Family Ties

Chapter 7

"Order in the court!" the judge shouts, banging his gavel. "Young lady -- who are you?"
"Her daughter -- I heard about what she's doing, trying to get custody of that kid. And I just wanted to let you know what a mistake it'd be if that happens." the girl says.
"Your honor -- I move that, given the current situation, we adjourn for the day." David says.
"Motion granted. And as for you, young lady --- if you ever appear in my courtroom that way again, I'll have you arrested on charges of contempt. Is that clear?" the judge says. The court is adjourned, and Chris, Karen, Jack, and Scott all watch the girl carefully.
"Did Julie ever say anything to you about a sister?" Scott asks Chris.
"No -- never." Chris replies.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Nicole asks, approaching the girl.
"What do you think?" the girl replies.
"Get out of here, before you ruin everything." Nicole says.
"Gladly." the girl replies, and she leaves. Chris, Karen, and Scott continue to talk to each other privately. Jack, who has been watching the girl closely, follows her outside.
"Hey -- wait a minute!" Jack shouts at the girl out in the parking lot. He runs up to her. "Was that for real in there?"
"Who wants to know?" she asks.
"I'm -- I'm Jack. Jack Ramsey. Chris -- Tyler's father -- he's my brother." Jack tells her. "And you're --"
"Teresa -- Teresa Morris." she replies.
"So -- you're Nicole's daughter."
"Unfortunately."
"So why'd you show up now?" Jack asks.
"I heard about what my mom was up to, and -- well, I wasn't gonna stand by and let her ruin another kid's life. Look, I gotta go before my mom gets out here, I don't want to deal with her." Teresa says, and she approaches a motorcycle parked in the lot right next to Jack's and gets on it.
"That's -- your bike?" Jack asks.
"Yeah." Teresa replies. Jack looks surprised. "What, you never seen a girl ride a bike before?"
"No, I just -- didn't expect Nicole's daughter to be someone who did."
"Well, I didn't exactly meet up to Mommie Dearest's ideal as the perfect child. That's why she dumped me in every boarding school she could. Well, that and the fact that daddy was some one-night stand and not her husband. Now how much longer do I have to stand here while you fish for information on me?"
"I'm -- I'm not doing that." Jack replies.
"Yeah, sure you're not. Tell your brother I said good luck -- for whatever it's worth, I hope my appearance in court did something to keep that kid away from my mother." Teresa says, and she puts on her helmet, hops on her bike, and drives off.

"I can't believe Nicole has another kid." Chris says, as he, Karen and Jack enter the house.
"Do you think she was telling the truth?" Karen asks.
"I don't know -- there's something fishy about her. No, I smell a con here." Chris says.
"Oh, come on Chris, she obviously just wanted to speak her mind." Jack chimes in.
"See, this is why Henry never asked YOU to help out on anything. You're too trusting Jack. And you stink at lying."
"Yeah, honesty, it's such a LOUSY personality trait to have, huh? I've pulled off a con or two in my time." Jack says.
"Oh please -- if you were any good at it you never would have landed yourself in jail. Katie and I coddled you too much, that's the problem." Chris says.
"Who's Katie?" Karen asks.
"Our sister." Jack replies. "We -- haven't heard from her in years."
"I tried to find her, but -- she obviously doesn't want to be found." Chris says. "Not that I could blame her -- we're not exactly the Cleaver family."
"Katie was good at pulling off a con -- she was better at it than you." Jack says.
"Yeah, she was daddy's girl to the bone. God, I miss her." Chris says.
"Have you tried -- looking for her recently, Chris?" Jack asks.
"Why bother? My name has been in the news plenty of times in connection with Julie -- if she wanted to find me, she knows where to look." Chris replies sadly.

"Frank, it's still not working!" Katie shouts up the stairs. She's wearing only a towel, her hair pulled back.
"Alright, I'll be there in a second." Frank calls down. He comes down the stairs a few minutes later carrying a toolbox. He can't help but glance at Katie standing there in a towel.
"Sorry -- the hot water still isn't working, Frank."
"Look, I'm gonna have to call a plumber -- why don't you use my shower upstairs, okay?" Frank says. He continues to stare at Katie.
"See something you like?" Katie asks.
"Come on, I'll show you where it is." Frank says, trying to ignore her comment. He leads her up the stairs. "There you go." Frank says, pointing to the bathroom.
"Thanks." Katie says, and she goes into the room and closes the door. "Oh, this is too easy -- this WAY too easy." she says to herself, laughing a bit.

February 25, 2002 -- early evening. Jack enters a bar, and looks around, till he spots Teresa at the bar, laughing and talking with several men. Jack approaches her. "Hey -- I need your help." Jack says, pushing himself right next to Teresa.
"You again -- did you follow me here?" Teresa asks.
"Hey, is this guy bugging you, Terri?" one of the bikers asks.
"I told you not to call me that, you jerk!" Teresa says. "It's okay, he's cool." Teresa gets up and goes outside with Jack. "What do you want?"
"I followed you here the other day, took a chance you'd be here again. I -- I want you to come home with me." Jack says.
"Is this some kind of come on, cause if it is --"
"Please. I live with my brother -- I want you to talk to him, and to his attorney. Tell them everything you know about Nicole. He could use a witness like you, to testify that Nicole is an unfit parent."
"And what's in it for me?"
"My -- my brother has money. A lot of money. He'll make it worth your while." Teresa just laughs.
"You're cute -- it's real sweet how you stand up for your brother like that. My mom never gave me a chance to even know my brother and sister. I doubt they even knew I existed."
"So you'll -- you'll help us then?"
"Uh -- thanks but no thanks." Teresa says, and starts to turn around.
"What are you talking about? You said that you didn't want Nicole to raise another kid!"
"I did my part -- look, if I do any more, it'll be more trouble than I want to deal with. You don't know what Nicole is capable of."
"We'll protect you -- my brother and I, we'll protect you." Teresa laughs again.
"You can't protect me from Nicole -- nobody can. Why do you think I got the hell away from her? Hey, I'm out of this town tomorrow anyway. I need to go somewhere where I can find a job."
"What do you do?" Jack asks.
"I'm a mechanic." Teresa says. Jack is stunned.
"A mechanic?"
"What, not a girly enough job for you? Actually, I'm really a runway model. I just get all greased up and fix cars and bikes in my free time. I'm outta here." Teresa says, and starts to walk back into the bar.
"I own a shop." Jacks says. Teresa turns back around. "I own a bike shop. I could use an extra hand. If you want a job -- you've got one."
"You want ME to work for YOU?"
"Why not? The pay is good, and I'm pretty reasonable as far as bosses go. Also, there's a small apartment connected to the bike shop. It's yours if you want it. Rent free -- IF you take the job." Jack says. Teresa thinks about it for a moment.
"Okay -- I'll take you up on your offer. You got yourself a new mechanic." Teresa says, shaking his hand.
"And -- what about helping my brother out?"
"I said I'd take the JOB. That's it. If it's a package deal, forget it." Teresa says.
"Okay -- the job is yours. Come on, follow me -- I'll show you to the place." Jack says, and he gets on his bike. Teresa gets on her bike and follows him.

"Good news -- the shower is fixed." Frank says as Katie walks in the door.
"Finally!" Katie says, putting down the bag of groceries she's carrying. "So -- how you doing? I mean -- getting over the whole -- Karen thing."
"Oh that -- hey, if she wants to throw her life away with Ramsey, that's her business." Frank says.
"How come you hate him so much?" Katie asks while putting her groceries away.
"He's just not a nice guy. Chris Ramsey kept me addicted to a drug for MONTHS -- he was more interested in making a profit than in my well-being. He nearly destroyed my career. And I just don't get how Karen can get past that. She knows what it's like."
"She know what what is like?"
"Karen's a recovering addict -- she's been there. How she can condone what Chris did is beyond me."
"She's a fool -- if I had a guy like you I wouldn't throw it away for anything in the world." Katie says.
"Well, there's no sense in dwelling on it -- what's done is done. I've had relationships go bad before -- you get over it and move on." Frank says.
"Yeah -- I guess that's the best thing to do." Katie replies.

"Come on, don't be shy." Jack says, as he practically drags Teresa into the house. "Chris -- we have company." Chris, who is sitting on the couch, turns around. "Teresa, this is my brother Chris -- Chris -- Teresa Morris."
"Nice to meet you." Teresa says, extending her hand.
"Teresa's gonna be working for me at the shop." Jack tells him.
"Doing what?" Chris asks.
"She's a mechanic -- she's taking my old apartment there, too." Jack says.
"Did she SEE it yet? It's a dump." Chris says.
"It's fine for me." Teresa says.
"Chris -- I'm trying to get Teresa to -- help you out. Maybe if she'd testify against Nicole in court --" Jack begins.
"I told you -- I'm not testifying. Nicole won't like it." Teresa says.
"I could really use a witness -- I mean, your little appearance caused a stir but -- it'll just be brushed off if it's not followed up on." Chris says.
"Why don't we set up a meeting with you and Chris' attorney?" Jack asks.
"No! I already told you -- I'm not doing this. Look, if this is what you brought me here for --" Teresa.
"I just wanted you to meet my brother -- to make you understand why this is so important." Jack says.
"I can't." Teresa says, and she runs out of the house.
"Teresa, wait!" Jack says, and he follows. "I'm sorry -- I didn't mean to upset you."
"I want to help you Jack -- you seem like a really nice guy, and so does your brother, but --"
"But what?"
"My mother -- I -- I'm afraid of her, Jack." Teresa says. "I'm afraid of what she'll do to me if I testify against her. Please don't ask me to do this, Jack. I'll work for you, but -- I can't testify."
"Alright -- I'll drop it. But think about it -- please." Jack says.
"I -- I should go, if you want me to be ready for work tomorrow."
"Okay -- I'll see you there." Jack says, and he goes back into the house.
"There is a sucker born every minute, and you are one of the biggest ones I've ever seen." Chris says. "You're buying every little thing she's selling, aren't you?"
"Chris, she's scared -- I wanted to do something to help, but -- I just need to work on her, okay. I thought if I became friends with her, but -- I had no idea she was a mechanic, that works out even better. I'll work with her, I can get close to her --"
"You can sleep with her." Chris chimes in.
"What!"
"Oh please -- any idiot would notice how you've been eyeing her. Just remember Jack -- she's one of two things. She either really IS Nicole's secret daughter, or she's some scam artist that Nicole hired. Either way -- I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her. And that, little brother, is your problem -- how in the hell can you pull off a con when you can't even SPOT one when it's staring you right in the face?" Chris asks.

"You got anything for me?" Nicole asks on the phone.
"Yeah --- hey, did you know that Karen Wexler is a former drug addict?" Katie tells her.
"Really? I -- I didn't know that. You did good, Katie. You did real good."
"Well, that's what you're paying me for. This is a pretty good gig, after all. And that Frank, he's -- he's not so bad."
"Just remember why you're doing this -- if you want to get paid, and to see Chris get what's coming to him, you keep your libido in check, young lady."
"Oh, I will -- I know how to separate sex from love. And Frank Scanlon -- he's one very lonely man right now. Which works out just perfect for me." Katie says, smiling.

February 27, 2002 -- late afternoon. Lance is in the oncall room on the phone. "Honey, I told you, don't worry about it." Lance says to Nicole on the phone.
"I don't want this botched, Lance. If we can prove that Karen Wexler is using drugs again -- no court in the world will give custody to her." Nicole states. "You'll plant the drugs, right?"
"You know I will, darlin' -- anything for you." Lance replies.
"Good -- I'll see you at home." Nicole says flirtatiously, and she hangs up the phone. Lance hangs up just as Karen enters the oncall. "Dr. Wexler -- how are you this afternoon?"
"Go turn your charm on to someone who's falling for it, Dr. Mayfield." Karen tells him, opening her locker and tossing her things onto the couch.
"Boy, you're a feisty one. Don't tell me that Dr. Ramsey isn't making your home life -- well, as happy as it can be."
"You're disgusting." Karen says, and she goes to the coffee pot and pours herself a cup. Just as she's about to take a drink, her beeper goes off. She checks it, and goes over to the phone to make a call. Lance sneaks over to her purse, and pulls out a small bottle of pills. He gets ready to put them in her purse, but before he does takes two of the pills out of the bottle. He then puts the bottle in Karen's purse, and opens up the pills into Karen's coffee.
"Still stuck here for awhile, huh?" Lance asks.
"No, actually, I handled everything. And I'm going home as soon as I finish doing the notations in these charts." Karen says. She sits down at the table with her notes, takes her coffee cup, and starts drinking from it.
"Well, have a good day." Lance says.
"I will as soon as you leave." Karen replies. Lance grins smugly as he walks out the door, and Karen continues to drink the coffee.

Nicole answers the door at her house. "I told you NOT to come here." Nicole says to Teresa. If you need to talk to me, you CALL me!"
"I don't want to do this." Teresa says. "Jack is a really nice guy, mom -- please don't make me do this."
"Teresa -- I spent a lot of money getting those drug charges dropped, putting you through rehab -- you OWE me!"
"Mom, I've been clean for almost a YEAR -- what else do you want from me?"
"Go to school, get a real job, stop riding those silly bikes and pretending to be a mechanic."
"Mom, I'm GOOD at it! It's the only thing I AM good at! Maybe if you'd have just let me be myself and do what *I* want to do with my life I wouldn't have gotten so messed up, did you ever think of that?"
"Listen, Teresa -- I can have you back in Europe and in PRISON so fast it'll make your head spin, I hope you realize that. I brought you here for one reason -- to get close to Jack Ramsey, and find out everything you can about his brother from him. After you've done that, I don't give a damn what you do. This is the last thing you owe me, Teresa -- don't you DARE blow it."

Karen arrives home, tosses her things on the counter, and goes to sit down on the couch. "Hey -- I thought you'd be home earlier. You did remember I have Tyler this weekend, right?" Chris says, carrying Tyler in his arms.
"Yeah, I know -- I just had to finish some notes." Karen says, yawning a bit.
"You look tired." Chris says.
"Yeah, I don't know why, I was fine about an hour ago."
"Well, I really need to go check on a patient, I shouldn't be more than an hour -- would you mind staying up and watching Tyler just for a little while?"
"Of course, no problem -- come here, Tyler." Karen says, reaching out for him.
"I'll be back in an hour -- you two have fun." Chris says, and he leaves. Karen yawns again as Tyler sits on her lap.

"You wouldn't want to take a nap, would you buddy? I'm really tired." Karen tells him. She sets Tyler down on the floor. Karen stands to get up and suddenly gets dizzy, sitting back down. "Oh god -- what's wrong with me?" she says to herself. Feeling very dizzy, the room spinning around her, Karen lies down on the couch, and passes out. Tyler crawls around on the floor happily. He sees the strap of Karen's purse dangling down from the counter, moves toward it. He reaches up and grabs the strap, pulling the purse down, and starts examining its contents, one of which is the bottle of pills Lance placed in the purse, which Tyler immediately picks up . . . . .

To Chapter Eight