What needed saying when what was happening was so clear to everyone?
2 weeks.
Officially, it was referred to as a long overdue vacation after a grueling trial.
It would not go on any record and yet, she knew it would go on everyone’s record. The trial had been an impossible tightrope walk and she had just fallen off.
Or rather, had been pushed.
Her assistant, Danielle, had instantly known the D.A.’s judgment when Dara returned to her office. Coming from a family of police officers and attorneys, she understood firsthand the difficulties Dara had faced during the trial and was bursting with barely checked outrage at how Dara was being put out for sacrifice for the outcry of Sonny Corinthos evading justice once more.
Already there were messages of support from Danielle’s Aunt and Dara’s good friend Livia Frye. Sabrina, Alexis and Marcus, Alex Garcia, Faith, Evangeline Williamson, Gia Campbell and oodles of other police and attorneys from both sides of the courtroom. She was grateful for all, but it was the call from her mentor, Jack McCoy that she took the most solace in.
“Fuck ‘em.”
Now sitting on a park bench in Greenway Park, just down the street from her office, she nursed a limp salad and warm Diet Coke while Jack grumped on the other end of the call.
Dara let out a bark of a laugh, the gesture startling the few birds that were a few feet from her, pecking at crumbs on the pathway. She watched as they flew off and set her drink down beside her on the bench.
“That’s one way to put in.”
“That’s the ONLY way to put it. It’s politics and it’s bullshit and Baldwin should be taking the hits for you, not shoving you in front of their clusterfuck.”
“I know,” she replied as she rubbed her forehead. “I hated it Jack. I hated going to the judge and watching Corinthos go free.”
“It hurt, didn’t it? Principles are like that.” Jack’s voice had gone soft. “Know this: people noticed what you did and they admire you for it. You will not play things easy or wade into dirty water to get your convictions. And you GET the convictions; no D.A. can challenge your record.”
Dara smiled, feeling buoyed by his words. “Thanks Jack.”
There was a pause and in that moment, Dara could feel a mischievous smile percolating across Jack’s lips. “You know, I could use you in Manhattan.”
There it was, the dangling carrot to tempt her. In that moment she wanted to take it and go back to NYC and leave the mess in Port Charles behind her. “Really?” she replied, skeptical, not wanting to get him any indication of her feelings on the idea.
“My major crimes office needs a touchstone like you.”
“What about Cutter? I thought he was your successor?”
Jack let out a laugh. “Cutter? If you can believe it, Mike is dropping to part-time in the summer. He and Connie are getting ready for the baby. I’m losing two of my best first chairs,” he griped good-naturedly.
Suddenly, the carrot looked even better. “Wow, I didn’t know he had it in him,” Dara said. Mike Cutter was a legend in New York. “When Connie moved over to Brooklyn, we all knew it was because those two finally got together. I just didn’t think it would stop him from gunning for your job.”
Jack chuckled, “my job? To me, it’s still Adam’s job and I’m just warming the chair.” He paused, his voice softening again, “Mike wants different things. You meet the right person, you fall in love, your life changes and a wife and child changes things.”
In that moment, Dara’s eyes closed gently. A flash of images and sounds came to mind. Music, was it Spanish? No, Cuban. She loved Celia Cruz’s voice. Candles flickering and the smell of newly baked bread made her breathe deeply. Warm hands against the small of her back, and then, fingers trailing along her arms, taking her hands in his. Strong hands, nestling hers in his, the pads of his thumbs grazing gently against the back of her hands, soothing her.
“Even I can be a good man for just a moment, can’t I?”
Sonny.Dara’s eyes flew open, her heart thumping wildly. What the hell was that?
“Dara? What do you say?”
*~*
Sabrina turned to her friend expectantly. “So? What did you say?”
Dara sighed as she gazed out the window. “I’d think about it.”
Sabrina bit her lip. She wanted to say a thousand different things in reaction to Dara’s seemingly melancholy state but knew it would be counterproductive. She took a small sip of her bottled water and walked the length of the room, her heels clicking smartly against the hardwood floor.
“Sounds like no.”
Dara turned and crossed her arms in front of her. “It does, doesn’t it?”
“Well, we’d be deliriously happy if you did stay,” Sabrina said pointedly. “All of us,” she said added more softly and both knew she was referring to Alexis. It had pained her to see her friend and sister’s relationship in distress. She shook her head. “Sonny really did a number on you both.”
The innocent remark had not been intended to hurt Dara and yet, she winced, her body stiffening. Sabrina instantly took several steps towards her, concern etched in her face. “Dara? What’s wrong?”
But Dara’s face closed up, and she shook her head refusing to address it. She would not talk about Sonny or the swirl of emotions that whipped around her when her thoughts inevitably did stray to him. Sabrina pinched her lips together in frustration, but knew it was futile to push. “Sooooo, then tell me about this badass pad of yours?” She swiveled around herself, still marveling at Dara’s sudden splurge.
Dara’s countenance warmed instantly at the subject change. “I saw it a few months ago and loved it instantly. I knew I wanted it, so I just bided my time until the price was right. It was a crazy good deal, I can hardly believe it.” Her enthusiasm burbled to the surface and Sabrina grinned at her. This was the Dara she knew, open, happy and full of joy.
“Well, it’s friggin’ gorgeous and I’m jealous and you completely deserve it.” Sabrina impulsively hugged her longtime friend. “When’s the housewarming? Who are you hiring to decorate? Tell me everything!”
As Dara began to chatter happily about themes and color schemes and window treatments, Sabrina listened with interest and offered her thoughts here and there, but privately, she was troubled. She had always considered herself the caretaker of her enclave of female friends. She was the one to bring them all together and had felt a sense of responsibility for their close knit ties. There were bound to be stresses here and there, but this felt different.
As Dara excused herself to answer a call from her interior decorator, Sabrina received a text from Nikolas. She opened the message and her face registered surprise at the news her nephew had sent her. A family meeting had been called. This was not unusual and she was sure that Stefan, Faith, Alexis, Marcus, Andresj and Jack had received similar texts on their phones as well. When the Prince called, everyone came.
But the Prince had not called this family meeting.
Archer Cassadine had.
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