Chapter 77
Chaos filling the squad room Gia heard nothing as she clung to her brother not yet ready to let him go. Recalling every moment spent in Jake’s custody Gia slowly face every emotion still not knowing which to claim as her own. Feeling as Taggert tensed beside her Gia looked up locking eyes with Jake as he was led into the squad room. A smirk on his face Jake sat locked to a desk across the room staring back at her. The noise from the room again fading Gia stood frozen unsure of what to do. And as all began to question Jake’s presence Gia continued to stare at him her fear and uncertainty leaving.
Sonny- Get him out of here! Why is he even allowed to sit here and stare at my sister after everything he’s done to her?
Lucky- [shaking his head] Yeah… this isn’t right…
Officer- It’s procedure…
Jason- Procedure for what?
Officer- Look… as soon as I finish his paperwork…
Taggert- [angrily] Move him now!
Officer- Lieutenant…
Taggert- [yelling] I said now!
Mac- [coming out of his office] What’s going on here?
Taggert- Get him out of here Mac or I will…
Mac- Taggert you have to calm down…
Taggert- [shaking his head] Now Mac…
Mac- [nodding] Tanner move him to the interrogation room until we need him…
Officer Tanner- But he’s making a complaint…
Taggert- What?
Officer Tanner- Assault and murder…
Taggert- What the hell are you talking about?
Officer Tanner- He’s bringing charges against Morgan and Spencer for aggravated assault…
Lucky- Are you serious?
Officer Tanner- And he’s making claims that he witnessed Corinthos murder his brother…
Sonny- [shaking his head] I don’t think so…
Jake- You killed my brother while I stood there…
Sonny- This is ridiculous…
Jake- You shot him in cold blood…
Sonny- Maybe he deserved it…
Jake- [smirking] Your sister didn’t get what she deserved… you came too soon for me to finish…
Before another word could be said Taggert flew across the room wrapping his hands around Jake’s throat. Ignoring the pleas of those around him Taggert tightened his hold on Jake the fear of losing Gia pushing him finally over the edge. Coming upon the scene Florence watched as he son strangled Gia’s former bodyguard while those around him tried unsuccessfully to pull him off. Her gaze turning towards her daughter Florence rushed to a stoic Gia wrapping her tightly in her arms. Whispering her name over and over Florence softly cried out as Gia responded by returning her embrace. Inhaling deeply Gia turned towards her enraged brother speaking softly to him hoping her words were enough to reach him.
Gia- Let him go Marcus…
Taggert-No!
Gia- He’s not worth it…
Taggert- He put his hands on you….
Gia- [gently touching his back] Let him go…
Mac- Taggert… let us handle him… he’ll get what’s coming to him… he broke the law and…
Taggert- That’s not enough…
Mac- He won’t get away…
Sonny- The bastard deserves to die for what he did to my sister…
Jason- He will…
Gia- [softly] Jason…
Mac- Don’t try and take the law in your own hands… you will only make the situation worse…
Jason- Someone has to do something…
Mac- Not you or Sonny or any of him men… let the PCPD handle it…
Lucky- Can’t you take him out of here…
Gia- [softly] Let him go Marcus… he can’t hurt me now…
Taggert- Gia he hurt you and…
Gia- It wasn’t about me…
Taggert- What?
Gia- It was all about Sonny… that’s all I ever heard… [looking over at Sonny] he talked about Sonny nonstop…
Sonny- I’m sorry…
Gia- What do you have to be sorry about?
Sonny- This is my fault… [shaking his head] all of this is my fault…
Gerald- [coming into the squad room] You’re damn right this is all your fault…
Florence- Gerald…
Gerald- If it wasn’t for Sonny Gia wouldn’t be here…
Florence- [shaking her head] Now is not the time…
Gerald- But Gia…
Gia- [softly] Is fine…
Gerald- [taking her in his arms] Baby girl…
Gia- I’m fine… I’m home now and…
Mike- [softly] Gia…
Gia- [softly smiling] Mike…
Leaving Gerald’s embrace Gia quickly went to Mike hugging him tightly. Listening as he whispered words of love Gia could not help as tears came again to her. Slowly breaking away from Mike Gia went again to Marcus’ side taking quickly his hand. Calm somewhat returning to the squad room Mac went to Jake moving him before tempers erupted once again. A smirk on his face Jake called out to all around wanting his words to hang heavy on them all.
Jake- This isn’t over…
Taggert- You’re done!
Jake- [nodding in Taggert’s direction] I want to press charges…
Florence- Get real…
Jake- Police brutality and…
Taggert- I’m not a cop so that won’t wash…
Gia- [softly] Marcus…
Taggert- Baby don’t worry about it…
Gia- [shaking her head] What do you mean you’re not a cop?
Taggert- It’s not important…
Gia- But Marcus…
Taggert- All that matters is that you’re home now… me not being a cop will work itself out…
Mac- You can come back…
Taggert- [shaking his head] Mac…
Mac- You’re my best cop… we need you…
Taggert- Not now…
Mac- [leading Jake out of the room] Think about it…
Watching as Mac led Jake from the room Taggert turned his attention back to his sister gently cradling her face in his hands. Speaking softly to her Taggert finally spoke of how their days apart affected him.
Taggert- I’m so glad you’re home Lil Bit…
Gia- [softly] And I’m glad you found me…
Taggert- So am I…
Gia- [looking at all who stood around] I’m glad all of you are here. I thought… I thought I would never see you again… I thought…
Florence- [going to her daughter] That’s enough of that… let me take you home and…
Gia- I have to give a statement about everything that happened…
Taggert- That can wait… I’m sure Mac will understand…
Mac- Understand what?
Taggert- She’ll come back and make her statement… with everything she’s been through…
Mac- [nodding] No… go…. When you’re ready just call me…
Gia- [softly] Thank you…
Florence- [rubbing her back] Baby let me take you home…
Gia- Mama I can’t…
Florence- The cottage is cleaned and ready for you… if you don’t want to go there…
Gia- I can’t go back to the cottage…
Florence- Baby if you’re scared I can stay there with you… or Marcus or…
Gia- [shaking her head] Mama…
Florence- Baby girl…
Gia- The cottage… I won’t feel safe in the cottage…
Taggert- Then come with me…
Gia- [gently touching his cheek] Thanks but…
Sonny- Come with me… come to my penthouse…
Gia- Sonny…
Sonny- I have guards and protection… no one can get to you… I can keep you safe…
Gerald- No… this is no way in hell my daughter is staying with you! You got her in this mess!
Florence- Gerald…
Gerald- [shaking his head] No! You ain’t saying it but I will… Sonny brought this to her door and nothing he does or says can change that…
Mike- That’s enough! Leave my son…
Gerald- You’re son… what about my daughter?
Mike- My daughter…
Watching and listening as the arguing intensified Gia slowly shook her head shocked and surprised by the anger flowing between Mike and Gerald. Tiring quickly of their arguing Gia yelled telling all of her decisions.
Gia- [yelling] Stop! Just stop it!
Gerald- Baby girl… what… what’s wrong?
Gia- You two… arguing over nothing…
Gerald- Nothing? Sonny… [pointing in his direction] your brother caused this and…
Gia- No he didn’t… he didn’t do this… he didn’t plan this…
Gerald- But his actions and his enemies did…
Gia- [shaking her head] Gerald stop!
Gerald- [going to her] Baby girl I’m trying to protect you… I’m trying to put the blame where it belongs…
Gia- I don’t blame Sonny… [looking quickly at Sonny] I never blamed Sonny…
Sonny- [softly] Sonny…
Gia- I blame Jake, his twisted idea of revenge, and the other idiot he was working with…
Jason- There was someone else?
Gia- Yes… he questioned me about Sonny and Marcus and…
Lucky- [noticing the change in her voice] And?
Gia- [softly] Nikolas… he questioned me about Nikolas…
Sonny- You need to rest… let me take you home and…
Gia- No… [shaking her head] I’m not going home with you or Marcus or mama or any of you…
Lucky- Then where are you going to go?
Gia- I’m… [inhaling deeply] I’m going to stay with Nikolas…
Sonny/Jason/Lucky- [in unison] No…
Gia- [shaking her head] I wasn’t asking for your permission or your approval…
Taggert- Lil Bit are you sure?
Gia- Yes…
Sonny- I can keep you safe and you’ll still be close to Cassadine…
Gia- I don’t want to be close… I want to be with Nikolas… I want him to hold me and tell me that everything is going to be ok… I want him to kiss me and know that everything will be ok… I want…
Nikolas- [softly] Gia…
Slowly turning towards the sound of his voice tears came once again to Gia as Nikolas stood before her. Their eyes locked neither spoke emotion taking over them. His arms opening and welcoming her to him Gia ran to Nikolas losing herself in his embrace. His arms wrapping around her Nikolas softly whispered to Gia finally able to breathe once again.
Nikolas- [whispering] I’ve missed you…
Gia- I missed you too…
Nikolas- [softly] You came back to me…
Gia- [softly] I came back to you…
As those around them became oblivious Nikolas pulled Gia deeper into him never wanting to let go again.