"What?"

"He's awake and he's calling for you!"

Keesha scratched her forehead and stifled a yawn. "What, Monica? You're talking too fast. Could you slow down? I don't understand. Who's calling for me?"

There was a pause and then Monica said, "Jason is calling for you, Keesha. He wants to see you. How soon can you get to the hospital?"

She became instantly wide-awake. Sitting straight up in bed, Keesha brushed the hair from her eyes and questioned Monica. "Why does he want to see me?"

"Please, let's not do this over the telephone. Can't you just come? Soon?"

A million different emotions hit Keesha at full force. Why would Jason want to see her of all people and why was Monica so adamant about it? Didn't the woman realize that the time when Keesha would drop everything to go to Jason's side had ended two years ago? How dare Monica call her with such urgency now! Didn't she realize how much this hurt Keesha? Didn't she care about Keesha's feelings at all?

Anger and hurt took priority inside Keesha and she snapped, "No, Monica! I can't-"

"Keesha, look," Monica interrupted, "I understand, but this is different. Please come. You'll see. I have to go now. Dr. Lewis has just finished examining him. Try to hurry. Please."

The call about Jason's admittance to the hospital didn't come until the morning. Quickly, Carly dressed and went to General Hospital. When she first arrived, she saw Monica with him and decided to wait. Her nerves were on edge enough without running into that shrew. Then, just as she was about to go in, some doctor went inside Jason's room and stayed forever. Now, that he was done and talking with Monica, she saw her chance so she took it.

The door swished closed behind her and Carly tiptoed to Jason's bedside. His eyes were closed and he appeared asleep. Her breath caught in her throat. He looked so peaceful, almost angelic. So unlike the man whose fiery intensity excited and terrified her both at the same time.

"Oh, Jase," she murmured, looking down at his bruised face and bandaged head. "What did they do to you?"

She glanced at the machines that were attached to him and guessed that he must have been beaten pretty badly, much worse than his exterior bruises showed. Pulling up a chair, she sat down and reached for his hand. She brought it to her lips and placed a tender kiss upon his swollen knuckles.

He stirred and a smile came to his lips. "Keesha," he murmured as his eyes fluttered open.

At the sound of her nemesis' name coming so tenderly from Jason's lips, Carly dropped his hand and reared back. His blue eyes darkened as he looked her. "Who are you?"

"Jase, it's me. Carly," she said slowly. "Your best friend."

Frowning, he shook his head. "You're not my best friend. I've never seen you before."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Carly's hands started to shake and she abruptly stood up. "You hit your head and just don't remember." She reached out to caress his face and he flinched, moving away from her outstretched hand.

"I don't know you," he said, his face becoming red with agitation. "You should leave now."

"But-"

"No, please," he said, his voice strained. "I want you to leave."

Stunned by his reaction to her, Carly offered no further protest and left.

Monica's conversation with Dr. Lewis ended with her seeing red. Seething with anger, she marched to Tony's office and slammed into the room without knocking. A look of surprise crossed his face as he stared at her. "Monica?"

"How dare you!" she spat with mounting rage. "How dare you be so careless!"

"Careless?" he repeated. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about my son!" she fired back at him. "You told us the damage to Jason's brain was irreversible. You were wrong!"

"Now, wait just a minute," he said, holding up his hands as he stood up. "My diagnosis was accurate. I'm sorry about the life he's chosen, but sometimes, fate-"

"Stop it, Tony! Stop spouting out that useless, inaccurate crap. I just spoke to Dr. Lewis who examined Jason just moments ago, and he said there is no way any neurologist could determine anything conclusive about the damage Jason suffered. You lied to us, Tony!"

His face became a glowering mask of rage. "I didn't lie! I'm one of the best neurologists in the country and I do my job damn well! And I stand by what I said two years ago! Jason is not the same man he was before the accident and he never will be!"

"If that's what you want to believe, then fine!" she bit out. She spun on her heel and went to the door. Before she left, she looked over her shoulder and added, "By the way, there will be a meeting today with the board to discuss your position here. Someone will call you with the details later."

Sonny walked around his Puerto Rico casino confident and secure. He smiled at the waitresses and patted the patrons on their backs. The thrill of success pumped in his veins and even though it would take a while before Mac Scorpio was permanently out of the picture, the wait would be worth it.

"Excuse me, sir," Pablo said as he stopped Sonny near the blackjack table, "there's call for you in the office. It's urgent, sir."

"Thanks."

Sonny went back to his office and closed the door behind him. He picked up the blinking telephone line and said, "Corinthos here."

"You're a hard man to track down," replied a tense voice. "I've been on hold for over ten minutes!"

"I'm a busy man, Mr. Mayor," Sonny said. "I don't sit around waiting for calls."

"Well, this is one call you wouldn't have expected and you'll be glad I called you!"

Sonny scratched his temple. Mayor Harris was high strung and easily agitated. Keeping him on the payroll was a necessity but once Dara was his again, he'd have to be dismissed. Preferably dispensed into a hole six feet under.

"What is it?" Sonny asked when Harris didn't continue.

"Scorpio quit," the Mayor announced. "I tried to find out why, but he wasn't talking. Our plans will have to be changed now. What was gonna happen on the waterfront-"

"Stop!" Sonny yelled. "Are you stupid? You've said more than enough."

The mayor's ragged breathing echoed in the receiver. "What do you want me to do? I've been trying to keep tabs on him. Should I continue?"

"Yeah," Sonny said, rubbing his hand wearily across his face. "Keep watching him and report back to me when something changes."

"Anything else?"

Normally, the Mayor's eagerness grated on Sonny's nerves, but with the latest news on Scorpio, he was too distracted to let the man get to him. In a distant voice, he said, "I'll get back to you."

The call ended and Sonny sat staring sightlessly into space. Damn, Scorpio. What are you up to?

"Today's mail, madam."

Ari presented the envelopes to Helena and slowly swaggered from the room. Her eyes danced and her heart raced as she watched his firm backside retreat. The man was a rare find. Handsome, skilled, intelligent and one of the best lovers she'd ever had. As he closed the door behind him, she reluctantly turned her attention to the stack of correspondence he just delivered.

Junk mail…an invitation here and a request for donation there. Nothing of importance, so she tossed them aside until later. Then a large, nondescript manila envelope caught her attention. She pulled it from the pile and using a letter opener, ripped inside.

Old clippings and photographs fell onto her desk and a small note landed on top. She lifted the note and began to read it.

"The truth hurts."

What utter nonsense she thought. Was this supposed to be a joke? Her mouth thinned into a grim line as she began to peruse the articles and such.

Photos of a young Mikkos and her younger sister, Emilia holding hands and wrapped in embrace swam before her eyes. Impotent rage thundered inside her. Mikkos had an affair with her sister!

"Damn you!"

Unable to stop herself, she continued to look through the photos and then she came across one that caused her heart to stop. Emilia sat, heavy with child, while Mikkos sat her feet. Helena turned the picture over and read the note on the back.

"Me and Mikkos – 1953"

Mikkos had impregnated both sisters at the same time! While Helena carried the sniveling Stefan within her womb, Emilia also carried Mikkos' child. Would the indignities ever end, she wondered as she reached for the last note.

In trembling hands, she held a faded, worn copy of a death certificate, which stated that Helena's baby died. Realization struck her at that premise moment and she understood everything. Stefan was Mikkos' bastard with Emilia.

Damn them all to hell! Her fists pounded the desktop in blind fury. Bitter tears flowed down her pale cheeks. The truth really did hurt after all.