The Takeover

[andrea]

I love the new story line that General Hospital is doing right now that I decided to make my own version. Instead of using GH’s cast I’m using Linkin Park and there wives. Yes some of the character names I’ve used in TLAC but it has no relation to that story. This is a brand new story. Enjoy.

Note: Even though I know Talinda would never do this in real life, she owns the hotel. What do I mean by that? You’ll just have to read on, hahaha!

******

Standing outside of a hotel building a detective was looking through binoculars and saw a person dress in a black jump suit pop out from behind the sign of the hotel. Detective Lopez lowered his binoculars. “Anthony!” he yelled out.

“Captain?” he said walking up to Lopez.

“Someone's climbed out. Behind the sign” Lopez said handing over his binoculars to Harrison.

He looked through the binoculars, “One of the hostages?”

“They're all in black wearing a mask” one of the police officers said walking up to them and looked through his own binoculars.

The person slowly started to climb the ledge of the building. The Commissioner lowered the binoculars onto the cop car and drew his gun. “It's one of the perps”

The SWAT team that had also surrounded the building **** there guns and aimed it at the person. “Hold your fire. Hold your fire till you hear my word” The commanding officer of the SWAT team yelled out.

“Harrison, I don't see a weapon” the officer said.

“Be ready to shoot if he pulls a gun or makes a threatening move” Harrison said. The person turned the corner gripping a window ledge. Then it looked down and took a jump landing on the hood of a security car. It got up and took off its mask.

“It's Jen! Hold your fire, hold your fire!” Harrison yelled out lowering his gun.

She ran up too the detective and commissioner. “The lobby's wired to explode. Get everyone out!” she said running up to the detective, “You got to get everyone out now” she said when she reached them.

“Let's go!” The officer said and took off running.

“No, wait, wait. They're going to kill everyone in there if we storm the place” the detective said to Harrison.

“What's going on here?” Harrison asked Jen.

“They're going to detonate. Get everyone out now, Anthony. Go! Come on”

“Calm down” he said. He then looked at the hotel. “Hit them with the tear gas. Go on my command” he said. The SWAT team fired the tear gas at the doors of the lobby.

The detective and the police officer were getting ready to go into the building. They put gas masks on there face keeping them on top of the head. “They're going to know we're coming” the officer said. From the building an alarm went off.

“At least they won't be able to see us” the detective said. Suddenly screaming came from inside the hotel followed by gunfire.

“Come on, Harrison, do something!” Peter, a doctor, said.

“We got to get them out of there!” the officer said.

He waited a few seconds and then yelled, “Go, go, go!”

The SWAT team fired another tear gas next to the door. The detective and officer lowered the gas mask over their face and slowly walked to the door behind a couple SWAT team people.

The group paused at the door for a second. “Go” the officer said and they swarmed into the building.

Phoenix, Joe, Linsey and Karen were all on the sidewalk. When the SWAT team swarmed into the building they started praying for the safety of the others inside.

Suddenly a couple people came running out of the building. The Commissioner and Peter then ran up closer to the building. Another person then came running out carrying someone, “I need help here!” It was Brad and he was carrying Anna.

“Brad, here” Peter said running up to him taking off his coat laying it on the ground.

“I don't know if the ambulance --” Brad started to say.

“Patrick! Has anyone seen Patrick? No!” Jen yelled out as a paramedic held her back.

“I got her, I got her” Peter said as he carefully set Anna’s head onto the ground. Seeing how pale she was Peter looked up at Brad, “Brad, how is she?” he asked.

“I don't know -- Elisa's done everything she can” he said.

“Patrick!” Jen yelled out behind them.

Brad looked up and then around the area, “Elisa?” he called out. Realizing she was still inside he quickly got up, “Elisa!” he yelled out. He ran toward the building but an explosion went off inside and through Brad back onto his back.

******

​

Los Angeles, California

16 Hours Earlier

1pm

The elevator door open to the four floor of Cedars-Sinai Hospital and Brad and Elisa came walking out. Elisa was holding their one year old son, Joshua. They walked up to the nurse’s station as Ravyn looked up.

“Hey” Brad said when they reached it.

“Hi, guys! Hi, baby. I’m glad you guys are back. You have a good trip?” Rav said coming out of the station and over to them.

“Yeah it was great, but it’s good to be back” Elisa said.

“Are you guys here to see Joshua’s doctor?”

“Yeah we have a check up with him” Brad said.

“Okay I’ll let Dr. O’Donnell know” Rav said going back into the nurse’s station. Picking up the phone she had the doctor paged. After doing that she put the phone down.

“How are you doing?” Elisa asked her.

“Oh great. The baby is also doing great”

“Hey. Let's take a look at your boy” Dr. O’Donnell said walking up to Brad and Elisa.

“Yes, yes.”

“Come this way then” the doctor said.

“Ok” Elisa said and followed the doctor.

“We'll see -- we'll see you later, Rav”

"Ok. Bye” she said as Brad walked away.

 

[andrea]

Chapter 1 Continuing..

Las Vegas, Nevada

 


Music in a strip club was playing as girls dance around there poles. Two guys were sitting off on the side of the stage. “Yes, yes, I love you. Hmm-hmm-hmm. Hmm. Oh, boy. Whoo! Ahem. There you go. Right there, right there. Oh, there you go” one of the guys said and shoved some dollar bills into the girls g-string that was dancing in front of them. She took off her jacket and put it over his shoulder. He picked up his drink and took a sip, “Oh. Hmm. Waitress?” he called out. Another pretty girl came over to them, “Round of shots, please”

The other guy not enjoying this at all looked over his shoulder, “Uh -- club soda, please” he said. His friend looked at him after tossing dollar bills onto the stage, “It's the middle of the day.”

“How can you betray us like this, Dr. Colman? You virtually ignored Las Vegas. A very hot flight attendant asked to share her layover with you, and you turned her down, and now this? Look at this” he said pointing up at the girls, “This, my friend, is the finest entertainment that Las Vegas has to offer. And -- and it's your chance to assert your independence. You can't be bought”

Dr. Colman took a sip of his water, “You got to have papers to grade or something.”

Turning to look at the girls the other guy tossed some more money, “Hey, listen, Papa Hemingway would empathize. In fact, he would insist. Heck, he'd probably be up and doing the lambada with Bambi if he wasn't dead already. Which you should be, you know, with all the joy you're getting out of life”

“Yeah, well, clearly I've outgrown the idea of joy”

“I'm trying to save you here, all right? But you're not helping me out. Are you that far under Joanna's thumb?” he asked.

“No, see that only worked long enough to get me on the plane -- which I regret taking now. Since then, I've watched you shove dollar bills into strippers' g-strings --”

“Mm-hmm” the other guy agreed as he took a sip of his alcohol drink.

“All over Vegas and back again. I'm officially over it” he said and took a sip of his water.

******

​

Los Angeles, CA

Joanna sat down on a chair in the Los Angeles Police Station. She was in the interrogation room with a couple of her friends. One of the other girl sighed.

“It's not my fault” Joanna said.

“Well, it's certainly not my fault” one of the other girls in the room with her said.

“If I had it my way, we'd be licking whipped cream off the abs of some hunky stripper in Atlantic City right now” another girl said walking over to a chair and sat down in front of Joanna. The other girl at the end of the table started cracking up.

“Well, it's still early. You never know. You know what? If we were in Atlantic City, that would be really bad. We'd really be in trouble” Joanna said.

“Like we aren't now?” The girls said and they pulled there arms up showing there handcuff and started shaking them apart. They then set there arms down on the table.

“Oh!”

******

​

At the Sheraton Hotel in L.A. a man got up from the couch in the lobby and slowly walked over to the other man that just walked into the hotel, “Why am I only finding out right now that our shipment arrived last night?” he asked.

“Don't worry, it's secure” the man said.

“Well, from what I've seen, you're not set up to make good on these assurances.”

“That's why I've had the shipment stored here at the hotel.”

“It's in this building?” he asked the man.

“The Sheraton has a state-of-the-art vault, without the inconvenience of a federally regulated paper trail. There'll be no record of the transactions. I'll release it as agreed, get my money, and be done with it”

“Well, why wait? I can take the shipment off your hands right now.” The other man just looked at him.

******

​

At the LAPD, Detective Lopez walked into the interrogation room, “I've got a Matthew Mitchell who says he was assaulted by Joanna Harrison” he said and paused, “Want to tell me what happened, Joanna?”

“The couch --” she started to say. The other girls then started to laugh. “That's what happened.” And then she started to laugh with the other girls.

“Sorry -- sorry, but I don't follow” the detective said.

“It's simple. If you want to grab dinner after your shift, I'd be happy to explain everything” Michelle, one of the other girls, said as she got up and walked up to the detective.

The other girl at the end of the table got up and walked up to them, “Um -- excuse me. Can we please get out of these handcuffs first? Or are these part of your plan for the evening?” she asked rising up her arms.

“Oh!” Michelle said and the other one laughed.

“Excuse me. Detective?” Joanna asked.

“Yes?” he said.

“Peter Colman --” she started to say, “He's the man you need to arrest.”

“I'm guessing he's the guy with the couch” he guessed.

“He said he wanted me to live with him, and then he went to Vegas with his Jacob -- Panny Jake pal. His old frat friend. And so I decided me and my friends -- these two amazing, intelligent women --” the other girls then started giggling. “That we would go on our own trip. You know, like Thelma and Louise and -- Mother Teresa”

“Hey! Excuse me -- I can be just as slutty as you two” the girl at the end of the table said.

“Oh, no” Joanna said, “Shh. Any-- just don't interrupt. I'm telling a story. So, detective --”

“So you got started at the airport bar” he said wanting her to get to the story.

“Yes. See, we were having a few cocktails, waiting for the plane to board, when this man sits next to Joanna” the girl at the end of the table said.

“He was a one-man hit parade” Joanna said.

“Oh, he hit on her” Michelle said.

“He needed a reality check”

“It says here you scissor-kicked him off his bar stool” the detective said trying hard not to laugh.

“Oh -- should've been Peter” Joanna said sighing.

******

I hope you like the new story so far. Review's are appreciated.

 

[DarknessLover]

yeah idk if its a good story, since i am not into that kind of story...but i do like it, you should describe the characters a bit more

 

[DarknessLover]

oh ****, a second chapter...

 

[Ravynlee]

Haha - so stoked you got this baby up and running! *cheers*

One thing though, It's a little... confusing in places. I guess, like DL says, its just a little vague on detail. For someone who doesnt know GH or Nevada or anywhere else that isn't in my home country, its all a bit... blank at the moment. It's good, plot development is fast paced and you know I appreciate your style - you did it so well in TLATC after all

I guess my criticisms are constructive ones, hopefully they are, that's the way I intend it anyway so please take no offence at all, just telling you what I'm thinking when I read it. For instance I would be able to relate to everyone better if I knew what they looked like. I don't know at least half the other characters so at the mo they are faceless and I can't empathise with their plight. It's early days yet but still shows great promise. And yes its good as always to see me and Jojo and the guys back on screen again Yay! Just wondering though... are you ever in these things/will be/already are under a different guise? Just curious is all. And you told me you had many chapters yet - **** I wanna read 'em all right now! Haha. Impatient snot I am. But anyway, guess I'll have to wait.

Great as always. Promising. Looking forward to seeing this develop in its dramatic way that is your trademark style.

Nice start.

~Rav

 

[X...Re-Arranged...X]

But being vague can be good. It leaves a little mystery and kind of leaves some things for the reader to make up. I love it though andrea! Seriously, love your writing! I can't wait for more! I like how you incorporated the band members into it.

 

[crazy robster]

Hey I read the chapters, I think you have skill really and I wanna thank you once again for using me in your story. But the fact I'm not into this kind of TV series in general (not only GH) made it hard for me to follow the plot with that kind of dedication I would have liked to do it. Still regardless of that, you have great writing skill and I suggest you keep it up! Thanks again for Joanna I'm really honoured! ^^

 

[andrea]

Chapter 2

Thanks for the review everyone. Rav, I took you criticisms on board and went back a fixed what I wrote so far. I hope it kind of better. I don't mind getting criticisms at all because it helps me expand on my writing more. Just as long as you tell me what's need to be fix I'll see what I can do. But as for putting myself in this story? No. Maybe I'll think more about it as the storyline is still rolling on on GH.

******


Las Vegas, NV

Peter’s friend Jacob Cortez got up from the side of the stage and walked over to the table Peter had moved to sit at, “You've sabotaged this whole trip, you know that?” he said. When Peter and Jacob were in college they had made a pack that if anyone of them where to get into a serious relationship that either Peter or Jacob would come and drag the other one out to Vegas. Well didn’t look like that pack was going to work on Peter as he was deeply in love with LAPD’s Commissioner Harrison’s daughter, Joanna Harrison. Peter looked at his watch, “You haven't paid attention to a single stripper. Hmm” he said and then smelled the pink jacket on his shoulder, “You played nickel slots. You drank, I think, a total of two beers in the past 24 hours. You know what? It's pathetic how you've fallen from greatness”

Peter reached for his water that was sitting on the table, “What made me think any of this was fun?” he asked.

“You are such a has-been. You used to be my idol. Well, sort of. And now you're just a lovesick, whooped puppy.”

“Thank you. But you know what? I've done the whole ‘showgirl flight attendant hangover’ thing. I'm in love” he said touching his heart.

“Love doesn't exist outside the printed pages” Jacob said.

Peter shook his head, “Oh, see, no, you're wrong. Trust me. You're missing the real poetry, Professor.”

“Poetry? Oh, ***. You're the one who said you'd never go down this road. Do -- do you remember saying ‘life is too short for a long-term relationship’? Do you remember that?”

“I remember saying it, but you know what? Joanna changed my perspective. And I'm grateful.”

“Joanna? What about Bambi?” he asked pointing to the stripper dancing in front of another man who was wearing a cowboy hat, “Now, that, my friend -- that is poetry in motion” he said as Peter looked over his shoulder at the dancer who just turned her head and looked at him, “And you know what? She has been checking you out ever since we sat down, right?” he continued saying as Peter turned around to face Jacob.

“Hate to break it to you, good buddy, but strippers are paid to stare at guys. It's part of their job description. Oh --” he said but stopped as the brunette stripper came over and sat down on his lap.

“Oops” the women called Bambi said.

“Oops. Like she fell from the heavens” Jacob said.

The stripper moved her hands up and down Peter’s chest. Peter stiffened up, “I have to call my girlfriend now” he said.

******

​

Los Angeles, CA

Back at the Sheraton, a bellhop came up to the two men that were talking, offering them water. They took the cups and sat down.

“You'll get your product, Mr. James, exactly as I was instructed” the man said to Mr. James.

“The longer that shipment waits to be transferred, the greater the chance that something could go wrong” Mr. James said.

“Well, I was shot in the head and poisoned, and I still managed to uphold my end of the deal. So you'll get the product, as agreed, and not a minute before” he said taking a sip of the water.

“You know, when the American colonists waged their war against England, they were a ragtag army fighting the most powerful military force in the world. The English were well trained, well equipped. They marched in perfect formation. But the colonial army hid in trees and trenches, breaking all the rules of honorable engagement, and in the process, winning the war. My point being, sometimes playing by the rules can cost you everything” Mr. James said. All the other man did was slightly smiled.

******

​

Las Vegas, NV

Peter was looking at his phone after just trying to call Joanna, “Maybe she's out of range. But I'm not” the stripper said closing his phone.

“You're a special woman, Bambi. See the guy back there with the cowboy hat? Well, I'll make it much more worth your while to go sit on his lap than my cheap friend here did to sit on mine” Peter said and stuff a twenty dollar bill in her bikini strap.

“Thanks, cutie. I knew I liked you” the stripper said sliding her finger down the left side of his face and got up off his lap.

“Aw. Bye Bambi” Jacob said waving her jacket as she walked away. “Ok, it's official. You are middle-aged before your time. Next thing, you'll be buying a sedan -- no, no, a station wagon. What do you owe Joanna that you can't leave her side for 24 hours?” he asked.

“I feel sorry for you. You know what? You've never had a woman that you didn't want to leave after three months. But besides that, we had an agreement. You said if I was faithful to Joanna on this trip, then you would admit that I was in love and leave me alone.”

“Oh. So you're just determined to be right to win our bet? Ok” Jacob said.

Peter just laughed slightly shaking his head, “You still don't get it, do you? Well, you know what? I'm done explaining to you. I just hope Joanna is talking to me” he said and got up to make a phone call over in the corner.

“Oh, man” Jacob said to himself.

 


Peter just sighed and dialed Joanna's number.

 

[andrea]

Contiuning Chapter 2

Los Angeles, CA

Joanna’s phone rang in the evidence bags. Anthony Harrison, the commissioner of the LAPD, was standing next to Detective Lopez’s desk were the evidence bags were on and took the phone out of the bag looking at the number. The name Peter Colman flashed on the small screen. Knowing that he was part of his daughter’s reasons of being arrested he answered it.

“Well, if it isn’t about time that Peter Colman called” Harrison said.

“Who's this?” Peter asked afraid that his girlfriend had cheated on him.

“It's Anthony. Is that music? Where are you, Colman?”

“Is -- is Joanna -- is Joanna ok?” Peter asked wondering if something bad happen to Joanna since he was talking to her father.

“She got into a fight and was arrested” Harrison said.

“What do you mean, arrested?” Peter asked confused as to how is girlfriend could have gotten arrested when he remembered leaving her in his apartment.

“Mirandized, handcuffed, and brought downtown. Apparently, it was your fault.”

Inside the interrogation room Joanna got up out of her chair and walked around the table to stand in front of the Detective, “You see, men are basically passive-aggressive, right? This is the shrink” Joanna said pointing to her friend, the one who sat at the end of the table, “She can tell you, Detective. Jessica -- brilliant, insightful strink -- shrink. Ah-ah -- no, no, no, no. Never mind, never mind” she shook her head changing her mind before she all most cracked up laughing, “I have empirical evidence of this truth. If you claim to be in love with a woman and you say that you want her to move in with you, then you really mean it. Don't just say it when that's not what you really want. Do you have a girlfriend, Detective?” she asked tilting her head a little to the left.

“Uh -- no. No one I'm serious about” he said.

“Whoo!” Michelle cheered.

“No -- no” Joanna said stopping her.

“No? No?” Michelle asked disappointed.

“No. No. This is the kind of man you want to stay away from, because when he says he's not serious about anyone, that means he's just not serious.”

“Would you say that the man who hit on Joanna was threatening in any way?” the Detective asked.

“He said Joanna smelled good” Michelle said.

“‘Smelled good’”? The Detective questioned.

“Yes, and the pickup line was lame” Jessica said, “But no, he wasn't hostile in any way”

“No, no” Michelle agreed.

“Ahem.” Commissioner Harrison cleared his throat and walked into the room.

“Dad, charge these women with betrayal” Joanna said with a sad look on her face.

“We got statements from the airport bartender and witnesses. Dr. Green, Dr. Kim, you can go” Harrison said letting the other women go.

“Well -- well, what about Joanna?” Michelle, Dr. Kim, asked.

“Yeah, what about me?” Joanna asked.

“You're not going anywhere.”

******

​

Back at the Sheraton Hotel, one of Talinda Bennington’s desk clerk workers walked across the lobby talking on her phone with someone, “Is there anyone seeing Dr. Kim’s patients? Dr. Reese? Yeah. 2:35 sounds great. Yes. Jen Cooley. Thanks.” Closing her phone she turned around to see Vanessa Evigan, one of the boutique workers, “Hi.”

“Hi” Vanessa said.

“How's the new job?” Jen asked. She was asking this because she basically helped Vanessa get the job when she let her borrow her shoes when Vanessa broke hers.

“Oh, I love it. I'm on my break. Um -- I kind of overheard your phone call. Is everything ok?”

******

​

Over where the man had talked with Mr. James at he had got up and greeted his sophisticated girlfriend. “Hi” she said when she came up to him.

“Hi” he responded giving her a kiss on her cheek.

“I don't know why we couldn't meet at the house.”

“Well, we're going to have a drink upstairs. Then we're going to come down here and check on your valentine's gift. The more people that see us here, the better” he said.

“I'm your alibi” she stated.

“Actually, I'm keeping my eye on Mr. James. He wants to take possession of the shipment earlier than planned” he said and took a sip of the water he had when he was talking with Mr. James.

“And that's a bad thing?” his girlfriend asked.

“Well, the deal is I represent the seller, he represents the buyer. So I need to make sure that my people's wishes are upheld and that he holds up his end of the bargain.”

******

​

“So, Dr. O'Donnell says he's perfectly healthy” Brad said holding Joshua when he and Elisa came back out after the doctor appointment. Rav came out of the nurses station and went up to them.

“Yes” Rav said touching Joshua’s back.

“And just to prove it, Joshua finished his bottle and he fell fast asleep” Elisa said and turned her and kissed her sleeping boys head.

“Listen, I was hoping that you could come over and celebrate. Everyone else is coming over, and I'd like for his -- his family and friends to be around.”

“I just have to finish my shift, and then I'll be there.”

“Ok. All right.”

“Listen, I have to clear up a few things here, but I'll meet you back at the house. Is that all right?” Elisa asked.

“Ok. Yeah, ok. Don't be long” Brad said and gave Elisa a kiss.

“Bye. I won't.” Elisa then watched Brad walked over to the elevator, “Hey!” Elisa said and gave Rav a hug.

“I am so glad you're home” Rav said when they pulled apart.

“Yeah. What about you and Rob?”

“Oh, you know, were just taking tiny baby steps”

“Ok. So I -- I get it. You're not sure if you can count on Rob for anything right now. But, Rav, he seems so determined to try.” Ravyn and Rob have been friends for a long time before turning into lovers. When they did get engaged they attempted to get married but that never turned out as they planned. Finally after about six attempts the band and girls took matters into there own hands and finally they married. The fairytale wedding didn’t last to long as things went downhill the minute after they said ‘I will’.

“Elisa, it's so much more than that.”

“What?” Rav just sighed, “Is it the baby?” Elisa asked thinking that something happen with the baby her friend was carrying while she was away.

“No. It's not that. I assure you that the baby is fine.”

“Then what is it?”

 

[Ravynlee]

Ooooh! Haha, I liked that last part, why wouldn't I? Haha, nice lead on there to unfolding drama.

As far as the criticisms go, I have to say, you don't need me to tell you to change anything. Your style is your style, and the way you write obviously feels more natural to you. Expanding your abilities is fine but not at the expense of the creative flow of your work. Sometimes you can get on the perfect tangent and everything will just fall majically into place - but of you lose that and get hung up on other things like detail or grammar or anything at the cost of the story then either way it will suffer. I'm only saying this now because once I sat back and realised what I said earlier I had to rethink my reasons for saying anything in the first place. Maybe its familiarity to read something with keen detail and so forth (Anne Rice & Stephen King have a tendancy to do just that) so that's what I myself try and emulate, but there's no logical reason you should if that's not conducive to your style or your story. Ultimately you might build skills or whatever but it may come at the cost of your creative integrity. Bottom line after that rant is this; don't change the story at all to suit anyone else, including (and especially) me. If anything bugs me that much I feel the need to change it there's nothing stopping me writing my own version (not that I would, but I'm just making a point here, sorry) Write however you feel the most comfortable with. Regardless what you come up with there will always be people who appreciate it for what it is and others who won't - so be it. As long as you like it then keep at it. And if anyone else happens to go along for the ride and enjoy it then kudos to you my friend - it will be most deserved

NOW! Done with the rant, on with the rest of it. Now in being I dont know who in tarnation most of the other characters are I'm still lost but not so lost I'm clueless as to anything going on. I'm following the plot better now we have continuum between updates (it had been, prior to that 2nd part) very segmented because it was naturally opening the storylines - but its now starting to develop which is nice. And the dialogue - especially between the men at the stripclub - I thought was freakin fantastic. Very visual, very real. I think out of all of it so far I had a better impression of them as people than anyone else in the story including my fictional self! Haha. But no, all good so far. Very intrigued, naturally, to see what develops with my character and her apparently unsteady relationship/s and to see what Joanna's character gets up to next once she's dealt with her own issues - poor lass.

Props for it so far. I'm liking it more as it goes along - the more I read of it the more it seems to blossom. AND I love the way you format your posts - which is something I can never do. I rant way too much for that. But your spacing (even in TLATC) especially makes your updates very easy to read. Good on the eyes. Thanks for that.

Well, looking forward to more and very interested to see where the rest of the guys are interwoven in this vast and complex tapestry. Guess I'll have to learn to be patient - hahaha. We'll see.

Thanks again for the inclusion. Loving it

~Rav

 

[andrea]

Chapter 3

Back at the LAPD, Commissioner Harrison closed the door behind him and turned around to face Joanna. He reached into his pocket and took the keys out of his pocket to uncuff her. “I've embarrassed you again” she said looking down.

“You never embarrass me. Hey. Hey, what's going on?” he asked when he saw that she was starting to cry.

She looked up, “I don't know -- life. It happens when you least expect it, I guess” she said walking around the table and sat down.

“Hey, you know, you -- you are a role model, Joanna. I tell Ravyn to be just like you. You're messing that up for me”

“Well, don't tell her that because I am not the role model, she is! Look at me -- I'm a dope!”

“Is that so?” Harrison asked rising up his eyebrows.

“I love Peter so much. And he says that he loves me, but obviously we have some different idea about what love is. His stupid old frat friend Jacob convinced him to go to Vegas and get drunk and have *** with strippers. But don't worry -- I'm sure he brought a million condoms which, of course, you know, he'll only use about half.”

“You don't trust Peter?” Harrison asked sitting down.

She wiped her cheek before continuing, “The truth is I want to believe that it's his friend that convinced him to go, but Peter doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do. Peter wanted to go on this road trip which means that he's not ready to be in a committed relationship, so I need to back off so he doesn't completely break my heart. The truth is I was kind of getting used to the idea of being in love again.”

“The guy's not good enough for you.”

“No, he's not. But I love him anyway.”

******

​

Brad answered the door when it rang opening it to see Joe and Karen.

“Hey Brad!” they said.

“Hi guys. Come on in” he said and step to the side to let them in.

They came in and walked into the nicely decorated living room that Elisa did.

“Sorry. I just put Joshua down.”

“That’s okay” Karen said.

“You glad to be back?” Joe asked Brad.

“Yeah. We're glad to be back. Anything been going on while Elisa and I been away?” Brad asked.

“Rob asked Rav to marry him last night.”

“Oh. It's a bit soon, don't you think, since the divorce just went through?” Brad asked.

“Yeah, well, that's the point, and I saw Rav and she wasn't wearing the ring that Rob gave her. What if she turned him down?” Joe asked.

“That could be a disaster.”

“Why is that? What are you afraid I'll do?” Rob asked walking into the living room.

******

​

Back at the hospital Elisa just found out the same information. “Rob asked you to marry him? That's wonderful” she said as Rav walked back into the nurses' station. She then saw the expression on her face, “Or not.”

“I'm not ready to try again. I don't know if I'll ever be ready” Rav said.

“You know, I -- I heard about what Vanessa did, faking her pregnancy. I just -- I thought if anything, it would pull you and Rob a little closer together.”

“There has been so much damage over the past couple of months, I just don't know if I want to let myself trust him again” she said.

“So you said no last night?” Elisa asked.

“I couldn't, because I'm so afraid he's going to start using again.”

“I know. I don't disagree.”

“If he has me and the kid in his life, then he has a better chance of staying in recovery.”

“Do you love Rob anymore?”

“I will always love him. I just don't -- I don't know what to do right now.”

“There is a chance that you could find yourself falling in love with the same man that you've always loved if you just let yourself” Elisa said.

******

​

Peter Colman walked into the LAPD and saw Anthony walking out of the interrogation room. He walked up to him.

“Well, you got guts -- I'll say that for you” Harrison said.

“I'm here to post Joanna's bail.”

“How was your road trip?” Harrison asked.

“Enlightening. But I'm here now.”

“You shouldn't stay. I'll take care of Joanna” Harrison said and grabbed Peter’s arm to push him out of the station.

Peter moved his arm back, “Anthony, I'm not leaving.”

“Look, I asked nicely.”

“Anthony, I'm not leaving. Joanna needs me” Peter said.

“Don't worry -- the charges probably won't stick.”

“Anthony, I'm not talking about the stupid charges. Joanna needs me and I need her. I love your daughter. She's the only one who cared enough about me to not worry about my stupid personality and my ridiculous habits. She decided I was worth it. Anthony, she saved my life. She has great taste in couches. She keeps me sane ever since I pricked myself with that **** needle in the O.R. I was -- I was a fool to go on the trip.”

“You're a fool, she's a dope. You're a match made in heaven” Anthony said and started to walk away.

Peter grabbed his arm before he could walk away further, “Look, Anthony” he said and let go of his arm, “Trust me. I didn't touch a single stripper. The whole time, I was thinking about how I needed to get back here and fight for her.”

Joanna came to the door of the interrogation room and leaned her arm against the frame, “Oh. So there were strippers” she said. Peter turned his head to look at Joanna.

******

​

“We’re concerned. You don't need any more heartache in your life, Rob” Brad said.

“Rav didn't say she'd marry me, but she didn't refuse me. She just said she needed more time and I can give that to her.”

“I -- I was just -- I was worried that you were rushing things” Joe said facing Rob.

“Yeah, taking your time is the right idea. It worked for Elisa and me” Brad said.

“Yeah, well, Rav and I have a baby on the way. We don't have the time.”

“Hey, guys. Let the party begin” Phoenix said walking into the house with his arms full.

“We brought some goodies --” Linsey started to say also carrying a couple bags too as she followed Phoenix.

“Hi” Elisa said walking into the room and walked up to Brad.

Brad wrapped his arms around Elisa and then gave her a kiss on the cheek, “Hey, you made it” he said looking over Elisa shoulder and saw Rav walking in.

“Hey, of course. I wouldn't miss it” Rav said walking in further. Rob turned around to see her.

“How did you manage it, Rav?” Karen asked.

“Oh, I just switched a shift.”

“I'm glad you came” Rob said coming up closer to Rav. Rav just looked up at him.

 

[andrea]

Continuing Chapter 3

At Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Jen Cooley was at her appointment. She was sitting on the examination table, “I know it says somewhere in there on your charts that I -- I had abruptio placenta, like, two years ago and, well, we waited -- doctor's orders -- but we started trying to have kids again around new year's” she said to the doctor.

“Not many couples conceive in the first month. But if it'll give you peace of mind, I'll examine you --” Dr. Reese said closing her chart.

“Ok.”

“See if there's anything to worry about.”

“I know I'm being ridiculous. I just -- I want to make sure that everything is perfectly fine” Jen said.

******

​

“Bail's all set. They expect you to plead to a misdemeanor, no contest, pay a fine. The good news is we can go home” Peter said to Joanna who was sitting in one of her father’s officer’s desk.

“You can go home. I'm not going with you” she said and then got up and walked into the interrogation room slamming the door close behind her.

“Joanna? What are you -- Joanna, what are you talking about?” he asked and saw her closing the blind to the one-way mirror.

******

​

“Ok. What did you find?” Jen asked sitting back up when Dr. Reese finished.

“Well, you're very healthy, Jen. And as far as I can tell, you've fully recovered from the abruptio placenta” she said opening her chart back up.

“Oh, thank you” Jen said relieved, “Ok, I pretty much expected that, so stay patient, keep trying, yeah?” she asked.

“I'm afraid there's another complication. Jen, I'm sorry, but I don't believe you'll ever be able to get pregnant.”

******

​

At the hotel, a desk clerk worker brought out a brief case and set it on the desk in front of a man. He handed the worker a slip of paper.

“Come on, Adam. Can't I have just a teeny, tiny peek at my valentine's day present?” his girlfriend asked.

“Now you understand why I keep this locked in the vault. She simply can't be trusted” he said mostly to the worker.

“Oh, that is so unfair. Valentine's day is weeks away and you know I believe in instant gratification” she said.

“I know. Would you oblige me and block the lady's view?” he asked the worker.

“Happy to” the worker said and walked around the desk and stood in front of Adam’s girlfriend.

As the worker did that Adam raised the brief case up and put in a six-digit code as his girlfriend talked, “Oh. Well, I have to say that neither one of you understand the nature of women. Don't you know we only like surprises when we know exactly what they are?”

The brief case beep and Adam peeked into it, making sure that the shipment was safe, “All safe and sound” he said closing the case.

“Well I'm not having any fun here at all” his girlfriend said.

“Well, we're going to fix that right now, sweetheart. You can put this back in the vault” he said handing the brief case back to the worker, “Thank you for your help” he took the slip of paper back. The worker walked away putting the brief case back into the vault.

Mr. James came out from the hallway talking on the cell phone, “If Adam won't give us the shipment, we'll have to take it” he said and closed the phone.

******

​

At Brad’s house everyone that was there, Phoenix, Linsey, Joe, Karen, Rob and Rav, all came closer as Brad started talking, “Thank you all for coming tonight. It’s great to have all of you here tonight although I enjoy being away from you guys for awhile --” They laughed a little, “Some of you may or may not know that --” Brad started to say but stopped when Joshua fussed. He smiled before continuing, “At the end of our trip, Elisa, Joshua and I found ourselves a church in Santa Monica --”

“Hmm” Elisa softly said holding Joshua.

“Yes” Brad said and Joshua fussed again, “But, anyway, we decided to go ahead and have Joshua baptized there. I wish all of our families and friends could have been there, as does Joshua Brendan Delson.”

“Aww” everyone let out.

“That’s a nice name” Karen said.

“I owe a special debt of gratitude and love to Elisa. She never gave up on us trying to have Joshua” Brad said, “Hey. Hey, hey, it's happy time, not crying time” Brad said seeing that Elisa was about to cry.

“I know. That's why I'm crying” she said.

“Listen. After all we've been through, there's nothing in this world you have to fear anymore. You know that, don't you?” He asked her softly facing her.

“Yeah”

“To family” Phoenix said and rose up his wine glass.

“Oh” Linsey said and they clinked there glasses.

“Look at that. Let's get over here” Phoenix said and everyone walked up to Elisa and Joshua.

“Hi. Hello” Linsey said to Joshua as everyone came over to see him to. They had no idea what was about to be in store for them

 

[Ravynlee]

OOh have been waiting for this. Yay!

Having said that I've just copied it to a word document and will read it through and review later after I get back from gym/work tonight. Awesome.

 

[andrea]

Chapter 4

I know that I had written the beginning part out before already. I’m doing it again as it was like this on GH, but this time it’s more focus on Peter.

******

Helicopters were flying around the hotel as a person climbed out in front of the sign.

“Anthony!” Detective Lopez yelled out.

“Captain?” Behind them Peter turned around to see what was going on.

“Someone's climbed out. Behind the sign”

“One of the hostages?” Harrison asked.

“There all in black wearing a mask”

The person slowly started to climb the ledged of the building. The Commissioner lowered the binoculars onto the cop car and drew his gun. “It's one of the perps.”

The SWAT team that had also surrounded the building **** there guns and aimed it at the person. Peter walked out closer to see more. “Hold your fire. Hold your fire till you hear my word” The commanding officer of the SWAT team yelled out.

“Harrison, I don't see a weapon”

“Be ready to shoot if he pulls a gun or makes a threatening move” Harrison said. The person turned the corner gripping a window ledge. Then it looked down and took a jump landing on the hood of a security car. It got up and took off its mask.

“It's Jen! Hold your fire, hold your fire!” Harrison yelled out.

“The lobby's wired to explode. Get everyone out!” she said running up to the detective

“Let's go!”

“No, wait, wait. They're going to kill everyone in there if we storm the place.”

“What's going on here?” Harrison asked Jen.

“They're going to detonate. Get everyone out now, Anthony. Go! Come on” Behind them, Peter was about ready to storm into the lobby and get Joanna out himself if Anthony didn’t do anything soon.

“Calm down” he said. “Hit them with the tear gas. Go on my command” he said. Peter walked up even further. The SWAT team fired the tear gas at the doors of the lobby.

The detective and the police officer were getting ready to go into the building. They put gas masks on there face keeping them on top of the head. “They're going to know we're coming” the officer said. From the building an alarm went off.

“At least they won't be able to see us” the detective said. Suddenly screaming came from inside the hotel followed by gunfire.

“Come on, Harrison, do something!” Peter said.

“We got to get them out of there!” the officer yelled.

He waited a few seconds and then yelled, “Go, go, go!”

The SWAT team fired another tear gas next to the door. Peter started praying for Joanna’s safety. The detective and officer slowly walked to the door behind a couple SWAT team people.

The group paused at the door for a second. “Go” the officer said and they swarmed into the building.

Peter stood behind the cop car watching the whole thing unfold.

Suddenly a couple people came running out of the building. Peter then suddenly ran out closer to the building to help. Another person then came running out carrying someone, “I need help here!” It was Brad and he was carrying Anna.

“Brad, here, here, here!” Peter yelled taking off his coat laying it on the ground, “Put her down here” he carefully set Anna’s head onto the ground. Seeing how pale she was Peter looked up at Brad, “Brad, how is she?” he asked.

“I don't know -- Elisa's done everything she can, but -- Elisa?” Brad called out. Realizing she was still inside he quickly got up, “Elisa!” he yelled out. He ran toward the building but an explosion went off inside. Peter lowered his face into Anna’s body.

******

​

Los Angeles


15 Hours Earlier


2pm

Peter walked up closer to the interrogation door, “Joanna?”

“Go away” she called out.

“You're being childish” he said.

“I'm being childish?” she asked. She was sitting on a chair that was propped against the door.

“Look, will you just open the door so we can go home?” he asked.

“How many times do I have to say it? Your home is not my home anymore, A.K.A., we don't live together” she said turning around in her chair facing more towards the door.

“I bailed you out.”

“Well, then go get a refund.”

Getting a little fed up Peter said, “Just open the door.”

“What are you even doing here anyway? You weren't even my phone call!” she yelled out.

“Joanna, you didn't make a phone call” he stated.

“Don't get technical.”

“Ok, open the door. We need to go home. You need to sleep this off, to get some rest.”

“‘We’ don't need to do anything. I never want to see your face ever again!” she yelled out and turned back around in her chair.

 

[andrea]

Continuing Chapter 4

“Yeah, you're at home. Where here with are family and friends --” Brad said holding Joshua now.

“Hmm” Karen let out as she was standing next to Brad and Elisa.

“Most of them” he said.

“We're a little nuts, kiddo, but we know how to party” Karen said touching his back.

Everyone in the room laughed.

“Hey, so, let's keep this one going at the Sheraton tonight. It's your guys’ release party anyways” Linsey said.

“Wait, that's tonight?” Elisa asked.

“Yeah, you got back just in time” Linsey said.

“And were expecting all of you to be there” Phoenix said.

“We have plenty to celebrate, huh?” Karen said.

******

​

“Of course I can have children. You said that it was just normal, that it would take longer than a month” Jen said to Dr. Reese.

“Your uterus is severely scarred. Your records indicate it was perforated by a bullet wound?” she asked looking at the chart.

Jen was shocked, “Are you telling me I can't have a baby because I was shot?” she asked.

******

​

“How can I convince you that I want us to live together?” Peter asked through the door.

“You can't because you don't” Joanna responded.

“Did I reorder the sofa -- yes or no? Did I buy matching furniture? Did I agree to go shopping for knickknacks?” he asked.

“But it lasted for one day!” she yelled slamming her hand on the door.

“Ok, yes, I went to Vegas, but it doesn't mean I don't want you to move in with me.”

“Ugh. Did you and Jacob relive the -- the glory days? Did you find out that you were the man you always were?” she asked.

“I should've stayed home with you.”

“Well, it's a little late for that, isn't it?”

“Ok, look, it was an adolescent moment. I don't know what I was trying to do -- prove something to Jacob. I'm not sure, but --” he said but Joanna cut him off.

“Yeah, but you used me to do it. Not to mention all those poor strippers who were just trying to make it by, feed their kids, and get themselves through college.”

Peter leaned his head against the door, “You're the only woman I want.”

“Oh. I beat out all the strippers in Vegas? Thank you! I'm so honored!”

“Joanna, I love you, ok? What do you want me to do? You want me to climb up on a desk?”

“Do whatever you want”

“Do you want me to shout it from the roof? What do you want?”

“I don't care! You've already made a fool out of yourself” she said. When nothing came from Peter she called out for him, “Peter?” Nothing came from him, “Peter --” so she got up moving the chair back and opened the door.

“All right, you're not in the building on police business, now you have to leave” she saw an officer trying to shove Peter out of the building.

“Let go of me!”

******

​

“I think we're probably -- the party will be a little too much for us tonight, ok?”

“Brad, it's for the band” Linsey said.

“I know. It's just we're exhausted” he said rubbing Joshua’s back.

“We're fine. We will both be there” Elisa said.

“And so will Rob and Rav” Karen said walking up to them.

“Yeah, of course I’ll be there.”

“My -- my maternity wardrobe is limited by the day. I don't have anything to wear. I'm not going to go” Rav said shaking her head as she crossed her arms.

“Ok, ok, all right, fine, here's the plan. We will find you a fabulous dress. I believe Talinda’s boutique would have some good dresses. Then that way the two of you can have a wonderful, romantic evening. Problem solved” Karen said. She, as much as everyone else, wanted them to get back together.

******

​

Back at the hospital, Dr. Reese handed Jen a cup of water, “Your records say you developed a clotting problem and almost bled to death.”

“But I didn't. I pulled through. My boyfriend and I really want to have a baby” she said.

“I'm sorry Dr. Kim couldn't break it to you. But there's severe scar tissue, and the wall of your uterus is compromised.”

“But it's eventually going to heal up, right?” Jen asked.

“It's already healed. That's the problem -- there's too much scar tissue to sustain a pregnancy. I don't want to be negative, but I don't want to create false hope, either. In my opinion, even if you manage to get pregnant, you won't be able to carry a baby to term.”

“Why is this the first I'm hearing of it?” she asked.

“Actually, at one point, there was some discussion of a hysterectomy” Dr. Reese said and opened her chart up again.

“I wouldn't let them do it. I wanted to have a baby.”

“You know, there are other fertility options --” Dr. Reese started to say but Jen cut her off.

“Please. Thank you. I am just going to have to figure out a way to accept that I won't be able to carry my baby.”

 

[Ravynlee]

Hahaha I love Joanna's attitude in this, firey, haha, bless her. And I can't say's I blame her either, think I'd be just the same really whether anything happened in Nevada or not. It's the principle of the thing damnit! But anyway.

Wow - Jen's news was a shock! Poor gal... felt so bad for her. Heck, I felt so bad for me and I still don't even properly get why! Haha. Poor Rob - hey, are you implying in this he had an addiction of somesort? We never eluded to what is what has me wondering - and the whole apparent previous relationship with Vanessa and her fake pregnancy, that had me a little confused. Is it just me or were Rav and Rob in a previous relationship that didn't work out and are trying again or was he with Vanessa (had to be at some point to theoretically get her pregnant?) and she's still cut about that? That whole thing confused me, but the part with Brad and Elisa's baby Josh was all over sweet.

Ooh I love how you ended that last update too - the suspense! The drama! I love my drama as much as you do (probably) so I totally dug that.

And I'm havin a baby! I'm havin a baby! *sings* hahaha - now THAT'S choice! *cheers*

Now - on to this update - and... I take it that replaces the first initial update made for this story?

Poor Anna! You must really have it in for this woman! *lol* Just kidding... but yeah... love where this is going... ooh I just adore the tension, love it, love it, love it

Just one side note. I notice you keep making reference to GH - now dont take this the wrong way but are you borrowing heavily from that or is this story your own with their dramatic flair in it? I'm asking because you keep refering to it and I dont know it so I can't judge either way... I hope if you used the show as a starting point you are allowing the characters to develop at their own pace and in their own way rather that writing to a preconcieved script. It will flow a lot better otherwise.

Apart from that loved it - you know I do - and as always you leave me salivating for more. I know you're holding out on me woman, I can feel it - I want to read it all! I'm so impatient I annoy myself, so... sorry if I'm annoying you... haha

Nice work as always. More soon??

~Rav

 

[andrea]

Chapter 5

Your situation with Rob and the Vanessa 'thing' will be explained in the next chapter, not this one but It'll start a little. The begin of Chapter 4 does not replace the start of the story. It'll there to remind the readers of what going to happen in the story since time has gone backwards right now to get the characters current relationships problems/ interest known before the hostage crisis begins and the main reason why it going to take place.

As for me keeping to referring to GH, yes I've borrowed the story line but I've tweaked it to fit my version and that's all my going to say.

And no I don't have it for Anna, haha. I don't know why but I just really like give her and Mike a lot of drama when I write about them and boy is it going to be interesting, hehe. Now on for the next chapter....

Disclaimer: The nicknames “stone cold” and “goddess” mention in this chapter and throughout the story are taken from GH. I couldn’t think of better ones! So, all credit for those nicknames goes to GH as they came up with them, not me.

******

At the LAPD, Anthony was walking back out into the main room and saw Peter struggling with an officer, “Listen up, everybody, I have an announcement to make!” Peter shouted. Anthony ran out to him.

“Now you're going to make me arrest you, aren't you?” The officer asked as he grabbed his arms putting them behind his back.

“You want to arrest me? Go ahead. Put me in a cell with her” Peter said.

“That's enough --”

“Well, that would be cruel and unusual punishment, wouldn't it?” Joanna asked yelling it out to Peter.

The officer let go of Peter, “Attention, everybody, I have something to say about this woman” he said turning around.

“That's enough!” Anthony said grabbing Peter again.

“Will you please tell him to get out of here and leave me alone?” Joanna asked her father.

“Anthony, tell her she needs to come home with me” Peter said.

“No, it is not our home anymore, and you proved that when you went to Vegas with Jacob!” she yelled out.

“It is our home.”

“This is a police department, not a couple's counseling center!” Anthony yelled out. Joanna just sighed.

“Look, Anthony, I'm just trying to get her home” Peter said.

“Well, give up now because it's not going to happen” Joanna responded.

“You need to go somewhere and sleep off what's left of that bender” her father said.

“That's all I'm trying to do” Peter said more to Anthony.

“I'll go to the apartment.”

“Obviously Jessica didn't tell you they're turning your room into an office” Peter said informing her. The two girls Jessica and Michelle, who she had gotten in trouble with, decided to rent an apartment together before she kind of moved in with Peter. But ever since Joanna started staying with Peter more often and that they needed the space for a desk they turned Joanna’s room into an office.

Joanna huffed and crossed her arms, “Fine. I'll go home until I can find some other place to go.”

Anthony just sighed, “Look, if you were in -- in danger or broke or had no place else to go -- uh -- you know, I'd never turn you away” he stated.

Joanna’s face fell dropping her arms to her side, “You're saying no?”

“You and Peter need to work this out, Joanna” Anthony said.

“I see -- this is, like, a guy thing. You're siding with him because you're a guy.”

“That's not what I'm doing.”

“No, that's exactly what you're doing --”

“It's not what I'm doing” Anthony repeated again.

“No, no, no -- no, that's fine” she said and started to walked out of the police station.

Peter tried to go after Joanna but Anthony grabbed his arm, “Joanna, wait -- Joanna --”

“Wait a minute. Hey -- you and I -- we need to have a chat.”

******

​

Jen opened the door to her and her boyfriend’s apartment and saw the teenager that they took in. The teenager turned around to see her, “Oh, goddess, you've returned. Greetings” he said and went back to typing on the computer in front of them.

Jen walked over to the stairs and stop at the last step, “If Patrick comes home, will you tell him I'm upstairs?” she said.

“Oh, sure.” He looked back at his computer looking at Patrick’s bank account he just hacked into for fun, “Oh -- hey! Do you realize how much dinero stone cold has stashed offshore? I mean, if you decide to, you know, violate the laws of nature and desecrate your sweet, sweet body by having a baby, that little ankle-biter --”

“Will you shut up?” Jen said cutting him off. She walked up to him taking off her jacket, “I am sick and tired of your ridiculous nicknames and your comments about my body, and what a crime it would be for me to aspire to be anything more than a plaything -- or a sexual fantasy in your case -- as if that's all my body is good for!”

“No, goddess -- goddess, I swear I would never --” he started to say.

“No, and please do not call me that ever again!” she yelled out.

“I -- I won't. I -- I promise --” he said getting up.

“I mean, really, do you hear how insulting that is? To imply that I should be running around naked in some music video or dirty-dancing? Huh? Calling me ‘goddess’ is your way of saying that I am a bimbo who is not cut out to be a mother”

The door opened and Patrick, her boyfriend, walked in, “What's going on?” he asked closing the door behind him.

The teenager turned around to face Patrick, “Uh -- I upset Jen, and I'm sorry. You've both been nothing but kind and good to me, and I -- I have the utmost respect for her, and I would never, ever say anything --”

Jen cut him off, “Greg had absolutely nothing to do with this” she said.

 

[andrea]

Continuing Chapter 5

At the hotel, a woman dressed in wealth handed over a box to be put in the vault and then walked away. Another woman dressed in a business suit walked out from behind the wall of the fireplace and walked up to Rav as she was about to leave.

“Ravyn Harrison?” she called out.

“Yes?” Rav asked turning around.

“Elisa Delson just called and explained the entire situation” the woman said as she reached her.

“Oh, she did? Well, she was just being nice. I know you don't have any maternity clothes” she said walking a little closer to her.

“Nonsense. My new salesgirl is already picking out the perfect dress for you. She's wonderful, has a great eye” the woman said walking her over to a chair and sat her down and then walked away.

“Ok” Rav said mostly to herself since the woman was already halfway across the lobby. Mr. James walked across the lobby and over to the door. Rav then looked down and looked into her purse for something. A woman’s voice started talking as she walked up to Rav.

“Sometimes when you're pregnant you have to take what you can get” Rav rolled her eyes and sat up coming face to face with Vanessa Evigan, “Will either of these work for you?” she said and held up a couple dresses that weren’t Rav’s style.

The hotel’s door open and Joanna walked up to the desk not before seeing that her sister was in the lobby, “Excuse me -- hi. Can I have a monthly rate, if possible? I plan to be here for a while” she said smiling at the clerk.

******

​

Peter and Anthony walked into the interrogation room, “Ok, the road trip to Vegas with an old college buddy was obviously a bad mistake” he started to say as Anthony closed the door behind him, “But it doesn't mean that I don't want to live with Joanna or that I don't love her” he finished saying.

“Can you understand why Joanna is so upset?”

“Yes, of course I can, but --” he started to say as Anthony cut him off.

“I was ready to kill you myself -- until I heard you yelling about how much you cared about Joanna.”

“I can't believe I got roped in this stupid trip. Look, it was an old promise that my buddy from college, Jacob Cortez, and I made.”

“Jacob Cortez? From CSU?” Anthony asked.

“You know him?” Peter asked.

“He's an English professor. I think my niece Maddie is taking a class from him.”

“Look, Jacob is a great teacher, but he is determined to drag me back into arrested adolescence. The fact that I'm committing myself to Joanna has got him pushing the panic button. He loved Vegas, and although we went to the best casinos, the best strip clubs, and saw some great-looking women, the whole time I was --”

“Don't push it.”

“I love Joanna, and I didn't mean to hurt her. I don't blame her for being mad at me. But the truth is I hated every single minute I was in Vegas. I was already back in Los Angeles when I talked to you and you told me that she was in trouble”

“Yeah, well, that probably scares Joanna most of all” Anthony said.

“Why?” Peter asked.

“Sit down” Anthony said pointing to a chair. Peter walked around the table and sat down as Anthony did too, “Listen -- uh -- Joanna -- Joanna's lost too many people, starting with her mother and I. I mean, we divorced when she and her sister was young. And then there was Matt. And then Patrick -- he was never a good idea. Joanna has hidden behind her career, her intellect, and for a good reason. It's difficult for Joanna to let her guard down and trust anyone. She'll never admit it, but she's terrified of being left behind, like she was when she was younger.”

“Which is exactly what I did.”

“Joanna’s probably looking for an excuse to bail and, boy, you gave her a dandy one.”

“Can I fix this?” Peter asked.

******

​

Back at the hotel, Talinda and the assistant manager of the hotel walked out from the hallway that led to the vault.

“Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hillinger are renting a room here tonight. I want to bump them to the presidential suite. So if someone's in there, you need to move them out, give them a week for free, and three days dining and wining to Sheraton’s restaurant, you got that?” she said.

“Yes, ma’am” The assistant manager said.

“Great. Thanks” Talinda said and turned around to walk out of the hotel but Mr. James stood in her way.

“Oh --” he said as he was about to walk into her.

“Sorry” she said.

“So, we meet again.”

Upstairs, in Joanna’s room, there was a knock on the door. She walked up to the door opening it up to see Peter standing there, “I don't want --” she started to say as Peter forced his way in.

“You need to listen” he said.

“Why? Because you shoved your way in here? So not only do you carouse in Vegas with strippers, but you're also a bully” she said and took a sip of the drink she had in her hand.

“Your dad told me to be tenacious as a pit bull” he said.

“Excuse me, but when did you and my father become such great buddies?” she asked.

“He wants you to be happy. So he told me what's really going on.”

“Oh. This ought to be good” she said and walked over to the desk that held the drinks at.

Peter walked over to the door closing it before he spoke up, “Ok, so you worked through your survivor's guilt, worked through the ‘doctor who only sees the dark side’ phase” he said as Joanna slightly nodded, “You started to let yourself fall in love with me, and then this whole furniture fiasco pushed you over the edge” he said.

“I see” she said turning around to face him.

“You kept all your focus on my shortcomings. You're terrified, but you took a risk -- loving me, trusting me. But you're afraid that I'm going to leave, so you're preparing for the worst -- protecting yourself by expecting me to screw up.”

“And you proved my point, didn't you?” Joanna asked.

“I thought about you every minute that I was there.”

“While you were staring at naked women.”

“Joanna, I didn't see --” he started to say but didn’t finish as Joanna threw her drink in his face.

 

[Ravynlee]

Hahaha, me and Vanessa face to face huh? Now that'd be something. Mind you it's all good because I think she's actually pretty funny (after watching her on youtube) so yeah, I dont mind that at all! As far as the explanation goes - still vague here but I guess that's coming. Again, all good.

Joanna's not having an easy time in her love life - but I'm actually impressed part of Anthony's explanation of her was pretty good, pretty close for the most part.

And yeah, even the Jen character seems to be having a rough trot with her life. Poor girl wanted to be a mum so badly! Aww men are such jerks! Haha. But yeah, love this tension, its character building isnt it? hahaha Great!

SO looking forward to more!