Chapter 17

"Who was that?" Anna asked her husband placing a tray of fruit on the bed between them.

"Riley," Zach answered hanging up the phone.

"I thought we had a few days," she commented.

"Hon we do, he was just calling to tell me about a meeting with the operative already in place here. The meeting doesn't happen until later this evening and it shouldn't last more than an hour. We're going to have our time together."

"You can't tell me anything about this case?"

"Anna you know I can't talk about my work."

"So all I can know is that it's big and dangerous?"

"Yes it's very big, but no more dangerous than any other case." Moving the tray to bedside table he eased closer to Anna and wrapped his arms protectively around her. "Hey I refuse to have you get a phone call about me so please don't worry."

"Zach that's easier said than done. My father's been shot in the line of duty and he's lost friends to this 'work' of yours. I don't want to lose you."

"You won't." Cupping her face in his hands, "Anna what is it? You've never been like this before when it comes to my work. What's the problem?"

"I don't know. This just feels different and I can't shake it. I'm scared for you…I'm scared for us," she said as tears streamed down her rose colored cheeks.

Wiping away her tears, "Anna, sweetheart don't worry yourself over something that might happen. You know danger is a part of the job but in all my years in the field have I ever come back to you with so much as a scratch? No I haven't and with this last case it's going to be more of the same. I don't want us to waste this time we have together talking about this case and I definitely don't want you worrying so please don't. Everything is going to be fine, it's going to be just fine," he promised holding her close to him as Anna held on to him and his vow with all she had.

****************

"Dad I think you're blowing this out of proportion," MJ said watching Matt fume from across the room.

"You don't know what you're talking about," Matt simply explained.

"I know you're very upset right now and there's no reason to be."

"No reason to be? You come in here and tell me you want to do a story on the mob, more specifically Sal Mancusi and you tell me 'I'm' blowing things out of proportion? Oh son, you just don't have a clue," Matt explained not grasping MJ's lack of concern on this situation.

"Then give me a clue. Sal's an old man now Dad, what can he do to us? Besides, for all we know he could be dead already."

"Salvatore Mancusi is too mean to die, and he can do to us whatever he puts his mind to. I killed his son, my brother, he'll never forget that and neither will I. It's not a good idea you go stirring things up MJ. So just please, please let this go."

Releasing a drawn out sigh, "Okay I won't do the expose'. If it's that important to you I'll drop it."

Relief flooding Matt's body, "Thank you son. This is for the best."

"Do you ever think about your family?"

"You, your mother and your sister are my family, and I think about you all the time," Matt answered heading to the mini fridge for more water.

"You know who I meant," MJ remarked. "What about your mother? You've never even talked about her. How did she feel about the Mancusi lifestyle?"

Opening the bottle and downing almost all of its contents Matt considered the question before he finally answered. "She felt the way Pop wanted her to feel, the way a good little Italian girl was raised to feel. She wasn't happy about it, but she never said anything because as a 'Mafia wife' it wasn't her place, so she just prayed a lot. Seeing as how she ended up losing both of her sons in some way or another anyway it seems her prayers were all in vain." Shrugging off the conflicting feelings he always felt when discussing his past Matt brought the discussion to a close. "I don't want to talk about this anymore," he said finishing up the bottle and tossing it away. "As a matter of fact I want to forget this conversation ever happened."

Taking note of his father's change in demeanor, "Okay, it's dropped and forgotten."

"You're done with this expose' idea?"

"This story won't hit the air, so you can relax now," MJ assured him. He wouldn't broadcast the expose' but the research into his 'family ties' was just beginning. This had suddenly become a personal project now and not a career booster.

"I'm glad to hear that, it's enough going on in this family with your sister falling for Chris Ramsey's nephew I really don't need a Mancusi redux. So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?"

"Well I have to work on some new story ideas now so I'll probably do that for a few hours and later on I have a date."

"A date? Anyone I know?" Matt asked with a hopeful smile.

"Yeah, Lena," MJ shared.

"Lena?" Matt replied with a sour expression.

"Yes, Lena, she's a beautiful girl."

"She is a very beautiful girl but son she lacks substance."

"Dad I have enough substance for the both of us. She and several other 'friends' of mine left about a million messages on my answering machine last night so I figure why not give some lucky lady a thrill. Before I was just MJ the Wonderful now I'm MJ the Wonderful TV Star. I'm going to have to change my phone number." Walking over to the full-length mirror that was hanging on the wall, "Mmm, mmm, mmm, I'd date myself if I could," he smiled proudly.

Matt shakes his head in total amazement while his son admired himself. "Don't you ever get tired of that?"

"What?" MJ asked turning to his father. "Checking out myself in the mirror?" Once again turning to his reflection. "No, I never get tired of that," he beamed.

"Of course not, I knew better than to even ask that," Matt retorted. "I meant dating all these…well I'll just say it, bubble headed chicks."

"Bubble headed chicks?" MJ repeated. "Dad that's mean."

"But accurate. Don't you want more?"

"More what?" he asked once again sitting on the weight bench. "I get what I need from them."

Matt gives him a questionable look.

"It's not all like that. I'm not promiscuous, at least not like you're obviously thinking. You have to give me more credit than that. I do get mine but I take care of myself at the same time okay," MJ explained.

"I didn't ask for all that, all I asked was did you get tired of it."

"Dad there's nothing wrong with being sociable."

"What do you and these particular young ladies talk about when you go out?"

"Our favorite subject, me," MJ grinned.

"Did you know that there was more exciting things to talk about in the world than just you?" Matt quipped.

"Like what?" He replied with a chuckle but stopping his laughter after seeing Matt didn't share the humor. "I'm kidding Dad. Look these girls are fine for now. So what they don't stimulate my mind like they do my body, you can't have everything."

"Sure you can. I have it."

"Well there's not a lot of Moms out there."

"Maybe not, but there are some pretty nice Jensyns," Matt remarked with a smile.

"You back to that again? Dad that woman and I will spend more time arguing than anything else."

"I'd say you don't know that. I think you should ask her out you might surprise yourself."

"If I asked her out I definitely would surprise myself so I don't think you should hold your breath on that one."

"It was just a suggestion son, you might want to keep it at the back of your mind."

"Yeah, well in the back of my mind is where I'm sure it will stay," MJ replied trying to shrug off the idea that in spite of himself he just couldn't seem to shake his appeal with it.


######***************#####

Mac entered Kelly's with Kevin to find Jensyn sitting at a table alone. "Hi honey," he said giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Where's your mother?" Mac asked as he and Kevin took a seat at the table.

"Hi Dad, she went to the ladies room but she'll be right out," she informed him.

"Jenny I want you to meet a very good friend of mine Dr. Kevin Collins. Kevin this is my baby girl Jensyn," Mac proudly shared. "She's beautiful isn't she," he smiled.

"Yes she is," Kevin agreed. "It's very good to meet you Jensyn, your father has told me lots of wonderful things about you," extending his hand to her.

Taking Kevin's hand, "It's nice to meet you too Dr. Collins. I've heard many good things about you as well and I'm sure there are lots of stories you can tell me about Dad that would make this curly hair of mine straighten up and stand on end."

"You would be right about that," Kevin smiled as some of his and Mac's more outrageous adventures flashed through his mind. His memories were interrupted when he felt his beeper vibrate. Checking the number, "It's the hospital, there's a patient I've been monitoring so I'm going to go out and make this call. I'll be right back," Kevin said before leaving the table.

"He seems like a really nice man," Jensyn remarked.

"He is," Mac replied.

"So you explained to him why you and Mum were gone away for so long without any word?"

"As best I could."

"You want to try and explain why you came back to me? The real reason Dad and I know it has more to do with just my being here."

Taking his daughter's hand, "Jenny…" Mac began when his words were interrupted by a familiar squeaky voice calling his name.

"Mac!" his ex-wife Felicia shrieked wrapping her arms around his shoulders and placing a kiss on his cheek. "I didn't know you were back in town but I knew you would come back eventually." Glaring over at Jensyn, "Have you traded Dara in for a newer model?" she asked as Mac shrugged out of the hold she had on him.

"No as a matter of fact Felicia he hasn't," Dara explained returning to the table.

"Hi sweetheart," Mac said standing as he and Dara shared a kiss that cut Felicia to the very quick.

Catching her breath after the kiss ended, "I guess Mac hasn't had the chance to introduce you to our daughter Jensyn," Dara said taking her seat at the table.

"No he didn't get around to that," Felicia answered through clinched teeth still seething from the kiss she just witnessed.

"Is there something we can do for you Felicia?" Mac asked not at all happy with her intrusiveness.

"Well I was hoping that I could have some time with you alone," Felicia explained shifting uncomfortably as she glanced from Dara to Jensyn.

"Whatever you think you need to say to me alone rest assured you can say in front of my wife and daughter, so say what's on your mind and leave," Mac demanded.

"Uh, I think I'll just try and catch you some other time Mac," staring longingly at her ex before retreating to a stool at the counter.

"I'm sorry about that Dara," Mac said apologizing for Felicia's behavior as he clothed his hand over hers.

"You can't control what Felicia does, we're both well aware of that," Dara commented as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"If what Kevin told me is true I'm sure this isn't the last we've seen of her."

"I'm not concerned about Felicia. Speaking of Kevin how did things go with him?"

"As well as you said they would. Actually he's here, he had to check in with the hospital so he went outside to make a call but he should be back in soon."

"Good, I'm look forward to seeing him again."

"While we're waiting for Dr. Collins to return why don't you finish what you were explaining before the blonde whirlwind came along," Jensyn suggested to her father.

"What were you explaining?" Dara asked.

"Jenny wants to know the reason why we came back to Port Charles," Mac shared with Dara.

"Jen you know why we came back. We didn't want you to be alone."

"I know that's what you said Mum but…I don't know, I feel like there's something more to it than just that."

Mac and Dara exchange a look.

"What?" Jensyn asked. "I'm not your little sprout anymore. I'm a grown woman and a police officer, what aren't you telling me?"

In the quiet seconds that followed Kevin made it back to the table. "Hi Dara," he smiled happily as he went over and shared a hug with her. "It's good to see you again."

"You too Kevin," she said returning the hug. "I've missed everybody so much."

"We missed you guys too," he stated after the hug ended. "I wish I could stay, but I have to get to the hospital to check on a patient."

"I'm sorry you have to go, I was hoping we could all catch up," Mac said.

"Me too, but you guys are back in town for good so we'll have lots of time to catch up. As a matter of fact
I insist you come over for dinner tonight. I'm sure Lucy will have my head if you don't."

"You game Dara?" Mac asked.

"Sure it sounds like fun," Dara agreed.

Felicia continued to strain her neck as she listened in on the conversation. Mac was in town to stay, which would give her plenty of time to win him back. First however she had to wrangle an invitation to Kevin and Lucy's for dinner, but how?

"Great, then I'll see you guys around 6:30?" Kevin suggested.

"Six-thirty will be fine," Mac confirmed.

"Alright I'll see you then, and Jensyn I hope you can make it too," he smiled at the young lady.

"I'm sorry Dr. Collins I'm on duty tonight."

"Then some other time."

"Definitely," Jensyn returned affably.

"I'd better get going, I need to hail a cab," Kevin said.

"I can give you a lift," Mac offered as he stood from the table.

"I wasn't dropping hints Mac I can catch a cab."

"No I won't hear of it. I drove you over here so the least I can do is drive you to the hospital."

"I thought you wanted to grab a bite to eat."

"I can get something on the way back. It's a little late for breakfast and I'm not much for the brunch thing so I can wait. In fact Dara and I need to go house hunting so if you and Jensyn are done honey we can go looking now," Mac said squeezing Dara's shoulders.

"Is that okay with you Jen?" Dara asked her daughter.

"Well there was that matter we were discussing, but we can finish that up later," she reluctantly conceded.

"I guess we're ready then," Dara said standing. "We'll call you later honey," giving Jensyn's cheek a kiss.

"Alright," she returned. "It was nice meeting you Dr. Collins."

"You too Jensyn," Kevin replied.

Soon after her parents and Kevin departed Jensyn was joined at her table by Felicia.

"So, you're Mac and Dara's daughter?" Felicia said sliding into a chair.

"Please make yourself comfortable," Jensyn sniped to her uninvited guest, "and yes I'm their daughter. What can I do for you?"

"You can help prepare your mother for the inevitable. Mac and I are going to be together again. With him being back home and all the memories we share it's only a matter of time."

"Believe whatever gets you through the night. You can't rattle me and you can't steal my father away from my mother."

"Mac and I have a history and we also have children in common."

"Yes your two daughters that my father raised as his own and loved as his own until you disappeared with them one day. I know all about Maxie and Georgie, my father told my two brothers and me all about them, is there anything else?"

"You know you've got a smart mouth just like your mother," Felicia sneered.

"Coming from you I'll take that as a compliment. Now if you'll excuse me I have things to do," Jensyn said leaving the table and heading upstairs.

Felicia's fury came to a sudden end when she spotted Lucy and Ellen entering the restaurant. She wasted no time approaching them after they got seated at their table.

"Hello Lucy, Ellen," she greeted cheerfully.

"Felicia," the two women replied.

"Mind if I join you?" Not waiting for a response, "Thanks," she said taking a seat.

Lucy and Ellen share a confused look before Lucy inquires, "What's on your mind Felicia?"

"I was just thinking how we used to be such good friends. I miss that," Felicia remarked whimsically.

"Do you now," Lucy said prompting Felicia to continue.

"Yes I do and I was wondering if I could join you and Kevin for dinner tonight."

"Join Kevin and me for dinner?" Lucy repeated.

"Yes, we were such good friends and I'd like for us to get that back."

"What's changed Felicia? Doc and I have tried time and again to be friendly with you but you couldn't care less, why now?" Lucy questioned beyond curious with the sudden change.

"I've been feeling very lonely lately, I miss my friends and I would like to try and mend fences. I think it would be a better chance of Kevin not turning me away if I showed up at your place. I doubt seriously that he'd come to mine, so is it a date?"

"Actually I've already invited Ellen and Matt over for dinner so…"

"That's fine it's been too long since we've all been together so I'd love to join you. I'll be over at 6:30 see you all then." Felicia was gone from the table and out the door as quickly as she arrived.

"What was that about?" Lucy wondered.

"I don't know but looks like you'll find out at 6:30," Ellen smirked.

"No 'we'll' find out remember you're going to be there too."

"Sorry Lucy, no can do. I'm afraid something's going to come up preventing Matt and me from making it."

"Ellen please, you and Matt have to come. Doc and I will even help try to convince Matt to be nicer to Jack."

"I'm afraid it will take more than one dinner to accomplish that."

"Well it's a start. Say you'll come," Lucy pleaded.

Releasing a deep breath, "Alright Lucy we'll come," Ellen agreed. "It seems this evening promises to be an interesting one."


#########**********#########

"It should only take me a minute to grab my swim trunks and then we'll be off. Uncle Chris' car isn't outside so we won't have to deal with him. Thank goodness," Jack smiled. "You sure your dad won't pitch a fit about a Ramsey swimming in his pool?"

"Yes I'm sure. You give him a hard time but just watch Daddy is going to surprise you," Ally told him.

"Yeah like I'm sure Uncle Chris is going to surprise you. Forgive me if I don't hold my breath."

"You've managed to convince your uncle that you and I are about to break up, he's happy about that so I think he'll actually be nice when he sees me."

"You're probably right," Jack chuckled, "but I'm glad we don't have to put that idea to the test," he said giving Ally a quick kiss. "Let's go in."

Upon opening the door Jack was surprised to find Chris sitting on the couch perusing a medical journal.
"Uncle Chris, what are you doing here?"

"Reading my journal," Chris said holding up the magazine.

"I didn't see your car outside."

"That's because it's being detailed. Where are your manners Jack, invite Miss Harmon to have a seat," he said focusing his attention to Ally.

"We're not staying long," Jack informed him. "I'm just grabbing my trunks so we can go swimming."

"Well you go get your trunks and I'll keep your guest entertained," Chris said offering Allison a smile.

Extremely hesitant to leave them alone but figuring the sooner he left the sooner he'd be back Jack proceeded to go. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he whispered to Ally. "If he says anything out of line you tell me," Jack insisted.

"I'll be fine go on," Ally said taking a seat on the far end of the couch surprisingly feeling no nervousness whatsoever.

"I'll be right back," he said leaving the two alone.

"You know in all the years I've known about you I think this is the first time we've been alone in a room together," Chris remarked as he studied her.

"I believe you're right Dr. Ramsey," Ally said agreeing with his assessment.

She was quite a beautiful young woman he thought, she looked like Ellen but damn if she didn't have Harmon written all over her, especially her eyes. Thank God Jack saw this saw this involvement for what it was. Warding off a shiver, his son couldn't possible fall in love with a Harmon. "I'm sure your parents have told you quite a few things about me, specifically your father."

"Yes they have, especially my father but they generally let me draw my own conclusions about people."

"Does he know you're here?"

"He knows I'm with Jack and even though he's not crazy about it he knows that Jack is very important to me so he's trying to accept that."

Jack really has her snowed Chris mused. If she weren't Harmon's daughter he would almost feel sorry for her but since she is Matt's daughter she deserved whatever she got. He really couldn't blame Jack for wanting to get close to her, heck he'd be lying to himself if he didn't admit to having more than one lustful dream about Ellen, especially after those pictures he took. He disliked Ellen almost as much as he did Matt but it didn't change the fact that she was one good-looking woman.

"I'm back," Jack announced reentering the room. "You ready to go?" he said to Ally.

Rising from her seat, "Yeah I'm ready," Ally answered. "It was nice talking with you Dr. Ramsey, perhaps we can do it again sometime soon," she expressed politely.

"Perhaps," Chris returned with a half smile standing to walk them to the door.

"I'll be back later Uncle Chris," Jack said following Ally to the door with Chris hot on his heels.

"That's fine you two have a good time," Chris smiled. "I'm sure you'll have a really good time," he whispered in a leering tone to Jack as he gave his shoulder a playful punch.

"Right," Jack muttered hiding the scorn he was feeling; he could really use that swim right now. "Later Uncle Chris."

Chris watched the duo until they disappeared behind the elevator doors. Wearing a misguided smile of pride he sighed, "Yep that's my boy."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The house was quiet when Ally and Jack made their way back. After getting changed into their swimwear they met up in the living room.

Jack's eyes literally popped out of his head upon seeing Ally enter the room wearing a white bikini with her curly tresses hanging loosely about her shoulders. "Wow, you look amazing. Not that you don't always but…wow," he repeated trying desperately not to gawk too much.

"I'm glad you like it," Ally smirked.

"I do," he eagerly agreed walking over to her, "I like it a lot." Placing his hands on her hips and giving her forehead a kiss before staring into her almond colored eyes, "You're so beautiful."

"You look pretty good yourself," Ally remarked enjoying the pose he struck in his dark blue trunks. "I mean really good," she said gently stroking his well-defined chest as her fingers raked at the dark hairs that covered it before they shared a deep kiss.

Jack breaks the kiss. "We'd better be careful Allison," he managed through ragged breath as his fingers combed through her hair. "I'm not made of stone."

"Really, could have fooled me," she quipped suggestively very aware of the effect she was having on him before taking his lips in another deep kiss.

The two were losing themselves in the moment as they fell back against the sofa. Their roving hands skimmed over each other's bodies as their tongues continued on their own thorough explorations of each other's mouths. Jack's arousal continued to pulsate behind the thin covering on his trunks as he rested between Ally's thighs while her hips moved gently against him.

"Ally we should stop," he growled into her ear as his lower body began to move in time with hers while he dusted kisses along the smooth skin of her neck.

"We don't have to stop. I don't want to stop," she answered raking her hands through his dark hair as their tongues met in another deep kiss.

"But your parents…" he said through the rapid beating of his heart.

"Are not here," she said covering his chest with kisses. "I want you Jack, I want you right now," she murmured wrapping her legs around his waist as she pressed his rugged body even closer to hers.

"I want you too Allison. I love you so much," he declared staring into her eyes as he gently stroked her soft dimpled cheek.

"And I love you," she returned as their lips met in another fiery kiss.

Jack's right hand slid under the shoulder strap of her bikini top and slowly began to ease the material down. So lost in their unbridled passion the sound of keys jingling and a door opening went completely past them.