Risk

Chapter LXXI

A world away from Port Charles on a small green island off of Greece in the Adriatic sea, Jax swims to shore after catching the last wave on the morning. As is her custom, a habit already?, Alexis is waiting on the beach. Under a large umbrella with a large pitcher of fruity beverage, Alexis catches up on her correspondence. She's already caught on to Andreas’ plan. The only time that her correspondence showed up was when Jax was busy doing other things like scuba or surfing. As soon as Jax was back then her correspondence would disappear and she'd be expected to entertain her husband. Alexis looks up with a smile closing the leather binder and setting her microcassette recorder on top of it. "How was the water?"

"Wonderful." Jax takes a towel from the back of one of the chairs and runs it over his shoulders and head while Alexis pours him a drink. "Am I ever going to be able to talk you into going in with me?"

"Water and I just don't get along." Alexis hands him the drink. Course it was the on the water activities that made her sick as a dog but the long swims she'd had before hadn't been for fun either.

"Anything interesting?" Jax indicates with a nod to the folder.

"Nothing important. A few grant proposals." Alexis dismisses.

Sure enough Andreas’ appears at her elbow and picks up the folder and the recorder after depositing a tray of appetizers to the table. "I'll transcribe these and send them out for you, Madam."

"Thank you, Andreas’." Alexis says absently her focus already on her husband. She reaches over and brushes aside a droplet of water from the back of his arm but then bring her finger to her mouth.

Jax's gaze falls to her lips. What is it about this woman? They'd been married before but never had he had such a pavlovian response to something so simple. He reaches out and cups the side of her face brushing a strand of hair behind her ear and then rubbing his thumb across her bottom lip. He can feel her breath quicken and her lips part.

"Jax..."

Daylight barely breaks thru the sliver of window beyond the heavy curtains. Stefan contemplates with a small smile one of the few benefits of a living in the gothic monstrosity his brother had gifted to Barbara Jean Spencer. It is drafty. Even in the height of summer, of which it is not yet, this place is drafty. He runs a hand over Barbara's smooth freckled back with a murmur she burrows deeper under the covers and closer to him. Yes, there is something to be said for old mansions such as Wyndmere. He glances over at the clock beside the bed. The alarm would be going off soon and the silence of the mansion would be broken as Barbara and Lucas rushed to get ready for school and work. He can't imagine anymore what it was like when they weren't here.

Gia stretches against the wall in the lobby with a yawn. The elevator doors open and Max joins her. "Tell me again why we're up before the street sweepers have even gone thru?"

"Jason wants us to vary our running times... just in case."

Gia comes off the wall and stretches down placing her palms against the polished floor beside her crossed legs and then smoothly and with a controlled move comes back up. "Does he think there is going to be a problem?"

Max hesitates opening his mouth and then shutting it and then finally answering. "The Boss always plans as if there is going to be a problem. That way he ain't surprised."

"Same deal as before... loser buys breakfast?"

"Meet ya at Kelly's." Max agrees with a nod and knowing that Gia cheats; he breaks for the front door before she can.

It is a sudden chill that wakes Stavros from a sound sleep. It takes him a minute to realize why he is awake at this early hour. He glances over to the beautiful blonde that shares his bed sprawled out over not only her side but also the middle. Jason had warned him. He remembers wryly. At least Carly had left him with a sheet while she hogged all the blankets around her. He glances over at the clock on his side of the bed. Michael would be up soon. Grabbing his robe he wraps it around his nude frame and makes his way in the dark room to the bath.

Minutes later he feels yet another draft as the glass door to the shower opens. "Good Morning, Little Cat." He says without turning around.

Carly eases around him so that she can get some of the steamy spray turning around once she does so, so that she is looking up to Stavros. "You're up too early." She grumbles as she rests the top of her head against his chest. "It was cold when you left; it woke me up."

Stavros can't help but laugh at that one. "We can't have that."

"What? Me awake? Too late." Carly mutters.

"No, you cold." Stavros gathers her to him.

Nikolas stands at the window of the cottage looking out toward the road. Out toward Port Charles. The silence weighs down on him. It is getting increasingly hard to sleep at night. It is too quiet. At one time he sought the silence... back when he was in Greece when it seemed like he was never alone: Grandmother, Stefan, the servants even Alexis when she'd visit. But now the silence is oppressive. If he were selfish, if he was greedy then he'd feel the slight. But how could he begrudge his uncle his... happiness in the company of Bobbie and Lucas or even his father-- Carly and Michael. If he is alone it is his own fault. He's the one that messed things up with Gia. He's the one that distrusted her and pushed her into leaving him. The throaty rumble of a truck coming up the drive distracts him from his thoughts. He smiles at the back fire of the truck as his brother pulls up in the drive.

Lucky climbs out of the truck and reaches back in. He balances a number of packages and puts a folder between his teeth and then stepping back turns his back to the truck and kicks the door shut and then makes his way gingerly up the stairs to the cottage. He knocks on the door by kicking it since his hands are full. When Nikolas opens the door Lucky walks by him and then drops his burdens on the desk. "I hope you have the coffee on... I brought doughnuts."

"You're up early."

"I figure all hell is going to break loose on Monday. That's when Alexis and Jax are due back from their honeymoon right? Depending on how it went could be wwIII between Stavros and Jax and you know we aren't going to be able to get a damn thing done with everyone catching up."

"A damn thing done with what?" Nikolas asks curiously as he walks into the kitchen to make a fresh pot of coffee.

"It's already impossible to get anything done at work the way that Carly and Mom are ignoring each other."

"I rather like them ignoring each other." Nikolas disagrees leaning up against the counter.

Lucky is comfortable in the cottage having lived there briefly and reaches for his own coffee cup in the cupboard and putting the doughnuts on the counter and grabbing a bunch of papertowels instead of a plate. "But do they have to be so loud about it? And I tell you I'm getting zip done down in the darkroom... it's getting a bit crowded in there."

"Have I worn out my welcome?" Nikolas raises a brow.

"Not as long as you keep the coffee coming." Lucky counters. He removes the pot from the coffee stream and fills his cup not bothering to wait until the carafe is filled. He inhales the aroma of fresh brewed coffee made from fresh ground beans. "Ah... that's the ticket."

"You still haven't explained what you're doing up so early."

Lucky sighs. He'd been hoping that one would slide by his brother. He mutters low keeping his eyes on the coffee cup. "Gia woke Emily up when she went running this morning. And that woke me up when she headed off to the gym."

"How is Gia?" Nikolas can't help but ask eagerly before he can be cool about the whole situation.

"She and Emily are getting on amazingly well... considering. Em has therapy at the hospital today and didn't want to drive in with her folks so she spent the night at the harborview. As soon as the Drs. Quartermaine start in they don't let up. Em isn't used to it anymore; she's been running her own recovery for a year now." Lucky tries to deflect the conversation to Emily but he can tell that his brother isn't buying it. "Gia went running with Max, one of Jason's guys." He finally says reluctantly.

"I know who Max is. He accompanied Gia back from Atlantic City." Nikolas says with just a hint of bitterness in his voice.

"They evidently go running every day."

"At this time?"

Lucky shrugs. "Couldn't tell you that. Probably not."

Halfway around the world and at least five time zones away, Jax presses a kiss to Alexis' brow and then slowly retreats from the bed not wanting to wake his bride. It has been a traditional honeymoon with very little sleep involved. Going over to the small desk where Alexis had addressed the thank you notes for the wedding presents he flips open the leather bound folder that he'd seen earlier while they were down at the beach. Inside the folder are letters neatly typed by Andreas’ he assumes. He quickly scans one finding out for the first time that his wife appears to be deeply involved in fundraising for various Ugandan charities although the focus appears to be children and education. "She hasn't mentioned any of this." Jax murmurs glancing over at his sleeping wife. He realizes Alexis hasn't said anything about what had happened to her while under Stavros thumb. Any conversations they'd had she's managed to turn around to be about him and what he's doing. Even what J&J is doing. And then if that didn't work she'd distracted him with lovemaking-- anything except talking about Stavros or the Cassadines.

"Jax?" Alexis murmurs sleepily.

Jax closes the folder and goes back over to the bed. He kneels down on it. "Right here, Love."

"I feel asleep." Alexis realizes with a frown. "I never sleep in the afternoon."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Jax grins. He leans in close to whisper in her ear. "I think it's time we went down to the lagoon..." Jax refers to the small waterfall fed freshwater lake in the middle of the island. "... and talked privately about how things are going to work once we got back to Port Charles."

Alexis studies his face and reads his eyes and slowly nods. "Yes." Gathering some clothes together she goes into the bathroom to freshen up and change into something appropriate for a short hike. When she comes back out Jax is waiting for her and takes the lead making sure he keeps a close eye on Alexis as they traverse the path.

Once they are at the lagoon, Jax looks back over Alexis shoulder. "I think we've given them the slip."

Alexis laughs ruefully. "It probably won't last long."

Jax takes a seat on a large boulder and pats a space next to him. "We'll be back in Port Charles in a couple of days. Communication has been cut off this whole time. What the hell will we be walking back into?"

Alexis shakes her head. "At least with your Dad and Jerry in town I don't think that whatever happens to J&J will be a surprise." She shakes her head again. "I think we have to go by the letter of the contract you signed... if Stavros believes you have breached the contract then he will come after you. He might come after you anyway. I just don't know."

Jax frowns. "Well I'm sure your brother wouldn't be too happy about me not knowing about your fundraising for widows and orphans in Uganda." Alexis just gives him a long look and a wince. "When we get back why don't you draw up papers for a nonprofit foundation. I'll put up the seed money..."

"Jax..." Alexis starts to protest. "Stavros..."

"It's within the letter of the contract, wife." Jax grins at her. "I'm telling you to help me with the charitable aspects of J&J of Alaska. All tax deductible afterall." Jax gets serious. "I won't treat you the way that Stavros wants, Alexis. I only signed that contract to get you away from him. But I am getting the feeling that we are going to have to... talk. It's the only way we're gonna be able to beat Stavros. How many spies other than Andreas’ will be in our house?"

"What does it matter? If we find out who the spies are then Stavros will just replace them. It's why Andreas’ can't lie to Stavros. He doesn't know who the spies are either. Maybe after some time..." Alexis winces at Jax's growl. "The charity work... my name wasn't going to be on any of it. I was just writing some letters. Andreas’ was with me in Africa... he saw the same things I did. My letters to the editors of the paper and my emails covered what I was doing with whoever else was watching."

"Paranoia." Jax snorts.

"I can't believe I'm saying this." Alexis mutters. "Just cause you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you."

"Is that another Cassadine family motto like-- Cassadines don't divorce?"

"No, actually I think it is the Spencer family motto. That's why I can't believe I'm saying it." Alexis admits wryly lightening the mood. Alexis studies her husband closely and from the sudden glint in his eye figures that he is up to something. "What? What are you thinking?!" She asks suspiciously.

"I think it's time for us to take a page out of Stavros' play book."

"Mrs. Lansbury, Where is my backpack?!" Lucas starts throwing things from the bottom of the entryway closet. "The launch is gonna leave soon."

Mrs. Lansbury winces as she comes up behind him before clearing her throat. "I think this is what you seek, Mr. Lucas." She holds out the backpack between two fingers.

Lucas looks back between his legs and sees her standing there. "Great! Thanks!" He turns around and grabs the backpack and starts searching thru it. There is the sound of Bobbie clearing her throat loudly from the doorway. Lucas looks at his mother and then at the mess on the floor of the entryway. "Oh yeah." He tosses his backpack aside and starts just throwing things into the bottom of the closet. "Thanks Mrs. L!" He runs back up the stairs.

"I'm sorry." Bobbie apologizes.

"It's no trouble, Mrs. Cassadine." Mrs. Lansbury leans in to say as if confidentially. "And it's really quite refreshing to have a young man in the house again."

Gia strides back into her apartment on the fourth floor of the Harborview Towers. She throws her keys down on the table by the door and then lifting her top away from her she sniffs and grimaces. First order of business-- shower and then a call to Deception to whoever was covering for Elton to find out what is on the books for her. The rest of the day she could plan out once she has the bones of a schedule. "Em?! I brought you back a muffin back from Kelly's!" She hollers out on her way to the bathroom.

"Thanks! What do I owe you?" Em calls from inside her room.

"Nothing. Max bought."

Em comes out of her room carrying a duffel of things she would need after her rehab appointment at General Hospital. "Okay, I know you beat your brother that one time. But do you get the feeling that Max is intentionally letting you win?"

"Sure." Gia says cheerfully. "But this way I don't have to buy breakfast and I'm still getting my workout cause at least he makes it look good. Lucky already gone?"

"Yeah. Are you already coffee'd out? I'm going to make a pot."

Em can hear the water start but Gia sticks her head out. Her hair is gathered in a messy knot on the top of her head and her shoulder is bare. "One would be good while I call in for my schedule."

"Kay, I'm taking mine to go." Em glances over at the clock on the living room mantle.

"See you later then." Gia ducks back in her room and closes the door.

Em goes into the kitchen and starts the coffee looking around for the plain brown bag that was around there somewhere. "Ah!" She grabs the bag and opens it up. She nukes it for a few seconds and then grabbing it out of the microwave tosses it between her two hands since the few seconds had been too long finally dropping the muffin on a plate and tearing it apart bit by bite. She puts her mug under the stream of coffee not waiting for the pot to finish and keeps an eye on it so it doesn't overflow. As soon as it's close she makes the switch mug for pot and doctors the coffee the way she likes and puts on the lid. Grabbing the last bite of muffin she pops it in her mouth and drops the plate in the dishwasher.
With the duffel over one shoulder and the coffee cup in hand she fumbles with the door making sure it is locked after her and then climbs on the elevator. Once in the elevator she grabs the outside pocket of the duffel. Johnny would be waiting down in the parking elevator to drive her to the hospital. She could get a couple of minutes of study time on her driver's manual. Crossing her fingers, Em makes a quick wish. "Hopefully by this afternoon I'll have my learner's permit renewed."

Carly glances at Stavros and then at Michael over the breakfast table. They are up to something. Out of nowhere she states. "Am I going to like it?"

"Like what, Mama?" Michael asks overly innocent with just a hint of sly.

now I know they are up to something. "Stavros."

"Hmm?" Stavros looks up from the Herald with a frown. He sees little point in Caroline receiving this rag online when they are abroad unless perhaps her preference for fiction extended to newspapers.

"Am I going to like it? Whatever you and Mr. Man are scheming behind my back?"

Stavros grins. "Aren't you going to be late for work, Caroline? I believe you said you wanted to go in early this morning."

Carly groans but grabs Michael's arm and glances at his watch. She growls. "Fine. But I'll find out; you know I will." She gives Michael a quick kiss on the top of his head which Michael might have protested except Carly goes from there to giving Stavros a quick smooch as well. She grabs her coat and portfolio and heads for the kitchen to hitch a ride to the office with Kris. Maybe he'd tell.

As soon as Carly is out the door, Michael looks over at Stavros. "Mama is going to like the surprise isn't she?" He worries.

"Yes, we've talked about it she's just forgotten."

"She sure kisses us a lot." Michael hints. Lucas didn't let Grandma kiss him all the time.

Stavros folds the paper and sets it aside. He nods consideringly. "Yes. She does. But since it makes your mother happy I suppose we will just have to accommodate her."

Michael looks at his watch. "What time do we have to leave for the airport again?"

"As soon as your tutor gets back from taking your mother to work. You don't have to go, Michael."

"I want to go with you."

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