Risk

Chapter LIII

Countdown

Jax walks into the mansion that has his name on the title not quite knowing what he'll find. He's still staying at the hotel and had been leaving Kristina and Elton to it.

"Oh Mr Jacks! Mr Jacks! Good! You are finally here!" Elton in all his dapper eligance comes out of the front room shutting out the noise. "I have a list of things I need to go over with you. Three days left and so much left to be done!"

"I'm sure whatever you decide is fine." Jax tries to duck the wedding planner. This is all about getting Alexis home not about the damn ceremony.

"Oh don't be such a groom! I know this is normally the bride's balliwick but she's not around now is she?!" Elton opens up his folder. "Now... honeymoon. Do you need me to make reservations for you? Bali perhaps? I know a lovely place in Mexico that is untouched by those horrible college students."

"No honeymoon." Jax says flatly.

"Well then." Elton is somewhat affronted. "Best man then."

"I believe you've called my name." Thaao Pappas comes in from behind Jax. "Thaao Pappas, best man."

"Elton Herbert, wedding planner extrodinaire!" Elton shakes hands with Thaao and then adds in a stage whisper. "Have you ever seen such an odd couple? The bride nowhere to be found and the groom..." Elton shakes his head. He glances over at Jax and decides to bite his tongue. "You two both look like you have a tux or two in your closets. So I guess I just need to know cumberbunds and ties? Or would you prefer vests? Need to get confirmation on colors." Elton pulls some swatches out of his pocket. "I rather like the pattern on this one but the color here..."

Jax walks past Elton to the living room and opens up the doors. The change is obvious already. The chairs are already lined up and a small dias at the end of the room. "You've been busy. Where is Kristina?"

"Miss K was off to the florist bright and early this morning." Elton sniffs. "With no furniture, we are going to have to load up on the greenery. And this time of year..." Elton shudders.

"If it has to be flown in from South American then fly the damn posies in from South America!" Jax snarls.

"Oops. Seems I hit a nerve." Elton leans over to Thaao. "Have you considered taking him out and..." Elton makes a tipping motion from hand to lip with pinky extended.

"Daily since we arrived in Port Charles. He's been resisting my efforts." Thaao says wryly. "And it is still rather early even for me. What is that scrumptious smell?"

"The baker Mr Jacks had flown in from Vienna." Elton raises his eyebrows significantly. "Truly an artiste. The cake is the only thing I have total confidence in at T minus 72 hours and counting. Elton taps his watch with his index finger. He glances over Thaao's shoulder and sees the brown clad UPS driver. "No, no! Not there!" Elton exclaims and races over. "All the presents are being displayed in the den. This way." you hunky devil you.

"Where did you find that one?" Thaao comes over to the living room and stands behind Jax watching the workmen construct the arch over the dias. He shudders. Marriage. No one in their right mind. And then he looks at Jax's expression and only has his instinct confirmed. Nobody in their right mind.

"Find who?"

"The Wedding Planner Extrodinaire."

"I think Ned Ashton found him. I need to get out of here."

"Finally! You've come to your senses. Rio? I know some lovely ladies in Stockholm!" Thaao says eagerly.

Jax looks at Thaao. "You're not going to talk me out of this."

"I am the best man. It's my job to talk you out of this. What do you know about this girl anyway?"

"Thaao. I was married to her before, and Alexis isn't a girl. She's a woman."

"And it didn't work out. Why repeat yourself?! So many other fish in the sea."

Knowing there is no way he is going to be able to shut Thaao off or up, Jax goes for the quick fix sure for long term disaster. "You know it wouldn't surprise me at all if Carly Corinthos crashes the wedding."

"Really?" Thaao perks up at that. He slaps Jax in the back. "Well then buck up, old man. We've got a wedding to get you ready for. Seventy two hours I believe Elton said. Let's go see if your tux needs to go to the cleaner. I know mine needs to be pressed."

T-70 hours.

"Elton!" Kristina comes into the house with her hands filled with plants. "There are more in the truck."

Elton screeches in dismay. "No! I send you for orchids and you come back with.... GINGER! No, No NO! It's all wrong."

"The orchids sucked." Kristina looks around and finally just sets the pots she is carrying on the parquet hardwood floor.

"But they are so... red."

"Red means good luck."

"Oh don't you start trying to feng shui me, missy! Do I have to do everything?! Ohmygawd I'm late; I have to be at Deception so five minutes ago. What am I going to do?! This is horrible. HORRIBLE! Take them all back."

"We're having Ginger. Deal with it. No, better. Go to work. I'll deal with it. I know what I'm doing. You'll see it at lunch."

"I'm ruined. I know I'm ruined." Elton mutters as he races off to his car. "Why didn't I learn the first time, I should have run screaming the minute he said Alexis Davis."

"Lady, where do you want this?" The workmen from the greenhouse asks as he crosses the threshold.

"Bring them here and put them around the walls. I'll place them as soon as everything is all in. Thanks." Kristina looks around. She was right about this. She'd known the minute she'd seen the ginger. Decorate the house with red ginger and then white ginger for the wedding bouquet and boutineres. It would be perfect. Elton is such a drama queen. How did Alexis put up with him the first time?

T-69 hours thirty minutes.

"Yes, I'd like to renew my prescription please. Elton Herbert. Valium. Right. I need enough to get me through three days. I'll be by at lunch to pick it up. No wait. Can you have it messengered over to the Deception offices as soon as possible? I don't think I can wait until lunch. Do you have anything stronger than Valium? Well I guess it'll just have to do."

"Elton?"

Elton hangs up the phone in a hurry and looks up. Then stands up. "Oh Prince Nikolas, am I so glad to see you! Things have been..." Elton shakes his head. "I can't even describe it. Between Deception and your aunt's wedding. I can't even describe it."

"I'm sure everything will be fine." Nikolas smiles reassuringly.

"It would be fine if we had a bride! Nowhere! She's nowhere to be found."

"I'm sure Alexis will be there." Nik replies. whether she actually goes thru with it who knows but she'll be there

"Well I'm glad someone is sure." Elton sighs heavily.

"Is my mother in?"

"Not yet. But she's been frantic to talk to you about all the things you accomplished in Italy. Settling that strike. She's ready to get things going again." Elton hands Nikolas his messages. "I've been trying to get hold of Gia to give her amended personal appearance schedule but the naughty girl hasn't been answering her phone."

"She was with me in Italy." Nik says absently. "You should be able to get hold of her now. Lucky is down in the lab developing contact sheets on the Milan shoot. We're going to need Mother's office for a conference room to go over them. Will you set it up?"

"Of course, Prince Nikolas."

"Nikolas please, Elton. Just Nikolas."

"Of course. I'll get right on it."

"Elton?" Nik pauses on his way to the offices.

"Yes, um... Nikolas?"

"How are the auditors doing?"

Elton sighs. "Going thru the coffee and burning the midnight oil. Such earnest little pencil pushers."

"Good." Nik goes into his office and starts reviewing the phone messages. He logs onto his computer and checks his mail there. There is an email from Carly with a selection of her favorite shots. Nik prints it off and heads down to the photo lab to make sure that there are blow ups of those shots in addition to all the contact sheets.

T-67

Ned looks down at the list Kristina had given him that morning. How weird to be helping in the planning of his ex's wedding? First item. String Quartet. He rolls his eyes. Not quite my thing. Where in the hell? Music Department over at PCU. He sets the phones at L&B to voice mail and puts up the sign that says back in a few hours. If the music department couldn't help him then Grandmother is going to have to come thru with her symphony connections. This is insane.
Ned stops as he deactivates the alarm on his car. Kristina He had to get Kristina out of town as soon... no, sooner than Alexis got back. That was the way it had worked with Nik and Stefan... Alexis was gone before they got back from their little visit with Stavros. Ned climbs in the car and pulls out his cell phone. "Jax? where are you?"

T-66

Elton breezes back into the Jacks' mansion and gasps. "My word!" He slowly turns around. In addition to all the ginger, Miss K had been busy. What had been a grand empty shell with all the charm of a convention hall at the local Holiday Inn was taking on the air of a tropical paradise. The grand staircase is sandwiched between two giant mature ficus trees. How had she gotten them thru the door? Looking up the stairs he can see more evidence of green everywhere. She's brought a tropical summer to a dreary North wishing for spring. Elton walks almost in a daze to the living room where the ceremony is going to be performed. Was the valium kicking in? Had they slipped him something a little stronger?

Kristina sees him turning around slack jawed from her perch on the ladder where she had been decorating the arch up on the dias. "I think Jax and Alexis are going to need an indoor gardner rather than a maid." She says wryly.

"I have the address wrong. This is not the same house I left this morning. Missy, you have been hiding your light under a bushel! Throw it off and let it shine, shine, shine!" Elton throws his hands wide.

"You like?"

"I adore it! But if I knew we were going to have a tropical wedding I would have brought a menu for a luau."

"Tropical wedding wasn't really what I had in mind. And nobody likes poi." Kristina climbs down from the ladder. "I just knew the house was too empty. Hopefully now it won't be so noticable."

"Empty is not the first thought that comes to mind." Elton groans dramatically. "But this changes everything. I'm thinking instead of the traditional bridal march... how about the Hawaiian wedding song?" Elton starts humming a few bars. "I love that tune. It gets me every time. And rather than the string quartet... we need a steel guitar. Have to have one. Ukeleles would be too over the top. Oh the challenges! People will be talking about this for years!"

T-65

Jax and Ned meet up outsides Kelly's. Jax hands Ned a coffee in a togo cup. They wouldn't be staying but it's the closest place to the university. "What's up? You called the meeting." Jax demands. He'd finally ditched Thaao at the hotel where the best man was making plans of his own as well as calling room service to take care of the tuxs.

"It's about Kristina. Jax, I don't think she should be here when the wedding happens."

"She's Alexis' maid of honor. She's taking care of all this." Jax says automatically then it hits him what Ned just said. "Oh son of a f'ing bitch."

"Exactly our problem." Ned nods. "Stavros snatched Alexis before Nikolas and Stefan even got back. We got to get Kristina out of town. Out of town NOW."

"She's not going to go." Jax sighs. "You're right. I know you're right. The way this thing is coming together. Stavros is going to be at the wedding or have someone there to rep for him."

"Carly?"

"I wouldn't be surprised. I don't think Carly and Kristina even know each other. Maybe in passing. Kristina was keeping a low profile at your place 'cause things were going down with Helena and Stavros. And Carly was off with Sonny somewhere. Who knew that those two would hook up."

"Anyone that knows Carly." Ned says wryly. "If there is a guy that screams trouble on a monumental scale she's right there. She's been building up to this for the last six years probably all her life." Jax looks at him. "Don't even say it. Don't even suggest that we were better off when she was with Sonny. Even if it's true... it's sick."

"Sonny at least tried to rein her in. Stavros hands her the matches. Or she hands him the matches. Hell. I'm losing it." Jax runs a hand through his hair. "Stavros could never had done as much as he has, as fast as he has if he didn't have her right there next to him egging him on."

"Has Stavros been in touch with you?"

"I got an email from him last night. He received the signed copy of the marriage contract and the wedding invitation."

"You sent him a wedding invitation?!"

"How else is he suppose to know where and when to get Alexis here!" Jax says defensively.

"We have to get Kristina out of here. Until we're sure that Alexis is back and Stavros is gone."

"Good luck."

"We're going to have to talk to her together. Convince her."

"Fine. Lets go over to the house. She's working there." Jax suggests. He starts walking toward his car.

Ned keeps pace. "By the way. I got your string quartet. Masters students from the college. You got lucky. They had a cancellation. They're evidently booked every weekend for stuff like this. It pays the bills."

T-64

Lucky comes off the elevator with a large portfolio under his arm. He ducks his head into Nik's office. "Where is Elton?"

"Taking more personal time. He's been hired by Jax to do the wedding. He said he'd be back in about an hour."

"You ready to do this."

Nik sighs and gets up from the desk. "You pulled all the bath salts stuff out? I still need to work up the details on that one."

"Yeah, it's strictly the around Milan shoot and all of the background stuff I did while I was there."

"You heard from Luke?"

"Nope, but Dad doesn't know I'm back in town yet either. Unless Mom called him and filled him in. Figured after work was soon enough."

"You're... procrastinating."

"Wouldn't you?"

"Oh yeah. Just like I'm going to ask you to not mention Carly when we show Laura the pictures. Not her part in the shoot or anything. As far as Laura is concerned... I picked those pictures I had you blow up."

Lucky shakes his head. "How long you think you can keep it quiet? You know Carly isn't going to. It's not her nature."

"Have you seen Elizabeth?"

Lucky shakes his head. "I didn't go home last night spent the night in the lab instead. Is Gia going to be at this meeting?"

"No." Nik says flatly. "If it comes down to a... fur ball I really don't want her in it." A thought occurs to Nikolas. "Lucky, what is a junkyard dog?"

"Where did you hear that expression?" Lucky shrugs. "A dog that guards a junkyard. They have the rep of being meaner than anything fed gunpowder. They'll rip and tear anything that comes over the fence. A guard dog with attitude. Big teeth and nasty disposition."

"Why would anyone feed a dog gunpowder?!"

"Cause it makes them crazy. So who is the junkyard dog?" Lucky realizes what he just said and figures it out on his own. "Nevermind. Did she say anything about junkyard dogs being one man dogs?"

"Yeah, she pointed that out too." Nik grabs a leather bound notebook from his desk for taking notes. "Not a word about Carly."

"Oh you got it. We bring her name into it and we won't get a damn thing done." Lucky and Nik leave Nik's office and go across the hall. Nik knocks on the door.

"Come in." Laura calls from inside. As the guys enter, Laura gets to her feet. "You're both back." She comes over and gives them both a kiss on the cheek and a hug. The hug with Nikolas is a little strained. She is still pissed about the contract that gave Nik the control of the company. But relieved to have the glass and the essence back on line. Or almost on line. "Nikolas, I have a copy of the essence contract that needs your signature so we can get the product moving again."

"I'll take a look at it after the meeting."

"Scotty has already reviewed it and says everything is in order." Laura presses.

"I'll take a look at it after the meeting." Nik says again.

"But..." Laura is distracted by the pictures that Lucky is putting up on easles. The first shots are of the scenary around Milan. Lucky basically starts doing a slide show type action. Putting up one after another until he gets to the pictures of Gia. "I knew Gia was in Italy. Elizabeth told me." Her disappointment is aimed in Lucky's direction. "She told me how Carly set her up. And don't think I don't recognize Carly's hand in this." Laura taps the poster sized print. "It's just her style-- it's blatent and obvious." Laura says with disgust. "Exactly the direction I didn't want to go."

"Lucky, I don't think you'll be needed for this meeting afterall." Nikolas says flatly.so that is the way it's going to go "Laura and I will need to decide this privately. We'll get back to you with our final decisions."

Lucky looks from one to the other and winces. He opens his mouth to protest but then shakes his head. "Fine. I'm going to head over to Kelly's and catch some z's. Gimme a call when the dust settles." Lucky shrugs and then leaves.

As soon as Lucky is clear of the room, Laura goes over to the phone and quickly dials. "Elizabeth..."

Nikolas goes over to the phone and depresses the phone button disconnecting the call. "I believe this is my meeting to discuss the direction of the current campaign and the essence contract."

"Nikolas! That was rude."

"No ruder than your actions in making the call. Deception is our business, Mother. Elizabeth is Lucky's and none of yours. If you would rather spend your time managing your son's love life then I will make the decision for the company."

"You can't do that. It takes two major share holders!" Laura says triumphantly. "It says right there in the contract you made me sign."

"Made you sign?!" Nik snorts at that one. "If you hadn't signed it you would have lost the company to Jason Morgan. Let's make no pretense about that, Mother. You made your choice. And that is the only thing I made you do."

"Don't think you'll be able to just walk in and take things over, Nikolas. I do know all the fine print now. You aren't the boss here. We have to agree!"

"No, two major shareholders have to agree. And I have the 2% proxy from Morgan Corinthos coffee."

"Two percent is nothing!" Laura protests.

"It was rather handy for you in the past when Sonny was voting it." Nik says wryly. "But I agree. It's nothing. That's why I gave 23% of my shares to someone else. You want to get something done? You can work with me... or you can work with our partner."

"Who?" Laura says in some dread. has he gone into business with Stefan, with Stavros... who???

"Carly Corinthos."

"NO!"

"Yes, Mother. You can work with me, or you can work with Carly. Or Carly and I can work together and leave you totally out of it."

"Why? Why Nikolas? How could you do this to me?" Laura's voice breaks.

"Because of this." Nikolas picks up the crystal paperweight. "I stayed out of it before... but just because I did doesn't mean I don't know the meaning of Timoria-- the true meaning of Timoria. You screwed Carly as surely as her husband did. And I will make it right. I will repay Carly, compensate Carly, for all she has done for this company unrecognized and unrewarded by you."

T-63

Kristina hears someone come into the room behind her. "I can't believe how fast the gifts are coming in. Cataloguing them is going to be a full time task."

"Most of them were probably never unwrapped from when Alexis was going to marry me." Ned says wryly. "Some of them look familiar."

Kristina scrambles to her feet. "Ned! Did you get the quartet? Cause now Elton is talking bout getting a steel guitar."

Ned looks around the lush greenery. "I wonder why?"

Looking from Ned to Jax, Kristina gets a feeling in the pit of her stomach. "What's going on and why do I think I'm not going to like it? Has something happened to Alexis?"

"Kristina, Ned and I agree. We both think it would be better if you are as far away from this as possible."

Kristina shakes her head. "No, I'm Alexis' maid of honor. I have to be here. She's my sister."

"And Stavros is your brother." Ned reminds.

"A family tie we would rather you not renew." Jax adds.

"He's wanted for murder! He's not going to be coming here." Kristina denies.

"Stavros didn't have to be here to kidnap Alexis. He doesn't have to be here to do the same for you. Damn it, Kristina. He's dangerous." Ned protests loudly.

"Well duh!" Kristina bristles. "Didn't you just hear me say he's wanted for murder?! I wouldn't leave when Helena was wrecking havoc on PC; I'm not leaving now! Find another way. I will be here, and I will see my sister."

T-62

Thaao wanders into a blue's club down on the waterfront. If Jax was going to go thru with this then it was his obligation as best man to make sure he stood at the altar either drunk or hung over. There were certain traditions to be upheld. And this place has a deliciously seedy eclectic quality that would appeal to Jax's AWOL sense of the ridiculous. "Excuse me, my good man, do you do private parties?"

"Every party here is a private party." The black man behind the bar states as polishes and puts up some glasses. "It's a private club."

"Claude! You're fired!" A furious voice come from the back.

"Yeah, yeah, what else is new." Claude mutters as he continues polishing glasses and putting them away.

"Would it be possible to hire the club for say Friday night? For a small gathering... a bachelor party?"

Claude shrugs. "I guess you could rent the back room. But you have to get your own strippers. There hasn't been strippers here since back to the previous management."

The door opens and a young blonde man comes into the club. "Claude, is my dad here?"

"Not the best time, Lucky. He's been in a foul mood for the last couple of days. Ever since he arrived back in Port Charles in the trunk of his own car. He's back in his office."

Lucky winces. "Okay. Great thanks. I guess. This might take awhile so don't let the sound of stuff breaking disturb ya."

"Never does." Claude starts reloading the dishwasher. After he is done with that does the prep work cutting limes, lemons and restocking the olives and onions.

"The trunk of his own car? How... colorful." Thaao pulls up a barstool. It was getting to the time of day where a libation was in order.

"Spencers are." Claude nods in agreement. He puts a cocktail napkin in front of Thaao. "What can I get for you?"

"Martini."

"Let me guess... shaken not stirred?"

Thaao grins. "Dry and cold is good enough for me as long as the vodka is of quality and the vermouth tasty. Did you say Spencer? Any relation to Barbara Spencer Cassadine?"

"Do NOT say that word in here."

"Excuse me?"

Claude leans over the bar and whispers. "Cassadine. Not Spoken here."

"Barbara Spencer then."

"Boss' sister."

"And her daughter, Caroline?" Thaao settles in and gets comfortable resting his arms on the bar.

"Another name not spoken here." Claude sets the martini in front of Thaao and adds the garnish of an olive speared with a toothpick.

"How fascinating."

"Who are you and why you asking?"

T-58

"Are you quite sure this is the spot?"

"Nope." Carly says cheerfully. "But Jason gave you the coordinates. If he gave them to you and you read them right then there should be a footbridge just ahead."

"A footbridge. Out in the middle of nowhere."

"Yep. Out in the middle of nowhere comes in handy. What else did Jase say?"

"That there would be someone here to meet us on the other side. Someone familiar with the terrain. That we should wait for dusk for the crossing."

"How are you doing, Mr Man?"

"When do we get to the fun part?"

"Right about now I should think, Michael." Stavros says grimly. "We have found the footbridge."

"Lemme see. Lemme see!" Michael goes racing ahead.

Stavros grabs him by the neck of his parka. "Slow down."

"Wow." Carly takes in the narrow rope and lumber bridge that spans the ravine from Canada to the US. "Oh WOW. That's really...."

"Narrow."

"and..."

"High."

"But safe. I'm sure it's safe cause Jase knew we were bringing Michael."

"Anybody for a picnic while we wait?" Kris suggests from the back. "We've got about an hour until dusk. And I would prefer to wait on this side. Canadians are so much friendlier." He mutters the last under his breath and then raises his voice to it's normal low timbre. "I have hot chocolate, tea, coffee, water..."

"Doesn't that take up a lot of room?" Carly looks at his back pack curiously.

"Not really." Kris sheds his backpack and pulls out a container of water and a little campstyle heater. He sets the water to boil. Then he pulls out a ziploc bag with packets of instant coffee, tea, cocoa, cider and soup.

"Oh tricky." Carly applauds.

"What else you got in there?" Michael demands curiously of his Tutor.

"A little of this... a little of that..." Next out while waiting for the water to boil are the space age blankets. Stavros takes them and spreads them as insulation against the cold earth. He sits down on one, Carly next to him and Michael in his lap. All of them settle back for a cold but entertaining wait.

T-57

"Alexis is going to kill me." Zander stomps his feet to keep them warm. "Stay out of the illegal stuff she says but no, oh no. Jason says pick up a package and I say where? My own fault. Would Morgan even know about this place if it weren't for me? Stay on the American side he says. The package will be delivered to you. Cryptic crap. The package going to grow legs or what? Shit! that is probably it. Some kind of illegal, maybe a hitman or something. Alexis is going to kill me. I should be helping Kristina get the house ready. So Alexis can come home. One more hour and it's going to be dark. Nobody would be crazy enough to cross in the dark! Bridge starts freezing up in the middle. Have to be crazy to cross in the dark." Zander's conversation with himself is interrupted by the sound of a lone voice singing loudly and slightly off key. He squints to see who the hell!!!

"Climb ev'ry mountain, search high and low
Follow ev'ry byway, every path you know
Climb ev'ry mountain, ford every stream
Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream
A dream that will need all the love you can give
Every day of your life for as long as you live... "


Zander grins. People were coming into view. One of them had to have his package. First off the bridge is a man. On his back is a small child who has legs and arms wrapped around the man so the man's hands are free to hang onto the ropes on either side of the bridge. After the man steps off a woman does. The singer. And right behind her is another man. Even bundled up so you couldn't see faces. He had to judging sex by the size of the person and the colors of their parkas. "Captain Von Trapp, I presume." Zander says humorously finally recognizing the song that had been sung at the crossing. Course it had been a few years since he'd actually sat thru all of The Sound of Music. "...and this must be the lovely Maria."

"Well, well, well. If it isn't little Miss Emily's walk on the wild side."

"Carly?!" Zander finally recognizes Sonny's wife.

"You know this man?" The guy in the lead asks.

"Zander, Jase's little sister's EX boyfriend."

"The same Zander who was requesting Natasha's email address?"

"You're him! I mean you're Stavros Cassadine!"

"Is that going to be a problem?" Stavros asks the young man calmly.

"Where is Alexis?"

"Taking a later... more direct flight. I believe you have a car waiting..."

"Yeah, I guess. I mean it's right this way. Isn't it like dangerous for you guys to be here?"

"Only if we get stopped by the police." Carly climbs into the backseat of the car and scoots over. Michael climbs in the middle and Stavros sandwiches him on the other side.

Kris takes shotgun and Zander climbs in the driver's seat. "Where am I going?" Zander asks looking in the rear view.

"My place." Carly directs.

"But shouldn't you be going to like a safehouse or something?"

"Only if you are planning on telling anyone where we are." Kris says coldly.

Big dog. Nice Dog. Big Teeth. Cement shoes. "Nah. I wouldn't do that. We're cool."

"So... I understand you know my son and his fiance, Gia."

"Ex fiance. They broke up." Zander glances in the rear view.

"Right. I keep forgetting that."

"Are we there yet? Are we home?"