a platter."
Karen: "Oh god, what does she think is going on?"
Chris: "Who knows?" He shrugged, "Whatever is going on in that head of hers it has me cast as the lead villian."
Karen: "Ah, a promotion considering you're only a supporting character."
He laughed.
Chris: "I think I'll gladly fade into the background on this one."
She took his hand and got off the bed slowly. She took her hand from his and rubbed her temples.
Chris: "I'll get you some aspirin for that headache as soon as you sit down. Come on," He said leading her into the den where Eve was camped out on the sofa.
Karen took a seat beside Eve while Chris went to get aspirin.
Eve: "Want to start explaining now?"
Karen: "First of all, let me explain some things. The kiss at the hospital that everyone was buzzing about was my doing. Chris was helping me get some information and we were about to get caught. I figured that it would be a way to cover our tracks when Morgan came around the corner. But I had no idea that Amy Vining was with him."
Eve: "Uh huh," She replied skeptically.
Karen: "You see, Neil isn't Joe's son. He belongs to Frank. Chris was just helping me prove it by getting the results of Neil's antigen test."
Eve: "Wait a minute. Frank is Neil's father?"
Karen nodded.
Karen: "I told Joe about it last night and he exploded. He wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise before he started accusing me of sleeping with Chris."
Eve: "And what was last night about?"
Karen: "I called Chris and met him at Luke's to make sure he wasn't trying to set me up. I knew he wasn't but still, I needed to be sure. Chris and I sat and drank and talked and I had a really good time. Everything after that was my unconscious going to work."
Chris: "So you finally admit it," He grinned smugly.
Karen rolled her eyes as she smiled.
Karen: "I'm never going to be able to live with you again, am I?"
Chris: "Yes you will," He grinned, placing the aspirin in her hand, "And my ego thanks you."
Karen: "Your ego didn't need any help."
Chris: "My ego can always use encouragement."
Karen: "Oh god, is that what I did? Then I take it all back."
Chris: "You can't take it back now," He said sinking onto the sofa beside her.
Karen: "I hate you."
He grinned, leaned forward and kissed her.
Chris: "I've been waiting for you to say that."
Karen: "I ha..." She paused then smiled, "I don't like you."
Chris: "That doesn't have quite the same ring to it," He grinned.
Eve: "So there's nothing going on between the two of you?"
Chris: "No."
Karen: "No."
Eve: "You're both full of crap. There is something going on between you."
Chris looked at Karen and Karen looked at Chris. They both shrugged.
Karen: "If you say so, Eve."
Chris: "You have to forgive Lambert, there. She's notorious for seeing things that aren't there."
Eve: "But this is there. Very much so. If you two aren't together, what was that kiss about?"
Karen: "You wouldn't understand," She laughed softly.
Chris grinned as Eve rolled her eyes.
Chris: "Well, I hate to bust up this little party, but I have to be at the hospital," He looked over to Karen, "You gonna be okay?"
Karen nodded.
Karen: "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'll be at the hospital around noon. If Joe's there, try to avoid him."
Chris: "No problem there. I'd rather be going in the opposite direction as far as he's concerned," He said standing and grabbing his bag, "Catch you later," He winked at Karen before he left.
Karen smiled and caught Eve staring at her.
Karen: "What?"
Eve: "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into."
Karen: "I'm not getting myself into anything," She said rolling her eyes as she went back to Chris's bedroom.
Eve: "Yeah, sure, that's why you two are so chummy," She frowned, trying to figure out what was going on.
Chapter 12
Karen walked into her apartment and saw Joe sitting on the sofa. She took a deep breath and closed the door behind her.
Joe: "Where were you? I came back here last night and you were gone. Were you with Chris?"
Karen: "Yes, at Luke's.
I was trying to figure out if he was setting all of this up as a game to
jerk us
around."
Joe: "That took all night?"
Karen: "No, but I started having fun so I stayed. Then I drank a little too much and Chris took me to his place."
Joe: "Did you sleep with him?"
Karen: "No."
Joe: "No?"
Karen: "No. Ask Eve. She was there."
Joe: "You didn't sleep with him?"
Karen: "No! I'm not Courtney. I'm not going to betray you willingly, Joe."
Joe frowned and stood.
Karen: "Joe, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
Joe: "No, you're right. I shouldn't take this out on you. I need to find out the truth. And if Neil isn't my son, I need to know if Courtney's pregnant with my child. My child wouldn't be a match."
Karen: "That's something else that I found out about. Neil may already have a donor."
Joe: "Who? Frank doesn't have any children."
Karen: "Christina is Frank and Julie's baby. Chris delivered her and paid Janelle to take care of her until Janelle flaked out."
Joe: "My God! Can't Frank do anything right?" He shouted as he sank back onto the sofa, "I need to talk to Chris. I need to have more information before I go to Frank and Courtney with all of this."
Karen: "Want me to talk to him with you?"
Joe: "That's probably a good idea since you two are friendly now. You're on at noon, right?"
Karen: "Yeah, why?"
Joe: "We could meet at the Recovery Room for lunch before you go on shift."
Karen: "I'll call Chris and have him meet us there."
Joe: "Karen, I'm sorry that I went nuts on you. I shouldn't have accused you of those things. I shouldn't have said those things out of anger. I know that you would never sleep with Chris Ramsey and I don't know why I even said something that crazy."
Karen took a deep breath and smiled. He had no idea just how close she had come to doing that very thing. And she didn't feel sorry about it. If anything, she wished that it had happened. She wished that Chris would have co-operated with her. At least then she could have wrote off her desire for him to the alcohol. But instead she was stuck with knowing that she was incredibly attracted to Chris, so much so that if given the opportunity again, she would seize it by any means necessary.
She sighed as she walked over and sat beside him on the sofa.
Chapter 13
Chris walked into the Recovery Room and sat down beside Karen and across from Joe. He ordered a quick lunch and sat back in his chair.
Chris: "I'm assuming that Karen told you the Frank and Courtney story."
Joe: "Yes, she did. So why tell us now?"
Chris: "I have nothing to lose now. Neil does."
Joe: "So you knew that Frank was Neil's biological father. How long?"
Chris: "Since Neil had his first antigen test."
Joe: "And you didn't tell us?" He said in anger.
Chris: "I wasn't aware that a donor hadn't been found. I just knew that Courtney came to me in a panic. She didn't want you finding out about her extra-curricular activities with your brother. She knew that it was a possibility that Neil didn't belong to you. So she had me steal the first results. She was very glad that I did because it showed that your genetic markers didn't match Neil's. She got me a sample of Frank's blood to switch for yours. It came back positive as Neil's father. I only figured that much out because I had them compare paternal samples."
Joe sat in silence for a moment trying to control his anger. Karen watched him, hoping that he wouldn't explode right here in front of everyone. Chris took a drink of his soda and sat the glass back on the table.
Chris: "You should have Christina tested. She could be a donor."
Joe: "Let me get this straight. Karen said that you delivered Christina?"
Chris: "Yeah," He nodded, trying to remember why he was telling them this, "I did. Julie named her after me. She delivered Christina when she escaped from Ferncliff. And yes, Christina belongs to Frank."
Joe: "You're sure?"
Chris nodded.
Joe: "Damn, I can't believe that they would do this to me."
Chris: "I believe that Courtney would do anything if she thought it would get her in good with you. She's had her hat set for you since she got to Port Charles. It was obvious."
Joe: "No, Courtney knows that I'm in love with Karen."
Chris: "Yeah, but she also knows that you'd do anything for your son or any other child you would have with her."
Karen frowned and touched Joe's hand. Chris noticed and tried to shrug it off as nothing, but he was feeling a little disappointed that she and Joe were so close again.
Karen: "He's right, Joe. Courtney would do anything to make sure you had to be with her even for just a little while."
Joe: "I hate to agree, but you're right, Ramsey. I just hate to see Neil go through that again, finding out that the man he thought was dad isn't."
Chris: "It doesn't mean you're not still part of his life. You're his uncle."
Joe: "It's not the same."
Chris: "I don't suppose it is. But Neil still needs a Scanlon role model and I don't think I'd elect Frank there," He frowned.
Joe: "You're right. Frank's not exactly the kind of person Neil should grow up to be like."
Chris: "So where are you going to go from here? Tell Courtney?"
Joe: "Yeah, probably."
Chris: "I wouldn't."
Joe: "Why not?"
Karen looked at Chris confused.
Karen: "Yeah, Chris, why not?"
Chris: "Because she's pregnant. She's going to make a grandiose explaination for whatever you have to confront her with. First things first, I'd have Christina tested for a match. Neil has to come first."
Joe: "But won't that make Courtney suspicious?"
Chris: "Why should Courtney have to know? The last I knew she wasn't exactly pals with Lucy or Scott. This would be the perfect opportunity. And it's likely that Frank will want some sort of custody of Christina after all of this is over. If you show that you were putting Neil's needs above your own suspicions, you'd have a better chance of having a part of his life once this is all said and done."
Joe: "But how is that going to help if I'm not his father? It's not like I could get custody of him."
Chris: "Probably not, but you're guaranteed visitation rights. He's thought you were his father during his bouts with Leukemia. That's going to go a long way with a judge."
Karen: "How do you do that? You rationalize everything all the way out, don't you?"
Chris: "Yeah," He smiled.
Karen: "Where did you get that ability?"
Chris: "It just came naturally. I plan ahead."
Joe: "Do you think that Lucy and Scott would be willing to help with this?"
Karen: "Of course they would. They both love Neil. They'd be more than happy to help out."
Joe: "But that'll probably hurt their chances of adopting Christina. I mean, since we know who her real parents are."
Chris: "But her mother is in prison, so all they have to fight against is Frank. He has one child that he didn't know about, two if you count Christina and possibly a third that he can't claim if Courtney's pregnant with his child. That's going to go a long way with a judge in establishing that he's not a reliable father figure. Especially if Frank knows about all of this and helped her hide the truth."
Karen: "But he's involved with little league and he adopted Lark."
Chris: "Yeah, but any attorney could beat him over the head with that. They'll get into court and say that he loves children so long as they go home with someone else. The best he could hope for is joint custody with Lucy and Scott. With Lucy and Scott getting married in the spring, they'll have a stable household. What will Frank have?"
Joe: "You're right. Why didn't you go to law school?" He asked with a teasing smile.
Chris: "Thought about it and decided that chicks dig doctors more."
Joe laughed while Karen rolled her eyes and Chris smiled.
Joe: "So the question becomes, how do we tell Lucy and Scott?"
Chris: "I think that lies with me, and I can just see Scott getting homicidal with me already."
Karen: "Maybe we should all go over there. It might make things easier."
Chris: "Better idea. Have Scott meet us at the hospital. If he decides to inflict bodily harm, I'll be close to the ER."
Karen: "Very funny," She said rolling her eyes, "Okay, I'll call him and tell him to meet us."
Chris: "Well, I'm going to leave you two," He said as his to-go order arrived, "I've got to be back in surgery by the time you get to the hospital."
Joe: "Chris, thank you."
Chris: "Don't thank me, Joe. You've got a long hard road ahead of you that you won't be thanking me for," He said taking his lunch and leaving.
Chapter 14
Karen stood at the nurse's station as Joe stepped up beside her.
Joe: "He's not out of surgery yet?"
Karen: "No, he got called into a multple trauma. He might not be out by the time Scott and Lucy get here."
Joe: "That might be for the best. If he tells Scott what he knows, Chris might be the next one on the table."
Karen frowned.
Karen: "I thought about that. Maybe it's best if we talk to Scott and Lucy first."
The elevator doors opened and Scott and Lucy stepped onto the floor.
Scott: "Okay, we're here. What's so important?"
Karen: "Come on. We'll go to the on-call room," She turned to a nurse, "Have Dr. Ramsey meet us in the on-call room when he gets out of surgery."
The nurse nodded and Karen led Scott, Lucy and Joe to the on-call room.
Lucy: "Karen, what is this about?" She asked placing her purse on the table.
Karen: "We know who Christina's parents are," She said standing beside Joe.
Scott: "Well, who?"
Joe: "Frank and Julie."
Scott: "Frank and ...... Are you insane?"
Karen: "Scott, it's true. While everyone thought Julie was faking a pregnancy, she really was pregnant. And when she escaped from Ferncliff, she gave birth to Christina."
Lucy: "She gave birth to Christina? But how did Christina get with Janelle?" She asked touching Scott's arm.
Karen: "She didn't give birth alone. Chris delivered Christina, and Julie named her after him. He paid Janelle to take care of the baby until Julie could get out, but Janelle flaked out. Chris explained it all to me."
Scott: "And you believe him?"
Karen: "Yes, I do," She said firmly.
Lucy: "And when did he tell you?"
Karen: "A couple of days ago. He wanted to help. You see, Neil needs a marrow donor. Christina could be a match."
Scott: "Wait, how could Christina be a match for Neil if Frank is her father?"
Joe: "Because Frank is also Neil's father," He said sadly, "And because Christina is Neil's little sister, she might be a marrow match. Neil needs the marrow badly."
Lucy: "You want to have Christina tested to match her marrow?"
Joe: "Yes."
Lucy: "Well, of course, but what does Frank have to say about all of this?"
Joe: "He doesn't know, and I'd like to keep it that way for a few more days with your co-operation."
Scott: "When do you want to do that test?"
Joe: "As soon as possible. Can you bring Christina in today? It only takes a small vial of blood to do the test."
Lucy: "Sure. I'll have Gail bring her here," She said as she took her cell phone from her purse and dialed the number.
Scott: "I can't think of a better Christmas present for Neil if Christina is a match."
Joe: "Neither can I."
Chapter 15
Karen stepped out of the on-call room behind Lucy, Scott, and Joe who met Lee and Gail at the elevator with Christina. They walked down the hall to perform the test while Karen watched as Garcia and Mac were speaking with Chris. Chris saw Karen and motioned for her to join them.
Chris: "This is something that you're going to want to hear. Julie escaped this morning."
Karen: "What?!" She asked with a frown, "How?"
Chris: "Apparently she complained of stomach problems and was taken to the infirmary. She killed a doctor there and used a nurse for a human shield to the outside where she killed her as well," He said with an uncertain voice
Karen: "Is she coming here?" She asked looking at Garcia and Mac.
Mac: "That's what we were just asking Dr. Ramsey here. We were wondering if he might have any clue as to her whereabouts."
Chris: "No, I have no clue. As far as I knew, she was in state custody."
Garcia: "Where have you been over the past twenty-four hours, Dr. Ramsey? You wouldn't have made a trip out toward the prison, would you?"
Chris: "No, I haven't been anywhere near the prison. I haven't even spoken to Julie since she was transferred to prison."
Garcia: "You got an alibi for this morning around eight am?"
Karen: "Yes, he was with me and Eve Lambert. Why are you asking Chris all of these questions?"
Mac: "It looks like Julie may have had some help from the outside. Chris has the most motive for helping her considering he's her husband."
Chris: "I also would have the most to lose in case you weren't at the trial there, Scorpio. She threatened me there. I don't think that would encourage me to break her out."
Karen: "She threatened all of us. Why would anyone want to help Julie out of prison after she'd been convicted not to mention how violent she turned during the trial?" She said shaking her head, "No, you're barking up the wrong tree here."
Mac seemed to mull it over for a few moments before directing his attention back to Chris.
Mac: "Anyone else she might want to hurt?"
Chris: "Me, Karen, Eve, Lucy, Scott, Frank, Courtney, Rachel, how about giving me a list of the people in Port Charles and I'll mark off the ones that I think she's least likely to hurt. It would be easier. Mostly, I'd say that Lucy and Scott, Karen, and me."
Mac: "Why Lucy and Scott?"
Karen: "She already tried to kill Lucy once. Now she has a better reason. Christina."
Chris frowned.
Chris: "Damn, this all got way out of hand."
Garcia: "What exactly got out of hand?"
Chris: "Julie. You see, while you morons all thought Julie was a head case and having a delusion that she was pregnant, she was actually pregnant with Christina. She gave birth to her when she broke out of Ferncliff."
Garcia: "And just how do you know this?"
Chris: "She's my wife. I guess she thought it was important for me to know that I had a step-daughter in the world."
Mac cell phone rang and he answered it. He spoke for a few moments before ending the conversation.
Mac: "They have Julie safe and secure in maximum lock down again."
Garcia: "Where did they find her?"
Mac: "Two miles from the prison. She was on a pay phone, and you'll never guess with who."
Garcia: "Who?"
Mac: "Greg Cooper."
Garcia: "Cooper?"
Chris: "More games or continuation of the last round. Either way, that's not a good combination."
Karen: "I have to admit though that I'm relieved they found her so quickly."
Chris: "Me too. Did you talk to Scott and Lucy?"
Karen: "Yeah, they're having Christina tested as we speak."
Chris: "Good. I hope she's a match for Neil," He said softly.
Karen: "So do I," She said looking into his eyes for a minute, "What's wrong?"
Chris: "Nothing. I'm just tired I guess."
Karen: "Well, go home and get some rest I'll cover the rest of your shift."
Chris: "You sure?"
Karen: "Positive. I owe you a few."
Chris: "I'll owe you a few," He smiled before leaving the hospital.