~@~@~ Fallen Ch.24
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Saturday Night

Antonio stood in front of the floor length mirror, and stared at himself, shaking his head at the image he made in a tux. One day he swore to himself, one day he’d be able to tell her no. “Liar.” To be able to say no, you’d have to be asked, and Jody didn’t really ask, sure in the beginning when she was trying to lull you into a false sense of confidence she’s asked and smile, and flash those pearly whites when she gave that sugary sweet grin, but then when you felt safe, she show her real colors. She’d pounce on you like a wild lion taking down a startled gazelle, hitting you so quickly that you don’t know what exactly happened.” Like waiting until you’re until Sam Bennet finishes scaring you witless, and suggesting we do something.”
Of course he couldn’t turn down a Jody, she was his friend, his savior, his doctor, and landlord or at least she would be when he got a job and started paying rent. So he had said ‘anything you want’, and her response had been. “Black tie, Saturday at seven, no need to pick me up.” He mimicked mockingly, but then quickly looked behind him to make sure she hadn’t heard him, last thing he needed was her upset with him. “Lord knows the list is long enough already.”

Kay was angry with him, he didn’t really understand why, but he knew she was. He didn’t remember doing anything wrong, he had come in brought her a book to read, and snuck her in some chips, and was she grateful, no. He had sat down and they had fallen into an uncomfortable silence, the kind that seemed to be quite common when dealing with a Bennet. He had started to talk about eh weather, and she glared at him, he mentioned the cubs, and she glared, he opened his mouth to ask about Ethan, and she yelled at him to get out. A real yell this time, not like the other times when she was just really loud, no she shrieked ‘get out’, until the nurse came in with her hands over her ears and told him to leave, he had reluctantly, and Jody had laughed at him telling to remember about Saturday.

He decided he’d give her time, tomorrow, he’d go over, and give her all the details from tonight’s soirée at the Cranes. There was bound to be something interesting going on that would earn his forgiveness with his favorite sparring partner.

“You clean up nicely Tony.”

Antonio turned to tell her not to call him that for had to be the 111th time, when he saw her and stopped forming thoughts completely. He wasn’t interested in Jody physically, but then he wasn’t dead and he was sure that was the only way anyone could look at her and not say. “Damn.” She had chosen a blue knee length dress, when she gave a little turn he could see that it had a criss cross pattern on her back that showed part of a tattoo on her left shoulder, that from a fleeting glance looked like Bart Simpson, but that wasn’t what was made his speech stop. It was her face, Jody usually wore hair in a pony tail that left hair covering it, but tonight it was pulled back in a long and tight French braid, letting some tendrils highlight her cheekbones. For a second she reminded him of someone, but he couldn’t place it for the world, so he repeated his earlier sentiment. “Damn.”

“I know, I’m a hottie.” Jody nodded, and pushed him aside and starting looking at herself in the mirror smiling in shameless self appreciation. “Do you think this too risqué for a Crane Party?” She eaves away the question and meet her companion eyes in the mirror.” Who cares ‘ya gets what comin to ya, when ya don’t ask.”

“ Way to be mature Jode.”

“I don’t have to be mature, I’m only twenty –two, maturity is for people who strive to conform, and I’m not a conformist.” To prove her point, she stuck her tongue out at him, just as the door bell rang. “Get the door, that’s my date.”

“I thought I was your date.” He asked as he did as he was told, not even bothering to question why as he did so.

“Please I can do better.”

“We’ll see.” Antonio opened the door, looked at the tux clad man, and shut it, turning to laugh at his friend.” That’s better.”

“Hey.” Hank turned the knob and opened the door giving Antonio a dirty look. “There are thin doors in this town you know.”

Ignoring the other man, Antonio turns back to Jody and just barley controls the laughter. “Hank, you ditch me at the last minute for Hank.”

“Who’s ditching you Ken, you’re still coming you just aren’t MY date, we’re picking up your now.” Jody closed the closet, grabbing both their coats and throwing him his, as she shooed him outside.” Now be a good little boy and wait in the car.” Once again blindly following orders eh shakes his head as he heads out to the car, leaving Jody behind to smile at her date.” Well you’re looking particularly handsome in the tux, in that legal?”

Hank blushed, and looked away, hiding a grin, there was just something terribly sexy about a woman that had more game then he did. “I’m legal; I don’t think you are but…” He walked forward and dropped his head down to her ear, whispering.” But I got an in with the Police Chief, so we’re safe.”

Managing to contain the shiver, she gave him a wink, and took his offered arm. “For now.”
 

“Julian, stops primping, and listen to me.”

He did as he was told, and once again wonder not only way he ever answered his father’s call, but why he put the man on speaker phone, as if his voice didn’t carry enough already. “Yes Father?”

“Once again, as I was saying, while this travesty of a party is going on, I want you to watch your sister.” “Luis and the rest of the Lopez-Fitzgerald’s while bee attending this thing… I want Sheridan to see Luis and his fiancée together, drive the point home.”

“Is that really necessary Father?”

“YES.” The room almost shook with the anger in the Alistair’s voice. “ Had you ensure her marriage to Antonio like I wanted we wouldn’t have to dealt with this, as it you managed to let the only that could have truly saved us from this problem go, so yes do as your told, and maybe I forgive this dinner you’re throwing.”

“It’s a prestigious award Father, it will more then make up for any other scandals that have damaged the Crane name, as well as provide a large boost in funding to the hospital, that we will no longer need to contribute, and thus saving our money for other pursuits.”

“Julian, I don’t need to you to try to placate me with meaningless words or explanation.” “This ceremony is merely one more chance for you to get close to the Eve Russell.”

“Father…” Julian began as he picked up a brandy glass.

“Shut up Julian.”

“NO FATHER, I WILL NOT.” The glass shattered as it met the desk, he ignored the glass and splashing liquid as he looked at the offending speaker box. “You’ve thrown me out of your will, and out of the company, telling me that my only job is to ‘shut up and look competent’, as I have nothing but the money my mother left me and my tattered reputation I will do with them as I see fit, and should you choose to destroy me, I only ask that you do so silently, as it is my life and I will destroy it as I wish.” He wiped the amber liquid from his jacket, and straightened his tie. “I will not watch Sheridan, and help you destroy her; I suggest you find a more willing stooge.” Reaching out quickly he turned off the box, and released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

The feeling came over him slowly, first beginning in his toes, as if the blood was returning after numbness, but soon enough it was flowing through him, like water down a fall. He moved toward the study doors leading outside and caught his reflection, for a minute he didn’t even recognized himself. “So that’s what a back bone looks like on a man.” He stuck out his chin, and puff out his chest, he looked decades younger like he did, when he first loved Eve, and felt the familiar feeling of pride surging through him. Tomorrow Alistair Crane would demand revenge on his oldest for defying him, but for tonight he was Julian Crane, and a man with no future had nothing to lose. “Stand back Harmony, I come for what’s mine.”
 

“Why are we at the hospital?” “Where you paged?”

Jody rolled her eyes, as she stopped her car in front of the entrance doors.” No I wasn’t.”

“Then why are we at the hospital.”

“To get your date.”

Antonio groaned from the backseat. “You didn’t fix me up with someone that’s going to spend the entire night freak me with medical stories did you?”

She paused unsure of how to answer, and looked briefly at Hank who shrugged his shoulders, it was a definite possibly that she would try to freak him out, but the genre of stories was always open for debate.” It’s possible.”

“Oh great, why don’t you just…” He rant was cut off as the back door opened up, and revealed a high heeled open toe shoe, followed by a long ivory leg. He followed the leg as the passegner settled herself inside the car before meeting her eyes, and for the second time tonight loosing the ability to think.

“Shut Up Antonio.”

“Kay….what….how…what?”
 

The cars barley stopped on the deserted road tow miles outside of Harmony, just long enough for the driver’s side windows to come down, and a thin manila envelope to go from one to the other. The smaller car took off quickly leaving a small cloud of dust in its wake as it continued further and further away from Harmony.

While inside the larger car Rebecca Hotchkiss, turned off her car, and opened the envelope with a smile of pure victory covering her face, almost doubling the amount of wrinkles seen. The flyer fell out first for a club in Boston, that showed a much younger Eve Russell, then Johnson displayed seductively on stage. The picture was next, it resembled a boudoir photo, instead of one person it was two, and the two were clearly Julian and Eve,
and there was no way to hide the type of relationship the two had. The birth certificate and adoption paper were last, child; Baby girl Johnson, mother Eve Johnson, father Julian Crane. The adoption papers named the child Judah Marie McKoy. She pulled out her cell phone and called her contact. “Mort are the presses still being held?”

“Yeah, Ms. Hotchkiss, but I gotta know what do you have for me this time, Cranes losing another heir?”

Rebecca smile widened as she pictured the cocky doctor that had thrown her out of the hospital. “Nope but they're gaining one.”