General Hospital Fan Fiction Message Board

this continues on the Path to Power timeline Just a little side Branch here and there. We'll see some of the characters that y'all have become familiar with. Missing someone well then let me know!

Deb

“How long have you worked for CSMC?” Morgan asks from the passenger seat of a PT Cruiser convertible. The woman drives well. And with his sunglasses firmly in place he isn’t worried particularly about a concussion, or even the lingering headache from his early morning car accident. His car is toast but since he’d gotten T-boned by someone either drunk or asleep at the wheel things could have been a hell of a lot worse.

“I don’t. I work for the Northern Florida Regional Medical Center... or I do when I work.” Lisa doesn’t take her eyes off the road. “I can’t believe you had the nerve to get off the highway in Gainesville. Especially with that Hurricane parking permit. At least you know you were hit by accident with it happening at 2am. If it would have been at 2pm it would have been because of the University of Miami bumper sticker.”

“I take it you belong to Gator nation?” Morgan’s voice is wry.

“Not so much. I’m a transplant. Port Charles, New York. Heard of it?”

“Yeah, it’s the head quarters for CSMC. So if you don’t work for them why were you called.”

“My brother is part of the company. Which I guess makes me a company asset in their minds. Who knew?” Lisa quips. “What about you?”

“My father’s daughter.”

Lisa glances over. “Long way around the block to say sister.” She shrugs. “But it wouldn’t surprise me if Anders introduced me the same way on occasion. Course I think he basically joined a cult so I guess we’re even. But since it’s working the opposite of most cults and he’s making tons of money rather than signing over all of his assets... I’m not going to worry about it. He’s a big boy.”

“A cult.” Morgan says noncommitally.

“Hey don’t mind me. I often bite the hand that feeds me and puts me through college.”

“Courtland street put you through college?”

“No, my brother did, but since they own him....”

“Right.” Morgan nods.

“Since I verified you weren’t doing anything illegal up in Atlanta... what takes you to that fair city.”

“You verified that I wasn’t doing anything illegal.”

“I like my car. I like my life. And all you’re getting from me is a ride to Atlanta.”

“Ah forfeiture.” Morgan nods. He sees Lisa eyeing him suspiciously. “I’m a lawyer.”

“Fabulous. Maybe it wasn’t your parking sticker they were gunning for.” Lisa retorts. “What kind of law?”

“International business. South America mostly– evolving markets.”

“Bet they weren’t expecting you when they saw the name Morgan Benson. I don’t know if it could be anymore white bread. It almost sounds.... Preppie.”

“My mother named me for her best friend, Jason Morgan. But since he raised me and Morgan Morgan would have sounded like a family law firm I use my mother’s maiden name. I was born Corinthos.” Morgan eyes her carefully to see if she recognizes the names.

“Huh. Greek like me.” Lisa comments.

“That’s all the name means to you?”

“Should it mean more?”

“No. No, of course not.” Morgan shrugs and resolves to not do that again as it really hurts.

“You know you might want to take one of those muscle relaxers. Try to get some sleep. You’re going to be worthless in Atlanta if you don’t get some rest. I’ll wake you when I need directions.”

“It seems rude.”

“Me nurse, you patient. Sleep while you can.”

Four hours later, Lisa is shaking him gently. “We’re at a gas station on the outskirts of Atlanta. I need a break and to walk around. I also want to fill up before we dive in.”

“Right. I’ll take care of the gas. Go walk.”

“You want a coke or something?”

“Yeah. That would be great.” Getting out of the car, Morgan pulls his credit card and then begins dispensing gas. It was only fair that he pay for the gas he would have been paying for it anyway if his car wasn’t sitting at an auto body shop back in Gainesville. Lisa is soon coming out of the convenience store portion of the gas station with beverages and junk food. She puts them in the car and then does some quick stretching exercises never mind the looks she is getting as her top pulls away from the low rise jeans exposing a tattoo near the base of her spine. As soon as the tank is full, Morgan climbs back into the passenger seat.

Lisa pulls the car forward to a convenient spot away from the pumps. “Okay where?”

“Regency Suites Hotel in midtown.” Morgan flips open a folder and then enters the address into the GPS unit on the dash. He glances down at his watch. “You made good time.”

“Considering it’s a cruiser and not your porsche? Yeah. No stopping for tickets.”

“You heading straight back?”

“Nah. I could but I’m here might as well make a day of it. Head back tomorrow and still be in good shape for work on Wednesday. Hell if I’m having a good time I don’t have to leave until Wednesday morning because work isn’t until 3pm.” Which reminds her. She hits the handsfree for her phone and hits the preset. “This is Lisa Pappas.”

“You hitting Atlanta about now?” Mona’s voice is clear.

“We are. Morgan says he has a room at the Regency Suites, GPS is already locked in there.”

“Do you want me to get you a room?”

“That would be great.”

“It’ll be waiting when you get there. Some great shopping round there. If you decide you must have BBQ before you leave Atlanta give me a call first. I can hook you up.”

“Thanks Mona. I may even forgive you for calling me this morning.”

“I didn’t realize you’d been working swings you must have felt like you’d just gone to sleep. I would have killed anyone who called me at 6:30 when I was working the club.”

“About that but I’m wide awake now. I’ll call again before I head out of town.”

“Thanks, Lisa.” Mona disconnects the call and Lisa hits the off button too.

“That is the same woman I talked to when I called from the hospital.”

“Yeah. My brother says that she is splitting the emergency line with Mouse. Anything really bad happens though Mouse will still be called in.”

“Who is Mouse?”

Lisa looks over at him. “How in the hell did you get the emergency phone number?” She shakes her head. “Mouse is the CSMC troubleshooter. If you’re calling with a real emergency; he is all over it.”

“Sounds like you’ve used the service.”

“Yeah, really bad date back freshman year in college. Really bad. Lock yourself in the bathroom and start praying bad date. Mouse had a couple of CSMC goons there within ten minutes and they were taking me to the hospital to make sure I was under observation overnight to make sure the ruffies didn’t really screw me up. I may bitch about CSMC but that doesn’t mean they aren’t number one on my speed dial and have been since junior high school– sometimes it’s the only way I can get hold of my brother.”

“What happened to the guy, the bad date?”

“I don’t care.” Lisa says flatly. “Mouse didn’t say a word to Anders, or to me either about it. No I told you so’s. But he did delivered the guy’s rap sheet. It was waiting for me when I got home from the hospital. One of those big envelopes stuffed under my dorm room door. Message received loud and clear.”

The check in is easy despite them being a little early for official check in. The concierge hands Lisa a packet of information after she signs in. “This is from Ms. Dupree.”

“Thanks.” Lisa says absently as she opens the packet. Inside is basically a things to do while you’re in Atlanta whether it’s shopping, drinking, eating or finding a game of pool. There are a number of CSMC resources clearly listed but there are also things on there that are free of the CSMC influence.

“Dinner is included of course in your stay as well as a continental breakfast that is served from 6am.” She turns to Morgan. “Here is your conference packet, Mr Benson. A number of other attendees have also arrived and there is an informal meeting going on in the conference rooms assigned.”

“Thanks.” Morgan signs his information card.

They are then handed their mag keys. “Ms Pappas you’re in room 323. And Mr Benson you’re in 322 across the hall. Enjoy your stay with us.” Going up the elevator together they play the elevator game and don’t look at each other even though they’d just been on the road for over 5 hours together.

At the doors. “Well have fun at your conference. If I don’t see you before I take off. Have a nice life.”

“Right. Thanks for the lift.” He goes into the room and hangs up his suit bag. Curse of the conference, he actually has to dress like a lawyer for it. His phone starts ringing. “This is Benson.”

“Hi, Mona here. First feedback on your car is in. It’s totalled, Honey. You were so lucky it was on the passenger side or you’d still be in the hospital.”

“Or the morgue. Yeah, I figured.”

“They were saying stuff like bent frame and I’m a New York City gal but I asked my guy and he says that’s like calling for the last rites, even if they fix it, it never really comes back. Specially on those sweet rides where the ride is everything.”

“Great.”

“Do you want me to get the insurance claim going?”

“You can do that?”

“Sure. All I need is your policy information and I’ll start getting it going. May have to kick them a time or two but it’s better than waiting until you can get to it, especially since it’s 5 hours away from home. I specialize in long distance.”

Morgan is already reaching for his wallet and pulls out his insurance card. He gives all the information from the card. “Do you need anything else?”

“No, I already requested a copy of the police reports and the body shop has already done their inspection and put it in writing. Just a matter of getting insurance company to go out and take a look. Then they’ll handle collecting from the other guy. Did you want me to make plane reservations for you back to Miami?”

“Yeah, Friday. Conference ends at 2pm.”

“I’ll get that together for you and fax it to the concierge. If you need anything give me a call.”

“Thanks Mona.”

The informal get together is where a lot of business gets done. There are lawyers there from all over the country all with the same interests. Some had done deals together so acquaintances are renewed. Morgan is the new one on the block barely wet behind the ears as far as these guys are concerned. But he’s already been in on a few deals, done the legwork not just in Miami but down in the country of origin. Down in Peru, Columbia or Venezuela. He’s got connections that these guys will never have and that he shouldn’t. But the connections can make a deal go very smoothly which is a boon for his reputation. When Alcazar had attempted to hit his father, Sonny had finished what Alexis Davis started and taken out Lorenzo and absorbed the international arms dealers holdings.

When Uncle Jason took over the business after his father’s incarceration, Uncle Jason pared it down to what he actually wanted to run... liquidating assets but creating a complimentary well run business that is a constant thorn in the side of the central american associates. When Kristina Ashton demanded her cut of the business... Because of what Uncle Jason had done, there’d been cash to buy her out of the South American holdings... except for a few pieces in Costa Rica she’d demanded. CSMC has a presence there and she wanted the assets as a buffer zone.
Uncle Jason had been spitting nails... not because of the split. She is Sonny’s daughter; she is going to get her share but that she’d known so much about the Morgan/Corinthos books. It hadn’t been Uncle Jason being generous and honest; it had been Kristina Ashton laying out an accounting. She’d also interfered with his inheritance with her demands. She wanted all ELQ stock held by Uncle Jason to be in trust for Robbie, his little brother. She’d made sure she wasn’t the only one cut out... he was too. Not that Edward Quartermaine had ever given him the time of day but if Alan or Monica had been alive they would have been livid.

He shakes off the memory and focuses on the men and women in the room. This is where his future is-- the South American holdings and these are the people he’d be doing business with– the scotch and martini set.

This had been a good recommendation. Props to Mona. Lisa looks around the smoky bar. There are pool tables down and a jukebox. The main floor is a sports bar probably with betting going on somewhere and the top floor is a dance club that wouldn’t start hopping until 9pm or later. Since the dinner had been free she’d eaten at the hotel but then she’d wanted out. She’d done some sight seeing and shopping in the afternoon. Picked up a Sunday paper– never failed. Everywhere she went she’d pick up the Sunday paper and there would be pages and pages of ads in Healthcare. They aren’t paying millions of course. Not like the track that Benson guy is on in his porsche and with the law degree... but her nursing degree she could work anywhere and haul in good money.
More than enough to live on. Specially when her needs are few and paid for. Well not her apartment... she never wanted to be that tied down. That’s month to month. She can pack up and go on thirty days notice... or less if she didn’t mind losing her deposits. Her mother is down in Tarpon Springs and her brother is up in Boston. Both of them are rooted enough for her. There were times when she contemplated taking a job over in Saudi. Just for a year to rake in the bucks and then travel or whatever. But everyone she’d talked to said the money is great if you don’t mind being in jail basically. No driving, no traveling in the country. Powerless in a foreign country... not her cup of tea. Just going to have to keep on doing what she’s doing.

She looks up when there is a twenty dollar bill put on the rail. “Up for a game?”

“Up to losing some money?” She retorts to Morgan. “How did you find me?”

“I wasn’t looking. At just asked the concierge where to find a game of pool. Helps me think. You game?”

Lisa looks him over; her tone is more than suggestive. “For anything.”

Lisa winces as closes the door to room 322. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She’d known the guy for less than a day. Suppose it could be worse he could have been someone she picked up at the pool hall. Then she’d be wanting to gnaw her arm off. At least then the guy wouldn’t know where she lived. She had no idea if he’d check or not but she’s right across the freaking hall from him. Going over to her own room she heads straight for the shower. Stripping down she glances momentarily at her watch 5:30 am. By the time she showered and changed she could grab some of that continental breakfast and be back on the road to Gainesville. This is going to be in her rear view mirror in 45 minutes. Fond memory because the guy had skills that had curled her toes but he’s trouble no doubt about it. No matter how polite he’d been there was an aura of pissed that surrounded him. She’s a realist. There is enough drama in her own life she doesn’t need his. Good time had by all; time to call it quits and get the hell out of dodge.

7am Morgan wakes up and reaches for the other side of the bed. There is a dent there of someone who’d caught a few zzz’s it wasn’t like it was his imagination. Nevermind that they hadn’t crashed out until almost 3am anyway. “Lisa?”

No answer.

“She must have gone back to her room.” Morgan looks over at his clock. “Oh hell. The conference is going to be starting in an hour and he needs to get ready. He throws back the covers and heads to the shower.

7:45. “I’d like to leave a message for Lisa Pappas in 323... two words... Lunch plans?... What do you mean she’s checked out?”

“Yes, Mr Benson, she checked out at 6:15.”

“You’re kidding right.”

“No sir, she dropped her key off with the concierge. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No.” Morgan hangs up the phone. Going to his wallet he pulls out the emergency card. He calls but this time the phone isn’t answered by Mona. “I need Lisa Pappas cell phone number.”

“Why don’t you just go knock on her door across the hall?” Mouse suggests.

“She’s already checked out.”

There is a long pause. “Sorry, I don’t give out phone numbers. Not even to Baby’s little brother. If she checks in, I’ll give her your number.” Mouse hangs up. He makes a note in Lisa’s file and sends an email to Mona. This sounds like a budding problem. He calls Lisa’s cell.

“Hello?” There is a hesitancy to the answer.

“Lisa, it’s Mouse. Is there a problem I need to deal with?”

“Nope, no problem.” Lisa says firmly.

“Fine. I’m sending you an email with Morgan Benson’s phone number on it. Do with it as you will. Drive safe.”

“Thanks Mouse.”