Jason walks down the stairs with Robin in front of him like a shield and Carly at his side. “Stay back,” he yells as they reach the bottom of the stairs. “Stay back or I kill her now.”

Those in the parking lot freeze. Sonny, Monica, Alan, AJ, Lila, and Nikolas stare in disbelief at Jason, at the whole bizarre tableau being played out in front of them. Emily is simply angry, an unbelievable and unstoppable anger over all that has happened to her in the last few weeks. She leaves Lila’s side and approaches Jason, not caring that he is heavily armed, not noticing Lucky’s frantic attempt to stop her.

“You bastard,” Emily yells as Carly raises her weapon at her. “You did it didn’t you? You killed grandfather. You tried to kill me. You’re responsible for the fact that a good cop might be dying right now for no reason other than that he was doing his job. All of the hell and the agony of these last few weeks are your fault. You tried so hard to kill me, maybe I’ll return the favor.”

“I didn’t..” Jason begins but Carly interrupts.

“Forget it Jase, let’s just get the hell out of here. She’s not your sister anymore, she’s only a Quartermaine.”

“And damn proud of it you slut,” Emily says savagely. “It’s a hell of a lot better than being trash like you.”

“You little bitch,” Carly’s eyes glowed with an intensity that made Robin shake her head almost imperceptibly as she saw Frisco raise his weapon from the corner of her eye. “I should just kill you now like I should have all along.”

“Go ahead.” Emily yelled. “Let’s see what you are made of. If you are going to shoot, shoot.”

Carly did.

Lucky knocked Emily down to the ground just in time. “Damm it. Would you do me a favor and stop going around telling people to shoot you? It makes my job difficult,” he grounds out as he pulls her back.

“I want to kill them both,” Emily says coldly.

Lucky looks at her, there is that same look of intense hatred in her eyes that he remembers seeing in his back when.....he refuses to let his mind wander there and instead focuses back again on Emily. “Killing them won’t bring your grandfather back.”

“No, but it will make me feel better.”

“No, it won’t. Trust me.”

Emily looks at him and he is about to say something when Jason interrupts and the moment is lost.

“Jones!” Jason yells and Frisco steps forward.

“Tell your men to back up or I am going to kill your fiancée,” Jason orders.

Frisco puts his gun down and motions for Lucky to do the same. The two men stand in front of Jason, unarmed. Lucky looks at Frisco. “Fiancée?”

Frisco grins momentarily.

“You tell Mac yet?”

“No.”

Lucky looks over Frisco’s head.

“Somehow I don’t think you are going to have to .”

Frisco groans as he sees Mac standing there, watching and listening intently.

Lucky turns to Emily. “Go to your family.”

“But..”

“Go,” he motions to Alan and Monica who are standing in shock. “They need you.”

“I’ll take her,” Nikolas says as he gently removes Emily from Lucky’s hold.

After watching Emily walk away for a second, Lucky turns back to Frisco. “So, what’s the plan?”

“Hey,” screamed Jason in frustration that he was being ignored. “Have you guys forgotten about me?”

Frisco looks over his shoulder at Jason casually. “Trust me, if we could we would.” He turns back to Lucky. “He’s probably going to want a car?”

Lucky nods. “A ride to the airport. No one following him. Maybe some cash. Nothing special.”

Robin finds herself grinning even with the pressure of the gun pushing into her side. She can feel Jason and Carly’s growing impatience. Neither likes being ignored.

“All right,” Frisco says. “I guess we can spare the chopper for a while but no way am I letting them have my car.”

“Don’t look at me,” Lucky responds. “The last time I let a kidnapper take my car it was in England and the whole side of the Rolls got shot up in the shoot out at the airport.”

“I thought that was Ireland and it was a Mercedes.”

“No, the Mercedes was in San Franscico.”

“Really, I thought the Mustang was in San Franscisco.”

“No, the Mustang was in Honolulu....”

“Jesus, Junior how many cars have you destroyed?”

Lucky shrugs. “I haven’t been keeping count.”

Frisco nods sagely. “Can’t count that high, can you?”

“Would you two keystone cops shut up?” Carly yells. “We have guns here and we are going to kill your precious little Robin if you don’t cooperate and do what you are told.”

Lucky shook his head. “Language Carly, you are, however reluctantly I like to remember, a Spencer and what you do reflects on the family image.”

“Hey, that’s right I forgot she was a Spencer. You have some strange relations Junior,” Frisco said.

“Do we need to start discussing relatives, Mr. brother of Tony Jones the child kidnapper?”

“Well, at least mine got his act together.”

“Ouch that hurt.”

“The truth does.”

Mac approached one of the field agents who had his weapon trained on Jason and Carly. “What the hell is going on? Why aren’t they doing something?”

The agent smiled. “ The are. Just watch. I’ve heard stories about these two, but this is my first time to see it in action. It’s going to be good.”

Frisco turned his attention back to Jason. “So you want a car to the airport.”

“He does have his own personal jet you know, I don’t think he needs to borrow the WSB chopper.”

“Good point, Junior.” Frisco nodded. “Save a chopper and it might just make up for the dozens of cars that you’ve demolished.”

“It wasn’t dozens.”

Frisco raised his eyebrow.

“It wasn’t.”

“If you says so,” he turned back to Jason. “Car to the airport, money, no one follows you for a while and you let Robin go once you’re safe. Is that pretty much all you want.”

Jason nodded, confused and weary. Why weren’t they yelling? They were treating this like it was a joke. Even Robin was smiling. Jason Morgan was not a joke.

“You forgot Michael,” Carly said smilingly, visions of being in some plane with Jason and Michael floating through her head. Standing to the side, AJ started to move forward but Emily pulled him back. She was beginning to figure out what Lucky and Frisco were up to. Edward’s number one rule of business. Do the unexpected. And judging from the frustration on Jason’s face it was working.

“And food,” Lucky chipped in. “All kidnappers always ask the police for food. Pizza? Chinese? Personally I’ve always figured that since the police were paying the kidnappers should order something expensive like Maine lobster. Kind of tacky to waste a free meal on pizza.”

Frisco looked at Lucky, who somehow had managed to move closer to Carly without either Jason or Carly being aware of it. He then glanced at Robin and the silent communication between the two of them spoke volumes. His hand tightened on the knife in his pocket.

“What I want,” said Jason. “Is for someone to get me a car or I will kill your precious Robin.”

Frisco shook his head as an almost feral look came into his eyes. What happened next, happened so fast that even those watching closer did not see everything. The knife in Frisco’s pocket came out and flew, straight and steady. into Jason’s shoulder. the same one holding the gun. At the moment the knife hit the shoulder, Robin reached back, hit him in the ribs with her elbow, and threw Jason so that he landed on his back. Lucky tackled a disbelieving Carly and easily grabbed her gun away from her.

Lucky was about to handcuff Carly, when a small voice cried out. “Mommy!” and a small red headed boy ran between Carly and Lucky, accidentally kicking the gun out of Lucky’s reach and towards Carly. Carly grabbed her son and the gun and smiled.

“I guess I win after all,” she said softly as she backed away from the crowd.

“Carly don’t do this,” AJ stepped forward. “You want a hostage you can take me. But leave my son, our son, alone. Look at him, you’re scaring him.”

Carly looked at her son who was looking at her in fear. “Daddy?” Michael whispered.

“It’s okay Mister Man. Mommy’s here. Mommy’s going to make sure that everything is better. No more mean daddy. You’re coming home with Jason and me.”

Michael shook his head. “My daddy isn’t mean. I want to stay here.”

“Carly,” Emily spoke up, her voice shaky. “Don’t do this. Whatever you want, it’s yours. Just leave Michael alone.”

“I want a car,” Carly said glaring at Lucky and Frisco. “No more games.”

Nikolas tossed a set of car keys in Carly’s direction. “Here. Take my Jaguar. Leave the boy.”

“Maybe I’ll take both,” Carly said as she picked up the keys. She turned to Jason. “Come on Jase, let’s go.” Frisco and Lucky’s eye meets and Lucky slips quietly away.

Jason shook his head, ignoring the pain in his shoulder.

“I’m not going.”

“But we are a family. The three of us.”

Jason shook his head again. “We are not a family. We never were a family. That was my mistake in letting this game of make believe go on for such a long time. Look at your son Carly. He’s afraid of you. I promised Michael I’d keep him safe. Its over.”

Carly shook her head wildly and the gun jumped around in her hand. “I can’t go back to Ferncliff. Or worse to prison. Sanchez will find us there. He’ll kill us. Me. I’m not going to lose. Carly Morgan never loses. Never.”

Frisco murmured to Robin. “We have snipers in position. One word and she’s taken out. She doesn’t have a firm grip on the kid. I say we take our chances with a sniper.”

Robin looks around her. She sees the frantic look in AJ’s eyes as he stares at his son. She sees the expectant look on the face of the WSB agents as they wait for their next command. She sees the wild look on Carly’s face and realizes that Carly has slipped over the edge. She sees the fear on little Michael’s face and she remembers what it was like to hold him when he was a baby. She remembers her own promise to protect him. She sees the total and complete trust on Frisco’s face. This is what it means to be in charge. The next decision, the next move, is hers. She can see for a moment the face of her parents and she knows somehow that they would approve of her next move.

She stands up slowly and puts her hands in the air. “Stand down.” She yells firmly and loudly, a call that is echoed among the agents as guns lower and feet step back.

AJ approaches Robin furiously. “Are you crazy?”

Robin keeps her eyes on Carly. “You want your son to witness his mother’s murder?” She whispers to AJ, careful not to let Carly hear exactly what they are saying. AJ lowers his eyes. “I didn’t think so. She can’t run far and she sure the hell can’t get out of town. I hate like hell to let her drive out of here with Michael, but I’m, not going to be responsible for giving Michael a memory that will scar his life forever. Between the four of us, Jason, Carly, you, and myself, we’ve done enough damage to that little boy already.” She turns her attention to Carly who is gloating at her apparent victory.

Carly smirks. “I’m so glad you see it my way.” She drags Michael towards Nikolas’s Jaguar.”

“Michael,” AJ yells. “Just do what your mother says, okay. You’ll be home soon. I swear. Just be a good boy and do what your mother tells you too.”

“AJ, what a sweet and caring father you are,” Carly’s voice is dripping with sarcasm. “Too bad you won’t get your hands on my son again.” Carly turns to Robin. “Now little bird you get on that fancy radio of yours and order your little friends to stay the hell away from me and my son.”

“It’s already done,” Robin says softly, placatingly, as she nods to the field agent. “Where are you going to take him?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Carly smiles as she opens the car door. “I see any sign of a pursuit and I will kill him.”

“He’s your son,” Robin protests softly.

“And he’ll be with me for the rest of his life. It’s up to you how short or how long that life is.” Carly gets in.

There is a stunned silence as the jaguar drives away that breaks into a loud and uproarious clamor. Robin waits until Carly has disappeared around the corner before raising her gun and shooting it, effectively silencing the mob.

“I’m sorry Agent Scorpio,” the young female agent who had been assigned to guard Michael and the other children in the church basement spoke up. “Michael slipped away and came out here before I knew what had happened. If anything happens to him...”

“If anything happens to Michael, it will be his mother’s fault,” AJ says heavily.

Robin shook off the agent’s apologies. “I’m not going to be so forgiving as Mr. Quartermaine, but it can wait till later. Right now my priority is finding that boy.” She looks around. “Spencer?”

“Got it,” Lucky moved forward from the crowd. “Tracking device planted on the car, a miniature explosive on the on the right wheel, and there can be a hole in the fuel line anytime you want.” Lucky grinned with satisfaction. “Who knew that a high school course in mechanics would come in handy in the field?” Emily rolled her eyes at his smug expression. “Don’t worry about it Em, the next time I need a floral bouquet sabotaged I’ll be sure to call you.”

“All right,” Robin interrupted before Emily could respond. “I want the penthouse and the brownstone and the club watched, all bank accounts frozen, credit cards cancelled, the works. I want Carly isolated and desperate, but not desperate enough to drive her over the edge. At least not until I’m sure she’s making the trip alone. I want her car tracked and kept under surveillance, but keep your distance unless it looks like she’s doing something crazy and then all bets are off and the safe return of Michael Quartermaine is our number one objective. Road blocks on every possible exit out of town, the airport and the bus terminal, and the train station watched. Are there questions?” Robin takes the silence for a no. “Then I want two teams, one on the fugitive and her hostage, the other on the crime scene. We’re going by the book and we’re going to finish this case the way we started it-as professionals.” She turns to Mac. “How is Taggert?”

“They just took him and Lark away. He’s lost a lot of blood and it will be touch and go for a while.”

“What about me?” Jason complains from where he is sitting handcuffed, Frisco’s handkerchief halfhazardly tied around his arm where the knife is lodged.

Robin grimaces, she doesn’t want to look at Jason much less talk to him.

“Uncle Mac will have one of his uniformed officers take you to the hospital unless,” she looks over at the Quartermaine family who are standing together, trying to comfort AJ. “Alan you and Monica are doctors...”

Monica hesitates but Alan grabs her. “We can’t help him anymore.” Alan says both to Robin and to his wife. “He choose his path a long time ago.” After a moment, Monica nods.

Robin looks back at Jason, nods, then turns and walks away. Frisco joins her. “You okay?”

“I’ll be better when Michael is back.” She looks up at him anxiously. “I love you but...”

“But you’re going to make me go head the search when you know I want to stay here with you.” Robin nods. He touches her cheek softly. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. You did good today. You made the right choice.” A large white van pulls into the church parking lot. “There’s the van with the tracking equipment. You coming kid?” Frisco turns to Lucky. Lucky glances back at Emily who is surrounded by her family and Nikolas and Sonny. He looks at her for a moment, then turns, climbs into the van, and gets back to work.

Robin watches them go, knowing that they will do everything they can to make sure Michael is safe. She walks over to AJ.

“There’s no reason for your family to be here. My guess is that this place will be crawling with media in a few minutes. We’ll keep them to the perimeter to secure the crime scene, but still may be better if your family isn’t here.”

AJ nods reluctantly. “I think we’ll be at the mansion. The entombment can wait till Michael’s return and we’ll have to cancel the reception.”

“Look,” Sonny spoke up reluctantly. “I’m probably the last person you want to take advice from, but all of those people coming to the reception are coming to support you and your family. It seems to me that with Michael missing you can use all of the support you can get.”

Emily smiled gratefully. “He’s right. Let’s go home and be with friends.”

Reginald pushes Lila’s chair and leads the family into the waiting limo.

Emily hesitates for a moment. “You will call us and let us know what’s happening. How everyone is......”

Robin smiles. “I’ll let you know how everyone is. I promise.”

Robin watches them go, aware of nothing but how tired she is and how much work there is left to do and how worried she is. She feels her uncle’s hand on her shoulder.

“Did I do the right thing?” she whispers.

“You did the only thing you could do. In our line of work, you just have to hope that the only thing and the right thing are one and the same.”

Robin turned to her uncle. “Did you say our line of work?”

Mac nodded and was rewarded by the smile on his niece’s face. “You are one hell of an agent. You think on your feet, you keep your cool, and you have the respect and loyalty of the people you work with. That counts for a lot in my book.” Mac pauses. “Your mother and father would be proud of you also.”

“I hope so,” Robin says softly. She glances over to the steps and sees a uniformed officer about to lead Jason to a squad car. Watching Jason, she thinks about where she would go if she was in Carly’s shoes. She’d go someplace where she felt safe. Someplace special......

She excuses herself from Mac and heads to intercept the officer and Jason before they get to the car.

“Simpson, isn’t it?” Robin says. “There’s been a change of plans and one of my agents will take Mr. Morgan in.” The uniformed officer nodded and Robin led Jason to a nearby WSB car.

“Aren’t you busy with your little investigation?” Jason says caustically.

Robin shakes her head. “After all the heart ache you’ve caused and you still don’t get it, do you? You still see yourself as the victim? Poor Jason.” Robin scoffed as she shoved him into the car.

“Hey, I’m injured,” Jason protested.

“It’s a flesh wound. I’ve had worse,” she says caustically as she puts the car into gear and pulls out of the parking lot.

“You’re taking me to GH?”

“No.” Robin almost managed to smile. “ You’ve spent the last four years playing God, believing you were holier than thou. You started this whole mess when you decided that AJ didn’t deserve his own child. So I think its only appropriate that you finish it.” Robin grinned. “You see, I just realized where Carly is and you are going to help me get Michael back safe and sound.”

“And why should I help you?”

“Because Carly is your wife and you took vows that included the words ‘to protect’. You created this mess, you are going to fix it.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll kill you myself.”

Next chapter:
Robin vs Carly- The final round.