Chapter 7
 

Kevin comes racing outside, and sees Lucy kneeling next to Eve's motionless body.  "Oh my god." Kevin says.  He kneels down and starts to check for Eve's vitals.  "Lucy, go in the house and call 911 -- and get my medical bag."  Lucy starts to get up slowly.  "Now!" Kevin shouts, and Lucy runs toward the house.  She comes back, with Kevin's bag.

"Is she alive?" Lucy asks.

"Barely." Kevin says.  "She's losing too much blood -- my god, it looks like she's been stabbed about a dozen times."

"Doc -- how did she --"

"I have no idea.  Just help me try and get this bleeding to stop, or she's not even gonna make it until the ambulance arrives." Kevin says, and Lucy does her best to help him tend to Eve.

Chris and Jessie are at Jessie's house, asleep in her bed.   The phone rings -- Jessie reaches for it, half asleep, as Chris rolls over and pulls the covers over his head.  "Hello?" Jessie says.  "Lucy?  What's wrong."  Now fully awake, Jessie sits up.  "Oh my god.  I'll be right there." Jessie hangs up the phone.

"What's that all about?" Chris asks, as Jessie gets up out of bed.

"Eve -- she was -- she was hurt.  I -- I don't know all the details, just that -- she was stabbed.  It -- it doesn't look good."  A lump forms in 
Chris' throat.

"Why would Lucy be calling you about this?" he asks.

"Because she -- Lucy found her unconscious out by the duck pond."

"Why would she be --"

"I don't know.  Come on -- let's go." Jessie says.

"Trauma room four.  They're about to take her to surgery." the nurse 
replies. 
 Chris pushes past her and runs into the room, with Jessie following. 
Dr. 
Boardman is in there. 

"Ramsey -- good thing you're here, I need your help.  Go scrub up -- 
you too, 
Jessie." he says, as they wheel Eve out of the room.  Chris just 
watches in 
shock. 

"My god." he says, noting the serious injuries Eve sustained.

"Honey -- I don't think you should be in there, you're too close to the 
situation.  Let me talk to Mark, and I'll explain to him that --" 
Jessie 
begins.

"Like hell." Chris says, pushing her aside and walking out of the room. 
A 
bit stunned, Jessie goes out into the waiting area, where she finds 
Kevin and 
Lucy. 

"Jessie -- how is she?" Kevin asks.

"She's -- they're taking her up to surgery.  Dr. Boardman asked me to 
assist 
-- I'll let you know what's going on as soon as we're through." Jessie 
says.

"Thank you." Kevin says, and Jessie leaves.  Kevin sits back down.

"Lucy -- you should go home.  I'll stay." Kevin says.

"Doc, I'm not leaving you.  And besides, the twins will be fine with 
Victor." 
 Kevin is quiet.  "Doc -- I know what you're thinking."

"Do you?" Kevin asks.

"Hey -- now you listen to me.  You did NOT do this!  I don't know how 
it
happened, but -- you could never, ever hurt anyone that way."

"I -- I know." Kevin says.  "Lucy -- I think I know what's going on. 
All of 
these things that have been happening --- Lucy, someone is trying to 
get to 
me.  To make me think that I'm losing my mind again.  Because I know 
where I 
was today -- I can recount every minute of today.  I didn't do this."

"I believe you, Doc." Lucy says, wrapping her arms around him.

Greg Cooper lies in his room at the psychiatric facility he's been 
incarcerated in.  This has been the third place in the last two months 
-- he 
keeps getting moved from facility to facility, the authorities hoping 
to 
thwart any plans he has for escaping this way.  Suddenly the door to 
his room 
opens, and a man in a doctor's coat enters.  Greg looks up.  "About 
time you 
got here, bro." he says to the man.

"Hey -- I promised I'd get you out of this, didn't I?  I mean -- ever 
since I 
discovered that I had a little brother -- I can't believe Kevin won't 
even 
help you.  Typical of my holier-than-thou sibling -- that's okay 
though.  I 
just left him a nice little surprise at his house.  Can't wait to see 
him try 
to explain this one!"  Ryan says, grinning a bit.
 

"Oooh -- care to share the details?"

"Let's just say that our little friend Dr. Lambert proved to be more 
useful 
than I had originally hoped.  I'm just sorry I never got to have any 
fun with 
her first."  Ryan turns around, and Greg notices the scarring that's 
showing 
on his face.

"Hey -- where's the rest of your disguise?" 

"That little witch Eve scratched it off -- damn her, I've worked like 
hell to 
make this mask look realistic.  Now I have to start all over again."

"Don't worry bro -- once I get out of here, we'll get that all fixed 
up. 
Just until we can have the real thing done."

"I can't wait -- Kevin's been happy for WAY too long.  I deserve to be 
happy 
to, you know!  So -- are you ready to blow this joint?" Ryan asks.

"Are you kidding?  I've been counting the days." Greg says.

"Well then -- what are we waiting for?  Let's go." Ryan says.  He hands 
Greg 
an orderly disguise and the two leave together.

Jessie comes out of the OR.  Kevin looks up at her.  "How is she?" he 
asks. 
Jessie sits down next to him. 

"It doesn't look good." she says.  "She had to have several 
transfusions -- 
she lost so much blood.  And -- she suffered massive internal injuries. 
And 
we don't know how long oxygen was cut off from her -- there could be 
brain 
damage as well." Jessie says, her voice shaking.

"Oh my god.  I mean, I never liked Evie all that much, but -- who would 
do 
this to her?" Lucy asks.  Kevin gets up and starts to walk out of the 
room. 
"Doc?" Lucy says.

"I'll be back." Kevin says, and he leaves. 

"Chris is staying with Eve while they take her to ICU -- I'm gonna try 
again 
to get ahold of her mother or sister." Jessie says, and leaves.

Kevin goes into his office.  He sits down at his desk and starts 
leafing 
through his journal for a few minutes, the pushes it aside.  He gets up 
and 
looks in the mirror.  "Who do you think you're kidding?  You actually 
expect 
people to believe that you didn't do this?" the image says, taunting 
him.

"Go away, Ryan!" Kevin shouts.

"By the way -- talking to your dead brother in a mirror isn't exactly a 
sign 
of sanity.  Just thought I'd point that out to you." the image says 
sarcastically.

"*I* didn't do this!" Kevin shouts.

"Well, then who the hell did?  Sigmund?" the image says.

"I don't know.  But I'm sure as hell going to find out." Kevin says.

"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that -- you might actually believe it 
someday." the image says.  The door to Kevin's office opens.

"Doc?" Lucy says.  Kevin turns around.  "What are you doing?"

"I -- I can't talk about this right now." Kevin says, pushing her away.

"Doc, please -- I want to help you, and --"

"You can't help me right now, Lucy.  I need to do this on my own." 
Kevin 
leaves.

Jessie enters ICU -- Chris is sitting next to Eve's bed.  "Hey -- I 
think you 
need to get some sleep." Jessie says.

"I can't." Chris says.  "I need to stay with her.  She -- she doesn't 
have 
anyone else."

"I called her sister -- she sounded like she barely cared.  That's 
sad." 
Jessie says.

"Eve and her sister don't get along very well anymore."  Chris says, 
turning 
his attention back to Eve.  Jessie walks up behind him and puts her 
hand on 
his shoulder.

"Who would have done this to her?" Jessie asks.

"Isn't it obvious?" Chris remarks.  "Your psycho cousin strikes again."

"Kevin wouldn't do this!  I know him -- he could never --"

"They were having an affair, Jessie -- Kevin and Eve were having an 
affair."

"That's a lie." Jessie says.

"I saw them -- just about a week ago.  I confronted Eve on it, and -- 
she 
made me swear not to tell anyone.  But that was before this happened." 
Chris 
says.  "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out -- 
they 
must have had a fight or something, and Kevin lost it, and this is the 
result."

"No.  No, I don't believe that.  There's gotta be another explanation." 
Jessie insists.

"Yeah, well when you come up with one, let me know.  I'm sorry Jess -- 
but 
I'm not gonna let Kevin get away with this.  He's gonna pay." 

"What do you mean?"  Jessie asks.

"I mean, I just put a call into the PCPD -- they're sending someone 
over 
right now.  If I have my way, Kevin will be behind bars within hours." 
Chris 
says.

"Don't do this, Chris -- Kevin is innocent." Jessie insists.

"That's your opinion." Chris says. 

"I'm not gonna let you do this." Jessie says.

"You don't have a choice." Chris says.  Jessie stares at him for a 
minute, 
stunned, then leaves the room.  Chris remains at Eve's side, talking to 
her. 
"Don't worry -- I won't let him get away with this." he tells her, 
squeezing 
her hand tightly.

Jessie is walking toward the elevator, and Lucy sees her and 
approaches. 
"Jessie -- have you talked to Kevin?" 

"No, not since I saw you in the waiting room.  Lucy what's wrong?"

"Kevin is -- I don't know, he's very upset, and he just took off, and I 
don't 
know where he was going or --"

"He probably went back home.  Let's go find him." Jessie says.

Lucy and Jessie arrive at the Lighthouse.  Kevin is there with Victor. 
"Doc 
-- don't you ever do that to me again, you scared me half to death!" 
Lucy 
says, putting her arms around him.

"I'm sorry." Kevin says.

"How is Eve?" Victor asks.

"It's still too soon to tell." Jessie replies.

"Kevin -- can I talk to you for a minute?" Jessie asks.  They go into 
Kevin's 
den.  "Chris -- he said he saw you with Eve.  He said that -- you were 
having 
an affair with her."

"What!  Jessie, I haven't talked to Eve in MONTHS!  Why would he say 
something like that?"

"I don't know, but -- Kevin, he's calling the police.  He -- he thinks 
you 
did this to Eve."  Just then they hear the doorbell ring -- Jessie and 
Kevin 
go into the living room.  Mac is there.

"Kevin -- I hate to this mate, but I have to ask you some questions." 
Mac 
says.  "Where were you tonight?"

"I just went out for a walk.  I came home, and Lucy and I went to bed." 

"You don't have any witnesses to show where you were tonight?" Mac 
asks.

"Mac -- I know what you're thinking, and my Doc would never --"

"Lucy, do you think I want to be here asking these questions?  I'm just 
doing 
my job.  Kevin -- I hate to say it, but until Eve Lambert wakes up or 
we have 
some proof otherwise, you're the prime suspect in her attack.  I have 
to ask 
you NOT to leave town.  I'm sorry." Mac says, heading for the door.
"I'm 
really sorry." Mac says.  Lucy walks up and hugs Kevin. 

"It's --- it's gonna be alright, Doc.  We'll prove that you didn't do 
this, 
and --"

"How, Lucy?  What if -- Eve doesn't make it?  Because right now she's 
the 
only proof I have." Kevin says.

April 7, 2001 -- morning.  Lucy wakes up and rolls over, reaching for 
Kevin. 
He's not there.  "Doc?" she says, sitting up?  She gets up and searches 
through the house, unable to find him.  She opens the closet and finds 
that 
his jacket is missing.  She looks outside -- his car is gone.  "Oh Doc, 
no." 
she says to herself.

That evening, Jessie enters Eve's room.  Chris looks up at her.  "Have 
you even gone home at all?" she asks.

"Yeah, last night -- have they arrested him yet?" he asks.

"Kevin didn't do it." Jessie says.  "There's no evidence that says he 
did." 

"Yet." Chris says.  "The results for the DNA tests haven't come back 
yet."

"I'm sure that once Eve wakes up, she'll tell us what really happened." 
Jessie says.

"If she wakes up.  It's been over 24 hours -- that's not good.  Jessie, 
she 
can't even breathe on her own yet -- I could kill Kevin for this."

"Chris -- I know Kevin.  He swears that he's innocent, and I believe 
him." 
Jessie says.

"How the hell would he know?  He's insane, Jessie -- do you honestly 
think he 
would tell you if he did this?  Odds are he's got some sort of split 
personality -- he probably doesn't even remember it.  But that's no 
excuse 
--"

"Kevin swears he hasn't talked to Eve in months, let alone had an 
affair with 
her!"

"He's lying.  I saw them." Chris insists.

"Maybe you thought you did -- are you sure it was Kevin?"

"I don't believe you.  My best friend is lying here in ICU, barely 
alive, 
because of your psycho cousin, and you're still taking his side on 
this! 
Come on, I know you don't like to see the bad in people, but are you 
really 
that clueless?"  Jessie's look turns angry.

"Yeah, Chris, I guess I am.  You think I don't care about what happens 
to 
Eve?  She's MY friend too, you know!   But I care about Kevin as well 
-- 
everyone else is turning their back on him, except for me and Lucy."

"Gee -- doesn't that tell you something right there?" Chris remarks.

"I have to go -- Lucy asked me to keep an eye on the twins for awhile, 
so she 
can --"

"So she can what?" Chris asks.

"Kevin is missing." Jessie says under her breath.

"And you still don't think he's guilty?"

"Chris -- something about this just doesn't feel right.  I would know 
if 
Kevin had done anything wrong -- but I don't feel --"

"Oh, would you please knock off that new age stupidity of yours!  I 
don't 
give a damn about you and Lucy's ‘vibes' or whatever the hell you 
want to 
call them -- Kevin is dangerous, and he needs to be stopped.  The 
sooner you 
realize that the better!"   Jessie looks at Chris, both angry and hurt.

"Goodbye, Chris." Jessie says angrily, and storms out of the room. 
Chris 
sighs as he runs his hands through his hair and looks down sadly.

Jessie is at the Lighthouse, and the doorbell rings.  She answers the 
door. 
"Uncle Victor -- thank you SO MUCH for helping me out." she says.

"Is there any word from Lucy yet?" he asks.

"No, nothing.  The twins are all ready to go -- I'd love to stay with 
them, 
but I have an early shift tomorrow, and --"

"Oh, it's no problem, dear, really.  And I'm sure Lucy won't mind." 
Victor 
says.

"I left her a note telling her that you have the kids.  I hope she 
finds 
Kevin soon."

"Well -- as soon as I get these little darlings home to Mary, I'm going 
to 
start searching on my own.  We'll find him, Jessie -- I promise." 
Jessie 
helps Victor take the twins out to the car, and he leaves with them. 
Jessie 
leaves herself, and about halfway home realizes that she left her purse 
at 
the Lighthouse.  She heads back to get it.  Jessie enters the house, 
and 
heads upstairs, looking for her purse.  She walks into the nursery, and 
sees 
someone standing there.  "Kevin?" she says.  "Where have you been? 
Everyone's been looking for you."  No answers.  Jessie moves in closer 
to 
him.  "You know you can tell me -- Kevin?" she says.  He turns around.

"Guess again." Ryan says, and Jessie screams as she sees his disfigured 
face. 
 She looks around the room frantically.  "Looking for this?" Ryan says, 
holding up her purse.  Jessie turns and starts to run -- and is stopped 
at 
the door by someone.

"Going somewhere?" Greg says, grinning.

"Please -- just let me go." Jessie begs.

"What do you think, little bro?" Ryan teases.

"Well, this wasn't exactly what we had planned for this evening -- but 
what 
the heck.  Could be fun." Greg says. 

"Sorry cousin -- you lose." Ryan says, and he reaches into his pocket 
and 
pulls out a white cloth and places it over Jessie's mouth.  She 
struggles to 
break free, but eventually collapses in Ryan's arms, unconscious.

Chris knocks on Jessie's door -- no answers.  He takes out his key and enters the house.  "Jess?" he calls out.  He checks her bedroom -- she's not there. He goes into the garage and sees that her car isn't there.  He picks up the phone and calls the hospital.  "Yes, is Jessica Collins working tonight?  No, no message." Chris says, hanging up the phone.  He calls the Lighthouse -- no answer.  He sits down on the couch, looking at his watch.   "Where the 
hell are you, Jessie?" he says to himself.

Chapter 8 

April 8, 2001 -- Chris wakes up on Jessie's couch, and looks around the room.  "Jessie?" he calls out, getting up.  He goes into her bedroom -- it's obvious she never came home.  He picks up the phone and calls the Lighthouse -- no answer.  Frustrated and clearly nervous about Jessie's whereabouts, he leaves.

Chris arrives at work.  He sees Dr. Boardman in the hallway.  "Dr. 
Boardman 
-- I know Jessie was scheduled to assist you this morning, do you know 
where 
she went?"

"She never showed up at all." Dr. Boardman says. 

"She never -- Jessie doesn't just not show up."  Chris says.

"I know -- and frankly, with that lunatic cousin of hers out on the 
loose, 
I'm a little worried." Dr. Boardman says, and he walks off.

"Yeah." Chris says to himself under his breath.  "Me too."

Lucy arrives at the Lighthouse, alone.  She finds the note that Jessie 
left 
her on her desk, saying that the twins are with Victor.  She picks up 
the 
phone and starts to dial, when the door opens.  "Doc!" Lucy cries out, 
running up to Kevin and embracing him.  "Where have you been?  I've 
been out 
all night, and everyone's been so very, very worried, and --"

"I went out for a drive.  I couldn't sleep, so -- I thought I'd be 
back, but 
my car broke down, and -- I called and left a message last night, but 
-- 
nobody was here." 

"I -- I haven't checked messages, I just got home, and -- oh Doc, 
please 
don't leave like that again."

"I had to think about things, Lucy -- I needed some time alone.  I 
didn't do 
it, Lucy.  I didn't hurt Eve, you have to believe me." Kevin insists.

"Oh, I know you didn't Doc -- but the police -- they told you not to 
leave 
town, and --" just then the doorbell rings.  Lucy answers it -- it's 
Mac.

"Mac -- see, Kevin is right here, he didn't leave town, and --"

"Lucy, I -- I wanted to handle this personally.  We -- got the DNA 
results 
back from the lab, Kevin.  It was obvious that Eve put up quite a 
struggle 
with her attacker, and -- we checked the skin fragments that we found 
under 
her fingernails.  The DNA matches yours, Kevin -- I'm sorry, I don't 
want to 
do this, but --" Mac pauses for a moment, "Kevin Collins, you're under 
arrest 
for the attempted murder of Dr. Evelyn Lambert.  You have the right to 
remain 
silent."

"No!" Lucy shouts.  "Mac, please -- Kevin is innocent, he didn't --"

"I'm sorry Lucy." Mac says.  "If you give up that right to remain 
silent, 
anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." 
Mac 
continues.

Ryan enters the room where Jessie is -- she's handcuffed to the bed. 
"Well, 
good morning, cousin -- care for some breakfast?" Ryan says.  He walks 
up to 
Jessie and unlocks the handcuffs.  Jessie shoves the food away, sending 
the 
tray crashing to the floor.  "Dammit!" Ryan shouts.  "Either you eat 
this, or 
I'll shove it down your throat!"

"You eat it!" Jessie says.

"Oh, I see -- you think it might be poisoned or something.  Would I do 
that?"

"Probably." Jessie says.

"You're a feisty one.  But then again, you are family, so -- I'm not 
surprised.  So -- we haven't gotten to know each other all that well, 
have 
we?  Hopefully we can do that now -- I mean, I was  so unfairly kept 
from all 
of my relatives for most of my life, and --"

"You can't keep me here.  People will know I'm missing.  They'll look
for 
me."

"You know what people will think?  That my ‘crazy brother' Kevin has 
done it 
again -- I mean, once they figure out that he's the one that attacked 
that 
poor Dr. Lambert -- I'm sure the DNA results will be back any minute. 
They'll figure he just added you to his list of victims -- trust me, 
nobody 
will bat an eye over your disappearance."

"My boyfriend -- he'll know.  He'll find me."

"Maybe.  But I wouldn't bet money on it.  I've, uh -- got my little 
brother, 
Greg, staking out the hospital -- he'll keep me up to date on what's 
happening there.  Oh, and -- I have a feeling that Dr. Lambert will be 
taking 
a turn for the worse soon, too.  Shame, isn't it?"

"Why don't you just kill me?"

"Because -- I need you alive.  You see -- I need something to bargain 
with. 
Once I decide to reveal to my dear brother that I'm back among the 
living.  I 
figure I can kidnap him, and -- well, gosh, once he sees that I have 
YOU, too 
-- I'll tell him that if he tries to escape -- you die.  You see, it's 
-- all 
part of my master plan.  I'm gonna get out of the country, and have 
this 
little scar on my face fixed up with plastic surgery, while my little 
brother 
babysits for you and Kevin.  And when I get back -- I'll show up in 
Port 
Charles.  Everyone will think I'm Kevin, and I'll tell everyone that 
‘Ryan' 
is alive and he kidnaped me and he's the one who did all these awful 
things. 
And when they go to arrest ‘Ryan' -- well, guess who will end up 
spending the 
rest of his life in a rubber room.  Oh sure, he can whine all he wants 
that 
HE'S really Kevin, but -- who'd believe him?  I mean, after all, he IS 
crazy." Ryan says, smiling with glee as he explains this to Jessie.

"What do you plan to do with me then?" Jessie asks.

"Why, you my dear -- will just have to die."  Ryan says mockingly, 
laughing.

Chris storms into the police station.  He approaches Officer Rick, who 
is 
sitting at the front desk.  "I want to report a missing person." he 
says.

"Okay, sir, if you'll just fill out these --"

"I don't have time to fill out your damn forms -- Jessica Collins is 
missing. 
 She never came home last night, she never showed up at work, and her 
psycho 
cousin is out there roaming around and he's probably the one who has 
her."

"Oh, well, Dr. Collins was just brought into the station, so --" Rick 
begins.

"He what?  Where?" Chris asks.

"They're interrogating him now, but -- you can't go in there, it's not 
--" 
Rick begins, as Chris storms past him.  "Where the hell is she, 
Collins?" 
Chris asks, storming into the interrogation room.  Chris grabs Kevin by 
his 
collar.  "What did you do with her."

"Chris, stop it!" Lucy begs, pulling him off of Kevin.

"What are you talking about?" Mac asks.

"Jessie.  She's gone." Chris says.

"Gone?  That's impossible, she -- she watched the twins last night, and 
--"

"And she never came home.  She didn't show up at work today.  Nobody's 
seen 
her since last night."  Chris says.

"Why would you be interested in where Jessie is?" Kevin asks.

"Doc -- Chris and Jessie got back together.  She hasn't told anyone, 
because 
she wanted to -- Chris, are you sure she's missing?" Lucy says.

"We got into a fight last night." Chris says, sitting down and getting 
a sad 
look on his face.  "I wanted to try and make it up to her -- I went 
over to 
her house, hoping to patch things up and -- she never came home.  I 
figured 
she was on her way home or something, and -- I tried to wait up, but I 
fell 
asleep on the couch.  I woke up this morning, and she wasn't there -- 
her bed 
hadn't even been slept in.  And she never came to work." Chris turns to 
Kevin.  "So help me God, Collins, if anything happens to her, I'll --"

"I would never hurt Jessie!" Kevin insists.

"Like you wouldn't hurt Eve?"

"I didn't do anything to Eve." Kevin insists.

"That's not what the DNA tells us." Taggart says, entering the room. 
Chris 
turns and glares at Kevin. 

"DNA doesn't lie." Chris says.

"I'll put out an APB on her -- until then, you need to cool off," Mac 
says to 
Chris, then turns to Kevin, "And I guess I'll have some more questions 
for 
you, mate." Mac says.

"Oh great -- the Keystone Kops will solve this.  I'd have better luck 
if I 
hired the Scooby Doo gang." Chris heads for the door.  "I better find 
her, 
Kevin -- and she better be okay.  Because you don't want to know what 
I'll do 
to you if she's not." Chris storms off.

"Doc --" Lucy begins.

"I -- I would never hurt Jessie.  Lucy, you have to believe me, I --" 
Officer 
Rick enters the interrogation room and hands Mac some information.  Mac 
looks 
down at it.

"They found a car abandoned about a mile from the Lighthouse -- it's 
Jessie's." Mac says.  "We're checking for fingerprints and -- I'm sorry 
this 
is happening mate, I really am."  Mac turns to Taggart.  "Go easy on 
him." 
Mac leaves.

"Well -- must be nice to have such a close relationship with the 
commissioner.  But it doesn't impress me AT ALL -- if I have anything 
to say 
about this, Collins -- you're gonna rot in jail for the rest of your 
life." 
Taggart says.

Chris arrives at the hospital, and enters Eve's room -- as soon as he 
walks 
in, she goes into full arrest.  "Eve!" Chris shouts, hitting the call 
button. 
 A nurse rushes in.  "Get a crash cart in here, now!"  Chris orders 
her, and 
a team enters the room and they're able to revive and stabilize her. 
"What 
the hell happened?" Chris asks.

"I don't know -- looks like her oxygen was cut off somehow." one of the 
residents says.  Chris looks down at it. 

"I want someone in here AT ALL TIMES, is that clear?" Chris says. 
"I'll be 
here for a few minutes -- she is not to be left alone, not even for ten 
seconds."  Chris sits down next to Eve and takes her hand.  "Hey you -- 
don't 
you scare me like that again, I've already got enough on my mind." 
Chris 
pauses for a moment.  "Jessie is missing.  And I'm afraid that Kevin -- 
Kevin's in jail now.  He can't hurt you anymore.  But I -- I need to 
find 
her, Eve.  We got into a fight, and -- I'm gonna go look for her.  I'll 
be 
back as soon as I can -- I want to see those eyes open and hear you 
running 
off at the mouth and annoying the hell out of every nurse on staff when 
I get 
back, and that's an order."  Chris gives her a kiss on the cheek and 
leaves. 
"Remember -- someone stays with her at all times." he says to the nurse 
on 
duty, and leaves.

Greg arrives at Jasmine Island, and Ryan looks up as he enters.  "So -- 
is 
our little problem -- dealt with?" Ryan asks.

"All taken care of." Greg says, grinning. 

"Good." Ryan says.  "Now -- you can go give our little guest her dinner 
-- 
I've had enough of her big mouth today."

"We can take care of that." Greg says.

"Nah, I don't want to waste what little supplies we have.  Just make 
sure she 
eats."  Greg gets Jessie's dinner ready and heads upstairs with it.

"I hear you've been causing trouble around here." Greg says, handing 
her a 
tray.  "Go ahead -- you want me to try it first?" 

"No." Jessie says, pulling the tray close and beginning to eat.

"You know, we never planned this.  We were hoping to get Lucy, but -- 
you 
just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Lucky me." Jessie says.

"So -- I take it you're new in town." Greg says.  Jessie ignores him. 
"What, 
my company isn't good enough for you?"

"I prefer to converse with sane people, thank you very much." Jessie 
says.

"Well -- if you're gonna be RUDE -- I don't think you need to finish 
this." 
Greg says, pulling her tray away from her. 

"You're gonna be sorry!" Jessie shouts, as Greg leaves the room and 
slams the 
door behind him. 

Kevin sits alone in his jail cell, and Mac comes to see him.  "How are 
you 
holding up?" Mac asks.

"I didn't do it, Mac." Kevin says.  "Come on, you know me --"

"I know -- and I -- just got some information.  Greg Cooper is missing. 
He 
escaped yesterday -- the facility that was holding him just released 
the 
information, they've tried to locate him on their own, but -- there's a 
full-blown manhunt out for him now.  And I'm starting to wonder -- 
maybe he's 
the one behind this.  But then, that doesn't explain the --"

"DNA match." Kevin says, finishing for him.  "Any word on Jessie?"

"No -- nothing."  Mac says, and Kevin leans back and sighs.  "I'm 
sorry." 
Mac leaves.

April 9, 2001 -- Chris goes to see Kevin in jail.  "Tell me where she 
is." 
Chris says.

"Chris, if I knew how to find Jessie, don't you think I'd have told 
someone 
by now?" Kevin says.

"She stood up for you, you know -- she swore up and down that you were 
innocent -- even after I told her about you and Eve -- she wouldn't 
hear any 
of it."

"I was NOT having an affair with Eve!  I don't know where the hell you 
got 
that idea, but --"

"Oh, come on Kevin, I SAW you with her -- I'm not the one who's crazy 
here." 
Chris says.

"Neither am I." Kevin insists.

"Please -- just tell me where I can find her." Chris says.

"I'm sorry -- I wish I could." Kevin says.  Chris sighs in disgust.

"I hope you rot in here." Chris says, and he leaves.

Later that evening, Greg and Ryan sit in the house at Jasmine Island, 
listening to the radio.  "Dr. Evelyn Lambert still remains in critical 
condition at General Hospital." the newscast says, as they catch the 
tail end 
of a broadcast.  Ryan turns to Greg.  "I thought you said you took care 
of 
her!" he shouts.

"I did -- I shut off her oxygen, and --"

"You IDIOT!  Obviously it didn't work -- come on, let's get back to 
Port 
Charles and check up on our favorite patient."

"Don't you want me to stay here and keep an eye on our guest?"  Greg 
asks.

"She's not going anywhere --- besides, I obviously can't trust you to 
do 
ANYTHING!" Ryan says, and the two of them leave.  Upstairs, Jessie 
hears them 
take off and starts to work on freeing herself.

Chris walks into his apartment, alone.  He sadly sits down on the couch 
and 
flips on the television.  "Dr. Collins has a history of violence, 
dating back 
to 1996, when he held police commissioner Mac Scorpio's wife hostage at 
knifepoint.  The DA intends to seek the maximum sentence in this case." 
the 
reporter says.  Chris flips off the TV and sits back, then sits up 
after a 
minute. 

"That's it!" Chris says to himself.  "Jasmine Island -- he took her to 
Jasmine Island."  Chris gets up and quickly walks out the door.

Chris walks cautiously up to the house at Jasmine Island -- the door is 
locked.  He pulls out a credit card and makes his way into the house. 
The 
lights are dim, and he carefully checks every room on the lower level, 
but 
finds them all empty.  He then begins to head upstairs.  Meanwhile, 
Jessie 
finally frees herself from the bed, and gets up, when she hears 
footsteps 
coming up the stairs.  She grabs a lamp from the end table, and stands 
next 
to the bedroom door as it opens, and hits the person entering the room 
over 
the head with the lamp.  He falls to the floor, unconscious.  Jessie 
reaches 
for the doorknob, then glances down at the man lying on the floor.  "Oh 
my 
god, Chris!" she shouts, kneeling down next to him.  She immediately 
checks 
for a pulse.  "Oh, thank god." she says.  "Come on baby -- wake up, 
we've 
gotta get out of here." she says.  Chris groans as his eyes start to 
open. 
"Chris -- can you hear me?" she says.

"Jess." Chris says, trying to open his eyes and focus. 

"It's me.  Come on sweetie, we need to get out of here before they come 
back. 
 Can you sit up?"

"Yeah, I think so -- oh, my head." he says, as Jessie helps him sit up. 
"What the hell happened?"

"I'll explain later -- come on, let's go."

"Are you okay?" Chris asks.

"I'm fine.  Come on -- I'll help you, just put your arm around me." 
Jessie 
says.

"I thought I was supposed to be the hero in this." Chris says jokingly. 

"You are, believe me -- your car is here, right?" 

"Yeah, the keys are in my -- left pocket." Chris says.  "He didn't hurt 
you, 
did he?"

"No, I told you, I'm fine -- come on, we don't have much time." Jessie 
says, 
helping Chris stand up. 

"I told you he was crazy, Jess -- but it's okay, he's in jail, and he's 
not 
gonna hurt you anymore."

"Who?" Jessie asks, as they head down the stairs.

"Who do you think?  Kevin." Chris says. 

"Chris -- Kevin didn't bring me here, it was --"

"Ryan." Ryan says, opening the door, with Greg entering behind him 
holding a 
gun.  "Going somewhere?" Ryan asks, taking the gun from Greg and 
pointing it 
at Chris and Jessie.

 "I thought you said you made sure she was tied up before we left!" Ryan says to Greg.

"She was -- looks like her boyfriend came riding to the rescue." Greg says.

"Oh, I don't know -- he doesn't look like the white knight type." Ryan says, walking up to Chris and
putting the gun up to his neck.  "Who the hell are you?"

"Leave him alone!" Jessie shouts.

"How protective -- don't you just love tough chicks?" Ryan says in a taunting voice.

"I'd like you to meet Dr. Chris Ramsey, bro -- our paths have crossed on a few occasions." Greg says.

"Let me guess -- this is the loverboy you've been saying will find you." Ryan says, looking him up and down.  "I think you can do better than this.  Maybe I should just -- put him out of his misery.  I mean, honestly, we have to consider our family reputation here -- this guy just isn't Collins family material."

"I guess not -- I'm not a psychopath." Chris remarks.

"You see -- he's insulting us.  I think you're better off without him." Ryan says, and he pulls back the
trigger.

"NO!" Jessie shouts, stepping in front of him.  "You're not gonna hurt him.  You'll have to kill ME
first -- and I know you don't want to do that."  Ryan grabs Jessie's arm.

"Don't tempt me." he says.

"Let her go." Chris says angrily. 

"Or what, pretty boy?  I'm SO scared!" Ryan says, releasing his grip on Jessie.  Chris wraps his arms around her and pulls her close. 

"You know -- maybe having Ramsey around isn't such a bad idea after all.  At least with him keeping her company, we won't have to listen to her WHINE for hours on end." Greg says.  "Besides -- you know what a romantic at heart I am.  I think we should let him live -- for now." 

"Well, gosh darn it, you know I can't turn down a request from my baby brother.  Guess you get a
reprieve -- just don't push your luck." Ryan says, still pointing the gun at them.  "I'm not afraid to
use this." 

"We've gotta get them out of here -- we don't know who he's told about looking for us here." Greg says.

"You're lucky, we've just set up our new accommodations, too -- you don't -- mind if we take
your car, do you?" Ryan says to Chris, searching his pockets for the keys.  Greg then grabs Jessie and pulls her away from Chris. 

"No!  Let her go!" Chris shouts.

"I'm not gonna hurt her -- the two of you are just gonna take a little nap for awhile.  I mean, we can't
have you finding out where your new home is, now can we?"  Greg says, pulling out a needle and injecting Jessie with it, and within moments she collapses in his arms.

"Jess!" Chris shouts, and Ryan grabs his neck. 

"Don't make me sorry I'm letting you live, Romeo." Ryan says, and he turns to Greg.  "I hope you've got another dose of that."

"Of course -- here you go, bro." Greg says, handing him a vial of the sedative. 

"Say goodnight, Dr. Ramsey." Ryan says, as he injects Chris.

That evening, Lucy enters the ICU at General Hospital. She heads toward Eve's room.  "I'm sorry, only family and medical staff are allowed in there." the attending nurse says.

"I just want to see her for a few minutes -- look, it's not like she has visitors lining up left and
right here -- please." Lucy says.  The nurse sighs.

"Five minutes." she says, and she lets Lucy into the room.  Lucy sits down next to Eve.

"You know, I've said this a hundred times before, Evie, but -- this time I mean it.  You look horrible."  Lucy pauses for a moment.  "That was a joke, you see, I -- look, I know we're not exactly friends here, but -- Eve, you just have to wake up, you hear me.  Because --" Lucy begins, her voice starting to shake, "Because my Doc is in an awful lot of trouble, and you're the only one that can get him out of it.  And I know that -- as much as you don't like me, you would never ever want Kevin to suffer.  Look --- if you promise to wake up and tell everyone that Kevin didn't hurt you, I'll -- I'll take back every single solitary nasty thing I've said about you, even the stuff you don't know about.  Of course, that doesn't mean I won't say them again later, but -- Eve, I am begging you -- don't let them take my Doc away from me." Lucy says, in tears. She looks down and sees Eve's hand start to move.  "Eve?" she says.  "Oh my gosh -- nurse!" Lucy shouts, opening the door.  The nurse comes rushing in.  "She just -- her hand, it moved, I saw it, and --" Lucy says while the nurse checks Eve's vitals. 

"It was just a reflex -- she's still unconscious." the nurse tells her.

"No.  No, I saw her hand move, I did, and --"

"It happens a lot with patients in a coma -- it doesn't mean anything until she's awake."

"But it's a good thing, right?  I mean, it means that  she'll wake up soon, and she can tell everyone that--"

"Miss Coe -- Dr. Lambert was deprived of oxygen for a very long time -- she could very well have sustained permanent brain damage.  There's no way we can know this until she wakes up.  And unfortunately, the longer she's unconscious, the less promising her prognosis is.  I'm sorry.  I'm gonna have to ask you to leave now." 

"Okay.  But you just wait -- she's gonna wake up, and tell everyone that my Doc is innocent.  You'll see." Lucy says, and she leaves.