Chapter 2

"I'm sorry that I'm late Ellen." Local roadwork near Mario's Italian restaurant combined with Mac's unexpected visit to make Dara ten minutes late for her lunch date. Strict punctuality is a well-known attribute of Dara's so her slight tardiness vexed the usually unflappable A.D.A.

A beaming Ellen Burgess looked up from the oversized lunch menu as Dara sat down at the table. "Don't bother to apologize. I just arrived myself a few minutes ago." The friendship between Dara and Ellen had blossomed during the last few months and a casual observer of the two women would easily conclude that they were life-long friends.

After giving their lunch orders to the waiter, Dara sipped on a glass of sparkling water and commented, "I can't believe you've let your shopping for the trip go until the day before you're due to leave for Italy!"

"I really don't need to buy a lot of things for the trip," Ellen stated in defending the last minute shopping trip. "Kevin and I are traveling light since we plan to tour Italy after his conference and we'll probably do some shopping there."

Sighing wistfully, Dara remarked, "I can't think of a more romantic place to visit than Italy in the early summer. Only Paris would top it."

Ellen nodded her head in agreement with Dara's statement. "I know. I can hardly believe that we'll be in Italy, especially the first time..."

Dara's jaw dropped as a slightly flustered Ellen left her sentence unfinished and abruptly stopped speaking. "Ellen," Dara gasped, "You and Kevin have been dating for almost 3 months! Are you the same woman who admonishment me earlier this year not to take too much time in going forward with my relationship with Mac?" Kevin and Ellen certainly had her fooled. Though neither Kevin nor Ellen were the type of people to display inappropriate behavior in public, they shared many loving gestures, kisses, and touches, especially when they were on double dates with Mac and Dara.

"You know people are always better at giving advice rather than taking it," grinned Ellen. "I'm no exception." Ellen's brow furrowed as she struggled to explain her feelings. "Dara, it just didn't feel right to immediately jump into an intimate relationship with Kevin after my breakup with Matt. Recognizing the feelings I have for Kevin came so suddenly, I just wanted to take some time before completely following through on them.

Gazing thoughtfully at her friend, Dara asked the obvious next question. "And now you're think you're ready to follow through on those feelings?"

"More than ready," Ellen somewhat sheepishly acknowledged with a dimpled grin. "I know that Italy will be a special time for both of us."

Struck with an idea for a gift, Dara smiled impishly and cryptically remarked, "Well then, I know exactly where we should shop after lunch."

*****

It was just after the lunch hour when Mac entered the PCPD squad room and took long brisk steps toward Marcus Taggert's desk. A junior officer with a question for the commissioner immediately changed his mind upon seeing Mac enter the room. Everyone in the squadroom quickly made themselves busy and avoided direct eye contact with Mac. Something about his demeanor told them to stay out of his way and they all headed the unspoken warning.

With his elbows on the desk, Taggert was listening intently on the telephone and had his back towards the squad room door. He was unaware of Mac's presence until his supervisor stood directly in front of Taggert and said without preamble, "What's going on with Moreno's transfer? How the ..."

Taggert raised his hand to interrupt Mac so he could finish his telephone conversation. "Uh um. Yes. Well get back to me within a few hours with anything you have." As soon as Taggert ended the call, a fuming Mac started again.

"What is this nonsense about Moreno getting a get-out-of-jail card via a hospital visit?"

"Apparently a state judge signed off on the request, Mac. I was just talking to Warden Tim O'Malley and he says he's just as concerned about Moreno's transfer as we are."

Mac made no attempt to suppress his sarcasm. "I seriously doubt that Taggert."

Ignoring Mac's comment, Taggert continued. "The warden says two of his best guards will accompany Moreno to the hospital. Also, the governor has assigned state police personnel in and around Mercy Hospital for the duration of Moreno's stay." Leaning back in his chair and giving Mac a quizzical glance, Taggert asked, "Even though both prison & state police personnel will be on duty, I suppose you'll want me to assign someone from the PC police department to make the trip to Albany, right?"

"Not at all," Mac evenly replied. "You don't have to assign anyone. You and I are going to make the trip to Albany next week." Taggert grimly nodded, and picked up the telephone again to get the details of Moreno's transfer from the prison officials.

*****

"How can they charge so much money for this sleepware and there is so little fabric?" The last stop on the afternoon's shopping trip was a visit to Sweet Dreams, an upscale lingerie store in the fashionable Galleria Mall about 15 miles from Port Charles. Ellen marveled at the sheerness and exquisite feel of the plum-colored stretch lace slip selected by Dara as a present for Ellen's trip. However, she blinked her eyes in disbelief when she spied the price on the tag of the dress and protested the expense, but Dara insisted on buying the gift.

"Ellen, this trip is an indulgence. You can't be in Rome or Venice with foundations courtesy of Playtex!" Dara said laughingly. "I know you said you're going to take the opportunity to shop while you're in Italy but you won't hit the stores immediately after leaving Fiumicino airport and you need something nice for the first few days." With that final pronouncement, Dara guided her friend towards the register to complete the purchase.

An unexpectedly long line awaited them at the checkout register thus giving Dara and Ellen more time to talk about the trip. Totally animated in their conversation, they were unprepared to hear a strained terse female voice say, "How ironic. Somehow I never thought we would meet here, of all places Ellen." Frozen in shock for a few seconds, Ellen turned around to find Lucy Coe standing not 6 inches away. Grimacing, Ellen thought this public confrontation is what she was getting for not taking the step to meet with Lucy privately after the infamous Valentine Day blow-up. For weeks Ellen thought of contacting Lucy, knowing eventually one day they would see each other again. But guilt and having nothing to say to Lucy that would help the situation kept Ellen from making an attempt to contact her former friend.

Clenching and unclenching her fists in anger, Lucy spat out with trembling lips, "I know I haven't had sweet dreams since Valentine Day at Luke's, and if you had any conscience, you would be sleeping well these nights either." Lucy knew her own past history wasn't pure as the driven snow, but Ellen's betrayal of their friendship transcended anything Lucy had ever done. Unbidden tears started welling in Lucy's eyes as she remembered the sight that night of Kevin passionately kissing and embracing Ellen, and more shockingly, Ellen returning Kevin's affection. "You backstabbing, hypocritical, ..."

"Lucy, please!" Quickly Ellen left Dara in the store to make the purchases and led Lucy just outside the entrance to the shopping center. Dara paid for the merchandise and with some trepidation exited the store to look for Ellen. Just beyond the double doors of the shopping mall entrance Dara could watch but not hear the end of the obviously bitter confrontation between Ellen and Lucy. From the small part of the exchange she observed, Lucy was talking more than a minute for every few seconds Ellen could get a word in. Then suddenly, Lucy turned on her heels and left. Taking a deep breath, Dara went to join Ellen, who was barely successful in keeping the tears in her eyes from spilling onto her cheeks. It was obvious the confrontation with Lucy had unnerved Ellen and Dara offered to take Ellen back to her apartment.

Shaking her head, Ellen refused Dara's offer. "Absolutely not." Ellen clasped Dara's hand and smiled weakly. "Until these last 10 minutes I had a great time with you today and you know you have to get on to the rehearsal. I'll be fine. Really."

****

Sonny Corinthos looked at his watch and estimated it would be another 20 minutes or so before Michael's appointment with the pediatrician Dr. Hardy would be finished. Always near the top of his list of unpleasant experiences was seeing a Quartermaine who would most certainly take an opportunity to get on his nerves. Never comfortable standing in the lobby or near the nurse's station at GH, Sonny passed the time by walking along a relatively quiet hallway just off of the pediatric wing of the hospital. Just barely, his ears could hear faint strains of music. Not the canned, elevator type of music but a haunting lilting melody. Slowly his feet led him to a small unfamiliar auditorium in the hospital and he heard the voice of A.D.A. Jensen. Sonny's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing Dara in the dimly lit auditorium. Unobserved he quietly took a seat in the back corner of the room and continued to watch. Sonny surmised he had stumbled upon some type of rehearsal and Sonny took this opportunity to observe Dara Jensen outside of their almost routine courtroom or police station settings. Dara Jensen instructed a man seated at a grand piano. "Slow down the tempo a quarter of a beat at the refrain. Let's do it one more time before we call it the night," she said. Despite the fact she was dressed in business attire, Dara's voice and persona morphed into that of a chanteuse as she closed her eyes and began singing into a microphone.

Don't be afraid
Close your eyes
Lay it all down
Don't you cry
Can't you see I'm going
Where I can see the sun rise
I've been talking to my angel
And he said that it's alright

I've always had to run
I don't know just why
Desire slowly smoking
Under the Midwest sky
There's something waiting out there
That says I've got to try
I've been talking to my angel
And he said that it's alright

This town thinks I'm crazy
They just think I'm strange
Sometimes they want to own me
Sometimes they wish I'd change
But I can feel the thunder
Underneath my feet
I sold my soul for freedom
It's lonely but it's sweet

Don't be afraid
Close your eyes
Lay it all down
Don't you cry
Can't you see I'm going
Where I can see the sun rise
I've been talking to my angel
And he said that it's alright

"Amazing," Sonny thought silently. "Simply amazing how a beautiful voice can take a person out of his world to a special place as she just did. It is truly a gift." Shaking his head to return to the "here and now" world, Sonny wanted to applaud or at least let Dara know of his presence, but a sixth sense silently cautioned Sonny to remain quiet. He and A.D.A. Jensen never pretended to have a cordial relationship and it was unlikely she would accept his compliments of her singing in the spirit it would be given. When Dara turned to gather up the sheet music lying on top of the piano, Sonny took the opportunity to slip quietly and unobserved from the auditorium. Standing there looking at the closed auditorium doors, Sonny took a few minutes to wonder about the enigma known as Dara Jensen. What did he really know about her? Not a whole lot, just that her work seemed to be her life and she could give up her civil service day job at any time to sing professionally. No, it wasn't true that's all he knew. Mac Scorpio had recently hooked up with the beautiful A.D.A. and it seemed to be serious. Also, there was a lot more to Dara Jensen, Sonny could sense that from to way she sang the song.

This town thinks I'm crazy
They just think I'm strange
Sometimes they want to own me
Sometimes they wish I'd change
But I can feel the thunder
Underneath my feet
I sold my soul for freedom
It's lonely but it's sweet

Sonny's silent reflections abruptly ended when the auditorium doors swung open and he looked at Dara's startled face.

"Good evening Counselor."

"Mr. Corinthos," Dara said swiftly recovering from almost running into Sonny. Struck by the indescribable expression on Sonny's face, curiosity got the better of Dara's judgment, prompting her to ask, "Is something wrong? After not receiving an immediate reply to her question and after an awkward pause she asked, "Are you lost?"

Faintly smiling while pondering Dara's last question, Sonny shook his head in response. "Not at all. I was waiting for Carly and Michael to finish with a doctor's appointment and something led me down this hallway when I heard your signing." Continuing to speak and mentally preparing himself for a rebuff Sonny offered, "It was...it was great, your singing I mean."

Dara bit her bottom lip to keep from smiling at the absurdity of the PC mob boss complementing the A.D.A. on her singing in a local hospital auditorium. And there was something different about the way Sonny complemented her singing. Not with his usual, smart-guy, sardonic tone, but as if he actually meant it as a complement. Warily eyeing him, she replied, "Thank you. We were doing the final rehearsal for the benefit Sunday to raise money for the pediatrics center here at GH."

Still staring at Dara in a somewhat dazed expression, Sonny queried, "What made you pick that particular song? I mean, to sing it at the benefit?"

No doubt about it, Dara was caught off-guard by Sonny Corinthos' attempt to actually hold a civil conversation with her that didn't involve bail or criminal charges. And while Sonny's unwavering stare didn't unnerve her, she couldn't help but wonder what was on his mind and where the conversation was going. Tilting a head to one side with a pensive expression on her face, Dara answered, "The song is titled "Talking To My Angel'. It's one of my favorites, plus I want the audience to contribute to the pediatrics fund and be angels for the children who really need the support and love. I hope the song and program will inspire people to care and to give."

"If that's your goal then I am sure you will succeed," Sonny murmured in complete sincerity.

Slightly taken aback by the second unexpected complement, Dara was saved from responding when Carly Corinthos' voice echoed down the hallway.

"Sonny, where have you been? Michael and I are tired and we've been looking all over for you?" Upon reaching Sonny and Dara, Carly linked her arm with Sonny's, threw Dara a spiteful look, and snapped, "Are you harassing Sonny again? Can't honest citizens go anywhere without you and other government minions at our heels all the time?"

"Carly, be quiet," hissed an exasperated Sonny. This is just like Carly to go off half-cocked in a situation that she knows nothing of.

What a shrew, Dara thought. I bet Carly keeps Sonny Corinthos busy full-time. Oh well, they probably deserve each other and Dara invisibly shrugged her shoulders. "Get over yourself Carly. The only person doing any harassment now is you, but I'm on my way out of here." Without another word Dara turned and headed back towards the main wing in General Hospital.

Carly started to speak again when she stopped and with narrowing eyes watched Sonny watch Dara's retreating form. After a few seconds she asked, "What did she want?"

"She didn't want anything Carly. Just drop it. Where is Michael?" Steering the conversation to Michael and the doctor's visit, Sonny walked with Carly to retrieve their son and leave the hospital.

Song Lyrics Credit - "Talking To My Angel" by Melissa Etheridge


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