Patrick grabs his shoulder the second Eve pulls the knife back and cries out in pain.  Leaning up against the back of the counter, he slumps down to the floor, sitting up and holding onto his shoulder.  He looks up at Eve, who is trembling and crying, and still holding the bloodied knife in her hand.  "I'm not gonna -- hurt you." Patrick says in a strained voice.  "I told you -- I'm a friend of -- Jessie's." 

"Who are you?" Eve asks nervously.  "My name is -- Patrick." he replies.  "Jessie forgot -- her keys.  She sent me to get them."

"Oh my god." Eve says, dropping the knife.  "You're -- you're Jessie's friend." she says, kneeling down next to Patrick and checking over his wound.

"That's what I tried to tell you." Patrick says, as Eve looks at the affected area on his shoulder. 
"Jessie said you'd -- probably be resting.  I didn't want to bother you, and --"

"I think you're gonna need stitches." Eve says.  "I'm so sorry.  I -- I just didn't know who you were, and --"

"We need to apply pressure to -- get the bleeding to stop."  Patrick says, clearly in pain.

"Alright.  And Chris and I -- I can't drive yet, Chris is -- he should be here any minute, he's taking me to GH for a checkup, and -- we'll get you to the hospital." Eve says. She gets up and goes into the kitchen, and comes back with some dish towels.  "Here -- let's see if we can get the bleeding to slow down at least." Eve says, trying to get the bleeding to stop.

"Thanks." Patrick says, just as Chris walks in the door. 

"What's going on here?" Chris asks, then notices the blood stain on the floor.  "Eve!  Oh god, are you hurt?" he asks, rushing over to the two of them.

"Not me -- Patrick.  I -- I didn't know who he was, and --" Eve begins.

"What are you doing here, Reardon?" Chris asks, taking over and looking at Patrick's stab wound.

"Doing a favor for a friend.  I didn't mean to scare her." Patrick says.

"Chris, it wasn't his fault.  He was here getting something for Jessie and I -- I panicked.  We need to
get him to the hospital, he's gonna need stitches." Eve says.

"Yeah, it looks like it.  This should hold you until we get there." Chris says, having applied pressure
with a makeshift tourniquet.  Chris helps Patrick stand up, and the three of them leave.

"Chris -- Ellen told me what happened, is Patrick okay?" Jessie asks, entering the waiting room in the ER.

"He'll be fine." Chris says.  He reaches into his pocket and hands Jessie the keys she had sent Patrick for.  "You know, you could have asked me to get these for you." 

"I forgot you were picking Eve up." Jessie says.  "What happened?"

"What happened?  Your idiot friend scared Eve half to  death by barging into the apartment.  Doesn't he know how to knock?" Chris asks.

"I told him Eve was probably resting -- I figured the guard would just let him in, he'd grab the keys and --"

"Jessie, I've about HAD it with this guy!  When are you gonna stop turning your life upside-down for him?  You're letting him stay at your house, you got him a job, you loaned him who knows how much money -- what has he done for you?" Chris asks in anger.

"You just have no concept of helping people, do you?  That's what people do, Chris -- if you see someone who needs help and you can give it, you DO it -- or is that too foreign of a concept for you?  I'm notexpecting anything in return from Patrick.  I am, however, expecting that YOU can actually behave like a rational adult when it comes to mine and Patrick's friendship."

"Since when am I not being rational about this?" Chris asks.

"Since you tried to sabotage patient records to make Patrick look bad!" Jessie shouts.

"Can I come in?" Eve asks, peeking into the cubicle where Patrick is trying to put his shirt on.  "I'm
unarmed, I swear."

"Sure.  Come on in." Patrick says.

"Let me help you." Eve says, helping him put his shirt on.  "Does it hurt bad?"

"It's sore -- it's not that bad." Patrick says.

"I really am sorry." Eve says.  "I just -- a lot has happened to me recently, and --"

"I know.  Jessie told me about what you've been through -- I'm very sorry.  I can't imagine what all
of this has been like for you.  And I can only guess what was going through your mind when you came out of your room and found a total stranger standing there looking around the place."

"I shouldn't have panicked like that." Eve says.  "I've -- I've been trying, really hard, to get through
all of this, and --"

"Hey -- you don't need to explain yourself.  I don't blame you for anything.  You were scared, and you had every right to be." Patrick says.

"Well, I want to make it up to you.  Honestly, I am capable of making a better first impression on people.  Can I take you out to dinner sometime?" Eve asks.  "I'll even ask for plastic utensils if that makes you more comfortable."  Patrick laughs.

"You don't have to feel obligated to --" 

"I want to, okay?"  Eve says.  "Please?  Come on, don't make me beg here -- I already made enough of an idiot of myself for today."

"Alright -- dinner sounds good." Patrick says. 

"Good." Eve says.

"Oh, and -- not that I don't trust you or anything -- but I just might enforce that ‘plastic utensils'
stipulation.  Just in case." Patrick teases.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Chris says.

"Bull." Jessie says.  "You tampered with that file, Chris." Jessie says.  Chris rolls his eyes.  "You
deliberately tried to make Patrick look bad in front of Boardman.  You couldn't stand it, could you?"  Chris turns away, trying to ignore her.  "Look at me!" Jessie shouts, turning him around.  "You just can't stand the fact that there's a doctor on staff who's smarter, and nicer, and better looking than you, and --"

"Oh, is he?  Well, why don't you date HIM then, you think he's so damned wonderful!" Chris shouts.

"That's NOT what I'm saying." Jessie says.  "I don't want to date Patrick.  I just want to be his friend.  Is it that difficult of a concept for you to grasp?  That I could actually have a friend of the opposite sex that I DON'T want to sleep with!  I mean, you obviously can't!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chris asks.

"Oh, please -- anyone with the IQ oflint could see that you've been carrying a torch for Eve Lambert for quite some time now." Jessie says.  "Go ahead -- deny it." 

"Eve and I are friends.  That's all we'll ever be."

"Fine.  And so are Patrick and I." Jessie says.  "Why is it so hard for you to believe that I love you?"

"I believe you, Jessie." Chris says.  "I just -- I've learned not to expect anything from anyone.  It's
easier that way."

"Sure -- if you want to spend your entire life a lonely and bitter person.  I don't, Chris -- and I
can't be in a one-sided relationship.  You either trust me or you don't.  Which is it?" Jessie asks
angrily.  Chris looks away.  Jessie waits for a minute for a reply from him, but is answered only by his silence.  "Fine, be that way.  I have paperwork to file before I can leave." Jessie starts to walk away.

"I trust you." Chris says quietly, under his breath.  Jessie stops and turns around.

"Okay." Jessie says, calming down a bit.  "Now -- don't you have something to do?" 

"What?" Chris asks.

"Apologize to Patrick for tampering with that file." 

"Jessie --" 

"And tell Mark what you did.  And don't ever do anything like that again.  Because I swear, Chris -- I won't put up with it." Jessie says.  Eve and Patrick come out into the waiting room.  Jessie turns to them.  "Hey -- I'm really sorry about what happened -- I should have called and let Eve know that --"

"It's okay, Jess." Patrick says.  "She didn't mean to hurt me."

"I'm gonna take him out to dinner -- my treat.  You know, to make up for our little -- mistaken identity." Eve says.  Chris looks up at them.

"You're going OUT with her?" Chris asks Patrick.

"And I think that's very nice of you, Eve." Jessie says, glaring at Chris.  "Patrick -- Chris has
something to tell you.  Don't you Chris?"  Chris looks down.  "Either you tell him or I will."

"Tell me what?" Patrick asks.

"That I -- I changed the information on the file of that patient of Boardman's -- you didn't do anything wrong.  I'm -- sorry." Chris says grudgingly.

"You WHAT!" Patrick shouts.

"He's gonna tell Mark about it -- you won't be in trouble, and --"

"That's not the point!" Patrick shouts.  "I can't believe I actually thought we could at the very
least be friends!"  Patrick storms off in anger.  Eve looks at Chris.

"You'll never change, will you?" Eve says, and walks away.

"Well, I better get these keys back to Bobbie before she has a fit." Jessie says, starting to walk away.

"Hey -- I thought maybe we could go to dinner tonight, and --" Chris begins.

"I don't think so.  I'm just not in the mood for you tonight, Chris."  Jessie walks away. 

Later that afternoon, Chris is in the oncall room looking something up on the computer.  After a few
minutes, he picks up the phone and dials.  "Yes, this is Chris Ramsey.  I want you to do a thorough
background check on someone for me.  His name is Patrick Reardon . . . . . ."

May 12, 2001 -- Ryan enters the hideaway where Kevin is being kept.  "You know -- I'm amazed at how gullible your wife is." Ryan says.

"What are you talking about?" Kevin asks.

"She's having no trouble at all buying the fact that you -- well, how should I put this -- have lost your ability to perform your husbandly duties."  Ryan grins wickedly.

"Lucy thinks that I'm -- she'd never believe that!" 

"Au contraire, mon frere -- she does.  Guess you're not quite the stud you thought you were.  In fact, Lucy's barely said two words to me since I told her what was up -- or should I say, wasn't up."  Ryan gleefully continues.  "I think she's afraid that if she pushes you -- or me, that is -- this is so confusing -- anyway, I think she's afraid that if she puts the pressure on, your little -- ahem -- 'condition' -- might turn into a permanent one.  I wonder how long it'll take for her to go out on the prowl -- one month, two months -- I mean, if she's not getting it at home, then . . . ."

"Lucy would never do that!" Kevin says.

"I don't know, Kev -- I mean -- we all have needs." Ryan says, taunting him.

"That's true.  Right now I have this undeniable need to STRANGLE YOU!" Kevin shouts, struggling to break free from his restraints.

"Ah -- I'd watch that temper if I were you, bro.  Anyhoo -- I figure that in a couple of weeks, I'll
tell Lucy that I just need to get away, by myself.  I found the perfect plastic surgeon -- out in the
Caribbean, very discreet -- I mean, now that I have access to your bank accounts and all -- I can just go out there, get myself all fixed up, and when I come back -- amazingly enough, I'll have discovered my psychotic brother hiding out where I was vacationing.  And whaddya know, he had plastic surgery to cover up those nasty burns he received in that fire.  There's not even so much as a SCAR.  Of course, he keeps insisting that he's KEVIN, but -- he's nuts, who's gonna believe that?"  "You are NOT gonna get away with this!" Kevin shouts. 
 

"Did I mention yet that I intend to divorce Lucy when I get back?  You see, I plan to find myself a nice little island princess while I'm out trying to -- find  myself.  And amazingly enough, she was just the thing I needed to fix my little -- problem.  Of course, I expect a pretty nasty custody battle for the kids.  Lucy can have the boy, but -- you know, I've always wanted a little girl."  Kevin fumes in anger.

"You stay the HELL away from my daughter!" he shouts. 
 

"You know, she called me ‘da-da' the other day -- she really likes me." Ryan says.

"You can't do this, Ryan.  You CANNOT get away with this!"

"Watch me." Ryan says, and leaves.

May 20, 2001 -- Eve enters the Port Charles Grille.  Patrick is waiting at the bar.  He sees her and walks up to her.  "I'm sorry I'm late, my appointment took longer than expected." she says.

"It's okay, you're right on time.  I got us a table already." Patrick says, and they sit down.  There is
awkward silence between them for several minutes.

"How's your arm?" Eve finally asks.

"It's fine -- got the stitches out this morning." he says.

"That's good."   More awkward silence occurs between them. 

"How have you been -- doing?" Patrick asks.

"Fine.  My checkup was great -- I get to go back to work next week -- I'm sticking with the ER for awhile, just the easy cases.  My doctor doesn't want me to overdo it." Eve says.

"That's probably a good idea.  So, I -- guess I'll be seeing a lot more of you, then -- in the ER, I mean."

"Yeah, I -- I guess so." Eve says.  The silence begins again.

"Look -- I know this must be -- uncomfortable for you.  I told you, you didn't owe me anything, and --"

"No -- I'm fine, really." Eve says.  "I'm just -- I haven't been out much, since --"

"That's okay -- I haven't been out much, either." Patrick says.

"Jessie told me you were living alone in the woods.  Why?" Eve asks.

"I had my reasons.  But, it -- it was time to get back to -- doing something with my life.  I just want to get back into research full-time again." 

"You work in the lab?" Eve asks.

"I'm a chemist -- I've developed several medications -- mainly for cancer patients." 

"Gosh, you -- you don't look like your typical lab geek." Eve says, and Patrick laughs.

"What do you expect, for me to be wearing a bow tie, a pocket protector and thick glasses?" 

"I guess not -- what have you developed?"

"Have you heard of a drug called CR-12 -- there was a big research program done on it about two and a half years ago, and --"

"That was you?  Oh my god -- I had a patient in the clinical trial for that, it saved his life."  Patrick
is quiet for a moment.  "Is something wrong?"

"No, it -- it's good, that it could help someone.  The drug really improved in the final stages of
development, but --"

"But what?"

"You don't want to hear this." Patrick says.

"Yes I do.  It's not every day I get to have dinner with one of the most brilliant medical minds of our
time." Eve says.

"You're exaggerating." 

"Maybe.  But I am interested in your research.  That drug have saved hundreds of lives since it finally got approved by the FDA." 

"Just not the one it was intended for." Patrick says sadly.  He pauses for a moment.  "I initially created that drug to -- to help my wife.  But it was too late." 

"Oh." Eve says.  "I'm sorry, I -- I didn't know."

"It's okay." Patrick says.  "Look, you didn't come here to listen to this, and --"

"I said it's okay." Eve says, and is quiet for a moment.  "Hey -- do you like dancing?"

"I'm a terrible dancer." Patrick says.

"Well good, then you'll make me look like a pro, then.  I'm sick of being cooped up in that apartment -- what do you say we go out and do something fun after dinner -- I think you could use a night on the town."

"Are you serious?  Eve, you're still recovering from your --"

"Hey, I feel great.  And I think we could both use something fun in our lives for a change instead of
gloom and doom.  What do you say?" Patrick hesitates for a moment.

"You promise you won't laugh at me." 

"I promise." 

"Why not." Patrick says.

Jessie enters Chris' apartment with a bag of groceries.  She sets them down on the counter, when
the phone rings.  She goes to answer it.  "Hello?  No, he's still at work -- can I take a message?  Okay, just a minute, let me get something to write with."  Jessie searches Chris' desktop for a pen, and in the process comes across an envelope from a detective agency.  Jessie picks it up and looks at it, puzzled.  She goes back to the phone and takes a message, then goes back to looking at the envelope.  "What are you up to, Chris?" she says to herself.  After hesitating for a moment, she opens the envelope and finds it full of background information on Patrick.  She angrily tosses the envelope back on the desk, just as Chris enters the apartment.

"Hey, honey -- I'm home." Chris says, smiling.  He walks over to Jessie and kisses her on the cheek -- she pulls away.  "Okay, I thought we had resolved all of this -- what'd I do now?"  Jessie glares at him, and hands him the envelope with the information on Patrick.

"What is wrong with you?" Jessie asks.  "Did our conversation last week mean NOTHING???"

"What are you doing going through my desk?" Chris asks suspiciously.

"Looking for a pencil to take a message for you!" Jessie shouts, handing him the message she had taken.  "And I found this in the process!"

"Well, don't worry, I didn't find anything -- Reardon's background is so squeaky-clean even the
Cleavers would find him boring!"

"That's not the point -- you promised me you'd drop this stupid vendetta, and you didn't!  You go on and on about trust -- give me one good reason why *I* should trust you, Chris!"

"Jessie, I was just trying to protect you -- we didn't know anything about this guy.  For all we knew, he could have been running some scam on you, and --"

"Just because that's how YOU grew up doesn't mean the whole world did!"

"You think I'm proud of my background?"

"At times I wonder." Jessie says.  "Because you do very little to prove to me that you're trying to put
that behind you!  Patrick wants to be your friend, Chris -- and you just won't let that happen, will you?"

"Why does he care?  What's in it for him?" Chris asks.  "So he can mooch money off of ME, too?"

"Patrick didn't mooch anything off of me -- he's paying every cent back to me, WITH interest, at his insistence."

"How much did you loan him?" Chris asks.

"That's none of your business." Jessie says.

"That much, huh?  Tell me, how on earth does a scrub nurse have gobs of money to give away to some schmuck she's barely known for a month?  Maybe you're the one I should be doing a background check on."  Jessie gets an angry look on her face. 

"Go right ahead -- if you have that little faith in me." Jessie says.  Chris sighs.

"I'm sorry." Chris says.

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to." 

"Alright, fine.  I'll drop the Patrick investigation." Chris says.

"You promise?" Jessie asks.

"I promise." Chris says, and Jessie hugs him.  "How was New York?  I missed you, you know." Chris kisses her on the cheek.

"It was nice.  You should have come." Jessie says.

"Yeah, well I had three critical patients -- I just didn't feel right leaving them."

"It's okay, I understand." Jessie says, going into the kitchen and putting the groceries away.  "I'm gonna get dinner started in a bit." Chris walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her.

"I'd much prefer -- dessert." Chris says, caressing her neck with his lips.

"Don't tempt me." Jessie says, giggling.

"I love tempting you -- cause you always give in." Chris whispers, as he starts to unbutton the front of her blouse.

"Well, one of these days I'll have to surprise you -- but not today." Jessie says, grabbing him and kissing him back, pushing him against the kitchen counter.

Ryan meets Greg in a wooded area outside of Port Charles.  "How are the arrangements coming?" Ryan asks.

"Fine.  You'll be leaving on the twenty-ninth." Greg says.

"Good.  Now -- I want you to find a nanny.  One that will be very discreet, and --"

"What?  Ryan, you're not serious about taking that brat with you!" Greg says.  Ryan grabs his arm and twists it back.

"My daughter is not a brat!" Ryan says angrily.
 

"She's not your daughter, either!" Greg says.  "You can't do this with a kid in tow -- Lucy will have the authorities all over the place looking for her."

"I'll deal with Lucy -- you just do what you're told."
 

"No.  No way -- this was NOT part of the plan!" Greg insists.  Ryan grabs his neck with his hands.  Greg gasps for air as Ryan talks.

"I'm making it part of the plan.  Do you want to go back to Concord, bro?  Because they'll lock you up so tightly this time you'll wish you were dead.  And that's an option as well." Ryan says, releasing Greg.  "I'm leaving on the twenty-ninth -- with my little girl.  If you screw this up -- it'll be the last thing you ever do." Ryan storms off.   Greg returns to the hideaway, where he is holding Kevin.  He releases Kevin's gag and gives him something to eat, not saying a word.

"Awfully quiet tonight.  Something wrong?" Kevin asks.

"No." Greg says, trying to ignore him.

"It's Ryan, isn't it?"  Greg turns and looks at him briefly, then looks away.  "You don't trust him
anymore."

"Shut up, Collins!" Greg shouts.

"Greg -- I can help you.  If you let me go -- we can have Ryan put away for a very long time -- somewhere where he won't he won't hurt anyone.  And I will do everything in my power to get you the help you need -- whatever the cost.  I'll visit you as much as I can -- you can trust me, Greg." Kevin says.  Greg doesn't say a word.  "Just think about.  Because right now it's probably the best offer you're gonna get."

May 21, 2004 -- morning.  Chris' pager goes off, and Chris sleepily reaches for it.  He picks it up and looks at the number, then gets up and goes into the other room quietly, trying not to wake up Jessie.  He dials the phone on his desk.  "This is Dr. Ramsey -- you paged me?  He was?  Yeah, I've got his chart right here -- let me check." Chris says, then searches for the file on his desk.  He finds it, and relays the needed information to the person on the other end of the phone.  After hanging up, he goes into the kitchen, and accidentally knocks Jessie's purse off of the kitchen counter, spilling its contents onto the floor.  Chris bends over and begins to pick the items up, when one particular item catches his eye.  It's an access badge, with Jessie's photo and name on it.  Chris picks it up and studies it.  "DIS Incorporated -- what the --" Chris says to himself, getting a puzzled look on his face. 
"Tell me, how on earth does a scrub nurse have gobs of money to give away to some schmuck she's barely known for a month?  Maybe you're the one I should be doing a background check on."he recalls saying to Jessie the previous night. 

Curious, Chris  goes onto his computer and starts to access any articles related to this corporation.  He finally finds one dated June 8, 1997 that stuns him.  The headline reads 'Edmund Matthews' Granddaughter Sole Heir to Fortune', accompanied with a photo of Jessie from that year.  "This can't be." he says to himself.  Just then, Jessie comes out of the bedroom.

"Good morning." she says.  "What time did you get up?"  Chris just stares at her, puzzled.  "Honey, what's wrong?" 

"This." Chris says, backing away and showing her what's on the computer screen.

"How did you find this?" Jessie asks. 

"I accidentally knocked your purse off the counter -- this fell out of it." Chris says, handing her the
badge.  "So -- you were planning on telling me about this, when?"

"It's not a big deal." Jessie says.  "I didn't even want the company, but grandfather wanted to make sure that I was --"

"This isn't a big deal to you?  Jessie, you deliberately kept this from me." Chris says.

"I didn't even think about it." Jessie says.  "My mom was an only child, and when she met my dad she pretty much rejected my grandfather's bourgeois lifestyle.  But I was his only grandchild, and -- well, he never really liked my father, and he was always afraid that my parents wouldn't provide enough for me.  My parents used to make me go visit them twice a year -- you know, to ‘make me understand just how much the working class is oppressed by people who live in that part of society'.  My grandfather used to make me get all dressed up and paraded me around like I was some sort of ‘prize' he won.  I remember one time --" 

"Jessie -- are you listening to me?  This was something I should have known about.  So I find out
from some old news article that I'm dating an heiress!"

"I'm not an heiress!  I gave most of the inheritance away -- my cousin Howard was always into that corporate nonsense, so I turned over fifty percent of my holdings to him -- and another quarter of it I used to start up some scholarship foundations in underfunded colleges.  I kept a quarter of it for myself, you know -- I figure I want a family someday, and this way if we ever need anything, we won't need to worry about --"

"That's still millions of dollars, Jessie!" Chris shouts.  "What was your real reason for
going to New York?"

"I told you -- I went to a friend's wedding."

"Sure you did." Chris says, getting up and starting to make some coffee.

"You know, I don't believe this!  Why are you so mad at me over this?"

"What were you doing at that company?" Chris asks.  Jessie sighs.

"It's one of the companies I'm a primary stockholder in.  They had a board meeting, I was there, I figured I should attend.  It's no big deal."

"Oh, of course not.  I know why you didn't tell me." Chris says.

"Chris -- it just never crossed my mind to --"

"It's because of what people say about me, isn't it?  That all I care about is money.  It's because of the way I grew up -- you were afraid I'd only want you for your money."

"That's not it at all, Chris -- I hardly ever even think about it.  I don't care about this money -- I
wanted to do something with my life to help people, not build up hefty bank accounts."

"I've got to get to the hospital -- I have work to do." Chris says.  He goes into the other room.  About fifteen minutes later, he comes out, showered and dressed. 

"So that's it, huh?  We're not gonna talk about this?" Jessie asks.

"There's nothing to talk about.  I can't trust you -- and obviously, you don't trust me."

"Dammit Chris, don't you do this!" Jessie shouts, trying to stop him from leaving.

"Hey, would you quiet down?  You'll wake up Eve." Chris says.  Just then, the front door opens, and Patrick and Eve walk in, talking and laughing.   Chris turns and looks at them disapprovingly.

"Are you just now getting home?" Chris asks.

"We went out to dinner last night, and -- we decided to go out dancing." Eve says.

"She decided -- I just went along for the ride." Patrick says.

"Are you nuts?  Eve, you're still recovering, you're supposed to be taking it easy, not staying out till
all hours of the night." Chris says, then he turns to Patrick.  "You claim to be this brilliant doctor,
don't you have more common sense than that?" 

"Chris, will you shut up already!  We didn't stay out all night -- we stopped at the house afterward,
Patrick wanted to show me some of the articles he'd written."  Eve says.

"And she fell asleep -- on the couch.  I didn't want to wake her up, so I figured I'd bring her home in themorning.  Not that it's any of your business." Patrick says.

"Oh, didn't you know? Everything is Chris' business, Patrick!  Why, he's even hired a SPY to check into your background." Jessie says, grabbing the file Chris has on Patrick and handing it to him.  Patrick glances through the file, then looks up at Chris in anger. 

"Don't worry -- I didn't find anything." Chris says.  "It appears that you've been honest about who you are from day one -- unlike SOME people!"  Chris turns and glares at Jessie.

"You know what -- I don't need this.  I told you the truth, the minute you asked.  If that's not good
enough for you, then I doubt anything I ever have to say will be."  Jessie says to Chris.  She goes to get her purse, then heads for the door.  "Goodbye." she says, and leaves.

"Yeah, good riddance is more like it!" Chris shouts as she closes the door. 
 

"Aren't you gonna go after her?" Eve asks.

"What for -- so she can lie to me again?  No thanks." Chris says.  Patrick is still glaring at Chris
angrily.  "What's your problem, Reardon?  I already told you I believed you now -- what else to you want?"

"I have tried -- repeatedly -- to get you to accept me!" Patrick shouts.  He then throws the file down on the desk and sighs.  "I can't do this."

"Can't do what?" Eve asks.

"Why do you even give a damn, Reardon?  I don't like you, you don't like me -- that's pretty obvious.  Why do you care so much about what I think about you?" Chris asks angrily. 

"Because you're my brother, dammit!" Patrick shouts.
 
 

Chris looks at Patrick in shock.  "You're what?!" he says.  Patrick looks at him
nervously.

"We're brothers." he says.  Chris looks at him in disbelief.  "I found out who my birth father was when I was nineteen -- his name is Henry Ramsey, he was living in Cincinnati at the time, and --"

"This is INSANE!" Chris shouts.  "We aren't anything to each other, Reardon, is that
clear?"

"Patrick -- what are you talking about?" Eve asks.

"I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but --" Chris begins.

"I'm not playing any game.  I'm your brother -- whether you like it or not." Patrick says.

"Get out." Chris says angrily, opening the front door.

"Look -- I'm willing to take a blood test if you want proof, but --" Patrick begins.

"I don't want anything from you!  Now get the hell out of my apartment before I have security THROW you out!" Chris shouts.

"Now just a minute!" Eve shouts.  "Patrick is MY guest -- he's not going anywhere!"

"Eve -- I think I should just go." Patrick says.  He turns and looks at Chris.  "I only wanted to get to
know the only family I have left.  I'm sorry if you don't feel the same."  Patrick leaves.  Chris slams
the door behind him, and heads for his mini-bar, where he begins to make a batch of martinis.

"Aren't you on duty this morning?" Eve asks.  Chris turns to her, looks at the bottle in his hand and puts it back down.

"I guess this can wait until tonight." he says.

"Chris -- do you think Patrick could really be your --"

"NO!" Chris shouts, before Eve can finish.  "Patrick Reardon is <i>nothing</i> to me, is that clear?" 

"Okay, okay -- what's up with you and Jessie, then?"

"Absolutely nothing." Chris says.  "Which is how it should have been to begin with." Chris grabs his
medical bag.  "I have to get to work." he says, and leaves.  Eve sighs, and heads for her room, noticing the computer as she passes by the desk, and looks at the article Chris found.

"Oh my god." she says to herself. 

Patrick enters Jessie's house, and hears her crying from her bedroom.  He pokes his head into her room.  "Hey -- what's wrong?" he asks.

"Everything." Jessie says, looking up at him.  "I've lost him, Patrick.  He won't forgive me for this."

"For what?" Patrick asks.

"I kept something from him -- I didn't mean to, I just -- it just wasn't important to me.  I didn't even
think of it.  But Chris -- he doesn't see it that way.  He'll never forgive me -- not for this."

"Jessie -- maybe it's for the best." Patrick says.  "Look -- I've seen the two of you together.  You fight non-stop, and your personalities are as different as night and day.  Maybe -- maybe it just wasn't meant to be for the two of you."

"No -- it was meant to be, Patrick.  I know it was. He's -- he's my soulmate.  I have never -- ever -- loved anyone as much as I love Chris.  I know that -- it might seem that we're always arguing, and -- it's not like everyone thinks."

"I'm sorry." Patrick says, and he hugs her.  "I -- I told him."
 

"You -- oh, Patrick." she says.

"I was mad -- I can't believe he did a background check on me!  And it just -- it just sort of came
out." 

"How'd he take it?" Jessie asks.

"I don't think he believed me." Patrick says.

"Probably not." Jessie says. 

"I, uh -- I started looking for a place to live yesterday, and -- I should be out of your hair by the
first of the month."

"You know you're welcome to stay as long as you need to." Jessie says.

"Thanks, but -- I think I can manage on my own.  I really do appreciate everything you've done for me, Jessie.  You've been a good friend.  I just wish I could do more for you."

"You think you can get Chris to talk to me again?" Jessie asks.

"Well, given the fact the he probably won't even talk to ME -- that's highly unlikely.  But I can try."
Patrick says.

"No -- forget it.  Maybe he'll change his mind.  At least I hope so." Jessie says.

May 24, 2001 -- morning.  Greg walks out of the place where he's been hiding, and Ryan grabs him from behind.  "You short-changed me.  I told you I needed three hundred-thousand dollars -- and my account only shows HALF of that.  I told you, I need the money to take care of my daughter."

"And I told you there's no way I'm gonna help you leave the country with that kid!" Greg insists.  "This is MY future that's on the line here, too -- if you go down, so do I.  And I'm not gonna let your paternal needs screw this up for us!"

"Are you trying to double-cross me, little brother?  Because if you are, it'll be the last mistake you EVER make." Ryan says angrily.  Greg just stares at him for a moment, then walks away. 

That afternoon, Patrick walks into the oncall room and tosses a piece of paper at Chris.  "What's this?" Chris asks.

"A copy of my birth certificate." Patrick says.  Chris glances at it.

"And I'm supposed to care about this, because . . . . ."

"Look -- I know you don't like me much --"

"That's an understatement." Chris says.

"But we ARE brothers --- that proves it." Chris shoves the paper aside and continues to go over his patient charts.  "I -- I met you once before.  It was in the summer.  I was nineteen, and -- I think you were about 13 or 14.  You were the one who answered the door -- you were carrying a little girl, she couldn't have been more than four years old.  I take it she's -- our sister."  Chris looks up and glares at him.  "It was in Cincinnati, and --"

"Why do you think I'm even interested in this?  I don't need you -- haven't you figured that out by
now?"

"Of course not -- you don't need anybody, do you?  Do you know I hear Jessie crying herself to sleep every night?  Don't you even see how much you're hurting her?"

"Well, I'm sure you'll be right there to comfort her." Chris remarks.

"I'm NOT interested in her that way!  Can't you get that through your head already?" Patrick shouts.

"Don't you have research to do or something?" Chris asks. 

"I just want to find out about the rest of my family -- that little girl -- is she our sister?"  Chris
doesn't answer.  "Where is she now?" 

"I have no idea." Chris says, closing his files in disgust.  "Anything else you want to know, since you
obviously won't leave me alone until I've filled you in on every damn detail about my life."

"What do you mean you don't know where she is?"

"I haven't seen or heard from Kelly since -- I was the one who practically raised her.  Henry barely gave a damn -- when I went off to college, she was nine -- I was trying to save up enough money to petition the courts to get custody of her -- I was going to school, and working two jobs just so that I could afford a lifestyle that would actually stand a chance of taking her from our so-called father.  But I never go thechance -- Kelly ran away from home just two weeks before her thirteenth birthday.  I kept telling her to just be patient, and -- I haven't seen or heard from her since.  I didn't have the kind of money it would take to track her down back then -- I tried later, once I did, but -- she could be anywhere.  If she's even alive."

"My god -- I'm sorry." Patrick says.

"We've got a brother in the state pen in Florida if you're interested in meeting him -- he's doing time
for armed robbery.  Oh, and my sister Abby disowned the whole lot of us when she turned eighteen and got married -- the most you'll get from her is a door slammed in your face.  Is this the kind of ‘family bonding' you were interested in?"  Patrick sits down on the couch.

"I should have done something.  I had money, and I should have -- I'm sorry." Patrick says.

"Sure you are." 

"I know what you must think of me right now, and --"

"You know what I think?  I think that whatever you were looking for back then, finding out that your
biological family wasn't some kind of picture-perfect scenario out of an old sitcom made you just turn and run away, with no regard for your so-called half-siblings."

"So, you -- you believe that I'm your brother?"

"Well, let's see -- your reaction was to run like hell without giving a damn about anyone but yourself.  You're a Ramsey to the bone, alright -- aren't you proud?" Chris asks.

"No.  I'm not." Patrick says.

"Do you want to know what it was like for us that summer?  Here's a little peek into my childhood for you.  Henry got mixed up in yet another scam gone bad -- we could barely afford to keep ourselves going.  One week it got so bad that -- I was just a kid, there wasn't much I could do.  My mom had died a few years earlier, from cancer.  Before she did, she -- she gave me her mother's engagement ring.  She had always kept it hidden from my father -- he'd have pawned it in a
heartbeat.  She told me that I'd have to take care of everyone now -- I'd have to do what she wouldn't be there for.  She always had this crazy idea that I would actually amount to something one of these days -- she gave me that ring, telling me to give it to the girl I would eventually marry.  And you know what happened?  That summer, I pawned it, because I couldn't bear to hear my siblings crying anymore because they were hungry.  Gee, I wonder what they'd have thought if they knew that we had a long-lost big brother out there who could have at the very least provided us with a decent meal every once in awhile."  Patrick is silent.  "Not exactly what you wanted to hear, is it?"

"I'm -- I'm really sorry.  If I had known that --"

"How could you not?!  Did it look like we were living in a castle to you?"  Chris gets up.  "I've had enough of a stroll down memory lane for one day.  Have a nice day -- 'brother'." Chris says in a resentful tone, then leaves.

May 25, 2001 -- Jessie sees Chris walking down the hall and approaches him.  "Don't you even want to talk about this?" she asks.  Chris ignores her.  "I've left you messages -- couldn't you have at least called me back?"  Chris continues to ignore her, and approaches
the nurses station.

"Any message?" he asks.  The nurse hands him a stack of notes.  One of them is a short note from Jessie -- he crumples it up, and throws it in the trash can, as Jessie watches. 

"Chris -- why are you doing this?" Jessie asks.  Chris finally turns around and looks at her.

"You and I were a mistake from day one, Jessie.  The other day just verified that for me." Chris pauses for a moment.  "I've asked Bobbie Spencer not to schedule you on any of my surgical rotations."

"Chris, you can't --"

"I had all of your stuff that was at my place packed up -- it should be waiting for you when you get home.   And I want my keys back."  Jessie tries to fight back tears, just as Eve gets off the elevator and witnesses part of the conversation.

"But -- but I love you." Jessie says.

"You should have thought of that before you lied to me." Chris says.   Jessie just walks away, distraught.  Eve approaches Chris.

"You are so cold." she says.

"Stay out of this, Eve." 

"Why should I?  You and Jessie are my friends -- I can't just sit back and watch you throw away what the two of you have!

"We don't ‘have' anything." Chris says. 

"Chris -- I'm sure Jessie never meant to keep anything from you.  She just doesn't have the same priorities you do.  Can't you get that through your thick skull?"

"Did you have a reason to be here or are you just planning on nagging me?" Chris asks.

"I was looking for Patrick -- I thought maybe he'd want to have lunch or something."

"Ah yes, Patrick Reardon, the new patron saint of General Hospital.  Am I the only one who isn't buying this guy's goody-goody act?" 

"He says he's your brother." Eve says.

"And I say I don't care." Chris replies.

"Fine.  You just go ahead and push everyone away, and wind up a bitter, lonely old man.  See if I care." Eve says, and she walks away angrily.  She gets onto the elevator, and finds that Patrick is in there.  "Hi." she says to him.

"Hi -- you look upset." Patrick says.

"I just had a run-in with Chris." Eve says.

"Yeah, that'd do it." Patrick replies. 

"Have you made any progress with him?" Eve asks.

"Depends on what you consider progress.  He believes that I'm his brother, but -- I don't really think he cares."

"I just saw him act pretty nasty toward Jessie -- there's gotta be a way to get those two back
together." Eve says.

"What are you gonna do, lock them in a closet together?"

"No, but -- hey -- you know, one of the electricians here has a really big crush on me.  I wonder what it would take to get this elevator to get stuck between
floors."

"You wouldn't." Patrick says.

"I most certainly would." Eve replies, smiling.

The doorbell rings, and Ryan opens the door to the lighthouse.  Jessie is standing on the other side. 
"Have you got a minute?" Jessie asks.

"For what?" Ryan asks, barely interested.

"I just -- need someone to talk to.  Chris broke up with me, and -- Kevin, I know you don't like him, but I -- I don't want this to be over.  You were always pretty good about giving advice to me, and -- what should I do?  I don't know how to just let this go."  Ryan sighs, turning his back to Jessie and rolling his eyes as he lets her in.  "I know what you're thinking -- that I'm better off without him."

"You could say that." Ryan says, trying his best to feign interest.

"He found out -- about the money."  Ryan's eyes widen.

"Money?" he asks.

"I knew I should have told him, but -- it just never came up.  And now he thinks I kept it from him because I would think he just wanted me because of my net worth."

"I see." Ryan says, growing curious.  "So -- just what IS your net worth these days?"

"I don't know -- you know I don't keep track of stuff like that, that's what I pay the accountants for.  Why?"

"Jessie, I -- you know, I hate asking this, but -- I'm really getting frustrated that the police have had no leads on Ryan.  I want to hire an investigating team on my own -- I want to get him help, Jessie.  He is my brother, after all.  But I don't know if I can afford that much --"

"Kevin, you know all you have to do is ask me." Jessie says.  "How much do you need?"

"Oh, I don't know --- a couple hundred thousand, maybe?" Ryan asks.

"I'll call my accountant first thing in the morning -- it'll be taken care of." Jessie says.  "I'm really
sorry to bother you with all of this -- you have enough on your mind right now."

"Oh, it's no trouble at all." Ryan says.  "Come by anytime."

"So, what do you think I should do?" 

"About what?" Ryan asks.  "Oh, oh, Ramsey -- do whatever you think is right."

"I guess maybe if I give him some time and space to cool off maybe he'll change his mind."

"That sounds like a plan to me." Ryan says.  "You know, I hate to do this, but -- I have some personal business to take care of, and --"

"I understand.  Thanks a lot, Kevin." Jessie says, and she gets up and leaves.

"No -- thank YOU." Ryan says, grinning wickedly.

May 25, 2001 -- Jessie is walking down the hall at the hospital, and she runs into Eve.  "Hey -- what are you doing here, I didn't think you were due back to work for a few days." Jessie says.

"I just came in to get my schedule.  I'm glad I ran into you.  Bobbie was looking for you, they need you in the ER." Eve says.  "She said she paged you, but
--"

"That's funny, I didn't get a page." Jessie says.

"Well, maybe you just didn't hear it." Eve says.

"I guess not.  Well, I guess I better head down there." Jessie says.

"Yeah, I guess you should." Eve says, smiling as she watching Jessie head down the hall toward the elevator to the ER.  At the same time, Patrick hunts Chris down in the oncall room. 

"Boardman is looking for you." Patrick says to Chris. 
 

"I'm busy." Chris says, as he's going over some notes.
 

"Fine.  You tell him that when he writes you up for insubordination." Patrick says. 

"Are you his messenger boy now?" Chris asks. 

"I'd get down to the ER ASAP if I were you." Patrick says.

"Next time tell him to page me -- the less I have to  deal with you, the better, as far as I'm concerned." Chris remarks as he leaves.  He and Jessie both approach the elevator at the same time.  The both get on, not saying a word to one another, as the doors close behind them.  On the other side of the elevator, Patrick and Eve meet up. 

"You really think this will work?" Patrick asks.

"It better.  If this doesn't, I don't know what will." Eve replies.  Inside the elevator, there is silence
for a moment, then Jessie speaks up.

"I put your keys in your locker." Jessie says.

"I guess I need to change the combination on that now too, don't I." Chris remarks.

"Chris -- can't we just --" Jessie stops as the elevator comes to a jarring halt. 

"Oh, what the hell is going on here." Chris says, striking the button on the wall of the elevator
several times.

"Oh yeah, that'll get it to go." Jessie says.  Ignoring her, Chris picks up the emergency phone. 
It's not working. 

"Oh, well this is just GREAT." Chris says, slamming the phone down.  "Do you have a cellphone with you?"

"Why would I carry my phone around with me?" Jessie asks. 

"I don't know -- isn't that what people with millions of dollars do?" Chris asks.

"How many times do I have to tell you that all of that money means <i>nothing</i> to me.  I don't care about it."

"If you didn't care about, you would have TOLD me about it.  But you didn't trust me enough to do that." Chris says. 

"Look -- I don't know how I can convince you that I didn't mean to keep anything from you." Jessie says.  Chris doesn't say a word.  After a few minutes, he starts pounding on the door.  "Hey, would someone get us the hell out of this thing!" he shouts.

"Chris, calm down -- I'm sure someone has realized we're stuck by now, we'll be out of here soon."

"Yeah, well not soon enough for me." Chris says. 

"What bothers you more -- being stuck, or being stuck with ME?" Jessie asks.

"You really don't want me to answer that." 

"You know, I can't believe you're being such a JERK about this!" Jessie says angrily.

"I'M a jerk?" 

"Yes, you are." Jessie says.  Chris looks at her angrily, not saying a word.  "You know what -- now
that I think about it, maybe we ARE better off this way."

"Gee, that's the first intelligent thing you've said in days.  And you didn't even have to consult your
horoscope to come up with it -- I'm impressed." Chris remarks sarcastically.

"Yeah, I mean, at least I'm able to get a good night's sleep without wearing earplugs now -- your snoring was driving me crazy!" 

"Oh yeah, and I just loved the way you hogged all the blankets every night."  Chris remarks.  "By the way -- you know what I had for dinner last night?  A steak.  A nice, juicy, medium rare STEAK -- and I enjoyed every bite.  It sure beats the hell out of those disgusting veggie burgers you were always forcing me to eat."

"And I don't have to sit and watch a bunch of boring sporting events on Sunday afternoons -- what a big waste of time."

"Yeah -- kinda like going to those boring coffeehouses and listening to a bunch of left-wing nuts singing about their ridiculous political agendas." Chris remarks.

"You said you LIKED doing that!" Jessie says. "Yeah, well I lied." Chris says.

"You jerk!" Jessie shouts.

"New age freak!" Chris retorts.

"Pompous ass!" Jessie replies.  Chris then grabs her, pushes her against the wall of the elevator, and
kisses her.

Ryan arrives at the lighthouse, and goes upstairs into the bedroom.  He starts to change his clothes, taking  off his shirt.  "Doc." Lucy says, entering the bedroom
as Ryan turns around.

"Lucy, what are you doing in here?" Ryan asks, trying to hide his anger.

"I just -- Doc, we can't keep doing this.  Something is wrong, and -- what's that?" Lucy asks, noticing the large scar on Ryan's shoulder.

"What's what?" Ryan asks.

"This -- scar -- you didn't have that before." Lucy says. 

"Oh, that.  I, uh -- it happened in -- Ferncliffe."Ryan lies.

"What happened?" Lucy asks.

"One of the other patients -- got ahold of a knife, and --"

"Oh, Doc -- why didn't you tell me?" Lucy asks, reaching out to him.  Ryan backs away.

"It's no big deal.  I'm fine." Ryan says, putting his shirt back on.

"It IS a big deal. Kevin -- something's not right with you.  It hasn't been since you got out of that awful place.  And I'm not gonna just sit back and let you push yourself farther and farther away from -- from us."

"Lucy, just DROP IT, okay?  I'm not in the mood to deal with this right now.   Don't you have a new office that you need to get ready for its opening or something?"

"Doc, if you'll just give me a chance, I can help you, and whatever this is that's hurting you, we can get through it together, just like we always have, and --"

"Lucy, I said drop it!" Ryan shouts.  "I can't deal with this now."  Ryan walks out of the room and down the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Lucy asks.

"Out." Ryan says. 

"For how long?" 

"I don't know." Ryan says.  He walks out the door, as Lucy remains behind, stunned.  Ryan gets into the car.  "You couldn't just leave well enough alone, could you Lucy?  I tried to warn you -- but you wouldn't listen.  Well, I obviously don't have any other choice now.  I'm afraid, Lucy, that you'll just have to die." Ryan says to himself.