The Best Laid Plans, Chapter 44
 
 

" So, Dara, how are you?", JJ asked.

" I'm fine, JJ. And you?"

" Oh, just fine. I tried calling you over the weekend, but no answer."

" I was on a trip."

" Really? With whom?"

" Jax."

" Uh-huh."

" Don't uh-huh, me. If you have something to say, please say it."

" Good Lord, defensive with dreamy eyes. The hallmarks of a woman in love, and not sure if it's right."

" Who said I was in love?"

" Dara, it's me. Your brother. I could see that you were halfway there when you came to the Vineyard. And, when you walked into the room, I thought to myself, there's a woman in love."

" The way you say that, it's like you've condemned me."

" No. It's just that...."

" What, JJ, WHAT??!"

" I don't want to see you hurt."

Dara lowers her eyes and barely whispers, "Me either. Oh, JJ..."

" Yeah, babe..."

" You're right. I am in love with him. So much, it scares me. I haven't told anyone. Up until this moment, I never said it out loud. I guess I thought if I didn't say it, then it wasn't real. And, it doesn't seem real. It seems like  a fantasy that I'm having. When I'm with him, I really feel like it's only the two of us. And all is wonderful. But,  reality soon enters the building, and I start having serious doubts."

" Like what?"

" You name it. Anything. Everything. Nothing. I don't know. Yes, I do. Neither one of us has addressed the interracial aspect of it all. "

" Do you think he has a problem with it? Has he had you hidden away?"

" No, JJ. He doesn't keep me hidden. I don't think he has a problem with it. After all, he is going out with me, all the time, publicly. I just don't think he's thought of all the ramifications of it. And the realist in me, keeps on telling myself that we need to really talk about it."

" Ok. This sounds normal for an interracial relationship. You know, you can't harp on it. I have found that you just deal with things as they come up. And you KNOW, things will come up. What else?"

" It's Jax's ruthless streak."

" Ah, the ice water that runs through his veins. You've seen it, up close and personal?"

" Yes."

" And?"

" And, I didn't like it. How does he do it? How can he be so loving and caring with me, and then, send chills up and down my spine at other times."

" You know. I've been working with these White Boys for years. And I tell you, I think it's a learned pattern. They know how to separate business from pleasure. I mean, I do too. But, I think it's because I was an athlete, all those years. I have watched brothers and sisters, as they've come into this field. And, on a consistent basis, I have seen who would be successful and who wouldn't. And, the thing, that many of the successful ones have in common, is that they were on the athletic field as fierce competitors. It may take awhile, but once they tap into that vein that they used to use on the athletic field, and apply it to Investment Banking, there's no stopping them. Now, it's not a tried and true rule, but I get truly dazzled by a successful one who can play the game as well as they can, and hadn't been on the athletic field first. Now, people would think that I'm being stereotypical, but I'm not. Because, the black athlete, man or woman, has had success in a quantifiable way. You know what I mean..."

" Yes. Their success was based on pure, raw, unequivocable talent. There is no "they got in because of a quota, or giveaways. They proved themselves successful on a consistent basis of excellence. Believe me, I've spent enough time with people thinking that I was the waitress, coffee girl, and secretary, while dressed in a three-piece suit, to understand."

" I'm glad you do. I've read and researched Jasper Jacks."

" Oh?"

" Gotta be prepared. Jax was born and bred like a Prince. Now, it doesn't matter that his family was poor, his parents always made him feel like a Prince. He already had the attitude. When his Daddy struck it rich, he finally had the surroundings to match it. Now, there's nothing wrong with this. You know that the two of us have had many a conversation about how I think that Black parents saddle their children, by trying to keep them grounded."

" Yes. We should be teaching our children to go for the moon, instead of trying to prepare them for what it will be like to be judged in this society."

" Not INSTEAD of. I don't believe sending our children out there, thinking that everything is fair and dandy is the way to go. But, if you spend all your time telling kids to 'brace yourself, and be ready, it can't help but make them overcautious and gets them to stifle themselves. Looking for boogeymen everywhere. Our children need more positive reinforcement than anything. Like those life lessons won't come up. This is America, Dara. They'll ALWAYS come up. I think Mom and Dad did a good job with us, don't you think?"

" Yes, I do. So, what you're telling me, is that I should blame Jax's parents? That's what makes him ruthless?"

" He thinks the world is his playground. And that, it's all one big chess game. And he knows that he's among a select group, that gets to play and move the pieces on the board. It's a rush, sister deal. The higher the stakes go, the bigger the deal, the more lives you affect, it's a thrill. And when you KNOW you're good at it, why shouldn't the man be cocky as hell."

" But..."

" But, that doesn't ease you about it, does it? Dara, he's a grown man. You are the most tenacious lawyer that I know. When you are going after a case, you are single-minded and determined. Tell me, what's the difference in the look for blood that you have in your eyes, with a really big case, and what he does? You just took that competitive fire of yours, and did something 'worthwhile' for it. Well, he took those personality traits and used them on the business field.

Believe me Dara, his competitors, are not Boy scouts or Girl scouts. They need not any of your sympathy, because they WISH that they could do to Jax, what he's doing to them. And if any of them got the chance, they'd do it in a New York minute. But, that doesn't mean that the man doesn't know how to love. I'm glad that he does. I've read the stuff on his private life. The fact that he's willing to share his life with a woman, once he thinks she's the right one, gives me hope. Now, there are others, that if you had fallen for them, I would have to be fighting you. If I thought he was this completely cold bastard, full of manipulation, and that he wished you harm, I would be out for blood. But, I don't see Jax that way. And as long as he treats you with the respect you deserve, he'll not hear a peep from me."

" Thanks, JJ."

Just then, "Dara? Hi."

" Keesha. Hi. How are you? We haven't really talked since.."

" Since you broke up with Justus. And, who are you?"

" Keesha Ward, this is my brother, Johnathan."

" Well, how do you do?" She extends her hand.

" Much better, since making your acquaintance.", JJ took Keesha's hand and kissed it.

Keesha takes back her hand. " Are you always so forward?"

" Only when I see someone as spectacular as you."

" Down, boy.", Dara said as she laughed. " Keesha, I think that your date has arrived." Dara pointed over to AJ, who was carrying a bouquet .

" You're right. Well, it was nice meeting you. And Dara, we will have to get together and talk. Bye." JJ watches as Keesha walks away.

" So, tell me about Keesha Ward."

" Well, she's Justus' cousin. She runs the Charles Street Foundation, a nonprofit in cooperation with ELQ. They provide loans and grants to businesses and other worthwhile enterprises in the Charles Street area."

" And who is the guy?"

" That's AJ Quartermaine. They've been going together for quite awhile."

" A Quartermaine? Isn't she related?"

" No. They are Justus' cousins. Not hers."

" Well, I see that there are other interesting things in Port Charles besides you."

" She's taken, JJ."

" I don't see no ring on her finger."

They both laugh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bobbie came into Sasha's room. Stefan, of course, was there. She checked the vitals. She sat down on the stool on the other side from Stefan.

" Stefan. If you want to go, I'll stay with her."

" Thank you, Barbara. But, no thank you. I'll stay here."

" Fine. I just wanted to tell you, that you should have hope. I mean, the doctors said that she wouldn't last this long. And she has. She's getting stronger. I can feel it."

" You do, don't you? My one promise to her, was that I would keep her safe.  That I would protect her. And I failed."

" Stefan. You weren't driving the car. You didn't run her off the road. "

" No, but I was the reason why she was driving on that road."

" Stefan, as a parent, the one thing that concerns us most, is the safety of our children. It's what haunts us. And when we're not there when they're hurt, we feel even worse. It is the unimaginable: our child needs us, and we're otherwise occupied. The guilt is overwhelming."

" But, this wasn't been the first time , that I've let Katya down." Stefan gets up out of his seat and goes over to the window. He is standing there, for several minutes before he begins to talk.

" After Stavros died, my Mother was entirely too calm. I expected her to scream, rant, throw things. But, she didn't. I expected her to berate me, but, she didn't. She calmly went on with Cassadine business as if nothing momentous had happened. One day, she sent me on a short day trip to Athens on business. Nothing special. When I returned to the island, I went, as usual, to see Katya and give her the present that I had bought.

When, I arrived in her room, everything was in perfect order. Except, that her favorite things seemed to be missing. As well as the Nanny. I went to the servants and asked where she was. When I received no answer, I began to panic. I went to see my Mother. When I saw her, I needed no explanation. I knew that she was involved.

[[[[[Flashback]]]]]

Helena: Hello, Stefan.

Stefan: Where is she, Mother?

Helena: Who?

Stefan: Don't play games with me.

Helena:  I have no intentions of playing games. You are indeed correct, Stefan. Ekaterina is gone. She is alive, and well, but, she needed to leave.

Stefan: Why?

Helena:  As an insurance policy, Stefan.

Stefan: Insurance for what?

Helena:  For your loyalty, of course. And, to punish you for your incompetence. Due to your incompetence, I lost my child. I thought it only fair, that you comprehend the depth of my pain. Of course, that would mean that Ekaterina would have to perish, but, I am not completely without feelings. I will be more generous to you than you were to me. And also...

Stefan: What?

Helena: To insure that you don't get any foolish ideas about helping Lasha. Nikolas is a Cassadine. And he stays here. He can get the 'mothering' that you gave to Ekaterina.

Stefan: I wish to speak to her.

Helena:  No. Now, go. ]]]]]]]

It was over 4 months, before Helena brought me some drawings and letters that she wrote to me. Those letters. Those droplets from her, were all that kept me from going wild that year. And one year to the day that she was taken, she returned. I remember holding her for that first time. It was as if I were back to the day that I brought her to the island. But, I could tell that she had changed. I could see the loss of some of her innocence, in her eyes. My carelessness. My underestimation of my mother caused that."

" Stefan. How could you even think about blaming yourself? It was all Helena."

" Because, I should have known that she would strike. What was the most devastating part of it all, was that, somehow, my Mother had used the time to forge a bond, with Katya. One that I haven't been able to break. Even after all these years. Have you not wondered, Barbara, as to why I call her Katya, and everyone else says Sasha?"

" You have a way of finding names for people."

" She was christened Ekaterina Christina Cassadine. That is the name that I gave her."

" So, then, where did Anastasia come from?"

" Upon us meeting again, Katya informed me, that she no longer wanted to be called Katya. That her Grandmother had her re christened Anastasia, and that is what she would respond to. I informed her that I would continue calling her Katya. She finally agreed, liking that I would be the only one calling her by that name.

After that, I wouldn't let her out of my sight. If I went on a business trip, she went with me. If there were dinners and cocktail parties, she went with me. She was never far from my direct sight. I would never give anyone the opportunity for her to be taken ever again.

Yet, there was a flaw in my approach. As I spent more time on the island, I saw how insidiously my mother was weaving her influence in Katya's life. I fought, like a wild animal, to separate them. And even with Nikolas' influence, which was immeasurable, my Mother was still a formidable foe. Nikolas, and the love that he brought out in her, helped me fight Helena. But, I still did not feel at ease about the relationship. "

" Stefan, is it so hard to understand as to why Sasha would be drawn to Helena? She had no mother, and every little girl needs some sort of female figure in her life. Helena was there. It was a natural fit."

" I don't disagree. But, there's nothing 'natural' about my Mother."

" Nevertheless, she needed a woman in her life, and Helena was it."

" Yes. So, I did the most difficult action that I could take. I pushed her away. "

" How?"

" She went to Harvard at 16. Even though, she was away from me, she was also away from Helena and her influence, which is all that mattered."

" Knowing you, I just can't see you allowing her to go to Harvard by herself."

" You're right. She had bodyguards, and Alexis checked in on her, ever other week."

" Now, THAT sounds like you."

They both laugh.

"Well, Stefan, I'll be going."

" Must you?"

" For a bit. I promised Lucas that I would call him. But, if you need me, just have me paged."

" Thank you, Barbara."

" No thanks necessary

Bobbie leaves the room. She is in the hallway when she literally runs into Tony.

"Tony, what's wrong?"

"Carly."

"What happened now?"

"She told me that I wasn't the baby's father. And that she never loved me."

Bobbie began to laugh.

" You find this funny?"

" In a way, yes. She's doing exactly what I thought she'd do to you once she'd had her fill of you. I saw it. Your friends did. You didn't, because you haven't been thinking above the waist for a year. Go cry on someone else's shoulder Tony. Mine are full."

Bobbie leaves a stunned Tony just standing there.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bobbie calls home.

"Lucas?"

" Hi Mommy."

" Are you being a good boy for Bette?"

" Yep."

" Did Mommy have any messages?"

" Uh, Nope. Mom, I gotta go."

" OK. Be a good boy."

Lucas had been playing and accidentally pushed the button erasing the messages. But, he hoped that they would call back if it was important.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Alexis Davis."

" Ms. Davis, it's Mai."

" Mai, hello. If you're wondering.."

" No. I checked up on her condition earlier. What I have to ask is your opinion as to whether I am to proceed with the plans for Katherine Bell. I have been informed that the next phase of operation can start. All I have to do is OK it. Sasha would have been the one, but she's not available. Please note, Ms. Davis, that once this starts, because of plausible deniability, it will not be able to be halted. This was the final stopgap phase. This is the point of no return. Do you understand?"

" Completely."

" Fine. I will do whatever you wish."

Alexis spies Katherine with Stefan.

" Tell them to proceed. Full speed ahead."

" I understand. And the final orders will be given tonight. Thank you, and Goodbye."