Chapter 2

Carly grabbed the phone out of Nikolas' hand.  He seemed frozen in shock.

"Come on, Nicky."  He hated when she called him Nicky.  "Let's go.  I'll drive."

He looked up at her in a daze.  "You're coming too?"

"Well, yeah.  I like Em and since I'm sure Bobbie called Jason, somebody's gotta 
keep him from killing the Qs.  Robin's outta town."  And I hope she stays there, 
Carly thought with a hidden smile.

"If I don't do it first."  Nikolas muttered.

"See, feeling like your old self already."

"What about Michael?"  He was afraid of bringing Carly into a place where all 
the Qs were sure to be.  He'd learned that Carly had a habit of picking fights.  
Must have gotten that from Luke.

"Leticia's here.  Come on, Nicky, we don't have much time."

"Don't call me Nicky," he snapped.  "Let's go.  What are you waiting for?"

Carly rolled her eyes.  "Figures."

~~~~~~~~

GH

Carly and Nikolas rushed into a roomful of chaos.  It seemed that every 
Quartermaine, former Quartermaine, or friend was there.  There was the main Q 
family, Lois Cerullo, Ned Ashton's ex-wife, and even Jason Morgan.  Nikolas 
thought he saw Liz and Lucky too.

"Why are there so many people here?"  Carly took in the scene with wide eyes.

"I'm assuming my Aunt Amy made a ‘few’ calls."

Carly touched Nikolas lightly on his shoulder.  "I see Jason's about to go over 
to Edward, I have to go.  But do you want me to stay with you?  Or find Bobbie?"  
Carly had surprised herself.  This was the first time she'd ever been worried 
about someone other than Michael, Bobbie, or Jason.

"No, that's okay.  Thank you."  Nikolas smiled gratefully as Carly almost 
sprinted over to break up the fight that was brewing between Jason and Edward.

"Listen, Old man, if Emily dies…” Carly jumped in to cut them off.

"Easy, Jase.  This is not the time or the place."  She placed her hands on his 
chest as she put herself between the two of them.  Carly stared deep into 
Jason's eyes hoping he would stay in control.  Jason returned the look and for a 
few seconds they connected until Edward broke in.

"Yeah, you better believe her, Morgan or I'll have you escorted right out of 
here!"  Edward roared.

"Hey, Eddie! Calm down.  We wouldn't be here if you all had listened to Nikolas 
and got her some help." Carly threw that into his face.

"What are you talking about, Carly?"  Jason was confused.

"Nikolas had found Emily about to jump off a bridge and when he took her home 
and tried to *warn* them, they just kicked him out of the house."  She glared at 
Edward.  Bobbie had told her the whole story the other night.

Jason exploded.  "What!?! You could have done something to keep this from 
happening and you did nothing?"

"Jase, let's not get into this with him right now.  Let's go sit down."  Carly 
gently pushed Jason towards some chairs even though she was itching for a fight.

Lois who stood next to Ned watched them go.  "I guess Carly is the only person 
other than Robin who can get Jason to calm down?"

Ned looked up, distracted.  "Yeah, I guess.  But they're right.  We knew and we 
didn't do anything at all."

"Ned, don't beat yourself up over this." 

"But Nikolas Cassadine told me right into my face that she would try again and I 
didn't listen." 

"Excuse me but what happened?"  Nikolas came up behind them.  Ned could see the 
words "I told you so." shining in his eyes but to his credit he didn't say them.

Lois started. "Monica went up to her room and found her. She had already sliced 
one wrist and was just about to do the other. There was blood all over.  All 
over.  She's just a little girl but there was so much blood."  Lois couldn't go 
on.

Nikolas couldn't stand to hear any more.  He turned to walk away when he saw 
Bobbie coming out the room he assumed to be Emily's.  Monica followed closely 
behind her.  Everyone surged forward but Nikolas got there first.

"Bobbie?  How is she?”

Everyone was quiet, even Edward, waiting for her answer. Bobbie smiled brightly 
and said,  "She'll be alright.  She lost a lot of blood, she's a bleeder, but 
thank goodness Monica found her in time.  She'll need to stay here for a few 
days but I promise you physically she'll be all right."

"Thank God!"  Lois cried out.

"Thank heavens that little girl is alright."  Edward's voice cut through the 
noise.

"Bobbie, can I go see her?"  Nikolas asked.

"I'm sorry but family only right now.  Maybe tomorrow, okay?"

"All right."  He nodded but he really wanted to see her.

AJ stepped up with his wife Keesha close on his heels.  "I want to see her.  Can 
I?"

Monica waved a hand.  This whole night had been tiring.  "Yeah, yeah sure.  I 
need to think of what to tell Alan if I tell him anything at all."

Jason and Carly came over.  Keesha and Carly exchanged nasty looks.  Keesha was 
upset with Carly for keeping Michael's true paternity a secret and Carly was 
still mad because Keesha was the one who found out the truth and told AJ.  While 
this was going on, Jason said, "I want to see my sister too."

AJ tensed up at the sight of Cary clinging to Jason.  "No, I'm going in."

Monica raised her hand to halt the oncoming fight.  "You two go in together or 
you don't go in at all.  I'm not up to it tonight!"

AJ and Jason glared at each other but when in anyway.  Nik ignored the arguing 
and stood by the window that looked in on Emily.  Emily lay there, sleeping.  
She looked like she was at peace finally.

"She looks so small."  He whispered.

"Yeah."  Said a voice beside him.  It was Lucky.  A few months ago they'd come 
to an understanding.  Neither one would mention the feud.  They didn't fight as 
much because it was getting them nowhere.

"She's going to be okay."

"That's what they told me."  They were quiet for a minute.  Lucky spoke first.  
"I heard that you had found her the first time."

"News travels fast."

"Aunt Amy."

"I know."

"Emily and I used to be good friends.  Real tight.  Once we ran away together.  
I haven't talked to her in months.  The only person I've spent time with lately 
has been Elizabeth."  Lucky wasn't sure where he was going with this.  "I just 
can't believe this, man.  This isn't the Em I used to know."   

"I don't know her either, Lucky."  Bobbie came up to them.

"Okay, boys.  I think you two should go home now.  There's nothing more you can 
do.  Nikolas, I'll be home later if you need me.  Stefan's all ready there.  
Lucky, Liz is waiting for you."  Bobbie moved them away from the window.  She 
called out, "Carly?  Are you going to stay or are you leaving with Nikolas?"

"No, I'm going to stay with Jason in case…” In case for once he needs me, she 
finished silently.  Just then Robin Scorpio burst onto the scene.  

"Nevermind."  Carly mumbled.  Yipee, the witch is here.

"Is Emily ok?  Where's Jason?"

"What are you doing here, Robin” Lois asked.  "I thought you were out of town."

"I had just got home when Renaldo told me what happened."  Robin spotted Carly.  
"What's she doing here?"

Carly flared her nostrils and snarled.  "I'm here because I happen to care for 
Emily, ok?  And somebody had to be here to keep Edward and Jason apart!"

"So what?  You can leave now.  You're not family."  Keesha had came over and 
sided with Robin.  Robin smirked because she obviously considered herself 
family.

Carly looked over the Righteous Sisters.  This was the fight she'd been looking 
for.  "Not family?  Mother of the Quartermaine heir, not family?"  Carly rolled 
her eyes.

"See, it's just like you to…" Nikolas cut off whatever Keesha was going to say 
by grabbing Carly by the arm and dragging her towards the elevators saying, 
"Come on, Carly, we were leaving anyway.  Besides Cassadine don't get into 
fights in public."

"Cassa… I'm not a Cassadine!"  Carly gave up when she saw hat Nik was 
determined.  "Whatever, let's get out of here before I do something I might 
regret."

The ride back to the docks was filled with Carly's unintelligible ranting about 
Keesha and Robin.  At one point he swore she said something like "Not family! 
That's why *I* am the woman who's given them a Quartermaine heir, something 
neither one of them could do!" and "I should have just told her to shut her damn 
mouth!"

Finally they were on the island and Carly quieted down.  They walked in and 
found Stefan sitting on the couch holding what looked to be an intense 
conversation about birds with Michael.  Leticia stood in the background watching 
with a small smile.

"Ah here's your mother now.  Welcome back Caroline, Nikolas.  I trust Emily is 
fine?"

"Yes, yes."  Nikolas said.

Carly said "Everything's cool for now Step Pop."

Stefan grimaced at the named she insisted on calling him.  Carly scooped up 
Michael and said, "I love you, Mr. Man."  And left the room with Leticia 
trailing behind.

Nikolas let out a loud sigh and joined Stefan on the couch.  "Uncle, it was so 
hard to see her laying there like that."

Stefan nodded, content to let Nikolas lead the conversation.  "I couldn't go in 
and talk to her but I going to tomorrow."

"If you think it's wise."

"Uncle, I have to."  Nik slapped his hands against his thighs and stood.  "I'm 
tired, I'm going upstairs to think."

Stefan watched as Nikolas went.  He was unsure of how to handle this situation.  
Maybe when Barbara comes home tonight, I'll speak with her about it.