Surprises

Part Twenty-four

Dara glanced at Lucky as he shuffled a deck of cards he'd found in a kitchen drawer. She appreciated his willingness to stay but felt bad about how long he'd been there.

"You don't have to stay," she said to him.

He nodded. "I'd like to if you don't mind. Just until we know something. Is that okay?"

Dara shrugged. He gave her a faint smile and began to deal cards to her, Lois, Justus, and Mac. They had decided on a game of Spades. Dara wasn't sure if she remembered the rules. Her mind refused to focus. And her gaze kept drifting to the closed front door.

Then, as if on cue, the door swung open. Johnny's face tight with concern appeared. "We got word."

The cards fell from Dara's hands as she stood. She felt Lois move behind her, placing her arm around Dara's shoulder. Lucky moved to stand on the other side. Justus and Mac brought up the rear.

"What is it?" Dara asked, in a choked voice. "How are they?"

Johnny spoke to all but gazed only at Dara. "They're at General Hospital. I'm to take you and Mrs. Corinthos there immediately."

Dara's knees wobbled as she followed Johnny from the penthouse. Lucky and Dara's close friends moved behind her. She was dimly aware of their conversation. Mac and Justus mumbled their concern. Lois offered to drive Lucky to GH; he accepted.

When they reached the elevator, Carly and Mike were already there. Mike's light eyes were filled with worry, and he tried to give Dara an encouraging smile. In turn, Carly glared at Dara. Accusation and fear shone vividly in her brown eyes. Dara turned her head.

# # #

"NO! I need to be with him!"

Keesha tried to wrestle from Marcus' hold around her waist. The paramedics had just wheeled Jason into the ER. She wanted to follow them, to be with Jason, but they refused. And Marcus helped them by holding her back.

"Marcus!" her voice lashed wildly like a leather whip. "Let go of me!"

"Not until you calm down!" Marcus easily carried her down the hall to the waiting area. His strong hands cupped her face. His thumbs wiped away the tears that coursed down her cheeks. "Keesha, there is nothing you can do to help him. Let the doctors do their job!"

"B-but," she stammered through her tears. "He shouldn't be alone!"

"He's not."

"But he doesn't know..." She hiccupped and tried again. "He doesn't know I love him. I have to tell him..."

Marcus slipped his arms around her and hugged her. "He knows. Trust me, he knows."

Keesha returned his embrace. When it was over, she wrapped her arms around her waist and stared toward the examining room. "I hope you're right."

A moment later, Alex and Frank rushed to them. Alex spoke quietly to Marcus while Frank went to Keesha. He closed a hand over her shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

"Not a nick or a scratch," she said, her voice hoarse from her tears.

"That man you were crying over...the one with the buzz cut," he said. "That's Jason Morgan, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"You care about him?" Frank asked, his expression unreadable.

"Yeah. I love him."

# # #

"What happened back there?" Alex questioned Marcus. "We have Jason Morgan with a shot in the back, Luigi Petrillo with a shot to his chest, and Joseph Sorel dead. I need answers, Marcus."